Town Manager briefs Council on finances, Time to Care Act, Yeandle Park survey; archive work and Town Hall renovation discussed

Town Manager Barb Matthews opened the Garrett Park Town Council meeting Dec. 9 with an update on the November financial report and several ongoing administrative items.

Matthews noted a year‑to‑year variance in local income tax receipts and said the decline was anticipated in the FY 2025 budget because November 2023 included an unusually large payment; she also referenced pandemic filing and enforcement irregularities that affected prior receipts. She told the Council staff is monitoring timelines and would seek decisions needed to obligate ARPA funds before the Dec. 31 deadline.

Assistant Town Manager Kayla Buker briefed the Council on developments for the Maryland Time to Care Act, reporting that recent proposed regulations and program structure details make it appropriate for staff to present required Town actions at the Jan. 13, 2025 meeting. Buker also summarized responses to a Community Preferences Survey on Yeandle Park (11321 Kenilworth Avenue) and answered Council questions about design preferences gathered from residents.

Under Town Updates, Councilmember Phil Schulp reported on archive work performed by Town Archivist Sonya McKenney, noting efforts to reconcile Council minutes and a Post Office lobby exhibit; Schulp said McKenney provided about six hours of researcher support. Councilmember Stephen Paczkowski summarized guiding principles for a Town Hall renovation, including limiting spending on the building to preserve funding for other needs and refining Option 4 elements for more accurate cost estimates before assigning a budget.

Councilmember Gerilee Bennett inquired about the budget amendment timeline and upcoming FY 2026 budget discussions; Mayor Keller noted past practice of holding a budget work session in late February and indicated staff will provide scheduling information.