Council Meets with Metro's General Manager

Yesterday the Council met with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager Paul Wiedefeld to discuss his priorities for Metro, including safety, reliability and fiscal responsibility. We also talked about the Red Line, Metrobus, the agency's partnership with the planned Purple Line and other issues specific to Montgomery County. You can see the video (go to 12:45 p.m. in the index) on demand on the Council's Web site.

T&E Discusses Residential Lead Pipe Issues

The Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee recently held a discussion of residential lead pipe issues. Most of the news is good, especially as WSSC reminded us that there are no lead pipes in the public water system. As an extra precaution, WSSC adds a corrosion inhibitor to its water. It is possible that private property -- older homes in particular -- could still have lead pipes or solder. If you are concerned about your water quality, call WSSC at 301-206-7575 for a lead testing kit. If your home is served by a well, call 311 and the County will provide testing. See the entire discussion.

Early Voting April 14-21

Early Voting Centers will be open April 14-21, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are registered to vote in Montgomery County you may cast a ballot at any one of these sites:

Activity Center at Bohrer Park
506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg

Damascus Community Recreation Center
25520 Oak Drive, Damascus

Executive Office Building
101 Monroe Street, Rockville

Germantown Community Recreation Center
18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown

Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center
4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase

Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville

Mid-County Community Recreation Center
2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring

Potomac Community Recreation Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac

Silver Spring Civic Building
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring

Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad
2400 Arcola Avenue, Wheaton

Potomac Community Recreation Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac

Of course, you can also vote at your assigned polling place on election day, April 26. For more information visit 777vote.org or call 240-777-VOTE.

Montgomery County GreenFest on April 30

Mark your calendar for the Montgomery County GreenFest on Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Takoma Park Community Center. GreenFest is a fun-filled day for the whole family, featuring music, films, speakers, exhibitors and workshops all focused on building community and improving our environment.

Register to Vote or Change Your Party by April 5

Is your voter registration up to date?  Is your political party affiliation correct?  Do you wish to change your political party affiliation or make any other changes to your voter registration?   Generally, you must be registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party to vote in the primary election. If there are non-partisan offices that are elected in a primary election (i.e., school board), any voter can vote for these offices. Make sure you update your registration prior to April 5, 2016, so you are ready to vote.

Visit www.777vote.org to confirm that your registration is up to date or to download a voter registration application to mail to the Board of Elections.  You may also call 240-777-VOTE to verify your voter registration using the automated phone system or visit the office at 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, in Gaithersburg.  The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; on Saturday, April 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Applications are also available at county libraries, regional service centers, all offices of the Montgomery County Health and Human Services, the State of Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles, and US Post Offices.

Apply Now for the Charter Review Commission

Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 15, 2016—The Montgomery County Council is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Charter Review Commission. Since no more than six members can be from the same political party, this appointee may be a Republican, someone who declines to affiliate with a party or a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections. The term of the current commission will expire on December 2, 2018.

Applicants should submit letters of interest by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13.

The County Charter was amended in 1976 to provide that a Charter Review Commission be appointed by the County Council every four years to study the Charter. The commission researches and evaluates Charter issues raised by the County Executive, County Council, other government officials and the public. Commission reports are submitted no later than May 1 of every even-numbered year. These reports contain recommendations concerning any proposed Charter amendments.

The commission is composed of 11 residents of the County, five of whom are appointed from a list of names submitted by the County Executive. No more than six members can be from the same political party. Since six Democrats are currently serving on the commission, applications from Democrats will not be considered for this particular vacancy.

Applicants should submit letters of interest and resumes to Nancy Floreen, President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Maryland 20850. Resumes should include professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an e-mail address. Applications can also be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

Letters and resumes submitted are made public as part of the appointment process. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

For more information about the Charter Review Commission or how to apply for consideration to become a commission member, call Anne Brown at 240-777-7925.

County Executive Transmits Recommended Budget to Council

This morning the County Executive transmitted his Fiscal Year 2017 recommended operating budget to the Council. The recommended budget provides a good starting point for the Council’s work on the final County budget for the upcoming year. We appreciate the hard work by the Executive and his staff to begin the process.

The Great Recession and its aftermath created serious fiscal challenges for families, businesses, and governments alike. Now, as the economy continues to recover steadily, we must carefully balance the need for important County services and pressures on our taxpayers. That is what our Council Committees and the full Council will undertake over the next two months. We look forward to receiving the views of our residents as we move through the budget process.

The Council’s public hearings on the operating budget are scheduled for April 5-7. You can sign up to testify starting Thursday, March 17, either online or by calling 240-777-7803.

You can also send your comments in writing online; by emailing county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov; by regular mail to: County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850; or by calling the Council budget hotline at 240-777-7802.

If you would like to follow along, visit the Council's Web site, and remember to check back regularly as information will change as we make our way through our work.

Intensive Effort to Fill Potholes

The Department of Transportation is conducting an intensive effort to fill the County’s potholes that have resulted from recent freeze/thaw cycles. MCDOT repairs potholes every day of the year except during rain and snow. But in the coming days, the department will devote additional resources to filling potholes and replacing damaged road sections.

MCDOT relies on resident reports of potholes, and repair crews also stop to fill any other potholes encountered as they make their rounds. Report potholes online or by calling the MC311 Call Center at 311 or 240-777-0311. Please also be cautious and patient when encountering crews filling potholes.

MCDOT fills potholes on 5,000 lane miles of County-maintained roads. The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) fills potholes, plows snow and maintains numbered routes in the County, such as Maryland routes 355 or 97. MSHA can be reached at 301-513-7300. In addition, municipalities, such as the cities of Rockville or Gaithersburg, handle their own repairs.

Letter Asking State to Review Safety Issues at River Road/Pyle Road

Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 1, 2016—The Montgomery County Council, County Executive Ike Leggett, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and four members of the Maryland General Assembly today sent a letter to the administrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration asking for a review of safety issues at the intersection of River Road (Maryland 190) and Pyle Road/Braeburn Parkway in Bethesda. The intersection was the site of an accident this past weekend in which three members of a local family were killed in a two-vehicle accident.

State Senator Susan Lee and State Delegates William (Bill) Frick, Arianna Kelly and Mark Korman also signed the letter.

In the letter to Administrator Gregory C. Johnson, the elected officials wrote: “As representatives of the area at the state and county levels, we believe that traffic and pedestrian safety issues at this intersection must be more comprehensively addressed.”

The letter goes on to state: “Residents and members of the Whitman High School community are again calling for a traffic light at this intersection via a petition that already has over 2,000 signatories. We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.”

The complete text of the letter:

March 1, 2016

Mr. Gregory C. Johnson, Administrator

Maryland State Highway Administration

707 N. Calvert Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Dear Administrator Johnson:

            We are writing to you today concerning the recent fatal crash at the intersection of River Road (MD 190) and Pyle Road/Braeburn Parkway in Bethesda that took the lives of three members of our community. As representatives of the area at the state and county levels, we believe that traffic and pedestrian safety issues at this intersection must be more comprehensively addressed.

            We appreciate that you have agreed to evaluate this intersection again. Safety at this intersection has been a priority of the local community since at least 2008. Local residents report that the combination of high speeds on River Rd., limited visibility due to the nearby crest of the hill, wide travel lanes, and proximity to the Beltway make this intersection particularly dangerous. As this is a major entry point for a local high school, we must take all possible steps to address the unsafe conditions.

Residents and members of the Whitman High School community are again calling for a traffic light at this intersection via a petition that already has over 2,000 signatories. We ask that you conduct a traffic safety study that examines all potential options—including a traffic light—that could make that intersection safer for all users. We ask that you conduct this study as quickly as possible.

We understand that the District 3 team recently reviewed the pedestrian safety issues associated with the nearby crosswalk. We regretted SHA’s initial determination to not make any significant pedestrian safety improvement upgrades. We do not think that fresh paint will be sufficient to address the serious safety challenges posed by an unsignalized crosswalk frequently used by high schoolers where the posted speed is 45 mph. As we seek to improve traffic safety, everything must be done to also ensure that students walking to and from Whitman can do so safely.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We look forward to your prompt reply.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen                            Isiah Leggett                                      Nancy Floreen

Member of Congress                     County Executive                                 Council President

Roger Berliner                              Marc Elrich                                        Tom Hucker

Council Vice President                  Councilmember                                  Councilmember

Sidney Katz                                 George Leventhal                              Nancy Navarro

Councilmember                            Councilmember                               Councilmember

                                                           

Craig Rice                                 Hans Riemer                                   William (Bill) Frick                         

Councilmember                             Councilmember                               State Delegate

                                           

Ariana Kelly                                  Mark Korman                                  Susan Lee

State Delegate                              State Delegate                               State Senator

CC:        Brian Young, District 3 Engineer, Maryland State Highway Administration

               Chief J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Police Department

               Captain Thomas Didone, Traffic Division, MCPD 

              

Apply Now for Planning Board

Here's the full press release:

ROCKVILLE, Md., February 26, 2016—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Montgomery County Planning Board. The second term of Amy Presley (Republican) will expire on June 14, 2016, and she is therefore not eligible for reappointment.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20.

Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and each member must be a resident and registered voter of Montgomery County when appointed. Since three Democrats are currently serving on the Board, this position must be filled by either a Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party, or a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

In addition to Ms. Presley, current board members are Chair Casey Anderson (D), Norman Dreyfuss (R), Marye Wells-Harley (D), and Natali Fani-Gonzalez (D). Annual compensation for board members is currently $30,000. The chair currently earns $200.000.

The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The Planning Board’s responsibilities with regard to planning include preparation and amendment of the County General Plan; preparation and amendment of master plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of or recommendations on text amendments to the County Zoning Code; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; advice on the planning implications of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting, under its mandatory referral authority, on plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies; and approval of the work program and the annual operating budget for the Planning Department and the Commission’s bi-county offices.

The Planning Board sits as the Park Commission and approves the annual Parks Department operating budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP); land acquisition contracts and major development contracts for parks; development plans for individual park facilities; policies for park operations; and park user fees.

The Planning Board meets all day, including into the evening, every Thursday and will schedule other meetings, as needed. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month. On average, a Planning Board member may spend two full days a week in scheduled and informal meetings. Additionally, substantial time is required for preparatory work and other activities related to Planning Board responsibilities.

Letters of application expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to: Council President Nancy Floreen, County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications can also be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and select applicants for interviews to be held soon thereafter.

Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process, and are available for public review. The interviews are conducted in public and will be televised. A resume of professional and civic experience should be included with each letter of application. A financial disclosure statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required to be filed by each applicant. Only the ultimate appointee will be required to make the financial disclosure statement available to the public.

Council President's Letter in Support of Drunk Driving Bills

February 23, 2016

Senator Nancy J. King
Montgomery County Senate Delegation Chair
11 Bladen Street
223 James Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401

Delegate Shane Robinson
Montgomery County House Delegation Chair
6 Bladen Street
223 House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401

Dear Senator King, Delegate Robinson and the Montgomery County Delegation:

As we are all painfully aware, one of our Police Officers, Noah Leotta, was struck and killed by a drunk driver less than three months ago. Officer Leotta was one of nine people killed in Montgomery County last year as the result of a drunk driver.

The Montgomery County Council joins our Police Chief in calling for the State of Maryland to strengthen our laws against drunk and impaired driving. There are several pieces of legislation that have been proposed that would stop impaired individuals from driving in the first place as well as act as a real deterrent for those drunk drivers who are endangering every other motorist.

On behalf of the entire Montgomery County Council, I am asking for your complete support of the four Montgomery County-sponsored DUI-related bills that are being championed by Chief J. Thomas Manger and are being heard this session. Those bills are:  HB 345, HB409, HB 735, and HB 1342 (and their cross-files). We believe that these bills are the strongest legislation pending and need unanimous support by our delegation.

As you deliberate these bills, please consider these sobering facts:

• Last year 20,000 people were arrested for DUI in Maryland. Research has shown that a drunk driver gets behind the wheel of a car, impaired, 80 times before they are caught by police.
• Convicted drunk drivers frequently drive even though their license is suspended.
• The best way to stop convicted drunk drivers from driving impaired is to mandate an ignition interlock system after their first arrest. This device prevents impaired drivers from being able to start their car if they have had alcohol. Last year, an ignition interlock system prevented impaired drivers from starting their cars 18,000 times.
• Two Wootten High School students died last year in a drunk-driving crash. The parents who hosted an alcohol party and provided the liquor to underage kids faced only a fine after being responsible for these two deaths.
• Officer Noah Leotta was killed by a three-time repeat drunk driver. The driver had a blood-alcohol level that was nearly three times the legal limit for intoxication. Despite his callous indifference to the law and the safety of others, this driver will likely spend only a few years in jail.
• Businesses that serve underage drinkers and over-serve drunk individuals in their establishments currently do not face civil penalties if someone gets killed or injured by a drunk driver. Maryland is one of only a few states left that does not hold businesses liable for illegal alcohol sales.

Once again, we ask for your support of HB 345, HB409, HB 735 and HB 1342 to help provide a safer environment for everyone.

Sincerely,

Nancy Floreen
County Council President

Cc:  Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Maryland President of Senate
        Honorable Michael Erin Busch, Maryland Speaker of House of Delegates

Now Accepting Golden Shovel Nominations

Did someone you know make your neighborhood safer? Nominate them for a Golden Shovel.

I started the Golden Shovel awards in 2003 to honor residents who lace up their boots to help neighbors shovel out after a snowfall. The awards recognize individuals who go above and beyond in helping clear ice and snow from County sidewalks.

Our seniors, school children, people with disabilities and those who walk to work or use mass transit depend on snow-free sidewalks. This goes beyond convenience--it is a matter of public safety. I certainly hope that residents will nominate for a Golden Shovel those individuals who put the Golden Rule to work. The deadline for nominations is March 25, and awards will be presented at a County Council session in Rockville on Tuesday, April 19. Get the nomination form.

Holiday Schedule for Presidents' Day

Here's our holiday schedule for Presidents’ Day, Monday February 15:

• County Offices – closed
• Libraries – closed
• County Liquor stores – closed
• Recreation – aquatic facilities and community centers open; aquatics programs will meet as scheduled; all other classes and programs cancelled; administrative offices and senior centers closed; 55+ Active Adult Programs are cancelled
• Montgomery Parks - visit www.MontgomeryParks.org
• Ride On – Modified holiday schedule - check schedules at www.Rideonbus.com
• Metrorail –Will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on a Saturday schedule. Off-peak fares all day and free parking at all Metro-operated facilities
• Metrobus – Will operate on its Saturday supplemental schedule. MetroAccess will operate normal hours with subscription trips cancelled unless specifically requested. Additional information available at www.wmata.com
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) - closed
• Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection, all collections scheduled on or after the holiday will be made one day later in the week. Monday collections on Tuesday; Tuesday collections made on Wednesday; Wednesday collections on Thursday; Thursday collections on Friday; and Friday collections on Saturday
• The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - recycling and trash drop-off open with normal hours. Recycling Center and administrative offices closed
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free
• MCPS Schools and Administrative Offices – closed
• State offices and courts – closed

Changes to Tomorrow's Council Schedule

In response to predicted inclement weather tomorrow morning, we have made these changes to the Council's schedule:

• Cancelled:  Briefing on blizzard of 2016 clean up is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a date in  March.
• Delayed start:  Council session will begin at 12:30 p.m.
• Earlier start time:  GO/PHED Committee will begin at 1:45 p.m.
• Postponed:  The 7:00 pm CIP public hearing is postponed to Wednesday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m.  

Debriefing on Storm Response

Winter storm Jonas was certainly one for the record books! With up to 38 inches of snow and gusty winds, we were extremely fortunate that our residents remained safe and that we had no significant power outages. I appreciate the patience and teamwork that our residents showed throughout this historic storm. Community members checked on elderly neighbors, helped stranded motorists, and pitched in to clear neighborhood sidewalks. (We will start taking Golden Shovel Award nominations in March, so stay tuned.)      

For those who have concerns with the responsiveness of the County’s Division of Highway Services, the data provided on the snow map and the MC311 call system, all of these issues and more will be reviewed by the County Council on February 9 at 11:00 a.m. I have requested that Executive staff from all departments involved in storm operations participate in a debriefing with the Council, so we can better understand the decisions made by the department heads and staff who are responsible for these activities. While many aspects of the recovery efforts worked well, some issues need to be addressed. There is always room for improvement. You can watch this meeting live or on demand on County Cable Montgomery.

I want to express my deep appreciation to the men and women who have worked so hard throughout the storm and cleanup to get us back on track. Many Department of Transportation, Emergency Management, Health and Human Services, and MC311 employees, as well as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and many other professionals have worked excruciatingly long shifts with virtually no time off. These are truly the unsung heroes of this historic storm.