The Mapleleaf Online

Carol L September 18th, 2007

The following officers of the Maplewood Citizens Association attended the Executive Committee Meeting, held August 28, 2007 at the home of Allen Myers:

Allen Myers, President

Bill Davis, Treasurer

Carol Linden, Secretary

Joe Levin (incoming Treasurer)

Janet Maalouf (BRAC representative) and incoming Vice President

John Lawall

Mark Nathans

1. The minutes of the July 11, 2007 meeting were passed around for review and minor corrections, and approved.

2. Bill Davis gave the Treasurer’s report, which is the fiscal year/end of year report. It is cumulative for end of the year, and is almost exactly the same as the last report. We gained >$1000 this year. There is almost $6400 in checking account. The audit, which has been done by Fred Rabel, will be delivered in September. Allen proposes presenting to the general membership changing to an annual audit in Sept, or only when the Treasurer changes. Given the amount of money that we’re dealing with, Fred did not seem to think that waiting that length of time would be a problem. The issue is whether we want or need an annual audit. Joe proposed doing an audit each year in Sept and Bill offered to do the audit if Fred cannot do it. This requires a change in the MCA By Laws. Treasurer’s report was accepted unanimously.

3. Liaison reports were presented.

a. NIH CLC: no report.

b. French school report: John – NLC meeting is scheduled for September 17. John will present the new traffic management to the MCA General Membership meeting. Allen suggests inviting the new French School facilities manager or other officials to the meeting too.

c. FASEB: Cindy didn’t give the logs of back gate traffic to Allen before she moved. We need a FASEB representative. Bill will try to recruit someone. The group meets every quarter.

d. Citizen’s Advisory Board: No August meeting, so nothing to report.

e. Bethesda Fire Board – no report.

f. BCDS – They made modifications to their traffic plan. As part of the stormwater management project on Beech, they were not going to be able to use their driveway. They started using an alternative entrance on Edgeley, which works better and gets traffic off of Beech.

g. BRAC – next committee meeting is in September. There was no meeting in August. The EIS will not be published in September as projected. The committee recommended that the county put up a web site for BRAC issues in Bethesda, but this has turned into a BRAC site for Maryland. The committee has seen the draft web site and it has a wealth of information. Janet thinks the web site might be available within the next few weeks. Janet asked if we had any issues to request posting in the FAQ section.

4. Old Business:

1. Heart House – they are still proceeding despite the criticisms of the plan by the Development Review Committee of Parks and Planning. Cathy will attend our meeting on Sept 19 and provide some info for the newsletter. The big concern is Camberley. The Review Committee wants it to be cut through to Alta Vista. There was a secondary consideration of making it a cul de sac vs a dead end. The issue is “neighborhood integration”. The state is insistent on closing the Old Georgetown Rd. access. Allen believes there will be major neighborhood opposition to cutting through Camberley. They also need more forestation in the plan.
2. Bethesda Crest – Mark Nathans reported on resolution to amend the master plan. The resolution was finally approved to amend the master plan. Elm Street Development has to file the appropriate paperwork, in order to get a building permit, then they can build the final 4 units and the wall at the end of Acacia.
3. FAES development – no news and no update on their proposed plans.
4. Montgomery Mall development and covenants: no news. They are not dealing with the covenants but rather the Mall design elements. They did hire an attorney.
5. Treasury audit and turnover – addressed.
6. Maplewood energy conservation project: neighbor (Ron Goor) has written an article on energy saving for the newsletter. Strosneider’s is soon having a sale on compact fluorescent bulbs. Janet would like to put something in the newsletter about this. Allen noted that these bulbs contain mercury and need to be disposed of properly.
7. Maplewood – Alta Vista Rec Center: county is looking at marketing the rec centers. Ours is on the list for review for marketing. It is not air conditioned.
8. Alta Vista stream restoration – 3 years later, it is finally being worked on. Easements have finally been granted for the county to do the work.

5. New Business:

a. Maplewood water pressure: Ron Goor discovered that we’re at ca 120 psi, and it is supposed to be 50 – 70 psi. Janet said that she measured her water pressure at 90 psi. Mark Nathans had a restriction valve installed in his house.

b. Update web site with new officers – Mark Nathans will update with Joe’s and Janet’s names.

c. Other new business:

1. An Acacia Ave resident wants to get the parking restriction signs removed on Acacia because he’s tired of paying for the permits. He has 7 out of 11 residents who have signed a petition. Eight signatures are required. Now there is some push back on the part of some neighbors, so the outcome is unclear at this time.

2. Ralph couldn’t be here tonight. Allen spoke to this issue. The Board of Appeals is requesting an advisory committee for Suburban Hospital proposed expansion. The proposal involves demolition of some housing and street closures. This group was in favor of sending a representative to this committee.

3. House on Cedar Crest under renovation has installed a semicircular driveway, which required a permit for the second curb cut, which was not obtained. There is also a potential water runoff issue to the adjacent yard. Allen will undertake further investigation of this issue on behalf of MCA.

4. Janet raised the issue of the condition of the roads. Several people have called about potholes. Allen has asked Ralph to look into the issue.

5. Alta Vista right of way trail is overgrown. Ask residents if they want DPWT contacted to clean it up.

d. Next general membership meeting: September 19, 2007.

1. Agenda – we want to discuss BRAC; Heart House; FAES maybe; French School; maybe an energy presentation if FAES doesn’t present.

2. Articles for The Mapleleaf – BRAC; energy project; (Janet for both); John – French School; Allen – Heart House and By Law amendment on audit.

e. The next Executive Committee meeting is October 3, 2007.

Carol D. Linden

Secretary, Maplewood Citizens Association

• Executive Committee minutes
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