Meeting Roundup: University Park's Council Talks Composting Program, Mayor and Council Pay, Ethics

University Park's mayor and council met Monday night to talk out their thoughts on the proposed Cafritz property development, but still had some other important business on their agenda they had to discuss.

Here's what they talked about:

• Council voted for a contingent approval of a shed at 4217 Woodberry Street. The resident had not gotten final, documented approval from the county, which they will need to get approval from the town.
• Mayor John Tabori said that the State Highway Commission came into town on Friday and discussed three upcoming projects. They will redo the roadway on East West Highway between Route 1 and Kenilworth Avenue, also redo the road in College Park from Albion through the Ikea and make two additional left turn lanes — one going west and one towards the north at the intersection of East West Highway and Route 1.
• Milling for the town-wide street repair and maintenance began in Ward 2 this week. The paving will come a week later and then the same process will go through wards 6, 7 and then 4.
• Police Chief Michael Wynnyk discussed and also told the council about Officer Sunday's recent award and wedding. Wynnyk has also been elected as 2nd Vice President for the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association.
• If you heard helicopters over the neighborhood Thursday, Wyynyk said Prince George's County Police were looking for a burglary suspect.
• Council approved the amendment of their public ethics portion of the charter to reflect new standards in the state. It means council will have to release more information about the conflict of interests and their finances when running for office. It’s not effective until it's approved from the state ethics commission.
• STEP-UP Chair Chuck Wilson presented council with information on two studies he'd like to conduct for new town-wide initiatives. One would be an illumination study to determine where the town would benefit from street lighting. The lighting would be energy-efficient and possibly solar powered as a part of the STEP-UP Program. The second is a study and pilot program from composting within town. Willing residents would be able to compost kitchen waste in their home in a special sealed bin and it would be collected weekly to be delivered to ECO City Farms in Edmonston for their use.
• Council also introduced the ability to repeal and re-enact their charter section about when elections should be, term limits and length of terms. It was passed 5 to 1 with Councilwoman Sue McPherson dissenting. McPherson believes the charter amendments should be broken out into sections and not lumped together. Council determined that the earliest they'd vote on the measure would be November. The amendments will be publicized to residents and could be taken to referendum. Also public hearings will be scheduled for residents to respond.
• Council also introduced and ordinance about mayor and council compensation. That would also be discussed in public with a hearing and could go to referendum as well. Council won't decide on it until November either.