Local Government Advisory Committee

The Local Government Advisory Committee advises the Executive Council on how to engage local governments by sharing the views and insights of local elected officials and enhancing the flow of information among local governments.

Upcoming Meetings

‍View Past Meetings View Group Calendar‍

Scope and Purpose

The Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) was created by the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council through the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The purpose of the LGAC is to advise the Executive Council on how to effectively implement projects and engage the support of local governments to achieve the goals of the Agreement.

LGAC's mission is to share the views and insights of local elected officials with state and federal decision-makers and to enhance the flow of information among local governments about the health and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Subscribe to the Watershed Currents Newsletter: Resources for Local Governments

This bi-monthly newsletter features curated inspirational and informative resources and content for local governments within the Chesapeake Bay watershed region.

Sign up for Watershed Currents‍

Projects and Resources

LGAC Annual Recommendations to the Chesapeake Executive Council

Each year, the Local Government Advisory Committee Chair presents the Committee’s recommendations and advice to the Chesapeake Executive Council at its annual meeting. LGAC's annual recommendations from the last five years can be found below.

LGAC Local Government Forums

The Local Government Forum is a yearly problem-solving meeting hosted by LGAC in collaboration with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Through facilitated group discussion, participants identify issues that hinder or help advance the local implementation of watershed protection and restoration initiatives. Findings and recommendations, developed during the forum, are documented and next steps are identified.

Protect Local Waterways Website

Protect Local Waterways is an online resource hub created to support decision-making by local officials. Local leaders make decisions that set the course for their community and local government actions determine the health and vitality of their jurisdiction, as well as that of local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. Local officials can achieve mutually beneficial outcomes by prioritizing local economic development, infrastructure resiliency, public health and education, while also protecting your environment.

The Protect Local Waterways website's extensive learning library, titled "A Local Government Guide to the Chesapeake Bay," contains 11 highly visual and succinct educational modules with companion fact sheets, infographics and short videos.

Watershed Currents Newsletter: Resources for Local Governments

Watershed Currents is a bi-monthly curated newsletter that highlights local case studies and provides inspirational and informative resources for local governments and interested parties within the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. Each newsletter will be themed-focused and organized by local priorities impacting local government communities today. Please see below for past editions of the newsletter.

Wandering Waterways Tour Series

Hosted by LGAC and tailored specially for elected officials at the local level, the Wandering Waterways tours provide hands-on opportunities for local leaders to learn about regional conservation efforts, and empower them to take on environmental challenges within their own communities. Since its pilot in 2019, the Wandering Waterways series has gathered elected officials in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York to learn about topics including green infrastructure, innovative agricultural practices, clean water initiatives, and solutions to localized flooding. Tours have previously been funded by the Virginia Environmental Endowment, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Campbell Foundation.

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Members
Daniel Chao (Chair), Local Government Advisory Committee
Address:
Ward 2
Washington, District of Columbia 20007

Email:  dschao@gmail.com
Phone:  (202) 689-9745
Laura Cattell Noll (Coordinator), Local Government Advisory Committee Coordinator, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Address:
841 Flory Mill Rd
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601

Email:  lnoll@allianceforthebay.org
Phone:  (443) 949-0575
Kayli Ottomanelli (Staffer), Local Government Projects Associate, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Address:
729 8th Street SE Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20003

Email:  kottomanelli@allianceforthebay.org
Phone:  571-357-8124
James Barnhart, Berkeley County (WV)
Address:
400 West Stephen Street, Suite 201
Martinsburg, West Virginia 25401

Email:  jbarnhart@berkeleywv.org
Phone:  (304) 264-1923
Markus Batchelor, District of Columbia
Address:
441 4th Street NW Suite 530S
Washington, District of Columbia 20001

Email:  markus.batchelor@dc.gov
Phone:  (202) 741-0879
Richard Baugh, Formerly City of Harrisonburg (VA)
Address:
Coucilman, City of Harrisonburg
342 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801

Email:  rbaugh@hooverpenrod.com
Phone:  (540) 433-2444
Frank Dawson, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (MD)
Address:
2425 Reedie Drive
Wheaton, Maryland 20902

Email:  Frank.Dawson@montgomerycountymd.gov
Phone:  240-777-7732
Amy Dubois, Formerly BOS Mathews County (VA)
Address:
PO Box 356
Yorktown, Virginia 23690

Email:  alhdubois@gmail.com
Phone:  (804) 384-7860
Cindy Dyballa, City of Takoma Park (MD)
Address:
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912

Email:  cindyd@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone:  240-320-6494
Sheila Finlayson, City of Annapolis (MD)
Address:
131 Brightwater Drive
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Email:  msfin@aol.com
Phone:  (410) 626-0071
Jasmine Gore, City of Hopewell (VA)
Address:
300 North Main Street
Hopewell, Virginia 23860

Email:  goreje@alumni.vcu.edu
Phone:  (804) 931-9476
Penny Gross, Fairfax County (VA)
Address:
6507 Columbia Pike
Annandale, Virginia 22003

Email:  grosspenny@gmail.com
Josh Hastings, Wicomico County (MD)
Address:
407 Monticello Avenue
Salisbury, Maryland 21801

Email:  Jhastings@wicomicocounty.org
Phone:  (410) 974-2611
Michael Helfrich, City of York (PA)
Address:
101 South George Street
York, Pennsylvania 17401

Email:  MHelfrich@yorkcity.org
Phone:  (717) 849-2221
Leo Lutz, Borough of Columbia (PA)
Address:
308 Locust Street
Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512

Email:  llutz@columbiapa.net
Phone:  (717) 684-2467
Andria McClellan, City of Norfolk (VA)
Address:
810 Union Street, Suite 1006
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Email:  andria.mcclellan@norfolk.gov
Phone:  (757) 664-4268
Brianne Nadeau, District of Columbia
Address:
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 102, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20004

Email:  bnadeau@dccouncil.us
Phone:  (202) 724-8181
Sheila Noll, York County (VA)
Address:
133 Tradewinds Drive
Yorktown, Virginia 23692

Email:  noll@yorkcounty.gov
Phone:  (757) 877-7790
Don Phillips, Town of Laurel (DE)
Address:
205 Turtle Cove
#110
Laurel, Delaware 19956

Email:  hdonpj47@gmail.com
Phone:  (443) 359-1009
Kelly Porter, City of Seat Pleasant (MD)
Address:
6301 Addison Rd.
Seat Pleasant, Maryland 20743

Email:  keportinc@yahoo.com
Phone:  (301) 655-1725
Marty Qually, Adams County (PA)
Address:
117 Baltimore Street
Room 201
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325

Email:  mqually@adamscountypa.gov
Phone:  (717) 337-9820
Lisa Schaefer, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
Address:
2789 Old Post Road
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-3669

Email:  lschaefer@pacounties.org
Phone:  (717) 526-1010
John V. Thomas, Hampden Township (PA)
Address:
407 Pawnee Drive
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17050

Email:  jjthomas407@comcast.net
Phone:  (717) 761-1576