TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 235
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:05 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 November 25, 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. Fence at the splash pad
This item has been tabled since the February 18, 2025 regular meeting, most recently at the August 5, 2025 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the fence at the splash pad should be painted Hunter Green or Forest Green. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Tassel moved to specify Hunter Green for the fence at the splash pad; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space or the Division of Seasonal Decoration. The question was noted. 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.)
B. Flag at Town Hall
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Placement at the June 24, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the flag at Town Hall should be relocated three feet to the west. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Denny Frawley. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to keep the flag at Town Hall in its current location; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of October 1; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Thornquist moved to amend the amendment to strike "October 1" and insert "October 15"; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 54 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, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Delgado.) The pending amendments went with it.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th
The Council considered whether the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th should be natural brown or dark brown. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to specify natural brown for the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Thornquist, Whitcomb.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-AE.
B. Bike rack outside Town Hall
The Council considered whether the bike rack outside Town Hall should be relocated fifteen feet to the south. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. Councilmember Thornquist moved to relocate the bike rack outside Town Hall fifteen feet to the south; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Councilmember Whitcomb stated, "We have been over this." The motion failed, 1–5. (Ayes: Thornquist. Nays: Kessling, Tassel, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
C. Posted hours of the splash pad
The Council considered whether the posted hours of 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 Tassel moved to assign the posted hours of the splash pad to the Bureau of Water Features; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Tassel.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Posted Hours Jurisdiction was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 9:00 p.m.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town gave the posted hours of the splash pad to a different department, the mowing schedule would change. He stated that if the mowing schedule changed, the grass would come in differently. He further stated that if the grass came in differently, the birds would move.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of ten pages concerning the typeface used on Town correspondence. At the three-minute mark, Mr. Brummett was advised that his time had expired. He stated that he had not been aware of a time limit and asked to finish. He concluded at 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Copies were provided to the Clerk and are on file.
Denny Frawley spoke in strong support of the item. Mr. Frawley stated that the installation of the bike rack outside Town Hall was long overdue. He then asked where he could sign up.
Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng spoke in opposition to the motion to keep the flag at Town Hall in its current location. Ms. Hollingsworth-Ng stated that things had been better when the flag at Town Hall was simply left alone. She stated that a number of people remember.
Gus Aldaco stated that the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th is still there and asked that this be entered into the record. Mr. Aldaco noted that this is the fourteenth year he has raised the matter.
Gary Kowalczyk, 25 Thyme Road, addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Kowalczyk stated that the streetlight in front of his house on Thyme Road has been flickering for two weeks. He stated that he had called Town Hall about it twice.
Gail Haldane, 320 Anise Way, addressed the Council for the first time. Ms. Haldane stated that her recycling bin on Anise Way was not emptied last Thursday. She thanked the Council for its time.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the month of January as Flag Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission: The Commission reported that the plaque inventory is complete.
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space: The Department reported that the benches were counted and all are accounted for.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Nomenclature has recorded no activity since the August 5, 2025 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.)
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Materials has recorded no activity since the September 16, 2025 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.)
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 9:34 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.