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October

Date: October 10, 2012

Place: Chevy Chase Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Ave.

Time: 7:30 PM

Present: Peter Gray; Tim Hanlon; Frances L. Higgins; Greg White; 1 Section 5 resident; Pat Baptiste

  1. Agenda Item: Minutes

    Peter moved that the minutes for the September 12, 2012, Council meeting minutes be approved as revised; there was a second and the motion passed unanimously.

  2. Agenda Item: Discussion of Chevy Chase Land Company's Redevelopment

    Pat Baptiste, a member of the Connecticut Avenue Corridor Committee, provided an update on the status of the Chevy Chase Land Company's proposed development at the Lake. Someone asked who are the members of this group. She said that the Village of Chevy Chase, the Town of Chevy Chase, North Chevy Chase, Martin's Additions, Rolling Wood Citizens Assoc., and Farmington Hills Citizen Assoc. are all members. She said that these groups formed the Connecticut Avenue Corridor Committee (CACC) because they would like to speak to the County Planning Board with one voice concerning the Land Company's proposed development. This committee has written a document stating the number of buildings, the heights of buildings, the kinds of businesses, and the square footage of commercial space which the members of CACC would like the County Park and Planning Commission to allow the Land Company to develop at the Lake. The recommendations in this document are almost exactly the same as the Park and Planning Staff's recommendations. At the group's last meeting each group voted in support of the provisions in this document.

    The Park and Planning Board will conduct a public hearing Thursday, October 18, 2012, at 3:00 PM at their headquarters at 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring. Pat Baptiste will testify for the Village of Chevy Chase using the material from the CACC report while Pat Burda, another member of the CACC, will testify for all the members of the CACC.

    After this hearing conducted by the Board it will have a work session in November and then present its recommendations to the County Council. The County Council will then have a public hearing and then it will conduct a work session. The Council will make a decision concerning what the Land Company will be allowed to do at the Lake in 2013.

    Pat said that she met with representatives from the Maryland State Highway Administration, the National Park Service, and the District's Department of Transportation concerning the proposed signalization project at Chevy Chase Circle. DDOT officials heard loud and clear that they must continue to work with the neighboring jurisdictions on any proposed signalization of Chevy Chase Circle. There is lengthy work ahead for the District and an extensive review process to obtain National Park Service approval. The prevailing opinion at the end of the meeting was that any potential signals will not be installed any time soon.

    Next Pat said that the County Council's staff is revising the County's entire zoning ordinances. She also said that any changes in the County's rules concerning accessory apartments will be made separately from the complete rezoning process. The County Council expects to have the new ordinances ready for a public hearing some time next year.

    Action:
    The manager will provide a copy of Section 5's traffic signalization survey to Pat Baptiste.

  3. Agenda Item: Supplemental Police Patrols' New Contract

    The manager said that the supplemental police patrols' contract has expired and the officers are continuing to work under the provisions of the old contract. The new contract which the County proposes is essentially the same as the previous contract except the indemnification clause has been excluded. The indemnification clause which excluded Section 5 from liability has been removed. The manager said that Commander Falcinelli explained that with the removal of the indemnification clause the County will be responsible for any actions that may result from a County officer being negligent and Section 5 will be responsible for any actions that result from instructions from Section 5's Council to the officers that could result in charges of negligence.

    Action:
    The manager will provide the Council members with a copy of the County's proposed contract for supplemental police patrols. She will also call David Falcinelli and ask why the County removed the indemnification clause. She will place police patrol contract as an item on the November agenda.

  4. Agenda Item: Discussion of MOU With the County Concerning Debris Removal

    The manager will provide the Council members a copy of the MOU and add it to the November agenda.

  5. Agenda Item: Discussion of Investment Policy

    There was some discussion about whether the investment policy should be a policy or an ordinance.

    Action:
    It was decided that the investment policy will be enacted as an ordinance. It will be added as an item on the November agenda. The manager will provide the Council a copy of the investment policy before the November meeting.

  6. Treasurer's Report

    Tim provided Council members with a copy of the financials for FY 2012-13. There were no items that are over budget. The first large income tax payment will come the end of November. The money to pay the County for the residents' real estate tax refund was removed from Section 5's account with MLGIP. The manager placed this money, $147,000, in Section 5's checking account to pay the County for the resident tax refund. She placed this money under the item titled "Miscellaneous" in the budget. She will make a footnote for this item explaining that it was a withdrawal of funds and not new revenue.

  7. Manager's Report

    The manager has written the Maryland Public Service Commission asking about the status of Section 5's complaint concerning Pepco's tree pruning program. She has not heard from it as yet.

    Someone from the Chevy Chase Fire Board will attend the November Council meeting and discuss the Board's proposal to write a letter soliciting funds from the neighboring communities. These funds are needed to help defray costs, for which the Fire Department does not receive money from the County.

  8. Adjournment:

    Peter adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be held Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Ave., at 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome. The Village Hall is handicapped accessible.