Mayor and City Council

1| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – APRIL 19, 2023 CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON MINUTES COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023, 7:00 P.M. The Council Legislative Meeting was held at 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, as a virtual meeting. Attending were Councilmembers Cynthia DB Mills; Lincoln H.G. Lashley, Katrina R. Dodro, and Briana Urbina, (Allyne Hooks was absent); Mayor Phelecia Nembhard; Chief David G. Rice; Information Technology Administrator Andrew Facey; Lorna Grant-Charles, Director of Finance & Accounting and City Clerk Araceli Guzman-Benitez. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Mills called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. 2. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN Chairperson Mills asked that residents be kind to place signs that are out of place; she encourages residents to keep the city clean by cleaning up or calling the city to pick-up any trash. 3. UPDATE ON PGCPS PURCHASE OF CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON LAND Chairperson Mills opened the floor to discuss the topic. The topic was discussed later during the meeting. 4. MEETING MINUTES a.) Council Workshop/Special Legislative Meeting Minutes (February 1, 2023) b.) Council Special Workshop Meeting Minutes (February 8, 2023) c.) Council Legislative Meeting Minutes (February 15, 2023) d.) Council Workshop/Special Legislative Meeting (March 1, 2023) e.) Council Special Workshop Meeting (March 8, 2023) f.) Council Legislative Meeting (March 15, 2023) Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the following minutes: Council Workshop/Special Legislative Meeting Minutes (February 1, 2023); Council Special Workshop Meeting Minutes (February 8, 2023); Council Legislative Meeting Minutes (February 15, 2023). Councilmember Urbina seconded the motion. The meeting minutes were approved. (4-0-0) OLD BUSINESS 5. 6000 HARLAND STREET Motion: Chairperson Mills moved that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the cleanup and restoration of the property located at 6000 Harland Street. No one second the motion. A discussion did not followed. The motion was table. 6. FRENCHMAN’S CREEK ROAD WORK Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve VMP Construction Company, Inc, or NZI Construction Corp., to repair the identified roads at Frenchman’s Creek Condominiums using State grant funding. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion. A 2| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – APRIL 19, 2023 discussion followed. Not everyone were in favor, the motion failed. (1-3-0). 7. UPDATE PGCPS PURCHASE OF CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON LAND Mayor Nembhard explained that the contract was approved by the council and that the council did not take the time to read it; she stated that the PGCPS had added the Veterans Park property in the contract just because; the Mayor made an addendum which was forwarded to the attorney and that the property of Veterans Park was removed from the contract; the attorney is reviewing it; the price for the land is still the same. A discussion followed: Councilmember Urbina stated that they never saw a contract; instead, there were two offer letters; Councilmember Dodro clarified that there were not any contracts to review, and the information that was provided did not have clear language of specifics; and that the Mayor stated many times that the council went to do negotiations but that such information is not true, that there were no negotiations but instead they asked questions; Councilmember Lashley wanted clarification about the price, which Mayor Nembhard replied that the price remains the same. 8. EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING TOWER AT THE MUNICIPAL CENTER Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the replacement of the cooling tower at the Municipal Center in the amount totaling $69,400.00 for equipment and scope of work. No one second the motion. A discussion did not followed. No one second the motion. A discussion did not followed. There was no vote. 9. MUNICIPAL CENTER SOLAR INSTALLATION PROPOSAL Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve Hyperion, Inc. (Hyperion), as the contractor to design and install solar panels and related equipment at its Municipal Center in the amount of $330,789.38. A discussion did not followed. No one second the motion. The motion was table. 10. ADOPTION OF THE FY2024 BUDGET- ORDINANCE 23-02 (First Reading) Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton adopt Ordinance 23-02, an Ordinance of the City Council of New Carrollton adopting an annual operating and capital budget for the City of New Carrollton for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024; establishing the tax rate to be levied upon the taxable property within the City; Authorizing the collection of such taxes; specifying a rate of interest to be charged upon overdue personal property taxes, liens and unpaid fees: Adopting annual budgets for the Commercial and/or Industrial Properties Special Public Safety Taxing District and the Multifamily Properties Special Public Safety Taxing District; Establishing the Annual Tax Rate to be levied upon the Special Public Safety Taxing Districts; and all things generally relating to the adoption of an annual budget for the City of New Carrollton. A discussion did not followed. No one second the motion. There was no vote. (Councilmember Dodro attempted to re-organize the council. NEW BUSINESS 11. RESOLUTION 23-03 FY2024 SCHEDULE OF FEES 3| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – APRIL 19, 2023 Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton adopt Resolution 23-03, a resolution adopting a schedule of fees for FY2024. A discussion did not followed. No one second the motion. The topic was table. 12. EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF A NEW WATER TRUCK Motion: I make a motion that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the purchase of the new water truck for the Department of Public Works using ARPA funds in the Amount of $_____________from________________. A discussion did not followed. No one second the motion. The topic was table. Councilmember Urbina seconded the motion. A discussion followed. Not everyone were in favor, the motion failed. (1-3-0). 13. PURCHASE OF CODE ENFORCEMENT PERMIT LICENSING/BUDGET SOFTWARE THROUGH ARPA FUNDS Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the purchase of OpenGov Asset Management on MD COTS. The topic was not discussed or motion. 14. FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT Motion: I move that the Council of the City of New Carrollton approve the purchase/replacement of the underground gas tank before it explodes. The company to contract with: _________________________. The topic was not discussed or motion. 15. PROCLAMATION: MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK Motion: I move that the Mayor and the City Council of New Carrollton proclaim April 30 to May 6, 2023, as Municipal Clerks Week in the City of New Carrollton. Councilmember Urbina seconded the motion. A discussion followed. Not everyone were in favor, the motion passed. (3-1-0). 16. PROCLAMATION: MUNICIPAL POLICE WEEK Motion: I move that the Mayor and the City Council of New Carrollton proclaim May 14, 2023, as National Police Week in the City of New Carrollton. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion. A discussion followed. Not everyone were in favor, the motion passed. (3-1-0). 17. PROCLAMATION: NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK Motion: I move that the Mayor and the City Council of New Carrollton proclaim May 21 to May 27, 2023, as National Public Works Week in the City of New Carrollton. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion. A discussion followed. Not everyone were in favor, the motion passed. (3-1-0). 18. REVIEW LIST OF PAID BILLS Chairperson Mills requested that the council review the bills, and to provide comments. Batch #1 (March 3, 2023); Batch #2 (March 13, 2023); Batch#3 (March 17, 2023); Batch #4 (March 24, 2023). Mayor Nembhard addressed Councilmember Dodro in reference to conversations directly with City staff; Councilmember Dodro responded. 4| MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE MEETING – APRIL 19, 2023 19. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Mills called the adjournment. No one second the motion for the Legislative Meeting for Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Chairperson Mills closed the meeting at 7:46 pm. The meeting ended at 7:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Araceli Guzman-Benitez Araceli Guzman Benitez City Clerk Adopted by the City Council on August 16, 2023. Note: The official recording of the City of New Carrollton’s Council Legislative Meeting of Wednesday, April 19, 2023, has been posted to the City of New Carrollton’s website: www.newcarrolltonmd.gov.