REGULAR MEETING OF GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held Monday, March 26, 2001.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:17 p.m.

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

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Robert Manzi, City Solicitor; David E. Moran, Assistant to the City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis observed a moment of silence for Greenbelt resident William Robert Mann and former resident Hyman Gerson. She then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. White requested that item #10 (Employee Relations Board, Memo, 3/12/01) be removed entirely from the agenda. Mr. Putens moved approval of the consent agenda with that amendment, and Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion passed 5-0. Mayor Davis clarified that Council would discuss how to proceed with the memo from the Employee Relations Board in an executive session.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES

- Work Session, March 5, 2001

- Regular Meeting, March 12, 2001

- Work Session, March 19, 2001

Approved as presented.

REAPPOINTMENT TO COMMUNITY RELATIONS ADVISORY BOARD: Council appointed Kevin Hammett to a new term on the Community Relations Advisory Board and directed staff to prepare the appropriate letter of reappointment.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND ADDITIONS: Mr. Putens asked to add "Appointment to the Advisory Planning Board" as item #16, and Mr. Roberts asked to add "Surplus State Property" as #17. Mr. Putens then moved approval of the amended agenda. Mr. White seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

PRESENTATIONS:

Police Officer of the Year and Civilian Employee of the Year Awards: The Mayor introduced Chief James Craze who introduced Jackie Curley and MPO Mike Dewey, both of whom were recognized last month at the Annual Awards Dinner of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Prince George’s County. Ms. Curley was recognized by both the City and the Chief’s Association as Civilian Employee of the Year for her work in developing victim assistance and domestic violence programs for the department. MPO Dewey was named Police Officer for the Year 2000 for his work at the scene of the homicide last September near the Greenbelt Metro Station. Mayor Davis thanked both of the honorees for their work for the City and presented them with City watches.

City Manager’s Proposed FY 2002 Budget: The City Manager presented to Council the proposed budget for FY 2002, which begins July 1, 2001 and ends June 30, 2002. He said copies would be available to the public by the end of the week.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: There were none.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. McLaughlin made several announcements. The Maryland Municipal League’s annual Award of Excellence will be given this year to the Four Cities for the shared street-sweeper program. Mr. Manzi has been named City Solicitor for the City of Laurel. He also asked Council to speak with him briefly following the meeting for direction on a request from the State Highway Administration regarding the Greenbelt Road bus stop.

Regarding pending state legislation, Mr. Moran reported that the revised bill on planning and zoning authority had passed the House and was now in the Senate. Mr. Moran, Mayor Davis, Mr. McLaughlin, Joe McNeal, Community Center Director, and Brian Butler, Recreation Coordinator at Springhill Lake, variously appeared at the House and Senate committee meetings regarding the bond bills for the recreation center at Springhill and the Greenbelt Theatre. The Springhill Lake bill has been reviewed favorably in the House Appropriations Committee.

Mayor Davis reported on the annual banquet at the Fire Department, which she attended with Mr. Moran and Mr. Roberts. She participated in Women’s History Day events at Springhill Lake today with a number of City staff. On April 28, Public Works will hold an Electronics Recycling Day. May 4 will be Bike-to-Work Day in the Washington metropolitan area.

Mayor Davis also reported on information she obtained from the Economic Growth and Affordable Housing Conference in D.C., adding that Council should perhaps look at the issue of luxury vs. affordable housing as it regards the Metroland development. Mr. White commented that he believed that on a per capita basis Greenbelt has more affordable housing than anywhere else in the area.

LEGISLATION

A Resolution for Negotiated Purchase with Tate Engineering of Baltimore, Maryland, for a Petro-Vend K-800 Fuel Management System, in the Sum of $12,530: Mayor Davis read the agenda notes. Mr. Roberts moved that the resolution be introduced for second reading and adoption. Mr. Putens seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mr. White - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The resolution was declared adopted (Resolution No. 928, Book No. 8).

AWARD OF PURCHASE - PASSENGER VAN: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull moved that Council approve purchase by the City of the gasoline-fueled 15-passenger van from Penn Pontiac of Baltimore, Maryland, for $21,499. Mr. Putens seconded. In response to a query from Mr. Turnbull, Mr. Hall explained that the state is not offering rebates on bi-fuel vehicles because it is recognized that the alternative fuel is rarely used after purchase. He added this situation may improve in the future since the state is now working aggressively on expanding the number of refueling stations for compressed natural gas. The motion passed 5-0.

AWARD OF BID - LAKEWOOD STREET RESURFACING: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts moved that Council award the bid for street work and concrete repair to VMP in accord with their bid of March 22, 2001, in the amount of $109,245. Mr. Putens seconded. Mr. Turnbull asked about the opportunity for resident input at the time work is done, in terms of minor design issues. Mr. Hall said Public Works keeps lists of suggestions made by residents until it is time to do work, when the need is not immediate. When major work is done, staff calls several meetings of residents. Mr. McLaughlin noted that this resurfacing work is not a major reconstruction, however. The motion passed 5-0.

PROPOSED CURFEW LAW: The Mayor read the agenda comments. She thanked Chief Craze for providing the written update on the community policing program. Mr. White moved that the direction to be provided to staff on this matter would be that following the recommendation of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, the work session, and the public hearing on a youth curfew law, Council has determined that it is not necessary in Greenbelt at this time. Staff should communicate to the PSAC Council’s thanks for its work on this issue and indicate that for the time being the City will find other ways to address concerns about young people being out late at night. Mr. Turnbull seconded the motion. Mayor Davis further emphasized Council’s appreciation to both the committee and to Consuella Harris, staff liaison, for their work and asked that staff keep a good file on this proposal so that it would be easily accessible if the City needs it in the future and has the resources available to broadly enforce it. Mr. White accepted this as an addition to his motion. The motion passed 5-0.

APPOINTMENT TO THE ADVISORY PLANNING BOARD: Prior to tonight’s meeting, Council interviewed Earl Taylor for the Advisory Planning Board. Mr. Putens moved his appointment. Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

SURPLUS STATE PROPERTY: Mr. Roberts asked if it is possible to get more information on the letter previously circulated to Council regarding surplus state property at Golden Triangle. Mr. McLaughlin said the City is writing to both the county and the state requesting additional information and asking that, if possible, we be put on the state’s clearinghouse list for the future. Mr. McLaughlin confirmed that staff will follow up on this matter as appropriate.

MEETINGS: Mayor Davis reviewed the meetings calendar. In addition to meetings already approved, Council agreed to schedule: no meetings on April 2 and April 4, an executive session on April 11 in addition to the budget work session, a stakeholder meeting with realtors on April 16, and a work session on redistricting on May 30. The final budget work session was rescheduled from May 23 to Tuesday, May 22, since Mr. White will not be available on May 23.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Turnbull moved the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Putens seconded the motion, which carried 5-0. Mayor Davis adjourned the regular meeting of March 26, 2001, at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallagher

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 26, 2001."

Judith F. Davis

Mayor

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