City Council Members Assess Performance at Midway Mark
This Fall marks the halfway point for the city’s elected officials: the five council members are halfway through their 2-year terms, and Mayor Sydnor is halfway through his 4-year term. Voices of Laurel asked all six officials to provide midterm self-assessments of the council’s performance to date, as well as their own accomplishments and goals for the next year.
We asked them five questions and limited each response to 100 words or less; we did not edit their responses. On the last question, we promised a degree of anonymity because of the potential impact on future relations that could occur with attribution.
Both Mayor Keith Sydnor and Council President and At-Large Representative Brencis Smith chose not to participate.
Here are the questions, with respondents listed in alphabetical order.
In addition to passing a balanced budget—which is clearly one of your most difficult and important duties—what do you consider the council’s most impactful legislation or action in the last year?
Kyla Clark, Ward 2: Beyond the budget, I’d point to the Council’s adoption of the updated Bikeway Master Plan. It came from real collaboration between residents, our Bikeway and Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Committee, and Public Works staff, and it strengthens connectivity across the city while positioning us for additional state grant funding. It’s a forward-looking, safety-focused investment that benefits residents for years, not just one budget cycle. I’m proud it was built on data and community input, and I’d like to see that same approach guide more of our decisions going forward.
James Kole, Ward 1: I would say the budget amendment to purchase property on LaFayette Avenue. This property is not fully utilized yet, but in the long-term planning of City Services for our residents, having a facility that has room to grow our staff is important. Residents will probably never notice this property’s impacts on day-to-day operations, but they would notice if we DIDN’T have it.
Jeffrey Mills, Ward 2: As a second term councilmember, I’ve learned that the Mayor and Council is just that. We’re six different pages, but one completed book. We all have different and strong traits and this is why we can come together to pass a $43 million budget. I would consider the purchasing of two drones for a “Dome of Protection” over the City. Safety and education will always be #1 in my book.
Adrian Simmons, Ward 1: Council has had the privilege of legislating on a number of important topics this cycle, including approving the police union agreement, correcting & updating the City’s affordable housing provisions, approving an updated Bikeway Master Plan, establishing a Redistricting Committee, providing for native plant gardens, adopting required Accessory Dwelling Unit provisions, and thinking through updates to the youth curfew laws. In all legislation, my goal is to do my best to think through what most helps lay the foundations for residents, businesses, and organizations to build the Laurel community, both now and in the years to come.
What do you consider your most impactful personal achievement this past year, and how will it benefit Laurel residents?
Clark: My proudest achievement is simpler than any single vote: keeping my word to the people who elected me. I’ve worked to make decisions based on what genuinely benefits Laurel residents, not what’s politically convenient or personally advantageous. That means showing up, listening before deciding, and being willing to explain my reasoning even when it’s unpopular. Residents deserve a representative they can trust to put their interests first. That trust is the foundation for everything else I hope to accomplish, and I believe it benefits residents by keeping their priorities, not politics, at the center of our decisions.
Kole: This past year, I am most proud of my work on the FY2027 budget. I worked with my Council colleagues to question proposed spending, make changes where we felt more review was needed, and ultimately override a Mayoral veto for the first time since 2000. I believe Councilmembers have a responsibility to ask questions and take a hard look at how taxpayer dollars are being spent. For Laurel residents, that means having a Council that is willing to do the work and provide oversight of the City’s budget.
Mills: As I sit here to write out my answers to these questions, I look at my Governor’s Citation from Governor Wes Moore for my second annual 100 Father’s Day Breakfast. Right after that I followed up with my second annual Job Fair where over 200 people attended.
Simmons: The Councilmember role encompasses various responsibilities, and one I’ve worked hard to live up to is listening to residents, supporting them in their good works around town, helping answer their questions, assisting with their requests, and helping them feel and form connections with their neighbors and their government. I firmly believe that a vibrant community supported in their works makes for a City that people are attracted to and want to be a part of.
What was the biggest challenge the council faced, and how do you grade the effort, looking back? (On a school grading scale of A through F.)
Clark: Egos and political games are the biggest challenge. Looking back, I’d grade our public-facing effort a B, but behind the scenes, where real decision-making happens, I’d grade us closer to a D. Too often, people think performance is a part of politics, and it shouldn’t be. It’s actually a disservice to the residents who just want honest representation, not theater. There’s real room to grow: we need to be more transparent with residents and each other about why decisions were made, and stop letting personal preferences override what residents actually need.
Kole: I would grade us at a B. I think our biggest challenge has been each time changes are being proposed to legislation. Getting to a majority consensus on a change, without taking a vote, is not as straightforward as it sounds, when you have six elected officials with potentially six different opinions.
Mills: The biggest challenge that I have faced is being told “NO” to having a City Wide Job Fair for the City. I had to turn down so many companies that were willing come to our city and employ hundreds of constituents. It’s always those who wish to control others, but don’t realize that you can’t control God’s plans. C
Simmons: The work of holding common conversation is never easy, and it is the perennial work of self-governance. It involves patience, understanding, willingness to change, learning, respect, sharing, listening, and more. And it is ever evolving as we move from topic-to-topic over the course of the year. When we do it well, I give us an A. When we struggle, I give us a C. But we keep coming back to the table, working hard again to live up to that ideal, and I am always encouraged by the shared desire to see Laurel be a truly special place.
What issue do you see as the most important one to tackle in 2027, and how will you help to do that?
Clark: My top priority for 2027 is strategic economic development that makes Laurel feel safer and more vibrant, through smart design and investment. Simple changes, like adding string lights and character to Main Street, make our streets feel welcoming after dark. I’d also like to see thoughtful mixed-use development, like a Costco with condos above it near Konterra Drive, that brings density, foot traffic, and convenience to our neighbors. I’ll work on neighborhood revitalization and partner with our economic development team to recommend businesses that reflect Laurel’s family-oriented character and bring people together.
Kole: I think our next budget cycle will be even more difficult than this year’s. We have seen indicators of this in the news, including potential budget shortfalls, pending litigation with Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission Budget, and growing State budget shortfalls. Municipalities receiving funding from multiple County and State Agencies that are all potentially impacted. If those Agencies are not able to give us funding, we will have to make hard decisions within our own budget.
Mills: The issue that I see is with the Mayor and his administration. We have to have more passion and patience for our constituents and not be bullies. Care and compassion can go a long way. People know when your Tru.
Simmons: The 10-year Master Plan is slated to come before Council this December, and while we haven’t seen it yet, it’s expected to present an outlook of where we want to go across multiple dimensions of our City: economically, programs, infrastructure, etc. I believe Laurel is at an important juncture & there’s a need to pro-actively think through: How do we set the stage and attract the types of investments which result in lots of positive activity happening right here Laurel? I’d like to be part of doing that well and laying the groundwork for success in the years to come.
[Note: For the last question, Voices of Laurel consolidated the responses from the four council members who participated and removed attribution, so as to provide a degree of anonymity that allowed for open, frank responses.]
As we enter the next legislative year, how would you characterize the relationship between the Council and the Mayor—and what (if any) actions should be taken to ensure effective collaboration going forward?
All four respondents acknowledged that there has been friction—both within the council and between the council and the mayor. They cited distrust, clashing egos, differing priorities, and lack of respect as causes for the friction, but also expressed hope and confidence that differences could be worked out and things could improve.
Some pointed out the importance of offering different perspectives as part of the legislative process, while at the same time accepting the need for collaboration and compromise toward a greater good.
Below are some relevant quotes:
Sometimes I feel that when differing opinions are voiced, it is not taken as constructive feedback to improve a proposal, but rather taken as personal attacks on someone’s priorities. This should never be the case.
I’d like to see … decisions [being] made on what’s needed, not on who’s getting along that week, before disagreements spill into public disputes.
[Within the bounds of the Open Meetings Act] I think more social meetings (dinner, coffee, etc.) outside of official meetings would go a long way to repair the relationship.
Effective collaboration is possible, but it will take intentional, sustained effort from all sides to rebuild trust.
Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.
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