Council minutes, Mar. 2006

SECTION 5 OF THE VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING

Date:                March 14, 2006

Time:                7:30pm

Place:               5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase Village Hall

Present:            Margy Abbott; Peter Gray; Frances L. Higgins, Farooq Hussain; Ira

Rosenbaum; Andrew Smith; 1 Section 5 resident

1. Minutes

Andrew moved that the February 14, 2006, Council meeting minutes be approved as presented; Ira seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

2. Ms. Hoffman – Chevy Chase Historical Society

Mary Ann Hoffman and Mary Sheehan provided some background information about Chevy Chase Historical Society.  The Society refurbished the lower level of the Chevy Chase Library to use as archival and office space.  Section 5 donated $5,000 for this project.  The Society is looking for funds to produce a 15 minute video which will present a history of Chevy Chase as a unique Washington suburb.  This video will cover the area of Chevy Chase from the Circle to East-West Highway.  The Society has engaged Video Art Productions to create this video and will provide pictures and oral histories for this company.  Peter asked about the nature of the video content.  Mary Ann said that several people will be interview and from these interviews a script will be written.  Mary Ann said that the Society has contributed $20,000 of its own funds; The Town of Chevy Chase and the Village of Chevy Chase are both contributing $10,000 each.  Martin’s Additions, Section 3 and Section 5 are being asked to contribute $2,000 each.  There will be a video premier at a Community History Day at the Leland Center October 7, 2006.  Andrew moved that Section 5 contribute $2,000 to the video project, Margy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

3. Citizens’ Concerns and Suggestions

A resident asked to Council to place the recent Council meeting minutes on the town’s web site.

Old Business

4. Fence Issue

A resident on Leland Court has erected a fence without a permit and that is not in code.  David Podolsky, an attorney, at the town’s direction has written a letter informing the resident of this matter.  The resident has contacted Mr. Podolsky saying that he will apply for a permit and change the fence so that it meets the fence regulations.  The resident contacted the manager and has applied for a permit and agreed to have his fence company make the necessary alterations to bring the fence into code.  The manager has spoken to the fence company and it assured her that it will make these alterations within two weeks.  The Council agreed to wait for two weeks to have this situation remedied.

5. Insurance Review

Ira has had his personal insurance agent review the terms of the town’s insurance policy as it pertains to Council members’ liability.  The Council agreed to renew the town’s insurance policy with LGIT at the same level as last year.

6. Alan Beale

Alan Beale, the building permit administrator for Chevy Chase View, was asked to provide Section 5 with a proposal to review building permit applications for the town. He will include in this proposal some suggestions about how he can help the town with this process and what it will cost the town for his employment.  The manager has contacted him; however, he has not given a proposal.  The manager will call him again.

7. 2006-07 Budget

Margy said that the town has received $324,000 to date in income tax revenues.

There was some discussion about the revenue items for the budget.  The town’s trash and recycling company has asked for a $250 per month increase for the next year.  This would be a little more than $1.00 per household increase.  The Council agreed to this increase.  The following are the revenue items for the 2006-07 budget:  Income tax $400,000; highway user fee $30,000; Interest income $45,000; miscellaneous $2,500; cable TV $2,500; permit fees $1,000.  It was suggested that the Property Tax item be deleted because the town does not levy a real estate tax on its residents.  It was also suggested that the County Revenue Sharing item be deleted because the County has told the town that it will no longer provide money for this item.  The County does not provide money for revenue sharing if a town does not levy a real estate tax on its residents. 

There was discussion about the expenditure items for the 2006-07 budget.  The following are the expenditure items for 2006-07 budget: trash & recycling $66,000; lawn & garden recycling $4,000; trees $40,000; leaf collection & disposal $12,000; streets $22,000; lighting $7,500; snow removal $12,000; personnel & Admin. Expenses ________(The Council will make a decision concerning this item within the next two days.)  professional fees $7,000; miscellaneous _________; insurance $5,500; office & printing $15,000; community activities $17,000; dues, mtgs., memberships $6,000; cable TV $2,500.  The manager will email Margy a comparison of manager’s salaries of the neighboring Chevy Chase towns. 

8. Treasurer’s Report

Margy said that Sandy Spring Bank $97,000 CD will mature March 19, 2006, and she recommended that $3,000 be added to it and it be renewed for 15 months at a rate of 4.80%.  The Council agreed to do this.  She also said that the Citizens National Bank CD will mature April 16, 2006, and she recommended that it be renewed for 13 months at a rate of 4.57%.  The Council agreed to do this.  There was discussion about purchasing additional CD’s; however, Margy recommended that the Council wait until two small CD’s mature in June and add funds to make them both $100,000 and renew at the best rate.  The Council agreed to this suggestion. 

9. Building Inspector’s Report

Permits issued:

3805 Thornapple St. – second story addition in rear

3807 Thornapple St. – garage and green house in rear

     10. Manager’s Report

ComCast has agreed to provide the town with a free hookup to the internet.  A Section 5 resident has asked the Council to write the County a letter asking the County to provide handicap access to the voting site at the Rollingwood voting site.  The Council to write such a letter.  The Council agreed to provide lunch for the Village of Chevy Chase’s staff as a thank-you gesture for providing Section 5 with a room for its monthly Council meetings.  The town has engaged Voice Revolution for its long distance telephone service. 

10. Regional District Act

Margy asked the manager to call Geoff Biddle at the Village to determine whether Section 5 may still support the State bill which would give zoning authority to Section 5. 

            Andrew moved that the meeting adjourn; there was second and it passed unanimously.