July 10, 2017
Did You Attend the 2017 MML Summer Conference in Ocean City?
Another Maryland Municipal League summer conference has come and gone, and we’d like to know how the experience was for municipal officials who attended. The League’s Conference Planning Committee and MML staff rely heavily on feedback from conference attendees. By providing us with your comments on what you think went well and what the League can improve on, you will play a critical role in helping MML make the summer conference an even greater success in 2018.
This year’s survey is available at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MMLCon17 [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MMLCon17]
Survey closes on July 31.
Thanks for attending. And thanks for your feedback!
2017 MML Conference Handouts Available
Whether you missed a particular conference workshop, arrived after handouts had been distributed, or your dog ate them when you got home, many of the 2017 MML summer conference materials are now available online. Simply click here [http://www.mdmunicipal.org/index.aspx?nid=625] , and we’ll direct you to the 2017 workshop materials page. Thanks for attending!
One Step At A Time…Banner City/Town Contention Has Started
Taking the big step to attend the MML summer conference marks your officials’ dedication to identifying practices to more effectively run your city or town. However, it’s also the very first step in contending for the Banner City/Town (BCT) designation.
Earning a Banner City/Town designation is more than our thank you for your League engagement, but an actual guidepost to help you take advantage of as many League resources as you can. By attending both MML training events, networking with your peers at chapter events, celebrating Municipal Government Month, and meeting other BCT criteria your municipal officials slowly gather tips, practices and yes, friends, to help navigate your municipality through a myriad of issues.
Congratulations, on taking that first step. Review the program criteria [http://www.mdmunicipal.org/index.aspx?NID=373] and ensure your municipality knows what it takes to stay on track for the 2018 Banner City/Town designation.
The following 129 municipalities are now in contention for the 2018 cycle:
Aberdeen, Accident, Annapolis, Baltimore, Barclay, Barnesville, Barton, Bel Air, Berlin, Berwyn Heights, Betterton, Bladensburg, Boonsboro, Bowie, Brentwood, Brookview, Brunswick, Burkittsville, Cambridge, Capitol Heights, Cecilton, Centreville, Charlestown, Chesapeake Beach, Chesapeake City, Chestertown, Cheverly, Chevy Chase, Church Hill, Clear Spring, College Park, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Crisfield, Cumberland, Deer Park, Delmar, Denton, District Heights, Easton, Edmonston, Elkton, Emmitsburg, Fairmount Heights, Federalsburg, Forest Heights, Frederick, Friendship Heights, Friendsville, Frostburg, Fruitland, Funkstown, Gaithersburg, Galena, Galestown, Garrett Park, Glenarden, Grantsville, Greenbelt, Greensboro, Hagerstown, Hampstead, Hancock, Havre de Grace, Hebron, Hurlock, Hyattsville, Indian Head, Keedysville, Kensington, Landover Hills, La Plata, Laurel, Laytonsville, Leonardtown, Lonaconing, Manchester, Middletown, Millington, Morningside, Mount Airy, Mount Rainier, Myersville, New Carrollton, New Market, New Windsor, North Beach, North Brentwood, North Chevy Chase, North East, Oakland, Ocean City, Oxford, Perryville, Pocomoke City, Poolesville, Port Deposit, Preston, Princess Anne, Queen Anne, Queenstown, Ridgely, Rising Sun, Riverdale Park, Rock Hall, Rockville, Rosemont, Salisbury, Seat Pleasant, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, Snow Hill, Somerset, St. Michaels, Sudlersville, Sykesville, Takoma Park, Taneytown, Thurmont, Trappe, Union Bridge, University Park, Upper Marlboro, Walkersville, Washington Grove, Westernport, Westminster, Williamsport, and Woodsboro (as of June 30, 2017).
MML Board of Directors for 2017-2018
The MML membership convened at the annual business meeting in Ocean City on June 27, 2017. The following officials were selected to serve on the MML Board of Directors for 2017-2018:
President: Jake Romanell, Vice President of Council, New Market
President-Elect: Bridget Donnell Newton, Mayor, Rockville
Immediate Past President: Tracy Gant, Mayor, Edmonston
District Vice Presidents:
District 1: Bruce A. Morrison, Mayor, Pocomoke City
District 2: Robert C. Willey, Mayor, Easton
District 3: Catherine E. Pugh, Mayor, Baltimore
District 4: James "Jay" Maguire Mattingly IV, Councilmember, Leonardtown
District 5: Ryan Spiegel, Councilmember, Gaithersburg
District 6: Randy McClement, Mayor, Frederick
District 7: Daniel A. Colmer, Mayor, Barton
District 8: Brigitte M. Schmidt, Councilmember, Boonsboro
District 9: Joseph A. Solomon, Councilmember, Hyattsville
District 10: James L. Eberhardt, Mayor, Perryville
District 11: Perry L. Jones, Mayor, Union Bridge
Members-at-Large
James A. Beauchamp, Councilmember, Centreville
Michael Benton, Councilmember, North Beach
Katrina Dodro, Councilmember, New Carrollton
Diane A. Foster, Mayor Pro Tem, Taneytown
John R. “Jack” Heath, Council President, Salisbury
Emmett V. Jordan, Mayor, Greenbelt
Marnitta L. King, Mayor, Capitol Heights
Abigail W. McNinch, Mayor, Denton
Malinda G. Miles, Mayor, Mount Rainier
Spencer R. Schlosnagle, Mayor, Friendsville
Department Representatives
City and Town Administrators:
Miranda Braatz, City Manager, Mount Rainier
Municipal Attorneys:
Elissa Levan, Attorney, Bowie, Chesapeake Beach, and Westminster
Municipal Clerks:
Stacy L. Wilkerson, Clerk, North Beach
Code Enforcement and Zoning:
Jamie Braun, Senior Code Compliance Officer, Bowie
Municipal Parks and Recreation:
Michele R. Potter, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, Gaithersburg
Municipal Police Executives:
David G. Rice, Police Chief, New Carrollton
Municipal Public Works:
Bernard “Wilson” Cochran, Director of Public Works, New Carrollton
NLC Board Representative (Ex Officio)
Serving on the NLC Board of Directors
Patrick L. Wojahn, Mayor, College Park
Action Taken at the Board of Directors Meeting
At the MML Board of Directors meeting on June 25, 2017, the Board took the following actions:
- Approved Weyrich, Cronin and Sorra to conduct the MML Audit for the Fiscal Years of 2017 through 2019.
- Adopted the FY 2018 Budgets, as presented.
- Approved the amendments to the Maryland Municipal Attorneys Association Bylaws, as presented.
- Approved the amendments to the Montgomery County Chapter Bylaws, as presented.
MML Resolutions and Bylaws Changes
MML is now accepting from its members proposed amendments to the MML Bylaws and any resolutions to be considered at the 2017 fall conference business meeting in October in Rockville. Proposed amendments and resolutions must be submitted to the MML office by August 28, 2017. If you are interested in submitting an amendment or resolution for consideration, contact Jim Peck at JimP@mdmunicipal.org [mailto:JimP@mdmunicipal.org] or 410/268-5514 to obtain more detailed procedural information.
The Maryland Municipal League Invites Your Input…
Although it seems the dust is still settling from the 2017 General Assembly session, it is time to start thinking about next year’s MML legislative priorities. To submit a Legislative Action Request (LAR) for consideration by the 2017-2018 Legislative Committee, please complete a 2018 LAR submission form [http://www.mdmunicipal.org/DocumentCenter/View/3025] and return it to MML by July 28, 2017. LARs considered in the past have included revenue, environmental, legal, planning and zoning, government operations, and transparency issues. LARs may be submitted by a municipality, a MML Chapter, or a MML Department. Please remember, to be considered by the MML Legislative Committee, prior to submission, all LARs must be adopted at a meeting of the body submitting the request and be signed and dated by an official representing the body. Questions may be referred to Jim Peck [mailto:jimp@mdmunicipal.org] , Bill Jorch [mailto:billj@mdmunicipal.org] , or Candace Donoho [mailto:candaced@mdmunicipal.org] at the MML office.
Updated Open Meetings Act Resources
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General recently updated their Open Meetings Act online resources [http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/Openmeetings/default.aspx] to reflect recent changes in state law. Note that the new requirements, including those related to new meeting closing requirements, don’t go into effect until October 1, 2017. However, local government officials and the various public bodies therein would be well advised to get a jump on these new requirements. You will find the updated resources here. And feel free to contact MML Research staff Jim Peck ( JimP@mdmunicipal.org [mailto:jimp@mdmunicipal.org] ) and Bill Jorch ( BillJ@mdmunicipal.org [mailto:billj@mdmunicipal.org] ) if you have questions or need additional information.
Community Parks and Playgrounds Grant Proposal Process Now Open
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant proposals for the Community Parks and Playgrounds Program. The proposals will be reviewed and considered for submission to the Maryland General Assembly as part of the Governor’s FY 2019 budget proposal. Applications are due by August 16, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. The grant proposal information packet can be found here: Community Parks and Playgrounds Grant Information Packet [http://dnr.maryland.gov/land/Documents/POS/CPP-full%20packet.pdf] .
Help the Census Bureau Accurately Count Your Community
The U.S. Census Bureau requests help from tribal, state and local governments in the 2020 Census Local Update of Census Addresses program. This program is the only opportunity for governments to verify residential addresses, ensuring a complete and accurate 2020 Census.
The Census Bureau mailed advance notifications about participating in the program to tribal, state and local governments in January 2017. If you did not receive the notification, you may find information about the program on the LUCA website [http://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/luca.html] .
Invitation letters will be mailed in July 2017 and final participation materials will be mailed in February 2018. Governments can take the following steps now to prepare:
• Participate in the 2017 Boundary and Annexation Survey [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/bas.html] , which is the annual update for the legal boundaries and names of all governmental units.
• Start preparing your address list — make sure your list identifies multiunit structures and distinguishes between residential and nonresidential addresses.
• Identify local address sources, such as building permits, local utility records, annexation records and other files.
• Attend one of our workshops [https://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/luca.html] to learn about the program.
Participation in the Local Update of Census Addresses program can help ensure a complete and accurate 2020 Census in your community.
For more information, visit the program website [https://www.census.gov/geo/partnerships/luca.html] .
Classifieds
Classified advertisements from Maryland cities, towns, counties, and government agencies will be published in MML’s e-Bulletin at no charge. If you would like to advertise an employment opportunity, a request for proposals, or a piece of equipment for sale within the State of Maryland, please e-mail the ad copy, in a text only word doc, 200 words or less to classified [mailto:mml@mdmunicipal.org] . Ads will appear for a 90-day period and can be resubmitted for posting if needed.
Legislative Status Link [http://md-municipalleague.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=438]
Classified Section Link [http://md-municipalleague.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=125]
Important Dates / Deadlines [http://www.mdmunicipal.org/calendar.aspx]
Maryland Municipal League • 1212 West Street • Annapolis, MD 21401
410/268-5514 • 800/492-7121
MML Website [http://md-municipalleague.civicplus.com/] • MML E-mail [mailto:mml@mdmunicipal.org]
To unsubscribe: E-mail unsubscribe [mailto:mml@mdmunicipal.org] with your name and the word unsubscribe in the Subject line.