[0:03] The recording has begun.

[0:59] Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our regular meeting on

[1:05] September 8th, 2026.

[1:08] I would like to officially call this meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

[1:12] Madam Town clerk, will you please do a roll call?

[1:16] Councilman gutenberg.

[1:17] Here.

[1:18] Councilman McCormack.

[1:19] Here here.

[1:20] Councilman Sampson.

[1:23] Councilman Johnson.

[1:24] Here here.

[1:25] Mayor James.

[1:28] Madam Mayor, you have a quorum.

[1:29] Thank you very much. And if you all would please stand for the

[1:33] Pledge of Allegiance, I am going to have our scouts start us

[1:37] off with the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

[1:47] Space of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

[1:51] One nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and justice for all.

[1:57] Thank you.

[2:00] Thank you very much, scouts.

[2:03] Council, if you've had a moment to look at

[2:06] tonight's agenda, I will entertain a motion to approve.

[2:11] Some thank you very much.

[2:13] Do I have a second second?

[2:16] Thank you. Any discussion.

[2:19] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye, aye.

[2:26] Next on our agenda is our public hearing for the Charter amendment.

[2:31] Before officially calling the public, the first public hearing to order,

[2:35] I would like to ask the town clerk to review the procedures for tonight's

[2:40] hearing. Madam clerk.

[2:42] Would you please review the procedures for this evening's public hearing?

[2:47] Town of La Plata public hearings are conducted in the following manner.

[2:52] Call to order review of public notices, summary of town Staff report and

[2:57] recommendations.

[2:58] Questions by the town council and town staff.

[3:01] Written documents entered into the record speakers from the public.

[3:05] Additional questions by the Town Council closing of the public hearing.

[3:10] Written documents for the record submitted in advance of the public

[3:14] hearing are provided to the presiding officer.

[3:16] Prior to the opening of the public hearing at the appropriate time,

[3:20] the presiding officer will call registered speakers to the podium

[3:24] speakers who have registered to speak in advance via the town Web page will be

[3:29] recognized prior to speakers who have registered upon arrival at the public

[3:33] hearing.

[3:34] At the discretion of the presiding officer,

[3:37] speaker's comments may be limited to three minutes and may not be yielded to

[3:40] another person.

[3:42] A sign in sheet was provided at the entry of Council chambers for any public

[3:46] hearing attendees to register.

[3:48] To speak if they have not already done so in advance via the town Web page

[3:53] registration to speak will end when the public hearing is opened.

[3:58] Thank you very much.

[3:59] Is there anyone who hasn't registered who would like to speak?

[4:05] Register now before I officially open this meeting.

[4:09] OK.

[4:10] Thank you for joining us.

[4:11] I would like to officially open this public hearing on the proposed Charter

[4:16] amendment Resolution 26, dash 50 powers and duties of the mayor of

[4:20] the town of Laplata at 6:03 PM.

[4:25] Madam Clerk has the notice of public hearing.

[4:28] Been properly advertised.

[4:32] Yes, Madam mayor. For the record, this public hearing was advertised in the

[4:37] Southern Maryland News on August 14th, 2026.

[4:40] A copy of the certificate of Publication and the advertisement is attached to the

[4:45] meeting agenda. Notice of this hearing was also posted on

[4:49] the town of La Plata's website, Facebook page, and on civic clerk.

[4:53] The town's the town's agenda and meeting management platform.

[4:58] Thank you very much.

[4:59] Will staff provide recommendations regarding the proposed Charter Amendment

[5:03] Resolution 2650, powers and duties of mayor of the town of

[5:07] Laplata?

[5:08] Alright, good evening. Council. Stevens, your town manager.

[5:11] I'm going to go over the the same staff report that we gave to you during the

[5:15] last meeting.

[5:15] So it is going to be a little bit of a replaying of the same field,

[5:19] but we're just going to go through it. So by way of background, on June 9th,

[5:23] 2026, Town council discussed potential updates

[5:25] to the town's governance documents.

[5:27] Concerning the powers and duties of the mayor,

[5:30] only to discuss direct staff to prepare for legislative action, the 1st to turn.

[5:38] Resolution.

[5:39] Four, Section 3, letter F of the Charter that designates

[5:43] the mayor as the President of the Council with a public hearing scheduled no later

[5:47] than today, September 8th, 2026.

[5:51] #2.

[5:51] Updated language in the Council's Rules of Procedure establishing the process for

[5:55] appointing the Council chair.

[5:57] To take effect on the 50th day following posting of the Charter Amendment

[6:01] resolution and finally #3, an ordinance repealing and replacing

[6:05] section 13-4, the town code, the language Presiding Officer to replace

[6:09] references to the mayor with the Council chair or similarly appropriate language

[6:14] staff has.

[6:15] Prepared 4 documents in response to that direction.

[6:18] Charter Amendment Resolution 26, task 50.

[6:20] Ordinance 26-19, amending Chapter 13 of the town code.

[6:25] Resolution 2653.

[6:27] Adopting revised rules of Procedure establishing the Council chair and

[6:31] Resolution 26-54, establishing A1 time process for the

[6:34] initial election of the Council chair, because these documents are

[6:37] interdependent and collectively implement a single governance change staff is

[6:41] presenting them together as a single agenda.

[6:44] Item so that Council may review the full package in context,

[6:47] even though each document will be acted upon individually under its own

[6:50] legislative process.

[6:52] The proposed methodology and timeline.

[6:55] Are as follows.

[6:56] Follows first on August 25th, all four governors documents were

[6:59] presented to the town council for your review.

[7:02] The first reading of Ordinance 2619 was the only formal legislative action taken

[7:07] at that meeting this evening. All four documents are again being

[7:11] presented to town council under matters of discussion.

[7:15] I'm sorry, under this public hearing. And then during this the meeting this

[7:21] evening, the Council will hold the required public

[7:24] hearing on Charter Amendment Resolution 2650 and the Council may take up for

[7:30] consideration of adoption resolutions 26-50 resolution 26-53.

[7:34] Resolution 26-54 and the second reading of Ordinance 2619.

[7:41] During the August 25th, 2026 meeting, Town council discussed the use of the

[7:45] pronoun he in the draft legislation. Staff used the masculine pronoun during

[7:50] draft and maintain consistency with existing town charter and town code

[7:54] language.

[7:55] Which similarly uses masculine pronouns throughout the town.

[7:59] Charter currently provides that and in quotes women shall have equal privileges

[8:04] with men and registering, voting and holding town offices in quotes,

[8:08] and that whenever the masculine gender has been used as to any registering,

[8:13] voting or holding town office, it shall be construed to include the

[8:17] feminine GE.

[8:18] And that's in the Charter C7 Dash 18.

[8:21] Similarly, the town code provides that.

[8:24] Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter,

[8:28] and that's in chapter one. Dash 9B2 of the town code.

[8:33] To ensure the governance change takes effect uniformly and without a gap or

[8:37] overlap between the outgoing and incoming presiding officer structures.

[8:40] All four documents carry a synchronized effective date of October 28th, 2026.

[8:46] The date satisfies the 50 day posting requirement applicable to the Charter

[8:49] amendment and aligns each companion action to a single point at which the new

[8:53] structure takes effect.

[8:55] State law awards registered voters of the town of Referendum opportunity following

[8:59] adoption of the Charter Amendment resolution immediately following adoption,

[9:03] the town must post an exact copy of the resolution at the main municipal building

[9:07] for 40 consecutive days.

[9:08] Concurrently, a fair summary of the resolution must be

[9:11] published in a local newspaper four times at weekly intervals within those 40 days.

[9:16] If no petition for a referendum is filed by the public,

[9:19] the amendment automatically goes into effect on the 50th day after it was

[9:23] adopted.

[9:24] If a if a qualified position is received, all related legislative actions will be

[9:28] held in abeyance and staff will bring the matter back before the town Council for

[9:33] consideration of holding all previous legislative actions in abandoned at the

[9:37] October 27th Town council meeting.

[9:39] So your key dates are this evening the public hearing,

[9:43] which was just opened and adoption of resolution 26-50, the Charter amendment.

[9:48] October 18th will be the end of the posting slash publication period and a

[9:52] qualified petition.

[9:54] Must be delivered to town staff.

[9:58] October 28th, the Charter amendment would go into

[10:01] effect November 10th. Town council would have would elect its

[10:04] new presiding officer and November 24th the newly elected presiding officer would

[10:09] assume that position.

[10:13] These actions are administrative and governments related in nature and there's

[10:17] no budget appropriation.

[10:19] New expenditure or new revenue source associated with the legislative package.

[10:23] No Grant funding is involved.

[10:25] The strategic plan alignment, the sustainability considerations,

[10:29] the ADA considerations are all in your packet for your review and they remain

[10:33] unchanged from the August 25th meeting.

[10:35] The recommended action for you this evening.

[10:38] Is that town council take the following companion actions on the dates indicated,

[10:41] each with a synchronized effect.

[10:42] Date of October 28th. So in order adopt Ordinance 26 Dash 19.

[10:47] That's the second reading for consideration of adoption adopt

[10:52] Resolution 26-50.

[10:53] That's the charter amendment for consideration of adoption.

[10:57] Adopt resolution 26-53. The Rules of Procedure and adopt

[11:01] Resolution 26-54. The election of the presiding officer.

[11:05] Again, all of those would have an effective date

[11:07] of October 28.

[11:08] That's all I have for you this evening, pending your questions.

[11:11] All right.

[11:14] Does Council have any questions for Mr. Stevens? No.

[11:21] Well, good 'cause I do.

[11:23] All right. So the first thing, Mr. Stevens,

[11:26] your staff report says that changes directly advances the town's goal of good

[11:31] governance and strengthens public trust.

[11:34] What objective evidence or documented governance problems did staff rely upon

[11:39] to reach that conclusion?

[11:42] I think that the the discourse of this Council is exercising here by bringing

[11:46] this issue to light, holding a public forum,

[11:48] having a transparent process.

[11:50] When we talk about good governance, those are tenants of that. So when?

[11:54] I.

[11:55] When I make a statement like that in the staff report,

[11:58] that's what I'm referring to.

[12:00] So you're not saying that you're supporting or not supporting this,

[12:05] but good governance for the for reasonable person,

[12:08] they would think that your staff report says that you're in favor of this.

[12:14] This is good governance because you drafted this for sure, so the staff,

[12:19] as you know we we.

[12:20] Do our very best to stay apolitical and we do our very best to walk a balancing

[12:25] act.

[12:27] Between implementing the will of this Council, which is our job,

[12:31] that's what we do and then running the town and the corporate entity that is the

[12:36] town of Alpleta. So we we it's a balancing act and we walk

[12:40] a fine line to try and remain neutral and remain.

[12:43] Unbiased, the majority of this Council directed

[12:47] this action, so the staff put this together.

[12:50] The majority of Council has.

[12:53] Consistently been in consensus to move this forward.

[12:56] So staff is bringing it forward as directed.

[12:59] So that explains why it was drafted, but it doesn't explain the factual basis

[13:03] for staff representing to the public at in.

[13:07] Your in your report that removing powers from the Office of the Mayor advances

[13:11] good governance and public trust.

[13:13] What I mean, like I said, you're trying to stay apolitical.

[13:18] I get.

[13:18] I get that.

[13:19] But whatever evidence supports your good governance other than its transparency.

[13:31] I'm not sure I understand the question.

[13:34] Reasonable person reading your good governance will say that.

[13:39] You your report supports the removing powers from the Office of the Mayor,

[13:44] advances good governance and Public Trust.

[13:49] I think that this Council is elected by the constituents of this town and each

[13:55] Council member that sits on this dais has an obligation and a duty to represent.

[14:01] Present the constituents to the best their ability, a consensus.

[14:05] A majority of this Council has asked for this policy change and so that's what

[14:10] staff has prepared for you. I believe that the good governance piece

[14:14] is tied into the fact that we're doing this in a public meeting.

[14:18] We're doing it in an incredibly transparent way.

[14:21] Everything is above board.

[14:25] And that, I think is is one of the the basic

[14:27] pillars of how democracy works.

[14:30] So I I stand by the statement that it's good governance, OK.

[14:34] You just reported that.

[14:37] You did not change the gender language and you justified why you did not change

[14:42] the general. The the key to general because it's

[14:45] throughout the document. That's correct.

[14:47] Are you aware of the Maryland code?

[14:49] State government chapter 2, dash 124811 requires Maryland statutory

[14:54] style manual to contain a drafting rule calling to the extent to practicable.

[15:01] For words that are neutral as to gender and Maryland style manual like way

[15:07] likewise favors avoiding gendered pronouns in the statutory drafting,

[15:13] we had an opportunity and this was discussed last time in length to we're

[15:19] not doing the entire.

[15:22] Charter and we're doing it piece meal.

[15:26] And at that time, it could have been done.

[15:29] Simply remove the he and the Council chair.

[15:35] Shall state every question instead of he.

[15:37] Yet that was not done.

[15:40] Again, a reasonable person would see that they

[15:43] are trying to strip the powers and duties of a female mayor.

[15:48] Yet that still stayed in after a robust conversation on that.

[15:52] Are you aware of the Maryland code?

[15:56] I am aware, and this Council has had this

[15:58] conversation and then going back to a meeting we had in April,

[16:01] and I think if this Council wants to give me direction this evening to change the

[16:05] language that's presented here this evening to gender neutral,

[16:08] we're happy to do.

[16:09] It I said that on the 25th and and I'm happy to do it tonight.

[16:12] I mean it's it's it's easy to change.

[16:14] It was drafted the way that it was to be consistent with the code that that's

[16:19] already written.

[16:20] I mean, you don't want to get, you know, read the 1st 12 chapters of the code and

[16:24] it's all he. And then all of a sudden in Chapter 13,

[16:26] which is where the first change is taking place,

[16:28] is all of a sudden now you get a shift to.

[16:30] Gender neutral.

[16:31] So it was drafted intentionally to be consistent with the code.

[16:35] The code recognizes its shortfallings you know its shortcomings.

[16:40] It acknowledges that the code and the Charter don't use gender neutral language

[16:45] and I I think that addressing that holistically is something that I would

[16:49] like to see this Council do in in the future. And if we want to, to make.

[16:54] A.

[16:54] A change to the language that's.

[16:56] That's being considered here this evening. The staff is happy to take it back and

[16:59] change that.

[17:01] OK.

[17:02] But when we had the opportunity to do that when that first draft came out,

[17:07] that was not done.

[17:09] I did not receive any direction from this Council to make that change at the end of

[17:13] the August 25th meeting.

[17:14] OK. And that is very telling.

[17:17] Separate from changing who presides over council meetings,

[17:20] what documented governmental or operational problems has resulted from

[17:23] the mayor having charter authority to call a special meeting.

[17:29] Is that a question for me, Madam?

[17:31] I don't know that I have an answer for that. I don't have a response to that, OK.

[17:34] So this has changed.

[17:36] This this is being changed so nothing. So you can state that there's been

[17:41] nothing operational that a mayor calling, removing the duty official meeting

[17:48] because that is being proposed tonight where the mayor had that.

[17:54] Right. Or Charter given right and that this is

[17:57] being true?

[17:58] To your knowledge, this has never been.

[18:03] I think what's being proposed for consideration this evening is is shifting

[18:08] that responsibility to a presiding officer.

[18:13] So I think it's more of a nomenclature change than it would be in have an

[18:17] operational impact. I I'd I'd be, I think you'd be a stretch to see that

[18:21] there would be an operational impact. OK. So Council gave you direction on the

[18:25] journey and the Council gave.

[18:27] You direction to preside I mean to proceed with the removing of the powers

[18:33] and duties of the mayor. Correct? Correct.

[18:38] All right, before presenting the Charter amendment,

[18:41] removing these existing authorities from the Office of the mayor,

[18:46] did you look at any other alternatives?

[18:50] Meaning I know that it was directed.

[18:53] Council directed this.

[18:54] Did you do an independent analysis of any alternatives before characterizing this

[19:00] package as advancing good governance?

[19:02] Or did staff implement the majorities request which you have said before?

[19:07] But was there any other conversation saying?

[19:11] Have you looked at AB and C When this was presented to you by Council member?

[19:16] Sure, I I've done extensive research, in fact,

[19:19] of the last summer conference in MML, I sat in on.

[19:23] I don't remember the name of the class, but there was a robust conversation about

[19:27] charters and and structure of government.

[19:28] I think it was called and and that was right around the time where I was really

[19:33] into the the heavy lift of editing this.

[19:36] So I did have sidebar conversation with the two attorneys that presented that

[19:41] class.

[19:43] And thought about it if if that's what you're asking.

[19:45] I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, but I.

[19:46] But but I guess my my drafting of this document was informed by the direction

[19:51] that I received from the Council.

[19:54] And then, like anything that I draft for Council's

[19:57] consideration, I try to do my due diligence.

[19:59] I look across the state.

[20:00] I look across my own experience and I try to bring forward language that.

[20:06] That meets the intent of counsel first and foremost,

[20:09] and and do so in a way that's going to benefit our community at large.

[20:13] I tried to do that here OK.

[20:16] So your fiscal impact statement says there's no new expenditure associated

[20:20] with this package yet this process requires a public hearing newspaper

[20:25] advertising four times legal review staff, staff preparation and administrative time.

[20:30] What is the estimated total cost of the town of processing this charter amendment?

[20:36] We would have to calculate that for you.

[20:37] I don't have that number. OK. So it's a little misleading to say that

[20:42] there is no fiscal impact.

[20:44] I'm sure that we have some line items on there,

[20:48] but to say that there's no fiscal impact, a reasonable person would think that this

[20:55] is not free.

[20:57] I mean that this is not free and and the the fiscal impact.

[21:01] Section doesn't say there's no fiscal impact,

[21:03] it just says that there's no budget appropriation to expenditure or new

[21:06] revenue.

[21:07] Associated with the legislative and that no grant funding is involved there.

[21:10] There's certainly costs all the costs that you just stated that that would be

[21:14] associated with this and we can calculate that cost if if Council desires, OK.

[21:18] But someone reading that that is not clear.

[21:22] It would.

[21:23] Unless they know how a public hearing works,

[21:26] because the way it was worded sounds like there's no impact on the budget.

[21:33] I do have a question for Mr. Pounds.

[21:45] Good evening. For the record, Todd Pounds, representing the town of Will play.

[21:49] So I spent quite a bit of time reviewing this as I'm sure you have too.

[21:55] So for the public record, can you identify each existing?

[22:03] Power Authority or express protection of the Office of the mayor that will be

[22:08] removed, transferred or altered. If this complete governance package is

[22:13] adopted.

[22:15] I think the basically the ordinances and all these documents speak for themselves

[22:20] as to what the new positions of the Council, you know, will take.

[22:24] And all the representation and the authority of the Council and how it will

[22:29] be enacted for future meetings. And I know they're all in the legislation.

[22:34] But I'm asking you, as the town attorney, to explain its legal effect.

[22:38] What authority or express protection does the office of mayor have today that it

[22:43] will no longer have once this legislation takes effect?

[22:48] Basically, there will be a new individual who's

[22:50] elected by the Council, who will in essence preside over the

[22:54] Council meetings and really that is it's as simple as that.

[22:59] OK.

[23:01] Coordinates 26-19 deletes the existing provision,

[23:04] expressly stating that the mayor may take part in all discussion and vote on all

[23:09] issues coming before Council.

[23:11] What provision in the proposed governance package replaces or preserves that

[23:16] express language, the power of the mayor will not change at

[23:19] all other than the presiding over this Council meeting.

[23:22] Yet that is deleted in the Charter.

[23:25] It's still.

[23:26] It's not deleted, it's amended.

[23:31] It is, well, the ordinance 2619 deletes it.

[23:35] It removes it that that, that that will be amended,

[23:38] but all the powers of the mayor will remain the same,

[23:42] except for how this meeting is presided over. OK. I'll come back to that one.

[23:53] All right. So if I just heard you right.

[23:58] Your legal opinion after this package, if this package is if this package of

[24:03] resolutions and ordinances are adopted, the mayor retains the same right as every

[24:08] other Council Member to make motion.

[24:10] 2nd motions participate fully in debate, raise points of order and vote on every

[24:16] matter legally, even though it has been in Ordinance 26

[24:20] dash, 19 deleted.

[24:21] The mayor will retain all those powers.

[24:23] That is correct.

[24:24] OK 'cause, I can tell you if for some reason the

[24:27] office and mayor doesn't, I'll be the first one saying this is

[24:31] wrong and it doesn't.

[24:34] OK. All right.

[24:36] Right now, does does Council have any other

[24:39] questions for the town manager right now?

[24:43] All right, Madam Clerk, have you received any additional written

[24:46] statements to be included in the record?

[24:50] No, Madam mayor. No written statements have been received

[24:54] for the public hearing.

[24:55] All right.

[24:56] Thank you very much.

[24:57] We will now proceed to public comment. I have had several people sign up and

[25:03] Renata Rhodes, if you would like to come down,

[25:07] we ask that if you are speaking, if you state your name,

[25:11] whether you live within the incorporated town limits and please limit your

[25:17] comments to.

[25:18] 3 minutes.

[25:18] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[25:19] Good evening, Madam Mayor and Councilman.

[25:21] My name is Renata Rhodes, and I do, in fact.

[25:24] With my husband.

[25:25] Reside in laplata.

[25:27] I have attended Council meetings for years long enough to see councils come

[25:32] and go.

[25:32] I understand that every new Council needs time to learn one another's working

[25:36] styles and to build trust.

[25:38] I said that early on and I meant it, but I must express my concerns about the

[25:43] out ongoing lack of decorum, respect and professionalism that has

[25:48] become increasingly visible.

[25:51] The infighting is not only unproductive, it reflects poorly on our town.

[25:55] Councilman McCormack during the last meeting you asked, can we do this?

[25:59] Yes, we can.

[26:01] But when you said we, the residents of La Plata,

[26:04] were not included in that, we you asked should we do this again the

[26:09] we should include the people who live here, pay taxes here,

[26:13] have raised families here.

[26:15] Take care and care deeply about the future of our town.

[26:19] You also stated that you are accountable to the Council.

[26:22] I would respectfully add that you are accountable.

[26:25] To the residents as well, any charter amendments of this manic

[26:29] magnitude should be decided by the voters during an election,

[26:33] not solely by the Council. Councilman Johnson,

[26:37] it is clear that you are very passionate and you take your role very seriously.

[26:44] As well as your responsibilities. However, it it did surprise me that the reason for

[26:49] you bringing this ordinance and charter amendments.

[26:53] Forward was personal.

[26:56] I'd like to pose a hypothetical question to you. If you were the mayor,

[26:59] would you still be bringing these amendments forward?

[27:03] It was mentioned that for 64 years, 15 councils and seven mayors,

[27:07] this organizational structure has remained in place that history matters.

[27:13] This moment is not about personal personality conflicts.

[27:16] It's about precedent.

[27:18] What you decide today will shape the future of laplata long after all of you

[27:22] have left office.

[27:23] Every one of us has worked with someone who we didn't always agree with,

[27:28] but those situations being challenging, they offer an opportunity for growth,

[27:32] collaboration and maturity. As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.

[27:37] Councilman Johnson.

[27:38] I respectfully petition you to withdraw this ordinance and charter amendments.

[27:43] Major structural changes should come from community consensus,

[27:47] not from 1 councilman's personal motivation.

[27:50] I believe in the inclusion of town residents.

[27:52] I believe their voices should guide the decisions of this of this magnitude,

[27:56] and I believe La Plata deserves leadership that models unity,

[28:00] professionalism and respect.

[28:02] Thank you for your time.

[28:06] Thank you very much.

[28:09] Maggie.

[28:18] Hi Maggie larik.

[28:19] And yes, I am a resident of the town of Laplata.

[28:23] Good evening, gentlemen.

[28:24] I opposed the Charter amendment at the June 9th,

[28:28] 2026 meeting of the town Council and agenda item appeared titled Quote Charter

[28:33] Amendment creation of council officers president and vice President.

[28:38] UN quote it reads in part. Quote ensures that the Council work

[28:42] proceeds efficiently and effectively.

[28:46] UN quote.

[28:46] This would imply that the current structure of the town government is

[28:51] neither efficient nor effective.

[28:53] So I took a look at some of the things that had happened over the last year and

[28:59] put together a list of what this ineffective inefficient Council has been

[29:06] able to accomplish.

[29:09] You revised the town charter language to make it clear that the mayor and cannot

[29:13] be the mayor and the town manager at the same time.

[29:16] You remove the town attorney who gave the legal opinion that the previous town

[29:20] council's appointment of the mayor as town manager was appropriate.

[29:24] You approved the hiring of the current town attorney.

[29:27] You created an adopted an adequate public facilities ordinance.

[29:30] You approved the transition of the La Plata Police Department pension plan to

[29:35] the law enforcement Officers pension plan approved and oversaw the enhancements of

[29:39] the will of Wills Park to make it a safe environment in which the children of La

[29:44] Plata might play.

[29:45] And you introduced public works retirement enhancements for retiring

[29:49] public employees.

[29:50] So much for inefficient and ineffective counsel.

[29:53] There is no doubt that members of the Council don't approve of the way that

[29:58] Mayor James does her job.

[29:59] That really doesn't matter.

[30:02] She works for the citizens of the town of La Plata,

[30:06] who elected her as mayor with the duties and responsibilities assigned to her by

[30:11] the town charter. At the time she was elected.

[30:14] It is the citizens of La Plata who determine her job performance rating if

[30:20] her job report performance was not acceptable,

[30:24] she would not have been reelected twice.

[30:29] All of you as well as I have worked in the private sector.

[30:32] I suspect that we have all had fellow employees with whom we've had issues.

[30:36] If you haven't, you will. If the issue gets disruptive enough so

[30:39] that they interfere with the work that needs to be done,

[30:42] all parties involved will be sent to seminars on conflict resolution.

[30:47] If you've already attended conflict resolution education,

[30:51] I suggest you get out those notes.

[30:53] Refresh your memories and apply those principles of conflict resolution to the

[30:58] relationships in this Chamber. If you haven't had any education

[31:02] regarding regarding conflict resolution, go sign up online for a conflict

[31:07] resolution course. And if the most egregious.

[31:12] Problem that you have is how the mayor conducts a meeting.

[31:16] Then hire a professional parliamentarian who can run that part of the meeting that

[31:23] deals with motions.

[31:26] Thank you very much.

[31:29] Miss Ann Lewis.

[31:45] Good evening, mayor, and the council members.

[31:48] I am here tonight because I am deeply concerned changing the structure and

[31:52] balance of laplitis government during the current Council's term.

[31:57] I do not support moving to a Charter Mayor Council form of government or

[32:02] making significant changes to the rules and authority of our elected officials in

[32:08] the middle of a term.

[32:10] You were elected by the people of Laplata under our existing charter.

[32:14] And our existing form of government, I believe the voters should be the ones

[32:19] to decide whether that system should change or if it does,

[32:23] that change should take place effect with the next elected Council.

[32:28] This is not about one individual.

[32:31] It's about respecting the voters and and the process by which the Council was

[32:37] elected.

[32:38] I am also very concerned about the personal disagreements and infighting

[32:43] that have taken place within this Council. Whatever difference you may have,

[32:48] the residents deserve better.

[32:51] We need our elected officials focus on improving laplata and serving the people,

[32:56] not fighting among themselves.

[32:58] We're changing the structure of government during the current term.

[33:03] I respectfully ask that you put past these personal differences aside.

[33:08] Concentrate on the business of our town and allow the residents sufficient time

[33:14] to understand and commit on any proposed changes. For that reason,

[33:19] I request that the public record remain open for at least 30 days.

[33:25] So residents have a fair opportunity and I express that.

[33:28] 30 days.

[33:31] Submit their comments.

[33:32] I hope this Council will listen to the people who elected you and that will be

[33:38] coming up soon, the next election, La Plata belongs to its residents and

[33:43] their voices should come first. Thank you.

[33:51] Miss Robin spray.

[34:03] Five of you 2.

[34:06] Thank you.

[34:10] I didn't know if they wanted to relocate, but it's OK.

[34:14] You got it. Thank you.

[34:15] Hi, I'm Robin Sprague and I live in the town

[34:17] of El Peda.

[34:18] I've been here for more than 1/2 decade anyhow.

[34:22] Good evening, mayor.

[34:23] Council members, thank you for this time.

[34:26] I'm here tonight to express my serious concerns regarding the proposal to change

[34:29] the structure and form of government of the town of Valada during the current

[34:32] Council's term of office. I want to be very clear that I am not in

[34:35] favor of changing lopeza to a char.

[34:37] Mayor Council form of government during this current term.

[34:39] The members of this Council were elected by the residents of Laplato under the

[34:43] town's existing charter and under the governmental structure that was in place

[34:46] when the election took place.

[34:47] That's very important.

[34:48] That's how you all got elected by what was in place at the time.

[34:51] The voters understood the system under which they were electing their

[34:54] representatives. At that time, changing the structure, authority,

[34:57] or roles of that government in the middle of the term raises a fundamental question

[35:00] of Fair.

[35:01] And democratic process if the residents ultimately determined that Laplata should

[35:04] have a different form of government, then that change should be presented to

[35:07] the people.

[35:08] Through the appropriate process, and, if adopted,

[35:10] should take effect with the next elected Council.

[35:12] The voters should have the opportunity to elect their representatives under the

[35:16] same governmental structure that those representatives will actually serve under.

[35:20] So you can't do that old bait and switch thing.

[35:22] That's what that means. I'm also deeply concerned about the level

[35:24] of personal conflict and disagreement that has developed within this Council.

[35:28] Pretty disappointed actually.

[35:30] We'll side note, as was publicly stated by Councilman

[35:33] Johnson on August 25th, 2026.

[35:35] Thank you for your service to, by the way, this matter has become personal.

[35:39] So when disagreements among elected officials become personal,

[35:42] the residents of Laplata are the ones who ultimately suffer.

[35:44] Our elected officials should be concentrating their time and energy on

[35:47] improving the town, addressing the concerns of the residents,

[35:50] maintaining our community and moving laplata forward.

[35:52] Continued in fighting does not accomplish this at all.

[35:55] Whatever disagreements exist among council members should be handled

[35:58] professionally and respectfully. The res.

[35:59] Deserve a Council that is focused on governing,

[36:01] not on internal disputes or changing the rules of government.

[36:04] In the middle of a term for which they were elected,

[36:07] I believe that any substantial change to the platform of government deserves

[36:10] careful consideration, transparency, meaningful public discussion,

[36:14] and adequate opportunity for residents to understand exactly what is being proposed

[36:17] and how it would affect their elected government so.

[36:20] By saying, I think this or I think that or at my

[36:22] understanding that's not black and white and that's not signed and sealed.

[36:25] So they need to know exactly what they're being fed.

[36:29] So for that reason, I respectfully request that the public

[36:31] record remain open for at least 30 days.

[36:33] No less so that residents have adequate time to review the proposed changes,

[36:36] discussing with their families and neighbors,

[36:38] seek answers to their questions, and submit written comments for the

[36:41] official record.

[36:42] 30 days is a reasonable amount of time for a matter of this significance.

[36:46] Finally, I want to make clear that I am not here

[36:48] tonight to attack any individual Council member.

[36:49] I am here as a resident who believes that the structure of our local government is

[36:53] a matter that belongs ultimately to the people of the Plato.

[36:55] If the Council continues to pursue significant changes to the form of

[36:58] government during the current term, I will consider exercising the rights.

[37:01] Available to me as a resident.

[37:03] Including pursuing a petition concerning the continued service of the current

[37:06] Council, consistent with whatever procedures and

[37:09] requirements are established by the town charter and applicable Maryland law.

[37:13] I sincerely hope that this will not become necessary.

[37:15] I hope instead that this Council will step back,

[37:17] put aside personal disagreements, focus on the business of the town and

[37:21] allow the residents to have a meaningful voice in any discussion that would

[37:24] fundamentally change the government.

[37:26] They elected.

[37:27] The plate belongs to the residents.

[37:28] Their votes should come first, and just one final off the cuff note.

[37:31] I've already raised six children.

[37:33] Children, I don't need to raise six more.

[37:36] Thank you, darling.

[37:39] I'm doing.

[37:45] Tom James, resident of Laplata since 2001 for about

[37:49] 25 years.

[37:49] Members of the town council. I'm going to use my 3 minutes to say

[37:53] something that I believe needs to be said plainly.

[37:56] I've sat in the back of this room for the vast majority of Council meetings since

[38:00] you've been voted in.

[38:03] Laplata deserves better than what we have witnessed from this Council over the past

[38:07] year.

[38:08] I'm not talking about one disagreement, one vote, or one personality conflict.

[38:12] I'm talking about a pattern of government.

[38:15] That has become increasingly consumed with disputes between elected officials,

[38:20] questions about authority, censures, procedures, legal arguments, invitations,

[38:24] and fighting with one another. While the people of La Plata are sitting

[38:29] here watching it happen.

[38:30] Shame on you, and let's be clear, these aren't rumors.

[38:35] Councilman Guttenberg, McCormick, Sampson and Johnson,

[38:39] you were newly elected in May of 2025 last year.

[38:42] And what have the people of seen since that?

[38:46] Infighting, procedural disputes, accusations,

[38:49] legal maneuvering and now a Council majority censoring the mayor.

[38:53] On August 18th Councilman Gutenberg, McCormick,

[38:56] Johnson and Sampson voted together to censure the mayor.

[39:01] Gutenberg introduced the resolution.

[39:03] McCormick sentenced it.

[39:06] The mayor was the only vote against it.

[39:08] And for what?

[39:08] All because the mayor RSVP to an invitation that was sent to her

[39:12] personally and named on it personally.

[39:15] What? Where your pathetic little feelings hurt

[39:18] that you weren't invited to?

[39:20] Too bad if you wanted to be the mayor, why didn't you run for it?

[39:25] And here's my question.

[39:26] When did governing governing laplata become primarily about governing each

[39:31] other?

[39:32] Because I don't remember electing 4 councilmen and I voted for every one of

[39:36] you.

[39:36] I won again and I will actively work against.

[39:40] Your re running or reelection.

[39:43] Since when? And I don't remember electing poor

[39:45] Councilman to spend their time settling political scores.

[39:49] I went to your campaign events where you talked about working for the town's

[39:53] people, about transparency and about growth

[39:56] issues.

[39:57] All excellent.

[39:58] I don't remember voting for endless arguments over who said what,

[40:02] who had what authority, who sent which e-mail,

[40:05] who violated which procedure, and who deserves to be censored.

[40:08] I elected and the residents of Laplata elected people to solve problems.

[40:13] Fix infrastructure, manage growth. Everyone of you talked about that protect

[40:18] our neighborhoods maintain our roads.

[40:20] Make sure our water and sewer systems can support development.

[40:24] Spend taxpayer money responsibly and provide competent transparent government.

[40:29] That's your job, and I especially want to address

[40:32] Councilman Johnson and McCormick Council Johnson.

[40:35] Councilman Johnson, per information found online town council

[40:39] minutes and via local news sources. Your own FOIA request sought to review

[40:43] and condemn the previous Council's vote and the circumstances surrounding a

[40:47] stipend. Transparency is important.

[40:49] Accountability is important, but transparency cannot simply be

[40:53] something we demand from the people we disagree with.

[40:56] It has to be the standard we apply to ourselves as well,

[40:59] and at that recent Council meeting you said on the record that this is personal

[41:04] against the mayor.

[41:05] You've also said several times that the mayor is incompetent.

[41:07] You couldn't take her class and that she lacks good judgment.

[41:11] And what do your actions in fighting on the about you?

[41:14] You're contentious, angry and your words are chosen for

[41:17] maximum personal effect.

[41:19] How does that help the town of La Plata? Thank you very much.

[41:27] All right, that those are all the speakers that have

[41:31] signed up.

[41:32] So does town council have any other questions to the town manager?

[41:41] Councillor Greenberg, do you have a? Yeah. OK, so.

[41:45] Not necessarily for the town manager, but you know something that was called

[41:49] out as a particular criticism.

[41:51] I'm interested in the Maryland State code that you referenced, Madam Mayor,

[41:55] and I'm just wondering, in the nine years that you've been in

[41:59] office, you never pursued that?

[42:01] And I'm. I'm just wondering why why that would

[42:05] also be?

[42:06] That's very easy 'cause you never amended the Charter?

[42:10] So there was not a reason to amend that.

[42:15] He to a gender non gender specific pronoun.

[42:21] So we did not go in.

[42:23] We had one.

[42:25] I believe we added something to the Charter,

[42:28] but we did not holistically because we did not want to waste the takespayors

[42:33] money to have a public hearing. To do that,

[42:36] we have said from the first day when you all changed the the 1st amendment.

[42:41] Charter.

[42:44] Public hearing back in May or June, whenever that was,

[42:47] maybe it was July that we need to holistically change that yet again.

[42:51] That was not done because it was.

[42:54] How can we get?

[42:55] How can we attack the mayor and and get rid of her duties?

[42:59] So this was very easy to do.

[43:02] Very easy, and it was brought up and I believe it

[43:05] was probably an oversight to begin with just by the reaction when I called out.

[43:11] But yet it wasn't done.

[43:13] Yeah, I mean, so I, I my memory of of the discussions we had

[43:19] around it.

[43:21] Were that there was a considerable amount of effort that would would have to go

[43:26] into it and it was something we would have to prioritize.

[43:29] And so I suspect that over the years that you have have been mayor that that wasn't

[43:34] a thing that rose to the level.

[43:35] To do you know all all at once, and I think that that was the discussion

[43:39] whenever the previous Charter amendments that we did.

[43:43] And the one that we're discussing tonight was that that was a broader scope kind of

[43:50] thing to address.

[43:51] And so, you know, because of the provisions that are there

[43:55] and in place that are very common, by the way,

[43:58] our Charter having that section C18 and the other sections that were referenced

[44:04] in Code 1.9 B2, those are those are very common in, in.

[44:08] Charters of this vintage.

[44:10] And so, you know, I continue to agree that.

[44:14] That, you know, we can make that larger change.

[44:17] I I fully support that, but I think linking the that Maryland

[44:22] Statute to some broader gender based decision here is is is not not

[44:28] appropriate, not really supportable.

[44:32] In the context of of what we're doing, you're missing the nuance here you are

[44:38] stripping.

[44:40] The powers and duties of a female mayor.

[44:44] The only one the count of La Plata has ever had.

[44:48] And all that had to have been done instead of saying.

[44:52] He it could have been the Council chair. Yet that wasn't done.

[44:58] And so to a reasonable person, when you are looking at this change and

[45:05] agenda, it precludes a woman from ever being able

[45:09] to serve as a Council chair just by.

[45:14] Not the rest of the Charter. We're not talking the rest of the Charter,

[45:19] the actual area where Councilman Johnson wanted to change.

[45:23] Oh, a 2 letter word could have been the

[45:27] Council chair, but I find it very interesting and I'm

[45:32] sure the public does too, that stripping a female mayor of.

[45:39] The right for her to preside over this, as per the Charter.

[45:43] It stays heat, Matt, so it's OK.

[45:47] But respectfully, Madam Mayor, the the you know,

[45:50] we've had this discussion on previous night and.

[45:54] What? What you just stated that the this

[45:56] language precludes any female from ever being the presiding officer is simply not

[46:01] true.

[46:02] And it is it.

[46:03] Is it is just not the case and it's meant to be inflammatory and it's unfortunate.

[46:09] The the, the, the the point that is being missed I.

[46:12] I would say by you is that in doing this in the relationship to governance and how

[46:20] a body works, it is very, very common to have a governing body of

[46:27] five that have to work together and and and move through actions and decisions.

[46:35] It is very common our Board of Education does it. Every year they elect.

[46:41] A.

[46:41] A presiding officer.

[46:42] Officer in one of the the ways that the utility of doing that is that within the

[46:49] group.

[46:52] If you're if once a year, you're going to decide who is going to be

[46:56] the presiding officer, that is a chance for the group to

[46:59] recalibrate on the performance of the person who is in the presiding officer

[47:04] role and deal with Council dynamics or board dynamics as a.

[47:07] Case may be in order to progress through issues.

[47:11] Now it was brought up by a member of the public that we have accomplished a lot.

[47:16] So what are you doing this for?

[47:18] But what?

[47:19] What I'll say is and and I don't want to get in in into a, you know,

[47:24] going down and like pulling out all kinds of examples. However,

[47:29] right when we have meetings.

[47:32] And Members are making points of order to be heard on a particular issue,

[47:37] whether it is something that the presiding officer.

[47:41] Not speaking about you, but just conceptually if it's something

[47:46] the presiding officer deals with, then that is that that needs to be dealt

[47:51] with in a consistent and fairway. And I think from observing our own

[47:55] meetings and participating in our own meetings, it can be argued that differe.

[48:01] Members of this Council have been received differently when pursuing their

[48:06] voice.

[48:07] Within this equal this Co equal five person body.

[48:11] And so the the and I'm not trying to change anyone's mind on this,

[48:17] but it it is the case that when I was elected, when we were all elected,

[48:23] that Laplata had a Manager Council form of government when we made.

[48:30] A change to the Charter.

[48:32] Last year, for specific reasons, we.

[48:38] Following that, we have a manager Council.

[48:41] Form of government following this charter amendment,

[48:44] if we choose to make it and if it proceeds through all of the periods of

[48:49] time that have to be gone through for a Charter amendment to become effective.

[48:53] The town of La Plata will still have a manager council form of government.

[49:00] The form and structure of the government has not changed if.

[49:06] There are people that have a different view of that. I can accept that.

[49:11] I can accept that.

[49:12] But, but even if 100 people walked in here and

[49:16] said that, that's not true, I can read and I have looked at our

[49:21] Charter and it is the same.

[49:23] It it is a manager.

[49:26] Council form of government.

[49:28] It was when I was elected.

[49:28] It is now the dynamic of the presiding officer is to allow the debate and and

[49:34] the discussions and the actions that have to happen to happen in a way.

[49:40] That allows whether you agree with another person or not.

[49:45] To have those voices heard, because the decisions that we make as we

[49:49] move forward on everything we do, that we sit up here,

[49:53] whether we're sitting here Planning Commission meetings,

[49:56] Historic Preservation Commission meetings, we make the best choice when everybody in

[50:01] the meeting has an opportunity to be.

[50:03] Heard and chooses to participate when a presiding officer and I've seen it not

[50:07] just on the Council, but I have seen it in other boards and

[50:10] commissions.

[50:11] That I've served on in the town.

[50:14] Where in my opinion I can see people sort of shut down a little bit if a presiding

[50:19] officer is not being inclusive in managing their own views of how the

[50:24] meeting should go and and it's look, it's hard. I've I've,

[50:28] I've done it for one meeting I had.

[50:30] To do it myself and and it is, it is.

[50:32] It is hard orchestrating all of this.

[50:34] It is a challenge, but a tool that we have.

[50:39] For.

[50:41] Managing.

[50:41] How we traverse these meetings is what we're talking about tonight and it is not

[50:46] uncommon.

[50:47] It is not extreme and it and it is.

[50:50] It is not changing the form of government to consider the reforms that we're making

[50:55] here, and I don't believe at the end of the day

[50:58] it's going to change the way the town functions and I and I do respect the

[51:03] folks that came up and and spoke in.

[51:05] Particular in public, I know that is.

[51:09] That that, that is difficult, but I would just.

[51:11] Say I respectfully disagree on on those points.

[51:15] I2 questions for you.

[51:16] How long have you lived here?

[51:20] Can can we ask why?

[51:21] Why is the?

[51:24] You've lived here 20 some odd years, correct? Correct. OK.

[51:27] So you were a citizen here?

[51:28] Yes. And before you ran.

[51:30] So it wasn't like you were here a year, you understand?

[51:34] Laplata and I hear your point about.

[51:39] Other municipal well, you didn't say municipality.

[51:41] Other boards run it so that they have a presiding officer that is elected by the

[51:47] board. If this was so important to you.

[51:49] As a citizen before you got elected, why didn't you bring it up to the

[51:53] previous Council and say you'd like to see that on the election ballot?

[51:58] It was only until it became personal, not not personal.

[52:05] That this came up, Madam Mayor. It's driving the personal as stated on

[52:09] August 25th that he said it was personal.

[52:11] I'm sorry, Madam Mayor.

[52:12] Madam Mayor, point.

[52:14] Well, wait.

[52:14] Now point to point of personal privilege.

[52:16] Right, following some of your examples, but when you're.

[52:20] Are putting motive on me that I have not stated,

[52:23] and so that's what's inappropriate about the way you're carrying this out right

[52:28] now? Not motive at all.

[52:30] It is fact you, as a citizen, do not bring this up.

[52:33] If this was so important, you just said all the, you know,

[52:36] a number of you, you are still, you are assuming decorum.

[52:39] Please I have the floor.

[52:43] It says that you had said that this is the way many commissions committees and

[52:49] boards run that they elect their presiding officer. Did you not?

[52:57] Yes or no, I I just wanna make sure that I'm

[52:59] capturing it correctly, Madam Mayor.

[53:00] I am not going to go back and forth where you're gonna lead me by the nose to some

[53:05] conclusion you wanna draw.

[53:07] I'm not. I mean second question, that is fine.

[53:11] So since 2017, I've served as mayor and presiding

[53:15] officer.

[53:16] The town council has adopted 162 ordinances, 333 resolutions,

[53:21] in addition to annual budgets and other official actions.

[53:27] Given that legislative record, Councilman Goodenberg,

[53:30] can you identify any legislation that ultimately failed to receive

[53:34] consideration or a vote specifically because of my performance as Presiding

[53:39] officer?

[53:44] I.

[53:44] I actually don't like that.

[53:45] You asked me this question, but I'll I'll answer it because you asked

[53:48] so.

[53:53] You know.

[53:56] April 22nd of 2025 was the night that the previous Council that you presided over.

[54:05] Reviewed the Stagecoach amendment to the development agreement.

[54:12] The reason I go and look at things like that during my time on the Planning

[54:17] Commission is is because I'm trying to trace through a lot of decisions that

[54:22] have been made and how those have impacted the town and what we should be

[54:27] doing to change ordinances and.

[54:29] Governance in a way that makes development and and growth in La Plata

[54:33] happen in a way that is managed better than the results we've received.

[54:38] The results we've received has put us.

[54:41] In a position where we are having very detailed, comprehensive discussions about.

[54:48] Water conservation and the the things that will have to be done to limit

[54:54] individual businesses and individual residents. When we do this,

[54:59] it is going to affect everybody and the reason why we're here is because previous

[55:05] Councils have passed things related to gross that have not been.

[55:10] The town has not been able to keep pet pace with and and that's why we are

[55:16] having these issues with the way our infrastructure is prepared to handle

[55:21] growth. Now let me bring it back to the Presiding

[55:24] Officer piece. So that meeting that night was

[55:27] exceptionally contentious and.

[55:29] The Council members that I watched were not happy about the way it was brought to

[55:35] them in a rushed way.

[55:38] And the way that they were being told that the lawyer says they have to do it.

[55:42] That that was what I witnessed.

[55:45] Now the interesting thing about that meeting is at that time you were the CEO

[55:49] and town manager of La Plata, including being the elected mayor.

[55:53] You were also the town manager.

[55:57] If you look at code and this is where there's,

[56:00] This is why I say there's there's a misunderstanding of roles of government

[56:04] and it's not with four members of the Council.

[56:07] There's one that's having a problem with this. And let me give you this example.

[56:12] So that particular night, it's very interesting that out of all the

[56:17] Council meetings in that four year period, every one of them is published to YouTube,

[56:23] except for that one.

[56:26] That's just an interesting side note, but let me move on from that because when

[56:31] I looked at that that night, that night's agenda packet and I'm

[56:35] reading the amendment to stagecoach's agreement and I'm going somewhere with

[56:40] this it what was presented to staff was a document with.

[56:44] All the things in it and and and I'll I'll skip my my assessment of that

[56:47] document because the reason why I went there is because I have real concerns

[56:50] about.

[56:51] The judgment that was used in the preparation of that document and use the

[56:54] town's CEO.

[56:56] Signed for that and when it was presented to council,

[57:00] it was presented by you as the Presiding officer and the CEO of the town of La

[57:05] Plata.

[57:06] Well, because I'm an inquisitive guy, I decided to go well.

[57:09] This is the draft version, but it's not signed.

[57:12] It's just a draft.

[57:13] Where can I see the signed version?

[57:15] So I'm poking around looking for it.

[57:16] I don't find it anywhere.

[57:17] Well, the easier place to go get it is the

[57:20] County Courthouse.

[57:20] So I go pull that down.

[57:22] So on April 29th, I'm saying these dates because.

[57:25] Go look him up yourself.

[57:27] I'm not.

[57:28] I'm not.

[57:28] I'm not pulling this out of my hat.

[57:30] You asked, but so I go pull that down.

[57:33] It's signed not by Janine James, the CEO of the town of La Plata.

[57:39] It's signed by Janine James, now changed to the acting town manager.

[57:44] That's a role that is specifically limited to people who are serving on the

[57:50] Council. And you, you cannot have that role by Charter.

[57:55] Until you, there's a year between when you can and

[58:00] cannot do that, and so that to me shows a lack of

[58:04] judgment in the way roles are executed.

[58:09] With you in particular related to your role on the Council,

[58:14] and I think that to me what we have needed is a cleaning up of those kinds of

[58:20] conflicts because those limitations in our Charter.

[58:24] Again, I can't say this enough are so common.

[58:28] It is common go look at just randomly pick charters from municipalities in

[58:33] Maryland.

[58:34] Outside of Maryland, it is absolutely common practice to not

[58:38] have a town manager role be assigned to an elected official for reasons I won't

[58:44] go into here at length. But it is absolutely common practice and

[58:48] for a very good reasons, and that that that has been lost.

[58:53] On you in some cases and and so you you ask question,

[58:57] you ask what was what was not passed, what was the legislation.

[59:02] The problem isn't what was not passed. What I'm saying to you is the problem is

[59:07] what was passed and it was done in a way that if you go back and look at that

[59:12] meeting, those members of Council complained that

[59:15] they were being forced to make a rap.

[59:17] Decision on the last night of the of the Council.

[59:20] They didn't understand why it was being brought to them.

[59:23] They had questions that that about the the quality of of the actual agreement

[59:29] and the basic explanation they got was the lawyers, the lawyer, the lawyer,

[59:34] right. And So what my view is they did this is

[59:37] the problem and this is the problem of governance and I really.

[59:41] Need to say this because the problem with governance is.

[59:45] In a Council manager form of government is the decision making body.

[59:50] Asked to be participative, that everyone has to be included in the

[59:55] conversation and real concerns and questions have to be asked my opinion and

[1:00:00] I don't want to be sitting here criticizing past councils for votes,

[1:00:05] they said.

[1:00:07] But but but I am criticizing the method in which that went.

[1:00:10] So it's not a simple thing of saying how many things got passed by that measure.

[1:00:15] This Council is already passed more in in, in nine months than.

[1:00:19] Typically gets done in a year. That doesn't mean everything we did was

[1:00:23] good, right?

[1:00:24] I mean, it's not just a numbers game, it's the amount of participation and

[1:00:29] having everyone heard that gets the best result for the,

[1:00:32] for the residents of Laplata. OK, so again.

[1:00:37] Point I I can't even say.

[1:00:38] Point taken because you went round and round.

[1:00:41] You weren't at the meeting on April 22nd.

[1:00:43] There's not a oh, I was.

[1:00:45] I was not an elected member, but I was in the room.

[1:00:48] So you said you don't.

[1:00:51] Well, we're not even gonna go to that one. 'cause. That was a previous.

[1:00:55] Council. They did what they needed to do. They voted.

[1:00:59] They did not have specifically asked me in previous councils,

[1:01:03] so that's the answer.

[1:01:04] I gave you. It was passed.

[1:01:07] Did they have their own will?

[1:01:09] Yes, they had their own will.

[1:01:11] So we're not sure, but I'm not sure what you were trying to

[1:01:14] get at. But when you talk about good governance,

[1:01:17] right, when you talk about?

[1:01:20] Everybody makes mistakes.

[1:01:21] Am I mistake free?

[1:01:23] Oh no, I make mistakes.

[1:01:26] But you know, I'm gonna ask you.

[1:01:30] Open Meetings Compliance Board found that the council violated the Maryland Open

[1:01:34] Meetings Act on September 11th of last year. At that time,

[1:01:38] Council had designated one Council member for Open Meetings Act.

[1:01:41] You and I are both qualified to do that.

[1:01:44] We elected someone else who had, who had the training, hang on,

[1:01:48] who had the training, had the requirement. We responded to an actual documented

[1:01:53] governance failure by correcting our procedures.

[1:01:57] Because we fail to notify the public.

[1:02:01] Of a meeting that we held and that was a that was on our OMA representative should

[1:02:08] have caught that because they were duly elected to do that was on the town

[1:02:14] manager because that's not transparent.

[1:02:18] We had a whole meeting on that yet.

[1:02:22] There wasn't any punishment for that gas. Mm-hmm.

[1:02:26] Madam Mayor.

[1:02:28] That we we discussed that issue when we got the no.

[1:02:32] No, but but, but you're misrepresenting the the the

[1:02:35] conversation that happened that night.

[1:02:37] I believe so.

[1:02:40] We we have procedures in place.

[1:02:43] There was advertisements done, however they were not in accordance with

[1:02:49] the specifics of being submitted in our Civics plus portal. And so, you know.

[1:02:56] That there the the purpose of the of the Open Meetings Compliance Board,

[1:03:01] these are not criminal proceedings.

[1:03:04] The the when you read the findings and you read the literature that they put out,

[1:03:09] they are there to help governing bodies make the right choices and the right

[1:03:15] procedures in order to be as open as possible.

[1:03:18] We can in the function of the government. So.

[1:03:22] I.

[1:03:22] I don't understand the point you're trying to make other than I think.

[1:03:25] You're trying to point to, you know, to other members of the Council as as as

[1:03:31] being worthy of being criticized over something.

[1:03:34] No, I'm just pointing out that was a gap.

[1:03:38] That it was a mistake.

[1:03:39] It was an overlook. That's what the the board said that we

[1:03:43] were not transparent.

[1:03:44] It wasn't done intentionally yet.

[1:03:48] Nothing came down on the individual who is responsible for our OMA to make sure

[1:03:54] that we are with we elected.

[1:03:56] A member of our Council to make sure that we are held accountable.

[1:04:01] Am I incorrect with that? With the OMA that had a training?

[1:04:06] If you feel that's necessary and someone brought it to the OMA at the Open

[1:04:14] Meetings Compliance Board as a violation a citizen did,

[1:04:20] we were found that we violated that. It was said that we were not transparent.

[1:04:28] We did not give the.

[1:04:31] The members of the residents, an opportunity to know that we were

[1:04:35] meeting and five of us met.

[1:04:39] We acknowledge that we had to do certain things in place.

[1:04:42] We changed the procedure, yet the person in charge of that. What?

[1:04:47] What is it that didn't of his duty of an OMA representative.

[1:04:53] He was not.

[1:04:56] So I'm just.

[1:04:57] I'm just saying, yeah. Are you done?

[1:05:01] With what you have to say because I have some more questions.

[1:05:03] Go for it.

[1:05:04] Alright, Councilman McCormick, what objective standard are you applying

[1:05:09] to determine that? The current presiding officer has failed

[1:05:12] legislative productivity, completion of Council business.

[1:05:16] We just talked about that compliance with adopted procedures,

[1:05:20] meeting efficiency rulings overturned by Council or something else.

[1:05:24] What specifically?

[1:05:26] Is the standard.

[1:05:27] Yeah, I haven't gotten a chance to speak yet.

[1:05:29] So can I ask my questions to staff first?

[1:05:31] And when it's your turn, now we have a question on being asked.

[1:05:34] Alright, I respectfully refuse to answer. OK, so that.

[1:05:39] That says a lot.

[1:05:42] You have.

[1:05:42] I asked twice already if you had any questions.

[1:05:45] No, you. Well, you ask once, Madam Mayor. But if if I could point of order. I'm.

[1:05:49] I'm curious because.

[1:05:52] Normally we we everyone gets a chance to talk.

[1:05:54] So, so we, we, we've gone through everyone sort of went

[1:05:57] through that but but if now a member wants to be recognized to speak.

[1:06:01] They're not allowed to unless you're unless you're done with your questioning.

[1:06:04] No, that is not. If you could roll back the tape.

[1:06:08] I asked if anybody else has any questions and you were the only one.

[1:06:14] I went first first.

[1:06:16] All right, I'd like to officially appeal the ruling.

[1:06:21] That you're not allowing the other Members to speak and ask their questions

[1:06:24] to the to the staff.

[1:06:28] Childish game, OK?

[1:06:29] Councilman McCormick, you have the floor.

[1:06:32] Thank you, Mr. Stevens.

[1:06:34] I just wanna go through the the agenda item summary, if that's OK.

[1:06:36] Specifically the dates portion and while you're doing that,

[1:06:39] I want to thank everybody who came out and made comments.

[1:06:41] Even if you disagree with my assessment, it does mean a lot.

[1:06:44] I take the feedback very.

[1:06:45] Seriously, I don't think anybody can personally

[1:06:47] criticize me of that.

[1:06:48] I do take the the feedback seriously.

[1:06:50] So while Mr. Stevens is looking at those dates real

[1:06:53] quick.

[1:06:54] To kind of set the three questions, I'm gonna ask one was based off of

[1:06:57] feedback and really.

[1:06:58] The only feedback I heard from Mayor James that if true is legitimate and

[1:07:02] would cause me to to really look at this another way and to from the the public

[1:07:07] and the same thing there.

[1:07:08] So the first question, if you have the dates up, I do. OK, great.

[1:07:12] On November 10th, the town council is going to elect a

[1:07:14] presiding officer. Who of the five of us is eligible for

[1:07:18] that election.

[1:07:19] All five members of the elected council would OK.

[1:07:22] And the reason I ask that question that way, and if it's OK, just a nod for Mr.

[1:07:26] Pounds if you concur with that assessment.

[1:07:28] OK, I gotta I gotta nod is the feedback I

[1:07:30] heard from Mayor James and really the only criticism in her questioning to the

[1:07:35] town staff. There was that this language is written

[1:07:38] in a way that she cannot and is not eligible for that election.

[1:07:41] Well, we just heard it twice now that she

[1:07:43] clearly is. So really the only argument that you've

[1:07:46] had now. So in August, you had an argument that this was not

[1:07:49] legally able, right?

[1:07:50] And I asked the can we and should we?

[1:07:51] Questions we found out we clearly can, when he misrepresented 5 court cases.

[1:07:56] And now we're getting to the should we question?

[1:07:59] OK, so right there, Mayor James is clearly eligible to

[1:08:02] continue to be the presiding officer if this Council wills it,

[1:08:05] even on November 10th. After this all goes into effect and is

[1:08:08] placed so that entire concern is wiped out.

[1:08:10] Now there's two concerns I heard from the majority of the speakers out there,

[1:08:14] and again, I really want to say thank you for coming

[1:08:16] here.

[1:08:16] The first is we are changing the structure of the government and that's a

[1:08:19] power that should be led to the people.

[1:08:21] We've had this conversation three times on the record.

[1:08:23] I completely understand that municipal government is something that.

[1:08:28] Is tough to follow.

[1:08:30] I frankly would rather be with my family on Tuesday nights than sitting here,

[1:08:33] but it is a duty that we're called to do, right and somebody has to take on that

[1:08:37] vocation.

[1:08:38] I decided to do this in May, right?

[1:08:39] And you all trusted me for this, and I appreciate your trust.

[1:08:42] But we've had three legal conversations now about that exact question,

[1:08:46] and it is clear that this is not a structural change to the government.

[1:08:50] We remain.

[1:08:51] We currently are a Charter.

[1:08:54] Right and Council manager, government and even when this passes,

[1:08:56] we will continue.

[1:08:57] To remain that so the structure of government is not changing,

[1:09:01] which leads to kind of third concern I heard here.

[1:09:03] There's a power and duty that's being stripped from the mayor and given to

[1:09:07] somebody else that you'll no longer have. Well, you just heard Mr. Stevens and Mr.

[1:09:11] Pounds explain that the mayor can still run for this newly created presiding

[1:09:16] officer position, so she clearly can retain those powers.

[1:09:20] But again, this is this is good governance in that

[1:09:22] we'll finally have a presiding officer, in my opinion that is accountable to the

[1:09:26] Council.

[1:09:27] And again, it's very important to remember the

[1:09:29] distinction between the two.

[1:09:30] There was a comment stated that the Council should be accountable to the

[1:09:34] Council themselves and also the residents totally agree,

[1:09:37] but the presiding officer's unique position in that he or she presides over

[1:09:42] the Council themselves and in those meetings, right,

[1:09:45] just the way government is set up.

[1:09:47] And a representative democracy like we have here in La Plata,

[1:09:50] it's up to the five of us to come to those decisions together during that

[1:09:53] meeting and represent the 11, 000 residents of Laplata.

[1:09:56] But it's that presiding officer who has to remain accountable to the Council,

[1:10:00] and right now I would state, based off of the questions, the comments,

[1:10:04] the examples you have seen here tonight with a presiding officer who frankly just

[1:10:08] doesn't understand our current Rules of Procedure, is not doing.

[1:10:11] That in the best interest of laplata.

[1:10:13] So I get it.

[1:10:14] I truly do.

[1:10:15] There's personal relationships, there's there's charged feelings here

[1:10:18] when it comes to doing what's best for the people of laplata the way in which

[1:10:22] this document is written, the examples and the explanation I

[1:10:25] received from town staff, I am going to support this.

[1:10:28] Thank you.

[1:10:36] Yes, a few comments. Thank you.

[1:10:38] All right.

[1:10:38] Good evening everyone.

[1:10:39] Just to to clarify some things you know, I was the Council member that submitted

[1:10:44] the agenda item. I fully own that.

[1:10:48] There's been a conversation for at least since.

[1:10:50] Thank the end of May, early June.

[1:10:53] Was super important to stress.

[1:10:54] Is that currently?

[1:10:55] Today we are a Council manager form of government,

[1:10:58] which mean that the five of us enact legislation, policy, ordinances,

[1:11:03] laws if you want to call that and we choose the policy direction of town.

[1:11:09] The town manager, who's appointed by the council,

[1:11:12] works for the five members collectively, or as a majority,

[1:11:15] if you will he or the town manager, execute the vision and policy of Town

[1:11:20] council governance.

[1:11:21] So whatever that is, he go out and deliver the policy and act

[1:11:25] a policy whatever.

[1:11:26] He also lead town operations the the services that all of us receive daily

[1:11:30] that we probably don't think about police services.

[1:11:34] We know more about the trash that get picked up by these or Fridays and recycle,

[1:11:38] so that is what.

[1:11:39] The town operations is for none of your Council members.

[1:11:42] Go pick up trash.

[1:11:44] None of your Council member enforces laws and none of your Council members ensure

[1:11:48] that the wastewater treatment plant is in compliance other than legislation, right?

[1:11:53] So in terms of the structure of government, we are a Council manager,

[1:11:57] former government, which is very calming here in the country

[1:12:00] and it's becoming more and more common today as you see elect.

[1:12:04] Who run operations across the country usually shift that responsibility to a

[1:12:09] professional.

[1:12:11] That is usually accredited through some type of association as a credential

[1:12:15] manager.

[1:12:16] So we are a Council manager for government. We are.

[1:12:18] This proposal does not change how town, government operations and services being

[1:12:23] delivered will happen every day for our residents and businesses in town,

[1:12:28] this is strictly.

[1:12:30] Internal administrative action, if you will,

[1:12:32] if that's what you want to call it.

[1:12:34] The state law.

[1:12:35] Well, excuse me, state constitution allow municipalities

[1:12:38] to operate on the charter.

[1:12:40] A lot of them make charter changes for various reasons.

[1:12:42] If you look at that Charter, it's it's very broad.

[1:12:44] We can purchase property.

[1:12:46] We could take action to police the town.

[1:12:50] In terms of sidewalks, law enforcement, etc.

[1:12:53] And the code usually is the policy in a way in which the government would execute,

[1:12:56] you know, the Charter amendment.

[1:12:58] So we're not changing the structure of government.

[1:13:00] I heard that comment tonight is super important that that is really.

[1:13:04] The knot is tied that the structure government is not being changed.

[1:13:07] The services that's being delivered to you every day is not being changed.

[1:13:12] It's simply how the Council governs its itself.

[1:13:16] Those are my only comments.

[1:13:17] Thank you.

[1:13:18] All right. I have a couple more questions. Councilman McFarlane,

[1:13:21] based on the standards you have articulated tonight to the performance

[1:13:25] and conduct of an elected official.

[1:13:28] Will those exact same standards apply to the future Council chair and to every

[1:13:32] member of the Council, including you?

[1:13:34] Yes, moving forward, I future chair engages in the same

[1:13:39] conduct conduct that you have identified tonight as evidence of my failure to the

[1:13:45] same consequences.

[1:13:47] Follow, yeah, and you can.

[1:13:49] Actually quote my August statement during the central conversation when I said that

[1:13:52] exact thing I said. It's not a personal thing.

[1:13:54] Doesn't matter who's doing it, right?

[1:13:56] It's the fact that the action itself occurred,

[1:13:58] and I hope anybody who's sitting in Presiding Officer seat that were to make

[1:14:03] that type of action right would be talked about,

[1:14:05] and then a central vote or a performance review or a potential removal from that

[1:14:09] PO position would be.

[1:14:11] On the table.

[1:14:11] Yeah, it doesn't matter if it's you or anybody

[1:14:12] else.

[1:14:15] To Brent brought up the censure and you just said that you would apply,

[1:14:18] and I'm not going to put words in your mouth that you would apply the same

[1:14:23] standards, right?

[1:14:24] Shouldn't you have been censored for your egregious behavior against a town

[1:14:30] employee?

[1:14:31] But what did we do?

[1:14:33] We took it into closed session, reprimanded you there and the public was

[1:14:39] none the wiser.

[1:14:41] But for an e-mail that did not.

[1:14:44] Ask a question.

[1:14:46] It was an informative only.

[1:14:51] These four, you and three others decided.

[1:14:55] The proper form of punishment was a censure when.

[1:15:01] We gave you the courtesy of taking you into closed session and reprimanding you.

[1:15:07] That. Yeah, I think that's a good question.

[1:15:08] I have two answers to that.

[1:15:09] So the first is the censure common itself.

[1:15:12] Feel free to go ahead and put as an agenda item and I look forward to the

[1:15:16] rest of the Council discussing my behavior back when that issue occurred.

[1:15:20] The second thing that's important to remember is we had an independent

[1:15:23] investigator come through in a 50 decision stated that none of the things

[1:15:27] that I was charged with were true.

[1:15:30] Oh, no, no, no. Yes, yes, yes.

[1:15:31] That is not right and we can pull that.

[1:15:33] I'm gonna be putting it to the press now that you know,

[1:15:37] can I do a point of order real quick, please?

[1:15:40] You were not.

[1:15:41] I'm sorry, did you say point of order?

[1:15:42] Yes, Madam mayor. Yes, and accordance with our rules.

[1:15:45] Closed session matters should be treated confidential unless the Council decides

[1:15:49] that it could be. I mean, for both of you. Talk about it. Right.

[1:15:52] It involves it involves a staff member, which is highly inappropriate to be

[1:15:56] brought up in public session.

[1:15:58] However, there is a mechanism if Council wishes to

[1:16:00] have that conversation in public, it would be suspending the rules.

[1:16:05] But currently today any any matters in closed session should be treated

[1:16:08] confidential by our Members attended. She is already out there now.

[1:16:12] But and of course there are rules. That's thank you for that.

[1:16:15] And and there's nothing that I divulged.

[1:16:18] That would have violated the closed session.

[1:16:20] It was just. Why?

[1:16:21] Because it would have been a discipline, it would have been talking.

[1:16:25] I don't remember what the reason we went into closed session. The five O that is,

[1:16:31] that is no, no.

[1:16:32] You said I was reprimanded.

[1:16:33] So that yet.

[1:16:34] No, I was not.

[1:16:36] I'd be happy to provide those documents because we don't have the authority to

[1:16:42] reprimand you or spoken to, but I'm just showing that I am glad to

[1:16:47] see that moving forward you are going to adhere to treating.

[1:16:53] That Council chair, the same that you with the way that you

[1:16:57] have treated me, Councilman Johnson, it has been stated many,

[1:17:02] many times tonight that you stated last on August 21st.

[1:17:06] I mean 25th.

[1:17:07] Sorry that this is personal.

[1:17:10] You identified specific.

[1:17:13] Areas when it's point of order that I have failed in your eyes.

[1:17:20] What actual governmental harm resulted from any of those incidents that you

[1:17:25] could have not addressed it through existing Rules of Procedure,

[1:17:30] and why do those incident incidents justify a permanent change? Not only.

[1:17:37] Here and now, but for future mayors and how do you

[1:17:41] reconcile this governmental necessity you're asserting tonight with your prior

[1:17:47] public statement that.

[1:17:50] This is personal. Yeah. Thank you for the question.

[1:17:53] I did make the personal comment and then context is important.

[1:17:56] I came back and said the reason for his being personal.

[1:17:59] You know, obviously saying personal wasn't a the

[1:18:01] way it was said wasn't a good look.

[1:18:02] I fully own it, but it was personal and the way of of.

[1:18:07] Good governance and how we operate as a Council, right?

[1:18:09] So how we hold ourselves accountable?

[1:18:11] We have the the mechanism, rule, procedure that's that's not a public

[1:18:15] input document, right?

[1:18:17] That's how we hold each other accountable. Other than your other questions,

[1:18:21] I know I made my statement on the record, but to answer your question about

[1:18:24] personal 'cause, I think that's important.

[1:18:27] It needs to be addressed.

[1:18:28] That's that's to this to now answer that.

[1:18:30] I didn't hear what you said there.

[1:18:32] A stent that I will answer that question, OK and anybody can watch the August 25th

[1:18:38] meeting. And I think that emotions were high.

[1:18:41] But you leaned in and you went.

[1:18:43] This is personal.

[1:18:45] There was no other context in that, so it's very easy to see.

[1:18:49] But then sometimes when we do think about things we like to walk it back because it

[1:18:53] doesn't shine.

[1:18:54] It doesn't make us look really good, and that light's not shining on us there.

[1:19:01] Let me see if I have any other questions.

[1:19:03] That for the betterment of this, I do not, Mr. Stevens,

[1:19:07] do you have any further to add before we talk about concluding this public hearing

[1:19:13] staff has nothing further.

[1:19:15] Yeah, I'd. I'd still like to be recognized,

[1:19:16] Madam Mayor.

[1:19:17] I'm sorry I like to be recognized.

[1:19:21] Oh, OK.

[1:19:21] I moved on from there, but go ahead.

[1:19:23] Yeah. Well, you you don't look around.

[1:19:24] And that's again part of why we're having this conversation.

[1:19:27] So so here you've asked a couple questions of the Council.

[1:19:31] Let me ask some of you.

[1:19:34] Back in July, June, whenever we had the first topic right.

[1:19:38] The first time this was presented, you made a verbal warning to the Council

[1:19:43] and to the town that you'd be filing a tort reform based off of actions that the

[1:19:47] Council was taking.

[1:19:48] Do you still plan to do that?

[1:19:52] I will not answer that. OK and that's that's OK you're now.

[1:19:55] You don't have to answer that. The second question is a pretty basic one.

[1:19:59] And then I'm gonna go through and answer a specific question that you asked other

[1:20:02] council members but didn't ask me, which I thought was interesting.

[1:20:05] And that is do you think you are upholding the Rules of Procedure fairly

[1:20:09] inconsistently to this Council?

[1:20:12] I don't believe I asked Councilman Sampson. That I didn't say you did.

[1:20:16] You said that I that I excluded you.

[1:20:20] Nope. OK, fine. So you excluded me. And Councilman Sampson.

[1:20:23] Now that we have that out of the way, my question to you is very simple.

[1:20:27] Do you believe that you are upholding the Rules of Procedure to this Council fairly

[1:20:32] and consistently?

[1:20:35] To the best of my ability, OK. And I appreciate the answer.

[1:20:37] That's a good answer, and that's the answer I would hope

[1:20:39] happens.

[1:20:39] And again, if this passes, I look forward to hearing your pitch in

[1:20:43] November when you can run for that office again.

[1:20:45] Now the question that you asked right was about.

[1:20:49] The specifics that it comes to your judgment or passing legislation or the

[1:20:55] appliance of rules and procedure, and this is where I do think the the

[1:20:59] specifics are important to to go over and I'd be very happy to provide just a

[1:21:05] couple of examples here. So the 1st.

[1:21:07] Is our very first meeting right?

[1:21:10] We had a a special meeting with an agenda.

[1:21:12] We had a a motion to to amend the agenda.

[1:21:15] You refused to entertain the motion, and then you made a comment that,

[1:21:18] you know this Council.

[1:21:19] Has really only just taken its oath and name, right?

[1:21:22] Immediately going against what I would say, just basic decorum.

[1:21:28] And and assigning motive and again, technically we didn't have a rule of

[1:21:32] procedure passed at that time.

[1:21:34] So Yep, you're not in violation of Rule of

[1:21:36] Procedure, but the decorum there, I think really set the tone.

[1:21:39] For who was taking these things personally and who was trying to advance

[1:21:43] an agenda based off of the recent election.

[1:21:45] Who was trying to represent the people of Laplata?

[1:21:48] And then just one day later, right?

[1:21:50] One day later, you turn around.

[1:21:51] You accuse this Council of violating the OMA on May 12th,

[1:21:55] and Councilman Johnson asked you a very specific question on that day.

[1:21:59] And he goes OK.

[1:22:00] Are you the oma?

[1:22:01] Are you at ruling board?

[1:22:02] How did you come to this conclusion?

[1:22:04] It's just your opinion and you turn around, said no, Councilman Johnson.

[1:22:08] A fact.

[1:22:09] Well, it's not a fact. There's no OMA violation at this Council

[1:22:12] had committed at that time that it's just again,

[1:22:15] it's it's these personal attacks and issues that that you continue to bring up

[1:22:19] and present as fact when they're not.

[1:22:22] And then you ask, OK, well, if there's just one example that

[1:22:25] Councilman Guttenberg pulled from the past, right,

[1:22:28] then this is just a one off issue.

[1:22:30] Councilman Johnson, could we have corrected this through the

[1:22:32] Rules of Procedure?

[1:22:33] Yeah, probably.

[1:22:34] But I would argue this Council has attempted to.

[1:22:37] And you refuse to take that feedback.

[1:22:39] Let's just go a little bit further right on May 20th.

[1:22:42] We're talking about an issue that directly pertains to you.

[1:22:47] Basic, normal, reasonable people would preclude in a

[1:22:50] government setting an issue that involves that person like the stipend and servant,

[1:22:54] as the town manager and Townsend, that you would recuse yourself from that

[1:22:58] conversation. You didn't.

[1:23:00] I would argue, in my opinion, that leads to questionable judgment.

[1:23:03] Thankfully, you voted with the majority of the

[1:23:04] Council and then undermined our will then.

[1:23:07] But that's that's a good thing. On July 29th,

[1:23:10] an agenda item was presented by a Council member that you went ahead,

[1:23:14] took first authorship and and and spoke on and immediately after you made your

[1:23:19] statement, motioned to table the topic without

[1:23:22] having that original author present it.

[1:23:25] Just a couple months later, when Councilman Johnson goes ahead and

[1:23:28] introduces his pieces of legislation for charter amendment,

[1:23:31] you give him the affordable and our Rules of Procedure to speak first.

[1:23:35] Your treating council members differently based off of things that you believe

[1:23:39] right, pertain and affect you in your role.

[1:23:42] So again, these are just a couple of of minor

[1:23:45] examples, but when they continue to mount up and

[1:23:48] mount up and mount up and we talk about performance and who the presiding officer

[1:23:53] is accountable to, that's why these types of charter

[1:23:56] amendments become necessary.

[1:23:58] And I would just like to answer a question you asked Councilman Johnson.

[1:24:02] Why would this Council go ahead and pass?

[1:24:04] This for future councils it's so this never happens again.

[1:24:08] Every single member that came up here tonight expressed some sort of

[1:24:12] frustration, either saying the word frustration,

[1:24:14] looking visibly frustrated, but I would argue that that people are

[1:24:18] frustrated and the terms that were used were infighting and lack of decorum.

[1:24:23] And again, I would just argue that when you really

[1:24:26] start to go through the meetings and boil down what is happening at those meetings,

[1:24:30] it is not because of four Council members. In my opinion,

[1:24:33] it's because the person that is making first ruling and sometimes not ruling on.

[1:24:38] Points of orders on motions, on pieces of legislation on,

[1:24:42] in my opinion, manipulating agenda and Council will by

[1:24:45] going to the MDE and and going for your own personal benefit.

[1:24:49] There is why things like this are important.

[1:24:52] So yes, you can play. What about ISM and other council members

[1:24:55] have made mistakes.

[1:24:56] But let me be very clear there was a mistake made last meeting.

[1:25:01] And the mistake was made by me.

[1:25:02] And I made a comment when we were going back and forth between questions and you

[1:25:06] asked Council, McCormick, do you always respect the will of Council?

[1:25:10] And I stated yes, absolutely.

[1:25:12] But since you have asked that question, let me fire one back at you.

[1:25:17] Do you always respect the will of the Council and you hemden hog for about two

[1:25:21] seconds? And then you said yes, of course, emphatically.

[1:25:24] And I asked then, why were you censured?

[1:25:27] That was out of line.

[1:25:28] I immediately apologized for it in my next public comments.

[1:25:32] You during this debate.

[1:25:34] Just a couple months ago, cited 5 legal cases that our town

[1:25:37] attorney reviewed and stated. Not one of them had the claims that you

[1:25:42] made. I sent you a personal communication, Madam Mayor,

[1:25:45] would you please correct this? For the record, you came back.

[1:25:49] No, again.

[1:25:51] I would just ask the people that are in here.

[1:25:54] I get it.

[1:25:54] This seems personally charged, but it's not. It is procedurally based.

[1:25:59] The Rules of Procedure, in my opinion, are not being presided equally fairly

[1:26:04] consistently for the betterment of laplata.

[1:26:08] This is not a government change.

[1:26:10] We are a chartered government today with a Council manager situation and we will

[1:26:15] continue to be moving forward.

[1:26:17] The only thing that's happening here is who's the first person to rule on a point

[1:26:21] of order.

[1:26:22] Because frankly, if you look at the history of the last

[1:26:24] year plus.

[1:26:25] That has not been happening.

[1:26:28] Thank you. And I would like to respond to your

[1:26:31] decorum last week and how it was such a violation of the code of civility.

[1:26:37] But I didn't call you out on that.

[1:26:40] The public did.

[1:26:42] The public was horrified by your actions and someone from the dais too was.

[1:26:48] But you keep on saying that you will do the will of the Council. OK, good.

[1:26:53] So that we have that out there.

[1:26:59] The will of the last Council.

[1:27:02] Was to put me in as CEO.

[1:27:05] That was the will of the Council.

[1:27:08] You don't agree with it.

[1:27:10] You have publicly dragged me through the ringer on that.

[1:27:18] And a reasonable person would read your intent was to defame me and to say that I

[1:27:25] took.

[1:27:26] $10, 000 a month that I was not allowed to do.

[1:27:31] It was the will of the last council. Yet you just recently in a newspaper

[1:27:36] article a few weeks ago, brought it up again.

[1:27:40] So, Councilman McCormack, you are not a man of your word.

[1:27:44] That was the will of the Council, the will of the whether you agree with it

[1:27:49] or not, that was the will of that Council.

[1:27:52] There was no illegal injustice.

[1:27:56] Done by me, but you keep bringing that up.

[1:28:00] Think that this is a red herring.

[1:28:03] And it is not.

[1:28:05] All right. So just real quick to respond because you

[1:28:08] directly talked about me there.

[1:28:09] This is a classic case of moving the goal posts.

[1:28:13] And what about ISM counsel McCormick?

[1:28:15] Do you agree with the will of the Council?

[1:28:16] Yes, well, the former Council. OK. Yeah, there are decisions.

[1:28:21] The former Council made that I disagreed with. That's why I ran for office.

[1:28:25] Of course, now the question do I agree and do I

[1:28:28] enact upon the will of the Council 100% from May 11th, right? Or May 12th,

[1:28:33] when we took our oath of office to May 20th?

[1:28:36] Guess what?

[1:28:37] I didn't go and take the money out of your account or talk to the assistant

[1:28:41] town manager who we later made the town manager to remove that.

[1:28:44] I didn't go talk to other entities, but you know who did.

[1:28:47] You did and you've done it and that's why this is a what about ISM?

[1:28:51] It is OK to disagree with decisions councils make.

[1:28:54] It is not OK to then go and act with the other body against what the Council

[1:29:00] stated.

[1:29:00] There's a difference between me saying, hey,

[1:29:03] this is wrong and I believe this is a charter violation and you go into MDE and

[1:29:07] stating this council is new, they're they're newly tenured or whatever

[1:29:11] phrase you used and trying to get what you want. I'm not going to fall.

[1:29:14] For it, I'm not guilty of it.

[1:29:16] The only person frankly that is is you.

[1:29:19] OK.

[1:29:19] I'm really confused.

[1:29:23] I didn't go to MDE.

[1:29:26] The Secretary of transportation.

[1:29:28] You mean M dot?

[1:29:30] Yes, I meant m. imisspokesaid MDE several times.

[1:29:35] And if it's not, as you have said, the prior Council,

[1:29:39] we're not talking about that yet. Councilman Gutenberg brought up April

[1:29:45] 22nd.

[1:29:45] I'm not Councilman Guttenberg, but you're talking to me.

[1:29:48] I'm just saying. Well, and you can't even get your facts

[1:29:51] straight.

[1:29:52] So you just lost a lot of credibility on that?

[1:29:55] Alright, with that said, anybody else have anything to say?

[1:30:01] OK.

[1:30:02] So Mr. Stevens, do you have anything further to add

[1:30:05] before we conclude this public hearing?

[1:30:08] No, Madam mayor.

[1:30:11] All right.

[1:30:11] Thank you very much.

[1:30:12] So this concludes our public hearing.

[1:30:19] Of on the proposed Charter amendment Resolution 26,

[1:30:24] dash 50 powers and duties of the mayor.

[1:30:30] The channel will play in the town council.

[1:30:33] And we heard from several Council, I mean, several residents asking to keep this

[1:30:40] open for the next week, next 30 days, and I'm going to make a motion.

[1:30:47] That we keep the public hearing record remain open for for 30 days to allow

[1:30:53] further written public comment.

[1:30:56] Do I have a second on that?

[1:31:00] I'll second it. OK, any discussion?

[1:31:05] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye, aye,

[1:31:10] any opposed.

[1:31:12] All right, Madam Town clerk for the record,

[1:31:16] could you please take a vote on?

[1:31:21] Keeping the record open.

[1:31:24] Yes, Madam mayor. Councilman guttenberg.

[1:31:29] Councilman McCormick.

[1:31:31] No.

[1:31:34] Councilman Sampson.

[1:31:37] Yes.

[1:31:39] Councilman Johnson.

[1:31:41] No.

[1:31:42] Mayor James.

[1:31:44] Yes, keep the record open.

[1:31:48] Madam Mayor, the motion fails.

[1:31:50] OK.

[1:31:50] Thank you very much.

[1:31:54] That's speaks volumes on that.

[1:31:57] So we will.

[1:31:59] The public hearing is closed and we will proceed with the next.

[1:32:06] Item on our agenda.

[1:32:07] Thank you very much.

[1:32:08] All right. The next item on our agenda is.

[1:32:15] Public comment if anybody would like to speak. You don't have to open it, right?

[1:32:20] Oh, sorry. Consent a consent agenda.

[1:32:25] Tonight, there are several things on consent

[1:32:28] agenda.

[1:32:28] The reason why we have consent agenda is it usually doesn't have such a robust

[1:32:32] conversation.

[1:32:35] That we need.

[1:32:35] It's usually it's they're they're very important,

[1:32:38] but a lot of times it is something that we've already approved.

[1:32:43] Budget wise and that they are now taking a draw on that.

[1:32:47] So do I have a motion to adopt the OR to approve the consent agenda?

[1:32:53] So moved.

[1:32:54] Do I have a second, second? Any discussion?

[1:32:59] I have a couple questions, Mr. Stevens.

[1:33:03] For stormwater engineering contract, once these firms are approved,

[1:33:06] how will the individual task orders be allocated?

[1:33:09] In that what dollar threshold must an individual task order return to council?

[1:33:14] And this is just for those that are sitting here.

[1:33:17] Sure. So are you referring to the five

[1:33:18] different stormwater contracts that are listed on the consent agenda?

[1:33:21] Correct. Yes. OK.

[1:33:23] So nothing changes with our procurement code.

[1:33:25] What this does is this allows us to bring these five.

[1:33:29] Entities on board leveraging a cooperative.

[1:33:33] Contract or a piggyback contract is how it's commonly referred to.

[1:33:36] All of these entities have existing contracts with Charles County and are

[1:33:40] performing work for Charles County.

[1:33:42] We're leveraging that contract, but none of this changes our procurement

[1:33:47] rules.

[1:33:47] So any task order that comes forward that exceeds the $20,

[1:33:51] 000 threshold has to come before Council for approval. If it's under the $20,

[1:33:56] 000 threshold, because we will already have these.

[1:34:00] Vendors on call and under contract.

[1:34:02] Then that task order can be approved by the staff, OK.

[1:34:06] Thank you. Under Dorchester Community Center,

[1:34:08] what specific deliverables are we purchasing and what decision will Council

[1:34:12] be able to make after receiving it that we can't make today?

[1:34:15] So what's going on with the DCC?

[1:34:17] So so the Dorchester Community Center is is on your consent agenda because this is.

[1:34:25] A actually we're leveraging a cooperative contract that you approved back in July

[1:34:29] at your July meeting with CDM Smith or General Engineering.

[1:34:32] Firm. They're very large and they have a lot of

[1:34:36] of capabilities. This town has not gone forward with

[1:34:41] vertical construction of a new facility probably I think since this town hall was

[1:34:47] built in 2003 and opened in 2004.

[1:34:52] Vertical construction and development is incredibly costly and it is something

[1:34:57] that the the town doesn't have resident expertise on.

[1:35:02] App so I have drafted an RFP. It's done.

[1:35:06] I have it.

[1:35:06] We could release it tomorrow if we wanted to.

[1:35:09] I don't want to do that because what we don't want to do is we don't want to.

[1:35:15] Go out to the development community and not present our best selves.

[1:35:20] I want to get a set of eyes on this from engineers for professionals that do this

[1:35:26] kind of work to review the RFP, identify any gaps that that I have that I

[1:35:31] may.

[1:35:32] Drafted it, improve it and then also assist the town

[1:35:36] when we do receive responsive bids.

[1:35:40] So what?

[1:35:40] This contract is is a proposal from CDM Smith to do exactly that,

[1:35:46] they're going to.

[1:35:48] They're going to take the RFP.

[1:35:50] That RFP is a request for proposal.

[1:35:53] They're going to take what I've already drafted.

[1:35:55] They're going to review it.

[1:35:56] They're going to enhance it and make it better.

[1:35:58] We're going to make sure that the town of La Plata.

[1:36:01] Represents itself.

[1:36:02] Well, and professionally to the development

[1:36:04] community. And then we're going to move forward and

[1:36:07] implement the will of the Council that that you gave me back in the spring.

[1:36:10] I don't remember the exact meeting, but we talked about it.

[1:36:12] I think it was may.

[1:36:13] We talked about DCC, you had a presentation.

[1:36:18] A conceptual presentation from Cao Barrett about what could happen on that

[1:36:22] lot.

[1:36:22] And so that's what we're moving forward with. And when the proposals come in,

[1:36:26] CDM Smith again using their expertise will assist us in review of those

[1:36:29] proposals because I imagine that those proposals are going to be incredibly

[1:36:33] technical.

[1:36:34] We don't have a town engineer on staff, and if we're relying on staff to make a

[1:36:38] decision without that level of expertise, I would think that that's borderline

[1:36:42] derelict and our responsibilities to the taxpayers.

[1:36:45] And so I think it's prudent and and reasonable to ask an engineering firm

[1:36:49] like CDM Smith to assist us and that's that's what's on your consent agenda.

[1:36:53] Yeah, that's great to see that we are moving

[1:36:56] forward with that. And the last one and and I know this is.

[1:37:00] Specific to Kings Grant, but for the public set of.

[1:37:04] And would you please explain why the $20, 000 threshold was exceeded on the

[1:37:08] emergency stormwater contract and you are now coming to Council to ask to ratify

[1:37:13] the expenditure before receiving the formal invoice?

[1:37:16] Absolutely there is a fence stormwater treatment.

[1:37:21] Coming off of Route 488 that that drains in between two houses in King's Grant.

[1:37:27] It's been there for many years.

[1:37:29] There's been a lot of back and forth about whose responsibility it is to fix

[1:37:32] it.

[1:37:34] Back in the well in February, I believe I met with the King's grant HOA

[1:37:40] and their attorney.

[1:37:44] About a number of issues, but we had the town identified.

[1:37:47] This particular issue is one that we could take on because the the appropriate

[1:37:51] easements and dedications were were complete and we could take on the the

[1:37:56] maintenance of this treatment.

[1:37:58] So we contracted with our original vendor. They gave us a quote that was below.

[1:38:03] The $20, 000 threshold they got out there and

[1:38:06] started the work. Unfortunately, as happens sometimes with construction

[1:38:10] and with with things of this nature, especially when you're digging holes

[1:38:14] because you don't know what you're going to unearth, they got a couple of days,

[1:38:19] maybe a week or.

[1:38:20] So into the job and the complexity of the job and the technical.

[1:38:25] Challenges that they encountered exceeded their ability,

[1:38:29] and so they worked closely with town staff, our public.

[1:38:33] Workstaff did did their very best to assist, try and help them.

[1:38:40] But at the end of the day, they just could not complete the job that

[1:38:43] they had been awarded.

[1:38:45] So we went out, found another contractor that was able to

[1:38:49] come in quickly, mobilize within one day, get some very large earth moving

[1:38:54] equipment out there, because that's what was necessary and

[1:38:57] what you have on your consent agenda for this this evening is the ratification of

[1:39:03] that CONT.

[1:39:05] The reason why it's a ratification is because even though the the threshold

[1:39:09] amount exceeded the $20, 000 threshold that I just discussed a few

[1:39:12] moments ago.

[1:39:14] The situation on the ground dictated that I needed to take action.

[1:39:18] We had a hole.

[1:39:19] We had an exposed water main.

[1:39:23] We had risk.

[1:39:23] We had forecast for thunderstorms.

[1:39:25] My biggest concern was that if we had a a Thunder cell come over the town and if we

[1:39:30] would have gotten 3/4 of an inch.

[1:39:33] Inch to an inch of rain. I think we we would have likely flooded 2

[1:39:36] basements that were nearby the work site. The town would have been responsible for

[1:39:40] that.

[1:39:42] So I called.

[1:39:44] I I contacted each member of Council individually.

[1:39:47] I did not ask for a consensus.

[1:39:48] I did not ask for a vote, but I informed you that I was going to

[1:39:52] take this action and that you would see this item on your agenda this evening for

[1:39:57] ratification. Thank you very much.

[1:40:00] Any other questions?

[1:40:01] So I have a motion that has been properly seconded to the consent agenda.

[1:40:07] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

[1:40:11] Any opposed motion carries.

[1:40:13] Now it brings us to public comment.

[1:40:15] Public comment if you haven't already signed up.

[1:40:18] Public comment now is not specific to any topic.

[1:40:24] You can use your 3 minutes for whatever you want.

[1:40:28] All that we ask.

[1:40:29] Ask is that you state your name whether you live in the incorporated town limits

[1:40:35] and.

[1:40:37] Then you can speak.

[1:40:39] So, Miss Maggie, come on down.

[1:40:48] Well, I didn't, Maggie. Lyric and I do live here in the town,

[1:40:51] La Plata.

[1:40:52] And I didn't realize I could speak twice tonight.

[1:40:55] 'cause I if I had known that we would have done a continuation of where we

[1:40:59] started.

[1:41:00] But couple of observations during the last discussion and I guess I guess my my

[1:41:07] my big thing is you guys don't like the way the mayor.

[1:41:14] Runs a meeting.

[1:41:16] There are professional.

[1:41:18] Parliamentarians who do that for a living, you can actually hire them and have them

[1:41:26] at a meeting and they can take over that part of the meeting which requires

[1:41:32] motions, discussions and votes.

[1:41:37] Try that first and see if that doesn't calm down some of this rhetoric #1.

[1:41:44] And I guess the other thing is, is that we all know.

[1:41:48] That should this amendment pass.

[1:41:52] That Mayor James will not.

[1:41:57] Be the President of the Council because.

[1:42:02] Hill hasn't frozen over yet.

[1:42:05] Thank you very much.

[1:42:08] Miss Sprague.

[1:42:16] Yes, that was going to be a little more off

[1:42:18] the cuff here.

[1:42:19] So.

[1:42:21] This is just kind of like I don't know if you can.

[1:42:25] Spray. I live in the town of Plato, so thank you too for actually paying

[1:42:30] attention.

[1:42:32] I appreciate it.

[1:42:33] I know I'm all seriousness.

[1:42:35] In all seriousness, I knew you guys have really paid

[1:42:37] attention to what people are saying.

[1:42:39] I appreciate you and snoted.

[1:42:40] Thank you very much, Mayor James, same to you.

[1:42:43] Thank you for paying attention. Listening to you. Thank you.

[1:42:46] So for halfway doing that and M cormick, I'm sure.

[1:42:48] What's on the ceiling up there?

[1:42:50] But God knows it must be good.

[1:42:52] 'Cause, that's all I'd want you to do is kick

[1:42:53] back that chair like a 10th grader in a football meeting and wondering when I get

[1:42:57] out of here.

[1:42:57] Well, I'd like to be home with my family too,

[1:43:00] but that's why I'm here.

[1:43:01] So anyhow, I'm embarrassed. I'm standing here over half a century

[1:43:05] years old.

[1:43:06] I'm embarrassed for each one of you.

[1:43:08] This looks like a fifth grade. It looks like a second grade classroom

[1:43:11] where you're smacking somebody's hand 'cause they can't get in line right for

[1:43:15] the bathroom, for God's sakes.

[1:43:17] Get your heads out of your ear.

[1:43:18] Know what and learn how to act.

[1:43:20] Respect people.

[1:43:23] So agree to disagree, compromise. Find something other than this nonsense.

[1:43:30] We spend way too much time.

[1:43:32] I have two businesses in this town.

[1:43:33] We pay a lot of money.

[1:43:34] A lot of money.

[1:43:35] A lot of money in this town through taxes, water.

[1:43:41] Don't get me started on water, but a lot of money and to watch this

[1:43:45] nonsense.

[1:43:46] I'm Dumber for standing here.

[1:43:48] Dumber. I didn't think I could be, but I am Dumber for sitting through this.

[1:43:53] Thank you very much, Mr. James.

[1:44:02] Tom James. I am a member or a resident here in La

[1:44:05] Plata and I didn't get to finish my speaking last time because I was trying

[1:44:11] to honor the three minutes and I spent 34 years in the military and I've had to

[1:44:16] bite my tongue on many.

[1:44:18] Occasions and not exercise my First Amendment rights.

[1:44:20] But now I am compelled to do so based on the actions of just 4 councilmen,

[1:44:25] and I do appreciate this opportunity. So thank you.

[1:44:29] So in continuing with what I was talking about before, Councilman Johnson,

[1:44:33] what do your actions in fighting on the dais say about you?

[1:44:37] Your contentious, angry and your words are chosen for

[1:44:40] maximum personal effect.

[1:44:42] How does that help the town of Laplata and its residents?

[1:44:46] Councilman McCormick, Guttenberg and Sampson.

[1:44:49] You have repeatedly demanded transparency and accountability, and I like that.

[1:44:54] Fine, those are legitimate things for an

[1:44:56] elected official to demand.

[1:44:58] But not surprisingly, the accountability for your own actions.

[1:45:02] Where's your feigned outrage over your own open meetings Act violation on 11

[1:45:07] September 2025.

[1:45:08] Where's the outrage there?

[1:45:10] And where's the outrage? Councilman McCormack,

[1:45:13] over your own behavior on the dais.

[1:45:15] Raising your voice, bringing in your personal biases into

[1:45:18] your pathetic and contrived comment.

[1:45:20] Terry, your own beautification committee is no

[1:45:22] longer all your La Plata residents who were on your beautification committee all

[1:45:27] quit because of you.

[1:45:28] I talked to them.

[1:45:30] You also use devious words and tactics such as master class of debate,

[1:45:34] for the record for my edification, moving the goal posts,

[1:45:38] and you talk about decorum.

[1:45:41] Yet you show none and even apologize on the record. For that,

[1:45:44] we can all see what you're really trying to do,

[1:45:47] but here's the standard we expect from you and every other Member of this

[1:45:51] Council. Apply the same standards to yourself.

[1:45:55] Don't tell residents you're restoring trust.

[1:45:57] While town hall is consumed by political warfare.

[1:46:00] Don't tell us you're protecting the Charter while constantly fighting over

[1:46:03] what?

[1:46:03] The Charter means and changing it for your own political agenda.

[1:46:07] And don't tell us you're putting residents first.

[1:46:09] If the most visible product of your Council.

[1:46:12] Is another internal dispute. You've heard it from five or six people

[1:46:16] tonight.

[1:46:18] People of La Plata are not stupid.

[1:46:19] We can see what's happening.

[1:46:21] We attend and watch the meetings and I am privileged to do so.

[1:46:25] We read the minutes.

[1:46:26] We see the votes and we can decide for ourselves whether this is the kind of

[1:46:29] government we want.

[1:46:31] So here's my challenge to this pathetic bickering council.

[1:46:34] Stop making yourselves the story.

[1:46:37] Stop making your disagreements the story. Four men against one woman.

[1:46:41] We see it.

[1:46:42] You simply can't stand the fact that we have a woman mayor.

[1:46:45] It's obvious and blatant. The way you act, talked and vote.

[1:46:49] We all see it.

[1:46:50] It's all on the record. The whole he conversation.

[1:46:53] Stop turning every dispute into another chapter in an ongoing political battle.

[1:46:58] Do the job you were elected to do.

[1:47:02] Listen, govern, disagree professionally.

[1:47:05] Follow the charter.

[1:47:06] Follow the law. Be transparent.

[1:47:09] To the town lawyer, do your job.

[1:47:11] I have never seen a town lawyer vacillate so much and be so confusing.

[1:47:17] Not a single resident, not one who spoke tonight.

[1:47:20] Back that charter resolution. Yet you passed it anyway,

[1:47:23] against the will of the people.

[1:47:25] Shameful. Thank you.

[1:47:26] I think that's my 3 minutes.

[1:47:27] Thank you.

[1:47:29] All right.

[1:47:30] Anyone else like to speak? If you didn't sign up, that's OK.

[1:47:33] This is your last opportunity.

[1:47:36] All right.

[1:47:36] Thank you very much.

[1:47:37] We have a.

[1:47:39] A proclamation this evening and I am so honored to read about National Pows Mia

[1:47:44] Recognition Day, which is September 18th.

[1:47:47] So I'm going to read a proclamation, whereas the United States has a solemn

[1:47:52] obligation to remember and honor the members of the armed forces who became

[1:47:58] prisoners of war, and those who remain missing in action.

[1:48:01] And to ensure that their service.

[1:48:04] Sacrifice and absence are never forgotten.

[1:48:08] And whereas national Pows Mia Recognition Day provides an opportunity for Americans

[1:48:15] to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who endured captivity,

[1:48:20] those who remain unaccounted for and for the families,

[1:48:24] friends and communities who continue to keep faith while seeking answers.

[1:48:30] And whereas the town of Hopea Recogn.

[1:48:34] The sacrifices made by members of our armed forces.

[1:48:38] And their families affirms that those who served our nation.

[1:48:43] And remain missing shall not be forgotten, and that our commitment to accounting for

[1:48:49] them must endure now.

[1:48:51] Therefore, we, the Council of the town of La Plata,

[1:48:55] do recognize Friday, September 18th, 2026 as national PIA Recognition Day in

[1:49:02] the town of La Plata and urge all residents to join in honoring our

[1:49:08] prisoners of war.

[1:49:10] Those missing in action and their families by remembrance.

[1:49:13] Service sacrifice, courage and enduring absence,

[1:49:18] be it further proclaimed that the town of La Plata invites the community to visit

[1:49:25] the missing man table at the front entrance of town hall. Three O 5,

[1:49:31] Queen Anne St. on national POWMIA Recognition day a so.

[1:49:37] Reminder of the Americans who are still missing,

[1:49:40] and the families and loved ones who continue.

[1:49:43] Continue to await their return and answers we remember.

[1:49:48] We honor.

[1:49:49] We will not forget this is signed by myself, Mayor James Councilman Guttenberg,

[1:49:55] Councilman McCormick, Councilman Sampson and Councilman Johnson.

[1:50:00] So thank you very much and that is a week from Freedom Day,

[1:50:06] which is this Friday 911.

[1:50:09] Matters of Council discussion.

[1:50:12] Agenda item request election process improvement before I hand this over to

[1:50:18] you, Mr. Stevens, I want to make sure that we are all on

[1:50:22] the same page.

[1:50:24] I want to clarify the procedure that applies to an agenda proposal under our

[1:50:28] Rules of Procedure, and that's because we have so many people

[1:50:32] that have joined us this evening. Section 4.

[1:50:34] 2 provides that when an individual Council member requests an item agenda

[1:50:38] item.

[1:50:39] The item is placed on the first regular meeting.

[1:50:42] Agenda for discussion only during that initial discussion Council is to

[1:50:47] determine by consensus whether there is sufficient interest to move the proposed

[1:50:53] item forward. If there is sufficient interest,

[1:50:56] the rules provide that. Council may then refer to the matter to a

[1:51:01] Council committee, refer it to the town.

[1:51:03] Council manager for staff development, or place it on a future.

[1:51:07] Regular Council agenda for further consideration and.

[1:51:14] Council members may.

[1:51:15] Relevant questions to understand the proposed Section 4 to expressly provide

[1:51:20] disruptive at this stage, questions that Council determine whether

[1:51:25] there is sufficient interest to move the proposal forward or appropriate.

[1:51:31] What we are not doing at this stage is taking final action on the underlining

[1:51:36] proposal, the purpose of.

[1:51:38] This initial discussion is to determine whether there is.

[1:51:42] Whether there is sufficient interest.

[1:51:45] To move it forward for additional development or future consideration,

[1:51:49] and that distinction is very important.

[1:51:52] So I just wanted to let you know that they're not voting on this.

[1:51:55] This is for our rules of engagement, as they say.

[1:52:01] Are a discussion.

[1:52:03] I believe that Councilman McCormack put this agenda item on.

[1:52:10] Our agenda, and so the floor is his.

[1:52:15] Thank you, Madam Mayor, and thanks for that explanation with what

[1:52:17] we're doing here.

[1:52:18] So for the Council staff report has been provided to you very similar to how Mr.

[1:52:23] Stevens and staff put together.

[1:52:24] Try to follow that method for brevity, just to talk through background at a high

[1:52:29] level.

[1:52:29] The request that's here and then you know what?

[1:52:33] I what I would hope happens moving forward.

[1:52:35] So first is back on 11 September 2025, this Council got together with a

[1:52:39] forward-looking priority meeting and we came up with a bunch of priority items

[1:52:43] and one of the priority items that we put on that meeting was election reform or

[1:52:47] some sort of change.

[1:52:49] To election code that we currently have.

[1:52:51] And that was priority on item number 5.

[1:52:53] Now in the last year, this Council has not formally actioned

[1:52:56] that, and that makes sense, right?

[1:52:58] We had a lot of other things as one of our residents talked about today that

[1:53:02] this Council has accomplished over that year and frankly in your first year of of

[1:53:06] being an elected official election reform. Unless that town is operating with with,

[1:53:11] you know, direction and purpose. Prob.

[1:53:13] Not something's going to come on, but year two, year three,

[1:53:15] probably an appropriate time for this to start to be brought in front of council.

[1:53:19] So I just want to make sure before our next forward meeting forward-looking

[1:53:23] retreat meeting we address priority item number 5,

[1:53:26] everybody can speak openly here about you know his or her opinion and then we could

[1:53:30] take this discussion further down whatever Ave. this Council deems and will.

[1:53:35] So first and foremost, our election and our town currently

[1:53:38] conducts municipal elections pursuant to the town charter code and applicable

[1:53:42] provisions of the Maryland elect election law.

[1:53:44] This town is a dedicated supervisor of elections and to include a chair or town

[1:53:49] Cler additional board member, the board of.

[1:53:51] Supervisors of elections shall conduct all municipal elections required by law,

[1:53:55] properly called by the Town council in the manner that's provided and the laws

[1:53:59] in the state of Maryland. The town charter in the ordinance of the

[1:54:02] town of Laplata.

[1:54:03] So here's my request.

[1:54:04] Tonight is.

[1:54:04] I'm just interested if the Council, based off of our priority item number 5

[1:54:08] from September 11th, I would like to just review how the town

[1:54:12] currently conducts elections and I provided a couple of examples,

[1:54:15] not limited to this document.

[1:54:16] So if somebody has an idea that's from outside this document.

[1:54:19] Please feel free to bring that forward if there's an item innocent document that

[1:54:22] you like and you'd like to pursue and move forward,

[1:54:25] we can have a fruitful discussion about that at a more appropriate time.

[1:54:28] But just to give the the the folks that are here, the folks.

[1:54:30] That are listening by Council members and mayor, why I find this important, why?

[1:54:34] Frankly, the Council deemed it important and made

[1:54:37] a priority item was that we just can't have 708 hundred folks determining what's

[1:54:41] best for laplata.

[1:54:42] We do have to get more folks to come out for the election.

[1:54:44] And you know, I'm. I'm a person that comes from the military.

[1:54:47] I'm a person.

[1:54:47] I currently works in the private sector.

[1:54:49] And I found when you continue to do something over and over and over and

[1:54:53] you're getting the same or similar result, that's just insanity.

[1:54:56] And this town has not had right, I would argue a large percentage of the

[1:55:00] population participating in our municipal election. And there are a.

[1:55:04] That council members have probably learned at MML have learned at other

[1:55:08] areas that this town can can take when it comes to our actual election.

[1:55:12] It's something we identified as a priority and it's something I hope this

[1:55:15] Council continues to talk about.

[1:55:17] And bring up again normal to to, you know, fiscal impact sustainability

[1:55:21] considerations.

[1:55:22] Ada, just Please remember, I'm one council member, right?

[1:55:26] So it's up to this Council to determine the actual fiscal impact,

[1:55:29] sustainability considerations in ADA, but based off of my very limited in

[1:55:32] surface level dive into this, you would see that again there's no

[1:55:36] immediate fiscal impact of having this discussion, sustainability considerations,

[1:55:40] all of that would obvious.

[1:55:41] Be.

[1:55:42] Important for the long term institutional stability,

[1:55:44] civic trust and sustained community.

[1:55:46] Agent by having more people participate, hopefully and again. Ada considerations.

[1:55:51] Just like I stay in the beginning. The background we would have to be in

[1:55:54] compliance with town charter town code in the state of Maryland when it comes to

[1:55:58] election law.

[1:55:59] So my recommended action tonight for the Council is just simply discuss if you're

[1:56:03] interested in in election reform. It's an item that's coming up in a couple

[1:56:07] of days anyway. When we meet on September 17th.

[1:56:09] But I just wanted to make sure it got on an agenda before.

[1:56:13] September 17th because it was something that we put on our forward-looking agenda.

[1:56:17] I think it's something that now we're probably coming into that sweet spot in

[1:56:21] year 2, headed into year three where this makes

[1:56:24] sense to talk about as opposed to very early on in the tenure of that Council.

[1:56:28] So with that, I Mr. Stevens, I turn the floor back over to you.

[1:56:36] OK.

[1:56:36] I don't have anything to add to this and I think the desire was that Council was

[1:56:40] going to discuss a month themselves, so I'm happy to take notes and listen

[1:56:43] hard and and if there's something I need to take away from that, I'll capture it.

[1:56:47] Thank you.

[1:56:48] So any comments? Sure. Yeah.

[1:56:53] So for me, this this agenda item really casts a

[1:56:59] really wide net.

[1:57:02] And I think it that the format of it makes it difficult to have a the kind of

[1:57:08] discussions we may need to have so and and what I'm getting at here is what what

[1:57:13] I think I would have, what I what I would have preferred is

[1:57:18] have somet.

[1:57:18] With more meat on its bones to to kind to kind of really, you know, have an idea.

[1:57:24] Of a focus area to address some some specific things.

[1:57:28] So it you know I'm not gonna sit here and like,

[1:57:32] talk on every one of these individual elements here.

[1:57:37] There's several elements here that I think are too much for for what.

[1:57:46] The way elections are conducted in La Plata, right?

[1:57:49] Like I I don't think we should be changing cycles.

[1:57:52] I don't think we need to do away with the the ward structure.

[1:57:56] Those things to me, are based on my my experience of going

[1:58:01] through an election now first hand. I think those those are too radical for,

[1:58:08] for, for any reforms to to, to what we should reasonably consider you

[1:58:14] know.

[1:58:17] For changes to the way we conduct elections in the town,

[1:58:20] I think people wouldn't understand those things and I think I just think it's it's

[1:58:24] a hard sell.

[1:58:25] To do a big change like that for from my my perspective is this.

[1:58:30] If if I were going to do anything, it would really be two things.

[1:58:37] So, you know, having lived here as long as I have,

[1:58:40] I I know this first hand.

[1:58:41] You know, Laplata is largely a bedroom community

[1:58:45] and and by that what I mean by that is that we,

[1:58:48] many of the people who are in the electorate are working people who work

[1:58:53] outside the town of Laplata.

[1:58:56] And why that's important to how we conduct our elections is our elections

[1:59:01] are always on a Tuesday and there a Tuesday during business hours like

[1:59:05] basically during bankers hours. And I think that makes it really,

[1:59:10] really difficult to expect people to to make it out to do it.

[1:59:14] To do to do, to vote and participate in that way.

[1:59:17] And so I personally feel like the single biggest.

[1:59:21] Adaptation we could make to the way we conduct elections.

[1:59:25] Is to do multi day and and and definitely including a weekend today you know and

[1:59:30] and maybe the easiest thing is just add an early voting day on the Saturday

[1:59:35] before the Tuesday we would elect and that we would normally do things like

[1:59:40] that would be the EAS.

[1:59:41] Way to add one additional day that accommodates, you know, the the, you know,

[1:59:46] point of order.

[1:59:47] Can we just discuss whether what is presented here instead of adding what

[1:59:52] your ideas are? Not bad.

[1:59:54] They're just like just we're. We're not gonna go through and I'm.

[1:59:58] I'm almost done 'cause. I really just have two things and. And.

[2:00:01] And so this. This is really how we have done these.

[2:00:04] I know we.

[2:00:05] I think we we try and keep it till like 3 minutes on these,

[2:00:09] but every time we have had a councilman's agenda item,

[2:00:12] it always turns into we we have a a deeper discussion, you know,

[2:00:16] and that's what we're trying to.

[2:00:19] Go by the Rules of Procedure.

[2:00:21] So the the two things though, right?

[2:00:23] Is the one that that that I was just Speaking of is the multi day and then the

[2:00:29] the other. The other piece is you know I think in

[2:00:32] the way elections were conducted last time,

[2:00:35] to me it was it was disappointing that at the town staff level more.

[2:00:40] Work wasn't done for just basic awareness than an election was being conducted.

[2:00:46] And the way I would address that is that in our.

[2:00:51] Ordinances.

[2:00:52] And our chapter 17 for elections, I would put specific things that staff

[2:00:57] would need to do. So it's not, it's not a matter of of things being

[2:01:02] optional like those things would you know, and we can discuss that more later.

[2:01:09] But but it would be a way of.

[2:01:11] Imposing certain things that that we could just depend on,

[2:01:14] which is basic communications like we just did for a public meeting, right,

[2:01:18] like we we didn't do that to even notice that we were doing election.

[2:01:22] I think that's a big deal and there's various channels of communication that we

[2:01:27] can access and do and and probably put a little bit of budget to and build into

[2:01:32] code. So that or or or the the charter section,

[2:01:35] chapter 17. So that those things dependably reliably

[2:01:38] happen.

[2:01:39] And that's all I have, all right.

[2:01:43] You've already said Councilman Sampson.

[2:01:48] OK.

[2:01:49] So first I'd like to thank Council.

[2:01:51] When McCormick for bringing this up, I think it was a good idea.

[2:01:55] I think it's appropriate time, just like he said.

[2:02:00] As a whole, I understood what he was trying to do.

[2:02:02] He put in a lot of different ideas.

[2:02:05] The overall theme 1 making it easier to vote. That was something that I captured.

[2:02:10] I do think that is something we've already heard, that it was in his notes.

[2:02:14] I think Councilman McCormick specifically mentioned Saturday voting.

[2:02:19] I don't know if that's possible.

[2:02:21] We would have to look at the state Constitution and other things,

[2:02:24] but I do think that's something that's worth looking at.

[2:02:28] So making it easier to vote in every possible way,

[2:02:31] especially for our seniors and those that may be in our low income communities.

[2:02:35] So I do think.

[2:02:37] That's important.

[2:02:38] The other thing that I the other couple things I took away from this was voter

[2:02:42] education.

[2:02:43] All right.

[2:02:43] I do think that's important and what I mean by voter education is public

[2:02:51] awareness of our voting days times.

[2:02:54] I think that could be enhanced also.

[2:03:00] Somewhere in his document I don't have it right in front of me, but he alludes to.

[2:03:05] He doesn't specifically mention, but alludes to the idea of partnership

[2:03:10] and what I mean by partnership partnership.

[2:03:14] In educating the public on the issues.

[2:03:18] And things that relate directly not only to the residents,

[2:03:22] but like our business community, that's one thing that I think has been

[2:03:27] lost as we move to make voting easier, more accessible, making people heard.

[2:03:32] So I want to thank Councilman McCormick for that. The idea.

[2:03:34] That he alluded to, partnering with our businesses and also

[2:03:38] partnering with our human service organizations.

[2:03:40] We have a lot of organizations inside of laplata that do a lot of good work

[2:03:45] helping people people in need.

[2:03:47] I see them all the time and we don't partner with them in helping those

[2:03:52] individuals in the voting community and I'll just give an example.

[2:03:58] For example, partnering with these business

[2:04:01] communities, these human service communities.

[2:04:05] To help people get to voting polling places if so needed,

[2:04:09] and looking at other alternatives that are within Maryland's election law.

[2:04:16] And so like I said, I want to thank Council for me for that.

[2:04:19] I think it was a good first effort.

[2:04:21] I understood the concept of what he was trying to do and look forward to moving

[2:04:25] forward on something in that direction.

[2:04:27] Councilman Johnson? Yes, thank you.

[2:04:29] Obviously it needs to be a broader conversation and won't be hashtag tonight.

[2:04:33] But but two things. It's definitely voter awareness for the

[2:04:36] town and, you know, whatever that means, when we,

[2:04:39] when we put our ears together and decide what that looks like in a second,

[2:04:43] I know we have a Board of Supervisors who conduct our elections for town but

[2:04:48] looking.

[2:04:48] At election judges to help with the process of conducting election elections

[2:04:55] would be hyper focused.

[2:04:57] I can only imagine the amount of work that goes into prepping and and the long

[2:05:00] hours on Election Day. I think we had staff pretty much

[2:05:02] conducting the administrative portion.

[2:05:05] Voter check in so we can get volunteers election judges from the community to

[2:05:08] help with that process.

[2:05:10] It can help relieve and keep it moving and you know,

[2:05:12] I think the ultimate goal is to get more people out to vote from the attendant

[2:05:16] list.

[2:05:18] That's it.

[2:05:19] Thank you.

[2:05:19] So in keeping with ask and clarifying questions on this.

[2:05:27] Did you come up with this because a resident came to you?

[2:05:33] On this or was just this something that you personally felt needed to be done?

[2:05:41] Where? Where did this originate from?

[2:05:44] Yeah, great question.

[2:05:45] So this originated from the discussion as Council had on September 11th.

[2:05:49] If you remember, with the forward-looking agenda,

[2:05:51] the five of us concluded through a consensus that this was an item we wanted

[2:05:55] to prioritize. Now personally right during the election

[2:05:59] itself. But even afterwards we've even heard.

[2:06:01] It tonight from a couple of residents there, there is AI would say,

[2:06:05] overall feeling of frustration when it comes to participation in the election,

[2:06:10] even those that voted right have told me.

[2:06:13] In personal conversations that they just wish there was more than 700 people,

[2:06:17] plus or minus that vote in our election.

[2:06:18] So one this is being brought forward because this Council on September 11th,

[2:06:23] through a consensus, decided that this was our fifth most

[2:06:26] important priority at that meeting. 2 personally, I agree.

[2:06:30] I think this is incredibly important based off the conversations I've had with

[2:06:34] residents. OK, so this would.

[2:06:36] Be another public hearing that we would have to do because it would be.

[2:06:40] A amendment to our Charter couldn't.

[2:06:43] This Council have kind of put in their wish list and done this one time instead

[2:06:48] of at the expense of our residents. I am not opposed to this.

[2:06:53] This is very wide but.

[2:06:56] I would like to defer this.

[2:07:00] One more year until we have everybody going through the Charter that they want

[2:07:07] to change and make it 1 big public hearing instead of having.

[2:07:13] One offs all the time.

[2:07:15] It's not a bad idea. The one thing that really has stuck with

[2:07:19] me is the times.

[2:07:20] The times are very, very back in the day.

[2:07:24] Good old boy 1888. I mean, it was 12 to 8, I think. Or 12:00 to 7:00.

[2:07:31] Well, we are a bedroom community and we do have

[2:07:33] people that leave at 5:00 in the morning to get their to their job and they're not

[2:07:38] home until 8:00 or 9:00. So it does.

[2:07:41] Make it so it's very difficult for people to vote.

[2:07:43] So I am looking for a consensus.

[2:07:49] To move this forward and.

[2:07:53] To a future agenda or to have.

[2:07:58] Give direction to town staff.

[2:07:59] Or we could discuss it at the retreat.

[2:08:02] Or would you like to? Since you brought this up,

[2:08:05] would you like to make?

[2:08:08] A suggestion.

[2:08:10] I'm sorry. We can go round two before we make any

[2:08:12] suggestions or we can.

[2:08:14] Going to do the author of this.

[2:08:17] Councilman McCormick was going to say something.

[2:08:19] If that's OK.

[2:08:21] So yes, we should do a second round, so one and this is gonna be historic.

[2:08:27] I I agree with everything you just said there.

[2:08:29] So yeah, I this is something that I'm good with.

[2:08:32] If we want to loop it into another big Charter amendment,

[2:08:35] if we wanna do one wholesale, if we wanna wait a year.

[2:08:38] The only reason I brought this up now was again,

[2:08:40] it was a priority item that we had not action last year and we're just heading

[2:08:43] forward to our next.

[2:08:45] Forward-looking retreat.

[2:08:45] So I just wanna make sure was on the agenda.

[2:08:47] If it's still something we're interested in.

[2:08:49] Then I think we have the conversation in a couple set or a couple Thursdays from

[2:08:52] now. We don't necessarily have to do it

[2:08:54] tonight.

[2:08:54] So from a consensus standpoint, where I stand, Mr. Stevens,

[2:08:58] for your personal notes is I would just like to further this conversation at the

[2:09:02] forward-looking retreat.

[2:09:04] So you do not need a consensus from.

[2:09:08] I personally.

[2:09:09] All right.

[2:09:10] So you're not looking there was just an introduction.

[2:09:12] Are you OK that with that?

[2:09:13] Yeah. In fact, I was.

[2:09:14] I was gonna say before you said that that that's actually what I would prefer.

[2:09:17] Because you know, with this not being as as like with a

[2:09:20] detailed thing that you could actually determine what what our approach is.

[2:09:25] This really requires more of a conversation and it is gonna and it's

[2:09:29] it's gonna involve staff time.

[2:09:31] And so I think the better place to do it is in two weeks or a week when we when we

[2:09:35] do our priority. So we can rack and stack everything.

[2:09:38] Councillor Sampson, are you OK with that, Councillor Johnson?

[2:09:41] Yeah, I am OK with, you know, deferring whenever the time is

[2:09:45] appropriate. Just a quick clarification for round two.

[2:09:48] Just to be clear, it's not yet Chapter 17 of the code

[2:09:51] governs elections and the conduct of elections.

[2:09:54] I don't believe it would be necessary. The advertising of Republic here and

[2:09:58] there would just be two readings for code change,

[2:10:01] so it won't time consuming isn't in the Charter and I have the Charter here that

[2:10:05] I can look through that specifically.

[2:10:07] Says when we vote and the times we vote so. So it would be Mr. Stevens.

[2:10:13] Are you familiar with that?

[2:10:16] I'm not comfortable enough to go on the record right now without opening up the

[2:10:20] Charter.

[2:10:20] I don't need OK. And that's why I said if it's in the

[2:10:24] Charter and one one second if I could finish, please go ahead.

[2:10:29] Thank you.

[2:10:30] Sure. Article. Excuse me. Article. Yes. Article 7 talks about elections and you

[2:10:35] know nominations, etcetera. Chapter 17.

[2:10:37] You know the code governs the conduct of elections.

[2:10:40] And see we're not.

[2:10:40] We're not splitting hairs here on on what piece of governance document supersedes

[2:10:45] the other. I I agree that it it deserves a lot of

[2:10:48] conversation, but just for clearly that this would just

[2:10:51] be a not just it could.

[2:10:52] It could encompass to be more right, but on face value look like it'd just be

[2:10:56] some, some repeal and reenactments of of

[2:10:58] Chapter 17 of the town code, which won't necessarily require a public

[2:11:01] hearing, but two readings of the ordinance for

[2:11:04] adoption.

[2:11:05] Mr. Stevens, I mean, Mr.

[2:11:08] Pound since you are here, I do have the charger.

[2:11:15] After C7-10 conducted specifically.

[2:11:21] For long hours, the Council requires, since it is in the Charter,

[2:11:26] wouldn't this be a Charter amendment, that is public hearing?

[2:11:35] Mr. Stevenson, I can help implement exactly make sure

[2:11:38] that it is actually everything that you want to accomplish, but right now that is.

[2:11:44] The idea it sounds to me like the concepts of what you're looking for right

[2:11:48] now will require both the Charter amendment and a code amendment, OK.

[2:11:52] So, but then again, we're just talking about concepts, right?

[2:11:55] OK.

[2:11:56] All right. So, Mr. Stevens, you have our direction. I do. OK.

[2:12:01] Thank you very much.

[2:12:02] That brings us to 5.2, Maryland, Route 6 streetscape improvement project.

[2:12:09] OK. And while I'm pulling this up, I'm going to tell you that.

[2:12:14] We we are in conversations and are pursuing.

[2:12:19] Some replacement microphones for the for the Council chambers because we know

[2:12:22] we're having problems with them.

[2:12:24] They've been acting up over the last few months.

[2:12:26] We're looking at it and we are doing our very best to get some replacements in

[2:12:30] here as quickly as we can.

[2:12:31] So moving on to this agenda item, so to be clear,

[2:12:36] I wanted to bring this forward and and speak about this evening because in this

[2:12:42] instance.

[2:12:43] Since we are not a a partner of the Route 6 improvement project,

[2:12:47] we are a landowner with property that abuts the project area and I thought it

[2:12:52] was really important, this Council heard public comment a few

[2:12:56] months ago and and you heard a lot of things about how.

[2:13:00] This process will work out well.

[2:13:02] I think this is going to be really informative because this is the process

[2:13:07] and it is playing out.

[2:13:09] So in this instance, we are the landowner.

[2:13:12] The state has approached us.

[2:13:14] They provided us with a fair market appraisal.

[2:13:16] It's in your packet.

[2:13:17] It's in the public record.

[2:13:17] Anybody can look at it and they are asking us to sign the contract so that

[2:13:22] they can acquire town owned property for the rights of way to conduct.

[2:13:28] This this streetscape project, that's what this is.

[2:13:31] And so I'll jump into the background.

[2:13:34] The Maryland State Highway Administration, or SHA,

[2:13:37] is undertaking the Route 6 streetscape improvement project along Maryland Route

[2:13:43] 6.

[2:13:43] Just Charles Street from 301 all the way to Willow Lane on June 23rd,

[2:13:47] Council adopted Resolution 26-39, authorizing the mayor to execute a letter

[2:13:51] of support affirming the town's commitment to the project as it advances

[2:13:56] into construction construction of the.

[2:13:58] Project requires SHA to acquire land easements and construction rights from

[2:14:03] property owners along the corridor shown on the SAT plat number 62658.

[2:14:08] The Taliban Plata owns property within the project corridor and is being engaged

[2:14:13] by SHA as a property owner in this transaction in the same manner and under

[2:14:17] the same standard. Sha Instruments used with all other

[2:14:20] affected property owners along the corridor.

[2:14:22] Sha has presented the town with two.

[2:14:24] Option contracts covering the property rights needed from the town's parcel item

[2:14:30] 122415 is a standard option.

[2:14:32] Contract. This grants SHA the exclusive option for

[2:14:37] six months from execution to purchase the land easement, the land easements rights,

[2:14:44] privileges and controls shown on plat number 62658 for a total consideration of

[2:14:50] $16,900.

[2:14:51] This amount includes $16,875. 15 in payment for the contributory value

[2:14:56] of existing on site, improvements within the acquisition area,

[2:15:01] specifically asphalt pavement, concrete curb, concrete,

[2:15:04] sidewalk and landscaping.

[2:15:07] The contract also includes.

[2:15:09] Construction easement for a sidewalk construction driveway, tie,

[2:15:12] insurance erosion and sediment control and fine grading,

[2:15:15] which reverts to the town upon completion of construction.

[2:15:20] Item 121558 is a temporary construction easement option contract.

[2:15:24] This will grant shaa a separate temporary construction easement over an additional

[2:15:29] hatched area shown on the same plat for the same construction purposes for

[2:15:34] nominal consideration of $50.

[2:15:36] This write terminates and reverts to the town upon.

[2:15:39] Completion of construction, the consideration offered under both

[2:15:42] option contracts is based on independent market value appraisals prepared for the

[2:15:47] State Highway administration.

[2:15:48] And again, those appraisals are in your packet.

[2:15:52] Staff will present both option contracts in the staff report. However,

[2:15:55] because the instruments are separate legal documents,

[2:15:58] Council action will be requested on two separate resolutions later in the meeting

[2:16:02] for your consideration. That will be 1 resolution for each option

[2:16:05] contract.

[2:16:06] Your fiscal impact these transactions results in revenue to the town rather

[2:16:09] than.

[2:16:10] And an expenditure combined, the two option contracts provide total

[2:16:15] consideration of $16,950.

[2:16:17] That's 16, 950 under the first item and then the $50

[2:16:21] from the temporary construction easement to be paid by check from the treasurer of

[2:16:25] the state of Maryland payable to the town of El Paso upon SH as acceptance of the

[2:16:30] options and conveyance of.

[2:16:32] The described property rights execution of the option contracts does not obligate

[2:16:36] the town to any expenditure and no town funds.

[2:16:39] Or budget appropriation are required. The strategic plan alignment as well as

[2:16:44] your sustainability and ADA considerations are in your packet.

[2:16:48] Your recommended actions this evening are that that town council adopt two separate

[2:16:54] resolutions resolution #2668 authorizing the town manager to execute the standard

[2:16:59] option.

[2:17:00] Contract with the Maryland State Highway administration.

[2:17:02] That's item 1221415.

[2:17:05] The SHA project chapter 248 B 3-1.

[2:17:09] Granting Sha the option to acquire the land,

[2:17:12] easements and construction rights described therein for total consideration

[2:17:18] of $16,900.

[2:17:19] Resolution 2669 authorizing the town manager to execute the temporary

[2:17:22] construction easement option contract with the Maryland State Highway

[2:17:26] Administration, granting SHA the temporary construction

[2:17:29] easement described therein for consideration of $50.00,

[2:17:32] and I'm happy to answer your questions.

[2:17:35] Alright, cancel any questions.

[2:17:37] Councillor no, this this made a lot of sense.

[2:17:40] I really appreciate all the the annotations and the the appraisal stuff

[2:17:44] so we can see where it is and I and I know you know,

[2:17:46] continued improvements where Milton Sommers comes out.

[2:17:49] If you have kids that go there as I do over the years and then currently you.

[2:17:53] Know these are.

[2:17:54] These are much needed improvements, so again I'm looking forward to

[2:17:56] supporting this. Thank you.

[2:17:58] Thank you, Mr. Stevens, and please thank the staff that helped

[2:18:01] put this document together.

[2:18:03] Councilman Samson.

[2:18:05] Yeah, I'd like to tell the town Mandra. I thought it was a good document.

[2:18:10] Excellent work by the staff as usual.

[2:18:14] And just just for the record, I think it was already spelled out,

[2:18:17] but this will not impact any business owners or residents.

[2:18:20] This particular proposal correct.

[2:18:22] No, this is conveying town owned property

[2:18:25] along the project area at 4 SHA to use as right of way in easements.

[2:18:30] That's all I have, counselor. Chuck, I don't have anything.

[2:18:32] Thank you.

[2:18:33] I have one question. So it is as you described the easements,

[2:18:37] but what property rights are permanent?

[2:18:39] What are temporary and when do the temporary easements terminate and what

[2:18:44] restoration obligations does SHA have?

[2:18:48] OK.

[2:18:49] That was a handful of questions there. So the only temporary ones are the ones

[2:18:53] that are under the temporary construction easement, and those will revert back,

[2:18:57] usually at a conclusion of the project. Usually upon government acceptance of the

[2:19:01] projects, complete that temporary construction

[2:19:04] easement. That's normally when that.

[2:19:05] Would convey back. The others are permanent.

[2:19:07] So we would be selling that frontage of land and it's not much,

[2:19:11] it's in the packet.

[2:19:13] That will become state highway right of way.

[2:19:17] Enduring for in perpetuity.

[2:19:20] And their restoration obligations.

[2:19:24] Yes, I don't know.

[2:19:28] I.

[2:19:28] I don't recall if this contract addresses like landscaping remediation or not.

[2:19:34] That is typically a component of the overall project and I don't know of this

[2:19:39] right of way. Acquisition goes into that detail.

[2:19:44] All right, so I'm looking for a consensus to move

[2:19:47] this forward to legislation.

[2:19:49] Councilman guttenberg.

[2:19:50] Yes. Councilman McCormack? Yes, Councilman Sampson.

[2:19:53] Yes. Aye. For the record, Councilman Johnson has left for a moment,

[2:19:58] and I am a yes. So it will be seen in just a bit.

[2:20:01] All right, that goes.

[2:20:03] Brings us to legislation.

[2:20:09] Mr. Steve, OK, beginning with agenda item 6.1,

[2:20:13] this is Ordinance 26, Dash 19, Chapter 13, Council.

[2:20:18] This is the second reading for consideration of adoption.

[2:20:21] This is an ordinance concerning Chapter 13 Council for the purpose of amending

[2:20:25] Chapter 13 of the Code of the town of APDA to define the qualifications,

[2:20:29] duties and responsibilities of the Council chair and the method by which a

[2:20:33] temporary Presiding Officer shall be elected in the absence of.

[2:20:36] The Council and all matters generally relating thereto, thank you very much.

[2:20:41] Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance 2619 as presented?

[2:20:47] Said motion.

[2:20:48] Do I have a second second?

[2:20:51] Any discussion?

[2:20:53] I have already stated my objections and I still think that we could have changed

[2:20:59] the gender language all in favor. Please indicate by saying aye, aye,

[2:21:04] any opposed.

[2:21:06] Nay, motion carries Ordinance 26 and Please

[2:21:10] note that Councilman Johnson was not here to Vote Ordinance 26-20.

[2:21:16] This is ordinance 26-20.

[2:21:19] This is chapter 19191 zoning ordinance for the town of Laplata,

[2:21:24] Maryland accessory dwelling units.

[2:21:27] This is the second reading for consideration of adoption.

[2:21:30] This is an ordinance concerning Chapter 191.

[2:21:33] Zoning ordinance for the town of Olathe, Maryland. Accessory dwelling units.

[2:21:37] For the purpose of amending section 191-53B of Chapter 191 zoning of the

[2:21:42] Plata municipal code pertaining to accessory dwelling units or adus to

[2:21:46] ensure compliance with recent changes to Maryland law governing accessory dwelling

[2:21:52] units and all matters generally relating there.

[2:21:56] Thank you very much.

[2:21:57] Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance 26-20 as presented so moved?

[2:22:02] Do I have a second?

[2:22:03] Second, any discussion?

[2:22:06] I do have a question. We talked extensively about.

[2:22:11] The Adu application and we are just following state, but.

[2:22:18] Issue that was brought up last time was directly dealing with the HOA's and we,

[2:22:24] when Director Dooley was here, he said that there was something that we

[2:22:29] might be able to do on a form.

[2:22:32] It's on the form, at least it was in the past.

[2:22:34] Has that been addressed since we last discussed this?

[2:22:39] I have not discussed that further with the Planning Director now, OK, so.

[2:22:44] Is there a way that the application could require?

[2:22:51] The proper paperwork from an HOA not to delay the process of an Adu,

[2:22:56] but to work in conjunction with an active HOA.

[2:23:00] And there's only a couple of the HOA's that are active that would be impacted on

[2:23:06] this, but it just would prevent.

[2:23:10] Legal issues from the HOA.

[2:23:13] I think anything is possible and So what I would like to do is I would like to to

[2:23:17] talk with Director Dooley about that and really walk around the compass on that a

[2:23:21] little bit before we did that. But anything's possible.

[2:23:24] I think we can come back.

[2:23:26] To to council with a recommendation. OK, so prop motion has been made and properly

[2:23:32] seconded. All in favor of Ordinance 2620 as

[2:23:35] presented.

[2:23:36] Please indicate by saying aye, aye.

[2:23:39] Any opposed motion carries.

[2:23:41] We're on ordinance 2621, OK?

[2:23:44] This is ordinance 26-21 amendment to the town will play to fiscal year 2027 fee

[2:23:49] schedule. This is your second reading for

[2:23:52] consideration of adoption.

[2:23:53] This is an ordinance concerning an amendment to the town of Opel Plate,

[2:23:57] a fiscal year 2027 fee schedule, for the purpose of amending the fiscal

[2:24:01] year 2027 fee schedule dealing with fees set by the town of Opela and all matters

[2:24:05] generally relating thereto.

[2:24:08] Thank you very much.

[2:24:09] Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance 26-21 as presented so moved?

[2:24:16] Do I have a second, second? Any discussion?

[2:24:20] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye, aye.

[2:24:23] Anyone opposed motion carries brings us to resolution 26, dash 50. OK.

[2:24:29] This is resolution 26-50. This is a Charter amendment.

[2:24:33] The Powers, powers and duties of the mayor of the

[2:24:36] town of Halpera for production and consideration of adoption.

[2:24:39] This is a Charter amendment resolution concerning Charter amendment pair powers

[2:24:43] and duties of the mayor of the town of El Paso for the purposes of amending the

[2:24:47] Charter of the town of El Plata to eliminate language authorizing the mayor

[2:24:50] to call a special meeting that the mayor shall.

[2:24:53] Serve as the President of the Council and the process by which an acting President

[2:24:57] of the Council shall be appointed in the absence of the mayor.

[2:25:01] All right.

[2:25:02] Do I have a motion to adopt 20 resolution 26-50?

[2:25:07] As presented, so moved.

[2:25:10] Do I have a second second?

[2:25:11] Any discussion?

[2:25:14] I do.

[2:25:15] I just want it for the record I oppose Resolution 2650 for the reasons I stated

[2:25:20] in the public hearing. But I do want the record to reflect that.

[2:25:27] C4 Dash 3F as proposed, continues to expressly provide that the

[2:25:30] mayor may take part in all discussions and may vote on all issues before coming

[2:25:35] to council.

[2:25:38] Mr. Pounds, one last question.

[2:25:40] Is there anything in Resolution 2650 that restricts or diminishes that continuing?

[2:25:46] Charter, right?

[2:25:46] It does not include OK.

[2:25:50] All right, so we have a motion and it has been

[2:25:53] properly seconded.

[2:25:54] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye, aye.

[2:25:58] Sorry I I'm not an I any opposed. I am opposed all right.

[2:26:03] So it's for.

[2:26:05] I'm sorry, Madam Town clerk. Do you need that or was that clear?

[2:26:09] There were four IS and a nay.

[2:26:12] Madam Mayor, I am clear on the vote. Thank you.

[2:26:15] OK.

[2:26:16] Thank you.

[2:26:16] All right. That brings us to Resolution 26-53 for

[2:26:20] introduction and consideration of adoption.

[2:26:24] OK.

[2:26:24] This is resolution 2653.

[2:26:27] This is revision of the town Council Rules of Procedure,

[2:26:29] Council chair for introduction and consideration of adoption.

[2:26:33] This is a resolution concerning revision of town Council Rules of Procedure,

[2:26:37] Council chair for the purpose of revising the rules and guidelines for which the

[2:26:41] Council of the town of El Pasa Town Council operates.

[2:26:43] And all matters related thereto.

[2:26:46] Thank you very much.

[2:26:46] Do I have a motion to adopt resolution 26-53AS presented so moved.

[2:26:52] Do I have a second second?

[2:26:54] Any discussion again, Mr. Pounds, before we vote,

[2:26:57] I want one point clarified. For the record,

[2:27:00] do the Rules of Procedure before us preserve the mayor's full right under

[2:27:04] Charter C4 Dash 3F to participate in all Council discussions and vote on all

[2:27:09] issues, regardless of whether?

[2:27:11] The mayor is serving as council chair.

[2:27:13] Thank you. I want that interpretation clearly

[2:27:16] reflected in the record.

[2:27:17] So we have a motion and that has been properly seconded. All in favor,

[2:27:23] please indicate by saying aye. Any opposed nay motion carries resolution

[2:27:29] 26-54.

[2:27:30] All right, this is resolution 2654. Initial election of council chair for

[2:27:34] introduction and consideration of adoption.

[2:27:37] A resolution concerning initial election of Council chair for the purpose of

[2:27:40] conducting a special election of the Council chair.

[2:27:44] Thank you very much.

[2:27:45] A motion to adopt resolution 26-54AS presented.

[2:27:49] So moved. Do I have a second second? Any discussion?

[2:27:54] Yeah, I have a point of clarity when we

[2:27:57] discussed when the individual elected pursuant to Resolution 2654 actually

[2:28:02] assumes the duty.

[2:28:05] And authority of the Council chair until that date. And this is to you, Mr. Pounds,

[2:28:10] until that date, who serves as providing Officer of

[2:28:13] Council and under what provision?

[2:28:16] Bill, there is a change.

[2:28:18] Madam Mary, you will remain in that office until

[2:28:20] there is a formal change, OK?

[2:28:22] Could you identify the provision that provides that for?

[2:28:26] Continuity.

[2:28:30] In the.

[2:28:30] In the what document I'm just getting it on the record.

[2:28:37] OK.

[2:28:39] All right. So motion has been made and properly

[2:28:42] seconded, all in favor of adopting this as

[2:28:46] presented.

[2:28:46] Please indicate by saying aye, aye. Any opposed nay resolution motion carries

[2:28:55] resolution 2668 OK.

[2:28:58] This is resolution 2668.

[2:29:00] This is the Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland Route 6.

[2:29:04] Charles St.

[2:29:05] St. escaping project.

[2:29:07] Deck contract for acquisition of town owned property rights for introduction

[2:29:11] and consideration of adoption.

[2:29:14] This is a resolution concerning the Maryland State Highway Administration,

[2:29:18] Maryland Route 6, Charles St. Streetscaping project contract for

[2:29:21] acquisition of town owned property rights for the purpose of authorizing the town

[2:29:25] manager to execute a standard option contract with the Maryland State Highway

[2:29:30] administration, granting SHA the.

[2:29:31] Option to acquire the land easements and construction rights related to

[2:29:35] improvements along Maryland Route 6.

[2:29:37] Charles Strait from US Route 301 to Willow Lane,

[2:29:40] described therein and all matters generally relating thereto.

[2:29:45] Thank you very much.

[2:29:46] Do I have a motion to adopt resolution 26-68AS presented?

[2:29:50] Do I have a second, second? Any discussion?

[2:29:56] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

[2:29:59] Any opposed motion carries. This takes us to our last piece of

[2:30:03] legislation for this evening, resolution 26-69.

[2:30:06] OK.

[2:30:07] This is resolution 26-69.

[2:30:09] This is the Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland route 6,

[2:30:13] Charles St. Streetscaping project contract for

[2:30:15] acquisition of town owned property rights for introduction and consideration of

[2:30:19] adoption.

[2:30:20] This is a resolution concerning the Maryland State Highway Administration,

[2:30:24] Maryland Route 6, Charles St. Streetscaping project contract for

[2:30:28] acquisition of town owned property rights for the purpose of authorizing the town

[2:30:32] manager to execute a temporary easement option contract.

[2:30:35] With the Maryland State Highway administration granting shaa temporary

[2:30:39] construction easement related to improvements along Maryland Route 6,

[2:30:44] Charles St. from US Route 301 to Willow Lane

[2:30:46] described therein, and all matters generally relating

[2:30:49] thereto.

[2:30:50] Thank you very much.

[2:30:51] Do I have a motion to adopt?

[2:30:54] Sorry, just lost it to adopt Resolution 26-69 as

[2:31:00] presented.

[2:31:02] So moved. Do I have a second second? Any discussion?

[2:31:06] All in favor, please indicate by saying aye, aye.

[2:31:11] Any opposed motion carries.

[2:31:13] All right. That brings us to reports from the Town

[2:31:16] Council Council Gutenberg, yes.

[2:31:20] So last week the Planning Commission had a a really good,

[2:31:25] robust conversation about zoning text, amendments for water conservation.

[2:31:31] And landscaping, really, our conversation really focused around

[2:31:35] the water conservation element of the zoning text amendments that that are

[2:31:40] being considered and I I think if if members of the Council did not see it,

[2:31:45] I think it that that's a really good one to watch because the plan.

[2:31:50] Commission is definitely pushing up against the the walls of what we can do

[2:31:54] within the confines of a of a zoning text amendment from the Planning Commission's

[2:31:59] viewpoint.

[2:32:00] Point and and we're kind of exploring with staff what some of the other needs

[2:32:05] are.

[2:32:05] I think that that we see is my my impression of of what we talked about and.

[2:32:12] I think I think this is one that you know, we're going to have a lot of conversation

[2:32:16] on to to get this one right. And and it's probably my opinion is,

[2:32:20] is it's probably going to require.

[2:32:23] Additional things to.

[2:32:26] To to really meet the needs of our of our businesses and and our residents.

[2:32:31] Related to water conservation and where we are with with water allocation

[2:32:35] capacity and new development and then so that this one is, yeah,

[2:32:39] it's going to take it's probably going to take a little bit of time to get this

[2:32:43] right but it's it's good conversations, it's good it.

[2:32:46] It's stuff that's really needed to be talked about,

[2:32:49] really proud of the Planning Commission and the way that everyone was.

[2:32:53] We we went through multiple rounds and and and really kind of shaped.

[2:32:59] You know a path forward and I I think as a group we kind of felt good about the

[2:33:02] work that that was done and still more work to do on it and that's all.

[2:33:06] Thank you, councillor McCormick.

[2:33:08] Yes, thank you.

[2:33:10] We have a big audience here.

[2:33:11] So what I would ask is if you guys have an opportunity to read the town manager's

[2:33:15] operational reports in this agenda, there's two things I just want to call

[2:33:18] out and say thank you to Mr. Stevens for during my report.

[2:33:21] The first is obviously the water conservation policy development plan.

[2:33:25] Councilman Gutenberg just touched on it, but the Planning Commission,

[2:33:28] robust conversation, really great.

[2:33:29] Glad that instructions been given down that subcommittee's taking action.

[2:33:32] I look forward to future conversations there.

[2:33:34] The 2nd is the facilities master plan moving to phase two.

[2:33:37] Thank you for that update.

[2:33:38] That's something I'm personally interested in.

[2:33:40] I know the Council directed you to do so, and I'm just very happy to see that we

[2:33:43] continue to remain on schedule for a January 27 completion.

[2:33:46] So thank you very much for those updates.

[2:33:48] The final thing.

[2:33:49] Probably lost in a lot of the conversation we had.

[2:33:51] Tonight was that the town recognized our prisoners of wars and those that are

[2:33:55] missing action.

[2:33:56] It's very important to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice are

[2:34:00] currently out there, still fighting for our freedoms and

[2:34:02] trying to find their way home, and I'm really glad the Council took

[2:34:05] action to go ahead and recognize that proclamation.

[2:34:07] I think that's huge and I really just want to thank all five or all four of you

[2:34:11] up here with me.

[2:34:11] So thank you for doing that tonight.

[2:34:14] Thank you, Councilman Sampson.

[2:34:15] Nothing, Councilman Johnson. No report. Thank you.

[2:34:18] Alright, thank you.

[2:34:19] And I do have a report. First of all, I'd like everyone just to take a moment

[2:34:24] on Friday.

[2:34:25] It's 9/11 25 years ago our world's changed so.

[2:34:31] Just remember that but.

[2:34:34] In accordance with section 3-3 of the Town Council Rules of Procedure,

[2:34:38] I would like this statement included in the Minutes for the record and I will

[2:34:42] provide the town clerk with a written copy.

[2:34:45] I want to thank everyone who reached out to me over the past.

[2:34:48] Few weeks.

[2:34:50] From state elected officials to other elected officials throughout Maryland,

[2:34:56] to my friends, to my families, to my residents, to the residents here,

[2:35:02] your outreach.

[2:35:05] Means the world to me.

[2:35:07] Tonight's discussion should concern every resident of Laplata,

[2:35:11] regardless of how you have how anybody feels about the current mayor.

[2:35:16] Me, the mayor and Council form of government

[2:35:19] we are discussing did not begin with me and it did not begin with this Council La

[2:35:25] Plata change to a mayor and four council member form of government in the 1960s

[2:35:30] for more than six decades, successive mayors and council.

[2:35:34] Have governed under that basic structure during that time.

[2:35:38] There have undoubtedly been disagreements, difficult personalities,

[2:35:43] procedural mistakes and political differences.

[2:35:46] That is government.

[2:35:49] The answer has not historically been to restructure the powers of an elected

[2:35:54] office because members of 1 Council are dissatisfied with the person currently

[2:35:59] occupying it.

[2:36:00] Tonight I repeatedly asked for the objective,

[2:36:04] governmental failure that requires this remedy.

[2:36:07] I ask what town business has ultimately failed.

[2:36:10] I asked what measurable standard is being applied.

[2:36:13] I asked what actual harm to our residents.

[2:36:15] Requires changing the Charter rather than addressing procedural concerns through

[2:36:20] our existing rules.

[2:36:21] I asked.

[2:36:22] Why powers unrelated to presiding over meetings must be removed.

[2:36:26] Those questions matter because changing the Charter should be about the long term

[2:36:31] governance of laplata, not the relationships among five people

[2:36:35] who happen to occupy these seats today.

[2:36:39] This process also has a cost, public hearings, legal reviews,

[2:36:44] staff preparation, required advertising and publications all

[2:36:49] consume town resources.

[2:36:51] Those resources belong to our residents. If we are going to spend their money

[2:36:57] changing the structure of government, then we owe them something more than

[2:37:02] personal disagreement.

[2:37:03] We owe them a documented governmental problem and a remedy proportion to that

[2:37:09] problem. The residents elected all five of us.

[2:37:13] They did not elect us to spend our term fighting one another.

[2:37:17] They elected us to maintain their infrastructure.

[2:37:21] Protect their public safety.

[2:37:23] Manage their tax dollars responsibly.

[2:37:26] Support economic development, plan for growth and make La Plata a

[2:37:32] better place to live.

[2:37:34] I cannot support using the town charter as the instrument for resolving

[2:37:40] disagreements with current office holders. If a provision of our government

[2:37:47] genuinely no longer works demonstrate that failure.

[2:37:52] Establish an objective, standard considered alternatives.

[2:37:56] Involve the public fully and then fix it for the future,

[2:38:01] but changing the powers of an elected office during an incumbent's term,

[2:38:07] while declining residence request for additional time so others may comment,

[2:38:14] sends exactly the wrong message about whose government this is.

[2:38:20] This is not our government.

[2:38:23] It belongs to the residents of Laplata.

[2:38:26] Our obligation is to serve them and with this, this meeting is adjourned.

Town Council

Agenda

Transcript