County News / News You Can Use
Worcester Names New Director of Emergency Services

Worcester County recently announced that Billy Birch, a former NASA official, will replace Fred Webster, who is retiring in December, as Director of Emergency Services. According to Delmarva Now: Birch joined the the county’s Emergency Services team on Sept. 24, and brings 25 years of experience in law enforcement, emergency management and disaster response to Worcester County Government. ... “Emergencies do not fall into one neat package, and do not happen when we would like…

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October 10, 2018
County News
Trying to Follow School Funding? Here’s a Primer

A new 17-page primer on Maryland school funding is a concise and useful tool for understanding these high-profile, and high-importance, programs. The Department of Legislative Services - the nonpartisan staff agency to the General Assembly - has developed a nuts-and-bolts overview of public school funding. The document, presented to the Kirwan Commission on October 10 as that Commission carries into its final weeks of deliberations, offers background and definitions of the various elements of Maryland…

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October 10, 2018
Read more about the article Montgomery County Council Debates Next Steps for Small Cells
Business Affairs / County News / Planning and Zoning
Montgomery County Council Debates Next Steps for Small Cells

The Montgomery County Council continues to consider a proposed zoning text amendment (ZTA) that would allow the attachment of small cells to existing utility poles in residential areas.  Time -- specifically when to take action on the residential zoning proposal -- was the central issue of discussion. As Bethesda Magazine reports: Council President Hans Riemer said during a work session Tuesday that now is as good a time as ever to pass the legislation in the…

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October 10, 2018
Read more about the article Maryland Joins Several States with Election Process “On The Ballot”
Elections
Maryland Joins Several States with Election Process “On The Ballot”

Maryland voters will be asked whether to approve a state constitutional amendment to enable same-day voter registration. Several other states have election reforms up for voter approval this November as well. In Maryland this year, the last date to register to vote for the November 2018 general election is Tuesday, October 16th - 21 days before election day. If a proposed constitutional change is approved by voters in November, that timetable may be changed by…

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October 10, 2018
Read more about the article Harford to Launch 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline
County News / Health and Human Services
Harford to Launch 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline

Harford County will be home to a new 24/7 crisis hotline for mental health and addiction services. Callers will receive information on behavioral health services and have access to peer recovery specialists. Call line staff will have access to mobile crisis teams. CBS Baltimore reports: “When Harford County citizens or families are in crisis, we want them to know they are not alone and help is available,” said Howard County Executive Barry Glassman. “The depths…

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October 10, 2018
Intergovernmental Relations / Public Safety and Corrections
FBI: Drones for Terror an “Escalating Threat” in US

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray has noted unmanned aircraft -- or "drones" -- represent a substantial and escalating threat as implements of terror or crime. The discussion was part of a scheduled briefing, held on October 10 before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From a report in Bloomberg news: Drones pose a “steadily escalating threat,” as the “unmanned aircraft systems” are likely to be used by…

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October 10, 2018
NACo and Federal Issues
First NACo ExDir Bernie Hillenbrand Dies at 93

Starting in the 1950s, Bernie Hillenbrand helped build the beginnings of our modern-day National Association of Counties, as its first full-time Executive Director. He died this week at 93, following a brief illness. One collaboration strategy for Hillenbrand, according to the NACo website, was to bring the professional staff to a "retreat" at his farm in Washington County, Maryland. Hillenbrand was a 1951 alumnus of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse…

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October 10, 2018