Good evening and welcome to the City of Rockville's Historic District Commission.

It's Thursday, February 19th.

This is meeting number two, 226.

I'm joined, I'm Peter Fossman.

I'm the chair of the HCC, and I'm joined by fellow commissioners Seth Dumbo, Michael Goldfinger, and Niddy Neil Powell, and Mercy Shanghai.

With us this evening also are staff member, Sheila Bashiri, who's our preservation planner, Cynthia Walters, who's our deputy city attorney, Katie Gerbase, who's comprehensive planning manager, and Megan Flick, who is the principal planner.

The meeting may be uh viewed on Rockville's Channel 11.

And that website is Rockville MD.gov forward slash Rockville 11.

And each meeting is also uh you have the ability to view the meeting later on, and that's also at RockvilleMD.gov forward slash video on demand.

Our first item on the agenda this evening are committee and organizational reports.

Is anyone from Pureless Rockville here this evening?

I do not see anyone.

Uh sometimes they show up a few minutes later, so we'll move on if they show up that can report.

Uh, next on the agenda is the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and fellow commissioner Nina Powell.

Good evening.

Again, my name is Anita Neal Powell.

I'm the president of the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the Leroy E.

Neal, African American Research Center.

The foundation will be hosting its 49th anniversary of February 28th, 4 p.m.

at the Mel Calvary Baptist Church in Lincoln Park.

And the 135th anniversary of the Lincoln Park community in June of 2026.

We would like to ask that you stop by City Hall and visit the showcase depicting Black History throughout Montgomery County.

And finally, as we continue to celebrate Black History Month in Rockville, please check out the African American Heritage Walking Tour or Virtual Tour of downtown Rockville.

HDC have really included have recently included the former Carver Junior College located at 850 Hungerford Drive as one of the mini stops on the Walking Tour.

Currently is the Board of Education.

For more information, contact the foundation at Lincoln Park, HIST at AOL.com or HDC staff for more information on the walking tour.

And this concludes my report.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Next on the agenda are any public comments.

It's open forum time for anything that is not on the agenda this evening.

If anyone has a comment that's here this evening or online, if you could please speak up.

Don't see anyone.

Okay, thank you.

Next is the HCC, the commissioners, and any comments from the staff.

Commissioners, anything to say?

It is time.

Okay.

Good evening.

As I've been doing for the last several months, I've been highlighting a different historical building within the city of Rockville.

Just to make everybody aware that history is there, we just have to look for it.

And tonight I've chosen the Farmers Banking and Trust Company building in downtown Rockville.

In the late 19th century, attempts to establish banks in Rockville were less successful than in other parts of Montgomery County.

Farmers Banking and Trust Company opened in 1900, joining Montgomery County National Bank of Rockville, which opened in 1884.

Farmers Banking kept its funds at the National Bank while its original building was under construction.

During World War One, Farmers Bank played a significant role in the city as its president, Robert Robert G.

Hilton, head of the committee that promoted Liberty Bond sales.

Farmers Banking and Trust constructed its Art Deco building in 1931 as construction of the new courthouse required the demolition of the bank's original building, along with several other buildings.

At the time, it was reported that this was the first Art Deco design building in Rockville.

Today it remains is the only Art Deco building in the city.

Farmers Banking and Trust Company survived the Great Depression of the 1930s, closing in March 1933 for the banking holiday and reopening on April 15th of the same year 1933.

The building is one of a very few that survived the urban renewal projects of the early 1960s, which witnessed the demolition of more than 100 structures.

Most of those that survived were demolished in succeeding years.

During that time, the Farmers Banking and Trust Company building changed ownership several times following the closing of the banking company.

In 2025, the Farmers Banking Interest Company building was given historic designation by the City of Rockville.

And today it houses Montgomery County's historic organization.

Building sits within the Montgomery County Courthouse Historic District, which is characterized visually and aesthetically by a uniformity of building design scale materials and settings.

That quote coming from the Department of Interior National Register of Historic Places Inventory nomination form.

Buildings located in Rockville's old commercial government and residential center.

Designed by architects Tielman Moyer and Company, the building's simple lines make it a classic example of the synthesis of neoclassical and art deco.

The granite facing on the building features cars and ornamentation typically.

I just said that typical of the Art Deco style, and that concludes tonight's talk on the uh on that historic building.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Powell.

Hi again.

Um my great-grand uncle Walter Johnson had an account in that bank as a matter of fact.

Um I have some of his receipts in his statement because I know there was some issue with black people getting involved in it.

Yeah.

So I thought I'd just share that information.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

It it brings the building more to life.

Yes.

Thank you.

I remember when uh sir, if you could just speak to the microphone.

Yeah, if you could just because the meeting's recorded.

Thank you, sir.

My name is John Dufief.

Uh I grew up in Rockville.

I was born in Rockville on Mount Vernon Place.

Um, my father was a builder and he had an account at that bank.

And when I was three years old, I went in the bank and there was a lot of farmers in there, and I could smell the manure on their shoes.

And I didn't know what that smell was.

I was only three years old.

And I said, Dad, what is that smell?

You know, and he explained to me.

So that's been around for a long time.

I'll never forget that.

Thank you for saying that story.

They were farmers back then.

Um, any other commissioners have any comments this evening?

Okay.

Uh staff, anything to say.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Next on the agenda, our consent agenda.

Um, approval of the minutes from last month on January 15th, 2026.

May I have a motion?

I make a motion.

Second.

Second.

Okay.

Any comments?

All in favor.

Thank you very much.

Uh, next on the agenda are evaluations of significance.

We have three items this evening under that category.

The first one is 2026-232 of um evaluation of significance, EOS.

Um, our applicant is Mike Whitmer, um, who is a civil engineer, and this is in reference to St.

Raphael's Catholic Church.

Uh, staff, do you have a presentation?

We do have a presentation for everyone this evening, and we do also have a couple of our marks to make before we actually get into the presentation.

Okay.

Um, for commissioners, if you've checked your email in the last hour and a half or so, you saw that staff have sent over a series of pieces of testimony that were submitted into the record this afternoon relative to this case.

We also have several folks that have signed up in advance to speak when we get to the public hearing portion of the meeting here today.

Um, there in looking at the testimony that was received, um, there were several questions, and it seems like a little bit of clarification might be necessary about the HDC's role in the hearing tonight.

So I just want to take a couple of minutes to share some facts for you all as commissioner, as well as for meeting attendees, folks who might be watching this afterwards, just so everyone is operating off the same kind of basic background information.

Um, so for those who don't know me, my name is Katie Gerbis.

I'm a comprehensive planning manager here in Rockville.

So I oversee our long-range planning efforts as well as our historic preservation program.

I am also a member of the city's development review committee.

So this is an interdisciplinary working group made up of staff from every department across the city that is tasked and responsible for reviewing all development review applications as they come in to make sure they're in alignment with our approved and adopted ordinances, regulations, processes, everything like that.

Um, tonight we have application 2026 232 EOS, which is an evaluation of significance for a structure at 1592 Kimblewick Road.

Um Sheila, when she gives her report, we'll talk to you much more about that building.

But specifically, what I want to remind this body of tonight is that as a quasi-judicial body, which the Historic District Commission is, you have certain authority that the city code gives you.

Evaluations of significance is one such use of that authority.

So your role here when performing an evaluation of significance is quite simply to determine whether or not this property meets one or more of our nine designation criteria.

The historic district commission does not have any authority or jurisdiction over new construction on sites that are not historic sites.

So this body would not be involved in any review or approval of any future construction that would happen on this site.

We also had several members of the public reach out to ask questions about this project kind of as a whole, many understanding that the HDC is one component of kind of a bigger set of processes that need to happen.

So I'd like to provide just a little bit of clarity on what that process is, what the city has officially received so far, just so that way the public is aware.

So we currently have an active minor site plan application in our development review committee right now for this property.

The site plan number for those who are interested in that is STP2024-00478.

The scope of the application, and this is a verbatim quote, is for replacement of a 4,386 square foot church office building with a new 5,002 square foot church office building.

And the proposed replacement is in roughly the same location as the existing structure, which you all are reviewing here tonight for an evaluation of significance.

The original application for this minor site plan amendment was submitted to the city in January of 2024.

To date, there have been three revisions to that application that have been submitted by the applicant.

The way that that process works with our development review committee is an application is submitted, staff review and provide feedback, then the applicant has an opportunity to resubmit to address that staff feedback.

And we kind of continue as long as we need to in order to get to the approval of the site plan.

So to date, there have been three revisions.

The most recent revision, we had comments sent out to the applicant in December of 2025.

We have not yet received a fourth revision of fourth submittal.

So at this point in time, the city is waiting for the applicant to determine if they would like to move forward, and if so, to submit their latest revised plans there.

To date, all of the revisions that have been reviewed by city staff have been completed within our posted review timelines.

The plan has not yet been approved.

There are still some revisions that need to happen, as I alluded to earlier.

So nothing has been formally approved at this point in time.

As you all know, as the HDC, the evaluation of significance is one component of what is required for a demolition permit.

But this approval on its own is not, this does not immediately say yes, you can demo the building.

A demo permit still needs to be applied for.

You all met him last week.

He came and presented on the zoning ordinance rewrite.

In the city of Rockville with our current code, minor site plan amendments do not require mailed notices.

Most of our other site plans do require notification by snail mail that goes out to a certain radius from the structure.

Minor site plans do not require that.

HDC does require that.

The radius is 500 feet from the property address, as well as HDC requires a sign posted on the site itself.

As well as no mail notices for minor site plan amendments, we also do not require public meetings for minor site plans.

For our major site plans, we do require public meetings to take place.

That said, we have a case planner who is assigned to this case that is always willing to meet and share what has been submitted to entertain comments and feedback from the community.

They are always available.

So the case planner that we have who is assigned to this case is a gentleman whose name is Christopher Davis.

His email address is C Davis at Rockville MD.gov.

So if anyone from the public is interested in seeing more details of what the plans that are currently submitted for this minor site plan amendment, or if they would like to have official comments be considered by the chief of zoning when he uses his authority to make a decision on this case, they are welcome to and encouraged to reach out to Chris and he'll be able to note all of those and add them into the record.

Excuse me, one second.

Could you just repeat his email address for those that are online with us?

Yep.

So his name is Christopher Davis.

And the email is C Davis.

So the letter C D A V I S at Rockville MD.gov.

Thank you.

And at this point in time, we have no other application active applications for this property.

I know in some of the testimony there was talk about other structures that might be on the larger church property.

We have not received any development review applications for anything beyond this structure that we're discussing here tonight.

I know that was a lot, but I think it's important to share that information, especially because it is a minor site plan.

It's not um advertised kind of as heavily as some of our other site plans.

Um so hopefully this was informative for you all as commissioners as well as anyone who we have attending our meeting tonight.

Absolutely, thank you very much.

I will turn it over to Ms.

Bashiri.

Michael Yes.

Yes.

Um that was uh very thorough, uh Katie.

Thank you very much.

But um just to make it clear, because um listening to what you just said, um and um uh you know there may be some confusion, but none of what you said applies to the historic district commission.

This is all other commissions and bodies in the city, is it?

So the evaluation of significance can be comes before you all about all the planning stuff is not within our purviews.

That is correct.

I just want to make that perfectly clear.

Yep.

Thank you.

Good evening.

Um I'm Sheila Bushiri Preservation Planner.

This review is for 2026-232-EOS, which is for evaluation of significance.

1592 Kimblewick Road.

Okay.

Uh the property itself is located on Kimblewake Road.

And it's on this is the campus that you're looking at, but the only um demolition that is proposed here is for the church office.

And so that's what we will be reviewing is the church office itself, um, looking to see uh what the historic significance is of the property of the building itself.

So as you can see, this is the building um on the campus, just to give you a look at it.

Okay, this is the front of the building.

It is uh colonial revival style building.

It's got um multi multi-light windows, double hung windows.

Uh the front door here has a um has panels flanking it, and it's got a panel door with a multi-light um glass windows, and also additional windows on the other side, the uh shutters are vinyl, and you see the multiple gable roofs here, and basically the multiple gable roofs are the indication that it was built within uh several times, several periods of time that it was added on to, and so that's why you have the different sections of the building itself.

So uh looking at it, you can see the uh grounds, the um the hedges, the the landscaping that's on the property itself and the sign that's on the office building.

And the campus itself does consist of um school, it does consist of a single family home that's used for uh priests to live in, to reside in, does have a uh daycare uh nursery there, and a actual school there and a actual uh assisted living home as well.

So it is quite the multi-use campus.

And this showing the west side elevation.

Uh this is showing the north side rear elevation.

So you see all the uh different gable roofs, the um asphalt shingle gable roofs, the vinyl siding, the brick chimney at the end.

Um so you can see there's one section here that is a flat roof.

So that's all these different types of roofs and the different heights.

That is the indicator that it was built over several periods of time.

We don't know the exact date of the building itself.

We do know that there was some remodeling going on in 1990s.

Uh, and we do believe that it started out as a farmhouse in the 1960s when the property was purchased, but beyond that, we really don't know exactly when the building was built.

There was a chicken coop.

It was a chicken coop?

Yes, it was it turned into that.

Okay.

Okay, I'm trying to here we go.

So finding that the building proposed for demolition at 1592 Kimblewick Road does not meet any of the historic district commission's adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design, lands and landscape significance.

Staff recommends against historic designation.

Do you have any questions for me or for Miss Gerbez who assisted with the report this this time?

Commissioners, any questions?

No.

Thank you.

Okay.

And I did want to point out once again, um, just reiterating what Ms.

Gerbez has said to you.

Tonight we are only looking at is the building historic or not.

There is no other purview.

We do not have purview to say what uh whether it should be demolished or not.

We do not have purview to say if it is demolished, what will go there?

We are only absolutely only looking at is it historic?

Does it meet the criteria for being historic or is it not?

We won't go, we won't go off the reservation.

So any questions for me at all, then if no questions, then we can proceed.

Thank you very much.

Sure.

Uh so is anyone uh either online or here this evening um to make a comment on what's before us.

Yes, so we have um someone from the applicant team here in person in Mayor and Council Chambers.

We also I'm sorry, forgive me.

I said that earlier, and then that's all right.

We also have um a representative from the applicant team available on WebEx.

Okay.

Great.

So whomever from that team is the lead is more than welcome to speak.

Oh, Mr.

Dafief, sorry, I didn't realize that.

Yes.

Um, good evening.

My name is John Dufief.

I'm a uh parishioner of St.

Rayfield's Catholic Church on uh uh Dunster Lane.

Um we've been trying to get this accomplished since 2022, and we've been working hard and trying to answer all the questions and uh jump through the hoops that we need to.

Uh the building is an old chicken coop that has been added on to many times um before the school was ever built and the church in 1966.

So uh the building is is corrupted.

It has crooked floors that are 18 inches out of level in seven feet, and it's uh it's in bad shape.

It's in very bad shape.

And so uh we have a very large uh parish of over 2800 families, and trying to conduct business out of this church, this little parish office is just not possible.

So we we propose to demolish this building and build a new office in the exact same footprint, maybe a few feet bigger, and it would just be a uh a half story below the earth and then one story above.

So it would be when you walk in the front door, there'll be six steps downstairs and six steps upstairs.

So it's not gonna be a tall uh obstacle looking type of a building.

So uh the style will match the church and the school using the same brick and the same roofing material.

Excuse me, Mr.

Defifee staff.

Is that something we can bring up for the folks that are online?

I don't believe we have a copy of that image.

Um to be able to do that.

Then again, that's not our purview this evening, so that's okay.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Anyone else uh wishing to comment this evening?

We do have several members of the public who have signed up in advance um to provide testimony.

Um, as I call your name, you will be promoted to a panelist, and you will be given the option to unmute yourself.

Um, you will also be given to the option to turn on your video if that's something you would like to do.

Um, all tests are all members of the public testifying have three minutes for their testimony.

The first person that we have signed up to speak is Caitlin Orth.

Caitlin, give me a moment here.

You are now a panelist, you should have the ability to unmute yourself.

Yes, hi, good evening.

Thank you so much, council members, for welcome, welcoming us in tonight.

And thank you, Katie, for providing um that context at the start.

That was really tremendously helpful.

Um, my name is Caitlin Warwick.

I live in the Montgomery Square neighborhood adjacent to St.

Rayfield's Parish.

Um, I'm a member of the parish.

Um, up until 2025, my children attended the school.

Um, so have a very vested interest in this community.

And um, this context is very helpful because as Mr.

Defief said, this has been going on since 2022, but we as parishioners had no idea.

So thank you so much, Katie, for clarifying what this conversation and what the purview of this community committee rather oversees.

And we'll continue to advance our testimony and our concern about this project moving forward.

Because again, this is the first time we as parishioners are learning that this has been going on since 2022 and has been under review by the city since 2024.

So thanks very much.

Thank you very much.

Katie, next.

The next person we have signed up in advance to speak is Jose Padin.

I hope I'm saying that right.

And he is present in person here this evening.

Thank you for the time.

And thank you again, uh Katie, for the explanation.

That was uh very much appreciated.

Um I'm a Rockville resident and a parishioner.

Uh I believe uh, you know, today's questions I understand are about historical significance.

I do we do have a few questions about next steps and process here.

Is this the appropriate format to be able to achieve and understand what's next in this process?

Uh it sounded like this was a minor uh event.

So is there is there any other proceedings or any other sharing of information about this?

Because like uh the last uh person said this is kind of the first that a lot of parishioners are finding out about this.

There are uh concerns about health and safety of our children, what what the plans are during this, during the demolish timeline.

There are many concerns that we have about what this project will entail, the impact to the community, the impact to uh you know our our our school and the children there.

What it what would be the next appropriate action to be able to find out information about this project?

So thank you for testifying.

Um, two things.

One is I think the staff can respond to what the city's role would be, and then I'd have to defer to the client or the applicant to talk about their process.

But I don't want to go too much into that from the city's perspective.

We should, but not really from the clients.

That's something that probably should be discussed at a different meeting.

Okay.

What when would that meeting be?

I think that that would be a clarification.

Is there a next step or appropriate action that happens in this room or with City of Rockville?

I think Katie can respond.

So for the historic district commission meeting, this is the next step.

Um, in theory, at well, I guess three actions could happen at the end of the meeting here tonight from the historic district commission.

The historic district commission um could vote that this um property does not meet our designation criteria and not recommend historic significance.

They could find that this does meet one of our designation criteria and recommend historic um designation.

That would trigger a whole separate process, um, which we can go into perhaps offline.

I can give you the rundown of that, or in theory, the HDC could decide not to take action tonight and bring this back on a future meeting agenda.

Um, as far as what I think you're asking, Jose about like the building itself and the approvals and all of that.

So that would happen outside of the historic district commission.

That would happen through the case planner, Christopher Davis and the chief of zoning.

Um I can write down their contact information and I can share that with you before you leave tonight so that way you can get in touch with them.

Because it's a minor site plan application, we do not require the same public meeting notices that and actual hearings that we do for larger site plan applications.

Um from the city's perspective, it would really be coordinating with the case planner.

Um, I certainly can't speak on the applicant's perspective of if they have plans to do something.

It looks like perhaps Mr.

Dafief has some thoughts on that.

Okay.

I can help you with that.

Okay, beautiful.

Yeah, let's talk after.

So C C Davis at rockville.maryland.gov.

Rockville MD.gov.

Yeah, I'll write it down for you too.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Next, Katie.

The next person that we have signed up in advance to testify is Kelly Shires.

Kelly, I am promoting you to panelist.

You should have the ability to unmute.

Um Hi there.

Um, I just wanted to echo what Jose and Caitlin um said.

I really appreciate the clarification on what this meeting is about and the next steps we can take.

Um, I am a parishioner at St.

Rayfields.

I'm also a parent to three kids in the school, and I'm also a staff member.

Um, I'm the school nurse there.

So I had quite a few safety concerns, and I appreciate um you know who I can speak to for the next steps.

And obviously, this is not the place, but um I appreciate the time and um willingness to have the public come on.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else, Katie?

Can I go on those speakers a little bit?

Uh, when everyone's testified, Mr.

Dafief, you can certainly come back up.

Thank you for your patience.

The next person that we have signed up online to testify is John O'Brien.

John, you should have panelists' privileges now to unmute.

Thank you so much.

Um, members of the historic district commission.

My name is John O'Brien.

Uh, my concern is not only about the demolition, but ultimately what comes afterwards.

In reviewing the HDC website, it appears that the commission is responsible for evaluating eligibility for any site or building outside of its torque zone for which demolition or substantial reconstruction is proposed.

Well, I understand the purview of the commission as it relates to historic designation.

Uh Mr.

Dufief was provided an opportunity to provide context on the structure.

Um to date, I've not seen any blueprints or detailed plans for what the proposed church office building will look like.

So without transparency, we cannot evaluate whether it will respect the size, style, and character of the surrounding neighborhood.

As someone who lives in this community, I care deeply about how this decision will affect the place that I call home.

Right now we're being asked to approve a major change without knowing much about it.

Dropping an office billing into a residential setting without clear design details creates a major risk of putting something that looks completely out of place.

I'm not opposed to this project, but we need to know more.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Next, Katie.

That concludes the list of uh members of the public who have signed up in advance to speak.

Um, if there is anyone who would still like the opportunity to speak on this case, um, if you are here in person, you can simply raise your hand.

If you are participating virtually, please use the virtual raise hand feature.

It should be at the bottom of your WebEx screen.

You all can see the whole who's okay, because we cannot.

Thank you.

Don't see anyone.

Okay.

Mr.

Dafif.

The safety and concern about the students and the school.

Um we will surround the construction site with a chain link fence.

The children won't be anywhere near the work area.

Um we will use uh water to when we demolish the building, there will be a fire hose with a spray that will knock down any dust or anything that will go throughout the neighborhood or anything.

There's not a problem with any of that.

And we will make sure everything is done properly.

And the reason why we haven't really bought the neighbors and the parish into the fold about this whole thing is because we don't know from the city of Rockville if we're allowed to even do this job.

So we don't want to give anyone false hope.

And that's why we're waiting from the city of Rockfield to let us know if it's of historic uh historic value or if that we can even do this job.

So that's what we're waiting for.

Thank you.

Thank you for the clarifications.

Yes, Katie.

We do have some additional folks who have indicated that they would like to speak on this case.

Okay.

Um, the first that I see here is Neilo Kennedy.

You should now have panelists privileges.

Are you able to unmute yourself?

Can you hear me?

Yes, now we can.

Wonderful.

Thank you for this opportunity.

My name is Neil Kennedy.

I am a parishioner at St.

Raphael, and I also have um two boys that attend St.

Raphael's school.

Um this is the first I'm hearing about this project.

And I would like um, I would like a lot more detail.

I would like to know a lot more about this project and how our kids are going to be protected while this is happening, if it's gonna be happening while our kids are attending school, or is this gonna be during summer?

Um so I would appreciate if we could um be provided with those details and so we could uh have an opportunity to um have a say.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

We have one more hand that is raised.

Um, this is from Kelly Shires, who spoke earlier.

It's up to you, um, Chair, if you would like to allow her the opportunity to miss Shires, you should be able to unmute.

Hi.

Speaking briefly on the safety.

Well, I appreciate the points.

I really think that without being a part of the school, day to day, experiencing this school, it absolutely will be impactful to the students and where they are and their location.

Again, as the school nurse, I'm there all five days.

I see where the kids are playing.

I am all over that campus, and I just don't really see a way that safety-wise, this can't impact the students.

So I just wanted to bring that up.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else, Katie?

No, we do not have any other hands raised.

Um for our virtual meeting participants.

If you open the meeting chat, um, you will see I've provided the contact information for the case planner, Mr.

Davis, as well as the site plan number um as well, which should be used to reference this case um to Mr.

Davis if you want to get in touch with him.

Uh to view any plans, give any comments, anything like that.

Thank you.

Um so in my neophyte position as the new chair, I failed to ask the commissioners if they had any questions of the folks that spoke.

So the commissioners, any questions.

Okay, commissioner.

So I do have a question.

So you know, we also think that Lala was wondering.

Have you ever thought of um like adding the building?

Some kind of re uh use, adoptive reuse.

I would assume that would be for you, Mr.

Def.

I didn't hear what you said.

Okay, no, I'm asking that okay.

Instead of bringing it down the building, how we have a thoughts of adoptive reuse, like reusing the building on maybe adding more elements of the building.

Yes, the building is on the case.

Sir, if you can speak to the microphone, I'm sorry.

I have trouble hearing.

Um the building is on a crawl space, it's only eight inches tall, and there's no way to get underneath the move pipes and remodel the pla the building, it's in terrible shape.

And uh it's it's very hodgepodge, and it the heat doesn't work, and we have electric baseboard heat, and that that does what doesn't work as well either.

So we we have a difficult time working in there.

We have three ladies and three priests and uh uh deacons, a couple deacons that work out of there, and it's just very difficult for them to work in that building.

So thank you.

Any other guess, Commissioner Kofinker?

Yeah, um I start.

I appreciate everybody's interest.

Um, but it seems like um I I just want to reiterate basic um part of Rockville's code, and that any building, regardless of how old it is, if there's a um uh desire to demolish it must come before the historic district commission.

Um and that's all that we as a commission can do is to um determine whether this build whether that building has any historic significance.

If it does not, if we determine it does not have historic significance, then the owner is free to do whatever he she wants, demolish, remodel, um, add to, or so on so forth.

Um so I think um from all the comments I'm hearing, um should the commission determine that the building has no historic significance, um, then I I guess the recommendation might be or the suggestion would be just to take it up with uh the local powers that be within the church and and go from there.

Um but um you know we have no um no uh authority over that uh that part of your um um campus development.

So I just want to make that clear.

It seemed like there was a misunder misunderstanding or um uh of what we're here to do.

So just wanted to make that clear.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Any other comments or questions from the commission?

Um so going off the reservation for a moment.

Um I think it would behoove the community.

Clearly, this is an important issue for the number of people that testified this evening.

Uh, if we could somehow get their contact information so that when Mr.

Def um and his uh folks decide to have a public meeting or you know, a community outreach meeting that he knows who to contact so that they're involved and able to participate um in further uh changes that might happen to the property if that's possible.

Okay, thank you very much.

Staff, anything else before we call for a motion.

No.

Okay, thank you.

Commissioners, may I have a motion?

Second.

Finding that the building proposed for demolition at 159 tool, Kimball Walk Road.

Those on the historical district formations adopted criteria for historic significance.

I move that the HDC recommend against historic designation.

A second.

Thank you.

All in favor.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, staff.

Thank you to those that testified.

Next on the agenda is 2026-229 EOS, City of Rockville and Robert Bidler from Parks Facilities Manager is either online or with us this evening.

Staff, do you have anything to add?

Comment, presentation.

We do have a presentation.

We do have a presentation.

Give us just one moment here.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you for your patience.

Um, we have a brief staff report for application number 2026 229 EOS.

This is for 14625 Roth Gap Drive.

There we go.

All right.

Um, so the uh evaluation of significance that we're here for tonight is for the purposes of demolition.

Um, this is a city-owned site and a city facility within a larger city-owned site.

Um, so at the aerial map that you see on the left side of your screen, the red boundaries there, that is all part of a about approximately 15-acre parcel that's owned by the city of Rockville.

It's used primarily by our recreation and park staff for maintenance and storage purposes.

Um you can see it's a little tiny on this screen, but the hashed yellow outline that is the location of the structure that we are talking about here today that's proposed for demolition.

Um we had recreation and park staff previously working out of that facility up until this fall when we opened a new building at sixth Taft Court.

All of the folks who were working in this building have since relocated a sixth half court.

Um so we no longer need this building to be serving its current function here on the property.

This next slide is just an overview of the maintenance facility as a whole.

You can see in the bottom lower corner of your screen a red outline.

It's around building number one.

That's the structure again that we're talking about here today.

But you can also see all of the other structures that exist within the site as well as what their uses are.

So a lot of these uses are for storage.

Um, the city salt barn is there, um, fleet maintenance facilities are located there, um, our sign shop, our storage rooms, there's all sorts of kind of back of house functions for the city of Rockville's day-to-day operations.

This image is of kind of the front elevation of the building which faces west.

Um, the main structure that you see here was constructed approximately 1970.

Um the trailers that you're gonna see on the next slide were added in the late 1980s.

Um, as you can tell from this image, it's a pretty simple structure, um, symmetrical on both sides.

Uh nothing really um notable or noteworthy about its architecture.

And then as you turn around the site, um, turn the corner, you'll start to see those trailers that I mentioned that were added on in the late 80s.

They are wood-sided trailers.

Um, you can see them in those two images there.

And as we continue our way around the building, um, you can see the back of the building.

Um, it very much looks like back of house.

We have some dumpsters, um, chain link fence, other enclosures.

And then our final elevation looks remarkably similar to that second elevation, um, kind of mirror images there.

So you can see the main structure in the front as well as the trailers towards the rear.

So this is a site that has been owned by the city of Rockville since 1965.

The structures that you see on site were purpose built by the city for the city for our uses.

No important figures or events that staff can locate affiliated with this property.

And as such, staff do not find that it meets any of our designation criteria, and staff recommend against historic designation.

Thank you, Katie.

Commissioners have any questions of Katie or other staff before we hear.

Okay.

Would this be the appropriate time to ask Robert to speak?

Mr.

Beadler, Bidler.

Sure, it's um Mr.

Biden.

Um Katie, thank you for covering all that.

Um great job, and thank you for putting the presentation and things together.

Um Commissioners, thank you for hearing the application.

Um Katie covered it really well.

Um, so all of our staff.

The building in question um housed our um public works operations staff as well as our parks and facilities staff, so most of our operation folks.

Um all of the staff moved out of that building um last April.

Um has the building has now since kind of just sat there.

Um there's no immediate use.

The building is in um not a great state currently.

I certainly wouldn't want someone new to be moving in there to use it, utilize it as an office in its current condition.

Um all of the staff had moved to the sixth Taft court, which is the on the adjoining um Taft Court parcel, kind of adjoins the maintenance yard on the back.

Um the city is currently undergoing a master planning process for the site um and uh in whole to make sure that we're meeting the um city's maintenance requirements.

Um and as part of that, that includes repurposing the site um in the future.

There's not a clear current need.

Um, but it currently is also not being utilized at all.

And there's no real future use of this building.

Thank you very much.

Any questions from the commission?

Okay.

Staff, anything else to add?

No.

Okay.

Uh then may I have a motion?

Bueller.

Okay.

Sure.

Um finding that the building proposed for demolition at 14625 Roth Gibb Drive does not meet any of the historic district commission's adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design and landscape significance.

I move that the HDC recommend against historic designation.

May I have a second?

Second.

Thank you.

All in favor.

Thank you very much.

Uh, next on the agenda is 2026 245 EOS.

The applicant is Ben Fisher, uh, also the owner, and it's 931 Maple Avenue.

Staff.

Okay, so this is case 2026 245 EOS, and it is an evaluation of significance for the purpose of demolition at 931 Maple Avenue.

Thanks.

Okay, so 931 Maple Avenue is located on the south side of Maple Avenue, as you can see here.

Um, it's nearly at that southeast corner where Maple Avenue meets uh Woodburn Road.

And then here is the front facade of the home.

Uh it's a one-story minimal traditional or ranch style home.

So nothing really notable about the architecture here.

Um, and it was built in 1947, according to STAT.

Uh then here we have on the left the east side yard, and on the right, the west side yard.

And you can kind of just see again uh the vinyl siding, the enclosed brick front porch.

Um, nothing super notable here either.

Uh and then here we have the rear yard and the rear of the home.

Okay.

Okay.

And then um staff recommendation is finding that the building proposed for demolition at 931 Maple Avenue does not meet any of the historic district commission's adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design and landscape significance.

Staff recommends against historic designation.

Thank you very much.

Just as a side note, backing up a moment.

Again, as a neafight, I've detected another failure on my part.

I did not ask if anyone from the public had a comment on the previous agenda item.

We did not have any okay.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Um questions of staff, comments.

Commissioner Goldfinger.

Oh, me again.

Yes, that's what you're here for.

Comment, please.

Um Yeah, I um personally I don't find the building particularly historic in nature, but and I've uh I've said this a number of times in previous meetings, and I just want to bring it up again, because I I think it's something that um if we don't have if my fellow commissioners don't have it in the back of their minds, should sort of keep it in mind, and that is that we have no criterion to indicate that the building and its neighbors uh represent a style that's significant in the post-World War II growth of Rockville.

Um demolition of this building has a very small effect on the overall area, continued demolition of these small houses will ultimately alter the historic fabric of this part of the city.

And while we shouldn't be stopping progress, I only want to remind uh my fellow commissioners uh and the public to remember this important chapter in the city's history and growth.

And now a question for staff.

Um is anyone documenting these neighborhoods today before all uh you know, before it's it's uh unalterably changed.

Uh you know, I think that's it's sort of important, something that that uh in in the um area of historic preservation, we should be doing.

And I just don't, I guess I just don't know.

So the documentation is within the report itself when we do the uh add the photographs and all the history, this is something that stays on file within the city, and so we do have this documented.

Uh as far as the neighborhood as a whole, no uh just one by one as houses come to us.

Um there may be well.

We have requested for the past several fiscal fiscal years funding to do a windshield survey to kind of go throughout the entire city and document all of our um you know structures that might be up for historic designation.

Um to date we have not received that funding, and that's simply too big of a task for staff to have the bandwidth to do in-house ourselves.

Um, but that's certainly something that we continue to advocate for because we understand exactly what you're saying, Commissioner Goldfinger.

Yeah, and you know, I'd hate to see all of that change.

It you know, it changes for the better, but again, it um it erases a significant part of the city's history, its growth post-World War II.

Um, when we saw tremendous growth in not only Rockville but other uh suburban, small suburban cities.

So it shouldn't be lost um one by one as we as we demolish individual structures.

And I just I'm gonna keep saying that um as long as I'm sitting here.

So thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

No, that's very important, and I agree with you.

And also um staff, the windshield review or tour or what is that something we should be advocating for to the mayor and council the next budget session?

We would love that.

Okay.

Thank you for letting us know.

If you when you have a moment, could you send us some bullet points?

Okay.

Commissioner Powell.

Um were notifications sent out to the community regarding this application.

Yes, uh, public notices were sent out um two weeks ago.

Yes, okay, thank you.

Commissioners, have any comments or questions?

Okay.

Anyone here this evening from the public in person or online that would like to testify?

Or actually the applicant, I'm sorry.

Mr.

Fisher.

I don't see the applicant joining.

Okay.

Um, if the applicant is here but has joined WebEx under a different name, if you can use the raise hand feature, um, that's at the bottom of your WebEx screen that will indicate to us that you are present.

I am not seeing any hands raised.

Um I do know that we had a few members of the public that expressed interest um in hearing about this application tonight.

They did not sign up in advance to be on the speakers list.

Um but if anyone, whether they are online um or in the room is interested in speaking on this application, now would be the appropriate time to use the raise hand feature.

Or if you're in the room, you can just raise your hand.

Sir, if you could just come up to the microphone because we are recording the meeting, please.

Okay, thank you.

No one, okay.

Any other comments?

Commissioners, no?

May I have a motion?

Find that a building proposed for demolition at 9 31 Meppel Avenue does not meet any of the historical district commissions adopted criteria for historic significance or architectural design and landscape significance.

I moved out the HDC recommended against historic designation.

May I have a second?

I'll second.

Thank you.

All in favor?

Okay.

Thank you, staff.

Okay, next on the agenda are our discussion items.

The first one is old business, which is our preservation month event, which is coming up this May.

This is your item, Commission.

I'll turn this over to you.

Okay.

Wasn't sure if you had something to add.

So first of all, I just want to thank Commissioner Dumbo for taking the time.

Uh, the two of us met and discussed uh sort of a rough agenda and some ideas of uh what we thought this year's event could be like, and then um Seth did a memo and staff has distributed the memo with the commissioner.

So I guess we should start with are any comments on the memo, or is there anything uh commissioner Dumbo would like to add?

I don't have anything to add.

I mean, I think it's it's you know, it's still very rough.

Uh just when you wanted to run it by the rest of the commission and get everybody's input, and then we can sort of see where we get where we are from there.

Okay, I didn't receive the memo, so can you share what was in it?

Okay, sorry.

And I'll give you the the 10,000 foot version of it.

Is the idea is to make it a little bit more active than last year.

So meaning we would pick some buildings and homes around the city to do like a tour, and then for instance, if it's a home, they would open their home up to the public for a tour, and then the owner could talk about what it's like to own a historic home and the process of what goes on to purchase it, plus keep it up, plus uh anything that we'd like to add if they've gone through the process in the past to improve the home.

Uh and we had talked about maybe a bus, um, depending on the number of folks that we if we thought we were going to be far, if it was a short distance between each of the properties, and we could certainly consider walking.

Commissioner Dunbo, did you want to add anything?

Um, so the idea was to uh yeah, just to add a little bit.

We um sort of, you know, some because what we focus on is often you know, private residences, to find a way to get people sort of to understand that a bit more, but also for people who are interested who have a historic home or who have a or who are interested in in owning a historic home, you know, the theme would center around ideas like how to make your historic house work for you, or you know, what are the what are the benefits and challenges of living in a in a historic residence?

And then, you know, not only to see the properties but talk with the homeowners about about what it's like living in a historic district and you know how to go about doing the kinds of things that people want to do to our home to their homes, and that we and that we adjudicate on.

So, you know, it would be good to have um properties in different parts of the city.

Um and so that's the question is really, you know, what does the does the commissioners all think this is a good idea?

Um, and then you know, if we can get some input into what um, you know, who we might ask to participate.

And I think we should also reach out to Peerless Rockville.

You know, they have historic properties, um, including uh the um Frieda's Cottage, which is a home that is actually occupied.

I know they're pretty sure they still own it and they rent it out, right?

So, you know, and they've they've opened I I've been in there because they opened it up for their for their anniversary year or stuff.

So that you know, they have properties like that, but also you know, more other kinds of vernacular architecture.

So um reach out to them and see if they want to participate.

Um go from there.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Powell.

Um a couple of questions.

So are you looking to are you thinking about having it a whole a full day or half a day?

That's the first question.

The second question is are you looking to um I heard you said something about a bus maybe going around and doing that?

So particular styles, so that if you decide to let's say go to certain areas in the in the city, you'll be able to see the different types of styles that you would have.

You know, um you plan on including any businesses that are historic nature.

Um, so what's and then I guess the other question is um what type of theme are you thinking about that could be inclusive of what we're trying to do.

Um I think uh thank you for the questions.

I think the length of the program would depend on I know we're gonna have limited staff for this um event, but I think the length of the program would depend on um how much energy the commissioners want to put into it, but also on top of that would be how many folks want to sign up and allow you know the public to come into their building or their home.

And yes, definitely we had talks.

Seth and I had mentioned actually the um farmers banking and trust building is maybe a possibility to look at.

Um, and then the property that um Setha mentioned earlier that Peterless Rockville has, and any other significant commercial building that might be around, or even a church, it could be a uh a place of worship.

And then we did talk about geographically trying to spread it out and cover different parts of the city, and also we talked about diversity in terms of the size of these structures.

Maybe it's a two-bedroom house, maybe it's uh you know, a seven-bedroom house, or it's a large church, or it's a small bank or what have you.

So did you want to know anything else?

So Anita, those are all good questions.

I think, you know, um, some of that is still open.

I think probably a half day is better than a full day just because it's you know, people are busy and and it'd be hard to keep keep get people's attention and get people to be willing to open their house for a whole day, but maybe you know, we we get people to to to be willing to open their house for a couple of hours on a Saturday, late morning on a Saturday or something.

So we'd have to figure all that out.

I mean, they're open questions too.

Um thematically, I mean, that kind of what I said was, you know, how to make your historic house work for you, you know, and what and what are the benefits and and challenges of of owning a historic property.

Because I think you know, some people are really committed to that as a as a thing, owning a historic property.

I remember the um, and I always forget the address, but we just recently looked at uh um some work that's being done on the house that used to belong to the the teacher Lucy Barnsley um Ron Anderson on that funny little corner there, which I can't think of the name of the street.

But um, and he was kind of you know very specifically saying, Oh, we love his this historic house, and we want to we want to um preserve it as much as possible, but also make it work for us.

So finding people who think like that would be great.

Um and I think there are there are homes like that in the West End in London Park and Twin Brook.

So it would be nice to have a diversity of properties, and maybe one or two um commercial properties too, because I think that all that's all interesting.

Uh the the other peerless property, it's not owned.

I don't know if they still own it, but the the railway the the railway station has businesses in it.

So just throwing ideas out at this point, but we should kind of try to narrow that down a bit and so that we can start actually talking to people about this.

I'm sorry.

So how would you what are your plans to in terms of marketing and locating folks and getting them interested in and what timeline would you use?

Uh would we advertise it from HDC or would we put it in the Rockville um newsletter, Rockville Reports, um, and then this is March for real.

So you have April, you have like 60 days, and so if you're going to reach out to the community of whatever the community is, then we need to start thinking about marketing tools in terms of getting them, you know, involved.

I know at the last meeting, well, last preservation conference, there was someone there who's really interested, um, and sharing his story about having solar panels or something like that, you know, and so you get that excitement.

So I think we sort of need to um if you're gonna go in different parts of the city, you could definitely and plus, you know, whoever's interested, they can set up a time and we can make it sort of like a tour, okay, and set up like we will be in 10 buck two at two o'clock.

So that person, that owner would not have to be there all day, but they know their designated time would be at two o'clock.

Yeah.

So um, and we could we can do that.

I mean, if you want to have a bus and just know you go and you look at different locations and you know, um, but let the communities know that we're coming and that we want to be want them to be a part of the preservation conference.

Um I think that's also let y'all hang in, but you can be able to do that.

Well, I think there's an there's a number of um ways we can advertise, but I think because of the time, and also because of our desire to make it uh diverse in terms of the types of places, we should probably get a list from the staff um as to the different historic properties and contact information and then reach out to ones that we think might be of interest to the public in different sizes and different locations and target those.

Um might be the best avenue, and you're right, time is short.

We seem to always do this.

That's okay.

We do our best.

Yeah, we do our best.

Um I can't remember who was asked, wanted to ask a question first of whoever hits their button.

Well, I would call them.

Okay.

Um my concern is um if we um spread this out across the whole city of um transporting people from one area to the next uh in a short amount of time on a Saturday.

If you've ever been on Rockville Pike, that's a significant challenge.

Um so might we maybe want to consider doing one area this year, um, or maybe on two different weekends.

I mean, the whole month is historic reservation month.

Um is there any uh interest in maybe doing it on two different weekends and and focusing on two different um geographical areas where the distance isn't so great, we can cover more territory in less time.

Um maybe uh for future uh events uh we look at um at several weekends uh over the historic reservation month.

So something to think about.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Okay, so my question is I was good to ask, are we going to have like uh a keynote speaker?

Then the second question was also about transportation.

Sounds we're going from households.

Uh so how we're going to like most people around.

So the second question, so I did reach out as promised, I reached out to the director of general services for the county in reference to um a ride on bus, which they hold over 60, and that's definitely an option.

Um the first question, a keynote speaker, I maybe at the beginning we could have someone speak, but it would be hard to since we're gonna be moving around not one location the whole time.

I think that if you want to have a think about a keynote speaker, we could all meet at a central location.

For example, we might meet at the Red Brick Courthouse or somewhere that would allow us to because you have to have an introduction, you have to have information, you have to share what we're doing, you know, and then you can board the bus, or you know, after you um finish the tour, then you can go back to that location and then have some conversation afterwards because there may be a lot of questions, you know.

Um, so depend on how we set up the agenda in terms of responding to, you know, whatever.

And then if you have a let's say um if someone uh again it goes back to marketing, you know, you can have like maybe a church, you could have a um a school, you could have, you know, like I think it's the BNO railroad or off of um right there next to the metro station, which would be different.

Um so you can have you know, there's some historic sites right here in downtown Rockville, you know, that we could focus on uh just piggybacking on what um Commissioner Goldstein said, you know, and not make it so wide so that we wouldn't be able to do whatever, but if you have a shorter um space that you deal with, you can still get your diversity of what you're talking about and and um having a presentation there.

So that might be I don't know if that's what you're speaking of, but yeah, that's a possibility as well.

Yes, we'll have to have you please we'll begin from the comeback again.

So like maybe please we'll also introduce that people know what we're doing.

Then we'll go out, we'll lose combat plus books again.

Yeah, we definitely want to come, we want to start and come and end in the same place because a lot of folks may drive to start, so they want to be right back where their cars are.

And you know, the other thing that you can think about, and these are all thoughts, okay, because you asked me to give you some input.

So um you can have folks, we can have they call them step ones, that you can have a person on on the bus who can share the information and you know, as we're going to the next location.

You know, say we're going to a church.

Um we could have someone from that church, even though there would be someone to meet us at the church to talk more in depth, but you could also have that person, another person on the bus giving us the information ahead of time, and then we'll be, you know, and then we'll end up with the second person.

It's a good idea.

Instead of riding in silence, so then we'll need to have some refreshments.

Full refreshments.

Um if you haven't already, which I don't know if you have spoken with Peerless Rockville.

Um, but they're definitely on the list.

Well, because I know um seen from past that they have um they put together a number of walking tours of historic properties.

So um I think one thing we want to be careful about is not step on any toes, or conversely asking if they might uh assist in putting together a tour of historic buildings um to you know assist the assist us in in um spot in um putting on this event in May.

Uh and they may be willing to do that.

So, Commissioner Goldfinger, if I can interject here, we have had conversations with Peerless Rockville about a potential partnership here for preservation month.

Um, they were absolutely open to the idea with a few caveats that they already have existing programming on the books for May.

Um so if we wanted to partner with them, perhaps it's taking one of the programs that they've already started planning and organizing it and doing like a dual branding, a dual marketing effort, um, have it be kind of hosted jointly by this body and Peerless Rockville.

Um, they did expressly say they could probably not take on a net new program in the month of May, just given other activities that they have going on.

Um a few of the things that they mentioned that if this body was interested in a partnership could be options.

Um they are in alignment with the America 250 celebrations.

They are hosting an exhibit at the Red Brick Courthouse that will open in May for Rockville 250, so it'll be a collection of largely images, um, but there might be some other artifacts there too, kind of documenting the past 250 years of Rockville's history.

Um they are planning on doing a series of different talks related to that exhibit, so that might be one opportunity.

Um they also flagged that um they have an ongoing, as I believe most of you know, Peerless and Glenview Mansion have an ongoing relationship where they do programming throughout the year.

Um so there might be opportunities to partner with that as well.

Um, specifically, there is an event in May that's basically a walk through of the building and the grounds, and there would be um folks at different locations throughout the building and the grounds to kind of give the public information about it.

Um perhaps that's something that this commission could support and kind of co-brand.

Um, one thing that we were saying is maybe US commissioners serve as some of those experts that's speaking to different activities that happened in different rooms or on the grounds.

Um they also mentioned that there is um plans for a similar opportunity in September.

Um that's not quite as fleshed out, so there might be a little bit more flexibility and creativity there, but of course that would be in September and not necessarily in May.

Um, so it's kind of up to this body to determine how important historically we've done this in May for preservation month, but there's not a law that says it has to be in May for preservation month.

So those are just some other ideas this body may or may not want to consider.

I think freeloading off of Peerless Rockville is a great idea.

It'll be a lot less work.

You want your own identity as well.

So shall I get in touch with Nancy and see what sure and tell her what we're thinking and see what they think and if she wants to meet, I'm happy to join you guys.

Okay.

So where are we?

Um well, you know, what Katie's just said is a little bit of a different direction, which is fine.

I'm not, I'm not, I'm not um so I think talk to Nancy.

And to be clear, staff are not advocating for one thing.

No, no, I get that.

You're just giving us information.

I appreciate that.

Um talk to Nancy.

Tell her what, you know, find out what they're planning, how find out how in what way she's interested in working together, see what they think about this idea.

Maybe this is an idea for next year, but if we want to piggyback with them on something this year, and then start planning something like this for next year with them if we can, you know, when we have more lead time, that that might be one way to do it.

I really appreciate all of everybody's feedback.

I mean, it sounds like this is something people think is a is a good idea in principle.

The question is how to turn it in, you know, turn it into something that actually works.

So and that was that was all I really wanted to accomplish today.

So um we'll get back to you know, we'll try to flesh out some of this stuff once we've just spoken to Peerless Rockville and then figure out where to go from there.

And so in terms of sharing everything with, I know this is always a question with um open meetings act, but if we if Pete and I continue to work on this and then we send stuff to you, you can then share it with the commission.

So that's correct.

Okay, good.

And I would encourage commissioners if you're hoping to send anything over the next several months to all staff, so the three of us here, um, use the history at rockvillmd.gov email address that distributes to all of us.

Um so if I'm out of office, if Sheila's out of office, if Megan's out of office, things aren't sitting in inbox limbo, you'll get all of us at the same time.

What is that?

History history at rockville md.gov.

Thank you.

I didn't know that.

Thank you.

That's different from our that's different from the one that goes to all of us.

That's correct.

You're also on that one.

Yes, we are also on that one.

All right, that's helpful.

I didn't know that either.

And to just piggyback off of what was said, I want to reiterate.

We don't know anything as far as as far as uh Ms.

Gerb is whether she'll be in the office or not at this point.

We're hoping that Megan will be there, but uh you will have some sort of you know minor staff report, I mean uh support, but it will be minimal.

So um hopefully, whatever plans you come up with, we will have them together by April so that we can you know get them going and so that when there's no one here that won't everything won't be on Megan and she won't be overwhelmed by trying to get everything done.

Okay, Commissioner Powell.

Um response to that, I think more of the logistics is what we would be needing from staff.

And I think that we can carry the load somewhat so that it wouldn't burn because I know that we're having a baby.

We're having a retiree, you know.

So we understand that we're gonna be short on staff, but I think the commissioners, and I can only speak for one myself.

I don't mind at all working with you to make sure that we have a successful um preservation month because I really would like for the state in May.

And then we can cut down and do whatever we need to do, but I think that because it is preservation month, it gives us more visibility.

Um, you know, across the state and across the county, because other folks are gonna be doing something.

And um, and I heard what you said about peerless rock wheels, and maybe there's something that we can as commissioners think about that we could piggyback on.

But I still would like to keep our um HDC um project or preservation month planning um ongoing.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Any other comments, questions from commission?

Staff, anything?

Oh, we including refreshments.

Oh, we'll definitely um depending on the time of the day we pick, we'll cater to that hour.

Okay.

Um I know you offered to bake and cook.

Uh yeah, but definitely.

I mean, we would have refreshments.

Staff, did you have anything to add?

I think I did, but then I forgot.

You said refreshments, my mind just went.

So uh no.

Thank you, everyone, and um Seth, thank you for meeting up and you've kind of taken the lead.

Um, so I appreciate that very much.

Uh any other old business?

New business.

Okay.

Uh then may I have a motion to adjourn?

I move that we adjourn the meeting.

Second.

All in favor?

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, staff.

Appreciate it.