Office of the Inspector General Memorandum of Investigation: Investigation of MCPS’ Management of the Electric School Bus Contract, Investigation of MCPS’ Procurement of Crisis Management Services and the Investigation of Alleged Mismanagement of Grant Funds Provided to the Sargent Shriver Elementary School PTA 

Review: The Audit committee will receive briefings on three memorandums of investigation. These include investigations of MCPS management of the electric school bus contract, MCPS’ procurement of crisis management services and alleged mismanagement of grant funds provided to the Sargent Shriver Elementary School PTA. The three reports outline the findings of the OIG investigations. Regarding management of the electric school bus contract, OIG determined that MCPS had incurred wasteful spending by failing to enforce the terms of their contract with the electric bus company. In addition, OIG found that MCPS’ procurement of crisis management and communication services violated school system policies for using emergency procurement services. Regarding the alleged mismanagement of grant funds, the OIG found that policy was breached when a grant fund in the amount of $4,998.66 awarded to Sargent Shriver Elementary School was transferred from an account controlled by the school to the PTA. The briefing will include an opportunity for the committee to discuss the OIG findings for each investigation.  

Resolution to approve Disposition of County Public Parking Lots 25 and 44 Located in Bethesda, Maryland 

Review: The joint TE and GO Committee will review a resolution to approve of the disposition of County public parking lots 25 and 44 located in Bethesda. The County Executive proposes the transfer of the two properties to a private entity, Lots 25 & 44 Associates, LLC, in conjunction with a general development agreement. The project will dispose of approximately 77,000 square feet of land parcels, currently occupied by the lot 25 and 44 properties. In exchange for the properties, the developer will provide the County with a new 145-space public parking garage and a half-acre public park as part of a larger development that will include market rate and affordable multi-family dwelling units. The Department of Transportation (MCDOT) conducted a reuse analysis for this parcel, and no departments or agencies expressed an interest in the property. MCDOT is recommending sale of the property for full market value to Lots 25 & 44 Associates, LLC. 

Executive Regulation 5-24, Speed Humps for Eligible County Roadways 

Review:  The TE Committee will review Executive Regulation 5-24, Speed Humps for Eligible County Roadways, which amends and supersedes Executive Regulation 1-18AM. The regulation guides MCDOT’s authority to install speed humps by clarifying and refining the procedure through which residents can request a speed hump for a segment of residential neighborhood street. The changes are intended to make it easier for communities to successfully petition for speed humps, reflecting the County’s Vision Zero priorities and street classifications recently approved by the Council in the Complete Streets Design Guide and Pedestrian Master Plan. The draft regulation amends the eligibility criteria and reduces the neighborhood petition threshold.