City Council

DocuSign Envelope ID: CBB8B2ED-4306-4364-A5F5-C670F93EF874 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT REGULAR WORK SESSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2023 6:00P.M. 1. OPENING 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), Councilmember James Wright Staff: Demetrious Harris, Chief of Police, Cedric Heyward, Assistant Chief of Police, LaShaya Johnson, Staff Assistant, Joshua Johnson, NCC Supervisor, Myneca Ojo, City Manager 1.3 Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: The invocation was given by Mayor Porter. 1.4. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda. Motion by Hope Love, second by Monica Higgs Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, James Wright Jr., Donovan Bilbro No: Kizzie Scott 2. PRESENTATIONS 2.1. Delegate Tiffany Alston  Delegate Tiffany Alston did not attend the meeting on Monday, November 6, 2023. 3. REPORTS 3.1 Mayor’s Report Page 1 of 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBB8B2ED-4306-4364-A5F5-C670F93EF874  Mayor Porter stated that his report can be found in Board Docs, and it details the meeting he attended in the month of October.  Mayor Porter stated that he attended various meetings, including the Special/Closed Session, and the Maryland Black Mayor’s meeting.  Mayor Porter stated that he attended the Seat Pleasant Police Department Rise Up ever, Mayors Appreciation Luncheon, and the HOA/Civic Leaders Summit.  Mayor Porter stated that he presented a proclamation and will provide a monthly report in the upcoming meeting.  Mayor Porter stated that he did not prepare any letters or recommend any legislation or have any scheduled speaking engagements in the month of October. 3.2 City Manager Report  Ms. Ojo stated that the Environmental Justice Department has shifted the focus to fall task, emphasizing sidewalk maintenance and winter preparedness. The Fleet vehicles underwent routine maintenance and winterization. The Street Sweeping operations concluded, with plans to replace signs for the spring.  Ms. Ojo stated that the successful “Trunk or Treat” event by the Police Department drew hundreds of participants.  Ms. Ojo stated that Public Engagement hosted a Turnip Tour, Farmers Market during First Fridays. The Constituent Service handled information requests and bulk trash pickups.  Ms. Ojo stated that the mayor represented the city in a Joint Committee on Public Finance update on the audit delays. The FY2020 Audit is complete; the FY21 is expected to be completed by December 31st, and the FY 22 by March 30th.  Ms. Ojo stated that the Performance Audit covering FY2019-2023 is mandated with the city in full cooperation.  Ms. Ojo stated that she attended a meeting with the Mayor of the Maryland State Comptroller’s Local Government Advisory Council and the ICMA Conference in Austin, TX.  Ms. Ojo stated that the City Leadership departmental reports are available for review in BoardDocs.  Councilmember McCarthy stated that there are concerns about citizen comment response and the request without any objection was to have some record in the monthly reports to keep the council updated on when the requests were answered or their status. Page 2 of 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBB8B2ED-4306-4364-A5F5-C670F93EF874  Ms. Ojo stated that she can make sure that it is included in the report moving forward.  Councilmember McCarthy stated that she continues to receive telephone calls from citizens stating that they have received a response to their request. This will allow the council to keep track and support the City Manager when things arise. She would like to see an update on the report.  Ms. Ojo stated that delinquent tax meant delinquent audit in the report.  Mayor Porter stated that it is getting dark, and we have several lights in the community. We need to go around to see which lamps are out and I am requesting that we do a tour to make sure all lights are up since it Is getting darker. Council Committee Reports  The City Council did not have any committee reports for the month of October. 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS 4.1. There were no citizens in attendance in-person or virtually and written comments for Monday, November 6, 2023. 5. LEGISLATION 5.1 Resolution R-24-04 Declaration of Municipal Government Works Month.  Resolution R-24-04 was introduced by the City Council and read by Ms. Johnson on Monday, November 6, 2023.  Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by James Wright Jr.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, James Wright Jr, Donovan K Bilbro  Abstain: Kizzie Scott 5.2 Ordinance O- 24-05 Mayor and City Council Salaries Increase 1st Reading.  Ordinance O-24-05 Mayor and City Council Salaries Increase was introduced by the City Council and read by Ms. Johnson on Monday, November 6, 2023. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1 Non-Citizen Voting Information Page 3 of 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBB8B2ED-4306-4364-A5F5-C670F93EF874  Councilmember James Wright: The most important goal is to provide a vote by those in the community who are not citizens but have citizen obligations, we should support anyone who wants to vote in this county.  McCarthy – I suggest this goes to the government affairs committee to create our legislation from it, I think it needs to be studied extensively and then voted on by the council.  Councilmember Wright: response I do agree with this process so we can work together on this initiative. 7. NEW BUSINESS 7. 1. 6904 Avon St Variance Approval Request V-40-23  Mr. Johnson stated that the variance is for an addition of the house on the front it was brought to the council because it's zoning, neighbors don’t have an issue, police don’t have an issue, and the variance is waiting on the council approval, they are working on getting their county permits, once approved by the council, they will inform the county. Josh did ask all neighbors directly affected if they were okay with this construction,  Councilwoman McCarthy inquired if they could make sure we do some education around the noise ordinances, time to start, time to end, dumping requirements, and so forth?  Mr. Johnson stated that when we issue building permits, we do include the information regarding the noise ordinance and, on the application, requires you to get a dumpster before construction can begin. Construction time is between the hours of 7:00am and 6:00 pm.  Councilmember Bilbro inquired if there is an estimated window of how long this will take.  Mr. Johnson stated that he does not have the details as they have not been approved.  Ms. Ojo asked Chief Harris if the decimal sounds, is that in between a time, we had an ordinance that passed when it came to music, the application also Page 4 of 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBB8B2ED-4306-4364-A5F5-C670F93EF874 has it for the same timeframe, the music is later than construction, and it is not in the code but as long as it’s between that time frame.  Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Donovan K Bilbro.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, James Wright Jr, Donovan K Bilbro 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8.1 Public Session, Monday, November 13, 2023, Virtual via Zoom Video, at 7:00p.m., Meeting Link details will be on the city's website. 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD 20743 8.2 Care for Seniors: Nurturing Our Elderly Community by Councilwoman Hope Love, Saturday, December 2, 2023, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm 8.3 Regular Work Session, Monday, December 4, 2023, Hybrid and by Zoom Video at 6:00pm. Meeting Link details will be on the city's website. 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD 8.4 Public Session, Monday, December 11, 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 8.5 City of Seat Pleasant Open House and Tree Lighting, Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 9. ADJOURN 9.1 The meeting adjourned at 7:02pm Respectfully submitted, Dashaun N. Lanham, MMC City Clerk Page 5 of 5