Montgomery County Civic Federation Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 19th, 7:45
Red Brick Courthouse, Rockville, Maryland
Please try and arrive a few minutes before the meeting to make sure you can collect materials, sign in, and find a seat prior to the meeting.
Agenda (Tentative)
Meeting Minutes
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes , February 19, 2004.
By Richard Zierdt, Recording Secretary
MCCF president Cary Lamari calls the meeting to order at 7:45 PM.
Announcements. Wayne Goldstein's father died. Alyce Ortuzar. National Building Museum hosting conference on Affordable Housing, March 29 and 30. www.nbm.org
Agenda additions. Livable Communities/Vienna, Austria.
Minutes from the Jan 22, 2004 ExComm Meeting approved. Thanks to Lyle Schofield for taking them.
Treasurer's Report. Luella Mast. Has a written report available to attendees. MCCF is spending less on the newsletter. Date of incorporation of MCCF is July 25, 1928. Dale Tibbitts moves acceptance of the treasurer's report. Passes unanimously.
Ambulance fee. County Executive has proposed an ambulance fee. Cary recommends that the ExComm oppose the proposal. Dale moves that the MCCF ExComm oppose a fee for ambulance service. Seconded. Discussion: Dale received an email that the proposal was $350 per trip. However, little effort may be made to collect the fee. Peggy Denis offers, then later retracts, a friendly amendment to add the words "in principle." Some suggest a nominal fee might be appropriate. Some feel that without specific language, it is difficult to vote. Original motion passes 10-0-1.
Mansionization. Cary Lamari for Wayne Goldstein. Conference, April 17, 2004, 10 am - 5 pm in the Red Brick Courthouse, sponsored by Montgomery Preservation. A motion is made that the MCCF co-sponsor the conference on mansionization. Seconded. No money is necessary. Some feel co-sponsoring an event when the implications of such sponsoring are unknown is troublesome. Motion passes with one abstention.
Election Reform Committee: Dale Tibbitts. Charter Review Commission voted to stay with the current composition of the County Council (4 county-wide districts; 5 local). County attorney approved MCCF's form for its petition to change the composition of the County Council to 9 locally-elected councilmembers. Dale distributes petitions. Charles recommends that petitions be available at voting locations during this year's primary election. Although asked-for on the form, the date-of-birth is not necessary. A sheet of talking points would be helpful to show people. Collecting signatures at poling places is a great way to collect registered voters' signatures.
President's Report. (1) Issue of community block grants.
Cary got letter from Council President Silverman asking various County groups
to sit on a panel to discuss ways to achieve fiscal responsibility. Peggy
moves that the MCCF ask Chuck Lapinski to represent the MCCF on this panel.
Seconded. Passes. (2) Cary receives a set of many site plans reviews, and
drops them, "Reagan style," on the table before the ExComm. Development
appears alive and well in Montgomery. Dale mentions the petitions that Robin
Ficker is championing this year (term limits, cap on tax increases). (3) Awards
Committee. Cary offers four names to be on the committee (Lyle Schofield,
Artie Gordon, Wayne Goldstein, John Warnock) . Cary asks for more volunteers.
Charles Pritchard volunteers. The bylaws mention no specific number of committee
members. Charles Wolfe moves the acceptance of these five members. Seconded.
Passes.
Programs. March: Budget. April: Baltimore model. May: Cary
asked that the MCCF conclude its presentation on transportation. We are close
to a final transportation program. Jim Humphrey moves that transportation
presentation be given in May. Seconded. Passes 11-1-0.
Community Hero. Cary asks for recommendations for March and April. Luella: Andy White, president of the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (perhaps also the entire County?). Charles Pritchard suggests Boys' and Girls' Homes of Montgomery County. Jim Humphrey suggests Nancy Wendt for her work in Olney and Shady Grove. Cary asks for ExComm approval for Andrew White for March. Passes unanimously. Cary nominates Nancy Wendt for April. Passes unanimously.
Fire Bill 36-03. Cary received a seven-page letter from Thomas Carr, disagreeing with points in Cary's January Newsletter column. Lyle: the Post has a big article today in the Montgomery section. Cary has asked Fernando Bren to chair a public safety committee, with help from Pat Cummings. Cary suggests that the bylaws committee consider the need to add a public-safety standing committee to the by-laws. Peggy so moves. Seconded. Dale: the by-laws committee is working on other issues at present. An ad-hoc public safety committee could be started for the interim. No vote is taken on the motion.
By-laws committee. Luella Mast. Next meeting will be held at Dan Wilhelm's house on Tuesday, February 24.
Housing Committee.Jim Humphrey. Sent a letter to County Council and the Planning Board regarding zoning text amendments. Montgomery Housing Report.
Website. Lyle Schofield. Distributes a draft policy on MCCF Web Site, and asks for policy guidance. Cary mentions that he received permission from the County to use the County flag on the MCCF web site. The secretary asks for a copy. Discussion ensues about web-site editing policy, first-amendment, liability lawsuits, length of articles, who should be responsible for editing, etc. No action is taken at this time.
More on programs. Chuck Lapinski. A representative from the State of Maryland is on board for the March delegate's meeting regarding budget issues.
Legislation Committee. Jim Humphrey. Bill 01-04 Disruptive behavior in Public places. Jim describes the bill. Committee is working with library staff and others on this bill.
Environment Committee. Charles Prichard. Shipment of hazardous materials by rail. Bonus (tax benefit) to developers who agree to the LEED policy. Anacostia River pollution is caused somewhat from Montgomery County. A discussion about a 3% tax ensues.
Public Finance Committee. Charles Lapinski. Grease from households is a major problem.
Education Committee. Cary reports that the education forum was well-attended. Some residents are concerned about the possible sale or re-use of school properties. The school board has been asked to release three properties in Potomac for housing.
Vienna, Austria livable communities presentation was snowed out. Pam Lindstrom has a program she could present, and would like to give it on Livable Communities. Alyce suggests that Pam give this at a delegates meeting, perhaps in September.
Meeting adjourned at 10:18 pm.
This Page Last Edited: March 4, 2004 .