Tom Dernoga - Working for your Community

Indian Creek Earth Day Celebration

Indian Creek in Beltsville got a nice make-over on April 18th as part of the greater Anacostia Watershed clean-up. The site on Powder Mill Road down from the railroad bridge was the site of the clean-up sponsored by Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (and their partners, Konterra). My staff (Laura Moore, Judy Thacher and Alex Hirtle) and I and my daughter Danielle pitched in and helped with the clean-up. We were also joined by Mary Lehman (aide to Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk) and by Karen Coakley (President of the Beltsville Citizens Association). More . . .

Current Issues

Proposed Property Tax Increases

I have received a lot of inquiries about the possible increase in real property taxes and the Council's action to support these proposals. Understand that these are actually State bills and the Council action was only about whether we “support” the State bills. We do not have authority to actually raise these taxes - not unless the State Legislature enacts the bills and gives us the authority. More . . .

CB-001-2009
An Ordinance prohibiting video lottery terminals in Prince George's County.
Word File 132K; PDF File 52K

CB-005-2009
An Act amending the energy conservation real property tax credit for residential homeowners who utilize solar energy conservation devices.
Word File 44K; PDF File 60K

CB-011-2009
An Act providing for the registration of vacant or unoccupied residential structures with the Department of Environmental Resources.
Word File 52K; PDF File 68K

Visit the Legislative Information System for more County Legislative activity

Montpelier Elementary School Closed up to 2 Weeks

May 4 - Montpelier Elementary School in Laurel will be closed for up to 14 days beginning Monday, May 4, 2009, as Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) follows Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance regarding its first “probable” case of a child with the H1N1
virus. Visit the PGCPS website for more information.

Parking primer

"Kudos to County Councilman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel who complained after hearing from constituents."

Gazette.Net

April 23 - When County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) announced plans to beautify Prince George's, few imagined it would mean they would have to change the way they park. However, after officials announced they would become more aggressive about parking violations nearly a year ago, neighborhood complaints sporadically poured in to The Gazette. More . . .

Beltsville senior center construction to begin Friday

by Timmy Gelles, Gazette.net

April 16 - Area seniors will have a new place to meet and greet next year.
Construction of the Beltsville-Laurel Senior Activity Center, a 22,000-square-foot facility located adjacent to Laurel Regional Hospital on Contee Road, is scheduled to begin Friday and should be completed by early next summer, said County Councilman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist.1) of Laurel. More . . .

Residents speak against bus cuts

by Jordan Attebury, Gazette.net

April 16 - County leaders and about 45 residents said Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority needs to explore options to cover its financial shortfall instead of proposed bus cuts at a Monday night meeting at the First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville. More . . .

Riderwood Scholarship Award Presentation

On March 30th, I had the privilege of attending the Scholarship Award Presentation at Riderwood scholarships of $6,000 were awarded to 50 Prince George’s and Montgomery County high school seniors. We were joined by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council President Phil Andrews. More . . .