Apr 28, 2022 County Council Budget Work Session

YOU KNOW, I, LIKE I SAID, I JUST COULDN'T AGREE MORE IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT THAT MONEY SHOULD STAY LOCAL.

SO I HOPE THAT, UH, WE CAN WORK THAT OUT, UM, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

I THINK I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT YOU JUST DID THAT.

UM, VERY, VERY WELL.

UM, UH, I'M SURE MR. TIBBS MAY HAVE SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.

HE'S MY BUDGET ADVISOR AS WELL, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T AGREE MORE.

I MEAN, ONCE IT GOES, UH, THE MONEY GOES THERE, THEN WE JUST LOSE TOTAL CONTROL.

AND I THINK THAT, UH, WE UNDERSTAND AND KNOW OUR COUNTY BEST AND, UH, AND WE CAN MANAGE THOSE, UH, THOSE RESOURCES RIGHT HERE.

SO I, UM, LIKE I SAID, I, I DEFINITELY AGREE.

AND, UM, I WAS THE ONE, THE EA EAC PREVIOUSLY, AND I BELIEVE I'VE ROLLED OVER INTO THE NEW GROUP.

UM, BUT, UM,

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AND I'M SURE THE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S PROBABLY ON BOARD WITH THIS AS WELL.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

AND I'M SURE MR. TIBBS MAY HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, MR. TIFF.

THANK YOU, BRIAN.

I DON'T THINK HARFORD COUNTY CAN THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE SIX MONTHS OFF AND SAY THE GETTING THINGS STRAIGHTENED DOWN HERE AND THERE.

I SAID TO THE OFFICE AND HELPING US KEEP THESE ONES HERE IN THE COUNTY.

UH, I KNOW YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME THAT YOU WEREN'T COMPENSATED FOR, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE YOU AND APPRECIATE THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP STARTED AGAIN, AND, UH, YOU WILL SEE EXTENSION MOVING IN HERE.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

THANK THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, MR. TIBBS, MR. GINGER, DENNIS, MR. BUTLER.

I APPRECIATE THAT ALL YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T SEND THE MONEY BACK TO THEM.

SO, UH, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO HERE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE HAS REALLY, REALLY POOR MAIL SERVICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TOO.

SO I WANT TO THANK, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD EFFORTS.

IT'S IT DEFINITELY, UH, YOU CAN SEE YOUR PASSION, SO APPRECIATE IT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

ALL COUNTIES FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY.

ANYONE ELSE? AND, AND FRATERNITY TO SAY THAT HE DOESN'T WANT MARYLAND TO HAVE IT.

I MEAN, HE'S DIEHARD UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND FAN OVER HERE.

SO FOR HIM TO SAY THAT HE WANTS TO KEEP IT VOCAL.

THAT DOES MEAN A LOT, BUT, UM, YES, I AGREE.

UH, W YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED TREMENDOUS PASSION.

I KNOW, UM, A GROUP OF, UM, COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE CAME TOGETHER VERY QUICKLY TO FORM THIS, UH, NON NONPROFIT, WORKING WITH ATTORNEYS TO DO ALL OF THAT THE RIGHT WAY.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND YOU'RE ALSO IN A WAY KIND OF, YOU'RE KIND OF GOING UP AGAINST YOUR BOSS A LITTLE BIT HERE A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? SO FOR, FOR YOU TO BE, FEEL THIS STRONG ABOUT IT, UH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF PUTTING YOUR TAIL ON THE LINE.

AND SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND YOU'VE BEEN A REAL ADVOCATE.

YOU, UH, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR POSITION RIGHT NOW WOULD HAVE MAYBE STEPPED AWAY AND BACKED OFF, BUT YOU HAVE NOT DONE THAT.

UM, YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT US HERE LOCALLY.

AND, UH, JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.

THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THE REASON REALLY THAT I AM DOING THIS, I DO BELIEVE IN THE COUNTY.

I DO BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO, BUT I AM SUCH A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION.

I WANT TO SEE OUR RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUE AND BLOOM, AND I BELIEVE THAT BY DOING THINGS OPENLY, CANDIDLY, WITH TRANSPARENCY, EMBRACING THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTY IN THAT ALL COUNTIES ARE DIFFERENT.

THEY DO, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS.

WE NEED TO IDENTIFY AND STAY WITH THAT.

THAT WAS PART OF OUR ORIGINAL MISSION FROM 1914.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD STAY.

SO IT'S MY BELIEF IN MY OWN INSTITUTION AND THE BELIEF OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT RESIDENTS.

THAT THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO DO THIS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ALL SUPPORT.

I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT ALL THE FOLKS THAT HAVE THAT HAVE RALLIED.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

THIS IS VERY WELL DONE AND PUT TOGETHER VERY NICELY.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. BOOTH.

FOR THE HARTFORD SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO SOIL CONSERVATION, THEIR OWN PAIN, SIX 70 SO CONSERVATION HAS AN INCREASE OF $79,978.

90% OF THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.

FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND 6 74 IS FOR THE 3% MERIT INCREASE IN THE 7% COLA.

THE COST OF THE 27TH PAY AT 17,000 1 61.

HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASE AS WELL AS STAFF ADJUSTMENTS AT 8,000 1 55, THE COSTS FOR OPEB OR OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AT $5,935.

AND THEN PEP IS INCREASE OF 1,720.

UH, WE DID, UM, SLIGHTLY INCREASE, UM, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, UM, BY $800 AND THAT'S TO PROVIDE FOR MEETING FOR THE BOARD.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE CANADA COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS QUENTIN CORNWELL.

I AM THE, UH, SO ADMINISTRATOR OR DISTRICT MANAGER

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AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY TO, UH, SHOW YOU SOME OR PROVIDE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS.

I DID HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE.

IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR, UM, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

UM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE HARTFORD SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, UH, FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, 2223 BUDGET, AS YOU ARE AWARE, HARVARD SCD HAS SERVED HARFORD COUNTY, FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS FOR OVER 70, 77 YEARS PROMOTING CONSERVATION METHODS AND PRACTICES BY WORKING WITH HARVARD FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS, UM, HARTFORD SED HAS ASSISTED THEM.

AND AGAIN, OF COURSE OUR SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE PROVIDING CONSERVATION PLANNING WORK FOR BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, SUCH AS, UH, CONTOUR FARMING, UH, CRITICAL AREA PLANTING, BUT EVEN MORE SO OF, OF STRUCTURAL DESIGNS OF WHICH WOULD INCLUDE SUCH PRACTICES SUCH AS GRASS, WATERWAYS, WASTE, STORAGE STRUCTURES, HEAVY USE AREAS, AND MORE, UM, PER THE 2017 CENSUS, WHICH WE STILL HAVE TO RELY ON.

HARFORD COUNTY CONSISTS OF 628 FARMS, 4,400 APOLOGIZED, 40,000 ACRES OF CROPLAND, 10,279 ACRES OF PASTURE LAND.

UM, OUR GOAL IS TO ASSIST ALL THE FARMERS AND EQUINE OPERATIONS IN HARTFORD COUNTY AS BEST WE CAN.

UM, WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WHICH IS THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE AND THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY TO ASSIST HARPER FARMING LAND IS PROMOTING TRADITIONAL AND NEWER STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

UM, WE ALSO ADDRESS COURSE LIMITING, UH, SOIL RETENTION, UH, LEBANON, WHICH IS BASICALLY LIVING SOIL EROSION, AND ALSO CONCENTRATING AND REDUCTION IN NUTRIENTS DOWNLOADING.

AND THIS CAN INCLUDE THROUGH PRACTICE SUCH AS ANIMAL WASTE STRUCTURES AND OTHER QUALITY ENHANCEMENTS, UM, POSSIBLY STARTING THIS SUMMER.

UH, WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH A, UM, UH, BASICALLY IT'S A NEW INITIATIVE.

IT'S THE TERM, THE KAHNAWAKE OF WATER SAID, UH, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

UM, WHAT THEY DID IS THEY HAVE IT, UM, IS GOING TO BE EXTENDING REALLY TO ESSENTIALLY TWO THIRDS OF THE COUNTY WILL BE COVERED UNDER THIS PLAN.

UM, WE WOULD BE ASSISTING, UH, AGAIN, PROMOTING, UH, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PROBABLY ENHANCEMENTS WITH OUR CONSERVATION PLANS AND SUCH, BUT, UH, WE STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE ACTUAL, UM, LANGUAGE OR THE ACTUAL SPECIFICS TO THE PLAN ITSELF YET, BUT THAT MAY BE COMING THIS AS EARLY AS THIS SUMMER.

UM, ALSO OF COURSE, WITH OUR PLANNERS AND TECHNICIANS, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH LOCAL FARMERS TO DETERMINE THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

UM, AND WE'LL, OF COURSE, ONCE THE BMPS ARE DETERMINED IN THE FIELD, WE USUALLY SURVEY DESIGN AND MONITOR CONSTRUCTION, AND AGAIN, AT NO COST TO THE FARMER, WE SAID, WE ALSO ASSIST WITH APPLICATION PROCESSING TOO.

AND IT ALSO JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.

UM, OUR PLANNERS HAVE PROVIDED AND COMPLETED 41 NEW AND UPDATED CONSERVATION PLANS, UM, WHICH COVER AN AREA OF 3,892 ACRES.

WE ALSO HAVE, UH, COMPLETED 71 REPORTABLE BNP PRACTICES, UM, ADDRESSING SOIL, ROSHAN, SOIL HEALTH, MANAGING MANURE, AND OTHER NUTRIENTS AND ENHANCING WATER QUALITY.

UM, OTHERS' PRACTICES TO GIVE YOU EXAMPLE.

WELL, 6.2 ACRES WERE FOREST BUFFERS, 2,850 LINEAR FEET OF GRASS BUFFERS, AND ALSO 1,554 LINEAR FEET EXCLUSION FENCING ASSISTING 72 FARMERS WHO ENROLLED INTO OUR 2122 COVER CROP PROGRAM.

WE PLANTED OVER 13,273 ACRES, UM, AND THAT'S OF COURSE WENT TOWARD, UM, ABSORBING, UH, RESIDUAL, UH, RESIDENT, UH, NUTRIENTS FROM THE FALL, UH, HARVEST THROUGH THE WINTER AND ALSO FOR EROSION CONTROL EROSION CONTROL URBAN REVIEW, UM, IN OUR URBAN REVIEW SECTOR, UM, OUR PLANNER OR REVIEWER PERFORMED 233 RESIDENTS, TIME CONTROL REVIEWS, AND ALSO PROCESSED EIGHT, EIGHT REGISTERED TENANT CONTROL PLANS IMPACTING 2,215 ACRES.

UM, HE ALSO REVIEWED AND APPROVED 26 FOREST HARVEST APPLICATIONS COVERING 948 ACRES, AND AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH THE HARTFORD COUNTY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND PROCESSING, UH, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PONDS ADDRESSING 156 ACRES.

UH, PRESENTLY WE ARE WORKING WITH TWO ACTIVE STREAM RESTORATION PROJECTS.

UM, ONE, IT WAS JUST COMPLETED AND, UM, OF THOSE THREE, THEY WILL ACCOUNT FOR 8,295

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LINEAR FEET, A STREAM RESTORATION, AND 4.6 ACRES OF WETLAND CREATION ENHANCEMENT.

UM, LASTLY IS A BASELINE ESTIMATE.

WE, WE AVERAGE AROUND 40 TO 60, UM, UH, REQUESTS ANNUALLY FROM LANDOWNERS.

UM, AND OF COURSE WE USUALLY, UM, WE WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BY PHONE OR IF WE FOLLOW UP IN THE FIELD, UH, WITH THAT ASSISTANCE.

THANK YOU, MR. CORWELL, IF I MAY, I WOULD ASK YOU, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION LAYING THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.

IF I MAY, I'D LIKE YOU TO SEND A COPY OF THIS TIE THERE, MS. HARRIS OR MS. DICKSON COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR, SO THEY CAN DISPERSE IT AMONGST MY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS, MR. TIPS, I JUST WANT TO SAY A SOUL CONSERVATION DOES AN EXEMPT FULLY DOES THAT FULL AMOUNT OF WORK FOR WHAT PEOPLE THEY HAVE EMPLOYED AND WHAT THE COUNTY PAID AND THE STATE OF COURSE PAYS FOR PART OF IT ALSO, BUT IT'S PEOPLE THINK AGRICULTURE A LOT OF TIMES IN REAL LIFE, THEY TAKE CARE OF THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT ALSO FOR THE COUNTY AND PRIORITIES, AGM, UH, HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

SO IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND I KNOW THEY'RE STRETCHED PRETTY THIN AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB WITH EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

CLINTON I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF BATCHING BACK AND FORTH, BUT, UH, SO NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MR. SHREWS, YES, I THINK IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL AT SOME POINT IN TIME, UM, TO DO A LITTLE KIND OF FIELD TRIP.

UM, MAYBE NOT NOW.

I MEAN, WE'RE GOING THROUGH AN ELECTION, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CHANGES, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THE FOLKS UP HERE TO GO OUT INTO THE FIELD AND, AND CDS, BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED ALL AROUND HARFORD COUNTY, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, UM, FARMERS CAN GET A BAD NAME WITH POLLUTION, AND I JUST THINK IT'S NICE WHEN WE CAN SHOWCASE SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.

AND I THINK THAT, UM, FARMERS ARE, UM, THE BEST TOWARDS OF THE GROUND OF THE LAND BECAUSE THAT'S THEIR SOIL.

THAT'S HOW THEY'RE PRODUCTIVE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT.

BUT I THINK SOMETIMES THAT, UM, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD BY THE PUBLIC.

AND OF COURSE THERE ARE A FEW BAD APPLES, BUT I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU KNOW, 98% OF OUR FARMERS, I SEE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, UM, WITH CONTOUR STRIPS, UM, UH, VARIOUS TYPES OF FENCING AND, UM, TROUGHING AND, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WAY, UH, PASSAGES AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO, UM, I THINK IT CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LITTLE FIELD TRIP AND GO OUT AND SEE THAT FOR, FOR OURSELVES.

WE HAD DONE THAT IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN EIGHT OR 10 YEARS, MAYBE.

NO, THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.

UH, IN FACT, BACK IN MARCH, WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION.

UM, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT CARRIED US FROM 2018 TO 21 ESSENTIALLY IS EXPIRED.

AND WE WERE LOOKING AT BASICALLY REEVALUATING THAT AND PREPARE PREPARING THAT FOR HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR TO 2 25.

ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS THAT LOOKING AT POSSIBLE TOURS.

UM, WE ALSO MAY TEAM UP WITH, UM, HARTFORD LAND TRUST, AND MAYBE FARM BUREAU, UH, TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

BUT YES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC, OR ESPECIALLY OUR REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO SEE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TAX DOLLARS BEING USED TO USE WISELY.

AND YEAH, I LIKE THAT IDEA OF A FIELD TRIP, BUT MAYBE IT CAN BE SOMETHING DONE, UM, MORE LIKE A FROM VISITATION DAY IN A WAY.

SO WHERE THERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST FARM BUREAU HAS HAD, YOU KNOW, IF SAY SOMETHING AT ONE FARM, BUT MAYBE YOU HAVE A FEW PROPERTIES THAT ARE KIND OF OPENED UP OR WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO SEE DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IMPLEMENTS AND DOES THINGS DIFFERENT.

EVERY PROPERTY IS DIFFERENT, THE TOPOGRAPHY IS DIFFERENT.

THE TYPE OF FARMING OPERATION IS DIFFERENT.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE PUBLIC.

AND I THINK ANYTIME THAT WE CAN TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE NOT ONLY US, UM, BUT JUST EDUCATING, UM, THAT CAN ONLY BE A BENEFIT.

RESOURCES FACE START ON PAGE 2 82.

AND I WOULD AGREE WITH, UM, UH, COUNCILMAN SHREDS A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I MEAN, I KNOW I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A COUPLE OF PROJECTS THAT YOU GUYS WERE INVOLVED WITH OVER THE YEARS.

AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF THOUGHT PROCESS AND PLANNING THAT GOES INTO THESE, THESE RESTORATION PROJECTS, IF YOU WILL.

UM, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, SIR.

NEXT IS HUMAN

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HUMAN RESOURCES HAS AN INCREASE OF 1 91, 3 30 9% OF IT IS FOR PERSONAL SERVICES.

UH, 180 8 TO 39, 80 TO 1 66 IS THE COST OF THE MERIT AND MERIT AND COLA.

THE 27 PAY IS THAT A COST OF 31, 1 66 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 30,000 7 81 OPEB FOR, UM, 2023 IS $9,012 AND PEP INCREASES $9,760 UNDER THERE'S NO CHANGES EXCEPT FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

AND THAT INCREASES $3,100.

THAT'S FOR GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.

IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 2 85, THIS IS THE PERSONNEL MATTERS ACCOUNT.

UM, FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF $546,570.

I WAYS PERSONAL MATTERS ACCOUNT IS 1 95, 1 20 AND WATER.

AND SEWER IS 1 15, 1 50.

THIS IS WHEN, MAINLY WHEN PEOPLE RETIRE.

THIS IS WHERE WE PAID OUT.

SO GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, PRESIDENT VINCENT DEANN COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HR CONTINUE TO WORK EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS, ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, EMPLOYEES, AND RETIREES LAST FISCAL YEAR, UH, WE LOOKED AT ABOUT 2,500 APPLICATIONS.

WE PROCESS THEM THAT REQUIRED INTERACTION WITH ALL APPLICANTS WHILE THE CURRENT NUMBER OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES IS AROUND A THOUSAND.

UH, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 1700 EMPLOYEES.

THAT INCLUDES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CIRCUIT COURT STATE'S ATTORNEY, AS WELL AS ALMOST 950 ACTIVE RETIREES.

HR STAFF IS WHAT I LIKE TO CONSIDER SMALL, BUT MIGHTY.

UH, WE HAD SOME TURNOVER THIS PAST YEAR, UM, BUT I'M PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OUR TEAM AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR THIS YEAR.

UM, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR LIFE, UH, LONG-TERM DISABILITY, AS WELL AS DENTAL AND VISION.

UM, THIS IS CREATED AN INCREASE IN BENEFITS FOR DENTAL AND VISION FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT MAY HAVE CHRONIC ILLNESSES.

UH, WE ALSO ENHANCE THE LIFE INSURANCE BENEFIT.

UH, CURRENTLY IT IS A $20,000 BENEFIT.

UH, WE ARE INCREASING THAT TO 50 EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, SO THAT'LL BE 50,000.

AND THEN WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A NEW PLATFORM FOR BENEFITS AND OPEN ENROLLMENT THAT IS CALLED BENE LOGIC.

YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.

UM, BUT WHAT THAT DOES IS IT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO MANAGE A WIDE RANGE OF BENEFIT PLANS, PRODUCTS, ELIGIBILITY, AS FAR AS A USER GOES, YOU WILL HAVE YEAR-ROUND ACCESS.

UM, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF YOUR BENEFITS THAT WILL INCLUDE, UH, YOUR LIFE INSURANCE CURRENTLY NOW IN THE IWU SYSTEM, WHICH IS INTERACTED WITH COURSE, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT INFORMATION.

SO THIS WILL PROVIDE YOU, UM, AS AN EMPLOYEE NOTICE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, ALL YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

UM, IT'S ALSO GONNA ALLOW US TO DO A LOT OF REPORTING CAPABILITIES, AD HOC REPORTING.

UM, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OFF OF OUR BENEFITS TEAM AS WELL AS PAYROLL.

CURRENTLY, WE DO A LOT OF THINGS THROUGH XL SPREADSHEETS AND MEMORY, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCEPTIONS.

UH, THIS HAS BEEN TO TAKE ALL THAT AWAY.

IT'LL ALL BE IN THE SYSTEM FOR US.

IT'LL BE MUCH EASIER.

USER-FRIENDLY ON OUR SIDE, AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEE SIDE.

WE ALSO DID A BUNCH OF, UH, COVID TRACKING, UH, THIS PAST YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY.

UM, BUT WE MAINTAIN THAT.

UM, AND WE DID WELL.

UH, SO IN FY 23, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO ALL.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU, TIFFANY, FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, COUNSEL REIMBURSE YOUR JANITOR DANNA.

GOOD MORNING, MRS. STEVENSON.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF.

I'VE BEEN OVER THERE A FEW TIMES AND, UH, EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS SO HELPFUL.

UM, I COULD BE REAL PAIN AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW SYSTEM, APPRECIATE THE INCREASE IN LIFE INSURANCE, ESPECIALLY FROM MY SIDE.

UM, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO EVERYBODY THAT THEY PROBABLY DON'T REALIZE THAT, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO US TO BUY LIFE INSURANCE BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT ON A SYSTEM.

UM, I HAD SOMEBODY FROM,

[00:25:02]

OH, I DUNNO, WHATEVER, THEY, THEY FIXED MY BADGE.

SO NOW IT WORKS, BUT NOW I DON'T HAVE, NOW I DON'T HAVE THAT, MY PHOTO ON THERE.

SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS WELL, IN CASE SOMEBODY ASKS, I MEAN, I'M, I DON'T CARE, BUT IT'S BLANK.

IT'S BLANK.

OH, OKAY.

MY OTHER ONES DIDN'T WORK, SO THEY FIXED IT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF I COME TO YOU GUYS JUST TO GET THE PICTURE PUT ON THAT.

CAN I USE THE SAME PICTURE? I DON'T CARE.

I'LL BE SURE TO GET THAT TO YOU.

BUT, UH, SO I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS AND, UH, HOPEFULLY I WON'T BE ANY MORE PROBLEMS THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU COUNSEL WITH ANYONE ELSE JUST REAL QUICK.

I KNOW THAT, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE MY, MY DENTIST STOPPED USING DELTA DENTAL.

WAS THAT, IS THAT OTHER DENTIST DOING THAT AS WELL? IT'S, IT'S BEEN AWFUL BECAUSE I LOVE MY DENTIST AND NOW I DON'T HAVE A DENTIST AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A DENTIST IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

WELL, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE DENTIST.

I NEED A GOOD DENTIST.

VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

UM, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF I'VE BEEN FLOSSING, MORE CRUSHING.

SO ACTUALLY THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WENT OUT TO BID FOR, FOR DENTAL, BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF EMPLOYEES COMING TO US WITH THAT SAME PROBLEM.

WE DON'T WANT TO SWITCH ON.

DON'T WANT TO SWITCH.

WELL, GOOD NEWS FOR YOU.

WE DON'T HAVE DELTA ANYMORE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CARE FIRST FOR DENTAL, UM, WHICH IS GOING TO PROVIDE US AN ACTUAL WIDER NETWORK OF PROVIDERS.

SO, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO CALL YOUR DENTIST, MAKE SURE THEY TAKE CARE OF SO I CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON JULY 2ND OR THIRD, FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH, WHATEVER.

WELL, I'M GLAD I DIDN'T SWITCH THIS FOR THAT.

SOMEBODY MORE OF THE PAIN AND MR. SCOTT, THANK YOU.

UM, HOW MUCH LONGER IS THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES GOING TO CONTAIN MONEY FOR THE CONSULTANT NOW THAT YOU'VE BASICALLY REVIEWED MOST OF THE BENEFIT CONTRACTS CONTINUE FROM YEAR TO YEAR, FURTHER ON OUT BESIDES THIS YEAR? YES, IT WILL.

FOR AN YES, BECAUSE THEY HELP US LOOK AT THE BENEFITS.

THEY, THEY PROJECT OUT FOR US.

THEY ALSO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY BENEFITS THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING THAT WOULD HELP OUR EMPLOYEES BENEFIT OUR EMPLOYEES.

UM, SO YES, WE WILL BE KEEPING THEM ON.

AND I EVEN SAID THAT THE COUNTY HAS USED THEM IN OTHER WAYS TO LIKE LEAD WITH TOGETHER EXACTLY TOGETHER, THE, THE NEXT GEN, UM, UH, TOM'S HERE FIRE WITH STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

THEY HELPED US COORDINATE THAT TO FIND A VENDORS THAT THAT WOULD SERVE AS THE INTERMEDIARY TO PAY THE STUDENT LOANS.

AND ALSO THEY'VE BEEN THEY'VE, THEY'VE HELPED US IN WAYS BEYOND HUMAN RESOURCES.

UM, DO THEY PROVIDE THE ACTUARIAL SERVICES AS WELL? NO, WE, UM, WELL FOR NOT, NOT, NOT FOR, FOR, UH, FOR OPEB AND THE PENSIONS.

UM, WE USE BOLT FOR THIS.

I STILL USE THEM.

UM, CAN WE GET A POSITION VACANCY REPORT? SURE.

AND DOES THAT INCLUDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR ARE THEY THEY'RE A DRAWER.

SO IT WOULD BE JUST THESE TWO BUILDINGS IN THE OUTLINE? YES.

JUST THE HARTFORD COUNTY, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, NOT CIRCUIT COURT.

STATE'S ATTORNEY OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT AND CYNTHIA.

GOOD MORNING WITH, UM, THE OBVIOUS NEW ADMINISTRATION COMING IN DECEMBER 1ST.

DO WE HAVE A HISTORY OF RETIREMENTS AND TURNOVER THAT HAPPENS EVERY EDNA'S CASE EVERY EIGHT YEARS? UM, AND ANTICIPATE THAT BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER NUMBERS IN THE BUDGET.

AND CHAD, I HAVE CARE FIRST DENTAL, AND I WANT YOU TO BE THRILLED WITH IT.

BUT WHAT IS OUR, IS IT A PERCENTAGE AS A 20%, 40%? IS IT HISTORICAL AT CRYSTAL BALL? AND, WELL, WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY, OF COURSE GREW A LOT OF LATE EIGHTIES, EARLY NINETIES, AND HIRED A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS.

AND A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP WITH THEIR 30 OR 35, SOME PEOPLE LONGER THAN, THAN THEY'RE.

UM, UM, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP IT LONGER, BUT A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RETIRING.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE, UM, IN THIS PAYOUTS, FROM THE, LIKE, I CAN TELL YOU IF I RAN A SCENARIO, ANYBODY WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE, WHETHER IT'S WITH 30 YEARS AND AGE, 55 OR 20 YEARS IN 62 OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER THE MATH IS THERE.

IF EVERY ONE OF THOSE, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE READY TO RETIRE.

IT WOULD PROBABLY COST FIVE, $6 MILLION.

SO THAT IS NOT REFLECTED ANYWHERE IN HERE IN ADS.

[00:30:02]

IT'S VERY GOOD DENTAL COVERAGE.

THANK YOU, CYNTHIA.

UM, COUNSELING, WANG.

UM, I KNOW IT'S SMALL CHANGE, BUT I'M CURIOUS THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT THAT'S ON PAGE 2 86, IT JUMPED UP SUBSTANTIALLY, WELL, 35 TO 90,000.

UM, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY PROJECTING THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN BUDGETING.

IS IT 90,035? CORRECT.

THAT'S WHOEVER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF IT, I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF COVID A LOT OF RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS.

WE DID HAVE TO COME OVER ONE YEAR FOR FOUR MORE, FOUR MORE AND MORE.

WHAT IS THE POLICY FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT? YOU ARE EXPECTED TO STAY WITH THE COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS.

AND FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE LEFT, DO WE GO BACK FOR THAT? UH, HAVE WE GONE BACK FOR THAT OR JUST, UH, AND I CAN, NOPE.

I CAN ACTUALLY TELL YOU, WE, WE HAVE SOMEONE LEAVING HR AND HE GOT HIS MASTER'S DEGREE AND WE ARE TAKING MONEY FROM HIS LAST COUPLE OF PAYCHECKS TO RECOUP THAT.

CAUSE HE'S NOT STAYING TWO YEARS.

THANK YOU, MR. WAGNER, MR. SCHROEDER, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE SHOUT OUT TO BETH GRIFFITHS.

UM, SHE'S JUST FABULOUS.

I KNOW SHE'S CALLING THROUGH, UM, SOME HEALTH ISSUES RECENTLY AND I HOPE SHE'S WELL, BUT YOU KNOW, AND I THINK OF A TRUE REAL PUBLIC SERVANT.

UM, SHE'S ALWAYS, THERE SHE'S GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO LET HER KNOW THAT I, AND YOU KNOW, THAT I APPRECIATE THAT I WILL NOT BE HERE IN THIS SEAT NEXT YEAR, BUT I, YOU KNOW, SHE DEMONSTRATES ALL GOOD IN THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

IN MY OPINION, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT ON, JUST PROVIDE THE BEST AND I WILL SEND HER WELL-WISHES.

UM, SHE DID SAY SHE DOESN'T MIND SHARING.

UH, SHE IS ACTUALLY DOING VERY WELL.

SHE IS, SHE IS FULLY RECOVERED AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR TO PASS ALONG.

SHE CANNOT LEAVE SHE'S IN SHE'S IN THE REPORT.

SO, UH, BUT WE DID HIRE, UH, KATIE RESTIVO, UH, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING NEXT TO BETH FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND SHE IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

UM, IT'S A LOT TO LEARN THAT HAS A LOT IN THAT HEAD OF HERS THAT I'M TRYING TO GET ON PAPER.

UM, BUT UH, KATIE'S DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.

SHE'S LEAVING.

WHO BETH? NO, NO, SHE'S NOT LEAVING, BUT I CAN'T, I CAN'T LOSE ALL THAT KNOWLEDGE.

SO I, I HAVE TO THINK AHEAD MR. SCHROEDER AND MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T LOSE THAT KNOWLEDGE.

SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT SHE SPREADS THAT TO KATIE AND EVERYONE ELSE, SO ARE TAKEN CARE OF YOUR WEIGHT, BUT YOU'RE GOING CHAD.

I KNOW, BUT I'M MORE FOR COUNTY AT HEART.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING DONE NIGHTLY.

I SAID, I'M JUST RAMBLING.

SO ARE WE KEEPING AMERICAN FIDELITY OR IS THAT GOING AWAY? AND THEY'RE JUST INCREASING THEIR LIFE BENEFIT.

NO.

SO LIFE INSURANCE IS GOING TO BE WITH METLIFE.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE STANDARD.

THAT'S THE NAME OF OUR, OUR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

UM, THE STANDARD IS GOING AWAY.

WE ARE GETTING MET LIFE.

UH, AMERICAN FIDELITY IS THE EXTRA INSURANCE THAT YOU CAN GET AS AN EMPLOYEE.

THAT'S EMPLOYEE PAID 100% HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY.

NO, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE WITH CARE FIRST.

SO THAT'S AMERICAN FIDELITY.

UH, YOU CAN PURCHASE EXTRA INSURANCE THROUGH THEM, BUT IT ALSO HOUSES OUR FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT.

SO WILL YOU BE ABLE TO PURCHASE EXTRA INSURANCE THROUGH METLIFE? YES.

THAT IT MIGHT BE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE AMERICAN FIDELITY PLAN.

WHEN WILL WE SEE THOSE NUMBERS? YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THAT AT OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH STARTS MAY 9TH.

WELCOME.

UH, WE WILL HAVE AN EMAIL COMING OUT AROUND MAY 4TH TO LET YOU KNOW THE OPEN ENROLLMENT TIME PERIOD, AS WELL AS ALL THE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GINGER, DAN, ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON MR. BEAL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

PRESIDENT, NOT THE EYES.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA, YOU'RE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT CARROT TEETH.

I MEAN, I NEED TAKEN CARE OF, I MEAN, COME ON.

I MEAN, THIS IS NOT CHINESE VISION PLAN A COUPLE OF COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

OH PLEASE.

HE COMPLAINS ALL THE TIME.

WHAT'S HE TRYING? I DON'T GET IN THE LANE.

I DON'T COMPLAIN.

I ASKED NICELY.

SO THE VISION PLAN UNDER ALL THIS.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE ADDED BENEFIT FOR THOSE FOLKS.

[00:35:01]

UM, YEAH.

SO WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM WITH IT? WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM WITH THE IT'S IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO REAL BENEFIT.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET A GOOD VISION PLAN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OUT THERE YET.

I KNOW I'VE LOOKED FOR THEM.

IT'S MORE OF A DISCOUNT PROGRAM, STARTING A GOOD DISCOUNT.

$10 COUPON ON THE $900 PAIR OF GLASSES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF GLASSES MY WE'RE ONLY LIKE A HUNDRED.

NO, THANK YOU FOR YOU.

DO YOU DO A GREAT JOB? UM, NOW YOU SAID, BUT THE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ONLINE.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE MORE NOW, AS FAR AS THE INSURANCE AND ALL THAT STUFF, AND THE RATES WILL BE COMING OUT.

SO IF THE RATES ARE CHEAPER, WE'LL BE, UH, FOR THE ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.

SO I CAN TELL YOU THE RATES DID GO UP, BUT NOT BY A LOT.

UM, SOME OF THEM ARE GOING BY 50, SO I HAVE THE RATES HERE.

SO WE HAVE SOME 47 CENTS 97 CENTS.

UM, THE MOST, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE WITH BLUE CHOICE OPTION WITH FAMILY, IT'S GOING UP A DOLLAR 52.

SO, UM, NOT LARGE, NOT LARGE INCREASES.

WELL THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU DO, BUT I'M STILL GOING TO BE, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE CARE OF CHAD, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF IT TAKES A VILLAGE, IT TAKES A COUNTY.

LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GUYS ARE DONE.

WE'RE DONE.

THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, TIFFANY, LET'S SEE, EYES, TEETH.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GET ON? SO THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, UM, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, UM, MINORITIES AND WOMEN.

HOW ARE WE IN THE COUNTY HERE WITH, WITH THAT? DO YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE OR ARE YOU, ARE WE DON'T? WELL NOT.

I MEAN, WE ARE BASED ON THE POPULATION OF HARFORD COUNTY.

UM, WE ARE, UH, WE HAVE IT ALL OUT ON OUR EEO, OUR DIVERSITY THAT'S OUT ON THE IWC WEBSITE, UH, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGES OUT THERE.

I DON'T HAVE THEM MEMORIZE, BUT, UM, AS FAR AS FROM THE MINORITY STANDPOINT, UM, WE HAVE HANDSHAKE AGREEMENTS WITH MORGAN AND SOME OF THE COLLEGES, UM, IN THE CITY AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM.

WE'VE GONE TO CHURCHES AND, AND TRY TO GET PEOPLE THAT WAY.

SO WE, OUR OUTREACH HAS GROWN IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

UM, SO AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF BASED ON THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY AND, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL JOBS, WHATEVER, UH, HOW ARE WE WITH THAT? EXCELLENT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, ANYONE ELSE, TIFFANY? UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, PLEASE, UH, SHARE WITH EVERYONE IN YOUR TEAM THAT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DO EVERY DAY FOR ALL OF US.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND I'M SURE FOR EVERYONE ELSE HERE, UH, AT A MINUTE'S NOTICE, YOU GUYS ARE ANSWERING OUR CALLS AND, AND COMING UP WITH THE ANSWERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

YOU TOO.

NEXT UP, WE HAVE PROCUREMENT AND THEY ARE ON PAGE 2 0 6.

PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS INCREASED 180 8, 8 54.

MAJORITY OF THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.

AGAIN, THE MAYOR INCREASE AND 7% COLA.

IS THAT A COST OF 70 TO ONE 20 TO THE 27TH PAY? IS THAT A COST OF 27, 3 76 HEALTH BENEFITS WERE ADJUSTED AND INCREASED FOR AN INCREASE OF $12,065 IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

THERE'S AN INCREASE.

THERE ARE $42,000 FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 40,000, $44,050.

AND THIS IS FOR GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES AND OFFICE MAILING, AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES $8,500.

AND THIS IS TO PROVIDE FOR, UM, TRAINING SEMINARS, ET CETERA.

IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 2 0 9, THIS IS FLEET MANAGEMENT.

AGAIN,

[00:40:01]

THIS IS A HIGHWAYS FUNDED, UM, CALL CENTER OR DIVISION OF PROCUREMENT, THEIR INCREASES 5 61, 954.

IT PROVIDES FOR 20,000 9 75 FOR THE MERIT AND COLA, $10,017 FOR HEALTH BENEFITS.

AND THEN, UH, OPEC IS THAT A COST OF $3,767.

IF YOU LOOK UNDER BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, UM, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, $10,000.

AND THEN THE ACTUAL CONTRACT FOR FLEET MAINTENANCE, UM, INCREASES 500, $5,902.

AND THIS IS, UM, DUE TO THE NEW FLEET BUILDING AND WE ARE SUPPORTING AND PURCHASING PARTS FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO IT ALL FLOWS THROUGH THAT CONTRACT.

GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, PRESIDENT AND 70 COUNCIL MEMBERS ON KAREN MYERS.

AND I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, MY ROCK STAR FLEET MANAGER, WARREN, PATRICK, AS WELL AS MY ROCK STAR, UH, TEAM.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO MEET YOU AND YOU TO MEET THEM AS WELL.

SO, UH, MICHELLE SYLVESTRI KELLY, DEANNA EMP GUNNER TABOO, JACKIE HOWARD, KELLY LAMBERT, TIFFANY FITZPATRICK FROM FLEET STEPHANIE WAYLON.

AND CAN'T FORGET VERNIE MINGLING THERE IN THE BACK.

THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

WE'RE A SMALL DEPARTMENT AND WE ACCOMPLISH A GREAT DEAL.

I WILL SHARE STATISTICS AS IT RELATES TO MY DEPARTMENT WITH YOU AS WELL AS FLEET OPERATIONS.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TODAY.

SO ALSO SHARE WHAT A PROCUREMENT OFFICER'S RESPONSIBILITIES ENTAIL REGARDLESS OF PUBLIC SECTOR OR PRIVATE SECTOR, A PROCUREMENT AGENT, WHETHER I'M REPRESENTING AND BEING STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS OR WORKING FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN A CORPORATION, WE NEED TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH THE LAWS THAT GOVERNOR PARTICULAR ENTITY WE NEED TO BE PROFICIENT IN BID PREPARATION, NEGOTIATION, COST ANALYSIS, CONTRACT PREPARATION, CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, KNOWLEDGE OF INSURANCE, MARKET ANALYSIS, VALUE ANALYSIS, AND VALUE PROCUREMENT ADHERING TO THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS WHEN DEALING WITH SUPPLIERS AND VENDORS, BUT BALANCING A RELATIONSHIP AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE SUPPLIERS, WE TRAIN IN-HOUSE USERS DAILY RELATED TO PROCUREMENT AND PROCESSES.

WE MAINTAIN THE SUPPLIER DATABASE FOR THE COUNTY.

WE ADDRESS EXPIRING CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE RELATED TO ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS.

WE ADDRESS EXPIRING CONTRACTS AND THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS NEEDED FOR THOSE EXPIRING CONTRACTS.

WE PREPARE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT NEED BOARD OF ESTIMATES APPROVAL.

PROCUREMENT OFFICERS WEAR MANY DIFFERENT HATS.

I FEEL WE ARE TEACHERS, FINANCIAL ANALYSTS, NEGOTIATORS WRITERS, EDITORS, INVESTIGATORS, RESEARCH ANALYSTS, COLLABORATORS, PROBLEM, SOLVERS, PLANNERS, COUNSELORS, AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDERS.

WE SUPPORT EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY AND WHILE WE ARE NOT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, NOR ARE WE REQUIRED TO BE, WE ATTEMPT TO HELP OUR USER DEPARTMENTS REVIEW THEIR SPECIFICATIONS TO ENSURE THERE IS CLARITY IN THE BID TO HOPEFULLY AVOID ANY CONFUSION OR QUESTIONS.

THIS IN ITSELF IS A VERY ARDUOUS TASK.

SOME OF OUR DEPARTMENTS REALLY STRUGGLE WITH WRITING THEIR BID SPECIFICATIONS.

AND AT TIMES THIS PROCESS CAN TAKE MONTHS.

WE BUY EVERYTHING FROM NUTS AND BOLTS TO MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND HUGE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

WE STRIVE TO MAKE SURE WE GET WHAT WE CALL THE FIVE RIGHTS, THE RIGHT PRODUCT OR SERVICE AT THE RIGHT TIME AT THE RIGHT DELIVERY LOCATION AT THE RIGHT QUALITY AT THE RIGHT PRICE.

WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE LOWEST BID, BUT THE BEST OVERALL VALUE PROCUREMENT IS NOT BLACK OR WHITE.

IT IS VERY GRAY AND ONE MUST CONSIDER MANY FACTORS IN EVALUATING A POTENTIAL BIDDING AND AWARD OPPORTUNITY.

SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I WAS ASKED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO RAISE THE BAR OF THE DEPARTMENT.

WE ACHIEVED THAT BY ACTIVELY STRIVING TO KEEP UP WITH BEST PRACTICES, PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE, BE STRATEGIC VERSUS JUST TASK ORIENTED.

[00:45:01]

AND IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, OUR AGENTS NEEDED TO PLAY CATCH UP WITH TRAINING.

SINCE THE ADMINISTRATION CAME INTO OFFICE, OUR AGENTS HAVE ACHIEVED 10 DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS OVERALL, AND EACH TIME WE PASS A CERTIFICATION EXAM, WE TAKE AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS.

WE DO NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.

AND IN MY 37 YEARS OF PROCUREMENT, I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE EFFICIENT WHILE ADHERING TO THE CODE OF HARTFORD COUNTY, WHICH IS THE LAW.

WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO GET A USER, WHAT THEY NEED WITHIN THE LAWS AND GUIDELINES WITHIN WHICH WE MUST WORK.

BASIC GUIDELINES THAT I FEEL BENEFICIAL TO SHARE THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON MOST LIKELY IS NOT AWARE OF IS THAT PROCUREMENT AGENTS CANNOT ENTERTAIN DISCUSSIONS WITH POTENTIAL VENDORS PRIOR TO, OR DURING A BID PROCESS.

ANY CONVERSATION WITH A POTENTIAL BIDDER COULD BE A SIGN OF IMPROPRIETY OR GIVE THE PERCEPTION THAT THAT BETTER HAD AN EDGE IN THE PROCESS.

IT IS UNETHICAL.

WE MUST BE DILIGENT AND EVALUATE SITUATIONS TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES INVOLVED IN A PROCUREMENT.

AND EXAMPLE IS A KICKBACK.

OTHER FRAUDS IN PROCUREMENT INCLUDE COLLUSION TO REDUCE COMPETITION, PROVIDING BIDDERS WITH ADVANCED INSIDE INFORMATION, SUBMISSION OF FALSE INVOICES, UM, INVOICES USE OF SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS WITHOUT PROPER JUSTIFICATION.

AND ALL OF MY USER DEPARTMENTS KNOW THAT THEY, WHEN THEY COME TO ME AND ASK FOR SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT, THE FIRST THING THAT I SAY IS, IS THERE ANY OTHER VENDOR IN THIS UNIVERSE THAT SUPPLIES THIS BID THIS GOOD OR SERVICE PRE, AND THEN ALSO, UM, ANOTHER FRAUDULENT, UM, ISSUE YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IS USING PRE-QUALIFIED STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO UNNECESSARILY EXCLUDE QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS.

AND THESE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW.

ANOTHER PIECE OF KEY INFORMATION I FEEL IS NECESSARY TO SHARE IS THAT FEDERAL LAWS, TRUMP STATE, WHICH TRUMP COUNTY LAWS, IF ANY PROCUREMENT UTILIZES FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING COUNTY PROCUREMENT LAWS, DON'T APPLY.

LASTLY, ONE OTHER POINT TO REITERATE, TO CONDUCT A SUCCESSFUL PROCUREMENT PROCUREMENT AGENTS MUST HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT AN ISSUE THIS HAS BEEN WITH EVERY PLACE THAT I'VE WORKED QUITE BECAUSE QUITE HONESTLY, OFTEN WE'RE BROUGHT IN AT THE END.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO TRY TO HELP CLEAN UP SOME OF THE ISSUES OR DUE DILIGENCE THAT WASN'T PERFORMED FROM THE BEGINNING.

SO WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH REGARDING ALL THAT IS COMPETITION, ETHICS, INTEGRITY, AND TRANSPARENCY ARE KEY FACTORS.

AND WHAT A PROCUREMENT OFFICER DOES TO SUMMARIZE SOME OF OUR STATISTICS, WE PROCESS APPROXIMATELY 7,000 PURCHASE ORDERS IN A YEAR REVIEWING QUOTES THAT USERS OBTAIN GIVEN THEIR DOLLAR LIMITS THAT THEY'RE AUTHORIZED TO OBTAIN THE AGENTS, REVIEW THEM.

I HAVE FOUR PROCUREMENT AGENTS AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

KEEPING ALL FOUR OF THOSE POSITIONS FILLED THROUGH THREE PROCUREMENT AGENTS ARE REVIEWING 7,000 PURCHASE ORDERS, TURNING A REQUISITION INTO A PO INVITATION FOR BIDS REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS NEGOTIATED PIGGYBACKS EQUATE ANNUALLY TO ABOUT 230 TO 300, 250 TO 300 NEW CONTRACTS EVERY YEAR, 277 MILLION IS THE NUMBER IN FYI 21.

THE SPEND THAT CAME THROUGH MY DEPARTMENT AND THAT INCLUDES THE P-CARD SPEND AS WELL.

WE MAINTAIN APPROXIMATELY 600 CONTACTS CONTRACTS EVERY YEAR, THREE PROCUREMENT AGENTS AND MY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MANAGING 600 CONTRACTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY ARE REVIEWING CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE FOR EXPLORATION.

WE ARE MANAGING ANY CHANGE ORDERS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED FOR EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS, AS WELL AS, UM, ANY EXTENSIONS RELATED TO THE OPTION YEARS, WE CONTINUE TO TRACK OUR COST SAVINGS.

AND THE UPDATED TOTAL TO THIS DATE IS OVER $26.5 MILLION.

AS I SAID, PROCUREMENT OPERATION CONSISTS OF THREE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEMBERS, ONE INTERN

[00:50:02]

OR AGENTS WHEN WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, PROCUREMENT JUST HIRED A NEW PROCUREMENT AGENT AND WE STILL HAVE ONE VACANCY IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO RETAIN AGENTS AND HISTORY SHOWS THAT THEY MOVE ON TO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AFTER BEING TRAINED.

I CAN'T STRESS A, NOT ENOUGH, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT COMES THROUGH MY DEPARTMENT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE WISE AND CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND HOW OUR ACTIONS DIRECTLY AFFECT THE OUTCOMES SAVING MONEY WHILE TRYING TO MITIGATE RISKS TO THE COUNTY.

UM, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FLEET MANAGEMENT.

UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY JUST MOVED RECENTLY INTO A BIG, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, ALONG WITH OUR ONSITE FLEET MAINTENANCE PROVIDER, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF ED'S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEY ARE TRUE TEAM PLAYERS.

THEY HAVE WORKED WITH THE BOARD OF ED FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES, TO HELP THEM OUT WITH TECHNOLOGY, AS FAR AS THEIR TEXTS, HAVING, UM, INFORMATION, UM, EQUIPMENT AT THEIR FINGERTIPS.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW VERY PROUD I AM OF YOU AND TIFFANY FOR MAINTAINING ALL OF THAT.

THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS AN MOU WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, NOT ONLY FOR FUEL, BUT FOR THE NEW FLEET BUILDING.

AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE WARREN PATRICK TO MOVE ON WITH FLEET.

OKAY, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.

UH, MY NAME'S WARREN PATRICK, FOR THE MOST PART I'VE KNOWN MOST OF YOU AND DEALT WITH YOU IN THE PAST.

UH, A BRIEF SUMMARY ON FLEET MANAGEMENT, UH, FLEET MANAGEMENT, HIS GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, EFFICIENT FLEET FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, WHICH IS 40 DEPARTMENTS, 1,177 UNITS.

UH, WE OPERATE LIKE A PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS AND APPROACH THAT WE ARE PLEASED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE REVENUE.

WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY GENERATES REVENUE, THE WATER DEPARTMENT DOES FOR SURE, BUT THROUGH OUR SALES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE'VE GENERATED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REVENUE.

AND I'LL GET INTO THAT IN A, IN A BRIEF SECOND, UH, WE HAVE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND NON-SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

WE'RE OPEN 16 HOURS A DAY.

UM, FLEET MANAGEMENT IS BASICALLY SIX BUSINESSES.

WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF ACQUISITION MAINTENANCE, FUEL REGULATORY SALES, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST REVENUE.

THE FUEL ADMINISTRATION, UH, SYSTEM, UH, IS IN CHARGE OF THE RECONCILIATION AND BILLING PROCESS OF THE COUNTY'S APPROXIMATE HUNDRED TANKS, BOTH ABOVE AND BELOW GROUND.

THE FUEL OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CURRENTLY NINE FUEL STATIONS SEEM TO BE TEN ONE ON ROUTE 22 AT, UH, WHERE THE HEAT CENTER IS WHEN THE NEW SHERIFFS, UH, PRECINCT GOES UP.

UH, WE PROVIDE FUEL FOR MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE FIRE ASSOCIATION, THE TOWN OF BELL, THEIR JOB, MAGNOLIA AND WAIT FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER.

UH, THE BENEFIT OF HAVING OUTSIDE AGENCIES COME IN TO OUR SYSTEM, SAVES THE COUNTY TAX PAYERS DOLLARS, UH, DUE TO ECONOMIES OF SCALE, UH, TAXPAYERS DOLLARS AND INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE.

WHEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAME OVER, WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN ONE OF THEIR STATIONS.

WE'VE PREVENTED THEM FROM IMMEDIATELY HAVING TO PUT $200,000 INTO A TANK UP AT THE INTERSECTION UP AT ROUTE ONE WHERE THE FACILITIES BUILDING IS, UH, CURRENTLY FUEL PRICES AT THE PUMP ARE 4 25 TODAY FOR NEW LED AND 5 39 FOR DIESEL.

WE RECENTLY LOCKED IN, UH, FOR UNLEADED AT 1.9, EIGHT, EIGHT A AND 2.784 FOR DIESEL.

WE'RE ONLY LOCKED THROUGH THE PERIOD UP TO JUNE.

UM, THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR BUDGET IS CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH WE HAVE THE GENERAL, THE HIGHWAY AND THE WATER FUND FOLLOWED BY FUEL, WHICH IS $4.2 MILLION.

RIGHT NOW I'LL GET INTO FUEL ON A FEW SECONDS.

CAUSE I KNEW YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE THAT USUALLY IS ONE OF OUR FLOATING LARGE BALANCES THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY MONITORING.

OUR STATISTICS ARE A NON TARGET THIS YEAR.

WE CAME IN AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS WE DID LAST YEAR.

THE TARGET AND AS KIM MENTIONED, UH, WAS AN INCREASE

[00:55:01]

OF $505,000, WHICH IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I KNOW, BUT WITH MOVING INTO THE NEW BUILDING AND ASSUMING THE BOARD OF EDUCATIONS, UH, OPERATION, UH, FOR PARTS IN ITEMS WHERE WE'RE PUTTING IN THREE NEW EMPLOYEES AND THE PARTS WILL BE RUN COMPLETELY THROUGH OUR OPERATION NOW.

AND THERE'LL BE PART OF THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE WHERE OUR EXISTING FLEET PLUS THEIR FLEET WILL DRIVE DOWN COSTS FOR THEM AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS WITH SAVINGS.

ONCE AGAIN, UM, VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS LAST YEAR, WE REPLACED 123.

WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON ERIK CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AS FAR AS VEHICLES, OUR FLEET, $60 MILLION OF STRONG.

UM, WE PUT IN FOR $16 MILLION AND WE'RE GOING TO GET LIKE $6.4 MILLION FOR REPLACEMENT THIS YEAR.

SHOULD WE HAVE A GAP, BUT WE'LL NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

OUR SALES, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT, UH, OUR SALES IN FYI 22 ARE PROJECTED AT 1.17, $7 MILLION.

WE'RE EXPERIENCING, UH, SOME MARKET CONDITIONS, JUST LIKE THE GENERAL POPULATION WHERE WE'RE SELLING VEHICLES FOR PHENOMENAL PRICES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE UNABLE TO GET A LOT OF VEHICLES AND THE MARKET IS COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT A SHAMBLES THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

OUR LARGEST FLEET DEPARTMENTS FOR THE SHERIFF AND HIGHWAYS ARE FLEET VALUES.

$62,972,000 AVAILABILITY TO OUR USING AGENCIES.

THE HIGH NINETIES, LIKE 97%.

WE RUN THE FLEET OPERATION LIKE A BUSINESS.

I COME FROM PRIVATE SECTOR.

UH, I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS ACCIDENTS EVERY YEAR RUNNING AROUND $200,000 AND WE GET ABOUT 50% OF THAT BACK BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE RUN INTO OUR VEHICLES.

UM, THE MAJOR THING, I THINK THAT THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT REDUCING THE FUEL BUDGET THIS YEAR BY $1.5 MILLION.

SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE BURNING A COMBINATION OF 1.3, 7 MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT IT'S NOT JUST OUR VEHICLES, IT'S THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SCHOOL BUSES, IT'S THE FIREFIGHTERS AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT I MENTIONED.

UM, WE CURRENTLY DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING EXACTLY WITH THIS FUEL PRICE.

BUT IF, IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT OUT AT $4 A GALLON, WHICH WE COULD HIT, THAT'S LIKE 5.2 OR $5.3 MILLION.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE NOT A WISE DECISION FOR US TO REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR THE FUEL RATE.

THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WE HAD NEW SCHOOL BUSES RUNNING BECAUSE WE HAD COVID AND THAT SERIOUSLY IMPACTED.

AND IT'S WHY WE HAD NOT SPENT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S A ROLLER COASTER.

AND EVEN THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES A LOT WERE ON A WEEK OFF A WEEK AND WE DIDN'T BURN NEAR THE AMOUNT OF GALLONS.

SO KEEP IN MIND THE 1.37 MILLION, UH, AS YOU LOOK TOWARDS REDUCING OUR BUDGET.

I DO NOT THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A WISE MOVE AT THIS TIME.

THAT BASICALLY IS ALL I HAVE.

THERE WAS A LOT MORE, VERY IMPORTANT.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

UH, KAREN, APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION AS WELL.

AND I WOULD ASK BOTH OF YOU TO PLEASE FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS OVER TO MS. HARRIS SO SHE CAN DISTRIBUTE THEM AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.

UM, MR. SCOTT, TAKE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FIRST.

NO, I CALLED YOU FIRST.

WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU DO I'M ALWAYS LAST.

SO, UM, KAREN, I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, THE CAPITAL SIDE DISPARITY GRANT, I BELIEVE YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

I DON'T SEE IT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET THIS YEAR AS AN ONGOING PROJECT.

DOES THAT MEAN IT'S BEEN COMPLETED AND IT HAS WHAT WERE THE RESULTS? SO KIM'S CHECKING THAT, BUT, UM, THE DISPARITY STUDY RIGHT NOW, UM, I THINK, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WE BUDGETED AT ABOUT 600,000.

IT'S COSTING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 300,000.

UM, WE ARE ON TARGET WITH THE COMPANY, GRIFFIN AND STRONG COMPLETING THAT STUDY AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND THE REPORT SHOULD BE TO US BY THE END OF NOVEMBER, BEGINNING OF DECEMBER.

OH, OKAY.

UM, WARREN, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

[01:00:01]

HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE.

UM, IN THE BUDGET IN THE THIRTIES, UH, CATEGORY SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, YOU'VE, YOU'VE HAD, UH, A TREND OF 4.2 MILLION AND SOME CHANGE BEING THE BUDGET AMOUNT REQUESTED.

IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A FLAT LINE FOR, LET'S SAY A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT THE BALANCE THAT REMAINS ON SPENT AT YEAR END HAS BEEN STEADILY GROWN IN FROM UNDER A MILLION TO NOW AROUND 10 MILLION.

CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME CLARITY AS TO WHY? SURE.

WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR, OUR DIVISION DOES NOT CONSUME THE FUEL, OUR CARS, OUR DIVISION PURCHASES, THE FUEL, AND THEN PASSES ON THOSE COSTS DIRECTLY TO THE USING AGENCIES IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT A, THE COST OF THE FUEL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE ON A LOCK OR NOT ON A LOCK B.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH AN ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO USE AS FAR AS GALLONS.

SO PREVIOUS, EVEN BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN YOU WERE IN TREASURY, WE USED TO TRY TO PREDICT AS WELL WE COULD, HOW MUCH WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEED AS A THROUGHPUT.

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THIS, THIS ACCOUNT IS.

IT'S A THROUGHPUT ACCOUNT OF WHICH WE DON'T CONSUME.

THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DIVISION HAS VERY FEW VEHICLES THAT CONSUME A SMALL AMOUNT OF GALLONS.

I MENTIONED THAT DURING COVID FOR EXAMPLE.

WELL, THE FIRST FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS WHEN WE INTEGRATED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S FUEL SYSTEM, FUEL NEEDS, I SHOULD SAY, IN THE ERRORS, IT WAS, IT WAS A BEST GUESS AT LIKE $800,000.

AND WE HAD TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE VENDORS THAT WERE SELLING THE FUEL TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO TRY TO GET SOME SORT OF A SOLID NUMBER TO INCREASE OUR BUDGET BY WHEN WE ASSUME THEIR EQUIPMENT.

SO IT'S NOT BEEN TOO MUCH OF A ROLLER COASTER AS FAR AS WHAT WE ASKED FROM AN APPROPRIATION ASPECT, BUT IT IS A, AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT A UTILIZATION.

AND WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, BEL-AIR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS THAT WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA LIKE WHAT THEIR WORKFORCE IS GOING TO DO OR HOW THEIR HOURS ARE GOING TO BE AND WHAT THEIR CONSUMPTION IS GOING TO BE.

SO I, I CAN ONLY OFFER TO YOU THAT I SIT HERE AND TRY TO DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN TO PROTECT US AS A COUNTY, THAT WE PROVIDE ENOUGH, UH, CAPITAL OUT THERE FOR THE SHERIFF AND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR THE AMBULANCES, FOR THE SCHOOL BUSES.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION OR NOT, BUT YOU RECOGNIZE THE REVENUE ON THE REVENUE SIDE.

SO TO SOME EXTENT, THE, UM, IF, IF THE, THE EXPENDITURES ARE HERE, SO IS THE REVENUE, SO IT DOES HAVE, UM, IT BALANCES OUT.

SO, UM, IT'S MORE OR LESS KIND OF IT, AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE, UM, UM, UH, MORE EXPENDITURES THAN WE WOULD HAVE MORE REVENUES AND THEN VICE VERSA.

SO IT'S KIND OF A WHOLE WASH IN THAT ZACK AT $5 A GALLON, JOHN, IF THIS YEAR HITS AS BAD AS I THINK IT COULD HIT, AND WE DON'T GET OUR LOCKS AND WE DON'T GET OUR PRICING, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE BUDGETED COULD BE COMPLETELY SO BAD THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

UM, AND ONE, THIS QUESTION MAY NOT BE YOURS TO REALLY ANSWER WHEN, UH, WE HAD THE HARTFORD CENTER IN HERE THE OTHER DAY, THEY MADE A COMMENT THAT THEIR FLEET IS BEING MAINTAINED BY MOBILE SERVICE, PEOPLE THAT COME IN TO THEM.

WHY HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO THEM? AND THEY HAVE DECIDED THEY DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE.

UM, WE HAVE NOT OFFERED TO THEM TO MAINTAIN ALL OF THEIR BUS FLEET, KIM, SOMEBODY, THE HARTFORD CENTER.

I'M TRYING TO PUT MY ARMS, WE'VE PROVIDED THEM WITH ONE OF OUR OLD BUSES, BUT THEY HAVE QUITE A FLEET OF BUSES, BUT ARE THEY NOT A COUNTY ORGANIZATION, JOHN? I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, THE COMPONENT AM I USING THE RIGHT TERM ROBBIE COMPONENT UNIT SMELL, UM, OF THE COUNTY.

UM, AND IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THEIR BUSES WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING PART OF THE FLEET OPERATION THAT YOU PROVIDE.

THAT HAS NOT COME BEFORE ME BEFORE.

SO I COULD LOOK

[01:05:01]

AT THAT FOR SURE.

UH, I'M JUST ASKING AS A QUESTION.

MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF IT, OR I IT'S BEEN HISTORICAL THAT WAY.

SO, BUT THEIR BUS FLEET HAS REALLY GROWN AND MOBILE SERVICES.

NICE.

BUT, WELL, CERTAINLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTEGRATING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN WE USED TO DO THINGS, AND THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING.

SO IF IT IS, IF IT IS ECONOMIES TO SCALE AND TAXPAYERS' MONEY BEING SPENT, IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BENEFICIAL, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THEIR LOSSES THAT THE COUNTY HAS FOR THE TRAINING.

WE DO.

THERE'S THREE DEDICATED TECHNICIANS OVER IN ABINGDON TAKE CARE OF THEIR FLEET.

THAT'S IT.

OKAY, MR. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT, KEN WARREN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY DETAILED, UM, PRESENTATION AND THE AMAZING JOB THAT YOU DO.

UH, ONE QUICK QUESTION.

UM, WHAT DO YOU WANT? DOES THE COUNTY OR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OPERATE ANY ELECTRIC VEHICLES? OKAY.

SO THE COUNTY ACTUALLY DOES HAVE A FEW, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'LL EXPANDER, THE SUCCESS RATE.

IF YOU TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT ARENAS, I'M PART OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED NAFA, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FLEET ADMINISTRATORS.

OUR FLEET.

AND WE ARE THE TOP 100 BEST FLEETS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS AND WAYS OF THINKING.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE, AS A COUNTY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO USE ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECAUSE OF OUR RURAL, UH, ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MOST PART VERSUS AN INNER CITY WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF STOP AND GO.

CERTAINLY THE NEWER VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN MORE.

THEY GO MORE MILES PER FOR PHILIP WHEN 239, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES TESTING THE CHEVROLET BOAT ACROSS THE STREET.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH SOME ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN THE DEALERSHIPS THAT SELL THEM WHERE IF THEY PUT IN THOSE CHARGING STATIONS, LIKE YOU SEE IT, A LOT OF THE WILD WALLS AND EVEN WALMART, UH, THE DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL GRID, UH, SOMETIMES IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE EVEN THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL SIZE BUILDINGS WITH ENOUGH ELECTRICITY IN A CORRIDOR.

SO, UM, THERE ARE SOME GRANTS OUT THERE WHICH I'M ACTUALLY WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH THE COMPANY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME FREE CHARGING STATIONS.

THE NEW BUILDING ACTUALLY WAS BUILT IN MIND WITH HAVING SEVERAL CHARGING STATIONS PUT IN THERE AND WE HAVE PROVISIONS, BUT A LOT OF IT IS DEPENDENT ON THE SUPPLY SOURCE OF THE GRID.

UM, THE AVAILABILITY OF THE ELECTRICITY, THE NUMBER OF HOURS IT TAKES TO CHARGE AND SO FORTH.

SO, SO I AM PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS WELL AWARE OF THAT.

UH, THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE COSTLY.

I WOULD CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN IN CERTAIN DIVISIONS LIKE THOSE NEW F150 PICKUP TRUCKS.

AND I'VE MENTIONED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HE'S, HE'S ECHOED THAT HE WOULD REALLY BE INTERESTED IN TRYING SOME OF THAT, LIKE IN THE HIGHWAYS DIVISION, HAVING SOME OF THOSE.

SO WE'RE NOT THERE YET, BUT I ALSO, DON'T LIKE TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO JUMP IN WHEN THERE'S A NEW PRODUCT OR A NEW THING COMING OUT AND LIKE TO SEE HOW IT WORKS AT SOME OTHER PLACES BEFORE WE WERE ALREADY BACKED UP FROM A $16 MILLION NEED A REPLACEMENT TO ONLY GETTING 6 MILLION.

SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL MY EGGS IN THAT BASKET RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M TRYING TO BALANCE OUT THE EXISTING SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN.

SO, UM, OPEN-MINDED, UM, OTHERS AROUND LIKE CALIFORNIA HAS REALLY TAKEN THAT PLUNGE AND THERE ARE OTHER FUELS TOO.

THERE'S THERE'S UM, HYDRO, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE WAY TO GO YET.

I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IT'S, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK TERM A PRICE AS FAR AS FUEL IS IT COULD BE.

AND THE COST PER KILOWATT HOUR IS NOT ALL THAT INEXPENSIVE.

AND MERGING THAT THE TWO TOGETHER IS, IS THERE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE SCHOOL WAS PAYING FOR THEIR GAS? WHAT, AND, AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW YOU JUST SAID WHAT OUR CONTRACT IS.

SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT.

IT'S ALMOST A PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER.

I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE'S NEW, NOT AS MUCH MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLES, IF THIS NEW ONE 50 THAT HAS NOT COME INTO INTO THE PUBLIC YET, IF THAT PROVES TO BE AS GOOD AS I THINK IT SHOULD BE, THAT MIGHT BE THE WAY FOR US TO GO WITH A LOT OF AIR.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PICKUP TRUCKS UP HERE, SO YEAH, I'VE JUST BEEN LOOKING INTO IT, BUT I'M GLAD YOU'RE LOOKING INTO IT AND YEAH.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME INSIGHTS, YOU KNOW, CAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL SEE.

BUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. BUELL AND MR. CHANDRA DANNA.

HI, MR. WARREN.

I I'VE ONLY MET YOU ONCE, SO, BUT UH, UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW FACILITY

[01:10:01]

IS THERE A BIG SAVINGS BETWEEN WHEN YOU TOOK THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM AND PUT IT IN OURS? I THINK THAT WAS, WE DIDN'T GET THAT INFORMATION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND I'M KIND OF CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

SO COINCIDENTALLY, THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS USING THE SAME PROVIDER AND THE SAME FUEL COMPANY.

SO THE PRICES THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR THEIR FUEL WAS IDENTICAL TO THE PRICES THAT WE OKAY.

SO THE PRICE PER GALLON WAS NEW DIFFERENCE WHATSOEVER.

THE SAVINGS COMES IN WITH THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE, OF THE FUELING STATIONS, THE ACCOUNTABILITY, BECAUSE OUR, UM, INTERFACES BETWEEN OUR, OUR AIR CCG SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT DRIVES THE WORK ORDERS AND ALL OF OUR MAINTENANCE COLLECTION ALLOWS THE FUEL NOW TO BE DUMPED IN THERE WITH THEIR MILEAGE IS SO THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WE CAN CAPTURE THEIR MILEAGE IS, AND THE BIGGER, THE BIGGER SAVINGS HAS YET TO COME WITH THE BEST FLEET PRACTICES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT INTO PLACE RIGHT NOW IS HAVING THEIR MECHANICS GO, UH, DUMP ALL THIS STUFF INTO ONE COMMON SYSTEM.

UH, LIKE I SAID, WE HAD THE SAVINGS IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE TOOK OUT THE GAS STATION UP THE STREET AND CLOSED IT.

SO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO YOU AND ASK FOR MONEY FOR YOU TO PUT MONEY INTO THEIR BUDGET FOR.

SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY TANGIBLE WHERE YOU CAN TOUCH THEM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE DEFINITELY OUT THERE AND THERE'S AT LEAST 200.

I CAN TELL YOU OF ANOTHER QUESTION.

THE, THE BUS CONTRACTORS, THEY DON'T GET THE GAS FROM US, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

IS THERE NOT A WAY THOUGH THAT THEY COULD GET IT FROM US THAT WOULD SAVE THEM MONEY, THEREFORE SAVE THE CA UH, THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MONEY, IF IT'S, SO I'M NOT REALLY PRIVY TO ALL OF THAT GOES ON THERE.

I KNOW THAT THEY GET THEIR BUSES ON A CONTRACT AND COMBINE THEM AT A DECREASED PRICE SOMEHOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THEY SPEND FOR CONTRACTORS FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, BUT THAT CERTAINLY WOULD MAKE SENSE IF AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE BUYING IT FOR, FOR SUCH A REDUCED COST, EVEN, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY WHEN THE MARKET.

AND I THINK YOU, UH, YOU HAD SOME FEARS THAT, THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING YOU DON'T SEE THAT GONNA STAY THAT WAY.

YOU SEE IT RISING UP, PROBABLY COME JUNE.

UM, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU ABOUT THAT.

NOT BEING FULLY ON BOARD WITH THE ELECTRIC, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW CHEVY'S COMING OUT WITH AN ELECTRIC TRUCK.

I THINK A LOT OF THE, MAYBE THE WAY IS WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT, MAYBE IT'S HYDROGEN DOWN THE ROAD, BUT MAYBE IT'S ALSO HYBRID WHERE, YOU KNOW, THESE TRUCKS CAN GO 35, 40 MILES ON A CHARGE, BUT THEN YOU STILL HAVE YOUR GASOLINE ENGINE, ESPECIALLY OUT IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THAT AT THE COUNTY.

BUT IT, BUT IN TOWN OR TRAFFIC, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE 30 OR 40 MILES, IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT AS THOSE COSTS BECOME THE SAME.

AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO START PUTTING SOME OF THESE IN THESE PICKUP TRUCKS IN THE, IN THE BIGGER VEHICLES.

UM, NOW THAT WAS ONE OF MY THINGS.

AND THEN, UM, KAREN HAD JUST WANNA, UH, THANK YOU.

UH, APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW I GET REQUESTS ALL THE TIME TO SEND CERTIFICATES IN.

UM, I SENT THEM OFF TO, UH, MAYBE THE, UH, UM, ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT OR SOMETHING.

SO ONCE THEY GO THERE, DO THEY THEN COME TO YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT, OR DO THEY LOOK AT THEIR OWN? AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT CERTIFICATES VERSUS THE CERTIFICATES THAT WE MONITOR, THE ONES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR CONTRACTS.

UM, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD MET WITH, UH, UH, ACROSS THE STREET.

BILLY WAS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK AT, UH, THE CERTIFICATES AND THE CARRIERS, UM, RATINGS, IF WE DID EVER CHANGE THAT, THAT WE WENT TO A RATED CARRIERS, WE SPOT CHECK QUARTERLY AND RANDOMLY, AND ACTUALLY KELLY LAMBERT, HER INTERN JUST CHECKED ALL THAT.

EVERY VENDOR ON THERE IS EITHER A TO A PLUS PLUS.

AWESOME.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

AND THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK IN THE PROCUREMENT.

I KNOW THAT'S A, THAT'S A, UM, NOT A GLAMOROUS JOB, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET AND HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.

AND, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THEY'RE MOST PRUDENT WITH COUNTY TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, UM, ON THE FLEET MAINTENANCE SIDE.

THANK YOU, MR. JOHN, ANDREW, DAN AND MR. WAGNER, AND CERTAINLY PROCUREMENT DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB FOR THE COUNTY AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT

[01:15:01]

UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT AN, AND ALSO A AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP EVERYTHING ON THE ROAD AND RUNNING WELL.

UM, I SENSED A LITTLE CONCERN FROM YOU THAT, UH, YOU HAD SOME INKLING OR SOME IDEA THAT THERE WOULD BE, UH, A PROPOSAL UP TO, UM, CUT BACK ON THE FUEL, UH, COSTS THAT WE HAD HERE.

UM, AND I GUESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AS VOLATILE AS, UH, AS THE MARKET IS, I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY WANTING TO ROLL THE DICE ON THAT ONE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO IN THE FUTURE.

AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE IS SITTING THERE WITH ALL THE VEHICLES AND EMPTY TANKS.

SO, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE, THAT'S A VALID CONCERN RIGHT NOW FROM, FROM THIS SIDE, I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, UM, THAT WAS JUST A, UH, A PERCEPTION THAT, UH, I CAN'T IMAGINE IT EXISTING.

AND ON THAT, UM, WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL FUEL STORAGE WAS UP AT THE OLD BOARD OF EDUCATION SITE, WHERE THEY FEEL THEIR BUSES THAT THEY CLOSED? I'M NOT SURE THE GALLONS THAT THEY HAD THE GROUND WELL, BUT OKAY.

I WAS LOOKING FOR STORAGE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DOES, DOES THE STORAGE AMOUNT CHANGE? UM, NOW THEY'RE USING THE ONE ON, ON 5 43 AT THE OLD FACILITY, RIGHT? SO WE PUT BIGGER TANKS IN THE GROUND BECAUSE MY PHILOSOPHY IS ONCE WE OPEN THE GROUND, IT'S NOT THAT MUCH MORE TO PUT A BIGGER TANK IN THE GROUND ONCE THE HOLE IS THERE.

AND FOR EXAMPLE, ADDING THAT WE PUT TWO 20,000 GALLON TANKS, LET ME GROUND OVER, ACROSS THE STREET, NINE 11, ONE'S GOT TO LIKE 40,000 GALLON TANKS FOR THE NINE 11 CENTERS, BUT THEY'RE RUNNING THOSE HUGE GENERATORS.

SHOULD WE HAVE AN OUTAGE? UM, I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT GO WITH ANYTHING SMALLER.

AND I TRY TO, THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE YEARS AGO WITH HAVING TWO SMALL ATTACKS.

SO THE FACILITIES YOU'VE GOT AT HICKORY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD FROM THE FACILITY THAT FUELS AT THE FUELING STATION WILL ADEQUATELY SUPPLY ALL OF THE COUNTY VEHICLES AS WELL AS THE BUS IS A BUSY.

YES, IT IS.

YES, IT DOES.

YEP.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. WAGNER.

UH, CYNTHIA, GOOD MORNING, MR. WHITE, UM, EIGHT TO 10.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONS TO THE FLEET MAINTENANCE, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL FROM THE NEW BUILDING AT ADDITIONAL PARTS FOR THE SCHOOL WE HAVE GIVEN THE SCHOOL AND MORE OF THIS BUDGET, UM, BIRTH BADGES THIS YEAR.

SO, SO WHY IS A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS COMING OUT OF THIS BUDGET INSTEAD OF THE SCHOOL? AND SO THAT'S BASICALLY GOING TO BE A SHIFT IN FUNDS.

LIKE I HAD PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT WITH FUEL, WHERE THEY STOPPED USING $800,000 WORTH OF FUEL, AND WE HAD TO INCREASE HOURS.

SO IT'S, IT'S JUST REALLY AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE.

UH, I PREDICTED THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING $380,000.

AND THE REST OF THAT 500 IN PERSONNEL SERVICES WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THAT.

HOPEFULLY YOU'VE NOT DONE IS HAD TO FUND THEM FOR THE PARTS.

SO, SO YOU, RIGHT.

SO, SO THE PARTS INVENTORY NOW IS ALL UNDER MY MANAGEMENT AND IT USED TO BE UNDER THEIRS.

SO WHEREAS THEY USED TO HAVE TO PAY CASH WHEN THEY PURCHASED PART.

NOW IT'S UNDER MY UMBRELLA AND THE INVENTORY IS NOT PAID FOR UNTIL THE MOMENT THEY USE IT, LET'S SAY THEY REIMBURSE US.

SO IT SHOWS, IT SHOWS UP AS THE MONTHLY.

WE DON'T NET IT OUT OR ANYTHING.

I MEAN, THEY, WE GIVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEIR FUNDS AND THEN THEY REIMBURSE US.

UM, AND THAT SHOWS UP AS A REVENUE, ONE ROI ON OUR SIDE.

SO YEAH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S EXTRA SCHOOL, DISSIPATED COST SAVINGS FOR THEIR PARTS.

WE, WE DID A ROUGH ESTIMATE, UH, PROBABLY WELL OVER A YEAR AGO, BASED OFF OF THEIR CURRENT INVENTORY.

AND IT WAS ABOUT $20,000 IN COST SAVINGS FOR THEM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I JUST WAS THERE WHEN THEIR BUDGET, ADDITIONALLY, UM, HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO THE LIBRARY TO SERVICE THEIR VEHICLES? WE DO SERVICE THE LIBRARY'S VEHICLES.

I'LL, I'LL LET THEM, SO WE SERVICE THE COMMUNITY AND THE LIBRARIES, UH, FLEET, UH, ONE OF THE, TO GET FUEL.

AND THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T, I'M NOT, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE, BUT CERTAINLY THE MORE THE MERRIER GET THE ECONOMIES TO SCALE.

WE'VE GOT THE STATIONS AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DO WE SERVICE THE ENTIRE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, THEIR MOTORCYCLES.

UM, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH HARDEN HARLEY-DAVIDSON THOSE ARE THE SPECIAL

[01:20:01]

TOOLS.

AND WE ONLY HAVE SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE.

WE GET A BIG BANG FOR OUR BUCK INTO PARTNERS, WITH SOME OF THE NON-PROFITS THAT WE PARTNER WITH, SUCH AS THE ARC AND THEIR VEHICLES.

WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

WE HAVEN'T IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU, CYNTHIA.

MR. SCOTT, THANK YOU, MARK.

CAN YOU EDUCATE ME PLEASE? UM, I'M NOT A DIESEL VEHICLE OWNER AND DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT DIESEL.

DOES IT HAVE ISSUES LIKE GAS WITH THE ETHANOL IF IT GETS STORED TOO LONG? SO DIESEL HAS A PRODUCT CALLED D D E F AND DIESEL DIESEL'S CURRENTLY ARE LIKE THE OLD CARS BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, WHERE THEY TRIED TO CLEAN UP THE EMISSIONS BY PUTTING YOUR PUMPS ON THEM.

AND THEY JUST THREW ALL KINDS OF ACCOUTREMENTS UNDER THE HOOD.

AND RIGHT NOW THE DIESEL TRUCK INDUSTRY IS IN THE SAME POSITION, BUT SO THEY'VE THROWN A UNIT OUT THERE CALLED, UM, THAT REQUIRES THIS FLUID CALLED DEF THAT IT, IT SPOILS IF YOU DON'T USE IT, BUT WE'VE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

THE REASON I ASKED THAT QUESTION, YOU JUST MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE EOC HAS TWO 40,000 GALLON TANKS, CORRECT? IS THAT STRICTLY FOR THE GENERATORS UP? THERE IT IS.

AND WHAT I HAD TO DO IS I ACTUALLY HAD TO PUT A FILTRATION, PLANT A MINI PLANT UP ON THE TOP DECK TO KEEP MOVING THAT FLUID AROUND AND PUT THE CHEMICALS IN THERE TO KEEP THE FUEL FROM SPOILING BECAUSE OUR BURN RATE ON THOSE GENERATORS IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FOR THE CAPACITY OF THE 40,000 GALLONS UNDERGROUND PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY INITIALLY DID THAT AND IT WILL GO STILL, IT WILL FORM A FUNGUS AND WE PUT ANTI ALGAECIDE SIDES IN THERE AND RE REFILTER THE FUEL.

I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A PROGRAM TO RECYCLE, BASICALLY TAKE IT OUT OF THAT TANK AND MOVE IT TO ANOTHER TANK AND REPLACE IT.

IT'S THE WARREN.

OF OUR LOCAL COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO KNOW ABOUT THE TYPES OF PROPOSALS THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO MR. TIBBS.

UH, I NOTICED THAT THE COUNTY, I ASSUME IT WAS THE COUNTY PUT THREE FOR FOUR CHARGING STATIONS IN THE AGRICULTURE BUILDING.

AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO HOW WE GET OUR MONEY BACK FOR THOSE GEORGIAN STATIONS.

ARE THEY FREE? YOU'RE FINE.

DEPARTMENT CAN COMPLETE WITH RAIN TO INSTALL ON THE OTHER.

BUT WHAT I MEAN IS FOR THE CHARGE OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT GOES INTO THE BATTERY HABIT IS THAT SO THAT, UM, THEY HAVE A CREDIT CARD APP THAT YOU USE ON YOUR PHONE, LIKE THE CREDIT CARD AND MEDICAID DOWN THAT I'VE ASKED.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE CHARGED YOUR BATTERY AND NO, I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN A CORRECT NAME BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE YOU.

UM, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SIZE BATTERY IS, WHAT CAR YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT CHARTS ARE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE WE HAVE FAST CHARGERS.

WE HAVE, UM, STAGE TWO CHARGERS THAT CHANGE YOUR HOURS TO CHARGE.

YOU HAVE A CHARGER THAT TAKES 30 MINUTES.

SO IT ALL DEPENDS.

IT COULD COST YOU $2 TO $10.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE THAT WHO YOU HAD AND THE UNIT YOU'RE USING THE WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT PEAK HOURS.

AS FAR AS CHARGING IS CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE PAYING FOR PEAK HOURS OF ELECTRICITY AT 30 CHARGING.

UM, AND THE GUY THAT WAS INSTALLING THOSE, I ACTUALLY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING TO HIM AND HE SAID, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO A FAST CHARGE BECAUSE HE SAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO RUIN YOUR BATTERY WHERE YOU QUICK.

WELL, I KNOW THAT FROM AGRICULTURAL BATTERY, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS MORE SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK DOWN THE ROAD TIME WILL TELL I'M SURE.

MR. SCHROEDER.

YEAH, I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT MY QUESTION WAS NOW.

I HAD IT BEFORE I WAS LISTENING TO MR. TIBBS, UM, TRYING TO REALLY THROW ME OFF.

UM, I GOT IT.

YOU HAVE ANY OPEN, ANY OPEN HOUSES OR TYPE OF THINGS WHERE TO TRY TO GET MORE LOCAL CONTRACTORS, UM, TO, TO PARTICIPATE, UM, OR IS IT JUST A MATTER OF GOING THROUGH THE WEBSITE? I MEAN, I'VE BEEN THEIR WEBSITE.

I KNOW THERE'S A BID BOARD AND I KNOW THERE'S PROCESSES OR CERTAIN MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS WITH INSURANCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT HOW DO WE GET OUTREACH AND, AND, AND MORE

[01:25:01]

AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION IS, I KNOW, YEARS AGO WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF PIGGYBACKING WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WOULD COULDN'T DEAL WITH SOME LOCAL ONES WAS A LOT OF THE TIMES IT WAS JUST EASIER QUICKER IF, IF WE WERE PIGGY-BACKING, UM, WITH WHETHER IT'S BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OR WHEREVER, ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF SPEAK TO BOTH OF THOSE TWO TOPICS.

SO HERE'S THE DEAL WITH PIGGYBACKS IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SOLICIT BIDS AND WRITE SPECIFICATIONS ON OUR OWN TWO THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN EITHER.

I NEED MORE STAFF AND THE USERS IN THE DEPARTMENTS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THEIR AREAS TO WRITE THEIR SPECS.

THEY NEED ASSISTANCE IN WRITING THEIR SPECIFICATIONS.

THEY NEED TO HIRE CONSULTANTS IN ORDER TO WRITE THEIR SPECIFICATIONS, BECAUSE QUITE OFTEN A SPECIFICATION IS, CAN BE EXTREMELY DETAILED TO WRITE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY T IS CROSSED AND EVERY I'S DOTTED.

SO QUITE OFTEN WITH PIGGYBACKS BECAUSE OF MY STAFFING LEVELS AND THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE, IF YOU WILL, ON CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, UM, IT IS MUCH EASIER TO, TO PIGGYBACK AN EXISTING CONTRACT, AS FAR AS OUTREACH TO VENDORS.

WE WERE DOING THAT ONCE A YEAR, BUT WHEN COVID HIT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID IT FOR TWO YEARS, BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT AGAIN.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU, MR. SHREDS, ANYONE ELSE, DAVE? UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WASN'T A DISCUSSION WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS ASSOCIATION AND TO PICK ONE, SOME OF THE DUTIES ON THE MAINTENANCE ON THE FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT, WHERE'S THAT GONE AND WHY IT IS WHERE IT IS TODAY.

SUE, BASICALLY THEY ELECTED NOT TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.

UM, WE ARE THOUGH, UH, MOVING FORWARD WITH OBVIOUSLY THE EXPANSION OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES PART.

SO WE ARE DOING AND PURCHASING MORE AMBULANCES, BOTH NEW AND USED TRYING TO MEET THE GAP IN THE MIDDLE.

SO ULTIMATELY WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CIRCLE THAT WAGON AND THAT'LL PROBABLY END UP GOING IN THAT DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE, WHICH WOULD TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY JUST THE AMBULANCES.

AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE APPARATUS IN THE FIRE EQUIPMENT, WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY, WE HAVE THE BUILDING, WE HAVE THE TECHNICIANS CERTIFICATIONS, NO PROBLEM.

IT REALLY IS JUST A MATTER OF THEM WANTING TO DO THAT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE'S BEEN SOME RELUCTANCE ON THEIR PART, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE USED TO GETTING THINGS CERTAIN WAYS AND DOING THINGS CERTAIN WAYS, AND WE'VE PUT THAT OUT THERE TO THEM AND THEY'VE JUST ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS THE WAY THEY CONTINUE TO.

YOU WOULD EXPECT A COST SAVINGS TO THE VOLUNTEER INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BY UTILIZING CATEGORIES.

SO THAT IS A LOADED QUESTION BECAUSE IF THEY ARE UNDER MAINTAINING AND NOT DOING THINGS CORRECTLY AND THEY BRING THEM UNDER MY ROOF AND I HAVE TO DO THINGS IN A MANNER TO MAKE SURE THAT FROM A LIABILITY ASPECT, WE PROTECT EVERYBODY'S INTEREST.

UH, IT MAY BE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE MAINTENANCE AND NOT USE SOME OF THE VENDORS THAT THEY'RE USING BECAUSE SOME OF THEM AREN'T NECESSARILY, UM, UP TO MY STANDARDS OR UP THERE, OUR STANDARDS BEING A, BEING A BEST FLEET.

IT'S EXACTLY.

AND JUST FOR CLARITY, THE AMWAY IS SUCH THAT YOU'RE PURCHASING YOU MAINTAIN NOW WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE ANSWERS ARE NOT IN ANY WAY COUNTY END.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, DAVE.

AND MR. WAGNER, ONE MORE TO THAT POINT.

HOW MANY, UH, COUNTY OWNED AMBULANCES DO YOU CURRENTLY SERVICE? UM, NINE, EXCUSE ME, NINE.

AND HOW ARE YOU AWARE OF HOW MANY IN THE PIPELINE TO BE BOUGHT, UH, ONE NEXT YEAR AND POSSIBLY A COUPLE RETROFITS? SO WHAT I DO IS I BALANCE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNTY TO BUY A NEW ONE AT $320,000 VERSUS POSSIBLY JUST A CABIN CHASSIS AND FLIPPING A BODY FOR MAYBE A HUNDRED THOUSAND, WHICH IS A ONE-THIRD SAVINGS.

WITH THEM AND THEY'VE BEEN DISMISSIVE OF, OF YOUR SO, SO THERE WAS A STUDY THAT WAS CONDUCTED YEARS AGO AND THAT DOOR WAS OPENED.

THANK YOU, MR. WAGNER.

CYNTHIA, CAN YOU TELL ME, DO YOU DO BEL AIR POLICE DEPARTMENT? NOW WE PROVIDE THEM WITH FUEL, BUT WE DO NOT DO THEIR VEHICLES.

AND I ASSUME THAT THE AIR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH EITHER.

WE DO NOT.

UM, AND HAVE YOU REACHED OUT FOR COMPLETE PACKAGES

[01:30:01]

UM, CERTAINLY EVERYBODY AROUND TOWN NEWS AT THAT DOOR IS STILL OPEN AND IT'S UP TO THEM REALLY WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THANKS CYNTHIA.

ANYONE ELSE? SO, UM, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES, I GET TO SEE ALL THE REQUESTS THAT COME FORWARD.

AND BY FAR, UH, BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, WARREN, PATRICK DOES THE BEST JOB PRESENTING, UH, PUTTING THE INFORMATION OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE FLEET ITSELF.

HE EXPLAINS WHEN HE CAN BUY LOCAL WHEN HE CAN'T AND WHY HE CAN'T.

HE EXPLAINS WHAT THE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS THAT HE'S REPLACING THE AGE, THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE AND EXPENSE THAT'S INTO IT, THE RESALE VALUE, TRADE IN VALUE, WHATEVER, AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO COST TO THE END.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WISH ALL OF OUR PEOPLE THAT PRESENT DID IT IN THAT MANNER, IT MAKE OUR JOB A LOT EASIER.

THE AMOUNT OF DUE DILIGENCE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY PROCUREMENT.

AND, UM, I, I, I COMMEND HIM FOR THAT.

AND THEN KAREN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB, UH, PROVIDING A GREAT SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS IN HIS TAX DOLLARS.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH MR. SHRUBS, BECAUSE OUR VEHICLES ARE MAINTAINED THE WARREN PATRICK WAY.

DOES THAT MEAN WHEN WE GO TO AUCTION THE RESELL, THESE THAT THEY'RE BRINGING BETTER VALUES, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE BUYING THIS EQUIPMENT AND OUR GREAT ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND BALK POTENTIALLY, AND PIGGY-BACKING, BUT THEN ON THE SELL SIDE, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE DELTA BETWEEN BUYING NEW AND THEN YOU RESELL IS GOING TO BE MUCH SMALLER THAN ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE THEY ARE WELL-MAINTAINED.

IS THERE A WAY FOR ONE OF THOSE AUCTION SITES TO SEE THAT IT'S A HARTFORD COUNTY VEHICLE AND DOES THAT, THAT, THAT WORD KIND OF SPREAD THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BUY THAT VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A HUNDRED AND SOME THOUSAND MILES.

I KNOW THAT IT'S WELL-MAINTAINED DOES THAT HAPPEN IN COMPARISON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE THEY JUST MAYBE DON'T MAINTAIN AND RUN THEM? DO THEY KNOW, ARE THEY AWARE THAT, CAN THEY TELL THAT THAT VEHICLE, LIKE WHERE IT, UM, KIND OF LIVED BEFORE AND IF IT WAS MAINTAINED UNDER YOUR WAY, DEFINITELY HAPPENING, THAT IS DEFINITELY HAPPENING.

UH, AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE JUST SOLD, UH, A 13 YEAR OLD, A UTILITY TRUCK THE OTHER DAY FOR 22,500 THAT WE PAID 44, WE'VE ACTUALLY SOLD.

WE, WE ARE ABLE TO BUY IT WHOLESALE AND SELL IT RETAIL, RIGHT? AND AS SOON AS THEY HEAR THAT IS A HARTFORD COUNTY VEHICLE, PEOPLE WANT THEM BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY'D BEEN UNDER A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND THEY'RE NOT AS BAD AS SHAPE.

SO YOU BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT ABOUT THE DELTA.

IT ACTUALLY BENEFITS US TO BUY WITH GREATER FREQUENCY AND SELL WITH GREATER FREQUENCY AND MAINTAIN A FLEET THAT'S YOUNGER BECAUSE THEN WE DON'T HAVE THE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS AND WE ARE GETTING THOSE DOLLARS BACK IN THE FORM OF HIGH AUCTION RESULTS, WHICH IS THE 2.27 MILLION THAT'S PREDICTED FOR THIS YEAR.

SO NOW MY FOLLOWUP QUESTION IS WHERE ARE THESE VEHICLES BEING SOLD AND IS THE, ARE THE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE AUCTION PLACES YOU HAVE TO BE A DEALER, ARE YOURS GOING TO A DEALER OWNER? UH, I MEAN, I MEAN ONLY A DEALERS ARE ABLE TO BUY OR CAN THE PUBLIC BUY SOME OF YOUR EQUIPMENT VEHICLES, ET CETERA.

WE SEND THEM BOTH PLACES DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE.

UH, AND FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT'S WRECKED, OR IF A VEHICLE IS A POLICE CAR, THAT'S REALLY BEEN RUN HARD, WE MAY SEND THAT TO ONE VENUE AND THEN THEY WOULD REQUIRE A DEALER'S LICENSE.

AND THEN IF WE USE, FOR EXAMPLE, RITCHIE BROTHERS UP ON PULASKI HIGHWAY, THEY DO NOT THEY'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WE'VE, WE'VE ACTUALLY SENT DIFFERENT VEHICLES TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND JUST TO CHECK THE RESULTS.

AND, UH, IT DEPENDS UPON THE CONDITION OF THE UNIT AND WHERE WE SEND IT, BUT YOU, YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A DEALER LICENSE AT ONE VENUE, BUT NOT IN ANOTHER.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

DON'T FORGET TO SEND IT OVER TO US.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, MARCY.

I'M JUST GOING TO TURN YOU TO THE PAGE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ON PAGE 300

[01:35:49]

OF HARFORD COUNTY AND ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY BIT OF FUNDING WE RECEIVE.

SO GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CAN YOU PULL THAT MIKE AND JUST A LITTLE TIGHTER OR SPEAK LOUDER? I KNOW.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, SO I'VE GIVEN YOU THOSE PACKETS AND THEY HAVE A PIE CHART OF OUR FUNDING.

UM, SO HARTFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS FOR SOME FUNDING, SIR SOURCES, UM, CORE FUNDING, WHICH IS USED FOR FAMILY PLANNING, DISEASE INVESTIGATION, COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, MEDICAID CARE COORDINATION, AND ADMINISTRATION.

THE COUNTY FUNDING IS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND ADMINISTRATION, CATEGORICAL FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS IN EACH OF OUR SIX BUREAUS.

THAT'S WHERE WE GET A GRANT AND YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE, EXCEPT THE PROGRAM AND COLLECTIONS IS FOR OUR BILLABLE SERVICES AND M F Y 22.

WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN OUR CORE BUDGET THAT WAS USED FOR SALARIES OF TEMPORARY STAFF WHO WORKED ON COVID RESPONSE.

IN ADDITION, WE RECEIVED OTHER COVID FUNDING FROM A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL TEMP NURSES FOR COVID CLINICS, COVID TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, AND ASSISTING WITH COVID RESPONSE WITHIN THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UM, UH, THESE PARTICULAR AGREEMENTS BROUGHT OUR BUDGET UP TO OVER 26 MILLION IN FYI 22, UP FROM 20, OVER 20 MILLION IN F1 21.

HOWEVER, THE COVID FUNDING IS NOT PERMANENT WITH TWO OF THE COVID GRANTS ENDING THIS FISCAL YEAR AND TWO OTHERS ENDING IN FYE 23.

AS FAR AS OUR COLLECTIONS ARE CONCERNED, WE HAD AN INCREASE OF AROUND 400,000 FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR, EVEN DURING COVID.

AND THAT WAS THROUGH DIRECT AND TELE-HEALTH SERVICES AS AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THAT THE HUD GRANT FUNDING OF 1 MILLION OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WAS OFFICIALLY GRANTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

THIS IS TO MAKE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONAL HOME MODIFICATIONS AND LIMITED REPAIRS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS LIVING IN HARTFORD COUNTY.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORK CLOSELY WITH COUNTY PROCUREMENT, UM, THE COUNTY PROCUREMENT OFFICE, AND THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IS NOW POSTED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND COUNTY PROCUREMENT FOLLOWED ALL THE HUD'S REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS SPECIAL THANKS TO KAREN MYERS AND STEPHANIE WAYLON FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.

WITH THIS, YOU CAN SEE HOW DETAILED THEY WERE FROM THEIR EXPLANATIONS.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID AN AMAZING JOB THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, SOMETIMES ENDURING CRITICISM, BUT ALWAYS TAKING THE HIGH ROAD IN ITS RESPONSE.

IN THE END, WE CAME OUT STRONG STAFF WERE THERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY DURING THAT TIME AS ALWAYS ALL WHILE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, EITHER BY TELE-HEALTH OR IN-PERSON.

AND THEN ON THE SECOND PAGE OF YOUR HANDOUT, THERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDED IN FYI 21.

SO WE PROVIDED OVER 31,000, UM, MEDICAID TRANSPORTS, UH, FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS TO MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS.

WE PROVIDED 2,500 PSYCHIATRIC VISITS AND OVER 2000 SUBSTANCE USE VISITS IN OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUREAU.

THE, UH, WE ASSISTED OVER A THOUSAND PATIENTS WITH REFERRALS TO SERVICES THROUGH OUR CARE COORDINATION BUREAU.

WE HAD ALMOST 1400 FAMILY PLANNING VISITS AND OVER 13,000 COVID-19 INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS CONTACT TRACING IN OUR CLINICAL HEALTH BUREAU.

WE HAD OVER 800 TOTAL FOOD INSPECTIONS, OVER 500 ANIMAL BITE INVESTIGATIONS AND OVER 1700 BUILDING PERMIT REVIEWS TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUREAU.

AND WE HAD OVER 2,500 DENTAL VISITS OVER 5,000 WITH CLIENTS WE'RE SEEING MONTHLY AND OVER A THOUSAND FAMILY HOME VISITS IN OUR FAMILY HEALTH BUREAU.

WE USE OUR FUNDING FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS

[01:40:01]

WE HAVE A COUNTY AUDIT EVERY YEAR AND A STATE AUDIT EVERY THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

MANY OF OUR SERVICES, UM, SERVE AS A SAFETY NET FOR THE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARFORD COUNTY FUNDING FROM ALL SOURCES ALLOWS US TO ASSIST FOLKS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUREAU TO ASSIST MOMS AND CHILDREN WITH OUR NEW, WITH NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, THROUGH OUR WIC PROGRAM, TO HELP WITH ACCESS, TO CARE AND ACCESS TO MEDICAID INSURANCE AND CARE COORDINATION SERVICES TO HELP CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR DENTAL NEEDS.

YOU CAN COME TO OUR CLINIC, MR. SCHROEDER, IT'S FOR CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN, BUT OKAY.

AND THEN TO MEET THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF THIS COUNTY THROUGH PERMITS FOOD AND OTHER INSPECTIONS AMONG MANY OTHER SERVICES, I COULD USE SOME WATER IS THIS MINE.

THANK YOU, MR. GLASSMAN CALLED ME YESTERDAY AND HE OFFERED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AN ADDITIONAL 200,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO ASSIST IN MEETING ADDITIONAL NEEDS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUREAU.

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

SO, UM, I WILL DO THAT.

THIS WILL GREATLY HELP WITH STAFFING TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FROM PERMITS, WHICH HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM 1,388 PERMIT REQUESTS IN 2018 TO 1,821 IN 2021, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS ASSISTANCE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. AND THE, ALL THE COUNCIL FOR ADVOCATING FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, ON OUR BEHALF FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL AT OUR UPCOMING BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING IN MAY WE PLAN TO GIVE PROGRAM UPDATES AND WE WILL HIGHLIGHT TWO IMPORTANT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE MINORITY HEALTH AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

THANK YOU, MARCY FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, AND I'M GOING TO START OUT BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS, UH, THROUGHOUT AND AFTER THIS PANDEMIC.

UM, YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF OUR STAUNCH, UH, PEOPLE THAT WE CAN RELY ON AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, AND, AND YOUR DEDICATED TEAM.

UM, I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE KIND OF LISTENED TO US AS FAR AS OUR REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR PALMS POSSIBLE, UH, CONCURRENT CONTRACTUAL SERVICES TO HELP YOU, UH, WITH YOUR SCANNING NEEDS AND, UH, POSSIBLY, UH, SOME, UH, IN THE FIELD EXPERTS AS WELL.

SO FOR INSPECTIONS, UM, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. JANE.

JORDANNA GOOD MORNING, MARCY.

HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO SEE, I, SORRY.

YOU'RE ON CRUTCHES THERE.

AND I, UH, I, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, SO I HOPE YOU'RE, I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER.

UM, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR IT.

WELL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID, BUT, UH, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE YOU DOWN RIGHT NOW? SO W OUR LEADERSHIP IS DOWN, BUT, BUT WE HAVE ALL ACTING, YOU KNOW, ACTING POSITIONS FILLED.

SO DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION LEFT, WE HAVE ONE OF OUR IT GUYS WHO STEPPED UP AND HE WILL PROBABLY GET THAT JOB CAUSE HE'S FANTASTIC.

UM, SO HE'S THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.

UM, I'M ACTING HEALTH OFFICER.

SO THE, THE DEPUTY POSITION IS, UM, OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR.

SHE'S SITTING IN THAT PART RIGHT NOW, UM, WHO ELSE? CAUSE WE ALL SEEM TO BE ACTING AT THE MOMENT.

UM, SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS YOU RECRUIT AND EVERYTHING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FILL POSITIONS.

WHEN YOU SAY PERMITS, UH, WHAT ARE THE PERMITS FOR PROBABLY MR. VINCENTE CAN SPEAK TO THAT, UM, FOR BUILT FOR BUILDING, FOR BUILDING PERMITS.

ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, RESTAURANTS.

RESTAURANT OPERATORS WHO WERE IN THE OTHER PART OF THE COUNTIES WHO COME UP HERE, DO TELL ME THAT IS QUITE DIFFICULT.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IT UP.

ARE YOU WHICH ONE? IT STARTS WITH AN R RAGS.

NO, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING THAT UP.

UM, I AM GOING TO BRING UP THE DIFFICULTY BETWEEN HARTFORD COUNTY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR RESTAURANTS, WITH THE INSPECTORS AND THE, AND THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY AND THE CHANGING, UM, PARAMETER THAT SEEMS TO BE EVERY YEAR WITH WHAT'S REQUIRED TO DOING THAT.

UM, I, I, MY OTHER HAT, I INSURE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND I RUN A COUNTY HARTFORD COUNTY

[01:45:02]

UM, UH, WHEN THEY GO TO OPEN UP A, ANOTHER FACILITY AND THE, THE TROUBLES THEY ARE HAVING, UM, AND THIS IS, I'VE HEARD THIS NOW FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GETS ADDRESSED, HOW IT CHANGES, WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT WE REQUIRE, WHAT OTHER COUNTIES REQUIRE.

UM, AND SOME THINGS DO NOT SEEM TO BE SENSIBLE, SENSIBLE.

UM, SO WE, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL I CAN SAY IS WE'VE HAD THE TURNOVER, WE'VE HAD NEW EMPLOYEES, SO IT TAKES ABOUT TWO YEARS TO GET, TO GET YOUR FEET WET WITH RESTAURANTS.

AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCED STAFF WORK WITH THEM EVERY DAY TO DO THAT.

BUT, UM, I, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I DON'T THINK THE GUIDELINES HAVE CHANGED.

I THINK IT COULD BE THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, BEING NEW STAFF.

IT'S NOT THE SAME.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRING.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE SAME IN BALTIMORE COUNTY HERE IN SEMINOLE.

SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A QUESTION, WHO DO I GO TO THEN TO, TO HELP SOLVE THIS, YOU CAN COME TO ME AND I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT WITH JOHN.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T.

I WOULD DEFINITELY DO THAT.

SO BALTIMORE COUNTY IS A HOME RULE COUNTY TOO.

SO THEY'RE EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY AND WE'RE EMPLOYED BY THE STATE.

SO THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT RATINGS.

YEAH, DEFINITELY COPING.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AND YOU GUYS REALLY AREN'T OPEN YET.

THANK YOU, MR. JANITOR, DANNO.

ANYONE ELSE MR. WAGNER, MARCY, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR RESPONSIVE, UH, THIS TO ME, ANYTIME I ASKED FOR SOMETHING AND ALSO ALL YOUR, UH, YOUR STAFF THERE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEY THEY'RE MORE THAN ACCOMMODATING.

EVERY TIME WE, WE LOOK FOR SOMETHING TO TRY TO HELP A CONSTITUENT.

UM, ONE QUESTION I'VE GOT IS THE A AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU CALLED IT.

THE, THE FACILITY ON MAIN STREET THAT YOU OPENED UP, UM, FAMILY HEALTH CENTER, A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

WE WE'VE HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE GETTING DENTISTS.

THAT COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SEEM TO ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE LEFT THE PROFESSION DURING COVID.

I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING ASSISTANCE.

WE JUST GOT ONE THOUGH.

AND THEN WE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING A DENTAL HYGIENIST AND THE DOCTOR THAT THE DENTIST IS GOING TO START, UM, WHERE I'M NOW EARLY MAY I THINK SO.

AND WE'RE GETTING THAT ONE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND DENTAL SCHOOL.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE TO GET SOMEBODY FROM THERE.

UM, SO IT'S BEEN REALLY TRICKY, TRYING TO WIC IS RUNNING STRONG.

UM, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO START DENTAL.

WE'VE GOT THE SYSTEM DOWN, PAT, WE'VE GOT, UH, THE TWO CLINICS.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER THROUGH THE COMPUTER.

WE CAN SCHEDULE AT EITHER PLACE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND I KNOW I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS FROM DOWN WOODBRIDGE WAY, TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU'VE BEEN STEADY DOWN THERE, THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH, UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY THE WAY YOU DO.

AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU THERE.

UM, I SEE THE NALOXONE, UM, UNDER CLINICAL HEALTH HERE IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'VE GOT THERE, THERE'S NO WAY OF ACCOUNTING FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT GIVEN OUT IN THE COUNTY, IS THERE IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE THEY GO AND DO, UM, OUR GROUP GOES AND DOES PREY PRESENTATIONS AND THEY HAND THEM OUT.

UM, THEY DO TRACK IT.

I MEAN, THEY DO.

THAT'S ONLY YOURS.

I MEAN, A TOTAL OF OTHER AGENCIES THAT GIVE IT OUT.

WE DON'T, WE CAN'T, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT NEAR THE NUMBER.

I MEAN, THAT'S OUR NUMBER, RIGHT? SO THERE'S FIVE TIMES THAT IN AND AROUND HARTFORD COUNTY BEING DISTRIBUTED INTO IT, I CAN SEE IF ANYBODY TRACKS IT FROM ALL OVER AND THERE'S A REPORTING SITE I CAN CHECK.

THAT'D BE NICE TO KNOW ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE VISITED IN ABERDEEN, ESPECIALLY GIVE OUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

UH, AND YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF GIVES YOU A VISUAL.

THAT IS THAT AHA MOMENT WHEN YOU SEE IT.

AND I'M CERTAINLY, I WANT TO PASS ALONG THAT, UH, MY AIDE AND I ARE, ARE, UH, UH, ALWAYS HAPPY TO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEES AND THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT WE SERVE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND THE ADDICTION SIDE OF IT IN THE FAMILY HEALTH.

THANK YOU, MR. WAGNER, MR. SHREDS, WHERE I CAN GO.

THIS IS THE PART WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE SALT FOR THE HIGHWAYS AND HAS ANYBODY SEEN PAUL WATER? THAT'S AN INSIDE, HE'S GETTING INTO SIDE JOKE THERE.

I'M GOING TO EAT MY WELL, THEY'RE GETTING ON BESIDE TO THROW THAT BACK TO, UH, SO, UM, I WAS AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THE OTHER WEEK AND, UM, WELL, I'M, I'M GETTING THERE, CAME UP THE ELEVATOR

[01:50:01]

SO I JUST LIKE A REGULAR PERSON.

I CALLED THE NUMBER AND I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND TOLD THEM I WAS OUTSIDE AND THEY LET ME IN.

SO I HAD MY APPOINTMENT.

IT WAS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR MINUTES.

YES, OF COURSE.

SO I WAS WEARING MY OTHER HAT TRYING TO HELP A CLIENT OUT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, GREAT SERVICE.

UM, BUT WHEN IS IT GOING TO OPEN BACK UP, LIKE WHEN YOU CAN JUST GO THERE AND, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU FILL OUT THE INFORMATION REQUEST AND THEN THEY, THEY HELP YOU.

I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED BECAUSE OF ALL THE COUNTY OFFICES ARE OPENING OR OPEN.

AND THEN I, I GO THERE AND IT'S LIKE, I WENT BACK FIVE MONTHS AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UH, AS TO, UH, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS, BECAUSE I JUST WASN'T THINKING IT HAD TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING.

AND I WENT THERE AND THEN I COULDN'T GET IN WITHOUT CALLING AND GETTING MY APPOINTMENT.

SO FOR A LONG TIME OVER COVID, WE WERE DOING SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS SO THAT THEY WERE SPREAD OUT AND, UM, WITH VITAL RECORDS, WHICH IS RIGHT IN THAT SAME BUILDING ON THE FIRST FLOOR, WE WERE DOING APPOINTMENTS AND WE'VE OPENED, UM, THEM TO APPOINTMENTS IN THE MORNING, AND THEN WALK-INS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO JOHN TO SEE IF HE'S, HE'S READY TO DO THAT.

I THINK THEY LIKED THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROLLED BECAUSE THEY DO GET BOMBARDED SOMETIMES.

BUT, UM, I CAN TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.

DI DID YOU SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHEN YOU CALL THEM OR DID YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT? HONESTLY, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.

IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS I NEEDED, I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF.

SO I JUST WENT UP THERE, UM, LIKE THE OLD DAYS AND I JUST CALLED THE NUMBER AND I SAT IN A CHAIR BY THE ELEVATOR, BUT YOU HAVE SOME CHAIRS.

AND, AND I TOLD THEM WHO I WAS AND TRY AND HELP SOMEBODY OUT.

AND THEY LET ME IN, AND I HAD A GREAT TEAM THERE THAT HELPED ME, BUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE, ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, IF I HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER DEPARTMENT LIKE PLANNING AND ZONING OR DOPE OR WHATEVER, YOU COULD JUST GO THERE.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE, IT JUST KIND OF TOOK ME ABACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING TO JUST BE ABLE TO WALK IN AND THE DOORS ARE LOCKED ESSENTIALLY.

SO I AM PROBABLY NOT THE ONLY ONE.

I MEAN, I SHOULD, I SHOULD'VE KNOWN THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE LOCKED.

OTHER FOLKS PROBABLY JUST SHOW UP.

THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS.

I THINK PAT SAYS THEY KNEW I WAS COMING.

UM, SO ANYWAY, I WAS JUST A LITTLE SURPRISE THERE AND RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN WORK TO WORDS, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE EARTH AND ALL THE PROPERTIES AND THE LAND IS DIFFERENT.

UM, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THAT IT SEEMS THERE, THERE IS A LOT OF GRAY AREA BECAUSE OF THAT DIFFERENT WATER TABLES, DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHY, DIFFERENT, UH, EVERY PLACE IS DIFFERENT.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE MORE BOILER PLATE AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS BLACK AND WHITE.

THERE THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY IN, IN THE REAL WORLD, IN THE FIELD ON EARTH, ESSENTIALLY.

AND, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT WE, MORE THAN WE USED TO DEFAULT TO MDE, TO MAKE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS WHEN IT USED TO BE THAT WE WERE MAKING THOSE CALLS IN HOUSE.

AND THAT WAS A MORE EXPEDIENT PROCESS.

SO I THINK THAT THE FUNDING THAT WE JUST GOT AND THAT YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATED FOR IS GOING TO HELP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE STAFF.

YOU HEARD, HOW, HOW MANY PERMITS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MORE STAFF.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FLAT FUNDED FOR A WHILE AND NOW THIS ONLY ALLOW US TO BRING SOME MORE STAFF ON.

SO I HOPE THAT IMPROVES IT.

CAUSE WE DO.

AND WHEN YOU GET COMPLAINTS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL, UM, YOU KNOW, AND I, WE USUALLY, I USUALLY JUST TALK TO THE STAFF.

THEY, THEY HAVE AN EXPLANATION OR THEY EVEN MEET YOU OUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE YOU, UM, ARE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

SO FEEL FREE TO CALL.

AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE EXTREMELY FRIENDLY.

I MEAN, I TALKED TO CARRIE REGULARLY, TALKED TO JOHN REGULARLY, TALKED TO LARRY.

WHAT REALLY? I MEAN, I KNOW ALL YOUR STAFF, UM, EVERYBODY, FRED, THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE ALL REALLY GREAT PEOPLE AND THEY LOVE THEIR JOBS AND THEY'RE GOOD AT IT, BUT IT'S JUST, SOMETIMES I'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FRUSTRATED TOO, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER END WHO ARE READY TO RETIRE HAVE A TON OF LEAVE.

SO THEN THEY START USING THEIR LEAVE AND THEN IT LEAVES IT EVEN MORE SHORT HANDED.

SO TRYING TO BALANCE THAT I HAD TO WORK AROUND THE LARRY'S LARRY.

HE WAS OUT

[01:55:01]

A LITTLE WHILE.

UM, WELL WE JUST WENT TO NASHVILLE, RIGHT? THANK YOU, MR. CYNTHIA.

UM, HELLO, KEN, CAN YOU TELL ME, ARE COVID CASES STILL BEING REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? YES.

AND EVERY DAY ON OUR WEBSITE, WE UPDATE THEM.

SO, UM, WE'RE, I THINK A LITTLE OVER 6% OF, SO THE LIBRARY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB IN DISPERSING AT-HOME COVID TEST.

UM, AND I PERSONALLY KNOW IN THE LAST 14 DAYS, EIGHT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID, WHO ONE OF THEM WENT TO A PATIENT FIRST.

AND SO THAT WAS REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

THE OTHER SEVEN WERE NOT REPORTED ANYWHERE.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY CAPTURING GOOD NUMBERS ANYMORE.

WHEN WOULD WE GET THOSE RAPID TESTS AND HAND THEM OUT? WE GIVE THEM A FLYER TO CALL US AND REPORT IT, BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING NOW, EVEN, EVEN THOUGH IF YOU CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND THEY OVER THE, OVER THE PHONE CALL YOUR PHARMACY, THEY'RE NOT REPORTING, RIGHT? SO OUR NUMBERS ARE HUGELY BEING REPORTED FOR COVID, ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTY, WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER EVENT, UM, MAY 22ND AT THE BEEP AT THE EMISSIONS TESTING A DRIVE THROUGH THOSE HAVE BEEN REALLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THEM OUT THERE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT CAPTURING THE REAL NUMBERS.

UP, UM, THE PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, CYNTHIA, MR. SCOTT, AND MINE'S MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION.

UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALLED AND OFFERED SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY BECAUSE ONE OF MY OBSERVATIONS WAS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, YOU REALLY HAVE NOT AS A DEPARTMENT SEEN INCREASES OTHER THAN IN YOUR RENTAL AND YOUR STIPENDS FOR A FEW SELECT EMPLOYEES, THAT'S THERE.

AND THAT WAS CONCERNING BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR COSTS CERTAINLY HAVE CHANGED OVER THAT SIX YEAR PERIOD ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED WAS YOU ENDED UP GETTING $20,000 FOR WATER TESTING ADDED INTO THE BUDGET.

THE EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH FLATLINE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY.

WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

SO THANK YOU.

AND I WILL SAY TOO, THAT, UH, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT MATTER, UM, THAT THERE, THIS IS A, A STEP AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS AND IF IT NEEDS TO BE MORE, THEY THEY'RE WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN.

SO, UM, I WAS APPRECIATIVE OF THAT AS WELL.

UH, ANYONE ELSE, MR. JUST TO COMMENT, UM, THAT I THINK I CHOOSE TO MAKE FOR YOU MARCY, YOU KNOW, OVER THE, OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT POSITION, YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN THAT POSITION.

AT TIMES THERE'S BEEN SOME UNDUE CRITICISM.

UH, THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME CRITICISM AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MEDICAL DOCTOR IS SITTING IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE AND THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE MATTER IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS NOT MISSED A BEAT.

AND THERE IS A DOCTOR TO THE, TO THE REAR OF THE SEATING.

THAT'S STILL SITTING THERE AND OVERSEEING THINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NOT A SUBSTANDARD BY ANY MEANS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A MEDICAL PHYSICIAN THERE.

UM, AND, AND SOMETIMES YOU GET THAT IN AND AROUND COMMENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE A DOCTOR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FINE, WE'RE FINE.

AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE DOES A GREAT JOB, VERY RESPONSIVE.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOUR WHOLE AGENCY'S VERY RESPONSIVE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

THANKS ANYONE ELSE.

AND I'LL JUST END IT BY SAYING, I DON'T THINK EVER BEFORE IN THE COUNTY'S HISTORY AS A COUNCIL, PRESIDENT WORKED ANY CLOSER WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAN I HAVE, AND I FIND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, TO BE VERY, UM, RESPONSIVE.

UM, AND I HAVE REQUESTED MEETINGS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL DIVISION ONSITE AT MANY LOCATIONS, AND WE'VE ALWAYS FOUND, UH, AN AREA OR A WAY TO, UH, GET THE ISSUE SOLVED LEGALLY AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE ADHERE TO THE REGULATIONS IN THE CODES.

UM, BUT YET THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT.

UM, MY COLLEAGUES, UH, AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH, UM, HAD BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY, WORKING IN THEIR, JUST THEIR DISTRICTS, UH, ADVOCATING AND WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UH, WE HAVE FINALLY NAILED DOWN, UH, OUR COMMITTEE TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR A NEW HEALTH OFFICER.

UM, I'M PURPOSELY HOLDING UP NOW TO GET THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE HERE, AND THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START, UH, ADDRESSING AND SETTING

[02:00:01]

UM, HAD THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH SECRETARY SCHRADER AND DR.

CHAN AS WELL AS, UH, YOU AND OTHERS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, UH, AND, AND, UH, STATE POLICE, UH, DEPUTY SHERIFFS IN REFERENCE TO COVID AND, AND, UH, ALL THE PROTOCOL THERE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THE PROCESS TO BRING SOME HELP FOR YOU IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UM, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ACTIVELY THROUGH THE STATE HAVE TRIED TO HIRE A PHYSICIAN AND HAVE HAD TO, UM, REQUEST OUT IN THE PUBLIC AND NO, NO LUCK.

SO I S I SAY THAT OUR PROCESS, AS WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE, UH, IN THE SEARCH IS GOING TO BE LONG.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A QUICK PROCESS.

I'M NOT ANTICIPATING A QUICK PROCESS ANYWAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY STARTS ON PAGE THREE 40 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INCREASES 1 49, 5 56.

UM, WE DID SPLIT OUT TO TWO DIFFERENT CALL CENTERS, INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND I'LL GO THROUGH THAT.

UM, PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 7 63, 9 29.

THE MERIT AND COLA IS THAT A COST OF THREE 30 TO 5 87.

TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASES $96,100.

HEALTH BENEFITS ARE ADJUSTED, UM, FOR AN INCREASE OF 60 2001 89.

OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AT A COST OF 53, 8 78.

THE 27TH PAY IS THAT A COST OF 95 TO 85.

AND THEN, UM, THERE WERE SOME FINE ADJUSTMENTS FOR 15 0 48.

YOU TURN THE PAGE, THE 3 49.

THIS IS CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

THERE'S JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE FOR THIS COST CENTER OF 36,977, 30,000 1 26 OF IT IS FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT, TELEPHONE SERVICE AND OR LEAD LINE SERVICE, ET CETERA.

UM, DATA PROCESSING, HARDWARE MAINTENANCE, UM, INCREASES TO 61, 260 $1,500.

AND THIS IS FOR THE VXRAIL ANNUAL SUPPORT.

WHILE THE SOFTWARE, THE DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE WAS ADJUSTED FOR A DECREASE OF 2 53, 6 49 BASED ON ACTUALS.

UM, AND THESE TWO LINE ITEMS ARE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE, HARDWARE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, UM, GENERAL FUND, NOT HIGHWAYS, WATER, AND SEWER, UM, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES, UM, $500.

AND THAT'S JUST FOR TRAINING AND SEMINARS.

IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 3 52, WE, UM, WORK OUT A PORTION OF, UM, ICT BUDGET TO PUT IN TO OFFICE ABROAD BAN, WHICH AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T SEE ANY EXPENDITURES THERE, BUT, UM, THIS IS JUST TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING US TO KEEP H MAN THE MAINTENANCE AGE MAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND SO FORTH.

I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS.

I'M HAVING ALLERGIES.

FINE.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL, UH, PRESIDENT MASSETTI MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE GLASSMAN ADMINISTRATION AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR PATIENTS AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS TOGETHER, WE NAVIGATED OUR WAY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND BACK TO THE WORKPLACE TODAY, WE'RE FIGHTING ONE ANOTHER FRONT, THE CYBER FRONT MALICIOUS CYBER ACTIVITY THREATENS THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY CYBER ATTACKS ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESSES.

THEY ARE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND THEY ARE HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT.

CYBER SECURITY IS NOW THE NUMBER ONE SPEND ITEM ON THE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT BUDGET.

WE WILL INVEST IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES THAT CAN ENHANCE OUR DATA AND NETWORK SECURITY POSTURE.

AS THE DIRECTOR

[02:05:01]

OF THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE THE PRIVILEGED TO LEAD A DEDICATED TEAM OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS MYCT HAS 22 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, FULL FOUR TEMP EMPLOYEES, AND ONE CONTRACTOR CURRENTLY THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CONSISTS OF THREE DIVISIONS.

THAT DATA CENTER TEAM, THE SERVICE DESK TEAM APPLICATIONS AND SYSTEM SUPPORT TEAM.

A FEW OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR FYI 22 INCLUDES FOR THE DATA CENTER TEAM.

WE COMPLETED A MULTI-YEAR PROJECT UPGRADING THE CORE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN OUR DATA CENTERS.

WE REFRESHED ALL WIFI ACCESS POINTS AT THE DES EDDIE ROAD FACILITY.

SIX HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS WERE ADDED TO THE COUNTY VOIP SYSTEM.

WE IMPLEMENTED IMMUTABLE OFFSITE BACKUPS TO PROTECT US AGAINST RANSOMWARE, UH, ACTIVITY.

WE ADDED SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS AND HANDSOME MINTS, INCLUDING NEW FIREWALLS, MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION, AND EMAIL FILTERING TO BETTER SECURE THE COUNTY'S DATA AND NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE SERVICE DESK TEAM WAS BUSY THIS YEAR.

ALSO WE DID FIVE DEPARTMENTAL HARDWARE, RESHOT REFRESHES WITH 200 WINDOWS, SEVEN MACHINES BEING REPLACED FOR AUDIO VISUAL CONFERENCE ROOMS WERE UPGRADED SECURITY PATCHES FOR WINDOWS AND WINDOWS SERVERS WERE COMPLETED ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WE ASSISTED IN THE MOVE OF THE FLEET MINT MAINTENANCE GROUP TO THE NEW FACILITY AND PREPARING THE COUNTY FOR THE ICT SERVICE DESK TO BE BROUGHT IN-HOUSE AND MANAGE IT OPERATED BY COUNTY STAFF.

THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE APPLICATION AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TEAM COMPLETED MORE THAN 50 APPLICATION AND SOFTWARE RELATED PROJECTS.

AND THEY INCLUDED FOR A FEW WAS THAT NORTH STAR WATER AND SEWER BILLING SYSTEM SHOULD BE READY TO GO LIVE JULY, 2022 EXPANDED ENTER GOV ONLINE OFFERINGS VIA THE PERMIT CENTER IMPLEMENTED DOCUSIGN E-SIGNATURES THROUGHOUT MANY OF THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS COMPLETED A MAJOR UPGRADE TO THE CITY.

WORKS APPLICATION DEPLOYED A NEW CUSTOM PARKING TYPIC TICKET APPLICATION TO PRODUCTION AND DEPLOYED A, UH, TEXT NET BILLING APPLICATION, LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2022.

THE FIRST IS THE OUTSTANDING WORK DONE BY THE COUNTY AND THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO WORKED WITH KRONOS TO SUCCESSFULLY RECOVER ALL HARFORD COUNTY DATA AND SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS AFTER CURRENTNESS WAS ATTACKED USING A MALWARE RANSOMWARE.

THE SECOND EVENT IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND THINK BIG TO PROVIDE FIBER TO THE HOME ISP SERVICES IN THE RURAL AREAS OF HARFORD COUNTY TO DATE WE'VE INSTALLED OVER 40 MILES OF FIBER AND ARE APPROACHING 100 CUSTOMERS BEING SERVICED CURRENTLY BY THINK BIG, JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THINK BIG ISP SERVICES, YOU SHOULD GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND REGISTER FOR THEIR SERVICE.

WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR FYI 23, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES.

WE WILL CONTINUE THE DEPARTMENTAL DESKTOP HARDWARE REFRESHES ICT SERVICE DESK TO BE MANAGED AND OPERATED IN-HOUSE BY COUNTY STAFF, NORTH STAR WATER AND SEWER BILLING SYSTEM WILL GO LIVE IN JULY OF 2022, UH, WORKDAY HUMAN RESOURCES CONTINUE EXPANSION OF THE INTER GOV OFFERING VIA THE PERMIT CENTER.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD COUNTY SITES TO THE H MAN NETWORK, UH, SAY, UH, WE ALSO WILL BE WORKING ON A TECHNOLOGY REFRESH FOR THE H MAN NETWORK, WHICH WILL INCORPORATE BOTH IN RFI RFP PROCESS.

UH, WE WILL FOCUS ON SECURITY AS FAR AS DEVELOPING CURRENT SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IMPLEMENTING NEW DATA AND NETWORK SECURITY SYSTEMS AND PERFORMING AUDITS OF DATA AND SECURITY ACCESS PRIVILEGES.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRESIDENT UNSTEADY AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THE 23 BUDGET FOR ICT.

AND, UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, NICK, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

UM, COUNCILMAN JANITOR, DEVIN.

NICK.

GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS BECAUSE IF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T WORK, THEN NOTHING

[02:10:01]

ELSE WORKS.

AND I'VE BEEN ON HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I'VE PREACHED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GETTING HIT? HAVE WE BEEN ATTACKED OR WITH RANSOMWARE AND YOUR OPENING SPEECH ABOUT THAT'S BEEN RAMPED UP TREMENDOUSLY.

I SEE THAT.

IT'S THE NUMBER TWO CLAIMS BEING BROUGHT ON THE, ON THE PERSONAL SIDE, AS FAR AS COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, IT'S PROBABLY ONLY NUMBER TWO BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE IT DIDN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT AND UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEN THEY WANT IT.

SO, UM, SO WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT? WITH THAT? I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT KRONOS THAT THAT GOT ATTACKED HABIT, OUR SYSTEMS. THAT'S WHAT I'M SCARED OF THAT EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET ATTACKED AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASK FOR RANSOMWARE, WHAT CAN WE DO AT THAT TIME? YOU KNOW, LIKE BALTIMORE CITY, DO WE, DO WE NOT PAYING, YOU GOT TO REBUILD THE WHOLE SYSTEM? DO WE PAY, WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT? AND CAN YOU TELL US IF WE'VE, YOU KNOW, BEEN FISHED AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THEY TRIED TO HIT US AND WE'VE STOPPED THEM, IS, DO YOU HAVE THOSE NUMBERS? I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS.

UM, WE DO TAKE A MULTILEVEL APPROACH TO CYBERSECURITY WHERE THE COUNTY WE, UH, WORK WITH AT AND T THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE A SEVEN BY 24 MONITORING SERVICE OF ALL OF OUR NETWORK TRAFFIC.

UM, THEY LOOK FOR VARIOUS PATTERNS OF IRREGULARITIES.

UM, THAT'S MONITORED AGAINST SEVEN BY 24 AROUND THE CLOCK.

SHOULD ANYTHING SHOW UP ON THAT? WE GET AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE, UM, FROM 18 AND T AND CAN HANDLE THAT SITUATION.

WE ALSO HAVE SOFTWARE THAT SITS ON THE NETWORK THAT ACTUALLY DOES AN ANALYSIS OF A USER'S BEHAVIOR, UH, WORK ACTIVITIES.

AND SHOULD ANY ANOMALIES SHOW UP ON THAT? IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THAT MACHINE DOWN, DISCONNECT IT FROM THE NETWORK AND, UM, STOP ANY MALICIOUS ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING ON AT THAT TIME.

UM, WE SPENT THE LAST, I SAID, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS MODERNIZING THE DATA CENTER, UM, PUTTING IN NEW ROUTERS, SWITCHES FIREWALLS, UH, FOR THE SECURITY PROCESS, UH, WE'RE WRAPPING UP A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS THIS YEAR.

AND THE FOCUS FOR THIS COMING YEAR, WE'LL BE DOING MORE OF THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND PENETRATION TESTING, UH, WORKING WITH OUTSIDE VENDORS, AS WELL AS CYSA, UM, TO AGAIN, DO SOME SIMULATED ATTACKS ON THE COUNTY NETWORKS AND FIND THE HOLES SO THAT WE CAN ULTIMATELY PATCH THOSE MOVING FORWARD.

SO WE ALSO, UM, WITH RELATIONSHIP TO RANSOMWARE, WE, UM, IMPLEMENTED A, ANOTHER LEVEL OF BACKUPS THIS YEAR FOR A MUTABLE BACKUPS THAT WILL BE, UM, THAT ARE KEPT AT MULTIPLE SITE LOCATIONS.

AND THAT WILL AGAIN CREATE A, A RATE ONLY BACKUP OF THAT DATA THAT EVEN US AS THE ADMINISTRATORS CANNOT DELETE OR MANIPULATE THAT FOR A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME, SO THAT, UH, UH, EFFECTIVELY GIVES US MULTIPLE LEVELS, UM, TO RESTORE ANY, UM, SOFTWARE OR DATA THAT, UH, COULD GET CORRUPTED, UH, THROUGH, UH, UH, A MALICIOUS ATTACK.

SO IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, SITTING AROUND AND WAITING FOR IT TO ACT WE'RE, WE'RE ACTIVELY MONITORING ACTIVITY ON THE NETWORK TO MAKE US AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

DO WE ALSO, UM, RESTRICT ACCESS TO WEBSITES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THEY'RE SHOPPING OR LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT? DO WE, DO WE, DO WE LOCK THEM OUT OF THESE WEBSITES? NOT AT THAT LEVEL, UM, DOWN TO THE EMPLOYEE, BECAUSE AGAIN, A LOT, SOME OF THAT COULD IMPACT, UM, YOU KNOW, REAL LIFE BUSINESS WORK THAT'S GOING ON.

UM, THE POLICY STATES BASICALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, NOT AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, BROWSING, UM, DONE BY A USER.

SO WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH OUR SOFTWARE MONITORING AND LOGGING TO, UM, REPORT ON THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY IF REQUESTED THROUGH LAW.

UM, WE CAN PULL THAT INFORMATION.

AND, UM, THOSE GUYS ARE JUST EASY TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU, MR. GINGER DENO.

ANYONE ELSE MR. SCHROEDER? YEAH, JUST A FEW THINGS.

UM, WELL, FIRST DOC KUDOS ON, UH, H MAN AND HOW THAT'S PULLING OFF.

AND EVEN THOUGH I'M GOING TO BE MOVING ON THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SEE TO THE VERY, VERY END.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE A HUNDRED CONNECTED AND I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING TOWARDS A LOT MORE.

I, I FEEL LIKE, UH, THE PROCESS HAS BEEN, UM, MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY.

UM, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE ANYTHING AS YOU GET STARTED, I'M SURE THERE'S CERTAIN HICCUPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT, IT FEELS LIKE THE PARTNERSHIP, UM, BETWEEN THINK BIG, BUT THEN ALSO KCI, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'VE KIND OF STEPPED UP WITH A LOT OF UTILITY WORK.

I THINK THAT'S MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE

[02:15:01]

THEY'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

THEY, THEY PICK RIGHT OFF AND, UM, APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT, UM, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE TO, UH, RURAL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AS, UM, WE JUST EXPERIENCED WITH THE PANDEMIC AND COURSE, SO JUST KEEP PLUGGING AHEAD.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE MORE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE THIS TO STRIVE FOR GETTING EVERYONE CONNECTED WITH AFFORDABLE FAST SPEED, SPEEDY INTERNET.

UM, ANOTHER THING I NOTICED OR HEARD THAT YOU SAID, WE'RE, WE'RE NOW DOING THE HELP CENTER BACK WITH THE COUNTY AND IT WAS CONTRACTED OUT.

BUT WHAT I NOTICED IS IT'S STILL 25 EMPLOYEES.

SO I WAS JUST REALLY CURIOUS, LIKE HOW YOU FEELING THAT.

SO WE, UM, HAVE HIRED TWO TEMP TECHNICIANS, FULL-TIME TEMP TECHNICIANS THAT WORK ON THEIR BRIDGET MCCORMACK ON THE SERVICE DESK SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

UM, JUST TO REALLY, TO KEEP UP WITH THE REGULAR WORKLOAD THAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE WILL DO IS PRIMARILY THAT OUTSIDE SERVICE REALLY CAME INTO PLAY FOR AFTER HOURS SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE, FIRE SERVICE TYPE ACTIVITIES.

AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND OVER THE YEARS IS THAT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE COUNTY WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES, FIRE SERVICES, AND COUNTY STAFF, THAT THESE OUTSIDE SERVICE DESK JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T QUITE GET THE FULL PICTURE OF HOW TO SUPPORT THAT.

UM, THEY HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER ON THEIR SIDE, SO WORK CONSTANTLY RECHECK RETRAIN AND THEIR TECHNICIANS.

AND WE JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO BETTER IN HOUSE WITH THAT.

AND FOR THE EVENING ACTIVITY, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TOO, AND IS HIRING A CALL SERVICE THAT CAN ACTUALLY TAKE A SERVICE CALL.

AND IF IT'S DEEMED CRITICAL THAT, UM, THE SYSTEM IS DOWN, THEN THEY WILL GO THROUGH A CALL TREE, UM, THROUGH MY STAFF, UM, THAT'S FOUR, SEVEN BY 24 HOUR SUPPORT, BUT WE'RE A TYPICAL DESKTOP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RESPOND AFTER HOURS.

IT'S MORE FOR CRITICAL SYSTEMS. THAT'S AFFECTING PUBLIC SAFETY.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND WHAT'S THE STATUS OF, UM, THE, THE, UH, BACKUP UP AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WHEN IS THAT, UH, UH, FACILITY THAT'S LIKE RIGHT THERE GOING TO BE OPENED UP TO THE PUBLIC SO YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND BE ABLE TO GO THERE AND USE THAT AS LIKE A KIND OF AN OFFICE KIND OF SETTING.

I'M NOT SURE AS FAR AS THE INTERNET CAT CAFE SIDE OF IT, WHEN, UM, FACILITIES WAS PLANNING TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE IES NOW, UM, INSTALLING MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT AT THAT LOCATION REGARDING THE NINE 11 SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

UM, SO I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT MOST OF THAT EQUIPMENT WILL BE INSTALLED AND, AND I'M READY TO GO AS FAR AS THE 9 1 1 SIDE, BUT I'M NOT SURE, BUT I CAN GET THAT ANSWER, UM, FROM FACILITIES WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT, I'M OPENING THE INTERNET CAFE SIDE, COUNCILMAN THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HUB, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR FOLKS TO SIGN UP FOR A WORKSPACE WORKSPACE THERE.

SO, UM, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE ROLLING THAT OUT.

UM, OKAY.

IT SOUNDS GOOD.

I I'D LIKE TO SIGN UP SO ONE WAY TO GO THERE.

UM, ALSO I SAW, UM, WE HAVE AN APPLICATION WEB SERVICES, A PERSON HERE.

I REMEMBER WE USED TO HAVE A, I THINK WE CALLED IT, UM, UM, A WEBMASTER, MY FRIEND CHEERLEADER.

HE USED TO BE HERE, YOU GOT HERE AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS KIND OF GOING, GOING BACK, WE FOR AWHILE CONTRACTED OUT, UM, ALL OVER WEB STUFF.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ARE WE KIND OF BRINGING THAT BACK TO, UM, WAS THAT A TOTALLY DIFFERENT POSITION? IT'S A LITTLE MORE SUPPORTIVE.

I DIDN'T NOTICE IT IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, IT WAS IN LAST YEAR.

I DIDN'T PICK UP ONE AT LAST YEAR, BUT I SEE IT.

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS FOR THOSE POSITIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

UM, MOST OF THE WEBSITE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT IS DONE INTERNALLY, UM, FOR THE BASIC UPGRADES OR ENHANCEMENTS TO A WEBPAGE, UM, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT OR THOSE WEBPAGES IS TYPICALLY DONE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.

SO THAT INITIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE DONE.

AND THEN WE WOULD DO MAINTENANCE AND ONGOING SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD.

UM, LCH, I THINK IT WAS LCG.

THERE'S JUST ONE COMPANY THAT WE HAVE, LIKE A TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR LINE ITEM, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR WEB DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING APPLICATIONS, UM, LIKE THE CMS CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

SO WE'VE, WE'VE DONE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

IN-HOUSE IT'S JUST, AGAIN, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WE'VE HAD TURNOVER WITH SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING STAFF THAT WE'VE HAD.

UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY, UM, AND TRYING TO FILL THREE POSITIONS FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW.

UM, FINALLY IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME FAIRLY GOOD CANDIDATES THAT WILL START

[02:20:01]

THANK YOU, CYNTHIA.

GOOD MORNING WITH THE, UM, MY NORSTAR WATER AND BILLING, GO BACK ELIMINATE FINALLY, R AND D FOR THE NAME BRAND THAT WILL ELIMINATE ONE MORE OF THE ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS THAT RUNS ON THAT MAINFRAME.

WE STILL HAVE A COST ACCOUNTING MODULE THAT, THAT RUNS ON THE MAINFRAME IS AS WELL AS SOME SMALL MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, UM, THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT EITHER REPLACEMENTS OR CUSTOMS APPLICATIONS TO REPLACE THEM REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO NOT JUST GETTING THE APPLICATIONS OFF OF IT, BUT WE STILL GO BACK TO THE MAINFRAME FOR, UM, SOME OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THE HISTORICAL DATA THAT, THAT SITS ON THERE.

UM, WE WE'LL HAVE THE SAME PROCESS WITH THE WATER AND SEWER BILLING IS THAT APP APPLICATION GOES LIVE.

BILL MAY STILL BE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE HISTORICAL DATA THAT'S ONE NIGHT.

SO ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE WILL CONSIDER THIS YEAR WOULD BE TO HOST THAT OFFSITE WITH A COMPANY, UM, AND SORT OF A READ ONLY, UM, ACCESS MODE, UM, FOR THE HISTORICAL DATA.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WORK WITH TREASURY AND, YOU KNOW, WATER AND SEWER AND WHATNOT.

ONE HOW LONG THAT HISTORY, UM, NEEDS TO BE READILY AVAILABLE ON THE, ON THE EXISTING SYSTEM.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE ARE, ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF THE LEASE FOR THE EXISTING MAINFRAME THAT WE HAVE AT ONE SITE.

SO, SO HOW MANY YEARS OUT DO YOU THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TYPICALLY A YEAR OR TWO AFTER AN APPLICATION WOULD GO LIVE? LIKE I SAID, NEXT YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AGAIN, MOVING THAT OFFSITE TO A THIRD PARTY PLATFORM AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THAT MAINFRAME, UM, SITTING AT ADDIE ROAD FACILITY, IT'LL, IT'LL BE ACCESS TO OVER THE WEB.

SO THAT'S WHY 26 YOU THINK WE'LL BE DONE WITH THAT? I WOULD EXPECT TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY TWO YEARS WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE SUNSET THAT I'M IN THE MEETING.

SORRY, MR. SCOTT, UM, SHOULD I CONSIDER THIS 650 IN THE NEW INDEX CODE TO BE ALL NEW MONEY REQUESTED? WHERE ARE YOU MOVING? YOU MOVED ABOUT 500,000 FROM ONE INDEX TO THE OTHER.

IS THAT MY ASSUMPTION THERE? CORRECT THEN.

THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT, MR. TIPS, HOOKUPS THAT YOU HAVE, HOW ARE YOU CHARGING FOR THAT? OR IS THAT A, YOUR DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO, I MEAN, THINK BIG IS THE PROVIDER OR THE ISP SERVICE.

SO THE CONTRACTS ARE DIRECTLY WITH THINK BIG WITH THE CUSTOMER.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT, I BELIEVE IT'S A HUNDRED DOLLARS, UH, FOR ONE GIG CIRCUITS, WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING CURRENTLY.

AND WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT EVEN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S PART OF THE STIPULATION TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.

SO I BELIEVE IT IS $99 LIMITED SERVICE.

THANK YOU, MR. TIBBS, ANYONE ELSE? UM, NICK, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU.

I KNOW I THANK THE ADMINISTRATION.

I'M SURE MS. DIXON, LACK OF MY COMMENTS, UH, FOR THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU DID TO THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM UPSTAIRS FOR US TO HAVE THE ZOOM CAPABILITY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THIS ONE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT.

YES, YES.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY AND, UH, I KNOW THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD, BUT, UM, AND WE'RE ALSO, UH, TALKING WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SEE WHAT THEY DO AS WELL, SO.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

APPRECIATE YOU.

1 MILLION, 2 48, 6 90 7 MILLION 77, 9 73 IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES, FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT, FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY $8,522 IS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE MORNING SESSION.

SO WE'LL TAKE A RECESS.

WE'LL BE BACK AT TWO.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AGAIN.

SO KIM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, WE'RE ON PAGE 360 4, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COST CENTERS AND THEN ALTERNATIVE OR 360 4 IS, UM, SHERIFF'S ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE.

WAGE HAS 7%

[02:25:01]

INSTEAD OF 185,993.

THIS IS THE NET RESULT OF POSITIONS BEING TRANSFERRED BETWEEN DIVISIONS WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

90 3008 62 IS FOR PENSION ADJUSTMENTS, 79,000 1 23 IS HEALTH BENEFITS ADJUSTED FOR BOTH CHANGES IN, UM, OPER AND OVER TIMES INCREASED $7,000 BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES THREE.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE COST FOR THE OPEB IS 150,055.

AND THEN THERE ARE 27 PAGE BOSSES, 1 47 0 50 A HUNDRED CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 178,978.

THE MAJORITY OF THAT 67 7 IS FOR DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT SOFTWARE LICENSES AND THAT'S INCREASED BASED ON ACTUALS, TELEPHONE SERVICE AND INTERNET SERVICE, UM, INCREASED BASED ON NATURALS FOR AN INCREASE OF A HUNDRED AND FOUR, SEVEN FORTY EIGHT, AND THEN OTHER ADVERTISING IS INCREASED BASED ON, UM, ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY AT $10,000.

UM, THERE WERE SOME SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

UM, WE'VE RE ALLOCATED THE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION, UM, TO PATROL SERVICES, COST COST CENTER, AND THEN SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT.

UM, WE'RE DECREASING IT'S BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY UNDER BUSINESS AND TRAVELED.

THERE'S A SLIGHT INCREASE THERAPIST, $6,000, AND THAT'S BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES ON PAGE THREE, STEPHANIE IS PATROL OPERATIONS.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE, 8 MILLION 7 1 7.

THAT WOULD BE ONE AGAIN, SIX, ALMOST 6.5 MILLION TO THAT.

IS IT PERSONAL SERVICES? A HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO, NINE SIXTEEN, THREE NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 22 FOR THE BODY-WORN CAMERA INITIATIVE, 769,007, 10 ARE FOR THE 15 NEW DEPUTY RECRUIT POSITIONS THAT WE ADDED FOR, UM, THE CENTRAL TO START THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CENTRAL BREEZING, 2 56, 5 70 OR FIVE NEW DEPUTY OF CREW POSITIONS ADDED FOR, UM, THE SRT FOR THE WAGE PACKAGE THERE'S COSTS THERE 2.2 MILLION 397, 8, 13, AND THEN TEMPORARY SALARIES WERE ADJUSTED AT 40,000 1 98 METS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES.

UM, AGAIN, THERE WAS THE VISION.

THE TRANSFER BETWEEN DIVISIONS IS AT A COST OF 74 TO 67 FOR PATROL OPERATIONS.

AND THE 27TH PAID FOR PATROL OPERATIONS IS AT A COST OF 7 98, 4 19 PENSION WERE ADJUSTED AT A COST OF 663 97, AND THEN HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 5 81, 8 30.

ALONG WITH THAT OVER TIME, IT SHIFTED, UM, INCREASED BASED ON ACTUAL OVERTIME, 53,000, THAT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT, ONE THIRTY TWO ON THE NEXT PAGE 3 72 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES $430,744.

THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR, UM, OTHER INSURANCE.

AND THAT IS THE SHERIFF SHARE OF THE GENERAL AUTO AND PROPERTY COVERAGE.

AND THEN A SMALL AMOUNT FOR A VEHICLE.

THE OPERATING COST OF 19,000 UNDER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 1001, 1,001 MILLION 8 0 2, 5 71.

UM, THE BULK OF THAT SEVEN 18.

THIS IS FOR ANCILLARY COSTS RELATED TO THE NEW DEPUTIES.

SO THAT INCLUDES, UM, THE COSTS FOR THE CAR WEAPONS, AMMO, UNIFORMS, THE IN CAR STUFF ON WHAT WE CALL IT, POLICE CAR PACKAGES.

THERE WE GO.

WHAT PAGE IS THAT ON? SO 3 72 WEAPONS AND AMMO.

YOU'LL SEE HERE.

THIS IS WHERE, UM, WE REALLOCATED AT FOR AN INCREASE OF 94, 7 50, AND THEN EQUIPMENT INCREASES $4,890.

AND THAT'S SOME MORE OF THAT STUFF.

THAT'S FOR THE NORMAL REPLACEMENT.

THAT'S UNDER THE FLEET REPLACEMENT ON PAGE 3 75 AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 1 MILLION 919, 3 57.

AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS IMPERSONAL SERVICES.

8 24 79 IS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAGE PACKAGE $211,908 ARE FOR ORDINARY POSITIONS THAT WE ADDED.

UM,

[02:30:01]

ONE, TWO DEPUTY RECRUITS DOWN FOR CID AMMAN FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEN A VICTIMS, RIGHT ADVOCATE AND VIDEO FORENSIC ANALYST.

AGAIN, PENSIONS WERE ADJUSTED AT A COST OF A HUNDRED AND FIFTY OH FIFTY FIVE HEALTH BENEFITS WERE INCREASED FOR AN INCREASE OF 99, 3 10, UM, POST-EMPLOYMENT HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN AND OPEB, UM, BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS JUST NOW STARTING TO SEE, UM, CALLS FOR THE, UM, PET PLAN WITH NEW, WITH NEW HIRES, CIVILIAN HIRES, BUT 360 9, 6, 7 MONTHS AGO.

AND THEN THE 27 PAY IS THAT A COST OF 2 69 FOR THE TRAPS.

WE'LL START TO THINK THIS IS 45,009 ONE.

AGAIN, THIS WAS FOR DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

AND THIS IS ALL BASED ON SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 180 7, 9 25.

THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR THE ANCILLARY COSTS FOR THOSE TWO NEW DEPUTIES THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THEN GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES, AS WELL AS MAILING PAPER AND SO FORTH, INCREASED 16 TO 95.

THIS ISN'T TRAVEL INCREASES SLIGHTLY BY 9,840.

AND THAT'S FOR SEMINARS AND COURSES ON PAGE THREE 80 IS THIS SCHOOL SAFETY.

AND THAT PIECE IS 5 92, 4 48.

AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THAT IS ALL IN PERSONAL SERVICES.

UM, 2 39, 4 97 IS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAGE POCKET, 81, 4 34.

AGAIN IS TRANSFERRED POSITIONS.

THE COST THERE, THE 27TH PAY IS IT COST OF 65, 4 47.

UM, OPEB FOR THIS DIVISION IS 1 0 2, 2 62 PENSIONS WERE ADJUSTED FOR AN INCREASE OF 56, 5 45 HEALTH BENEFITS, 38,003 14.

AND THEN OVERTIME WAS ADJUSTED BASED ON ACTUAL SALES AT 52 TO 40, THERE WERE REALLY NO LARGE CHANGES IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OR SUPPLIES OR BUSINESS AND TRAFFIC TURN TO PAGE 3 84.

THIS IS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INCREASE.

THERE ARE 5,025,587, 3,038,075 IS FOR PERSONAL SERVICES OF WHICH 1 MILLION 5 36 3 9 77 IS FOR THE WAGE PACKAGE.

TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASES SLIGHTLY TO REFLECT ACTUAL EXPENSES AT 1440.

AGAIN, TRANSFERS BETWEEN DIVISIONS RESULTS IN AN INCREASE HERE OF 29, 8 55.

THE 27TH PAY FOR CORRECTIONS IS 5 0 6, 8 OF FREE OPEB FOR CORRECTION SERVICES.

IS THAT A COST OF 6 71, 2 0 2 PENSIONS WERE ADJUSTED FOR AN INCREASE OF 1 95, 9 99, AND THEN OVERTIME AND SHIFTS THE DIFFERENTIAL OR INCREASED BASED ON THE ACTUAL WAS AT 1 6176 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ON THE NEXT PAGE INCREASES 1 MILLION 5 78, 1 26.

THE MAIN RESULT OF THAT IS FOR THE MEDICAL SERVICES CONTRACT.

UM, IT IS A NEW CONTRACT, SO THAT IS AT 1 MILLION, 5 31 FOR, UM, BUILDING CUSTODIAL AS WELL AS SECURITY SYSTEMS ALSO INCREASE 31,983 MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES INCREASES $409,000.

AGAIN, THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR THE MEALS FOR THE FOOD CONTRACT, THAT DETENTION CENTER.

IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 3 88, 3 90, THIS IS THE INMATE WELFARE FUND.

IT INCREASED 26,000 FOR THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR THE WAGE PACKAGE OF 7%.

AND STEP HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASES 8,000 2 92.

THERE WAS A SMALL INCREASE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OF 13, 4 46, AND THIS PROVIDES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AS WELL AS THEY MAKE TRANSPORTATION SO FORTH BASED ON, BUT OFFSET BY DECREASE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR UNIFORMS AT $10,000 ON PAGE 3 92 IS COURT SERVICES, A 3, 6 87 7.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.

AGAIN, 6 89, 1 14 BRITISH, UH, WAGE PACKAGE OF 5 48, 8 91.

THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE A DECREASE IN SOME OF THE STAFFING THAT WERE MOVED OUT TO OTHER DIVISIONS AT A COST OF A DECREASE OF 2 46, 8 23.

THE 27TH PAY FOR COURT SERVICES IS 1 95, 5 18, AND THEN OVERTIME SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL INCREASED 96,000 7 54 BASED

[02:35:01]

ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.

AND THEN THE COST FOR OM OPEB FOR CORE SERVICES IS 2 46.

THERE WERE VERY MINOR CHANGES IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS TRAVEL CONTRACTUAL.

IT'S MAINLY BASED ON ACTUAL THANK YOU.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM HAPPY TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

UH, I DID BRING A GIFT.

IT'S NOT A TOY.

IT'S A, ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE THE FIRST RECIPIENTS OF THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE HAD THIS, UH, JUST PRINTED THE END OF LAST WEEK AND DELIVERED TO THE OFFICE, THE FIRST 10 COPIES.

I'M HOPING THERE'S NO TYPOS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE FIRST 10 COPIES, BUT IF THERE ARE, LET ME KNOW SO WE CAN GET THEM RIGHT BEFORE WE PUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE, UH, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WILL, AS SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE FROM AN EVENT LAST NIGHT, UH, I WILL POINT OUT THAT IN THE END OF THE BOOK HERE, WE DO HAVE SOME CRIME CATEGORIES.

WE REPORTED SOME HARD NUMBERS THAT WE FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT, BUT I'VE SPOKEN PREVIOUS YEARS ABOUT THE CONVERSION TO NEIGHBORS, NATIONAL INCIDENT BASED REPORTING SYSTEM FROM UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING THAT HAS BEEN IN F UH, IN PLACE FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS OR SOMETHING 40 50 YEARS.

UM, WE DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE DATA THAT WE HAVE TRUST IN FROM THE NEIBER SYSTEM.

AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY AS YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT LED TO SOME CONFUSION.

UM, SO WE ARE STILL WORKING DILIGENTLY ON TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE GET FINAL NUMBERS, UM, WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, AND I'VE SAID MANY YEARS, IT MAY JUST BE AN ISSUE WHERE YOU CAN'T COMPARE APPLES TO ORANGES.

WE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AT 21 AND SAY CRIME WAS DEFINITIVELY UP OR DOWN IN OUR COUNTY.

WE THINK WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA, BUT WE, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF NUMBERS TO VET.

SO, UM, I'LL NOTE THAT IN, IN THE REPORT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, SOME, UH, HIGHLIGHTS THAT, UH, SOME THINGS, AND ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST ONE WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT IS NOT IN OUR BUDGET, BUT IT'S A FACILITIES CAPITAL BUDGET PROJECT FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER AND HOPEFULLY BLESSED.

AND THAT'S THE NEW CENTRAL PRECINCT AND TRAINING ACADEMY, UH, TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR, OUR COUNTY, UH, AND OUR OFFICE.

UM, I KNOW THAT'S MORE THAN A $20 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT, UM, AND AGAIN, FALLS UNDER THE FACILITY.

AND WITH THAT PRECINCT, UH, COMES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.

AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS INCLUDED, AS YOU HEARD 22 ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS, 15 TOWARD THE FIRST YEAR OF GROWTH FOR THE NEW PRECINCT, UH, FIVE TO, UH, ASSIST US IN, UH, A FULL-TIME SRT, SPECIAL RESTAURANT SPONSOR TEAM, A FULL-TIME, UM, DETAILED THERE INSTEAD OF IT BEING A SECONDARY DUTY AND THEN ONE ADDITIONAL CID INVESTIGATOR AND, UM, ONE ADDITIONAL INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY INVESTIGATOR THAT WILL GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH OUR, UM, OFFICE AND THAT UNIT SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE ARE 18 SWORN CORRECTION POSITIONS THAT AFTER MANY, MANY YEARS OF BECOMING INHERENT SPEAKING ABOUT IT, UH, IT WILL ALLOW US TO OPEN THE FIRST FLOOR MEDICAL, AND I SAY NEW AND QUOTES IN THE NEW EXPANSION THAT THE DETENTION CENTER, I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE JAIL AND SEEN THAT FACILITY THAT HAS SAT VACANT FOR SOMEWHERE 11, 12 YEARS.

UM, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST STEP AND A BIG STEP IN ALLOWING US TO FINALLY MAKE USE OF WHAT I BELIEVE IS STILL PROBABLY THE MOST MODERN JAIL FACILITY IN THE COUNTY AND A MEDICAL WING THAT IS ACTUALLY THERE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE JAIL.

UH, AND TWO ADDITIONAL CIVILIANS IN ADDITION TO THE THREE BODY CAMERA POSITIONS THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR FUNDING FOR IN OUR BUDGET.

UM, ONE IS A AGAIN, RELATED TO THE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION, THE VICTIM ADVOCATE THAT WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY, CERTAIN, UH, DUTIES THAT FROM AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM ANNAPOLIS THAT WE MUST NOW ASSUME.

AND THEN OUR FINAL, UH, FORENSIC VIDEO FORENSICS ANALYST, UH, IS ALSO THE, THE SECOND POSITION.

UH, SOME OTHER PROJECTS, UH, I BELIEVE THEIR CAPITOL, THAT SELF SITE STIMULATOR, UH, 600,000, WHICH IS A DIGITAL RECEIVER, UH, TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO, UH, GO MOBILE AND, AND ZOOM IN ON CELL SITES.

SELF-SERVICE, UH, IDENTIFY TRACK PEOPLE WHEN NECESSARY, UM, OUR IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM.

[02:40:01]

IF YOU RECALL, I USED MY FIRST TWO YEARS, MY FIRST TERM IN OFFICE USING UNUSED SALARY MONIES TO COMPLETELY REDO OUTFIT, THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL FLEET WITH, UH, WHAT WERE AT THE TIME STATE OF THE ART PANASONIC IN CAR, UH, VIDEO CAMERA SYSTEMS. UH, THEY HAVE, SINCE WE ARE SEEING THEM ALL COME TO THEIR END OF LIFE, UH, WE ARE LOOKING NOW AT THE CAPITAL PROJECT AROUND $400,000 TO ALLOW THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO OF THE 225 SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS THE CARS GO IN, THE CAMERAS WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW VEHICLE COMING OUT.

UM, THE CONTINUATION FOR OUR SECOND YEAR, UH, OF OUR, UH, WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR I THINK CONTRACT WITH AXON FOR OUR BODY CAMERA.

UH, THE SECOND YEAR OF FUNDING IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, UH, NEW CAPITAL, ALSO IN THE FACILITIES, BUDGET, REPAIRS, AND UPGRADES AT THE DETENTION CENTER TO THE OLDER SECTIONS.

THEY'RE NOT TO THE NEW NEWER SECTION, UM, WHICH INCLUDE A NEW KITCHEN, UH, AND TWO CANOPY COVERAGE, ONE OUTSIDE THE PROCESSING AREA.

SO WHEN INMATES ARE BROUGHT IN AND OUT, PRISONERS ARE BROUGHT IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITY, IF THE WEATHER, UH, IS UNAGREEABLE, UM, THEY WILL STILL BE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT, THAT DRY ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO MAKE THOSE PRISONER MOVEMENTS AND IN THE MAIN RECREATION YARD AT A COST OF $2 MILLION, UM, YOU HEARD HIM TALK AT DIFFERENT AS SHE WENT THROUGH EACH DIVISION, BUT THE SALARY PACKAGE OVERALL, UH, FOR THIS YEAR WITH THE, UH, 7% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND THE STEP A TOTAL IS ABOUT 5.9 MILLION.

AND I WILL SAY, UH, WITH THIS BEING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES LAST YEAR, I AM VERY PLEASED THAT, UH, TWO YEARS AGO WE REACHED THE LEVEL OF MARKET COMPETITIVENESS WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE COMPETE WITH FOR PERSONNEL.

AND, UH, THIS, UH, INVESTMENT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.

UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER SALARY STUDY SCHEDULED.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS ON A THREE-YEAR CYCLE, SO IT WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT, BUT WE HAVE CERTAINLY WITH INFLATION BEING WHAT IT IS THE LAST YEAR.

UM, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT RECRUITING IN THESE SESSIONS PREVIOUSLY.

UM, IT'S NEVER BEEN WORSE AND THIS ALLOWS US TO AT LEAST REMAIN ON THAT COMPETITIVE FIELD WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE ARE COMPETING WITH TO ATTRACT A VERY SMALL POOL OF MEN AND WOMEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY.

UM, AND AGAIN, I HAVE TO EXPRESS MY GREAT APPRECIATION TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OVER THE YEARS, BECAUSE THIS WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT TOOK MANY, MANY YEARS WITH, WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET EACH YEAR, OF COURSE, AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MANY YEARS TO GET US HERE TO WHERE WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE ARE COMPETITIVE.

UM, BUT, UH, AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.

I MEAN, I GUESS TO SUM UP, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT, UH, WITH THAT.

I SOMETIMES GIVE YOU CRIME NUMBERS AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE THOSE THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE PROVIDING.

SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OR ASK JEN IF I MISSED ANYTHING.

WELL, THANKS, SHERIFF.

IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU IN THE CHAMBERS WITH US.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR DEDICATED, UM, OFFICE AND DEPUTIES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN, UH, EITHER IN UNIFORM OR OUT DO TO, TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY.

UH, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUES COUNSELING, MR. WAGON, YOU MENTIONED NEW KITCHEN FACILITIES IN THE OLD PART OF THE DETENTION CENTER, CORRECT.

ON THE LOWER LEVEL.

THIS IS THE 1973, I BELIEVE IT WAS BUILT IN 73, 72.

UM, SO THIS IS THE OLDEST PART OF THE JAIL OUT THERE.

UH, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH OF THE EQUIPMENT, UH, THE FLOOR WAS CHIPPING UP IN PLACES, UM, GREATLY OVERDUE AND, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE WARDEN PRIORITIZE WHEN HE FIRST CAME IN THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR AND A PROJECT I'M HAPPY TO.

SHE DOES, TO THE EXTENT OF ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THAT FOR, UH, I KNOW WITH THE CANOPY COVERS, IT'S ALL ABOUT $2 MILLION.

I GUESS, AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE LONG RANGE PLAN IS GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE NEWER BUILDING THAT'S THERE AND NOT FULLY UTILIZED AS YET.

ARE WE GOING TO DO A SHIFT AT SOME POINT AND REPLACE THE OLD SECTION WITH THE NEW OR, WELL, WE, WE, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS WITH, WITH COVID AND WITH THE COURTS BEING CLOSED.

AND WITH LIGHT WAY TO SAY THIS LEGISLATURE IS MORE CONCERNED WITH LETTING PEOPLE OUT OF PRISON AND HOLDING THEM, PEOPLE IN PRISON LAWS THAT ARE MORE, THEY LIKE TO SAY THE MODEL HAS CHANGED.

THAT TO THE NEW, THAT ENTIRE POPULATION TO THE NEW EXPANSION, BUT IT WAS STILL TAKE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE POSTS, BUT THIS KITCHEN, I MEAN, JUST SPECIFICALLY TO THE KITCHEN, THAT SERVICES THE ENTIRE, THERE'S NOT A SEPARATE KITCHEN IN THE NEW FACILITY, THE KITCHEN AREA SERVICES, ALL THREE, THE JAIL WAS BASICALLY BUILT IN THREE SECTIONS, 72, 97 AND 2010.

THAT'S OKAY.

THAT'S A NICE PC WAY OF SAYING IT WITH THE MODEL THAT HAS CHANGED.

OUR POPULATION RUNS ROUGHLY ABOUT 200 LESS THAN WHAT WE WERE RUNNING PRE COVID.

SO, UH, TO 70 TO 80, SOMETIMES HITTING IN THE THREES, UM, WE COULD MOVE

[02:45:01]

UM, SO, UH, IT SERVICES ALL THOSE AREAS.

THERE'S NOT, THERE'S NOT A KITCHEN WAITING TO BE USED IN THE EXPANSION, BUT THERE IS THERE A KITCHEN IN THE EXPANSE, THERE IS NOT OKAY.

BUT THERE'LL BE A NEW KITCHEN IN THE OLDEST WITH YOU.

IT JUST SEEMED WHY DUMP A LOT OF MONEY INTO SOMETHING THAT AT SOME POINT MAY BE VACATED SOONER THAN THAT.

I, I WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE WITH ANY OTHER RENOVATIONS WE MIGHT HAVE TO THE OLDEST PART OF THE FACILITY, IF WE WERE EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT, UM, THAT THAT WOULD INCLUDE THIS AREA.

IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT.

THANK YOU, MR. WAGNER, MR. JAMES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SHERIFF.

UM, THE CAMERAS IN THE CARS.

I KNOW, I THOUGHT I SAW A NEW AXIOM CAR OR VEHICLE WITH THAT.

WHAT, WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOT EVERYTHING INTEGRATED BETWEEN THE BODY CAMERAS IN THE, IN THE VEHICLES IS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, WENT TO, WELL, WE HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, UM, MAJOR DUNBAR WHO'S WITH ME TODAY COULD PROBABLY SPEAK MORE ELOQUENTLY ABOUT IT, BUT AXON, UH, ALLOWED US, UH, PROVIDED IT FOR US, UH, ONE OF THEIR VEHICLES FOR THREE WEEKS, THREE WEEK PERIOD, TO TAKE IT OUT AND TEST THEIR IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEM ALONG WITH OUR BODY CAR CAMERAS.

SO WE, WE HAVE AXON BODY CAMERAS ON OUR DEPUTIES.

WE HAVE PANASONIC CAMERAS STILL IN THE CARS, UH, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE REACHED THE FINAL DECISION, BUT I DO, I HAVE HEARD FAVORABLE THINGS ABOUT THE AXON SYSTEM THAT THE CLARITY, THE EASE THAT IT TRANSITIONS WITH THE CAMERAS.

SO I'VE ONLY HEARD GOOD COMMENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE NOT REACHED A FINAL DECISION.

WHAT, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE? IS THAT 4K OR IS IT JUST HIGHER RESOLUTION? YEAH, THIS ONE'S HIGHER RESOLUTION, BETTER FIELD OF VIEW.

AND IT ALSO HAS A BUILT-IN HELPED ME ON LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM.

WELL, SO RIGHT NOW THAT'S A SEPARATE UNIT FROM OUR CAR CAMERA.

WE HAVE A SEPARATE LICENSE AXON SYSTEM IS ALL IN ONE.

SO THAT MEANS AS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BACK, YOU CAN, IT'LL AUTOMATICALLY READ SOMEBODY'S LICENSE PLATE, FIND OUT IF THAT PERSON'S WANTED OR THE CAR STOLEN OR WHATEVER.

THE REASONS THE PANASONIC IS LIMITED WITH THE CAMERA.

IT ACTS ON WHAT SUPERIOR PHYSICS AS YOU BREATHE THROUGH WINDSHIELDS, WE GET TENS OUT OR FARTHER OFF IN A SACK SACRAL ON, OR EVEN WHEN YOU'RE COMING DOWN.

OUR PLUS THE CLOSING SPEEDS, THE INTEGRITY, THE ABILITY IS MUCH BETTER AT HIGHER RATES.

THEY'RE VERY, AS THE SHERIFF'S SIDE, WE'RE GETTING VERY, VERY FAVORABLE REASON.

WE'RE DEPUTIES THAT ARE USING NOW IS THAT STILL ON, UH, UH, FORD CHASSIS AND THERE, THEY JUST, THEY JUST TAKE IT AND DO WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND, AND YOU GET IT BACK.

HOW MANY, HOW MANY BADGES DO WE HAVE NOW? AND, UM, HOW MANY ARE WE GOING TO? HOW MANY YEAH, UNIFORMS WE IT'S ABOUT THIS? I SHOULDN'T BE AROUND, I WANNA SAY THREE 20 ISH, UM, 3 19, 3 20 TOTAL SWORN COUNTING THAT COUNTS TO COURTHOUSE DEPUTIES WHO ARE TEMPORARY DEPUTIES AND NOT, NOT FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, BUT ABOUT 320 SWORN, MARYLAND POLICE TRAINING, CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS.

UM, WE'RE ADDING 22 THIS YEAR, UH, WITH THE HOPES THE FIRST 15 TO THE PRECINCT WITH THE HOPES THAT FUTURE YEARS, UM, ALLOW US THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS TO ADD 15 EACH YEAR TOWARDS STAFFING 45 AT THE, UM, HEAT CENTER, WHEN IT BECOMES A PRECINCT IN OUR TRAINING ACADEMY, DID WE LOSE? WE LOSE AN, ANY BUDDY TO ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OR WE MOSTLY GETTING FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

I KNOW I GET STOPPED.

AND I TALKED A LOT OF DEPUTIES COMING FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY AND SO FORTH WHILE COFFEE GETTING COFFEE OF MY WILD WATER COSTS THAT I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN GOOD.

UM, AND THEY ALL SAY, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY RETIRE A LOT OF THEM COME UP HERE.

THEY LOVE COMING UP HERE.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL GETTING THE CREAM OF THE CROP PEOPLE COMING UP HERE AND NOT ANY OF US, THEM LEAVING BETTER THAN ANY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT I'M FAMILIAR WITH.

UH, ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF GETTING, UM, MEMBERS OF OTHER AGENCIES INTERESTED IN COMING HERE, RECRUITING IS TERRIBLE.

GETTING THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, OR, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY EVEN THEN THAT'D BE YOUNG, BUT MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO GO TO A SIX MONTH POLICE ACADEMY, UH, WE ARE DOING BETTER AT, UH, ATTRACTING MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE READY, ARE WORKING FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE AND LOOK AT HARTFORD COUNTY AND SAY, THERE'S A COMMUNITY THERE THAT SUPPORTS THEM.

THERE'S A SHERIFF AND HIS STAFF

[02:50:01]

THAT SUPPORT THEM.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO SUPPORT THEM AND ARE COMING OUR WAY, THAT IS TO OUR BENEFIT.

BUT OVERALL, YOU KNOW, RECRUITING IS WAY DOWN FROM WHERE IT WAS BEFORE.

UH, I, I CAN SAY THAT, UM, IN MY COURSE, IN MY OTHER JOB, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING UP HERE, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THEY DO TELL ME THEY'RE COMING UP HERE IS THE SCHOOLS AND THE SAFETY.

UM, AND THEY DO MENTION THE CRIME, THE SAFETY THAT THEY FEEL SAFER IN HARTFORD COUNTY.

SO I APPRECIATE YOURSELF AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, OFFICERS AND, UH, THE HARD WORK THAT THEY PUT IN.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, TO TAKE AN, A RIDE SHORTLY WITH, UH, TJ FRIENDS SHOW.

AND I, AND I AGREE FULLY WITH THAT.

I SUBSCRIBE FULLY TO THOSE BELIEFS.

I JUST PUT THEM IN THE OPPOSITE ORDER WITHOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU GET NOTHING, YOU DON'T GET THE GOOD SCHOOLS, YOU DON'T GET THE BUSINESSES, YOU DON'T GET THE PEOPLE COMING HERE WITHOUT GOOD PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO I AGREE WITH THEM.

I JUST REVERSED THE ORDER CAUSE I'M BIASED IN THAT WAY.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

UM, WHILE WE'RE CALLING ABOUT SAFETY, UM, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE SERVICE THAT OUR SECURITY GUARDS, UH, PLAY FOR US HERE.

I MEAN, UH, WE'RE IN CRAZY TIMES, AND SOMETIMES HERE IN THE CHAMBER, YOU HAVE NO IDEA, UH, WHAT SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET UPSET ABOUT, OR SOMEONE'S GOING TO TRY TO CREATE SOME SORT OF OBSTRUCTION OR WHATEVER.

SO, UH, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE HAVE HERE DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I, AND I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT AND I HEAR SO MUCH FAVORABLE, UM, ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT MAKE ME LOOK GOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY.

UM, SO, UM, AND I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, DISTINCTION HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY WAS HERE BEFORE I GOT HERE.

IT'S NOT MY DOING WAS THAT THOSE, UM, POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE IN THOSE POSITIONS ARE CERTIFIED MARYLAND POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION, FULLY CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS, WHERE MANY POLICES HAVE SPO SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS OR STRAIGHT SECURITY ARMED OR UNARMED, UM, DOING FUNCTIONS LIKE THAT, UM, WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE, AT THIS BUILDING AND THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES BUILDING, UM, THERE'S A FULL-FLEDGED DEPUTY SITTING IN EACH DOOR.

YUP.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

ANYONE ELSE, CYNTHIA, GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR GALLON OF ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE UNDER YOUR DOORSTEP.

UM, AND I'M NOT SPEAKING OF THE NEW POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE IN .

HOW MANY POSITIONS DO YOU HAVE VACANCIES? UM, W WE GO OVER THESE NUMBERS EACH WEEK AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE NEWS PREVENT US FROM HAVING OUR WEEKLY MEETING.

I WANT TO SAY WE'RE CARRYING 12 VACANCIES RIGHT NOW IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH 10 MORE THAT WE KNOW ARE PENDING.

SO OUT OF THREE, 20 ISH, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FILL 40 SOME, UH, 20 SOME AND AN ADDITIONAL 22, BUT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 20 SOME VACANCIES THERE THAT WE HAVE TO FILL.

UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT RUNNING A 30 PEOPLE IN AN ACADEMY CLASS THIS FALL.

WE'RE HOPING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE RECRUITS, UH, LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT ON THE CORRECTION SIDE.

I WANT TO SAY WE WERE AT 17 VACANCIES WITH A FEW MORE PENDING, UM, AND THAT HIRING POOL RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE 17 AND PROCESS TO FILL THEM, UM, ON THE CIVILIAN SIDE WHERE THE CLOSURE WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, MEANING WE HAVE AN OPEN ADVERTISEMENT.

UM, THEY HAVE NOT PROVEN TO BE AS DIFFICULT.

SO WILL THE 7% COLA AND THE STAFF BE HELPFUL IN PRETENSION? ABSOLUTELY.

YES, I DO THINK, AND WE'RE SEEING, I KNOW WE'RE SEEING IT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECT, AND CORRECTIONS, UH, PARTICULARLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE HIT THE MINIMUM RETIREMENT AND CALL IT A DAY.

AND THAT WAS NOT, THAT WAS NOT A CASE IN THE PAST.

PEOPLE STAYED LONGER TO DO A LITTLE BETTER IN THEIR PENSION, UH, TOP THREE YEARS.

SO IF YOU STAY LONGER, YOU MAKE MORE MONEY ULTIMATELY IN YOUR RETIREMENT.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT PERCENTAGE GOES UP AS IT DID FOR ME AND STATE POLICE FOR EACH ADDITIONAL YEAR OF SERVICE.

SO, UM, UM, WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE HIT THAT MINIMUM AND SAY, THEY'VE, THAT'S, THAT'S IT FOR THEM.

AND THAT'S, IT MAKES OUR JOB MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE VACANCIES TO FILL.

BUT AGAIN, I'M THANKFUL.

AND I ACCREDITED IN LARGE PART TO THE MEN AND WOMEN, THE OFFICE WHO, WHO DO SUCH A GOOD JOB TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD TO THE SUPPORT WE GET FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS.

UH, WE ARE STILL FILLING OUR HOLES, BUT WITH THE ADDED POSITIONS, WE HAVE A CHORE TO DO.

I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT ALL OF YOUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR YOU WHEN I'VE ARRIVED, ENCOUNTERED THEM IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT WONDERFUL.

SO PLEASE FOR THE ENTIRE FOREST, PASS THAT ALONG.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, SHERIFF GALA.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE OFFICE, ALL THE DEPUTIES, YOU, UM, DO AN AMAZING JOB.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN MY DEVELOPMENT, I HAD EXPERIENCED THAT FIRSTHAND.

I LOOK AT THE RESPONSE TIME I LOOK AT WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM

[02:55:01]

IN AN AREA.

UM, AGAIN, I'LL GO BACK TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I LOOK AT HOW YOU'VE INCREASED THE PATROLS IN THE AREA, SO ON AND SO ON.

SO I GOT NOTHING OUT AS CYNTHIA SAID, BUT RESPECT AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU DO.

AND, UM, I KNOW YOU, UH, YOU GUYS PUT YOUR LOT LIVES ONLINE EACH AND EVERY DAY, BUT, UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SINCERELY VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

UM, WEEK OR TWO AGO, UM, WE WERE AT A BOARD OF ESTIMATES AND I NOTICED THAT, UH, WE HAD, UH, A REQUEST TO MOVE FROM, I THINK, 40 CALIBERS TO NINE CALIBER OR NINE MILLIMETERS, RATHER THAN, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE DOING THAT IS THE NINE MILLIMETER THAT MUCH MORE ACTIVE.

THE POLICE ARE ALSO TRANSITIONING BACK.

UM, AND THIS I'D PROBABLY BE BETTER TO DEFER TO THE COLONEL BECAUSE SHE'S MUCH MORE OF A, UH, ADVOCATE OR NOT AN ADVOCATE, A GUN GUY.

HE KNOWS A BUNCH OF BETTER.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

IF WE GET IN A GUN BATTLE, WE CAN EXCHANGE AMMUNITION.

SO WE'VE ALL FORTIES NOW YOU'VE BEEN GOING TO NINES.

IT'S ALL FOR SURE.

BUT, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME WHEN GENERALLY NINE MILLIMETERS WERE BEING CARRIED BY EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, UH, THE 40 CALIBER WAS A BETTER, UH, BETTER ROUND OF AMMUNITION, BETTER STOPPING POWER, UM, SHOWED IN REPEATED TESTS TO BE BETTER, MORE ACCURATE, UH, AND THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO THE NINE MILLIMETER ROUND, IT JUST FLIPPED THAT CHART.

AND NOW TODAY, AND ALL THE STUDIES FROM THE FEDS TO LOCAL AND EVEN OUR PERSONNEL HAVE TESTED BOTH PLATFORMS. AND, UH, THE NINE MILLIMETER IS THE FIREARM PREFERENCE.

SO, UM, IT'S DID I DO? HE SAID I GOTTA PUT IT.

UM, SO THAT, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE REASON.

AND AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY AGENCIES, UH, WE'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME GETTING 40 CALIBER AMMUNITION, AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING.

AND ALL AMMUNITION HAS BEEN HARD TO GET, BUT WE'VE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, UH, KEEPING AHEAD OF OUR NEEDS FOR 40 CALIBER FOR TRAINING.

UM, AND I, I'M NOT SURE IF THE CONVERSION TO NINE MILLER METER WILL MAKE IT ANY BETTER OR WORSE, BUT YEAH, SOMETHING ELSE THAT A MAJOR DUNBAR HAS TO WORRY ABOUT.

UH, MR. JANITOR DATA.

EVER ADMINISTRATIVELY CHARGED TO WORK, TO RESOLVE A COMPLAINT.

ONE THING, UH, SHIFT GUARD, UM, THE POLICE ADVISORY BOARD, UM, HOW WAS THAT GONNA WORK? AND, UH, IS THERE, WAS THERE A BUDGET FOR THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE? YOU MEAN THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FORWARDS? IT'S UNDER THE LAW DEPARTMENT UNDER LAW DEPARTMENT.

SO YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE, BUT THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD I HAVE, UM, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS, UM, SPOKE TO ME AND I HAVE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THINGS I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, ABOUT HOW THAT IS FORMED.

I KNOW THAT BILL IS COMING IN YOUR DIRECTION.

I THINK THE PLAN IS VERY SOON.

UM, SO, UH, WHAT WILL IT OFFER? UH, I'M NOT SURE I HAVE, I HAVE GREAT CONCERNS AND I'VE MADE THEM PUBLICLY KNOWN ABOUT THE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION, UH, THE OUTRIGHT THROWING AWAY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S BILL OF RIGHTS, A UNIFORM STANDARDIZED POLICY OF HOW IT WAS A LAW, BUT IT'S A PROCEDURE OF HOW YOU WOULD INVESTIGATE, UM, CLAIMS OF MISCONDUCT INVOLVING A POLICE OFFICER, ALL 150, SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE HANDLED THINGS THE SAME WAY, UH, WITH THE CHANGES TO THE LAW, THERE ARE NOW 150 DIFFERENT PROCESSES OF HOW YOU WILL HANDLE THESE THINGS.

THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD IS NOT AS MUCH ON THE INVESTIGATIVE SIDE IT'S IT'S ADVISORY, AS YOU STATED, UM, MEETING WITH THE CHIEFS AND SHERIFFS A FEW TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN BRINGING YOU BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNTY RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE POLICING.

UH, WE CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAD MY OWN SHERIFF'S COMMUNITY BOARD.

I FORMED FOR THAT VERY PURPOSE TO TELL US, HAVE CITIZENS LOOK AT OUR OPERATION AND TELL US HOW WE DO THINGS BETTER, UM, OR AT LEAST MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THEY THINK THINGS COULD BE DONE BETTER.

THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARDS, BIG POWER COMES IN THE ABILITY TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE CHARGING COMMITTEE.

UM, AND MEMBERS OF THE CHARGING COMMITTEE, UM, WILL HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, INTERNAL COMPLAINTS AND MAKE DECISIONS AS TO WHETHER THERE WAS VIOLATIONS OF POLICY AND WHAT PENALTY IS APPROPRIATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE MATRIX.

UM, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE REAL, UM, I GUESS CROSSOVER EXISTS IN, IN THE CHARGING COMMITTEE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS.

SO ALL OF THESE POSITIONS HAVE TO BE IDENTIFIED.

THESE PROCESSES HAVE TO BE THOUGHT UP, THERE'S TIMELINES FOR EVERYTHING.

AND, UH, I I'VE SAID MANY TIMES MY CONCERN IS THAT WHERE WE CAN BRING MINOR COMPLAINTS TO A RESOLUTION VERY QUICK, NEW PROCESS OFFERS NO INCENTIVE FOR ANY POLICE OFFICER

[03:00:01]

THEY WILL TAKE IT THROUGH THE TRIAL BOARD PROCESS, COSTING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY MONEY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SEE A ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE OR RETIRED JUDGE AND SOME OTHER CIVILIAN MEMBERS.

SO THAT'LL COST MONEY.

THEY'LL HAVE TO THEN, UM, AND I IMAGINE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AGAIN, WHEN THE BILL COMES UP, BUT, UM, KNOW AFTER THE TRIAL BOARD AND THAT WHOLE PROCESS RUNS, THEY'RE REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEYS FROM THEIR UNIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THEY'LL, UH, THEY'LL TURN DOWN THE INITIAL PUNISHMENT.

THEY'LL TAKE IT TO A TRIAL BOARD AND THEY'LL APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT BECAUSE IN THE CURRENT PROCESS, UNDER LEO BR THROUGH JUNE 30TH, THEY CAN BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT PENALTIES DEPENDING ON HOW FAR THEY PUSH IT AND WHAT INFORMATION COMES UP, THAT'S ALL OUT THE WINDOW.

UM, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPECTING A NIGHTMARE, UH, WHEN, WHEN ALL THIS COMES INTO PLACE.

AND ONE FINAL QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND SAID, CAPTAIN RAMSEY BACK THERE IS THAT WHO PICKS UP THE TRASH AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND I NOTICED THAT A BUDGET CONCERN, BUT I HEAR THAT THOSE DUMPSTERS BEING CLACKED AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, NOT LIKE THEY DO THEIR COMMERCIAL.

SO WHO'S GOING TO CALL GFL AND TELL THEM IF THEY COME BY AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I'M NOT FUNDING THEN FOR THAT, YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN UP ANYWAY.

HUH? AH, WHEN YOU SLEEP THROUGH IT, I THINK THAT SAME TRUCK COMES THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AND HE SLAMMED THOSE BINS AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM AT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

I'D APPRECIATE IT.

WE WILL SUGGEST TO THEM THAT IT WAS MENTIONED TO US THAT THAT IS, YEAH.

UM, MR. KERNAN, CORRECT ME.

WE'RE GOING TO GET TO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY NEXT WEEK.

IS THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD TODAY? AND MAY 2ND, THE SECOND WEEK, SECOND WEEK.

AND THEN IT'S IN PLACE BY JULY 1ST, THIS ALL, ALL THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE IN HOUSE BILL SIX 70 FROM THE 2001 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO TAKE EFFECT JULY 1ST.

ANYONE ELSE, MR. WEBER, IN CLOSING EVERYTHING THAT'S COME OUT OF ANNAPOLIS THAT YOU SEE PROBLEMS WITH.

WE DO TOO.

AND WE DON'T SEE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BEING SOLVED BY ANNAPOLIS STYLE THINKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES OUT OF SOME OF THE MORE LIBERAL AREAS OF PG AND MONTGOMERY AND SOME OTHER PLACES.

SO I GUESS WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'RE FULL, FULL, WELL AWARE OF IT, BUT EVERYBODY HERE ON THIS COUNCIL IS IN FULL SUPPORT OF YOUR OFFICE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THIS COUNTY.

AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, THE DOOR'S OPEN ALWAYS.

SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

I, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

I KNOW WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS STAFF.

UM, WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITIZENS.

WE JUST RECENTLY SURVEYED.

UM, AND THE SURVEY COMPANY CAME BACK WITH, WE'VE NEVER SEEN REMARKS THIS, YOU KNOW, MARK'S, THIS HIGH CONFIDENCE IS HIGH IN POLICE, A FEELING OF SAFETY.

UH, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK OF NOT ONLY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER.

WE DO IT RIGHT HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY.

WE HAVE RECORD LOW CRIME KNOCKED DOWN IN 21 BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE NEIGHBOR'S DATA IS, BUT WE HAVE RECORD LOW CRIME.

WE ALL KNOW WE LIVE IN A SAFE COMMUNITY, THANKFULLY.

AND, UM, AND YET THOSE IN ANNAPOLIS SEEMED TO WANT TO TURN THEIR EYES TO BALTIMORE CITY FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO SUGGEST COMMUNITY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY AND, AND DETERRING CRIME.

UM, THAT'S INSANITY AT ITS VERY BEST.

MR. SCHROEDER'S.

THEY, UH, THEY SEEM TO WANT TO EMBRACE THE CRIMINAL AND DEMONIZE THE POLICE.

JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR, UM, JUST DOING A GREAT JOB, KEEPING US SAFE, BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEIR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.

UM, YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE WHAT WE ARE READING AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, YOU KNOW, AS, UM, I THINK EVERYONE'S FEAR IS THAT AS THE CITY GETS MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS AND IT'S TRICKLING OUT THE BALTIMORE COUNTY, WELL, WE'RE JUST WE'RE RIGHT THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT TO CONTINUE, I THINK, TO SEND THAT MESSAGE THAT, UM, NOW THIS ISN'T A PLACE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY, BUT IT'S A LEGITIMATE FEAR.

AND I, I SHARE IN IT AND I SAID, THE BILLS COMING OUT OF ANNAPOLIS, DO NOTHING BUT SUPPORT BEHAVING IN A CRIMINAL WAY.

SO I DON'T DOUBT THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GET SHOCKED TO GO UP BECAUSE THERE'S MORE ENCOURAGEMENT OUT OF OUR, NOT OUR HARTFORD COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO REPRESENT THIS CAUSE WE HAVE OUR DELEGATES AND SENATORS WHO FIGHT HARD TO KEEP IT DIFFERENTLY.

BUT IN ANNAPOLIS

[03:05:01]

AND THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE LAW ABIDING CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO LIVE IN A PEACEFUL SOCIETY.

I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A COUNTY AND BE PART OF A COUNCIL AND A GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION THAT BACKS THE BLUE HERE.

AND I THINK THAT MESSAGE IS OUT AND HOPEFULLY, UH, THE BAD GUYS ARE AWARE OF THAT AND THEY JUST DECIDE NOT TO CALL THEM HARM.

THAT'S OUR HOPE AS WELL.

THANKS SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. SCHROEDER, MR. JAMES GRAHAM.

SO, UM, I SEE IN HERE IN, IN THE, UH, YOUR ANNUAL REPORT THAT THE HEROIN STATS ARE DOWN, UH, 20, 20, 19% DECREASE IN FATALITIES FROM 2020.

UM, SO THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, EVERYTHING DECREASED.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S GREAT.

UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT, UH, YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON WITH THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S IN HERE THAT YES, THEY CONTINUE TO TRY AND OUR DATA CONTINUES TO TROUT TREND DOWNWARD, UM, WHICH, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

UM, BUT LIKE THIS YEAR, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE SO FAR IN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN FATAL OVERDOSES.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A BACKLOG AND WE CAN ATTRIBUTE THAT A LOT.

WHAT HAPPENS IN BALTIMORE CITY? THERE'S A BACKLOG AT THE MES OFFICE, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE ON GETTING CASES BACK TO US.

AND WE HAVE 13, UM, AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR WE HAD, UH, OH, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME.

WELL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SEVEN FATALS, BUT WE HAVE 11 MORE THAT ARE SUSPECTED THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADDED, UM, BECAUSE SO MANY ARE PENDING, UM, AUTOPSY RESULTS.

SO IF, UH, OH NO, I HAVEN'T THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR, THIS TIME, LAST YEAR WE WERE 22.

UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE ONLY AT SEVEN, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE, UH, 11 MORE SUSPECTED TO BE, BUT THE MES BACKLOG, BUT OVERALL OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN.

YOU ASKED IF WE HAVE ANYTHING PENDING.

UH, WE DO HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON PRE COVID AND COVID SLOWED IT DOWN TO, WITH A GRANT FROM THE, UM, ABERDEEN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, UM, ON A NEW DISPLAY TRAILER.

AND, UH, WE ARE VERY CLOSE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS OF ROLLING THAT OUT.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE, WE HAVE SEVERAL ADULT BASED PROGRAMS. WE HAVE OUR PLEDGE PROGRAM AND OTHER PROGRAMS AIMED AT THE YOUNGER POPULATION.

THIS IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE ADOLESCENT GROUP KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE, UM, AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT DON'T WANT TO SHARE TOO MUCH BEFORE IT COMES TIME TO ROLL IT OUT.

BUT APPRECIATIVE OF THE CREDIT UNION, SUPPORTING THE INITIATIVE, AND ONE MORE TOOL INTO A COUNTY WHERE WORKING WITH YOU ALL WORKING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF CHESAPEAKE, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WORKING TOGETHER.

UM, AS WE SHOULD, I THINK WE'VE LED THE STATE, IF NOT THE NATION ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

LET US, LET US KNOW WHEN THAT'S DONE DEPLETED, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT AN EVENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON COMING UP IN AN AREA THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.

GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY FROM FALLSTON ACROSS TO ABERDEEN.

UM, JEFF'S A NEW PRECINCT.

WHEN WHEN'S THE, WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE UP AND RUNNING? I ASKED IF IT WAS DONE THIS WEEK AND IT'S NOT DONE YET.

I ASKED THAT EVERY WEEK 20 TO 20 FLAMES, WHICH WILL EARLIER, AND, UH, THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY.

250 YEARS OF CELEBRATING, UH, OF, OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY.

IN 2024, I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THAT RIBBON CUTTING, UH, IN APRIL WHEN OUR OFFICER'S BIRTHDAY ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE.

SO MAJOR DUNBAR, YOU KNOW, I TEASED THEM.

I WENT TO BUILDING DONE YESTERDAY.

HE KNOWS HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING FOR.

UM, ALONG WITH THAT PRECINCT, YOU SAY IT'S A TRAINING CENTER TO WE'RE MOVING.

I FORGET THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WE CURRENTLY HAVE AT THE ACADEMY IS SOMETHING LIKE 3,500 SQUARE FOOT, A COUPLE OF CLASSROOMS AND SOME OFFICE SPACE.

I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN UP THERE TO SEE IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE USE OF THEIR LARGER ROOMS FOR DIFFERENT, UH, EVENTS, UM, TO A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT.

TWO-STORY TWO-STORY BUILDING AT THE HEAT CENTER OF 20,000 SQUARE FEET, UM, WILL BE THE NEW TRAINING ACADEMY WITH A GYM ADDED ON.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN BIGGER THAN THE 20,000 SQUARE FEET.

UM, THE COUNCIL HAS ACCESS TO WHAT WAS THAT YOU DIDN'T SAY YES, THERE'S A COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SHE IN HERE.

NO.

SURE.

SO MELISSA YELLS AT ME, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE LIABILITY THINGS START TO FLY WHEN IT'S NOT A MEMBER OF THE OFFICE, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN SNEAK IN THE DOOR.

AND THE TOTAL AREA THAT THAT PRECINCT WILL COVER IS, UH, IT'S REALLY, WE'RE CALLING IT THE CENTRAL, UM, BECAUSE IT'S

[03:10:01]

SO IT'S GOING TO SPLIT THE COUNTY IN THE MIDDLE.

UM, UH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT BETTER THAN THAT.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CALLS FOR SERVICE, OF COURSE, COMING FROM THE EDGE WITH JOPPA TOWN AREA, WHERE OUR POPULATION BASE IS.

AND MOST OF THE BUILDING IS UP THROUGH RIVERSIDE BELL CAMP, UH, UP IN ABERDEEN.

SO I HAD WANTED TO PRECINCT SOME POINT BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND THE INTERCHANGE.

AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THAT, IT'S A GREAT FACILITY GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET FOR US.

UM, BUT, BUT THE DEPUTY SHOWN THERE WILL THE PATROL SECTOR, SOME OF THE PATROL SECTORS ASSIGNED TO THAT PRECINCT WILL BE AS FAR UP AS FOST.

ANYONE ELSE MR. TIBBS, SHERIFF, OR SOME OF THE MORE VIOLENT CRIMES COMING OUT OF THE CITY COMING INTO THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTY? I KNOW I HEAR THAT WALL ON THE MONITOR ALL THE TIME AND WE ABSOLUTELY SEE CRIME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BALTIMORE CITY AND CRIME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BE ON THE STREET, BUT ARE NOTHING MUCH BE DOING WITH THAT THOUGH.

UM, I TOLD UNTIL THE INCIDENT HAPPENS HERE AND THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A STATE'S ATTORNEY WHO WAS AGGRESSIVE IN PROSECUTING THE CASES, UH, MUCH, MUCH MORE SO THAN PROBABLY A LOT OF THE AREAS IN THE STATE.

AND WE HAVE COURTS THAT STILL ARE MORE STRICT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M SPEAKING FROM WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU PAY A PENALTY FOR COMMITTING A WRONG, BUT THAT IS NOT THE THOUGHT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TOO MANY PLACES AROUND THE STATE.

WE'RE, WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN THAT IN HARTFORD, MR. CITY.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.

SO A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF JOHNSTOWN, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR, UH, MEN AND WOMEN DO.

UM, I, I JUST HAD THIS THOUGHT, UH, IS THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM AND THE CADET PROGRAM STILL GOING ON.

IF SO, IS THERE ADEQUATE FUNDING AND HISTORICALLY, HAS THAT HELPED WITH RECRUITMENT RETENTION EXPLORER PROGRAM IS STILL GOING.

UM, AND WE DO OTHER PROGRAMS. WE DO A LOT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS BADGES FOR BASEBALL CAMP, YOUTH, YOUTH ACADEMY.

UM, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, THINGS WE REALLY DON'T AT A YOUTH ACADEMY OR OUT OF THE EXPLORERS.

WE REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN.

I CAN ONLY THINK OF ONE.

I THINK THAT CAME IN FROM EXPLORERS AND THEN SHE DECIDED NOT TO GO TO THE ACADEMY AND BECAME OUR VIDEO FORENSICS PERSON.

UM, AND THEN COULD THAT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM EXPLORERS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR CADET POSITIONS THAT ARE TEMPORARY POSITIONS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND, UM, UM, EACH ONE OF THOSE THAT HAS PROVED BENEFICIAL IN THAT IT IS A, UH, GROUND IS A ROOM FOR US TO GRAB A PERSON AT THE AGE OF 18, UM, BECAUSE, UH, OTHER PLACES WITH CADET PROGRAMS, IF THEY EMPLOYED THEM AHEAD OF TIME, THEN THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO SIGN ON FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE.

SO WE CAN NOW EMPLOY THEM AT THE AGE OF 18.

UM, MOVING UP ONCE THEY'RE 21, THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO THE ACADEMY.

SO IT HAS HELPED US, BUT THERE'S ONLY FOUR POSITIONS AND WE'RE NOT A BIG AGENCY TO WHERE WE NEED MORE THAN THAT, BUT IT IS A BENEFICIAL PROGRAM.

WE CAN HIRE CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES AT 18, BUT THIS IS MORE FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO KNOW THAT CORRECTIONS IS NOT THE PATH THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE, BUT I'M 18 YEARS OLD CORRECTIONAL DEPUTY FIRST YEAR YOU WILL MAKE BEFORE THE PAY RAISES $50,000.

UM, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD PAYING JOB FOR A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN.

WHO'S NOT SURE WHO YOUR PATH THEY'RE ON JUST YET.

SO, UM, I AM RECRUITING AT THIS MOMENT.

DO YOU HAVE DENTAL? I'LL HAVE THE COUNTY BENEFITS.

I HAVE MY RETIRED BENEFITS FROM THE STATE AND I AM TOLD ALL THE TIME MY BENEFITS AREN'T AS GOOD AS MOST EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.

IT'S JUST THE TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THE SALT ON THE ROADS.

ANYONE ELSE? SHERIFFS.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU GUYS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

YES, WE APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

KERNEL.

YOU WANT TO BUY SOME FORTIES? YEAH.

AS LONG AS EVERYBODY'S HERE, GIVE ME HIS MONEY.

HE, WHAT HE DID.

EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL START ON PAGE 4 0 9

[03:15:11]

AND THEN THE 27TH PAY, UM, COSTS 87,000 8 0 7 DOWN ON PAGE 4 24.

WE'LL START WITH DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ON PAGE FOUR NINE.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 180 4 TO 84.

UM, YOU WILL SEE THAT 270,000 8 84 IS FOR PERSONAL SERVICES, 60,000 FOR A NEW COMPUTER, UM, ENGINEER DEDICATED TO EMERGENCY SERVICES, 60,000, UH, MERIT INCREASE IN COLA FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT AT A COST OF 74,006, 14, TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASES 20,000 4 59.

AND THIS PROVIDES FOR, UM, BUILDING ATTENDANCE, UM, FOR THAT BUILDING 24 7, UM, AND THEN OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS INCREASES 39,983.

AND THE COST FOR THE 27TH PAY IS 29, 6 53.

IF YOU TURN THE PAGE ON FOUR 11, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE, UM, MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS HERE.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 34, 3, BUT IT STILL PROVIDES FOR, UM, SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND SOLAR AND SO ON.

UM, THERE WAS, UM, MONEY PROVIDED IN 22 FOR A BASEMENT ROLL-UP DOOR.

SO THAT WAS A ONE-TIME COST SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES $2,500.

AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON ACTUALS, BUT STILL PROVIDES SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR COMMERCIAL PRINTING, ET CETERA, MISCELLANEOUS THERE'S A DECREASE THERE $50,000, BUT IT STILL PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE, UM, LADIES AUXILIARY LEGACY SERVICE PROGRAM AND THE EMS COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ON PAGE FOUR 14 IS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER INCREASE.

THERE IS 9 89, 7 14.

AND THE BULK OF THAT 90% OF IT IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES FOR 4 86, 5 83 IS FOR THE MERIT INCREASE IN THE 7% COLA.

WE TRANSFER A POSITION OUT OF, UM, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION INTO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

SO THERE'S A NET DECREASE THERE OF 87, 5 89, 20 SEVENTH PAY, UH, AT A COST OF 1 98, 809 HEALTH BENEFITS WERE ADJUSTED AND INCREASED FOR AN INCREASED COST OF 96, 3 96, A PEP POST-EMPLOYMENT HEALTH PLAN INCREASES 28, 5 50 AND THE COST FOR OTHER PERSON EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS IS 1 45, 8 39.

OVER TIME.

IT SHIFTED DIFFERENTIAL OR ADJUSTED BASED ON ACTUALS AT AN INCREASED COSTS OF 144,000.

THERE WAS A DECREASE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OF $4,000.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON NATIONALS, AS WELL AS SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AND BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

WE, UM, INCREASE THEM BY 900 FOR TRAINING SEMINARS, ET CETERA.

ON PAGE FOUR, 17 SUPPORT SERVICES INCREASES $430,056 113, 7 56 IS FOR PERSONAL SERVICES OF WHICH 48 TO 26 IS FOR THE MERIT AND COLA.

19,694 IS THE INCREASE FOR HEALTH BENEFITS.

AND THE 27TH PAYS AT A COST OF 20,000 8 95, AND THEN OPEB AT A COST OF 19,000 TO 12 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 316,300 HOURS.

AND THESE FUNDS PROVIDE FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE, COMMUNICATION, SERVICE SERVICE, THE MOTOROLA CONTRACT, ET CETERA.

AND THESE ARE ALL BASED ON ACTUALS.

THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN FUNDING FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS OR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

I WILL SKIP OVER VOLUNTEER FIRE AND WAIT FOR THEM.

AND THEN UNDER THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ON PAGE 4 22, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE.

$3,068,015, 1,000,006, 1,000,688 TO 16 IS IN PERSONAL SERVICES.

UM, 217,008, 11 IS FOR FOUR POSITIONS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED IN, INTO, UM, EMS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

UM, THREE WERE FROM PARKS AND REC.

AND ONE WAS, UM, AS I SAID EARLIER FROM ADMINISTRATION.

SO THAT'S AT A COST OF 2 17, 8 11.

WE ALSO ADDED NINE NEW, UM, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL FOR EMT AND FIVE PARAMEDIC POSITIONS AT A COST OF 4 15, 8 0 9.

THE MERIT INCREASE IN COLA AT A COST OF 1 67, 3 72.

UH, WE INCREASED TEMPORARY SALARIES TO PROVIDE FOR ON-CALL PARAMEDICS FOR AN INCREASE OF 29, 9 65 HEALTH BENEFITS INCREASED 3 21, 4 53,

[03:20:02]

YOU'LL SEE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 MILLION, 1 31, 500.

THE BULK OF THAT, THE MILLION DOLLARS IS PROVIDED TO THE HARTFORD COUNTY FIRE AND EMS FOUNDATION.

AND AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID IN HIS OPENING REMARKS WAS THAT, UM, IT'S TO PROVIDE EQUITY WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 10, 500, AND THIS PROVIDES FOR TRAINING, UM, MEDICINE, DISPOSAL, ET CETERA, UH, OPERATING EQUIPMENT SERVICES INCREASED BASED ON ACTUAL IS AT 21,000 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES TO 30 TO 300.

AND THIS IS AN INCREASE IN SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON ACTUAL LENDING AS WELL AS 16,000 IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.

AND THIS IS FOR TRAINING SEMINAR COURSES ON PAGE 4 26 IS SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 2 0 1, 3 72 49, 7 96 IS IMPERSONAL SERVICES.

48, 1 56 OF WHICH IS FOR THE MERIT AND COLA 3003 91 IS SOME WORKERS' COMP ADJUSTMENTS.

AND THEN THE 27TH PAY AT A COST OF $3,107.

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES HERE.

THIS IS THE, UM, CAM CHARGES FOR THE LEASE SPACE.

THEY HAVE FORCED HILL AT $1,100 AND THEN HEATING FUEL INCREASED 500 BASED ON ACTUALS, UH, FUNDS FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, UNIFORM PURCHASE, AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING INCREASES 80,000 AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL 9,975.

AND THIS IS FOR, UM, THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FUEL AND SO FORTH.

AND THE LAST ON PAGE 4 31 IS, UM, THE ACCOUNT FOR NATURAL DISASTERS.

AND THAT REMAINS THE SAME AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL, PRESIDENT VINCENTE, AND HONOR MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, TO TALK TO TALK ABOUT MY BUDGET AND TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF DES.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO TO HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL, BEING RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME.

I WANTED TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PAST YEAR'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHICH, WHICH I WILL DEMONSTRATE AS HELP SAVE THE COUNTY OVER $700,000 HELPED ME TODAY WITH ME AS MY BUDGET TECHNICIAN, MICHELLE SEXTON.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IS OUR RURAL WATER INITIATIVE.

I HAVE REPORTED REPORTED ON THIS TO YOU BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM FOR WATER RESOURCES, FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A BETTER DESIGN SYSTEM OF DRAFTING FROM BRIDGES.

AND NOW WE'RE REACTIVATING FORMER SISTER IN SOUR ONES IN OPERABLE, AND WE'RE MAKING THEM RE OPERABLE AGAIN FOR USE IN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE.

SO IN SHORT, WE HAVE MORE ACCESS NOW IN THE LAST TWO YEARS TO RURAL WATER THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE.

THUS PROVIDING GREATER FIRE RESOURCES FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS AND GREATER PROTECTION TO OUR CITIZENS.

TO THAT END 33 SITES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, SAVING THE COUNTY AND TIME AND LABOR OVER $500,000.

WE HAVE SAVED ADDITIONAL COST BY LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, SUCH AS MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS WHO PAID FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A STANDPIPE ACCESSING THEIR QUARRY, UM, ACCESS AND REQUIRED, WHICH HOLDS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOR THE CRESWELL AREA OF HARTFORD COUNTY.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE ADDED TO THAT LIST, SEVERAL LOCAL FARMERS WHO WE'VE WORKED WITH COOPERATIVELY WHO HAVE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THEIR PONDS FOR WORLD WATER ACCESS AS WELL.

IN OUR BUDGET, WE HAVE ADDED LARGE DIAMETER OF RURAL WATER SUPPLY APPLIANCES TO THAT BUDGET FOR EACH OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, WHICH WILL PERMIT THEM WHEN THEY USE THESE WORLD DRAFTING SITES TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE THEIR FIRE GROUND WATER FLOW FROM 500 GALLONS OF WATER, A MINUTE TO 1500 GALLONS FOR WATER PER MINUTE, AND OUR ACTIVE ASSAILANT CRITICAL EVENTS INITIATIVE.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW UP WITH TRAINING AND RESCUE TASK FORCE AND ACTIVE ASSAILANT TRAINING FOR THE FIRE AND EMS SERVICES WE PURCHASED AND PROVIDED A SECOND ROUND OF SOFT BODY ARMOR, 30 SETS FOR THE FIRE AND EMS SERVICES, AND RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED THOSE TO THEM.

WE CONTINUE AGAIN TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE PREPAREDNESS TRAINING THEY NEED AND EXERCISE TO MAINTAIN READINESS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUE TO OUR VARIABLE ROBUST PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BY MAINTAINING A VERY ACTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP FOR ALL CRITICAL EVENTS, ALL PLANNING FOR LARGE EVENTS.

UM, IN OTHER WORDS, WE BECOME A LOGISTICS AND RESOURCE ASSET FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UH, WE, WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEIR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES OR PLANNING SERVICES TRAINING.

UH, WE DEPLOY WITH THEIR SRT AND OUR MOBILE FIELD FORCE AS WELL, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE SHERIFF.

SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON MITIGATING THE INCIDENT BY US PROVIDING THEM RESOURCES AND ASSETS THAT TYPICALLY WOULD NOT, WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO UNDER OUR EMS BRANCH.

OUR EMS SUPPORT WHEN I REPORTED TO YOU LAST YEAR WAS LOOKING AT A VOLUME, BUT LESS THAN 200 CALLS PER MONTH.

THIS YEAR THEY'VE INCREASED TO OVER 400

[03:25:01]

CALLS PER MONTH, UH, REGULARLY SINCE PROBABLY LAST FALL IN THE LAST, UH, FOUR YEARS.

WE'VE WE'VE ACCUMULATED WELL OVER 13,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, WE CONTINUE TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS ON OUR NORTH HARFORD EMS STATION.

WE HAVE PLACED A FULL-TIME COUNTY MEDIC AT THEIR REQUEST AT THE BEL-AIR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, PATTERSON MILL STATION DO INCREASING CALL VOLUME AND THE ROUTE 24 CARTER AND SOUTH FURTHER INTO THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE.

WE'VE ALSO PLACED IN SERVICE, WHAT WE CALL COUNTY MEDIC FIVE, IT'S A NEW BARIATRIC UNIT CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING PATIENTS WHO SUFFER FROM MORBID OBESITY.

THIS RELIEVES A JOB MAY KNOW YOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FROM THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY HAVE SERVED IN THAT THOUGH PRO FOR PROBABLY TWO AND A HALF, MAYBE THREE DECADES.

AND OUR SINCERE THANKS GOES OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT, UH, CITRUS SITUATION TO MITIGATE.

AND THE JOPPA HAS PROVIDED THAT SERVICES FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS TO THE COUNTY, AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THEM AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

OUR PARAMEDICS HAVE BEGUN TRAINING AND TACTICAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TIMS. ONCE THIS TRAIN IS COMPLETE, THEY WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GO DOWN RANGE INTO THE HOT ZONE WITH SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SPECIAL, SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM MEMBERS.

UH, AND IT MEANS TO RAPIDLY EXTRICATE TREAT AND EXTRICATE PATIENTS FROM THE HOT ZONE.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BRING THOSE PATIENTS OUT OF THE HOT ZONE TO US.

UH, WITH THIS TRAINING, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO DOWN RANGE WITH THEM.

NOT ONLY WILL WE TREAT THE POTENTIAL PATIENTS WE WANT COUNTER FROM THE INCIDENT, BUT WE ALSO BE ABLE TO TREAT, UH, THE, UH, POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL SINCE REOPENING DES AFTER COVID, WE HAVE TRAINED 417 COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND CPR STOPPED THE BLEED AED AND FIRST AID SAVING THE COUNTY IN EXCESS OF $62,000.

HAD AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR BEEN HIRED TO DO THAT WORK.

WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MARYLAND EMERGENCY SERVICE OR SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE IN SHORT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LONG, A LONG TITLE OR MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT.

IT'S A PROCESS FOR RECOVERY AND LOSS BILLING REVENUE, AS A RESULT OF MEDICARE'S $100 STANDARD FEE FOR EMS SERVICES FOR ANY PATIENT WHO UTILIZES MEDICARE, ONLY GOVERNMENT SPONSORED EMS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

AND WE WERE ONLY ONE OF 14 JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE THAT TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE STATE TO, TO RECOVER THE INFORMATION AND WORK THE PROCESS THAT WE CAN HELP RECOVER.

SOME OF THAT LOST MONEY FOR HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AGAIN, UH, THE PROCESS WHEN IT STARTED, IT WAS NEW AT ITS INCEPTION POINT.

THEY REALLY ONLY ASKED US FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF DATA AND SOME OTHER LIMITED INFORMATION AND KEEPING IN MIND THAT WE ONLY HAD TWO COUNTY MEDICS HANDLING CALLS AT THE TIME.

UH, AND BY THE TIME WE PAID FEES TO THE STATE AND THE CONSULTING GROUP, WE WILL SEE ABOUT A $74,000 RETURN TO THE COUNTY.

I ANTICIPATE GOING FORWARD AS VOLUME INCREASES.

AND AS WE HAVE A FULL YEAR'S WORTH OF DATA NOW, GOING FORWARD THAT REVENUE WILL COME BACK IN A MUCH HIGHER AMOUNT.

THE COUNTY FURTHER IN SUPPORT OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS. WE ADDED TO OUR FY 23 BUDGET.

WHAT IS KNOWN AS A MOBILE HANDHELD ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC TOOL, WHICH WILL IMPROVE PATIENT ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF THE PATIENT IN THE FIELD UNDER A SPECIAL OPERATIONS BRANCH.

WE TRAIN 96 COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN CONFINED SPACE RESCUE AND TRENCH AWARENESS IN DOING SO.

WE SAVED THE COUNTY OVER $60,000, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $700 PER STUDENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL FEES.

THIS COST IS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ANY COSTS FOR TRAVEL, LODGING, FOOD OR OTHER CENTRALS.

HAD WE GONE WITH AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR? ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE PROVIDED FIT TESTING FOR HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SPECIFICALLY WATER AND SEWER, UH, WHERE WE DO THEIR FIT TESTING, SAVING THEM AGAIN, IT'S A SMALL SUM, BUT IT'S A SUM NONETHELESS OF $2,500.

WE HAD 11, EXCUSE ME, 10 HAZMAT INVESTIGATIONS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR THAT RESULTED IN US RECOVERING CIVIL FINES AND PENALTIES DUE TO THE COUNTY FROM, UM, THE, THE INCIDENTS THAT THE, THE, THE VICTIM REGRETTED THE COMPLAINANT WOULD HAVE CAUSED RESULTING IN FINES AND RECOVERY OF OVER $11,000.

OUR NINE 11 PUBLIC SAFETY ACCESS POINT BRANCH.

WE HAD, WE WERE RE WE ACCREDITED THIS YEAR AS TRI ACCREDITED CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, OUR RENOVATION AND UPGRADE TO THE BACKUP CENTER.

THE NINE 11 CENTER IN MANOR, WOOD IN JARRETTSVILLE PROVIDES NOW THE COUNTY TO HAVE A HOT STANDBY FACILITY AND OMAN ONLINE AT ALL TIMES VERSUS OUR PRIOR CONFIGURATION, WHICH REQUIRES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TACTICAL SUPPORT TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING.

SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN A CURB BRINGING THIS ONLINE NOW IS ALLOWS US TO DIVERSIFY OUR WORKFORCE SO THAT IF WE HAVE A CRITICAL EVENT AT DES AND WE HAVE TO SPLIT OPERATIONS WHERE GOD FORBID COVID COMES BACK STRONG, AND WE WANT TO SEPARATE OUR EMPLOYEES, WE CAN OPERATE TWO CENTERS AT ONE TIME WITH RELATIVELY SEAMLESS OPERATIONS.

WE'VE ALSO IMPLEMENTED KARI'S LAW INSPECTIONS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DILL, THIS LAW AND INSPECTION, UM, LAW, IF YOU WILL, INSURANCE, ALL PHONES, HOTELS, OFFICES, ANYTHING THAT HAS A CENTRIX TYPE PHONE SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN CALL 9 1 1 DIRECTLY.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIAL NINE.

WE'RE CALLED THE FRONT DESK, YOUR PHONES HERE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND ACROSS THE COUNTY.

PRIOR TO THIS LAW BEING IMPLEMENTED, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD THE DIAL NINE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY CONFUSING, AND CHANCES ARE, YOU WOULD HAVE DIALED SOMEBODY ELSE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

NOW YOU DIAL 9 1 1, AND IT RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE 9 1 1 CENTER, WHICH IS EXTREMELY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SYSTEM.

SO IN CLOSING, PLEASE KNOW, I'M EXCEPTIONALLY PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORKED FOR ME.

UH, THEY PROVIDE OFTEN IN PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES WHILE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND PRUDENT.

AND

[03:30:01]

TO THAT END, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SAVING THE COUNTY WHILE OVER $700,000, UM, UH, GETTING, BRINGING THAT MONEY BACK TO THE COUNTY AND IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO HELP BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS TODAY, INVESTING POORLY FOR YOUR TIME THIS AFTERNOON, WITH THAT ALL CLOSE AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, SIR.

THANK YOU, EDDIE FOR YOUR PRESENTATION APPRECIATED.

AND IF YOU WOULD, AGAIN, I'VE ASKED EVERYONE TO PLEASE FORWARD A COPY OF YOUR COMMENTS.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, COUNSEL, ANYONE COMMENTS MR. SHREDS? YES.

I WANT TO, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE POND WORK THAT WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED AT JARRETTSVILLE.

IT'S GREAT.

AND I KNEW THAT THEY EVEN WENT DEEPER THAN WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.

SO I THINK WHILE THEY WERE THERE, IT ONLY MADE PERFECT SENSE TO DO THAT.

I KNOW THAT IT INITIATED WITH THE CONVERSATION WE HAD MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, BUT AT LEAST IT'S OKAY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG ARDUOUS PROCESS AND DISAPPOINTINGLY LONG ARDUOUS PROCESS, BUT I AM THANKFUL THAT WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WE HAVE BROKEN GROUND ON THAT.

AND I'M WITH WHEN THAT POND WAS AT ITS WORST, WE WERE AT 500 GALLONS A MINUTE ON DRAFT.

AND HOPEFULLY NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO UP TO AROUND 1500 GALLONS PER MINUTE ON DRAFT.

BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S JUST BEEN A LONG ARDUOUS PROCESS AND I APOLOGIZE, RIGHT.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT INVOLVED, BUT I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD, COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT.

UM, IT'S, IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, A WATER SOURCE LIKE THAT.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT, UM, I WAS ALSO THINKING TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN SITUATIONS LIKE YOUR, UM, AND I, AND I FOLLOW THE EMS STATION AT NORTH HARTFORD DAILY, I DROP, UH, MATTY OFF ALMOST EVERY DAY IN THE MORNING THERE.

AND I PASS RIGHT BY THERE PUSHES CORNER.

AND I SEE HOW THAT'S REALLY COMING ALONG.

NICE.

NOW, WHEN WE DO FACILITIES LIKE THAT, IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES, OR MAYBE THERE IS, UM, TO HAVE A CYST TURN AS PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT? YES, SIR.

THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT I'VE DONE UP THERE IN THE LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE ADDED A 30,000, 30,000 GALLON SISTER INTO THAT PROJECT.

UM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY, THE SISTER, AND WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, WE'LL ESSENTIALLY GO JUST SHORTLY OR BRIEFLY.

I'M SORRY, JUST TRULY BEHIND THE CONSTRUCTION TRAILER.

SO I'VE 30,000 GALLONS.

THEY ARE ALSO, WE RE RE-ENERGIZED OR REINVIGORATED THE SISTER AND AT THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL, UH, WHICH, UH, WHICH GIVES US AN ADDITIONAL 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

SO BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WITHIN A FIVE MILE RADIUS WE'LL, AND INCLUDING THE WHITE FOR SISTER WILL HAVE ROUGHLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR FIRE SERVICE FOR DRAFTING SOURCES.

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH AT THE POND, UM, A SISTER AND MAY BE A BETTER OPTION BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO CONSIDER DEALING WITH THE SILT AND THE HE'S GOT TO DEAL WITH IT, THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

UM, SO ANOTHER, ANOTHER QUESTION JUST WANT TO, UM, ASK, UH, OF, OF, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF THE, UH, DISPATCHERS AT THE CALL CENTER.

HOW ARE THEY DOING WHAT'S RETENTION? LIKE, UM, THEY HAVE JUST SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB.

THEY'RE FIELDING THOSE CALLS WITH PEOPLE UNDER DISTRESS AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN THEIR SITUATIONS AND JUST WANTING TO GET A FEEL FOR WHERE WE ARE NOW.

WE'VE CAUGHT IT ON UP.

AND NOW WITH THAT, WE HAVE TRIED TO DO OUR BEST TO PAY THEM, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR STRESSFUL JOBS.

UM, WELL, BUT THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE, THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL, THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, AS WE HAVE GIVEN THEM PAY RAISES AND, AND SALARY INCREASES TO ENHANCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE STRUGGLE BECAUSE LIKE EVERY ORGANIZATION, UH, EVERY ONE, THE BOARD, IT'S NOT QUITE WHERE WE WANT, WE'D LIKE IT TO BE.

SO IN SHORT STAFF IS TIRED.

LIKE MANY FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TIRED, THEY'RE EXHAUSTED.

THEY ARE WORKING IN ORDER AND AMOUNTS OF OVERTIME.

UM, WE DO MONITOR THEIR HEALTH.

WE, WE DO HAVE A CRITICAL INCIDENT SUPPORT TEAM IN PLACE.

WE, WE DO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE TRY TO DO THINGS LIKE LAST WEEK WAS NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK.

AND MANY OF YOU STOPPED UP.

I KNEW THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SPENT TIME UP THERE.

THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES OF BEING A PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER IS THEY'RE IN A CONFINED ROOM.

SO WHEN YOU SEE FIRST RESPONDERS SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, EMS, THE CITIZENS YOURSELF, YOU SEE THOSE FOLKS IN THE FIELD, THEY'RE TANGIBLE THE NINE 11 DISPATCHER WHO REALLY IS THE ONE WHO STARTS THE EMERGENCY WHEELS.

ROLLING IS NEVER SEEN BY THE PUBLIC.

THEY'RE HEARD, BUT NEVER SEEN THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS EVERY BIT, AS MUCH AS THE POLICE AND FIRE AND EMS ARE, BUT THEY'RE CHALLENGED SOMETIMES BECAUSE IT'S THERE, THEY'RE JUST NOT SEEN.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT GETS EXHAUSTING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFTEN SEE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOR.

IF YOU WILL, THEY CAN GIVE CPR INSTRUCTIONS, BUT NOT SEE THE SUCCESSFUL RESUSCITATION.

THEY CAN TELL SOMEBODY HOW TO EVACUATE A HOUSE TO GET AWAY FROM A BURGLAR, BUT THEY DON'T SEE THE REUNION BETWEEN POLICE AND THE, AND THE, UM, AND THE VICTIM.

SO IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE THAT, THAT, THAT WEARS THEM DOWN AFTER A WHILE, BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE IN FOUR WALLS AND THEY'RE IN FOUR WALLS ALL DAY LONG, BUT THEY ARE,

[03:35:01]

WE ARE MAKING STRIDES.

WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON BETTER RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, UH, AND CERTAINLY YOUR SUPPORT, THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT FOR THE INCREASED SALARIES WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

AND OF COURSE, EVERYWHERE, UH, PEOPLE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE LABOR SHORTAGES.

THAT JOB YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, HAS IT HELPED BEING ABOVE GROUND IN THE NEW FACILITY, BECAUSE WHEN I USED TO VISIT OVER THERE, YOU WERE KIND OF SUNKEN IN, IT WAS VERY DARK.

YOU'RE ALMOST LIKE IN A CAVE WHERE, WHERE THEY WERE OPERATED.

HAD THERE BEEN A LOT WORSE, I WOULD IMAGINE THEN IN THIS NEW BRIGHT WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT MAY HELP.

IT DOES IT IT'S LIKE ANYTHING.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A DARK ENVIRONMENT, YOU ADAPT TO A DARK MENTALITY, SO TO SPEAK.

I DON'T MEAN THAT IN NO FREE AND THEY'RE 24 7 SOME PEOPLE, RIGHT.

BUT WHEN THEY'RE THERE IN A WELL LIT ROOM, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE.

WE'VE THE DISPATCH, THE CONSOLES THAT YOU'VE SEEN.

I'M SURE IF MR. VINCENT, YOU SAW THEM THAT THE DISPATCH CONSOLES ARE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED, THEY CAN STAND UP, THEY CAN SIT DOWN, THEY'RE INDIVIDUALLY HEATING AND AIR CONTROLLED.

SO THEY, WE TRY TO MAKE IT AS PALATABLE FOR THEM AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IF IT IS BETTER BEING IN THE LIT AREA, ALSO WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S A BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE CAN, CAN SEE THEM MORE FREQUENTLY, THEY HAVE MORE INTERACTION WITH STAFF THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

AND IT'S ALSO HELPFUL.

UH, WHEREAS BEFORE THE BUILDING DIDN'T REALLY ALLOW YOU ANY SPACE FOR SOMEONE TO STOP AND VISIT AND TALK TO THE DISPATCHERS.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND TO THAT POINT, IF I MAY, I DID STOP AND I DO TRY TO STOP ON AN OCCASION BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MY DAUGHTER TRISH WORKS THERE.

SHE'S BEEN THERE 19 YEARS AND SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES.

AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, I THINK DO LOVE IT.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STRESSED, THEY REALLY TRULY BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND ARE GOOD AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I'M AMAZED THAT, UH, THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY RETAIN AND THEY FOLLOW, UH, ON MULTIPLE CALLS AT A TIME.

UM, AND IT'S JUST A, A SMALL CREW OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, REVOLVING EVERY SHIFT.

BUT, UM, I JUST, I'M IMPRESSED BY ALL OF THEM.

I REALLY AM.

AND THEY TRULY ARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

THEY REALLY ARE.

AND IT DOES TAKE THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE THERE.

WE'VE HIRED PEOPLE WHO'VE WHO HAVE GONE THERE WITH THE IDEA THAT IT'S JUST ANSWERING THE PHONE IS CUSTOMER SERVICE.

WELL, CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CERTAINLY A BASE PLATFORM, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN THEIR WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

AND SOME PEOPLE THAT WE RECRUIT, THEY DON'T SEE THAT THEY WATCH THE TELEVISION SHOW NINE 11.

THEY GET, THEY GET ALL DRAMATIZE UP BY WHAT THEY SEE, BUT REALITY IS THAT'S NOT THE REAL WORLD, RIGHT? UM, THAT PERCEPTION IS WRONG.

AND, UM, SO PEOPLE COME, THEY GO THROUGH OUR ACADEMY AND SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE WEEKS ON THE JOB, MAYBE A MONTH, THEY SAY, NOT FOR ME, I'M SORRY, I'M OUT.

UM, AND THERE'S NOT THAT WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN'T CHANGE IT.

AND WE TRIED TO, WE TRY IN OUR ACADEMY TO BE REALISTIC WITH THEM AS POSSIBLE.

I AM BRUTALLY HONEST, IF YOU WILL, WHEN WE WERE WELCOMED INTO THE DEPARTMENT, I PULL NO PUNCHES.

I TELL THEM WHAT IT IS THEY'RE GOING TO SEE AND HEAR.

UH, BUT SOMETIMES THAT, UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED THAT FRANTIC PHONE CALL, THE PUB, TH TH THE DISPATCH AND THE NEW DISPATCHER WON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SLIGHT, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO RESPOND.

BUT WE'RE, WE ARE TRYING WHERE WE TRY NEW METHODS FOR RECRUITING EVERY DAY.

UM, WORD OF MOUTH HELPS A LOT.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE JUST RECENTLY HIRED.

AND SOME OF THOSE CAME FROM THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, WHICH WAS GREAT.

ONE OF OUR BEST, UM, DISPATCHERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY LOST HER TO ANOTHER COUNTY BECAUSE SHE MOVED, CAME OUT OF THE FIRE SERVICE CADET PROGRAM.

SO WE TRY TO USE THOSE VENUES TO RECRUIT BECAUSE AS THE SHERIFF ALLUDED TO FOR A CORRECTIONS OFFICER MAKING 50,000 AT 18, WE CAN HIRE A DISPATCHER ALSO AT 18.

AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE AROUND 42 OR 43, A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A CEO, BUT NONETHELESS FOR AN 18 YEAR OLD MAKING $42,000 A YEAR, THAT'S NOT JUNK CHANGE.

THAT'S GOOD MONEY.

UM, AND EVEN IF WE KEEP THEM FOR TWO, THREE OR FOUR YEARS, WHILE THEY DETERMINED WHAT THEY WANT TO BE IN LIFE, IT'S ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US.

AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD STEPPING STONE BECAUSE IT TEACHES THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS, HOW TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HOW TO DEAL WITH POLICE, FIRE, EMS. IT REALLY SETS THEM UP FOR A CAREER IN ANY ONE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DISCIPLINES.

ARE MANAGED TO MOVE OUT INTO THE COUNTY.

THANKS SAYS, YES, SIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. HOPKINS, HOW MANY AMBULANCES DOES THE COUNTY ACTUALLY OWN AT THIS TIME WE OWN, WE HAVE SIX AMBULANCES AT THIS TIME AND WE HAVE A SEVENTH IN PRODUCTION.

THE SEVENTH ONE SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE HERE WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS AND ALL, ARE THOSE ALL STAFFED WITH 24 7 STAFF? YEAH.

I MEAN, A THREE-YEAR STAFF 24, 7 3 ARE IN RESERVE.

UM, AND THE ONE THAT DID THE ONE, THAT'S YOUR MARK FOR THIS COMING, UM, THIS SUMMER, THE VET CREW THAT ARE IN THEIR CURRENT BUDGET, AND THAT UNIT WILL BE YOUR MARK FOR THE NORTH HARTFORD STATION.

AND SO LOOKING OUT INTO THE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT FIVE, 10 YEARS, WHAT IS THE PLAN ADDITIONAL? WE WOULD LIKE TO SLOWLY TRANSITION OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE, SEVEN YEARS FROM THE DEVIL, THE COMBINATION OF THE, THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND THE FOUNDATION TO EVENTUALLY MERGE INTO ONE CAREER BASED SYSTEM.

CERTAINLY WE DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO THAT IN ONE FELL SWOOP NOW.

SO IT WOULD BE A VERY SLOW TRANSITION, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE, THE IDEA, UM, TO, TO BUILD VERY SLOWLY AT MAYBE ONE OR TWO AMBULANCES A YEAR, POTENTIALLY, UH, UNTIL WE EVENTUALLY

[03:40:01]

UM, OUR HOPE IS THAT WE CAN, THE FOUNDATION REMAINS AND THERE'LL BE HERE AFTER ME TODAY, VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE A VERY VITAL PART OF OUR OPERATION.

UM, BUT THAT'S OUR PLAN GOING FORWARD MA'AM.

AND SO THEY WOULD THEN TRANSITION.

THEY WOULD ALL BE HARFORD COUNTY EMPLOYEES VERSUS FOUNDATION EMPLOYEES.

WELL, WE WOULD GIVE THEM THAT OPTION.

THEY WOULD, IF THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HUMAN RESOURCE PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT THEY WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE A LEG UP IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

BUT FOLLOWING HR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IT WOULDN'T BE GRANDFATHERING THEM OVER.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS.

SO ALL, ALL OF OUR MTS, UM, WHO RIDE AND DRIVE THE COUNTY OWN OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY MEDICS NOW ARE BEING OPERATED BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, WE, WE HAVE NO ONE WORKING IN THE OTHER THAN THE LEASE ARRANGEMENTS WE HAVE WITH UH PARAMIN AND WITH BEL AIR, WE HAVE NO OTHER THAN OTHER UNITS OF THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE, THE FOUNDATION SUPPLIES THEM, WE STAFF OUR UNITS PRIMARILY.

MA'AM MR. RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH, I DO ON PAGE.

WAS IT 4 23? UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE, UH, THE PERSONNEL SERVICES THAT YOU'VE GOT THERE AND THE SALARIES THAT, UH, CAME, UH, THE TRANSFERS FROM PARKS AND REC THE SALARIES DIDN'T COME WITH IT, SAY IT AGAIN, THE SALARIES, THE SALARY, THE, THE MONEY DID NOT COME WITH THOSE POSITIONS.

THEY WERE VACANT UNFUNDED POSITIONS.

AND WHAT WERE THEY FACILITIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I BELIEVE.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID.

AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.

SO THERE'S SIX, SIX COUNTY OWN AMBULANCES THAT ARE IN SERVICE.

NOW WE HAVE THREE IN SERVICE SERVE THREE IN RESERVE.

WOULD HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

UM, AND ONE THAT IS IN PRODUCTION, ONE IS IN PRODUCTION NEAR, IT SHOULD BE FINISHED WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS.

THAT'S MY, OKAY.

THERE'S NOT, NOT NINE.

AND ONE COMING IN IT'S IT'S SIX, SIX YESTERDAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. HOPKINS.

I THINK, UM, MR. WAGNER WAS ASKING THE REASON NINE BECAUSE THE GENTLEMEN WE HAD IN EARLIER TODAY TOLD US NINE, AND I, AND I THINK THERE'S A DISCREPANCY.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THAT DISCREPANCY IS.

I KNOW THAT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

LET ME DO THE MATH IN MY HEAD FOR A SECOND.

THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION, BUT I FIGURED I'D FOLLOW UP ON IT CAUSE I, RIGHT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, THAT THE CISTERNS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE BRIDGES ARE MEMBER SEEING THAT PRESENTATION AND THAT'S WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IS THERE MONEY IN THE BUDGET AND WHERE THOSE, HOW EXPENSIVE ARE THEY TO ADD THOSE SYSTEMS TO BRIDGES? THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY INEXPENSIVE, UM, PREVIOUSLY WOULD PROBABLY COST US $35,000 TO PUT IN A DRY HYDRO SYSTEM AT A BRIDGE WE'D WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH DPW ENGINEERING TO DO THAT.

THE SYSTEM, THE TH THE, THE, THE, THE POWERPOINT THAT YOU SAW, IT'S ROUGHLY $3,000 PER INSTALLATION.

AND WE, WE BENEFITED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SURPLUS SURPLUS, SEEN TO US HUNDREDS OF FEET OF PEZ, PVC, PIPE, AND ADAPTERS.

SO IN MANY CASES, WE'RE W THE FIRE COMPANY AND US AND DPW ARE SPLITTING THE COST OR DPW MAY ABSORB THE COST DEPENDENT IF THEY'RE DOING THE BRIDGE REPAIR.

AND THEY'LL BUILD THAT INTO THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF THE BRIDGE.

UM, IN SOME CASES, UH, THE, THE FIRE COMPANY MIGHT ASSUME THAT WE'VE GOTTEN GRANTS.

SO BOTTOM LINE COST IS ABOUT $3,000 OVERALL, AND THE MONEY'S COMING FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, BUT AGAIN, IT A SAVINGS OF $32,000 PER LOCATION.

AND TO ANSWER A QUESTION, AND MR. SCHROEDER HAD ADDRESSED EARLIER, THIS MAKES IT A ONE-PERSON OPERATION, WHEREAS A DRAFTING, NORMALLY IF I ROLL UP ON A FIRE ENGINE, BECAUSE I DO DRY WITH BEL AIR, AND IF I'M GOING TO DRAFT, IT TAKES PROBABLY TWO AND A HALF PEOPLE TO REALLY SET UP THE DRAFT IN THIS SITUATION.

IT'S ME.

I CAN ONE SECTION OF HARD SLEEVE ONTO THE DRY HYDRANT OR THE DRAFTING PIPE INTO MY ENGINE, AND I'M DONE I'M GOLDEN.

UH, SO THAT IT FREES UP ANOTHER ONE, ONE AND A HALF BODIES TO BE AT THE FIRE SCENE.

SO ARE WE GOING TO PUT THESE IN, ON ALL THE BRIDGES IN THE AREA OR NO, SIR.

IT'S WE, WE HAVE TO GET THAT.

I'M SORRY.

I CUT YOU OFF.

UM, WE CAN LOOK AT EACH WATER SOURCE TO DETERMINE THERE'S GOTTA BE A CERTAIN DEPTH TO IT, AND WE WE'D HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN LIFT OR A CERTAIN HEIGHT SO THAT WE, IF WE SEE A CERTAIN HEIGHT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE LIFT WE NEED, OR IT'S NOT GOING TO BE FUN TO BE GOOD.

FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THAT I CAN GO TO THE MIDDLE GREEN BRIDGE.

THAT'S ROUGHLY 28 FEET OFF THE GROUND, AND I CAN FLOW ABOUT A THOUSAND GALLONS A MINUTE OVER THE 28 FOOT LIFT.

BUT THERE'S OTHER PLACES THAT MIGHT BE HIGHER WHERE I'M NOT GOING TO GET JUST NOT ENOUGH SUCTION FROM THE ENGINE TO

[03:45:01]

GET THE DRAFT THAT I NEED.

IT WON'T, IT WON'T PRODUCE TOO MUCH FRICTION LOSS.

UH, SO NOT EVERY BRIDGES IS OPERATIONAL, UH, BILL SNYDER, WHO WORKS, AND IT WORKS AT DES.

I HAVE HIM OUT EVALUATING EVERY BRIDGE, EVERY WATER SOURCE POSSIBLE PREDOMINANTLY IN THE WORLD COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE WE, WITH HYDRATED AREAS, WE ALL WE KNOW WHERE THE HYDRANT STAR AND WE HAVE, WE KNOW OUR SIZE OF REMAINS, AND WE KNOW WHAT THE WATER IS GOING TO GIVE US.

SO MOSTLY THIS IS ALL RURAL AREAS IN NORTH.

WE, WE WILL TAKE ANY SUGGESTION FROM ANYBODY BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL BRIDGES IN THE AREA THAT CAN GIVE US A WATER THAT WE NEED.

UM, SOME BRIDGES MAY BE ACTUALLY TOO SHORT FOR WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHERE REALLY WOULD MAKE WORK, BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO JUST SIMPLY PUT, PUT MY DRAFTING A HYDRANT, OR EXCUSE ME, MY HEART SLEEVE INTO THE, INTO THE WATER'S EDGE, RIGHT FROM THE ROADWAY.

BUT MOST OF THESE ARE OFFERED BRIDGES.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH DPW ANYTIME OF THE DAY, OR DOING BRIDGE REPAIR.

WE'RE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THEY CONTACT TO SEE IF THAT, IF THAT BRIDGE LOCATION IS A GOOD VIABLE WATER POINT FOR US, UH, IN SEVERAL OF THOSE LOCATIONS, SINCE THEIR INCEPTION HAVE BEEN USED FOR WORKING STRUCTURE FIRES, PROVIDING THAT FIRE TRIP WITH A LOT CLOSER WATER, UM, THAN WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD NORMALLY.

AND THE REASON I ASKED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS IS, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CONTACT ONCE YOU'VE DONE SOME OF THESE, UH, INSTALLATIONS, BUT THE INSURANCE ISS, BECAUSE THAT REALLY DOES, IT MIGHT TAKE IT FROM A 10 TO A EIGHT OR SOMETHING, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HOMEOWNERS IN THE COUNTY, ON, ON THEIR INSURANCE RATES.

AND I'VE HAD SOME FIRES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, SOME OF THESE BIGGER HOMES, THERE'S NO WATER ENOUGH.

WE HAD ONE THAT BURNT TOTALLY TO THE GROUND OFF OF GREEN ROAD.

SO I APPRECIATE IF YOU ARE THEN FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH ISO.

AND I KNOW THAT'S A LONG PROCESS TO GET THEM TO CHANGE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S, IF IT'S A 10, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO INSURE IT IN A, IN A 10 AREA.

UM, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE RAN INTO WITH ISO SIR, IS THAT ISO FOR SOME LOCATIONS, ONE, A HYDROLOGY STUDY DONE, AND HYDROLOGY STUDIES ONE ARE EXPENSIVE AND TWO WERE LIMITED.

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE FROM TALKING WITH OUR ENGINEERS HERE, THAT WE HAD THAT CAPABILITY.

I DO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO NOTIFY THE FIRE CHIEF OF EVERY AREA KNOWS WHERE WE'VE PLACED THESE IN THE HOPES THAT HE CAN LET HIS, HE, OR SHE CAN LET HIS PUBLIC KNOW, SO THEY CAN INDIVIDUALLY ASK THEIR, UM, THEIR INSURANCE CARRIER, IF THEY WILL QUALIFY FOR THAT DISCOUNT.

UM, WE STAY ON TOP OF BY SUIT BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THIS HELP THE HOMEOWNER, BUT ALSO HELPS THE FIRE SERVICE AND KEEPING THEIR RATING DOWN, WHICH ALSO IS, YOU KNOW, TRANSMITS BACK TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

UH, BUT YES, WE DO.

AND THE LOCAL LOCAL ISR GENTLEMEN, DAVID C JUST RECENTLY RETIRED, HE WAS OUR POINT OF CONTACT FOR WELL OVER A DECADE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING USED TO THE NEW GUY, BUT WE ARE, UM, WE ARE ON TOP OF THAT AND THAT'S VERY MUCH IN THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

APPRECIATE IT.

FOR IT? UH, BDA IS BI-DIRECTIONAL AMPLIFIER A AND W UM, AND I, I APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU, MR. GINGER, DANA, ANYONE ELSE MR. WYDEN? I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT CAME OUT OF, UH, THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABERDEEN.

SOME, SOME TIME BACK.

UM, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU ARRIVE AT A FIRE AND IT'S A RENTAL UNIT, BUT OF COURSE, WHEN YOU GET THERE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT ARE RENTERS.

THERE'S FIRE DAMAGE TO THE PLACE YOU LEAVE.

IS THE OWNER EVER NOTIFIED BY ANYONE FROM FIRE SERVICE OR WHOEVER MAY HAVE ARRIVED AND PROB PROBABLY NOT SURFING FROM THE FIRE SERVICE, IF IT IS A, IF IT'S A WELL INVOLVED STRUCTURE, AS YOU DESCRIBED THE FARM MARSHALL 95%, I WOULD SAY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME THERE'S GOING TO BE NOTIFIED.

AND THEN THEY WOULD PROBABLY RUN THAT THROUGH THE CHAIN.

THEY WOULD NOT, I DON'T KNOW.

I WON'T SAY ABSOLUTELY NO, BUT IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT THE FIRE SERVICE IS GOING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE OWNER BECAUSE THE FAR MARSHALL DO THE INVESTIGATION AND DO THE FOLLOW-UP.

SO THEN THAT WOULD ALL BE HANDLED THAT IN THAT WAY.

AND THEN THE FIRE SERVICE WOULD GET THEIR INFORMATION FOR THEIR FIRE REPORTING FROM THE FIRE MARSHALL BASED ON THE PROPERTY OWNER AND SO FORTH.

BUT I IT'S RARELY THAT I KNOW THAT THERE NOTIFICATION SERVICES IT'S UP TO THE RENTER TO NOTIFY THE OWNER.

AND IN THIS INSTANCE THEY WERE ROLLING OUT ANYWAY, SO THEY DIDN'T CARE AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS FINE TO COME BACK LATER.

AND THE PLACE IS HEAVILY DAMAGED BY FIRE.

THE LANDLORD WAS A LITTLE BIT UPSET.

HAD THEY ALREADY VACATED MR. WEIDNER DINO BEFORE THE FIREARM? CAUSE, UM, I, I'M INCLINED TO THINK IF, IF IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FIRE, THE FIRE MARSHALL WOULD BE INVOLVED IN HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM AND CAUSE I I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN THEY WOULD NOTIFY.

THEY WOULD LOOK TO SEE WHO THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IS, UH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD FIGURE INTO THEIR ARSENAL.

IF IT'S AN ARSON, IT WOULD FIGURE INTO THEIR INVESTIGATION.

I WOULD THINK, UM, IF, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ADDRESS, I CAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE AND TRY TO RUN THAT TO GROUND FOR YOU.

BUT I THINK I'M RIGHT.

MR. BIOLA, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY, MR. SCOTT, I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS AND MOST OF THEM ARE EDUCATIONAL FOR ME.

UM, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND ONE OF THE DESCRIPTIONS, IT TALKS ABOUT BD, A MAINTENANCE.

WHAT DOES BDA STAND

[03:50:01]

I WAS DISTRACTED FOR A BRIEF SECOND, BUT BY DIRECTOR AMPLIFIERS ARE WHAT WE PLACED INTO THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, UH, FOR THE COUNTY.

AND THIS WAS ALLOWED SINCE THE SCHOOLS ARE SO BIG, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD EXCELLENT RADIO COVERAGE THROUGHOUT ENTIRE BUILDINGS.

UM, AND EVEN THOUGH BECAUSE FIRE, FIRE AND POLICE WOULD GO INTO THE BASEMENT, SUB BASEMENTS AND SO FORTH, WE SOMETIMES WOULD LOSE SIGNAL STRENGTH OR SIGNAL CAPABILITIES.

THIS ALLOWS THEM TO GO EVERYWHERE IN THE BUILDING AND IT PICKS UP THEIR SIGNAL AND TRANSMITS IT BACK OUT IN A MINUTE SO WE CAN PICK IT UP.

UH, WE HAVE GONE, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND DONE EVERY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY.

UM, WE'RE PROBABLY COMING UP AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO.

I WOULD SUSPECT WE'LL COME BACK REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO GO BACK AND REENERGIZE THOSE SYSTEMS BECAUSE MANY OF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE NOW GOING ON 10 YEARS OLD.

WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH, UH, LARGE FACILITIES LIKE UPPER CHESAPEAKE.

WE ASKED THEM TO DO THE SAME THING.

TYPICALLY WHEN WE PRESENT AT DAC MEETINGS, UH, FOR DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY, WE ASKED BUILDERS WHO ARE CONSIDERING LARGE SQUARE FOOTAGE BUILDINGS, IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER ADDING THOSE TO THEIR WAREHOUSES AND STRUCTURES FOR THE VERY SAME REASON SO THAT WE HAVE GOOD, GOOD RADIO SIGNAL, STRENGTH AND CAPABILITIES, OUR RADIOS ARE VERY STRONG AND THEY WILL PICK UP.

THEY ARE THERE.

THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

THIS JUST GIVES US THAT ADDED BENEFIT, PROTECT BY PROTECTING, UM, I'M SORRY.

IT GIVES US THE ADDED BENEFIT OF A STRONGER RADIO SIGNAL IN CASE THEY GO INTO A BUILDING THAT JUST GETS BLACKED OUT FOR ANY REASON.

AND THE CASES OF LIKE WAREHOUSES THAT YOU ASKED THEM, IS IT THEN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN AND DO WHATEVER IT NEEDS TO DO.

WHEN WE ASKED HIM TO DO THAT, AND WE S WE EXPLAINED THE NECESSARY NEED FOR IT.

AND THEN WE HOPE THAT THEY FOLLOW THROUGH AND DO IT IN PLACES LIKE UPPER CHESAPEAKE, WHERE WE HAVE REALLY GOOD, STRONG PARTNERSHIPS.

UM, THEY THAT'S NO PROBLEM.

THEY WORKED WITH US VERY CLOSELY ON DOING THAT.

THE SCHOOL BOARD CLEARLY WORKS CLOSELY ON DOING THAT.

TYPICALLY WHEN WE DO THE BDA INSTALLATION IS DURING THE SUMMER.

SO IT'S NOT DISRUPTIVE TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE IT REQUIRES RUNNING WIRES FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE, TO THE ROOF.

DO YOU PERIODICALLY IN A WAREHOUSE SITUATION, PRIVATE TYPE STRUCTURES, NOT THE SCHOOLS LIKE OPERA CHESAPEAKE, UM, PERFORM TESTING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STILL WORKING ADEQUATELY AND NO, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NO FOLLOWUP TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE, THE BUILDING THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED, UNLESS IT'S ALREADY AN EXISTING PARTNER WITH US.

WE WILL KNOW IF THEY'VE PUT A SYSTEM IN UNTIL WE HAVE A FIRE SERVICE CALL.

THERE WE'RE HAVE A REASON TO BE THERE TO ASK THEM.

UM, THERE'S REALLY THE MET WITH YOU.

SOMETIMES THE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING THAT TAKES PLACE.

AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL INSTALL IT.

SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, SIR.

WOW.

UM, NEXT QUESTION.

UM, MOVING ON TO, AND CITY HEALTH AND START PUTTING IT THE CITY HELP THOUGH, I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE IN THE SCHOOLS ALL THE TIME, WE'RE IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE TIME.

SO WE KNOW THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING THERE FOR SURE, BECAUSE WE'RE FREQUENTLY IN THOSE BUILDINGS FOR EITHER ALARMS OR CALLS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

SO WE KNOW THEIR SYSTEMS ARE WORKING WELL FOR US, SORT OF TO FOLLOW ALONG.

I WASN'T GOING TO GO THERE, BUT SINCE YOU SAID THAT TO ME, IT WOULDN'T BE BENEFICIAL TO DO THAT WITH THE WHERE, OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU SUSPECT THEY ARE TO PERIODICALLY AT LEAST.

SO YOU DON'T ALIVE IN THE SCENE AT AN INCIDENT AND THEN GO, OH, THIS ISN'T WORKING.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS UNDERSTOOD.

UM, SO ANYWAY, UM, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BUDGET, THE MILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE FOUNDATION QUESTION, DEALING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECT OF THAT HERE AGAIN, THIS IS BUDGETED UNDER THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND NOT UNDER GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS, RAISING, BEING ACTUALLY INVOICES, RIGHT? YES.

WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM OR ODE AGREEMENT OR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THEM AND THEY ACTUALLY INVOICE US EVERY MONTH.

IT WAS QUARTERLY.

UM, FOR THEM IT IS MONTHLY IT'S MONDAY.

SO IT'S WHEREAS THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS ARE JUST OUT IN OUTRIGHT GRANT TYPE THING.

THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, YOU GUYS HAVE AVERAGE SPENDING 50,000, JUST OVER $50,000 LAST YEAR, YOU BUMPED IT OVER 40,000 AND THIS YEAR YOU'RE TAKING IT UP ANOTHER 80.

THAT ANSWERS THAT.

WELL, THE PROBLEM BEING THE BUDGET BOOK, YOU DON'T SEE THE OBJECT LISTINGS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT IN THE CHARACTER LEVEL.

IT'S IN THE DETAIL.

I KNOW IT'S IN THE BACK IN THE DETAIL WHO HAS TIME AND ALL OF THIS SECTION BACK THERE.

UM, THIRD QUESTION.

UM, THIS ONE'S MORE DETAIL ORIENTED, UH, IN THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN THE 30 CATEGORY,

[03:55:01]

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAS CHANGED OR IS THIS FUEL THAT'S DRIVING THIS COST POTENTIALLY, UH, WHAT'S DRIVING THE INCREASE IN COST AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS HERE.

IT'S JUST GOTTEN BOB.

MOST OF THAT IS RELATED TO OUR AREA MONITORING SYSTEM, WHICH IS, UM, FOR, UM, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AIR SAMPLING, AIR MONITORING, UM, THINGS OF THIS NATURE THAT WE WOULD DO AT LARGE-SCALE EVENTS OR AT, UM, ODORS OF GAS OR OTHER NOXIOUS ODORS, THAT KIND OF THING.

THE OTHER, UM, THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS, IS FOR ADDED TURNOUT GEAR, TURNOUT GEAR, MUCH LIKE FIRE SERVICE GEAR HAS A LIFE EXPECTANCY.

AND SO, AND AS WE INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE TEAM AND AS WE, UM, GET INVOLVED WITH MORE HIGH RISK TYPE RESCUES, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRT EQUIPMENT AND GEAR BECOMES NECESSARY.

SO THAT ACCOUNTS SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR THOSE TWO COSTS.

UM, IN THAT SAME BUDGET, UH, THERE'S $60,000 IN CAPITAL OUTLAY, BUT THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION ON THE BAIT.

I THINK IT'S A TRAILER AND THAT MATTERS.

THAT IS FOR OUR, UM, FOR REPLACEMENT BOAT, BOAT, MOTOR AND BOAT TRAILER.

WE HAD A BOAT THAT AGED OUT OF UNIVERSE WITH WATER BOATS, UH, IT AGED OUT AND THE SWIFT WATER RESCUE TYPE STUFF.

THEY'RE GETTING A TRAILER, MR. TIBBS.

THANKS JOHN.

THANKS DAVE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS.

I COULD PROBABLY TALK FOR A FEW HOURS AND YOU CAN SORT OUT A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT WERE ENS.

I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS BRIEF LIMITED NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, JOHN, THAT, UM, WATER INITIATIVE.

I JUST WANT A DOLLAR JUMP ON THEM ON THE BANDWAGON.

PERSONALLY FOR TONY ON HELPING US IN OUR AREA.

UM, WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING, GETTING MORE OUR SISTER BACK UP AND RUNNING, BEEN THE PROBLEM FOR US FOR A LONG TIME.

UM, AND GO ALONG WITH WHAT ARMS DID YOUR DAUGHTER SAID THAT WILL HELP, UM, THE HOMEOWNERS, UH, RIGHT THEN IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? HE SAID ANYTHING THAT ISO'S, UM, SPECIFIED WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A CREDIBLE AWARD, THE SILVERS THAT THEY LIKE TO DETERMINE, LIKE TO GIVE THEM A BREAK IN YOUR TASK AS A VERY WORTHWHILE PROGRAM THAT LONG TIME IS PROBABLY ALWAYS IN THE BACKGROUND, UM, WHILE THANKING YOUR STAFF, UM, SPECIAL, THANKS TO, UH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR RIGHT THERE.

UM, THE LAST WEEK IT WAS BIRTHDAY TANKER OR SCRATCH ON THAT ALL THE WAY I WAS DOING WAS CLOSING THE SCHOOLS FOR THE DAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

UM, IT'S FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT WAS HOW THE HELL HE IS HANDLED AND, UM, UH, UNIFIED COMMAND FOODS WITH ALL THE AGENCIES INVOLVED IN YOUR CAREERS ASSISTANCE IN THE BACKGROUND.

AGAIN, UM, IT'S TURNED OUT POSITIVE, UM, WITH YOUR EMS DIVISION COMING UP ONLINE AND GROWING.

UM, HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH AFRICANS? STARTED WANTING LANDS TO PRETTY QUICK.

RATHER WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE FOURTH ONE TO COME IN ONLINE AT THE NORTH HARFORD STATION.

UM, ARE, ARE YOU BARELY GETTING EMPLOYEES OR ARE YOU TURNING AFRICANS AWAY AT THE END OF THE HIRING PROCESS OR NOT REALLY TURNING THEM AWAY? NO, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE EXPERIENCING LIKE EVERY JURISDICTION, THE SAME PROBLEM WITH RECRUITING.

UM, AND WE'RE RETAINING, IT'S RECRUITING.

IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TO COME HERE.

UM, THIS INDUSTRY TO BE A PARAMEDIC IN THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL FIELD HAS BECOME EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE AND JURISDICTIONS RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE SHERIFF SPOKE TO IT, BUT HE SEES THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WHEN, IF WE OFFER ONE SALARY, THE ADJOINING JURISDICTION WILL OFFER A HIGHER SALARY.

UM, AND THAT, THAT BECOMES COMPETITIVE.

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE ALL MET STATEWIDE, WE'VE ASKED EACH OTHER NOT TO DO IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO PROTECT YOUR COUNTY, YOU'RE DOING WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO.

UM, AND WHAT WE'VE FOUND OVER TIME TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM HERE IS A LONGTIME HARTFORD COUNTY, RESIDENT PARAMEDICS, AND PEOPLE WHO WERE HIRED HERE HAD BECOME LOYAL.

AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE NOT LOYAL, BUT IN MANY CASES TODAY, THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HIRING, IF THEY WILL SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DOLLAR MORE AN HOUR SOMEWHERE ELSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE DRIVING AND TOLLS INVOLVED, THEY WILL STILL TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AND

[04:00:01]

ONE CAN'T NECESSARILY BLAME THEM FOR THE INCREASE IN SALARY, BUT IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT ALMOST BECOMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SHORTLY, WE ARE PROBABLY WITH APPLICANTS, WE'RE PROBABLY RECRUITING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 25 AND 30, UH, WHEN WE FLIPPED 500, PUT THEM THROUGH THE TESTING PROCESSES AND EITHER THEY'VE MOVED ON OR THEY'VE NOT QUALIFIED, OR DIDN'T MEET THE JOB SPECS, WE'RE ENDING UP WITH JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY.

UM, BUT WE ARE KEEPING PEOPLE WE'VE, WE'VE ONLY LOST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, NOTHING, NOTHING REALLY.

UM, THAT MADE ME THINK THERE WAS A MASS EXODUS IT'S HAS BEEN DOING FAIRLY WELL.

AND WITH THE INCREASE IN NUMBERS, WE'RE GOING FROM WHAT 24 TAKE SAMPLE 36 LOOKS LIKE, YES, SIR.

UM, 50% INCREASE IN CAREER STAFF, WHO'S HANDLING THE SUPERVISING OF THESE EMPLOYEES AND INCREASE NUMBERS UNTIL WE HAVE SUFFICIENT SUPERVISION IN PLACE FOR A 24 7, 365 OPERATION, THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED AS NEEDED TO KEEP THOSE EMPLOYEES HAPPY.

RIGHT? WE ARE WORKING, WE DO HAVE A BRANCH MANAGER AND A DIVISION CHIEF, IF YOU WILL.

AND THEN WE ARE WORKING ON A PROCESS TO, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE TRAINING.

HAVING EMPLOYEES RUN THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THEY WILL PERIODICALLY SERVICE SERVE AS FIELD SUPERVISORS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND WE WILL ROTATE PEOPLE THROUGH SERVING WHEN WE'LL GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN A SUPERVISORY ROLE.

AND NOW THAT THESE NEXT ROUND OF PARAMEDICS ARE COMING UP, YOU'RE COMING ON BOARD IN THE HARTFORD.

WE'RE PUTTING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN NOW AND IDENTIFYING A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD LIKE TO MOVE INTO THE NEXT ROUND AND, AND, UH, BE A SUPERVISOR IN TRAINING, IF YOU WILL.

WE'RE NOT, WE CAN'T CALL THEM SUPERVISORS YET, BUT THEY WOULD BE WORKING AND FUNCTIONING IN THAT ROLE TO LEARN THE JOB AND LEARN THE FUNCTION, TO SEE IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO DO.

AS WE BUILD OUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IT WOULD BE, UH, POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE IDENTIFIED, I GUESS, THE NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR, ASHLEY, THAT WE WORK, WE'RE GOING TO USE CURRENT STAFF TO FULFILL THOSE, THOSE POSITIONS.

SO TO GET STARTED AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD UP.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THE POSITIONS, WE WOULD HAVE THE PARAMEDICS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD, WE WOULD HAVE PARAMEDICS ON A SHIFT SERVING IN A SUPERVISORY CAPACITY.

WE WILL BE TRAINING THEM UP TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMPLETE, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT, IF WE HAVE, UM, ANY TYPE OF TESTING THAT'S REQUIRED, ANY TYPE OF INVESTIGATION THAT'S REQUIRED, WE WOULD, WE TRAIN THEM, ALL THEM ALL HOW TO DO IT THAT WAY.

IT KIND OF GIVES EVERYONE AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TIME TO CREATE THOSE POSITIONS LATER DOWN THE ROAD, EVERYONE WILL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT IN A SUPERVISORY ROLE.

WE HOPE.

AND THERE'LL BE MAYBE A STEP AHEAD WITHIN THE PROCESS TO PROMOTE TO THAT POSITION WHEN WE ACTUALLY CREATED, YEAH, THE OTHER ADMINISTRATION AND SLAVES, NOT ENOUGH ADMINISTRATION IN PLACE, AND THEN USE THEM FOR THAT REASON.

WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER AGENCIES AROUND THE AREA.

UM, ONE CALL PARAMEDICS, SEE A BUDGET FOR WHO YOU'RE ON CALL.

PERFECT.

WELL, THEY'RE ACTUALLY ALL ON CALL.

THERE IS CALL BACK.

UH, AND WE DO HAVE, UM, UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN WE LOST, UM, TWO PARAMEDICS TO, UH, INJURIES RELATED TO WORK WITH TOM, WE HAD, UM, ADDITIONAL THREE PARAMEDICS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ROTATE AND MOVE WHERE WE NEEDED THEM TO BE, TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS AND THEN SO FORTH.

SO IT BASICALLY, IT'S, IT'S UTILIZING STAFF TO COVER, YOU KNOW, UH, CALLBACKS AND FILL INS WHEN WE NEED THEM.

AND THAT KIND OF THING.

IN YOUR, UM, ADMINISTRATION EMERGENCY SERVICES, FOUR 11, I'M HERE FOR A COMPANY BLADING LEGACY AND THE .

YES, THOSE ARE TWO PROGRAMS. UM, GIVE ME ONE SECOND, MR. TIBBS, THOSE ARE TWO PROGRAMS THAT, UM, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP HELP THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR US AND GAVE US THE, THE DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD AND DESIGN THEM LIAISON.

ZOE LEGACY IS FOR THAT IS THOSE ZILLOW REED WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LOW SAPP POINTS, UH, THROUGH THE FIRE SERVICE.

AND THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A, UM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER ADJECTIVE, A LOW SAP TYPE OF INCENTIVE THAT AFTER THEY PROVIDED SO MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, WHEN LOW PSAP WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE COUNTY FIRE SERVICE DECADES AGO, UH, THE LADIES AUXILIARY AT THE TIME WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM.

AS I RECALL OVER TIME, UH, SOME FIRE COMPANIES SWITCHED AND MADE THEIR LADIES ACTUALLY BROUGHT THEIR LADIES INTO MEMBERSHIPS SO THAT THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

SOME COMPANIES DID NOT.

THAT PROGRAM ACTUALLY WOULD ADDRESS THOSE FOLKS, UH, WHO GAVE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF SERVICE IN A SUPPORTIVE CAPACITY TO THE FIRE SERVICE IN THE COUNTY.

IT GIVES THEM A SORT OF A, AGAIN, IT'S NOT LOW SAP, BUT SORT OF LIKE A STIPEND THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO LOW SAB, THE

[04:05:01]

EMS COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS, THE TITLE THAT WAY.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? OKAY.

I APOLOGIZE.

I, I WAS GETTING THIS CONFUSED WITH THE NEXT GEN NINE 11 TUITION PER TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

THE EMS COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS IS MONEY THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE FOR PARENTS, FOR FIREFIGHTERS OR MTS OR VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO GO TO PARAMEDIC TRAINING.

UM, WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE THAT THAT MONEY WILL PAY FOR THEIR TUITION.

THE AVERAGE TUITION FOR A PARAMEDIC TRAINING AT HARFORD COMMUNITY OR CCBC, OR WHEREVER IS ABOUT FIVE OR $6,000 OVER 18 TO 24 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS MONEY IS THERE.

SO THAT THE PERSON TAKING THE TRAINING WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THAT OUT OF POCKET, NOR WOULD THE FIRE COMPANY HAVE TO PAY IT OUT OF POCKET.

IT WOULD COME FROM THIS, THIS BUDGET FUND WE AVERAGED, UM, ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO FIVE PEOPLE OVER A TWO YEAR SPAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM.

AND THIS IS A REOCCURRING ACCOUNT YES.

SO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE IS VERY AWARE OF IT.

UM, THEY, THEY MAKE PEOPLE JOINING THE COMPANY.

THEY MAKE THOSE FOLKS AWARE OF IT AND ADVERTISE IT SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE JOIN, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD GETTING AT AND TO BE, YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

YES, YES, SIR.

I WASN'T SURE THAT THAT, YES, THERE, THERE IS.

NOW I CAN TELL YOU THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE COUNTY PROGRAM, BUT AS A SIDEBAR, THE STATE HAS CREATED A, UH, THROUGH A GRANTED TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN STUDENTS NOW, SO THAT IF A COMMUNITY PERSON JOINS THE FIRE EMS SERVICE AND WANTS TO RIDE THE MEDIC UNIT, THEY CAN TAKE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN IN CLASS, AND THEN THEY WILL BE PAID A REIMBURSEMENT STIPEND.

ACTUALLY A AND MR. SIDDIQUE MAY KNOW BETTER THAN I, BUT THEY WILL PAY A STIPEND TO THAT PERSON EACH FOR EACH MOD THEY COMPLETE, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COMPLETION OF THE COURSE.

AND SO THEY, THEN THEY WOULD GET A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE WITH THE HOPES THAT THEY DAY WOULD THEN USE THEIR TRAINING TO JOIN A FIRE SERVICE OR AN EMS SERVICE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. TIBBS, JUST TO CLARIFY ON THE NUMBER OF BEDS WE CURRENTLY HAVE ANY HANDS, UH, SEVEN UNITS OF THOSE FIVE WERE PURCHASED BRAND NEW TO REFERRED TO AS VIEWS FROM A VFC THERE'S A UNIT IS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION THAT WE WILL HAVE IN HAND VERY SHORTLY.

AND MR. PATRICK MENTIONED A NINTH UNIT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE YET, BUT IT'S ONE THAT HE IS LOOKING AT POSSIBLY LOOKING FOR.

SO, UM, THERE ARE COUNTY PROPERTY RIGHTS.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

I'D LIKE YOU TO CLARIFY ONE OTHER THING EARLIER FOUNDATION, UM, LONG-TERM PLAN IS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS WELL LONG-TERM PLAN.

IS THAT THE FOUNDATION? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE IN THE COUNTY HAS RELEASED TO EMS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR MORE RURAL AREAS WHERE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A 24 7, UM, EMS GROUP.

UM, YOU KNOW, IF THE MILITARY IS AT ALL TIMES, SO, UM, COME UP WITH , UM, ABSORPTION OF THE FOUNDATION INTO THE COUNTY.

THAT'S NOT IN OUR, IN OUR PLANETS, SO ALL OF THAT RELATIONSHIP, BUT LONG-TERM, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PLACE FOR THE FOUNDATION IN HARTFORD COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT TOO.

MR. RODNEY, DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP? WELL, GOOD.

YOU KNOW, THOSE CHANGES THERE.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE.

I ACTUALLY, I MISSPOKE.

I CAUGHT THAT IN MY NOTES AND I WAS GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO THAT AND I APOLOGIZE QUITE ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO CLEANED UP BEFORE WE LEFT HERE TODAY.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU POST FOR THAT NEW MR. SHIRTS.

YEAH, IF YOU, UM, I, I ASSUME YOU HAVE THIS, UH, THERE THERE'S A LETTER, UM, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE MOTOR SAP AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS FOR MAYBE LATER ON, BUT ACTUALLY I'M REQUESTING THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK INTO LOWERING THE COLLECTION, THE COLLECTION AGE FOR PERSONNEL WITH TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE BEING, UH, WHAT WERE THE 50 YEARS OF AGE FROM THE CURRENT 55 YEARS OF AGE AND LOWER THE COLLECTION AGE FOR PERSONNEL WITH BETWEEN 10 AND 24 YEARS OF SERVICE TO 60 YEARS FROM THE AGE OF 70 YEARS OF AGE? YEAH, SO I MEAN, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE A FIRST AND ACTUARIAL STUDY.

WE DID ONE YEARS AGO.

IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD NOW.

UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, SHOULD, WE WOULD NEED TO GET THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND THEN, UM, THAT WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE AS WELL.

UM, RECENTLY THOUGH, ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED A INCREASE IN LOW SAT BENEFITS.

WE, UM, UH, CHANGE THE, THE MONTHLY NUMBER FROM, UH, $12 OR $13, WHICH WAS MORE OR LESS ADDED ABOUT $25 TO EACH, UM, UH, TO EACH RECIPIENT MORE OR LESS A COLA AND ALSO INCREASED THE SURVIVING SPOUSE BENEFIT FROM 50 TO 75%.

[04:10:01]

IF YOU WERE TO LOOK BACK ON WHAT LOWE'S SNAP COST US, UM, ALMOST INCREASED BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME WE MAKE A CHANGE LIKE THAT, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S OVER SO MANY YEARS OF TIME AND A LOT OF TIMES YOU'RE KIND OF GOING BACKWARDS IF YOU WILL.

SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO CATCH UP JUST LIKE THAT WAS THE SITUATION WE HAVE WITH OPEB.

WE TOOK US A LONG TIME TO KIND OF CATCH UP FOR ALL THE, UM, UH, PRIOR SERVICE.

UM, SO AGAIN, WE WOULD NEED TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT AND IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL FISCAL FISCAL NOTE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT.

IF I THINK BACK WHEN IT WAS DONE, IT SAYS $418,000 IN 2014.

AND AGAIN, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, ALL THOSE NUMBERS WOULD THEN NEED TO BE UPDATED WITH NEW N UM, FROM A RANGE OF THE CURRENT ASSET LEVELS TO THE MORTALITY RATES, UM, TO THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE LIGHT, I GUESS, ANY WAY TO IF IT'S AFFORDABLE, OF COURSE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THESE SERVICES, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COST? WE REALLY NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN OF COURSE, TO RETAIN OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ATTRACT NEW ONES.

AND IT MIGHT BE STEPS LIKE THIS THAT COULD GET US THERE.

I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A LETTER THAT I KNOW I RECEIVED AND WE PROBABLY ALL RECEIVED IT.

THANK YOU, MR. SHREDDIES, MR. SCOTT, ROBBIE, YOU SAID, JUST SAID 10 YEARS FOR THE ACTUARIAL.

WAS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE BENEFIT STRUCTURE AND NOT FOR THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION? DON'T YOU DO THOSE? OH YEAH, YEAH.

THAT WAS JUST FOR THEM, BUT THAT'S JUST FOR THAT.

WE ALWAYS CHECK, WE ALWAYS DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO A ACTUARIAL EACH AND EVERY YEAR, UM, TO FIGURE OUT, UH, WHAT OUR ARC SHOULD BE AND KIND OF ALWAYS FULLY FUNDS AT 100%.

BUT ANYTIME THERE'S A CHANGE, WE NEED TO DO A SPECIAL, SPECIAL ONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO NOW IS ABOUT 10 YEARS.

THANK YOU, MR. SCOTT, ANYONE ELSE MR. SIDDIQUE? UH, DR.

HOPKINS, UH, REAL QUICK, UH, FOR THE WAS 29 A TRT.

I SEE.

THERE'S LIKE ZERO IN THE, IN THE LOT.

WHERE IS THERE STILL A CHEROKEE? WHERE'S THE MONEY? IT'S ALL UNDER THE NEW, UM, SPECIAL ACCOUNT.

WE MERGED THEM ALL TOGETHER.

SO, UH, IS THAT LIKE, IT'S NOT UNDER PERSONNEL SERVICES, IS IT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CALL? UM, IT'S UNDER, IT STARTS ON PAGE 4, 26.

SO WE MERGED ALL THOSE TOGETHER.

WHAT IS THAT HAZMAT TRT YEAH.

ARE NOW CALLED SPECIAL OPERATIONS.

YES, WE HAVE, UM, I HAVE SEVERAL STAFF THAT ARE FULL-TIME, THEY MANAGE IT, BUT THE BULK OF THE TEAMS ARE MADE UP OF PART-TIME PEOPLE.

THE CONCEPT WAS, IS THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO, UM, TO MAXIMUM MAXIMIZE OUR EFFECTIVENESS, IT WAS EASIER THAT WE HAD MORE PEOPLE CROSS TRAINED.

SO WE CAME UNDER, INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO SEPARATE FIELDS, IF YOU WILL, WITH TWO SEPARATE TRAINED BODIES, WE GOT MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

IF WE CROSS TRAINED EVERY ONE TO PUT THEM UNDER ONE UNIT.

SO WE REQUESTED PERMISSION EARLIER, UH, LAST YEAR TO CHANGE THE NAME OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS TO COMBINE THE TWO TEAMS. GREAT.

THANK YOU, MR. SIDDIQUE.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, EDDIE.

APPRECIATE VOLUNTEER FIRE.

YOU WILL FIND ON PAGE 4 21, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THEIR BUDGET INCREASES 1 MILLION, 2 23 15.

UM, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES $368,000.

UM, THIS PROVIDES, UH, THERE WAS $67,000 IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES BUDGET THAT PAID FOR THE RMS VERIZON IPADS THAT HAS BEEN REALLOCATED TO UNDER THIS CALL CENTER, UH, DRY HYDRANT REPAIR, THE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THEIR MICROSOFT LICENSES AT 200,000 AS WELL AS INSURED INSURANCE EXPENSES, WHICH IS THEIR WORKERS' COMP AT 500,000 UNDER MISCELLANEOUS.

THIS IS THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIRE COMPANIES.

UM, WE STILL HAVE THE FIRE.

[04:15:01]

THIS IS NEXT GEN RIGHT NEXT GEN AT 300,000 STAFFING INCENTIVES AND RECRUITING AND MARKETING, UM, EXPENSES.

UM, WE PROVIDED THE SHEAR AT 261,000 AND THEN TO EACH INDIVIDUAL FIRE COMPANY, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATION, UH, WE PROVIDED A EIGHT AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE AT A COST OF 8 55 0 50.

AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

I CAME FROM WORK.

UH, I'M SURE YOU ALL NOTICED, UH, SHARON IS NOT WITH US TODAY, UH, DUE TO HEALTH REASONS AND WORK COMMITMENTS.

SHE HAD DECIDED TO STEP DOWN AS THEIR CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE STARTING JULY ONE.

WHAT WILL YOU EVER DO WITHOUT HER? THAT'S CORRECT.

SHE HAS SERVED FOR 20 YEARS IN THAT POSITION, SO SHE'LL BE MISSED.

SO I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I CAN REMEMBER.

SHE HADN'T BEEN HERE, UH, BUT AGAIN, HER HEALTH AND HER WORK COMMITMENTS, SHE ASKED THAT SHE WOULD STEP DOWN.

SO WE WILL MISS HER.

SHE'LL BE HARD TO READ.

SHE WON'T BE REPLACED, BUT WE'LL FIND SOMEBODY TO DO THE JOB.

SO WITH THAT, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR MEETING US.

I WISH YOU ALL WELL IN YOUR NEW ENDEAVORS, IF YOU COME BACK, IF NOT, I LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE FOUR YEARS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US WORKING WITH US.

I THINK WE'LL WORK WELL TOGETHER.

UH, I'LL KEEP IT SHORT BECAUSE WE DID JUST BRIEF YOU, I THINK, THREE MONTHS AGO ON OUR STATUS.

UM, SO, UH, WE'RE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, UH, ON OUR BUDGET.

IF YOU HAVE ANY, UM, BILL, YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT NO, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, THREE OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS AT LEAST ARE GOING TO BE GONE FOR THE NEW COUNCIL.

SO, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH YOU.

UH, AGAIN, WE'LL EXPECT TO DEBRIEF YOU AGAIN IN THE FALL, UH, KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

WELL, I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, BUT, UM, FOR ME, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING THAT, UH, THE VOLUNTEERS DO, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE, THE COMMITMENT THAT THEY'VE MADE TO THE COMMUNITIES AND TO THE COUNTY.

UM, CAN'T IMAGINE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF TIME EFFORT, UH, THAT THEY'VE PUT FORWARD OVER THE YEAR.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

UH, COUNSEL, ANYONE HAVE ANY MR. SHIRTS? I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UM, THE, UM, THE, UH, UH, TUITION LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM, IF, IF THAT'S HELPING OUT WITH, UH, RETAINING ATTRACTING YOUNGER INDIVIDUALS OR WHOEVER WANTS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, HOW THAT'S DONE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A MECHANIC THAT COULD PUT THAT IN.

YEAH, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE YOU CAN TELL ABOUT WHO, HOW WELL IT'S BEING USED.

SO YES, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT HELP AND RETAINING AND BRINGING IN MEMBERS WHO KNOW THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, KIND OF GOES ALONG WITH WHAT I SAID BEFORE ABOUT LOW STAFF.

THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO, TO VOLUNTEER AND JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW IT WAS GOING.

THAT'S THAT SOUNDS LIKE GOOD NEWS.

WE, I WAS IN 66, UM, APPLICANTS FOR THAT, UM, UH, EACH ALL RECEIVING, UM, $5,000 AND THEY CAN RECEIVE UP TO A TOTAL OF 20 THAT'S.

AWESOME.

THANK YOU, MR. SCHROEDER, THE PARAMEDIC APPLICANT IN ABINGTON FIRE COMPANY WHO APPLIED FOR THE COMPANY, AND WHILE WE WERE DESCRIBING TO HIM, THINGS THAT HE COULD BENEFIT FROM, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE WAY HIS EYES LIT UP, SEALED THE DEAL.

THAT'S GOOD.

HOPEFULLY STAYS WITH US A LONG TIME.

SOMETIMES WE TRAIN THEM AND THEN THEY GO OFF AND GET, GET PAID BIG MONEY IN SOME OTHER COUNTY.

WE NEED TO TRY TO KEEP UP HERE, BUT NOW WE DO HAVE, THIS IS AN INCUBATOR.

AND NOW THAT WE ARE GROWING OUR OWN PAID SERVICE, THAT, UM, SOME OF THESE FOLKS CAN STAY HERE AND GROW AS THE PROGRAM GROWS.

SOME OF THE YOUNGER, THE YOUNGER ONES.

IT'S GOOD.

THAT WE'VE GOT THAT'S GOING ON.

THANK YOU, MR. SRODES.

ANYONE ELSE MR. WHITE? I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING FOR HARFORD COUNTY ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND CERTAINLY INTO THE FUTURE.

IT'S BITTERSWEET.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANY AMOUNT OF PAID SERVICES, BE IT EMS OR FIRESIDE OR ANYTHING, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST, IT'S KIND OF CONTRARY TO THOSE OF US WHO GREW UP IN HARTFORD COUNTY.

AND THE ONLY THING WE DID KNOW WAS A VERY STRONG VOLUNTEER SYSTEM.

EVEN THOUGH WE UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S GONE TO PEOPLE ARE BUSY LIVES CHANGE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT JUST HERE, IT'S ALL ACROSS THE NATION IN ALL VOLUNTEER SERVICES, THE VOLUNTEERISM IS DWINDLED SUBSTANTIALLY, AND IT'S A SHAME THAT IT'S GONE THAT WAY, BUT WE UNDERSTAND WHY, I GUESS IT'S A GROWING PAIN

[04:20:01]

BUT, UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T SHOW ENOUGH GRATITUDE TO THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE OF THIS COUNTY FOR WHAT EVERYONE HAS DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS TO GROW IT, TO BE WHAT IT IS.

SO THANK YOU.

AND PLEASE PASS THAT ALONG.

AND IT, IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT WITH JUST THE TWO OF YOU SITTING THERE.

WE'RE MISSING THAT, THAT ONE IMPORTANT PERSON THERE TODAY, BUT WE'LL GIVE HER OUR BEST AND HOPE, HOPE THAT SHE GETS, UH, GETS HEALED SOON AND IS DOING BETTER.

SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

ONE MORE THING.

IT DOES ALSO SEEM LIKE THE MORE AND MORE I TALK TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, WHETHER IT'S FIRE AND EMS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT COMES DOWN TO TRAINING.

A LOT OF TIMES THE YOUNGER ONES HAVE TO PUT IN EVEN MORE TRAINING.

I THINK SOME OF THE OLDER ONES THAT ARE VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A WHILE IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS ON THEM, BUT IF YOU TALK TO SOME OF THEM, THEY'RE LIKE WE HAD TO DO IT OVER AGAIN.

WE OWN THE, HOW WE WOULD GET THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING.

OF COURSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE VERY WELL-TRAINED AND FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AND, AND TO GET INTO SITUATIONS AS THEY'RE GETTING INVOLVED WITH, OF COURSE, EVERY, EVERY IS DIFFERENT, UM, THAT WE WANT THEM TO COME HOME AND WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT SITUATION THE BEST THEY CAN AND GET THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AT THE HOSPITALS OR WHEREVER.

BUT IT DOES SEEM, I MEAN, I TALKED TO A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS AND THEY SAY THAT IT'S JUST SO MANY HOURS OF TRAINING.

IF YOU WANT TO HIT ON THAT REAL QUICK I'VE WOULD IT ACTUALLY INVOLVES, UM, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO OFFSET THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD TAKE OFF WORK.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TRAININGS I UNDERSTAND.

WELL, I THINK TWO OF THE THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT WHEN DIRECTOR HOPKINS WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS PROGRAM, THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP PAY FOR A PARAMEDIC TRAINING.

AND NOW THE STATE SYSTEM THAT'S OFFERING A $2,000 INCENTIVE FOR ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO WELL UP TO 500 PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE, UH, THE EMT COURSE, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

WHEN I TOOK EMT, IT WAS AN 80 HOUR COURSE.

NOW IT'S LISTED AT 204 HOURS, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT 300.

UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN AMAZING, UH, IT'S A DIFFICULT COURSE TO GET THROUGH AS A COLLEGE LEVEL COURSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT TO NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING INTO THE COMPANY, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY GETTING THROUGH IT AT THE, UH, AT THE MARYLAND STATE FIREMAN'S ASSOCIATION, WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT OF THIS, UH, EVEN TO THE POINT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A PRETEST, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR KIDS THAT COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL REALLY DON'T HAVE THE READING COMPREHENSION TO GET THROUGH A COURSE LIKE EMT.

UM, SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN A CHALLENGE.

UM, AND I, I JUST DID A SUMMARY, UM, FOR LIEUTENANT BERTRAM WHO DIED IN THE BALTIMORE CITY FIRE OF HIS TRAINING.

AND HE WAS A FIREFIGHTER.

UH, HE WAS ALSO AN OFFICER AND HE WAS AN EMTI AND HIS BASIC TRAINING, UH, WAS ALMOST 1800 HOURS TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.

AND THEN OVER HIS 20 YEAR CAREER, HE PUT IN ANOTHER, ALMOST A THOUSAND HOURS WORTH OF RESEARCH TRAINING.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE HOURS OF TRAINING.

IT TAKES TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE A FIREFIGHTER EMS PERSON.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUR CADETS ON BOARD IN THE SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH WILL HELP THEM GET THEM AT A TRAINING DOING THEIR LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMMIT SO MUCH OF THEIR IT'S ALL THEIR TIME, BUT IT WOULD BE DOING THEIR LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

WE, THAT PROGRAM, IT STUMBLED A LITTLE BIT TO ONE COVID JUST AS EVERYTHING ELSE DID, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO RE BLOSSOM THAT.

AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO SPLIT THAT INTO A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM, POSSIBLY THREE, WHERE THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE RIGHT EITHER, OR, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, THEIR LAST YEAR SPLIT TO DO FIRE OR GO INTO THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM.

OUR CHALLENGE THERE IS THEY CAN'T TAKE PARAMEDIC UNTIL THEY'RE 18, RIGHT? SO THEY GOT TO BE 18 TO BE ABLE TO RESTART, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO GET THEM TO THE POINT WHERE ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS GO TAKE THE TEST AND THEN WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE 18, BUT THAT'S, WE ARE WORKING ON ACTIVELY, BUT DO REALIZE HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SAY IN HOW MUCH TRAINING IT TAKES.

WE, WE DON'T WRITE THAT.

THEY TELL US HOW MUCH TRAINING IT TAKES TO BE CERTIFIED.

AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT PEOPLE RIDING ON EQUIPMENT THAT AREN'T CERTIFIED.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU NOTICING HOW MUCH TIME IT IS INVOLVED.

WELL, THANKS FOR SUMMARIZING THAT AND LETTING THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE LISTENING AT HOME, EXPLAINING THAT.

PHIL TALKED ABOUT HIS ADY HOURS FOR HE AND T AND AT THAT TIME I REMEMBER, WELL, I SAID THIS BEFORE YOU ALL LEFT, WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST BOX UNIT WAS 25 OR $27,000.

AND TODAY WHAT'S AN EMPTY BOX, UM,

[04:25:01]

ABOUT 225,000.

IT'S CRAZY MR. GINGER, DAN.

SO GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN.

THE SIMON PROGRAM FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO REALLY CONSIDER IS A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS IN HARTFORD COUNTY, WHO HAVE ALREADY PUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, 10, 12, 15 YEARS LIVING IN THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE, AND NOW WAITING UNTIL THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN COLLECT THEIR.

SO IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE A SHRUTI AND OWENS CAME AND PICKED ME UP AND BROUGHT ME TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO I THINK THEY WERE AMAZED THAT I REMEMBERED THEIR NAMES AND I CAME AND DROPPED THEM OFF SOMETHING AFTERWARDS.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I'LL BE AT THE VOLUNTEER OF BEL-AIR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BANQUET UP IN, UH, JARRETTSVILLE ON SATURDAY.

UM, IS THERE ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIREMAN WHO TRAVEL TO FIRES FROM THEIR JOB IS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COSTS IN A RISING, IS THAT ANYWHERE IN HERE THAT YOU GUYS MAY BE REIMBURSED THEM FOR, FOR MILES TRAVELED? I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT THOUGHT A QUESTION, BUT WE HA WE HAVE STARTED A STAFFING PROGRAM LAST YEAR.

WE HAD A PILOT PROGRAM WITH TWO COMPANIES THAT YOU PULL SO MUCH TIME.

WE DO.

WE GIVE YOU THE INCENTIVE.

UH, YEAH, THE EXECUTIVE DID PUT MORE MONEY IN THAT BUDGET LINE THIS YEAR.

SO WE'RE GONNA EXPAND IT TO ALL THE COMPANIES, UH, THAT KIND OF HITS ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IF THEY PULL US, UH, I THINK THERE'S FOUR HOUR BLOCKS OF DUTY.

THEY GET, THEY GET AN INCENTIVE FOR THAT AND WE'RE SPENDING THAT OUT.

BUT AS FAR AS LIKE, IF THEY LEAVE WORK AND TRAVEL, MOST COMPANIES, I SPEAK FOR BEL AIR.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE REST OF THE COMPANIES WE DO PAY MILEAGE.

IF YOU TURN IN MILEAGE, WE, WE REIMBURSED AT THE STATE REQUIRED LEVEL, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO TRAINING OR WHETHER YOU'RE, WHATEVER YOU USE YOUR CAR FOR.

WHAT WE DO REIMBURSE FOR MILEAGE ABOUT AIR ALSO HAS A TRAINING BUDGET, AND WE DO PAY FOR ONE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE TRAINING.

AGAIN, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER COMPANIES, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THEY FOLLOW SUIT TOO.

UM, AS FAR AS THE ASSOCIATION, WE DO HAVE A TRAINING COMMITTEE, THEY DO MEET, AND WE DO, WE, UH, HAVE THE, THE MIDWIFERY COURSES THAT A REFEREE PROVIDES AS LONG AS WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE CLASS AT NO COST TO US, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND WHAT'S IT COST TO, UH, TAKE, UH, THE CLASS AT THE COLLEGE EMT CLASS AT THE COLLEGE.

WHAT'S THAT IS THERE, IS THERE A SPECIAL PROGRAM THERE FOR THAT EMT? USUALLY IT DOESN'T COST ALLOWS.

THEY TAKE IT BECAUSE THAT IS A RIFF RECOURSE.

SO WE CAN GET THAT FOR FREE OR AT NO COST TO OUR, UH, STUDENTS.

UH, THE ONES THAT REALLY THEY ENCOUNTER A COST IN IS THE, UM, PARAMEDIC PROGRAM.

AND AS HE DEFINITELY, WE DO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT THE EXECUTIVE IS FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO COMMIT TWO YEARS TO THE ASSOCIATION, ANY COMPANY IN THE ASSOCIATION, WILL WE FRONT THE MONEY, BUT THEY HAVE TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY'LL GIVE US TWO YEARS OF SERVICE AFTER THEY GRADUATE, AND THEN THEY'RE FREE OF A BOND.

BUT AS FAR AS EMT, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF COVERED.

IT PROBABLY MEANT THE PARAMEDIC, THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM.

WE DO HAVE THAT PROGRAM.

IT'S NOT BEING USED AS MUCH AS I LIKED, BUT IT IS BEING USED IN MATTER OF FACT, I GOT AN EMAIL THIS AFTERNOON FOR, I LEFT WORK TO STOP IN BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER APPLICATION ASSIGNED.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, DAVE.

UM, SO WE'VE DEFINITELY, UM, STANDING SET OF INITIATIVES BUDGET, WHICH, WHICH IS GOOD, YOU KNOW, GOOD STARK THOUSAND DOLLARS.

IF WE SPLIT THAT ACROSS THE TOWNIE ON THE 12TH COMPANIES, UM, WE'RE WALKING AT ABOUT $1,000 PER COMPANY, DIVIDE THAT OUT, YOU KNOW, 12 MONTHS BY THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS.

THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO AS FAR AS THE BLANKETS.

WELL, WE REALIZED THAT AND YOU CAN'T SPEAK.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SPLIT IT EQUALLY BECAUSE SOME COMPANIES HAVE MORE MEMBERS LEVEL WILL PROTECT OR TAKE THAN THE OTHER MEMBERS.

UM, AS I SAID, IT WAS A START WE'RE TRYING TO ROLL THE BALL, UH, AND AS ANY GOOD EXECUTIVE, HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT W WHAT, HOW IT'S IMPROVING US.

UH, SO HE GAVE US THIS MONEY.

WE'LL GOT TO ROLL WITH IT, AND THEN COME BACK WITH SOME FACTS AND FIGURES AND SAY, YEAH, THIS HAS HELPED OUR STAFFING AND OUR RESPONSES BY X.

AND I WOULD HOPE THAT NEXT YEAR, AT THIS TIME, YOU'RE LOOKING TO ADD TO THAT MULTIPLES.

UM, SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE SANDOZ COAST.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HARD IS YOUR VOLUNTEER, TRYING TO GET HIM SIGN UP.

WE'VE GOT THE LOOSE OUT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE IN MY AGE GROUP.

WHO'VE BEEN AROUND A LITTLE LONGER AGE GROUP AND RAN A LITTLE OFF WHERE YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT THE AVERAGE STUDENT LOAN REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE 21 TO 24 25.

UM, THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ARE, THOSE ARE GOING TO GO PUT THIS BOX AND DUTY AND GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS THE 16 TO 21 YEAR OLDS.

BUT THERE'S OTHER FOLKS THAT WERE MISSING BETWEEN 25, 30 TO 50.

THEY WOULD REALLY, REALLY BENEFIT THIS COMMENT, THIS GROUP, UM, AT A PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION.

AND THAT IS THE NEXT STEP.

AND I THINK

[04:30:01]

SO ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WE HEAR ON THAT, DAVE, OR IS WHERE DO WE STOP THAT ONCE WE START, WHO DO WE, WHO DO WE NOT INCLUDE IN THAT? UH, BECAUSE WE HAD A LADY SPEAK HERE THE OTHER NIGHT FROM THE SOC ONE OF OUR CALL TAKERS.

UM, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I'M JUST ASKING THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES IT, WHO DO YOU INCLUDE GYM SHOES? THE VOLUNTEER BARBARA.

AND THERE IS A LEVEL OF ACTIVITY FOR DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS DEVIATION TO BE QUALIFIED, TO SEE THAT.

HOURS HAVE BEEN GIVEN? DO YOU GUYS HAVE COLLECTIVELY BETWEEN ALL OF THE COMPANIES, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN GIVEN? IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S ACTUALLY IN OUR, IN OUR REPORT.

ANOTHER QUESTION FOR THE ASSOCIATION, WE HAD FLEET MANAGEMENT IN HERE FROM PROCUREMENT EARLIER TODAY, AND WE ASKED THEM ABOUT, UH, TAKING ON SOME OF THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS ASSOCIATION VEHICLES IN THEIR PROGRAM, AS THEY HAVE OCTANE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UM, THE ANSWER WE GOT WAS FAR SERVICE WASN'T AS RECEPTIVE TO THAT AS THEY NEEDED TO BE, OR SHOULD BE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WE HAD SEVERAL CONFERENCE CALLS.

UM, IT STARTED OUT, IT WAS GOING TO BE A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE COMPANY FIVE TWO, AND THEN I BELIEVE 13 WAS ON BOARD.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GOT INTO THE WEEDS AND STARTED FIGURING OUT, I THINK THE UPFRONT COST, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SCARED PEOPLE, BUT CONCEPT, WOW.

THEY OPENED THEIR EYES BECAUSE THEY WERE FIGURING ON JUST TAKING UP THERE AND GETTING AN OIL CHANGE AND PLANNING FOR AN OIL CHANGE.

BUT THAT'S NOT HOW FLEET MANAGEMENT WORKS.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WORKED EITHER.

THEY'D TAKE A PROGRAM AND THEN THEY SPLIT THAT COST OVER A YEAR AND YOU PAY A FEE OR WHATEVER.

AND SO WHEN THAT CAME BACK, A LOT OF THEM THOUGHT, WELL, WE'RE NOT SURE THIS IS THE ROUTE WE WANT TO GO.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY, WE SAID NO, BUT I WANT TO SAY, WE JUST STEPPED BACK AND THEY'RE GOING TO THINK, BECAUSE A LOT OF IT WAS, AND IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I MEAN, THEY, THEY WENT BY, THEY, THEY DID A LOT OF RESEARCH.

HOW OLD WAS THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE SERVICING, AND THAT ALL PLAYED INTO HOW MUCH THE COMPANY WE'RE GOING TO PAY.

AND THEN ALSO THE TROUBLE.

IT WAS, IT COULD BE THREE COMPANIES WHICH MADE IT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HIRE A HALF A MECHANIC, SO YOU HAVE TO BUY OUR WHOLE MECHANIC TO COVER THAT PARTIAL WORK.

SO WE TRY TO GET A COUPLE OF OTHER COMPANIES ON BOARD, BUT I THINK WE'LL LET IT ROLL AROUND A WHILE AND COME BACK TO IT.

BUT IT WASN'T A GOOD OFFER, BUT IT'S NOT AS CUT AND DRIED AND MEAT POTATOES, AS YOU THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE FOR DOLLARS.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I THINK EVERYBODY THOUGHT, BUT, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT PICKING ON THEM.

I THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THEY HAVE A WHOLE PROGRAM AND THAT'S WHAT YOU BUY INTO.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

DID THEY EXPLAIN THAT? YES, SOMEBODY IS PROBABLY, AS YOU SAID, NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO THEN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASE MILES AND HOURS OF THE IMAGE UNITS ARE BEING PASSED ON THE FACT THAT THEY ARE TAKING MORE THAN THE COUNTY EMS UNITS IS NOT GOING TO BE.

VEHICLES ARE FOREIGN TO THEM FOR THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT CAN SAVE THE POWER COMPANY.

SO MONEY DOWN THE ROAD, THEY HAVE ISSUE BEFORE IN THIS VENUE, ROUTE PURCHASING.

ARE WE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS THAT IN ANY, IN ANY WAY? I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY CLOSER THAN THE LAST TIME WE TALKED, IF THAT HELPS ANY, BUT YES, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THE COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO REALIZE THAT IT'S IT'S, IT IS THE FUTURE.

SO THE, THE THING, I THINK WHAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH NOW, I KNOW AS FAR AS SUPPLIES FOR EMS IS WE NEED A STORAGE PLACE, A PLACE TO HAVE IT SENT, AND WE NEED SOMEBODY THERE TO DISTRIBUTE IT OUT.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN AT DIRECTOR HOPKINS.

WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE STUMBLING BLOCKS.

SO WE'LL GET THROUGH THAT STUMBLING BLOCK, BUT IT IS IN CONVERSATION AND WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, I BELIEVE.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE SEVEN PROGRAMS THAT THE EMS STANDARDS FORWARD IS RECOMMENDING.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE LOGISTICS OF LIKE RUSTY SEVENTH WHERE, AND WHO'S GOING TO MANAGE IT FOR THE COUNTY.

AWESOME.

I THINK IF WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DEPEND ON, GET MORE VOLUNTEERS IN A BUILDING FULL TIME AND SAVES A FEW DOLLARS ON THESE AND OTHER, OTHER, OTHER EXPENSES.

WE CAN CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER SERVICES DOWN FOR SOMETIME.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, DAVE.

ANYONE ELSE, JOHN? I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE IF YOU HAD IT, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STATED, UM, A LOT OF VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS, ALWAYS TOUT.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEER

[04:35:01]

UM, AND I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU THE PAGE OUT OF THE REPORT.

I DON'T HAVE THE REPORT.

THE RMS SYSTEM, OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM KEEPS TRACK OF THAT.

SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BREAKOUT.

I'LL GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS IN THE BREAKOUTS.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

UH, ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

THE EMS FOUNDATION, WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON IT, BUT THEY'RE ON PAGE 4 24.

AND, UM, THAT IS A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE TO PROVIDE EQUITY WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

I'M NOT SURE HOW IT IS EVERY YEAR.

I'M THE ONE THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF THE GERMAN, BUT, UH, W IS QUICK.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT GUY, YOU KNOW, UM, FIRST I, I, I THINK I HAVE TO, UH, EXTEND A HUGE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL AND TO, UH, MR. GLASSMAN'S ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR OLD SUPPORT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS OR SO.

UM, THE FOUNDATION HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THAT TIMEFRAME AND WE COULD NOT HAVE GROWN WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR FRIENDS IN THE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVES OFFICE.

UM, WE, WE DID, UH, MR. GLASSMAN DID, UM, PROPOSE A MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE FOR US THIS YEAR.

UH, SOME OF THAT IS FOR INCREASING STAFFING.

UM, ALSO SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF PUTTING CAMERAS IN THE VEHICLES.

UM, THEY WOULD BE ACTIVATED, UH, BASED ON G-FORCES, UH, SO THEY WOULD PASSIVELY RECORD.

AND IF AN INCIDENT WAS TO OCCUR, IT WOULD RECORD, UH, DEPENDING ON HOW IT'S PROGRAMMED SO MANY SECONDS ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT INCIDENT.

UM, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN, UH, MINIMIZE SOME, UH, RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS AND MINIMIZE ACCIDENTS AND COST THAT WAY.

AND THE REPLACEMENT ONE VEHICLE.

UM, IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR WHEN I CLOSED ONE OF OUR, MY POINTS WAS, UH, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

UM, WE LOOKED AT THAT AT, WITHIN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND WE CAME UP WITH A STIPEND, UH, FOR CERTIFICATION AND EMT WOULD GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARAMEDIC.

WE GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

UM, WE FELT THAT WAS A, UH, A GOOD WAY TO GO.

SO THAT IT'S A FIXED NUMBER EVERY YEAR.

IT'S NOT IMPACTED BY COLA'S AND MERIT INCREASES.

IT'S A SET NUMBER TO MAKE IT EASY TO BUDGET FOR, UM, BASED ON NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, SOME OF THE MONIES THAT MR GLASSMAN WAS HAD, UH, PROPOSED FOR US WHERE TO BRING US UP TO PAR WITH THE COUNTY EMS AND SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD HAVE SOME FINANCIAL PARODY WITH THEM.

AND WITH BENEFITS, IT WAS PRETTY CUT AND DRY THIS YEAR.

WE'RE PRETTY, UH, PRETTY FRUGAL AND CONSERVATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WE, WE TRY NOT TO ASK FOR A LOT, UH, ANY QUESTIONS.

SO I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS, AND I'M SURE I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN THE FOUNDATION? HOW MANY CURRENTLY WE HAVE STAFFED PROXIMATELY, A HUNDRED PEOPLE, UM, WE'RE AT 48, 50% FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 50 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART-TIME.

AS WE MOVE PEOPLE TO, TO THOSE OTHER UNITS, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR STAFFING DO NOT CHANGE, BUT WE'RE LOSING BODIES AND WITH COVID AND THE SCHOOLS BEING CLOSED, THOSE FEEDER STREAMS, WHERE THERE'S A GAP AND PEOPLE COMING OUT OF CLASS TO TAKE THESE ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS, DO MOST COMPANIES UTILIZE THE FOUNDATION? I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S TWO OR THREE THAT THREE COMPANIES IN A COUNTY THAT DO NOT DIRECTLY USE FOUNDATION SERVICES.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE FOUND WITH STAFFING AS THE COUNTY HAS GROWN THEIR PAID TO CAREER SYSTEM.

UM, IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, BUT WE'RE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL, UM, THAT WAS ADDRESSED WITH MR. CLASSMEN, WHICH WAS PART OF THE, UH, UH, FINANCIAL PARODY.

SO THAT HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO SHUFFLING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE

[04:40:02]

WE MAY UPGRADE THEM WITH ALS FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT TYPICALLY WE DO NOT.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT STIPENDS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT FINANCIAL PARITY.

THE SAME THING, OR YOU, YOU TOLD THEM TWO DIFFERENT TIMES.

STIPENDS WAS MORE OF A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TOOL OF, HEY, LOOK, IF, IF YOU PUT IN, IF YOU'RE PART-TIME AND YOU WORK FULL-TIME HOURS, UM, YOU CAN GET THIS, UH, STIPEND YOU TOOK OUT OF YOUR BUDGET.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR INITIALLY THAT WAS SOMETHING WE FELT WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD MAYBE RETAIN SOME PEOPLE AND IT WOULD BE A FIXED COST, NOT A LOT OF VARIABLES.

COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS, DAVE? JOHN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO FOUNDATION? THANKS.

WELL, I GUESS THAT'S IT.

YOU DIDN'T STAND IN FRONT OF US VERY LONG AT ALL.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A WAVE OF GERMAN.