February Town Meeting and Updates
Nicole Bryner
Hello! I created this Google Group to share information about Ward 3 and Cheverly. If you would like to be removed from this list, please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
Hello Ward 3!
At the end of Thursday night’s meeting, during Council announcements, I took a moment to recognize our Town staff, who have gone above and beyond in recent weeks. From responding to water main breaks and a downed wire & fire on 62nd Place to keeping our streets clear of snow, their dedication has not gone unnoticed. Even when working with outside agencies like WSSC and the fire department, our Administrative Staff, Public Works, and the Police Department remain vigilant, ensuring that residents are supported and advocated for when needed. They take good care of us.
These past few weeks have also underscored a broader reality: the institutions and systems we’ve long relied on are being dismantled, and many of our residents are feeling the impact. Whether it’s a household facing sudden unexpected job loss, a young person whose very identity is under threat, or a family worried about being forced to leave the community they call home, uncertainty is weighing on our community. We don’t always know what others are going through, so I encourage everyone to lead with empathy, assume the best intentions, and support one another however we can. Now more than ever, we must take care of each other.
It’s also a time for difficult choices. As we begin our budget process, we must recognize that many residents may be in a different financial position than in previous years. In past budget cycles, some have called for lower tax rates without identifying the necessary cuts to offset the lost revenue. Meanwhile, residents have consistently expressed their priorities: 24/7 police coverage, twice-weekly trash collection, and timely snow removal among them. We’ve delivered on those expectations, but sustaining these services without raising taxes will require careful decision-making.
If you have suggestions or requests for the 2026 budget, please reach out. Council members must submit their budget priorities to Mr. Galloway by February 24.
Hospital Hill Annexation
- You may have seen that some news stories have discussed the possibility of Bladensburg deannexing the Hospital Hill property.
- Public discussions on this matter must remain limited due to the ongoing litigation. The town will continue to send updates via News & Announcements.
MEETINGS
February 13 Town Meeting
Agenda can be found here.
You can watch recordings of all town meetings here.
Hospital Hill Development
-Home Team 5 attended the meeting and provided Mayor & Council with an update on the development.
-Initial Plans have been submitted to MNCPPC. The team anticipates that the plan will be accepted sometime in April. At that point Cheverly will have thirty days to review the Preliminary Plan of Subdivision and submit formal comment.
-In the meantime, the developers plan to hold working sessions with town stakeholders to discuss aspects of the development like stormwater management, sediment control, etc.
-The team anticipates that all demolition activities will be completed in April.
Homestead Tax Credit
-CM Dalaker introduced an ordinance for the Homestead Tax Credit that would raise the credit from $50 per eligible household to $150 per eligible household. More information on eligibility is available here.
-As this is an ordinance it will be on our agenda in March and then adopted in April. I plan to support the ordinance.
Approval of Employment Agreement
-Mayor and Council voted to approve a new contract for Police Chief Morris. This contract will mean Chief Morris is no longer an interim chief, but will now be the town’s permanent chief.
-I am pleased with this change, as Chief Morris has quickly achieved many of the goals set for CPD, recruiting enough officers to provide the town with officers on duty 24/7, increasing accountability, handling HR issues, and modernizing and improving systems and equipment.
Open Meetings Act Violation
-A Complaint was filed with the Open Meetings Compliance Board alleging that the Town violated the Open Meetings Act. The Board has issued an opinion, which is that the town is in violation of one of the allegations (that the town did not include in its summary report of closed meetings in July and October the time and place of the (virtual) meetings, the recorded vote of each member of Council on whether to close the meeting, and the citation to the statutory authority to close the meeting.
-The complaint also alleged that the Town violated the Act by not verbally reporting out on the closed meeting at the next public open meeting. However, there is no requirement to verbally report on closed meetings, so the Board found no violation based on that allegation.
-I will note that the Town’s Open Meetings Act compliance practices and transparency in general have improved a great deal in recent years, and remind everyone that reasons for a closed meeting include things like getting legal advice, discussing property acquisition, and discussing HR meetings (including conducting performance reviews).
Odds and Ends
-You will continue to see cameras at intersections around town as we test the viability of stop sign cameras. Please see my last newsletter for more context. As a reminder, these cameras are not issuing citations and will not do so without a robust resident input process including a public hearing.
-Contractor Hillis Carnes will be conducting surveys starting Wednesday February 19th, 2025, weather permitting. They will be surveying recent WSSC work which will include them opening manhole lids. The areas they will be working in include 3100 Block of Laurel, 6200 Block of Inwood and 6300 Block of 64th Ave.
-Progressive Cheverly and the Legion are hosting a forum for County Council District 5 Candidates tomorrow, Monday January 17 at 7pm. More info here.
-Mayor & Council will be attending a leadership retreat on Saturday, February 22.
Where to find me
Email: CMW...@cheverly-md.gov
Text, WhatsApp, Phone: 301.892.6384
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Upcoming Events
For more information about these and other events, check out the town newsletter/en Español
Presented by Progressive Cheverly
February 17
7pm
Cheverly American Legion and Zoom
Presidents’ Day: Town Offices Closed, No Public Works Services
February 17
February 21
9-10am
Mayor’s Office at Town Hall
Mayor & Council Retreat
February 22
Town Worksession
February 27
7:30pm
Hybrid
Cheverly Day
Saturday October 4
Have you thought about getting more involved around town? We know that people love the sense of community here in Cheverly, and so many of the good things around town are driven by volunteers! Some opportunities:
-Planning Board: Exploring future development plans and opportunities in and around town and advising Town Council on related issues
-Recreation Council: Planning and executing some of the town’s favorite events, like the Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, Pickleball Tournaments, and Flea Markets
-CERT (Cheverly Emergency Response Team): Responding to and planning for emergencies and natural disasters, supporting large scale town events to ensure everyone’s safety
-Board of Elections: Planning and running town-wide elections
-Police Chief’s Advisory Board: Connecting with residents around public safety issues and policies and making recommendations to the Chief of Police about community’s articulated needs and perspectives
-Cheverly Day Committee: Planning and executing Cheverly Day
If any of these sound like your cup of tea, please let me know! I’d be happy to connect you with the right folks for a conversation.
Do you have a talent you are interested in sharing with the town, but it doesn’t line up exactly with one of these? Get in touch and we’ll see if there isn’t a town org or ad hoc committee that would work.