BUDGET WORK SESSION of the Greenbelt City Council held April 16, 2007, for the purpose of reviewing the Social Services, Miscellaneous, and Other Funds sections of the proposed FY 2008 Budget.

 Mayor Davis started the meeting at 8:02 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

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

 STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Jeff Williams, City Treasurer; Liz Park, Director of Social Services; Jill St-John, Museum Curator; Megan Searing Young, NEH Education/Volunteer Coordinator; Christal Batey, Community Resource Advocate; Beverly Palau, Public Information & Communications Coordinator; Gwen Worley, Office Associate III and David E. Moran, Assistant City Manager.

 ALSO PRESENT WERE: Leonie Penney, Jean Snyder, Leo Walder, Pearl Siegel, Sylvia Lewis, Joy Greig, Don Byrd, Stephen Oetken (FOGM President), and Chris Starke (FOGM Board),

 

Grants and Contributions

 

Mr. McLaughlin noted that Washington Ear and Meals on Wheels had been contacted. Don Byrd, representing Meals on Wheels, noted that 2006 was one of the best years they have ever had. He noted that they have 18 customers in the City of Greenbelt who receive five meals per week. There were also three additional customers “on hold” who were in the hospital or rehabilitation. Mr. Byrd described how the program worked and outlined their budget for the upcoming year. No representative of Washington Ear attended.

 

Greenbelt Museum

 

Ms. St. John gave a Powerpoint presentation. Council reviewed each page of the Museum budget.

 Social Services

 

Dr. Park and Ms. Batey gave a Powerpoint presentation. There was discussion about the number of seniors in Greenbelt and the need to provide services for them. There was also some discussion about senior housing and how to identify what types of housing were needed for seniors in Greenbelt.

 Ms. Batey stated the need for an additional position, a full-time case manager. Ms. Lewis stated that the GHI Board supports the case-manager position and read a letter from the board. Mr. Walder urged that Council support the requested position. There was considerable discussion about the value of the position.

 Council reviewed each page in the Social Services section of the budget. Dr. Park indicated that the Lt. Governor appeared very supportive of Youth Service Bureaus.

 Mayor Davis raised the issue of homelessness and asked what the City could and should provide. Dr. Park indicated both were complicated questions. She stressed the need to determine what the county was doing and encourage them to provide additional services, because the cost to provide comprehensive homeless services is great. Several Council Members expressed the need for the county, state and federal governments to step up and address the issue.

 

Miscellaneous

 Under Miscellaneous, Council reviewed the Non-Departmental and Fund Transfers sections of the budget.

 

Other Funds

 Council reviewed the Building Capital Reserve, Cemetery, and Debt Service Funds.

 Under the Replacement Fund, Mr. Roberts expressed concern about the proposal to replace the CNG van with a gasoline/ethanol pick-up. Under the Special Projects Fund, Mayor Davis asked about the undesignated funds. Mr. McLaughlin responded that these funds could replace cable franchise fees that will be used for access to the County Institutional Network (I-Net).

 Mr. Moran relayed two requests from Jean Snyder.

 The meeting ended at 11:30 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,

  David E. Moran
Assistant City Manager

 

 

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