Mayor & Council

TOWN OF CHEVERLY, MARYLAND MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 23, 2026 7:30 PM Hybrid AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Ranked-Choice Voting Discussion – The Mayor & Council will discuss ranked-choice voting. 5. Election Calendar Discussion – The Mayor & Council will discuss a potential charter amendment to change the election date. 6. Mayor & Council Cheverly Day Participation – The Mayor & Council will discuss their participation opportunities for Cheverly Day. 7. Chop Up Restaurant and Coola Lounge Briefing – Attorney Eddie Pounds will provide an update to the Mayor and Council regarding the proposed alcohol license. The establishment is seeking to amend its license to include live entertainment. 8. Port Towns – The Mayor & Council will discuss matters related to the Port Towns partnership and regional initiatives. 9. Town Administrator Update – Town Administrator Galloway will provide a report to the Mayor and Council. 10. Update by CM Fry & Garces Regarding Cheverly Station Apartments – Council members will provide updates/feedback from residents at Cheverly Station Apartments. 11. Review of August Town Meeting Agenda and Future Requests – The Mayor and Town Administrator will offer a forecast of the Mayor and Council Town Meeting agenda. The Mayor will seek Council input on agenda items for consideration for future meetings. 12. Adjourn (*) denotes an agenda item requiring action (typically expressed by a vote) of Mayor and Council. *Resident input will be allowed as part of action items, presentations and discussion items on the agenda, residents seeking to speak will be recognized by the presiding officer. Residents may speak WORKSESSION 7-23-26 1 once, for no more than three minutes, on each eligible agenda item per the adopted Council Meetings Rules & Procedures. Residents are also encouraged to submit input to the town clerk at townclerk@cheverly-md.gov to be read at the meeting. Please Note: Pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government Article Section 10- 508(a), the Council by majority vote may retire to executive or closed session at any time during the meeting. Should the Council retire to executive or closed session; the mayor will announce the reasons and a report will be issued at a future meeting disclosing the reasons for such session. Zoom Information: Topic: Cheverly Mayor & Council Work session Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82551558763?pwd=SkU0MDI5TmNWYVBMNXlFVk8vNEp0UT09 Webinar ID: 825 5155 8763 Passcode: 916656 Or One tap mobile : US: +13017158592,,82551558763# Or Telephone: US: +1 301 715 8592 WORKSESSION 7-23-26 2  Agenda Supplemental Material 1. Ranked-Choice Voting…………………………………………………………...…..…………. 4 - 6 3  Progressive Cheverly Ranked Choice Voting Proposal In order to strengthen Cheverly’s Democratic foundation, we must center community voices, especially those that have historically been marginalized. By utilizing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for all town elections, we can ensure that decision-makers represent the will of the electorate. What is Ranked Choice Voting? It is a system where voters rank the candidates in order of preference instead of choosing a single candidate. If your first choice doesn’t have a chance to win, your ballot counts for your next choice. It leads to more representative outcomes, provides voters with better choices, and encourages candidates to run better campaigns. Most importantly, it ensures that those elected actually represent the will of the majority of voters.1 What are the benefits of Ranked Choice Voting? The research says that Ranked Choice Voting ●​ Increases voter participation (17% higher in municipal elections).2 ●​ Encourages women and people of color to run for public office.3 ●​ Leads to more positive campaigns and candidate interactions.4 Where is Ranked Choice Voting Used? It is used in 49 jurisdictions across 22 states and the District of Columbia. Locally, it is used in Takoma Park, Arlington,Virginia, and Washington, DC. In November, Greenbelt voters approved RCV by a 2-to-1 margin. And in 2026, Berwyn Heights voted to explore RCV (76% in favor) and the Maryland General Assembly wrote RCV for municipal elections into state code for the first time.5 How would this be enacted in Cheverly? The Mayor and Town Council would amend Article 5 § C-18.3 (Election procedure) of the town charter by conducting two public votes. ●​ The last sentence of section A will be stricken: The candidate for each office who shall receive the greater number of votes than any other candidate for said office shall be declared elected, and in the event of a tie vote, a special election shall be held within forty-five (45) days to elect one (1) of the candidates so tied. 1 Adapted from Fair Vote, www.fairvote.org/ranked-choice-voting 2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026137942400074X 3 https://fairvote.org/report/communities-of-color-2024/ 4 https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/4293 5 https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0848 Join us to enact this vision: www.progressive-cheverly.org 4  Progressive Cheverly Ranked Choice Voting Proposal ●​ A new section B will be added: The Mayor and Councilmembers shall be elected using a ranked choice voting system allowing voters to rank in order of their preference the candidates for each office appearing on the ballot. If, after counting all voters’ first choice listed on their ballots for an office, a candidate receives a majority of votes cast, that candidate is elected to that office. If, after counting all voters’ first choice listed on their ballots for an office, no candidate receives a majority of votes cast, the candidate with the fewest votes shall be eliminated. Each ballot shall be tallied again for that office counting the vote from each ballot for the highest ranked candidate who has not been eliminated. If still no candidate for that office receives a majority, the process shall be repeated until a candidate receives a majority of the votes for that office. The candidate receiving a majority of votes for Mayor shall be declared elected. The candidate for Council receiving a majority of votes in each ward shall be declared elected. If a ballot has no more available choices ranked on it, that ballot shall be declared “exhausted” and not counted in that round or any subsequent round. In the event of a tie that affects the outcome of the election, the tie shall be broken by comparing the votes of the tied candidates in the previous rounds of counting, starting with the count immediately preceding the round in which the tie occurs. If one of the tied candidates had more votes than the remaining tied candidates in the preceding round or an earlier round of counting, then that candidate shall advance and the others shall be eliminated. If the candidates were tied in each preceding round, then the tie shall be resolved by lot.6 ●​ Existing sections B, C, and D will move down to become new sections C, D, and E. Progressive Cheverly recommends that we begin using RCV during the 2028 municipal election with the Mayor’s race on the ballot. Beginning in 2028 provide the Elections Board with adequate time to prepare and educate the electorate. It also will allow for a smoother transition during an election with only one race on the ballot. 6 Adapted from the Takoma Park Municipal Charter Join us to enact this vision: www.progressive-cheverly.org 5  Progressive Cheverly Ranked Choice Voting Proposal Frequently Asked Questions ●​ Isn’t RCV confusing for voters? No! Voters rank the candidates in order of preference. It is that simple. In June 2026, voters in Washington, DC used RCV for the first time. SurveyUSA polled voters after the election and found that 78% found their ballot “simple to complete.” The number jumps to 87% among voters who had already voted.7 ●​ Will RCV make elections more expensive and delay results? No! 79% of jurisdictions using RCV release election results the night of or day after the election.8 Many voting equipment manufacturers are already RCV-compatible, making them quick and easy to acquire. And RCV advocate groups at the state and national level are able and willing to help our elections board with the technical transition. ●​ Is RCV really needed in Cheverly where we rarely get more than two candidates? Yes! While some election results will not change under RCV, it is important that every election winner represents the will of the voters. And hopefully a better election system will encourage even more residents to run for office! 7 https://fairvote.org/press/poll-78-of-dc-voters-say-ranked-choice-voting-is-simple/ 8 https://fairvote.org/79-of-jurisdictions-release-rcv-results-within-24-hours/ Join us to enact this vision: www.progressive-cheverly.org 6