Drew McMullen, president and co-founder of Sultana Projects, asked the Chestertown Town Council on Monday to support an application for a legacy grant that would help fund the Sultana’s new education center, which is scheduled to break ground in the next year at the corner of Cannon and Cross streets.
“For us to break ground in the next 12-months, it would be very helpful to have funding which would come from the state,” McMullem said. He pointed out that most of the funding for the education center will come from private donations.
The grant is not available to individual nonprofits and must be applied for through the local municipality.
McMullen said the legacy grant was intended for projects like Sultana’s education center.
The Maryland Department for Planning administers the Community Legacy Program and has indicated to Sultana that the education center “lines up very favorably with the outlines of the grant,“ McMullen said.
The Sultana Projects learned of the grant through Gov. Martin O’Malley’s office, which is trying to help the Sultana identify state funds for the education center.
Mayor Margo Bailey said that Sultana would do all the work to apply for the grant and the town would simply be the pass-through entity.
“They can only apply for this through us because we are a sustainable community,” said Mayor Margo Bailey. “It really doesn’t cost us anything, but it adds to us.”
Bailey said the new education center is expected to bring 15,000 additional visitors to Chestertown each year.
Councilwoman Mabel Mumford-Pautz made a conflict-of-interest connection to McMullen’s request with the fact that Chris Cerino, vice president of Sultana Projects, is also running for the mayor’s seat.
“He’s running for the office of mayor, and you’re here now asking for the town’s good favor,” Mumford-Pautz said to McMullen.
“Are you trying to make a connection,” McMullen asked. “I’m not catching it, so perhaps you could be more explicit.”
“I think the public should know simply because he is running for political office and has a position with Sultana,” Mumford-Pautz replied. “…We’re getting into not exactly a conflict-of-interest, but pretty close.”
Bailey responded to Mumford-Pautz that all the town was doing was allowing the Sultana to use the town as a pass through.
“I don’t see the complication here,” Bailey said.
Councilman James Gatto sought reassurance from McMullen that there was no monetary commitment from the town.
“Sultana Projects has never asked for a single dime from Chestertown’s budget, nor do we ever intend to,” McMullen said, responding to Gatto.
The council agreed unanimously to allow Sultana to move forward with the grant application.
See the discussion below, the video is about five minutes.
Stephan Sonn says
Editor
Leave it to Mabel to find the fly in the soup.
Sultana is a tremendous feat. But also a Trojan horse for a new super order in Chestertown, picking up the mantle of the 17th century folks and providing amusement for the local gentry. Like Westworld in the old science fiction flick, with control of city hall just an election away. How close is that to a cult running Chestertown?
Stephan Sonn
Peter Brocker says
Dear Editor,
A cult? Really! Without sultana there would be no downtown, as a business owner I applaud everything they do. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget all the students they educate about history and the health of the Chesapeake bay.
Connie Schroth says
Editor,
Sultana Projects, in conjunction with its stated mission, has provided educational experiences for 60,000 some children who live on or near the Chesapeake Bay. Most of these children come from public schools. They are hardly “gentry, ” nor are they members of a “cult.”
Many Chestertonians have jobs here in town. If employment with a town business prevents a person’s participation in town government, we would be hard pressed to find anyone eligible for office. Anyone holding public office is aware of the need to recuse oneself if a possible conflict of interest arises.