Gaithersburg council signals consensus to begin process to leave Montgomery County's CCOC and explore city alternative

Gaithersburg Mayor and city council members on Jan. 13 indicated consensus to begin steps to withdraw the city from the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) and tasked staff with developing options for a replacement program, saying they want greater local accountability and clearer enforcement and reporting.

Neighborhood Services Division Manager Sebastian led a staff presentation that reviewed the CCOC's history, recent staffing and program changes, city case statistics and a menu of options ranging from remaining in the county program to creating a city-run commission. "The CCOC's authority is limited to specific types of disputes, such as governance issues, improper elections, and architectural control matters," Sebastian said, describing the county code framework that governs the CCOC's jurisdiction.

Why it matters: The CCOC offers centralized dispute resolution, training and limited financial assistance to condominium and homeowners associations; Gaithersburg officials said they joined the county program in 2021 to give common ownership communities a low-cost, structured alternative to court. Council members raised concerns about uneven service, low local participation and the program's accessibility for residents seeking remedies. The council asked staff to return with an implementation plan and legal analysis so the city can act before the next county billing cycle if it decides to exit.

What staff presented: Sebastian said the CCOC's FY25 budget is $1,907,783 with seven full-time staff and projected revenue of $998,378 at the county rate of $6.50 per participating household; the county currently charges $6.50 while the…