FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ray Feldmann

ray@fcstrategies.com

410-507-7714 (mobile)

TOWN OF UPPER MARLBORO APPOINTS

CAROL RICHARDSON NEW TOWN ADMINISTRATOR

“Her areas of experience and expertise blend perfectly

with our long-term vision for the Town of Upper Marlboro”

UPPER MARLBORO, MD (Feb. 15, 2024) – Carol Richardson, an experienced government management professional with more than 10 years of municipal leadership background, has been named Town Administrator with the Town of Upper Marlboro, Mayor Sarah Franklin announced today. Richardson most recently served as Town Manager for the Town of Cottage City in Prince George’s County.

During her impressive career Richardson also served as Director of Economic Development for the City of Cambridge, Maryland. She was responsible for the development of the Mace’s Lane Community Center, which required the partial demolition and renovation of the old Mace’s Lane School Building that once served as the only high school for African Americans in Dorchester County, Maryland. This facility will provide youth programs by the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCA) of America and will be the first BGCA facility built on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Richardson also served as manager of the Arts and Entertainment District. She was responsible for overseeing state and federal grants, as well as the city’s Façade Improvement Program and New Resident Senior Tax Credit and served as administrator for the Enterprise Zone.

“We are excited to have Carol join our team,” Mayor Franklin said. “Her areas of experience and expertise blend perfectly with our long-term vision for the Town of Upper Marlboro. I know she will be an invaluable resource in helping us advance our ambitious agenda in the years ahead. The town’s commissioners and I are eager to work with her.”

Mayor Franklin said Richardson started in her new role this past Monday, Feb. 12 and was formally sworn in the next day.

For more than a decade, Richardson was a government affairs and policy consultant specializing in community development, economic development, and environmental policy and management. She worked with for-profit and non-profit organizations in addition to county and state government. Richardson also represented clients regarding community development and planning. In that key role, she served as liaison between community groups, developers, and public officials.

During her professional experience, Richardson served various members of Congress as a senior level staff member that included roles as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. As a professional staff member for the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee, she was responsible for entrepreneurial development programs that assisted women, minorities, and veterans.

She has extensive knowledge of federal housing policy, community development, and economic development policy. She previously served as the Reporting and Compliance Manager for the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust. She also served as a liaison to community groups, business associations, and governmental entities. Her political involvement and campaign experience is extensive, having served as an advisor for various political campaigns in the State of Maryland.

Richrdson succeeds Kyle Snyder, who resigned last August to take the position as Town Manager with the Town of Berwyn Heights in Prince George’s County.

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Black History Month Fast Fact

Artist Spotlight - Keiona Clark

The horse statue installed along Water Street, “‭JETOLARA”, was painted by local artist Keiona Clark Art, and is dedicated to Cheryl White‭, the first black female jockey in the United States.



Clark explained her inspiration as the following: "On June 15, 1971, ‭Cheryl White‭ ‭became the first black female jockey in the United States‬ ‭at‬ ‭the age of 17‭.‭ ‬‬Cheryl ‭rode‬ Jetolara ‭to victory at Waterford Park (Chester, West Virginia) on Sept. 2‭, 1971,‬ ‭to become ‬‬‬the first black woman in American thoroughbred racing history to finish first.‭ Although‭ ‭she has opened ‬doors, ‭accomplished many firsts, and broken barriers, she ‬‬is often ‭unknown.



I wanted to honor her and create a spark, so that people understand Cheryl White’s contribution to American history as well as her legacy. Strong women‬‬ ‭and bright colors are ‭my ‭aesthetic, ‬‬‬‬as I ‭consider myself ‭a strong woman and I feel that bright ‭color‬‬s ‭represent happiness and a celebration ‬‬‬‬‬of life. I ‬believe ‭that public art should not only be ‬‬‬visually ‭appealing‬ ‭but ‭should also inspire and ‬‬‬educate; what better way to do that than to pay homage to a true ‭PIO‭NEER. Cheryl White (1953-2019)” -Keiona Clark

Discover more about this artist and her brilliant projects here:

https://www.keionaclarkart.com/

Next Meeting:

Budget Work Session

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

7:00 PM

FY 2025 Projected Revenue (Board Discussion)

FY 2025 Projected Expenses & Requested Funding (Board Discussion)

FY 2025 Town Tax Rate (Board Discussion)

Click Graphic To Complete

The Shade Tree Board Application

DPIE’s virtual Third-Thursday Community Information Sessions have changed from monthly to QUARTERLY. These meetings allow citizens to interact with agency staff. Each session focuses on a particular topic and includes a brief presentation, comments by agency experts and a Q&A period.

• Sessions take place from 11 a.m.–12 noon on the third Thursday every three months. 
• Registration information will be provided in the DPIE Developments newsletter and on DPIE's website at dpie.mypgc.us closer to each event.
• Participants may submit questions in advance to DPIEpio@co.pg.md.us.

The quarterly Third-Thursday Community Information Sessions will be held in February, May, August and November.

February Programs At The Upper Marlboro Branch Library

Pepco Reminds Customers About Available Energy Assistance as Temperatures Dip

Federal, state and local energy assistance programs offer customers access to millions of dollars in grants to help pay for winter energy bills.

WASHINGTON, DC (December 19, 2023) — Winter brings colder temperatures, which leads to increased energy use and higher energy bills. Pepco reminds customers to take advantage of billing assistance programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, a federally funded program that helps limited-income households with their home energy bills. Customers should not wait for winter heating bills to arrive before applying for help – LIHEAP is a first come, first serve program and is only available until funding runs out.  

LIHEAP provides grants in varying amounts (up to $1,800 in the District of Columbia and $2,213 in Maryland), with no payback required. Requirements include a household's income, type of fuel and type of dwelling. Homeowners, renters, roomers, and subsidized housing tenants may also be eligible. Customers do not have to be behind on their bills to receive a grant.

Maryland customers can review eligibility requirements through the Department of Human Services website or by calling the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs at 800-332-6347. District residents can review eligibility requirements and apply for assistance online though the Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) website or by calling 3-1-1. As a reminder, District residents who have received LIHEAP assistance in the past must recertify their need for assistance this year. Enrollment does not roll over automatically.

“With winter weather officially here, customers should prepare for potential spikes in energy bills as we warm our homes and businesses,” said Morlon Bell-Izzard, senior vice president of Customer Operations and chief customer officer for Pepco Holdings. “We understand that rising energy costs and inflation continue to impact our customers and the upcoming holiday season brings additional pressures. We are here to help and remain committed to supporting those facing difficulties through payment plans and energy assistance programs.”

If customers do not meet LIHEAP requirements and are having difficulty paying their energy bills, Pepco Customer Care is also available to help by offering:

• Flexible payment arrangements that offer tailored payment plans
• Extending payment periods for balances
• Connecting customers with energy assistance funds
• Budget Billing, which averages payments over a 12-month period and helps avoid seasonal spikes and provides a consistent monthly bill. 

Customers can contact Pepco at 202-833-7500 or visit pepco.com/EnergyAssistance for more information.

Other energy assistance for District residents includes:

• The Residential Aid Discount (RAD) program provides energy assistance funding to income-qualified residential Pepco customers and now has a higher income eligibility limit. Eligible customers may receive a discount of up to $475 per year on their electric bill ($300 per year if non-electric heat). Customers can check program eligibility and apply by visiting the DOEE's web portal at doee.dc.gov/udp.
• Customers participating in RAD can also participate in the Arrearage Management Program (AMP), which provides customers the option to reduce or eliminate outstanding balances of over $300 that have been past due for 60 days or more. Customers can enroll by calling 202-496-5830 or emailing EnergyAssistanceMailbox@pepco.com.
• The Greater Washington Urban League provides up to $500 in assistance to eligible customers facing disconnection. Customers can call 202-792-2554 or visit gwul.org/emergency-services to learn more. 
• Commercial assistance programs for District small businesses, houses of worship and nonprofits are also now available, including options such as installment plans, deposits held applications, budget billing and bill deferral. Commercial customers can sign up for these programs by emailing BCSTPEPCO@exeloncorp.com or calling 833-504-8659.

Other energy assistance for Maryland residents includes:

• The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) assists eligible low-income customers with their electric bills, even if they are currently without service and the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP) protects low-income families from utility cut-offs and allows MEAP eligible households to enter into monthly payment programs. To apply for these programs, customers can contact the Office of Home Energy Programs in their area, call 1-800-332-6347 or visit dhr.maryland.gov/ohep. 
• Interfaith Works provides emergency assistance to income eligible customers in Montgomery County. Customers can call 301-762-8682. 
• Mary’s Center also provides emergency assistance to income eligible customers in Prince George’s County. Customers can call 202-545-2024. 

To learn more about Pepco, visit The Source, Pepco’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting pepco.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PepcoConnect on Twitter at twitter.com/PepcoConnect. Pepco’s mobile app is available at pepco.com/MobileApp.

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Pepco is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Pepco provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 919,000 customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland

WSSC Water has partnered with Promise to offer AFFORDABLE, FLEXIBLE &

INTEREST-FREE payment plans.

This new financial assistance program allows residential and commercial customers with past-due balances of $50 or more to establish a payment plan. Read the press release HERE. To set up a payment plan, visit wsscwater.promise-pay.com