Listen now (20 mins) | Maryland’s convention business is still struggling to recover after literally being shut down by COVID-19 last year. But in mid-August, thousands of people are expected to descend on Ocean City for one of the largest conventions of the year. After a scaled back virtual event last year, the Maryland Association of Counties Conference (MACo) will return for four days. In “Free State Politics” Episode #6, MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson says he is looking forward to the huge in-person gathering of county and state employees. “We’re focused on making sure that this (conference) is both safe and productive,” he says. Sanderson notes that there could be several COVID protocols for attendees, such as a mask mandate for those inside the convention center and health screenings at the door. Participants also may be required to sign a waiver which would hold MACo officials harmless in case an attendee contracts the coronavirus. Sanderson says decisions on health protocols will ultimately be made by local health officials, but he adds, “I’m hopeful that by the time the conference begins, we won’t need to do those things.”