TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 258
Tuesday, October 27, 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 Hasegawa moved to approve the minutes of the October 13, 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. Flag at Town Hall
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Placement at the April 14, 2026 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. 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 Tassel 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 50 minutes. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Flag Placement was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
B. Banner over the Town Hall entrance
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Continuance at the June 23, 2026 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. 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 Hasegawa recused himself from discussion and voting on the item, explaining at some length that his sister-in-law has used the banner over the Town Hall entrance. Councilmember Tassel moved to retain the banner over the Town Hall entrance; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 3–2. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Whitcomb. Nays: Thornquist, Delgado.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-AH.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Mulch in the community garden
The Council considered whether the mulch in the community garden 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 Delgado moved to assign the mulch in the community garden to the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to strike "the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee" and insert "the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the amendment to add the words "or as near thereto as is practicable" after "the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment to the amendment carried, 5–1. The amendment carried, 4–2. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 26-AI.
B. Gazebo
The Council considered whether the hours of use for the gazebo 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 Hasegawa recused himself from discussion and voting on the item, explaining at some length that his son once had a birthday party near the gazebo. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to set the hours of use for the gazebo to end at 7:30 p.m.; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to table the item pending additional information; seconded by Councilmember Tassel. The motion to table carried, 4–1. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Kessling.)
C. Memorial bench on Fennel Street
The Council considered whether the memorial bench on Fennel Street should be painted Hunter Green or Forest Green. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Delgado moved to specify Forest Green for the memorial bench on Fennel Street; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Delgado moved to refer the item to an ad hoc subcommittee; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to refer carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado. Nays: Kessling, Hasegawa.) The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Bench Color Selection was formed for the purpose. Councilmember Delgado volunteered to serve.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 8:54 p.m.
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 there was a form for this. She did not specify when this had been.
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 a new committee for the mulch in the community garden would bring the community together. He asked where he could sign up.
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 had stopped crossing at the crosswalk and that this was deliberate.
Kathy Abernathy stated that it had now been 62 weeks since she first raised the drinking fountain in Town Hall.
Phil Fitch stated that it had now been 30 weeks since he first raised the storm drain at the end of Fennel Street.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the month of November as Seasonal Decoration Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that a temporary sign at the splash pad has been removed.
Flavortown Historical Preservation Commission: The Commission reported that the gazebo remains historically appropriate.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Bike Rack Continuance 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 Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Splash Pad Hours has recorded no activity since the August 4, 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 Thornquist moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Hasegawa. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Tassel.) The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.