Rockville City Council Agenda: Fireside Park Apartments and Retirement Plan Studies

Discussions of Rockville Housing Enterprise’s purchase plan for the Fireside Park Apartments and of whether to commission a study of the city’s employee retirement plan are on the Rockville City Council’s agenda for Monday.

The Council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting will be broadcast live on Rockville 11. 

Fireside Park Apartments discussion

The council is scheduled to hear briefings on affordable housing in Rockville and Montgomery County, followed by an update on and discussion of the proposal by Rockville Housing Enterprises to purchase the Fireside Park Apartments.

RHE, which administers public housing in Rockville, has asked the city to commit $2 million toward the $37.5 million purchase of the 236-unit garden-style Fireside Park complex at 735 Monroe St.

Click here for more on Monday’s scheduled discussion.

Retirement plan study

The council is scheduled to discuss whether to fund a study of the city’s employee retirement plan.

Staff is recommending taking up to $32,500 from the city manager contingency account to pay for the study. The study is not funded in the fiscal 2013 city budget.

“The proposed study would provide an analysis of costs and potential savings associated with a comprehensive plan redesign,” according to a city staff report.

The city’s actuary, the Hay Group, prepared three study options, including:

• Comparing leaving the current plan in place vs. a full freezing of the direct benefit plan for current employees and new hires. Study cost: $17,500.
• The above comparison, plus a look at the option of keeping the direct benefit plan for incumbents, but closing it to new hires. Cost: $22,500.
• Both of the comparisons mentioned above, plus a review of the choices available in similarly-situated governmental agencies. Cost: $27,500.

Water main rehabilitation contract increases

The council also is scheduled to vote on an increase and an extension of contracts for the city’s water main rehabilitation program.

The consent agenda item calls for a vote on a $1.6 million increase to the water main rehabilitation program contracts for fiscal 2013, which began July 1. The contracts are with Carlisle, PA-based Mid-Atlantic Utilities, Inc. and Alexandria, VA-based Sagres Construction Corporation.

The vote also would extend the contracts with the companies through fiscal 2014, which runs through June 30, 2014. The extension would be for up to $3.34 million. The contracts would include taking a city water tank out of service and would fund planning, design and construction of ongoing improvements to the city’s aging water system.

Proclamations and awards

The council also is scheduled to present several proclamations and awards, including:

• A proclamation recognizing the city’s annual holiday drive, which kicks off this month.
• A presentation of Good Neighbor Awards for 2012 to 10 Rockville residents. Click here for the list of awardees.
• A presentation of a plaque from the American Public Works Association to members of the city’s Department of Public Works who worked on the College Gardens Park and Stormwater Management Pond Project. The APWA named the project a 2012 Public Works Project of the Year.