Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Council members opposed amendments to the definition of a political action committee and the addition of slates to city election code.
Gaithersburg officials voted in favor of adding a fifth campaign finance report for the 2013 city elections, but unanimously opposed making changes to the city's election code defining political action committees and the addition of slates. The fifth finance report will be due 14 days after city elections. Other options for the proposed ordinance included: The Board of Supervisors of Elections recommended the city revise the definition of a political committee from a group of two or more to a group of three or more that collects or spends $1,000 or more "to assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate or slate of candidates for city elective office." The current committee collection and spending threshhold is $250. A …
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
The Gaithersburg City Council will hold two policy discussions during Monday evening's 7:30 meeting at City Hall. An ordinance to amend the city's election code intends to change the definition of a Political Committee and to add a definition of a Slate. It also will possibly include an additional campaign finance report due 14 days after the election. Four options for the ordinance have been submitted for consideration: In addition to potential election code changes, the City Council will also hear a policy discussion regarding electronic signage in Gaithersburg. A proposed text amendment could change the requirements for electronic signage in the city. The full agenda is available on the City of Gaithersburg website. Related Content:
Monday, April 29, 2013
Gaithersburg officials will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the fiscal year 2014 budget plan.
Gaithersburg officials will meet for the final mandatory budget work session Monday evening at City Hall. The council will hold a budget work session Tuesday evening if necessary. Budgets will be reviewed for the following departments during the meeting: There will also be a review of the city's Capital Improvements Plan. More information on the fiscal year 2014 budget can be found on the city of Gaithersburg website.
Friday, April 26, 2013
City recently announced plans to expand the fall festival.
After announcing plans to expand the Kentlands Oktoberfest in 2013, the city of Gaithersburg is seeking public input on the event before the planning process moves ahead full steam. The Arts and Events Division of the City of Gaithersburg Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture will hold an open meeting to discuss plans for the event on May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kentlands Mansion. The city had originally considered the possibility of replacing the fall festival with a summer arts and wine festival in the neighborhood. Related Content:
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
City Manager: Oktoberfest will remain in Kentlands, Celebrate Gaithersburg will have a new date and theme.
Gaithersburg's Oktoberfest festival will remain in Kentlands and expand, while Celebrate Gaithersburg will have a new date and theme, City Manager Tony Tomasello told the Mayor and City Council during a fiscal 2014 budget presentation Monday. Oktoberfest, held for the past 21 years in Kentlands, will expand toward Market Square and Main Street, The Gazette reported. The festival also will add another stage of music while the beer garden and Bavarian dancers will return, with some additional activities for families, city Arts and Events Division Chief Denise Kayser told The Gazette. The city considered major changes to both Oktoberfest and Celebrate Gaithersburg. In January, Kayser suggested scrapping Kentlands Oktoberfest for a summer …
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council will meet Monday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Gaithersburg residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinion on the fiscal year 2014 budget and proposed property tax increase at Monday evening's mayor and City Council meeting. City Manager Tony Tomasello's propsed budget is the largest in Gaithersburg history. It does not propose an increase in Gaithersburg's property tax rate, but would be exceeding the constant tax rate set by the state. Joining Mayor Sidney Katz and the Council will be members of the District 17 delegation, who are attending the meeting to give a brief presentation on highlights of the 2013 legislative session. Sen. Jennie Forehand, Dels. Kumar Barve, Jim Gilchrist and Luiz Simmons are expected to attend. The full agenda can be viewed on the city of …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Holocaust survivor Mina Parsont received a proclamation Tuesday from Gaithersburg mayor Sidney A. Katz.
The city of Gaithersburg will observe "Days of Remembrance" from April 7-14 in honor of Holocaust victims, Mayor Sidney A. Katz announced at Tuesday evening's City Council meeting. A proclamation recognizing the weeklong observance was presented by Katz to Holocaust survivor Mina Parsont, a Gaithersburg resident. Parsont is a "hidden child of the Holocaust," she said after receiving the proclamation. Separated from her parents, Parsont and her sister spent six months in hiding at the home of a Catholic family in her native France. Parsont spent many years locating the surviving family members who helped care for her in France, she said. After more than 50 years, she was reunited with them, according to a report by The Gazette. …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
City officials discussed potential changes to the festivals during a work session Monday evening.
Could Gaithersburg's Oktoberfest and Olde Towne festivals be coming to an end? At Monday evening's mayor and City Council work session, city Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser proposed the city replace its extensive support of the Kentlands Oktoberfest with a summer arts, music and wine festival. Kayser also recommended a proposal to shift the traditional Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne festival to a "fall-themed" festival, encompassing the best parts of previous Olde Towne and Oktoberfest events. Much of Kayser's proposal mirrored changes she outlined in a January presentation to the mayor and City Council. But Kayser's proposal doesn't completely do away with the city's annual Oktoberfest. "The idea is not necessarily to …
Monday, March 11, 2013
The mayor and City Council will discuss proposed changes to large city events — Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne, Oktoberfest — at Monday evening's work session.
A proposal to make significant changes to Gaithersburg's Olde Towne and Oktoberfest festivals will be the lone topic of discussion at Monday evening's mayor and City Council work session. Proposed changes to the events were outlined in a January presentation by Gaithersburg Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser. Kayser said the city should consider abandoning the Olde Towne and Oktoberfest festivals — held annually in September and October, respectively — and replacing them with a summer art and music festival in Kentlands and a "Celebrate Fall" festival in Olde Towne. Mayor Sidney A. Katz and the City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the proposed changes. Related Content:
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Gaithersburg's Board of Supervisors of Elections recommends changes to the definition of a political committee and financial reporting.
The Gaithersburg Board of Supervisors of Elections is recommending multiple changes to the city's election code. An ordinance introduced at Monday's Mayor and City Council meeting would revise the definition of a political committee within the city by defining a "slate" and requiring a fifth additional finance report due 14 days after city elections. "A slate would be defined as two or more candidates who join together to conduct and pay for joint campaign activities," according to a city staff report. The amendment would revise the definition of a political committee from a group of two or more to a group of three or more that collects or spends $1,000 or more "to assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate or slate …
Tom Rowse
9:51 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The city election code is a farce. As they have repeatedly shown since attaining office, the election code in Gaithersburg is being manipulated and used as a tool by the incumbents to maintain office. They have and will freely circumvent the code while holding all challengers accountable. more ›