"The county council shall have power to issue subpoenas for witnesses, and the president thereof shall have power to administer the oath to any witness who may be examined before the council, such oath to have all the qualities of an oath taken before any other judicial tribunal or officers, and violations thereof to be punishable as other perjuries are punishable."

The Montgomery County Council claims that they will be holding an "oversight hearing" on February 8, 2024, to review the Montgomery County Inspector General's report on MCPS.

Oversight? Really or just more theater?  

The Montgomery County Council could hold a real oversight hearing by issuing subpoenas to witnesses and administering oaths to witnesses that appear at the hearing.  

But will they? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Montgomery County Code

Sec. 2-20. Power to subpoena witnesses and administer oaths.

   (a)   The county council shall have power to issue subpoenas for witnesses, and the president thereof shall have power to administer the oath to any witness who may be examined before the council, such oath to have all the qualities of an oath taken before any other judicial tribunal or officers, and violations thereof to be punishable as other perjuries are punishable.

   (b)   All council subpoenas shall be executed by the council president or a duly authorized designee and may be served by the sheriff of the county or any person who could lawfully serve a subpoena in a civil case.

   (c)   Failure to comply with a subpoena duly issued under this section shall be a misdemeanor and any person, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or sentenced to not more than six (6) months in jail, or both; in addition thereto, the county may institute injunctions, mandamus or any other appropriate actions or proceeding of law or in equity to require compliance with a subpoena duly issued under this section.

 (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 2-22; 1910, ch. 484, § 177T; 1912, ch. 790, § 474; 1978 L.M.C., ch. 20, § 1.)

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/montgomerycounty/latest/montgomeryco_md/0-0-0-117249

***Breaking*** Atty Gen of MD Letter of Advice: County Council Violates State Law when it appoints, swears-in, and seats its appointees to the MNCPPC before the County Executive’s 30-day veto period expires. [Which is what they did in October of 2022.]

Exclusive:

Ag Lett of Advice Mncppc by Parents' Coalition of Montg...

Update: 40 Years of Kids in Classroom Trailers @mcps

32 Years of Kids in Classroom Trailers @mcps: Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

County Council wants Planning Board member who would push for elimination of single-family zoning & parking requirements.

In 2022, Montgomery County Council's Planning Board appointee James Hedrick posted the following statement on Twitter in response to a Tweet about climate change from Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass.

Fact: climate change is causing more flooding in the D.C. region.

We must reduce our carbon emissions, green our buildings and transportation networks, and upgrade our sewer systems.

There’s no time to wait.

— Evan Glass (@EvanMGlass) August 10, 2022

Council wants Planning Board Member that will Overcrowd Schools: Council's Pick James Hedrick for Planning Board Supports Elimination of Housing Moratoriums in Areas with Crowded Schools.

Richard Montgomery High School parking lot classroom trailers.

More on why Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich would veto the Montgomery County Council's selection of James Hedrick as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elrich to Council: I Matter

...It’s also not surprising that he would veto [James] Hedrick.  I can’t speak to Elrich’s characterization of Hedrick’s temperament and social media statements.  But consider Hedrick’s responses to Greater Greater Washington’s questionnaire.  His positions included:

Wanting to build more than 100,000 housing units by 2040, a larger number than the planning department’s target of 60,000.

Support for the recently passed Thrive 2050 development plan.

Support for legalizing duplexes countywide.

Support for eliminating housing moratoriums in areas with crowded schools...

Elrich to Council: I Matter - Montgomery Perspective

Exclusive: Financial Disclosure Forms for James Hedrick: What those Forms Did Not Disclose. #MontgomeryCountyPlanningBoard

Below is the Financial Disclosure Statement filed for Montgomery County Planning Board applicant James Hedrick. 

Mr. Hedrick has been appointed by the Montgomery County Council to take a seat on the Montgomery County Planning Board.  Under Section 15-103 of the Land Use Article of the Md. Code Ann., the Montgomery County Executive must approve or disapprove the Planning Board appointments within 30 days. If no communication is received, the appointments are approved.

Mr. Hedrick's Financial Disclosure Form fails to disclose that he serves as chair of Rockville Housing Enterprises (a public housing agency).

The form also fails to disclose Mr. Hedrick's service on the board of a nonprofit Action Committee for Transit.

Anything else omitted from Mr. Hedrick's Financial Disclosure Forms?  

Tuesday, January 31st: Montgomery County Council to Amend Rules of Procedure

COUNCIL DECISION POINTS & COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 

Final action to adopt a Resolution to Amend the Council Rules of Procedure 

DESCRIPTION/ISSUE 

 The prior Council amended the Council Rules of Procedure on November 15, 2022. The amendments took effect on December 5, 2022. On January 24, 2023, the Council introduced a resolution to amend the Rules, and the Council held a worksession on the resolution. During the worksession, the Council took non-binding “straw votes” on various amendments to the resolution.

20230131_7.pdf (montgomerycountymd.gov)

Paula Bienenfeld, Independent Candidate for Montgomery County, MD County Council District 4, to Challenge Rejected Petition in Court

 

Paula Bienenfeld, Independent Candidate for Montgomery County, MD County Council District 4, to Challenge Rejected Petition in Court

For Immediate Release

 September 6, 2022

 Contact Information:

Email: paula_bienenfeld@yahoo.com

P: 240-899-2335

www.paulaformoco.com

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 10:30 AM the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD will review the candidate petition I filed with the Montgomery County Board of Elections to appear on the 2022 General Election ballot as an Independent candidate for Montgomery County Council District 4.

On July 29, 2022, I submitted a candidate petition (consisting of 368 pages and containing over 1,350 signatures), which requested that I be placed on the 2022 General Election ballot for Montgomery County Council District 4. Democrats, Republicans, Green Party members, and independent voters signed this petition. The enthusiasm for my candidacy was overwhelming, and I thank the thousands of people to whom I spoke, and who signed the petition. Clearly there is a strong appetite for an Independent candidate in this county.

The Montgomery County Board of Elections responded to my petition filing on August 18, 2022, approving 997 of the signatures. Unfortunately, this left me 22 signatures short of the 1,019 needed to appear on the November ballot.  My team reviewed the Board of Elections’ signature rejections and found numerous errors in their determination.  Signatures that were legally valid, and should have been accepted, were improperly rejected.

On August 29, 2022, my attorneys appealed the Board of Elections’ rejection of my petition in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. As a result of that appeal, the Board of Elections has admitted errors and approved 8 additional signatures – narrowing the number of signatures I need to qualify for the ballot to just 14.

Today, my legal team filed a Motion for Summary Judgment in my case which cites numerous additional errors in the Board of Elections’ rejection of my petition signatures. We will be arguing this Motion in Court tomorrow. I am confident that these legitimate registered voters in District 4 who signed my petition will have their signatures rehabilitated by the Court.

The court will hear the case tomorrow, Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 10:30 AM, in Courtroom 3G, South Tower. The court is located at 50 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD, 20850.

For additional information:

Email: paula_bienenfeld@yahoo.com

www.paulaformoco.com

###

Approved by Friends of Paula Bienenfeld, Tom McLachlen, Treasurer

Update: County Council Jan 10th Retreat to be Publicly available via Youtube and FB Live

As a direct result of Parents' Coalition investigation and calls and emails, the County Council retreat that was hidden from view and made difficult to watch is now more easily publicly available, on the council's YouTube and FB Live pages. Government transparency is always important.

Thank you for your interest in the meeting.  The meeting will now be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook.  Please see the press release below.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Council Holds Operational Meeting on Jan. 10

 For Immediate Release: Friday, Jan. 7, 2022

 Rockville, Md., Jan. 7, 2022–On Monday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m., the Council will hold an operational meeting to discuss the 2022 Council calendar and Council policies and procedures. A status report on the renovations required for the Council Office Building to accommodate eleven Councilmembers will also be provided.

The agenda can be viewed here.  The operational meeting will be conducted virtually on Zoom and will be streamed live on the Council's webpage via YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMDCouncil). 

 # #

Release ID: 22-004
Media Contact: Sonya Healy, 240-777-7926 , Lucia Jimenez 240-777-7832

Sandra Marin

Administrative Services Manager

Montgomery County Council

240.777.7923 ǀ sandra.marin@montgomerycountymd.gov

www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council 

Agenda here:

20220110_AG by freestategal on Scribd

Keep or Toss? Tues. March 9th- County Council to Vote in Closed Session Re: Keeping Public School in BCC Cluster or Permitting Land to be Used without Restriction. No Public Comment.

What is going to happen to the former Montgomery County Public School building and land at 9411 Connecticut Avenue in Kensington?  

The school and land are currently owned by Grace Episcopal Church. The property was transferred to Grace Episcopal Church in 1999.  

The school building was built with tax dollars and has been in continuous use.  Will these empty classrooms be used for public school education or will this public school building be torn down and the land cleared for housing?  

Here's what we know about this property:  The school and land were put up for sale in 2020.  The Offering Summary states that, "Offers will be accepted through October 2020 and seller will evaluate offers and select a purchaser by the end of November 2020."  

The Offering Summary notes that there is a Limitation of Land Use as detailed in the original 1999 Deed for the property.  

The Property has the limitation that it be used for educational purposes.  However, if the Property is to be no longer used for educational purposes the Property is to first be offered back to Montgomery County at the fair market value.  

The Montgomery County Executive may accept the offer subject to Montgomery County Council approval of an appropriation.

IF the Montgomery County Council DECLINES the appropriation of funds to purchase the Property, Grace Episcoal Church may use/transfer the Property for any legal purpose without restriction.  

It appears the Property has been offered back to Montgomery County as the decision on what will become of this former public school site will be made by the Montgomery County Council tomorrow, March 9, 2021 in CLOSED SESSION.  

No public comment, no public notice on what should happen to this paid for public school.  The entire decisionmaking process will happen behind closed doors. 

Will the County Council decide to acquire the school and keep it in use for educational purposes, or will the County Council decline the appropriation and allow the Property to be sold for other uses?  

We would tell you to tune in tomorrow, but the decision will be made in a Closed Session out of the public view. 

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/Resources/Files/agenda/col/2021/20210309/20210309_AG.pdf

Montgomery County Councilmembers Reimbursement Reports #ExpenseReports

2017 Reimbursement Requests by on Scribd

How is that Turf Working for You?

Artificial turf, or plastic grass, is fast becoming the standard for Montgomery County. Soon every high school - and some middle schools and elementary schools, will have the benefit of that ever so good looking green plastic adorning playing fields.

But - we keep asking, is this really good for our kids and others who play sports?

Our neighbors in DC are beginning to rethink artificial turf.

As reported in The Washington Post, 

On Tuesday, the city abruptly closed 15 of its 52 artificial turf fields, saying the rubberized surface was too hard for athletes to use them — with spots that were more like concrete than grass. The closures upended plans for D.C. Stoddert Soccer’s opening weekend and sidelined many of the nearly 6,000 children who play in the city’s largest league.

Fortunately for DC residents, eight of the 15 fields were repaired and reopened by Friday - just a mere three days later. Weather permitting, the rest will be open by Monday.

Do you think that we would get similar service in MoCo?

First - we wouldn't close our fields. Our kids would keep playing on them regardless of the heat, and how high the temperatures climb. 

Second - repairs? We don't do repairs in MoCo. Look at our schools, where are kids are require to receive an education. If the county doesn't repair the air conditioning and heating units in the schools, the county cannot be expected to repair athletic fields, for extracurricular activities.

Finally - work on a weekend? Be serious. Not happening in MoCo. Ever see a snowplow on a weekend when schools have been shut? 

So what's the harm if our kids continue to play on plastic grass that is hard. Again, from the Post article:

Signs posted at closed fields warned users that the surfaces had recently failed a “hardness test” and that “there is an increased risk of injury in the event of a fall on this field.” 

That means when a player falls, the ground absorbs less of the impact and their bodies absorb more, increasing the chance a player gets injured. One study estimated that about 15 percent of concussions in high school sports are due to players hitting their heads on rubberized turf.

So - when your MoCo athlete starts getting more injuries this year, remember - you can always move to DC, where the artificial turf is greener - and a bit softer than in MoCo. 

@MikeOzanian - Montgomery County School Board lied about disposal of artificial turf field

Montgomery County School Board lied about disposal of artificial turf field https://t.co/gpmuVO33Kn

— Mike Ozanian (@MikeOzanian) July 27, 2018

Video: Jennifer Alvaro's Response to Today's Council Education Committee Meeting to Discuss Her List of 10 Critical Changes Needed to Address Sex Abuse of Students in MCPS

Urgent Changes Needed regarding Montgomery County Public Schools and Child Abuse by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland on Scribd

Exclusive Video: Council Retreat - Leventhal "Don't laugh at kids" - Council Cafeteria out of food - Council Elevators Broken - Proclamations - Hucker busy in own district - Petitions - Gang Violence

Montgomery County Council retreat at Rockville Library

1/18/2017 12:30pm

Rockville Memorial Library 3rd floor meeting room

Council's Education Comm. will Take Up State Audit of MCPS while You are on Vacation

According to a message posted on Facebook today by Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich, the Council's Education Committee will be discussing the 2016 Maryland State Office of Legislative Audits report on Montgomery County Public Schools sometime in August.  No date has been set yet for this discussion.

August is traditionally a time when many Montgomery County families take vacations.  Obviously, the Council wants to make sure you are out of town when the 2016 MCPS Audit is discussed.
The Council does not want you to see any news reports about the Audits findings or hear MCPS' response that the State auditors are wrong in their findings.

So let the Council know when your family will be out of town this summer so they can safely schedule a discussion of the 2016 State audit of MCPS when the least number of County residents will be in the County.   

County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Elrich told Fani-Gonzalez that the ideas were “BS” after the hearing Tuesday night.

As Westbard Plan Hits Council, Marc Elrich Says Affordable Housing Promises Are Excuses For Overdevelopment

...council members remained quiet and listened as 34 speakers—about half who spoke in opposition to the level of redevelopment proposed for the area around River Road and Westbard Avenue—made their points during a two-hour session.

After the meeting was a different story...

 http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/Web-2016/As-Westbard-Plan-Hits-Council-Marc-Elrich-Says-Affordable-Housing-Promises-Are-Excuses-For-Overdevelopment/

"We have no questions." Council Sticks to Plan of Not Asking Questions at Public Hearings

In keeping with their plan, Montgomery County Councilmembers did not ask any questions of the public during the Tuesday evening public hearing on the Westbard development plans. 

Video: Council Retreat - "Don't ask questions" of public at hearings.

Part 2:  Exclusive video of Montgomery County Council Retreat on January 11, 2016.  The retreat was held in Potomac, Maryland.  No members of the press attended the retreat.  The Parents' Coalition was the only outside organization to attend this off-camera, off-site public meeting of the Montgomery County Council.

Floreen: "...warm up for Westbard..."

Floreen on public hearings run by Committees:  Floreen thinks all public hearings should be before the full Council.  Councilmembers are not "up to speed on issues" when they do not attend public hearings.

Riemer:  "immediate impact on schedule" with evening public hearings... "limit number of nights I go out during the week..."

Hucker:  "...we're all grownups and can make good decisions about our time..."

Minute 10 of video
Floreen:  "...we have the Westbard challenge..."

Minute 12 of video
Floreen:  "We've been doing a pretty good job of just letting public testify...Once we start engaging, we really can't stop...If you have questions at the end you can always ask staff at the end..."

Leventhal:  "...long Delegation hearing...amazing for me to hear elected officials argue with their constituents who showed up to testify... it didn't reflect well on our Delegation... reflects better on us just to listen at public hearings... gets us home earlier... Don't ask questions and certainly don't disagree or pick fights..."

Navarro:  "...where you have a theme going on that is factually incorrect..."

Minute 17 of video
Floreen: "...we need supporting staff to help us..." during public hearings. "Keep in mind our job is to help the public."

Minute 19 of video
Floreen on number of people speaking at a public hearing.  "If we keep our mouths shut, the community gets to weigh in... my personal...is more the merrier."  "I know what they are going to say on land use..."

Minute 22 of video
Discussion of problem with lights on microphones at public hearings.

Hucker:  "...we look very bush-league..."

Floreen:  "Mr. Katz runs is own personal timer."

Katz:  "What is follow up after public hearing?"

Minute 32 of video is discussion about making individuals disclose at public hearings when they are actually representing a group.

Video: Council Retreat - Recruiting Republicans, Planning Board Opening

Exclusive video of Montgomery County Council Retreat on January 11, 2016.  The retreat was held in Potomac, Maryland.  No members of the press attended the retreat.  The Parents' Coalition was the only outside organization to attend this off-camera, off-site public meeting of the Montgomery County Council.

Floreen: "It's not a pure political agenda here in Montgomery County..."

Navarro: "Republican party is responsible for finding what opportunities are out there..."

Floreen: Planning Board "regularly facing unhappy people."