Title 13. Regional Development Resources — Subtitle 7. Tri-County Council for Western Maryland

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Commissioners” means the Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, Garrett County, or Washington County, respectively.

“Council” means the Tri–County Council for Western Maryland.

“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Council.

“Member county” means each county in the region that pays annual dues that the Council sets.

“Plan” means a regional plan that the Council prepares for the region.

“Region” means Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties.

There is a Tri-County Council for Western Maryland.

The Council consists of the following 26 members:

There is an Executive Committee of the Council.

The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice–Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Council.

The Council shall establish committees to conduct its work.

The membership of a committee may include individuals who are not Council members or elected officials.

The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Council.

The Executive Director is entitled to the compensation that the Council sets.

select and retain its own counsel; or

use the Attorney General as its legal counsel.

The Council may employ a staff and retain professional consultants.

The Council shall:

The Executive Director may contract for professional or consultant services.

The Executive Director may make agreements with local planning or economic development units in the region for temporary transfer or joint use of staff.

The Council may use additional money from any other public or private source.

The Council may:

The Council shall:

prepare studies of the region’s resources with respect to existing and emerging problems of industry, commerce, transportation, population, housing, agriculture, public services, local governments, and any other matter relevant to regional planning;

participate with other governmental units, educational institutions, and private organizations in the coordination of the research activities;

provide information to:

The Council may:

guide a coordinated, adjusted, efficient, and economic development of the region in a manner that will best promote the health, safety, order, convenience, prosperity, and welfare of the residents of the region in accordance with present and future needs and resources;

provide for patterns of urbanization and the uses of land and resources for trade, industry, recreation, forestry, agriculture, and tourism;

create conditions favorable to the development of human resources;

identify the public interest and the necessity for public action and intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in the region;

coordinate with the efforts of the private sector in the region;

recognize any State comprehensive planning and development activities;

reflect the plans and programs of the participating governmental units; and

take into account economic and demographic factors, conditions, and trends that are relevant to the future development of the region.

a statement of the objectives, standards, and principles sought to be expressed in the plan;

recommendations for the general circulation pattern for the region including land, water, and air transportation and communication facilities used for movement within the region or to and from adjoining areas;

recommendations on the need for and proposed general location of public and private works and facilities that because of their function, size, extent, or for any other reason are of a regional rather than a purely local concern;

recommendations for the long-range programming and financing of capital projects and facilities;

recommendations for meeting housing needs of existing and prospective immigrant population of the region;

recommendations for the development of programs and improvements in the region for health services, manpower planning, employment opportunity, education, elimination of poverty, and law enforcement;

the identification of issues that need to be resolved between local governments and make appropriate recommendations concerning these issues;

the promotion of regional concerns; and

any other appropriate recommendations on current and impending problems that may affect the region.

On or before the date of the hearing:

The Council shall reevaluate the plan for the development of the region at least every 4 years.

The Council may amend the plan in the same manner that it adopts the original plan.

The Council need not follow the procedure used to adopt the original plan in order to revise the plan as necessary and appropriate for a statistical and informational update.

any application that a political subdivision in the region makes:

a local plan, proposal for a project, or ordinance that may have an impact outside the boundary of the political subdivision or in the region.

There is a Western Maryland Regional Tourism Bureau in the Council.

The purposes of the Bureau are to:

The Executive Board of the Bureau consists of the following 15 members:

is not entitled to compensation as a member of the Executive Board; but

is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations.

The Bureau may establish officers, procedures, and voting requirements.

The Bureau may employ a staff in accordance with its bylaws.

The Bureau may establish a private, nonprofit corporation to assist the Bureau.

Subject to the Corporations and Associations Article, the Bureau shall determine the powers and duties of the corporation.

The Bureau may:

In this part the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Board” means the Western Maryland Economic Future Investment Board established under § 13–737 of this subtitle.

“Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Board.

“Fund” means the Senator George C. Edwards Fund established under § 13–739 of this subtitle.

There is a Western Maryland Economic Future Investment Board.

The Board consists of the following members:

The voting members of the Board may elect a chair from among the Board’s members.

The Council shall provide staff for the Board.

A member of the Board:

The voting members of the Board shall have final approval authority on:

A member of the Maryland General Assembly may not serve as a member of the Board.

The Board shall appoint an Executive Director.

The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Board.

The salary of the Executive Director may not exceed $75,000.

The Executive Director shall manage the administrative affairs and technical activities of the Board, in accordance with policies and procedures the Board establishes.

The Executive Director:

There is a Senator George C. Edwards Fund.

The purpose of the Fund is to provide grant or loan funding to create jobs and significant economic development opportunities in the region.

The Council shall administer the Fund.

Money in the Fund may be used only to:

A member county or local entity within a member county may submit a proposal for funding under this part.

To qualify for funding, a project shall be:

The funding provided in this section shall be used to supplement and not supplant any funds that would otherwise be provided to the Board or the member counties.

On or before December 31 each year, the Board shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the implementation of this part.

The report required in subsection (a) of this section shall include, disaggregated by member county: