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

LEGISLATIVE 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 Doughty, Council Vice President Angela M. Blake

 IN ATTENDANCE

Mayor Randy Taylor, Assistant City Administrator Tom Stevenson, City Clerk Julie English, Council
Intern Matt Wessel, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche
CALL TO ORDER

The City Council convened in Legislative Session on October 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS/PLEDGE

President Pro Tem Jackson welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency
exit instructions. She introduced Council Intern Matt Wessel and then asked everyone to
stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION - Pastor Greg Carlson - Park Seventh-Day Adventist

Pastor Greg Carlson from Park Seventh-Day Adventist was called forward to provide the Invocation.

COUNCIL CITATION - Presented by Councilwoman Dashiell

Councilwoman Dashiell presented Sergeant Thomas Hitty with a Citation for all his hard work and
dedication not only to the police department but to the residents of the City.

PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Ms. English presented the legislative agenda.

Councilwoman Jackson called for a motion and a second to adopt the legislative agenda as presented.
Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0.

AWARD OF BIDS

Procurement Director Michael Lowe presented the Award of Bids.

 • Award of Bids

 ITB 26-111 Property and Records Management Storage
 ITB 26-112 North and South Side Pump Station Pumps
 Ms. Jackson called for a motion and a second to approve the Award of Bids. Michele R. Gregory
 motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0.
RESOLUTIONS

Presented by Ms. Bosche

 • Charter Amendment - Updating the Procurement Department Chain of Command - 1st Reading

 Charter Amendment Resolution No. 2025-1 - to ament Article 16 of the City Charter to update
 the chain of command of Director or Procurement. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R.
 Gregory seconded. The vote was 3-0.

 • Charter Amendment - Clarification of City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator,
 and Assistant City Administrator Roles - 1st Reading
 Charter Amendment Resolution No. 2025-2 - to amend SC 4- 1 of the Charter of the City of
 Salisbury to update the powers and duties of City Administrator and Deputy Administrator.
 Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 3-0.
ORDINANCES

Presented by Ms. Bosche

 • Ordinance - Burton Street Closure - 1st Reading

 Ordinance No. 2958 - for the abandonment of a portion of the road known as Burton Street
 located east of Delaware Ave. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded.
 The vote was 3-0.

 • Public safety equipment and property and records management system (1st Reading)

 Ordinance No. 2960 - Approving a budget amendment to the City's General Fund for lease
 proceeds to purchase police radios, fire radios, and AED Heart monitors and to change the
 funding source of the property and records department management system previously approved
 under Schedule B with the FY2026 Budget Ordinance No. 2395 Michele R. Gregory motioned
 and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0.

 • Authorizing the Issuance of Refunding Bonds for the Villages of Aydelotte Farm Project
 (1st Reading)
 Ordinance No. 2961 - Authorizing and empowering City of Salisbury to issue, sell and deliver, at
 any one time or from time to time, in one or more series, its special obligation bonds, notes or
 other similar instruments (the "refunding bonds") in an original aggregate principal amount not to
 exceed eighteen million dollars (18,000,000.00) in order to currently refund or advance refund in
 whole or in part the outstanding City of Salisbury special obligation bonds (the villages of
 Aydelotte farm project), series 2007 (capital appreciation bonds) that were issued to finance or
 reimburse the cost of certain public improvements and other costs relating to the northeast
 collector phase III development district and the geographically coincident northeast collector
 phase III special taxing district established within the city. Ms. Rader reviewed the background of
 the City’s 2007 TIF bonds and a proposed ordinance to authorize potential refunding.
 The Mayor and Council expressed the need for more information before considering introduction
 of the ordinance. Municap stated that the necessary analysis was not yet complete. Ms. Gregory
 made a motion to have Municap gather more information and bring it back to Work Session on
 November 10. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-
 0.

 Municap stated that November 10 was not enough time to gather the information, Ms. Gregory
 made a motion to have it brought to the November 24 Work Session. Michele R. Gregory
 motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0.

 • Updating the Department of Infrastructure and Development Chain of Command - 1st Reading

 Ordinance No. 2962 - amending chapter 2.12.040 of the Salisbury City Code to update the chain
 of command of the Director of Infrastructure and Development. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and
 Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 3-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT

The following public comments were heard:

 • Speaker #1 thanked City Utilities for their quick response, professionalism, and compassion
 after a sewage backup at his home.
 • Speaker #2 criticized Sheriff Lewis’s support of the 287(g) program.
 • Speaker #3 recommended that Council permanently codify the Housing First program.
 • Speaker #4 echoed speaker #3 regarding the Housing First Program.
 • Speaker #5 asked Council to review a section of the towing ordinance that could expose
 the City to liability due to response-time requirements.
 • Speaker #6 questioned Ordinance 2958 regarding the abandonment of Burton Street, briefly
 expressed support for housing and was opposed to ICE related practices.
ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE INTO WORK SESSION

The Legislative Session adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
 CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY
 MEETING MINUTES
 OCTOBER 6, 2025



 PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Present: Council President D'Shawn M. Doughty, Council Vice President Angela M. Blake
(arrived at 5:39 p.m.), Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and
Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell
 IN ATTENDANCE

Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, Deputy City Administrator Allen Swiger,
City Clerk Julie English
MOTION TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION

The City Council convened in Closed Session on October 6, 2025 at 5:31 p.m. in the
Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
The Closed Session was to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to consult with staff,
consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation authorized by the State
Government Article, § 3-305(b)(7)(8). Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded.
The vote was 4-0.
DISCUSSION TOPIC

 • Legal strategy regarding Marina Landing Lawsuit
 Ms. Shearer provided an update on the Marina Landing litigation and shared the City’s next steps
 moving forward.
MOTION TO AJOURN AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

President Doughty called for a motion and a second to adjourn the Closed Session and reconvene
into Open Session. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-
0.
REPORT TO PUBLIC

President Doughty immediately convened in Open Session to provide the report out. He stated that the
Closed Session was to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to consult with staff, consultants,
or other individuals about pending or potential litigation authorized by the State Government Article, §
3-305(b)(7)(8). He announced that Council discussed the legal strategy regarding Marina Landing and
potential next steps.




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ADJOURNMENT

The Open Session adjourned at 5:45 p.m.




_________________________________
City Clerk



_________________________________
Council President




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 CLOSED SESSION #2 SUMMARY
 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, Deputy City Administrator Allen Swiger,
City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche
MOTION TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION

The City Council convened in Closed Session on October 6, 2025 at 8:09 p.m. in the
Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street.
The Closed Session was to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline,
demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or
officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or
more specific individuals as authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1). Michele R.
Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0.
DISCUSSION TOPIC

 • Potential Appointees to the City's newly formed Planning Commission

 Council reviewed the applications for the city planning commission. Everyone agreed the work of
 the commission was technical and involved a lot of material, so it was important to have people
 with experience, especially in areas such as planning, engineering, and architecture. An important
 topic of discussion was finding the right balance between keeping some continuity from the
 previous planning commission and bringing in new people with fresh perspectives. They noted
 that service on the former Salisbury–Wicomico Planning Commission was seen as helpful, but
 several councilmembers felt there should be limits on how many people carried over so the new
 commission did not feel like the old one under a different name. The staggered terms were used as
 a way to avoid having the entire commission turn over at the same time. The applicants reviewed
 were Von Siggers, Susan Rall, David Chiddenton, Matthias Pieplak, Mike Piorunski, Lynne
 Bratten, Matt Drew, Daniel Holt, Latonia Ayscue, Monica Brooks, Joe Schiaffino, and Anthony
 Dickerson. They discussed qualifications, loosely marking people as “yes,” “no,” or “maybe.”
 The meeting ended with agreement to continue refining the list and move toward final
 appointments at a future Legislative Session.


MOTION TO AJOURN AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

President Doughty called for a motion and a second to adjourn the Closed Session and reconvene in
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Open Session. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0.

REPORT TO PUBLIC

President Doughty convened in Open Session to provide a report out. He stated that the Closed
Session was to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion,
compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials
over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more
specific individuals as authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1). The topic of
discussion was the appointees of the City's newly formed planning commission.
ADJOURNMENT

The Open Session adjourned at 8:44 p.m.




_________________________________
City Clerk



_________________________________
Council President




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