New Carrollton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Carrollton, MD public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Schedule of fees, fines, and penalties reform
With no city manager, the council must still deliver a budget to the county by October. Open questions: employee salary increases, pay inequities between long-tenured and newer workers, and an untouched schedule of fees and fines dating to 2014.
Commercial vehicle parking on city streets
The current code doesn't define what a 'commercial vehicle' is — an F-350 used as a family car could technically be a violation. Staff are working on a clearer definition so enforcement can target actual problem trucks like flatbeds, not family pickups.
LED Streetlights and Sanitation Contracts
A resident wants to know when street lights will be replaced. Mayor Nembhard says talks with Pepco are still ongoing about whether the city will own the lights or keep them as a service.
Mayoral Election
The mayor's seat has been vacant since September 9, and the council set November 9 as the special election date. The winner only serves until May 2027, and the former mayor is barred from running. There are open questions about voting machine costs and who runs the election without a city clerk.
Fleet management and vehicle dormancy
Council reviewed the fleet dormancy report and flagged concerns about the age and condition of several vehicles; staff said older vehicles remain serviceable.
Fiscal 2027 budget adoption
The Council is building the FY27 budget and wrestling with how to forecast revenues, control overtime, and avoid mid-year budget amendments. Final decisions and remaining sections (public works, rest of police) come at Wednesday and Monday meetings.
FY 2027 Salary Structure and Budget Finalization
The budget still isn't done in September, which is unusual. The council scheduled a September 30 special meeting to work through salary tables and total compensation before the October 30 county deadline, and approved a $37,646 unemployment tax bill from surplus.
Special election funding and administration
The city must announce the special election date by Wednesday, with November 9 the frontrunner — the Monday after the midterms, matching residents' Monday voting habits.
Collective bargaining rights for Public Works employees
Public works and some admin workers have signed union cards, and residents pressed the council to stop stonewalling a vote on collective bargaining rights — a context that shaped the budget debate.
Third-party debt collection (Ordinance 26-13)
The city has millions in past-due citations headed to a collection agency that adds a 35% fee. Council is considering a 60-day amnesty letting people pay the original fine only — but details, debtor counts, and mailing costs are still being gathered.
Four Cities Regional Meeting
New Carrollton will host the Four Cities meeting on October 29 despite the leadership transition, and the council floated a topic about neighboring towns' voting machines.
Stop-sign cameras and speeding enforcement
New Carrollton is rolling out stop sign cameras at up to 25 locations, with warnings starting around October 5 and $40 tickets going live in early November. Residents will see a marketing campaign first and can track pilot violations on a public website.
Pending Litigation Against the City
A former elected official told the council that Resolution 25-26 — used to remove her — is legally void because the charter amendment was introduced and adopted the same day without the required 21-day notice, warning of a lawsuit and election costs.
FY 2027 Budget Continuing Resolution
The city's new fiscal year starts July 1, but the budget isn't done — so a continuing resolution keeps services running at current spending levels for three months while the compensation study and fees are finalized.
Grant Funding and Overtime Costs (Amendments 26-16 and 26-17)
A $22,500 grant the police department won last year but couldn't spend got moved into the new budget year so the city can claim the reimbursement.
City Manager Position and Counteroffer
The city has no mayor present, no city manager, and is running on volunteers and part-time help. Leroy Robinson becomes Public Works director, Delaney Galloway signs on as part-time operations manager, and Maisha Williams volunteers to help with the handoff.
Hiring freeze exceptions for DPW and finance
The city has had a hiring freeze since October 2025 while a consultant's report is evaluated. The council was asked to consider one narrow exception to promote Leroy Robinson to Public Works Director so the department keeps steady leadership over streets, trash, parks, and capital projects.
FY2027 Budget Process
The council was scheduled to discuss the FY 2027 budget status and next steps, and residents were invited to comment — with comments limited to budget topics only. This is where residents could weigh in on how their tax dollars get spent next year.
Finance Department Staffing — Accounting Clerk Vacancy
An Accounting Clerk resigned effective October 2, 2026, leaving a gap in the office that processes payroll, vendor payments, and city financial records. The council was asked to consider allowing the city to hire a replacement despite the ongoing hiring freeze.
Spanish-language communication
Councilmember Malavé pushed for the council statement and rebuttal to be translated into Spanish, noting many Spanish-speaking residents only heard partial accounts. The council agreed, using the existing language-access budget line.
Rebuttal of former mayor's public statements
The council publicly rebutted the former mayor's media claims about the reinstatements, the city manager's departure, and her eligibility to run again, presenting emails it says prove she reinstated two employees before her removal. The former mayor showed up and disputed the account.
Police Staffing, Cameras, and Community Policing
The chief says crime is down 19.39% and wants four ballistic shields so officers can respond to a school shooter, plus retention tools like the LEOPS retirement plan. Council also revisited the idea of non-sworn community resource officers for low-risk calls.
Mayor's expulsion and council transparency
The council publicly explained why it expelled Mayor Nemhard 4-1 on September 9 — citing reinstated employees in violation of a hiring freeze — while the mayor, present in the audience, disputed the statement and criticized the council's spending.
Civility and meeting security
After a disruptive resident approached the dais and council members were harassed in the hallway, the city is redesigning the room layout, repositioning cameras, and adding officer coverage at town halls.
Mayor Ouster
New Carrollton’s former mayor is speaking out after being removed from office, creating a leadership shakeup at City Hall. The change could affect how city decisions and services get handled, but the source doesn’t spell out the details yet.
Charter § C-20 forfeiture motion against Mayor Nembhard
The council voted to remove the mayor from office under the forfeiture provision it added in 2024-2025 charter amendments, citing the reinstatement of two employees during the hiring freeze. It's a first-of-its-kind use of the provision and will trigger a special election within 65 days, with Lashley serving as acting mayor.
Resolution 26-06: hiring and pay freeze
The council unanimously froze hiring in October 2025 (Resolution 26-03); the mayor reinstated a public works director and code enforcement manager without council-approved exceptions. This dispute is the basis of the forfeiture action and the staff resignations that preceded it.
Citywide Stump Removal
A $112,230 contract with Artistic Landscaping to grind 300+ tree stumps citywide and restore turf, with 80% resident support in the survey.
Voter Qualifications and Registration Procedures
Two measures were on the agenda: one clarifying who can vote in municipal elections (Charter §C-6) and one moving registration rules from the Charter into the City Code. These determine how residents register and qualify to vote in city elections.
Bridge repairs review
Ordinance 27-02 would put $401,736.47 toward bridge repairs by FT Meyers and CPJ — a significant infrastructure investment for the city.
Citywide compensation and organizational study
The city is hiring a consultant for an audit and compensation study. Six firms competed; councilmembers ranked them individually and BRC Consulting won the most first-place votes for its clear scope alignment and quick timeline.
Grounds maintenance services
Ordinance 27-03 would spend $112,230.30 on stump grinding and turf restoration by Artistic Landscaping, sprucing up public grounds.
Electronic message signs RFP NC2026-4
The city wants new electronic display signs, but the old $250,000 estimate for three signs gave members pause. The Council agreed to have the Procurement Officer issue an RFP to see if better pricing is out there before committing during budget season.
FY 2027 Budget Amendment
The first budget amendment for fiscal year 2027 was scheduled for discussion, along with a budget feedback survey to gather resident input.
Equipment and Capital Purchases
A slate of purchases was up for discussion: a hot box and roller, two electronic signs, pour-and-play playground surfacing backed by a $370,000 grant, a recycling truck, an electronic scoreboard for Beckett Field, brine equipment, and stump grinding/turf restoration.
All-Resident Voting Charter Amendment
Proposed charter changes would reshape how New Carrollton residents register and vote in city elections, including same-day registration via provisional ballots and rules for voters not on the state list. Supporters call it a legal compromise fixing earlier gaps; opponents raise equal-protection and voter data security concerns.
Citywide Parking Study and Enforcement Recommendations
Endesco's parking study recommendations were scheduled to be delivered to the council. The findings could guide future parking policy in the city.
New Carrollton schools discussion
Director Matlock was scheduled to join for a 15-minute conversation about New Carrollton schools — a topic of direct interest to families in the city.
County bill CB-074-2026
The council was scheduled to consider sending a letter to the County Council about bill CB-074-2026 — the city weighing in on county-level legislation.
Playground safety surfacing expansion
The council was scheduled to consider buying pour-and-play surfacing for the remaining city playgrounds, funded by a $370,000 grant already received — meaning new or upgraded playground surfaces at little cost to local taxpayers.
School bus routing on narrow streets
Prince George's County Public Schools hasn't developed transportation plans for the new schools yet; the city has recommended staggered start times, and Robert Frost K-8's expected enrollment (possibly up to 1,200 students) has neighbors worried about dismissal traffic on Good Luck Road.
State-mandated accessory dwelling unit law
Counties must adopt ADU legislation by the end of October; Olson outlined open questions on size, setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and stormwater. The city plans to weigh in, possibly with a joint letter through Core Cities.
BRC compensation and organizational assessment
The council found BRC's 545-page deliverable short of what was asked, held final payment, and scheduled an August presentation. The hiring freeze stays until the study clarifies pay levels — the city clerk position remains open partly because of it.
Charter working group on city's form of government
The council was scheduled to discuss next steps for charter changes that would modify New Carrollton's form of government. How the charter is shaped affects the balance of power between the mayor and council.
Shoppers Food Warehouse site redevelopment
County Councilmember Olson calls replacing the lost Shoppers grocery his top economic development priority; the landlord is talking with grocery operators and the county executive pledged expedited permitting.
Harland Street project and Boys & Girls Club funding
The city landed $250,000 for Harland Street and $1 million for the Boys & Girls Club, and is working to move an older $250,000 earmark from the Hanko Building to consolidate funding. A $2 million federal earmark request for the Hanko Building is pending.
East-west bikeway concept
Olson pitched a regional east-west bikeway that would connect New Carrollton to trails, Metro stations, and eventually Annapolis — a long-term, multi-jurisdiction project aimed at safer cycling and walking connections.
Parking Study Recommendations
A councilmember raised concerns that the city's $300 building permit waiver for disabled residents isn't being implemented properly.
Pending litigation with former Chief Rice
The council has already voted in closed session to let its insurance trust offer a judgment to David Rice, a plaintiff suing the city. This affects how a legal claim against the city gets resolved.
Safety Action Plan Street and Sidewalk Study
A county-funded study of how well pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility-device users can get around New Carrollton. Recommendations include bike lanes, crosswalks, bike racks, Capital Bikeshare integration, and traffic calming — with parking preservation to be worked out in follow-up community design sessions.