MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
April 8, 2002

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:41 p.m. In attendance were Mabel Mumford-Pautz, J. Brian Kirby, Whaland Clark, Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Jennifer Stead, Stenographer, and guests. William S. Ingersoll, Town Manager , was absent.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the meeting of March 4, 2002. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that cash on hand and in banks was $624,712.60.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to make a decision whether or not they wished to support the County Human Relations Commission, which looked at housing, public accommodation and job related issues. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated her impression from the other Towns was that they were not in favor. Mr. Kirby stated he was not in favor of the Commission because he did not see a need for it, when there was a State Commission in place. Mr. Bristoll stated he sensed the County was going to do it with or without the Town's approval.

Mr. Kirby read from a letter dated March 8, from Ann Hennessey stating, "When I contacted Mr. Ed Robinson yesterday, he informed me to date the Commissioner's have received no communication from you on this subject. We have scheduled a meeting with the Commissioner's on Tuesday, April 9th to move forward with implementing the proposal…" Mr. Kirby thought it did not make a difference what the Council thought because the Commissioner's would go forward with it regardless of what the Town had to say about it.

Mayor Bailey stated this Commission would handle different items than the Town had addressed. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated the Commission was a duplication of services that were already available.

Mr. Kirby stated he thought an underlying reason for the Commission was to add additional duties, down the line, such as being a civilian police review board, since that was how the Commission was started. Mr. Bristoll agreed and stated the letter also asked for "thoughts, concerns and support". Mr. Bristoll stated that concerns and support do not necessarily go hand-in-hand and thought the Commissioners should be written and the Town should express their concerns.

Mayor Bailey stated the reason she understood the Commission was being formed was the people who needed this particular type of attention were usually the same people who were least able to seek help from the State of Maryland. A local Commission, where they could determine whether there was a problem, could take it to the State level.

The Council decided to take no action and a letter would be sent to the Commissioners.

Mayor Bailey announced Richard Norton's resignation from the Recreation Commission effective March 12, 2002. Mayor Bailey stated Mr. Norton was the best Chairman the Commission had ever had and he had worked on a professional level. Mr. Kirby stated that although he did not always agree with Mr. Norton, he did a great job and he would be sorely missed and very hard to replace. Mayor Bailey stated if Mr. Norton wanted to change his mind, he would be welcomed back.

Mayor Bailey announced Arbor Day ceremonies would be held on Tuesday, April 23rd at 1:15 p.m. in front of the Courthouse.

Mayor Bailey read the minutes of the bid opening for the park fencing for the new Recreation Park. The first bid was from Long Fence for a per linear foot at $15.75. The second bid was from Anderson Fence Company for a per linear foot of 1500' at $26.50. The third bid was from R&M Fence Company in the amount of $22,000.00 based on 1500 linear foot, with a per foot cost of $14.67. The fourth bid was from Vince Raymond for a bid amount of $51,800.00. The last was from Country Living Fence for per linear foot of $18.33.

Mayor Bailey stated the low bidder was R&M Fence Company and the second low bidder was Long Fence. Mayor Bailey said Bill Ingersoll had recommended that the bid be awarded to the low bidder, R & M Fence. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved to award the bid to the low bidder for $22,000.00, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated groundbreaking for the Visitor's Center would take place Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 10:30 a.m.

Mayor Bailey stated the April 1st meeting had been changed to April 8th.

Mayor Bailey stated at the last Mayor and Council meeting a light at Rt. 213 and Campus Avenue had been discussed. Further information had been received and the light would be a traffic light as well as a pedestrian crossing light. She said the State did not want the crossing guard directing traffic if there was a light because the traffic light are synchronized. The Council did not feel it was safe for school children to cross the street without some supervision. Mayor Bailey said the crossing guard could be there to supervise the light change and to make sure the children crossed the street at the proper time. Mr. Clark moved to approve the installation of a traffic light at Rt. 213 and Campus Avenue, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Stein from the Rock Hall Trolley Company was present and stated that in May they were going to start trolley service in Chestertown. He stated the company had been started in May 2000. He said they pick people up at the marinas and places where there was no transportation available. He stated they start weekend service on Mother's Day weekend and between the 4th of July and Labor Day they run seven days a week. He said in Chestertown they would like to encompass the shopping plazas, senior citizens living areas, downtown, and Washington College. The cost to ride the trolley was $2.00 per day. Private businesses would advertise on the trolleys and that helped to keep the price down. The charge for going from Chestertown to Rock Hall that would be $4.00 per day.

Mr. Stein stated he would ask the police chief for his opinion on the best route. He stated because it was a private company, the route could be altered and the public service commission did not schedule them. He stated some job opportunities would be available by the additional trips to Chestertown, as they would need some part-time drivers. He said he would present the proposed route to the Council when they were closer to Mother's Day weekend. Mayor Bailey stated she thought it was a great idea and the Council agreed.

Mr. Kirby wanted to discuss a letter dated February 25th from Chief Coryell with regard to a grant. He understood it was voted on while he was out of Town and had some questions about the procedure. He stated the grant was applied for before the 1st of the year and the grant was to hire another officer. He asked why it had not been discussed prior to finding out the grant was received.

Mayor Bailey stated the letter had been lost on her desk and as soon as it was discovered, she and Mr. Ingersoll contacted the Council. She stated it should have been looked at earlier and apologized.

Mr. Kirby asked if he was correct in understanding that there was a vote to approve the hiring of an officer. Although he agreed it was a good idea that the Town had somebody on the Drug Task Force, he disagreed with the position because there was a need for uniformed presence first. He thought Chestertown reaped the biggest benefit from the Drug Task Force. He did not think the service would be any better having somebody from the Town in it. Also, the endeavor would cost substantially more than $8,000.00 when the grant ran out. Mr. Kirby stated something of this nature should have been discussed before the application was made.

Mr. Clark stated the position should not go past the four-year mark. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that the individual who was hired for the position should be advised that unless there was an opening, the job would come to an end at the end of the grant. Mayor Bailey sated that could be explained at the beginning of the job.

Chief Coryell stated that by June, there was a plan to have four more uniformed officers on the street. He stated there were two people already hired, one was finishing school, and the other was returning from military service.

Ms. McClung asked what the situation was with the portable basketball nets. Mayor Bailey stated there were nets in place and that they had been up for a while. She stated as people adjusted, there would be another net put up and there would also be nets for the smaller children. Mr. Grim stated the residents of Poplar Street wanted a net as well. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated the nets were being moved around and that was not what was wanted. Mayor Bailey stated eventually there could be looked into a way to anchor them.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if there had been any repairs to AJAX and Washington Park. Mayor Bailey did not know and asked Mrs. Mumford-Pautz to speak to Mr. Ingersoll.

Mr. Bristoll made a motion for payment of bills, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:13 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor