East County Citizens Advisory Board
Mission
The 18-member Citizens Advisory Board serves as a liaison between the East County community, and the County Executive, County Council, and County government departments by identifying community concerns and recommending possible solutions. It also advises the Direcdtor of the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center on transportation, economic development, housing, education, human services, environment, recreation, public safety, and other issues of importance to the area. The group reviews and comments on the County's capital and operating budgets and master plans; assists with the strategies to tailor services to regional needs; conducts workshops and forums; and acts on other ad hoc issues.
The advisory board is representative of more than 110,000 residents in eastern Montgomery County. This area includes the neighborhoods of Burtonsville, Fairland, Briggs Chaney, Calverton, Hillandale, White Oak, Cloverly, Spencerville, Aston/Sandy Spring, and Colesville. The services area is bordered on the north by Howard County, on the east by Prince George's County, on the south by Interstate 495 and on the west along Northwest Branch stream to Ednor Road.
Members serve three-year terms without compensation but are eligible for travel and dependent care reimbursement for meetings attended. Meetings are usually held the first Wednesday evening of each month, with the exception of July and August, from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center.
History of the Board
Created: Resolution 12-1032 (created 1993)
Purpose: To advise the County Executive and the County Council of East County citizens' issues and concerns; advocate for regional priorities; and help facilitate solutions. The ECCAB is actively involved in the following issues: site selection for a new high school, the proposed Inter-County Connector; police presence in the area; new science and technology park; the new FDA campus in White Oak and the Master Planning process for the area. The Board also holds public forums as needed on topics of interest to the community.
Membership: Eighteen members, including one position reserved for a business representative. The membership represents a cross-section of citizens living or working in the Eastern region, including communities in the Fairland, White Oak and Cloverly vicinities. The area is roughly bound on the west by the Northwest Branch, on the north by Ednor Road, on the east by the Howard County and Prince George's County lines, and on the south by I-495.
Sub-Committees
To organize efforts, the Board has formed three standing committees that meet monthly except July and August.
Planning and Economic Development Committee
Planning and Economic Development Committee committee handles issues related to transportation, workforce/business/economic development, housing, commercial revitalization, environment, taxation, capital improvements, budget, property and zoning and monitors implementation of master/sector plans in Eastern Montgomery County.
Quality of Life/Services Committee
Quality of Life/Services handles issues related to education, parks, seniors, health and human services, public safety, recreation, youth, networking and housing. Plans special events, forums and other outreach efforts to the larger community.
Ad Hoc Committee(s) are formed by the board as needed to address other specific areas of interest or concern.
Board Members
The members of the ECCAB are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council to serve 3-year terms. Membership represents a cross-section of citizens living or working in the East county region. Criteria for the Board's membership include diversity of background and employment, relevant experience, expertise and geographic balance. The office of the County Executive announces board vacancies through press releases to regional and neighborhood newspapers. Those interested in becoming ECCAB members must submit resumes to the County Executive for consideration.
Duties of Executive Committee Officers
Chair – conducts the official business of the East County Citizen's Advisory Board; serves as the spokesperson on behalf of the Board and the signature authority for all Advisory Board correspondence; determines the monthly agenda for the Advisory Board in consultation with the Director and fellow Board Members; serves as the official liaison and representative to the County Executive, the County Council and the Chief Administrative Officer; performs other executive and leadership duties as required.
Vice Chair - serves in the absence of the Board Chair; serves as liaison to Board Committees in carrying out their mission and duties as it pertains to the overall tasks and functions of the Advisory Board.
Secretary – serves as the Board's "keeper of records" in conjunction with the Executive Administrative Aide; prepares all thank you letters to guests and speakers on behalf of the Advisory Board; serves as the hospitality chair in initiating Board Member acknowledgment, recognition and other appropriate correspondence (i.e. birthdays, anniversaries, get well cards, etc.); maintains Board calendar and attendance log of functions, activities and events attended by Board Members on behalf of the Board.
Parliamentarian¹ – serves as the official Board authority in the use of parliamentary guidelines in providing the fundamental operating procedures for the conduct of all Board meetings.
- Peter Myo Khin, Chair - Colesville
- Ken Flemmer, Vice Chair - Burtonsville
- Fisseha Adugna, Parliamentary - Burtonsville
- Dan Wilhelm, Secretary - Fairland/Riderwood
- William Bentley - Fairland
- LaTonya Brooks- Briggs Chaney
- George Brown II - Fairland
- Radwan Chowdhury - Burtonsville
- Sheala Durant - Ashton
- Rachael Evans - White Oak
- Roberta Goldberg - Fairland
- Gertrude Jones - Briggs Chaney
- Metassebia Kefelegn - Burtonsville
- Dr. Calandra Tate Moore - Spencerville
- Mark Pharaoh - Burtonsville
- Susan Price - Hillandale
- Kimberly Price-Evans - Colesville
- Len Newman - Cloverly
Agendas and Meeting Minutes
ECCAB board meeting agendas and minutes can be viewed on the ECCAB Agendas and Meeting Minutes web page.
Planning & Economic Development (PED) and Quality of Life/Social Issues Committee Meetings
PED and Quality of Life/Social Issues Committee meeting agendas can be viewed on the PED and Quality of Life/Social Issues Committee web page.
ECCAB Correspondence
ECCAB reports and correspondence can be viewed on the ECCAB Correspondence page.