Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday, July 14, 7:30 p.m., in the Council Room.
This months Council actions included; the adoption of recommended budget and tax rate for FY 2004.
Council Recommends FY 2004 Budget
The Town’s anticipated income and recommended expenditures for the coming fiscal year (July 1, 2003-June 30, 2004) are shown on the attached Town budget summary. The property tax rate is proposed to be lowered from .235/$100 assessed valuation to the constant yield rate of $0.217. This will produce the same revenue in the coming taxable year. The dwelling unit charge is proposed to be raised from $115 to $125/dwelling to cover the increased cost of refuse and recycling collection. This is the first increase in the dwelling unit charge in 10 years. Copies of the budget detail are available at the Town Office. Questions may be directed to Treasurer Mary Challstrom at 301-926-4498 or Mayor John Compton at 301-330-8264. Votes to adopt the proposed budget and tax rate will be taken by Townspeople assembled at the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, June 14, 2003.
Town Elections
Nominations for Mayor and Council have closed. Town elections will be held on Saturday, June 14, from 4-7 p.m. at McCathran Hall.
The nominees are:
Mayor (1-year term) John Compton
Council (two 3-year terms) Darrell Anderson
Tom Land
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 Meeting
Saturday, June 14, 2003 at 8:00 p.m..
In our unique form of government your voice can be heard. Here is your chance to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Development Updates.
Casey Field:
The current plan is still in the Wetlands Committee awaiting a site visit and approval of the proposed location of the Amity Drive/Crabbs Branch Way connection.
Shady Grove Sector Master Plan:
An elementary school site is proposed for the Casey property behind our Legacy Open Space preserved field!
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: June 3, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Permits were approved for the following:
104 Pine Ave. Shed
117 W.G. Lane Shed
102 Center St. Porch & Deck
410 Oak St. Garage
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.
Planning Commission Vacancy
The Mayor & Council are looking for someone to fill a seat on the Planning Commission that will be vacated this summer. Interested parties should contact Mayor Compton, 301-330-8264.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: June 17, 7:00 p.m. Council Room.
The HPC continues to work on a list of contributing structures. Reviews were written for a shed at 117 W.G. Lane and a shed at 104 Pine Avenue.
The following plans were reviewed at the May 20th meeting:
#8 The Circle
211 Maple Ave.
402 Grove Ave.
These meetings are open to the public.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: July 2, 2003, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Music Weekend Is Coming!
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 7:00 p.m.
SWING BAND DANCE!
LIVE MUSIC, PIZZA & BEER !!
McCATHRAN HALL
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 8-10PM
DIXIE POWER TRIO
THE GAZEBO
Bring a picnic to enjoy before the concert!
SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 10:30 a.m.
BAROQUE BREAKFAST
HOMEWOOD BRASS CONSORT
THE GAZEBO
Bring a breakfast goodie to share. Beverages and table service provided.
We Need You!
You need you too, or there will not be a July 4th Hot Dog Picnic. After many years of running the Hot Dog Picnic, Nick & JoAnn Suzich are passing the torch. They have a great “instruction manual” that they will pass on as well. Interested volunteers can contact the Town Office 301-926-2256, Kathi Carey-Fletcher 301-330-9485, or Barbara Leng 301-670-9443.
Many thanks to Nick and JoAnn for all their hard work and great volunteer spirit!
A BIG “THANK YOU!”
to Ann Briggs and Alice Negin for another wonderful Mousetrap Concert Series and to Missy Yachup for putting together the Reptile program!
Summer In The Parks 2003
Enroll now for Summer In The Parks!! As summer approaches, Grove kids eagerly await this relaxed program of creative projects, sports, nature activities, and fun at the lake. Meeting at McCathran Hall, the program runs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday for four weeks beginning Monday, July 7, 2003. To ensure a place for your child and to determine staffing needs, please fill out the attached enrollment form and send it, along with the registration fee, to Karen Kelly, P.O. Box 146, by June 7th. Checks should be made to “Town of Washington Grove”. Fee for the program is $100.00 per child. The program is for children aged 4 – 11 (4yrs. by 7/31/03). Download enrollment form.
Maple Lake News
The lake will be open with lifeguards in attendance Memorial Day weekend, and each weekend thereafter until the local schools close for the summer on June 20th. After that, the lake will be open daily (noon – 5PM) through Labor Day weekend. The padlock combination number remains the same until further notice. The lake committee is happy to announce that our great swim instructor, Courtney Osborne will be back with us again this year. Coordinated with Summer In The Parks, the lessons begin on Monday, July 7th, and continue through Friday August 1st. Sharon Hurst will be in charge of registration and inquiries should be directed to her at 301-948-2424. Ann Philips is now in charge of arranging lake party permits. For information and permits call Ann at 301-963-5781. Paula Puglisi, 301-963-8555, has begun signing up volunteers for gate locking duty and will also be at the Hall on Town Election Day to complete the roster.
Lake Clean-up
The annual lake clean-up led by Hutch Hutchinson was a huge success. Thanks to everyone for a great job! A special thank you to John Lottes, who showed up with his Bobcat front loader and removed large amounts of mud between the beach and the island. We are expecting a load of white sand to be delivered this week to replenish and beautify the beach area.
Woman’s Club News
FLOWER SHOW SET FOR JUNE 1, 2003.
Entries will begin at 8:30 a.m.; the show will go from noon until 4:00 p.m. with presentations at 3:45PM. Come see Mother Nature at her finest!
WOMAN’S CLUB YARD/BAKE SALE – SAT. JUNE 7TH ; 7AM – 2PM
Come enjoy the fun, baked goods and innumerable treasures at this annual event. The Clubhouse is at Miller Dr. & Chestnut Rd. For more information call Kitty Vogan 301-840-9416 or Mary Kay Dubois 301-926-8941.
Volunteers Needed for Tree Inventory
With the spring weather, the Town Tree Inventory is back in business. We still need some volunteers to help complete this very large and important task by the end of the summer. If you have not been trained, we will train you. If you have completed a section of Town and want to take on another smaller section, we can fix you up in no time. Call Darrell Anderson at 301-963- 8555. We would like to have a training session during the first few weeks of June.
Bulk Leaf Pick-Up Completed
The extended period for spring vacuuming of leaf windrows finally closed with a final run-through on Saturday, May 3. Bulk pickup 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.
Town Maintenance will pick up brush that is piled “curbside”. Please make sure your pile is visible. If you are missed by Town Maintenance, please contact John Tomlin, 301-869-5854 or [email protected].
Lawn Mowers Are Loud.
especially before noon on Sundays. Our Ordinances (Article I, Section 7) specifically state that “it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a power mower, chain saw, or other power equipment on Sundays before the hour of 12:00 Noon, except that electrically powered tools may be operated within a building with doors and windows closed”. Thank you for complying with the Town Ordinances.
Trash Day Changes!
Beginning Wednesday, June 4, 2003, trash and recyclables will be picked up on the same day. That means only one day of the week for trash trucks in Town and only one day of the week for trash sitting “curbside”. Let us know how you like it!
Safety Meeting Wrap-Up
On April 29, 2003 members from the local fire department and the County police department spoke to residents about safety. Because of our unique address system, the need for clear, visible house numbers on both the front and the back of our houses was discussed at length. The idea of forming a Neighborhood Watch was also discussed. Before we set up additional meetings and training with the Montgomery County Police, we need to assess just how many people are interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch group. Ideally, we would like 20 volunteers to serve as block captains. Three people have already expressed an interest, so that’s only 17 to go! If you are interested in volunteering to help set up and implement a Neighborhood Watch Program in Washington Grove, please contact David Stopak 301-330-6446 or the Town Clerk 301-926-2256. The 1st meeting would be scheduled sometime after our Annual Town Meeting (June 14th!).
Clerks Corner
==> Speeders on Maple Road beware!