City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT PUBLIC SESSION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 8:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1.1 Call to Order Council President Porter called the meeting to order at 8:19p.m. 1.1. Roll Call Present: 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, Diamond Plater, Staff Assistant, Jeannelle B. Wallace, Interim City Manager 1.2 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance The Invocation was given by Councilmember Higgs. 1.3 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. Motion by Gloria L. Sistrunk, second by Hope Love Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott 1. Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Motion by Gloria L Sistrunk, second by Shireka McCarthy. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Page 1 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk 1.5 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Motion to Approve the Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, July 6, 2021 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 1.6 Approval of Regular Work Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 Motion to Approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 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 1.7 Approval of Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 Motion to Approve Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 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 1.8 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 Motion to approve the Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, July 12, 2021 Motion by Hope Love, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Page 2 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk 1.9 Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Motion to Approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, August 11, 2021. 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 1.10 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, August 11, 2021 Motion to Approve Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, August 11, 2021. 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 1.12 Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 23, 2021 Motion to Approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 23, 2021 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 1.13 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 23, 2021 Motion to Approve Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 23, 2021 Motion by Monica Higgs, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Page 3 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Shireka McCarthy, Kelly Porter, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Gloria L Sistrunk 1.14 Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 30, 2021 Motion to approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 30, 2021 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 1.15 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 30, 2021 Motion to approve the Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, August 30, 2021 Motion by Hope Love, 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 Aretha Stephenson- 1. When will the opening of the New City Hall be announced to the Citizens of Seat Pleasant and will there be a tour of the new building for the citizens? 2. How soon can we anticipate having open meetings at the City Hall again? 3. Has the entire area of Seat Pleasant been sprayed for mosquitoes or just a few Wards? We received an announcement in Ward 2, but it was for residents on Seat Pleasant Drive and other areas. We still haven’t received any notice of spraying in Ward 2 and the mosquitoes are so bad that I’m not able to go outside to enjoy my backyard. Are we still receiving this service? 4. Can we please receive updated Newsletters? Every month we get our newsletter a month late and by then it’s past the deadline. How much money is being wasted? And who is responsible for its oversight? Page 4 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 5. Now that we are being sued half a million dollars for a Seat Pleasant Police harassment incident, how does the city council plan to pay for this in our budget? Has the Mayor, Chief, or Council Committee come up with a plan to be more proactive in our community by establishing better community relations, and training so that this doesn’t happen again? 6. It’s been over a year now and we are still waiting for news on the mayor’s investigation outcome. What is the status of his disposition? And when will the residents receive an announcement of the results? 7. Can you please post the rules for dogs barking and offer advisement for unattended pets when owners aren’t at home? Katrina Robinson- Mosquitoes - I went outside in my yard to cut a bush that had large limbs on Sunday, July 25, 2021, and I was attack by a number of mosquitoes and had large Whelps on my legs. I want to know did they spray the entire area of Seat Pleasant or just the areas that were mentioned in the robo call announcement. I made a medical appointment because when I came in the house, I noticed that my hands were shaking and could not hold on to anything and that was scary. They sprayed Ward 4, but all wards need spraying. The spraying of mosquitoes has ended. Shredding Day - When Mr. Brown was in charge of Public Works he had provided me with file boxes to place my personal shredding materials into them, but before I was informed that he was no longer working for the City these boxes of shredding materials are still here, so I need to know if we can either have a day where my boxes can be picked up or maybe a roll off dumpster can be placed in Ward V for residents to place all of their unwanted junk and shredding since we did not have the normal Ward trash out day like we did prior years? Trees - There need something in a newsletter informing residents to inspect their dead trees on their properties and the ones on public property, because of the number of trees that have fallen causing damage within the city James Epperson- Page 5 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 What is the ruling on the mayor? Why doesn’t he have his powers back? They are not cutting the grass in the alley between 68th Place and 68th Street? Lawsuit from Police Department for $500,000 what happened to the officer? Why did he hear about it on the television? Garry Jones- Safety concern with blind alley on 71st Avenue and he has requested Councilmember Sistrunk and the two Councilmember-At-Large’s to come to the ward to see the concerns. He would like to have speed humps on the street. 3. PRESENTATION 3.1. Pepco Electric Vehicle Charging Station-Tony Ruffin and Barbara Gonzalez, PEPCO Governmental & External Affairs  Mr. Ruffin and Mrs. Gonzalez presented the Pepco Electric Vehicle Charging Station to the City Council and the site plan proposal for installation of four electric vehicle charging stations.  Mr. Ruffin stated that the goal for Pepco is to install more charging stations in Prince George’s and Montgomery County, MD.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that they are predicting that more electric vehicles to be on the road. Pepco plans to have charging stations available to service the vehicles.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that Pepco has installed twenty-eight charging stations throughout of Maryland. They are charged with installing two hundred fifty charging stations. The goal is to allow each municipality has charging stations at no charge to the municipality.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that we are asking for an agreement for five years with a renewal clause.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that the charging stations are carbon free.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that the charging stations are branded by Pepco, and they are level two and used for high traffic.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that the charging station will be on City Hall Parking lot and the customer can park their car and charge it at the station. They customer will be required to pay for the rate at the charging station to charge their vehicle. Page 6 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that the charging station must be open to the public in a lighted area.  Mr. Ruffin stated that Pepco has been doing this work since 2019 in Prince George’s and Montgomery County. They have installed charging stations in Greenbelt, Mount Rainier, Town of Bladensburg to see how the charging stations look.  Council President Porter stated that the city had identified the locations for the charging stations.  Mr. Ruffin stated that we did review the recommended sites and the Construction Manger will provide you with the update.  Mrs. Gonzalez stated that she visited the recommended sites, and they chose the city hall, which maybe a challenge due to water. The MLK area will not work because the area has to be developed. The program requires that the charging stations are installed in a developed area. The other two areas were in a gated area and the location must be accessible 24 hours.  Council President Porter stated that we need to have a consensus of the Council to have the agreement reviewed by the City Attorney and legislation presented at the next meeting.  It was motioned by Councilmember Higgs and seconded by Councilmember Raynor to have the license agreement reviewed the City Attorney. The motion carried and was unanimously approved by the City Council. 4. LEGISLATION  The City Council did not introduce any legislation at the Public Session held on Monday, September 13, 2021. 5. REPORTS: 5.1 Council President Report  Council President stated that his report for the month of June has been uploaded in BoardDocs. 5.2. Mayor Eugene W. Grant  Mayor Grant was absent from the meeting and did not submit a written report for the month of July and August. 5.3. City Manager Report-Jeannelle B. Wallace, Interim City Manager Page 7 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475  Mrs. Wallace stated that the Administration has been busy with personnel issues, responded to false/inaccurate statements in correspondence that was sent to various entities in the State and County including the County Executive’s Office, State’s Attorney Office, and the 34th delegation re city’s finances, Mayor’s travel, executives travel, city Manager car, etc. and meeting with the City Attorney.  Mrs. Wallace stated that she responded to allegation made by the Concerned Citizen and the response will be online as soon as she provides it to Ms. Lipford.  Mrs. Wallace stated that she appreciates when the citizens come to the meeting to provide comment.  Mrs. Wallace stated that she appreciates the States Attorney and her staff Ms. Joy for attending the last meeting, as they are just as concerned with the allegation regarding the false information. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. None 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1. None 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS  Ward V Meeting, Monday, September 20, 2021, at Seat Pleasant Fire Station from 9:30am-12:00pm  Ward V Walk, Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 6:00pm-8:00pm  8.3 Public Hearing, Monday, October 4, 2021, by Zoom Webinar at 6:00pm. Meeting link details will be on the city's website.  8.4 Regular Work Session, Monday, October 4, 2021, by Zoom Video at 7:00pm. Meeting link details will be on the city's website, Seat Pleasant, MD  8.5 Public Session, Monday, October 11, 2021, by Zoom Video at 8:00pm. Meeting link details will be on the city's website, Seat Pleasant, MD 9. ADJOURN: 9.1 The meeting adjourned at 9:28pm Page 8 of 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: A83714BC-2832-4F7C-B9FF-30D7ABD4A475 Submitted by, Dashaun N. Lanham, CMC City Clerk Page 9 of 9