MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Important Dates:
Planning Commission – Feb. 4, March 4, 7:30 p.m.,
Commissioner’s Meetings – Feb. 10, March 10, 8:00 p.m.
All meetings are held at the Brookeville Academy.

Bordly Drive Extension, A Construction “Go”
This important $1.2 million project will extend Bordly Drive west to Georgia Avenue (Rt. 97) north of Brookeville (above Holiday Drive). The Town actively lobbied for this “extension” for several years as a logical means of reducing the dramatic and dangerous increase in east-west commuter traffic over Brighton Dam Road to Market Street and points west and south. According to the County, construction is scheduled to start in late winter (2003) and completion is projected in about fourteen months. Concrete General, Inc. is the contractor.

Bypass and the State Budget
The very desperate State budget situation and the heavy anticipated hits to various projects around the State in the transportation portion of the budget certainly do not present us with a rosy scenario for “winning” dollars for the design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the Brookeville Bypass. While we have finally arrived at a place where an alternate has been
selected by the SHA Administrator and expect the Final Environmental Impact Statement to be completed and the “project planning” phase to otherwise be brought to a close this Summer. We clearly need the bypass to be provided for in the capital budget so we can move on to the truly “final” objective of construction. We are in contact with our elected representatives in Annapolis and have made our views known to the new Secretary of Transportation, Robert Flanagan. Town resident Delegate Karen Montgomery is working very hard for us on this issue from her key seat on the House Transportation Committee. Please let her know you support her efforts in this regard. Her e-mail is Karen_Montgomery@house.state.md.us.

Town Vacancies Need Volunteers
There is a vacancy on the Brookeville Planning Commission that needs to be filled. We are fortunate to have had very able planning commissioners – “citizen planners” - ensuring that the Town’s remaining buildable land is developed in accordance with our Comprehensive Plan and with the highest design standards. Being a planning commissioner is not only interesting and challenging, it’s a way of helping to shape the very town you live in and a great opportunity for public service. Our last few sub dividable properties are starting the process, so this is a very important time to participate on the commission. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Chris Scanlon, Chairman of the Planning Commission at 301-260-0246.

We also need a resident to be Superintendent of Elections. The person in this position presides over the Town’s simple election process by preparing ballots, supervising the actual election process, counting all valid votes, and reporting the results to the Town Clerk-Treasurer. It only takes a few hours once per year. We need volunteers! Both of these positions are appointed by the Town Commissioners. Anyone interested in either of these positions should contact Susan Johnson by Feb. 21 at 301-924-5979.

Town Election in May for One Commissioner
Under the Charter Revision enacted several years ago and an implementing ordinance, the Town now has staggered elections. Last year’s election, the first under the new ordinance, three commissioners were elected. They then agreed among themselves to accept varying terms of office ranging from one to three years. This means there will be an election this year for one commissioner for a two-year term. Being a commissioner is rewarding and interesting. The commissioners meet once a month and preside over a town-wide meeting in May. One may run for this office by self-nomination and a letter expressing your qualifications for the position. Please take the time to think about running for this very important position. A separate letter requesting nominations will go out to all residents next month with further details

The Town’s Gravel Streets
The Town Commissioners have adopted a new policy by which a regular evaluation and follow-up maintenance protocol will be used to ensure that North, South, and Water Streets remain in appropriate condition. This year, following much rain and increased traffic and snow removal, North Street developed numerous potholes that presented a real nuisance and required interim repair (new gravel). South and Water Streets also were observed to warrant attention. In the future, periodic inspections will be made and appropriate maintenance action will then be taken. Due to major construction activity (WSSC) planned for Water Street and the developer’s responsibility to maintain the street during the process, the Town will defer any major gravel delivery. There will also be residential and business construction activity on South Street that will defer any complete re-graveling. Gravel surfaces on the Town’s three secondary or “village lanes” are provided for in the Comprehensive Plan. Traditional asphalt would have created storm water management issues and run-off problems and detracted from the character of the Historic District.

Sidewalks
While State budget woes have also caused many sidewalk projects throughout the State to get the ax, at least preliminarily, we are still hoping that sidewalks in Brookeville will still get done. Again, Delegate Karen Montgomery is hard at work on our interests in Annapolis. As we have previously reported, the Town Commissioners have been working with the State Highway Administration and the County for several years looking for a way of joint funding (essential for us) as well as solving the inherent construction placement problems raised by lack of right-of-way along Rt. 97, mature trees, and other natural and built barriers, and some property-owner concerns. Our objective has been to place sidewalks where possible from Brookeville Road to Longwood Recreation Center on the west side of Rt. 97. There would be some gaps where this would not be feasible or desirable. Nonetheless, the key for financing that was worked out was that property owners along the way would agree to the sidewalk on their property and the State would count that contributed land as the Town’s financial contribution to the project. As this is being written, we are asking property owners who haven’t yet responded to our solicitation of their permission to do so when they receive their mailing. There is a general consensus in town that it would be wonderful for residents to have a relatively safe means of taking a stroll, a jog, or a bicycle ride through town and connect up with the park and the network of sidewalks and bike paths in the neighborhoods to our south. We are hopeful we can see this goal achieved this year but we need everyone’s help. Please call Rick Allan 301-774-6206 should you have any questions on this matter.

Schoolhouse Restoration Progresses
A new standing seam metal roof for Brookeville Schoolhouse is due to is installed in February. Other progress finds that the flooring is almost finished and the interior is beginning to look like a nice cozy schoolroom. Aside from the new roof, the next major part of the project will be the building, restoration, and installation of the school’s four windows.