Meeting Roundup: University Park's Council Talks Permits, Development and a Resignation

University Park's mayor and council discussed several topics unrelated to the Cafritz property Monday night at their council meeting.

Here are the notes from their agenda items.

Look for a story on the Wednesday.

• Monday night the audience gave her a standing ovation.Councilwoman Margaret Mallino is resigning after Monday's meeting. She’s moving out to Montana, after living in town 34 years. She spent 15 years on council, some of her time was as the town's mayor. "I want you all to know I’ve been looking at Missoula for a long time, and introduced myself to the council, be assured I’ll be watching University Park from Missoula," Mallino said Monday night. "I couldn’t have asked for a better community to represent." A special election will be held and council will set a date for it at their next meeting on Sept. 12.
• Councilwoman Jacqueline Bradley-Chacon said that some residents have made some comments about moving storage sheds parked in the street or in a private driveway – there is no town ordinance about it, but she said the town is willing to look at it.
• Mayor John Tabori said the town is looking to hire a traffic specialist to look at the issues discussed at the and Cafritz property.
• The following permits were approved:
  • Replacement of a wire fence with a wood fence at 6306 Queens Chapel Road. 
  • Installation of a 8 foot by 12 foot storage shed at 6511 Queens Chapel Road
  • Construction of a sidewalk connecting a walkway to a driveway and repair existing walkway and widen driveway at 4308 Van Buren Street.
  • Replacement of a front walkway with permeable material and add flagstone walkway from front walkway to driveway at 4309 Woodberry Street.
  • Replacement of a storm/tree damaged section of 6 foot fence at 6930 Pineway.
• Tabori said in his report that as per requested by a council street widths have been measured and average between 22 to 26 feet. The measurements were taken to figure out parking issues in town.
• Tabori said he will be hosting a Cafritz blog on the Town of University Park website and will also post information on requirements for traffic studies and the various types of zoning in Prince George's County on the site. "Our (county) standards for traffic studies are the weakest in comparison to other areas — no midday or weekend traffic was accounted for in the Cafritz traffic study," Tabori added.
• The daughter of Jim Henson will attend the Oct. 9 event to mark the 75th anniversary of the town. It’ll be at Henson Green at 1:30 p.m.
• Police Chief Michael Wynnyk said that the town has had some thefts from vehicles. Some were broken into, while others were unlocked. There is a warrant for one individual related to these crimes.
• The police department received grants for school bus safety, so Wynnyk said there will be increased enforcement.
• Councilman Len Carey said there were some copper stealing a while back, but UPPD hasn’t made any breaks yet according to Wynnyk.
• Wyynyk said residents should lock their car doors while pumping gas, because suspects are taking purses.
• Tabori said residents in wards 2 and 6 may have noticed that there is some construction going on. It's related to the town's street repair and maintenance plan.
• The council will adopt an amendement to their public ethics legislation on Sept. 19. It was introduced Monday. The amendment would make sure town council members are in compliance with state law when it comes to their conflicts of interest and financial disclosure.
• The council also introduced a motion to let the police chief dispose of an old police vehicle.
• The council tabled the discussion on a in conjunction with other municipalties. 
• The council introduced a transfer of $2,500 for a new phone system, damaged during a storm.