Happy Holidays!  Last month, over 400 county residents attended and participated with me in the Conversations with the Chairman held in Greenbelt, District Heights, and Clinton.  You shared your hopes and concerns about the future of our County and the need to create a closer relationship between county government and the people it serves.

We particularly discussed the establishment of a Prince George’s County Community Leadership Council (CLC), an organized network of residents communicating directly with county leaders, organized by neighborhood or community (voting precinct), whose purpose would be to (1) express community sentiment to county leaders on a regular basis about the agenda or issues involving county government or policies; (2) educate fellow residents about the functions of county government, the issues the county is considering, and how they impact their lives; and (3) advocate for the issues and interests of the county on behalf of their neighbors. This resembles the Advisory Neighborhood Commission structure in the District of Columbia.  The Prince George’s County CLC will be subdivided by North County, Central County and South County and each will meet quarterly during 2016.

Here is the updated handout from the Conversation with the Chairman last month that describes the impetus for the CLC and the other topics we discussed last month.  I would like to encourage you to become a member of the CLC representing your neighborhood or community.  The first quarterly meetings of the North, Central and South County CLCs will be in early February of 2016.

If you would like to become a member of the Prince George’s County Community Leadership Council representing your community, please complete this form and mail it to: Councilman Mel Franklin, P.O. Box 3031, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773.  Thanks and have a wonderful holiday season.