[0:08] Good evening everyone and welcome to the
Bladensburg town of Bladensburg. That is
[0:13] council work session for Monday, July
13, 2026. Thank you for joining us
[0:18] whether you're watching online or took
the time to brave the heat and join us
[0:23] in person. Glad to have you here. We are
now called to order. The next item on
[0:28] the agenda for today is the approval of
the agenda. Is there a motion to
[0:33] approve?
>> I so move.
[0:35] » Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
a second?
[0:37] » Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[0:41] corrections or amendments to the agenda
before calling the vote? Hearing none.
[0:47] All in favor? Let it be known by the
saying of I.
[0:50] » I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
agenda is approved as presented.
[0:57] Next on the agenda, we'll move down to
the approval of meeting minutes for
[1:01] Monday, June 8th work session. Is there
a motion to approve?
[1:10] » Not all at once. So moved by Council
Member McBride. Is there a second?
[1:16] » I second.
>> Second. Oh, thank you. Seconded by
[1:19] Council Member Dixon. Any corrections or
comments regarding the um the minutes
[1:27] hearing? None. I'll call for the vote.
All in favor, let it be known by the
[1:30] saying of I.
>> I. Any naysay? The eyes have it the
[1:35] meeting minutes for June 8th are
approved. Tonight, we don't have any
[1:39] items under unfinished business. So,
we'll proceed into new business,
[1:44] beginning with item E regarding 52nd
Avenue update. and I'll turn it over to
[1:49] the town administrator at this time. All
>> right. Uh good evening, mayor and
[1:53] council. Uh before I jump in, I just
wanted um to uh take note. Uh obviously,
[2:00] you can see our finance director uh is
not here this evening. Um he had a
[2:04] family emergency come up this afternoon
um which required him to um uh to to
[2:11] head out a little bit early. Um but he
uh just wanted me to make sure everybody
[2:17] uh was aware and um when we get to the
council uh meeting portion of the
[2:23] evening um I'll just share a couple of
updates from him. Um so uh with that
[2:29] noted uh the next topic is 52nd Avenue
update. Um unfortunately this afternoon
[2:35] it was made known that um SHA was going
to be unavailable to come this evening.
[2:42] Um, so that does alter our uh plan a
little bit, but I did want to provide um
[2:49] a few updates to council about where we
are um since our last conversation on
[2:55] June 8th um which stemmed from uh a
pretty robust meeting um back in May
[3:01] with SHA. Um just a a very brief
overview for um those that might be
[3:07] watching. Um this uh part of the street
is or was part of a pilot project um a
[3:16] few years ago or a couple of years ago.
Um we're now at a point trying to
[3:21] determine what the best path uh moving
forward is and turning uh it was
[3:26] temporarily turned into a one-way uh
road. There was a substantial amount of
[3:31] work that needed to be done just to
maintain it. Um, I I want to take a a
[3:36] moment to um thank our team and SHA for
a tremendous effort um that took place
[3:46] starting last Thursday, July 9th, um and
then continued on Friday, July 10th, and
[3:52] then continued today on July 13th of a
joint cleanup um along 52nd uh Avenue.
[3:59] they uh brave the heat and uh realigned
barriers. Um thank you to SHA for um
[4:08] coming back out on Friday and putting up
uh the the flexi
[4:13] um
uh what am I trying to think of?
[4:19] » Flexibles. Thank you. Um which which
look fantastic. Um they cut down a
[4:24] tremendous amount of shrubbery removed
that uh trash
[4:29] um was was collected. Um and just this
afternoon I was driving up there and I
[4:35] saw a number of uh of people walking
that road again. Um and so uh I I just
[4:43] wanted to say thank you um to our team
and to SHA um for making that joint
[4:48] effort possible. Um it really was uh
much needed and and I know that the
[4:55] residents in that area uh truly
appreciate it and anybody that traverses
[4:59] that road. Um so next point uh we shared
with SHA um a draftou
[5:08] um and and for transparency. One of the
things that we were calling for and that
[5:14] I think we heard loud and clear from the
joint uh meeting was um while this is a
[5:20] stateowned road um to get us to um the
point of redesign and effectuating
[5:30] um the permanent transition to a one-way
road. We're about 2 years out. Um so
[5:35] what is the plan um moving forward? And
uh I think we're kind of at a crossroads
[5:41] of do we uh remove the barriers
completely or do we um continue with
[5:46] this program while we're trying to um uh
await the final design. Um
[5:55] so
I think while there are a number of
[6:01] different um options, one of the things
that we used as a starting point was uh
[6:07] quarterly joint cleanups. I think we saw
how effective they were. Um after
[6:12] speaking with Derek last week after he
reviewed the draftou,
[6:18] um I know that their team is is spread
pretty thin. Um there was some concern
[6:23] about um whether or not that would be
feasible. Um I think Pernell would agree
[6:29] one of the things that was u most
beneficial um and something that we are
[6:34] desperately in need of um are some of
the equipment um that they have. And so
[6:40] um I think we're still trying to hammer
out what those details will be exactly.
[6:45] Um but I think the effort um this past
week shows that there is um
[6:53] there are some opportunities to work
together to move forward. Uh so we don't
[6:57] know exactly what that will look like.
We hope to have a draft um response from
[7:01] them over the next couple of weeks. It's
with their in-house attorneys right now.
[7:06] Um so you know that's something that
we're going to continue to hammer
[7:10] through over the next several weeks um
to bring back to you. Um, but just
[7:15] wanted to give you guys kind of an
update on uh where we were, the effort
[7:19] that um both teams, the town and the
state uh made and and figuring out um
[7:26] what the next steps will be as we as we
move forward.
[7:32] » Thank you for that update. And um after
you let me know they couldn't make it, I
[7:37] want to confirm Senator Augustine said
he will plan to come to that next
[7:41] meeting when SHA is here. So, um, and he
was glad to hear that there's been
[7:46] progress with conversations. So, I think
having him as part of that in September
[7:51] will be really helpful. But any comments
or questions from the council before we
[7:55] move on? Council member Dixon.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Brian, did they
[8:01] mention when will be ready?
>> Yes. So, um, it long before September.
[8:08] Um, so they are it's with legal right
now. he hopes to have a draft back um to
[8:13] us within the next uh couple of weeks.
Um so we'll we'll look over it. Um
[8:19] definitely we'll update council uh since
we have our retreat coming up. Hope to
[8:23] have some updates by then. Um I think
the benefit also of um unfortunately
[8:29] this being pushed back but um one of the
benefits is uh they also hope to have a
[8:35] 30% complete design to present to
council as well um of of the redesign of
[8:41] 52nd Street in September. So um we'll
kind of hopefully have a a two for one
[8:47] then.
>> Thank you.
[8:49] » Absolutely.
>> Council member Brown, you had a comment
[8:52] or question.
>> Uh thanks. I was going to ask the same
[8:54] thing about theou and hopefully we can,
you know, get it in time enough to
[8:59] review and look over it and make our
comments and stuff. But yeah,
[9:04] » absolutely. I'm uh pushing uh I did make
it clear when our retreat was, so really
[9:10] trying to have uh something for us to uh
respond to uh by then. So
[9:17] agreed,
>> that is all good. Um, and we'll look
[9:20] forward to that conversation coming up
in September. But now for another
[9:26] engaging conversation. Council member
Blunt, it's over to the Port Towns bus
[9:30] operations, which I know you are very
passionate about.
[9:35] » And uh, from the update in the packet,
it sounds like there's been some
[9:40] interesting conversations. It's really
not the Port Towns bus anymore. It's
[9:44] becoming more of the Bladensburg bus,
>> but that's
[9:47] » but you know, so I'll turn it over to
the administrator for the update.
[9:54] » It wasn't working, but I was like
[9:59] something, but I couldn't say anything.
So,
[10:01] » it's all right. That's why we're here.
You got You have the mic.
[10:04] » Do you want to lead off?
>> Your mic's not on, council member.
[10:08] » No, actually, you you can start off and
then I'll
[10:11] » I'll push my way in. fill in the blanks.
>> Yeah.
[10:15] » Okay.
>> All right. Sounds good. Um, so I think
[10:19] uh the mayor kind of teed it up uh
perfectly. This uh several years ago was
[10:24] a joint effort collaboration um with all
of the port towns. Um uh I think we're
[10:30] on bus number two now. Um and it's kind
of nearing end of life. Um
[10:38] uh so it you know it it was a great uh
collaborative effort. I think some of
[10:43] the other towns um you know the the uh
participation has decreased
[10:48] dramatically. Um I think we were
analyzing you know the last year or so
[10:53] of ridership and it's about 90 95% uh
Bladensburg usage. Um Kore Manor has a
[11:00] resident or two that hops on. Um but it
it is definitely um being utilized
[11:07] heaviest by us. We do all of the
coordination of the scheduling. Um we
[11:13] house uh the the the bus. Um and really
right now Commer Manor is really just
[11:20] doing the administrative piece. Um and
the two part-time drivers are on um are
[11:26] on their payroll. Um so what we had a
conversation about was uh understanding
[11:33] those realities. Um does it still make
sense for uh Kar Manor to um to to
[11:42] administer this program? um or does it
make more sense for uh Bladensburg to to
[11:48] take full ownership of the bus of the
two part-time personnel um and save uh
[11:54] the 10% administrative fee that we are
uh currently paying Comar Manor. um they
[12:00] are um eager I would say um to have this
kind of transition over um you know I
[12:08] think one of the logistical pieces that
we spoke about was um whatever the value
[12:13] of the bus currently is um you know we
could figure out a way to um to to
[12:21] rectify th those payments um whether
it's um with inkind rides for the comar
[12:27] manner residents for x amount of months
or until you know that uh value of the
[12:32] bus is paid off. Um you know they're
they're flexible there and and there's
[12:37] some uh wiggle room. Um I think the
other piece to this is it does give us
[12:43] um even more flexibility about how we
want to use the bus moving forward. Um
[12:49] both scheduling um and we would still
theoretically make it available to uh
[12:55] the other Porttown communities. Um, but
it it does give us more flexibility as a
[13:01] community um to determine what and how
we want to use it. Um, I think the other
[13:06] side is um this this gives us a little
bit of a runway. Um, I'd estimate we
[13:12] probably have
12 to 18 months um of of life left in
[13:19] that bus with um a few repairs here and
there. Um, so thinking about, you know,
[13:24] what do we want to do next? Um we did
receive a grant um this year for um
[13:32] replacement of a couple of vehicles.
Unfortunately um I think we we might
[13:36] have uh glossed over the fine print um
and the uh stipulations around the
[13:43] tonnage uh of the bus um that that we
would have to purchase um would require
[13:49] CDL um and would probably be bigger than
than what we would actually need. Um, so
[13:56] you know, we'll we'll go back to the
drawing board on that. But this gives us
[14:00] some runway and some flexibility. So,
um, I bring it to council um, as as I
[14:07] promised the the town manager. Um, I
would do and and have this kind of
[14:13] conversation and see where we want to go
from here.
[14:16] » Thank you for the update. And council
member Blunt, if you would also chime
[14:20] in, please.
>> Yeah. Um, well, I was shocked to know
[14:23] that we were paying them anything.
Honestly, that's just I was I I was
[14:28] shocked we were paying them anything.
But the six the $60,000 maybe I'm not
[14:33] understanding what is that used for.
>> Can you speak to what that goes to
[14:38] directly?
>> Sure. Um, so that goes towards uh
[14:42] predominantly the riders. Um we're
essentially paying
[14:48] we pay per rider right now even though
it it comes back to us in a sense. Um
[14:53] that also pays for maintenance gas um
and for the uh the two part-time
[15:00] drivers.
>> But so Coma man doesn't pay for the
[15:04] drivers. We pay for the drivers.
>> Correct.
[15:07] So,
>> but what what money was
[15:11] » Well, that's not all of the driver's
salary, but that's the majority of it.
[15:15] Yes.
>> But we pay for that.
[15:16] » Yes.
>> And because they were administering
[15:19] handling all the paperwork, right?
>> That's where the administrative fee came
[15:23] in that was paid to Kar Manor at the
time.
[15:27] This was, I think, before any of us got
on the council. It's just that's how it
[15:32] was set up. They would facilitate. You
call that number, they schedule, they
[15:37] are responsible for scheduling the rides
to pick up the seniors and then they're
[15:40] responsible for communicating with the
drivers and scheduling them. I don't
[15:45] believe we've ever had dispatch
responsibilities.
[15:47] » Well, we know we we didn't I just didn't
know we was paying them a fee until I I
[15:52] heard it.
>> But also, the money that the residents
[15:55] pay, where did that money go to?
So that goes towards the the the ride
[15:59] itself, but it's it's such a nominal
fee, it doesn't actually typically cover
[16:03] the overall cost of
>> because per person we're paying what
[16:08] » I think it's
>> 30 or 40 per ride or something. Yes.
[16:12] » So if they pay $2 or $3, it's not it's
something,
[16:16] » but it's not covering the full amount.
>> And I guess maybe I'm still
[16:20] understanding we're paying third. I
guess if you look at how much it cost
[16:24] like you as we said through co what we
were paying for for the ride but it's
[16:30] just the numbers just doesn't make sense
to me at I just doesn't make sense I
[16:36] mean so when they who collects the money
>> so right now com men is collecting the
[16:42] money
as part of their administrative
[16:46] process
>> so they keep the money they keep that
[16:50] money plus 10% %.
>> So they're using that money to pay for
[16:55] the bus drivers like their salary and
for any maintenance um above and beyond
[17:02] typically will have to go into our
pockets if you know maintenance required
[17:08] over a certain percentage or dollar
amount.
[17:11] » So
>> that mean that drivers are basically
[17:14] employed by Kar Manor.
>> They are they're on Kar Man's payroll.
[17:18] » Okay. And if Blad is
>> Go ahead.
[17:21] » Yeah. The 60,000. Okay. No, go ahead.
Make it make sense to me. That's all.
[17:25] » So, if we become the primary
>> for the bus.
[17:29] » Mhm.
>> Are we going to be employing these
[17:32] drivers?
>> We would take that on as a
[17:34] responsibility. Yes.
>> And also, the bus is going to be
[17:38] replaced within 12 to 18 months. Well, I
think that's a guesstimation on the life
[17:43] expectancy of the current bus, whether
we decide to replace it, whether we
[17:49] decide to discontinue the program
altogether, whether we I think that's
[17:54] kind of the decision point, but one that
we don't have to necessarily make
[17:58] tonight, but that's, you know, the
medium-term
[18:02] discussion that that will have to be
had. And I think the benefit is we can
[18:07] get better control over these rides
because honestly by us not having the
[18:13] dispatch piece of it, we don't know
what's being used, how many trips until
[18:18] the administrator gets the bill, reviews
everything, and is signing off on them.
[18:23] And I just think it goes back to
something council member Blunt, you said
[18:26] a couple years ago, which was we should
be more strategic and say on this day,
[18:32] this is where the bus goes. on this day,
it goes here because it's wasteful
[18:37] » to have two or three people on there and
taking it here, there, and everywhere
[18:42] and racking up those per person fees. I
think
[18:45] » we have to cut back. We've talked about
budget constraints. We can't afford to
[18:49] keep doing this. And when you look at
the number of people being served,
[18:53] there's other things that could be done
with that money. And remember, you even
[18:57] brought up Uber. What if we did um what
do you call them? Uber passes. Instead
[19:03] of that, I think another option is, and
like you said, we've got time to figure
[19:08] out the next step, but another option is
we have transportation companies right
[19:12] here in the business park. We could
easily contract with them to say twice a
[19:16] week, we need you to handle senior
rides.
[19:20] » And then we're not dealing with vehicle
maintenance. We're not dealing with
[19:24] part-time employees, payroll expenses,
and all the rest. and they're
[19:28] professionals at this. So we and they're
great when we use them for town events.
[19:32] So I feel like we could explore that.
>> So my ask would be council member Blunt,
[19:39] » if you wouldn't mind working with the
town administrator on this to put
[19:43] something together to say based on what
you see
[19:47] » at the senior, you know, resident level,
what is appropriate in terms of what
[19:52] this service could be?
>> And I did do that already.
[19:55] » Okay. I know that um the the trans the
senior transportation would take them
[19:59] anywhere they need to go within Prince
George's County and that's free.
[20:04] » So it's not I mean they're not losing
there. They can have transportation
[20:08] there.
>> Um
[20:10] » except for they do want to go to go to
the casinos and stuff. I'm I'm against
[20:14] it. I'm against it. So that's just me.
I'm against them going gambling. That's
[20:18] just me though. But
I I rather I rather go your route
[20:24] because Emerson House
that bus can pull up in front of Emerson
[20:30] House.
>> Drop one person off, turn around and
[20:34] come back and drop two off then go back
come back at Emerson House about seven
[20:37] times. Make it make sense. It doesn't
make sense to me. And I know Coa Mana do
[20:42] wants no control of at all.
>> I kind of heard him say, "No, y'all take
[20:46] it over." I got I heard that come out of
the administrative mouth um self. So my
[20:51] thing I think is I like the other other
way cuz we don't have to pay that
[20:54] $60,000 can be be used for something
else.
[20:58] » And council member Blunt I don't know if
everyone caught it but the other service
[21:02] that she mentioned is the bus.
>> The bus is the one free goes all across
[21:08] the county. So to your point, even if we
have to scale back this resource, we're
[21:13] not leaving the seniors without because
that's already a service that
[21:18] » mic mayor mayor Mike.
>> Sorry, Mr. Gray.
[21:24] » I didn't push the button hard enough. My
apologies, but I was just um tagging on
[21:29] to say what council member Blunt
mentioned was a service called the bus,
[21:33] which is prevalent in Prince George's
County. So if we have to reduce services
[21:37] with this formerly called Porttown's
bus, at least there's still a service
[21:42] available to the seniors and that's
actually free whereas with ours it's
[21:46] subsidized. They pay a few dollars and
the town pays the rest.
[21:49] » So um
>> I agree. I totally agree with um going
[21:55] the route with Mayor James in terms of
contracting someone which cost less
[22:01] » and not only that looking at replacing
the bus 10 to 12 to 18 months.
[22:08] » What is the bus going to cost? That's
another thing. Can the town afford a new
[22:11] bus right now?
>> I just don't think they should even try
[22:15] » or the you can get a grant too. And the
fetal brought this up before in terms of
[22:21] your question about the replacement. So
we did get the MEA grant for um an
[22:27] electric bus, but it it's a there it's a
formula. So it doesn't cover everything.
[22:33] It covers up to what is it the cost of
what a combustion engine bus would be?
[22:39] » I never quite that. The fine print.
>> Yeah, the fine print. It's 75% of the
[22:45] additional cost of an EV. So, let's say
a traditional bus cost 100,000, let's
[22:51] just for conversation sake, and an EV
bus cost $200,000.
[22:57] » The grant would pay the 75,000, which is
75% of the difference. So, the town
[23:02] would still be on the hook for $125,000.
>> Um, so beneficial in some respects, but
[23:09] also, but we also found out other fine
print pieces. um the categories of buses
[23:16] that are available. It's really looking
at larger vehicles that um require CDL
[23:21] licenses and both public works and the
current bus drivers that we have right
[23:25] now don't have CDL licenses.
>> Okay. We really don't want to leave the
[23:28] seniors stranded or anything like that.
We want to make sure you know that we're
[23:32] providing services to the residents of
Bladesburg, but at the same time we want
[23:38] to be careful how we are spending.
>> Right.
[23:41] » Yeah.
>> Yeah. Um,
[23:43] » and as you said, we don't want to leave
them without services, but the bus is
[23:47] there and
>> they're not out of service because they
[23:50] a lot of metro access and also it takes
them wherever they want to go. I mean,
[23:54] so they're they're not left out of any
services at all. And that's the good
[23:58] thing about
>> the transportation now.
[24:02] » I I just get get rid of it. I mean
honestly get just that's just what I'm
[24:07] saying because I can't understand that
60,000 and they're paying and then he
[24:11] doesn't well
>> I know co man co man probably listening
[24:16] they don't want to pay for nothing
>> I agree
[24:19] » I'm just sorry I had to say
>> I think yeah
[24:22] » I'm sorry I just had to say it okay
council member hold on council member
[24:26] Brown and then back to
>> she was waiting for a bit yeah thank
[24:31] thanks but but yeah because we we've
been talking about this for for a while
[24:35] and it's like make it make sense you
know but and probably initially when you
[24:39] know when the agreement you know came
into place it it did it didn't make
[24:44] sense but now because um as we had
discussed before it's like you know you
[24:50] have a companies here and and they have
different size buses and you know you
[24:55] know we one and I don't know if you if
we will talk about that too but one week
[24:58] we may need the big bus and next week we
may may need only a 10 passenger bus I
[25:03] mean just having that flexibility
you know, working with the with the with
[25:06] the company that that's their business.
It's what they do. So, that makes sense.
[25:11] And like you said, we're not leaving the
um our seniors. We're not leaving them,
[25:15] you know, stranded or whatever without
transportation,
[25:18] » you know.
Absolutely. you know, and then and it
[25:22] would provide, you know, provide better
service, you know, you know, I I believe
[25:26] to the to the residents and and then
from a budget standpoint, yeah, it
[25:30] would, you know, you know, take that
that piece off of our books. Yeah. Off
[25:34] of books for reduction and um and I
think that's yeah, would be wise. But
[25:39] although we're just kind of having a
conversation about it right now, but
[25:41] yeah.
>> And one thing that you said, council
[25:44] member, it kind of sparked a thought. um
would it even be possible if we had some
[25:49] sort of public private partnership with
a transportation company? So we say
[25:54] we've gotten this grant. Could we pass
it through to them? So they pay the
[25:59] difference toward the vehicle. So, we're
essentially donating the 75,000, let's
[26:04] say,
>> and then they pay the difference because
[26:07] it's helping their fleet regardless
>> and giving them greater flexibility
[26:12] because it is an EV and then work out
some sort of contractual partnership for
[26:17] X number of years and then we revisit it
after that point. So, that's where I'm
[26:22] going. Save the town money, you know,
still be able to help the residents. We
[26:26] don't want to give back grant money to
the state because that you can get
[26:29] dinged when you go to apply the next
time. So, I don't want to lose that. But
[26:34] maybe there's a path forward that just
doesn't have us paying for this and, you
[26:40] know, not using those resources more
wisely.
[26:43] » Yeah, cuz that fine print there's it
does, you know, it's still costing the
[26:47] town more more money. So,
>> give us
[26:52] » Council Member McBride, thank you for
waiting your turn.
[26:56] Thank you. Um, my only question is, so
this is supposed to service the seniors
[27:02] or does it can it service the different
apartment complexes inside of
[27:07] Leadensburg?
>> If they're senior,
[27:10] » as long as they're seniors, I mean,
>> traditionally, Sean and Pernell, you're
[27:14] going to have to help me, but I think it
was more so geared towards seniors.
[27:18] » Yes, it was. And um
I think there may have been special
[27:24] circumstances where if there was a town
event and we needed transportation then
[27:28] we could reach out and ask them to pick
up people but the way it was set up with
[27:32] the four towns back in the day was
primarily for senior
[27:36] » foren. Okay.
>> Mhm.
[27:38] » I had a question
I'll hold.
[27:41] » Okay. But you know like when I found out
that they were not paying to get on the
[27:45] bus it I was very upset. that I had to
call call
[27:51] Miss Blue. You know, y'all know I say I
like to say names. Um, Miss Blue and let
[27:56] her know why did this her senior club
didn't think that they had to pay
[28:01] » didn't Well, we was told No, I don't
know who told y'all that cuz y'all have
[28:05] to pay like everybody else cuz you're
riding the bus because she was under
[28:09] understanding by Ka Mana that they
didn't have to pay.
[28:13] » So, they start paying.
>> I have a
[28:17] Go ahead, council member Brown. Yeah,
because it was under membership
[28:21] » and um
>> um and and you know to that point with
[28:26] the council member McBry, you know, once
we look at it and restructure it or
[28:30] something, you know, it it may be able
to like special events occasions and you
[28:35] do put some modifications in there where
it can kind of service,
[28:40] you know, some of the other buildings
in the town as well. This one.
[28:45] » Yeah, that's going to be have to be
really restricted because
[28:48] » Yeah,
>> I'm just saying.
[28:53] » No, go ahead, Mr. Hall.
>> That's that's like microphone be a
[28:57] tricky thing. You can tell him no, but
you can tell him. I mean, you know, so
[29:01] that's I think that's why when it came
out years and years ago, it was strictly
[29:06] appointed to seniors.
>> Makes sense. And Mr. Wood,
[29:10] » well, I was just going to say so a
couple of things. one, yeah, this would
[29:14] have greater flexibility because when it
was initially purchased, it was used, I
[29:18] believe state money was used um and so
the requirements and covenants around it
[29:23] required that it be used predominantly
for seniors. But when we purchased the
[29:27] second bus, it was with local dollars
and so there's greater flexibility and
[29:34] those requirements no longer apply. Um,
so if the town were to take over
[29:39] ownership, we would be able to do with
it as we desired. I I think there would
[29:45] be a a desire to, you know, keep with
some spirit. If the other communities
[29:52] all of a sudden ridership spiked and
they wanted, then then that um would
[29:57] would be something to look at. Um, and
then two, um, I think to the point that
[30:01] the mayor made a while back about, um,
Uber and other ride shares, um, I was at
[30:07] a conference a few years ago, and I know
that there are some communities that,
[30:12] um, have done that and set up, um,
various different structures with Uber
[30:15] and and other types where, um,
individuals over a certain age can get x
[30:20] amount of dollars or an Uber will take
you within x amount of miles of a
[30:24] community for free or, you know, there's
a number of different arrangements. Um,
[30:28] so if that's something that the town
wanted to look at, we wouldn't be uh the
[30:32] first community to do that and they have
an infrastructure set up to partner with
[30:36] uh municipal organizations to set things
like that up. So, just wanted to
[30:40] » I know we we've been on this for a long
time, but um they will have like a
[30:44] setback because some Uber drivers do not
help you with your packages and seniors
[30:49] need help and I see they don't help with
the wheelchairs, the walkers, they don't
[30:53] help. They just it's it's crazy but it's
up to the Yeah. So that's the only thing
[30:59] I would say.
>> So um Brian what if um Kar mana decided
[31:03] to withdraw before we come to some
conclusion
[31:06] and
>> my other part question
[31:13] » and my other question is who covers the
insurance for the bus? Is it the town or
[31:18] Kar Manor?
>> Uh currently Coar Manor covers the
[31:22] insurance. um that's built into
>> okay
[31:25] » again all of it is kind of per rated
based on usage. So
[31:29] » there's the aggregate cost and then per
ride it's broken down. So we're still
[31:33] paying for a significant portion of the
insurance. Um and to your first point if
[31:39] commer
I'm not saying they basically said that
[31:42] they're walking away but they
>> sounds that way.
[31:47] » They basically said they're walking
away. So um
[31:52] yeah
>> but are they paying for the insurance or
[31:55] we paying for the insurance?
>> So the insurance is uh so the insurance
[31:58] is technically with com manner but
>> the aggregate cost of the bus per year
[32:04] is broken down per rider and so we're
still paying for a significant portion
[32:08] of the insurance. We're just paying it
through the per ride cost. Right.
[32:13] » Um so that's part of the 2,000
>> if I get that $60,000 still not making
[32:17] sense to me.
>> Yeah. So, I think we cuz we could talk
[32:21] about this in circles. I think we're at
the point where there's agreement that
[32:25] we want to re-evaluate this because we
don't think it's the best use of town
[32:30] dollars.
>> Getting it under the town's uh realm of
[32:34] responsibility makes sense while we're
figuring out with council member Blunt a
[32:38] path forward. phasing it out is
certainly an option given we have the
[32:43] bus, but also um an option is pursuing
the grant and possibility of partnering
[32:51] with a local business to see if that's
even possible. If the answer is no, then
[32:55] we just have to send a letter to MEA
saying we can't accept the grant, you
[32:59] know, due to financial constraints, we
can't keep our commitment and just again
[33:05] move forward with consolidating this
down and collapsing the service cuz it's
[33:09] just extremely expensive.
>> So I think that's where we are in terms
[33:13] of when you send us the summary from the
meeting, there's agreement that we
[33:18] cannot continue.
>> It's not you, it's us.
[33:23] So, I'll draft up um
>> a formal process with comar manner about
[33:29] how we're going to execute this um and
bring that before it would have to go
[33:35] before both councils.
>> Thank you, Council Member Blunt for the
[33:38] last word.
>> I like the um the idea that you said
[33:44] because for the lack of not saying
anything else,
[33:48] we done with that process. Let's do
something. Let's just do something new.
[33:54] We done with that.
>> I agree.
[33:57] » Yeah, I agree. There was a a higher
demand at the time. That demand just
[34:01] isn't there anymore to justify the cost.
So, yeah, we have young seniors who are
[34:06] driving themselves around and they're
walking through the community and all of
[34:10] that. So, we have to get with the times.
>> All right. So, speaking of getting with
[34:15] the times, PAL's project poster
presentation is next up on the agenda.
[34:20] Um I'll turn it over to you town
administrator Wood.
[34:24] » Yeah. So um they have been making their
way around the port towns. They were
[34:29] supposed to come up to us next. Um they
the boards have well they they've
[34:35] disappeared. We'll we'll find them. Uh
not from us. Uh they were recently with
[34:39] Cottage City. Um but are you guys
familiar with the PAL project that took
[34:44] place? Um
I guess was last semester, so last
[34:50] spring. Um and some of the designs um
for the Porttown communities.
[34:57] Uh maybe not. Okay. So, uh a recap of
what the PAL Project is um and and what
[35:02] they do. So, the PAL Project um is a
partnership with the University of
[35:07] Maryland um and they work with undergrad
and graduate students um on a number of
[35:13] different uh projects. Right. So um
towns, municipalities, yep, all across
[35:19] um uh the state can submit uh to um for
the PAL project for them to do any
[35:27] number of things. Um it can be um
something like we had they can do
[35:34] engineering, they can do um statistical
analysis, budget breakdowns. Um and they
[35:40] have students work on these projects
throughout um throughout the semester.
[35:45] Um each project typically costs um about
$10,000.
[35:50] Um and part of that goes towards the
cost of executing the project, whether
[35:55] they need to purchase data sets, if
there's travel required for the
[35:59] students, whatever they may be. Um and
then part of that goes to offset the um
[36:03] administrative uh cost for their adviser
whether that's um a professor or or
[36:08] whomever it may be. Um, one of the
projects that um was grant funded um
[36:14] last year was the uh placemaking and
design for uh the Port Towns communities
[36:21] um at different um I guess you could say
uh prominent locations um in in each
[36:29] community that connected each of each of
the communities. So, uh, for us, we had
[36:34] a couple of different bridges. Um, and
so what it was was, um, thinking about
[36:40] how do we denote these this as a
Porttown community. Um, and so, uh, they
[36:46] designed, uh, these kind of beautiful
pocket parks with, um, similar colors
[36:51] of, uh, yellow, orange, purple, and
blue, I believe it was. Um, and each
[36:57] community had a slightly different
design and a different location, but it
[37:00] created the through line that these were
all Porttown communities. Um, there's
[37:04] some beautiful renderings that are on
posters that we were supposed to get
[37:08] tonight. Um, unfortunately, they're not
here. Um, but the the reason that it's
[37:13] also um kind of timesensitive is um we
received uh grant funding again um from
[37:23] from the state. Um and part of what uh
BCC was looking at was do we want to
[37:32] invest some of those dollars um into the
next phase of um this placemaking and
[37:39] and and these designs which would be
kind of the engineering aspect of it um
[37:44] and and understanding what the
fabrication uh of these types of pocket
[37:49] parks um would cost. We know that each
one would be, you know, north of
[37:54] probably $100,000, but this would be the
next step in that in that process. Um,
[37:59] and so
>> h
[38:06] so um you know that PAL's project would
probably be a little bit more uh
[38:12] expensive, closer to $30,000. Um but
again, it's grant funded um and would
[38:18] kind of be the through line. there's
quite a bit of interest in it. Um so
[38:22] what I would propose is for the visuals
to you to actually be able to see um
[38:27] what was done by these young people
which was quite impressive um is to
[38:32] bring that to uh to the retreat. Um so
that you guys will be able to see that.
[38:37] Um each town is kind of talking about
the elements that they liked, what they
[38:42] may not like. Um, and so that will go
into the input um, as we prepare the
[38:47] next PAL's uh, request for this fall.
>> Hopefully,
[38:53] » thank you for that overview. Any
questions or comments for the town
[38:56] administrator?
>> I think we look forward to seeing the
[39:00] visuals at the retreat. Council member
Dixon.
[39:04] » Thank you, Madam Mayor. in regards to
this um pilot project.
[39:08] » Mhm.
>> Um what services the town has to offer?
[39:11] Does it has to provide public works,
public safety or anything like that?
[39:16] » Nope.
>> Okay.
[39:17] » Um completely. So the next phase would
be completely done by um the students.
[39:22] Um this would be uh for us is actually
in a in a public location already,
[39:27] something that we already take care of.
Um this would just be a redesign.
[39:31] » How is this how is this figure
determined?
[39:35] the $30,000 or the
>> the Yeah.
[39:41] » Uh that's not in the packet. I think
what you're looking at is for the Hamlet
[39:45] Woods project. The next item,
>> we're not there yet. Sorry.
[39:49] » Sorry. I think
>> almost there. Almost there. A couple
[39:51] more items.
[39:55] » Yes. Yes. We will we will get to that.
>> All right. Um,
[39:59] » so if there are no more questions, we
can drop down get closer to it under
[40:04] town managers report.
>> Yep.
[40:07] Um,
yeah. So, we can just we can jump down
[40:11] to that. Um,
>> Oh, yeah.
[40:12] » So, so the pilot program um
there's a briefing in your packet there.
[40:19] Um, so the Hamlet Woods project um
>> that's the one I was starting.
[40:24] » Yeah. So this has been one that has been
um ongoing for a number of years now.
[40:31] Um I think they originally came to the
town almost this time last year with a
[40:36] proposal um for payment in lie um just
to rehash this is uh 59 units of um
[40:45] workforce housing um that will be
available um and Sean correct me if I'm
[40:50] wrong but they're going to be ready end
of or mid August
[40:54] » mid August um actually I wrote through
the property today they're probably I'd
[40:58] say 85% complete
Um they're working on the last section
[41:02] and mid August is when their final grand
opening is supposed to be.
[41:08] » Okay. Um so they are um well on their
way and and well past uh substantial
[41:15] completion at this point um which is
very exciting. This gives a breakdown of
[41:19] kind of where the funding came from.
There's been um significant investment
[41:24] from the state, from the county uh and
private dollars. Um what they were
[41:29] looking for is um essentially a payment
in lie of taxes. Um they received um a
[41:38] similar deal or structured a similar
deal with the county um which was
[41:43] essentially a 50% reduction um in their
overall tax rate um and they have now
[41:50] come to the town asking for or proposing
something similar. Um
[41:56] what we have before us is um two
different options. Um what was proposed
[42:02] by
um HT Woods was essentially $500
[42:09] per unit. Um
and so sorry, let me back up a little
[42:14] bit. So looking at the assessed value,
um and this folds into uh the
[42:20] recommendation that I that I have. Um
these are based on 2023 numbers and so
[42:26] it was estimated that the project would
be assessed at approximately almost $8
[42:30] million $7,972,000.
[42:34] Um
what that was proposed was again 500
[42:39] unit or $500 per unit um a as a pilot
with an escalator of uh 2%
[42:49] um
at the 110 20 and 30 year mark. Um what
[42:56] we countered at or what we're proposing
to counter at is a 600 unit uh dollar
[43:03] per unit uh starting threshold um with
the same escalator. Um and so it
[43:09] essentially breaks down to um the
structure that they had with the county
[43:13] is about a 50% reduction. Um they're
asking for essentially the same thing
[43:18] from the town. uh the numbers that are
proposed here are closer to 43%
[43:24] reduction um which is still fairly
favorable. Um and the reason I think
[43:29] there's um value in what the town is
proposing is it goes back to the
[43:36] original assessed value dollar that
these numbers are generated off of uh
[43:41] which are 2023. We all know that the
assessed value since 2023 has gone up
[43:46] significantly more. Um we estimate that
the value is probably closer to $10 to
[43:52] $12 million at this point. Um which
would if we were to restructure this
[43:56] deal in today's terms would dramatically
increase the per unit cost um versus
[44:02] what you see here. So a 43%
um structured deal um is still um I
[44:12] think better than if they were to go out
and do a market assessment today. Um,
[44:16] and even if they even if we agreed to
50%, it would still probably be higher
[44:20] than um than what we're proposing here.
Um,
[44:25] so that's the the broad strokes of it.
Um, Suelan uh and part of the reason
[44:30] that this took a year to uh get to this
point is um Suelan had to dig through uh
[44:38] the state uh code to find where we would
be able to actually do this. um the
[44:45] language that was used at the county
level was specific to the county um and
[44:48] did not allow municipalities to set up a
pilot program. And so um there was a
[44:54] great deal of digging that was involved
um and and obviously with a number of
[44:59] other things that were um on our town
attorney's plate. Um this kept getting
[45:04] pushed back, but um we did eventually
find it or she did eventually find it.
[45:09] Um so that's what's here before you. Um
there is
[45:14] a little bit of a clock um given the the
uh status of the project at this point.
[45:20] Um but I wanted to bring this up for
conversation and discussion and then um
[45:27] we would use that as the final framework
and again um with a desire not to push
[45:33] this off to um September. um if we had
the final framework, if this is what
[45:39] council was okay with, we would draft
this and do a final vote um at at the
[45:44] retreat if that's something that council
wished to do.
[45:49] » So, thank you for that overview of the
pilot project. Council, any comments or
[45:55] questions regarding the um proposed
payment?
[46:00] » I have a question.
>> I have a few, but I'll let Go ahead,
[46:03] Council Member Dixon.
Thank you, Madame Mayor Brian. Um, in
[46:08] regards to
[46:11] um
what happen if a if a property sold to
[46:16] another owner, how would how would that
affect um the pilot? Would it be does it
[46:22] does the pilot still stay in effect?
>> Great question. Um that would be
[46:27] language that would be included in the
contract. Typically, it stays with the
[46:30] property, not the owners. um in in my
experience
[46:34] » and this is a full 30 years, right?
>> Correct.
[46:38] » Okay. And did you mention how how does
the 600 unit deter figure determined?
[46:44] Did you mention that how it was
determined? So, the $600 unit, $600 per
[46:52] unit, um to be honest, was determined uh
before I got here, but it is essentially
[46:58] it the idea behind it was um to kind of
find a middle ground between what um
[47:05] what Hamlet Woods was proposing um which
was 50% um reducing it but still
[47:12] allowing the project to go forward. Um
and I think at the time when it was
[47:15] originally proposed um they had built
their financial model around receiving
[47:20] um
a certain level of of uh relief in
[47:25] taxes. And so um yeah, so this I think
is that attempt at meeting the middle
[47:31] ground.
>> So council member, this is to tag on to
[47:35] that. So when they came to the meeting a
year or two ago, they were specifically
[47:39] advocating for more financial support
from the town. Um, we did not agree to
[47:46] that. We said we could be open and
discuss what the town could do, but they
[47:50] were trying to get their financing
together. So, the numbers you see here
[47:54] about how their financing is stacked
through Prince George's County Housing
[47:58] Investment Trust Fund loan, all those
things, those loans that you see in the
[48:02] um first paragraph
>> that those are the things that they
[48:05] worked on to line up their financing.
Okay. And then in going to the county,
[48:10] the county passed legislation CR--036
2023 giving them authority to also give
[48:18] them that 50% tax relief. And so given
that the county the county's budget is
[48:25] not Bladensburg's budget, so we cannot
afford a 50% you know reduction in that
[48:31] revenue um from taxes. I think what veto
and Mr. would put together here
[48:38] compromising saying we can't go as low
as 500. We could potentially consider
[48:43] 600 per unit because now our services
have increased. This is a rental. Sorry,
[48:50] my sinuses are on 1,000 right now.
>> The um services that the town is
[48:56] offering are now what they cost two or
three years ago. That's one. Number two,
[49:01] we're now doing apartment rental
inspections that are led by code
[49:04] enforcement. That is another level of
service that we're providing. Typically,
[49:09] whenever there's multifamily housing in
the town, cost for service for public
[49:13] safety goes up. Same thing for emergency
services for the fire department. So,
[49:19] the reason we can't go as low as what
they're asking for in this first column
[49:24] » is because those services come at a cost
to us
[49:28] » and we can't provide them at a deficit.
And so I think and veto you know he's
[49:34] good with these numbers. Mr. Tanelli I
think and Mr. Wood did a good job of
[49:38] saying what we can do is offer you 10 or
2% for years 1 through 10. We can go up
[49:45] to 3% for you know years 11 through 20
and then the escalation would be 4% for
[49:51] years 21 to 30. And then they just broke
out. Here's what we would get over the
[49:56] 30 years on our formula versus their
formula. Our formula, yes, they would be
[50:03] paying 1.5 almost 1.6.
>> Mhm.
[50:07] » But when you look at the services that
they're getting over 30 years, it more
[50:12] than justifies us coming in at that rate
to negotiate.
[50:17] Does that sort of help?
>> Thanks. Mhm.
[50:20] » And and the other absolutely everything
that the mayor said and typically these
[50:24] are these are agreed to at the outset.
And so that's why you see all the
[50:29] breakdown of where they're receiving the
dollar amounts because normally this
[50:34] kind of looks more like a credit
enhancement agreement. Um and so that
[50:38] helps with the lending on the private
side to see that um government entities
[50:43] are are backing this project. So, um I
think that was the original thought, but
[50:48] they were still able to get the
financing needed to to make this project
[50:51] a reality.
>> So, will the pilot will it cover the um
[50:58] public safety and code enforcement?
[51:03] » Over overall,
>> yeah.
[51:05] » No.
>> No. Okay.
[51:06] » No. But any new development
>> typically doesn't. That's
[51:12] » Yeah. when you're looking longterm,
that's why you always want that balance
[51:15] of businesses and and other things that
are that are not going to drive up calls
[51:20] for service um versus uh certain
residential.
[51:26] » Thank you. Back to you, Madame Mayor.
>> Thank you.
[51:30] » And just to clarify though, when you say
it won't cover services, so with the
[51:35] owner proposed amount, right,
>> that would not be enough. No. to justify
[51:41] » right
>> the services that we would still have to
[51:44] provide we'd be operating at a deficit.
So at least
[51:48] » we're coming in flat. It's not a revenue
generator obviously but at least it
[51:53] helps to cover those services for the
apartment inspections annually any work
[51:58] that has to be done by public works the
public safety services that they're
[52:02] going to get and even you know we
contribute to the fire department to
[52:06] help offset their expenses. And so
ambulance runs, firet truck runs, all of
[52:11] that. We're helping um to just cover
ourselves with those investments. So,
[52:17] » thank you so much. That will give the
residents more clarity. Thanks.
[52:21] » I think so. Um any other comments or
questions from award two council
[52:27] members?
It's been a long time coming, so it's
[52:31] good to see they're getting closer to
actually completing the construction.
[52:35] And I will admit, I snuck up in there uh
curiosity. I had to see it. I was like,
[52:41] it it's supposed to be ready this
summer. Um and they're close. They're
[52:45] close. So, I look forward to the um the
grand opening. Um and then Mr. Wood is
[52:52] so for this
um for a formal vote from council. Do we
[52:57] have this on the 7:00 agenda or do we
need to amend it to add this for
[53:01] approval or does it need to go back to
Suellen first?
[53:04] » No. Um, so there is uh specific language
that Swellen and a couple of pieces that
[53:10] Swellen and Veto are are finalizing. Um,
so I pulled it from the 7:00 agenda. Um,
[53:17] I have a draft resolution, but I want to
make sure it's right. So, um, it will
[53:23] come back before you. Um,
but now that I know that this is exactly
[53:28] what council is good with, we can
memorialize that in the resolution.
[53:34] And then the only challenge is I know
they are very anxious to get decisions
[53:39] sooner rather than later, but typically
anything financial the council has to
[53:43] vote on at the 7:00 p.m. council
meeting. So
[53:48] » that yeah, not unless we did a separate
meeting, but that's why we don't do
[53:54] financial decisions in the work session.
It's always in the actual council
[53:58] meeting. So, just want you to be mindful
of that so we can figure out if there's
[54:02] a separate meeting that we need to call.
Even if it's via Zoom to resolve this,
[54:08] we wouldn't be able to do it at a
retreat. It would have to be a formal
[54:11] meeting that's called to, you know,
address that.
[54:15] » Okay.
>> And not a work session, an actual
[54:18] » council meeting. Okay.
>> Just want to mention that.
[54:22] » Thank you.
>> No worries. And while you're off mute,
[54:25] did you want to touch on the next uh the
previous item, the gloves up, guns down
[54:30] grant?
>> Oh, uh yes. Sorry, I skipped over that.
[54:35] Um just wanted to provide council an
update. Um we're really excited with the
[54:40] progress. There was a kickoff in uh in
June. Um there is a camp coming up in
[54:48] the first week.
>> Thank you. Yes. was like, "Wait a
[54:53] minute. Blank dates are all Yeah.
blurring together." Um, so, um, we know
[55:00] that this has been, uh, a labor of love.
So, a major thanks to the chief, to, uh,
[55:06] Alicia who's been kind of spearheading
it, to our our county partners and other
[55:11] municipal partners, um, and merging this
with, um, some, uh, funding that we
[55:17] received from the state, uh, a grant for
$78,000.
[55:21] Um and for all of the volunteers um that
are uh that have gone through the
[55:27] fingerprinting process um to participate
with our young people. Um just to give
[55:33] an update, it will be uh twice a week um
starting in I believe September. Um, and
[55:41] we're hoping to have uh a total of I
believe it's 80 young people. 40 people
[55:47] for um great 40 people
>> right now there's 19 signed up.
[55:52] » Microphone chief.
>> Uh yes, right now um there's 19 youth
[55:58] that are signed up and there's six
additional spots. So I think they're
[56:01] doing 25.
>> Oh, 25. Okay. Sorry. I was like 80
[56:04] sounds like a lot. Um 25.
of half at the
[56:12] um why am I blinking? I'm thinking
stadium armory, but it's not stadium
[56:16] armory. Um
>> the Salvation Army. Thank you. Um and
[56:21] the other half of the students um will
be um at the county. Um the idea is that
[56:27] uh obviously those that are specific
Bladenberg residents um would able to
[56:33] would be um here at the Salvation Army.
Obviously, it's a little bit closer. Um,
[56:39] and so we're excited about the progress
that um that this program is making and
[56:45] just wanted to know if there are any
specific questions that council might
[56:48] have um that we'd be able to to bring
back and answer or any discussions.
[56:53] » Perfect. Thank you for that overview.
Chief First Corin, any additional
[56:58] context you want to add to that?
Yes, just that the uh boxing clinic is
[57:04] going to be from the 27th to the 31st at
the Salvation Army and then the year-
[57:08] round program is going to start
September 14th and run until June 30th
[57:12] of 27.
Um we're going to be using Prince
[57:16] George's County Police Department
District 3 as one location and over here
[57:20] on Edmonston Road at the Salvation Army
and then there's also a gym that we'll
[57:24] be using for the program itself.
Is the district three location Barlo
[57:30] Road or is that okay? Got it. Any
questions from the council council
[57:34] member Brown?
>> Thank you.
[57:36] » So, uh, interim chief. So, give me those
dates again. You said September the
[57:42] » September 14th, 2026 through June 30th,
2027. That's that's the actual program.
[57:47] » Ah, okay.
>> The clinic starts uh next week. That's
[57:50] going to be
>> uh just the boxing clinic itself, but
[57:53] the program runs a year long.
>> Ah, okay. What are the age group, Chief?
[57:58] » I'm not sure of what age it starts at. I
know when we went for the kickoff at the
[58:03] PAL program, there were really young
kids up to I think up to 18. Um, so we
[58:09] had the kickoff for this in the
registration at the at the PAL boxing
[58:13] program that the county had.
>> What percentage of um young people from
[58:18] Bladesburg signed up? Do you know?
>> I don't know the percentage.
[58:23] » Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?
Council member
[58:26] » BR in transportation, their parents will
be responsible for transporting them.
[58:32] » Yes, we're not transporting them.
>> Okay.
[58:35] » Uhuh. Council member Blunt, have you all
had the pleasure to meet um Shirley
[58:39] Lenn?
>> That was my question.
[58:42] » I haven't, but I know that that they've
been in talks to have have him and some
[58:47] others talk to the kids. I went on a
tour of the uh Salvation Army,
[58:52] » which I met the staff down there. It was
nice. And then I went up to the gym
[58:56] where they're doing it at and the guy
that's running the gym seems like he's
[58:59] perfect for for this to work with the
youth. They have a lot of experience.
[59:06] » Can we just be notified if there's Sugar
Ray Leonard sightings or Keith coming to
[59:12] a particular session? I felt something
over here when that question was raised.
[59:17] So, we need to make sure.
>> I went to school with
[59:21] » Okay. Gotcha. You know how old I am?
Salvation Army. A big space for this.
[59:27] Like the space is kind of
[59:34] » Okay.
>> Oh, my mic is on.
[59:38] » You couldn't hear the chief, Mr. Gray?
>> No.
[59:41] » Chief, they couldn't hear you. Can you
repeat the light? Can you repeat
[59:44] everything or
[59:49] » basketball
bags and and the ring set up in there?
[59:54] And that's just one of the couple
locations.
[59:59] » Exciting times and just look forward to
the impact of giving kids an alternative
[1:00:05] activity, something that's productive
and teaching them not to resort to
[1:00:10] violence in the street. just, you know,
putting that energy somewhere
[1:00:14] productive. So, look forward to being
able to come and check it out once it
[1:00:17] gets underway.
Uh, at this time,
[1:00:24] » so, um, Chief was saying there's a
clinic coming up and then after that,
[1:00:28] the actual session starts in September.
Do you want to give those dates one more
[1:00:33] time, Chief?
>> Yes. The clinic is the 27th of this
[1:00:36] month until the 31st at the Salvation
Army. And then the uh the program itself
[1:00:43] is September 14th, 2026 through June
30th, 2027. And the times for that 5:30
[1:00:49] p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
>> So 27 in September.
[1:00:54] » The the 14th of September through
through June of June 30th of 2027.
[1:00:59] » What's the time for this month? The
27th.
[1:01:02] » The the 27th. Let me check. I have the
uh
[1:01:07] » it might be in the report because I
think you had information about it in
[1:01:12] your uh monthly report, Chief.
>> Yes, I have the flyer. I'm just It's my
[1:01:18] computer's not bringing it up.
>> All right, we will get that information
[1:01:22] to you. We're going to keep moving. Uh
the next item is under financial
[1:01:26] business for consideration for the
council tonight is uh the decisions for
[1:01:31] grant and scholarship program
recommendation. So with that uh we'll
[1:01:35] turn it back over to the town
administrator.
[1:01:38] » All right. I will not speak too much on
this. Uh this is more for council. Um
[1:01:45] and I believe there should be um an
Excel spreadsheet in your binders. Um so
[1:01:54] this is bringing back the conversation
we had in June around
[1:01:58] um a number of our grant applicants. Um
and the recommendation from Rey was that
[1:02:07] this year um the three applicants that
applied for the uh educational
[1:02:14] scholarship um did not necessarily meet
the criteria. Um, so we could roll that
[1:02:20] money into this pot, which would take
the total uh amount available for um
[1:02:28] grants and grants uh to $15,000
um which would leave us about $3,000 shy
[1:02:37] of the total request um if all nine
applicants were funded at approximately
[1:02:43] $2,000.
Uh, so we just did a little rubric um as
[1:02:50] a conversational piece for you guys. Uh,
and I will turn it over.
[1:02:55] » So, we've been looking
appreciate the rubric. Um, one thing
[1:03:00] that I wanted to note is one of the
groups, I know they scored a 3.7, but I
[1:03:06] would consider um, swapping out GH with
Good Intentions because Good Intentions
[1:03:14] is based in the port towns. We did get
to see their youth program in action
[1:03:19] last year and they really made a huge
difference in the lives of those
[1:03:23] teenagers. I mean, things that we take
for granted were very impactful for
[1:03:27] them. Just thinking about when they took
the kids out on the river and how many
[1:03:31] of them grew up in this area and never
even had been in that kind of experience
[1:03:36] and got to see their community in a
whole different way and opened up to the
[1:03:41] sciences um through that connection with
AWS. So I think that would be my
[1:03:46] recommendation that we do Carrison um
particularly given their support for
[1:03:51] immigration issues and what some of our
residents are facing. They're an
[1:03:56] important partner. Anacostia Watershed
Society, another great partner. Eco
[1:04:01] City, it goes without saying, tremendous
partner. Um, End Time Harvest
[1:04:05] Ministries, which will allow us to touch
the youth. We lead by example is helping
[1:04:11] us touch the youth, but also older
residents as well. And then, um, uh,
[1:04:17] where is it? Good intentions. So that
gives us one, two, three, four, five,
[1:04:24] six.
Am I good with my math or did we go
[1:04:28] over?
[1:04:32] » I think we're good. We needed six.
[1:04:37] So, we're essentially swapping rank one
and
[1:04:44] seven
on the um top sheet.
[1:04:51] Does that putting it out there, but
council, let me know your thoughts.
[1:05:00] » I did hear some grumblings about the
tiny print. I'm just saying. I'm just
[1:05:04] the messenger.
It was fine.
[1:05:08] » I'm just the messenger. Don't shoot the
messenger, Brian.
[1:05:15] » I don't know who said it.
Look, I don't know who said it.
[1:05:22] » Heard through.
>> I heard through the grape vine. Oh. Oh,
[1:05:26] I'm sorry. It was both ways. I don't,
Mr. Wood. I have no idea. I can neither
[1:05:32] confirm nor deny.
[1:05:35] Noted, mayor. Noted. Thank you. I will
uh take that under advisement moving
[1:05:40] forward.
[1:05:56] » Thank you, Governor. That's exactly what
I
[1:05:58] » paper. I like it. It was very
sustainable. Thank you, council member.
[1:06:02] What?
>> We're a green community. I'll do my
[1:06:04] best.
[1:06:11] » You want me to run them back one more
time
[1:06:14] » or you think you got them all? Okay. So,
we've got Carrison
[1:06:19] and then AWS
[1:06:23] Eco City Farms
>> End Time Harvest Ministries.
[1:06:29] We lead by example
and then good intentions foundation
[1:06:40] » and the ones you didn't mention on that.
>> Yeah.
[1:06:44] » Because we we would have to pull money
from somewhere else to be able to cover
[1:06:48] all of them. Yeah.
>> And we just don't have the funding. But
[1:06:53] still we're doing more than we have
previously. So still making a good
[1:06:57] impact. She is.
>> All right. Copy that. Thank you.
[1:07:04] Thank you, Mayor and Council. So, I'll
send that out and we'll notify
[1:07:08] um the recipients and move forward
>> and then in the 7:00 meeting, we'll just
[1:07:14] need to do the formal vote.
>> Yep.
[1:07:16] » Sorry. Sorry, Mr. Gray. And we'll just
do the formal vote in the uh 7:00
[1:07:22] meeting since it's a financial um
decision of the council.
[1:07:27] » Okay. for for the ones that didn't make
it. We we have our discretionary funds.
[1:07:32] Can we give money to the Okay, great.
>> Oh, and speaking of, has there been an
[1:07:38] allocation of the FY26 discretionary
funds? Because if not, we need to do
[1:07:43] that at the next meeting as well.
>> Yeah,
[1:07:48] » we Yes.
>> So,
[1:07:52] » yes.
>> Okay.
[1:07:54] » Yes.
>> Okay.
[1:07:56] Got it. All right, we will wrap this up
quickly so we have time to prepare.
[1:08:02] Um, any other comments or questions
regarding the scholars, the grants?
[1:08:07] Okay. All right. So, with that, we have
come to the end of tonight's agenda.
[1:08:11] Council, is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> I move.
[1:08:14] » Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
a second?
[1:08:16] » A second.
>> Seconded by council member Blunt. Any
[1:08:19] comments or questions before
adjournment?
[1:08:22] Hearing none, I'll call for the vote.
All in favor, let it be known by the
[1:08:25] saying of I. I. Any nays? The eyes have
it. We're adjourned. And the time is
[1:08:31] 6:40. Thank you.