MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
August 19, 2002

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. In attendance were Harrison J. Bristoll, Mabel Mumford-Pautz, J. Brian Kirby, Whaland Clark, William S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Jennifer Stead, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting of August 5, 2002. Mr. Clark moved to approve the minutes of the July 22, 2002 minutes as presented was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that cash on hand and in banks was $46,534.00.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Kent County Commissioners were holding a Rail-to-Trail workshop meeting on Tuesday, August 20, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. Most of the Council planned to attend.

Mr. Ingersoll stated he introduced the sidewalk amendment Ordinance and asked the Council to indulge another change before it was adopted. The original change was a height of vegetation of 12" between the sidewalk and the curb, but there were places in Town where the median strip was 20-22' wide. In such cases of wide easements it was appropriate to have bushes and trees. Mr. Ingersoll introduced the change: "It shall be unlawful to plant any vegetation that would achieve a height above 12" between the sidewalk and curb that is less than 6' wide. The Town shall have the authority to immediately remove any unapproved or illegally planted vegetation from the median at the property owner's expense". This way when the wrong thing was planted it could be removed and given back to the property owner. Mr. Ingersoll stated that he would request the Ordinance with changes be approved at the September 3rd meeting.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that a copy of the Design Guidelines for the Historic District had been received. He said that John Seidel and Kees deMooy did most of the work. The guideline was customized for Chestertown and was to be adopted in some form by the Council. He said a public hearing, possibly delegated to the Historic Commission, should be held. He asked the Council to go over the document and asked for their input on the guidelines.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the house behind First Methodist Church on Calvert Street would be moved to its new location at 206 Calvert Street early Tuesday morning, August 21st . Expert House Movers was performing the move.

Mr. Ingersoll read a letter from Coventry Farms into the record. The letter requested a permit to drive the deer herd away from the development to the undeveloped land on the North and West side of the farm, where they could be harvested. Farmers needed permission to discharge firearms in the Town limits. The process would be controlled and residents would be notified if the request was granted.

Mr. Bristoll moved to approve the permit to push the deer herd for harvesting on the first and last day of shotgun season, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Bristoll moved for an executive session under section 10.508 of the Annotated Code of the State of Maryland following the meeting to discuss a legal matter and personnel matter was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ryan Grim stated that there would be a 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament on Saturday, August 31st, at 4:00 p.m., sponsored by AJAX and the Local Management Board. Participants had to be sixteen (16) and under and could sign up at the Community Resource Center, 515 High Street, or could call 778-0828.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz thanked Mr. Grim for the time he had spent with the youth of Chestertown during the summer.

Mayor Bailey stated that the next meeting fell on the Labor Day Holiday and the meeting would be held on Tuesday, September 3rd at 7:30 p.m.

Mayor Bailey stated she would like to appoint Gil Watson to the Planning Commission at the next meeting. The Council was given a copy of his curriculum vitae.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that he received a request from Beth Spray, on behalf of Kent County High School, to hold the Kent County High School Homecoming Parade on October 5, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. The Council granted the request for the permit.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that when permission was given for different activities, it was sometimes overlooking things that took place on a regular basis. She said the Saturday before, when Mass was being held at Sacred Heart, there was a block party on the other block and the streets were blocked off.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked what was happening at the end of Radcliffe where there were pilings driven into the ground. Mr. Ingersoll stated that building permits had been filed on five (5) lots which were subdivided years ago.

Mr. Clark moved to pay bills, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mr. Clark moved to close the meeting at 8:04 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor