In his last day as president of the Montgomery County Council, Roger Berliner spoke with reporters in Rockville, recounting a year that included continued budget wrangling, squabbles over Pepco's performance and steps to aid small businesses and stimulate economic development.
Click here to a see a video of Berliner’s remarks.
Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring took the reins as the council’s new president on Tuesday.
But before he stepped aside during Tuesday's council meeting, Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac outlined what he sees as the council’s greatest accomplishments during his yearlong term.
Click here to read Berliner’s remarks in their entirety.
The council on Tuesday also released a list of accomplishments from the past year, including:
- Fiscal stewardship, including a property tax rate below the county’s charter limit for the first time in 11 years.
- A focus on economic development, including creation of a “small business navigator” to help businesses wade through government regulations and bureaucracy and
- Pursuing expanded transportation options, including planning for bus rapid transit.
- Support of Montgomery County Public Schools.
- Strengthening the county’s safety net services, including health care for the uninsured.
- Protecting the environment, including new business codes that promote energy efficiency and a tax credit for green businesses.
- Enhanced public safety, including reforms to the police disability retirement system.
- Promoted affordable housing through legislation requiring consideration of affordable housing collocation on county-owned land.
- Advocating for “21st century” utility service, including increased reliability for all utility ratepayers.
- Support of the county’s arts organizations, libraries, and recreation centers, including the restoration of staffing and hours at some libraries.
- Support for seniors, veterans and working families, including a “Senior Agenda” for funding senior services in the budget.
- Support for people with disabilities, including backing ballot Question A, which supports preferential hiring in county government for people with disabilities.
- Innovation and good government, including funding a new couty position of Chief Innovation Officer.
- Infrastructure funding, including increases for road maintenance and resurfacing and for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission's water and sewer pipe maintenance and replacement programs.
Tell us: What were the County Council’s big wins for the year? What work remains to be done?
We need to VOTE them OUT!
www.SaveBurtonsville.com The County has wasted two years pretending that they were going to make some much needed changes in Burtonsville, including allowing residential development in the town that has none. However, when the County Plan was examined, it actually provided no housing whatsoever. It was all a slick diversion to maintain the "no growth" status quo, which has been promoted by a small group of no growth insiders. It is obviously time for new politicians to replace the same old crowd that has been in charge for so long. After so many years of trying to revitalize Burtonsville, it is obvious that this group is not up to the task. Shameful.