Minutes of MSCA Annual Meeting 5-19-08
The annual meeting of MSCA was held at Beverly Farms elementary school on May 19, 2008, as publicized in advance and in accordance with our bylaws.
Bob Gross, President, opened the meeting at 7:35. Bob introduced the board members present and highlighted existing vacancies on the board, asking for volunteers. He emphasized that all positions were open to new volunteers. Committee chairs for the Social Committee, Transportation, and the Improvements Committee are needed.
Treasurer David Grossman reported that over 175 households had already paid dues for 2008, and that the treasury of the Association was adequate for projected expenses. The largest expenses is, as always, landscaping and maintenance of the landscaped areas.
Bob Gross went over many items of local interest dealing with development issues. First, he gave a review of the Seven Locks Road Sidewalk and Bikeway Project. We had asked the MSCA membership for input on this project to gauge whether the Board should represent the community as being generally in favor of the concept or not. Almost 100 participating members responded favorably to the idea, subject to some concerns that will have to be addressed when more detailed plans are available. A very few negative responses were also received, but the consensus was to support the County’s project at this time and watch for impacts to the homeowners along Seven Locks Road as special cases.
Second, the membership discussed the water main replacement project on the southern side of Montgomery Square. Homeowners are concerned about the overall condition of the road surface already and what it will look like after Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) finished its project. Information from the County to date is that WSSC will only repave the disturbed area in a strip along the road, not the whole road. The President has inquired about whether the County and WSSC can partner and do the whole road, but County funds are very limited for any repaving work and we have not found a way to convince the County to act as of yet. There may be recourse if the work done by WSSC is not done well enough for the County inspectors. The Board will continue to look for opportunities here, but could use some help in staying on top of this issue. A member noted that with more dues collected, MSCA could afford more legal and lobbying support to pressure the County and WSSC, but not with current resources. If a goal of 85% participation could be met consistently, a material difference would be possible.
The Board agreed to press for a higher participation goal and attendees discussed how to go about increasing dues collection, and the relationship between paying dues and receipt of the MSCA Directory, and/or inclusion as a listing in the directory. All combinations of the options were considered, with pros and cons debated with the membership at large. The consensus of the meeting was to continue thanking those who had paid, publicly in the Tetragon, and to target those who had not with a specific letter from the Board in the mail asking for their directory information and the dues payment. The Board was persuaded by the argument that if households do not respond with their desired directory listing names and telephone numbers, the Board cannot justify listing them in the 2008-2009 directory that is being prepared for printing. Absent knowledge of who the homeowners are and absent their permission to list them, the Board should discontinue listing the names of non-responsive homeowners. This will be explained in the mailing. The Board apologizes to anyone who may have paid and not been recorded properly, and they can correct any mistakes before printing. On the question of whom to give directories, the Board found that the consensus was for giving it to all households as a neighborhood resource and to maintain the value of advertising space in the publication, which helps offset printing costs. While some members did not initially like the idea of giving the directory to non-paying households, the overall benefit of doing so, along with the change to not list non-participating members, was accepted as a package by the Board.
Board members discussed the upcoming directory printing. Advertisements will be solicited, and any members who wish to have ads run for their businesses can contact the Vice President, Steve Schuck.
Bob reported that the annual Yard Sale was a success, with about the same number of households participating as in prior years. Efforts to get the advertising out and signs put up were appreciated. Thanks are due to Steve Schuck for the effort. Another large banner sign will be procured for next year.
Another local development issue discussed was the Montrose Road and Route 355 area. Plans for improvement to Montrose east from Rockville Pike to Georgia Avenue are on hold, and the State is holding up money for the Rockville Pike and Montrose Road overpass. However, a meeting on the overpass/intersection scheduled for June appeared to indicate that construction would start. No further information was available at the time of the meeting, however.
The Secretary, Tom Hall, reported that no new nominations had been received for the Officers of MSCA. All current officers, however, agreed to continue to serve if selected. A vote of those present was unanimous for retaining the current Officers.
In closing, the President noted that he wished to thank the Officers and volunteers. He thanked everyone for coming.
Meeting was adjourned.
