Mayor and City Council

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF NEW CARROLLTON AUGUST 6, 2025 Present were Councilmembers Duane H. Rosenberg, Cynthia Mills, Lincoln Lashley, Briana Urbina and Angelli Sybel Malavé; Mayor Phelecia Nembhard, Assistant City Administrative Officer William Barclay, Captain Vincent Lyew, and City Clerk Kaitlyn Schisler. City Administrative Officer Maisha Williams was absent. I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Council Chair Rosenberg in the Municipal Center, Room 230. Council Chair Rosenberg made a motion to add a discussion on Appointees. Councilmember Urbina seconded the motion. The motion passed (3-0-0). II. Public Comments The following members of the public made comments: ●​ Mayor Nembhard outlined park upgrades, including a simple amphitheater some fear may be misunderstood. ●​ A resident raised serious concerns about Chief Rice, citing questionable transparency, and called for a refund over payments to a non-resident former councilmember. ●​ Jennifer Chase, a 34-year resident, opposed the amphitheater project, holding the mayor responsible and warning of long-term costs, traffic, and environmental impact, urging a "no" vote. ●​ Angela Alarcon raised safety concerns about the project’s location near a dangerous intersection, suggesting ARPA funds be used for traffic calming or relocating the project to a safer site. ●​ Susan McElroy thanked the Mayor for considering alternatives to the Mahoney Woods project, citing negative impacts on property value. She submitted a petition from concerned residents. ●​ David Lai introduced Troop 29 of Largo, MD, attending to earn a communications merit badge and learn about local government. ●​ Brian, a Legation resident, strongly opposed the Mahoney Woods project. ●​ Dick Esper, whose property borders Mahoney Woods, stated that former Mayor Hanko said the land was gifted to remain undeveloped. ●​ Nancy Hogland opposed the Mahoney Woods project, citing heavy traffic on Riverdale Road and safety risks for children crossing to attend events. ●​ A resident spoke about issues parking in front of his house. ●​ Council Chair Rosenberg reported receiving calls about severe flooding, with concerns about the lack of police response to close roads. ●​ Kyrie McClure made a comment expressing concern about the city’s scattered approach to grant funding, urging prioritization of infrastructure and inclusive community engagement—especially with youth. III. Council Announcements Councilmembers Lashley, Urbina, Mills and Rosenberg made announcements including thanking those involved in National Night Out and announced the SC Maglev project’s federal cancellation due to major concerns as well as a backpack drive on August 9.. IV. NLC Engagement Jose Alvarado, Senior Regional Specialist with NLC, highlighted the benefits of NLC membership. He also introduced the Grantfinder program, which sends tailored weekly grant opportunities to a designated city official, and "NLC Outreach," a discounted CRM tool for member cities. V. LetsDrive Safe Presentation​ Rob Carl from Let’s Drive Safer presented on stop sign camera technology, emphasizing safety, behavioral change, and cost-neutral operation. Councilmembers asked about cost, reporting, and protections against revenue loss, which Carl addressed. The Council expressed interest in a potential pilot program. VI. Mahoney Woods Discussion The Council discussed the Mahoney Woods project, with some residents opposing the proposed amphitheater. Councilmember Urbina supported the project, noting potential loss of state grant funding if declined. Several Councilmembers raised concerns about event capacity and financial impact. VII. Ordinance 26-03 Home Accessibility Councilmember Malavé introduced Ordinance 26-03 to waive permit fees for home modifications related to disabilities or aging in place. Councilmember’s Lashey and Urbina voiced support, while Councilmember Mills raised concerns about legal review costs and noted the mayor already waives such fees. The Ordinance will be placed on the Legislative session for vote. VIII. Streetlight Discussion The Council discussed LED streetlight upgrades, weighing options to purchase lights or continue with Pepco. They noted potential cost savings but stressed the need for a cost-benefit analysis. The Council plans to revisit the topic in a future meeting with Pepco present. IX. Mayoral Appointee Discussion The Mayor submitted three appointees for confirmation: William Barclay as Public Works Director, Scott Henderson as Police Chief, and Maisha Williams as City Manager. The Council delayed approval until the August 20 legislative meeting for further review. X. 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