Had snow and ice not blanketed the region last week officials said a new day labor center for the Gaithersburg community would definitely open by March 1.
But in spite of the harsh weather, the hope still is to be in business as close to the beginning of next month as possible, according to Chuck Short, special assistant to County Executive Ike Leggett.
“We’re waiting for the trailers to be delivered,” he told The Examiner on Tuesday. “That was supposed to happen already, but it was delayed by the weather.”
The center will house programs inside a double-wide trailer to cut down on costs.
Two weeks ago during the Montgomery County Planning Board’s weekly meeting, officials held a public hearing that opponents of the proposed location dominated.
Despite their criticisms, Leggett’s plan was backed by planning staff.
And, Short said, the only major suggestion being implemented calls for the executive’s office to heavily monitor the facility — which Short said staff already had planned to do.
“We’ll look at the impact it will have in the community to determine how it’s doing and whether the needs of workers are being met,” he said.
Once services start they will aid about 40 to 50 day workers.
Short said the contract between CASA of Maryland and the county outlining the way CASA will run the center has been signed but county officials did not provide a copy to The Examiner on Tuesday, nor did they reveal the amount of the contract.
The previous deal between Montgomery County and CASA for management of the Wheaton day labor center allows the county to pay the immigrant advocacy group up to $114,780 per year. It’s estimated that running the Gaithersburg-area center will cost nearly $140,000 annually.
