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December 2003

Mark Your Calendars
Important Dates:
Planning Commission Meetings- December 2, January 6
Commissioner’s Meetings – December 8, January 12, 8:00 p.m.

Holiday Party - December 13, 6:00 p.m.
You don’t want to miss this year’s holiday party at the Brookeville Academy. Please bring a dish to share. We will provide babysitters for the children. Parents, please bring games and age appropriate movies to share.

Final Leaf Pick Up-Sunday, December 7
This Sunday is the final leaf pick up for 2003. Please have all leaves at curbside. Remove all sticks, stones and debris.

Brookeville’s “Northern Bypass” Completed
We are very pleased to report that the extension of Bordly Drive north of town has been completed five months ahead of schedule by Montgomery County’s contractor and will be formally open in early December (it may be open when you receive this). East-west traffic can now take Brighton Dam to Bordly and straight through to Georgia Avenue and connect up with either Brookeville Road or into Olney and points south. This new commuter alternative that we hope becomes the route of choice for most drivers once they become aware of it will mean a safer, faster, and surer drive for them and a quieter, cleaner, and safer Brookeville for us. We are particularly hopeful that there will be a reduction in the number of commuters going home during the evening rush east through the Market and High Streets intersection, reducing the number of the many near collisions that happen almost every day.

What about the “other” Bypass?
The Brookeville Bypass on the west as some of you may know has been ready to move forward to design and engineering for some time. We have arrived at this critical juncture after years of meetings, studies, lobbying, countless walking tours, letters, newspaper and television reports, videos, negotiations, deals, hearings, political setbacks, and collaborations. We thought we were home free when Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan and the County Council agreed earlier this year to provide funding for the next crucial stage. While this County funding “assist” is not ordinarily done, County leadership did not want what was considered to be temporary State Highway Administration budget shortfalls to result in any more delay in the Bypass moving forward. Unfortunately, the County was relying on funds that depended on certain revenue decisions that Governor Ehrlich needed to make. The Governor didn’t make those decisions in our favor and the Bypass is back in limbo along with many other vital and ready to go transportation enhancement projects around the State. Take the time to write to the Governor and let him know we need the Bypass now! Your letters and e-mails definitely help.

Addresses are as follows:
Governor Robert Ehrlich
100 State Circle,
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

The Honorable Robert L. Flanagan
Secretary of Transportation
Maryland Department of Transportation
7201 Corporate Center
Hanover, Maryland 21076

MML Legislative Dinner
The Town hosted District 14 Delegates Karen Montgomery and Herman Taylor at the recent Maryland Municipal League's Montgomery County Chapter Annual Legislative Dinner. The dinner offered a good opportunity for getting to know and renewing contacts with key legislators’ who can be helpful to the Town in the future. The Brookeville Bypass was one of the Town's issues brought before several Delegates and State Senators at the dinner. A major part of the program at the dinner was the presentation of the League's 2004 Legislative Agenda. There are three items on that agenda (1) work to protect the revenues that municipalities need to maintain their roads from further State budget cuts, (2) extend the current June 2004 sunset date of the Maryland Structure Heritage Tax Credit Program that provides a 20% tax credit for certified heritage structures, and (3) work to reestablish the legality of zoning restrictions as specified in municipal annexation agreements.

North and South Streets to get Gravel
The rains, storms, snow plowing and heavier usage have taken their toll on North and South Streets. Residents can expect the roads to receive new gravel over the next few weeks. Additional gravel will be set-aside at strategic places to provide for repair of the inevitable potholes of winter.

Brookeville Honors Retired Laytonsville Mayor
The Town of Brookeville dedicated a White Oak, the official Maryland State tree, to former Laytonsville Mayor Charlie White in a tree-planting ceremony behind the Laytonsville Town Hall on November 8th. Rick Allan, President of the Commissioners, accompanied by Commissioner Les Unglesbee, presented a copy of the Town’s resolution to Mayor White praising him for the years of dedicated service he has given to his community and his upholding of the principles of local government. Mayor White then cut a yellow ribbon on the tree and turned a shovel of soil to complete the ceremony, presided over by current Town Mayor Willard Oland. Brookeville Commissioner Bob Heritage arranged for the procurement and planting of the hardy oak.

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