EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 2025
Cover Photo by Megan Cook, Mayor of Easton
WINTER WHITEOUT!
Snow, snow and more snow! January brought us a significant snowfall and it almost made me feel like I was back home in NY. I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible teamwork it took to keep our town running smoothly. From Public Works clearing the roads to our first responders ensuring safety, and all those working behind the scenes — thank you for your dedication.
This month’s newsletter also highlights the 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic, an event that brought our community together through the spirit of sportsmanship and unity. Thank you to our Parks and Rec staff and Easton Police officers who helped to plan the event and were there to make sure the kids had a great day.
Looking ahead, we’re excited for the launch of our second Community Police Academy. This is a great opportunity for residents to engage with our officers and learn more about public safety efforts. We had two Town employees graduate from the first class, so if you’re interested I encourage you to check it out. Who knows? We may even get another recruit!
Thank you all for your hard work and everything you do to keep Easton beautiful.
Click HERE to see Barry’s video interview!
Employee Spotlight
BARRY SLAUGHTER | SANITATION DIVISION MANAGER
Meet Barry Slaughter! Barry serves as the Sanitation Division Manager at our Public Works Department. He has worked at Public Works for over 25 years.
Barry is responsible for overseeing all of our Town’s Sanitation efforts, including trash pickup, dumpsters, recycling, bulk pickup, street cleaning, and some leaf collection. Barry largely works from his “Mobile Office” to check up on the routes, interact with customers, and solve problems on the fly.
In addition to working with the Town of Easton, Barry is a Life Member at EVFD. In his free time, Barry enjoys going camping, spending quality time with his family, and cooking up fun dishes for his friends and family.
Megan
PUSHING AHEAD
Easton essential crews head up snow removal efforts
After nearly a foot of snowfall on January 6, the Town of Easton essential employees worked tirelessly through the snowy conditions to keep the Town safe and clear.
The entire Public Works department reported for duty at Midnight (Sunday night/Monday morning) continually salting and plowing the roads through the next couple days. Their efforts kept our streets and parking lots accessible, and made it possible for other essential employees to report in. Because of the workload and ongoing conditions, many of them did not head home until Thursday afternoon.
Our Public Works Sanitation team also deserves recognition. They collected their normal garbage routes
around Town through the middle of a snowstorm without delay. No matter the weather, they haven’t missed a trash collection day in over 15 years!
Also, Thanks to Easton Police Department, who kept watch, responded to calls, and helped protect our community all throughout the storm.
Last, but not least, our Buildings and Facilities team all showed up through the storm. They worked hard to clear out the lots and walkways around Town buildings and properties to make sure they remained accessible for emergencies (and workers the following days).
To see first hand what some of the cleanup effort looked like, check out the video here.
Easton Utilities
A NEW ROLE
Simonsen named Director, Corporate Communications at Easton Utilities
Easton Utilities named Kelly Simonsen as the Director of Corporate Communications. This new position will be responsible for developing and implementing the overall communications strategy including internal and external communications, media relations, branding, advertising, events, and charitable giving.
“Kelly has been a valuable part of the leadership team offering her expertise in how best to share the important information and educational messaging with our employees, customers, and community,” said John J. Horner, President and CEO of Easton Utilities.
In her new role, Simonsen will oversee all communications involving the organization including the development and implementation of a multi-channel communications strategy for the wide range of services provided by Easton Utilities and Easton Velocity.
uphold both customer and employee satisfaction.
“We try to be proactive with our approach to authentic communication using a variety of tools and platforms to ensure all of our customers stay informed and aware ,” said Simonsen.
Working with the Marketing and Communications team, Simonsen will continue to promote and enhance the image of Easton Utilities and Easton Velocity to
Simonsen began her career at Easton Utilities in 2016 as the Marketing and Communications Manager. Prior to joining Easton Utilities, she spent the majority of her career in marketing working for several niche corporations including a national hotel chain, an international medical device company and a national industrial service provider.
Simonsen holds a BS in communication from Towson University and is currently working on her master’s in integrated marketing communications at Georgetown University. She is a Graduate of Shore Leadership (2014) and is currently on the board of MD/DC Utilities Association, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and SOS Sink or Swim. Simonsen has lived in Easton since 2013 with her husband and two daughters.
A TRUE Classic
Parks & Rec hosts Dr. MLK Jr Basketball Classic Parks & Recreation
On January 20, we held our 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Basketball Classic in partnership with Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation. Almost 70 middle school aged (5th-8th grade) youths from Dorchester, Talbot, and Caroline Counties took part in the festivities — including full-court games, as well as 3-point shot, and half-court shot competitions throughout the day.
Games took place simultaneously on two separate courts at the Talbot County Community Center. In addition to the games and competitions, each player was given a free event t-shirt, participation gift, and free lunch.
The half-court shot competition was won by Caden Potter, who took home a $200 check from the Fraternal Order of Police - Talbot County Lodge 18 for hitting the big shot. The Boys’ 3-pt shot contest was won by Zakyren Lake, and the Girls’ 3-pt shot contest was won by Lillian Johnson, both of whom took home a $50 Target Gift card for winning.
After the games concluded, former Talbot County Council Member (and event MC) Corey Pack announced this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Image Awards — awards given to town/county leaders who exemplify the character of Dr. King by giving back to their communities. This year’s Image award winners were:
Easton - Joe Brummell
Cambridge - Gariel Butler
Denton - Cheryl Bealuh
Federalsburg - Heather Harding
Thank you to everyone who came out and showed their support, and thanks to our sponsors Easton Utilities, Talbot County Parks and Recreation, Town of Easton Parks and Recreation, Easton - MD Police Department, Talbot County FOP Lodge #18, Cambridge Maryland Police Department, Hershel Johnson PAL, Talbot Optimist Club, and Caroline County Public Schools for helping to make this all happen. We are so grateful for this community!
Click here to see the half court shot winner!
KEEP IT CLEAN
Public Works vehicle maintenance takes priority after a snowstorm
“Just because the snow’s gone doesn’t mean the work is done,” said Glenn Towers, Construction Division Supervisor. “All that salt and snow takes a toll on these vehicles, and we’ve got to make sure they’re taken care of so we’re ready for the next one.”
Even after the roads are clear in Town, work from the snowfall doesn’t end there for our Public Works team. Care and maintenance for snow plows, trucks, and other vehicles must be taken care of quickly after the long hours of use through snow and salt last week.
The Maintenance, Construction, and Shop crews all teamed up after the snowfall to give some necessary TLC to the fleet. Creating an assembly line of sorts, they all worked together to clear out the truck beds, spray out and wash each vehicle, detail the interiors, administer a mechanical inspection, and take care of any potential required shop maintenance before stowing away the equipment for the next snowfall.
“It’s all hands on deck before, during, and after a storm,” added Towers. “Fortunately, we’ve got a great group that makes sure it all gets done.”
QUALIFICATIONS
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
At least eighteen (18) years of age; Willing to sign a Waiver of Liability, Consent to Criminal History Check form, and a limited Confidentiality Agreement form.
Disqualifiers: An applicant may be disqualified from participating for any of the following reasons, including but not limited to:
(a) Outstanding warrants of any type.
(b) Having a conviction or being under indictment for, or currently charged with any violent felony offense.
(c) Having a history of/or conviction for any sexual related offense.
(d) Having a history of/or conviction for Family Violence.
(e) Applicant cannot be a suspect of any criminal case, regardless of the case outcome within the past three years.
(f) Applicant is a known member of or associated with any person or organization which advocates hatred, prejudice, or oppression of any person or group or which disseminates such material.
(g) Applicant is a known member of or associated with any organization, association, movement, or group which advocates the commission of acts of force or violence to deny others their rights under the Constitution of the United States or which seeks to alter the form of government of the United States by unconstitutional means.
(h) Persons who have a pending lawsuit against the Department shall not be allowed to participate in the Community Police Academy while that lawsuit is active.
(i) Any other indications of criminal history, criminal involvement and/or previous law enforcement involvement will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and considered in the application process.
The Community
Academy will take place from 6pm to 9pm on the following eleven evenings:
March 5th – Wednesday
April 16th – Wednesday
March 12th – Wednesday
April 23rd – Wednesday
March 19th – Wednesday
April 30th – Wednesday
March 26th – Wednesday
May 7th – Wednesday
April 2nd – Wednesday
May 14th - Wednesday
April 9th – Wednesday
Police
WHAT WE DO
Winter ’25 Community Police Academy registration is open through Feb. 12
The Easton Police Department (EPD) is excited to announce the return of the Community Police Academy. This program serves to educate the public about the workings and responsibilities of the Easton Police Department, and to increase the rapport between community members and police officers. EPD held its first Community Police Academy program in January of 2024 and saw 15 graduates.
Most of the classes will meet at the Easton Police Department on 106 W. Dover St. in Easton. To “graduate,” attendees may not miss more than two classes. The class curriculum will be different each week, covering topics such as Patrol Operations, SWAT and Crisis Negotiation, Simulated Traffic Stops, and more. Participants will become familiar with the different functions in the police department and experience the decisions that officers must make in a variety of situations.
A new addition to the program is the inclusion of a course
on CPR and first aid, which will grant participating students CPR certification and NARCAN training upon completion.
Nick Johnson, a graduate of the 2024 program said, “The Community Police Academy opened my eyes to what our officers go through on a daily basis. It gave me a new appreciation for how complex and difficult police officer’s jobs are. I encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity as I really enjoyed it.”
Anyone over the age of 18 who has an interest in the Easton Police Department is welcomed to apply and learn more about our operations. Applications can be found and completed at eastonmd.gov/604/Community-Police-Academy. Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, February 12. If you are interested in attending, or have any further questions about the program, please contact the Easton Police Department at EPDCareers@eastonmd.gov.
Click here to learn more about the Community Police Academy!
WE HAVE A WINNER!
Congratulations to Mike Dickerson, Director of Public Works, for winning the Employee Newsletter Cover Photo Contest!
Mike now has a $25 gift card to Spaghetti House for his submission that landed on the January cover of the Town of Easton Employee Newsletter.
You could be the next winner by submitting your potential cover photos to gmueller@eastonmd.gov. If your submission is chosen, you too will win a $25 gift card!
A PATTERN EMERGES
Downtown intersection changes from 2-way to 4-way
On January 20, the intersection of Brookletts Avenue and South Harrison Street was converted into a 4-way stop. Our Public Works crew went out to update the signage and added new striping to mark the roads.
Thanks to Supervisor Justin Jones, Brandon Miles, Brandon Watkins, and Colton Insley for their great work in getting this done quickly!
Shoutout to our friends at Easton Utilities for their help with changing the flashing lights at the intersection from yellow to red.
Next up, this month the intersection of Brookletts Avenue and South Hanson Street will also be converted to a 4-way stop. Please be on the lookout for these new traffic patterns and use caution around any workers in the area, thank you!
Birthdays
FEBRUARY
Joshua Maxwell
David Wroten
Vincent Barnett
Tyquan Beckett
George Larrimore
Rashida Johnson
Carolinne Kahane
Dustin Otto
Drequan Stevens
Nicholas Lange
Joseph Schinault
Cody Bland
Anniversaries
FEBRUARY
Brandon Watkins - 3 years
Alan Lowrey - 3 years
Kody Cario - 6 years
Rick VanEmburgh - 10 years
Daniel Farmer - 19 years
Milton Orellana - 23 years
Joanne Drummer - 44 years
OVER, EASY
A Simple Recipe to Make Breakfast More Manageable
(Family Features) Mornings for many families involve hurried breakfasts and mad dashes out the door. These Egg Tot Muffins can help take that grab-and-go breakfast to the next level. High in protein and flavor, they are a good way to get rid of early morning brain fog. Plus, you can make them ahead of time so all you have to do is pop them in the microwave and enjoy on the go. Find more morning meal inspiration at Culinary.net.
EGG TOT MUFFINS
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy” Servings: 12
Butter
36 thawed tater tots
10 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or halfand-half
1/2 cup shredded cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 package (2 1/2 ounces) real bacon pieces
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Heat oven to 350 F.
Grease muffin tin with butter. Place three tots in each muffin hole and smash down.
In bowl, whisk eggs, cream, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder and bacon pieces. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Fill each muffin hole completely with mixture.
Place cookie sheet under muffin tin to contain messes and bake 20-25 minutes.