MML was pleased to welcome three Maryland Cabinet Secretaries to a meeting of the MML Legislative Committee on Wednesday, February 11. Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Shari Wilson kicked things off by describing her departmental legislation. Ms. Wilson also talked about the challenges they are facing in finalizing stormwater management regulations in light of some of the issues brought forward by municipal and county officials as they attempt to make the new regulations work in more densely populated, urban settings.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Richard Griffin next discussed legislation impacting climate change supported by his department. He also discussed the drop in Program Open Space funding caused by declining housing sales as well as two bills that will impact future Program Open Space projects. Finally, Department of Planning Secretary Richard Hall described MDP's legislative package which includes legislation reauthorizing the Maryland Heritage Structure Tax Credit Program, legislation to expand the usage of existing tax revenues to help fund transit oriented development and a package of three bills that make changes to Maryland's Smart Growth laws.

The Committee will meet next on Saturday, February 21 to consider a lengthy list of bills introduced since their last meeting. The Committee will welcome Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Governor O'Malley's Legislative Policy Director Joseph Bryce on March 4 and Governor Martin O'Malley and House Environmental Matters Committee Chairman Maggie McIntosh on March 11.

MML's priority legislation to authorize the use of speed cameras in residential areas and school zones (SB 277/HB 313) was heard last week in the House Environmental Matters Committee. Because this committee has already considered and passed very similar legislation, the hearing was abbreviated. MML would like to thank Rockville's Chief of Police Terry Truschek for appearing on the panel on behalf of municipal police agencies. The bill will now be heard on February 24 in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

As we approach the half way mark in the 2009 General Assembly session, days are beginning to get very long as committees pack their schedules with bill hearings. On Wednesday, February 11, SB 146, legislation to raise the revenue threshold from $50,000 to $250,000 to allow the granting of a waiver of the requirement for a financial audit every year was heard in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The legislation is sponsored by Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Brian Frosh and Senator Richard Madaleno. MML would like to thank Trappe Commissioner Cheryl Lewis for again traveling to Annapolis to testify in support of the legislation. Commissioner Lewis testified on the House version of the bill the previous week.

MML's Director of Government Relations Candace Donoho testified with Delegate Al Carr in support of HB 220 last week before the House Environmental Matters Committee. HB 220 would permit municipalities to annex small parcels (less than 5 acres) without going through the referendum process as long as part of the lot is bisected by a municipal boundary. The total acreage to be annexed cannot exceed 25 acres and must have been part of the municipality longer than 3 years. The bill will sunset in two years. The Senate version of the bill, introduced by Senators Paul Pinsky and David Harrington, will be heard this week.

Entries for MML's Awards for Excellence must be received in the League office by 12 noon on Monday, March 2, 2009. This 2009 awards program will recognize municipal efforts to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and make our cities and towns "greener" places to live. Awards will be presented during MML's annual convention in June. A detailed announcement of this awards program appeared on page 17 of the January issue of Municipal Maryland. For more information, contact Karen Bohlen at the MML office or use the following link AwardForExcellence09

MML made arrangements with seven hotels in Ocean City for reduced rate accommodations in conjunction with the League's convention which will be held June 28 - July 1, 2009 at the Convention Center in Ocean City. These hotels are accepting reservations now. Remember to mention that you are with the Maryland Municipal League convention when making your reservation so that you will receive the reduced room rates. Registration forms and other convention information will be posted on the MML website and published in the March issue of Municipal Maryland. Please use the following link for more information about the hotels. www.mdmunicipal.org/documents/CVhotelinfomembers2009.pdf

Municipal Main Street is an extremely popular MML convention feature that showcases Maryland's municipalities. It allows each city, town and MML Department the opportunity to promote, discuss and highlight the events, programs and history that make their municipality unique. Tenant space on Main Street is available via the MML website at www.mdmunicipal.org/cv09/cvfloorplan.cfm.

Each exhibit booth on Main Street will have an overhead façade to create the suggestion of a streetscape. Come join your fellow cities and towns to celebrate Maryland at the MML annual convention, June 28-July 1, 2009 in Ocean City!

The booth fee of $175 is a GREAT DEAL and includes individual convention registration for two people to staff your booth (no guests permitted). If your town population is 2,500 or under, you may share and split the cost of the booth with one other municipality meeting the same requirement.

This year's convention theme is "Getting Green Together." We encourage you to showcase your city or town's "green" initiatives. If you are a participant in the Maryland Municipal League Geocache Trail, you might want to be prepared to discuss how you have engaged the business community in this project and showcase some of the things you have put into your geocache box.

Please contact Steve Lopes at SteveL@mdmunicipal.org if there are any questions.

PARTICIPATE = SHARE + LEARN

The 32nd annual Delmarva Safety Association Seminar and Exposition will be held on March 2 - 4, 2009 in Ocean City, Maryland. For details visit the DSA website at www.delmarvasafety.com. The program brochure and registration form can be found via the following links. www.mdmunicipal.org/documents/DSA09Brochure.pdf
www.mdmunicipal.org/documents/DSA09RegistrationForm.pdf

A regional conference, Ecosystem Based Management: The Chesapeake and Other Systems, is being held on March 22-25, 2009 at the Baltimore Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. The goal of the conference is to identify Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) currently in place across the basin and opportunities for expanded EBM in the future. There are 28 sessions scheduled and participation by local, state and federal officials, non-governmental organization representatives, K-12 educators, advocacy staffs, and policy makers is being sought, with subsidized travel and accommodations. EBM can only be implemented if officials and staffs from towns, cities and counties where land decisions are made, are engaged. Please check the following website for conference details, registration, and travel subsidy information. www.chesapeakemeetings.com/EBM/