MoCo Archives - Page 358 of 605

Updated Council Draft of Thrive Montgomery 2050 and Draft Resolution Now Available

Published October 18, 2022 at 3:43PM

For 17 months, Councilmembers have been working with staff and listening to suggestions from residents across Montgomery County to develop a general plan for the County’s future. The Thrive Montgomery 2050 Draft Plan contains the text and supporting maps for a comprehensive amendment to Montgomery County’s current General Plan (On Wedges and Corridors).

The document establishes a vision for Montgomery County’s future growth and encompasses broad, countywide policy recommendations for land use, zoning, housing, the economy, equity, transportation, parks and open space, the environment and historic resources.

Montgomery County Public Libraries Joins Washington Wizards Book of the Month Program for Students Grades K-8

By Patrick Herron

Published October 18, 2022 at 2:57PM

The Washington Wizards Book of the Month programwill feature one book for readers grades K-2, one book for readers grades 3-5 and one book for readers grades 6-8 to explore each month. The books will be great for kids to read alone or for families to read together.

Montgomery County joined this program on Oct. 1. MCPL’s October selections can be found at Montgomery (dcfamily.com).

Montgomery County Awards Food Recovery and Food Security Mini-Grants to Nine Nonprofit Organizations

By Patrick Herron

Published October 18, 2022 at 11:41AM

The mini-grants support the recommendations of the County’s Food Security Plan, which set forth a vision for Montgomery County in which all people always have access to safe, enough, nutritious food, with dignity. The organizations selected to receive grants will use the funding for specific efforts designed to increase the capacity and/or infrastructure for food recovery and food security in the community. The funded projects must also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of efforts to reduce food insecurity in the county using partnerships and collaborations.

The nonprofit organizations receiving CFR mini-grants are: AfriThrive, Clopper Mill Elementary School, First Alliance Church, Food and Friends, Kings and Priests Court, Mid County United Ministries, Rainbow Community Development Center, Small Things Matter, and The UpCounty Hub.

MCDOT Congratulates Ride On “Bus Roadeo” Winners

By MCS Staff

Published October 18, 2022 at 7:42AM

On Saturday, Sept. 24, Ride On held its annual competitive Bus Roadeo at the Safety Training Academy in Gaithersburg. Annually, Ride On hosts a Bus Roadeo event where bus operators competitively show off their driving skills.

Bus operators are judged by their ability to successfully maneuver around 11 obstacles within seven minutes. Operators are also judged on personal appearance, smoothness of operations, their knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, safety habits and how they perform a pre-trip bus inspection.

Ride On and Metro Bus Routes Available to Take Residents to Montgomery County’s 14 Early Voting Centers During General Election

By MCS Staff

Published October 18, 2022 at 7:35AM

Early voting in Montgomery County for the 2022 General Election will be available at 14 early voting centers 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Thursday, Oct. 27, through Thursday, Nov. 3, including Saturday and Sunday. Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Ride On bus service has several routes available to transport voters to the early voting centers located throughout the County.

Montgomery County Ride On and Metrobus routes that will serve early voting centers:

Montgomery County Council Meets on October 18 at 9 a.m. to Review the Ten-Year Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan and Several Zoning Measures

By Patrick Herron

Published October 17, 2022 at 7:20PM

Review: The Council will hold a work session to review the 2022-2031 Ten-Year Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide an overview of the planning policies, needs, issues and planned infrastructure related to community and individual water and sewerage systems.

Merit System Protection Board

Aspen Hill Library to Remain Open During Two-Month Roof Replacement Project That Will Begin Today, Monday, Oct. 17

By Patrick Herron

Published October 17, 2022 at 11:55AM | Updated October 18, 2022 at 5:47AM

After several roof leaks became prominent last winter, DGS evaluated the existing roof structure and determined that it needed to be replaced. The new roof will have simplified lines, which will provide a significant energy savings. “We anticipate the project taking eight weeks to complete,” said DGS Director David Dise. “However, over the course of the work, hidden conditions may be discovered which may require remedial attention prior to proceeding. We will keep the Aspen Hill community updated on the progress.”

Collision Involving MoCo Police Officer in Olney Saturday Night; No Injuries

By MCS Staff

Published October 17, 2022 at 7:48AM

At approximately 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2022 an officer was involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Olney Laytonsville Road. No injuries were reported.

The following photo of the collision was tweeted to us at 8:45 on Saturday night. The road was temporarily closed; but reopened later Saturday Night. Featured photo tweeted to us by Mike Jackman.

Montgomery County Council Seeks Applicants for Temporary Acting Montgomery County Planning Board Commissioners (Application Deadline is 5pm, October 18)

By MCS Staff

Published October 17, 2022 at 5:33AM

The Montgomery County Council is immediately seeking new temporary acting members of the Montgomery County Planning Board with expertise in land use, planning, economic development, transportation, and environmental and park issues. Montgomery County residents who are interested in filling these temporary positions must apply to the Council no later than Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. The Council is scheduled to vote on designating the temporary members on Oct. 25. No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and each member must be a resident and registered voter of Montgomery County when appointed. This position can be filled by a Democrat, Republican, a voter who is unaffiliated with a party, or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

The annual compensation for Planning Board commissioners is currently $30,000, and the chair currently earns $215,727. The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The Planning Board’s responsibilities with regard to planning include preparation and amendment of the County General Plan; preparation and amendment of master plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of or recommendations on text amendments to the County Zoning Code; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; offering or providing advice on the planning implications of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, WSSC Water, and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting under, its mandatory referral authority, about plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies; and approving of the work program and the annual operating budget for the Planning Department and the Commission’s bi-county offices.

Update on Fatal Germantown Collision Saturday Night

By MCS Staff

Published October 16, 2022 at 10:23AM

Per Montgomery County Police: On Saturday, October 15, 2022, at approximately 11:16 p.m., 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the area of Frederick Road and Plummer Drive for the report of a traffic collision involving a truck and a jeep. An adult male passenger of the jeep was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man driving the jeep was transported to an area hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passengers of the truck were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The decedent’s name will be released following proper notification of next of kin.

Lawsuit Against Montgomery County Police for the Shooting of Ryan LeRoux at a Gaithersburg McDonald’s in 2021 Draws Support From Department of Justice

By MCS Staff

Published October 15, 2022 at 2:59PM | Updated October 15, 2022 at 3:23PM

The parents of Ryan LeRoux, who was shot and killed by police officers in July 2021, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Montgomery County Police. The attorneys for the family released a statement (available below) on Friday announcing support from The Disability Rights Section of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The lawsuit claims that LeRoux’s rights were violated under the Americans with Disabilities Act because he was suffering from a mental health crisis when he was shot, according to a Fox 5 report. The lawsuit also claims that MCPD has a history of using deadly force in cases that involve a mental health crisis and that the officers were poorly trained in handling these types of situations.