TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 244
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:00 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 March 31, 2026 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. Seasonal banner on Fennel Street
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Color Selection at the March 17, 2026 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. Bernadette Kwan rose to a point of order, stating that the item had not been properly noticed, and cited Robert's Rules of Order, Section 9. The Clerk confirmed that the item was added to the posted agenda after the notice deadline. The objection was sustained, and the item was removed from the agenda to be re-noticed for the next regular meeting.
B. Flag at Town Hall
This item has been tabled since the December 9, 2025 regular meeting, most recently at the December 23, 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. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 52 minutes. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Hasegawa.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Placement was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Plaque on the gazebo
The Council considered whether the plaque on the gazebo should be relocated fifteen feet to the south. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Marjorie Pletz. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to relocate the plaque on the gazebo fifteen feet to the south; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. 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 carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Hasegawa.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-O.
B. Mulch in the community garden
The Council considered whether the mulch in the community garden should be black or charcoal. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify charcoal for the mulch in the community garden; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 51 minutes. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Whitcomb, Hasegawa.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-P.
C. Bench near the retention pond
The Council considered whether the Town should have the bench near the retention pond at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Connie Vandersloot. Councilmember Tassel moved to retain the bench near the retention pond; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to amend the motion to add the words "pending review by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space"; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. Councilmember Tassel asked whether the matter falls under the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee or the Office of Signage Compliance. 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, Tassel, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Thornquist.) The pending amendment went with it.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 9:29 p.m.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Gus Aldaco stated that the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th remained in place and asked that this be entered into the record. Mr. Aldaco noted that this was the fourteenth year he had raised the matter.
Denny Frawley spoke in strong support of the item. Mr. Frawley stated that a paint-your-own day at the seasonal banner on Fennel Street was long overdue. He then asked where he could sign up.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town repainted the mulch in the community garden, heat would come off it. He stated that if heat came off it, the grass would come in differently, that if the grass came in differently, the insects would move, and that if the insects moved, the birds would leave. Mr. Prue stated that he did not know what else to tell the Council.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of seven pages concerning the mulch in the community garden. 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. Mr. Brummett concluded at 10 minutes and 7 seconds.
Wayne Nakamura, 112 Fennel Street, addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Nakamura stated that the streetlight in front of his house on Fennel Street had been flickering for three weeks. 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 had nothing to report.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission: The Commission reported that the Commission reviewed one application and took no action.
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that a temporary sign at the splash pad has been removed.
Division of Seasonal Decoration: The Division reported that seasonal banners will be installed beginning the first week of next month.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Delgado reported for the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Materials that the subcommittee has requested additional information from the department concerned.
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Splash Pad Hours has recorded no activity since the January 20, 2026 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 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.