The Spy met recently with Chestertown Mayor David Foster for an update on two ongoing issues: the Armory, and the Mayor’s continued quest for a more equitable tax relationship between the Town and Kent County.
Foster says the process for determining the future of the National Guard Armory is being rebooted by Washington College after an error in procedure stalled it out last winter. At that time, appropriate notice was not given to the public to respond to plans for the structure’s demolition.
“Regardless of what happens there, they (WC) will continue to own the land, and the hope, as most people know, is to one day get a hotel there that will serve the interests of the College and the entire community.”
He adds that the College will also be starting a hospitality curriculum.
Regarding the glitch in the first attempt to determine whether the Armory should be demolished, Foster says that the Historic District Commission determined that the Armory had historical value but that the second meeting regarding whether or not the building was salvageable failed to recognize the bylaws stating 25 days were required to allow for public input. At this point, the Town called for a “do-over.”
In the interview, Foster also discusses the role of the HDC and feels that the second review of the College’s application will address all issues, including covenants and salvageability.
The Mayor also addressed his intent to push forward the tax differential issue in light of the change in recent elections that seated two new county commissioners.
This Spring marks the 4th year since the State of Maryland addressed the inequity between counties and municipalities in the State and how their tax revenue is allotted. Each county decided how to approach the differential with all except for Kent, Wicomico, and Worcester counties amending their town/county tax relationship.
Sometimes called “double taxation,” referring to the duplication of services taxed by the county for police, street maintenance, planning, and zoning, the Town seeks a tax break from the county. The county had held that they have lost revenue over the years when the State stopped providing highway user funds.
A resolution for a municipality tax break has been sought by two Chestertown Mayors in the past: Margo Bailey and Chris Cerino. Cerino appealed to the County Commissioners six times.
Mayor Foster will be meeting with Kent County Commissioners this week.
The chart below helps explain the differential.
The video is approximately 12 minutes in length.
J. Taylor Buckley says
The Armory doesn’t need another hearing. The Armory needs a 9.9 earthquake.
Steven Mitchell says
Mr. Mayor, I believe your memory of what transpired with the Washington College application on the demolition of the Armory may be a little confused. There was indeed a procedural issue, but one that was caused by a member of your staff. As most residents of Chestertown well know, there is a 25-day application period that must be met before you can have an issue heard before the Historic District Commission. Unfortunately, a member of your staff unilaterally allowed WC to submit an application to the HDC on September 28 for an October 5 meeting. Many of the members of the HDC were taken off-guard, when they were presented with an application to demolish the Armory five minutes before the meeting was to begin. Yes, they did approve the application, but they did the right thing and un-approved it at their next meeting and they used the staff screw-up as the justification.
Why hasn’t WC re-applied to demolish the Armory? They have had five months to correct the “procedural error” that you reference. They have not re-applied, because a number of our citizens discovered that the covenants that the State of Maryland had in the original deed from the state to the Town of Chestertown had been stripped out of the deed that transferred the property from Chestertown to WC. These covenants were regarding the fact that the Armory had to be used for educational or governmental purposes. Both you and Bill Ingersoll were well aware that these covenants had been stripped out (in fact Mr. Ingersoll signed the deed in 2013). You even stated your concernd that this might be a “deal breaker” for the college in an email to Mr. Ingersoll on January 31, 2022 (your email to Ingersoll is a matter of public record). You and Bill conveniently did not let the HDC know of your findings. Shame on you!
By the way, the two conflicting deeds, plus your email to Bill Ingersoll can be viewed on the website: savethearmory.org.
What has happened over the last few months is the college has gone to Annapolis and hired a lobbyist firm to get the Governor to intercede on their behalf. If that doesn’t work, then they will make up something like they are going to create a hotel-motel management curriculum so that the Armory property can be repurposed for a boutique hotel. I have a hard time believing this, since the college is in dire financial straights and setting up a new curriculum takes a lot of capital investment. Why not spend that on fixing up the Armory like President Reiss promised in 2013?
I am very disappointed that you and Washington College are not be very transparent with this whole process. Based on your comments in this video, it is obvious that you are pressuring the HDC to approve the college’s application to demolish the Armory. If you haven’t seen it recently, Chestertown is filled with historic buildings that have not been demolished by our predecessors, but carefully restored. I expect nothing less that with the Armory.
Jack Stenger says
As a native of Chestertown I have fond memories of events in the Armory. Nevertheless, I view the Armory as an undistinguished relic of the past rather than as an historic treasure. When the State abandoned the building, the late Davy McCall, long chair of the HDC, said that it should be blown up. And so it should be. The plans for the site advanced by the College would provide a building(s) of benefit to both the town and the College.
Beryl Smith says
Amen to that. Thank you Jack!
J. Jenkin says
Could not agree more!