TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 227
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairperson Kessling.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Kessling, Councilmembers Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, and Hasegawa.
Absent: Councilmember Fenstermacher.
Also present: Bud Coolidge, Mayor; Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.
A quorum was present.
3. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Councilmember Tassel moved to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2025 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. 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 anniversary of the sister-city relationship, 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. Mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th
This item was tabled at the May 27, 2025 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th should be pine bark nuggets or pine bark mini-nuggets. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify pine bark mini-nuggets for the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-U.
B. Banner over the Town Hall entrance
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Materials at the July 22, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the banner over the Town Hall entrance should be printed on vinyl or canvas. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Tassel moved to specify vinyl for the banner over the Town Hall entrance; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Division of Seasonal Decoration or the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. The question was noted. Discussion continued for 42 minutes. The motion failed, 2–4. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel. Nays: Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Gazebo railings
The Council considered whether the gazebo railings should be painted Municipal Gray or Pewter Gray. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Connie Vandersloot. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to specify Pewter Gray for the gazebo railings; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Thornquist moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of June 1; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The amendment carried, 4–2. Discussion continued for 51 minutes. The motion failed, 3–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Thornquist, Delgado.)
B. Bike rack at the splash pad
The Council considered whether the bike rack at the splash pad should be painted Eggshell or Ivory. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Delgado moved to specify Ivory 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 55 minutes. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Whitcomb, Hasegawa.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-V.
C. Hedge along the Town Hall walkway
The Council considered whether the Town should have the hedge along the Town Hall walkway at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Delgado moved to retain the hedge along the Town Hall walkway; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 42 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.)
D. Welcome sign at the town line
The Council considered whether the welcome sign at the town line should face northbound traffic or southbound traffic. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Connie Vandersloot. Councilmember Delgado moved to have the welcome sign at the town line face southbound traffic; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-W.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 10:42 p.m.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town changed the material of the banner over the Town Hall entrance, heat would come off it. He stated that if heat came off it, the grass would come in differently, and that if the grass came in differently, the birds would move.
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 has written it down.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Denny Frawley spoke in strong support of the item. Mr. Frawley stated that a complete rebuild of the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th was long overdue. He offered to volunteer for the demolition.
Kathy Abernathy of 247 Thyme Road addressed the Council for the first time. Ms. Abernathy stated that the drinking fountain in Town Hall has not worked since she was last in the building. She asked that someone look into it.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the week of August 25 as Historical Preservation Appreciation Week. The Mayor proclaimed the month of September as Sign Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the retention pond is fine.
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that fourteen signs were inspected this period and all were found compliant.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Materials that the subcommittee has adopted its rules of procedure.
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Splash Pad Continuance has recorded no activity since the May 13, 2025 regular meeting. Councilmember Tassel moved to dissolve the subcommittee for inactivity; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.)
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Delgado moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The meeting was adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.