New Carrollton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in New Carrollton, MD public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Route 450 westbound annexation plan
The packet outlines a plan to annex a small group of businesses along Route 450 westbound, starting with three, to grow the commercial tax base. This would come to the Council later through a resolution and public hearing.
Big box store at former Shoppers property
The City expects a contract to be signed soon for a big box store at the former Shoppers site. That could bring a major retail anchor back to a spot residents have watched sit empty.
Compensation and organizational study (RFP-NC-2026-3)
The city is hiring a consultant to audit pay, assess how the organization is structured, and compare employee compensation against peer jurisdictions. The results could mean pay adjustments for city staff — and a change in how payroll dollars from the city budget are spent. A final consultant choice is expected at the next meeting.
Economic Development Performance
The economic development office reported seven new businesses, a pending big box store at the former Shoppers site, and a pivot from poorly attended business meetups to social media showcases. Some councilmembers want hard metrics to justify the department's budget.
$250,000 Resident Cash Assistance Proposal
With distress calls rising — especially over utility shutoffs — the mayor wants a fund to help residents in crisis, similar to the COVID-era ARPA aid. A roughly $160,000 allocation was floated, and College Park's $2,500 cap gives a sense of scale. The council wants a detailed proposal before committing.
FY2027 Property Tax Rate
The council adopted the Constant Yield Tax Rate of $0.5263 per $100 of assessed value, slightly lower than last year's $0.5461, meaning the city collects roughly the same revenue as before without raising the rate on you.
Constant Yield Tax Rate for FY 2027
The city is deciding whether to keep the constant yield tax rate, which it has used since FY 2021. Some councilmembers say rising costs make it unrealistic.
Emergency Budget Amendment 26-18 (police overtime & FICA fix)
The department head salary line is projected to have less than $50,000 left for the year — a problem flagged back in October — and Public Works has a shortfall too. Council wants a closed session with the City Attorney to figure out a fix.
Department Head Salary Increases (Budget Amendment 26-15)
The budgeted salary for the Public Works Director position was depleted, and the Council had to decide how to keep funding the job. The compromise: pay $130,000 a year until an outside compensation study (BRC) is finished, then revisit.
Voter eligibility legislation public hearings
Charter Amendment Resolution 25-08 would change qualifications and residency requirements for voting in city elections. Public hearings are set for April 13 and 18, and the Mayor flagged a potential loophole: proving a family relation to a resident doesn't prove you actually live there.
FY25 audit results
The city's yearly audit came back with a clean opinion — its finances checked out for fiscal 2025. Good news for taxpayers and bond ratings alike.
Department budget shortfall
The department head salary line is projected to have less than $50,000 left for the year — a problem flagged back in October — and Public Works has a shortfall too. Council wants a closed session with the City Attorney to figure out a fix.
Police Chief Reinstatement
New Carrollton’s police chief is back on the job just a month after being fired. That’s a fast reversal in city leadership, and it’s worth watching whether the council fights over how and why it happened.
Police Leadership Termination
New Carrollton’s police chief has been fired, according to NBC4 Washington. For residents, that means the department’s leadership and public-safety direction could shift as the city decides who runs the force next.
Police Chief Dismissal
New Carrollton’s long-serving police chief has been fired, creating a leadership shakeup in the city’s public safety department. Residents should watch who steps in next, since that choice will shape policing priorities and accountability.
Police Accountability
A New Carrollton police officer convicted of assault was rehired by the same city, and residents want to know how that was allowed. The case is raising questions about hiring safeguards, discipline, and whether the public can trust the department to police itself.
Police Chief Controversy
New Carrollton’s police chief has reportedly been temporarily barred from entering the police department after some kind of confrontation, shaking up the city’s top cop leadership. It’s not yet clear what triggered the move or how it affects day-to-day policing.