Apply by October 14 for Merit System Protection Board

We're accepting applications from qualified voters of the County for appointment to a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board. Generally, the Board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System. Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., August 27, 2015—The Montgomery County Council is accepting applications from qualified voters of the County for appointment to a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board. Generally, the Board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System. 

Applications must be received in the Council office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. 

Current members of the Board are Raul Chavera (unaffiliated), Michael Kator (Democrat) and Charlotte Crutchfield (Democrat). Mr. Chavera’s term will expire Dec. 31, 2015.

By law, no more than two of the three members of the Merit System Protection Board may be of the same political party. The appointee for this position may be a Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

There are two methods in which the board processes appeals:
• A written decision issued after a review and discussion of a written record.
• A written decision issued after a pre-hearing conference and a formal hearing in cases involving a suspension, demotion or dismissal.

The board, on a periodic basis, conducts special studies, audits or inquiries of the administration of the merit and retirement pay systems and, in this effort, may compel the attendance of witnesses. Written reports of its findings and recommendations are filed with the County Executive and the County Council. The board also provides comments on any proposed changes in Merit System law or regulations.

The board holds hearings during the day, which can take the full day, with any additional proceedings scheduled for subsequent evening(s). Also, the board normally meets once per month for approximately three hours during the day. Additional time is also required for preparatory work. 

Members of the board receive $7,812 per year, which is adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the percentage change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Board members are restricted in political activity while serving. Section 403 of the County Charter states in part “No member shall hold political office or participate in any campaign for any political or public office during the member's term of office." Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Applicants should submit letters of interest with a resume to: George Leventhal, President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 by 5 p.m. on Oct. 14. Applications also can be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov . 

Resumes should include professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address. Letters and resumes submitted are made public as part of the appointment process. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidates will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

Department of Permitting Services to Host Open House Events Focusing on New Building Codes

Here's the full press release:

In an effort to familiarize the construction industry with the new building codes adopted to implement the 2015 code cycle, the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) is holding a series of open house sessions hosted by DPS’ divisions of Commercial Building Construction and Residential Construction & Intake. The sessions, in late August and September, will focus on new executive regulations adopting the 2015 International Building Code changes from previous editions, affected policies and procedures, and related code interpretations.

A morning and afternoon session will take place on three consecutive Fridays – August 28, September 4 and 11 -- in the Executive Office Building, Lobby Level Auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Morning sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will cover the following topics: International Building Codes (IBC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel-Gas Code (IFGC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Afternoon sessions will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and topics include: International Residential Code (IRC), International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISP & SC) and IECC. Registration is required for each session: August 28; September 4; and September 11.

Sign language interpreter services will be provided upon request with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. If these, or other services or aids are needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6272 or 240-777-6256 (TTY), or email jessica.fusillo@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Holiday Schedule for Labor Day

Here is our holiday schedule for Labor Day on Monday, September 7:

• County Offices – closed
• Libraries – closed
• County liquor stores – all retail stores are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Recreation – Bethesda, Germantown, Western County, Wheaton/Glenmont and MLK outdoor aquatic facilities will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Olney Indoor Swim Center will be open normal hours; all other indoor aquatic facilities, as well as the Long Branch and Upper County outdoor pools, will be closed. Administrative offices, senior centers and community centers are closed.
• Montgomery Parks -- most Parks facilities are open during holiday weekend. For operating schedules, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On – Sunday schedule
• Metrobus – Sunday schedule
• Metrorail – Sunday schedule
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) -- closed
• Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection*
• Transfer Station – closed
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free
• MCPS Administrative Offices – closed
• State offices and courts – closed

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday)

Metro Plans to Accept Transit Center, Targets Opening Date of September 20

Here's the full press release from Metro:

Metro plans to accept Silver Spring Transit Center from Montgomery County
Targets opening date of Sunday, Sept. 20

This morning, Metro received a formal request from Montgomery County to transfer the Paul S. Sarbanes Silver Spring Transit Center into the regional transit system. While Metro has 10 days to formally accept the facility, no issues are expected, and Metro officials have set a target opening date of Sunday, September 20. 

Located adjacent to the Silver Spring Metrorail Station, the three-level multi-modal transit center was built by Montgomery County, and will provide expanded bus facilities and improved connectivity between Metrorail, Metrobus, MARC Rail, Ride On Bus, intercity buses and taxis. With multiple points of entry for pedestrians from three directions, and access from two bike trails, the center is also expected to improve pedestrian and vehicle flow in Downtown Silver Spring.

The transit center is located at 8400 Colesville Road on about half of the area formerly occupied by bus loops and short-term Metrorail parking. The Transit Center’s features include:

• 32 bus bays for WMATA Metrobus, Montgomery County Ride On, Van-Go shuttle, Inter-city Buses, and University of Maryland Shuttle
• Direct access to Metrorail and MARC trains
• 22 Kiss & Ride spaces
• Electronic real-time bus arrival and information displays
• Multi-modal transit store (TRiPS) 

Over the next four weeks, Metro will complete final preparation of the facility for operations, complete training of bus operators and notify riders of the upcoming opening and associated service changes.

Town Hall Meeting for Faith Leaders

Following our tradition of regular town hall meetings, we will will hold a special meeting for leaders of the County’s faith community on Wednesday, September 16, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting, in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room, will start at 7:30 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria.

The Council is working with the interfaith community and the Interfaith Community Liaison associated with the County’s Office of Community Partnerships in organizing the meeting, which is open to the public. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 faith community leaders representing many different religions throughout the County.

Please RSVP by calling 240-777-7931. The meeting will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

The meeting will provide the participants with an opportunity to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of the Councilmembers in an organized, but informal, setting.

Town Hall Meeting for Faith Leaders

Following our tradition of regular town hall meetings, we will will hold a special meeting for leaders of the County’s faith community on Wednesday, September 16, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting, in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room, will start at 7:30 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria.

The Council is working with the interfaith community and the Interfaith Community Liaison associated with the County’s Office of Community Partnerships in organizing the meeting, which is open to the public. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 faith community leaders representing many different religions throughout the County.

Please RSVP by calling 240-777-7931. The meeting will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

The meeting will provide the participants with an opportunity to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of the Councilmembers in an organized, but informal, setting.

Celebrate Montgomery County's Agriculture

If you participated in last month's 26th annual Farm Tour and Harvest Sale, you may already know that Montgomery County has the highest percentage of farmland under agricultural land preservation easements in the nation, and that agriculture contributes $287 million to the County's economy. There are 540 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises in the County with the average farm size being 118 acres. Do you want to know more? Mark your calendar for the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair August 14-22.

The Power Conference: Women Doing Business

On September 3, more than 800 regional business women and men will converge at The Power Conference: Women Doing Business. You can attend any of 40 workshops and small group roundtables or visit the 70 exhibitors in the Business Marketplace and Resource Center. You can also show off your perfect pitch to a panel of business rock-star judges and compete for cash prizes and market exposure.

Hearing on Selection of Early Voting Centers

Here's your chance to weigh in on the location of Early Voting Centers. The full press release:

The Montgomery County Board of Elections has scheduled a public hearing to receive testimony from the public about the list of Early Voting Centers for the upcoming presidential election. Each local Board of Elections in the State of Maryland is required to review its list of early voting sites every two years and make recommendations to the State Board of Elections. The Montgomery County Board is seeking public input prior to making its recommendations, which are due at the end of September.

Under state law, Montgomery County must select at least eight Early Voting Centers and may select an additional ninth site. Early voting in Maryland runs from Thursday to Thursday, ending the Thursday before the election, although in person voting by absentee ballot is still available at each local Board of Elections until Election Day.

The public hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015, in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Montgomery County Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, in Rockville. In addition, public comments will be heard during the August 31, 2015, meeting of the Board of Elections to be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Board of Elections, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, in Gaithersburg. Details for how to testify at the hearing are available at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Elections/BoardInformation/PublicParticipation.html. Written comments may be sent to elections@montgomerycountymd.gov until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16.

Maps of sites that have previously been used by the county are available on the Board of Elections website at www.777vote.org and a complete list of all sites being considered will be available prior to the hearing.