TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 236
Tuesday, December 23, 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: Bud Coolidge, Mayor; Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.
A quorum was present.
The record reflects that the coffee was decaffeinated.
3. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Councilmember Whitcomb moved to approve the minutes of the December 9, 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
Councilmember Fenstermacher arrived at 7:06 p.m.
A. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
This item has been tabled since the September 30, 2025 regular meeting, most recently at the November 25, 2025 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the mulch beds outside Town Hall falls under the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee or the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Denny Frawley. Councilmember Thornquist moved to assign the mulch beds outside Town Hall to the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Fenstermacher. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Whitcomb, Hasegawa.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Mulch Jurisdiction was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
B. Flag at Town Hall
This item was tabled at the December 9, 2025 regular meeting. 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 Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion to table carried, 6–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.)
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Gazebo
The Council considered whether the Town should have the gazebo at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Denny Frawley. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to retain the gazebo; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Thornquist moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of June 1; seconded by Councilmember Fenstermacher. The amendment failed, 3–4. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission or the Office of Signage Compliance. The question was noted. The motion failed, 3–4. (Ayes: Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb. Nays: Kessling, Tassel, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
B. Hedge bordering the retention pond
The Council considered whether the Town should have the hedge bordering the retention pond at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Hasegawa recused himself from discussion and voting on the item, explaining at some length that his son once had a birthday party near the hedge bordering the retention pond. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to remove the hedge bordering the retention pond; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to add the words "pending review by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee or the Bureau of Water Features. The question was noted. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Hedge Continuance; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Whitcomb.) The pending amendment went with it. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
C. Bike rack outside Town Hall
The Council considered whether the bike rack outside Town Hall 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 Hasegawa moved to specify Hunter Green for the bike rack outside Town Hall; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Fenstermacher moved to amend the motion to add the words "on a trial basis"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment carried, 6–1. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space or the Office of Signage Compliance. The question was noted. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 44 minutes. The motion carried, 4–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Fenstermacher, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Thornquist, Delgado.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-AF.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 8:43 p.m.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Connie Vandersloot thanked Chairperson Kessling, Councilmember Tassel, Councilmember Thornquist, Councilmember Whitcomb, Councilmember Delgado, Councilmember Hasegawa, and Councilmember Fenstermacher individually for their service and commended them for their dedication to the community. Ms. Vandersloot then stated that the geese are aware of the meeting schedule.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town handed the mulch beds outside Town Hall to a different department, the mowing schedule would change. Mr. Prue stated that if the mowing schedule changed, the insects would move, and that if the insects moved, the birds would leave.
Marjorie Pletz spoke regarding the hedge bordering the retention pond. Ms. Pletz stated that the site faces the retention pond and that the matter was therefore one of drainage. She stated that she would not elaborate, as the Council was aware of her position.
Hal Mulcahy of 18 Saffron Avenue addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Mulcahy stated that a neighbor's wind chimes on Saffron Avenue can be heard from his kitchen with the windows closed. He thanked the Council for its time.
Gail Oberle of 59 Anise Way addressed the Council for the first time. Ms. Oberle stated that the storm drain at the end of Anise Way makes a noise when it rains. 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 Sidewalk Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee: The Subcommittee reported that the sidewalk near the splash pad is level.
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the retention pond is fine.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Gazebo Materials has recorded no activity since the September 30, 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.)
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Color Selection that the subcommittee was unable to meet this period owing to a scheduling conflict.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Thornquist moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Fenstermacher. The motion carried, 6–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.