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October

Date: October 10, 2017

Place: Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue

Time: 7:30 PM

Present: Chris Richardson, Scott Livingston, Pat Xeller, Nancy Pines, Ashley Kavanaugh, Joseph Toomey, and seven Section residents

Agenda Item: Greetings and Introductions

Chairman Chris Richardson called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance.

Agenda Item: Review and Approval of September Council Meeting Minutes

Chairman Richardson moved that the minutes from the September meeting be approved; there was a second, and the motion passed.

Agenda Item: Resident Comments

A resident inquired about a broken street sign on the east side of Brookville Road and Williams Lane as well as overgrown plants near it. The Town Manager will work with SHA to have the sign replaced and ask that they trim the plants back. The resident also asked about the possibility of a mirror being installed at that same spot. The Town Manager will look into this.

Agenda Item: Discussion of Code Revision Work

Chairman Richardson explained that the Council has been working for over a year on revisions to parts of our current Building Code. Chairman Richardson then led a discussion regarding the proposed changes and entertained questions from residents. A few (non-substantive) edits were suggested and accepted. (Please note: At the September Council meeting the Town Manager, and the Section 5 Building Administrator, Joe Toomey, presented an initial overview of the proposed changes. Following the meeting, the changes were circulated via postal mail to all residents for review in advance of the October Meeting.)

Agenda Item: Introduction of an Ordinance for Proposal Regarding Chapter 9 Building Code Regulations

Chairman Richardson formally introduced the ordinance for proposal subject to the minor edits discussed; there was a second, and the motion passed.

Agenda Item: Monthly Financial Report

The Town Manager presented an overview of the Town’s current financial status, and entertained questions from the Council.

Agenda Item: Chevy Chase Historical Society Appeal

Representatives from the Chevy Chase Historical Society, John Higgins, and Mary Sheheen, made a presentation and appeal to Section 5 for financial help with the Historical Society’s new initiative and capital campaign. They indicated that CCHS is planning to move from its current location at the Chevy Chase Library to a new location at 8401 Connecticut Avenue. This new location will double their available research and archival space, and it will also include a self-contained Archive Room which will be humidity and temperature controlled. There are substantial costs associated with the move. CCHS is asking all the Chevy Chase municipalities to support the capital campaign by making a one-time donation. The Section 5 Council agreed to make a donation of $10,000.

Agenda Item: Fire Board Candidates

The Town Manager reported that two Section residents have volunteered to fill the two vacant seats Section 5 has on the Chevy Chase Fire Department Board. The residents are Elizabeth Barrows and Marjorie Radovsky. The Council authorized the Town Manager to submit both names to the Fire Board for service.

Agenda Item: Manager’s Report

For the month of September three tree removal permits were issued by the Section.

Additionally, three building permits were issued by the Section in September.

The Washington Gas project scheduled for Section 5 appears to be on time for a November 1 start date.

The Town Manager provided a brief update on the potential classification of Brookville Road. The Section sent a letter to the Montgomery County Planning Board opposing the proposed reclassification. The letter was also sent by email to all Section residents. The Chevy Chase municipalities have been told by the planners that they do not intend to support their original recommendation to reclassify the road when they go in front of the full Planning Board in December. The Section is cautiously optimistic, but still encourages interested residents to submit feedback to the planners.

Adjournment

Chair Richardson adjourned the meeting. The next meeting will be held November 14, 2017, at 7:30 PM at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue. The Village Hall has handicapped access. Everyone is welcome.