Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Police Capt. Robert Edler, 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 and executive session of July 17, 2000. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes be accepted as distributed, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on Monday, July 17, 2000 at 8:05 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council were present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. The meeting was called to discuss a contractual matter and a personnel matter. The Mayor and Council voted unanimously on the contractual matter. There was no action taken on the personnel matter. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey congratulated Bill and Susan Ingersoll on the arrival of their new daughter, Lila Kipling Ingersoll.

Mayor Bailey called on Capt. Edler for the police report. Capt. Edler stated that Chief Bradley was ill and he would give the report for the month of July. After the police report, Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions of Capt. Edler. There being no questions, Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report.

Mr. Ingersoll said that a request had come from Carl Burke of Upper Shore Aging, Inc. for a letter of support from the Mayor and Council for their project to build administrative offices in Chestertown. Mr. Ingersoll read the proposed letter. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Mayor Bailey sign the letter of support, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the SOKA Drum and Bugle Corps had submitted a permit request to practice music and march at the Wilmer Park during the day. He said they were staying at the Chestertown Armory and participating in international competitions at College Park. He said because the request came in between meetings, he allowed this to take place as a daytime activity for four days. He said there were some complaints and some positive comments. He said they work very hard but they had been practicing Sunday night until about 10:30 p.m. He said they had been approved for the hours of 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. He said the current request was for this week, Monday during the day to Friday until noon. Mayor Bailey said if they stick to the daytime hours as requested, there should not be a problem.

Mr. Kirby said if they have transportation, he would suggest that they practice out at Worton Park where there are no residences close by. He said they were on the Armory property and across the street on the Goodall property on Sunday. Mr. Bristoll said he felt that the immediate residents should be polled and if they are bothering the neighbors, then maybe they should go out to Worton. He said a permit like this was in violation of the noise ordinance. The Council agreed that Mr. Ingersoll will poll the neighbors and discuss the permit with the people at the Armory who was the host for the group.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that bids were opened at noon on August 7, 2000 for a pickup truck for the street department. He read the minutes from the bid opening in which bids were received from three dealers, Williams Chevrolet in Elkton, Gambacorta in Chestertown, and Ramsey in Chestertown. It was apparent that the bid from Ramsey was the lowest. Ramsey bid on a new 2001 GMC pickup, price $25,500 with a trade-in allowance of $7500 for a net price of $18,000, and a 1999 pickup on the lot at a cost of $23,000 with a trade-in allowance of $8000 for a net price of $15,000. Mr. Ingersoll asked the Council if they would approve the bid from Ramsey and discuss the choice of the vehicle with the street superintendent. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the bid be awarded to Ramsey Pontiac-Olds-GMC for either vehicle as discussed, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said that a Resolution by the Mayor and Council was needed to confirm the Town's membership in the Local Government Insurance Trust Health Benefits Group. He said this was the group medical insurance for employees and the Council had already voted at a previous meeting to join the Health Benefits Group. The Mayor and Councilmembers signed the Resolution.

Mr. Ingersoll said through the work of Pat Diver and himself the Town got a check for $14,277.15 for FEMA reimbursement for snow storm cleanup. These funds and the FEMA funds for Hurricane Floyd totaled over $37,000.

Mr. Ingersoll said we were notified by the company that does the Town's drug testing for our CDL drivers that we are technically not in compliance with the DOT licensing requirements, even though everyone who has the license goes through testing when they get a CDL license. He said they have submitted a proposal for under $600 for annual random employee drug testing. He said he would like notify the employees that we will start this program and set a date to begin it. He said since the cost of this was $600 it was not something that needs to be bid and this company also does the testing for the Kent County government. Mr. Kirby asked if we had two categories, critical and non-critical employees. Mr. Ingersoll said we do not have them categorized formally but the CDL drivers are in the group that have to have testing. He said the program would include all employees and samples are taken at Dr. Benjamin's office. Mayor Bailey asked the Council if they wished to proceed with the program. The Council agreed to start the random drug testing program for employees.

Mr. Kirby said at some point the employee manual of rules would need to be updated to include the testing. Mr. Ingersoll said another section of the manual that needs clarification was the section on workmen's comp and both changes can be done at one time.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the charter change that had been discussed by the Council was the change in the Charter for the minimum amount for which bids be obtained from $3,000 to $10,000. He said that has been prepared and will be introduced at a public hearing when the Council is ready.

Mayor Bailey asked if Mrs. Mumford-Pautz had a report. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said the community lost a lovely lady and volunteer from Washington Park, Bernice Turner of Washington Park. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the owners of the sweater place in the 300 block of Cannon Street had gotten a permit for the plastic fence. Mr. Ingersoll said they had gotten a permit and approval from the Historic District Commission and he would give her a copy of the minutes.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz complimented the County Commissioners on their work on the 200 block of Calvert Street in back of the library. On another note, she asked that members of the public who may have computer equipment they do not use, please donate it as there are students who need computers for school work. She also asked for volunteers for a chairman and people to work on the Christmas baskets so that program may be done this year.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would like to see the Chester Cemetery on the Historic Register. She said the 600 and 700 blocks of High Street also might be included in the Historic District. She said that she would like to see these things done while she is on the Council. She said many properties in the neighborhood are being renovated and improved and hopefully the upper High Street and Cannon Street can be included on historic tours as are other parts of the Town. She said people in the area were working diligently to have the whole Town included on tours and in another year or 18 months and these properties can be ready for tours. She listed all of the grant programs that have been made possible as a result of the Hot Spot initiative.

Mayor Bailey read a notice of a liquor license hearing for MargaritaGrille at 844 High Street (formerly Jillian's). The hearing will be on August 22, 2000 at 10 a.m.

Mayor Bailey said that she asked the State Highway Administration to review and update the traffic study done on Rt. 213 in 1993. The State Highway Administration report dated May 2000 stated:

A comparison of the no-build traffic counts in the 1993 report to a very comparable March, 1999 12-hour traffic count shows a substantial difference at the MD291/MD 213 intersection. The difference in traffic volumes at this location causes the 1993 PM peak to go from Level of Service (LOS) "A" to a 1999 Peak hour LOS "E" using the Critical Lane Volume technique. With WalMart in place the 1993 PM peak hour LOS was projected to drop to "B". . . Using the 1999 traffic volumes if WalMart were to impact the MD213/MD291 intersection, we would expect to be faced with a LOS "F" (failing) condition.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Dawn Wright stated she had worked on the Garnett Summer Program along with Orgirina Graves and Darryl Deaton. She said they were planning a trip to King's Dominion on August 17 for 68 kids who had attended the summer program. There would be 12 chaperons and a total of 26 adults. She said the adults going are paying their own way. She said they have collected $7 each from the children for T-shirts so they would be dressed alike for recognition. She said they may need an additional $600 so that all of the children in the program may go. They have contracted for two buses at a cost of $1120. Mayor Bailey said funds could be used that were raised previously as scholarship money for kids who needed help with equipment or shoes.

Mr. Ingersoll said he met with Orgirina Graves earlier in the day and discussed the funding for this trip. He said the Town has money in the recreation budget which can be used to make up any difference. He said the money that has been collected will be turned in to the Town bookkeeper, since any money that passes through the Town must be accounted for. He said a list of the kids who will go had already been submitted. He recommended that the Town pay the difference needed from recreation funds. Mr. Kirby moved that the Town contribute up to $600 for the trip and if funds beyond that are needed, they would be approved by motion at the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said three people have handled this summer's recreation program with as many as 200 children a night. She thanked Orgirina, Dawn and Darryl for their hard work. She said she hoped the program would always continue at the Garnett School. Mr. Ingersoll said the program could not run longer than it has because the School Board wanted to get the gym ready for the beginning of the school year. Darryl Deaton asked whether a couple of outside basketball courts could be installed so they could be outside except for rainy weather. He said kids of all ages enjoy playing basketball together. Mayor Bailey said we are working on getting a good basketball court in the neighborhood next year.

Ms. Graves said she had recommended Dawn Wright to Mrs. Mumford-Pautz for the recreation commission. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked that Ms. Wright submit a resume to the Mayor and Council for review.

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

There being no further business, Mr. Bristoll moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer