Riverdale Park Meeting Roundup: Police Covert Ops and More

Riverdale Park’s Mayor and Town Council met Monday night for its regular monthly legislative session. The agenda was fairly short, and included monthly reports by town staff and councilmen along with several action items.

• Mayor Vernon Archer reported that he’d met with local officials, including District 3 Councilman Eric Olson and District 22 Representative Justin Ross to discuss the town’s support of the and the importance of being moved to the first phase of the development.

• Town Administrator Sara Imhulse told the council that a new special permit would be required at the county level for all businesses wishing to hold dances, use DJs, or have other live entertainment. Business will be required to go through the county process before appearing before the town council for approval.

• The seniors' holiday lunch at Crescent Cities sponsored by the town council is on Dec. 8 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Imhulse also reported that the council will be meeting for its regular December worksession on Dec. 16, and that town offices will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

• Police Chief David Morris reported that the police department had gone on a neighborhood walk on Kenilworth Avenue with the Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitilization and that group was pleased with the improvements in the area since its March walk. CKAR is planning another walk with with the police department for early spring 2012.

• The police department will be on hand this Saturday, Dec. 10, for the town’s annual Festival of Lights.

• Morris also reported the police department had run a covert operation in Wards 1 and 2 in response to a tip on some controlled dangerous substance activity in the area. As a result, they made several arrests for possession of CDCs and paraphernalia. The county police force responded to the town’s call for backup on the operation.

• For the month of November, the town police force took 27 individuals into custody and issued 319 citations for traffic violations, Morris said.

• On Dec. 19, the Prince George’s County Public Safety Food Basket will distribute food baskets to needy county residents, including 41 families in Riverdale Park. The police department is coordinating the drive, and donations of non-perishable foods can be left at the police headquarters or the town hall, Morris said.

• Public Works Director Leonard Addison reported that leaf collection is ahead of schedule thanks to the hard work of residents raking their leaves and having them on the curb on pickup days. He also reminded residents to make sure that their cars are not obstructing any piles of leaves awaiting pickup.

• Addison noted that residents should check the town website for guidelines on snow and ice removal.

• WSSC will be installing a new water line system in Ward 1. They will be replacing old mains and surface lines, and the project should be complete by sometime in 2013. Addison said residents should expect some disruption while the mains are being replaced.

• Addison reported that he will be working with the Maryland State Highway Administration to ensure that the resurfacing of MD 410 and the renovations to U.S. Route 1 between Queensbury and MD 410 will not happen at the same time this spring.

• Contractors are out trimming trees and put the wrong notice on some trees in Ward 1, Addison said. No healthy trees are being removed.

• Ward 1 Councilman Jonathan Ebbeler reported that the is looking into the feasibility of an Our Town Grant from NEA to support the town’s arts. He also met with representatives from Douglas Development, who own a portion of the town center, and said the talks were encouraging and that there is some retail interest.

• Ward 2 Councilman Alan Thompson said that Cafrtiz had been taking up most of his time, and that while progress had been made, the town was still not where it wanted to be. He also said there will be a Finance Committee Meeting at 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 19.

• Imhulse added that there will be presentations on each of the three proposed Riverdale Park stations at the town's worksessions in January, February, and March. Lingua also noted that the suggested donation for the trolley ride at the Festival of Lights is one canned food item or one perishable food item.

• Ward 4 Councilman Christopher Henry thanked the police department for its recent walkthrough and requested on behalf of his constituents that the speed cameras be reinstalled along Good Luck Road.

• The council approved a request to the 22nd legislative delegation for funding for the Town Hall Youth and Community Wing Project.

• The council approved a request to close the town center parking lot from 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 9 until 6:00 a.m. on Dec. 11 for the purposes of the Holiday Market.

• The council passed Resolution 2011-R-28 reauthorizing 2011-R-23, concerning continuation of the current financial process while charter changes are in the legislative process.

• The council on the town’s letter to the Prince George’s County Planning Board regarding the Cafritz project until Friday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. when it will hold a worksession in the town hall.

• The council approved the Oct. 3 and Nov. 7 regular legislative session meeting minutes and the Nov. 17 special legislative meeting minutes.