SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL held Monday, June 3, 2002.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:05 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.

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

ALSO PRESENT were James Giese, Greenbelt News Review; and Amy Boyes, the Gazette.

Mayor Davis asked that a moment of silence be observed in memory of former resident George E. Beauchamp, Jr. She then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mayor Davis read the following statement:

"This Special Meeting of the Greenbelt City Council was scheduled for the purpose of adopting the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget. However, Council has only very recently received key information related to the matter of the retirement program for the City-sworn police officers that could impact the FY 2003 Budget. When it met with City Council in a work session on April 24, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32 presented a proposal to change the retirement program for the City’s officers from the Municipal Corporation Law Enforcement Officers Program to the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System. Council requested additional information from the state about the impact to the City, which was received this past Wednesday, May 29. In order to fund the switch between plans, it is possible a tax increase will be necessary, above and beyond the $0.004 increase mentioned at the May 28, 2002, Public Hearing on the budget. Therefore, in order to more fully consider this proposal and to ensure that the Greenbelt public is aware of the potential tax impact, the Council will defer the adoption of the FY 2003 Budget and the setting of the tax rate to Monday, June 10, 2002, at 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers."

The Mayor asked if any Councilmember wished to comment. Mr. Roberts said although he agreed with the decision taken by Council at the work session to defer the budget adoption, he would not necessarily support amending the proposed budget to make the change in retirement plan at this time.

Also expressing his agreement with the decision to defer, Mr. Turnbull said he was not yet convinced that Council had a long-term plan for absorbing the costs that would continue beyond the fiscal year.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. White moved the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Putens seconded the motion, which carried 3-2 (Roberts, Turnbull). Mayor Davis adjourned the special meeting of June 3, 2002 at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct report of the special meeting of the City Council of Greenbelt, Maryland, held June 3, 2002."

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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