Board Meeting Minutes

The annual meeting of MSCA was held at Beverly Farms elementary school on June 2, 2003, as publicized in advance and in accordance with our bylaws.

Bob Gross, President, opened the meeting at 7:30. In his President’s report, Bob highlighted the association's accomplishments for the year, and thanked the Officers and Committee chairs for their efforts. Membership partipation rates in paying dues continued to hold steady, with net income rising sufficiently to continue our program of improvements to the community. To this end, the association engaged Allentuck Landscaping this year to improve the flowers and shrubs at our entrances. We have since gotten a lot of positive feedback about the changes. This year also saw a revitalization of the block captain system, which we use to communicate with the members in various ways. We held a holiday party and the annual yard sale, which again raised money for a local charity, Stepping Stones. Information about new developments at Fortune Park was relayed to the members and is available on our web site under the meeting minutes from April, 2003. A campaign to improve the local roads has started to bear fruit, with reconstruction of curbs and corners on Seven Lock Road scheduled, as well as resurfacing of the asphalt in Montgomery Square itself.

The community was again fortunate this year to have two guest speakers of interest to the members. Returning to speak was Delegate Jean Cryor, our incumbent Republican representative in the Maryland House of Delegates. Delegate Cryor was joined by new delegate, Democrat Bryan Feldman. The two legislators discussed their varying viewpoints on working with our new Governor, and a substantially new cast of players at the state level. About one third of the General Assembly turned over to new members, and the Speaker of the House lost his bid for re-election in his home district. The pace of business has slowed somewhat because of the turnover, and because the balance of power is more evenly split between a Republican as Governor and the Democratic majority in the legislature. Issues discussed included the rapid growth in the area, studies of transportation alternatives, the CareFirst (Blue Cross Blue Shield) potential sale for profit which was opposed by the state, and others. The speakers differed on taxes and what the Governor's intentions might be on raising revenue, including such controversial means as the "car tax," a tax on HMOs, tobacco taxes, and borrowing from the highway trust funds. The members present enjoyed a chance to interact with their representatives, offering advice on issues such as the ICC, slot machines, local programs by businesses to support schools, reducing government waste, and the desirability of better public transportation.

Secretary Tom Hall then announced the results of the call for nominations for officers of the association. All standing officers volunteered to continue in their positions, and there were no new nominees offered. Re-election of the current slate was unanimous. The need continues for a volunteer Webmaster. Volunteers for this or any other position on the Board should contact the President at any time.

In closing, the President thanked everyone for coming. Refreshments provided by Geppetto Catering, courtesy of owner and MSCA resident Josh Carin, were enjoyed by all.

Meeting was adjourned.