Mayor Calvo led the Pledge of Allegiance.

1.    Minutes

Clerk Harper read a summary of the June 13 Town meeting minutes. On a motion by MPT Jewitt and second by CM Lofgren, the minutes were approved 5 to 0 with corrections.

2.    Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Lape gave the Treasurer's report for the month of June.

3.    Mayor’s Report

Mayor Calvo began with comments on property tax bills recently received by home owners. He said that the tax bills show very large increases due to a steep rise in assessments. However, the increases are moderated by homestead tax credits, which rebate increases above 10% for municipal property taxes and increases above 4% for County property taxes. Those who operate businesses or rental properties do not benefit from rebates and must pay the full amount of increases. He advised residents to check their bills to verify that they were billed on the basis of principal residence and received the homestead tax credit.

Mayor Calvo continued with a report on the Maryland Municipal League (MML) conference, which all Councilmembers attended in late June. Contrary to reports in the Gazette, this is not a vacation but a valuable educational and networking opportunity for municipal leaders. This year's central issue was a looming $1.5 billion structural deficit in the State budget. Many senior governmental leaders from the Governor to the Speakers of the General Assembly gave presentations and addressed the issue of the deficit. Senate leader Mike Miller in a speech identified two main reasons for the deficit: 1) the implementation of the Thornton education enhancement plan and 2) the lowering of the State income tax from 5% to 4.75% under Governor Ehrlich's administration. Among the remedies considered are a 1% increase in the sales tax and inclusion of a number of services currently not subject to the sales tax, a 12 cent increase in the gas tax, a roll back of the Ehrlich income tax reduction and permitting slot machine gambling. Another likely result of the deficit are cuts in State aid to municipalities, from Highway User Revenues (HUR) to Community Legacy grants.

Mayor Calvo further reported that he was able to talk to a number of State and local leaders, including County Executive Jack Johnson, who promised to visit Berwyn Heights for Hello Huskies night. In addition to attending many workshops, he participated in a workshop on New Immigrant Populations and talked about how Berwyn Heights tries to integrate new immigrants through institutions of school, community organizations and the Town government. He also talked with other municipal leaders about the issue of non-traditional mortgages and potential foreclosures, on which he plans to organize a community forum in the near future.

In other news, Mayor Calvo, TA Murphy and Director Coleman last week met with WSSC representatives to talk about water main replacement projects and expressed their concern about the quality of work performed by the subcontractors. He also met twice with employees to brief them on plans to improve the Town's retirement system and possibly join the State pension plan. On June 3, he and TA Murphy testified for Commerce Bank before the Planning Board and prevented changes to the site plan that would have made the parking lot smaller and resulted in a higher retaining wall. Last week, the Council also received an update by Metroland developers who are about to file a detailed site plan for a mixed use residential/commercial complex in the south core and are in the process of settling the ownership issue of the Branchville Road Bridge. Next week, Berwyn Heights will host a Four Cities Coalition meeting to which residents are welcome to attend.

Lastly, Mayor Calvo reported that the Town Council held an executive session at the July 2 worksession to discuss 2 personnel matters, and began defining a framework for a formal fiscal policy. Together with adoption of a Commercial Clean Lot ordinance, Noise Ordinance and Charter amendments, this topic will dominate the Council's attention over the next couple of months. The Town continues to seek a Spanish interpreter and welcomes residents’ applications.

4.    Department Reports

Administration: CM Gourley reported that he had the honor to be the flag bearer for Berwyn Heights at the MML conference. But he noticed that the flag and pole should probably be replaced sometime soon. He agreed with Mayor Calvo that the Gazette article on MML was misleading and said that he spent most of his days attending workshops and networking. Notably, he attended workshops on Playground Design and Safety, Multi-Family Housing, New Immigrant Populations and a Round table with Cabinet Secretaries. All of these were valuable and instructive.

CM Gourley further announced that he has a lead for a possible Spanish interpreter and reported on revenues received to date. Among them was a $62,000 check for income taxes possibly the largest income tax receipt in Berwyn Heights history.

Code Enforcement: MPT Jewitt commented on the MML conference and explained that it offers councilmembers formal training on municipal government as well valuable interaction with local and state leaders in a business setting. In particular, the roundtable discussions with cabinet secretaries, instituted during the Ehrlich administration, provides access to state leaders not usually available to municipal leaders.

In code enforcement news, MPT Jewitt reported that he will lead a discussion on a Commercial Clean Lot Ordinance at the next worksession, which will focus on the needs of businesses. Further, he reminded residents that the residential Clean Lot Ordinance prohibits the storing of junked and untagged vehicles on the property, unless enclosed in a garage or properly covered. He thanked the Public Works Department for assisting in 3 abatements and concluded with a report on code violations and permitting.

Parks and Recreation, Education and Civic Affairs: CM Dennison commenting on the MML conference, said that she has particularly benefited from Academy of Excellence in Local Government classes offered during the conferences and has become an Academy fellow. This time, she attended workshops on volunteering, playground safety and new immigrants.

CM Dennison continued with department news, noting that most Town committees are on summer break. The Berwyn Heights Elementary School (BHES) PTA is preparing Hello Huskies night, which she plans to attend this year. She also had the pleasure of participating in picnics of the Boys & Girls Club and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in June. Town Committees will meet again beginning in August and September.

Public Health and Safety: Mayor Calvo announced that Corporal Billy Sullivan resigned after 15 years on the Berwyn Heights police force to join the Edmonston police force as second in command. The Council voted to allow him to leave by retiring, thus granting certain privileges. As a community resource officer, Officer Sullivan was well known and well liked by the teachers and children of BHES and community organizations and will be missed. Mayor Calvo commented the fact that Berwyn Heights officers transfer to other municipal police forces with promotions is testament to the quality of the Berwyn Heights police department training.

Chief Murphy gave the police activities report for June. There were 7 Part I offenses, comparing favorably with a 5 year average of 15.2. The year-to-date Part I offenses amount to 58, which is also lower than the 5 year average of 68.2. Chief Murphy believes that the 8^th officer funded through the Public Safety Taxing District and additional traffic safety patrols are the reason for the decline in crime. Further, 4 Berwyn Heights officers again participated in providing security during the 4^th of July celebrations on the Mall. They were stationed at the Jefferson Memorial and had to help evacuate the mall before a thunderstorm and then coordinate an orderly return an hour later. The Park Police will reimburse the department for their services.

Chief Murphy said that Officer Sullivan will be difficult to replace but the active recruitment of veteran Berwyn Heights officers for leadership positions in other departments is a compliment to the quality of the Berwyn Heights police. He concluded with highlights from press releases.

Public Works: CM Lofgren reported that 2 refuse trucks and the pickup truck underwent repairs. Landfill dumping costs increased from $49 to $59 per ton despite assurances that no increases were planned. Public Works installed new trash receptacles on Edmonston Road and Sports Park, assisted in 2 abatements, applied herbicides and turned off the BHES flasher. The new gate for the Public Works yard will be installed in the next several weeks. Lastly, CM Lofgren complimented Chief Murphy's leadership as an important reason Berwyn Heights police officers are sought out by other police departments.

5.    Committee Reports

Education Advisory Committee: Chair Ann Harris Davidson reported that BHES students did very well on their Maryland Standardized Assessments (MSA), especially in grades 3 and 4, where 84% - 90% performed on or above grade level, according to the Maryland State Department of Education's (MSDE) 2007 Report Card. More importantly, BHES continues to meet the required Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The test results are even more impressive when BHES is compared with schools that have a similar percentage of Hispanic students and students on free and reduced meals. Ms. Davidson also announced that there are vacancies for 5^th and 6^th grade teachers and asked residents to spread the word.

With respect to the Prince George's County Schools system (PGCPS), CEO Deasy was given a very favorable evaluation by the school board after his first year in office. At least 34 candidates have applied for the school board vacancy left by Nate Thomas. The Education Advisory Committee has arranged for Greenbelt Middle School Principal Judy Austin to attend their August 14 meeting. Lastly, the Town office has been given a copy of the school board’s AIMCO records, which are available for public inspection.

Historical Committee: Chair Cheryl Jewitt announced that the Committee chose Edmonston Road for next historical street marker. It will fit well into a walking tour that is described and updated in the Committee's Berwyn Heights Walking Tour brochure. The Committee will meet on September 25 and hold its annual elections. The Committee welcomes suggestions for events that residents might enjoy. A number of requests have been received for a repeat of last year's wine and cheese reception and will be granted.

Neighborhood Watch/Emergency Preparedness: Chair Mike Attick announced that the next meeting will be held on August 1. On July 31, 5 - 9 p.m., the NW/EP will run a pandemic flu exercise which is intended to test the response of residents and CERT volunteers to a potential flu pandemic and simulate collection of data. To participate, households should place a simple sign in a window at 5 p.m. stating how many persons live in the house and how many of them are theoretically sick. Another sign should be placed in the window at 7 p.m. stating how many persons live in the house and possible changes in the number of sick. NW/EP volunteers will drive through Town, record the information and pass it along to County and State agencies.

CM Lofgren asked Ms. Jewitt about changes in the County's historic preservation program. Ms. Jewitt said that, at the last Historical Committee meeting, Ann Harris Davidson gave a presentation on the matter. Ms. Davidson elaborated that the Park and Planning Commission is again accepting applications for the County Historic Homes Register.  However, applications will be accepted within the framework of updating the County Historic Homes and Sites District Plan undertaken by an architectural contractor. Of 115 available slots on the Register, approximately 111 have already been filled, 3 of which are located in Berwyn Heights. They are the Chlopicki and Stark Victorian homes and her own Sears home. The remaining slots are available for as yet unidentified historic homes or sites. Interested homeowners can contact Mr. Howard Berger, the new Park and Planning architectural historian, for information on applications.

CM Lofgren reiterated that the County still lacks a continuing process to accept new historic homes to the Historic Homes Register. Mayor Calvo noted that he and CM Lofgren spoke to County Councilmember Olson about reviving the historic preservation program on an ongoing basis rather than via an infrequent updating of a master plan. Ms. Davidson thanked the Council for helping to get this process started.

Recreation Council:  CM Dennison reported that an Ice Cream Social, hosted by the seniors, will be held on September 14, 6:30 p.m.

Safe Streets Committee: Mayor Calvo noted that the last Safe Streets Committee public hearing in June was not well attended and concluded that public interest will rise when specific projects are proposed. The Committee will soon begin developing specific traffic calming proposals with the help of a traffic engineer, which will be publicized for public comment when ready.

6.    Unfinished Business

There was none.

7.    New Business

There was none.

8.    Citizens Discussion

Ms. Davidson gave credit to Jeff Knutson for a power point presentation at the last Safe Streets Committee hearing as a thorough examination of the issue and asked if it is available for public inspection. She than suggested that the Gazette newspaper story on the hearing may have wrongly identified the genesis of the Safe Streets Committee as a response to current traffic problems rather than a concern with potential future problems that may derive from the Metroland development and new Beltway interchange. Mayor Calvo replied that the Committee is trying to address both current and potential future traffic problems.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:07 p.m.

Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk

 
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