Legislative Session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 10, 2025 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Council Vice President Angela M. Blake, Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell IN ATTENDANCE Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche CALL TO ORDER The City Council convened in Legislative Session on November 10, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS/PLEDGE Interim President Blake thanked D'Shawn Doughty for serving on the Council and wished him the best. She noted the vacant position in District 2 and asked if anyone was interested to submit their resumes and letters of intent to the City Clerk. She then asked for a moment of silence for Delegate Charles Otto. She welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency exit instructions before asking everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION - Rev. Dr. Vaughan Hayden - Trinity United Methodist Reverend Dr. Vaughan Hayden from Trinity United Methodist Church was called forward to provide the Invocation. PROCLAMATION Councilwoman Jackson presented a Domestic Violence Awareness proclamation to Ms. Bolden with Women4Women. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA City Clerk Julie English presented the legislative agenda. Ms. Blake called for a motion and a second to adopt the legislative agenda as presented. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. RESOLUTIONS Presented by Ms. English • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - D. Chiddenton Resolution No. 3425 - appointment of David Chiddenton to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2030. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - S. Rall Resolution No. 3426 - Appointment of Susan Rall to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2030. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - A. Dickerson Resolution No. 3427 - Appointment of Anthony Dickerson to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2029. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-1. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - L. Ayscue Resolution No. 3428 - Appointment of Latonia Ayscue to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2028. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - M. Piorunski Resolution No. 3429 - Appointment of Michael Piorunski to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2030. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - M. Drew Resolution No. 3432 - Appointment of Matt Drew to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2028. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Salisbury Planning Commission Appointment - L. Bratten Resolution No. 3433 - Appointment of Lynne Bratten to the Salisbury Planning Commission for term ending November 2029. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 3-1. ORDINANCES Presented by Ms. Bosche • Correction to Ordinance No. 2883 - Budget Amendment for Truitt Street Community Center Expansion (2nd Reading) Ordinance No. 2957 - to correct Ordinance No. 2833, approving a budget amendment to the city's  general capital project fund to provide additional funds for the Truitt Street Community Center expansion. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Ordinance - Burton Street Closure - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2958 - for the abandonment of a portion of a road known as Burton Street located east of Delaware Avenue. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Public safety equipment and property and records management system (2nd Reading) Ordinance No. 2960 - approving a budget amendment to the City's General Fund for lease proceeds to purchase police radios, fire radios, and AED heart monitors and to change the funding source of the property and records department management system previously approved under Schedule B with the FY2026 Budget Ordinance No. 2395. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Updating the Department of Infrastructure and Development Chain of Command - 2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2962 - amending Chapter 2.12.040 of the Salisbury City Code to update the chain of command of the director of Infrastructure and Development. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Schedule C Amendment of Ordinance 2935 (1st reading) Ordinance No. 2963 - Amending the Schedule C included in Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Ordinance 2935 for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. • Budget Amendment for Additional funds for Waterside Park Project (1st Reading) Ordinance No. 2964 - Authorizing a budget amendment for the Mayor to transfer $ 165,000 from surplus to provide additional financial support for the Waterside Park Project. April R. Jackson motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 4-0. PUBLIC COMMENT The following public comments were heard: • Speaker #1 stated that he filed a complaint with documentation regarding Mr. Doughty’s residency and said the outcome showed accountability and integrity in local government. • Speaker #2 criticized local media for not investigating the Doughty case. He did not agree with the Mayor’s decision to remove the pride crosswalk. • Speaker #3 defended the Mayor, saying removing the crosswalk did not make him a bigot. • Speaker #4 opposed the Mayor’s plan to remove the pride crosswalks. • Speaker #5 said removing the pride crosswalk made her question if Salisbury was still her home. • Speaker #6 thanked city officials for allowing time for homeless residents to secure belongings before a Riverwalk sweep. • Speaker #7 supported Housing First but stressed the need for more housing options, tackling affordability and rental challenges.  • Speaker #8 expressed support for the Wateside Park project and inquired about ways residents could contribute to the city’s annual transportation priorities. • Speaker #9 asked for increased park funding to enhance safety, accessibility, and youth activities and noted issues at the Riverwalk and playground areas. • Speaker #10 suggested the city add contract and proposal information to their website. ADJOURNMENT The Legislative Session was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.  CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 27, 2025 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell Absent: Council President D'Shawn M. Doughty and Council Vice President Angela M. Blake IN ATTENDANCE Mayor Randy Taylor (joined at 5:38 p.m.), Assistant City Administrator Tom Stevenson, Human Resources Director Meg Caton, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche MOTION TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION The City Council convened in Closed Session on October 27, 2025 at 5:34 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. Councilwoman Gregory called for a motion and a second to appoint Councilwoman Jackson as president pro tem for the meeting. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 3-0. Councilwoman Jackson called for a motion and a second to convene in Closed Session to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluations of appointees, employees or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1). Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0. DISCUSSION TOPIC • Appointment of Arts, Business and Culture Department Director and Zoo Director Ms. Caton presented the information regarding the applicants for the Arts, Business and Culture Director position. Scott Roberts was recommended for the position. Council gave consensus to appoint him as the Arts, Business and Culture Director. Ms. Caton then shared that the decision was made for the Zoo to become its own department with Chuck Eicholz as the Zoo Director and Department Head. Council had no additional questions and gave consensus to appoint him as the Zoo Director. MOTION TO ADJOURN AND RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION Ms. Jackson called for a motion and a second to adjourn the Closed Session and reconvene into Open Session. Michele R. Gregory motioned and Sharon C. Dashiell seconded. The vote was 3-0. REPORT TO PUBLIC Ms. Jackson convened into Open Session to provide the report out. She stated that the Closed was to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluations of appointees, employees or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals authorized by the State Government Article, § 3-305(b)(1). She announced that Council gave consensus to appoint Scott Roberts as the Arts, Business and Culture Director and Chuck Eicholz as the Zoo Director. ADJOURNMENT The Open Session adjourned at 5:45 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President