Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Whaland Clark, 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 Mayor and Council Meeting, Public Hearing and Executive Session of June 5, 2000, Mayor and Council Meeting and Executive Session of June 19, 2000. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes be approved as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on June 19, 2000 at 8:50 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss a contractual matter and legal matter. The entire Mayor and Council was present and voted to go into executive session. The Mayor and Council voted unanimously on the contractual matter and no action was taken on the legal matter. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m., and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey called on the Police Chief for his report. Chief Bradley gave the report for the month of June 2000. He reported on the K-9 demonstration that was held on June 24, 2000 which was well attended. Mayor Bailey complimented the Chief and the Department on the K-9 demonstration and how well trained the dogs are.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the Chief had submitted a letter to the Council asking to have an applicant qualified as a reserve officer. He said the applicant was Lee Becker, Jr. who was a certified police instructor through the Maryland Police Training Commission as well as being a former police officer. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if this was usually done in an executive session and she also asked that the Council see a resume before any hiring was done. Mr. Ingersoll said he needed to ask the Council to hold an executive session on another matter following the meeting and this could also be discussed.

Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held following the meeting pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss a contractual matter and a personnel matter, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously. Mayor Bailey asked Chief Bradley to return to the executive session following the meeting, at 8 p.m., with the resume on Mr. Becker. Chief Bradley said he would return.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said that Richard Proctor and Joe Nasatka had done an excellent fireworks show again this year. He said people do not realize how much work Ned Sterling and the street crew do on the fireworks to get everything ready before and cleanup after the event. He said the traffic went better with the assistance of the County Sheriff's Department and the State Police.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had called Chris Fenger, who was with Simmons when our system was built, and was now in the mid-West with Charter Communications. He said he distributed a letter from a citizen which echoes the problems that some of the Council has had concerning the inability to get ESPN or ESPN2. He said Mr. Fenger will bring up some of our problems with a meeting at corporate headquarters in St. Louis. Mr. Ingersoll said though Charter has agreed to rebuild the system in 18 months, there are interim repairs that have to be made in order to provide service to people.

Mr. Ingersoll said a permit request was submitted by a senior Girl Scout to hold a theater project in the Fountain Park. She would like to have several of the local theater groups do short skits on Friday, August 4, 2000 from 6 to 9 p.m. Her project will earn her a gold award. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the permit be approved, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said he distributed a letter from Upper Shore Aging concerning a contract for the space upstairs which would be discussed in the executive session.

Mayor Bailey stated that a hearing will be held on July 25, 2000 at 9:45 a.m. on a transfer of the beer and wine license for Lewes Dairy. Currently the license is in the name of Robert H. VanDyke, III and Nancy L. VanDyke, and the license would be transferred to Mahmood Baig Mirza and Robert H. VanDyke, III.

Mayor Bailey read a notice of the 1st Annual Eastern Shore Technology Summit on Tuesday, July 25, 2000 at Chesapeake College. Anyone interested in attending may get the information from the Town Office.

Mayor Bailey said that we received a copy of the report from Dr. Terpuluk on the Comprehensive Evaluation, Kent County Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Abuse Prevention Intervention and Treatment Programs. She said it will be available in the Town Hall for anyone who would like to review the report.

Mayor Bailey asked that the reappointments discussed at the previous meeting be voted on. She asked for a motion to reappoint Cynthia Saunders to the Tree Committee for three years. Mr. Bristoll moved that Cynthia Saunders be reappointed, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to reappoint James J. White, IV to the Planning Commission for a five year term. Mr. Clark moved that Mr. White be reappointed to the Planning Commission, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to reappoint Alex Rasin to a three year term as Chairman of the Ethics Commission. Mr. Bristoll moved that Mr. Rasin be reappointed as Chairman of the Ethics Commission, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to reappoint Clark Ensor as an alternate to the Board of Appeals for a three year term. Mr. Clark moved that Mr. Ensor be reappointed, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to reappoint Ted Hornaday as an alternate to the Board of Appeals for a three year term. Mr. Bristoll moved that Mr. Hornaday be reappointed, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Nan Wheat related an incident where her mother had her purse stolen in the Acme. Mrs. Wheat said a Town police officer came to the store to handle the matter and while he was there he received another call and had to leave as there was only one officer on duty. She said this occurred at 5 p.m. on a weekday. She said she was concerned that if the officer been able to spend more time on this incident he could possibly have been able to track down the person if they were still in the store. She said she was concerned for the safety of police officers if there were times when only one person was on duty. She said she did not feel that was fair or safe for the police officers. She said right after this occurred with her mother, the same type of incident occurred at the Super Fresh. Mayor Bailey said they could call the Sheriff's Department for backup if there was an emergency.

Mr. Ingersoll said there was a three hour block, between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekdays when there was only one officer on duty. Mr. Kirby said there are other times when there was only one officer on duty, daytime during weekend and sometimes in the evenings because of the way the officers are rotated. He said most of the time during the day, the Chief and Edler work so there was more than one person on duty. He said there are ten officers and they probably try to do the schedule to get the best coverage for the manpower they have and have the most people working at the peak hours when crime occurs. Mr. Kirby said his office got a notice that people are targeting people in food stores, taking cash and using credit cards immediately before the owner has a chance to cancel the cards. The law enforcement agencies feel it is a professional ring operating in a three or four state area. He emphasized that people must keep their wallets or purses with them and not leave them in carts when shopping.

Mayor Bailey said that was one of the reasons we are trying to hire another reserve officer. She said a reserve officer can cover some of these times.

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

Mr. Bristoll moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:00 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer