WECA Meeting Agenda for Thurs, Nov 19th at 7pm

Dear WECA Neighbors – A reminder that our November WECA meeting is tomorrow evening, Nov 19^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Avenue). The agenda is provided below. Parking is available behind the church, off of Harrison Street. All are welcome to attend, so please come and join with your neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there.

Agenda for WECA Executive Board Meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2015

MEETING TIME:  7 pm

LOCATION:  Rockville Presbyterian Church

 

7:00pm     Welcome and Organizational/Business Items  

• Treasurer’s Report
• Approval of Minutes for September and October Meetings
• Report from City
• Report from Maj. Over
• Newsletters- should phone numbers of block captains be printed in newsletters?
• Vote on new Block Captains: Francesca Kim for Block 14A 

7:10pm     Confederate Statue

7:25pm     Master Plan and Neighborhood Plan - formation of committee     

7:40pm     Report on Bikeways Master Plan - motion to request notification of all homeowners who would be affected by bike paths

7:45pm     Report on Chestnut Lodge and WECA petition   

7:55pm     Report on Child Care Center Appeal to Court of Special Appeals

8:00pm     Rockville Villages - Aging in Place

9:00pm     Adjourn

WECA Items of Interest _ Notice of Nov 19th at 7pm Meeting

WECA Neighbors – There are updates below which will be of interest to many of you, including Mayor and Council election results. This is also an early reminder to mark your calendar for the November WECA meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 19^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. We’ll send an agenda as the date draws closer. But in the meanwhile, please see the items below from WECA President Noreen Bryan.

 

Rockville Mayor and Council Election Results

The votes have been tallied, and Bridget Donnell Newton won re-election as Mayor (for a 4 year term) and the following four individuals were elected as Councilmembers (also 4 year terms): Beryl Feinberg, Julie Palakovich Carr, Mark Pierzchala, and Virginia Onley. This new Mayor and Council will begin its duties with its inauguration on November 15, 2015.  All citizens of Rockville are invited to attend the swearing-in ceremonies which will be held at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater beginning at 1 pm.  A number of events and topics will proceed quickly once the Mayor and Council take their seats.   This message addresses issues of particular interest to the West End neighborhood.

 

Update of Rockville’s Master Plan

The Master Plan is of great important because it sets the vision and policy for the future of the City and our neighborhood.   The update of the Master Plan was initiated by the City in a Kick-off meeting in May 2015.   City staff has indicated that they will be looking for inputs from the neighborhoods by early in 2016.  As President of WECA, I am forming a committee to develop the West End’s position on the Master Plan, in particular how it affects our neighborhood. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please get in touch with me at noreen1945@yahoo.com or 301-762-1256.

 

Chestnut Lodge- Application to build Townhouses to replace the Main Building destroyed by fire

The Historic District Commission (HDC) will review the application again on November 19, 2015.   Changes that were provided to the Planning Commission, but never reviewed by the HDC, will be addressed at that meeting.  Thereafter, a presentation will be made to the Mayor and Council by the developer on Monday, November 23, 2015.  In an emergency meeting of the WECA Executive Board on September 3, 2015 a resolution was adopted in opposition to the proposed townhouses with a recommendation that other alternatives be investigated.  In addition, an on-line petition in concert with the WECA position was created by the WECA committee and approved by the Board.  The petition allows neighbors to weigh in.   Please go to: 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/not-townhouses-at-chestnut-lodge.html

 

Relocation of the Confederate Statue

In July, Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, decided that the Confederate statue, which is currently located east of the historic Red Brick Courthouse, would be removed from County property. To enact this decision, the County filed a request to remove the statue with Rockville’s Historic District Commission (HDC).  The application was unanimously approved by the HDC in its meeting on September 17, 2015.  Subsequently, the County has asked the city of Rockville to accept ownership of the stature.  The previous Mayor and Council deferred the decision on ownership because the implications, including the financial responsibilities, were unknown.  It is likely that the new Mayor and Council will address the question of ownership of the Confederate statue in one of its first meetings.

 

In parallel, the County has filed an application with Rockville’s HDC to relocate the statue in Beall-Dawson Park, which is owned by the City of Rockville, including all the buildings in the Park.  Various County activities, including the Montgomery Historical Society, are tenants in buildings located in the park.   The application from the County recommends a specific location within the park near the intersection of East Middle Lane and N. Van Buren Street.  Signs are posted in the park announcing that the application for relocation in Beall-Dawson Park will be considered by the HDC at a public meeting on November 19, 2015.^.  Citizens will have the opportunity to share their views on the location of the statue at this meeting. Please check Rockville’s website for the HDC agenda and the estimated time for the review of the application.  Agendas are usually posted in the week preceding the meeting.