Work Session — Salisbury, MD
Date: 2026-03-23

WORK SESSION
 MEETING MINUTES
 MARCH 23, 2026



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Present: Council President April R. Jackson, Council Vice President Sharon C. Dashiell,
Councilwoman Angela M. Blake, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Melissa D.
Holland
 IN ATTENDANCE

Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, Fire Chief Rob Frampton, Human Resources
Director Meg Caton, Deputy City Clerk Hannah Long, City Solicitor Laura Ryan
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Work Session on March 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Government Office
Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
ORDINANCE

 • Budget Amendment

 Chief Frampton reported that the hazmat incident recovery revenues exceeded the projected
 threshold for the year. He requested approval to transfer the surplus amount of $8,834 from the
 HazMat Special Operations revenue account to the Rescue Supply account to purchase
 specialized dive equipment for the dive rescue team. Council gave consensus to move forward
 with the ordinance.

 • Grant Acceptance

 Chief Frampton requested approval to accept an $ 18,000 grant from the Franklin P. and Arthur W.
 Perdue Foundation to purchase impermeable gear bags, enhancing cancer exposure prevention for
 the fire department personnel. Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.

 President Jackson thanked the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation.

 • Requisition of 303 Lake Street

 Mr. Rice presented the proposed purchase of a property for $385,000 to support the
 development of Northprong Park. Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.

 • Requisition of 1123 Parsons Road
 Mr. Rice presented the purchase of a building for $295,000 to be used as the Westside Community
 Center, addressing a need for community space on the west side. Ms. Blake questioned how much


 1
 it would cost to rehab the building. The Mayor answered that they should know in the next 90 days
 or so after settlement. Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.

 • Authorized Position Changes

 Ms. Caton requested approval to reallocate six positions across various departments with no
 additional funding required. Proposed changes included converting a vacant Executive
 Administrator position into a Public Information Officer; splitting the vacant Director of Water
 Works position into two Executive Project Manager roles; reclassifying the Assistant Director of the
 Arts, Business, and Culture Department as the Assistant Director of the Zoo; reallocating the Event
 Technical Specialist position to convert the Office Administrator and Downtown Ambassador
 positions to full-time; retitling the Development Supervisor as Guest Services Manager; and
 authorizing funding flexibility to hire up to four police cadets. Council reached consensus to move
 forward with the ordinance.

COUNCIL DISCUSSION

 • Rules of Order

 Council discussed proposed revisions to council rules, including clarifying the role of the Council
 President and limiting work sessions to agenda items requiring substantial deliberation. Ms.
 Gregory and Ms. Blake expressed differing views, balancing efficiency with transparency and
 public awareness. Consensus was reached to move to a biweekly meeting schedule, combining
 legislative and work sessions on the same night, with a single public comment period at the end.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only)

The following public comments were heard:

 • Speaker #1 supported the new schedule and asked Council to increase public comment time
 from three to four minutes. (Council agreed)
 • Speaker #2 spoke in favor of the proposed rule changes, noting that routine grant approvals
 should not require work session discussion and that deferring to department expertise was
 efficient and reasonable.
 • Speaker #3 supported the new, proposed meeting schedule, recommended extending public
 comment time, and recommended safeguards to ensure important items could still go to work
 sessions.


ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The Work Session adjourned at 6:26 p.m.




_________________________________
City Clerk



_________________________________
Council President