Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will observe schedule and program changes for the observance of Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11. County […]
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MoCo Government
To register and vote on election day, go to the polling place assigned for your residence. Bring a document that proves where you live. The document can be your MVA-issued license, ID card or change of address card. Other valid proof of residence can include a paycheck, bank statement, utility bill or other government document with your name and address.
“I am proud of the collaboration on this bill that prioritized the health and welfare of our residents,” said Councilmember Rice. “Our renters should be able to ensure their home is safe from the presence of high radon levels and the increased risk exposure brings to contracting lung cancer. I appreciate the efforts of our Department of the Environment who regularly conduct outreach on the risks of radon and provide information on obtaining and properly utilizing radon test kits. Radon is an environmental issue and protecting all residents, our renters and owners alike, is imperative to protecting community health.”
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoking. It is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is found in soil and rock in all parts of the United States. Radon can enter homes and buildings from the ground, seeping through drains, cracks or other holes in the foundation. The EPA has designated Montgomery County as Zone One meaning that the county is at higher risk of actionable levels of radon. Under Bill 26-22, landlords are required to conduct radon testing of basement units and units in contact with the ground prior to a tenant’s occupancy. If testing indicates a radon level equal to or greater than the EPA recommended action level of four picocuries per liter, landlords must take steps to mitigate the radon risk. Finally, if the level of radon is not mitigated to below the required action level, tenants have the right to terminate their lease without penalty.
Interested public, private and home-schooled high school students can learn about the program and apply here. The program received 100 applications last year. The program supports the County’s Vision Zero Initiative, whose goal is to eliminate traffic-related severe injuries and deaths. Youth Ambassadors have an opportunity to help the County work toward the goal by becoming road safety leaders in their communities.
“Students can help drive positive change and make a big impact by participating,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “We want creative solutions from our youth to help achieve the goals of our Vision Zero plan, to save lives through traffic safety infrastructure and programming. Teens can play a powerful role in making Vision Zero a reality.”
Volunteers receive free training and can volunteer in Rockville, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg or Wheaton. High school students may receive student service learning hours by volunteering as greeters or schedulers.
Two virtual information sessions for prospective volunteers will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. Email [email protected] to register for a session.
Annual Meeting: The Council, sitting as the Board of Health, will receive its annual update from the Commission on Health. Crystal DeVance-Wilson, chair of the Commission on Health, will inform the Council about the commission’s annual report for fiscal year (FY) 2022 and public health priorities, including two priority areas related to communicable disease and school health.
The project was completed through a partnership between the County’s Department of General Services (DGS) and AlphaStruxure, a leader in Energy as a Service (EaaS) solutions. It is the third microgrid in the U.S. that will use solar power to charge buses for public transportation. The project was delivered at no upfront cost to the County through an EaaS contract, a long-term agreement ensuring predictable operating expenses and guaranteed performance without upfront capital expenditures.
“This project has been garnering attention nationally because it is innovative, groundbreaking, and will help us achieve our ambitious climate action plan to reduce all carbon emissions by 2035,” said County Executive Elrich. “Transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas. We are leading by example by going emission-free. We are the third nationally to have solar-powered charging stations for our buses and we are the largest so far. We should be able to fill these charging stations with 70 electric buses by 2026. We have already got a good start of 14 and expect to order another 30 or so next year for a total of about 44 buses. We are well on our way to our goal of an emissions-free fleet by 2035 and improving the County’s resilience. I want to thank DGS, MCDOT, and AlphaStruxure, along with their parent companies Schneider Electric and Carlyle, for working together with us to make this project a reality for Montgomery County.”
“I am proud of what we have accomplished at DPS since I was appointed to this position,” said Director Pedoeem. “We moved the entire department from Rockville to Wheaton during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we reorganized the department, creating a new division for Customer Support and Outreach with a renewed focus on providing excellent customer service. Plus, we streamlined many of the permitting processes and practices, and cross-trained employees to enhance and improve the customer experience.”
Director Pedoeem was appointed as DPS director in April 2020. Before joining DPS, she worked at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission where she served as deputy director of administration for Montgomery Parks until 2019. Director Pedoeem began her career as a bridge engineer with the Maryland State Highway Administration and went on to work as a senior engineer and senior budget analyst for Montgomery County Government.
Go to Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Director Mitra Pedoeem to Retire
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The clinics generally will last about two-to-four hours and e-scooters will be available at each site. Those interested in e-scooters can stop in at any time during the clinic.
Participants must have a valid driver’s license or ID. No registration is required to attend a clinic and walk-ups are welcome. Check tinyurl.com/5n8adjaj for cancelations due to inclement weather.
ABS and UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO have set a goal of raising $60,000 in the initiative, with monies raised to help March of Dimes improve maternal health, help babies be healthy and strong and protect the health of families through programs and advocacy.
“Supporting March of Dimes is a great way for us all to give back to our local community,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “ABS has always been committed to public health and safety, and this campaign is a natural extension of that commitment. Together we can help assure that every mom and every baby have the best possible start.”
From Nov. 7-13, Montgomery County’s Memorial Plaza, which is located adjacent to the County Executive Building at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville, will be lit with green lights. More information about Operation Green Light is available at https://www.naco.org/blog/counties-take-action-participate-operation-green-light-veterans.
The County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is continuing to pay tribute to County veterans through a virtual “Tribute to Montgomery County Veterans” website. As Veterans Day approaches, the commission wants to add tributes to the site. The website is open to all residents who have served in military service. In addition, there will be Montgomery County veterans’ tributes during the month of November in the display cases at the Rockville Memorial Library and the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.