Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers W. 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 stated that Mr. Bristoll was on vacation. She asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the minutes of the meeting of September 18, 2000 be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey called on the Police Chief for his report. Chief Bradley stated everyone had the Police Report. He said he was not going to read the report, however, he had something to read. Chief Bradley read a letter of resignation as Chief of Police effective October 13, 2000. He stated he wanted everyone, especially the public, to know that the resignation had nothing to do with the incident at Washington Square. He said he stood behind his officers that night; he said they did everything right that night and followed the rules and regulations to a "T" and he would stand behind his officers now and would always stand behind them. Chief Bradley left the meeting.

Mayor Bailey said she was sorry. She said it had been a pleasure and an honor to work with the Chief. She said he was always there when she asked, always cooperative and would always help and be where he needed to be. She said this was a great loss to the community.

Mayor Bailey called on Mr. Ingersoll for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said to finish the police report, he read the minutes of a bid opening from September 15 for mobile video camera equipment. He said the first bid from Lawmen Supply Co. of Dover, Delaware with a bid price of $3695 each. He said the next bid was from Kustom Signals of Lenexa, Kansas. He said they had two options, one for $4710 with specifications attached which would match the other camera; and a bid of $3710 with specifications attached which was a VCR that was recycled or reused. The said the apparent low bidder was Lawmen Supply Co. Mr. Ingersoll said Lawmen Supply was the low bidder and met the specifications of the equipment they wanted. He said there was enough money in the grant ($5000) to buy one camera. He said the Chief had been working on getting more grant money to get more cameras for the other cars.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to accept the bid from Lawmen. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the camera be purchased from Lawmen Supply for $3695 and was seconded by Mr. Clark. Mr. Kirby asked if they would be buying just one camera or one for each of the cars. Mr. Ingersoll said they would buy one camera with the grant money and if additional grant funds could the police department buy cameras for other cars. Mayor Bailey asked the Council if they would approve that. Mr. Kirby said only if the company would agree to the same bid price at a later time. Mr. Clark moved that the Police Department be authorized to buy additional cameras (at the same bid price) if grant money become available to do so and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. Mr. Kirby said he felt that the vote should be taken when the money was to be spent. Mr. Ingersoll said the funds had been budgeted for additional cameras and if the company agreed to honor the bid price he thought they could proceed without bringing the matter back to the Council. Mayor Bailey called for the vote on the motion which carried by unanimous vote.

Mayor Bailey introduced Arlene Lee from the Local Management Board. Arlene Lee said she was present to give the Council a proposal for the Hot Spot Grant program for next year. She said they were presenting a possible job description for an employee proposed under the Community Mobilization elements the Hot Spot Grant. She said the position would be for a full time community liaison who would become an employee of the Town through grant funds, supervised by the Town Manager, for the purpose of creating a link between the community and local government for counseling, planning, and activity needs. She said the preliminary budget, which included salary and benefits and the in-kind match, was listed at $5500 to cover supervision by the Town Manager and equipment. She said the equipment was for a computer not being used by the Town and a fax machine which has been replaced in the Town Office. She said in order to get more community input they feel that only a person working full time on the project will be successful. She said it just has not worked with volunteers. Mayor Bailey said she felt this was an opportunity to accomplish what had been started and that her work with the Hot Spot group indicated that a full time person was needed to do the community outreach. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the approve the submission of the request for funding for the position as described and was seconded by Mr. Clark.

Mr. Clark asked how long the grant program would be. Ms. Lee said the grant would be for one year but the full grant cycle would be for three years. She said they would keep reapplying each year for three years. She said they will want to see additional support over time but it can continue to be in-kind support from the Town and not monetary funds. Mr. Kirby asked where the person would work. Ms. Lee said the person would work out of the community resource center now at Calvert Heights but would move to the another location on High Street later (which was also part of the Hot Spot grant). Mr. Kirby asked who would determine who the employee would be. Ms. Lee said she thought the Town would make the decision because the supervision would be done by the Town Manager. Mayor Bailey said she felt that Arlene Lee and Susie Hayman should be involved in the process of the final hiring. The vote on the motion was 3 in favor, Mr. Kirby opposed.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said he had a permit request from the Humane Society to hold a Mutt Strut from Wilmer Park, up Cannon Street and across to High Street and then back to the park. He said the date was October 28, 2000 in the morning to raise awareness. He said the dogs would be on leases. The Council had no problem with the granting of the permit.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Council had discussed some changes needed in the personnel manual. He distributed the document to the Council and said the changes were in bold type. He said the main change was the adoption of a substance abuse testing program which has been drawn up by the company that does the testing for the DOT drivers. He said this program was something the Town should have for all employees and it is being added to the manual of regulations. He said some language about overtime and workmen's compensation has been clarified. He asked the Council to read over the manual for adoption at the next meeting. he said the additions to the employees regulations must be in place before we can institute the random drug testing.

Mr. Ingersoll said an executive session was needed to discuss a personnel matter. Mr. Clark moved that an executive session be held following the meeting pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss a personnel matter, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said that the Maryland Department of Transportation annual regional meeting in Kent County will be on October 31, 2000 at 9:30 a.m. at Room 100 at 400 High Street. She said anyone interested may attend.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked about the planting at Rt. 213 and 291. Mr. Ingersoll said he will get a list and drawing of the plantings. Mr. Ingersoll said the Town was pushing to have the bypass put back on the list of things to be done by the State. He said we have the full support of the County according to Gail Owings. He said the County was also pushing for something to be done at Rt. 20 and 291.

Mayor Bailey said at the November 13 Mayor and Council Meeting, a representative of the State Highway will be present to address some of our issues. She said Lt. Garber of the Maryland State Police truck division will be present to answer questions about the truck traffic.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any comments or questions. Jean Wickes, 117 N. Water Street, stated she wanted to discuss the noise and traffic on the Chester River Bridge between 2 and 6 a.m. She said it sounds as though things are getting done. She said she felt enforcing the speed limit would solve the noise problems and that the bypass would solve the traffic problem. She said someone named David Gerinko with the Environmental Noise Abatement measures the noise levels. She said the equipment could be placed at the apartment building at Water and Maple Avenue to measure the noise level.

Mayor Bailey reminded the Council that the Utilities Meeting would be on Tuesday, October 17 at 7:30 rather than Monday night. The November meetings will be Monday the 13th and Monday November 20, 2000.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated there had been an accident at Rt. 20 and 291 and wanted to impress on the State that there needs to be more traffic control there than a stop sign. She reported that the fence at the Chester Cemetery was being sanded and will be painted. She said she suggested that the cemetery committee contact Washington College for volunteers to assist with the work. She stated she was sorry the Town had lost Sgt. Alexander as a police officer and sorry the Town was losing the Chief of Police. She said there was a lot of pressure put on the police department to cover so many places. She said there was no way a department the size of Chestertown's was able to cover so many things all the time.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz discussed the drinking problems with partying by college students in Town, in homes and on the streets. She said the majority of the Washington College students are under 21 years old and drinking was against the law. She said she did not feel that the College was taking responsibility for these students as they should. Mayor Bailey said she understood that enterprising individuals were buying kegs, taking them home and selling drinks to students from homes and making money. She said this was illegal. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said that was not new and it was illegal. Mayor Bailey the thing to do was report these activities to the police.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if there was any way the Town could get assistance from the Humane Society for animal control in Town. Mr. Ingersoll said we could invite the Humane Society to a meeting and discuss the level of help the Town gets. He said he will invite them to the next meeting.

Gail Regester discussed vandalism in her neighborhood, skateboarders who go onto porches, peoples' belongings being moved from one house to another, etc. She said there was seldom a police officer in her neighborhood because it was basically quiet.

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

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m., was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer