INSIDE: FALL CONFERENCE Program Registration Hotel

Transcription

1 INSIDE: FALL CONFERENCE Program Registration Hotel JULY AUGUST 2015 MML BOARD ELECTION RESULTS SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES SAVE MONEY & THE ENVIRONMENT The Maryland Municipal League REPRESENTING MARYLAND'S CITIES AND TOWNS

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3 CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2015 ON THE COVER... The Choptank River Lighthouse, on the waterfront in Cambridge, Maryland, is a replica of the replacement Choptank River Lighthouse that once guided ships of all sizes along the Choptank River. Plan to spend time enjoying Cambridge's beautiful waterfront and charming downtown during MML's Fall conference October Conference registration information is in this issue on pages Cover photo by Jill Jasuta New Officers Elected at MML Business Meeting 4 13 MML Fall Conference Program, Registration, Hotel 6 13 Fun Facts About Cambridge 12 Moving to a More Solar Maryland 15 Meetings & Upcoming Events 18 Vol. 46 No. 1 July /August 2015 Municipal Maryland THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION of MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Scott A. Hancock Publisher Karen A. Bohlen Editor-in-Chief Paula Chase Hyman Contributing Editor Thomas C. Reynolds Contributing Editor Sharon P. Easton Circulation Municipal Maryland (USPS ), a publication for and about Maryland's cities and towns, is published nine times a year (monthly November through April and combined May/June, July/ August and September/October issues) by the Maryland Municipal League, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland The Maryland Municipal League is a non-profit, non-partisan association of Maryland's cities and towns. Information in Municipal Maryland does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Municipal League. Postmaster: Send address changes to Municipal Maryland, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland Second-class postage paid at Annapolis, Maryland For advertising rates contact: Whitfield Whylie, Allegra Print & Imaging, 103 Gibralter Avenue, Annapolis, MD Telephone: , Fax: , whitfield@annapolisallegra.com Subscription rate: $40/year Telephone: Toll-Free: Fax: Web: mml@mdmunicipal.org Municipal Maryland July/August

4 NEW OFFICERS ELECTED AT MML BUSINESS MEETING MEMBERS OF MML S BOARD OF DIRECTORS pictured above are (front) Lou Ann Crook, President-Elect Tracy Farrish Gant, President Spencer Schlosnagle, Immediate Past President Bruce Wahl, and Laura Mitchell; (2nd row) Pamla Bennett, Suzanne Ludlow, Elissa Levan, Donna Crary, and Bridget Donnell Newton; (3rd row) Charlie Hinnant, Mike Bennett, Kevin Utz, Bunky Luffman, Howard Long, and Ryan Spiegel; (4th row) Mike Bowell, Jake Romanell, Wilson Cochran, Randy McClement, and Bruce Williams; (5th row) Maxine Phifer, Dan Colmer, and Perry Jones, (6th row) Emmett Jordan and Ian Shaw. 4 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

5 The most important agenda item during MML s business meeting at the annual convention is the election of a new president and Board of Directors. This year 89 cities and towns cast ballots. Friendsville Mayor Spencer R. Schlosnagle will serve as the Maryland Municipal League President for Edmonston Mayor Tracy Farrish Gant was victorious in her bid for President-Elect. The election results shown below are from the Business Meeting held on June 30. Successful candidates are shown in bold. We thank Electec for providing voting machines for municipal officials to use as they cast ballots during the Ocean City convention. PRESIDENT Spencer R. Schlosnagle, Mayor, Friendsville PRESIDENT-ELECT Tracy Farrish Gant, Mayor, Edmonston District Vice Presidents 1: Laura Mitchell, Council Vice President, Salisbury 2: John "Mike" Bowell, Commissioner, Queenstown 3: Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, Mayor, Baltimore 4: Michael Benton, Councilmember, North Beach 5: Ryan Spiegel, Council Vice President, Gaithersburg 6: Lawrence Jake Romanell, Councilman, New Market 7: Daniel A. Colmer, Mayor, Barton 8: Howard W. Long, Assistant Mayor, Boonsboro 9: Maxine Phifer, Council President, Glenarden 10: James L. Eberhardt, Mayor, Perryville 11: Ian Shaw, Mayor, Sykesville Immediate Past President Bruce A. Wahl, Mayor, Chesapeake Beach City & Town Administrators Department Suzanne R. Ludlow, Manager, Takoma Park Code Enforcement & Zoning Officials Association Pamla Bennett, Code Enforcement Officer, New Carrollton Maryland Municipal Attorneys Association Elissa Levan, Municipal Attorney, Bowie, Chesapeake Beach, Glenarden and Westminster Maryland Municipal Clerks Association Lou Ann Crook, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, Laurel Municipal Parks & Recreation Association Greg A. Varda, Assistant Director of Recreation Programs, Greenbelt Municipal Police Executives Association Charles H. Hinnant, Police Chief, Cumberland Maryland Municipal Public Works Association Bernard Wilson Cochran, Director of Public Works, New Carrollton National League of Cities Board Member Michael A. Sesma, Councilman, Gaithersburg (ex officio) Proven Value Through Best-in-Class Codification Services Members-at-Large (10 seats): Michael E. Bennett, Mayor, Aberdeen...61 Randy A. McClement, Mayor, Frederick...58 Bruce R. Williams, Mayor, Takoma Park...58 Bridget Donnell Newton, Mayor, Rockville...55 Kevin R. Utz, Mayor, Westminster...54 Donna L. Crary, President Pro Tem, Laurel...50 Emmett V. Jordan, Mayor, Greenbelt...49 Perry L. Jones, Mayor, Union Bridge...47 Thomas Bunky Luffman, Jr., Commissioner, Delmar Isaac C. Trouth, III, Mayor Pro Tem, Bowie...42 Nicole Alt Myers, Councilmember, Cumberland...38 Kristin B. Aleshire, Councilmember, Hagerstown...36 Diane A. Foster, Mayor Pro Tem, Taneytown...35 Marnitta King, Mayor, Capitol Heights...32 Toll Free: 855.GEN.CODE Municipal Maryland July/August

6 MML FALL CONFERENCE 2015 October 26-28, 2015 Hyatt Regency Resort Cambridge, MD This October, the Maryland Municipal League will return to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge, Maryland for MML s annual fall conference. This conference is an opportunity for city and town officials to gather, attend workshops, exchange information, and renew acquaintances. It is also the event where the membership discusses and adopts the League s legislative agenda as recommended by the MML Legislative Committee. Conference Workshops and Special Sessions This year, attendees will have the opportunity to attend several workshops, three of which are Academy for Excellence in Local Governance core classes. The Academy core classes at this year s conference are Structure of Municipal Government, Open Meetings, and Municipal Budgeting. Additional workshop topics will cover a wide variety of issues impacting every city or town regardless of size or location, including dealing with blighted properties, identifying and administering federal and state grants, maximizing open space, enhancing environmental awareness in your city or town, and another fun-filled, interactive lobbying 101 session. A full description of all workshops, including designated Academy elective sessions, will be listed on MML s website prior to the conference. As a follow-up to the Large City and Small Town Forums held during the 2015 annual convention in Ocean City, time has been set aside in the conference schedule to allow elected and appointed officials from Maryland s municipalities to meet and discuss issues pertinent to both large and small cities and towns. The fall conference is also the venue for several other groups to meet. The MML Board of Directors, Chapter Presidents and District Vice Presidents, and Maryland Mayors Association will meet on Monday, October 26. The MML Legislative/Resolutions Committee will meet on Monday to conduct on-site conference planning activities. There will also be a meeting for graduates of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance on Monday afternoon to discuss topics of particular interest to Academy graduates. Please refer to the preliminary agenda on page 9 for the specific times of these meetings. 6 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

7 Public Safety Bonus Workshop As a follow-up to the conference, MML will offer a bonus workshop on Wednesday, October 28 at the Cambridge Public Safety Building. This workshop will cover various aspects of community policing, public safety training, and dealing with drug issues in our communities. There is an extra fee for this workshop, which includes lunch. Tickets may be purchased using the conference registration form on page 11. Registration Procedures Choose one of these convenient ways to register: On-line at Complete the registration form (on page 11) and mail it with payment to MML, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, MD Save $ Use MML On-Line Conference Registration Save $50 on your registration fee by registering online. To access the on-line registration please go to and enter your login and password. If you do not remember your login please select the find an existing account option at the bottom of the screen. If you do not have a login and password you can still use the on-line registration. Simply click on the option to create a new account at the bottom of the screen and follow the prompts to be added to the MML database. If you have any questions during the registration process, please contact MML at 410/ or registration@mdmunicipal.org. Please note that in order to protect your personal and credit card information, MML will not accept registrations by fax. First Time Attendee Discount If you are a Maryland municipal official (elected or staff), who has never been to MML s fall conference, you are eligible for a special $50 discount. This discount is only available to those registering online. To verify eligibility and to receive the discount code, you must contact MML staff prior to completing online registration. Contact Paula Chase Hyman, Director, Member Relations (paulah@mdmunicipal.org), or Trish Westervelt, Conference Registrar (trishw@mdmunicipal.org), or call The following registration packages are available: (1) Full registration package, which includes all workshops and conference materials, welcome reception on Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday morning breakfasts, all refreshment breaks, and one Tuesday lunch ticket. (2) One-day (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday) registration package includes all conference materials, workshops and welcome reception on Monday evening or conference materials, workshops, breakfast, buffet lunch and all breaks on Tuesday or conference materials, workshops and breakfast on Wednesday morning. (Wednesday one-day registration does not include the bonus workshop.) Tuesday night Halloween party reception and dinner tickets must be purchased separately using the registration form and are in addition to all registration packages. Halloween party attendees are encouraged to come in costume to the party on Tuesday night! Registrants who would like to purchase additional Tuesday lunch tickets for a spouse/ companion may do so by using the registration form. There is no registration fee for a spouse/companion to attend the conference, but the spouse/companion registration is restricted to persons who are not municipal or public officials, are not affiliated with any exhibitor, and would have no professional reason to attend the conference. Because meal guarantees are submitted to the hotel prior to the event, no meal tickets can be sold at the conference. You will receive the early registration discount if you register by Friday, October 2 (postmark). Registration fees and meal tickets will increase in price on October 3, Pre-registration closes on October 16, After that date, you must register on-site. Deadlines Hotel Reservations: September 27 (5:00 p.m.) Discounted Pre-Registration Deadline: October 2 Pre-Registration Deadline: October 16 Registration Changes/Cancellations (for refunds): October 21 Registration Cancellations/Changes All registration cancellations and changes must be made in writing. No telephone cancellations will be accepted. The cancellation fee is $75; the cancellation deadline is October 21. After October 21, 2015, no money will be refunded. Municipal Maryland July/August

8 Family Activities Although there are no specific activities for spouses or companions, the City of Cambridge and surrounding areas have many opportunities for shopping and browsing. More information about Cambridge area activities and the hotel can be found by visiting the following websites: The Hyatt Hotel has extended MML s reduced conference rate of $124/night (single or double occupancy) to include Saturday and Sunday nights, October 24 and 25, The Hyatt has family activities planned throughout the entire weekend. Spouses/companions of registered attendees are welcome to attend the Monday evening reception. However, to attend the Tuesday lunch and/or dinner, spouses or companions must purchase meal tickets separately in advance. Mark your calendar now and join your fellow municipal officials in Cambridge this fall! The MML fall conference is one of the most important events of the year make your reservations today! The Fall Conference is the next step towards receiving the MML Banner City/Town designation for your municipality! MENU SELECTIONS MONDAY Monday Afternoon Refreshment Break: Bagel chips with sun-dried tomato hummus, crisp vegetables with spinach dip, sliced and whole fresh fruit, dried fruits and nuts, bottled juices, smoothies. TUESDAY Tuesday Morning Plated Breakfast: Orange juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, coffee, tea. Tuesday Lunch: Caesar salad, beef pot roast, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, carrot cake with caramel sauce. Tuesday Afternoon Refreshment Break: Freshly baked chocolate chip and walnut raisin cookies, Haagen-Dazs ice cream bars. Tuesday Dinner: Roasted tomato bisque with rosemary cream, herb crusted chicken breast, lemon & charred pepper orzo, seasonal vegetables, chocolate raspberry truffle torte. WEDNESDAY Wednesday Morning Continental Breakfast: Orange juice, muffins and Danishes, preserves, coffee, tea DISABILITIES, SPECIAL NEEDS AND DIETARY REQUIREMENTS If you have special needs including dietary requirements (see above for menus) please attach a separate sheet to MML s registration form describing any necessary accommodations. 8 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

9 2015 MML FALL CONFERENCE PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, :00 10:30 MML Board of Directors Meeting 10:00 4:30 Registration 10:45 11:45 Maryland Mayors Association Meeting 11:00 11:30 Refreshment Break 12:00 12:30 Chapter Presidents and DVPs Meeting 12:30 1:00 MML Legislative and Resolutions Committee Meeting 1:00 2:00 Orientation for Municipal Officials (OMO) 1:15 2:15 Academy Graduate Forum 1:30 6:30 Tabletops Open 2:00 3:00 Refreshment Break 2:30 4:30 Structure of Municipal Government (Academy Core Class) 2:15 3:00 Promoting Environmental Awareness in your Municipality 3:30 5:00 Hot Button Legal Issues (Federal, State & Local) 5:30 6:30 Welcome Reception / Tabletops Open Dinner on your own TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, :00 3:30 Registration 8:30 12:00 Table Top Exhibits Open 9:00 10:00 Opening General Session & Breakfast 10:00 11:00 Refreshment Break/Visit Table Tops 10:30 11:45 Lobbying 101 Interactive Workshop 10:30 11:30 Large City Forum 10:30 11:30 Small Town Forum 11:45 1:00 Luncheon 1:30 2:30 Business Meeting/Adoption of MML Legislative Agenda 2:00 3:00 Refreshment Break 2:45 4:45 Open Meetings (Academy Core Class) 2:45 4:45 Identifying, Securing, and Administering Federal and State Grants 6:00 9:00 Halloween Party (Costumes Encouraged) Reception & Dinner WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, :30 10:30 Continental Breakfast 9:00 11:00 Municipal Budgeting (Academy Core Class) 9:00 11:00 Dealing with Blighted & Foreclosed Properties BONUS WORKSHOP - Cambridge Public Safety Building (Separate Registration Required See Registration Form) 12:00 1:00 Lunch 1:00 4:30 Bonus Workshop Walking the Beat The Future of Community Policing Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Sessions Academy Core ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is a voluntary certificate training program designed to help local government officials, especially newly elected officials, meet the challenges of their roles. Municipal participants are required to successfully complete nine core and five electives to earn certification from the University of Maryland. The Academy is designed as a two-year program; however, participants may complete the requirements sooner than expected, or may use an additional third year to complete program requirements. Payment of a one-time $250 registration fee is required to participate in the Academy. Those who are new to the Academy can register on-site at MML s Fall Conference at the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance booth, where current Academy Fellows can also obtain updated transcript information. Three core and several elective Academy topics are included among MML s 2015 fall conference workshop choices. Please note that only the Academy core topics are recurring topics with specific and required content. The Academy extends elective credit to classes held at the convention, fall conference and other training venues that meet Academy elective criteria. Topics given an Academy elective designation change each year and are designed for all conference registrants, including those who are Academy graduates. Please refer to the Preliminary Program on this page to see which workshops have the Academy designation. The Maryland Municipal League is a founding member of the Academy. The program is administered by the University of Maryland s School of Public Policy. If you need additional information or a copy of your transcript, please contact Aisha Washington, Academy Registrar, at 301/ or awashin1@umd.edu. Academy Electives will be noted on the MML website once they are confirmed. Municipal Maryland July/August

10 2015 MML FALL CONFERENCE HOTEL INFORMATION Cambridge Hyatt Resort MML s fall conference will be held October 26-28, 2015 at the beautifully appointed Hyatt Resort in Cambridge, Maryland. Guestroom amenities include in-room coffee and tea, in-room safe, daily newspaper (upon request at check-in), in-room high speed internet, 2 bottles of water per room per night, local and 800 calls, and plenty of complimentary self-parking. Special reduced room rates for MML conference attendees on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, October 25-27, are listed below. These special rates may also be available on Friday and Saturday evenings, October 23 and 24 based on availability at the resort. $124/night - single or double occupancy. $10/night/room resort fee* *The resort fee includes the intra resort shuttle, golf baggage storage, access to the 24-hour fitness center, indoor pool, and use of the Captain s Parlor game room. The Hyatt will also extend a 25% discount off regular greens fees at its golf course on October 26-28, Tee time reservations prior to arrival are encouraged. Room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes of 13.5% per room per night. You must specify that you are reserving rooms for the Maryland Municipal League fall conference to obtain these rates. Check-in is 4:00 p.m. Check-out is 11:00 a.m. On-site self-parking is available at no additional charge. To be exempt from the state tax, you must provide a state tax exemption certificate and pay with a check or credit card from the tax-exempt entity. All attendees must pay the local occupancy tax. Reservations may be made by calling All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. Cancellation policy: 72 hours prior to arrival The deadline for hotel reservations is 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, After this date reservations will be accepted based on availability and MML s discounted rates may not apply. The hotel is located at 100 Heron Boulevard, Cambridge, MD Reservations may be made by calling or by visiting For additional hotel information, visit the hotel website at: 10 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

11 MML FALL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM OCTOBER 26-28, 2015 Please print or type; use a separate form for each person. Name Nickname Spouse or Companion (if attending) Title Municipality/Agency/Company q First time MML conference attendee Mailing Address Municipal officials who are first time conference attendees are entitled to a $50 discount ONLINE ONLY. Call MML for details, City State Zip Phone Postmark by Oct. 2 Oct Amount 3-DAY REGISTRATION PACKAGE Includes 3 day registration for entire conference, all workshops (except Wed. bonus workshop), two breakfasts, all refreshment breaks, Monday night welcome reception & Tuesday lunch. Municipal Official Other Registrant Save $50 on registration fees by registering on-line at $420 $465 $460 $505 1-DAY REGISTRATION Municipal Official Choose One: Monday (includes workshops, break & welcome reception) $300 $325 Tuesday (includes breakfast, workshops, break & lunch) $350 $380 Wednesday (includes breakfast & workshop) $150 $175 Other Registrant Choose One: Monday (includes workshops, break & welcome reception) $330 $360 Tuesday (includes breakfast, workshops, break & lunch) $385 $420 Wednesday (includes breakfast & workshop) $180 $220 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON BONUS WORKSHOP "Walking the Beat - the Future of Community Policing" October 28, Cambridge Public Safety Building, Cambridge, MD $35 $35 TUESDAY HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY & DINNER Number of tickets $40 $42 ADDITIONAL TUESDAY LUNCH TICKET(S) Number of tickets $34 $36 TOTAL: Method of Payment: q Check enclosed payable to Maryland Municipal League q AmEx/MasterCard/VISA/Discover Card Number Expiration Date 3 digit code Print Name as it Appears on Card Card Holder s Signature Phone ( ) Return to: Maryland Municipal League, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, MD Changes & cancellation deadline (for refunds) October 21, Cancellation fee $ After October 21, 2015 no money will be refunded. Municipal Maryland July/August

12 13 FUN FACTS ABOUT CAMBRIDGE 13 FUN FACTS ABOUT AMBRIDGE Bea Arthur, star of Maude and The Golden Girls, grew up in Cambridge where her parents operated a clothing store. Annie Oakley visited Cambridge in 1913 while touring with the Wild West Show. She was so captivated by the city s beauty that she built a home on the banks of the Choptank River and lived there with her husband Frank from Five soldiers from Dorchester County who served during World War I in the U.S. 29th Infantry Division, and who received the Distinguished Service Cross for valor for their actions in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918, are honored with a monument at Long Wharf Park on High Street in Cambridge. A memorial honoring President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, also located at Long Wharf Park, is the aft funnel of the former Presidential yacht Potomac. The birthplace of Harriet Tubman former slave, abolitionist, and one of the primary conductors of the Underground Railroad is a few miles south of Cambridge. 13 FUN 12 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

13 13 FUN FACTS ABOUT CAMBRIDGE 6 Cambridge was home to five Maryland Governors: Charles Goldsborough (1819), Thomas Holliday Hicks ( ), Henry Lloyd ( ), Phillips Lee Goldsborough ( ), and Emerson Harrington ( ). 7 Phillips Packing was a major canning business in Cambridge and had 10,000 employees at its peak nearly every GI during WW II ate a K ration produced by Phillips. FACTS ABOUT CAMBRIDGE The Phillips Packing building is now an antique store Each June Cambridge is the site of the Iron Man triathlon, where athletes from around the world compete by swimming a 1.2 mile loop in the Choptank River, bicycling a 56-mile course through Dorchester County and Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, and ending with a 13.1 mile run along scenic country roads. Senator John F. Kennedy rode in a Cambridge parade prior to the 1960 Presidential election. The extensive Historic District of over 700 residential and commercial buildings is the largest contiguous district in the state. Cambridge was the inspiration for the fictional town, Patamoke, in James Michener s novel Chesapeake. Stephen Allen Benson, second President of Liberia from , was born in Cambridge in The 19th century Stanley Institute is a one-room African- American schoolhouse that was moved in 1867 to its present location on Route 16. It is one of the oldest Maryland schools to be organized and maintained by a black community. It ceased operations as a school in July The school was named in honor of the Reverend Ezekiel Stanley. Between 1867 and 1962, the youth in the African-American community of Christ Rock attended this school, also known as Rock School, which is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The school serves as a reminder of what schools were like back in the years between the Civil War and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Municipal Maryland July/August

14 Strengthening Maryland s Public Sector university of baltimore SCHAEFER CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY Maryland s preeminent applied research and policy analysis center offering: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND CONSULTING Survey Research Program Evaluation Performance Measurement Staffing Studies Policy Analysis Data Collection The Maryland Certified Public Manager Program is a nationally accredited program for current and future leaders in the public sector. The program is open to state, city and county employees including those who do not have a college degree. Custom training programs are also available.

15 moving to a more SOLAR MARYLAND By Charlotte Taylor Municipalities and their residents are embracing a greener way of life in Maryland, as they increasingly adopt solar technologies to save both money and the environment. The solar energy movement in Maryland transformed from what was once a quirky homeowner hobby to a major consumer trend in 2010, when former Governor Martin O Malley signed RPS Solar Energy (SB 277) into state law. According to the law, 20 percent of Maryland s electricity must be generated from renewable sources by 2022 at least 2 percent of which must be electricity from solar technologies. The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has supported the state s energy goals by offering grants, loans, rebates and tax incentives for green technologies. In 2007, renewable energy sources accounted for less than 6 percent of the state s generated energy, according to MEA. By comparison, Maryland s renewable energy made up 8.2 percent of all energy sources in 2013, according to the MEA. Municipalities in Maryland are taking advantage of the advances in solar technologies by working with manufacturers to help offset the cost of building solar arrays. A solar array is a group of solar panels that capture and transform sunlight into some other form of energy. University Park, in Prince George s County, was the first municipality to install a solar array and utilizes the energy to help power its town hall, public works building, and an elementary school. Nearby Bladensburg sought and obtained grant funding to help support its investment in solar energy, with panels installed to help power its town hall. The Town of Poolesville partnered with UGI Corporation of Pennsylvania (UGI) to finance its solar array and with Standard Solar to build the technology, which opened for operation in June Poolesville offered UGI a 20-year, lowcost lease on the land and agreed to purchase the energy produced by the array. In exchange, UGI financed the $2.7 million, 4,000-panel solar array, making Poolesville the first municipality in Montgomery County to adopt solar energy. The electricity produced by the array helps to support the energy demands of Poolesville s water and sewage treatment facility. Town officials estimated that the solar array would save the Town as much as $30,000 in energy costs in the first year. Poolesville is proud to be moving forward on the front of renewable energy, said Jim Brown, President of the Poolesville Town Commission. Our solar array is not only a source of energy independence, but it also speaks to our commitment to environmental sustainability and to providing opportunities to educate our next generation on the importance of renewable energy sources. Municipal Maryland July/August

16 Since it went online in 2014, the Poolesville array has helped to prevent more than two million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, according to Standard Solar s website metrics. Other municipalities in Maryland are also investing in the benefits of solar energy use. Centreville partnered with SolarCity to build two solar arrays, totaling 4,172 solar panels and built on five acres of farmland. The array began contributing to the town s energy needs in November 2013, and supports the sewer and waste water facility, the spray irrigation facility, water towers, street lights, and public works buildings. The alternate energy source is expected to save Centreville taxpayers more than $1.2 million over the life span of the arrays, according to George Sigler, vice president of the Centreville town council. Solar energy has actually been around since the 1860s. We have just taken the easy way out with our energy resources oil is easy. But there s a finite supply of oil, and we need to be prepared when it runs out, said Sigler. To anyone who has interest in the move to solar energy: move forward with alacrity, as quickly as possible. There is no downside. It saves taxpayers money and it saves the environment as well. In some cases, the use of these new technologies can be obstructed by regulatory policies. For example, Rock Hall made the leap to solar energy after the town revised a net-metering law in Before the law modification, a solar panel in Rock Hall would have had to attach directly to the structure receiving the power. The town s law change allows solar electricity to go into the power grid, where it is metered and allotted for the facilities energy consumption. Rock Hall then green-lighted the solar array project, in which Standard Solar installed 5,300 solar panels at the Rock Hall Waste Water Treatment Plant. As with other towns in Maryland, Rock Hall provides land to a solar energy company, which funds the building of the solar array and leases the land for a low cost from the town. Once the solar array is completed, the town purchases this clean energy from the solar company. Washington Gas Energy Systems operates Rock Hall s solar array and sells the generated electricity to the town. The array means more than clean energy for the town it also means significant energy cost savings. The technology supports nearly 75 percent of the electrical needs for the town s wastewater treatment plant, water treatment plant and pumping station, Rock Hall Town Hall, Rock Hall Elementary School, and the Kent County Board of Education Building. The Town of Emmitsburg also turned to solar energy as a greener solution to energy demands several years ago. After a competitive bidding process, the town decided that Standard Solar would build the array, which is operated by UGI Utilities, Inc. Emmitsburg entered into a contract with UGI, committing to purchase energy from the company until the contract s 20-year mark. The array is expected to power approximately 80 percent of the town s energy needs and reduce the town s carbon footprint by an equivalent of 700 cars a day. Emmitsburg is also adopting sustainability measures throughout the town, most notably working towards a Sustainable Maryland certification, a program created by the University of Maryland. The certification program helps communities establish and implement a renewable energy plan suited for their municipalities. The costs of these solar installations are becoming increasingly affordable, as solar energy companies reduce manufacturing costs for the panels and towns and companies work together to finance the arrays. The installed costs of solar systems have dropped by nearly 70 percent in the past seven years, said Tony Clifford, CEO of Standard Solar. While the industry expects the cost of solar systems to continue to drop, cost reductions will not be as dramatic as in years past. In many of the municipalities, solar companies work with each other to build and manage the arrays, and pay in full to install the arrays. The towns lease land for the arrays and commit to purchasing the energy for a specified amount of time. The MEA is also working to make the leap to renewable energies more affordable through incentives for businesses and local governments throughout the state, but the time before certain incentives expire is dwindling. Municipalities considering solar should realize that the 30 percent federal investment tax credit (ITC) for solar is scheduled to expire at the end of 2016, said Clifford. Since the ITC is a major factor in the attractive economics of solar systems, municipalities should investigate solar in the next several months in order to be sure their projects can be completed before the end of Charlotte Taylor is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a bachelor s degree in Communication. She researched and wrote this article as an intern for Van Eperen & Company, a Rockville-based strategic communications firm that works closely with the Maryland Municipal League and is proud to be an MML Strategic Partner. 16 July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

17 Your Watering Headaches End Today! EarthPlanter Self-Watering Planters Customer Results and Reviews Average Watering Interval; once every 3 weeks Labor, Equipment and Fuel Savings; $1- $2,000 per month, including the elimination of weekend overtime to keep planters watered Return on Investment; containers paid for themselves in one summer Plant Growth; bigger, more vibrant growth versus traditional pots 5 STAR Customer Rated EarthPlanter.com Toll Free: sales@earthplanter.com Municipal Maryland July/August

18 UPCOMING events & meetings MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE JULY 2015 events ANNUAL CONVENTION June 26-29, 2016 Ocean City Convention Center June 25-28, 2017 Ocean City Convention Center FALL CONFERENCE October 26-28, 2015 Cambridge October 12-15, 2016 Solomons NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES ANNUAL CONGRESS OF CITIES & EXPOSITION November 4-7, 2015 Nashville, Tennesse November 16-19, 2016 Pittsburgh, Pensylvania CONGRESSIONAL CITIES CONFERENCE March 5-9, 2016 Washington, DC March 11-17, 2017 Washington, DC INTERNATIONAL CITY/COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION September 27-30, 2015 Seattle, Washington September 25-28, 2016 Kansas City, Missouri meetings 1 Board of Directors, Ocean City 1 Convention Planning Committee, Ocean City 16 Cecil-Harford Chapter, Rising Sun 27 Washington Chapter, Williamsport AUGUST Allegany/Garrett Chapter, Accident 26 Communications Committee, Annapolis 26 Executive Committee, Annapolis 27 Frederick Chapter, Middletown SEPTEMBER Legislative Committee, Annapolis 2 Southern Maryland Chapter, Leonardtown 12 Board of Directors, Oakland 16 Legislative Committee, Annapolis 17 Carroll Chapter, Union Bridge 17 Montgomery Chapter, Gaithersburg 17 Prince George s Chapter 17 Municipal Clerks Department, Forest Heights 23 Communications Committee, Annapolis 26 Convention Planning Committee, Annapolis 28 Washington Chapter 30 Municipal Parks and Recreation Dept., Laurel Website of the Month Maryland.gov Social Media Hub Are multiple social media platforms challenging your ability to keep up with all the latest Maryland government news? Having trouble sorting through your Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest feeds on the many topics and events circulating through the State's policy landscape? The Maryland. gov Social Media Hub has your problem solved: Maple Avenue Chestertown, MD July/August 2015 Municipal Maryland

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