Ms. Scott-Taylor was excused.

IN ATTENDANCE

Also in attendance were the Town Attorney Mr. Kehoe, Town Manager Mr. Karge, Town Planner Mr. Hamilton, and Mrs. Lorraine Gould for Town Clerk Ms. Ruf.

CONVENING

At 7:00 p.m., the President of the Council, President Ford called the meeting to order.

Mr. Jensen opened the meeting with prayer and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 3, 2008 MEETINGS

Upon motion by Mr. Wendowski seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously, minutes of the March 3, 2008 meetings were approved as written with Ms. Jackson-Amis abstaining due to her absence.

ITEMS BY MAYOR WILLEY

Mayor Willey stated that the Federal Home Loan Bank will be in the Council’s Chambers April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to discuss an affordable housing program they offer in conjunction with the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Clean up day for the Eastside and Westside Association will be April 5 from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Mayor Willey discussed the police department awards night at the VFW.

ITEMS BY THE TOWN MANAGER

The Public Works department has opened the bids for the landscaping bid for 2008/09 and request approval for the low bidder Brummel Does, LLC. The low bid for Proposal A was $39,900 and Proposal B is $9,340.

Upon motion by Mr. Wendowski seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried, approval was granted to award the bid to Brummel Does.

The Academy of the Arts Museum is having an event on Friday May 2. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Avalon then move to the museum. They are requesting permission to block Harrison Street from Dover to South Street for 400 guests about 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried, permission was granted.

Ms. Jackson-Amis asked for the status of the Watkins property issue. Mr. Karge stated that the bid had come in to lift the house and a decision had to be made as to the best way to proceed.

ITEMS BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY

Mr. Kehoe asked that the Council meet in Closed Session for the advice of legal counsel with regard to a proposal to retain a business in this area.

PRESENTATION FROM JOINT INSURANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING RETIREMENT PLAN OPTIONS AND OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BY MR. DAVID BOOMERSHINE, CONSULTING ACTUARY

Mayor Willey discussed the issues concerning the Joint Insurance Committee and introduced Mr. Boomershine. Mayor Willey stated that the current employees were not to be penalized.

Paul Moeller, Chief Financial Officer, Easton Utilities discussed Mr. Boomershine’s experience.

Mr. Boomershine discussed the goals for today’s meeting. He discussed the current retirement benefits and the roles of the Joint Insurance Committee. He stated that the goals for today’s meeting are to understand the current and future program costs and liabilities. Mr. Boomershine stated that the town should act quickly to manage rapidly escalating retiree benefit costs by restructuring the current retirement benefit program without harming the current employees. He stated that going forward and doing nothing could result in future service cuts, benefit costs or increase in taxes. He discussed the current reporting practice versus the GASB 45 requirement and stated that Easton must comply with new accounting rules beginning FY09 and recognize costs for upcoming retirees as well as amortize the liability for retirees. Mr. Boomershine discussed proposed program revisions to other post employee benefits (OPEB) as well as proposed pension plan revisions. The Town wants to encourage employee responsibility and employee cost sharing and leads to a primary conclusion of shifting from a defined benefit to a defined contribution focus. Mr. Boomershine reiterated that there would be no changes in the sworn officer’s retirement plan. He explained that employees will bear the investment risks and will require better investment education in their retirement plan. Mr. Boomershine is recommending funding 50% of the OPEPB actuarial cost, revise the benefits in the retiree medical plan, no changes for retirees or active employees within five years of retirement but other employees to retire in the future contribute 10% of the premium costs and the employer increased costs be capped at 4% per year, the pension plan implement a soft freeze and improve the match on the 457 plan.

Mr. Jensen stated that he would like to hear from employees and thought they should have the changes explained to them before approval by the council.

Mayor Willey discussed current budget requests. He stated that a $.01 increase on the property taxes nets around $170,000. He asked the council to direct questions to Mr. Moeller or Mr. Karge.

President Ford commended the Joint Insurance Committee for their amount of work.

PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS ORDINANCE NO. 523 PERTAINING TO RENTAL HOUSING LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAM

At 8:10 p.m., the President of the Council opened the public hearing. He stated that Mr. Richardson is present.

President Ford asked for comments. There were none. He stated that comments or questions could be submitted to the Town Manager Mr. Karge by close of business Friday.

At 8:12 p.m., the President of the Council closed the public hearing.

ORDINANCE NO. 523, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON REPEALING, RE-CODIFYING AND REENACTING WITH AMENDMENTS CHAPTER 13A-1 THROUGH 13A-8 FOR THE RENTAL HOUSING LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAM.”

The President of the Council introduced Ordinance No. 523 for a first reading.

DISCUSSION OF DRAFT PARK RULES

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed her concern regarding how to gain access to the parks.

Mr. Kehoe stated that he will meet with Mrs. Gould and Mr. Karge and suggest specific process oriented guidelines. He asked Ms. Jackson-Amis to share the information she has obtained.

Mr. Kehoe asked the President of the Council to defer on Rev. Moore’s request to use the Idlewild Park pavilion for Sunday morning services.

Mr. Wendowski made a motion to table the request of Mr. Gary L. Moore, Senior Pastor, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, ~~request~~ for use of the Idlewild Park pavilion on Sundays from June 1 through August 31.

President Ford stated that some parks are designed specifically for sports activities and not open space and there is a way to deal with those differences in the parks in that flexibility built into that process. He stated that there will be some discretion in how those decisions are made and some things added to the rules and regulations which will be submitted to by the Town Attorney for review.

Mr. Jensen seconded Mr. Wendowski’s motion to table Pastor Moore’s request. President Ford asked that Pastor Moore be notified.

ORDINANCE NO. 528, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON AMENDING THE TOWN OF EASTON ZONING ORDINANCE AND SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS.”

Mr. Thomas stated that he has submitted a memo summarizing the comments received regarding the public hearing.

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Ms. Jackson-Amis and carried unanimously, Ordinance No. 528 was approved for passage with the amendment regarding Section 4 about the fences.

ORDINANCE NO. 530, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 461 WHICH GRANTED THE APPLICATION OF ELM STREET DEVELOPMENT, LC FOR AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.”

Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed her concerns regarding changes to the original ordinance.

President Ford stated that $250,000 would be the initial payment from Elm Street Development. He stated that the Affordable Housing Board had concerns regarding payment after the 51^st home is built.

Mayor Willey stated that this provision may be negotiable.

Mayor Willey discussed renovation of homes.

Mr. Wendowski asked why the median income for Talbot County is being used instead of the Town of Easton.

President Ford stated that the council will review how the $200,000 price for the homes was arrived at for homes.

President Ford introduced Ordinance No. 530 for a first reading.

President Ford asked Mayor Willey to see if he could accelerate the payment schedule after the initial $250,000 from Elm Street to the Affordable Housing Fund.

Mr. Kehoe stated that Ordinance No. 530 cannot be acted on tonight but at the next meeting. He asked that any recommended changes be forwarded to him within a week.

LETTER FROM CHRISTINA P. MILLS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN TALBOT COUNTY, INC., REQUESTING PERMISSION TO DISPLAY BANNER EARLY APRIL UNTIL DAY AFTER SHOW AND SALE ADVERTISING CHARITY ANTIQUES SHOW AND SALE AT THE WATERFOWL FESTIVAL BUILDING APRIL 24 – APRIL 27.

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, Ms. Mills’ request to display a banner was approved.

APPROVAL OF INVOICES TOTALING $697,816.64

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, invoices totaling $697,816.64 were approved for payment.

CLOSED SESSION

At 8:45 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, President Ford convened into Closed Session for the advice of legal counsel with regard to a proposal to retain a business in this area.

ADJOURNMENT

At 9:20 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, the President of the Council adjourned the regularly scheduled meeting.

______________________________________

Lorraine Gould for Kathy M. Ruf, Town Clerk

PRESENT AT CONVENING

Mayor Robert C. Willey

Mr. John F. Ford

IN ATTENDANCE

CONVENING