Legislative Session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 9, 2026 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: 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 February 9, 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 then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION - Rev. Dr. Vaughan Hayden - Trinity United Methodist Rev. Dr. Vaughan Hayden from Trinity United Methodist Church was called forward to provide the Invocation. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Ms. 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 Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. CONSENT AGENDA Ms. English presented the consent agenda. The items were as follows: • Meeting Minutes October 6, 2025 Closed Session #1 October 6, 2025 Closed Session #2 October 27, 2025 Closed Session  October 27, 2025 Legislative Session October 27, 2025 Work Session November 10, 2025 Legislative Session November 10, 2025 Work Session November 24, 2025 Legislative Session November 24, 2025 Work Session December 1, 2025 Closed Session December 8, 2025 Legislative Session December 15, 2025 Legislative Session December 15, 2025 Work Session December 15, 2025 Special Legislative Session Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 4-0. Melissa D. Holland abstained. Ms. Holland motioned to reorganize the Council and Ms. Jackson seconded. Ms. Gregory questioned the validity of the reorganization. Ms. Bosche responded that it was a proper motion. The vote was 3-2 in favor. Ms. Blake and Ms. Gregory voted nay. Ms. Blake turned the meeting over to Mayor Taylor to conduct the council reorganization. Mayor Taylor read the rules for nominations. He then asked for a motion and a second to accept the rules. Ms. Dashiell motioned and Ms. Holland seconded. He then opened the floor for nominations. Ms. Gregory nominated Ms. Blake, and Ms. Holland nominated Ms. Jackson. Mayor Taylor then closed the nominations. He asked if there were any votes for Ms. Blake - there were two, Ms. Blake and Ms. Gregory. He asked if there were any votes for Ms. Jackson - there were three, Ms. Jackson, Ms. Holland and Ms. Dashiell. Having three votes, Ms. Jackson was appointed as the new council president. Mayor Taylor then turned the meeting over to President Jackson. Ms. Jackson conducted the reorganization for vice president. She reviewed the rules for nominations and asked for a motion and a second to accept the rules. Ms. Blake motioned and Ms. Dashiell seconded. President Jackson opened up the floor for nominations. Ms. Gregory nominated Ms. Blake, and Ms. Dashiell nominated herself. Ms. Jackson closed the nominations. She asked if there were any votes for Ms. Blake - there were two, Ms. Blake and Ms. Gregory. She asked if there were any votes for Ms. Dashiell – there were three, Ms. Dashiell, Ms. Jackson, and Ms. Holland. Having three votes, Ms. Dashiell was appointed as the new vice president. RESOLUTIONS Presented by Ms. English • Election Board Re-appointment Resolution No. 3448 - re-appointment of Susan Carey to the Election Board for term ending February 2032. Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5- 0. • Sustainability Advisory Committee Appointment Resolution No. 3449 - Appointment of Brooke Orr to the Sustainability Advisory Committee for term ending February 2029. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0.  • Sustainability Advisory Committee Appointment Resolution No. 3450 - Appointment of Rose Rivera to the Sustainability Advisory Committee for term ending February 2029. Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Sustainability Advisory Committee Reappointment Resolution No. 3451 - re-appointment of Christian Williams to the Sustainability Advisory Committee for term ending February 2029. Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Human Rights Advisory Committee Appointment Resolution No. 3452 - appointment of Rachell Mitchell to the Human Rights Advisory Committee for term ending February 2028. Angela M. Blake motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Human Rights Advisory Committee Appointment Resolution No. 3453 - appointment of Maria Sommer to the Human Rights Advisory Committee for term ending February 2028. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Salisbury Historic District Commission Appointment Resolution No. 3454 - appointment of Luis DaSilva to the Salisbury Historic District Commission for term ending February 2029. Angela M. Blake motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • FY 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan Resolution No. 3455 - adopting a Capital Improvement Plan for the five -year period beginning FY 2027 and ending FY 2031. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Melissa D. Holland seconded. The vote was 5-0. ORDINANCES Presented by Ms. Bosche • Reallocate Paygo funds from completed Water Sewer Capital Projects - 2nd reading Ordinance No. 2971 - authorizing the Mayor to reallocate Paygo funds from completed Water Sewer Capital Projects to provide additional funding for the effluent filter pump. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Reallocate Paygo Funds from Completed Capital Projects - 2nd reading Ordinance No. 2972 - to reallocate Paygo funds from completed General Capital projects to provide additional funding for the Zoning Code update and St. Peter's Main Street and City Park projects. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Medical Supplies Budget Transfer Request -2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2973 - approving a budget amendment of the FY 2026 General Fund Budget to appropriate an additional $50,000 to the Fire Department's Medical Supplies Account. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Melissa D. Holland seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Acceptance of State Grant for AEDs - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2974 - authorizing the Mayor to enter into the contract with the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems for the purpose of accepting Grant Funds in the amount of $5000.00, and to approve a budget amendment to the Grant Fund to appropriate these funds for the Fire Department. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Additional Funds Request for Part-Time Zoo Staffing - 1st reading Ordinance No. 2976 - amending the fiscal year 2026 annual budget to provide additional appropriations for the Salisbury Zoo Part-Time staffing needs. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Amending Ordinance No. 2675 – Reallocation of 2021 Tax-Exempt Bond Proceeds for 112 W. Church Street – City Hall - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2977 - Ordinance Amending And Supplementing Ordinance No. 2675, Passed By The Council On July 26, 2021, Approved By The Mayor Of City Of Salisbury (The “City”) On July 26, 2021 And Effective On July 26, 2021 (“Ordinance No. 2675”), In Order To (1) Authorize And Empower The City To Use And Apply A Portion Of The Principal Amount Of The $8,965,000 City Of Salisbury Tax- Exempt Public Improvement And Refunding Bonds Of 2021 Issued On September 1, 2021 (The “2021 Tax-Exempt Bonds”) To The Project Identified Herein As “112 W. Church Street – City Hall,” And (2) Identify Such Additional Project As A “Project” For All Purposes Of Ordinance No. 2675 (As Amended And Supplemented); Providing That This Title Is A Fair Statement Of The Substance Of This Ordinance; Authorizing Certain City Officials To Take Certain Actions In Connection With The Transactions Contemplated By This Ordinance; Providing That The Provisions Of This Ordinance Shall Be Liberally Construed; And Otherwise Generally Relating To The Use Of Proceeds Of The 2021 Tax-Exempt Bond. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Angela M. Blake seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Amending Use of 2019 Bond Proceeds to Add 112 W. Church Street – City Hall Project - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2978 - Ordinance Amending And Supplementing Ordinance No. 2554, Passed By The Council On August 26, 2019, Approved By The Mayor Of City Of Salisbury (The “City”) On August 27, 2019 And Effective On August 27, 2019 (“Ordinance No. 2554”), As Amended And Supplemented To Date, In Order To (1) Authorize And Empower The City To Use And Apply A Portion Of The Principal Amount Of The $ 11,225,000 City Of Salisbury Public Improvement Bonds Of 2019 Issued On October 8, 2019 (The “2019 Bonds”) To The Project Identified Herein As “112 W. Church Street – City Hall,” And (2) Identify Such Additional Project As A “Project” For All Purposes Of Ordinance No. 2554 (As Amended And Supplemented); Providing That This Title Is A Fair Statement Of The Substance Of This Ordinance; Authorizing Certain City Officials To Take Certain Actions In Connection With The Transactions Contemplated By This Ordinance; Providing That The Provisions Of This  Ordinance Shall Be Liberally Construed; And Otherwise Generally Relating To The Use Of Proceeds Of The 2019 Bonds. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Melissa D. Holland seconded. The vote was 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT The following public comments were heard: • Speaker #1 thanked Council for her appointment to the Human Rights Advisory Committee. • Speaker #2 shared historical information about Salisbury’s Riverwalk railings, congratulated newly appointed councilmembers, and noted that a recent Open Agenda episode provided information on ranked-choice voting. • Speaker #3 raised concerns about Paygo budget adjustments, requested information on zoo funding, and commented on project costs. • Speaker #4 encouraged the Council to pursue an educational session on ranked-choice voting and suggested exploring alternative avenues for public input. • Speaker #5 asked for clarification regarding housing code enforcement standards, raised safety concerns about property maintenance, and requested information on police presence and university police jurisdiction. • Speaker #6 reflected on positive community collaboration while urging civility in public discourse. ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS Mr. Rice thanked the Council for approving the CIP, highlighted the Waterworks Department’s $34 million funding for the Paleo Water Plant replacement, and noted ongoing grant applications to support infrastructure projects. Mayor Taylor emphasized that residents were encouraged to communicate with the Mayor’s office via email, phone, or the city website on any issue. COUNCIL COMMENTS Ms. Dashiell provided updates on airport operations and encouraged community participation in providing March meals for the Hands and Hearts Ending Homelessness shelter. Ms. Blake highlighted recent council achievements, including progress on low-income and multifamily housing initiatives, tax abatements, the receivership program, bond reallocations for City Hall, and planning for youth and adult homelessness programs. Ms. Gregory announced the free adult dental clinic through Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy, highlighted volunteer opportunities, and referenced a related scholarship contest. Ms. Holland reported attending her first Green Team meeting and requested a work session on rules of order and a review of which items require work sessions versus legislative meetings. President Jackson expressed commitment to teamwork and citizen engagement and announced the National Vietnam War Veterans Day event at the VFW. ADJOURNMENT The Legislative Session adjourned at 7:00 p.m.  CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 2, 2026 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Council President April R. Jackson, Council Vice President Sharon C. Dashiell, Councilwoman Angela M. Blake, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Melissa D. Holland IN ATTENDANCE Human Resources Director Meg Caton, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche and City Clerk Julie English (present at the end of the Closed Session) MOTION TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION The City Council convened in Closed Session on February 2, 2026 at 5:30 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). Specifically, the Council convened in Closed Session to evaluate the performance of the City Clerk. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Melissa D. Holland seconded. The vote was 5-0. DISCUSSION TOPIC • Council to evaluate performance of City Clerk Human Resources Director Meg Caton to summarized the City’s Evaluation Process for all City employees. Council Members reached consensus that Council would conduct quarterly evaluations and an annual evaluation of the City Clerk. The Human Resources Director would meet with the City Clerk to present her/him with the evaluation. If the City Clerk had questions about the quarterly and annual evaluations, the HR Director would refer those questions to City Council. Once consensus had been reached about the evaluation process, the Council Members discussed the performance of the City Clerk. The City Clerk then joined the meeting at which time Councilwoman Holland informed the City Clerk accordingly. MOTION TO ADJOURN AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION REPORT TO PUBLIC Ms. Blake convened in Open Session to provide the report out. She 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). ADJOURNMENT The Open Session adjourned at 6:31 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President