Legislative Session

LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Council President Angela M. Blake, Council Vice President April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory, Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell and Councilwoman Melissa D. Holland IN ATTENDANCE Mayor Randy Taylor, City Administrator Nick Rice, City Clerk Julie English and City Solicitor Ashley Bosche CALL TO ORDER The City Council convened in Legislative Session on January 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS/PLEDGE President Blake welcomed everyone to the meeting and provided the emergency exit instructions. She reviewed the Rules of Order. She then asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. INVOCATION - Moment of Silence Ms. Blake called for a moment of silence in lieu of the invocation. PRESENTATION AND ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA City Clerk Julie English presented the legislative agenda. President Blake called for a motion and a second to adopt the legislative agenda as presented. Michele R. Gregory motioned and April R. Jackson seconded. The vote was 5-0. RESOLUTIONS Presented by Ms. English • Council Regulations and Rules of Order Resolution No. 3445 - amending the Salisbury City Council Regulations and Rules of Order. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. ORDINANCES Presented by Ms. Bosche • Grant Acceptance - 1st Reading  Ordinance No. 2968 - approving a budget amendment of the grant fund budget to accept $2,000 in grant funds from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for the Salisbury Fire Department's SWIFT program for patient transportation costs. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Tidal Health Road Closures - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2969 - for the closing of Royal Street, Center Street and a portion of West Vine Street. April R. Jackson motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. • Budget Amendment Bless Our Children Donation for Santa's Winter Wonderland - 1st Reading Ordinance No. 2970 - approving a budget amendment of the City's FY26 budget, accepting a donation from Draper Holdings Charitable Foundation for the Santa Workshop Program. Sharon C. Dashiell motioned and Michele R. Gregory seconded. The vote was 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT • Speaker #1 recommended that Council place ranked-choice voting on a ballot and asked the Mayor to clarify his intentions regarding Black Lives Matter Boulevard. • Speaker #2 asked Council to address unsafe sidewalks in the Pinehurst neighborhood and supported Councilwoman Gregory’s recent public comment but wished she used different langua. • Speaker #3 opposed ranked-choice voting, called for improved transparency of meetings and agendas, and raised legal concerns about proposed affordable housing tax credits. • Speaker #4 criticized Council leadership and procedures, raised concerns about transparency, spending, and public input, and questioned several city actions and advisory commissions. • Speaker #5 recommended clearer public comment rules, supported a ranked-choice voting ballot measure, raised concerns about tax abatements, and criticized Ms. Gregory’s divisive social media use. • Speaker #6 asked the Council to focus on the impact of ICE actions on local families rather than the use of offensive language. • Speaker #7 suggested clarifying definitions and streamlining the tax abatement process for nonprofits and emphasized that political and offensive speech was protected under the First Amendment. ADJOURNMENT/CONVENE INTO WORK SESSION The Legislative Session Adjourned at 6:25 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President