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town meeting Minutes
March 10, 2010
The meeting was called to order
at 8:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Calvo, Mayor Pro Tem
Lofgren, CMs Ahrens, Dennison, and Wilkinson. Also
present were Town Administrator Murphy, Chief of
Police Murphy, Treasurer Lape, Clerk Harper, members
of the Board of Election Supervisors and citizens.
Mayor Calvo led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
1. Swearing in of Election Judges
Mayor Calvo swore in Sharmila
Bhatia as Chief Election Judge and Cheryl Jewitt,
Dave McCaffrey, Sharon McCraney, Paul McNulty, Ray
Smith, Debby Steele Snyder and Shirley Sorensen as
election judges. He thanked the judges for agreeing
to serve in the May 4 Town Council election,
especially since the Town decided to return to paper
ballots this year. Paper balloting will save the
Town money and also produce a paper trail that is
valuable in case of a recount.
2. Minutes
Clerk Harper read a summary of
the February 10 Town meeting minutes.
3. Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Lape gave the
Treasurer's report for the month of February.
4. Mayor’s Report
Mayor Calvo announced that,
this month, residents should receive their Census
questionnaire in the mail. The decennial census is a
formal count of every man, woman and child residing
in the United States. He urged residents to fill out
the form and send it in because the result of the
count is the basis for allocating federal and state
and local government resources and for apportioning
legislative districts. The Census Bureau is also
hiring people to go door to door to help with the
count. Residents interested in working as a census
taker can apply at the Town office on March 18 and
25 and April 1 at 10 am. Additionally, beginning on
March 23, a Census employee will be at the Town
office to assist residents with the census
questionnaire and answer questions.
Mayor Calvo further announced
that March 2 was the deadline for declaring oneself
as a candidate for the Town Council. Five persons
handed in their petitions. Mayor Pro Tem Lofgren,
who returned from retirement in 2006, after serving
on the Town Council for 22 years, decided not to run
again. Mayor Calvo said that it has been a pleasure
to serve with MPT Lofgren and that he valued his
counsel and institutional knowledge. All other
Councilmembers decided to run again, as well as
newcomer Jodie Kulpa-Eddy, who has been active on
the Neighborhood Watch/ Emergency Preparedness
(NW/EP) Committee.
Mayor Calvo continued that the
Town Council is in the midst of budget deliberations
after TA Murphy submitted what he said was the most
difficult budget of his career. The combined 7%
decline in real property tax revenues and the
State's 90% cut in Highway User Revenues (HUR) and
police aid made for a 9% overall loss in revenues,
or $230,000. To close the resulting budget gap, TA
Murphy has not included a Cost of Living Adjustment
(COLA) for employees and cut 2 staff positions: one
Public Works position, which happened to be vacant,
and one police officer position. On top of that,
there were increases in expenditures, such as a 31%
increase in contributions to the Maryland State
Pension System, or the equivalent of $30,000.
Revenues will remain at a lower level for the next 3
years until the next re-assessment in 2013, even
while property owners’ taxes will continue to
increase due to the Homestead Tax Credit still
phasing in. Because revenues will remain low for
several years, the Town needs to make cuts to the
operating budget that will save money on an ongoing
basis. Staff reductions will do that. Laying off a
police officer will save about $60,000 a year. While
this is the last thing he wants to do, he does not
see a better way to close the budget deficit.
Residents are encouraged to share their ideas on how
to save money and preserve the 8th officer position.
Mayor Calvo said that health
insurance is another problematic expenditure. Over
the last 5 years, health insurance has gone up 69%,
or 3 times the rate of increase of the Town's
payroll. Such increases are unsustainable and may
require the Town to pass some of the burden of the
increases to the employees. In this budget, the
Council will look at other insurance options, such
as piggybacking onto the County's health insurance
program or switching to lesser expensive insurer
such as Kaiser Permanente. The Council will also
deliberate on how to spend money on vehicles, many
of which have taken a beating in this winter's snow
storms. In the next fiscal year, the Town will be
able to use the money saved in the vehicle
replacement fund to purchase a new trash truck, the
single most expensive item the Town buys. This truck
will need to be larger and more expensive than
previous models if the Town plans to switch to
once-a-week trash collection. The next fiscal years
will be tough all around, but the Town will go into
the downturn in a relatively good position. It has
ample reserves and a surplus and at the end of this
year will be debt free. Mayor Calvo encouraged
residents to give input on the decisions made and
offer their ideas on saving money.
5. Department Reports
Administration:
CM Wilkinson reported that the Town to date has
received 77% of FY 2010 revenues, or 81%, if the
loss in Highway User Fees is discounted. He reminded
residents to keep their cars secure by using a club
and locking the doors, to report downed wires to
Pepco and broken street lights to the Town office.
Code Compliance:
CM Ahrens reported that, in light of continued
foreclosures, home owners and parties responsible
for the sale of a property need to be aware that
they must register a foreclosure with the County's
Department of Environmental Resources (DER). The
forms can be downloaded from the DER website. There
is no charge for the registration. However,
homeowners can be fined $50 a day if they foreclose
on a home without the registration. CM Ahrens also
noted that residents need to get a permit from the
County and the Town if they are waterproofing their
home. While there was snow on the ground the Code
Department has not enforced downed trees and
branches in yards and the Town right of way. But it
will now begin citing such violations. Last month's
code violations were topped by rental inspections
and re-inspections.
Parks and Recreation,
Education and Civic Affairs: CM Dennison
reported that the Recreation Council continues to
plan for Berwyn Heights Day. Several more volunteers
have agreed to help. Four bands have been recruited
to perform. On March 19, the 2nd Annual Showcase of
Talent will be held at the Berwyn Heights Elementary
School Gym. Dress rehearsal is on March 18. The
Historical Committee plans to hold a Memorial Day
event on May 22. The Education Advisory Committees
of Berwyn Heights, College Park and Greenbelt will
host superintendent Hite on May 17. CM Dennison
attended a PGCPS hearing on high school boundaries
at which residents gave input on what they want
their high schools to look like.
i Mayor Calvo announced
that the 1st report on the deployment of SWAT teams
came out as required by a new sunshine law that was
enacted in the wake of an errant police raid on
Mayor Calvo's home in the summer of 2008. The report
shows that Prince George's County police used SWAT
teams 195 times during the second half of 2009, or
twice as much as other Maryland jurisdictions
including Baltimore. Surprisingly, it deployed SWAT
teams more often for Part II offenses, the less
serious crimes, than for Part I offenses. By
contrast, Baltimore City deployed a SWAT team once
for a Part II offense and Montgomery County twice.
It shows that Prince George's County police
priorities are distorted and out of line with those
of other jurisdictions.
Chief Murphy gave the police
activities report for February. He said that the
activities were restricted because of the heavy
snow, preventing some officers from reporting for
duty. Sergeant Moroney put in extra long hours
during the snow storm to ensure coverage. There were
8 Part I offenses, less than the 5 year average of
11. The year to date total was 19. Chief Murphy
commented that he is concerned about the overuse of
SWAT teams, which should only be used in situations
of grave danger but not for routine criminal
activities such as trespassing, stalking or
telephone misuse.
Chief Murphy further reported
that he has received the new portable 800 MHz
radios, which will be purchased with State grant
money. They will be issued to officers with an ID
number. On Friday, there will be a vehicle, uniform
inspection and picture taking session. He may also
schedule a radio training session. Chief Murphy
concluded with highlights of press releases and a
detailed account of an Osage Street shooting. The
estranged father of a child that lives on Osage
Street was denied entry into the home and responded
by shooting at this and neighbors homes. Berwyn
Heights police responded, but were unable to track
the man down that night. After Detective Sergeant
Antolik opened an investigation, Berwyn Heights
police, with cooperation from Greenbelt police,
arrested the suspect the following day at Chevy's
Restaurant where he works. The X-Tra gas station was
attacked again and the night clerk was doused with
pepper spray.
Mayor Calvo commended Sergeant
Moroney, Officer Roberson and Detective Sergeant
Antolik for the professionalism in the manner they
handled the case. The neighbors who witnessed the
shooting had nothing but praise for the officers. CM
Wilkinson asked if a weapon or anything of value was
found when the suspect was taken into custody. Chief
Murphy said that a shell casing was found in the
suspect's shirt pocket, which match those found at
the scene. In another development, he has learned
that the Estate Sales shop on Greenbelt Road is a
second hand dealer. Unlike a pawn broker, the second
hand dealer cannot lend money or charge interest.
Public Works: MPT
Lofgren thanked Mayor Calvo and CM Wilkinson for
their kind words about his service. Public Works has
been harried trying to catch up on trash and
recycling pickup that was interrupted on Monday when
another trash truck broke down. Next Friday, a
breakfast will be held to recognize Public Works
personnel for their hard work during the snow
storms. Any resident who would like to help or
participate in the breakfast can contact him or
leave a message with the Town office.
6. Committee Reports
Education Advisory
Committee: Reported under Department
Reports.
Historical Committee:
Reported under Department Reports.
Neighborhood
Watch/Emergency Preparedness: There was
none.
Recreation Council:
Reported under Department Reports.
7. Unfinished Business
There was none.
8. New Business
Ordinance No. 117 –
Introduction of Refuse Ordinance Amendments:
Mayor Calvo explained that the Council began
revising the Ordinance last year because it wanted
to modernize the refuse collection program and to
tighten trash disposal regulations to improve
compliance. Restructuring the program might involve
automating the collection of bins by using larger
standardized trash cans and larger truck with a
mechanical lift.
Clerk Harper read Section 1 –
Purpose & Authority of the Ordinance. On a motion by
MPT Lofgren and second by CM Wilkinson, the
Ordinance was considered read. Mayor Calvo
summarized the changes. Sections of the Ordinance
dealing with definitions and duties of homeowners
have been clarified and put into alphabetical order.
Different trash collection categories were defined,
such collection by regular schedule or by
appointment. Collection schedules and fees have been
taken out of the Ordinance to be set by resolution.
The revised Ordinance will seek to establish
incentives to recycle, and disincentives to throw
away large amounts of trash. He would also like to
enable businesses to contract with the Town for
recycling services and thus bring in additional
revenue.
CM Wilkinson requested that the
amended Ordinance be made available to residents at
the Town office. Mayor Calvo added that the amended
document should be posted on the website. MPT
Lofgren noted that fines and fees will be also set
by resolution so that they can be changed more
easily. The Ordinance was introduced in a 5 to 0
roll call vote.
9. Citizens Discussion
Ray Smith of Seminole Place had
several comments. He said that the city of
Philadelphia is using plastic stickers that create
an optical illusion of speed bumps in order to slow
traffic along a particular stretch of road. Perhaps
it is a technology that Berwyn Heights could
consider to slow traffic. His Maryland tax returns
show him residing in College Park while the Federal
tax returns show him residing in Berwyn Heights. He
wondered if the Town knew why the State of Maryland
has trouble identifying Berwyn Heights as a place of
residence and whether the Town is loosing revenues
because of it. He asked if the Town has considered
having an electronic recycling day. Mayor Calvo said
that it has not. The Town collects electronics with
bulk trash. Ray Smith suggested the Town set up
dedicated paper recycling containers, as is done in
Greenbelt. Mayor Calvo said he would not want to
compete with the school's paper recycling program,
which earns money for the school. Ray Smith asked
how much tax rates would have to be raised to pay
for one police officer. Mayor Calvo said
approximately 2 cents per $100 of assessed real
property value. Mr. Smith asked if there will be End
School Zone signs to demarcate where speed will not
be monitored by cameras. He was assured there will
be such signs. He noted that broadcasts of Council
meetings do not always produce a clear picture on
his TV. Town meetings are clear while worksession
broadcasts are washed out. He asked if there is an
explanation. Clerk Harper said that the pictures on
the Town office TVs are clear, but that she will
check into it. Lastly, Mr. Smith asked to tell
Berwyn Heights Day food vendors to make sure that
their food is hot. Last year, his hot dog was
lukewarm.
The meeting was adjourned at
9:45 p.m.
Signed:
Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk
Copyright © Town of Berwyn Heights.
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