Hyattsville City Council Regular Meeting — November 2, 2026

The Hyattsville City Council held its regular meeting virtually on Monday, November 2, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. The published agenda scheduled a closed session from 7:10–7:40 PM and public comment from 7:40–8:10 PM with a two-minute limit per speaker. Councilmember Kelson Nisbett was noted absent during closed-session votes. The meeting included public testimony on immigration relief, ranked-choice voting, and public-safety/noise concerns, plus routine appointments, proclamations, a $600,000 police encryption grant, a $100,000 immigrant emergency relief contract, and discussion of FY27 state legislative priorities.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Hyattsville Resolution 2026-05 adopting the 2027 Council meeting calendar.
• Approved acceptance and appropriation of the FY27 State Aid for Police Protection: Communication Encryption (SAPC) Grant, $600,000, to the FY27 budget.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brian Banks expressed enthusiastic support for the immigrant emergency relief proposal and urged approval of the SAMU Foundation contract, saying immigration enforcement has worsened and the need is acute.
• Malik Ferguson (Ward 3) expressed support for ranked-choice voting and called on the Council to place an RCV public referendum on the 2027 ballot, citing expert endorsement and cost arguments.
• Gabriela Cook (Ward 1, Burlington Road) described two years of loud-music disruption and recent gunfire, including about 50 shots on one day and 10–20 shots heard the past Saturday–Sunday; she said residents are desperate and losing sleep and that multiple jurisdictions are involved.
• A Ward 5 resident (introduced as Tanya Krubikulanwick) criticized the City Administrator over bonuses, financial oversight, unfiled reports, and the handling of the treasurer, saying these issues undermined public trust.
• Octavia Clapp expressed support for RCV and said she would volunteer to provide presentations, UMD professors, slides, and canvassing to address Council concerns; she also stressed financial accountability.
• Sydney Appy (Ward 1) asked whom residents should contact about loud music and gunshots, said Prince George’s County was not stopping the problem, and sought county/state contacts and preventive action.
• Melissa Schweizgos expressed support for the immigrant relief fund but urged flexibility and possibly a $20,000 contract increase so more money reaches families; she supported exploring the environmental depot but asked for cost-benefit analysis and cheaper alternatives.
• Marshall (Ward 4) said he was absolutely opposed to the immigrant relief fund and opposed to ranked-choice voting, calling RCV a waste of time and money for Hyattsville.
• Daniel Broder (Ward 2) supported an RCV referendum on the 2027 ballot and supported the relief fund while urging more direct aid; he asked whether SAMU was the only RFP respondent and said 30% overhead would be high by industry standards (staff later said SAMU proposed 9% indirect/overhead costs).
• Robi Blunt (Ward 1, Buchanan Street) described ongoing loud music and gunfire, saying 34 bullet shells were counted over the weekend, and urged immediate multi-jurisdiction police action.

Proclamations & Appointments

• Adopted proclamations recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month; November 11, 2026 as Veterans Day; and November 2026 as Municipal Government Works Month (the transcript’s reading of the third referenced November 26, 2026, while the agenda says November 2026).
• Approved Imani Ray (Ward 3) to the Race and Equity Task Force for two years, ending November 2, 2028.
• Approved Timothy Schwedes (Ward 5) to the Police and Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee for two years, ending November 2, 2028.
• Approved Tricia Hooper (Ward 2) to the Shade Tree Board for three years, ending November 2, 2029.

Calendar Update & Public Safety Discussion

• Staff announced election day polling at the city building on Nov. 3 from 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; Diwali at the Hyattsville library Saturday 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.; a housing resource fair at Hyattsville Middle School 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; a community yard sale; a Veterans Day event at the city building on Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. (the proclamation later recognized Nov. 11 as Veterans Day); leaf collection started; and bulk trash/white goods paused until March. Staff said leaf collection zones/days would be published.
• On noise/gunfire near Burlington/Tanglewood, officials said the activity is primarily in Edmonston with spillover to Bladensburg; Edmonston’s police chief is organizing a meeting with Prince George’s County, and Hyattsville/Bladensburg offered resources including camera trailers. Chief Towers said Hyattsville lacks authority to respond to calls in Edmonston unless dispatched to assist, although officers can act if they observe a felony. Waszczak asked about county takeover legislation; officials said Hyattsville cannot directly leverage it because the activity is outside city limits.
• Schaible asked for stop-sign camera/data results since Oct. 1; Chief Towers said data lag means a first-quarter report in January is expected.

City Administrator Statement

• Tracey Douglas disputed characterizations that she acted in secrecy or misrepresented city finances. She said audits were three to four years behind when she arrived; former auditors prepared and presented audits; the new auditor identified errors requiring restatement; she accepted the treasurer’s resignation, hired a CPA, initiated financial reviews, and is recruiting a new treasurer. She defended the city’s long-standing bonus policy as used for recruitment, retention, additional duties, and in lieu of merit increases to avoid compounding salary/benefit costs; she said sign-on bonuses reached $25,000, benefit costs can add 14%–49% of salary, and replacing executive/technical staff can cost $20,000–$50,000. She said a recent compensation study showed directors below market midpoint and her own salary at the 30th percentile before a recent adjustment; she plans to retire in May or June, or earlier, and described the current scrutiny as damaging to staff morale. Mayor Croslin said questions would be handled in the closed session.

Discussion Items

• Immigrant Emergency Relief Contract (2027-100): The Council approved authorization for the City Administrator to enter a one-year contract with SAMU Foundation, not to exceed $100,000, to provide relief for families affected by immigration-related issues, contingent on City Attorney review. Staff said SAMU would support 100 individuals; the proposal included intake, needs assessment, referrals, case management, and follow-up, with 9% indirect/overhead costs; the contract term was expected through June 30, 2027. Discussion covered payment method, award ranges (Schaible referenced about $70,000 for 100 families, roughly a $700 average), case-manager hiring, possible tax differential, and whether the program would continue. Staff said program details and contract terms would return after legal review.
• FY27 Legislative Priorities: Staff presented potential state requests including cross-county temporary housing, $1 million for city building second-floor renovations, environmental depot, Hamilton Street business corridor improvements, and Jamestown Road/prefabricated recreation storage. Haba suggested submitting all five and ranking them rather than limiting to three. Schaible noted a $300,000 vs. $600,000 environmental depot discrepancy; staff said the figure was being revised toward $300,000 and details would follow. Schaible also urged adding just-cause eviction protections as a homelessness-prevention priority. Waszczak asked about funding for the Alt Route One/Charles Armentrout traffic signal and stormwater infrastructure near Driscoll Park. No vote was taken; staff planned to circulate a prioritization request and bring a list back at the next meeting.
• Council Dialogue: Members encouraged residents to vote. Schaible criticized the City Administrator’s statement as lacking transparency and objected to not being allowed to respond immediately; he said he had not misrepresented anything and acted out of concern for the city. Mayor Croslin said personnel/financial questions would be handled in closed session; after Haba suggested allowing general comments, Schaible was permitted to speak. Dhokai encouraged voting and invited residents to the city’s first Diwali celebration.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda approved; first closed session (2027-88) held on legal advice/potential or pending litigation involving Hyattsville Spirits & Grill.
• Proclamations and all three appointments approved by voice vote.
• Consent agenda approved, including the 2027 meeting calendar and $600,000 SAPC grant.
• SAMU immigrant emergency relief contract authorized, not to exceed $100,000, contingent on City Attorney review; staff to return with program terms and follow-up on payment method, award range, case-manager hiring, and tax-differential eligibility.
• No vote on FY27 legislative priorities; staff to seek Council ranking and return with a priority list. Follow-up requested on environmental depot costs, traffic-signal funding, and stormwater needs.
• Final closed session (2027-101) approved on personnel/compensation matters; Council did not return to open session. Nisbett absent on closed-session votes.