MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
June 3, 2002

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:52 p.m. In attendance were Mabel Mumford-Pautz, J. Brian Kirby, Whaland Clark, Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., William S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Patricia Diver, Accountant, Jennifer Stead, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting of May 20, 2002 and the budget workshop of May 16, 2002. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll introduced Thomas Hayman and Gerald Chance from the 2nd Maryland Fife and Drum Corps Mr. Hayman stated that on Saturday, June 15th, the 2nd Maryland Fife and Drum Corps would present the life and music of a Kent County Civil War Soldier. The program would start at the Kent County Civil War Monument on High Street at 12:30 and end at 4:00 p.m.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Beautification Garden Tour would be on Saturday, June 15th as well. Music in the Park was also being held in the evening.

Chief Coryell reported that for the month of May there were 25 adult arrests resulting in 66 charges. There were 17 thefts, 13 CDS, and several for DWI. There were 15 juvenile arrests with 16 separate charges placed. There were 8 for assault, 3 for disorderly conduct, 2 for possession of tobacco, and 2 for CDS. There were 10 civil citations issued; 4 for noise violation, 3 open container violations, and 3 for littering. There were 174 parking tickets issued. Total traffic stops were 254. Total citations were 51 and there were 261 warnings given.

Chief Coryell thanked the Mayor and Council and administration staff for their efforts to give the police a fixed benefit retirement fund.

Mr. Kirby stated that an article in the Kent News stated there were 45 officers who left the Chestertown police force since 1987. He obtained the numbers from the office and there were roughly between 20 and 25. Mr. Kirby stated that he appreciated his passion for the pension, but the number was not accurate and he stated he would like to sit and compare numbers with Chief Coryell.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that there were some things that could be done to raise revenues. The first thing was to raise parking tickets. Mr. Ingersoll had an amendment for an introduction of an ordinance that would raise the parking fine from $3.00 to $5.00. Mr. Ingersoll read the ordinance into the record. Mr. Ingersoll stated that $5.00 was still a low fine compared to other municipalities. The fine would be doubled if not paid within 15 days. A vote on the ordinance would follow at the next meeting.

The next item Mr. Ingersoll introduced was a raise in building permit fees. He stated building permit fees had been kept very low over the years. Mr. Ingersoll stated that there would only have to be a resolution signed, and the enabling legislation was already in place. Mr. Ingersoll handed the information to the Council and read the fee schedule into the record. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the Council could vote on the issue at the next meeting. The Council agreed.

Mr. Ingersoll introduced a schematic plan for a Trail System. He noted that this was not the plan that the Recreation Commission worked on, but one that had been done with a State Grant. Human and Rohde, Inc., of Towson, Md. designed the plan using State funds. The Planning Commission accepted the Rails-to-Trail System for the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan would be submitted to the Mayor and Council for approval when it was finished. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this was not in any way a final plan and had not been adopted by the Mayor and Council, but there were many people who were interested and excited about a Rails-to-Trail System.

Mr. Ingersoll explained the trail's route in detail for the record. He stated the property owners were aware of the plan, but had not approved it. He apologized to the landowners who may abut the trail and not know it, but this was not the only or final plan. The Recreation Commission had already shown that there were other possibilities.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that he would need government endorsement, whether it be from the County, Town, or both, in order to obtain TEA 21 funds. Mr. Ingersoll stated that other people were looking into funding for the project. The County asked for the committee working on the Rails-to-Trail System to go before all of the different County boards for their review. Mr. Ingersoll stated that Washington College had a unique problem with the Rails to Trails System because it carved up some of their campus.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that within the next month or so, he would like a consensus on whether the Town wanted a Rails-to-Trails system.

Dr. Toll, from Washington College, was present and stated that he was in favor of the Rails-to-Trails System. He did have some concerns, one of which was that he did not want to see the college campus divided by it. He asked that the people working on the Rails-to-Trail System would ask the Board of Visitors and Governors to work with them on it, and any plan that would become adopted be jointly approved by the Board of Visitors and Governors of Washington College. Dr. Toll suggested any proposal submitted at this time preferably have the trail going around the campus or on the periphery of the campus. Mayor Bailey stated that she would make sure the college was involved in the project.

Mr. Bristoll moved for an executive session under section 10.508 of the annotated code of the State of Maryland upon the completion of the meeting for personnel and legal matters was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and unanimously carried.

Mr. Clark moved to adopt the Budget as Ordinance 2-02 was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Ms. Wanda Boyer was present on behalf of the Proactive Community Scene to request a block party on the 360 block of Calvert Street on August 17, 2002, with a raindate of August 24, 2002, from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. It was an effort to bridge the gap between local government and the community. The different agencies from the community would have booths and the community could come to find out about them. Mr. Bristoll moved to approve the request for the block party was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Jeff Hill was present and stated that he was forming a basketball club around the Ajax basketball courts, and it was funded by a grant from the Local Management Board. There would be a meeting on Tuesday, June 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Ajax. The raindate was the following day.

Mr. Clark mode a motion pay bills was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mr. Clark moved to close the meeting at 8:33 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor