New Carrollton City Council Workshop Meeting – November 4, 2026

The New Carrollton City Council held a hybrid workshop meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM to discuss a range of topics including a proposed Boys and Girls Club, a Charter Review Commission status report, the PGCMA indictment, animal control restructuring, a snow emergency ordinance, and senior living centers. The meeting was scheduled to conclude by 8:45 PM for a closed session. Items 5 (Commercial Vehicles Ordinance) and 7 (Request-Initiated Services Ordinance) were removed from the agenda mid-meeting to allow more time for priority items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Stephen John (resident): Described difficulty getting animal control or public works to handle a dead raccoon, and urged clearer procedures.
• Marty (Riverdale Road): Supported the snow emergency ordinance concept but warned about enforcement challenges; suggested a city mobile app for notifications. Also proposed locating the Boys and Girls Club at the soon-to-be-vacated Charles Carroll school to save costs.
• Unnamed resident (southeast) : Criticized the commercial vehicles proposal as ambiguous and noted past enforcement failures; urged careful review before adoption.
• Resident (Long Branch): Supported snow emergency idea but stressed the need for proactive announcements (e.g., bullhorns) and noted insufficient off-street parking; called for allowing sidewalk parking.
• Michelle Frisbee (Sarah Street): Expressed concern about building a Boys and Girls Club in a residential area and seconded the Charles Carroll alternative.
• Katrina Dodrow (Gaton Street): A strong supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, stated Charles Carroll is not available (will be demolished) and that the city needs the club now. She also agreed that the snow emergency and request-initiated services proposals should be policies rather than legislation. Suggested using MML to lobby state for notification of senior care licenses.
• Former Mayor Nemhard (in closing): Emphasized that Charles Carroll is not available for city use and that Harlan Street property has been neglected too long; urged action.

Discussion Items

1. Boys and Girls Club Presentation (20 minutes allotted)
Mark Picarelli (State Director, Maryland Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs) presented a proposal to build a new club at the old suburban aquatics site. The project is in two phases: a 4,225 sq ft program space (Phase 1) and a 5,000 sq ft gym (Phase 2). Total cost: $1.8 million. Funding: $450,000 from state (two grants), $250,000 from prior city reserves (originally for Harlan Street), and an additional $250,000 from a prior state grant (originally for a skate park). The city would own the building; Boys and Girls Club would lease it for 20 years to operate programs. Construction could start May–June 2027 with completion by July–August. Zoning appeared acceptable (recreation). Council members expressed strong support, though Council Member Mills raised concerns about resident NIMBYism and funding transparency. The city’s engineers (CPJ) will oversee the project. The site will also serve as a community center for city programming.

2. Charter Review Commission Status Report (25 minutes allotted)
Michelle Crispy (co-chair) presented the preliminary report. The 12-member commission met weekly since September 2026, heard from former officials and experts, identified 11 areas of concern in the 2025 charter amendments (including mayor-council conflicts, unclear hiring/firing authorities, and recurring disagreements). The Commission concluded the amendments did not fully achieve the intended migration from strong mayor form. Next steps: draft legislation to be effective before new officials take office on May 19, 2027, with a progress report in December 2026. Council members praised the work, with Council Member Mills emphasizing need for strategic planning and clear definitions. Council Member Urbina noted some issues were previously deemed inappropriate for charter language. Council Member Delane requested that the city attorney be involved earlier in the drafting process.

3. PGCMA Indictment and MML Involvement (10 minutes)
Council Member Urbina reported that the former treasurer of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA) embezzled over $100,000 in 2023. The Maryland Municipal League (MML) has proposed taking over bank accounts for PGCMA and other affiliates to provide oversight and insurance. Urbina recommended staying in PGCMA under MML management. Council agreed, and assigned Council Member Cynthia to cast the city’s vote to remain with MML oversight.

4. Animal Control Services (10 minutes)
Council Member Delane proposed consolidating the animal control officer position with parking enforcement to maximize efficiency, noting low call volumes (5 calls per month per police reports). Council Member Urbina countered that the current code (Chapter 35) is outdated and unclear; she asked for a review of duties and better resident education. Some recent incidents (e.g., a loose dog not handled) raised questions about the animal control officer’s actual responsibilities. Council Member Mills expressed concern about prioritization in emergencies. Mayor suggested Delane work with Chief Austin to clarify duties and potentially produce a pamphlet.

5. Snow Emergency and Parking Ordinance (10 minutes)
Council Member Urbina presented a draft ordinance codifying snow emergency procedures: mayor declares emergency, cars must be off streets within a set time, fines of $100 and/or towing, emergency not to exceed 72 hours unless necessary. The ordinance would also allow parking on lawns/sidewalks and require police to attempt to notify owners before towing. Council members raised serious concerns: lack of enforcement capacity (code enforcement already overstretched), insufficient off-street parking, and the fact that existing snow parking rules (Chapter 100) already carry a $250 fine but are not enforced. Council Member Nellie argued the ordinance is impractical and may not have helped in Snowmageddon. Council Member Mills noted that many residents have no yard to park on. The item was not voted on; Urbina will accept edits for future consideration.

6. Senior Living Centers in Residential Areas (10 minutes)
Council Member Mills raised the issue of unlicensed senior care homes operating in single-family homes. Several addresses were identified. Council discussed the need to determine if these facilities are licensed by the state and whether city code enforcement can inspect them. Council Member Urbina (a gerontologist) explained that state-licensed assisted living facilities must meet fire and safety codes. Council Member Delane will consult with the city attorney and county health department for further guidance.

Key Outcomes

• Removal of Agenda Items: Motioned and passed (4-0) to remove Items 5 (Commercial Vehicles Ordinance) and 7 (Request-Initiated Services Ordinance) to a later date to prioritize snow emergency and PGCMA discussions.
• Boys and Girls Club: City will proceed with the project; engineering firm CPJ will oversee. Funding sources confirmed: $450,000 state, $250,000 city reserves, and $250,000 prior state reallocation. No formal vote needed; presentation was informational.
• Charter Review Commission: Council endorsed the direction; Council Member Delane will coordinate with city attorney for early legal review.
• PGCMA: Council directed Council Member Cynthia to vote in favor of remaining in PGCMA under MML management.
• Animal Control: Delane and Chief Austin will clarify duties and update the code; a presentation on revised procedures is expected at a future meeting.
• Snow Emergency Ordinance: Tabled for revisions; no vote taken. Council will revisit after edits.
• Senior Living Centers: Delane will research licensing and enforcement with city attorney and county; council will consider future zoning or code changes.
• Public Comments: A resident (K. Dodrow) suggested the city use its MML membership to push for state notification of senior care licenses. Council took the suggestion under advisement.
• Closed Session: The meeting adjourned at 8:42 PM and moved into closed session to consult with City Attorney Jason regarding legal matters.