Ward
2 Report
2004 has
come and GONE! Where it went, we will
never know, but we can look back on our City’s accomplishments and say that we
moved forward! We got mostly good
positive coverage in the news media. We
had new residents get involved in City affairs.
New businesses continue to move into our City, and current residents
continue to look for ways to make Mount
Personally,
I am glad you are here and that you have allowed me to represent you for the
past two years.
Thank you!
1. The annual audit for 2003 was finally
finished, and it was the best one yet.
The numbers are reliable, and the records are organized and
documented. We are ready to being and finish
the 2004 audit. This year because of
anticipated work with GASB, the figure for the audit is expected to be
$16,000. Future audits should go down in
cost, but should not exceed a modest cost for inflation, not the outrageous amount
that we paid in 2003 for the 2002 audit.
2. For the first time since I have served
on the Mount Rainier City Council, the City has a personnel policy manual for
its employees. This is a major
accomplishment and sets the standard for equitable treatment of all
employees. There is also a level of
fairness expected and prescribed in our personnel policy that provides equality
to all employees.
3. A new salary schedule was implemented
making our wage scale more equitable for all employees. This was also a milestone for the City in
that the old schedule had not been updated for many years.
4. Joe’s Emporium received more than
$200,000 in funding to purchase the old Direct Mail Service building and hosted
it first community fund raising activity this past week. Although I was unable to attend, I understand
that there was a major turn out, and that it was an absolute success!
5. The
NEXT
MEETING: January
6. This year, the City hired Mr.
7. Commercial trash pick up was stopped in
April of this year, and businesses went out and secured their own trash pick up
services. This single action provided
Public Works with more time to take care of the City’s public areas. Although there has not been vast Improvement,
the City has taken a major step forward in cleaning up its public areas. In fact, the change was so significant that
the Public Works staff was recognized by the judges of the America In Bloom
(AIM) contest that was held in the City during the summer.
8. The
6. Election Procedures –During the past
few months, the Mayor and Council have been drafting written election
procedures. In accordance with our
Charter, the Mayor and Council appoints a Board of Elections and an Elections
Supervisor to oversee and carry out all of the City’s elections. The City’s Board of Elections has frequently
been confronted with questions and problems that were not addressed in any
formal manner. The new Elections
Procedures guide will have its first reading and voted at the Mayor and
Council’s first meeting in January.
7. January is a good time to start
thinking about upcoming City elections. – on the first Monday in May 2005, the
City will be holding its election. There
will be one Councilmember vacancy in Ward 1 and in Ward 2. The position for Mayor will also be up for
election. All open positions are for
four-year terms. Citizens are urged to
consider running for these positions.
This is an opportunity to get involved and make a difference in our
community.
10. Personnel Review Board – In approving
the City’s new Personnel Manual, the Mayor and Council also approved the
creation of a Personnel Review Board.
The responsibilities of the Personnel Review Board are to hear and decide
on personnel matters that would normally go to arbitration. Once the guidelines for how this body will
function are completed, the Mayor and Council will need to appoint members to
the Board. Persons with personnel
backgrounds are needed to serve on this Board.
If you have a personnel or employment background, we certainly would
like to hear from you. A copy of the
personnel manual can be reviewed at City Hall.
I have drafted and submitted to the Mayor and Council rules and
regulations for the proposed Personnel Review Board.
11. Salary Schedule – A new salary schedule was
developed and implemented to make salaries within the City more equitable. And, a new Police Union Contract was
negotiated and implemented by the Mayor and Council. The Police Union Contract and the salary
schedule are available for citizen review at City Hall. Contact our City Manager, Jeannelle Wallace,
if you would like to review a copy of these documents.
12. Traffic Light on
13. The Marking of
14. Bass Liquors’ Update – Ms. Bedard, a
member of the Bass family appeared before the Mayor and Council a few weeks ago
to discuss their plans for continuing the operation of Bass Liquors. Her primary request was for the Mayor and
Council to rescind its opposition to the Bass Liquor license since it was
considered an asset and since Bass Liquors was in bankruptcy court. They proposed that the business continues,
that they would bring in a “good” restaurant, continue to operate their
financial business, i.e., check cashing and money orders, and the sell of
liquor including singles which was need to support the continued operation of
the business. Although no official
position was voted on by the Mayor and Council at the work session, the Mayor
and Council’s position continues to be one that upholds the ruling of the
Liquor Board and to apply and adhere to its (the City’s) ordinances and
codes. In addition, the Major and
Council have agreed to begin exploring its options with regard to this property
and its continued use in the City. As a
result of the urban renewal plan, which the Mayor and Council passed in June,
the City has eminent domain authority to remove any blighted property within
the town center.
15. A focus group (charrette) was held in
December to explore uses of the old police station and the Mount Rainier
Library. There was a great turn out for
this summit, and future summits will be held.
If you have ideas for how the City might use those two buildings, please
contact any member of the Mayor and Council or the City Manager. We want the two buildings to add value to our
down town area, and meet the needs of the community. So let us hear from you.
16. K-FOOD MART HOURS – K-Food Mart has
petitioned the Liquor Board to extend its hours so that they can be opened
until
17. One of the
single most demonstrated holiday spirits this season came from Mr.
18. The City
will once again participate in the America In Bloom contest. We hope all of you are ready to work on this
project. With our resources in the
Community Tool Shed, Jack Engel with his past year’s experience, and our almost
completed Artspace building, we are well on the way to getting this year’s
project off the ground. The registration
deadline for this year’s entrance is
19. Citizens
needed for committees – The City has a limited number of staff and other
resources to undertake and carry out the many tasks necessary to ensure the
quality of living that many of us desire.
Often time the work that needs to get done doesn’t because of this lack
of resources. However, if residents
would pitch in, a lot more could get done, and be cost effective for the City
and for residents. Below are a few of
the City’s committees and/or commissions that need you!
1 Cable
Commission (appointed by Mayor and Council)
2 Tree
Commission (appointed by Mayor and Council)
3 Community
Tool Shed Committee (appointed by Mayor and Council)
4 Senior
Emergency Preparedness Commission (appointed by Mayor and Council)
5 Mount
Rainier Day Committee volunteer group
6 Parenting
Committee – volunteer group*
7 Personnel
Review Board – (appointed by Mayor and Council)
8
9 Design
Review Committee
10
These committees and commissions only meet once or twice a
month or less. The time and service that
you give to them would be invaluable, and would reduce the amount of time
required by some of your very busy neighbors.
I know we are all very busy, but this is our City, and it takes each of
us, doing just a little to make it an even better place to live. Some of them may already have sufficient
members, but it is not too early to become familiar with their functions or
serve as an alternate or even get appointed.
The City NEEDS YOU. To sign up
for a committee or commission, please call 301-985-6585.
Added Announcements:
Glenn F. Ivey, State's Attorney at his Second Annual Open
House Thursday, January 13, 2005, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Courthouse (New) 14735
Main Street, Suite 349M, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. To RSVP, please contact Lorraine Harris (301)
952-3584
A new Gateway sign has been installed on
Got a good eye for pictures, a handy camera, and desire to
spread the word about
MIXED-USE TOWN CENTER DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE continues to
have two business person vacancies. Several applications have been received
from business or property owners in the Mixed-Use Town Center. However, given
the recent approval of the Gateway Arts District Sector Plan, the criteria for
applicants have been broadened to include business people throughout
Economic Development Summit to be held
* BABYSITTING CO-OP – This is a spin off from the Parenting
Group. Melissa Barringer is taking the
lead on getting this babysitting co-op off the ground. If you need a time out from parenting and
want to share this responsibility from time-to-time, PLEASE give Melissa a call
at 301-699-5395. A meeting will be held
on January 16th at
On
The following web site 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
MOST OFTHIS NEWSLETTER WAS PREPARED LATE DECEMBER. UNFORTUNATELY, PERSONAL LIFE CRISIS KEPT
GETTING IN MY WAY, AND KEPT ME FROM DISTRIBUTING THIS NEWSLETTER TO YOU.
I hope that all of you had a blessed and safe holiday
season, and that 2005 will be filled with hop, peace, goodwill and prosperity.