Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:40 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 minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes of the meeting of February 1, 1999 be accepted 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 on February 15, 1999 of $455,124.80.

Mayor Bailey called Roger Williams, Kent County Treasurer, to discuss the possiblity of having the County collect the real property taxes for the Town next year. Mr. Williams said he had come to discuss the challenges involved in collecting real estate taxes. He distributed a packet of information. He said the first piece of information was the Department of Assessments and Taxation's letter stating that the taxing body must advertise the availability of semi-annual tax payments for homeowner by March 1, 1999. He said that deadline was the reason why the Town of Chestertown must decide whether or not they would like to have Kent County collect the taxes this year. If the Town wants Kent County to do the collecting, then only the County ad must run.

Mr. Williams discussed the process for the past three years that has been used wherein the County assisted the Town by printing, sorting and mailing the Town's bills. He said the County would no longer be able to do that and if Chestertown wants to continue to collect its own tax revenues, it will have to make arrangements for these services elsewhere. If Chestertown wants Kent County to collect the tax revenues, a combined bill would be sent (sample shown in the packet). The tax roll, monthly reports and handling of the tax sale would be provided by the County at no charge. He said that by the 10th of each month, the County would remit to the Town all tax revenues that had been collected during the previous month. The packet also included a spreadsheet calculating the amount of tax revenue received by the Town in September 1998 (the month in which 65.75% of the Town's taxes were collected) using a 5% interest figure, showing the amount of interest that would be lost by the Town (less than $1400). He said that with the option of semi-annual payments, a taxpayer would be able to pay one-half of the total (county and town taxes) by the end of September and the second half by the end of January. He said there have been no problems or complaints about this from the other small towns currently using the County services. Mr. Williams said he had no opinion for or against the Town using the County services, and he would be happy to answer questions.

Mayor Bailey asked Mr. Ingersoll for his opinion of the proposal. Mr. Ingersoll said he highly recommended having the County collect the taxes for the reasons that Mr. Williams discussed as well as the financial safety of having two sets of controls. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said after discussing this with Mr. Williams, she would be in favor of the County collecting the taxes. Mr. Gross asked if there were any companies in Kent County that could do the mailing process. Mr. Williams said there was not to his knowledge, but if anyone knew of someone local who does that service they were welcome to submit a bid as he liked to deal with local businesses.

Mayor Bailey thanked Mr. Williams for his presentation and asked the Council for a motion of whether or not to have the County collect the taxes. Mr. Bristoll moved that the Town approve County collection of taxes, was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said he had distributed a letter from the Kent County Planning Commission dated February 11, 1999 which had been sent to the Town as an adjacent property owner to the Wal-Mart property.. He said the letter contained a notice of a meeting on March 4, 1999 about site plan review renewal for the Wal-Mart property. He said there will be one more meeting before that date on March 1 and if the Council wanted to act on this as an adjacent property owner, please let him know.

Mayor Bailey reminded the Council that on March 1, 1999 there will be a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on the waterfront report.

Mayor Bailey said at the previous meeting she had nominated Joy Levy for the Recreation Commission and asked for a motion on that appointment. Mr. Kirby moved that Joy Levy be appointed to a 4 year term on the Recreation Commission, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said she would like to nominate George Johnson to fill the vacancy on the Board of Supervisors of Elections. She said a vote would be taken at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey said she would like to nominate Susanne Haymann to the Planning Commission to replace Ralph Deaton who does wish to continue to serve another term. A vote will be taken on this appointment at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey said she would like to reappoint Kees deMooy, Patsy Hornaday and Robert Tyson to the Historic District Commission and she would ask for a vote on the reappointments at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey said for the year 2000, the MML wants to publish a booklet featuring every town in the State of Maryland. She said each Town will have a page containing text and pictures. She said people who may be interested in putting this together by June 1, should contact her or their Councilmember. The booklet will be used as an educational tool in all of the schools in the State. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said the MML Board has worked hard on this project and has bid the publishing on the book. She said there is surprisingly little research information on the towns in the schools.

Mayor Bailey said the next COG meeting will be at Howard Johnson's at noon on Wednesday, February 17, 1999. Any councilmembers who wishes to attend should notify the office.

Mayor Bailey said that the Sultana group was applying for a bond bill from the State and has asked the Town for a letter of support. She said the information on their bond request would be given to the Council and a vote would be taken on this at the next meeting.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions or comments. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked Mr. Ingersoll to go over the funding for the Visitor's Center again. Mr. Ingersoll said that we have the $150,000 bond bill, are applying for $150,000 from Neighborhood Revitalization, and the Town will finance the balance of the construction costs with revenues from the room rental tax for a total of about $500,000. Mayor Bailey said the vote will be taken on the architect's plans for the Visitor's Center at the next meeting.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked Mr. Ingersoll for clarification of the peddling and soliciting ordinance. Mr. Ingersoll discussed the requirements of that ordinance. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked about the progress on the recreation park. Mr. Ingersoll said the project was in the appraisal stage, following that we hope to have a commitment from the Hospital for the sale, and we anticipate approval of funding from Program Open Space around July 1. He said he will go back to the County Commissioners and affirm their commitment of $100,000 toward the park at the same time he confirms the commitment for the Visitor's Center.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented and was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz. Mr. Kirby asked for clarification on the two telephone bills on the list. Ms. Merryman explained that last month we received no bill, therefore, there are two on this month's list. She also gave a breakdown of the amounts that were reimbursed and the actual amount of the Police Department's telephone bills for each month. The motion to pay the bills was passed unanimously.

There being no further business, Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:35 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Gross and was carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman (Stenographer)

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey (Mayor)