From Bra Heists to Fouls and Fair Blows, City Council Is Show in Itself

The drama, tension, humor and cleverness displayed during the ethics debate at Greenbelt City Council's most recent regular meeting on Sept. 26 reveals as much about the dynamics of City Council as it does about its views on ethics.

Hank Irving, retired long-time director of the Greenbelt Recreation Department, confessed, in a Feb. 18, 2010, Greenbelt News Review article (Page 10) that he was a bit addicted to watching Monday night City Council meetings on TV. But it was a hard call between it and the “Antiques Road Show" for Irving.

"The dynamics of those council meetings are always interesting. So it’s a show in itself," he said.

COUNCIL'S ETHICS DEBATE EXCERPTS

Headlines link to more of the debate

Ethics Violations: Roberts Differentiates Between a Bra Heist and a Christmas Present

Council member Rodney Roberts said — "Well sticking $80,000 in your bra is a little bit different than your wife giving you a Christmas present.”

Council Will Appoint Its Own Ethics Judges

Weighing in on whether the public would participate in the selection of ethics commission members, Mayor Judith "J" Davis said, "People elect us to be representatives for them, to be able to do some of these functions. If you want to open it up entirely to the public, then go to a pure democracy."

Council Deliberates Over Whether a $10,000 Ticket is a Gift 

Grappling over whether elected officials should turn down complimentary tickets to functions, council member Konrad Herling inquired into officials paying their own way.

"Which means for many that's $1,000 or $2,000 or $10,000,” Mayor Davis said of reception and event costs.

"Well then that's a pretty substantial gift,” Herling responded.

Roberts Tells Council that Reporting Gifts Won't Stop the Beast

Council member Silke Pope said, “We don't sit here because we're getting paychecks and gifts and everything. We sit here because we truly care about our city and our citizens. And by no means the stipend that we receive is going to cover all the expenses that we have as council members."

At the close of debate, with all seven members present, City Council replaced the city's existing ethics ordinance by passing an ordinance with the new state ethics standards — by 6 votes to 1 vote, with Roberts dissenting.

Council is poised to appoint a new commission, which will judge ethics violations. The new ethics commission can also suggest higher standards to council, which council may pass or vote down.

Although Patch published a summary of the ethics ordinance deliberations and vote, the personality of the exchange is harder to capture. But you can spend a Monday night with Greenbelt City Council and see it for yourself. Its next regular meeting is Monday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on the second floor of the .