Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Thomas A. Gross, Sr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minute of the Mayor and Council meeting and Executive Session of February 2, 1998. Mr. Bristoll moved that the meetings of both meetings be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey announced that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks as of February 17, 1998 of $118,470.01.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said one of the most frequent complaints we have gotten was that the audio cannot be heard on our meetings on Channel 3. He said he authorized the acquisition of a sound system which will belong to the Mayor and Council.

Mr. Ingersoll said he brought the Planning Commission Annual report to the Council at the previous meeting. He asked whether there were any problems before it was adopted and sent on to the Department of State Planning for their archives. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved tat that Planning Commission report be approved, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that the Scholarship Committee of Kevin Coveney, Barbara Kergaard and he met last week. He said the application was revised and has been sent to the Kent County Public schools. He said the ad has been revised and the date for submission has been moved up to April 1 so tat the research can be done and recommendation made. He said they tried to prioritize the criteria before any applications are received, with need being a strong factor. He said they discussed that this was to be a full scholarship and not to have other sources of funding substituted into it.

Mr. Gross said he understood that the committee would make a recommendation and the Mayor and Council would have the final say. He said he was informed that the committee makes the final appointment according to the agreement between the Town and the College. Mr. Ingersoll said the agreement does say that the committee makes the appointment, however, the Mayor and Council appoints the committee. He said he had a discussion about this with the Town Attorney. If the Council wanted to make itself the committee, then it could make the selection and he thought it was only semantics. He said a precedent was set in the past and that every selection ever made was with the committee recommending and the Council approving.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the Visitor's Center bond bill was introduced at the State level. We received a contract document from the architect and he asked that the Council authorize the signing of the contract by the Mayor. He said it was a standard AlA document and has several provisions that allowed the work to be stopped until the Town was satisfied with all parts of the design. He said after preliminary exterior design, the Town may stop and decide whether the design works with the interior need and design. He said the contract amount was in the budget and we have a $15,000 grant to supplement that. Mr. Bristoll moved that the contract with the architect be signed and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. Mr. Gross said he was against the Visitor's Center. Mr. Kirby said he would not vote on this until he has seen the design and contract. Mr. Bristoll said he would withdraw the motion until the Council has an opportunity to review the contract. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz withdrew the second. Mr. Ingersoll said we have enough information with the exterior design to go through the bond process, but to get the project we want we will have to proceed with the contract with the architect and the Council must decide what they want.

Mr. Bristoll said since Mr. Kirby and Mr. Gross were not on the Council when the design contest was held, an informational meeting should be held to acquaint them with all the details of the project to date. A workshop meeting was set for Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 5 p.m., which will be open to the public.

Mr. Ingersoll reported on the Smart Growth meeting he attended at the County Commissioners's office. He said the County was responding to a letter from the State asking that planning agencies respond with their infrastructure needs, and the County will coordinate all the information. He said an example of the Town's short and long term needs would be the water upgrade that Mr. Capel has requested and the EPA guidelines on Biological and Nutrient Removal mandates. This does not include maintenance items. He said they are asking that we got out for years up to 20 years. He said he cannot guess what would be needed in twenty years. He said will rough out the Town's response and being it back to the Council before forwarding it. He said he thought the Town was historically unanimous in the need for a bypass.

Mayor Bailey said one of the things she discussed with the State Highway officials was that when the origin and destination study was done on the bypass issue, probably 15 years ago, only 30% of the traffic was going through Town and 70% stopped in town. She said she has recently asked for a new origin and destination study to see if that has changed or if we just have too many cars. Mr. Bristoll suggested that Council read the Planning Commission minutes of January 21 where reference was made to the bypass. Mr. Ingersoll said he attended a meeting with the Queen Anne's County Commission about 18 months ago and they gave it a total thumbs down, but he thought it would be an absolute necessity in 20 years.

Mr. Ingersoll said after talking to the County about recreation and using Jeff Troester for help in possible park sites in Town, the County would like a letter formally making this request and for any funding if it was available. The Council has no objection to Mr. Ingersoll sending the letter.

Mr. Ingersoll said the County was nervous about using the funding awarded to the Town to redeck the foot of High Street. They would like confirmation from the Town that they may use the funds for redecking the foot of High Street. There were no objections from the Council on this.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the work on Cannon Street had started again. He said the gutter pan along the street has been cut so the old gutter can be taken out. He said the Ruckelshaus' house has been moved and that went smoothly. The house did not damage the new storm drain and the new curb and gutter has not been done yet.

Mr. Ingersoll said that Chestertown was a Certified Local Government according to the requirements of the Maryland Historical Trust and as such the Historic Commission was eligible for grant funds for certain projects. He said the Commission put in a grant request to republish the booklet done several years ago called OWNING PROPERTY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, a permit procedure guide, and to print their new guidelines for rehabilitation and maintenance of structures in the district. He said they submitted a figure of $9,000 for the grant, but they will need a $4,000 match. He asked the Council how they felt about the grant. Mayor Bailey said these publications give guidance to applicants with for their permits to the Historic District Commission and they will know what is expected of them. She said she had written to other towns and asked for their guidelines and the commission has used some of these to model guidelines for Chestertown. Mr. Ingersoll said the guidelines look good. He said he felt that $9,000 was a high figure and he did not think any actual costs had been obtained for the printing. He said we would not need thousands of copies of the guidelines; the permit procedures booklet should be available to every property owner in the historic district. He recommended that we get quotes and make the grant for just the amount we need, probably half of that amount with the Town committing $2,000. He said we can use the work in the office as part of the match. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the CLG grant be submitted for $4500 with a $2000 match from the Town for publications, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions of Mr. Ingersoll. Mr. Gross asked who writes the rules for the Ethics Commission. Mr. Ingersoll said the State of Maryland required boilerplate legislation in the early 1980's and every town was sent the documents and told to enact the Ethics ordinance and have an Ethics commission. He said he would guess it came from the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Mayor Bailey said at the MML Conference this year they will have a parade of municipal flags. The MML said if we want to participate we should submit a primary name to carry the flag in the parade, an alternate person, a flag on a pole 8' long, and a base. She said she would like to see Chestertown participate and said would nominate Mrs. Mumford-Pautz to carry the flag. The Council had no objections.

Mayor Bailey read a letter from Dick Goodall at Dixon Valve regarding a new program at the high school. The program involves student portfolios which include information about each student including resumes. They are asking if the Town will participate in the program if we have high school students applying for work, we will use the student portfolio program. There were objections to this by the Council.

Mayor Bailey said out of the Charrette held several years ago came a loosely joined committee and from those efforts came the plans which have been refined for the work at the foot of High Street. She said she would like to see this become a more formal group with Town participation. She said the use of the riverfront will be very important and must be carefully decided. She said she would like the Mayor and Council to have a waterfront committee. She read a mission statement submitted by Richard Vinet, chairman of the current committee. She said there was a list of suggested members for the committee and she asked that each Councilmember submit the names of persons in their ward who would be willing to serve on this committee. She said she would like to have 9 members on the core group and there would be an ad hoc or non-resident committee that can be brought in as needed and for suggestions. For example Lee Reilly, (owner of the Marina who does not live in Town), the DCA, Chamber of Commerce and Department of Tourism. The official committee will be Chestertown residents. She asked for a motion to create a waterfront committee with the mission statement.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said Mr. Vinet had called her regarding this and she suggested this group be a sub-committee of the Recreation Commission. Mayor Bailey said that was a good suggestion and they could work under the Recreation Commission with the backing of the Council. Mr. Bristoll moved that the Waterfront Committee be formed as a sub-committee under the Recreation Commission and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. Mr. Kirby asked if every ward would be represented. Mayor Bailey said she wanted every ward represented because the waterfront affects the whole town. Mr. Kirby asked that anyone in his ward interested in serving should contact him. The vote on the motion was unanimous.

Mayor Bailey said that the MML legislative package this year contains four bills and they have asked for letters of support to our delegates and senators. Mayor Bailey read and discussed each bill which were: Municipal Corporations - Incorporation Process; Property Setoffs in Municipal Corporations; Architects - Signatures and Seals; and Vehicle Laws -Improperly Registered Motor Vehicles, Registration Enforcement Program. She asked for a motion to write letters to the legislature to support these bills. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Town write in support of the bills, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said a letter had been received from the Health Department regarding Kidstown. She said these requests for funding for activities for children are being forwarded to the Recreation Commission to have them go over all of the requests and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council. The Recreation Commission is active and meeting once a month.

Mayor Bailey read a notice sent out by the Wicomico County Sheriffs Department regarding legislation which allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to sell information about individual driver's to anyone who pays the fee. She said there was a phone number to call to have this blocked and urged anyone interested to make the call. She suggested that the Town write to our legislators and protest this new law. The Council agreed that the letter should be sent. There was also a program where Bell Atlantic will give anyone your name and address if someone supplies your phone number. This can be blocked also and Mayor Bailey read that number.

Mayor Bailey said Tammy Motter presented information on the Maryland Promise program. That program would fund an Americore person in the County for the year. They have asked that each of the incorporated towns to make a contribution based on population. The County would pay half of the cost which would be $3250. She said the towns are being asked to contribute based on each town's population and the amount for Chestertown was $1950. She said the question comes up over and over that there was nothing for children to do in the County. She said the Americore program would study and compile every recreational activity, public and private, in the whole County. She said she would like to see the Town contribute to this program from our Recreation budget. Mayor Bailey asked George Kastendike, Chairman of the Recreation Commission, about this.

Mr. Kastendike said the Recreation Commission felt this was worthwhile and they have included it in their recommendations for the recreation budget and would present it to the Council. Mr. Gross said if Jeff Troester was going to help us with recreation, why did he not do a study or list of recreation activities. Tammy Motter explained how the Americore program would work. She said the person would contact directly all agencies and pool all activities and make a central calendar containing all information about all programs. This information would be available for parents. Mr. Gross asked whether the Recreation Commission could be the umbrella for all these agencies. Mrs. Motter said that was a lot of work, contacting every agency, every church, every private sports group, etc. and compiling the information. She said this will not only bring the information together, but it will bring the volunteers together. Mr. Kastendike said the Recreation Commission was really a committee of three. Mr. Bristoll said this needs to be coordinated as the Town has received three requests in the last week for funds for various activities. Mr. Kastendike said the Recreation Commission would like to use the budgeted recreation funds for this.

Mayor Bailey said the State pays half the total cost, the County will pay one-quarter and they are asking the Town to contribute based on population. Mrs. Motter said they are also going to ask for support from the business community. Mr. Kirby asked what would happen if some of the organizations that have their own boards and are nonprofit do not want to be coordinated. He said that it did not seem fair to him that the Town taxpayers were being asked to pay after the County had already agreed to pay since it was the same taxpayers. He said town taxpayers were paying twice. He said at some point this has to be stopped. He said every organization that comes in wants money and they are worthwhile but it is the taxpayers' money and it was hard to choose which to give to. Mr. Bristoll said it was a tough job and that was why they are elected, to make the decisions on how the budget for the Town is spent. He said this project would assist in making those decisions. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she understood this money would pay the salary for one person. She asked where the funding would come from for office space, materials, telephone, etc. Mr. Bristoll read from the letter which stated that the County Commissioners have pledged the in-kind support needed. Mrs. Motter said that Americore was the equivalent of a Peace Corp. in the US and the money was a stipend and for expenses. She said the match was asked for to insure that the community wants it done and is involved. Mayor Bailey asked what action the Council wanted to take. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would like to table it for more information. Mr. Kirby said he felt we needed to get an answer from the other Towns before making the commitment. Mr. Ingersoll asked if the other towns do not contribute, does that mean they would expect more from Chestertown. Mrs. Motter said the bottom line was either they would be able to come up with the total needed or not and the Town Recreation Commission can still look at the grant proposal and if it does not serve what we need, we can still say we do not want to participate. Mrs. Motter said she was still gathering information on the numbers of Chestertown kids participating in recreation activities throughout the county.

Mayor Bailey announced that the State of the Town Address will be given on March 16, 1998.

Mayor Bailey read a request from Bethel AME Church asking the Town to sponsor an ad in their booklet for the Annual Women's Day on March 15, 1998. The ad would cost $50 for a full page, $25 for half a page, and $15 for a quarter page. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Town take a full page ad. Mr. Gross said he would second it for the purpose of discussion. He said last year it was a special function and an historical event, but if this was going to be a annual women's day event, he did not feel the Town should do this. He said that if we do this for one church we may be expected to do it for others. Mr. Bristoll said it falls into the same category as the concerns Brian had on the other things and if someone wants to support them, they can send a personal check. Mayor Bailey asked for the vote. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz voted yes, and Mr. Bristoll, Mr. Kirby and Mr. Gross voted no.

Mayor Bailey said the discussion about the pillars for Vickers Park was tabled. She said she has worked with Mrs. Hornaday and discussed with the business owners the matter of putting in lighting for the business area. She said this activity was permitted in the grant and was mentioned by Mr. Gross at the last meeting. She showed the Council the catalog of period lighting fixtures which could be installed along the business section of upper High Street. This would serve to provide needed lighting and also provide beautification for the area. The business owners will do some landscaping and more landscaping will be done under the grant. She suggested that the $5,000 under the grant be used for the lighting. She read from the grant which allows for Acrime prevention through environmental design, landscaping for business park or playground in the community.@ She said Mr. Ingersoll could work on the spacing of the lighting. The cost would be up to $800 each.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said before a decision was made she had done a report on what was needed for her ward. She said she had done some research for historic signs for the area. She said Lauretum was in Town, Brooks' Mill, Barker's Store which will be improved and perhaps in a succeeding year the community may be more receptive to the idea of the pillars. Mrs. Hornaday said she felt that the Hot Spots area ended at Lynchburg Street. Mrs. Hornaday said the Beautification Committee was concerned all the way out High Street, but the Neighborhood Design Center and Hot Spots Grant only covered out to Lynchburg Street. Mr. Ingersoll said Mrs. Hornaday was fine with the idea of $5,000 being used this year for lighting. Mayor Bailey said Mr. Ingersoll will determine the number and spacing of the lights and figure out the cost and maximize the number we can get for the small amount of money. He will have to discuss with property owners hooking the light into their meters since all the wiring will be underground. The benefit to the property owner should be an offset to them paying for the electricity. Mr. Bristoll moved that Mr. Ingersoll be authorized to research the cost, the spacing and number of lights, how to get them installed, and work with the property owners to pay the electricity and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills presented for payment. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Kirby moved that the meeting be adjourned at 9:30 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Joan Merryman
Stenographer

Approved by: Margo 0. Bailey

RETURN to 1998 Minutes