The third time could be the charm for the Town of Chevy Chase, which is scheduled to vote Thursday on a controversial $360,000, 18-month contract with one of two D.C. firms to represent it in its fight against the Purple Line.
The Town Council pushed off a decision on the proposal at a public hearing in January and again at a scheduled vote last week.
In the meantime, Purple Line proponents from the Action Committee for Transit (ACT) attacked Town Mayor Pat Burda, accusing her of making false statements about the activities of the D.C. firm under a temporary, month-long contract with the Town.
That firm – Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney — is one of two up for the long-term contract. ACT members also criticized the Town for contracting Robert Shuster, a lobbyist for the firm and brother of Pennsylvania Republican Bill Shuster, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Last week, Burda read a prepared statement hitting back at ACT, describing the group’s criticism as an attempt to distract “from the obvious and abundant flaws” in the Purple Line by focusing on an out-of-context point published in The Washington Post. The quote, from Burda, said the Town was not lobbying Congress against the Purple Line.
ACT said a Congressional Lobbying Report proved otherwise. Burda said it was never her intention to claim the Town is not lobbying Congress. She said last week the Council was not prepared to make a decision on the $360,000 contract.
On Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the Council will hold a special meeting to make that decision.
At 5 p.m., the Council will have a closed session to consult with its attorney about “potential litigation related to the proposed Purple Line project; and pursuant to Section 10-508(a)(14) to discuss a matter directly related to the contents of multiple, competing proposals for services because public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive proposal process.”
At the public hearing, Burda warned colleagues about discussing the Town’s specific legal strategy in too much detail.
“I get nervous because I think part of having a strategy is being able to execute it,” Burda said. “I’m concerned if we went too into specifics, there will be some undermining of our efforts that would not be productive.”
The Town of Chevy Chase, which backs up the the planned Purple Line route, has long been opposed to the 16-mile light rail. Concerns about the Maryland Transit Administration’s Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project include rising cost projections, untold environmental impacts, the lack of a guarantee for a promised noise barrier and what the Town claims is no suitable plan for a replacement crossing of Lynn Drive.
Purple Line advocates worry a potential lawsuit from the Town concerning the FEIS could slow down the process. The MTA, seeking about $900 million of federal funding for the $2.2 billion project, hopes to begin construction in late 2015.
Photo via MTA
