Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. In attendance were Council Members Mabel Mumford-Pautz, W. Whaland Clark and Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., W.S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Jennifer Stead, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey stated that at the beginning of each meeting she would like to have a moment of silence for all of the American troops who were on active duty in Iraq.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the Mayor and Council meetings of June 7 th and May 17 th. Mr. Bristoll moved to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that there was an executive session at 8:20 p.m. on June 7, 2004 to discuss a legal matter. All members of the Mayor and Council were in attendance. No motions were made or passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey stated that cash on hand and in the banks was $271,750.42.

Chief Coryell stated that for the month of May 2004, the Chestertown Police Department made forty-four (44) adult arrests, involving the placement of ninety-four (94) separate charges. In addition, there were (11) juveniles arrested with seventeen (17) separate charges placed. There were ten (10) civil citations issued. There were two hundred thirty-eight (238) traffic warnings and seventy-six (76) traffic citations issued. Five hundred seven (507) calls for service were handled.

Chief Coryell stated that on Friday, June 25 th a new officer by the name of Stephen Lazar was beginning.

Chief Coryell stated that permit parking was being issued for Campus and Mt. Vernon Avenues. He asked that the residents who did not get their permits yet would make arrangements to get them before August.

Mayor Bailey introduced Mr. Rudy Cane of Shore-up, Inc., who was in charge of the Head Start program in Kennedyville. Mr. Cane explained that the agreement to buy the original building he applied for with the CDBG Grant had fallen through. He said that he would like permission from the Council to use the grant money to buy a piece of land on Rt. 213, with an entrance from Rt. 291. Mr. Cane had a site plan for the for the property.

Mr. Cane explained that there was a breach of contract with the seller for the original property and that was why he was seeking land to build on.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that the property off of Rt. 291 was part of the LaMotte property. He said that the Block Grant was successfully received and Shore Up, Inc. did have an agreement to buy a property, which fell through. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town should have Mr. Barroll review all the original contract documents before they proceed any further. He said that he spoke with DHCD about the possibility of using the money to purchase the property (which was still unsubdivided) and using some of the remaining money for architectural design. He said he thought DHCD seemed positive of the aspect of further funding for the construction of the building. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town, however, would be monitored for the project until it was built out.

Mr. Ingersoll recommended that the Town attorney clear the old grant and letter of agreement. He said the Council had to decide whether or not the Town was in favor of allowing the grant to be amended at the DHCD level and used to acquire the property that Mr. Cane was presently seeking to buy.

Mayor Bailey questioned the property because she thought the County had purchased it. Mr. Cane explained that the owner did sell the property to the County, reserving 2½ acres for himself that he would, in turn, subdivide.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved to have Mr. Barroll review the original grant and letter of agreement for Shore Up, Inc., was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved for an amendment to the CDBG grant application, allowing Mr. Cane to buy appropriate property/land within Chestertown town limits. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clark and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey introduced Andrea Blackston of McCormick/Taylor who was present for a discussion of the Scenic Byways Signage Program. Ms. Blackston explained that the National Scenic By-way followed MD 213 from Chesapeake City to the Bay Bridge, with a spur to Rock Hall. The program was interested in placing gateway signage in Chestertown in three (3) spots, which would replace the green SHA signs that read, “Welcome to Chestertown”.

Ms. Blackston stated that the wooden signs would have a rural background with a goose, a farm, and “Welcome to Chestertown” in the front. There would be low-maintenance landscaping around them. The three (3) locations that the Council decided upon were 1) on or at the beginning of the bridge entering Town from the Queen Anne side; 2) on Rt. 213 by Weinstein Supply; and, 3) at the existing SHA right-of-way by Davis Real Estate on Rt. 213.

Ms. Blackston stated that she would return with a mock-up of the signs for the Council’s comments. A public meeting for each county would be held at a future date.

Ms. Bernadette Van Pelt stated that money for the signs came from County, with a matching grant from the National Scenic By-way.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that he received a request from the Actors Community Theatre to construct a temporary stage at the Sultana boatyard for summer theatre, which would allow for seating between 50-60 persons. They stated that Mr. McMullen wrote a letter saying that the stage would not interrupt boat building. There would be several performances of two plays during the summer. Rehearsals would take place in the evening and the stage would be removed following the last performance in August. The Actors Community Theatre would cover insurance. Mr. Bristoll stated that he would like to check with Mr. Barroll, as this use was not in the Sultana lease.

Mr. Clark moved to allow permission for the temporary stage and plays by the Actors Community Theatre as requested, upon Mr. Barroll’s approval. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Tim Keefe, of Bay Broadband, was having a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Courthouse on Tuesday, June 22 nd at 8 a.m. All were welcome to attend.

Mr. Ingersoll stated that Chestertown was not having fireworks this year. In addition, there were no plans for fireworks for 2005 but a group was working to get donations for a show for which the Town usually paid $20,000.00.

Mayor Bailey stated that Chestertown would be hosting Chestertown 1900, a Victorian 4 th of July, from 12 pm to 4 pm on Sunday, July 4 th in the Fountain Park. In the case of rain, the festivities will be moved to the firehouse.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council for permission to close the Fountain Park between Cross and Spring Street, including the portion of High Street and Park Row running between Cross and Spring Streets. Mr. Bristoll asked that the police help with traffic along the lower end of Cannon Street on that day.

Rev. Fisher was present and stated that his church was going to have a community clean up on Wednesday, June 23 rd and asked that the Town provide gloves and trash bags. He thanked the Council for their help in the Calvert Heights area with garbage cans to deter littering. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town would provide a dump truck to park at the church during the clean up.

Mr. Ingersoll asked if anyone was aware of heirs to Sarah Turner (the 211 N. Lynchburg home that caught fire) he would like to be notified who they were. He said he had already received bids to remove the burnt house from the lot and wanted to do that within the next couple weeks.

Mayor Bailey stated that the next Mayor and Council meeting would be held on Tuesday, July 6 th due to the 4 th of July holiday.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated that she was not in favor of speed bumps, one-way streets, or closing of intersections due to the small size of the Town. She said that Council had to put these things in place because drivers did not obey speed limits. Mr. Ingersoll stated that he was going to ask SHA to borrow a portable speed limit sign that would post how fast cars were traveling.

There being no further business, Mr. Clark made a motion to pay bills, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Jennifer Stead
Stenographer

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor