GSFC Environmental Plan Raises Concerns Byrd Presents Policing
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Inside Stories GREENBELT Memories of a Recreation Sum- News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper Pioneer, p.7 mer Art, p.12 VOL. 83, No. 40 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 AUGUST 27, 2020 Byrd Presents Policing Act, Asks for Draft Ordinance by Kathleen Gallagher The regular meeting of the Greenbelt Municipal Access Greenbelt City Council on August (greenbeltmd.gov/government/city- 10 ran for nearly six hours, with administration/public-information- many items on the agenda. The communications/greenbelt- longest of these, which lasted municipal-access) and selecting more than an hour, was a presen- the August 10 meeting. tation by Mayor Colin Byrd of a Background proposal of his own to potentially Byrd first presented the his- be developed into an ordinance tory and need for evaluating and titled Greenbelt Fair and Just reforming policing in Green- Policing Act of 2020. belt and then made suggestions No draft document was pre- for policy. He started with an sented, and the motion Byrd account of the origin of slave would eventually make was for patrols, which started in South council to direct the city solici- Carolina and had such duties as tor to convert the content he was pursuing and returning escaped presenting into a draft ordinance, slaves and maintaining discipline which could then be reviewed among enslaved populations. After and considered for action. It was the Civil War, local sheriffs took made clear that no vote was be- on this work, and from that, early ing taken on the proposal itself police departments eventually PHOTO BY ROBIN OLSON ROBIN BY PHOTO that night, since only a frame- evolved. Byrd said that African On Tuesday, August 25, Greenbelters joined thousands of people taking action across America work had been presented. Americans, other minorities and with one clear message, "Save the Post Office." The Greenbelt Post Office protesters include Residents who wish to immigrants were the populations Bonnie Schrack, far right, organizer of Greenbelt's day of action to save the post office, and view the presentation or with whom the police were most Vi Ward-Diamond-Senio, staff, American Postal Union, center, standing by the Post Office sign. the slides can find them on the city website by going to See BYRD, page 9 Refinancing of Two Bonds Saves $700,000; Meeting Will Address Forest GSFC Environmental Plan Raises Concerns Preserve Trails Stewardship by Diane Oberg by Bryan Bruns At its August 10 regular meet- nity to obtain lower rates on two The two best offers came from ing, the Greenbelt City Council city bonds: the 2011 bonds used Freedom Bank and JP Morgan gave final approval to a proposed to cover the shortfall in the 2001 Chase. Freedom Bank had the refinancing of two prior bond bond fund ($1.8 million) and the lowest rate for refinancing the issues. In addition, it received 2013 bonds ($2.3 million) cover- 2011 bonds. For the 2013 bonds, a briefing on the environmental ing the city’s unfunded liability Chase had a slightly lower rate assessment of the Goddard Space to the state retirement system. (1.313 percent vs. Freedom’s 1.4 Flight Center (GSFC). The maturity date of the new percent) but did not offer a uni- Refinancing bonds will be identical to the form savings option. As reported in Matt Arbach’s existing maturities, according to Council had two decisions to story in the August 13 News Re- Senior Vice President Joe Mason make. First, which bank(s) to view, the current extremely low of Davenport and Company, the award the refinancing and second, interest rates provide an opportu- city’s financial advisor. whether to take all the savings up front or to spread the savings over the period covered by the loans (uniform savings). Council accepted the staff recommenda- tion that the city should select the uniform savings option. BRUNS BRYAN BY PHOTO On successive unanimous One well-trodden trail in the Forest Preserve leads through a stand See COUNCIL, page 8 of tall trees. The Forest Preserve Advisory tect the health of the Preserve, Board (FPAB) is holding a pub- provide a variety of experiences What Goes On lic Zoom meeting on Saturday, to hikers and allow the city to September 12 at 10 a.m. to dis- discourage unofficial trails or Monday, August 31 cuss the Master Trails Plan. To maintenance activities. Designat- 8 p.m. Council Worksession: prepare for the meeting, FPAB ing a trail to be an official trail Development Proposal at 7010 invites Greenbelt residents to pe- does not mean it will be marked Greenbelt Road (former Nurs- ruse excerpts from Chapter 3.1 of by physical blazes. FPAB and ing and Rehabilitation Center) the Forest Preserve Stewardship city staff will map the official Tuesday, September 1 Guidelines that discuss the exist- trails in each parcel and describe 7 p.m.. Arts Advisory Board ing informal trails. the type and intensity of trail Meeting The Master Trails Plan would maintenance that should occur to Wednesday, September 2 create a designated trail sys- preserve ecological health in each 8 p.m. Council Worksession: tem in the Preserve and describe area. Trail maintenance activities Royal Farms Detailed Site the type and intensity of trail that are approved in the Master Plan maintenance that should occur to Trails Plan may be carried out All meetings are virtual. maintain ecological health in each by trained city staff, trained vol- PHOTO BY MELINDA BRADY MELINDA BY PHOTO See the meetings calendar at area. The Stewardship Guidelines unteers working independently or A family plays together in the outdoor pool during the new greenbeltmd.gov for agendas stipulate that in all instances the groups of volunteers under direct family/recreational swim times at the Aquatic & Fitness Center. and information on public par- city will maintain the trails to the expert supervision. Slots are available from 3:35 to 4:45 p.m. Mondays to Fridays ticipation in these meetings. minimum extent possible. The Master Trails Plan will and 1:15 to 2 p.m., 3 to 3:45 p.m. and 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. on Sat- Trails will be officially des- include an inventory of existing urdays. Registration through Greenbelt RecLink is required. ignated and maintained to pro- See PRESERVE, page 6 Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, August 27, 2020 Editorial Correction In the article The Greenbelt Apologies for Baltimore Slur Forest Preserve: How to Man- We agree with the readers who wrote to us pointing out that last age the Trails? published in week’s cartoon included a slap at a fellow Maryland city. Political the August 20 News Review, cartoons are intended to stir people up and to do so they need to the name of the Greenbelt sub- unerringly hit a single well-defined target. In appreciating the mag- division Belle Point was mis- lev aspect of the cartoon, we saw only what we wanted to see, but spelled. then failed to take a second look. Though centered as we are on Greenbelt, the staff of this news- paper are fans of Baltimore. We appreciate its vivid culture; its ex- cellence in art, music, science and medicine; its aptly named sports Election 2020 teams; and the tenacity of its neighborhoods. We are also aware of Email Ballot Option and concerned for its struggles and the challenges of crime, poverty and inequality faced by many of its residents. Not Recommended Thanks to our readers for your letters of support for Baltimore. Anyone who has not re- And swift raps on the knuckles for our editorial board. ceived the mail-in ballot request form by early Sep- tember, or does not want to wait, may go to the Maryland State Board of Elections web- site (elections.maryland.gov) Letters to the Editor and download the ballot re- quest form directly to a home Baltimore Support access. The availability of meat, computer. The request form fruit and vegetables at this hour should then be mailed to the As a Greenbelter that works Prince George’s County Board in Baltimore I was truly disap- is amazing. My visits allow me to feel as if things are normal of Elections, 1100 Mercantile pointed to see last week’s cartoon Lane, Suite 115A, Largo, MD in the Greenbelt News Review again. Patricia Novinski 20774. This option requires with a derogatory tone towards an envelope and postage. the city of Baltimore. Baltimore The State Board does not is a great city and it deserves Hats Off to GAFC recommend requesting an elec- our respect and our support. Bal- Kudos to Stephen Parks and tronic ballot instead of the timore certainly does not need the staff of the Greenbelt Aquatic standard mail-in ballot that poor taste jokes about its situ- & Fitness Center. Though we will be mailed to the voter’s ation, particularly after being were all impatient waiting for address through the U.S. Post- the victim of a vicious attack them to reopen, it was worth the al Service. The electronic by the current president of the Letters Policy wait. They have done a terrific ballot was designed for limited The News Review reserves the right not to publish any letter USA and after having lost fund- job. The lifeguards and staff are use as it cannot be scanned to submitted. Letters are considered accepted when published. ing for a new light rail line by very patient and professional be counted. The emailed elec- All letters must include the letter writer’s name, physical ad- a rather arbitrary decision of the dealing with our complaints about tronic ballot available on the dress and telephone number.