Gajewski To Hold Town Hall Meeting Thurs., Aug 19

Piotr Gajewski at his first town hall

Long time Rockville Central readers know Councilmember Piotr Gajewski has been holding quarterly town hall meetings since February 2008. These town hall meetings are informal affairs where citizens can hear about recent progress and can raise issues that they would like to discuss.

The next Gajewski town hall has been scheduled for Thursday, August 19 at 8:00 pm in the Mayor and Council chambers at City Hall (111 Maryland Ave.).

For more information, call the City Clerk’s Office at 240-314-8280.

Town Center Action Team To Meet April 8 In Mayor And Council Chambers

As >Rockville Central readers may have been following, the pullout of Super Fresh from the Town Square development has generated a number of suggestions for what Federal Realty Investment Trust might want to pursue as a substitute. Many have expressed a desire to talk the issue through rather than just leave comments online.

A great forum in which to have that conversation will be the upcoming meeting of the Town Center Action Team, the group that initially began to set the direction for Town Square many years ago. TCAT will be meeting on April 8 at 7:00 pm at the Mayor and Council chambers in City Hall. I am led to believe that all are welcome and that a representative of FRIT will be there.

If you plan on attending, let TCAT chair Trapper Martin know you will be doing so by dropping him an email at tmartin@noodles.com.

Here’s how Trapper has described the meeting:

This meeting is open to the public and we would welcome some new faces and perspectives. This will be a great way to kick off discussion not only of what we want in this space but begin the discussion of Phase II. At our next meeting I am trying to get a representative of JBG to attend to discuss where they are in the planning process and get some timelines.

Tax Prep Workshop This Sat. Feb. 20

A most excellent >Rockville Central friend, Chas Hausheer, has passed along word of an upcoming workshop that many residents may find quite helpful. Rockville Housing Enterprises will be sponsoring a tax preparation workshop this Saturday. Here are the details from RHE:

We are having a Tax Preparation Workshop this Saturday February 20th, 2010. Please pass this along to anyone that might be interested in hearing information about preparing their taxes this year. For more information please contact Rockville Housing Enterprises.

Rockville Housing Enterprises
621-A Southlawn Lane
Rockville MD 20850

Phone: 301.424.6265 ext 311
Fax: 301.217.5857
Email: fcole@Rockvillehe.org

Gajewski Townhall Canceled Tonight (Feb. 11); Will Be Rescheduled

We’ve learned that, due to the ongoing snow cleanup and still-dicey roads, >the town hall meeting councilmember Piotr Gajewski was set to hold tonight has been canceled. Here is his message:

Dear Neighbor,

Due to the ongoing snow emergency, the Townhall meeting, originally scheduled for tonight (Thursday), will be rescheduled for a later date.

If you would like to speak to me this evening, please feel free to call me on my cell phone at 202-957-8692.

Meanwhile, I urge you to stay off the streets, if at all possible, in order to facilitate the ongoing snow removal.

Town Hall Meeting On Science City Monday, Feb. 8

While it is out of the “official scope” of >Rockville Central, there are many Rockville implications to the possible “Science City” that is being contemplated in Gaithersburg. (Maryland Politics Watch has had excellent back-and-forth opinion pieces — pro and con – on this issue.)

Rockville Central friend Randy Alton has passed along this note about an upcoming community meeting on the subject:

Weather Permitting….There is a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the “Science City” (Gaithersburg West Master Plan/Belward Farm) on Monday, February 8, 2010, between 7:00 – 9:00 pm, at the Quince Orchard High School, Cafeteria. The key topics will include the Gaithersburg West Master Plan and the North Potomac Recreation Center. The speakers will be the four “At-Large” Montgomery County Council members: Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, Duchy Trachtenberg, and Mark Elrich.

Randy says the meeting is sponsored by the North Potomac Citizens Association.

Gajewski To Hold Town Meeting Feb. 11

>Rockville Central was among the first local news source to cover then-newly-elected Councilmember Piotr Gajewski’s quarterly town halls, and we are pleased he continues to hold them. We’re on record encouraging all city council members to hold similar informal gatherings where citizens can raise questions and engage in dialogue without the restrictions and structures of a microphone, a dais, and a three-minute limit.

So we are happy to see that, in his second term Councilmember Gajewski is continuing the practice and we are happy to publicize it (as we would for a similar event by any other council member, hint hint).

This from the press release:

Councilmember Piotr Gajewski will lead a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m. in the Mayor and Council chambers at City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave.

The agenda for the meeting will include a discussion of recent Mayor and Council actions, as well as an open forum for residents to ask questions or share their perspectives on Rockville-related issues and projects. The meeting will not be televised.

“I expect that the meeting will be dominated by a discussion of budgeting priorities, as the Council is about to begin deliberations on the FY11 budget,” Councilmember Piotr Gajewski said, “but I look forward to citizen input on any and all topics.”

The meeting will be held at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave. For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 240-314-8280.

Rockville Mayor And Council To Meet In Twinbrook

At her inaugural address, Mayor >Phyllis Marcuccio said that she hoped to bring meetings of the Mayor and Council to different parts of the city, in an effort to increase a sense of engagement and participation.

According to the Gazette, on Monday, January 25, the first step of that plan will come to pass, as the group will meet at the Twinbrook Community Center for its regular meeting.

As with all meetings of the Mayor and Council, this meeting is open to the public. It begins at 7:00 pm. The Twinbrook Community Center is at 12920 Twinbrook Parkway.

Town Center Action Team Meeting Tonight (Tuesday 1/19/2010)

If you are a resident of, or concerned with, the Town Center area of Rockville, consider attending tonight’s >Town Center Action Team meeting at 7:00 pm at City Hall.

The group will elect a new president (current president, Mark Pierzchala, is a member of the City Council so is stepping aside) and will also cover several items concerning Town Center.

Here’s the agenda:

1. Town Square update,
2. Town Square parking update, effort by merchants
3. District Courthouse mitigation
4. Judicial center annex
5. Master plan review
6. Phase II
7. Recent meeting between TCAT and Gaithersburg’s OTAC.

(Many apologies to Councilmember Pierzchala — I had intended to post this earlier so it would get in the nightly email in time for people to receive it. The holiday weekend and my general sloth caused me to overlook that. So I am hoping enough of our readers see it this afternoon!)

Public Meeting Thursday To Discuss Senior Center Expansion

Many >Rockville Central readers are avid users of one of Our Fair City’s crown jewels, the Rockville Senior Center. This is a terrific facility that serves all of the community.

There are plans hatching to expand the Senior Center, and the City has sent along an in-depth invitation to all in the community to learn more about that. It’s this Thursday:

Senior Center Fitness Expansion Public Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 10, 6-8 p.m.
Rockville Senior Center
1150 Carnation Drive

• Rockville Senior Center Open House & Art Reception
• Tour the center and meet the staff
• View plans for the Fitness Center expansion
• Neighbors, and current and future members are welcome
• Refreshments will be served

Rockville Senior Center staff will give tours and answer questions about the services offered for residents age 60 and over. This meeting will give you an opportunity to hear plans for the new Fitness Center expansion, including reconfiguring part of the existing space, and adding additional space for the exercise and fitness facilities, rest rooms, changing facilities, offices and storage. There are also plans for the addition of 41 parking spaces that will be located near the building’s rear entrance. View the proposed plans before City review. We welcome and appreciate your input.

Local senior artists will have their work on display in the newly renovated lounge and be available for questions. Consider becoming a Rockville Senior Center member and receive a $5 discount on membership. Enjoy refreshments and a drawing for a holiday basket.

For information about the Open House and Fitness Center addition, call Senior Citizens Program Manager Lexi McKenzie at 240-314-8800 or e-mail amckenzie@rockvillemd.gov.

Town Center Action Team Meeting Tonight

If you are a resident of, or concerned with, the Town Center area of Rockville, consider attending tonight’s >Town Center Action Team meeting at 7:00 pm at City Hall.

Here’s the agenda:

1. Presenation on the Circuit Court (Judicial Center) expansion plans followed by question and answers. Mr. Omidvar from the County will present.
2. Update on Town Center from the City.
3. Status of District Court House construction and Court House mitigation committee.
4. What is the state of SuperFresh?
5. Elect a new president of TCAT.

Planner: City Meetings This Week (6/1/09)

Here are the City meetings we know about for the next two weeks. All meetings below are at at >City Hall (111 Maryland Ave.) unless noted otherwise. Where there is an agenda available, the link goes to that, otherwise it goes to the main page for that group.

This Week:

• Nothing we know of!!!

Next Week:

• Tue., Jun. 9, 7:30 pm — Commission On The Environment
• Tue., Jun. 9, 7:30 pm, Pump House — East Rockville Civic Association
• Tue., Jun. 9, 7:30 pm — Human Services Advisory Commission
• Wed., Jun. 10, 7:00 pm — Cultural Arts Commission
• Wed., Jun. 10, 7:00 pm — Planning Commission
• Wed., Jun. 19, 7:30 pm — Rockville Sister City, Inc.

We are trying to add to this service so it is not just City-sponsored meetings but also other important civic meetings throughout Rockville. Please send us a note to let us know about your civic meeting. We will post them on the calendar available here. For clubs and events, use the Rockville Living add event form. We can’t publish everything, but we we will do our best to be inclusive.

Planner: City Meetings This Week (5/18/09)

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Here are the City meetings we know about for the next two weeks. All meetings below are at at City Hall (111 Maryland Ave.) unless noted otherwise. Where there is an agenda available, the link goes to that, otherwise it goes to the main page for that group.

This Week:

• Mon., May 18, 6:15 pm (executive session), 7:00 pm (open session) — Mayor And Council (on agenda: adopt budget)
• Tue., May 19, 3:00 pm — Rockville Seniors, Inc.
• Tue., May 19, 7:00 pm — Town Center Action Team
• Wed., May 20, 6:30 pm — Rockville Housing Enterprises
• Thu., May 21, 10 Am — Senior Citizens Commission
• Thu., May 21, 7:00 pm. RedGate Golf Course — Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission
• Thu., May 21, 7:30 pm — Historic District Commission
• Thu., May 21, 7:00 pm, Rockville Presbyterian Church — West End Citizen’s Association

Next Week:

• Tue., May 26, 7:30 pm — Traffic And Transportation Commission
• Wed., May 27, 7:00 pm — Planning Commission

We are trying to add to this service so it is not just City-sponsored meetings but also other important civic meetings throughout Rockville. Please send us a note to let us know about your civic meeting. We will post them on the calendar available here. For clubs and events, use the Rockville Living add event form. We can’t publish everything, but we we will do our best to be inclusive.