Town Events, Staff Telework Schedule, and Updates Related to COVID-19
Due to the ongoing public health crisis, the Town will not host any events through the end of June. Town staff is currently on a telework schedule. Residents who need to drop off materials to the Town office may use the mailbox located outside the front door to the Town Hall. We will try to process all permits and other applications in a timely manner. Phone calls and email will be monitored and answered as usual. In addition, the Jane Lawton Recreation Center remains closed until further notice. For current Montgomery County closures, please check here. .
Residents are encouraged to connect with the Town through the Town Crier email alert system [https://www.townofchevychase.org/list.aspx] and with fellow residents through the private Town Neighbors listserv. For information on how to join the Town Neighbors listserv, please email townneighbors+owner@groups.io [mailto:townneighbors+owner@groups.io] . Both resources offer an important way to stay informed and in touch. The Town website [https://www.townofchevychase.org/] also provides links to official resources for more information on coronavirus preparedness and response.
Montgomery County Announces Plans to Move to Phase 2 Reopening
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced on June 10 which activities will be allowed when the County enters Phase 2 of reopening. Phase 2 will likely begin sometime next week, pending confirmation of the data benchmarks. The County plans to continue with an incremental reopening, based on public health data. The press release can be viewed here [https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=25429] .
Volunteer for Town Committees & Boards for 2020-2021
Each year in June, the Town Council begins the process of seeking volunteers for the Town’s committees and filling vacancies on the Town’s boards and commission. We encourage you to consider volunteering for one of these bodies so we can involve as many residents as possible in Town affairs.
This summer, Mayor Cecily Baskir will appoint, with the advice of the Town Council, residents to serve on each of the Town’s five standing committees for a period of one year beginning in September. Following is a list of the committees, including a short description of each:
Climate and Environment: Inspires and facilitates energy conservation and environmental stewardship by the Town and its residents.
Community Relations: Encourages a strong sense of neighborliness through community activities and communications.
Land Use: Guides building and redevelopment within the Town using available planning tools.
Long-Range Planning: Identifies emerging issues that require longer-term planning and analysis and monitors activities in county and state government likely to impact our Town.
Public Services: Advocates for high-quality Town services for our residents.
Mayor Baskir also will appoint one resident to serve on the Town's Elections Board, one resident to serve on the Town's Ethics Commission, and one resident to serve on the Town's Water Board. Following are brief descriptions of these bodies:
Elections Board: Oversees all Town elections, including making appropriate provisions for nominations, printing ballots, appointing tellers and/or judges and supervising the polls.
Ethics Commission: Receives, verifies, and maintains all financial disclosure forms required by the State of Maryland.
Water board: Hears requests by property owners who have had a water drainage plan denied by the Town.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve on any of the Town’s committees, boards or commission, please submit a brief note to the Town Office by June 26, 2020. Your correspondence may be submitted by e-mail to townoffice@townofchevychase.org [mailto:townoffice@townofchevychase.org] and should include your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and a few sentences about why you would like to serve on that particular body.
Town Seeks Volunteers to Serve on Subcommittee to
Address Regional Growth and Development
The Town seeks volunteers to serve on a new special subcommittee of the Long-Range Planning Committee, formed by the Town Council at its June 8, 2020 work session to address important issues about land use, development, and public infrastructure that will affect our community far into the future.
The County is currently working on updates to both its General Plan (now called Thrive Montgomery 2050), and its Subdivision Staging Policy (now called County Growth Policy 2020-2024). Thrive Montgomery 2050 is the long-range policy framework for guiding future land use and growth for the next 30 years, while the County Growth Policy is the tool the County uses to ensure that schools and transportation systems keep pace with development. The County Planning Board is considering drafts of both policies right now. After it approves them, the Planning Board’s recommendations will go to the County Council for consideration and action. The County Council is expected to approve the County Growth Policy by November 2020 and Thrive Montgomery 2050 by March 2021.
The special subcommittee of the Long-Range Planning Committee was formed to help the Town Council develop a coordinated approach to Thrive Montgomery 2050 and the County Growth Policy 2020-2024, working with members of the Land Use Committee and with our neighboring communities. The two council members working with this special subcommittee will be Ellen Cornelius Ericson, Council Liaison to the Long-Range Planning Committee, and Irene Lane, Council Liaison to the Land Use Committee.
Members of the subcommittee will research and monitor the issues raised in the County Growth Policy and Thrive Montgomery 2050 and will advise the Council on recommended positions and actions. The Council will continue to represent the Town at outside public forums, with elected officials, or members of the press. It is anticipated that the subcommittee will meet as and when necessary – and this could be more frequently than once per month for certain periods of time. The subcommittee’s work is expected to continue until spring 2021.
If you are interested in volunteering to serve on this special subcommittee, please submit a brief note to townoffice@townofchevychase.org [mailto:townoffice@townofchevychase.org] . Your correspondence should include your name, address, and telephone number.
Please Prune Overgrown Vegetation
As a reminder, residents are asked to keep all streets and sidewalks clear of overgrown vegetation. Please prune vegetation to ensure unobstructed sight lines for pedestrians and motorists. The Town's vegetation maintenance standards are available for review here [https://www.townofchevychase.org/DocumentCenter/View/1090/Overgrown-Vegetation-Management-SOPs?bidId=] . Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep Town streets and sidewalks safe.
Purple Line Construction Updates
Please click here [https://www.purplelinemd.com/construction/construction-updates] to find the most recent Purple Line construction updates. Make sure to select "Bethesda/Chevy Chase" to find updates pertaining to our area.
Important Phone Numbers
Click here [https://www.townofchevychase.org/432/Important-Phone-Numbers] for a list of phone numbers that may be helpful while the Town Office is closed. In case of emergencies, always call 911.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Click here to view the Town calendar [https://www.townofchevychase.org/calendar.aspx?CID=14] .