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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.