Good evening everyone and welcome to the
Bladensburg Town Council meeting for
Monday, July 13, 2026. We are now called
to order. At this time, we'll begin
tonight's meeting with the opening
prayer by Council Member Dixon.
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. Father, we
thank you. Thank you for bringing us
here, bringing us together this evening.
Grant us wisdom, discernment, and
humility as we serve our community. Help
us to listen with open minds and speak
with respect and make decision that
promotes justice, unity, and the
well-being of all residents, guide our
leaders, protect our officers in Jesus
name. Amen.
>> Thank you, Council Member Dixon. For
» Thank you, Council Member Dixon. For
those who are able, please stand for the
pledge of allegiance.
Okay.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Thank you everyone. At this time, the
next item on tonight's agenda is
approval of the agenda. Is there a
motion to approve?
>> That's a move.
» That's a move.
>> Motion's been made by council member
» Motion's been made by council member
Dixon. Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. In
» Seconded by council member McBride. In
terms of corrections for the agenda,
what we discussed previously was the
addition of summer recess under um
presentations to add patriotic committee
and then updates from our
representatives. I believe I saw Miss
Gloria from Diana Fenel's office and
Vanessa from Senator Augustine's office.
And
you're with Augustine as well. Okay. So,
we'll do that. And then
looking ahead to page two under
financial business, adding item B for
community grants allocations and then
item C for council discretionary funds.
So, council, would those amendments be
acceptable?
>> Okay. All right. So, with that, I'll
» Okay. All right. So, with that, I'll
call for the motion. I'm sorry. I'll
call for the vote. All in favor, let it
be known by the saying of I. I. Any
nays? The eyes have it. The revised
agenda is approved. At this time, again,
we'll jump right into presentations,
beginning with Miss Renee Green from
Patriotic Committee.
And as you're coming up, I want to say a
special thank you for supporting our
Independence Day event and sweating all
the sweat equity you paid out there.
So that leads into exactly what I was
going to say.
So for my patriotic report tonight, I
want to thank um Ray Jeff and give him a
shout out.
I for planning another incredible
fireworks celebration.
you know, he started planning that in
February. So, that kind of gives you an
idea of how much work goes into that.
But that was such a great way to
celebrate the 250th anniversary of our
country
and it was over 100 degrees that night.
So, uh, it takes so many people to make
event like that successful and the heat
added to the challenge on everyone. So,
I want to thank everyone who assisted
and the I think there was about a
thousand people that showed up.
Um, I also want to uh thank the mayor
James
and the town council, the staff, police,
the fire department, public works,
especially. Oh my goodness. Sean from
code enforcement. He was riding around
the whole time with a cooler of ice and
water, making sure everyone was okay,
too. It was just incredible. Um, it
really was. and everyone had a wonderful
time. I think uh you know I'm surprised
no one passed out. The only issue was a
little dog that got lost.
And uh I want to thank um I was at the
table at the um town table handing out
all kinds of wonderful gifts and prizes
and t-shirts and t-shirts and um
uh clocks everything. And you know what?
It was a tough night. Uh, but I had the
police and I had the explorers assisting
me.
» Yeah.
So, I mean, I couldn't believe it. I had
like 30 people helping me and there was
a line of about 30 people wanting gifts.
So, it worked out just fine.
So, um, happy 250th anniversary to the
country and thank you.
» Thank you so much, Miss Green. We
appreciate your support with all of our
patriotic uh, activities and for always
being a partner and again for putting in
all that sweat equity with us and
>> put rolling up your sleeves and being
» put rolling up your sleeves and being
ready to work. We appreciate you.
>> Well, I do too.
» Well, I do too.
>> Thanks.
» Thanks.
at this time. Thank you. At this time,
we'll hear from Delegate Diana Fenel's
office.
>> Okay. Oh, okay.
» Okay. Oh, okay.
She punted to Senator Augustine's
office. So, I guess we'll get the whole
district 47 update. That works for us.
» Good evening everyone. My name is
Vanessa and I'm chief of staff for
Senate Senator Augustine and I'm very
happy to present Helina Miss Gana who is
our community liaison. So if you want to
tell them a little bit about yourself.
>> Good afternoon everyone. I'm Helena. I
» Good afternoon everyone. I'm Helena. I
am from Chillm sorry I'm from Chillm
Maryland.
>> I'm just short the words. I'm from
» I'm just short the words. I'm from
Chillum Maryland. I live in New Carol.
I'm part of the community and I'm very
happy to be here.
» Hello everybody. I'm Gloria. I'm from
Delegate Fenel's office and I'm just up
here with her.
>> Okay. And we're happy that we're out of
» Okay. And we're happy that we're out of
session and everything. So, you know,
we're here always just to be here as a
resource. So, if there's anything that
you want to report to us or anything
that we can help you with, whether it's
like, you know, State Highway, Pepco,
like whatever's going on, let us know
how we can be a support to you guys. Um,
so I think that's kind of the gist of it
all. Our cookout will come in a few
months, but I'll give you updates once
we solidify everything.
>> Thank you. And Vanessa, just a heads up
» Thank you. And Vanessa, just a heads up
before you take your seat for the
September meeting. We did have to push
the SHA presentation from tonight's work
session to the 5:30 meeting. So I was
texting with Senator earlier. Okay. He
will he committed to being here because
it involves a state agency. So I'll just
make sure we send it to both you and him
when we send the Zoom link over to you.
>> Awesome. Thank you so much.
» Awesome. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. Thanks for being here. And
» Thank you. Thanks for being here. And
Helena, it's nice to meet you. We look
forward to working with you.
>> Thank you.
So that concludes the presentations for
this evening. So we'll now move into
item six for the approval of the meeting
minutes for Monday, June 8th. Council,
is there a motion to approve?
>> So move.
» So move.
>> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
» Moved by council member Brown. Is there
a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
» Seconded by council member McBride. Any
comments or questions regarding the
minutes? Hearing none, I'll call for the
vote. All in favor, let it be known by
the saying of I. I. I. Any nazs? The
eyes have it. The minutes are approved.
At this time, we'll move into item
seven, which is public comment where we
hear from town residents. Mr. Reinhardt
will turn it over to you to call the
names.
>> Good evening, mayor and council. We have
» Good evening, mayor and council. We have
uh several people signed up. And again,
if you're a town resident, please go up
to the microphone. Um, you have three
minutes. If you're not a town resident,
just let us know and we can just check
you off the list. Uh, the first one up
is Miss Susan McCutchen.
» Start to bring my own microphone. Do it
from the I come every time. Hi, Susan
McCutchen and I live in Bladensburg on
Spring Road. There's so many salient
issues I don't even know where to start.
First of all, I'm very concerned about
the piling on from the federal
government, about uh piling on to blue
states, about anybody who wants to do
anything to make the situation more
humane and and reasonable and um
transparent for immigration. is heavy
weight coming on to the government of
Maryland as one of the many blue states
who are being harassed by the federal
government about funding and threatened
etc. And it's it's very frustrating and
I know we have a lot of concerned people
who want to do something and be right
including our council and I do and uh uh
Mr. Wood has been wonderful back. We
have been uh corresponding and
especially uh Anna has been been
corresponding but we have been talking
about all the the different issues and
angles of what is happening and I'm so
pleased that we're going to be on the
sep that that she I hope will be on the
September agenda. I know on the
September agenda, but to speak about
different uh thoughts that that the
community has and openness in the
community and the and the acting chief
as well. And it's been very open and I
appreciate that. That's something I do
appreciate about Bladensburg, willing to
listen and to to hear what's being said.
And it doesn't mean automatically
everything is going to happen the way
people want it because it maybe can't
for whatever reason, but at least be
reasonable. listen. And that is what I
see in this council and I've seen this
for many years for many other issues. I
have a I want to bring up about voting.
Please pay attention to well I'm on
everybody's email about webinars and
zoom calls etc. but about voting um
issue webinars and zooms. There's a lot
that's out there because there's been
from the top there's a very much the
pressure as we all know about trying to
stop people from voting or making it
difficult for people to vote and we have
to we have to we can't sit out. can't we
we can't be so discouraged that we don't
go out to vote that we don't pay
attention to what's going on and look to
the tricks and things that are going on
because it's it's very sinister just as
sinister as ICE is just as sinister as
many of these things are. So, there's so
much going on and um I'll add on to it.
Hypers scale data centers and the lack
of transparency with the Prince George's
County Council that is disgusting in its
lack of transparency appointing people
who should not be appointed to a
planning board who have had no no idea
about what to do with a planning board
because they have no experience. And it
seems to be at the behest of powers that
be, which is just as bad locally as it
is statewide and as it is federally
people appointed who should not be and
they need to be more transparent and we
have to demand that. But anyway, thank
you.
>> Thank you, Miss McCutchen.
» Thank you, Miss McCutchen.
>> Thank you,
» Thank you,
>> mayor. Our next person signed up is Miss
» mayor. Our next person signed up is Miss
Anna Greenstone.
Hi, Mayor James, council, town staff.
Um, I'm Anna Greenstone, a resident of
Bladensburg, and I'm returning tonight.
Um, and I'm still asking for you to take
more action regarding ISIS presence and
operations in Bladensburg. I'm really
appreciative that you all have welcomed
this dialogue that we have been in touch
as Susan said um and that as a consern
concerned group of residents we've been
able to meet with the town administrator
and Chief Fishorn um and that this issue
has been added to September's work
session. Thank you. Um however, it is
important that we see some concrete
action and change before September. um
you've expressed interest in creating a
document to share some of the policies
that Bladensburg PD does have in place
already to protect and support residents
in case of in the case of an ICE
encounter or detainment. Um and we'd
like to know like what is your goal for
when when that will be complete? Um,
you've expressed interest in appointing
a staff member as a community liaison
who could work closer with concerned
residents and I'd like to know when will
that decision be made of who that person
will be. There are so many other ways to
take action even if you remain against
limiting ISIS access to certain
properties in town. Um, we have ideas
and we'll bring them to you in
September. Um, but we'd love to see more
proactive problem solving also from the
government now. Um, more ideas and
action toward rebuilding trust with
residents, toward reducing chances for
residents to be harmed. This bears
repeating. Federal immigration agents
under this administration are not
consistently operating in reasonable
ways or safe ways.
Um,
since our meeting, ICE has killed
Lorenzo Salgado Aruo in Texas, who, as
you likely know, was not even the target
of ISIS search. He didn't deserve to die
regardless, but he was not even the
target of ISIS search. And in recent
weeks, ICE has become increasingly more
aggressive and intimidating toward
lawful community observers in Prince
George's County. Um, and that includes
recklessly speeding on our roads,
recording observers, following them to
their homes as intimidation tactics. And
so from Human Rights Watch, I'll just
add that in the 500 days since Trump's
inauguration in 2025, 52 people have
died in ICE custody in the US. And the
rate of deaths is the highest level that
it's been in 10 years. And so I just ask
that we continue to take more action now
um hopefully to prevent a death like
Lorenzo's from happening in Bladensburg
or Prince George's County. Thank you,
» Mayor. The next person signed up is
Foster Gettys.
Uh, this is my first time giving um a
statement, so just bear with me. I think
I've got this thing on.
Um, also worth noting I am um
Bladensburg resident and I'm a Word One
um constituent.
Um, I've been seeing lately online on
the town's Instagram page that the
police department has been making many
efforts to court trust from community
through initiatives like walks with a
cop, coffee with a cop, and notice
notably ice cream with a cop on Friday.
um while at the same time undermining
that trust by allowing ICE to park in
the police station lot.
The jurisdiction of that lot and who can
park there is not clear or well
understood by community members. When
ICE parks there, it gives the loud
impression that the Bladensburg Police
Department and the town administration
support and welcome ICE into the
community. It creates the perception of
collaboration whether or not that that
may be actually happening. When ICE
agents are allowed in the police
department with doors held open, it says
loud and clear to anyone watching, "We
support ICE in our neighborhoods, parks,
and municipal buildings." It says, "We
will take action to support ICE." Even
an action as simple as holding the door
open for an agent while taking no action
to support and protect residents. When
Bladensburg police are seen as casually
chatting with ICE agents in public, it
tells resident onlookers that
Bladensburg police like and support
these guys, approve of what they're
doing, and like how they're doing it. It
tells residents that Bladensburg police
is on ICE's side. Public's perception is
an incredibly important aspect of trust.
Will you signal to Bladensburg residents
that you're on their side? Laws that
prevent local police collaboration with
ICE and bar the use of certain
properties or facilities by them have
already been passed by Maryland and
Prince George's County. I'm wondering
what will Bladensburg do. The president
has already been set. As we know, the
Maryland Community Trust Act was passed
this spring. The word trust is in the
title. PG County also passed its own
law, the Community Safe Spaces Act.
Section 2553. The purpose is clearly
stated in the Community Safe Spaces Act
to uphold the county's values of equity,
inclusiveness, dignity, and justice for
all. Maintain community trust by
separating county services from federal
law immigration enforcement, and limit
the use of county property for federal
immigration enforcement purposes to
enhance public trust. A legal challenge
to the Community Trust Act, the Maryland
law, was filed in July on July 9th by
the Justice Department. If the state of
Maryland is successfully sued, what laws
will there be left to protect our
residents? We must pass our own. We must
show our residents that they can trust
their police department, the mayor, and
the council to look out for them. Right
now, we know that the Bladensburg Police
Department cannot collaborate with ICE
because of the law handed down by the
state. But should that law disappear,
what will Badensburg police do then? I
just have a little bit left. Can I
>> quickly please?
» quickly please?
>> Yes, of course. Yes. Yeah. Sorry, this
» Yes, of course. Yes. Yeah. Sorry, this
is my first time. Um, even an action to
do nothing and not intervene is a choice
and the residents of Bladensburg are
taking note. Bl Mayor James may say no
to designating Bladensburg as a
sanctuary city, decrying it as
performative action. If so, then I
implore you to take some action. Any
other action to show the most vulnerable
residents of our town that the city is
looking out for them and they can trust
you. Community trust initiatives like
ice cream with the cop could be a step
forward. Will you let the presence of
ICE take you 10 steps back? Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Gettys. Next person,
» Thank you, Miss Gettys. Next person,
Sean,
>> Mr. Steve Whites.
Yeah, I'm Steve Whites. I live on Tilden
Road. Uh we have a storm water drain
going throughout the uh town, carry the
the u storm water that drains from the
streets and so forth. But those uh storm
water drains are are now clogged up with
uh debris and they're overgrown uh vines
and trees uh clogging it up. But the
biggest concern I have is uh there's
several uh uh gates that are unlocked
and sections of fence that are down and
children and teens are down there
playing in the uh storm water drain and
I'm concerned that that someone's going
to get hurt or trapped there in the
drain. So, uh, you know, I've talked to,
uh, some a couple of council members and
and the police chief and, uh, in the
past, we've tried to go with 311. It's
very difficult to get them to do
anything. And, uh, so I I appreciate the
police chief and and Roger are are going
to contact uh, the county and try to get
them out here to to straighten it out
before we have any problems with
flooding or people getting hurt. But uh
also uh the last time they were out here
in 2020, we had a a blood in Bladensburg
and that was the last time the storm
water drains were cleaned out. We had 20
foot trees and vines growing in there
and it is pretty bad, but they did do a
good job once you get them out here. So
appreciate, you know, the help from the
police and code officer and I would
encourage anyone that sees any drains
clogged up in the streets or throughout
the town, notify the town so that could
be taken care of. Uh the other concern I
have is um a neighbor said her car was
uh hit hit and totaled by a hit-and- run
driver. Another neighbor's car was
recently broken into. Uh there's a
proposal to uh keep the town vehicle at
the mayor's residence for official
business and meeting use, but I'm
concerned that keeping the u the town
vehicle at at a residence would uh
subject it to being hit or vandalized.
I'd rather see the the vehicle kept at
the police station where it's more
secure. And I think it should be
available to the council members too if
they want to if they need it for uh town
meetings or or business sign up and
reserve it and and keep a record of
where you're going, the mileage and so
forth. I think it should be available to
to all the council members to use. So,
um you know, thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Mr. Whites. It's good to see
» Thank you, Mr. Whites. It's good to see
you. We were wondering where you've been
all these many months.
The uh next person signed up is Mr.
Marlon Cruz.
Good evening everyone. Good evening,
town of Bladensburg. My name is Marlon
Cruz and I'm a resident of Ward 1 on
Quincy Street. Thank you so much for the
opportunity to speak to in front of you
all. I am here to share my concern over
the federal enforcement in the town of
Pladensburg and around the town of
Pladensburg.
Um
I will continue to seek some action from
the town of Bladensburg. I know that it
is very difficult to act. Uh we are our
own municipal government though. Let's
remember the reason why governments
exist because people like us form them.
Um talents are incorporated right by
people who are want to incorporate them.
And so that's why the beauty of the
United States. I work with people who
are from the UK and so they are very
impressed by the way that in the United
States that you can get things done
simply by wanting to do them right. So
it's it's very uh it it sort of made me
grateful for for where I am and and
where I live and the democracy that we
still are latching on to as hard as
possible. So, I really implore that we
are able to act um and like some of my
fellow neighbors have shared the the
terrible statistics that are continuing
to happen and then and they continue to
to occur. Um so, I will continue to
fight no matter how tired I am and I
will continue to
organize within the community and show
the demand and the need for action and
that's really what I was asking for.
Thank you so much for your openness to
meet with me. I hope that we can
continue to meet and continue to chat. I
um will continue to work hard as well.
No matter what needs to be done um on my
end, I'm
trying my best to collaborate with the
town of Plinsburg. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Reinhardt.
» Thank you, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Reinhardt.
>> And mayor, our last uh person signed up
» And mayor, our last uh person signed up
is the Honorable Walter James.
>> Thank you.
Good evening everyone.
>> You have a comment?
» Oh, there. Oh, there we go. Good evening
everyone. Uh, Walter James, a resident
of Bladensburg residing on Doris Court
here in the town of Bladensburg. Uh,
thank you mayor and council for this
opportunity. Before I get started, I
just want to say to the mayor and
council, thank you so much for your
responsible and conscious leadership uh
in moving our town forward. Uh, and I do
want to congratulate the mayor on her
elevation uh to MML president. And this
is not only a promotion
I believe this is not only a promotion
for the mayor, but it's a promotion for
the town of Bladensburg. And I believe
that where they say uh the waves waves
rises all ships. You know, I'm probably
messing up that that quote, but it's
something that is not just a promotion
for the mayor, but it's a promotion for
the town as a whole. So, I rise in
support of a resolution to amend the
personnel ma uh manual as it relates to
take-home vehicle take-home vehic
vehicles access for for the elected
officials. Uh I do support uh the mayor
having a take-home vehicle. Many of you
know I've sat in that seat for 12 years.
uh and there's an unexpected
uh unre unwritten I should say unwritten
rule as it relates to the roles and
responsibility of the mayor that come
from lo from the residents that come
from uh all echelons echelons of
government whether that's the county
that's the state or the federal level.
Uh there's immediate response. This is
not a personal benefit to the mayor. uh
this is a a a a measure that's put in
place by a resource by the municipal
government that allows the mayor to
serve the residents effectively whenever
and wherever it's needed. So I encourage
the council to really consider this when
it comes to not this is not a personal
benefit to an individual. Uh this is
something for that position of the mayor
who is in in a position to respond
whenever residents need it. So thank you
so much.
>> Thank you Mr. James.
Right. Mayor, I was just advised um Miss
Vanessa from Malcolm Augustine office
would like to she signed up to speak
also, but
>> Sorry, I didn't know.
» Sorry, I didn't know.
>> Did you have
Sorry. Part of the reason we came now I
know. Now I won't do it again.
But I'm very grateful for you guys being
so open. And uh part of the reason we're
also here is because Senator Augustine
just also wants to echo what the
community members are saying. Um you
know, we're here to instill that public
trust. And I know you guys do everything
that you can, you know, to support our
local residents and everything. And I
just know that within our community,
just being Hispanic and like my family,
like my extended family, I see the fear
that they face every day. like you know
you go out and you don't know if you're
going to come back and I feel like
there's already this fear of law
enforcement as a whole and now it's just
been exacerbated with everything going
on in the federal government that I
think that you know when anything comes
down like domestic violence the smallest
things that you can think of now that
there's no trust it's really hard for
people to come and speak about the
smallest things ever because there like
the trust is gone and you know once the
trust is gone you truly do have to
rebuild it And it's not it's not
something that comes overnight. It comes
with action, right? So that's something
we just really want to echo and just
like um we had partners from Megaark
reach out to us because, you know,
they're very important to our community.
Um and this was regarding something that
was going on in Baltimore City where
there was ICE in the parking lot and
everything. And so what we did is
through another uh contact from a
different senator uh we said, "Hey, do
you think the police can uh like the
city police can stay in the station so
maybe like they can, you know, move
their cars or something?" And that did
end up happening. And you know, most of
them once they saw more police presence
and there wasn't that,
you know, not sure how to describe it,
but they did move out. Um, so it it
really does start with the small
actions. So we just want to echo what
the community is saying and thank you so
much.
>> And Vanessa, briefly I spoke to the
» And Vanessa, briefly I spoke to the
senator at MML about this and asked for
specific support that was over a month
ago just to let him know this is a
rising concern and we need to understand
from his office the state response. As a
municipal government, we can't outweigh
the federal government. of course
>> they we don't have jurisdiction over
» they we don't have jurisdiction over
them. And so my ask and I'll just
mention this to you as well is
separately if we can just continue that
conversation in terms of the legislation
because there are bills that were passed
but they don't take effect for several
months.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> And so the community is like why aren't
» And so the community is like why aren't
you doing anything? We can't violate
state policy. We can't violate federal
policy. And so this really has to stop
being an us versus them and really us
coming together and understanding in
light of decisions that have been made
by the state. What can we legally do?
Okay.
>> As I said to the resident um Mr. Cruz on
» As I said to the resident um Mr. Cruz on
Friday, there are residents in our
community that ICE doesn't have their
information and there's certain actions
that if we take them, we're now putting
those residents at risk. So they're not
just coming for the person on their
checklist, but we've now opened it up
for the folks that they didn't know were
here. This is a very sensitive issue and
we cannot afford to put more people in
jeopardy and we also can't afford to put
our town in position where now we're the
ones being sued. Our budget is a drop
in, not even a drop in the bucket to a
federal administration. Our budget's a
joke to them. And so what I'm asking for
through you is some serious support in
how we move this forward.
>> Of course. So, I know Senator Augustine
» Of course. So, I know Senator Augustine
can't be here because he's out of out of
town. Uh, but I know this is definitely
I think this is a good start. You know,
this is how it all starts. You know,
community comes up and we all this is
really how we collectively come together
so we can move together because you
know, we're never separate in this
issues. We collaborate all the time. So,
I'm just thankful that you gave me the
time
>> for sure everything.
» for sure everything.
>> And I also want to bring balance too.
» And I also want to bring balance too.
This isn't all over Bladensburg. We've
had these instances with our police
parking lot because it is public
property
>> and there's been issues, you know, um
» and there's been issues, you know, um
with the fire department that was also
brought up. And so I don't want to
generalize this to make it seem like
ISIS running through every corner of
Bladensburg. That's simply not true. I
want to deal with the facts along with
the council and the community and again
just make sure that we are knowledgeable
about what the state efforts are and
what responsibilities and what options
we have and I'm not just picking on you.
I sat down with Governor Moore 3 weeks
ago and had the same conversation. So
I'm asking
>> for help and we'll follow up
» for help and we'll follow up
accordingly. Okay.
>> Of course. Thank you so much.
» Of course. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you for being here.
» Thank you for being here.
All right. So that concludes public
comment and um in moving down the agenda
we or first let me just thank all of our
residents who came out to express your
public comments. We do value your time
and appreciate you coming out and we'll
be following up as we have been as you
heard tonight. There's already been
meetings to addressing some of these
issues. Some issues don't get solved in
one conversation, but if you're
committed to the process, then we
welcome that opportunity to continue
working with you. Um, Mr. Whites, I know
we saw the email. Things are already in
motion, so we'll continue following up
with you accordingly as well. We do not
have any items under unfinished
business. So, at this time, Mr. uh Wood,
if you could do a work session review,
we'll turn it over to you.
Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Mayor,
council, residents. Um so at the 5:30
work session um a number of topics were
discussed. uh 5 52nd Avenue update. Um
as the mayor stated, uh we had to push
that to September. We did um just have
an update on um the joint effort and
again I'll say at this session um the
fantastic collaboration between SHA um
and uh Bladensburg public works
department and code for and police
department for um assistance and really
cleaning up that stretch. Um, it is now
safe um and and certainly um much more
uh
more beautiful I guess I would say um
than it was before. Um so just a major
thank you to all those that uh worked on
that effort. uh Porttown bus operations.
Um I think I got some clear directive
there um from uh the council on uh
working with Comar Manor uh to put
together a plan uh for the town to uh
officially take over uh all operations
for the Porttown bus and and give us a
little bit of leeway on uh what the next
steps will be and we'll be bringing that
back uh before council. Um the PAL
project just kind of did a general
overview of the work that was done in
partnership with uh the University of
Maryland and what the next steps will
be. Um as well as uh sharing the
renderings with council and hopefully um
getting a digital version to put up
online. Um the gloves up, guns down. Uh
the chief uh did uh a great job
providing an overview of the uh weekl
long camp that's coming up uh end of
July and then the year-long mentorship
program that is going to be uh taking
place um in collaboration both with the
county and with um a number of other
municipalities and and nonprofit
partners. Um, so we're extremely excited
about that. Um, the grants and
scholarship program discussion, uh, that
is something that will be taken up a
little bit later on with the amended
agenda. Uh, but just reviewing a number
of applicants that applied for a $2,000
grant um, from the
uh, from the town. and the pilot uh
discussion. Uh we got some clarity on
that with regards to um the agreement
that we'll be sharing uh with Hamlet
Woods as they finalize um the that
project and us residents are moving in.
Um so I think that captures
um the work session review council. I'll
hand it back over if there are any
questions or highlights that I didn't uh
mention.
>> I think that covers everything. Council,
» I think that covers everything. Council,
were there any additions for the review?
>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Town Administrator,
» Okay. Thank you, Mr. Town Administrator,
for that recap. Now, we're on to item
10, which is new business, beginning
with the resolution amending personnel
manual regarding elected officials's
access to town vehicles. So, we'll turn
it over to you.
>> All right. Uh good evening again. Uh
» All right. Uh good evening again. Uh
this resolution is uh amendment to
personnel manual regarding the
authorization for mayor and elected
official vehicle use. Um would you like
me to read the whole thing?
>> Not in its entirety. I think we you have
» Not in its entirety. I think we you have
the abbreviated cover sheet.
Sorry, still flipping.
Oh, no. It's the attachment you gave us.
>> The Yeah,
» The Yeah,
>> the revised uh motion.
» the revised uh motion.
>> Yes.
» Oh, yes. Sorry. And the motion to
direct.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Yep. Yes. So, um in addition to the
» Yep. Yes. So, um in addition to the
resolution, there's a motion to direct
the town administrator to authorize the
provision of dedicated municipal
municipal vehicle uh to the mayor. Um
those go hand in hand. Uh just to
overview, uh it's amending the personnel
manual and then um a specific motion to
direct uh the town administrator to make
a um city- owned vehicle available
um moving forward.
>> All right. Thank you, Town Administrator
» All right. Thank you, Town Administrator
Wood. So, uh, council, is there a motion
to direct t administrator Wood to
proceed with the amendment to the
personnel manual,
uh, regarding personnel you, um, clause
for elected officials use of town
vehicles?
Question.
>> Once it's on the floor, we can go into
» Once it's on the floor, we can go into
the questions. We just need a motion and
a second and then we can go into
discussion.
» Um,
understand that
>> you had for the overview. Did you need
» you had for the overview. Did you need
more clarity for Mr. Wood? He can
um questions questions I had and
>> when I'm first I'd like to say um good
» when I'm first I'd like to say um good
evening everyone. Yeah, I did bring it
up that the mayor does a lot for the
town of Bladensburg and I mean she's all
over the place um when it comes to you
know doing um being the mayor of
Bladensburg and I I I did bring it up. I
think she needs a car to do that. I mean
you all see the good work that's going
on what she's doing and I did bring it
up and I stand by it. But I do have a
question. Are they just in in I read
both of them just for a year?
>> So maybe that's what
» So maybe that's what
>> Great great question uh council woman.
» Great great question uh council woman.
So it it was amended to align and I
apologize uh it was amended this morning
to uh align with the personnel manual.
So similar to other um town staff who
it's not it will be reauthorized as part
of the budget. So assuming those
vehicles are available, um the the
personnel manual essentially says that
they have access to that. So it doesn't
have to be authorized separately. Um and
this sorry I apologize was amended to
reflect that process. So when you uh
pass the budget next year, it will be
passed and and authorized through that
same process. Um so it doesn't require a
separate act every year, which is how it
was originally written in in your
packet. So, I apologize.
>> Okay. But no, I just
» Okay. But no, I just
>> Yeah, he council member Blunt, he made
» Yeah, he council member Blunt, he made
those updates and put the copies up
here.
>> Oh,
» Oh,
>> to address that same question. Okay.
» to address that same question. Okay.
>> But also, it's clearly understood that
» But also, it's clearly understood that
whoever the mayor is, if there's an
issue where we're short vehicles and the
chief needs those vehicles or public
works or whoever, they can be recalled
back. So, it's a privilege as long as
the resource is available with the
understanding that it can be called back
if the staff resource is a higher
priority.
>> Okay, I moved.
» Okay, I moved.
>> Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
» Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
a second?
>> I second.
» I second.
>> Seconded by Council Member Dixon. Any
» Seconded by Council Member Dixon. Any
comments or questions before calling the
vote?
>> Yes, madam mayor.
» Yes, madam mayor.
>> Go ahead, Council Member Dixon. I just
» Go ahead, Council Member Dixon. I just
want to echo what um council member
Blunt says in regards to the mayor
getting a vehicle. She does a lot of
work for the town and using your
personal vehicle. Remember, may council
is not employed by the town full-time.
We have our own jobs and so for her to
be jumping here and there, it takes
money and gas to actually take care of
her own vehicle as well. So I do echo
and totally agree because you you do a
lot for this town. You have you and you
are doing a lot for this town. You have
done and still doing. So I agree.
>> Thank you, Council Member Dixon. And I
» Thank you, Council Member Dixon. And I
just want to clarify really this is a
policy that's gone back to when David
Harrington was mayor. So, it's been
assigned to the vehicle and I appreciate
the personal comments, but it's just
whoever is mayor is always called upon
the most and has to be the most flexible
to get wherever you need to get at a
moment's notice. And so, just want to
call back that it's not for Kesha, it is
for that position. Yeah. Whoever I I
could be gone tomorrow. Whoever is in
that position, that burden is put on
them. And I think the town should give
adequate resources to meet the burden.
So, if there are no other questions,
I'll call for the vote. All in favor,
let it be known by the saying of I. I.
>> I. I.
» I. I.
>> Any nays? The eyes have it. The motion
» Any nays? The eyes have it. The motion
passes. Um, and then item B is with
respect. Oh, sorry. Um, yeah. Yeah. And
I know it's been passed and everything
and and like you said just for
clarification with the public. It's like
if there's a need that arises and you
know and it needs uh the police
department or whatever they need need
the vehicle it can be you know recalled
and we put back into
uh into yeah and into the into the
fleet. Yeah.
>> And then for a separate motion regarding
» And then for a separate motion regarding
the resolution for amendments to
personnel manual regarding authorization
for mayoral and elected official vehicle
use. Is there a motion to approve?
» That's a move.
>> Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
» Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
a second?
>> I have second.
» I have second.
>> Seconded by council member Blunt. Any
» Seconded by council member Blunt. Any
comments or questions? Again, this is
now making the personnel policy
consistent with the vote the council has
taken. But any comments or questions
before the vote? I do have a comment. I
just hope if there ever become an a
mayor that if that may work as good as
you have done, they don't get that car.
It is there's the recall provision in
there and it's not in fine print either.
So if it's not used right, that is in
there. Any other comments or questions
before calling the vote hearing? None.
All in favor, let it be known by the
saying of I. I.
>> I.
» I.
>> Any naysay? The eyes have it. Thank you
» Any naysay? The eyes have it. Thank you
all so much. The next item under new
business is the resolution declaring
surplus equipment and authorizing its
disposal. Town administrator Wood, we'll
turn it over to you for the
presentation.
Thank you, madame mayor, council.
Just position. Okay.
Sorry.
Oh, all right. Here we go.
Um, this is a resolution
uh authorizing the disposition of three
surplus Bladensburg Police Department
vehicles through a municipal auction
vendor. Um,
would you like me to read the whole
resolution or?
>> Uh, no. The abbreviated work. It was
» Uh, no. The abbreviated work. It was
posted. So, according to the town
attorney, you can read the abbreviated
notation
>> unless you really want to. I do not want
» unless you really want to. I do not want
to get in the way of you reading a good
resolution tonight.
>> While I really appreciate that offer,
» While I really appreciate that offer,
Madame Mayor, I will politely pass.
U and if there are any questions, I will
happily defer to the chief on the
specifics of the vehicles. Um but uh
they are um
no longer vehicles that we're able to to
utilize at this point. Um Chief, are
there any specifics that you wanted to
mention about why we're surplusing them?
Yeah. And even if you could just take a
step back to because some people may not
recall. I think it was this time last
year or sometime in 2025.
Um at the time Major Dickerson was
helping to get rid of the old vehicles.
So just to give people an understanding
of why this is even necessary would be
helpful.
>> Okay. Good morning, Mayor and Council.
» Okay. Good morning, Mayor and Council.
Uh these are we're trying to update our
fleet and these are vehicles that are
two of them are 9 years old with high
mileage over 100,000 miles. the
maintenance cost on them is not worth
getting the vehicles fixed. The other
one is a 2015, so it's 11 years old. We
don't want to have a bunch of our older
vehicles just sitting around town. We're
paying for, you know, we have insurance
and all that on them. So, it's something
that we want to get rid of and use the
money when we go to purchase new
vehicles.
» Thank you, Chief.
And uh so with that, Mr. would if you
want to just read the um opening text
and then I'll call for the vote for the
resolution.
>> And we actually need the number. I
» And we actually need the number. I
noticed that wasn't there
>> at the top of
» at the top of
>> Oh, sorry.
» Oh, sorry.
>> For section 10, item B.
» For section 10, item B.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Yep. Resolution number
» Yep. Resolution number
>> Oh, sorry. So, it's not on my
» Oh, sorry. So, it's not on my
>> Yeah, I see it on council member Brown's
» Yeah, I see it on council member Brown's
packet. It's just not on my That's fine.
All
>> good. Sorry. Item A here.
» good. Sorry. Item A here.
>> I don't know how.
» I don't know how.
>> It's all good.
» It's all good.
>> What in the world? Okay.
» What in the world? Okay.
So, yes. Uh, resolution number 02-2027,
resolution authorizing the disposition
of three surplus Bladensburg Police
Department vehicles through a municipal
auction vendor. Um
and whereas the town of Bladensburg
uh owns and maintains a fleet of
vehicles for use by the Bladensburg
Police Department and conduct of uh town
of town business. And whereas the town
admin administrator has identified three
police vehicles that are no longer
suitable for continued service due to
age, mileage, and cost of repairs
relative to the current value and
further described below.
Sorry.
Oh, okay. Um,
and where's the vehicles proposed for
disposition are the following three
vehicles?
Um, is that good?
>> That is perfect. Thank you so much, Town
» That is perfect. Thank you so much, Town
Administrator Wood. So, with that,
council, is there a motion to approve
resolution number 02-2027?
» Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
a second?
>> Second. Seconded by council member
» Second. Seconded by council member
Brown. Uh now is there are there any
comments or questions before calling the
vote?
No. Hearing none, I'll call the vote.
All in favor, let it be known by the
saying of I.
>> I.
» I.
>> Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you,
» Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you,
TA Wood, and thank you, Chief, for being
prudent and just removing those
resources and not wasting money,
ensuring them, and certainly not putting
money into um repairing those vehicles
when the value is as much as what it is
to repair them. So, we appreciate the
foresight there. The other item under uh
section 10 is item D regarding summer
recess, and this was amended in the
agenda this evening. Council, is there a
motion to approve summer recess for the
month of August?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
» Moved by council member Brown. Is there
a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
» Seconded by council member McBride. Any
comments or questions before calling the
vote?
Hearing none. All in favor? Let it be
known by the saying of I. I. Any nays?
The eyes have it. Thank you so much,
council. I'm sure the staff will
appreciate that break from us, but um
we'll still be responsive as always to
our constituents concerns during that
time.
>> Is it not on?
» Is it not on?
>> Oh no, you're on uh point of order.
» Oh no, you're on uh point of order.
Madam Mayor, I think we missed the
resolution amending the personnel manual
to establish foreign language
proficiency bay.
>> I breezed right past B. My apologies.
» I breezed right past B. My apologies.
Let me go back.
Uh now I realize my error. They were in
the same I think I had them in the same
tab. So I overlooked it. That's my
fault.
>> Um
» Um
>> you did. I was like
» you did. I was like
>> she was like wait no this is an
» she was like wait no this is an
important one because staff in the all
hands meeting brought this up. The
importance of recognizing the skill set
for bilingual skills and being
adequately compensated. So, um, I
definitely want to thank you, town
administrator, but also want to thank
Chief Ferscorn, because right after that
meeting, you took action putting pen to
paper to write out things that could
help us to make sure that we put a good
plan in place. So, the staff feels that
they're being heard when they bring
these issues and concerns to us. So, uh,
once again, town administrator Wood, if
you want to read the full resolution,
you are welcome to, or you can read the
preamble and then we'll call for the
vote.
>> I will read the preamble, Madame Mayor.
» I will read the preamble, Madame Mayor.
Uh resolution 012027,
a resolution establishing a bilingual
pay differential policy for the town
employee and authorizing the development
of and implementing standard operating
procedure. Um if there are questions
again I will um hand that over to the
chief but I know this was discussed at
the June 8th work session. Um and the
only other highlight um that I would
make is um in the resolution it clearly
identifies that uh the funding as the
chief said would be um coming from uh
traffic enforcement uh measures
specifically
» and and you're good with that chief
pulling from your budget. Just want to
make sure.
>> Yes. So, it's mostly involving public
» Yes. So, it's mostly involving public
safety with police and dispatch.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> So, that can come out from there.
» So, that can come out from there.
>> Mr. Hall, you have a question about it.
» Mr. Hall, you have a question about it.
>> Yeah. I think
» Yeah. I think
>> I was just reading your face.
» I was just reading your face.
>> Yeah. I think when when it first came
» Yeah. I think when when it first came
up, I was just I was wondering was this
for town employees period? And what what
I think we had a discussion is you you
have to be able to translate to
residents as well, not just being able
to partially translate. Is that what I'm
I mean is that what I'm hearing or
>> um correct and what was proposed to the
» um correct and what was proposed to the
council at the last work session was
that you have to be certified. So I
can't come to you and say I'm fluent in
Yoruba without being able to prove it.
And so with HR there will be um a test
that is administered you know through a
third party company but you'll have to
det based on your skill set you'll be
placed in basic or more advanced. So
some people may be conversational but
they might not be able to help you fill
out a police report because they're not
fluent in the language. And so you'll be
the amount of compensation will be tied
to wherever you're certified either at a
basic or advanced level. Does that help
explain it?
>> Yeah. But what I what I just kind of
» Yeah. But what I what I just kind of
heard if I'm not mistaken is I kind of
heard like is what you just said is like
police department.
>> No, it's for all staff,
» No, it's for all staff,
>> right? But what we're saying was be able
» right? But what we're saying was be able
to translate, you know, police stuff
now.
>> No, no, no. Our front were facing. So
» No, no, no. Our front were facing. So
I'm thinking about
>> like some of the bilingual folks. Again,
» like some of the bilingual folks. Again,
I don't want to call names because it's
personnel matter, but if some of the
guys are able to communicate with the
staff proficiently, they're eligible.
It's not just for the police department.
>> Right. Okay. I just want to make sure
» Right. Okay. I just want to make sure
because I know we had spoke about it
earlier at one of our staff meetings and
everything. And that's why I want to
make sure, but I this is the first time
me hearing it that it was passed or
anything like that. So, I
>> about to be make sure
» about to be make sure
>> in like two minutes hopefully.
» in like two minutes hopefully.
>> Don't Don't jinx it, Mr. Hall.
» Don't Don't jinx it, Mr. Hall.
>> Right. I I just want to make sure that
» Right. I I just want to make sure that
we're we're around the board with it as
well. Okay.
>> Cuz that's the goal is really
» Cuz that's the goal is really
enhancing our customer service and being
able to speak to people in a language
that they're comfortable with
>> makes the staff more relatable
» makes the staff more relatable
>> and honestly it helps people to feel
» and honestly it helps people to feel
more comfortable opening up. And so I
see you your team on the front lines of
that communication with residents
>> and they should be able to benefit from
» and they should be able to benefit from
that, you know, too by again testing,
being certified and compensated
accordingly.
>> All right. That's that's
» All right. That's that's
>> looking out for everybody.
» looking out for everybody.
>> Oh yes, ma'am. That's all. Yes, ma'am.
» Oh yes, ma'am. That's all. Yes, ma'am.
Thank you very much, Mayor.
>> Of course. Town administrator, anything
» Of course. Town administrator, anything
else you wanted to add there?
>> Uh, no. No matter.
» Uh, no. No matter.
>> All right.
» All right.
And so
the last resolution was 02207.
So this um resolution for the bilingual
pay doesn't have a number in here. Are
we to assume it's 03-2027?
Our third resolution of the new fiscal
year.
» Just want to make sure.
>> Yes, madam mayor. 0 Yes. 03. Okay.
» Yes, madam mayor. 0 Yes. 03. Okay.
>> There's zero. Yeah. 03. Okay, perfect.
» There's zero. Yeah. 03. Okay, perfect.
So, council, is there a motion to
approve resolution uh 03-2027
uh establishing a bilingual pay
differential policy for town employees?
>> So, move.
» So, move.
>> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
» Moved by council member Brown. Is there
a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
» Seconded by council member McBride. Any
further comments or questions regarding
the resolution?
I do want to thank you all for being at
the all hands meeting and hearing staff
uh concerns because this definitely
speaks to the fact that again we heard
some of the concerns and we're working
with the leadership to address them. So
council thank you for your support. With
that I'll call for the vote. All in
favor let it be known by the saying of
I.
Any nays? The eyes have it resolution
032027 passes. And now I believe that
concludes all items under new business.
Is that right, Mr. Wood? Just double
checking.
>> Uh, yes. Under
» Uh, yes. Under
new business.
» Yes.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Yes, ma'am.
» Yes, ma'am.
>> Great.
» Great.
>> We're now on to financial business,
» We're now on to financial business,
beginning with the resolution accepting
the $300,000 municipal town hall grant
award. Um, Vanessa, please thank Senator
Augustine for his support with these
resources along with Delegate Fenel. I
know Miss um Gloria Albright left, but
we appreciate the delegation support and
helping us modernize this facility. Um
town administrator Wood, over to you.
I'm trying to be gentle here.
» Uh good evening. Yes. Um and just for
clarification, I'm sorry, these the
resolution numbers are out of order
because it's how I wrote them, not Yeah.
in the in the packet. Sorry. Um, so this
is resolution number 01. Um, it's first
one I wrote. Uh, a resolution of the
mayor and council, I'm sorry, a
resolution of the mayor and council of
the town of Bladensburg authorizing the
execution of a state of Maryland capital
projects grant agreement for the
Bladesburg Municipal Center. Um this
grant uh as the mayor stated um uh
allocates $300,000
um for the continued development um and
design efforts um for a uh new municipal
center. Um this is the next step in the
process. Uh once uh this assuming this
passes um happens uh then it will be
able to go before um the Department of
General Services uh and and author and
ultimately we'll be able to begin uh
drawing down money hopefully here in the
next uh couple of months. So um the this
covers outlays that uh the town has
already put out um for work and services
uh rendered and help us take the next
steps. um in in the process
>> and also thanks to Neighborhood Design
» and also thanks to Neighborhood Design
Center because they've been a partner in
this project up till now. So, we
couldn't have gotten this far without
them.
>> Yes. So, council, is there a motion to
» Yes. So, council, is there a motion to
approve resolution 01-2026
uh authorizing the execution of a state
of Maryland capital projects grant
agreement for the Bladensburg Municipal
Center project?
>> So move. Moved by council member Blunt.
» So move. Moved by council member Blunt.
Is there a second?
>> A second.
» A second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
» Seconded by council member McBride. Any
comments or questions before we call the
vote?
>> Everyone's jumping up and down on the
» Everyone's jumping up and down on the
inside. It's been a long time coming.
All in favor? Let it be known by the
saying of I.
>> I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
» I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
resolution passes. Thank you so much. We
look forward to the next steps.
>> Um So, continuing under financial
» Um So, continuing under financial
business, we also have to allocate the
community grants which are offered at
2,000 per community organization and
we're authorizing up to six grants to
close out the FY 2026 budget year. As
Mr. Tanelli often calls July, this is
the 13th month of the year where he's
closing everything out. And so that's
why there's a a bit of a delay with
this. Um, per the discussion in the
council work session, the council had
consensus around providing a grant to
Carrison. As many of you know, they help
immigrant communities um deal with
paperwork issues and other um counseling
regarding um all matters of immigration
services. So we want to continue to
support them. We've also identified
Anacostia Watershed Society, Eco City
Farms, End Time Harvest Ministry, We
Lead by Example, and Good Intentions
Foundation as the other recipients. So,
um, with that, there was agreement
around them. Council, we just need a
formal motion to approve the grants for
again Carrison, Anacostia Watershed
Society, Eco City Farms, End Time
Harvest Ministries. We lead by example
and good intentions. Is there a motion?
>> So move.
» So move.
>> Moved by council member McBride. Is
» Moved by council member McBride. Is
there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by council member Brown. Any
» Seconded by council member Brown. Any
comments or questions regarding the
allocations of the grants? Hearing none.
All in favor, let it be known by the
saying of I. I.
>> I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you
» I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you
all so much and congratulations to all
the grant recipients for the FY2026
fiscal year. The next item under
financial business is allocation of
council discretionary funds which are
$500. Again, closing out the fiscal year
for 2026.
Um, according Oh, Council Member Dixon,
I will need your recommendation. I'll
run through the others while you think
about yours. Um, but Council Member
McBride requested hers go to Eco City
Farms. Council member Brown requested
that hers go to Royal Institute.
Council member Blunt requested that hers
be split between GATS um which is Deacon
Barbara Gibbons organization that
focuses on senior services and the other
half going to End Time Harvest
Ministries.
And then for mine, I want to contribute
my 500 to Royalty Institute as well.
They were a good community grant
recipient last year and we just didn't
have enough um to go around to everyone.
Um council member Dixon, who would you
like your to go to?
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> All right. So, with that, council, is
» All right. So, with that, council, is
there a motion to approve?
>> It didn't I hit it. It just didn't want
» It didn't I hit it. It just didn't want
to cooperate. I guess it said, look,
it's 8:00. I'm done. I'm not working.
Sorry, guys. Jeez. Um, so with that,
council, is there a motion to approve
the following discretionary fund
allocations for Mayor James to Royalty
Institute, for council member Brown, to
Royalty Institute, for council member
McBride, to Eco City Farms, and to
council member Blunt to split her
allocations between Gats and End Time
Harvest Ministries. Is there a motion?
>> I moved.
» I moved.
>> Moved by Council Member Blunt. Is there
» Moved by Council Member Blunt. Is there
a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Council Member McBride. Any
» Seconded by Council Member McBride. Any
comments or questions before calling the
vote? Hearing none. All in favor, let it
be known by the saying of I. I. Any
nays? The eyes have it. Thank you so
much. The council discretionary
uh alloc allocations have been made and
council member Dixon, if you could just
get with Mr. Tanelli because he's going
to be closing everything out this month
and we can just approve it retroactively
at the September meeting.
>> Just we don't want trouble with the
» Just we don't want trouble with the
auditors. So please
>> I'm still thinking to David Elementary.
» I'm still thinking to David Elementary.
So thinking
>> mic's not on.
» mic's not on.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
All right. So that completes all of the
items under uh financial business,
right? Uh didn't miss anything. So
again, I know we made some changes.
We're now on to item number 12, which is
staff reports. And uh Mr. Telli is not
here, but I know Mr. would you said you
would give his report.
>> Yes, thank you mayor. Um yeah the um as
» Yes, thank you mayor. Um yeah the um as
you articulated earlier uh this is the
13th month. Um so he is or we are um
working on finalizing everything. Um I
know in the past uh a report for June um
hadn't been done just because it
fluctuates so much um between June and
closing out. Um so there will be uh
obviously a final report um in August
for the months of June and July um that
will reflect um all of the machinations
but uh so far we are uh on target to uh
uh to meet our revenue projections and
and we'll be in the black. Um
yes.
So thank you mayor.
>> All right. Thank you. And next we have
» All right. Thank you. And next we have
public safety. So does Chief Fresh Corn
get vetos extra time? Only kidding. Sean
is going to start hitting the button. I
know. I know.
» Good evening, mayor and council. I just
want to go over some highlights of my
report. Uh as you see, the violent
crimes was up 33%, but we have such
small numbers in the town. If it goes up
by three or four and when it went up by
four, it looks like a big difference,
but it's really not a huge difference.
But it still year to date is down. Our
property crimes is down uh year-to date
26%.
We're still having trends with theft
from autos and attempt theft from autos.
We have made um some arrests. We have
details going to try to apprehend
people. A lot of times it's one or two
people that can make a big impact. uh we
have identified a juvenile that's a
resident in town that has been
responsible for several events. So
sometimes it's just catching the person
responsible and it'll end uh the trend
that we have. We had a lot of recent
initiatives. You can look at my report
online. Upcoming events, uh we have the
citizen police academy that's ongoing.
We have about nine people in that. We
have we just had the Explorer leadership
conference and I'm proud to say that our
explorers took the lead down there in
doing a lot of mentoring with the other
explorers. Did a great job.
We have coffee with a cop coming up at
the library uh at 10:00 a.m. on the
16th. We have ice cream with a cop
that's also coming up on the 17th. Um,
and then we have the boxing camp that's
going through July 21st to the 31st and
that's going to be down at the um,
Salvation Army on Edmonston.
The stop sign cameras were approved by
the county. We've talked to the vendor.
Uh, so we're going to initially start
with three or four cameras. We're
looking at different locations. We had
all the studies done. It's just a matter
of having them installed now. So, in the
near future, we'll have them installed
and on on problem areas. We're putting
them in areas where violation rates are
high, the highest for public safety
because we don't want anybody to get
injured.
Um, we are looking for officers and a
dispatcher. So, we currently have three
officers positions and a dispatcher
position. So, I encourage residents if
anyone's interested or knows someone
that's interested, have them apply.
Um, we get our new our two new patrol
vehicles hopefully next week. That's
been taking forever to get them
upfitted, but I've beenounding them
every every week for the last couple
months. So, hopefully in the ne next two
weeks we have them. Um, some notable
incidents. Uh, we've we made an arrest
on a first-degree assault involving a
weapon, uh, someone pointing a weapon.
There's some other ones in there. You
can look at my report online to see
those. And then um some of the goals
that we have, we need to increase
staffing. We have uh you know that
impacts staffing a lot when we're just
down a couple people. So if you know
anyone that wants to apply, please
encourage them. That's all I have.
>> Thank you, Chief. And um
» Thank you, Chief. And um
I think it was in Mr. was report not
referenced in here, but there were a
couple folks who spoke to us tonight
about immigration concerns. And I want
to just give you an opportunity to share
what you had explained to the residents
on the call. I guess it was two Tuesdays
ago. It'll be two weeks from tomorrow
actually. Um because there's information
out there, but I want people to
understand from your perspective um the
other side of the situation.
>> Yeah. So, I have kind of a unique uh
» Yeah. So, I have kind of a unique uh
position in which, you know, I I lived
in Guatemala for three months. My wife's
Spanish, she doesn't speak English. I've
been through the immigration thing a lot
with with dealing with immigration, with
having her family members deal with
them. So, I understand the fear that
they have. There's limitations that our
department has, and I know that the
county has recently passed um
legislation dealing with allowing ice on
their parking lots and allowing them in
their public spaces. The town of
Bladensburg doesn't have that. If
they're parked in our parking lot, it's
not that we're collaborating with them
because we don't we don't help them
serve immigration um deportation orders,
civil orders. If it's a criminal matter
or if it's an officer safety issue, then
of course we'll get involved. We don't
want anybody to get hurt. Uh we we want
the same things that you all want. We we
don't want ICE stopping people just
because of the way they look. There
should be some kind of reason that
they're stopping them, that they're
going after a particular person. Um, we
don't want them violating people's
rights. The county did pass the uh the
law with the masks um that law
enforcement are not supposed to wear
masks and we have brought that up when
we've seen them. Look, the the county
has this law. You're not supposed to
wear masks. Whether they're going to
listen to us or not, we're in a kind of
difficult position because we don't want
to interfere with with what they're
doing. Uh, and sometimes, you know,
people will call and say they see ice in
our parking lot and it might be one of
our canine officers because they wear
they wear the same type of uniform. It's
a green uniform. So, they may confuse
them and we've had people follow some of
our officers thinking that they were ICE
when they were actually undercover
officers. So, that's dangerous for them.
We don't want that to happen. Um, but I
just want you to understand that if if
we're doing anything with with ICE, it's
it's to assist any of the immigrants.
Like one time they they brought someone
to the station, they wanted to use the
bathroom. I authorize that because I
don't want them to have to drive them
all the way to Baltimore or wherever
they're going and have them suffer when
we can we can look out for them and have
them use the bathroom here. So, we have
very uh limited um interaction with
them. We don't know when they're in
town, where they're going to go. They
don't tell us about any of their
operations that they're doing. We just
want to make sure that when they do have
interactions that um they're not
violating people's rights and we have a
duty to intervene if there's something
that's going on that's criminal. Um
hopefully that's not going to happen,
but that's our stance. Um there's not
much we can do about moving them off of
We've had them on the fire department
parking lot, which is private property.
On private property, they're not
supposed to be there. if if someone
doesn't want them there, they can tell
them to leave because it's private
property. Um, through this research, I
found out that um the postmaster was
concerned because they were on the post
office property, and I initially thought
that was federal property, but it's
actually private property owned by the
um it's leased to them. It's owned by
the by the fire department, so it's
private property. So, I encourage if
someone if someone has uh ice out there
and they're wearing masks and they don't
think that they're ice, they can always
call the police department and we can go
and confirm. Uh other than that, we
we're not we're not transporting anyone
for them. We're not pulling people over
for them to serve immigration civil
warrants. We're not doing any of that.
So that's the stance with the police
department.
>> Thank you so much, Chief, for just
» Thank you so much, Chief, for just
enlightening everyone
before Mr. Gray yell. Sorry, the button
did not depress. But thank you for that
overview. Um, and just laying everything
out there because I knew about the
situation with the person who needed to
use the bathroom, but what public
members were saying is, "Oh,
Bladensburg's cooperating with ICE when
that wasn't the case. It was the humane
thing to do to let the person use the
restroom." And it's just one small
example of how one small thing can be
distorted and turned into a different
narrative that is not correct. And so I
appreciate you just explaining from your
perspective what has been done, what the
town will do. Um, and particularly want
to note the duty to intervene because
that general order was passed in, I
think it was 2021 following the George
Floyd murder and the prior chief, you
know, talked with the council about that
and just really holding officers
accountable. If you see someone who's a
law enforcement officer crossing the
line, you have a duty to intervene. And
if not, you will be held responsible to
the full extent of the law. That is our
expectation. But again, we will continue
doing our part, doing our research to
figure out if there are other methods
that we can take as well. But thank you
for that.
>> I'd like to add one more thing. Um, also
» I'd like to add one more thing. Um, also
in our previous discussion, uh, there
was an idea of having a liazison for the
police department for concerns with
immigration. I thought that was a great
idea. I've since spoken to Sergeant
RmIrez who's in our community action
team and she's going to be the liaison.
She's bilingual. She speaks Spanish. So,
if there's any concerns, they can reach
out to her. Um, if it's something that's
more important or urgent or an
emergency, they can always call the the
communications dispatcher and we can
send someone out if need be.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> And I appreciate you doing that. I
» And I appreciate you doing that. I
wasn't writing you about it only because
I understood the staffing issues,
particularly with patrol and understand
this issue is important, but the
day-to-day operations still have to go
on and needed to give you time to work
through that. So, thank you for
designating someone and also someone who
is bilingual and knows the community.
She grew up here um and now works here.
So, I don't think you could have picked
a better person to serve in that role.
Um so, that completes the public safety
update. Now, we're going to have code
enforcement from the time enforcer over
here.
» Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I I
have a very brief report uh this week,
I'm sorry, this month. Um, our main
focus this month has been focused on
business license renewal throughout the
town of Bladesburg, which is a very,
very, very time consuming thing. Um, we
have just shy of about 200 businesses.
So, we pay visits to each and every
business in town. Um and so far we're
probably about 80% with the returns of
the uh businesses coming in. Um
we uh we're continuing with apartment
inspections. I I will admit it did slow
down for the month of June just because
of the business licensing. Um we've had
uh 85 abandoned vehicles in the town of
Blaesburg. Uh we were able to uh assist
public works with several um different
functions throughout the community. And
again, big shout out for the uh
fireworks crew. Everything went good.
Heat was horrible, but we made it
happen. That's my report.
Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt. We appreciate
your support as always. And um town
administrator, I'll hold the clerk uh
update for your TA update since you're
kind of wearing both hats and go to
public works next if that's okay.
>> All right.
Good afternoon, mayor, council, and
residents and audience right here. Um
um this this month of June, uh public
works did multiple multiple job tasks as
one of them. Um we have a lot of stuff
going at the Boswick House where we have
an architect just um trying to look
underneath the structure of the barn.
And as we rolled around there to try to
look underneath the structure, we
noticed probably about a ton literally
of old wood. So nobody could get in
through there. So the guys took like a
half a day and loaded up the truck. So
he was able to get in there the next
day, which was a a short notice, but
guys was able to do as we as they always
do um you know, work immediately. And
also we assist um code with um a lot of
cleanup in industrial areas. It's just
going a little bit getting a little bit
out of control, but we had to do a whole
whole run for about about a half a day,
you know, with all the guys. And we
picked up we probably had at least two
truckloads of of debris and everything
that we loaded up from down there. And
while we was cleaning up down there
where a lot of people were hang up
underneath the railroad tracks down
there, I noticed it was a couple of no
parking signs that was missing.
Evidently, they may have took them down
or may hit him and stuff like that. So
guys, we installed it another no parking
sign. That way you can have three no
parking signs in the middle. I mean, you
know, in the middle so there's no no
confusion of is no parking right here.
And hoping that that'll help some of the
cars stay from out there. And also um
excuse me due to the heavy buses on you
know 58 they're not just the heavy buses
it's just traffic period you know we had
to um
remove a old crosswalk
and try to put another one down on the
um concrete. This is not asphalt that
we're putting it down. We have a
concrete little valley for to help the
waterway come through and a lot of
material just don't want to stick to
concrete. So every year we have to kind
of like redo it every year. And I want
to give a guys a heads up because this
year was the first time that we
res-craped the whole, you know,
crosswalk and then added more paint
down. And I was proud proud to see that.
And matter of fact, the paint that I
used was from um a company that I've
I've learned from from MML, you know, um
Seal Master. I never used them before,
but they have a great product that all
my white white paint that we were using
in town, like the cross bars and all
that, we'll start using that because it
lasts longer and is more durable. And
when we put down anything or as y'all
know, we have so much painted curves,
stop bars, crosswalk in town, you know.
So, actually, we go through probably
about $7,000 worth of white paint and
and yellow paint throughout the town.
So, if there's anything that we can get
that's more durable that can, you know,
we don't have to come back every year to
repaint it is a whole lot better on on
on our staff because, as y'all know, we
have so much that we try to do with
seven people. And I I want to take my
hats off to them guys as well and myself
as well for constantly digging and
grinding with with, you know, doing what
we have to do. You know,
>> we definitely appreciate it. And um
» we definitely appreciate it. And um
Junth um I want to um thank um Salomon
and Mr. Conrad Watson for uh assisting
everybody with the painting of the uh
benches out here. And as y'all know, we
already have um installed two of them
benches. One is right here on 53rd in
Annapolis where bus shelter was knocked
down a long time ago and we had some
requests for another bench right there.
And also on 58th
um right across from the what is that?
Oh, I apologize. The new condos up
there. Uh
>> yeah, Bladen Bladen's condos is a bench.
» yeah, Bladen Bladen's condos is a bench.
Somebody broke one of the benches that
we did last year. So, we was able to put
this bench and these benches that we're
making now is a little bit more sturdier
than the ones we had. And also, I want
to give our hats off to the guys again
for being so creative. You know, I I
know y'all see some little sculptures
out front and um different little things
that um the guys are just being creative
and some of this is part of what
I've learned when we went to Ohio for
the um American in Bloom, you know. So,
some of this stuff and none of this
stuff that we got um cost anything. This
was recyclable. I'm sorry. Time up.
>> Not to interrupt you, but you know
basically the rest of it is is is is on
the report.
>> I apologize.
» I apologize.
>> One question though for you and the team
» One question though for you and the team
is could we install some cameras to
catch the dumping in the business area?
>> We look okay.
» We look okay.
>> We we we looking into that right now.
» We we we looking into that right now.
Yes.
>> I was going to say to answer that, mayor
» I was going to say to answer that, mayor
and council, yes, we do have some uh
trail cameras that we are relocating
throughout town. Um, so we are going to
be in the process of making working with
our detectives to get that taken care of
and squared away.
>> Perfect.
» Perfect.
>> Thank you both. And Mr. Hall, please
» Thank you both. And Mr. Hall, please
thank the team for all their hard work.
We definitely appreciate them.
>> One thing I just want to echo, I know I
» One thing I just want to echo, I know I
don't have the time. I'm sorry, but the
collaboration with SHA, I mean, I just
want to take my hats off to my guys.
>> Yes. you know, for working two straight
» Yes. you know, for working two straight
six hours, you know. Yeah. We didn't get
a lunch break. Neither neither neither
neither park got a lunch break. So,
today we went back out there and thanks
to the town, we we I I we fed him. Yeah.
>> Nice. But thank you for the
» Nice. But thank you for the
collaboration there because as I said to
Senator Augustine, the issue is if we
just say we're not going to help you
with anything,
>> this infrastructure project is going to
» this infrastructure project is going to
fall to the bottom of their priority
list. And so that effort that you guys
took being out there getting that area
cleared, cleaning it up goes so long in
terms of that relationship and goodwill
building. So thank you. Thank you. Thank
you. And um just know Senator sees it.
He told you when he saw you that he
appreciated all the work that you guys
are doing and so just know he's an
advocate and he's pushing on SHA from
his side to help support us. So we truly
appreciate that.
>> Absolutely. We just got we got some more
» Absolutely. We just got we got some more
work to do but as they see the way that
we come in there then I think they they
everybody going to fall in line too.
>> Agreed. Agreed.
» Agreed. Agreed.
>> All right. Uh so last but certainly not
» All right. Uh so last but certainly not
least, Mr. Town Administrator Woodclerk,
over to you.
Uh good evening. I'll be uh fairly
brief. Um but do want to just echo um
what an awesome team we have uh all
around the board. Um so speaking of uh
where Pel kind of left off, um we have
our American and Bloom judges coming uh
July 20th and 21st. Uh this will be a
great two-day opportunity to showcase um
our community, a lot of the great work
um that the guys have been doing all
around town. Um we've developed a pretty
robust uh itinerary that will engage the
community um staff uh council. Um
and so we're we're really excited about
it. Um obviously a big tip of the cap to
Ray as well who's been spearheading um
that effort. Um he was showing me little
recycled bees today that I think y'all
put out. Anyways, it's been I've I've
learned a lot. Um but it's a great
program to to say the least. Um next uh
conversation I think we've talked about
a great deal. Um but I do just want to
thank um a number of community residents
that we had the opportunity to speak
with a couple of weeks ago, the chief
and myself. Um and and to reiterate I
think what Miss uh Greenstone spoke
about um earlier today um with regards
to immigration immigration and customs
enforcement. Um I think the meeting was
very productive. Um but more importantly
it was honest and collaborative. Um, I
think we had a pretty open dialogue
about the concerns um that a number of
our community members were feeling um
and discussed several meaningful actions
that the town can take. Um I think the
chief articulated one already which was
um around um the community liaison. Um,
we're finalizing kind of aformational
one-pager that's going to go out uh via
social media and on the website just uh
articulating it is okay if you don't
know if somebody is an agent or you feel
unsafe, please call our officers. You
know, we will go out. Um, and then
highlighting a lot of the work that the
CAT team and a number of other community
members have done to reestablish
relationships and trust that we've
talked about. And so we talked about
that, but also that ongoing dialogue and
communication. I know we have um or
we're going to try and have a meeting
scheduled in in August um to kind of
talk about what we are doing and what we
um will continue to do and that this is
uh not something that's going to be
solved uh overnight, but um it's going
to be an iterative process, but um the
town council uh staff are committed to
it just as we know our residents are.
So, uh, thankful for that, uh, meeting.
And then, um, just kind of looking
forward, it's crazy, but it's already
here. Um, FY28 grant planning, um, is is
upon us. Um, so we'll be working through
that. Um, and I'll share more with that
um, at our retreat uh, council. So,
yeah.
>> Thank you, Mr. Wood, for all your hard
» Thank you, Mr. Wood, for all your hard
work. Uh at this time we'll transition
to mayor and council reports beginning
with ward one with council member Trina
Brown.
Thank you mayor. I um first of all would
like to thank all the residents you know
who participated
uh this evening and um then for the ones
who are online watching us online and uh
to the mayor and the council. you know,
this right here. We're wrapping up our
um our our about to go on on break for
for one month. So, but I definitely want
to thank our staff uh for just all the
tremendous amount of work that you all
do all year long. I mean, um out there
that day in the heat, I mean, and not
that day because I think public works,
it's like, you know, our public works
department and the police department,
you know, you and code enforcement, you
go work in the heat every day. every
every day. So, you know, that that
doesn't go unnoticed and we just can't,
you know, say enough thank yous, you
know, because we we we um we know that
uh that that you're here to do a do a
job, but you all do it and you all do it
well and you you all you all do it with
um with commitment, respect, dedication,
and and perseverance. So, um we thank
you all so very much. Um I've attended a
lot of meetings, a lot of um activities
and things that have happened here in
the town this year. So I just want to um
to want the residents to uh to stay
safe, to stay hydrated, and to also know
that we are here for you all. We did
have another one of our um community
meetings this past Saturday that was uh
was attended. So, we had some things
that some follow-up um items that came
out of our community meetings. So, we
are here for the comm community. We will
continue to listen to the community. We
will continue to work with the
community. And is our hope that the
community continues to work with us as
well because we as we the council
members, we live here in this town as
well. So, it's not like we pack up and
we go, you know, we go home somewhere
else. So, we live in this town as well.
We want all we want all of our residents
to be safe. Um, and we also uh want to
to to want also want to thank our police
department because we actually, you
know, we do have a very awesome police
department. Um, as as I said, you know,
we we we live here. We we raising our
families here. You know, we um um we we
go to sleep here at night. And so, we do
want to thank our our police department
for doing a wonderful job in serving and
protecting. And um so um also once again
congratulations to you Mayor James on
your presidency
uh with um MML and I'm sure that it's
going to be a very exciting time for for
you this year. You know let us let us
know what you need, you know, to be here
to support and then once again happy 250
50th anniversary.
>> Thank you, Council Member Brown.
» Thank you, Council Member Brown.
>> Thank you so very much. Yes. Thank you.
» Thank you so very much. Yes. Thank you.
>> Have a safe summer. Be safe. Stay
» Have a safe summer. Be safe. Stay
hydrated.
>> Yes, please.
» Yes, please.
>> All right. Over to you, Council Member
» All right. Over to you, Council Member
Dixon. Also for Ward One.
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. Good evening,
everyone. Good evening, residents. Um,
first I want to start off by saying
congratulation to our mayor James on
rising to MML president. Congratulation.
Wish you all the best in the new role. I
know you're going to do great. Um, all
right. Let me get into my
>> Yes, that's
» Yes, that's
control.
>> Okay, let me get into my Okay, so first
» Okay, let me get into my Okay, so first
I attended the MML conference and um
also the CRF meeting. Um at this year
meeting they provide an update on the
current infectious um disease threat
that including the Ebola rising that's
going on now the outbreak. I attend the
county executive and municipal mayor's
meeting where you provide updates from
your town and the issues that the town
is facing and what we need help with. Um
fourth of July celebration I attend that
as well was a great event. Um, I just
want to say thanks to the staff for
putting it together. Um,
I sat on the blading zone meeting just
in support to our residents. Also, um, I
attend the MML committee orientation. I
am a MML engagement and outreach
committee member. Now, um the COG
meeting, my community walk just to hear
what resident has to say, their
concerns. Um
oh, and also meeting with myself and
Mayor James, meeting with Mr. Martin
Cruz on the issues of ICE um that is
present in our community. Thank you,
Sean. I gave you back some time,
a whole minute.
Thank you, Council Member Dixon. Now
we'll transition to W two beginning with
council member Carol McBride.
» Good evening everyone. Um
first of all I want to say thank you um
to our Bladensburg Fire Department. I
experienced something during the Fourth
of July event of heat exhaustion. Never
experienced it in my life. And um just
so happened that somebody took notice
that I didn't look right and they pulled
me inside and just so happened that um
what's her chief fire department chief
um
>> sum chief sum was right there and then
» sum chief sum was right there and then
he had the other was to come in and put
ice packs on me. So I'm I'm truly
grateful for that because I never
experienced and didn't know what it felt
like but I was glad people were alert.
Um,
and let's see. I attended the um, well,
I was late attending, but the little
police cadetses um,
awards ceremony and I did go in. I had
the opportunity to corre congrat what am
I getting tongue tied? Congratulate
them.
Um I also was asked by um and I want to
say um
that pastor rout Theodore routs who
moved his church
to the um
>> Salvation Army.
» Salvation Army.
Well, he moved back to Bladensburg
to the word of God church with his
grandfather where he originally never
mind uh belonged. And so I want to say
uh thank you and welcome back pastor
Rouse. Um
he also had a um
a prayer breakfast with council member
Blunt's residence and um he asked me to
come as the church mother. So I did
attend
and only to visit um didn't have any
words to say. Uh
and so I'm I'm just grateful for what
I'm allowed to do in the town of
Bladensburg. Thank you, Mayor James.
Cong congratulations.
>> Thank you
» Thank you
>> on your position. Um,
» on your position. Um,
I'm just glad glad to be here. Glad I'm
at the end of the year. Have a safe
summer, everyone, and enjoy yourself.
Please stay safe.
>> Thank you, Council Member. Thank you,
» Thank you, Council Member. Thank you,
Council Member McBride, for your report.
Now, we'll continue with W two with
Council Member Blunt.
>> Hello. Hello. Hello.
Well, um, first I'd like to thank, um,
the officers for coming into the Emerson
House building and arresting someone who
just got out the next day when he got
arrested, but I know they did their job
is the courts have to do better. And I'm
working on that. Um,
I'm also working on what is that thing?
What is that thing called? Squatters.
Okay,
>> that that thing is unreal.
» that that thing is unreal.
So, I'll be going into the court system
to find out how that operates and bring
that back to um department heads in
Bladesburg and to any um other building
cuz having squatterers cuz we have two
and unfortunately management companies
lose money and the whole nine yards. But
I will be doing my study on that um
squatted thing and bringing that back so
that we'll know how to be aware and how
not to get um played and victimized and
mainly as family members a lot of times.
So, but anyway, that's a whole another
story. Also, I finally um finalized the
the department heads to that I would
like to come out to Bladensburg and talk
to the seniors
um about issues that they're dealing
with when trying to get services from
the departments um that is put there to
help them poor service. We have poor
service in PG County and sorry I must
say um to help this to help seniors is
very poor and they need the help. Other
than that um I graduated I passed all my
class classes and not pass but MML. So
we'll be graduating later on.
So, um I'm I'm really excited about that
and I thank um
um I I really like to say thank you to
my job for allowing me to come in and
work and now I'm in a position
and to politics. Me and politics. Wow.
But again, um thank
all I have to say. I know this end of
summer. Um I understand the heat
exhaustion. It happens um too many
people. We don't you don't know that
it's going to happen, but just be
careful and drink plenty of water. Also,
I have not seen ice. Um myself, I have
not witnessed anything, but perception
is everything and everybody perceptions
are different. So, if we lolly gagging
out there with someone we potentially
think is out here to harm our residents
in any kind of way, yeah, we would
probably think it. Um but allow us allow
people to have what their perceptions
are and also bring it back to the
council. As you can see that they're
already meeting with officials
pertaining to ICE and what and what they
here for. Um my grandson work from
homeland security homeland whatever that
homeland security office. I called him
and asked how did that work and
unfortunately they have they have rights
too and hopefully they're not um here
harming anyone but again and we hoping
that I don't know how it works but like
the mayor I trust um that they're
working with officials to try to see how
we can
that did that thing ring on me
>> oh I'm sorry but again um but yeah I'm
» oh I'm sorry but again um but yeah I'm
I'm real I'm real sorry but everybody
have a job to do but I hope they do it
um
respect just keeping respect and um and
perception again is everything and
everybody perceptions are different and
again when you hear from us again I'll
be seeing the seniors at the senior
gathering um again Ray Jeffrey is
putting together I took that 110 but the
senior gather is September so again um
that's are they playing the music for me
okay I'm done I'm done thank you
That's you, Mr. Weiss. Okay,
>> Mr. Weiss. Wow. He played the music. Oh,
» Mr. Weiss. Wow. He played the music. Oh,
man.
>> Oh, man.
» Oh, man.
>> Mr. Weiss. You when you come back,
» Mr. Weiss. You when you come back,
that's why you come back. Okay. All
right.
>> Bring the music. Thank you.
» Bring the music. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Council Member Blunt. I will
» Thank you, Council Member Blunt. I will
try to be brief as well. June was a very
busy month. Um, I have my full written
report there. The bulk of it focuses on
a lot of meetings that took place during
MML and prior to uh but one thing I want
to call out is the Prince George's
Gateway Development Authority. We did
meet in June. Bladensburg hosted Senator
Augustine was here and was delegate so
was delegate Ivy. And um we've had some
leadership changes within the authority.
And so it's just really important for us
to understand while we're codified just
like West North and Baltimore, we have
some very distinct differences. And so
state funding has been issued to the
authority. However, we don't have the
same level of um decision making as the
uh authority in Baltimore. And that is
not to put our legislators down. It's
just the reality of how they constructed
that law. And so as such, we just needed
to do some level setting with
expectations to show that we will make
decisions in accordance with what our
authority is. We can't be looked at and
judged by the West North development.
But um for those who aren't aware, that
money is really to help us revitalize
these inner beltway communities that
tend to get less of the state funding.
And so I think that's going to be a huge
help to us. Um, jumping to MML really
quickly, was honored to become president
during the uh, closing session, but one
of the honors that the administration
extends is you get a sort of closed door
meeting with the governor. And so during
that time, as I mentioned earlier, uh,
there were a range of issues that we
covered, ICE also being one of them,
because we know that he is not on our
president's favorite list, and as such,
that puts Maryland in a certain
category.
And my best advice is we will do what we
can, but the reality is midterms matter.
Elections have consequences. And if you
really want to change this, then you
need to show up
>> and vote come November because that is
» and vote come November because that is
how you shift this. It's a federal issue
that's becoming a local issue and we
can't solve it all on our own. Um, I do
want to call out some of the things that
comproller Leman shared with us and I
think it's important to note. um she has
totally transformed that controllers's
office and um has reconstructed the
unclaimed property program and because
of her leadership $121 million has been
returned to its rightful owners. If you
are in the state of Maryland and you
think you might have money out there
that's been left to you and you need
help claiming it, that website is
www.claimitmd.gov
gov and you need to really go on there
to see um you know what resources may
have been left to you or a family
member. Um throughout the event it was
great to have visibility not just from
the governor but the lieutenant governor
and the cabinet secretaries and so there
were some tremendous conversations that
I think are going to help us on all of
our fronts from Boswick House to the
municipal center. So I just look forward
to the followup that comes from there.
And really quick, uh, president or mayor
privilege, um, I noticed the handout
that was supposed to be attachment
number one didn't come through. So, I'll
reprint that for the council, but it's
the civility pledge from um, National
League of Cities. So, their board signed
the civility pledge for a a code of
conduct for retreat, how we treat each
other as elected officials, how we
engage respectfully. And so, I do want
to encourage the council to read the
pledge. I printed copies when I realized
it wasn't here and I'll give them to you
after the meeting. But I think we should
talk about this at the board retreat and
sign on to it as a public stance for how
we're going to not just treat each other
but how we're going to conduct ourselves
as community leaders. So with that, that
concludes my report. Again, it's written
and included with the staff reports.
That brings us to the end of our agenda
for tonight. Council, is there a motion
to adjurnn?
>> I moved.
» I moved.
>> Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
» Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
a second?
>> Second. seconded by council member
» Second. seconded by council member
Brown. Any comments or questions before
we adjourn?
>> Have a comment.
» Have a comment.
>> Um I just want to Can you hear me?
» Um I just want to Can you hear me?
>> Yes. Um thank you, Madame Mayor. I want
» Yes. Um thank you, Madame Mayor. I want
to say thanks to the police department.
I had a breakin at my house. Um well,
it's it's a car that was broke into my
driveway and I didn't call 911. We
called straight to Blazburg police
station and they came in less than like
a minute and you know took care of it.
chief got all the videos and stuff and I
just want to say thank you.
>> Thank you Sean for getting that raccoon
» Thank you Sean for getting that raccoon
out the street.
>> Thank you for those comments. So with
» Thank you for those comments. So with
that council I'll call for the vote. All
in favor say I.
>> I. Any nays? We no nays. We are journ.
» I. Any nays? We no nays. We are journ.
See you all in September. Happy summer.
All right. Byebye. Thanks.