Glenarden City council debates $300,000 federal-workers relief plan; proposed loan amendment for food assistance fails

Glenarden City’s council spent much of its Nov. 3 work session debating a proposed Federal Workers Relief Program that combines two separate supports for residents affected by a federal government shutdown: (1) a $2,500 relief grant for terminated employees and (2) a $400 food-assistance benefit delivered as direct deposit or a grocery gift card for furloughed workers.

City staff introduced Ordinance 04-2026 (a budget amendment to appropriate up to $300,000) alongside Resolution R08-2026 establishing program rules. Councilman Williams urged that, at minimum, the food-assistance portion be treated as a loan that recipients would repay if they later received back pay. "If they get back pay...then that should be returned back to the city," Williams said.

Several council members, including Councilwoman Cross, pressed for clearer written language about eligibility, budget line items and anti-double-dipping protections. Cross said the draft resolution reads as if participants might receive both benefits and asked whether the resolution restricts dual eligibility.

City staff and Councilman Herring pointed to language in the draft that disallows recipients of one component from receiving the other, and said the $300,000 appropriation would be capped and drawn from reserves. City Manager Simpson confirmed staff had received two constituent requests for assistance tied to the shutdown and that they would add a GL account number to the ordinance package for clarity.

The council voted on a proposed amendment to convert the food-assistance gift into a loan. The chair polled the council: Councilwoman Cross and Councilman Williams voted in favor of the amendment; Councilman Hairston, Councilman Harry, Councilwoman Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson and Mayor Curtis voted against it. The amendment failed 2–5, and the resolution remained written as a grant-based program with a food-assistance component.

Key program details discussed: - Grant component: up to $2,500 for terminated employees (one-time relief grant). - Food assistance: gift cards or direct deposit up to $400 per eligible furloughed participant. - Cap: ordinance to appropriate up to $300,000 for the combined program; staff said funds would come from reserves and requested the treasurer supply a GL account number to be inserted into the ordinance.

Next steps: staff will insert the GL account number into the budget-amendment ordinance and include contract/account references in the public-hearing package. Council members asked for clarity on eligibility screening and the mechanism that prevents double benefits.