On the Ballot: Question B Who Do You Think Should Run the Montgomery County Police Department? The Police Chief or Police Union Leaders?

Under �effects bargaining,� Police Chief Tom Manger has to bargain everything about running his department with Police union leaders, such as distributing critical police equipment, redeploying officers to crime hot spots and even the revised policy on �Use of Force� -- important to protecting the public and officers alike -- that was sent to the Police Union for their �approval� on June 27, 2008.

In all, 15 Police Department policies are awaiting union leaders' �approval� -- 12 of them for more than two years. Under effects bargaining, police officers still don�t have to sign their time cards. The Police Chief could not even require that police officers have County email accounts � or check their email. It took months to negotiate that.

That makes no sense.

That�s why the County Council and the County Executive -- all pro-labor -- unanimously repealed �effects bargaining� � without affecting the continued right of the union to bargain wages, hours, working conditions and benefits on behalf of their members.

No other Police union in the entire State has �effects bargaining.� Neither does any other County union have it in their contract.

The issue will be on the November ballot.

A �FOR� vote on Question B is a vote that lets the Police Chief run the department in the most efficient and productive way and still protects the full range of collective bargaining enjoyed by all other Police unions across the State and all other County unions.

An �AGAINST� vote preserves union leaders� power over the ability of the Police Chief to run the Police Department, impairing the effective and productive running of the department.

That�s what Question B is all about.  Vote FOR Question B.

Read the Washington Post editorial: �Unshackling Montgomery�s Police�

See the list of Police policies dating back to June, 2008 that are awaiting Fraternal Order of Police �approval� before Chief Manger can implement them.

See a list of facts about Question B. 

For more information, go to the Question B website.

September is Falls Prevention Month -- Leggett Highlights County Safety Initiatives for Seniors

County Executive Ike Leggett, Fire Chief Richard Bowers and Grass Roots Organization for the Well-Being of Seniors (GROWS) President Susan Wranik recently announced a number of safety initiatives aimed at the County�s growing population of seniors.

In 2010, with nearly 120,000 seniors living in Montgomery County, there were 3,294 calls to 9-1-1 attributed to falls by individuals over the age of 60.  In turn, nearly 2,100 of those falls were by individuals over the age of 80.  While falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions for Marylanders over the age of 65, they are highly preventable.

The County has partnered with GROWS to promote educational activities and events throughout September, Falls Prevention Month. Check out a  schedule of remaining activities.

In addition, the departments of Health and Human Services and Recreation sponsor Bone Builders classes that help seniors increase their strength and balance.  For a schedule, visit the County�s Calendar page and enter Bone Builders in the search function.

The Fire and Rescue Service also provides the �Safety in Our Neighborhood� program which has firefighters visiting communities, going door-to-door to check smoke alarms, helping residents develop escape plans and pointing out potential �trouble spots� in a home.  Firefighters will point out tripping hazards and offer suggestions on making homes safer such as installing grab bars, repairing hand rails and adding night lights.

Are You Ready? Get First-Hand Information on Being Prepared for Emergencies

The Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) is helping show residents, first-hand, how they can prepare themselves, their families and their communities for emergencies such as the derecho that hit the County in late June.

OEMHS staff will be at the following events, talking to residents and distributing helpful information on emergency preparedness and inviting them to sign up for Alert Montgomery.

• Burtonsville Day � Saturday, September 22
• Oktoberfest at the Kentlands � Sunday, October 14
• World of Montgomery in Wheaton � Sunday, October 21

See more information about being ready.

Leggett, Councilmembers to Participate in Hearing about On-The-Job Safety And Health Challenges Faced By Immigrant Workers

County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Valerie Ervin, and George Leventhal will participate in the public hearing on September 21 held by the Montgomery County Worker Safety & Health Commission on �Safety & Health Challenges on the Job Faced by Immigrant Workers.�

The hearing will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building, at Ellsworth Dr. and Fenton St.  It follows Montgomery County�s adoption of a regulation strengthening worker health and safety on County-funded construction projects.

Among those testifying will be the widow of a worker killed on the job in the County and other workers injured on the job.

See more information.

Ted Koppel to Host Event Saluting Local WWII Veterans; Two Local Congressional Gold Medal Winners, Lifelong Friends Among Attendees

John Henry Chaney of Boyds and Charles Frazier of Germantown, lifelong friends who served together with the Montford Point Marines --the first blacks to serve in the Marine Corps -- and were recently presented with belated Congressional Gold Medals, will be among the attendees at the Silver Spring Civic Building on Wednesday, September 19, as Montgomery County salutes the men and women who served the nation in World War II.

Ted Koppel, who for 25 years hosted the ABC News show �Nightline,� will be the host and one of the speakers. Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown also will be among the main speakers.

County Executive Ike Leggett, Council President Roger Berliner and the County Council will lead the special ceremonies that will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Civic Building located at One Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.

The event will be simulcast live on many of the County�s public cable television channels that compose the PEG (Public, Education, Government) Network. In addition, the PEG Network will record the stories of many of the veterans for a documentary that will be broadcast on the cable stations.

Learn more about the event.