COUNTY COUNCIL EMBARKS ON NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR
 The 2025 Legislative Year is now underway for the Prince George’s County Council, as Council Members gathered this week for their first meetings of the year.
Heading into the new legislative year, Chair Jolene Ivey (At-Large) remains as Council Chair and Council Member Edward Burroughs III (District 8) is Vice Chair. On Tuesday, December 3, the Council held its annual Gavel Exchange Ceremony where Council Member Burroughs was elected to serve as Vice Chair. At that time, the Council did not elect a new Chair, as no Council Member received the requisite six votes, resulting in Chair Ivey maintaining her position. Should another vote be called during the legislative year, a new Chair could be elected.
CHAIR IVEY CONDUCTS RIDE-ALONG IN COUNTY SNOWPLOW
 On Saturday, January 11, Chair Jolene Ivey (At-Large) toured the Department of Public Works and Transportation’s (DPW&T) Command Center and rode in a snowplow amid the cleanup from significant snowfall that week. During her visit, Chair Ivey met with DPW&T Director Michael Johnson and Floyd Holt, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Infrastructure, Environment, and Technology. She learned extended low temperatures, keeping the ground below 20 degrees for several days, made the salt mixture typically used by DPW&T crews less effective and prevented plows from reaching some residential roads. “DPW&T worked tirelessly to address every road in the county, and I want to thank all those working at Snow Command. But I also recognize that the county fell short in serving residents, and I have listened to the urgent concerns regarding the difficult situations caused by unplowed streets,” Chair Ivey said. “On behalf of the county, I want to acknowledge that our services did not meet residents' expectations and left many frustrated.” The Council will hold a briefing with DPW&T on the County’s snow removal efforts and potential areas for improvement on Tuesday, January 21, during the County Council’s regularly scheduled meeting that starts at 11 a.m.
COUNCIL OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR STATE LAWMAKERS, REFERS FIRST BILL TO COMMITTEE
 At its meeting on Tuesday, the County Council voted to send a letter to the state legislature in support of four pieces of proposed legislation up for consideration in the General Assembly. The first bill would give the Council the authority to raise property taxes on vacant properties. The second bill would authorize the county to implement a speed monitoring system on Maryland Route 5. The third bill would make drug detection products, like test strips, available for free to students in Prince George’s County Public Schools. The fourth bill would allow the Council to alter the membership of the Board of Appeals in an effort to reduce member absences and meeting cancellations.
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Additionally on Tuesday, Chair Jolene Ivey (At-Large) presented the first bill of the Legislative Year, CB-001-2025, which would establish a seven-member Compensation Review Commission to study and make recommendations regarding the current compensation of Council Members and the County Executive. The bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration. |
COUNTY COUNCIL RECEIVES FINAL REPORT FROM SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN SAFETY WORKGROUP
 During the Council’s 2024 holiday recess, the School Pedestrian Safety Workgroup presented its final findings and recommendations on Friday, December 13. The list of 18 recommendations came after five months of collaboration and problem solving from the workgroup, which was established in April 2024 by a resolution proposed by Council Member Wanika Fisher (District 2) in the wake of tragic deaths of multiple students. The recommendations are for the state, county, local municipalities, and Prince George’s County Public Schools, with the goal of creating a safer and more walkable community around schools, while reducing traffic accidents and deaths involving pedestrians. To review the full list of recommendations, click here.
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