Snow Emergency Declared starting at 1 p.m. today, Feb 11

Mayor Sydnor has declared Snow Emergency status effective starting at 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, February 11.

As described in the Executive Order 2025-03:

This storm is expected to bring a possible accumulation of snow of up to six (6) inches in the City of Laurel. Among other things, the possibility exists that the City may have to eliminate or restrict parking on certain City streets designated as snow emergency routes and other areas that have been identified as critical locations. This Executive Order shall remain in effect until further notice or until it has been amended or rescinded.

Below is a picture of the City’s snow emergency route, where cars should be moved from, to help keep critical paths clear (also available in PDF). And more on snow removal and snow emergency procedures can be found on DPW’s Snow Removal page.

Forecasts keep varying, so smart to keep an eye on and hopefully another beautiful winter event here for Laurel. ❄️☃️ And a big thanks to our Emergency Management, Department of Public Works, Police, and other Laurel teams that help us bridge us to the other side!

UPDATE 12 Feb 2025: The Snow Emergency order has been lifted effective today, Wednesday, at 11 a.m.

Submit your Master Plan Community Survey before Feb 17

It happens only once every 10 years, so be sure to get your feedback and ideas into the Master Plan Committee to help inform and influence their planning process — The Community Survey opened February 4 and will close on February 17 at 5 p.m.

It covers questions like what you think the City should prioritize, which transportation options are important to enhance, what recreational options should be added, types of business & industries you’d like to see in town, what needs to be improved, and more. In total, shouldn’t take any more than 10 minutes, and likely a little less.

So don’t hesitate, click here to begin the survey and be a part of helping shape the City’s outlook for the next 10 years!

Laurel’s Black History Month event Sat, Feb 8

Celebrate Black History Month here in Laurel by coming out to the Multiservice Center from 1 - 3 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, February 8. There’ll be food trucks, black-owned businesses, performances, resources, and more.

Additional details are below — It promises to be a great event and a great celebration that you’re sure to enjoy. So come on out, meet neighbors new and old, and see you there! :)

Auto-generated description: A flyer announces a Black History Month celebration on February 8th in Laurel, Maryland, featuring food trucks, black-owned businesses, and performances. Auto-generated description: Flyer promoting a Black History Month event featuring local Black-owned businesses and community resources on February 8, 2025, at the Laurel Multiservice Center.

Info for City Council Meeting - 10 Feb 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, simply reach out to the City Clerk’s office.

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla M. Clark
  2. Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, CMC, Clerk
  3. Approval of Minutes: January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting; February 5, 2025 Work Session
  4. Report of the Mayor and City Council
  5. Mayoral Appointment: Nadol Hishmeh, Master Plan Committee, 02/10/2025-02/10/2027
  6. General Public Hearing
  7. Resolution No. 3-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Declaring Support for the Preservation of the Federal Tax Exemption of Municipal Bonds.
  8. Adjournment
Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.

FREE screening of The Six Triple Eight movie on Feb 12

As part of honoring Black History Month, the Greenbelt Cinema will be hosting a special screening of “The Six Triple Eight,” a film about the historic battalion of all-female, African American soldiers who, despite discrimination and war-time conditions, sorted over 17 million pieces of mail to restore morale to service members and families.

The FREE event will take place on Wednesday, February 12th, the 80th anniversary of the 6888th unit landing in Birmingham, England to begin their assignment. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 7:00 p.m.

And as an added bonus, Retired Master Sergeant Elizabeth Anne Helm-Frazier is a local expert on the history and significance of the 6888th unit and will hold a Q&A after the film with several other 6888th special guests. 

More information can be found on the cinema’s movie page, and it looks to be a great event!

UPDATE 11 Feb 2025: Due to the anticipated inclement weather for tomorrow, we have POSTPONED “The Six Triple Eight” event to Wednesday, February 19th at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm.) We apologize for any inconvenience, and we hope to have you join us next week for this wonderful event! (Use same link above for information for the new date.)

Mayor's Town Hall Listening Session tomorrow, Thu, Feb 6

Mayor Sydnor extends an invitation to all residents to come to a Town Hall Listening Session tomorrow, Thursday, February 6 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Municipal Center. And if you’re unable to attend in person, it will be broadcast live through the normal LaurelTV streams (see my Council Meeting post for all the normal links).

The Mayor and members of Council will share some highlights, but the focus is for residents to share their questions, ideas, concerns, suggestions, and more. (It can even be a first opportunity to share thoughts about the full re-write of the City election laws being decided by Council this month.)

Note that the Mayor has structured the event as listening session, so all present will be invited to speak and share their thoughts, but no replies will be given on the spot. Instead, the Mayor will ask members of his administration to compile replies in a report to be issued within sixty days. (I’ll plan to post that report here once it’s released.)

I plan to arrive early and stay late at the session, so please don’t hesitate to come up and introduce yourself and directly share your thoughts and ideas as well – I’m happy to answer any questions I can for you and to follow-up with you on any I don’t know right away. Also feel free email me if you’re unable to make in person – hearing from residents is critical to me in being able to know what’s helpful to make our City even better.

So come on out, if only to meet neighbors and hear what others have to say, but also to add your voice to helping make Laurel a great city to live, work, and play!

Auto-generated description: A town hall event titled Let's Talk, Community First is scheduled for February 6, featuring Mayor Keith R. Sydnor, with information on location, timing, and livestream options.

MLK Wreath / Eric’s ID / Troop 1250 Highlights & Pics

» Laying of Martin Luther King, Jr. Wreath «

Walking along the garden pathway next to the Municipal Center, you’ll find an important monument to Martin Luther King, Jr. and a testament to his words and actions which have shaped our country for the better. It was an honor to join in remembering Dr. King, his legacy, and to reflect on how we can live them out today. Thank you to all who came out!

Auto-generated description: A group of people is gathered outdoors around a memorial plaque with a wreath in a snowy setting. (Photo credit: City of Laurel)

» Eric Grantham and Ms. Linda Carpenter-Grantham «

As past Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, it was my pleasure to be able to correspond with and play a small role in arranging for Eric Grantham and his mother to visit City Council last week and share their story advocating for non-apparent disabilities and Eric’s ID Law. You can learn more in my blog post from last fall, and please mark your calendars for the Maryland House of Delegates hearing scheduled for February 13 (HB0707) where their bill will be introduced and hopefully pass this state legislative session.

(Photo credit: Ms. Linda)

» Troop 1250 Constitutional Rights & Obligations «

And last Wednesday it was a pleasure to visit Troop 1250 here in Laurel to help members complete their requirement to meet with an elected official and discuss the constitutional rights & obligations of U.S. citizens. One of the things I asked them to do was first imagine a country with no rights and only obligations … Then flip and imagine a country with no obligations and only rights. I was pleasantly surprised that they recognized the second was actually just as bad as the first, since, in their words, everybody would just go around trying to take and never give, which doesn’t work as a society. Good job Troop! :)

Auto-generated description: A person is speaking to a group of scouts seated on the floor in a gymnasium. (Photo credit: Shane)

Re-Write of City Election Laws currently before Council

Following the 2023 election season, the Board of Election Supervisors, in consultation with the Clerk to the Council and legal advisors, have been working diligently to pull together a re-write of the City’s election laws as a means to update and add clarity. It covers everything from who can vote, how votes are cast, rules to apply for candidacy, types of actions candidates can take, etc.

That work now comes before Council and is docketed for consideration this month (February). A few notes:

  • Some of the changes are typographic in nature, while others represent material changes.

  • The changes themselves are spread between two documents: (a) Charter Resolution 181 to amend the applicable provisions of the City Charter, and (b) Ordinance 2038 to amend the applicable provisions of the City Code. So to get the full impact, you’d need to look at both documents.

  • (Side note: Quick breakdown on the difference between the City Charter and the City Code: By analogy, you could say the Charter is like the Constitution for the City, while the Code is like the laws. The Charter is typically more high level and comes with additional difficulties to amend, while the Code typically leans more to detail regulations and can be revised in a more standard method. Both are available online.)

  • The proposed changes are available via the City’s Meetings & Agenda page - Simply navigate to the next City Council meeting and click on the link for “Agenda Packet”. If the documents get revised between meetings, going to the most current meeting should get you the most current version of the document.

  • As it currently stands, the documents would be expected to follow the normal process of: (a) an initial look during the Work Session on Feb 5, (b) First Reading with opportunity for public comment during the Regular Meeting on Feb 10, and (c) Second Reading with opportunity for public comment plus possible vote during the Regular Meeting on Feb 24. (UPDATE 10 Feb 2025: The documents are expected to go through a second Work Session, currently being scheduled. Residents can still share thoughts during General Public Hearings at regular Council Meetings, or anytime directly with Councilmembers.)

Because the City election laws affect basically everybody (covering who can vote, how, who can run for office, how, etc.), it’s one of those items I’d highly encourage folks to engage with. You may already have opinions on City election procedure based on your own experience — If so, I’d very much be interested to hear it. And you may read parts of the documents you’re most interested in and have a question or concern — I would very much like to listen.

My goal is would be that at the end of the day, there’s a process that’s clear, provides an even field, respects residents’ voting rights, and provides a simple path to the best possible outcome for our City every two and four years.

Please reach out to share your questions, ideas, or thoughts as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions. Thank you! 😀

Info for City Council Work Session - 6 Feb 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, simply reach out to the City Clerk’s office.

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Kyla M. Clark, Council President
  2. Resolution No. 3-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Declaring Support for the Preservation of the Federal Tax Exemption of Municipal Bonds.
  3. Ordinance No. 2038- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend Chapter 6 regarding City Elections
  4. Charter Resolution No. 181- A Charter Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Amending, Rearranging and Renumbering Article 600 to 617 related to Elections
  5. Possible adjournment to Closed Session to obtain legal advice. The Authority for this Closed Session is contained in the Open Meetings Act General Provisions Section 3-305 (b) (7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice regarding proposed election law amendments.
  6. Adjournment
Auto-generated description: Official seal and logo of the City of Laurel, Maryland, featuring a coat of arms and the city's name.

Announcing Passage of My Co-Sponsored Legislation on Disabilities & Seniors

I was pleased to join with Councilwoman Christine Johnson to propose, and on Monday pass, legislation that enhances the representation of those with disabilities and for senior residents here in Laurel.

Last term, while I was Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, I worked to re-boot the Committee and add to the committed core members. In the process, I learned that we had many experienced and dedicated individuals in Laurel that work with and even themselves experience a disability, but were unable to contribute to the work of the Committee because their residence was outside the City limits. So, in consultation with Committee members, I sought to expand our membership requirements to provide first order of preference to City residents, but that should the Committee still fall short, it would have the ability to avail of the expertise of those who have deep ties in the City, like business ownership or employment within the City limits. This would enable the goal of the Committee reaching its required quorum so that it could continue its work in advising the City Council and Mayor in the needs, programs, and supports for persons with disabilities.

Around the time I was working on the modifications, I was approached by Councilwoman Christine Johnson who has a deep commitment to Laurel’s senior residents and was exploring ways for the City to become more alert to their needs, to provide them a voice to City matters, and to act as a focal point pulling together helpful resources. After considering different options, and instead of standing up an altogether new Committee which would face common resource constraints, she proposed expanding the Committee to include senior residents. It was important to recognize that both persons with disabilities and senior residents have concerns unique to each, but that there were also areas of overlap and natural collaboration. I consulted with the existing Commitee members, and they agreed that it did indeed seem a good idea.

Text of the Resolution 1-2025 contains the specific provisions, including that 2 members be persons with disabilities (or relatives or caretakers), 2 members be persons over the age of 55 (or caretaker), 2 members of the general public, and 1 member from the City Council.

It was pleasure to collaborate with Councilwoman Johnson on this work, and I’m hopeful for its ability to further the City’s commitment to and service of persons with disabilities and our senior residents. And related – if you are, or someone you know is, interested to learn more about becoming a member of the Committee, please contact me and I’d be happy to share more information and help.

Clippings from the Jan 2025 edition of The Laurel Independent

I haven’t yet had a chance to share from the latest edition of The Laurel Independent, but wanted to be sure to pass along a few clippings folks may find interesting:

  • It was very much good news that residents of The Tiers of Laurel Lake Condominiums were able to remain in their homes after wide collaboration to shore up the egress points for the units.
  • Laurel’s non-profit Friends of Tonga was chosen by Detriot Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu to be featured on his My Cause My Cleats design.
  • PG County has been changing how their senior property tax credit works, with further developments still to come.
  • 438 homes are expected to be constructed this year among three different developments in Laurel.
  • Laurel resident Rishawna Gould publishes her first book honoring her mother’s and aunt’s memories through a tale of a children’s adventure.
  • And more!

Check out articles on Streetcar Suburbs News website and a full digital, flippable version on their Streetcar Suburbs News Issuu page — Physical copies also come via mail and are available in many hotspots around town.🔥And consider donating in support of local journalism, it’s needed!

Master Plan Committee 1st Meeting on Wed, Jan 29

The loosely year-and-half-long process of the Master Plan Committee kicks off tonight at the Municipal Center at 6 p.m. — The Master Plan is what guides the City, developers, and other stakeholders in a vision for how the City can grow and develop towards a bright future, and is updated every 10 years.

This first meeting is to provide brief introductions, discussion of what a Master Plan is, and an overview of the process, among other items. Throughout the process there will be surveys and inputs sought from all interested parties, but be aware that the first meeting won’t have a “Public Hearing” section but focus more on sharing the first round of basic information.

More about the Committee and a schedule of meeting dates can be found on the Master Plan Committee page, and I encourage everyone to stay tuned to developments and be sure to provide your insights as the process unfolds.

Auto-generated description: A flyer announces the kickoff meeting for the Master Plan Review Committee in Laurel, Maryland, detailing the event date, location, and contact information.

PG County Executive Candidate Forum in Laurel on Jan 30

You’ve probably already received your mail-in ballot for the special Primary Election on Mar 4 (with special General Election to follow on Jun 3), but you may not be familiar with the list of County Executive candidates – We’ll you don’t have to travel far, because both Democrats and Republicans are coming our way this week on Thu, Jan 30 for a Candidates' Forum, and you’re invited.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Laurel Boys & Girls Club Phelps Center at 701 Montgomery Street. The event is also expected to be live streamed if you’re unable to be present in person.

Additional information (including live stream link once available) can be found on this Bowie Sun page so come on out to learn more about the candidates and to help you cast your vote. :)

UPDATE: Here’s an article from The Laurel Independent that provides comments shared by the variety of candidates present at the forum and can be very useful to understand differences and areas of emphasis by each as you make your decision.

My Vote on Charter Amendment 180 on Dividing CREM Department

Thank you so much to members of the public who reached out via email and who came to tonight’s Council Meeting to share your thoughts on Charter Amendment No. 180 to consider dividing the existing City Resources & Emergency Management Department (CREM) into two departments: the Department of Human Services and the Department of Emergency Management – it is extremely helpful to hear from residents whenever a change like this is being considered for our City.

I wanted to provide a brief recap of the comments I made during tonight’s proceedings in the process of casting my vote:

  • First, I’ve persuaded myself both ways on this Charter Amendment at least a couple times each, because I can see the merits of two sides

  • On the one hand, it’s natural that with the addition of the new Multi-Service Center (MSC) and its role in our City, that resources be strategically aligned to empower it to flourish in its mission

  • On the other hand, adding to our City’s departmental count in order to create a department for something we already created a department for not even a full two years ago when we already anticipated this (i.e., CREM was formed in March 2023 with one of the principal reasons to oversee the MSC) made it harder to grasp

  • The other part for me is also that it’s not so much that Human Services shouldn’t be its own Department (for which I see a lot of solid reasons), but that in this plan, Emergency Management becomes a Department of 2 people all out on its own. And while they are a critical asset for us to have as a City, their function seems better fitted to an Office rather than a Department, perhaps an Office under the Department of the City Administrator where it was before.

  • So it’s not to say that there was nothing favorable in the proposal, but that in its current state, it was difficult to conclude it was a ‘complete enough’ plan to accomplish the stated objective, which is a good one, but I believe would benefit from some additional attention.

In the end, my vote was “Yes”, with an ask of the Mayor to give consideration to folding the Department of Emergency Management into another Department in time to avoid un-needed financial burden on the taxpayers.

As a procedural note, a Charter Amendment cannot take effect until it goes through an extra special process including 40 days of being posted publicly and ensuring no more than 20% of qualified voters sign a petition rejection its adoption.


(Separately, something I’ve been meaning to share with folks that I think many people may not understand about the mission of the Multi-Service Center: The program of the MSC is not actually overseen by the City at all. It’s overseen by a non-City 501c3 non-profit that recruits and monitors other non-profits and government organizations to provide services. In many ways, the City is acting merely as custodian of the building, helping provide a venue through which those organizations can deliver services.)

Preserving the Dam behind the City

The story of Laurel in many ways traces its roots back to the Patuxent River – you might even say, Laurel “sprang” from the river.

The reason, is that the beginnings of our town started to take shape when a grist mill was setup in 1811 powered by the waters of the Patuxent. By 1845, it had bloomed to include a second mill (now processing cotton), and together, the mills employed more than 700 workers who now took up residence here with their families, putting “Laurel Factory” on the map. Many of our early churches were organized within that same decade, and finally in April of 1870, the city itself officially incorporated as just “Laurel”. (Which means we’re approaching our 155th birthday this April.)

So you can see how the River, the mills, and the dams powering that mill are really touchstones to Laurel’s birth and parts of its identity. Even today, you can make your way down to the parking lot at the west end of Main Street, get out and walk a couple hundred yards, and see the remnants of the dam still there, albeit crumbling.

Which is why it’s a great relief to share that last year the City received funds from both federal and Maryland grant efforts to shore up and enhance this critical reference point for our City, for our and future generations. Our appreciation goes out to our federal and State delegations for their support, and also a big champion of the project, past Councilman, Michael Leszcz. Included in the project will be preventing further erosion of the stone areas and making them safer, making the approach area and parking lot more accessible, and enhancing many of the historical markers to further tell the story of our town’s beginnings.

While the exact details and timing are still being worked out, if you’re curious to learn more, you can check out the draft engineering report with some of the areas needing attention and some of the ideas on what comes next!

Laurel: A Community of Communities

(An article I wrote for the Jan 2025 edition of ‘Voices of Laurel’ – See links at the bottom for the growing database of communities & how to submit yours.)

Each of us starts life in a “community” called family. And as we grow, we naturally become part of more and more communities: Aunts, uncles, cousins; Church, and its sub-communities, like choir or committees serving to those in need; School, our class grade, school groups & friend groups; Hobby and recreation groups like sports leagues, motorcycle groups, Scout troops, candle makers, and book clubs; Public service like soup kitchens, historical societies, charities; And the list goes on.

I like to think of all these communities as a rain forest ecosystem: flowers, birds, trees, monkeys, fruits, insects, jaguars, canopy, undergrowth, water, air, sun. Deep, rich, interwoven, interdependent. Communities overlapping, mutually enriched, vibrant, teeming with life and resilience.

But modern life comes with its challenges: commutes, homework, dishwashers needing repair, working late, lawn mowing, bank password resets that still don’t work. And then there’s the competitions for attention: TV & movies on demand, football & baseball season, video games, social media scrolling, the latest news updates.

It can be easy to find ourselves sliding into a mindset that ‘we’ll go out and connect with others’ later, it’s ‘just one more thing’ when the rest of life feels like a lot already. And self-care is important: we need to have cared for ourselves so that we can care for others.

But there is an odd converse too: Connecting with and caring for others, strangely and somehow stirs a part core inside us. It flips a switch and lets juices flow within our souls that aren’t touched by or activated in any other way. Ultimately, we need to reach into and expand that part of us if we are to be who we truly are — We are social beings, meant to explore and to become, precisely through our interactions with others, in community with them.

Which leads to a further realization too: We are community - community isn’t ’out there’, it’s us. Ain’t nobody here but us people. What we do, is what our community is, you, me, and all of our neighbors, taken together. Whether it’s taking a couple extra minutes to shovel the sidewalk for our elder neighbor next door, asking our neighbor across the street to help retrieve an Amazon delivery when we’re out of town, sharing about our family’s health ups & downs, offering some fresh made iced tea to the contractors, actively slowing down at the crosswalk near the grocery store — each one of these small acts, these are community. Part of the rich tapestry.

And a natural next step is joining a community with others. Whether it’s the new Reader’s Theater group at the Selbourne House and open to all, where members rehearse scripts under the able direction of Mr. Charles Clyburn, then do dramatic reading performances for the community. Or the indoor radio-controlled car racing hosted at Hobby Works that starts in January. Or the Hooked on Crochet group formed by Heidi Temple that meets Sundays at Panera. Or the Laurel 4th of July Committee that puts on such a fantastic event each year, but who themselves are in need small and big helping hands to ensure this tradition can continue for our town next year.

So a note of encouragement: There is so much good going on around our wonderful town, and so many wonderful people. But I also observe communities growing thin, and folks searching for the depth they know can’t come from behind our screens, but only from authentic, patient human connection in the groups in which we can share our small moments and the path of our life lived together.

Ultimately, our community needs you, needs me, needs all of us together — a community of communities, teeming with life and resilience, mutually enriched, and vibrant.

(Note: Help build a living list of ‘community groups’ that call Laurel their home — It’ll provide folks a wonderful insight into the rich tapestry we have, and also be a place folks can come to find a community to connect to. To have your group added, please complete this simple online form. And thank you to the many communities and community members that make up our hometown Laurel!!)

Info for City Council Meeting - 27 Jan 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, simply reach out to the City Clerk’s office.

AGENDA

  1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla 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, CMC, Clerk
  4. Approval of Minutes: January 6, 2025 Work Session; January 13, 2025 Regular Meeting
  5. Report of the Mayor and City Council
  6. Presentation to the Mayor and City Council by Shannon Mouton, Executive Director, LARS
  7. Appointment: Naomi McMillen, Board of Election Supervisors, 01/27/2025-01/27/2030; Veronica Martin, Juneteenth Executive Committee; Artesa Jones, Juneteenth Committee; Reappointments: The Honorable G. Rick Wilson, Planning Commission, 01/27/25-01/27/30; William Wellford, Planning Commission, 01/27/25-01/27/30; Sean LeVere, Community Redevelopment Authority, 01/27/25-01/27/28
  8. General Public Hearing
  9. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Charter Amendment No. 180- A Charter Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Amending Article 400 “Administration” of the Charter of the City of Laurel to Reflect the Dissolution of the Department of Community Resources and Emergency Management (CREM) and the Establishment of Two New Departments: The Department of Human Services and Emergency Management and Amending Section 469 to Reflect “Director of the Department of Emergency Management” and add Section 470 “Director of the Department of Human Services.”
  10. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2036- 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 Providing an Effective Date.
  11. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 1-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Rename and Expand the Scope of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
  12. Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 2-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Authorizing the Purchase of 7701 Old Sandy Spring Road Laurel, Maryland 20707, for the Purpose of Acquiring Real Property for City Operations.
  13. Adjournment
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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today

Honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and the monumental work he led with those of his time to advance our nation for all.

My Visit to the Maryland General Assembly yesterday

Yesterday, I put on my “CPA hat” and had the pleasure of visiting the Maryland General Assembly to advocate with our State legislators for a positive regulatory and tax environment for accountants and the small businesses and individuals we serve.

And I had a wonderful experience meeting another CPA from District 21 who lives right here in Laurel! – Maxene Bardwell. Not only is she President-Elect for the Maryland Association of CPAs, she also volunteers as a member of the Laurel Ethics Commission. We have so many talented and giving members of the Laurel community who are making a difference across our state and meeting Ms. Bardwell was such a great testament to that!

We had an opportunity to sit down with the offices of Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk and Delegate Mary Lehman. And while Delegate Benjamin Barnes and Senator James Rosapepe weren’t available at the time we stopped by, we were able to share with them many of the key issues identified by the Association.

As I shared in last week’s City Council Meeting, this year’s Maryland legislative session will have a number of important things that will affect citizens across the state and I encourage residents to stay tuned in to Annapolis this year – For example, Governor Moore introduced his proposed budget on Wednesday and there are significant changes to the income tax rates and fees for Marylanders. Some of them will help middle- and low-income residents (like a small reduction in income tax rates) and others cost more (like increasing emission test from $14 to $30 and a $0.75 charge on online delivery orders). Nothing is passed yet as the budget must be approved by both houses in Annapolis, but as plans unfold, it’s a good idea to let your voice be heard by staying in touch with our District 21 representatives.

Thank you again Maxene for our great conversation as we tromped up and down the halls of the House and Senate buildings, it made for a great morning! :)

Laurel High School College & Career Fair on Jan 16

This Thursday, Jan 16 from 6 - 8 p.m., Laurel High School will be holding its first College, Career, and Community Resource Fair. It’s free to the public and designed to help all high school students (whether going to LHS or other) to explore colleges, careers, and resources (like applying for scholarships) specially designed for them as they discern their path approaching the new chapters of their life.

I was pleased to play a small role last fall in the planning at the time I was a member of the City’s Education Advisory Committee (including some great new apprenticeship and other career resources), and it was great to see the energy and enthusiasm of the LHS staff members putting on the event, including Mrs. Rachel Mitchell.

Please be sure to pass word to any high school students in the area to encourage them to attend as I can guarantee they’ll come across something of interest or help to them – It’s often experiences like these that can help make a contact or discover something new that really makes a difference in a student finding a great path ahead!

Auto-generated description: A flyer promotes a college, career, and community resource fair at Laurel High School on January 16, 2025, with contact details for more information.