Cheverly Work Session Meeting tomorrow

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AmyJean Chung Fry

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Apr 23, 2025, 6:50:37 PMApr 23

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Hello Neighbors,

Tomorrow evening is our monthly work session meeting and you can find information about the upcoming agenda here: One thing to note is we will be having further discussion of the stop sign camera system and answers to some of the questions from the hearing.

And to recap the last town meeting, you can find the April agenda here. You can watch recordings of all town meetings here.

I was late for the town meeting so I am borrowing some of Council Member's notes to recap the beginning of the meeting:

Consent Agenda

Council approved a grant request from the Cheverly Community Market

Committee Reports (I was

Board of Elections

The Board of Election Supervisors is working hard to ensure a smooth Election Day on May 5. This year, voters will have two options: electronic voting machines or paper ballots. Please note that paper ballots must be hand-counted, so election night results may take longer than usual.

They also reported a record number of mail-in ballot requests this year. Those ballots will be mailed out this week—so if you’ve requested one, keep an eye on your mailbox! The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is April 28.

Voter registration opportunities will be available on April 26 at two events: the Spring Cleaning event in the morning and the Candidate Forum in the afternoon.

The Board also shared that two individuals have filed as write-in candidates. Their names will be announced once they’re certified, likely after this Tuesday’s meeting. I have a hunch one of them will be running for the Ward 3 seat—we’ll see!

The Board is looking for volunteers for Election Day. If you’re interested email them at b...@cheverly-md.gov.

Ethics Commission

There have been some recent questions about elected officials’ financial disclosure forms. The head of the Ethics Commission explained that over the past few years, the Commission has been reviewing town policies to ensure they align with current practices.

One of their early findings was that the past practice of collecting financial disclosure forms only from candidates for office did not match the town’s policy, which actually requires annual filings from all elected officials. The Commission acted quickly to correct this.

Personally, I’ve filed a disclosure form every time it’s been requested—I think five times since 2019—and I believe my colleagues have done the same. I also know that Town staff are working to clarify the process for requesting this information. I’m happy to share details about my own finances with anyone who’s curious (spoiler: there’s not much to see!).

I regret the confusion around this issue. But as with many situations like this, I believe there was no ill intent or attempt to evade responsibilities—everyone did their best based on what they knew, and made adjustments as needed when new information came to light.

This is where I arrived at the meeting just in time to swear-in Lieutenant Gleason who brings years of experience to our PD Team.

Police Report:

CPD is ramping up traffic enforcement with the nicer weather. When it gets nice out, the kids come out to play, more folks are running, walking, biking or just being outdoors. Let's all slow down and be more mindful as we drive through town. None of us want to be one of the 75 stops that CPD had over a period of 3 days.

Chief Morris reported that we are one step closer to the reg-light cameras on Columbia Park Bridge Road.

Public Works Report:

The Leaf Collection has officially wrapped up for the season. Door knocking has reiterated the need for better communication when it comes to delays or deviations from our leaf collection schedule. While we aren't perfect, the PW does try hard to stick to a schedule however, I think we all know how finicky the weather can be. I will be asking that they provide updates to any changes with as much notice as possible next season. Some of us plan our weekend activity around that leaf collection schedule, so I want it to be reliable and communicate well.

Etcetera:

It is election season and I am grateful that it is almost over. The worst side of Cheverly comes out during this time. I do plan to have a separate statement to send but for now, I want to provide resources for you as you get ready to vote.

APRIL 28 is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot. You can request online or print out a form and return it to Town Hall (6401 Forest Road). Voter registration information is here. Remember there IS same day voter registration on May 5, 2025. ALL residents aged 16 years and older can vote in town elections. There is one more voter registration event happening on Saturday.

I was highly disappointed that we were unable to reduce the challenges for Cheverly Station Apartments to be able to vote. It is a request I have had since 2023 as we know there are significant barriers to voting. That being said, I believe it is up to each of us to engage every part of our community. I hope you will support me as I continue to find ways to engage CSA and all parts of Ward 6 as we move forward this year.

Voting is on May 5, 2025 (Monday) from 7am - 8pm at 6401 Forest Road!!!

Budget season is in full swing, and we remain committed to achieving a balanced budget this year. Over the past two years, we faced the difficult decision of implementing tax increases to uphold the promise of a balanced budget, which was essential to maintaining our AA++ bond rating. These decisions were not made lightly, but they were necessary to sustain the services we value and provide our departments with the resources they need.

While no one likes tax increases, the full council took pride in the budgets we passed during those years. Those budgets were only possible because a majority had the courage to make tough choices. As a result, we are now in a stronger position. This year, we are hoping to maintain a flat tax rate, meaning there will be no tax rate increase, and we will still be able to fully fund all of our departments, including our 24/7 full-time police department.

It’s important to note that while property assessments have increased—which may result in slightly higher payments for some—steps have been taken to support those who need it most. We’ve increased the home tax credit for qualifying residents in Cheverly, ensuring assistance is available to our community members who need it the most.

Please stay engaged in the budget process. By the time we get to a constant yield hearing, most decisions have been almost made after months of work on the budget. The time to provide input is NOW!

Upcoming Events

For more information about these and other events, check out the town newsletter

Town Worksession

April 24

7:30pm

Hybrid

Dumpster Day (Large Trash, Paper Shredding, Medication Disposal)

April 26

8am-noon

Town Hall

CAACO Candidate Forum

April 26