All posts by Jessie Carpenter

News

City Manager Statement Regarding Marshall Project Article

I appreciate the work of the Marshall Project in its many efforts, including the recent series on Police K9s. One article in the series focuses on a terrible accident in 2018 when a Takoma Park Police dog bit a woman who was out for a walk with her boyfriend and dog in Washington, D.C. at the border with Takoma Park, Maryland. Our Takoma Park Police officers immediately provided aid to the victim. The City of Takoma Park provided information for the investigation of the incident undertaken by the District of Columbia, undertook our own thorough investigation, and provided information to our insurance carrier regarding the case. Neither the K9 involved in the incident, nor the dog’s handler, works for Takoma Park at this time.

While that incident was the only such incident in the 29 year history of the K9 program of the Takoma Park Police Department, it was a traumatic incident. A major reason the City of Takoma Park instituted a K9 unit in 1991 was to minimize having K9s from other police agencies, with different standards on use and control, in Takoma Park. Currently, the Takoma Park Police Department has one police dog. Whether or not the City of Takoma Park should continue to have a K9 program is part of the charge of a Reimagining Public Safety Task Force being formed in Takoma Park. The primarily Black and Brown membership of the Task Force will provide recommendations on this subject to the Takoma Park City Council, with recommendations to be provided by June 2021.

A copy of the questions asked by a reporter for the Marshall Project is here; the responses to the questions are provided.

Public Notices

Join the Takoma Park Youth Council – Applications Now Available

The City Council will appoint 11 young people to serve as the 2020-2021 Takoma Park Youth Council.

Youth Council members are eligible to earn SSL hours.

Youth Council member qualifications:

  • Takoma Park residents in grades 7-12
  • Maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average for the current school year

The Takoma Park Youth Council provides opportunities for young people in Takoma Park:

  1. Learn about Takoma Park government by active participation.
  2. Help the City Council to address problems and accomplish the goals of this community by working directly with the representatives of youth.
  3. Serve the youth of Takoma Park by:
    • informing the Takoma Park municipal government of the needs and wishes of youth;
    • planning and implementing social, educational, cultural and recreational activities for the youth;
    • working with the Mayor, City Council, City department heads, schools, civic clubs and service organizations to provide service and leadership opportunities for the youth of the City; and,
    • helping to instill a feeling of positive self-worth and esteem, teaching respect for the rights of others, and promoting community pride.

Youth Council Application

Review the Youth Council Charter

Youth Council Web Page

Questions? Contact Jessie Carpenter, City Clerk:

301-891-7267 or jessiec@takomaparkmd.gov.

News

Notice and Amended Order Modifying the Time for Responding to Public Information Act Requests

On the afternoon of May 19, 2020, the City Manager executed a Notice and Amended Order modifying the time for responding to requests to the City pursuant to Maryland’s Public Information Act.

The purpose of the Notice and Amended Order is to address, to the extent possible, concerns raised by residents and elected officials regarding the scope of the prior modification. It is written more narrowly to reflect the City’s original intent and commitment to transparency and open government, and clearly articulates the City’s intention to continue to respond to requests within the required time unless circumstances related to the pandemic prevent it from doing so.

With respect to timing, the unexecuted draft Notice and Amended Order was submitted to the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel at 12:01 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020. Having received no objections from that office within the required time, the City Manager executed the Notice and Amended Order on the afternoon of May 19. It was contemporaneously transmitted to the Mayor and Council, published on the City’s website, and sent to Governor Hogan’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Link to Maryland Public Information Act information on the Attorney General’s website

Link to the Takoma Park web page on responding to requests for records

News, Public Notices

Status of Responding to Records Requests Under the Maryland Public Information Act

The City Clerk issued this public notice in the April 24 issue of the Takoma Insider:

Notice Of Order Temporarily Suspending Legal Time Requirements Regarding MD Public Information Act Timeline:
The legal time requirements for the City’s response to requests under the Maryland Public Information Act are temporarily suspended until thirty (30) days have elapsed from the expiration of the State of Emergency and public health catastrophe, as determined by Governor Hogan. Maryland’s Public Information Act ordinarily requires the City to respond to requests for public records within ten (10) days, if there are no responsive records, or thirty (30) days, if responsive records exist. These time requirements are suspended. Link to signed notice.

Publication of the notice has caused concerns that the City will no longer be responding to questions or requests for information. This is not the case. The information below is being provided to clarify the City’s intentions.

Information From the Maryland Attorney General’s Open Government Website:

What is the Public Information Act? Maryland’s Public Information Act (“PIA”) gives the public the right to access government records without unnecessary cost and delay.

The PIA grants you the right to review the available records that are disclosable and to obtain copies of those records. It does not require an agency to answer informational questions or to create a record to satisfy your request.

What is a public record? A public record is defined as the original or copy of any documentary material in any form created or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Included in this definition are written materials, books, photographs, photocopies, firms, microfilms, records, tapes, computerized records, maps, drawings and other materials.

City of Takoma Park staff members routinely respond to questions and requests for information.  This has not changed during the pandemic. Additionally, if requests for records are received, staff continues to provide records that are accessible under the circumstances.

Please be assured that PIA requests will be responded to during the current health crisis. The notice that was published is regarding the normal 30 day requirement within which governments are required to respond to such requests. Given the current crisis, meeting the 30 days will not always be feasible. This course of action has been recommended by the Maryland Municipal Attorneys Association which took the lead on addressing the issue with the Governor’s Office. The City’s notice was submitted to the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel and approved by it before it was signed and posted. Please email the City Clerk with any questions.

Public Notices

Donate to the Emergency Assistance Fund

The City of Takoma Park Emergency Assistance Fund provides financial support to income-eligible residents in crisis. Read more about the Emergency Assistance Fund.

During the health emergency closing from March 14 through March 29, the City continues to accept donations for the Fund.

To donate by check:

  • Make check payable to City of Takoma Park
  • Note on the comment line: “Emergency Assistance Fund”
  • Mail check to: Takoma Park Finance Department; 7500 Maple Avenue; Takoma Park, MD 20912

To donate by Visa, Mastercard , or Discover:

  • Call the Finance Office at 301-891-7212 to speak with a staff member between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm weekdays. If a staff member does not answer, please leave your name, phone number, and reason for the call. You will receive a call back.
  • A convenience fee of 2.9% or $1.50, whichever is greater, will be charged for payment by credit card.

Thank you for your generous support of the Emergency Assistance Fund during this health emergency.

Public Notices

Montgomery County Ride On Bus – Presentation and Q&A – Wednesday, March 11, 6-7:15 p.m.

Before the City Council meeting, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., Montgomery County Ride On will make a presentation and respond to questions from the public and Council.

The meeting will take place in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue.

Bring your questions, comments and complaints. Residents are encouraged to send questions in advance to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov by 5:00 p.m on Tuesday.

The regular City Council meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.

News, Public Notices

Public Hearing on 2020 Climate Emergency Response Framework: From Nuclear Free to Fossil Fuel Free

Wednesday, February 5
7:30 PM – Auditorium
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue

The City Council is holding a public hearing on a Resolution on 2020 Climate Emergency Response Framework: From Nuclear Fuel Free to Fossil Fuel Free. All interested residents should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. (Advance sign up is not required.)

Background Information (from the January 22 Work Session)

January 22 PowerPoint Presentation

Link to Video of January 22 Presentation and Council Discussion
Presentation begins at 3:10:40

 

News, Public Notices

Council Compensation Task Force Applicants Wanted

Council Compensation Task Force to be Appointed

The City Council invites residents to apply to serve on a Council Compensation Task Force to review the salary and other compensation for the Mayor and City Council and recommend whether they should be changed.  The recommendations will be considered by the City Council. Any change made to the salary and compensation would be voted on by the current Council and take effect beginning with the Mayor and Council elected in 2020.

The deadline for applications is October 30, 2019. Apply now.

View additional information about the Council Compensation Task Force.

Questions? Contact Jessie Carpenter, City Clerk, at 301-891-7267.

News, Public Notices

Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Charter Amendments

On Wednesday, October 23, 2019, the City Council will hold three public hearings on proposed amendments to the Takoma Park Charter. The hearings begin at 7:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park.

A. The proposed amendment to Article III City Council (1) adds a requirement that each voting ward be “compact in form, composed of adjoining territory, and have substantially equal populations,” a requirement currently imposed by the City Code; (2) changes the day of the first meeting of a newly elected Council from the second Monday following an election to the second Wednesday following the election to reflect the Council’s meeting schedule; and (3) eliminates gender binary language.

B. The proposed amendment to Article V Amendment Procedures: provides that the signature requirement for Charter amendment petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than twenty percent of persons qualified to vote.

C. The proposed amendment to Article VI Registration, Nominations and Elections: (1) eliminates the 21-day residency requirement for voters; (2) eliminates outdated procedures; (3) clarifies existing language; (4) eliminates gender binary language; (5) revises deadlines to comport with early voting; (6) provides for election ties to be resolved by lot rather than runoff election; (7) eliminates requirement that election judges be appointed by the Council; (8) establishes a list of voters only registered to vote in City elections rather than a list of noncitizen registered voters; (9) changes references to “citizens” to “residents”; (10) provides that the signature requirement for advisory referendum petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than twenty percent of persons qualified to vote; (11) provides that the signature requirement for recall petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than the greater of 1500 qualified voters or twenty percent of qualified voters; (12) requires that signatures on recall petitions be obtained after the most recent election and at least 180 days prior to the next general election; (13) prohibits the Council from reappointing a recalled official; and (14) allows potential candidates to nominate themselves or second their nomination.

All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign in to speak. View the full text of the proposed amendments:

See agenda item #4 from the City Council meeting of September 18, 2019 (Continued Discussion of Election-Related Charter and Code Amendments).

For information contact the City Clerk at clerk@takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7267.

(Post updated October 6, 2019)