REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, February 23, 1998

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:00p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Edward V.J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, Thomas X. White and by Judith F. Davis, Mayor.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Robert Manzi, City Solicitor; W. Bowman Ferguson, Management Analyst and David E. Moran, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis observed a moment of silence for James Fitzmaurice, Larry Fink and Gerald Boisvet. Then, she led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Putens moved approval of the consent agenda. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

COUNCIL THEREBY TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS:

MINUTES:

- Regular Meeting, January 12, 1998
- Regular Meeting, January 26, 1998
- Regular Meeting, February 9, 1998
- Work Session, February 11, 1998

Approved as presented.

APPROVAL OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DRUG & ALCOHOL APPLICATION: Council approved the mini-grant applications.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Putens moved that the agenda be approved. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

PRESENTATIONS:

Advisory Committee on Education Educators Awards Ceremony: Leta Mach, Chair of the Advisory Committee on Education, introduced award recipients from each of the schools. Council presented each awardee with a certificate signed by the Council and a certificate from County Councilwoman Audrey Scott. Ms. Mach presented a Greenbelt game to each awardee. The following individuals received awards:

Wendy Geagan - Greenbelt Elementary School
Lynn Baker - Springhill Lake Elementary School
Sandy Midgley - Magnolia Elementary School
Margie Sparks - St. Hugh’s Elementary
Cheri Galas - Greenbelt Middle School
Patricia Perry - Robert Goddard Middle School
Ed Stabler - Eleanor Roosevelt High School

School Board Representative Suzanne Plogman congratulated the awardees and expressed her appreciation for their efforts on behalf of the children. She also thanked Council and ACE for the recognition ceremony. Mayor Davis congratulated the awardees and expressed the city’s appreciation for their hard work.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: There were none presented.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: Mr. McLaughlin noted the draft agenda for the goals retreat on Saturday. He also referenced a letter from Mr. Bridgeland and suggested that Council may wish to schedule a public forum. Then, Mr. McLaughlin mentioned the MML Award for Excellence. He suggested that the city may want to nominate GIVES for an award. Mr. White suggested the crisis intervention program, however, Mr. McLaughlin noted that this program would not qualify because it had not been in existence for an entire year.

Mr. White stated that NOAA was planning to build a facility on Goddard and asked if the city had been notified. Mr. McLaughlin responded that the only notification had been a previous appearance in the Federal CIP. Mr. White expressed concern about the impacts on Greenbelt Road and suggested the city express its concerns to Congressional representatives. Mayor Davis noted that the project wasn’t funded.

Mayor Davis noted that she was meeting with Mr. McLaughlin on Thursday afternoons to sign letters and discuss issues.

AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 2-113 OF THE CITY CODE TO REQUIRE THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORTS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Moran suggested an amendment to the ordinance based on consultation with Mr. Manzi. He requested that Council not delete Section 14-17. Mr. White requested that members of the Board of Appeals be notified of the ordinance. Mr. Putens introduced the above titled ordinance for first reading.

REVIEW OF MANAGEMENT LETTER FROM KELLER BRUNER & COMPANY: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Daniel Chaney, Keller Bruner & Company, indicated he was available to answer questions. Mr. Turnbull asked about the Millennium bug. Mr. McLaughlin responded that newer systems such as Police and Finance were Year 2000 compliant and that the city was looking at other departments and expected to address the problem in time. Mr. Turnbull asked if staff was willing to implement the capital recommendations. Mr. McLaughlin liked the idea but indicated that staff would need to make a significant format change.

Mr. Putens moved that Council accept the management letter. Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

USE OF TRANSPORTATION EMISSION REDUCTION PROGRAM (TERP) GRANT FUNDS: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. McLaughlin reviewed the history of the city’s use of these funds. He indicated that there were enough funds to complete these two projects and noted that the city currently must travel to Beltsville to fuel the current van. Mr. Roberts asked about the make of the van. Mr. Ferguson responded that it was a Ford. Mr. Roberts asked about the $7,000 figure. Mr. Ferguson noted that price wasn’t firm, because a representative from Washington Gas had not visited the site. Mr. Roberts expressed support for the vehicle but wanted the city to install a fast fill instead of a slow fill. Mr. Ferguson noted that fast fill pump would cost significantly more. Mr. Roberts expressed concern that the city didn’t pursue a fast fill pump previously.

Mr. Putens asked about the reasons for not getting the fast fill. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that Washington Gas did not want to put the pump at the Public Works yard and had withdrawn previous offers. Mr. White noted that the original plan was to make the Greenbelt site a regional site and indicated there were many factors that ended up killing it.

Mr. White asked about safety issues. Mr. Ferguson responded that his research indicated that it was very safe. Mayor Davis asked if this meant that the city couldn’t install bike racks. Mr. McLaughlin responded that bike racks could still be installed at various locations using other funds.

Mr. Putens moved to authorize staff to move forward with the purchase of the van and installation of the slow-fill pump, pending final approval from administrators of the TERP program. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

MEETINGS: Mayor Davis asked if we still needed a follow-up with SHA. Mr. Turnbull asked if the city was confident that SHA was addressing the city’s concerns. Mr. Roberts wanted to continue to press the SHA for an overpass. Council agreed to discuss the issue at the 4-Cities briefing on March 5. Mr. Turnbull suggested that the city not act on the historic district briefing until GHI makes a decision. Council suggested plugging in the beaver meeting on 3/16, 3/25 or 3/26 if one of the scheduled meetings falls through. Mr. White asked about the need for a meeting on Cable TV and when negotiations would begin. Ms. Palau estimated several months before formal negotiations would begin.

REQUEST FROM ELEANOR ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Raymond Badders, Choir Committee, noted that there had been an exchange program for the past 5 to 10 years and this is the first time there would actually be a choir exchange. He noted that choir members from Fulda, Germany had visited Greenbelt in October. He stressed the opportunity for cultural exchanges. Mr. Badders noted that the choir had raised funds to help support the trip and most students had contributed at least 50% of the cost.

Several Council members asked about the residency of the students attending. Council suggested that the choir approach other municipalities for a contribution. Mayor Davis suggested that people in the audience may wish to send in donations. Mr. Turnbull noted that he was a former member of the choir. He suggested that if the city was going to support this effort they develop a way to channel the funds to Greenbelters. Mr. Putens was also interested in determining where the students lived. Mr. White suggested that the city place an appeal on Channel B-10. Mayor Davis suggested that the choir contact the News Review and the Gazette to write an article. Mr. Roberts challenged Mr. Badders to contact other municipalities and identify where the choir members lived.

Mayor Davis thanked Mr. Badders for coming and hoped that the suggestions made by the city would work out. Mr. White suggested Mr. Badders contact the American Legion. Mr. Putens stressed that Greenbelt contributes approximately $170,000 into programs at ERHS like the SRO program. Mr. Badders thanked Council for their time.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Putens moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion carried 5 to 0. Mayor Davis adjourned the regular meeting of February 23, 1998, at 9:45p.m

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Roberts moved that Council enter into Executive Session in accordance with Section 10-508(a)(1), (3) and (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland to discuss personnel matters, consider land acquisition and consult with counsel to obtain legal advice. Mr. Putens seconded.

ROLL CALL:
Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mr. Turnbull - yes
Mr. White - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

Respectfully Submitted,

David E. Moran
City Clerk

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct report of the regular meeting of the City Council of Greenbelt, Maryland, held February 23, 1998."

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248