[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6286932,"mediaKeyId","2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6","parentId",2555852,"title","Residents cite missing minutes and question ZenCity rollout; council agrees to update","audioSeconds",763,"startMs",2536000,"endMs",3299000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6&start=2536&end=3299","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6/thumbnail_2536000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286932/Salisbury/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Residents-cite-missing-minutes-and-question-ZenCity-rollout-council-agrees-to-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286932-2a59fb24005b89cafa467eb7cd10fe5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191577&Signature=f4nnTxVIFMNPKGSV4YMlFLXSeg6ZflI6KeKeEBB4ieX5K~2ycv2ID3pRKZU85JhT9S852e5OXkLZAWPj8IkrKHHZ4Saj0wE6TVPIksibIkxDDuj6BdiKRlzq0C-PRNEh6nL~qDN0LH3eBwQZJ4Sj7WRO7kpfeb1suPbAHlftx9-v6V5UWRgLBK2hCCUyuayeLV4~Zjm3yX9V2lD4aFfZy-GazlaDLSDm~Vs4tA0hLuq8g2fKAd8AFPQShhrhUhWkql7VLmcq58yyCFNtdNge2r7QRf8syWsC2BT5JO5v7Kedenf-BxYC3QBUvbi5EHwGyl0Sg5xtDLlmXdygpMWx2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of of Salisbury, MD","date","2025-03-11T14:44:39Z","article","During public comment at the March 10 meeting, residents urged greater transparency on meeting records and questioned the city’s use of the ZenCity platform, saying minutes from prior months were not available and that the platform had not been authorized by council.

Lynn Bratton (resident) told the council that minutes posted online stop in September and that minutes from January and February 2024 — when the ZenCity program was demonstrated and “unanimously tabled,” she said — are not available for review. “Implemented. Apparently, it's being paid for. It's being utilized,” Bratton said, adding that she wants the council to “revisit that decision making process.”

Council members agreed to add a presentation about the ZenCity rollout to a future agenda. A staff member confirmed that Jordan Ray, the city’s media specialist, is expected to brief the council at the next agenda on ZenCity usage, first-30-day results and a rollout update.

Other public comments raised additional community items. Dave Chettington (resident) asked the council to consider an adopt-a-road program to support litter pickup and volunteer engagement; council staff agreed to follow up and meet with Chettington. Public commenter Riley Smith criticized the Maryland Folk Festival’s published attendance and economic-impact estimates during the public-comment period, questioning figures shown on festival materials.

Council members also heard concerns about local blood-donation services and about boarded-up houses and housing redevelopment; council members asked staff for updates on boarded properties and on a planned Carol Street drawing referenced in prior sessions. The council requested staff follow-ups on the adopt-a-road proposal, the ZenCity briefing and the boarded-up-property status.

The public-comment period closed without formal council action on these subjects; council agreed to staff follow-ups and a scheduled presentation on ZenCity.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salisbury City Council Work and Legislative Sessions, 3/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters raised concerns that city meeting minutes are missing online and that the ZenCity platform was implemented without council approval; the council scheduled a staff presentation on ZenCity rollout and accepted offers to discuss an adopt-a-road program and other community concerns.","taxTitle","Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland","taxId",4259,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286937,"Salisbury council adopts annexation resolutions and 10 ordinances at March 10 session",232,1964000,2196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6&start=1964&end=2196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6/thumbnail_1964000.jpg","/articles/6286937/Salisbury/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Salisbury-council-adopts-annexation-resolutions-and-10-ordinances-at-March-10-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286937-d971160b0a5c18f1f3d544fc8fcb209b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191577&Signature=lyRO38sWXhT-1ud8LBxa1D-uM~oTtnfZtFruViFu9c1vv0OnBqF7xHj1BmlwxU--QblLyQdjyy93cm1MeaLVrjcvF-mhpw4m9tjHsSexzCOUm651ttkOlQKpupH~gRNj89lbASymkjcLtTpvDngZfxCVACdoEZlMeglbroQijd3-ZoVZ1LQuaLWo3sIQPS70kMlHigoK66d8XtiRJW7~cWGayg-qu5~QroXIq99UVNagoEFiHdukbdbXnZ~GR90CW3JIpsgaa~ccpdpw-cI-4xsmy0ErTcq7ydLAYnmA3eZx~OXitNX5ceftMGHhOKb7bb01-Bt79VJxN1OM5AA0HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salisbury City Council on March 10 adopted two annexation resolutions and approved 10 ordinances on second reading covering public-safety code updates, water-system projects, grants and Fire Department appropriations.

Council President Deshaun Dowdy opened the legislative portion of the meeting and the clerk read the agenda. The council voted by voice for each item; in each case the chair recorded the adoption after the council answered “aye.” The record shows no roll-call tallies for individual members.

Key items approved included two resolutions concerning the annexation of 2.954 acres described as the Pine Way Pohankakea annexation (Resolution 3382) and an associated annexation plan (Resolution 3383). The clerk then read 10 ordinances on second reading; the council approved each by voice vote with no amendments reported. The ordinance subjects and identifying numbers were as follows:

- Ordinance 2918: amendments to Chapter 5.64 (towing companies) to update procedures for police-directed towing and penalties.
- Ordinance 2919: acceptance of Chesapeake Bay Trust grant funds, $148,267, to plant 834 trees in the city.
- Ordinance 2920: authorization for the mayor to appropriate funds related to Drinking Water State Revolving Fund projects including the Naylor Mill water main extension, a PFAS study at the Paleo Water Treatment Plant, and lead service line replacement projects.
- Ordinance 2921: budget amendment and mayoral appropriation for a PFAS study and treatment (related to water projects).
- Ordinance 2922: budget amendment to appropriate funds for completion of elevated water tank maintenance.
- Ordinance 2923: amendment to section 8.04.0.05 of city code regarding counting methods for false alarms.
- Ordinance 2924: FY2025 general fund amendment to appropriate funds to the Salisbury Fire Department operating budget for repairs to the fire chief’s vehicle.
- Ordinance 2925: authorization for the mayor to enter a contract with the Maryland Department of Health to accept a $29,625 grant and appropriate those funds to the Salisbury Fire Department (budget amendment for the grant fund).
- Ordinance 2926: FY2025 general fund amendment to appropriate $47,000 for blacktop/parking-lot repairs at Fire Station 1.
- Ordinance 2927: amendment to chapter 2.16.0.02 H and G granting the fire chief authority to designate career deputies as second and third in command and to specify succession when the chief is unable to perform duties.

Council and staff repeatedly noted that each ordinance was before the council for second reading and that there were “no changes or amendments” since first reading. City Attorney Ashley Beauche read the ordinances aloud for the record and the clerk administered each second-reading vote.

Several items reflect external funding sources: the Chesapeake Bay Trust grant for tree planting (Ordinance 2919) and the Maryland Department of Health grant of $29,625 for Fire Department purposes (Ordinance 2925). The water-related ordinances (2920 and 2921) reference Drinking Water State Revolving Fund projects and PFAS study/treatment and lead service-line work; ordinance language on second reading did not specify exact appropriation amounts for those projects in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance (outcome: approved unless noted):
- Resolution 3382 (Pine Way Pohankakea annexation) — adopted.
- Resolution 3383 (annexation plan relative to 3382) — adopted.
- Ordinance 2918 (towing code update) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2919 (Chesapeake Bay Trust grant, $148,267; 834 trees) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2920 (Drinking Water SRF projects: Naylor Mill extension, PFAS study, lead-service replacement) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2921 (PFAS study and treatment appropriation) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2922 (elevated water tank maintenance appropriation) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2923 (false alarms code amendment) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2924 (Fire Department vehicle repair appropriation) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2925 (MDH grant $29,625 to Fire Department) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2926 (Fire Station 1 parking-lot blacktop, $47,000) — approved on second reading.
- Ordinance 2927 (fire chief succession authority) — approved on second reading.

Where an item referenced external grants or funds, staff identified the source in the reading (Chesapeake Bay Trust; Maryland Department of Health). For items that were budget amendments, staff and the clerk stated the appropriation purpose and noted that there had been no substantive changes since first reading.

Council closed the legislative agenda following the second readings and moved on to other business.","At its March 10 legislative session the Salisbury City Council approved two annexation resolutions and 10 ordinances on second reading covering towing rules, tree-planting grant acceptance, water projects and several Fire Department appropriations and code changes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286941,"Salisbury council agrees to $86,000 city contribution for 2025 Maryland Folk Festival",401,155000,556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6&start=155&end=556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555852-5e84b968de109013815994ed50ca9db6/thumbnail_155000.jpg","/articles/6286941/Salisbury/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Salisbury-council-agrees-to-86000-city-contribution-for-2025-Maryland-Folk-Festival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286941-b0cb0ae951a1552b6047cb27ef467b68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191577&Signature=NMw62wOMS5LcF5hTRw65Ei4czmu3rvTzjoQ1jZheUQ022NNHhZwlxbe-AAxOxpfh1AOwTIq-TgoC2fQHAw0Sk0eh2BhC630bbLXAaoCj8ZC6M~BnyN0bX5XL6dKOkCM3ylH~RvShNTyK-kULi37GM-BuJTBjgcbMWaVlqMU0FmJ3QdiALf3eKykTLtTutp5~tk2WW3HpWqmKZlucdgSWmQvMCe85FYnyqgRRpwDCvL-f6xMVhUNrMjCO1N17wQNLV3HcM49hhbzqoPKqCMMX-HfJgc6q342K3V4ZPWyfEt5wl8msMasr0pH1LJLg5ERiMCE9wpdvBdJ2Kt9YJPSgJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members on March 10 gave consensus to proceed with a request to appropriate $86,000 from the city budget as Salisbury’s contribution to the 2025 Maryland Folk Festival.

The request came from Scott Roberts, Assistant Director of Arts, Business and Culture, and Caroline O'Hare, Events and Culture Manager, who described the money as funding for “staffing, production fees, artist fees, equipment, staging, and lighting.” Roberts said the city’s requested contribution for 2025 is $86,000.

The item matters because staff said the $86,000 primarily covers the festival events manager’s salary historically paid from a special revenues account; that practice will change in FY26. A staff member explained the accounting shift to the council, saying the manager’s salary has been charged to the festival account in prior years but will move into the general fund budget for FY26 so departmental line items will appear higher even though general-fund totals will not change.

Roberts and O'Hare described the festival as a three-day event that draws local businesses and visitors. “Last year, we had 3 beautiful days. We had an incredible square dance event on Saturday night and we're hoping to bring that back and make that a tradition,” Caroline O'Hare said. She added the festival has returned sponsors and reported $139,500 in committed sponsorships to date, and that some grants are still pending award in July.

Council members asked whether the $86,000 was a temporary loan or the city’s contribution; staff replied it is the city’s contribution. Roberts said the previous festival appropriation was $587,000 but that no appropriation for the current year had previously been made. Council gave consensus to proceed with the funding request by voice vote (no recorded roll call on the floor).

Public comment during the meeting included a resident critical of the festival's publicly circulated attendance and economic-impact estimates; Riley Smith (resident) questioned a cited attendance estimate of 20,000 and challenged the festival's projected economic-impact figures. Smith’s remarks were part of the meeting’s public-comment period and were not entered as a formal challenge to the funding request.

The council did not adopt a final ordinance for the appropriation at this meeting; staff characterized the current step as approving the request to proceed and incorporate the appropriation in upcoming budget materials. The budget and accounting change described by staff indicates the events manager’s salary will be shown under the general fund in FY26 rather than as a transfer into a special-events account.

Caroline O'Hare and Scott Roberts were present to answer questions and the council indicated support to move forward with the requested appropriation.

Looking ahead, staff said grants and sponsorships remain in progress and that more detailed budget items will appear in the FY26 materials and at future council sessions.","Council members gave consensus to proceed with an $86,000 city contribution for the 2025 Maryland Folk Festival; staff said the amount primarily covers the festival events manager's salary and that the position will move to the general fund in FY26.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents cite missing minutes and question ZenCity rollout; council agrees to update

Salisbury council adopts annexation resolutions and 10 ordinances at March 10 session

Salisbury council agrees to $86,000 city contribution for 2025 Maryland Folk Festival