Update on PEPCO and Montgomery County Work Group

I received a clarification to my June 15^th e-mail about the PEPCO investigation workgroup from Mr. Eric Friedman, Director, Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection.  He is what he said:

“The County Executive’s Work Group consisted of 12 volunteer residents.  They did not receive any payments from Montgomery County for their many months of service.  The Special Counsel retained by Montgomery County is paid using funds that were budgeted to our office and the Department of General Services.  According to a survey conducted by the Work Group the economic impact to consumers and businesses resulting from electricity interruption was significant.”

10/4/2010 Newly Formed Pepco Work Group to Study Causes of and Solutions for Utility’s Frequent Outages and Their Duration; Leggett Announces Members of Work Group Headed by Retired Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine

This is good news and I hope that someone finally gets PEPCO to act like a real utility company.

Maryland’s Tax Free Shopping

Maryland is relieving purchasers of the usual 6% sales tax, August 14-20, 2011, for clothing and footwear that is less than $100 each item. “That means qualifying apparel and footwear $100 or less are exempt from the Maryland 6% sales tax. Accessory items are not included.”

See this web site for more details including a FAQ Adobe PDF document: http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ShopMD_2011/default.asp

Source:

“Tax Free School Supplies Offer School Savings for 2011 Sales Tax Holidays”

http://www.maximizingmoney.com/shopping/tax-free-school-supplies-offer-school-savings/

PEPCO: the Most Hated Company in America

After spending three hours without power on Wednesday (7/6/11) for no apparent reason, I wasn’t surprised to read the PEPCO was coined the “‘most hated’ company in America” by Rachel Baye based on a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index. PEPCO spokesman, Bob Hainery, is quoted as saying “We are committed to upgrading and modernizing our system through hard work and advanced technology” (Washington Examiner, ‘Satisfaction with Pepco plunges’, July 12, 2011, p 5). I have been hearing their same song and dance for the last 18 years, but with no real results. There I was on a nice summer day in the backyard with a flashlight. PEPCO’s recurring statements of commitment have no meaning if there are no tangible results two decades later.

What’s the best approach to getting PEPCO to actually do something? Support the efforts by our officials.

I expressed my personal concerns to Governor O’Malley in June and assured him of my support for Maryland’s investigation. After reading an article saying Montgomery County was not fully participating in this investigation, I wrote County Executive Leggett. He responded promptly and indicated Montgomery County was participating in the state-wide investigation - although it was not clear how far, fully or partially. He added that he created a 12-member work group to do its own investigation and has engaged outside special counsel (e-mail, June 20, 2011). He also explained that ‘the Public Service Commission has exclusive jurisdiction regarding utility companies.’  
 
Assuming that the commission has sole jurisdiction, then I don’t understand what Mr. Leggett hopes to accomplish with the work group and special counsel. Don’t get me wrong. I think PEPCO acts like we’re living in a third-world country. But, I don’t think we need more than one investigation, especially if it turns out we taxpayers are paying for all of the above.

REPEAL the Montgomery County Maryland Bag Tax

On "May 3rd, 2011 The County Council approved the 5-cent tax to be charged at grocery stores, department stores, convenience stores and other retail establishments that kicks in January 1. The move was inspired in part by a similar measure in the District, but takes it further by spreading it to nearly all retail establishments, not just those that sell food." Kerry Roth  [http://www.realtown.com/community/BlogTalk/view/ORKAEZA]

I have direct experience with the real effects of a bag tax since I work in DC. There are many reasons why it’s a bad idea. These are a few.

·     Many vendors add the cost of providing a bag to their customers to their prices even if they don’t give them a bag. The customer is disadvantaged twice, once for not getting a bag and second because they were overcharged.

·     The cost for administering this tax is not outweighed by the income. Within a few weeks of the DC tax, the majority of customers went without a buying bag. Now, only the tourists pay up. In the end, the "expected" revenue is not there and that happened very quickly.

·     Other issues are arising. Folks using reusable bags do not wash them. In a short time, the bacterial and viral load can make even healthy people become ill. Health care costs are hundreds of times more than any monies recouped from the bag tax.
·     Further, if someone immune-compromised dies as a result, then the officials could end up in a lawsuit, even a class-action lawsuit, costing taxpayers thousands, if not millions more than any income from the bag tax.

Officials try to hide behind the "going green" bandwagon. Is a tax thought to reduce plastic bag use really green? The facts are that it costs more to produce reusable bags and that they create more bulk trash when they’ve outlived their usefulness. The only “green” in this tax is Maryland officials once again putting their hands in our wallets.

Contact Montgomery County Council to let them know you too want their plastic bag tax repealed. If you don’t let them know how you feel, they will keep doing what they are doing.


Click here (or on the links section to the right) Contact the County Executive and the Council as a whole,
Click here: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Keeping the Change?

As a non-native of the DC area, I look at things differently. One of many things that just doesn't sit right with me is the number of doctors and dentists, all who coincidentally have offices on Shady Grove Road in Rockville, who keep the over payment when my insurance finally pays up.

I didn't catch this at first but when I was doing my taxes in April, I realized that one doctor kept $70 (since October 2010) and the dentist kept $30 (since February) - even though I told the dental receptionist to have the check sent directly to me. After taking time to call, hold for twenty minutes, and kick up a fuss, I did get my money back. The point is that if I owe them, I get a bill in 29 days. If they owe me, they "keep the change." I don't think so.

Keep an eye on your wallets folks. I need my money for my Honda Civic. I am sorry if diesel costs a lot for their Mercedes.

Gaithersburg Olde Towne Traffic

Archstone Apartment Traffic

Statistics show we can expect Archstone residents to own between 200-700 cars. The City has only approved three exits and intersection changes to accommodate all this new traffic.

Two exits will come from extending Teachers Way to North Summit dumping traffic on to both Summit and Girard. The third exit will be an alley dumping traffic on to East Diamond. (See current map below.)

The intersection changes will likely only be shorter traffic light cycles.

WhenThe Residences at Hidden Creek is fully occupied, more traffic will dump onto Summit Avenue and Girard creating even more gridlock.

The City has no plans to widen any of these roads. Smart growth is not smart if it does not include structural changes to the surrounding roads.

If don’t want your commute time tripled, let the City Planners know how you feel.

     Planning and Code Administration

     City of Gaithersburg
     31 S Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
     Phone: 301-258-6330; Fax: 301-258-6336
     E-mail: plancode@gaithersburgmd.gov

They meet the first and third Wednesday at 7:30 pm; location: City Hall Council Chambers.

Did you know about Maryland Made Easy web site?

July 1^st’s Washington Business Journal article notes that “Maryland's economic development department has launched its Maryland Made Easy website, a portal designed to help businesses more simply sift through required licensing and regulatory paperwork.”

Check it out at: easy.maryland.gov