Colmar Manor public meetings in 2022

12-13-2022 - Council Meeting

The council discussed a list of potential project ideas to provide to the town lobbyist for grant funding. No formal votes were taken on specific projects.

12-13-2022 - Public Hearing

The Town held a public hearing to discuss a new 10-year Cable Franchise Agreement. The session included a background presentation and resident inquiry regarding franchise fees and broadcasting. No final vote on the agreement was recorded during this meeting.

• Opened Public Hearing for Cable Franchise Agreement (5-0)
• Adjourned meeting (5-0)

12-6-2022 - Work Session

The Town Council approved a traffic study by KCI and extended the contract for Thomas Michael LLC. Council also authorized legal fees for updating the speed camera ordinance and approved the disposition of town property.

• Approved $25,300 for KCI traffic study using ARPA funds (5-0)
• Approved up to $4,000 in legal fees to update speed camera ordinance and review RedSpeed contract (5-0)
• Approved one-year contract extension for Thomas Michael LLC (5-0)
• Approved disposition of town property list (5-0)
• Consensus to interview two proposals for Legal Counsel RFP
• Appointed Councilmembers Harding and Mendoza to check signing committee
• Appointed Councilmembers Hobbs and Bowles to audit committee

11-29-2022 - Special Council Meeting

The Town Administrator reported that petitions for a Charter Amendment Resolution did not meet the required number of signatures. The petitions provided 143 signatures, falling short of the 149 required (20% of registered voters). Additionally, the petition form was found to be unsatisfactory in stating the resolution's purpose.

• Determined Charter Amendment petitions were insufficient with 143 of 149 required signatures

11-15-2022 - Council Meeting

The Council approved a resident assistance program and a non-profit grant program using ARPA funds. They also authorized $42,500 for Town Hall furniture, flooring, and CRM software via budget reallocations. Additionally, the Council approved a new 10-year cable franchise agreement.

• Approved Resident Assistant Program for rent, mortgage, and utility aid up to $1,000
• Approved non-profit grant program offering nine $5,000 grants
• Approved $42,500 for Town Hall furniture, flooring, and CRM software (4-0)
• Approved $5,500 from unreserved funds for a Council Retreat (4-0)
• Approved Town Hall closure from December 27 through December 30, 2022 (4-0)
• Approved New Year's Party at Town Hall (4-0)
• Approved RFP for new legal services
• Approved Ordinance O-03-2023 Cable Franchise Agreement (4-0)

10-4-2022 - Work Session

The council voted to accept a $9,890 proposal from Revize for a new town website, including optional features. They also approved a $1,558 upfront fee for a new VOIP phone system from McEnroe Voice & Data, with a $356.44 monthly lease. A $6,000 budget transfer was approved for lobbying services from Greenwill. The council authorized disposal of outdated fitness equipment from the recreation center.

• Approved $9,890 website redesign proposal from Revize (voice vote, passed)
• Approved $1,558 upfront phone system upgrade from McEnroe Voice & Data (voice vote, passed)
• Approved $6,000 budget transfer from unreserved funds for lobbying services (voice vote, passed)
• Approved proposal from Greenwill for lobbying services (voice vote, passed)
• Authorized Town Administrator to dispose of listed outdated fitness equipment (voice vote, passed)
• Consensus to send speed camera agreement back to RedSpeed for corrections and attorney review (no formal vote)

9-13-2022 - Council Meeting

The council voted 5-0 to accept a $30,350 public safety grant for the purchase of license plate readers and to transfer the same amount from unreserved funds with the understanding it will be reimbursed. Other discussions included updates on the former car wash property at 4153 Bladensburg Rd, ARPA community and non-profit grant programs, and charter review options. The meeting ended with a closed session on personnel matters.

• Approved $30,350 public safety grant for license plate readers (5-0)
• Approved transfer from unreserved funds for LPR equipment, to be reimbursed (5-0)
• Entered closed session for personnel matters (motion carried)

9-6-2022 - Council Work Session

The council voted 4-0 to authorize a 3% cost-of-living increase for all employees, effective July 1, 2022, contingent on employee self-assessment submission. They also approved a $200 allocation for a Hispanic Heritage Month breakfast, set retreat dates, and discussed a purchasing policy ordinance that passed 3-0-2 with two abstentions.

• Approved 3% cost-of-living raise for all employees (4-0)
• Approved $200 for Hispanic Heritage Month breakfast (5-0)
• Set council retreat dates: Nov 4, Nov 11, Dec 19, 2022 (5-0)
• Approved paying one night lodging for MML Fall Conference for Mayor, Council, and Town Administrator
• Passed Town Purchasing Policy Ordinance (3-0-2, two abstentions)

8-30-2022 - Town Special Meeting

The meeting was a discussion-only session with no formal votes or decisions. Residents submitted a packet of questions and proposals for the former car wash property. The group agreed a camera system was warranted and that the property owner should pay for it, and also discussed a temporary fence and stronger private security.

• No formal decisions or votes were recorded; the meeting was solely for discussion

8-9-2022 - Town Meeting

The Colmar Manor Town Council voted 4-0 to hire Greg Holcomb as Town Administrator, approve a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant proposal, approve an RFP for Newark Rd and 43rd Ave improvements, and approve working with Foundation of Greatness LLC. They also approved a $3,600 expenditure for five garden bed renewals. Residents raised concerns about a police tower and a gas station development.

• Hired Greg Holcomb as Town Administrator (4-0)
• Approved Chesapeake Bay Trust grant proposal (4-0)
• Approved RFP for Newark Rd and 43rd Ave improvements (4-0)
• Approved working with Foundation of Greatness LLC (4-0)
• Approved $3,600 for five garden bed renewals (4-0)
• Approved minutes from July 12, 2022 meeting (4-0)

7-12-2022 - Council Meeting

The Colmar Manor Town Council approved $2,500 in premium pay for all current full- and part-time employees, including the town attorney, funded by a $45,000 transfer from ARPA funds. They also approved the proposed ARPA budget spending options, a $2,000 transfer to the scholarship fund, and a motion to consider an ethics ordinance. The meeting included reports from committees and presentations from community groups.

• Approved $2,500 premium pay for all town employees (5-0)
• Approved $45,000 transfer from ARPA funds for premium pay (5-0)
• Approved proposed ARPA budget spending options (5-0)
• Approved $2,000 transfer to scholarship fund (5-0)
• Approved motion to consider ethics ordinance (5-0)
• Accepted June 2022 police report (5-0)

6-7-2022 - Council Meeting

The council adopted the FY23 budget ordinance and approved the town administrator job description, both unanimously. It also approved issuing phones/laptops to council members, paying a landfill fee increase, purchasing a 2008 bus for county transit, reopening Town Hall with mask requirements, and authorizing payment for code enforcement training. Several items were discussed or tabled, including ARPA funds and a CapWin MOU.

• Adopted FY23 budget ordinance 01-01-2022 (5-0)
• Approved town administrator job description (5-0)
• Authorized phones/laptops for Mayor & Council if requested (4-0)
• Agreed to pay landfill increase from $59 to $70 per ton (4-0)
• Approved purchase of 2008 bus for county transit (4-0)
• Reopened Town Hall with strict mask requirements effective 7/1/2022 (4-0)
• Authorized $585.61 payment to Cheverly for code enforcement MML conference (4-0)
• Tabled CapWin MOU to next meeting

5-17-2022 - Work Session

The Colmar Manor Town Council held a work session on May 17, 2022, approving several items including $2,398.14 for generator repairs, issuing phones/laptops to council members, paying a landfill cost increase, purchasing a 2008 bus for county transportation, and reopening Town Hall with strict mask requirements effective July 1, 2022. A motion to fund Mayor Barrow's MML attendance failed, and a motion to appoint Mayor Pro-tem was abstained. The CapWin MOU was tabled.

• Approved $2,398.14 for generator repairs from Freight Power System (4-0)
• Approved issuing phones/laptops to Mayor & Council if requested (4-0)
• Approved paying landfill increase from $59 to $70 per ton (4-0)
• Approved purchase of 2008 bus for county transportation (4-0)
• Approved reopening Town Hall with strict mask requirements effective 7/1/2022 (4-0)
• Approved $585.61 payment to Cheverly for code enforcement officer to attend MML conference (4-0)
• Denied motion to pay 1 month hotel and per diem for Mayor Barrow to attend MML (1-3)
• Tabled CapWin MOU to next meeting

5-10-2022 - Council Meeting

The council accepted the treasurer's and police/code compliance reports, and tabled several items including ARPA spending options, police vehicle lease-to-purchase, generator repair, and MML conference funding. The meeting concluded with the swearing-in of Monica Casañas as mayor, succeeding Mayor Barrow, who received citations for her service.

• Accepted treasurer's report (5-0)
• Accepted police/code compliance reports (5-0)
• Tabled ARPA spending option list
• Tabled police vehicle lease-to-purchase with $50,000 ARPA allocation (4-0-1)
• Tabled generator repair (5-0)
• Tabled MML conference funding (4-0-1)
• Swore in Monica Casañas as mayor

4-12-2022 - Council meeting

The Colmar Manor Town Council met on April 12, 2022, with Mayor Barrow and Councilmembers Hobbs, Bowles, and Mendoza present; Councilman Harding was absent. The council accepted the treasurer's report and the police/code compliance reports, both by 5-0 votes. No other substantive decisions were made; the meeting included updates on the American Rescue Plan survey and a work session, and adjourned at 9:22 PM.

• Accepted treasurer's report (5-0)
• Accepted police and code compliance reports (5-0)
• Adjourned meeting at 9:22 PM (4-0)

4-12-2022 - Budget Meeting

The Colmar Manor Town Council voted to purchase a 2015 bus for $22,500, with a vote of 3-0-2 (two abstentions). They also approved using ARPA funds for the purchase, with a vote of 4-0-1 (one abstention). The meeting was adjourned with a 5-0 vote.

• Approved purchase of 2015 bus for $22,500 (3-0-2, two abstentions)
• Approved use of ARPA funds for bus purchase (4-0-1, one abstention)
• Adjourned meeting (5-0)

4-5-2022 - Work Session

The Town Council accepted the treasurer's report and the police/code compliance reports, both by 5-0 votes. They also scheduled a 'Meet the Candidates for Mayor' event for May 3, 2022, and adjourned at 9:22 PM. No other substantive decisions were made.

• Accepted treasurer's report (5-0)
• Accepted police and code compliance reports (5-0)
• Scheduled Meet the Candidates for Mayor on May 3, 2022
• Adjourned meeting at 9:22 PM (4-0)

3-1-2022 - Council Meeting

The Colmar Manor Council appointed Lois Blue as an election judge for a 4-year term, approved a timeline for an ARPA survey with a public forum, and supported a tree planting program. They also set salary ranges for new hires, continued the mask mandate, and discussed but did not finalize a bus purchase.

• Appointed Lois Blue as election judge for 4-year term (5-0)
• Approved ARPA survey timeline: survey out 3/4, responses by 3/18, public forum 3/29 (discussion)
• Supported tree planting program with Chesapeake Bay Trust, no cost to town (5-0)
• Approved salary ranges for new positions: Senior Admin Assistant $55k-$65k, Admin Assistant $45k-$50k, Recreation & Human Services Coordinator $50k-$60k (4-0-1, Bowles rejected)
• Continued mask mandate, re-evaluate at next work session (5-0)
• Discussed Port Town bus purchase, deferred pending Bladensburg input

2-1-2022 - Work Session

The Colmar Manor Council voted 3-2 to reopen the building lobby with COVID-19 protocols including masks, vaccination, testing, and social distancing. The council also discussed ARPA funding, COVID leave policy, mask distribution, testing kits, code enforcement software, and a facilitated retreat, but took no final action on those items. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 PM.

• Approved motion to reopen lobby with COVID protocols (3-2)
• Adjourned meeting (5-0)

1-11-2022 - Council Meeting

The Colmar Manor Town Council met on January 11, 2022, and approved several items, including the treasurer's and police reports, and minutes from previous meetings. The council voted to table the October 5, 2021 Public Hearing Borrowing Ordinance. They also discussed non-citizen voting, ARPA funds, and a green street grant, but no final decisions were made on these topics.

• Approved treasurer's report (5-0)
• Approved police/code compliance report (5-0)
• Approved minutes from Sept 7, Sept 14, and Oct 5, 2021 meetings (5-0)
• Tabled October 5, 2021 Public Hearing Borrowing Ordinance
• Agreed to apply for Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Street Engineering Grant (Option #2, engineering only, no match)

1-4-2022 - Council Work Session

The Colmar Manor Council approved the purchase of 300 rapid COVID-19 tests for $2,700, funded from ARPA Special Funds, and accepted an ARPA consulting agreement with Thomas Michael LLC, adding a scope item on alternate funding services, with a $9,000 transfer from ARPA funds. The council also directed staff to draft a policy for collecting outstanding receivables and discussed a Green Street grant, deferring action until a comprehensive ARPA funding plan is developed.

• Approved purchase of 300 rapid COVID tests for $2,700 (5-0)
• Transferred $2,700 from ARPA Special Funds to new 'COVID Tests- ARPA' account (5-0)
• Accepted ARPA consulting agreement with Thomas Michael LLC, adding alternate funding services to scope (5-0)
• Transferred $9,000 from ARPA Special Funds to ARPA Consultant (5-0)
• Directed staff to draft policy for collection of outstanding receivables (no vote recorded)
• Adjourned meeting at 9:30 PM (5-0)