The three finalists for Greenbelt’s open city manager position met with residents at the Municipal Building last Thursday evening. Cohesion across Greenbelt’s diverse communities, budgeting and a recent charter amendment allowing city council to waive the residency requirement for city manager pervaded discussions, as residents talked with finalists in small groups.
College Park Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner and Yellow Springs, Ohio, Village Manager Josue Salmeron joined Tim George, Greenbelt’s interim city manager since December 2021, as the three finalists.
Residency
While none of the finalists live in Greenbelt, Gardiner and Salmeron said they intend to move to Greenbelt if appointed. George, who owns a home in Crownsville, said, “I am fully committed to the city and staff and residents.”
Priorities
Salmeron listed housing, social equity and stormwater infrastructure as Greenbelt’s most pressing issues. Gardiner said he would partner with the Greenbelt City Council to write a work plan strengthening council rules and procedures. George stressed the need to allocate Greenbelt’s unused American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, attract talented staff to fill city vacancies and provide more space for Greenbelt CARES and the Springhill Lake Recreation Center.
Addressing Inequality
Gardiner said that while major highways like the Beltway “make it really difficult to knit the communities together,” cities should “make sure that resident engagement and city services in all the districts are comparable.”
Gardiner also underscored the need for cities to promote environmentally friendly development, such as bike paths and energy efficient buildings. “Cities can do a lot and should do a lot to lower greenhouse gases,” Gardiner said.
To address social inequity, Salmeron emphasized service delivery to those most vulnerable. He resisted closing Yellow Springs’s pool early in the Covid-19 pandemic against public sentiment and at a financial cost, he said, because low-income children relied on it for recreation and working parents needed it as childcare.
“We have to approach all of our work through an equity lens,” Salmeron said. “Who are the people affected who need the assistance that we are designed to provide?”
Connectivity
George highlighted transportation as a way to increase connectivity between Greenbelt’s communities, saying the city is looking into purchasing a second vehicle to expand the Greenbelt Connection bus service.
“Transportation should never be the reason why youth can’t do something, or senior citizens or anyone else,” George said. “That’s a solvable problem.”
Space Expansion
George voiced his commitment to expanding spaces for organizations that serve Greenbelt residents. He described Springhill Lake Recreation Center as “too small to meet the needs of the community,” especially since the opening of the Motiva apartment complex in Greenbelt West.
Infrastructure
George cautioned that developing city infrastructure and services should not unduly burden taxpayers or grow a large deficit, suggesting earmarks or grants as funding sources. Of the $22.9 million in ARPA funding made available to Greenbelt, he said, over $2 million remain uncommitted and must be allocated by December 31, 2024.
Salmeron said that addressing infrastructure problems early can save money in the long run.
“Not addressing some of these stormwater issues ends up costing more,” Salmeron said. “What are the things that we can do to reduce our costs long-term?”
Local Roots
Each finalist has a connection to the Washington area. Gardiner served two terms as the mayor of Hyattsville, where he and his family currently live. Salmeron, whose mother fled El Salvador during the Salvadoran civil war, grew up in Columbia Heights.
Council met in closed session on Friday to take stock of resident feedback and discuss the candidates. City Clerk Bonita Anderson said staff were not involved in Friday’s meeting and as of Monday they did not believe any offer had yet been made. Mayor Emmett Jordan confirmed that council met in executive session on Friday evening but on Monday they didn’t have any further information to share about the selection or timeline.