Council minutes, Sep. 2007
SECTION 5 OF THE VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
Date: September 11, 2007
Time: 7:30pm
Place: 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase Village Hall
Present: Margy Abbott; Frances L. Higgins; Farooq Hussain; Ira Rosenbaum; Andrew Smith; 2 Section 5 residents
1. Minutes
Andrew moved that the June 12, 2007, Council meeting minutes be approved as presented. The motion was seconded and it passed unanimously.
2. Options for Setback Ordinance Committee Report
Kevin Bromberg said that Emily Eig, Tom Gann, Bill Harlon and he are the members of the Options for Setback Ordinance Committee and he would like to have two additional members including a Council member. He especially would like to have someone join the committee who has building and/or real estate experience. Kevin attended a meeting in Section 3 at which a town planner gave a talk about options which Section 3 could enact that would address that town’s concerns about house construction. He said that he believes Section 5’ s problems regarding house construction are much simpler than Section 3’s.
Kevin said that the four options regarding zoning in Section 5 were posted on the web site and five people registered their opinions about these options.
Margy gave a history of the enactment of Section 5’s rules, regulations and ordinances. She said that the Council in 1999 asked a code company to combine the 1923 Rules and Regulations and the 1982 Charter into one document; however, this company made some deletions from these two documents when it combined them but did not inform the Council. Margy said the manager has typed a copy of the Rules and Regulations and the town’s ordinances and given a copy of this document to each Council member. This copy has eleven chapters. The manager typed this document in an effort to update Section 5’s rules and regulations and ordinances by deleting some archaic language as well as reorganize the material into a more readable format. Some of these chapters do not require changes and they are chapter 2 Elections, chapter 4 Public Ethics, chapter 7 Trees, chapter 8 Sidewalks and Streets, and chapter 10 Fences. These ordinances have been enacted correctly. There are some chapters which need to be enacted. There chapters are chapter 1 General Provisions, chapter 5 Health and Sanitation, chapter 6 Animals, chapter 9 Building Regulations and chapter 11 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions.
There was some discussion about sending this new version of Section 5’s rules, regulations and ordinances to the residents in preparation for the Council voting on this new version. Farooq suggested that the new version might be placed on the web site as well as being sent to the residents as a hard copy. Andrew said that he would like for the old version and the new version to be placed side by side on one page in columns so that residents may see a comparison of the two. The manager will type these two versions and send an email copy to the Council in the next week. The Council will then review this material before sending it to the residents for their comments.
Margy suggested that a copy of the proposed variance appeal process ordinance be sent with the chapter on Building Regulations so that Section 5’s building setbacks will be in effect. The Council decided to do this.
3. Citizens Concerns and Suggestions to the Council
Andrew said that a Section 5 resident asked him how after a power outage Pepco determines which areas have their power restored first. Farooq said some time ago he spoke to someone at Pepco about power outages and this person told him that the reason our area has frequent outages is because the electric power lines are above ground and subject to damage. The manager will contact Pepco and ask about the process by which Pepco determines which areas have power restored first.
4. Storm Water Management
Margy said that Section 3 has a relatively simple storm water management ordinance which requires its residents to present a plan to manage the additional water runoff which occurs when building projects are undertaken. She said that the purpose of this ordinance is to lessen the adverse effect of water runoff on abutting neighbors from new construction. Farooq said that he has a rain barrel which he installed on his property to help manage the water runoff. Andrew said that any time someone has new construction, this construction diverts water to abutting property owners. Margy said that Section 3 employs a civil engineer, Bill Bissell, to help with a water management plan. It was suggested that Section 5 invite this civil engineer to come to a Council meeting and present some ideas about managing storm water runoff.
Farooq said that he was opposed to paying to have someone come and give a talk about storm water management. Andrew and Margy would not object to paying someone. The manager will contact Mr. Bissell and ask him if he will come and give a talk without compensation.
5. Treasurer’s Report
Margy said that there was little additional revenue or expenses in July and August.
After the final 2006-07 bills were paid, there was approximately $60,000 left over. Section 5 rebated $825 for the real estate tax and $29.50 for the solid waste charge for each Section 5 household from the monies collected in FY 2006-07.
Farooq asked if he could have a copy of the 2005-06 audit. The manager will send him a copy.
6. Building Inspector’s Report
7508 Glendale Road – 1 story addition in rear
3720 Williams Lane – 2 story in rear
3706 Woodbine Street – 2 story addition in rear
7. Manager’s Report
There is a tree on the southeast corner of Underwood St. and Dalkeith St. It is leaning at a dangerous angle. The manager is concerned about safety but is not certain if the trees belongs to the town or the resident at that address. She will speak to the resident and if he does not object to having the town remove the tree, she will contact the State forester for a permit and remove the tree.
The town received a flyer from the B-CC Rescue Squad about donating money to the general operating fund. There was some discussion and the Council decided not to take any action at this time.
When Section 5 installed plants in the public strip at 3714 Woodbine St., the resident asked for additional plants and asked the town if it would pay for the additional plants. The Council agreed to pay for the additional plants.
Patsy Hedrick, Park and Planning, informed Section 5 that it has $11,000 in open space money for Fy 2007-08. Because Section 5 does not have open space in the town where it could spend this money, it will stay in escrow.
A resident asked the manager if Section 5 will pay extra to have an extra collection for recyclables when its collection day comes on a holiday. The manager will contact the trash company and determine if it would be willing to make the extra collection and at what cost.
Andrew moved that the meeting adjourn; there was a second and it passed unanimously.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 9, 2007, at 7:30pm at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue.
