REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1998

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:01p.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 Fredda V. Gryska and Dan Remenick. 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:

Work Session, January 28, 1998
Regular Meeting, February 23, 1998
Legislative Dinner, February 25, 1998
Work Session, February 28, 1998

Approved as presented

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT - GREEN RIDGE HOUSE STAFF: Council adopted a policy that only requires that an employee of Community Realty that works at Green Ridge House live on-site, but that it need not be the property manager.

APPROVAL OF PURCHASE - NATURAL GAS CARGO VAN: Council approved the purchase of a one-ton natural gas van from Sheehy Ford at a cost of $19,007.

REAPPOINTMENTS TO CITY ADVISORY GROUPS: Council reappointed the following individuals for three year terms.

Roberta McCarthy --Advisory Planning Board
Jim O’Reilly--Employee Relations Board
Kevin Hammett--Community Relations Advisory Board
Hopi Auerbach--Community Relations Advisory Board
Mary Helen Spear--Community Relations Advisory Board
Derek Thompson--Advisory Committee on Education
Leta Mach--Advisory Committee on Education

The following individuals indicated they no longer wish to serve on a city advisory group. Council accepted their decision with regret and directed that the appropriate appreciation letters be sent.

Betty Deitch--Senior Citizen Advisory Committee
Barbara Gremour--Recycling Advisory Committee

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. McLaughlin requested that CB-35 be added to the agenda. Mr. Putens moved that the agenda be approved. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

PRESENTATIONS:

Top Dog for USPCA - Region III Award to PFC Jerry Potts and "Tony": Greenbelt Police Officer Jerry Potts and his canine partner Tony participated in regional certification activities in May and December. There were over 50 canine teams from the Northeast. PFC Potts and Tony received the highest combined score for these events and have been awarded the "Top Dog for USPCA-Region III" trophy. Officer Potts explained the awards and the competition process.

Mayor Davis publicly recognized Officer Potts and Tony for their accomplishment. Doug Sappington, Acting Lieutenant, noted that Officer Potts had finished first in his class at the canine academy.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS:

Petition for Ball Field Lighting: Kelly Ivy presented a petition with 281 signatures requesting lights on city ball fields. He explained that the number of participants in programs is increasing and the lights would extend the use of the fields. He indicated that lighting at Braden Field would cover all of the sports.

Mr. Ivy noted that there is new lighting technology that addresses many of the concerns raised by neighbors. Mayor Davis thanked Mr. Ivy for the petition.

Request from Barbara Simon: Mayor Davis read Ms. Simon’s letter. Council accepted a request from Barbara Simon asking that the city create a committee to work on renovation of the mother and child statue.

MINUTES:

Executive Session of February 23, 1998: Mr. Roberts moved that the minutes of the Executive Session of the City Council held Monday, February 23, 1998 be approved as presented. He further requested that the minutes reflect that the Council met in Executive Session at 9:45 p.m. in the Municipal Building Library and that Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508(a)(1), (3) and (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice. Mr. White seconded.

ROLL CALL:

Ms. Davis - yes
Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mr. White - yes
Mayor Bram - yes

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: Mr. McLaughlin announced that Jennifer Foley gave birth to twin boys, Michael Robert and Timothy Patrick. Mother and boys are doing fine. He referenced the Comprehensive Traffic Study and indicated it would be added to meetings.

Mr. White reported on the NLC Congressional City Conference and indicated he would share a report with Council and staff. He noted that the theme was that local authority is being chipped away by the Federal government. Mr. White indicated that NLC was working on "building communities."

Mayor Davis announced that the City Council and Senior Staff held a retreat on Feb. 28 and reported that the group had analyzed 4 of the 9 priority issues including: Improve & Enhance Public Safety; Preserve & Enhance the Green Belt; Enhance the Sense of Community and Improve Parks and Ballfields. She indicated that another retreat session would be scheduled to cover the remaining 5 issues.

Mr. Turnbull invited the Council to participate in the Greenbelt Earth Day. Mayor Davis read a flyer announcing the activities for the celebration.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Senior Citizen Advisory Committee Report: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens moved that Council accept the report; refer it to staff for analysis and add the issue of "Metrobuses not stopping at stop signs" to the March 11 agenda. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Advisory Planning Board Report #98-02: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. White moved that Council accept this report and consider it at the Budget Work Session on Capital Improvements. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion carried 5 to 0.

Arts Advisory Board Request: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull requested that this item be added to a future agenda soon. He indicated that the process for Community Center recommendations would flow better if an advisory group were created. Mr. White favored allowing staff to present Council with some options. Mr. Roberts asked if there was a ready group of individuals that could be tapped.

Mr. Turnbull moved that Council accept the report and ask staff to develop some options and present them to Council for consideration. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

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

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the above titled ordinance for second reading and final passage. Mr. White seconded.

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mr. Turnbull - yes
Mr. White - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

The ordinance was declared passed. (Ordinance No. 1165, Book No. 11)

AWARD OF BID - INSTALLATION OF STORM WATER PIPE SYSTEM: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. White asked about the excavation in the woods between Crescent Road and the Police Station. Mr. Hall responded that this project would fix that excavation. Mr. McLaughlin noted that the drain had been closed off when the police station was built.

Mr. Putens moved that Council award Bid 1998-2 to Diamond Construction of Rockville, Maryland at a cost $16,716.00. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT - ROOSEVELT CENTER MALL RENOVATION: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull asked about the addendum and what Ms. Bradley-Papp’s role would be.

Mr. Roberts moved that Council approve the contract for design service for the Roosevelt Center mall renovation with Bradley-Papp Landscape Architecture, Inc., for a not to exceed amount of $16,055, excluding reimbursable expenses, including development of an addendum which covers restoration of the statue and the theater marque. Mr. White seconded.

Mr. Turnbull expressed his intention to recuse himself based on Ms. Bradley-Papp’s role in Mr. Turnbull’s campaign. Mr. White believed that it was not necessary for Mr. Turnbull to recuse himself because there wasn’t a compelling conflict of interest. Mr. Manzi stated that he believed the State Ethics Law overrode the Charter and that Mr. Turnbull’s action was appropriate.

Mr. White respected Mr. Turnbull’s sensitivity but was concerned that this could lead to Council not being able to act. Mr. Manzi noted that the ethics laws were here to protect the public and that the State law was broad and prevailed in this issue. Mr. Putens suggested that Council hold a quick work session on this issue. Mr. Roberts didn’t understand what the big issue was, but agreed that Mr. Turnbull was doing the right thing. Ms. Davis noted that the city had very active residents and anticipated that this issue would come up again.

The motion passed 4 to 0. (Mr. Turnbull recused himself.) Mr. McLaughlin read from a letter from Henry and Lynn Kuhn which complemented Celia Craze.

FY 1998 AUDIT SERVICES: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens moved that the city select Keller Brunner as the city’s auditor. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

COUNTY & STATE LEGISLATION: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments.

Mr. Roberts moved support for CB-33, CB-9 and CB-15. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Roberts moved opposition to CB-8. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Putens moved opposition to CB-13. Mr. White seconded. The motion carried 5 to 0. Mr. White asked staff to investigate rumors of monopoles being placed at Greenbelt Park and along the B-W Parkway right-of-way.

Mr. Roberts moved opposition to CB-35. Mr. Turnbull seconded. Mr. White requested that the city enlist the support of other municipalities affected by Indian Creek branch. Mr. Turnbull believed that the Anacostia Watershed group would support the city. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Putens moved that Council support PG 401 and MC/PG 31. Mr. Roberts seconded. Mr. Turnbull noted that Governor Glendening had withdrawn his support for the ICC and asked staff to research a bill that would establish a park preserve on ICC right-of-way. The motion carried 5 to 0.

Mr. Roberts moved that Council send a letter to Gov. Glendening thanking him for opposing the ICC. Mr. Putens seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

MEETINGS: Council agreed to allow the City Clerk to begin scheduling interview sessions prior to a Council meeting. Council scheduled an Executive Session after the WMATA work session on 3/11 at 9:00pm. Council scheduled an Executive Session for 3/16 at 8:00pm and rescheduled the work session with Beltway Plaza for 3/26. Council scheduled a budget work session with Green Ridge House on 4/20. Council scheduled a work session with the Corps to discuss Greenbelt West on 4/28. Council scheduled the next goals setting session for April 18.

Mr. Roberts moved that Council schedule an executive session on March 11, 1998 at 9:00 p.m. in accordance with Section 10-508(a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland to 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

Mr. Roberts moved that the Council hold an executive session on March 16, 1998 at 8:00 p.m. in accordance with Section 10-508(a)(4) & (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland to consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State 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

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Putens moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion carried 5 to 0. Mayor Davis adjourned the regular meeting of March 9, 1998, at 10:30p.m

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 March 9, 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