Town Office Schedule and Updates Related to COVID-19
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 [https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/] .
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/] provides links to official resources for more information on coronavirus preparedness and response.
Montgomery County in Phase 2 of Reopening
Montgomery County officially entered Phase 2 of reopening [https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/RightNav/reopening/index.html] on Friday, June 19. The County plans to continue with an incremental reopening based on public health data.
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 July 31, 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.
Bethesda Bikeways Projects
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will start construction this summer on two-way cycletracks along Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Avenue/Willow Lane in downtown Bethesda. For more information, please visit the MCDOT website or click here.
Town Teens List
The Town maintains a list of Town Teens, who are available for a variety of jobs, including baby-sitting, pet-sitting, and yard work. The list is made available to Town residents only. The Town does not screen to determine the experience and maturity of the teens on the Town Teens list. Please do the screening you believe necessary to determine if the teen can fill your needs responsibly.
If you would like to access the list, it is available on the Town website [https://www.townofchevychase.org/384/Town-Teens] .
Visit the Lee Dennison Garden
The new Lee Dennison Garden is a welcome park amenity that has been warmly received by Town residents. Whether catching up with friends (in a socially distanced manner), finding some peace, or discovering some of the 70 species of plantings, the Lee Dennison Garden is a place where you can learn about sustainable landscaping design and maintenance methods.
This week, signage for the garden was installed. While all information about the garden is accessible through QR codes printed on the signage (just point the camera on the QR code to bring up the associated web page), it may be helpful for residents to know that within www.DennisonGarden.org [https://www.townofchevychase.org/admin/www.DennisonGarden.org] there are additional details about:
The Story of Benefactor Lee Dennison [https://www.dennisongarden.org/]
Native Plant Blooming Schedule [https://www.dennisongarden.org/native-plants-bloom-schedule]
Plant Lists for Each Area of the Garden [https://www.dennisongarden.org/plant-list]
Invasive Plants [https://www.dennisongarden.org/additional-resources]
and more!
As Montgomery County restrictions are lifted, we will plan speaker and demonstration sessions, and family activities. In the meantime, please maintain social distancing and please do not let dogs run free in the garden.
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.
Resurfacing of Southbound I-270 Between Rockville and Bethesda
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is resurfacing 4.6 miles of southbound I-270 (Eisenhower Highway) between MD 189 (Falls Road) in Rockville and Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda. The project will lead to significant overnight lane closures and should continue into late summer. Drivers are advised to plan ahead and expect extra commute time.
Crews will mill, pave and restripe the roadway. During this phase of resurfacing, crews are permitted to close up to four of six southbound lanes on I-270 between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Two southbound travel lanes will remain open at all times. Additional work times are possible to expedite all phases of the project and keep it on schedule.
The resurfacing project should be complete by late summer.
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] .