MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 16, 1999

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, 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 August 2, 1999. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey announced that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks on August 16, 1999 of $152,764.82.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said that on Saturday the centennial celebration and rededication of the fountain by the Chestertown Garden Club was held in the Fountain Park. He said he felt everyone was pleased with the restoration of the fountain by Rick Jones of Ship and Shore. He said the fountain has nine new coats of paint and it was gleaming.

Mr. Ingersoll said the building at 104 Cannon Street was demolished by Tuck Davidson and the lot restored to the original level. He said there were a couple of problems. A wire fence in the weeds was pulled out from a neighbor's house at the back but it was restored to the neighbor's satisfaction. He said Tuck also took down an old shed from her back yard. Mr. Ingersoll said, with the owners' and their attorney's knowledge, the bill will be placed as a lien on the property. They were fully aware of the bids, the costs and the demolition before it took place.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a letter from the Board of Directors of the Chester River Health System, representing Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital, agreeing to sell the property to the Town for the 18 acre park.

Mr. Ingersoll said he gave the Council a copy of a letter from the Maryland Department of the Environment regarding the high BOD's the Utilities Department had over the past winter. Mr. Ingersoll said the letter states they understand the problem; they have not levied any fines; and they will be working on a formal agreement called a consent order. The Department and the Town would get together and discuss what we will do and they will give us a period to do it. He said we want to cure the problem with nitrogen and phosphorous at the same time. He said we should analyze why our BOD's rose before we take steps to cure it.

Mr. Ingersoll said he will probably be on vacation at the time of the next meeting so any Councilmember who wants him to address something should bring it to him in advance. He said that meeting will be on Tuesday, September 7, 1999.

Mr. Ingersoll said he needed the Council to have an executive session following the meeting to discuss the contract for paving Foxley Manor and Washington Park. He said there was an executive session scheduled for Monday, August 30, 1999 at 6 p.m. for a legal matter. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for a contractual matter, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions of Mr. Ingersoll. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said that the plum trees on the 600 block of High Street should be taken out. She said the fruit from the trees has covered the sidewalk and people cannot walk there and must walk in the road. Mr. Ingersoll said they are a mixed blessing, but are bearing a lot of fruit this year. He said maybe the nursery can suggest a way to keep them from bearing fruit because they are a pretty tree. He said we thought they were barren when they were planted.

Mayor Bailey reminded everyone of the dedication of the waterfront project on Saturday, August 28, 1999 at 6 p.m. at the foot of High Street with the reception following in the Custom House.

Mayor Bailey said that the State has notified us that Shared Opportunity Services has been awarded the $63,000 CDBG grant for architectural fees for plans. They will hear in October if they will receive the $750,000 for construction. She said Kent County was one of the few areas in the State without a family support center.

Mayor Bailey read portions of the letter from the State Highway Administration regarding the Town's requests for traffic controls at various locations. The State had asked for the number of calls and problems encountered in response to the Rescue Squad's request for signalization on Rt. 291. The State has not received any written information on this and have requested it from Mr. Lobley. With regard to the intersection of Md. Rt. 20 and 291, the State Highway Administration said they have investigated this several times, including traffic operations during peak hours, traffic counts, past accident history, existing signing and marking and available site distances. Their determination was that a traffic signal was not warranted according to the requirements for uniform traffic control devices. They said a traffic circle was considered but due to low traffic volume and lack of significant accident experience, a traffic circle was not justified. They also reviewed the requirement for a three way stop and determined that the warrant for that type of traffic control was not satisfied. The State said they are reviewing possible marking revisions which could enhance and improve traffic movement through the intersection. They will complete this review by mid-August and make any revisions indicated shortly thereafter. Mayor Bailey said a few months ago we were told that the State was doing the design work for a roundabout at that intersection and now we are informed they are doing nothing.

Mr. Gross discussed several serious accidents at that location. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said we cannot take no for an answer on this as the traffic gets worse all the time. Mayor Bailey said we will continue to pursue this. Mr. Gross asked what the justification had been when the traffic signal was put in at Washington Avenue and Greenwood. Mayor Bailey said it might have been the change in the traffic pattern when Gibson Avenue was cut through there. Mr. Ingersoll said when the State wants to tell you "no" they discuss warrants. Mayor Bailey said we have several issues for Mr. Lindsey when he comes to the October meeting and asked the Councilmembers to list the problem areas.

Mr. Kirby said that Flatland Road needs street lights from Rt. 20 out to the store. He said there was a lot of pedestrian traffic on that road and it was black from the time you leave High Street out. Mr. Ingersoll said that road was in Town but a State road. He agreed that street lights are needed out there. He asked the Council to recall when we put the street lights in on Rt. 291, after asking the State for lighting, and then they told us it was their territory. He said we have several issues for the State that need to be addressed.

Mayor Bailey said that this is the third year of the Hot Spot grant funding. She said the Hot Spot area can be expanded or new Hot Spot areas can be created under the State program. The Supervisory team is arranging for a community meeting to discuss the need for expansion and where expansion would occur. She said expansion could be in the County, however, the resources to cover all the work are not there for additional Hot Spot areas. She said areas to be considered would be Calvert Heights, Brookmeadow, the shopping centers, etc. She said the cost for writing the grant for expansion would be from $500 to $1000. She said the County paid the application expense the last time and if Linda Walls does it this time, the Town would pay the cost as any expansion would be within the Town limits. Mayor Bailey said the renewal applications during the three year period have been done by us.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to consider for the next meetings two questions: 1) is the town interested in expanding the Hot Spot Area within the Town limits; and 2) does the Town have the funds to pay the costs of preparing the extension application. Mayor Bailey said she had mixed feelings about an extension. She said programs are in place in the elementary and middle schools which are open to all children. She said the police not only patrol the Hot Spot area but the whole Town. She asked Mr. Kirby if he was aware of any increase in serious illegal activities at Brookmeadow or the shopping centers. Mr. Kirby said not to his knowledge. Mayor Bailey said she had a problem with taxpayers funds being spent on extra patrols for private property when they could have their lights on and have their own security. She said unless there was a definite problem somewhere else, she did not see the necessity for expanding the area.

Mr. Gross said he did not like the labelling that residents get in a "Hot Spot Area". He said there are still problems in the High Street area and at the shopping centers. He said he would not mind seeing it expand a little. Mayor Bailey said from this program the various agencies have found they are able to do so much more because they are all working together. She agreed with Mr. Gross's comment about the name "Hot Spot" and the State will allow the program to have another name.

Mr. Kirby asked what the advisory board felt about expansion. Mayor Bailey said they think that the area could be moved up to include Calvert Heights. She said there are spillovers into that part of the area. Mr. Ingersoll said it might also be extended down to Cross Street. Mayor Bailey asked the Council to consider this for the next meeting. She said a community meeting will be set to gain input from the community. She said if the Council was not adverse to the expansion we can proceed with the community meeting.

Mr. Kirby asked how much additional funding would we get from expansion. Mayor Bailey said she did not know, but it would be much more than the $500 to $1000 cost to file the application. We would have the physical resources to enlarge the immediate area as the services are in place.

Mayor Bailey said there was a request from Jenny An of the Jazz Festival Committee that the Town take a half or full page ad in their booklet. She had the ad from two years ago. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would move to take the ad but did not know how the others felt. There was no second to the motion. Mr. Kirby said when you do this for one group, you have to do it for all others.

Mayor Bailey said she had a suggestion from a citizen regarding the parking congestion at the Post Office. She said there are three parking spaces in back of the Nearly New Shop, one handicapped and two meters. The suggestion was that two of the meters be removed and the places be marked for 10 minute parking only for Post Office traffic. She said the Post Office was not moving as was rumored. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said there are 4 spaces in front of the Post Office, a yellow curb, fifteen minute spaces and a handicapped space on Calvert Street and they are abused. She said we should leave it alone. Mr. Ingersoll said the No U Turn signs for the island have been ordered.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said that the 400 block of Calvert Street needs more cleanup in that block to help the families who keep their properties up. She said there are also a group of young people who go from place to place with no where to go. She said a lot has been done for the younger group of kids but there was a large group of older kids who need recreation facilities. She said she would like to see something done by next summer and maybe the new park will help. Mayor Bailey said maybe by next year the question of whether we will have a YMCA or a rec center will be resolved.

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

Mr. Gross moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:12 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor