TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 217
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:01 p.m. by Chairperson Kessling.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Kessling, Councilmembers Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, and Hasegawa.
Absent: Councilmember Fenstermacher.
Also present: Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.
A quorum was present.
3. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Councilmember Tassel moved to approve the minutes of the March 18, 2025 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
4. CORRESPONDENCE
The Clerk read into the record a letter from the Mayor of Muștăreni, Romania, extending warm greetings to the people of Flavortown on the occasion of the start of spring planting, and expressing the hope that the friendship between the two towns would long continue. The letter was received and filed. A reply will be sent over the signature of Mayor Coolidge.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Plaque on the gazebo
This item was tabled at the March 18, 2025 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the plaque on the gazebo should be dedicated to the volunteers of the 2011 pilot program or to the Flavortown Volunteer Fire Company. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Tassel moved to dedicate the plaque on the gazebo to the volunteers of the 2011 pilot program; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Whitcomb.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Dedication was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
B. Splash pad
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Splash Pad Jurisdiction at the March 4, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the splash pad falls under the Bureau of Water Features or the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. The item was placed on the agenda by the Bureau of Water Features. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to assign the splash pad to the Bureau of Water Features; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of January 1; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the amendment to strike "January 1" and insert "January 15"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 57 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Hasegawa.) The pending amendments went with it.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Gazebo railings
The Council considered whether the gazebo railings should be painted in latex paint or oil-based paint. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify latex paint for the gazebo railings; seconded by Councilmember Delgado. Councilmember Delgado moved to amend the motion to add the words "pending review by the Division of Seasonal Decoration"; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the amendment to strike "review" and insert "further review"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 47 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Hasegawa.) The pending amendments went with it.
B. Bike rack at the splash pad
The Council considered whether the bike rack at the splash pad should be galvanized steel or powder-coated steel. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to specify galvanized steel for the bike rack at the splash pad; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 56 minutes. The motion failed, 3–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Thornquist, Delgado.)
C. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
The Council considered whether the mulch beds outside Town Hall should be pine bark nuggets or pine bark mini-nuggets. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Delgado moved to specify pine bark nuggets for the mulch beds outside Town Hall; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 15 minutes. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Whitcomb.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Mulch Materials was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 10:27 p.m.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of ten pages concerning the frequency of leaf collection. Mr. Brummett exceeded the three-minute limit and was advised accordingly. He stated that he was nearly finished and continued for an additional 2 minutes. Copies were provided to the Clerk and are on file.
Mr. Brummett left the chamber at 10:37 p.m.
Connie Vandersloot thanked Chairperson Kessling, Councilmember Tassel, Councilmember Thornquist, Councilmember Whitcomb, Councilmember Delgado, and Councilmember Hasegawa individually for their service and commended them for their dedication to the community. Ms. Vandersloot then stated that the geese keep a schedule and that she had written it down.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town changed what the mulch beds outside Town Hall are made of, the light would change. He stated that if the light changed, the insects would move, and that if the insects moved, the birds would leave.
Marjorie Pletz spoke regarding the plaque on the gazebo. Ms. Pletz stated that the site faces the retention pond and that the matter was therefore one of drainage. She asked that the record reflect that she had raised drainage.
Arlene Abernathy, 184 Nutmeg Lane, addressing the Council for the first time, stated that the drinking fountain in Town Hall had not worked since she was last in the building. Ms. Abernathy stated that she did not wish to make a fuss.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor was not present.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space: The Department reported that the benches were counted and all are accounted for.
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the retention pond is fine.
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that the signage on Fennel Street is legible.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Gazebo Color Selection has recorded no activity since the November 12, 2024 regular meeting. Councilmember Tassel moved to dissolve the subcommittee for inactivity; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.)
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Posted Hours Continuance that the subcommittee has adopted its rules of procedure.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Thornquist moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The meeting was adjourned at 10:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.