• Sebastian Montes writes, Web site asserts city’s opposition to plan for GE Tech:

    Some council members were concerned that a county Web site created last month says that the city supports the plan. The City Council has not yet taken a formal position.

    “I don’t have any reason to believe that the county did anything intentional, but perhaps there was miscommunication,” said City Councilman Ryan Spiegel. “… When I read the county Web site initially, I felt that it did not accurately reflect the feelings of the majority of the council. The vast majority, if not all of us, have significant concerns.”

  • Sebastian Montes writes, Pick made for labor center’s permanent home:

    A parcel of land adjacent to The Grove Shopping Center in Derwood has been selected as the permanent location for the county’s day-laborer center that opened more than a year ago in a temporary trailer in an industrial park on Crabbs Branch Way.

  • Sebastian Montes writes, Airpark no longer wants control tower:

    Officials have veered away from building a control tower to oversee the Montgomery County Airpark, the county’s only general-use airport.

  • Patricia M. Murret writes, City passes hotel tax despite opposition:

    Amid protests from hoteliers and one lone councilman, Gaithersburg city leaders last week voted 4-1 to pass a two percent rental tax on city hotels and motels, making the city’s hotel tax rate one of the highest in the country.

  • Janel Davis writes, Floreen proposes tax on parking spaces:

    A proposal to charge a $250 per space parking fee to help pay for infrastructure and improve the environment could be good in theory but the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and some businesses question the timing of the proposal.

  • Janel Davis writes, Leggett, council at odds over budget:

    Tough fiscal times are taking more than a toll on the county’s budgets, but shortfalls and declining revenues also have the County Executive and council disagreeing about whose budget balancing is best.

  • Patricia M. Murret writes, Of Note Around Gaithersburg:
    • Get ready to celebrate with the Gin Blossoms

      Making headlines at the 27th Annual Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne street festival, which kicks off at noon on Sept. 21, is a rock concert by the Gin Blossoms and debut of new City Manager Angel Jones.

    • ¡Si, se puede!

      Gaithersburg city leaders kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month last week with a reception at City Hall sponsored by the city’s Multicultural Affairs Committee.

    • Going green in the Kentlands

      DPZ architectural firm designers will unveil designs for a community garden in the Kentlands at a “Go Green Meeting” sponsored by the Kentlands Community Foundation at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 in the Kentlands Clubhouse, at 485 Tschiffely Road.

    • Stepped-up security at Robertson Park Youth Center

      City police are increasing police presence in the area surrounding the city-owned Robertson Park Youth Center, in the 800 block of Rabbitt Road, after the management company of a nearby business park complained of possible after-hour illegal activities bordering Robertson Park and the Diamond Farms Business Park Condominiums.

    • Rolling Stock rolls on

      City residents spoke out at a Sept. 2 meeting of city leaders after reading in The Gazette and advertisements for public hearings that federal money allocated for the renovation and restoration of historic “Rolling Stock” train cars and caboose at the Community Museum would be transferred to another account.