Updated State and County Orders Related to COVID-19

On Wednesday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that the state would begin phase one of its reopening plan. Promptly following the Governor’s announcement, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Travis Gayles announced that Montgomery County’s numbers of cases and hospitalization rates remain too high to permit full implementation of the Governor’s latest order. Montgomery County is joined by neighboring Prince George’s County and two other jurisdictions in the state that remain closed at this time (see above map).

Please see the below Press Release from Montgomery County regarding the Governor’s Order and the county’s response.

At this time, the Village’s operations modifications and telework status for non-essential employees remains in effect. Please see the next article for reminders regarding Village-level operations.

COVID-19 Stay at Home Order in Effect Until Local Conditions Improve

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 14, 2020

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced today they are joining other large jurisdictions in Maryland and the National Capital Region (NCR) in continuing a stay-at-home order until COVID-19 data show it is safe to move toward a relaxation of the order. The decision follows yesterday’s announcement by Governor Larry Hogan that some parts of Maryland could move to the first stage of recovery. The Governor’s Executive Order, which goes into effect Friday at 5 p.m., lifts the stay at home order for parts of the state, but allowed local jurisdictions to make decisions based on local data. This local order means that the current restrictions and permitted activities remain in place; for a complete list see here. As of this morning, Montgomery County has 7,548 reported cases of COVID-19 and 397 deaths, the highest number of deaths in the state. The death count is still rising in Montgomery County, as is the daily total of new COVID-19 cases.

While the County will not provide an arbitrary date for reopening, the decision will be based on science and local guidance from public health officials. There are five key metrics that need to be met before reopening and a relaxation of restrictions can occur:

A sustained decrease during a 14-day period of new cases in an environment of increased testing
A sustained decrease in the COVID-19 related hospitalization rate
A sustained decrease in the percentage of COVID-19 related ICU beds in use
A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related daily deaths
A sustained decrease in the number of COVID-19 related patients going to County emergency rooms

“I appreciate the Governor providing local jurisdictions the latitude to address reopening based on local needs. While we have made progress, the data is not signaling that we are out of the woods yet, so no local restrictions are being lifted,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Montgomery County has the second highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state, behind Prince George’s County. Unlike Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, we are a densely populated area and disease spreads more easily.”

Testing capacity is also key to having data to support reopening, according to Dr. Gayles. “So far, three percent of residents have been tested but the County’s goal is to test five percent. A sustained decrease in the number of cases while increased testing is occurring, is one of the benchmarks we are looking for that before we think about easing restrictions and reopening,” he said. “We continue to expand testing and we are scaling up an aggressive effort to screen and test essential employees.”

A testing helpline is available for residents who believe they need testing but do not have access to a primary care provider. Residents can call 240-777-1755 and will be evaluated for the need for testing. If a resident does not have a doctor, they will be contacted within 24 hours by a volunteer medical professional who will evaluate them and set up an appointment for testing, if needed, at one of the three testing sites currently available.

While continuing to monitor the number of cases and other metrics, County officials are asking residents to continue to be vigilant in practicing preventive measures:

Only go out for essential travel and permitted exercise
Practice physical distancing of at least six feet
Do not congregate in groups of more than 10 people
Wear a face covering when going out in public
Wash hands frequently

For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.

Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD

COVID-19 Operations Modification and Reminders

Village Hall Remains Closed
No changes since 5/1/2020

Click on the below link to view the local state of emergency order adopted by the Village Board of Managers on April 13, 2020:
https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3580/Adopted-Resolution-04-01-20

Below are reminders regarding the Village’s orders regarding access to the Village Hall and the status of non-essential staff, which remains in effect until further notice:

The Village Hall remains closed to public access. Only essential personnel will continue to have access to the Hall. (The U.S. Postal Service will issue directives regarding access to the Post Office).
All non-essential administrative personnel remain in a telework status. Administrative staff are continuing to monitor and respond to emails and are returning calls left on their extension.
All classes, events and activities in the Hall are canceled. The spring class session has been canceled due to the extended closure of the Village Hall.
Public Works personnel are working Mondays-Thursdays, with limited staffing. In order to limit person-to-person contact, half of the department’s personnel is working Mondays and Wednesdays and the other half works Tuesdays and Thursdays. The department is closed on Fridays.
Hazardous waste collection has been suspended. Montgomery County is not currently accepting hazardous waste drop-off at its solid waste facility, so we have temporarily suspended the Village’s collection until the county’s program resumes.
Refuse and recycling collection continue normally; HOWEVER, should Montgomery County close its Transfer Station, refuse collection will be suspended. No closures are anticipated at this time.
All previously-issued permits that were scheduled to expire on or after March 14, 2020 are extended through the 30^th day after the date by which the Maryland state of emergency is terminated and the catastrophic health emergency is rescinded.
All new applications for administrative permits (Building, Tree Removal, Dumpster, Sign) must be submitted online. These applications and permits will be reviewed remotely by staff and applicants will receive further follow-up by email/phone.
All forms for new parking permits must be submitted online. Once processed, Communications Center personnel will maintain a log of approved permits that are pending issuance of the decal/permit for reference by Village patrol officers. Permits/decals will be provided to the applicant when the Village Hall reopens.
Mail pick-ups—Village Police are continuing our house check program as usual, however, residents are encouraged to contact the U.S. Postal Service to have mail stopped while you are away. If our officers collect mail during a house check, residents will continue to receive a notice that mail has been collected.

If you receive a notice that mail has been collected during your absence, please call BEFORE coming to the Hall. In anticipation of your arrival, Communications personnel will bundle the mail in a bag. Upon your arrival at the Hall, press the doorbell at the main entrance to speak with the on-duty clerk, who will ask you to present your photo ID in front of the camera located on the porch. Once photo ID has been confirmed, the on-duty clerk will electronically open the door to allow you to retrieve your mail.
Key Pick-Up/Drop-Off—where practical, residents are encouraged to call BEFORE coming to the Hall. Upon your arrival at the Hall, press the doorbell at the main entrance to speak with the on-duty clerk who will ask you to present your photo ID in front of the camera located on the porch. Once photo ID has been confirmed, the on-duty clerk will electronically open the door to allow you to retrieve/leave your house key.

Updates and changes to these service modifications, including any extension of these closures, will be circulated via blast email and posted to the homepage of the Village’s website.

Village officers who will continue to interact with the public are adhering to prevention efforts, including politely avoiding handshakes, maintaining social distance, sanitizing vehicles and work spaces, and staying home when feeling ill. Officers have also begin wearing masks when interacting with the public.

As a member of the Montgomery County Emergency Management Group, Village staff is continuing to receive frequent updates from various county agencies, including the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), and federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control.

Residents should stay informed. Below is a list of website resources (some of these sites provide redundant information):

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

Maryland Department of Health
https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx

Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services
https://montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS/RightNav/Coronavirus.html

U.S. State Department Travel Advisories (specific to COVID-19)
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province--china.html

U. S. State Department Travel Advisories (general)
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

Should you or a member of your household believe that you have symptoms (fever and cough) or if you have been in close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you should call your health care practitioner or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Disease Control Office to speak with a nurse at (240) 777-1755. If you are unable to get through, call the state’s Infectious Disease Bureau at (410) 767-6700 (daytime) or (410) 795-7365 (after-hours).

Decision to Cancel Summer Community Events

Due to the continued local impact of COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our summer community events:

· July 4 Parade & Party at the Large Oliver Street Park
· National Night Out in Newlands Park

We made this difficult decision to limit the opportunities for local transmission of the virus given that these events are typically attended by a broad spectrum of the community. We join local communities that have taken steps to limit large gatherings over the summer.

No decisions have yet been made regarding events tentatively scheduled for the fall.

Household Collection of Glass Recycling Has Resumed

The Village’s contractor has reestablished a glass recycling system at its processing facility, thereby enabling customers to once again include glass along with other recycled materials such as paper, plastic and cardboard. We ask that residents ensure that all materials are clean and remain dry to prevent cross-contamination.

We thank everyone for their patience during the interruption of service and for your efforts bringing glass recyclables to the Hall for transfer by our Public Works staff to the county’s facility.

Collection of glass at the Hall has been discontinued. To view the current list of acceptable recyclable materials and guidelines for single-stream recycling, please visit:
https://goodecompanies.com/wp-content/uploads/single-stream-recycling-guidelines.jpg

Warm Weather Brings Increase in Barking and Other Dog Complaints

In addition to the warmer weather allowing Village canines to enjoy the outdoors, the current Stay at Home order means that many residents are working and learning from home. While pets might be enjoying more outdoor time, please be sensitive to the impact of your dog’s barking on neighbors’ tranquility and ability to focus.

In addition to prohibiting excessive barking, Village regulations also contain provisions related to cleaning up after your pet. The Animal Control Code can be viewed online at: https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/448/Chapter-18-Animal-Control-PDF?bidId=

Be a considerate neighbor and bring incessantly barking dogs inside.

Census 2020; the Race to 100% Community Response:
Village Response Rate up to 82.6% as of May 14

Thank you to the OVER three quarters of the community that have responded to the census! If you have not already responded and you are looking to kill some time during the stay at home order: spend a few minutes responding to the 2020 Census!

In March, homes across the country received invitations to complete the 2020 Decennial Census. One member of each household may respond in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail. As of May 14, the Village’s response rate was up to 82.6%, which is fantastic….if you have not already done so, take a few minutes to help us get to 100%!

The following is a link to a an official Census Bureau video with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the 2020 Decennial Census online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCM0XrSynFw&list=PLewV-zKXDZkiAT8Tp96NysEoq3dDEMi7L&index=1

To view a one-page Fact Sheet regarding the census, visit: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/census/Resources/Files/everyone-counts-in-mc/EVERYONE-COUNTS-In-MCMD-Flyer_English.pdf.

For more information, visit www.2020census.gov.

Latest Information Regarding Presidential
Primary Election

This year’s primary presidential election will be primarily a “vote by mail” election, with ballots automatically mailed to all eligible voters to the address on file with the State Board of Elections. Registered voters should receive their ballot in early to mid-May. Voters do not need to ask for a ballot in order to receive one.

Voters who would like their ballot mailed to another address or who prefer to download it from the state’s Board of Elections website, should visit https://www.elections.maryland.gov/voting/absentee.html. All mailed ballots will include a return envelope and prepaid postage.

To reduce the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, voters who can vote by mail should do so. Completed ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

Voters who prefer to drop off their ballots can do so at designated ballot drop off locations from Thursday, May 21, 2020 through Tuesday, June 2, 2020 (see below list). Ballots may also be dropped off at the Montgomery County Board of Elections headquarters, 18753 N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20879.

If you are unable to vote by mail, you may vote in-person on election day, June 2, 2020, at one of the following vote centers:

Germantown Community Recreation Center – Germantown MD
Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center – Burtonsville MD
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza – Silver Spring MD (closest to the Village)
Activity Center at Bohrer Park Social Hall – Gaithersburg MD

The Vote Centers will be open 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Election Day; the drop boxes will be available May 21 through June 2, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. There will be no in-person voting at the Village Hall nor will the Hall serve as a voting center.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is Asking for Donations to Meet Critical Needs and
Serve Maryland First Responders

More information can also be found on Facebook and Twitter @MDMEMA.

All questions regarding donations should be sent to NGS.mema@maryland.gov.

Guidance Regarding the State’s Stay at Home Orders and

Ways to be Sensitive to your Neighbors

The Maryland Department of Health has issued guidance for compliance with the Governor’s most recent stay at home orders. The guidance can be found at: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/FAQ_covid19_stay_home_isolation_033120.pdf

Among many scenarios addressed in this guidance is whether landscape crews may continue to work. While landscape and yard maintenance contractors have been deemed essential under the Governor’s orders, homeowners who employ these contractors have and should use their discretion in deciding whether their work and the nature of their work is indeed “essential”.

During these unique circumstances when neighbors are home and many are working or participating in distance learning, residents are urged to consult with their construction and landscape contractors to be sensitive to the noise their work produces, which can be highly disruptive to these new routines. Contractors should be asked to look for ways to minimize the severity and duration of noise-producing activities.

In particular, landscape contractors should be reminded that blowing of leaves and yard waste is not necessary and neighbors would greatly appreciate the reprieve from the crews of blowers working throughout the community*. Residents may also choose to limit landscape work, but continue to pay crews until the stay at home orders are lifted as many of the workers may be dependent on this income for their family’s livelihood.

Thank you for your efforts to remain sensitive to your neighbors as we all try to cope under these unique circumstances.

*Village police continue to actively enforce the 70 dBA (decibel level) limit for leaf blowers (per Montgomery County Code, which applies in the Village), which can often be exceeded by multiple blowers being operated simultaneously.

Sign-Up for Montgomery County’s COVID-19 Updates

Montgomery County is continuously pushing out useful information and updates related to the COVID-19 health emergency. Please visit the below site to sign-up for the county’s COVID-19 updates:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MDMONTGOMERY/signup/14849

Grocery Stores Offering
“Seniors-Only” Shopping Hours

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced a new program to help protect seniors as they shop for groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Thursday, March 19, four local grocery stores and two national store chains will reserve specific hours for seniors only, allowing them to shop among a smaller group of people to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection.

View the Stores and Hours

Volunteering and Being a Good Neighbor During COVID-19

Many Montgomery County residents, seeing their neighbors and members of the community in distress, are looking to help and volunteer during these difficult times.

The Montgomery County Volunteer Center website continues to be a resource for connecting volunteers and nonprofits. There is now a “Volunteer Response to COVID-19” section where people can see any current requests for volunteers and donations posted by local organizations.

Volunteer Now

Join the Village Listserv on Groups.io

Last year, CCVillage, the neighborhood mailing list for Chevy Chase Village, was transferred to CCVillage@Groups.io. During this period of social distancing, CCVillage is a resource to allow neighbors to stay connected with each other.

If you have not done so already, please join the mailing list by visiting https://groups.io/g/CCVillage and clicking on the blue "+ Join This Group" button. Once you are enrolled, the email address to submit messages to the mailing list is ccvillage@groups.io, and you can read the group messages online at http://groups.io/g/CCVillage/topics.

On the website, click on "Messages" in the left column menu to see the most recent CCVillage posts, and click "New Topic" to open an editor that will let you compose and send your message. You can search the database of old messages by clicking the "Search" button above the message list.

The CCVillage information website is at http://CCVillage.info. For assistance with joining or posting messages, please contact moderator and Village resident Tim Slagle at ccvillage+owner@groups.io.

Residents Reminded to Work
with Landscapers to Operate Blowers Legally, this Spring and Beyond

Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers goes into effect January 1, 2022

A ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers will go into effect on January 1, 2022. The Village Board approved the ban last December citing the adverse environmental, human health (principally for the equipment operator) and quality of life impacts resulting from the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. These impacts were highlighted in a report from the Village Environment & Energy Committee, dated August 15, 2019, which can be viewed on the committee’s page on the Village website.

Village staff are finalizing a handout to communicate the effective date of this ban to yard maintenance contractors who work in the Village. If you would like your landscaper/yard maintenance contractor to be included in the distribution of these materials, please email your contractor’s information to ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov.

As you prepare for yard maintenance this spring, residents and landscapers are reminded that all blowers remain subject to Montgomery County’s Noise Ordinance, which applies within the Village. The county’s Noise Ordinance states that “a person must not sell, buy, offer for sale, or use a leaf blower at any time that has an average sound level exceeding 70 dBA at a distance of 50 feet.” Additionally, the simultaneous use of multiple leaf blowers that are compliant with the 70 bDA limit can create noise of a sufficient level to qualify as a violation and/or noise disturbance.

If a blower seems loud, it may be in violation. Contact the Village Communications Center to request a Village officer respond to confirm the unit(s) product information and to measure the decibel level using the Village’s calibrated meter. First time violators will receive a warning. Residents are encouraged to discuss this restriction with your yard maintenance crews before they begin working this spring.

To view the Montgomery County Noise Ordinance and the provisions pertaining to leaf blowers (Section 31B-9), visit: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep/resources/files/downloads/compliance/noise-control-ordinance.pdf

Help Village Staff Keep the Community Safe and Beautiful

Report Areas for Repair and Maintenance

Village staff prides itself on being responsive and working hard to ensure that the Village remains a safe, beautiful and welcoming community—but we cannot do it alone. While we are constantly on the lookout for areas that need to be addressed, we need the support of residents serving as our eyes and ears throughout the community:

Sidewalk Repairs

The Village maintains brick paver sidewalks throughout the community. The brick pavers are not mortared and are set on a bluestone base to allow the sidewalks to gradually move as adjacent tree roots grow. Compared to the former concrete sidewalks, the dry-laid brick pavers are much easier for Public Works staff to repair by removing and resetting sections that have shifted. This is ongoing maintenance that our crews perform throughout the year as trip hazards are identified by staff or are brought to our attention by residents.

Tree Maintenance

There are well over 2,500 “public” trees located within Village parks, greenspaces and public right-of-way. The Village’s consulting Arborist and our Director of Public Works perform a quarterly assessment for tree maintenance needs including areas for pruning, removals or treatments to improve a tree’s health. These quarterly assessments supplement our ongoing response to observations made by staff and residents.

How to Report an Issue or Concern

Residents can use the Village’s online form system to report any number of issues/concerns, by visiting:

https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/RequestTracker.aspx. From this page, residents can report sidewalk trip hazards and streetlight outages, and request public tree maintenance and recycling toters.

As always, residents may also call the Village’s 24-hour Communications Center or email requests/concerns to the Village’s main email address at ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov (emails are then routed to the appropriate department).

Thank you for helping us to continue addressing the needs of the community!

Join the Crew; The Compost Crew

Food-waste recycling--otherwise known as “composting” is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and greenhouse emissions while returning nutrients to our soil and food system.

The Village has partnered with The Compost Crew to provide low-cost household collection of food-waste. The Compost Crew provides each household with an airtight bin and compostable bags; all you have to do is separate your organic waste and leave the bin by your trash and recycling receptacles for collection on the designated day for weekly pick-up. The collected waste is processed at a composting facility in Maryland and, after six months of service, households can request that a portion of your contributed waste be returned in the form of rich, finished nutrient-rich soil.

For more information regarding the household composting collection service, including current rates, please visit the “Food Waste Recycling Program” page on the Village website under Quick Links on the homepage. The more households that sign-up,the cheaper the service is for all, so sign up today!

Are You Prepared?

As we have experienced during various seasonal events, it is important to be prepared for local weather emergencies. In order the assist residents in their preparedness, the Village in partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) offer a number of helpful tools, plans and free alerts to assist and keep you informed.

Village Website and Blast Email System – Have you signed up for the Village’s blast email system? This is the Village's primary method of communication with residents. The Village has 2 email lists you can sign-up for:

Urgent News Alert – include messages such as criminal activity, neighborhood disruptions such as water main breaks, power outages and road closures and major weather events.

General News Alerts – include messages about Board and committee meetings, community events, changes in public services such as refuse/recycling collection schedules and upcoming road closures.

To sign-up for the blast email system visit the Village website at www.chevychasevillagemd.gov and click on the tablet icon at the top of the Village’s homepage.

Alert Montgomery – Alert Montgomery is the official emergency communications service for Montgomery County, MD. During major crisis, emergency or severe weather events, Montgomery County will send event updates, warnings and instructions directly to you on any of your devices. To sign-up for Alert Montgomery please visit the OEMHS website www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oemhs and click on the “Alert Montgomery” link at the top of the page.

Family and Community Preparedness Information – Emergencies can take many forms and occur with or without warning. By taking a few simple steps now, you can ensure that you, your family and your community are better prepared to handle emergencies. To assist in your family planning, please visit the Village’s emergency preparedness page, www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/emergencyprep for helpful tools and links. Another important tool the Village has created to assist you in your preparedness efforts is our House Check Program. Always request a House Check when you are leaving town and ensure that your emergency contacts are up to date with the Village office.

For additional information please visit the Village’s website at www.chevychasevillagemd.gov and click on the “Are you prepared? – Emergency Preparedness Tips” link listed in the Quick Links on the homepage.

Emergency Contact Sheet

EMERGENCY - 911

Chevy Chase Village Police
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-654-7300

Montgomery County Police
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-279-8000

Bethesda - Chevy Chase Rescue Squad - 301-652-0077

Chevy Chase Fire Dept
(Opposite Columbia Country Club) - 240-773-4707

Bethesda Fire Dept
(Wisconsin Ave and Bradley Blvd) - 240-773-4706

National Capital Poison Center
(George Washington University Hospital) - 800-222-1222

Utilities

Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO)

Emergency-Live wires down, power failure - 877-737-2662

or visit the website at Pepco.com/Outages/ReportanOutage
to report their outage and receive restoration information.

Customer Service - 202-833-7500

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Emergency - 301-206-4002

Complaints, Leaks, Information - 301-206-4001

Washington Gas

Emergency - 703-750-1400

Information & Customer Service - 703-750-1000

Comcast - 800-934-6489

Verizon - 800-837-4966

**A cut out sheet is also located on page two of the January 2019 Crier.

You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to receive general news updates from Chevy Chase Village. Did you know the Village sends out urgent news updates as well, click here to sign-up.