[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6114850,"mediaKeyId","2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6","parentId",2741504,"title","Votes at a glance: La Plata council approves routine agenda items, appoints Ethics Commission alternate, and votes to enter closed session","audioSeconds",6330,"startMs",55000,"endMs",6385000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6&start=55&end=6385","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6/thumbnail_55000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6114850/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-La-Plata-council-approves-routine-agenda-items-appoints-Ethics-Commission-alternate-and-votes-to-enter-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114850-3d06230198b74caa177a9d6e9b478c29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213575&Signature=Kl~~S2A1o784KjJzp3b~HQANdqZ8KZENT7daWmN~-eFfOLEffagVnTm-lN~pUegeW0~biCPL9DSkbwtQ8mFW2v3Yuaq6nqpvAP91McvAqrhjoEk2lVEze93z3xEDDrpqA6OIqvJmJCpuy3QIjTqKUCtEgCT7vlgnMLvULtgTlBRgpr3SSrWTPUvO9PfxGoQprzhhDdr4rWmFnlVMBdTTBehkiWahma5paYG0z0DVFjBw1i-dpZD~~w4PwtwZO~07wTEEVz1vVk~-MlH0vw0KhazEBxN1jXRwkAKjKpo2R99hzhZc2D0azMQuzF9NiHhUVkhX-OZ5NbDk4AFPCWTVsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of La Plata, MD","date","2025-03-21T14:32:34Z","article","The La Plata Town Council approved routine procedural motions by voice vote, appointed an alternate to the Ethics Commission and voted in a roll-call to go into closed session to discuss acquisition of real property.

During the opening business the council approved the meeting agenda and accepted minutes from the Feb. 25 regular meeting and the March 11 meeting; those actions were taken by voice vote and the meeting record reports “motion carries” without recorded roll-call tallies. At the end of the meeting the council voted on a motion to go into closed session to discuss a potential real-property acquisition. The closed-session motion was moved by legal counsel and seconded; the clerk called a roll and the recorded votes were Mayor James (Yea), Councilman Winkler (Yea), Councilman Trollinger (Yea) and Councilman Jenkins (Yea). The motion passed.

The council also appointed Chelsea Williams as an alternate member of the Ethics Commission. Councilman Jenkins moved the nomination and Councilman Trollinger seconded; the council approved the appointment by voice vote.

Ending: No ordinances, resolutions or expenditure approvals requiring a roll-call were adopted during the March 18 meeting; council members continued budget review work and scheduled further consideration of the finance committee’s recommendations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 03 18 Town Council Special Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 18 meeting the council approved the agenda and minutes by voice vote, appointed an alternate to the Ethics Commission and voted unanimously in a roll-call to enter a closed session to discuss real-property acquisition.","taxTitle","La Plata, Charles, Maryland","taxId",71666,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6114855,"Resident urges La Plata to boost election information after low turnout in recent races",120,201000,321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6&start=201&end=321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6/thumbnail_201000.jpg","/articles/6114855/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/Resident-urges-La-Plata-to-boost-election-information-after-low-turnout-in-recent-races","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114855-3d611f585f140c07040add172fe10b37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213575&Signature=m-u3tW9mV38cZhkmggac4muVtUea3G6~i8LYVkEWWU4A9Rljz5vJ3AaJbXv3gYVyOJk0WJLN~XKVEjt5XYWyVOkJVV6LcMThLoRTSBVfR2qZL72cIVQKpaD~gi6MlPl2~hPEdpY4byw-wsIsHgI4-C7mb0iqd3E5aN0lXwL906eGqxKS~2fcgElz04AR7Bs2VmDOUMnWv4qNTQ2dw0fOV1irf2T5B3v6u9QI5qUtx0mRjAsBB9uoXkIoWcK8PHUuthv5pCHUVDyrzpCRsqphTbwmw7CVnsI3vBN4M5haAxVeuqdbYQAEqoueQGSq~-AJm8TFBrjifLmr5XLFY1qaNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Becca (Rebecca) Turner told the Town Council on March 18 that voter participation in recent elections has been very low and urged the town to increase election information and signage to raise turnout ahead of the May 6 general election.

Turner, who identified herself as a La Plata resident during the public-comment portion of the meeting, said the primary drew fewer than 200 voters and the last general election fewer than 600. She said the town’s website includes links and deadlines but urged equal space for each candidate on the town site and more visible public signage so voters see dates and hours while they drive or shop.

\"We would like to see signage provided by the town with voting dates and times visible to people as they drive, work and shop here,\" Turner said. She added that volunteers are willing to help distribute information but asked the town government to use its role in conducting the nonpartisan election to promote civic participation without political endorsement.

Mayor James acknowledged the comment during the meeting and the council noted the May 6 general election hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and thanked residents who ran in the primary. The council did not take formal action on Turner’s suggestions at the March 18 meeting; staff or council members may follow up as the election approaches.

Ending: Town election information and the council’s outreach plans were not decided during the meeting; Turner said local volunteers are willing to assist with voter-engagement efforts.","A resident told the council low turnout in the town's recent primary and general elections indicates a need for the town to expand voter information and outreach ahead of the May 6 general election.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6114860,"La Plata finance committee recommends 457(b) plan, dedicated project manager and delay of $90,000 land study",560,490000,1050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6&start=490&end=1050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2741504-0d82cb185f1ce5d7a6bf9bb22d1002e6/thumbnail_490000.jpg","/articles/6114860/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-finance-committee-recommends-457b-plan-dedicated-project-manager-and-delay-of-90000-land-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6114860-7e774f358468a7321bf62511dac0f41b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771213575&Signature=de48cUUOezfSIkRqvhQT6VLzQ2EK8UEDZ1h0gB9~kc6A~zPKwu4C2wOVL1S9IW9vvTwLLxaSpIq2LEill~rfRLYqNpTk-LaCWV2Glet91oIInLw8mcQ34Rv8QfA1qEKPR3ClmptjpmeNBlqDXlxeCKrsXtfWDwxwB2yuIk45j~uFSOpIAxCu6G4qXBHv-fk~vy1bn01EVvNFaMzd5QEQPvpaG7sJM7seydUJRKjLc3yzAxJL8R3nJt0bqU7EzwmmwHGqUaosRo1lOCkKkTQxHzSBCNdHieBV8qG4kCUuYE3btgcagLzY2BcuOCKi7IUrw5h1hvuKlKzJEZFyrbRfMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Plata’s volunteer finance committee urged the Town Council on March 18 to replace the proposed town-funded pension with a 457(b) deferred compensation plan, hire a dedicated project manager to deliver multiple grant-funded projects, and delay a planned $90,000 land-use survey until the town has a planner in place.

The recommendation matters because committee members said the town faces roughly $1.5 million in secured and pending grant funding for a new police station and the Dorchester Community Center that, if not managed promptly, risks being lost or clawed back. The committee said the 457(b) approach reduces fiscal risk for the town while giving employees portable retirement savings.

Randy Sotomayor, a member of the finance committee, framed the first recommendation as a swap of retirement models. “Our first recommendation is to adopt a 4 57 b, deferred compensation plan for all employees instead of funding the custom municipal pension for police officers and eligible public workers, employees,” Sotomayor said. Committee members listed portability, lower administrative burden and lower fiscal risk as advantages of the 457(b) model. They also flagged that the model shifts more investment responsibility to employees, which could require financial literacy support.

Committee members asked that the council consider a 3% town match for all employees and an additional 2% contribution for police and public works. During the council’s budget presentation, Finance Director Corina Larson modeled both scenarios. Larson told the council a pension pathway would require an initial buy-in estimated at about $500,000 and higher ongoing administrative and contribution costs; she estimated $170,000 for initial administration and pension set-up but said firm numbers are not available because no contract to design a pension has been signed.

On grant delivery, the committee recommended hiring a dedicated project manager to oversee implementation. The committee said approximately $1,500,000 in grant funds are secured or pending for the police station and the Dorchester Community Center and that four years of delayed implementation have left deadlines approaching. Committee member Mike Gahan noted the grants’ scopes generally allow for a project manager hired through grant funds. Council members and committee speakers discussed contracting the role (1099 or consultant) as an interim approach until a permanent hire is justified.

On the land-use study, the committee recommended postponing a planned $90,000 land-use survey until a town planner is hired. Nicole Williams, a committee member and land planner by background, said the timing matters because a planner would define survey specifications and ensure the study’s results align with the town’s comprehensive and strategic plans. “It’s a timing issue,” Williams said during the budget discussion.

Larson presented two parallel operating-budget scenarios to the council: one that assumes the town adopts the pension design being explored by outside advisers, and one that assumes the 457(b) model with a 3% match plus the 2% enhancement for police and public works. Her memo and presentation showed projected revenues of about $14.1 million and noted the town has relied heavily in recent years on investment earnings and one-time items; Larson warned the council not to rely on elevated investment income as an ongoing budget-balancing source. She estimated investment revenue around $640,000 for the current projection but cautioned that such receipts fluctuate year to year.

Council members pressed for more detail. Councilman Jenkins and others asked the committee to share its research and case studies on municipalities that have shifted retirement models; committee members said they relied on the USI presentation and independent research and offered to provide their materials to the council. Several council members also stressed the need to protect grant funding by showing timely progress and recommended using contractor project managers where appropriate.

The finance committee emphasized the recommendations are intended to reduce fiscal risk while preserving employee retirement support and enabling timely delivery of priority capital projects. The council did not vote on any of the committee’s recommendations at the March 18 meeting; council members said they needed more time to review materials before adopting budget direction.

Ending: The council kept the budget under review and scheduled further review and public hearings as part of its normal budget calendar. Committee members said they will follow up with the council and provide their research and supporting documents for the council’s consideration.","The volunteer finance committee urged the Town Council to adopt a 457(b) deferred compensation plan instead of a town-funded municipal pension, hire a project manager to deliver grant-funded projects, and postpone a $90,000 land-use study until a planner is in place.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: La Plata council approves routine agenda items, appoints Ethics Commission alternate, and votes to enter closed session

Resident urges La Plata to boost election information after low turnout in recent races

La Plata finance committee recommends 457(b) plan, dedicated project manager and delay of $90,000 land study