MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Held June 9, 1999
For the purpose of discussing memorialization with the Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB).

The meeting began at 8:45 p.m. It was held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Community Center.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, Edward V.J. Putens, Thomas X. White and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, City Clerk and W. Bowman Ferguson, Senior Management Analyst

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Booker Hughes, Kevin Hammett, Mary Helen Spear, Marsha Voight, Dan Hamlin and Robert Trumble, CRAB Members; Sheldon Goldberg and Charlene MacAdams

Mr. Hammett summarized the history of this topic. He stressed that CRAB had gone back to the drawing board. CRAB agreed that: individuals should be memorialized, there should be one central memorial at the Community Center, and a memorialization task force should be created.

Mr. Hammett noted that while the Board did not have a design, the memorial should blend with the Community Center and should be expandable. CRAB suggested that an artist be commissioned to design a suitable memorial.

Mr. White asked if the report considered a mechanism for family members to memorialize someone. Mr. Hammett suggested that they would be sent a packet that would gently guide them through the process and help them to determine if their loved one qualified. He stressed that one could do both. Rev. Hamlin stressed that there were different thresholds for the adopt-a-tree and the wall of fame.

Mr. Ferguson stressed that private groups could approach the city with a memorial idea (like the Al Herling Bench). The line would be crossed if they wanted the city to do the memorial.

Mr. Roberts wondered if there should be particular areas where private memorials would be allowed. He also liked the idea that there would be a memorial garden.

Ms. MacAdams explained GEAC’s proposal for the Schrom Hills Memorial Garden. She stressed that GEAC’s proposal was simple and identified three possible locations. Mr. Roberts asked if this would be a city memorial. Ms. MacAdams responded yes.

Mr. Trumble noted that the memorial would need to be expanded. Council discussed how a garden at Schrom Hills Park might have plaques with names on them and who would pay for the plaque and choose the wording.

Mr. Turnbull stated his uncomfort with a city "anointing" process to decide who gets memorialized. He favored one or more organizations that keep people’s memories alive under their own authority.

Mr. Hammett noted that CRAB had considered the issue of should individuals be memorialized. He noted that CRAB felt these individuals were part of Greenbelt’s history.

Mr. Goldberg expressed concern about opening the garden up to any organization who wants this. Ms. Spear noted that the reason CRAB got this in the first place because of mounting requests. Mr. Hamlin did not believe that a nameless garden was a good idea. He noted that people who are memorialized are not just individuals, but they embody a spirit.

Mr. Roberts noted that the previous process had been political, and liked the CRAB approach. Mr. White presented a list of six city sponsored memorials and indicated this was a pretty small number over a 62 year time period.

Mr. Turnbull reiterated that there should be "high bar" for a private group to accomplish a memorial.

Mr. Putens believed that CRAB had done their job and was finished.

Mayor Davis summarized by stating that there was agreement to adopt CRAB’s plan and move forward with its implementation.

The meeting ended at 10:35 p.m

Respectfully Submitted,

David E. Moran, CMC

City Clerk

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