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 …
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 …
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
Reports say Gaithersburg could see anywhere from 5 to 10 inches of snow.
With the storm dubbed "snowquester" bearing down on the Capital Region, Gaithersburg officials are urging residents to take caution. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the region beginning Tuesday evening and lasting through Wednesday night. The NWS predicts accumulations of up to 5 inches or more in the region. But could Gaithersburg see more? The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang is predicting the chances of five or more inches are 80 percent and the odds of 10 or more inches of snow are as high as 50 percent in Gaithersburg. "Please make sure to make all the appropriate preperations. We hope we don't get hit too hard.... Do be careful out there," Gaithersburg City Councilmember Ryan Spiegel said during …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser recommended scrapping Kentlands Oktoberfest for a summer arts festival and changing Olde Towne Street Festival to a fall festival.
Two of Gaithersburg's annual, staple events may undergo drastic changes, according to a presentation made by city Arts & Events Division Chief Denise Kayser to the Gaithersburg mayor and City Council Tuesday night. Kayser said the city should consider scrapping the Kentlands Oktoberfest in favor of a summer arts festival in the neighborhood and change the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne festival to a fall-themed festival in October. Oktoberfest has outgrown its venue and outpaced the city's partner's resources, according to the presentation. "The two most common comments we've received from Oktoberfest attendees is that it's too crowded and there's not that much to do," Kayser said, while later adding that "an arts festival would …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Gaithersburg City Council Vice President Mike Sesma was elected to the National League of Cities Board of Directors.
Gaithersburg City Council Vice President Michael A. Sesma has been elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities, the city announced Wednesday. Sesma, who was elected to the Gaithersburg City Council in 2005, has served on NLC’s Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee since 2007, chairing it in 2012. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to represent Gaithersburg and other Maryland cities on the NLC Board of Directors," Sesma said in a statement. "I’ll work hard with other elected officials and the NLC leadership to advance advocacy at the federal and state level for the priorities that are important in making American cities and towns better.” NLC is a resource and …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The mayor and City Council reflected on the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, CT, a community they said was quiet and safe, like Gaithersburg .
Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz and members of the City Council say they were stunned by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings and want to minimize risk of such violence locally. Officials used part of Monday night's meeting to reflect on the tragedy in what they said was a small, quiet town, much like Gaithersburg. "As a municpal official, there are just some events that cut deeper, and snap you to numbness...this was one of those," Council Member Jud Ashman said. "Our thoughts and prayers go to them." "Obviously all of our hearts are broken for the community of Newtown, CT," City Council Vice President Ryan Spiegel said. Follow ongoing coverage from Newtown Patch here Spiegel said he came to City Hall on Friday to speak with staff…
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Council member Michael A. Sesma is live blogging his trip to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Greg Cohen
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Thursday, September 6, 2012
With the second day of the Democratic National Convention wrapped up and the third and final day on tap, Marylanders have made their presence felt in Charlotte, NC. But while state officials have fulfilled speaking obligations, one Gaithersburg city official is taking in the sights, sounds and general political environment the DNC has to offer. Gaithersburg City Council member Michael A. Sesma, an Alternate Delegate for the Democratic National Convention through Maryland's Sixth Congressional District, left for Charlotte a few days ago and has been sharing his experiences via MyMCMedia. Upon his departure, Sesma said, "After watching conventions on television since 1960, I’m going to see one up close and personal and be a participant in …
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 ›