Montgomery County Council Meeting on Dec. 6 at 9:30 a.m. to Welcome Six New Councilmembers as Part of an 11-Member Council With Increased Representation for County Residents and the Most Women Leaders in Council History

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 9:30 a.m. This will be the first meeting of the 20^th Council which includes Council President Gabe Albornoz, Vice President Evan Glass and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-Gonzáles, Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Anne Sayles and Kate Stewart. The meeting will begin with comments from Council President Albornoz reflecting on his year leading the Council, as he concludes his one-year term. The Council will also elect a new Council president and vice president to serve one-year terms.

Additionally, the Council will review and take positions on proposed state legislation. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

County Executive’s Appointee as Deputy Director, Department of Housing and Community Affairs:  Scott Bruton

Interview: The Council will interview Scott Bruton, the County Executive’s appointee for Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The department works to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing, maintain existing housing in a safe and sanitary condition, preserve the safety and quality of residential and commercial areas, ensure fair and equitable relations between landlords and tenants, and support the success of common ownership communities.

Board of Appeals

Interview: The Council will interview four candidates to fill two vacant positions on the County Board of Appeals. One position is to fill a partial term, which is scheduled to expire in September 2023, due to Mr. Roberto Pinero’s resignation and appointment as a temporary acting Montgomery County Planning Board member. This position can be filled by a Democrat.

The second position is vacant due to the end of the term for Mr. Richard Melnick. This vacancy is for a full term of four years and can be filled by a Republican, a resident affiliated with another recognized political party or an unaffiliated resident. This position cannot be filled by a Democrat. Mr. Melnick is reapplying for this position.

The current members of the board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated), and Caryn Hines (Democrat). Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral arguments on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.

State Legislation (Local Bills)

Review: The Council will meet to review and take positions on local and bi-county bills sponsored by members of the Montgomery County Delegation. On Nov. 28, 2022, the 19th Council held a briefing and reviewed 15 local and bi-county bills. The newly inaugurated 20th Council will continue its review of local and bi-county bills for the upcoming 2023 Maryland General Assembly and may choose to take positions on the bills. The legislation under consideration will cover topics including voting methods, special taxing districts, parking, mass transit, speed monitoring, alcoholic beverage licensing and collective bargaining agreements. The bills are scheduled for public hearings before the State Delegation on Dec. 8 and 15, 2022.

Consent Calendar

Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Dec. 6, which is available on the Council website.

Public Hearings

The Council will hold the following public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.

Amendment to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program and Special Appropriation #23-60 to the County Government’s FY23 Capital Budget, Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions – Business Continuity Phase II (No. 342303), $7,469,000 (Source of Funds: Current Revenue and Short-Term Financing)

Bill 28-22, Common Ownership Communities – Duties, Requirements and Procedures

Expedited Bill 34-22, Streets and Roads – Classification of Roads

Supplemental Appropriation #23-18 to the County Government’s FY23 Operating Budget, Department of Transportation, Streets and Roads – Roadside Trees – Protection, $60,750 (Source of Funds:  Street Tree Planting Fund)

Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a $60,750 supplemental appropriation for the replacement of roadside trees as required by Bill 41-12 – Streets and Roads – Roadside Trees – Protection.  The source of the funds for the appropriation are from the Street Tree Planting Fund and can be used only for this purpose.

The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

The Council is recommending that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.

Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.

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