Legislative Session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 22, 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, Acting City Administrator Tom Stevenson, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche CALL TO ORDER The City Council convened in Legislative Session on September 22, 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 Doughty welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency exit instructions. He then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION - Overseer Timothy Palmer - The Well Overseer Timothy Palmer from The Well was called forward to provide the Invocation. PRESENTATIONS • Proclamation - World Duchenne Awareness Month Councilwoman Gregory presented Adith Thummalapalli with a proclamation for Duchenne Awareness Month. He shared that Duchenne was a condition he had lived with his entire life and emphasized the importance of raising awareness. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA City Clerk Julie English presented the legislative agenda. President Doughty called for a motion to adopt the legislative agenda as presented. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. AWARD OF BIDS Presented by Procurement Director Michael Lowe. • Award of Bids 1  Mr. Lowe asked to table the first Award of Bid due to a delayed bid that he received over the weekend. 1. ITB 26-105 Elevated Water Tank Recoating at Salisbury University 2. ITB A-26-107 Zinc Pyrophosphate for Corrosion Control President Doughty called for a motion and a second to approve the Award of Bids. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. President Doughty then asked for a motion and a second to table ITB 26-105. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. DECLARATION OF SURPLUS • Declaration of Surplus 1. Various surplus weapons for Salisbury Police Department 2. Surplus of two vehicles (units 20 and 1603) for the Salisbury Police Department 3. Various equipment and vehicles for Field Operations (9 units) President Doughty called for a motion and a second to approve the Declaration of Surplus. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. RESOLUTIONS Presented by Ms. English • Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Resolution No. 3424 - appointing Tom Horton to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for term ending September 2028. April R. Jackson motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. ORDINANCES Presented by Ms. Bosche • Budget Amendment for Union Negotiations - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2952 - authorizing a budget amendment for the Mayor to appropriate funds for the FY2026 general fund, water and sewer fund, parking fun, and storm water fund for additional salaries and fringe associated with the union negotiations. Angela M. Blake motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Budget Amendment for Lawsuit Funds - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2953 - authorizing a budget amendment to transfer PFAS settlement proceeds from the water sewer fund to the water sewer capital project fund Angela M. Blake motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Drug Court Grant - 2nd Reading 2  Ordinance No. 2954 - to accept grant funds from the Office of Problem-Solving Court's discretionary grant adult drug court program to provide overtime reimbursement to police officers conducting curfew and contract compliance checks on clients in the City of Salisbury. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Budget Amendment for North Prong - 2nd reading Ordinance No. 2955 - authorizing the Mayor to appropriate funds for land acquisition for the North Prong Park project using reallocated proceeds of the public improvement bonds of 2024. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Ordinance to add the International Property Maintenance Code to Title 15 of the Salisbury City Code - 1st reading Ordinance No. 2956 - amending Title 15 of the Salisbury City Code, entitled "Building and Construction" to add the adoption of and reference to the International Property Maintenance Code. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT The following public comments were heard: Speaker #1 was excited for the Folk Festival and thanked City staff. Speaker #2 thanked the City for restoring Carroll Street bike lanes and asked where rail trail funds were going to provide safe routes for cyclists. Speaker #3 questioned the secrecy around city parking lots and their lawsuits and proposed forming an affordable housing task force. Speaker #4 recommended the City not approve townhouse zoning for N. Schumaker Pond, citing that overdevelopment would cause harm to the community. Speaker #5 urged Pemberton Manor to take accountability for ignoring tenants’ recertification needs and was not in favor of 287g. Speaker #6 was not in favor of 287g, thanked City staff for the Folk Festival and asked Council for transparency. Speaker #7 suggested posting ordinances and public input online, adopting a state property maintenance code for a nonprofit instead of the international code, and making contracts related to 287g public. Speaker #8 stressed the need for housing, was against 287g, and advocated for residents to be heard. Speaker #9 encouraged the council to reject 287g. Speaker #10 warned that 287g would displace local officers under federal control. ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE INTO WORK SESSION The Legislative Session was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. 3  CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 8, 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, Human Resources Director Meg Caton, 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 September 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. President Doughty called for a motion and a second to go into Closed Session. The Closed Session was to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluations of appointees, employees or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1). April R. Jackson motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 4-0. DISCUSSION TOPIC • Appointment of City Administrator Ms. Caton presented the candidate, Nick Rice, to the Council. The Council interviewed Mr. Rice. Mr. Stevenson exited the meeting at 6:20 p.m. Ms. Blake asked for a motion and a second to take a 5-minute recess. Ms. Dashiell motioned and Ms. Jackson seconded. The vote was 3-0. Mr. Doughty exited the meeting at 6:23 p.m. The Council gave consensus to move forward with him as City Administrator. MOTION TO AJOURN AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Vice President Blake took over the meeting and called for a motion and a second to adjourn the Closed Session and reconvene in Open Session. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0. REPORT TO PUBLIC Vice President Blake immediately convened in Open Session to provide a report out. She stated that the Closed Session was to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluations of appointees, employees or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1) and that consensus was given to appoint Mr. Rice as City Administrator. ADJOURNMENT The Open Session adjourned at 6:34 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President