Carroll County Commissioner Stephen Wantz to Serve as 2021 Board of Directors Chair

[Baltimore, MD, January 15, 2021] 

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) hosted its virtual board of directors meeting at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 15, 2021, unanimously approving Carroll County Commissioner Stephen Wantz as its chair and Harford County Executive Barry Glassman as vice-chair for calendar year 2021. The board also welcomed Mayor Brandon Scott, who will serve as the 52nd Mayor of the region’s central city.

“I am proud to represent Carroll County on the BMC,” said Commissioner Wantz. “The region’s strength and success are valuable to the county, the region and Maryland as a whole. I look forward to continuing regional collaborative efforts with my colleagues as we work on the challenges ahead.”

Following the approval of the incoming chair and vice-chair, consultants from Nelson/ Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. provided a presentation on the Baltimore Region Transit Governance and Funding Study, a report commissioned by BMC’s sister body, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board.

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of BMC, also presented key data points from BMC’s Baltimore Regional Recovery Dashboard, highlighting the industry sectors most exposed to pandemic risk and closures, job loss by sector, unemployment insurance claims, as well as vehicle traffic volume and transit ridership.

“Commissioner Wantz has been an invaluable board member and we are pleased to have his leadership as the region navigates the year ahead,” said Kelly. “His 30 year career as a firefighter and extensive knowledge of emergency management will be an asset as our member jurisdictions continue their efforts toward recovery.”

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The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) works collaboratively with the chief elected officials in the region to create initiatives to improve the quality of life and economic vitality. BMC, as the Baltimore region’s council of governments, hosts the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB), the federal metropolitan planning organization (MPO), and supports local government by coordinating efforts in a range of policy areas including emergency preparedness, housing, cooperative purchasing, environmental planning and workforce development.

BMC’s Board of Directors includes the executives of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties, the mayor of the City of Baltimore, a member of the Carroll County and Queen Anne’s County boards of commissioners, a member of the Maryland State Senate, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and a gubernatorial appointee from the private sector.