Mayor Margo G. Bailey stated that before opening the regular business meeting, the Waterfront Committee would make their presentation to the Mayor and Council, copies of which were available to the Council and the audience.

Richard Vinet stated that Richard Norton, Hilda Hopkins and Mark Mumford would assist with the presentation of the report. He said the final report was a consensus of opinion from the entire committee, which numbered 25 people, including Chestertown residents and other interested business owners and organizations. He said their mission as requested by the Mayor and Council was to study the primary waterfront areas in Chestertown from the foot of High Street to Wilmer Park, and between the park and Radcliffe Creek (including public and private lands). He said that given Chestertown's origins as a Colonial seaport and history as a commercial center, the heritage should be recognized and the Town should provide appropriate access to the river for all citizens and visitors. He said it was important that the owners of private land be brought into the discussions and plans so that the public and private use and development of these areas can be met.

Mr. Norton pointed out that the original plan for the foot of High Street over to Wilmer Park was being carried out and near completion. The footbridge was complete, the sidewalks are nearing completion and the landscaping was also being put in place.

Mr. Mumford discussed improvements at the foot of Cannon Street. He said the Committee recommended installation of a pier that would serve as dockage for historic boats, allow commercial fishermen to unload, and dock space for special events for the Town. He also discussed the pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns. He said the Committee recommended that S. Water Street be made one-way and opened at the end to connect to S. Queen Street to take traffic towards the park and up to S. Queen Street to two-way traffic. He said it may be time to reopen Queen Street to carry traffic from the one-way block of S. Water and out to Quaker Neck. He said the Committee would recommend "resident only" parking in the 200 bk of S. Water Street and a parking lot on the 200 block Cannon Street designated for waterfront visitor parking.

Hilda Hopkins discussed the continuation of the brick sidewalk on S. Water Street from Cannon St. to Wilmer Park. She also discussed the recommendation of signage to designate the historic area of the Town, direct people to the marinas, restaurant, park and other special activities such as the Sultana project; and interior parking from N. Water Street for resident parking.

Richard Norton presented the Committee's suggestions for improving Wilmer Park and for long term planning and use of property adjacent to the Radcliffe Creek waterway. He pointed out that some of the Radcliffe Creek area was outside the Town limits and that it was also privately owned property.

Mr. Vinet closed by stating the the Committee recommended that it be continued as an standing committee under the Planning Commission, and that three subcommittees be established to continue the work: (1) Cannon Street Waterfront Subcommittee; (2) Wilmer Park Subcommittee; and (3) Radcliffe Creek Subcommittee. He said the subcommittees would each develop a comprehensive plan, detailed action plan and timetable for implementation and plans could be prepared by August 1999. He said the written report was available for review and he reiterated that these were recommendations to the Mayor and Council for their consideration.

Mayor Bailey thanked the committee members for their work and report. She asked the Council to review the report and stated that the Council would discuss it at the second meeting in January. She invited the Waterfront Committee to attend the meeting in January to answer questions of the Council.

Mayor Bailey opened the regular meeting at 8:10 p.m. In attendance were council members 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 minutes of the meeting of December 7, and the executive sessions of November 2, and 16 and December 7, 1998. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes mentioned be approved 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 of $544,933.77.

Mayor Bailey called on our auditor Bud Wallace of Wallace and Company. Mr. Wallace presented the audit to the Mayor and Council and stated that the Town had received an unqualified opinion which was the best report to be gotten on an audit. He said as an overview of the fund equity for the Town, there was approximately a $625,000 increase in all the funds; the general long term debt increased by $185,000; there was an excess in the general fund of about $86,000; the Utilities Commission was able to meet its obligations and able to cover non-cash depreciation of $236,000. as it continues to upgrade equipment and plants. He said the financial condition of the Town was strong and the Mayor, Council, Town Manager and office support staff should be commended. He said the Town continues to provide many services with a limited staff and the auditors would recommend for consideration that the Town have the County collect the real property taxes.

Mr. Ingersoll asked Mr. Wallace about the security of having the County collect the taxes. Mr. Wallace said that would provide one more safeguard and that the efficiency and internal control that would be gained for Town Office staff would be more than offset by not having the daily cash flow. Mayor Bailey said this had been discussed before and she asked that the Council consider it for further discussion. She said we have a heavy work load and have never increased the staff and it should be considered again. Mr. Bristoll said he would be interested to know what amount of interest on the funds coming in would be lost if the County forwarded tax income to the Town once a month. Mr. Ingersoll said he has asked the bookkeeper to get some figures on that during the peak times that tax payments come in. He said the burden of following up on delinquent taxpayers and preparing the lists for the tax sale was being done this month also. This would be another task that the County would handle for us. Mr. Wallace said that was definitely something that should be reevaluated by the Mayor and Council.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the audit and she would take a vote to accept it at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey said an executive session was held on December 7, 1998 pursuant to Sec. 10.508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The meeting was called to discuss personnel matters. The Mayor and all members were present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. The action taken was by unanimous vote and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said the Council had previously voted to allow Bell Atlantic to place a communications tower on the Town's standpipe property on Scheeler Road for $10,000. a year. He explained that in 1978 when the State and Mr. Scheeler gave the property to the Town for the standpipe, a twenty foot right-of-way was included but was not on the deed that was recorded. Venable, Baetjer and Howard, Attorneys for Bell Atlantic, picked that up and have sent documents for signature to the Town. These documents will properly make the transfer, be approved by the Board of Public Works for the State of Maryland, and be recorded. Mr. Ingersoll asked the Council to authorize the Mayor to sign the documents to clear up the matter. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that Mayor Bailey be authorized to sign the documents as discussed, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said the Waterfront Committee did a great job. He said some of the things they discussed have already been done, i.e., the curb and gutter has been extended to the water; the drainage problem by the telephone pole has been corrected; the brick work has been done and it is being landscaped. He said there will be more room for cars at the foot of High Street than before contrary to the article in the paper that stated the foot of High Street would be pedestrian only.

Mr. Bristoll asked the status of the repairs to the bulkheading at the foot of Cannon Street and at Wilmer Park. Mr. Ingersoll said we had a grant for $47,000 from the State for the repair of the Wilmer Park bulkhead. He said that was not enough and he applied for another $50,000 and we should hear about that shortly. He said those same plans will be used to repair the foot of Cannon Street. He said we have been working on dredging the whole waterfront and hope to get State funding for that. There is a package where property owners can get low interest loans from the State to get dredging done at their property under the same program.

Mayor Bailey reminded everyone that Sunday, December 20 will be the judging of the Christmas decorations all over Town. The Councilmembers will give their recommendations to the Town Office for the judging.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mr. Kirby said he had a letter from Stewart Barroll which did not have the attachment. Mr. Ingersoll said he will contact the attorney as the attachment was not with the letter.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she had submitted a list of items that need to be attended to in her ward the Council to review the bills. She said she had many comments after she talked about the animals. She asked if in the County cats did not have to have shots and be cared for the same as dogs. Mayor Bailey said responsible pet owners get rabies shots for cats but cats are not licensed. Mr. Bristoll said it was a strange situation because everywhere there are laws regarding dogs but none of them cover cats. Cats are allowed to run loose. In most states, Maryland included, if someone runs over a dog you must stop and notify the owner. This is not true with cats; they are just not regulated. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said if a cat injures someone the owner was legally responsible.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the information given her about the money left for 4% loans was up to date. Mr. Ingersoll said it was, there have been five loans and about half of the $1,000,000 has been committed. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said anyone who wanted detailed information on who had gotten loans could get information from public records at the court house but the individual personal information was not available from the Town Office. Mr. Ingersoll said if the CDA agency that sends the information to use wants to give it out, he will advise people to contact CDA.

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

Mr. Gross moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:30 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman [Stenographer]

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey [Mayor]