Housing agency asks county for $3.9 million in repairs, counselors and demolition support; committee puts items on reconciliation list

The Montgomery County Council’s Budget and Fiscal Policy Committee on April 29 considered multiple funding requests from the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC), including roughly $2.05 million to address unsafe balconies at the agency’s Cider Mill property in Gaithersburg, $250,000 for additional lighting and cameras there, new resident‑services staff and $1.5 million to cover unanticipated environmental costs arising during demolition of Elizabeth House.

The requests matter because they seek county support for safety and services at large, county‑owned and -assisted affordable housing properties and because HOC says some costs arose after work began. The committee recommended including the items on its budget reconciliation list for full‑council review, a step short of final appropriation.

Chelsea Andrews, president of the Housing Opportunities Commission, told the committee HOC has 22 resident counselors covering about 57 sites and that Cider Mill is one of the agency’s largest properties, with more than 860 units. “We are seeking $2,050,000 to address the balconies,” Andrews said, adding that the balconies were sealed off and represent a “health and safety risk.” She said the agency was prepared to phase repairs and to provide the county a prioritized plan.

Andrews also asked for $250,000 for cameras and lighting in Cider Mill breezeways, saying earlier security investments reduced calls for police from about 54 per month in February 2023 to about 18 per month after additional measures. “Our cameras have been so helpful…they have been used successfully by the police department to apprehend and address crime,” she said, thanking Montgomery County Police Department partners by name.

On staffing, HOC requested an additional full‑time resident counselor at Cider Mill at an estimated cost of $120,000 including benefits. The agency also asked for three new resident counselors for senior sites; committee members agreed to recommend funding for two counselor tranches instead (each tranche equal to the full cost of one counselor, about $120,000), and to recommend one program coordinator position (estimated at $145,000) to support youth and adult programming with flexible assignment if the agency preferred to split duties across populations.

Committee members discussed phasing the $2.05 million balcony repairs into roughly equal tranches. The committee recommended adding the $250,000 for lighting and cameras and the tranching approach for the balcony repairs to the reconciliation list so the full council can consider them.

Elizabeth House demolition also drew extended discussion. Andrews said demolition began earlier than HOC would have planned after the county asked the agency to advance the timetable; contractors found environmental issues after work began, producing $1.5 million in additional costs. The committee recommended adding a $1.5 million request for demolition costs to the reconciliation list and urged the executive branch and HOC to seek alternatives such as a loan or other county financing before final action.

Committee staff and members pressed OMB and HOC on possible funding options and noted HOC had already used its line of credit to continue demolition and was accruing interest. The committee asked OMB and HOC to report back before the full‑council budget vote on any additional proposals or financing arrangements.

The committee’s recommendations do not appropriate funds; they place HOC’s requests on the reconciliation list for full council consideration during final budget deliberations. The committee asked HOC to return priorities and phasing plans prior to the council’s vote.