Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:55 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 of the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes of the meeting of July 6, 1998 be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey announced that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks as of July 20, 1998 of $172,610.12.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said we did get Prospect, Lynchburg and Poplar Avenue paved. He said he hoped the accountant would allow this to fall into last year's budget year.

Mr. Ingersoll requested an executive session following the meeting on a property acquisition matter. He noted that it was not about the proposed park property discussed earlier in a public hearing. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held following the meeting pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland for a property acquisition matter. Mr. Gross said he had a personnel matter to discuss also and he seconded by motion. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had put in another grant request. He said following a Program Open Space meeting held here, he realized that the bulkhead repairs for the Wilmer Park would cost more than our current grant. He said he had applied for an additional $50,000 with the approval of POS and he hoped it would be funded in next year's budget.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Town had a letter from JoAnn Fairchild asking to use the free standing sign at Cross and Maple for the Tourism Office. He said that the Tourism Office has moved to the back of 100 Park Row and will provide the visitor information that the Chamber used to provide. The sign currently reads Kent County Chamber of Commerce, 400 Cross Street. Formerly it had Town Hall and Kent County Chamber of Commerce when the Chamber was in this building. He said just before the meeting he also received a letter from the Chamber asking that they be allowed to hang a sign below it with their name on it. He said he felt we want to send people to where the tourist information is available. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked whether the map at High and Cross would be updated. Mr. Ingersoll said the DCA did that sign. Mayor Bailey said she will talk to them about upgrading that map to include the Sultana and the change in the Chamber.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked about the status of the Visitor's Center design. Mr. Ingersoll said he was working with the architect on the interior design and there were code issues that affected the design. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if that building would house both the Chamber and Tourism. Mr. Ingersoll said no, he thought it would now house the Tourism Office since they would take care of the visitor information. Mr. Bristoll asked if they would staff the Visitor's Center. Mr. Ingersoll said they have two employees and they will staff it during their regular hours. He said there was funding from the hotel tax to take care of weekends and holidays. He said that they would pay rent or a payment in lieu of rent for heating, cleaning, etc.

Mayor Bailey asked for a motion on the sign. Mr. Bristoll moved that the Tourism Office be permitted to repaint the sign at Cross and Maple Avenue, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions of Mr. Ingersoll. Mr. Kirby referred to the Planning Commission meeting minutes and asked about a statement about moving the basketball court from the Cross Street property. Mr. Ingersoll said in the long term, maybe five years, we want to find a better location. Mr. Kirby said the Recreation Commission recommended upgrading that basketball court. Mr. Ingersoll said that was a memo from the Recreation Commission and had not been acted upon by the Mayor and Council. Mayor Bailey said we have been looking for a better location for a long time.

Mayor Bailey read a request from Scott's Point Marina to be allowed to have music until midnight on September 5 and 6, 1998 at no charge to the public. Mayor Bailey said the noise ordinance was always in effect and this sounded like a private party on private property. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said they do this to keep their people on their own property and entertain them for the weekend. Mayor Bailey said we will write to Mr. Mench and advise him that the noise ordinance was in effect. Mr. Bristoll said the group from the boat races have not asked for any night time use of the park. He said we should make the provision in the letter that we are not granting a permit and his party would have to be confined to his property.

Mayor Bailey said she wanted to nominate Adam Helfrich for an appointment to the Recreation Commission. She read a letter from him to the Council. She said the vote would be taken at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey stated she had distributed information on a Chronic Nuisance Ordinance from Kankakee City, Illinois. She said she has written various letters to landlords asking for cooperation in matters of trash, noise, etc. She had a meeting with landlords and discussed the goals for the Town and the common problems. She said some have helped and cooperated and some have not paid any attention and take no interest in the property or the affect it has on the neighboring properties. She read portions of the ordinance which stated that if a property becomes a chronic nuisance various penalties may occur. She asked if the Council was interested in pursuing this type of ordinance. If so, she will get copies of the specific ordinance. Mr. Gross said he thought it was a good idea and we should also find out if it had worked and had been tested in court. He said it would be interesting to get a conviction and dismissal rate on this ordinance. Mayor Bailey said she also found a city in Arizona of about 100,000 people that licenses landlords. She said she found larger cities have a rental housing program with a panel comprised of landlords and tenants. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she was in favor of getting more specifics on the Kankakee City Ordinance since she probably had more of these problems in her ward than any other in Town.

Mayor Bailey reminded everyone of the Music in the Park concert on Sat. July 25, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. where "Between Friends" will perform.

Mayor Bailey said she distributed information from the Kent County Public Library on the summer program which was requested by the Council. She asked whether the Council wanted to fund the $1000 requested by the Library for the summer intern who works with the children. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Town fund the $1000 for the Library summer program, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and the vote was 4 in favor, Mr. Kirby voted no. Mr. Gross said when the Library makes a request next year, he would like to have information from the Library on what amounts other agencies and organizations provide.

Mayor Bailey said she received a letter from a gentleman who had watched the meeting on Channel 3 a few weeks ago and saw a message following the meeting that he felt was a political message. She said watched it and it did contain a political message. She said she thought the Town needed to make a determination of what type of messages we will allow on the public access channel. Mr. French said he had included a discussion and history of the American flag and flag day was in June, he thought it might be appropriate. He said at the end there was a message about supporting legislation about not burning the flag. He said he tries to put things on to fill the tape to avoid blank air space.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Town has control about what goes on through the Cable TV committee. Mr. Bristoll said we do have to be careful and the public access channel was not the place for political messages. He said he thought Earl should have help from Mr. Ingersoll or a member of the Council to screen what goes on the public access channel. Mayor Bailey said she will also check with Mr. Barroll on how much we can and should regulate what goes on Channel 3.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mr. Gross said the plantings at the 291 and 213 intersection are growing and interfering with visibility. Mr. Ingersoll said

they were trimmed on the previous Friday by the State Highway Administration.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz thanked the Town for the paving that was mentioned. She said she had been asked about paving two streets in College Heights, Pine and Cedar Streets. She said she felt Byford Heights needed to be paved also.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked about the lighting at the intersection of 291 and Rt. 20 and said that there needs to be lighting at Rt. 20 and 514. She said there should also be a slower speed on Flatland Road. Mayor Bailey said she has written to State Highway again with a copy to the Secretary of Transportation regarding our requests for lighting and a round-a'-bout. We were told the SHA would have a solution for us in July. Mr. Ingersoll said the State Highway had stood in the way of the Town installing a street light at that intersection. He said he feels it was now a State responsibility to light the intersection. He said we have also written about slowing the speed limits on Flatland Road in the past and been denied. Mr. Kirby said the limit goes from 30 to 50 beyond Coventry and maybe if it were changed to go from 30 to 40 and then to 50 they would not be speeding by the time they get to Coventry. Mayor Bailey said she will try to get someone from the State Highway Administration to attend the next meeting.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked how many 4% loans have been granted. Mr. Ingersoll stated that we had a report that $309,000 had been committed a month ago, but we do not have a report of the number of loans. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would like to know what properties and how many. Mayor Bailey said she will try to get that information.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Gross moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:35 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Joan Merryman
Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey
Mayor