MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 1, 2000

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., W. Whaland Clark, Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Police Chief Wayne Bradley, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Pat Diver, Bookkeeper, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes of the meeting of April 17, 2000 be approved as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey called on the Police Chief for his report. Chief Bradley gave the report for the month of April 2000, a copy of which was attached to these minutes. He stated that the new dog will finish training on Friday and Officer Standridge's dog will finish training on Monday. He said he will include the new dog on the next monthly report. He reported that in honor of Victims Rights Week, at a ceremony in Easton Captain Edler received an award for his compassion and assistance during the torture case last summer.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments for the Chief of Police. There being none, she called on the Town Manager for his report.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that we have the schedule for the MVA bus for the rest of this year. The dates are June 5 (rather than June 12), July 10, August 7, September 11, November 13, and December 11, 2000. The bus will not be here in October as the normal day will be a State holiday.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Town has a request from the Sultana to place two 2 sq. ft. signs off site to direct people to their location. He said they reported merchants are tired of directing people tothe Sultana. Chester River Craft and Art would like to place one sign at the corner of Cannon and Cross near the Kent Printing building, and the other by the pedestrian alley that runs between Chestertown Pharmacy and Bramble's. He said they will have to discuss these locations with those property owners. He asked the Council if they would approve these directional sign for one year as a public service. Mr. Bristoll moved that the signs be approved as requested, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said that Calvin Frazier, on behalf of the Parker White Post 143, has submitted a request for permission to hold a fish fry on the Town lot at 336 Cannon Street. The event would be on Saturday, June 3, from 12 to 5 p.m. and would benefit the American Legion Post. He said they have held this activity in the past. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the permit be granted, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said the draft budget for the year 2000-2001 was being distributed to the Council. He said the workshop meeting would be at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 15, 2000 before the regular meeting. The budget would be a balanced budget with revenues and expenditures both at $2,453,808. He said the front sheet shows percentages that will show how line items have gone up or down. He said revenues from the State will be up so the Town can maintain the $.90 tax rate and that was what this budget was based on. He said there are three enterprise funds, Satterfield Court, Cannon Street and the Utilities Commission. He said the Utilities budget showed a 10% increase and that depreciation was used to balance their budget. He said the Town did not raise the water and sewer rates but should this year by 10%. He said there are some major expenses coming up with the water upgrade and the consent order. He said hopefully we can utilize a half million dollar grant for BNR to partially address the remedies required by the consent order.

Mr. Ingersoll said at the workshop meeting on the 15th the Council will look at the full budget in comparison to last year. He said that meeting was open to the public but only for observation. The public hearing on the budget will be Monday, June 5, 2000 at 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Ingersoll discussed the increases for employee medical insurance for the coming year. He said after receiving our rates from the current carrier, we obtained a quote from the LGIT Health Pool and will be changing to that larger pool for next year. He asked that the Council consider adding a dental plan to the medical coverage (one which would allow employees to also cover their families). He said this can be added as an employee benefit under the proposed budget.

Mr. Ingersoll said he would request that the Council hold an executive session following the meeting for a legal matter. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held on a legal matter pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions for Mr. Ingersoll. There being none, she read and signed a Proclamation Declaring May 2000 Older American Month in Chestertown. Mayor Bailey read and signed a Proclamation Declaring May 1, 2000 as Poppy Day.

Mayor Bailey said the Mayor and Council has been invited to judge the Tea Party Parade on Saturday, May 27, 2000 beginning at 10 a.m.

Mayor Bailey said the Council has been invited by the Governor to the unveiling of the MML Millennium book in Annapolis on Friday, May 5, 2000. The event will take place in the Rotunda at the State House from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey read a request from the Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities for donations to the scholarship fund. She said the donation amount requested was $75. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said in the past the board members sold raffle tickets to support the scholarship and rather than do that work, they are now just asking Towns to make contributions. She said the scholarships were worthwhile and had benefitted local people at Washington College. She said she did not agree with this method of raising the funds. Mr. Bristoll moved that a $75 donation be made to the ESAM scholarship fund as requested, and was seconded by Mr. Clark. The vote was 2 in favor, Mrs. Mumford-Pautz, Mr. Kirby and Mayor Bailey opposed.

Mayor Bailey announced that a discussion of the dock will be held at the next meeting on May 15, 2000. She asked if there were any questions or comments.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz reminded everyone of the upcoming Tea Party and asked that cleanup all over Town continue. She suggested that the Town consider some map/directional signs to be located at various places in Town in view of the fact that the Tourism Office was not as accessible as it used to be. She said the Town of Frederick has small map signs in their downtown which locates places to visit, stay and eat.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would like to see people from the 3rd Ward volunteer to serve on the Recreation Commission. She said there are more young people in that ward and a need for more recreation opportunities in Town.

Mayor Bailey said if there are new businesses in Town, they may notify the Town Office and we will announce them on Channel 3 as well as businesses that have moved to another location.

Mr. Clark said that the striping of the parking spaces in the downtown area needs to be repainted. Mr. Ingersoll said Mr. Sterling will paint "T's" on the spaces and mark the yellow curbs. He said that the 200 and 300 blocks of High Street need to be paved and we had deferred striping until after paving was done. He said he had just advertised for bids for the paving work for this year.

Mr. Kirby said the request from Chester Bridge Foundation said there were attachments but he had not gotten them. Mr. Ingersoll said he will get the attachments and provide them to the Council.

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

Mr. Kirby moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.