August 14, 2008
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 71, No. 39 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 AUGUST 14, 2008 Greenbriar Is Site for Second Council Focuses Attention Elections Forum on Monday On Schrom Hills Pond by James Giese by Bay Woods The only item creating any according to Councilmember Ed On Monday, August 18 at 7 currently elected in November of meeting, like council itself, were great interest and discussion at Putens, added $10,000 to the p.m. in the Greenbriar Commu- odd years by means of a system largely white and, to use Jeon’s the August 11 Greenbelt City price of nearby new homes hav- nity Room at 7600 Hanover Park- where every member of council phrase, were not “fully repre- Council meeting, a meeting that ing lakeside views. way, the American Civil Liberties is elected at-large by the votes of sentative of Greenbelt’s racially otherwise consisted of non-con- Besides being a scenic amenity Union (ACLU), the National all participating. The ACLU and diverse citizenry.” troversial pro-forma agenda items, to a new city park, the pond was Association for the Advancement the NAACP have argued that this Many citizens in attendance was what to do about maintaining to serve as a required storm water of Colored People (NAACP) and system has produced an all-white stressed the city’s civic pride and the pond at Schrom Hills Park detention facility for development Fair Vote will participate in a city council. activist spirit and expressed a and who should do it. After of the Greenbrook and Ora Glen community forum they are calling They proposed moving elec- sense of betrayal. Frank Gomez discussion, council agreed to subdivisions off Hanover Park- “The Prospects and Promises of tions to even-numbered years (so said, “I was offended about the seek more information and then way in Greenbelt East. But the Electoral Reform in the City of they correspond with national NAACP and ACLU getting in ponder again what to do about residents moved in without the Greenbelt.” and state elections) and creat- our business.” the pond. pond having been built. This will be the second public ing districts to help ensure that Barbara Dickey-Davis was History While the developer, city, meeting on the issue of the city’s the racial make-up of council “concerned with the tone of the For more than 20 years the county and U.S. Army Corps of at-large election system. The more closely resembles that of NAACP and ACLU,” which she pond has been a perplexing prob- Engineers went back and forth first meeting was a worksession the city’s population. Fair Vote called “offensive and shocking,” lem to the city and a matter on design for the lake, reducing of the Greenbelt City Council. proposes an alternative Choice demonstrating only that the orga- of concern to nearby residents. its size and eliminating an island The second meeting will focus on Voting system. nizations “have come in without Originally planned as a land- and surrounding walkways, the electoral reform. After two previous meetings doing their homework.” scaped lake with adjacent walk- pond appeared on its own be- On February 29 the City of were canceled by the NAACP Others, such as Evelyn Lewis, ing trails around it, a second cause of an obstruction of some Greenbelt received a letter from and the ACLU, the city hosted said, “When I look at a council Greenbelt Lake for Greenbelt Deborah Jeon of the ACLU, the first public meeting about that isn’t diverse, it tells me it East residents, the developer, See POND, page 6 representing that group and the the issue. June White Dillard doesn’t represent the city. It is Prince George’s County chapter of the NAACP, Amy Ngai of very important that all people are of the NAACP. In the letter Jeon Maryland FairVote and Deborah represented.” Greenbelt's Leonie Penney claimed that unless Greenbelt was Jeon, author of the ACLU’s let- Nearly everyone who attended willing to change its municipal ter, each presented their rationale the meeting welcomed some form Receives Leadership Award election laws, it would fail to for changing the city’s electoral of change, though there was no meet its obligations under the system and proposed concrete consensus on what to change and by Kathleen McFarland Voting Rights Act of 1965. changes they believed would fix The Greenbelt City Council is the problem. Attendees at the See FORUM, page 2 Leonie Penney recently re- ceived another award to add to the many she has earned in her long life of community activism. Longtime Greenbelt Employee The latest is a beautiful framed Lucite plaque for “Excellence in Leadership” in recognition of Learns New Ropes as City Clerk her “outstanding advocacy on behalf of older adults and com- by Anne E. Carroll mitment to developing livable communities.” The plaque is Cindy Murray may be new sire to do this job.” signed by County Executive Jack to the job of Greenbelt’s city Moran emphasizes that Mur- B. Johnson and should have been clerk but she’s a familiar face in ray’s background with the city presented on May 19 at an Older Americans program at the Mar- Greenbelt’s city offices. When is one of her strengths as clerk. PHOTO BY BEVERLY PALAU riott Hotel where Penney was she started this job on June 2, The job is an administrative one; Leonie Penney she simply opened a new chapter the clerk reports to the city man- honored. It was delivered just a of her 33-year career with the ager, Michael McLaughlin, and few weeks ago, since Johnson’s including the ongoing Friends of city and moved her office from works extensively with the coun- representative was unable to at- the Resource Advocate commit- the Public Works Department to cil and other city officials. tend the program. tee, and her long service on the the Municipal Building. In large part Murray’s job as The May 19 banquet was city’s Senior Citizen Advisory Of her new position, she says, city clerk is to prepare, main- hosted by Marriott as part of a Committee. “I like it very much. I find it tain and attest to the official re- new partnership with the city. The keynote speaker at the very interesting.” But the most cords of the city government and The program was organized by banquet was Gloria Lawlah, Sec- interesting thing about the job for council’s action. At meetings she Christal Parker Batey, Greenbelt’s PHOTO PHOTO BY BEVERLY PALAU retary of Aging for the State her also ties into her biggest frus- takes minutes and notes the reso- Resource Advocate and head of of Maryland. In addition to tration so far. While she loves Cindy Murray lutions and ordinances discussed, the Greenbelt Assistance in Liv- Penney’s family and guests, how much she is learning about as well as the actions taken. ing (GAIL) program for senior Greenbelt’s city manager and the city as its clerk, she also is job at the Institute of Govern- Murray’s other responsibilities citizens; Daryl Pennington of councilmembers also attended, as impatient with her own inability mental Service and Research at include administering the city’s GAIL was mistress of ceremo- well as many Green Ridge House to provide answers for people as the University of Maryland, and elections every other year and nies. At the banquet, Penney residents and volunteers. quickly as she would like. Assistant City Manager David maintaining voter registration was named Outstanding Volunteer In her former position with Moran, who worked as city clerk records for the city. of 2008 for her work in helping Public Works, she explains, she in the late 1990s. “I’m following Moran points out that fulfill- to establish the GAIL program, See PENNEY, page 6 knew the ins and outs of the in some great footsteps,” Mur- ing those duties requires a lot whole department. In this new ray asserts. She emphasizes that of communication with other job, there’s a lot she doesn’t both Gallagher and Moran have city departments which makes What Goes On know yet and she is sometimes been important resources for her. Murray’s knowledge of the city Monday, August 18 frustrated when she doesn’t have “I’ve called on Kathleen a few especially useful. “One of her 7 p.m., Council Worksession with ACLU/NAACP, Greenbriar the answers to people’s questions times,” she explains, “and she’s strengths is her knowledge of Tuesday, August 19 at her fingertips. “I need to have been very helpful.” Of Moran, Greenbelt,” he says. “She al- 7 p.m., Police Community Outreach Meeting on Spellman Over- patience with myself,” she em- she says, “It’s really nice to have ready knows who’s who and pass, Community Center phasizes; she’s eager to get back someone currently on staff who where things are, and she already Wednesday, August 20 to the same comfort level she had has done this job before!” understands the organization and 7:30 p.m., Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Community Cen- at Public Works. Moran is quick to pass back structure of the community and ter Senior Lounge (Room 111) In the meantime she has the the compliments. “Cindy is do- the city government.” support of a number of key peo- ing a great job,” he says. “We’re Murray identifies her clerk role Thursday, August 21 ple, including Kathleen Galla- really thrilled she’s here. We’re as one of a facilitator; she sees 8 p.m., Greenbelt Homes, Inc.