City Council

Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SEAT PLEASANT PUBLIC SESSION MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2024 7:00P.M. 1. OPENING 1.1.1 Call to Order Council President Higgs called the meeting to order at 7:03p.m. 1.2. Roll Call Present: Council President Monica Higgs, Councilmember Garry A. Jones, Councilmember Ashley Kearney, Councilmember Hope Love, Council Vice President Shireka McCarthy, Mayor Kelly Porter, Councilmember Gerald Raynor, Sr., and Councilmember Kizzie Scott Staff: Dashaun N. Ball, City Clerk, Michael Barber, Director of Environmental Justice, Paul Corridean, Captain, Ashley Drakeford, Public Engagement Manager, Demetrious Harris, Interim City Manager, and Cedric Heyward, Acting Chief of Police. 1.3. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance- Councilmember Jones gave the invocation. 1.4 Approval of Agenda with Amendments by removing the presentation and to suspend the reading of Ordinance O-25-08 Amendment of Chapter 14-Department and Committees. Motion by Hope Love second by Gerald Raynor, Sr. Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones No: Kizzie Scott 1.5 Approval of Regular Work Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, October 7, 2024 Motion to Approve Regular Work Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, October 7, 2024 Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Garry A. Jones. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones Page 1 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797 Abstain: Kizzie Scott 1.6 Approval of Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 4, 2024. Motion to Approve the Public Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 4, 2024 Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Garry A Jones. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones Abstain: Kizzie Scott 1.7 Approval of Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 18, 2024 Motion to Approve Special Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 18, 2024 Motion by Hope Love, second by Shireka McCarthy. Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones Abstain: Kizzie Scott 1.8 1.8 Approval of Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 18, 2024 Motion to Approve Closed Session Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 18, 2024. Motion by Gerald Raynor Sr, second by Shireka McCarthy. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones Abstain: Kizzie Scott 2. CITIZEN COMMENTS  There was no Citizen Comments for the Public Session held on Monday, December 9, 2024. Page 2 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797  PRESENTATION 3.1. None 4. LEGISLATION 4.1 Ordinance O-25-07 Amendment of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget for GOCCP Grants for Gun Violence, Body Armor and Warrants and Absconding 2nd Reading. Motion to Approve Ordinance O-25-07 Amendment of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget for GOCCP Grants for Body Armor, Gun Violence and Warrants and Absconding Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Gerald Raynor Sr. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones No: Kizzie Scott 4.2 Ordinance O-25-08 Amendment of Chapter 14-Departments and Committees 2nd Reading Ordinance O-25-08 Amendment of Chapter 14-Departments and Committees Motion by Hope Love, second by Garry A Jones. Final Resolution: Motion Carried Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones No: Kizzie Scott 5. REPORTS 5.1 Kelly Porter, Mayor Report:  Mayor Porter read his report for November 2024. 5.2 Council President Report- Council President Monica Higgs, Councilmember Ward I  Council President Higgs read her report for the record for November 2024.  Mayor Porter requested for the Legislative Priorities be provided to him by Ms. Rhoda. 5.3 Demetrious Harris, Interim City Manager Page 3 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797  Mr. Harris stated the report can be viewed in BoardDocs. The events are being advertised on Big Belly’s. The upcoming event for Saturday, December 21, 2024, has been posted.  The ARPA balance document was submitted to the City Council. The All-Profit HR completed the Audit, and it will be submitted to the Council for review.  The Finance department is working on the FY23 Audit, and they have received the 4th Draft of the Performance Audit, and the city will be providing the response, and it has been sent to the City Attorney. The final draft will be provided in January.  Councilmember McCarthy requested that the events be added to the council calendars.  Councilmember Kearney inquired on page 3 1A regarding the deposit with the industrial bank or PNC.  Mr. Harris stated that the Industrial Bank is the city's current bank and to collateralize the city's funding has to be approved by the bank and the council. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1. Obligation of ARPA Funding  Mr. Harris stated that he recently sent the document to the council on the ARPA Balance on the account. There have been some inconsistencies in the coding of the funds spent for the ARPA. There were incidents of duplicate payments to the vendor. The CFO will retrieve the duplicate funds, and charges to the ARPA account by the previous City Manager that was not submitted.  Ms. Rhoda stated that there was a substantial amount charged to the grants account that has been moved to the correct account. It had reduced the balance significantly. The entries were broken down in the Grants, but the ledger had them as one expense. The city needs to reinstitute monthly reports to the departments.  Councilmember McCarthy inquired if the contractor for the ARPA Grant reconciled the accounts.  Mr. Harris stated that the Grants department and the contractor had documented each transaction, but the Finance Department had not documented the transactions.  Mr. Harris stated that the information can be provided by Friday, December 13, 2024. If there are any balances remaining, that can be used for revenue replenishment. Page 4 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797  Ms. Rhoda stated the approximate balance for the ARPA is $87,655.79  The City Council requested the City Clerk to pull the minutes and the report for the initial recommendation on the ARPA Funds.  The council agreed to discuss the item on Monday with the expectation to receive the report by Friday, December 13, 2024. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7.1. Approval of Boards and Commission Members  Mayor Porter stated that the application for the Personnel Appeals Board application for Donovan Bilbro Reveral Yeargin and Lacretia Hill have been uploaded for the council consideration.  Mayor Porter stated that the Ethics Commission applications for Chawleen Perry Smith and Aretha Stephenson have been uploaded for council consideration.  Motion to approve the application for the candidates individually.  Motion by Ashley Kearney, second by Gerald Raynor Sr.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Motion to approve Donovan Bilbro for the Personnel Appeals Board  Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Gerald Raynor Sr.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Abstain: Kizzie Scott  Motion to postpone the appointment of Reveral Yeargin for the Personnel Appeals Board until Application is properly completed.  Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Ashley Kearney.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Abstain: Kizzie Scott Page 5 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797  Motion to approve Lacretia Hill for the Personnel Appeals Board  Motion by Shireka McCarthy, second by Garry A Jones.  Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Motion to approve Chawleen Perry Smith for the Ethics Commission  Motion by Garry A Jones, second by Gerald Raynor Sr.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Kizzie Scott, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Motion to amend the approval Aretha Stephenson for the Ethics Commission until the potential financial matters are reconciled.  Motion by Hope Love, second by Shireka McCarthy.  Final Resolution: Motion Carried  Yes: Monica Higgs, Hope Love, Gerald Raynor Sr, Shireka McCarthy, Ashley Kearney, Garry A Jones  Abstain: Kizzie Scott 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8.1 Seat Pleasant Police Department Santa with a Badge, Sunday, December 15, 2024, Shopping @ Target, Lanham, MD from 8:00am- 2:00pm 8.2 The Leadership Holiday Soiree, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Blackwall Hitch, 400 6th St., Annapolis, MD at 6:30pm 8.3 The Merriest Gathering, Saturday, December 21, 2024, Seat Pleasant City Hall-6301 Addison Rd. Seat Pleasant, MD 20743, from 12:00pm-3:00pm 8.4 Seat Pleasant Police Department, Santa Tour, Monday, December 23, 2024, Seat Pleasant Community at 5:00p.m. 8.5 Light Up Your Holiday Santa Ride, Monday, December 23, 2024, at 5:00pm 8.6 Light Up Your Holiday Judging, Wednesday, December 18-Sunday, December 22, 2024, from 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Page 6 of 7 Docusign Envelope ID: B3076B45-5521-4884-BEE4-303FC33BF797 8.7 Regular Work Session, Monday, January 6, 2025, Seat Pleasant City Hall-Council Chambers, 6301 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant, MD at 6:00p.m. Hybrid and by Zoom Video. Meeting Link details will be on the city's website. 9. ADJOURN: 9.1 The meeting adjourned at 8:22pm Submitted by, Dashaun N. Ball, CPM, MMC City Clerk Page 7 of 7