City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT PUBLIC SESSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 7:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1.1 Call to Order Council President Porter called the meeting to order at 7:03p.m. 1.1.2 Roll Call Present: Mayor Eugene W. Grant (Absent), Councilmember Monica Higgs, Councilmember Hope Love, Councilmember Shireka McCarthy, Councilmember Kelly Porter, Councilmember Gerald Raynor, Sr., Councilmember Kizzie Scott, Councilmember Gloria Sistrunk Staff: Dashaun N. Lanham, City Clerk, Devan A. Martin, Interim Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Police, Jeannelle B. Wallace, Interim Chief Operating Officer 1.1.3 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The Invocation was given by Councilmember Porter 1.1.4. Approval of Agenda It was motioned by Councilmember Sistrunk and seconded by Councilmember Love to approve the Public Session Agenda. The motion carried, and the agenda was unanimously approved by the Council. 1.1.5. Approval of Meeting Minutes Approval of Regular Work Session Meeting Minutes for November 2, 2020 Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes for Regular Work Session for Monday, November 2, 2020 Motion by Gerald Raynor Sr, second by Gloria L Sistrunk. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk Page 1 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 2, 2020 Motion to Approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 2, 2020 Motion by Gerald Raynor Sr, second by Monica Higgs. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk Approval of Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 9, 2020 Motion to Approve the Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 9, 2020 Motion by Gloria L Sistrunk, second by Monica Higgs. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 9, 2020. Motion to Approve the Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 9, 2020 Motion by Gerald Raynor Sr, second by Gloria L Sistrunk. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 30, 2020 Motion to approve the Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 30, 2020 Motion by Gloria L Sistrunk, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 30, 2020 Page 2 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234 Motion to Approve Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 30, 2020 Motion by Gloria L Sistrunk, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk 2. CITIZEN COMMENTS  There were three Citizens logged in for the meeting for Monday, December 14, 2020. The City did not receive any written or verbal comments from the citizens. 3. PRESENTATION 3.1. Delegate Erek Barron and Rhonda Dallas, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Prince George's Arts and Humanities  Delegate Barron thanked the Council President for the invitation to attend the Public Session. The subject is the Art Bus Stop Project, and the state funds were approved a couple years ago.  Delegate Barron stated that the City was approved to receive Art on the bus stop (s) in Seat Pleasant.  Ms. Dallas stated that the public art awards pilot program, and all capital grant projects must go before the Maryland Board of Public Works which was extremely delayed due to COVID-19.  Ms. Dallas stated that it has been approved two weeks ago and we are now preparing the RFQ, and the RFQ is one week before completion.  Ms. Dallas stated that the artists can start reviewing and begin to submit their responses to the RFQ. They will allow four weeks for submission.  Ms. Dallas stated that they look to come before the City of Seat Pleasant at the beginning of February for review of the bus shelter in Seat Pleasant.  Delegate Barron stated that the bond bills will be scaled back due to COVID.  Delegate Barron encouraged the city to inform him and the 24th District Delegate's and Senator if they can be of assistance. Page 3 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234  Delegate Barron stated that there will be a briefing about the vaccine, and he will forward the date and time.  Councilmember Raynor inquired how many bus shelters will have art on them in Seat Pleasant?  Ms. Dallas stated that the city would receive one as the award was for six. They received a letter from the National Endowment for the Arts for $30,000 to complete one more bus shelter.  Councilmember Raynor inquired if there will be any collaboration with Metro on the bus shelter arts?  Ms. Dallas stated that WMATA is only engaged if the bus shelters are located at the metro station.  Councilmember McCarthy inquired of the location of the bus shelter with the arts?  Ms. Dallas stated that the location is on Addison Road.  Council President Porter inquired about the Purple Line, and COVID Resources?  Delegate Barron stated that the purple line is back on track and the state is required to pay for some of the cost for the purple line.  Delegate Barron stated that he has been very frustrated with the COVID Resources and the state receiving its fair share. It has been frustrating in dealing with the Governor and he has ensured the host on CNN that he will be working with the Black Caucus to provide resources to the Black communities.  Delegate Barron stated that we did not receive our fair share of resources.  Delegate Barron stated that if the city has an assessment of their needs to forward the information to the delegation. 4. LEGISLATION 4.1. None 5. REPORTS: 5.1. Council President Report  Council President Porter stated that the monthly report can be viewed in Board Docs. 5.2. Mayor Eugene W. Grant Page 4 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234  Mayor Grant was absent from the Public Session on Monday, December 14, 2020 and no report was provided. 5.3. Chief Operating Officer Report-Jeannelle B. Wallace, Interim Chief Operating Officer  Mrs. Wallace stated that the reporting period, there were numerous recommendations made by management and approved by the council to reduce costs, return some employees from furloughed status to permanent status and making the difficult decision to terminate other employees and contractors.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the COO office reviewed the annual budget in consultation with the management team and determined that the best approach would be to amend the current fiscal budget in January or February 2021. It is anticipated that the budget will be amended downward to reflect the current revenue and expenditure streams. There have been numerous meetings comprised of the CPA, Account Manager, Office of the Chief of Police, City Clerk, and the COO to review, revise, and advise the finance team on journal entries made by the previous Chief Financial Officer.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the audit firm is working with the finance team to finalize the FY 2019 by the end of the year. Progress is slow and taking longer than expected, but progress is being made.  Mrs. Wallace stated that as most are aware, the city hired an independent firm to investigate allegations of misconduct and a hostile working environment. That investigation is still on-going but expected to be concluded by the end of November or early December 2020. There were over 40 interviews and re-interviews in some instances, and review of numerous documents related to the allegations. A final report will be submitted to the council at its conclusion.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the staff consisting of the grant manager, police department lieutenant, finance team, USDA project manager, and COO are all working to complete and finalize the loan application submission to the USDA Rural Development Team. This is a monumental effort of everyone to document and complete several forms requested by lender.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the purpose of the extension is to cover a portion of the cost overruns of the construction project which were primarily due to the COVID19 Pandemic. The construction has been Page 5 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234 delayed due to the construction company crews who tested positive for the virus and had to be quarantined for the required 14-day period. Other delays due to the pandemic caused significant problems with getting permits from Prince George’s County, obtaining the necessary building materials in a timely manner, as well as the required inspections from the County due to many employees teleworking or just not available for routine inspections.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the City is seeking other grant opportunities to include a grant through the University of Maryland.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the city had completed the Annexation of Central Avenue and a recent fatality on Central Avenue recently occurred. This is the reason will need to enforce traffic control along central avenue.  Council President Porter inquired if the city was prepared with the possibility of the upcoming snow this week?  Mrs. Wallace stated the Interim Director of Environmental Justice stated that they are prepared with ice melt spreader.  Council President Porter stated that the city has been working on the pothole concerns within the city and it was discussed last week.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the city has filled fifteen of the potholes.  Councilmember Raynor inquired of the snowplow machine.  Mrs. Wallace stated that we have brand new snowplow machines for the city.  Chief Martin stated that we have six new snowplow machines. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. None 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1. Approval of Staff Appreciation Gift Cards  It was suggested by Mrs. Wallace and Mr. Martin that we allow community sponsors/partners to assist a family or staff in need oppose to providing the gift cards per staff.  It was the consensus of the council to agree with the recommendation of Mrs. Wallace and Mr. Martin. 8 ANNOUNCEMENTS Page 6 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 4009307E-614B-4967-A251-54FCA3C35234 8.1 5th Annual Light Up Your Holiday Christmas Contest, Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Councilmember McCarthy stated that the registration for participation can be found on the city's website. Councilmember McCarthy stated that she he has a few sponsors that will donate the cards. The flyer can be found in Board Docs. Councilmember Sistrunk stated that she will donate the $50 gift card. Councilmember Raynor stated that he will contribute to the program. Councilmember McCarthy stated that she will come to the donor home to retrieve the donation. 8.2 Regular Work Session, Monday, January 4, 2021, by Zoom Video at 6:00p.m., Meeting link details will be provided. 8.3 Public Session, Monday, January 11, 2021, by Zoom Video at 7:00p.m. Meeting link details will be provided. 8.4 Regular Work Session, Monday, February 1, 2021, by Zoom Video at 6:00p.m., Meeting link details will be provided. 8.5 Public Session, Monday, February 8, 2021, by Zoom Video at 7:00p.m., Meeting link details will be provided. 9. ADJOURN- 9.1 Adjourn and Logout- The Public Session meeting adjourned at 8:16p.m. Submitted by, Dashaun N. Lanham, CMC City Clerk Page 7 of 7