MINUTES MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 15, 1999

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 meeting, public hearing and executive session of March 1, 1999. Mr. Bristoll moved that the minutes of the meetings of March 1, 1999 be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said an executive session was held on March 1, 1999 at 8:25 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to discuss personnel matters. The entire Mayor and Council was present and voted to go into executive session. The action taken by the Mayor and Council was by unanimous vote. Minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey announced that the Mayor and Council has cash on hand and in banks on March 15, 1999 of $357,530.81.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll said a permit request had been submitted by Ernie Robinson for a parade on Saturday, August 14, 1999. The parade would begin at 1 p.m. at Dixon Valve and go to Wilmer Park where the group will have activities through the afternoon. Mr. Robinson has the Pavilion reserved for that day. Mr. Ingersoll said they held the parade last year and activities on Mr. Strong's property and there were no problems with the event. He said the issues last year were worked out, such as traffic control, port-a-johns, etc.. He asked if there were any comments or suggestions. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the parade permit be granted with the same guidelines as last year, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said between meetings the Town had a request from the Family Support Center SOS application. The group had been asked by the legislature to provide more of a concrete match for their facility as part of the bond issue request. He said he calculated the cost of replacing the sidewalks along the streets and of planting street trees and called each Councilmember and to gain approval for the Town sending a letters offering that support. The SOS group met with the Senate in Annapolis on March 15 and will meet with the House on March 18.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had been to the County Commissioners twice concerning the Town park and the Visitor's Center. He read a letter, a copy of which was distributed to the Council, which stated that the County Commissioners were in support of the recreation park in Chestertown and pledged their financial assistance with County POS acquisition funds in the amount of $100,000. Mr. Ingersoll said he has asked William Creager, Appraiser, to appraise the property and he will report back to the Council when the appraisal is received.

Mr. Ingersoll said he discussed the Visitor's Center with the County Commissioners and showed them the plans. The Kent County Tourism Board was present at the meeting. The County Commissioners fully supported the Visitor's Center. He said he asked the Commissioners if they would at any time in the future rescind the hotel tax. The Commissioners said they absolutely would not rescind the tax. He said the architect had requested permission to proceed with soil borings at the site which would cost $1900. He said the cost of the architect's plans ($31,000) were in the budget and the $1900 for the soil borings would be an additional cost. He said we will get a $10,000 grant from MES. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Mayor and Council authorize the $1900 for soil borings at the Visitor's Center site and was seconded by Mr. Bristoll. The vote was 3 in favor, Mr. Gross and Mr. Kirby opposed.

Mr. Ingersoll reminded the Council of the meeting with the Kent County Commissioners on Tuesday, March 16, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. when the County will discuss the "grant-in-aid" with representatives of all the Towns in the County. He said this was what the Town calls a tax differential for the Town.

Mr. Ingersoll said he had a matter for the Council to review regarding the signage for the 400 High Street building. He said the County had presented their sign application to the Historic District Commission and received aesthetic approval. He showed the drawings to the Council for small signs constructed as part of a brick structure at the corner of the site. One side would face High Street and the other Mill Street and the sign reads "400 High Street, Kent County Government Center." He said if this structure were stone with lettering etched in it, it would be called a monument. He said that in the past the Mayor and Council has allowed signs in the public interest, such as the Geddes-Piper House sign downtown, the downtown directory sign, and the information sign on the People's Bank site. He said the signage for R-B zoning needs some reforming. The ordinance only allows one sign. He said most institutional buildings are in the R-B zone, are large public buildings, and are only allowed very small signs. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the signage for the 400 High Street building be approved as a means of identifying the public building, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said there will be a meeting of the Cable TV committee at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 1999 and the main topic of discussion will be renewal of the franchise agreement. He said Ron Chandler of Falcon would be present. Mr. Ingersoll said he went to the County Zoning Commission meeting about the Bell Atlantic Mobile tower location. He said the standpipe land was bisected by two County zoning districts, Crossroads Commercial and Village (primarily residential) and the County felt the tower was more permitted in the Village zone. They have moved the tower about 90 degrees on the site. Bell Atlantic wants to know if the Town approves of this move.

There was no objection to the move of the location. Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions of Mr. Ingersoll. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz thanked him and the Town crew for the cleanup work in the 3rd ward. She said the trash containers at the Brookmeadow apartments are always overflowing and asked if the Town has anything to do with the trash. Mr. Ingersoll we do not collect that trash but he would contact Brookmeadow if the overflowing trash containers continued to be a problem.

Mayor Bailey said the Kent County Drug and Alcohol Prevention Council has requested a donation for this year's post prom party. In the past the Town has donated $100 for this event. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the Town donate $100 as done in the past, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried by a vote of 4 in favor, Mr. Kirby abstained as he President of that committee. Mayor Bailey read a letter from the Tea Party Committee supporting the work of the Waterfront Committee and supporting the public pier for better waterfront access. Mayor Bailey said she is trying to contact the Department of Natural Resources to get help from them on some of the pier issues, such as dredging problems at Wilmer Park. She said she would like to have someone from DNR come to a meeting and provide some information. She asked the Council if they had any problem with that. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she felt the Town should hold another open advertised public meeting to get more input from the community. Mayor Bailey said we have had an advertised public hearing and we advertised the public presentation of the Waterfront Committee report. Mr. Bristoll said he did not feel there was a need for another public hearing when there was no more information to present at this time. Mayor Bailey said we can advertise the meeting when we will have people from the Department of Natural Resources present and it will be announced at the prior meeting.

Mayor Bailey relayed an interesting solution for offenders of noise ordinances. She said in Ft. Lipton, Colorado, the offenders are required, by ordinance, to sit in the Town Hall on Friday night for two hours and listen to music chosen by the Town staff, such as the Barney song, Itsy Bitsy Bikini, etc. This has taken care of the problem.

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

Mr. Bristoll moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:00 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman (Stenographer)

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey (Mayor)