- Chris Robinson writes, Gaithersburg examines next year’s budget:
The creation of a new emergency management coordinator position in the city manager’s office, funding for the proposed Olde Towne clock tower project and the relocation assistance program for residents displaced by redevelopment were sticking points for some council members.
Monday’s meeting (agenda here, outcomes here, video here) was pretty interesting. Just before the public appearances segment (at about 13:45 into the video; in Windows Media Player you can scroll forward to that time without watching the whole thing), the City Manager read a statement to the effect that an error had been made regarding the funding for the clock tower. Even though the Council had specifically directed the City Manager to fully fund the clock tower in FY08, this had not been done. Mr. Humpton stated that the error stemmed from his reliance on the minutes of the February 5 meeting (video here, minutes here; the clock tower discussion is in Mr. Marraffa’s time during the From the Mayor and Council segment, at about 2:01:15 into the video, while the key phrase “fully fund” is contained in a motion that starts at 2:14:15), which said that the Council had directed the City Manager to “include funds for” the clock tower — which of course does not have the same connotation as the phrase “fully fund”.
And in fact, in the public appearances — which start in earnest at about 19:30 into the Monday video, there was some discussion of the City’s approach to funding these projects.
- Chris Robinson writes, Gaithersburg OK’s travel rules for officials, spouses:
The decision comes on the heels of several lengthy discussions after it was reported that most council members were reimbursed for costs associated with taking their spouses to out-of-town city-related functions.
- Chris Robinson writes, Committee mulls pay increase for mayor, council:
The city’s Ad Hoc Compensation Committee is nearing making an official recommendation in support of the pay increase. The six members of the Planning Commission also could see their stipend double.
‘‘This is getting them up to speed,” said committee member Cathy Salgado, adding that she doesn’t anticipate another significant pay increase in 15 years.












