Town of Berwyn Heights

Worksession Minutes

October 3, 2005

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. Present were Mayor Calvo, CMs Dennison, Gourley and Laughlin. CM McNulty had an excused absence. Also present were Town Administrator Murphy, Clerk Harper, Gazette reporter Courtney Burns and citizens.

1. Mayor

Announcements: The Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual open house on October 22, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Maryland-National Parks and Planning Commission will hold a forum to solicit public input on its parks and recreation budget for the next fiscal year on October 11 at Fort Washington. Written proposals can be submitted until October 21. Mayor Calvo and former Councilmember Htun will participate in the Port Towns Paddle Sports Regatta on October 8.

Calendar: In October, worksessions will be held on the 3^rd and the 17^th and the Town meeting on the 12^th. Greenbelt National Park will hold its fall festival on the 8^th. The Seminole Street under drain project is set to begin on the 10^th. Affected residents have been notified. On the occasion of Gorgeous Prince George's Day, a fall planting of trees and shrubs will take place on the 15^th. The Prince George's County Municipal Association (PGCMA) will host a legislative reception at the County Council on the 18^{th in} Upper Marlboro. The Haunted House is on the 29^th and Trick-or-Treating on the 31^st.

In November, worksessions will be on the 7^th and the 21^st, the Town meeting on the 9^th. The Boys & Girls Club Awards Dinner will be on the 6^th, the Historical Committee book signing on the 13^th, the PGCMA Legislative Dinner on the 17^th and Thanksgiving on the 24^th. Town offices will be closed on the 24^th and 25^th as well as November 11^th, Veterans Day. A date for the Berwyn Heights' legislative dinner with the District 22 delegation needs to be scheduled, preferably for the week of November 28^th.

In December, worksessions will be on the 5^th and 19^th, the Town meeting on the 14^th. The Police Department children's Christmas party will take place on the 10^th and a gift wrapping on the 9^th. Town offices will close at noon on the 23^rd, the day before Christmas, and on the 30^th, the day before New Year. Town offices will be closed on the 26^th, the day after Christmas. The Tree Lighting celebration was tentatively set for December 3^rd. A date for the employee Christmas is to be determined.

Minutes: The Council corrected the September Town meeting minutes to be approved at the October Town meeting. CM Gourley moved to approve the September 19 Worksession minutes. CM Dennison seconded. The minutes were approved 4 to 0 with corrections.

Department reports: CM Laughlin reported that she met with the Code Enforcement Director to go over her performance evaluation. Mayor Calvo asked if rental housing application forms have been changed to allow landlords to specify how they would like to be notified about rental issues in addition to certified letters. TA Murphy thought this was done but will double check. CM Dennison reported that the Haunted House planning committee continues to meet Tuesday evenings. The Town Center will be closed the week prior to the event. Help is needed with assembling the set as well as with decorating, ticket taking and play acting. The Education Advisory Committee (EAC) continues to track student enrollment at Berwyn Heights Elementary School (BHES) and confirms that no teachers will be lost due to lower enrollment this year. The Historical Committee is planning the November 13 book signing. The Shade Tree Board has not met in a while. CM Gourley reported that the BHES fields have been aerated and seeded. The Public Works crew is watering the field daily. Repairs on the primary trash truck were minor, permitting it to be put back into service shortly. Loose leaf collection is scheduled to begin on November 1 and to end on December 31. Mayor Calvo reported for CM McNulty that College Park has requested to borrow the speed monitor for a test in College Park Estates. The 6100 block of Seminole Street will be closed during the Fire Department open house on October 22. For the Administration Department, Mayor Calvo reported that notices for business licenses and personal property taxes have been sent out. With the newly instituted late fees, payment of personal property taxes has been more prompt.

Citizen comments: Carmen Greenwell reported that the October 1 emergency preparedness communications drill went well and that important problem areas have been identified. Among other things, it is recommended that the Public Works garage get a signal booster. Further, the Emergency Preparedness Committee is requesting re-reimbursement for gas used during the drill.

CM Gourley received a comment about a dead branch hanging over a sidewalk used by school children. CM Laughlin noted that the Town needs to follow up on a complaint about noise disruptions on Ruatan Street and that the Town's September 24 emergency preparedness workshop received very positive feedback at the last Four Cities Coalition meeting. CM Dennison received comments about the storage container set up in the Town Center parking lot. It was suggested that it be moved to the rear parking lot. Mayor Calvo received comments about the Branchville Road annexation issue and reduced overcrowding at Berwyn Heights Elementary School.

Ordinance No. 134 employee salaries: TA Murphy explained that he has written up cost estimates for four alternate salary proposals. The first and original proposal, based on a $1.00/hour raise for police officers and a $0.70/hour raise for public works employees, would cost $20,273 in FY 2006 and $33,074 in FY 2007. The second proposal, based on a $1.00/hour raise for all Police and Public Works Department employees, would cost $24,389 in FY 2006 and $38,659 in FY 2007. The third proposal, based on a $1.00/hour raise for all full-time and part-time employees except department directors, would cost $29,532 in FY 2006 and $44,836 in FY 2007. The fourth proposal, based on a $1.00/hour raise for all full-time and part-time employees including department directors, would cost $35,507 in FY 2006 and $54,682 in FY 2007. In the current fiscal year, the increases in salary can be financed largely from vacancies in the Police and Public Works Department. However, a budget amendment appropriating $15,000 from excess income tax revenues for salary increases is also being considered. For FY 2007, the salary raises would be financed from anticipated increases in income and real estate taxes.

Mayor Calvo commented that he has not gone over all of these estimates and some may be on the low side. He favors the first proposal which deals only with critical salary raises in the Police and Public Works Departments. However, he regards this as a first step in dealing with the employee compensation system more broadly, which would include health and retirement benefits. If the Council adopted a $1.00/hour salary increase for all employees, it would limit the Town with respect to addressing the benefits issue in the future.

CM Laughlin said that she prefers to address only the starting salary for a new police officer now and take a closer look at compensation issues during the budget process. CM Dennison thought that raising the starting salary for a new officer would be unfair to the other officers who have worked here all along. She supports the proposal that was introduced at the last Town meeting contingent on addressing other salaries in the next budget process.

CM Gourley said that salaries should have been addressed a long time ago. At this point, the Town has no other choice but to do something to keep salaries competitive and retain long-standing employees. He continues to support a $1.00/hour raise for all employees but may vote with the majority if a consensus on a different proposal emerges.

TA Murphy stated that he does not believe a new starting salary of $33,100/year is sufficient to attract a new police officer. He recommended a minimum of $34,000/year plus holidays.

Mayor Calvo summarized that there are not enough votes to approve Ordinance No. 134 at the October Town meeting. Therefore the Council should move to defer the vote so that the issue can be discussed at the next worksessions. CM Laughlin asked to be provided with revised estimates for gas expenses for the current fiscal year.

At 8:30 p.m., the Council took a 10 minutes break.

3. Public Health and Safety

Fire lane parking at BHES: This item was postponed to a future worksession.

4. Public Works

Gorgeous Prince George's planting: CM Gourley explained that the Public Works Department will sponsor a Gorgeous Prince George's beautification project on October 15. Red oaks, red buds and flowering shrubs will be planted in several locations around Town. Volunteers to help with planting are needed. They will be served a breakfast at the Town Office. CM Gourley is also requesting donations of spring bulbs from residents to be planted on October 29 at intersection of Kenilworth Avenue and Pontiac Street.

5. Parks and Recreation (discussed out of order)

BHES field: TA Murphy said that the newly seeded field is being watered every day. Associated material and labor expenses are being tracked in a separate line item.

6. Administration

No items were discussed.

6. Code Enforcement

No items were discussed.

7. Executive Session

CM Gourley moved to go into executive session regarding a personnel and a legal matter. CM Dennison seconded. The motion passed 4 to 0. With matters discussed, CM Gourley moved to end the executive session. CM Dennison seconded. The motion passed 4 to 0.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk