Work Session — Salisbury, MD
Date: 2025-08-25

WORK SESSION
 MEETING MINUTES
 AUGUST 25, 2025



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

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

Absent: Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory

 IN ATTENDANCE

Mayor Randy Taylor, Acting City Administrator Tom Stevenson, Deputy City Administrator Allen
Swiger, Events and Culture Manager Caroline O'Hare, Economic Development Manager Derek
Jarmon, Media Specialist Jordan Ray, Procurement Director Michael Lowe, Finance Director Sandy
Green, Associate Planner Zach White, Associate Planner Jennifer Jean, Police Chief Dave
Meienschein, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Work Session on August 25, 2025 at 6:24 p.m. in the Government
Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
PRESENTATIONS

 • Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Grant Presentation

 Ms. O'Hare shared that the Maryland Folk Festival received a $50,000 grant from the Maryland
 Heritage Areas Authority, with support from Beach to Bay Heritage Area, to fund the Folk Life
 stage. This year’s theme - Maryland, America in Miniature - showcases the state’s cultural
 heritage through music, dance, crafts, and storytelling, including Janice Curtis Green as Harriet
 Tubman. The grant covers artist fees, travel, lodging, staff, and equipment, promoting Salisbury as
 a cultural hub and boosting tourism and economic development. The festival runs September 19–
 21 across four stages, with downtown businesses participating.
 • Presentation of Brand New Downtown SBY Website

 Mr. Ray presented Salisbury’s new website, downtownsby.com. The website was designed to be
 the central hub for residents and visitors to explore downtown events, businesses, and cultural
 initiatives. He explained that it replaced the outdated platform and offered an easy-to-navigate,
 fully functional experience. Key features included a month-by-month event calendar, a
 categorized business directory, and an interactive GIS portal highlighting public art and walking
 tours. The site allowed users to plan visits, boosted downtown engagement and tourism, and drove
 foot traffic to local businesses. Mr. Ray noted the website was led by the communications
 department and strengthened the city’s connection with the community and visitors.

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RESOLUTIONS

 • Franchise Fee Negotiations

 Finance Director Sandy Green presented a resolution to appoint Cohen Law Group and CBG
 Communications for cable franchise renewal consulting. The current contract had expired and
 their expertise was needed for complex negotiations. Cohen Law Group was deemed the most
 qualified. Council gave consensus to move this forward to Legislative Session.

 • Annexation Introduction for Gordy Road/Beaglin Park Drive

 Mr. White reviewed a request to annex 0.87 acres of parcel 312 along Gordy Road to complete the
 Aydelotte Farms PRD, bringing several lots fully into city limits with zoning as Plan Residential
 Zone 7. Parcel 310 and its access easement were excluded per the owner’s wishes. After
 addressing questions about utilities and the property, the council gave consensus to move the
 annexation forward.

 • Annexation Introduction for Johnson Road, Parcel 269

 Ms. Jean introduced a request to annex parcel 269 on Johnson Road, a 14.88-acre property
 currently zoned R20 in Wicomico County. The applicant requested R5A residential zoning for a
 development of 148 townhomes with public water and sewer. Discussions included potential
 policies for including affordable housing in future annexations and the benefits of connecting to
 city water and sewer versus having wells. It was noted that the existing home on the parcel
 would not be annexed. The council gave consensus to move the annexation forward.
ORDINANCES

 • Drug Court Grant

 Chief Meienschein informed the Council that $5,000 in recurring funding from the Office of
 Problem-Solving Courts supported Wicomico Drug Court clients, helped officers perform home
 visits and curfew checks to assist in aid compliance, recovery, and to reduce crime. Having no
 further questions, consensus was given by the council to move this forward to Legislative Session.

 • Budget Amendment for North Prong

 Mr. Swiger presented an ordinance to approve a budget amendment reallocating funds to 337
 Lake Street as part of the North Prong Park project. Funds would be transferred from the Unity
 Square streetscaping project, which was almost complete. Councilmembers expressed strong
 support, noting the property was an eyesore and the project had been long awaited. Consensus
 was given to move the amendment forward.
PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only)

The following public comments were heard:

 • Speaker #1 urged the council to adopt an affordable housing code, noting Salisbury lacked one.
 Council responded that updates would come from the housing team in September.
 • Speaker #2 highlighted costs from failing septic systems and the need for better public education
 on city services and gradual tax payments.

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 • Speaker #3 was in favor of the North Prong property purchase and wanted a
 community-driven planning process, while addressing issues like lack of shade early
 in the design.

ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS

Mayor Taylor expressed appreciation for public comments on Carroll Street. He noted the
upcoming projects: infrastructure improvements on Fitzwater Street, installation of the final
floodgate on Lake Streets east side, and repairs to damaged concrete buffers, with more projects
planned.
COUNCIL COMMENTS

Ms. Jackson praised the summer program for engaging kids from multiple communities with
activities and arts, and thanked city staff and volunteers for their support. She emphasized the
importance of such programs for keeping children safe. Additionally, she encouraged
community support for Relay for Life, sharing personal experience as a two-time cancer
survivor.

Ms. Dashiell recognized Poplar Hill’s 50th anniversary, the Estonian choir performance, the
Tidal Health Clinic ribbon-cutting, local cleanup efforts, and Salisbury University’s 100-
year celebration.

Ms. Blake congratulated Ms. Jackson on the successful program and was excited for the
Westside Community Center. She shared a personal connection to Salisbury University,
highlighting her grandmother’s history there. Ms. Blake encouraged plasma, blood and organ
donation, and reminded everyone to drive safely as school resumed. She also applauded the
Council and Mayor for allocating $1 million for infrastructure improvements in Foggy Bottom,
Spring Chase, and Schumaker Manor, noting the positive impact for those communities.

President Doughty attended the Governor’s sub-cabinet summer roundtable on socio-
economic procurement. The new Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility
would streamline resources from three offices to support historically underserved
communities.

ADJOURNMENT

The Work Session adjourned at 7:27 p.m.

__________________________________
City Clerk


_________________________________________
Council President