The Mapleleaf Online

Carol L November 16th, 2006

The following officers of the Maplewood Citizens Association attended the Executive Committee Meeting, held October 25, 2006 at the home of

Allen Myers, President

Seth Maiman, Vice President

Bill Davis, Treasurer Ralph Schofer - NIH Liaison Committee

John Lawall – French International School Liaison Carol Linden, Secretary

Dan Molloy, Mapleleaf Editor, was absent.

1. The first order of business was to vote on Carol Linden for the position of Secretary. Seth made the motion, seconded by Ralph, and she was approved unanimously by the Executive Committee as Secretary of the Maplewood Citizens Association.

2. Bill Davis gave the Treasurer’s report, noting that there is a positive cash flow but that the membership numbers are low compared to the same time last year. There was a brief discussion of forming a membership committee, with Bill as the chair. Bill volunteered to write an article on membership for the upcoming newsletter.

3. Liaison reports were presented.

a. Ralph provided an update on NIH: There is a new Director for CLC, Dennis Kuhlman. He has raised the issue of the overall impact of the pending move of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to the Naval Medical Research Center campus. NIH is addressing a water and drainage issue on the south side of the campus, regrading the SE corner so that it can be used as a play area by the adjacent community. The issue of lighting of the blacktop path along the NIH campus on Rockville Pike was discussed. Allen and others will check to see if light from the new commercial vehicle inspection station will improve the nighttime conditions. NIH has proposed reflective striping along the path but no one believed that this would address the issue. The light at Wilson St. has still not been installed and there has been a call placed to the traffic engineers. Allen asked Ralph to look into the issue of traffic backups on southbound Rockville

Pike in the mornings where vehicles make the first left onto the NMRC campus.

b. Seth provided the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board update. He

reported that the Bethesda Country Day School (BCDS) is having a traffic study conducted regarding the traffic backups on Beech Dr. They are supposed to receive recommendations from the contractor by January 1st. Seth further reported hearing complaints in the CCG from street representatives about the lack of maintenance around the park. An email was sent listing the problems. The next CCG meeting is January 2007.

c. John reported on several issues, mostly related to the French School. The school is exploring a new traffic pattern through the end of October. Allen pointed out that if they propose to make any changes to the current patterns approved in their Special Exception, they need to go through the process of vetting with the community and the county. Allen has asked to see the new plan so that it can be reviewed. The school installed a fence along Forest road which excludes access to the sidewalk. Seth reported that he heard that the county is going to replace the sidewalk and that the school should not have fenced it off. There is still the issue of a crosswalk, which requires a sidewalk. There was discussion about the Beech Avenue Group and Marty Klauber – People’s Counsel organizing a traffic management discussion. Allen indicated that all of the community groups and stakeholders (YMCA, French School, MCA, BCDS) should be involved.

d. On behalf of Cindy Cicalese, Allen reported on activities at FASEB. FASEB has a new executive director and has deferred plans to tear down and repair an old building. They plan to renew the option for the Special Exception for the Lee Building. There are two police officers renting the cottage on the property; cruisers are parked there and help serve as a deterrent to crime in the area.

4. Additional updates: Allen reported that the Heart House will be occupied until the end of November, and the MCA can use it until they decide what to do. The new polling location is Davis Library, but it may move back to the Knights of Columbus. Seth will write an article for the newsletter about the MCA telephone service [which is lightly used but incurs a significant monthly charge.

5. New Business

a. Allen will write an article about MCA supporting FASEB in their delay in implementing their Special Exception modification.

b. Dan needs input for the newsletter asap. It has to be at the printer by November 6, and in the mail by November 7 in order to be received prior to the MCA general membership meeting on November 15.

c. Allen will look into the issue of NIH issuing 1 year access passes to individuals who donate blood. The question revolves around how passes are checked at the campus gate on West Cedar that is not manned by a guard.

d. The Executive Committee agreed that it is desirable to hold a MCA Spring Social.

e. Future meetings should be posted on the MCA web site.

Carol D. Linden

Secretary, Maplewood Citizens Association

• Executive Committee minutes
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