The Glen Arden City Council voted to approve a contract with Mac and Son Tree Experts Inc. to perform a vegetation abatement on property in the 8700 block of Glen Arden Parkway, citing health and safety concerns and a history of unresolved code violations. Council members amended the resolution on the floor to add language authorizing city leadership to execute the contract and to specify the budget line to be used.

The resolution as introduced described the city’s finding that “existing vegetation, including but not limited to trees, ornamental grasses, shrubs, plantings, and weeds requires removal” and attached a written proposal from Mac and Son Tree Experts Inc. with a quoted price of $18,975. The resolution referenced local procurement procedure in “section 8-18 contract procedure, paragraph a” and included coding intended to allow recovery of abatement costs through a tax lien process.

Councilmember Herring pressed for clearer operative language in the resolution, saying it did not explicitly state who had authority to sign the contract. “There needs to be more language in this resolution… it’s not saying what we’re actually going to do,” Herring said, requesting a clause authorizing the mayor or mayor pro tem (and operational validation by the city manager) to execute the contract and specifying the budget line. Assistant City Manager Wood told the council he had asked the vendor to provide a “not-to-exceed” amount because staff could not fully inspect the property’s backyard prior to work and there could be unknowns on site. “There may be some hidden costs that we’re not aware of because we are not able to get into the backyard,” Wood said.

Council discussion clarified that the council intended to amend the resolution to set a not-to-exceed cap aligned with the vendor invoice and to require the mayor or mayor pro tem to sign. The council also discussed cost recovery: staff and council members said abatement expenses would be pursued as a tax lien under the city’s code (chapter 132, section 10) and forwarded to the Prince George’s County Director of Finance for collection if the property owner does not reimburse the city. Councilmembers also noted the matter has been in enforcement and court processes since 2022; staff said the court could later determine how much of the city’s expense the property owner must repay.

The council adopted the amended resolution by voice vote; the clerk recorded “yes” votes from Councilwoman Cross, Councilwoman Jones, Councilman Williams, Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson and Mayor Curtis. The transcript records an abstention by a councilmember during the voice vote. The resolution directs staff to execute the abatement contract and pursue cost recovery consistent with the city code and the court’s determination.

The resolution tasks administration with executing the abatement work as soon as the contract is in place; staff said execution would occur within roughly two weeks to mobilize crews and materials and that the police department would notify the property owner of the date. The council also requested staff follow up with written confirmation about contract language, the final not-to-exceed amount, and the budget coding and process for tax-lien recovery.

No specific dollar recovery percentage was specified; staff said the judge involved in the prior court proceedings would decide what, if any, portion of the cost the property owner must reimburse.