October

SECTION 5 OF THE VILLAGE OF CHEVY CHASE

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Date: October 10, 2023

Place: Chevy Chase Village Hall

Time: 7:30 PM

Present: Greg Chernack, Josh Galper, Philip Giordano, Maryann Luongo, Sean Downey, Ashley Kavanaugh, and Jason Cokinos.

Chair Greg Chernack called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance.

Chair Chernack moved that the minutes from the September meeting be approved; there was a second, and the motion passed.

Captain Jason Cokinos gave a summary of police activity in and around Section 5.

The Town Manager presented an overview of the Section’s current financial status, and entertained questions from the Council.

-There were two applications approved for tree removal.

-There were seven building applications approved.

-The Manager said the Section had received a proposal for sidewalk work from Concrete Precision. The work involves shaving the concrete to address trip hazards throughout the Section. The cost is $9,500. The Council voted unanimously to proceed with the work.

-The Manager shared a mock-up of the new Section 5 website design with the Council from CivicsPlus.

-The Section has received a proposal from Rolling Acres to do snow removal for this winter. The Manager said that their proposal is the same as last year with no increase in pricing, and that Rolling Acres has been an excellent contractor for many years. The Council voted unanimously to engage in a new contract with Rolling Acres for this snow season.

-WSSC has notified the Section that they need to do sewer work on Williams Lane, Woodbine Street, and parts of Windsor Place. The work on Williams Lane will require excavation. This will likely delay the repaving work that was scheduled for Williams until next spring. Repaving will still occur on Thornapple Street, Thornapple Place, Underwood Street, and Woodbine Place this fall.

-The Manager provided an update on the proposed Leland Street access restriction. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is no longer willing to put together a meeting between Section 5 and the Hamlet. They suggested that the two entities try and work it out directly and if this cannot be accomplished, they will move forward with a public hearing on the issue. The hearing would be a virtual meeting in December. It will likely occur in the evening. Residents would have the chance to give testimony. The Council decided that Chair Chernack will reach out to the President of the Hamlet and see if a mutual resolution can be found.

-The September 14 meeting with the Pepco Streetlight specialist to discuss the proposed streetlight tariff options was rescheduled for October 20.

-The Council discussed the Section’s possible purchase of the property at the foot of Windsor Place. After receiving legal guidance from our consulting attorney, the Council has decided not to pursue the property. The question of the easement makes the possibility of a lawsuit likely, and the Council does not believe that is in the best interest of the Section at this time.

Chairman Chernack adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be held November 7, 2023, at 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome.