Montgomery County Civic Federation Delegate's Meeting
Monday, January 10th, 7:45
3rd Floor Auditorium, County Council Office Building
Rockville, Maryland
Agenda
7:45 Call to Order
7:46 Announcements & Introductions
7:50 Adoption of Business Meeting Agenda
7:55 Approval of Minutes
8:00 Program: Hot Topics in State Legislature
9:00 Vote on proposed bylaws amendments
9:10 Committee reports and Old Business
9:50 New Business
10:00 Adjourn
Program
January Program on 2005 State Legislative Session
By Dan Wilhelm, MCCF PresidentThe annual legislative session in Annapolis begins on January 12. We have invited Senator Leonard Teitelbaum (Dist 19), Delegate Jean Cryor (Dist 15) and Delegate Anne Kaiser (Dist 14) to present what they foresee as the hot topics during the coming session. Delegates Cryor and Kaiser have confirmed their availability.
One hot item will probably continue be medical malpractice, although the Governor has called a special session on this issue on December 27. Even if the legislature approves a set of bills before the end of December, it will not be surprising if other legislation on medical malpractice comes up during the regular session.
I predict other hot topics will be funding for school building construction, transportation, and health and human services. Last year, MCCF pushed for campaign financing reform. We are hoping to push this again if we have the opportunity.
The major concern on transportation will surely be how much the state should be allowed to borrow to build the ICC, assuming construction approval is obtained. Secretary of Transportation Flanigan has testified that the latest cost estimate to construct the proposed ICC is $1.8 - $2.2 billion. Some of this will be financed by state bonds that would be repaid through ICC tolls. A large portion of the remainder would be financed by GARVEE bonds that use future federal payments for repayment. The financial charges on the GARVEE bonds have been estimated to be another $1.5B over 15 years. Thus, the total cost of constructing and financing the ICC is estimated to be between $3.2B and $3.7B. Since the state has been able to find only small amounts to fund new transportation construction projects in Montgomery County in recent years, how much will remain for the large number of non-ICC projects in Montgomery County over the next 15 years?
Come to the January 10 MCCF to learn what topics three of our representatives
feel are important and hear their insights as to how the entire Montgomery
County delegation and legislature may view different topics.
Meeting Minutes
MCCF President Dan Wilhelm calls the meeting to
order at 7:49 pm. Introduces guests, State Delegates
Jean Cryor and Anne Kaiser
Agenda is approved.
Minutes. Minutes from the December 13, 2004 meeting
are accepted as printed in the January Newsletter.
Program. Overview of State Legislative Session for
2005. Jean Cryor, Delegate from District 15 (R) and
President of the Woman's Caucus speaks about crisis
with medical insurance premiums and malpractice suits.
Bill just passed far from perfect, a "temporary fix".
Higher Education bill puts a cap on tuition. Describes
unhealthy party politics in Annapolis. Issues of teen-age
driving and alcohol: Bill would raise the fine for
providing alcohol to minors from $500 to $1000.
Back-to-School Bill would relieve sales tax for
purchases of school clothes up to $100. Q: School
construction funding $100M from State? A: School
Construction bonds would provide funds. Q: Services
are fewer now than three years ago. A: Remember there
are two budgets: Capital budget and Operating budget.
The State is in better shape than it was 2.5 years ago. Q:
Can the State stop the County proposals to close
schools? A: No. Recommends working with the school
board, and filing suit if necessary. Q: The State has to
approve the disposal of school sites? A: Not really, as
long as a replacement site is "educational". Q: Raise the
gasoline tax? A: Not a chance, particularly with current
gas prices. Q: Slots? A: Has become more complex.
Will not support them unless the money goes toward
education.
Delegate Anne Kaiser from District 14 (D) speaks.
Three subcommittees in Montgomery County. Anne
wants to know what the MCCF wants. A: delegates cite
continuing concerns: voluntary public funding of
campaigns; public disclosure of campaign financing;
identify the employer of individuals who contribute to a
campaign. Kaiser responds: supports increased
disclosure. Q: The State should support the County'sown election campaign
finance reform. Q: Ethics, sunshine, committee chairs; HB-73 Open Meetings
Law. Q: Medical malpractice insurance? A: Does not
support much tort reform. Caps are arbitrary. Q: What
about bad doctors? Review committee afraid to judge
doctors? A: Doctors may not turn in fellow doctors.
Doctor database is not publicly available. Q: Real price
of the ICC? Raise the State cap for funding? A: Will
know more next week. Could impact future Garvey
bonds. Kaiser believes we need more funding for Metro,
small business relief; more time to file tax forms; close
loopholes allowing big businesses to avoid deed
recordation taxes. Takes a straw poll about slots and
finds little support
Bylaws Amendments. Peggy Dennis. Proposed bylaw
changes, dealing primarily with the Nominating
Committee [printed in the January Newsletter].
Incumbent officers would now be permitted to serve on
the Nominating Committee, except for the president and
vice-president. Motion to consider changes piecemeal:
passes 20-0-0. Reduce the size of the Nominating
Committee (3 to 5 instead of 5 to 7). Some felt 5 were
needed, and that any shortage was temporary. Some feel
3 to 5 is more responsive. Motion fails 9-12-1. The
Nominating Committee to be chosen in February.
Passes 20-0-2. Opening the Committee to more people,
excluding only the president and vice-president.
Allowing committee members to be nominated as
officers. Passes 19-2-2. Time liberalization passes
unanimously.
Announcements:
Public Safety Committee will meet with Phil Andrews
later in February.
Treasurer. Luella Mast's report is on the back table.
Bill 03-27 Raises building height; Definition of
building height.
Mark Adelman asks for comments on his article in the
Newsletter.
Ambulance fee of $350: Vote by the County Council
anticipated in February.
Dave Michaels. Greater Colesville Citizens Association.
Asks MCCF support ban on soliciting money in public
right-of-way (median strips, between lanes, etc).
Panhandlers, flower sellers, charitable groups,
Fill-the-Boot, etc. are a public safety problem. Delegate
Barkley has filed a bill to add Montgomery County to
State law prohibiting such solicitations. Cary moves that
this issue be referred to the Public Safety Committee.
Seconded. Some feel this issue should be brought before
the PSC before the general body votes. Dan reports that
the Committee was already asked to look at this issue.
An amendment was made to ask the PSC to expedite its
work in time for the MCCF and the State legislative
process. Amendment fails for lack of a second. Original
motion passes, 14-6-4.
ZTA 04-26. Jim Humphrey. ZTA provides for new
"mixed-town" use. "MXTC" to replace C-1, C-2, and
other zones with mix of residential, office &
commercial. "New urbanism." Form-based zoning with
no text, but based on pictures. Five story limit, but not
to exceed the height limits in master plans. Minimum
10% public use setback. Setbacks are not explicitly
required. Developers would have free reign. Jim moves
that the MCCF support that a specific height limit be
stated. Five seconds. Some feel specific standards are
necessary. Motion is made to support specific height
limits, setbacks, and one other requirement. Motion
passes with one abstention.
Meeting conduct. Arnie Gordon. Expresses dismay
about the way MCCF meetings are conducted. Moves
that a program on Roberts Rules of order be presented.
Five seconds. Passes 15-3-2.
Adjournment. 10:05 PM
This Page Last Edited: January 31, 2005 .