[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6147555,"mediaKeyId","5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8","parentId",5520656,"title","La Plata officials brief public on wastewater-plant compliance; seek USDA loans to replenish upgrade funds","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",533000,"endMs",676000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8&start=533&end=676","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8/thumbnail_533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147555/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-officials-brief-public-on-wastewater-plant-compliance-seek-USDA-loans-to-replenish-upgrade-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147555-9429a405914bf4e9718761e538dd29dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202231&Signature=TmFBkHYB9g79Km1rrGwl6WjqGBumabxgFkWz60r4jrUeYJMt2iZN4AMm4q9JV6KIQ4EnJWgHE0gu5jb3GoAZYJ0QG9ewfgvaK~7i988TeBBZ5xfHGcwiW1j2i8dHbsbgIoSrbJsH5Hy2dTzYQuF8MEwRawGxPr1SLi42GdSrcz1NgZPfmG9oHlyh9tpEpL2p~-QMOi12HQZsnIW1YdAKhssb1Tm-mYFsgE8QLkaweQECn-pGDXdibukzzMg8aOjg6NDKYMnhDywVw6XN6H4qguDiiuwei4IHekmijI3duUvRx1Gj7QElSEHbJvBkX7IF-qPPAdPX4HwDPXXYdpuy-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of La Plata, MD","date","2025-07-30T13:55:53Z","article","La Plata, Maryland — At its July 29 meeting, the Town Council received a technical update from Town Manager Chuck Stevens on the La Plata wastewater treatment plant and voted to move forward with legislation to pursue two USDA-backed loans to replenish funds used for recent plant upgrades.

Stevens told the council the plant’s current permitted capacity is 1,500,000 gallons per day and that the facility averaged roughly 1,220,000 gallons per day — about 80% of permitted capacity. He also said the town is “meeting our permit requirements for all parameters as of this report date.” The report noted that Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) documented violations between 2020 and 2025, including discharge exceedances (copper, ammonia nitrogen, total suspended solids), sanitary sewer overflows in the collection system, and coliform exceedances tied to disinfection performance.

Why it matters: The plant’s past compliance problems, the town manager said, stemmed from three technical factors identified in a CDM Smith assessment: excessive inflow during heavy rainfall (peak flows reached about 2,980,000 gallons during significant rain events), capacity reduced when a module was taken offline for conversion and pilot testing (Module 1 offline Jan. 2023–Mar. 2024), and aging infrastructure (manual equalization-tank operation, tertiary clarifier limits, and frequent UV bulb failures). Stevens reported repairs to the equalization tank had just been completed: “repairs to that tank were effected yesterday, and that tank is now fully back in automatic operation,” he said.

The town is coordinating with MDE and working under a forthcoming consent order that will define compliance milestones, Stevens said. He also said the town maintains an operational partnership with Maryland Environmental Service (MES) for on-site operational support.

Funding and planned upgrades: Stevens reported CDM Smith was contracted in April 2025 for an amount not to exceed $20,000 and that current expenditures on that contract total about $15,862.50. Cost estimates for capital improvements to achieve sustained compliance are being developed. The town plans to finance required improvements from the major-facility fee fund; Stevens said the strategy is intended to avoid an immediate increase in utility rates or taxes, though he cautioned the town is not promising rates or taxes will never rise.

Council members discussed longer-term expansion plans: staff described a phased approach to raise treatment capacity to 2,000,000 gallons per day, with a later target of 2,500,000 gpd; Stevens said MDE has approved the town’s plans to expand capacity to 2,000,000 gpd once the programmed infrastructure improvements are complete. He added that the plant is designed to accommodate heavy rainfall surges and that, on a short-term basis, the facility can manage up to about 3,000,000 gallons over a four-hour surge when surge-handling systems — including the automatic equalization tank — are functioning.

USDA loan proposal: The council also discussed a legislative package to secure USDA-backed loans and introduced an ordinance to issue up to $7,562,000 in general-obligation bonds to obtain the financing. Staff described the bond structure as two series: $4,842,000 at up to 1.75% and $2,720,000 at up to 2.75%, each amortized over 40 years. The town would pledge its full faith and credit as a secondary guarantee and would maintain an annual short-lived-asset reserve deposit of at least $49,787. Stevens said the immediate objective is to reimburse the major-facility fee fund for prior work already paid from that fund and to restore the account so subsequent modules and capacity projects can proceed.

Public comment and next steps: Resident Michael Medatic, who lives downstream from the plant outflow, asked the council to consider a temporary moratorium on new sewer hookups until the compliance and capacity issues are resolved. Stevens and council members noted the need to balance development commitments already approved with infrastructure readiness and said a comprehensive water and wastewater study is underway and will be presented to council in September. Stevens also reported the town received a Clean Water Act notice from Potomac Riverkeepers and is evaluating it.

Stevens’ recommendation to council was to receive the presentation, continue coordination with MDE and consultants, and proceed with financing authorization so the town can reimburse the major-facility fee account and proceed with additional upgrades. Council signaled consensus to advance the USDA loan ordinance to the legislation calendar for further consideration.

Ending: Council members scheduled further deliberation on the loan ordinance for formal legislative consideration; staff said the town will post technical memos and MDE correspondence to the town website for public review and will report back after a planned MDE site visit.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Regular Meeting 07.29.2025","oneSentenceSummary","La Plata officials briefed the Town Council on wastewater-treatment plant compliance and infrastructure upgrades and agreed to advance an ordinance to seek up to $7.56 million in USDA-backed loans to reimburse major-facility funds used for recent improvements.","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},6147540,"La Plata council begins review of rules of procedure; asks staff for ex parte disclosure language and attorney-attendance analysis",1047,2933000,3980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8&start=2933&end=3980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8/thumbnail_2933000.jpg","/articles/6147540/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-council-begins-review-of-rules-of-procedure-asks-staff-for-ex-parte-disclosure-language-and-attorney-attendance-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147540-55a7ea46e7bd2d5b73f30583ca917b7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202231&Signature=id8u~ArEBHQ4AK3uVOeesMK0XdXtA4D-N1NBUmH-QjXgT~ZBBP7z~AOgeJQpyZ41JlOZWQjflQIqHXvFmECcNYxhIOyPWoUq9dA3VBPMJAYLcbteaiyRRMfbICryq~Vkc8UzDUyEoWmr-ZOwPQEto2m72P8TpyCPs7B7-Kn~4nw9OH~eniHqpze-WHQncOhlrtssA1mxX16hlcZysm4CPCStXrzUk8Dmmcf6c5eFSmsGRhezmwQzXfm7F7fb9NU4i5LfXgTqutSSTir6oYpRcHaggbDF7c6UKenCItSrrmB2mKkzS5FJeordHCKtuud1EYajkDkTMPfcUbGJu6Muog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Plata, Maryland — On July 29 the Town Council held an extended discussion about possible updates to its rules of procedure and gave staff direction to draft specific language on ex parte disclosures, to evaluate the feasibility and cost of attorney attendance at meetings, and to clarify closed-session practices and agenda-request procedures.

Ex parte communication: Council members said they want a standard disclosure mechanism for contacts that could influence quasi-judicial decisions — for example, development applications that may later come before council. Town Manager Chuck Stevens explained the principle and the practical limit: ex parte rules apply to communications about pending matters outside a public hearing and not to ordinary social interactions. “If that conversation starts talking about a planning project that is in the pipeline…anything that has to do with that planning project, any discussion around it has to occur in this room with the microphones on, with the camera on, with people in the gallery to hear what happens,” Stevens said. Councilman Paul Guttenberg pointed to Prince George’s County as an example and asked staff to draft an ex parte disclosure form or mechanism for review.

Attorney presence: Several council members asked staff to analyze the fiscal and operational implications of having the town attorney attend every council meeting, whether the attorney is contracted or in-house. Councilman Gregory Sampson said routine attorney presence could reduce legal risk but acknowledged higher costs; others urged staff to present comparative cost scenarios for in-house counsel versus contracted counsel who attends meetings on request.

Closed sessions and agenda-process changes: Councilmembers asked for clarified language that would prohibit formal voting in closed session and require that any formal actions be returned to open session for a public vote. Several members also sought a clearer, more predictable procedure for placing items on the agenda — including a staff-led “work-session” approach for members to flag and prioritize future agenda items without surprising staff or other council members.

Next steps: Stevens said staff will prepare: suggested ex parte disclosure language and a public-example form; an analysis of the fiscal impact of attorney attendance at meetings (in-house versus contracted models); clarified closed-session language that preserves necessary attorney/staff discussions while ensuring formal votes occur in public; and a proposal to refine the agenda-request process (timing and expectations for members who ask to add items). He said staff will vet any proposed changes against the town charter and state open-meetings law before returning draft amendments for council review.

Ending: Council members signaled consensus on the priority items (ex parte disclosures, attorney-attendance analysis, closed-session limits, and agenda workflow) and directed staff to return a clean draft for formal consideration in a future meeting. Stevens said he would coordinate legal review before any final adoption.","Councilors discussed edits to the town\u0000s rules of procedure, focusing on ex parte communication disclosure for land-use matters, whether the town attorney should attend meetings, closed-session limits, and the agenda-request process; staff was directed to draft language and seek legal review.",{"_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},6147545,"Council adopts six-month limited legal-services agreement to maintain coverage amid town attorney transition",1561,8012000,9573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8&start=8012&end=9573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8/thumbnail_8012000.jpg","/articles/6147545/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/Council-adopts-six-month-limited-legal-services-agreement-to-maintain-coverage-amid-town-attorney-transition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147545-5eb9de9e42928fbd63d22e397f7cbf9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202231&Signature=QHr0FVhB1CMfOqkd5KxsFmdcCeUBKj0x-pOLVl4m3sRT32Z9-gnLlAwGV9p2GWtkM0AmlT0bFFY~gY5k8an6bIm8i3EFvB~NL1SmZ~0u0kI46qqKJktlp-CMpcGZObxylEWH3rTM9C0XJS3CsWET4Nf8hmO~EJqbK27u38hngtPuJN4dfGfe3NzQ9~nzvuEdDSVOmJJi5lF-ffEFDmr0FnxAD0VKcJ~eaN3-4NJOqPBYQiH3pj40iRyter821LzTdNi4ORsGiWahT84O7FcIO5Cs3DtYkbWLqyHxDQlQ-MoImRNVs3Bdux5-mxoPtuuUkQLm1QJ9t78hMFT5tObnBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Plata, Maryland — The Town Council on July 29 approved Resolution 25-12 to retain Jack A. Gullo Jr. as limited-scope special counsel for a six-month transition period while the town evaluates a permanent arrangement for the town-attorney role.

Key terms: The approved agreement establishes a monthly engagement fee of $5,000 and hourly billing at $300 per hour for general legal services and $450 per hour for attendance at mayor-and-council meetings. The town manager said the engagement is intended to ensure legal continuity beginning Aug. 1, when the prior attorney’s contract ends.

Why it matters: Town staff and several council members emphasized continuity of legal services for pending matters, including regulatory negotiations with MDE and a notice of claim filed by counsel for Councilman Patrick McCormick. In his staff report, Town Manager Chuck Stevens said the town needs counsel to respond to claims and oversee quasi-judicial bodies (board of appeals, ethics commission) that require legal oversight.

Council debate: Several council members supported immediate coverage but criticized the fee structure. Councilman Paul Guttenberg described the arrangement as “a tough pill to swallow” because the short-term pricing is higher than the town’s prior legal costs. Councilman Gregory Sampson questioned the $450 hourly appearance fee for council meetings and asked why an attorney who previously did not attend meetings would now charge an elevated rate; Sampson said he had “a problem with the $450 to show up” and urged caution about granting an open-ended scope without guarantees.

Supporters responded that the contract is temporary and scoped; the town manager and other members argued that the absence of counsel would expose the town to legal risk and that the six-month term provides a defined bridge to a permanent solution. Councilmembers voted to adopt the resolution by roll call; the motion passed unanimously.

Fiscal impact and next steps: The engagement carries a not-to-exceed engagement-fee baseline of $30,000 over six months, with additional charges based on actual legal services performed. Staff said funds will come from existing legal-services budget lines and reserves; the town manager was authorized to execute the agreement and to continue evaluating longer-term counsel options.

Ending: The contract provides immediate legal coverage while the town develops a plan for permanent legal representation. Council directed staff to continue the recruitment/ vetting process for a permanent town attorney during the six-month engagement.","The council approved a six-month professional-services agreement with Jack A. Gullo Jr. to serve as special counsel during the town\u0000 attorney transition, at a $5,000 monthly engagement fee plus hourly rates; discussion focused on cost and continuity.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147550,"La Plata mayor’s stipend controversy moved to closed-review; council tables public discussion pending legal input",1117,1604000,2721000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8&start=1604&end=2721","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5520656-5c414960d496aad5c6a080cd9ea041e8/thumbnail_1604000.jpg","/articles/6147550/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-mayors-stipend-controversy-moved-to-closed-review-council-tables-public-discussion-pending-legal-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147550-5715b8e345f0ac251f4a6101b9b3ad3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202231&Signature=KOF5Irns244hOzVSk3G2tRR9LQsyw1OOvBCl-zEcTIycHoqbczTjGMP3F53vv~DD0zm1QplUmam8UPQ7aXKwgZ4-CzH13Epba0rkp~DfRLrY8eizS5Ap0GuzcSNG48wGiNTsKvJCUKgY7KSbt4a6MeT0h8AJvxZCuEE~-QoKV5vm3rJTLGCGzPWPlNKVeJZDZ4EypQFp7C5Nku6f78sX4p3q5c4u8sl9bquLJ6lx5OwgFuEQIfc2WYroNSZ0QGA2alWMwAgNB0VVd0WWbdfHDWKibNOG5Zc8~9EzaY7iOedT5zDJMwQ6S2AcH6RbbnwGN8ENqHxjiG~QWV-F0VeSgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","La Plata, Maryland — The Town Council on July 29 moved to table a public discussion about a stipend paid to Mayor Janine James while she performed chief executive duties during a town-manager vacancy, citing pending legal claims and the need for counsel.

Mayor James opened the item by asking that her written statement be entered in the meeting minutes and said the stipend had been lawfully approved by the prior council on Sept. 3, 2024. She said she had not initiated, approved or authorized the stipend: “I did the work. I did not authorize the stipend,” James said. She asked the council to defer the matter until the town’s legal counsel is present and the previous council members who approved the stipend are consulted.

Why it matters: The discussion followed a notice of claim filed June 24 under the Maryland Local Government Tort Claims Act by counsel for Councilman Patrick McCormick; Mayor James argued that continuing the public debate without legal representation could expose the town to legal risk.

Council debate and motion to table: Councilmembers engaged in a lengthy, at times heated, debate. Councilman Patrick McCormick said residents have raised questions and wanted answers, and he argued the item deserved public airing: “If everything was above board like you say, you should have no problem answering the questions I have for you in this discussion,” McCormick said. Councilman Gregory Sampson and others criticized reopening prior council actions publicly without counsel; Paul Guttenberg urged restraint and emphasized the council’s role in governance rather than adjudication.

Following discussion, Mayor James placed a motion on the floor to table the item until legal counsel is present and the previous council is consulted. A roll-call vote recorded the motion as passing: Councilman Paul Guttenberg — Aye; Councilman Patrick McCormick — No; Councilman Gregory Sampson — No; Councilman Hajjian Johnson — Yes; Mayor Janine James — Yes. The motion to table carried.

Officials’ notes: Mayor James and others cited precedent — she said a previous mayor received a stipend under similar circumstances decades earlier — and framed the issue as one of continuity and governance. Council members who opposed tabling said constituents had requested public answers and criticized perceived lack of transparency; supporters of tabling said the legal ramifications warranted delay until counsel could advise.

Ending: The council’s decision does not resolve the underlying dispute; rather, it postpones public deliberation pending formal legal representation and further consultation with prior council members, per the motion. Councilman McCormick has indicated a private legal claim is moving forward under the Maryland Local Government Tort Claims Act.","Mayor Janine James asked the council to enter a formal statement on a stipend she received while filling CEO duties during a manager vacancy and moved to table public debate until the town has legal counsel and the prior council is consulted; council voted to table after extended debate and a roll-call vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

La Plata officials brief public on wastewater-plant compliance; seek USDA loans to replenish upgrade funds

La Plata council begins review of rules of procedure; asks staff for ex parte disclosure language and attorney-attendance analysis

Council adopts six-month limited legal-services agreement to maintain coverage amid town attorney transition

La Plata mayor’s stipend controversy moved to closed-review; council tables public discussion pending legal input