Ward 2 Report

Malinda Miles

October 19, 2004

Greetings and salutations. It has been several months since I submitted a report to you regarding activities going on in Ward 2 and Mount Rainier. I will not offer a series of explanations for this failure, but listed below are some of the programs and activities that have taken place and/or are underway within the City

1. Mayor and Council Liaison Assignments – At its last meeting, the Mayor and Council made the following liaison assignments:

Assigned Council Member	Alternate Council Member	Organization/Committee	Brief Organizational Description
Bryan Knedler		Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Bryan Knedler	Malinda Miles	Personnel Review Committee	Oversee and ensure proper implementation of City’s personnel policies and procedures and Union Contract
Pedro Briones		Mt. Rainier Day Committee MRDC	Responsible for annual City celebration preparations and implementation
Carol Gandee	Intisar Haamid	Senior Emergency Preparedness Commission	Responsible for preparation and implementation of City’s emergency plan for elderly and disable residents
Carol Gandee		Anacostia Trails Historical Association (ATHA)
Intisar Haamid		Mixed Use Design Review Board (MTUDR)	Makes recommendations about renovations and construction in the mixed town use center
Malinda Miles	Pedro Briones	PGCMA	Elected Municipal Officials working together to strengthen their roles as municipal leaders
Malinda Miles		Cable Commission (CC)	Responsible for oversight of City’s Cable operation and use
Malinda Miles		Tool Shed (TS)	Community Tool Shed loans, tracks, and replaces tools to community residents
Malinda Miles		Mount Rainier Business Association (MRBA)	Mount Rainier businessmen organization who’s purpose is to help improve City businesses
Malinda Miles	Bryan Knedler	Tree Commission (TC)	Responsible for Trees on public property within the City
		Mount Rainier’s Parent Group	Group working with young parents within the City

2. Mount Rainier Business Association – The Mount Rainier Business Association did not meet this month for lack of attendees. Meetings of the MRBA are held at 8:00am on the second Wednesday of each month at the Mount Rainier Police Department. Quarterly meetings are held at 6:00pm at the same location the third month of each quarter. Meetings are open to all Mount Rainier Businesses.

3. Tool Shed – The Tool Shed officially opened on Saturday, October 16. In addition, the new Tool Shed Committee has been appointed and the new chairperson is Peter McGahey. Other members of the Committee are Therese Nemil -- November 20, 2004, 10:00am has been tentatively set for the official ribbon cutting ceremony at 3601 Bunker Hill Road, Community Tool Shed.

4. PGCMA – Prince George’s County Municipal Association met in Laurel Maryland and announced that the I-Net is almost ready for use by the municipalities.

5. Maryland Municipal League – The Maryland Municipal Leagues meets annually in Ocean City and is a place where your Mayor and Council gets to meet, network, and learn from other municipal leaders as well as become more familiar with other elected officials; learn more about their duties and responsibilities; collect information on the newest technologies and services available to municipalities; and receive training that helps them to better represent the City of Mount Rainier. Recently Carol Gandee was appointed to the planning committee of the MML and I was appointed to work with communications committee. One of my duties and responsibilities on the communications’ committee is to work with the “If I was Mayor Contest” again this year. Last year, the two elementary schools in Mount Rainier helped to increase the number of 4^th graders participating in MML’s efforts to help students become familiar with local government. Please encourage your child’s elementary school to become active participants in this year’s “If I was Mayor Essay Contest.”

6. Sobriety Testing Pilot – Recently the Mayor and Council introduced and approved Mount Rainier’s Police department’s participation in the five-town random sobriety testing program that was primarily honchoed by Delegate Doyle Niemann. This program is funded by a grant that allows Mount Rainier Police to work with Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Laurel and to conduct random sobriety tests. To date at least three random checks have been conducted and were highly successful and have resulted in some arrest of felons, confiscation of drugs, and other criminals.

7. Same Sex Marriages – This was a very hot issue during the past few months. It has not entirely gone away, but it is no longer on the Mayor and Council’s agenda for action. It had been recommended that the Mayor and Council conduct programs and activities that would help residents be more sensitive to the issues, and more tolerant of this segment of our community that is often discriminated against with regard to their civil rights, i.e., health care, visitation rights with their partners when one is hospitalized, and other issues that heterosexuals take for grant. In an effort of fairness, and my honest belief that ALL people should be treated fairly and equitably, I recommended further discussions and dialogue on these issues. Many of the residents in Ward 2 responded to my request for input on this issue and they gave me a very mixed reaction.

The resolution on same sex marriages was drafted and introduced by Councilmember Briones. Many residents felt that this was a State matter and should not be on the Mayor and Council’s agenda; that there were more pressing matters that should be dealt with by the Mayor and Council; that even though it was introduced as being symbolic and supportive of a pending filing by other litigants it appeared that the Mayor and Council was trying to sneak it by residents. There were also residents on the other side of the issue that fully supported the resolution and felt that it was very progressive for the Mayor and Council to even consider such legislation; they were also concerned about the hostile attitudes and opinions held by some of their neighbors.

Long and short, the City has a growing gay and lesbian community that is active and contributing to the growth and development of Mount Rainier. As a community, we need to find positive ways so that we can continue to include and involve all segments of our community; where no one feels afraid or threatened because of their differences. Regardless of the amount, all of us contribute to the bottom line of our community. We pay taxes. We hold jobs. We raise families. We live next door. We want a safe community. We want our children to get a good/quality education. We want to feel safe in our homes. We cherish our privacy. We do not want any one peeping into our private lives, and we do not want to peep into theirs. It is part of our freedom, and is the reason most often given for why people do not run for public office in the City. They do not want the public scrutiny that goes with public service – not because they have something to hide – but because their private lives are just that – PRIVATE.

8. Dog/Canine Ordinance – Another hot topic brewing over the past few months. This one is still out, but I have gotten a lot a responses to my recent email regarding the repeal of the City’s Ordinance that govern the number of dogs that any resident can keep in the City without being a breeder or kennel. Please come out and voice your opinion. The issue is whether the City should repeal its ordinance in favor of County codes. Currently the City limits the number of dogs to two (2). County code allows a resident to own up to ten (10) dogs. I drafted an ordinance that would repeal the City’s code and place a $25 annual fee on all dog owners. The intent of the fee is to help defray cost of code enforcement, and to serve as a deterrent to residents owning more than one or two dogs. I have received numerous emails – most supporting the retention of the City Ordinance – from residents stating their opinions and raising some very good questions about the Mayor and Council’s position on this matter. There will be a public hearing on this issue October 26.

9. Council Rules – The Mayor and Council has recently found itself revisiting the Council rules. Since September 2004, the Mayor and Council have been addressing a personnel matter that resulted in a full criminal trial involving one of the City’s employees. The end results of the trial resulted in the employee being exonerated; however, it has caused numerous accusations to be hurdled back and forth between some Council members. Councilmember Briones has proposed a resolution that can be seen as accusatory in some respects of Councilmembers in Ward 1. Because of the wording of the resolution, I have refused to support the resolution as presented. However, I have reworded the document and submitted it to members of the Council for consideration. The document I am submitting would become part of the adopted Mayor and Council rules and will require any member of the Mayor and Council to notify other members of the Mayor and Council when they are subpoenaed or required to appear before any lawfully composed judiciary body for the purpose of giving testimony or acting in an official capacity on behalf of the City.

10. Personnel Manual – After many years, the City has a working Personnel Manual for its employees. This document has been in the works for many years. It puts into place specific policies for City employees, and will help city management to better manage its staff. A copy of the personnel manual may be reviewed at City Hall.

11. Salary Schedule – A new salary schedule has been developed and implemented to make salaries within the City more equitable. In addition to the new salary schedule, the Mayor and Council decided to NOT approve merit increases and to make the new salary schedule and the new Police Union Contract effective November 1. This represents a major saving for the City, and better meets the needs of the City in its efforts to ensure fair and equitable payment to all employees.

12. Police Union Contract – The Police Union Contract has been negotiated and approved by the Mayor and Council and has improvements that will work well with the City’s forward movement. The Police Union Contract is a public document and may be reviewed by residents. Should you wish to review the document, please contact Jeannelle Wallace.

13. Cora B. Woods Senior Health Center – Located in Brentwood Maryland is little known treasure – the Cora B. Woods Senior Health Center -- that is available for the seniors in our community. The Center provides a full range of health care (including free transportation to the Center for many of the services) and works with persons with and without health care insurance. It can also be used as the primary health care physician for most insurance plans. In addition to health care, the Center offers daily exercise programs including low impact aerobics, line dancing, planned field trips (trips that cost a very nominal fee), and a host of other programs. Seniors may also get a free lunch daily at the Center. For families responsible for elder care for a loved one should also contact the center’s assisted care center that provides a full range of services including daily meals, door-to-door pick up and return services, and other programs to allow family members to work and/or take a break from being the only one responsible for the care of their loved one.

14. Upcoming City Elections – on the first Monday in May 2005, the City will be holding its election. There will be one Councilmember vacancy in each Ward. Citizens are urged to consider running for these positions. This is an opportunity to get involved and make a difference in your community. (Note: An Election Procedures Manual is currently being developed to help citizens better participate in the process and to help the City’s Board of Election do a better job in running our election process. The new handbook should be available within the next two or three months depending on how fast the Mayor and Council can review and approve the manual for distribution.)

15. City Audit (Year 2003) – Thursday, September 16, 2004, Mr. Manjani drove to our auditor’s office the last batch of documents for Audit Fiscal Year 2003.  Our auditor, Ms. Diane Mock and Mr. Manjani reviewed item in the Trial Balance for FY 2003.  Both were in agreement that all the work necessary for the audit process from the City was end except for one last minute minor detail.  Ms. Mock expects to give the City a draft in the very near future. With the hiring of Mr. Vijay Manjani, many of the problems and issues that have caused the delay of the audit over the past several years have been completely cleared up, and should not stand in the way of this year’s audit.

17. City Audit (future) – Because of the work of Mr. Manjani, future audits of the City should be completed in a more timely-manner. Stronger Internal Controls have been put into place; changes in way records are maintained in the Finance Department including all employees’ payroll folders, and vendors’ folders have been placed in a cabinet with a secure lock.  Expenditures and revenue are well documented with proper paper trails. We are in better position to conduct the 2004 audit, but will not start on it until the draft audit report for 2003 has been issued. However, the City is not quire out of the woods, but we are in much better financial conditions with regard to our records.

18. Financial Condition of the City -- It appears at this point that the City is in the “BLACK” for FY 2003.  How much, I don’t know, but will keep you apprised of the situation when I get a copy of the draft audit report.

a) Business Personal Property Tax -- During the second week of June 2004, the Treasury department took on the challenge of recovering outstanding business personal property taxes for FY 2003 & FY 2004.  The Bills were issued at the end of the second week of June 2004.  Before mailing the bills out, we made sure that every payment received until then was credited to the appropriate account.  Mr. Manjani had a very tedious job to going back into the old receipt books dated as far back as July 1, 2002.  Each receipt was carefully examined and a payment report was generated. 

The City collected $27, 403.47 (Twenty-seven thousand four hundred three dollars and forty three cents) in outstanding taxes in the two and half month period ending August 31, 2004.  Even though this money was not more than a fraction of our total budget, it did help us a lot.  It was very much welcomed especially when the city was experiencing a serious cash flow problem.

Business personal property tax bills for FY 2005 have already been sent out.  The City has already collected more than $7,000 in FY 2005 taxes during September 1, 2004 through September 15, 2004. 

b) Vendors Invoices -- The City has experienced a very serious cash flow problem since April 2004.  We practically stopped making payments to our Vendors.  However, they worked with the City’s staff recently received full payment for their services.

c) Staff Payroll -- The news of the City facing serious cash flow problems bought anxiety and worry to some of the employees.  The City Manager, the Assistant City Manager and I took every opportunity to communicate with the employees and assure them that there would be no problem as far as payroll was concerned.  The City Manager was very cautious and had to opt for some tougher measures.  We at City Hall made sure that we had at least two payroll amounts in reserve at all times.  I took this challenge very personally and did whatever it took to achieve our goal.  I monitored the incoming and outgoing of funds very closely and kept the City Manager informed about the situation at all times.  We do not have electronic access to our bank accounts.   I was practically in the bank twice-thrice a week.  For the record, I want to declare that we have enough funds in the bank to meet the payroll.

 On or about October 8, the City received the big money that we were expecting, and it was approximately "One Million dollars".

d) Vendors bills -- Bills were paid in two stages -- the first stage paid invoices from April to June 30, 2004, and the second stage paid invoices from July 1, 2004 to present.  

 Our outstanding loan balance of $400,000 has also been paid in full, and is available for us should we need it in the future.

19. Future Meetings – The Mayor and Council at its last meeting decided to reduce the number of meetings between and December 31. For your information our meeting calendar follows:

OCTOBER: 

Tuesday. October. 19, council meeting

Wed. October 20, 7 pm Parking Task Force

Tues. Oct. 26, work session: Kerry Bedard; Mount Rainier Day (Briones); audit; city atty. review process (Haamid); election procedural changes (Miles)

NOVEMBER

ISSUES:  annexation study report (Booth); appoint personnel grievance board; charette for 3409 Rhode Island; audit; Message/website Spanish translations (Briones)

Tues. November 2, election day. No council meeting
Tues. November 9, council meeting. Dog Ordinance. Hearing; committee appointments
Thur. November 11  Veterans Day
Mon. November 15, deadline for city manager to submit FY 06 budget calendar to council (per Charter Sec. 702)
Tues. November 16, work session: TCDRC appointments; dog permit Ordinance; budget calendar
Tues. November no council meeting
Thurs. November 25 Thanksgiving
Fri. November. 26, city offices closed; recycling held?
Tues. November 30 work session. Finance presentation

Web Site that might be of interest to you:

Malinda Miles --- www.malindamiles.com

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

Mount Rainier Elementary School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~mrainier/

Thomas Stone Elementary School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~tstone/index.htm

Hyattsville Middle School --- http://www.pgcps.org/~hyattsms/

Northwestern High School --- http://www.pgcps.pg.k12.md.us/~nwest

Prince George’s County Municipal Association http://www.mdmunicipal.org/chapterweb/pgcma

Maryland Municipal League --- http://www.mdmunicipal.org

Prince George's County Property Tax http://tax-acct-info.co.pg.md.us/servlets/resqportal?rqs_custom_dir=taxes&rqs_cleancache=1