TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 247
Tuesday, May 26, 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 May 12, 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 Mayor of Muștăreni, Romania, extending warm greetings to the people of Flavortown on the occasion of the anniversary of the sister-city relationship, and expressing the hope that the friendship between the two towns would long continue. The letter was received and filed. A reply will be sent over the signature of Mayor Coolidge.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th
This item was removed from the agenda of the May 12, 2026 regular meeting to be re-noticed. The Council considered whether the Town should have the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Marjorie Pletz. Councilmember Tassel moved to retain the mulch around the Norway maple at Fennel and 4th; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to amend the motion to add the words "pending review by the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the amendment to strike "review" and insert "further review"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment to the amendment carried, 4–2. The amendment failed, 3–3. The motion failed, 3–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Whitcomb, Hasegawa.)
B. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
This item was tabled at the February 3, 2026 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 Hasegawa moved to assign the mulch beds outside Town Hall to the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Delgado. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 53 minutes. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Whitcomb.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-W.
C. Plaque on the gazebo
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Jurisdiction at the March 3, 2026 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the plaque on the gazebo falls under the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission or the Office of Signage Compliance. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to assign the plaque on the gazebo to the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to strike "the Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission" and insert "the Office of Signage Compliance"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the amendment to add the words "or as near thereto as is practicable" after "the Office of Signage Compliance"; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. Discussion continued for 27 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.) The pending amendments went with it.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Banner over the Town Hall entrance
The Council considered whether the Town should have the banner over the Town Hall entrance at all. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Tassel moved to retain the banner over the Town Hall entrance; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 47 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Hasegawa.)
B. Community garden sign
The Council considered whether the community garden sign should be painted Heritage Green or Colonial Green. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Thornquist moved to specify Colonial Green for the community garden sign; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the motion to add the words "on a trial basis"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the amendment to add "of not more than ninety days" after "trial basis"; 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: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Tassel, Hasegawa.) The pending amendments went with it.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 10:06 p.m.
Denny Frawley spoke in support of the item. Mr. Frawley stated that a new committee for the mulch beds outside Town Hall would bring the community together. He offered to volunteer for the demolition.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of six pages concerning the order in which agenda items are listed. 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. Mr. Brummett concluded at 9 minutes and 45 seconds.
Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng spoke in opposition to the motion to retain the banner over the Town Hall entrance. Ms. Hollingsworth-Ng stated that things had been better when the banner over the Town Hall entrance was simply left alone. Councilmember Tassel asked when this had been. Ms. Hollingsworth-Ng stated that it had been before.
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.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town does anything to the banner over the Town Hall entrance, people will walk a different way. Mr. Prue stated that if people walk a different way, the crumbs will end up somewhere else, and that if the crumbs end up somewhere else, the birds will leave.
Phil Fitch again addressed the Council regarding the storm drain at the end of Fennel Street. Mr. Fitch stated that he had first raised the matter at the March 31, 2026 regular meeting.
Roger Szabo, 95 Saffron Avenue, addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Szabo stated that the storm drain at the end of Saffron Avenue makes a noise when it rains. He thanked the Council for its time.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed June 6 as Gazebo Day.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Division of Seasonal Decoration: The Division reported that seasonal banners will be installed beginning the first week of next month.
Bureau of Water Features: The Bureau reported that the retention pond is fine.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Materials requested an extension of 90 days to complete its review. Without objection, the extension was granted.
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Plaque Materials requested an extension of 90 days to complete its review. Without objection, the extension was granted.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Tassel moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.