Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers W. Whaland Clark, Mabel Mumford-Pautz and James R. Johnson, 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 previous meeting and executive session of January 13, 2003. Mr. Clark moved that the minutes be accepted as submitted, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session had been held following the meeting on January 13, 2003 in accordance with Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Mayor and two councilmembers were present and voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss a contractual matter. One motion was made and carried unanimously to sell an unbuildable parcel of land. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Town has cash on hand and in banks on January 27, 2003 of $422,490.52.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll stated that Ryan Grim, the videographer, had a resolution he wished to read to the Council for their consideration.

Ryan Grim stated that over 40 cities had approved resolutions to be sent to their State legislators and the President of the United States. He read a resolution which stated reasons why the various towns or cities should oppose a unilateral pre-emptive U. S. military attack on Iraq. Mayor Bailey stated that the Council would consider the resolution and discuss it when Mr. Bristoll had returned. She said no action would be taken until the full Council was able to discuss it.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Council had been provided with a copy of the Planning Commission Annual report for 2002. He said the Planning Commission had approved the report and forwarded it to the Council for their approval before sending it to the Department of State Planning. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the report be approved as submitted for forwarding to the State, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the public hearing on the Annexation for the properties from Alger Oil to the Tri-Gas property would be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2003. He said the Council had a successful meeting with the County Commissioners last week and the Commissioners were in full support of the annexation.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town had added a State Employee Pension Plan as a benefit to Town employees. He said the plan has a mandatory contribution requirement of 2% of base salary from each employee. He said the Town would like to exercise an "employer pickup" which means that the IRS will allow the employee contribution to be tax deferred. He read a Resolution which was required to allow the employer pickup and asked for adoption by the Council. He said he would have it approved by the Town Attorney before we send it to IRS. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Resolution be adopted, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that letters had been sent to all local banks, Chesapeake, Chestertown, Farmer's, People's, Centreville and Sun Trust, asking for bids for a term loan to fund the Town's cost to the State pension plan to buy all employees current service. He said the State would finance this contribution at the rate of 8%. He said the Council had discussed borrowing the funds locally to get a better interest rate. He said that quotes would be opened on Monday, February 10, 2003 at 12 noon.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a permit request for the Annual Jazz Festival at Wilmer Park on Fri. Sept. 5, Sat. Sept. 6 and Sat. Sept. 7, 2003. He asked if there were any objections to signing the permit. The Council had no objections.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town will be advertising for the position of meter monitor, crossing guard, and codes enforcement person to replace Billie Beck, who was leaving Town employment. He said the duties of code enforcement were added to the meter and crossing guard position and a vehicle made available to allow the person to travel around town for the various duties. He said Billie Beck had done a good job with the code enforcement which been a great help with eliminating problems with trash, abandoned vehicles, etc. around town.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the Town had been looking over surplus properties during the past few years and whenever possible, putting surplus property back on the tax rolls. He said there are two properties that the Town will sell and put a notice of such in the Kent News. He said one was a sliver of land on Horsey Lane next to the Wallish residence. It was an unbuildable piece of land which will be added to their residential property. The property was appraised at $5000. The second property was the old sewer treatment plant which consists of approximately 3 acres on MD Rt. 289. The appraised value of this property was $150,000 and the Town was selling it for $175,000. He said the buyer has agreed to the easement for continuation of the walk along the waterfront which has been planned for some time. The buyer will also preserve all existing wetland.. The buyer wishes to have a low impact facility for the launching of kayaks. He said the buyer wishes to keep it a habitat area and all this will be part of the contract. He said the only buildable land was the area where the sewer treatment plant was now located and a piece next to the Armory.

Mrs. Hoon asked if this was the property that she had expressed interest in the property for a planetarium along with Washington College. She asked if it had been up for sale and on the market. Mr. Ingersoll said that Mrs. Hoon had never made any statements about purchasing the property, only in a public use with a private benefactor and possibly Washington College. He said the Charter permits the Town to sell surplus property. He said the requirement about excess property was that the Town notify the public within 20 days of selling it.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Town was excited about what was happening with the old sewer plant property. He said the Town had looked into having a habitat park there and that almost all the things the Town would like to see there will be done, and the property will pay taxes. He said the buyer wants a wetland habitat area to surround his low implact kayak facility. Mayor Bailey asked Mrs. Hoon to contact Bill the next day to further discuss the property. Mr. Ingersoll said that the Town had already negotiated the sale of the property before Mrs. Hoon mentioned her interest.

Mayor Bailey said the Proclamation C-300 will be put off until Jim Bristoll can be present at the meeting.

Mayor Bailey asked that the Utilities meeting in March scheduled for the 17th be moved to Tuesday, March 18, 2003. The Council agreed and the change will be advertised.

Mayor Bailey said Mr. Ingersoll discussed the meeting with the Council Commissioners on January 23, 2003. She said there is another meeting with the Commissioners on the tax differential on Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at 7 p.m. She said that in return for all the services that the County does not have to provide in Town because the Town provides them, the County used to give the Town a tax differential of $50,000 to $55,000 a year. She said two years ago that was dropped. She said as a county seat we have a lot of extra expense and that between 40 and 50% of all property in town is tax exempt.

Mayor Bailey said the County Economic Development Board has asked to meet with the Town officials on Wednesday, February 5, 2003 at 3 p.m. She said that the County was also interested in having the Town and County Planning Commissions work together.

Mayor Bailey stated she wanted to give condolences to the family of Thelma Vansant who passed away. Mrs. Vansant was a lifelong resident, teacher and long term member of the Town's Board of Supervisors of Elections.

Mr. Bill McClung asked what action the Council would take on Ryan Grim's resolution. Mayor Bailey said the Councilmembers would review it and it would not be discussed or acted upon until Mr. Bristoll's return.

Rev. Ronald Fisher stated that he wanted to thank the Mayor and Council for the work done in the last couple of years in the Hot Spot area. He said the crime prevention activities, clean up, clearing of trees, and the new lighting has really helped the community. Margo Bailey said that the police have indicated that clearing trees, brush, etc. and adding lighting was a help with stopping illegal actions. She thanked Rev. Fisher for his comments.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the town crew also will be clearing the over grown weeds and brush from the railroad tracks in the near future. He said they would work between Satterfield Court and the Gillespie plant.

Ms. Shiela Carver stated she lived in Crestview and asked about more sidewalk installation along Rt. 213 and safety for pedestrian crossing of Rt. 213. Mayor Bailey said the sidewalks that were installed along Rt. 213 were done with State Highway retrofit funds and the work was done where most practical. She said there should soon be a light on 213 at the upper shopping center entrance, opposite the movie theatre. She said the town will be meeting with the State Highway Administration and the County to address issues in Town and that will be added to the list along with the Rescue Squad request, traffic control or round about at Rt. 20 and 291, speed reduction down town and out Rt. 213 to Hopewell corner, and the traffic light at Campus and Washington Avenue.

Mr. Ingersoll said we would continue to pursue sidewalk funds from the State. He said we have gotten great cooperation from the property owners along Rt. 213 for sidewalk installation, since most of the sidewalk was not really on State right-of-way.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any further questions or comments. There being none, she asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Clark moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mr. Clark moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m., was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor