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Let's Keep Damascus High School On Track
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
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Dear Friends,
Damascus High School was built in 1950 and is the oldest MCPS high school that hasn’t had a major renovation. The building is in urgent need of improvements to aging facilities and to add classroom space. This project has already been delayed once and is now set for construction to start next fiscal year.
Unfortunately, there's a proposal now before the Council to delay the renovation two additional years. Inflation has caused costs for this and other projects to increase as County revenues haven't kept pace. I'm urging my Council colleagues not to further delay Damascus High School's renovation and working to find an alternative path forward that preserves this much-needed project for a community that has waited long enough.
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Read my memo to colleagues about the importance of keeping the renovation on-track. Please reach out to me via email with your thoughts on this and other important capital and operating budget priorities as the Council works toward final budget approval in late May. Together, we have the voice and ability to create a budget that serves all communities throughout Montgomery County. |
 Damascus High School
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I'm excited to report that my first bills on the County Council have been recommended for approval by the Council's Government Operations & Fiscal Policy Committee and are headed to the full Council for consideration on March 21.
Both bills strive to improve County Government operations. Thank you to my Council colleagues and the County Executive for their support:
Bill 5-23 would end the practice of County Government requiring certain private medical information from prospective County employees that isn't necessary to know when deciding if the individual can do the job they're vying for.
Bill 8-23 would codify and set up consistent standards for the more than 80 County boards, committees, and commissions to post meeting agendas, links to virtual meetings, and minutes or links to recorded meetings. The goal of this legislation is to help improve open meetings standards for the County groups after a number were found to be in violation of the State's Open Meetings Act last year.
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 Greater Olney Civic Association 2023 Award Winners
I'm fortunate for the privilege to represent good people who consistently step up for the good of the community. And I'm especially thankful to the Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) for celebrating these people and their contributions on Sunday at their annual awards ceremony.
Whether it’s organizing local residents to knit blankets for Ukrainian families, growing the Olney Elementary Chess Club through COVID into one of the biggest clubs in the State, providing youth sports, scholarships, and special events to support more kids and enrich our community, helping to shelter stray cats, advocating for traffic safety, or leading the Longwood Recreation Center, these individuals are truly some of the best Olney has to offer. Thank you also to the family and colleagues of Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Connie Brown, who passed away last year after decades of volunteering, organizing, and improving our community.
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