Mayor and City Council

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON JULY 07, 2025 Present were Councilmembers Duane H. Rosenberg, Cynthia Mills, Lincoln Lashley, Briana Urbina and Angelli Sybel Malavé; Mayor Phelecia Nembhard, City Administrative Officer Maisha Williams, Assistant City Administrative Officer William Barclay, Major Marc Butler, and City Clerk Kaitlyn Schisler. I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Council Chair Rosenberg in the Municipal Center, Room 230. II. Public Comments The following members of the public made comments: ●​ Cynthia Poles-Suite raised concerns about traffic from a proposed amphitheater at Mahoney Woods, questioned a $100 siding permit fee, and urged stricter enforcement against illegal fireworks. ●​ A resident asked about the city's stance on rooftop solar panels and raised concerns over city-branded utility insurance notices, requesting analysis for homeowners. ●​ Cynthia Mills requested for the administration to provide a written explanation to the council regarding the timing and reason for the exit of Police Chief Rice, so that this information could be shared with the public. ●​ Phelecia Nembhard announced a blood drive on Wednesday, July 9th, and an ice cream social with the mayor and administration on July 21st. ●​ Marilyn Padmore thanked the council for its collaborative efforts but strongly opposed proposed cuts to resident services, especially rear trash pickup. She urged the council to consider alternative budget adjustments and better educate residents rather than reduce services. ●​ A resident voiced frustration with the city's compost program, stating their compost has repeatedly been mixed with regular trash despite their ongoing participation. They urged the city to either properly manage the program or end it. ●​ Richard Potts briefly expressed concern over a bridge issue, stating the council failed in its responsibility and should have ensured proper inspection. III. Council Announcements Councilmembers Urbina, Lashley and Rosenberg shared announcements including upcoming events like a blood drive, adult pool night, and children’s chalk art at the library as well as also sharing a positive experience from the Maryland Municipal League conference, emphasizing strong group collaboration. IV. Lessons from MML Councilmembers Urbina, Lashley and Malavé shared takeaways from the MML conference. Councilmember Malavé raised concerns about the city’s noncompliance with the Open Meetings Act, specifically the lack of recorded actions from closed sessions. Councilmember Urbina reported that New Carrollton’s reserve fund is far below recommended levels, calling for tighter financial management, Councilmember Lashley emphasized the importance of respectful communication, referencing the Dignity Index as a guide for public discourse. V. Ordinance to Allow Temporary Signage (Discussion) A proposed ordinance to allow temporary signs in the right-of-way for events like yard sales sparked debate, with concerns about overregulation, fees, and practicality. While some supported clearer rules, others felt existing practices were sufficient; Councilmember Mills put forth a motion to table the discussion until there is a stronger need for it. Councilmember Lashley seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-1-0). VI. Waiver for Home Accessibility Modifications (Discussion) The Council reintroduced an ordinance to waive permit fees for home accessibility modifications, aiming to support both people with disabilities and seniors aging in place. After discussion, the Council agreed to revise the ordinance to clarify eligibility and include age-related needs, with Councilmember Urbina tasked to incorporate the feedback with the assistance of Councilmember Malavé. VII. Harland Street Demo & Pool Fill The administration provided updates on the Harland Street demolition project, recommending Alliance for their thorough proposal. Councilmember Urbina stressed the need for city engineer approval and suggested an external review to ensure a complete plan. The Mayor and Council discussed prior visions for the property, with consensus on the need for decisive action. VIII. Trash Curb Service William Barclay raised safety and efficiency concerns with the current trash collection system, suggesting residents place bins at the top of driveways instead of behind homes. Councilmembers called for better resident education and communication on trash handling, and resident feedback. Comments opposed changing the valued service, especially for seniors and those with disabilities, and criticized issues with the compost project. IX. Mahoney Woods The administration provided an update on the Mahoney Woods amphitheater project. The Council questioned the project's practicality and suggested exploring alternative sites or uses for the $250,000 grant. The Mayor clarified that the grant allows in-house construction and landscaping to move forward. X. Westfield Park & Oak Ln Discussion The Council discussed maintenance and safety issues at Westfield and Oak Ln Parks, noting unfinished playgrounds and vita courses. A $150,000 grant will fund improvements at Westfield. A FY26 budget amendment will likely be necessary. XI. Certified Bridge Construction Inspector Discussion The Administration informed the Council that Prince George's County now requires a certified bridge inspector on-site daily during construction of the Powhatan Bridge. CPJ got three bids, recommending the lowest from AB Construction ($49K). A special session is needed to approve this urgently. XII. All Bridge Update The administration presented additional inspection reports for New Carrollton bridges to the Council. XIII. Motion to Adjourn into Special Legislative Meeting Councilmember Urbina moved to adjourn the meeting and go into legislative session. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.  MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON JULY 07, 2025 I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 9:03 p.m. by Council Chair Rosenberg in the Municipal Center, Room 230. II. Non Consent Agenda Councilmember Urbina motioned that the City Council of New Carrollton approve AB Consulting as the certified bridge construction inspector for the Powhatan Street Bridge project for the City of New Carrollton in the amount of $49,520. Councilmember Rosenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). III. Motion to Adjourn Councilmember Mills motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Urbina seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (5-0-0). The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Schisler City Clerk Note: These minutes are a summary of the actions taken by the City Council and do not include all details of the discussions. Please refer to the official meeting video for a complete record. Agendas and Approved Meeting Minutes can be found at: https://www.newcarrolltonmd.gov/AgendaCenter