[0:10] Good evening everyone and welcome to the
[0:11] Bladensburg Town Council meeting for
[0:13] Monday, July 13, 2026. We are now called
[0:16] to order. At this time, we'll begin
[0:19] tonight's meeting with the opening
[0:20] prayer by Council Member Dixon.
[0:25] » Thank you, Madame Mayor. Father, we
[0:27] thank you. Thank you for bringing us
[0:29] here, bringing us together this evening.
[0:31] Grant us wisdom, discernment, and
[0:33] humility as we serve our community. Help
[0:36] us to listen with open minds and speak
[0:38] with respect and make decision that
[0:41] promotes justice, unity, and the
[0:43] well-being of all residents, guide our
[0:45] leaders, protect our officers in Jesus
[0:47] name. Amen.
[0:49] >> Thank you, Council Member Dixon. For
[0:51] » Thank you, Council Member Dixon. For
[0:51] those who are able, please stand for the
[0:53] pledge of allegiance.
[0:56] Okay.
[0:58] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[1:01] United States of America and to the
[1:03] republic for which it stands, one nation
[1:07] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:10] justice for all.
[1:20] » Thank you everyone. At this time, the
[1:22] next item on tonight's agenda is
[1:25] approval of the agenda. Is there a
[1:27] motion to approve?
[1:28] >> That's a move.
[1:30] » That's a move.
[1:30] >> Motion's been made by council member
[1:31] » Motion's been made by council member
[1:31] Dixon. Is there a second?
[1:34] >> Second.
[1:34] » Second.
[1:34] >> Seconded by council member McBride. In
[1:37] » Seconded by council member McBride. In
[1:37] terms of corrections for the agenda,
[1:39] what we discussed previously was the
[1:42] addition of summer recess under um
[1:47] presentations to add patriotic committee
[1:50] and then updates from our
[1:52] representatives. I believe I saw Miss
[1:53] Gloria from Diana Fenel's office and
[1:56] Vanessa from Senator Augustine's office.
[1:58] And
[2:01] you're with Augustine as well. Okay. So,
[2:03] we'll do that. And then
[2:06] looking ahead to page two under
[2:09] financial business, adding item B for
[2:12] community grants allocations and then
[2:14] item C for council discretionary funds.
[2:18] So, council, would those amendments be
[2:20] acceptable?
[2:22] >> Okay. All right. So, with that, I'll
[2:25] » Okay. All right. So, with that, I'll
[2:25] call for the motion. I'm sorry. I'll
[2:27] call for the vote. All in favor, let it
[2:29] be known by the saying of I. I. Any
[2:32] nays? The eyes have it. The revised
[2:36] agenda is approved. At this time, again,
[2:39] we'll jump right into presentations,
[2:41] beginning with Miss Renee Green from
[2:43] Patriotic Committee.
[2:48] And as you're coming up, I want to say a
[2:50] special thank you for supporting our
[2:51] Independence Day event and sweating all
[2:54] the sweat equity you paid out there.
[3:03] So that leads into exactly what I was
[3:05] going to say.
[3:08] So for my patriotic report tonight, I
[3:11] want to thank um Ray Jeff and give him a
[3:15] shout out.
[3:18] I for planning another incredible
[3:22] fireworks celebration.
[3:24] you know, he started planning that in
[3:26] February. So, that kind of gives you an
[3:29] idea of how much work goes into that.
[3:32] But that was such a great way to
[3:35] celebrate the 250th anniversary of our
[3:38] country
[3:42] and it was over 100 degrees that night.
[3:48] So, uh, it takes so many people to make
[3:53] event like that successful and the heat
[3:56] added to the challenge on everyone. So,
[3:59] I want to thank everyone who assisted
[4:02] and the I think there was about a
[4:04] thousand people that showed up.
[4:07] Um, I also want to uh thank the mayor
[4:11] James
[4:13] and the town council, the staff, police,
[4:16] the fire department, public works,
[4:18] especially. Oh my goodness. Sean from
[4:22] code enforcement. He was riding around
[4:24] the whole time with a cooler of ice and
[4:27] water, making sure everyone was okay,
[4:29] too. It was just incredible. Um, it
[4:34] really was. and everyone had a wonderful
[4:38] time. I think uh you know I'm surprised
[4:40] no one passed out. The only issue was a
[4:42] little dog that got lost.
[4:47] And uh I want to thank um I was at the
[4:49] table at the um town table handing out
[4:53] all kinds of wonderful gifts and prizes
[4:56] and t-shirts and t-shirts and um
[5:01] uh clocks everything. And you know what?
[5:05] It was a tough night. Uh, but I had the
[5:08] police and I had the explorers assisting
[5:11] me.
[5:15] » Yeah.
[5:17] So, I mean, I couldn't believe it. I had
[5:21] like 30 people helping me and there was
[5:23] a line of about 30 people wanting gifts.
[5:26] So, it worked out just fine.
[5:29] So, um, happy 250th anniversary to the
[5:33] country and thank you.
[5:38] » Thank you so much, Miss Green. We
[5:40] appreciate your support with all of our
[5:42] patriotic uh, activities and for always
[5:44] being a partner and again for putting in
[5:47] all that sweat equity with us and
[5:49] >> put rolling up your sleeves and being
[5:51] » put rolling up your sleeves and being
[5:51] ready to work. We appreciate you.
[5:53] >> Well, I do too.
[5:55] » Well, I do too.
[5:55] >> Thanks.
[5:57] » Thanks.
[5:57] at this time. Thank you. At this time,
[6:00] we'll hear from Delegate Diana Fenel's
[6:03] office.
[6:06] >> Okay. Oh, okay.
[6:08] » Okay. Oh, okay.
[6:08] She punted to Senator Augustine's
[6:11] office. So, I guess we'll get the whole
[6:12] district 47 update. That works for us.
[6:23] » Good evening everyone. My name is
[6:24] Vanessa and I'm chief of staff for
[6:27] Senate Senator Augustine and I'm very
[6:29] happy to present Helina Miss Gana who is
[6:32] our community liaison. So if you want to
[6:35] tell them a little bit about yourself.
[6:38] >> Good afternoon everyone. I'm Helena. I
[6:40] » Good afternoon everyone. I'm Helena. I
[6:40] am from Chillm sorry I'm from Chillm
[6:43] Maryland.
[6:45] >> I'm just short the words. I'm from
[6:48] » I'm just short the words. I'm from
[6:48] Chillum Maryland. I live in New Carol.
[6:50] I'm part of the community and I'm very
[6:52] happy to be here.
[6:57] » Hello everybody. I'm Gloria. I'm from
[6:59] Delegate Fenel's office and I'm just up
[7:02] here with her.
[7:04] >> Okay. And we're happy that we're out of
[7:08] » Okay. And we're happy that we're out of
[7:08] session and everything. So, you know,
[7:09] we're here always just to be here as a
[7:11] resource. So, if there's anything that
[7:13] you want to report to us or anything
[7:14] that we can help you with, whether it's
[7:16] like, you know, State Highway, Pepco,
[7:18] like whatever's going on, let us know
[7:19] how we can be a support to you guys. Um,
[7:23] so I think that's kind of the gist of it
[7:24] all. Our cookout will come in a few
[7:27] months, but I'll give you updates once
[7:29] we solidify everything.
[7:31] >> Thank you. And Vanessa, just a heads up
[7:33] » Thank you. And Vanessa, just a heads up
[7:33] before you take your seat for the
[7:35] September meeting. We did have to push
[7:38] the SHA presentation from tonight's work
[7:40] session to the 5:30 meeting. So I was
[7:43] texting with Senator earlier. Okay. He
[7:45] will he committed to being here because
[7:47] it involves a state agency. So I'll just
[7:49] make sure we send it to both you and him
[7:51] when we send the Zoom link over to you.
[7:53] >> Awesome. Thank you so much.
[7:54] » Awesome. Thank you so much.
[7:54] >> Thank you. Thanks for being here. And
[7:56] » Thank you. Thanks for being here. And
[7:56] Helena, it's nice to meet you. We look
[7:58] forward to working with you.
[8:00] >> Thank you.
[8:05] So that concludes the presentations for
[8:07] this evening. So we'll now move into
[8:10] item six for the approval of the meeting
[8:12] minutes for Monday, June 8th. Council,
[8:14] is there a motion to approve?
[8:16] >> So move.
[8:17] » So move.
[8:17] >> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[8:19] » Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[8:19] a second?
[8:20] >> Second.
[8:21] » Second.
[8:21] >> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[8:23] » Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[8:23] comments or questions regarding the
[8:25] minutes? Hearing none, I'll call for the
[8:28] vote. All in favor, let it be known by
[8:30] the saying of I. I. I. Any nazs? The
[8:33] eyes have it. The minutes are approved.
[8:36] At this time, we'll move into item
[8:37] seven, which is public comment where we
[8:39] hear from town residents. Mr. Reinhardt
[8:41] will turn it over to you to call the
[8:43] names.
[8:44] >> Good evening, mayor and council. We have
[8:46] » Good evening, mayor and council. We have
[8:46] uh several people signed up. And again,
[8:48] if you're a town resident, please go up
[8:49] to the microphone. Um, you have three
[8:51] minutes. If you're not a town resident,
[8:53] just let us know and we can just check
[8:54] you off the list. Uh, the first one up
[8:56] is Miss Susan McCutchen.
[9:08] » Start to bring my own microphone. Do it
[9:10] from the I come every time. Hi, Susan
[9:12] McCutchen and I live in Bladensburg on
[9:14] Spring Road. There's so many salient
[9:17] issues I don't even know where to start.
[9:20] First of all, I'm very concerned about
[9:23] the piling on from the federal
[9:25] government, about uh piling on to blue
[9:28] states, about anybody who wants to do
[9:32] anything to make the situation more
[9:36] humane and and reasonable and um
[9:39] transparent for immigration. is heavy
[9:42] weight coming on to the government of
[9:44] Maryland as one of the many blue states
[9:46] who are being harassed by the federal
[9:48] government about funding and threatened
[9:51] etc. And it's it's very frustrating and
[9:54] I know we have a lot of concerned people
[9:56] who want to do something and be right
[9:58] including our council and I do and uh uh
[10:01] Mr. Wood has been wonderful back. We
[10:03] have been uh corresponding and
[10:06] especially uh Anna has been been
[10:08] corresponding but we have been talking
[10:09] about all the the different issues and
[10:12] angles of what is happening and I'm so
[10:15] pleased that we're going to be on the
[10:17] sep that that she I hope will be on the
[10:19] September agenda. I know on the
[10:20] September agenda, but to speak about
[10:23] different uh thoughts that that the
[10:26] community has and openness in the
[10:28] community and the and the acting chief
[10:30] as well. And it's been very open and I
[10:33] appreciate that. That's something I do
[10:34] appreciate about Bladensburg, willing to
[10:36] listen and to to hear what's being said.
[10:40] And it doesn't mean automatically
[10:41] everything is going to happen the way
[10:43] people want it because it maybe can't
[10:45] for whatever reason, but at least be
[10:47] reasonable. listen. And that is what I
[10:49] see in this council and I've seen this
[10:51] for many years for many other issues. I
[10:54] have a I want to bring up about voting.
[10:56] Please pay attention to well I'm on
[10:58] everybody's email about webinars and
[11:01] zoom calls etc. but about voting um
[11:05] issue webinars and zooms. There's a lot
[11:08] that's out there because there's been
[11:10] from the top there's a very much the
[11:12] pressure as we all know about trying to
[11:15] stop people from voting or making it
[11:17] difficult for people to vote and we have
[11:19] to we have to we can't sit out. can't we
[11:24] we can't be so discouraged that we don't
[11:26] go out to vote that we don't pay
[11:28] attention to what's going on and look to
[11:30] the tricks and things that are going on
[11:33] because it's it's very sinister just as
[11:35] sinister as ICE is just as sinister as
[11:37] many of these things are. So, there's so
[11:39] much going on and um I'll add on to it.
[11:42] Hypers scale data centers and the lack
[11:44] of transparency with the Prince George's
[11:46] County Council that is disgusting in its
[11:49] lack of transparency appointing people
[11:52] who should not be appointed to a
[11:55] planning board who have had no no idea
[11:59] about what to do with a planning board
[12:01] because they have no experience. And it
[12:03] seems to be at the behest of powers that
[12:06] be, which is just as bad locally as it
[12:09] is statewide and as it is federally
[12:11] people appointed who should not be and
[12:14] they need to be more transparent and we
[12:16] have to demand that. But anyway, thank
[12:18] you.
[12:18] >> Thank you, Miss McCutchen.
[12:20] » Thank you, Miss McCutchen.
[12:20] >> Thank you,
[12:22] » Thank you,
[12:22] >> mayor. Our next person signed up is Miss
[12:24] » mayor. Our next person signed up is Miss
[12:24] Anna Greenstone.
[12:34] Hi, Mayor James, council, town staff.
[12:38] Um, I'm Anna Greenstone, a resident of
[12:40] Bladensburg, and I'm returning tonight.
[12:43] Um, and I'm still asking for you to take
[12:46] more action regarding ISIS presence and
[12:49] operations in Bladensburg. I'm really
[12:52] appreciative that you all have welcomed
[12:53] this dialogue that we have been in touch
[12:55] as Susan said um and that as a consern
[12:59] concerned group of residents we've been
[13:01] able to meet with the town administrator
[13:02] and Chief Fishorn um and that this issue
[13:07] has been added to September's work
[13:09] session. Thank you. Um however, it is
[13:12] important that we see some concrete
[13:13] action and change before September. um
[13:16] you've expressed interest in creating a
[13:18] document to share some of the policies
[13:20] that Bladensburg PD does have in place
[13:22] already to protect and support residents
[13:24] in case of in the case of an ICE
[13:26] encounter or detainment. Um and we'd
[13:29] like to know like what is your goal for
[13:31] when when that will be complete? Um,
[13:34] you've expressed interest in appointing
[13:35] a staff member as a community liaison
[13:38] who could work closer with concerned
[13:40] residents and I'd like to know when will
[13:43] that decision be made of who that person
[13:45] will be. There are so many other ways to
[13:48] take action even if you remain against
[13:51] limiting ISIS access to certain
[13:54] properties in town. Um, we have ideas
[13:56] and we'll bring them to you in
[13:58] September. Um, but we'd love to see more
[14:01] proactive problem solving also from the
[14:03] government now. Um, more ideas and
[14:06] action toward rebuilding trust with
[14:08] residents, toward reducing chances for
[14:11] residents to be harmed. This bears
[14:13] repeating. Federal immigration agents
[14:15] under this administration are not
[14:17] consistently operating in reasonable
[14:19] ways or safe ways.
[14:21] Um,
[14:23] since our meeting, ICE has killed
[14:25] Lorenzo Salgado Aruo in Texas, who, as
[14:28] you likely know, was not even the target
[14:30] of ISIS search. He didn't deserve to die
[14:32] regardless, but he was not even the
[14:34] target of ISIS search. And in recent
[14:36] weeks, ICE has become increasingly more
[14:38] aggressive and intimidating toward
[14:41] lawful community observers in Prince
[14:42] George's County. Um, and that includes
[14:45] recklessly speeding on our roads,
[14:48] recording observers, following them to
[14:50] their homes as intimidation tactics. And
[14:54] so from Human Rights Watch, I'll just
[14:57] add that in the 500 days since Trump's
[15:00] inauguration in 2025, 52 people have
[15:04] died in ICE custody in the US. And the
[15:06] rate of deaths is the highest level that
[15:08] it's been in 10 years. And so I just ask
[15:11] that we continue to take more action now
[15:14] um hopefully to prevent a death like
[15:16] Lorenzo's from happening in Bladensburg
[15:18] or Prince George's County. Thank you,
[15:26] » Mayor. The next person signed up is
[15:27] Foster Gettys.
[15:41] Uh, this is my first time giving um a
[15:45] statement, so just bear with me. I think
[15:47] I've got this thing on.
[15:49] Um, also worth noting I am um
[15:52] Bladensburg resident and I'm a Word One
[15:56] um constituent.
[15:58] Um, I've been seeing lately online on
[16:01] the town's Instagram page that the
[16:03] police department has been making many
[16:05] efforts to court trust from community
[16:08] through initiatives like walks with a
[16:10] cop, coffee with a cop, and notice
[16:13] notably ice cream with a cop on Friday.
[16:16] um while at the same time undermining
[16:18] that trust by allowing ICE to park in
[16:20] the police station lot.
[16:23] The jurisdiction of that lot and who can
[16:25] park there is not clear or well
[16:27] understood by community members. When
[16:29] ICE parks there, it gives the loud
[16:31] impression that the Bladensburg Police
[16:33] Department and the town administration
[16:35] support and welcome ICE into the
[16:37] community. It creates the perception of
[16:39] collaboration whether or not that that
[16:41] may be actually happening. When ICE
[16:44] agents are allowed in the police
[16:45] department with doors held open, it says
[16:47] loud and clear to anyone watching, "We
[16:49] support ICE in our neighborhoods, parks,
[16:51] and municipal buildings." It says, "We
[16:54] will take action to support ICE." Even
[16:56] an action as simple as holding the door
[16:58] open for an agent while taking no action
[17:00] to support and protect residents. When
[17:03] Bladensburg police are seen as casually
[17:05] chatting with ICE agents in public, it
[17:07] tells resident onlookers that
[17:08] Bladensburg police like and support
[17:10] these guys, approve of what they're
[17:12] doing, and like how they're doing it. It
[17:14] tells residents that Bladensburg police
[17:16] is on ICE's side. Public's perception is
[17:19] an incredibly important aspect of trust.
[17:22] Will you signal to Bladensburg residents
[17:24] that you're on their side? Laws that
[17:27] prevent local police collaboration with
[17:29] ICE and bar the use of certain
[17:30] properties or facilities by them have
[17:32] already been passed by Maryland and
[17:34] Prince George's County. I'm wondering
[17:36] what will Bladensburg do. The president
[17:39] has already been set. As we know, the
[17:41] Maryland Community Trust Act was passed
[17:43] this spring. The word trust is in the
[17:45] title. PG County also passed its own
[17:47] law, the Community Safe Spaces Act.
[17:50] Section 2553. The purpose is clearly
[17:53] stated in the Community Safe Spaces Act
[17:56] to uphold the county's values of equity,
[17:58] inclusiveness, dignity, and justice for
[18:00] all. Maintain community trust by
[18:03] separating county services from federal
[18:05] law immigration enforcement, and limit
[18:07] the use of county property for federal
[18:09] immigration enforcement purposes to
[18:11] enhance public trust. A legal challenge
[18:14] to the Community Trust Act, the Maryland
[18:16] law, was filed in July on July 9th by
[18:19] the Justice Department. If the state of
[18:21] Maryland is successfully sued, what laws
[18:23] will there be left to protect our
[18:24] residents? We must pass our own. We must
[18:28] show our residents that they can trust
[18:30] their police department, the mayor, and
[18:32] the council to look out for them. Right
[18:34] now, we know that the Bladensburg Police
[18:35] Department cannot collaborate with ICE
[18:37] because of the law handed down by the
[18:38] state. But should that law disappear,
[18:41] what will Badensburg police do then? I
[18:44] just have a little bit left. Can I
[18:46] >> quickly please?
[18:47] » quickly please?
[18:47] >> Yes, of course. Yes. Yeah. Sorry, this
[18:49] » Yes, of course. Yes. Yeah. Sorry, this
[18:49] is my first time. Um, even an action to
[18:53] do nothing and not intervene is a choice
[18:55] and the residents of Bladensburg are
[18:57] taking note. Bl Mayor James may say no
[19:00] to designating Bladensburg as a
[19:02] sanctuary city, decrying it as
[19:03] performative action. If so, then I
[19:05] implore you to take some action. Any
[19:07] other action to show the most vulnerable
[19:09] residents of our town that the city is
[19:11] looking out for them and they can trust
[19:12] you. Community trust initiatives like
[19:15] ice cream with the cop could be a step
[19:16] forward. Will you let the presence of
[19:18] ICE take you 10 steps back? Thank you.
[19:23] >> Thank you, Miss Gettys. Next person,
[19:25] » Thank you, Miss Gettys. Next person,
[19:25] Sean,
[19:26] >> Mr. Steve Whites.
[19:35] Yeah, I'm Steve Whites. I live on Tilden
[19:38] Road. Uh we have a storm water drain
[19:41] going throughout the uh town, carry the
[19:45] the u storm water that drains from the
[19:48] streets and so forth. But those uh storm
[19:51] water drains are are now clogged up with
[19:54] uh debris and they're overgrown uh vines
[19:57] and trees uh clogging it up. But the
[20:00] biggest concern I have is uh there's
[20:04] several uh uh gates that are unlocked
[20:07] and sections of fence that are down and
[20:10] children and teens are down there
[20:12] playing in the uh storm water drain and
[20:14] I'm concerned that that someone's going
[20:16] to get hurt or trapped there in the
[20:18] drain. So, uh, you know, I've talked to,
[20:22] uh, some a couple of council members and
[20:25] and the police chief and, uh, in the
[20:27] past, we've tried to go with 311. It's
[20:30] very difficult to get them to do
[20:32] anything. And, uh, so I I appreciate the
[20:36] police chief and and Roger are are going
[20:39] to contact uh, the county and try to get
[20:42] them out here to to straighten it out
[20:44] before we have any problems with
[20:46] flooding or people getting hurt. But uh
[20:50] also uh the last time they were out here
[20:53] in 2020, we had a a blood in Bladensburg
[20:57] and that was the last time the storm
[20:59] water drains were cleaned out. We had 20
[21:01] foot trees and vines growing in there
[21:04] and it is pretty bad, but they did do a
[21:07] good job once you get them out here. So
[21:09] appreciate, you know, the help from the
[21:11] police and code officer and I would
[21:14] encourage anyone that sees any drains
[21:17] clogged up in the streets or throughout
[21:19] the town, notify the town so that could
[21:22] be taken care of. Uh the other concern I
[21:25] have is um a neighbor said her car was
[21:29] uh hit hit and totaled by a hit-and- run
[21:32] driver. Another neighbor's car was
[21:35] recently broken into. Uh there's a
[21:38] proposal to uh keep the town vehicle at
[21:41] the mayor's residence for official
[21:44] business and meeting use, but I'm
[21:47] concerned that keeping the u the town
[21:50] vehicle at at a residence would uh
[21:53] subject it to being hit or vandalized.
[21:56] I'd rather see the the vehicle kept at
[21:58] the police station where it's more
[22:00] secure. And I think it should be
[22:02] available to the council members too if
[22:05] they want to if they need it for uh town
[22:08] meetings or or business sign up and
[22:11] reserve it and and keep a record of
[22:14] where you're going, the mileage and so
[22:16] forth. I think it should be available to
[22:18] to all the council members to use. So,
[22:22] um you know, thank you very much.
[22:25] >> Thank you, Mr. Whites. It's good to see
[22:27] » Thank you, Mr. Whites. It's good to see
[22:27] you. We were wondering where you've been
[22:29] all these many months.
[22:33] The uh next person signed up is Mr.
[22:35] Marlon Cruz.
[22:41] Good evening everyone. Good evening,
[22:43] town of Bladensburg. My name is Marlon
[22:44] Cruz and I'm a resident of Ward 1 on
[22:47] Quincy Street. Thank you so much for the
[22:49] opportunity to speak to in front of you
[22:51] all. I am here to share my concern over
[22:53] the federal enforcement in the town of
[22:55] Pladensburg and around the town of
[22:58] Pladensburg.
[22:59] Um
[23:01] I will continue to seek some action from
[23:04] the town of Bladensburg. I know that it
[23:06] is very difficult to act. Uh we are our
[23:08] own municipal government though. Let's
[23:10] remember the reason why governments
[23:12] exist because people like us form them.
[23:15] Um talents are incorporated right by
[23:18] people who are want to incorporate them.
[23:21] And so that's why the beauty of the
[23:23] United States. I work with people who
[23:24] are from the UK and so they are very
[23:27] impressed by the way that in the United
[23:28] States that you can get things done
[23:31] simply by wanting to do them right. So
[23:33] it's it's very uh it it sort of made me
[23:36] grateful for for where I am and and
[23:38] where I live and the democracy that we
[23:42] still are latching on to as hard as
[23:43] possible. So, I really implore that we
[23:45] are able to act um and like some of my
[23:49] fellow neighbors have shared the the
[23:52] terrible statistics that are continuing
[23:54] to happen and then and they continue to
[23:56] to occur. Um so, I will continue to
[23:59] fight no matter how tired I am and I
[24:02] will continue to
[24:04] organize within the community and show
[24:06] the demand and the need for action and
[24:10] that's really what I was asking for.
[24:12] Thank you so much for your openness to
[24:14] meet with me. I hope that we can
[24:16] continue to meet and continue to chat. I
[24:19] um will continue to work hard as well.
[24:21] No matter what needs to be done um on my
[24:25] end, I'm
[24:27] trying my best to collaborate with the
[24:29] town of Plinsburg. Thank you so much.
[24:32] >> Thank you, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Reinhardt.
[24:35] » Thank you, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Reinhardt.
[24:35] >> And mayor, our last uh person signed up
[24:38] » And mayor, our last uh person signed up
[24:38] is the Honorable Walter James.
[24:40] >> Thank you.
[24:47] Good evening everyone.
[24:48] >> You have a comment?
[24:52] » Oh, there. Oh, there we go. Good evening
[24:53] everyone. Uh, Walter James, a resident
[24:56] of Bladensburg residing on Doris Court
[24:59] here in the town of Bladensburg. Uh,
[25:00] thank you mayor and council for this
[25:01] opportunity. Before I get started, I
[25:03] just want to say to the mayor and
[25:04] council, thank you so much for your
[25:06] responsible and conscious leadership uh
[25:08] in moving our town forward. Uh, and I do
[25:11] want to congratulate the mayor on her
[25:12] elevation uh to MML president. And this
[25:14] is not only a promotion
[25:17] I believe this is not only a promotion
[25:19] for the mayor, but it's a promotion for
[25:20] the town of Bladensburg. And I believe
[25:22] that where they say uh the waves waves
[25:25] rises all ships. You know, I'm probably
[25:27] messing up that that quote, but it's
[25:29] something that is not just a promotion
[25:30] for the mayor, but it's a promotion for
[25:32] the town as a whole. So, I rise in
[25:35] support of a resolution to amend the
[25:37] personnel ma uh manual as it relates to
[25:40] take-home vehicle take-home vehic
[25:41] vehicles access for for the elected
[25:44] officials. Uh I do support uh the mayor
[25:47] having a take-home vehicle. Many of you
[25:48] know I've sat in that seat for 12 years.
[25:51] uh and there's an unexpected
[25:53] uh unre unwritten I should say unwritten
[25:55] rule as it relates to the roles and
[25:57] responsibility of the mayor that come
[25:59] from lo from the residents that come
[26:01] from uh all echelons echelons of
[26:04] government whether that's the county
[26:05] that's the state or the federal level.
[26:07] Uh there's immediate response. This is
[26:09] not a personal benefit to the mayor. uh
[26:12] this is a a a a measure that's put in
[26:14] place by a resource by the municipal
[26:16] government that allows the mayor to
[26:18] serve the residents effectively whenever
[26:20] and wherever it's needed. So I encourage
[26:22] the council to really consider this when
[26:24] it comes to not this is not a personal
[26:26] benefit to an individual. Uh this is
[26:29] something for that position of the mayor
[26:31] who is in in a position to respond
[26:33] whenever residents need it. So thank you
[26:35] so much.
[26:37] >> Thank you Mr. James.
[26:41] Right. Mayor, I was just advised um Miss
[26:45] Vanessa from Malcolm Augustine office
[26:47] would like to she signed up to speak
[26:49] also, but
[26:51] >> Sorry, I didn't know.
[26:54] » Sorry, I didn't know.
[26:54] >> Did you have
[27:05] Sorry. Part of the reason we came now I
[27:08] know. Now I won't do it again.
[27:11] But I'm very grateful for you guys being
[27:13] so open. And uh part of the reason we're
[27:16] also here is because Senator Augustine
[27:18] just also wants to echo what the
[27:19] community members are saying. Um you
[27:22] know, we're here to instill that public
[27:24] trust. And I know you guys do everything
[27:26] that you can, you know, to support our
[27:28] local residents and everything. And I
[27:29] just know that within our community,
[27:31] just being Hispanic and like my family,
[27:33] like my extended family, I see the fear
[27:35] that they face every day. like you know
[27:38] you go out and you don't know if you're
[27:39] going to come back and I feel like
[27:41] there's already this fear of law
[27:44] enforcement as a whole and now it's just
[27:47] been exacerbated with everything going
[27:48] on in the federal government that I
[27:50] think that you know when anything comes
[27:52] down like domestic violence the smallest
[27:54] things that you can think of now that
[27:56] there's no trust it's really hard for
[27:58] people to come and speak about the
[28:00] smallest things ever because there like
[28:02] the trust is gone and you know once the
[28:04] trust is gone you truly do have to
[28:05] rebuild it And it's not it's not
[28:07] something that comes overnight. It comes
[28:09] with action, right? So that's something
[28:11] we just really want to echo and just
[28:12] like um we had partners from Megaark
[28:16] reach out to us because, you know,
[28:17] they're very important to our community.
[28:20] Um and this was regarding something that
[28:22] was going on in Baltimore City where
[28:23] there was ICE in the parking lot and
[28:25] everything. And so what we did is
[28:28] through another uh contact from a
[28:30] different senator uh we said, "Hey, do
[28:33] you think the police can uh like the
[28:35] city police can stay in the station so
[28:37] maybe like they can, you know, move
[28:39] their cars or something?" And that did
[28:41] end up happening. And you know, most of
[28:42] them once they saw more police presence
[28:44] and there wasn't that,
[28:47] you know, not sure how to describe it,
[28:50] but they did move out. Um, so it it
[28:53] really does start with the small
[28:55] actions. So we just want to echo what
[28:57] the community is saying and thank you so
[28:59] much.
[29:00] >> And Vanessa, briefly I spoke to the
[29:02] » And Vanessa, briefly I spoke to the
[29:02] senator at MML about this and asked for
[29:06] specific support that was over a month
[29:08] ago just to let him know this is a
[29:10] rising concern and we need to understand
[29:12] from his office the state response. As a
[29:16] municipal government, we can't outweigh
[29:18] the federal government. of course
[29:20] >> they we don't have jurisdiction over
[29:21] » they we don't have jurisdiction over
[29:21] them. And so my ask and I'll just
[29:24] mention this to you as well is
[29:26] separately if we can just continue that
[29:28] conversation in terms of the legislation
[29:30] because there are bills that were passed
[29:32] but they don't take effect for several
[29:34] months.
[29:34] >> Yes.
[29:35] » Yes.
[29:35] >> And so the community is like why aren't
[29:36] » And so the community is like why aren't
[29:36] you doing anything? We can't violate
[29:38] state policy. We can't violate federal
[29:40] policy. And so this really has to stop
[29:43] being an us versus them and really us
[29:46] coming together and understanding in
[29:49] light of decisions that have been made
[29:50] by the state. What can we legally do?
[29:53] Okay.
[29:53] >> As I said to the resident um Mr. Cruz on
[29:56] » As I said to the resident um Mr. Cruz on
[29:56] Friday, there are residents in our
[29:58] community that ICE doesn't have their
[30:00] information and there's certain actions
[30:02] that if we take them, we're now putting
[30:04] those residents at risk. So they're not
[30:06] just coming for the person on their
[30:07] checklist, but we've now opened it up
[30:09] for the folks that they didn't know were
[30:11] here. This is a very sensitive issue and
[30:14] we cannot afford to put more people in
[30:16] jeopardy and we also can't afford to put
[30:19] our town in position where now we're the
[30:21] ones being sued. Our budget is a drop
[30:24] in, not even a drop in the bucket to a
[30:26] federal administration. Our budget's a
[30:28] joke to them. And so what I'm asking for
[30:30] through you is some serious support in
[30:33] how we move this forward.
[30:34] >> Of course. So, I know Senator Augustine
[30:36] » Of course. So, I know Senator Augustine
[30:36] can't be here because he's out of out of
[30:38] town. Uh, but I know this is definitely
[30:41] I think this is a good start. You know,
[30:42] this is how it all starts. You know,
[30:44] community comes up and we all this is
[30:46] really how we collectively come together
[30:48] so we can move together because you
[30:51] know, we're never separate in this
[30:52] issues. We collaborate all the time. So,
[30:54] I'm just thankful that you gave me the
[30:56] time
[30:57] >> for sure everything.
[30:58] » for sure everything.
[30:58] >> And I also want to bring balance too.
[31:00] » And I also want to bring balance too.
[31:00] This isn't all over Bladensburg. We've
[31:02] had these instances with our police
[31:05] parking lot because it is public
[31:07] property
[31:08] >> and there's been issues, you know, um
[31:10] » and there's been issues, you know, um
[31:10] with the fire department that was also
[31:12] brought up. And so I don't want to
[31:14] generalize this to make it seem like
[31:16] ISIS running through every corner of
[31:18] Bladensburg. That's simply not true. I
[31:20] want to deal with the facts along with
[31:22] the council and the community and again
[31:24] just make sure that we are knowledgeable
[31:26] about what the state efforts are and
[31:28] what responsibilities and what options
[31:32] we have and I'm not just picking on you.
[31:34] I sat down with Governor Moore 3 weeks
[31:36] ago and had the same conversation. So
[31:38] I'm asking
[31:39] >> for help and we'll follow up
[31:41] » for help and we'll follow up
[31:41] accordingly. Okay.
[31:42] >> Of course. Thank you so much.
[31:43] » Of course. Thank you so much.
[31:44] >> Thank you for being here.
[31:46] » Thank you for being here.
[31:46] All right. So that concludes public
[31:49] comment and um in moving down the agenda
[31:53] we or first let me just thank all of our
[31:56] residents who came out to express your
[31:58] public comments. We do value your time
[32:00] and appreciate you coming out and we'll
[32:02] be following up as we have been as you
[32:04] heard tonight. There's already been
[32:06] meetings to addressing some of these
[32:07] issues. Some issues don't get solved in
[32:10] one conversation, but if you're
[32:12] committed to the process, then we
[32:13] welcome that opportunity to continue
[32:15] working with you. Um, Mr. Whites, I know
[32:18] we saw the email. Things are already in
[32:20] motion, so we'll continue following up
[32:23] with you accordingly as well. We do not
[32:25] have any items under unfinished
[32:27] business. So, at this time, Mr. uh Wood,
[32:30] if you could do a work session review,
[32:32] we'll turn it over to you.
[32:36] Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, Mayor,
[32:37] council, residents. Um so at the 5:30
[32:42] work session um a number of topics were
[32:46] discussed. uh 5 52nd Avenue update. Um
[32:50] as the mayor stated, uh we had to push
[32:52] that to September. We did um just have
[32:55] an update on um the joint effort and
[32:58] again I'll say at this session um the
[33:01] fantastic collaboration between SHA um
[33:04] and uh Bladensburg public works
[33:06] department and code for and police
[33:08] department for um assistance and really
[33:11] cleaning up that stretch. Um, it is now
[33:14] safe um and and certainly um much more
[33:19] uh
[33:22] more beautiful I guess I would say um
[33:24] than it was before. Um so just a major
[33:27] thank you to all those that uh worked on
[33:30] that effort. uh Porttown bus operations.
[33:33] Um I think I got some clear directive
[33:35] there um from uh the council on uh
[33:39] working with Comar Manor uh to put
[33:42] together a plan uh for the town to uh
[33:46] officially take over uh all operations
[33:48] for the Porttown bus and and give us a
[33:52] little bit of leeway on uh what the next
[33:54] steps will be and we'll be bringing that
[33:55] back uh before council. Um the PAL
[33:59] project just kind of did a general
[34:00] overview of the work that was done in
[34:03] partnership with uh the University of
[34:05] Maryland and what the next steps will
[34:08] be. Um as well as uh sharing the
[34:10] renderings with council and hopefully um
[34:13] getting a digital version to put up
[34:15] online. Um the gloves up, guns down. Uh
[34:19] the chief uh did uh a great job
[34:23] providing an overview of the uh weekl
[34:27] long camp that's coming up uh end of
[34:29] July and then the year-long mentorship
[34:31] program that is going to be uh taking
[34:34] place um in collaboration both with the
[34:38] county and with um a number of other
[34:41] municipalities and and nonprofit
[34:43] partners. Um, so we're extremely excited
[34:46] about that. Um, the grants and
[34:49] scholarship program discussion, uh, that
[34:53] is something that will be taken up a
[34:55] little bit later on with the amended
[34:56] agenda. Uh, but just reviewing a number
[34:59] of applicants that applied for a $2,000
[35:03] grant um, from the
[35:07] uh, from the town. and the pilot uh
[35:11] discussion. Uh we got some clarity on
[35:15] that with regards to um the agreement
[35:19] that we'll be sharing uh with Hamlet
[35:23] Woods as they finalize um the that
[35:28] project and us residents are moving in.
[35:30] Um so I think that captures
[35:35] um the work session review council. I'll
[35:38] hand it back over if there are any
[35:40] questions or highlights that I didn't uh
[35:42] mention.
[35:44] >> I think that covers everything. Council,
[35:46] » I think that covers everything. Council,
[35:46] were there any additions for the review?
[35:50] >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Town Administrator,
[35:53] » Okay. Thank you, Mr. Town Administrator,
[35:53] for that recap. Now, we're on to item
[35:55] 10, which is new business, beginning
[35:57] with the resolution amending personnel
[35:59] manual regarding elected officials's
[36:01] access to town vehicles. So, we'll turn
[36:04] it over to you.
[36:07] >> All right. Uh good evening again. Uh
[36:10] » All right. Uh good evening again. Uh
[36:10] this resolution is uh amendment to
[36:14] personnel manual regarding the
[36:15] authorization for mayor and elected
[36:17] official vehicle use. Um would you like
[36:21] me to read the whole thing?
[36:25] >> Not in its entirety. I think we you have
[36:27] » Not in its entirety. I think we you have
[36:27] the abbreviated cover sheet.
[36:31] Sorry, still flipping.
[36:35] Oh, no. It's the attachment you gave us.
[36:39] >> The Yeah,
[36:40] » The Yeah,
[36:40] >> the revised uh motion.
[36:42] » the revised uh motion.
[36:42] >> Yes.
[36:45] » Oh, yes. Sorry. And the motion to
[36:47] direct.
[36:48] >> Yes.
[36:48] » Yes.
[36:48] >> Yep. Yes. So, um in addition to the
[36:51] » Yep. Yes. So, um in addition to the
[36:51] resolution, there's a motion to direct
[36:52] the town administrator to authorize the
[36:55] provision of dedicated municipal
[36:56] municipal vehicle uh to the mayor. Um
[37:01] those go hand in hand. Uh just to
[37:03] overview, uh it's amending the personnel
[37:05] manual and then um a specific motion to
[37:08] direct uh the town administrator to make
[37:10] a um city- owned vehicle available
[37:15] um moving forward.
[37:18] >> All right. Thank you, Town Administrator
[37:20] » All right. Thank you, Town Administrator
[37:20] Wood. So, uh, council, is there a motion
[37:22] to direct t administrator Wood to
[37:26] proceed with the amendment to the
[37:28] personnel manual,
[37:30] uh, regarding personnel you, um, clause
[37:34] for elected officials use of town
[37:37] vehicles?
[37:39] Question.
[37:40] >> Once it's on the floor, we can go into
[37:42] » Once it's on the floor, we can go into
[37:42] the questions. We just need a motion and
[37:44] a second and then we can go into
[37:45] discussion.
[37:48] » Um,
[37:50] understand that
[37:54] >> you had for the overview. Did you need
[37:58] » you had for the overview. Did you need
[37:58] more clarity for Mr. Wood? He can
[38:03] um questions questions I had and
[38:09] >> when I'm first I'd like to say um good
[38:12] » when I'm first I'd like to say um good
[38:12] evening everyone. Yeah, I did bring it
[38:15] up that the mayor does a lot for the
[38:17] town of Bladensburg and I mean she's all
[38:21] over the place um when it comes to you
[38:25] know doing um being the mayor of
[38:27] Bladensburg and I I I did bring it up. I
[38:31] think she needs a car to do that. I mean
[38:35] you all see the good work that's going
[38:37] on what she's doing and I did bring it
[38:39] up and I stand by it. But I do have a
[38:43] question. Are they just in in I read
[38:45] both of them just for a year?
[38:48] >> So maybe that's what
[38:51] » So maybe that's what
[38:51] >> Great great question uh council woman.
[38:53] » Great great question uh council woman.
[38:53] So it it was amended to align and I
[38:56] apologize uh it was amended this morning
[38:58] to uh align with the personnel manual.
[39:01] So similar to other um town staff who
[39:06] it's not it will be reauthorized as part
[39:08] of the budget. So assuming those
[39:10] vehicles are available, um the the
[39:13] personnel manual essentially says that
[39:15] they have access to that. So it doesn't
[39:17] have to be authorized separately. Um and
[39:19] this sorry I apologize was amended to
[39:22] reflect that process. So when you uh
[39:25] pass the budget next year, it will be
[39:28] passed and and authorized through that
[39:30] same process. Um so it doesn't require a
[39:33] separate act every year, which is how it
[39:35] was originally written in in your
[39:38] packet. So, I apologize.
[39:39] >> Okay. But no, I just
[39:41] » Okay. But no, I just
[39:41] >> Yeah, he council member Blunt, he made
[39:44] » Yeah, he council member Blunt, he made
[39:44] those updates and put the copies up
[39:46] here.
[39:46] >> Oh,
[39:47] » Oh,
[39:48] >> to address that same question. Okay.
[39:50] » to address that same question. Okay.
[39:50] >> But also, it's clearly understood that
[39:52] » But also, it's clearly understood that
[39:52] whoever the mayor is, if there's an
[39:55] issue where we're short vehicles and the
[39:57] chief needs those vehicles or public
[40:00] works or whoever, they can be recalled
[40:02] back. So, it's a privilege as long as
[40:05] the resource is available with the
[40:07] understanding that it can be called back
[40:09] if the staff resource is a higher
[40:11] priority.
[40:12] >> Okay, I moved.
[40:15] » Okay, I moved.
[40:15] >> Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
[40:17] » Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
[40:17] a second?
[40:18] >> I second.
[40:19] » I second.
[40:19] >> Seconded by Council Member Dixon. Any
[40:21] » Seconded by Council Member Dixon. Any
[40:21] comments or questions before calling the
[40:23] vote?
[40:25] >> Yes, madam mayor.
[40:25] » Yes, madam mayor.
[40:25] >> Go ahead, Council Member Dixon. I just
[40:27] » Go ahead, Council Member Dixon. I just
[40:27] want to echo what um council member
[40:29] Blunt says in regards to the mayor
[40:32] getting a vehicle. She does a lot of
[40:34] work for the town and using your
[40:37] personal vehicle. Remember, may council
[40:39] is not employed by the town full-time.
[40:41] We have our own jobs and so for her to
[40:44] be jumping here and there, it takes
[40:46] money and gas to actually take care of
[40:51] her own vehicle as well. So I do echo
[40:54] and totally agree because you you do a
[40:57] lot for this town. You have you and you
[40:59] are doing a lot for this town. You have
[41:01] done and still doing. So I agree.
[41:07] >> Thank you, Council Member Dixon. And I
[41:09] » Thank you, Council Member Dixon. And I
[41:09] just want to clarify really this is a
[41:11] policy that's gone back to when David
[41:14] Harrington was mayor. So, it's been
[41:17] assigned to the vehicle and I appreciate
[41:19] the personal comments, but it's just
[41:20] whoever is mayor is always called upon
[41:23] the most and has to be the most flexible
[41:25] to get wherever you need to get at a
[41:28] moment's notice. And so, just want to
[41:30] call back that it's not for Kesha, it is
[41:33] for that position. Yeah. Whoever I I
[41:37] could be gone tomorrow. Whoever is in
[41:38] that position, that burden is put on
[41:41] them. And I think the town should give
[41:42] adequate resources to meet the burden.
[41:45] So, if there are no other questions,
[41:47] I'll call for the vote. All in favor,
[41:49] let it be known by the saying of I. I.
[41:51] >> I. I.
[41:54] » I. I.
[41:54] >> Any nays? The eyes have it. The motion
[41:57] » Any nays? The eyes have it. The motion
[41:57] passes. Um, and then item B is with
[42:01] respect. Oh, sorry. Um, yeah. Yeah. And
[42:03] I know it's been passed and everything
[42:05] and and like you said just for
[42:06] clarification with the public. It's like
[42:08] if there's a need that arises and you
[42:10] know and it needs uh the police
[42:13] department or whatever they need need
[42:15] the vehicle it can be you know recalled
[42:18] and we put back into
[42:20] uh into yeah and into the into the
[42:23] fleet. Yeah.
[42:27] >> And then for a separate motion regarding
[42:30] » And then for a separate motion regarding
[42:30] the resolution for amendments to
[42:32] personnel manual regarding authorization
[42:35] for mayoral and elected official vehicle
[42:37] use. Is there a motion to approve?
[42:43] » That's a move.
[42:44] >> Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
[42:46] » Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
[42:46] a second?
[42:47] >> I have second.
[42:48] » I have second.
[42:48] >> Seconded by council member Blunt. Any
[42:51] » Seconded by council member Blunt. Any
[42:51] comments or questions? Again, this is
[42:53] now making the personnel policy
[42:55] consistent with the vote the council has
[42:57] taken. But any comments or questions
[43:00] before the vote? I do have a comment. I
[43:03] just hope if there ever become an a
[43:06] mayor that if that may work as good as
[43:09] you have done, they don't get that car.
[43:13] It is there's the recall provision in
[43:15] there and it's not in fine print either.
[43:19] So if it's not used right, that is in
[43:22] there. Any other comments or questions
[43:24] before calling the vote hearing? None.
[43:26] All in favor, let it be known by the
[43:28] saying of I. I.
[43:29] >> I.
[43:30] » I.
[43:30] >> Any naysay? The eyes have it. Thank you
[43:33] » Any naysay? The eyes have it. Thank you
[43:33] all so much. The next item under new
[43:36] business is the resolution declaring
[43:38] surplus equipment and authorizing its
[43:40] disposal. Town administrator Wood, we'll
[43:43] turn it over to you for the
[43:44] presentation.
[43:48] Thank you, madame mayor, council.
[43:52] Just position. Okay.
[43:54] Sorry.
[43:56] Oh, all right. Here we go.
[43:59] Um, this is a resolution
[44:03] uh authorizing the disposition of three
[44:05] surplus Bladensburg Police Department
[44:07] vehicles through a municipal auction
[44:09] vendor. Um,
[44:13] would you like me to read the whole
[44:15] resolution or?
[44:16] >> Uh, no. The abbreviated work. It was
[44:18] » Uh, no. The abbreviated work. It was
[44:18] posted. So, according to the town
[44:20] attorney, you can read the abbreviated
[44:22] notation
[44:24] >> unless you really want to. I do not want
[44:26] » unless you really want to. I do not want
[44:26] to get in the way of you reading a good
[44:28] resolution tonight.
[44:29] >> While I really appreciate that offer,
[44:31] » While I really appreciate that offer,
[44:31] Madame Mayor, I will politely pass.
[44:40] U and if there are any questions, I will
[44:46] happily defer to the chief on the
[44:49] specifics of the vehicles. Um but uh
[44:53] they are um
[44:56] no longer vehicles that we're able to to
[44:58] utilize at this point. Um Chief, are
[45:00] there any specifics that you wanted to
[45:02] mention about why we're surplusing them?
[45:04] Yeah. And even if you could just take a
[45:06] step back to because some people may not
[45:08] recall. I think it was this time last
[45:10] year or sometime in 2025.
[45:13] Um at the time Major Dickerson was
[45:15] helping to get rid of the old vehicles.
[45:17] So just to give people an understanding
[45:19] of why this is even necessary would be
[45:22] helpful.
[45:23] >> Okay. Good morning, Mayor and Council.
[45:25] » Okay. Good morning, Mayor and Council.
[45:25] Uh these are we're trying to update our
[45:27] fleet and these are vehicles that are
[45:30] two of them are 9 years old with high
[45:32] mileage over 100,000 miles. the
[45:34] maintenance cost on them is not worth
[45:36] getting the vehicles fixed. The other
[45:38] one is a 2015, so it's 11 years old. We
[45:41] don't want to have a bunch of our older
[45:43] vehicles just sitting around town. We're
[45:45] paying for, you know, we have insurance
[45:47] and all that on them. So, it's something
[45:48] that we want to get rid of and use the
[45:50] money when we go to purchase new
[45:51] vehicles.
[45:56] » Thank you, Chief.
[45:58] And uh so with that, Mr. would if you
[46:00] want to just read the um opening text
[46:04] and then I'll call for the vote for the
[46:06] resolution.
[46:08] >> And we actually need the number. I
[46:10] » And we actually need the number. I
[46:10] noticed that wasn't there
[46:13] >> at the top of
[46:14] » at the top of
[46:14] >> Oh, sorry.
[46:15] » Oh, sorry.
[46:15] >> For section 10, item B.
[46:17] » For section 10, item B.
[46:17] >> Yeah.
[46:18] » Yeah.
[46:18] >> Yep. Resolution number
[46:19] » Yep. Resolution number
[46:19] >> Oh, sorry. So, it's not on my
[46:23] » Oh, sorry. So, it's not on my
[46:23] >> Yeah, I see it on council member Brown's
[46:25] » Yeah, I see it on council member Brown's
[46:25] packet. It's just not on my That's fine.
[46:27] All
[46:27] >> good. Sorry. Item A here.
[46:31] » good. Sorry. Item A here.
[46:31] >> I don't know how.
[46:31] » I don't know how.
[46:32] >> It's all good.
[46:33] » It's all good.
[46:33] >> What in the world? Okay.
[46:36] » What in the world? Okay.
[46:36] So, yes. Uh, resolution number 02-2027,
[46:42] resolution authorizing the disposition
[46:44] of three surplus Bladensburg Police
[46:46] Department vehicles through a municipal
[46:48] auction vendor. Um
[46:51] and whereas the town of Bladensburg
[46:54] uh owns and maintains a fleet of
[46:56] vehicles for use by the Bladensburg
[46:59] Police Department and conduct of uh town
[47:02] of town business. And whereas the town
[47:04] admin administrator has identified three
[47:06] police vehicles that are no longer
[47:08] suitable for continued service due to
[47:10] age, mileage, and cost of repairs
[47:12] relative to the current value and
[47:15] further described below.
[47:17] Sorry.
[47:20] Oh, okay. Um,
[47:24] and where's the vehicles proposed for
[47:27] disposition are the following three
[47:29] vehicles?
[47:30] Um, is that good?
[47:33] >> That is perfect. Thank you so much, Town
[47:36] » That is perfect. Thank you so much, Town
[47:36] Administrator Wood. So, with that,
[47:37] council, is there a motion to approve
[47:39] resolution number 02-2027?
[47:44] » Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
[47:46] a second?
[47:46] >> Second. Seconded by council member
[47:48] » Second. Seconded by council member
[47:48] Brown. Uh now is there are there any
[47:51] comments or questions before calling the
[47:53] vote?
[47:55] No. Hearing none, I'll call the vote.
[47:57] All in favor, let it be known by the
[47:59] saying of I.
[48:00] >> I.
[48:01] » I.
[48:01] >> Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you,
[48:04] » Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you,
[48:04] TA Wood, and thank you, Chief, for being
[48:07] prudent and just removing those
[48:09] resources and not wasting money,
[48:11] ensuring them, and certainly not putting
[48:13] money into um repairing those vehicles
[48:15] when the value is as much as what it is
[48:18] to repair them. So, we appreciate the
[48:21] foresight there. The other item under uh
[48:24] section 10 is item D regarding summer
[48:27] recess, and this was amended in the
[48:30] agenda this evening. Council, is there a
[48:32] motion to approve summer recess for the
[48:34] month of August?
[48:36] >> So moved.
[48:36] » So moved.
[48:36] >> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[48:38] » Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[48:38] a second?
[48:39] >> Second.
[48:40] » Second.
[48:40] >> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[48:42] » Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[48:42] comments or questions before calling the
[48:44] vote?
[48:46] Hearing none. All in favor? Let it be
[48:48] known by the saying of I. I. Any nays?
[48:52] The eyes have it. Thank you so much,
[48:54] council. I'm sure the staff will
[48:56] appreciate that break from us, but um
[48:59] we'll still be responsive as always to
[49:01] our constituents concerns during that
[49:03] time.
[49:04] >> Is it not on?
[49:05] » Is it not on?
[49:05] >> Oh no, you're on uh point of order.
[49:07] » Oh no, you're on uh point of order.
[49:07] Madam Mayor, I think we missed the
[49:11] resolution amending the personnel manual
[49:13] to establish foreign language
[49:15] proficiency bay.
[49:16] >> I breezed right past B. My apologies.
[49:19] » I breezed right past B. My apologies.
[49:19] Let me go back.
[49:21] Uh now I realize my error. They were in
[49:24] the same I think I had them in the same
[49:26] tab. So I overlooked it. That's my
[49:28] fault.
[49:29] >> Um
[49:29] » Um
[49:29] >> you did. I was like
[49:31] » you did. I was like
[49:31] >> she was like wait no this is an
[49:33] » she was like wait no this is an
[49:33] important one because staff in the all
[49:35] hands meeting brought this up. The
[49:37] importance of recognizing the skill set
[49:40] for bilingual skills and being
[49:44] adequately compensated. So, um, I
[49:47] definitely want to thank you, town
[49:49] administrator, but also want to thank
[49:51] Chief Ferscorn, because right after that
[49:53] meeting, you took action putting pen to
[49:56] paper to write out things that could
[49:58] help us to make sure that we put a good
[50:01] plan in place. So, the staff feels that
[50:03] they're being heard when they bring
[50:04] these issues and concerns to us. So, uh,
[50:07] once again, town administrator Wood, if
[50:09] you want to read the full resolution,
[50:11] you are welcome to, or you can read the
[50:13] preamble and then we'll call for the
[50:15] vote.
[50:16] >> I will read the preamble, Madame Mayor.
[50:21] » I will read the preamble, Madame Mayor.
[50:21] Uh resolution 012027,
[50:25] a resolution establishing a bilingual
[50:27] pay differential policy for the town
[50:29] employee and authorizing the development
[50:32] of and implementing standard operating
[50:36] procedure. Um if there are questions
[50:39] again I will um hand that over to the
[50:41] chief but I know this was discussed at
[50:43] the June 8th work session. Um and the
[50:48] only other highlight um that I would
[50:52] make is um in the resolution it clearly
[50:55] identifies that uh the funding as the
[50:58] chief said would be um coming from uh
[51:02] traffic enforcement uh measures
[51:04] specifically
[51:07] » and and you're good with that chief
[51:09] pulling from your budget. Just want to
[51:11] make sure.
[51:12] >> Yes. So, it's mostly involving public
[51:14] » Yes. So, it's mostly involving public
[51:14] safety with police and dispatch.
[51:16] >> Okay.
[51:17] » Okay.
[51:17] >> So, that can come out from there.
[51:19] » So, that can come out from there.
[51:19] >> Mr. Hall, you have a question about it.
[51:20] » Mr. Hall, you have a question about it.
[51:20] >> Yeah. I think
[51:24] » Yeah. I think
[51:24] >> I was just reading your face.
[51:26] » I was just reading your face.
[51:26] >> Yeah. I think when when it first came
[51:28] » Yeah. I think when when it first came
[51:28] up, I was just I was wondering was this
[51:30] for town employees period? And what what
[51:34] I think we had a discussion is you you
[51:38] have to be able to translate to
[51:40] residents as well, not just being able
[51:42] to partially translate. Is that what I'm
[51:45] I mean is that what I'm hearing or
[51:47] >> um correct and what was proposed to the
[51:51] » um correct and what was proposed to the
[51:51] council at the last work session was
[51:53] that you have to be certified. So I
[51:56] can't come to you and say I'm fluent in
[51:58] Yoruba without being able to prove it.
[52:01] And so with HR there will be um a test
[52:06] that is administered you know through a
[52:07] third party company but you'll have to
[52:09] det based on your skill set you'll be
[52:12] placed in basic or more advanced. So
[52:14] some people may be conversational but
[52:16] they might not be able to help you fill
[52:18] out a police report because they're not
[52:20] fluent in the language. And so you'll be
[52:23] the amount of compensation will be tied
[52:25] to wherever you're certified either at a
[52:27] basic or advanced level. Does that help
[52:30] explain it?
[52:32] >> Yeah. But what I what I just kind of
[52:34] » Yeah. But what I what I just kind of
[52:34] heard if I'm not mistaken is I kind of
[52:36] heard like is what you just said is like
[52:39] police department.
[52:40] >> No, it's for all staff,
[52:41] » No, it's for all staff,
[52:41] >> right? But what we're saying was be able
[52:43] » right? But what we're saying was be able
[52:43] to translate, you know, police stuff
[52:46] now.
[52:46] >> No, no, no. Our front were facing. So
[52:49] » No, no, no. Our front were facing. So
[52:49] I'm thinking about
[52:50] >> like some of the bilingual folks. Again,
[52:54] » like some of the bilingual folks. Again,
[52:54] I don't want to call names because it's
[52:55] personnel matter, but if some of the
[52:57] guys are able to communicate with the
[53:01] staff proficiently, they're eligible.
[53:04] It's not just for the police department.
[53:06] >> Right. Okay. I just want to make sure
[53:07] » Right. Okay. I just want to make sure
[53:07] because I know we had spoke about it
[53:10] earlier at one of our staff meetings and
[53:12] everything. And that's why I want to
[53:13] make sure, but I this is the first time
[53:14] me hearing it that it was passed or
[53:16] anything like that. So, I
[53:17] >> about to be make sure
[53:18] » about to be make sure
[53:18] >> in like two minutes hopefully.
[53:20] » in like two minutes hopefully.
[53:20] >> Don't Don't jinx it, Mr. Hall.
[53:22] » Don't Don't jinx it, Mr. Hall.
[53:22] >> Right. I I just want to make sure that
[53:24] » Right. I I just want to make sure that
[53:24] we're we're around the board with it as
[53:26] well. Okay.
[53:27] >> Cuz that's the goal is really
[53:31] » Cuz that's the goal is really
[53:31] enhancing our customer service and being
[53:33] able to speak to people in a language
[53:35] that they're comfortable with
[53:37] >> makes the staff more relatable
[53:39] » makes the staff more relatable
[53:39] >> and honestly it helps people to feel
[53:41] » and honestly it helps people to feel
[53:41] more comfortable opening up. And so I
[53:44] see you your team on the front lines of
[53:46] that communication with residents
[53:49] >> and they should be able to benefit from
[53:51] » and they should be able to benefit from
[53:51] that, you know, too by again testing,
[53:54] being certified and compensated
[53:56] accordingly.
[53:57] >> All right. That's that's
[54:00] » All right. That's that's
[54:00] >> looking out for everybody.
[54:01] » looking out for everybody.
[54:01] >> Oh yes, ma'am. That's all. Yes, ma'am.
[54:03] » Oh yes, ma'am. That's all. Yes, ma'am.
[54:03] Thank you very much, Mayor.
[54:04] >> Of course. Town administrator, anything
[54:07] » Of course. Town administrator, anything
[54:07] else you wanted to add there?
[54:09] >> Uh, no. No matter.
[54:11] » Uh, no. No matter.
[54:11] >> All right.
[54:13] » All right.
[54:13] And so
[54:16] the last resolution was 02207.
[54:21] So this um resolution for the bilingual
[54:25] pay doesn't have a number in here. Are
[54:27] we to assume it's 03-2027?
[54:30] Our third resolution of the new fiscal
[54:32] year.
[54:37] » Just want to make sure.
[54:37] >> Yes, madam mayor. 0 Yes. 03. Okay.
[54:40] » Yes, madam mayor. 0 Yes. 03. Okay.
[54:40] >> There's zero. Yeah. 03. Okay, perfect.
[54:42] » There's zero. Yeah. 03. Okay, perfect.
[54:42] So, council, is there a motion to
[54:44] approve resolution uh 03-2027
[54:49] uh establishing a bilingual pay
[54:51] differential policy for town employees?
[54:54] >> So, move.
[54:55] » So, move.
[54:55] >> Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[54:57] » Moved by council member Brown. Is there
[54:57] a second?
[54:58] >> Second.
[54:59] » Second.
[54:59] >> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[55:01] » Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[55:01] further comments or questions regarding
[55:03] the resolution?
[55:06] I do want to thank you all for being at
[55:08] the all hands meeting and hearing staff
[55:10] uh concerns because this definitely
[55:12] speaks to the fact that again we heard
[55:14] some of the concerns and we're working
[55:16] with the leadership to address them. So
[55:18] council thank you for your support. With
[55:20] that I'll call for the vote. All in
[55:22] favor let it be known by the saying of
[55:24] I.
[55:25] Any nays? The eyes have it resolution
[55:28] 032027 passes. And now I believe that
[55:32] concludes all items under new business.
[55:35] Is that right, Mr. Wood? Just double
[55:36] checking.
[55:37] >> Uh, yes. Under
[55:40] » Uh, yes. Under
[55:40] new business.
[55:45] » Yes.
[55:45] >> Okay.
[55:46] » Okay.
[55:46] >> Yes, ma'am.
[55:46] » Yes, ma'am.
[55:46] >> Great.
[55:48] » Great.
[55:48] >> We're now on to financial business,
[55:50] » We're now on to financial business,
[55:50] beginning with the resolution accepting
[55:52] the $300,000 municipal town hall grant
[55:55] award. Um, Vanessa, please thank Senator
[55:58] Augustine for his support with these
[56:00] resources along with Delegate Fenel. I
[56:02] know Miss um Gloria Albright left, but
[56:05] we appreciate the delegation support and
[56:07] helping us modernize this facility. Um
[56:11] town administrator Wood, over to you.
[56:14] I'm trying to be gentle here.
[56:19] » Uh good evening. Yes. Um and just for
[56:22] clarification, I'm sorry, these the
[56:24] resolution numbers are out of order
[56:26] because it's how I wrote them, not Yeah.
[56:28] in the in the packet. Sorry. Um, so this
[56:31] is resolution number 01. Um, it's first
[56:34] one I wrote. Uh, a resolution of the
[56:36] mayor and council, I'm sorry, a
[56:39] resolution of the mayor and council of
[56:40] the town of Bladensburg authorizing the
[56:42] execution of a state of Maryland capital
[56:44] projects grant agreement for the
[56:46] Bladesburg Municipal Center. Um this
[56:48] grant uh as the mayor stated um uh
[56:52] allocates $300,000
[56:55] um for the continued development um and
[56:58] design efforts um for a uh new municipal
[57:03] center. Um this is the next step in the
[57:07] process. Uh once uh this assuming this
[57:11] passes um happens uh then it will be
[57:15] able to go before um the Department of
[57:18] General Services uh and and author and
[57:21] ultimately we'll be able to begin uh
[57:23] drawing down money hopefully here in the
[57:26] next uh couple of months. So um the this
[57:30] covers outlays that uh the town has
[57:32] already put out um for work and services
[57:35] uh rendered and help us take the next
[57:37] steps. um in in the process
[57:42] >> and also thanks to Neighborhood Design
[57:44] » and also thanks to Neighborhood Design
[57:44] Center because they've been a partner in
[57:46] this project up till now. So, we
[57:48] couldn't have gotten this far without
[57:50] them.
[57:51] >> Yes. So, council, is there a motion to
[57:54] » Yes. So, council, is there a motion to
[57:54] approve resolution 01-2026
[57:58] uh authorizing the execution of a state
[58:00] of Maryland capital projects grant
[58:02] agreement for the Bladensburg Municipal
[58:04] Center project?
[58:05] >> So move. Moved by council member Blunt.
[58:07] » So move. Moved by council member Blunt.
[58:07] Is there a second?
[58:09] >> A second.
[58:10] » A second.
[58:10] >> Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[58:12] » Seconded by council member McBride. Any
[58:12] comments or questions before we call the
[58:15] vote?
[58:16] >> Everyone's jumping up and down on the
[58:18] » Everyone's jumping up and down on the
[58:18] inside. It's been a long time coming.
[58:20] All in favor? Let it be known by the
[58:22] saying of I.
[58:24] >> I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
[58:26] » I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
[58:26] resolution passes. Thank you so much. We
[58:29] look forward to the next steps.
[58:34] >> Um So, continuing under financial
[58:39] » Um So, continuing under financial
[58:39] business, we also have to allocate the
[58:41] community grants which are offered at
[58:43] 2,000 per community organization and
[58:47] we're authorizing up to six grants to
[58:52] close out the FY 2026 budget year. As
[58:56] Mr. Tanelli often calls July, this is
[58:59] the 13th month of the year where he's
[59:02] closing everything out. And so that's
[59:04] why there's a a bit of a delay with
[59:06] this. Um, per the discussion in the
[59:10] council work session, the council had
[59:12] consensus around providing a grant to
[59:15] Carrison. As many of you know, they help
[59:17] immigrant communities um deal with
[59:20] paperwork issues and other um counseling
[59:23] regarding um all matters of immigration
[59:26] services. So we want to continue to
[59:28] support them. We've also identified
[59:31] Anacostia Watershed Society, Eco City
[59:34] Farms, End Time Harvest Ministry, We
[59:36] Lead by Example, and Good Intentions
[59:38] Foundation as the other recipients. So,
[59:42] um, with that, there was agreement
[59:44] around them. Council, we just need a
[59:46] formal motion to approve the grants for
[59:50] again Carrison, Anacostia Watershed
[59:53] Society, Eco City Farms, End Time
[59:55] Harvest Ministries. We lead by example
[59:57] and good intentions. Is there a motion?
[1:00:00] >> So move.
[1:00:01] » So move.
[1:00:01] >> Moved by council member McBride. Is
[1:00:03] » Moved by council member McBride. Is
[1:00:03] there a second?
[1:00:04] >> Second.
[1:00:04] » Second.
[1:00:04] >> Seconded by council member Brown. Any
[1:00:06] » Seconded by council member Brown. Any
[1:00:06] comments or questions regarding the
[1:00:08] allocations of the grants? Hearing none.
[1:00:11] All in favor, let it be known by the
[1:00:13] saying of I. I.
[1:00:14] >> I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you
[1:00:17] » I. Any nays? The eyes have it. Thank you
[1:00:17] all so much and congratulations to all
[1:00:19] the grant recipients for the FY2026
[1:00:23] fiscal year. The next item under
[1:00:25] financial business is allocation of
[1:00:28] council discretionary funds which are
[1:00:31] $500. Again, closing out the fiscal year
[1:00:34] for 2026.
[1:00:35] Um, according Oh, Council Member Dixon,
[1:00:38] I will need your recommendation. I'll
[1:00:41] run through the others while you think
[1:00:43] about yours. Um, but Council Member
[1:00:45] McBride requested hers go to Eco City
[1:00:48] Farms. Council member Brown requested
[1:00:51] that hers go to Royal Institute.
[1:00:54] Council member Blunt requested that hers
[1:00:57] be split between GATS um which is Deacon
[1:01:01] Barbara Gibbons organization that
[1:01:03] focuses on senior services and the other
[1:01:06] half going to End Time Harvest
[1:01:08] Ministries.
[1:01:09] And then for mine, I want to contribute
[1:01:12] my 500 to Royalty Institute as well.
[1:01:14] They were a good community grant
[1:01:16] recipient last year and we just didn't
[1:01:18] have enough um to go around to everyone.
[1:01:21] Um council member Dixon, who would you
[1:01:23] like your to go to?
[1:01:27] >> Okay.
[1:01:29] » Okay.
[1:01:29] >> All right. So, with that, council, is
[1:01:31] » All right. So, with that, council, is
[1:01:31] there a motion to approve?
[1:01:34] >> It didn't I hit it. It just didn't want
[1:01:36] » It didn't I hit it. It just didn't want
[1:01:36] to cooperate. I guess it said, look,
[1:01:38] it's 8:00. I'm done. I'm not working.
[1:01:41] Sorry, guys. Jeez. Um, so with that,
[1:01:44] council, is there a motion to approve
[1:01:46] the following discretionary fund
[1:01:48] allocations for Mayor James to Royalty
[1:01:50] Institute, for council member Brown, to
[1:01:53] Royalty Institute, for council member
[1:01:55] McBride, to Eco City Farms, and to
[1:01:57] council member Blunt to split her
[1:02:00] allocations between Gats and End Time
[1:02:02] Harvest Ministries. Is there a motion?
[1:02:04] >> I moved.
[1:02:05] » I moved.
[1:02:05] >> Moved by Council Member Blunt. Is there
[1:02:07] » Moved by Council Member Blunt. Is there
[1:02:07] a second?
[1:02:08] >> Second.
[1:02:09] » Second.
[1:02:09] >> Seconded by Council Member McBride. Any
[1:02:12] » Seconded by Council Member McBride. Any
[1:02:12] comments or questions before calling the
[1:02:14] vote? Hearing none. All in favor, let it
[1:02:17] be known by the saying of I. I. Any
[1:02:20] nays? The eyes have it. Thank you so
[1:02:22] much. The council discretionary
[1:02:25] uh alloc allocations have been made and
[1:02:27] council member Dixon, if you could just
[1:02:29] get with Mr. Tanelli because he's going
[1:02:32] to be closing everything out this month
[1:02:34] and we can just approve it retroactively
[1:02:36] at the September meeting.
[1:02:38] >> Just we don't want trouble with the
[1:02:39] » Just we don't want trouble with the
[1:02:39] auditors. So please
[1:02:41] >> I'm still thinking to David Elementary.
[1:02:44] » I'm still thinking to David Elementary.
[1:02:44] So thinking
[1:02:46] >> mic's not on.
[1:02:49] » mic's not on.
[1:02:49] >> Okay.
[1:02:51] » Okay.
[1:02:51] All right. So that completes all of the
[1:02:54] items under uh financial business,
[1:02:57] right? Uh didn't miss anything. So
[1:02:59] again, I know we made some changes.
[1:03:01] We're now on to item number 12, which is
[1:03:04] staff reports. And uh Mr. Telli is not
[1:03:08] here, but I know Mr. would you said you
[1:03:09] would give his report.
[1:03:11] >> Yes, thank you mayor. Um yeah the um as
[1:03:15] » Yes, thank you mayor. Um yeah the um as
[1:03:15] you articulated earlier uh this is the
[1:03:18] 13th month. Um so he is or we are um
[1:03:24] working on finalizing everything. Um I
[1:03:27] know in the past uh a report for June um
[1:03:31] hadn't been done just because it
[1:03:32] fluctuates so much um between June and
[1:03:36] closing out. Um so there will be uh
[1:03:38] obviously a final report um in August
[1:03:41] for the months of June and July um that
[1:03:44] will reflect um all of the machinations
[1:03:47] but uh so far we are uh on target to uh
[1:03:53] uh to meet our revenue projections and
[1:03:55] and we'll be in the black. Um
[1:04:01] yes.
[1:04:02] So thank you mayor.
[1:04:05] >> All right. Thank you. And next we have
[1:04:07] » All right. Thank you. And next we have
[1:04:07] public safety. So does Chief Fresh Corn
[1:04:10] get vetos extra time? Only kidding. Sean
[1:04:14] is going to start hitting the button. I
[1:04:16] know. I know.
[1:04:21] » Good evening, mayor and council. I just
[1:04:23] want to go over some highlights of my
[1:04:25] report. Uh as you see, the violent
[1:04:27] crimes was up 33%, but we have such
[1:04:30] small numbers in the town. If it goes up
[1:04:32] by three or four and when it went up by
[1:04:34] four, it looks like a big difference,
[1:04:36] but it's really not a huge difference.
[1:04:38] But it still year to date is down. Our
[1:04:40] property crimes is down uh year-to date
[1:04:43] 26%.
[1:04:45] We're still having trends with theft
[1:04:47] from autos and attempt theft from autos.
[1:04:49] We have made um some arrests. We have
[1:04:52] details going to try to apprehend
[1:04:54] people. A lot of times it's one or two
[1:04:56] people that can make a big impact. uh we
[1:04:58] have identified a juvenile that's a
[1:05:00] resident in town that has been
[1:05:01] responsible for several events. So
[1:05:04] sometimes it's just catching the person
[1:05:06] responsible and it'll end uh the trend
[1:05:08] that we have. We had a lot of recent
[1:05:11] initiatives. You can look at my report
[1:05:13] online. Upcoming events, uh we have the
[1:05:16] citizen police academy that's ongoing.
[1:05:17] We have about nine people in that. We
[1:05:20] have we just had the Explorer leadership
[1:05:22] conference and I'm proud to say that our
[1:05:23] explorers took the lead down there in
[1:05:26] doing a lot of mentoring with the other
[1:05:27] explorers. Did a great job.
[1:05:31] We have coffee with a cop coming up at
[1:05:33] the library uh at 10:00 a.m. on the
[1:05:36] 16th. We have ice cream with a cop
[1:05:38] that's also coming up on the 17th. Um,
[1:05:41] and then we have the boxing camp that's
[1:05:43] going through July 21st to the 31st and
[1:05:46] that's going to be down at the um,
[1:05:49] Salvation Army on Edmonston.
[1:05:52] The stop sign cameras were approved by
[1:05:54] the county. We've talked to the vendor.
[1:05:57] Uh, so we're going to initially start
[1:05:59] with three or four cameras. We're
[1:06:01] looking at different locations. We had
[1:06:02] all the studies done. It's just a matter
[1:06:04] of having them installed now. So, in the
[1:06:07] near future, we'll have them installed
[1:06:09] and on on problem areas. We're putting
[1:06:11] them in areas where violation rates are
[1:06:13] high, the highest for public safety
[1:06:15] because we don't want anybody to get
[1:06:16] injured.
[1:06:17] Um, we are looking for officers and a
[1:06:20] dispatcher. So, we currently have three
[1:06:22] officers positions and a dispatcher
[1:06:24] position. So, I encourage residents if
[1:06:26] anyone's interested or knows someone
[1:06:27] that's interested, have them apply.
[1:06:32] Um, we get our new our two new patrol
[1:06:34] vehicles hopefully next week. That's
[1:06:36] been taking forever to get them
[1:06:37] upfitted, but I've beenounding them
[1:06:40] every every week for the last couple
[1:06:41] months. So, hopefully in the ne next two
[1:06:43] weeks we have them. Um, some notable
[1:06:46] incidents. Uh, we've we made an arrest
[1:06:49] on a first-degree assault involving a
[1:06:51] weapon, uh, someone pointing a weapon.
[1:06:53] There's some other ones in there. You
[1:06:54] can look at my report online to see
[1:06:56] those. And then um some of the goals
[1:06:59] that we have, we need to increase
[1:07:01] staffing. We have uh you know that
[1:07:03] impacts staffing a lot when we're just
[1:07:05] down a couple people. So if you know
[1:07:07] anyone that wants to apply, please
[1:07:08] encourage them. That's all I have.
[1:07:12] >> Thank you, Chief. And um
[1:07:15] » Thank you, Chief. And um
[1:07:15] I think it was in Mr. was report not
[1:07:18] referenced in here, but there were a
[1:07:20] couple folks who spoke to us tonight
[1:07:22] about immigration concerns. And I want
[1:07:24] to just give you an opportunity to share
[1:07:27] what you had explained to the residents
[1:07:29] on the call. I guess it was two Tuesdays
[1:07:31] ago. It'll be two weeks from tomorrow
[1:07:34] actually. Um because there's information
[1:07:37] out there, but I want people to
[1:07:38] understand from your perspective um the
[1:07:41] other side of the situation.
[1:07:44] >> Yeah. So, I have kind of a unique uh
[1:07:47] » Yeah. So, I have kind of a unique uh
[1:07:47] position in which, you know, I I lived
[1:07:49] in Guatemala for three months. My wife's
[1:07:52] Spanish, she doesn't speak English. I've
[1:07:54] been through the immigration thing a lot
[1:07:56] with with dealing with immigration, with
[1:07:58] having her family members deal with
[1:07:59] them. So, I understand the fear that
[1:08:02] they have. There's limitations that our
[1:08:04] department has, and I know that the
[1:08:05] county has recently passed um
[1:08:07] legislation dealing with allowing ice on
[1:08:10] their parking lots and allowing them in
[1:08:12] their public spaces. The town of
[1:08:13] Bladensburg doesn't have that. If
[1:08:16] they're parked in our parking lot, it's
[1:08:17] not that we're collaborating with them
[1:08:19] because we don't we don't help them
[1:08:21] serve immigration um deportation orders,
[1:08:24] civil orders. If it's a criminal matter
[1:08:26] or if it's an officer safety issue, then
[1:08:28] of course we'll get involved. We don't
[1:08:30] want anybody to get hurt. Uh we we want
[1:08:32] the same things that you all want. We we
[1:08:34] don't want ICE stopping people just
[1:08:37] because of the way they look. There
[1:08:38] should be some kind of reason that
[1:08:39] they're stopping them, that they're
[1:08:40] going after a particular person. Um, we
[1:08:44] don't want them violating people's
[1:08:45] rights. The county did pass the uh the
[1:08:48] law with the masks um that law
[1:08:51] enforcement are not supposed to wear
[1:08:52] masks and we have brought that up when
[1:08:54] we've seen them. Look, the the county
[1:08:56] has this law. You're not supposed to
[1:08:57] wear masks. Whether they're going to
[1:08:59] listen to us or not, we're in a kind of
[1:09:01] difficult position because we don't want
[1:09:03] to interfere with with what they're
[1:09:05] doing. Uh, and sometimes, you know,
[1:09:07] people will call and say they see ice in
[1:09:09] our parking lot and it might be one of
[1:09:11] our canine officers because they wear
[1:09:13] they wear the same type of uniform. It's
[1:09:14] a green uniform. So, they may confuse
[1:09:16] them and we've had people follow some of
[1:09:18] our officers thinking that they were ICE
[1:09:20] when they were actually undercover
[1:09:21] officers. So, that's dangerous for them.
[1:09:24] We don't want that to happen. Um, but I
[1:09:27] just want you to understand that if if
[1:09:30] we're doing anything with with ICE, it's
[1:09:32] it's to assist any of the immigrants.
[1:09:35] Like one time they they brought someone
[1:09:37] to the station, they wanted to use the
[1:09:38] bathroom. I authorize that because I
[1:09:40] don't want them to have to drive them
[1:09:41] all the way to Baltimore or wherever
[1:09:43] they're going and have them suffer when
[1:09:44] we can we can look out for them and have
[1:09:46] them use the bathroom here. So, we have
[1:09:49] very uh limited um interaction with
[1:09:51] them. We don't know when they're in
[1:09:52] town, where they're going to go. They
[1:09:54] don't tell us about any of their
[1:09:55] operations that they're doing. We just
[1:09:57] want to make sure that when they do have
[1:09:59] interactions that um they're not
[1:10:01] violating people's rights and we have a
[1:10:04] duty to intervene if there's something
[1:10:06] that's going on that's criminal. Um
[1:10:09] hopefully that's not going to happen,
[1:10:10] but that's our stance. Um there's not
[1:10:13] much we can do about moving them off of
[1:10:15] We've had them on the fire department
[1:10:16] parking lot, which is private property.
[1:10:18] On private property, they're not
[1:10:19] supposed to be there. if if someone
[1:10:21] doesn't want them there, they can tell
[1:10:22] them to leave because it's private
[1:10:23] property. Um, through this research, I
[1:10:26] found out that um the postmaster was
[1:10:28] concerned because they were on the post
[1:10:30] office property, and I initially thought
[1:10:32] that was federal property, but it's
[1:10:33] actually private property owned by the
[1:10:36] um it's leased to them. It's owned by
[1:10:37] the by the fire department, so it's
[1:10:39] private property. So, I encourage if
[1:10:42] someone if someone has uh ice out there
[1:10:44] and they're wearing masks and they don't
[1:10:46] think that they're ice, they can always
[1:10:47] call the police department and we can go
[1:10:48] and confirm. Uh other than that, we
[1:10:50] we're not we're not transporting anyone
[1:10:52] for them. We're not pulling people over
[1:10:54] for them to serve immigration civil
[1:10:56] warrants. We're not doing any of that.
[1:10:58] So that's the stance with the police
[1:10:59] department.
[1:11:01] >> Thank you so much, Chief, for just
[1:11:04] » Thank you so much, Chief, for just
[1:11:04] enlightening everyone
[1:11:13] before Mr. Gray yell. Sorry, the button
[1:11:16] did not depress. But thank you for that
[1:11:18] overview. Um, and just laying everything
[1:11:21] out there because I knew about the
[1:11:23] situation with the person who needed to
[1:11:25] use the bathroom, but what public
[1:11:27] members were saying is, "Oh,
[1:11:29] Bladensburg's cooperating with ICE when
[1:11:31] that wasn't the case. It was the humane
[1:11:33] thing to do to let the person use the
[1:11:35] restroom." And it's just one small
[1:11:37] example of how one small thing can be
[1:11:41] distorted and turned into a different
[1:11:42] narrative that is not correct. And so I
[1:11:45] appreciate you just explaining from your
[1:11:48] perspective what has been done, what the
[1:11:50] town will do. Um, and particularly want
[1:11:53] to note the duty to intervene because
[1:11:55] that general order was passed in, I
[1:11:58] think it was 2021 following the George
[1:12:01] Floyd murder and the prior chief, you
[1:12:04] know, talked with the council about that
[1:12:06] and just really holding officers
[1:12:08] accountable. If you see someone who's a
[1:12:10] law enforcement officer crossing the
[1:12:12] line, you have a duty to intervene. And
[1:12:14] if not, you will be held responsible to
[1:12:16] the full extent of the law. That is our
[1:12:18] expectation. But again, we will continue
[1:12:22] doing our part, doing our research to
[1:12:24] figure out if there are other methods
[1:12:25] that we can take as well. But thank you
[1:12:27] for that.
[1:12:28] >> I'd like to add one more thing. Um, also
[1:12:30] » I'd like to add one more thing. Um, also
[1:12:30] in our previous discussion, uh, there
[1:12:32] was an idea of having a liazison for the
[1:12:34] police department for concerns with
[1:12:36] immigration. I thought that was a great
[1:12:38] idea. I've since spoken to Sergeant
[1:12:40] RmIrez who's in our community action
[1:12:42] team and she's going to be the liaison.
[1:12:44] She's bilingual. She speaks Spanish. So,
[1:12:46] if there's any concerns, they can reach
[1:12:48] out to her. Um, if it's something that's
[1:12:51] more important or urgent or an
[1:12:52] emergency, they can always call the the
[1:12:54] communications dispatcher and we can
[1:12:56] send someone out if need be.
[1:12:59] >> Thank you.
[1:12:59] » Thank you.
[1:12:59] >> And I appreciate you doing that. I
[1:13:02] » And I appreciate you doing that. I
[1:13:02] wasn't writing you about it only because
[1:13:03] I understood the staffing issues,
[1:13:06] particularly with patrol and understand
[1:13:09] this issue is important, but the
[1:13:11] day-to-day operations still have to go
[1:13:13] on and needed to give you time to work
[1:13:15] through that. So, thank you for
[1:13:16] designating someone and also someone who
[1:13:18] is bilingual and knows the community.
[1:13:21] She grew up here um and now works here.
[1:13:23] So, I don't think you could have picked
[1:13:25] a better person to serve in that role.
[1:13:27] Um so, that completes the public safety
[1:13:30] update. Now, we're going to have code
[1:13:32] enforcement from the time enforcer over
[1:13:35] here.
[1:13:38] » Good evening, mayor and council. Um, I I
[1:13:40] have a very brief report uh this week,
[1:13:42] I'm sorry, this month. Um, our main
[1:13:45] focus this month has been focused on
[1:13:46] business license renewal throughout the
[1:13:48] town of Bladesburg, which is a very,
[1:13:50] very, very time consuming thing. Um, we
[1:13:53] have just shy of about 200 businesses.
[1:13:55] So, we pay visits to each and every
[1:13:56] business in town. Um and so far we're
[1:14:00] probably about 80% with the returns of
[1:14:03] the uh businesses coming in. Um
[1:14:07] we uh we're continuing with apartment
[1:14:09] inspections. I I will admit it did slow
[1:14:11] down for the month of June just because
[1:14:13] of the business licensing. Um we've had
[1:14:17] uh 85 abandoned vehicles in the town of
[1:14:19] Blaesburg. Uh we were able to uh assist
[1:14:22] public works with several um different
[1:14:25] functions throughout the community. And
[1:14:27] again, big shout out for the uh
[1:14:29] fireworks crew. Everything went good.
[1:14:31] Heat was horrible, but we made it
[1:14:33] happen. That's my report.
[1:14:37] Thank you, Mr. Reinhardt. We appreciate
[1:14:39] your support as always. And um town
[1:14:42] administrator, I'll hold the clerk uh
[1:14:45] update for your TA update since you're
[1:14:48] kind of wearing both hats and go to
[1:14:50] public works next if that's okay.
[1:14:53] >> All right.
[1:15:02] Good afternoon, mayor, council, and
[1:15:04] residents and audience right here. Um
[1:15:08] um this this month of June, uh public
[1:15:10] works did multiple multiple job tasks as
[1:15:14] one of them. Um we have a lot of stuff
[1:15:15] going at the Boswick House where we have
[1:15:17] an architect just um trying to look
[1:15:20] underneath the structure of the barn.
[1:15:22] And as we rolled around there to try to
[1:15:24] look underneath the structure, we
[1:15:25] noticed probably about a ton literally
[1:15:29] of old wood. So nobody could get in
[1:15:31] through there. So the guys took like a
[1:15:33] half a day and loaded up the truck. So
[1:15:36] he was able to get in there the next
[1:15:37] day, which was a a short notice, but
[1:15:40] guys was able to do as we as they always
[1:15:43] do um you know, work immediately. And
[1:15:46] also we assist um code with um a lot of
[1:15:49] cleanup in industrial areas. It's just
[1:15:52] going a little bit getting a little bit
[1:15:54] out of control, but we had to do a whole
[1:15:58] whole run for about about a half a day,
[1:16:00] you know, with all the guys. And we
[1:16:02] picked up we probably had at least two
[1:16:05] truckloads of of debris and everything
[1:16:07] that we loaded up from down there. And
[1:16:09] while we was cleaning up down there
[1:16:11] where a lot of people were hang up
[1:16:12] underneath the railroad tracks down
[1:16:14] there, I noticed it was a couple of no
[1:16:16] parking signs that was missing.
[1:16:18] Evidently, they may have took them down
[1:16:19] or may hit him and stuff like that. So
[1:16:22] guys, we installed it another no parking
[1:16:25] sign. That way you can have three no
[1:16:28] parking signs in the middle. I mean, you
[1:16:29] know, in the middle so there's no no
[1:16:31] confusion of is no parking right here.
[1:16:34] And hoping that that'll help some of the
[1:16:36] cars stay from out there. And also um
[1:16:41] excuse me due to the heavy buses on you
[1:16:43] know 58 they're not just the heavy buses
[1:16:45] it's just traffic period you know we had
[1:16:47] to um
[1:16:49] remove a old crosswalk
[1:16:52] and try to put another one down on the
[1:16:54] um concrete. This is not asphalt that
[1:16:56] we're putting it down. We have a
[1:16:57] concrete little valley for to help the
[1:16:59] waterway come through and a lot of
[1:17:02] material just don't want to stick to
[1:17:04] concrete. So every year we have to kind
[1:17:06] of like redo it every year. And I want
[1:17:08] to give a guys a heads up because this
[1:17:11] year was the first time that we
[1:17:13] res-craped the whole, you know,
[1:17:15] crosswalk and then added more paint
[1:17:17] down. And I was proud proud to see that.
[1:17:20] And matter of fact, the paint that I
[1:17:21] used was from um a company that I've
[1:17:25] I've learned from from MML, you know, um
[1:17:28] Seal Master. I never used them before,
[1:17:30] but they have a great product that all
[1:17:33] my white white paint that we were using
[1:17:34] in town, like the cross bars and all
[1:17:36] that, we'll start using that because it
[1:17:38] lasts longer and is more durable. And
[1:17:41] when we put down anything or as y'all
[1:17:44] know, we have so much painted curves,
[1:17:48] stop bars, crosswalk in town, you know.
[1:17:50] So, actually, we go through probably
[1:17:52] about $7,000 worth of white paint and
[1:17:54] and yellow paint throughout the town.
[1:17:56] So, if there's anything that we can get
[1:17:59] that's more durable that can, you know,
[1:18:02] we don't have to come back every year to
[1:18:04] repaint it is a whole lot better on on
[1:18:06] on our staff because, as y'all know, we
[1:18:09] have so much that we try to do with
[1:18:11] seven people. And I I want to take my
[1:18:13] hats off to them guys as well and myself
[1:18:15] as well for constantly digging and
[1:18:18] grinding with with, you know, doing what
[1:18:20] we have to do. You know,
[1:18:21] >> we definitely appreciate it. And um
[1:18:24] » we definitely appreciate it. And um
[1:18:24] Junth um I want to um thank um Salomon
[1:18:28] and Mr. Conrad Watson for uh assisting
[1:18:32] everybody with the painting of the uh
[1:18:34] benches out here. And as y'all know, we
[1:18:36] already have um installed two of them
[1:18:40] benches. One is right here on 53rd in
[1:18:43] Annapolis where bus shelter was knocked
[1:18:45] down a long time ago and we had some
[1:18:47] requests for another bench right there.
[1:18:50] And also on 58th
[1:18:53] um right across from the what is that?
[1:18:55] Oh, I apologize. The new condos up
[1:18:58] there. Uh
[1:19:00] >> yeah, Bladen Bladen's condos is a bench.
[1:19:03] » yeah, Bladen Bladen's condos is a bench.
[1:19:03] Somebody broke one of the benches that
[1:19:05] we did last year. So, we was able to put
[1:19:08] this bench and these benches that we're
[1:19:09] making now is a little bit more sturdier
[1:19:11] than the ones we had. And also, I want
[1:19:14] to give our hats off to the guys again
[1:19:16] for being so creative. You know, I I
[1:19:18] know y'all see some little sculptures
[1:19:20] out front and um different little things
[1:19:22] that um the guys are just being creative
[1:19:27] and some of this is part of what
[1:19:30] I've learned when we went to Ohio for
[1:19:32] the um American in Bloom, you know. So,
[1:19:35] some of this stuff and none of this
[1:19:37] stuff that we got um cost anything. This
[1:19:40] was recyclable. I'm sorry. Time up.
[1:19:44] >> Not to interrupt you, but you know
[1:19:48] basically the rest of it is is is is on
[1:19:51] the report.
[1:19:52] >> I apologize.
[1:19:53] » I apologize.
[1:19:53] >> One question though for you and the team
[1:19:55] » One question though for you and the team
[1:19:55] is could we install some cameras to
[1:19:57] catch the dumping in the business area?
[1:20:00] >> We look okay.
[1:20:01] » We look okay.
[1:20:01] >> We we we looking into that right now.
[1:20:03] » We we we looking into that right now.
[1:20:04] Yes.
[1:20:04] >> I was going to say to answer that, mayor
[1:20:06] » I was going to say to answer that, mayor
[1:20:06] and council, yes, we do have some uh
[1:20:07] trail cameras that we are relocating
[1:20:09] throughout town. Um, so we are going to
[1:20:13] be in the process of making working with
[1:20:15] our detectives to get that taken care of
[1:20:18] and squared away.
[1:20:19] >> Perfect.
[1:20:20] » Perfect.
[1:20:20] >> Thank you both. And Mr. Hall, please
[1:20:22] » Thank you both. And Mr. Hall, please
[1:20:22] thank the team for all their hard work.
[1:20:24] We definitely appreciate them.
[1:20:25] >> One thing I just want to echo, I know I
[1:20:27] » One thing I just want to echo, I know I
[1:20:27] don't have the time. I'm sorry, but the
[1:20:30] collaboration with SHA, I mean, I just
[1:20:33] want to take my hats off to my guys.
[1:20:34] >> Yes. you know, for working two straight
[1:20:39] » Yes. you know, for working two straight
[1:20:39] six hours, you know. Yeah. We didn't get
[1:20:42] a lunch break. Neither neither neither
[1:20:44] neither park got a lunch break. So,
[1:20:47] today we went back out there and thanks
[1:20:49] to the town, we we I I we fed him. Yeah.
[1:20:51] >> Nice. But thank you for the
[1:20:53] » Nice. But thank you for the
[1:20:53] collaboration there because as I said to
[1:20:56] Senator Augustine, the issue is if we
[1:20:58] just say we're not going to help you
[1:21:00] with anything,
[1:21:01] >> this infrastructure project is going to
[1:21:03] » this infrastructure project is going to
[1:21:03] fall to the bottom of their priority
[1:21:05] list. And so that effort that you guys
[1:21:07] took being out there getting that area
[1:21:10] cleared, cleaning it up goes so long in
[1:21:14] terms of that relationship and goodwill
[1:21:16] building. So thank you. Thank you. Thank
[1:21:18] you. And um just know Senator sees it.
[1:21:21] He told you when he saw you that he
[1:21:24] appreciated all the work that you guys
[1:21:25] are doing and so just know he's an
[1:21:27] advocate and he's pushing on SHA from
[1:21:30] his side to help support us. So we truly
[1:21:32] appreciate that.
[1:21:33] >> Absolutely. We just got we got some more
[1:21:34] » Absolutely. We just got we got some more
[1:21:34] work to do but as they see the way that
[1:21:37] we come in there then I think they they
[1:21:39] everybody going to fall in line too.
[1:21:41] >> Agreed. Agreed.
[1:21:43] » Agreed. Agreed.
[1:21:43] >> All right. Uh so last but certainly not
[1:21:46] » All right. Uh so last but certainly not
[1:21:46] least, Mr. Town Administrator Woodclerk,
[1:21:49] over to you.
[1:21:52] Uh good evening. I'll be uh fairly
[1:21:55] brief. Um but do want to just echo um
[1:21:58] what an awesome team we have uh all
[1:22:00] around the board. Um so speaking of uh
[1:22:04] where Pel kind of left off, um we have
[1:22:08] our American and Bloom judges coming uh
[1:22:11] July 20th and 21st. Uh this will be a
[1:22:14] great two-day opportunity to showcase um
[1:22:17] our community, a lot of the great work
[1:22:19] um that the guys have been doing all
[1:22:20] around town. Um we've developed a pretty
[1:22:24] robust uh itinerary that will engage the
[1:22:28] community um staff uh council. Um
[1:22:33] and so we're we're really excited about
[1:22:35] it. Um obviously a big tip of the cap to
[1:22:37] Ray as well who's been spearheading um
[1:22:40] that effort. Um he was showing me little
[1:22:45] recycled bees today that I think y'all
[1:22:47] put out. Anyways, it's been I've I've
[1:22:50] learned a lot. Um but it's a great
[1:22:53] program to to say the least. Um next uh
[1:22:57] conversation I think we've talked about
[1:22:58] a great deal. Um but I do just want to
[1:23:01] thank um a number of community residents
[1:23:04] that we had the opportunity to speak
[1:23:06] with a couple of weeks ago, the chief
[1:23:08] and myself. Um and and to reiterate I
[1:23:12] think what Miss uh Greenstone spoke
[1:23:13] about um earlier today um with regards
[1:23:18] to immigration immigration and customs
[1:23:20] enforcement. Um I think the meeting was
[1:23:22] very productive. Um but more importantly
[1:23:25] it was honest and collaborative. Um, I
[1:23:28] think we had a pretty open dialogue
[1:23:30] about the concerns um that a number of
[1:23:33] our community members were feeling um
[1:23:36] and discussed several meaningful actions
[1:23:38] that the town can take. Um I think the
[1:23:40] chief articulated one already which was
[1:23:44] um around um the community liaison. Um,
[1:23:47] we're finalizing kind of aformational
[1:23:50] one-pager that's going to go out uh via
[1:23:53] social media and on the website just uh
[1:23:55] articulating it is okay if you don't
[1:23:58] know if somebody is an agent or you feel
[1:24:00] unsafe, please call our officers. You
[1:24:03] know, we will go out. Um, and then
[1:24:05] highlighting a lot of the work that the
[1:24:07] CAT team and a number of other community
[1:24:09] members have done to reestablish
[1:24:11] relationships and trust that we've
[1:24:12] talked about. And so we talked about
[1:24:14] that, but also that ongoing dialogue and
[1:24:16] communication. I know we have um or
[1:24:19] we're going to try and have a meeting
[1:24:20] scheduled in in August um to kind of
[1:24:23] talk about what we are doing and what we
[1:24:27] um will continue to do and that this is
[1:24:29] uh not something that's going to be
[1:24:30] solved uh overnight, but um it's going
[1:24:33] to be an iterative process, but um the
[1:24:36] town council uh staff are committed to
[1:24:40] it just as we know our residents are.
[1:24:42] So, uh, thankful for that, uh, meeting.
[1:24:45] And then, um, just kind of looking
[1:24:47] forward, it's crazy, but it's already
[1:24:49] here. Um, FY28 grant planning, um, is is
[1:24:53] upon us. Um, so we'll be working through
[1:24:57] that. Um, and I'll share more with that
[1:25:01] um, at our retreat uh, council. So,
[1:25:04] yeah.
[1:25:05] >> Thank you, Mr. Wood, for all your hard
[1:25:07] » Thank you, Mr. Wood, for all your hard
[1:25:07] work. Uh at this time we'll transition
[1:25:10] to mayor and council reports beginning
[1:25:12] with ward one with council member Trina
[1:25:14] Brown.
[1:25:17] Thank you mayor. I um first of all would
[1:25:21] like to thank all the residents you know
[1:25:23] who participated
[1:25:25] uh this evening and um then for the ones
[1:25:27] who are online watching us online and uh
[1:25:30] to the mayor and the council. you know,
[1:25:32] this right here. We're wrapping up our
[1:25:34] um our our about to go on on break for
[1:25:37] for one month. So, but I definitely want
[1:25:40] to thank our staff uh for just all the
[1:25:42] tremendous amount of work that you all
[1:25:44] do all year long. I mean, um out there
[1:25:49] that day in the heat, I mean, and not
[1:25:52] that day because I think public works,
[1:25:54] it's like, you know, our public works
[1:25:56] department and the police department,
[1:25:57] you know, you and code enforcement, you
[1:25:59] go work in the heat every day. every
[1:26:02] every day. So, you know, that that
[1:26:04] doesn't go unnoticed and we just can't,
[1:26:06] you know, say enough thank yous, you
[1:26:08] know, because we we we um we know that
[1:26:11] uh that that you're here to do a do a
[1:26:12] job, but you all do it and you all do it
[1:26:14] well and you you all you all do it with
[1:26:18] um with commitment, respect, dedication,
[1:26:22] and and perseverance. So, um we thank
[1:26:25] you all so very much. Um I've attended a
[1:26:29] lot of meetings, a lot of um activities
[1:26:32] and things that have happened here in
[1:26:34] the town this year. So I just want to um
[1:26:37] to want the residents to uh to stay
[1:26:40] safe, to stay hydrated, and to also know
[1:26:44] that we are here for you all. We did
[1:26:46] have another one of our um community
[1:26:49] meetings this past Saturday that was uh
[1:26:52] was attended. So, we had some things
[1:26:53] that some follow-up um items that came
[1:26:56] out of our community meetings. So, we
[1:26:58] are here for the comm community. We will
[1:27:00] continue to listen to the community. We
[1:27:02] will continue to work with the
[1:27:03] community. And is our hope that the
[1:27:05] community continues to work with us as
[1:27:07] well because we as we the council
[1:27:11] members, we live here in this town as
[1:27:13] well. So, it's not like we pack up and
[1:27:15] we go, you know, we go home somewhere
[1:27:17] else. So, we live in this town as well.
[1:27:19] We want all we want all of our residents
[1:27:22] to be safe. Um, and we also uh want to
[1:27:27] to to want also want to thank our police
[1:27:29] department because we actually, you
[1:27:30] know, we do have a very awesome police
[1:27:32] department. Um, as as I said, you know,
[1:27:35] we we we live here. We we raising our
[1:27:37] families here. You know, we um um we we
[1:27:40] go to sleep here at night. And so, we do
[1:27:42] want to thank our our police department
[1:27:45] for doing a wonderful job in serving and
[1:27:47] protecting. And um so um also once again
[1:27:52] congratulations to you Mayor James on
[1:27:54] your presidency
[1:27:56] uh with um MML and I'm sure that it's
[1:27:58] going to be a very exciting time for for
[1:28:02] you this year. You know let us let us
[1:28:04] know what you need, you know, to be here
[1:28:06] to support and then once again happy 250
[1:28:09] 50th anniversary.
[1:28:12] >> Thank you, Council Member Brown.
[1:28:13] » Thank you, Council Member Brown.
[1:28:13] >> Thank you so very much. Yes. Thank you.
[1:28:15] » Thank you so very much. Yes. Thank you.
[1:28:16] >> Have a safe summer. Be safe. Stay
[1:28:18] » Have a safe summer. Be safe. Stay
[1:28:18] hydrated.
[1:28:19] >> Yes, please.
[1:28:20] » Yes, please.
[1:28:20] >> All right. Over to you, Council Member
[1:28:22] » All right. Over to you, Council Member
[1:28:22] Dixon. Also for Ward One.
[1:28:28] » Thank you, Madame Mayor. Good evening,
[1:28:29] everyone. Good evening, residents. Um,
[1:28:34] first I want to start off by saying
[1:28:35] congratulation to our mayor James on
[1:28:39] rising to MML president. Congratulation.
[1:28:42] Wish you all the best in the new role. I
[1:28:45] know you're going to do great. Um, all
[1:28:48] right. Let me get into my
[1:28:51] >> Yes, that's
[1:28:53] » Yes, that's
[1:28:53] control.
[1:28:54] >> Okay, let me get into my Okay, so first
[1:28:58] » Okay, let me get into my Okay, so first
[1:28:58] I attended the MML conference and um
[1:29:02] also the CRF meeting. Um at this year
[1:29:06] meeting they provide an update on the
[1:29:08] current infectious um disease threat
[1:29:11] that including the Ebola rising that's
[1:29:13] going on now the outbreak. I attend the
[1:29:16] county executive and municipal mayor's
[1:29:19] meeting where you provide updates from
[1:29:22] your town and the issues that the town
[1:29:24] is facing and what we need help with. Um
[1:29:29] fourth of July celebration I attend that
[1:29:31] as well was a great event. Um, I just
[1:29:34] want to say thanks to the staff for
[1:29:37] putting it together. Um,
[1:29:41] I sat on the blading zone meeting just
[1:29:44] in support to our residents. Also, um, I
[1:29:48] attend the MML committee orientation. I
[1:29:51] am a MML engagement and outreach
[1:29:54] committee member. Now, um the COG
[1:29:58] meeting, my community walk just to hear
[1:30:02] what resident has to say, their
[1:30:04] concerns. Um
[1:30:06] oh, and also meeting with myself and
[1:30:09] Mayor James, meeting with Mr. Martin
[1:30:11] Cruz on the issues of ICE um that is
[1:30:14] present in our community. Thank you,
[1:30:18] Sean. I gave you back some time,
[1:30:21] a whole minute.
[1:30:23] Thank you, Council Member Dixon. Now
[1:30:25] we'll transition to W two beginning with
[1:30:27] council member Carol McBride.
[1:30:32] » Good evening everyone. Um
[1:30:36] first of all I want to say thank you um
[1:30:40] to our Bladensburg Fire Department. I
[1:30:43] experienced something during the Fourth
[1:30:45] of July event of heat exhaustion. Never
[1:30:48] experienced it in my life. And um just
[1:30:51] so happened that somebody took notice
[1:30:54] that I didn't look right and they pulled
[1:30:58] me inside and just so happened that um
[1:31:01] what's her chief fire department chief
[1:31:03] um
[1:31:05] >> sum chief sum was right there and then
[1:31:08] » sum chief sum was right there and then
[1:31:08] he had the other was to come in and put
[1:31:10] ice packs on me. So I'm I'm truly
[1:31:12] grateful for that because I never
[1:31:14] experienced and didn't know what it felt
[1:31:15] like but I was glad people were alert.
[1:31:19] Um,
[1:31:21] and let's see. I attended the um, well,
[1:31:25] I was late attending, but the little
[1:31:27] police cadetses um,
[1:31:30] awards ceremony and I did go in. I had
[1:31:33] the opportunity to corre congrat what am
[1:31:35] I getting tongue tied? Congratulate
[1:31:37] them.
[1:31:40] Um I also was asked by um and I want to
[1:31:44] say um
[1:31:47] that pastor rout Theodore routs who
[1:31:50] moved his church
[1:31:53] to the um
[1:31:57] >> Salvation Army.
[1:31:59] » Salvation Army.
[1:31:59] Well, he moved back to Bladensburg
[1:32:03] to the word of God church with his
[1:32:06] grandfather where he originally never
[1:32:08] mind uh belonged. And so I want to say
[1:32:12] uh thank you and welcome back pastor
[1:32:14] Rouse. Um
[1:32:16] he also had a um
[1:32:21] a prayer breakfast with council member
[1:32:23] Blunt's residence and um he asked me to
[1:32:27] come as the church mother. So I did
[1:32:30] attend
[1:32:32] and only to visit um didn't have any
[1:32:36] words to say. Uh
[1:32:38] and so I'm I'm just grateful for what
[1:32:41] I'm allowed to do in the town of
[1:32:43] Bladensburg. Thank you, Mayor James.
[1:32:45] Cong congratulations.
[1:32:47] >> Thank you
[1:32:48] » Thank you
[1:32:48] >> on your position. Um,
[1:32:51] » on your position. Um,
[1:32:51] I'm just glad glad to be here. Glad I'm
[1:32:54] at the end of the year. Have a safe
[1:32:56] summer, everyone, and enjoy yourself.
[1:32:58] Please stay safe.
[1:33:01] >> Thank you, Council Member. Thank you,
[1:33:03] » Thank you, Council Member. Thank you,
[1:33:03] Council Member McBride, for your report.
[1:33:06] Now, we'll continue with W two with
[1:33:07] Council Member Blunt.
[1:33:10] >> Hello. Hello. Hello.
[1:33:14] Well, um, first I'd like to thank, um,
[1:33:18] the officers for coming into the Emerson
[1:33:21] House building and arresting someone who
[1:33:24] just got out the next day when he got
[1:33:27] arrested, but I know they did their job
[1:33:29] is the courts have to do better. And I'm
[1:33:32] working on that. Um,
[1:33:34] I'm also working on what is that thing?
[1:33:38] What is that thing called? Squatters.
[1:33:40] Okay,
[1:33:40] >> that that thing is unreal.
[1:33:43] » that that thing is unreal.
[1:33:43] So, I'll be going into the court system
[1:33:45] to find out how that operates and bring
[1:33:48] that back to um department heads in
[1:33:50] Bladesburg and to any um other building
[1:33:53] cuz having squatterers cuz we have two
[1:33:57] and unfortunately management companies
[1:34:00] lose money and the whole nine yards. But
[1:34:02] I will be doing my study on that um
[1:34:06] squatted thing and bringing that back so
[1:34:08] that we'll know how to be aware and how
[1:34:10] not to get um played and victimized and
[1:34:14] mainly as family members a lot of times.
[1:34:16] So, but anyway, that's a whole another
[1:34:18] story. Also, I finally um finalized the
[1:34:22] the department heads to that I would
[1:34:25] like to come out to Bladensburg and talk
[1:34:27] to the seniors
[1:34:29] um about issues that they're dealing
[1:34:31] with when trying to get services from
[1:34:35] the departments um that is put there to
[1:34:38] help them poor service. We have poor
[1:34:42] service in PG County and sorry I must
[1:34:45] say um to help this to help seniors is
[1:34:47] very poor and they need the help. Other
[1:34:49] than that um I graduated I passed all my
[1:34:52] class classes and not pass but MML. So
[1:34:56] we'll be graduating later on.
[1:35:00] So, um I'm I'm really excited about that
[1:35:03] and I thank um
[1:35:06] um I I really like to say thank you to
[1:35:08] my job for allowing me to come in and
[1:35:10] work and now I'm in a position
[1:35:14] and to politics. Me and politics. Wow.
[1:35:18] But again, um thank
[1:35:24] all I have to say. I know this end of
[1:35:25] summer. Um I understand the heat
[1:35:28] exhaustion. It happens um too many
[1:35:31] people. We don't you don't know that
[1:35:33] it's going to happen, but just be
[1:35:34] careful and drink plenty of water. Also,
[1:35:37] I have not seen ice. Um myself, I have
[1:35:40] not witnessed anything, but perception
[1:35:43] is everything and everybody perceptions
[1:35:46] are different. So, if we lolly gagging
[1:35:50] out there with someone we potentially
[1:35:51] think is out here to harm our residents
[1:35:53] in any kind of way, yeah, we would
[1:35:55] probably think it. Um but allow us allow
[1:35:58] people to have what their perceptions
[1:36:00] are and also bring it back to the
[1:36:01] council. As you can see that they're
[1:36:03] already meeting with officials
[1:36:05] pertaining to ICE and what and what they
[1:36:08] here for. Um my grandson work from
[1:36:11] homeland security homeland whatever that
[1:36:14] homeland security office. I called him
[1:36:17] and asked how did that work and
[1:36:19] unfortunately they have they have rights
[1:36:21] too and hopefully they're not um here
[1:36:24] harming anyone but again and we hoping
[1:36:27] that I don't know how it works but like
[1:36:29] the mayor I trust um that they're
[1:36:32] working with officials to try to see how
[1:36:34] we can
[1:36:36] that did that thing ring on me
[1:36:38] >> oh I'm sorry but again um but yeah I'm
[1:36:41] » oh I'm sorry but again um but yeah I'm
[1:36:41] I'm real I'm real sorry but everybody
[1:36:43] have a job to do but I hope they do it
[1:36:46] um
[1:36:47] respect just keeping respect and um and
[1:36:50] perception again is everything and
[1:36:51] everybody perceptions are different and
[1:36:53] again when you hear from us again I'll
[1:36:56] be seeing the seniors at the senior
[1:36:57] gathering um again Ray Jeffrey is
[1:37:00] putting together I took that 110 but the
[1:37:03] senior gather is September so again um
[1:37:06] that's are they playing the music for me
[1:37:08] okay I'm done I'm done thank you
[1:37:16] That's you, Mr. Weiss. Okay,
[1:37:17] >> Mr. Weiss. Wow. He played the music. Oh,
[1:37:21] » Mr. Weiss. Wow. He played the music. Oh,
[1:37:21] man.
[1:37:22] >> Oh, man.
[1:37:23] » Oh, man.
[1:37:23] >> Mr. Weiss. You when you come back,
[1:37:25] » Mr. Weiss. You when you come back,
[1:37:25] that's why you come back. Okay. All
[1:37:27] right.
[1:37:28] >> Bring the music. Thank you.
[1:37:30] » Bring the music. Thank you.
[1:37:30] >> Thank you, Council Member Blunt. I will
[1:37:32] » Thank you, Council Member Blunt. I will
[1:37:32] try to be brief as well. June was a very
[1:37:35] busy month. Um, I have my full written
[1:37:38] report there. The bulk of it focuses on
[1:37:40] a lot of meetings that took place during
[1:37:42] MML and prior to uh but one thing I want
[1:37:46] to call out is the Prince George's
[1:37:48] Gateway Development Authority. We did
[1:37:50] meet in June. Bladensburg hosted Senator
[1:37:53] Augustine was here and was delegate so
[1:37:55] was delegate Ivy. And um we've had some
[1:37:58] leadership changes within the authority.
[1:38:00] And so it's just really important for us
[1:38:02] to understand while we're codified just
[1:38:05] like West North and Baltimore, we have
[1:38:07] some very distinct differences. And so
[1:38:10] state funding has been issued to the
[1:38:11] authority. However, we don't have the
[1:38:14] same level of um decision making as the
[1:38:19] uh authority in Baltimore. And that is
[1:38:21] not to put our legislators down. It's
[1:38:23] just the reality of how they constructed
[1:38:25] that law. And so as such, we just needed
[1:38:28] to do some level setting with
[1:38:30] expectations to show that we will make
[1:38:32] decisions in accordance with what our
[1:38:34] authority is. We can't be looked at and
[1:38:36] judged by the West North development.
[1:38:39] But um for those who aren't aware, that
[1:38:41] money is really to help us revitalize
[1:38:44] these inner beltway communities that
[1:38:46] tend to get less of the state funding.
[1:38:47] And so I think that's going to be a huge
[1:38:49] help to us. Um, jumping to MML really
[1:38:53] quickly, was honored to become president
[1:38:55] during the uh, closing session, but one
[1:38:58] of the honors that the administration
[1:39:00] extends is you get a sort of closed door
[1:39:02] meeting with the governor. And so during
[1:39:04] that time, as I mentioned earlier, uh,
[1:39:07] there were a range of issues that we
[1:39:08] covered, ICE also being one of them,
[1:39:10] because we know that he is not on our
[1:39:12] president's favorite list, and as such,
[1:39:14] that puts Maryland in a certain
[1:39:16] category.
[1:39:18] And my best advice is we will do what we
[1:39:21] can, but the reality is midterms matter.
[1:39:23] Elections have consequences. And if you
[1:39:25] really want to change this, then you
[1:39:27] need to show up
[1:39:28] >> and vote come November because that is
[1:39:31] » and vote come November because that is
[1:39:31] how you shift this. It's a federal issue
[1:39:33] that's becoming a local issue and we
[1:39:36] can't solve it all on our own. Um, I do
[1:39:40] want to call out some of the things that
[1:39:41] comproller Leman shared with us and I
[1:39:44] think it's important to note. um she has
[1:39:47] totally transformed that controllers's
[1:39:48] office and um has reconstructed the
[1:39:52] unclaimed property program and because
[1:39:55] of her leadership $121 million has been
[1:39:58] returned to its rightful owners. If you
[1:40:00] are in the state of Maryland and you
[1:40:02] think you might have money out there
[1:40:03] that's been left to you and you need
[1:40:05] help claiming it, that website is
[1:40:07] www.claimitmd.gov
[1:40:10] gov and you need to really go on there
[1:40:13] to see um you know what resources may
[1:40:16] have been left to you or a family
[1:40:18] member. Um throughout the event it was
[1:40:21] great to have visibility not just from
[1:40:23] the governor but the lieutenant governor
[1:40:25] and the cabinet secretaries and so there
[1:40:27] were some tremendous conversations that
[1:40:29] I think are going to help us on all of
[1:40:31] our fronts from Boswick House to the
[1:40:33] municipal center. So I just look forward
[1:40:35] to the followup that comes from there.
[1:40:36] And really quick, uh, president or mayor
[1:40:39] privilege, um, I noticed the handout
[1:40:41] that was supposed to be attachment
[1:40:43] number one didn't come through. So, I'll
[1:40:45] reprint that for the council, but it's
[1:40:47] the civility pledge from um, National
[1:40:51] League of Cities. So, their board signed
[1:40:53] the civility pledge for a a code of
[1:40:55] conduct for retreat, how we treat each
[1:40:58] other as elected officials, how we
[1:40:59] engage respectfully. And so, I do want
[1:41:02] to encourage the council to read the
[1:41:04] pledge. I printed copies when I realized
[1:41:06] it wasn't here and I'll give them to you
[1:41:08] after the meeting. But I think we should
[1:41:10] talk about this at the board retreat and
[1:41:12] sign on to it as a public stance for how
[1:41:14] we're going to not just treat each other
[1:41:16] but how we're going to conduct ourselves
[1:41:18] as community leaders. So with that, that
[1:41:20] concludes my report. Again, it's written
[1:41:22] and included with the staff reports.
[1:41:24] That brings us to the end of our agenda
[1:41:26] for tonight. Council, is there a motion
[1:41:28] to adjurnn?
[1:41:29] >> I moved.
[1:41:30] » I moved.
[1:41:30] >> Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
[1:41:31] » Moved by council member Blunt. Is there
[1:41:31] a second?
[1:41:32] >> Second. seconded by council member
[1:41:34] » Second. seconded by council member
[1:41:34] Brown. Any comments or questions before
[1:41:36] we adjourn?
[1:41:37] >> Have a comment.
[1:41:39] » Have a comment.
[1:41:39] >> Um I just want to Can you hear me?
[1:41:42] » Um I just want to Can you hear me?
[1:41:42] >> Yes. Um thank you, Madame Mayor. I want
[1:41:44] » Yes. Um thank you, Madame Mayor. I want
[1:41:44] to say thanks to the police department.
[1:41:46] I had a breakin at my house. Um well,
[1:41:50] it's it's a car that was broke into my
[1:41:52] driveway and I didn't call 911. We
[1:41:55] called straight to Blazburg police
[1:41:57] station and they came in less than like
[1:41:59] a minute and you know took care of it.
[1:42:01] chief got all the videos and stuff and I
[1:42:04] just want to say thank you.
[1:42:06] >> Thank you Sean for getting that raccoon
[1:42:08] » Thank you Sean for getting that raccoon
[1:42:08] out the street.
[1:42:10] >> Thank you for those comments. So with
[1:42:12] » Thank you for those comments. So with
[1:42:12] that council I'll call for the vote. All
[1:42:14] in favor say I.
[1:42:15] >> I. Any nays? We no nays. We are journ.
[1:42:19] » I. Any nays? We no nays. We are journ.
[1:42:19] See you all in September. Happy summer.
[1:42:21] All right. Byebye. Thanks.