38th MPCA Annual Conference-October 2021
October 25-27, 2021
Virtual Conference
The conference theme was
Let's Get Back to It!
The Maryland Planning Commissioners Association and Executive Committee would like to thank everyone who contributed to and attended the 38th Annual Conference from October 25-27. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the MPCA offered this conference virtually, and is proud with the outcome. The MPCA looks forward to the time when we can all meet in person again and hopes that all participants have experienced an excellent digital training opportunity. If you have any questions about the MPCA, or want to get involved, please contact Joe Griffiths at
joseph.griffiths@maryland.gov.
Session Presentations and Recordings
Click on the icons below to open the presentation from the conference.
October 25: Day 1
Opening Meetings Act
Frank M. Johnson, Deputy City Attorney, City of Gaithersburg
April Ishak, City Attorney, Havre de Grace
October 26: Day 2
Expanding Broadband Across Maryland
Charlotte Davis, Executive Director, Rural Maryland Council
John Hartline, Executive Director, Tri-County Council of Southern MD
Matt Teffeau, Government Affairs Manager, Choptank Electric Cooperative
Dee Anna Sobczak, COO, ThinkBig Networks
Leonardtown: A Most Exceptional Place
Laschelle McKay, Town Administrator, Town of Leonardtown
MPCA Keynote Speaker
Lucille Walker, Executive Director, Southern Maryland Heritage Area
Calvert County, MD: Citizen Planning Insights
Major Steve Jones, Chair, Calverty County Planning Commission
Greg Kernan, Member, Calvert County Planning Commission
John Mattingly, Attorney, Calvert County Attorney's Office
The Benefits of Annual Reporting
Carole Jaar Sepe,l M.A., Frederick County Planning Commission
Denis Supercznyski, AICP, Frederick County Principal Planner, Southern Maryland Heritage Area
October 27: Day 3
Diversity Metrics
Marc Brenman, Author & Managing Partner, IDARE LLC
Sandbagging the Flood: Floodplain Variance Requests & What You Can Do to Help Reduce Flooding in Your Community
Kevin Wagner, City of Frostburg, Board of Zoning Appeals
Citizen Planner Recognitions
S.F.M.A.C Mayor Michael Benton, Town of North Beach
Cynthia Gross Kimberly Knox, Baltimore City Baltimore Green Network
Jules Dunham Kimberly Knox, Baltimore City Baltimore Planning Dept.
John Schmidt Kathleen Freeman, AICP, Caroline County, Dept. of Planning & Codes
A Planner's Role in Addressing Climate Change
Greg Bowen, Executive Director, American Chestnut Land Trust
Engaging Citizen Planners in Government Planning Exercises
Joe Griffiths LAT Manager, Maryland Department of Planning
Gary Mauler Citizens Advisory Committee, Anne Arundel County
Kipling Reynolds, AICP Division Chief, Community MNCPPC
Victoria Olivier, AICP Planning Supervisor, Howard County Planning and Zoning
Sarah Benton, AICP Planning Coordinator, MNCPPC
