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February 3, 2023

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An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

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Archives

Chestertown Council Candidates Kuiper and Herz Discuss Issues

October 21, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Tom Herz, candidate, and Linda Kuiper, incumbent candidate for the Chestertown Town Council representative for the First Ward — Photo by Jane Jewell

Ward 2 Chestertown Council candidates Linda Kuiper and Tom Herz fielded questions on the Farmers Market, the town’s police department, the town-owned marina, and the local hospital Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Community Breakfast Group meeting.

Incumbent Kuiper and challenger Herz began by giving brief accounts of themselves and their reasons for running. Kuiper said she has been working in the mental health field for more than 30 years, most recently writing policy and procedures for providers. She talked about her record of constituent service – “I answer every question,” she said, adding that she felt that was what an elected official should be doing. She said she regularly goes to the Governor’s office or to the State Highway Administration on behalf of the town.

Linda Kuiper, incumbent candidate for the Chestertown Town Council representative for the First Ward — Photo by Jane Jewell

As examples of her work, she cited the elimination of downtown parking fees after determining that it was a hindrance to business and not a financial benefit to the town. When the then-current parking enforcement officer retired, she pointed out that the officer’s salary was about the same as the parking fees and fines collected so there was really no point to continue. She also worked for the reduction of the speed limit on Quaker Neck road as it enters town. She said she plans to work to eliminate a fee for the town to pick up residential brush. She said one of her constituents had to pay a $80 fee, more than his grocery bill for a week.Tags

Kuiper also mentioned her work with the Farmers Market, saying that she would be introducing a new market manager at the council meeting Oct. 21. She said the market should have its own management and board rather than being overseen by the council. “I feel like I fight city hall” on Farmers Market issues, she said. She said she plans to survey downtown merchants about the effect of closing two streets adjacent to Fountain Park during Farmers Market hours. And she mentioned her volunteer work with the Tea Party Festival, the Historical Society of Kent County, and other organizations. “I’m all over the place,” she said.

Herz, a software developer, said he moved to Chestertown 18 years ago when he was working with Dixon Valve. He said he quickly recognized that Chestertown provides a “work-life balance” that makes it an ideal location for a freelancer in the IT field. In conversations about the future of the town, he said, people tell him it needs another large employer such as Dixon Valve or LaMotte to attract young families. But he said that Kent County’s investment in a fiber-optic network to provide high-speed internet connectivity could attract IT professionals who could work from home a few days a week and still be within commuting distance of three major cities. Making Chestertown “a tech center” would be facilitated by closer cooperation between the town and the county, with Washington College another potentially valuable partner. He said he knows several young people already living that lifestyle.

Tom Herz, candidate for the Chestertown Town Council representative for the First Ward — Photo by Jane Jewell

Herz said he agreed with Kuiper that the Farmers Market needs its own management. He suggested that the market “needs to look outward,” suggesting that it might institute a program of delivering produce to “less mobile” residents who find it difficult to come to the park on Saturdays.

Also, Herz said he is meeting with a professional events planner about ways to get people to hold conferences in nearby venues, attracting people to Chestertown. Local businesses such as hotels and B&BS, restaurants, and car services would be among the beneficiaries – and in the longer run, the visitors might end up buying houses.

Retiring Councilman Marty Stetson began the audience questions by asking Kuiper if she opposes a proposed merger of the town police with the Kent County Sheriff’s office, a move he said would save the town between $600,000 and $800,000 annually out of its $1.6 million public safety budget. Stetson said the sheriff’s department can handle everything the town police are currently doing. “Why are the town police so worried about a merger?” he asked.

Kuiper said the town police do more for residents than just fighting crime. She said they help elderly residents take their medication, check unlocked doors and windows. “They’re there for us,” she said. She said the sheriff’s deputies rarely respond in town, while the town police regularly respond to calls from outside town limits and at Washington College without reimbursement to the town. “I think Washington College should pay for town police work,” she said, noting that problems with off-campus students have greatly diminished in the last couple of years thanks to the town police.

The resignation of former Chief Adrian Baker caused problems it shouldn’t have, Kuiper said. She noted that the new police headquarters building needs a lot of maintenance, dating from before its acquisition by the town. The old headquarters building on Cross Street was sold to Sultana Foundation at a “fire sale” price, she said. She said better management of the police might have saved the town $500,000 last year.

Herz said he was open-minded about the police department and its future. He said his father was an officer in a small town and his sister earned a PhD in criminology. Herz himself was a criminal justice major in college, so he understands some of the issues facing the town, he said. Billables and parking tickets aren’t the answer; he said. The problem is partly due to the benefits packages the officers receive. Because the town’s infrastructure needs work, the council needs to explore ways to save money. Herz said he would be talking to acting Chief John Dolgos and to Sheriff John Price about what kinds of crime the town is dealing with. He noted that the sheriff’s office has modern equipment that the town police lack, including the ability to take electronic finger-prints, the only kind currently accepted by the FBI. On the other hand, public safety has to remain constant. He said that it could be difficult for the town to regain control of the police department if it is ceded to the county, even if it decides after two or three years that the arrangement isn’t working out.

Dr. Harry Hart suggested from the audience that other small towns are facing similar problems and that Chestertown could learn from their experience.

Community Breakfast Group chairman David Atlas asked how the town-owned marina is working out. He had a number of printed questions that were sent in advance by people who were unable to attend the morning but wished to find out the candidates’ views on specific issues.

Kuiper said the design and major renovations are now complete, but the revenue is not there to make the marina self-sustaining. She said the government bonds the town acquired put restrictions on the amount of retail space the marina can have. Also, the 98 Cannon restaurant on the marina property is “a private island” over which the town has little influence. “Nobody wanted a working marina” when the town purchased the property, she said; that decision lost some slip holders, and made it less attractive for boats to come up the river to the marina. She also said the town’s decision to hire its own manager for the marina instead of contracting the position out meant there in an additional salary on the town payroll.

Kuiper said she was on the Waterfront Task Force when the town bought the marina, and that she wouldn’t have favored the purchase if she had been on the council at the time. She said the flat revenue the town has experienced since the beginning of the Great Recession has meant it couldn’t afford such a purchase. She said the marina will be a long-term project.

Herz said he supported the marina without reservations, calling it “one of the best decisions the town has made.” The problems can be fixed, he said. Only 2.3% of the town’s budget goes to debt service for the facility, compared to 47% for public safety. He said the town needs to work harder to build boaters’ awareness of the marina and to position it and the town as attractive destinations. The town needs to make both residents and the rest of the world aware of it, he said. The benefits to the town and to local businesses will follow a successful publicity campaign. The town can get more flexible with rentals and other uses for the marina once the restrictions imposed by the bond issuers expire. “We have to think about the future and ways to attract business,” he said,

Atlas asked whether problems with an oil leak at Shore Medical Center have been resolved.

Kuiper said the town’s attorney warned the council that the agreement between the town and the hospital required the town to prove that any oil detected in its water supply originated on hospital grounds, but the town signed the agreement nonetheless. She said she couldn’t sign the agreement in good faith. The document also allows the hospital to close down the monitoring wells to detect oil beyond its grounds next year. An article by Councilman David Foster, a former Environmental Protection Agency worker, said that no more than 50% of an underground oil spill is normally recoverable. Roughly 170,000 gallons are believed to have been lost from the hospital’s oil tanks, of which about 65,000 gallons had been recovered as of 1996. “We’re in deep trouble if it gets to the water plant” which is just a couple of blocks downhill from the hospital, she said.

David Atlas, an organizer of the Community Breakfast Group, read questions that were submitted in advance by people who were unable to attend. — Photo by Jane Jewell

Atlas asked about ways to make the town attractive to visitors. Herz said bringing in visitors is vital to the town, and called social media the answer to the problem. He said there are built-in ways to determine a social media user’s interests, and the town needs to maximize its utilization of data to get the word out.

Kuiper said the town’s economic development director is exploring ways to attract more visitors to the marina and the town.

Atlas noted that doctors in Easton have gone on record as opposing the transferal of behavioral health patients to the Chestertown hospital, a move that was touted as a way to preserve the hospital’s presence in town.

Herz said that kind of decision is out of the town’s control, but the town can make it hard for Shore Regional Health to make decisions its residents oppose. The town can influence decisions like the one several years ago to pull obstetrics and gynecology out of the local hospital if it can generate a need for it by bringing in young families. In other areas, telemedicine can fill the gaps by providing access to high-quality services. Making sure the local emergency medical technicians are up to the highest standards is another way to make sure that patients receive the best possible care, he said.

Atlas commented that the Shore doesn’t want to have enough people to support a world-class hospital, but it does want access to world-class service. Herz replied by quoting Atlas as having said, “If you want this place to stay the same, something’s got to change.”

The town council election is Nov. 5. Two council seats are up for election, Ward 2 and Ward 4. Meghan Efland is running unopposed for the Ward 4 seat, currently held by Stetson. Only residents of the two wards being contested are eligible to vote.

The Community Breakfast Group meets every Thursday, with breakfast starting at about 7:00 and the day’s program beginning at 7:30 a.m. Every week, the program explores a different issue of interest and importance to the community with expert speakers on the subject.  Everyone is welcome.  The group is organized and run by David Atlas and John Sirna.

The schedule for upcoming Community Breakfast Group meetings

31 October, Lauren Weber, Wye River Upper School,  Reaching and teaching intelligent children with learning difficulties.

7 November, Doc Smith, Coins and Collecting.  What’s it all about?
14 November, Steve Meehan, The new Publisher of the Chestertown Spy.  Where is this popular local publication headed?
12 December, Sean Jones, Kent County Dairy Farmer.  The many issues of dairy farms.  The viewpoint from the agricultural side of life.
This story updated to correct the name of the speaker on Dec. 12
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Filed Under: Archives

Commissioners Hear ShoreRivers Update, Broadband Proposal

October 16, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Kent County Commissioners Bob Jacob, Tom Mason, Ron Fithian, and County Administrator Shelley Heller

Riverkeepers Zack Kelleher and Tim Trumbauer of ShoreRivers gave the Kent County Commissioners an update on the health of the Sassafras and Chester Rivers at the Commissioners’ meeting Oct. 15.

Kelleher, the Sassafras Riverkeeper, opened the presentation by noting that the two rivers that bound Kent County are “special waterways,” although they are threatened by invasive species, unusually high tides, algae blooms, bacteria, debris from the Susquehanna River, and development along their banks. Climate change is a definite factor in the rivers’ condition, exemplified by the record rainfall – over 70 inches – the area received in 2018. ShoreRivers’ response is intensive monitoring of the waters, with volunteers collecting data from some 150 sites. This data can be used to help find ways to restore the rivers to health.

While monitoring these 150 sites in both rivers, Shore Rivers pays particular attention to nutrients, algae, and bacteria in the water. Kelleher observed that the data show that most pollution originates within the rivers’ watershed, as the rivers typically show the best water quality closest to their mouths on the Chesapeake Bay. But restoration projects clearly help, he said.

Chester Riverkeeper Trumbauer said the Chester River as a whole received a C+. grade, while the Sassafras received a B-, thanks to extensive restoration efforts. But the additional runoff and reduced salinity caused by the record rainfalls contributed to lower quality in both rivers. With less rainfall this year, salinity has gone back up the last few months – a good sign for organisms such as oysters. However, there were a number of algae blooms in late summer and early fall, due in part to runoff caused by the rainfall and by the unusually hot weather late last summer.

Trumbauer pointed to ShoreRivers’ “River-Friendly Yards” program in which homeowners can have a positive effect on rivers by reducing fertilizer use, installing rain gardens and rain barrels, and planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees. The riverkeeper organization is also conducting more than 100 restoration products, and it presents “a loud voice for advocacy in Annapolis.” More information is available on the ShoreRivers website.

Commission President Tom Mason asked what effect the Conowingo Dam has on the health of the rivers. Kelleher said the dam, located where the Susquehanna River enters the Chesapeake Bay, releases debris that primarily affects the main Bay and the Sassafras more than the Chester and other lower rivers. He said the effects depend on whether there have been major storms in Pennsylvania that bring debris and runoff over the dam and into the Bay. He said the impact of the dam and of the Susquehanna can be seen in regional testing.

Also at the meeting, representatives of Choptank Electric requested a letter of support for a grant proposal to bring broadband internet to rural areas of the county. They said the utility has some 54,000 customers, of whom about 2,400 live in Kent County. It operates about 6,000 miles of power lines, mostly in rural areas where there is no other provider. It also maintains about 650 miles of fiber-optic line, currently used for transferring business information. The company’s new CEO has introduced a program to extend fiber to its customers, most of whom are in areas “at the end of the line” where other providers are uninterested in extending their service. Choptank is in the process of proposing legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to facilitate its efforts to add broadband capability to customers.

Val Connelly, Choptank’s Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, said that about a third of state residents, mostly in rural areas, have no internet – including 4,100 in Kent County. She gave examples of the value of internet access to rural customers, including access to telemedicine, agricultural information, and education. Many rural children with no access at home are forced to stay after school to work on assignments, or to “surf” public internet sources, often by parking outside a business after it closes. She said that Choptank can leverage its existing assets, using its easements for electrical power to provide broadband connections. She said the Federal Communication Commission is offering $20 billion in grants for rural broadband – “and we want our share.” She said the utility would be able to provide drafts of a letter of support to local government.

Olin Davis, a member of the Choptank board of directors representing Kent County, compared the project to the electrification of rural America during the 1930s. He said that Choptank’s status as a cooperative gave it an advantage in underserved areas because it already has electrical lines and easements in those areas.

Commissioner Bob Jacob asked how soon Choptank would be able to begin hooking up customers. Connelly said it would depend on the timing of the General Assembly’s approval of the utility’s bill, but it would be as soon as possible once funding is available – possibly January 2021. The bill would be presented at the Assembly’s 2020 session.

Mason asked what the cost would be to rural customers. He said his son was quoted a price of $5,900 for a line to his house. Connelly said the amount of the grant would be a factor, but she believed Choptank would be able to connect most customers at considerable savings over other providers’ going rate.

Mason said that Kent County has been “in the forefront” of broadband service to rural areas, with a $6 million program of laying fiber-optic cable. “We want to work with what we have,” he said. Connelly said that Choptank isn’t looking to compete with existing internet providers, but to provide service to the rural customers those providers can’t or won’t reach. She said she would be happy to meet with Scott Boone, the county’s director of information technology, to find ways for Choptank and the county to work cooperatively.

Commissioner Ron Fithian said he understood how important it is to get internet to underserved areas. However, he said, he would like to see “the real product” before committing to a letter of support.

Mason said he was in favor of seeing broadband extended to “places nobody else would go – like our farm.”

County Director of Finance Pat Merritt receives a certificate of achievement for her work with the county budget. With Merritt are Commissioners Bob Jacob, Tom Mason, and Fon Fithian

In other business, the commissioners read a proclamation recognizing county Director of Finance Pat Merritt for her “consistent excellence” in managing the county’s budget and financing. Merritt gave credit to her staff and to the support and guidance of the commissioners.

Also, Janet Christensen-Lewis and Elizabeth Watson of the Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance requested a donation of $10,000 to help the organization with a match for a grant from the Maryland Heritage Association. The grant, totaling $50,000, would allow the alliance to produce a documentary video on Kent County’s landscape and heritage. She said the film would appear on Maryland Public Television, at festivals nationwide, and would bring publicity to the county.

The commissioners, after discussion, said they would look into the budget and see if an appropriate source for the funding could be identified. They said they would make a decision by the next meeting, Oct. 29, in time for the granting agency’s deadline for matching funds.

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Filed Under: Archives, News, News Portal Highlights

High Street and Park Row to be Closed for Farmers Market

October 11, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Chestertown Farmers Market

Two downtown Chestertown streets will be closed for Farmers Market on Saturday mornings until December, the town council decided at its Oct. 7 meeting. High Street and Park Row will both be closed to traffic and parking between Cross and Spring Streets. The closings are in effect between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. “No parking” signs have been posted along the two streets to notify drivers of the change.

Town Manager Bill Ingersoll said that Fountain Park had been aerated and seeded a couple of weeks ago, to replenish the grass that was worn down by foot traffic during Farmers Market and other events in the park since it was last seeded. He described the reseeding as “a beautiful job,” but said it would be “a struggle” to accommodate the vendors while the new grass was growing. He asked if any vendors were present who wanted to discuss the issue, and about ten audience members raised their hands.

Councilwoman Linda Kuiper, who has taken the role of interim manager of the market, proposed the street closing to allow the vendors to set up away from the grass surface. The plan would put vendors on both sides of both High Street and Park Row, with the center of each road open for pedestrians. She said maps would be distributed to vendors and the curbs of both streets would be marked to designate spaces for the vendors to set up. Artisans will be on one side of the street and farmers on the other. Local businesses were also to be informed of the changes.

Ingersoll said the idea of closing the two streets had been presented to the vendors before the previous weekend, but they had asked for a postponement to this weekend, Oct. 12. He said he has thought for some time that making the square around the park into a pedestrian zone could enhance the downtown area. “I think this is something we need to try. If it’s a disaster for the merchants or the vendors, I think we should stop it,” he said. Otherwise, the streets will be closed until the weekend of Dec. 7, except for holiday parades. Kay MacIntosh of Main Street Chestertown said the Dickens Christmas festival would not be using the park during Farmers Market hours, so no adjustment would be needed for that. He said the change “may or may not be permanent.”

Audience members asked if the town had considered moving the market to Wilmer Park so as to minimize the disruption downtown. Ingersoll said that idea had been offered to the vendors, but they got “a quick thumbs-down” because of the remote location and insufficient parking. The same objections would apply to other areas outside downtown. Mayor Chris Cerino said people are used to the market being in and around Fountain Park, where various vendors have set up as far back as the 1940s.

Wanda Gorman, artisans’ market manager, said that moving the market elsewhere would not benefit downtown businesses, many of which see additional traffic during and after the farmers market hours. “People would come and get their produce and just leave,” she said.

Nancy McGuire, a former president of the Downtown Chestertown Association, said the local merchants definitely benefit from the market’s presence. She said she had suggested closing the street several years ago.

Connie Schroth, a member of the Chestertown Garden Club which maintains plantings in the park, said Fountain Park is “iconic to Chestertown,” and that the town can, with reasonable care, manage the farmers market and other events that use the park without damaging it. “I don’t think Chestertown can afford to let the park go under,” she said.

Ingersoll said the new scheme “will take a little adjustment,” but with common sense, it should work out. He said the Garden Club has been very patient, “but if you look at the park this year, it did look like a sandbox.”

He said that the town could continue as it has been with both shoppers and vendors on the grass of Fountain Park. But as the market has grown, the grass has been crushed and the earth compacted, resulting in large bare patches with most the grass in the park brown or dead by early summer each year. All of which has resulted in the need to reseed the park frequently—practically annually recently–with all the attendant lost time and cost.

Asked where the nonprofits who use part of the park will set up, Ingersoll said there is a “backlog of requests” for space for them, but room will be made for them on the High Street side. “We need to make room for everybody,” he said. He asked the vendors present whether any of them opposed the proposal, and there were no objections raised.

One audience member said there is a portable toilet near one address on Park Row, and asked that it be removed before the market opens. “We don’t want anyone selling food in front of that,” she said. Ingersoll said he would see that it was done.

Barb McBeth thanked the council for their efforts to solve the problems with the park. She described the park as “Chestertown’s favorite meeting place,” and noted that the Garden Club is happy to work with the town to keep it attractive and available for public use.

Also at the meeting, the council approved several appointments to town boards and commissions. Dan Divilio and Emily Genther were appointed to the Recreation Commission; Ruth Menefee and Cynthia Saunders were reappointed to the Tree Committee, and Connie Schroth was nominated for an open position on the Tree Committee. Lanny Parks was reappointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals. And John Hutchinson was nominated to a vacancy on the Planning Commission. The nominees will be voted on at the next council meeting, Oct. 21.

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Filed Under: Archives, Brevities, Local Life, News, Top Story

Decision on Chestertown Police Delayed Five Months

October 9, 2019 by Peter Heck

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The Chestertown Council in session, Oct. 7 (from left): David Foster, Linda Kuiper, Mayor Chris Cerino, Town Manager Bill Ingersoll, Rev. Ellsworth Tolliver, and Marty Stetson

The Chestertown Police Department will remain in its current configuration at least until March 2020. The Chestertown Council, in a 4-1 vote at its Oct. 7 meeting, agreed to postpone any decision on restructuring the department until that date. Lt. John Dolgos, the acting chief appointed after the resignation of former Chief Adrian Baker, will remain in command of the department.

Councilman Marty Stetson, a former Chestertown police chief, cast the dissenting vote after providing an extensive critique of the quality of policing in Chestertown over the past two decades. Stetson is retiring as a councilman at the end of this year.

Mayor Presents CPD Options

The vote followed a presentation by Mayor Chris Cerino, in which he laid out the budgetary considerations that led him to suggest the possibility of closing the town police and putting the Kent County Sheriff’s office in charge of public safety within town limits. That suggestion, which Cerino characterized as “the nuclear option,” drew a large crowd to the meeting, which was held in the upstairs meeting room of town hall to accommodate the turnout.

In a PowerPoint presentation, Cerino pointed out that public safety makes up the single largest slice of the town’s annual outlay, amounting to $1.6 million, or 47% of the Fiscal 2020 budget. That figure has increased by 33%, or $462,000, since 2009, while the town’s property tax revenues, which make up 2/3 of the town’s income, remain essentially flat. Because of growing expenses in all areas, the town’s current budget included no raises for town staff, including police officers, and, for the sixth straight year, no funding for capital projects such as street repair. Cerino said the council had consistently “kicked the can down the road” as far as infrastructure repairs, rather than raising taxes.

Cerino made it a particular point to respond to allegations on social media that the cost of the town-owned marina was the main factor in the town’s budget crunch. He said the marina, which the town acquired two years before he became Mayor, was in extremely poor condition and needed a major upgrade if it were to attract boaters and other tourists. The renovations have been paid for almost entirely by federal and state grants, he said, while the annual debt service on the original purchase is about $145,000. The revenue from the marina has come close to matching that amount for the first time this year.

Additional budget pressures Cerino cited include a decline in real estate tax revenues, in part because many property owners successfully appealed their increased assessments. Also, Kent County is one of only two in the state that doesn’t provide local municipalities with a tax differential or rebate to compensate the towns for services such as police protection, planning and zoning, and street repairs that the town provides within its boundaries. “I think we’re getting ripped off,” he said, noting that the town has roughly a quarter of the population of the county and provides a proportionate share of the tax revenues.

The audience at the Oct. 7 council meeting included Sheriff John Price  (right center) and other town and county law officers

Baker Replacement Handled “Very Clunkily”

Following the resignation of Baker, who took a position as head of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, Cerino said he felt it was a good time to reassess the public safety portion of the budget.

As part of that reassessment, he had two conversations with Sheriff John Price to examine the possibilities. He said he went directly to the sheriff because he has “no working relationship” with the county commissioners. Following those conversations, he said, he identified four options: leave the department as it is and cut expenses elsewhere in the budget; find savings within the police department budget, possibly including a cut in the number of officers; merge resources with the Sheriff’s office, at a savings of about $600,000, or close the department entirely and leave policing to the county. Cerino said while he had to consider the latter option, it would be “the worst possible choice,” because the Sheriff’s department is not currently able to handle that responsibility, and “nobody wants it.”

Cerino said the council had responded “very clunkily” to Baker’s resignation, twice going into closed sessions at Stetson’s request. During those sessions, they reportedly discussed bringing in Captain Brian Kirby of the Sheriff’s office as a consultant to oversee the town police force until a permanent chief is appointed. Cerino said it would have been better to address the issue openly from the start. Now, with council elections a month away, at least one and possibly two new council members will be chosen. Because of that, Cerino said the decision on the police department should wait until January when the new council will be seated. He suggested carrying on with the police force as currently constituted through the end of February and setting up a task force in March to examine the long-term options facing the town. He asked the other council members for their views on the suggestion.

Councilman David Foster said he was working with the county commissioners to see if the tax differential could be reinstated, giving the town a less constrained budget. He said the town needs to be able to create a budget reserve to be prepared for future disasters. He noted that with the retirement of Stetson at the end of this year, the council will lose its one member with practical police experience.

Councilwoman Linda Kuiper, whose seat is up for election this fall, said that the council stands to lose as much as 24 years of experience if she and Stetson are both gone after January. She said it would be better for the council to make the decision on the police before the end of the year.

Councilman Ellsworth Tolliver said the town needs to explore ways to increase its revenues. He said the town police need to be maintained at their present level and noted that the town and county have different requirements in terms of law enforcement. He praised the town police for their rapid response to calls for service in the community. “I’m willing to talk to anyone with ideas on how to address the problem,” he said.

Councilman Marty Stetson makes the argument for merging the Chestertown police with the Kent County Sheriff’s office

Quality of Policing v. Budget

Stetson said there would be significant advantages in merging the town police with the county Sheriff. He said the quality of policing in Chestertown was not what it should have been the last 20 years, and that the police “just haven’t had the right direction.” Another issue is that the town does not have up-to-date equipment, such as electronic fingerprinting, while the Sheriff’s office does. “My hope was to get Captain Kirby to come in and take over the police department and see what he could do to straighten it out,” he said.

Stetson said the Sheriff told him the town could save $800,000 annually if it transferred control of the local police to the Sheriff’s office.

“People don’t care what color the uniform is, they just want a competent person to show up” when they have an emergency, Stetson remarked.

He said he had given Cerino names of several people in law enforcement who could corroborate his statements about the police department. He said he was in favor of making a move before the first of the year. There was an audible murmur of dissent from the audience at one point when Stetson appeared to question the commitment of the town police to “doing the job right.”

Cerino said the issue was not the job performance of the police, but the budget. He said he didn’t want to leave Dolgos and the town police “in limbo” while the decision was being made. He suggested keeping the force at its current size with Dolgos in command for 5 to 6 months while the council explored the question. He asked for a motion to that effect, which Foster made, noting that the time could be used to gather advice on possible efficiencies. Tolliver seconded the motion, and it passed by a 4-1 vote. Stetson cast the single opposing vote.

After the vote, Cerino opened the floor to comments from the audience. Allen Schauber of the Kent-Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad praised the town police for their speedy response to emergencies, noting that an officer is almost always on the scene before ambulances arrive. Other residents commented on the need to improve the town’s economy to help increase revenues.

In other business, the council voted to close two downtown streets during the Farmers Market, Saturday mornings until December,  The council also made several appointments to town commissions. Look for a fuller account of these issues in a forthcoming Chestertown Spy article.

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Filed Under: Archives, News, News Portal Highlights

Election 2019, Meghan Efland for Ward 4

October 7, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Meghan Efland, age 38, is running unopposed to replace retiring Ward 4 Councilman Marty Stetson in the Nov. 5 town council election. She decided to run for the council about two years ago when she began to follow Ward 1 candidates David Foster and Owen Bailey in the 2017 election. She began to attend council meetings and budget sessions and talked with friends about ways to get more young people involved in the community and more diversity on the council. She plans to spend the time between now and the election meeting people in her district and learning their opinions on issues facing the town. She identified the budget as a key issue in the years to come, with flat revenues and increasing costs squeezing the town’s finances. She is also concerned with the need to attract new businesses to the town, with the potential for attracting young families along with bolstering the local economy.

A Campus Avenue resident for 5 years, Efland grew up in nearby Church Hill and spent her youth in and around Chestertown. A graduate of St. Mary’s College and Queen Anne’s County High School, she has worked at Paul Reed Smith Guitars for 15 years, where she is Director of Supply Chain, overseeing a team of 18 who handle import and export of a wide variety of materials and equipment. She also has significant budget responsibilities for the musical instrument company, experience she believes can be applied to the town’s governance.

Dan Menefee contributed to this story

Filed Under: Archives

Franchot Gives Cornerstore Award to BookPlate’s Tom Martin

October 5, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Liz O’Donoghue, Tom Martin, Peter Franchot, Sept. 2019 — Photo by Jane Jewell

Comptroller Peter Franchot presented Tom Martin, owner of the BookPlate in Chestertown, with the 2019 Kent County Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence. The award, which Franchot created last year, is for local businesses that contribute significantly to the local economy. A standing-room crowd filled the back room of the bookstore, where the ceremony was held Thursday, Sept. 3

Martin, who opened the used bookstore 16 years ago, introduced Franchot. Pointing to familiar faces in the audience, he likened the event to “time travel” because of all the long-time customers present, some who had come from further away just for the event. He recalled the comptroller’s previous visits to the store, including one a couple of years ago when he showed Franchot a book in which several psychologists attempted to analyze Donald Trump. Franchot bought the book and several others in the same vein, he said, to laughter and applause from the crowd.

The 2019 Kent County Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence — Photo by Jane Jewell

Franchot noted that the Wall Street Journal had recently designated Maryland as the richest state in the nation, according to census bureau statistics. “We have our flaws, trust me – but we also have a lot of success,” he said, noting that the state’s gross domestic product is some $360 billion, of which 70% is due to small businesses like Martin’s that supply the bulk of jobs and economic activity in the state. “That’s why I created this award,” he said.

“There’s nothing quite like the feeling when you walk into a dearly beloved quaint bookstore,” said Franchot, adding that he has had “many engaging conversations” with the store’s owner. He noted that Martin’s success in the field has come in spite of the domination of the market by corporate bookstores. “This is a store that understands and responds to the needs of its customers,” Franchot said. As an example of Martin’s ability to adapt, Franchot cited Martin’s lowering book prices during the Great Recession to accommodate his customers. He said the store has created a legacy in the community of which Martin should be proud. The audience responded with prolonged applause as he invited Martin to the podium to accept the award.

Martin said the award exceeded his wildest dreams. He recognized his staff, local authors such as Robbi Behr and Matthew Swanson, and his loyal customers, who have been with the store since its beginnings. He reminisced about the origins of the store, crediting the sale of a rare signed first edition of Harry Potter with raising the money to commit to expanding the store’s space. The store, selling new and used books along with hand-made pottery, opened in the smaller space next door to the current main room.  Then as the business prospered and grew, Martin moved to the larger area.  Later when the original space became available again, he added a door between the two spaces to create the present-day spacious Bookplate.  He thanked artist Marc Castelli, who was in the audience, for creating the store’s sign and a painting for the store’s 10th anniversary, titled “Who Knew?” He thanked everyone in the audience – “It’s a community bookstore, it’s for everyone here,” he said. “It’s one of those things that’s truly organic.”

The BookPlate gang with Comptroller Peter Franchot — René, Emily Kalwaitis, Tom Martin, Peter Franchot, Marc Castelli — Photo by Jane Jewell

Concluding the ceremony, Franchot distributed several of his signature medallions to Martin, store workers Emily Kalwaitis and René as well as to artist Marc  Castelli and to Martin’s wife Liz O’Donoghue, who Martin described as his partner in business and everything. Martin reciprocated by giving Franchot a BookPlate hat and a poster showing a Castelli painting. The crowd stayed for some time after the presentation to enjoy wine and snacks and to talk one-on-one with Franchot.

The standing-room-only audience included representatives from several local organizations including Chestertown Councilwoman Linda Kuiper, Kay MacIntosh of Main Street Chestertown, Kristin Owens of the Downtown Chestertown Association, and Loretta Lodge of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce.  The store cat, Keke, was also present during the entire event.

Located at 112 S. Cross St. in downtown Chestertown, The BookPlate is a full-service bookstore with a large selection including books on history, natural history, architecture, art, cooking, self-help, memoirs, politics, and more. The store also specializes in naval and marine history and all things nautical. The fiction section ranges from current popular titles to classic tales in English alongside translated works from around the globe and across the ages. You will find Voltaire and Sophocles and Shakespeare along with contemporary writers such as Sarandon and Rowling. There are whole sections of mysteries, fantasy and science fiction, westerns and poetry. And a bookcase full of signed first editions!  There are also places to sit while contemplating your purchases.  Come on down to Tom Martin’s BookPlate for the best hometown, independent bookstore experience.

Tom Martin, the owner and manager of The BookPlate in Chestertown, received the 2019 Kent County Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence — Photo by Jane Jewell.

Official proclamation awarding Tom Martin, owner & manager of The Bookplate in Chestertown, the 2019 Kent County Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence. — Photo by Jane Jewell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Martin, owner & manager of The BookPlate in Chestertown, received the 2019 Kent County Cornerstone Award for Small Business Excellence. from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot — Photo by Jane Jewell

Tom Martin with some of his many friends and customers — Photo by Jane Jewell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Archives, Commerce, Commerce Homepage, Top Story

Dixon Valve Donates Funds to Support “Good Seeds” Garden

September 30, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Dixon Valve employees who are parents or grandparents of Garnet School students attended a check-passing ceremony in which the Chestertown Garden Club received $7,862 to cover the cost of an irrigation system for the “Good Seeds” garden at the school. Shown are (from left) Beryl Kemp (GC),  Jackie Payne, Margie Smith, Kyla Mackie, Carolyne Grotsky (GC, holding check), Travis Johnson, Ada Joiner, Barb Macbeth (GC), Connie Schroth (GC) and Diane Klingehofer (GC).

Dixon Valve and Coupling made a donation to the Chestertown Garden Club to cover the costs of an irrigation system for the “Good Seeds” garden project at Henry Highland Garnet Elementary School.

At a check-passing ceremony Friday, Sept. 27, Dixon Valve employees who are parents or grandparents of Garnet students were on hand to see the presentation of a check for $7,862 to Garden Club members.

Carolyne Grotsky, president of the Garden Club, accepted the check. She thanked Dixon Valve CEO Dick Goodall for his continuing support of the Kent County Public Schools and the Good Seeds project, which she called “wonderful for the students, parents, and teachers” at Garnet. “It’s a project that will make a difference for many years to come,” she said. Echoing the Henry Highland Garnet quote from which the garden takes its name — “In every man’s mind the good seeds of liberty are planted” – Grotsky said that Goodall has “planted good seeds in the community.” Garnet, for whom the school is named, was a prominent abolitionist, born in Kent County, who escaped from slavery to become a major voice in the fight for freedom.

The garden is being planted along the entire front of the school building on Calvert Street, with benches, footpaths, trees, and an elaborate compass rose embedded in the walk leading to the school entrance. Plantings will include edible berries and herbs as well as a pollinator garden. The Garden Club has agreed to maintain the garden, which is being planted by Unity Landscape over the next month or so. Designed by South Fork landscape studios, the project was funded by local businesses, foundations, and individual donors. Grotsky said the irrigation system has been installed but is not yet hooked up.

The Chestertown Garden Club also maintains plantings in Fountain Park, for which it donated the iconic fountain in 1899. Many members are also active in the Downtown Chestertown Association’s Curb Appeal project, which maintains plantings along the main streets of the downtown business district. Grotsky said the club has 39 members at present and continues to grow.

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Filed Under: Archives, Brevities, Education, Local Life

Bay Bridge Open House Draws Good Crowd, But Offers Little New Info

September 27, 2019 by Peter Heck

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A display board showing the proposed route of a Bay Bridge through Kent County

The Maryland Transportation Authority held an open house meeting on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge study, Sept. 24, at Kent County High School. While well-attended, the event disappointed many residents who expected an open forum where they could present their views on the proposed routes for a new bridge, including one that would cross Kent County.

The format of the meeting consisted of a video presentation on the current status of the studies for a new bridge crossing, a number of display boards summarizing the process and its conclusions to date, and written comment sheets for residents to offer their opinions. There were MDTA staff members available to answer questions one-on-one, and a number of public officials on hand to interact with residents. Among those attending were Delegates Jay Jacobs and Steve Arentz, County Commission President Tom Mason, County Administrator Shelley Heller, Rock Hall Mayor Dawn Jacobs, Chestertown Councilman Rev. Ellsworth Tolliver, and Clerk of the Circuit Court Mark Mumford.

Attendees watch a video on the bridge study in the Kent County High School library

The open house was the first of six to be held at various locations on both the Eastern and Western shores. According to an MDTA news release, all the open houses will present the same information in the same format, and there will be no speakers or official verbal presentation at any of them. Staff will be present to answer questions. There was also no opportunity for audience members to address the crowd. To see the display boards that will be shown at the meetings, click here.

The stated purpose of the open houses is “to discuss preliminary alternatives” for a new bridge crossing identified by the Tier 1 study under the National Environmental Protection Act. The study identified several two-mile-wide corridors for an additional crossing “to improve mobility, travel reliability and safety at the existing Bay Bridge.” The study, conducted by the MDTA and the Federal Highway Administration, also took into consideration “financial viability and environmental responsibility.”

The study began by identifying 14 corridor alternatives, chosen according to several criteria including connection to peninsulas or “long stretches of Chesapeake Bay shoreline,” avoidance of the mouths of rivers or other large bodies of water as well as towns and developed areas, and connection of a Western Shore freeway or major state highway to US 50, US 301 or US 13 on the Eastern Shore. Other considerations included the length and complexity of the proposed crossing and of the roadway connections on both sides of the Bay, and the “environmental resources and sensitive lands” it would affect, directly or indirectly. A “no-build” option was also included in the study, although it was not mentioned as a possibility on the comment sheet attendees were asked to fill out.

Filling out comment forms at the MDTA open house

Using these criteria, the corridor alternatives were narrowed down to three. The northernmost, Corridor 6, would connect state route 100 near Pasadena to US 301, passing near Rock Hall and Centreville; it would require a new Chester River bridge near the mouth of the river. Corridor 7 would essentially build a third span alongside the existing ones on routes 50 and 301. Corridor 8 would take a southern route from Crofton in Anne Arundel County to near Easton, in Talbot County. According to the study, Corridor 7 would do the best job of shortening travel time on summer weekends, relieve congestion on the existing bridge, provide the best diversion route, and be more compatible with existing land-use patterns. Gov. Larry Hogan has publicly stated that he supports only Corridor 7.

The MDTA also examined “modal and operational alternatives” including ferry service, buses, and a rail line to Ocean City. While many residents have expressed support for such alternatives on the grounds that they would reduce automobile traffic and its related pollution, the MDTA concluded that these approaches would remove 1,600 or fewer cars from mid-summer traffic on the bridges. These approaches might still be considered as supplements to a new bridge, but they are not being considered as viable solutions to the main problems the bridge is meant to solve.

A Maryland Transportation Authority staff member answers residents’ questions at the Bay Bridge open house

John Sales, public affairs manager at MDTA, said that the results shown at the open house are “just the beginning,” with considerably more detail to be firmed up before any decisions are made. Tier 1will continue with environmental impact analysis, as well as a closer look at the three corridors under study. According to the MDTA news release, there will be a round of public hearings in fall 2020, after which MDTA will publish the results of their analyses and recommend the preferred corridor alternative. That report is anticipated by the summer of 2021. At that point, the decision goes to the Federal Highway Administration, which could authorize a Tier 2 study, including a financial plan. That process would likely take several more years.

Attendees look at some of the display boards at the Bay Bridge open house

Del. Jay Jacobs said he was disappointed that people “didn’t get to go up to a microphone” to make their opinions heard. He said he had heard “all kinds of opinions,” but on the whole, he thought that most Kent County people were against the bridge coming here. A lifetime Rock Hall resident, Jacobs said he had been “pretty sure all along” that the bridge wouldn’t be coming through Kent County.

Mia Mason, who has announced her candidacy to run against Rep. Andy Harris on the Democratic ticket, said the time scale of the project meant that sea level rise will be a prime factor both in available routes and in the appeal of Ocean City.

Several residents said they were disappointed at the meeting, which they said essentially duplicated information on display at an earlier MDTA open house at Kent County Middle School. This reporter heard “I didn’t learn anything new” from several attendees. A fair number of people left when they learned there would be no opportunity for the public to speak. However, many attendees took the time to view the display boards, ask questions of the MDTA staff, and it appeared as if the majority stayed to fill out comment forms.

Upcoming MTDA open houses are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1 at Middle River Middle School; Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Anne Arundel Community College; Thursday, Oct. 3 at Talbot County Community Center; and Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Kent Island High School. Visit the MDTA website for times and exact addresses.

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Filed Under: Archives, News Portal Highlights

Keep Chestertown Beautiful Program is Launched

September 24, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Kay MacIntosh of Main Street Chestertown tells the town council about the organization’s application to form a Keep Chestertown Beautiful chapter

At the Chestertown Council meeting, Sept. 16, Kay MacIntosh of Main Street Chestertown announced that the town has applied to become an affiliate in the Keep America Beautiful program, a national volunteer-based organization that works to involve individuals in improving their communities’ environments.

In a news release distributed at the meeting, MacIntosh said that Keep Chestertown Beautiful will be a new committee under the Main Street Chestertown umbrella, but will have access to the resources and funding of the national organization. She said the program is being promoted by Main Street Maryland, and that Chestertown received a grant from the state organization to cover the town’s $1,000 application fee. The fee has already been paid, she added.

MacIntosh also said that the Keep Chestertown Beautiful organization will be embarking on two activities as part of its application. One is the creation of a “community appearance index,” which will be compiled by groups of volunteers who visit six districts and rate them in terms of visible litter, graffiti, abandoned cars, and similar criteria. “That gives us a baseline, and we’re supposed to come back every year and look at them again, to see if there have been any improvements,” she said. She said the survey would focus on the downtown area, but would extend a bit beyond it – “we are going to go up the rail trail to the roundabout and also drive up High Street to the roundabout, to see whether there is any area of need,” she said,

The second research project related to the application is compiling a summary of the assets already in the community, looking at litter and waste reduction, recycling and beautification efforts such as plantings. MacIntosh said it would be an opportunity to identify which agencies and town departments are working to maintain and improve the town’s appearance, and to encourage cooperation among them.

Mayor Chris Cerino asked whether plantings would include street trees. “It’s something we’d look into,” MacIntosh said, adding that it would depend on funding. She said she had recently had a conversation with Carolyn Grotsky of Curb Appeal about three empty tree wells on High Street.

Councilwoman Linda Kuiper asked whether the town had any money for planting trees. MacIntosh said there is no grant money for that purpose at present, but that it might become available once the town is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.

Kuiper asked what the process would be if the survey found an abandoned mattress on a street corner. “Do you contact your resources within the town to come pick it up?” she asked. MacIntosh said that question would be part of the group’s research to determine what’s appropriate. She said she would share the group’s reports with the council when they are done.

In addition to Main Street Chestertown, the town’s Environmental Committee, the Chestertown Garden Club, and the Curb Appeal Committee of the Downtown Chestertown Association have been working to launch the initiative. The group will be chaired by David Sobers and the vice-chair will be Barbara Slocum. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact MacIntosh at manager@mainstreetchestertown.org or call 410-778-2991.

In other business, the council reappointed Cheryl Hoopes, Loretta Lodge and Bob Ortiz to the town’s Board of Supervisors of Elections.

The council also reappointed Ed Minch and Alice Ritchie to three-year terms on the Historic District Commission.

Three members of the Recreation Commission were reappointed by the council. Amy Meeks, Brandt Troup, and Emily Welsh will return to the commission. Also, Cerino nominated Dan Divilio and Emily Genther for positions on the Recreation Commission; the council will vote on the nominations at its next meeting.

Cerino said that the town is seeking members to fill vacancies the Ethics Commission and the Planning Commission. Anyone interested should contact town hall for more information.

Lt. John Dolgos, acting Chief of the Chestertown Police Department, gives the monthly police report for August

Lt. John Dolgos of the Chestertown Police Department delivered his first monthly report as acting Chief. During the month of August, the department made 13 adult arrests on 20 separate charges. There were no arrests of juveniles, defined as anyone under age 18. Officers issued 49 motor vehicle citations and 223 warnings. The Red Speed cameras on Morgnec Road issued 320 speeding citations.

Also at the meeting, the council approved permits for a RiverArts Clay Studio outdoor clay firing demonstration Nov. 9, to be held at the junction of Court Street and Memorial Plaza; for the HP Festival Wizarding Weekend, Oct. 4-5; and for the annual Halloween parade, Nov. 2.

At the end of the meeting, the council conducted a closed session at the request of Councilman Marty Stetson. The stated purpose of the session was to discuss a personnel matter.

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Filed Under: Archives, News, News Portal Highlights

Harvey Resigns as Farmers Market Manager Amid Dispute with Vendor

September 19, 2019 by Peter Heck

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Chestertown Farmers Market manager Sabine Harvey submitted her resignation Saturday, Sept. 14, following a dispute with a vendor. As a result of the incident, the Chestertown Council unanimously voted to expel the vendor for disrespectful conduct toward a customer and Harvey.

Sabine Harvey, Farmers Market Manager, at a previous meeting

Mayor Chris Cerino said the dispute arose because the vendor refused to accept tokens issued by the market to customers who want to use SNAP or WIC coupons. Harvey had launched a program to expand the market’s customer base by getting vendors to accept the tokens, which the vendors could exchange for their cash equivalent. When Harvey tried to persuade the vendor to change his mind, the discussion became heated, continuing after the market closed. Following the incident, Harvey recommended that the vendor be expelled for refusal to accept the tokens and inappropriate conduct toward the customer.  The vendor’s name was not disclosed as this is an ongoing situation.

Cerino said the vendor had no prior transgressions, so he told Harvey to issue a letter of warning, which she did. However, he said, the vendor protested the decision, claiming that Harvey accused him of discriminating against the customer. The vendor said he had been at the market for 12 years without problems. He requested that town manager Bill Ingersoll serve as a mediator between the parties, as specified in the farmers market rules. Ingersoll began to gather the facts, but the process took too long to satisfy the vendor, who circulated Harvey’s warning letter to the other vendors in an effort to win their support.

Cerino said he then got emails from vendors on both sides of the issue, supporting Harvey or the other vendor. “I don’t want to manage the farmers market,” he said, adding that it was “really frustrating for me” to be called into the dispute. He said there are “a lot of big personalities” with different viewpoints on how the market should operate, recalling a meeting last year when vendors crowded into the council chamber to argue over proposed rule changes for the market. He said he anticipated a repeat of that episode at a future meeting.

Town Manager Bill Ingersoll (white shirt) tells the council his decision on an incident involving a farmers market vendor

According to Councilwoman Linda Kuiper, Harvey’s resignation came at the worst possible time, with funds not being collected at the market and families eligible for the food assistance tokens unable to pick them up. Kuiper said she was frustrated because the resignation threatened to undo eight years of progress, with an increased number of vendors and Harvey’s decision to bring the food assistance program to the market. Harvey had obtained a grant to help support the program, and when the grant funds were exhausted, set up a gofundme.com page to keep it going. Kuiper said Harvey felt that the town had not really supported her efforts. Kuiper said the resignation “upset me terribly,” calling the entire situation “inexcusable.” She said the town needs to explain to the families on the SNAP and WIC programs whether the market will continue to support them.

Ingersoll said there were two different issues to consider, the vendor’s refusal to accept tokens and his rudeness to the customer. He said the contract does not compel the vendors to accept the tokens, although most of them did, and the town would be “on shaky legal ground” to require it after the fact. He said the next contract should make that a requirement for vendors who want to participate in the market. He said that his ruling on that issue did not override Harvey’s decision to expel the vendor because of his behavior, but he said the council was free to overrule him.

Cerino said the vendors are “guests of the town,” since the market operates on town property, but some of them see participation in the market as “a god-given right.” He said he trusts Harvey, but there are always two sides to such disputes. He said the decision on how to respond to the incident with the vendor should be a united decision by the council. He said he expected the response to be “ugly either way,” because the vendor also has allies. “I don’t know why we can’t sell fruits and vegetables without any drama,” he said.

Councilman David Foster said the manager should have the authority to expel a vendor because of improper behavior. “I would be prepared to support her on that,” he said.

Ingersoll said he didn’t know if Harvey’s decision was valid if she has resigned, but that the council is the ultimate authority. He said the expulsion should be for a specific period of time. Kuiper said the end of the year would be an appropriate time, at which point the vendor could reapply for membership.

Kuiper said that she would volunteer to manage the market until a permanent replacement for Harvey can be found, on condition that the expulsion of the vendor is upheld. She said vendors should be required to display a sign if they don’t accept SNAP or WIC payments. She said as far as she knew, the expelled vendor was the only one who didn’t accept the payments. Also, she said, the council should support Harvey’s efforts to create a separate limited liability corporation with its own board of directors to oversee the market. She said it could be on the model of the Friends of the Dog Park, which has financed numerous improvements for that facility without cost to the town.

Ingersoll said a community member had contacted him to volunteer to help out with the market until a permanent manager could be appointed. He said he would put Kuiper in touch with the volunteer, who he said would be a real asset in helping her through the situation. “I wish Sabine would reconsider,” he said. He said other vendors would support her. He noted that when the council rewrote the rules for the market last year, it wanted to give the manager more power. However, he said, many of the vendors wanted fewer rules.

Harvey, who was not present at the meeting, said in an email to the Chestertown Spy that she would not reconsider her resignation.  She wrote, “I resigned as market manager because I found myself in a situation that is way beyond anything I am even remotely comfortable with.  The situation is a direct result of the organizational structure of the market.  Most markets are run independently, with a manager that reports to a board.  Our market is overseen by the Town Council, which means that political concerns can enter into decisions.  Ultimately, the manager doesn’t have much actual authority to resolve problems.  I think the best way forward for the Chestertown Market is to adopt a new framework. It should be managed not by the town, but by a group of people consisting of an independent board.”

Harvey is a Maryland Master Gardener who works as an Extension Program Assistant in the Kent County extension office of the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  She has also been the chair and a main organizing force behind Chestertown’s Tea Party for several years now.

[UPDATE: Jon Hanley wrote in an email to the Spy that he will be manning the SNAP/WIC booth at the market.]

 

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Filed Under: Archives, News, News Portal Highlights

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