[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6204635,"mediaKeyId","3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa","parentId",3778532,"title","Council hears planning board candidate interviews; introduces several zoning and map amendments","audioSeconds",188,"startMs",9023000,"endMs",9211000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa&start=9023&end=9211","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa/thumbnail_9023000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204635/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-hears-planning-board-candidate-interviews-introduces-several-zoning-and-map-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204635-5c11b566f97c47efca24c75dd187a14b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614485&Signature=m5l132A77Z2deyhtrIo6s6oATkwEeca9gd2tIx0RdbsCdvE2KbU044ttwrm2OVPnXa4A23au4LbPOFchMQwwkDFCYiX84ZQ6NTSo0Yf1gJvRgYPeYhzMyTU8525Q7Utkun0QZN~q5NIpoeerWWT3RUvbKddufXL5z1lafwSQVd59OO4mKGeGS8ey5tBGOqC8bZYoDiR3MMOTY95Jj9mSEb8s3TfU6ur6Pe4fZytx3SKJazindVyAIN4NGYGS2dqtZ2jubdpsBZWlkeru~IDVFc~vqx-hQuPk-9dcz5AvvlvXRuWJX4vJylmkczY7uN0NWBdCVTbb9yUID29s7ZxZww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-06-11T03:47:04Z","article","The Montgomery County Council conducted interviews with three candidates for upcoming vacancies on the Planning Board and introduced zoning and map items related to development review and land use.

The council heard from incumbent Planning Board member Ms. Pedeman and two applicants — Miss Elliott and Mr. Schlichting — about their qualifications and views on the board’s role in development approvals, master plan drafting, and zoning policy. Candidates emphasized housing affordability, implementation of Thrive Montgomery 2050, infrastructure capacity, and centering racial equity in planning decisions.

During the interviews, candidates described their relevant experience: Miss Elliott said she brings nearly 20 years of urban planning and land‑use experience, including development review and racial equity analyses in Washington, D.C.; Ms. Pedeman cited more than four decades in county public service, permitting, and parks capital delivery; and Mr. Schlichting described an architecture background, real estate development experience, and prior municipal planning roles in Gaithersburg. Each candidate said they were prepared to devote time to planning board duties.

Candidates and councilmembers discussed how the planning board balances project reviews with master planning, emphasizing the need for community engagement and implementable recommendations. Several candidates urged modernizing zoning rules to accommodate diverse housing types, protect environmental and transportation capacity, and align investment in schools, parks and utilities with growth. Ms. Pedeman referenced support for a Uniform Infrastructure Task Force to explore equitable infrastructure funding.

Potential conflicts and availability were raised: Miss Elliott said she represents land‑use clients in another jurisdiction and would recuse herself from county matters involving her firm’s clients and estimated recusals of about 15–20% of cases; Mr. Schlichting said he would resign a current Gaithersburg board appointment if it were deemed a conflict. Ms. Pedeman said she had no conflicts and was already serving on the board.

Separately, the council introduced zoning and map amendments for district council consideration: Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25‑08 concerning legacy landscape contractors in the RC zone was introduced by Councilmember Mink and scheduled for a public hearing on July 15, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. The measure would clarify how the Department of Permitting Services measures legacy landscape uses and would allow a one‑time correction to return a footprint to its original square footage if a violation is identified. Local Map Amendment H‑156 (property on Standish Place) was introduced and tentatively scheduled for council action on June 17, 2025; a corrective map amendment H‑158 (Old Georgetown Road) was also introduced with a July 15, 2025 public hearing. The council placed the consent calendar and adjourned for a noon meeting with the Maryland Association of Counties before returning for afternoon public hearings.

No final appointments to the planning board were recorded in the public transcript; the council said clerks would follow up on next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 10, 2025 - Council Session (am)","oneSentenceSummary","The council interviewed three planning board applicants and introduced a zoning text amendment and two map amendments, with public hearings and future actions scheduled. Candidates discussed housing affordability, equity, infrastructure and recusal/conflict rules.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204641,"Council interviews county executive’s nominee for chief of children, youth and family services",2971,3049000,6020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa&start=3049&end=6020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa/thumbnail_3049000.jpg","/articles/6204641/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-interviews-county-executives-nominee-for-chief-of-children-youth-and-family-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204641-a0ff1a1a4d68ab5e82da5343be6f8f4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614485&Signature=BOAJTtLECDnZJYNWVSaHYHiYYQO3UciemiAnXwCq4aSS2vUTJxiuJmTxYj0jYgBAuHlWB9a1K~SkQh8OToLH0Lj3svpdtCOhTZ4KvMSSKx6BzuR-A03QkyDc~~q7DcgZJV1o-ebrB2qw22nJTLW92v6mOrbTaxiemWAkJfoeUKIFf6aIznQLXOkybhkhBlwv6U8cSqKg-NWXj-uvLeaIURQgLIGeMgGMQv9pSKfT592MkFvPezRSPnSucmCmMddtrw08xa5aRGGkMr2IccdUwip9~Wc5qyIdGpMalPT2Qn5K~LtShe91dMB30Y-XCzDR6fEinoY9-0IbkupC0nFAXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery County Council conducted a public interview of the county executive’s nominee for chief of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Children, Youth and Family Services (CYF) division, Laurie Garabe Aquino. The session included opening remarks from the county’s chief administrative officer and the HHS director and a series of questions from councilmembers about immediate priorities, interagency collaboration, and racial equity.

County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Maddalino introduced Garabe Aquino and cited her experience working in the District of Columbia Department of Health, including managing school health contracts and division‑level responsibilities. HHS Director Dr. Bridget Bridges (referred to in the meeting as Dr. Bridges) endorsed the nominee and noted departmental support.

In her responses to council members, Garabe Aquino described more than 15 years of experience in programs for children and adolescents and a cross‑sector background in public health, sociology and program evaluation. She said she holds a Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University and a master's in sociology from DePaul University, and that she is completing a Doctor of Public Health with a concentration in diverse populations and health equity.

Garabe Aquino outlined immediate priorities if appointed, including strengthening interagency and community partnerships to improve continuity of services, establishing shared priorities with stakeholders for the fiscal year, and reducing duplication and gaps in services. She emphasized building a “data‑informed and outcomes‑driven division,” improving data sharing agreements with education partners, and tracking disaggregated indicators to uncover disparities. “My immediate priorities would be to strengthen interagency and community partnerships, specifically engaging stakeholders and community partners to ensure transparency, establish shared priorities for the new fiscal year, and ensure each stakeholder is aware of its role within the larger system,” she said.

Council members pressed on specifics. Questions addressed coordination with the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), complying with federal privacy rules (Garabe Aquino referenced working within FERPA and HIPAA constraints), and strategies for reaching underserved families who might not come into government offices. Garabe Aquino said her approach centers on equity, transparency, listening to lived experience, and using community partners who are already trusted by residents to extend outreach.

Members also asked how she would respond to state and federal policy or funding disruptions; she said maintaining strong trust‑based relationships with internal and external partners and being flexible in service delivery would be essential. When asked about conflicts of interest, Garabe Aquino replied there were none.

No confirmation vote was recorded in the public meeting transcript. Councilmembers thanked the nominee and HHS leadership for their participation and said they would follow the council’s normal process for action.","Laurie Garabe Aquino, the county executive’s nominee for chief of Children, Youth and Family Services, described priorities including stronger interagency collaboration, data infrastructure, and equity during a council interview; no confirmation vote was recorded at the meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204646,"Montgomery County Council unanimously reappoints Megan Davey Lamarzee as inspector general",341,2684000,3025000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa&start=2684&end=3025","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778532-0d1af1b3318d1ae7d48078e235f91bfa/thumbnail_2684000.jpg","/articles/6204646/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-Council-unanimously-reappoints-Megan-Davey-Lamarzee-as-inspector-general","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204646-c1c375066ec21f17482a6c233d4aa5ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1773614485&Signature=HycBC~NmT85QNpbvAmybwJ0vgj8EHq3bopdqIIZrvfRCWbG06aD9XPMmEeK5Vmf0fyy5DG~rXzH7RozjiRT9EVpWZMVY62ZlHcqRqSD-hI2OpCqgDB5HtxonwTUdLaNX5Yvc7RoG7uyWUPCmkZq4ysPN3jSjG0CIrDZEcNTK2wJV0iyhOKCoch9qvNHxckAxj0ulB-IcGi9TaPzTpOzQAK2w7YA3i~NwG~IpqSKjIuvsvKpb4e-B9zTdER~lsEa~3ZYj4QD8u78pqeGY6FzDnggclx77sXtxrxJ23-sQYbpJvWPZ-FQxliOUL3rmV0ikgnCV5e29uQxFtsVRs2p1VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery County Council unanimously reappointed Megan Davey Lamarzee to a four‑year term as inspector general during a council meeting after members summarized recent accomplishments of the office.

The reappointment follows a presentation by the council committee chair responsible for government operations and the office’s own remarks. The council voted on a motion to reappoint Lamarzee; Councilmember Friesen moved the motion and Council Vice President Jawando seconded it. Council members present raised their hands in a unanimous vote to confirm the reappointment.

The council highlighted several changes at the Office of the Inspector General since Lamarzee’s initial appointment, including modernization of work processes, a formalized quality assurance program, the creation of an audit division compliant with government auditing standards, and the introduction of an education oversight division for the county school system. The office has increased staffing from five full‑time employees to 21 and has established a formal follow‑up process for tracking corrective actions.

According to the presentation to the council, since fiscal year 2020 the office has issued 81 reports, made more than 250 recommendations, and responded to more than 1,600 complaints. The office’s complaint intake rose from 165 in FY21 to 430 in FY24, the council was told.

Lamarzee addressed the council before the vote, thanking staff and county partners and describing oversight work as demanding but vital. “Oversight is hard,” she said. “It is challenging. And the reason it works in Montgomery County is everyone here really continues to lean into our values. And we are all here for the same purpose, which is to provide responsible, good governance and transparent public services.”

The council recorded the appointment as approved; Lamarzee will serve the stated four‑year term.","The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously to reappoint Megan Davey Lamarzee to a four‑year term as inspector general after members highlighted the office's expansion, modernization, and oversight work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears planning board candidate interviews; introduces several zoning and map amendments

Council interviews county executive’s nominee for chief of children, youth and family services

Montgomery County Council unanimously reappoints Megan Davey Lamarzee as inspector general