Minutes From The WECA Meeting Of March 16th 2007

 

 

Mr Jacques Gelin called the meeting to order at 7.05pm.  He ‘chaired’ the meeting on behalf of Patricia Woodward – the current WECA President -as she was unable to attend. Jacques then distributed an agenda. 

 

WECA Minutes: It was noted that the February WECA meeting had to be cancelled due to treacherous weather conditions.  Jan Balkam stated that Patricia Woodward had reviewed the previous meeting’s Minutes. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Helen Hillstrom reported that the T Rowe Price account balance was $2,542.97.  She gave particular focus to the production of the most recent newsletter.  The checking account assets were effectively $169.90. The printing costs had amounted to $802.41, and monies collected for advertisements in the newsletter had been $1,090.  Helen said that it was necessary to sell $1,600 worth of advertisements for the 3rd and 4th issues and anticipated that this may be easier once new businesses had opened in the Town Center.  She also stated that there was a limit to the number of ‘ad’s’ available for sale because of the amount of pages in the newsletter. Therefore, if more advertising space was sold it would be necessary to increase the size of the community newsletter, which would of course also increase overall costs.

 

Old Business:

 

Newsletter Distribution and review: * acknowledged the effort and skill of those associated with the production and distribution of the newsletter – * in particular managed to save WECA a considerable amount of money.  Concerning actual distribution, it was noted that volunteers were still needed for areas 3A and 6A, (West Montgomery and Thirty Oaks). General discussion followed about whether to deliver to the many churches in the West End and it was decided, for various reasons, that it was too inconvenient to do so.  Others concurred that they felt the newsletter was appropriate for residents and families only.  Apartment buildings receive one each and * will be happy to answer any queries concerning the above.

 

Letter proposal concerning the Gude Interchange on I 270:  * was unable to attend so * spoke on her behalf.  * had relayed a proposal to send a letter stating that traffic reduction through the heart of Rockville is critical to the future of the city.  She supports re-direction of traffic through non residential arteries like Gude Drive and Wootton Parkway. * made a *motion that an appropriate letter be drafted by * and * ,(Corresponding Secretary for WECA) stating the issues.  The Mayor & Council, City Manager, State Delegates and the State Highway Dept. would all receive copies.  This was seconded by * and was also unanimously agreed by the group.

 

City ‘wrap up’:  Maria Broadbent noted the quality of the comprehensive newsletter and gave out the following information about upcoming meetings. 

3/29/07 at 6pm, gather at the corner of North Van Buren and Beall Avenue. This is a ‘walk through’ meeting concerning the first section of Beall Avenue’s sidewalks.  The sidewalk will run from N Washington Street to Nelson St on the north side, (the school side).    There will be City representatives at this meeting who can also advise on street design and street lighting upgrades where necessary.   At this point a resident suggested that whilst at the planning stage, the City and local residents also address aesthetic issues.  This would be done by perhaps integrating a landscaped walkway, (Rockville Greenways project). This may encourage more residents/visitors to follow a beautified route around the City and its neighborhoods. The Lions of Rockville are holding a meeting on Sunday 3/18/07 between 2pm-4pm at Glenview Mansion. More information is available on listserv.  A WECA/‘Town Hall’ meeting is scheduled for 7pm on 4/19/07 at Rockville Presbyterian Church, Harrison Street.  The Mayor & Council and City Manager, Scott Ullery will be in attendance.  General discussion then took place concerning various properties which residents believed to be dilapidated or an ‘eyesore’ in some way.  Then 200 W. Montgomery Avenue was discussed.  One option was to leave the situation as it is now, remove the sidewalk to improve drainage or to make a new one so that a pathway meandered through the tree area nearby. The City will plant two hollies and a flowering tree here.  Mike Wilhelm, the City Engineer reported that a comprehensive engineering study would need to be done to investigate the situation more deeply.  Other properties discussed were – a house under construction at the junction of Beall & Lynch, which didn’t have correct permits and the old Burbanks site, 100 W. Montgomery Ave.  Scott Ullery said he would call the owners next week to ascertain their future plans.  The Project Tracking System is now available on the City website, outlining approx. forty different projects at different stages of undertaking.  Residents are encouraged to refer to those of interest to them in order to plot their progress.  A Time Capsule is going to be buried in the Town Center Stage area.  Maria asked for photographs to be submitted and in brief, anything residents feel to be of particular significance of this current era.  The capsule will be opened thirty years from now.

 

The Old Post Office:  Scott Ullery stated that a Federal Agency had expressed an interest in acquiring the building.  He is checking into this in more depth. Plans are moving ahead with post office staff and Roger Miller. Roger Miller’s Frame Shop is proposed to have some postal services available within it.  He is a former postmaster from New York State and has been told that it may take between three and six months to finalise the contractual agreement.  Jacques and Scott are working with the appropriate authorities to try to expedite the contract situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Speakers:

Subjects were :- a) Ex-detainees walking from Rockville’s Court back to the Detention Center facility, and b)Traffic and speed cameras.

Jacques introduced our two guest speakers for the evening, Mr Terry Treschuk, Chief of Police and Mr Art Wallenstein, Corrections Director for Montgomery County. 

 

a)  Chief Treschuk spoke first outlining that he and Mr Wallenstein hoped to update, inform and address the group’s concerns about the rather unusual situation that exists locally.  He then referred to the fact that it is perfectly legal for ex-detainees to walk unaccompanied from court, through our neighborhood, back to the Detention Center in order to collect their clothes, and often medication.  He acknowledged that in previous years various Citizens’ Groups had approached him and he had been readily available to explain the Police Department’s position.  Mr Wallenstein then updated the group stating that approx. 25 people per week fell into this category.  He said that when they were found ‘not guilty’ or ‘charges were dropped against them’ that a cab pass was issued to them by the Public Defender’s Office.  Often ex-detainees took a cab back to the Detention Center but sometimes the pass was declined as they’d often been confined for some time and therefore preferred to walk.  Mr Wallenstein acknowledged that many people that ‘end up in the prison system were mentally ill’, and that he has, ‘never minimized that fact’.  Both men answered various questions and the following was relayed to the group:-

That in most places in the country that detainees and ex-detainees alike, are transported to AND from court by law enforcement officers.  This particular procedure is Judicial policy, they have been told that the Judge considers ‘not guilty’ to mean exactly that and from that moment on, the previously charged person is ‘free’.  Mr Wallenstein respectfully disagrees and thinks it wholly inappropriate from the public safety and ex-detainees point of view. 

This judgment is best challenged by appealing to presiding Judges Harrington and Woolf, He noted that in the past, that Ike Leggett, Bruce Dover and Doug Duncan were all in  support of their attempt to change the policy, but the Judges had still seen fit to keep the policy in place.  They hoped that success would come in changing the procedure in the future when assessed thoroughly from a humanitarian and public safety stance.

That in all the years this policy has been in effect one person had wandered uninvited into a residence and another had stolen a bicycle. 

Chief Treschuk urged people to call the Rockville Police Dept. if they felt in anyway uncomfortable with reference to an ex-detainee and they would dispatch a unit immediately to check on that person.  Mr Wallenstein reiterated this level of support and made Warden Smith’s business card available to all in attendance. He urged residents to call him at anytime should they have queries or concerns.Work – (240) 777 9962, Cell – (240) 375 4200 or e mail William.smith@montgomerycountymd.gov  .

Ex-detainees wear either beige,(young offenders) or forest green jumpsuits.  This is to attempt to make the person presentable at court and of course to make them easily identifiable.

A small percentage of detainees never return to the Detention Center to claim their civilian clothes and/or their medication.  Mr Wallenstein was particularly concerned for their welfare and wanted to prevent situations where people are wandering around the neighborhood with less than appropriate amount of clothing on etc.

Both men encouraged WECA to send a representative to accompany other Citizen Group rep’s to a quarterly Citizens Advisory Meeting.  These breakfast meetings last for approx. 75 mins. and provide useful information covering a wide range of issues.  Mr Wallenstein stated that there is a link from the County/City websites – simply click on ‘Corrections’ .  In recent years, Chief Treschuk and Mr Wallenstein had worked together to try to change the law in order to make the process of transportation more appropriate from a public safety point of view and also a more ‘humane’ one where some mentally ill ex-detainees were concerned.  Four years ago, they challenged the current policy but were not successful (even though 3.5 years were spent preparing the case).With renewed concern from local residents, they plan to challenge this judgment once more in the near future and thanked WECA for their support in this cause.  It was then proposed that a letter may be written from WECA stating support of such a change as far as this policy is concerned.  b) Traffic and speed cameras. Chief Treschuk spoke of new speed cameras in the area.  One fixed point is on W. Montgomery Avenue, they have been in operation from 12th March.  The Chief noted that in one day 411 violators were observed to be exceeding the speed limit by 12.89%. He reported that initially, (27 days), warnings would be issued and hoped that enforcement signs would help deter speeding on secondary roads.  He acknowledged that Maryland Avenue was a problem area and that tickets continue to be issued there.  The Chief invited residents to contact him if they felt that there was a trouble spot in their vicinity that was not being addressed by using speed cameras or the Police Dept. and that he’d look into trying to solve that problem.

 

New Business: 

Block Captain Confirmation: * made a *motion for * to become a block captain for area 14A.  Jan seconded this motion and the vote was carried unanimously.  Rockville Library talk:  Jacques told the group that The Friends of Rockville Library have organized a guest speaker for Saturday 17th March, at 10am. Author Timothy Meagher will be speaking about the experience of the Irish in America.  He has written several books and will also be available to take questions.  Snow Plowing (and build up of snow and ice on sidewalks):  Some residents voiced concern about the efficient use of snow ploughs in adverse weather conditions.  They thought that plowing the snow from the road only to form huge piles onto the sidewalks was unacceptable.  It became time consuming and at time injurious - one resident had 130ft of walkways to clear.  The City was called to enforce the shoveling law as, in certain cases, public safety was being threatened.   A *motion was made by * to adjourn the meeting.  This was seconded by Jacques and carried unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 7.57pm.

 

Respectfully submitted by Jan Balkam, WECA Recording Secretary.

 

*The next WECA meeting will be April 19th at 7pm, at the Rockville Presbyterian Church, Harrison Street.  PLEASE NOTE and pass the word to your neighbors that this will be a ‘TOWN HALL MEETING’ AND THAT THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER WILL ALL BE IN ATTENDANCE.