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$Text Box: TOWN PLANNING STRICTER BUILDING ORDINANCE By Dave Chitwood The town attorney has prepared a draft revised building ordinance which would provide fines for violations of the town’s requirement that a town building permit be obtained for all construction in Glen Echo. The current ordinance requires that a town permit, which costs $2, be obtained within seven days of receipt of the county permit. The law provides that the town has 30 days to file an appeal after a building permit is obtained from the county. However, the county usually does not inform the Town of granted building permits, and residents or builders do not always comply with this request. In at least one case, a resident refused to obtain a town building permit. The draft revised building ordinance has several provisions. First, neighbors of the applicant must certify that they have seen the construction plans. Second, if the permit was not obtained, a municipal violation would occur at a cost of $500. Each day beyond the seven-day window would be regarded as a separate violation with its own $500 fine. (Maryland law limits municipal violation fines to $1,000, hence the need for multiple infractions in order to have meaningful economic clout.) Mayor Beers said she believed the council could readily discuss each permit at a regular council meeting in order to decide if a special public meeting were necessary. Approximately six permits a year are issued.$

Text Box: TOWN WILL ENTER FEDERAL FLOOD PROGRAM By Dave Chitwood The Federal Insurance Administration has offered the town and its residents the opportunity to enter into the federal flood program because a tiny corner of Glen Echo was added to the floor plain six months ago when it redrew the map of the 100-year Potomac River flood plain. Although no homes are constructed on this land, the fact that part of the town now lies in the flood plain would allow any resident in the town to participate in the federal flood program—if the Mayor and Town Council agreed to a resolution prepared by the Federal Insurance Administration. Mayor Beers circulated this “Resolution of Intent to Enter the National Flood Insurance Program” at the August town council meeting.. She added that only some types of damage would be covered. For example, damage caused by a malfunctioning sump pump would be one example of an exclusion. The mayor pointed out that no town resident would be compelled to purchase insurance. Councilman Macy pointed out that the ability to purchase flood insurance would be a great positive element and that his insurance agent recommended its purchase. Town Resident (and Realtor) Eleanor Balaban described a situation in which a mortgage for a home in Cabin