Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday, May 9, 2005; 7:00 p.m., in the Council Room.
The public is invited to attend. Our State Legislators will attend the meeting to report on this session. Come listen and talk to P.J. Hogan, Charles Barkley, Joan Stern, and Nancy King.
Actions at the April meeting of the Town Council include:
Continued work on 2 new ordinances concerning Municipal Infractions & Revised Fee Schedules.
Scheduled Budget Work Session
Town Elections
Nominations for Mayor and Council have closed. Town elections will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2005 from 4-7 p.m. at McCathran Hall.
The nominees are:
Mayor (1-year term) John Compton
Council (two 3-year terms) David Stopak
Georgette Cole
To vote in Town elections, you must be currently registered to vote with Montgomery County at an address in Washington Grove. To verify your registration with the County, please call County Voter Registration Information at 240-777-8683.
Town Budget Work Session Scheduled
Tuesday, April 26th 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
Come, learn, and participate as the Town Council balances competing priorities putting together a budget for the Town Meeting approval in June.
Mayor’s Award Deadline Approaches
The deadline for the Mayor’s Washington Grove Service Award is April 30, 2005. This new award aims to recognize recent outstanding volunteer service of any kind (cultural, social, governmental) above and beyond the call of duty that has contributed to the present and future well-being of our Town. Please call or write with your suggestions before April 30th.
Town Office 301-926-2256 or PO Box 216;
Mayor John Compton (cell) 240-432-5700.
Shady Grove Master Plan:
The PHED Committee meetings are nearing completion, albeit asymptotically (technical term meaning “but may never end”!). Workforce housing, TDR’s, and the new TOMX zone are still being discussed (speaking of technical terms!). Staging provisions differ depending whether agreement on relocation sites for the County service parks has been reached in 2 years. The Council is expected to take up the plan in June-July, and we will be there! Reiterating the good news, a school on the Legacy Open Space Field or at Blueberry Hill Park is not among the recommendations.
Deer Park Bridge:
The Mayor and Council will attend a workshop with the County Department of Public Works and the Gaithersburg City Council on Monday, April 25th in Gaithersburg. The Town Deer Park Bridge Study Group continues to meet with people from Park and Planning, DPWT, residents in Deer Park and residents in Oakmont. It appears that this project is back on the County “fast track” again.
Water Main Replacement Update
Everything is on schedule. The major pipe work is finished along Brown Street. Now they are starting the smaller perpendicular pieces. It’s a mess but it’s only temporary. The inconvenience will be worth it in the long run. Thanks for your patience! Should you have any questions, feel free to call the Town Office (301-926-2256) or the Maintenance Garage (301-963-5850) or the phone numbers listed on the signs around Town.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 4, 2005; 7:30 p.m. Council Room. The public is invited to attend. The following building permits were approved:
415 Washington Grove La. Fence
119 Maple Ave. Deck Railing
124 Grove Ave. Deck
Building Permits:
If you are going to erect a building or structure (including fences), make structural alterations to, or move any existing building or other structure, you must first obtain a building permit from the Washington Grove Planning Commission. The Town zoning ordinance governs setbacks, lot coverage and height. Applications are available at the Town Office at 301-926-2256. The permit fee is $10.00, payable to the Town of Washington Grove. Interior renovations, which involve electrical, plumbing, or load-bearing changes, generally require a County permit. A shed requires a County permit as well. The Town must first sign off all applications for County-required building permits. The Historic Preservation Commission will review most permits as well.
Board of Zoning Appeals Notice of Public Hearing
Application for a variance for a fence at 406 Grove Avenue.
Date: April 23, 2005
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: McCathran Hall
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: April 19, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
Meetings are open to the public.
The HPC reviewed a renovation plan for 107 Grove Avenue.
Contemplating a Renovation?
What if you had a knowledgeable design team with a real willingness to help you early in your planning process at no cost? Guess what? You do—-it’s the Historic Preservation Commission! The HPC is an excellent resource to help you with your plans. For more information call Bob Booher at 301-963-3935. The HPC meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Come early, come often!!
Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
Betsy Klinger: 301-977-3517
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: May 25, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Summer In The Parks
It’s time to sign up for Summer In The Parks. Forms are due by May 15, 2005. Additional forms can be downloaded or picked up at the Town Office. Student volunteers are needed for the morning program. Volunteer hours will be eligible for student service learning credit if forms are properly completed prior to the end of the school year. If you would like to sign up to be a volunteer, please contact Kathleen McCann at 301-926-9020.
Art Club
The Art Club meets on the 3rd Monday of every month in McCathran Hall. The April meeting is on the 18th and the May meeting is on the 16th. Mark you calendars! For more information call Rico Sturniolo 301-947-8881.
Music Weekend
Mark your calendars; Music Weekend is June 17 – 19 this year. The Rock ‘N Roll Relics, back by popular demand, will play on Saturday night at The Gazebo. Sunday’s Baroque Breakfast will again be serenaded by The Homewood Brass Quintet. A children’s talent show is also in the works for Saturday morning. The Friday night performance, usually one of “homegrown talent”, still needs performers. Anyone with ideas about performers or who would like to perform should contact Alice Negin at 301-926-2858.
Lake Committee News
Next meeting: Thursday, May 12, 2005, 7:30 p.m.
New members are always welcome!
Maple Lake Clean-up
Saturday, April 16, 2005, 10 a.m.
Our Lake won’t clean itself, so we need your help. Please bring a leaf rake, shovel and wheelbarrow (if you have one) to help with the annual clean-up.
Lifeguards Needed!
We have several applicants, but could use one or two more lifeguards. Hours are 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. Applicants must be certified in Lifesaving, CPR and First Aid. Pay starts at $10.00 per hour. Call Dodie Tippens (301-869-1682), Eric Selby (301-963-7073) or John Hutchinson (301-926-8767) for details.
Geese Notes
In order to prevent a reoccurrence of last summer’s geese problem, the Lake Committee is taking some pro-active measures to prevent new goslings from hatching. We are working with Geese Peace (through the Humane Society) to keep any eggs from hatching should geese nest at Maple Lake. Volunteers are monitoring their activity several times a week. If you happen to see geese at the lake, please notify John Hutchinson or Ann Philips. Please do not disturb the nests or the geese may go build another one where we can’t find them. Last but not least, no matter how cute they look or how much they beg, DO NOT FEED THEM (or the ducks)!!
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: April 21, 2005, 7:30 p.m.; The Clubhouse.
You’re all invited to the Annual Woman’s Club Plant Auction!
BIG YARD SALE COMING!
The Woman’s Club Yard Sale will take place in early June this year. Donations such as, toys, videos, tapes, small appliances and the like are welcome. Call Mary Kay Dubois (301-926-8941) for donation information. NO BOOKS PLEASE. Remember if you wouldn’t buy it, then don’t donate it. More details will be published in the May Town Bulletin.
One More Spring Bulk Trash Pickup
Sat., April 30, 2005 Collections may include furniture, appliances (not those with freon), rugs, large toys, small auto parts, etc » Materials may not include construction by-products, large auto parts, or tires.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE “CURBSIDE” BY 7:00 a.m.
Let’s Talk Trash
The procedure for reporting a trash, yard waste, or recycling miss is to call or e-mail Tom Land at 301-869-4334 or [email protected] by Wed. evening or Thursday morning at the latest. Then he can call in all the misses together and get it taken care of in one trip. Please don’t wait to notify the Town, we can’t fix what we don’t know about and neither can Waste Management.
Household Hazardous Waste Collections
No need to wait for special monthly collection events. The Shady Grove Solid Waste Transfer Station has a receiving area for hazardous waste. It is located in the recycling drop-off section of the Public Unloading Area. Please use the car entrance to the facility. Collections times are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. Household Hazardous Waste can only be received during these hours-please do not drop off this material at other times.
Last Bulk Leaf Pickup Completed
As promised, our contractor extended the deadline for bulk leaf pickup and completed the task on Monday, April 11. Bulk pickup of leaves will not occur again until November. In the meantime, leaves and other recyclable yard waste can be left in brown paper bags for Waste Management to collect each Wednesday.
Clerk’s Corner
Now that I am a Town resident, I walk to work. So, the absence of my car does not mean that the Town Office is closed.