EIGHTEENTH MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022, 6:00 P.M. ZOOM

 

Attendees: Craig A. Moe, Mayor; Brencis Smith, Council President; Carl DeWalt, Councilmember; Keith Sydnor, Councilmember; Martin Mitchell, Councilmember; James Kole, Councilmember; Christian Pulley, City Administrator; Joanne Barr, Deputy City Administrator; Sara Green, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; Michelle Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services; Robert Love, Director of Economic and Community Development; Audrey Barnes, Director of Communications; Bill Bailey, Director of Parks and Recreation; Brian Lee, Director of Public Works; Chief Russell Hamill, Police Department; James Cornwell-Shiel, Director of Information Technology; Larry Taub, City Solicitor; Kimberley Rau, Clerk.

Report of the Mayor and City Council

Council President Smith attended the Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference in Annapolis, MD.  He enjoyed the classes and meeting other elected officials.  Attended the City’s first Pride Event on Saturday, October 8, 2022 – congratulations to Councilman Kole and the Pride Day Committee. 

Councilmember Sydnor attended a walk with residents of Laurel Cove to see some issues with sidewalks that ended up being on private property.    

Councilmember Kole attended the Environmental Affairs Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, with two new members.  He participated in Laurel Walk Day on Wednesday, October 5 and the First Annual Pride Event on Saturday, October 8, 2022.  He thanked all city staff for their assistance with the event.  Reminded residents who live in the historic district that anything done to the outside of the home must be reviewed by the Historic District Commission.

Councilmember DeWalt attended the Expungement Clinic sponsored by Councilmember Mitchell on Saturday, October 1, 2022.  Noted the timing of President Biden’s expungement for marijuana possession from the federal level.  He expressed his condolences to the family of his good friend Richard Stevek.  He was invited to a Laurel Police Department alumni breakfast last week, thanking the Chief for scheduling the event.  He assisted with the distribution of 150 bags of food through Brighter Bites to the citizens in the community.  He also attended the City’s first Pride Event. 

Councilmember Mitchell sponsored a “Know Your Records, Know Your Rights” expungement clinic on October 1, during which 14 people had their records expunged.  Attended the Laurel Housing Justice Coalition on October 1 at the Laurel Boys and Girls Club.  Assisted with distribution of food on October 6 with Councilmember DeWalt.  Hosting the second annual Trunk or Treat at Summerlyn apartments on October 30.    

Mayor Moe thank Chrissy Cornwell, Emergency Operations Manager for organizing the Open House in the Emergency Operations Center.  On Thursday, October 20^th the Ribbon Cutting for the renovated Discovery Park was held.

President Smith opened the General Public Hearing at 6:22 p.m. and closed it with no one wishing to speak.

President Smith read the title of Ordinance No. 2002, an ordinance amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, and to provide an effective date, into the record for the first reading.

S. Michele Saylor, Director of Budget and Personnel Services, presented the ordinance amending the FY2023 Operating Budget to provide the new lighting with emergency features at Granville Gude Park and recognizing the second and final distribution of the ARPA funds from the Federal Government through the State of Maryland in the amount of $12,636,042.85.

President Smith opened the public hearing on Ordinance No. 2002 at 6:22 p.m. and closed it with no one present who wished to speak.  This legislation was discussed at the Work Session on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.

The Council Rules were Suspended on motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Kole.

On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt, ORDINANCE NO. 2002, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL, MARYLAND, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2022, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023, AND TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote.  Mayor Moe concurred with this action.

Brian Lee, Director of Public Works, presented the recommendation for the purchase of a 9-yard Mini Refuse Rear Loader, as outlined in a memorandum dated September 26, 2022.  The mini rear load packer is the actual trash compacter box and is the third and final piece of equipment needed to complete the ensemble for the mini refuse truck.  The Department solicited bids from vendors on the state and county approved vendor list.  Only two vendors returned complete bids due to Mini Loaders still considered a nice market.  The quotes received are outlined in the memorandum.  Funding for this purchase is included in the adopted FY2023 Capital Improvement Program for a total $64,152.00.  It was recommended the contract be awarded to Currahee Waste Products Inc., of Eastanoilee, Georgia for a total cost of $64,152.00.

On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell, the contract was awarded to Currahee Waste Products Inc., of Eastonoilee, Georgia for a total cost of $64,152.00, on a unanimous roll call vote.

Brian Lee, Director of Public Works, presented the bid recommendation for the purchase of (2) 2022 Chevrolet 2500HD Pick-up Trucks, as outlined in a memorandum dated September 23, 2022.  These pick-up trucks are heavy duty and capable of supporting substantial snow plowing and increased towing capacity.  The Department solicited several quotes from vendors included on the state and county contract list.  Funding for this purchase is included in the adopted FY2023 Capital Improvement Program for a total cost of $107,568.00.  It was recommended the contract be awarded to Sport Chevrolet of Silver Spring, Maryland, for a total cost of $107,568.00.

On motion by Councilmember Kole, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt, the contract was awarded to Sport Chevrolet of Silver Spring, Maryland, for a total cost of $107,568.00, on a unanimous roll call vote.

Brian Lee, Director of Public Works, presented the bid recommendation for the purchase of a 2023 M2 Freightliner Refuse Packer, as outlined in a memorandum dated September 23, 2022.  This truck is specifically designed for heavier loads and longer routes which is highly suited to longer high-volume communities and can handle substantial loads in a single haul.  The Department solicited several quotes from vendors on state and county contract list.  It was recommended the purchase be awarded to Gran Turk of Baltimore, Maryland, for a total cost of $241,556.40.  Funding for this purchase is included in the adopted FY2023 Capital Improvement Program.

On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember DeWalt, the purchase of a 2023 M2 Freightliner Refuse Packer, to Gran Turk of Baltimore, Maryland for a total cost of $241,556.40, was approved on a unanimous roll call vote.

Bill Bailey, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented the bid recommendation for the replacement of two pedestrian bridges at Riverfront Park, as outlined in a memorandum dated September 16, 2022.  The Department has been working with Century Engineering on a project to replace the two existing pedestrian bridges along riverfront Park.  The current bridges do now allow for vehicle traffic which limits access to a large section of Riverfront Park.  These two new bridges will enable the Department of Parks and Recreation to perform routine maintenance to the park to include repairs, tree maintenance, debris removal, shoreline restoration and other types of repairs.  The new bridges will also allow emergency vehicles access.  The Department solicited bids through the EMaryland Market Place and the City of Laurel website and are outlined in the memorandum.  Funding for this replacement is provided for in the adopted FY2023 Capital Improvement Program.  It was recommended the contract be awarded to VKM Contracting of Alexandria, Virginia and Forestville, Maryland, a Maryland Department of Transportation Certified Minority/Smalls/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise as well as veteran-owned for a total cost of $449,130.00, with a 10% contingency of an additional $44,913.00, for an overall total proposal of $494,043.00.

On motion by Councilmember Kole, seconded by Councilmember Mitchell, the contract was awarded to VKM Contracting of Alexandria, Virginia and Forestville, Maryland, a Maryland Department of Transportation Certified Minority/Smalls/Disadvantaged/Business Enterprise as well as veteran-owned for a total cost of $449,130.00, with a 10% contingency of an additional $44,913.00, for an overall total proposal of $494,043.00, on a unanimous roll call vote.

Bill Bailey, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented the recommendation for the labor and material to install new path lights at Granville Gude Park, as outlined in a memorandum dated September 16, 2022.  The Department has been working with Century Engineering on a project to replace the path lights at the lake.  In July, the Department received approval to purchase the light poles.  The proposal presented this evening provides for the materials and labor to install the provided light poles around Granville Gude Park.  The Department solicited bids through the EMaryland Market Place and the City of Laurel website.  The bids are outlined in the memorandum.  It was recommended the project be awarded to Hartman Electric, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland for a total cost of $625,000.00, with a 10% contingency of an additional $62,500.00 for an overall total cost of $687,500.00.

On motion by Councilmember Kole, seconded by Councilmember Sydnor, the project was awarded to Hartman Electric, LLC of Baltimore Maryland for a total cost of $687,500.00, on a unanimous roll call vote.

There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Council the meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.

 

Submitted:

Kimberley A. Rau, MMC

Clerk to the Council

Approved: January 9, 2023                   Sara A. Green, CMC, City Clerk