TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 228
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:03 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 Delgado moved to approve the minutes of the August 19, 2025 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
4. CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence was received.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Plaque beneath the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Nomenclature at the May 27, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the plaque beneath the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th should read "Norway Maple" or "Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)". The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Denny Frawley. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to have the plaque beneath the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th read "Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Thornquist moved to amend the motion to strike "Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)" and insert "Norway Maple"; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the amendment to insert "The" before "Norway Maple"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 29 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.
Councilmember Fenstermacher arrived at 7:50 p.m.
B. Welcome sign at the town line
This item has been tabled since the April 15, 2025 regular meeting, most recently at the July 8, 2025 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the welcome sign at the town line falls under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space or the Office of Signage Compliance. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Hasegawa recused himself from discussion and voting on the item, explaining at some length that his late father once helped paint the welcome sign at the town line. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to assign the welcome sign at the town line to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Tassel.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-X.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Bike rack outside Town Hall
The Council considered whether the bike rack outside Town Hall falls under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space or the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Delgado moved to assign the bike rack outside Town Hall to the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 31 minutes. Councilmember Fenstermacher moved to table the item; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb. Nays: Kessling, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
B. Posted hours of the community garden
The Council considered whether the resolution concerning the posted hours of the community garden should say "maintained" or "kept". The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Fenstermacher moved to adopt the resolution concerning the posted hours of the community garden using the word "kept"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 33 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 5–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Delgado.)
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 9:02 p.m.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of four pages concerning the welcome sign at the town line. At the three-minute mark, Mr. Brummett was advised that his time had expired. He stated that he had not been aware there was a time limit and asked to finish. He concluded at 12 minutes and 37 seconds. Copies were provided to the Clerk and are on file.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town changed the wording on the posted hours of the community garden, people would stop to read it. He stated that if people stopped to read it, the crumbs would end up somewhere else. He further stated that if the crumbs ended up somewhere else, the birds would leave.
Mr. Prue left the chamber at 9:13 p.m.
Gus Aldaco stated that the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th was still there and asked that this be entered into the record. Mr. Aldaco noted that this was the fourteenth year he had raised the matter.
Kathy Abernathy asked for an update on the drinking fountain in Town Hall. Chairperson Kessling stated that the matter had been referred to staff. Ms. Abernathy stated that it had been referred to staff before.
Lorraine Okafor of 80 Anise Way addressed the Council for the first time. Ms. Okafor stated that the hedge at the corner of Anise Way and 4th blocked the view of oncoming traffic. She stated that she had called Town Hall about it twice.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed September 20 as Water Features Day.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that the signage on Fennel Street is legible.
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space: The Department reported that leaf collection is proceeding on schedule.
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the splash pad has been winterized.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Dedication has recorded no activity since the June 10, 2025 regular meeting. Councilmember Tassel moved to dissolve the subcommittee for inactivity; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.)
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Materials requested an extension of 60 days to complete its review. Without objection, the extension was granted.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Hasegawa moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Delgado. The motion carried, 6–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.