MACo President Washington County Commissioner John Barr and Executive Director Michael Sanderson have begun meeting with local jurisdictions across the state to discuss MACo, the state, what’s working, what’s not, etc., and hope to visit all 23 counties and Baltimore City by the time MACo’s Summer Conference takes place, August 17-20, 2016.

According to a recent Herald-Mail Media article,

When Washington County Commissioner John F. Barr was installed as president of the Maryland Association of Counties last winter, he made a pledge to visit every local jurisdiction in the state during his one-year term.

Barr, a third-term commissioner and the first county representative to ascend to the MACo presidency since 1979, started his cross-state journey this week by visiting officials in four counties — Anne Arundel, Carroll, Caroline and Dorchester — over two days.

“Some have tried to do it partially, but I’m making a very strong effort to visit, to sit down and have an in-depth (conversation) about MACo, about the state, what works, what doesn’t work,” he said.

“These have been very fruitful in both directions,” Barr said of the first four visits. “All four of the county councils or commissioners have been very open, very positive, very appreciative. Regardless of what party, we’re concerned about long-term budgetary (items). We all have the same issues.”

Barr said he and MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson are in the process of planning trips to the remaining 18 counties, plus Baltimore city, before MACo’s summer conference in August.

…

“This outreach from our association to hear what issues are facing our member counties and talk about their priorities … is a central part of what our association does,” Sanderson said Friday. “(Barr) has made a real commitment to get out and meet with a lot of these jurisdictions early in the year, so during the term of his presidency, we have time to act.”

Sanderson said Barr continues to bring a “forward-thinking attitude” to MACo, which develops a legislative agenda and priorities on topics that promote the interests of Maryland’s 24 local jurisdictions, including education, transportation, environmental, land use and fiscal responsibilities.