Chapter 03. Maryland Town Manager Circuit Rider Grant Program

“Circuit” means a group of two or more municipalities that agree to share the services of a circuit rider, or a municipality and a county that agree to share an individual who will provide circuit rider services to the municipality.

“Circuit rider” means the individual or individuals who provide managerial services to a circuit.

“Circuit sponsor” means a corporation, foundation, county, municipality or governmental entity of it, regional agency, or other legal entity no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual holding an interest in the entity.

“County” means any of the 23 counties of this State.

“Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development, a principal department of the State.

“Director” means the Director of the Division.

“Division” means the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization, an organizational unit of the Department.

“Existing circuit” means a circuit comprised of two or more municipalities that has received a grant under the Program within 2 years of the circuit's most recent application.

“Municipality” means a municipal corporation in Maryland subject to the provisions of Article XI-E of the Maryland Constitution.

“Program” means the Maryland Town Manager Circuit Rider Grant Program.

“Proposed circuit” means a circuit applying for a grant under the Program for the first time or that has not received a grant within 2 years of the circuit's most recent application.

“Regional agency” means a multicounty or multistate agency established for the purpose of supporting development of an area or areas, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual holding an interest in the entity.

“Secretary” means the Secretary of Housing and Community Development.

The managerial services of a circuit rider as described in the budget of an applicant that has been approved by the Department and these costs may include:

Other services or needs of a circuit considered acceptable to the Department including expertise in the areas of code enforcement, community revitalization, planning, economic development, and grant management.

Be responsible for the administration of grant funds and the collection of the local contribution from each member of a circuit required by §E of this regulation; and

Perform any other duties that may be required by an agreement evidencing the grant.

A circuit shall make a cash or in-kind contribution of a type acceptable to the Department. It is the preference of the Department that the local contribution be an amount at least equal to the amount of the grant. Each member of the circuit shall pay a share of the local contribution proportionate to the amount of the circuit rider's time allocated to that member. The local contribution shall be used to pay for costs associated with the managerial services and training of the circuit rider, or for other costs considered appropriate by the Department that are associated with the duties of the circuit rider.

In evaluating the adequacy of a local contribution, the Department may examine the combined financial resources of the members of a circuit. In no event, however, shall the local contribution requirement be completely eliminated.

Before entering into an employment agreement with a circuit rider, a circuit shall:

In granting approval of the proposed circuit rider, the Department shall consider with respect to:

The employment agreement between the circuit sponsor and the circuit rider shall provide, among other things, the services to be provided to each member of the circuit and that the circuit sponsor shall be responsible for hiring, terminating, and paying the circuit rider.

On or before May 1 of each calendar year, the Program shall notify the circuit sponsor of each existing circuit that the Department is accepting applications for the upcoming fiscal year.

The notification may contain a deadline for submission of applications as well as the proposed amount of the grant.

The Department may consider letters of intent requesting assistance under the Program on behalf of a proposed circuit.

The letter of intent shall be submitted by the prospective members of a circuit and shall contain the following information:

Before approving or rejecting a proposed circuit, the Department, in its discretion, may provide the prospective members with technical assistance to develop an acceptable circuit and an acceptable circuit sponsor.

If the circuit described in the letter of intent is approved by the Department, the circuit sponsor may submit an application for a grant on behalf of the circuit.

The Director is authorized to certify the establishment of new circuits.

Number of applications received;

Merit of each application;

Demonstration of special managerial needs and limited financial resources; and

Amount of funding available.

Manageable number of municipalities in a circuit;

Reasonable distance between the members of a circuit;

The amount of the prospective work load of a circuit;

The ability of the circuit sponsor to provide administrative and other services to the circuit;

The ability of a circuit to make the local contribution required under Regulation .06E(1) of this chapter; and

Such other criteria the Department considers appropriate.

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended;

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended;

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, as amended;

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended;

The Department’s Minority Business Enterprise Program, as amended;

Executive Order 01.01.1989.18, Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace, and Department or State regulations adopted or to be adopted to carry out the requirements of that Order; and

State Government Article, Title 20, Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended.