TOURINg HISTORY
LET TIME gO bY FOR bEST RESULTS
PURSUIT OF gOOD POLICE
Taking a peek inside some of Hyattsville's historic homes PAGE 5
There is much to be learned by letting your plans unfold gently, says Cassie Johnson PAGE 4
Hyattsville's Officer of the Year in 2008 didn't know he wanted to be a policeman. PAGE 3
Code dept. overstaffed, could handle parking laws by Sarah Nemeth Proposals before the City Council suggest a smaller staff and more work for the Department of Code Enforcement. A management and efficiency study conducted for the City of Hyattsville recommended the reduction of one inspector by September. Mayor William Gardiner counter-suggested that rather than reducing the number of inspectors, code staff could assume the duties of a vacant parking enforcer position currently in the police department. The study, produced by Bethesda-based TATC Consulting suggested that the code department was overstaffed. There are four code inspectors, one full-time and one part-time administrative worker and Department Director Jerome Hampton. Due to a lack of detail captured through the department’s data software provided by Black Bear, TATC was unable to determine how many cases – or inspections – are conducted by each inspector. Using data captured from 2008, the study assumed that each fulltime inspector handled about 298
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 6 No. 6
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
'PAW'-SING FOR LOVE
by Paula Minaert and Sarah Nemeth The City Council voted June 8th to authorize the development of a pilot program to reduce trash pickup in the city from twice weekly to once weekly. The action drew on information from a Preliminary Efficiency Study done by TATC Consulting, which showed that
the change could save Hyattsville more than $400,000 yearly. Three public meetings on the program will be held between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30. At those meetings, city staff will present a proposed schedule, estimated savings and other pros and cons of the change. Residents will be able to give input and ask questions, and the proposal states that council will consider and incorporate resident input as appropriate at their final vote on the program Oct. 5. TraSH continued on page 11
$21.2M budget passes by Sarah Nemeth
photo by paul hrusa Hyattsville resident Jason Riggs with his dog Lily PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
Trash pickup pilot program initiated City staff will gather data on once weekly garbage collection
cOde continued on page 10
The City Council voted 9-1 Monday night to approve a $21.2 million budget which includes additional staffing for recreation and policy development and an increase to
HERD AROUND HYATTSVILLE
We asked four people what they thought about the proposal to reduce trash pickup from twice weekly to once weekly. Here’s what they said:
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
June 2009
" [The proposal] isn’t a good idea, because we’d pay the same for less service." — Linda Reyes
"I’d like to know where that savings to the city goes. If they cut jobs, then no. I’m a labor guy." — Warren Davis
"I like twice a week. It keeps trash from overflowing, especially in the summer, when it reeks." — Eric Lindell
"Once a week is a good idea — as a people we generate too much trash. Reuse and recycle " — Samantha Miskiri
the city’s support of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department. Councilwoman Paula Perry (Ward 5) dissented and Councilman Anthony Patterson (Ward 3) was absent from the meeting. The budget is $1.2 million more than last year’s $20 million projected budget. In 2007, the projected budget $15.1 million. The fiscal year ends on June 30. A major change to the budget came before the vote, and cut the Office of Community Development budget from $120,000 to $70,000. Council Vice President William Tierney said there are projects within the scope of CD that are not within the consensus of the council. According to city regulations, City Administrator Elaine Murphy must consult the council before making any expenditure beyond $10,000. Tierney, who initially proposed dropping the CD fund to $20,000, said having double BUdGeT continued on page 10
Included: The june 10, 2009 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section