Municipal Maryland the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION of MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

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Municipal Maryland the OFFICIAL PUBLICATION of MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AWARDS: Municipal Achievement, Lifetime Achievement & Legislator MAY/JUNE 2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP UPDATED PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE The Maryland Municipal League REPRESENTING MARYLAND'S CITIES AND TOWNS Leading the Way in Financial Expertise and Personal Service in accounting, auditing and tax compliance Lindsey + Associates is a certified public accounting and financial consulting firm. We have decades of experience in helping state and local governments meet their accounting and auditing requirements. Helping you achieve more. accounting, auditing and tax compliance Lindsey + Associates 410-825-1994 | www.acpafirm.com “like” us on Facebook, Lindsey + Associates, LLC CONTENTS MAY/JUNE 2015 ON THE COVER… Dragoons led the procession into Brookeville during the Town’s “U. S. Capital for a Day” Commemoration. Brookeville won the Municipal Achievement Award in the small town population category for this celebration (see page 8). Berlin won the Achievement Award in the medium town population category (see page 10), and Laurel received top honors in the large city population category (page 12). The Municipal Achievement Awards will be presented on June 29 during MML’s convention in Ocean City. 5 UPDATED Convention Schedule 6 MML Lifetime Achievement Award: Craig A. Moe, Mayor, Laurel 8 The “U.S. Capital for a Day” Commemoration in Brookeville 10 10 Berlin: Coolest Small Town in America Initiative and Event 12 The Re-branding of Laurel TV 14 The 2015 General Assembly Session 22 The Updated Public Information Act 24 The Basics of Financial Disclosure under the Maryland State Ethics Law 12 25 2015 Legislator Awards 26 Meetings & Upcoming Events Vol. 45 | No.9 | May/June 2015 Municipal Maryland THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION of MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Scott A. Hancock Publisher Karen A. Bohlen Editor-in-Chief Paula Chase Hyman Contributing Editor Thomas C. Reynolds Contributing Editor Sharon P. Easton Circulation Municipal Maryland (USPS 331-980), a publication for and about Maryland's cities and towns, is published nine times a year (monthly November through April and combined May/June, July/August and September/October issues) by the Maryland Municipal League, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The Maryland Municipal League is a non-profit, non-partisan association of Maryland's cities and towns. Information in Municipal Maryland does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Municipal League. Postmaster: Send address changes to Municipal Maryland, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Second-class postage paid at Annapolis, Maryland 21401 For advertising rates contact: Whitfield Whylie, Allegra Print & Imaging, 103 Gibralter Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 Telephone: 410-267-1200, Fax: 410-267-1992, [email protected] Subscription rate: $40/year Telephone: 410-268-5514 Toll-Free: 800-492-7121 Fax: 410-268-7004 Web: www.mdmunicipal.org Email: [email protected] Municipal Maryland | May/June 2015 | 3 MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 2015 ANNUAL CONVENTION CONVENTION CENTER – OCEAN CITY JUNE 28 – JULY 1, 2015 CONVENTION DINNER SPEAKER - JUNE 30: Governor Larry Hogan SAVE MONEY! REGISTER ON-LINE FOR REDUCED FEES. Visit mdmunicipal.org/convention for convention details and to register. 4 | May/June 2015 | Municipal Maryland MML 2015 CONVENTION PRELIMINARY PROGRAMUPDATED SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015 9:00 - 10:00 Public Works Department Meeting 11:00 - 4:30 Golf Tournament 9:15 - 10:00 Statewide Interoperability 1:00 - 5:30 Registration 9:30 - 1:30 Social Media Petting Zoo 1:00 - 4:00 Planning Commission/Planning Board Training 10:00 - 2:30 Exhibits Open 1:30 - 2:30 Orientation for First Time Attendees & Newly Elected Officials Commerce Day in Exhibit Areas 2:30 - 5:30 Consensus & Team Building (C) 10:00 - 11:00 Coffee Break in Exhibit Areas 2:45 - 3:45 Buzz Session: Getting Engaged with Civic Groups 10:30 - 12:00 Discussion Forums 2:45 - 3:45 Chapter Officers Briefing • Small Towns 4:00 - 5:30 Workshop: PALS: A Great New Town/Gown Innovation • Large Cities 4:00 - 5:30 Board of Directors Meeting 10:30 - 11:30 Workshop: Cops, Liability and Videotape 5:30 - 7:00 Welcome Reception 10:30 - 12:00 Workshop: Addressing Our Aging Water & Sewer Infrastructure MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015 11:30 - 2:30 Lunch in Exhibit Areas 7:30 - 8:00 How to Conduct Walking Meetings 12:00 - 1:30 MML Past Presidents Luncheon 8:00 - 4:30 Registration 12:00 - 1:30 Municipal Clerks Association Luncheon 8:00 - 9:45 Workshop: Ethics (C) 12:15 - 12:45 New Officials Meet & Greet 8:30 - 9:30 Rehearsal for Parade of Flags 1:00 - 2:00 Dinner Table Reservations 8:45 - 9:45 Workshop: Financial Statements 101 1:30 - 2:00 Snap Learning: Intro to Law Enforcement Officers 9:00 - 9:30 Snap Learning: Small Town Sustainability Bill of Rights 10:00 - 11:30 Opening General Session 2:00 - 3:30 Cabinet Secretaries Roundtable • Parade of Municipal Flags 2:30 - 3:00 Snap Learning: Grant Application Dos & Don’ts • Achievement Awards 2:30 - 4:00 Workshop: Small Towns, Big Data • Keynote Speakers: Cal Thomas & Bob Beckel 2:30 - 4:00 Workshop: Memory Magic 11:30 - 4:00 Exhibits Open 2:30 - 4:30 Workshop: Basics of Risk Management (C) 11:30 - 2:00 Lunch in Exhibit Areas 3:30 - 4:00 Snap Learning: Community Radio 11:30 - 2:30 Social Media Petting Zoo 6:00 - 9:30 Children’s Party 12:00 - 1:30 Mayors Forum & Lunch 6:00 - 7:00 Cash Bar City & Town Administrators Lunch Meeting 7:00 - 9:00 Dinner Municipal Attorneys Association Lunch Meeting • Municipal Officials Hall of ameF Inductions 1:30 - 2:00 Snap Learning: Improving Community Health • Lifetime Achievement Award 1:30 - 2:45 Workshop: State of Maryland Economic Outlook • Remarks by Governor Hogan 1:30 - 2:45 Workshop: Best Practices in Community Policing • Induction of 2015-16 Board of Directors 2:00 - 4:00 Workshop: Effective Meetings (C) • Background Music: Golden Touch 2:30 - 3:30 Refreshment Break in Exhibit Areas WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015 2:45 - 4:00 Workshop: Building a Financially Resilient Municipality 8:30 - 12:00 Registration 3:00 - 4:15 Workshop: Responding to Civil Unrest 9:00 - 10:30 Workshop: Communicating in an Emergency 3:00 - 4:15 Workshop: Economic Development for Small Towns 9:00 - 10:30 Workshop: Fiscal Benefits of Smarter Planning 4:00 - 5:00 Women in Government Service (WINGS) Meeting 9:00 - 10:30 Maryland Smart Growth Subcabinet Meeting 5:00 - 6:00 Prince George’s Elected Women Meeting 9:00 - 11:00 Workshop: Employment Issues (C) 6:00 - 9:00 Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities Dinner 11:00 - 11:30 Snap Learning: Tips on Drafting Ordinances 6:30 - 9:00 Montgomery Chapter Dinner 11:00 - 12:30 Workshops: TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015 • Lobbying 101: Shark Tank Edition 7:00 - 8:45 Prince George’s County Municipal Association Breakfast • Strategic Planning Strategies 8:00 - 4:30 Registration 11:15 - 12:30 Convention Planning Committee Meeting 8:00 - 9:00 Municipal Police Executives Breakfast 12:45 - 2:15 New Board Member Orientation & Lunch 8:00 - 9:30 Economic Development Through Community Reinvestment 1:00 - 3:00 Eastern Shore BBQ & Picnic Buffet 8:30 - 10:00 Workshop: Complete Town Planning: The Energy Element 2:30 - 3:30 Board of Directors Meeting 8:30 - 9:00 Credentials Desk Open - Vote for MML’s 2015-16 Board of Directors Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Sessions 9:00 - 10:15 Business Meeting C = Academy core • Speaker: Melodee Colbert Kean Academy elective First Vice President, National League of Cities • MML/Musco Banner City/Town Award Recognition Share what’s happening with the world. Tweet about convention events using #MMLConvention Municipal Maryland | May/June 2015 | 5 MML LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2015 Craig A. Moe, Mayor, Laurel raig A. Moe, Mayor of the City of Laurel, will receive the Maryland Municipal League’s Lifetime Achievement Award on June 30, 2015 Cduring MML’s convention dinner in Ocean City. Mayor Moe is an amazing individual, who has accomplished much in very distinct areas of public service: municipal government and public safety. Mayor Moe started his public service career with the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department where he held many positions of responsibility. He served the Department as Firefighter, Chief, and President, and many other minor roles along the way. Craig achieved Life Member status after 20 years of continued faithful and dedicated service. He served as President of the Prince George’s improvements to all City parks. In his first term he County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, and chaired the Committee appointed an all-employee committee to review that produced a book detailing the history of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Depart- City compensation and benefits and make recom- ment for its 100th Anniversary. Craig served several terms on the Maryland mendations to him. Many of the Committee’s rec- State Firemen’s Association Executive Committee, and is known throughout ommendations were implemented and today the Maryland for his exemplary volunteer fire service career. City of Laurel has one of the most competitive pay plans and benefits packages in the area. Through Prior to his election as a Laurel Councilmember in 1988, Mr. Moe had already Mayor Moe’s oversight and direction, Laurel devel- begun his municipal service career as an active volunteer in City events. He oped one of the most comprehensive Emergency served for many years as a member of Laurel’s Fourth of July Committee. This Services operations in municipal government, committee plans a full day of activities to commemorate Independence Day, which this past year achieved national recogni- beginning with a parade through the City, and ending with what is considered tion for its multi-jurisdictional H1N1 pandemic one of the best annual fireworks displays in the Washington-Baltimore area.
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