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March/April 2003

Mark Your Calendars
Important Dates:
Nominations due- April 21
Town Election - May 13, 4:00-9:00p.m.
Planning Commission – April1, May 6, 7:30 p.m.
Commissioner’s Meetings – April 14, May 12, 8:00 p.m.
All meetings are held at the Brookeville Academy.

Town Election
There will be an election for one Commissioner on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 from 4:00 - 9:00. Current Commissioner Bob Heritage’s term expires this year. Since our Town Charter revision last year, we now hold an election every year for one Commissioner for a two-year term. This helps ensure that there will always be someone with experience on the commission. You will receive more information in the mail about the election as well as the list of candidates.

Seeking Nominations for Town Commissioner
The Town is now seeking nominations for the position of Town Commissioner. If you are interested in running for this position, please send a letter stating your interest in nomination to:
Margaret Van Gelder, Supervisor of Elections
306 Market Street
Brookeville, Md. 20833
Fax: 301-570-3201
Letters must be received by Monday, April 21, 2003.

Bypass Progress in Question
There are still unknowns surrounding the question of whether or not the Brookeville Bypass will move forward to the design and engineering phase later this year as of this writing. The Town had received great news just a few weeks ago that was reported in the Gazette that the Montgomery County Council and County Executive Doug Duncan were in agreement to fund the design process to the tune of $1.8 million (although a budget would not be approved until May). Normally, of course, the State Highway Administration provides such funding. In this case, the County stepped in aggressively to ensure that given the State’s desperate budget situation, the Bypass was an important enough transportation not to be delayed once again. Recent reports suggest that this happy “fix” may ultimately unravel as the result of County-State revenue raising, tax, and budget conflicts and shortfalls. Should this prove to be the case, the Bypass will probably be shelved indefinitely.

New Planning Commissioner
Debbie Wagner was sworn in as a new Planning Commissioner by Town Commissioner Rick Allan at the Planning Commission's March meeting. Debbie joins the Planning Commission's other four members at a particularly busy and important time.

New Supervisor of Elections
Margaret Van Gelder was also sworn in by Rick Allan as the Town's new Supervisor of Elections at the March meeting of the Town Commissioners. Margaret will manage her first election in May
when one Town Commissioner will be elected for a two-year term. the commission.

Bordly Drive
Progress on the Bordly Drive Extended construction project may be followed on your computer by going to http://engineering.dpwt.com/. This is a site maintained by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation - Division of Engineering Services. The site features a "virtual" drive down Bordly to Georgia Avenue.

Terrorism Insurance
The Town is now covered by "Terrorism" insurance along with all other members of the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) at no extra cost. The LGIT is currently negotiating to extend the coverage for another year.

Construction
Many town residents unfortunately are hearing the racket of heavy construction equipment rather than the first sounds of Spring. Construction has begun on the Rotter property subdivision consisting of three houses on our newly named Water Street. The Planning Commission has done an excellent job in working with the developer and builder to ensure that this project will enhance the town and fit in to a very attractive site.

Meeting with County Executive
Brookeville was represented by Rick Allan at the annual Montgomery County Chapter (Maryland Municipal League) meeting with Doug Duncan at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. The County Executive, following a report on Montgomery County's economic situation and revenue shortfalls, discussed a number of issues and then took questions from the gathered mayors and councilpersons. Duncan indicated that the revenue (through tax duplication) that reimburses municipalities for services they perform in lieu of the County would remain at the same levels as previous years. He also covered hoped for recovery of snowstorm costs through Federal assistance, his pedestrian safety campaign, the increase in waste disposal charges, and other budget matters. A similar meeting with the County Council will be held this month.

Civil War Trail in Brookeville
The Town has agreed to become part of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development's Civil War Trails initiative. As part of a campaign to promote "heritage tourism," the Maryland OTD is developing a network of Civil War trails. Each "trail" will have its own map/brochure and interpretive signs and markers placed at various key points. Brookeville's sign would be part of the General J.E.B. Stuart Confederate cavalry route before the battle of Gettysburg (Gettysburg Civil War Trail).

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