Much of what we do in County Government is mandated by federal and state law, County Charter, County Code, or initiated by me as County Executive, and it is designed to deliver services to the taxpayers we serve.
But we also do things that are a direct response to those taxpayers, things that we may not have planned to do, things that come up every single day that we serve. Some of those requests go directly to our departments, some come through the amazing 311 system via phone or app (just dial 311 and you’ll understand how it works), but the complex stuff goes to our Office of Community Engagement and Constituent Services (CECS).
I and my Chief of Staff, Jenny Proebstle meet regularly with CECS Director Vincent Moulden and his full team. They brief me on their work with community groups, on constituent cases that don’t have simple solutions, and together we decide how to move forward.
This week, we covered the following:
- Their plan for public outreach to grow the 56 thousand person email list that receives their bi-weekly newsletter. If you’re not on the list, sign up here. It’s full of essential announcements about events, opportunities to be heard on things you care about, and resources you may not know about.
- Two cases of delayed homeowner building permit approvals that led to proposals by the team for process changes and website updates. The ideas were consistent with the work of our interagency work group on permitting reform, led by Deputy CAO Janssen Evelyn.
- Community opposition to a Heritage Harbour Water Tower proposal.
- Calls about ICE raids on workplaces and presence at a majority Latino elementary school during Saturday baseball practice.
- Ribbon cuttings that I wasn’t able to attend at new businesses.
- Work with stewards of the Brewer Hill Cemetery on grant applications for the restoration of the historic site.
- The Brooklyn Park organizing that was launched upon designation of the community as a participant in Governor Moore’s ENOUGH Act antipoverty work.
- A community meeting to review Police and Recreation and Parks response to late-night activities at Queenstown Park that resulted in bullets piercing the walls of two nearby homes. Police cameras have been installed and work is underway to gate the parking area at night.
- All-staff door-knocking in 90-plus degree heat to offer assistance to residents of the Elms at Laurel Park’s 254 apartments where the air-conditioning system had broken down. This has been a repeating occurrence there, so we discussed prospects for state or county legislation that would protect tenants and incentivize landlords to act in these cases. Stay tuned.
- The case of poison hemlock and its partial removal that was referred by Delegate Chang on behalf of a constituent.
- Reports on staff assistance to the Juneteenth Parade and Celebration and Anne Arundel River Days.
You get the idea. Problems come in. CECS staff connects with county departments. Solutions are found where possible. Systems are improved when needed.
That’s the day-to-day stuff of governing that takes place regardless of the priorities we establish, the projects we undertake, or the chaos that we see coming from Washington.
It’s also the stuff that restores our residents’ faith in their government.
Until next week…