The Town Courier’s November Mid-Month Edition was just posted online:
- Krista Brick writes, City Investigates Campaign Finance Allegations:
The Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections is meeting late this month to determine whether a new political activist group violated Gaithersburg election regulations during its attempt to fill three vacant slots on the City Council with candidates they endorsed.
“The board members and I have noticed some weakness in our election finance laws. The board has indicated they want to provide recommendations for tightening them up,” [Assistant City Manager Fred] Felton said.
- Sonya Burke writes, One Gaithersburg Candidates Asked for Undercover Police at Polls:
City Council candidates Ahmed Ali, Ryan Spiegel and Carlos Solis asked for “plain clothed police officers to protect voter access” at the city’s polling places one day before the city’s November 6 election.
Gaithersburg Sgt. Rudy Wagner tells The Town Courier that police presence was beefed up on Election Day, but he says that is not unusual and has been done in the past. He said police read the above referenced e-mail but did not consider it to be threatening.
- Karen o’Keefe writes, Chief King Looks to Strengthen Gaithersburg Force:
In a recent interview with The Town Courier, Gaithersburg Police Chief John King, who is nearing five months in his new job, says that creating and implementing a long-term strategy for the growth of the department over the next 10 years — specifically aimed at critically important recruitment, hiring and retention goals — is a matter of the highest priority, especially over the next three years.
- Krista Brick writes, Residents Call City’s Skate Park Process “Flawed”:
As a special committee is expected to recommend in favor of a skate park in Lakelands Park, residents nearby are calling the process flawed and are asking Gaithersburg city leaders to reevaluate the need for this type of facility.
“All members appointed to the committee were individuals who signed an online petition that supports having a skate park at Lakelands Park,” [Rachel Hopp] said.
Michele McGleish, director of Gaithersburg’s Parks, Recreation and Culture, said the city advertised for members for the committee in local newspapers. Each city resident who wrote to the mayor requesting inclusion on the committee was allowed a seat, and McGleish said members were added even after the committee’s first meeting.
- Sonya Burke writes, City Planners Move Aquatic Center Forward
The Gaithersburg Planning Commission unanimously approved this month the preliminary site plan for construction of the 62,897-square-foot indoor aquatic center with a gymnasium.
In addition, I’ve neglected until now to post about the November Gaithersburg Edition, which came out a couple of weeks ago:
- Krista Brick writes, Humpton Looks Back:
Leaving a 22-year career with the city of Gaithersburg, former City Manager David Humpton now sits at a new desk across town working for Montgomery Village as that community’s executive vice president. His decision to make that change comes hot off the heels of some very divisive issues for the city.
“The city has no mechanism to run without an approved budget. I went to find a way to run the government. I was comfortable with that way,” he said. “I was then told that the Council was going to veto what I had found as a way to continue, and that really made me angry.”
In the end, the Council did approve the budget, and the city didn’t need an alternative plan.
“It showed me that this Council thought this was more of a political game than people’s lives,” Humpton said.
- Sonya Burke writes, Book Store Tops Charrette Wish List:
Would you like to see a book store in Kentlands? If so, you are not alone.
The book store suggestion was one of the most popular ideas left on comment cards for planners at the Kentlands Boulevard commercial area charrette last month.
- Carrie Dietz writes, Crowded Conditions to Continue at RCES:
After more than six months of discussions, public meetings and a formal feasibility study, there is still no relief in site for Rachel Carson Elementary School’s (RCES) 828 students, who are currently operating in a facility built for 649.
- City Election Nets Historic Voter Turnout:
The 2007 Gaithersburg City Council election may be remembered for drawing a record number of voters to the polls. According to the unofficial results, over 3,562 ballots were cast on Election Day and Gaithersburg’s Assistant City Manager Fred Felton calls the turnout “an all time high.”
“We have never had this many votes,” Felton said.