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Council authorizes $68,898 contract for master preservation plan for Greenbelt's historic cemeteries
Summary
Council authorized a JMT contract to produce a master preservation plan and condition assessment for Greenbelt's three historic cemeteries, backed by a $35,000 state grant and city funding; the agreement passed 5–1.
The Greenbelt City Council on March 17 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT) to prepare a master preservation plan for the city’s three historic cemeteries. The agreed contract amount is not to exceed $68,898.18; the city budget includes $70,000 for the project in FY2025, with $35,000 of that coming from a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority grant.
Why it matters: the master preservation plan will create an inventory and condition assessment of burial plots, monuments and cemetery features; it will recommend prioritized repairs, provide GIS mapping of known features, and identify funding sources for implementation. The plan is intended to guide future capital or grant-funded restoration work and interpretive programming.
Scope and selection Planning staff said the RFP sought firms with preservation, GIS and stakeholder‑engagement experience; JMT’s proposal included pedestrian-condition surveys, mapping deliverables, public‑engagement steps and prioritization of repair work. Planning staff and references recommended JMT based on experience and responsiveness.
Public input Advisory Planning Board Chair Ben Friedman told council the APB reviewed the submissions and recommended the contract award; residents including Jay Davis (Greenbelt East) spoke in favor of completing the survey and documenting an enslaved‑burial area at Turner Cemetery as part of the work.
Council action A motion to authorize the city manager to execute the contract passed on a roll call vote; the record shows the action carried 5–1. Councilmembers asked staff to include public outreach and to prioritize sites for near-term work in the deliverables.
Implementation and next steps Staff said the project will include on-the-ground condition assessments, GIS layers for cemetery features, cost estimates for prioritized repair items, and recommendations for interpretive signage and grant opportunities. Staff indicated they plan to engage local stakeholders during the study and to seek implementation funding in future budgets and grant cycles.
Ending: With contract authorization the city will begin work with JMT; staff will return with a project schedule, planned public meetings, and identified near-term projects for council consideration.
