County Executive will hold a town hall meeting on Oct. 6th.
Frederick, Md. (KM) The process of drafting a legislative package for Frederick County for the 2017 Maryland General Assembly is underway. Roger Wilson, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the County Executive’s Office, briefed the County Council on Tuesday. He said the goal of County Executive Jan Gardner is to have a final package delivered to the local legislative delegation by early November.
He said a similar process was used last year. “Last year, the County Executive’s 2016 Legislative Package included four proposed bills and 10 position statements. Three of the four proposed bills passed successfully by the State Legislature were signed into law by Governor Hogan,” he said.
The bills made some changes to requirements for the small business tax credit program; local government tort claim notification; and appeals of Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreements.
Under the Charter, the County Executive is required to advance the local legislative priorities of the county. It requires a single Frederick County Legislative Package to be presented to the General Assembly.
So far, Wilson says, County Executive Jan Gardner has sent out letters to 75 organizations seeking their input on bills to proposed for the upcoming legislative session, and will meeting this week with mayors, burgesses and other municipal officials to ask for their ideas. “Because the County Executive values public participation and an open process, the County Executive will host a town-hall style meeting on October 6th, 2016 to receive public comment on proposed legislative initiatives and to hear additional suggestions,” he said.
Regan Cherney, the Council’s Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, said Council members can also propose their ideas for bills during a workshop on Tuesday, September 13th. “That’s when we’d really like ideally to bring any ideas, proposals that you guys have that you’d like to be included in the legislative package,” he said.
After the package is completed, it will be presented to the Legislative Delegation on Thursday, November 17th at 12:00 noon. Local lawmakers will hold their own hearing on the “wish list” on Saturday, December 3rd at Winchester Hall beginning at 10:00 AM. The 2017 Maryland General Assembly will convene on Wednesday, January 11th at 12:00 noon.