About Councilmember Navarro

I serve as the Council Vice-President and the Montgomery County Councilmember representing District 4. I am the chair of the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and also serve on the Health and Human Services Committee.

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October 15, 2009

Pepco Offers Customer Rebates on Energy Efficiency Appliances

Pepco Offers Customer Rebates on Energy Efficiency Appliances

Programs Designed to Reduce Energy Consumption and Costs

Pepco today began offering cash rebates for buying energy-saving appliances to encourage residential customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland to reduce their electric bills, conserve energy and protect the environment. These rebates are the first in a series of energy-efficiency programs that will be offered to residents by the end of the year, and include rebates for installation of high-efficiency central air conditioning, heat pumps, and home energy audits.

Rebates of up to $50 are now available on select ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators, room air conditioners and certain energy efficient water heaters purchased at any area retail store. These savings would be in addition to federal tax credits available on the purchase of these energy-efficient appliances.

“These programs are being offered to help our customers meet the challenge of rising energy costs and the impact of energy use on the environment,” said Thomas Graham, President, Pepco Region. “By working together to reduce energy consumption, we will reduce the overall cost of energy and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with meeting customer demand for energy.”

The rebate program is funded through a portion of customer rates designed to encourage conservation and result in overall energy savings.

The energy efficiency programs are expected to reduce Pepco’s electric load and environmental impact by conserving an estimated 165,000 megawatt-hours of energy over the next three years. This would result in avoiding almost 117,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to removing more than 207,000 cars from the road a year, according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Pepco has continuously promoted energy conservation and efficiency and a recent ruling by the District Public Service Commission to remove the link between electricity use and utility revenue enables Pepco to even more aggressively promote energy efficiency programs. In addition to the rebates, this will result in a slight decrease in District residential distribution rates effective November 1. The Maryland Public Service Commission has enacted a similar order to “decouple” electric use from revenue.

Pepco began offering discounts on Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) in the District earlier this year. In Maryland, customers have purchased over 2.3 million of these energy-saving bulbs at discounted prices since the program began in 2007.

Reduced energy consumption lessens the need to build new power plants and reduces current power plant emissions, which helps the environment and contributes to states’ goals to reduce per capita energy consumption.

The appliance rebate program is available only to Pepco customers who must include their account number on applications that can be obtained from some retailers in the stores or online at pepco.com. To obtain a rebate, customers need only provide their Pepco account number and proof of purchase for a qualifying product after September 15, and mail a fully completed rebate application to the address on the application. Rebates are as follows:

$50 Refrigerator Rebate: Receive a $50 rebate for purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator that can reduce your annual utility costs by up to $200. Limit of one rebate per customer.


$25 Room A/C Rebate: ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models. Receive a $25 rebate for purchasing an ENERGY STAR unit. Limit of five rebates per customer.

$20 Water Heater Rebate: Purchase an electric water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.93 or greater and receive a $20 rebate. Electric water heaters are not ENERGY STAR qualified. However, this rebate is offered for the most efficient models because energy efficient electric water heaters can reduce your costs to heat water. Customers should look for units with the greatest energy factor. Limit of one rebate per customer.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 750,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

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Upcoming Programs at The Gilchrist Center

The Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in Wheaton is offering different programs in the upcoming months. The Gilchrist Center, located at 11319 Elkin St, provides activities and services to the County's diverse community, and functions as a central point of contact for residents to County and other community services. The programs listed below are for adults (18 and older), and are free of charge (unless noted).

Money Matters

A series of financial management workshops & one-on-one counseling with financial experts.

1. Credit/Borrowing Basics

Workshop: October 15, 6-7 p.m.
Counseling: October 22, 6-7 p.m.

2. Home Ownership Assistance

Workshop: October 29, 6-7 p.m.
Counseling: November 5, 6-7 p.m.

To register for workshops, please call 240-777-4940. Taught by Gilchrist Center Volunteers.

Citizenship Preparation

Over 55? Prepare for U.S. Citizenship! This program is run Saturdays, October 3 through December 19, from 11:30a.m.-2:30p.m.

For more information, call (410) 580-2756. Presented by Baltimore City Community College.

Pro Bono Legal Clinic

Obtain free legal advice on civil cases. Participants must be Montgomery County residents. Intake starts at 5:30 p.m. First-come, first-served, until full. These clinics are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 5:30-8:30p.m.

For more information, call 301-424-7651 (Extension 52/53). Presented by the Montgomery County Bar Foundation.
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Temporada De La Vacuna Contra la Influenza (Gripe)


El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos del Condado de Montgomery patrocinan la temporada de la vacuna contra la Influenza (Gripe) el Sábado 31 de Octubre de 10 a.m. hasta las 2 p.m. en el Silver Spring Health Center que está situado en 8630 Fenton Street (10th piso). Vacunas gratuitas para niños, y el precio por cada Vacuna Contra la Influencia y Aerosol para la Influenza cuestan $20. Se aceptan cheques personales y dinero en efectivo, y tambien se acepta el seguro de Medicare (Favor de traer la tarjeta consigo).

No necesita hacer cita.
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Seasonal Flu Clinic


The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services is sponsoring a seasonal flu clinic on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Silver Spring Health Center, located at 8630 Fenton St (10th Floor). Vaccines for children are free, and the cost for a flu shot/mist for adults is $20. Personal checks and cash are accepted, as well as Medicare (bring your Medicare card with you). In addition to the flu shot/mist, the pneumonia vaccine will be offered for $30.

There is no appointment necessary. These vaccinations will be offered on a first-come first-served basis, so get there early!

For more
information, please call (240) 777-
3160.
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Montgomery County Seeks Applicants For Merit System Protection Board

Neil H. Greenberger

Legislative Information Officer

Montgomery County Council

240-777-7939

FOR INFORMATION: Justina Ferber, 240-777-7938 or 240-777-7900

justina.ferber@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County Seeks Applicants

For Merit System Protection Board

Applications Will Be Accepted Through Wednesday, Nov. 4, For Appointment to Three-Year Term That Begins in December

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 13, 2009—The Montgomery County Council is accepting applications from qualified voters of the County for appointment to a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board. Generally, the board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System.

Applications must be received in the Council office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The term of board member Bruce E. Wood (Democrat) will expire in December 2009. Mr. Wood has served one full term and has indicated that he will apply for reappointment.

The appointee to this term may be a Democrat, Republican or someone who declines to affiliate with a party. In addition, the appointee may be a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections. By law, no more than two of the three members of the Merit System Protection Board may be of the same political party. Current board members in addition to Mr. Wood are Rodella Berry (Democrat) and Charla Lambertsen (declined to affiliate).

The County Merit System Protection Board's mission is to oversee the Merit System for the protection of employee's and applicant's rights guaranteed under the Merit System. There are two methods in which the board processes appeals:

· A written decision issued after a review and discussion of a written record

· A written decision issued after a pre-hearing conference and a formal hearing in cases involving a suspension, demotion or dismissal

The board, on a periodic basis, conducts special studies, audits or inquiries of the administration of the merit and retirement pay systems and, in this effort, may compel the attendance of witnesses. Written reports of its findings and recommendations are filed with the County Executive and the County Council. The board also provides comments on any proposed changes in Merit System law or regulations.

The board holds hearings during the day, which can take the full day or be scheduled for the evening. Also, the board normally meets for approximately four hours in the evening once every two weeks. Additional time is also required for preparatory work. Members of thr board receive $7,448, which is adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the percentage change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Board members are restricted in political activity while serving. Section 403 of the County Charter states in part "... No member shall hold political office or participate in any campaign for any political or public office during the member's term of office." Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Letters of application are made public as part of the appointment process. Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to: Council President Phil Andrews, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.

For more information on the Merit System Protection Board appointment, call 240-777-7938 or 240-777-7900.

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