The Greenbelt City Council met in regular session on June 22. At the meeting, council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s Labor Code chapter on Personnel to establish the procedures governing collective bargaining and labor-management relations for designated city employees (certain eligible full-time and regular part-time non-exempt, non-managerial and non-confidential employees). This action continues the long process of first granting collective bargaining authority to the city’s Police Department employees a number of years ago, then, early this year, granting that authority to Public Works employees and, very recently, amending the city charter to expand collective bargaining authority to other groups of city employees, the basis for the proposed ordinance.
Proposed Ordinance
Here are some highlights of the proposed ordinance:
• Definition of collective bargaining units for the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, and General Non-Managerial Employees in other departments
• The process of appointing a Labor Commissioner from the American Arbitration Association for any specific matter that arises, and the commissioner’s responsibilities
• The rights of both employees and employer (the City of Greenbelt)
• Seven subjects for collective bargaining: wages, terms and conditions of employment, employee benefit plans, bonuses and gifts, jury duty, duration of the collective bargaining agreement and grievance procedures
• Definitions of unfair labor practices by the city and by an employee organization.
Other Discussions, Actions
Mayor Emmett Jordan issued two proclamations.
1) June 2026, as Small Cities Month in Greenbelt. According to the 2020 census, the city’s population was 24,921, well within the 50,000 maximum for designation as a small city/town.
2) June 22-28 as National Pollinator Week in the city. Jordan also noted that Greenbelt is a Bee City USA.
Public Works Contracts
Council authorized City Manager Josué Salmerón to approve two contracts.
1) A contract with VMP (the city’s prime contractor for all roadwork and major concrete efforts) to resurface Hanover Parkway from Ora Glen Drive to Green Crescent Court, the Co-op parking lot and crosswalks and, budget permitting, the parking lots and crosswalks at the Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center and the Municipal Building. The funds budgeted include up to $1 million for street resurfacing and $150,000 for miscellaneous concrete works.
2) A contract for $22,800 to Tri Star Contractor, Inc., for procuring and installing two HVAC split systems serving the CARES/Senior Mental Health Counselor offices, adjacent kitchenette and breakroom.
Greenbelt’s 90th
Jordan introduced a preliminary discussion of how to plan for the celebration of Greenbelt’s 90th anniversary in October 2027. Some of the many suggestions offered by Jordan and councilmembers included forming focus groups of representatives from various city organizations to generate ideas for the celebration, charging city committees to come up with ideas, developing a theme for the celebration such as Greenbelt’s evolution over the years as a diverse community or Greenbelt’s New Deal origins, coordinating with city businesses that may be planning their own celebrations and holding several events and activities leading up to the anniversary such as a 1930s costume and dance party. Salmerón was charged with forming a planning committee led by city staff to begin working with the community on plans for the celebration next year.
Reports and Activities
In a brief report of council’s recent attendance at the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML’s) annual convention, Councilmember Jenni Pompi noted that Jordan was appointed to MML’s board of directors as a member at large and was elected vice president of the Maryland Mayors Association. Jordan also announced that the MML honored former mayor
J Davis with its Lifetime Achievement Award for her tireless work on behalf of the City of Greenbelt and her many years of service to the MML.
Meetings
Finally, council discussed a lengthy schedule of meetings and worksessions and meetings with external county and state officials and organizations.
In keeping with its recently adopted standing rule to limit regular meetings to two hours, council completed its business in one hour and 59 minutes.