Garrett Park Council reviews proposal to raise municipal fines, considers making 'nuclear free zone' a misdemeanor

The Garrett Park Town Council discussed proposed updates to the Town Code's fines and penalties on Dec. 9, focusing on tiered civil infractions and the treatment of enumerated offenses.

Assistant Town Manager Kayla Buker reviewed staff recommendations: Tier 1 civil infractions would carry a $100 fine for a first offense and $250 for a repeat within 12 months; Tier 2 fines would be $250 first and $500 for a repeat; Tier 3 fines would be $500 first and $1,000 for a repeat (the State maximum). For offenses categorized as misdemeanors, staff recommended a fine of record of $1,000 per incident while noting misdemeanor prosecution would be the responsibility of the State's Attorney.

Buker reported the Arboretum Committee recommended Section 716 (Preservation of Trees and Shrubbery) be assigned a $1,000 fine; Councilmember Gerilee Bennett said she supported that recommendation. Councilmember Todd Eisenstadt asked that Section 609 (Nuclear Free Zone) be recategorized from a Tier 3 civil infraction to a misdemeanor, which would carry the State maximum fine and up to six months' imprisonment; the Council expressed support for that suggested change during the discussion.

Council members and staff agreed the immediate next step is for Town staff to finalize the agreed fine and penalty amounts and convey them to General Code, the firm retained for recodification. No ordinance vote occurred on Dec. 9; the item remains unfinished business pending formal introduction and any required public notice.