Created:  Montgomery County Code, Section 10B-3 (Jan. 1991); Emergency Bill No. 8-95 (June 1995); Emergency Bill No. 11-96

Purpose:  To advise the County Executive and the County Council on ways to handle common ownership of property in communities; promote public awareness of the rights and obligations of living in common ownership communities; eliminate disputes; and maintain property values and quality of life in community associations.

Membership:  Fifteen members consisting of six residents of self-managed and professionally managed common ownership communities (including condominiums, cooperatives and homeowner associations), six members from the ranks of professionals associated with common ownership communities (attorneys, property managers, investor-owners); and three members from the category of real estate sales and developers.  Designees of the County Council, Planning Board, Dept. of Environmental Protection, Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs, Dept. of Permitting Services, Dept. of Transportation, and Office of Consumer Protection are ex-officio nonvoting members of the Commission.

Terms:  Three Years

Meetings:  First Wednesday of each month.  Monthly committee meetings and dispute hearing panels as scheduled. A current schedule is available upon request. 

Staff:  Office of Consumer Protection, 240-777-3636

County Attorney's Office: Walter Wilson, Associate County Attorney

Resident Representatives:  Allen Farrar, First Term (2011); Karen Kali, First Term (2011); Elizabeth Molloy, Vice Chairperson, Partial First Term (2012); Janet Wilson, First Term, (2013)

Professional Representatives:  Staci Gelfound, Chairperson, Second Term (2012); Mitchell Alkon, First Term (2011); Helen Whelan, First Term (2011); Paul Nettleford, First Term (2012); Arthur Dubin, First Term (2012); Maria Garcia, First Term  (2012); Ralph Caudle, First Term (2013); Richard Brandes, First Term (2013); Barbara Gwen Henderson, First Term (2013)

Volunteer Hearing Panel: Christopher Hitchens, John McCabe, Jr.,         Douglas Shontz, John Sample, Dinah Stevens, Julianne Dymowski, Corinne Rosen, Ursula Burgess, Greg Friedman, Charles F. Fleischer, Esq.