Legislative Session — Salisbury, MD
Date: 2026-01-12

LEGISLATIVE SESSION
 MEETING MINUTES
 JANUARY 12, 2026



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Present: Council President Angela M. Blake, Council Vice President April R. Jackson,
Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory, Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell and Councilwoman Melissa
D. Holland
 IN ATTENDANCE
Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, City Clerk Julie English and City Solicitor
Ashley Bosche
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Legislative Session on January 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS/PLEDGE

President Blake welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency exit instructions. She
reviewed the Rules of Order. She then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION - Moment of Silence

Ms. Blake called for a moment of silence in lieu of the invocation.

PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

City Clerk Julie English presented the legislative agenda.

President Blake called for a motion and a second to adopt the legislative agenda as presented. Michele
R. Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0.
RESOLUTIONS

Presented by Ms. English

 • Council Regulations and Rules of Order

 Resolution No. 3445 - amending the Salisbury City Council Regulations and Rules of Order.
 April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0.

ORDINANCES

Presented by Ms. Bosche

 • Grant Acceptance - 1st Reading
 Ordinance No. 2968 - approving a budget amendment of the grant fund budget to accept
 $2,000 in grant funds from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for the Salisbury
 Fire Department's SWIFT program for patient transportation costs. April R. Jackson motioned
 and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0.

 • Tidal Health Road Closures - 1st Reading

 Ordinance No. 2969 - for the closing of Royal Street, Center Street and a portion of West
 Vine Street. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0.

 • Budget Amendment Bless Our Children Donation for Santa's Winter Wonderland - 1st Reading

 Ordinance No. 2970 - approving a budget amendment of the City's FY26 budget, accepting a
 donation from Draper Holdings Charitable Foundation for the Santa Workshop Program.
 Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT

 • Speaker #1 recommended that Council place ranked-choice voting on a ballot and asked the
 Mayor to clarify his intentions regarding Black Lives Matter Boulevard.
 • Speaker #2 asked Council to address unsafe sidewalks in the Pinehurst neighborhood and
 supported Councilwoman Gregory’s recent public comment but wished she used different langua.
 • Speaker #3 opposed ranked-choice voting, called for improved transparency of meetings and
 agendas, and raised legal concerns about proposed affordable housing tax credits.
 • Speaker #4 criticized Council leadership and procedures, raised concerns about transparency,
 spending, and public input, and questioned several city actions and advisory commissions.
 • Speaker #5 recommended clearer public comment rules, supported a ranked-choice voting ballot
 measure, raised concerns about tax abatements, and criticized Ms. Gregory’s divisive social
 media use.
 • Speaker #6 asked the Council to focus on the impact of ICE actions on local families rather than
 the use of offensive language.
 • Speaker #7 suggested clarifying definitions and streamlining the tax abatement process for
 nonprofits and emphasized that political and offensive speech was protected under the First
 Amendment.


ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE INTO WORK SESSION

The Legislative Session Adjourned at 6:25 p.m.




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City Clerk



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Council President