Work Session

WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES JULY 28, 2025 PUBLIC OFFICIALS Present: Council President D'Shawn M. Doughty, Councilwoman April R. Jackson, Councilwoman Michele R. Gregory and Councilwoman Sharon C. Dashiell Absent: Council Vice President Angela M. Blake IN ATTENDANCE Mayor Randy Taylor, Acting City Administrator Tom Stevenson, Fire Chief Rob Frampton, Police Chief David Meienschein, Captain John Felts, City Clerk Julie English, City Solicitor Ashley Bosche CALL TO ORDER The City Council convened in Work Session on July 28, 2025 at 6:31 p.m. in the Government Office Building Council Chambers, Room 301, located at 125 N. Division Street. PRESENTATION President Doughty called Chief Frampton forward for the presentation. • 1st Half of 2025 Statistical Update of the SFD Chief Frampton presented a midyear 2025 update, reporting an 8.9% increase in total calls compared to the same period in 2024. He explained that “fire unit responses” count each individual vehicle dispatched, reflecting equipment use and wear. The rise in calls was attributed to city and county population growth. To address higher demand, discussions were underway to add a fifth EMS unit during peak hours. The department was also exploring ways to reduce non- emergency calls from skilled nursing facilities through community paramedicine and educational programs. Financially, Salisbury secured improved funding from Wicomico County, with $3.5 million paid in FY25—including a $1.5 million catch-up—and $3.7 million projected for FY26, bringing the city in line with other county fire departments. EMS billing revenue was projected at $ 2.62 million for the year, while the Fire Marshal’s Office generated $275,000 and saved over $4 million in property value. The department was fully staffed, implemented firefighter health screenings, and continued community outreach programs, including school-based opioid education. Council members praised the department for its transparency and dedication amid rising service demands. ORDINANCE • Ordinance for MOOR ORF Opioid Grant Amendment Chief Frampton shared that a state grant that was originally awarded in January for $542,000 had been 1  increased to $623,300 due to new legislation allowing the funds to cover indirect administrative costs. With no questions from Council, they gave consensus to move forward to Legislative Session. • Ordinance - Accept Equitable Sharing Funds Captain Felts requested authorization to use $150,000 in equitable sharing funds to expand and improve storage systems. They proposed $75,000 for completing a property storage system to meet legal and chain-of-custody requirements and another $75,000 for half the cost of a new records storage system, with the remainder already included in the current year’s budget. No questions were asked by Council, and consensus was given to move forward to Legislative Session. COUNCIL DISCUSSION • Housing Presentation by Councilwoman Sharon Dashiell followed by Council discussion Ms. Dashiell discussed current housing challenges affecting renters, buyers, seniors, veterans, and low-income residents. She explained that the housing stock was approximately 70% rentals and 30% owner-occupied with a shortage of starter homes and delays for buyers due to high interest rates. Potential solutions included apartments, single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses, ADUs, assisted living, and senior housing. Discussion on House Bill 1466, effective 2026, was noted and would allow ADUs on single-family owner-occupied properties, expanding flexible housing options. The 4-to-2 ordinance was noted as important for maintaining balance in single- family districts. Timing, financing, and availability of housing remain challenges, with 969 new building permits currently open. Rising development costs affect affordability, and incentives and clear ADU guidelines were suggested to support multigenerational households. The Council proposed centralizing housing resources and providing monthly updates on progress to streamline access and inform the public. PUBLIC COMMENT (Agenda Items Only) The following public comments were heard: Speaker #1 spoke in support of expanding the 4-to-2 ordinance, noting it preserved neighborhood integrity Speaker #2 echoed speaker #1 and raised concerns about new developments’ contributions to affordable housing. Speaker #3 highlighted the city’s urgent housing crisis, stressing its impact on families, workers, and the local economy, and urged the city to prioritize safe, affordable housing. Speaker #4 noted that replacing college rentals with families had improved neighborhood peace and stability. Speaker #5 highlighted the city’s affordable housing challenges, noting rents had risen far faster than incomes and many families faced mortgage and down payment gaps. Speaker #6 noted rising housing costs and stressed the need for reliable public transportation to support residents without cars. ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS Mayor Taylor thanked everyone for participating in the housing discussion, acknowledged the complexity of affordability and transportation issues, noted limited city resources, and emphasized the need to balance community needs while seeking long-term solutions. 2 COUNCIL COMMENTS Ms. Gregory pointed out the need to consider nontraditional families who might be excluded by the 4- to-2 rule. She also gave a shout-out to Debbie and Randy Day for donating $1 million to the new Wicomico County Public Library’s children’s area. Ms. Jackson highlighted the Games On youth program and how successful it had been. She thanked city staff, schools, and volunteers for their help with the program and reminded everyone about National Night Out. Ms. Dashiell attended the Junior Fire Academy graduation and met K-9 dogs trained in explosives, drugs, and arson detection. She thanked Mr. Voitiuc and the Department of Infrastructure and Development for involving them in the ADU website project. President Doughty thanked everyone for the fruitful conversation about housing. He noted that the Blood Bank had reopened in Salisbury and encouraged everyone to donate. ADJOURNMENT The Work Session was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. _________________________________ City Clerk _________________________________ Council President 3