Where was Bob Hydorn or anyone from the Montgomery Village Board last night when the Greater Goshen Civic Association (GGCA) hosted a meeting in opposition to M83 Option 4 Modified at the Boland-Farm Road Firehouse? There were just four of us from Montgomery Village in attendance.

Action speaks louder than words!

Steven,

The meeting notice was posted in the February 1, 2013 on page 20 in the North Village View with a bold heading, Meeting on Alternate 4 Modified.

As far as sticking to the subject, this election of MVF Board members is all about preparing to meet the external challenges that await us from the state, county, and business communities. The disposition of M83 is the preeminent threat for many of the residents in Montgomery Village and its neighbors.

At the Candidates Forum, one candidate of MVF Board stated support for the MVF Transportation Plan view on Wightman Road and stated opposition to M83. Others chimed in. But none of these three candidates attended the meeting nor did a single MVF Board member.

Again, action speaks louder than words. It takes more than words in the MVF Transportation Plan agreed to in a committee or board meeting. It takes an ear to the ground to know when community events of consequence are coming and it takes a commitment to act and actually attend.

The speaker from EPA traveled from Philadelphia to speak to those gathered. Our board members and three candidates needed only to travel the few miles from Montgomery Village.

What is wrong with this picture?

What must-attend events do you have marked on your calendar for the following external challenges we face?
1. Government affairs issues with the County and State include Town Sector Zoning, Gaithersburg East Master Plan, M83 Midcounty Selection, Goshen Road widening, Webb Tract development, and Lake Whetstone dredging.
2. Business development issues involve the Nike Site, Golf Course, Professional Center, Shopping Center, and Watkins Mill Development.

Don,

Perhaps you should have made more effort to alert your fellow Montgomery Village residents to this meeting, and there wouldn't have just been four residents, including you, attending. And in re-reading the Candidates Forum transcript, no candidate said they supported the M-83, Wightman road widening, or Goshen road widening; you took a short sound-bite in support of the MVF Transportation Policy, out of a longer answer, and if you read the full answer, there's a clear opposition to all three, so none of the candidates do, which makes this a non-issue. I take from your attack that you again remind of your lack of respect for the Village's volunteers, including on the TD&PF Committee, and members of the communities affected by these project, along with MVF, who've all shown in addition to opposing these projects, have tried to set specific parameters to limit the scope for if the County and State proceed on without listening to the opposition. It seems you're all about misleading people for your own benefit to try to get elected. And you again act like no one else in the Village but you does anything. You've stooped so low as to make up positions for other candidates, to having made up a quote in your latest letter to the editor in the MV News, which clearly is not in the transcript. You sir are not fit to serve in a leadership role, and you owe a number of apologies. May the community see through your lies and send you back into your continued obscurity.

I am not in any way broadcasting my endorsement for any of the candidates currently on the ballot in any of my few past or current comments. The only thing I notice & find disturbing about these blogs is there appears to be an 'agenda' to rile. When adding highlighted endorsement in last sentence, one could only know that the 'attack mentality' would be ignited. Such doesn't belong in an adult campaign or pre-election tactic even w/excuse such exists in all political processes nowadays. This blog would have been taken more seriously had there simply been an 'encouragement' to all residents to vote. The last sentence of this blog could have been and, in my opinion, should have been left out. All residents are supposedly encouraged to run; all residents are encouraged to vote. And most, if not all, residents who are interested at all in the 'political process' can read all comments from the candidates themselves (not from the ones attacking them at every opportunitiy they manage to find) in the PATCH & articles in Village News to form opinions & decision to make up their own minds (intelligently) as to whom they believe is the most capable to hold office. Those on present Board should remain neutral or, at least, stop campaigning for his or her own choice.

Don

You need to be more careful with your accusations towords all MVF Board members, unless you have spoken to them. I was not at the GCCA meeting because it conflicted with the TDPF meeting which was scheduled on the same date. We also had a speaker from MCPS speaking to us on issues that are important to the Village. The first I heard of this meeting was February 1 also, much to late to change my plans.

1st Amendment not the issue; absolutely for 'freedom of speech'. But my concern or interest at present was one of 'being the bigger person' (& demonstrating some respect & decorum). Adding last sentence of endorsement (when endorsement has been out there to begin with numerous times) was just (my opinion/perception...individual opinions appearing 'taboo' if one wants to fit in to current MVF 'creed' in order to even run for office) a means to 'push buttons' & get this blog & fire going again. I have witnessed that tactic i.e. in Federal government where one 'ignites the fire' knowing full well the 'gang mentality' outcome; then sits back silently & watches (w/half smile, half pleasureable smirk) & relishes the 'emotional fire/turmoil' as a bystander. I prefer the 'bigger person' than quoting amendments. Had enough of those 'quotes' from those regarding gun laws! And I don't find this blog backing up one's professed belief or genuine encouragement that residents should consider running for office unless it is made known one runs only if they totally agree & follow the 'beliefs, opinions and wants' of those already on the board. Anyone running for office apparently needs 'tough skin & a coat of armor' or basically become a 'yes man/yes woman'. I could have sworn I read somewhere that MVF boasts of being a diverse community as long as that diversity is only race, color or religion. Diverse opinions from diverse personal community experiences not welcome!

I agree with Sharon. Posting the names of the candidates you want to win on the blog seems very slanted. It probably would've added more credibility if at least you stared why you wanted them to be reelected. Instead it came across as your own good old boys club.
How is Montgomery Village moving forward? It's at an all-time low. The house values are so depressed compared to other communities in Gaithersburg, crime is high, schools are horrific and their test scores are some of the lowest in the area.
It's great that the candidates volunteer their time but don't make it sound like your buddies have all the answers.

My question is - is the village really moving forward with the same people who are elected. It hasn't been moving forward. Jim is right - "crime is high, schools are horrific and their test scores are some of the lowest in the area"

Walt,

You are confusing two issues.

On the relocation of MVF offices to the MV Shopping Center, I said at the Candidates Forum , "I am opposed to to the movement and relocation of the MVF offices to the Montgomery Village Shopping Center purely on cost. What's the point? How much does it cost? It seems foolish, Let's pull our horns in a little bit and do things that are going to add value,..."

On the Watkins Mill Middle School, the issue was not whether it was "fiscally prudent"; the issue was over protecting Centerway Park for use by Village residents and MVSA sports programs. As for whether my opposition was fueled by the fact that the school was in my back yard in Whetstone, of course it was.

I wish everyone would fight for things that matter.

Don, After researching the history of Centerway Park, it was owned by the MCPS for a Middle School site. When it was classed as a surplus site it was transferred to the Parks Department for park use. The transfer of such surplus sites include a caveat that if needed at anytime in the future by MCPS it would revert back to the MCPS. So it was and still is a temporary park site and available to MCPS for their use as a school. I believe that I had mentioned previously that you need to re-read the Vision 2030 and look up the meaning of the word “vision”. I find in minutes that the MVF office relocation was a vision of some residents in that extremely well crafted report. There has never been any move that I can find in the published minutes of the MVF Board, not even discussion of a move like you continue to say is happening.

Might I suggest an open, honest public debate by the candidates? Not a forum a real debate. I would suggest that the President of the MVF be included in such a debate. The MVF has all these meetings rooms so there should not be an issue finding s location. The moderator could be one of the former Presidents of the MVF.

Wouldn't it be far better & more cost-effective as well to put that money that would be required for construction of 'new' school on Centerway & invest instead in existing schools in the Village! Rhetorical! Invest in needed expansions i.e. to accommodate students that 'could provide a more modern learning environment and alleviated over-crowding'??!! And as far as not wanting a school in one's backyard.... In this day & age & what I & other adult residents have experienced w/MV middle school & high school students (not all but 'enough') in our own community (during simple routine of kids disembarking bus in the afternoon) is beyond belief. They stand in middle of our main community thoroughfare & dare you to hit them. Expressions (of arrogance) on their faces & the profanity is unbelievable! Students have even been known & witnessed to deliberately bang on hoods of cars while residents are sitting in their vehicles waiting for MC school bus' red light to go off & permitting right of way! Bullying & intimidation at its worst considering it's coming from our own Village kids! Maybe one imperative class added to curriculum at existing MV schools (besides anti-bullying classes) should be focused on 'Respect 101' not only for their own classmates but particularly towards adults. It is so very sad! Am curious (to Walt)! How close would that new school facility have been to your backdoor?

Don, Does not the MVF Board appoint committees such as this new ad hoc on the Nike Site to research and make a recommendation to the full board in public session? I don't think board members other than the member assigned to work with the committee need to attend them. If they did they would be at meetings every evening and many time during the day. The school bus report going to the County Council has already been made public. One of the options is to park them in the various school parking lots. The Webb Tract is not in the report. Where else in Montgomery Village could they possibly park them other than at the schools? I listen to many of these County reports on television, as they are televised.

Steven,

Committees meeting attendance includes concerned residents and have a Resident Time to hear your views.

On school bus parking, MCPS board has expressed a dim view of using the school parking lots for overnight parking fearing vandalism and other concerns.

Would you please post the options in the report?

Walt: Is the board responsible for MVMS having some of the lowest test scores in the state of MD? Not directly but decisions in the past have helped the community deteriorate into the less desirable state that it is in presently. How is it that only a few miles down the road homes in communities like the Kentlands and Quince Orchard Park can demand almost twice the price per square foot? Quality of life, crime, architecture, schools, and infrastructure all contribute to the demand for a given area. We recently sold a property off of Mid County Hwy and our first contract fell thru after only 24 hours when the buyer checked the crime statistics for the area.
In the Kentlands you can paint your house any color you want but in MV it is a major process to try to improve your houses curb appeal. I was cited for removing an outside light that looked like it belonged in the Smithsonian next to a Leisure Suit in a 1970s display. Part of MV problem is the dated architecture we all inherited. Some of the styles are clearly just not pleasant to look at and yet it is nearly impossible if at all possible to try to update the exterior of a home. The standards and the process for changing aesthetics needs to be reviewed and allow for improvement or values will continue to stay depressed.

Continued: There are nice neighborhoods in MV like Lakeside. I remember when we moved into MV in the 70s that MV was considered a very high end area to call your home. But anyone with children are now concerned about the quality of education that is available.
Maybe a cap on the number of rental allowed might help. Rentals seem to always be more of a problem when it comes to upkeep.
MV might want to consider letting go the apartments off of Lost Knife. Don't remember their new name but they are always on the crime report. If they became part of the City of Gburg it would go a long way in improving crime statistics for MV as a whole.
Best of luck with the election. You have a lot of work to do.

Derek, I have requested far too many times to count that a reputable newspaper staff editor & even TV newscaster 'research' that area i.e. for just the past 10 yrs (though one could go back even further & be flabbergasted) & write a thorough statistical report to print in a special edition. It might get more people involved in writing their representatives if those statistics hit them full force in the face! Such request has been to no avail. The statistics (for those of us not familiar w/that area) would blow readers away!!!! Have also on numerous occasions requested our County Council & the City of G'burg Council get more involved. This also to no avail! The Transit Center alone is a priority. Merely constructing an ugly wrought-iron fence certainly doesn't address the issue. That Transit Center is a party room for 'criminal activity'. And my major concern is the proximity of Asbury & the vulnerable elderly if someone doesn't take this 'crime zone' issue seriously.

carjacking occurred in the parking lot of Lake Forest Mall on Sunday, Feb. 3, just after 1 p.m. The suspect forcibly obtained the vehicle from the victim.

I have to say that I mailed my ballot today all signed properly for the 3 postive attitude candidates. Good luck Ms. Crandford, Mr. Dyer and Ms. Peterson.

Repeating oneself seems to come with age! Hummm! Consider it a 'perk' rather than lapse of memory/dementia. LOL! But I will reiterate what I commented on Don O'Neill's blog.... Elections are over. The verbal sparring can now come to an end, Praise the Lord. But we were still holding our breaths before the election for candidates to show up in our neighborhood. History merely repeated itself as well! Their appearance in this ostracized 'island' of South Village never happened! I knew I should have provided them 'directions' to this end of the Village. Hummm! Well, now that it has been determined that the 'Monarchy' is still intact, let's hope one of them steps up to the plate & the children are surprised by a playground this summer @ basically-barren, human-deserted Lake Whetstone. Will hold my breath yet again!

http://montgomeryvillage.patch.com/announcements/mvf-board-of-directors-approves-villages-largest-capital-project
Nice, 'seasonal' enjoyment. Sounds like a 'fantasy to behold'! But sad that a playground @ Lake Whetsone (costing MVF definitely a fraction of the cost) was not an agreed upon done deal right after meeting for such took place 'so very long ago'. Year round enjoyment for all! Sure can't hear that 'money' was the issue in opposing such a simple playground project in comparison to this extensive pool 'major project'. The wide-open spaces @ Lake Whetstone must be 'more sacred' than I thought! Hummm!