council

October 27, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Leaders Announce Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for 300 Households

County leaders announced a guaranteed income pilot program to provide monthly cash payments to 300 households. Each of the 300 households will receive $800 per month for 24 months, said Councilmember Will Jawando, a lead sponsor of the $1,993,832 council special appropriation to fund the program. A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 2. Guaranteed […]

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October 20, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

‘Go Beyond Political Games’: Elrich Urges Council to Consider Public Safety Consequences of Vaccine Mandate 

County Executive Marc Elrich on Wednesday said he hopes to work with the county council to come to a solution regarding a proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate for county employees, without jeopardizing public safety operations – a concern shared by public safety leaders. “I took an oath to protect the health, safety and welfare of the […]

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October 20, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Redistricting Commission Recommends Map to Council

Members of the Redistricting Commission voted 6-5 for the map it will send to the county council recommending how to divide the county into new districts. The map divides Montgomery County into seven districts each of which can elect one council member and one at-large council member. The map stands as a revision of one […]

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October 20, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

New Bill Would Establish Property Tax Credit for First Responders

County Council President Tom Hucker and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz introduced a bill Tuesday that would create a property tax credit for full-time first responders in Montgomery County. Eligible Montgomery County sworn police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and public safety emergency communications specialists could receive up to $2,500 in annual credit, according to […]

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September 28, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Council Bill Would Require All County Employees to be Fully COVID-19 Vaccinated

Montgomery County Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Will Jawando introduced a bill that would require all county employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or face losing employment, with exemptions for medical reasons. The bill would require employees to show proof of vaccination or apply for a medical accommodation within seven days after being notified by […]

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July 9, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Halpine View Apartments Will Preserve Affordable Units

Redevelopment will not threaten affordable housing in Rockville’s Halpine View Apartments due to a county agreement to preserve its 564 affordable units. Any redevelopment of the apartments must include a one-for-one replacement of market-affordable units with income-restricted affordable units, County Executive Marc Elrich explained during a press conference at the apartment complex Thursday. The units […]

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July 1, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Leaders Celebrate Minimum Wage Increase, Stress That the ‘Fight for 15’ is Not the End 

Montgomery County’s minimum wage has finally reached $15 an hour for large employers with at least 51 employees. July 1 marked another annual incremental increase in minimum wage, which began after the council’s minimum wage bill was passed in 2017. County Executive Marc Elrich was lead sponsor of a bill, as a councilmember. Now, large […]

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June 29, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Council’s New Regulations Incentivize Housing Development at Metro Stations 

The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously approved regulations to implement the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” which aims to incentivize high-rise housing construction at Metro stations by providing a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), with some criteria for development. According to the council, the bill offers the PILOT for 15 years for […]

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June 22, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Elrich Concerned Proposed Prerequisite Training for Police Academy May Have Consequences 

This post has been updated to include comments from Councilmember Will Jawando. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has concerns with a proposed council bill that would require prospective police officers to complete a 30-hour community-informed policing program prior to acceptance into the academy, said County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Caroline Sturgis, who testified on Elrich’s […]

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May 12, 2021 | Maryam Shahzad

Hogan Lifts Restrictions on Restaurants, Venues; Indoor Mask Mandate Remains

Effective Saturday, May 15, all Maryland indoor and outdoor dining establishments, including restaurants and bars, can resume normal operations, Gov. Larry Hogan announced at a press conference Wednesday. The same goes for other indoor and outdoor venues. All outdoor entertainment, arts, and sports venues, as well as all indoor entertainment venues and conventions can resume […]

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