MFP Committee Meeting on Thursday, July 15th

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, met on Thursday, July 15th at 3:30 pm. The MFP Committee discussed the following agenda items:

• Resolution to approve cable franchise transfer from Starpower Communications, LLC to Yankee Cable Acquisition, LLC
• Expedited Bill 37-10, Ethics - Ethics Commission - Staff
• Executive Regulation 3-10, Hiring Preference for Persons with Disabilities
• Executive Regulation 27-09, General Applicability of Personnel Regulations to Employees of Local Fire and Rescue Departments

The MFP Committee approved the resolution to approve cable franchise transfer from Starpower Communications, LLC to Yankee Cable Acquisition, LLC. Representatives from RCN and Starpower attended the Committee work session. Councilmember Trachtenberg raised the issue of municipalities with regard to granting the franchise transfer. Council action on this issue is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20th.

The MFP Committee recommended Expedited Bill 37-10, Ethics-Ethics Commission-Staff to full Council for consideration. There was a public hearing on Bill 37-10 on July 13th. All of the speakers spoke in favor of Bill 37-10 which requires that the Ethics Commission staff director is a lawyer authorized to practice in the State of Maryland and that the Ethics Commission may seek guidance from the County Attorney but is not required to do so. Council action on this issue is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20th.

The MFP Committee recommended Executive Regulation 3-10, Hiring Preference for Persons with Disabilities to full Council for consideration. Regulation 3-10 is needed to implement Bill 46-09 on a Hiring Preference for People with Disabilities. In addition, the regulation modifies the definition of a veteran for purposes of the hiring preference.

The MFP Committee recommended amended Executive Regulation 27-09 AM, General Applicability of Personnel Regulations to Employees of Local Fire and Rescue Departments to full Council for consideration. This regulation implements a recent decision by the Merit System Protection Board. It states that County regulations apply to employees of the Local Fire and Rescue Departments.

Please contact Laurie Mintzer Edberg, Director of Management and Fiscal Policy, at 240-777-7948 (direct dial) or laurie.edberg@montgomerycountymd.gov with any questions regarding this MFP session.