(2/2020) Rural Legacy Program receives $1.26 million grant

The Maryland Board of Public Works today approved the FY2020 Rural Legacy Program grants, including $1.259 million for Frederick County’s Mid-Maryland Frederick-Carrollton Manor Rural Legacy Area.

Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program provides the focus and funding necessary to protect and preserve large, contiguous tracts of rich land from sprawl development. The program preserves large tracts of agricultural and forested lands by partnering with local governments and private land trust sponsors across the state who work with willing property owners to acquire conservation easements.

The Maryland legislature appropriated approximately $18.85 million for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ program. Rural Legacy purchases conservation easements or fee simple interests in real property from willing property owners, based on Rural Legacy Plans that have been reviewed by the Rural Legacy Board.

To date, 6,588 acres have been permanently preserved in Frederick County through the Rural Legacy Program. In total, the Frederick County Agricultural Land Preservation Program has permanently preserved over 62,000 acres of land in the county.

Information about the Rural Legacy program, and about all of the agricultural preservation programs in the county, may be found by visiting www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/agpres.

For additional details, contact Program Administrator Anne Bradley at 301-600-1474 or via e-mail at abradley@frederickcountymd.

County Executive Gardner Appoints Gallagher to Board of Education

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner announced her appointment of Rae Gallagher to fill an unexpired term on the Frederick County Board of Education. The vacancy was created when Joy Schaefer resigned her Board of Education position after accepting the Director of Government Affairs in the Office of the County Executive.

"I am pleased to appoint Ms. Gallagher to the Board of Education," Executive Gardner said. "She brings professional experience and a thoughtful approach, and she understands that students are at the heart of what the Board of Education does."

A resident of New Market, Gallagher has an extensive background in education, serving youth and communities in Maryland and beyond. She currently works as Program Director for the Center for Supportive Schools, which works with schools and school districts to improve how learning happens. In her role, Gallagher provides support and leadership to stakeholders both inside schools and out in communities. She earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Kalamazoo College. Gallagher will continue the work done by Schaefer, advocating for many of the same priorities and communities.

The County Charter requires the County Executive to nominate a person to fill any mid-term vacancies on the Board of Education, with confirmation by the County Council. Applicants for the nomination were solicited through a public process following the November 6, announcement of Ms. Schaefer’s resignation. A total of 17 letters of interest and résumés were submitted for consideration.

Executive Gardner asked the County Council to conduct initial interviews and forward the names of three applicants for her to consider. Council members interviewed six candidates. Those interviews were recorded so the public could view them. Public comments about the applicants were accepted at the December 17, 2019, Council meeting. Council members then voted to support Gallagher, Susan Johnson, and Ron Peppe as candidates for the vacancy. Executive Gardner interviewed each candidate before selecting Gallagher as her nominee.

Gallagher will serve a term that ends in December 2020.

Fitzwater Introduces Bill to Support Firefighters Union

Frederick County Council Member Jessica Fitzwaterunveiled legislation she drafted in support of Frederick County’s firefighters union. The bill allows the union to negotiate additional items in their contract, and balances their unique needs with the need to protect county taxpayers.

Council Member Fitzwater based her legislation on similar bills in Montgomery and Howard counties. It makes Frederick County more competitive with neighboring counties for recruiting and retaining career firefighters.

"As a union member, it was important to me to draft legislation that supports our firefighters, while protecting county taxpayers," Council Member Fitzwater said. "That’s why I created a work group of stakeholders last summer, so all the parties could offer their input before a bill was drafted. I want to thank the union and all the members of the work group for their time and expertise."

Council Member Fitzwater added, "Making sure this bill is consistent with the Charter language approved by the voters is of utmost importance." In November 2018, Frederick County voters passed ballot Question D, which expanded the topics that can be negotiated between the County and the union, and added binding arbitration if negotiations reach an impasse. Based on the information gathered from her work group, Council Member Fitzwater drafted a bill that:

• Supports firefighters. The legislation responds to their expressed concerns and needs.
• Gives the union an expanded voice in the negotiation process. The bill allows the union to negotiate working conditions, and redefines management’s rights so they are consistent with other counties, including Montgomery County, which also has binding arbitration.
• Balances the legitimate needs of public safety workers with the Council’s obligation to protect county taxpayers. The bill provides a framework to resolve disputes if the parties cannot reach an agreement, and moves up the time table for negotiations in order to meet the County’s budget process set by the charter.

Frederick County Sustainability Awards

The Frederick County Sustainability Commission is accepting applications for its 2020 Sustainability Awards to recognize individuals and organizations in Frederick County that have made an outstanding contribution in helping the county advance sustainability efforts.

The Frederick County Sustainability Commission represents the natural environment’s critical relevance in making community decisions that will sustain for all time a healthy, abundant, affordable and inspiring place to live and work.

Awards are based on leadership, innovation, and success in sustainability. Awards are available to (a) individuals (non-students), (b) students/student groups, (c) nonprofits and (d) commercial enterprises.

Examples of outstanding efforts include, but are not limited to, implementing energy efficiency, encouraging renewable energy, improving air and water quality, reusing and recycling, and/or supporting a sustainable quality of life.

Applications are reviewed by the Frederick County Sustainability Commission. Winners will be presented their awards at the 9th Annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event on March 26.

Self-applications or nominations of others is accepted. Application forms are due no later than February 13 at 5 p.m. Electronic submissions are preferred and should be sent to dashbacher@FrederickCountyMD.gov. For more information, contact Ms. Ashbacher at 301-600-6864.

Copies of the forms are available at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/SustainabilityAwards.

Frederick County Emergency Responders to Conduct Community Preparedness Seminar

Frederick County Emergency Responders will conduct a free community preparedness seminar on Feb. 8 from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Public Safety Training Facility, 5370 Public Safety Place. Attendance will be restricted to the first 80 registrants and will close on Feb. 7.

The Frederick County Division of Fire Rescue Services, Frederick County Division of Emergency Management, Frederick County Health Department, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Association, The City of Frederick Police Department, Maryland State Police and Maryland Department of Health have partnered to provide a free day of emergency preparedness training in response to the citizens of Frederick County requests for training.

The classes include:

• Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE)
• Stop the Bleed Training
• Hands Only CPR (non-certificate class)
• Naloxone/Narcan training

Registration is from 7:30 – 8 a.m. Classes start promptly at 8 a.m.

The opening will introduce the instructors and provide information on how to prepare for emergency and disaster situations. The CRASE training topics include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues, and considerations for conducting drills. The Stop the Bleed training, a White House initiative launched October 2015, is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, therefore it is important to quickly stop the blood loss. Those nearest to someone with life threatening injuries are best positioned to provide first care.

The Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR, hands only) class will provide non-certificate training in this lifesaving skill. Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people to immediately assist a person suffering from cardiac arrest until help arrives. Bystander hands only CPR provided after cardiac arrest can significantly increase the victim’s chance of survival. This class does not provide a CPR certification but provides the skills to assist until help arrives.

For more information on preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and hazards, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/READY, the NWS "Weather Ready" website and the MEMA website Additionally, the Department of Emergency Preparedness can be contacted at 301-600-1746.