Work Session — Salisbury, MD
Date: 2025-10-27

WORK SESSION
 MEETING MINUTES
 OCTOBER 27, 2025



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Present: Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and
Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell

Absent: Council President D'Shawn M. Doughty and Council Vice President Angela M. Blake

 IN ATTENDANCE

Mayor Randy Taylor, Assistant City Administrator Tom Stevenson, Finance Director Sandy
Green, Water Works Director Cori Cameron, Council Intern Matt Wessel, City Clerk Julie
English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Work Session on October 27, 2025 at 6:54 p.m. in the
Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
PRESENTATION

Ms. Jackson called the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee forward to present their 2025 Annual Report.

 • Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2025 Annual Report

 Alexander McRae, Mary Buffington, Saraleigh Monroe and Tom Horton from the Bicycle and
 Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) presented its work advocating for safer bike and
 pedestrian infrastructure in Salisbury. The committee highlighted how improved infrastructure
 boosts safety, health, quality of life, property values, and local business activity. They discussed
 ghost bikes as safety awareness memorials and advertised the bike valet services that they host
 at local events. BPAC emphasized the need to connect existing infrastructure, improve problem
 intersections, and advance protected bike routes to encourage more people to walk and bike
 safely. Ms. Jackson thanked them for bringing their informative presentation to Council.

ORDINANCE

 • Schedule C Amendment of Ordinance 2935

 Ms. Green shared that the ordinance revised Schedule C of the FY26 budget to add previously
 omitted grants and their matching funds. There was no increase to the City’s required contribution
 and that the change allowed anticipated grants to be approved together. Council gave consensus to
 move forward with the ordinance.

 • Budget Amendment for Additional funds for Waterside Park Project
 Ms. Green explained that an additional $165,000 was needed to complete a long-delayed
 Waterside Park project after construction bids exceeded the original budget. She noted that the
 added funds from surplus were needed to finish the project as designed. Council members
 expressed strong support and gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance.
 • Budget Amendment for Elevated Water Tank Maintenance

 Ms. Cameron reported that they needed an additional $75,000 to complete maintenance on the
 Salisbury University water tower after bids came in higher than expected. The added funding
 would allow the tank to be fully sandblasted and properly repainted so it would last long term. The
 funds would come from transferred lawsuit interest earnings. Council discussed concerns that
 Salisbury University was only contributing $15,000 for its logo on the tower while the City was
 covering roughly $400,000 of the total cost. Despite concerns, council reached consensus to move
 the ordinance forward.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only)

The following public comment was heard:

 • Speaker #1 thanked the council for questioning the water tower funding and noted that while
 Salisbury University benefits the city economically, it also relies on the water tower, making it
 reasonable to ask the university to contribute more to its upkeep.
ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS

Mayor Taylor clarified that the Housing First Program’s goal was to help more people transition
into permanent housing without affecting current participants.
COUNCIL COMMENTS

Ms. Gregory highlighted the success of the annual Treat Street event downtown and commended the
Jaycee’s for their hard work and community engagement.

Ms. Dashiell provided updates on county and community events and acknowledged Pac 14’s extensive
community service. She shared upcoming events including Halloween activities and a Down Syndrome
walk.

Ms. Jackson highlighted her involvement with the Vehicles for Change event, the Women 4 Women
Domestic Violence Walk and the Relay for Life event. She shared her personal cancer survivor journey
and emphasized ongoing efforts to improve Pemberton Manor.
ADJOURNMENT

The Work Session adjourned at 7:37 p.m.

_________________________________
City Clerk


_________________________________
Council President