Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Early Voting - October 25 to November 1, from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Visit one of the ten Early Voting Centers from October 25 through November 1, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. to cast your ballot. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day (November 6).

Early Voting Centers:
  • 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 Rd, Potomac
  • Saint Catherine Laboure (Claridge Room), 11801 Claridge Road, Wheaton
  • Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
For more information, call 240-777-VOTE, visit 777vote.org, the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website at https://elections.maryland.gov, or follow the Montgomery County Board of Elections on Facebook or Twitter.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Apply Now for County Board of Appeals- Application Deadline is Wednesday, October 10 at 5:00 p.m.

Get your application in by October 10. Here's the full press release:


ROCKVILLE, Md., September 21, 2018—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for a four-year term on the County Board of Appeals.  The term of Edwin Rosado (Unaffiliated) will expire in September 2018.  He does not plan to apply for reappointment.  Applications for the position must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 10.

By law, no more than three members of the Board shall be from the same political party.  This position can only be filled by a Republican, a voter who is unaffiliated with a party, or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections. 

In addition to Mr. Rosado (Unaffiliated), current members of the Board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Stan Boyd (Democrat), Katherine Freeman (Democrat) and Bruce Goldensohn (Republican).  Members of County Boards, Committees and Commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. 

Members of the Board receive $15,365 annually, with the Chair receiving $21,715.  Salaries are adjusted annually each December to reflect 50 percent of the change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral argument on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses.  The Board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.


The Board normally holds weekly hearings all day Wednesday and worksessions every other week.  If necessary to accommodate an extended caseload or continued hearings, the Board schedules hearings on other weekdays.  Members are expected to prepare for the hearings by reading the cases to be heard and to share the workload of drafting and editing opinions or to follow-up on investigations on specific cases.  Members work approximately 15-25 hours a week.

The principal jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals (concerning variances, special exceptions and conditional uses under the Zoning Ordinance) does not include the municipalities of Barnesville, Brookeville, Gaithersburg, Laytonsville, Poolesville, Rockville and Washington Grove.  The normal Council practice is not to appoint residents of those municipalities to the Board, however, exceptions to this practice may occur.

Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address, should be addressed to:  Council President Hans Riemer, County Council Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or can be emailed to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.  Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on October 10.  It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline.  After the application closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and may select applicants to interview.

Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process. Any interviews held are open to the public and will be televised.  A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants.  Only the appointed candidate will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

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 Board+of+Appeals-Applicants-+Release+9-21-18.doc

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Apply Now to Merit System Protection Board - Application deadline is Wednesday, September 26 by 5:00 p.m.


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., September 5, 2018 - 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. The term of Angela Franco (Republican) will expire on December 31. Ms. Franco has indicated that she plans to apply for reappointment. Applications must be received in the Council office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26. 

In addition to Ms. Franco, current members of the board are Michael Kator (Democrat) and Harriet Davidson (Democrat). 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 or 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.

Generally, the board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System. 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, also 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 generally holds hearings during the day, which may take the full day, with any additional proceedings normally scheduled for subsequent days or evening(s). The Board normally meets once per month during the day for approximately two hours. Additional time is also required for preparatory work. 

Members of the Board currently receive $7,929 per year, which is adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the percentage change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index. The Chair receives $10,170 per year.
 
Boardmembers 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.

Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers, and an email address should be addressed to: Council President Hans Riemer, County Council Office, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850, or can be emailed to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. Letters of application must be received no later than 5 p.m. on September 26, 2018. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the application closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and may select applicants for interview.

Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process. Any interviews held are open to the public and will be televised. A financial statement of assets, debts, income, and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidate will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.