February 26, 2021

Vaccinations Remain Job #1

Maryland’s effort to get residents vaccinated continues to dominate the policy conversation as the top priority for government and public health leaders. The Governor announced the continued expansion of “mass vaccination” sites to further expand the reach into broad communities of eligible residents. Meanwhile, plans for a more centralized pre-registration system buoy hopes of reducing confusion and cancellations for those getting into the system. Administration leaders joined MACo this week to talk through the steps ahead, and to hear county concerns about lingering disparities in distributions and access. Conduit Street has your coverage on this critically important roll-out.

Statewide Vax Portal | Mass Vax Site | County Perspectives on COVID Strategy

SPOTLIGHT ON LEADERSHIP

Don’t Let Actions Get Ahead of Culture Aristotle said, “Change in all things is sweet.” From some perspectives, that may be true, but if you’ve ever experienced periods of big transformation or massive and disruptive change, you may very well take issue with Aristotle’s fervor in explaining it with such palatability. In business and in life, even change brought about by a leader with a clear vision and proper planning can be fraught with risk and challenge. It’s for this reason that most efforts to bring about a new order of things fail. Read more...

Statewide Vax Portal Coming, Local Health Depts May Opt-In Governor: Southern MD Mass Vax Site Coming, J&J Vax May Come Soon Counties Provide Perspectives as Bills Contemplate State COVID Strategy MACo COVID-19 Resource Page

Davis Bill To Help OPEB Investment Trust Sails Through House Counties Support Small Business Relief, Request Local Input on Broad Tax Break MACo Stands Against Squeeze on Local Revenues Non-Recurring School Cost Entries Are Due March 31  MACo: Costly Tax Incentive Lacks Local Input

MACo Supports Flexible Business Tax Incentives Bill Sets Unreasonable Requirements on Local Finance Offices MACo: Enhance Equity in Property Tax Assessments Bill to Usurp Local Authority Over County Elections Moving in House MACo Supports Next Steps for Statewide 3-1-1 System

Hogan Appoints Kent County Administrator Shelley Heller to MES Board of Directors Bay Crossing Study Draft Environmental Statement Available for Review & Comment MACo Supports Novel Approach to Address Septic System Pollution

MACo Calls for Continuity and Clarity for Forest Conservation Banking MACo Requests Reasonable Flexibility for Short-Term Lease Notice Requirements Counties Urge Caution Over Proposal to Alter RISE Zone Program

How About Some “Notable Maryland Bills” Today? Counties Seek More Options for Public Campaign Financing Fun Fact: Which County is Home to a Community Built by Former Slaves Who Fought in the Civil War? Feb 24 Board of Public Works Meeting: What Counties Need to Know

Baltimore County Partners with United Way of Central Maryland to Prevent Evictions Counties Call for Increase in Child Care Grants  State Psychiatric Facilities Best Equipped To Handle Mental Illness

Washington County Commissioners Vote to Remove Meinelschmidt Over Ethics Stir, Suit to Follow Mayor Scott to Hire Baltimore’s First Digital Equity Director Charles Appoints Resilience Authority to Tackle Climate Change

Conduit Street Podcast Corner:

Conduit Street Podcast Presents: The Divide – How US Counties Are Confronting Connectivity Needs The Conduit Street Podcast is proud to present The Divide – a new podcast from Light Reading that explores the digital divide: why it still exists, where it still exists, and what needs to be done to fix it. The latest episode features the co-chairs of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Broadband Task Force, Montgomery County Council Member Craig Rice, and Judge JD Clark of Wise County, Texas for a discussion on what the task force hopes to achieve, why FCC mapping needs an overhaul, broadband as a utility, and more. Listen now

Listen to any Conduit Street Podcast Episode Online: www.mdcounties.org/Podcast

Counties In Action

Baltimore County

Montgomery

Harford

More than 11M meals have been distributed in Baltimore County thanks to volunteers!

Montgomery presents a proclamation recognizing National Teen Dating Violence & Prevention Month

Harford Exec Glassman films for the Rooted in Agriculture Symposium

Corporate Partner Corner

Green IT - Moser Consulting Discusses Dramatically Reducing Energy Usage to Save Money and the Planet

Moser Consulting, a Bronze MACo Corporate Partner, offers a podcast episode on green IT.

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Moser Consulting has a proud twenty-four-year history of adeptly supporting the vital missions and services of Federal, State and Local government customers, as well as Commercial customers. Moser is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana with additional offices in Baltimore, Maryland, to support our Federal and State government customers in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia corridor. We are a CATS+ Master Contractor for the State of Maryland and are a trusted partner for the State of Indiana, currently performing work in 11 State agencies.

MACo Corporate Partner Program Details

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