ATTENDING: President Richard Allan, Commissioners Michael Acierno and Robert Heritage. Clerk-Treasurer Susan Johnson was also present. The meeting began at 8:00 p.m. at the Brookeville Academy.

MINUTES: The minutes for March were approved.

FINANCIAL REPORT: The Brookeville Academy loan has come due. There was an oversight by the bank regarding no notification. Ms. Johnson has contacted the bank to rectify this situation and to have a new note prepared. The financial report was reviewed and accepted.

REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS/REPORTS:

1. Town Operations and Maintenance - President Allan suggested that the commissioners develop a tree planting/tree care initiative. This could be a program that financially rewards homeowners who plant native species trees. Partnerships and/or sponsorships with local nurseries might be arranged. "Tree-mendous" is a State program that also provides trees at a discount to local governments. There are also other environmental improvement ideas regarding the Reddy Branch and the Town's two other streams that could be developed. The commissioners agreed to pursue this in the next meeting.

2. Schoolhouse - A fire extinguisher was hung in the schoolhouse vestibule. The floor finishing is in progress.

3. Bypass - No report

4. Historic Marker Signs - President Allan brought in the sign sample for everyone to see. Everyone liked the way it turned out and gave approval to order the final signs.

5. Town Election - Self-nominations are due to Ms. Van Gelder by April 29. Terri Hogan will put the date regarding nomination letters in the Gazette.

6. Planning Commission - President Allan reported on his meeting with Chris Scanlon and the State Forester for this area regarding the Forest Conservation and Reforestation Ordinance Act. Fred Teal, Planning Commissioner, also attended. President Allan recommended that the Town enact the ordinance as appropriately modified rather than have the County administer its provisions for the Town. Following a discussion, Commissioner Acierno moved to enact this ordinance based on the State's model language. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Heritage and was approved unanimously.

7. Budget - A budget work session was set up for April 25, 2005, at 7:30 p.m.

8. Miscellaneous Issues:

Web site - President Allan discussed a new partnership between the Maryland Municipal League and CGI Communications that provides for a unique streaming video feature for interested Maryland municipalities for use on their web sites. President Allan has called CGI to further discuss its application to Brookeville. The service is free.

MML - Montgomery Chapter - President Allan stated that the Montgomery County Council will be meeting with the MML County Chapter on April 21. The May meeting on May 19 will feature Derek Berlage, Planning Board Chair, as its guest. President Allan pointed out that April is Municipal Government Works month in Maryland.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Heritage Days - Brookeville will participate in Heritage Montgomery's annual
" Heritage Days" in June. Historic sites all over Montgomery County will be featured and open to the public. The Town's Brookeville Academy and its restored one-room schoolhouse on North Street will be open on June 25th from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. as part of the two-day event.

2. Grant Applications - President Allan wrote and submitted two grant applications for the schoolhouse. One went to Heritage Montgomery and the other to F.A.C.E.S., a foundation run by the Carl Freeman Company.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. at the Brookeville Academy.

Respectfully submitted,