After its customary moment of silence to honor recently deceased Greenbelters, Greenbelt City Council began its November 18 meeting with a variety of petitions and requests.
JEDI Membership List
Resident Bill Orleans complained that he had received a copy of a memo sent to council by the city’s Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Action Team that was signed by the team as a whole without listing its members. Orleans said that a search produced no list of JEDI members and so asked that he be sent this information. He also wished to know if all or some members of the JEDI Action Team were in agreement with the memo. Resident Stephanie O’Brien, joining online, backed Orleans in stating that she had requested a list of members on the JEDI Action Team two weeks ago but had received no answer. City Manager Josué Salmerón said they were reviewing the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests and explained that city staff have 30 days to respond and will do so accordingly. O’Brien wanted to know why it took so long to get a list of names and why members of committees weren’t listed online. Councilmember Rodney Roberts supported Orleans and O’Brien, stating no one would give him the information either. Roberts said he had tried and failed so far to get documents from the city relating to being “put on trial” presumably at the next council meeting on December 9, for a complaint filed by the JEDI Action Team that Roberts had verbally abused staff at one or more previous council meetings. (See two articles in the November 7 News Review about this allegation.)
A member of the JEDI Team speaking with the News Review expressed trepidation about the call for their names to be released and fear of harassment.
Speaking with the News Review on Monday, November 25, Assistant City Manager Tim George said the city is still within the timeframe to respond to the MPIA requests they’ve received and are consulting with their lawyer about how best to proceed. They want to make sure they act in the best interests of their employees, said George.
New Van
Resident Michael Hartman asked if staff will consider an electric vehicle when purchasing the new van with 12 removable seats for $54,267 and if this van will accommodate wheelchairs and accessibility needs.
Salmerón explained that an electric vehicle was not an option in this case where its primary user will be Building Maintenance and the van will secondly serve as backup for Greenbelt Connection vehicles that come with a lift for passengers with special needs. The item was pulled from the consent agenda to allow for additional discussion.
Litter, Raises for Council
Resident Germaine Timmermans presented council with several requests, including, first, that city staff be sure it responds to phone calls either in person or to voicemails and, second, that increased littering be addressed, particularly the ramp from Route 193 to Route 201, suggesting a camera and fines. Timmermans also requested that bulbs she’s willing to donate be planted at a particular bus stop location and that council recognize Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month with a proclamation. Finally, Timmermans requested council consider giving its members a raise since they each earn currently about $12,000 per year and they fulfill many functions in representing the city. Based on inflation, Timmermans estimated that councilmembers should be paid $14,210 now but thought it fair that this figure be rounded up to $15,000. Mayor Emmett Jordan expressed thanks but reminded Timmermans she had exceeded her time allowance and it would be unjust to allow her to go on, particularly talking about a raise for council.