MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
December 06, 2004
Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Whaland Clark, Mabel Mumford-Pautz and James R. Johnson, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.
Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and Executive Session. Mr. Clark moved that the minutes be approved as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Johnson and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey asked for a moment of silence for those on active duty and their families. Mayor Bailey thanked the community for their generous donations made for gifts to be sent to the troops overseas.
Mayor Bailed called on Bud Wallace of Wallace and Company. Mr. Wallace presented the again audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004. Mr. Wallace stated that the Town audit had received an “unqualified opinion” for the latest fiscal year audit, which was the highest rating given. He explained to the Council that the audit had some features that were new for this fiscal year and the audit had a new format. Mr. Wallace stated that Pat Diver and Bill Ingersoll were doing a great job managing the Town’s financial records. He said if there were any questions he would be available to answer them.
Mayor Bailey stated that Kelly Biringer and Jill Kelly were present from Washington College to discuss a project of the Washington College Democrats. Ms. Biringer stated that their group, with the assistance of the Kent Family Center, has taken on a project to sponsor a family for Christmas. She said they will do a fund raising and collect donations and money for the public. She said they were asking for approval from the Town to be at several locations to ask pedestrians for loose change donations. The sites they have chosen were at Cross and High (Compleat Bookseller), Play it Again Sams, the Dollar General Store downtown, and at the shopping centers. They will have posters explaining the project and each solicitor will have a letter from the Kent Family Center. They will do this on Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Mr. Ingersoll said they should make sure that the merchants and shopping centers give permission to them for being in front of the stores. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Council approve the project as discussed, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey said on the subject of Christmas, the Kent County Christmas Basket Committee will again distribute baskets to families in the County. Boxes are in various places in Town including the Town Hall lobby. The baskets will be prepared on December 15.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that the parking meters downtown were bagged between meetings. He said the Council has always waived the meter fees from Thanksgiving to New Year’s and he told the meter monitor to bag them. The Council agreed.
Mr. Ingersoll read a letter from Bay Broadband stating that on December 15, 2004 the CNNfn cable channel will cease operations and will no longer be available.
Mr. Ingersoll said the Council needs to set the date for judging Christmas decorations. Mayor Bailey said that the Beautification Committee will not be doing the judging of the Christmas decorations this year. She said the judging should be done on Friday, December 17 through the weekend and the winners announced at the meeting on Monday, December 20. She suggested that each Council member do the judging for their own ward and choose a first and second place winner. She said if the Council agrees, she will do the Town wide judging for daytime decorations and the commercial judging. The prizes for residences were $50 for first place and $25 for second place in each ward.
Mayor Bailey read a memo from Chief Coryell reminding people to be extra cautious during the holiday season with locking their cars and homes to prevent thefts.
Mayor Bailey asked Mr. Ingersoll for his report. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town Office submitted two applications for CLG grants. He said one grant for $5000 was to provide funding to publish the Historic District Design Guidelines, which were researched and written a couple of years ago with a similar grant. At that time, funding was not available for publication of the document. The second grant was the CLG education set aside grant for $500 for registration fees for Commission members to attend seminars and training sessions. Each grant had Town matching responsibilities. The Council agreed to the grant applications and match responsibilities.
Mr. Ingersoll asked for an executive session following the meeting for a personnel matter. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held following the meeting pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, was seconded by Mr. Johnson and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey said a letter was read announcing that the Kent Family Center was one of seven organizations to receive $500,000 in unrestricted funds paid over five years. The grant will come from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Mayor Bailey commended the Family Center on the work they do in the community.
Mayor Bailey stated that the vehicle speed board was used on E. Campus Avenue and it was reported that 15,0000 cars traveled from the Heron Point end towards Washington Avenue in six days with an average speed of 19 mph. She said that she observed the traffic going the other direction towards Heron Point and the employees were the people who were exceeding the speed limits. She has talked to the director at Heron Point to discuss this with their employees.
Mayor Bailey read a thank you letter from the Rescue Squad to the Town. The letter stated that they answered 1356 calls for service in the last year. Mayor Bailey thanked the Rescue Squad for all the work they do in the community.
Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she was asking again for lighting on Flatland Road, there were large puddles at the grocery store and the ditches need attention. Mr. Ingersoll said he had made a list where lights should be located and has previously discussed with the State Highway Administration as they claimed it as their road.
Mayor Bailey asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mr. Clark moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Mr. Clark moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:00 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Johnson and carried unanimously.
Submitted by:
Jennifer
Stead
Stenographer
Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor
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