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COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION (CGCA)
MEETING MINUTES, November 13, 2013

GENERAL MEETING
Meeting called to order at 7:05

Welcome

Tom Miner, President of CGCA, welcomed the membership (approx 35) to the meeting. Also attending were Hjarman Cordero, Senior Neighborhood Resource Coordinator assigned to us while Orlando Heyliger is serving in the National Guard and Nancy Pickard of Peerless Rockville who spoke to the group later in the meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

Tom gave the Treasurer’s report as Don Mann was unable to attend the meeting. Tom reported that the Association currently has $8,613.92 ($4,000 is still allocated to the pond study). $2661 was collected for the purchase of the directories and the advertising in the directories and will be deposited by Don later this month.

National Night Out

Susan VanGrack, CGCA Vice President, recapped this year’s NNO. It was another success with approximately 200 attendees, more volunteers than in previous years and lots of police and firemen in attendance. She indicated that new people have to become involved in the planning and implementation of next year’s NNO since the entire CGCA board will be “retiring” after June 2014. People were encouraged to recruit neighbors to participate in next year’s planning and implementation. The cost of the NNO was approximately $600.

New Business

Nancy Picard of Peerless Rockville informed the group that “PR” is working on a project to gather, archive and present the history of the College Gardens neighborhood. Neighbors are encouraged to reach out to PR with relics, photos and stories about their College Gardens “experience.” Nancy said that there would be a formal presentation, Modern Living in Rockville, sometime in the spring – a date yet to be determined – and she hopes that College Gardens will actively participate in the creation of the presentation as well as attend the final show. Nancy left business cards for easy access to her at PR.
If you can share anything from your College Gardens history, please contact:

Nancy Pickard, Programs manager
Phone: 301-762-0096
Email: programs@PeerlessRockville.org
www.PeerlessRockville.org

The 2014-2015 Directory is ready for delivery. Tom has reached out to the block captains by email to advise them that the directories are ready to be picked up and delivered.
Tom thanked Naomi Miner for her role in obtaining the bulk of the advertisers appearing in the Directory. He also thanked Jerry Callistein and Karen Carp for their assistance and expertise updating and formatting the Directory information and preparing it for the printer.
A special THANK YOU goes out to all the Block Captains who collected the updated information and distributed the directories.

As previously indicated $2661 has already been collected during the initial sale of the directory. Additional monies are anticipated once the delivery has been completed.

Elections

June 2014 will mark the end of the two year term for the current officers of the CGCA: Tom Miner, President; Susan VanGrack, Vice-President; Kathy Goldgeier, Secretary; and Don Mann, Treasurer.

Tom informed the attendees that none of the current officers are seeking re-election so recruiting interested parties is essential. Tom is available to assist with this process if anyone would like to discuss further.

Other Business

Radon Gas in Homes

Radon is an invisible, cancer-causing, radioactive gas created during the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soils. It’s found in nearly all soils. Tom shared information about the potential radon gas that is present in many area houses. He mentioned some people who recently sold their homes we surprised to find their homes had enough radon in them to warrant remediation before the sale. A radon test is usually required when a home is bought and sold.

As radon is a potentially serious health risk, homeowners who use their basements extensively for kids, guests, and pets might consider testing to determine the level of radon present in their basements. To learn more about radon, the risk, and remediation, follow this link: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/dectmpl.asp?url=/Content/dep/air/radon.asp

Susan Donahue mentioned that the Cub Scouts did not pick up the food she left out for the food drive last weekend. Similar experiences have occurred with other neighbors. Everyone felt it was important to continue supporting this activity and steps will be taken next year to assist with a better pick up.

An attendee asked what is happening with the Magruders site in College Plaza. Tom did not have an update but has contacted the management company to see if he can obtain one and will add it to the CGCA website.

Sidebar: College Plaza is owned and managed by Combined Properties. In searching the web for contact info, Tom came across this summary and detailed demographics of the shopping center.

While on this topic of College Plaza, Tom pointed out a new advertiser in the new CG Directory, Matt’s House of Kabob, which is located in College Plaza. Tom has been there a number of times and gave it a good recommendation.

Mike Phillips asked if Montgomery College will provide a representative to discuss plans for the parking garage that we are hearing about. Susan Swift, CG neighbor and Director of Community Planning and Development Services at the City assured the group that by code they must advise the neighborhood of any plans that will impact it. At this time there is no indication when a meeting with Montgomery College will occur.

Paul O’Brien noted that the College Gardens Park had received numerous awards and asked if there was a way to display all the awards that the CG Park has accumulated – local and national.

Update: Tom checked with the City and secured a list of the awards the Park has received. The awards are:

• American Public Works Association – Public Works Project of the Year (winner in the Environment category for under $5 million) – April, 2012.
• Maryland Department of the Environment – Smart, Green and Growing Partnership Recognition Awards for Sustainable Infrastructure/Innovation in Stormwater Management – July, 2011.
• Montgomery County Department of Transportation – Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Award of Excellence, Cityscape Level II – 2011.
• Montgomery County Department of Transportation – Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Award of Excellence, Cityscape Level I- 2010. · Peerless Rockville Preservation Award – October 2010.
• Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association – Environmental Award for Partnership with a Civic or Environmental Organization – 2010.
• Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture – Gold Leaf Landscape Beautification Award – 2010.

Ben Wright, a Boy Scout of Troop 1415, gave a power point presentation of his Eagle Scout project – cleaning and replanting the circle on Tulane Court. With the guidance and assistance of the College Gardens Garden Club, Ben transformed the overgrown circle into a beautiful area of foliage that will be maintained by neighbors and the garden club. Some of the pictures Ben shared at the meeting are included below.

Many thanks to the Gardens Club and its President, Sue Mabry, for helping Ben financially and with their extensive knowledge of plants.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue VanGrack
President
Tom Miner
1601 Auburn Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 873-2509
Tom.Miner@LongandFoster.com

Vice President
Susan VanGrack
808 Fordham Street
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 279-2266
SVanGrack@writ.com

Secretary
Kathy Goldgeier
1520 Columbia Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 424-7149
KBodGold@aol.com

Treasurer
Don Mann
1615 Auburn Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 403-7550
DonMann@gmail.com