WORK SESSION/MID-SESSION LEGISLATIVE DINNER held Thursday, March 8, 2007, at Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, for the purpose of discussing legislative issues.

 Mayor Davis convened the meeting at 7:10 p.m.

 PRESENT WERE Councilmembers Leta M. Mach, Edward V. J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

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

 ALSO PRESENT WERE State Senator Paul Pinsky; State Delegates Tawanna Gaines and Anne Healey; and County Councilmembers Ingrid Turner and Tom Dernoga. State Delegate Justin Ross could not attend.  

Mayor Davis welcomed the legislators and thanked them for attending. The following legislative priorities were reviewed:  

State Issues

Bond Bill for Old Greenbelt Theatre Building : The delegation said the City should send representation to the March 10 hearing, and Councilmember Mach agreed to go with Mr. McLaughlin. There was discussion of the large number of bond bills.

Public Safety Funding: Delegate Healey noted the County Executive’s opposition to this bill, as well as the lack of support from the County Council, as evidenced in its taking no position. Mr. Dernoga said the problem with increasing the municipalities’ shares to match Laurel’s was identifying the funding. He suggested that it would make more sense to increase the surcharge itself in order to increase the size of the pie, rather than simply redistributing the same pie. Regarding the Communication Center, Delegate Gaines reiterated her prior statement that for the state to fund this, it needed to be broken into smaller projects to fit the state’s guidelines.  

Prohibition of Transfer of Liquor Licenses: Mayor Davis said the City was pleased and surprised at the favorable vote from the county delegation.  

Global Warming/Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: There was discussion of this bill of Senator Pinsky’s.  

Beverage Container Bill: Delegate Healey said the most positive scenario for this bill was probably that it would be assigned to a study. She said there is opposition from jurisdictions with curb-side recycling who raise appreciable revenues this way.

 

County Issues

Institutionalize School Resource Officer Funding : Ms. Turner said they are working on it but do not have the budget yet.

 Increase M-NCPPC Funds Provided to Greenbelt: Regarding the bill requested by Bowie, Ms. Turner said she thought it was unlikely to be successful.

 New Greenbelt Fire Station : The importance of keeping the placeholder funding in the CIP was stressed.

Enable New Site Plan Authority : Mr. Moran explained that the state had passed enabling legislation that now required a county bill to grant the authority to municipalities.

 Anti-McMansion Legislation : Mr. Dernoga suggested doing this at the county level with legislation that would require municipal approval with a right of appeal to the county. He suggested that the City have Mr. Manzi send him some draft language.

 Pawn Shops : Mayor Davis said the City was pleased with the legislation introduced by County Councilmember Eric Olson that would limit the number of pawn shops.

 There was discussion of state and county issues regarding Prince George’s Hospital and informal discussion of other matters.

 The legislators thanked the City for its hospitality, and Council thanked them for coming.

 The meeting ended at 8:45 p.m.  

Respectfully submitted,  
Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

 

 

 

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