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Bladensburg council approves vehicle access, surplus vehicles, bilingual pay and $300,000 municipal grant
Summary
At its July 13 meeting the council approved providing a municipal vehicle for the mayor and amended the personnel manual, authorized auction of three surplus police vehicles (Res. 02‑2027), established a bilingual pay differential (Res. 03‑2027), and accepted a $300,000 state capital grant to advance a new municipal center.
The Bladensburg council approved several formal motions and resolutions on July 13 that change personnel policy, dispose of old fleet vehicles, and secure state capital funding.
Vehicle policy and mayoral vehicle: Council passed a motion directing the town administrator to make a municipal vehicle available to the mayor and then approved an amendment to the personnel manual authorizing mayoral and elected‑official vehicle use. Supporters said the mayor's role requires flexibility and rapid response; the ordinance includes a recall provision so vehicles can be reassigned if operational needs arise.
Surplus police vehicles (Res. 02‑2027): Town Administrator Wood and Chief Friskorn explained three high‑mileage police vehicles were no longer economical to maintain (two approximately nine years old with 100,000+ miles; one a 2015 model). Council approved Resolution 02‑2027 authorizing disposition through a municipal auction vendor.
Bilingual pay differential (Res. 03‑2027): Council adopted a bilingual pay policy to recognize certified language skills across town staff. The policy requires third‑party certification, ties pay to proficiency (basic/advanced), and identifies traffic enforcement revenue as a principal funding source for public‑safety roles that may qualify.
Municipal center capital grant: Council voted to accept a $300,000 State capital projects grant (resolution authorizing execution of the grant agreement) to support continued design and development of a new Bladensburg Municipal Center and to reimburse prior project outlays.
Community grants and discretionary funds: Council finalized community grant awards (six $2,000 grants) and allocated FY26 discretionary funds per member to local nonprofits; these financial actions closed out the fiscal year and were passed by voice vote.
Votes were recorded as voice approvals ("the ayes have it") in the meeting transcript; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded on the public transcript.
