At its November 23 regular meeting, the Greenbelt City Council unanimously approved hiring the environmental law firm Jill Grant and Associates (JG&A) to assist in its review of environmental impact statements on projects such as the maglev train and the expansion of the Capital Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, approved a no-cost lease to re-establish a police substation in Beltway Plaza and approved a list of priorities to be discussed with the city’s state and county representatives.
Law Firm
Council has long sought to hire a law firm to assist in reviewing environmental impact statements where city staff has limited expertise but until now has received no interest in its inquiries to firms. Councilmember Rodney Roberts engaged in a lengthy search and found a firm that appears to fit the bill. According to their website, JG&A specializes in environmental, Indian and administrative law. Among other activities cited, they negotiate with the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior and other agencies and litigate cases on environmental issues.
The city will pay $120 (paralegal) to $350 (Jill Grant) per hour for the company’s work. It will also pay the firm’s out-of-pocket expenses on the case from postage to travel, meals and lodging when required. The firm’s attorneys are all members of the District of Columbia Bar. Grant qualifies for the Maryland Bar and will apply immediately upon execution of the agreement.
The firm will be looking at the entire maglev route in its work and Councilmember Judith Davis noted that this could make it easier to ask other groups to help fund the work.
This is not the only expense the city will likely incur in fighting these environmental battles. If JG&A determines that consultants or experts are needed, they will so advise the city. Roberts said that in his discussions with Grant, she said that the firm would make recommendations as to the experts required. The agreement does not limit the city’s ability to hire other firms, but Roberts noted that JG&A has firms and experts with whom they have a good working relationship. He said that the city needs to give some deference to their recommendations. City Solicitor Todd Pounds agreed, cautioning council that the city should not interfere with how the attorneys will handle the case. He said that they are the ones who should decide what firms to hire and doubted that the city would do anything to override what the experts are looking for to protect and represent the city.
Grant was planning to Zoom into the council meeting but when they got to this issue it was nearing midnight and she had already left the meeting due to commitments the next morning.
Police Substation
Council unanimously approved a no-cost lease to restore the police substation in Beltway Plaza. Unlike the previous arrangement, there will not be an officer assigned to Beltway Plaza. The officer assigned to Franklin Park will be the primary officer using the space, which could also be used for additional programming for residents of that apartment complex. The city will not be charged rent for the space.
Legislative Priorities
Council unanimously approved a set of legislative priorities to be discussed with the city’s state and county representatives, probably in late December or early January. The priorities are: Greenbelt Road streetscape improvements, Greenbelt Metro Station improvements, statewide police reform, opposition to the relocation of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility, blocking the maglev train routes through Greenbelt and Prince George’s County, opposition to a proposed state takeover and privatization of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, opposition to widening the Capital Beltway and coronavirus relief spending.
Council did not agree to include Mayor Colin Byrd’s request to add repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights and reform of the Maryland Public Information Act. Davis pointed out that council has not discussed these proposals.
Other Actions
Director of Planning and Community Development Terri Hruby introduced Holly Simmons to council as a new city planner. With Simmons’s hiring, the department is now fully staffed.