June 3, 2002

The Town Council of the Town of Easton met today at 7:00 P.M.

The meeting was called to order by the President of the Council, Mr. Willey.

The following Council members were present: Mr. Ford, Mr. Jensen, Mr. Reed, Ms. Jackson-Amis and President of the Council Mr. Willey. Also attending the meeting were Chief of Police George Harvey, Town Engineer Mr. Tim Glass, Assistant Town Engineer Mr. Gruber, Town Planner Mr. Hamilton, Town Attorney Mr. Kehoe and Economic Development Director Mr. Bond.

Mr. Reed opened the meeting with prayer. He led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Ford made a motion to approve the minutes of the May 20, 2002 meeting, seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously.

The President of the Council brought Amended Resolution No. 5769, the budget for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2002 to the floor.

The President of the Council asked for any questions.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked the President of the Council to move to another item while she got her questions together.

The President of the Council brought Amended Resolution No. 5751, "A RESOLUTION TO ANNEX CERTAIN LANDS OWNED BY SHERRI TALBOT, YVONNE D. HOFFMAN, AND THE YVONNE D. HOFFMAN CHARITABLE REMAINDER UNITRUST LOCATED ON THE EAST OF U.S. ROUTE 50, SOUTH OF THE SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS SOUTH BEECHWOOD AND CONSISTING OF 52.291 ACRES OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ANNEXATION" to the floor.

The President of the Council asked for any questions.

Upon motion by Mr. Ford, seconded by Mr. Reed, Resolution No. 5751 passed with Mr. Jensen and Ms. Jackson-Amis voting no.

The President of the Council brought Ordinance No. 437, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON AMENDING THE "OFFICIAL ZONING MAP" SECTION 107 OF THE TOWN OF EASTON COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 28 OF THE TOWN OF EASTON to CODE)" the floor.

The President of the Council asked for any questions. There were none.

Mr. Ford made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 437, seconded by Mr. Reed and carried unanimously following a roll call vote.

The President of the Council brought a memo from Mayor C. Eugene Butler requesting approval of lease between the State of Maryland and the town of Easton for the Fire Marshal Office located in the Fire House.

Mayor Butler stated that it is the continuation of the lease that has been in place for some time.

Mr. Ford clarified that this lease is with the approval of the members of the Fire Company and Fire Board.

Ms. Jackson-Amis moved approval of the lease, seconded by Mr. Ford and carried unanimously.

The President of the Council brought the copy of the bid for advertisement for Engine 63 to the floor. He stated this will be replaced with the new engine.

The President of the Council brought a memo to the floor from Mayor Butler regarding the HotSpot Grants. He asked for any questions.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she has continued questioned Mayor Butler with respect to the HotSpot grant and the allocation. She stated that she is requesting that for the next budgeting cycle that rather than just have the HotSpot Coordinator submit a grant, that there would be an opportunity for Council to have input on some of the activities that may be helpful in the community that the HotSpot grant could cover. She stated that she noticed that attached to this document, there were no names no were there specific projects that were being undertaken. Ms. Jackson-Amis asked if that exists someplace.

Mayor Butler stated that he has seen it in the request.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she does not see where exactly what is going to be done. She asked if Mayor Butler gets at the end of the granting period some assessment of what has happened and what the outcome has been of the projects that were undertaken. She asked if it was received in a formal way.

Mayor Butler stated that there is a form that is supposed to be filled out where the money is spent and what the requirements were.

Ms. Jackson-Amis questioned if the matching funds of $42,060 and for the second grant which runs from July 1 to June 6, 2003 talks about matching funds. She asked if these funds come from the General Fund, the matching portion, does it come from the Town’s budget at all because it wasn’t clear to her.

Mayor Butler stated that the matching funds come from the Town’s budget.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she did not see that in the budget. She stated that maybe at a subsequent time, the Mayor can have it clarified. She stated that she would like a) for this program to come to the council before there is any application submitted so that if we have some suggestions, that we can have the input 2) it is not in the documents that she has received that tells her where this money is going to come from or who it is going to be the recipient except for one person that is mentioned here and she thinks that we should know that pretty specifically but the grant has been awarded but she knows there are additional ones coming down the pike and she just asks that happens and whatever information you can give her or help her to have so that she can fully understand this, she would appreciate it.

Mayor Butler stated that he certainly would.

Mr. Jensen asked what is going on with the HotSpots program. Mayor Butler stated that it is a drug and crime related grant. Mr. Jensen stated that he can see that the first grant is for an Assistant Coordinator basically to work between some of the neighborhoods, the second one is for a community organizer to assess some of the needs in the community and the third is an addictions counselor.

Mr. Ford stated that there were three grants approved. He stated that the first is for $12,000 and does not require a match but is to fund an Assistant Coordinator. Mr. Ford stated that the matching funds will be through in-kind services and funding services secured by East-End and West End Community Ambassador program. Mr. Ford stated that the third is for a total of just over $18,000, $3,000 is the match with $15,000 being awarded. Mr. Ford asked if the matching funds have to be spent before the State funding is awarded. Mayor Butler stated that it has to be approved but not spent.

The President of the Council brought Amended Resolution No. 5769, the budget for the twelve-month period from July 1, 2002 to the floor.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that in the Council’s packet, we have a memo from Mr. Karge to each of us that listed some additional items which we were telephoned to vote on and at the time she suggested that if we needed to have an additional meeting, because it was a budget, she did not like voting on the telephone. However, most of them she does not have any real problem with but it is just the idea of having the discussion. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that the library has been increased and that was something she advocated. She stated that she does have a concern which she raised in one of the workshops which has to do with the idea that there are organizations that are determined and she stated she is going to be very specific now, to the Avalon again because she does think that the newspaper account was not exactly accurate and the concern is this. That in one part of the memo she received from Mr. Karge, he has labeled this organization a private enterprise and within the context of the budget he says that the Town owns the building. She stated that her query is this: and this has nothing whatsoever to do with the programs of the Avalon but she is strictly speaking about funding outside organizations. She stated that she was reading in the news account, the Mayor’s response to the Lavera Jackson-Terry’s letter and it said that we cannot fund these public organizations and everybody can’t go to the public trough as it were but here she is seeing that this organization has been funded beginning, the information she has, 1996 $50,000 a year that went to a salary, the next year it was $40,000 then it was $20,000 now it is back up to $40,000. She stated that Ellen said candidly that the $40,000 went to her salary. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she understands that there is no requirement that if it is a Town property that the Avalon pay any rent to the Town, there is an abatement, for whatever the reason is. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she knows that they take money at the gate and that there is no accounting for it. This is information that she had asked from Mr. Karge. She stated that she thinks it is wonderful to support it, and she does not think that any organization should have a windfall and she does know that as a result of the article that appeared in the paper, questions were raised and she does not have the answers to them of why we are giving 40 or $80,000 to a salary person and why is that we don’t know what it is that we are giving money for. She stated that she is bringing it up in the context of this budget because we are formalizing a budget that again has this money there and she does not have any doubt that it will pass but she is asking that for the future, we have some idea of a) if we are hiring somebody to be part of the town staff or working for the town, then that should be clarified. If the Avalon is a private entity, then it should enjoy no more rights than other private entities in terms of being funded by the town or from the community chest as it were. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she wanted this clarified before tonight’s vote, she asked for it several weeks ago, in a memo form and she got a letter back that told me nothing of what she asked but went on to tell me about the budget process and that kind of thing. She stated that she has concerns about that in terms of voting for this budget. In addition to the $40,000, there is another $40,000 for the Welcome Center and for some other kinds of things and now we’re asked to restore $2,000 to the Avalon for the Parks and Rec budget for the concert series. She stated that she believes she saw in her reading that their original budget included money for the Parks and Recreation concert series. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she just thinks that the public has a right to know and she is raising it as a concern that we should be clear and when we have our meetings or town budget hearings, that we have an obligation to bring this information forward, even if the individual requesting doesn’t have any requirement to do anything but submit an application, but she thinks we should make it very clear in our analysis or statement to the public what we are giving money for and to whom.

The President of the Council asked for any additional comments. There were none.

Upon motion by Mr. Ford, seconded by Mr. Jensen, Resolution No. 5769 passed unanimously following a roll call vote. Mrs. Jackson-Amis voting in favor of the Resolution but asked that it be noted she was voting in favor with concerns raised.

The President of the Council brought Ordinance No. 446, "AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE RAISING BY TAXATION THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PAY THE ORDINARY EXPENSES OF THE TOWN OF EASTON AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON THE VARIOUS BOND ISSUES AND THE REDUCTION OF CERTAIN BONDS AND NOTES FOR THE PERIOD OF TWELVE MONTHS AND SETTING THE INTEREST AND PENALTY FOR DELINQUENT BILLS, COMMENCING ON JULY 1, 2002 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2003" to the floor.

The President of the Council asked for any questions.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked if the taxes were being raised.

The President of the Council stated that the constant yield was to be left as it is.

Mr. Ford clarified that raising in this instance means gathering revenue.

Mr. Ford made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 446, seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously following a roll call vote.

The Town Planner, Mr. Hamilton, stated that there is a technical change that needs to be made in the Resolution. He stated that the legal description needs to be part of the Resolution, as the plats are not recorded.

The President of the brought Resolution No. 5765, "A RESOLUTION TO ANNEX CERTAIN LANDS OWNED BY UP ASSOCIATES, TALBOT COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND (STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION) TO THE TOWN OF EASTON LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. ROUTE 50 AT THE VICINITY OF STATE ROUTE 309 AND BLACK DOG ALLEY CONSISTING OF 23.084 ACRES MORE OR LESS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ANNEXATION" to the floor.

Mr. Jensen stated that this is the Norris Ford Automotive Dealership. He stated that if this resolution was not passed, it would be hard for Norris Ford to keep their business going as it is.

Mr. Ford stated that this is a request by Norris Ford to come into the Town. He stated that the main emphasis for that is a failing septic system. He stated that on one portion of their property, they cannot even make improvements to the septic system to meet the state requirements.

Mr. Ford made a motion to approve the annexation, seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously following a roll call vote.

The President of the Council brought Ordinance No. 442, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE TOWN OF EASTON TO APPLY AN ORIGINAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF CG (GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO TWO PARCELS OF LAND ANNEXED TO THE TOWN OF EASTON LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF U.S. ROUTE 50 AT THE VICINITY OF STATE ROUTE 309 AND BLACK DOG ALLEY AND OWNED BY UP ASSOCIATES" to the floor.

The President of the Council asked for any questions.

Mr. Jensen asked the Town Planner if this is the comparable zoning in the county to what is there now. The Town Planner stated this is correct.

Mr. Ford made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 442, seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously following a roll call vote.

Mr. Ford noted that there are amendments to Resolution No. 5765 in the legal description.

Mr. Bruce Armistead, the applicant’s representative, stated that for the record, the applicant does acknowledge those conditions to apply.

Mr. C.R. Chance, Easton was present on behalf of the Easton Volunteer Fire Department. He reported on the May 2002 activities. He stated that the new engine did arrive at the Firehouse Friday evening and is being lettered. Mr. Chance encouraged the Mayor and Council to stop and look at the new piece of equipment. He stated that the dedication for the new engine will be July 2.

Mr. Chance asked the Mayor and Council’s permission to take Town 61, the Town ladder truck to the Ocean City Fire Convention’s Parade, Wednesday, June 19. He stated that the Tower will return immediately following the parade.

Mr. Chance asked the Mayor and Council’s permission for E-1 to display the new engine at the Convention Center from June 15 through June 19. He stated that E-1 will be responsible for the engine while it is in Ocean City.

The President of the Council asked if a neighboring company would respond while the Tower is in Ocean City. Mr. Chance stated that they would

Mr. Jensen made a motion for the Easton Volunteer Fire Department to take the Tower truck to Ocean City Wednesday, June 19 for the Convention’s parade and for E-1 to take the new engine to the Convention for display June 15 through June 19, seconded by Mr. Ford and carried unanimously.

Mr. Chance asked for the Council’s approval to advertise Engine 63 Request for Bids. The President of the Council stated that the Council has seen that and there were not adverse comments. It was the consensus of the Council to advertise the bid as set forth.

Chief Harvey stated that he had received preliminary notice for the Eleventh Annual July 4^th Celebration and a request to close Glebe Road to Wrightson Avenue.

Chief Harvey stated that they had received a request from Ms. Judy Haddaway, Talbot County Public Schools, to waive parking restrictions on Mecklenburg Avenue on August 22, 2002 from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for District Conferences for school officials.

Mr. Reed made a motion to approve the Chief’s requests, seconded by Mr. Ford and carried unanimously.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she has two matters for the Mayor. She stated that it is appropriate for her to ask Mr. Thomas or Mr. Bond to write the Community Legacy Grant that would include the "Be A Star Center." She stated that she would like specific funding for the Center to be included in an application to go to the Community Legacy.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that on December 20, she asked the Mayor to send a letter asking for her appointment to the Talbot Family Network Board. She stated that she has not heard from them and questioned if the Mayor had. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she thinks it appropriate that they respond and also appropriate that there is a representative from the Town on that Board which receives significant funds from the State for the purposes of improving the quality of life for the citizens in the county which includes Easton.

Mayor Butler stated that he will check into it.

The Town Engineer stated that the Public Works Department is busy trying to get some projects wrapped up. He stated that they are working on the installation of a crosswalk on Brookletts Avenue for the Rails-to-Trails, the completion of curb and gutter, sidewalk and re-paving the 400 block of S. Hanson Street. He stated that they are currently working to complete the extension of Blake Street over to West Street. Mr. Glass reported that Bramble has been in town and will continue paving the streets designated in the maintenance contract.

The Town Engineer stated that he had spoken with Lane Engineering and there are some continuing design considerations between the developer and the State Highway Administration that are being worked out for the Dutchman’s Lane vicinity. He stated that the design drawings are being completed and will be submitted to the Town Engineer’s office for review. He stated that some construction activity will start as early as this fall.

The President of the Council asked for copies as the work progresses.

The Town Engineer discussed the Town’s involvement with trying to assist the Department of Social Services in relocating on the former Easton Utilities Gas Plant property. He asked for the Council’s permission to award the continuing architectural services to Becker Morgan Architectural Group, which have begun the process. Mr. Glass stated that they are in Salisbury, Maryland.

Mr. Ford made a motion to award the continuing architectural services to Becker Morgan Architectural Group, which we have begun the process with, seconded by Mr. Reed and carried unanimously.

Mr. Glass brought the memo from Mayor Butler to the floor regarding the trash storage solution in the vicinity of Avalon Theater. Mr. Glass stated that with the Council’s consensus, we have the ability to solve an unsightly trash problem and accommodate several of the business people’s disposal needs. He stated that it will be cost sharing.

Mr. Jensen made a motion to implement the trash storage solution, seconded by Mr. Ford and carried unanimously.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she has been talking about the Comprehensive Plan and specific development ideas for the west side of town. She stated that there is nothing set forth with any specificity about the west side. Ms. Jackson-Amis asked that it be the specific obligation and commitment to show some quality of life changes on the west side. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that hopefully, the Planning Department will get input from various interests, businesses or individuals as to how they would like to see that side of town improved. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she does not want the Comprehensive Plan completed and there not be anything definitive for the west side.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that there are some issues coming up again pertaining to public housing. She stated that the rental units really need to be checked and the owners of these properties have to be brought to task in terms of keeping the properties up to speed.

Mr. Jensen stated that he had also received some complaints from his area.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed a Housing Authority matter in which a resident is under the threat of being evicted.

The Town Engineer stated that he will get some more information regarding the matter.

Mr. Ford discussed the East End Neighborhood Association creating a small area plan, which was referenced into the current Comprehensive Plan as an addendum. He stated that the genesis needs to come out of the community, which it effects most directly.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she wants the planning staff to take the lead in developing a plan for the west side of Town.

Mr. Jensen asked what kinds of things Ms. Jackson-Amis has in mind for the west side.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed affordable housing, recreational issues and abandoned business for the west side.

Mr. Jensen stated that there are special loan programs where we could get the information to the public to enable them to do a better job.

The Town Attorney distributed the revised Findings of Facts for the Elm Street Project. He stated that the changes he made this evening to the document are found on pages 10 and 11. Mr. Kehoe stated that the Findings of Facts are reflective of the public hearing that was held on this application and the consensus the council reached on April 15 mainly a three to two vote against the application.

The Town Attorney stated that the changes have to do with amplifying the comments made by in particular Mr. Jensen and Ms. Jackson-Amis with regard to the statements they made on April 15 concerning when the Council reached its consensus. The Town Attorney read the additional language.

The Town Attorney read Mr. Jensen’s comments: Mr. Jensen is not in support of the application. He believes that while neo-traditional design standards are laudable goals, the relative isolation of the Property, separated by the Tred Avon River and the Easton By-Pass from the downtown area of Easton, would make realizing these goals impossible. He believes that it is important for the Town to set standards for development that will require excellence in planning and site design. While the proposed development approaches such standards, it does not meet them to a sufficient degree.

The Town Attorney stated that with regard to Ms. Jackson-Amis’ comments, they read now as follows: Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she was convinced that the project would not have the deleterious impact on the Tred Avon River as purported by some witnesses and that the project may have some beneficial impacts on the Tred Avon River. While she proposed the idea that developers should include specific arrangements for affordable housing and the Applicant accepted the idea of providing affordable housing, the actual proposed prices for the affordable units ($110,000) were in fact out of reach for the targeted population. Critical to her decision is her conclusion that the project as proposed did not offer an equitable benefit to the community in exchange for a significant addition to property value. There was not sufficient time for this Council to decide what an equitable exchange would be. Thus she will not support the application.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she has a question before adopting the Findings of Fact. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that these were the comments that we made on the 15^th of April and the changes were not changes in substance but clarification. She stated that her question or statement is that since that time, there have been additional offers on the table by the developer, the applicant, and her concern is that we could identify any number of things perhaps that they may be willing to give or we have an opportunity to request but the question becomes the actual planning and looking at what the town should look like or wants to look like, what it wants to be at the end of the day. She stated that so it is too bad, or she stated she guessed her question is, would we have had, an additional opportunity to remove this from a vote this evening and put it off for a period of six months. Ms. Jackson-Amis asked if it would have been something that was appropriate. She stated that she is asking because it was asked of her and she did not know the answer to it because she thought that at some time, some point, you just have to make a decision and deal with it. But she thinks that it is fair to bring it to the attention of the Council because it was asked of her and she did not know the answer.

The Town Attorney stated that if the application is turned down, a re-application by the same property would have to start again from scratch at the Planning Commission level. He stated that if the Council wanted to defer action on this matter, they could, and if as a result from further discussions from the Town and the developer, a different proposal was forthcoming, the Council would have to have another public hearing on that to allow all members and interested parties to have an opportunity to review the project and comment on it.

The Town Attorney discussed potential litigation on behalf of the Elm Street project developer.

Mr. Ford stated that the Findings of Fact, if accepted and approved, would deny this project. Mr. Ford stated that from his ten years as a member of the Planning Commission and five years on the Council, there has not been a more complex application before this body and if the Findings of Fact are approved as read, he does not think that the Town will have made a worse planning decision in the fifteen years he has been involved in this Town.

Mr. Ford reiterated that this application has spent nearly two years in the planning stages. He discussed the conditions added to the project. Mr. Ford stated that it is the Town’s job to do what is in the best interest for the Town of Easton and in his opinion, the Town of Easton has never done this good of job with an application. Mr. Ford stated that in his opinion, for the Council not to support this project, they are making a huge mistake.

Mr. Jensen stated that he believed that the Elm Street people had worked quite hard and it was time now for the Town to move those standards a lot higher. He stated that in the past, he thinks there have been worse planning decisions than this one. Mr. Jensen stated that they just disagree.

The President of the Council asked if there was any interest to table this decision.

Mr. Reed was not in favor of tabling the vote and Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that if the developers initiated it, she would be in favor.

Mr. Jensen questioned if the Council is being asked to make a decision on a growth allocation and a PUD at the same time. The Town Attorney stated yes.

The Town Attorney clarified the Zoning Regulations of the Town and the County’s Zoning Regulations and the State’s Growth Allocation process, a growth allocation application is project specific. The Town Attorney stated that for this project to proceed to fruition, the applicant needs to obtain growth allocation from the Town, growth allocation from the County and those two decisions have to be approved by the State Critical Area Commission.

The President of the Council asked the developer if they were interested in tabling the application.

Mr. Stevens stated that due to the amount of time and significant effort Elm Street has put into the project as well as many of the Council, Mr. Stevens stated that his client is not interested in having the application tabled for such a significant period of time. Mr. Stevens thanked the Council for the consideration.

Mr. Jensen made a motion to adopt the Findings of Facts for the Elm Street Development Project which denies the project, seconded by Mr. Reed and carried with Mr. Ford and Mr. Willey dissenting.

The Town Attorney asked for a brief Executive Session regarding the sale of real estate.

Mr. Al Bond, Economic Development Coordinator, stated that the Historical Society awarded the Town of Easton a Heritage Award for their Historic District Guidelines. Mr. Bond stated that it will be displayed where the Historic District Commission meets.

Mr. Bond stated that there will be a retailer moving to Washington Street. He stated that Peachblossoms will be renting their storefront to a retailer, Jonas’ Attic, and will remain in the rear of the building doing their catering operations.

Mr. Bond discussed the Community Legacy Grant process. He stated that discussions have taken place, which would specifically invite comment from the public.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked that the submission go ahead of whatever else may happen and that this submission should have been included. She stated that she does not want to miss the deadline.

Mr. Ford congratulated the Mayor on funding the request of the Talbot County Free Library. He stated that he had the pleasure of attending the Good Neighbor Day at the Library from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and he wanted to congratulate their staff, board and volunteers for a wonderful event.

Mr. Jensen asked what the status was on the crosswalk signs for the Rails-to-Trails crossing on Goldsborough Street. The Town Engineer stated that they are not in house yet but he wants to get them installed.

Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she is involved in finding a location for the skatepark.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked for swimming passes for the George P. Murphy pool for participants unable to pay.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed the Human Relations Commission and asked the Council to come to some decision. She stated that some of the many interested parties have not decided to take their cause to the County.

Ms. Jackson-Amis congratulated the seniors graduating in the Class of 2002. She congratulated Miss Jessica Watson who was involved in the Kwanza Foundation for eight years.

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed the funding received from the Town for the Be A Star Center. She stated that they are run by a steering committee and not by run person as it was her recommendation to reject the Town’s funding as she felt it was a major insult due to the positive impact on the Town. She stated that she wanted the Center to be an instrumentality of the Town and the Town has basically rejected that concept so they are looking at other ways to impact the community. Ms. Jackson-Amis asked the Council to visit and see how to make the Center an important program for the community. She discussed funding obstacles from the community. She discussed equitable distribution of funds in the town to cover a wide range of activities. Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that she does not intend to bring up the topic again as it has become personalized and that is not objective.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked that the record reflect that the young lady she spoke about during the previous Council meeting whom was valedictorian of her class at UMES is Ms. Dorothy Bell.

Mr. Ford made a motion to go into Executive Session, seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously.

At 8:44 P.M., the President of the Council closed the Executive Session and convened into regular session.

There being no further business, upon unanimous consensus, the President of the Council adjourned the regularly scheduled Council meeting at 8:45 P.M.

Stacie Sauca for Town Clerk