[00:00:01]
I KNOW.[PUBLIC HEARING ]
GOOD EVENING.CHAIR CALLS THE ORDER PUBLIC HEARING FOR RESOLUTION 0 22 DASH 22 ABERDEEN ANNEXATION ZONING WAIVER.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 0 2 2 DASH TWO TWO IS UH, INTRODUCED BY MYSELF AND IT RELATES TO THE 9.062 ACRES ANNEX BY CITY OF ABERDEEN.
UM, IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED AG AS YOU KNOW, WHEN THE, UH, CITY OF ABERDEEN ANNEXES, THEY NEED, UH, A WAIVER IF THEY'RE GONNA MOVE AHEAD, UH, WITHIN FIVE YEARS, OUTSIDE OF FIVE YEARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT, BUT THEY WANT, THERE'S A DESIRE TO MOVE AHEAD AND, UH, THIS PIECE IS ONLY NINE ACRES.
IT MAKES, UH, PERFECT SENSE WITH WHAT'S AROUND IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL LAND.
IT HAS BEEN ANNEX IN, AND THIS IS AN ACCESS FOR LONG DRIVE.
YOU'VE GOT A PRESENTATION BEFORE YOU THAT WE WERE HANDED LATE TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO SKIM THROUGH THAT, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU THE ANSWERS, BUT, UH, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WE'VE DONE THESE, UH, ANNEXATION WAIVERS BEFORE.
UM, THIS ONE, THIS ONE MAKES PERFECT SENSE IN TERMS OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES AROUND IT.
UM, AND THAT'S THE DESIRE OF ABERDEEN TO, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, UM, MIXED OFFICE AND, UM, RESIDENTIAL HOUSING DOWN OFF OF LONG DRIVE IN GILBERT AND BACK THAT WAY.
SO IT'S AN EXPANSION OF, UH, THE CITY OF, OF ABERDEEN, AND THEY REQUESTED, UH, THE WAIVER ON THIS.
UH, COUNSEL YOUR TIME FOR QUESTIONS.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMENTS.
SCENE NONE, MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, WITH NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, THIS WILL CONCLUDE, UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR RESOLUTION 0 22 DASH 22, AND WE WILL TAKE IT UP AT A FUTURE MEETING NOW.
UH, DEFINITIONS, TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND VETERANS.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO PRESENT BILL 22 DASH 0 22 THAT WILL AMEND HARFORD COUNTY'S TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR SENIORS AND VETERANS.
IN 2016, THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED ENABLING LEGISLATION GRANTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE STATE, THE ABILITY TO ALLOW FOR PROPERTY TAX CREDITS OF UP TO 20% FOR OUR SENIORS WHO HAD LIVED IN THEIR HOMES BEFORE THE YEARS AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY, ALONG WITH THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSE.
IN 2017, THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE APPROVED LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THIS, THIS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, AND IT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THEN.
DURING THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION IS PAST SPRING, THE STATE PASSED LEGISLATION TO ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXPAND UPON THIS VERY POPULAR PROGRAM.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS REQUESTING YOUR SUPPORT THAT WILL LOWER THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR 40 YEARS TO 35 YEARS, EXTENDS THE MAXIMUM YEARS AND INDIVIDUAL CAN BE GRANTED DISCREDIT FROM FIVE YEARS TO 20 YEARS, AND INCREASES THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED ASSESSED VALUE OF THE HOME FROM 400,000 TO 600,000.
THE PROGRAM WOULD ALSO ADD INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND HAVE AN APPROVED SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY ALONG WITH THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSE.
I'M GOING TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. SAND, WHO WILL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON HOW SUCCESSFUL THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN FOR US, HOW WE CAME UP WITH THESE PROPOSED CHANGES, THE ESTIMATED PHYSICAL IMPACTS, AND THE PROCESS, HOW INDIVIDUALS, WHOEVER NOT SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM AT THIS POINT CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND THAT THE COUNTY ITSELF, COUNTY EXECUTIVE HOPES THIS WILL ASSIST OUR SENIORS AND OUR RETIRED VETERANS AGENT BASE.
SO, AS, UH, MR. BONY COMMENTED THE CURRENT PLAN, UH, WHICH THEN REQUIRES TO BE AN OWNER-OCCUPIED HOME, YOU'VE RECEIVE A 20% TAX CREDIT, THE FIRST TAX YEAR THAT THAT WOMEN'S WHO EFFECT WAS, UH, THE ONE BEGINNING JULY 1ST, UH, 2018, DID APPLY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE 65 AND OLDER WITH 40 YEARS IN THE SAME HOME, OR 65 AND OLDER WITH RETIRED MILITARY THAT'S RETIRED, WHICH GENERALLY MEANT THAT THEY, THAT THEY DID 20 YEARS, UM, AND OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM MILITARY SERVICE, OR THEY'RE SURVIVING SPOUSE.
UH, AGAIN, IT WAS A $400,000, UM, ASSESSED VALUE.
IT WAS MORE OR LESS KIND OF A HARD CAP.
IF YOU WERE ABOVE THAT, YOU WERE NOT ELIGIBLE.
IF YOU WERE BELOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TAX CREDIT AND OF COURSE IT WAS A FIVE YEAR ELIGIBILITY.
SO THAT WHAT THAT MEANT IS THAT THOSE ENROLLED IN 2018, UM, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR NEXT YEAR'S TAXES, THE ONES THAT GO OUT IN JULY OF 2023.
[00:05:01]
PROGRAM, UM, UH, IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, 3,750 TOTAL, UM, ENROLLED ABOUT 300, I'M SORRY, ABOUT 3,250.
UM, OF THAT, UH, 3007 50, UM, WERE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE 40 YEAR, UM, UH, ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINE.
AND THEN ABOUT 500 WERE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE RETIRED MILITARY SURVIVING SPOUSE.
AND THE TOTAL COST OF, UM, OF THAT TAX CREDIT HAS BEEN ABOUT ONE POINT, UH, 1.8, 1.9 MILLION.
SO UNDER THE PROPOSAL, STILL MAINTAIN THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOME, UH, THE 20% TAX CREDIT, BUT EXPAND THAT ELIGIBILITY IN LENGTH OF CREDIT.
SO 65 PLUS AND 30, 65 YEARS OF AGE PLUS AND 35 YEARS IN THE SAME HOME.
UM, THAT, THAT IS THE CHANGE FROM 40 YEARS, 65 PLUS RETIRED MILITARY AND SURVIVING SPOUSE.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN THAT REGARD.
UM, ARE MOVING THE ASSESSED VALUE CAP FROM 400 TO 600,000 A DISABLED VETERAN OR DISABLED ACTIVE MILITARY AND SURVIVING, UH, SPOUSE DUE TO SERVICE RELATED DISABILITY.
SO IF THEY RECEIVED THAT DISABILITY RELATED TO SERVICE, I MEAN, IF IT WAS SOMETHING, UM, UH, THAT WASN'T RELATED TO SERVICE, IT WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE, UM, UNDER THIS.
BUT THEN THERE IS NO AGE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT.
UM, UH, FOR THAT DESIGNATION, UM, THERE WILL NOW BE A 20 YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY, UM, UH, AGAIN, PREVIOUSLY THAT WAS, UH, FOR, FOR FIVE YEARS.
AND THEN ALL OF THESE CHANGES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR NEXT YEAR'S TAX BILLS.
THESE WILL BE THE TAX BILLS THAT GO OUT IN JULY OF 2023.
SO AS FAR AS THE COST, UM, ESTIMATE THE ONGOING COST OF, OF EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE EXISTING PROGRAM MAINTAINING, UM, AS WELL AS THE EXPANSION OF THE ELIGIBILITY, UH, TO BE ABOUT $6 MILLION.
SO THE CURRENT PLAN'S ABOUT 2 MILLION, UM, AND THEN THE EXPANSION WILL, UM, ADD ANOTHER 4 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF OF SIX.
AND I, AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL ESTIMATES AND IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW IT'LL, IT'LL PLAY OUT IN, IN, UM, IN PRACTICE.
BUT, UM, ESTIMATE NOW ABOUT 10,000 INDIVIDUALS, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD RECEIVE THE CREDIT.
UM, AND THAT'S UP FROM 3000 7, 7 50.
UH, NOW THE COST AND THE NUMBER OF THE ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS WILL LIKELY KIND OF INCREASES HOME VALUES INCREASE OVER TIME AND MORE PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.
UH, AND OF COURSE THE LONG TERM COSTS WILL GO OFF AS WELL AS THE CREDIT WILL NOW LAST FOR 20 YEARS, AS WELL AS, UH, FOR, FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE CAN KIND OF JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THOSE COST ASSUMPTIONS AND, AND KIND OF, UH, WHAT I THINK IS DRIVING 'EM, AS I SAID BEFORE, THE EXISTING ELIGIBILITY, UM, IS A LITTLE BIT UNDER 2 MILLION.
UH, THE CHANGE OF 40 YEARS TO 35 YEARS, I THINK IT MIGHT BE ABOUT 3000 HOMEOWNER, UH, PROPERTIES, UM, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TRANSFERRED INTO THE LAST 35 TO 40 YEARS.
UM, SO WE WERE ABLE TO RUN THOSE NUMBERS, UH, FROM OUR I C T UH, DEPARTMENT, AND KIND OF BASED ON AN AVERAGE ASSESSMENT OF ABOUT 300,000, THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT A 600 CREDIT, SO ABOUT 1.8 MILLION, UM, 1.8 MILLION OF, UH, TAX CREDIT REVENUES FOR THAT GROUP.
UH, THEN FOR THE CHANGE FROM 400,000 TO 600,000, I THINK WE THINK THERE'S ABOUT 200, 250, UM, HOMEOWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTIES, UM, THAT ARE IN THAT GAP THAT HAVEN'T TRANSFERRED IN THE LAST 35 YEARS.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, PUTTING SOME ADDITIONAL IN THERE FOR HOW MUCH MIGHT, MIGHT FALL UNDER, UM, UH, FOR THE RETIRED MILITARY.
UM, IN THOSE CASES, IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
UM, HIGHER AVERAGE CREDIT, UH, THERE, I'M ASSUMING ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS BASED UPON AN AVERAGE ASSESSMENT OF ABOUT 500,000.
SO I THINK THAT'LL, THAT'LL COST ABOUT 250,000.
SO I'LL TOLD THERE IT'S ABOUT, UM, UH, $4 MILLION IN THE ANNUAL TAX CREDIT.
UM, BEFORE WE GET TO THE DISABILITY, I WILL SAY THAT THE DISABILITY CRITERIA IS PROBABLY ESTIMATING THE COST IS A LITTLE MORE TRICKY BECAUSE UNLIKE THE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, UM, FOR 35 YEARS PLUS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT EASY ACCESS DATA WHERE WE CAN JUST GO INTO THE STATE PROPERTY TAX RETURNS AND SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S ASSESSED AT THIS LEVEL? WHAT HASN'T TRANSFERRED IN 35 YEARS? UM, UH, BUT KIND OF BASED UPON SOME OF THE NUMBERS WE DO KNOW, I KNOW FROM OUR, UH, VETERANS COMMISSION, I'VE SEEN ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 20,000 VETS, UM, IN THE COUNTY.
AND I'VE ALSO SEEN STATS, UM, FROM VETERANS.
SO, UH, ASSOCIATIONS AND THE LIKE, AND, AND THE VA, UH, THAT ABOUT 25% OF ALL VETS HAVE SERVICE RELATED DISABILITIES.
SO THAT WOULD TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT 5,000, UM, VETS.
NOW, OF COURSE, NOT ALL VETS ARE GONNA BE PROPERTY OWNERS, HOWEVER, VETERANS DO HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, UH, THAN THAN DOES NATIONAL AVERAGE.
SO FOR VETERANS IT'S ABOUT 80% AS OPPOSED TO ABOUT 60 SOME PERCENT FOR THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
UM, SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT UNDER STATE LAW, IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT SERVICE RELATED DISABILITY, UM, YOU HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT TAX ABATEMENT.
UM, AND ACTUALLY, AND THAT KIND OF WORKS, UH, NOT EVEN LIKE A, LIKE A TAX CREDIT THAT YOU HAVE TO APPLY FOR YOU ONCE YOU PROVIDE YOUR DOCUMENTATION TO THE STATE.
UM, YOUR TAXABLE ASSESSMENT, IF YOU WILL, IS KIND OF, UH, NO
[00:10:01]
LONGER CONSIDERED TAXABLE, KIND OF GOES TO NON-TAXABLE AND IN THE SAME WAY OF LIKE A NON-PROFIT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.UM, SO HERE IN THE COUNTY WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT A THOUSAND, UM, UH, DISABLED VETERANS THAT QUALIFY FOR THAT, UM, THAT DISTINCTION.
AND THERE'S ABOUT ANOTHER A HUNDRED SURVIVING SPOUSES THAT QUALIFY FOR THAT.
SO FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE ALREADY RECEIVING A HUNDRED PERCENT TAX CREDIT, SO THEY WOULD NOT BE, BE ELIGIBLE FOR, FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY, THEY HAVE NO TAX LIABILITY.
UM, SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GETS US DOWN TO ABOUT, ABOUT MAYBE 3000 OR SO, SURVIVING SPOUSES A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO CALCULATE, UM, KIND OF BASED UPON SOME NUMBERS.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD EXPECT MAYBE A FEW HUNDRED THERE.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROBABLY GONNA HAVE, UH, SOME OTHER PLACES WHERE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE ALREADY ELIGIBLE UNDER THE 35 YEARS OR THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, SO I THINK SOME OF THOSE, THOSE DISTINCTIONS, UM, UH, MAY, MAY VERY WELL NET OUT.
SO KIND OF WORKING WITH ABOUT 3000 ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND SURVIVING SPOUSES, I THINK IS A, IS A REASONABLE NUMBER.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, BASED UPON THAT SAME AVERAGE ASSESSMENT AND AVERAGE CREDIT, UM, WOULD EXPECT THAT TO BE AROUND 1.82 MILLION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE, THE DISABILITY LANGUAGE IN THE STATE LAW IS, IS A LITTLE VAGUE.
UM, AND WE WILL NEED TO WORK THROUGH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROCESS TO, AS, AS FAR AS, UM, DEFINING SOME OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR, UM, FOR SERVICE RELATED DISABILITIES, YOU KNOW, HOW IT'S DEFINED, ALL OF, ALL OF THOSE, UM, THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT, THAT WILL BE A PROCESS THAT WILL BE, UM, UH, FORTHCOMING.
UH, SO JUST TO KIND OF WRAP UP, UH, SO THESE CHANGES, AGAIN, WOULD APPLY TO NEXT YEAR'S, UM, TAX BILLS, THE ONES THAT GO OUT IN JULY.
UM, THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHERE WE'LL NEED TO, UM, UH, DETAIL SOME OF, LIKE THE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT AND ALL OF THAT, WE'LL EXPECT THOSE TO COME OUT IN THE WINTER.
AND THAT THEN THE APPLICATIONS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY.
UM, AND THEN RUN THROUGH APRIL AS IT IS WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM, UH, SO THAT WE COULD GET EVERYTHING TO THE STATE, EVERYTHING INTO OUR SYSTEM SO THAT, UH, THE TAX CREDIT WOULD APPEAR ON THE BILLS, UM, WHEN THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRINTED.
UH, AND IT SHOULD JUST NOTE THAT THESE CREDITS, UM, IS, THIS IS A VERY KIND OF MANUAL PROCESS DUE TO VERIFYING INFORMATION THAT IS REQUIRED, UM, REQUEST FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE, HOME TITLES, MILITARY RECORDS, UM, ET CETERA.
SO WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, UM, ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR IT, UM, TO, UM, UH, TO, TO GO THROUGH THE, THE INSTRUCTIONS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY INCLUDE ALL THEIR NECESSARY DOCUMENTATIONS AND TO GET THAT EARLY SO THAT WE CAN, UH, WE CAN PROCESS THIS IN A, IN A TIMELY MANNER.
CUZ AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT A, A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, UM, THAT'LL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS.
UM, MR. BONFACE, ANYTHING ELSE NOW? JUST THAT IF APPROVED, WE WILL, UM, GO TO WORK RIGHT AWAY ON TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THIS.
UM, AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD BE, UM, SENDING A LETTER OUT TO THE SENIOR COMMUNITY AND OUR, AND OUR VETERANS.
AND, AND ROBBIE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING THERE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WITH A COUPLE PHONE CALLS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, UH, WHEN THE FIRST, WHEN THE LEGISLATION WAS FIRST COMING OUT, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT THE LEGISLATION DID ANSWER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS TONIGHT, SIR, OR NOT? NO.
UM, CERTAINLY HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS, BUT YOU WENT THROUGH AND YOU ANSWERED 'EM ALL, BUT YOU CERTAINLY DID HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION, FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
ARE WE GONNA GET A COPY OF SOME OF THAT? I CAN, I CAN DO THAT.
I, I, BECAUSE YOU REALLY RUN THROUGH THAT PRETTY QUICK AND, UH, I DID GET SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND WRITTEN THAT DOWN.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS FOR DISABLED, DO THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE RETIRED OR IF THEY WERE DISABLED BEFORE THEY RETIRED, OR DO THEY QUALIFY FOR THAT? SO ACTUALLY THE LANGUAGE ALLOWS THAT, THAT THEY CAN EVEN BE BE ACTIVE MILITARY WITH A SERVICE DISABILITY AS WELL AS FORMER MILITARY.
UH, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE THE 65 AND OLDER.
SO I MEAN, THEORETICALLY, I MEAN, YOU COULD HAVE, I MEAN, SOMEONE WHO IS, YOU KNOW, 18, 19 YEARS OLD AND, AND IS ELIGIBLE.
UM, AND THEN LIKEWISE, UM, YOU MIGHT HAVE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TRADITIONAL RETIREES, UM, THAT ARE, THAT ARE ELIGIBLE.
THAT WAS MY, THAT WAS MY BIG QUESTION AND WASN'T SURE ABOUT THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, ANSWERING THAT.
AND I REALLY THINK EVERYTHING ELSE YOU KIND OF, UM, YOU KIND OF ANSWERED.
SO, UH, I THANK VERY MUCH ANYONE ELSE, MR. SHS, DOES THIS, UH, EXACTLY MIMIC THE ENABLING LEGISLATION OR IS THERE, ARE WE JUST PAIRING IT TO THE COST THAT WE CAN WELL, THE ENABLING LEGISLATION GAVE US UP TO, UH, SO WE MIGHT HAVE DEVIATED SOME FROM IT, BUT WE WENT TO WHERE WE COULD LIKE THE, UH, THE ASSESSED VALUE MM-HMM.
AND, UM, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT IT GAVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO SO.
WE DIDN'T LEAVE, I GUESS, TOO MUCH MORE ON THE TABLE.
WHEN THEY PASSED THE ENABLING LEGISLATION
[00:15:01]
BACK IN 2016, IT WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE AND, UM, SO THERE WAS A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH IT.AND, AND SINCE THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR THING, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GONNA EXPIRE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WELL, THIS WILL FIX THAT, THIS WILL FIX THAT.
SO AT LEAST FOR 20 YEARS, AND, AND, AND IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS ALWAYS ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE WE TOOK IT TO THE MAX LAST TIME, THAT'S ALL WE COULD DO.
THAT'S ALL WE WERE ALLOWED TO DO THROUGH THE ENABLING LEGISLATION, AND WE DID THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, WE'RE, THERE'S LANTERN BUGS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE, UH, HARD TO STOMP ON IT
WITH, WITH HIS COMMENTS ON THE LANTERN FILE.
BUT YOU LIST OF MY QUESTIONS, LEAVE ME OFF.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, UH, ROBBIE, MR. BONAVUE, DOES THIS ADDRESS FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS SPOUSES OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS? SO NORMALLY THE SPOUSES OF FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS ARE COVERED UNDER, UNDER THE A HUNDRED PERCENT ABATEMENT FROM THE STATE.
AND I, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SOMETIMES EXCEPTIONS WHERE THE STATE LAW ON THAT SAYS THAT, THAT THEY NEEDED TO PURCHASE THE HOUSE WITHIN SO LONG.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO SOME, UM, SURVIVING, UM, UH, SPOUSES, UM, THAT, THAT DIDN'T QUALIFY.
AND AFTER SPEAKING, UM, WITH, UM, WITH OUR LAW DEPARTMENT, WE BELIEVE THAT, THAT IN THOSE RULES AND REGULATIONS, THAT THE DISABILITY PROVISION FOR THIS WOULD, WOULD, UM, UH, WOULD CARRY OVER TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A SOMEONE WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION.
UM, SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE ULTIMATE DISABILITY, YOU KNOW, UM, PROVIDED IN THE SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY.
SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, SOMEONE SPEAK TO IT THIS EVENING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, MR. JAN, DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE ANY FALLEN, UM, POLICE OFFICERS OR DISABLED POLICE OFFICERS ON LINE OF DUTY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, THIS, THIS IS, UM, JUST RELATED TO TWO VETERANS.
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THE, THERE IS OTHER ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT SOMETIMES DEALS WITH THAT.
AND, AND WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE THAT FOR, UM, FALLEN POLICE, POLICE OFFICERS IN, IN OTHER, IN OTHER LEGISLATION.
UM, AND THERE'S OTHER STATE LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH, UM, DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, LIKE, THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? COUNSEL? MS. DIXON? WE HAVE ONE SIGNED UP.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE THIS EVENING, DELEGATE LII, FOLLOWED BY ARTHUR KAF.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, DELEGATE MARYANNE LASANTE, UH, LAPHAM ROAD IN HAV GRACE.
AND I'M HERE, UM, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS BILL.
SPEAK IN FAVOR, UH, WITH, WITH AN AMENDMENT.
UM, THE, UH, MR. BONK SPOKE, UH, ABOUT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL, UH, SIX 17.
I WAS ACTUALLY THE AUTHOR OF THAT BILL, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, THE NECESSITY OF THAT BILL IS BECAUSE THE STATE LAW AND THIS, UM, DOES NOT SPEAK TO FALLEN SO TO FALLEN, UM, SOLDIERS AND THEIR, AND THEIR SPOUSES.
AND THAT IS, THAT WAS THE NEXUS OF HAVING TO DO THIS BILL.
SADLY, THE STATE, UM, TAX CODE SAYS THAT BEING DISABLED IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING DEAD.
AND I CAN GIVE YOU MY FILE FOLDER OF HARTFORD COUNTY CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED TAX TAX ABATEMENT UNDER OUR CURRENT LAW, BECAUSE SADLY, WHILE, WHILE WE GIVE 100% TAX ABATEMENT FOR A, FOR A DESERVING 100% DISABLED VETERAN, IF SADLY THE VETERAN DIED ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR IN THE LINE OF DUTY, THEY RECEIVED NOTHING.
AND I CAN GIVE YOU LETTER AFTER LETTER AFTER LETTER.
AND IN WRITING THIS LEGISLATION, YOU CAN REVIEW THE TAPES OF THE TESTIMONY IN THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND IN THE SENATE TAX AND FINANCE COMMITTEE TO, TO THAT EFFECT.
SO WHILE THE POLICY MAY BE, UM, INTERPRETED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, I CAN TELL YOU FRANKLY THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
THE LAW THAT PASSED HOUSE BILL SIX 17 PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE HOUSE THAT PASSED UNANIM UNANIMOUSLY IN THE SENATE AND WAS PASSED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR HOGAN.
WHAT IT DID IS IT GAVE EACH MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND EACH COUNTY THE ABILITY TO AMEND YOUR TAX CODE, TO GIVE FALLEN, UH, SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES, THE TAX CREDIT TO.
[00:20:01]
SO TO AMEND THIS BILL THAT YOU HAVE TODAY, TO EXPLICITLY CALL THEM OUT TO SAY THAT GOLD STAR FAMILIES IN THEIR TAX BILL WOULD, WOULD, WOULD, COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME TAX BENEFIT THAT A DIS A DISABLED, UM, A DISABLED, UH, VETERAN WOULD HAVE.SO ALL I SIMPLY ASK IS THAT YOU WOULD EXPLICITLY AMEND YOUR BILL TO SAY THAT THE REFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE HERE REFERENCES A, THE MILITARY, UM, VETERAN, THE, THE, UH, NATIONAL MILITARY CODE OF IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VETERANS BENEFITS, NOT STATE TAXATION.
SO I JUST BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK, UM, WITH YOUR, WITH YOUR LEGAL TEAM AND WITH, WITH OUR AGS OFFICE AND WITH THE COMPT CONTROLLER'S OFFICE, YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE TO ENACT SUCH A BILL AND BE IN MY HOME COUNTY.
UM, I WOULD BE HONORED IF, UH, WE COULD DO THAT TOGETHER.
SO, UM, PRESIDENT VINCENT, THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR PUTTING THIS INTO THE BILL, AND I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THIS, UH, TO MAKE THIS LAW.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TONIGHT.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
MY NAME IS ARTHUR KA, 1427 BAR STATE DRIVE, BILL AIR, MARYLAND 25.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT ENTI, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF BILL NUMBER 22, 2, WHICH WILL EXPAND 0 22, WHICH WILL EXPAND THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE 20% REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
UH, CURRENTLY, AS HASS BEEN DESCRIBED, THE TAX CREDIT APPLIES TO THOSE WHO ARE 65 AND OVER, WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR AT LEAST 40 YEARS, OR WHO ARE 65 AND OVER AND ARE RETIRED, ACTIVE DUTY RESERVE OR GUARD, OR WHO ARE SURVIVING SPOUSE.
IF THIS BILL IS ENACTED, IT'LL APPLY THE TAX CREDIT TO THOSE WHO ARE 65 AND OVER AND HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR 35 YEARS.
AND ALSO VETERANS ACTIVE DUTY RESERVE, OR GUARD WHO HAVE A SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY REGARDLESS OF AGE.
AND IT'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO APPLY TO RETIRE MEMBERS WHO ARE 65 OR OVER.
AND AS HAS BEEN INDICATED, IT'LL ALSO EXPAND THE REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR HOMES WITH THIS, AN ASSESSED VALUE OF UP TO 600,000 INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 400,000, AND WILL LENGTHEN THE PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FROM FIVE TO 20 YEARS.
SO ENACTING THE BILL SIMPLY WILL BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED UNDER THE NATION'S ARMED FORCES AND RECOGNIZES THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
THIS IS A CHANCE FOR THE COUNCIL TO SAY THANK YOU AND PAY RESPECT TO OUR VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
UM, I SHOULD MENTION THAT MY DAD WAS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II AND THE KOREAN WAR, AND HE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT IN A DIFFERENT STATE IN CONNECTICUT, AND IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO HIM AND HIS AND HIS MY LATE MOTHER.
AND TH THIS WILL BE A TREMENDOUS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IF PASSED.
THAT WILL BE A REAL HELP TO ELDERLY AND VETERANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES.
AND DUE TO THE RISING COST OF REAL ESTATE, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT MANY VETERANS IN ELDERLY WILL GET PRICED OUT OF THE CREDIT AND BE INELIGIBLE, UH, THUS INCREASING THE ELIGIBILITY UP TO 600,000 FOR REAL PROPERTY VALUE IS TIMELY, INAPPROPRIATE.
AND THE LEGISLATION, IF, IF AN ENACTED WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST IN MAKING HARTFORD COUNTY A FRIENDLY AND ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR RETIREES AND VETERANS, AND AS HAS IT BEEN INDICATED IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A, A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON REVENUE.
SO I ASK FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO ENACT THIS LEGISLATION.
THE LAST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS ROBERT BROWN.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
BOB BROWN, 1504 GREEN VALLEY COURT, BEL AIR, MARYLAND.
MR. BONNA, FACE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BEEN SENT TO, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SPONSORING AND CO-SPONSORING THIS BILL, 22 DASH 22 FOR TAX CREDIT FOR ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND VETERANS.
I SO OFTEN WE HEAR THE TERM, YOU KNOW, AND VETERANS HERE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS THAT, THANKS, THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THOSE INJURIES WHERE THEY'RE ON, ON THE, ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR NOT, WHILE IN ACTIVE DUTY THAT HAVE, HAVE NOW COME OFF AND RETIRED OR ARE, UH, OR, OR ARE VETERANS.
IT'S REALLY A THANK YOU FROM, FROM HARFORD COUNTY.
UH, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT OVER 200,000 ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS SEPARATE EVERY YEAR.
WHAT THIS ALSO DOES IS SAYS FOR HARFORD COUNTY, THIS IS A COUNTY THAT NOW RECOGNIZES THAT IN THOSE TAX BREAKS, FOR THOSE ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE SEPARATING, I'D
[00:25:01]
LIKE TO QUOTE CAPTAIN JIM MCMAN.HE'D OFTEN SAY THE DEFINITION OF A VETERAN IS SOMEONE WHO, AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIFE, RAISED THEIR HAND WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WRITING A BLANK CHECK PAYABLE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UP TO AND INCLUDING THEIR LIFE.
THIS BILL IS A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU TO THOSE VETERANS THAT WROTE THAT BLANK CHECK.
THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE HEARING FOR BILL 22 DASH 22, AND IT WILL BE TAKEN UP AT A ANOTHER TIME.
BILL 2223, HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION, DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM.
MR. SANLESS, AGAIN, SIR, RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
EVENING, GOOD TO SEE YOU, TO SEE Y'ALL.
OH, I'LL LET YOU, I'LL LET YOU BEGIN AND, OR, OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE BEGIN? HOWEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, YOU OUT RANK ME.
UH, SO THIS EDITION WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S UNION WHO TOOK THIS MATTER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S POSITION IS AT THE PENSION FUND, IS IN A STRONG POSITION.
UM, THIS CHANGE SHOULD HELP WITH RETENTION EFFORTS AT THE DETENTION CENTER, UM, AND THAT THE BENEFIT, UH, FAR EXCEEDS THE LIMITED COST.
SO I'VE ALSO BRIEFED THE TRUSTEES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN ON THIS CHANGE, AND THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE AS WELL.
AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT OUR DEPUTIES IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, WHO ARE UNDER THE STATE'S LE OPS PLAN, HAVE ACCESS TO A DROP PROVISION ALREADY.
SO THIS WOULD, THIS WOULD BE EQUITABLE THEN FOR, UM, FOR THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
SO WHAT IS A DROP, UM, AND HOW MUCH, UM, WILL IT COST THE PENSION? SO I'LL ADDRESS THE COST, UH, PART FIRST.
UM, AND THE ANSWER IS, IS A FAIRLY LIMITED COST.
SO THE ACTUARY IS ESTIMATE THE ANNUAL REQUIRED CONTRIBUTION, UH, TO INCREASE BY $160,000 IF WE ADD THIS DROP PROVISION.
SO THE CURRENT ARC, UM, IS 3 MILLION, AND WE WOULD INCREASE, UH, TO A LITTLE BIT UNDER 3.2 MILLION.
AND THE OVERALL LIABILITY WOULD INCREASE SLIGHTLY, UM, AS THE FUNDING PERCENTAGE WOULD DROP FROM 84.6% TO 83.3%.
UH, BUT AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK WITH LOW SSAP, UH, STILL ON THE GOOD SIDE OF THAT 80% NUMBER.
SO, UH, IT CERTAINLY FEELS THAT THE PENSION FUND IS ABLE TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE THIS CHANGE.
UM, SO WHAT IS A DROP? UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS, UH, SOMEONE WHO IS RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE, UH, TO FREEZE HIS PENSION BENEFITS.
HAVE THOSE PENSION PAYMENTS AND HIS EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION DEPOSITED INTO AN ACCOUNT WHERE THEY WILL EARN INTEREST, UH, WHILE HE KEEPS, WHILE HE KEEPS WORKING.
SO AFTER A SET AMOUNT OF TIME, UM, HE WOULD ACTUALLY RETIRE AND COLLECT HIS PENSION ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
BUT THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE ACCESS THEN TO THIS, UH, DROP ACCOUNT.
AND IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE EASIER TO KIND OF SHARE THIS BY AN EXAMPLE.
UM, SO THIS IS ALL JUST HYPOTHETICAL, BUT LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER HAS 30 YEARS ON THE JOB AND HE'S CURRENTLY MAKING $78,000.
AND, AND IF HE RETIRED, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD EARN A PENSION OF $50,000 A YEAR.
UM, BUT IF HE ENTERED THE DROP THAT $50,000 A YEAR WOULD GO INTO AN ACCOUNT, UM, HE WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK EARNING HIS $78,000, BUT HIS 9% EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION, UM, WHICH CASE WOULD BE AROUND $7,000 INSTEAD OF JUST GOING INTO THE PENSION TRUST WOULD KIND OF GO INTO HIS, INTO, INTO HIS ACCOUNT.
SO AT THE END OF THOSE FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY, YOU KNOW, $350,000 IN THAT, IN THAT DROP ACCOUNT.
UM, UM, FROM HIS, FROM HIS PENSION PAYMENTS, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE EARNED EARNED INTERESTS AND HIS PENSION PAYMENT, UH, WOULD STILL BE FROZEN AT THAT 50,000.
SO HE WOULDN'T EARN ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICE TIME OR HIS AVERAGE FINAL SALARY WOULDN'T CHANGE HIS PENSION CALCULATION.
UH, BUT HE WOULD HAVE THE LUMP AMOUNT, UM, IN THIS EXAMPLE, 350,000 THAT, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE INDICATIVE OF ALL, UM, THAT HE COULD USE TO THEN SUPPLEMENT HIS PENSION IN RETIREMENT.
AND MOST INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY ROLL THIS DROP INTO SOME TYPE OF OTHER RETIREMENT ACCOUNT LIKE AN IRA OR THEY PURCHASE AN ANNUITY OR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THEORETICALLY, THE DROP REALLY DOESN'T COST THE PENSION SYSTEM AS IT WOULD ALREADY BE PAYING OUT THOSE PENSION BENEFITS AND NOT COLLECTING ANY ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL IF HE JUST RETIRED, UH, WITHOUT A DROP.
SO THE LIMITED OR ESTIMATED COST COMES FROM SOMETIMES THE INTEREST EARNED ON THE DROP, UM, UH, MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT GREATER THAN WHAT THE ACTUAL IN INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE IN THE PENSION, PENSION TRUST FUND.
AND THAT, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER KIND OF ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS IS WHY THERE'S A SLIGHT
[00:30:01]
INCREASE TO THE ARC.UM, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE ARC'S ALWAYS AN ESTIMATE AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS COULD VARY IN EITHER DIRECTION, UM, AND IN EITHER WAY THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO, TOO SIGNIFICANT.
UM, SO THE BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY OF ALL THIS IS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP SOME OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ON THE JOB FOR A FEW MORE YEARS.
AND THE OTHERWISE WOULD BE, OF COURSE, IS ALL VOLUNTARY AND NOT ALL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WOULD OPT FOR IT, BUT WE EXPECT A FEW TO DO.
SO CURRENTLY THERE'S ABOUT A HUNDRED RETIRED CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS COLLECTING PENSION BENEFITS, AND THERE'S 125, UM, ACTIVE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND THE ACTUARY ESTIMATES, UM, THERE'D BE ABOUT 12 TO 14 WHO WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE, UH, FOR THE DROP.
AND WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE MAYBE ABOUT SEVEN TO 10 OF THEM SIGN UP NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN AFTER THAT KIND OF INITIAL, UM, RUSH, IF YOU WILL, MAYBE TWO OR THREE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.
AGAIN, IT, IT COULD BE ALL OF THEM, IT COULD BE NONE OF THEM.
UM, SO JUST A FEW PARAMETERS THOUGH ON THIS DROP.
UM, SO THE ELIGIBILITY IS BETWEEN 25 AND 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM, SO YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU WANNA RETIRE AT, AT, AT AGE 20 YEARS.
AND, AND LIKEWISE, UM, YOU DO HAVE TO THEN MAKE THAT DECISION IN YOUR 30TH YEAR OF SERVICE THAT YOU WANNA ENTER THE DROP FOR, WHICH WOULD, IN ESSENCE BE YOU TAKING YOU UP TO 35 YEARS.
SO THE INTEREST RATE ON THAT ACCOUNT IS 3.5%, AND THEN A PARTICIPANT CAN DROP UP, CAN SIGN UP FOR THE DROP AND INCREMENTS OF ONE YEAR, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND NOT MORE THAN FIVE.
UM, SO YOU CAN'T BEGIN THE DROP FOR LIKE 10 YEARS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UM, THE PENSION PAYMENTS ARE FROZEN, UM, BUT THE PARTICIPANT WOULD RECEIVE ANY COLAS AS IF HE RETIRED.
SO IF THERE'S ANY ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON A COLA, UM, THAT AMOUNT WOULD STILL CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE.
SO THIS OPTION WOULD BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST, 2023.
SO, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UM, WILL, WILL BE ABLE TO KIND OF DETERMINE IF THIS IS RIGHT FOR THEM, UM, AND THEN, UM, ACT ON IT AFTER JULY 1ST, AND THEN OF COURSE THE DROP ACCOUNTS WILL BE TRACKED BY THE ACTUARY AND PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE AN ANNUAL STATEMENT, SAY, OKAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH IS IN YOUR ACCOUNT, UM, UH, AND SO THAT THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
UM, WITH THAT, I WILL ASK OUR COUNSEL AT, UM, MILES IN, IN STOCKBRIDGE IF HE HAS ANY, UH, COMMENTS.
UM, VERY FEW COMMENTS OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON PROVISION.
AS, AS, UH, UM, MR. SAND MENTIONED, THERE'S ANOTHER PENSION PLAN IN, IN THE COUNTY THAT ALREADY HAS THIS PROVISION.
THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE A DROP PROVISION ATTACHED TO THEIR, UM, PENSION PLAN.
UM, SIR, IF I MAY, I DID NOT GET YOUR NAME.
UM, PALO PALIN FROM MILES AND STOCKBRIDGE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MUCH TO SAY, BUT SHERIFF JEFF GAYLOR.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, MR. SANDLER DID A WONDERFUL JOB, UH, EXPLAINING THE, THE CONCEPT, THE NEED, UH, AND HOW THE DROP ACTUALLY WORKS, DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN.
UM, AND, UH, MR. COUNCIL, PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TONIGHT BEING ABLE TO COME IN HERE.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR TAKING THE TIME ONCE AGAIN TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR, UH, GREAT MEN AND WOMEN TO HARVARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AS YOU HEARD FROM MR. SAND, UH, THE DROP PROGRAM HAS EXISTED ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, UH, FOR SOME TIME.
I'M ACTUALLY, UH, I WAS A PARTICIPANT IN MY LAST AGENCY, UH, BEFORE I RETIRED FROM THE STATE POLICE, UH, PARTICIPATED IN THE DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM THERE.
UH, IT IS A WAY, AND I DID WRITE EACH OF YOU A, A LETTER.
I HOPE IT'S IN THE PACKET THAT YOU HAVE, UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK.
UM, BUT THERE IS A, UH, A BENEFIT TO THE HAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THAT'S THE REASON, UH, I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER IN ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THIS AND PASS THIS BILL.
UH, AS WELL AS YOU HAVE, UH, JANET WOOD, WHO IS THE HARFORD COUNTY CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HERE TONIGHT, THE WARDEN DANIEL GABRA THIS YEAR WITH ME TONIGHT.
UH, ALL OF US AND, AND SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION, SO MANY OF OUR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
UH, THIS IS A WAY AT A TIME WHERE HIRING AND RETENTION HAS NOT EVER, UH, IN ANYONE'S, UH, MEMORY BEEN HARDER.
UM, THIS IS A WAY TO ALLOW US TO RETAIN, UH, EXPERIENCED CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES AT THE DETENTION CENTER.
UM, RECENTLY WE HAVE SEEN A TREND TOWARD, UM, UH, DEPARTING A SUIT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN CORRECTIONS WHEN PEOPLE HIT THE, THE MINIMUM AGE, THEY'RE, UH, READY TO HANG IT UP AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE, ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, THIS WOULD, UH, BE AN INCENTIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE, NOT ONLY TO STAY FROM YEAR 20 TO 25, BUT FROM 25 TO 30, UH, CUZ THEY'D BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DROP FOR A FULL FIVE YEARS.
SO I, I'M ASKING AS, AS THE SHERIFF, AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR SUBMITTING THIS.
UM, LOOKING OUT FOR WHAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST AND WHAT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST IS KEEPING OUR EXPERIENCE CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES, UH, FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.
ONCE WE, ONCE WE'VE TRAINED THEM, UH, AND THEY'RE WITH US, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM IN A, IN SHORT ORDER.
[00:35:01]
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT LETTER AND THE FACT THAT YOU POINT OUT THE, UH, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, UH, PORTION OF THIS, CUZ WE HEAR THAT WITH ALL OF OUR SERVICES, EMS, FIRE AND EMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
ANY QUESTIONS, MR. WAGNER? JUST TWO POINTS.
UM, RETENTION AT THE DETENTION CENTER IS NOT, UM, AS VOLATILE AS IT IS FOR YOUR DEPUTIES THAT ARE ON THE ROAD OR IN OTHER PLACES.
IS IT? UH, WE ARE FINDING IT EASIER.
I MEAN, WE'RE FINDING VERY CHALLENGING.
I DON'T WANNA UNDERSTATE HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO FIND, UH, EITHER PRESENTLY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES.
UH, WE ARE FINDING IT MUCH MORE CHALLENGING TO FIND AND RETAIN CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES AND WE'RE CARRYING MANY MORE VACANCIES ON THE CORRECTION SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
AND YOU MENTIONED A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT INTEREST RATE.
IS THAT A FIXED RATE OR IS IT FLUCTUATE AT ALL? UM, SO IT'S THE, THE 3.5 IS A, IS A MINIMUM.
SO TECHNICALLY IF WE WERE TO EVER RAISE THE ACTUARIAL RATE OF RETURN, UM, ABOVE 7%, UM, THEN THE RATE WOULD GO UP.
UM, BUT IT STILL WOULD, IT WOULD BE FIXED.
AND I, AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT US TO RAISE THAT RATE OF RETURN.
SO FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, IT'S FIXED.
THANK YOU, MR. WE OR ANYONE ELSE? MR. JAN DANON.
UM, DOES THAT AFFECT YOU OR, OR DOES IT AFFECT IF, UH, YOU HAVE ANY LATERAL TRANSFERS THAT COME INTO, WOULD THAT HELP FOR ANY LATERAL, DOES DO THEY GET CREDIT FOR ANOTHER, UH, OFFICE IF THEY STAYED THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF YEARS, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD BE, THEY'D HAVE TO DO A WHOLE 20 YEARS HERE TO BE ELIGIBLE.
SO THEY THEY WOULD BE DEPENDING, BUT IF THEY WERE 10 YEARS THERE AND THEY CAME HERE FOR 10, WOULD THAT COMBINE AND GIVE THEM THE 20 OR NOW I BELIEVE I READ THAT THEY CAN BUY INTO THE, UH, INTO THE SYSTEM.
THE, WHETHER OR NOT THE SERVICE IS DISCREDITED UNDER THE PLAN DOESN'T CHANGE UNDER THE DROP.
SO IF THEY WERE OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE TO GET CREDIT UNDER THE RETIREMENT PLAN BY CHOOSING TO GO INTO THE DROP OR NOT CHOOSING TO GO INTO THE DROP HAS NO EFFECT ON THEIR LEVEL OF BENEFITS.
NOW I DO BELIEVE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM, FROM A COMPARABLE PLAN, LIKE RIGHT.
I I COULD NOT, LIKE IF SOMEBODY WAS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THEY DECIDED THEY WANTED A, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD AN OPENING FOR, YOU KNOW, LATERAL POSITION OVER HERE AND THEY CAME OVER HERE AND THE REASON THEY WOULDN'T HAVE COME WAS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DROP AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE TO DROP THAT, THAT WOULD BENEFIT US MAYBE BRINGING SOMEBODY FROM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT JURISDICTION, CORRECT? YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD AND I THINK IT WILL.
AND I, I, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO BUY THEIR TIME IS WHAT I READ IN THE, UM, PENSION.
SO IF THEY HAD FIVE YEARS IN ANOTHER QUALIFYING SYSTEM AND CAME UP HERE IN ORDER TO JOIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PULL THEIR MONEY OUT AND THEN BUY IT UP HERE.
BUT IT'S A TOOL YOU COULD USE TO, SO THEN THEY GET THOSE YEARS OF CREDIT THAT SERVICE TOWARDS THE TOTAL STILL, THEN THEY'D HAVE TO DO 25 AND BELONG FROM 25 TO 30 UP TO FIVE YEARS AND THEY DROPPED.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT THERE TO KNOW.
DAN, ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE DO.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE JAN WOOD.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
IT'S 1 0 9 WOODLAND GREENWAY IN ABERDEEN, MARYLAND.
MY NAME'S JANET WOOD AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF HAR COUNTY CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION.
OUR ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS THE CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES AT THE HARPER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AS MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION, WE ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES IN ATTRACTING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO FILL OUR DEPUTY VACANCIES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 40 VACANCIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FILL.
CORRECTIONS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT ONE THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS ATTRACT THE SAME ATTENTION OR INTEREST AS LAW ENFORCEMENT.
OUR JOB IS LARGELY DONE OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC EYE, OFTEN BEHIND WALLS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE.
WE KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE BY MAINTAINING CUSTODY OF OFFENDERS AND SOCIETY HAS BEING DEEMED DANGER ENOUGH, DANGEROUS ENOUGH, EXCUSE ME, TO INCARCERATE.
IN ADDITION TO RECRUITING NEW DEPUTIES, WE ARE ALSO FOCUSING ON RETENTION OF LONG TERM EMPLOYEES.
I HEARD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN REFERENCE TO RETENTION.
UM, WE HAVE SOME STATISTICS AND ABOUT 10 YEARS WE'VE HIRED APPROXIMATELY 120 EMPLOYEES AND WE'VE RETAINED A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE EMPLOYEES.
SO SOME OF THEM HAVE LEFT, UM, TO TRANSFER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN TERMINATED, SOME OF THEM HAVE MOVED ON, UM, TO OTHER, TO OTHER, UM, CAREERS.
BUT WE, WE RETAINED ABOUT LESS THAN HALF OF THOSE THAT WE'VE HIRED IN 10 YEARS.
SO THE HARPER COUNTY CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION, WE ARE TRYING TO SECURE DROP DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM OR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:40:01]
THAT THIS BILL WOULD HELP US NOT ONLY TO RETAIN CURRENT EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGEABLE CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS, BUT WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT BE CONSIDERING RETIREMENT AT 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.AND AS YOU'VE HEARD, OUR COUNTERPARTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DO CURRENTLY HAVE THIS BENEFIT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF BILL 22 DASH 23, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COUNTY.
THERE AND MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF NO ONE OTHER SPEAKERS, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BILL 22 DASH 0 23 AND IT WILL BE TAKEN UP A FUTURE MEETING.
BILL 22 DASH 24 DEFINITION ZONING DAYCARE CENTER, UH, COUNCILMAN JANO.
UM, IT'S AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS, THE DE DEFINITION OF A DAYCARE CENTER IN SECTION 2 67 DASH FOUR.
DEFINITIONS OF ARTICLE ONE, STANDARDS OF CHAPTER 2 67 ZONING PERFECT.
COUNTY CODE IS AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT A DAYCARE CENTER MAY INCLUDE A KINDERGARTEN AS SUPPLEMENTARY USE AND GENERAL RELATING TO ZONING.
SO, UM, REGARDING THE, UH, BILL 2204, PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION, LIKE I SAID, IS TO AMEND THE, UH, 2 67 DASH FOUR OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CODE.
UM, IT'S GONNA INCLUDE, UH, DAYCARE CENTERS, SUPPLEMENTED KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, BUT IT ALSO HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
SO, UM, NUMEROUS REQUESTS HAVE BEEN ASKED, UM, BY, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING FOR DAYCARE FACILITIES.
SO WHERE SOMEBODY DROPS OFF THEIR KID, UM, FOR DAYCARE THAT THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE THEM WITH KINDERGARTEN ALSO AS APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, EDUCATION.
SO, UH, IT'S GONNA GIVE THE CITIZENS MORE OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO DAYCARE, EXTEND THEIR EDUCATION, SAME SETTING, SAME BUILDING, SAME ENVIRONMENT, UH, PROMOTE EDUCATION FOR OUR OTHER, OTHER HARTFORD COUNTY CHILDREN.
SO I THINK IT'S, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S TEACHING WORLD, THAT THE KIDS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE ON FROM DAYCARE TO KINDERGARTEN AT THE SAME PLACE.
COUNCILMAN GINGER DANO, UH, COUNCIL YOUR TIME FOR OTHER QUESTIONS.
MR. WAGNER, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
DOES, DOES KINDERGARTEN CLASSES PRESUME PRE-K AS WELL OR WOULD PRE-K HAVE TO BE AN AMENDMENT THAT'S ADDED TO IT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PRE-K? I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO LOOK AT IF YOU WOULD.
IS THAT IT, MR. RMAN? THAT IS, YEAH.
ANYONE ELSE COUNSEL? MR. JOHNSON? THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SO IS THIS OUTSIDE THE REALM OF, UH, UM, HARFORD COUNTY, UH, PUBLIC PUBLIC SCHOOLS? PRE-K IT WOULD BE APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT.
SO WOULD BE LIKE A CHURCH ORGANIZATION THAT HAS, THAT HAS DAYCARE AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA PROVIDE KINDERGARTEN IN THAT, IN THAT CHURCH, OR COULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO, SO MORE OR LESS A LIKE A, UH, CHARTER SCHOOL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? CC H I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEFINITION OF A CHARTER SCHOOL IS, UM, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE FOR KINDERGARTEN AND DAYCARE.
SO ANYBODY WHO'S COMMERCIAL DAYCARE CENTER THAT WANTS TO PROVIDE KINDERGARTEN WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GO TO A GUEST TO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO GET THAT APPROVED.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS.
AGAIN, WITH NO OTHER SPEAKER SIGNED UP.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR BILL 2224 AND WILL BE TAKEN UP.
THIS BILL WILL BE TAKEN UP AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH, UH, 15 MINUTES LEFT BEFORE WE START OUR GENERAL MEETING.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVENING, CHAIR CALLS TO ORDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 2225.I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE.
FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER WITH COUNCILMAN SCH ROOTS.
I PLEDGE ALLEG TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA.
AND TWO FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION ON INVISIBLE WITH A REPEATED JUSTICE CRUEL.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO GRANT COMFORT, HOPE, AND HEALING TO ALL THOSE IN FLORIDA WHO ARE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IAN.
[00:45:01]
AND GUIDE THE FIRST RESPONDERS DURING THE ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS.WE GATHER HERE THIS EVENING AS COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS TO PROVIDE CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR GREAT COUNTY.
HELP US TAKE SOME TIME FROM OUR BUSY LIVES TO ENJOY AND APPRECIATE OUR BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS AND CHANGE OF SEASON, WHICH IS UPON US.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS.
[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
FIVE CONSIDERATION, PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS.EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS, ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? ANYONE? MR. PRESIDENT? MR. WOODS, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT OF THE ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING.
IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF ANNE GARO, TAMMY FITZGERALD, CLAUDIA SCN, AND JACQUELINE PENTZ, UH, TO THE VOICE AVO ADVO ADVISORY BOARD ON AGING.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE'RE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES, PUBLIC HEARING.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS.
[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION ZERO 20 DASH 22 MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN, FALL 20 20 22.MAY I HAVE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. IT'S BEEN MOVING TO SAN TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MR. BUILA AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE RESOLUTION, ZERO 20 DASH 22 IS HEREBY APPROVED RESOLUTION 0 21 DASH 22 DETENTION CENTER, INMATE WEEKEND FEES.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE? THANK YOU MR. WAGNER.
MAY I SECOND? THANK YOU MR. JANO.
AND SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 21 DASH 22.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MR. JOHNSON? UM, WE ALL GOT LETTERS FROM THE, UH, NAACP, UM, OF HARFORD COUNTY, THE HARFORD COUNTY BRANCH, AND THEY BROUGHT UP, UH, A NUMBER OF, UM, THINGS THAT, UM, I ALSO SAW THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROBLEM, A PROBLEM.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE LACK OF, UH, TRANSPARENCY, UM, THE POTENTIAL TO, UM, HAVE INEQUALITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FEES AND, UH, AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY ASSESS THIS, TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND, UH, TABLE THIS UNTIL WE CAN, UM, REALLY, UM, GET A GOOD FEEL ON WHAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY, UM, BE FOR, FOR OUR CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE'RE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
0 21 DASH 22 IS HEREBY APPROVED.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, INTRODUCTION OF BILLS WE HAVE NONE.
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS.
[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
11.CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS BILL 22 0 19.
RESTAURANTS, COVID MORATORIUM EXTENSION.
ANYONE? MR. P, MR. WOODS, WOULD THEY PREFER TO BILL NUMBER 22 0 1 9 RESTAURANT COVID MORATORIUM DISTINCTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
[00:50:01]
HI MR. WOODS.MR. BOLA AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE BILL, 22 0 19 IS HEREBY APPROVED.
BILL 22 DASH 20 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM MR. WOODS? THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
I MOVED TO APPROVE BILL NUMBER 22 DASH ZERO TWO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM.
NOW MR. COFFEE, I, I KNOW IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE BILL 22 DASH 20.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITHOUT LOOKING, UH, WHO ARE THE SPONSORS ON THAT BILL? UM, I BELIEVE THE SPONSORS ARE ALL OF US WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MR. WE, UH, MR. UH, WOODS.
THAT IS WHAT IS HERE FOR PREPARED TONIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MOTION, AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE BILL.
22 DASH ZERO 20 IS HEREBY APPROVED.
BILL 22 DASH 21 TAX CREDIT FOR PROPERTIES NEAR REFUGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM AS AMENDED.
MR. SHS, COUNSEL PRESIDENT, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BILL NUMBER 22 DASH 0 2 1 TAX CREDIT FOR PROPERTIES NEAR REFUGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM CHECK.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? HI, MR. JOHNSON.
MR. BOLA AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES AND AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE BILL, 22 DASH 21 AS AMENDED IS HEREBY APPROVED.
[12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS]
AGENDA NUMBER 12, ENROLLMENT OF BILLS BILL 22 DASH ZERO 19 BILL, 22 DASH ZERO 20 BILL 22 DASH 0 21 ARE CERTIFIED AS BEING THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED.AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 13, UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
GO AHEAD AND GO, UM, 15 BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT.I WANT TO ADVERTISE THE NEXT ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, WHICH IS NOT TILL DECEMBER THE EIGHTH, BUT DUE TO OUR SCHEDULE, WE WANTED TO START THE ADVERTISING.
NOW IT'LL BE 6:00 PM SECOND FLOOR COUNCIL OFFICE, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM IN.
AND THEN THIS PAST WEEK WE'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS GOING ON.
MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES.
UH, SARS RIBBON CUTTING, UM, UPPER CHESAPEAKE TOUR IN ABERDEEN OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY AT OAK GRO BAPTIST, UH, AND HARFORD BUSINESS ROUND TABLE FOR EDUCATION THIS MORNING.
AND ALL OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK IN MUCH MORE DETAIL THAN I DID.
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS]
THAT, MR. JOHNSON, THANK YOU JOHNSON.PRESIDENT, I, I JUST HAVE ONE THING TONIGHT.
UH, I WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE, UM, PASTOR HARPER OF CHANNEL OF GRACE, UM, CHURCH IN EDGEWOOD FOR HIS, UM, ELEVATION TO BISHOP.
UM, WE WENT DOWN TO THE CHURCH AND, UH, PRESENTED HIM AND THE CHURCH WITH THE PROCLAMATION FOR THEIR, UH, 12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS WELL AS HIS, UH, ELEVATION TO, UH, TO BISHOP.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MAKE THAT UP, MAKE THAT PUBLIC, AND GIVE HIM, UM, THE JUST DUE THAT HE DESERVES.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL YIELD MY TIME BACK.
JUST WANNA CONGRATULATE ALL THE FIRE COMPANIES THAT ARE DOING THEIR, UH, THEIR OPEN HOUSES THIS MONTH AND HAVE ALREADY STARTED.
THE ONES WE'VE BEEN TO HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING.
UM, I GUESS A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE LUISA AND HER STAFF AT, UH, SAR FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING.
UM, SO I WAS ABLE TO ONE WITH A COUPLE OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE, BE THERE, REPRESENTED PROCLAMATION.
AND I ALSO LIKE TO, UH, CONGRATULATE, UH, GEORGE DUN HAUSER OF, UH, DEL HAVEN, UH, SERVICE STATION.
HE IS THE, UH, RACING FUEL SUPER GAS CHAMPION.
UM, GEORGE HAS BEEN, UH, DELL HAVEN FOR YEARS BEFORE THAT HE OWNED GETTY GAS STATION.
[00:55:01]
IN BEL AIR.SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO GEORGE.
DANIEL COUNCILMAN ROSE, THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UM, ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO SAR, UH, ON THEIR NEW SAFE HOUSE.
UM, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE MADE THAT HAPPEN AND, UM, JUST WANNA WISH THEM THE BEST.
ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, HARTFORD SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, UM, ANNUAL BANQUET.
AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COOPERATORS OF THE YEAR THAT WENT TO TIMOTHY AND TRACY GAY OF MILE MAI HILL FARM.
UM, WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE THAT, UH, SUPPORTED AND CAME OUT TO THE MASON DIXON COMMUNITY SERVICES OCTOBER FEST.
OF COURSE, THEY DO, UM, A GREAT SERVICE, NORTHERN HARTFORD COUNTY PROVIDING FOOD AND FUELS FUEL, UM, TO THOSE IN NEED.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO TONIGHT.
AS THE, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED, THERE WAS A TOUR OF THE ABERDEEN CAMPUS, OF THE, UH, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UPPER CHESAPEAKE HEALTH, UH, CENTER THAT'S, UH, UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
SOME IS, UH, NEARING, UH, COMPLETION, BUT, UH, THAT, THAT PHIL CROCKER AND COLIN WOOD GAVE US A GREAT, UH, TOUR.
AND, AND THE PLACE IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL INSIDE THAT WHAT IS FINISHED AND IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSIVE.
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT ASSET TO, UH, THE ABERDEEN AREA AND CERTAINLY TO HARTFORD COUNTY WHEN IT IS FINISHED UP, WHICH IS GONNA BE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR FROM NOW, I BELIEVE THEY SAID BEFORE THEY WOULD BE, UM, MOVING IN, UM, ON SUNDAY.
SOME OF US ATTENDED THE OAK GRO BAPTIST CHURCH IN 90 YEARS, UH, ANNIVERSARY, UH, THAT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
AND, UH, UH, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE THAT I HADN'T SEEN IN MANY YEARS THAT THAT CAME BACK FOR MANY YEARS AGO.
AN ANNIVERSARY LIKE THAT YOU CALLED A HOMECOMING.
AND THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS THAT DAY.
UM, AFTER THAT, I LEFT AND WENT TO RICE TOWN FOR A VIEWING FOR ONE OF OUR OWN HERE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, MARY KATE, UH, HER'S MOM HAD PASSED.
UH, RICK HERIC, UH, WORKED FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS AND, AND MARY KATE, UH, WORKED IN THE COUNCIL SIDE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS BEFORE GOING ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, SO WE CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, PASS ALONG CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF GENEVIEVE MADOSKY.
UM, AND IN OCTOBER 10TH, UH, THE HUSBAND OF, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, CAROLYN ZINNER PASSED.
AND CERTAINLY WE EXTEND THE CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHY TO THAT FAMILY.
AND THEN LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHERE THEY, UH, PRESENTED THE PLANS FOR WHAT IS GONNA BE THE PROPOSED, UH, ABERDEEN ACTIVITY CENTER, UH, TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT THEY WANNA DO IN THAT BUILDING AND THEN PROGRAMS THEY WANNA RUN OUT OF IT.
SO AT LEAST THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ON A, A TRACK FORWARD.
COUNCILMAN BU THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UH, JEAN AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UM, EXTEND OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE CENTER FAMILY, UH, AND WE WILL KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS FOR STRENGTH AND JUST COMFORT IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
UH, ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO JUST CONGRATULATE OAK GROVE BAPTIST ON 90 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY PROVIDE SO MANY MINISTRIES.
UM, IT IS MY JEAN AND I, IT'S OUR HOME CHURCH, WHICH WE'VE ATTENDED THERE FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
AND IT'S BEEN A BLESSING, UH, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WORSHIP THEIR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST LOVED THE CHURCH AND, UH, WE JUST PRAYED FOR ANOTHER 90 YEARS OF, UH, SERVICE AND SAVING SOULS IN THE COMMUNITY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
AND THEY HAVE A WORLDWIDE MISSION, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AND, UH, PASTOR TESTAMENT AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST A GREAT SERVICE.
I THINK IT WAS A HOMECOMING LIKE YOU SAID, ROB.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
BULE.AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 17, COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS.
MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE DO.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE FOUR THIS EVENING.
CHUCK MEZA, FOLLOWED BY KEN SHANNON, MEN.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
UH, NAME IS CHUCK MEK, 1812 PARK BEACH DRIVE, PERRYMAN, MARYLAND.
UM, I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO REQUEST THE COUNCIL REVIEW THE HARFORD COUNTY CODE REGARDING COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS, ALSO KNOWN AS SIM AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT CONSTITUTES THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIM.
THE CODE IDENTIFIES THAT A SIM IS REQUIRED BY THE DEVELOPER OF A LARGE PROJECT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND MAKE COMMENTS.
IN ITEM J OF THIS SECTION, IT STATES IF THE PLAN SUBMITTED IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE PLAN PRESENTED AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING, ANOTHER COMMUNITY MEETING AND NOTIFICATION
[01:00:02]
AS SPECIFIED UNDER THE SECTION SHALL BE REQUIRED.SO EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE PREMIUM PENINSULA RECEIVED THEIR OCTOBER SURPRISE.
AS THE SEPTEMBER 27TH, UM, PLANS CAME FROM FREDERICK WARD AND IN THESE PLANS CAME, THEY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SIM MEETING.
FIRST THE PROPOSED CHANGE, UM, THE PROPOSED USE HAS CHANGED FROM A WAREHOUSE TO A NON SORT HIGH CUBE FULFILLMENT CENTER.
THESE DIFFER FROM TRADITIONAL WAREHOUSING BECAUSE OF THEIR HEIGHT AND AUTOMATION.
BECAUSE OF THIS INCREASE IN HEIGHT IN AUTOMATION, THEY TEND TO GENERATE MORE TRUCK TRAFFIC WITH FEWER EMPLOYEES.
SECOND, SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT CHANGE IS NOW THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF THESE FREIGHT TERMINALS HAS INCREASED FROM 40 FEET TO 65 FEET.
THIS IS A 63% INCREASE IN THE HEIGHT FOR THIS PROJECT IN CUBIC FEET.
THE PROJECT WENT FROM 208 MILLION CUBIC FEET TO NOW 338 MILLION CUBIC FEET, AN ADDITIONAL 130 MILLION CUBIC FEET OF STORAGE SPACE.
THIRD, THE EMPLOYEES AT THE LARGEST SHIFT CHANGED.
UM, SHIFT CHANGED DECREASED FROM 2,389 EMPLOYEES TO 953 EMPLOYEES.
THIS IS A 60% DECREASE IN ESTIMATED EMPLOYEES TRAFFIC, WHICH TRANSLATES TO A MUCH LOWER NUMBER OF JOBS.
THIS PROJECT IS FORECASTED TO PRODUCE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A 60% DECREASED EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES ONLY DECREASED BY 18%.
THESE ESTIMATES ARE WRAPPED AROUND THE STATEMENT.
THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AT THE LARGEST SHIFT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
THESE ARE SPECULATIVE FREIGHT TERMINALS, WHICH WILL BEEN DENIED BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TWICE ALREADY.
SO LET'S INCREASE THE TOTAL STORAGE SPACE, 63%, REDUCE THE ESTIMATED TRAFFIC NUMBERS BY 60, BUT LET'S KEEP THE PARKING SPACES JUST IN CASE.
SINCE THE ORIGINAL SIM ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2021, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, WHICH SHOULD WARRANT ANOTHER SIM IF CHANGES SUCH AS PROPOSED USE OF THE PROPERTY, A 63% LARGER BUILDING SPACE, A 60% REDUCTION IN ESTIMATED EMPLOYEE TRAFFIC AND NEW PROPOSED ROADS ARE NOT ENOUGH TO QUALIFY AS SUBSTANTIAL.
SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAT I WOULD PLEASE ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A ZONING AMENDMENT TO REVISE THIS VAGUE LANGUAGE AROUND THIS DEFINITION.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
KEN SHANNON, FOLLOWED BY GLEN DAUGHTER.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
KEN SHANNON, THAT I LIVE AT 2 0 4 4 PARK BEACH DRIVE IN PERRYMAN.
I'M WEARING A THREE P COALITION HAT, BUT I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF IN REGARDS TO UNWANTED AND INAPPROPRIATE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN PERRYMAN, SPECIFICALLY THE PROPOSED PER THE PROPOSED MUTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND THE TRAFFIC NOISE AND POLLUTION THAT WILL COME WITH IT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ADDRESS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY DISTRICT F.
YOU CAN SPEAK TO ALL OF US MR. BULO.
IT HAS RECENTLY COME TO LIGHT.
THE CHANGES MADE BY THE CHESAPEAKE REAL ESTATE GROUP TO THEIR PROPOSED PLAN TO BUILD FREIGHT TERMINALS ON THE MITCHELL FARM IN PERRYMAN WILL BRING LESS THAN THE THIRD OF THE JOBS THAT WERE SHOWN ON THE PLANS THAT WERE UNDER REVIEW AT THE TIME OF THE DECK IN JANUARY.
ALSO, AS MR. MAZA JUST MENTIONED, THE HEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS WITH A SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 5.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET IS BEING INCREASED BY MORE THAN 60%.
GIVEN THIS NEW INFORMATION, DO YOU OPPOSE THE PLAN TO BUILD THESE FREIGHT TERMINALS IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN PERRYMAN IN YOUR DISTRICT, MR. SHE I THAT AT A LATER DATE? OKAY GUYS, SIR, I ALSO SENT YOU AN EMAIL ON THAT TOPIC AS WELL AND, UH, HAVEN'T SEEN A RESPONSE.
SO I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING, UM, WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
I WONDER WHEN THE COUNCIL FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS CHANGE TO THE PROPOSED MITCHELL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, THERE WAS AN EMAIL FROM WIT MCQUAIG, A VICE PRESIDENT AT CHESAPEAKE REAL ESTATE GROUP, TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF HARTFORD PLANNING AND ZONING ON AUGUST 10TH, SAYING THAT THEY WERE CHANGING THE DEVELOPMENT TO A HIGH CUBE FULFILLMENT CENTER, NON SORT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE BRINGING TO CONCERNED CITIZENS INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
THE COUNCIL KNOWS THAT HUNDREDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE AN INTENSE INTEREST IN WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE MISSION PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.
INSTEAD OF CITIZENS PLAYING COLOMBO AND SPENDING DOZENS OF HOURS TRYING TO ACCESS AND UNDERSTAND PROJECT DOCUMENTS, THE DISTRICT F REPRESENTATIVE AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHOULD BE PUSHING INFORMATION TO THE CITIZENS WHO ATTENDED
[01:05:01]
THE SIM AND THE DAC AND ANYONE ELSE HAD ASKED FOR IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE NATURE AND SIZE OF THE PROJECT.WHILE THE COUNCIL TAKES NO ACTION TO INFORM OR SUPPORT PER CITIZENS AND REMAIN SILENT WHEN THEY SHOULD BE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST A TERRIBLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN PERRYMAN, THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR BOLD IDEAS SUCH AS A NEW STATE PARK ALONG THE BUSH RIVER WHEN HE ROACHES RUNNING FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN NOVEMBER.
AND IT'S PUBLICLY STATED THAT THE MITCHELL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS PROPOSED VIEW DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE CURRENT ZONING FOR WAREHOUSES.
SHE HAS ALSO STATED THAT THE PROJECT THREATENS CLEAN WATER AND FRAGILE GREEN SPACE ON THE PENINSULA, WHICH WE MUCH STAND UP, WHICH WE MUST STAND UP TO PROTECT JACOB BENNER'S RUNNING A UH, DISTRICT AS DISTRICT F REPRESENTATIVE, AS HAS STATED THAT PEOPLE OF PERRYMAN HAVE BEEN DUMPED UPON WITH INDUSTRIAL FREE TERMINALS FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
THIS HAS CREATED SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC ISSUES, INCREASED AIR POLLUTION, AND STRAINED LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
HE HAS CALLED OUT THE COUNTY TO, FOR BEING SLOW TO REPAIR EVERYMAN'S ROADS, TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARKS, AND TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE COMMUNITY, BUT QUICK TO COLLECT CAMPAIGN DONATIONS AND TAX REVENUE FROM DEVELOPERS.
I STAND WITH WINNIE ROACH AND JACOB BENNETT AND HOPE THAT THEY ARE SITTING IN THOSE SEATS COME NEXT YEAR, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT, THAT THIS IS, I MEAN IT WAS CROSSING THE LINE INTO CAMPAIGNING, WHICH IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
MR. KEARNEY, DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD CUZ YOUR TIME IS UP.
GLEN UTTER, FOLLOWED BY KATE MCDONALD.
NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE.
GLEN UTTER 1806 PARK BEACH DRIVE, ABERDEEN 2,101.
I UH, SHOWED YOU A SAMPLE LIKE THIS AND I TOOK IN LATE JUNE FROM THE INTERMITTENT CREEK AND HAHA BRANCH.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S AS CLEAR AS TAP WATER AND THE NITROGEN LEVEL HERE WAS SO LOW I HAD TROUBLE MEASURING IT LESS THAN THREE PARTS PER MILLION AND THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
LAST WEEK I SAMPLED THE SAME CREEK, SAME POINTS AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS HEAVILY SILTED AND WHAT I DID WAS TRY AND FILTER OUT ALL THAT SEDIMENT SO THAT UH, I COULD GET A NITROGEN LEVEL.
IT TOOK A WHILE BUT I DON'T NEED TOO MUCH AND I GOT A NITROGEN LEVEL OF SEVEN TO EIGHT PARTS PER MILLION, AN INCREASE OF TWO, MAYBE THREE PARTS PER MILLION.
AND SO ALL I WANT YOU TO SEE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH JUST MINIMUM CONSTRUCTION AT, UH, WHAT WE CALL A AND WOODS.
AND IT'S MORE FORESTED WETLAND, UH, THAN IT IS WOODS ACCORDING TO THE DELINEATION.
UM, ONE OTHER THING, I HAVE ANOTHER BOTTLE.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S EMPTY AND UH, I'M GONNA USE THIS BUT I'M GOING TO USE THIS WHEN THE, IF THE, UH, PER INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS EVER COMPLETED, CUZ I'LL MAKE ANOTHER PREDICTION.
WE'VE BEEN PREDICTING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
THOSE PARKING LOTS, THOSE BIG PARKING LOTS ARE GOING TO LEAD OFF DIESEL FUEL, CRANK CASE OIL AND HYDRAULIC FLUIDS AT A GREATER RATE THAN CAN BE TREATED.
AND I'LL USE THIS BOTTLE TO TAKE SAMPLES OF THAT, UH, HYDROCARBON LAID IN WATER, UH, AS IT MOVES TOWARDS THE BUSH RIVER, UH, JUST SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW WHAT'S COMING.
NAME AN ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
KATE MCDONALD, 2100 PARK BEACH DRIVE.
THAT'S PRETTY DIRTY WATER, DON'T YOU AGREE? SO IN THE INTEREST OF, UH, UPDATING THINGS, I WANTED TO UPDATE A LITTLE TALK I GAVE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
UM, ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN WEBSITE THERE, THE FOUR OBJECTIVES OF ENTERPRISE ZONES ARE TO, ONE, ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF WELL PAYING NEW JOBS FOR HARPER COUNTY RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THE RETENTION AND SPUR EXPANSION OF RESIDENT BUSINESSES.
THREE, PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND OCCUPANCY OF VACANT AND UNDER UTILIZE BUILDINGS, SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO REVITALIZING OLDER INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF HARFORD COUNTY.
[01:10:01]
SO I MENTIONED IN THAT SPEECH THAT THE JOBS, THESE, UH, WAREHOUSE, THESE FREIGHT DISTRIBUTION CENTERS CREATE PAY ABOUT $17 AN HOUR ARE 35,000 $360, $360 A YEAR GROSS, WHICH IS 62% LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE INCOME IN HARTFORD COUNTY.NOW WITH THE UPDATED PLANS AS CHECK MENTIONED, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES HAS DECREASED BY 60%.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS ABOUT JOB CREATION GUYS.
IT'S NOT ENSURE THE RETENTION AND SPUR EXPANSION OF RESIDENT BUSINESSES.
SO, AND THREE PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OCCUPANCY OF VACANT UNDER UTILIZ BUILDINGS.
THESE GUYS HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GO BIGGER AND MORE EGREGIOUS AND IT'S JUST SLIPPING THROUGH UNDER YOUR NOSES.
SO THE REASON THEY'RE DOING THIS, THEY'RE MAKING 'EM BIGGER IN HIGHER, IS TO BE MORE AUTOMATED.
SO THEY HAVE TO EMPLOY FEWER PEOPLE AND HAVE MORE TRUCKS.
THESE, THERE'S NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR AREA.
IT THERE WASN'T BEFORE THEY CHANGED THEIR PLAN.
NOW THERE'S EVEN LESS SUPPORT.
THE COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO REVITALIZING OLDER INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
THERE'S BEEN NO REVITALIZATION OF YOUR DISTRICT, AT LEAST THE ROUTE 40.
AS A REPUBLICAN WOMAN, I CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT YOU.
YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT DESTROY LIVES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
YOU NEED TO NOT RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN.
WE HAVE NO INTENTION AS A GROUP OF SITTING BY AND ALLOWING YOU TO CONTINUE TO DESTROY OUR LIVES.
IT WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO STOP AND LET YOU DO THAT.
WE DES WE DESERVE NEW LEADERSHIP AND E EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE HARTFORD COUNTY ZONING LAWS.
THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH NO OTHER SPEAKERS.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS MINUTE.
MR. SHANNON, CAN I SEE YOU FOR JUST A MINUTE PLEASE?