On January 20 at noon, we will offer a Lunch and Learn: Tutorial Session on Key Contact Functionality to introduce/refresh key contacts on how to add their officials into the platform. Each city/town is allowed two Key Contacts; please make sure that at least one municipal contact plans to attend.

Key contacts are municipal staff who have been designated by their municipality to have access to MML's database platform. This functionality allows key contacts to add new officials into our system as well as register officials for our events.

The United States Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) recently held two webinars that featured information on cybersecurity threats and water system infrastructure. The links below will direct you to presentation slides that cover essential information on cybersecurity challenges facing water systems, including:

• Information technology vs. operational technology and their common myths, systems, and threats
• Best practices for reporting incidents and recovery
• Cyber threats to infrastructure and water systems
• Cybersecurity resources and information

Access the slides here:

The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) is presenting a webinar, Building Local Resilience, on Wednesday, August 27 between noon and 1:30 p.m. Panelists will discuss methods for constructing resilient communities through guidance, resources, and planning best practices. The webinar will address the foundations of resilience at the local level, highlighting strategies such as Resilience Hubs and other capital projects that deliver the needs of the public and protect infrastructure. MDP will be joined by resilience partners from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the City of Baltimore, and Groundswell. Groundswell is a nonprofit that builds community power through community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and research initiatives that support clean energy futures for all.

Bolton, a consulting firm in the areas of employee benefits and compensation, will host a webinar in the coming weeks with updates regarding the Maryland Time to Care Act (TTCA).  As employers who are subject to provisions of the TTCA, make sure you have the latest information on the law, including:

Key employer requirements under the Maryland Time to Care Act

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Join the Maryland Department of Education and the Maryland Municipal League for a Lunch & Learn webinar on October 17, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM via Zoom. Discover the benefits of the Outdoor, Nature-Based Child Care License Pilot Program, which enhances children’s health, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into key policy decisions and early childhood initiatives—register now! 

We are offering an opportunity to Maryland's city and town managers to join the MML Executive Committee and senior management team for a Lunch and Learn, on October 10 at noon, to hear about an engagement initiative with the League to represent Municipal managers across the state and network with over 115+ manager colleagues. 

The Maryland Municipal League City and Town Administrators Department was created in 1978 as an affiliate of the League, designed to focus on specific municipal matters that may impact a city manager’s duties and responsibilities; and serves to help municipal managers stay tapped into League-wide resources that may benefit their municipality.

MML invites MML Members to participate in an informative webinar hosted by the MML Advocacy Team, where we will thoroughly discuss the recommended legislative priorities set forth by the 2024-2025 Legislative Committee for the upcoming 2025 Maryland General Assembly session. This member-exclusive event is scheduled to take place via Zoom on August 27th, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Members, don't miss this opportunity to stay informed about the priorities that will shape our community's future!

The Lunch and Learn webinar with MDE and MML on the Lead and Copper Rule, has been uploaded to MML’s YouTube channel.  As a joint webinar between Maryland Department of the Environment and MML, it focused on the Lead and Copper Rule information and how to get resources out to the Maryland municipalities, providing technical assistance and funding information.

We were also joined by EPIC. The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build policies that deliver spectacular improvements in the speed and scale of environmental progress. They deliver data-driven policy analysis, innovation, and technical assistance to eliminate disparities across water systems and ensure more residents across the country have access to safe and accessible drinking water.

Maryland Municipal League (MML) leadership invites you to learn more about an important municipal rail safety communication system. On Thursday, April 25 from 12:00-1:00 p.m., MML will be hosting a webinar in partnership with Maryland Class I freight carriers to facilitate increased direct communication between local governments and rail operators. Presenters from CSX and Norfolk Southern will focus on existing information sources that will assist local leaders and municipalities to better understand details about freight rail shipments and how best to coordinate emergency response.

Rail safety has been an important issue for years touching on public health, emergency response, infrastructure damage, and environmental impact. Rail has been identified as an anticipated transportation option with the loss of the Key Bridge for the current trucking industry routes of hazardous materials through the I-95 corridor. We highly encourage you or a representative from your municipality to participate in the webinar.

Gain insights from our esteemed panelists as they discuss MML's legislative objectives, the Maryland state budget, and other important municipal issues and information that emerged from the Maryland General Assembly's 2024 legislative session. Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear how this year's legislative session may impact Maryland's cities and towns. 

Watch here!

On March 15^th, in Lindke v. Freed, the Supreme Court established the test for when local government officials are considered "state actors" for the purposes of the First Amendment when they post on social media.  The case is a win for local governments, as the test provided by the Supreme Court safeguards the free speech rights of elected officials while balancing the rights of their citizens. 

The National League of Cities (NLC) has created two resources to help local governments navigate this in practical terms:

MML Leadership hosted an insightful Lunch and Learn webinar in partnership with Conference Planning Committee Chair, Dave Unglesbee (Hampstead) and Vice Chair, Terry McGean (Ocean City). Packed with previews and sneak peeks, the recording provides a comprehensive overview of what attendees can expect from #MMLCon24.

Hear about the newest features to our largest professional development event, first hand. Join our leadership and executive team, on March 28 at noon, for a sneak peek into what's ahead at MML's summer conference and how the event is evolving to meet the ever changing needs of Maryland's local officials.

Lunch and Learn Registration

The Municipal Technical Assistance Program is hosting a roundtable on Maryland ARPA Spending Trends and Success Stories on February 27th from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST. This roundtable-style webinar will review municipal 2023 ARPA spending trends and invite towns to share examples of ARPA-funded projects. ARPA funding has offered municipal leaders a significant opportunity to carry out projects and initiatives with a wide-ranging impact. And keep in mind that all ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) must be obligated by December 31, 2024.

If your town is still determining how best to apply this critical federal funding before the obligation deadline later this year, we welcome your participation! Click here to register

Missed out on the opportunity to attend the recent Lunch and Learn Webinar on the NLC Affiliate Program? Watch and learn about the benefits associated with using the MML Affiliate status of the National League of Cities.

The recording can be found on our YouTube channel.

Missed the chance to sit in during the recent Ethics Webinar? You can now watch the recording of the Ethics: Solicitation and Acceptance of Gifts Webinar featuring guest speaker Todd Turner, Executive Director of Prince George's County Office of Ethics and Accountability on the MML YouTube channel.

Please be sure to check our Year-At-A-Glance to stay up to date on the League's upcoming webinars, conferences, and events.

Your municipal league is always at work.  We and the National League of Cities (NLC) are glad to announce that through a special affiliate membership agreement, all MML members under 20,000 in population are now eligible to be NLC affiliate members with no additional cost to your municipality. 

Municipalities with affiliate status are joining NLC as the organization celebrates 100 years of accomplishments on behalf of local governments. Learn all about affiliate status and how this new benefit will extend MML's resources and your municipality's reach on Wednesday, January 24 at noon during a joint MML/NLC webinar.