Twenty-Sixth Meeting of the Mayor and City Council, Regular, Monday, February 25, 2019

Present:

Craig A. Moe, Mayor; Frederick Smalls, Council President; Carl W. DeWalt, Councilmember; Keith R. Sydnor, Councilmember; Valerie M.A. Nicholas, President Pro Tem; Michael R. Leszcz, Councilmember; William Goddard, City Administrator; Sara Greene, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; Kevin Frost, Director of Information Technology; Joanne Barr, Director of Parks and Recreation; S. Michele Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services; Robert Love, Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development; Joyce Jackson, Assistant Director of Communications; Deputy Chief Keven Gray, Police Department; Joseph Ajayai, Assistant Director of Public Works; Larry Taub, City Solicitor and Kimberley Rau, MMC, Clerk. There were sixteen members of the public present.

President Smalls called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Reverend Warren H. Litchfield gave the Invocation.

Mayor Moe led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

Clerk Rau called the roll.

The Minutes of the Twenty-Fifth Meeting of February 11, 2019, were approved on motion by Councilmember Leszcz, seconded by Councilmember Sydnor.

The Mayoral appointments to the Education Advisory Committee: Joseph Murchison, Chair; Sabrina Epps, Vice Chair; Allen R. Grimes, Committee Member; Maria Gonzales Jackson, Committee Member; Erica King, Committee Member; Carol Nash, Committee Member; Ayele H. Negussie, Committee Member; Toi O. Davis, Committee Member; Rian N. Reed, Committee Member; Davonia D. Bryant, Committee Member, were approved on motion by Councilmember Leszcz, seconded by Councilmember Sydnor.

Kristina Bigby, Community Outreach Coordinator, Clean Water Partnership gave an update on the water quality improvement project at the lower portion of Laurel Lakes.

Report of the Mayor and City Council:

Councilmember DeWalt reported to two venues with live music last weekend. Raggamuffins and Sips at C Street Flats. He would like to see more venues with live music such as the Laurel Farmer's Market. 

Thoughts and prayers extended to Shirley Woolford Beall as she heads to court today. Her son Brian Moses was murdered in Laurel several years ago. The case was cold for a long time.

Councilmember DeWalt reported on a bill that Governor Hogan signed last week that would allow for government workers to collect unemployment in the event of another government furlough.

Governor Hogan has also instituted the Home Town Heroes Act that provides tax relief for retirees of the Military, Police, and Fire Department.

Councilmember Sydnor reported on an event sponsored by Laurel Helping Hands on February 23, 2019, to discuss ways to engage 16-24 year olds not in college and not working. The program seeks to recruit citizens fitting the criteria and to become productive citizens. Interested citizens should go to the Laurel Helping Hands at 422 Montgomery Street. 

Councilmember Sydnor also reported on a Job Fair sponsored by Keys Career Program for the date of March 7, 2019, and time 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1801 McCormick Drive. Largo, Maryland. Additional information will be posted on the City's website.

Councilmember Nicholas and Dr. Hall, University of Maryland Medical System, attended the City of Zion Church to give an update on Laurel Hospital and then the Laurel Museum to see their new exhibit, "Is there a Doctor in the House."

Speed Networking Event held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. was sponsored by the Department of Economic and Community Development.  

Laurel Arts Council is up and running doing great works for the City. The year-end review is posted on the City's website.

Mayor Moe attended the Blue and Gold Banquet on Saturday, February 16, 2019, for Cub Scout Troop 1250.  

Mayor Moe attended a Municipal Leaders Breakfast this morning that was hosted by Prince George's County Executive Alsobrooks.

Prince George's County Municipal Association Meeting was held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, in Riverdale Park, Maryland.  

City of Laurel Annual Open House is scheduled for Sunday, March 3, 2019, 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m. at the Laurel Municipal Center.

Safety Program - Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, will be distributing posters and signs around the community to remind motorists to slow down. This campaign will require Councilmembers to reach out to the local Homeowners Association and PTA's to attend the meetings regarding this program.

Mayor Moe and President Smalls recognized Mr. and Mrs. Kim, Boulevard Cleaners, for their 28 years of excellent service to the City of Laurel. Mayor Moe thanked the Kim's for their many years of service and friendship. He wished them well in their retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Kim were presented with a proclamation and several other gifts.

Report of the City Administrator: 

William Goddard, City Administrator, reported on various department activities: Information Technology upgraded the public safety radio system; upgraded the new permit system in the Office of the Fire Marshall; upgraded the camera monitoring system at the police dispatch; Economic and Community Development hosted a Speed Networking event last week with another scheduled for the Summer; Small Business Resource Fair scheduled for April 18 at the Laurel Library; Budget and Personnel Department working on the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget; Michele Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services, coordinating on-site webinars; Laurel Police Department participated in a Car Safety Seat event with the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point Park; Department of Parks and Recreation installed 15 Tree Swallow Houses, "Art for the Birds"; Helping Hands hosted Plugged In a program designed to help disconnected youth in the community. 

The Laurel Police Department was the second video in a series to give the community a behind the scenes look at the employees of the City of Laurel. 

President Smalls opened the public hearing at 7:52 p.m. and closed it with no one present who wished to speak.

President Smalls read the title of Resolution No. 2-19, A resolution of the Mayor and City Council to establish a Task Force to explore the possibility of creating a "No-Kill" Community Animal Shelter within the City of Laurel. The public hearing was opened at 7:54 p.m. and closed with no one present who wished to speak. A second public hearing with possible action is scheduled for the Mayor and City Council Meeting on Monday, March 11, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Council the meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

 

Kimberley A. Rau, MMC

Clerk to the Council

 

Approved: