Purple Line Legal Assistance
At its Wednesday, January 8 meeting, the Town Council will hold a public hearing on a proposal to engage a law firm to assist the Town in continuing to respond to the proposed Purple Line project and its local impacts.
The Town recently submitted comments regarding the Purple Line’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which assesses the environmental effects of the proposed project. These comments note significant concerns with the project’s skyrocketing costs and funding prospects and call for a new environmental impact study to identify lower cost alternatives, such as bus rapid transit. The comments also raise technical concerns about the proposed alignment, including visual, noise and safety impacts.
As plans for the Purple Line progress, the Town Council wants to ensure that the Town’s concerns are given serious consideration by state and federal decision makers, and the Council has proposed to engage a law firm to assist in that effort. The length of the engagement will be approximately 18 months, with a cost of approximately $360,000.
At the public hearing, residents may comment on this proposal. If you are unable to attend the public hearing, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall, you may submit comments to the Town Office at townoffice@townofchevychase.org or at 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 prior to the hearing.
Revised Town Contribution Policy
At its Wednesday, January 8 meeting, the Town Council will hold a public hearing on a revised Town Contribution Policy and proposed implementation procedures.
At the Council's request, the Community Relations Committee reviewed the Town’s Contribution Policy to identify areas that might warrant modification, clarification or expansion. The committee also was asked to develop standard operating procedures for administration of the policy. Following is a summary of the Committee's recommendations, which were discussed and accepted by the Council and incorporated into the proposed policy and procedures.
- The Town Council, as part of its annual budget process, shall establish an amount in its general operating expenditures for contributions to eligible recipients for eligible purposes. The Town Council shall not be required to spend any or all of the allocation. In addition, if, at any point during the year, there are insufficient revenues to meet the Town’s operating expenditures, a likelihood of a projected budget deficit, or the need draw on Town reserves, the Town Council may elect to forego consideration of requests for contributions.
- The Town Council shall establish deadline(s) for submission of contribution requests. Deadline(s) shall be adopted concurrent with the adoption of the Town’s annual budget. Emergency requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Town Council.
- All contribution requests shall be scheduled for Council discussion at a public meeting. If the Council determines that a request meets the criteria set forth in the Town’s Contribution Policy, then a public hearing would be scheduled. Final action by the Council would follow a public hearing.
- The Town shall require basic financial and governance information from all organizations that request contributions.
- The Town shall require a formal letter of agreement to be signed and dated by any recipient organization.
If you are unable to attend the public hearing, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall, you may submit comments to the Town Office, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 or to townoffice@townofchevychase.org prior to the hearing.