At its May 11 meeting the Greenbelt City Council held its second public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget, introduced legislation authorizing expanded collective bargaining for city employees and heard reports on stop sign enforcement, ranked choice voting and an update on crime in the county from the state’s attorney.
Budget
Council held its second public hearing on the proposed FY 2027 budget, which begins on July 1. Council is expected to adopt the budget at its Tuesday, May 26 meeting.
Resident Fred Gasper called for improvements to Hanover Parkway for pedestrian safety and better travel. City Manager Josué Salmerón referred him to page 277 of the budget document, which provides funding for improvements along Hanover Parkway from Ora Glen to Good Luck Road.
Gasper also called on the city to release information about how to use the newly improved Schrom Hills Park practice field.
Resident Michael Hartman called for dedicating funds each year in a separate account for sidewalk improvements to work toward having a continuous, safe sidewalk system, over multiple years.
Resident and former councilmember Konrad Herling called for improved transportation between Greenbelt West and the core so that youth can access recreation facilities, such as Braden Field.
Legislation
Council unanimously adopted legislation to establish a restricted matching grant fund to provide sustainable funding for grants that require the city to match some or all of the funds received.
Council introduced for first reading a charter amendment resolution to authorize the city to engage in collective bargaining with non-exempt, non-managerial and non-confidential city employees. By state law, there will be no further action on this item for 21 days after which there will be a public hearing and the resolution may be considered for adoption.
Stop Signs
Salmerón reported that motorists had rolled up more than 400 infractions on the first day of stop sign camera enforcement. As of May 11, 2,788 citations had been issued. Resident Lois Rosado objected to the number of speed and stop sign cameras in Greenbelt West, viewing it as a form of harassment. Salmerón explained that state law limits stop sign and speed cameras to within one-half mile of a school. Greenbelt West has three schools, more than any other area of the city.
Councilmember Silke Pope confessed to having received a ticket but protested that she did stop. Salmerón said that a human being reviews the videos. He mentioned that motorists should mind the painted street stop bars, but Pope noted that in some spots it is not possible to see cross traffic from behind the stop bar.
State’s Attorney
Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson gave a presentation on crime in the county. Jackson, while acknowledging the three murders last year in Greenbelt, stated that homicide is down in the county. Homicides dropped 40 percent in 2025 and are down 33 percent this year. Carjackings are also down. Assaults and domestic violence, however, are rising.
Of major concern is violent crime, especially repeat gun offenders. She wants to focus on reducing the number of guns carried in the community. Her office is seeing what she called “impulse crimes,” where someone is carrying a weapon, with no intent to use it, then gets into an argument. This year, her office put forward legislation to permit the enhanced penalty for repeat gun offenders to be applied to those with weapons convictions from other states or the District of Columbia, rather than just to those with convictions in Maryland. This legislation, however, did not pass.
Other areas of crime her office is focusing on include a “truancy initiative” where they work with the county schools; a program for first-time nonviolent offenders who successfully complete the requirements to have no criminal record; and business crime such as retail theft and financial scams, which can cause companies to leave the county.
A recent accomplishment was the development of a Crime Data Dashboard, released two months ago, showing the disposition rates for various crimes in 2025.
In the three fatal shootings in Greenbelt, those charged with the shooting of 14-year-old Carltin Bayong are scheduled for trial on September 20. In addition, three persons have been charged with the murder of Mancel Johnson. Jackson had no trial date for these defendants. No one has been charged with the murder of Juan Gonzalez.
Other Actions by Council
- Accepted a report from the Board of Elections which expects to complete work drafting the legislation needed to implement ranked choice voting for the next election by July 31
- Accepted a report from the Arts Advisory Board recommending the Greenbelt Photography Group and the New Deal Café be granted recognition group status, which makes them eligible for rent-free meeting space and to make future requests for funding
- Authorized the city manager to contract with Dewberry and Davis to provide engineering and design services for the WMATA trail at a cost not to exceed $150,000
- Heard Sandi Dutton and Rusty Beeg describe the American Legion Post 136’s Memorial Day Poppy drive with the councilmembers purchasing poppies on the spot
- Adopted a strategic planning framework identifying policy commitments or actions not currently captured in the framework’s seven strategic pillars.
Mayor Emmett Jordan presented proclamations honoring Jewish American Heritage Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and noted that it was National Law Enforcement Week.
