Government Archives - Page 29 of 114

Published June 27, 2022 at 10:58PM | Updated June 28, 2022 at 9:00AM

Based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for the Washington-Baltimore region, the Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer has set the rate for the increase of minimum wage for July 2022 for large employers (those with 51 employees or more) at $15.65 per hour. After hitting the $15 minimum wage rate last year, the law now requires the Chief Administrative Officer to adjust the rate each year. The change is based on the previous calendar year. Previous years were based on rate of increase determined by the Montgomery County Council to get to $15.

“This is an important next step to ensure that the minimum wage keeps up with inflation,” said County Executive Elrich. “For too long, the minimum wage was stagnant and did not change based on inflation. I was proud to champion the increase in minimum wage when I was a County Councilmember and pleased to see it finally reached $15 per hour for large employers last year, and under the law, once the minimum wage hits $15, it is then increased based on inflation so that low wage workers are not left behind. A decent wage is the path to more opportunity and improved equity.”

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Meets on June 28 to Receive Briefing on Youth Safety and Positive Youth Development and Vote to Appoint Members of the Police Accountability Board

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2022 at 5:23PM

More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

Youth Safety and Positive Youth Development

MoCo Government

Meeting Agendas for Today’s Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings

By Patrick Herron

Published June 27, 2022 at 9:00AM

The Education & Culture (E&C) Committee will meet on Monday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss a $12 million supplemental appropriation and amendment to the FY23 Capital Budget and FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to MCPS for Major Capital Projects – Secondary. They will also discuss the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2022-5, Community Use of Public Facilities and FY23 Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) Operating Budget follow-up.

The members of the E&C Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro.

Beyond MoCo

Governor Hogan Announces Partnership Between Maryland’s Global Gateway Initiative and Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin

By Patrick Herron

Published June 26, 2022 at 11:32AM

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—As part of his economic development mission to Western Europe, Governor Larry Hogan visited the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), which is the leading university-associated business incubator in the world, to announce a new partnership between the State of Maryland and the Republic of Ireland focused on soft landing spaces, academics, and networking opportunities between the two regions.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Showcases Its New High-Tech Flood Sensor Program That Can Provide Earlier Alerts to Residents About Potential Flooding

By Patrick Herron

Published June 26, 2022 at 9:37AM

The sensors detect rising water levels and provide early warnings about high water or flooding. They are being installed at flood prone sites across the County. Each sensor is solar powered and has an internal battery to maintain operations during inclement weather. The sensors use a tethered node that is placed underwater. The node detects the amount of pressure placed upon it by the water and calculates the depth of the water. Every five minutes, data is sent from the sensor by a cell phone card to a master display. A small color camera also sends images back to the main display. Every location has pre-determined thresholds for water depths for the sensor to alert that water levels are approaching or exceeding flood stage. If they are, a crew is sent to investigate the potential flooding and whether a low-lying road needs to be cleared, or if an Emergency Action Plan for a dam needs to be activated.

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) led the effort to get the sensors and the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) worked on a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with DHS and Intellisense Systems Inc., the company that makes the devices. The County will share the data gathered by the sensors with the company and DHS to improve sensor design based on user feedback.

Burtonsville

Montgomery County Executive Elrich Unveils New ‘Welcome to Burtonsville’ Sign

By Patrick Herron

Published June 25, 2022 at 4:06PM

The sign unveiled today is located on the north side of Route 198 and in the 15000 block of Old Columbia Pike, adjacent to the Burtonsville Town Square Shopping Center. The other sign is located on the south side of Route 198 and in the 3100 block of Spencerville Road, directly across from the Idara Jaferia Islamic Center.

“These new signs not only enhance the sense of community in Burtonsville, but also serve to brand the area and help establish Burtonsville as a desirable destination in the County,” said County Executive Elrich. “Additionally, they are a reminder of the truly transformative improvements made to the façades and sites of several properties located along Route 198 thanks to the County’s Façade Improvement Program. On July 1, we are launching our new Countywide Façade Improvement Program. The program makes available $3.5 million in funding through Fiscal Year 2028 to support commercial property and business owners in transforming their buildings—like those here in Burtonsville—with new, visually appealing exteriors.

MoCo

The Washington Post Endorses David Blair for Montgomery County Executive

By MCS Staff

Published June 25, 2022 at 9:33AM | Updated June 25, 2022 at 10:04AM

The Washington Post has endorsed David Blair for County Executive in Montgomery County. In an opinion piece published this morning by the newspaper’s editorial board, the Post said that “Mr. Blair is right that unless Montgomery steps up its economic development game, improves transportation alternatives and rebalances its affordable housing supply to meet demand, the county’s prospects are anemic,” and “His detailed, proactive plan is the right medicine to revitalize the county. And his smart approach to rising crime — he would both support and reform the police — would be an upgrade on Mr. Elrich, who bungled the hiring of a new police chief.”

While supporting Blair, the post also calls Hans Riemer a “far superior” option than Elrich, saying “We also admire Mr. Riemer, a principled public servant who has challenged many of Mr. Elrich’s wrong-headed and destructive positions, and courageously stood up to bullying by county employee unions whose lavish contracts he sought to moderate.”

MoCo

County Elected Officials React to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade

By Patrick Herron

Published June 24, 2022 at 11:48AM

This morning the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that stated that women had a constitutional right to an abortion. Abortion bans are now expected in up to 26 states (not including Maryland.) Below are reactions from several Montgomery County elected officials:

“The Council stands united in the belief that a person’s right to make their own decisions about their healthcare deserves the highest level of constitutional protection, and a politicized Supreme Court should not choose to curb or restrict the constitutional rights of citizens.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Holiday Schedule for Independence Day on Monday, July 4

By Patrick Herron

Published June 24, 2022 at 7:28AM

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Government, and programs that impact County residents, will observe schedule and program changes for the formal observance of Independence Day on Monday, July 4. […]

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Council Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on NYSRPA V. Bruen

By Patrick Herron

Published June 23, 2022 at 9:19PM

“The members of the Montgomery County Council express our disappointment and deep frustration at the Supreme Court’s ruling today, which struck down a common-sense gun safety law at a time when gun violence is devastating and traumatizing communities nationwide.

“The solution to this epidemic of gun violence is not more guns on the streets.

MoCo Government

Board of Elections Launches Recruitment Program of Students Grades 6-12 for Its Award-Winning ‘Future Vote’ Program

By Patrick Herron

Published June 23, 2022 at 2:47PM

The initiative combines civic participation and the opportunity to observe democracy in action. Volunteers will earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for their service. Training is required for both students and guardians. Details and volunteer expectations are provided at training.

Interested guardians must register their children by June 29. To apply online, or for more information, visit 777vote.org and select the “Future Vote” tab.