MAYOR AND COUNCIL
AUGUST 21, 2017
Ms. Gross moved to appoint Linda C. Kuiper as acting Mayor for the meeting, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Acting Mayor Kuiper called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members Liz Gross, Samuel T. Shoge and Mauritz Stetson, W. S. Ingersoll (Town Manager), Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk) and guests.
Acting Mayor Kuiper asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the Mayor and Council meeting of August 7, 2017. Mr. Stetson moved to approve the Mayor and Council meeting of August 7, 2017 as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Acting Mayor Kuiper stated that total operating cash on hand for unrestricted use is $674,277.52. The donations for the Broadreach sculpture received to date were $99,786.69 with expenses of $93,536.02, leaving a balance of $6,250.67.
Acting Mayor Kuiper asked for a motion to pay bills. Ms. Gross moved to approve payment of the bills as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Chief Baker presented the police report for July 2017. After a brief discussion regarding how the administrative hours were reported, Chief Baker stated that he would look to better reflect those hours in the report, noting that the percentages in the report were based on patrol hours. He said he did not want those hours misrepresented.
Mr. Stetson asked how many officers work daytime hours. Chief Baker stated that there were 2 patrolmen on duty, along with himself and the lieutenant. Mr. Stetson asked if Chief had considered having 1 patrolman on duty during the weeks and have the lieutenant cover if additional help was necessary in an attempt to cut down on overtime. Chief Baker stated that he does do that from time to time but it was better to have 2 officers per shift. Chief Baker stated that his overtime was budgeted and he was well within his limits in the budget.
Chief Baker stated that Officer Bert Piasecki returned to the Chestertown Police Department after employment with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. He said that he worked for the Chestertown Police 3 years ago and Chief was pleased he decided to return.
Chief Baker stated that he had a couple of the clients from the Kent Center have a “Ride with the Chief Day”. He said that he thought they had a good time and that it was a nice experience for him as well.
Chief Baker stated that 2 of the 3 officers that were interested in the criminal justice program offered by Chesapeake College have now enrolled.
Ms. Gross stated that half of the problems reported in Ward One were from a single address and asked what is being done to remedy the situation. Chief Baker stated that the police department was monitoring the situation.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that there was a permit request from the Chestertown Bocce League to begin their fall season on Tuesday, September 5th. The season will run through November 2nd. The Bocce League asked that the open container law be waived on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings in the Wilmer Park and that the park be mowed on Tuesdays. Ms. Gross moved to approve the permit for the Chestertown Bocce League’s fall season, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that there was a permit request to hold the 7th annual Kent Massive alternative music festival on Saturday, September 2, 2017 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the foot of High Street. The organizers asked for use of the Town stage, extra trash and recycle bins, and cones and barricades to block off traffic from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mr. Shoge moved to approve the permit request as submitted for the 7th annual Kent Massive as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Gross and carried unanimously.
Mr. Stetson stated that he attended the “Save the Hospital” meeting on Thursday, August 10th and said that it was informative and commended Ms. MacIntosh for her input. He said that all State representatives were in attendance. Mr. Stetson stated that the “white paper” distributed by the Hospital was a report on what the Hospital would like to see happen in the future, but there was no input included from the community. Mr. Stetson stated that the President of Washington College was in attendance and said that he was impressed with the views he expressed, noting that he had firsthand experience in healthcare administration in Delaware and was in favor of keeping the Hospital as a full working hospital.
Mr. Stetson stated that the minutes of the most recent Planning Commission read that LaMotte Chemical was expanding their workforce by fifteen (15) employees. He said that was a good number of jobs in one industry for Chestertown.
Mr. Stetson also noted in the minutes that KRM had decided to build a community center for their proposed apartment complex off of Scheeler Road.
Mr. Shoge stated that things were going well in Ward Three. He was happy to report that SHA was going to being night paving on August 27th. He said he was looking forward to when the Town began repaving.
Ms. Gross asked for an update on the conditions at Amberly Park on Philosopher’s Terrace. Mr. Ingersoll stated that he spoke with the manager regarding the cleanliness of the park and to ask about the property owners’ involvement. He said that Mr. de Mooy is back from vacation and working on it so there should be an improvement in conditions. Ms. Gross stated that there were piles of abandoned furniture in and around the property that had to be cleaned out. Mr. Shoge stated that the underlying issues of the residents should be addressed. He said that some of the problem was that it was difficult to find affordable housing and if the trailer park closed the people currently living there may have no place to go. Ms. Gross stated that a number of trailers appear to be unoccupied. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this was unfortunately not just an issue with this trailer park, but the other trailer park at Edge of Town Drive. He said similar problems occur at both.
Ms. Gross said that she did want to thank the Town for their help in shutting down an ongoing yard sale on Campus Avenue and remedying the conditions at 1 Rolling Road.
Ms. Kuiper stated that road paving along Washington Avenue was going to begin on August 27th and would take place from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Ms. Kuiper stated that Ms. MacIntosh did a wonderful job preparing the document expressing the concerns about the Hospital’s draft recommendations sent to the members of the Rural Health Workgroup and the staff of the Maryland Health Care Commission expressing the concerns about the Hospital’s draft recommendations and said that she would like for it to be put on Chestertown’s website.
Ms. Kuiper stated that volunteers were needed for the Chestertown Tea Party, noting that the committee was trying to recruit additional artisans to reflect the period timeframe. Ms. Kuiper stated that Ms. MacIntosh needed volunteers for the Dickens Weekend in December. Costumes were also needed.
Ms. Kuiper asked when the fence behind the Cannon Street properties around the Town Yard will be completed. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the fence will be built when time allowed and said that the street crew had been extremely busy with larger projects.
Ms. Emily Moseman, a resident of High Street, said that she was happy to see the crosswalks getting painted in Town, although the one she really cared about by her residence had not yet been painted. She asked if low-solar lighting could be installed in the Wilmer Park because as people still use the walking trail in winter months in the evening. Mr. Stetson stated that park hours in Town were generally dawn to dusk.
Ms. Moseman stated that there was discussion of a playground at the Bailey Park and asked whatever happened with that idea. Mr. Ingersoll stated that was the province of the Recreation Commission was working on a design and then a funding source would have to come about before it occurred.
Ms. Moseman stated that she thought there was money set aside in the 2017 budget for the last leg of the Rail Trail. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the easement to the property has not been turned over to the Town yet by the Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Rail Administration. The Town will apply for a grant for the work.
Ms. Moseman asked if there was an ordinance against overstuffed furniture on front porches. She said that she is noticing them on several porches and they attract mice and rats. Mr. Ingersoll stated that he did not think that there was something so specific in the Town ordinances but there were property maintenance standards. She said that there was a lot of furniture and other various items at the corner of Lynchburg Street and Cannon Street.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he heard Legacy Day was a huge success this year and the weather cooperated on Saturday.
Ms. MacIntosh stated that Patrice DiQuinzio, Provost and Dean of Washington College was in the audience this evening. The Councilmembers thanked Ms. DiQuinzio for attending the meeting.
Ms. Kuiper stated that Washington College was hosting a Farmers Market at Washington College on Friday, September 29th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and anyone interested in joining could email her for information at linda21620@gmail.com.
Ms. Trish McGee of the Kent County News asked when the Broadreach Sculpture dedication was taking place. Mr. Ingersoll stated that it had to be postponed to a date in October. Mr. Ingersoll stated that the Town had moved the brick sidewalk to make way for the sculpture and there was still site grading and seeding to be done.
There being no further business, Ms. Gross moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m., was seconded by Ms. Stetson and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk Mayor