Ward 2 Report
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S
AND BEST WISHES FOR A PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY 2004!
Greetings! Here’s hoping that everyone enjoyed the holiday season…Advent. Christmas, and Epiphany; Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the holidays in general.
The Mayor and Council did not meet for most of the month of
December. However, the City was in good
hands, and business was conducted. In
addition, the Mayor and Council is considering holding one public session each
month for a few months so that time can be spent working in work sessions to
try to resolve some of the many issues that seem to never get discussed and
resolved. Work sessions are open to the
public, and you are invited to attend them.
1. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Ward 2 has a new Councilmember, Mr. Pedro Briones! Thank you to all of you that took the time to go to the polls on December 8 to vote. Approximately 221 citizens voted with Mr. Briones receiving more than 170 votes. Mr. Graham received approximately 45 votes. Mr. Briones has been sworn in, and is ready and available to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact him at City Hall 301-985-6585; email -- Pedroeb@aol.com; or call 301/277-1833.
2.
The Community
Tool Shed Committee will be meeting on Thursday, January 8 at
(NOTE: The tool shed concept has been received with
enthusiasm from a large segment of the community, and I am thrilled. In addition, other ideas have been tossed out
about having the tool shed at the City’s
3. TRASH – This remains a major concern and problem in Ward 2. Bulk Trash is being left on the streets for weeks because neighbors are putting out their trash without notifying Public Works, putting it out on the wrong days, and in general not checking the “Message” for scheduled trash pick up days. We can thrash our Public Works employees for not doing their jobs, but many of us are contributing to the trash situation in the City. PLEASE check the “Message” for trash pickup schedule! From now until March, yard waste picked up by appointments only and is done on second Monday of each months (December, January and February). For bulk trash and yard waste pickups PLEASE call 301-985-6558. Special pickups can be scheduled, but are an additional cost to the caller.
4.
The City audit
continues to be a top priority. The temporary
bookkeeper, Valerie Prittle, has been working very diligently to get our audit
back on track, clean up some bookkeeping issues, establish some accounting
procedures, and in general get our financial records in order.
Bridgett Mock and Associates will be back at City Hall around the middle of January to complete their field work for doing our audit. They have not been working on our audit since the resignation of Mr. James Goosby (the interim City Treasurer following Mr. Lee’s resignation).
The Mayor and Council has also been in dialogue with the Attorney General’s office regarding the City’s audit and financial situation since Mr. Goosby was indicted for work performed when he worked for the Washington’s Teachers Union. The Mayor and Council has promised to provide a copy of the final audit to that office once it is completed or if there are indications of malfeasance found by the auditors. I will keep you posted on this as the audit moves forward.
In addition, the City has requested an extension date for the completion of the audit because of the delay that has occurred, and the need to make sure that our audit numbers have integrity.
Finally, the City made a job offer to Karl Muhammad for the position of Director of Finance. On December 5, Mr. Muhammad accepted and signed the contract with the City for the position. He was to begin work with the City today. Unfortunately, he notified the City Manager today that he was staying with his current employer. The City Manager has assured me that audit will move forward while we reopen our search for this position. Know any good CPA? Tell them about our current opening at City Hall for a Director of Finance.
5.
The Tree
Commission members are
6.
The Mount
Rainier Business Association hosted its Quarterly meeting at the Mount
Rainier Police Department. It was well
attended, and the refreshments were in keeping with the holiday season. President Solomon invited the businesses to
get involved, and help make MRBA an active voice in the City. Note:
Bobby Dicken was unable to attend because he received notice that his
Mother was critically ill the day of the affair. The next meeting of the MRBA is
The Mount Rainier Business Association continues to seek a part-time employee to serve as its Executive Director and to handle its affairs which are minimal, but necessary. If interested, please contact Larry Solomon at 301-927-0013.
7. Attended the Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA’s) monthly
meeting on December 18 in the Town of
The statewide essay contest is for 4th graders—“If I Were
Mayor, I Would…” —lets you tell others about the changes you might make to the
budget because the city will not have as much money to spend next year.
One winning essay will be selected from each of the
Maryland Municipal League’s 11 regional districts throughout the state. Each
winner will receive a $250 savings bond and an award plaque. Additionally, MML
will select two winners at random (one from participating students and one from
participating teachers) from each district to receive $25 Barnes and Noble gift
cards.
The 11 winners, along with their parents and a teacher,
will also be recognized at the statewide Municipal Government Week event in
April.
The Maryland Municipal League (MML) and the Maryland
Mayors’ Association (MMA) invite 4th grade students throughout Maryland to
participate in a statewide essay contest: “If I Were Mayor, I Would...” The
contest gives students a chance to creatively use cognitive and grade-specific
language arts skills and civics/social studies knowledge.
Contest Problem: Your city provides citizens with a
variety of services that include a 3-person police force, twice-a-week trash
collection, snow and leaf removal, and street, sidewalk and park maintenance.
In addition, the city pays for the cost of the annual Festival at the Park.
Next year your city government will not be receiving as
much money as it had in the past to help pay for citizen services. You will have to reduce or get rid of some
services or raise the city property tax (the money collected from property
owners in the city to pay for services) to keep the same amount of services you
have now.
What would you do if you were the mayor?
Would you reduce the city’s services? Which ones?
Would you eliminate (get rid of) some city services?
Which ones?
Or would you reduce some services and raise taxes a
little?
How could you use community fundraisers to help in some
way?
How could you use computers and other new technology to
help provide services to citizens?
Contest Rules: The
contest is open to all
Essays must address the subject with the opening line
beginning: “If I Were Mayor, I Would...”
Essays may not exceed 275 words. Only one essay may be submitted per
student. Essays will be judged by
contest sponsors in the following areas:
demonstrated creative ways to provide services to citizens; displayed
knowledge about the role of a mayor; legibility; and proper use of grammar.
Students must include their first and last names, school
and teacher’s name at the top of their essays.
Essays must be received no later than
Mail all entries
to:
Teachers may submit any number of
entries using one form. To increase your chances of winning, use the Mayors’
Contest Study Guide that can be downloaded from MML’s website, www.mdmunicipal.org. Questions? Call MML at 800/492-7121
Applicant
must be accepted to or currently enrolled in an accredited college or
university in an undergraduate degree program intended to prepare students for
a career
in governmental or public service. Applicant
must have good scholastic standing, i.e., at least a 2.0 GPA.
Applicant
must be a resident of one of the following Prince George's County municipalities:
Berwyn Heights, Bladensburg, Bowie, Brentwood, Capitol Heights,
Cheverly, College Park, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, District Heights, Eagle
Harbor, Edmonston, Fairmont Heights, Forest Heights, Glenarden, Greenbelt,
Hyattsville, Landover Hills, Laurel, Morningside, Mount Rainier, New
Carrollton, North Brentwood, Riverdale Park, Seat Pleasant, University Park,
and Upper Marlboro.
9
Special
thank yous and kudos to everyone who participated in the last minute preparations
of the
10
Did you
notice that the Dreaded Roundabout was deck out for the holiday
season? It certainly was attractive, and
the deer added special effects to the entire scene. This work was done by our Public Works
Department under the directions of Bonnie Abigail and Theresa Nemil who took
the lead on making this a reality.
Thanks for all of the hard work!
11
Commercial trash pick up continues to be one of the hottest topics on
the Mayor and Council’s agenda. Over the
past few years, the collection and tipping fees associated with commercial
trash has been a major drain on the City’s finances. Many of the merchants were not billed or did
not pay for the trash collection even though the fees were “extremely”
low. The result of this has been that
residents have carried the burden of supporting the commercial district’s trash
removal, and the City has lost revenues.
With the City’s finances bleeding red, the Mayor and Council are taking
steps to eliminate the commercial trash pickup which has been done twice a year
for the past several years. In addition,
the City is making every effort to collect back fees for trash that was picked
up for several merchants who have not paid the City for this service.
12
The Mount Rainier Police Department -- Officers Kenworthy, Perkins, and
Hosinski played Santa at
Officers from the Mount Rainier
Police Department were recognized December 17 for superior performance during
2003 at the Departments annual awards program. Among those being recognized
were Sergeant James E. Stoots who was awarded “Officer of the Year” for the
second consecutive year. Stoots is being recognized “as the officer who made
the most difference and had the most significant impact on our community,”
according to Fred Keeney, Chief of Police. Among Sergeant Stoots
accomplishments were his untiring efforts to solve crimes in the City. Stoots
developed information that led to the arrest of subjects wanted in robberies,
burglaries and setting up suspected drug houses.
POFC John
P. Hosinski who received the “Chief’s Award” for superior performance in
enforcement. POFC Hosinski made more than 50 arrests through November of this
year.
POFC
Victor E. Kenworthy received two awards one for “Team Policing” and another for
“Rookie of the Year.”
Ms. Rima
Sifri received a Chief’s Award as “Civilian Employee of the Year.” All of the award recipients were voted on by
their peers and selected by the Chief of Police.
13.
Our
Police Department is working diligently to reduce crime in our City, but
they need your help. If you witness
criminal or suspicious activity, PLEASE report it immediately. You do not have to give your name, but
provide as much information as you can.
In addition, if it is an emergency situation, DO NOT DIAL 911.
Instead, DIAL 301-985-6565 or 301-985-6566. For non-emergencies dial 301-985-6580.
14.
Congratulations on 100 years of service! On
15.
In the past few weeks, numerous persons were
robbed in their homes. I don’t know if the
robberies were preventable, but I know many
crimes can be prevented if we:
Trust our instincts.
Avoid dangerous Situations. Don't
invite trouble. Use your best judgment about where you go and what you do.
SAFETY ON THE STREETS
SAFETY IN YOUR CAR
BE ALERT - BE AWARE - BE INVOLVED!
For more information
on any item in this report, please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-699-1378
ward2@malindamiles.com and/or check out the following web sites for
specific information on some items:
Historic
Mount Rainier Maryland --- http://www.mountrainiermd.org
Mount Rainier Police Department -- http://www.mountrainiermd.org/government/mrpd/index.html
Bunker Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company --- http://www.mrvfd.org