MCCAB's talking points for meeting with County Executive

Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board Written Statement for the County
Executive’s Annual Meeting with Boards, Committees and Commissions
February 10, 2011
Good evening Mr. Leggett. My name is Gamunu Wijetunge. I am Vice-Chair of the Mid-
County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB). I am accompanied tonight by Ms. Ritija Gupta, Chair
of the MCCAB’s Budget Committee.
The MCCAB serves to advise the County Executive and County Council on issues
impacting the Mid-County area which covers the Georgia Avenue corridor from Forest Glen
up through Wheaton, Glenmont, Kensingon, Layhill, Aspen Hill and all the way to Olney. The
MCCAB serves as Montgomery County's bridge to the 220,000 residents and businesses
spread throughout the 99 square miles of the Mid-County area of Montgomery County.
Overview
The members of the MCCAB recognize the difficulties faced by the Montgomery County
Government (MCG) in the face of ongoing severe revenue shortfalls. I would like to thank the
County Executive for his continued leadership during these difficult times.
I do not have any new formal MCCAB positions to present tonight, rather my remarks
are intended to highlight past recommendations which I believe are timely.
As the County Executive is aware, the Montgomery County Organizational Reform
Commission (the Commission) released its final report on January 31, 2011. The deliberations
of the Commission have been discussed at several MCCAB meetings. I believe the
Commission’s final report will also be closely examined. I testified before the Commission on
behalf of the MCCAB at a public meeting on October 20, 2010. I believe it is worth noting that
the Commission’s final report touched on two areas that the MCCAB testified to: Liquor Control
and the Regional Services Centers.
Department of Liquor Control (DLC)
The Commission has recommended that MCG “pursue options for establishing an
independent “revenue authority” to be responsible for operation of the Department of Liquor
Control, thereby generating more revenue for the General Fund and removing it from the
Executive Branch.”
Regional Services Centers
The Commission has recommended that MCG “increase use of the Regional Services
Centers’ citizen advisory boards and the Office of Community Partnerships, whenever possible,
in lieu of creating new citizen boards or committees.”
I believe the Commission’s recommendation recognizes the importance of Regional
Services Centers and the regional advisory boards.
In closing I would like to extend the MCCAB’s appreciation to the County Executive and
his hard working staff. Thank you again for taking the time to meet and speak with us tonight. I
would be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.

CIP Projects

Here is promised list of Capital Projects which may be of interest to you. They are either in our service area or CAB has discussed them in the past. Please don’t consider the list exclusive.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/361202.pdf

Wheaton Library/Rec Center

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/450900.pdf

Glenmont Fire Station 18

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/720800.pdf

Wheaton/Rafferty

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/500717.pdf

Montrose Parkway East

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/500333.pdf

Pedestrian Safety program

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/641106.pdf

Dennis Ave.

health center

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/710301.pdf

Olney Library Renovation

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/pdf/098703.pdf

Woodlawn Barn renovation

The entire Recommended CIP is at:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ombtmpl.asp?url=/content/omb/FY12/ciprec/index.asp

Natalie

Pepco

January 3, 2011

           

The Honorable Isiah Leggett

Montgomery County Executive

Executive Office Building

101 Monroe Street

Rockville, Maryland  20850

Dear Mr. Leggett:

The Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB) is writing to express our concern with Pepco’s continuing failure to address the problems that led to extended power outages in the mid-county region.  To date, many trees planted in the right of way on mid-county residential streets have not been touched in well over a decade and aging equipment has not been replaced.

According to reported statements, Pepco’s infrastructure improvements have been concentrated in the western part of the county.  While we are pleased that these areas may receive some relief from outages, it is unconscionable that a greater effort has not been seen thus far throughout the entire County. We in the Mid-County want to see evidence of this effort in our area soon.

Statistics reveal that since 2005, Pepco’s reliability has been among the worst in the nation.  We do not understand how Pepco has been allowed to continue this substandard service.  Our quality of life has suffered, the health and safety of our residents has been jeopardized, and our businesses and their employees have endured unacceptable and unnecessary financial losses.

We support the legislation being introduced by Del. Brian Feldman and the Montgomery County Delegation, to require written standards for Pepco’s reliability and penalize the company if the standards are not met. We hope that the final legislation will include a mechanism to ensure transparency during the process of monitoring Pepco’s performance. This legislation is essential to achieving our goal of normal electricity delivery.  We urge you to make clear to the Public Service Commission that a much more aggressive approach and greater investment by Pepco is required.  We hope you will all testify in Annapolis when the bill hearing is held.

Additionally, we believe that a rate hike suggested by Pepco to address their deficiencies is unjustified at this time.  Pepco shareholders have been rewarded with healthy earnings and dividends, while the electrical infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate.  This behavior should not be rewarded. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to improving Pepco’s service reliability by establishing this task force.

Sincerely,

L. Blaine Charak

Chair

Support for expediting the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park

November 2, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Floreen

President, Montgomery County Council

100 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, Maryland  20850

Dear President Floreen:

On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), I am writing to express the MCCAB’s support for expediting the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park. This park is a vital resource for the Kemp Mill neighborhood, yet it has significantly deteriorated since its construction in the 1960s. As recently described in the attached Wheaton Gazette article, the large concrete pond that covers much of the park has substantial drainage problems that lead to stagnant water, the accumulation of garbage and sediment, and periodic flooding (Residents want makeover for Kemp Mill Park pond, September 29). In addition, the park has other infrastructure problems such as cracked concrete walkways and entrances that are not accessible to people with disabilities.

We are pleased that the Montgomery County Planning Board has initiated a planning process to renovate the park, which included two community meetings with Kemp Mill residents in 2009. At the last public meeting in October 2009, Planning Board staff and contractors solicited input on three design concepts from residents and informed them that a single design would be proposed to the Planning Board in the spring of 2010. However, the renovation planning process has been delayed for reasons that have not been publicly communicated. According to the Board’s website, a third community meeting was scheduled for the summer of 2010, but this meeting has not yet occurred. The website also notes that the Board will meet to approve the facility plan in the winter of 2010/2011.

We request that the Council communicate to the Planning Board our support for moving forward with the renovation design process without further delay. Further, we encourage the Council to include funding for the park’s renovation in the next Capital Improvements Program budget.

The MCCAB has supported the renovation of the Kemp Mill Urban Park for several years (see attachments). We look forward to working with the Council on this issue.  Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share our views on the importance of renovating this park.

Sincerely,

L. Blaine Charak

Chair

cc:  Isiah Leggett, Montgomery County Executive

       Françoise Carrier, Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board

Support for Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 09-03

October 25, 2010

The Honorable Nancy Floreen

President, Montgomery County Council

100 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear President Floreen and Councilmembers,

            On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB) I am writing you to reiterate our support for passage of Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 09-03.

            As you are aware ZTA 09-03 is part of the County Executive’s package of “Quality of Life” code enforcement reforms now before the Council. The MCCAB continues to support these reforms as they are particularly important to improving the quality of life of residents in the mid-county area.

            We urge you and your fellow members of the Council to vote in favor of ZTA 09-03.  Additionally, we ask that after its passage that both the legislative and executive branches closely monitor its effects in our neighborhoods and introduce further legislation to close any gaps.

Sincerely,

Blaine Charak

Chair

                       

In light of the upcoming meeting to discuss the future development of the Wheaton Library....

Please read the following letter written by MCCAB in 2009 concerning the Wheaton Library.

This meeting will be held Thursday, October 14 at 7:00 P.M. at the Mid-County Regional Center at 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton.

May 19, 2009

The Honorable Isiah Leggett

Montgomery County Executive

50 Monroe Street

Rockville, Maryland  20850

Dear Mr. Leggett:

                        On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), I want to express our support for the decision to defer action on the renovation of the Wheaton Library.  This decision provides the Wheaton Redevelopment staff and the community with the opportunity to continue to look creatively at redevelopment options.

While the International Downtown Association has recommended that the Library be moved and considered as an anchor for any new development taking place in Wheaton, the community surrounding the Library has spoken forcefully about its desire to keep the Library in its present location.  The current economic situation and spending constraints occurring in Montgomery County provide an opportunity to carefully consider whether to relocate the Wheaton Library to the Wheaton Urban District, renovate it in its current location, or consider other creative options that may incorporate plans for renovating the Wheaton Recreation Center and the Rafferty Center.  It also provides time to explore a public/private partnership.

The MCCAB has also looked at the new Rockville and Germantown Libraries, and the plans for the Silver Spring Library.  We understand that the buildings in Rockville and Silver Spring are not just libraries, and see the value of this type of mixed use development.  We also see the value of the public/private partnerships formed to develop them, particularly in the current budget situation.

The MCCAB agreed that it is appropriate that no decision is being made now on whether to renovate or relocate the Library, particularly since the current economy precludes implementing such a decision.  We, too, are not making any recommendation at this time as we feel there are too many unanswered questions.  However, we hope that the time can be used to explore other options, collect data on alternatives and consider changes that may emerge in Wheaton over the next few years.  The MCCAB will continue to follow the planning for the Wheaton Library and these other Wheaton facilities, and will forward future recommendations as planning progresses.

Sincerely,

          Sheldon Fishman

          Chair

Committee News

At its September meeting, The Quality of Life committee decided to meet the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm at Mid-County Center. Current members include Gamunu Wijetunge, Mary Scholl, Robin Brannan, Ariel Winter, Marlyn Ferguson.

Members of the public are welcomed to committee meetings.