January presented an opportunity for League leadership and staff to participate in a flurry of meetings with new legislators, hold three Legislative Committee meetings and conference calls, and capitalize on other opportunities to reintroduce MML to returning legislators and establishing relationships with newly elected members of the General Assembly. During the month, MML President Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton and MML staff participated in many “meet and greet” meetings with new Senators and Delegates and newly appointed General Assembly Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs, with many more meetings scheduled into February.
The League also held an “alumni breakfast” at the end of the month to discuss MML’s legislative priority with legislators who are former municipal officials, which also gave participants the opportunity to provide feedback to League staff regarding the MML small cell priority, and other relevant issues. MML President Newton and Legislative Committee Chair Cheverly Mayor Michael Callahan also met with both Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller, Jr. and House Speaker Michael Busch at the end of the month to discuss MML’s legislative priority and to solicit their input with regard to next steps in both the House and Senate. Both presiding officers were interested in the issue and encouraged MML to continue to work with House and Senate Committee members as the legislation moves forward.