REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held April 14, 2003.

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

ROLL CALL was answered by Councilmembers Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, Thomas X. White, and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Councilmember Edward V. J. Putens arrived at 8:08 p.m.

ALSO PRESENT were David E. Moran, Assistant to the City Manager; Daniel LaPlaca, City Solicitor; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked for a moment of silence in memory of resident Jackie Shabe Rochefort and former residents Louise Julia Moore, Greg Vella, and Pioneer Walter R. (Bob) Volckhausen. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Turnbull asked that Arts Advisory Board Report #03-004 be removed from the consent agenda. He then moved that the consent agenda be approved with that amendment. Mr. White seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES

- Work Session, March 3, 2002

- Work Session, March 19, 2003

- Regular Meeting, March 24, 2003

- Work Session, March 26, 2003

- Work Session, April 2, 2003

- Work Session, April 3, 2003

- Interview, April 7, 2003

- Work Session, April 9, 2003

Approved as presented.

Advisory Committee on Education, Report #02-2003 (Tutoring Program): Council accepted this report and agreed to consider it later on the agenda.

Park & Recreation Advisory Board, Report #03-01 (Northway Fields Realignment): Council accepted this report and agreed to consider it with the review of FY 2004 funding for Capital Projects.

Park & Recreation Advisory Board, Report #03-02 (Proposed Greenlands Ordinance): This report was the last resulting from Council referrals on this topic. Council received it and agreed to consider it on the agenda of a future meeting, subsequent to staff’s review of the reports and revision of the ordinance.

Park & Recreation Advisory Board, Report #03-03 (Basketball Hoops at Windsor Green Ball Fields): Council received this report and will consider on a future agenda.

REAPPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP: Council reappointed Mary C. Crawford to the Public Safety Advisory Committee.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Davis asked to add to the agenda as #21 a draft letter regarding a grant application that is pending with the Community Legacy Program. Mr. Turnbull moved approval of the agenda with that amendment. Mr. White seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

PRESENTATIONS

Maryland Army National Guard: Captain Beau Riely updated Council on the activities of the Maryland Army National Guard Armory on Greenbelt Road. He has been in place as Commander for six months and expressed his interest in greater involvement and visibility for the National Guard at the Armory in local activities. After his presentation, the Mayor asked about the special unit in residence at that location, and Capt. Riely said this was an Honor Guard with responsibility for military funerals across the state. Mr. Putens mentioned the USO benefit being sponsored on May 9 by the City and the American Legion and said they were looking for an Honor Guard to participate in this event. Capt. Riely said he would provide a name and number as a contact. In response to a question from Mr. Roberts about equipment at that location, Capt. Riely said because they are light infantry, their equipment is limited to what they can carry. He also said they are not at capacity for personnel and would like to hear from people interested in joining the National Guard. There will be an Open House at the Armory on Sunday, May 4, from 1-4 p.m.

Arbor Day Proclamation: The Mayor read a proclamation declaring April 26 Arbor Day in Greenbelt. Charles Jackman, co-chair, and Bill Phelan, staff liaison received the proclamation on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Trees. Mr. Jackman said the committee would be planting some sycamore trees at Greenbelt Lake at about noon on Arbor Day, following the dedication of the wetlands education area. He added that sycamores were the tree of choice this year because of their limited appeal to beavers. He also noted that the Heritage Tree walk has been rescheduled for Greenbelt Day Weekend.

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week Proclamation: In recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, Mayor Davis read a proclamation in honor of the Greenbelt Police Department’s Communications Supervisor Lucinda J. Keppel and Communications Specialists Tammy S. Harris, William J. Stair, Patrick F. Ceresa, Jr., Jessica M. Houle, And Shaniya R. Lashley-Mullen. Lt. Tom Kemp appeared on behalf of the department, and Jessica Houle received the proclamation on behalf of the Communications Specialists.

It’s Municipal Government Week Proclamation: Mayor Davis read a proclamation declaring next week to be Municipal Government week. In recognition of the event, the City will fly the AMunicipal Government Works@ flag at the flagpoles outside the Municipal Building. Beverly Palau, the City=s Public Information and Communications Coordinator, will conduct the AIt=s Municipal Government@ competition in the schools next month, with the championship to be held on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. in the Community Center. Joe McNeal, Assistant Director, Recreation, thanked Ms. Palau for making this activity possible and described the schedule for the April 26 activities. Mayor Davis added that the winner of the Maryland Municipal League essay contest on “If I Were Mayor . . . “ will attend the next regular meeting of Council with two other entrants from Springhill Lake Elementary School. She thanked both Mr. McNeal and Ms. Palau.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: Sheldon Goldberg, 7848 Jacobs Drive, suggested that the reference to the Windsor Green Basketball Court be clarified, since it is not owned by Windsor Green. A request had been received from Sylvia Lewis, 2C Gardenway, that the City agree to be listed as a sponsor for the second annual Greenbelt Pink Ribbon Ride on October 4, 2003, to raise funds for breast cancer treatment and support services. Council directed staff to put this item on the agenda of the next meeting. Ms Lewis appeared later in the meeting and thanked Council.

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

Executive Session of January 6, 2003: Mr. Roberts moved that the minutes of the executive session of the City Council held Monday, January 6, 2003, be approved as presented. He further requested that the minutes of this meeting reflect that the Council met in executive session at 8:05 p.m. in the Library of the Municipal Building. Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508 (a)(7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on legal matters regarding the management of the Old Greenbelt Theatre. Mr. White seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mr. White - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Executive Session of February 12, 2003: Mayor Davis asked that the minutes include an indication in two places that Councilmembers’ absences had been explained or anticipated. Mr. Roberts moved that the minutes of the executive session of the City Council begun on Wednesday February 12, 2003, be approved with those changes. He further requested that the minutes of this meeting reflect that the Council met in executive session at 10:13 p.m. in the Library of the Municipal Building. Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508 (a)(1) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland to consider personnel matters regarding recommendations from the Employee Relations Board resulting from employee grievance hearings. This executive session was recessed and reconvened on February 19, February 26, March 5, March 31, April 2, and April 7, and it was adjourned on April 7. Mr. White seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mr. White - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. Moran introduced Daniel LaPlaca, who was serving as the City Solicitor tonight.

Mayor Davis asked for clarification on an item in the Planning Department’s weekly reporting regarding permits requested from the county that were not requested from the City.

Mayor Davis also asked for a report on the status of the Exxon station at Greenbelt and Hanover, which she said is completely non-compliant on the landscaping requirements. She asked what the City’s next steps were, adding that she was very concerned about this and wanted to see more pressure applied to resolve the problem. Mr. Putens said if Council action is needed, staff should bring the matter to Council.

Mr. White asked for a report on the driveway apron policy, especially as it relates to the work to be done on Northway.

Mr. Turnbull praised the combination of the new playground and lakeside observation area at Buddy Attick Park. He said the area is “a joy” and thanked everyone who had played a role.

Mayor Davis reported on the following:

On March 25, she was a guest of Al Diaz, Director of Goddard Space Flight Center, at their Memorial Symposium luncheon at the Marriott.

On March 31, she attended a meeting of Brownie Troop 2307.

On April 5, she participated in clean-up at Greenbelt Lake and the stream at Springhill Lake with members of the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee and staff from Public Works; attended the Greenbelt Nursery School auction; and presented a letter of congratulations to the City of New Carrollton at their 50th Anniversary dinner.

On April 11, she attended the Home Schoolers Musicians spring concert and an awards dinner at UMCP.

On April 13, she and Mr. White attended the Little League parade and opening ceremonies.

Mayor Davis also asked any members of Council who could attend the Governor’s presentation of the Municipal Government proclamation on Monday, April 21, to let her know so she could inform the Maryland Municipal League of whom to expect.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mr. Turnbull had removed Arts Advisory Board Report #03-004 (Contribution Groups) from the consent agenda. He said his concern was not with the board’s recommendations on the groups’ applications, which would be handled at the April 30 budget work session, but with the mention that Council had not responded to a board report (#03-003), which apparently was submitted some time ago, proposing the creation of an application form more targeted toward contribution groups that are arts organizations. There was some discussion of considering it at the budget work session. Since that meeting often runs too late for additional discussion, and since the Arts Advisory Board does not usually attend that meeting, it was concluded that it might be necessary to hold a separate work session with the board. The Mayor asked that a new copy of the relevant board reports be provided to Council at the budget work session. Mr. Turnbull then moved acceptance of report #03-004. Mr. Putens seconded, and the motion passed 5-0. [Note of clarification: AAB Report #03-003 was submitted in December 2002; the report without its attachments was accepted by Council at the second January meeting, with a staff recommendation to consider it during the budget process.]

LEGISLATION

A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of a Survey of the Southern Boundary of Attick Park from Greenhorne and O’Mara of Greenbelt, Maryland

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. White introduced the resolution 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. 957, Book No. 8).

An Ordinance to Authorize and Empower the City of Greenbelt, Maryland, to Contract with SunTrust Bank, N.A., to Borrow Not More than One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($175,000) for the Public Purpose of Acquiring a Telephone System for City Facilities Described Herein Pursuant to the Authority of Section 59, “Contracts Over One Year,” of the City Charter

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. White introduced the ordinance for first reading.

A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of the Renovation of a Demonstration Window at the Community Center with MarChuk Construction of Falls Church, Virginia

The Mayor read the agenda comments. In recognition of how long Council had waited to be able to authorize the beginning of work on the windows, Mr. White introduced the ordinance for first reading and moved that Council suspend its Standing Rules in order to introduce the resolution for second reading and adoption tonight. Mr. Roberts seconded.

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mr. White - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. White then introduced the resolution for second reading and adoption, with a second from Mr. Putens. Mr. Turnbull asked if staff knew what the actual cost of renovating these windows would be subsequent to this demonstration project. He said that even people like himself who were committed to historic preservation had to question the appropriateness of spending $36,000 or more apiece to renovate windows that may not have been the best choice even at the time of construction and that could likely be replaced today at lower cost with a better product. Mr. McNeal said the City did not have that information. Mr. Turnbull said he was fully supportive of undertaking this demonstration project as a way of determining essential benchmark data on what could be done, but he was concerned that there might be too automatic an assumption that this would be the way to proceed with the rest of the windows. He asked whether single-glazed steel windows in a humid climate were the best choice today or whether, even when renovated, the windows would continue to sweat and the frames rust. He asked whether the City had fully investigated other options that would be visually similar but more appropriate in their materials? Mr. McNeal responded that although some investigation had been done, the Maryland Historical Trust, which holds the easement on the façade, would not accept replacement if the windows could be restored. Mayor Davis added that much of the problem was that the Board of Education had never maintained the windows properly and that if the City maintained them after renovation, the outcome would likely be different.

Mr. Roberts disagreed with Mr. Turnbull’s assumptions, saying that these windows had actually outlasted the more modern ones used by the City in the Municipal Building addition and by Greenbelt Homes, Inc., in its window replacements 20 years ago. He also thought there might be an advantage to letting this building “breathe” more than double-glazed sealed windows would allow. He agreed that it should be possible to do the work less expensively but said one reason the cost was so high was that there are few people interested in doing this kind of work. Mr. White also disagreed with Mr. Turnbull and added that the demonstration project would be an opportunity for the City to evaluate what the restoration would involve, as well as to sit down with the staff of the Trust and discuss alternatives.

Mr. Putens clarified some issues about how the work would be conducted, and the Mayor clarified that the funding for the demonstration project included the entire window area of the senior game room. Mr. McNeal said this includes the entire unit: 20 pieces of glass, plus the masonry, glazing, and painting for the entire area.

Mr. Turnbull again emphasized that he was not opposed to the resolution under discussion tonight, which he agreed was a necessary first step and good opportunity to explore possibilities.

ROLL CALL:

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mr. White - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The resolution was declared adopted (Resolution No. 958, Book No. 8).

ACE TUTOR TRAINING PROGRAM: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Leta Mach, chair of the Advisory Committee on Education, described the committee’s new tutor-training program and said the training would be offered on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and on Tuesday, April 29, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tutors who are trained will provide at least six hours of tutoring in the schools. Ms. Mach encouraged Council to take part. Council thanked Ms. Mach and asked her to extend the thanks to the members of the committee.

INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE ADVOCATE: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Moran introduced Christal Parker Batey, the City’s new Community Resource Advocate. He also noted the attendance of Leonie Penney and Marianne Olah, who are members of the Friends of the Resource Advocate (FORA) and Betty Timer, who served on the ad hoc Task Force on Assisted Living. Council welcomed Ms. Batey and said the citizens of Greenbelt were also enthusiastic about having her aboard.

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING (MDOA) INNOVATIONS IN AGING SERVICES GRANT APPLICATION: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Ms. Batey described the project, which focuses on improved communication of information. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Roberts that Council approve the concept of the G-SIMON project and authorize staff to submit the grant application. The motion passed 5-0.

BRIEFING ON ASSISTANCE-IN-LIVING NEEDS ASSESSMENT: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Todd Sukol, president of Sukol Communications, briefed Council on plans for the needs assessment. Mayor Davis suggested they add to their panel representation from Green Ridge House and Greenbriar. Mr. Moran said staff would also be giving Mr. Sukol and others from the firm a tour of Greenbelt that would shed light on the various sectors of the community.

SELECTION OF AUDIT SERVICES: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull made a motion that Council direct staff to request a proposal from Reznick Fedder & Silverman to serve as the financial auditor for FY 2003. Mr. Putens seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

PENDING LEGISLATION – CB-12-2003: The Mayor read the agenda comments. She also noted that Council had before it additional information on amendments to the bill that were recommended by the legislative liaison of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA), one of which is the explicit inclusion of municipalities as a receiver of the information. Mayor Davis asked for Council’s support of the legislation with these amendments. Mr. Roberts so moved, and Mr. Turnbull seconded. Mr. White asked if it was not already the case that there was a requirement to notify the municipalities, and the Mayor responded that this is a pre-notification of intent to file, which would alert the municipalities earlier than the current notification of an application submitted. The motion passed 5-0.

PENDING COMMUNITY LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: Kristen Ward, Community Planner, explained that two of the three projects for which the City had received approval from the Community Legacy program are being funded from Community Legacy funds. The third, to provide grants to assist with adding first-floor bathrooms to houses in GHI, was approved for funding by Community Legacy, which then sought the funds for the project from the Community Development Administration (CDA). Since the CDA can only provide loans, not grants, but would not provide loans to a cooperative even if GHI could make use of loans, Community Legacy has now said funding is not available for the third project. Staff prepared a draft letter to the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, who oversees both the Community Legacy program and the CDA, protesting the withdrawal of the commitment to fund the project. Mr. White moved approval of the letter, with a second from Mr. Putens. There was some discussion of why the CDA would not fund cooperatives, but Mr. LaPlaca suggested that the City not argue with the CDA about their regulations but rather stick with the issues of Legacy approval of the funding and the commitment they had represented to the City. The motion passed 5-0.

MEETINGS: Mayor Davis asked that the report on the GHI playground agreement and the Arts Advisory Board’s request for a revision to the Contribution Group form for arts organizations both be added to the list of work sessions to be scheduled.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Turnbull. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of April 14, 2003, at 10: 46 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 April 14, 2003."

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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