Work Session — Salisbury, MD
Date: 2025-10-06

WORK SESSION
 MEETING MINUTES
 OCTOBER 6, 2025



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

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

Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, Director of Housing and Community
Development Muir Boda, Finance Director Sandy Green, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor
Ashley Bosche, Special Counsel Lindsey Rader
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Work Session on October 6, 2025 at 6:32 p.m. in the Government
Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.

RESOLUTION

 • Charter Amendment - Updating the Procurement Department Chain of Command

 • Charter Amendment - Clarification of City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator,
 and Assistant City Administrator Roles

 Ms. Bosche explained that under the amendments, the City Administrator, with the Mayor’s
 approval, would determine the City’s strategic and operational needs and who reported to the City
 Administrator or Deputy. The update to City Code §2.12.040 aligned the Director of
 Infrastructure and Development under the City Administrator as well.

 Mayor Taylor clarified the roles of the City Administrator, Deputy, and Assistant, noting the
 Assistant focused on project-based initiatives. Mr. Swiger outlined the reporting structure and
 emphasized that the amendment allowed flexibility without repeated Charter changes. Council
 gave consensus to move forward with both Charter Amendment Resolutions.

 • Lot 10 Subrecipient Agreement

 Ms. Bosche explained that the subrecipient agreement had not changed since the last session
 and required the Mayor’s approval. The agreement included thresholds for the developer, a
 reimbursement scheme, and standard default provisions. If a default occurred, the City could
 withhold payments or terminate the agreement, and a court could require repayment in cases of
 fraud or breach. Council gave consensus to move forward with the agreement.

 • Updating SC5-1 to increase the maximum fines for misdemeanors and municipal infractions
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 Mr. Boda explained that updating SC5-1 would increase the maximum fines for misdemeanors
 and municipal infractions. The amendment would simplify the language in the Charter, allowing
 violations to be punishable by fines, incarceration, or other penalties as permitted by state law. He
 added that this approach would provide flexibility if state law changed. He noted a broader effort
 to review and modernize the City Code, updating outdated violations and penalties for clarity and
 consistency. Council gave consensus to move forward with the resolution.
ORDINANCE

 • Authorizing the Issuance of Refunding Bonds for the Villages of Aydelotte Farm Project

 Ms. Rader explained that the City had issued special obligation bonds in 2007, restructured them
 in 2015 as capital appreciation bonds, and that by 2025 Lapis Advisors LP owned all bonds and
 requested a refunding. A bond ordinance was proposed to authorize up to $18 million in
 refunding bonds, payable only from incremental tax revenues and special taxes, with final details
 delegated to the Mayor. Council discussed risks, and administration noted that bondholders bore
 default risk while public improvements were already in place. Council gave consensus to move
 forward with the ordinance.
 • Updating the Department of Infrastructure and Development Chain of Command

 Ms. Bosche explained that this change was mentioned above with the Charter Amendment
 Resolutions except this would be a change to the City Code. This change stated that all department
 heads reported to the City Administrator, who, with the Mayor’s approval, could determine the
 chain of command. Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.

 • Ordinance to appropriate lease proceeds for public safety equipment and to change
 funding source of the property and records department management system

 Ms. Green explained that the ordinance amended the General Fund budget to lease $ 511,660 in
 equipment, including radios and AEDs, instead of using bonds. She added that lease financing
 better matched the equipment’s useful life and was projected to save $84,000 in interest.
 Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION

 • Potential railing for downtown riverwalk

 Council discussed installing a safety railing along the downtown Riverwalk to prevent accidental
 falls into the water. Ms. Jackson noted past incidents involving pedestrians, seniors, and
 vulnerable populations, emphasizing the need for public safety. They discussed potential
 locations, types of fencing that would allow emergency access, insurance considerations, and
 property ownership or easement issues. The conversation concluded with a consensus to research
 options, identify city-owned sections, and continue exploring feasible solutions.


 • Housing First Program strategy

 Council discussed the Housing First program changes. The program was to shift from providing
 permanent supportive housing to temporary supportive housing, aiming to help more individuals
 achieve independence and transition to permanent housing. Mr. Boda joined the conversation
 and
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 added that current participants would be encouraged to move on within two years, though
 exceptions would be made for those with disabilities or mental health challenges. Mr. Boda
 outlined efforts to connect participants with vouchers, appropriate housing, and support services.
 He explained that funding came from non-CDBG sources, with some reliance on state, federal,
 and local agencies. Council emphasized prioritizing previous participants if external funding failed
 and highlighted the importance of restructuring the program to maximize impact while
 maintaining flexibility for those in greatest need. The next steps included finalizing the program
 name and structure, getting approval from the Mayor and bringing a presentation back to work
 session.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only)

The following public comments were heard:

 • Speaker #1 criticized the Lot 10 agreement, calling it unethical because it reimbursed a
 private developer with state funds despite no city benefit or tax revenue.
 • Speaker #2 also criticized developer subsidies, arguing they offered little city benefit and
 asked that funds be used for affordable housing instead.
 • Speaker #3 supported Councilwoman Jackson’s railing proposal.
 • Speaker #4 echoed Speaker #3 about the Riverwalk and proposed reviewing at a Parks
 Committee meeting.
ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS

Mr. Rice stated that it had been a whirlwind first day and thanked everyone for coming out for
public comments.

Mayor Taylor commented on the recent stabbing, noting that the Maryland State Police were leading the
investigation and keeping the city administration informed. He also expressed support for Mr. Rice and
looked forward to working with him.
COUNCIL COMMENTS

Ms. Jackson highlighted community events, including a Trunk and Treat and a Senior Citizens
Christmas Dinner. She also expressed concern about increased violence in Salisbury, urging the
community to prioritize safety.

Ms. Gregory promoted a park cleanup event and welcomed Mr. Rice aboard. She raised safety
concerns about a hazardous intersection, requesting an update on a past traffic study and
reconsideration of a roundabout.

Ms. Blake welcomed Mr. Rice and asked for an update on the comprehensive plan.

Ms. Dashiell highlighted recent community efforts and resources, including neighborhood
walkabouts, a brownfield cleanup project, the new Sheriff’s facility, the Salisbury Zoo expansion, the
new Breeze Airlines flights, and HOPE - an organization helping residents access essential documents
and services.

President Doughty underscored the tour of the new Wicomico Sheriff’s Department, Trick-or-Treat
Street and the upcoming MML conference.

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ADJOURNMENT

The Work Session adjourned at 8:06 p.m.


_________________________________
City Clerk



_________________________________
Council President