Virtual Town Hall Meeting from Thursday, June 13, 2019
Marc Elrich Good afternoon! I hope everyone is able to stay dry and warm today. Let's get started, shall we?
Ana from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Hello Mr Erlich,
I have been living in Tuckerman Lane near Churchill HS for over 8 years. There is a sidewalk project that has been designed about 10 years ago. I attended the meetings Every year. This project has been sitting in the County Executive office for the last 3 years but has not been approved yet. What can I do to expedite this project. That street is very dangerous as I see kids walking the shoulder lane to go to school or going back home while sharing that shoulder with impatience drivers who can’t be behind slower drivers. Please let me know. Thank you so much for your time.
Marc Elrich Thank you for reaching out to me. I share your concerns about pedestrian safety on this corridor. Based on feedback from the public, the scope of the original plan for the Tuckerman Lane Sidewalk/Bikeway project has been expanded to extend the sidewalk/bikeway to Falls Road. The original facility extended between Old Georgetown and Seven Locks. The revised plan will also include alternatives for a separated bikeway.
This revised concept required additional preliminary planning for the project. The good news is that MCDOT has completed the preliminary plan phase and has begun the second phase of planning for the bikeway/sidewalk that will design about one-third of the project so that a detailed cost estimate can be completed.
A community kickoff meeting will be held by the end of February and the project website will be updated. Funding and scheduling for the project beyond the one-third design phase has not been determined. Residents can follow the project’s progress here: montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/projects/tuckermanlane/index.html.
Kathy McAleer from
Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Dear Mr. Erlich,
Renewing our Fire Code Compliance Permit online has been extremely challenging. I received a letter in January stating permits will be renewed online. After several attempts to renew online, I contacted customer service for help. The response was “everything is done online”. Tried again with no success. Emailed Montgomery county and received an automated do not reply response. After a few days, called the 311 # and input the service number from the email. The automated system stated the service request has been satisfied. So, I attempted to renew permit online again and system failed to recognize our permit #. Called yesterday and spoke with Elaine…very nice, but still have not heard back from MoCo. Called twice today. First person disconnected me and second person, Elaine, placed me on hold and call my call was dropped.
THE PERMIT EXPIRES 3/31/19. This has been absolutely ridiculous! Every effort to renew permit has been made. What happens when this permit expires on Sunday? I would appreciate a phone call today.
Marc Elrich I am sorry your customer experience has not been satisfactory. Our goal is to make this process as efficient and convenient as possible. Permitting Services Manager Gail Lucas would be happy to assist you if you have more questions or concerns. Her phone number is 240-777-6267. It is my understanding that online renewals did not begin until this month. As way of background, the Fire Marshal’s office came over to the Department of Permitting Services about three years ago to become the Division of Fire Prevention and Code Compliance.
A letter went out on Jan. 22 to advise all Fire Code Compliance permittees of a change in procedure and noted the process would be soon moving online. The online process began in April and customers were notified of that change in a second letter dated April 3. Previously, the fire marshal’s office would inspect and then send a bill to the customer. DPS has reversed the process and now the customer must apply for an FCC permit before the inspection.
All old FCC permits will receive a new DPS permit number that will allow them to use the online renewal process when the migration is complete. These processes are available on the DPS website for those who have already received their new permit information. DPS, Health and Human Services and MC 311 are all working to improve communications with customers about the new FCC process.
Hope from
Rockville
What is the status of the proposed Wegmann’s in Rockville Pike?
Will Montgomery County approve the proposal?
I am in favor of building Wegmann’s.
We need new businesses for the economy and employment.
Marc Elrich Thank you for your question. I'm delighted that Wegmans is considering a site in Rockville. As the site they are considering is located within the city of Rockville, it is subject to the zoning and development laws of the city. I suggest that you contact the Mayor and Council of Rockville and the Rockville City Planning Commission for an update on this project.
laundre t. saunders from
Silver Spring
hello sir. mps hires drivers to get there ( CDL ) TO DRIVE BUS'S, however once they get there ( CDL ) they pick up and go. I feel there should be a law staying that they should stay two years. to me that's a waste of money and the school stytem don't have drivers. it's been known that if a person needs a (CDL ) just go to (mps) its free. we as tax payers need to stop waste.
Marc Elrich Thank you for expressing your concern about the tenure of bus drivers. As you may know, the County does not manage the bus fleet or hire drivers for MCPS; they handle these tasks themselves. But what they’ve told us is that the average tenure of MCPS school bus drivers is three years. School bus drivers get five - six hours of work per day for 10 months. But once a driver has their CDL, they can get jobs that pay for a full 40 hour-or-more workweek; and that is an attractive opportunity to many experienced drivers with a CDL.
geneva from
Silver Spring
thanks for bringing Montgomery County Forward. I attended the Energy / Environmental Conference in Silver Spring in April.
I heard you mention that there will be about 20 or so new EE RideOn Buses soon. Have these buses been deployed - if so, where? I have not seen any new buses, especially at the Silver Spring Metro Station. I am an avid happy rider of the total bus system and I would like to see new (comfortable) ride-on buses. Please respond. thanks.
Marc Elrich Twenty-six new Ride On buses were deployed in Gaithersburg this spring, where they replaced the oldest buses in the fleet. Buses are replaced on a 12-year cycle, and the average age of buses is the same across all our bus depots, so you’ll eventually see newer ones appearing in Silver Spring. I’m happy to report our first four electric powered buses will be arriving in Takoma Park this fall, and next year an additional 10 electric buses will begin appearing on Ride On routes throughout the county.
John from
Up County
Poolesville HS is ranked #93 nationally and #1 in Maryland’s best public high schools listing which should make it a national showcase! There are numerous building maintenance issues as well as health and safety problems existing in the school that can impact our children. What are you doing to reinstate the necessary funds to remediate these atrocious conditions! It appears that our children’s health and safety is not a priority for the County Council.
Marc Elrich MCPS did request planning funds for Poolesville High School in the FY 2020 Capital Budget to determine the scope of any potential renovations. We are not aware of any health or safety issues that have not been addressed through MCPS's regular maintenance program. The County funds the budget for schools based on requests from the school system.
We are aware that the Town of Poolesville has proposed a new multi-agency space, that would be attached to the science wing. MCPS has sent letters of support, and we have put money in the budget to begin the planning process.
Melanie from
Rockville
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for the opportunity to ask a question. I live and work in the Rockville-Gaithersburg area. As I travel in this area all of the housing construction indicates luxury housing is being built. Although this is one of the richest counties in the U.S. all of us are not in that tax bracket. What are your plans to address affordable housing?
Marc Elrich I appreciate your concern. I remain strongly focused on creating more affordable housing for our County. Working with partners, I intend to renovate existing affordable housing and to create new affordable housing.
Just last month, the County Council approved my recommendation to add more than $60 million to the FY20 budget for affordable housing.
Preservation of existing affordable housing is one of our most pressing issues. I want to look at policies and programs to ensure no net loss of existing affordable housing – We cannot begin to address affordable housing if we are losing units faster than we can build them.
I have asked County government staff and the County Council to work together to review all of the County requirements on the construction of new housing, and on the renovation of existing buildings to make sure that unnecessary regulations are not one of the reasons that housing is too expensive. I want to look at less costly ways of building affordable housing and have asked County staff to bring me options.
We're also looking at County property for the potential to develop affordable housing as well.
Montgomery County has the Montgomery Housing Initiative Fund, which makes loans to nonprofit and for-profit housing developers. I will make sure that these funds continue to be used to create more new affordable housing.
Unfortunately the federal government, which for decades was a partner with local government in affordable housing, continues to withdraw its funding, placing a significant financial burden on local communities to meet this pressing need.
Lastly, we have a working group of affordable housing partners that have been meeting to develop new strategies that will enable us to provide more affordable housing.
Laurel from
Rockville
Why haven't you called a meeting between HOC and Macedonia Baptist Church to discuss memorialization of the Bethesda African Cemetery? Both HOC and MBC have asked you to convene a meeting, and it was your campaign promise to find an expeditious solution to this issue. After 7 months, why hasn't a meeting been called yet?
Marc Elrich I have not called a meeting yet because I am waiting on information from members of the Macedonia Baptist Church, who offered to explore alternative entrances to the garage so that we could consider how the property could be memorialized. My staff and I toured the garage with HOC staff, Reverend Adebayo of the Macedonia Baptist Church, engineers that Macedonia had engaged, among others to see the garage and allow the engineers to assess what might be possible. Subsequent to that tour, we provided the engineers with the architectural information they requested. I am now waiting to hear from them what they believe is possible, at what cost, so that I can then convene a meeting to discuss their proposal with HOC; I will also participate in that meeting. I strongly believe we must honor the people who are buried there, but I cannot in good conscience, make that building unavailable to residents who need that affordable housing. I look forward to further conversations and am hopeful we can resolve this concern.
James P. Carter from
Rockville
I would like you to explain your reasoning for using the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial to make a political statement -- i.e., flying a Rainbow flag at a site dedicated to honoring and remembering those who risked, and moreover gave, their lives in military service to our country. That sir, is a direct slap in their faces.
I also would like you to explain how/why it is that flying the Rainbow flag for an entire month was obviously approved in very short order, while my requests during the past couple years to have an Honor and Remember Flag fly there only 5-6 times a year have proven fruitless. Note that in 2011 the State of Maryland (along with many other states) adopted the Honor and Remember Flag as its official symbol recognizing America's military Fallen Heroes, so it's not as if it's not an official government symbol.
Marc Elrich Thank you for your question. We made a mistake in lowering the POW/MIA flag, and I deeply regret the confusion caused when the POW/MIA flag was temporarily lowered. I want to assure you and all veterans, and their families that I appreciate those who have served our nation in the military. I am grateful to the Commission on Veteran's Affairs for quickly calling this to our attention. We immediately corrected our mistake, and the POW/MIA flag flies prominently in its previous place of honor as it will going forward.
Liz from
Not from Montgomery County
I am a musician with the National Philharmonic, an orchestra I absolutely love performing with. This orchestra is a vital part of the Montgomery County community, providing employment, access to the arts for countless youth, and economic stimulation throughout the concert season. How will the county help to continue the legacy of this orchestra in the way of financial support?
Marc Elrich Thank you for writing me about your support for the National Philharmonic and the arts in general. I have received multiple questions about county funding for the National Philharmonic. First, let me reaffirm my support for support of the arts, which are critical to the vibrancy of this county and culture. The National Philharmonic has received substantial support over the past five years, both directly from the County and via Arts and Humanities Council funding. In 2016, the County provided $230,000 to the National Philharmonic to help with past deficits and to fund a strategic plan. The Philharmonic also received $166,000 in County funds from the Arts and Humanities Council. They received approximately $550,000 in the following two years from both entities. After they received the last of that funding, various Councilmembers stated that they would not provide any more direct funding for the National Philharmonic (outside of the funding provided by the Arts and Humanities Council). Last year they received $49,000 for the Kids Free program and $107,000 from the Arts and Humanities Council. This year, in the budget I sent to the Council, I included $20,000 for that same program (which is separate from the funding from the Arts and Humanities); however, the Council chose not to include it in the budget. Consequently, the only County funding they received this year is from the Arts and Humanities Council. After we’d sent the budget to the Council, the National Philharmonic contacted me asking for much more for this year (about $150,0000) and for future years. We are assessing whether or not we have any resources available and if the County Council would support additional funds. We must determine whether another infusion of significant County funding and my staff will insure their viability beyond a single year.
Bob from
Mid County
What is status of Shady Grove bus depot and when will it be relocated; this was approved in 2006 and even after 13 years we haven’t seen any progress. Fast and appropriate in this matter for the purposes of smart growth will be appreciated. Thanks!
Marc Elrich This is a complex issue and I am committed to relocating the buses from the site on Crabbs Branch Way. Contrary to public perception, we do not have other sites that we can move the bus depot to without creating similar, and in some cases, different problems. If it were that easy, we would have done it last year since we all agree that the bus depot needs to move. We are currently considering a series of land-swaps that would make such a move possible, but we do not control all of the properties involved, so we are trying to create a solution that all parties will accept.
One of our biggest challenges is finding a place where the buses can access the depot without disrupting residential areas.
Marc Elrich Thank you for joining the discussion. I look forward to hearing from each of you next month.
