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Garrett Park council adopts FY2025 budget amendment and advances procurement ordinance after debate on building regulations
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 2025-1 to amend the FY2025 budget, discussed proposed changes to building-permit rules (with one proposed revision withdrawn), and introduced a procurement and disposition ordinance to create a new Chapter 13 of the Town Code. Several edits and legal considerations were raised; specific budget figures were not stated in the minutes.
The Garrett Park Town Council on March 10 adopted Ordinance No. 2025-1, a fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment introduced at a February 24 special meeting. Councilmember Stephen Paczkowski moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Gerilee Bennett seconded; the motion passed unanimously.
Town Manager Barbara (Barb) Matthews opened her report with the February 2025 financial statement and said revenues and expenses were generally in line with the budget; identified variances will be addressed in Ordinance No. 2025-1. The minutes do not specify dollar amounts associated with the amendment.
Matthews also updated the council on the Maryland Time to Care Act and the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Program, reporting that the Maryland Department of Labor has requested a delay in the program’s launch; if the delay is approved by the General Assembly, payroll deductions would begin Jan. 1, 2027 and benefits would begin Jan. 1, 2028.
Council spent substantial time on proposed changes to Chapter 4 of the Town Code concerning building permit procedures and related definitions. Staff recapped modifications including a new definition of "depth of lot," deletion of a final-inspection reference and proposed incorporation of County setback standards for accessory structures. Councilmember Gerilee Bennett proposed removing a second-sentence definition of "main building" and suggested changing language about required bonds; Town Manager Matthews said the related resolution will delineate bond application. The town attorney advised that replacing the phrase "stopped" with "substantially stopped" in Section 401(b)(5) could create ambiguity and potential debate; as a result that suggested edit was not adopted. After broader discussion and a desire to consult with the Town Attorney and the Land Use Advisory Committee chair, Councilmember Todd Eisenstadt withdrew his motion to introduce the building-permit ordinance and Councilmember Phil Schulp withdrew his second, so the ordinance was not introduced.
Assistant Town Manager Kayla Buker recapped prior work on a proposed procurement and disposition ordinance (new Chapter 13) and confirmed the Town Attorney had reviewed Article II, Part 2, Section 1310 regarding override of bid requirements. Councilmember Stephen Paczkowski moved and Councilmember Gerilee Bennett seconded to introduce the procurement ordinance (recorded in the minutes as Ordinance No. 2025-3); the motion passed unanimously. Buker also agreed to discuss with the town attorney whether the ordinance should include a standalone table of dollar thresholds for ease of future adjustment.
Other logistical items: Matthews announced Suzanne Curt as chief election judge for the 2025 town election and reviewed nomination and disclosure deadlines. RFP No. 2025-1 for routine and emergency tree services was issued on Feb. 26 with proposals due March 31, 2025.
Next steps: Ordinance No. 2025-1 was adopted; the introduced procurement ordinance will proceed through the Town’s review processes. Proposed building-permit code changes were pulled for further review and not introduced at this meeting.
