Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members Gibson Anthony, Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and Mauritz Stetson, W.S. Ingersoll, Town Manager and Zoning Administrator, Jennifer Mulligan, Stenographer, and guests.
Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the Mayor and Council meeting of November 16, 2009 or the executive session of the same date. Mr. Bristoll moved to approve the minutes of the Mayor and Council meeting and executive session of November 16, 2009 as submitted. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey asked for a moment of silence for those who have given their life for their country and those who serve around the world.
Mayor Bailey called forward Mr. Steve Ochse and Ms. Vicki McCrone of Mayer, Hoffman, McCann for the audit presentation. Mr. Ochse stated that the management team for Chestertown did a wonderful job preparing for the audit. He said that they were professional and cooperative in every way.
Mr. Ochse stated that the Town received an unqualified opinion, which was the level desired in an audit. He said that the required statements were submitted in order to be in accordance with the auditing standards.
Mr. Ochse stated that there were no difficulties encountered during the audit and no uncorrected statements found.
Ms. McCrone stated that she gave the Council a summary of the audit for their review. She said that there was a comparison of financial highlights from Chestertown, Centreville and Denton as they were similar size in population and all were on the Eastern Shore.
Ms. McCrone stated that the general fund was very strong financially. She said that on the Utilities side in future years the Town might want to look at the Utilities to examine cash flow.
Mr. Ochse stated that the Utilities had $124,000.00 of cash flow generated from utilities operations. He said that they should look at ways to generate additional revenue with permits for construction falling off.
Mr. Ochse stated that one of the things that jumped out at him was public safety. He said that the Town was at $1.35 million for a Town of almost 4,900, but Denton was at $1.83 million on a Town of 4,000. He said that was quite a significant difference but the service provided was excellent.
Mr. Ochse stated that his firm was available if the Council had any future questions.
Mayor Bailey called forward Mr. Ron Bowman and Ms. Susan Shweers to discuss a sprint triathlon request. Mr. Bowman stated that he owned Blue Point Race Management and was working with Ms. Shweers, Ms. Kiki Jones, and Ms. Rhonda Cataldo and the Dragonfly Organization for a triathlon in Chestertown.
Mr. Bowman stated that they would like to use the Wilmer Park for the event. He said that this would offer the most benefit to the Town and the athletes in the race. Mr. Bowman stated that this would be a sprint triathlon with a ½ mile swim, 12-16 mile bike, and 5k (3.1 mile) run.
Mr. Bowman stated that he spoke with the river keeper who gave him data on the water quality for the times they were looking to host the race. He said that the river keeper said that the water quality at those times were adequate for swimming.
Mr. Bowman passed out copies of the suggested route for the bike and run portion of the race. He said that he thought the route they were suggesting would have the least impact on the residents. Mr. Bowman stated that he would not expect traffic to be halted for the entire duration of the race, but it would have to be controlled. He said that they would contact the police (Sheriff, State, and Town) to discuss the race.
Mr. Bowman stated that the race itself would take approximately 2-hours. He said that the swim was about 30 minutes, the bike was approximately an hour, and then the run would last about 30 minutes.
Mr. Bowman stated that they were suggesting the first or second week in May or the third or fourth weekend in June for the triathlon. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that she thought June would be preferable over May because of Tea Party and the College graduation weekends.
Mr. Stetson asked if the run would be on the same route as the bike. Ms. Schweers stated that it would take place on the same route for some of the run, but there would be a split at John Hanson Road.
Mr. Bowman stated that they would be seeking USTA (United States Triathlon Association) sanctioning of the event. He said that this would provide liability insurance for the event as well as resources for the event and comments and input on the route. Also, there would be a representative who would monitor and time the event.
Mayor Bailey stated that the applicants had done their homework. Mr. Stetson stated that he liked that this was for a local charity.
Mr. Ingersoll asked the applicant if they had checked the calendar for the Wilmer Park pavilion rental. Ms. Mulligan got the calendar and said that the weekend of June 19th and 20th was open, so those dates were penciled in for the event. Mr. Bowman stated that either a Saturday or Sunday would work for the race.
Mr. Bowman stated that he would check with the Pomona churches to see when their services were held and determine if a Sunday event would interfere with those services.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he would like for the applicant to make a decision on a date as soon as they could and call the Town Hall to confirm.
Mayor Bailey stated that she and Ms. Jen Hicks have been in discussions over the last several months and would like to get the community’s input for the future direction of Chestertown. Mayor Bailey called Ms. Hick’s forward for her presentation on the idea of a “World Café”.
Ms. Hicks stated that she presented the idea of a “Future Search” to the Council approximately a year and a half ago and the “World Café” would be like a Future Search on a much smaller scale.
Ms. Hicks stated that a World Café is an opportunity for approximately 10-12 stakeholders (representatives of the Town) to meet with approximately 150-200 residents for an evening of conversation to discuss the direction that they would like to see Chestertown take in the future.
Ms. Hicks stated that the World Cafe would be an opportunity to discuss themes for the future and would be a good indicator of how healthy the Town was at present time. She said that it was also a good opportunity for individuals to have their ideas and opinions heard.
Ms. Hicks stated that she would like to call Chestertown’s World Café, “Chestertown Community Conversation 2010”. She said that this would be a good way to start a new decade with a strong understanding of what is important to all community stakeholders.
Ms. Hicks stated that the World Café model had a simple design and easy execution. She said that it was an effective and efficient process that took place over a 3-hour period, but took about 2-months to plan. Ms. Hicks stated that finding the stakeholders was a challenge because you wanted to insure that they encompassed all aspects of Town.
Ms. Hicks stated that at the World Cafe there would be 4-5 people at a café style table for 15-20 minutes at a time listening and building off of ideas. After each session, the people switch to another conversation at a different table. Notes are taken and then the ideas are put on a board at the end of the meeting.
Ms. Hicks stated that what came out of a World Café would be a list of common ground ideas and desires agreed to by all from which actions can be taken by the community.
Ms. Hicks stated that this was an opportunity to bring people together who have never met or had a conversation meet and work together for what is in the best interest of Chestertown.
Ms. Hicks stated that she would be the facilitator to this process and she would bring in a Washington College intern to help and a documenter who would capture the ideas coming out of the conversation.
Mayor Bailey stated that one of the great events she could remember was when everyone came together to build the community playground. She said that it brought so many people together who had never met before. She said that she wanted to create that energy again and thought this was a good way to do that.
Mr. Stetson asked who would be a stakeholder. Ms. Hicks stated that they would represent Chestertown and said that was a separate process to decide who would serve as stakeholders for the meeting. Ms. Hicks said that she would like to discuss stakeholders at another time so that they could come up with ideas together.
Ms. Hicks stated that from this event, Future Search came into play because it lasered in on what people wanted to happen and how it would take place in the future. Mayor Bailey stated that she thought it was critical so that people would take an initiative to get the things done that they wanted to see happen.
Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked who would pay for the World Café. Mayor Bailey stated that the cost associated with a World Café was $4,500.00. Mayor Bailey stated that she would like the Town to donate $1,000.00 and the rest of the money would come from fundraising.
Mayor Bailey stated that the $4,500.00 would pay for the people who ran the World Café, the place it would be held, and the food for the event
Mr. Anthony stated that he appreciated the sentiment but did not know what would really be accomplished at the event. He said that he did not want to set expectations that could not be met. Mr. Stetson said he would like to know what the goal of the World Café was exactly.
Mayor Bailey stated the outcome of the meeting would be to pull the community together and to find out where Chestertown should be going. Ms. Hicks stated that this also gave a sense of inclusion to the residents and a sounding board so that they could be heard.
Mayor Bailey stated that the last time something of this nature was done was 1996 at the Charrette. Mayor Bailey stated that there were costs associated with that as well, but over two-thirds of what came out of the Charrette has been accomplished. Mayor Bailey stated that examples of what came out of the Charrette were Sultana and televised meetings.
Ms. Hicks stated that it was important for the collective to come together to build off of each other’s ideas. She said that people would also find out what was actually going on in Town because they may not be aware.
Mayor Bailey stated that the $1,000.00 from the Town would be contingent upon finding the rest of the money.
Mr. Bristoll moved to permit a World Café for Chestertown, was seconded by Mr. Anthony and carried unanimously.
Mr. Anthony moved for $1,000.00 to be allotted for the World Café contingent upon fundraising for the other $3,500.00 be accomplished, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey stated that Main Street was supposed to be at the meeting to discuss their logo. There was no one from Main Street in the audience.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he was introducing Chapter 68 of the Code of the Town of Chestertown, Vehicles and Traffic. He said that this was for a speed monitoring system Ordinance. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this would allow speed monitoring systems with one or more motor vehicle sensors producing a recorded image of motor vehicles traveling at a speed of at least 12-miles per hour or above the posted speed limit within ½-mile of any school zone. He said that there were four (4) schools in Chestertown, those being, H.H. Garnett Elementary School on Calvert Street, Chestertown Middle School on Campus Avenue, Chestertown Christian Academy on Morgnec Road, and Radcliffe Creek School on Talbot Boulevard. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town would develop a program for procurement, use, and implementation of speed monitoring systems in all four schools zones. He said that would be Section 160-27.
Mr. Ingersoll said that under Section 160-28, for thirty (30) days after the initial speed monitoring system being activated, all violations recorded by any speed monitoring system will be in force by issuing a civil citation warning. He said that this would let everyone become familiar with the system.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that under Section 160-29 the Police Department would be responsible for filing monthly reports to the Mayor and Council detailing the impacts of the Ordinance.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that a computer print-out would go to the Police Department who checked off the list and then it was sent back to the vendor for the issuance of citations. He said that the police would make sure that only the proper vehicles were issued citations, citing an example that if an ambulance or fire truck was going over the speed limit, they would not be issued a citation.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he did think it was important for the Council to be aware of how many citations were being issued. He said that anyone going 12-miles over the speed limit after 30-days of warnings was deserved.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he met with State Highway Administration on matters of crosswalks but said that they wanted to control whether or not the Town could enforce speeding on Washington Avenue.
Mr. Stetson asked if it was necessary to name the schools. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the actual Ordinance could have the schools removed but he wanted the public to know as much as they could know at the introduction of the Ordinance. He said that the ½-mile radius of schools almost covered the entire Town because of the four schools’ different locations.
Mr. Ingersoll stated there was a firm that did the tickets for the State of Maryland and he thought that was who the Town should use. He said that there were only a few firms that would come to a small Town like Chestertown in the beginning. He said that there were expenses so if tickets were not given the Town would wind up paying for the service.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town would be looking at contract periods where there were “opt out” clauses so the Town could terminate the program if it was ineffective.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that this was the first reading, the Ordinance would be adopted at the meeting of December 21st and it will become effective January 10th. He said that he would try to bring the contract to the next meeting.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that Ordinance 10-2009 Dog and Other Animals would have its introduction tonight. Mr. Ingersoll stated that commercial kennels (allowed in the County) were deleted because the zoning ordinance did not allow them. He said that section 64-5E declared certain public areas and public events within the Town as off limits to dogs and other animals with the exception of trained service dogs, i.e. seeing eye dogs and trained law enforcement dogs performing their service duties during an event.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that for wild and dangerous animals section 64-12 would read: “It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, permit to be kept, or to exhibit, temporarily hold or to breed any dangerous, wild, feral, poisonous, venomous, dangerous, or vicious animal of any kind within the Town limits of Chestertown”. The next section 64-12(B) would read: “This section does not apply to the keeping of the above said animals at pet stores”.
Mr. Stetson stated that he did not understand why those animals would be permissible at a pet store in Town. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz agreed. Mr. Stetson stated that he would like Section B removed.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that basically this would adopt the County Ordinance but that he would make the changes to tailor it to Town. He said that this would be the first reading and the Ordinance would be enacted on December 21st and effective on January 10th.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that there would be no trash pick-up on Thursday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) and Thursday, December 31st (New Year’s Eve) because of the holidays. He said that trash would be picked up on the next scheduled pick-up day.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that the bid opening for street and park trees would be held on Friday, December 11th at 12:30 p.m. He said that the trees would go where the dead Sycamores have been removed on High Street, Water Street, Mill Street, Memorial Plaza, Cross Street, Devon Drive, Mayfair Drive, Mount Vernon Avenue, and the Wilmer Park. Rolling Road and E. Campus Avenue would be supplemented with trees as well. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the bid specifications called for many different varieties of indigenous street trees. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this contract did not include the Rolling Road Park, which would get more trees in a smaller caliper.
Mr. Ingersoll showed before and after pictures of the Wilmer Park Living Shoreline project. Mr. Ingersoll said that the string fences were in place to keep the geese from eating the newly planted cord grass. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this was a nice project that will be seen by many who might be encouraged to do this at their waterfront properties.
Mayor Bailey stated that Mr. deMooy submitted a grant on Friday, December 4th called the Outreach Community Awareness Grant Program, which was for about $20,000.00. Mayor Bailey stated that this would be used for rain gardens and would include print and web campaigns on “green issues”. The rain gardens would be installed at Washington Park, the Wilmer Park, and the Rolling Road park.
Mayor Bailey stated that she would like to hold the executive session for personnel at the next meeting when Chief Edler would be present. The Council agreed.
Mayor Bailey stated that there was a discussion of the name for the new road that was being built for the new Calvert Heights. Mayor Bailey stated that the Council has decided to name the street Elmer T. Hawkins Drive. Mayor Bailey stated that the family was thrilled.
Mayor Bailey stated that the Council should hand in their winners for the holiday decorating contest by Monday, December 21st. Mr. Stetson stated that he thought that there should be at least two (2) years in between the same families winning the contest. The Council agreed.
Mayor Bailey stated that on Saturday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m. would be the first showing of “Our Town – Chestertown” on MPT. There would be additional showings on Sunday, December 13th at 11:00 a.m. at Saturday, December 19th at 4:00 p.m.
Mr. Stetson stated that he thought the letter by Jim Gatto, Chairman of the Planning Commission, to the State of Maryland was well written and had wonderful ideas. He said that he would be happy to have even a few of the ideas incorporated into the plan for the bridge.
Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that there was a wild party in her ward on Saturday, December 5th. She said that she requested that they clean up the yards and planned to be in touch with the property owners about the party.
There being no further business, Mr. Bristoll made a motion to pay the bills. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.
Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.
Submitted by:
Jennifer Mulligan
Stenographer
Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor
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