MoCo Government Archives - Page 118 of 241

Montgomery County Announces New Climate Change Officer

Published September 27, 2023 at 11:59AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced today that Sarah Kogel-Smucker is the new Climate Change Officer. Ms. Kogel-Smucker joins Montgomery County after leading the creation of the climate change division of the District of Columbia’s (DC) Office of the People’s Counsel. Prior to her work in the District, she served as senior counsel for the New York City Law Department’s Environmental Division. In this role, she advocated for the deployment of affordable clean energy initiatives, analyzed environmental legislation and advised other divisions on climate policy. She has more than 15 years of experience in environmental issues, particularly in the area of environmental law.

“Addressing climate change and designing and implementing effective environmental policy are top priorities for us,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I am pleased to welcome Sarah Kogel-Smucker to our team. We are looking forward to her using her experience and passion to help us reach our goal to achieve an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2027 and a 100 percent reduction by 2035. As a county, we cannot solve the problems created by climate change but we can be a leader and a model for other jurisdictions, and Sarah’s work will be an important part of those efforts.”

Montgomery County Bans Sale and Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

By Patrick Herron

Published September 26, 2023 at 9:39PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council enacted legislation today that will prohibit the sale and use of combustion engine-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums in most areas of the County. The vote was 10 – 1, with Council President Evan Glass, Vice President Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Natali Fani-González, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Anne Sayles and Kate Stewart voting for the bill.

Bill 18-22, Noise Control – Leaf Removal Equipment – Amendments, was proposed by County Executive Marc Elrich and introduced by Council President Evan Glass. As enacted by the Council, the effective date of the ban on the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums will be July 1, 2024. The ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and vacuums will go into effect on July 1, 2025.

Bill Introduced Would Require Gun Retailers to Distribute Information about Suicide Prevention

By Patrick Herron

Published September 26, 2023 at 5:07PM

As part of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Montgomery County Council President Evan Glass held a press conference today introducing legislation that would require gun retailers in Montgomery County to provide information at points of sale on suicide prevention, firearm safety and conflict resolution. According to a press release, “The SAFE Act (Bill 36-23, Sale of Firearms or Ammunition – Suicide Awareness and Firearm Education) would bolster gun violence prevention efforts. The new legislation would require the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services to develop literature about firearm safety, suicide prevention and conflict resolution, which retailers of firearms and ammunition would be required to distribute at the point of sales.”

“Firearms are the leading method of suicide in Maryland and nationwide,” Council President Evan Glass said. “This legislation is being introduced during National Suicide Prevention Month to raise awareness about treatment and support for those who need it the most.

Montgomery County Council Meets on Sept. 26 to Review the Pedestrian Master Plan, Receive a Briefing on the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan and Vote on Spending Affordability Guidelines

By Patrick Herron

Published September 25, 2023 at 1:39PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. and will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Sidney Katz and County Executive Marc Elrich will recognize National Preparedness Month. The second, presented by Councilmembers Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz and Laurie-Anne Sayles will recognize National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

At 1:30 p.m. an additional proclamation, presented by Councilmember Jawando, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmembers Kate Stewart and Marilyn Balcombe, will recognize National Walk and Roll to School Day.

Historic Potomac Community Celebrates Major Milestone in Reconstruction With the Lifting of Scotland AME Zion Church

By MCS Staff

Published September 25, 2023 at 1:28PM

To mark and celebrate lifting the 99-year-old Scotland AME Zion Church from its original battered foundation, the Scotland community and civic leaders will host a media event at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28.

The church at 10902 Seven Locks Road, built by hand and opened in 1924 by the Black congregants who lived nearby, was catastrophically flooded on July 7, 2019. The milestone of lifting the church so that a new foundation can be poured marks a significant milestone in the more than four-year effort that has drawn local, state, and regional attention and support. “Those of us who thought the church might be lost forever see this moment as a miracle,” said Chuck Williams, chairman of the capital campaign committee that has raised more than $3 million to date.

Montgomery County Council to Hold Public Hearings on Minimum Wage Increase for Tipped Employees

By Patrick Herron

Published September 25, 2023 at 10:12AM | Updated September 25, 2023 at 10:49AM

A bill that would increase wages for tipped employees was introduced at the Montgomery County Council meeting on Tuesday, September 19. Bill 35-23 would adjust the calculation of the minimum wage for tipped workers and phase out the tip credit amount under the Montgomery County’s minimum wage law. Currently, businesses are required to pay servers $4.00 per hour; if a server does not make the current minimum hourly wage ($15-16.70) per hour, employers are required to make up the difference.

On October 10, the Council will hold public hearings on the proposed bill Details below.

Friendship Picnic Scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 24 Has Been Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather

By Patrick Herron

Published September 24, 2023 at 10:10AM

Wheaton Regional Park is located at 2000 Shorefield Rd. in Wheaton. A free satellite parking shuttle Ride On service to and from the Wheaton Ice Rink and athletic fields will be available.

All are welcome to the celebration, which will include traditional, Kosher, Halal and vegetarian lunch options. There will be a wide range of activities for children and adults including music, dancing, moon bounce, face painting, the carousel and rides on the park’s miniature train.

Montgomery County ABS Wins National Award for Its Loss Prevention Program

By Patrick Herron

Published September 22, 2023 at 5:20PM

Courtesy Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS)

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has received the “Best Enforcement Program” award from national trade magazine StateWays for its loss prevention program that reduces theft, fraud and operational errors. The program preserves profits that are then used for County programs. It is one of the publication’s nine annual Best Practices awards.

The StateWays Best Practices Award will be presented to ABS at a ceremony on Oct. 24 at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association’s Administrators Conference in Charleston, W. Va.

Scrap Tire Recycling Collection Event Scheduled for Sept. 25-29 at Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station

By Patrick Herron

Published September 22, 2023 at 12:39PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will host a free residential scrap tire drop-off event from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 25–29 at the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station located at 16101 Frederick Rd, in Derwood. The limit for the free recycling is 10 tires per County resident.

“The more items we can put to reuse the better for all of us, said County Executive Marc Elrich.”This event is a convenient opportunity for residents to do their part for our environment by turning old tires into new products and materials. By recycling more materials, we are throwing away less trash which moves us closer to our zero waste goals.”

Montgomery County Office of Animal Services to Host Animal Welfare Presentation Wednesday, Sept. 27, with Author and Advocate Sara Pizano

By Patrick Herron

Published September 22, 2023 at 12:37PM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services will host a free animal welfare presentation from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the County Executive Office Building Auditorium in Rockville. Noted animal welfare advocate and author Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, will talk about best practices for shelters.

Dr. Pizano is also affiliated with Maddie’s Million Pet Challenge, which fosters community-centered programs and outreach efforts to ensure optimal outcomes for every pet by offering consultations and mentoring services. The program will provide the County with a complimentary shelter consultation.

County Executive Elrich’s Next ‘Community Conversation’ to Seek Input on Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget Will Be Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Germantown

By Patrick Herron

Published September 22, 2023 at 9:18AM

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting a series of 10 “Community Conversations” from September through December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The next conversation will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The BlackRock Center for the Arts is located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown.

Seven of the 10 conversations will be conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older residents and another focusing on issues of importance to Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members. For a County first, one of the forums will be conducted in Amharic (Oct. 18). Two other non-English language forums were on the schedule. The Sept. 21 forum was conducted in Spanish and the Nov. 27 forum will be in Chinese. A select number of Community Conversations will be held online so that residents have the option to participate remotely.