Budget 2022: Council Nears Agreement On Budget but Issues Remain
It was not always pretty but the Greenbelt City Council appeared to be nearing a consensus on how to balance the Fiscal Year 2022 budget at the second final budget worksession on May 26. It appears that a proposal by Councilmember Judith Davis will be the basis for approval, although her colleagues may make additional […]
With Three Weeks to Go, Budget Is Still Up in Air
In recent years, the Greenbelt City Council has worked out its desired changes to the city manager’s proposed budget at a final budget worksession in advance of the second public hearing on the budget so that citizens are not surprised by what is presented for adoption and have an opportunity to comment before passage. That […]
Public Works Tackled Covid; Looks Forward to Future
The Public Works Department has a wide-ranging set of responsibilities, including maintaining the city’s roads, buildings and vehicles; implementing environmental improvements and sustainability practices; maintaining and beautifying the city’s green spaces and outdoor recreational facilities; waste collection, and snow and ice removal, among many others. Department staff and the Greenbelt City Council met on April […]
Byrd Proposes a Commission To Consider City Reparations
Two items not discussed at the April 12 regular city council meeting could prove lively topics at the next (or a future) council meeting. These include a resolution to study and develop reparations for Black residents and an advisory report on a proposed development on Greenbelt Road. In other actions, council declined to support federal […]
Council Censures Byrd’s Use Of FEMA Event as a Soapbox
Mayor Colin Byrd was censured for his remarks at the April 7 press conference marking the opening of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mass vaccination site at Greenbelt Metro Station. In an item added to the agenda at the meeting, Councilmember Emmett Jordan moved “to formally censure Mayor Byrd for his behavior during the […]
City Revenues Weather Covid-19 Year Better than Expected
The City of Greenbelt revenues survived the coronavirus-related shutdowns and capacity limits surprisingly well in the current fiscal year (FY21) and are projected to rebound slightly in the fiscal year beginning July (FY22). The adopted budget for FY21 anticipated $29.623 million and staff estimate that revenues are now at $29.599 million, down $1.2 million from […]
El concejo discute los cambios propuestos en las elecciones y la moratoria de ejecución hipotecaria
Gran parte de la agenda en la reunión del 8 de marzo del Concejo Municipal de Greenbelt involucró temas agregados por el alcalde Colin Byrd que no habían sido discutidos previamente con sus colegas del Concejo ni revisados por el personal de la ciudad. Estos incluyeron cambios en el procedimiento para llenar las vacantes del […]
Council Discusses Proposed Changes To Elections, Foreclosure Moratorium
Much of the agenda at the March 8 meeting of the Greenbelt City Council involved items added by Mayor Colin Byrd that had not been previously discussed with his council colleagues or reviewed by city staff. These included changes to the procedure for filling council vacancies, term limits for council, a foreclosure moratorium, collective bargaining […]
City Budget Still in the Black But Fiscal Uncertainties Remain
Greenbelt is in excellent financial condition and its revenue stream is sound, City Treasurer Bertha Gaymon told the Greenbelt City Council at a December 28 work session. Her written report and related budget table are available on the city’s website as part of the agenda packet for the meeting. Revenues Gaymon calculated that real estate […]
Council Hires Experienced Law Firm to Fight Maglev
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 […]