Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Thomas A. Gross, Sr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Police Chief Wayne Bradley, 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 and the executive session of November 8, 1999. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that an executive session had been held on Monday, November 8, 1999 at 6:10 p.m. pursuant to Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The entire Mayor and Council were present and voted unanimously to go into executive session. The meeting was called to discuss a personnel matter and was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Minutes were taken and are part of the record.

Mayor Bailey called on Chief Bradley for the report for the month of November 1999. Chief Bradley gave the police report. He stated that they will start their Christmas patrols downtown and at the shopping center from 10 a.m. until stores close. He said Wednesday would be the first evening the stores downtown will remain open in the evening. He said they will be patrolling in the downtown for safety of shoppers, having a police presence because people will be carrying packages or keeping them in cars, and for bank escorts when needed.

Chief Bradley reported that there will be an open house at Calvert Heights Apt. #506 at the Community Resource Center on January 4, 2000 from 5 to 8 p.m. He said the different agencies will have representatives there to answer questions and refreshments will be served. He said that will be the kickoff for the Center.

Mayor Bailey said while Chief Bradley was present, she would read the Citizen On Patrol report for the month of November. The report was submitted by Jackie Johnson of COP.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were questions for the Chief of Police. There were no questions. Mayor Bailey called on the Town Manager for his report.

Mr. Ingersoll said the MVA bus did not come in December but in order to keep the public aware of the dates for the coming months, he had the schedule from January to June 2000. He said that schedule will be put on the tape from the meeting on Channel 3. He said the next day the bus will be in Chestertown will be January 10, 2000.

Mr. Ingersoll reported that all the work to be done with this year's grant funds on the 213 sidewalks has been completed. He said this work was done with retrofit sidewalk funds from the State and only work done on State roads was eligible. He said 731 ft. of sidewalk was completed in front of Downey's, the old Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, old Roy Rogers, Black Eyed Susan, Coldwell Bankers at a cost of $17,433 from State grants. The work included a retaining wall and some curb necessary to keep the land from settling onto the sidewalk areas. He said we are not finished and have told the State we would like any leftover funds they have from other jurisdictions. He said areas that may be done next year if we get the funds would be from Pardoe's to the Lutheran Church, and some areas to connect the new Gilman project on Rt. 291 with areas previously done on Rt. 291.

Mr. Ingersoll said the crew moved from there to the alley between the Chestertown Pharmacy and Bramble's. He said they had closed a dangerous alley from High Street to the Cannon Street parking lots. He said they have bricked the entrance, the pedestrian walkway will be bricked and bollards will be in place to prevent vehicular traffic but allow wheelchairs. He said the adjoining property owners and merchants are happy with the work and we are now off the main sidewalk and back in the alley. He said he will discuss with both building owners using their buildings to put up more lighting.

Mr. Ingersoll said we are still picking up leaves in Town. He said he would ask that people who pile up their leaves for pickup separate the leaves from any sticks or limbs. He said the sticks get caught in the sweeper tunnel and cause problems.

Mr. Ingersoll discussed the upcoming election and the process for obtaining emergency absentee ballots. He read the list of reasons that allow a person to obtain an emergency absentee ballot which are in accordance with the State election laws. He said the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 13, 1999. He said that Mike Wootton has asked if the Town wanted to put the election results on the home page after the election. He said Mr. Wootton has now placed the list of candidates and the date and time for the election on the home page. After the polls close, preliminary counts will be on the homepage and the final election count will be done at the end of the day on Tuesday after any absentee ballots received are counted. He said you can get the home page by going to www.chestertown.com.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked if the information could be put on the tape on Channel 3 on Monday night. Mayor Bailey asked Earl French to talk to Mr. Ingersoll about putting it on a tape for Channel 3. Mr. Ingersoll said the results will be in the Kent County News on Thursday. Trish McGee said she would be at polls when they close and people can call her.

Mr. Gross asked about sidewalks on the west side of Rt. 213 by the Bank and down to the College. Mr. Ingersoll said both sides share some problems in that section as they are chopped up with entrances to commercial areas. He said the east side has more potential for safety so it is being done first. He said it would probably be two years before the west side was considered. He said the next areas that we will do will be toward those new residential areas on Rt. 291.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she thought the Council should have been consulted before the alley was closed. She said she used that driveway all the time and was disappointed that it was closed. Mr. Ingersoll said he thought this had been discussed at the time that the plans were done for the Cannon Street parking lots. He said making this a pedestrian right of way only was in the parking lot plan. He said it was not done at the same time because of funding. He said if the Council wants to reverse that plan, now was the time to do it. Mr. Gross said he thought it was to be done eventually, but no definite time had been given. Mr. Ingersoll apologized to Mrs. Mumford-Pautz for not bringing it up again recently. He said he thought he only needed to get the permission of the adjacent property owners, which he had done.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she did not care for the procedure on the Gruber suit. She said they were notified to be in Court on December 1 and then the case was settled out of court and then they did not have to appear. She said she thought they should have gotten something from the Town Manager or the Mayor. Mr. Bristoll said everyone was notified by a letter from the lawyer who had issued the subpoenas. Mr. Kirby asked if the Council would get any official notification from the insurance company about the settlement.

Mr. Ingersoll said he talked to Mr. Chen (the attorney for the insurance company) today about the matter. He asked about the status of the settlement, who could know what the settlement was, and whether the number he was told by Mr. Chen was the final settlement amount. He said Mr. Chen said the settlement had not been completed as papers had not been signed, sealed and delivered. Mr. Ingersoll said he told Mr. Chen that he was sure the Council would ask what the terms of the settlement were and he had replied that he would tell the Council in executive session since the Mayor and Council was the insurance company's client. Mr. Ingersoll said he was called by the Court the day after the settlement hearing by Mark Mumford, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and told that the terms of the settlement were sealed by the Circuit Court Judge. He said the settlement was made in the name of the Town as the insured.

Mr. Kirby said the Town was sued, the Town's insurance company ends up settling the case, and the first time he heard about it, except for being notified by the other attorney not to come to court, was to read about it in the newspaper. He said he thought they should have heard from the insurance company or their attorney or the Town Office. Mr. Gross said at the meeting held with the attorney he had every confidence it would go to trial and there was no foreseeable settlement. Mr. Ingersoll said he did say there would be a settlement conference between the insurance company and the litigants. Mr. Gross said he would move for an executive session under Sec. 10-508 of the Annotated Code to discuss this legal matter after the meeting, was seconded by Mr. Kirby and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey said she had the three quarters of the year fire report and they had a total of 403 calls, of those 171 were Town calls, 161 in the County and 71 out of the County.

Mayor Bailey announced that on December 14, 1999 in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the death of George Washington, the US Congress has issued an official call for bells to ring at noon and the flag to be lowered to half staff. Mayor Bailey read and signed a Proclamation for the George Washington Bicentennial.

Mayor Bailey said at the last meeting John W. Honeywell was nominated to serve on the Tree Committee. She asked for a motion to approve the appointment. Mr. Mr. Gross moved that Mr. Honeywell be appointed, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that on Wednesday, December 8, the Kent County Hospice Foundation will light the annual tree of lights on the Court House lawn at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments following at the Geddes Piper House. She asked if someone from the Council could attend. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz said she would attend.

Mayor Bailey announced that the League of Women Voters will hold their legislative preview on Sunday, January 9, 2000 at 2 p.m. in the Humanities Building at Chesapeake College. They will address the legislation for the 36th and 37th districts.

Mayor Bailey said it was a special day - Mr. Ingersoll was having a birthday, his 50th. She said there were guests in the hallway who came in and everyone say happy birthday. Clare Ingersoll presented her father with the birthday cake and blew out the candles.

Mayor Bailey said had a couple more things for the meeting. She reminded the Council to have a list of nominations for the Christmas decoration judging before December 19.

Mayor Bailey announced that Gilman Development Corporation had invited the Mayor and Council to a reception on Wednesday, December 15, 1999 in Wilmington, Delaware. Anyone interesting in attending can get the information from the office.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz asked about the Chamber Dinner on December 16 at Great Oak. Mayor Bailey said she just found out it was a dinner meeting and she will have to try to amend her work schedule so she can attend and speak.

Mayor Bailey ask the Council to review the bills. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:05 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.