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March 2002

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Important dates:
Planning Commission - April 2, 7:30 p.m.
Commissioners. Mtg. - April 8, 8:00 pm
Large Item Trash Pick Up - April 27
All meetings are held at the Brookeville Academy.

BROOKEVILLE BYPASS FOCUS GROUP
Many of you have read the Olney Gazette article (3-20-02) by Terri Hogan on the State Highway Administrationºs Bypass Focus Group meeting at Longwood on March 18. The article provides a good summary of the issue raised during the meeting regarding "Phase II" archaeological studies that need to be performed and which have added three additional months to the SHA's process of selecting a recommended alternate route for the Bypass. All three Brookeville Commissioners were in attendance as were several other residents. SHAºs new project engineer for the Bypass was introduced and he reviewed the testimony received from the public at the Rosa Parks Middle School meeting last fall. The Commissioners will be maintaining very close contact with developments concerning the possible impact of the archaeological studies now underway on Alternate 7, the preferred route. In the meantime, a sign has been erected south of the cemetery to encourage the commuters who frequently sit in long lines waiting to make left turns on High Street as they go north to ÑSupport the Brookeville Bypassæ and telephone or email the SHA Administrator. We also have an identical but smaller hand held sign for volunteers to use on the sidewalk.

MEETING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE & COUNTY COUNCIL
Rick Allan attended the Montgomery County Chapterºs (Maryland Municipal League) annual ÑMeet and Conferæ meeting with County Executive Doug Duncan on February 28. The County Executive reviewed the County budget situation and provided an update on what was going on in Annapolis. He also covered several transportation issues, including the ICC and mass transit developments. The municipalities represented raised questions on municipal revenue sharing, homeland and overall security, under grounding or burial of utilities, and pedestrian safety. On March 21, there was a similar meeting with the County Council. Public safety and transportation issues, including pedestrian safety, were predominant subjects discussed. Allan also attended the two-day Maryland Mayorsº Association Winter Conference in Annapolis in February.

BORDLY DRIVE UPDATE
While it has been reported that costs to construct the Bordly Drive Extension to Rt. 97 have risen dramatically due to increases in right-of-way expenses and overall construction cost projections, the project is still on the books and will go to construction this year. Rick Allan sent a letter to County Councilman Ike Leggett, who chairs the Transportation and Environment Committee, strongly reiterating the Townºs interest in seeing this vital road project undertaken. Copies of the letter were provided to the rest of the Council.

SIDEWALKS IN TOWN
Those residents who live along Rt. 97 received a letter from the Town Commissioners last month outlining the approach the Town was pursuing with the State Highway Administration in which the value of the private property on which the sidewalk would necessarily be built would represent the bulk or all of the Townºs share of the costs of construction. The letter asked that each property owner where such sidewalks might be built agree to the use of their property for that purpose in writing. We would appreciate it if all such residents would submit the form in support of this important initiative. Some residents have suggested that should the SHA fund construction of sidewalks in Brookeville it will somehow remove any pressure for building the Bypass. There is no such linkage between the two projects. Should sidewalks be constructed, they would in no way lessen the long-acknowledged and well-demonstrated need for the Bypass. Sidewalks would simply enhance pedestrian safety and quality of life in Brookeville. Pressure for the Bypass would and will continue unabated.

TOWN ELECTION
You should have received information in the mail regarding the upcoming town election for 2002. The election for three commissioners will be held on May 14 at the Brookeville Academy. Nominations are due by April 9! If you are interested in running for this position, please send such a letter seeking nomination that includes your qualifications to:

Ms. Susan Johnson, Town Clerk-Treasurer.
P.O. Box 67
Brookeville, Md. 20833 or e-mail to townofbrookeville@comcast.net

NEW SUBDIVISION GIVEN APPROVAL
Following a public hearing before the Brookeville Planning Commission, a three-lot subdivision located north of High Street on Sid Rotterºs property received approval by the Planning Commission. This action represents the first real subdivision approval processed through the Brookeville Planning Commission since the Town got back full land use planning and subdivision authority. The BPC, its Chair, Chris Scanlon, and members Miche Booze, Mark Friis, Tracy Browne, and Bruce Evans, have done an excellent job on behalf of the Town and good planning.

ANNIVERSARY
Former Brookeville Postmaster Wayne Harding notes that 200 years ago on March 10 (1802) resident Caleb Bentley, appointed as Postmaster by President Thomas Jefferson, was sworn in as the first Brookeville Postmaster. It was Bentley's house on Market Street that served as the post office and later hosted President James Madison for one night (August 26, 1814) following the burning of the White House by British troops during the War of 1812.

LARGE ITEM TRASH PICK UP
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2002
Items are to be placed out by 7:00 am
If any items are still in usable condition, please consider calling Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. They will be happy to pick up your items.

BROOKEVILLE MAPS FOR SALE
All town residents can purchase copies of the map of Brookeville for a special price of $10. The map was created by our local resident, Miche Booz, for the 1994 Bi-Centennial. If you are interested, please call Susan Johnson at 301-924-5979.

TOWN NEWS NOW ON OUR WEB SITE
You can now find current town news or other time-related items of interest on the home page of our web site We are putting important information and updates on the web site to supplement the less frequent newsletter that you receive in the mail. So place a bookmark at www.townofbrookevillemd.org and check in often.

LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BE LISTED ON OUR TOWN WEB SITE
Our web site will now provide the opportunity for all resident-owned town businesses to be listed on our web site Please see the attached link for more detailed information.

SPECIAL WEB SITE OFFER FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
The Town of Brookeville Web site was developed and is maintained by Solutions, Inc. (www.solutions-inc.net) They have kindly offered to assist any of our local businesses develop a Web site or redo an existing site at a 40% discount. If you are interested please contact Michael Reichgut at 301-570-2020 or at michael@solutions-inc.net The offer expires June 30, 2002.

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