GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEWS

GSSCC to Seek Statewide Standard for Mandatory Paid Leave

GSSCC will be in Annapolis this week to testify in support of creating a statewide standard for mandatory paid leave and other employment regulations.  Committees in the House of Delegates and the Senate will hear testimony on two mandatory leave bills, including one introduced by Governor Larry Hogan. It is not likely that Hogan's bill, which is much more employer-friendly, will move. However, business groups will be seeking amendments to the other bills based on the measures suggested by the Governor.  General Assembly leaders have said that some kind of paid leave will pass this year. GSSCC is concerned that the significant differences between proposed state legislation and current Montgomery County bill will be confusing to employers, especially those who have employees working in multiple jurisdictions. The enforcement and penalty provisions in legislation proposed at the state level are much more onerous than current Montgomery County law, and honest mistakes in record-keeping could put employers in jeopardy. 

GSSCC Tracking Legislation of Significance to Business

To date, more than 1,500 pieces of legislation have been introduced in the General Assembly. GSSCC has reviewed these bills and is tracking those that affect business and Silver Spring. Click here for a summary of relevant legislation. This list will be updated as new bills are introduced through the session.

TRANSPORTATION/TRAFFIC NEWS

From midnight on Saturday, February 11, all southbound and one northbound lane of Colesville Road between Spring Street and Fenton Street will be closed for a crane operation. Weather and progress permitting, all traffic lanes should reopen no later than midnight on Sunday, February 12. The sidewalk on the southbound side will also be closed. A flagging operation and signage will direct motorists and pedestrians through the work zone.  In the case of inclement weather, the work will be moved to February 18 during the same hours. Questions may be directed to Sean Richardson at 240-682-4034 or slrichardson@laneconstruct.com.

GSSCC Urges WMATA to Maintain Current Service Levels

GSSCC last week send a message to WMATA Board Chair Jack Evans and General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, urging that current levels of service for Silver Spring be maintained in the proposed FY18 budget. Specifically, GSSCC asked WMATA not to take the following proposed actions: extend weekday headways on the Red Line between Silver Spring and Grosvenor on weekdays from every 3 minutes to every 4 minutes and between Shady Grove and Glenmont from every 6 minutes to every 8 minutes; reduce weekend service from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes; end every other Shady Grove bound train at Grosvenor; and eliminate bus service on the J1 (Bethesda-Silver Spring) and J5 (Twinbrook-Silver Spring) lines.

GSSCC Works with DOT, DPS to Alleviate Delivery, Other Woes during Construction

GSSCC has been working with County Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Permitting Services staff in an effort to help members and other businesses on Georgia Avenue facilitate deliveries and trash pick-up during the construction of Studio Plaza. Because Mayor's Lane has not always been accessible, trash trucks and delivery vehicles have have difficulties in getting through. In the coming weeks, DOT will create a delivery zone between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. weekdays on Georgia Avenue between Silver Spring Avenue and Thayer Avenue. On each side of the Mayor's Lane pedestrian access, two parking spaces along Georgia Avenue will be designated "No Parking" during these times, so as to accommodate delivery vehicles.