Statement of Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg on passage of County Bill 46-09 Establishing A “Hiring Preference” for People With Disabilities

“I am thrilled that the County Council unanimously approved Bill 46-09 to establish this hiring preference for persons with disabilities. Now the government and residents of Montgomery County have an opportunity to benefit from the contributions and talents of all of our neighbors, regardless of a disability they might have.”

The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Bill 46-09 establishing a “hiring preference” for the initial appointment of a person with a disability to a vacant County merit system position if the candidate is among the highest rated candidates in a normal competitive process. Councilmember Phil Andrews is the chief sponsor of the legislation, which is believed to be the first local legislation of its type in the United States. Councilmember Vice President Valerie Ervin and Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Nancy Navarro and Duchy Trachtenberg are co-sponsors of the bill. The Council pursued action on the issue following release of a report on the practices of the County government’s hiring of persons with disabilities by the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO).

U.S. Census Office Opens Montgomery County Office in Rockville

The U.S. Census Bureau today opened a new office in Rockville to support all field operations in Montgomery County for the 2010 Census Survey, which will be conducted in March 2010. The field office is located at 2400 Research Blvd., Suite 100, Rockville.

Census data determines how more than $400 billion is allocated each year to local and state governments. The money is used for schools, roads, hospitals, senior centers and other social services in the community.

Households will begin receiving their census questionnaire beginning March 15, 2010. The 2010 census form is one of the shortest forms in history, and asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. There are 10 questions, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Individual responses are used for statistical purposes only and all responses remain confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share this information with anyone.

The Rockville office will employ approximately 1,000 people in various positions to support field operations in Montgomery County. The Census Bureau is now recruiting for census taker positions, who will visit households that did not return a questionnaire. Interested applicants should call 1-866-861-2010 or go to www.2010census.gov.

For more information about the 2010 census, go to http://www.blogger.com/www.montgomerycountymd.gov/census.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/News/press/PR_details.asp?PrID=6081

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Montgomery Council Approves Establishment Of Hiring Priority for People With Disabilities

Bill for Hiring ‘Preference’ to be Drafted; Creation of Special Hiring Authority Referred to Charter Review Commission

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 24, 2009—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved moving forward to establish a “hiring preference” that would permit a job candidate with a disability to receive a hiring preference for a vacant County merit system position if the candidate is among the highest rated candidates in a normal competitive process. The Council’s action was based on a review of the County government’s hiring of persons with disabilities by the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO).

The Council decided to refer to the Charter Review Commission the question of whether to amend the County Charter to allow the Council to create a special “hiring authority” to recruit and hire persons with disabilities into County government merit positions outside of the merit system. The Council asked that the Charter Review Commission to report back to the Council on the proposal by July 1.

“The combined unemployment and under-employment rate for people with disabilities is 70 percent or more,” said Council President Phil Andrews, who requested the report be compiled by the Office of Legislative Oversight. “That is a staggering waste of talent. With today’s landmark action, the Council has unanimously indicated its commitment to substantially expanding employment opportunities in County government for people with disabilities.”

A bill requiring a new County personnel regulation establishing a hiring preference for certain individuals with a disability will be drafted and is scheduled to be introduced before the Council on Dec. 1.

OLO’s report “Hiring Persons with Disabilities: A Review of County Government Practices” was released in 2008. On Nov. 23, the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee recommended the actions taken by the Council today.

“The United States has been making considerable progress in improving the hiring of persons with disabilities over the past 20 years,” said Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, who chairs the MFP Committee. “Now, Montgomery County is stepping up to implement some of the most progressive policies in the nation, allowing us to improve the quality of our work staff with highly qualified persons of any ability status.”

If a special authority is established (which would require voter approval of a Charter amendment), it likely would resemble a model used by the federal government known as “Schedule A.” Under that federal hiring program, federal agencies are allowed to directly hire qualified people with specific types of disabilities into vacant positions while bypassing many components of the federal government’s competitive hiring process. In the federal government, a hiring manager may hire a Schedule A applicant without advertising the job. A job applicant can apply for a position directly to the agency rather than through the federal USA Jobs program.

Because a special hiring authority and a hiring preference would be complementary and not duplicative, the MFP Committee suggested the Council pursue both.

Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 / Jean Arthur 240-777-7934 / Delphine Harriston 240-777-7931

Trachtenberg Supports Bill That Would Provide Equal Benefits to Same Sex Domestic Partners of Employees of County Contractors

I was proud to join Montgomery County District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro and other Council colleagues today to announce details of an “equal benefits” bill that Councilmember Navarro will be introducing before the Council that would extend to employees of many contractors and subcontractors performing work for the County the same benefits already granted to County employees. The bill will be officially introduced before the Council on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.

The County has a longstanding policy, in law and practice, against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Montgomery County already grants equal benefits to a same sex domestic partner of a County employee that are offered to an employee’s spouse, through Bill 29-99, effective March 3, 2000. Navarro’s bill would simply extend this law to many employees of County contractors and subcontractors.

Councilmember President Phil Andrews, Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and I are co-sponsors of the legislation. The equal benefits bill also has the support of County Executive Isiah Leggett.

The legislation would extend equal benefits to a same-sex domestic partner of a covered employee recognized under a marriage license, domestic partnership or civil union granted out of state or to a same-sex domestic partner as defined under Maryland law. The legislation would only cover employees who perform work for the County on a contract that is currently covered by either the County’s Wage Requirements Law or the recently enacted Prevailing Wage Law.

Benefits that may be extended under the legislation could include bereavement leave, family medical leave, sick leave, health benefits, dental benefits, disability insurance, life insurance and retirement benefits.