The City of Greenbelt should establish a 21-member commission to review, discuss and make recommendations related to local reparations for African American and Native American residents of Greenbelt. This was the referendum posed to the public, where 63 percent of Greenbelters voted yes, and the focus of the Greenbelt City Council’s worksession on Wednesday, March 9. Open to the public, it was held to discuss and answer questions about the creation of the Reparations Commission.
The meeting was more of a public hearing as opposed to a traditional format, where councilmembers and the public were educated about reparation commissions in other cities as well as a discussion of how Greenbelt might create its own commission.
There was a continued reminder throughout the worksession to discuss logistical and timeline matters for the creation of a commission rather than what the commission will report on.
Mayor Emmett Jordan started the meeting by introducing and welcoming the councilmembers present: Councilmembers Kristen Weaver, Judith Davis, Ric Gordon, Colin Byrd and Rodney Roberts. City Planner Molly Porter and Acting City Manager Timothy George were also present. Councilmember Silke Pope was not in attendance.
Porter began the council discussion by presenting research on four different cities, the reparations commissions they had in place and how they began. These cities included Evanston, Ill.; Asheville and Carrboro, N.C.; and Providence, R.I. The populations in these cities range from 21,295 to 190,934.
Byrd pointed out that there are other jurisdictions that have weighed in on the issue, for example Detroit. Both Detroit and Greenbelt, he said, recently passed referendums and have similar demographics.
Davis was also concerned about why the City of College Park was not included in the presentation, given its proximity and similarities to Greenbelt. “When staff was picking these, we focused mostly on reparations efforts that were citywide,” responded Porter. “College Park is more specifically addressing the Lakeland neighborhood.”
In addition to concern about population and demographic inconsistencies, the idea of a stipend or compensation for the commission’s efforts was brought into the discussion. “We’ve never paid a board or a committee in the past,” responded Roberts. He believes that once this issue comes out, the people who care about the community will take part willingly.
Budgetary concerns and timeline matters were discussed as well as whether or not the committee will be a short- or long-term project, and how much the city is willing to fit into the budget for this fiscal year as funding for the Reparations Commission.
Viewers offered opinions and asked questions during the meeting. Toward the middle of the discussion, Weaver read the questions and comments, answering to the best of her ability while allowing considerations for those voiced opinions. Religious, budgetary and demographic considerations were all commented on by the public.
Councilmembers agreed that looking into the history of issues faced by African Americans and Native Americans in Greenbelt is the first step for the commission; however, since Congress sold Greenbelt in 1952, the question was posed for how far back the commission should research and whether inclusion of incidents before 1952 should be included.
Near the end of the worksession, Davis proposed, once the commission and selection of members is approved, that it begin work by July as it is the beginning of the fiscal year, when “the resources and marching orders will be there.” Davis also proposed that selection be through a group interview for greater acceptance by all councilmembers.
Byrd also voiced his opinion on the selection process, saying, “If people serve on a board now, they should be allowed to serve on this if … selected and appointed by the council.”
Gordon concurred that both ideas from Davis and Byrd in the selecting process were good and that a merge between the two may be possible.
Jordan concluded the worksession by stating that the topic cannot be convened here and should be put on the agenda for a later session in order for the people hoping to join this commission to come together and come back to council to refine exactly what will be their focus.
“I don’t think this is a situation where council should be making all the decisions, I think this should be an inclusive process where everybody has a voice,” Jordan said.
Jordan and Davis also thanked Porter for her exemplary efforts in researching and presenting the reparations information she gathered on a topic not easy to discuss.
A time for comments and questions was also given in the final minutes of the meeting as well as a brief overview of other informational items including the Covid state-of-emergency.