MINUTES
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 19, 1999

Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Town has cash on hands and in banks of $293,813.58.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session was held on July 6, 1999 at 9:15 p.m. 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. The meeting was called to discuss the appraisal for the park property. The Mayor and Council voted unanimously to accept the appraisals and to have Mr. Ingersoll negotiate the purchase of the park property from the Kent and Queen Anne's Hospital. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey said an executive session was held on July 12, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. 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. The meeting was called to discuss a personnel matter. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. and minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report. Mr. Ingersoll read the minutes from the bid opening for the demolition of 104 Cannon Street. The bids were: William Simpler, $9950; Unruh Excavating, $12,500; Meercon Inc., $5950; and Tuck Davidson, $5891. Mr. Ingersoll said Tuck Davidson was the low bidder and has taken down dozens of buildings in Chestertown and he recommended the bid be awarded to the low bidder. Mayor Bailey said this had been discussed before and the Town would have to pay the costs and then add it to the tax bill on the property. She asked for a motion to approve the bid. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bid be awarded to Tuck Davidson for $5891, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Ingersoll said we are planning a 100th anniversary for the fountain at the Fountain Park on Saturday, August 14, at 6 p.m. He said we would like to have a light reception for the Garden Club and people who have worked on the park for 100 years. He said we had a proposal from the Black Eyed Susan to cater this for 30 or 40 people, and also for a reception for the waterfront dedication on Saturday, August 28, 1999. He asked the Council to approve that expenditure of about $3 a person for the 16th and $6 a person on August 28. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that this expenditure be approved and was seconded by Mr. Bristoll. Mr. Kirby asked if that would come out of public relations budget funds. Mr. Ingersoll said it would. He said the College was donating the use of the Custom House for the reception on August 28. The motion carried by unanimous vote.

Mr. Ingersoll requested that an executive session be held following the meeting to discuss a personnel 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.

Mayor Bailey read a letter from the Frank M. Jarman Post No. 36 requesting a name change for the block of Park Row adjacent to the monument park. They suggest the name be changed to Memorial Plaza, a name worthy of the sacrifice the monuments represent. Mayor Bailey asked that anyone who has any history on how or why that street was originally called Park Row submit it to the Town. She asked the Council to consider this request for later discussion.

Mayor Bailey read a request from the Relay for Life committee of the American Cancer Society for support of the event by the Town. They suggest a donation of $100. Mr. Bristoll said that was a event that he would support personally, but felt that it should be done by individuals and not by the Town government. The Council agreed.

Mayor Bailey said Richard Lindsey, District Engineer of the State Highway Administration, will not be at the August 2nd meeting. He will probably attend the first meeting in October to address the issues of the Chester River bridge, the loss of the bypass and traffic on Washington Avenue.

Mayor Bailey announced that the 4% mortgage money will still be available until December 31, 1999 on a first come first serve basis. She said the balance of the funds from the municipalities all over the State have been put into a pool. She urged anyone interested in applying for one of these loans to do immediately.

Mayor Bailey read a notice of a liquor license hearing on the location change for the Pizza Hut from Kent Plaza to Crestview Square. She asked if anyone on the Council had any questions or comments about this. There were no comments.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any comments or questions. Pat Biddle of Elm Street said he had two items to discuss. He said he had submitted a paper six weeks ago from the CCIA on the budget for the coming year and since December 1998 they had asked about the Town's financial operations so they could offer intelligent input into the budget. He said they did not get any answers so they presented the statement on June 7. He said five questions were asked then and they have not received any answers. He asked Mayor Bailey if there was a surplus at the end of 1998. Mayor Bailey said she did not remember.

Mr. Ingersoll said if Mr. Biddle wanted to make a statement that was fine. He said all letters written by the CCIA have been responded to. He said Mr. Biddle's presentation on June 7 was a statement and did not need any answer. He said the Town was not asked to answer questions and he did not have answers ready for questions then. He said he could answer any questions that were submitted in writing as questions. Mayor Bailey said they did answer the statement by adopting the budget.

Mr. Biddle said they never got answers from December 1998. He said he understood that the fiscal officer of the Town according to the laws was the Mayor. Mr. Ingersoll said that was wrong, that the Charter states that the Chief Financial Officer of the Town was the Town Manager. Mr. Biddle said he did not understand how you could make a budget without knowing the surplus, and he asked what the accumulated surplus was for last year, what was the projected surplus, what would be the accumulated surplus, and what would any surplus be used for. He said no one ever told them what the mortgage was, what was paid off, what was the interest rate, did we have to pay it off, what was the source of funds?

Mr. Ingersoll asked if those questions were in letters before June 7. He asked that those questions be shown to him in writing. He said he answered every single letter, whosever they are. He said they come from Carrie Schreiber not from Pat Biddle, and every one was answered. He said those questions are new and they were not asked as questions, they were rhetorical questions made with the statement made by Mr. Biddle. He said if Mr. Biddle wants answers he should submit the questions in writing which has not been done. He said every month at the Mayor and Council meeting the funds on hand and in the bank is given.

Mayor Bailey said that if the CCIA or TAG or Mr. Biddle want answers to those questions, they should write a letter and request them and they will be answered. Mr. Biddle asked that the answers not be superimposed on the letter from CCIA as has been done. Mr. Ingersoll said if those were Mr. Biddle's questions, he would like to answer him rather than someone else. Mr. Biddle said he was addressing the questions to the Mayor as he thought that was who should answer. Mayor Bailey stated that was incorrect as had been stated before.

Mr. Biddle said he would again bring up the condition of Elm Street and said it was one of two that were not paved in College Heights. He said the Town needs to do something now as residents are getting antsy up there.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz 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 8:30 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer

Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor