After vetoing the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, commonly referred to as the Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Act, last month, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an Executive Order creating a Committee on Paid Leave Policy.  The Committee will spend the next six months traveling the state meeting with employers and employees, but they have also just released a survey to help gather more feedback and to hear from anyone who would like to be contacted by the Committee.

You can find the survey here.

As the Voice of Business for Howard County, the Chamber strongly opposed the Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Act, because we believe employers should remain free to determine their own leave policies that are consistent with business operating needs. The Chamber has actively advocated for more balanced and predictable leave laws that do not impose unreasonable costs on businesses or their customers.

We supported the Governor's decision to veto the Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Act and Chamber President & CEO Leonardo McClarty has written to the Governor to let him know that the Chamber is ready to assist the Committee on Paid Leave Policy to ensure a better plan can be implemented. We encourage you, our members, to take advantage of the opportunity to make your voices heard by taking part in the survey linked above.

At our June Legislative Affairs Committee meeting, we were joined by Howard County Directory of Planning, Valdis Lazdins. Lazdins provided the 15 member group with an update on the County Development Regulations which begin earlier in the year. 

Clarion Associates is spearheading the first phase of the project, w hich will conclude with a draft being presented for public input in Winter 2018. Goals for the phase one include efforts to modernize the code format and structure, developing context-sensitive regulations, devising efficient approval processes, ensuring regulations encourage high quality design, and support sustainable development patterns. 

Clarion Associates and planning staff are seeking community input and feedback through a survey available until July 10th.

The Chamber staff and legislative affairs committee will continue to be engaged in this process and provide information accordingly. 

For more information about Capital Bank's newest branch, click here

The Howard County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for two job openings.

We are looking for an organized and conscientious administrative professional with excellent communication skills to serve as a part-time Office Administrator . 

We are also looking for someone who networks, makes connections, builds relationships, and pursues opportunities to serve as our Director of Membership.

More information about the job openings can be found here. Come join the team of one of Howard County's most successful and dynamic business organizations!