gaithersblog.net

Goings on in Gaithersburg, Maryland

May 23rd, 2007

The Gazette This Week, part 2

  • 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.

May 23rd, 2007

The Gazette This Week, part 1

  • Sebastian Montes writes, Costs ballooning for day laborer center:

    County Executive Isiah Leggett had recommended $156,260 in next year’s budget to run the Shady Grove center, based in a doublewide trailer on county-owned land off Crabbs Branch Way.

    Saying that wasn’t enough, Casa asked for another $99,000 to fund a range of social services on top of its basic employment program.

    The County Council settled on adding $50,000 of that request, which it placed on a list of leftover budget initiatives typically approved without deliberation. The council is expected to approve that list Thursday.

  • Sebastian Montes writes, Evidence is scarce in arson at day laborer center:

    ‘‘It’s unfortunate, but we don’t have anything solid at this point,” Capt. Sam Hsu, the county Fire Marshal’s lead investigator on the case, said during a meeting of Police Chief J. Thomas Manger’s Latino Liaison Committee in Gaithersburg Thursday afternoon.

  • Sebastian Montes writes, City delays enforcement of anti-solicitation law:

    Gaithersburg leaders agreed Monday night to push back enforcement of its controversial anti-solicitation ordinance until Sept. 1 so that Attorney General Douglas Gansler can have time to render his opinion.

    Also in that item,

    • Chief wraps up last day
    • Contract approved for study of Nike Missile site
    • Fluid cleanup to begin soon