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Laurel resident asks Prince George's County to fund $33,000 band organ for Watkins Park carousel
Summary
Rory Layman of Laurel asked the County Council to support buying a 1917 Brilitzer band organ priced at $33,000 to restore music to the Watkins Park carousel. A council member asked staff to check on the available instrument; the meeting adjourned after a motion to close.
Rory Layman of Laurel told the Prince George's County Council that he is asking for council support to purchase a band organ for the Watkins Park carousel.
“For the record, my name is Rory Layman. I reside at 16204 Julie Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707,” Layman said. He described operating the carousel in 2017 and 2018 and said the carousel’s original organ had been separated and sold. Layman identified a comparable instrument — a 1917 Brilitzer (model noted in his remarks as a 1-50-3) named “Katie Lou,” currently located in Missouri — with a sale price of $33,000, and asked the council to support the purchase to enhance visitor experience at Watkins Park.
Layman said the instrument would “make a special and unique experience for riders as well as other visitors to the park” and called the purchase “a modest investment and well worth it.”
After Layman’s remarks, a council member asked staff to attempt to locate the instrument and report back, and the chair indicated support from council members in the room. The public hearing concluded and the council moved to closing business.
Is there a motion to adjourn? According to the meeting record, a motion was offered and the chair called for the vote; the chair then said, “All those in favor, please say aye,” and declared the meeting adjourned. The record does not provide a roll-call vote tally for the adjournment motion.
