From the Desk of Former Mayor Malinda Miles

It has been two years since I decided to remove myself from the political scene in Mount Rainier, MD, Prince George's County, and the State of Maryland. Holding the lofty position of Mayor was such a great honor, but as the years flew by, I realized that it was time to do something else -- get a life.! I did, and still continue to provide resources to the residents through The Front Porch Ministries (TFPM). Real people pass through The Front Porch Ministries weekly. LIFE is good.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Proposers/Sponsors: Derrick Leon Davis, Dannielle Glaros, Deni L. Taveras, Todd Turner SPONSORS of BILL to Expand County Council

As your attention is drawn to an issue that has and will continue to plague our society takes center stage, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL is moving forward to passing a bill that will expand the current COUNTY COUNCIL from the current NINE (9) to ELEVEN (11).

The PUBLIC hearing on this bill is scheduled for TODAY, July 11, 2016, at 7pm, at the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro, MD. If you cannot attend this hearing, PLEASE contact your County Council representative. To make sure that you are heard, CONTACT all of them. Their names and email addresses are listed at the end of this post.

My constituents that have contacted me are totally opposed to this bill. Their position, which is the same as mine, is that this is another attempt by those sitting on the current County Council to extend their power and influence beyond what has been provided by the County Charter.

They would find the bill less offensive had those currently sitting not be eligible to run for the two new positions; that the County Council had not increased their salaries to more than $100,000; had the current sitting Council brought their recommendations to their constituents before taking self-serving actions to promote and pass the bill; had there been no County budgetary deficits, layoffs, etc.; or attempts to increase county taxes by 15% under the pretense of improving education. In addition, my constituents would like to know where would the funding come from to pay for two new council positions' salaries, benefits, staff, salaries, and other amenities that come with the positions.

CB-040-2016 Draft No. 1

Type:

Council Bill

Status:

Third Reading

Meeting Body

County Council

Meeting Date

7/11/2016

Effective date:

Title:

AN ACT CONCERNING AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 301, 303, AND 307A, CHARTER OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY for the purpose of proposing an amendment to Sections 301, 303 and 307A of the Charter of Prince George's County to provide for the election of two additional members to the County Council, to provide for the additional members to be elected at large and to provide for the eligibility of at-large members of the Council.

Proposers/Sponsors:

Derrick Leon Davis, Dannielle Glaros, Deni L. Taveras, Todd Turner

Code sections:

CHARTER-0301 - Composition., CHARTER-0303 - Election., CHARTER-0307A - Term Limitation.

Attachments:

1. B2016040, 2. CB-40-2016 AIS, 3. CB-40-2016 Report

Contact:

Colette Gresham, Legislative Officer

There are no good reasons for this bill beyond extending the terms of current term-limited county councilmembers and another way to circumvent the will of the people whom each of you were elected to serve!

EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR SITTING COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Deni Taveras ,
councildist6@co.pg.md.us,
"Davis, Derrick L." ,
"Glaros, Dannielle M." ,
Councilman Lehman ,
district4@co.pg.md.us,
"Harrison, Andrea C." ,
Karen Toles ,
Councilman Patterson ,
mfranklin1@co.pg.md.us

Malinda Miles
Mayor, Mount Rainier

Chair, MML 2015 HEPAC Committee
President of WINGS. 2015

Past President of PGCMA

Past President of MMA

Past President of MBMA

Former MML Board Member

Former Member MML Executive Committee

Past Chair MML Communications Committee

Mayor Malinda Miles

As a long-time resident of Mount Rainier and a homeowner, it is important to me that municipal government be inclusive of all of its residents. It is equally important that information be communicated through all possible channel so that residents can get involved. It is also important for residents to volunteer and serve on committees, commissions, boards and task forces. I truly believe that municipal government is the government closes to the people, and as such should be easily accessible. This BLOG is another effort to reach out to the residents of Mount Rainier.