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Forest Heights council awards landscaping contract, appoints emergency‑preparedness committee member
Summary
The Forest Heights council unanimously approved a landscaping and maintenance contract with HR Hilarios Landscaping and unanimously appointed Miss Burnett to the emergency preparedness committee; council discussed a police recruitment grant and decided to revise the resolution and return it at the next meeting.
The Forest Heights mayor and town council on April 15 unanimously approved a contract for landscaping and maintenance services and appointed a member to the town’s emergency preparedness committee.
Resolution 32‑26: landscaping contract The council adopted Resolution 32‑26 to award landscaping and maintenance services to HR Hilarios Landscaping LLC for duties that include grass cutting, clippings removal, edging and trimming for the April–November season. Town staff (Mr. Jackson) said HR Hilarios is an approved Prince George’s County vendor. Treasurer/finance reported that the line item for this contract is within a $40,000 appropriation, with approximately $20,000 already spent year‑to‑date, leaving roughly $20,000 available in the current fiscal year to absorb monthly fees. Council discussion covered frequency (roughly twice monthly) and potential for special cuts after heavy rain. The clerk called the roll and the vote was unanimous.
Resolution 34‑26: emergency preparedness committee appointment Council appointed Miss Burnett to the emergency preparedness committee by unanimous vote. Burnett outlined her 22 years of emergency‑planning experience and emphasized the need for operational plans and police inclusion on the committee.
Resolution 35‑26: police recruitment/retention grant (status) Council discussed Resolution 35‑26, authorizing application for a police recruitment and retention grant through the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). Chief Ruckman said the grant funds can support community engagement equipment and outreach; he cited an award figure of roughly $10,000 for the program year beginning July 2026, but the exact amount and fiscal‑year language were not consistent in the draft resolution. Councilors questioned combining application and acceptance language in a single resolution and voted to remove acceptance language and return a corrected resolution for approval at the May meeting to ensure the title and text match the town’s intent.
Other business and closed session At the meeting’s end, the council voted 4–2 to enter a closed session under the Maryland General Provisions Article §3‑305 to consult counsel regarding pending litigation and to receive legal advice. The meeting closed at 09:33; the council said it would report back on any actions taken and attendees when it returned to open session.
Why this matters: The landscaping contract affects town maintenance and budget planning for the season; creation and staffing of an emergency preparedness committee affects local disaster readiness; the grant discussion reflects ongoing efforts to secure outside funding for police recruitment and community engagement.
Representative quotes: "The vote was unanimous." — Clerk (roll call announcement) "Operational plans are not like the newsletter we sent out...only those who need to know." — Miss Burnett (appointee)
Ending: The council approved the landscaping contract and the appointment at the April 15 meeting, tabled final approval of the grant language pending staff revisions, and moved into a closed session on pending litigation.
