The Prince George’s County Council passed up a chance to override County Executive Rushern Baker’s veto of a bill to help settle common ownership disputes.
The bill was the only legislation proposed by outgoing Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, D-Mitchellville, to pass the council.
Baker vetoed the legislation, which would have created a new mediation process for settling disagreements between landlords and tenants under the Common Ownership Community Program.
Only Johnson voted in favor of enacting the bill despite Baker’s objections.
Councilwoman Karen Toles, D-Suitland, abstained from the vote.
Brad Frome, Baker’s deputy chief of staff, said the executive supported the bill’s concept, but was worried the county did not have the funds to pay for the mediation process.
“It’s a great idea, we just need a revenue structure to pay for it,” Frome said, adding that the county would look to the Maryland General Assembly for the authority to charge a fee for the mediation process.
Johnson pleaded guilty June 30 to charges of conspiring to commit federal witness and evidence tampering, admitting to stuffing $79,600 in cash in her bra and underwear and flushing a $100,000 check down the toilet at the instruction of her husband, then-County Executive Jack Johnson.
Despite requests from her fellow council members to step down immediately, Johnson returned to work on Monday and plans to resign on July 31.
