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2018 Legislative Handbook Series – An Indispensable Reference

The Department of Legislative Services has released its quadrennial Legislative Handbook Series, a deep and useful reference series that encapsulates nearly every issue of government at the state and local level. The series may be downloaded or viewed online for free at the links below: Legislative Handbook Series: Vol 1 – Legislators Handbook Vol 2 – Government Services Vol 3 – Revenue Structure Vol 4 – Budget Process Vol 5 – Personnel, Pensions & Procurement…

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January 11, 2019
Open Meetings Training at #MACoCon
Public Information and Ethics / Winter Conference
Open Meetings Training at #MACoCon

Numerous attendees to the MACo January 2019 Winter Conference to receive critical training in Maryland’s Open Meetings Act. The panel, Open Meetings Act, took place on January 4. The class is a core class for the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Certificate Program and also satisfies a state open meetings training requirement.    Frederick County Attorney John Mathias and Gaithersburg Assistant City Attorney Frank Johnson discussed the Open Meetings Act, including: (1) when the Act…

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January 9, 2019
Dip a Toe in the Waters of Social Media, and Keep an Eye on the Lifeguard
County News / Public Information and Ethics / Winter Conference
Dip a Toe in the Waters of Social Media, and Keep an Eye on the Lifeguard

At Charting the Course, MACo's Winter Conference, county officials hear suggestions for using social media to engage their constituents, and learn about legal issues that may arise in this relatively novel form of communication. Maryland Senator Will Smith, who moderated a panel discussion on social media at MACo's Winter Conference in Cambridge, Maryland during the first week of the year. Smith started the discussion by sharing his experience and perspective, growing up with social media…

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January 8, 2019
Hold That Tweet! Mastering the Art of 21st Century Communication
Information Technology / MACo Events / Public Information and Ethics / Winter Conference
Hold That Tweet! Mastering the Art of 21st Century Communication

Don't let that social media post get you in trouble. Panelists at the MACo Winter Conference session, "Hold That Tweet! Mastering the Art of 21st Century Communication," will help you successfully navigate the world of digital communication -- avoiding the legal and societal pitfalls along the way. Title: Hold That Tweet! Mastering the Art of 21st Century Communication Description: The right communication strategies can build a bridge between government officials and the public they serve.…

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November 20, 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.…

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October 26, 2018
Public Information and Ethics
AG’s Office Revises Open Meetings Tools & Templates

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has updated its online resources that assist local governments in complying with Maryland's Open Meetings Act. In particular, changes reflect legislation that passed during 2018 Session (HB 695) that allowed a public body to go into closed-session to discuss cybersecurity matters. OAG has also added a template for the closed-session summaries that must be included in the open session minutes. The template may be used as provided…

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October 11, 2018
County News / Public Information and Ethics
Carroll County IDA Open Meetings Violation Highlights Importance of Training

A Carroll County Time article (2018-10-02) highlighted the importance of ensuring local public bodies, especially all-volunteer bodies, are in compliance with Maryland's Open Meetings Act after the State's Open Meetings Compliance Board found that the Carroll County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) violated the Act in numerous ways over the last two years. The IDA was created to secure new industries in the County through land and building projects. The IDA currently has 5 members who are appointed…

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October 5, 2018
County News / Public Information and Ethics
Anne Arundel Aspires for Accessible Accountability

An Anne Arundel County news release (2018-09-17) announced that County Executive Steve Schuh is proposing a series of ethics reforms for the County. The reforms would address ethics training, gift restrictions, penalties for lobbying violations, and the law's applicability to County board and commission members. From the news release: Our citizens deserve a fair, honest, and transparent government. These reforms will ensure that we instill the highest ethical standards across Anne Arundel County. - Anne…

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September 20, 2018
Public Information and Ethics / Public Safety and Corrections
Senate Committee Hears Local Government Body Camera & PIA Concerns

MACo Legal & Policy Counsel Les Knapp testified before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee about the need for reforming the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA) to better address the release of police body camera footage. The September 13th briefing also included testimony from representatives from the Maryland Municipal League (MML) and the ACLU of Maryland. Addressing police body camera issues under the PIA has been a MACo legislative initiative for the last…

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September 14, 2018
Planning and Zoning / Public Information and Ethics / Transportation and Public Works
Governor: “No Plans” To Take Homes for I-270

Governor Larry Hogan has assured protestors and concerned citizens that his plans to improve traffic conditions along I-270 and the Beltway will not result in any eminent domain affecting residents' homes. WTOP reports: At a news conference in Annapolis on Tuesday, the governor repeated what he told a group of concerned citizens at a Labor Day parade in Kensington: “The state has no plans that show anybody’s houses being taken,” he said. Maryland's State Highway…

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September 5, 2018
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