Fani-González: Council to make decision on trash incinerator by Thanksgiving

The Montgomery County Council plans to decide the future of the Dickerson trash incinerator by Thanksgiving, Council President Natali Fani-González said during Tuesday’s council meeting.

County Executive Marc Elrich campaigned in 2016 on closing the incinerator. As part of his fiscal year 2027 budget, Elrich wanted to divert trash to local landfills. But Fani-González said in March that she didn’t want to “rush a decision” as part of the budget process. The county’s contract with Reworld, the company that operates the incinerator, ends in 2031.

“We need to get the facts so this body can make a sound decision,” Fani-González said Tuesday.

Environmentalists have argued that the incinerator is harmful to the environment and residents’ health, and note its past toxic emissions violations.

“This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime decision here,” council member Dawn Luedtke said during Tuesday’s meeting.

While no vote has been scheduled, Fani-González and other officials said during Tuesday’s meeting that it is important to come up with a plan for the county’s trash before the new council is inaugurated in December and begins debating the county budget in the new year.

The council will weigh several options for the incinerator this fall. One controversial option includes increasing the amount of trash the county long-hauls to a landfill in Henrico County, Virginia.

New bill would prohibit housing discrimination based on immigration status

A new bill introduced by Montgomery County Council member Kristin Mink on Tuesday would prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in housing sales and rentals.

“These are protections that many people may assume already exist in Montgomery County,” Mink said Tuesday. “In my office, we had a constituent who was pressured by their landlord to show documentation status or risk eviction. … this is unacceptable.”

It’s cosponsored by council members Will Jawando and Kate Stewart.

While federal law prohibits housing discrimination, including based on national origin, there are no protections related to immigration status. Similar bills have been passed in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

The bill would also authorize a tenant to terminate a residential lease early when an immigration proceeding “substantially affects” their continued occupancy of the property.

A public hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. during the council’s Sept. 15 meeting.

Hedrick to serve four more years on Planning Board

County Planning Board member James Hedrick will serve another four-year term, the County Council voted 10-0 Tuesday. Council member Laurie-Anne Sayles was absent and did not participate in the vote.

Hedrick, a Democrat, was first appointed to the board in 2023 after its five members resigned in late 2022 following allegations of misconduct. Hedrick was one of five new members appointed by the council.

His appointment was controversially vetoed by Elrich, who cited concerns over Hedrick’s social media posts that were critical of the county executive’s views on housing policy. The council unanimously overrode Elrich’s veto, citing Hedrick’s right to free speech.

During an interview with the council last month, Hedrick said he believes his work in affordable housing has benefited the board. He is the executive director of Rockville Housing Enterprises, the public housing authority for the city of Rockville, and previously worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“Housing supply is a key factor in the affordability equation,” Hedrick said. “We need to address having different types and styles of housing in the county.”