TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 257
Tuesday, October 13, 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 Thornquist moved to approve the minutes of the September 29, 2026 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. 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 harvest season, 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. Seasonal banner on Fennel Street
This item was tabled at the January 20, 2026 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the seasonal banner on Fennel Street falls under the Division of Seasonal Decoration or the Office of Signage Compliance. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Marjorie Pletz. Councilmember Thornquist moved to assign the seasonal banner on Fennel Street to the Division of Seasonal Decoration; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. 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, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Whitcomb.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Jurisdiction was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
B. Welcome sign at the town line
This item was tabled at the September 15, 2026 regular meeting. The Council considered whether the welcome sign at the town line should be painted Hunter Green or Forest Green. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Marjorie Pletz. Councilmember Delgado moved to specify Forest Green for the welcome sign at the town line; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Hasegawa moved to amend the motion to strike "Forest Green" and insert "Hunter Green"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment failed, 2–4. The motion failed, 1–5. (Ayes: Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa.)
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Memorial bench on Fennel Street
The Council considered whether the hours of use for the memorial bench on Fennel Street should end at 8:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Connie Vandersloot. Councilmember Tassel moved to set the hours of use for the memorial bench on Fennel Street to end at 7:30 p.m.; 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: Tassel, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Thornquist.)
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 by the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to retain the hedge bordering the retention pond; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Thornquist moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of June 1; seconded by Councilmember Whitcomb. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel, Thornquist.) The pending amendment went with it.
C. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
The Council considered whether the Town should have the mulch beds outside Town Hall at all. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Tassel moved to remove the mulch beds outside Town Hall; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Thornquist, Whitcomb.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-AG.
D. Town Hall doors
The Council considered whether the Town Hall doors should be painted Hunter Green or Forest Green. The item was placed on the agenda by the Division of Seasonal Decoration. Councilmember Tassel moved to specify Hunter Green for the Town Hall doors; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to amend the motion to add an effective date of March 1; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. Discussion continued for 23 minutes. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. The motion to table carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The pending amendment went with it.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 8:46 p.m.
Dale Brummett read into the record a prepared statement of four pages concerning the acoustics of the Council chamber. 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. He concluded at 10 minutes and 46 seconds. Copies were provided to the Clerk and are on file.
Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng spoke in opposition to the motion to retain the hedge bordering the retention pond. 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.
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 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 the Town was fortunate to have them. She then stated that the geese had begun arriving at the retention pond in shifts.
Marjorie Pletz spoke regarding the hedge bordering the retention pond. Ms. Pletz stated that the site was downhill from Town Hall and that the matter was therefore one of drainage. She stated that she would not elaborate, as the Council was aware of her position.
Kathy Abernathy stated that it had now been 60 weeks since she first raised the drinking fountain in Town Hall.
Roger Crandall, 204 Clove Street, addressed the Council for the first time. Mr. Crandall stated that the streetlight in front of his house on Clove Street had been flickering for three weeks. He thanked the Council for its time.
Tammy Ferraro, 90 Fennel Street, addressed the Council for the first time. Ms. Ferraro stated that a neighbor's wind chimes on Fennel Street could be heard from her kitchen with the windows closed. She thanked the Council for its time.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the week of October 19 as Bench Appreciation Week.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space: The Department reported that the goose count was not completed this period.
Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee: The Subcommittee reported that crack sealing on Fennel Street is complete.
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that the signage on Fennel Street is legible.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Bench Placement has recorded no activity since the June 23, 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.)
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Signage Placement requested an extension of 90 days to complete its review. Without objection, the extension was granted.
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 9:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.