Ǧ ǡ ǡ ǡ Conference Workshops and Special Sessions July/August 2012

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1 or the first time in many years, MML members will have the opportunity to return to Hagerstown, Maryland in October to attend MML s annual fall conference. Coincidentally, 2012 is also Hagerstown s 250th anniversary, which will make this year s conference especially exciting for both MML attendees and our host city. The MML fall conference is a prime opportunity for city and town officials to gather, attend workshops, exchange information, and renew acquaintances. It is also the event where the membership discusses and adopts the League s legislative agenda recommended by the MML Legislative Committee. Conference Workshops and Special Sessions This year, attendees will have the opportunity to attend eight workshops, three of which are Academy core classes, and four are Academy electives. The Academy core classes at this year s conference are Employment Issues, Effective Meetings, and Ethics. This year s Academy elective workshops will address a variety of issues of importance impacting every city or town, regardless of size or location. MML will be offering a special, half-day bonus Academy elective workshop (available at a small additional fee) on Wednesday afternoon, October 3 specifically geared towards enhancing and embracing civility and professionalism among fellow municipal officials, as well as their constituency. One of the elective workshops will focus on funding and implementing green initiatives on a limited budget. A second Academy elective will provide up-to-date options available to city and town officials when dealing with abandoned, blighted properties, and a third elective will give attendees a management system that looks beyond managing in crisis mode. A fourth Academy elective workshop will cover current municipal hot-button issues, including new sprinkler regulations and recent Federal and State court cases impacting municipal government. There will be two additional workshops at this year s conference. The first session will offer municipal joint purchasing case studies to enhance cost saving opportunities, and a second session will discuss the do s and don ts of using social media when interacting with municipal residents. As a follow up to the Large City and Small Town Forums held at the 2012 annual convention in Ocean City, time has been set aside in the conference schedule to allow elected and appointed officials from Maryland s municipalities to meet and discuss issues pertinent to both large and small cities and towns. The fall conference is also the venue for several other groups to meet. The MML Board of Directors and the Maryland Mayors Association will both meet on Thursday, October 4. The MML Legislative/ July/August

2 Resolutions Committee will also meet on Thursday October 4 (if necessary). Please refer to the preliminary agenda on page 12 for the specific times of these meetings. Sustainable Maryland Certified Awards Luncheon Join Sustainable Maryland Certified as they celebrate the first municipalities to reach sustainability certification as participants in this unique program designed to help enhance livability in our communities. The luncheon will take place on Thursday, October 4 from 12:00 1:00 p.m. and is open to all Maryland municipal officials. However, note that seating is limited and requires registration by September 7. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and can be obtained via: Registration Procedures Choose one of these convenient ways to register: On-line at Complete the registration form (on page 15) and mail it with payment to MML, 1212 West Street, Annapolis, MD On-Line Conference Registration To access the on-line registration please go to and enter your logon and password. If you do not remember your logon please select the find an existing account option at the bottom of the screen. If you do not have a logon and password you can still use the on-line registration. Simply click on the option to create a new account at the bottom of the screen and follow the prompts to be added to the MML database. If you have any questions during the registration process, please contact the MML registrar at 410/ or registration@ mdmunicipal.org. Enjoy your meal al fresco at Public Square. (1) Full registration package, which includes all workshops (except the Bonus Workshop on Wednesday), conference materials, welcome reception on Thursday night, Friday and Saturday morning continental breakfasts, all refreshment breaks, and one Friday lunch ticket. (2) One day (Thursday, Friday or Saturday) registration package includes all conference materials, workshops and the welcome reception on Thursday evening or conference materials, workshops, the continental breakfast, lunch and all breaks on Friday or conference materials, workshops and the continental breakfast on Saturday morning. (3) Half-day bonus workshop (Wednesday afternoon, October 3) registration which includes all workshop materials and a refreshment break. Hagerstown is home to the Western Maryland Blues Fest, the largest event of its kind on the East Coast. Friday dinner tickets must be purchased separately using the registration form and are in addition to all registration packages. Registrants who would like to purchase additional Friday lunch tickets for a spouse/companion may do so by using the registration form. There is no registration fee for your spouse/ companion to attend the conference, but the spouse/companion registration is restricted to persons who are not municipal or public officials, are not affiliated with any exhibitor, and would have no professional reason to attend the conference. Because meal guarantees are submitted to the hotel prior to the event, no meal tickets can be sold at the conference. You are eligible for the early registration discount if you register by Friday, September 7 (postmark). Registration fees and meal tickets will increase in price on September 8, Pre-registration closes on Friday, September 21. After September 21 you must register on-site. 8 Municipal Maryland

3 First Time Attendee Discount If you are a Maryland municipal official who has never been to MML s fall conference, you are eligible for a special $50 registration discount. Please contact Paula Chase Hyman, Manager, Member Relations paulah@mdmunicipal.org or Jessica Barnes, Conference Registrar registration@mdmunicipal.org or call 800/ for details. Registration Changes/Cancellations All registration changes and cancellations must be made in writing. No telephone changes or cancellations will be accepted. You can submit registration changes or cancellations via to the conference registrar at registration@mdmunicipal.org The cancellation fee is $75; the cancellation deadline is September 26, After that date, no money will be refunded. On-site Registration Fees (After September 21, 2012) Municipal Officials 3-Day Registration $425 Thursday Registration $300 Friday Registration $350 Saturday Registration $250 Other Registrants 3-Day Registration $450 Thursday Registration $325 Friday Registration $375 Saturday Registration $275 Please note that on-site registrations do not include lunch or dinner tickets. Deadlines Hotel Reservations September 4 (5:00 p.m.) Discounted Pre-registration September 7 Pre-registration September 21 Registration Changes/Cancellations (for refunds) september 26 Menus Continental Breakfasts Friday: Assorted chilled juices, seasonal fruits, flavored yogurt with granola and honey, raisins and mixed nuts, freshly baked quiche du jour, assorted breakfast pastries, fruit preserves, coffee, tea, and decaffeinated coffee. Saturday: Assorted chilled juices, assorted breakfast sandwiches, seasonal fruits, coffee, tea and decaffeinated coffee. Friday Lunch Salad, fresh seasonal vegetables, sautéed boneless chicken breast topped with asparagus and crab with hollandaise sauce, roasted red potatoes, chef s choice of dessert, coffee and tea. Afternoon Refreshment Breaks Thursday: Snack Food Junkie Popcorn, pretzels and potato chips with dip, assorted sodas and water. Friday: Fun-Due for You Assorted mini cakes and pastries, fresh fruit with chocolate fondue, assorted sodas and water. Friday Dinner Buffet Field greens salad, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil, Mediterranean pasta with cherry tomatoes, red onions, black olives and Romano cheese, beef tenderloin with baby port demi glaze, salmon Oscar topped with jumbo lump crab, pasta primavera, wild rice blend, chef s sautéed seasonal vegetables, and chef s dessert table. A concert by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra is just one of the many enjoyable performances at the Maryland Theatre. Family Activities Although there are no specific activities for spouses or companions, the City of Hagerstown and surrounding areas have many opportunities for shopping and browsing. More information about Hagerstown area activities can be found by visiting the following websites: marylandmemories.org hagerstownmd.org premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=100 Spouses/companions of registered attendees are welcome to attend the Thursday evening welcome reception. However, spouses or companions must purchase meal tickets for the Friday lunch and/or Friday night reception and dinner. Mark your calendar now and join your fellow municipal officials in Hagerstown this fall! The MML fall conference is one of the most important events of the year make your reservations today! Disabilities, Special Needs and Dietary Requirements If you have special needs including dietary requirements (see box for menus) please attach a separate sheet to MML s registration form describing any necessary accommodations. Attending the Fall Conference is the next step towards receiving the MML Banner City/Town designation for your municipality! July/August

4 ake the most of your stay in Hagerstown with the best in history, culture, arts and entertainment the Hub City has to offer. Start your explorations at the heart of our City Center and work your way around to enjoy the sights, sounds and unique experiences that make us proud of Hagerstown. Start at Public Square and take a stroll down Potomac Street, where you will find the gateway to the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) District, the first of such districts to be designated in Maryland. You will quickly see why it s earned the title. Simply start by taking a look at the streets -- they glitter in the sun and capture images of art, drama and music. Check the marquis at the Maryland Theatre, home of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Miss Maryland Pageant. You might be able to catch a show or a performance in the historic theatre, which proudly serves as the anchor of the A&E District. Not far from the Maryland Theatre is the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, the first arts magnet school in Washington County and Western Maryland. You will also notice one of the City s great works in progress: a transformed Washington County Free Library, which is expected to open in the spring of The A&E District also features several art galleries, unique urban architecture, museums and restaurants. Browse through a variety of tastes in all our downtown restaurants, from a sampling of the City s German heritage, to a taste of Italy with a bite of the best pizza in Hagerstown. Take your eating experience outdoors and enjoy your meal al fresco style in one of the many outdoor dining areas. Our downtown also boasts many eateries with interesting local favorites like the Lettuceless Salad, The Burkinator and a Braunschweiger. Grab a bite to go and make it a picnic at the University Plaza, a quiet park located next to the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown. There are so many ways to take different and unique views of Hagerstown, like from a bicycle! The City has mapped out a 10-mile bicycle-friendly course that connects several parks, neighborhoods and points of interest. You can safely navigate the route by using designated bike lanes and multi-use paths. Take a more relaxed approach to your sightseeing with several walking trails of varying distance around the city. You can even incorporate above: The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has a long and impressive tradition of cultural leadership in the area. right: Enjoy a variety of tastes at City Center restaurants and eateries. 10 Municipal Maryland

5 a brief history lesson; there are a series of 50 historical markers that chronicle significant people and happenings during the Civil War and other landmark events from our heritage. Brochures with accompanying maps for each of these attractions can be found at the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, located just off the Public Square. Hagerstown has over a dozen scenic and picturesque parks throughout the City, but perhaps most noted is our City Park. Between its manmade lake, wooded walking trails, picnic facilities and recreation amenities, City Park is the crown jewel of Hagerstown s park system. It is also home to the Jonathan Hager house, the homestead of our City s founder, which is open for self-guided tours. Just across the City Park Lake you will find the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, which showcases a variety of exhibitions, concerts, lectures and films. There you can browse The Valley of the Shadow, a landmark exhibition of Civil War art and artifacts that tells the story of the Civil War through the eyes of those who lived through it. The collection is so extensive, it s been touted as a museum within a museum. There s even more to see and do around the Hagerstown Railroad Museum and the Mansion House Art Gallery, also located at our City Park. prices. You can relax in the clubhouse s comfortable indoor seating area complete with a big-screen TV, or you can enjoy a bite to eat between rounds on the deck that overlooks the course while you take in the scenic views of South Mountain. Even if you re not a golfer, it s a great spot to unwind for lunch. The City of Hagerstown is proud to host the MML fall conference, and we re glad to welcome our fellow municipalities from across the state. For more information to guide you through your visit to the Hub City, visit or While you re here, also stop by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau located at 16 Public Square. View Hagerstown s historic homes and architecture while attending MML s conference. Take a break from all the activity of the conference and make a getaway to the Greens at Hamilton Run, a City-managed golf course that has recently undergone significant improvements and upgrades. The Greens is popular for its nine-hole par 34 course that offers a quick round of golf at extremely reasonable