City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT REGULAR WORK SESSION MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 6:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1 Call to Order Council President Porter called the meeting to order at 6:09p.m. 1.2 Roll Call Present: Mayor Eugene 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, Taylor Dotson, PGAHC, Jeannelle B. Wallace, Interim City Manager 1.3 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: The invocation was given by Councilmember Higgs. 1.4. Approval of Agenda It was motioned by Councilmember Sistrunk and seconded by Councilmember Raynor to approve the agenda. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk 2. PRESENTATIONS: 2.1 Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Draft Audit Update Karen Dojan, Principal and Gray Farquharson, Staff Accountant Weyrich, Cronin and Sorra  Karen Dojan stated that we have a draft Audit, and we are 98% there and we have a couple of open items that need to be complete.  Ms. Dojan stated that Mrs. Wallace has requested one of the items that are needed, and an e-mail has gone out this evening to request the other information. Page 1 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031  Ms. Dojan stated that the Financial Statements include the City of Seat Pleasant and SPICE, and they were able to include the information to ensure that the City would not receive a qualified opinion.  Ms. Dojan stated that the total net of the city is $6,102,995 and we had a revenue short fall of $2,600, 499.The total cash was $3.2 Million and long- term debt is $5.7 Million.  Ms. Dojan inquired of the status of the FY19/20 audit financial records being submitted to their firm.  Ms. Wallace stated that Lorrie Scarfo and Jessica Wise had begun working on the information.  Ms. Dojan stated that we need to have the audits caught up before we can request an extension for the FY2021.  Councilmember Sistrunk stated that she was confused on Page 9 SPICE is noted as having over $400,000.  Ms. Dojan stated this is for 2019 and SPICE had another year of spending that will be reflective in the next audit.  Ms. Dojan stated that there is one other item that will be forthcoming in the Management Report and other items regarding SPICE and information deriving from them and there are items that need to be corrected going forward. 3. REPORTS: 3.1. Mayor’s Report Mayor Grant was absent from the meeting and no report was submitted for the month of June. 3.2 City Manager Report  Mrs. Wallace stated that her report had been submitted to the City Council and the report states that no additional information will be provided from the Investigation Report on the Mayor as the report includes information on personnel. Personnel information is not disclosable.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the Audit Report was presented in the above presentation, and we are working on the required information, and she was hoping that this would have been the final report. She is hoping that they will begin the FY19 and FY20 shortly thereafter. The issue was due to the personnel changes within that department. Page 2 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031  Ms. Wallace stated that we had some issues come up and we had to suspend three persons from the same department without pay and it is under investigation by the Police Department.  Ms. Wallace stated that we had received $500,000 in grants to rebuild two burnt parties on Foote St and 69th Place and we are hoping to have both properties rebuilt. We will have an RFP go out and we are looking at modified homes to possibly go in its place.  Ms. Wallace stated that we had another property that caught fire on Joplin Street, and they spoke with the owner of record, and he stated that he was unaware of the requirements. He plans to have the property restored soon.  Mrs. Wallace stated that they are working on a committee to review the application and it is two current staff members that applied for one each City Manager and Director Environmental Justice. They received over 130 applications. Some of the applicants have significance experience in the position they had applied.  Interview committee – The City has received approximately 130 resumes for the positions of City Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Environmental Justice. The Management Team is in the process of selecting members to the interview committee who will screen and conduct the initial interviews following the completion of selecting the top 5-10 applicants, two of who are current city employees that will be sent to the council for interviews once all applicants have gone through a background and reference certification. The selection committee will consist of any one or more of the following: a city resident with a background in personnel recruitment, public administration, or related field; a current or former elected or appointed official with expertise in city management, finance, public works, and supervision of said employees. It is the intent of management to include representation on the committee with persons who are unbiased, objective, and unrelated to any elected or appointed official of the city.  Mrs. Wallace stated that the USDA Project Waiting to hear from the department of EJD as to the anticipated move-in date for both facilities SPICE update – the City Manager requested the City Attorney to send correspondence to the Board Chair requested a date certain to respond to the City’s request for a status of the dissolution of the corporations including SPICE, SPEDC, Seat Pleasant Investment Corporation Enterprise, LLC, Spice Housing Trust Fund, LLC, Spice Arts, Cultures and Technology, LLC, and the return of all remaining funds on the account. At the last check on the status of these corporations, they were not in good standing according to the database of the State Department of Assessment and Taxation which Page 3 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031 means the annual filing was not done or the appropriate fees pad. The board chairperson indicated to the council on April 9, 2021, that these items would be finalized within 30 days.  The city manager has requested that the attorney send another letter that if this matter is not resolved within one week the city will pursue litigation. They spend money purchasing the turbo tax software to file the required reports, but they have not provided an update since April 9, 2021.  Mrs. Wallace stated that they provided us with the reports for 2019 and they will need to provide us with more information for 2020. Mrs. Wallace stated that she had the City Attorney send a letter to the Board President of SPICE, and she had requested that the attorney contact the compliance officer of Merrill Lynch.  Mrs. Wallace stated that we had received the draft MOU for CHP to develop the MLK Gateway. We are excited about the MOU and the PAL Charrette with about 40 people on the line. They provided great potential of development in the future. She stated that she had requested for the PGEDC David Iannucci to assist the city with development and they are willing and requested a copy of the presentation from the Charrette. We had some other issues handled by the Administration for litigation and bids for EJD street repairs.  Mrs. Wallace stated that we had several citizen comment from the last few meetings and each person received written response from their comments. Mrs. Wallace stated that we are still waiting on DPIE regarding the sign and we may have installed and have DPIE approve it after the effect. Councilmember Sistrunk inquired the location of the sign and it will be on MLK and the former gaskin properties. Council President Porter stated that it will not be on the highway or distractions and it will eliminate the concerns. 3.3. City Council Committee Reports 3.4 Economic, Planning, Development & Housing Committee  The Economic, Planning, Development & Housing Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.  Councilmember Raynor stated that he is happy that things are moving forward with the MLK Gateway, and the receipt of the MOU and he enjoyed the Charrette that was held last week. She mentioned that Seat Pleasant was red lined back in the day and he hopes the city is not in the status. Page 4 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031 3.5 Finance & Budget Committee  The Finance and Budget Committee did not have report for the month of June. 3.6 Government Affairs & Technology Committee  The Government Affairs & Technology Committee did not have report for the month of June. 3.7 Human Services, Health and Education Committee  The Human Services Health and education Committee did not have a report for the month of June. 3.8 Public Safety Committee  The Public Safety Committee did not have a report for the month of June. 3.9 Environmental Justice & Transportation Committee-  The Environmental Justice & Transportation Committee did not have report for the month of June. 4. LEGISLATION 4.1. Resolution R-21-14 Approval of Application and Receipt of Funding for Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the City of Seat Pleasant Motion to Approve Resolution R-21-14 Approval of Application and Receipt of Funding for Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the City of Seat Pleasant Motion by Gerald Raynor Sr, second by Hope Love. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Gloria L Sistrunk No: Kizzie Scott 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1. None Page 5 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1. City Council Recess  Council President stated that the City Council typically recess the month of August and an emergency may come up and we may need to make ourselves available during that period.  It was motion by Councilmember Sistrunk that the City Council recess for the month of August and it was seconded by Councilmember Higgs.  It was the consensus of the City Council to recess for the month of August. 6.2. Regular Work Session Meeting Date  The Regular Work and Public Session will be held on Monday, July 12, 2021 6.3 Council Virtual Meeting Decorum  Council President stated that there has been concerned from the citizens that the council are not being seen on the camera or being proper. The appropriate decorum is to follow the procedures to allow the council to be visible and in appropriate attire while on camera. 6.4 City Council Event  Council President stated that an event to be held at the end of the summer in August with a low budget.  Councilmember Raynor stated he was thinking of Jazz in the Park or a Movie Night.  Councilmember Raynor stated that we can have one of the local artists to perform.  Councilmember President stated that the civic associations are having movie nights and we have the equipment. It was requested that the City Manager have the PE, Public Safety and EJD to assist with the event planning to include the staff assistant.  Council President stated that last Saturday in July or the first Saturday in August for Citizen Appreciation Day 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS  7.1 Public Session, Monday, June 14, 2021, by Zoom Video at 7:00om. Meeting link details will be on the city's website. Page 6 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: E819A310-79BC-45ED-ACA1-682872920031  7.2 Ward V Virtual Meeting, Monday, June 21, 2021, by Zoom Video from 10:30am-12:00pm, Meeting link details will be on the city's website. 8. ADJOURN: The meeting adjourned at 8:20p.m. Submitted by, Dashaun N. Lanham, CMC City Clerk Page 7 of 7