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Montgomery County Councilman George L. Leventhal criticized council President Philip M. Andrews for what he viewed as an attempt to bypass the committee chaired by Leventhal.
The full council heard an informational briefing Tuesday on a bill sponsored by Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) that would require a health impact study be completed before some major roads projects could begin.
Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park said the bill was before his Health & Human Services Committee, although a date for a hearing had not been set. Council protocol is breached in bringing the topic before the full council before it had been discussed by the committee, Leventhal said.
"I haven't been informed of the purpose of this briefing," he said. "Is it the intention of the council president to bypass the HHS committee?"
Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg said that was not his intention and that Tuesday's briefing was for informational purposes only on a topic of interest.
"We haven't done it this way before, but perhaps we'll continue to bypass committees if the issue is of interest to the sponsor and council president," Leventhal said.
Trachtenberg's bill would not require a health study for projects already under way, and there are only two projects planned at this time that would require the study: Roberts Tavern Drive Extended and the Mid-County Corridor.
The bill would require the study in the project's planning stage. The council would receive the study for information purposes and would not be bound to halt a project if it was found to harm health. But council members could choose to stop a project.
Recommendations approved
for I-270 improvements, CCT
The Montgomery County Council will recommend that the state build two reversible lanes on Interstate 270 and light-rail transit along the Corridor Cities Transitway.
Andrews said the council and Executive Isiah Leggett (D) would send a joint letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation with their recommendations.
The state is expected to decide how to proceed with both projects by the end of the year.
The council unanimously supported adding two reversible lanes on I-270 instead of four lanes, which the state originally proposed.
The majority of council members voted Tuesday in favor of light rail over a less-expensive Bus Rapid Transit system to link Clarksburg, Germantown, Gaithersburg and Rockville with the Shady Grove Metro.
No completion dates have been announced for either project.
Andrews, Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac and Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park favored Bus Rapid Transit.
Supporters say the buses and the light-rail streetcars would carry roughly the same number of passengers and operate at about the same cost, but the BRT system would cost about half as much to construct — between $450 million and $533 million.
Estimates on construction of a light-rail system were between $778 million and $1 billion.
Ride On bus system
offers trip planning
Montgomery County's Ride On bus system is now offering online trip planning using Google Maps, which will allow riders to view transit route and schedule information.
To use the trip planner, go to Google Maps and select "By Public Transit." The results will show the Ride On route options for the trip. Passengers also can select a future date and time by clicking the "Show Options" button.
Google Mobile also allows commuters with a GPS-enabled smart phone and Google Maps to obtain Ride On trip information based on their current location and time.
For details about Ride On, go to the Ride On Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rideon or call the Transit Information Center at 240-777-7433 (RIDE).
Council considers relaxed rules for farmers markets
Councilman Berliner introduced legislation Tuesday that would relax a zoning requirement for farmers markets.
The change was considered in response to concerns that a Bethesda farmers market — the Twin Springs Farmers Market at the Concord St. Andrews Church — was illegally operating under current zoning, he said.
His zoning text amendment would allow farmers markets on parcels of residentially zoned land of more than 4 acres — and adjacent to major roads — if the lot is being used for a nonresidential purpose.
Current zoning laws prohibit farmers markets, like the Twin Springs market, from operating in residential zones. That market is at the corner of River Road and Goldsboro Road.
The change was co-sponsored by Council members Leventhal and Trachtenberg.
County inspector general can request independent legal representation
The Montgomery County Council voted Tuesday to allow the county's Inspector General to request independent legal representation to help him investigate fraud, waste and abuse by county government.
The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring was approved 8-1 with Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park opposed.
The purpose of the legislation is to prevent potential conflicts of interest in investigations involving County departments and agencies by allowing the inspector general to request independent legal counsel, according to a press release.
In 1997, the County Council passed legislation to create the inspector general's office to serve as a watchdog to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in County government. The inspector general's office takes on sensitive and sometimes controversial issues related to various County departments and County-funded agencies. For example, the inspector general's office is currently investigating whether an assistant fire chief received special treatment by police officers when he was allegedly stopped for driving under the influence.
The bill has no fiscal impact on the county.
The bill was cosponsored by Council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg; and Council members Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park; Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown; Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring; and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda.
Leggett holds "virtual" town hall meeting
Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) will hold a "virtual" town hall meeting Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
County residents will be able to talk with the County Executive and ask questions via the Internet through the County website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov . Click on "Live Discussion with County Executive Ike Leggett: November 19."