The American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) reporting deadline is April 30, 2024. All NEUs who have received ARPA funding are required to submit this annual report, which covers expenditures incurred between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. For NEUs who report quarterly, the report will cover expenditures during the period of January 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Keep in mind that the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) continues to support Maryland municipalities to inform them of their reporting responsibilities throughout the month, including through individual phone calls beginning this week. 

This year’s fourth grade "If I Were Mayor I Would..." essay contest winners were able to capture the volunteer readers and finalist judges’ attention with their dynamic essays. Volunteer readers were enlightened with new ideas to take to their own municipalities, on how to better their Maryland communities, sometimes forgetting that the ideas came from a nine-year-old.

Please join us in congratulating the eleven winners of MML’s If I Were Mayor, I Would…essay contest, their teachers, and the municipalities they represent:

• Author of MISEDUCATED: A Memoir, his triumphant story of struggle, success, and service. 
• Nationally acclaimed educator, and the mastermind behind the groundbreaking Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project.  
• Founder of the first Black pipeline program at Harvard, Fleming has made history by enrolling over 200 students of color into the university's summer debate residency on full scholarship. 
• Recognized by Forbes 30 under 30 and The Root Magazine's list of the top 100 most influential African Americans, Fleming's story is one of triumph against adversity.  

MML is keeping in close contact with the Moore Administration and relevant stakeholders regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragedy. 

For any of our Bay coastal towns who have shoreline and debris concerns, please utilize the following hotline to report any washed up items likely from the incident to +1-410-205-6625.

While the 2024 legislative session nears its conclusion Sine Die, it's never too early to start thinking about next year!

Is there a legislative matter that your municipality, chapter or department would like to see considered as an MML Legislative Priority for the 2025 Legislative session? Complete the 2025 Legislative Action Request (LAR) form by May 31.

MML Leadership hosted an insightful Lunch and Learn webinar in partnership with Conference Planning Committee Chair, Dave Unglesbee (Hampstead) and Vice Chair, Terry McGean (Ocean City). Packed with previews and sneak peeks, the recording provides a comprehensive overview of what attendees can expect from #MMLCon24.

MML's priority bill, HB 282, had its hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on March 26, after passing through the House chamber. As a result of amendments added by the House the bill now allows municipalities that do not maintain a police force to use a trained technician, as opposed to a law enforcement officer, to review speed camera images and sign citations. MML will continue to advocate for passage of this legislation through the Senate. For questions, please contact Bill Jorch, [email protected].

This Friday, March 22, is World Water Day.  Celebrate by reading up on how you can protect the streams and waterways that run through your community.

Protect Local Waterways is a new award-winning web resource on how local leaders can help support the economy, public health, education, and infrastructure while protecting their communities' environmental assets. Created by local officials for local officials, this website includes an extensive learning library spanning 11 environmental topics. From understanding the benefits of trees to building community buy-in on environmental behaviors, this learning library is the perfect place to start. Take action today to secure fishable, swimmable, and drinkable water for your municipality. Visit our website.  

We’re back, bigger and better than ever. The recipient of four national conference awards, our summer conference will connect your organization to 1,800 attendees who represent 160 local governments, state government leadership and community leadership from across Maryland. During our conference and expo, we promise an unparalleled opportunity for networking, learning, and showcasing your solutions.

MMLCon24’s Expo Hall serves as a hub for forging meaningful relationships and showcasing the latest information, techniques, products, and services that municipalities crave. And there's no shortage of new features designed to enhance your expo hall experience.

This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $3.33 billion in grant awards for 132 projects through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot and Neighborhood Access and Equity discretionary grant programs as part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. The funding is for communities that were cut off by transportation infrastructure years ago that left many neighborhoods without direct access to opportunities such as schools, places to worship, medical offices, and jobs.

The Department of Transportation is awarding 72 Planning grants, 52 Capital Construction grants, and 8 Regional Planning grants.

Our team is excited for our national award-winning conference this June and I think you will be too when you see the new enhancements.
 
At the 2024 MML Summer Conference, we have increased ways to engage and participate for all attendees. Taking the lead from our members on survey feedback, you will see a new spotlight on Maryland’s municipalities including our new, MML Main Street.

MML Main Street is a chance to engage with 30 member municipalities in a featured exhibit area at the conclusion of Governor Moore’s (invited) closing speech on Tuesday afternoon. From one corner of the state and across our waterways and to the mountains, this will allow member municipalities to showcase their home right there in Ocean City.

As the 2024 General Assembly session winds down, it is time to start thinking about submitting legislative action requests (LARs) for the 2025 session. The basis for MML's legislative priorities, LARs are ideas for a legislative fix submitted by a member municipality, MML chapter, or MML department for the Legislative Committee's consideration. MML will make the LAR form available on April 1, a few weeks earlier than usual. 

2024 priorities formed from LAR submissions include authority to create local tourism zones, providing options for who may review speed camera images, and expanding the services included in the admissions and amusement tax.

The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) was established in 2012 to give students “real life” experience and provide Maryland communities access to the University of Maryland’s expertise in fields ranging from health care, planning, real estate finance, environmentalism, information technology, and more.

Students address issues like municipal service provision and management, economic development, environmental shifts, park and streetscape design, transportation operations, and more in their coursework. Projects have included the cost-effectiveness of LED streetlights and implementation plan, an examination of micro-mobility and safe routes to school, the feasibility of expanding a local airport, and other real, practical projects with an emphasis on scheduling, best practices, implementation, and monitoring.

Now that we are more than halfway through the General Assembly session, bills are starting to move. Below are a few transportation-related bills, supported by MML, all of which have already received favorable reports by their respective committees and passed out of their chamber of origin. 

HB 43 - This bill is slightly amended from the version initially introduced and now includes a few additional guardrails. It now allows local governments to designate roads under their jurisdiction as roads on which golf carts may operate, under certain conditions; the road must be 30 MPH or lower and the golf cart must operate only between dawn and dusk unless it has State Highway Administration (SHA) approved lights, drive on the far right of the lane, and contain no more passengers than there are seats. This new authority would allow a new and unique transportation option to local governments.