TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 242
Tuesday, March 17, 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 Hasegawa moved to approve the minutes of the March 3, 2026 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
4. CORRESPONDENCE
The Clerk read into the record a letter from the Town of North Ashby requesting the loan of two folding tables for its spring cleanup, to be returned the following Monday. The matter was placed on the agenda under New Business.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Flag at the gazebo
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Materials at the February 17, 2026 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the flag at the gazebo should be made of nylon or polyester. The item was placed on the agenda by the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify nylon for the flag at the gazebo; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of September 1; seconded by Councilmember Delgado. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission or the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. The question was noted. Discussion continued for 53 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb. Nays: Delgado, Hasegawa.) The pending amendment went with it.
B. Seasonal banner on Fennel Street
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Color Selection at the November 11, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the seasonal banner on Fennel Street should be painted Municipal Gray or Pewter Gray. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify Pewter Gray for the seasonal banner on Fennel Street; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item back to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Color Selection; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Hasegawa.) Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Loan of the two folding tables to North Ashby
The Council considered whether the loan of the two folding tables to North Ashby 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 by the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to assign the loan of the two folding tables to North Ashby 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, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
B. Posted hours of the gazebo
The Council considered whether the posted hours of the gazebo should be rescinded. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Tassel moved to rescind the posted hours of the gazebo; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Whitcomb, Hasegawa.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-M.
C. Bench near the retention pond
The Council considered whether the bench near the retention pond should face the pond or the parking lot. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Marjorie Pletz. Councilmember Delgado moved to have the bench near the retention pond face the parking lot. Bernadette Kwan rose to a point of order, stating that the motion had not been seconded, and cited Robert's Rules of Order, Section 4. The objection was sustained. Councilmember Thornquist seconded the motion. The motion failed, 3–3. (Ayes: Kessling, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb.)
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 9:12 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.
Connie Vandersloot thanked Chairperson Kessling, Councilmember Tassel, Councilmember Thornquist, Councilmember Whitcomb, Councilmember Delgado, and Councilmember Hasegawa individually for their service. Ms. Vandersloot stated that she prays for each of them. She then stated that the geese move as a unit and that this is not normal.
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 giving the loan of the two folding tables to North Ashby its own department would bring the community together. He offered to volunteer.
Mr. Frawley left the chamber at 9:28 p.m.
Wayne Ramsdell, of 292 Saffron Avenue, addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Ramsdell stated that the storm drain at the end of Saffron Avenue makes a noise when it rains. He stated that he had called Town Hall about it twice.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the month of April as Banner Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission: The Commission reported that the Commission reviewed one application and took no action.
Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee: The Subcommittee reported that the sidewalk outside Town Hall was measured.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Hedge Continuance requested an extension of 60 days to complete its review. Without objection, the extension was granted.
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Posted Hours Jurisdiction has recorded no activity since the December 9, 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 Whitcomb 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 9:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.