MoCo Government Archives - Page 187 of 241

Montgomery County wins 31 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards

Published May 20, 2022 at 5:44PM

“I want to congratulate all of our NACo Achievement Award recipients,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our government is committed to being innovative, equitable, transparent and responsive to our residents, businesses and visitors. These awards are a national recognition for the incredible work that is being achieved by our departments and employees. I want to thank all of our employees for their hard work to earn their Achievement Awards.”

“The Montgomery County government strives to have the best services of any local government in the nation,” said Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno. “I am very appreciative of the ingenuity and persistence to consistently improve our services. Congratulations to all the employees and departments for this notable recognition.”

Harold Maldonado Announces Candidacy for New Council District 7

By Patrick Herron

Published May 20, 2022 at 7:57AM

Republican Harold Maldonado has announced his candidacy for the newly created District 7 county council seat. According to his website, Maldonado says the current council has “ignored the concerns of residents all over the county that have produced erroneous, ill-advised policies that have and continue to deteriorate the quality of life in our communities by lowering the quality of education in our schools, deteriorating the economy, and seriously undermining security in our streets.”

Mr. Maldonado’s campaign will focus on using his professional background to promote economic growth, quality education, family values, and personal freedoms. “I believe our quality of life is deteriorating at an alarming rate because the concerns of parents and businesses have been ignored by county officials. It’s time for competent and honest leaders on the Council who hear the concerns of upcounty residents and find commonsense solutions.”

Council President Gabe Albornoz’s Statement on the FY23 Operating Budget and FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2022 at 7:36PM

Below is Council President Albornoz’s full statement:

This week, as I reflected on the budget we are about to approve, it occurred to me that this is the eighteenth budget I have had a hand in shaping. My early experience with the County budget was as an executive for a non-profit organization, then later as a cabinet official and now, as Council President. Those experiences provide valuable context that helps me see this budget from multiple angles.

Statement from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich on the County Council’s Preliminary Agreement on the Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2022 at 1:56PM

All of us are focused on improving education, expanding affordable housing opportunities, enhancing public safety, combatting climate change, and committed to equity. This proposed and preliminarily approved FY23 budget will also grow our reserves, helps preserve our AAA bond rating, and provides improved compensation for our employees. This budget makes historic investments while not raising taxes on our residents during these volatile economic times.

After two years of operating in crisis mode in response to the pandemic, nearly 15 years since the beginning of the Great Recession, and, for the first time since I have been a County official, our revenues have returned stronger than even predicted. We finally have the revenue we needed to make key investments as well as right sizing many priorities after years of cuts and similar budgets. This is a long way from just three years ago when we inherited a $90 million dollar deficit in our first budget, a same service budget in our second year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a budget last year that was supplemented by federal funds that allowed us to have another same services budget that limited our ability to address increasing needs.

Montgomery County Looking Into Changing “Intimidating” Black Police Uniforms

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2022 at 10:38AM | Updated May 19, 2022 at 12:19PM

At Thursday’s weekly media briefing, County Executive Marc Elrich said that the county is looking into changing the all black uniforms that Montgomery County Police Officers currently wear. Elrich said that there is a broad consensus that the black uniforms appear to be intimidating, and were originally “meant to be intimidating”, and that the change to a new color is a part of the “reimagining police” initiative. “It’s something that we ought to do, and it will help take some of the intimidation out of the appearance of an officer” he said.

Montgomery County is discussing alternate colors with MCPD and their union. Elrich also mentioned that black uniform are hot and that the new uniforms should be more comfortable, and that they are leaving the decision up to the department and officers. The cost of the uniform change could be more than a million dollars. Prior to the black uniforms, Montgomery County Police Officers wore khaki colored uniforms. You can view the media briefing below:

Statement from County Executive Marc Elrich on the Tragic Mass Shooting in Buffalo, NY

By Patrick Herron

Published May 18, 2022 at 9:57PM

“This past weekend a lone gunman changed the world for a countless number of Americans. Ten people were tragically killed at a grocery store in Buffalo, NY, and countless others have been traumatized by an attack that not only targeted the innocent but was also motivated by hate. Police have discovered the man they arrested for the crime drove hours to get to that supermarket because he wanted to target the Black community. It’s the kind of detail that prompted President Joe Biden to call the shooting ‘terrorism’ when he visited Buffalo on Tuesday.

People are increasingly feeling insecure about being able to move freely about our communities. We cannot allow this to be tolerated or to become ‘normalized’. Replacement theory is pure garbage and there is no replacement of anyone planned – the last replacement event in North America was when Native peoples were replaced by Europeans. Along with the demonization of critical race theory, otherwise known as our history to most of us, these are attacks on efforts to build an inclusive and unbiased community where all are valued, and all are safe.

Former Montgomery County Executive Sidney Kramer Passes Away

By Patrick Herron

Published May 17, 2022 at 5:51PM

County Executive Marc Elrich released this statement upon learning of Kramer’s death:

County Flags will fly at half-staff in honor of Kramer until after his funeral services which have yet to be announced.

Statement from Councilmember Will Jawando on Positive COVID-19 Test Result

By Patrick Herron

Published May 17, 2022 at 11:20AM

“Yesterday I tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted against the virus and am only experiencing mild symptoms. I am currently isolating in accordance with CDC guidance and will continue to work remotely.

“I encourage all eligible Montgomery County residents to get fully vaccinated and boosted to best protect themselves and their loved ones against this virus.”

With COVID-19 Cases Rising Again, County Recommends Precautionary Measures to Protect Against Greater Community Spread of Virus

By Patrick Herron

Published May 17, 2022 at 9:28AM

“Our current surge in cases is lasting longer than expected, which leaves more people at-risk of being exposed to COVID-19,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “I encourage everyone to wear masks indoors in public spaces when possible as well as continue to use our ample testing and vaccination resources we have in the County. I know we are all tired of this virus, but the virus is not tired of us. If we keep doing our individual parts, as a community, we can tamp down this increase in the case rate and avoid going back to days of more restrictive measures.”

The County’s COVID-19 case rate has risen steadily over the last month and is now more than triple the recent low on March 15. Although the County is currently an area of low-level community transmission as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the case rate is quickly approaching medium-level community transmission. While there has not been a commensurate increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the County, there is concern about the impact that spring break travel and holiday gatherings may have on transmission.

Montgomery County Council Statement on Mass Shooting in Buffalo at Tops Friendly Markets

By Patrick Herron

Published May 16, 2022 at 11:40AM

“Moreover, we are thankful for the swift action taken by law enforcement and their ongoing investigation of this deadly attack as a racially motivated hate crime.

“In the midst of our grief about this tragedy, we must all recommit ourselves to stamp out hate in all its forms and to continue the fight for gun control across our nation. We stand with the residents of Buffalo, and we encourage Montgomery County residents to remain vigilant and report all acts of hate or discrimination in our own community.”

Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Receives Record Number of Requests for Residential Deck Inspections During ‘Building Safety Month‘

By Patrick Herron

Published May 16, 2022 at 9:24AM

The previous record was 422 inspections in 2019. Inspectors have completed more than 300 of the deck safety inspection requests this year to date.

“We want homeowners to know that inspection appointments are being completed in the order they have been received,” said James Sackett, DPS residential inspections manager. “We will continue taking requests during the month of May, and inspections will continue until we meet the demand.”