Montgomery County Council building overhaul on hold — Gazette.Net

Tom Fedor/The Gazette

Legislative Information Officer Neil H. Greenberger sits in an original auditorium behind the Montgomery County Council office building in Rockville. The space, still used regularly, is filled with outdated lighting, seating and tables.

Two Montgomery County school board members are criticizing a plan to spend up to $36 million on new or improved County Council quarters.

The school districts headquarters also are in poor condition, the board members said, calling for a higher priority on building schools.

The council office plan is on hold, but a council member said thats because of disagreement on how to proceed, not the school boards criticism.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the Stella B. Werner Council Office Building in Rockville has been a problem for years, and many restrooms dont comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a county memo.

Conditions are bad, Council President George L. Leventhal said. The building is in disrepair.

Because of a leak that sprang last week, the office of Councilman Sidney Katz (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg had a plastic tarp, a hose and trash can to contain water coming in on Monday.

The council is mulling two options: renovate the current building or move to a new site.

The first option is to replace the HVAC system, lighting and windows; upgrade restrooms; and renovate a first-floor auditorium. It also would involve overhauling fourth-, fifth- and sixth-floor space to make more room for council staff and the Office of Legislative Oversight. That would cost about $31 million.

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Montgomery County Council building overhaul on hold -- Gazette.Net