Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:54 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 any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting and the public hearing of November 2, 1998. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the minutes be approved as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks of $785,628.50.

Mayor Bailey reported that an executive session was held on November 2, 1998 pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council was present and voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The action taken by the Mayor and Council was by unanimous vote. Minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey called on Dave Taylor who had been asked to discuss the "Shop Kent County First" program for the holiday season. Mr. Taylor said he had presented this program to the Kent County Commissioners and they agreed to fund $2,000 to start the program. He said the Economic Development office will act as an umbrella for the program. He said the purpose was to raise the importance of supporting the local merchants, who are asked about 150 times a year for donations to support local activities. He said the program included the local media, two papers, and a mailing to 7300 residents in the County. He said to date local businesses have contributed a little over $1,000 to the program. Chris Kennedy said the towns of Rock Hall has declined to contribute. Mr. Taylor said Betterton, Galena and Millington are too small to participate. He said that Kent Center has a mailing center and the printing, labels and mailing of mailers will cost about $2,000. The mailers will emphasize the importance of shopping at home and include the local holiday events.

Mr. Gross said that the County's contribution of $2,000 included tax dollars from the residents of Chestertown (since they also pay county taxes) and a contribution from Chestertown would be taxing people twice.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz suggested that Chestertown do something on the local access channel. She said Earl French could film the business community and shopping centers to show what we have in town. Earl French said he had thought about doing a video guide with advertisements of 10 to 30 seconds for stores and restaurants. Mr. Ingersoll said in lieu of a cash donation, Chestertown could finance a tape to be shown on channel 3. He said that channel reaches a large area of the county and the film could promote shopping ares in Chestertown and Kent County, including any new later hours for holiday shopping and events. He said a cap could be put on the total cost for such a tape such as $1,000. He said part of the cost of the camera we are buying was for promotional time. The council agreed that Mr. Ingersoll would work with Earl French to develop the tape in the range from $500 to $1,000. He will report back to the Council on the cost between meetings.

Mayor Bailey said the Council had previously discussed sponsoring a dance for the children who participated in the Garnett Summer Recreation Program. The date selected by Orgirina Graves and Daryll Deaton was Saturday, December 19, 1998, to be held at Garnett School. Orgirina Graves said their intent was to have a Christmas party and dance. The times would be 5-7 p.m. for the party with the dance from 7-10 p.m. She said the cost would be $250, $150 for a DJ and $100 for refreshments. Mr. Deaton said they had discussed provision of some sort of small gift for each 3-15 year old child who attends. He said there were an average of 75 kids that attended the summer program and an invitation would be sent to each one. Ms. Graves said she had discussed the funding of the dance with John McDonald who said there was money in the Hot Spots grant for a block party that was not held. She said they had discussed soliciting area stores for small gifts to present to the children. Mr. Ingersoll said the Town could help with sending out the invitations to the kids who attended the summer program if they would give us their names and addresses. Mayor Bailey said there was money in the recreation budget for the cost of the DJ and refreshments.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll read the minutes from the bid opening for the tree planting for High Street. He said four bids were received, the lowest being from Sharp Lawn & Tree in the amount of $2460.00. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the tree planting bid be awarded to Sharp Lawn and Tree at $2460, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had asked the Council at the last meeting to consider the lease to Upper Shore Aging for the senior center. He said the letter from Mr. Burke included the statistics on the percentages of Chestertown residents using the center. The proposal for the two year lease from Mr. Burke was that they would pay $4 a sq. ft. for 4118 sq. feet of space or $16,742 a year. They also offered to pay $200 a month toward the utilities costs for the building. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Town agree to the contract proposal and was seconded by Mr. Gross. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz stated she hoped when they build a new senior center, that it will be located in Chestertown. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Mr. Ingersoll read the schedule for the MVA bus for the next 6 months. He said the December date will be December 1 rather than the 7th.

Mr. Ingersoll said that the Waterfront Committee has finished their study and would like to present their report to the Council. He said their presentation would take about an hour and would like to date to do this. He said they were considering December 14 as it might be tiring to do it and have a regular meeting. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked that the regular meeting during the third week of December be held earlier. The Council agreed that the Utilities Meeting would be changed to Tuesday, December 15, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. and have the waterfront report following a short Utilities and Mayor and Council meeting. Mr. Bristoll asked if the Council could get a copy of the report in advance of the meeting. The meeting change will be advertised.

Mr. Ingersoll said the auditors will present their report at the December 7, 1998 meeting.

Mr. Ingersoll said the second coating of paving has been done on the Cannon Street parking lot. The striping will be done this coming Saturday morning.

Mr. Ingersoll request that an executive session be called following the meeting for two personnel matters and a contractual matter. Mr. Bristoll moved that an executive session be held pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Jody Taylor thanked the Town street crew for their assistance with barricades while the bus was parked at Kent Plaza for the food drive. She also thanked the Department of Parks and Recreation for the use of their bus.

Mayor Bailey said that the Kent County Jaycees will hold the Christmas parade downtown on Saturday, November 28 at 10 a.m. The rain date will be December 5, 1998.

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

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:45 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman (Stenographer)

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey (Mayor)