08-25-2024 Guidebook - Flipbook - Page 39
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PUBLIC LIFE
CITY CONTACTS
A guide to Annapolis city government
By Megan Loock
The Annapolis city government is led
by an elected council of aldermen and
alderwomen, each of whom serves four
years and represents one of the city’s
eight wards. An elected, full-time mayor
also serves for four years and represents
the city on the county, state and federal
levels. The mayor also votes with the
council.
Council members are paid about
$18,459 annually while the mayor is paid
$98,000. Their present terms run until
December 2025.
The city manager oversees the city
departments. The person who holds that
position is nominated by the mayor and
approved by the council.
In April, the mayor delivers operating and capital budget proposals to the
council for consideration. For several
weeks, the council, including the Finance
Committee and other committees,
reviews the budget in public meetings.
The full council then debates, offers
amendments to both budgets, and vote on
a final budget in June.
In addition to its own municipal
government, Annapolis is the seat of the
state and county governments.
Annapolis has its own police, fire,
transportation and public works departments. Anne Arundel County is in charge
of the public school system.
The city has its own City Code and
charter. Both can be viewed at library.
municode.com/md/annapolis/codes/
code_of_ordinances.
City residents pay property taxes to the
city and the county but receive a reduced
rate on their county taxes.
For more information about city
departments, programs and initiatives,
visit annapolis.gov.
CITY COUNCIL
Democratic Mayor Gavin Buckley
won a second term in 2021. He defeated
challenger Steve Strawn, the chair of the
Annapolis Republican Central Committee. Born in South Africa and raised in
Australia, Buckley has owned several
restaurants in the Historic District and
on West Street. He can often be found
aboard a boat and enjoys showing off
Annapolis waterways.
All members of the council are Democrats. Here’s a complete list:
Mayor Gavin Buckley. City Hall,
mayor@annapolis.gov.
Alderwoman Elly Tierney, D-Ward 1.
410-231-1316. aldtierney@annapolis.
gov. Tierney represents the downtown
Historic District.
Alderman Karma O’Neill, D-Ward 2.
410-260-3402. aldoneill@annapolis.gov.
O’Neill’s ward is bound by Weems Creek
to the north and includes the neighborhoods surrounding Navy-Marine Corps
Memorial Stadium and the western half
of College Creek.
Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell
Charles, D-Ward 3. 410-266-6857.
AldPindellCharles@annapolis.gov.
Pindell Charles’ ward stretches from Old
Solomons Road to Aris T. Allen Boulevard
and the start of Forest Drive to South
Cherry Grove Avenue to the east.
Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson, D-Ward
4. 410-271-4173. aldfinlayson@annapolis.
gov. Finlayson’s ward runs from Woods
Road to Spa Road in the east and includes
areas south of Aris T. Allen Boulevard.
Alderman Brooks Schandelmeier,
D-Ward 5. 410-996-4983. aldschan-
delmeier@annapolis.gov. Schandelmeier
represents neighborhoods south of
Forest Drive and just north of Hilltop
Lane, including half of Truxtun Park
and the Roger “Pip” Moyer Community
Recreation Center area.
Alderman DaJuan Gay, D-Ward 6.
443-214-4364. aldgay@annapolis.gov.
His district is bound by Forest Drive
to the south, Tyler Avenue to the east,
Cypress Road to the west and extends to
the northern portion of Truxtun Park.
Alderman Rob Savidge, D-Ward 7.
443-906-1361. aldsavidge@annapolis.
gov. Savidge’s ward runs along the eastern
border of Back Creek down to Bay Ridge
Road and extends to portions bordering
Bay Ridge Avenue.
Alderman Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8.
443-745-2901. aldarnett@annapolis.gov.
Arnett represents Eastport.
New ward boundaries as a result of new
U.S. Census data will take effect following
the 2025 municipal election in November
to ensure equal ward representation.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
The City Council meets twice a month;
all council meetings typically convene in
the John T. Chambers Council Chambers at City Hall, 160 Duke of Gloucester
St. Meetings are streamed on the city’s
website, Facebook and YouTube pages.
They begin at 7 p.m. and are held on
the second Monday of the month for a
regular meeting and the fourth Monday
when a second special meeting is deemed
necessary. The council generally recesses
in August.
Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley.
JEFFREY F. BILL/STAFF
(communications).
Fire Department. 410-263-7975.
Fights fires and provides emergency
aid and life support. Oversees the Office
of Emergency Preparedness and Risk
Management.
CITY DEPARTMENTS
More information can be found at the
city’s website, annapolis.gov, including
full phone listings, upcoming legislation, meeting agendas, calendars, as well
as bus and trash pickup schedules, and
items of community interest.
Residents can sign up for email alerts
on posted agendas, scheduled meetings
and other updates. Send emails to the city
via info@annapolis.gov.
Office of the City Clerk. 410-2637942. Keeps records of city government
proceedings and acts as custodian of all
permanent records.
Office of the Mayor. 410-263-7997.
Includes constituent services and city
manager’s office.
Public Information. 410-263-1183.
Maintains the city website and provides
information about city functions to the
public and media.
Office of Law. 410-263-7954. Performs
legal, advisory, documentary and drafting
services for the city, issues opinions on
city law and represents the city in court.
Department of Finance. 410-263-7952.
Prepares budget documents, performs
city accounting and oversees most
purchasing.
Department of Public Works. 410-2637949. Oversees the city water and sewer
systems, trash removal, street repair,
snow removal and government buildings,
including the Market House. Coordinates
engineering and construction services for
capital projects.
Police Department. 199 Taylor
Ave. 410-268-9000 or 410-268-4141
Department of Planning and Zoning.
410-260-2200. Issues zoning permits and
handles applications for development
or redevelopment in the city. Handles
comprehensive planning, enforces
zoning laws and oversees historic
preservation.
Human Resources Department.
410-263-7998. Handles all applications
for employment, employee benefits and
pensions, and labor negotiations.
Department of Recreation and Parks.
410-263-7958. Maintains and operates city parks and community centers
and offers sports and other programs.
Oversees the Harbormaster’s Office.
Department of Transportation.
410-263-7964. Operates the city’s bus
system and oversees contracts for parking garages and street parking. Also oversees taxis and parking enforcement in the
city including metered parking spaces
and residential neighborhoods with
parking restrictions.
Housing Authority of the City of
Annapolis. 410-267-8000. Oversees about
970 housing units. The agency is not a
branch of city government but does give
quarterly reports to the council. HACA
is overseen by the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Local
control is administered by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed
by the mayor and approved by the City
Council.
