Washington County Delegation Reviews Legislative Agenda, Proposal to Convert County Treasurer to Appointed Position Instead of Elected

The Washington County, Maryland delegation has elected its leadership for the upcoming legislative session and outlined a preliminary list of legislative items for consideration, according to the recent delegation legislative agenda meeting. Delegate William Wivell was unanimously re-elected as chair, and Delegate Terry Baker was also unanimously chosen to continue as vice chair. The delegation’s recent meeting focused on these membership elections and introduced a series of drafted legislation and procurement-related matters that will be further discussed and reviewed in future sessions.

The delegation reviewed a significant number of potential legislative proposals, encompassing a wide range of local issues impacting Washington County. Among the items discussed were proposals to exempt mobile food service facilities from certain restroom requirements and to allow for outdoor seating. Another measure aims to make a field house and stadium tax exemption retroactive. The delegation also considered changes to treasurer advertising requirements, which would mandate specific numbers of newspaper and website publications and require a second notice post-sale.

Further legislative topics included clarifying the definition of a veteran for tax exemption purposes by referencing federal uniform services definitions, and a real estate property tax exemption specifically for an entity providing veteran housing. The delegation also discussed a request from the county to revise the code of public local laws to establish fines and potential imprisonment for hindering county employees from entering properties. A separate proposal would grant authority to regulate and license recovery residences, commonly known as halfway houses, within the county.

Other legislative considerations included stipulations for manufactured homes, potentially related to minimum square footage requirements under the state housing expansion and affordability act. The delegation also reviewed a proposal to replace the Cumberland Valley Association of Builders and Contractors with the Home Builders Association of Washington County on a salary study commission. Efforts to ease requirements for septic systems, providing homeowners more flexibility in making repairs without triggering inspections or replacements, were also on the agenda.

A notable item included a proposal to change the position of treasurer from an elected office to an appointed one by the Board of County Commissioners. The city of Hagerstown requested legislation to regulate and license property managers within the city. Additionally, the delegation touched upon issues concerning Hagerstown Community College, specifically regarding its ability to conduct background checks despite being an approved police agency and matters related to transfer credits with private institutions. A discussion also occurred regarding “splash pads,” with clarification that the county may already possess the authority to regulate them, potentially exempting them from being regulated as swimming pools.

The delegation also addressed funding requests, with approximately nine letters drafted and sent to budget management concerning various towns’ financial needs. These letters were prepared in the fall to meet budget deadlines. Discussions also touched upon potential changes to procurement language and code of local public laws, specifically concerning multiyear contracts and advertising for procurements.

The delegation emphasized the importance of clarifying whether proposed legislation would be specific to Washington County or have broader statewide implications, aiming to streamline the drafting process and avoid unnecessary revisions. The delegation confirmed the presence of delegation counsel, who is available to assist with drafting and legal guidance. The meeting concluded with a motion for adjournment.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from the Washington County Maryland Delegation.

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