Council Minutes, Annual Meeting

SECTION 5 OF THE VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE

MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING

Date: April 7, 2009

Time: 7:30 PM

Place: 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase Village Hall

Present: Margy Abbott; Peter Gray; Frances L. Higgins; Chris Richardson; Ira Rosenbaum; Andrew Smith; 10 Section 5 residents

1. Minutes

   Andrew moved that the March 10, Work Session Minutes and Council Meeting Minutes be approved as revised; there was a second and the motion passed unanimously.

2. Introduction of Council Members

   Andrew introduced the Council members: Margy Abbott, Treasurer; Peter Gray, Building Inspector; Chris Richardson, Secretary; Ira Rosenbaum, Vice-chairman; Andrew Smith, Chairman

3. Chairman's Report

   Andrew said that the Council has certain obligations to Section 5 which it satisfies for Section 5 by: 1) Issuing contracts for snow removal from streets and sidewalks; 2) Issuing contracts for maintenance of streets; 3) Issuing contracts for collection of trash and recyclables; 4) Issuing contracts for tree removal, pruning and planting. The manager tends to these obligations on a daily basis as town administrator.

   Andrew said that in past years the money from the State for road maintenance has been deposited into the general operating fund; however, now this money is placed in a separate bank account. This money has been placed in a separate account because last year the State advised the town that it must provide evidence that these road maintenance monies have actually been spent on Section 5 roads. The manager wrote a letter to the State Highway Administration which gave an account of the money that Section 5 has received from the State for roads and a list of expenditures on road maintenance since 1993.

   Andrew said that Woodbine Street and Windsor Place were milled and repaved two years ago and the concrete on Leland Court was replaced three years ago. He also said that there is money in the current year’s budget to mill and repave Dalkeith Street and east Thornapple Street and to repair certain portions of the public sidewalks. Money to mill and repave Thornapple and Underwood Streets, Williams Lane, and Alden Lane is appropriated in the 2010 budget.

   He said that in years past the Council has voted to use the surplus money at the end of the fiscal year to rebate money to each of the 226 households in Section 5; however, the revenues this year may not be as large as in years past and thus there may not be a rebate. The Council will decide at the June meeting if there will be a rebate and if so, how large the rebate will be. A resident asked how the Council decides which organizations to which it will donate money. Margy said that the Council tries to donate the same amount of money to charitable organizations as it spends on the town’s social activities.

   Andrew said that the Council has given money to certain charities: BCC Rescue Squad, Ellen’s Run, and the Shepherd Foundation in honor of the Duffys. Because of safety concerns the Council voted this year to fund extra police patrols for Section 5 for a six month trial.

   Beginning with the November Council meeting the Council met at 6:30 PM an hour before the regularly scheduled Council meeting to discuss zoning issues. At these work sessions the Council discussed creating some zoning regulations concerning side, front and back setbacks, wall plane length, and a ratio of living space to green space. The Council will decide at the May meeting if it will send this material about zoning regulations to the residents for comment.

4. Treasurer’s Report

   Margy explained that the Highway User Fee which Section 5 received should be used solely for road maintenance; however, she explained that these funds are not sufficient for all road repairs. She said that the last time Section 5 had a major road project was in 1992-93 and this repair project was expected to last 15 to 17 years. The town’s roads are now due for major repairs. She said that she expects a $250,000 surplus this year and she recommends that this money be spent to mill and repave Thornapple and Underwood Streets, Williams Lane, and Glendale Road in 2010. Ira said the town has sufficient money in reserve funds currently to cover the town’s budget for three or four years. Margy said that she thinks Section 5 should use the surplus this year to repair the roads and not to give a rebate to the residents. She thinks that giving a rebate this year would be fiscally irresponsible.

   Margy said that the revenues for the next fiscal year may be substantially reduced. If, however, the revenues are not substantially reduced next year then the Council could decide to give a substantial rebate.

   Andrew asked if the Council would like to vote on the proposed budget. Peter said that he thought there was $150,000 left in the road account from the funds collected since 1993. However, tonight he learned that there is only $90,000 left. This reduction in the road account would cause the $250,000 for road repairs to come from the surplus of funds in this year’s budget. The road repairs would need to be funded somewhat from this year’s surplus. Andrew moved that the proposed budget be adopted; Chris seconded the motion. Andrew, Margy and Chris voted for the proposed budget; Ira and Peter voted against the proposed budget. The Council agreed that it would vote at the June meeting about a tax rebate to the 226 households in Section 5.

5. Residents Vote on Tax Rate

   Andrew explained that last year the tax rate for Section 5 was $0.00 per $100 of assessed property value. He moved that the tax rate remain $0.00 per $100 of assessed property value for the fiscal year 2009-10; there was a second and the residents voted unanimously for this tax rate.

6. Citizens Concerns and Suggestions

   A resident asked the Council if it would give more details about agenda items so that residents will have a clearer idea about the issues which will be discussed at Council meetings. Andrew asked the manager to provide more detail for agenda items in the future.

7. Manager's Report

   The periwinkle on the public strip at 3801 Woodbine Street has died and the resident has asked to have liriope planted in that space. The Council agreed to do this.

   A resident asked if the Council has a policy about providing plantings for public strips. Andrew said that the Council has previously placed a notice in the newsletter advising residents that they may request plantings for public strips.

8. Election Results

   Karin Flynn, Andrew Smith, and Alec French were the winners in the election. The manager will notify the winners of the election results. These new members will take the oath of office at the May Council meeting.

   The meeting was adjourned. The next Council meeting will be Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue, at 7:30 PM.