A Message from Council President Hans Riemer

Welcome to the new email newsletter, The Council Connection. Delivered to your inbox on Monday afternoons when the Council is in session, The Council Connection will review business before the Council and recent actions. I hope it helps you participate more effectively in community affairs.

You are receiving the inaugural edition because you have previously been in touch with the Council. If you do not want to receive this newsletter, simply navigate to the bottom of this email and click unsubscribe. I do hope you stick around though!

Let’s dive in.

This week the full Council will begin its work on the County’s six-year capital budget, known as the Capital Improvements Program or CIP. It sets out the funding and the timeline for projects in school construction, transportation, parks, affordable housing, recreation facilities, libraries, broadband infrastructure, and much much more. With over $4.5 billion over 6 years and hundreds of critical projects, the Council will be making final decisions on the CIP over the next few months.

This week we’ll review committee recommendations for housing investments, agricultural land preservation, economic development, and libraries, among other issues. You can view the County Executive’s recommended CIP and follow the Council’s progress.

The Council also will continue its review of the 10 Year Water and Sewer Plan. The plan (in concert with County’s master plans) determines where and how sewer or septic systems decisions are made. Read the staff memo here. Finally, new legislation will be introduced including bills affecting “labor peace agreements” for County contractors, and broadband infrastructure. Find the full Council agenda here.

Below you will find considerably more information about the Council’s work and how you can get involved. We would really appreciate your feedback on how we can make this newsletter more useful. Don’t hesitate to write us at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov, and consider forwarding this to your friends and family.

Until next time,

Hans Riemer, Council President

Council Calendar

Here’s what’s coming up at the Council:

Upcoming Public Hearings

March 6, 2018

·1:30 p.m. Bill 1-18, Water Quality Protection Charge - Appeals

·1:30 p.m. Bill 2-18, Ethics - Conflicts of Interest - Financial Disclosure - Lobbying - Amendments

·1:30 p.m. Supplemental appropriation – Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) $319,036 for Staffing and Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program grant

·1:30 p.m. Supplemental appropriation - MCFRS - $1,970,000 for FY18 Senator Amoss Fire, Rescue & Ambulance Fund grant

To sign up to testify, visit: https://tinyurl.com/MCSignupPublicHearing

White Oak Town Hall

The Council will hold a town hall meeting at the White Oak Community Center on Wednesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The White Oak Community Center is located at 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring, MD 20904. We hope to hear from you about issues important to the White Oak Community, the East County, and Montgomery County as a whole.

For more information, contact Sonya Healy at 240-777-7926 or e-mail

Sonya.Healy@montgomerycountymd.gov

Budget Calendar

March 15: Executive will send a recommended FY2019 Operating Budget to the Council

April 10, 11, and 12: FY2019 Operating Budget Public Hearings

Residents can sign up to testify starting March 15. Go to https://tinyurl.com/MCSignupPublicHearing or call 240-777-7803

April 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30: Committee operating budget meetings