Government Liability and Courts / Intergovernmental Relations / Winter Conference
Don’t Be Found Guilty – Get Briefed on Key County Legal Issues at #MACoCon

Several major legal issues that that could significantly affect your county's authority and budget may appear during the 2019 Session. Don't get caught flat-footed! Make sure you are up to date on local preemption, comparative fault, and access to justice/attorney fees at 2019 January MACo Winter Conference. Legislation, Litigation & Legitimacy: Key Legal Issues for the 2019 Session Description Several critical county legal issues will be considered during the 2019 legislative session, including local preemption (which…

Comments Off on Don’t Be Found Guilty – Get Briefed on Key County Legal Issues at #MACoCon
December 12, 2018
Guideposts for the Road to County Leadership
Shelley Heller, Kent County Administrator
County News / Intergovernmental Relations / Winter Conference
Guideposts for the Road to County Leadership

MACo's Winter Conference features insight into the role of county governments for newly elected officials, including funding responsibilities and jurisdictional limits. Newly elected county government officials enrolled in MACo's Winter Conference Orientation will hear a special session dedicated to local government structure, led by senior staff from Calvert and Kent counties. In Local Government Structure, attendees will hear the inside scoop on how things work in Maryland counties. Shelley Heller, Kent County Administrator, and Wilson…

Comments Off on Guideposts for the Road to County Leadership
December 11, 2018
Maryland Counties Receive Millions in VA Benefits
County News / Health and Human Services / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections
Maryland Counties Receive Millions in VA Benefits

Thirteen Maryland counties were among the 664 counties nationwide that each received more than $50 million in VA benefits in 2017 within their jurisdictions.  A majority of Maryland counties received more than $50 million in VA benefits, according to the National Association of Counties Analysis of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Data from 2017. Almost all Maryland counties received more than average amounts of VA benefits in 2017 compared to other counties in the US. Here…

Comments Off on Maryland Counties Receive Millions in VA Benefits
December 7, 2018
Frederick, Fort Detrick Partnerships Earn Award from U.S. Army
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner and Fort Detrick Garrison Commander Col. Scott M. Halter accept the 2018 Army Community Partnership Award (photo courtesy of Frederick County Government)
County News / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / News You Can Use / Public Safety and Corrections
Frederick, Fort Detrick Partnerships Earn Award from U.S. Army

Frederick County Government and Fort Detrick were honored this week as winners of a 2018 Army Community Partnership Award. Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner and Fort Detrick Garrison Commander Col. Scott M. Halter accepted the award at the Hall of Heroes in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. According to a press release: Frederick County and Fort Detrick were honored for two initiatives: dispatching Fort Detrick emergency calls from the County’s 9-1-1 center and assisting Fort…

Comments Off on Frederick, Fort Detrick Partnerships Earn Award from U.S. Army
December 5, 2018
Business Affairs / County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Education / Elections / Employee Benefits and Relations / Environment / Finance and Procurement / General Assembly News / Government Liability and Courts / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Information Technology / Intergovernmental Relations / Pensions & Public Funds / Public Safety and Corrections / School Construction and Capital Budgets / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Taxes and Revenues / Transportation and Public Works / Winter Conference
Preview the 2019 Session “Big Picture”

A compilation of Issue Papers previews major fiscal and policy issues facing the General Assembly in the year ahead. This resource is a handy guide to the top issues that your legislators will be tackling in the year ahead – a great preparation document for county officials in advance of meetings with their local Delegations. Developed by the Department of Legislative Services, the 2019 Issue Papers are an annual staple for the Annapolis policy-inclined population.…

Comments Off on Preview the 2019 Session “Big Picture”
December 3, 2018
Virginia Empowers Local Responders to Protect Airspace Around Emergencies
County News / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Public Safety and Corrections
Virginia Empowers Local Responders to Protect Airspace Around Emergencies

While a work group in Maryland reviews unsafe use of unmanned aerial systems (also called UAS and commonly referred to as drones), Virginia passed a law granting authority to local first responders to stop UAS interference during emergencies. In 2015, Maryland passed a law that preempted the county or municipal governments from law, specifically, the law "preempts the authority of a county or municipality to prohibit, restrict, or regulate the testing or operation of unmanned…

Comments Off on Virginia Empowers Local Responders to Protect Airspace Around Emergencies
December 1, 2018
If You Pay Your Bills at Work, You May Be Putting Your Personal Information At Risk
Business Affairs / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Intergovernmental Relations / Winter Conference
If You Pay Your Bills at Work, You May Be Putting Your Personal Information At Risk

In the aftermath of a ransomware attack, a borough government in Alaska informs employees that their personal information may have been compromised. As reported by Route Fifty, following a ransomware attack in which the attacker sought $400,000 payment in bitcoin, a municipal government in Alaska is now cautioning their employees that their personal information may have also been comprised in the attack if they used work computers to conduct personal business. From Route Fifty: The…

Comments Off on If You Pay Your Bills at Work, You May Be Putting Your Personal Information At Risk
November 26, 2018
Agriculture / Environment / Government Liability and Courts / Intergovernmental Relations / Planning and Zoning
Solar Siting Preemption Case Now Precedent

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals has now released a precedent-setting opinion, Board of County Commissioners of Washington County v. Perennial Solar, LLC, which holds that the state can preempt local zoning when granting approval for the siting of a large scale solar project. As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Court issued a decision in late August which held that state law allows the Public Service Commission (PSC) to preempt by implication the zoning of…

Comments Off on Solar Siting Preemption Case Now Precedent
November 16, 2018
County News / Economic Development / Intergovernmental Relations / Labor
Secretary Schulz Visits Charles to Discuss Economic Development

The Charles County Economic Development Department held its annual fall meeting this week to explore ways to grow and maintain a successful workforce in Charles County. Influential community leaders from the public and private sectors participated in panel discussions to share their experiences with educating, training, and sustaining the workforce. Kelly Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, served as the keynote speaker. According to a press release: “This year’s meeting was…

Comments Off on Secretary Schulz Visits Charles to Discuss Economic Development
November 2, 2018
Preemption, PIA, and Public Safety Liability All Part of 2018 MACo Attorneys Conference
Government Liability and Courts / Intergovernmental Relations / MACo Events / Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
Preemption, PIA, and Public Safety Liability All Part of 2018 MACo Attorneys Conference

County Attorneys, legal, and legislative staff are invited to attend the MACo Attorneys Conference on November 14, 2018, to as they discuss the Public Information Act (PIA), preemption issues, public safety liability, the Open Meetings Act, and the new terrain for the General Assembly and Administration post-election. The conference is open to county attorneys, their legal staff, and county legislative staffers. There is no cost to attend but registration is required – please register online.…

Comments Off on Preemption, PIA, and Public Safety Liability All Part of 2018 MACo Attorneys Conference
October 26, 2018
Older Posts →

© 2018 All rights reserved​

Close Menu