Politics & Government

RP Meeting Notes: Officers Honored, Funding Sought for Youth Wing

The Riverdale Park mayor and council moved through a packed agenda at Monday's legislative session.

Riverdale Park’s mayor and town council met Monday night for their regular April legislative meeting. Here’s a summary of what you may have missed.

Letters of Commendation

Three of Riverdale Park’s finest were honored with letters of commendation from the town for their outstanding work.

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Sgt. Jeremy Emereck received his commendation for the pursuit, investigation, arrest, and ultimate conviction of an individual who was carrying and handgun and posing as a law enforcement official at the McDonald’s in Riverdale.

Sgt. Brian Slattery and Cpl. Larry Hayes also received commendations on Monday for their arrest, investigation, and dogged pursuit of the conviction of an individual who drove his car into a Riverdale home while intoxicated. 

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Mayor’s Report

  • Riverdale Park Mayor Vernon Archer noted that budget season is upon us. Revenue for the town is mostly flat and things look good overall, he said.
  • Archer and Town Administrator Sara Imhulse testified before the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates on March 10 for capital grants in support of the town’s proposed youth and community wing. The word is the town will receive around $150,000 from the senate and a lesser amount from the house to support the project, Archer said.
  • The Maryland-National Capital Area Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has put funds in its FY13 budget to purchase the 51st Street property, formerly the home of the Riverdale Boys and Girls Club. Funds from this sale will be reinvested in the new youth and community center, Archer said.
  • On April 11 the Prince George’s County District Council will be meeting to review the proposed  property rezoning application. The town plans to send a letter in support of the application.
  • Following , Archer will be taking next steps to move forward with the STEP-UP program.

Town Administrator's Report

  • The town will be held on April 7 at the Riversdale Mansion from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, said Imhulse. Residents should bring their own baskets.
  • The Maryland Transit Authority will be hosting a meeting at Riverdale Park Town Hall on April 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. about the proposed Riverdale Purple Line stations.
  • MNCPPC will also be hosting a Purple Line meeting on April 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. Bernard’s in the Crystal Room. This will be a third-stage planning meeting about the proposed Rivedale Park Station.

Police/Code Report

  • Riverdale Park Police Chief David Morris reported that on March 17, officers responded to a car stuck on the railroad tracks at the town center. The car and a tow truck that was attempting to remove the car from the tracks were both , but no person was injured, and the driver of the car was charged with DUI.
  • Police also responded to a stabbing at the 6100 block of 44th Ave. on March 20. The victim is alive but in critical condition and the suspect is in custody, said Morris, who also stated that the stabbing was part of a domestic dispute.
  • With the aid of the Prince George’s County Police Department, several arrests were made for controlled dangerous substances (CDCs) in the early hours of March 21, as the result of a month-long investigation by Riverdale Park police.
  • Morris also reported that Code Enforcement has been working with the bank that owns the property at 4710 Somerset Rd. Demolition should begin on the burned-out garage in a few weeks.

Public Works Report

  • April 21 will be a big day in Riverdale Park, Public Works Director Leonard Addison told the council. There will be a town-wide community clean-up, an opportunity for residents to clean out their basements, garages and attics and to get large items and quantities of garbage picked up on a Saturday. Addison recommends that residents place their large items and garbage out on the curb on Friday, April 20, so that they can be picked up the morning of April 21.
  • The town is also participating in an Earth Day stream cleanup with the Anacostia Watershed Society. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on April 21. Residents interested in participating should meeting at 9:00 a.m. at the Riverside Neighborhood Park on the 5800 block of Riverside Drive.
  • Christmas in April will also take place on April 21. The town and residents will help clean up a property on the 4700 block of Queensbury Rd. Anyone interested in participating should call the Public Works Department at 301-864-1803.
  • Public Works will begin their spring tree-trimming to clear branches that are blocking lights. 
  • Addison said he will report on the Department of Agriculture's mosquito spraying program as soon as he receives more information.
  • Regular trash pickup will not be affected by the Easter holiday.

Ward 1/Economic Development Committee Report

  • Council member Jonathan Ebbeler (Ward 1) reported that renovations on the new are going well and that it will likely open this spring, in either April or May.
  • The full-scale Riverdale Park Farmers Market reopens this week on April 8, Ebbeler noted. The market has run successfully through the winter this year, he added, and has become a model for other markets thanks to the work and dedication of Jim Coleman.
  • Ebbeler said he is also working on a scholarship fund for students living in Riverdale Park that should be ready for eligible candidates this year.
  • The Cafritz family will be donating an intact, original granite boundary marker from the Riversdale Estate to the Riversdale Mansion, Ebbeler reported. He said he will continue working with the family to see that other artifacts on the property are preserved or donated.

Ward 2/Finance Committee

  • Council member Alan Thompson (Ward 2) scheduled several Finance Committee meetings to begin work on the town budget.

Ward 3

  • Council member David Lingua (Ward 3) encouraged residents to participate in the Anacostia Trails Heritage Bike Rally in May and wished a happy birthday to both Thomspon and Ebbeler.

Ward 4/Public Works

  • Council member Christopher Henry (Ward 4) issued his compliments to the Public Works Department and Code Enforcement for all of their hard work. He also thanked the police department for their increased visibility in his ward and their community policing.
  • Henry also reported that he is working with public works on speed bump and sign posting initiatives, noting that he will be bringing both before the council in the coming months.

Ward 5/Arts & Youth

  • Council member Raymond Rivas (Ward 5) has been working with several community groups. He said the doll club led by Riverdale Park resident Emily Fanning has been very successful and well received by the children.
  • More volunteers are needed to help with cleanup following the town Easter egg hunt on Saturday, he said.
  • The Riverdale Park Arts Council will be hosting its annual ArtFest on May 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Artists, vendors, and volunteers are needed, said Rivas.
  • Rivas said he has been working with a group of young men from his ward. Rivas said he was quite discouraged that all 10 members of the first group ended up dropping out of school. However, he has started a new group and is looking forward to working with them and steering them to the right path. He also requested more volunteers to help as mentors and coaches in the community.

Action Items

  • The council approved the appointment of U.S. Department of Agriculture employee and Riverdale Park resident Lora Katz to the town Ethics Board.
  • After some discussion over fees, the town approved an ordinance to establish a $25 fee every two years for permits in designated parking districts. Rivas and Lingua voted against the measure, arguing that the cost of the fee was to high.
  • The council postponed votes on two ordinances concerning dumpsters on public and private property so they can be further reviewed by the town attorney. Both ordinances were pushed back to the April 30 legislative session.
  • A resolution supporting a public works mutual aid agreement with neighboring municipalities was approved. The measure ensures that reimbursement will occur should Riverdale Park need to help neighboring municipalities in the event of an emergency (or vice versa).
  • The council agreed to send the District Council a letter in support of the Cafritz rezoning. The letter will be similar to the one sent to the Planning Board, with minor changes.
  • The bid requirement was waived for architect services for the town youth and community wing project. Though the contract is below the $20,000 that would require additional approval, other incidental costs may bring the amount of the contract over this level, Thompson noted.
  • The FY12 budget was amended to increase the economic development budget and decrease the capital improvement budget. The funds were moved because there were unanticipated expenses in economic development related to the M Square project and the Cafrtiz project, and because of the expansion of the farmers market through the winter season, said Ebbeler.
  • The council authorized the mayor to sign a letter of intent with the Town of University Park to partner with the STEP-UP program.
  • Minutes were approved from the March 5 regular legislative meeting and the March 26 special legislative meeting.


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