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Prince George's County Council members were unable to vote on legislation to study the impact of building a new 24,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium in Landover for the D.C. United team after Council Chairwoman Marilynn M. Bland (D-Dist.9) of Clinton refused to call a vote Tuesday and called a recess before residents had a chance to speak.

Bland (D-Dist. 9) of Clinton adjourned the meeting about 10 minutes after it started. Staff later said the council would not reconvene until a zoning hearing at 7 p.m. The chairwoman, who has voiced support for the stadium, is in charge of setting the agenda for the council meeting.

Facing opposition from a majority of the council, Bland left the vote off the day's agenda and declined to explain her reason for the omission.

"What you see on the agenda is what is there," she told Councilman Eric Olson (D-Dist. 3) of College Park, one of five members who voted against the stadium bill last week.

More than a dozen residents who had signed up to speak against the stadium were left without a chance to speak to the council when the brief meeting ended.

"This is ridiculous," yelled Ruth Wright, a community activist who said she was disgusted by Bland's departure. "If we're going to sit here and be treated like this, they have lost their mind."

Other residents expressed disbelief at Bland's departure.

"Why would she not have the courtesy to say, ‘I know why you're here?'" asked Elizabeth Rivera of Fort Washington. "Her behavior today is really unacceptable. To get up and walk out while we're all sitting here? It's just rude."

Joseph Kitchen of Landover said the abrupt end to the meeting raises concerns about county leaders.

"Dirty tricks like this make me know something here isn't right," he said.

In addition to Olson, four other council members — Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, Ingrid M. Turner (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie, Andrea Harrison (D-Dist. 5) of Springdale and Tony Knotts (D-Dist. 8) of Temple Hills — voted during a General Assembly Committee meeting March 23 to oppose the legislation.

Council members William Campos (D-Dist. 2) of Hyattsville and Camille Exum (D-Dist. 7) of Capitol Heights were not present for the vote. Bland abstained from the vote along with Councilman Samuel H. Dean (D-Dist 6) of Mitchellville.

Campos, Dernoga, Olson, Harrison, Turner and Knotts stayed in the room to speak with the residents, saying they had no idea what was occurring. Dean left with Bland.

"We're kind of caught in between," Campos told the crowd.

Supporters say building a stadium near the Morgan Boulevard Metro Station in Landover would bring commercial development and jobs to the county. Opponents say the county and state should not borrow money to build at a financially perilous time.

The stadium is expected to cost up to $195 million. D.C. United would contribute about 25 percent of the construction costs, with Prince George's and the Maryland Stadium Authority borrowing up to $146 million in bonds that would be repaid from ticket sales once the stadium opens.

The council members who opposed the stadium legislation last week cited concerns about the cost and sustainability of the deal, and expressed frustration that they had not been consulted.

The lack of a vote further complicates the future of state bills HB 1282 and SB 1020, which would authorize a stadium study to take place before officials decide whether to move forward. Spurred by sponsor Del. Melony G. Griffith (D-Dist. 25) of Upper Marlboro, delegates on the appropriations committee approved the House stadium bill Monday. Prior to the vote, Committee Chairman Del. Norman H. Conway (D-Dist. 38B) of Salisbury told delegates that Bland had assured him the council would reverse its initial vote. Conway could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Griffith declined to comment on the brief meeting Tuesday, saying, "I wasn't there."

The Senate version of the bill has not passed out of committee and is expected to fail if it doesn't get council support.

The stadium effort was championed by County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D). John Erzen, a spokesman for Johnson who attended the meeting, declined to speak on the events.

"This is County Council stuff," he said.

The meeting does little to help the county's reputation in the state, noted Mitchellville resident Brian Austin.

"I'm embarrassed for my county," he said.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net