Worksession Minutes

October 2, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. Present were Mayor Calvo, CMs Dennison, Gourley, Jewitt and Lofgren. Also present were Town Administrator Murphy, Clerk Harper and citizens.

1. Mayor

Announcements: There were none.

Calendar: The Council reviewed the calendar. An October 26 Four Cities Coalition meeting needs to be rescheduled. Preferred dates are October 12 and October 30. On November 1 and 2, the Berwyn Heights Education Advisory Committee (EAC) will host Prince George’s County Board of Education candidates’ forums. On the first evening, the district candidates will attend and on the second evening, the at-large candidates. The Boys and Girls Club Awards Dinner was added for November 12. The Police Department's Christmas party was added for December 9, with the gift wrapping scheduled the night prior. Alternate dates for the December 9 Tree Lighting celebration will be explored.

Minutes: The September 13 Town Meeting minutes were reviewed for adoption at the October Town meeting.

Department reports: CM Jewitt reported that Code Enforcement Director Solomon oversaw an eviction on Ruatan Street. The home was sold at a tax sale in 2005 and the former owners had refused to move out. The Prince George's Sheriff's Department and Berwyn Heights Police Department were present to assist. The home's interior was in an advanced state of neglect. The former owner/occupants' belongings were taken out of the house and the new owner was required to devise a comprehensive plan to clean up. Further, County inspectors have looked into the permits of a long unfinished home on 58^th Avenue. The permits had to be renewed and a stop work order was issued until certain violations were addressed. Inspections also had to be scheduled for work that has been done. From the Town's perspective, there is not much that can be done to compel the owner to finish the project as long as permits are active and some progress is made. Lastly, the Staples owners received a $100 fine and the All Star property received a second notice of a violation.

CM Gourley reported that TA Murphy and his assistant completed a house count for the new recycling contractor. There were 1045 homes found. A map, showing the beginning and ending house numbers of each block, will be completed tomorrow. TA Murphy continues to work on updating the Town's credit cards, which should be completed by the next worksession.

CM Dennison reported that the BHEAC will sponsor school board candidates’ forums on November 1 and 2. A new refrigerator for the Concession stand has been bought and installed. Upcoming events include a children’s Halloween party and a Berwyn Heights Historical Committee bus tour. The Seniors have been consulted on the renovation of the Senior Center bathrooms. CM Lofgren reported that the Public Works Crew has cleaned up the 60^th Avenue walkway, sprayed the weeds and applied new mulch. A new aerator has been fitted on the tractor and will be used for the aerating and over seeding the ball fields.

Mayor Calvo reported that he swore in the new Police Officer Michelle J. Bennet. She is an experienced officer, who worked for Prince George's County police. She is completing some additional training before beginning patrols. Chief Murphy is now looking to fill the 8^th officer position funded through the public safety taxing district. Mayor Calvo commended Director Solomon for coordinating the eviction and ensuring there was enough police support. Lastly, he said that he attended the induction of the new BHES student council on September 28.

Citizen Comments: CM Dennison received comments from a resident about creating parking spaces in front of the Berwyn Heights Elementary School, unwanted delivery of the Gazette, registration deadline for the Berwyn Heights Town elections and a dead tree on the corner of 63^rd Avenue and Quebec Street. Another comment received noted a problem with leaves and other debris getting into the Sports Park Concession stand. CM Jewitt received a comment about the regular sweeping of streets and a suggestion to establish a forum for residents to meet the Town's department directors and ask questions, possibly during Municipal Government Week.

Mayor Calvo received an inquiry about installing a better crosswalk across Kenilworth Avenue to connect to Westchester Park; complaints about dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs; and the delivery of unwanted newspapers. The Town may want to publish the phone numbers for canceling the delivery of the Gazette and other free newspapers. He further related that the fire prevention inspector recently inspected the fire lane in front of the Berwyn Heights Elementary School and agreed that additional parking spaces could be created without impacting fire safety. The matter will now have to be approved by the Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS).

Mike Attick of 62^nd Avenue asked when the new recycling contractor will start and requested a copy of the map of housing units in Berwyn Heights prepared for the new recycling company for use by the Neighborhood Watch/Emergency Preparedness (NW/EP). Mr. Attick also asked for the starting date of the new recycling contractor and announced that the NW/EP will offer free CPR classes in November.

Mayor Calvo commented on the Bulletin, noting that there is no Halloween theme on the cover and that the minutes stop in mid-sentence on page 3. CM Lofgren questioned the need to publicize the new recycling contractor on the Bulletin cover if the transition is going to be seamless.

Traffic Safety Committee: Mayor Calvo said that a revised version of the mission statement for the Safe Streets Committee was published in the October Bulletin. Residents interested in serving on the Committee are requested to send in their address and contact information as well as a letter of interest that states why he/she would like to serve on the Committee. The resolution to establish the Committee will be adopted at the October Town Meeting. Any other proposed changes should be forwarded to the Council within the week.

Senator Pinsky District 22 municipalities meeting: Mayor Calvo announced that Senator Paul Pinsky has invited the Councilmembers of cities and towns in District 22 to attend a round table discussion on October 26. Topics would include 1) economic development, especially if it impacts neighboring communities; 2) best practices that could serve as models; and 3) challenges facing municipalities. He would like the Council to attend and asked that the discussion of topics be added to agenda of the next worksession.

CM Dennison said that the date conflicts with the Prince George's County Municipal Association (PGCMA) forum on planning and zoning that will be attended by a number of municipal officials. TA Murphy was tasked with finding out if the round table discussion could be rescheduled.

2. Administration

Position classification and pay plan: Mayor Calvo explained that the Council will finalize the department directors’ evaluation tonight and at the next worksession make decisions about how to divide up the merit pay.

TA Murphy said that he has completed the position classification and pay plan. The Personnel Manual requires the Town Administrator to develop and maintain a position classification plan, which is to be reviewed by the Council before adoption. Town Attorney Shay recommended adopting the position classification and pay plan by ordinance. TA Murphy thought that a resolution would be sufficient. A resolution would formalize the approval serve as a benchmark for future reference.

Mayor Calvo agreed that an adoption by resolution is sufficient. He then asked 1) that the pay plan, which is based on last year's salary comparisons, be made “dynamic,” i.e. is automatically updated to include the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to salaries; and 2) that the Town Administrator be charged with keeping the pay plan updated. He then proposed that merit pay and salary adjustments be implemented at the same time, so that the pay plan would only be updated once. He expects the classification system and pay plan to be finalized at the next worksession and a summary published in the November Bulletin.

Recycling contract: TA Murphy explained that the contract was approved by the new recycling company, Bates Trucking, Inc., with all changes proposed by the Town. These include 1) collection of all commonly recycled materials with the exception of any recyclables contained in plastic bags; 2) collection of recyclables on Thursdays between 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (however, the 7:30 a.m. start time may result in collection taking place later in the day); 3) collection bins to be provided by the Town; 4) option to remain in the County recycling program contract or stay with Bates Trucking at the end of this term, June 30, 2007; 5) specification of insurance to be carried by recycler; and 6) a hold harmless clause.

The Council discussed procedures for addressing non-compliance with the new rule that recyclables in plastic bags will not be picked up. It was proposed and agreed that a friendly notice be developed explaining the new rules rather than violations issued. Council also agreed to a 7:00 a.m. starting time to enable the recycler to finish collection in the morning.

CM Gourley moved to approve the contract as amended. CM Lofgren seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

3. Code Enforcement

No items were discussed.

4. Parks and Recreation

Farwell memorial: Mayor Calvo explained that the Council charged the Historical (BHHC) and the Berwyn Heights Education Advisory Committees (EAC) with developing a proposal to memorialize the former principal of Berwyn Heights Elementary School, Miriam Farwell, who died this spring. The Committees have now submitted their recommendations.

Chair of the EAC, Ann Harris Davidson, said the Committees essentially agreed that the existing plaque honoring Ms. Farwell be rededicated and placed in the centrally-located court yard of the school. However, the Committees did not actually meet to discuss the memorial. She noted that the recommendations of the BHHC were adopted prior to those of the EAC and that BHHC proposed naming the fields surrounding the school “Farwell Park.” The EAC recommends naming the court yard “Miriam E. Farwell Memorial Garden/Park.

Mayor Calvo concluded that the Committees' recommendations do not amount to one single proposal, as requested by the Council, but are in fact different proposals. He had hoped that the rededication memorial ceremony would afford the opportunity to revisit the history of Ms. Farwell's principalship and the first memorial dedication. He asked the Council to consider sending the matter back to the Committees or take the planning into its own hands.

In discussions, Ms. Davidson proposed to help set up a group composed of interested residents and former students to plan the re-dedication of the plaque. CM Dennison suggested sending the matter back to the Committees in light of the upcoming election of new officers of the Historical Committee. CM Jewitt said that the instructions to the Committees may not have been specific enough at the outset, but that the proposals are similar. CM Lofgren said that the Historical Committee did not have a clear understanding of the intended scope of the project and thought it did what it was supposed to do. He questioned the wisdom of revisiting the entire history of the school and its closing, which was done contrary to the wishes of the Town.

Mayor Calvo moved to send the matter back to the Committees to come up with a single joint proposal to memorialize Ms. Farwell and an event plan for the ceremony. CM Jewitt seconded. CM Lofgren proposed an amendment to limit the charge to planning a re-dedication ceremony that focuses on the history of the dedication and excludes renaming the school. CM Gourley seconded. There were no objections to the amendment. The amended motion passed 5 to 0.

No items were discussed under Public Health or Public Works

At 8:50 p.m., the Council took a break

7. Executive Session (9:13 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.)

On a motion by CM Gourley and second by CM Lofgren, the Council went into executive session to discuss specific personnel matters. With matters discussed, the Council ended the executive session on a motion by CM Gourley seconded by CM Jewitt.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:08 a.m.

Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk

 
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