Council Honors Outgoing Council Administrator, Steve Farber

Today we honored the outgoing Council Administrator, Steve Farber, with a Council proclamation for his 26 years of devoted service to Montgomery County. It's been an honor and pleasure to work with Steve for the last 15 years. I appreciate his dedication to the Council and his never-ending support with our governing efforts . He has served the Council with the utmost distinction especially in strengthening the County's fiscal performance. He's been critical to extending the County's track record to 44 years as a AAA bond-rated county!

Council Passes a Resolution Urging the State to Control Outrageous Prescription Drug Prices

We passed a resolution this past Tuesday in support of a prescription drug affordability initiative,
and the goals of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative. We call upon the Maryland General Assembly to implement the following three commonsense ideas to improve our citizens' access to essential prescription drugs:

1. Allow pharmacists to provide information to consumers about lower cost drug options.

2. Require prescription drug corporations to provide notice of new, expensive drugs, or large price increases of older drugs, as well as public justification for those pricing decisions.

3. Make expensive drugs more affordable by creating a new Prescription Drug Cost Review Commission to establish payment rates for expensive drugs that create significant affordability problems for Marylanders, building upon Maryland's successful tradition of health care cost scrutiny.

We're In! - Montgomery County Makes the Short List for Amazon's Second Headquarters

Today Amazon announced their short list for their second headquarters and Montgomery County is included. This is yet another Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for Montgomery County. Stay tuned for more information.

Apply Now to the Board of Investment Trustees - Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7

Here is the press release with all the information you need about the vacancy on the Board of Investment Trustees for the County Employee Retirement Plans and the Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust:

The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants to serve as the Council representative on the Board of Investment Trustees for the Montgomery County Employee Retirement Plans and the Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust. The Boards set investment policy and evaluate and monitor investment managers and performance of the Trust Funds.  The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7.  Mr. Bradley Steltzer will complete his first term on March 1, and has indicated that he will apply for reappointment. 

The appointee may not furnish or be employed by a firm that furnishes to pension funds and other institutional investors the kind of investment services purchased by the board.  Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.  The Council policy is that an individual must not serve more than two consecutive full terms on any County board, committee or commission. 

The Board of Investment Trustees is responsible for overseeing the investment of approximately $5 billion in assets for nearly 11,000 active and retired members of the three retirement plans:  defined benefit, defined contribution and deferred compensation.  The Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing the investment program for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust, which has assets of approximately $1 billion.

The Board of Investment Trustees for the Montgomery County Employee Retirement Plans consists of 13 trustees appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council.  Trustees include the directors of the Office Human Resources, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Finance and the County Council Administrator; two representatives of the County Council; one active member of the retirement plans who is not a member of a collective bargaining unit; one retired member of a County plan; two members of the public; and individuals recommended by each of the three County employee collective bargaining units.

The Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust consists of 19 trustees, 13 of whom are members of the Board of Investment Trustees, along with the following additional members:  one active employee recommended by the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), one retired member of MCPS, one MCPS bargaining unit representative, one active employee recommended by the Montgomery College (MC) president, one retired member of MC, and one MC bargaining unit representative.  

Trustees serve three-year terms without compensation from any source for services rendered to the boards. The boards meet six times a year from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m., usually on Fridays in January, March, May, July, September and November. 

This Council representative position on each Board is for a person who is knowledgeable in pensions, investments or financial matters. The Council will recommend one applicant to the County Executive for appointment to serve on both boards. After the Executive appoints the Council representative, the appointee’s name is submitted to the Council for final confirmation.  Within 10 days after confirmation, each trustee must sign a certificate stating that the trustee accepts the fiduciary responsibility of the trust funds and will administer the affairs of the trust with care, skill, prudence and diligence. Appointees must complete a financial disclosure statement within 15 days of Council confirmation and annually thereafter. 


Letters expressing interest in the position, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to Council President Hans Riemer, County Council Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications can also be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.  Letters of interest must be received no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 7.  It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline.  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 are televised.  After the closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and select applicants for interviews to be held soon thereafter.

Council Returns from Recess - View Council and Committee Calendars

Council returns from recess on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Here's the agenda for this Tuesday. Additionally, all Council committees are scheduled to review the County Executive's proposed Savings Plan. For committee agendas, check here.

Holiday Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Here is the holiday schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday:

County Offices – Closed January 15

Libraries – Closed January 15

County Liquor stores (DLC) – all stores will be open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Recreation – aquatics programs and facilities open; all other classes and programs canceled. Administrative office, senior centers and community centers are closed

Montgomery Parks - Montgomery Parks - for operating schedule, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks and tennis centers, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org

Ride On – Modified Holiday Schedule. Route information available at: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DOT-Transit/SpecialHoliday.html

Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com

Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com

TRiPS Commuter Store at Silver Spring Transit Center – Open

TRiPS Mobile Commuter Store – Closed  

Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection* 

The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station – Closed January 15

Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – Free

State offices and courts – Closed Monday, January 15

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