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The recording has begun.

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Good evening, everyone,
and welcome to our regular meeting on

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September 8th, 2026.

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I would like to officially call this
meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

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Madam Town clerk,
will you please do a roll call?

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Councilman gutenberg.

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Here.

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Councilman McCormack.

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Here here.

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Councilman Sampson.

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Councilman Johnson.

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Here here.

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Mayor James.

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Madam Mayor, you have a quorum.

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Thank you very much.
And if you all would please stand for the

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Pledge of Allegiance,
I am going to have our scouts start us

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off with the Pledge of Allegiance, please.

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Space of America and to the Republic for
which it stands.

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One nation under God, indivisible,
with Liberty and justice for all.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very much, scouts.

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Council,
if you've had a moment to look at

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tonight's agenda,
I will entertain a motion to approve.

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Some thank you very much.

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Do I have a second second?

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Thank you. Any discussion.

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All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye, aye.

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Next on our agenda is our public hearing
for the Charter amendment.

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Before officially calling the public,
the first public hearing to order,

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I would like to ask the town clerk to
review the procedures for tonight's

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hearing. Madam clerk.

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Would you please review the procedures
for this evening's public hearing?

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Town of La Plata public hearings are
conducted in the following manner.

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Call to order review of public notices,
summary of town Staff report and

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recommendations.

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Questions by the town council and town
staff.

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Written documents entered into the record
speakers from the public.

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Additional questions by the Town Council
closing of the public hearing.

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Written documents for the record
submitted in advance of the public

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hearing are provided to the presiding
officer.

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Prior to the opening of the public
hearing at the appropriate time,

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the presiding officer will call
registered speakers to the podium

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speakers who have registered to speak in
advance via the town Web page will be

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recognized prior to speakers who have
registered upon arrival at the public

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hearing.

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At the discretion of the presiding
officer,

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speaker's comments may be limited to
three minutes and may not be yielded to

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another person.

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A sign in sheet was provided at the entry
of Council chambers for any public

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hearing attendees to register.

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To speak if they have not already done so
in advance via the town Web page

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registration to speak will end when the
public hearing is opened.

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Thank you very much.

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Is there anyone who hasn't registered who
would like to speak?

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Register now before I officially open
this meeting.

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OK.

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Thank you for joining us.

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I would like to officially open this
public hearing on the proposed Charter

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amendment Resolution 26,
dash 50 powers and duties of the mayor of

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the town of Laplata at 6:03 PM.

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Madam Clerk has the notice of public
hearing.

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Been properly advertised.

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Yes, Madam mayor. For the record,
this public hearing was advertised in the

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Southern Maryland News on August 14th,
2026.

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A copy of the certificate of Publication
and the advertisement is attached to the

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meeting agenda.
Notice of this hearing was also posted on

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the town of La Plata's website,
Facebook page, and on civic clerk.

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The town's the town's agenda and meeting
management platform.

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Thank you very much.

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Will staff provide recommendations
regarding the proposed Charter Amendment

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Resolution 2650,
powers and duties of mayor of the town of

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Laplata?

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Alright, good evening. Council. Stevens,
your town manager.

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I'm going to go over the the same staff
report that we gave to you during the

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last meeting.

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So it is going to be a little bit of a
replaying of the same field,

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

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2026,
Town council discussed potential updates

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to the town's governance documents.

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Concerning the powers and duties of the
mayor,

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only to discuss direct staff to prepare
for legislative action, the 1st to turn.

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Resolution.

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Four, Section 3,
letter F of the Charter that designates

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the mayor as the President of the Council
with a public hearing scheduled no later

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than today, September 8th, 2026.

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#2.

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Updated language in the Council's Rules
of Procedure establishing the process for

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appointing the Council chair.

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To take effect on the 50th day following
posting of the Charter Amendment

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resolution and finally #3,
an ordinance repealing and replacing

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section 13-4, the town code,
the language Presiding Officer to replace

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references to the mayor with the Council
chair or similarly appropriate language

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staff has.

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Prepared 4 documents in response to that
direction.

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Charter Amendment Resolution 26, task 50.

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Ordinance 26-19,
amending Chapter 13 of the town code.

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Resolution 2653.

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Adopting revised rules of Procedure
establishing the Council chair and

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Resolution 26-54,
establishing A1 time process for the

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initial election of the Council chair,
because these documents are

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interdependent and collectively implement
a single governance change staff is

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presenting them together as a single
agenda.

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Item so that Council may review the full
package in context,

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even though each document will be acted
upon individually under its own

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legislative process.

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The proposed methodology and timeline.

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Are as follows.

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Follows first on August 25th,
all four governors documents were

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presented to the town council for your
review.

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The first reading of Ordinance 2619 was
the only formal legislative action taken

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at that meeting this evening.
All four documents are again being

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presented to town council under matters
of discussion.

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I'm sorry, under this public hearing.
And then during this the meeting this

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evening,
the Council will hold the required public

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hearing on Charter Amendment Resolution
2650 and the Council may take up for

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consideration of adoption resolutions
26-50 resolution 26-53.

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Resolution 26-54 and the second reading
of Ordinance 2619.

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During the August 25th, 2026 meeting,
Town council discussed the use of the

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pronoun he in the draft legislation.
Staff used the masculine pronoun during

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draft and maintain consistency with
existing town charter and town code

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language.

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Which similarly uses masculine pronouns
throughout the town.

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Charter currently provides that and in
quotes women shall have equal privileges

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with men and registering,
voting and holding town offices in quotes,

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and that whenever the masculine gender
has been used as to any registering,

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voting or holding town office,
it shall be construed to include the

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feminine GE.

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And that's in the Charter C7 Dash 18.

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Similarly, the town code provides that.

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Words importing the masculine gender
shall include the feminine and neuter,

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and that's in chapter one.
Dash 9B2 of the town code.

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To ensure the governance change takes
effect uniformly and without a gap or

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overlap between the outgoing and incoming
presiding officer structures.

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All four documents carry a synchronized
effective date of October 28th, 2026.

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The date satisfies the 50 day posting
requirement applicable to the Charter

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amendment and aligns each companion
action to a single point at which the new

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structure takes effect.

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State law awards registered voters of the
town of Referendum opportunity following

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adoption of the Charter Amendment
resolution immediately following adoption,

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the town must post an exact copy of the
resolution at the main municipal building

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for 40 consecutive days.

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Concurrently,
a fair summary of the resolution must be

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published in a local newspaper four times
at weekly intervals within those 40 days.

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If no petition for a referendum is filed
by the public,

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the amendment automatically goes into
effect on the 50th day after it was

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adopted.

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If a if a qualified position is received,
all related legislative actions will be

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held in abeyance and staff will bring the
matter back before the town Council for

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consideration of holding all previous
legislative actions in abandoned at the

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October 27th Town council meeting.

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So your key dates are this evening the
public hearing,

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which was just opened and adoption of
resolution 26-50, the Charter amendment.

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October 18th will be the end of the
posting slash publication period and a

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qualified petition.

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Must be delivered to town staff.

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October 28th,
the Charter amendment would go into

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effect November 10th.
Town council would have would elect its

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new presiding officer and November 24th
the newly elected presiding officer would

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assume that position.

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These actions are administrative and
governments related in nature and there's

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no budget appropriation.

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New expenditure or new revenue source
associated with the legislative package.

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No Grant funding is involved.

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The strategic plan alignment,
the sustainability considerations,

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the ADA considerations are all in your
packet for your review and they remain

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unchanged from the August 25th meeting.

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The recommended action for you this
evening.

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Is that town council take the following
companion actions on the dates indicated,

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each with a synchronized effect.

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Date of October 28th.
So in order adopt Ordinance 26 Dash 19.

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That's the second reading for
consideration of adoption adopt

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Resolution 26-50.

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That's the charter amendment for
consideration of adoption.

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Adopt resolution 26-53.
The Rules of Procedure and adopt

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Resolution 26-54.
The election of the presiding officer.

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Again,
all of those would have an effective date

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of October 28.

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That's all I have for you this evening,
pending your questions.

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All right.

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Does Council have any questions for Mr.
Stevens? No.

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Well, good 'cause I do.

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All right. So the first thing, Mr.
Stevens,

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your staff report says that changes
directly advances the town's goal of good

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governance and strengthens public trust.

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What objective evidence or documented
governance problems did staff rely upon

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to reach that conclusion?

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I think that the the discourse of this
Council is exercising here by bringing

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this issue to light,
holding a public forum,

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having a transparent process.

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When we talk about good governance,
those are tenants of that. So when?

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I.

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When I make a statement like that in the
staff report,

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that's what I'm referring to.

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So you're not saying that you're
supporting or not supporting this,

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but good governance for the for
reasonable person,

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they would think that your staff report
says that you're in favor of this.

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This is good governance because you
drafted this for sure, so the staff,

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as you know we we.

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Do our very best to stay apolitical and
we do our very best to walk a balancing

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act.

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Between implementing the will of this
Council, which is our job,

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that's what we do and then running the
town and the corporate entity that is the

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town of Alpleta.
So we we it's a balancing act and we walk

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a fine line to try and remain neutral and
remain.

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Unbiased,
the majority of this Council directed

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this action,
so the staff put this together.

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The majority of Council has.

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Consistently been in consensus to move
this forward.

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So staff is bringing it forward as
directed.

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So that explains why it was drafted,
but it doesn't explain the factual basis

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for staff representing to the public at
in.

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Your in your report that removing powers
from the Office of the Mayor advances

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good governance and public trust.

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What I mean, like I said,
you're trying to stay apolitical.

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I get.

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I get that.

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But whatever evidence supports your good
governance other than its transparency.

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I'm not sure I understand the question.

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Reasonable person reading your good
governance will say that.

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You your report supports the removing
powers from the Office of the Mayor,

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advances good governance and Public Trust.

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I think that this Council is elected by
the constituents of this town and each

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Council member that sits on this dais has
an obligation and a duty to represent.

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Present the constituents to the best
their ability, a consensus.

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A majority of this Council has asked for
this policy change and so that's what

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staff has prepared for you.
I believe that the good governance piece

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

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We're doing it in an incredibly
transparent way.

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Everything is above board.

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And that,
I think is is one of the the basic

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pillars of how democracy works.

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So I I stand by the statement that it's
good governance, OK.

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You just reported that.

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You did not change the gender language
and you justified why you did not change

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the general.
The the key to general because it's

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throughout the document. That's correct.

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Are you aware of the Maryland code?

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00:14:49,116 --> 00:14:54,556
State government chapter 2,
dash 124811 requires Maryland statutory

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00:14:54,556 --> 00:15:00,796
style manual to contain a drafting rule
calling to the extent to practicable.

240
00:15:01,666 --> 00:15:07,753
For words that are neutral as to gender
and Maryland style manual like way

241
00:15:07,753 --> 00:15:13,435
likewise favors avoiding gendered
pronouns in the statutory drafting,

242
00:15:13,435 --> 00:15:19,441
we had an opportunity and this was
discussed last time in length to we're

243
00:15:19,441 --> 00:15:21,146
not doing the entire.

244
00:15:22,636 --> 00:15:24,556
Charter and we're doing it piece meal.

245
00:15:26,026 --> 00:15:29,626
And at that time, it could have been done.

246
00:15:29,986 --> 00:15:33,946
Simply remove the he and the Council
chair.

247
00:15:35,436 --> 00:15:37,356
Shall state every question instead of he.

248
00:15:37,396 --> 00:15:38,556
Yet that was not done.

249
00:15:40,276 --> 00:15:43,583
Again,
a reasonable person would see that they

250
00:15:43,583 --> 00:15:47,876
are trying to strip the powers and duties
of a female mayor.

251
00:15:48,036 --> 00:15:52,356
Yet that still stayed in after a robust
conversation on that.

252
00:15:52,706 --> 00:15:55,546
Are you aware of the Maryland code?

253
00:15:56,506 --> 00:15:58,470
I am aware,
and this Council has had this

254
00:15:58,470 --> 00:16:01,415
conversation and then going back to a
meeting we had in April,

255
00:16:01,415 --> 00:16:05,249
and I think if this Council wants to give
me direction this evening to change the

256
00:16:05,249 --> 00:16:08,194
language that's presented here this
evening to gender neutral,

257
00:16:08,194 --> 00:16:09,036
we're happy to do.

258
00:16:09,036 --> 00:16:12,759
It I said that on the 25th and and I'm
happy to do it tonight.

259
00:16:12,759 --> 00:16:14,946
I mean it's it's it's easy to change.

260
00:16:14,946 --> 00:16:19,394
It was drafted the way that it was to be
consistent with the code that that's

261
00:16:19,394 --> 00:16:20,306
already written.

262
00:16:20,386 --> 00:16:24,163
I mean, you don't want to get, you know,
read the 1st 12 chapters of the code and

263
00:16:24,163 --> 00:16:26,604
it's all he.
And then all of a sudden in Chapter 13,

264
00:16:26,604 --> 00:16:28,861
which is where the first change is taking
place,

265
00:16:28,861 --> 00:16:30,796
is all of a sudden now you get a shift to.

266
00:16:30,796 --> 00:16:31,586
Gender neutral.

267
00:16:31,626 --> 00:16:35,426
So it was drafted intentionally to be
consistent with the code.

268
00:16:35,546 --> 00:16:40,186
The code recognizes its shortfallings you
know its shortcomings.

269
00:16:40,666 --> 00:16:45,227
It acknowledges that the code and the
Charter don't use gender neutral language

270
00:16:45,227 --> 00:16:49,447
and I I think that addressing that
holistically is something that I would

271
00:16:49,447 --> 00:16:53,666
like to see this Council do in in the
future. And if we want to, to make.

272
00:16:54,476 --> 00:16:54,516
A.

273
00:16:54,516 --> 00:16:55,956
A change to the language that's.

274
00:16:56,346 --> 00:16:59,905
That's being considered here this evening.
The staff is happy to take it back and

275
00:16:59,905 --> 00:17:00,426
change that.

276
00:17:01,916 --> 00:17:02,116
OK.

277
00:17:02,196 --> 00:17:07,035
But when we had the opportunity to do
that when that first draft came out,

278
00:17:07,035 --> 00:17:08,196
that was not done.

279
00:17:09,236 --> 00:17:13,125
I did not receive any direction from this
Council to make that change at the end of

280
00:17:13,125 --> 00:17:14,236
the August 25th meeting.

281
00:17:14,356 --> 00:17:15,916
OK. And that is very telling.

282
00:17:17,556 --> 00:17:20,383
Separate from changing who presides over
council meetings,

283
00:17:20,383 --> 00:17:23,785
what documented governmental or
operational problems has resulted from

284
00:17:23,785 --> 00:17:26,756
the mayor having charter authority to
call a special meeting.

285
00:17:29,146 --> 00:17:30,546
Is that a question for me, Madam?

286
00:17:31,026 --> 00:17:34,146
I don't know that I have an answer for
that. I don't have a response to that, OK.

287
00:17:34,146 --> 00:17:36,066
So this has changed.

288
00:17:36,106 --> 00:17:41,985
This this is being changed so nothing.
So you can state that there's been

289
00:17:41,985 --> 00:17:48,102
nothing operational that a mayor calling,
removing the duty official meeting

290
00:17:48,102 --> 00:17:53,266
because that is being proposed tonight
where the mayor had that.

291
00:17:54,996 --> 00:17:57,459
Right.
Or Charter given right and that this is

292
00:17:57,459 --> 00:17:58,036
being true?

293
00:17:58,266 --> 00:18:01,106
To your knowledge, this has never been.

294
00:18:03,576 --> 00:18:08,035
I think what's being proposed for
consideration this evening is is shifting

295
00:18:08,035 --> 00:18:10,616
that responsibility to a presiding
officer.

296
00:18:13,296 --> 00:18:17,225
So I think it's more of a nomenclature
change than it would be in have an

297
00:18:17,225 --> 00:18:21,101
operational impact. I I'd I'd be,
I think you'd be a stretch to see that

298
00:18:21,101 --> 00:18:25,296
there would be an operational impact. OK.
So Council gave you direction on the

299
00:18:25,296 --> 00:18:26,836
journey and the Council gave.

300
00:18:27,216 --> 00:18:33,870
You direction to preside I mean to
proceed with the removing of the powers

301
00:18:33,870 --> 00:18:37,596
and duties of the mayor. Correct? Correct.

302
00:18:38,016 --> 00:18:41,620
All right,
before presenting the Charter amendment,

303
00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:46,193
removing these existing authorities from
the Office of the mayor,

304
00:18:46,193 --> 00:18:48,896
did you look at any other alternatives?

305
00:18:50,836 --> 00:18:53,476
Meaning I know that it was directed.

306
00:18:53,476 --> 00:18:54,836
Council directed this.

307
00:18:54,876 --> 00:19:00,223
Did you do an independent analysis of any
alternatives before characterizing this

308
00:19:00,223 --> 00:19:02,636
package as advancing good governance?

309
00:19:02,636 --> 00:19:06,836
Or did staff implement the majorities
request which you have said before?

310
00:19:07,426 --> 00:19:10,346
But was there any other conversation
saying?

311
00:19:11,836 --> 00:19:16,276
Have you looked at AB and C When this was
presented to you by Council member?

312
00:19:16,276 --> 00:19:19,633
Sure, I I've done extensive research,
in fact,

313
00:19:19,633 --> 00:19:23,276
of the last summer conference in MML,
I sat in on.

314
00:19:23,276 --> 00:19:27,009
I don't remember the name of the class,
but there was a robust conversation about

315
00:19:27,009 --> 00:19:28,876
charters and and structure of government.

316
00:19:28,876 --> 00:19:33,889
I think it was called and and that was
right around the time where I was really

317
00:19:33,889 --> 00:19:36,396
into the the heavy lift of editing this.

318
00:19:36,706 --> 00:19:41,386
So I did have sidebar conversation with
the two attorneys that presented that

319
00:19:41,386 --> 00:19:41,746
class.

320
00:19:43,236 --> 00:19:45,057
And thought about it if if that's what
you're asking.

321
00:19:45,057 --> 00:19:46,676
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking,
but I.

322
00:19:46,676 --> 00:19:51,792
But but I guess my my drafting of this
document was informed by the direction

323
00:19:51,792 --> 00:19:53,956
that I received from the Council.

324
00:19:54,156 --> 00:19:57,152
And then,
like anything that I draft for Council's

325
00:19:57,152 --> 00:19:59,796
consideration,
I try to do my due diligence.

326
00:19:59,796 --> 00:20:00,756
I look across the state.

327
00:20:00,756 --> 00:20:05,876
I look across my own experience and I try
to bring forward language that.

328
00:20:06,346 --> 00:20:09,235
That meets the intent of counsel first
and foremost,

329
00:20:09,235 --> 00:20:13,106
and and do so in a way that's going to
benefit our community at large.

330
00:20:13,746 --> 00:20:15,666
I tried to do that here OK.

331
00:20:16,066 --> 00:20:20,708
So your fiscal impact statement says
there's no new expenditure associated

332
00:20:20,708 --> 00:20:25,103
with this package yet this process
requires a public hearing newspaper

333
00:20:25,103 --> 00:20:30,426
advertising four times legal review staff,
staff preparation and administrative time.

334
00:20:30,586 --> 00:20:35,546
What is the estimated total cost of the
town of processing this charter amendment?

335
00:20:36,446 --> 00:20:37,966
We would have to calculate that for you.

336
00:20:37,966 --> 00:20:42,603
I don't have that number. OK.
So it's a little misleading to say that

337
00:20:42,603 --> 00:20:44,326
there is no fiscal impact.

338
00:20:44,326 --> 00:20:48,499
I'm sure that we have some line items on
there,

339
00:20:48,499 --> 00:20:55,803
but to say that there's no fiscal impact,
a reasonable person would think that this

340
00:20:55,803 --> 00:20:56,846
is not free.

341
00:20:57,006 --> 00:21:01,046
I mean that this is not free and and the
the fiscal impact.

342
00:21:01,716 --> 00:21:03,468
Section doesn't say there's no fiscal
impact,

343
00:21:03,468 --> 00:21:06,211
it just says that there's no budget
appropriation to expenditure or new

344
00:21:06,211 --> 00:21:06,516
revenue.

345
00:21:07,226 --> 00:21:10,786
Associated with the legislative and that
no grant funding is involved there.

346
00:21:10,786 --> 00:21:14,741
There's certainly costs all the costs
that you just stated that that would be

347
00:21:14,741 --> 00:21:18,746
associated with this and we can calculate
that cost if if Council desires, OK.

348
00:21:18,746 --> 00:21:21,906
But someone reading that that is not
clear.

349
00:21:22,106 --> 00:21:22,946
It would.

350
00:21:23,626 --> 00:21:26,926
Unless they know how a public hearing
works,

351
00:21:26,926 --> 00:21:32,426
because the way it was worded sounds like
there's no impact on the budget.

352
00:21:33,476 --> 00:21:35,956
I do have a question for Mr. Pounds.

353
00:21:45,006 --> 00:21:47,926
Good evening. For the record, Todd Pounds,
representing the town of Will play.

354
00:21:49,266 --> 00:21:55,266
So I spent quite a bit of time reviewing
this as I'm sure you have too.

355
00:21:55,986 --> 00:22:00,946
So for the public record,
can you identify each existing?

356
00:22:03,076 --> 00:22:08,250
Power Authority or express protection of
the Office of the mayor that will be

357
00:22:08,250 --> 00:22:13,025
removed, transferred or altered.
If this complete governance package is

358
00:22:13,025 --> 00:22:13,556
adopted.

359
00:22:15,396 --> 00:22:20,139
I think the basically the ordinances and
all these documents speak for themselves

360
00:22:20,139 --> 00:22:23,956
as to what the new positions of the
Council, you know, will take.

361
00:22:24,466 --> 00:22:29,272
And all the representation and the
authority of the Council and how it will

362
00:22:29,272 --> 00:22:34,016
be enacted for future meetings.
And I know they're all in the legislation.

363
00:22:34,016 --> 00:22:38,506
But I'm asking you, as the town attorney,
to explain its legal effect.

364
00:22:38,506 --> 00:22:43,951
What authority or express protection does
the office of mayor have today that it

365
00:22:43,951 --> 00:22:47,716
will no longer have once this legislation
takes effect?

366
00:22:48,146 --> 00:22:50,850
Basically,
there will be a new individual who's

367
00:22:50,850 --> 00:22:54,286
elected by the Council,
who will in essence preside over the

368
00:22:54,286 --> 00:22:57,666
Council meetings and really that is it's
as simple as that.

369
00:22:59,276 --> 00:22:59,436
OK.

370
00:23:01,306 --> 00:23:04,506
Coordinates 26-19 deletes the existing
provision,

371
00:23:04,506 --> 00:23:09,690
expressly stating that the mayor may take
part in all discussion and vote on all

372
00:23:09,690 --> 00:23:11,546
issues coming before Council.

373
00:23:11,586 --> 00:23:16,054
What provision in the proposed governance
package replaces or preserves that

374
00:23:16,054 --> 00:23:19,536
express language,
the power of the mayor will not change at

375
00:23:19,536 --> 00:23:22,786
all other than the presiding over this
Council meeting.

376
00:23:22,826 --> 00:23:25,066
Yet that is deleted in the Charter.

377
00:23:25,106 --> 00:23:25,746
It's still.

378
00:23:26,516 --> 00:23:27,476
It's not deleted, it's amended.

379
00:23:31,116 --> 00:23:35,236
It is, well,
the ordinance 2619 deletes it.

380
00:23:35,756 --> 00:23:38,978
It removes it that that,
that that will be amended,

381
00:23:38,978 --> 00:23:42,323
but all the powers of the mayor will
remain the same,

382
00:23:42,323 --> 00:23:47,156
except for how this meeting is presided
over. OK. I'll come back to that one.

383
00:23:53,816 --> 00:23:56,696
All right. So if I just heard you right.

384
00:23:58,196 --> 00:24:03,045
Your legal opinion after this package,
if this package is if this package of

385
00:24:03,045 --> 00:24:08,209
resolutions and ordinances are adopted,
the mayor retains the same right as every

386
00:24:08,209 --> 00:24:10,476
other Council Member to make motion.

387
00:24:10,476 --> 00:24:16,199
2nd motions participate fully in debate,
raise points of order and vote on every

388
00:24:16,199 --> 00:24:20,155
matter legally,
even though it has been in Ordinance 26

389
00:24:20,155 --> 00:24:21,356
dash, 19 deleted.

390
00:24:21,356 --> 00:24:23,076
The mayor will retain all those powers.

391
00:24:23,346 --> 00:24:24,106
That is correct.

392
00:24:24,586 --> 00:24:27,519
OK 'cause,
I can tell you if for some reason the

393
00:24:27,519 --> 00:24:31,289
office and mayor doesn't,
I'll be the first one saying this is

394
00:24:31,289 --> 00:24:32,546
wrong and it doesn't.

395
00:24:34,036 --> 00:24:34,676
OK. All right.

396
00:24:36,356 --> 00:24:39,255
Right now,
does does Council have any other

397
00:24:39,255 --> 00:24:41,956
questions for the town manager right now?

398
00:24:43,676 --> 00:24:46,796
All right, Madam Clerk,
have you received any additional written

399
00:24:46,796 --> 00:24:48,716
statements to be included in the record?

400
00:24:50,746 --> 00:24:54,154
No, Madam mayor.
No written statements have been received

401
00:24:54,154 --> 00:24:55,506
for the public hearing.

402
00:24:55,516 --> 00:24:56,116
All right.

403
00:24:56,116 --> 00:24:57,596
Thank you very much.

404
00:24:57,916 --> 00:25:03,697
We will now proceed to public comment.
I have had several people sign up and

405
00:25:03,697 --> 00:25:07,225
Renata Rhodes,
if you would like to come down,

406
00:25:07,225 --> 00:25:11,504
we ask that if you are speaking,
if you state your name,

407
00:25:11,504 --> 00:25:17,135
whether you live within the incorporated
town limits and please limit your

408
00:25:17,135 --> 00:25:18,036
comments to.

409
00:25:18,036 --> 00:25:18,836
3 minutes.

410
00:25:18,916 --> 00:25:19,876
Thank you, Madam Mayor.

411
00:25:19,956 --> 00:25:21,796
Good evening, Madam Mayor and Councilman.

412
00:25:21,796 --> 00:25:23,676
My name is Renata Rhodes, and I do,
in fact.

413
00:25:24,396 --> 00:25:24,716
With my husband.

414
00:25:25,066 --> 00:25:26,866
Reside in laplata.

415
00:25:27,266 --> 00:25:32,027
I have attended Council meetings for
years long enough to see councils come

416
00:25:32,027 --> 00:25:32,466
and go.

417
00:25:32,906 --> 00:25:36,866
I understand that every new Council needs
time to learn one another's working

418
00:25:36,866 --> 00:25:38,186
styles and to build trust.

419
00:25:38,706 --> 00:25:43,948
I said that early on and I meant it,
but I must express my concerns about the

420
00:25:43,948 --> 00:25:48,384
out ongoing lack of decorum,
respect and professionalism that has

421
00:25:48,384 --> 00:25:50,266
become increasingly visible.

422
00:25:51,036 --> 00:25:54,796
The infighting is not only unproductive,
it reflects poorly on our town.

423
00:25:55,796 --> 00:25:59,796
Councilman McCormack during the last
meeting you asked, can we do this?

424
00:25:59,836 --> 00:26:00,996
Yes, we can.

425
00:26:01,556 --> 00:26:04,868
But when you said we,
the residents of La Plata,

426
00:26:04,868 --> 00:26:09,464
were not included in that,
we you asked should we do this again the

427
00:26:09,464 --> 00:26:13,519
we should include the people who live
here, pay taxes here,

428
00:26:13,519 --> 00:26:15,276
have raised families here.

429
00:26:15,276 --> 00:26:18,676
Take care and care deeply about the
future of our town.

430
00:26:19,276 --> 00:26:21,996
You also stated that you are accountable
to the Council.

431
00:26:22,676 --> 00:26:24,596
I would respectfully add that you are
accountable.

432
00:26:25,186 --> 00:26:29,596
To the residents as well,
any charter amendments of this manic

433
00:26:29,596 --> 00:26:33,936
magnitude should be decided by the voters
during an election,

434
00:26:33,936 --> 00:26:37,226
not solely by the Council.
Councilman Johnson,

435
00:26:37,226 --> 00:26:42,826
it is clear that you are very passionate
and you take your role very seriously.

436
00:26:44,316 --> 00:26:49,006
As well as your responsibilities. However,
it it did surprise me that the reason for

437
00:26:49,006 --> 00:26:51,876
you bringing this ordinance and charter
amendments.

438
00:26:53,066 --> 00:26:54,506
Forward was personal.

439
00:26:56,036 --> 00:26:59,647
I'd like to pose a hypothetical question
to you. If you were the mayor,

440
00:26:59,647 --> 00:27:02,356
would you still be bringing these
amendments forward?

441
00:27:03,156 --> 00:27:07,305
It was mentioned that for 64 years,
15 councils and seven mayors,

442
00:27:07,305 --> 00:27:11,956
this organizational structure has
remained in place that history matters.

443
00:27:13,596 --> 00:27:16,436
This moment is not about personal
personality conflicts.

444
00:27:16,476 --> 00:27:17,836
It's about precedent.

445
00:27:18,396 --> 00:27:22,000
What you decide today will shape the
future of laplata long after all of you

446
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:22,796
have left office.

447
00:27:23,736 --> 00:27:28,190
Every one of us has worked with someone
who we didn't always agree with,

448
00:27:28,190 --> 00:27:32,948
but those situations being challenging,
they offer an opportunity for growth,

449
00:27:32,948 --> 00:27:37,097
collaboration and maturity.
As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.

450
00:27:37,097 --> 00:27:38,256
Councilman Johnson.

451
00:27:38,256 --> 00:27:42,856
I respectfully petition you to withdraw
this ordinance and charter amendments.

452
00:27:43,736 --> 00:27:47,399
Major structural changes should come from
community consensus,

453
00:27:47,399 --> 00:27:50,016
not from 1 councilman's personal
motivation.

454
00:27:50,136 --> 00:27:52,136
I believe in the inclusion of town
residents.

455
00:27:52,256 --> 00:27:56,964
I believe their voices should guide the
decisions of this of this magnitude,

456
00:27:56,964 --> 00:28:00,754
and I believe La Plata deserves
leadership that models unity,

457
00:28:00,754 --> 00:28:02,466
professionalism and respect.

458
00:28:02,746 --> 00:28:03,986
Thank you for your time.

459
00:28:06,486 --> 00:28:07,446
Thank you very much.

460
00:28:09,276 --> 00:28:09,836
Maggie.

461
00:28:18,516 --> 00:28:19,876
Hi Maggie larik.

462
00:28:19,876 --> 00:28:23,036
And yes,
I am a resident of the town of Laplata.

463
00:28:23,356 --> 00:28:24,716
Good evening, gentlemen.

464
00:28:24,836 --> 00:28:28,189
I opposed the Charter amendment at the
June 9th,

465
00:28:28,189 --> 00:28:33,595
2026 meeting of the town Council and
agenda item appeared titled Quote Charter

466
00:28:33,595 --> 00:28:38,316
Amendment creation of council officers
president and vice President.

467
00:28:38,356 --> 00:28:42,766
UN quote it reads in part.
Quote ensures that the Council work

468
00:28:42,766 --> 00:28:45,356
proceeds efficiently and effectively.

469
00:28:46,036 --> 00:28:46,316
UN quote.

470
00:28:46,866 --> 00:28:51,148
This would imply that the current
structure of the town government is

471
00:28:51,148 --> 00:28:53,106
neither efficient nor effective.

472
00:28:53,146 --> 00:28:59,916
So I took a look at some of the things
that had happened over the last year and

473
00:28:59,916 --> 00:29:06,178
put together a list of what this
ineffective inefficient Council has been

474
00:29:06,178 --> 00:29:07,786
able to accomplish.

475
00:29:09,596 --> 00:29:13,445
You revised the town charter language to
make it clear that the mayor and cannot

476
00:29:13,445 --> 00:29:15,916
be the mayor and the town manager at the
same time.

477
00:29:16,386 --> 00:29:20,578
You remove the town attorney who gave the
legal opinion that the previous town

478
00:29:20,578 --> 00:29:24,186
council's appointment of the mayor as
town manager was appropriate.

479
00:29:24,186 --> 00:29:27,225
You approved the hiring of the current
town attorney.

480
00:29:27,225 --> 00:29:30,826
You created an adopted an adequate public
facilities ordinance.

481
00:29:30,906 --> 00:29:35,134
You approved the transition of the La
Plata Police Department pension plan to

482
00:29:35,134 --> 00:29:39,634
the law enforcement Officers pension plan
approved and oversaw the enhancements of

483
00:29:39,634 --> 00:29:44,024
the will of Wills Park to make it a safe
environment in which the children of La

484
00:29:44,024 --> 00:29:44,946
Plata might play.

485
00:29:45,066 --> 00:29:49,559
And you introduced public works
retirement enhancements for retiring

486
00:29:49,559 --> 00:29:50,666
public employees.

487
00:29:50,786 --> 00:29:53,674
So much for inefficient and ineffective
counsel.

488
00:29:53,674 --> 00:29:58,153
There is no doubt that members of the
Council don't approve of the way that

489
00:29:58,153 --> 00:29:59,626
Mayor James does her job.

490
00:29:59,986 --> 00:30:02,986
That really doesn't matter.

491
00:30:02,986 --> 00:30:06,291
She works for the citizens of the town of
La Plata,

492
00:30:06,291 --> 00:30:11,439
who elected her as mayor with the duties
and responsibilities assigned to her by

493
00:30:11,439 --> 00:30:14,426
the town charter.
At the time she was elected.

494
00:30:14,826 --> 00:30:20,733
It is the citizens of La Plata who
determine her job performance rating if

495
00:30:20,733 --> 00:30:24,435
her job report performance was not
acceptable,

496
00:30:24,435 --> 00:30:27,586
she would not have been reelected twice.

497
00:30:29,036 --> 00:30:32,060
All of you as well as I have worked in
the private sector.

498
00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:35,956
I suspect that we have all had fellow
employees with whom we've had issues.

499
00:30:36,116 --> 00:30:39,650
If you haven't, you will.
If the issue gets disruptive enough so

500
00:30:39,650 --> 00:30:42,750
that they interfere with the work that
needs to be done,

501
00:30:42,750 --> 00:30:46,556
all parties involved will be sent to
seminars on conflict resolution.

502
00:30:47,786 --> 00:30:51,140
If you've already attended conflict
resolution education,

503
00:30:51,140 --> 00:30:53,106
I suggest you get out those notes.

504
00:30:53,226 --> 00:30:58,597
Refresh your memories and apply those
principles of conflict resolution to the

505
00:30:58,597 --> 00:31:02,948
relationships in this Chamber.
If you haven't had any education

506
00:31:02,948 --> 00:31:07,979
regarding regarding conflict resolution,
go sign up online for a conflict

507
00:31:07,979 --> 00:31:11,106
resolution course.
And if the most egregious.

508
00:31:12,396 --> 00:31:16,316
Problem that you have is how the mayor
conducts a meeting.

509
00:31:16,946 --> 00:31:23,293
Then hire a professional parliamentarian
who can run that part of the meeting that

510
00:31:23,293 --> 00:31:24,746
deals with motions.

511
00:31:26,226 --> 00:31:27,106
Thank you very much.

512
00:31:29,596 --> 00:31:30,756
Miss Ann Lewis.

513
00:31:45,126 --> 00:31:47,766
Good evening, mayor,
and the council members.

514
00:31:48,126 --> 00:31:52,934
I am here tonight because I am deeply
concerned changing the structure and

515
00:31:52,934 --> 00:31:57,166
balance of laplitis government during the
current Council's term.

516
00:31:57,486 --> 00:32:02,447
I do not support moving to a Charter
Mayor Council form of government or

517
00:32:02,447 --> 00:32:08,019
making significant changes to the rules
and authority of our elected officials in

518
00:32:08,019 --> 00:32:09,446
the middle of a term.

519
00:32:10,196 --> 00:32:13,636
You were elected by the people of Laplata
under our existing charter.

520
00:32:14,026 --> 00:32:19,522
And our existing form of government,
I believe the voters should be the ones

521
00:32:19,522 --> 00:32:23,733
to decide whether that system should
change or if it does,

522
00:32:23,733 --> 00:32:28,586
that change should take place effect with
the next elected Council.

523
00:32:28,696 --> 00:32:31,056
This is not about one individual.

524
00:32:31,256 --> 00:32:37,496
It's about respecting the voters and and
the process by which the Council was

525
00:32:37,496 --> 00:32:38,136
elected.

526
00:32:38,736 --> 00:32:43,711
I am also very concerned about the
personal disagreements and infighting

527
00:32:43,711 --> 00:32:48,959
that have taken place within this Council.
Whatever difference you may have,

528
00:32:48,959 --> 00:32:50,936
the residents deserve better.

529
00:32:51,176 --> 00:32:56,634
We need our elected officials focus on
improving laplata and serving the people,

530
00:32:56,634 --> 00:32:58,656
not fighting among themselves.

531
00:32:58,856 --> 00:33:02,576
We're changing the structure of
government during the current term.

532
00:33:03,296 --> 00:33:08,416
I respectfully ask that you put past
these personal differences aside.

533
00:33:08,496 --> 00:33:14,432
Concentrate on the business of our town
and allow the residents sufficient time

534
00:33:14,432 --> 00:33:19,404
to understand and commit on any proposed
changes. For that reason,

535
00:33:19,404 --> 00:33:24,376
I request that the public record remain
open for at least 30 days.

536
00:33:25,146 --> 00:33:28,266
So residents have a fair opportunity and
I express that.

537
00:33:28,736 --> 00:33:30,176
30 days.

538
00:33:31,666 --> 00:33:32,586
Submit their comments.

539
00:33:32,626 --> 00:33:38,327
I hope this Council will listen to the
people who elected you and that will be

540
00:33:38,327 --> 00:33:43,595
coming up soon, the next election,
La Plata belongs to its residents and

541
00:33:43,595 --> 00:33:46,626
their voices should come first. Thank you.

542
00:33:51,676 --> 00:33:53,396
Miss Robin spray.

543
00:34:03,586 --> 00:34:04,506
Five of you 2.

544
00:34:06,166 --> 00:34:06,646
Thank you.

545
00:34:10,466 --> 00:34:13,106
I didn't know if they wanted to relocate,
but it's OK.

546
00:34:14,586 --> 00:34:15,506
You got it. Thank you.

547
00:34:15,506 --> 00:34:17,788
Hi,
I'm Robin Sprague and I live in the town

548
00:34:17,788 --> 00:34:18,346
of El Peda.

549
00:34:18,346 --> 00:34:22,666
I've been here for more than 1/2 decade
anyhow.

550
00:34:22,986 --> 00:34:23,946
Good evening, mayor.

551
00:34:23,986 --> 00:34:26,066
Council members, thank you for this time.

552
00:34:26,066 --> 00:34:29,529
I'm here tonight to express my serious
concerns regarding the proposal to change

553
00:34:29,529 --> 00:34:32,865
the structure and form of government of
the town of Valada during the current

554
00:34:32,865 --> 00:34:35,729
Council's term of office.
I want to be very clear that I am not in

555
00:34:35,729 --> 00:34:37,226
favor of changing lopeza to a char.

556
00:34:37,226 --> 00:34:39,146
Mayor Council form of government during
this current term.

557
00:34:39,776 --> 00:34:43,020
The members of this Council were elected
by the residents of Laplato under the

558
00:34:43,020 --> 00:34:46,265
town's existing charter and under the
governmental structure that was in place

559
00:34:46,265 --> 00:34:47,456
when the election took place.

560
00:34:47,456 --> 00:34:48,256
That's very important.

561
00:34:48,256 --> 00:34:51,151
That's how you all got elected by what
was in place at the time.

562
00:34:51,151 --> 00:34:54,269
The voters understood the system under
which they were electing their

563
00:34:54,269 --> 00:34:57,208
representatives. At that time,
changing the structure, authority,

564
00:34:57,208 --> 00:35:00,950
or roles of that government in the middle
of the term raises a fundamental question

565
00:35:00,950 --> 00:35:01,306
of Fair.

566
00:35:01,306 --> 00:35:04,639
And democratic process if the residents
ultimately determined that Laplata should

567
00:35:04,639 --> 00:35:07,769
have a different form of government,
then that change should be presented to

568
00:35:07,769 --> 00:35:08,216
the people.

569
00:35:08,296 --> 00:35:10,617
Through the appropriate process, and,
if adopted,

570
00:35:10,617 --> 00:35:12,937
should take effect with the next elected
Council.

571
00:35:12,937 --> 00:35:16,650
The voters should have the opportunity to
elect their representatives under the

572
00:35:16,650 --> 00:35:20,456
same governmental structure that those
representatives will actually serve under.

573
00:35:20,456 --> 00:35:22,096
So you can't do that old bait and switch
thing.

574
00:35:22,136 --> 00:35:24,959
That's what that means.
I'm also deeply concerned about the level

575
00:35:24,959 --> 00:35:28,296
of personal conflict and disagreement
that has developed within this Council.

576
00:35:28,736 --> 00:35:30,056
Pretty disappointed actually.

577
00:35:30,096 --> 00:35:33,557
We'll side note,
as was publicly stated by Councilman

578
00:35:33,557 --> 00:35:35,416
Johnson on August 25th, 2026.

579
00:35:35,536 --> 00:35:38,936
Thank you for your service to, by the way,
this matter has become personal.

580
00:35:39,816 --> 00:35:42,438
So when disagreements among elected
officials become personal,

581
00:35:42,438 --> 00:35:44,976
the residents of Laplata are the ones who
ultimately suffer.

582
00:35:44,976 --> 00:35:47,989
Our elected officials should be
concentrating their time and energy on

583
00:35:47,989 --> 00:35:50,621
improving the town,
addressing the concerns of the residents,

584
00:35:50,621 --> 00:35:52,913
maintaining our community and moving
laplata forward.

585
00:35:52,913 --> 00:35:55,247
Continued in fighting does not accomplish
this at all.

586
00:35:55,247 --> 00:35:58,176
Whatever disagreements exist among
council members should be handled

587
00:35:58,176 --> 00:35:59,916
professionally and respectfully. The res.

588
00:35:59,906 --> 00:36:01,804
Deserve a Council that is focused on
governing,

589
00:36:01,804 --> 00:36:04,256
not on internal disputes or changing the
rules of government.

590
00:36:04,706 --> 00:36:07,213
In the middle of a term for which they
were elected,

591
00:36:07,213 --> 00:36:10,856
I believe that any substantial change to
the platform of government deserves

592
00:36:10,856 --> 00:36:14,025
careful consideration, transparency,
meaningful public discussion,

593
00:36:14,025 --> 00:36:17,999
and adequate opportunity for residents to
understand exactly what is being proposed

594
00:36:17,999 --> 00:36:20,506
and how it would affect their elected
government so.

595
00:36:20,506 --> 00:36:22,513
By saying,
I think this or I think that or at my

596
00:36:22,513 --> 00:36:25,586
understanding that's not black and white
and that's not signed and sealed.

597
00:36:25,586 --> 00:36:28,026
So they need to know exactly what they're
being fed.

598
00:36:29,426 --> 00:36:31,714
So for that reason,
I respectfully request that the public

599
00:36:31,714 --> 00:36:33,266
record remain open for at least 30 days.

600
00:36:33,696 --> 00:36:36,894
No less so that residents have adequate
time to review the proposed changes,

601
00:36:36,894 --> 00:36:38,805
discussing with their families and
neighbors,

602
00:36:38,805 --> 00:36:41,671
seek answers to their questions,
and submit written comments for the

603
00:36:41,671 --> 00:36:42,336
official record.

604
00:36:42,336 --> 00:36:46,176
30 days is a reasonable amount of time
for a matter of this significance.

605
00:36:46,256 --> 00:36:48,016
Finally,
I want to make clear that I am not here

606
00:36:48,016 --> 00:36:49,776
tonight to attack any individual Council
member.

607
00:36:49,776 --> 00:36:53,168
I am here as a resident who believes that
the structure of our local government is

608
00:36:53,168 --> 00:36:55,661
a matter that belongs ultimately to the
people of the Plato.

609
00:36:55,661 --> 00:36:58,521
If the Council continues to pursue
significant changes to the form of

610
00:36:58,521 --> 00:37:01,586
government during the current term,
I will consider exercising the rights.

611
00:37:01,616 --> 00:37:02,936
Available to me as a resident.

612
00:37:03,216 --> 00:37:06,945
Including pursuing a petition concerning
the continued service of the current

613
00:37:06,945 --> 00:37:09,287
Council,
consistent with whatever procedures and

614
00:37:09,287 --> 00:37:13,016
requirements are established by the town
charter and applicable Maryland law.

615
00:37:13,136 --> 00:37:15,616
I sincerely hope that this will not
become necessary.

616
00:37:15,816 --> 00:37:17,978
I hope instead that this Council will
step back,

617
00:37:17,978 --> 00:37:21,155
put aside personal disagreements,
focus on the business of the town and

618
00:37:21,155 --> 00:37:24,508
allow the residents to have a meaningful
voice in any discussion that would

619
00:37:24,508 --> 00:37:26,096
fundamentally change the government.

620
00:37:26,096 --> 00:37:27,016
They elected.

621
00:37:27,016 --> 00:37:28,576
The plate belongs to the residents.

622
00:37:28,656 --> 00:37:31,816
Their votes should come first,
and just one final off the cuff note.

623
00:37:31,816 --> 00:37:33,056
I've already raised six children.

624
00:37:33,136 --> 00:37:34,936
Children, I don't need to raise six more.

625
00:37:36,016 --> 00:37:36,816
Thank you, darling.

626
00:37:39,336 --> 00:37:40,016
I'm doing.

627
00:37:45,556 --> 00:37:49,341
Tom James,
resident of Laplata since 2001 for about

628
00:37:49,341 --> 00:37:49,996
25 years.

629
00:37:49,996 --> 00:37:53,674
Members of the town council.
I'm going to use my 3 minutes to say

630
00:37:53,674 --> 00:37:56,516
something that I believe needs to be said
plainly.

631
00:37:56,756 --> 00:38:00,546
I've sat in the back of this room for the
vast majority of Council meetings since

632
00:38:00,546 --> 00:38:01,516
you've been voted in.

633
00:38:03,026 --> 00:38:07,330
Laplata deserves better than what we have
witnessed from this Council over the past

634
00:38:07,330 --> 00:38:07,586
year.

635
00:38:08,546 --> 00:38:12,826
I'm not talking about one disagreement,
one vote, or one personality conflict.

636
00:38:12,866 --> 00:38:15,106
I'm talking about a pattern of government.

637
00:38:15,616 --> 00:38:20,256
That has become increasingly consumed
with disputes between elected officials,

638
00:38:20,256 --> 00:38:24,897
questions about authority, censures,
procedures, legal arguments, invitations,

639
00:38:24,897 --> 00:38:29,126
and fighting with one another.
While the people of La Plata are sitting

640
00:38:29,126 --> 00:38:30,536
here watching it happen.

641
00:38:30,936 --> 00:38:34,976
Shame on you, and let's be clear,
these aren't rumors.

642
00:38:35,416 --> 00:38:39,160
Councilman Guttenberg, McCormick,
Sampson and Johnson,

643
00:38:39,160 --> 00:38:42,496
you were newly elected in May of 2025
last year.

644
00:38:42,536 --> 00:38:45,336
And what have the people of seen since
that?

645
00:38:46,576 --> 00:38:49,561
Infighting, procedural disputes,
accusations,

646
00:38:49,561 --> 00:38:53,843
legal maneuvering and now a Council
majority censoring the mayor.

647
00:38:53,843 --> 00:38:56,958
On August 18th Councilman Gutenberg,
McCormick,

648
00:38:56,958 --> 00:39:00,656
Johnson and Sampson voted together to
censure the mayor.

649
00:39:01,256 --> 00:39:03,256
Gutenberg introduced the resolution.

650
00:39:03,336 --> 00:39:04,736
McCormick sentenced it.

651
00:39:06,626 --> 00:39:07,866
The mayor was the only vote against it.

652
00:39:08,146 --> 00:39:08,746
And for what?

653
00:39:08,746 --> 00:39:12,204
All because the mayor RSVP to an
invitation that was sent to her

654
00:39:12,204 --> 00:39:14,226
personally and named on it personally.

655
00:39:15,376 --> 00:39:18,108
What?
Where your pathetic little feelings hurt

656
00:39:18,108 --> 00:39:19,736
that you weren't invited to?

657
00:39:20,016 --> 00:39:24,456
Too bad if you wanted to be the mayor,
why didn't you run for it?

658
00:39:25,176 --> 00:39:26,496
And here's my question.

659
00:39:26,896 --> 00:39:31,563
When did governing governing laplata
become primarily about governing each

660
00:39:31,563 --> 00:39:31,936
other?

661
00:39:32,216 --> 00:39:36,168
Because I don't remember electing 4
councilmen and I voted for every one of

662
00:39:36,168 --> 00:39:36,376
you.

663
00:39:36,776 --> 00:39:39,976
I won again and I will actively work
against.

664
00:39:40,666 --> 00:39:42,426
Your re running or reelection.

665
00:39:43,456 --> 00:39:45,927
Since when?
And I don't remember electing poor

666
00:39:45,927 --> 00:39:48,976
Councilman to spend their time settling
political scores.

667
00:39:49,256 --> 00:39:53,683
I went to your campaign events where you
talked about working for the town's

668
00:39:53,683 --> 00:39:56,213
people,
about transparency and about growth

669
00:39:56,213 --> 00:39:56,616
issues.

670
00:39:57,056 --> 00:39:58,296
All excellent.

671
00:39:58,976 --> 00:40:02,636
I don't remember voting for endless
arguments over who said what,

672
00:40:02,636 --> 00:40:05,242
who had what authority,
who sent which e-mail,

673
00:40:05,242 --> 00:40:08,736
who violated which procedure,
and who deserves to be censored.

674
00:40:08,816 --> 00:40:13,216
I elected and the residents of Laplata
elected people to solve problems.

675
00:40:13,856 --> 00:40:18,476
Fix infrastructure, manage growth.
Everyone of you talked about that protect

676
00:40:18,476 --> 00:40:20,696
our neighborhoods maintain our roads.

677
00:40:20,696 --> 00:40:24,671
Make sure our water and sewer systems can
support development.

678
00:40:24,671 --> 00:40:29,656
Spend taxpayer money responsibly and
provide competent transparent government.

679
00:40:29,776 --> 00:40:32,756
That's your job,
and I especially want to address

680
00:40:32,756 --> 00:40:35,736
Councilman Johnson and McCormick Council
Johnson.

681
00:40:35,856 --> 00:40:39,286
Councilman Johnson,
per information found online town council

682
00:40:39,286 --> 00:40:43,435
minutes and via local news sources.
Your own FOIA request sought to review

683
00:40:43,435 --> 00:40:47,640
and condemn the previous Council's vote
and the circumstances surrounding a

684
00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:49,576
stipend. Transparency is important.

685
00:40:49,656 --> 00:40:53,468
Accountability is important,
but transparency cannot simply be

686
00:40:53,468 --> 00:40:56,736
something we demand from the people we
disagree with.

687
00:40:56,936 --> 00:40:59,878
It has to be the standard we apply to
ourselves as well,

688
00:40:59,878 --> 00:41:04,007
and at that recent Council meeting you
said on the record that this is personal

689
00:41:04,007 --> 00:41:04,936
against the mayor.

690
00:41:05,016 --> 00:41:07,816
You've also said several times that the
mayor is incompetent.

691
00:41:07,816 --> 00:41:10,976
You couldn't take her class and that she
lacks good judgment.

692
00:41:11,296 --> 00:41:14,416
And what do your actions in fighting on
the about you?

693
00:41:14,456 --> 00:41:17,732
You're contentious,
angry and your words are chosen for

694
00:41:17,732 --> 00:41:19,136
maximum personal effect.

695
00:41:19,296 --> 00:41:22,416
How does that help the town of La Plata?
Thank you very much.

696
00:41:27,976 --> 00:41:31,812
All right,
that those are all the speakers that have

697
00:41:31,812 --> 00:41:32,536
signed up.

698
00:41:32,536 --> 00:41:36,616
So does town council have any other
questions to the town manager?

699
00:41:41,136 --> 00:41:44,296
Councillor Greenberg, do you have a? Yeah.
OK, so.

700
00:41:45,786 --> 00:41:49,643
Not necessarily for the town manager,
but you know something that was called

701
00:41:49,643 --> 00:41:51,146
out as a particular criticism.

702
00:41:51,146 --> 00:41:55,949
I'm interested in the Maryland State code
that you referenced, Madam Mayor,

703
00:41:55,949 --> 00:41:59,867
and I'm just wondering,
in the nine years that you've been in

704
00:41:59,867 --> 00:42:01,826
office, you never pursued that?

705
00:42:01,826 --> 00:42:05,313
And I'm.
I'm just wondering why why that would

706
00:42:05,313 --> 00:42:05,906
also be?

707
00:42:06,546 --> 00:42:09,706
That's very easy 'cause you never amended
the Charter?

708
00:42:10,216 --> 00:42:13,776
So there was not a reason to amend that.

709
00:42:15,546 --> 00:42:21,666
He to a gender non gender specific
pronoun.

710
00:42:21,946 --> 00:42:23,346
So we did not go in.

711
00:42:23,346 --> 00:42:24,746
We had one.

712
00:42:25,706 --> 00:42:28,570
I believe we added something to the
Charter,

713
00:42:28,570 --> 00:42:33,470
but we did not holistically because we
did not want to waste the takespayors

714
00:42:33,470 --> 00:42:36,270
money to have a public hearing.
To do that,

715
00:42:36,270 --> 00:42:41,106
we have said from the first day when you
all changed the the 1st amendment.

716
00:42:41,336 --> 00:42:42,056
Charter.

717
00:42:44,106 --> 00:42:47,450
Public hearing back in May or June,
whenever that was,

718
00:42:47,450 --> 00:42:51,706
maybe it was July that we need to
holistically change that yet again.

719
00:42:51,706 --> 00:42:54,226
That was not done because it was.

720
00:42:54,626 --> 00:42:55,786
How can we get?

721
00:42:55,786 --> 00:42:59,506
How can we attack the mayor and and get
rid of her duties?

722
00:42:59,666 --> 00:43:02,506
So this was very easy to do.

723
00:43:02,666 --> 00:43:05,466
Very easy,
and it was brought up and I believe it

724
00:43:05,466 --> 00:43:09,946
was probably an oversight to begin with
just by the reaction when I called out.

725
00:43:11,596 --> 00:43:13,156
But yet it wasn't done.

726
00:43:13,816 --> 00:43:19,108
Yeah, I mean, so I,
I my memory of of the discussions we had

727
00:43:19,108 --> 00:43:19,976
around it.

728
00:43:21,746 --> 00:43:26,173
Were that there was a considerable amount
of effort that would would have to go

729
00:43:26,173 --> 00:43:29,382
into it and it was something we would
have to prioritize.

730
00:43:29,382 --> 00:43:34,031
And so I suspect that over the years that
you have have been mayor that that wasn't

731
00:43:34,031 --> 00:43:35,746
a thing that rose to the level.

732
00:43:35,746 --> 00:43:39,977
To do you know all all at once,
and I think that that was the discussion

733
00:43:39,977 --> 00:43:43,106
whenever the previous Charter amendments
that we did.

734
00:43:43,956 --> 00:43:50,443
And the one that we're discussing tonight
was that that was a broader scope kind of

735
00:43:50,443 --> 00:43:51,756
thing to address.

736
00:43:51,756 --> 00:43:55,784
And so, you know,
because of the provisions that are there

737
00:43:55,784 --> 00:43:58,992
and in place that are very common,
by the way,

738
00:43:58,992 --> 00:44:04,453
our Charter having that section C18 and
the other sections that were referenced

739
00:44:04,453 --> 00:44:08,276
in Code 1.9 B2,
those are those are very common in, in.

740
00:44:08,276 --> 00:44:09,836
Charters of this vintage.

741
00:44:10,586 --> 00:44:13,706
And so, you know,
I continue to agree that.

742
00:44:14,096 --> 00:44:16,736
That, you know,
we can make that larger change.

743
00:44:17,096 --> 00:44:22,713
I I fully support that,
but I think linking the that Maryland

744
00:44:22,713 --> 00:44:28,874
Statute to some broader gender based
decision here is is is not not

745
00:44:28,874 --> 00:44:32,136
appropriate, not really supportable.

746
00:44:32,296 --> 00:44:38,217
In the context of of what we're doing,
you're missing the nuance here you are

747
00:44:38,217 --> 00:44:38,976
stripping.

748
00:44:40,026 --> 00:44:43,506
The powers and duties of a female mayor.

749
00:44:44,236 --> 00:44:47,076
The only one the count of La Plata has
ever had.

750
00:44:48,546 --> 00:44:50,706
And all that had to have been done
instead of saying.

751
00:44:52,426 --> 00:44:57,146
He it could have been the Council chair.
Yet that wasn't done.

752
00:44:58,786 --> 00:45:05,226
And so to a reasonable person,
when you are looking at this change and

753
00:45:05,226 --> 00:45:09,761
agenda,
it precludes a woman from ever being able

754
00:45:09,761 --> 00:45:13,026
to serve as a Council chair just by.

755
00:45:14,026 --> 00:45:19,412
Not the rest of the Charter.
We're not talking the rest of the Charter,

756
00:45:19,412 --> 00:45:23,826
the actual area where Councilman Johnson
wanted to change.

757
00:45:23,986 --> 00:45:27,674
Oh,
a 2 letter word could have been the

758
00:45:27,674 --> 00:45:32,654
Council chair,
but I find it very interesting and I'm

759
00:45:32,654 --> 00:45:38,186
sure the public does too,
that stripping a female mayor of.

760
00:45:39,026 --> 00:45:42,146
The right for her to preside over this,
as per the Charter.

761
00:45:43,216 --> 00:45:47,056
It stays heat, Matt, so it's OK.

762
00:45:47,096 --> 00:45:50,076
But respectfully, Madam Mayor,
the the you know,

763
00:45:50,076 --> 00:45:53,056
we've had this discussion on previous
night and.

764
00:45:54,546 --> 00:45:56,980
What?
What you just stated that the this

765
00:45:56,980 --> 00:46:01,849
language precludes any female from ever
being the presiding officer is simply not

766
00:46:01,849 --> 00:46:02,146
true.

767
00:46:02,146 --> 00:46:03,586
And it is it.

768
00:46:03,586 --> 00:46:07,466
Is it is just not the case and it's meant
to be inflammatory and it's unfortunate.

769
00:46:09,346 --> 00:46:12,386
The the, the,
the the point that is being missed I.

770
00:46:12,696 --> 00:46:20,829
I would say by you is that in doing this
in the relationship to governance and how

771
00:46:20,829 --> 00:46:27,297
a body works, it is very,
very common to have a governing body of

772
00:46:27,297 --> 00:46:35,136
five that have to work together and and
and move through actions and decisions.

773
00:46:35,216 --> 00:46:39,176
It is very common our Board of Education
does it. Every year they elect.

774
00:46:41,466 --> 00:46:41,506
A.

775
00:46:41,506 --> 00:46:42,346
A presiding officer.

776
00:46:42,496 --> 00:46:49,795
Officer in one of the the ways that the
utility of doing that is that within the

777
00:46:49,795 --> 00:46:50,336
group.

778
00:46:52,146 --> 00:46:56,257
If you're if once a year,
you're going to decide who is going to be

779
00:46:56,257 --> 00:46:59,703
the presiding officer,
that is a chance for the group to

780
00:46:59,703 --> 00:47:04,359
recalibrate on the performance of the
person who is in the presiding officer

781
00:47:04,359 --> 00:47:07,986
role and deal with Council dynamics or
board dynamics as a.

782
00:47:07,986 --> 00:47:11,266
Case may be in order to progress through
issues.

783
00:47:11,816 --> 00:47:16,096
Now it was brought up by a member of the
public that we have accomplished a lot.

784
00:47:16,096 --> 00:47:18,096
So what are you doing this for?

785
00:47:18,176 --> 00:47:19,096
But what?

786
00:47:19,096 --> 00:47:24,359
What I'll say is and and I don't want to
get in in into a, you know,

787
00:47:24,359 --> 00:47:29,240
going down and like pulling out all kinds
of examples. However,

788
00:47:29,240 --> 00:47:31,376
right when we have meetings.

789
00:47:32,866 --> 00:47:37,893
And Members are making points of order to
be heard on a particular issue,

790
00:47:37,893 --> 00:47:41,426
whether it is something that the
presiding officer.

791
00:47:41,816 --> 00:47:46,100
Not speaking about you,
but just conceptually if it's something

792
00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:51,120
the presiding officer deals with,
then that is that that needs to be dealt

793
00:47:51,120 --> 00:47:55,738
with in a consistent and fairway.
And I think from observing our own

794
00:47:55,738 --> 00:48:01,026
meetings and participating in our own
meetings, it can be argued that differe.

795
00:48:01,026 --> 00:48:06,795
Members of this Council have been
received differently when pursuing their

796
00:48:06,795 --> 00:48:07,256
voice.

797
00:48:07,946 --> 00:48:11,386
Within this equal this Co equal five
person body.

798
00:48:11,856 --> 00:48:17,203
And so the the and I'm not trying to
change anyone's mind on this,

799
00:48:17,203 --> 00:48:23,029
but it it is the case that when I was
elected, when we were all elected,

800
00:48:23,029 --> 00:48:28,456
that Laplata had a Manager Council form
of government when we made.

801
00:48:30,346 --> 00:48:31,306
A change to the Charter.

802
00:48:32,826 --> 00:48:36,586
Last year, for specific reasons, we.

803
00:48:38,226 --> 00:48:41,346
Following that, we have a manager Council.

804
00:48:41,776 --> 00:48:44,899
Form of government following this charter
amendment,

805
00:48:44,899 --> 00:48:49,201
if we choose to make it and if it
proceeds through all of the periods of

806
00:48:49,201 --> 00:48:53,856
time that have to be gone through for a
Charter amendment to become effective.

807
00:48:53,936 --> 00:49:00,708
The town of La Plata will still have a
manager council form of government.

808
00:49:00,708 --> 00:49:06,216
The form and structure of the government
has not changed if.

809
00:49:06,986 --> 00:49:10,426
There are people that have a different
view of that. I can accept that.

810
00:49:11,346 --> 00:49:12,626
I can accept that.

811
00:49:12,626 --> 00:49:16,250
But,
but even if 100 people walked in here and

812
00:49:16,250 --> 00:49:21,184
said that, that's not true,
I can read and I have looked at our

813
00:49:21,184 --> 00:49:23,266
Charter and it is the same.

814
00:49:23,306 --> 00:49:25,226
It it is a manager.

815
00:49:26,746 --> 00:49:28,066
Council form of government.

816
00:49:28,066 --> 00:49:28,706
It was when I was elected.

817
00:49:28,706 --> 00:49:34,551
It is now the dynamic of the presiding
officer is to allow the debate and and

818
00:49:34,551 --> 00:49:39,946
the discussions and the actions that have
to happen to happen in a way.

819
00:49:40,496 --> 00:49:44,456
That allows whether you agree with
another person or not.

820
00:49:45,946 --> 00:49:49,917
To have those voices heard,
because the decisions that we make as we

821
00:49:49,917 --> 00:49:53,083
move forward on everything we do,
that we sit up here,

822
00:49:53,083 --> 00:49:56,364
whether we're sitting here Planning
Commission meetings,

823
00:49:56,364 --> 00:50:01,256
Historic Preservation Commission meetings,
we make the best choice when everybody in

824
00:50:01,256 --> 00:50:03,386
the meeting has an opportunity to be.

825
00:50:03,386 --> 00:50:07,446
Heard and chooses to participate when a
presiding officer and I've seen it not

826
00:50:07,446 --> 00:50:10,529
just on the Council,
but I have seen it in other boards and

827
00:50:10,529 --> 00:50:11,146
commissions.

828
00:50:11,496 --> 00:50:12,976
That I've served on in the town.

829
00:50:14,506 --> 00:50:19,963
Where in my opinion I can see people sort
of shut down a little bit if a presiding

830
00:50:19,963 --> 00:50:24,566
officer is not being inclusive in
managing their own views of how the

831
00:50:24,566 --> 00:50:28,445
meeting should go and and it's look,
it's hard. I've I've,

832
00:50:28,445 --> 00:50:30,746
I've done it for one meeting I had.

833
00:50:30,746 --> 00:50:32,746
To do it myself and and it is, it is.

834
00:50:32,746 --> 00:50:34,386
It is hard orchestrating all of this.

835
00:50:34,386 --> 00:50:37,786
It is a challenge,
but a tool that we have.

836
00:50:39,386 --> 00:50:39,826
For.

837
00:50:41,066 --> 00:50:41,306
Managing.

838
00:50:41,576 --> 00:50:46,904
How we traverse these meetings is what
we're talking about tonight and it is not

839
00:50:46,904 --> 00:50:47,496
uncommon.

840
00:50:47,496 --> 00:50:50,376
It is not extreme and it and it is.

841
00:50:50,376 --> 00:50:55,644
It is not changing the form of government
to consider the reforms that we're making

842
00:50:55,644 --> 00:50:58,655
here,
and I don't believe at the end of the day

843
00:50:58,655 --> 00:51:03,358
it's going to change the way the town
functions and I and I do respect the

844
00:51:03,358 --> 00:51:05,616
folks that came up and and spoke in.

845
00:51:05,616 --> 00:51:08,256
Particular in public, I know that is.

846
00:51:09,026 --> 00:51:10,866
That that, that is difficult,
but I would just.

847
00:51:11,056 --> 00:51:15,216
Say I respectfully disagree on on those
points.

848
00:51:15,536 --> 00:51:16,936
I2 questions for you.

849
00:51:16,936 --> 00:51:18,016
How long have you lived here?

850
00:51:20,056 --> 00:51:21,576
Can can we ask why?

851
00:51:21,576 --> 00:51:22,536
Why is the?

852
00:51:24,026 --> 00:51:27,026
You've lived here 20 some odd years,
correct? Correct. OK.

853
00:51:27,066 --> 00:51:28,786
So you were a citizen here?

854
00:51:28,786 --> 00:51:30,586
Yes. And before you ran.

855
00:51:30,586 --> 00:51:34,725
So it wasn't like you were here a year,
you understand?

856
00:51:34,725 --> 00:51:37,386
Laplata and I hear your point about.

857
00:51:39,906 --> 00:51:41,946
Other municipal well,
you didn't say municipality.

858
00:51:41,946 --> 00:51:47,076
Other boards run it so that they have a
presiding officer that is elected by the

859
00:51:47,076 --> 00:51:49,546
board. If this was so important to you.

860
00:51:49,896 --> 00:51:53,987
As a citizen before you got elected,
why didn't you bring it up to the

861
00:51:53,987 --> 00:51:58,136
previous Council and say you'd like to
see that on the election ballot?

862
00:51:58,536 --> 00:52:03,896
It was only until it became personal,
not not personal.

863
00:52:05,426 --> 00:52:09,483
That this came up, Madam Mayor.
It's driving the personal as stated on

864
00:52:09,483 --> 00:52:11,826
August 25th that he said it was personal.

865
00:52:11,826 --> 00:52:12,746
I'm sorry, Madam Mayor.

866
00:52:12,946 --> 00:52:14,026
Madam Mayor, point.

867
00:52:14,026 --> 00:52:14,506
Well, wait.

868
00:52:14,506 --> 00:52:16,146
Now point to point of personal privilege.

869
00:52:16,146 --> 00:52:19,706
Right, following some of your examples,
but when you're.

870
00:52:20,176 --> 00:52:23,413
Are putting motive on me that I have not
stated,

871
00:52:23,413 --> 00:52:28,697
and so that's what's inappropriate about
the way you're carrying this out right

872
00:52:28,697 --> 00:52:30,216
now? Not motive at all.

873
00:52:30,216 --> 00:52:33,182
It is fact you, as a citizen,
do not bring this up.

874
00:52:33,182 --> 00:52:36,548
If this was so important,
you just said all the, you know,

875
00:52:36,548 --> 00:52:39,856
a number of you, you are still,
you are assuming decorum.

876
00:52:39,856 --> 00:52:42,336
Please I have the floor.

877
00:52:43,086 --> 00:52:49,165
It says that you had said that this is
the way many commissions committees and

878
00:52:49,165 --> 00:52:54,166
boards run that they elect their
presiding officer. Did you not?

879
00:52:57,096 --> 00:52:59,118
Yes or no,
I I just wanna make sure that I'm

880
00:52:59,118 --> 00:53:00,736
capturing it correctly, Madam Mayor.

881
00:53:00,776 --> 00:53:05,101
I am not going to go back and forth where
you're gonna lead me by the nose to some

882
00:53:05,101 --> 00:53:06,456
conclusion you wanna draw.

883
00:53:07,936 --> 00:53:11,096
I'm not. I mean second question,
that is fine.

884
00:53:11,496 --> 00:53:15,255
So since 2017,
I've served as mayor and presiding

885
00:53:15,255 --> 00:53:15,856
officer.

886
00:53:16,376 --> 00:53:21,398
The town council has adopted 162
ordinances, 333 resolutions,

887
00:53:21,398 --> 00:53:26,096
in addition to annual budgets and other
official actions.

888
00:53:27,006 --> 00:53:30,536
Given that legislative record,
Councilman Goodenberg,

889
00:53:30,536 --> 00:53:34,915
can you identify any legislation that
ultimately failed to receive

890
00:53:34,915 --> 00:53:39,883
consideration or a vote specifically
because of my performance as Presiding

891
00:53:39,883 --> 00:53:40,406
officer?

892
00:53:44,136 --> 00:53:44,176
I.

893
00:53:44,176 --> 00:53:45,336
I actually don't like that.

894
00:53:45,336 --> 00:53:48,980
You asked me this question,
but I'll I'll answer it because you asked

895
00:53:48,980 --> 00:53:49,136
so.

896
00:53:53,696 --> 00:53:53,976
You know.

897
00:53:56,766 --> 00:54:04,446
April 22nd of 2025 was the night that the
previous Council that you presided over.

898
00:54:05,976 --> 00:54:10,376
Reviewed the Stagecoach amendment to the
development agreement.

899
00:54:12,086 --> 00:54:17,250
The reason I go and look at things like
that during my time on the Planning

900
00:54:17,250 --> 00:54:22,482
Commission is is because I'm trying to
trace through a lot of decisions that

901
00:54:22,482 --> 00:54:27,510
have been made and how those have
impacted the town and what we should be

902
00:54:27,510 --> 00:54:29,616
doing to change ordinances and.

903
00:54:29,616 --> 00:54:33,653
Governance in a way that makes
development and and growth in La Plata

904
00:54:33,653 --> 00:54:37,806
happen in a way that is managed better
than the results we've received.

905
00:54:38,576 --> 00:54:40,656
The results we've received has put us.

906
00:54:41,246 --> 00:54:47,446
In a position where we are having very
detailed, comprehensive discussions about.

907
00:54:48,936 --> 00:54:54,489
Water conservation and the the things
that will have to be done to limit

908
00:54:54,489 --> 00:54:59,434
individual businesses and individual
residents. When we do this,

909
00:54:59,434 --> 00:55:05,671
it is going to affect everybody and the
reason why we're here is because previous

910
00:55:05,671 --> 00:55:10,616
Councils have passed things related to
gross that have not been.

911
00:55:10,926 --> 00:55:16,097
The town has not been able to keep pet
pace with and and that's why we are

912
00:55:16,097 --> 00:55:21,199
having these issues with the way our
infrastructure is prepared to handle

913
00:55:21,199 --> 00:55:24,646
growth.
Now let me bring it back to the Presiding

914
00:55:24,646 --> 00:55:27,818
Officer piece.
So that meeting that night was

915
00:55:27,818 --> 00:55:29,886
exceptionally contentious and.

916
00:55:29,886 --> 00:55:35,873
The Council members that I watched were
not happy about the way it was brought to

917
00:55:35,873 --> 00:55:37,406
them in a rushed way.

918
00:55:38,176 --> 00:55:41,616
And the way that they were being told
that the lawyer says they have to do it.

919
00:55:42,006 --> 00:55:43,486
That that was what I witnessed.

920
00:55:45,016 --> 00:55:49,857
Now the interesting thing about that
meeting is at that time you were the CEO

921
00:55:49,857 --> 00:55:53,892
and town manager of La Plata,
including being the elected mayor.

922
00:55:53,892 --> 00:55:55,816
You were also the town manager.

923
00:55:57,376 --> 00:56:00,057
If you look at code and this is where
there's,

924
00:56:00,057 --> 00:56:04,393
This is why I say there's there's a
misunderstanding of roles of government

925
00:56:04,393 --> 00:56:07,075
and it's not with four members of the
Council.

926
00:56:07,075 --> 00:56:11,696
There's one that's having a problem with
this. And let me give you this example.

927
00:56:12,806 --> 00:56:17,480
So that particular night,
it's very interesting that out of all the

928
00:56:17,480 --> 00:56:23,391
Council meetings in that four year period,
every one of them is published to YouTube,

929
00:56:23,391 --> 00:56:24,766
except for that one.

930
00:56:26,286 --> 00:56:31,385
That's just an interesting side note,
but let me move on from that because when

931
00:56:31,385 --> 00:56:35,465
I looked at that that night,
that night's agenda packet and I'm

932
00:56:35,465 --> 00:56:40,373
reading the amendment to stagecoach's
agreement and I'm going somewhere with

933
00:56:40,373 --> 00:56:44,006
this it what was presented to staff was a
document with.

934
00:56:44,006 --> 00:56:47,244
All the things in it and and and I'll
I'll skip my my assessment of that

935
00:56:47,244 --> 00:56:50,660
document because the reason why I went
there is because I have real concerns

936
00:56:50,660 --> 00:56:50,926
about.

937
00:56:51,696 --> 00:56:54,801
The judgment that was used in the
preparation of that document and use the

938
00:56:54,801 --> 00:56:55,256
town's CEO.

939
00:56:56,446 --> 00:57:00,222
Signed for that and when it was presented
to council,

940
00:57:00,222 --> 00:57:05,746
it was presented by you as the Presiding
officer and the CEO of the town of La

941
00:57:05,746 --> 00:57:06,166
Plata.

942
00:57:06,406 --> 00:57:09,650
Well, because I'm an inquisitive guy,
I decided to go well.

943
00:57:09,650 --> 00:57:12,246
This is the draft version,
but it's not signed.

944
00:57:12,246 --> 00:57:13,246
It's just a draft.

945
00:57:13,286 --> 00:57:15,206
Where can I see the signed version?

946
00:57:15,206 --> 00:57:16,846
So I'm poking around looking for it.

947
00:57:16,846 --> 00:57:17,846
I don't find it anywhere.

948
00:57:17,886 --> 00:57:20,001
Well,
the easier place to go get it is the

949
00:57:20,001 --> 00:57:20,886
County Courthouse.

950
00:57:20,886 --> 00:57:22,606
So I go pull that down.

951
00:57:22,646 --> 00:57:25,526
So on April 29th,
I'm saying these dates because.

952
00:57:25,646 --> 00:57:26,846
Go look him up yourself.

953
00:57:27,006 --> 00:57:28,206
I'm not.

954
00:57:28,206 --> 00:57:28,566
I'm not.

955
00:57:28,566 --> 00:57:30,286
I'm not pulling this out of my hat.

956
00:57:30,286 --> 00:57:33,606
You asked, but so I go pull that down.

957
00:57:33,806 --> 00:57:39,246
It's signed not by Janine James,
the CEO of the town of La Plata.

958
00:57:39,326 --> 00:57:44,832
It's signed by Janine James,
now changed to the acting town manager.

959
00:57:44,832 --> 00:57:50,897
That's a role that is specifically
limited to people who are serving on the

960
00:57:50,897 --> 00:57:55,366
Council. And you,
you cannot have that role by Charter.

961
00:57:55,726 --> 00:58:00,258
Until you,
there's a year between when you can and

962
00:58:00,258 --> 00:58:04,701
cannot do that,
and so that to me shows a lack of

963
00:58:04,701 --> 00:58:08,166
judgment in the way roles are executed.

964
00:58:09,656 --> 00:58:14,380
With you in particular related to your
role on the Council,

965
00:58:14,380 --> 00:58:20,522
and I think that to me what we have
needed is a cleaning up of those kinds of

966
00:58:20,522 --> 00:58:24,616
conflicts because those limitations in
our Charter.

967
00:58:24,926 --> 00:58:28,046
Again,
I can't say this enough are so common.

968
00:58:28,086 --> 00:58:33,550
It is common go look at just randomly
pick charters from municipalities in

969
00:58:33,550 --> 00:58:34,206
Maryland.

970
00:58:34,246 --> 00:58:38,491
Outside of Maryland,
it is absolutely common practice to not

971
00:58:38,491 --> 00:58:44,057
have a town manager role be assigned to
an elected official for reasons I won't

972
00:58:44,057 --> 00:58:48,580
go into here at length.
But it is absolutely common practice and

973
00:58:48,580 --> 00:58:52,686
for a very good reasons,
and that that that has been lost.

974
00:58:53,366 --> 00:58:57,503
On you in some cases and and so you you
ask question,

975
00:58:57,503 --> 00:59:02,406
you ask what was what was not passed,
what was the legislation.

976
00:59:02,406 --> 00:59:07,461
The problem isn't what was not passed.
What I'm saying to you is the problem is

977
00:59:07,461 --> 00:59:12,389
what was passed and it was done in a way
that if you go back and look at that

978
00:59:12,389 --> 00:59:15,548
meeting,
those members of Council complained that

979
00:59:15,548 --> 00:59:17,886
they were being forced to make a rap.

980
00:59:17,926 --> 00:59:20,566
Decision on the last night of the of the
Council.

981
00:59:20,966 --> 00:59:23,766
They didn't understand why it was being
brought to them.

982
00:59:23,766 --> 00:59:29,091
They had questions that that about the
the quality of of the actual agreement

983
00:59:29,091 --> 00:59:34,279
and the basic explanation they got was
the lawyers, the lawyer, the lawyer,

984
00:59:34,279 --> 00:59:37,487
right.
And So what my view is they did this is

985
00:59:37,487 --> 00:59:41,856
the problem and this is the problem of
governance and I really.

986
00:59:41,856 --> 00:59:44,926
Need to say this because the problem with
governance is.

987
00:59:45,736 --> 00:59:49,816
In a Council manager form of government
is the decision making body.

988
00:59:50,766 --> 00:59:55,513
Asked to be participative,
that everyone has to be included in the

989
00:59:55,513 --> 01:00:00,969
conversation and real concerns and
questions have to be asked my opinion and

990
01:00:00,969 --> 01:00:05,857
I don't want to be sitting here
criticizing past councils for votes,

991
01:00:05,857 --> 01:00:06,566
they said.

992
01:00:07,046 --> 01:00:10,886
But but but I am criticizing the method
in which that went.

993
01:00:10,886 --> 01:00:15,690
So it's not a simple thing of saying how
many things got passed by that measure.

994
01:00:15,690 --> 01:00:19,486
This Council is already passed more in in,
in nine months than.

995
01:00:19,606 --> 01:00:23,678
Typically gets done in a year.
That doesn't mean everything we did was

996
01:00:23,678 --> 01:00:24,366
good, right?

997
01:00:24,366 --> 01:00:29,122
I mean, it's not just a numbers game,
it's the amount of participation and

998
01:00:29,122 --> 01:00:32,736
having everyone heard that gets the best
result for the,

999
01:00:32,736 --> 01:00:35,526
for the residents of Laplata. OK,
so again.

1000
01:00:37,016 --> 01:00:38,616
Point I I can't even say.

1001
01:00:38,616 --> 01:00:41,776
Point taken because you went round and
round.

1002
01:00:41,776 --> 01:00:43,896
You weren't at the meeting on April 22nd.

1003
01:00:43,896 --> 01:00:45,936
There's not a oh, I was.

1004
01:00:45,936 --> 01:00:48,416
I was not an elected member,
but I was in the room.

1005
01:00:48,886 --> 01:00:50,886
So you said you don't.

1006
01:00:51,806 --> 01:00:54,446
Well, we're not even gonna go to that one.
'cause. That was a previous.

1007
01:00:55,936 --> 01:00:59,176
Council. They did what they needed to do.
They voted.

1008
01:00:59,176 --> 01:01:03,120
They did not have specifically asked me
in previous councils,

1009
01:01:03,120 --> 01:01:04,456
so that's the answer.

1010
01:01:04,456 --> 01:01:07,416
I gave you. It was passed.

1011
01:01:07,416 --> 01:01:09,656
Did they have their own will?

1012
01:01:09,696 --> 01:01:11,336
Yes, they had their own will.

1013
01:01:11,496 --> 01:01:14,620
So we're not sure,
but I'm not sure what you were trying to

1014
01:01:14,620 --> 01:01:17,170
get at.
But when you talk about good governance,

1015
01:01:17,170 --> 01:01:18,576
right, when you talk about?

1016
01:01:20,206 --> 01:01:21,566
Everybody makes mistakes.

1017
01:01:21,606 --> 01:01:23,406
Am I mistake free?

1018
01:01:23,446 --> 01:01:25,846
Oh no, I make mistakes.

1019
01:01:26,006 --> 01:01:27,726
But you know, I'm gonna ask you.

1020
01:01:30,086 --> 01:01:34,767
Open Meetings Compliance Board found that
the council violated the Maryland Open

1021
01:01:34,767 --> 01:01:38,177
Meetings Act on September 11th of last
year. At that time,

1022
01:01:38,177 --> 01:01:41,934
Council had designated one Council member
for Open Meetings Act.

1023
01:01:41,934 --> 01:01:44,246
You and I are both qualified to do that.

1024
01:01:44,246 --> 01:01:48,411
We elected someone else who had,
who had the training, hang on,

1025
01:01:48,411 --> 01:01:53,617
who had the training, had the requirement.
We responded to an actual documented

1026
01:01:53,617 --> 01:01:56,806
governance failure by correcting our
procedures.

1027
01:01:57,256 --> 01:01:59,776
Because we fail to notify the public.

1028
01:02:01,246 --> 01:02:08,307
Of a meeting that we held and that was a
that was on our OMA representative should

1029
01:02:08,307 --> 01:02:14,688
have caught that because they were duly
elected to do that was on the town

1030
01:02:14,688 --> 01:02:18,006
manager because that's not transparent.

1031
01:02:18,166 --> 01:02:21,326
We had a whole meeting on that yet.

1032
01:02:22,966 --> 01:02:25,686
There wasn't any punishment for that gas.
Mm-hmm.

1033
01:02:26,876 --> 01:02:27,436
Madam Mayor.

1034
01:02:28,926 --> 01:02:32,086
That we we discussed that issue when we
got the no.

1035
01:02:32,086 --> 01:02:35,114
No, but but,
but you're misrepresenting the the the

1036
01:02:35,114 --> 01:02:37,326
conversation that happened that night.

1037
01:02:37,326 --> 01:02:38,766
I believe so.

1038
01:02:40,406 --> 01:02:43,686
We we have procedures in place.

1039
01:02:43,886 --> 01:02:49,704
There was advertisements done,
however they were not in accordance with

1040
01:02:49,704 --> 01:02:56,006
the specifics of being submitted in our
Civics plus portal. And so, you know.

1041
01:02:56,316 --> 01:03:01,696
That there the the purpose of the of the
Open Meetings Compliance Board,

1042
01:03:01,696 --> 01:03:04,276
these are not criminal proceedings.

1043
01:03:04,276 --> 01:03:09,990
The the when you read the findings and
you read the literature that they put out,

1044
01:03:09,990 --> 01:03:15,356
they are there to help governing bodies
make the right choices and the right

1045
01:03:15,356 --> 01:03:18,631
procedures in order to be as open as
possible.

1046
01:03:18,631 --> 01:03:21,836
We can in the function of the government.
So.

1047
01:03:22,646 --> 01:03:22,686
I.

1048
01:03:22,766 --> 01:03:25,446
I don't understand the point you're
trying to make other than I think.

1049
01:03:25,796 --> 01:03:31,004
You're trying to point to, you know,
to other members of the Council as as as

1050
01:03:31,004 --> 01:03:34,276
being worthy of being criticized over
something.

1051
01:03:34,276 --> 01:03:37,236
No, I'm just pointing out that was a gap.

1052
01:03:38,766 --> 01:03:39,686
That it was a mistake.

1053
01:03:39,686 --> 01:03:43,432
It was an overlook.
That's what the the board said that we

1054
01:03:43,432 --> 01:03:44,766
were not transparent.

1055
01:03:44,846 --> 01:03:47,966
It wasn't done intentionally yet.

1056
01:03:48,526 --> 01:03:54,037
Nothing came down on the individual who
is responsible for our OMA to make sure

1057
01:03:54,037 --> 01:03:55,966
that we are with we elected.

1058
01:03:56,556 --> 01:04:01,276
A member of our Council to make sure that
we are held accountable.

1059
01:04:01,556 --> 01:04:05,076
Am I incorrect with that?
With the OMA that had a training?

1060
01:04:06,966 --> 01:04:14,766
If you feel that's necessary and someone
brought it to the OMA at the Open

1061
01:04:14,766 --> 01:04:20,590
Meetings Compliance Board as a violation
a citizen did,

1062
01:04:20,590 --> 01:04:28,806
we were found that we violated that.
It was said that we were not transparent.

1063
01:04:28,806 --> 01:04:30,886
We did not give the.

1064
01:04:31,756 --> 01:04:35,815
The members of the residents,
an opportunity to know that we were

1065
01:04:35,815 --> 01:04:37,476
meeting and five of us met.

1066
01:04:39,006 --> 01:04:42,126
We acknowledge that we had to do certain
things in place.

1067
01:04:42,126 --> 01:04:47,385
We changed the procedure,
yet the person in charge of that. What?

1068
01:04:47,385 --> 01:04:52,246
What is it that didn't of his duty of an
OMA representative.

1069
01:04:53,926 --> 01:04:54,246
He was not.

1070
01:04:56,206 --> 01:04:57,446
So I'm just.

1071
01:04:57,446 --> 01:05:00,246
I'm just saying, yeah. Are you done?

1072
01:05:01,116 --> 01:05:03,356
With what you have to say because I have
some more questions.

1073
01:05:03,396 --> 01:05:04,316
Go for it.

1074
01:05:04,596 --> 01:05:09,022
Alright, Councilman McCormick,
what objective standard are you applying

1075
01:05:09,022 --> 01:05:12,711
to determine that?
The current presiding officer has failed

1076
01:05:12,711 --> 01:05:16,276
legislative productivity,
completion of Council business.

1077
01:05:16,276 --> 01:05:20,080
We just talked about that compliance with
adopted procedures,

1078
01:05:20,080 --> 01:05:24,252
meeting efficiency rulings overturned by
Council or something else.

1079
01:05:24,252 --> 01:05:25,356
What specifically?

1080
01:05:26,766 --> 01:05:27,766
Is the standard.

1081
01:05:27,806 --> 01:05:29,406
Yeah,
I haven't gotten a chance to speak yet.

1082
01:05:29,406 --> 01:05:31,086
So can I ask my questions to staff first?

1083
01:05:31,436 --> 01:05:34,356
And when it's your turn,
now we have a question on being asked.

1084
01:05:34,356 --> 01:05:38,516
Alright, I respectfully refuse to answer.
OK, so that.

1085
01:05:39,926 --> 01:05:40,566
That says a lot.

1086
01:05:42,246 --> 01:05:42,846
You have.

1087
01:05:42,846 --> 01:05:45,726
I asked twice already if you had any
questions.

1088
01:05:45,726 --> 01:05:49,543
No, you. Well, you ask once, Madam Mayor.
But if if I could point of order. I'm.

1089
01:05:49,543 --> 01:05:50,486
I'm curious because.

1090
01:05:52,166 --> 01:05:54,086
Normally we we everyone gets a chance to
talk.

1091
01:05:54,086 --> 01:05:57,037
So, so we, we,
we've gone through everyone sort of went

1092
01:05:57,037 --> 01:06:00,726
through that but but if now a member
wants to be recognized to speak.

1093
01:06:01,036 --> 01:06:04,796
They're not allowed to unless you're
unless you're done with your questioning.

1094
01:06:04,836 --> 01:06:08,196
No, that is not.
If you could roll back the tape.

1095
01:06:08,356 --> 01:06:13,516
I asked if anybody else has any questions
and you were the only one.

1096
01:06:14,596 --> 01:06:16,196
I went first first.

1097
01:06:16,196 --> 01:06:19,116
All right,
I'd like to officially appeal the ruling.

1098
01:06:21,546 --> 01:06:24,618
That you're not allowing the other
Members to speak and ask their questions

1099
01:06:24,618 --> 01:06:25,426
to the to the staff.

1100
01:06:28,546 --> 01:06:29,706
Childish game, OK?

1101
01:06:29,706 --> 01:06:32,706
Councilman McCormick, you have the floor.

1102
01:06:32,706 --> 01:06:34,066
Thank you, Mr. Stevens.

1103
01:06:34,066 --> 01:06:36,810
I just wanna go through the the agenda
item summary, if that's OK.

1104
01:06:36,810 --> 01:06:39,268
Specifically the dates portion and while
you're doing that,

1105
01:06:39,268 --> 01:06:41,643
I want to thank everybody who came out
and made comments.

1106
01:06:41,643 --> 01:06:44,142
Even if you disagree with my assessment,
it does mean a lot.

1107
01:06:44,142 --> 01:06:45,166
I take the feedback very.

1108
01:06:45,166 --> 01:06:47,712
Seriously,
I don't think anybody can personally

1109
01:06:47,712 --> 01:06:48,826
criticize me of that.

1110
01:06:48,826 --> 01:06:50,746
I do take the the feedback seriously.

1111
01:06:50,746 --> 01:06:53,005
So while Mr.
Stevens is looking at those dates real

1112
01:06:53,005 --> 01:06:53,266
quick.

1113
01:06:54,006 --> 01:06:57,439
To kind of set the three questions,
I'm gonna ask one was based off of

1114
01:06:57,439 --> 01:06:58,406
feedback and really.

1115
01:06:58,836 --> 01:07:02,805
The only feedback I heard from Mayor
James that if true is legitimate and

1116
01:07:02,805 --> 01:07:07,095
would cause me to to really look at this
another way and to from the the public

1117
01:07:07,095 --> 01:07:08,436
and the same thing there.

1118
01:07:08,476 --> 01:07:12,010
So the first question,
if you have the dates up, I do. OK, great.

1119
01:07:12,010 --> 01:07:14,955
On November 10th,
the town council is going to elect a

1120
01:07:14,955 --> 01:07:18,006
presiding officer.
Who of the five of us is eligible for

1121
01:07:18,006 --> 01:07:18,756
that election.

1122
01:07:19,556 --> 01:07:22,116
All five members of the elected council
would OK.

1123
01:07:22,196 --> 01:07:26,130
And the reason I ask that question that
way, and if it's OK, just a nod for Mr.

1124
01:07:26,130 --> 01:07:28,196
Pounds if you concur with that assessment.

1125
01:07:28,316 --> 01:07:30,669
OK,
I gotta I gotta nod is the feedback I

1126
01:07:30,669 --> 01:07:35,096
heard from Mayor James and really the
only criticism in her questioning to the

1127
01:07:35,096 --> 01:07:38,010
town staff.
There was that this language is written

1128
01:07:38,010 --> 01:07:41,596
in a way that she cannot and is not
eligible for that election.

1129
01:07:41,596 --> 01:07:43,775
Well,
we just heard it twice now that she

1130
01:07:43,775 --> 01:07:46,473
clearly is.
So really the only argument that you've

1131
01:07:46,473 --> 01:07:49,638
had now. So in August,
you had an argument that this was not

1132
01:07:49,638 --> 01:07:50,676
legally able, right?

1133
01:07:50,676 --> 01:07:51,956
And I asked the can we and should we?

1134
01:07:51,956 --> 01:07:56,076
Questions we found out we clearly can,
when he misrepresented 5 court cases.

1135
01:07:56,766 --> 01:07:58,646
And now we're getting to the should we
question?

1136
01:07:59,196 --> 01:08:02,064
OK, so right there,
Mayor James is clearly eligible to

1137
01:08:02,064 --> 01:08:05,349
continue to be the presiding officer if
this Council wills it,

1138
01:08:05,349 --> 01:08:08,582
even on November 10th.
After this all goes into effect and is

1139
01:08:08,582 --> 01:08:10,876
placed so that entire concern is wiped
out.

1140
01:08:10,876 --> 01:08:14,065
Now there's two concerns I heard from the
majority of the speakers out there,

1141
01:08:14,065 --> 01:08:16,232
and again,
I really want to say thank you for coming

1142
01:08:16,232 --> 01:08:16,436
here.

1143
01:08:16,476 --> 01:08:19,646
The first is we are changing the
structure of the government and that's a

1144
01:08:19,646 --> 01:08:21,316
power that should be led to the people.

1145
01:08:21,316 --> 01:08:23,756
We've had this conversation three times
on the record.

1146
01:08:23,836 --> 01:08:27,436
I completely understand that municipal
government is something that.

1147
01:08:28,166 --> 01:08:28,486
Is tough to follow.

1148
01:08:30,236 --> 01:08:33,895
I frankly would rather be with my family
on Tuesday nights than sitting here,

1149
01:08:33,895 --> 01:08:37,694
but it is a duty that we're called to do,
right and somebody has to take on that

1150
01:08:37,694 --> 01:08:38,116
vocation.

1151
01:08:38,116 --> 01:08:39,676
I decided to do this in May, right?

1152
01:08:39,676 --> 01:08:42,761
And you all trusted me for this,
and I appreciate your trust.

1153
01:08:42,761 --> 01:08:46,294
But we've had three legal conversations
now about that exact question,

1154
01:08:46,294 --> 01:08:49,876
and it is clear that this is not a
structural change to the government.

1155
01:08:50,036 --> 01:08:51,076
We remain.

1156
01:08:51,196 --> 01:08:53,396
We currently are a Charter.

1157
01:08:54,166 --> 01:08:56,893
Right and Council manager,
government and even when this passes,

1158
01:08:56,893 --> 01:08:57,606
we will continue.

1159
01:08:57,996 --> 01:09:01,229
To remain that so the structure of
government is not changing,

1160
01:09:01,229 --> 01:09:03,847
which leads to kind of third concern I
heard here.

1161
01:09:03,847 --> 01:09:07,696
There's a power and duty that's being
stripped from the mayor and given to

1162
01:09:07,696 --> 01:09:11,956
somebody else that you'll no longer have.
Well, you just heard Mr. Stevens and Mr.

1163
01:09:11,956 --> 01:09:16,633
Pounds explain that the mayor can still
run for this newly created presiding

1164
01:09:16,633 --> 01:09:20,156
officer position,
so she clearly can retain those powers.

1165
01:09:20,396 --> 01:09:22,815
But again,
this is this is good governance in that

1166
01:09:22,815 --> 01:09:26,657
we'll finally have a presiding officer,
in my opinion that is accountable to the

1167
01:09:26,657 --> 01:09:27,036
Council.

1168
01:09:27,156 --> 01:09:29,237
And again,
it's very important to remember the

1169
01:09:29,237 --> 01:09:30,476
distinction between the two.

1170
01:09:30,676 --> 01:09:34,782
There was a comment stated that the
Council should be accountable to the

1171
01:09:34,782 --> 01:09:37,988
Council themselves and also the residents
totally agree,

1172
01:09:37,988 --> 01:09:42,263
but the presiding officer's unique
position in that he or she presides over

1173
01:09:42,263 --> 01:09:45,244
the Council themselves and in those
meetings, right,

1174
01:09:45,244 --> 01:09:47,156
just the way government is set up.

1175
01:09:47,156 --> 01:09:50,178
And a representative democracy like we
have here in La Plata,

1176
01:09:50,178 --> 01:09:53,786
it's up to the five of us to come to
those decisions together during that

1177
01:09:53,786 --> 01:09:56,516
meeting and represent the 11,
000 residents of Laplata.

1178
01:09:56,796 --> 01:10:00,791
But it's that presiding officer who has
to remain accountable to the Council,

1179
01:10:00,791 --> 01:10:04,427
and right now I would state,
based off of the questions, the comments,

1180
01:10:04,427 --> 01:10:08,627
the examples you have seen here tonight
with a presiding officer who frankly just

1181
01:10:08,627 --> 01:10:11,956
doesn't understand our current Rules of
Procedure, is not doing.

1182
01:10:11,956 --> 01:10:13,716
That in the best interest of laplata.

1183
01:10:13,836 --> 01:10:14,756
So I get it.

1184
01:10:14,876 --> 01:10:15,436
I truly do.

1185
01:10:15,436 --> 01:10:18,949
There's personal relationships,
there's there's charged feelings here

1186
01:10:18,949 --> 01:10:22,864
when it comes to doing what's best for
the people of laplata the way in which

1187
01:10:22,864 --> 01:10:25,926
this document is written,
the examples and the explanation I

1188
01:10:25,926 --> 01:10:28,636
received from town staff,
I am going to support this.

1189
01:10:28,636 --> 01:10:29,356
Thank you.

1190
01:10:36,046 --> 01:10:37,486
Yes, a few comments. Thank you.

1191
01:10:38,516 --> 01:10:38,876
All right.

1192
01:10:38,876 --> 01:10:39,716
Good evening everyone.

1193
01:10:39,876 --> 01:10:44,553
Just to to clarify some things you know,
I was the Council member that submitted

1194
01:10:44,553 --> 01:10:46,516
the agenda item. I fully own that.

1195
01:10:48,046 --> 01:10:50,246
There's been a conversation for at least
since.

1196
01:10:50,286 --> 01:10:51,806
Thank the end of May, early June.

1197
01:10:53,486 --> 01:10:54,566
Was super important to stress.

1198
01:10:54,566 --> 01:10:55,326
Is that currently?

1199
01:10:55,326 --> 01:10:58,590
Today we are a Council manager form of
government,

1200
01:10:58,590 --> 01:11:03,070
which mean that the five of us enact
legislation, policy, ordinances,

1201
01:11:03,070 --> 01:11:07,806
laws if you want to call that and we
choose the policy direction of town.

1202
01:11:09,286 --> 01:11:12,266
The town manager,
who's appointed by the council,

1203
01:11:12,266 --> 01:11:15,783
works for the five members collectively,
or as a majority,

1204
01:11:15,783 --> 01:11:20,194
if you will he or the town manager,
execute the vision and policy of Town

1205
01:11:20,194 --> 01:11:21,326
council governance.

1206
01:11:21,326 --> 01:11:25,232
So whatever that is,
he go out and deliver the policy and act

1207
01:11:25,232 --> 01:11:26,366
a policy whatever.

1208
01:11:26,366 --> 01:11:30,665
He also lead town operations the the
services that all of us receive daily

1209
01:11:30,665 --> 01:11:33,646
that we probably don't think about police
services.

1210
01:11:34,326 --> 01:11:38,000
We know more about the trash that get
picked up by these or Fridays and recycle,

1211
01:11:38,000 --> 01:11:38,726
so that is what.

1212
01:11:39,406 --> 01:11:42,526
The town operations is for none of your
Council members.

1213
01:11:42,606 --> 01:11:43,766
Go pick up trash.

1214
01:11:44,246 --> 01:11:48,731
None of your Council member enforces laws
and none of your Council members ensure

1215
01:11:48,731 --> 01:11:53,326
that the wastewater treatment plant is in
compliance other than legislation, right?

1216
01:11:53,326 --> 01:11:57,295
So in terms of the structure of
government, we are a Council manager,

1217
01:11:57,295 --> 01:12:00,754
former government,
which is very calming here in the country

1218
01:12:00,754 --> 01:12:04,326
and it's becoming more and more common
today as you see elect.

1219
01:12:04,996 --> 01:12:09,992
Who run operations across the country
usually shift that responsibility to a

1220
01:12:09,992 --> 01:12:10,836
professional.

1221
01:12:11,396 --> 01:12:15,305
That is usually accredited through some
type of association as a credential

1222
01:12:15,305 --> 01:12:15,716
manager.

1223
01:12:16,076 --> 01:12:18,676
So we are a Council manager for
government. We are.

1224
01:12:18,676 --> 01:12:23,969
This proposal does not change how town,
government operations and services being

1225
01:12:23,969 --> 01:12:28,805
delivered will happen every day for our
residents and businesses in town,

1226
01:12:28,805 --> 01:12:29,916
this is strictly.

1227
01:12:30,606 --> 01:12:32,226
Internal administrative action,
if you will,

1228
01:12:32,226 --> 01:12:33,486
if that's what you want to call it.

1229
01:12:34,556 --> 01:12:35,676
The state law.

1230
01:12:35,716 --> 01:12:38,793
Well, excuse me,
state constitution allow municipalities

1231
01:12:38,793 --> 01:12:40,196
to operate on the charter.

1232
01:12:40,196 --> 01:12:42,541
A lot of them make charter changes for
various reasons.

1233
01:12:42,541 --> 01:12:44,676
If you look at that Charter,
it's it's very broad.

1234
01:12:44,676 --> 01:12:46,076
We can purchase property.

1235
01:12:46,396 --> 01:12:48,556
We could take action to police the town.

1236
01:12:50,006 --> 01:12:51,686
In terms of sidewalks, law enforcement,
etc.

1237
01:12:53,526 --> 01:12:56,731
And the code usually is the policy in a
way in which the government would execute,

1238
01:12:56,731 --> 01:12:57,966
you know, the Charter amendment.

1239
01:12:58,286 --> 01:13:00,246
So we're not changing the structure of
government.

1240
01:13:00,246 --> 01:13:03,366
I heard that comment tonight is super
important that that is really.

1241
01:13:04,076 --> 01:13:07,676
The knot is tied that the structure
government is not being changed.

1242
01:13:07,676 --> 01:13:12,700
The services that's being delivered to
you every day is not being changed.

1243
01:13:12,700 --> 01:13:15,916
It's simply how the Council governs its
itself.

1244
01:13:16,516 --> 01:13:17,396
Those are my only comments.

1245
01:13:17,396 --> 01:13:17,756
Thank you.

1246
01:13:18,196 --> 01:13:21,571
All right. I have a couple more questions.
Councilman McFarlane,

1247
01:13:21,571 --> 01:13:25,258
based on the standards you have
articulated tonight to the performance

1248
01:13:25,258 --> 01:13:27,076
and conduct of an elected official.

1249
01:13:28,566 --> 01:13:32,598
Will those exact same standards apply to
the future Council chair and to every

1250
01:13:32,598 --> 01:13:34,486
member of the Council, including you?

1251
01:13:34,966 --> 01:13:39,288
Yes, moving forward,
I future chair engages in the same

1252
01:13:39,288 --> 01:13:45,617
conduct conduct that you have identified
tonight as evidence of my failure to the

1253
01:13:45,617 --> 01:13:47,006
same consequences.

1254
01:13:47,526 --> 01:13:48,966
Follow, yeah, and you can.

1255
01:13:49,236 --> 01:13:52,750
Actually quote my August statement during
the central conversation when I said that

1256
01:13:52,750 --> 01:13:54,716
exact thing I said.
It's not a personal thing.

1257
01:13:54,716 --> 01:13:56,396
Doesn't matter who's doing it, right?

1258
01:13:56,396 --> 01:13:58,907
It's the fact that the action itself
occurred,

1259
01:13:58,907 --> 01:14:03,020
and I hope anybody who's sitting in
Presiding Officer seat that were to make

1260
01:14:03,020 --> 01:14:05,637
that type of action right would be talked
about,

1261
01:14:05,637 --> 01:14:09,964
and then a central vote or a performance
review or a potential removal from that

1262
01:14:09,964 --> 01:14:11,086
PO position would be.

1263
01:14:11,086 --> 01:14:11,516
On the table.

1264
01:14:11,516 --> 01:14:12,998
Yeah,
it doesn't matter if it's you or anybody

1265
01:14:12,998 --> 01:14:13,156
else.

1266
01:14:15,006 --> 01:14:18,975
To Brent brought up the censure and you
just said that you would apply,

1267
01:14:18,975 --> 01:14:23,109
and I'm not going to put words in your
mouth that you would apply the same

1268
01:14:23,109 --> 01:14:24,046
standards, right?

1269
01:14:24,086 --> 01:14:30,452
Shouldn't you have been censored for your
egregious behavior against a town

1270
01:14:30,452 --> 01:14:31,206
employee?

1271
01:14:31,326 --> 01:14:32,806
But what did we do?

1272
01:14:33,246 --> 01:14:39,318
We took it into closed session,
reprimanded you there and the public was

1273
01:14:39,318 --> 01:14:40,566
none the wiser.

1274
01:14:41,326 --> 01:14:43,806
But for an e-mail that did not.

1275
01:14:44,476 --> 01:14:46,996
Ask a question.

1276
01:14:46,996 --> 01:14:49,556
It was an informative only.

1277
01:14:51,006 --> 01:14:54,126
These four, you and three others decided.

1278
01:14:55,726 --> 01:15:00,126
The proper form of punishment was a
censure when.

1279
01:15:01,926 --> 01:15:07,046
We gave you the courtesy of taking you
into closed session and reprimanding you.

1280
01:15:07,046 --> 01:15:08,682
That. Yeah,
I think that's a good question.

1281
01:15:08,682 --> 01:15:09,686
I have two answers to that.

1282
01:15:09,686 --> 01:15:12,406
So the first is the censure common itself.

1283
01:15:12,716 --> 01:15:16,596
Feel free to go ahead and put as an
agenda item and I look forward to the

1284
01:15:16,596 --> 01:15:20,476
rest of the Council discussing my
behavior back when that issue occurred.

1285
01:15:20,476 --> 01:15:23,840
The second thing that's important to
remember is we had an independent

1286
01:15:23,840 --> 01:15:27,345
investigator come through in a 50
decision stated that none of the things

1287
01:15:27,345 --> 01:15:28,956
that I was charged with were true.

1288
01:15:30,446 --> 01:15:31,606
Oh, no, no, no. Yes, yes, yes.

1289
01:15:31,606 --> 01:15:33,926
That is not right and we can pull that.

1290
01:15:33,926 --> 01:15:37,044
I'm gonna be putting it to the press now
that you know,

1291
01:15:37,044 --> 01:15:39,606
can I do a point of order real quick,
please?

1292
01:15:40,236 --> 01:15:41,156
You were not.

1293
01:15:41,196 --> 01:15:42,796
I'm sorry, did you say point of order?

1294
01:15:42,796 --> 01:15:45,507
Yes, Madam mayor. Yes,
and accordance with our rules.

1295
01:15:45,507 --> 01:15:49,573
Closed session matters should be treated
confidential unless the Council decides

1296
01:15:49,573 --> 01:15:52,836
that it could be. I mean, for both of you.
Talk about it. Right.

1297
01:15:52,836 --> 01:15:56,455
It involves it involves a staff member,
which is highly inappropriate to be

1298
01:15:56,455 --> 01:15:57,836
brought up in public session.

1299
01:15:58,156 --> 01:16:00,950
However,
there is a mechanism if Council wishes to

1300
01:16:00,950 --> 01:16:04,676
have that conversation in public,
it would be suspending the rules.

1301
01:16:05,236 --> 01:16:08,830
But currently today any any matters in
closed session should be treated

1302
01:16:08,830 --> 01:16:12,224
confidential by our Members attended.
She is already out there now.

1303
01:16:12,224 --> 01:16:15,319
But and of course there are rules.
That's thank you for that.

1304
01:16:15,319 --> 01:16:17,316
And and there's nothing that I divulged.

1305
01:16:18,846 --> 01:16:20,686
That would have violated the closed
session.

1306
01:16:20,726 --> 01:16:21,806
It was just. Why?

1307
01:16:21,806 --> 01:16:25,526
Because it would have been a discipline,
it would have been talking.

1308
01:16:25,846 --> 01:16:31,324
I don't remember what the reason we went
into closed session. The five O that is,

1309
01:16:31,324 --> 01:16:32,326
that is no, no.

1310
01:16:32,326 --> 01:16:33,926
You said I was reprimanded.

1311
01:16:33,926 --> 01:16:34,686
So that yet.

1312
01:16:34,686 --> 01:16:35,406
No, I was not.

1313
01:16:36,516 --> 01:16:42,515
I'd be happy to provide those documents
because we don't have the authority to

1314
01:16:42,515 --> 01:16:47,604
reprimand you or spoken to,
but I'm just showing that I am glad to

1315
01:16:47,604 --> 01:16:52,236
see that moving forward you are going to
adhere to treating.

1316
01:16:53,766 --> 01:16:57,838
That Council chair,
the same that you with the way that you

1317
01:16:57,838 --> 01:17:02,046
have treated me, Councilman Johnson,
it has been stated many,

1318
01:17:02,046 --> 01:17:05,846
many times tonight that you stated last
on August 21st.

1319
01:17:06,436 --> 01:17:07,356
I mean 25th.

1320
01:17:07,356 --> 01:17:08,916
Sorry that this is personal.

1321
01:17:10,446 --> 01:17:11,926
You identified specific.

1322
01:17:13,566 --> 01:17:18,286
Areas when it's point of order that I
have failed in your eyes.

1323
01:17:20,086 --> 01:17:25,756
What actual governmental harm resulted
from any of those incidents that you

1324
01:17:25,756 --> 01:17:30,605
could have not addressed it through
existing Rules of Procedure,

1325
01:17:30,605 --> 01:17:36,126
and why do those incident incidents
justify a permanent change? Not only.

1326
01:17:37,666 --> 01:17:41,410
Here and now,
but for future mayors and how do you

1327
01:17:41,410 --> 01:17:47,211
reconcile this governmental necessity
you're asserting tonight with your prior

1328
01:17:47,211 --> 01:17:48,826
public statement that.

1329
01:17:50,326 --> 01:17:53,220
This is personal. Yeah.
Thank you for the question.

1330
01:17:53,220 --> 01:17:56,726
I did make the personal comment and then
context is important.

1331
01:17:56,726 --> 01:17:59,046
I came back and said the reason for his
being personal.

1332
01:17:59,086 --> 01:18:01,256
You know,
obviously saying personal wasn't a the

1333
01:18:01,256 --> 01:18:02,806
way it was said wasn't a good look.

1334
01:18:02,806 --> 01:18:06,886
I fully own it,
but it was personal and the way of of.

1335
01:18:07,156 --> 01:18:09,916
Good governance and how we operate as a
Council, right?

1336
01:18:09,916 --> 01:18:11,876
So how we hold ourselves accountable?

1337
01:18:11,876 --> 01:18:15,985
We have the the mechanism, rule,
procedure that's that's not a public

1338
01:18:15,985 --> 01:18:17,276
input document, right?

1339
01:18:17,356 --> 01:18:21,148
That's how we hold each other accountable.
Other than your other questions,

1340
01:18:21,148 --> 01:18:24,940
I know I made my statement on the record,
but to answer your question about

1341
01:18:24,940 --> 01:18:27,036
personal 'cause, I think that's important.

1342
01:18:27,036 --> 01:18:28,436
It needs to be addressed.

1343
01:18:28,436 --> 01:18:29,476
That's that's to this to now answer that.

1344
01:18:30,966 --> 01:18:32,166
I didn't hear what you said there.

1345
01:18:32,556 --> 01:18:38,321
A stent that I will answer that question,
OK and anybody can watch the August 25th

1346
01:18:38,321 --> 01:18:41,516
meeting.
And I think that emotions were high.

1347
01:18:41,556 --> 01:18:43,836
But you leaned in and you went.

1348
01:18:43,876 --> 01:18:45,636
This is personal.

1349
01:18:45,636 --> 01:18:49,123
There was no other context in that,
so it's very easy to see.

1350
01:18:49,123 --> 01:18:53,848
But then sometimes when we do think about
things we like to walk it back because it

1351
01:18:53,848 --> 01:18:54,636
doesn't shine.

1352
01:18:54,636 --> 01:18:58,956
It doesn't make us look really good,
and that light's not shining on us there.

1353
01:19:01,406 --> 01:19:03,126
Let me see if I have any other questions.

1354
01:19:03,556 --> 01:19:07,479
That for the betterment of this, I do not,
Mr. Stevens,

1355
01:19:07,479 --> 01:19:13,294
do you have any further to add before we
talk about concluding this public hearing

1356
01:19:13,294 --> 01:19:15,116
staff has nothing further.

1357
01:19:15,116 --> 01:19:16,782
Yeah, I'd.
I'd still like to be recognized,

1358
01:19:16,782 --> 01:19:17,236
Madam Mayor.

1359
01:19:17,836 --> 01:19:20,116
I'm sorry I like to be recognized.

1360
01:19:21,606 --> 01:19:21,886
Oh, OK.

1361
01:19:21,886 --> 01:19:23,366
I moved on from there, but go ahead.

1362
01:19:23,446 --> 01:19:24,846
Yeah. Well, you you don't look around.

1363
01:19:24,846 --> 01:19:27,286
And that's again part of why we're having
this conversation.

1364
01:19:27,286 --> 01:19:31,246
So so here you've asked a couple
questions of the Council.

1365
01:19:31,246 --> 01:19:32,806
Let me ask some of you.

1366
01:19:34,356 --> 01:19:38,996
Back in July, June,
whenever we had the first topic right.

1367
01:19:38,996 --> 01:19:43,228
The first time this was presented,
you made a verbal warning to the Council

1368
01:19:43,228 --> 01:19:47,738
and to the town that you'd be filing a
tort reform based off of actions that the

1369
01:19:47,738 --> 01:19:48,796
Council was taking.

1370
01:19:48,796 --> 01:19:50,036
Do you still plan to do that?

1371
01:19:52,276 --> 01:19:55,556
I will not answer that.
OK and that's that's OK you're now.

1372
01:19:55,556 --> 01:19:59,076
You don't have to answer that.
The second question is a pretty basic one.

1373
01:19:59,076 --> 01:20:02,860
And then I'm gonna go through and answer
a specific question that you asked other

1374
01:20:02,860 --> 01:20:05,997
council members but didn't ask me,
which I thought was interesting.

1375
01:20:05,997 --> 01:20:09,366
And that is do you think you are
upholding the Rules of Procedure fairly

1376
01:20:09,366 --> 01:20:10,796
inconsistently to this Council?

1377
01:20:12,726 --> 01:20:16,966
I don't believe I asked Councilman
Sampson. That I didn't say you did.

1378
01:20:16,966 --> 01:20:19,806
You said that I that I excluded you.

1379
01:20:20,606 --> 01:20:23,800
Nope. OK, fine. So you excluded me.
And Councilman Sampson.

1380
01:20:23,800 --> 01:20:27,686
Now that we have that out of the way,
my question to you is very simple.

1381
01:20:27,686 --> 01:20:32,643
Do you believe that you are upholding the
Rules of Procedure to this Council fairly

1382
01:20:32,643 --> 01:20:33,646
and consistently?

1383
01:20:35,086 --> 01:20:37,486
To the best of my ability, OK.
And I appreciate the answer.

1384
01:20:37,486 --> 01:20:39,556
That's a good answer,
and that's the answer I would hope

1385
01:20:39,556 --> 01:20:39,846
happens.

1386
01:20:39,846 --> 01:20:43,057
And again, if this passes,
I look forward to hearing your pitch in

1387
01:20:43,057 --> 01:20:45,406
November when you can run for that office
again.

1388
01:20:45,606 --> 01:20:49,446
Now the question that you asked right was
about.

1389
01:20:49,956 --> 01:20:55,013
The specifics that it comes to your
judgment or passing legislation or the

1390
01:20:55,013 --> 01:20:59,800
appliance of rules and procedure,
and this is where I do think the the

1391
01:20:59,800 --> 01:21:05,059
specifics are important to to go over and
I'd be very happy to provide just a

1392
01:21:05,059 --> 01:21:07,486
couple of examples here. So the 1st.

1393
01:21:07,486 --> 01:21:10,036
Is our very first meeting right?

1394
01:21:10,036 --> 01:21:12,596
We had a a special meeting with an agenda.

1395
01:21:12,596 --> 01:21:14,956
We had a a motion to to amend the agenda.

1396
01:21:15,646 --> 01:21:18,333
You refused to entertain the motion,
and then you made a comment that,

1397
01:21:18,333 --> 01:21:19,166
you know this Council.

1398
01:21:19,676 --> 01:21:22,756
Has really only just taken its oath and
name, right?

1399
01:21:22,756 --> 01:21:27,116
Immediately going against what I would
say, just basic decorum.

1400
01:21:28,886 --> 01:21:32,685
And and assigning motive and again,
technically we didn't have a rule of

1401
01:21:32,685 --> 01:21:34,246
procedure passed at that time.

1402
01:21:34,406 --> 01:21:36,580
So Yep,
you're not in violation of Rule of

1403
01:21:36,580 --> 01:21:39,766
Procedure, but the decorum there,
I think really set the tone.

1404
01:21:39,766 --> 01:21:43,335
For who was taking these things
personally and who was trying to advance

1405
01:21:43,335 --> 01:21:45,486
an agenda based off of the recent
election.

1406
01:21:45,486 --> 01:21:47,366
Who was trying to represent the people of
Laplata?

1407
01:21:48,186 --> 01:21:50,106
And then just one day later, right?

1408
01:21:50,106 --> 01:21:51,946
One day later, you turn around.

1409
01:21:51,946 --> 01:21:55,217
You accuse this Council of violating the
OMA on May 12th,

1410
01:21:55,217 --> 01:21:59,220
and Councilman Johnson asked you a very
specific question on that day.

1411
01:21:59,220 --> 01:22:00,066
And he goes OK.

1412
01:22:00,186 --> 01:22:01,146
Are you the oma?

1413
01:22:01,146 --> 01:22:02,466
Are you at ruling board?

1414
01:22:02,506 --> 01:22:04,346
How did you come to this conclusion?

1415
01:22:04,546 --> 01:22:07,946
It's just your opinion and you turn
around, said no, Councilman Johnson.

1416
01:22:08,016 --> 01:22:08,736
A fact.

1417
01:22:09,016 --> 01:22:12,649
Well, it's not a fact.
There's no OMA violation at this Council

1418
01:22:12,649 --> 01:22:15,431
had committed at that time that it's just
again,

1419
01:22:15,431 --> 01:22:19,916
it's it's these personal attacks and
issues that that you continue to bring up

1420
01:22:19,916 --> 01:22:22,016
and present as fact when they're not.

1421
01:22:22,056 --> 01:22:25,465
And then you ask, OK, well,
if there's just one example that

1422
01:22:25,465 --> 01:22:28,316
Councilman Guttenberg pulled from the
past, right,

1423
01:22:28,316 --> 01:22:30,216
then this is just a one off issue.

1424
01:22:30,376 --> 01:22:32,541
Councilman Johnson,
could we have corrected this through the

1425
01:22:32,541 --> 01:22:33,216
Rules of Procedure?

1426
01:22:33,986 --> 01:22:34,466
Yeah, probably.

1427
01:22:34,666 --> 01:22:36,786
But I would argue this Council has
attempted to.

1428
01:22:37,296 --> 01:22:39,456
And you refuse to take that feedback.

1429
01:22:39,456 --> 01:22:42,469
Let's just go a little bit further right
on May 20th.

1430
01:22:42,469 --> 01:22:45,816
We're talking about an issue that
directly pertains to you.

1431
01:22:47,346 --> 01:22:50,164
Basic, normal,
reasonable people would preclude in a

1432
01:22:50,164 --> 01:22:54,630
government setting an issue that involves
that person like the stipend and servant,

1433
01:22:54,630 --> 01:22:58,617
as the town manager and Townsend,
that you would recuse yourself from that

1434
01:22:58,617 --> 01:22:59,946
conversation. You didn't.

1435
01:23:00,026 --> 01:23:03,226
I would argue, in my opinion,
that leads to questionable judgment.

1436
01:23:03,226 --> 01:23:04,937
Thankfully,
you voted with the majority of the

1437
01:23:04,937 --> 01:23:06,466
Council and then undermined our will then.

1438
01:23:07,136 --> 01:23:10,117
But that's that's a good thing.
On July 29th,

1439
01:23:10,117 --> 01:23:14,653
an agenda item was presented by a Council
member that you went ahead,

1440
01:23:14,653 --> 01:23:19,773
took first authorship and and and spoke
on and immediately after you made your

1441
01:23:19,773 --> 01:23:22,819
statement,
motioned to table the topic without

1442
01:23:22,819 --> 01:23:25,346
having that original author present it.

1443
01:23:25,346 --> 01:23:28,550
Just a couple months later,
when Councilman Johnson goes ahead and

1444
01:23:28,550 --> 01:23:31,420
introduces his pieces of legislation for
charter amendment,

1445
01:23:31,420 --> 01:23:34,816
you give him the affordable and our Rules
of Procedure to speak first.

1446
01:23:35,056 --> 01:23:39,937
Your treating council members differently
based off of things that you believe

1447
01:23:39,937 --> 01:23:42,656
right,
pertain and affect you in your role.

1448
01:23:42,896 --> 01:23:45,670
So again,
these are just a couple of of minor

1449
01:23:45,670 --> 01:23:48,625
examples,
but when they continue to mount up and

1450
01:23:48,625 --> 01:23:53,571
mount up and mount up and we talk about
performance and who the presiding officer

1451
01:23:53,571 --> 01:23:56,767
is accountable to,
that's why these types of charter

1452
01:23:56,767 --> 01:23:58,456
amendments become necessary.

1453
01:23:58,496 --> 01:24:01,736
And I would just like to answer a
question you asked Councilman Johnson.

1454
01:24:02,466 --> 01:24:04,306
Why would this Council go ahead and pass?

1455
01:24:04,696 --> 01:24:07,936
This for future councils it's so this
never happens again.

1456
01:24:08,176 --> 01:24:12,126
Every single member that came up here
tonight expressed some sort of

1457
01:24:12,126 --> 01:24:14,932
frustration,
either saying the word frustration,

1458
01:24:14,932 --> 01:24:18,768
looking visibly frustrated,
but I would argue that that people are

1459
01:24:18,768 --> 01:24:23,176
frustrated and the terms that were used
were infighting and lack of decorum.

1460
01:24:23,296 --> 01:24:26,090
And again,
I would just argue that when you really

1461
01:24:26,090 --> 01:24:30,691
start to go through the meetings and boil
down what is happening at those meetings,

1462
01:24:30,691 --> 01:24:33,869
it is not because of four Council members.
In my opinion,

1463
01:24:33,869 --> 01:24:38,306
it's because the person that is making
first ruling and sometimes not ruling on.

1464
01:24:38,306 --> 01:24:42,036
Points of orders on motions,
on pieces of legislation on,

1465
01:24:42,036 --> 01:24:45,574
in my opinion,
manipulating agenda and Council will by

1466
01:24:45,574 --> 01:24:49,562
going to the MDE and and going for your
own personal benefit.

1467
01:24:49,562 --> 01:24:52,456
There is why things like this are
important.

1468
01:24:52,456 --> 01:24:55,714
So yes, you can play.
What about ISM and other council members

1469
01:24:55,714 --> 01:24:56,696
have made mistakes.

1470
01:24:56,736 --> 01:25:00,336
But let me be very clear there was a
mistake made last meeting.

1471
01:25:01,026 --> 01:25:01,666
And the mistake was made by me.

1472
01:25:02,636 --> 01:25:06,956
And I made a comment when we were going
back and forth between questions and you

1473
01:25:06,956 --> 01:25:10,636
asked Council, McCormick,
do you always respect the will of Council?

1474
01:25:10,676 --> 01:25:12,396
And I stated yes, absolutely.

1475
01:25:12,436 --> 01:25:17,036
But since you have asked that question,
let me fire one back at you.

1476
01:25:17,116 --> 01:25:21,438
Do you always respect the will of the
Council and you hemden hog for about two

1477
01:25:21,438 --> 01:25:24,556
seconds? And then you said yes, of course,
emphatically.

1478
01:25:24,556 --> 01:25:27,116
And I asked then, why were you censured?

1479
01:25:27,156 --> 01:25:28,196
That was out of line.

1480
01:25:28,866 --> 01:25:31,066
I immediately apologized for it in my
next public comments.

1481
01:25:32,096 --> 01:25:34,176
You during this debate.

1482
01:25:34,176 --> 01:25:37,882
Just a couple months ago,
cited 5 legal cases that our town

1483
01:25:37,882 --> 01:25:42,207
attorney reviewed and stated.
Not one of them had the claims that you

1484
01:25:42,207 --> 01:25:45,666
made. I sent you a personal communication,
Madam Mayor,

1485
01:25:45,666 --> 01:25:49,496
would you please correct this?
For the record, you came back.

1486
01:25:49,576 --> 01:25:51,056
No, again.

1487
01:25:51,056 --> 01:25:53,856
I would just ask the people that are in
here.

1488
01:25:54,056 --> 01:25:54,736
I get it.

1489
01:25:54,816 --> 01:25:58,936
This seems personally charged,
but it's not. It is procedurally based.

1490
01:25:59,396 --> 01:26:04,614
The Rules of Procedure, in my opinion,
are not being presided equally fairly

1491
01:26:04,614 --> 01:26:07,596
consistently for the betterment of
laplata.

1492
01:26:08,116 --> 01:26:10,076
This is not a government change.

1493
01:26:10,076 --> 01:26:15,242
We are a chartered government today with
a Council manager situation and we will

1494
01:26:15,242 --> 01:26:17,156
continue to be moving forward.

1495
01:26:17,236 --> 01:26:21,525
The only thing that's happening here is
who's the first person to rule on a point

1496
01:26:21,525 --> 01:26:21,996
of order.

1497
01:26:22,036 --> 01:26:24,514
Because frankly,
if you look at the history of the last

1498
01:26:24,514 --> 01:26:24,956
year plus.

1499
01:26:25,666 --> 01:26:26,306
That has not been happening.

1500
01:26:28,276 --> 01:26:31,882
Thank you.
And I would like to respond to your

1501
01:26:31,882 --> 01:26:37,636
decorum last week and how it was such a
violation of the code of civility.

1502
01:26:37,636 --> 01:26:39,396
But I didn't call you out on that.

1503
01:26:40,906 --> 01:26:41,826
The public did.

1504
01:26:42,106 --> 01:26:48,266
The public was horrified by your actions
and someone from the dais too was.

1505
01:26:48,866 --> 01:26:53,819
But you keep on saying that you will do
the will of the Council. OK, good.

1506
01:26:53,819 --> 01:26:55,866
So that we have that out there.

1507
01:26:59,096 --> 01:27:00,936
The will of the last Council.

1508
01:27:02,426 --> 01:27:05,266
Was to put me in as CEO.

1509
01:27:05,706 --> 01:27:08,386
That was the will of the Council.

1510
01:27:08,586 --> 01:27:10,066
You don't agree with it.

1511
01:27:10,106 --> 01:27:15,626
You have publicly dragged me through the
ringer on that.

1512
01:27:18,306 --> 01:27:25,771
And a reasonable person would read your
intent was to defame me and to say that I

1513
01:27:25,771 --> 01:27:26,226
took.

1514
01:27:26,456 --> 01:27:30,616
$10,
000 a month that I was not allowed to do.

1515
01:27:31,216 --> 01:27:36,766
It was the will of the last council.
Yet you just recently in a newspaper

1516
01:27:36,766 --> 01:27:40,216
article a few weeks ago,
brought it up again.

1517
01:27:40,216 --> 01:27:44,696
So, Councilman McCormack,
you are not a man of your word.

1518
01:27:44,896 --> 01:27:49,353
That was the will of the Council,
the will of the whether you agree with it

1519
01:27:49,353 --> 01:27:51,816
or not, that was the will of that Council.

1520
01:27:52,466 --> 01:27:56,226
There was no illegal injustice.

1521
01:27:56,496 --> 01:28:00,136
Done by me, but you keep bringing that up.

1522
01:28:00,136 --> 01:28:01,856
Think that this is a red herring.

1523
01:28:03,346 --> 01:28:03,666
And it is not.

1524
01:28:05,306 --> 01:28:08,133
All right.
So just real quick to respond because you

1525
01:28:08,133 --> 01:28:09,786
directly talked about me there.

1526
01:28:09,826 --> 01:28:13,226
This is a classic case of moving the goal
posts.

1527
01:28:13,226 --> 01:28:15,346
And what about ISM counsel McCormick?

1528
01:28:15,346 --> 01:28:16,946
Do you agree with the will of the Council?

1529
01:28:16,946 --> 01:28:21,706
Yes, well, the former Council. OK. Yeah,
there are decisions.

1530
01:28:21,706 --> 01:28:24,746
The former Council made that I disagreed
with. That's why I ran for office.

1531
01:28:25,496 --> 01:28:28,730
Of course,
now the question do I agree and do I

1532
01:28:28,730 --> 01:28:33,784
enact upon the will of the Council 100%
from May 11th, right? Or May 12th,

1533
01:28:33,784 --> 01:28:36,816
when we took our oath of office to May
20th?

1534
01:28:36,816 --> 01:28:37,656
Guess what?

1535
01:28:37,776 --> 01:28:41,292
I didn't go and take the money out of
your account or talk to the assistant

1536
01:28:41,292 --> 01:28:44,253
town manager who we later made the town
manager to remove that.

1537
01:28:44,253 --> 01:28:46,936
I didn't go talk to other entities,
but you know who did.

1538
01:28:47,056 --> 01:28:50,856
You did and you've done it and that's why
this is a what about ISM?

1539
01:28:51,216 --> 01:28:54,056
It is OK to disagree with decisions
councils make.

1540
01:28:54,216 --> 01:29:00,376
It is not OK to then go and act with the
other body against what the Council

1541
01:29:00,376 --> 01:29:00,936
stated.

1542
01:29:00,976 --> 01:29:03,281
There's a difference between me saying,
hey,

1543
01:29:03,281 --> 01:29:07,380
this is wrong and I believe this is a
charter violation and you go into MDE and

1544
01:29:07,380 --> 01:29:11,017
stating this council is new,
they're they're newly tenured or whatever

1545
01:29:11,017 --> 01:29:14,706
phrase you used and trying to get what
you want. I'm not going to fall.

1546
01:29:14,706 --> 01:29:16,456
For it, I'm not guilty of it.

1547
01:29:16,536 --> 01:29:18,736
The only person frankly that is is you.

1548
01:29:19,506 --> 01:29:19,666
OK.

1549
01:29:19,666 --> 01:29:22,306
I'm really confused.

1550
01:29:23,176 --> 01:29:24,256
I didn't go to MDE.

1551
01:29:26,456 --> 01:29:28,616
The Secretary of transportation.

1552
01:29:28,616 --> 01:29:29,696
You mean M dot?

1553
01:29:30,776 --> 01:29:35,496
Yes, I meant m.
imisspokesaid MDE several times.

1554
01:29:35,536 --> 01:29:39,774
And if it's not, as you have said,
the prior Council,

1555
01:29:39,774 --> 01:29:45,424
we're not talking about that yet.
Councilman Gutenberg brought up April

1556
01:29:45,424 --> 01:29:45,816
22nd.

1557
01:29:45,816 --> 01:29:48,576
I'm not Councilman Guttenberg,
but you're talking to me.

1558
01:29:48,616 --> 01:29:51,000
I'm just saying. Well,
and you can't even get your facts

1559
01:29:51,000 --> 01:29:51,376
straight.

1560
01:29:52,746 --> 01:29:54,946
So you just lost a lot of credibility on
that?

1561
01:29:55,796 --> 01:29:59,906
Alright, with that said,
anybody else have anything to say?

1562
01:30:01,496 --> 01:30:02,176
OK.

1563
01:30:02,376 --> 01:30:05,622
So Mr. Stevens,
do you have anything further to add

1564
01:30:05,622 --> 01:30:08,056
before we conclude this public hearing?

1565
01:30:08,376 --> 01:30:09,216
No, Madam mayor.

1566
01:30:11,066 --> 01:30:11,466
All right.

1567
01:30:11,466 --> 01:30:12,626
Thank you very much.

1568
01:30:12,626 --> 01:30:17,706
So this concludes our public hearing.

1569
01:30:19,306 --> 01:30:24,700
Of on the proposed Charter amendment
Resolution 26,

1570
01:30:24,700 --> 01:30:28,746
dash 50 powers and duties of the mayor.

1571
01:30:30,426 --> 01:30:32,306
The channel will play in the town council.

1572
01:30:33,786 --> 01:30:40,094
And we heard from several Council, I mean,
several residents asking to keep this

1573
01:30:40,094 --> 01:30:45,546
open for the next week, next 30 days,
and I'm going to make a motion.

1574
01:30:47,146 --> 01:30:53,965
That we keep the public hearing record
remain open for for 30 days to allow

1575
01:30:53,965 --> 01:30:56,746
further written public comment.

1576
01:30:56,746 --> 01:30:58,266
Do I have a second on that?

1577
01:31:00,716 --> 01:31:03,276
I'll second it. OK, any discussion?

1578
01:31:05,456 --> 01:31:10,262
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye, aye,

1579
01:31:10,262 --> 01:31:11,416
any opposed.

1580
01:31:12,946 --> 01:31:16,674
All right,
Madam Town clerk for the record,

1581
01:31:16,674 --> 01:31:19,386
could you please take a vote on?

1582
01:31:21,666 --> 01:31:22,746
Keeping the record open.

1583
01:31:24,106 --> 01:31:26,906
Yes, Madam mayor. Councilman guttenberg.

1584
01:31:29,496 --> 01:31:30,936
Councilman McCormick.

1585
01:31:31,476 --> 01:31:32,116
No.

1586
01:31:34,386 --> 01:31:37,026
Councilman Sampson.

1587
01:31:37,306 --> 01:31:37,906
Yes.

1588
01:31:39,886 --> 01:31:41,166
Councilman Johnson.

1589
01:31:41,256 --> 01:31:41,736
No.

1590
01:31:42,626 --> 01:31:43,546
Mayor James.

1591
01:31:44,666 --> 01:31:46,146
Yes, keep the record open.

1592
01:31:48,476 --> 01:31:50,116
Madam Mayor, the motion fails.

1593
01:31:50,656 --> 01:31:50,896
OK.

1594
01:31:50,896 --> 01:31:52,096
Thank you very much.

1595
01:31:54,816 --> 01:31:57,856
That's speaks volumes on that.

1596
01:31:57,856 --> 01:31:59,136
So we will.

1597
01:31:59,376 --> 01:32:04,496
The public hearing is closed and we will
proceed with the next.

1598
01:32:06,146 --> 01:32:06,746
Item on our agenda.

1599
01:32:07,226 --> 01:32:08,466
Thank you very much.

1600
01:32:08,706 --> 01:32:12,466
All right. The next item on our agenda is.

1601
01:32:15,256 --> 01:32:20,656
Public comment if anybody would like to
speak. You don't have to open it, right?

1602
01:32:20,656 --> 01:32:23,656
Oh, sorry. Consent a consent agenda.

1603
01:32:25,106 --> 01:32:28,014
Tonight,
there are several things on consent

1604
01:32:28,014 --> 01:32:28,466
agenda.

1605
01:32:28,466 --> 01:32:32,656
The reason why we have consent agenda is
it usually doesn't have such a robust

1606
01:32:32,656 --> 01:32:33,346
conversation.

1607
01:32:35,066 --> 01:32:35,466
That we need.

1608
01:32:35,986 --> 01:32:38,775
It's usually it's they're they're very
important,

1609
01:32:38,775 --> 01:32:42,346
but a lot of times it is something that
we've already approved.

1610
01:32:43,216 --> 01:32:47,740
Budget wise and that they are now taking
a draw on that.

1611
01:32:47,740 --> 01:32:53,216
So do I have a motion to adopt the OR to
approve the consent agenda?

1612
01:32:53,936 --> 01:32:54,496
So moved.

1613
01:32:54,656 --> 01:32:58,416
Do I have a second, second?
Any discussion?

1614
01:32:59,896 --> 01:33:02,896
I have a couple questions, Mr. Stevens.

1615
01:33:03,056 --> 01:33:06,721
For stormwater engineering contract,
once these firms are approved,

1616
01:33:06,721 --> 01:33:09,416
how will the individual task orders be
allocated?

1617
01:33:09,416 --> 01:33:14,070
In that what dollar threshold must an
individual task order return to council?

1618
01:33:14,070 --> 01:33:17,016
And this is just for those that are
sitting here.

1619
01:33:17,136 --> 01:33:18,839
Sure.
So are you referring to the five

1620
01:33:18,839 --> 01:33:21,896
different stormwater contracts that are
listed on the consent agenda?

1621
01:33:21,896 --> 01:33:23,056
Correct. Yes. OK.

1622
01:33:23,176 --> 01:33:25,336
So nothing changes with our procurement
code.

1623
01:33:25,336 --> 01:33:28,536
What this does is this allows us to bring
these five.

1624
01:33:29,186 --> 01:33:32,946
Entities on board leveraging a
cooperative.

1625
01:33:33,096 --> 01:33:36,576
Contract or a piggyback contract is how
it's commonly referred to.

1626
01:33:36,576 --> 01:33:40,649
All of these entities have existing
contracts with Charles County and are

1627
01:33:40,649 --> 01:33:42,576
performing work for Charles County.

1628
01:33:42,576 --> 01:33:47,418
We're leveraging that contract,
but none of this changes our procurement

1629
01:33:47,418 --> 01:33:47,816
rules.

1630
01:33:47,856 --> 01:33:51,434
So any task order that comes forward that
exceeds the $20,

1631
01:33:51,434 --> 01:33:56,163
000 threshold has to come before Council
for approval. If it's under the $20,

1632
01:33:56,163 --> 01:33:59,256
000 threshold,
because we will already have these.

1633
01:34:00,266 --> 01:34:02,146
Vendors on call and under contract.

1634
01:34:02,856 --> 01:34:05,496
Then that task order can be approved by
the staff, OK.

1635
01:34:06,176 --> 01:34:08,599
Thank you.
Under Dorchester Community Center,

1636
01:34:08,599 --> 01:34:12,603
what specific deliverables are we
purchasing and what decision will Council

1637
01:34:12,603 --> 01:34:15,816
be able to make after receiving it that
we can't make today?

1638
01:34:15,816 --> 01:34:17,296
So what's going on with the DCC?

1639
01:34:17,296 --> 01:34:24,016
So so the Dorchester Community Center is
is on your consent agenda because this is.

1640
01:34:25,706 --> 01:34:29,540
A actually we're leveraging a cooperative
contract that you approved back in July

1641
01:34:29,540 --> 01:34:32,346
at your July meeting with CDM Smith or
General Engineering.

1642
01:34:32,696 --> 01:34:36,652
Firm.
They're very large and they have a lot of

1643
01:34:36,652 --> 01:34:41,019
of capabilities.
This town has not gone forward with

1644
01:34:41,019 --> 01:34:47,777
vertical construction of a new facility
probably I think since this town hall was

1645
01:34:47,777 --> 01:34:50,496
built in 2003 and opened in 2004.

1646
01:34:52,026 --> 01:34:57,847
Vertical construction and development is
incredibly costly and it is something

1647
01:34:57,847 --> 01:35:01,826
that the the town doesn't have resident
expertise on.

1648
01:35:02,336 --> 01:35:05,936
App so I have drafted an RFP. It's done.

1649
01:35:06,016 --> 01:35:06,536
I have it.

1650
01:35:06,656 --> 01:35:08,656
We could release it tomorrow if we wanted
to.

1651
01:35:09,216 --> 01:35:13,096
I don't want to do that because what we
don't want to do is we don't want to.

1652
01:35:15,346 --> 01:35:20,408
Go out to the development community and
not present our best selves.

1653
01:35:20,408 --> 01:35:26,424
I want to get a set of eyes on this from
engineers for professionals that do this

1654
01:35:26,424 --> 01:35:31,853
kind of work to review the RFP,
identify any gaps that that I have that I

1655
01:35:31,853 --> 01:35:32,146
may.

1656
01:35:32,256 --> 01:35:36,978
Drafted it,
improve it and then also assist the town

1657
01:35:36,978 --> 01:35:40,096
when we do receive responsive bids.

1658
01:35:40,296 --> 01:35:40,856
So what?

1659
01:35:40,856 --> 01:35:46,740
This contract is is a proposal from CDM
Smith to do exactly that,

1660
01:35:46,740 --> 01:35:48,256
they're going to.

1661
01:35:48,256 --> 01:35:50,136
They're going to take the RFP.

1662
01:35:50,136 --> 01:35:52,776
That RFP is a request for proposal.

1663
01:35:53,016 --> 01:35:54,856
They're going to take what I've already
drafted.

1664
01:35:55,136 --> 01:35:56,536
They're going to review it.

1665
01:35:56,536 --> 01:35:58,896
They're going to enhance it and make it
better.

1666
01:35:58,896 --> 01:36:00,976
We're going to make sure that the town of
La Plata.

1667
01:36:01,666 --> 01:36:01,986
Represents itself.

1668
01:36:02,776 --> 01:36:04,874
Well,
and professionally to the development

1669
01:36:04,874 --> 01:36:07,353
community.
And then we're going to move forward and

1670
01:36:07,353 --> 01:36:10,976
implement the will of the Council that
that you gave me back in the spring.

1671
01:36:10,976 --> 01:36:12,856
I don't remember the exact meeting,
but we talked about it.

1672
01:36:12,856 --> 01:36:13,776
I think it was may.

1673
01:36:13,856 --> 01:36:16,696
We talked about DCC,
you had a presentation.

1674
01:36:18,146 --> 01:36:22,361
A conceptual presentation from Cao
Barrett about what could happen on that

1675
01:36:22,361 --> 01:36:22,586
lot.

1676
01:36:22,706 --> 01:36:26,355
And so that's what we're moving forward
with. And when the proposals come in,

1677
01:36:26,355 --> 01:36:29,723
CDM Smith again using their expertise
will assist us in review of those

1678
01:36:29,723 --> 01:36:33,278
proposals because I imagine that those
proposals are going to be incredibly

1679
01:36:33,278 --> 01:36:33,746
technical.

1680
01:36:34,376 --> 01:36:38,653
We don't have a town engineer on staff,
and if we're relying on staff to make a

1681
01:36:38,653 --> 01:36:42,876
decision without that level of expertise,
I would think that that's borderline

1682
01:36:42,876 --> 01:36:45,656
derelict and our responsibilities to the
taxpayers.

1683
01:36:45,696 --> 01:36:49,479
And so I think it's prudent and and
reasonable to ask an engineering firm

1684
01:36:49,479 --> 01:36:53,416
like CDM Smith to assist us and that's
that's what's on your consent agenda.

1685
01:36:53,736 --> 01:36:56,256
Yeah,
that's great to see that we are moving

1686
01:36:56,256 --> 01:36:59,616
forward with that.
And the last one and and I know this is.

1687
01:37:00,306 --> 01:37:03,826
Specific to Kings Grant,
but for the public set of.

1688
01:37:04,216 --> 01:37:08,733
And would you please explain why the $20,
000 threshold was exceeded on the

1689
01:37:08,733 --> 01:37:13,546
emergency stormwater contract and you are
now coming to Council to ask to ratify

1690
01:37:13,546 --> 01:37:16,696
the expenditure before receiving the
formal invoice?

1691
01:37:16,696 --> 01:37:19,496
Absolutely there is a fence stormwater
treatment.

1692
01:37:21,026 --> 01:37:26,066
Coming off of Route 488 that that drains
in between two houses in King's Grant.

1693
01:37:27,706 --> 01:37:29,026
It's been there for many years.

1694
01:37:29,026 --> 01:37:32,760
There's been a lot of back and forth
about whose responsibility it is to fix

1695
01:37:32,760 --> 01:37:32,906
it.

1696
01:37:34,416 --> 01:37:40,841
Back in the well in February,
I believe I met with the King's grant HOA

1697
01:37:40,841 --> 01:37:42,536
and their attorney.

1698
01:37:44,066 --> 01:37:47,406
About a number of issues,
but we had the town identified.

1699
01:37:47,406 --> 01:37:51,956
This particular issue is one that we
could take on because the the appropriate

1700
01:37:51,956 --> 01:37:56,218
easements and dedications were were
complete and we could take on the the

1701
01:37:56,218 --> 01:37:57,946
maintenance of this treatment.

1702
01:37:58,466 --> 01:38:03,506
So we contracted with our original vendor.
They gave us a quote that was below.

1703
01:38:03,936 --> 01:38:06,538
The $20,
000 threshold they got out there and

1704
01:38:06,538 --> 01:38:10,610
started the work. Unfortunately,
as happens sometimes with construction

1705
01:38:10,610 --> 01:38:14,796
and with with things of this nature,
especially when you're digging holes

1706
01:38:14,796 --> 01:38:19,321
because you don't know what you're going
to unearth, they got a couple of days,

1707
01:38:19,321 --> 01:38:20,226
maybe a week or.

1708
01:38:20,226 --> 01:38:24,176
So into the job and the complexity of the
job and the technical.

1709
01:38:25,666 --> 01:38:29,661
Challenges that they encountered exceeded
their ability,

1710
01:38:29,661 --> 01:38:33,586
and so they worked closely with town
staff, our public.

1711
01:38:33,896 --> 01:38:37,976
Workstaff did did their very best to
assist, try and help them.

1712
01:38:40,146 --> 01:38:43,240
But at the end of the day,
they just could not complete the job that

1713
01:38:43,240 --> 01:38:44,226
they had been awarded.

1714
01:38:45,906 --> 01:38:49,549
So we went out,
found another contractor that was able to

1715
01:38:49,549 --> 01:38:54,261
come in quickly, mobilize within one day,
get some very large earth moving

1716
01:38:54,261 --> 01:38:57,967
equipment out there,
because that's what was necessary and

1717
01:38:57,967 --> 01:39:03,118
what you have on your consent agenda for
this this evening is the ratification of

1718
01:39:03,118 --> 01:39:03,746
that CONT.

1719
01:39:05,256 --> 01:39:09,002
The reason why it's a ratification is
because even though the the threshold

1720
01:39:09,002 --> 01:39:12,305
amount exceeded the $20,
000 threshold that I just discussed a few

1721
01:39:12,305 --> 01:39:12,896
moments ago.

1722
01:39:14,666 --> 01:39:18,626
The situation on the ground dictated that
I needed to take action.

1723
01:39:18,826 --> 01:39:19,826
We had a hole.

1724
01:39:19,826 --> 01:39:21,626
We had an exposed water main.

1725
01:39:23,346 --> 01:39:23,946
We had risk.

1726
01:39:23,946 --> 01:39:25,706
We had forecast for thunderstorms.

1727
01:39:25,706 --> 01:39:30,847
My biggest concern was that if we had a a
Thunder cell come over the town and if we

1728
01:39:30,847 --> 01:39:32,866
would have gotten 3/4 of an inch.

1729
01:39:33,136 --> 01:39:36,559
Inch to an inch of rain.
I think we we would have likely flooded 2

1730
01:39:36,559 --> 01:39:40,801
basements that were nearby the work site.
The town would have been responsible for

1731
01:39:40,801 --> 01:39:41,056
that.

1732
01:39:42,546 --> 01:39:43,146
So I called.

1733
01:39:44,026 --> 01:39:46,906
I I contacted each member of Council
individually.

1734
01:39:47,386 --> 01:39:48,986
I did not ask for a consensus.

1735
01:39:48,986 --> 01:39:52,735
I did not ask for a vote,
but I informed you that I was going to

1736
01:39:52,735 --> 01:39:57,465
take this action and that you would see
this item on your agenda this evening for

1737
01:39:57,465 --> 01:39:59,426
ratification. Thank you very much.

1738
01:40:00,196 --> 01:40:01,436
Any other questions?

1739
01:40:01,876 --> 01:40:07,916
So I have a motion that has been properly
seconded to the consent agenda.

1740
01:40:07,916 --> 01:40:09,756
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye.

1741
01:40:11,546 --> 01:40:13,106
Any opposed motion carries.

1742
01:40:13,146 --> 01:40:15,226
Now it brings us to public comment.

1743
01:40:15,266 --> 01:40:18,386
Public comment if you haven't already
signed up.

1744
01:40:18,386 --> 01:40:23,946
Public comment now is not specific to any
topic.

1745
01:40:24,106 --> 01:40:28,266
You can use your 3 minutes for whatever
you want.

1746
01:40:28,306 --> 01:40:29,066
All that we ask.

1747
01:40:29,376 --> 01:40:35,627
Ask is that you state your name whether
you live in the incorporated town limits

1748
01:40:35,627 --> 01:40:35,936
and.

1749
01:40:37,706 --> 01:40:39,546
Then you can speak.

1750
01:40:39,626 --> 01:40:42,146
So, Miss Maggie, come on down.

1751
01:40:48,446 --> 01:40:51,834
Well, I didn't, Maggie.
Lyric and I do live here in the town,

1752
01:40:51,834 --> 01:40:52,326
La Plata.

1753
01:40:52,326 --> 01:40:55,243
And I didn't realize I could speak twice
tonight.

1754
01:40:55,243 --> 01:40:59,619
'cause I if I had known that we would
have done a continuation of where we

1755
01:40:59,619 --> 01:41:00,086
started.

1756
01:41:00,086 --> 01:41:07,979
But couple of observations during the
last discussion and I guess I guess my my

1757
01:41:07,979 --> 01:41:13,406
my big thing is you guys don't like the
way the mayor.

1758
01:41:14,066 --> 01:41:14,386
Runs a meeting.

1759
01:41:16,186 --> 01:41:18,026
There are professional.

1760
01:41:18,416 --> 01:41:26,068
Parliamentarians who do that for a living,
you can actually hire them and have them

1761
01:41:26,068 --> 01:41:32,992
at a meeting and they can take over that
part of the meeting which requires

1762
01:41:32,992 --> 01:41:35,816
motions, discussions and votes.

1763
01:41:37,346 --> 01:41:42,706
Try that first and see if that doesn't
calm down some of this rhetoric #1.

1764
01:41:44,386 --> 01:41:47,186
And I guess the other thing is,
is that we all know.

1765
01:41:48,376 --> 01:41:50,736
That should this amendment pass.

1766
01:41:52,616 --> 01:41:55,896
That Mayor James will not.

1767
01:41:57,866 --> 01:42:00,866
Be the President of the Council because.

1768
01:42:02,946 --> 01:42:04,146
Hill hasn't frozen over yet.

1769
01:42:05,706 --> 01:42:06,586
Thank you very much.

1770
01:42:08,226 --> 01:42:08,826
Miss Sprague.

1771
01:42:16,936 --> 01:42:18,666
Yes,
that was going to be a little more off

1772
01:42:18,666 --> 01:42:19,216
the cuff here.

1773
01:42:19,576 --> 01:42:20,216
So.

1774
01:42:21,586 --> 01:42:24,346
This is just kind of like I don't know if
you can.

1775
01:42:25,856 --> 01:42:30,992
Spray. I live in the town of Plato,
so thank you too for actually paying

1776
01:42:30,992 --> 01:42:31,696
attention.

1777
01:42:32,616 --> 01:42:33,496
I appreciate it.

1778
01:42:33,816 --> 01:42:35,416
I know I'm all seriousness.

1779
01:42:35,496 --> 01:42:37,878
In all seriousness,
I knew you guys have really paid

1780
01:42:37,878 --> 01:42:39,496
attention to what people are saying.

1781
01:42:39,496 --> 01:42:40,696
I appreciate you and snoted.

1782
01:42:40,696 --> 01:42:43,056
Thank you very much, Mayor James,
same to you.

1783
01:42:43,096 --> 01:42:46,298
Thank you for paying attention.
Listening to you. Thank you.

1784
01:42:46,298 --> 01:42:48,976
So for halfway doing that and M cormick,
I'm sure.

1785
01:42:48,976 --> 01:42:50,056
What's on the ceiling up there?

1786
01:42:50,056 --> 01:42:51,296
But God knows it must be good.

1787
01:42:52,046 --> 01:42:53,886
'Cause,
that's all I'd want you to do is kick

1788
01:42:53,886 --> 01:42:57,166
back that chair like a 10th grader in a
football meeting and wondering when I get

1789
01:42:57,166 --> 01:42:57,646
out of here.

1790
01:42:57,686 --> 01:43:00,104
Well,
I'd like to be home with my family too,

1791
01:43:00,104 --> 01:43:01,366
but that's why I'm here.

1792
01:43:01,406 --> 01:43:05,609
So anyhow, I'm embarrassed.
I'm standing here over half a century

1793
01:43:05,609 --> 01:43:06,246
years old.

1794
01:43:06,246 --> 01:43:08,166
I'm embarrassed for each one of you.

1795
01:43:08,566 --> 01:43:11,759
This looks like a fifth grade.
It looks like a second grade classroom

1796
01:43:11,759 --> 01:43:15,317
where you're smacking somebody's hand
'cause they can't get in line right for

1797
01:43:15,317 --> 01:43:16,686
the bathroom, for God's sakes.

1798
01:43:17,456 --> 01:43:18,576
Get your heads out of your ear.

1799
01:43:18,576 --> 01:43:20,136
Know what and learn how to act.

1800
01:43:20,336 --> 01:43:21,256
Respect people.

1801
01:43:23,406 --> 01:43:30,206
So agree to disagree, compromise.
Find something other than this nonsense.

1802
01:43:30,846 --> 01:43:32,126
We spend way too much time.

1803
01:43:32,126 --> 01:43:33,366
I have two businesses in this town.

1804
01:43:33,406 --> 01:43:34,526
We pay a lot of money.

1805
01:43:34,606 --> 01:43:35,886
A lot of money.

1806
01:43:35,966 --> 01:43:40,846
A lot of money in this town through taxes,
water.

1807
01:43:41,086 --> 01:43:45,007
Don't get me started on water,
but a lot of money and to watch this

1808
01:43:45,007 --> 01:43:45,526
nonsense.

1809
01:43:46,656 --> 01:43:48,016
I'm Dumber for standing here.

1810
01:43:48,216 --> 01:43:51,696
Dumber. I didn't think I could be,
but I am Dumber for sitting through this.

1811
01:43:53,856 --> 01:43:56,336
Thank you very much, Mr. James.

1812
01:44:02,346 --> 01:44:05,794
Tom James.
I am a member or a resident here in La

1813
01:44:05,794 --> 01:44:11,034
Plata and I didn't get to finish my
speaking last time because I was trying

1814
01:44:11,034 --> 01:44:16,550
to honor the three minutes and I spent 34
years in the military and I've had to

1815
01:44:16,550 --> 01:44:18,136
bite my tongue on many.

1816
01:44:18,136 --> 01:44:20,746
Occasions and not exercise my First
Amendment rights.

1817
01:44:20,946 --> 01:44:25,263
But now I am compelled to do so based on
the actions of just 4 councilmen,

1818
01:44:25,263 --> 01:44:28,256
and I do appreciate this opportunity.
So thank you.

1819
01:44:29,346 --> 01:44:33,235
So in continuing with what I was talking
about before, Councilman Johnson,

1820
01:44:33,235 --> 01:44:36,346
what do your actions in fighting on the
dais say about you?

1821
01:44:37,856 --> 01:44:40,708
Your contentious,
angry and your words are chosen for

1822
01:44:40,708 --> 01:44:41,976
maximum personal effect.

1823
01:44:42,376 --> 01:44:45,576
How does that help the town of Laplata
and its residents?

1824
01:44:46,966 --> 01:44:49,126
Councilman McCormick,
Guttenberg and Sampson.

1825
01:44:49,326 --> 01:44:54,046
You have repeatedly demanded transparency
and accountability, and I like that.

1826
01:44:54,726 --> 01:44:56,752
Fine,
those are legitimate things for an

1827
01:44:56,752 --> 01:44:58,086
elected official to demand.

1828
01:44:58,326 --> 01:45:01,966
But not surprisingly,
the accountability for your own actions.

1829
01:45:02,326 --> 01:45:07,381
Where's your feigned outrage over your
own open meetings Act violation on 11

1830
01:45:07,381 --> 01:45:08,366
September 2025.

1831
01:45:08,686 --> 01:45:09,966
Where's the outrage there?

1832
01:45:10,646 --> 01:45:13,007
And where's the outrage?
Councilman McCormack,

1833
01:45:13,007 --> 01:45:14,766
over your own behavior on the dais.

1834
01:45:15,496 --> 01:45:18,013
Raising your voice,
bringing in your personal biases into

1835
01:45:18,013 --> 01:45:19,576
your pathetic and contrived comment.

1836
01:45:20,006 --> 01:45:22,750
Terry,
your own beautification committee is no

1837
01:45:22,750 --> 01:45:27,478
longer all your La Plata residents who
were on your beautification committee all

1838
01:45:27,478 --> 01:45:28,646
quit because of you.

1839
01:45:28,846 --> 01:45:29,646
I talked to them.

1840
01:45:30,206 --> 01:45:34,939
You also use devious words and tactics
such as master class of debate,

1841
01:45:34,939 --> 01:45:38,806
for the record for my edification,
moving the goal posts,

1842
01:45:38,806 --> 01:45:40,606
and you talk about decorum.

1843
01:45:41,606 --> 01:45:44,934
Yet you show none and even apologize on
the record. For that,

1844
01:45:44,934 --> 01:45:47,511
we can all see what you're really trying
to do,

1845
01:45:47,511 --> 01:45:51,483
but here's the standard we expect from
you and every other Member of this

1846
01:45:51,483 --> 01:45:54,006
Council.
Apply the same standards to yourself.

1847
01:45:55,496 --> 01:45:57,694
Don't tell residents you're restoring
trust.

1848
01:45:57,694 --> 01:46:00,136
While town hall is consumed by political
warfare.

1849
01:46:00,296 --> 01:46:03,596
Don't tell us you're protecting the
Charter while constantly fighting over

1850
01:46:03,596 --> 01:46:03,816
what?

1851
01:46:03,816 --> 01:46:07,376
The Charter means and changing it for
your own political agenda.

1852
01:46:07,376 --> 01:46:09,671
And don't tell us you're putting
residents first.

1853
01:46:09,671 --> 01:46:11,736
If the most visible product of your
Council.

1854
01:46:12,166 --> 01:46:16,503
Is another internal dispute.
You've heard it from five or six people

1855
01:46:16,503 --> 01:46:17,006
tonight.

1856
01:46:18,416 --> 01:46:19,696
People of La Plata are not stupid.

1857
01:46:19,696 --> 01:46:20,976
We can see what's happening.

1858
01:46:21,056 --> 01:46:25,776
We attend and watch the meetings and I am
privileged to do so.

1859
01:46:25,776 --> 01:46:26,616
We read the minutes.

1860
01:46:26,616 --> 01:46:29,985
We see the votes and we can decide for
ourselves whether this is the kind of

1861
01:46:29,985 --> 01:46:30,816
government we want.

1862
01:46:31,096 --> 01:46:34,456
So here's my challenge to this pathetic
bickering council.

1863
01:46:34,576 --> 01:46:36,856
Stop making yourselves the story.

1864
01:46:37,296 --> 01:46:41,096
Stop making your disagreements the story.
Four men against one woman.

1865
01:46:41,826 --> 01:46:42,426
We see it.

1866
01:46:42,546 --> 01:46:45,306
You simply can't stand the fact that we
have a woman mayor.

1867
01:46:45,346 --> 01:46:49,066
It's obvious and blatant. The way you act,
talked and vote.

1868
01:46:49,506 --> 01:46:50,426
We all see it.

1869
01:46:50,586 --> 01:46:53,638
It's all on the record.
The whole he conversation.

1870
01:46:53,638 --> 01:46:58,426
Stop turning every dispute into another
chapter in an ongoing political battle.

1871
01:46:58,786 --> 01:47:01,986
Do the job you were elected to do.

1872
01:47:02,426 --> 01:47:05,066
Listen, govern, disagree professionally.

1873
01:47:05,506 --> 01:47:06,506
Follow the charter.

1874
01:47:06,506 --> 01:47:08,336
Follow the law. Be transparent.

1875
01:47:09,406 --> 01:47:11,566
To the town lawyer, do your job.

1876
01:47:11,646 --> 01:47:16,726
I have never seen a town lawyer vacillate
so much and be so confusing.

1877
01:47:17,086 --> 01:47:20,166
Not a single resident,
not one who spoke tonight.

1878
01:47:20,166 --> 01:47:23,230
Back that charter resolution.
Yet you passed it anyway,

1879
01:47:23,230 --> 01:47:24,926
against the will of the people.

1880
01:47:25,246 --> 01:47:26,766
Shameful. Thank you.

1881
01:47:26,766 --> 01:47:27,806
I think that's my 3 minutes.

1882
01:47:27,806 --> 01:47:28,246
Thank you.

1883
01:47:29,776 --> 01:47:30,176
All right.

1884
01:47:30,176 --> 01:47:33,136
Anyone else like to speak?
If you didn't sign up, that's OK.

1885
01:47:33,136 --> 01:47:34,816
This is your last opportunity.

1886
01:47:36,296 --> 01:47:36,456
All right.

1887
01:47:36,656 --> 01:47:37,376
Thank you very much.

1888
01:47:37,896 --> 01:47:38,496
We have a.

1889
01:47:39,166 --> 01:47:44,693
A proclamation this evening and I am so
honored to read about National Pows Mia

1890
01:47:44,693 --> 01:47:47,526
Recognition Day, which is September 18th.

1891
01:47:47,886 --> 01:47:52,965
So I'm going to read a proclamation,
whereas the United States has a solemn

1892
01:47:52,965 --> 01:47:58,044
obligation to remember and honor the
members of the armed forces who became

1893
01:47:58,044 --> 01:48:01,921
prisoners of war,
and those who remain missing in action.

1894
01:48:01,921 --> 01:48:04,126
And to ensure that their service.

1895
01:48:04,856 --> 01:48:07,336
Sacrifice and absence are never forgotten.

1896
01:48:08,356 --> 01:48:15,140
And whereas national Pows Mia Recognition
Day provides an opportunity for Americans

1897
01:48:15,140 --> 01:48:20,550
to honor the courage and sacrifice of
those who endured captivity,

1898
01:48:20,550 --> 01:48:24,992
those who remain unaccounted for and for
the families,

1899
01:48:24,992 --> 01:48:30,968
friends and communities who continue to
keep faith while seeking answers.

1900
01:48:30,968 --> 01:48:33,956
And whereas the town of Hopea Recogn.

1901
01:48:34,476 --> 01:48:37,776
The sacrifices made by members of our
armed forces.

1902
01:48:38,166 --> 01:48:42,926
And their families affirms that those who
served our nation.

1903
01:48:43,046 --> 01:48:49,846
And remain missing shall not be forgotten,
and that our commitment to accounting for

1904
01:48:49,846 --> 01:48:51,526
them must endure now.

1905
01:48:51,526 --> 01:48:55,900
Therefore, we,
the Council of the town of La Plata,

1906
01:48:55,900 --> 01:49:02,376
do recognize Friday, September 18th,
2026 as national PIA Recognition Day in

1907
01:49:02,376 --> 01:49:08,096
the town of La Plata and urge all
residents to join in honoring our

1908
01:49:08,096 --> 01:49:09,526
prisoners of war.

1909
01:49:10,296 --> 01:49:13,416
Those missing in action and their
families by remembrance.

1910
01:49:13,806 --> 01:49:18,193
Service sacrifice,
courage and enduring absence,

1911
01:49:18,193 --> 01:49:25,535
be it further proclaimed that the town of
La Plata invites the community to visit

1912
01:49:25,535 --> 01:49:31,712
the missing man table at the front
entrance of town hall. Three O 5,

1913
01:49:31,712 --> 01:49:36,726
Queen Anne St.
on national POWMIA Recognition day a so.

1914
01:49:37,246 --> 01:49:40,299
Reminder of the Americans who are still
missing,

1915
01:49:40,299 --> 01:49:43,166
and the families and loved ones who
continue.

1916
01:49:43,286 --> 01:49:47,926
Continue to await their return and
answers we remember.

1917
01:49:48,686 --> 01:49:49,726
We honor.

1918
01:49:49,766 --> 01:49:55,747
We will not forget this is signed by
myself, Mayor James Councilman Guttenberg,

1919
01:49:55,747 --> 01:50:00,606
Councilman McCormick,
Councilman Sampson and Councilman Johnson.

1920
01:50:00,966 --> 01:50:06,048
So thank you very much and that is a week
from Freedom Day,

1921
01:50:06,048 --> 01:50:08,166
which is this Friday 911.

1922
01:50:09,816 --> 01:50:12,016
Matters of Council discussion.

1923
01:50:12,816 --> 01:50:18,606
Agenda item request election process
improvement before I hand this over to

1924
01:50:18,606 --> 01:50:22,949
you, Mr. Stevens,
I want to make sure that we are all on

1925
01:50:22,949 --> 01:50:24,016
the same page.

1926
01:50:24,376 --> 01:50:28,662
I want to clarify the procedure that
applies to an agenda proposal under our

1927
01:50:28,662 --> 01:50:32,113
Rules of Procedure,
and that's because we have so many people

1928
01:50:32,113 --> 01:50:34,618
that have joined us this evening.
Section 4.

1929
01:50:34,618 --> 01:50:38,738
2 provides that when an individual
Council member requests an item agenda

1930
01:50:38,738 --> 01:50:39,016
item.

1931
01:50:39,736 --> 01:50:41,896
The item is placed on the first regular
meeting.

1932
01:50:42,606 --> 01:50:47,632
Agenda for discussion only during that
initial discussion Council is to

1933
01:50:47,632 --> 01:50:53,286
determine by consensus whether there is
sufficient interest to move the proposed

1934
01:50:53,286 --> 01:50:56,567
item forward.
If there is sufficient interest,

1935
01:50:56,567 --> 01:51:01,174
the rules provide that.
Council may then refer to the matter to a

1936
01:51:01,174 --> 01:51:03,966
Council committee, refer it to the town.

1937
01:51:03,966 --> 01:51:07,206
Council manager for staff development,
or place it on a future.

1938
01:51:07,936 --> 01:51:11,056
Regular Council agenda for further
consideration and.

1939
01:51:14,336 --> 01:51:15,176
Council members may.

1940
01:51:15,526 --> 01:51:20,995
Relevant questions to understand the
proposed Section 4 to expressly provide

1941
01:51:20,995 --> 01:51:25,754
disruptive at this stage,
questions that Council determine whether

1942
01:51:25,754 --> 01:51:31,010
there is sufficient interest to move the
proposal forward or appropriate.

1943
01:51:31,010 --> 01:51:36,550
What we are not doing at this stage is
taking final action on the underlining

1944
01:51:36,550 --> 01:51:38,326
proposal, the purpose of.

1945
01:51:38,326 --> 01:51:42,086
This initial discussion is to determine
whether there is.

1946
01:51:42,856 --> 01:51:44,696
Whether there is sufficient interest.

1947
01:51:45,246 --> 01:51:49,713
To move it forward for additional
development or future consideration,

1948
01:51:49,713 --> 01:51:52,166
and that distinction is very important.

1949
01:51:52,166 --> 01:51:55,766
So I just wanted to let you know that
they're not voting on this.

1950
01:51:55,766 --> 01:52:00,086
This is for our rules of engagement,
as they say.

1951
01:52:01,616 --> 01:52:02,376
Are a discussion.

1952
01:52:03,406 --> 01:52:08,766
I believe that Councilman McCormack put
this agenda item on.

1953
01:52:10,536 --> 01:52:12,896
Our agenda, and so the floor is his.

1954
01:52:15,136 --> 01:52:17,935
Thank you, Madam Mayor,
and thanks for that explanation with what

1955
01:52:17,935 --> 01:52:18,656
we're doing here.

1956
01:52:18,656 --> 01:52:23,169
So for the Council staff report has been
provided to you very similar to how Mr.

1957
01:52:23,169 --> 01:52:24,896
Stevens and staff put together.

1958
01:52:24,966 --> 01:52:29,025
Try to follow that method for brevity,
just to talk through background at a high

1959
01:52:29,025 --> 01:52:29,326
level.

1960
01:52:29,326 --> 01:52:33,126
The request that's here and then you know
what?

1961
01:52:33,126 --> 01:52:35,126
I what I would hope happens moving
forward.

1962
01:52:35,126 --> 01:52:39,095
So first is back on 11 September 2025,
this Council got together with a

1963
01:52:39,095 --> 01:52:43,449
forward-looking priority meeting and we
came up with a bunch of priority items

1964
01:52:43,449 --> 01:52:47,914
and one of the priority items that we put
on that meeting was election reform or

1965
01:52:47,914 --> 01:52:49,016
some sort of change.

1966
01:52:49,016 --> 01:52:50,486
To election code that we currently have.

1967
01:52:51,216 --> 01:52:52,816
And that was priority on item number 5.

1968
01:52:53,246 --> 01:52:56,328
Now in the last year,
this Council has not formally actioned

1969
01:52:56,328 --> 01:52:58,046
that, and that makes sense, right?

1970
01:52:58,046 --> 01:53:02,269
We had a lot of other things as one of
our residents talked about today that

1971
01:53:02,269 --> 01:53:06,766
this Council has accomplished over that
year and frankly in your first year of of

1972
01:53:06,766 --> 01:53:11,372
being an elected official election reform.
Unless that town is operating with with,

1973
01:53:11,372 --> 01:53:13,456
you know, direction and purpose. Prob.

1974
01:53:13,456 --> 01:53:15,835
Not something's going to come on,
but year two, year three,

1975
01:53:15,835 --> 01:53:19,086
probably an appropriate time for this to
start to be brought in front of council.

1976
01:53:19,486 --> 01:53:23,489
So I just want to make sure before our
next forward meeting forward-looking

1977
01:53:23,489 --> 01:53:26,176
retreat meeting we address priority item
number 5,

1978
01:53:26,176 --> 01:53:30,600
everybody can speak openly here about you
know his or her opinion and then we could

1979
01:53:30,600 --> 01:53:34,656
take this discussion further down
whatever Ave. this Council deems and will.

1980
01:53:35,166 --> 01:53:38,304
So first and foremost,
our election and our town currently

1981
01:53:38,304 --> 01:53:42,452
conducts municipal elections pursuant to
the town charter code and applicable

1982
01:53:42,452 --> 01:53:44,951
provisions of the Maryland elect election
law.

1983
01:53:44,951 --> 01:53:49,206
This town is a dedicated supervisor of
elections and to include a chair or town

1984
01:53:49,206 --> 01:53:51,546
Cler additional board member,
the board of.

1985
01:53:51,536 --> 01:53:55,314
Supervisors of elections shall conduct
all municipal elections required by law,

1986
01:53:55,314 --> 01:53:59,046
properly called by the Town council in
the manner that's provided and the laws

1987
01:53:59,046 --> 01:54:02,210
in the state of Maryland.
The town charter in the ordinance of the

1988
01:54:02,210 --> 01:54:02,966
town of Laplata.

1989
01:54:03,206 --> 01:54:04,086
So here's my request.

1990
01:54:04,086 --> 01:54:04,966
Tonight is.

1991
01:54:04,966 --> 01:54:08,867
I'm just interested if the Council,
based off of our priority item number 5

1992
01:54:08,867 --> 01:54:12,050
from September 11th,
I would like to just review how the town

1993
01:54:12,050 --> 01:54:15,437
currently conducts elections and I
provided a couple of examples,

1994
01:54:15,437 --> 01:54:16,926
not limited to this document.

1995
01:54:16,926 --> 01:54:19,006
So if somebody has an idea that's from
outside this document.

1996
01:54:19,446 --> 01:54:22,941
Please feel free to bring that forward if
there's an item innocent document that

1997
01:54:22,941 --> 01:54:25,184
you like and you'd like to pursue and
move forward,

1998
01:54:25,184 --> 01:54:28,334
we can have a fruitful discussion about
that at a more appropriate time.

1999
01:54:28,334 --> 01:54:30,966
But just to give the the the folks that
are here, the folks.

2000
01:54:30,966 --> 01:54:34,899
That are listening by Council members and
mayor, why I find this important, why?

2001
01:54:34,899 --> 01:54:37,327
Frankly,
the Council deemed it important and made

2002
01:54:37,327 --> 01:54:41,260
a priority item was that we just can't
have 708 hundred folks determining what's

2003
01:54:41,260 --> 01:54:42,086
best for laplata.

2004
01:54:42,086 --> 01:54:44,286
We do have to get more folks to come out
for the election.

2005
01:54:44,976 --> 01:54:47,136
And you know, I'm.
I'm a person that comes from the military.

2006
01:54:47,136 --> 01:54:47,616
I'm a person.

2007
01:54:47,616 --> 01:54:48,496
I currently works in the private sector.

2008
01:54:49,486 --> 01:54:53,277
And I found when you continue to do
something over and over and over and

2009
01:54:53,277 --> 01:54:56,652
you're getting the same or similar result,
that's just insanity.

2010
01:54:56,652 --> 01:55:00,443
And this town has not had right,
I would argue a large percentage of the

2011
01:55:00,443 --> 01:55:04,026
population participating in our municipal
election. And there are a.

2012
01:55:04,046 --> 01:55:08,426
That council members have probably
learned at MML have learned at other

2013
01:55:08,426 --> 01:55:12,806
areas that this town can can take when it
comes to our actual election.

2014
01:55:12,846 --> 01:55:15,722
It's something we identified as a
priority and it's something I hope this

2015
01:55:15,722 --> 01:55:16,966
Council continues to talk about.

2016
01:55:17,086 --> 01:55:21,886
And bring up again normal to to, you know,
fiscal impact sustainability

2017
01:55:21,886 --> 01:55:22,886
considerations.

2018
01:55:22,886 --> 01:55:26,006
Ada, just Please remember,
I'm one council member, right?

2019
01:55:26,006 --> 01:55:29,262
So it's up to this Council to determine
the actual fiscal impact,

2020
01:55:29,262 --> 01:55:32,912
sustainability considerations in ADA,
but based off of my very limited in

2021
01:55:32,912 --> 01:55:36,168
surface level dive into this,
you would see that again there's no

2022
01:55:36,168 --> 01:55:40,213
immediate fiscal impact of having this
discussion, sustainability considerations,

2023
01:55:40,213 --> 01:55:41,496
all of that would obvious.

2024
01:55:41,646 --> 01:55:41,966
Be.

2025
01:55:42,736 --> 01:55:44,975
Important for the long term institutional
stability,

2026
01:55:44,975 --> 01:55:46,496
civic trust and sustained community.

2027
01:55:46,886 --> 01:55:51,088
Agent by having more people participate,
hopefully and again. Ada considerations.

2028
01:55:51,088 --> 01:55:54,829
Just like I stay in the beginning.
The background we would have to be in

2029
01:55:54,829 --> 01:55:58,980
compliance with town charter town code in
the state of Maryland when it comes to

2030
01:55:58,980 --> 01:55:59,646
election law.

2031
01:55:59,806 --> 01:56:03,683
So my recommended action tonight for the
Council is just simply discuss if you're

2032
01:56:03,683 --> 01:56:07,277
interested in in election reform.
It's an item that's coming up in a couple

2033
01:56:07,277 --> 01:56:09,546
of days anyway.
When we meet on September 17th.

2034
01:56:09,546 --> 01:56:12,336
But I just wanted to make sure it got on
an agenda before.

2035
01:56:13,096 --> 01:56:16,576
September 17th because it was something
that we put on our forward-looking agenda.

2036
01:56:17,246 --> 01:56:21,675
I think it's something that now we're
probably coming into that sweet spot in

2037
01:56:21,675 --> 01:56:24,400
year 2,
headed into year three where this makes

2038
01:56:24,400 --> 01:56:28,886
sense to talk about as opposed to very
early on in the tenure of that Council.

2039
01:56:28,886 --> 01:56:32,006
So with that, I Mr. Stevens,
I turn the floor back over to you.

2040
01:56:36,066 --> 01:56:36,226
OK.

2041
01:56:36,226 --> 01:56:40,090
I don't have anything to add to this and
I think the desire was that Council was

2042
01:56:40,090 --> 01:56:43,667
going to discuss a month themselves,
so I'm happy to take notes and listen

2043
01:56:43,667 --> 01:56:47,579
hard and and if there's something I need
to take away from that, I'll capture it.

2044
01:56:47,579 --> 01:56:48,056
Thank you.

2045
01:56:48,846 --> 01:56:52,046
So any comments? Sure. Yeah.

2046
01:56:53,956 --> 01:56:59,206
So for me,
this this agenda item really casts a

2047
01:56:59,206 --> 01:57:00,956
really wide net.

2048
01:57:02,776 --> 01:57:08,216
And I think it that the format of it
makes it difficult to have a the kind of

2049
01:57:08,216 --> 01:57:13,865
discussions we may need to have so and
and what I'm getting at here is what what

2050
01:57:13,865 --> 01:57:18,049
I think I would have,
what I what I would have preferred is

2051
01:57:18,049 --> 01:57:18,816
have somet.

2052
01:57:18,936 --> 01:57:24,016
With more meat on its bones to to kind to
kind of really, you know, have an idea.

2053
01:57:24,446 --> 01:57:28,543
Of a focus area to address some some
specific things.

2054
01:57:28,543 --> 01:57:32,185
So it you know I'm not gonna sit here and
like,

2055
01:57:32,185 --> 01:57:36,206
talk on every one of these individual
elements here.

2056
01:57:37,736 --> 01:57:46,376
There's several elements here that I
think are too much for for what.

2057
01:57:46,776 --> 01:57:49,376
The way elections are conducted in La
Plata, right?

2058
01:57:49,376 --> 01:57:52,056
Like I I don't think we should be
changing cycles.

2059
01:57:52,096 --> 01:57:55,896
I don't think we need to do away with the
the ward structure.

2060
01:57:56,166 --> 01:58:01,557
Those things to me,
are based on my my experience of going

2061
01:58:01,557 --> 01:58:08,593
through an election now first hand.
I think those those are too radical for,

2062
01:58:08,593 --> 01:58:14,989
for, for any reforms to to,
to what we should reasonably consider you

2063
01:58:14,989 --> 01:58:15,446
know.

2064
01:58:17,296 --> 01:58:20,401
For changes to the way we conduct
elections in the town,

2065
01:58:20,401 --> 01:58:24,922
I think people wouldn't understand those
things and I think I just think it's it's

2066
01:58:24,922 --> 01:58:25,576
a hard sell.

2067
01:58:25,926 --> 01:58:30,491
To do a big change like that for from my
my perspective is this.

2068
01:58:30,491 --> 01:58:35,126
If if I were going to do anything,
it would really be two things.

2069
01:58:37,176 --> 01:58:40,182
So, you know,
having lived here as long as I have,

2070
01:58:40,182 --> 01:58:41,656
I I know this first hand.

2071
01:58:41,656 --> 01:58:45,131
You know,
Laplata is largely a bedroom community

2072
01:58:45,131 --> 01:58:48,534
and and by that what I mean by that is
that we,

2073
01:58:48,534 --> 01:58:53,711
many of the people who are in the
electorate are working people who work

2074
01:58:53,711 --> 01:58:55,696
outside the town of Laplata.

2075
01:58:56,206 --> 01:59:01,194
And why that's important to how we
conduct our elections is our elections

2076
01:59:01,194 --> 01:59:05,979
are always on a Tuesday and there a
Tuesday during business hours like

2077
01:59:05,979 --> 01:59:10,427
basically during bankers hours.
And I think that makes it really,

2078
01:59:10,427 --> 01:59:14,606
really difficult to expect people to to
make it out to do it.

2079
01:59:14,926 --> 01:59:17,766
To do to do,
to vote and participate in that way.

2080
01:59:17,766 --> 01:59:20,926
And so I personally feel like the single
biggest.

2081
01:59:21,896 --> 01:59:25,056
Adaptation we could make to the way we
conduct elections.

2082
01:59:25,206 --> 01:59:30,419
Is to do multi day and and and definitely
including a weekend today you know and

2083
01:59:30,419 --> 01:59:35,309
and maybe the easiest thing is just add
an early voting day on the Saturday

2084
01:59:35,309 --> 01:59:40,200
before the Tuesday we would elect and
that we would normally do things like

2085
01:59:40,200 --> 01:59:41,616
that would be the EAS.

2086
01:59:41,726 --> 01:59:46,691
Way to add one additional day that
accommodates, you know, the the, you know,

2087
01:59:46,691 --> 01:59:47,646
point of order.

2088
01:59:47,926 --> 01:59:52,940
Can we just discuss whether what is
presented here instead of adding what

2089
01:59:52,940 --> 01:59:54,566
your ideas are? Not bad.

2090
01:59:54,726 --> 01:59:58,294
They're just like just we're.
We're not gonna go through and I'm.

2091
01:59:58,294 --> 02:00:01,755
I'm almost done 'cause.
I really just have two things and. And.

2092
02:00:01,755 --> 02:00:04,566
And so this.
This is really how we have done these.

2093
02:00:04,926 --> 02:00:05,606
I know we.

2094
02:00:05,646 --> 02:00:09,371
I think we we try and keep it till like 3
minutes on these,

2095
02:00:09,371 --> 02:00:12,785
but every time we have had a councilman's
agenda item,

2096
02:00:12,785 --> 02:00:16,820
it always turns into we we have a a
deeper discussion, you know,

2097
02:00:16,820 --> 02:00:18,806
and that's what we're trying to.

2098
02:00:19,736 --> 02:00:20,856
Go by the Rules of Procedure.

2099
02:00:21,246 --> 02:00:23,446
So the the two things though, right?

2100
02:00:23,446 --> 02:00:29,090
Is the one that that that I was just
Speaking of is the multi day and then the

2101
02:00:29,090 --> 02:00:32,663
the other.
The other piece is you know I think in

2102
02:00:32,663 --> 02:00:35,806
the way elections were conducted last
time,

2103
02:00:35,806 --> 02:00:40,736
to me it was it was disappointing that at
the town staff level more.

2104
02:00:40,736 --> 02:00:45,806
Work wasn't done for just basic awareness
than an election was being conducted.

2105
02:00:46,576 --> 02:00:49,696
And the way I would address that is that
in our.

2106
02:00:51,456 --> 02:00:51,696
Ordinances.

2107
02:00:52,006 --> 02:00:57,670
And our chapter 17 for elections,
I would put specific things that staff

2108
02:00:57,670 --> 02:01:02,946
would need to do. So it's not,
it's not a matter of of things being

2109
02:01:02,946 --> 02:01:09,076
optional like those things would you know,
and we can discuss that more later.

2110
02:01:09,076 --> 02:01:11,326
But but it would be a way of.

2111
02:01:11,926 --> 02:01:14,988
Imposing certain things that that we
could just depend on,

2112
02:01:14,988 --> 02:01:18,933
which is basic communications like we
just did for a public meeting, right,

2113
02:01:18,933 --> 02:01:22,566
like we we didn't do that to even notice
that we were doing election.

2114
02:01:22,566 --> 02:01:27,536
I think that's a big deal and there's
various channels of communication that we

2115
02:01:27,536 --> 02:01:32,506
can access and do and and probably put a
little bit of budget to and build into

2116
02:01:32,506 --> 02:01:35,488
code.
So that or or or the the charter section,

2117
02:01:35,488 --> 02:01:38,781
chapter 17.
So that those things dependably reliably

2118
02:01:38,781 --> 02:01:39,216
happen.

2119
02:01:39,966 --> 02:01:41,566
And that's all I have, all right.

2120
02:01:43,616 --> 02:01:45,736
You've already said Councilman Sampson.

2121
02:01:48,496 --> 02:01:48,976
OK.

2122
02:01:49,016 --> 02:01:51,336
So first I'd like to thank Council.

2123
02:01:51,606 --> 02:01:55,646
When McCormick for bringing this up,
I think it was a good idea.

2124
02:01:55,686 --> 02:01:58,566
I think it's appropriate time,
just like he said.

2125
02:02:00,056 --> 02:02:02,216
As a whole,
I understood what he was trying to do.

2126
02:02:02,456 --> 02:02:04,136
He put in a lot of different ideas.

2127
02:02:05,816 --> 02:02:10,498
The overall theme 1 making it easier to
vote. That was something that I captured.

2128
02:02:10,498 --> 02:02:14,837
I do think that is something we've
already heard, that it was in his notes.

2129
02:02:14,837 --> 02:02:18,776
I think Councilman McCormick specifically
mentioned Saturday voting.

2130
02:02:19,726 --> 02:02:21,046
I don't know if that's possible.

2131
02:02:21,046 --> 02:02:24,920
We would have to look at the state
Constitution and other things,

2132
02:02:24,920 --> 02:02:28,265
but I do think that's something that's
worth looking at.

2133
02:02:28,265 --> 02:02:31,259
So making it easier to vote in every
possible way,

2134
02:02:31,259 --> 02:02:35,954
especially for our seniors and those that
may be in our low income communities.

2135
02:02:35,954 --> 02:02:36,776
So I do think.

2136
02:02:37,126 --> 02:02:38,166
That's important.

2137
02:02:38,206 --> 02:02:42,076
The other thing that I the other couple
things I took away from this was voter

2138
02:02:42,076 --> 02:02:42,566
education.

2139
02:02:43,006 --> 02:02:43,686
All right.

2140
02:02:43,846 --> 02:02:51,011
I do think that's important and what I
mean by voter education is public

2141
02:02:51,011 --> 02:02:54,446
awareness of our voting days times.

2142
02:02:54,966 --> 02:02:58,846
I think that could be enhanced also.

2143
02:03:00,256 --> 02:03:05,296
Somewhere in his document I don't have it
right in front of me, but he alludes to.

2144
02:03:05,886 --> 02:03:10,132
He doesn't specifically mention,
but alludes to the idea of partnership

2145
02:03:10,132 --> 02:03:12,726
and what I mean by partnership
partnership.

2146
02:03:14,256 --> 02:03:16,736
In educating the public on the issues.

2147
02:03:18,336 --> 02:03:22,262
And things that relate directly not only
to the residents,

2148
02:03:22,262 --> 02:03:27,053
but like our business community,
that's one thing that I think has been

2149
02:03:27,053 --> 02:03:32,176
lost as we move to make voting easier,
more accessible, making people heard.

2150
02:03:32,216 --> 02:03:34,576
So I want to thank Councilman McCormick
for that. The idea.

2151
02:03:34,926 --> 02:03:38,053
That he alluded to,
partnering with our businesses and also

2152
02:03:38,053 --> 02:03:40,606
partnering with our human service
organizations.

2153
02:03:40,646 --> 02:03:45,435
We have a lot of organizations inside of
laplata that do a lot of good work

2154
02:03:45,435 --> 02:03:47,326
helping people people in need.

2155
02:03:47,326 --> 02:03:52,299
I see them all the time and we don't
partner with them in helping those

2156
02:03:52,299 --> 02:03:56,926
individuals in the voting community and
I'll just give an example.

2157
02:03:58,496 --> 02:04:01,371
For example,
partnering with these business

2158
02:04:01,371 --> 02:04:04,376
communities,
these human service communities.

2159
02:04:05,046 --> 02:04:09,651
To help people get to voting polling
places if so needed,

2160
02:04:09,651 --> 02:04:15,606
and looking at other alternatives that
are within Maryland's election law.

2161
02:04:16,526 --> 02:04:19,326
And so like I said,
I want to thank Council for me for that.

2162
02:04:19,326 --> 02:04:21,006
I think it was a good first effort.

2163
02:04:21,006 --> 02:04:25,443
I understood the concept of what he was
trying to do and look forward to moving

2164
02:04:25,443 --> 02:04:27,606
forward on something in that direction.

2165
02:04:27,886 --> 02:04:29,966
Councilman Johnson? Yes, thank you.

2166
02:04:29,966 --> 02:04:33,446
Obviously it needs to be a broader
conversation and won't be hashtag tonight.

2167
02:04:33,646 --> 02:04:36,935
But but two things.
It's definitely voter awareness for the

2168
02:04:36,935 --> 02:04:39,676
town and, you know, whatever that means,
when we,

2169
02:04:39,676 --> 02:04:43,787
when we put our ears together and decide
what that looks like in a second,

2170
02:04:43,787 --> 02:04:48,007
I know we have a Board of Supervisors who
conduct our elections for town but

2171
02:04:48,007 --> 02:04:48,446
looking.

2172
02:04:48,446 --> 02:04:55,068
At election judges to help with the
process of conducting election elections

2173
02:04:55,068 --> 02:04:57,046
would be hyper focused.

2174
02:04:57,046 --> 02:05:00,297
I can only imagine the amount of work
that goes into prepping and and the long

2175
02:05:00,297 --> 02:05:02,602
hours on Election Day.
I think we had staff pretty much

2176
02:05:02,602 --> 02:05:04,166
conducting the administrative portion.

2177
02:05:05,006 --> 02:05:08,898
Voter check in so we can get volunteers
election judges from the community to

2178
02:05:08,898 --> 02:05:10,046
help with that process.

2179
02:05:10,046 --> 02:05:12,831
It can help relieve and keep it moving
and you know,

2180
02:05:12,831 --> 02:05:16,983
I think the ultimate goal is to get more
people out to vote from the attendant

2181
02:05:16,983 --> 02:05:17,246
list.

2182
02:05:18,776 --> 02:05:19,096
That's it.

2183
02:05:19,136 --> 02:05:19,456
Thank you.

2184
02:05:19,456 --> 02:05:25,016
So in keeping with ask and clarifying
questions on this.

2185
02:05:27,016 --> 02:05:33,056
Did you come up with this because a
resident came to you?

2186
02:05:33,446 --> 02:05:40,406
On this or was just this something that
you personally felt needed to be done?

2187
02:05:41,936 --> 02:05:43,456
Where? Where did this originate from?

2188
02:05:44,186 --> 02:05:45,026
Yeah, great question.

2189
02:05:45,026 --> 02:05:49,017
So this originated from the discussion as
Council had on September 11th.

2190
02:05:49,017 --> 02:05:51,750
If you remember,
with the forward-looking agenda,

2191
02:05:51,750 --> 02:05:55,960
the five of us concluded through a
consensus that this was an item we wanted

2192
02:05:55,960 --> 02:05:59,021
to prioritize.
Now personally right during the election

2193
02:05:59,021 --> 02:06:01,536
itself.
But even afterwards we've even heard.

2194
02:06:01,536 --> 02:06:05,688
It tonight from a couple of residents
there, there is AI would say,

2195
02:06:05,688 --> 02:06:10,512
overall feeling of frustration when it
comes to participation in the election,

2196
02:06:10,512 --> 02:06:13,016
even those that voted right have told me.

2197
02:06:13,246 --> 02:06:17,027
In personal conversations that they just
wish there was more than 700 people,

2198
02:06:17,027 --> 02:06:18,966
plus or minus that vote in our election.

2199
02:06:18,966 --> 02:06:23,374
So one this is being brought forward
because this Council on September 11th,

2200
02:06:23,374 --> 02:06:26,695
through a consensus,
decided that this was our fifth most

2201
02:06:26,695 --> 02:06:30,073
important priority at that meeting.
2 personally, I agree.

2202
02:06:30,073 --> 02:06:34,596
I think this is incredibly important
based off the conversations I've had with

2203
02:06:34,596 --> 02:06:36,256
residents. OK, so this would.

2204
02:06:36,256 --> 02:06:39,286
Be another public hearing that we would
have to do because it would be.

2205
02:06:40,016 --> 02:06:42,496
A amendment to our Charter couldn't.

2206
02:06:43,246 --> 02:06:48,745
This Council have kind of put in their
wish list and done this one time instead

2207
02:06:48,745 --> 02:06:53,006
of at the expense of our residents.
I am not opposed to this.

2208
02:06:53,006 --> 02:06:55,206
This is very wide but.

2209
02:06:56,776 --> 02:06:58,896
I would like to defer this.

2210
02:07:00,656 --> 02:07:07,066
One more year until we have everybody
going through the Charter that they want

2211
02:07:07,066 --> 02:07:12,096
to change and make it 1 big public
hearing instead of having.

2212
02:07:13,726 --> 02:07:15,446
One offs all the time.

2213
02:07:15,446 --> 02:07:19,770
It's not a bad idea.
The one thing that really has stuck with

2214
02:07:19,770 --> 02:07:20,886
me is the times.

2215
02:07:20,886 --> 02:07:24,886
The times are very, very back in the day.

2216
02:07:24,886 --> 02:07:30,886
Good old boy 1888. I mean, it was 12 to 8,
I think. Or 12:00 to 7:00.

2217
02:07:31,046 --> 02:07:33,886
Well,
we are a bedroom community and we do have

2218
02:07:33,886 --> 02:07:38,796
people that leave at 5:00 in the morning
to get their to their job and they're not

2219
02:07:38,796 --> 02:07:40,926
home until 8:00 or 9:00. So it does.

2220
02:07:41,616 --> 02:07:43,496
Make it so it's very difficult for people
to vote.

2221
02:07:43,886 --> 02:07:47,966
So I am looking for a consensus.

2222
02:07:49,496 --> 02:07:52,256
To move this forward and.

2223
02:07:53,896 --> 02:07:56,376
To a future agenda or to have.

2224
02:07:58,056 --> 02:07:59,496
Give direction to town staff.

2225
02:07:59,496 --> 02:08:02,576
Or we could discuss it at the retreat.

2226
02:08:02,656 --> 02:08:05,569
Or would you like to?
Since you brought this up,

2227
02:08:05,569 --> 02:08:06,936
would you like to make?

2228
02:08:08,696 --> 02:08:09,376
A suggestion.

2229
02:08:10,016 --> 02:08:12,322
I'm sorry.
We can go round two before we make any

2230
02:08:12,322 --> 02:08:13,336
suggestions or we can.

2231
02:08:14,326 --> 02:08:15,846
Going to do the author of this.

2232
02:08:17,336 --> 02:08:19,496
Councilman McCormick was going to say
something.

2233
02:08:19,846 --> 02:08:20,606
If that's OK.

2234
02:08:21,046 --> 02:08:27,566
So yes, we should do a second round,
so one and this is gonna be historic.

2235
02:08:27,646 --> 02:08:29,526
I I agree with everything you just said
there.

2236
02:08:29,526 --> 02:08:32,151
So yeah,
I this is something that I'm good with.

2237
02:08:32,151 --> 02:08:35,259
If we want to loop it into another big
Charter amendment,

2238
02:08:35,259 --> 02:08:38,206
if we wanna do one wholesale,
if we wanna wait a year.

2239
02:08:38,246 --> 02:08:40,272
The only reason I brought this up now was
again,

2240
02:08:40,272 --> 02:08:43,539
it was a priority item that we had not
action last year and we're just heading

2241
02:08:43,539 --> 02:08:44,366
forward to our next.

2242
02:08:45,056 --> 02:08:45,656
Forward-looking retreat.

2243
02:08:45,656 --> 02:08:47,416
So I just wanna make sure was on the
agenda.

2244
02:08:47,416 --> 02:08:49,176
If it's still something we're interested
in.

2245
02:08:49,606 --> 02:08:52,972
Then I think we have the conversation in
a couple set or a couple Thursdays from

2246
02:08:52,972 --> 02:08:54,634
now.
We don't necessarily have to do it

2247
02:08:54,634 --> 02:08:54,966
tonight.

2248
02:08:54,966 --> 02:08:58,035
So from a consensus standpoint,
where I stand, Mr. Stevens,

2249
02:08:58,035 --> 02:09:02,178
for your personal notes is I would just
like to further this conversation at the

2250
02:09:02,178 --> 02:09:03,406
forward-looking retreat.

2251
02:09:04,606 --> 02:09:07,086
So you do not need a consensus from.

2252
02:09:08,006 --> 02:09:08,726
I personally.

2253
02:09:09,886 --> 02:09:10,206
All right.

2254
02:09:10,206 --> 02:09:12,486
So you're not looking there was just an
introduction.

2255
02:09:12,526 --> 02:09:13,806
Are you OK that with that?

2256
02:09:13,806 --> 02:09:14,726
Yeah. In fact, I was.

2257
02:09:14,726 --> 02:09:17,686
I was gonna say before you said that that
that's actually what I would prefer.

2258
02:09:17,686 --> 02:09:20,983
Because you know,
with this not being as as like with a

2259
02:09:20,983 --> 02:09:25,457
detailed thing that you could actually
determine what what our approach is.

2260
02:09:25,457 --> 02:09:29,520
This really requires more of a
conversation and it is gonna and it's

2261
02:09:29,520 --> 02:09:31,286
it's gonna involve staff time.

2262
02:09:31,286 --> 02:09:35,333
And so I think the better place to do it
is in two weeks or a week when we when we

2263
02:09:35,333 --> 02:09:37,966
do our priority.
So we can rack and stack everything.

2264
02:09:38,586 --> 02:09:41,586
Councillor Sampson, are you OK with that,
Councillor Johnson?

2265
02:09:41,706 --> 02:09:45,332
Yeah, I am OK with, you know,
deferring whenever the time is

2266
02:09:45,332 --> 02:09:48,602
appropriate.
Just a quick clarification for round two.

2267
02:09:48,602 --> 02:09:51,812
Just to be clear,
it's not yet Chapter 17 of the code

2268
02:09:51,812 --> 02:09:54,666
governs elections and the conduct of
elections.

2269
02:09:54,666 --> 02:09:58,637
I don't believe it would be necessary.
The advertising of Republic here and

2270
02:09:58,637 --> 02:10:01,250
there would just be two readings for code
change,

2271
02:10:01,250 --> 02:10:05,483
so it won't time consuming isn't in the
Charter and I have the Charter here that

2272
02:10:05,483 --> 02:10:07,416
I can look through that specifically.

2273
02:10:07,566 --> 02:10:13,064
Says when we vote and the times we vote
so. So it would be Mr. Stevens.

2274
02:10:13,064 --> 02:10:15,126
Are you familiar with that?

2275
02:10:16,656 --> 02:10:20,474
I'm not comfortable enough to go on the
record right now without opening up the

2276
02:10:20,474 --> 02:10:20,856
Charter.

2277
02:10:20,856 --> 02:10:24,678
I don't need OK.
And that's why I said if it's in the

2278
02:10:24,678 --> 02:10:29,136
Charter and one one second if I could
finish, please go ahead.

2279
02:10:29,176 --> 02:10:29,976
Thank you.

2280
02:10:30,176 --> 02:10:35,016
Sure. Article. Excuse me. Article. Yes.
Article 7 talks about elections and you

2281
02:10:35,016 --> 02:10:37,376
know nominations, etcetera. Chapter 17.

2282
02:10:37,646 --> 02:10:40,206
You know the code governs the conduct of
elections.

2283
02:10:40,206 --> 02:10:40,846
And see we're not.

2284
02:10:40,846 --> 02:10:45,338
We're not splitting hairs here on on what
piece of governance document supersedes

2285
02:10:45,338 --> 02:10:48,078
the other.
I I agree that it it deserves a lot of

2286
02:10:48,078 --> 02:10:51,146
conversation,
but just for clearly that this would just

2287
02:10:51,146 --> 02:10:52,406
be a not just it could.

2288
02:10:52,406 --> 02:10:56,341
It could encompass to be more right,
but on face value look like it'd just be

2289
02:10:56,341 --> 02:10:58,409
some,
some repeal and reenactments of of

2290
02:10:58,409 --> 02:11:01,941
Chapter 17 of the town code,
which won't necessarily require a public

2291
02:11:01,941 --> 02:11:04,312
hearing,
but two readings of the ordinance for

2292
02:11:04,312 --> 02:11:04,766
adoption.

2293
02:11:05,816 --> 02:11:07,656
Mr. Stevens, I mean, Mr.

2294
02:11:08,446 --> 02:11:11,046
Pound since you are here,
I do have the charger.

2295
02:11:15,406 --> 02:11:17,806
After C7-10 conducted specifically.

2296
02:11:21,576 --> 02:11:26,423
For long hours, the Council requires,
since it is in the Charter,

2297
02:11:26,423 --> 02:11:30,976
wouldn't this be a Charter amendment,
that is public hearing?

2298
02:11:35,216 --> 02:11:38,622
Mr. Stevenson,
I can help implement exactly make sure

2299
02:11:38,622 --> 02:11:43,856
that it is actually everything that you
want to accomplish, but right now that is.

2300
02:11:44,166 --> 02:11:48,372
The idea it sounds to me like the
concepts of what you're looking for right

2301
02:11:48,372 --> 02:11:52,246
now will require both the Charter
amendment and a code amendment, OK.

2302
02:11:52,246 --> 02:11:55,726
So, but then again,
we're just talking about concepts, right?

2303
02:11:55,726 --> 02:11:56,126
OK.

2304
02:11:56,606 --> 02:12:01,526
All right. So, Mr. Stevens,
you have our direction. I do. OK.

2305
02:12:01,566 --> 02:12:02,726
Thank you very much.

2306
02:12:02,766 --> 02:12:08,406
That brings us to 5.2, Maryland,
Route 6 streetscape improvement project.

2307
02:12:09,496 --> 02:12:13,296
OK. And while I'm pulling this up,
I'm going to tell you that.

2308
02:12:14,586 --> 02:12:18,146
We we are in conversations and are
pursuing.

2309
02:12:19,776 --> 02:12:22,641
Some replacement microphones for the for
the Council chambers because we know

2310
02:12:22,641 --> 02:12:23,816
we're having problems with them.

2311
02:12:24,376 --> 02:12:26,176
They've been acting up over the last few
months.

2312
02:12:26,176 --> 02:12:30,088
We're looking at it and we are doing our
very best to get some replacements in

2313
02:12:30,088 --> 02:12:31,376
here as quickly as we can.

2314
02:12:31,896 --> 02:12:36,025
So moving on to this agenda item,
so to be clear,

2315
02:12:36,025 --> 02:12:42,633
I wanted to bring this forward and and
speak about this evening because in this

2316
02:12:42,633 --> 02:12:43,376
instance.

2317
02:12:43,446 --> 02:12:47,690
Since we are not a a partner of the Route
6 improvement project,

2318
02:12:47,690 --> 02:12:52,782
we are a landowner with property that
abuts the project area and I thought it

2319
02:12:52,782 --> 02:12:56,830
was really important,
this Council heard public comment a few

2320
02:12:56,830 --> 02:13:00,486
months ago and and you heard a lot of
things about how.

2321
02:13:00,566 --> 02:13:02,566
This process will work out well.

2322
02:13:02,566 --> 02:13:07,545
I think this is going to be really
informative because this is the process

2323
02:13:07,545 --> 02:13:09,006
and it is playing out.

2324
02:13:09,006 --> 02:13:11,526
So in this instance, we are the landowner.

2325
02:13:12,256 --> 02:13:13,216
The state has approached us.

2326
02:13:14,096 --> 02:13:16,336
They provided us with a fair market
appraisal.

2327
02:13:16,336 --> 02:13:17,056
It's in your packet.

2328
02:13:17,056 --> 02:13:17,976
It's in the public record.

2329
02:13:17,976 --> 02:13:22,661
Anybody can look at it and they are
asking us to sign the contract so that

2330
02:13:22,661 --> 02:13:27,096
they can acquire town owned property for
the rights of way to conduct.

2331
02:13:28,656 --> 02:13:30,896
This this streetscape project,
that's what this is.

2332
02:13:31,176 --> 02:13:33,896
And so I'll jump into the background.

2333
02:13:34,376 --> 02:13:37,781
The Maryland State Highway Administration,
or SHA,

2334
02:13:37,781 --> 02:13:43,122
is undertaking the Route 6 streetscape
improvement project along Maryland Route

2335
02:13:43,122 --> 02:13:43,256
6.

2336
02:13:43,446 --> 02:13:47,480
Just Charles Street from 301 all the way
to Willow Lane on June 23rd,

2337
02:13:47,480 --> 02:13:51,859
Council adopted Resolution 26-39,
authorizing the mayor to execute a letter

2338
02:13:51,859 --> 02:13:56,066
of support affirming the town's
commitment to the project as it advances

2339
02:13:56,066 --> 02:13:58,256
into construction construction of the.

2340
02:13:58,256 --> 02:14:03,069
Project requires SHA to acquire land
easements and construction rights from

2341
02:14:03,069 --> 02:14:07,566
property owners along the corridor shown
on the SAT plat number 62658.

2342
02:14:08,526 --> 02:14:13,063
The Taliban Plata owns property within
the project corridor and is being engaged

2343
02:14:13,063 --> 02:14:17,319
by SHA as a property owner in this
transaction in the same manner and under

2344
02:14:17,319 --> 02:14:20,399
the same standard.
Sha Instruments used with all other

2345
02:14:20,399 --> 02:14:22,920
affected property owners along the
corridor.

2346
02:14:22,920 --> 02:14:24,936
Sha has presented the town with two.

2347
02:14:24,936 --> 02:14:30,903
Option contracts covering the property
rights needed from the town's parcel item

2348
02:14:30,903 --> 02:14:32,966
122415 is a standard option.

2349
02:14:32,966 --> 02:14:37,211
Contract.
This grants SHA the exclusive option for

2350
02:14:37,211 --> 02:14:44,202
six months from execution to purchase the
land easement, the land easements rights,

2351
02:14:44,202 --> 02:14:50,860
privileges and controls shown on plat
number 62658 for a total consideration of

2352
02:14:50,860 --> 02:14:51,526
$16,900.

2353
02:14:51,686 --> 02:14:56,639
This amount includes $16,875.
15 in payment for the contributory value

2354
02:14:56,639 --> 02:15:01,035
of existing on site,
improvements within the acquisition area,

2355
02:15:01,035 --> 02:15:04,942
specifically asphalt pavement,
concrete curb, concrete,

2356
02:15:04,942 --> 02:15:06,686
sidewalk and landscaping.

2357
02:15:07,416 --> 02:15:08,616
The contract also includes.

2358
02:15:09,246 --> 02:15:12,694
Construction easement for a sidewalk
construction driveway, tie,

2359
02:15:12,694 --> 02:15:15,717
insurance erosion and sediment control
and fine grading,

2360
02:15:15,717 --> 02:15:18,846
which reverts to the town upon completion
of construction.

2361
02:15:20,256 --> 02:15:24,555
Item 121558 is a temporary construction
easement option contract.

2362
02:15:24,555 --> 02:15:29,962
This will grant shaa a separate temporary
construction easement over an additional

2363
02:15:29,962 --> 02:15:34,847
hatched area shown on the same plat for
the same construction purposes for

2364
02:15:34,847 --> 02:15:36,736
nominal consideration of $50.

2365
02:15:36,856 --> 02:15:39,056
This write terminates and reverts to the
town upon.

2366
02:15:39,486 --> 02:15:42,943
Completion of construction,
the consideration offered under both

2367
02:15:42,943 --> 02:15:47,304
option contracts is based on independent
market value appraisals prepared for the

2368
02:15:47,304 --> 02:15:48,846
State Highway administration.

2369
02:15:48,846 --> 02:15:50,886
And again,
those appraisals are in your packet.

2370
02:15:52,456 --> 02:15:55,850
Staff will present both option contracts
in the staff report. However,

2371
02:15:55,850 --> 02:15:58,431
because the instruments are separate
legal documents,

2372
02:15:58,431 --> 02:16:02,351
Council action will be requested on two
separate resolutions later in the meeting

2373
02:16:02,351 --> 02:16:05,506
for your consideration.
That will be 1 resolution for each option

2374
02:16:05,506 --> 02:16:05,936
contract.

2375
02:16:06,376 --> 02:16:09,754
Your fiscal impact these transactions
results in revenue to the town rather

2376
02:16:09,754 --> 02:16:09,976
than.

2377
02:16:10,246 --> 02:16:15,832
And an expenditure combined,
the two option contracts provide total

2378
02:16:15,832 --> 02:16:17,886
consideration of $16,950.

2379
02:16:17,966 --> 02:16:21,085
That's 16,
950 under the first item and then the $50

2380
02:16:21,085 --> 02:16:25,970
from the temporary construction easement
to be paid by check from the treasurer of

2381
02:16:25,970 --> 02:16:30,796
the state of Maryland payable to the town
of El Paso upon SH as acceptance of the

2382
02:16:30,796 --> 02:16:32,326
options and conveyance of.

2383
02:16:32,326 --> 02:16:36,954
The described property rights execution
of the option contracts does not obligate

2384
02:16:36,954 --> 02:16:39,606
the town to any expenditure and no town
funds.

2385
02:16:39,766 --> 02:16:44,846
Or budget appropriation are required.
The strategic plan alignment as well as

2386
02:16:44,846 --> 02:16:48,949
your sustainability and ADA
considerations are in your packet.

2387
02:16:48,949 --> 02:16:54,420
Your recommended actions this evening are
that that town council adopt two separate

2388
02:16:54,420 --> 02:16:59,760
resolutions resolution #2668 authorizing
the town manager to execute the standard

2389
02:16:59,760 --> 02:17:00,216
option.

2390
02:17:00,216 --> 02:17:02,606
Contract with the Maryland State Highway
administration.

2391
02:17:02,686 --> 02:17:04,886
That's item 1221415.

2392
02:17:05,656 --> 02:17:09,096
The SHA project chapter 248 B 3-1.

2393
02:17:09,786 --> 02:17:12,881
Granting Sha the option to acquire the
land,

2394
02:17:12,881 --> 02:17:18,109
easements and construction rights
described therein for total consideration

2395
02:17:18,109 --> 02:17:18,866
of $16,900.

2396
02:17:19,066 --> 02:17:22,826
Resolution 2669 authorizing the town
manager to execute the temporary

2397
02:17:22,826 --> 02:17:26,586
construction easement option contract
with the Maryland State Highway

2398
02:17:26,586 --> 02:17:29,593
Administration,
granting SHA the temporary construction

2399
02:17:29,593 --> 02:17:32,601
easement described therein for
consideration of $50.00,

2400
02:17:32,601 --> 02:17:34,696
and I'm happy to answer your questions.

2401
02:17:35,286 --> 02:17:36,966
Alright, cancel any questions.

2402
02:17:37,496 --> 02:17:40,096
Councillor no,
this this made a lot of sense.

2403
02:17:40,336 --> 02:17:44,009
I really appreciate all the the
annotations and the the appraisal stuff

2404
02:17:44,009 --> 02:17:46,712
so we can see where it is and I and I
know you know,

2405
02:17:46,712 --> 02:17:49,517
continued improvements where Milton
Sommers comes out.

2406
02:17:49,517 --> 02:17:53,496
If you have kids that go there as I do
over the years and then currently you.

2407
02:17:53,496 --> 02:17:54,016
Know these are.

2408
02:17:54,016 --> 02:17:56,335
These are much needed improvements,
so again I'm looking forward to

2409
02:17:56,335 --> 02:17:57,256
supporting this. Thank you.

2410
02:17:58,696 --> 02:18:01,496
Thank you, Mr. Stevens,
and please thank the staff that helped

2411
02:18:01,496 --> 02:18:02,696
put this document together.

2412
02:18:03,446 --> 02:18:04,366
Councilman Samson.

2413
02:18:05,846 --> 02:18:09,846
Yeah, I'd like to tell the town Mandra.
I thought it was a good document.

2414
02:18:10,166 --> 02:18:12,686
Excellent work by the staff as usual.

2415
02:18:14,216 --> 02:18:17,426
And just just for the record,
I think it was already spelled out,

2416
02:18:17,426 --> 02:18:20,296
but this will not impact any business
owners or residents.

2417
02:18:20,576 --> 02:18:22,416
This particular proposal correct.

2418
02:18:22,456 --> 02:18:25,241
No,
this is conveying town owned property

2419
02:18:25,241 --> 02:18:29,816
along the project area at 4 SHA to use as
right of way in easements.

2420
02:18:30,646 --> 02:18:32,726
That's all I have, counselor. Chuck,
I don't have anything.

2421
02:18:32,726 --> 02:18:33,166
Thank you.

2422
02:18:33,686 --> 02:18:37,271
I have one question.
So it is as you described the easements,

2423
02:18:37,271 --> 02:18:39,526
but what property rights are permanent?

2424
02:18:39,526 --> 02:18:44,283
What are temporary and when do the
temporary easements terminate and what

2425
02:18:44,283 --> 02:18:46,726
restoration obligations does SHA have?

2426
02:18:48,886 --> 02:18:49,286
OK.

2427
02:18:49,566 --> 02:18:53,545
That was a handful of questions there.
So the only temporary ones are the ones

2428
02:18:53,545 --> 02:18:57,575
that are under the temporary construction
easement, and those will revert back,

2429
02:18:57,575 --> 02:19:01,705
usually at a conclusion of the project.
Usually upon government acceptance of the

2430
02:19:01,705 --> 02:19:04,073
projects,
complete that temporary construction

2431
02:19:04,073 --> 02:19:05,886
easement. That's normally when that.

2432
02:19:05,886 --> 02:19:07,846
Would convey back.
The others are permanent.

2433
02:19:07,886 --> 02:19:11,711
So we would be selling that frontage of
land and it's not much,

2434
02:19:11,711 --> 02:19:12,846
it's in the packet.

2435
02:19:13,656 --> 02:19:15,816
That will become state highway right of
way.

2436
02:19:17,426 --> 02:19:19,306
Enduring for in perpetuity.

2437
02:19:20,816 --> 02:19:22,616
And their restoration obligations.

2438
02:19:24,926 --> 02:19:28,206
Yes, I don't know.

2439
02:19:28,486 --> 02:19:28,526
I.

2440
02:19:28,566 --> 02:19:34,646
I don't recall if this contract addresses
like landscaping remediation or not.

2441
02:19:34,646 --> 02:19:39,682
That is typically a component of the
overall project and I don't know of this

2442
02:19:39,682 --> 02:19:42,846
right of way.
Acquisition goes into that detail.

2443
02:19:44,336 --> 02:19:47,362
All right,
so I'm looking for a consensus to move

2444
02:19:47,362 --> 02:19:49,056
this forward to legislation.

2445
02:19:49,056 --> 02:19:49,936
Councilman guttenberg.

2446
02:19:50,326 --> 02:19:53,086
Yes. Councilman McCormack? Yes,
Councilman Sampson.

2447
02:19:53,086 --> 02:19:58,134
Yes. Aye. For the record,
Councilman Johnson has left for a moment,

2448
02:19:58,134 --> 02:20:01,846
and I am a yes.
So it will be seen in just a bit.

2449
02:20:01,846 --> 02:20:03,046
All right, that goes.

2450
02:20:03,286 --> 02:20:05,846
Brings us to legislation.

2451
02:20:09,006 --> 02:20:13,298
Mr. Steve, OK,
beginning with agenda item 6.1,

2452
02:20:13,298 --> 02:20:18,046
this is Ordinance 26, Dash 19, Chapter 13,
Council.

2453
02:20:18,526 --> 02:20:21,166
This is the second reading for
consideration of adoption.

2454
02:20:21,166 --> 02:20:25,379
This is an ordinance concerning Chapter
13 Council for the purpose of amending

2455
02:20:25,379 --> 02:20:29,273
Chapter 13 of the Code of the town of
APDA to define the qualifications,

2456
02:20:29,273 --> 02:20:33,273
duties and responsibilities of the
Council chair and the method by which a

2457
02:20:33,273 --> 02:20:36,686
temporary Presiding Officer shall be
elected in the absence of.

2458
02:20:36,686 --> 02:20:41,926
The Council and all matters generally
relating thereto, thank you very much.

2459
02:20:41,926 --> 02:20:46,046
Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance
2619 as presented?

2460
02:20:47,656 --> 02:20:48,496
Said motion.

2461
02:20:48,496 --> 02:20:49,736
Do I have a second second?

2462
02:20:51,336 --> 02:20:51,976
Any discussion?

2463
02:20:53,656 --> 02:20:59,659
I have already stated my objections and I
still think that we could have changed

2464
02:20:59,659 --> 02:21:04,847
the gender language all in favor.
Please indicate by saying aye, aye,

2465
02:21:04,847 --> 02:21:05,736
any opposed.

2466
02:21:06,896 --> 02:21:10,859
Nay,
motion carries Ordinance 26 and Please

2467
02:21:10,859 --> 02:21:16,894
note that Councilman Johnson was not here
to Vote Ordinance 26-20.

2468
02:21:16,894 --> 02:21:19,056
This is ordinance 26-20.

2469
02:21:19,296 --> 02:21:24,364
This is chapter 19191 zoning ordinance
for the town of Laplata,

2470
02:21:24,364 --> 02:21:27,056
Maryland accessory dwelling units.

2471
02:21:27,056 --> 02:21:29,936
This is the second reading for
consideration of adoption.

2472
02:21:30,256 --> 02:21:32,776
This is an ordinance concerning Chapter
191.

2473
02:21:33,456 --> 02:21:36,336
Zoning ordinance for the town of Olathe,
Maryland. Accessory dwelling units.

2474
02:21:37,136 --> 02:21:42,084
For the purpose of amending section
191-53B of Chapter 191 zoning of the

2475
02:21:42,084 --> 02:21:46,897
Plata municipal code pertaining to
accessory dwelling units or adus to

2476
02:21:46,897 --> 02:21:52,522
ensure compliance with recent changes to
Maryland law governing accessory dwelling

2477
02:21:52,522 --> 02:21:55,776
units and all matters generally relating
there.

2478
02:21:56,576 --> 02:21:57,616
Thank you very much.

2479
02:21:57,616 --> 02:22:02,616
Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance
26-20 as presented so moved?

2480
02:22:02,696 --> 02:22:03,656
Do I have a second?

2481
02:22:03,806 --> 02:22:05,846
Second, any discussion?

2482
02:22:06,806 --> 02:22:09,766
I do have a question.
We talked extensively about.

2483
02:22:11,456 --> 02:22:15,256
The Adu application and we are just
following state, but.

2484
02:22:18,286 --> 02:22:24,334
Issue that was brought up last time was
directly dealing with the HOA's and we,

2485
02:22:24,334 --> 02:22:29,778
when Director Dooley was here,
he said that there was something that we

2486
02:22:29,778 --> 02:22:32,046
might be able to do on a form.

2487
02:22:32,046 --> 02:22:34,606
It's on the form,
at least it was in the past.

2488
02:22:34,606 --> 02:22:38,806
Has that been addressed since we last
discussed this?

2489
02:22:39,526 --> 02:22:43,206
I have not discussed that further with
the Planning Director now, OK, so.

2490
02:22:44,136 --> 02:22:47,096
Is there a way that the application could
require?

2491
02:22:51,586 --> 02:22:56,678
The proper paperwork from an HOA not to
delay the process of an Adu,

2492
02:22:56,678 --> 02:23:00,146
but to work in conjunction with an active
HOA.

2493
02:23:00,386 --> 02:23:06,264
And there's only a couple of the HOA's
that are active that would be impacted on

2494
02:23:06,264 --> 02:23:08,586
this, but it just would prevent.

2495
02:23:10,096 --> 02:23:11,616
Legal issues from the HOA.

2496
02:23:13,086 --> 02:23:17,437
I think anything is possible and So what
I would like to do is I would like to to

2497
02:23:17,437 --> 02:23:21,788
talk with Director Dooley about that and
really walk around the compass on that a

2498
02:23:21,788 --> 02:23:24,759
little bit before we did that.
But anything's possible.

2499
02:23:24,759 --> 02:23:26,086
I think we can come back.

2500
02:23:26,086 --> 02:23:32,362
To to council with a recommendation. OK,
so prop motion has been made and properly

2501
02:23:32,362 --> 02:23:35,690
seconded.
All in favor of Ordinance 2620 as

2502
02:23:35,690 --> 02:23:36,446
presented.

2503
02:23:36,806 --> 02:23:38,206
Please indicate by saying aye, aye.

2504
02:23:39,246 --> 02:23:41,326
Any opposed motion carries.

2505
02:23:41,326 --> 02:23:44,486
We're on ordinance 2621, OK?

2506
02:23:44,486 --> 02:23:49,481
This is ordinance 26-21 amendment to the
town will play to fiscal year 2027 fee

2507
02:23:49,481 --> 02:23:52,103
schedule.
This is your second reading for

2508
02:23:52,103 --> 02:23:53,726
consideration of adoption.

2509
02:23:53,966 --> 02:23:57,688
This is an ordinance concerning an
amendment to the town of Opel Plate,

2510
02:23:57,688 --> 02:24:01,411
a fiscal year 2027 fee schedule,
for the purpose of amending the fiscal

2511
02:24:01,411 --> 02:24:05,650
year 2027 fee schedule dealing with fees
set by the town of Opela and all matters

2512
02:24:05,650 --> 02:24:07,046
generally relating thereto.

2513
02:24:08,526 --> 02:24:09,406
Thank you very much.

2514
02:24:09,406 --> 02:24:15,886
Do I have a motion to adopt Ordinance
26-21 as presented so moved?

2515
02:24:16,046 --> 02:24:19,886
Do I have a second, second?
Any discussion?

2516
02:24:20,886 --> 02:24:22,926
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye, aye.

2517
02:24:23,846 --> 02:24:29,846
Anyone opposed motion carries brings us
to resolution 26, dash 50. OK.

2518
02:24:29,846 --> 02:24:33,286
This is resolution 26-50.
This is a Charter amendment.

2519
02:24:33,286 --> 02:24:36,018
The Powers,
powers and duties of the mayor of the

2520
02:24:36,018 --> 02:24:39,406
town of Halpera for production and
consideration of adoption.

2521
02:24:39,686 --> 02:24:43,494
This is a Charter amendment resolution
concerning Charter amendment pair powers

2522
02:24:43,494 --> 02:24:47,303
and duties of the mayor of the town of El
Paso for the purposes of amending the

2523
02:24:47,303 --> 02:24:50,921
Charter of the town of El Plata to
eliminate language authorizing the mayor

2524
02:24:50,921 --> 02:24:53,206
to call a special meeting that the mayor
shall.

2525
02:24:53,206 --> 02:24:57,004
Serve as the President of the Council and
the process by which an acting President

2526
02:24:57,004 --> 02:24:59,886
of the Council shall be appointed in the
absence of the mayor.

2527
02:25:01,376 --> 02:25:02,136
All right.

2528
02:25:02,136 --> 02:25:06,896
Do I have a motion to adopt 20 resolution
26-50?

2529
02:25:07,366 --> 02:25:10,446
As presented, so moved.

2530
02:25:10,446 --> 02:25:11,326
Do I have a second second?

2531
02:25:11,486 --> 02:25:12,686
Any discussion?

2532
02:25:14,526 --> 02:25:15,086
I do.

2533
02:25:15,126 --> 02:25:20,864
I just want it for the record I oppose
Resolution 2650 for the reasons I stated

2534
02:25:20,864 --> 02:25:25,526
in the public hearing.
But I do want the record to reflect that.

2535
02:25:27,016 --> 02:25:30,947
C4 Dash 3F as proposed,
continues to expressly provide that the

2536
02:25:30,947 --> 02:25:35,860
mayor may take part in all discussions
and may vote on all issues before coming

2537
02:25:35,860 --> 02:25:36,536
to council.

2538
02:25:38,656 --> 02:25:40,536
Mr. Pounds, one last question.

2539
02:25:40,536 --> 02:25:45,776
Is there anything in Resolution 2650 that
restricts or diminishes that continuing?

2540
02:25:46,126 --> 02:25:46,846
Charter, right?

2541
02:25:46,926 --> 02:25:48,486
It does not include OK.

2542
02:25:50,286 --> 02:25:53,294
All right,
so we have a motion and it has been

2543
02:25:53,294 --> 02:25:54,446
properly seconded.

2544
02:25:54,486 --> 02:25:57,566
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye, aye.

2545
02:25:58,976 --> 02:26:03,856
Sorry I I'm not an I any opposed.
I am opposed all right.

2546
02:26:03,896 --> 02:26:04,976
So it's for.

2547
02:26:05,176 --> 02:26:09,896
I'm sorry, Madam Town clerk.
Do you need that or was that clear?

2548
02:26:09,896 --> 02:26:11,616
There were four IS and a nay.

2549
02:26:12,956 --> 02:26:15,476
Madam Mayor, I am clear on the vote.
Thank you.

2550
02:26:15,886 --> 02:26:16,086
OK.

2551
02:26:16,086 --> 02:26:16,846
Thank you.

2552
02:26:16,886 --> 02:26:20,929
All right.
That brings us to Resolution 26-53 for

2553
02:26:20,929 --> 02:26:24,486
introduction and consideration of
adoption.

2554
02:26:24,606 --> 02:26:24,766
OK.

2555
02:26:24,766 --> 02:26:27,086
This is resolution 2653.

2556
02:26:27,126 --> 02:26:29,981
This is revision of the town Council
Rules of Procedure,

2557
02:26:29,981 --> 02:26:33,086
Council chair for introduction and
consideration of adoption.

2558
02:26:33,286 --> 02:26:37,063
This is a resolution concerning revision
of town Council Rules of Procedure,

2559
02:26:37,063 --> 02:26:41,037
Council chair for the purpose of revising
the rules and guidelines for which the

2560
02:26:41,037 --> 02:26:43,686
Council of the town of El Pasa Town
Council operates.

2561
02:26:43,766 --> 02:26:46,006
And all matters related thereto.

2562
02:26:46,086 --> 02:26:46,966
Thank you very much.

2563
02:26:46,966 --> 02:26:52,326
Do I have a motion to adopt resolution
26-53AS presented so moved.

2564
02:26:52,366 --> 02:26:54,446
Do I have a second second?

2565
02:26:54,526 --> 02:26:57,495
Any discussion again, Mr. Pounds,
before we vote,

2566
02:26:57,495 --> 02:27:00,108
I want one point clarified.
For the record,

2567
02:27:00,108 --> 02:27:04,502
do the Rules of Procedure before us
preserve the mayor's full right under

2568
02:27:04,502 --> 02:27:09,075
Charter C4 Dash 3F to participate in all
Council discussions and vote on all

2569
02:27:09,075 --> 02:27:10,856
issues, regardless of whether?

2570
02:27:11,046 --> 02:27:12,486
The mayor is serving as council chair.

2571
02:27:13,546 --> 02:27:16,043
Thank you.
I want that interpretation clearly

2572
02:27:16,043 --> 02:27:17,346
reflected in the record.

2573
02:27:17,346 --> 02:27:23,329
So we have a motion and that has been
properly seconded. All in favor,

2574
02:27:23,329 --> 02:27:29,480
please indicate by saying aye.
Any opposed nay motion carries resolution

2575
02:27:29,480 --> 02:27:29,986
26-54.

2576
02:27:30,186 --> 02:27:34,475
All right, this is resolution 2654.
Initial election of council chair for

2577
02:27:34,475 --> 02:27:37,026
introduction and consideration of
adoption.

2578
02:27:37,106 --> 02:27:40,610
A resolution concerning initial election
of Council chair for the purpose of

2579
02:27:40,610 --> 02:27:42,976
conducting a special election of the
Council chair.

2580
02:27:44,536 --> 02:27:45,616
Thank you very much.

2581
02:27:45,726 --> 02:27:49,286
A motion to adopt resolution 26-54AS
presented.

2582
02:27:49,606 --> 02:27:53,406
So moved. Do I have a second second?
Any discussion?

2583
02:27:54,046 --> 02:27:57,113
Yeah,
I have a point of clarity when we

2584
02:27:57,113 --> 02:28:02,863
discussed when the individual elected
pursuant to Resolution 2654 actually

2585
02:28:02,863 --> 02:28:04,166
assumes the duty.

2586
02:28:05,656 --> 02:28:10,388
And authority of the Council chair until
that date. And this is to you, Mr. Pounds,

2587
02:28:10,388 --> 02:28:13,317
until that date,
who serves as providing Officer of

2588
02:28:13,317 --> 02:28:15,176
Council and under what provision?

2589
02:28:16,186 --> 02:28:17,906
Bill, there is a change.

2590
02:28:18,146 --> 02:28:20,810
Madam Mary,
you will remain in that office until

2591
02:28:20,810 --> 02:28:22,386
there is a formal change, OK?

2592
02:28:22,386 --> 02:28:25,146
Could you identify the provision that
provides that for?

2593
02:28:26,576 --> 02:28:26,976
Continuity.

2594
02:28:30,286 --> 02:28:30,686
In the.

2595
02:28:30,686 --> 02:28:33,526
In the what document I'm just getting it
on the record.

2596
02:28:37,576 --> 02:28:37,856
OK.

2597
02:28:39,336 --> 02:28:42,948
All right.
So motion has been made and properly

2598
02:28:42,948 --> 02:28:46,184
seconded,
all in favor of adopting this as

2599
02:28:46,184 --> 02:28:46,936
presented.

2600
02:28:46,936 --> 02:28:55,717
Please indicate by saying aye, aye.
Any opposed nay resolution motion carries

2601
02:28:55,717 --> 02:28:57,856
resolution 2668 OK.

2602
02:28:58,136 --> 02:29:00,176
This is resolution 2668.

2603
02:29:00,176 --> 02:29:03,896
This is the Maryland State Highway
Administration, Maryland Route 6.

2604
02:29:04,936 --> 02:29:05,896
Charles St.

2605
02:29:05,896 --> 02:29:06,696
St. escaping project.

2606
02:29:07,086 --> 02:29:11,893
Deck contract for acquisition of town
owned property rights for introduction

2607
02:29:11,893 --> 02:29:13,766
and consideration of adoption.

2608
02:29:14,286 --> 02:29:18,234
This is a resolution concerning the
Maryland State Highway Administration,

2609
02:29:18,234 --> 02:29:21,656
Maryland Route 6, Charles St.
Streetscaping project contract for

2610
02:29:21,656 --> 02:29:25,973
acquisition of town owned property rights
for the purpose of authorizing the town

2611
02:29:25,973 --> 02:29:30,079
manager to execute a standard option
contract with the Maryland State Highway

2612
02:29:30,079 --> 02:29:31,816
administration, granting SHA the.

2613
02:29:31,816 --> 02:29:35,329
Option to acquire the land easements and
construction rights related to

2614
02:29:35,329 --> 02:29:37,086
improvements along Maryland Route 6.

2615
02:29:37,616 --> 02:29:40,830
Charles Strait from US Route 301 to
Willow Lane,

2616
02:29:40,830 --> 02:29:44,896
described therein and all matters
generally relating thereto.

2617
02:29:45,536 --> 02:29:46,616
Thank you very much.

2618
02:29:46,616 --> 02:29:50,496
Do I have a motion to adopt resolution
26-68AS presented?

2619
02:29:50,536 --> 02:29:55,016
Do I have a second, second?
Any discussion?

2620
02:29:56,096 --> 02:29:59,061
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye.

2621
02:29:59,061 --> 02:30:03,213
Any opposed motion carries.
This takes us to our last piece of

2622
02:30:03,213 --> 02:30:06,376
legislation for this evening,
resolution 26-69.

2623
02:30:06,846 --> 02:30:07,046
OK.

2624
02:30:07,046 --> 02:30:09,406
This is resolution 26-69.

2625
02:30:09,846 --> 02:30:13,414
This is the Maryland State Highway
Administration, Maryland route 6,

2626
02:30:13,414 --> 02:30:15,844
Charles St.
Streetscaping project contract for

2627
02:30:15,844 --> 02:30:19,981
acquisition of town owned property rights
for introduction and consideration of

2628
02:30:19,981 --> 02:30:20,446
adoption.

2629
02:30:20,526 --> 02:30:24,558
This is a resolution concerning the
Maryland State Highway Administration,

2630
02:30:24,558 --> 02:30:28,053
Maryland Route 6, Charles St.
Streetscaping project contract for

2631
02:30:28,053 --> 02:30:32,461
acquisition of town owned property rights
for the purpose of authorizing the town

2632
02:30:32,461 --> 02:30:35,526
manager to execute a temporary easement
option contract.

2633
02:30:35,766 --> 02:30:39,957
With the Maryland State Highway
administration granting shaa temporary

2634
02:30:39,957 --> 02:30:44,090
construction easement related to
improvements along Maryland Route 6,

2635
02:30:44,090 --> 02:30:46,746
Charles St.
from US Route 301 to Willow Lane

2636
02:30:46,746 --> 02:30:49,934
described therein,
and all matters generally relating

2637
02:30:49,934 --> 02:30:50,406
thereto.

2638
02:30:50,766 --> 02:30:51,646
Thank you very much.

2639
02:30:51,646 --> 02:30:53,206
Do I have a motion to adopt?

2640
02:30:54,936 --> 02:31:00,417
Sorry,
just lost it to adopt Resolution 26-69 as

2641
02:31:00,417 --> 02:31:01,536
presented.

2642
02:31:02,006 --> 02:31:06,566
So moved. Do I have a second second?
Any discussion?

2643
02:31:06,926 --> 02:31:08,766
All in favor,
please indicate by saying aye, aye.

2644
02:31:11,096 --> 02:31:13,216
Any opposed motion carries.

2645
02:31:13,216 --> 02:31:16,624
All right.
That brings us to reports from the Town

2646
02:31:16,624 --> 02:31:18,696
Council Council Gutenberg, yes.

2647
02:31:20,496 --> 02:31:25,101
So last week the Planning Commission had
a a really good,

2648
02:31:25,101 --> 02:31:30,976
robust conversation about zoning text,
amendments for water conservation.

2649
02:31:31,366 --> 02:31:35,638
And landscaping, really,
our conversation really focused around

2650
02:31:35,638 --> 02:31:40,644
the water conservation element of the
zoning text amendments that that are

2651
02:31:40,644 --> 02:31:45,717
being considered and I I think if if
members of the Council did not see it,

2652
02:31:45,717 --> 02:31:50,256
I think it that that's a really good one
to watch because the plan.

2653
02:31:50,256 --> 02:31:54,820
Commission is definitely pushing up
against the the walls of what we can do

2654
02:31:54,820 --> 02:31:59,805
within the confines of a of a zoning text
amendment from the Planning Commission's

2655
02:31:59,805 --> 02:32:00,406
viewpoint.

2656
02:32:00,526 --> 02:32:05,701
Point and and we're kind of exploring
with staff what some of the other needs

2657
02:32:05,701 --> 02:32:05,966
are.

2658
02:32:05,966 --> 02:32:10,686
I think that that we see is my my
impression of of what we talked about and.

2659
02:32:12,336 --> 02:32:16,710
I think I think this is one that you know,
we're going to have a lot of conversation

2660
02:32:16,710 --> 02:32:20,106
on to to get this one right.
And and it's probably my opinion is,

2661
02:32:20,106 --> 02:32:21,856
is it's probably going to require.

2662
02:32:23,296 --> 02:32:24,576
Additional things to.

2663
02:32:26,536 --> 02:32:30,616
To to really meet the needs of our of our
businesses and and our residents.

2664
02:32:31,006 --> 02:32:35,338
Related to water conservation and where
we are with with water allocation

2665
02:32:35,338 --> 02:32:39,142
capacity and new development and then so
that this one is, yeah,

2666
02:32:39,142 --> 02:32:43,825
it's going to take it's probably going to
take a little bit of time to get this

2667
02:32:43,825 --> 02:32:46,986
right but it's it's good conversations,
it's good it.

2668
02:32:46,976 --> 02:32:49,677
It's stuff that's really needed to be
talked about,

2669
02:32:49,677 --> 02:32:53,366
really proud of the Planning Commission
and the way that everyone was.

2670
02:32:53,516 --> 02:32:57,436
We we went through multiple rounds and
and and really kind of shaped.

2671
02:32:59,286 --> 02:33:02,886
You know a path forward and I I think as
a group we kind of felt good about the

2672
02:33:02,886 --> 02:33:06,126
work that that was done and still more
work to do on it and that's all.

2673
02:33:06,126 --> 02:33:07,886
Thank you, councillor McCormick.

2674
02:33:08,206 --> 02:33:09,086
Yes, thank you.

2675
02:33:10,886 --> 02:33:11,766
We have a big audience here.

2676
02:33:11,766 --> 02:33:15,410
So what I would ask is if you guys have
an opportunity to read the town manager's

2677
02:33:15,410 --> 02:33:18,744
operational reports in this agenda,
there's two things I just want to call

2678
02:33:18,744 --> 02:33:21,366
out and say thank you to Mr.
Stevens for during my report.

2679
02:33:21,916 --> 02:33:25,236
The first is obviously the water
conservation policy development plan.

2680
02:33:25,236 --> 02:33:28,332
Councilman Gutenberg just touched on it,
but the Planning Commission,

2681
02:33:28,332 --> 02:33:29,836
robust conversation, really great.

2682
02:33:29,876 --> 02:33:32,716
Glad that instructions been given down
that subcommittee's taking action.

2683
02:33:32,716 --> 02:33:34,854
I look forward to future conversations
there.

2684
02:33:34,854 --> 02:33:37,596
The 2nd is the facilities master plan
moving to phase two.

2685
02:33:37,596 --> 02:33:38,476
Thank you for that update.

2686
02:33:38,476 --> 02:33:40,196
That's something I'm personally
interested in.

2687
02:33:40,196 --> 02:33:43,850
I know the Council directed you to do so,
and I'm just very happy to see that we

2688
02:33:43,850 --> 02:33:46,556
continue to remain on schedule for a
January 27 completion.

2689
02:33:46,556 --> 02:33:48,196
So thank you very much for those updates.

2690
02:33:48,926 --> 02:33:49,446
The final thing.

2691
02:33:49,446 --> 02:33:51,446
Probably lost in a lot of the
conversation we had.

2692
02:33:51,836 --> 02:33:55,929
Tonight was that the town recognized our
prisoners of wars and those that are

2693
02:33:55,929 --> 02:33:56,716
missing action.

2694
02:33:56,956 --> 02:34:00,281
It's very important to remember those
that have made the ultimate sacrifice are

2695
02:34:00,281 --> 02:34:02,649
currently out there,
still fighting for our freedoms and

2696
02:34:02,649 --> 02:34:05,475
trying to find their way home,
and I'm really glad the Council took

2697
02:34:05,475 --> 02:34:07,636
action to go ahead and recognize that
proclamation.

2698
02:34:07,636 --> 02:34:11,169
I think that's huge and I really just
want to thank all five or all four of you

2699
02:34:11,169 --> 02:34:11,876
up here with me.

2700
02:34:11,876 --> 02:34:13,236
So thank you for doing that tonight.

2701
02:34:14,036 --> 02:34:15,796
Thank you, Councilman Sampson.

2702
02:34:15,836 --> 02:34:17,996
Nothing, Councilman Johnson. No report.
Thank you.

2703
02:34:18,116 --> 02:34:19,116
Alright, thank you.

2704
02:34:19,156 --> 02:34:24,793
And I do have a report. First of all,
I'd like everyone just to take a moment

2705
02:34:24,793 --> 02:34:25,516
on Friday.

2706
02:34:25,596 --> 02:34:29,876
It's 9/11 25 years ago our world's
changed so.

2707
02:34:31,366 --> 02:34:32,566
Just remember that but.

2708
02:34:34,206 --> 02:34:38,193
In accordance with section 3-3 of the
Town Council Rules of Procedure,

2709
02:34:38,193 --> 02:34:42,573
I would like this statement included in
the Minutes for the record and I will

2710
02:34:42,573 --> 02:34:45,044
provide the town clerk with a written
copy.

2711
02:34:45,044 --> 02:34:48,526
I want to thank everyone who reached out
to me over the past.

2712
02:34:48,646 --> 02:34:49,166
Few weeks.

2713
02:34:50,436 --> 02:34:56,634
From state elected officials to other
elected officials throughout Maryland,

2714
02:34:56,634 --> 02:35:02,349
to my friends, to my families,
to my residents, to the residents here,

2715
02:35:02,349 --> 02:35:03,476
your outreach.

2716
02:35:05,006 --> 02:35:05,886
Means the world to me.

2717
02:35:07,566 --> 02:35:11,772
Tonight's discussion should concern every
resident of Laplata,

2718
02:35:11,772 --> 02:35:16,446
regardless of how you have how anybody
feels about the current mayor.

2719
02:35:16,956 --> 02:35:19,911
Me,
the mayor and Council form of government

2720
02:35:19,911 --> 02:35:25,295
we are discussing did not begin with me
and it did not begin with this Council La

2721
02:35:25,295 --> 02:35:30,548
Plata change to a mayor and four council
member form of government in the 1960s

2722
02:35:30,548 --> 02:35:34,356
for more than six decades,
successive mayors and council.

2723
02:35:34,356 --> 02:35:38,439
Have governed under that basic structure
during that time.

2724
02:35:38,439 --> 02:35:43,144
There have undoubtedly been disagreements,
difficult personalities,

2725
02:35:43,144 --> 02:35:46,396
procedural mistakes and political
differences.

2726
02:35:46,996 --> 02:35:48,956
That is government.

2727
02:35:49,356 --> 02:35:54,550
The answer has not historically been to
restructure the powers of an elected

2728
02:35:54,550 --> 02:35:59,879
office because members of 1 Council are
dissatisfied with the person currently

2729
02:35:59,879 --> 02:36:00,756
occupying it.

2730
02:36:00,996 --> 02:36:04,050
Tonight I repeatedly asked for the
objective,

2731
02:36:04,050 --> 02:36:07,236
governmental failure that requires this
remedy.

2732
02:36:07,356 --> 02:36:10,076
I ask what town business has ultimately
failed.

2733
02:36:10,076 --> 02:36:12,356
I asked what measurable standard is being
applied.

2734
02:36:13,126 --> 02:36:15,566
I asked what actual harm to our residents.

2735
02:36:15,996 --> 02:36:20,338
Requires changing the Charter rather than
addressing procedural concerns through

2736
02:36:20,338 --> 02:36:21,356
our existing rules.

2737
02:36:21,876 --> 02:36:22,276
I asked.

2738
02:36:22,276 --> 02:36:26,356
Why powers unrelated to presiding over
meetings must be removed.

2739
02:36:26,636 --> 02:36:31,895
Those questions matter because changing
the Charter should be about the long term

2740
02:36:31,895 --> 02:36:35,935
governance of laplata,
not the relationships among five people

2741
02:36:35,935 --> 02:36:38,436
who happen to occupy these seats today.

2742
02:36:39,926 --> 02:36:44,648
This process also has a cost,
public hearings, legal reviews,

2743
02:36:44,648 --> 02:36:49,294
staff preparation,
required advertising and publications all

2744
02:36:49,294 --> 02:36:51,046
consume town resources.

2745
02:36:51,636 --> 02:36:57,038
Those resources belong to our residents.
If we are going to spend their money

2746
02:36:57,038 --> 02:37:02,232
changing the structure of government,
then we owe them something more than

2747
02:37:02,232 --> 02:37:03,756
personal disagreement.

2748
02:37:03,836 --> 02:37:09,527
We owe them a documented governmental
problem and a remedy proportion to that

2749
02:37:09,527 --> 02:37:12,956
problem.
The residents elected all five of us.

2750
02:37:13,156 --> 02:37:17,196
They did not elect us to spend our term
fighting one another.

2751
02:37:17,926 --> 02:37:21,046
They elected us to maintain their
infrastructure.

2752
02:37:21,596 --> 02:37:23,516
Protect their public safety.

2753
02:37:23,556 --> 02:37:26,516
Manage their tax dollars responsibly.

2754
02:37:26,636 --> 02:37:32,644
Support economic development,
plan for growth and make La Plata a

2755
02:37:32,644 --> 02:37:34,556
better place to live.

2756
02:37:34,956 --> 02:37:40,918
I cannot support using the town charter
as the instrument for resolving

2757
02:37:40,918 --> 02:37:47,210
disagreements with current office holders.
If a provision of our government

2758
02:37:47,210 --> 02:37:51,516
genuinely no longer works demonstrate
that failure.

2759
02:37:52,286 --> 02:37:56,366
Establish an objective,
standard considered alternatives.

2760
02:37:56,916 --> 02:38:01,737
Involve the public fully and then fix it
for the future,

2761
02:38:01,737 --> 02:38:07,911
but changing the powers of an elected
office during an incumbent's term,

2762
02:38:07,911 --> 02:38:14,423
while declining residence request for
additional time so others may comment,

2763
02:38:14,423 --> 02:38:19,836
sends exactly the wrong message about
whose government this is.

2764
02:38:20,356 --> 02:38:22,556
This is not our government.

2765
02:38:23,286 --> 02:38:26,086
It belongs to the residents of Laplata.

2766
02:38:26,856 --> 02:38:32,656
Our obligation is to serve them and with
this, this meeting is adjourned.