TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 239
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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 Tassel moved to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2026 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
4. CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence was received.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Gazebo
This item was tabled at the January 20, 2026 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the hours of use for the gazebo should end at 9:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to set the hours of use for the gazebo to end at 9:00 p.m.; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion to table carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
B. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Mulch Jurisdiction at the December 23, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. 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 Hasegawa moved to assign the mulch beds outside Town Hall to the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Tassel.)
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Plaque on the gazebo
The Council considered whether the plaque on the gazebo should be cast in bronze or brass. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Connie Vandersloot. During discussion, Ms. Vandersloot withdrew the request.
B. Fence around the retention pond
The Council considered whether the Town should have the fence around the retention pond at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Dale Brummett. Councilmember Delgado moved to retain the fence around the retention pond; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to amend the motion to add the words "on a trial basis"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the amendment to strike "trial" and insert "pilot"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment to the amendment failed, 2–4. The amendment failed, 3–3. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-G.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 8:10 p.m.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town changed the material of the plaque on the gazebo, the light would change. He stated that if the light changed, the grass would come in differently, and that if the grass came in differently, the birds would have nowhere to go.
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 have been watching the splash pad.
Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng spoke in opposition to the motion to set the hours of use for the gazebo to end at 9:00 p.m. Ms. Hollingsworth-Ng stated that things had been better when matters of this kind were settled without a vote. She did not specify when this had been.
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 the tree has now outlasted three members of the Council.
Marjorie Pletz spoke regarding the mulch beds outside Town Hall. Ms. Pletz stated that the site sits at a low point and that the matter was therefore one of drainage. She stated that she would not elaborate, as the Council was aware of her position.
Curtis Lutz of 87 Clove Street, addressing the Council for the first time, stated that the streetlight in front of his house on Clove Street has been flickering for five weeks. Mr. Lutz asked that someone look into it.
Lorraine Rasmussen of 444 Thyme Road, addressing the Council for the first time, stated that she had recently moved to the Town. Ms. Rasmussen asked how an item is placed on the agenda. Bernadette Kwan rose to a point of order, stated that public comment is not a question-and-answer period, and cited Robert's Rules of Order, Section 43. The point was well taken, and the question was not answered.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the month of March as Signage Compliance Awareness Month. The Mayor proclaimed the week of February 23 as Water Features Appreciation Week.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the retention pond is fine.
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space: The Department reported that the gazebo roof is sound.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Splash Pad Continuance that the subcommittee was unable to meet this period owing to a scheduling conflict.
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Color Selection that the subcommittee continues to gather information.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Tassel moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.