Three members of the Montgomery County Council are calling for stronger restrictions on data centers that they say will help protect the environment.

Council President Natali Fani-González, Vice President Marilyn Balcombe and member Laurie-Anne Sayles announced in a news release Thursday they plan to introduce amendments to a bill on data center development.

“To thrive, Montgomery County must participate in the economy of the future by supporting data centers in the County,” the release said. “However, we must establish responsible rules for data center development that genuinely reflect community input.”

Many residents have expressed concerns about data centers’ potential impact on the region’s air, water and land.

According to the release, the amendments would require data center developers to submit plans that demonstrate how they will procure or produce 100% clean energy — meaning from sources that don’t emit greenhouse gases or pollutants — and minimize water usage.

The council members would also clarify that new zoning rules would apply to current and future data center applications that have not yet been granted a building permit.

If passed, the amendments would apply to a planned center in Dickerson that has been at the center of controversy.

A representative for Atmosphere, the developer behind the Dickerson proposal, said Friday company officials are reviewing the amendments and what they could mean for their plans.

County employees union alleges nepotism in hiring

The union representing most Montgomery County government employees is raising concerns about nepotism after an investigation released last month by the Montgomery County Office of the Inspector General found a county employee hired a relative without revealing their relationship.

UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO said in an April 1 news release that, prior to the investigation, union members had repeatedly “raised concerns with county leadership about the culture of favoritism and nepotism that persisted” in the Department of Housing and Community Affairs — including in a January 2025 letter to the county executive.

The county’s chief administrative officer, Rich Madaleno, responded to the OIG’s report in a letter that said he was “deeply concerned” about the employee’s lack of disclosure and the “false information initially provided” to the inspector general’s office.

The OIG investigation found a manager working within that department “participated in the hiring of a relative without disclosing the relationship,” a violation of personnel regulations.

Though the manager and their relative did not reveal their relationship to investigators when initially questioned, they admitted in subsequent interviews that they were related by marriage, according to the OIG.

The union is calling on the county to terminate the employment of the manager and their relative, neither of whom has been named publicly. The union has alleged “many instances where a manager has directly supervised multiple family members and close friends.”

“This situation creates the appearance of favoritism, limits opportunities for qualified employees outside this inner circle and undermines trust in management and among colleagues,” said Lisa Titus, the union’s recorder and representative.

“We are seeing cases where employees who file complaints have their concerns investigated by a friend of the individual involved, leaving little room for an unbiased judgment or fair resolution.”

Elrich hesitates on bamboo ban

The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed a long-anticipated ban on running bamboo on Tuesday, but County Executive Marc Elrich has indicated he’s not sold on it.

The Native Plant Protection Act, sponsored by council member Evan Glass, aims to “promote sustainable landscaping practices and strengthen protections for native ecosystems by supporting the growth of native plants on residential lawns,” according to a news release.

It also prohibits the commercial sale of invasive running bamboo.

County residents have complained for years about the invasive species taking over their properties, which inspired Glass to introduce the legislation in June. It was tweaked for months prior to its passage.

Elrich may sign the bill and send the council amendments on it, he told reporters during a Wednesday media briefing.

He alleged the council did not work with the executive branch on the legislation.

“They didn’t talk to people over here about doing this and enforcing it,” Elrich said. “So our folks have some trepidation about the bill right now, but we’ll see.”

Glass’ office pointed to a Dec. 8 work session on the legislation, in which members of the executive branch staff were included in conversations about the bill and proposed amendments worked into it.

Elrich has vetoed a handful of council bills over his nearly eight-year tenure, but council members have overturned them all.

He said Wednesday he has time to amend the bill and make suggestions if the county staff finds “it’s not workable.”