∞

Info for Special Work Session - 27 Oct 2025

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. (Note: Work Sessions generally don’t have a Public Hearing component, but you can still send me your thoughts as they are always helpful as I approach the meeting.)

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Kyla M. Clark, Council President

  2. Ordinance No. 2051- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date

  3. Resolution No. 9-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Approving and Authorizing the Purchase of 114 and 122 Lafayette Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20707, for the Purpose of Acquiring Real Property for City Operations

Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.
∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 27 Oct 2025

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla M. Clark

  2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

  3. Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk

  4. Approval of Minutes: September 22, 2025 Regular Meeting; September 22, 2025 Closed Session; October 1, 2025 Work Session; October 15, 2025 Regular Meeting; October 15, 2025 Closed Session

  5. Report of the Mayor and City Council

  6. Mayoral Reappointments: Jennifer Shannon, Arts Council, 10/27/25-10/27/27; Don Gavelek, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 10/27/25-10/2727

  7. General Public Hearing

  8. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2046- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Employees Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  9. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2047- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  10. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2048- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  11. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2049- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  12. Bid Recommendation- IT- LPD Dispatch Furniture Replacement

  13. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2051- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date

  14. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 9-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Approving and Authorizing the Purchase of 114 and 122 Lafayette Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20707, for the Purpose of Acquiring Real Property for City Operations

  15. Adjournment

Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.
∞

Municipal Leaders Conference / Laurel Citizens University / Eagle Court - Highlights & pics

» Maryland Municipal League Excellence in Leadership Conference «

The first three days of last week I was at a Fall Conference of municipal leaders from across the state held out in western Maryland near Deep Creek. Courses I took included Municipal Budgeting and Effective Meetings and I’ve now completed all 14 classes to be certified in municipal governance save one, which I’ll complete on Nov 13. Not only is it helpful to have collected this knowledge to enhance my ability to serve, but it was also invaluable to connect with municipal leaders around the state to share information and form helpful relationships for Laurel as well.

Auto-generated description: A smiling man wearing a cap takes a selfie next to a sign for a Maryland Municipal League leadership event. Auto-generated description: A large conference hall is filled with attendees seated at tables, listening to a presentation with promotional banners visible in the foreground.

» Laurel Citizens University «

Laurel Citizens University kicked off on Thursday, Oct 2 and it was a pleasure to be there to help welcome participants and to help provide insights about the City’s legislative process – One thing I emphasized with those present is the preeminent importance their voice holds in the Council’s deliberations and to never feel shy or afraid to come and participate at Council Meetings. You can learn more about this program on the LCU dedicated page, and perhaps we’ll see you in a future class!

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)

» Troop 1250 Eagle Court of Honor for Noah Eng «

On October 11, I represented the City at the Eagle Court of Honor for Noah Eng of Troop 1250 based on Laurel. It was among the most beautiful settings I’ve been in for an Eagle Court, and it was a true honor to be present to help witness this important moment in his and his family’s Scouting experience as well as share reflections. One of the items I shared was that the path to Eagle is one of collecting experiences and developing skills like placing tools in a hiking pack – And now that he’d reached his Eagle, he’ll be able to pull from that pack to serve those he encounters along his life journey ahead. Congratulations Noah and thanks for the invitation to your special day!

∞

Resources for Federal Workers affected by the Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown lengthens, its effects unfortunately widen.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of resources as a support to those impacted. Please also feel free to forward me any that come to your attention and I’m happy to add them to the list here.

FOOD:

HOUSING:

  • Laurel Advoacy & Referral Services (LARS) — Financial assistance is available for mortgage, rent, utilities, and food; 311 Laurel Avenue; 301-776-0442

  • Eviction/ Foreclosure Protection — Involuntarily furloughed federal employees may request Maryland courts to pause eviction or foreclosure proceedings during the shutdown.

  • Gas & Electric Protections — Utility companies cannot cut off service for unpaid bills starting on the 8th day of the shutdown and continuing 7 days after the shutdown ends. Contact your provider to verify eligibility and set up a payment plan.

  • Utility Assistance — PG County has assembled various utility assistance programs such as those through BGE and WSSC.

Read More →

∞

Laurel Elections Candidate Forum *this* Wed, Oct 22 hosted by LBOT

We’re essentially two weeks away from the 2025 Laurel General Elections and here’s a perfect way to get familiar with and hear from the candidates running for office —>

The Laurel Board of Trade (LBOT) will be hosting their Candidates Forum this Wednesday, October 22 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Laurel Municipal Center.

You can come in-person; watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or watch live on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

LBOT is also collecting questions to distill down into the list posed to candidates over the course of the evening — So if you have any questions you’d like to see asked, they’ve asked if you can submit them via ‘direct message’ on their Facebook page.

More details below and hope you can make it!

Auto-generated description: A promotional graphic for a Candidates Forum event hosted by the Laurel Board of Trade provides details of date, time, and location.
∞

Seeking Your Input into AirBnB Rental Law for Laurel

During Council’s Work Session held October 1, there was an update proposed to Laurel’s Code for “tourist homes” – these are essentially short-term rentals often facilitated via platforms like AirBnB, VRBO, and the like.

Right now, Laurel’s Code reads that:

  1. There can only be one tourist home per street, and
  2. The rental period must be for three days or more

The change proposed is that:

  1. There is no limit on the number of tourist homes
  2. There is no minimum number of days for the rental period

Following the Work Session, the Ordinance was temporarily removed from the legislative calendar to allow more time for review and conversation – And I’d like to ask you, the residents of Laurel, to reach out to me with any feedback or thoughts you have on the topic so it can be incorporated into the conversation.

Thank you as your input is critical toward helping shape legislation for our City!

(Note: A proposed change was also to disallow tourist homes in multi-family units, like apartments.)

∞

Chandler Mural Celebration Event coming Sat, Oct 25

Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25 from 2 - 4 p.m. to join with Laurel for the Patuxent in their official celebration event to mark the completion of the beautiful Robin Chandler mural now adorning the side of the Quik Stop Food Mart in the 500 block of Main Street.

From L4P’s event page, where you can also RSVP:

We will be gathered in front of the mural on 5th street. We’ll have live music and food, activities, you can meet the artist and friends and colleagues of Chan Robbins, and mingle with other bird lovers! Please park along Main St., in the Old Town neighborhood, or in one of the lots along Main St.

It’s gonna be a lot of fun and great community-building event!

(Photo credit: L4P)

∞

Electronics Recycling, Paper Shred, & Styrofoam + More next Sat, Oct 18

From our Department of Public Works:

Public Works is happy to bring back our October Recycling Drop-Off Event. Gather up your old, important papers, old electronics, lightly used home goods, certain Styrofoam products and your wet and dry paint - and come down to Public Works, 305-307 First Street, on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm (noon).

This is a great semi-annual opportunity to clear out your house of the items that shouldn’t go into the normal trash stream and can pile up (I know I had to replace a TV that finally gave out this year, so I’ll be there). :)

AND you can check off multiple of these ‘odd-items’ that would otherwise mean running to multiple locations: GreenDrop will be there for regular donations, paper shredder for secure document destruction, clear out computers including hard drive destruction, even recycle used paint (nominal fee for this one).

Note: This is only for residents inside the City limits, and more details can be found on DPW’s related event page.

See you there!

∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 15 Oct 2025

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, you can sign-up by reaching out to the City Clerk’s office by 2 p.m. of the meeting day. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla M. Clark

  2. Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk

  3. Report of the Mayor and City Council

  4. Mayoral Appointments/Reappointments: Lakisha Muhammad, Historic District Commission, 10/15/25-10/15/28; Abisola Ude, Education Advisory Committee, 10/15/25-10/15/27; Ed Rowe, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 10/15/25-10/15/27; Diane Van Hassel, No-Kill Community Animal Shelter CAC, 10/15/25-10/15/27; Maria Gonzales Jackson, Education Advisory Committee, 10/15/25-10/15/27

  5. General Public Hearing

  6. Bid Recommendation- BAPS- Employee Insurance

  7. Bid Recommendation- IT- LPD Dispatch Furniture Replacement

  8. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2046- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Employees Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  9. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2047- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  10. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2048- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  11. Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2049- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  12. Possible Adjournment to Closed Session Under the Open Meetings Act General Provisions Section 3-305 (b) (3) to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto in order to protect the Mayor and City Council’s bargaining power and Section 3-305 (b) (7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice regarding the potential purchase of real property.

  13. Adjournment

Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.
∞

Emancipation Day 5k / Doggie Dip / Emancipation Day Parade / City Team Building - Highlights & Pics

September zipped by, but I wanted to be sure to highlight a few of the great events I had a chance to be a part of during the month.

» Emancipation Day 5k «

For over a hundred years, Laurel’s historic African American community has celebrated Emancipation Day, among the longest continuously running celebrations in the nation. St. Mark’s United Methodist Church has been at the heart of these celebrations, and in addition to the parade and picnic (featured below), has also hosted a 5K in recent years to benefit those impacted by diabetes. It was a pleasure to help celebrate and cheer runners on in the course of the morning, and many thanks to Jackie for her efforts in organizing the 5K which brought out scores, if not hundreds, of runners – congrats all!

Auto-generated description: Two people are smiling outdoors in a parking lot, one wearing a cap and I ♥ LAUREL shirt, the other in glasses and a red cap.

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)

»Doggie Dip Day«

It was a busy day, as shortly after the 5K I headed on over to the City’s Greenview Pool to witness a fun fest being had by canines and their owners as the pool wound down for the summer. I fully expected to get sopping wet with dogs shaking dry but happy to report that it only happened two or three times. ;) And while there were many dogs all running around having a good time and doggy paddling, everyone was well behaved (even the humans). ;) If your dog loves water and playing in groups, this has got to be one to mark down on your calendar for the Saturday after Labor Day each year.

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)

»Emancipation Day Parade«

After a brief respite, it was back across town to help process in the annual Emancipation Day Parade starting at the Municipal Center and ending at the grounds around St. Mark’s. There were marchers, musicians, and dancers, and at the parade route’s end, food, music, games, and socializing. Thank you Rev. Walter Smith, Jr. and the St. Mark’s community for this important celebration with deep roots and meaning, and an honor to share in with you!

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)

»City Team Building Event«

The over 200+ members of the City Team are diligent about their work day-in and day-out, but believe it or not, it’s rare that they have an opportunity to gather as one – That’s why events like the one in September bringing all the City Team together to connect and have fun can be a great opportunity. As I walked around, I was able to say “hi”, chat, and express thanks from residents to members of Public Works, Communications, Laurel Police, Parks & Rec, Budget, Emergency Operations, and more. And with everyone gathered as one, you can really see the breadth of what we as a City have to be able to support the people of Laurel. Thank you team for your care for our community!

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)

∞

Key Dates for Fall & Winter Events around Laurel

Fall always brings the new school year, cooling temperatures, breezy leaves, and bundling up for winter – And, plenty of great annual Laurel traditions you’ll want to be sure to mark on your calendar – such as:

  • Final Farmer’s Market, Thursday, October 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Quill Lot on Main Street

  • Trick-or-Treat on Main Street, Thursday, October 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Harvest Moon Hayride & Bonfire, Friday, November 7 from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. at Riverfront Park

  • Veterans Day Flag Placements, Sunday, November 9 starting at 11 a.m. at Ivy Hill Cemetary

  • Holiday Parade & Armory Illumination, Saturday, December 6 from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. along the parade path from Municipal Center and ending at Laurel Armory

  • Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Partnership Activity Center

  • And more!

Hope you find opportunity to enjoy at least a few of above in the coming months, and please don’t hesitate to come up and say “hi” at any of these or other events we happen to be at! 👋🏼 😃

∞

Significant Proposed Changes to City’s Youth Curfew Law

At this Wednesday’s Work Session, Council will be presented a proposal for potentially significant changes to the City’s youth curfew laws.

The proposed Ordinance 2045 can be read in its entirety as part of the packet for the Oct 1 Work Session, but provisions include:

  • Fines for juveniles of $250 + 10 service hours for First Offense; $500 + 25 service hours for Second Offense; and $1,000 + 40 service hours for Third Offense

  • Parental fine of $250 for Second Offense of their child; $500 for Third Offense of their child; $1,000 for Fourth and subsequent Offenses by their child

  • Removing reference to parental accountability for their child during school hours.

  • Enabling the Mayor to modify the curfew under emergency powers.

  • Parental civil liability up to $10,000 for damages caused by their children in connection with curfew violation.

Please reach out to me with any thoughts, suggestions, and observations, as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

And you can watch the meeting either live or recorded using the links provided in my post with the meeting info.

(UPDATE: This agenda item has been removed from the Oct 1 Work Session agenda to allow additional time for consideration - Please use the link above to send me your thoughts to incorporate.)

∞

Laurel Fix-It Fair this Sat, Oct 4

I’ve seen a number of “Fix It Fairs” around our area and’ve always thought they were cool – And now Laurel has one of its own!

We’ve all got various items around the house that have a small part broken, missing, or just doesn’t quite work right – You don’t want to throw it away because you know it just takes a knowledgeable hand and the right tool a few minutes to patch up, but maybe you don’t have one or the other.

Well bring that item with you this Saturday, October 4 to the Multiservice Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and have skilled merchants there help you get that item back up and running (and not needlessly in a landfill somewhere). Items include:

  • Sharpening gardening tools, knives, and the like

  • Fabric repair on your clothing, backpack, and similar

  • Electronics battery corrosion, game controller drift, Bluetooth troubleshooting, etc.

  • Bike shifter adjustments, flat tires, brakes, and minor tune-ups

Just use the QR code below to reserve your spot, then grab your item and come on out on Saturday. And if you’re just curious to see and learn what the skilled merchants are doing, I’m almost certain you can simply come on out to watch and pickup a few tips that’ll serve you well down the road.

More details below and encourage you to check out!

Auto-generated description: A poster for the City of Laurel's Sustainable Saturday Fix-It Fair on October 4th, featuring merchants who repair various items and promote sustainability.
∞

Info for City Council Work Session - 1 Oct 2025

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. (Note: Work Sessions don’t generally have a Public Hearing component, but you can still send me your thoughts as they are always helpful as I approach the meeting.)

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Kyla M. Clark, Council President

  2. Bid Recommendation- IT- LPD Dispatch Furniture Replacement

  3. Bid Recommendation- BAPS- Employee Insurance

  4. Ordinance No. 2045- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend Laurel City Code Article V. “Curfew; Parental Responsibility”, Section 9-60 “Definitions”; Section 9-61 “Unlawful Conduct”, Section 9-62 “Defenses”, Section 9-63 “Enforcement and Penalties” and Providing an Effective Date.

  5. Ordinance No. 2046- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Employees Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  6. Ordinance No. 2047- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Modify the Operation of the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to Document a Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Retirees of January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2014.

  7. Ordinance No. 2048- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  8. Ordinance No. 2049- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date.

  9. Ordinance No. 2050- (Text Amendment No. 269)- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the Unified Land Development Code, Chapter 20, “Land Development and Subdivision Regulations,” Section 20-6.13, “Table of Residential Uses,” and Section 20-22.73, “Body Art Establishments”.

  10. Adjournment

(UPDATE 30 Sep 2025: Agenda Item 4 on updates to the youth curfew laws has been removed to allow additional time for consideration - See my related post for additional details.)

Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.
∞

How has the City's Election Law changed since last Election?

Earlier this year, approximately twelve months' worth of work came to fruition when Council voted to pass roughly 42 pages of edits and updates to the City’s election laws – Some parts were for clarifying edits, and others for significant updates to how the law works.

As shared at the time, to me, the goal was threefold: (a) to see our resident’s voting rights respected, (b) to provide an even playing field for candidates, and (c) to have an easy-to-understand set of rules that supports the best possible outcome for our City each election cycle.

I’ve summarized here the key changes, which you’ll see in play this election cycle:

  • “Absentee Ballots” are now rolled up into the category of “Vote by Mail” Ballots – The gist here is that ‘vote by mail’ procedures have evolved in recent years and covers what used to be called absentee ballots. (TIP: To vote by mail for this year’s election, you’ll need to submit a completed application no later than noon on Tuesday, October 28.)

  • “Provisional Ballots” and “Same Day Registration” procedures were further clarified to allow an individual who doesn’t appear on the voter register to supply qualifying information and have their vote count.

  • Election Judges were provided explicit authority to request and direct the assistance of the Laurel Police Department and other law enforcement in maintaining the peaceful conduct of election days.

  • The Board of Elections also now has explicit authority to identify parking areas for voters to provide unimpeded access to and from the polls.

  • The steps around the recall of Elected Officials were further refined. Essentially, various types of gross misconduct in office can lead to a petition to recall, which if satisfactorily submitted, will trigger a yes/no vote by residents.

Read More →

∞

Last "City Hall in the Park" this Thu, Sep 25

(UPDATE 25 Sep 2025: Cancelled due to rain.)

If you haven’t made it out just yet to one of these, here’s your final chance to enjoy the 2025 City Hall in the Park series – This month’s location is Emancipation Park (next to the Laurel Library) and will be held this Thursday, September 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Not only is it a good chance to directly connect with and get your questions answered by Department Directors and elected officials, this year’s series features food from the grill 🍔, face painting and games for kids 🛝, and some fun Laurel-themed giveaways ❤️.

So pop on over to Emancipation Park for a casual night outside, stay connected to your hometown, meet some friendly neighbors, the kids can play at the playground, and more – it’ll be a good time, and see you there! 🙂

Auto-generated description: A promotional graphic for a community event at Emancipation Park in Laurel, Maryland, features a park illustration with people and event details for September 25th.
∞

My latest Council Connections Interview

Here’s a video of my latest interview for Council Connections, LaurelTV’s show series with members of Council to help share updates and goings-on direct from Councilmembers.

In this show I share about:

  • Updates to the City’s election laws

  • Various pieces of legislation I’ve introduced and helped shape this year

  • Tips on activities around town for families

  • Current initiatives I’m working on

(Note: Although I recorded the interview on June 30, there was an accidental delay in its release, so you may notice some of the “current initiatives” are actually items that have already worked their way through Council.)

Hope you enjoy and as always, reach out to me anytime with questions or comments!

∞

Vote on Monday on Social Media Policy for Council

At the Council Meeting Monday, we’ll be voting on the adoption of a Social Media Policy for City Council — It’s the first such policy specifically for Council and has the potential to provide important guidance to Councilmembers now and into the future.

Worked on collaboratively over the last seven months, most of the content is a consolidation of existing laws, just addressed to their particular applications in the social media space. For example:

  1. Already existing Ethics rules prevent Councilmembers from endorsing political candidates, since our roles are non-partisan. So this policy reiterates that social media posts should not contain any endorsements either.

  2. Also, existing Ethics rules prevent a Councilmember from promoting their own campaign when they’re acting in their official capacity. So this policy reiterates that a Councilmember can’t promote or link to their own campaign from their Councilmember social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, etc.

  3. Another relates to a U.S. Supreme Court case last year which formally established that official elected official social media pages are considered a ‘public forum’, and therefore comments cannot be unreasonably blocked or moderated. (Reasonable restrictions are permitted around things like profanity, threats, spamming, overrun, etc.)

  4. A fourth, is that existing Open Meetings laws prevent a quorum of Councilmembers (3 or more) from debating policy decisions under consideration outside of an appropriately published public meeting. So in social media world, this means that there can’t be a comment thread where more than two Councilmembers are sharing an exchange discussing what decision to make.

  5. One last highlight is that Councilmembers, as the City’s Legislative Branch, are appropriately considered distinct from the City’s Executive Branch. As a result, the Executive Branch can support Councilmembers in the fulfillment of their official duties online, but does not hold responsibility to govern as they do for City Departments and other City social media pages. It is empowered to act to the degree needed to enforce applicable laws or protect City’s legal interests, intellectual property, or public reputation.

You can read the full policy as part of the meeting packet for the September 22 Council meeting and please feel free to reach out to me with any comments, suggestions, or questions as well!

At the end of the day, the theme of the document is to aid Councilmembers in understanding how the standing laws bear on their conduct in the social media space so we can uphold the standards that we’re all pledged to and reflect due professionalism in the business of the Council.

(UDPATE: The Council did pass this policy at its Sep 22 meeting, and you can watch a video of my brief comments made during the session.)

∞

Need Money to Revitalize Your Historic Home?

If you have a historic home that you’d like to make repairs or upgrades to, you’ll want to be sure to register for the virtual “Roadshow for Homeowners” hosted by Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) and Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) – It’ll take place online Thursday, September 25 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

You’ll have the chance to learn about tax credits, loans, and other financial resources to help repair and revitalize your historic property directly from the people who administer the programs.

You can register for this event online and also learn more about MHT Roadshow programs direct from their webpage – Feel free to direct any questions to Brenna Spray at brenna.spray AT maryland.gov.

Check it out!

(UPDATE: MHT has shared that even if you can’t attend, you can still register above and you’ll receive a link to the video afterwards. It will also become available to view alongside other video resources shared on MHT’s YouTube channel.)

(UPDATE 1 Oct 2025: I’ve received and setup a link to download copies of the slides from the presentation.)

∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 22 Sep 2025

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla M. Clark

  2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America- Keith R. Sydnor, Mayor

  3. Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk

  4. Approval of Minutes: July 28, 2025 Closed Session; September 3, 2025 Regular Meeting; September 8, 2025 Regular Meeting

  5. Report of the Mayor and City Council

  6. Appointments; Stephen Slaughter, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 09/22/2025-09/22/2027; Gail Heath, Ethics Commission, 09/22/2025-09/22/2028; Connor Johnson, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 09/22/2025-09/22/2027; Reappointments: Roy M. Smith, II, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 09/22/2025-09/22/2027

  7. General Public Hearing

  8. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2043- (Text Amendment No. 267)- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the Unified Land Development Code, Chapter 20, “Land Development and Subdivision Regulations,” Section 20-22.50, “Interim Limited Retail Uses and Providing an Effective Date.”

  9. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 8-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Purpose of Approving Procedures on Social Media Use for the Laurel City Council.

  10. Possible Adjournment to Closed Session Under the Open Meetings Act General Provisions Section 3-305 (b) (3) to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto in order to protect the Mayor and City Council’s bargaining power and Section 3-305 (b) (7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice regarding the potential purchase of real property.

  11. Adjournment

Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.