Brickyard Coalition

Preserving Our Neighborhood FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

Contact:GinnyBarnes3017626423Email:ginnybarnes@juno.com TedDuncan3017857966Email:teduncs@verizon.net

CITIZENSFILEEXTENSIVELAWSUITAGAINSTMONTGOMERY COUNTY,BOARDOFEDUCATIONANDMSIREGARDING BRICKYARDLEASE

Potomac,MD,November13,2012TheWestMontgomeryCountyCitizensAssociation,Inc. andanumberofprivateplaintiffs,allmembersoftheBrickyardCoalition,todayfiledalegal complaintagainstdefendantsMontgomeryCounty,CountyExecutiveIsaiahLeggett,theBoard ofEducation(BOE),andMontgomerySoccer,Inc.(MSI). TheBrickyardCoalitionanditsmembershadrecentlymadeaproposaltotheBoardof EducationtoendtheBrickyardcontroversyandstopwastinghundredsofthousandsofourtax moneyforattorneys.ThesettlementofferwasrejectedbytheBoardofEducationinaletter fromtheirattorney. "ItisoutrageouswhenCountycitizensareforcedtoseeklegalrecourseforwhattheyshould havehadbyrightinthefirstplace,"saidGinnyBarnesoftheWestMontgomeryCountyCitizens Association."We'veworkedforeighteenlongmonthstorestartaprocessthattookplace insecretandwithoutanypublicknowledge.WearesimplyaskingthattheBOEandtheCounty obeythelaw.Byconsistentlyandevenarrogantlyrefusingtodoso,they'veleftusnoother recoursethantoturntothecourts." The48page,ninecountlawsuitfiledtodayintheCircuitCourtofMontgomeryCountyalleges, amongotherthings,thattheCountyExecutiveunlawfullyconspiredwiththeBOEtodeliverthe Brickyardpublicschoollandtoaprivatecorporation,MSI,atlittleornocost.Additionally,the lawsuitallegesthat: TheBoardofEducationbreachedtheirfiduciarydutiesastrusteesoftheBrickyard property. TheCountyviolatedtheMarylandExpressPowersAct. TheCountyviolatedCountycode11B46regardingleasingofproperty TheCountyviolatedCountyCode11B45regardingthedispositionoftheproperty TheCountydefendantsviolatedtheCountyprocurementlaws

TheBrickyardsiteispubliclandbelongingtothecitizensofMontgomeryCountybutitwillnot beusedforMontgomeryCountypublicschoolchildren.Aprivateorganization,MSI,intendsto buildacommercialsoccerplexinaquietresidentialneighborhoodofPotomaconthepublic site.OnlyMSImemberswhopayduestoMSIwillbeallowedtousethesoccerplexitwillnot beofferedtothepublic. Asummaryofthecomplaintfollows.TheBrickyardCoalitionisseparatelyappealingthe decisionoftheBoardofEducationtoleasetheBrickyardsitetoaprivatecorporationtobuilda commercialsoccerplex.Inthatactionthecourthasissuedastayuntilthecaseisheardonthe merits,nowscheduledforFebruary8,2013.AllofthelegalactionsseektoholdtheCounty, theCountyExecutive,andtheBOEaccountabletothecitizensofMontgomeryCounty. TheBrickyardCoalitionisanumbrellaorganizationofcivicgroupsandprivatecitizensjoined togethertorequireourpublicofficialscomplywiththeMasterPlan;obeyZoningregulations andfollowatransparentdecisionmakingprocess.TheCoalitionopposestotheproposed privatesoccercomplexinaresidentialneighborhood.Participatingorganizationsincludethe WestMontgomeryCountyCitizensAssociation(WMCCA);theCivicAssociationofRiverFalls (CARF);andtheBrickyardRoadCitizensAssociation.

BOEandCountyviolatedstatelawsregardingmandatoryreferralbyfailingtoseekthe approvaloftheMontgomeryCountyPlanningBoardbeforeachangeofusewas authorizedfortheBrickyardsite. TheBOEviolatedtheMarylandOpenMeetingAct

SUMMARYOFLEGALCOMPLAINT
COUNTI BREACHOFFIDUCIARYDUTY (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTTHEBOE) PursuanttoMarylandCodeEducationArticle,Section4114,theBOEholdstheBrickyardRoad SchoolSiteintrustforthebenefitoftheschoolsystem.Thebeneficiariesofthecharitable trustcreatedbySection4114includetheparentsofchildrenattendingMontgomeryCounty publicschoolsandthetaxpayersofMontgomeryCountywhofundtheschoolsystem. AstrusteeoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSite,theBOEischargedwithfiduciarydutiesthat include(i)adutyofprudencethatrequirestheBOEtoadministerthesiteasaprudentperson wouldandtoexercisereasonablecare,skillandcaution;(ii)adutyofloyaltythatrequiresthe BOEtoadministerthesitesolelyinfurtheranceofthecharitablepurposeofthetrust;and(iii)a dutytofurnishinformationtobeneficiariesthatrequirestheBOEtokeepfairlyrepresentative beneficiariesreasonablyinformedofchangesinvolvingthetrusteeshipandaboutother significantdevelopmentsconcerningthetrustanditsadministration. TheBOEviolatedeachofthosefiduciarydutieswhenitdecidedtoapprovetheleaseofthe BrickyardRoadSchoolSitetoMontgomeryCounty. COUNTII CIVILCONSPIRACY (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTTHEBOEANDCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) Onadatetobedeterminedinlate2009orearly2010,butnolaterthanJune8,2010, DefendantsknowinglyandpurposefullyagreedtocausetheBOEtobreachitsfiduciaryduties, andtherebytoviolateMarylandCodeEducationArticle,Section4114,byapprovingaleaseof theBrickyardRoadSchoolSitetoMontgomeryCountyforuseassoccerfieldswithout independentinquiryofitsown,withoutconsideringhowbestthepropertycouldbeusedto servetheeducationalneedsofMontgomeryCountyresidents,andfollowingasecretdecision makingprocess. Defendantscommittednumerousovertactsinfurtheranceofthatagreement,including communicatingwitheachotheroverthecontentoftheleaseandwithholdinginformation aboutthosecommunicationsfromMontgomeryCountytaxpayersandparentsofschoolage children. PlaintiffshavebeeninjuredbyDefendantsunlawfulconspiracywhichhas(i)reducedthevalue ofpropertiesinthevicinityoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSite;(ii)causedadditionalexpenditure bytheCountyExecutiveandBOEwhichwillneedtobefundedfromPlaintiffstaxes;and(iii) deniedthemtheirrightascitizensandasbeneficiariesoftheSection4114trusttobeinformed 3

inadvanceandabletoinfluencedecisionsoftheBOEandCountyeffectingachangeofuseof theBrickyardRoadSchoolSite. COUNTIII VIOLATIONOFEXPRESSPOWERSACT,MARYLANDCODEARTICLE25A (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) TheExpressPowersActauthorizesMontgomeryCountytoacquirepropertybyleaseonlywhen suchpropertyisrequiredforpublicpurposes.TheExpressPowersActauthorizesMontgomery CountytoleasepropertybelongingtotheCountytootherpersonsonlywhensuchleaseisin furtheranceofthepublicpurposesoftheCounty. TheCountyDefendantsenteredintotheleaseofApril19,2011withtheBOEfortheBrickyard RoadSchoolSiteintendingsubsequentlytotransfercontrolofthesitetoaprivateorganization, forthepurposeofconstructingandoperatingballfieldsreservedfortheexclusiveuseofthat organization.TheproposalsubmittedbyMSIinresponsetotheCountyExecutivesRFQDPfor theBrickyardRoadSchoolSiteprovidesforthepublictobeexcludedfromalargeportionof thesite,whichwillbeenclosedwithinafencedperimetertoensurethattheuseis controlled. COUNTIV VIOLATIONOFSECTION11B46OFMONTGOMERYCOUNTYCODE (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) TheCountysacquisitionofaleasetotheBrickyardRoadSchoolSitewasgovernedbySection 11B46oftheMontgomeryCountyCode.Section11B46requirestheCountytopublicizeits intentiontoleasepropertysoastopermitpubliccomment.TheCountyisrequiredto advertisetheleaseand,unlessthepropertyownerrefusestoconsent,postasignonthe propertyforatleast10daysbeforethedeadlineforreceivingpubliccommentinamannerthat canbemostreadilyseenbythepublic. AtnotimepriortoenteringintotheleaseoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSitedidtheCounty complywithitsobligationunderSection11B46toposttheproperty. COUNTV VIOLATIONOFMONTGOMERYCOUNTYCODE,CHAPTER11B45 (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) TheCountysdispositionoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSitebymeansofasubleasetoMSI exceedingfiveyearsindurationwasgovernedbySection11B45oftheMontgomeryCounty Code.TheCountyDefendantsdidnotconsultwiththeCountyCouncilonitsplantosublease theBrickyardRoadSchoolSitetoMSI,asrequiredbytheregulationsissuedpursuanttoSection 11B45.

TheCountyDefendantsfailedtoissueaRequestforProposalsorBidsidentifyingthecriteria andproceduresforselectingthesuccessfulproposalfordevelopmentoftheBrickyardRoad SchoolSite,asrequiredbytheregulationsissuedpursuanttoSection11B45. COUNTVI VIOLATIONOFMONTGOMERYCOUNTYPROCUREMENTCODE (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) TheCountyDefendantsexpresslychosenottoapplytheProcurementRegulationstothe solicitationforconstructionservicesattheBrickyardRoadSchoolSite.Asaresult,the solicitationwasnotconductedunderoneoftheformatsauthorizedbytheProcurement Regulationstoensureacompetitivebiddingprocess,butratherbymeansofasocalled RequestforQualificationsandDevelopmentProposalsthatfailedtostatethecriteriabywhich thewinningbidwouldbeselected.Theonlyqualifyingbidreceivedasaresultofthis solicitationwasthatsubmittedbyMSI. COUNTVII VIOLATIONOFMARYLANDCODE,LANDUSEARTICLE20301ETSEQ (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTTHEBOEANDCOUNTYDEFENDANTS) TheBoardofEducationandtheCountyhaveauthorizedachangeinuseoftheBrickyard propertywithoutcomplyingwiththemandatoryreferralstatute.UnderMarylandlaw,landuse decisionsbythefederal,stateandcountygovernmentsaresubjecttothemandatoryreferral processdescribedintheRegionalDistrictAct,codifiedatArticle20301etseq.oftheMaryland Code.Underthatprocess,boththeBOEandCountyareunderalegalobligationtoseekthe approvaloftheMontgomeryCountyPlanningBoardbeforetheyauthorizeachangeofuseof anypark,orotherpublicwayorgroundortheacquisitionorsaleofanylandbyanypublic board,bodyofofficial. COUNTVIII VIOLATIONOFMARYLANDOPENMEETINGSACT (DECLARATORYRELIEFAGAINSTBOEDEFENDANTS) TheOpenMeetingsAct(theOMA)requiresthatpublicbodiesmeetinopensession.OMA Sec.10505.MeetingsmayonlybeclosedforthelimitedreasonssetforthintheOMA.Seeid. 10508,10509.Beforeameetingofapublicbodycanbeclosedtothepublic,thebodys presidingofficermustprovideacitationtothelegalauthorityreliedonfortheclosing,alisting ofthetopicstobediscussed,andastatementofthereasonfortheclosing.Id.at10508(d)(3). OnJune8,2010,theBOEmetinapublicsessionandadoptedawrittenclosingresolution.The closingresolutioncitedSec.10508(a)(3)oftheOMAandSection4107(d)oftheEducation Articleaslegalauthorityfortheclosing.TheminutesoftheJune8,2010meetingdemonstrate thattheBOEdiscussedtheBrickyardRoadSchoolSiteduringitsclosedsession.BothOMASec. 10508(a)(3)andSec.4107(d)oftheEducationArticleapplyonlytoacquisitionofreal

property,ratherthandivestmentofrealproperty,whichwasthesubjectoftheclosedsession. Assuch,theBOEsdiscussionoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSiteinclosedsessiononJune8, 2010violatedtheOMA. OnMarch8,2011,thedaytheBOEapprovedtheleasetoMontgomeryCountyoftheBrickyard RoadSchoolSite,theBOEmettwiceinclosedsession.TheReportofClosedSessionsfiled subsequentlybytheBOEdescribedthepurposeofthoseclosedsessionsasbeingtodiscuss mattersrelatingtotheuseofrealpropertyforapublicpurpose.TheBOEdiscussedthelease oftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSiteduringtheclosedsessions.Theonlylegalauthoritycitedby theBOEforholdingclosedsessionmeetingswasonceagain,OMASec.10508(a)(3)and Section4107(d)oftheEducationArticle,bothofwhichapplytotheacquisitionofrealproperty butnotitsdivestment.Assuch,theBOEsdiscussionoftheBrickyardRoadSchoolSiteinthe twoclosedsessionsviolatedtheOMA.OpinionsoftheStateAttorneysOpenMeetings ComplianceBoarddatedJune27,2011andJuly13,2011,7OfficialOpinionsoftheCompliance Board208(2011)and7OfficialOpinionsoftheComplianceBoard245(2011). COUNTIXPERMANENTINJUNCTIVERELIEF (AGAINSTALLDEFENDANTS) ThisisanactionforpermanentinjunctivereliefpursuanttoMarylandRules15501through15 505,seekingtoenjoinDefendantsfromengaginginanyactionattheBrickyardRoadSchoolSite predicatedoneithertheleasebetweentheBOEandCountyortheSubleaseandDevelopment AgreementbetweentheCountyandMSI,including: i. PermittingMSItooccupyoroperatethesite. ii. Anyconstructionorotheralterationtothesiterelatedtothe developmentofsoccerorotherballfields.

DefendantshavebeenonnoticethattheleaseisunlawfulsinceApril5,2011,thedateon whichappealswerefiledagainsttheleasedecisionwiththeStateBoardofEducation.There existsastronglikelihoodthatPlaintiffswillsucceedonthemeritsoftheirclaims. UnlessDefendantsareenjoinedfromcontinuingwiththeirunlawfulschemetoturnthe BrickyardRoadSchoolSiteovertoaprivatecorporationtooperateassoccerfields,Plaintiffs willsufferimmediate,substantial,andirreparableharmasneighboringpropertyowners, taxpayersofMontgomeryCountyandbeneficiariesofthetrustcreatedbyMarylandEducation Article4114.Theleaseauthorizesthebuildingofballfieldsthatwillpermanentlyalterthe natureoftheBrickyardRoadSiteandthePlaintiffscommunity.Athirdpartycontractor,MSI, hasalreadybeenobtainedtobeginconstructionthestartofwhichwillimmediatelyand irreparablydamagetheorganicfarmlocatedonthesite.Further,noremedyatlawexistsfor Defendantscircumventionofstatutoryandregulatoryrequirementsdesignedtoobtainpublic input.