Politics & Government

City Council Roundup: Feb. 13

Council deliberated on black mold in the community center, a task force on the FBI location, and other local and state issues.

At its last regular meeting Greenbelt City Council took up issues including whether a Greenbelt Community Center HVAC assessment should cover the entire building due to a black mold problem, attempting to get on a task force that will try to attract the FBI to Prince George's County and an ongoing debate over meeting minutes from Jan. 9.

VOTING RECORD
Feb. 13

Minutes’ Debate

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For its the minutes from its Jan. 9 regular meeting. The language in question concerns the Jan. 4 work session record of an exchange between Mayor Pro-Tem Emmett Jordan and Councilmember Edward Putens over city committee assignments. Jordan and Putens when they tried to swap their seats on the Advisory Planning Board (APB) and Community Relations Advisory Board (CRAB).

Council voted 6-0 to defer the vote on its Jan. 9 minutes until after the minutes of its Jan. 4 work session become available.

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LEGISLATION

Community Center HVAC System and Black Mold Issue

Staff's written agenda comments to City Council stated that the Community Center climate control systems have been problematic for years. They stated that the center was having problems with air movement, temperature control and has reduced energy efficiency.

Council held a first reading on a resolution to negotiate the purchase of an HVAC system evaluation and assessment for the Greenbelt Community Center. The service would be performed by Mendoza, Ribas, Farinas & Associates of Rockville, Md., which had submitted a proposal for a total cost of $9,660.

At council’s meeting, City Manager Michael McLaughlin clarified that this was primarily focused on the fan coil units, which are the units in the 67 wing of the building. He said the city would look at the rest of the building if there was money for that. However, he thought the installation of a new system was beyond what was affordable.

Greenbelt resident Chris Schuman encouraged council, in view of a black mold issue, to consider a full-blown building heating and air-conditioning system that would address both heating, cooling and humidity control .

Council introduced the issue, and it is scheduled to come back up at Council’s next regular meeting on Feb. 27

OTHER BUSINESS

Greenbelt 75th Anniversary Sign Funding and Design: City staff had recommended that council approve the design for a 75th Anniversary sign prior to the meeting. Staff had also recommended that council authorized the installation of signs, which staff said cost $660 to manufacture.

Council voted 6-0 to approve the design with modifications and authorize their installation.

Cable Negotiation Agreement: City staff sought council's approval to commit to joint negotiations and cost sharing when negotiating the current franchise agreement with Comcast, which is set to expire in 2014.

The city would negotiate as part of a coalition with the county and other municipalities in the county. Agenda comments stated that negotiating as a group would allow participants to share costs, streamline the negotiation process and result in a better agreement.

Council voted 6-0 to joint negotiations when negotiating a franchise agreement with Comcast.

Letter on Behalf of County Fire Departments: Mayor Judith "J" Davis requested that a letter to County Executive on behalf of county fire departments be included in the agenda for discussion.

Council voted 6-0 to write a letter to the county executive and other officials stating that council is very pleased that the timeline for the reorganization of the Prince George’s County Fire Commission been extended to May 1 — and that both sides are now back at the negotiation table and there seems to be positive progress to resolving this issue for the betterment of the county and the volunteer fire departments. Council will also explore the possibility of writing a joint letter from the four cities of Greenbelt, College Park, Berwyn Heights and New Carrollton.

City Organizational Assessment: The City Manager sought council's direction on an organization assessment of the city of Greenbelt's operations. The City Manager thinks that the $50,000 in the city's FY 2012 budget may be insufficient. The original study was to study to determine if the city had the right positions in the right departments to provide city services, but it has grown into a study of the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization. An estimate for the larger study indicates it could be $100,000.

Council voted 6-0 to approve a Request For Proposal (RFP) for an organizational assessment of the city of Greenbelt operations. The RFP it passed reflects a study of the effectiveness and efficiency of the organizations.

County Task Force to Attract the FBI Headquarters

City Council voted 6-0 to direct McLaughlin to send a letter on behalf of council asking that Greenbelt have a representative on a task force that the county is putting together to attract the FBI headquarters to the county, and if that is not appropriate, that Greenbelt be allowed to monitor the task force.

COUNTY AND STATE LEGISLATION

PG 301-12 on the prohibition of retail delivery of alcohol to consumers in Prince George's County

Council voted 6-0 to express its support for PG 301-12

HB 1/SB 208 on a recycling requirement for apartment buildings and condominiums

Council voted 6-0 to express its support for HB 1/SB 208

SB 486 on speed monitoring systems enforcement

Council voted 6-0 to express its support for SB 486

SB 146, Public Ethics - Financial Disclosure Statements - Mutual Funds

Council voted 6-0 to express its support for SB 146

FEDERAL LEGISLATION

S. 1270/H.R 2284, Responsible Electronics Recycling Act

Staff's agenda comments stated that staff did not believe this legislation had direct municipal impact and recommended the city limited its federal advocacy efforts to bills that have such an impact.

Mayor Davis said that she understood that the city did not want to have to write letters on every piece of federal legislation, but that her National League of Cities steering committee had advocated for this legislation for several years now.

Council voted 6-0 for the city to express its support for S1270/HR 2284

S.J. Res 33/H.J. Res 78 Resolutions Proposing Amendments to the U.S. Constitution (Citizens United)

Staff agenda comments recommended that council refrain from supporting specific federal legislation amendment language at the time.

Council discussed how to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Council decided to wait until it had more information before determining whether to support specific amendment language at this time.

S. 1994, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2011, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin

Council voted 6-0 to defer the vote until it had chance to look at the legislation further.

MEETINGS

Reschedule Council Meetings That Fall on Jewish Holidays: City Council voted 6-0 to change several council meetings so that they did not occur on Jewish holidays.

Mayor Judith "J" Davis, Mayor Pro-Tem Emmett Jordan, and Councilmembers Leta Mach, Silke Pope, Edward Putens and Rodney Roberts attended the meeting.


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