Ward 4 Council Member Janice Lewis George, chair of the Committee on Facilities and Family Services, opened the committee’s organizational meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, and led votes to adopt committee rules and confirm Sebastian Wyman as committee director.

The measures were approved by voice vote during the brief session. The committee’s jurisdiction includes the Department of General Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, disability-related offices and councils, and several other agencies. Chair Janice Lewis George said the committee will focus on building and maintenance standards and accessibility, saying compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act "should be the floor and not the ceiling of accessibility in the District of Columbia."

Janice Lewis George noted a quorum of three council members was present: At-large Council Member Christina Henderson and Ward 3 Council Member Matthew Fruman joined her for the meeting, which was broadcast on the chair’s website and the council’s network. The chair described the committee’s oversight responsibilities as covering, among others, the commission on persons with disabilities; the Department of General Services; the Department of Buildings (for oversight only, jointly with the committee of the whole); the Department on Disability Services; the Department of Parks and Recreation; the Developmental Disability State Planning Council; the Office on Caribbean Affairs; the Office for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing; the Office of Disability Rights; the State Rehabilitation Council; and the Statewide Independent Living Council.

Votes at a glance

- "Rules of organization and procedure for the Committee on Facilities for council period '26, resolution of 2025": Chair Janice Lewis George moved adoption with "leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes." The chair called the ayes and the resolution passed by voice vote (ayes recorded from the three members present).

- "Staff of the Committee on Facilities appointment resolution of 2025" confirming Sebastian Wyman as committee director: moved by Chair Janice Lewis George with "leave for staff to make technical conforming and editorial changes," and approved by voice vote (ayes recorded from the three members present).

During the meeting the chair outlined priorities the committee plans to examine this council period, including implementation of the Work Order Integrity Act and the DGS Process Improvements Act to improve construction and maintenance of public buildings, field permitting and recreation center programming, pool availability and staffing levels. The chair also said the committee’s added oversight of the Department of Parks and Recreation will provide "a unique ability to examine the interagency processes, procedures, and outcomes" between DGS and DPR.

Both motions included language allowing staff to make technical, conforming and editorial changes; the motions were adopted without further amendment or recorded roll-call votes. The meeting concluded at 10:04 a.m.