Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center will reopen to the public on Thursday, Aug. 6 for people interested in adopting a rescue animal. The reopening marks the shelter’s participation in the annual “Clear the Shelters” adoption month, sponsored by NBC/Telemundo.
The County Council yesterday unanimously approved a bill that would require the Montgomery County police chief to adopt a use of force policy. Many of the provisions in the legislation are similar those in a new policy announced in June by County Executive Marc Elrich, Police Chief Marcus Jones and the Fraternal Order of Police.
The County Council yesterday approved about $28 million in appropriations to provide assistance to residents and various entities dealing with financial issues related to COVID-19 emergency. The largest appropriation, $20 million was requested by County Executive Marc Elrich from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to expand rental assistance for eviction and homelessness prevention.
The Republic Garden in downtown Silver Spring has been temporarily shut down by order of the Department of Health and Human Services, officials announced. The restaurant/lounge at 8402 Georgia Ave. was given a 30-day closure notice on Sunday, July 26 for not maintaining the minimum of six feet for social distancing.
The county’s Planning Department has revised the schedule of three virtual “listening sessions” for the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan following a Zoombombing incident that forced the cancellation of the initial July 21 session.
The county is now offering no-cost, in-home COVID-19 testing for eligible residents who live in area zip codes most affected by the coronavirus. A response team of a health worker and a human services worker will provide temperature checks, monitor vital signs and give COVID-19 saliva tests to all household members who give consent.
The County Council continues to work on providing funding for specific sectors to assist in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 health emergency. At the behest of County Executive Marc Elrich, the council yesterday introduced legislation to appropriate $20 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to expand rental assistance for eviction and homelessness prevention.
The bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission expressed major concerns about a Draft Environmental Impact Statement during a briefing last week with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. The DEIS is part of the state’s Managed Lanes Study to evaluate alternatives to improve traffic congestion along I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Maryland, and on I-270 from I-495 to I-370.
The county’s Planning Department will hold the first of three virtual “listening sessions” on what’s been rechristened the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan on Tuesday, July 21 from noon to 1:15 p.m. The discussion is part of the launch of the sector plan process for the Central Business District and surrounding area.