 Wednesday, October 22, 2025
I will be hosting a joint community event with Delegate Lily Qi (MD House of Delegates, District 15) on Friday, October 24th between 9-11AM at Bageltowne Deli (9749 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, MD 20850). Breakfast with Balcombe and Qi is an informal community meet and greet - no registration is required to attend!
Swing by Bageltowne Deli any time between 9-11AM to chat. I hope to see you there!
 A flyer advertising Breakfast with Balcombe and Qi, a community event hosted by Councilmember Balcombe and Delegate Qi on Friday, October 24th from 9-11AM at Bageltowne Deli.
October is Fire Prevention Awareness Month, and it's a great time to run through the checklist of fire safety tips recommended by Montgomery County Fire & Rescue (MCFRS). If you have any home safety questions, I encourage you to reach out to MCFRS. The agency's fire safety website is also a great resource to answer your questions.
I met with MCFRS recently to highlight the most important fire safety checks you should be performing in your home. Check out my video on the County Council YouTube channel or by clicking the image below.
Fire Safety Tips:
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CHECK your smoke alarms: Test smoke alarm monthly to ensure they are working.
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COUNT your smoke alarms: Install smoke alarm inside each sleeping room, in areas outside each sleeping room. and on every level of your home.
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VACUUM your smoke alarms: Follow manufacturer recommendations to regularly clean and dust smoke alarms to help keep them functioning properly.
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REPLACE your smoke alarms: Check the manufacture date printed on your smoke alarm. Smoke alarms expire and should be replaced every 10 years, based on manufacturer recommendations and Maryland Law.
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What about batteries? If your home was permitted before July, 1975 and your property has not been renovated, your home may be protected by battery-only smoke alarms. Battery-operated smoke alarms are required (as of 2018) to have sealed-in, ten-year, long-life batteries that last the service of the alarm. If your home was permitted on/after July 1, 1975, Code requires hard-wired smoke alarms with battery back-ups. Be sure to check the “back up” battery in your hard-wired smoke alarms and replace batteries twice a year or as soon as the alarm “chirps” indicating the battery is low.
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Know the sound: Ensure each person in your home can hear and recognize the sound of the smoke alarm and knows to react immediately. Assistive devices are available for those who are deaf or have other special needs. Call 311 for more information and to be connected with our team.
 A video about home fire safety checks. Clicking the image will redirect to the YouTube video.
There are two MCPS boundary studies currently underway to account for the reopening of Woodward High School, the opening of Crown High School, and the expansion of Damascus High School. MCPS is also conducting an academic programs analysis alongside the boundary studies. I understand that both these studies are concerning for community members, and I have been following both discussions closely. I have attended MCPS' community listening sessions and encourage everyone to review the most up to date information shared by MCPS on the boundary study website and the academic program analysis website.
While the County Council does not have jurisdiction over MCPS and the Board of Education and will not play a role in either of these studies, we will continue to pay attention to the decisions made by the school district.
I am particularly concerned about the Crown/Damascus boundary study, as it will impact residents of District 2. I am also interested in seeing what, if anything, will happen to the Poolesville High School magnet program as a result of the academic program analysis and I am aware that MCPS is considering utilizing Crown High School as a holding school. I will continue to monitor this situation closely, and I encourage you to share any feedback you may have about the studies with MCPS and the Board of Education.
If you are ever in need of art supplies, make sure you stop by the BlackRock Center for the Arts before heading to an art store! The new Scrap Happy thrift shop is a movement to collect gently used fabric, yarn, books, art supplies, and much more. Scrap Happy keeps items from the landfill and makes them available to artists in the community at a price they can afford. The thrift shop is open every Friday from 3-6PM and every Saturday from 12-4PM. If you have any items you would like to donate, they will be accepted every Sunday from 9AM-2PM, and every Tuesday from 12-6PM.
I visited Scrap Happy a few weeks ago to experience the thrift shop myself, and was blown away! Next time you need art supplies or are in Germantown, make sure you stop by Scrap Happy. Whether you're an artist, teacher, parent, or passionate crafter, Scrap Happy undoubtedly has something for you! Learn more about Scrap Happy by visiting the BlackRock Center website.
 A video about the Scrap Happy art supply thrift shop. Clicking the image will redirect to the YouTube video.
Last week, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz announced that he will be stepping down from his at-large Council seat on December 1, 2025. The Council will be appointing a new at-large councilmember to fill this vacancy in accordance with the Montgomery County Charter. If you are interested in learning more about the process to appoint a councilmember, or would like to apply for the vacancy, please visit the Council website and review the press release about the appointment process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The next Economic Development (ECON) committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 10th. We will be receiving an update on the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation's activities and outlook for 2026, and will be working on a resolution to redesignate the agency as the County's Economic Development Corporation.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee met on Monday, October 20th for a work session on Bill 24-25, Transportation Demand Management - Repeal. The bill would repeal Article II of Chapter 42A of the Montgomery County Code and amend the law governing transportation demand management in the County.
The goal of the TDM program is for the County to encourage the use of transit and other commuting options in Montgomery County’s major business districts. However, the management and execution of this program have fallen short of its mission. After a report from Office of the Inspector General that outlined deficiencies in the program, I asked my colleagues on the TE committee to support legislation to repeal the program.
This is a very complicated program, and we had a robust discussion at Monday’s work session. There will be a second committee meeting to continue our discussion on how to transition away from the current TDM program. Stay tuned for updates for the next committee work session on this bill. You can watch a recording of our work session on the County Council YouTube channel, and can review our staff packet on the County Council website.
We will be meeting again as a committee on Tuesday, November 3rd to discuss Expedited Bill 30-25, Noise Control - Leaf Removal Equipment - Enforcement Procedures. We will also be receiving an update on transit services.
Council Legislation
Below is a list of recent legislation that the County Council has taken action on.
Upcoming Public Hearings
To testify at a Council public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony, please visit the Council website or call 240-777-7803. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 1:30PM public hearing is 2PM the day prior. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 7PM public hearing is 5PM the day prior.
October 28, 2025
November 18, 2025
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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