Text Box: STREET REPAIR BIDS CONSIDERED By Sophie Keefer Councilman Steve Matney presented two street repair bids for Glen Echo to consider at last month’s town council meeting. A bid by EBY Engineering is for $13,000 and would include a geo-technical survey (e.g., looking at pavement layers, taking soil core samples, doing a pavement distress survey). The other bid, from A. Morton Thomas, is for $4,000, but apparently does not include geo-technical information. Councilman Matney maintained that a thorough survey is needed, especially if there is a need to “mill down” any of the streets where street and sidewalk have become level. Resident John Barrett pointed out that if the town does the more detailed survey, it may be opening a “Pandora’s box” and would have to be prepared to go all the way. Mayor Beers noted that when the last survey was done eight years ago, a complete repair was estimated at $1,000,000, which she implied was obviously outside the town’s budget. She said that there may be other sources of funding, such as state highway funding, for a larger project but patching is needed now on certain streets, such as Cornell Avenue. Resident Gloria Levin supported a more thorough report because the recommendations can be phased in over time, as has been done with the last report. Mayor Beers asked whether the EBY bid addressed speed bumps. The previous street repair report, provided by A. Morton Thomas, made recommendations concerning speed bumps and striping, some of which were implemented by the town. It was agreed that the town should confirm whether the EBY bid would address traffic calming measures and whether A. Morton Thomas could do a geo-technical survey before a decision about which firm to select would be made. Text Box: COALITION FOR FREE BROADBAND ASKS TOWN FOR SUPPORT TO FCC By Sophie Keefer Officials from the Coalition for Free Broadband asked the town at last month’s meeting to support its proposal to the Federal Communications Commission to establish a nationwide network for wireless Internet access. The coalition is a combination of civic and business groups, companies and individuals that support an application by M2Z Networks, a Silicon Valley company, to be licensed by the FCC to use unused electromagnetic spectrum to establish the network. As John Merchant and Frank Howard described it, the network eventually would permit free broadband access to most Americans and would provide a variety of public education and public safety benefits, such as dedicated spectrum for emergency first responder communications and free broadband services for schools and libraries. There would be a premium service for subscribers with larger capacity needs, but the funding for the free broadband access would predominantly come from advertising. Mr. Merchant and Mr. Howard asked the town write a letter to the FCC and issue a proclamation supporting the Coalition’s proposal. They stated that the Montgomery County Council and County Executive have agreed to support the Coalition’s proposal. Mayor Beers asked if the service would entail installation of towers or poles. Mr. Howard stated that it probably would, but towers might be placed outside the town through the use of repeaters. However, the service is only in a fledgling stage (8-10 years away from implementation), and technical issues have not yet been resolved, he said.. Mayor Beers stated that the town would have to discuss the proposal before agreeing to support it. Text Box: CHAUTAUQUA SERIES PRESENTS MELINDA HENNEBERGER The June Chautauqua Series program will feature Oxford Road journalist Melinda Henneberger, author of “If They Only Listened to Us: What Women Voters Want Politicians to Hear,” published in May by Simon & Schuster. Ms. Henneberger will discuss her travels to 20 states listening to women of all ages, races, tax brackets and points of view discuss the complicated and sometimes contradictory impulses behind their electoral choices. She will also sign copies of her book, which describes what the women she talked to are looking for in a president in ‘08.. The program is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 26, at the Glen Echo Town Hall.. Light refreshments will be served. Do plan to attend, and bring your friends.