City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: 7A59B492-9FF7-4DFC-A5BF-FE5B12B1B5B4 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2023 6:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1.1 Call to Order Council President Raynor called the meeting to order at 6:03p.m. 1.2 Roll Call Present: Councilmember Donovan Bilbro, Councilmember Monica Higgs, Councilmember Hope Love, Council President Shireka McCarthy, Mayor Kelly Porter, Councilmember Gerald Raynor, Sr., Councilmember Kizzie Scott (Present by Zoom), and Councilmember James Wright, Jr. 2. PRESENTATION 2.1. Central Avenue Blue/Silver Line Sector Plan-Elena Perry, Deputy Project Manager  Ms. Elena Perry, Linda Perez, Anthony Philips stated that they wanted to continue the conversation as they are aware of the plans for Goodwin Park and Seat Pleasant Fire Station. They will post key questions for the council to consider, and they would like to know what they are working on and what is successful and what has not been successful.  The presentation was read and presented to the Mayor and City Council with questions and responses from the Mayor and City Council.  They will be presenting draft vision statements for February/March, and they will share the vision statement information and bring it all together.  The plan review and process will be presented to the Mayor and Council next fall.  Mr. Philips stated that the PMCA program will be presented at the next council meeting, and this is a separate process. 3. CITIZEN COMMENT 3.1. There were no citizens in attendance virtually or in-person for the Special Session on Monday, October 23, 2023. Page 1 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 7A59B492-9FF7-4DFC-A5BF-FE5B12B1B5B4 4. MEETING TOPICS 4.1. Appropriations Bill Chapter 101-2024 State Budget Discussion  Ms. Ojo stated that the State Appropriations Budget has the language requiring the City of Seat Pleasant to conduct a Performance Audit for Fiscal Years 2019-2023.  Ms. Ojo stated that the city will be advertising the RFP to hiring an Audit Firm in November to conduct the performance audit. This is separate from the annual audits. 4.2 Finance Department Operational Concerns  Councilmember Higgs inquired about the funds that was found in the safe and the status of the money and checks.  Ms. Logan stated that the cash had been deposited, and they verified if the checks were deposited into the bank.  Ms. Logan stated that she can verify the actual amount of the cash that was found and deposited.  Councilmember Higgs stated that funds should have been counted dually and reported immediately.  Councilmember Love stated that the audit was a priority, and they focused on the audit, and counted the money immediately.  Ms. Logan stated that they were focusing to ensure that none of the funds impacted the FY20 audit, as they were still making changes up to September 29, 2023, to the FY20 audit. They placed the funds in a separate location to be counted and deposited.  Councilmember Higgs stated that the approved RFP for the Performance Audit and this happening is a compliant concern. 4.3 Discussion of Ordinance O-24-02 Amendment of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget for NCC Division Transfer to Administration  Ms. Ojo stated that she had provided the Mayor and Council on October 11, 2023, with a directive and purpose for the transfer and the placement of the NCC Division in the lower level of the police department. She feels that the placement impedes the efforts of the division, and she feels that moving them under administration will take them out of a subordinate location to provide support and accountability. They are four layers under the police department, and this impacts their ability to be effective.  There are issues with illegal parking stickers, shopping center cleanness and she feels that if they worked in tandem with EJD and administration they Page 2 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 7A59B492-9FF7-4DFC-A5BF-FE5B12B1B5B4 would get a better outcome. The problem of monitoring it is the level of effectiveness.  Ms. Ojo wanted to make the recommendation to move NCC over to administration.  Councilmember Higgs stated that her concerns are with NCC being under the police department they need assistance from the police department and EJD, and they were not under administration in the past. She is concerned as to how it would be more effective under Administration, as the City Managers oversees all departments.  The City Council recommended it to table this item for further discussion in a Closed Session.  Ms. Ojo stated that it is five layers down from the top.  Councilmember Love inquired if the City Manager can recommend it to restructure the reporting of the division to make it more efficient.  Ms. Ojo stated that it can be restructured, and it has been difficult for her to get the reporting from NCC. They are on the same level as the administrative staff.  Councilmember Bilbro inquired if NCC can be a division on their own considering they are a special task force, as an inter-department division.  Councilmember Wright stated that he feels that it really is not a compelling reason to move NCC from the police department.  Ms. Ojo stated that she had done some research and only two municipalities have NCC in the police department, and that is Forest Heights and Bladensburg.  Councilmember Higgs stated that EJD/Public Works and NCC need to work closely together so that the issue can be addressed. It is a lack of training as everyone that is here may not know their position oppose to telling residents what they need.  Councilmember Higgs stated that she feels that they need to have a discussion in Closed Session for performance and personnel.  Mayor Porter stated that by the Closed Session, Ms. Ojo can have more information to for the Closed Session.  The council does not feel that putting the division under Administration will solve the concern. 5. LEGISLATION 5.1. None Page 3 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 7A59B492-9FF7-4DFC-A5BF-FE5B12B1B5B4 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. None 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS 7.1 Regular Work Session, Monday, November 6, 2023, Hybrid and by Zoom Video, at 6:00p.m. Meeting Link details will be on the city's website. 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD 20743 7.2. Public Session, Monday, November 13, 2023, Hybrid and by Zoom Video, at 7:00p.m., Meeting Link details will be on the city’s website. 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD 20743 7.3 National League of Cities City Summit Conference, November 16-18, 2023, Atlanta, GA 8. ADJOURN 8.1 The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm Submitted by, Dashaun N. Lanham, MMC City Clerk Page 4 of 4