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Subject: Immediate Stop Work Request on External Gas Regulator Installation by BGE

Dear Mayor Scott,

Cc: Baltimore City Council Members, CHAP

We, as [property owners, business owners, residents] in a designated Baltimore City CHAP district, are deeply concerned about BGE’s ongoing project installing external gas regulators on our buildings and homes. We are worried about the potential impact on safety, ADA compliance, equity, and the integrity of our historical architecture.

We respectfully request an immediate halt to this project until a comprehensive review and public dialogue is completed to address our concerns. It’s essential that any changes to our city’s infrastructure do not compromise the unique historical character of our neighborhoods or the safety and equity of our residents.

By this e-mail, I/we also put CHAP on notice that, as the [property owners, business owners, residents] of _____________, I/we object to BGE’s exterior installation of gas regulators and have not given BGE or any other party permission or authority to do any such work or to apply for an Authorization To Proceed to do such work at my/our property.

We appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and are open for further dialogue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

Water mains and water meters can freeze when the temperature remains below 25 degrees for extended periods of time. That can pose a threat to water service, as can temperatures that dip in and out of freezing, which causes the ground to buckle and sometimes bends and breaks water lines.

Here are a few tips to help protect your water lines during periods of cold weather:

• Insulate pipes located in unheated parts of your house.
• Let a thin stream of cold water run from a basement faucet. The stream should be a continuous flow, about the thickness of pencil lead. This water can be caught in a bucket and used later as laundry or dish water.
• If a pipe should freeze, gently warm it with hot air from a blow dryer at the point where it enters the house.
• Know the location of the water shutoff valve in your home. Check it periodically to ensure that it works properly.
• Be sure to shut off water to outside faucets.
• Periodically monitor your sump pump. A frozen drain pipe could result in a flooded basement.
• Keep bottled water on hand. Figure on needing a gallon of water per person per day.

The Department of Public Works maintains outdoor water lines up to and including the meter. For water emergencies call 311.  Water lines running from the meter to the house, as well as internal plumbing, are the responsibility of the property owner. Check with your homeowner’s insurance carrier to see if your interior pipes are covered in the event they freeze and rupture.

Harris Teeter’s Together in Education program has helped raise a lot of money to support our local school. If you haven’t done so already, link your Harris Teeter VIC cards to Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School (#1514) for this school year. This is an easy way to help raise money for the students of Francis Scott Key School – please consider registering or re-linking today. Thank you for your generosity!

To learn more about the program, or to re-link yourself, visit: https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education#/app/cms

You can also contact John Shea at jjrs10132007@gmail.com and provide your phone number or VIC card number and last name associated with the account.

Recently we have been made aware of a safety concern in the neighborhood. Here are the details:

• Chili powder is a highly irritable and potentially dangerous substance for pets. Chili powder or cayenne pepper has the same effect on dogs as pepper spray has on humans: burn or irritate eyes, nose, throat and stomach and can cause burns to paws.

There is concern that this was an intentional act to deter pet owners from walking their dogs on this grass. This grass is public property and so as long as pet owners clean up after their pet, there should not be any issue with using it.

Important reminders for pet owners:

• Be aware of surroundings when walking your pets
• Clean up after your pets
• Baltimore City requires dogs be leashed at all times – violators can receive a $100 citation
• Report anything suspicious to 911

There are various volunteer opportunities available throughout our community. We encourage you to review our committees and task forces and volunteer to help!