Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:42 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Thomas A. Gross, Sr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Police Chief Wayne Bradley, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the meeting of November 16 and executive sessions of November 2 and 16, 1998. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of November 16, 1998 be approved as submitted, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously. Mr. Gross said he had not seen the executive minutes. Mayor Bailey asked that the Councilmembers read them for approval at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on November 16, 1998 at 8:45 p.m. pursuant to Section 10.508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council was present, voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters and a contractual matter. The actions taken by the Mayor and Council were by unanimous vote.

Mayor Bailey asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of former Mayor Philip Brooks who died last week, and expressed condolences to his family.

Mayor Bailey called on Chief Bradley for his report, a copy of which was attached to these minutes. There were no questions of the Chief.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said that some costs have been put together for the Y2K solutions for the office computers. He said the billing system was in good shape, but we need to upgrade the computers to convert all the bookkeeping software from DOS to Windows 95 and to be Y2K compliant. He said the Town did not budget for this during this budget year, but the Mayor and Council may determine that it was important enough to go ahead with it this year. He said he will review the budget to see whether the funds would be available during this budget year. He said the costs are separated between Mayor and Council and the Utilities Commission.

Mr. Ingersoll said to convert the bookkeeping system from DOS to Windows will cost about $4700 in each department. To bring the computers up for compliance with Y2K will cost $2400 for the Mayor and Council and $1400 for the Utilities Commission. He said he would like to have the conversion to comply with Y2K before next year. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Mr. Ingersoll get started on this as soon as possible, Mr. Ingersoll to report back to the Council with the availability of funds from the budget and exact costs, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll announced that the next COG meeting will be at noon on Wednesday, December 16 at the Black Eyed Susan. The Town of Chestertown will be the host and following the meeting they will have a tour of 400 High Street. He asked the Councilmembers to let him know who can attend.

Mr. Ingersoll said there would be no recycling pickup in Town on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. He said recycling can be taken up to the Washington Avenue compound (next to College Security) and there are igloos across the bridge. He said the garbage pickup schedule will be as follows: pickups will be done on Wednesday nights the 23rd and 30th. No pickups will be done on Thursday nights the 24th or 31st as the landfill will be closed on Christmas and New Year's day. The trash will be picked up on the next regular day.

Mr. Ingersoll said he distributed a letter from the Cabell Corporation regarding Calvert Heights. He said the letter questioned the Town's support of the Calvert Heights project and asked whether there would be any assistance from the Town in Cabell's refinancing of the project by the CDA. He suggested that the Town could waive the building permit fees and have a tree planting initiative but he did not know of anything larger that the Town could do without looking at Cabell's financial package. Mayor Bailey said she has discussed the project with CDA and said it looks barren and nothing has been done for a long time. She said there are very expensive renovations that need to be done and the essential things need to be done first. She said the problem was that HUD has extended the vouchers for another year but no one knows where it will go from there. She CDA may want to meet with the Mayor and Council again.

Mr. Kirby asked how much hands on management was done there. Mayor Bailey said Lee Anders was the manager but he lives at Woods Edge and Cabell has discussed a property manager who lives here.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Town received a letter from the Chestertown Heritage Association, 105 High Street, with a proposal for an alcohol free "First Night Chestertown" for December 31, 1999 beginning at 5 p.m. The plans include a parade, entertainment throughout the downtown, food vendors, art exhibit, and possibly fireworks over the Chester River. The committee would also introduce their new publication Chestertown Since 1900, A History Chestertown Since 1900. A press release will be released in January 1999 with more details. The letter also requested a Chestertown permit for that event. Mr. Ingersoll said he did not know of any other plans for that date and he thought it would be a good idea. There would be a lot of details to find out. He asked the Council if they wanted to act or get more information. He said fireworks would take some time to arrange.

Mr. Gross said he thought it would be good to have something special. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if each Town was going to be asked to do something (by the State). Mayor Bailey said that has changed and the recognized heritage communities (which would include Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot and Caroline Counties) might be able to apply for some funds for activities. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said the MML has discussed celebrations and will have a meeting in late January. She asked the Council to wait to vote on this request until after that meeting.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had talked to Betty Needles on our Board of Supervisors of Elections and she agreed that she would serve as Chairman. He asked if the Council wished to move on that appointment. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Betty Needles be appointed Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously. Mr. Ingersoll pointed out that there was now a vacancy to be filled on the Board.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a letter from Cooper-Barroll Realty regarding Stam Hall. Sam Martin of Cooper-Barroll would like to buy the building (which has been used for offices on the first floor and the Masonic Lodge for decades). He said Mr. Martin asked if two apartments could be put on the upper floors. He said he was comparing the parking before and after a change in use. The Masonic Lodge has held their meetings and has 150 total members. He said there was no off street parking there and the issue would come down to provision of parking and the parking comparison of the Masonic Lodge vs. two apartments. He said there are various waivers if parking can be provided within 300 feet, and he was making a study of the parking before and after a change in use.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Christmas lighting ceremony was great. He said Earl French filmed it as background for a Chestertown promotion. Earl said he had finished the video and would have the tape ready for airing next week. Mr. Ingersoll said he has had questions about why there are not more lights in the downtown area. He said the electrical wiring was maxed out for Christmas lights and there just was no electric elsewhere to have more lights. He said we spent a lot of money putting up and taking down the lights and replacing bulbs each year, and it uses a lot of amps. He said the bill for electricity that the DCA used to pay was about $400 for the Christmas season.

Mr. Ingersoll said the audit will be presented at the next meeting on Tuesday, December 15, as well as the Riverfront Committee's report. He said these will follow the Utilities Commission meeting which will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a request for a short executive session following the meeting for a personnel matter. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Section 10.508 of the Annotated Code, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said the the Hospice Tree of Lights will be lit on Tuesday, December 9, 1998. She said she would not be able to be present and asked if a Councilmember would light the tree. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would be happy to do it at 5:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey announced that the League of Women Voters will hold their Legislative Preview on Sunday, January 10, 1999 at 2 p.m. at Chesapeake College. She said the Delegates will be present to discuss upcoming legislation and take suggestions from the citizens.

Mayor Bailey announced that the parking meters will be not enforced from now until January 5, 1999.

Mayor Bailey asked that each Councilmember check their wards and recommend residences, apartments or businesses for recognition of Christmas decorations. She asked that they call in nominations for awards to the Town Office. The judging of the decorations will be done by the Special Projects Committee on Sunday evening, December 20, 1998.

Mayor Bailey read an invitation to a Holiday open house at the Shared Opportunity Services office, 151 Dixon Drive, on Wednesday, December 9 at 5:15 p.m.

Mayor Bailey said the Chamber of Commerce has requested that each Town contribute to renewing the signs at their entrance. They have asked each Town for $200. She suggested that the Town look at the design before considering this. The Council agreed to table this until the next meeting.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said there were some people from her ward who wished to speak. Kay Cole and Janson Sweeney from 626 High Street discussed problems they have encountered. The problems included being approached by people asking for money while walking to their home. They also said people came to their homes and asked for food, and when given food had refused it and asked for money. Ms. Cole said she rents the house and thinks that the 4% loan program would be great, but the problems in the area prevent her from buying in that area. She said there are junk cars, trash, barking dogs, rodents and stray cats in back and around her home. Mayor Bailey said part of the problem may be that officers are doing more patrolling in the shopping areas this time of year rather than in the neighborhoods. The warm weather has also been a factor with people staying outside. Mr. Kirby said that the Hot Spot grant was paying for the increased patrols in that area but the time for that was limited to the normal warm weather months. He said those partrols were done by the Town police, Sheriff's department and State police. Mr. Sweeney said he felt better walking in the area if there was a police car in the neighborhood and knew that the police were around.

Mr. Ingersoll said he would contact Jim Carey, owner of the lot behind them regarding the trash and junk on his property. He said the Town crew cleans up a tremendous amount of trash every week. Mayor Bailey said the Humane Society does want people to trap cats themselves. She said the Humane Society did do that in one area where they were overrun with stray cats. Mr. Ingersoll said we can also deal with the junk cars. Mayor Bailey said she will talk to Chief Bradley for more patrolling in the area.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said these types of problems had been reported for five years in her ward. She asked for some serious help. She asked that police officers get out of cars and walk the Town and take care of the problems. She said there was no other place in Town where people have to put up with the living conditions in her ward. She said the loose dogs are a continual problem. Mayor Bailey said we have to know who the dogs belong too in order to do something about it. Mr. Ingersoll asked if the Town would like to hire someone to deal with the loose dogs and cats. He said that was delegated to the Humane Society. He said it was easy to find the places where dogs are tied and howling. He said we have to find a way to catch the animals.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said children come to her door to beg for money. Mayor Bailey said if the names of the children and parents are given to Social Services they can intervene.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked for police coverage at the Sacred Heart Church when they let out on Saturday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. because it is dark and people have to go to cars alone. Mr. Kirby said the underlying problem is lawlessness.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said there was a large pot hole in the 500 bl. of Cannon Street that needs to be repaired.

Mr. Gross said he thought the loitering law has been repealed but a person can complain about a common law offense which was unlawful assembly, three or four people gathered together in an unlawful manner. He said that may be looked for enforcement.

Mr. Kirby asked about enforcement of the skateboard ordinance. He said he knew enforcement has been a problem. He said people are skateboarding in the middle of the streets and jumping off the sidewalks into the middle of High Street. Mr. Kirby asked about the continuation of the program that built the sidewalks on Washington Avenue. Mr. Ingersoll said before July we will continue the sidewalk up Washington Avenue and around the corner towards the shopping center. We will also work on sidewalk for Rt. 291 from High Street.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:55 p.m., seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman (Stenographer)

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey (Mayor)