County Council continues budget work
The Montgomery County Council is scheduled Monday to approve renegotiated collective bargaining agreements with unions representing police, government employees and firefighters. The agreements were renegotiated so the council could direct additional funds to reducing class size and improving instruction at county schools. The renegotiated agreements delayed the payment of 3.5 percent pay increases for police officers from June 2016 to June 2017, while 3.5 percent pay increases for government employees were shifted from May 2017 to June 2017. A 1 percent increase in firefighters’ pay was shifted from February 2017 to June 2017. The shifts are expected to save the county about $2.3 million in fiscal 2017.
Screenshot via County Council agenda
The council is also scheduled to review budgets for Montgomery College, Montgomery County Public Schools and the county’s recreation department. On Tuesday, it will review budgets for community grants and the Arts and Humanities Council.
Pepco official to talk about proposed rate increase in Bethesda Monday
Pepco Vice President Jerry Pasternak is scheduled to speak Monday night at the Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board meeting about the electric utility’s proposed rate increase. In April, Pepco requested a 10 percent rate increase for Maryland customers, shortly after closing a deal to merge with the Chicago utility Exelon. The Montgomery County Council unanimously opposed the increase the day after it was proposed. The advisory board meeting starts at 7 at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.
Learn about construction plans at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
The school’s PTSA will host a meeting starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday on details of an addition project set to start in June. The construction of a four-story addition near the school’s main entrance and along the side of the school facing the football field will have considerable impacts on parking and operations.
Bethesda downtown plan work session Thursday
The Montgomery County Planning Board is scheduled Thursday to hold its 12th work session on the Bethesda Downtown Plan. This meeting will focus on summarizing the density that has been added to the plan, followed by a presentation about the stress the new density could put on transportation systems in Bethesda, according to the agenda. The work session starts at 2 p.m. at the planning department building at 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring.
Showers and sun expected this week
While more rain is likely to fall this week, it won’t happen every day. Monday is expected to be sunny with a high of 64 degrees and a nighttime low of 51, according to the National Weather Service. Showers are likely Tuesday and Wednesday when highs are predicted in the low 60s. The sun returns Thursday and Friday with temperatures expected to break 70 both days.
