[County Council Budget Work Session]
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WE'RE GONNA START OUR LAST, FINAL DAY, I SHOULD SAY, OF BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
UH, AND WE'LL BE STARTING WITH, UH, PARKS AND REC.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE BEFORE KIM GETS STARTED OR NOT.
UM, PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE HAD A DECREASE OF 7 69, 8 55, BUT I'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE CALL CENTER.
SO ON PAGE FIVE SIXTY FOUR SIXTY FOUR, THAT'S PARKS AND REC ADMINISTRATION.
THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF 4 73 180.
AND IF YOU FLIP THE PAGE, THAT IS THE RESULT OF PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASING 14,820, WHICH IS THE NET OF TEMPORARY, UM, SALARIES FOR A PROJECT COORDINATOR, OFFSET BY THE 27TH PAY, AND THEN SOME PENSION ADJUSTMENTS.
UM, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, THERE WERE NO CHANGES.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, WE DECREASED FUNDING BY 5,000, AND THAT'S BASED ON ACTUALS FOR, UM, ANYTHING FROM GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES TO, UM, DELIVERY CHARGES, SO FORTH.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES.
THIS IS INCREASED, UM, FOR TRAINING, FOR COMMISSION, COMMISSION OR AN ACCREDITATION OF PARKS AND RECREATION AGENCY, CAPRA.
UM, AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS, THE DECREASE IN FUNDING THERE OF 500, 500,000 WAS THE, UM, WERE PROVIDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MIRACLE LEAGUE, WHICH DIDN'T REQUEST ANY FUNDING THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THE MONEY FOR, UM, CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CEDAR LANE, SORRY, CEDAR LANE.
UM, WE MOVE TO, UH, TOURISM, TOURISM GRANTS.
THEY HAVE TO APPLY FOR THIS ON PAGE 5 67.
RECREATIONAL SERVICES SHOWS A DECREASE OF 96 971.
IT IS THE NET OF PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASING 1 0 1 671, AND THAT'S, UM, THE NET OF THE 27TH PAY OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND $15.
AND, UM, SUB WORKER'S COMP AND FICA ADJUSTMENTS.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE THE 7,700, AND THIS IS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE AND FOR TEMPORARY VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS IN FINGERPRINTING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES DECREASES IN FUNDING BY 3000.
AND THIS IS BASED ON ACTUALS FROM ANYTHING FROM, UM, PRINTING DELIVERY AND SO FORTH.
JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THIS IS SO STAFF CAN ATTEND OFFICES.
AND ON PAGE 5 71, PARKS AND FACILITIES, DECREASED CARE OF 1 66 7 0 5.
PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASED 345,984.
THIS IS THE RESULT OF TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED TO D P W CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UM, TWO, UH, ONE WAS A CIVIL ENGINEER AND ONE WAS AN ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE, UH, 27TH, PAY REDUCTION OF 78,863.
AND HEALTH BENEFITS WERE INCREASED.
THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 198 80,000, AND THIS IS FOR RENTAL SERVICES SUCH AS PORTABLE TOILETS, FLOOR MATS, SHOP TOWELS, GAS CYLINDERS, TURF FIELD MAINTENANCE, AND GMAX TESTING, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.
IN THERE, YOU CAN SEE, UM, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES DECREASE IN FUNDING OF FI, OH, EXCUSE ME, $18,000.
IT WAS ADJUSTED FOR BUILDING SUPPLIES, SMALL TOOLS, CHEMICALS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
AND AGAIN, ALL THIS IS BASED ON ACTUALS.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN FUNDING.
UM, OVER 23 FOR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
THIS IS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
SO THIS IS, UM, THREE DIFFERENT CALL CENTERS FOR THAT.
THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE AN EMERTON RECREATION AND TENNIS CENTER AT INCREASE OF $3,537.
AND MAINLY THAT IS THE RESULT OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, INCREASING 11,000 TO PROVIDE FOR, UH, ELECTRICITY AND HEATING BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.
UM, OTHER FUNDING IS FOR TELEPHONE, WATER, UM, GROUNDS AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE, UM, AT EMERTON MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES DECREASES 5,200.
AGAIN, THIS IS ADJUSTED, UM, BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY FOR FOOD SUPPLIES, REPAIR PORTS, AND SO FORTH.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE FIVE SEVENTY EIGHT, THE SECOND CALL CENTER UNDER THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND OPENING PENINSULA DECREASES 10,536.
IT IS THE RESULT OF PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASING $1,778.
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WAS REDUCED, UM, BASED ON ACTUALS.UM, UNDER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF $8,750.
UH, INCREASED FUNDING FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE COUNTY FACILITY REPAIR RENOVATIONS, UM, BASED ON ACTUAL, UM, REVENUE TRENDS, THAT'S WHAT WE PROVIDED THEM.
UM, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASE IN FUNDING OF 1001 10.
AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON ACTUALS AND REVENUE TRENDS FOR, UM, OAK PENINSULA.
AND THEN DOWN UNDER MISCELLANEOUS, THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF 18,954.
THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE PRO RATTA SHARES THAT COMES FROM THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND HERE, BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE SUPPORT.
AND LAST ON PAGE 5 81 IS REC COUNSEL AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES.
THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF $26,000.
PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 10,000 AT, UM, BUT THE FUNDING STILL PROVIDES FOR OVERTIME AND FICA EXPENSES.
IT WAS DECREASED BASED ON ACTUAL CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
AND AGAIN, THAT WAS BASED ON ACTUAL REVENUE TRENDS FOR BUILDING CU, EXCUSE ME, BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICE, UM, AT VARIOUS BUILDINGS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, PAUL MAGNUS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS OBVIOUSLY OUR FY 24 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS.
UH, I HAVE OUR TEAM HERE, UH, INCLUDING OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, TERRY HAMLEY, UH, OUR CHIEF OF RECREATION SERVICES, LISA, ADAM, UM, OUR OPERATING BUDGET CHIEF MIKE SIMON, AND OUR MAINTENANCE ADMINISTRATOR, STEVE CONK.
UH, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE, UH, DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND YOUR QUESTIONS, I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW ITEMS ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY.
EXCUSE ME, GETTING OVER WONDERFUL POLLEN THAT'S OUT AND ABOUT.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MESS, OF OUR MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION, THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERSHIPS, SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR RECREATION COUNCIL PARTNERS AND THE, AND THOSE, AND HOW THEY MAKE, HOW THEY POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF HARPER COUNTY.
PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, OUR DEPARTMENT WAS ACTIVELY MOVING TO INCREASE OUR PRESENCE ONLINE, TO IMPROVE OUR MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION.
AND COVID SHOWED US HOW IMPORTANT THAT EFFORT WAS AND REMAINS TODAY.
UM, EACH YEAR WE CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF USERS AS WE WORK TO MAKE OUR PROGRAMS AND RESERVATIONS MORE AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
UH, OUR DEPARTMENT OFFERS A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OBVIOUSLY RESERVATIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR PARK SITES ONLINE THROUGH CIVIC REC.
UM, AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE ALMOST 8,800 ACCOUNTS, WHICH EQUATE TO OVER 15,000 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS.
UM, FROM JULY 1ST, 2021 TO JUNE 30TH, 2022.
WE HAVE 551 PROGRAMS THROUGH THIS AND OVER 3,400 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THAT TO, UH, AND ACCOUNTS FOR $272,000.
UM, THIS YEAR TO DATE, UH, SINCE JULY 1ST, 2022 AND FY 23 TO DATE, WE HAVE ALREADY HAVE 613 PROGRAMS, OVER 4,700 PARTICIPANTS AND OVER $273,000, UH, ACCOUNTED THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.
UH, MANY OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE OVER 4,400 FOLLOWERS.
UM, AND IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, UM, THE REACH ALONE, WHICH IS BASICALLY PEOPLE SHARING OUR POSTS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE, UH, PLATFORM, WE HAD OVER 68.
WE HAD A REACH OF OVER 68,000 ACCOUNTS JUST IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.
UH, WE RECENTLY CREATED AN INSTAGRAM PAGE.
UM, AND SO FAR HAVE 583 FOLLOWERS.
AND LISA, THAT'S WHAT, THE FIRST TWO MONTHS? NO, WE HAVE THAT FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE FOR OUR CITIZENS AT OUR COUNTY PARK SITES, PARTICULARLY FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALMOST 4,900 ACRES OF COUNTY PARKLAND.
OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF WORKS TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PARK USERS.
I HAVE ENJOYED THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IN A NUMBER OF CAPACITIES DURING MY TIME WITH OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND I CAN SAY WITHOUT QUESTION, OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IS THE BEST A MOTHER, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 115 WORK ORDERS EACH MONTH.
WE MAINTAIN OVER 42 MILES OF TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE MAINTAIN 140, OR EXCUSE ME, 184 BASEBALL DIAMONDS AT COUNTY PARK SITES, AS WELL AS PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES.
WE MAINTAINED SEVEN OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS IN THIS COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE INSPECT AND MAINTAIN 32 PLAYGROUNDS OF COUNTY PARK SITES, AS WELL AS ASSISTING WITH NUMEROUS EVENTS, INCLUDING THE HARFORD COUNTY FARM FAIR, THE WADE IN FESTIVAL AT THE ESTUARY CENTER, AND CAMP I 10, WHICH IS OUR SUMMER CAMP THAT OUR DEPARTMENT
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RUNS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH COGNITIVE CHALLENGES.OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF ALSO WORKS ON CONTRACT MANAGEMENT FOR MAINTENANCE RELATED CONTRACTS, INCLUDING GRASS MOWING AND LANDSCAPING.
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOWING OVER 150 SITES IN THE COUNTY AND LANDSCAPING AT 30 BUILDINGS.
75% OF THOSE SITES ARE PARKS AND RECREATION, RE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRASH COLLECTION AT 106 LOCATIONS IN PARKS AND RECREATION IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTIES.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE OUR PORTABLE, EXCUSE ME, OUR PORTABLE TOILET SERVICE, UM, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 102 UNITS AT PARKS AND RECREATION AND HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES DURING THE SPORTS SEASON.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL AND MANAGE, WE MANAGE THE CONTRACT FOR 72 COUNTY LOCATIONS, UM, INCLUDING OBVIOUSLY PARKS AND RECREATION SITES, PUBLIC LIBRARIES, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND ACTUALLY WE ALSO MAINTAIN SIX BUS TURNAROUNDS FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS PART OF THE WORK WE DO FOR SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO ARE OUR PARTNERSHIPS, PARTICULARLY WITH OUR RECREATION COUNCIL PARTNERS AND PROVIDING RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES TO HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS OF ALL AGES.
WELL, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF PROGRAMMING THAT WE OFFER THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT.
OUR RECREATION COUNCIL PARTNERS ARE CRITICAL IN PROVIDING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEIR NUMBERS ARE SIMPLY ASTOUNDING.
FOR FY 22, OUR RECREATION COUNCILS HAD OVER 46,000 REGISTRANTS FOR PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE OVER 11,000 VOLUNTEERS.
THOSE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED OVER 400,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, WHICH USING A VERY ROUGH, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS MOVING TO THE $15 AN HOUR FOR MINIMUM WAGE.
THAT EQUATES TO $6 MILLION AT $15 AN HOUR, AND THEY ALSO RUN OVER ALMOST 7 MILLION WORTH OF COSTS THROUGH THEIR REGISTRATION FEES.
UH, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT, UM, IT IS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH THE RECREATION COUNCILS, NOT ONLY IN MY CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR, BUT I'M ALSO A CO-COACH FOR MY SON'S T-BALL TEAM.
UH, AND IT'S A GREAT, IT'S A GREAT REMINDER FOR ME EVERY SATURDAY WHEN I GO OUT AND PLAY T-BALL, WHY I DO WHAT I DO MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, UM, TO SEE THOSE KIDS AND TO SEE THE JOY THEY GET, UH, JUST PLAYING BASEBALL, UH, AND HAVING FUN AT PARKS AND RECREATION AND SCHOOL SITES.
ON OUR CAPITAL BUDGET SIDE, OUR DEPARTMENT IS WORKING ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF ANNIE'S PLAYGROUND, WHICH WE AN WE ANTICIPATE TO BE COMPLETE NEXT MONTH, SEGMENT THREE OF THE MON PA CONNECTOR TRAIL, WHICH WE EXPECT TO GO TO BID SOMETIME THIS SUMMER.
THE DESIGN OF THE ABERDEEN ACTIVITY CENTER AND THE OAKINGTON PENINSULA AND MASTER PLAN.
I'M HONORED EVERY DAY TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF, OUR PARTNERS, AND OUR CITIZENS TO MAKE HARFORD COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEMS BETTER.
AND WITH THAT, I AWAIT YOUR QUESTION, COUNSEL, MR. PENMAN, UH, MR. MAGNUS.
MR. HANLEY, I JUST WANT TO JUST, UH, FIRST JUST APPLAUD YOU, UM, BOTH OF YOU AT DIFFERENT TIMES I'VE CALLED UPON AND, AND THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE AND THE RESPONSE THAT I GET, UH, IS IMPRESSIVE.
SO THANK YOU, UM, JUST FOR YOUR, YOUR HARD WORK.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM THERE.
UH, I DID HAVE JUST, JUST TWO QUESTIONS.
UH, AND IT GOES TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ON PAGE 2 28, UH, THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION AND THEN THE PYRAMID PARK DEVELOPMENT.
SO STARTING WITH THE PARKLAND AC ACQUISITION, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, THERE'S NO SPECIFIED SITE PURCHASE.
DO YOU WANT TO WAIT? YEAH, LET'S WAIT TILL THE CAPITOL.
WE'LL DO 'EM ALL TOGETHER, IF THAT'S OKAY? YEP, THAT'S FINE.
AND, UH, PAUL AND TERRY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, ALL THE COOPERATION, UH, YOU'VE HAD SINCE, UH, I'VE BEEN, THIS TIME IN OFFICE.
I KNOW THE 12 YEARS I'VE SPENT BEFORE, I ALWAYS HAD A TUG OF WAR WITH, UM, WITH PARKS AND RECS, BUT, UH, BEFORE YOU WEREN'T, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN THAT PREVIOUS DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ESPECIALLY TO DO WITH THAT DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BUT
I HAD FOUR SONS, BUT I HAD ONE THAT WASN'T REALLY INTO SPORTS, YOU KNOW, SO I TRIED TO GET HIM INVOLVED ONE YEAR IN T-BALL.
AND SO, UM, IN JPA TOWN, HE WAS, I WAS COACHING THE TEAM, AND HE WAS ON T-BALL TEAM.
SO THEY PLAYED AND THEY WON ALL THEIR GAMES AND THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THEY WERE ALL OF COURSE HAPPY THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND I SAID, PHIL, I SAID, UH, HOW'D YOU LIKE SPORTS? ARE YOU GONNA PLAY AGAIN? HE SAYS, NO, I AIN'T PLAYING THE WAR.
I SAID, WHY AREN'T YOU GONNA PLAY MORE? HE SAYS, I WANT TO RETIRE ON TOP
I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAD ANYTHING BACKUP OR, UH, OR, UH, YOU'RE GOING TO, UM, OVERSEE 'EM OR ANYTHING?
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UH, I KNOW YOU ARE QUITE, UM, UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH COPPER MINE IN THE EIGHT SPORTS FIELDS THEY'RE BUILDING IN, IN EDGEWOOD.UM, CERTAINLY A BIG ASSET TO, UH, THE EDGEWOOD, UH, COMMUNITY.
UM, ACCORDING TO THE, UH, UH, CO WE, WE'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL TIMES, UM, THEY'RE EXPECTING WHEN THEY GET UP FULL BOAR, THEY'RE EXPECTING TO GET, UM, 12,000 PEOPLE ON A WEEKEND BETWEEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, WHICH IS JUST, UH, AN INCREDIBLE ESTIMATE.
UH, AND THEY HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE SPORTS THINGS AROUND THE STATE NOW ALSO, NOW, THEY JUST TOOK OVER, UM, UH, THE, THE, UH, HERE IN, IN BLAIR, THE, THE SPORTS CENTER IN BELAIR.
SO, UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD OUTFIT TO WORKFORCE.
SO DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM, OVERSEER INVOLVEMENT OR AT ALL WITH COMPROMISE? UH, NOT DIRECTLY, BUT WE, UH, COPPER MINE HAS A, UH, BUSINESS ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CEDAR LANE SPORTS FOUNDATION, UH, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HOSTS TOURNAMENTS AT THE CEDAR LANE PARK.
AND IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP WILL BE, BASICALLY, THEY'LL BE HOSTING TOURNAMENTS IN, UH, CEDAR LANE AND COPPER MINE WILL BE THE TWO SITES THAT WILL BE USED FOR THOSE TOURNAMENTS HERE IN THE COUNTY.
DO WE HAVE, UH, UM, THEIR REPUTATION IS WITHOUT QUESTION, SO I, I DON'T REALLY THINK, SEE, THIS IS GONNA BE AN ISSUE, BUT, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, OVER OVERSEE TO THE FIELDS THAT ARE, WHEN THEY COMPLETE IT, THAT, UH, THAT, THAT THEY, THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO? DO WE HAVE ANY OVERSEA LAND AT ALL AT COPPER MINE? AT THE COPPER MINE? YEAH, AT THE EIGHT FIELDS ARE DOING AN EDGEWOOD NO, THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE A PRIVATE FACILITY.
SO IT'LL BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO OVERSIGHT, OVERSEE, AND MAINTAIN THOSE FIELDS.
UH, IT, IT LOOKS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN, IT'S ALL GONNA BE TURF FIELDS AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE FLOOD LIGHTS ON ALL THE FIELDS AND EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, KIND OF ANXIOUS SEA ONES DONE.
UM, UH, WANNA THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP WITH THIS.
UH, BUT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THESE TWO PAVILIONS ELECTRICITY TO THESE TWO PAVILIONS IN MARIN POINT PARK, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S GOING FORWARD AND, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT PUT IN FOR A DOLLAR 98.
SO I'M REAL HAPPY ABOUT THE, YOU HAVE A CONTRACTOR THAT WILLING TO DO IT FOR THAT PRICE.
UH, WE DID GET SOME PRICING WE NEED WE'RE, I DO HAVE SOME ELECTRICIANS THAT I KNOW WE DID GET PRICING ON IT, I GUESS, YESTERDAY.
SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AND SEEING WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE BASED ON, UH, THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND I, I, I ALSO FOUND WHEN WE WERE OVER THERE LOOKING AT THAT, THAT, AND, UH, YOU ARE WORKING ON THIS TOO, IS, UH, REPLACING THAT MARINER STATUE THAT THEY PUT IN EIGHT YEARS AGO.
AND IT REALLY SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T TREATED, UH, UM, DURING THIS EIGHT YEAR PERIOD.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S DETERIORATING AND YOU'RE GONNA REPLACE IT.
SO, UM, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
ALSO, UM, THE, BY THE WAY, UM, FOR, FOR YOUR INTEREST WHEN WE HAD THAT, UM, PREVIOUS STATUTE PUT IN WAS ABOUT 13 OR 14,000.
THE HOTEL TAX PAID FOR THAT, BY THE WAY, JUST SO AS A MINUS SAYING I'VE TAKEN OUTTA YOUR BUDGET.
UH, THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS PAID BY THE HOTEL TAX, AND OF COURSE, WE, IN OUR DISTRICT, WE RAISED $685,000 ON THE HOTEL TAX.
I, I THINK I'VE SAID THAT A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE.
BUT, UM, ONE OTHER THING I, I WANT TO, UH, ASK YOU ABOUT IS, UH, OH, I UNDERSTAND, UH, I'VE SEEN SOME, THERE, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME SUBSTANTIAL WORK TO THE, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN, IN EDGEWOOD.
UH, I SEE THAT'S, UH, ON THE AGENDA.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FEASIBILITY, UM, OF POTENTIALLY COMBINING, UM, THE SENIOR CENTER WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER, BUT WE HAVE, WE'RE AT THE VERY FRONT STAGES OF THAT RIGHT NOW, WORKING WITH WHAT'S THERE AT MILES PART GONNA DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING JUST SHUT DOWN THE SENIOR CENTER AND, AND ADD IT ON TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO? UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FEASIBILITY OF, AGAIN, USING, UH, USING THE FACILITY, UM, FOR A, AS A MORE OF A SENIOR CENTER TYPE SETTING.
UM, BUT IT REQUIRES US TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE HEADSTART IF WE GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
AND WE'VE STARTED CON WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE AT THE VERY FRONT END OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UH, GIMME A BREATH, CUZ I'VE HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
UH, ONE OTHER THING SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, LET ME READ YOU A SHORT SENTENCE.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF, UH, EMAILS FROM, UH, SOME OF OUR SENIORS IN THE, UH, EDGEWOOD AREA, UH, ON PICKLEBALL MM-HMM.
UM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT PICKLEBALL IT WAS UNTIL THIS ISSUE CAME UP IN MY DISTRICT.
HE SAID, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, MY VERY FIRST PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY WAS PUTTING OUTDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS AT CHURCHVILLE.
UH, HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, AND MAYBE YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT I'M GONNA SAY HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU CAN GET SOME, GET HELP WITH THE PICKLEBALL RING STATEMENT FOR OUR SENIORS AT THE EDGEWOOD, UH, REC CENTER.
BEFORE PANDEMIC, WE PLAYED FIVE DAYS A WEEK, UH, BEFORE 3:30 PM WHEN THE GYM WASN'T BEING UTILIZED.
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WAS FREE FOR SENIORS, AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO SOCIALIZE AND GET EXERCISE.SINCE THEN, THE RECREATION CENTER HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY THOSE HOURS, AND THE GYM IS NOW USED FOR RECREATION PICKLEBALL OPEN TO AGES 18 AND UP.
THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS CHANGE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THERE'S NO ONE FROM THE SENIOR CENTER TO, TO MONITOR THE PROGRAM AT THE REC CENTER.
OTHER FACILITIES FALLS AND VAL BLAIR AND HA GRACE HAVE FREE PICKLEBALL FOR SENIORS BEFORE THREE 30.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE EDGEWOOD SENIOR CENTER AND THE EDGEWOOD REC CENTER CAN WORK OUT SOME TYPE OF AN AGREEMENT TO HELP THE SENIORS, UH, COMMUNITY GET THE USE OF THE FACILITIES.
AGAIN, I AM WRITTEN BOB CALEY AND, UH, PAUL MAGNUS AND SAYS, WELL, YOU DID, YOU ARE ON HERE.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GET HELP AND GET THE PICKLEBALL FOR SENIORS BACK AS PART OF THE, THE, UH, SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
SO IT, IT, UH, SINCE YOUR AUTHORITY ON PICKLEBALL, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME? UM, WHAT I CAN DO, UH, WE DID CHANGE OUR PROGRAMMING SO THAT WE OFFER, UM, INDIVIDUAL DAYS, UH, AT THAT, AT THE EDGEWOOD LOCATION.
UM, I'LL GET, I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION WITH ME TODAY, BUT WE CAN GET YOU, I'LL GET YOU THE UPDATED INFORMATION IN TERMS OF OUR LATEST REGISTRATION NUMBERS, BUT I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THEY ARE, THE MAJORITY OF THE REGISTRANTS ARE SENIORS, UM, 50 AND OVER.
UM, SO IT'S SEEMS TO BE SERVING MOSTLY THE SAME, UM, AUDIENCE.
UM, THAT WA THAT IT WAS BEFORE.
I WOULD ALSO REMIND ANYONE, UM, WHO IS INTERESTED IN PLAYING PICKLEBALL THROUGH THE OFFICE ON AGING, UM, THAT WE DO HAVE THE OFFICE ON AGING SITES AVAILABLE AT CHENOWETH, UH, AT BEL AIR, AT MCFALL, AND AT, UM, CAVITY GRACE.
UM, SO IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING THROUGH OFFICE ON AGING'S PROGRAMMING WITH PICKLEBALL, THEY WOULD NEED TO GO TO ONE OF THOSE THREE FACILITIES.
WELL, THAT'S QUITE A WAYS FROM, FROM WHERE, I MEAN, THE SENIORS THAT LIVE IN, IN THE AREA.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE PICKLEBALL PLAYERS THAT LITERALLY TRAVEL, DEPENDING UPON WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK, WHERE THEY WILL TRAVEL TO, WHEREVER THAT PROGRAM IS BEING OFFERED THAT DAY.
WELL, WE CERTAINLY, LIKE, WE LIKE TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT FOR ALL THE SENIORS, SOME SENIORS CAN'T GET THAT, OR THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT THAT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO, TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF TRIPS.
SO WE APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD DO SOMETHING WITH THAT PICKLEBALL IN APRIL.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL GET YOU THE UPDATED NUMBERS SO THAT YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF, AGAIN, THE REGISTRANTS AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE ACTUALLY USING THE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY AT EDGEWOOD.
IF, UH, I APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD GET THAT TO ME BEFORE MONDAY, AND UH SURE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO RUSH YOU, BUT NO, WE, OUR MONTHLY, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING IS GOING TO BE OUR, THIS IS ALWAYS ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH.
AND I KNOW ANY QUESTION'S GONNA COME UP.
YEAH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT.
THAT IT, MR. THAT'S IT PAUL, KEN, LET'S GO TO CAPITAL BEFORE WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
HOW YOU WANNA DO IT, SUMMARIZE IT.
UH, PAT? I DID, YES, I DID HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS ABOUT OPERATING.
UM, OTHER THAN, AGAIN, I NOTICED I, I, I TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ACTIVE IN.
JUST AGAIN, AWAIT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET STARTS ON TWO 15.
SORRY TO, UH, WORK AHEAD EARLIER.
UM, AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION LOOKS LIKE 1.6 MILLION ROUGHLY.
UM, DO WE KNOW THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT LOOKS LIKE THE PORTION OF IT IS THE RECREATION TAX AND THEN THE, UH, PROGRAM OPEN SPACE.
SO, UH, IS THAT, WHAT IS THAT EARMARKED IN THE GENERAL BUDGET? HOW'S THAT? HOW'S THAT WORK? UM, SO PROGRAM OPEN SPACE IS A, UH, A FUNDING PROGRAM CREATED BY THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY BACK IN 1969.
UM, WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOCATES A PORTION OF THE TRANSFER TAX THAT EVERYBODY PAYS WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE STATE TRANSFER TAX, EXCUSE ME.
UM, SO THEN THE STATE TAKES THAT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TAKES THAT, ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, AND BASED UPON FACTORS SUCH AS NUMBER OF HOUSE SALES, TOTAL POPULATION, THERE'S A FORM FORMULA THAT THEY USE THAT THEY THEN, UM, PROVIDE THAT FUNDING TO ALL THREE 20 JURISDICTIONS OF, UH, IN THE STATE.
UM, AGAIN, BASED ON A FUNDING FORMULA.
UM, SO IT'S ROUGHLY A PERCENTAGE, UM, OF, OF THE STATE TRANSFER TAX THAT WE GET, UM, IS ALLOCATED ON THE LOCAL, WHAT'S CALLED LOCAL SIDE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING.
UM, WE'RE ABLE TO USE, UM, A PORTION, UH, WE HAVE TO USE, CURRENTLY WE HAVE TO USE AT LEAST 50% OF OUR LOCAL SIDE ALLOCATION FOR ACQUISITION.
UM, AND SO IN THIS CASE, THE STATE AT THE TIME, WE PREPARED THE BUDGET, THE STATE WAS ESTIMATING WE WERE GONNA HAVE ABOUT 3.2 MILLION,
[00:25:02]
OR EXCUSE ME, 4.2 MILLION.UM, AND SO AGAIN, WE, 50% OF THAT IS THE 1.6, AND THEN, OH, NO, THAT'S RIGHT, 3.2.
UM, ANYWAY, SO 50% OF THAT IS THE 1.6.
AND SO THAT'S AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT MONEY.
SO AS WE IDENTIFY PROPERTIES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UM, BUT FRANKLY, PARTICULARLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE, UH, BASED ON OUR LAND PRESERVATION, PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN, UM, WE NEED TO BE ACQUIRING PROPERTIES TO FILL IN GAPS THAT THE STATE HAS THAT BASED ON THIS, THE WAY THE STATE DETERMINES, UM, NEED.
UH, SO WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, AGAIN, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, UM, TO PURCHASE PROPERTIES THAT HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS.
UM, AND THEN ARE USED FOR OBVIOUSLY FUTURE PARK DEVELOPMENTS, UH, AS FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
AND IT HAS TO BE PARK DEVELOPMENTS AND NOT, FOR INSTANCE, UH, DION'S, UM, REC CENTER COULDN'T BE USED FOR THE, THE REC CENTER, THE PURCHASE PROPERTY FOR THAT.
THAT, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE PRO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ANY PROPERTY ACQUISITION, WE SET IT UP FOR THE ABILITY TO BUY IT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, JUST FROM A FLEXIBILITY STANDPOINT.
BUT AGAIN, THE LAND PRESERVATION PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN HAS IDENTIFIED.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, AND THERE'S REALLY NO SITE SPECIFIC, DO YOU, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF WHERE, WHAT OTHER THAN DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPES THAT YOU'RE THINKING? SURE.
AND WHAT WE DO IS, AGAIN, UH, AS PART OF THE ANNUAL, WHAT THEY CALL THE ANNUAL PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WE IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING.
SO JPA TOWNS AN AREA, EDGEWOOD AN AREA, THERE ARE PORTIONS OF EMERTON, UM, THAT ARE IDENTIFIED THAT, AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON OUR LAND PRESERVATION PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN AND WHERE WE HAVE THESE GAPS IN SERVICE AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN.
SO, AND THEN THE PERRYMAN PARK, THAT WOULD BE THE SAME FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT AS WELL.
AGAIN, SINCE WE CAN USE 50% RIGHT OF THE ALLOCATION FOR ACQUISITION, WE CAN THEN USE THE REST OF THE LOCAL SIDE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT, PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES OR ACQUISITIONS IF WE WANT.
AND IN THIS CASE, WE'RE USING A PORTION OF THAT FUNDING TOWARDS THE PERIMAN PARK DEVELOPMENT.
ANY OTHER CAPITAL QUESTIONS, MR. GENK? SIR? SO GOOD MORNING, MR. MAGNUS AND, UH, MR. HANLEY, HOW ARE YOU GUYS? THANKS FOR COMING.
UM, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE ATHLETIC FIELD, UM, AND THAT WE DO THE MAINTENANCE ON THE ATH UH, THE TURF FIELDS, SEVEN OF THE TURF FIELDS, SEVEN OF THE TURF FIELDS.
SO THAT'S ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL TURF FIELDS.
UH, IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL TURF FIELDS, PLUS WE ALSO HAVE TWO FIELDS AT CEDAR LANE PARK.
UH, WE HAVE A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD AT TUCKER FIELD.
AND THEN WE HAVE ONE AT THE FALLSTON RECREATION COMPLEX.
SO, SO QUESTION, THE ATHLETIC FIELD IMPROVEMENTS IS, UM, WHERE IT'S, UH, BUDGETED.
IS THAT US REPLACING THE FIELDS OR DOES THE SCHOOLS PAY FOR REPLACING THE FIELDS? AND IF, IF NOT, DO WE SPLIT IT OR, OR DO WE PAY FOR ALL THE ATHLETIC FIELDS OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND NOT OUT OF THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET? WE HAVE PAID FOR THE INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT OF, OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF ATHLETIC FIELDS OUT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS BUDGET.
WHY IS THAT? WHY DOESN'T THE SCHOOL PAY FOR THAT? IF THEY'RE KIM'S STILL GONE FROM US THAT WAY WE HAVE CONTROL OVER IT.
IT'S REALLY, I THAT IS HONESTLY THE, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S BOND MONEY.
SO WHETHER IT'S HOUSED IN, AND, AND AGAIN, AS KIM SAID, HOUSING IT IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET GIVES US CON CONTROL OVER, UM, HOW IT IS ALLOCATED AND SPENT.
IS THE COST TO REPAIR THESE FIELDS AND MAINTAIN THESE FIELDS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS? UM, I THINK AS ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING PRICE INCREASES IN GENERAL.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS WE'RE REPLACING THE SYNTHETIC, THE FIRST ROUND OF SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS, UM, AS WE'RE ABOUT THREE, WE'RE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE FIELDS IN NOW, UM, HAPPY GRACE IS THE NEXT ONE WE'RE INSTALLING.
AS PART OF THIS ROUND OF INSTALLATION, WE ARE INSTALLING WHAT'S CALLED A BROCK SHOCK PAD.
AND WHAT THAT DOES, IT'S RIGHT BELOW, ESSENTIALLY IT'S BETWEEN THE SUBBASE AND THE TURF ITSELF.
UM, ONE OF THE, THE MAIN FACTOR THAT'S USED TO DETERMINE SAFETY ON A FIELD IS WHAT'S CALLED GMAX TESTING.
SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY IF YOU FALL, UM, AND YOUR HEAD HITS THE TURF, UM, IF THE, THE GMAX TEST OF 200, RIGHT NOW, THE GMAX TEST OF 200 OR ABOVE A FIELD IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE AND NOT USABLE.
UM, THERE IS DEFINITELY MOVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY, UM, THAT THAT NUMBER IS GONNA GO LOWER.
UM, SO THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE SHOCK.
THE BROCK SHOCK PADS, UM, THE LAST TWO THAT WE'VE INSTALLED, WE'RE GETTING GMAX TESTS A YEAR LATER, UH, IN THE 100 TO
[00:30:01]
ONE 20 S.SO WE, AND, AND THEY ARE GUARANTEED, UM, FOR 20 YEARS, UM, TO MAINTAIN THE GMAX RATING.
UM, HOW LONG DO OUR FIELDS LAST NOW THAT, THAT, RIGHT NOW, OUR TYPICAL FIELD IS LASTING ABOUT EIGHT TO 10 YEARS.
AND I WILL SAY A MAJOR REASON OF THAT IS BECAUSE BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED, UM, WE MAINTAIN OUR FIELDS.
I'LL PUT IT UP, I'LL PUT OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM UP AGAINST ANYBODY.
UM, WE MAINTAIN OUR FIELDS TO A LEVEL THAT I'VE GONE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND, AND I WOULD, I WOULDN'T LET MY SONS PLAY ON THEIR FIELD CUZ THEY LITERALLY HAVEN'T EVEN DECOM, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT A FIELD IN, THEY PUT A SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD IN, AND FIVE YEARS LATER WHEN YOU ASK, HEY, WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE HAVE YOU DONE ON THAT? OH, WE PICKED THE TRASH UP OFF IT SO THEY'RE NOT DOING DECOM COMPACTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE DOING THAT BECAUSE, AND WE, AND AGAIN, WE TEST EVERY FIELD ANNUALLY.
UM, I, I PERSONALLY, AND, AND OUR DEPARTMENT PROFESSIONALLY TAKES THE SAFETY OF THOSE FIELDS, UH, VERY, VERY LY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT ARE USING THOSE FIELDS.
NO BASEBALL FIELDS THOUGH RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO SYNTHETIC BASEBALL FIELDS.
AND THERE'S, IS THERE ANY PLANS FOR THAT FOR BASEBALL FIELDS? NOT AT THIS TIME.
AND OUR REC COUNCILS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL FIELDS TOO, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AS PART OF THE, UM, OVERALL PROGRAM THAT WAS ESTABLISHED, UM, DURING DAVID CRAIG'S ADMINISTRATION, WE CREATED AN MOU BETWEEN US AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHERE, AGAIN, WE, WE HANDLE THE MAINTENANCE ON SEVEN OF THE FIELDS.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HANDLES THE MAINTENANCE ON THE OTHER SEVEN FIELDS.
ALL SEVEN OF THEIR FIELDS ARE OBVIOUSLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
OUR FIELDS, WE'VE GOT THREE AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THEN THE OTHER FOUR THAT ARE AT COUNTY PARK SITES.
WHICH THREE HIGH SCHOOLS DO YOU, UH, I WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE WHICH ONES.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? UM, I'VE HEARD FROM A FEW PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF ABERDEEN, WHICH YOU KNOW, KIND OF LINES UP WITH, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN BOYLE SADDLES AND I ABOUT CONCERNS OVER JUST, UH, SOME REDUCTIONS IN THE PLAN FOR THE ABERDEEN ACTIVITY CENTER.
COULD YOU JUST TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW THE PLANS FOR THAT PROJECT HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME? UM, JUST SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT, WHAT ORIGINALLY WAS GONNA LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN COMPLETION NOW.
UM, WE ARE ACTUALLY AT THE POINT OF LOOKING AT, UM, THAT SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF BASED ON THE MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA BE USING, UH, THE CHURCHVILLE LEVEL BUILDING AS THE MODEL.
UM, THAT WAS OUR MOST RECENT BUILDING, UM, BUILT, UH, AND OPENED IN 2016.
UM, SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, WE ACTUALLY MET JUST LAST WEEK WITH OUR ENGINEER, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM AND EXPECT, UM, WE SHOULD BE MEETING WITH THEM IN ABOUT ANOTHER THREE WEEKS TO SEE KIND OF WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE'VE GIVEN THEM, AGAIN, THE CHURCHVILLE LEVEL BUILDING IS THE TEMPLATE ESSENTIALLY, IS WHAT WE WANT TO USE.
AND THEN, UM, ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, UH, IN LOOKING ON PAGE ON THE OPERATING SIDE, ON PAGE 5 59, THE TWO STAFFING POSITIONS THAT WERE CUT THIS YEAR, CIVIL ENGINEER FOUR AND ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE 5 5 59.
COULD YOU JUST TALK ABOUT THOSE TWO POSITIONS AND WHY THEY'RE NO LONGER, THEY WEREN'T CUT.
THEY WEREN'T CUT, THEY WERE CUT.
THEY WERE MOVED UNDER D P W PUBLIC WORK.
UNDER CAPITAL PROJECTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON.
WE, WE OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, ONE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS I DIDN'T MENTION IN MY COMMENTS IS THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR FELLOW COUNTY AGENCIES.
UM, AND D P W CAPITAL PROJECTS IS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THAT WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
AND FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, WE DECIDED IT SIMPLY MADE MORE SENSE THAT THOSE TWO POSITIONS, UM, BE BUDGETARILY HOUSED UNDER D P W, BUT PHYSICALLY, UH, AND SUPERVIS, EARLY
AND THEN, UM, LAST QUESTION WITH, UH, ON PAGE 5 65 AND JUST THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, THE MISCELLANEOUS FUNDING DECREASE, HOW, UM, UH, THAT, UH, SOME OF THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO THEN BE COVERED BY TOURISM GRANT PROCESS FROM THE HOTEL TAX FUNDING? CORRECT.
CAN YOU GIVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT ON HOW MUCH OF, UH, THE FUNDING THAT USED TO COME FROM PARKS AND REC IS NOW GONNA BE COMPENSATED FOR WITH TOURISM, UH, FUNDING FROM THE HOTEL TAX THERE, OH, 250,000 WAS FIRST CEDAR LANE TWO 50.
AND WE SHOULD SAY THAT THAT BEFORE IT WAS STILL BEING COVERED BY THE HOTEL TAX TAX.
SO IT WAS JUST KIND OF GETTING A LITTLE BIT CONVOLUTED IN THAT WE HAD VARIOUS PLACES ABOUT LIKE FOUR, FOUR BUDGETS OR SO THAT HAD HOTEL TAX.
AND NOW WE SAID, LOOK, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD PUT 'EM ALL IN ONE EIGHT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC IS VERY TRANSPARENT, THESE BUDGETS HERE ARE ALL BEING COVERED BY HOTEL TAX.
SO IT WASN'T A A, A QUESTION OF, UM, OF A CHANGE.
IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION OF PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, SO THEN THE OTHER $250,000 THAT WAS FOR THE MIRACLE LEAGUE, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T REQUESTED IN SEVERAL YEARS.
I THINK WE SPECIFICALLY ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THEY SAID, WE DO NOT NEED THAT FUNDING.
[00:35:08]
ANYTHING ELSE, MR. BETH? MM-HMM.ANYONE ELSE? MS. HER? I'M SORRY, MS. SALS, UM, GOOD MORNING.
IT LOOKS LIKE MONEY HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE REC COUNCIL, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW THAT WILL AFFECT THEM AND WHAT, WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
YOU'RE TALKING UNDER THE RECREATION SERVICES PORTION? YEAH, THE REC COUNCILS ACTIVITIES, THAT, THAT WAS JUST A REDUCTION BASED ON ACTUALS FOR, UM, PERSONAL SERVICES.
$10,000 AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, 14,500.
SO IT THEY SHOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING.
IT'S BASED ON WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SPENDING.
AND PART OF THAT IS BASED ON, EXCUSE ME.
OUR RECREATION COUNCILS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE OVERTIME FEES FOR CUSTODIANS AT SCHOOLS.
UM, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ACTUALLY BILLS THE DEPARTMENT AND THEN WE GET REIMBURSED BY THE RECREATION COUNCIL.
SO THAT'S THAT ACCOUNT WHERE THAT TRANSACTION IS HOUSED.
UM, AND THEN PAGE 5 73, BUILDING CARETAKERS.
UM, HOW MANY OF OUR FACILITIES HAD THE CARETAKERS LIVING ON SITE PAYING RENT? AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE? THAT'S, UH, NOT WHAT THESE BUILDING CARETAKERS ARE NOW.
WHERE WOULD THOSE BE LISTED? THE CARETAKERS, THEY'RE NOT IN THE BUDGET.
THEY ARE NOT AT ALL IN THE BUDGET.
YEAH, THEY'RE A SEPARATE, UH, ESSENTIALLY A AGREEMENT THAT'S SEPARATE.
UM, SO THESE, WHAT ARE THESE BUILDING CARETAKERS? WHAT'S THE DEFINITION? THESE ARE OUR BUILDING CUSTODIANS.
ON PAGE, UM, 5 65 AT THE BOTTOM WHERE WE'VE MOVED THE MONEY FROM DEPARTMENT OF REX TO TOURISM.
COULD YOU, KIM, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT PAGE I CAN FIND THAT TOURISMS THE MONEY AS THE PLUS? SURE.
WELL, WOULD, IT'S NOT GONNA, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE A PLUS OR ANYTHING, BUT, UM, IT WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PAGE 6 0 2, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE A DECREASE IN THAT BUDGET BY $2,880,000.
THAT WAS FOR ONE TIME GRANTS OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL 'EM, UM, THAT WAS PLACED THERE LAST YEAR.
SO FROM PARKS AND RECS, YOU TOOK THERAPEUTIC RIDING? NO, WE DIDN'T TAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING.
THAT'S STILL THERE THERAPEUTIC.
THE 25,000 FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING REMAINS IN OUR COUNTRY.
SO YOU TOOK, TELL ME AGAIN WHAT YOU TOOK.
WE, WE ELIMINATED THE MONEY FOR, UH, MIRACLE LEAGUE.
THEY DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE THAT'S JUST GONE.
AND WE SAID THAT CEDAR LANE MUST NOW APPLY AND GO THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS OF TOURISM GRANTS TO GET THEIR MONEY INSTEAD OF JUST THE ALLOTTED A LOT.
SO, SO MONEY THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET PREVIOUSLY FOR CEDAR LANE.
NOW CEDAR LANE IS RESPONSIBLE TO APPLY JUST AS ANY OF THE OTHER TOURISM GRANTS ARE.
SO THEY MAY OR MAY NOT, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE TOURISM GRANT IS, GET MONEY OR NOT GET MONEY.
SO IF CEDAR LANE DOES NOT GET MONEY, BECAUSE THERE'S, THE, THE POT IS MUCH SMALLER THAN IT'S BEEN, WHAT WOULD THE EFFECT OF BE ON CEDAR LANE? UH, I'D HAVE TO ASK THE FOUNDATION THAT QUESTION.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY, THEY'RE INDEPENDENT OF, OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UM, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY RUN THE, THE, UM, TOURNAMENTS AT CEDAR LANE PARK.
SO THEY HAVE A SEPARATE REVENUE STREAM AVAILABLE TO THEM.
AND CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY WERE GETTING FROM YOU IN THE PAST? UH, THE 250,000, THAT'S A CHUNK OF CHANGE.
MR. TIPS IN YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET ON THE OPEN PROJECTS, THE CHURCHVILLE PROJECT, IS THAT WHAT IS STILL OPEN THERE? UH, THERE WAS FUNDING INCLUDED AS PART OF THE FY 23 BUDGET INTO THAT ACCOUNT FOR A TRAIL SYSTEM OR FOR TRAIL, UH, OVER BY THE DISK GOLF COURSE AREA THAT WE HAVE NOT, YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED THAT YET.
AND NOW THE, UH, WASTEWATER, NOT WASTEWATER, YEAH.
THE, UH, STORMWATER PONDS THAT ARE THERE, HOW DOES, WHO TAKES CARE OF THEM AND MAINTAIN MAINTENANCE ON THOSE PONDS? WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
[00:40:01]
FOR MAINTAINING STORMWATER.WELL, I MEAN, I NOTICE THERE'S A LOT OF WEEDS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REQUIRED OR THERE ARE SOMETIMES WHERE SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT ARE IN THERE PEOPLE THINK ARE WEEDS, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE PLANTS THAT ARE PART OF THE PLANTING PLAN.
UM, THEY'RE ALSO ISSUES, FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WE THERE, THOSE PONDS ARE OPEN AND AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE BIRDS THAT LIKE TO BRING THINGS IN THAT WEREN'T PLANTED THERE.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
IT DEFINITELY TAKES CARE OF GETTING RID OF THOSE THISTLES AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
AND WE WORK, ACTUALLY, WE WORK WITH MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE, UM, FOR THE NOXIOUS WEED AND INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES EFFORTS THROUGHOUT OUR DO THEY IT PERIODICALLY OR HOW DOES THAT, UH, D P W, UM, THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INSPECT THOSE, UM, STORM WATER PONDS? UM, I BELIEVE IT'S ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
THAT'S TOO, TOO LONG IN BETWEEN THOSE, I MEAN, A THISTLE COMES UP ONCE A YEAR AND IT SPREADS FOR THE NEXT THREE OR TO FIVE YEARS OR WHATEVER.
UH, CAN WE GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF OR HOW'S THAT, HOW DO WE HAVE TO GO ABOUT, UH, GETTING MORE INSPECTIONS OR THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY PREVIOUS STATEMENT.
SO IN THE, THE MOVING OF THE FUNDING FOR CEDAR LANE OUT OF LIKE GUARANTEED FUNDING AND ME, UH, MISCELLANEOUS TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS THROUGH TOURISM IN THE HOTEL TAX, WAS THAT COMMUNICATED TO THEM IN THE, IN THE, IN THIS PROCESS? YES.
AND WAS THERE COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEM? LIKE WAS THERE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THIS MAY OR MAY NOT IMPACT THEM OR CONSIDERATION FOR THAT IN THAT PROCESS? BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ANSWER THAT PIECE OF THE QUESTION? UH, NOT DIRECTLY, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY HAVE TO APPLY THROUGH IT.
SO AT THE MOMENT WE CAN'T AND THEY CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE OR ARE NOT GETTING.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. GUTHK? JUST A QUICK, UH, I THINK YOU ALSO OUGHT TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, GETTING THE HOTEL TAXES FUND TO FUND THAT ELECTRICAL WORK.
DOES CEDAR LANE REIMBURSE YOU FOR, UH, FIXING THEIR FIELDS? NO.
CEDAR LANE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO NAME MAINTENANCE OF EVERY SINGLE FIELD IN, UH, AT THEIR FAC AT THE FACILITY, EXCEPT FOR FIELD 11, WHICH IS THE PRACTICE FIELD THAT IS USED BY THE EMERTON RECREATION FOOTBALL PROGRAM.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU, THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WE MAINTAIN ON A WEEKLY ON A WE MOW IT AND EVERYTHING AND, AND EVERY, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE INSIDE THE FENCE AT CEDAR LANE PARK IS THE RESPONS IS THE DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CEDAR LANE SPORTS FOUNDATION TO MAINTAIN.
OKAY, BUT YOU STILL REPLACE SOME OF THAT WHEN WE GO IN, CORRECT? WE DO, IF WE DO MAJOR FIELD RENOVATIONS OR WE, WE, WHEN WE REPLACED FIELD, THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD, FIELD 12 WHEN IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, YES.
WHAT'S A PROJECT COORDINATOR POSITION? UH, THAT IS INDIVIDUAL RIGHT NOW IS WORKING TOWARDS, UM, THERE'S, UH, IT'S CALLED CAPRA ACCREDITATION, WHICH IS A NATIONAL ACCREDITATION, UM, FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S BASICALLY, YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, UM, AND IT'S AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, PEERS COMING IN AND SAYING, YES, YOU ARE RUNNING YOUR DEPARTMENT, UH, IN A WAY THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF BEST PRACTICES IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND SO SHE IS WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER THE INFORMATION, UM, THAT ON THE FRONT END WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT AND DETERMINE WHAT, WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE NEED TO BEEF UP OUR EFFORTS, UM, BEFORE WE START THAT PROCESS AND BEFORE WE START THAT INSPECTION.
UH, AND JUST, I'M GONNA BE EASY ON YOU, PAUL.
UH, HAVE YOU USED UP ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU GET FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION? AND IF YOU DON'T USE IT THAT YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? UH, WITH THE CAPITAL BUDGET, UM, THE MONEY FOLLOWS THE ACCOUNT.
SO IF WE DON'T USE UP ALL OUR FY 23 FUNDING BEFORE JUNE 30TH, IT WILL SIMPLY ROLL IN.
IT REMAINS IN THAT ACCOUNT AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, IF IT'S PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING, ESSENTIALLY I HAVE TO BY STATE LAW USE IT WITHIN SEVEN YEARS.
UM, BUT WE'VE NEVER RUN INTO AN ISSUE OF THAT WHERE WE HAVEN'T USED THAT MONEY AVAILABLE TO US IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW? UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, UM, ON THE ACQUISITION SIDE, A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION.
WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME PLACES, RIGHT? SURE CAN.
WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS.
[00:45:01]
SOMETHING IN JOPPA.WE'RE LOOKING, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
ANYONE ELSE SEEING NO ONE ELSE? THANK YOU.
IF YOU WANNA START WITH KIM OR A PRESENTATION.
HEY, CAN I GET THAT CAMERA? WAIT A MINUTE.
PAUL, I'M GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.
THE, THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES SHOWS A DECREASE OF $2,560.
YOU FLIP THE PAGE ON PAGE 2 35, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT'S THE NET OF PERSONAL SERVICES DECREAS IN $11,960.
AND THAT'S MAINLY THE RESULT OF HEALTH BENEFIT CALCULATIONS ADJUSTED AS WELL AS THE 27TH PAY CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN FUNDING THERE.
AND SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES $8,400.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, UM, INCREASED FOR ONE TIME EXPENSE OF NEW BADGES FOR EMPLOYEES AND UNIFORM PURCHASE STAFF SHIRTS FOR THE STAFF BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES $1,000.
AND THIS IS FOR, UM, MEALS AND MEMBERSHIP FEES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENDITURES.
THIS IS OUR PERSONAL MATTERS ACCOUNT, AND THIS IS WHERE WE DO OUR, UM, PAYOUTS OF PEOPLE WHO RETIRE.
UM, IT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE FUNDING FOR RETIREMENT, SOME FUNDING FOR RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS.
UM, IT ALSO THIS YEAR HAS THE, UM, MONEY FOR THE EMPLOYEE, UM, COST OF LIVING INCREASE.
ALL OF IT IS IN THIS, IN THIS ACCOUNT.
SO THAT'S WHY IT SHOWS AN INCREASE OF $4,810.
AND IT'S THERE FOR EACH FUND, THE GENERAL FUND, HIGHWAY WASTE FUND, AND THEN THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENT DN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU ALL RIGHT? UM, SO WITH ME THIS MORNING I HAVE BETH GRIFFS, SHE'S OUR BENEFITS MANAGER.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, SO I BROUGHT HER UP WITH ME.
I ALSO HAVE OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NICOLE BARNWELL AND THE ADMIN SECRETARY, SHARON BWAY.
SO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HR CONTINUE TO WORK EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO APPROVE QUALITY SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS, ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, EMPLOYEES, AND RETIREES.
LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD OVER 2,800 EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS, WHICH WE PROCESSED REQUIRED INTERACTION WITH EVERY SINGLE APPLICANT.
WHILE THE CURRENT NUMBER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES IS ABOUT 10 85, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER ALMOST 2000 EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, STATE'S ATTORNEY CIRCUIT COURT.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO ALL THAT, WE HAVE OUR ALMOST A THOUSAND ACTIVE RETIREES.
SO THE HR STAFF IS SMALL, BUT I CALL US MIGHTY.
UM, I AM PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OUR TEAM AND ALL THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY OUR STAFF.
UM, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST YEAR, UM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME INCREASED BENEFITS FOR OUR DIABETIC EMPLOYEES.
SO YOU'LL SEE THEM COME OUT IN JULY 1ST.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME WELLNESS BENEFITS THAT YOU'LL SEE JULY 1ST WHEN YOU ALL COME IN MAY FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO IMPLEMENTING AN F M L A AND WORKERS' COMP TRACKING SYSTEM THAT'S GONNA HELP US MANAGE BOTH AS WORKERS' COMP IS MANAGED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
WE MANAGE F M L A TO HELP US NAVIGATE THOSE FOLKS, UM, MUCH BETTER.
SO IN FY 24, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO ALL.
AND WITH THAT, I KNOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS, MAYBE, SO I I JUST HAVE ONE AND JUST WANT YOU TO CLARIFY AGAIN, THE IDEA BEHIND PLACING THE POSSIBLE SECOND COLA IN THE PERSONNEL SERVICES IN HR.
IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE LIKE THAT BEFORE, HAS IT? OKAY.
[00:50:01]
WAS DONE THAT WAY? I MEAN, IT'S, IT UL ULTIMATELY, I THINK IT WAS A, UH, A TIMING ISSUE IN THAT WE WERE, UM, STRUGGLING TO TO, TO, UM, UH, FINISH UP, FINISH UP THE BUDGET.AND, AND WE WERE, ANYTIME LIKE YOU MAKE A CHANGE LIKE THAT, YOU WOULD NEED TO CHANGE LOT AND LOTS OF PAGES.
UM, AND SO IT'S, IT WAS DONE FOR, UM, THAT PURPOSE.
HOW IT WOULD ALL WORK IS THE, THE RAISES WOULD, UM, WOULD BE GIVEN, YOU KNOW, ON JULY ONE, THE COLA WOULD BE GIVEN ON JULY ONE.
AND WE THINK THAT THE BUDGETS WOULD BE ABLE TO ABSORB THAT IN THE TEMPORARY SPAN.
THEN WHEN WE WOULD COME BACK IN JANUARY TO, UM, PROBABLY WITH A, WITH AN UPDATE ON HOW WE THOUGHT REVENUES AND THE, LIKE WERE DOING, WE WOULD THEN MOVE THAT ENTIRE, UM, AMOUNTS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THROUGHOUT THE BUDGETS TO KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THE RAISE THAT ALREADY HAPPENED AS WELL AS THE RAISE THAT WOULD THE, THE, THE PHASE IN RAISE THAT WOULD.
SO, SO JUST FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, THAT'S HOW THAT WOULD WORK.
MR. GINGER? GOOD MORNING, MRS. UH, TIFFANY, HOW ARE YOU? I JUST CAN'T SAY THE OTHER, SO I, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
UM, ON ALL YOUR WORK AND EFFORTS THAT YOU GUYS DO.
UM, THE FAIR THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERY MAY IS VERY INFORMATIVE IF PEOPLE HAVEN'T COME GO.
I KNOW WHEN I'M IN THERE, I ALWAYS SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF VENDORS IN THERE ASKING QUESTIONS.
IT, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY EXCELLENT.
IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS YOU'VE CHANGED SOME THINGS AROUND, SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT DIABETES MM-HMM.
I DON'T TAKE A SHOT ANYMORE, BUT I STILL USE A DEXCOM MONITOR AND IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S LIFESAVING BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS LOOKING, I'M SITTING HERE LOOKING AT MY WATCH WHERE, WHERE MY, WHERE MY METER IS AND LIKE, OKAY, I CAN'T EAT OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WATCH THAT.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN HELPFUL TO ME.
SO THE CHANGES IN DIABETIC, UM, SUPPLIES ARE, THEIR COPAYS ARE GONNA COME DOWN AND THEY'RE GONNA BE AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE GENERIC LEVEL.
SO THAT'LL BE DETAILED IN OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT LETTER THAT'S COMING OUT IN A WEEK OR SO.
UM, YOU MENTIONED F M L LETTING FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.
HOW, HOW IS THAT AFFECTING? SO RIGHT NOW OUR TRACKING MECHANISM IS AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET.
UM, SO AGAIN, WE DO IT AS EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN USING AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET, BUT THIS IS GOING TO EASE THAT PROCESS FOR BETH AND KATIE WHO MANAGE THE F M L A.
BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA LET US SEE THE WORKER'S COMP INFORMATION FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK ON LIGHT DUTY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW KIND OF WHERE THEY ARE FROM A WORKER'S COMP STANDPOINT, HAVE THEY BEEN APPROVED TO COME BACK TO WORK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO ALL THAT IN THE SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO WAITING TO CALL CINDY IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT IF SHE'S EVEN THERE.
CAUSE SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT DOES IT.
SO IT'S JUST NOT EFFECTIVE IN THAT WAY.
SO NOW WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROLLED, SO THE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WORKERS COMP PEOPLE COMING BACK.
SO IT IS DIFFERENT, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE OUT ON BOTH.
AND HOW LONG CAN SOMEBODY BE AT ON F M L A NOW? 12 WEEKS.
UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, I, I GUESS IS THIS ON THE, CAN I BRING UP THE COST OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT THE COUNTY IS, IS PICKING UP? OKAY.
SO, UM, MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR, UM, I KNOW THERE WAS AN INCREASE, AND I THINK YOU TOLD ME IT WAS TWO POINT, SO IT'S, IT'S 7%, IT'S 2.4 MILLION, SO 7% INCREASE, 2.4 MILLION, AND THAT'S BEING ABSORBED BY, BY THE COUNTY? CORRECT.
SO EVERYBODY'S INDIVIDUAL RATES ARE STAYING THE SAME, BUT THE COUNTY'S PICKING THAT UP.
AND, UM, I THINK THE CHART THAT YOU GAVE ME HERE DOESN'T GIVE THE ACTUAL, IT GIVES THE, THE NEW MONTHLY AMOUNT, BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE WHAT THE, WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS, WE JUST KNOW IT'S 7%.
UH, AND SO JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEA OF THE, OF THE COST THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET VERSUS THE GROUP MARKET, I DID RUN SOME PROPOSALS, UM, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THOSE PROPOSALS, UM, THAT I HAVE HERE, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT A FAMILY, NOW MIND YOU, THIS PLAN IS A PLAN.
THE BEST PLAN THAT THEY HAVE IS A $1,700 DEDUCTIBLE BEFORE THEY WILL PAY, UM, ANY OF YOUR, YOU KNOW, ANY OF YOUR CO-INSURANCE PAYS.
SO IT IS FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S BORN IN 62, MALE 60, AND BORN 68 AND A FEMALE AND TWO KIDS, IT'S ALMOST $3,000 A MONTH.
[00:55:01]
FOR A FAMILY PLAN, THE ESTIMATED MONTHLY THAT THE COUNTY IS PAYING IS 2109, BUT THE EMPLOYEE IS ONLY PAYING $65 PER MONTH.SO, UM, NOW THAT DOESN'T MATTER IN AGE GROUPS, CORRECT.
IT'S JUST ONE RATE FOR ALL, WHEREAS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET, IT DOES MATTER IN AGE BAND.
SO IF YOU'RE 10 YEARS YOUNGER, YOU KNOW, THE RATE'S GONNA GO DOWN.
UM, BUT I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE ACTUAL TRUE COST OF THIS INSURANCE.
THE TRUE COST HERE IS 2100, BUT IF YOU'RE OUT ON THE OPEN MARKET, IT, IT CAN AVERAGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO GRAND AND, AND UPWARDS OF THREE GRAND.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO EVERYBODY'S.
SO 7% INCREASE BEING PICKED UP BY THE COUNTY.
WELL, THE 7% IS, IS WHAT IS WHAT THE CONSULTANTS THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE CLAIMS COULD, COULD OTHERWISE BE AND THAT WE COULD HAVE RAISED THE PREMIUM IN, WHICH WOULD'VE THEN BEEN SHARED WITH, WITH THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TO THE GOOD THE PAST, THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE MADE THE DECISION TO HOLD THE PREMIUMS FLAT FROM A, FROM A BUDGET, FROM A BUDGET, FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE.
BUT AGAIN, IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH ACTUAL COSTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN THE WEIRD PART OF THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IS WE'VE SEEN SOME, SOME VERY ABNORMAL, UH, RATES OF, OF, UM, MEDICAL USAGE, I THINK LARGELY BECAUSE OF COVID AND, UM, THE LIKE, SO IT'S BEEN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE INCONSISTENT, I WOULD SAY.
AND, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET HAS KIND OF STABILIZED THE LAST TWO YEARS AS WELL.
SMALL GROUP MARKET ALSO IS, IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY MEDICALLY UNDERWRITTEN.
SO, UH, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THIS PLAN.
IF THEY CAN'T GET THAT PLAN, THEN THEY'RE OFFERED AN ADD ANOTHER PLAN, WHICH IS HIGHER.
SO, UM, JUST TO PUT IT OUT, THERE ARE OVERALL HEALTHCARE COSTS.
ONE OF THE LARGEST BUCKETS OF MONITA COUNTY HAS IS ABOUT 30.7 MILLION.
I I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
I I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS IN YOUR TEAM.
MR. RILEY, I JUST HAVE, UH, ONE QUESTION.
I KNOW FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, THE SHERIFF AND THE COURTS, THEY HAVE AN HR, I WOULDN'T CALL HER DIRECTOR OR, OR HE OR SHE A DIRECTOR, UH, BUT SOMEHOW THEY GOT AN HR PERSON.
AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTROL OR OVERSIGHT PROCESS OVER THOSE HR FOLKS? UH, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE INCOMPETENT OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME SKILL SET THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE, I'M AFRAID OF A SUIT COMING UP.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY THAT'LL AFFECT OUR BUDGET.
SO, UM, WE DO NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO.
UM, FOR AS STATE'S ATTORNEY CIRCUIT COURT OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, STATE'S, ATTORNEY CIRCUIT COURT SOMETIMES WILL COME TO US WITH SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, BUT THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY DO.
THEY HIRE WHO THEY WANT, THEY TERMINATE WHO THEY WANT, THEY DISCIPLINE WHO THEY WANT.
AND DO YOU KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE SKILLSET THAT YOUR FOLKS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE HR ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME THEIR WAY SPECIFICALLY FROM A CIRCUIT COURT STATE'S ATTORNEY STANDPOINT? UM, THEY ARE NOT HR PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T HAVE AN HR BACKGROUND.
THEY COME FROM VARIOUS OTHER BACKGROUNDS, YET THEY STILL DO WHAT YOU FOLKS DO.
IT IS A SMALL TEAM, BUT IT IS, IS MIGHTY.
YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S PROBABLY FOR THE BUDGET, UH, I'M ASSUMING THE 1.5% IS THE WHOLE 4,810,000.
THAT'S NOT THE OTHER THREE TOTAL, RIGHT? NO, THAT WOULD, THAT'S, THAT'S THE TOTAL TOTAL.
SO HALF WOULD BE GIVEN IN, THE OTHER HALF WOULD REMAIN THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. GUTHRIE? UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK TIFFANY.
EVERY TIME I CALL YOU, STRAIGHTEN ME OUT.
WE HAVE TO COVER SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO PROBABLY CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS.
UH, UH, F M L A, THAT'S FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT.
PEOPLE GO ON THAT, UH, FOR EITHER SICKNESS OR SICKNESS IN THE FAMILY.
AND, AND THE WORKMAN'S COMP IS SOMEBODY THAT GETS HER, HER ON A JOB, CORRECT? IN CAUSE THEY GET PAID MM-HMM.
AND, UH, BUT YOU DON'T PAY ANYTHING ON FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
THEY JUST HAVE TO 12 WEEKS, BUT YES.
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HIRE 'EM BACK AFTER 12 WEEKS, BUT THEY DON'T GET PAID ANYTHING.
THEY, THEY USE THEIR LEAVE SO THEY CAN PAY WELL, WHATEVER LEAVE THEY HAVE, YES.
IF THEY HAVE SICK LEAVE OR VACATION OR SOMETHING, THEY WANNA USE IT.
BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT, THEN THERE'S NO PAY.
F MLA JUST PROTECTS THEIR JOB.
[01:00:01]
ALL RIGHT.I THOUGHT I HAD THIS YESTERDAY, BUT I'M, I'M GONNA READ THIS FROM THE BUDGET BRIEF AND THEN I, I THINK WE SHOULD
SO WE WILL USE A SMALL FRACTION OF OUR FUND BALANCE FOR A CONDITIONAL PHASED IN 3% COLA.
WE'RE SAYING, UM, FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, HALF THIS INCREASE WILL COME IN JULY.
WITH THE OTHER HALF POSSIBLE IN JANUARY, IS THERE GOING TO BE AN APPROPRIATION? BECAUSE I THINK THEN WE WERE TOLD THAT, ARE WE GONNA WAIT FOR FUNDS TO RUN OUT TO USE THAT MONEY? OR CUZ YOU SAID THAT WE, WE HAVE ENOUGH TO BEGIN WITH TO START THE RAISE RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT, CAUSE I'M JUST WONDERING HOW MUCH WORK'S GONNA GO ON THIS COUNCIL FOR THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR ALL THIS MONEY THAT'S SITTING IN HR? WELL, I MEAN, UH, ULTIMATELY WHAT IT WOULD BE IS, THOUGH, AT A, AT, SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROCESS THE, THE BUDGETS WILL HAVE ENOUGH APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY, IF YOU WILL, TO, TO ACCOMMODATE THE, THE 1.5% INCREASE ON, ON JULY.
THEN IN J UM, JANUARY, WE WOULD DO ONE OF ONE OF TWO THINGS IN JANUARY.
IF WE, IF WE WERE LIKE, HEY, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH.
THE RE THE THE REVENUES ARE, ARE, ARE INSUFFICIENT, WE WOULD SAY, OKAY, WE'RE ONLY GONNA TRANSFER HALF OF THIS TO COVER THE RATE, UM, THE COLA THAT WE ALREADY ISSUED, AND THE OTHER HALF WOULD JUST STAY THERE BECAUSE WE WOULD FEEL AS IF WE WOULD NEED TO USE IT FROM, UM, THAT, THAT WE COULDN'T SPEND IT, WE COULDN'T OB OBLIGATE IT.
IF WE DO FEEL AS IF THE REVENUES ARE GOOD, THEN WE WOULD JUST MOVE IT ALL.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT TAKE, OH, I DON'T KNOW, UM, A MILLION TO THE SHERIFF AND YOU MAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, $50,000 TO A SMALLER BUDGET OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IN ORDER TO, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.
WHERE IT COMES FROM AS FAR AS FUND BALANCE IS, IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THIS GOES BACK TO THE IDEA OF OF, OF, UM, FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET.
THAT'S THAT 63 MILLION NUMBER.
UM, AND THIS IS KIND OF WHY THIS WAS A LAST SECOND ADDITION TO THE BUDGET.
UM, CUZ THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, AS WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS IDEA OF, OF, OF ONGOING SPENDING VERSUS ONGOING EXPENDITURES, STILL THOUGHT THAT IT WAS PRUDENT BECAUSE OF THE, UM, THE, OF, OF THE LABOR MARKET AND, AND, AND THE SITUATION THAT, THAT WE WERE HAVING WITH BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETRACT, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED.
WE SAID, LET'S USE SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE, UM, IN ORDER TO FUND THIS ADDITION.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE, IT'S NOT COMING.
IT WON'T, IT, IT WILL ALREADY BE APPROPRIATE AS PART, PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE USING 63 MILLION WORTH OF FUN BALANCE.
BUT THERE'S FOUR, SO THERE'S 4.8 MILLION THERE THAT YOU DON'T PLAN TO USE UNTIL LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD.
WELL, WE'RE, I MEAN, SOME OF THIS IS JUST TIMING.
IS THAT IN AN IDEAL, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, HOW WE WOULD'VE DONE THIS? IF, IF WE, IF IF WE HAD ANOTHER WEEK, PROBABLY
THIS WAS THIS, THIS, THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAST DECISIONS, ONE OF THE LAST DECISIONS MADE.
UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE HAD SUCH A, SUCH A TIGHT BUDGET.
UM, SO WE SAID, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD NOT GO BACK AND ADD WHATEVER, A MILLION TO THE SHERIFF, $50,000 TO PARKS AND REC, YOU KNOW, HOWEVER THE, THE, THE BREAKDOWN WOULD WORK.
THAT'S WHY WE JUST PUT IT HERE, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE.
THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DIDN'T INCREASE THE REVENUE ESTIMATE, WE INCREASED HOW MUCH FUND BALANCE WE WERE USING.
UM, AND THEN WITH THE IDEA THAT THEN WE WOULD, WE WOULD SPREAD IT OUT AT A, AT A LATER, AT A LATER TIME.
SO I GUESS OBVIOUSLY ALL OF US CITIZENS ARE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
SO I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AT THIS POINT.
IF YOU WERE TO NEED THAT MONEY BECAUSE REVENUES WEREN'T GOOD, AS, AS YOU'VE STATED, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE THAT TO APPROPRIATE THAT FOR OTHER ITEMS LATER ON THAT YOU NEED TO, AND THEN THE 1.5 DOESN'T COME IN JANUARY OR, OR IT WOULD JUST SIT THERE AND THEN FALL TO FUN BALANCE AT THE END OF, OKAY.
WHY WOULD IT SIT THERE IF YOU COULD GIVE IT TO THE EMPLOYEES? WELL, BECAUSE IT, YOU JUST MADE THE, THE STATEMENT THAT IF, IF THERE WAS A REVENUE, REVENUE, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE OTHER SIDE HAPPENS? IF, IF EVERYTHING'S GREAT, YOU GIVE IT TO THE EMPLOYEES, WHAT HAPPENS? IF YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THEN IT WOULD JUST STAY THERE.
BUT WE WOULD KNOW THAT WE WOULDN'T SPEND IT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE SPENT, WE HAVE WHATEVER IT IS WE BROUGHT IN ON THE REVENUE SIDE VERSUS WHATEVER WE HAVE LEFT, YOU KNOW, IN FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT'S THE WHOLE NATURE OF THE BALANCE BUDGET.
SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY TIMES WHERE WE SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, DON'T, IN FACT, ACTUALLY WE'RE EVEN DOING IT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD UP FUND BALANCE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS DONE, IS THAT WE HAVE, IS THAT WE, WE SENT, WE WENT TO THE COUNTY AGENCIES AND WE SAID, HEY, PUT ASIDE SOME, SOME PORTION OF YOUR, OF YOUR BUDGET SO THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY AND FUND BALANCE TO USE TO USE AT YEAR END.
NOW THAT'S A MANAGEMENT DECISION.
UM, BUT IT'S, AND IT, AND IT DIDN'T APPLY TO SAY THE SCHOOLS OR TO, OR TO THE SHERIFF, BUT WITHIN TREASURY, WITHIN PARKS AND REC, YOU KNOW, WE SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, HOLD, HOLD BACK ON SOME, ON SOME SPENDING IF YOU, IF YOU CAN, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT WE, WE HAVE ENOUGH, ENOUGH FUND BALANCE.
NOW AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A FLUID, IT'S A FLUID DETERMINATION.
SO IF YOU DEEM THE REVENUES ARE NOT GOOD IN JANUARY, THE IDEA WAS THAT FALLS BACK TO FUND BALANCE NEXT JUNE.
IT WOULD STAY IN THAT BUDGET, BUT IT JUST WOULDN'T BE SPENT, WHICH
[01:05:01]
BY DE FACTO WOULD BE INCREASING THE FUND BILL WOULD BE, YES.SO IF EVERYTHING IS GOOD, THEY'LL GET THE OTHER 1.5%.
UM, IN JANUARY, DOES IT GO BACK RETRO? UH, NO.
IT WOULDN'T BE A, A RETRO? WELL THAT, THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE PLAN.
I DON'T IS THAT, IS THAT IT WOULD BE, YOU WOULD GET, JUST TO MAKE THIS VERY, VERY SIMPLE, YOU'RE MAKING A HUNDRED DOLLARS, YOU WOULD MAKE A HUNDRED, UH, $101 AND 50 CENTS, UM, ON JANUARY, I'M SORRY, ON JULY ONE.
AND THEN I'M NOT GONNA DO THE COMPOUND INTEREST HERE.
YOU WOULD MAKE $103 ON JANUARY ONE, BUT DON'T YOU THINK IF THINGS ARE GOING WELL AND YOU'RE GONNA GIVE IN THAT ONE AND A HALF THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LOOK TO SEE IF IT COULD BE DONE RETRO? WELL, IT WOULD BE RETRO TO THE BASE, BUT WHETHER OR NOT, I MEAN, TYPICALLY WE DON'T DO RAISES LIKE THAT.
TYPICALLY WE SAY, WELL, TYPICALLY WE DON'T DO ONE AND A HALF FROM ONE AND A HALF EITHER.
COULD IT, YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN I, I DO SEE IT A LOT.
I MEAN, IS IT A POSSIBILITY? SURE.
IT'S CERTAINLY, IT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY.
I DON'T HOW WOULD WE KNOW THAT AND HOW WOULD WE, YOU KNOW, WELL, I THINK WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS, IS SOMETIME IN, IN OR ABOUT JANUARY, WE WILL, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A RESOLUTION, UM, TO MOVE MONEY WITHIN THE BUDGET AND WE WOULD HAVE A BUDGET TRANSFER THAT YOU WOULD SEE THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT BE TRANSFERRED TO ALL THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS.
AND, AND I I COULD SAY IF YOU, IF YOU SEE IT AT AROUND 2 MILLION, THAT MEANS WE'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING THE, DOING THE INCREASE.
AND IF YOU SEE IT AT AROUND 4 MILLION, THAT MEANS WE ARE DOING THE INCREASE.
BUT I'LL COME BACK, UM, AND, AND SAY, YEP, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE FEEL ABOUT, ABOUT THE REVENUES, THIS IS WHY WE THINK WE CAN DO THIS, AND ALL OF THAT.
AND IT COULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2 MILLION AND 4 MILLION.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY, IT CERTAINLY COULD BE.
AND WE WOULD THEN PROBABLY ALSO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
IF WE WERE GOING TO, LIKE, IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT RETROACTIVE, THEN YOU, MAYBE WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT IS, UM, YOU WOULD GET ONE, THAT ONE PAYCHECK IN JANUARY MIGHT BE KIND OF MAKING UP FOR THAT OTHER ONE AND A HALF PERCENT FROM THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
AND THEN GOING FORWARD IT WOULD JUST BE AT THE, THE 3% LEVEL.
SO, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE PROCESS AND, AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN JANUARY.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET AT.
UH, BAMA AT THE END, WHO IS, UH, THE PERSON WHO MAKES DECISION COUNTY EXECUTIVE? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THE, YES, I MEAN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, WILL, WILL, WILL MAKE THE DECISION THAT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE FEELS COMFORTABLE GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS, IT'S AN ONGOING EXPENDITURE.
SO WE ARE GOING SOMEWHAT OUT THERE ALREADY DOING THE ONE AND A HALF PERCENT.
SO, UM, BUT THEN HE WILL MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION THAT YES, YOU KNOW, I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN ABSORB THIS, THAT THE REVENUES ARE WHAT THEY ARE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE NOT IN A, A BAD RECESSION OR, OR WHATEVER.
MR. PEPIN, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON MR. RILEY'S, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, ABOUT THE HR.
NOW YOU SAID THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS AN HR REPRESENTATIVE AND THEN, THEN THE, UH, STATE'S ATTORNEY HAS AN HR REPRESENTATIVE, RIGHT? I'M ASSUMING THE SCHOOL'S DUE TO, RIGHT.
SO THEY'RE NOT TYPICALLY, I WOULDN'T CALL THEM HR PEOPLE CUZ THEY'RE REALLY NOT HR PEOPLE.
SO I THINK, UH, ALLISON HEALY CALLS HER AS A CHIEF OF STAFF OR SOMETHING.
THE SHERIFF DOES HAVE AN HR DIRECTOR.
HE HAS A CLASSIFICATION AND THAT'S TRACY MARTINELLI ASSISTANT.
UM, AND YEAH, SHE HAS SOMEBODY THAT ASSISTS HER, BUT CIRCUIT COURT AND THE, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY DO NOT.
IS THAT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY ISSUE WHERE YOU SEE A LIABILITY TAKING PLACE? WHAT CAUSES YOU CONCERN? SO I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE FROM A, A DISCIPLINE STANDPOINT.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE GETTING THEIR HR LAW ADVICE FROM.
SO I, AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE JUST PROCESSED THE PAPERWORK THAT SAYS SO-AND-SO IS TERMINATED.
WE PROCESS IT CUZ WE HAVE THE SYSTEM.
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM.
SO WHEN THEY HIRE SOMEONE, THEY SEND US THE NEW HIRE PAPERWORK.
WE, OUR STAFF HAS TO PUT IT IN THE SYSTEM.
SO WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, STATE'S ATTORNEY AND CIRCUIT COURT.
BUT WE HAVE NO SAY IN WHAT THEY DO.
THIS MIGHT BE MORE OF A, JUST A PRECEDENT QUESTION FOR TREASURY.
OBVIOUSLY SAYING, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF CHANGING THE BUDGET THE LAST MINUTE.
SO ON A FUNCTIONAL STANDARD, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I THINK THE BIGGER POINT THAT YOU'VE JUST MADE THOUGH, IT GIVES MORE DISCRETION TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE REVENUE PROJECTIONS, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT MR. ANDES WAS TRYING TO TOUCH ON THIS MONEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATED.
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE? CAUSE IT'S KIND OF WEAKENING
[01:10:01]
THE APPROPRIATION POWER, IN MY OPINION THAT THE COUNCIL, WELL, WELL THE COUNCIL WOULD STILL HAVE THE APPROPRIATION.SO I WILL SAY THIS, THAT IF, LET'S SAY, UM, I, I, I DOUBT THIS SCENARIO WOULD HAPPENED WHEREBY THE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS MORE OPTIMISTIC ON THE ECONOMY AND THE COUNCIL WAS LESS THAT THE COUNCIL COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT, THAT YOU, THAT YOU CAN DO THAT, UM, UM, THAT, THAT YOU SHOULD DO THAT BUDGET TRANSFER.
AND I'VE SEEN THAT IN OTHER, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN OTHER, IN OTHER COUNTIES.
UM, SO I MEAN, ULTIMATELY ANY APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY HAS TO GO THROUGH, HAS TO GO THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE COUNCIL AND NO BUDGET CAN BE SPENT ABOVE THE APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SO NO, UM, WE CANNOT, UM, WHATEVER THE COUN THE COUNCIL SETS AS, AS THAT AMOUNT.
SO, SO EVEN THEORETICALLY, IF THE, IF THE COUNCIL DIDN'T WANNA DO ANY OF THE BUDGET TRANSFER IN, IN JANUARY, UM, AND WE HAD ALREADY GIVEN THAT ONE AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE, UM, AND WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ANY O YOU KNOW, WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE LIKE, OKAY, HEY, WE GOTTA, WE, WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT SOMETHING IN OUR BUDGETS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COVER IT CUZ THEY'RE NOT GONNA TRANSFER THAT $4 MILLION.
SO THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T OVERSPEND THAT AND SO WE, WE, WE CAN NEVER EXCEED OUR APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY GIVEN BY COUNSEL.
UM, BUT WITHIN THAT APPROPRIATION AUTHORITY, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAS SOME DISCRETION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NORMALLY DO WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE COLAS AND THE LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT, YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA SHARE THIS LIKE YEP.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR THINKING WHERE THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE THE COLAS WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING ON GIVING, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE, THE, THE MERIT INCREASES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
MR. RIPERT, UH, QUICK QUESTION.
THIS MIGHT BE YOU ROBBIE, UH, BUT THE, UH, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFI ACTUALLY POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THE HEALTHCARE COSTS THAT WENT UP, UH, 7%.
SO YOU'RE SELF, SELF-FUNDED MM-HMM.
SO IS THAT REFLECTED IN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CHARGES OR IS THAT JUST A PROJECTION BASED ON CLAIMS? YEAH.
WELL IT'S, I MEAN, THERE IS, THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST, BUT IT'S LARGELY CLAIMS, CLAIMS DRIVEN.
AND, AND, AND MORE OR LESS KIND OF WHAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT WE'VE BEEN TO THE GOOD THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'RE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, THAT IF IT WERE UP TO THE CONSULTANTS, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD HAVE RAISED YOUR PREMIUMS, WHICH WOULD'VE INCREASED THE BUDGET FOR BOTH US AND OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, OKAY, WELL, WE'VE BEEN TO THE GOOD THE PAST, THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE ALSO CHANGING HOW WE'RE, UM, HOW WE'RE, UM, HOW WE'RE BUDGETING ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.
UM, BUT WE KIND OF ALMOST KNOW GOING INTO IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, THERE'S A, UM, A REALLY HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT OUR ACTUAL CLAIMS WILL BE HIGHER THAN THESE PREMIUM COST.
AND WE FEEL THAT WE CAN ABSORB THAT, WE CAN ABSORB THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TO THE GOOD THE PAST, THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
BUT IN THE LONG TERM, YOU, YOU, YOU COULDN'T, WE COULDN'T DO THIS.
LIKE, WE COULDN'T JUST SAY, LOOK, WE'RE GONNA HOLD PREMIUMS FLAT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
UM, AND DEFINITELY NEXT YEAR THEY, THEY MIGHT COME IN AND SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T RAISE YOUR RATES, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, NOW YOU NEED TO DO, UM, THE EQUIVALENT OF A, OF A DOUBLE, OF A DOUBLE INCREASE, SO THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH.
BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, WE'VE BEEN TO THE GOOD, UM, THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE THINK WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ABLE TO ABSORB THIS.
WE CAN DO THIS FOR A ONE YEAR BASIS PARTICULARLY.
AND ONE OF THE, PART OF THE REASONS IS, UM, AS I SAID BEFORE, WE, WE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE IDEA TO DO THE COLA WAS, WAS PROBABLY THE LAST DECISION MADE IN THE BUDGET.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN FOR ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD'VE BEEN RELATIVELY SMALL, WAS TO HAVE THEIR TAKE HOME PAY BECOME SMALLER BY, YOU KNOW, BY, IF YOU INCREASE THAT PREMIUM COST, AND AGAIN, IT MIGHT HAVE ONLY, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BY A FEW DOLLARS.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR, YOUR PLANS ARE, WHETHER YOU'RE SINGLE, WHETHER YOU'RE FAMILY COVERAGE.
BUT WE WANTED TO SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DON'T WANT YOUR ACTUAL TAKE HOME PAID TO GET SMALLER.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD YEARS, WE'RE GONNA, IN ESSENCE, ROLL THE DICE, IF YOU WILL.
WE'RE WE'RE GONNA SAY, HEY, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD YEARS, LET'S HOLD IT FLAT AND THEN WE'LL REVISIT IT NEXT YEAR.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PREMIUM, IT'S ACTUALLY THE EMPLOYEES SHARE OF THEIR COPAYS.
SO HOW, YEAH, I MEAN, HOW, ULTIMATELY ALL THIS WORKS IS THE, UM, UM, THE CONSULTANTS GO, THEY LOOK AT WHAT ACTUAL CLAIMS WERE, UM, THEY LOOK AT WHAT THEY THINK THE ADMINISTRATION COST IS GOING TO BE, AND IT'S, OKAY, THIS IS THE, THE BIG NUMBER.
AND THEN THEY SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE THE CORRESPONDING PREMIUM.
SO IF YOU GOT A FAMILY, IT SHOULD BE THIS HIGH.
IF YOU GOT, IF YOU'RE SINGLE, IT SHOULD BE THIS HIGH, YOU KNOW, LIKE, BUT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, IT ALL, IT ALL VARIES.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GO TO THE DOCTOR ONCE, ONCE, ONCE A YEAR, SHOULD PROBABLY GO MORE.
UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO MY MEDICAL CLAIMS ARE RELATIVELY LIMITED.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT BE VERY SICK AND THEY MAY GO TO THE DOCTOR A LOT.
UM, BUT IT ALL GETS ABSORBED INTO THE SAME POOL.
NOW, I, I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WANT TO CHANGE THIS YEAR IN THE PAST, WE WOULD BUDGET, WE WOULD TRY TO KIND OF GUESS LIKE, OKAY, HOW MANY, HOW MANY, UM, YOU, YOU GOT 10 EMPLOYEES IN TREASURY.
OKAY, FIVE OF 'EM HAVE FAMILY COVERAGE.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF 'EM, SINGLE TWO OF 'EM ARE, ARE, UM, ARE, UM, UH, MARRIED.
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW, ONE OF 'EM DOESN'T TAKE OUR INSURANCE.AND IT WAS KIND OF A CONVOLUTED THING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID TO DO THIS YEAR IS LIKE, LET'S COME UP WITH A BLENDED RATE SO THAT THERE'S NO, UM, SO THAT INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER FAMILY DECISIONS.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GETS MARRIED MID-YEAR, SOMEBODY GETS DIVORCED, SOMEBODY HAS A KID.
UM, AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE IS WE SAID, LOOK, LET'S JUST COME UP WITH A BLENDED RATE SO THAT WE DON'T PENALIZE, UM, OR MAKE BUDGETS GROW JUST BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUAL FAMILY, FAMILY CHOICES.
STILL THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT, JUST WE JUST ON, ON HOW WE, WE SHOWED A BUDGET AND HOW WE COME UP WITH THAT BUDGET CALCULATION.
AND WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE, DO YOU HAVE THE EMPLOYEES SHARE? IS THAT LIKE 20% OR? OH, NO, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY, IT'S, IT'S, I THINK OF THE PREMIUM AND IT VARIES ON, IT VARIES.
IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THEY WERE HIRED BEFORE 2010 OR AFTER 2010.
EMPLOYEES HIRED BEFORE 2010, 83% OF THE COST.
HEY, HOW MUCH? THREE, THREE 3% OF THE COST.
AND 3% OF THE PREMIUM PREMIUM.
AND THEN, AND THEN WHEN THEY GET THEIR HEALTH BILL THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAVE CO-INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A PORTION OF THAT.
BUT OF THE PREMIUM COSTS, YES.
ANYONE ELSE SEEING NO ONE ELSE? THANK YOU.
NEXT IS PROCUREMENT AND THEY'RE ON PAGE 1 66.
ARE WE ON THE SCHEDULE? GOOD MORNING HEALTHCARE.
ON PAGE ONE SIXTY SIX, THIS IS THE CALL CENTER FOR PROCUREMENT.
THERE'S A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE OF $32,062.
IF YOU TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE, YOU'LL SEE ON PERSONAL SERVICES THEY INCREASE 70,121.
IT'S FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND THEN TURNOVER KIND OF OFFSET EACH OTHER.
WE DID ADD A NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION IN FISCAL YEAR 24 TO COST 1 69 78.
AND THAT DOES INCLUDE SALARY AND BENEFITS.
UM, HEALTH BENEFIT CALCULATIONS, UH, HEALTH BENEFITS, UM, WERE REDUCED $56,048 UNDER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
YOU'LL SEE A DECREASE THERE OF 38,590.
AND THIS IS OFFSET BY, UM, ONE TIME, ONE TIME COST THAT WE HAD IN THERE FOR, UH, 23 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASED $1,150.
AND THIS IS, UM, AN INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL PRINTING OFFSET BY DECREASE IN GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES.
UM, OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO MAJOR CHANGES IN THAT COST CENTER.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 1 69, THIS IS PROPERTY ACQUISITION, SO IT'S NUDE TO PROCUREMENT THIS YEAR.
UM, 200 AT A COST OF 288, 8 0 4.
UM, THERE WERE TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED FROM ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES IN OPS.
UM, AND THAT WAS TWO PROPERTY, UH, EXCUSE ME, TWO PROPERTY AGENT THREES THAT WERE BROUGHT OVER TO COST 2 61 1 29.
WE ALSO INCREASED, UM, FOR APPRAISAL SERVICES, 25,000 IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, UM, BUSINESS, UH, EXCUSE ME, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, 1500 FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, ET CETERA.
AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL 1001 75.
AGAIN, THIS WAS ALL, UM, REALLOCATED FROM FACILITIES AND OPS, UM, BUDGET FOR THEM.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 1 74, THIS IS FLEET MANAGEMENT INCREASE THERE OF $1,693 1 MILLION 693 3 45.
IT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE OF ONE FOURTEEN, A HUNDRED FOURTEEN NINETY, NINETY $6.
AND THAT WAS THE TRANSFER OF ONE POSITION FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE MID-YEAR, UM, AT A COST OF 1 16 7 14.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS SALARY AND BENEFITS.
UM, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 13,003 50.
AND THIS IS FOR ELECTRICITY AND HEATING.
THIS WAS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPEND SPENDING UNDER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
THAT'S WHERE THE BIG INCREASE IS AT 1,000,563.
AND THIS IS INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR DIESEL, FUEL AND GASOLINE.
AND THAT'S BASED ON SPENDING AND PROJECTIONS.
UM, THIS IS TRAVEL INCREASES 29,600.
THIS IS AN INCREASE FOR NON, UM, NON-TARGETED FLEET MAINTENANCE.
UM, OTHER FUNDING PROVIDES FOR TARGETED,
[01:20:01]
UM, CHARGES FOR, UM, AGAIN, FOR FLEET MAINTENANCE, UM, AS WELL AS SOME TRAINING AND MEMBERSHIP FEES.AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN.
UM, GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNSEL, PRESIDENT VINCENTI AND MEMBERS OF THE HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, KEVIN GREENWELL, UH, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT.
I HAVE, UH, KAREN MYERS WITH ME, DEPUTY DIRECTOR TISHA WRIGHT WITH FLEET TIFFANY FIT FITZPATRICK WITH FLEET.
AND I'VE GOT WARREN, PATRICK WITH ME.
FLEET, UH, LITTLE BACKGROUND ON PROCUREMENT.
UM, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING.
WE'RE CONTRACTING FOR SUPPLIES AND CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IN INCLUDING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES, AND PERFORMING SUCH OTHER DUTIES AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT IS DIVIDED INTO THREE DIVISIONS, PROCUREMENT, OPERATIONS, PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND FLEET MANAGEMENT, UM, PROCUREMENT, OPERATIONS, OBTAINS, GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY IN A TIMELY, EFFECTIVE, AND EFFICIENT MANNER.
THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE, CONSISTENT WITH QUALITY.
UM, AS KIM MENTIONED, PROPERTY ACQUISITION HAS MOVED FROM DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT.
UM, FIRST PART OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, UH, IS TO PROVIDE AN OPTIMUM PROCUREMENT PROCESS WITH INTEGRITY, INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
UM, TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE A LITTLE BIT, WE HAVE, UH, I'VE GOT SOME PROCUREMENT FACTS.
UM, OUR P CARD TRANSACTIONS, UH, 650,000, 700,000 MONTHLY SPEND, APPROXIMATELY 1800 TRANSACTIONS PER MONTH, UM, ARE BIDS IN PIGGYBACKS PER YEAR, APPROXIMATELY, APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 280.
WE TOUCH AS MANY AS 650 CONTRACTS PER YEAR IN VARIOUS CAPACITY, RENEWALS OPTIONS, AND SO FORTH.
AND WE ALSO PROCESS ROUGHLY 5,000 PURCHASE ORDERS A YEAR.
UM, SINCE 2015, FEBRUARY OF 2015, PROCUREMENT HAS SAVED THE COUNTY OVER 27 MILLION.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 14 EMPLOYEES.
UM, AS KIM MENTIONED, UH, WE FILLED TWO OPEN POSITIONS THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND WE'VE ENHANCED SALARIES TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE, UH, ADDED TWO PROPERTY ACQUISITION POSITIONS.
UM, WITH THAT, THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR PROCUREMENT? UM, IF I MAY, I'LL START KEVIN.
UH, I THINK YOU'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE DEPTH AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE WITH YOU TODAY IN PROCUREMENT.
UH, WHENEVER I SIT IN A BOARD OF ESTIMATES MEETING, I KNOW THAT IF, UH, WARREN COMES BEFORE US WITH ANY PROJECT THAT HE'S LOOKING AT, HE GIVES US AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR WHATEVER, UH, FOR FLEET.
UH, HE TALKS ABOUT THE AGE, AND I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE USE, THE MAINTENANCE, UH, WHAT IT WILL BRING US BACK IN TRADE IN VERSUS WHAT A NEW PIECE COST.
AND, AND I BELIEVE BY HAVING THIS, UH, DEPTH AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, IT SPEAKS TO WHY YOU'RE ABLE TO SAVE THE COUNTY, THE TENS OF MILLIONS THAT YOU DO.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHEREVER POSSIBLE YOU, YOU, YOU BUY LOCAL, YOU PURCHASE LOCAL, WHEREVER YOU CAN, UH, AS FAR AS THE FLEET.
SO, UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, COUNSEL, MR. PENMAN, MR. GREENWELL, UM, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
UM, MR. PATRICK AND YOUR TEAM, KAREN MYERS.
UM, I JUST HAVE ONE, YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.
I'LL WORK ON, ON SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS AND, UM, JUST A REAL GREAT RESOURCE AND, AND, AND, UH, FOR THE COUNTY.
BUT I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT PIN PIN POSITIONS.
I KNOW THERE WAS THE REAL PROPERTY, THERE WAS TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT OVER, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION, BUT WAS THERE, WAS THERE FOUR POSITIONS TOTAL? OR ONLY JUST THREE? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE MY MAP IS RIGHT.
SO, SO TISHA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AND THEN THE TWO REAL PROPERTIES.
RIGHT? SO IT'S FOUR FOUR POSITION.
[01:25:01]
ELSE? MR. GINGER? UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. GREENWELL.SO, UH, FLEET REPLACEMENT, UM, ON THE CAPITAL SIDE.
AND THEN, UM, I GUESS, IS IT BUDGETED ANYWHERE WITH THE NEW AMBULANCES THAT YES.
WHERE DOES THAT COME IN AND ALL THAT? IT'S IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
SO I KNOW THERE'S THREE PAGES.
61, 360 1, AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? 4 33, BUT I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
THE AMBULANCES ARE ON PAGE 1 24, AH, UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME AMBULANCE PURCHASES THAT WE'RE MAKING MID-YEAR AS PART OF THIS TRANSITION.
AND THAT WILL BE, UM, UM, DIRECTLY UNDER DS.
AND THAT IS PART OF THAT 7 MILLION FUND BALANCE TRANSFER THAT'S NOW BEFORE, UM, FOR, FOR COUNCIL.
THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION OF THIS TRANSITION, RIGHT? IS THIS NEW VEHICLES OR IS THIS VEHICLES THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN AND THEN, UH, UPGRADING? SO THE $7 MILLION TRANSFER THAT WILL HIT DS, THAT IS, UM, THOSE ARE IN MANY CASES, OLDER VEHICLES.
ALTHOUGH IN THE CASE OF ABINGDON, I KNOW WE KIND OF, WE KIND OF TOOK OVER SOME CONTRACTS MID-YEAR.
THE ONES THAT ARE IN FLEET FOR NEXT YEAR, THESE ARE JUST, THESE ARE NEW, YOU KNOW, LIKE THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL LONG PROCESS CUZ IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUY AN AMBULANCE.
WARREN, SPEAK TO THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO REPLACE A NEW VEHICLE.
PRE COVID, WE USED TO SAY WHEN WE WROTE A CONTRACT FOR AN ACQUISITION OF A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT, UM, WE EXPECTED IT TO BE, UH, DELIVERED WITHIN 165 DAYS WHERE WE STARTED TO IMPLEMENT, UH, LIQUIDATED DAMAGES, UH, FOR LATE FEES.
NOW WITH THE POST COVID SITUATION, UH, WE'RE LUCKY TO GET THINGS BETWEEN 18 MONTHS AND 36 MONTHS.
SO THREE YEARS COULD BE THE FURTHEST OUT.
SO WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE OUR MINDSET AND START TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, UM, AND GET IN LINE EARLIER TO BEAT OUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHERS WHO USE OUR SPECIALTY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT OR ELSE WE WILL BE THE LAST IN LINE.
UH, SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THE NEW TECHNIQUE THAT WE'VE HAD TO TAKE.
UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE WAY WE USED TO DO THIS.
AND AS ROBBIE MENTIONED, IN THE TAKEOVER OF SOME OF THIS NEW USED EQUIPMENT AND EVEN SOME OF THE NEW, WE HAD TO TAKE OVER THREE CONTRACTS FROM ABINGDON, WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.
I'VE NEVER DONE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO DO, UH, TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT I THINK WE'VE MANAGED TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
DO WE HAVE GOING FORWARD, UM, WE'RE TAKEN ON ALL THESE AMBULANCES AND REPAIRS, WHAT ABOUT THE FACILITY AND THE NUMBER OF TECHNICIANS THAT WE HAVE WORKING IN THERE? AREN'T WE GONNA NEED MORE OF THOSE? YES, WE ARE.
HOW MANY DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED MOVING FORWARD AND, AND ARE WE, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY IN LINE FOR ANY OF THESE POSITIONS? SO, IT'S FUNNY THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, I ORDERED THAT WE HIRED TWO PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY, AND I THINK WE FILLED ONE POSITION BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND, UH, UH, EMERGENCY VEHICLE TECHNICIANS THAT ARE CERTIFIED THAT CAN WORK ON THIS EQUIPMENT.
IT'S NOT JUST SOME, UH, JOURNEYMAN PERSON THAT CAN COME IN OFF THE STREET.
THE EQUIPMENT IS TECHNICAL IN NATURE.
THERE IS TELEMETRY AND THERE IS ALL KIND OF THINGS ON THE BACK OF IT, ALMOST LIKE IN AN OPERATING ROOM HOSPITAL.
SO WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS WITH THAT.
UH, KIM HAS MENTIONED THE INCREASE IN, UM, FUEL.
UH, SO WE WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TREMENDOUS, UM, INCREASE IN FUEL USAGE.
WE CURRENTLY BURN 1.3 MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL A YEAR.
UM, TECHNICIANS, UH, ARE ALREADY ON THE WAY.
ONE HAS BEEN HIRED, ANOTHER ONE WILL BE HIRED.
WE USE A THING CALLED VEHICLE EQUIVALENCY UNITS WHERE WE TAKE EACH TYPE OF VEHICLE, WHETHER IT BE A CAR OR A MOTORCYCLE VERSUS A BUS OR AN AMBULANCE.
AND THERE'S FACTORS THAT ARE ENTERED INTO IT.
AND THERE'S A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH THAT WE TAKE ON HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS WE NEED AND WE THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF, UM, AMBULANCE AND FIRE, UH, EXPERIENCE IN THE RESPECT THAT WE WILL BE DOING SOME TWENTY FOUR SEVEN THINGS.
THE PHONE WILL START TO BE RINGING.
LIKE IT USED TO RING IN MY OLD DAYS
[01:30:01]
AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, WE HAD A UNIT ON SATURDAY THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN AT FRANKLIN SQUARE HOSPITAL THAT BLEW A RADIATOR HOSE.UM, AND IT WAS BLOCKING THE ER.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF NEW CHALLENGES.
AND I TOLD THE FOLKS FROM DS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO SEE.
UM, SO WE'RE GETTING READY FOR A WHOLE NEW PHASE AND A AND A WHOLE NEW WAY WE HAVE TO DO THINGS.
HOW DO YOU TRAIN NEW PEOPLE? WHERE WHERE ARE NEW PEOPLE COMING FROM THAT, UH, YOU BRING ON OR, OR, OR MOVING FORWARD? HOW DO YOU GET, YOU KNOW, NEWER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN, IN THIS? AND I, AND I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE HAVING SOME OF THOSE, BUT THOSE KIDS ARE SO YOUNG AND THEY DON'T KNOW THAT STUFF.
BUT IS THERE A AN ONSITE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA IMPLEMENT OR SOMETHING? SO WE ARE, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH, UH, THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
AND WE WILL BRING IN, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING IN SOME YOUNG FOLKS AND THEY WILL BE AT THE JOURNEY LEVEL.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE SOME OLDER FOLKS AND THOSE THAT ARE IN LINE FOR PROMOTIONS AND THE NEWS UP THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR 10, 15 YEARS, UH, YOU CAN'T TAKE A NEW PERSON AND PUT THEM IN AT THIS LEVEL.
RIGHT? SO WE KIND OF HAVE A SUCCESSION PROGRAM.
SO SOME OF THESE KIDS WILL COME IN AND JOURNEYMAN'S AND HOW LONG WOULD THEY BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IF THEY GOT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL, DOES IT LOOK LIKE THEN IF THEY'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GONNA HIRE THEM ON FULL-TIME? IS THAT, IS THAT THE PROGRESSION? SO, SO YOU USE IT LIKE HR USES HIRING FULL PERFORMANCE AND, AND DIFFERENT LEVELS LIKE 18 MONTHS, FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS.
UH, SO I, I BELIEVE IT'D PROBABLY TAKE THE BETTER PART OF EIGHT YEARS BEFORE YOU COULD GET SOMEBODY UP TO THE LEVEL WHERE WE'D START TO REALLY CONSIDER THEM ELIGIBLE TO BE FULL PERFORMANCE.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO BE TESTED SURE.
THEY HAVE E V T THROUGH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL.
SO THERE'S A LOT THAT, UH, LIKE A PARAMEDIC THAT HAS TO GO TO SCHOOL AND HAS TO BE, UH, CERTIFIED.
SO, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY CAN CHANGE OIL ACTUALLY THAT BE NOT BE TRUE NOWADAYS WITH THE NEW VEHICLES
THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
UM, I I'M CURIOUS IF, IF YOU, UH, ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR NEW, UM, AMBULANCE, UH, AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT FOR TWO TO THREE YEARS OUT AS THE PRICE HOLD.
SO THEY HAVE, IN MOST OF THE CASES WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IS THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UH, PUTTING THEIR PRICE INCREASES IN ON THE FRONT END.
UM, SOME ARE PUTTING, UH, UM, INTERNATIONAL IS PUTTING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD A BID THE OTHER DAY WITH 3020 $5 BUILT INTO IT FOR FUTURE BILL FOR INCREASE, UM, FLOOR PLANS AND, AND FINANCING.
I MEAN, THERE'S CRAZIEST THINGS GOING ON WHERE THEY'LL DELIVER A CABIN CHASSIS AND THEY'LL PUT A FLOOR PLAN CHARGE OF $2,000 ON THE UNIT TILL IT'S COMPLETED AT THE BODY COMPANY.
WARREN EX EXPLAIN RIGHT THERE, CUZ I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU COME TO PUT A MEDIC UNIT TOGETHER.
SO TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH.
IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU WOULD GO TO ONE VENDOR AND YOU WOULD GET A TURNKEY OPERATION, WHICH TURNKEY MEANS THAT, LIKE IF WE WENT TO THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE BOX PART, THEY COULD ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY DODGE OR UM, CHEVROLET, AND THEY COULD PROCURE THE CABIN CHASSIS, WHICH THE CABIN CHASSIS'S JUST AN INCOMPLETE VEHICLE.
IT'S THE FRONT END WITH A A FRAME UNDERNEATH OF IT.
AND THAT GETS SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, ONE OF THE BIG THREE DOWN TO FLORIDA, LET'S JUST SAY, WHICH IS WHERE ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPANIES IS.
AND THEN THEY HAVE A COMPANY DOWN THERE CALLED THE REV CORPORATION, WHICH BUILDS MOTOR HOMES AND OTHER, UH, MOBILE HOMES.
UH, AND THEY PUT THE SHEET METAL TOGETHER AND THEY ASSEMBLE THAT SEPARATELY JUST LIKE YOU WOULD, UM, BUILD A, A SHED OR A HOUSE WHERE THEY MARRY THE TWO PIECES TOGETHER.
SO, SO IT'S, IT'S INTRICATE WITH THE TIMING NOW WHERE WE'LL PUT IN A PURCHASE ORDER.
AND THAT WAS MORE IN THE OLD DAYS WHERE WE JUST ONE COMPANY, ONE TURNKEY.
NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO GO OUT AND JUST BUY THE FRONT PART OF THE AMBULANCE BY OURSELVES AND THEN SHIP IT DOWN TO FLORIDA, WHICH IS NOT CLEAN AND NOT A GOOD APPROACH REALLY, BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY BETTER TO JUST INVOLVE ONE, LIKE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR THAN IT WOULD BE TO INVOLVE TWO INDIVIDUAL PARTIES.
[01:35:01]
IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU END UP HAVING THE BOX BEING ASSEMBLED IN FLORIDA AT AT ONE POINT AND THEN HAVING TO SHIFT THE CABIN CHASSIS FROM ANOTHER POINT AT ANOTHER TIME AND GETTING THEM TO JOIN AND HIT FROM A PRODUCTION POINT IS VERY DIFFICULT.BUT I THINK THAT'S GONNA CHANGE BACK A LITTLE BIT.
I'M STARTING TO SEE SOME INVENTORY ON SOME LOTS AND SOME DEALERSHIPS AND I'M THINKING THAT PEOPLE HAVE MAYBE FINALLY HIT THE WALL WHERE THEY'RE NOT GONNA PAY THE RIDICULOUS PRICES OF $80,000 FOR A PICKUP TRUCK AT A HIGH INTEREST RATE OF FIVE TO 6%.
SO HOPEFULLY THERE'LL BE, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF RETRACTION AND THE MARKET WILL CHANGE THAT, THAT HARDLY SEEMS FAIR THAT YOU'RE CONTRACTOR, YOU WANNA BUY A PRODUCT AND THEN IT'S GONNA TAKE 'EM TWO TO THREE YEARS TO GET IT TO YOU AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR THE PRICE INCREASE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY CAN'T DELIVER IT ON A, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S A VERY UNUSUAL VEHICLE, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
LIKE FOSS DOES ALL HIS CONSTRUCTION OF HIS CARS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THAT YOU CAN AVOID THE FLOOR PLAN BY PAYING FOR THE CABIN CHASSIS WHEN IT HITS THE FACTORY.
UM, WHICH IN SOME CASES WE'VE DONE, WE CAN PAY FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE UNIT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY IF FORD MOTOR COMPANY DELIVERS A VEHICLE TO, UH, FLORIDA, THEY'RE GONNA WANT THEIR PAYCHECK FOR THEIR UNIT THAT THEY DELIVERED.
AND NOT WANNA WAIT UNTIL IT'S FINISHED IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE COMPLETION PROCESS.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. HARKER? NOW GOOD MORNING.
UM, WITH THE ACQUISITION OF ALL THE AMBULANCES, ARE THEY USING OUR REFUEL STATIONS? THE COUNTY OWNED THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATED ON? THEY ARE, THEY'VE BEEN INTEGRATED.
WE JUST ADDED 75 FOR FALLSTON.
HOW MANY DID WE ADD THE OTHER DAY? DO YOU KNOW? 75 TOTAL NEW EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA HAVE ACCESS TO AIR STATIONS ALONG WITH UH, 36 AMBULANCES.
I THINK WE'VE GOT 41 THAT ARE ACTUALLY GONNA GO, COME THROUGH THE DOORS, BUT, UH, SOME OF 'EM ARE GONNA FILTER OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA MEET OUR STANDARDS AND THEY'RE OLD.
AND EVENTUALLY ALL THE AMBULANCES THEN WILL USE THE FUEL FULL STATIONS AFTER THEY FILTER DOWN WILL, HENCE, HENCE THE NEED FOR THE INCREASE IN FUEL.
AND AND EVEN IF IT'S A, UM, AMBULANCE THAT IS MAINTAINED BY THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, THEY WILL ALSO BE USING OUR FUEL.
SO THEY'RE NOT SELLING US ALL OF THEIR, ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KEEPING 'EM BACK FOR A HOST OF REASONS.
BUT EVEN THEN THOUGH, WE'RE, WE'RE STILL GONNA ASSIST THEM BY LETTING THEM USE THE THE COUNTY FUEL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MS. AUSTIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ON PAGE TWO.
WE'LL WAIT JUST A MINUTE UNTIL ROBBIE GETS BACK.
SHE TALKING ABOUT THE TAXES STINK TAX.
THE HOUSE HAVE TO PAY REAL ESTATE TAXES.
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT.
ONCE I GET MY TICKET, ONCE I MAKING TICKETS, YOU'RE TAKE CALL.
WELL, SHE FLIES FOR FREE, SHE SAID.
SHE'S GOING TELL HER NOW YOU MIGHT BE DIVORCED.
[01:40:04]
MINE.BILL, HOW YOU GOING BILL? YEAH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
YEAH, I BETTER LET HIM KNOW I'M COMING.
YOU DIDN'T SEE ME GET UP AND RUN, DID YOU? I
IT'S KINDA LIKE MID INNING OR SOMETHING.
YOU'RE LIKE, I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT BEFORE THE NEXT PITCHER STARTS.
UM, YEAH, BUT THE TIME WAS UP.
MARCY KIM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ON PAGE 2 79.
UM, THERE IS NO CHANGE IN FUNDING.
YOU CAN SEE BY THE, UH, PIE CHART I GAVE YOU.
UM, THAT OUR, CAN YOU JUST PULL THAT? THERE YOU GO.
UM, THAT OUR BUDGETS TOTALING ALMOST 26 MILLION, UM, ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR, FOUR CATEGORIES.
WE HAVE CATEGORICAL CORE COUNTY AND COLLECTIONS.
SO THE CATEGORICAL FUNDING FOR FY 24 AMOUNTS TO 60% OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING AND TOTALS OVER 15 MILLION.
THIS IS A SLIGHT DECLINE FROM FY 23 DUE TO THE END OF, OF SOME OF OUR COVID GRANTS.
WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED, HOWEVER, TO CARRY SOME CARRY OVER SOME OF THOSE UNSPENT FUNDS, UM, TO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
CATEGORICAL GRANTS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR PARTICULAR HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS AND CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THOSE ARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, CANCER AND TOBACCO USE PREVENTION, WIC SERVICES, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TRANSPORTATION.
THE CORE FUNDING FOR FY 24 AMOUNTS TO 14% OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING AND TOTALS ABOUT 3.7 MILLION, SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN FY 20.
THE INCREASED FUNDING IS TO COVER THE STAFF PAY INCREASES THAT HAVE BEEN GENEROUSLY GIVEN BY THE STATE.
UM, IN BOTH FY 23 N 24 CORE FUNDING IS USED FOR SOME OF OUR UNFUNDED PROGRAMS SUCH AS, UH, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS, COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CARE COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION COUNTY FUNDING FOR FY 24 AMOUNTS TO 15% OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FUNDING AND TOTALS JUST OVER 4 MILLION.
WE CONTINUE TO BE LEVEL FUNDED AS WE HAVE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL BE SIGNING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FULL TRANSITION INTO THE COUNTY ENTER GOV SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING, TRACKING AND MAINTAINING BUILDING PERMIT AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUSINESS PROCESS APPLICATIONS.
THE COUNTY WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BY PURCHASING COMPUTER SOFTWARE LICENSES FOR OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF AND TABLET COMPUTERS.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ESTIMATED COLLECTIONS FOR FY 24 AMOUNT TO 10% OF OUR FUNDING AND TOTALS JUST OVER 2.7 MILLION.
THIS, THIS AMOUNT HAS HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, EVEN DURING COVID AND IS USED TO PAY STAFF WITHIN THE COLLECTION PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED COLLECTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, DENTAL SERVICES, IMMUNIZATIONS, FAMILY PLANNING, STI SERVICES, AND VITAL RECORDS.
SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY.
OUR VITAL RECORDS PROGRAM BECAME AN APPOINTMENT ONLY SERVICE DURING COVID AS WE WERE FOLLOWING THE SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDANCE.
HOWEVER, THIS DECREASED THE NUMBER OF BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
STARTING IN FY 23, WE RETURNED TO A WALK-IN SERVICE AND OUR OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT TO FOUR.
WE ARE THE ONLY WALK-IN VITAL RECORDS PROGRAM ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WE DETERMINED THAT THE CONVENIENCE OF WALK-INS FOR THE COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE VERY LITTLE WAIT TIME IN
[01:45:01]
THIS PROGRAM.GETS MANY POSITIVE RE REVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE.
OUR RELATIVELY NEW FOUR CHAIR, UM, DENTAL CLINIC AT OUR ONE NORTH MAIN FAMILY HEALTH CENTER SITE IS NOW BOOMING, AS IS THE ORIGINAL FIVE CHAIR DENTAL CLINIC THAT WE STARTED IN 2008 IN THE EDGEWOOD PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER.
BOTH CON BOTH CLINICS CONTINUE TO SEE AGES ONE TO 20 AND PREGNANT WOMEN ENROLLED IN THE MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROGRAM.
IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT CHILDREN HAVE TROUBLE LEARNING IN SCHOOL WHEN THEY HAVE TOOTH PAIN.
THE CLINICS, UM, STRIVE TO IMPROVE ORAL HEALTH OF OUR PATIENTS WITH BOTH PREVENTIVE CARE, INCLUDING HYGIENE VISITS EVERY SIX MONTHS, AND RESTORATIVE CARE, INCLUDING FILLING SEALANTS, UM, ROOT CANALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN FY 23, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUREAU WAS ABLE TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST 21 PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CORRECTION OF THEIR FAILING ONSITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.
SEPTIC THROUGH, THROUGH THE USE OF BAY RESTORATION FUNDS FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
THE GRANT PROVIDED FOR 16 BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPPED SEPTIC SYSTEM REPAIRS AND FIVE PUBLIC SEWER CONNECTIONS.
DEMAND FOR THE GRANT REMAINS HIGH AS THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A SEPTIC SYSTEM IS APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS.
THE AVERAGE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND $17,000.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIVED JUST OVER 331,000 TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, MR. JAN GIORNO
FINALLY, LET'S NOT FORGET WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID THROUGHOUT COVID, INCLUDING BUSINESS COMPLIANCE, PERSONAL PROTECTION, EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION, CONTACT TRACING, COVID TESTING, AND FINALLY COVID VACCINE CLINICS WHERE WE VACCINATE OVER 28,000 CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE STATE IS RECOGNIZING ALL OF THIS WITH WELL-DESERVED PAY INCREASES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WHICH ARE WONDERFUL, BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, CAN REALLY HURT A BUDGET.
WE APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL STATE CORE FUNDING TO COVER SOME OF THESE INCREASES.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS? ANYONE? MR. JAN? GOOD MORNING, MARCY.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK YOUR YOURSELF AND, AND JOHN AND, UH, I, I THINK DUSTIN AS WELL.
UH, BEEN ON A COUPLE OF, UH, INSPECTIONS WITH THEM, UH, JUST LISTENING, LEARNING, UM, BOTH INITIAL INSPECTIONS, FOLLOW UP INSPECTIONS, UM, VERY PROFESSIONAL.
UM, ALL THE, ALL THE PEOPLE SAID THAT, THAT, UH, DUSTIN'S BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD TO WORK WITH.
UM, REASONABLE, YOU KNOW, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY GO THROUGH AND, AND DO THAT.
AND I, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ONCE WE GET DONE THESE BUDGET MEETING, WE'LL WE'LL SIT DOWN, WANT TO HELP YOU WITH SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT JUST WANNA GIVE MY APPRECIATION FOR THAT.
UM, I, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY BEEN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT, UH, INSPECTIONS I'VE GONE ON AND IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY, UM, VERY HELPFUL AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. MOVE? I WAS JUST READING THIS MORNING, UH, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN YESTERDAY THAT HARFORD COUNTY GOT AN F IN AIR POLLUTION.
UH, THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
UM, HOW MANY AIR POLLUTION STATIONS DO WE HAVE THAT WATCH THAT MONITOR? I PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER THAT, BUT WE WILL HAVE THAT ANSWER AT THE BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING.
UM, I DON'T HAVE JOHN HERE TODAY.
SO HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO ASK.
CAN I GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU? SURE CAN.
UH, ALSO MR. MY GENTLEMAN, I'M SURPRISED TO READ THAT MYSELF.
HE'S SUPPORT GENTLE JUDGE POINT, MR. J.
UM, SO THAT AIR QUALITY FOR HARTFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR 40 YEARS.
IT TRAVELS UP 95, SO, UM, COMES OVER FROM THE MIDWEST.
SO I KNOW THAT'S, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR, FOR A LONG TIME.
THAT'S ALL I JUST WANTED TO MONITOR.
NO, WE HAVE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
IT DOESN'T MAKE IT GOOD JUST CAUSE IT'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
IT'S TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? MARCY, AS YOU KNOW, UM, IN LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET, YOUR FLAT BUDGET LINE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS MM-HMM.
[01:50:01]
ASKED HIM TO RECONSIDER THAT AND UM, ACTUALLY SENT HIM AN EMAIL AND I'M PATIENTLY AWAITING HIS RESPONSE, UH, TO THAT REQUEST.AND I ASKED HIM TO MATCH THE STATE'S IMPROVEMENT OR STATE'S INVESTMENT, WHICH WAS LIKE 700 OR $750,000.
AND WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE IT, UH, INVESTMENT THAT THEY'VE MADE THERE WITH INTER GOV DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO PUT CERTIFIED, UH, INSPECTORS OUT IN THE FIELD.
AND MY COLLEAGUES AND I WORK WITH YOU EVERY DAY TO HELP STAND UP OUR BUSINESSES, KEEP THEM OPEN AND RUNNING, ESPECIALLY THROUGH COVID.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT WE'RE BEYOND COVID, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM EVERY DAY AND THAT WE ARE AGAIN, PATIENTLY AWAITING TO HEAR FROM THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AND HIS STAFF ON WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES, CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY.
IT'S NEXT IT AND THEY ARE, THEY START ON PAGE TWO 90.
MR. COOPERA, HOW ARE YOU DOING WELL, SIR.
I DO GOT A QUICK HERE ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA FLIP YOU A FEW MORE PAGES, UM, TO 2 93.
WE'LL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH HIS CALL CENTERS.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, UM, THE OFFICE OF THAT, UM, INCREASED 31,856.
IT'S A RESULT OF PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASING 85,133.
UM, TWO POSITIONS WERE CREATED.
UM, IN 24, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND A COMPUTER SYSTEMS ENGINEER AT A COST OF 2 64 7 24.
AND AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES BOTH SALARY AND FRINGE.
UM, OVERTIME IN SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL WAS ADJUSTED.
UM, THEY ARE STARTING A NEW THIRD SHIFT, UM, WITH A COMPUTER SYSTEM ENGINEER.
SO THAT DECREASES OVERTIME AND SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL.
THE 27TH PAY WAS REMOVED AT, UM, FOR A DECREASE OF 95,285.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FOR PENSION, UM, HEALTH, SO FORTH UNDER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF 10,977, EXCUSE ME, 210,000 WAS DECREASED FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT, TELEPHONE SERVICE, AND INTERNET LINE SERVICE.
AND THIS WAS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY, BUT UNDER DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 7 64 0 50.
THIS IS, UM, ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL FUND, IT'S FOR THEIR SOFTWARE.
AND IT WAS ADJUSTED BASED ON ACTUAL, UM, EXPENSE HISTORY.
UM, PREVIOUSLY, UH, WE HAD VX RAIL THAT WAS, UM, PAID FOR WITH THE ARPA MONEY OR CARES MONEY.
AND IT IS NOW COMING INTO THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET.
DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, MADE PER THE SOFTWARE CONTRACTS, UM, USED BY VARIOUS OTHER GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS.
UNDER OTH OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, THERE'S AN INCREASE OF THEIR 1 23 500.
AND THIS IS, UM, FOR SERVICENOW, FOR H C G FIRE SERVICE, THE VO PHONE SUPPORT AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 31,500.
AGAIN, THIS WAS FOR GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES, COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SUPPLIES, ET CETERA.
AND IT WAS ADJUSTED BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSES.
AND THEN UNDER BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, THERE'S A DECREASE THERE OF 10,800.
UM, AND THAT WAS ADJUSTED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMER CHAIN OR NO, WITH DECREASES.
SO, AND THEN ON PAGE 2 97, IT'S OFFICE OF BROADBAND.
UM, THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 164,000.
THE, UM, TEMPORARY SALARIES WAS REMOVED FOR THE 24 BUDGET, UM, REALLOCATED DOWN TO CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
AND THEN THIS IS AN INCREASE TO MAINTAIN OUR COUNTY FIBER THAT'S ALREADY THERE.
UM, AND THE ELECTRICITY AS A RESULT OF THAT.
UM, THERE IS, UM, A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GENERAL OFFICE MAILING AS WELL AS 3000 IN, UM, CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE EXPENSE OF GENERATORS IN THE FIBER HUBS.
COUNCILMAN SETI, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS NICHOLAS GUBA AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.
[01:55:01]
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CASTLEY ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT.OVER THE YEARS, AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LEAD A DEDICATED TEAM OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS, O I C T HAS 25 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, TWO FULL-TIME VACANCIES, TWO FULL-TIME TEMPS, FOUR PART-TIME TEMPS, AND ONE CONTRACTOR.
THE TWO VACANCIES WILL PROVIDE A SECOND SHIFT FOR AFTER HOURS SUPPORT FOR THE HARFORD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
9 1 1, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COM COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT COUNTY COUNCIL, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND 9 1 1 ELECTIONS HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LIBRARIES, MUNICIPALITIES, SCHOOLS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THINK BIG NETWORKS, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, AND THE ABERDEEN BELAIRE AND HAVERTY GRACE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THE DEPARTMENT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR MAJOR DIVISIONS.
THE FIRST DIVISION IS THE DATA CENTER TEAM.
THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE DATA CENTER.
THAT INCLUDES COMPUTE AND STORAGE, BUSINESS CONTINUITY, BACKUP AND DISASTER RECOVERY, CYBER SECURITY, INTERNET COUNTY AND PUBLIC WIFI, LOCAL AREA NETWORKS, WIDE AREA NETWORKS.
OUR HARTFORD COUNTY METROPOLITAN AREA NETWORK, KNOWN AS H MAN, THE COUNTY VOIP SYSTEM, RURAL BROADBAND SERVICES.
WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THINK BIG EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER AND COMMAND BUS SUPPORT WHEN ACTIVATED AND SUPPORT FOR THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE.
THE SECOND DIVISION IS THE SERVICE DESK TEAM.
THE SERVICENOW COMMUNICATION CENTER PROVIDES A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, IT'S OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY STAFFED OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS.
THE SERVICE DESK TEAM HANDLES BOTH INCIDENTS AND SERVICE REQUESTS AT THE DESKTOP LEVEL.
EXAMPLES OF THIS, MAYBE A USER REQUESTING DESKTOPS, LAPTOPS, PRINTERS, SCANNERS, CELL PHONE SERVICE, ACCESS TO PARTICULAR SOFTWARE, OR REQUESTING A SERVICE WITH DESKTOP APPLICATIONS.
WITH REMOTE ACCESS SOFTWARE, THE TEAM CAN SOLVE MOST ISSUES WITHOUT TRAVELING TO THE USER.
HOWEVER, AT TIMES THERE IS STILL A NEED FOR ON-SITE SUPPORT VISITS TO RESOLVE ISSUES OR INSTALL NEW EQUIPMENT.
THE THIRD DIVISION IS THE SOFTWARE AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
THE SOFTWARE AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TEAMS INSTALLS, MAINTAINS AND TROUBLESHOOTS, CLOUD-BASED, WEB-BASED CUSTOM IN-HOUSE AND MAINFRAME APPLICATIONS.
THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM TEAM PROVIDES APPLICATION AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT TO EVERY HARTFORD COUNTY AGENCY.
THE FINAL DIVISION IS GIS SERVICES.
THE GIS COORDINATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE ESRI ON PREM AND CLOUD-BASED COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR THE ESRI GIS SYSTEM, UPDATING ESRI APPLICATIONS, SCHEDULING USER GROUP MEETINGS, PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE USER COMMUNITY, MAKING USERS AWARE OF NEW FUNCTIONALITY AND FEATURES, AND ACTING AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE USER COMMUNITY AND ESRI ENGINEERS.
TOGETHER WE HAVE NAVIGATED OUR WAY THROUGH A PANDEMIC, REPLACED MANY OF THE AGING MAINFRAME APPLICATIONS WITH CLOUD-BASED APPLICATIONS.
IMPLEMENTED ADVANCED SECURITY TO PROTECT THE COUNTY DATA AND NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IMPLEMENTED A CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR THE USER COMMUNITY, PARTNERED WITH THINK BIG NETWORKS TO EXPAND BROADBAND SERVICES TO THE RURAL AREAS OF HARPER COUNTY AND PARTNERED WITH THE SCHOOLS TO REPLACE THEIR AGING PBX PHONE SYSTEMS. TWO PARTNERSHIPS THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.
THE FIRST IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THINK BIG TO PROVIDE FIBER TO THE HOME IN THE RURAL AREAS OF FIRE COUNTY.
WE JUST RECEIVED FOUR GRANTS FROM THE FY 23 CONNECT MARYLAND NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.
THE TOTAL FUNDS RECEIVED FOR THE FOUR GRANTS WAS $12,302,000 TO DATE.
THE PARTNERSHIP IS INSTALLED CLOSE TO A HUNDRED MILES OF FIBER, PROVIDED SERVICE TO OVER 400 HOMES.
AND HAVE OVER 200 CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE SERVICE AND WAITING FOR THE INSTALLATION.
THE SECOND IS THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REPLACE THEIR AGING PBX SYSTEMS. UTILIZING THE CISCO WIP SYSTEM AS THE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM, THE COUNTY HAS CONNECTED 19 LOCATIONS.
SEVEN MORE WILL BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER AND 14 MORE TO BE SCHEDULED.
THE COUNTY BUDGETED AN ADDITIONAL 475 DA
[02:00:01]
THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET TO CONNECT ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS IN FY 24.SOME OF THE TOP INITIATIVES FOR FY 24 IS THE TECHNOLOGY REFRESH FOR THE H MAN NETWORK, IMPLEMENTING WORKDAY HR AND PAYROLL MODULES, REPLACING THE IBM TAX NET SYSTEM WITH A WEB-BASED APPLICATION THAT CALCULATES THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT TAX BUSINESS TAX, AND CREATES REPORTS TO BE SENT OUT TO THE BUSINESS OR HOMEOWNER.
CONTINUE EXPANSION OF INTER GOV ONLINE OFFERING VIA THE P E PERMIT CENTER, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND THINK BAY TO PROVIDE FIBER TO THE HOME IN THE ROAR AREAS OF HARTFORD COUNTY SUPPORT FOR D E S 9 1 1 FIRE SERVICES, ADDING ADDITIONAL COUNTY SITES TO THE H MAN NETWORK, DEVELOPING IC T SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IMPLEMENT NEW DATA AND NETWORK SECURITY FEATURES, AND PERFORM AUDITS OF DATA AND SECURITY ACCESS PRIVILEGES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRESIDENT MATI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PROVIDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE TO THE NEW MEMBERS, THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, AND ANSWER ANY REQUESTS RELATED TO THE FY 24 CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGETS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, UH, THAT YOU GIVE, UH, COUNSEL, UH, AND ALSO FOR BRINGING US CLOSED CAPTIONING.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT EFFORT.
HOW ARE YOU? UM, CYBER AND, UH, ATTACKS AND RANSOM, WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THAT AT THE, AND ARE WE GETTING HIT OR, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOTICING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INTO OUR SYSTEM.
HOW OFTEN, UM, I, I KNOW BALTIMORE CITY GOT HIT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THEY'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UP HERE IF THAT HAPPENED TO US? UM, WELL, I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NETWORK IS CONSTANTLY GETTING HIT FROM OUTSIDE ACTORS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DISCOVER INFORMATION OR ACCESS OUR NETWORK.
WE, UM, HAVE A SEVEN BY 24 MONITORING SERVICE THROUGH AT AND T, THEIR THREAT DETECT DIVISION.
UM, THEY MONITOR ALL INBOUND AND OUTBOUND TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT THE NETWORK.
UM, ALL OF OUR LOG FILES ARE INGESTED INTO THAT SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT THROUGH ALL THAT AND IDENTIFY ANY BAD ACTORS THAT, UM, ARE TRYING TO ATTACK THE SYSTEM.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR, UM, CYBER INSURANCE VENDOR TO, UM, OBVIOUSLY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CYBER INSURANCE.
UM, WE JUST COMPLETED ONE CYBER, UM, ASSESSMENT, PEN PEN TESTING, VULNERABILITY AS ASSESSMENTS WITH A COMPANY FOR, UM, CA AT SOVEREIGN FOR THE COUNTY NETWORK.
THERE IS A, A SECOND CYBER ASSESSMENT THAT'S JUST COMPLETED THAT WE WILL GET THE REPORT BACK TODAY.
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES ENVIRONMENT.
AND THERE'S A THIRD VULNERABILITY AND PENETRATION, UH, ASSESSMENT THAT, UM, D P W HAS, UH, CONTRACTED WITH A VENDOR, UH, CALLED JACOBS TO ALSO DO ASSESSMENT OF THE, THE NETWORKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER TREATMENT PLANS WITHIN HARTFORD COUNTY.
SO WE, UM, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY TAKE, YOU KNOW, THE CYBER THREAT SERIOUSLY.
UM, THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY WE ARE SO DILIGENT WITH OUR NOBI FOUR, UM, SECURITY, A AWARE AWARENESS TRAINING, UH, FOR THE USER COMMUNITY, PROBABLY 90% OF THE THREATS.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION IS THROUGH A PHISHING EMAIL WHERE SOMEBODY PROVIDES, UM, PARTICULAR CREDENTIALS TO GET THEM INTO THE SYSTEM, AND FROM THERE THEY CAN FURTHER, UM, PENETRATE AND DEEPER INTO THE NETWORK.
HAVE WE ALWAYS HAD CYBER INSURANCE? UM, NOT ALWAYS.
I'D SAY IN THE PAST PROBABLY THREE YEARS.
UM, THAT'S HANDLED BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RISK, SO I'LL ASK THEM WHAT THAT COST IS.
AND, AND DOES THAT, I WOULD ASSUME THAT'S COVERING, YOU KNOW, RANSOM AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HIJACK OUR WEBSITES AND SO FORTH.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY QUE QUESTION.
AND ANYONE ELSE? MR. PENMAN? THANK YOU, NICK.
UM, MY, MY QUESTIONS ARE JUST AROUND THE POSITIONS THOUGH.
UM, KIM, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT.
SO THERE'S JUST TWO MORE ADDED POSITIONS.
THEY WEREN'T TRANSFERRED FROM A DIFFERENT DIVISION OR ANYTHING.
UM, AND I THINK I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS YEARS BACK ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
SO YOU, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD A COUPLE VACANCIES MM-HMM.
[02:05:01]
OF THE STARTING SALARY? I KNOW IT'S A COMPETITIVE FIELD, JUST LIKE A LOT OF 'EM, SO RECRUITMENT COULD BE A DIFFICULT, UM, SOME OF THAT WAS ON HOLD FROM THE, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, UM, WHERE THAT WAS A POSITION THAT, UM, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES HAVE RESIGNED AND WE WERE LOOKING TO, UM, EVENTUALLY REPLACE THAT POSITION TO HELP US SUPPORT, UH, SECOND SHIFT, WHICH CURRENTLY WE HAVE A, A SEVEN BY 24 HELP DESK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, HASN'T BEEN THE BEST.WE'RE VERY COMPLEX COUNTY BECAUSE OF JUST A COUNTY, UM, BREAKOUT.
AND THEN WE HAD THE FIRE SERVICES AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SO WITH AN, AN OUTSOURCED SERVICE DESK, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE'S HIGH TURNOVER FROM THE VENDOR SIDE OF IT, SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO RETRAIN OR THEY'RE, THEY'RE HAVING TO RETRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND FOR THAT REASON, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BRING, WELL, WE HAVE BROUGHT THE SERVICE DESK BACK IN-HOUSE THAT SUPPORTED BY ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE USING THOSE TWO POSITIONS FOR IS TO BE ABLE TO COVER, UH, THE EVENINGS FOR 9 1 1 EMERGENCY SERVICE AND FIRE SERVICE SUPPORT.
UM, MOST OF THE CALLS THAT COME IN DURING THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, ARE INVOLVED WITH JUST THOSE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA USE THOSE, THOSE TWO POSITIONS FOR, IS TO BE ABLE TO COVER A SHIFT FROM ONE O'CLOCK, UH, TO NINE, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ALSO UTILIZE THEM NOT JUST FOR THE SERVICE DESK, BUT TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO SOME OF THE REMEDIATION EFFORT FOR THE SECURITY AND, UM, OF THE NETWORKS.
ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE TWO NEW POSITIONS THERE? CORRECT, YES.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE SUPERVISOR POSITIONS, SYSTEMS ENGINEERS.
YOU GOT A DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN THE, WELL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR CAME IN, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UM, WE HAD ONE VACANT POSITION THAT WAS, UM, ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WE'VE REQUESTED AND OR LOOKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION AS PART OF THE, THE NEW BUDGET.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, MR. ERVAN, WHERE, WHERE IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE INSURANCE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR? FOR THE CYBER? YOU SAID IT'S UNDER LAW DEPARTMENT? NO, NO, IT'S UNDER ARREST.
IT'S, UH, THEY, THEY HANDLE IT.
THEY MANAGE IT, BUT IT WOULD BE UNDER THE, UM, TAB, PROBABLY SELF-INSURANCE.
NOW, HOW MUCH IT IS? I HAVE NO IDEA.
I BELIEVE IT'S, I WANNA SAY MAYBE 5 MILLION INSURANCE, I BELIEVE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST OF IT WAS.
CAN YOU GET THAT CUR? YEAH, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKING THIS QUESTION SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL ABOUT CYBER AND I, AND I KNOW YEARS AGO WE DIDN'T HAVE A CYBER POLICY, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE FINALLY HAVE A CYBER POLICY BECAUSE OF ALL THE FISHING AND ALL THE DATA BREACHES THAT HAVE GONE ON WITH COUNTIES AND CITIES AND SO FORTH.
UM, SO I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET IT TO YOU AND, AND I GUESS THEY'LL PAY FOR RESTORATION AND EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET BACK UP A SYSTEM IF IT WAS BREACHED AND, AND, AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO DO THAT? I MEAN, ARE WE LOOKING AT WEEKS? ARE WE LOOKING AT DAYS OR ARE WE LOOKING AT MONTHS? DEPENDS ON THE, THE DEPTH AND SEVERITY OF THE ATTACK.
WE HAVE A, UM, SEVERAL LAYER, BUT SAY IT'S LIKE BALTIMORE CITY THAT, UH, WITH THEIR, I GUESS IT WAS WITH THEIR BILLING FOR WATER AND SEWER AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT WOULD SOMETHING LIKE THAT TAKE TO GET BACK UP HYPOTHETICALLY? WELL, THE, THE PROBLEM WITH THE BALTIMORE CITY INCIDENT WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BACKUPS TO RECOVER THOSE SYSTEMS. SO WE HAVE, UM, SHOCKER, MULTIPLE, UM, BACKUPS THAT WE RUN INTERNALLY.
WE REPLICATE THEM TO, UM, OFFSITE STORAGE AND, UM, SO THEY ARE PROTECTED.
SO WE DO HAVE THAT ABILITY, UM, TO RECOVER SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WE GET A RANSOMWARE ATTACK THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY AFFECTS MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OR, UM, MULTIPLE LAYERS OF THE NETWORK.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE 9 1 1 CENTER? SAME, THAT ACTUALLY, UM, D E S 9 1 1, THEY'RE ON A, A SEPARATE NETWORKING INFRASTRUCTURE USING THE H A N NETWORK.
THEY, UM, HAVE THEIR OWN SET OF SERVERS SEPARATE FROM THE, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND WE PROVIDE THE, THE SAME CAPABILITIES WITH, UM, MULTIPLE LEVELS OF BACKUP AND OFFSITE, UM, AIR GAP.
UM, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SAME THING.
UH, NOT INVOLVED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN, UM, IT, IT SUPPORT SERVICES, SO I CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SO WE DON'T, SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE ANY.
I CYBER DO NOT KNOW, SIR, SO I HAVE TO ASK THE SHERIFF.
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, SIR.
[02:10:01]
GO AHEAD AND, UH, BREAK FOR THE AFTERNOON, I BELIEVE.HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UH, THANKS SHERIFF FOR BEING HERE.
WELCOME TO, UH, ALL OF YOUR COMMAND STAFF AND OTHERS.
UM, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, I'D LIKE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND START AS YOU WISH.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US IN TODAY.
I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU AND, UH, I ALWAYS GONNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M ACCOMPANIED BY MY, UH, SENIOR COMMAND STAFF, OTHER COMMAND STAFF, AND AS WELL AS THE, UH, PRESIDENT OF THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S UNION, JERRY EATON AND THE PRESIDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION, JANET WOOD, UH, AND SOME OF THEIR MEMBERS ARE ALSO IN THE ATTENDANCE.
TODAY, I FIRST WANNA CONVEY TO THE COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY HOW THANKFUL AND HONORED I AM TO SERVE AS YOUR SHERIFF AND WORK WITH THE EXCEPTIONAL MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARPER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE EVERY DAY.
I WANT, AGAIN, THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT YOU HAVE SHOWN OUR AGENCY IN THE PAST AND THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE WILL MAINTAIN IN THE FUTURE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, EVERY DECISION WE HAVE MADE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAS BEEN TO ENSURE WE CHAMPION, WE CHAMPION PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROVIDE OUR MEN AND WOMEN THE RESOURCES TO KEEP CRIME AT HISTORIC LOW LEVELS.
LET'S FACE IT, EACH OF US LOVE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE WE FEEL SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M PROUD TO SAY OUR RESIDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY TELL ME EVERY DAY THAT THEY FEEL SAFE WITH YOUR HELP AND YOUR SUPPORT, WE PLAN TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLICING ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES DRIVEN BY UNFAVORABLE CHANGES IN STATE LAWS OVER THE PAST THREE OR MORE YEARS.
THESE CHANGES HAVE LED TO DECREASED INTEREST IN ENTERING THE PROFESSION, SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN RETAINING OUR PERSONNEL, ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED MANDATES ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NEW TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AND UNFAVORABLE CHANGES IN LAW THAT MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR DEPUTIES TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
I'M PROUD TO TELL YOU YOUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS LEADING THE WAY THAN ENSURING THESE CHALLENGES ARE IMPLEMENTED IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY.
OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, ATTRACTING OUTSIDE MEN AND WOMEN TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
IT'S MY SINCERE BELIEF THAT OUR AGENCY MAINTAINS SUPERIOR COMPETI ITS SUPERIOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DUE TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE SUPPORT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THE COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND BENEFITS WE HAVE WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PAST ADMINISTRATION TO ACHIEVE THESE THREE FACTORS HAVE LED TO OUR AGENCY BE BEING VERY UNIQUE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND ACROSS OUR NATION AT A TIME WHEN HIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IS VERY DIFFICULT.
WE HAVE SHOWN A SOLID MODEL OF PROVEN SUCCESS AS WE FILL NOT ONLY OUR VACANCIES, BUT WORK TO GROW IN ORDER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY, AS IT ALSO INCREASES IN SIZE.
PLEASE KNOW THAT IF WE TAKE OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND NEGLECT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS THINGS CAN AND WILL CHANGE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL NOT BE FOR THE BETTER.
WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN HARFORD COUNTY, CHANGES ARE TO BE EXPECTED.
HOWEVER, IN MY YEARS AS SHERIFF, I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED A COUNTY EXECUTIVE INTRODUCE A BUDGET THAT IS SO DISTORTED WITH UN UNDERESTIMATED REVENUE PROJECTIONS, BUDGET, UH, PROJECTIONS, CREATION OF AN UNATTAINABLE PLAN TO GROW A COUNTY AGENCY AND MISSING THE MARK ON SO MANY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
QUITE SIMPLY, THE BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO YOU SETS HARFORD COUNTY BACK 10 YEARS, UNLIKE MY PREVIOUS EIGHT VISITS BEFORE THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
TODAY'S MARK REMARKS WILL BE QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.
USUALLY YOU WILL HEAR FROM MS. SPENCE ON THE SPECIFIC CHANGES TO OUR BUDGET, AND THEN I PROVIDE MORE OR LESS AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY FOLLOWING, UH, THAT WE WOULD DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL.
WELL, THAT IS HOW IT WORKED WHEN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD A COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO WORKED OPENLY AND HONESTLY WITH AGENCIES SUCH AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PUT FORTH A BUDGET THAT WAS PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD DURING YOUR HEARINGS FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES, AND I'M GUESSING DISCOVERED ON YOUR OWN, THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL IS FLAWED TO MY GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CASTLEY NOW JOINS THE CLUB OF THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE, MUCH LIKE LIBERAL LAWMAKERS AND EXECUTIVES ACROSS THE NATION.
HE THINKS HE THINKS HE'S BEEN SMART ABOUT IT, ADDING FUNDS TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF SWORN DEPUTIES, WHICH ARE CERTAINLY NEEDED TO KEEP US AT LEAST MINIMALLY COMPETITIVE WHILE CUTTING CAPITAL PROJECTS REQUIRED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL
[02:15:01]
OPERATIONS.COUNTY EXECUTIVE CASTLEY HAS CHOSEN TO MORE OR LESS CANCEL THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AND CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT KNOWN AS THE CENTRAL PRECINCT AND TRAINING ACADEMY.
EACH OF YOU WERE COPIED ON THE LETTER I SENT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE LAST WEEK OUTLINING MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN HIS DEFUNDING THIS PROJECT.
THE LETTER WAS MY REQUEST FOR HIM TO PUT THE PRO PROJECT BACK ON TRACK.
MY LETTER ALSO ASKED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PROVIDE ANSWERS TO OUR CITIZENS AS TO WHY HE AND HE ALONE HAS HELD UP THIS ALREADY APPROVED PROJECT FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.
MR. CALEY HAS HAD ME AND MY STAFF CONDUCTING WHAT I'M CALLING BUSY WORK AND WHAT WAS IN MY COMP OPINIONS, A COMPLETE WASTE OF OUR TIME.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LETTER, I BELIEVE THE DECISION TO DEFUND THIS PROJECT IS ALL ABOUT POLITICS.
MR. GLASSMAN FUNDED IT AND MR. CASTLEY DOESN'T LIKE THAT AND HAS DEFUNDED IT.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT HIS INTENT WAS WELL BEFORE OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH HE RAN HIS CAMPAIGN ON THE BACKS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
MR. CASTLEY WANTS TO TELL YOU HOW SHORTSIGHTED AND I GUESS JUST HOW INEPT THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS, AND I APOLOGIZE CUZ HE'S IN THE ROOM AND THE PREVIOUS COUNSEL TOO, FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM HIM IN HERE LAST WEEK, HE ALSO WANTS TO TELL YOU WHAT, IN MY OPINION AS YOUR SHERIFF AND IS A TAXPAYER, IS HIS SELF-MADE CRISIS WITHIN THE EMS SYSTEM TO BE SURE THERE ARE ISSUES AND OUR GROWING COUNTY DOES NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FULL-TIME PAID EMS SERVICE.
AS I BELIEVE YOU'RE ALL AWARE, THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE RECOGNIZED THIS NEED AND INITIATED A RESPONSIBLE WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN OF STRATEGIC GROWTH FOR OUR EMS SYSTEM, EVEN IF THIS PROCESS NEEDED TO BE ACCELERATED.
I DO NOT BELIEVE FOR A SINGLE SECOND IT NEEDED TO BE DONE ALL AT ONCE, AND I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT IT WILL NOT UNFOLD THAT WAY.
I VIEW THIS AS A MANUFACTURED CRISIS BORN OUTTA MR. CASSIDY BEING UNPREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTY AND A MANUFACTURED CRISIS THAT COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER TRUE CRITICAL PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS.
HIS RESPONSE TO THIS CRISIS WAS ALSO IMMENSELY AN IMMENSELY EXPENSIVE COURSE OF ACTION AND ONE TAKEN WITHOUT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT SO MUCH AS A CALL TO ANY OF YOU, WERE SHARING WITH MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BEFORE DECIDING ON THE NUCLEAR OPTION.
SO I AM TOLD WITH SOME TIME IN ACTUAL PLANNING, I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT AN EFFECTIVE PLAN COULD HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND ACCOMPLISHED WHILE STILL ON THE TOPIC OF THE CENTRAL PRECINCT AND TRAINING ACADEMY.
I WILL ALSO MENTION THE FUEL STATION THAT MR. CALEY WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT WHEN HE WAS HERE LAST YEAR.
YES, THE FUEL STATION WOULD BE HELPFUL BY ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR DEPUTIES TO DRIVE TO ABBINGTON OR BELL AIR, APPROXIMATELY A 40 MINUTE ROUND TRIP TO FUEL THEIR VEHICLES.
BUT THE IRONIC PART IS THAT THE FUEL STATION PLAN WAS ADDED TO THE PROJECT AS A RESULT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT.
WHY? BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A FUEL STATION ON THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY.
YOU GET IT? I HOPE THE FUEL STATION THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SUPPORTS WOULD NOT ONLY KEEP POLICE CARS IN THE AREA AND ON PATROL, BUT ALSO THE MEDIC UNITS AS WELL AS OTHER COUNTLESS COUNT COUNTLESS COUNTY VEHICLES WOULD KEEP BE MADE ABLE TO BE KEPT IN SERVICE.
IF IT MAKES THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FEEL BETTER, WE CAN SCRATCH THE FUEL STATION AND WE'LL GAS UP OUR POLICE CARS AT ROYAL FARM ACROSS THE STREET.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHERE WE GET OUR GAS.
I CARE ABOUT KEEPING COPS ON PATROL AND KEEPING OUR CITIZENS SAFE.
LAST WEEK MR. CALEY SPOKE BEFORE YOU ABOUT HIS OP OPINION ON WHERE THE PRECINCT SHOULD BE LOCATED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HE DOES NOT WANT MY OPINION, A AS SOMEWHAT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON POLICING.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS 40 YEARS.
I'M OF THE OPINION MANY DECISIONS IN OUR COUNTY ARE BEING MADE ON THE BOB KNOWS BETTER, UH, BASIS AND NOT BY RELYING ON TRUE DATA OR EXPERTS.
AS FAR AS THE LOCATION OF THE TRAINING ACADEMY AND THE PRECINCT AT THE HEAT CENTER.
BOTH ARE IDEAL FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSES AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE A PRESENTATION FROM MAJOR LEE DUNBAR, UM, HERE AT THE END OF MY REMARKS TO QUICKLY GO OVER THE, UH, ENTIRE PROJECT THERE, JUST SO EVERYONE'S INFORMED.
UM, AT THE END OF MY REMARKS, I'VE ASKED MEMBERS OF MY OFFICE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A SHORT OVERVIEW OF THIS PROJECT.
WITHOUT GOING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, THERE ARE A COUPLE IMPORTANT POINTS I STILL WOULD LIKE TO MENTION.
LAST WEEK, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAME BEFORE YOU AND SAID, WE SHOULD JUST STAY AT THE COLLEGE FOR OUR TRAINING NEEDS.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD HEARD THAT EVEN THOUGH HE'S HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE INVITED HIM NOW TO TOUR THE SPACE IN EDGEWOOD HALL AND HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM ABOUT THE SPACE LIMITATIONS AND OTHER CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ON CAMPUS, HE HAS NEITHER VISITED OUR SPACE THERE, NOR DID HE BOTHER SHARING MY CONCERNS WITH YOU.
AS HE STATED, THEY SHOULD JUST STAY THERE.
AS I'VE EXPLAINED TO HIM, WE HAVE TWO CLASSROOMS IN A SMALL OFFICE AREA WITHIN EDGEWOOD HALL.
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE RUNNING A 28 WEEK LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY AND AN 11 WEEK CORRECTIONAL ACADEMY AND
[02:20:01]
MANDATORY WEEKLY IN-SERVICE CLASSES HAVE BEGAN FOR 2023, WHICH ARE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL, UH, DEPUTIES.WE JUST DO NOT HAVE THE SPACE WE NEED TO DO THIS, NOR DO WE HAVE THE OFFICE SPACE NECESSARY TO MEET OUR BASIC ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS.
A SINGLE CONFERENCE ROOM IN OUR LEAD SPACE HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO CUBICLES AND OTHER STORAGE.
ALL OF THE SHORTCOMINGS AT THE COLLEGE ARE FULLY ADDRESSED IN THE PREPARED PLANS FOR THE PRECINCT AT THE HEAT CENTER.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR, WHEN OUR CITIZENS EXPECT THE VERY BEST TRAINED DEPUTIES AND THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO MANDATE MORE AND MORE TRAINING, THE HEAT CENTER PROPOSAL IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AND WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
AS WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS FUNDING, MR. CALEY HAS CHOSEN NOT TO FUND THE VICTIM SERVICE ADVOCATE POSITIONS APPROVED BY THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.
THESE POSITIONS WERE NEEDED IN RESPONSE TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT OUR OFFICE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL COMMITTED TO THE FUNCTION OF BEING THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE AGENT AND THE AGENCY ON ALL POLICE COMPLAINTS.
MANY TIMES THIS POINT OF CONTACT IS WITH OR INVOLVES AN ATTORNEY, WHICH IDEOLOGICALLY WHY I DECIDED AN ATTORNEY WOULD BE THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
SENATOR CALEY FOUGHT AGAINST THE LEGISLATION THAT BROUGHT US THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES, BUT HE FOUGHT IN THE LOST AND POLICE REFORM, UH, BROUGHT ABOUT NOW THE GREAT COST THAT'S BEING PASSED ON TO OUR CITIZENS.
A POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR THE VICTIM SERVICE ADVOCATES WAS DEVELOPED IN THE MONTHS BEFORE HOUSE BILL SIX 70 TOOK EFFECT AND THE JOB POSTING WAS OPENED ON JUNE 17TH, 2022 AND CLOSED ON JULY 3RD, 2022.
I'LL REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT THIS POSITION CLOSED WEEKS WELL BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION LAST YEAR WITHOUT AN ACT WORKING IN AN ACTUAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, I WON THIS LEGISLATIVELY MANDATE POSITION TO ALSO HANDLE ASPECTS OF THE SWEEPING CHANGES UNDER THE BANNER OF POLICE REFORM.
THESE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED BUILDING OUR NEWLY REQUIRED DISCIPLINARY PROCESS FROM THE GROUND UP BEING THE INTER INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS REVIEWING INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY.
AS I BELIEVE MANY OF THESE CASES ARE HEADING TO THE CIRCUIT COURT APPEAL PROCESS, THE NEW DUTIES ALSO HAVE OUR LEGAL SECTION SERVING AS THE PROSECUTOR ON ALL HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TRIAL BOARDS, COUNTY EXECUTIVE GLASSMAN AGREED WITH THE NEED FOR ATTORNEYS.
I ALSO WORKING WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE ON THIS NEED, DECIDED IT SHOULD NOT BE A POSITION WHERE WE ARE JUST ONE PERSON DEEP AS THE HIRING PROCESS TO JOIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS MUCH MORE INVOLVED AND TIME CONSUMING THAN THAT OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THESE POSITIONS WERE PLACED WITHIN THE NEWLY CREATED LEGAL AFFAIRS SECTION AND BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, WE ADDED DUTIES RELATED TO TRAINING, POLICY WRITING AND REVIEW, REVIEWING PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT AND ASSURING RESPONSES ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND SERVING AS THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE COUNTY LAW OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, EACH OF WHICH SERVED TO REPRESENT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS AND CASES.
BOTH OF THESE ATTORNEY POSITIONS WERE ADDED AND FUNDING FOR EACH POSITION WAS PROVIDED BY THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AGAIN AFTER SENATOR BOB CASTLEY WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN STOPPING THE TERRIBLE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION IN ANNAPOLIS.
I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT AS A SENATOR, BOB AGREED THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEEDED THEIR OWN LEGAL SECTION, BUT NOW IN HIS NEW ROLE HAS MADE THE COMMENT THAT HE TAKES THESE POSITIONS AS A PERSONAL AFFRONT TO HIM.
THIS COMMENT CAME DURING A SHORT MELTDOWN.
HE SUFFERED IN FRONT OF MY STAFF AND HIS DURING OUR BUDGET MEETING WITH HIM ON THE SALARY STUDY OVERVIEW.
REALLY THE FORMATION AND APPROVE OF THESE POSITIONS WERE UNDERWAY WELL BEFORE LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE LE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND BEFORE THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
IT COULD HAVE JUST AS ONE WELL BEEN MR. BONAC WHO WON, MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THOSE POSITIONS HAD NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH BOB CALEY.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS EFFORT ON THE PART OF MR. CALEY IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE 1 0 1.
TO BE CLEAR, MR. CALE IS DEFUNDING THE ATTORNEYS BECAUSE BARRY GLASSMAN APPROVED THEM.
AND MS. LAMBERT, MELISSA AND MELISSA LAMBERT, THE FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY, WHICH ONE OF THE TWO ATTORNEYS I HIRED, WE HAD FOUR ATTORNEYS APPLY, TWO DROPPED OUT.
THERE WERE TWO REMAINING, AND BOTH PASSED THE VERY EXTENSIVE HAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BACKGROUND.
DO YOU RECALL THE FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS ANOTHER AREA.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ATTACKED IN THIS ROOM SAYING IT WAS NO MORE THAN A CONTRACT SERVICE OUTSOURCING TO INDEPENDENT LAW FIRMS. WELL, GUESS WHAT? UNDER MS. LAMBERT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD ONE CONTRACTUAL OFFICE ASSISTING WITH OPEN LITIGATION UNDER MR. CALEY.
[02:25:01]
PROPOSAL FOR A SECOND CONTRACT FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK.THIS IS A 100%, 100% INCREASE IN CONTRACTS, BUT WHEN HE DOES IT, IT'S OKAY.
TO BE CLEAR, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
UH, I THINK EMPLOYING ATTORNEYS IN A, IN SUCH A DYNA DYNAMIC ROLE IS A GOOD INVESTMENT.
LAWSUITS ARISING OUT OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRECTIONAL DUTIES ARE COMPLEX AND SPECIALIZED.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE EXPENSIVE TO OUR TAXPAYERS.
HAVING THE BEST LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT CRITICIZING THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE FOR DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE HYPOCRISY.
AND THAT IS WHERE OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE STANDS ON THIS ISSUE.
AND BEFORE I'M ASKED, THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS.
TO ME IT'S PURELY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT GIVES ME NO SATISFACTION TO SIGN A SPOTLIGHT ON THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
WE ARE BOTH OF THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY, BUT AGAIN, MR. CALEY HAS MADE HIS ENTIRE MESSAGE ABOUT HOW BAD THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE LEFT THINGS, HOW BAD THE FORMER COUNCIL DID ITS JOB, HOW BAD THE FORMER LAW DEPARTMENT WAS.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT HOW BAD IT WAS TO HAVE CAPTAIN JIM'S NAME ON SOMETHING.
HE ATTACKS EVERYONE WHO CAME BEFORE HIM, AND THEY TOO ARE MOSTLY FROM THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY AS HE AND I, AND THIS IS NOT HOW OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE FUNCTIONING.
MR. CASSIE CAME BEFORE YOU LAST WEEK AND PROVIDED A CHART OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET INCREASES A FAKE NEWS CHART AS I WOULD CALL IT, AS IT REFLECTS JUST ONE YEAR OF OUR REQUESTED NEEDS.
EVERY YEAR FOR NINE YEARS, I HAVE SUBMITTED TWO FUNDING REQUESTS LISTS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE OUTLINING IN DETAIL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PERSONNEL AND SALARY FUNDING FOR THE YEAR.
MUCH OF THIS WAS NOT APPROVED YEAR AFTER YEAR, THUS SHOWING UP ON FOLLOWING OR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEAR REQUESTS.
I ASKED EACH OF YOU, DID THE CHART MR. CASTLEY PROVIDED REFLECT NINE YEARS OF REQUEST AND WHAT WAS, AND WHAT WAS NOT FUNDED OR JUST LAST YEAR MEANT TO GIVE YOU SOME FALSE IMPRESSION OF THE FUNDING REQUEST.
OF COURSE, I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION AND THAT IS COUNTY EXECUTIVE CLASS CALEY, EXCUSE ME, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DECIDED ON ANOTHER TACTIC.
PLEASE KNOW THAT I HAVE ALL THE DATA.
I WILL SIT WITH EACH OF YOU OR ALL OF YOU AT ONCE AND GO OVER NINE YEARS OF FUNDING REQUESTS AND APPROVED FUNDING.
YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
YOU WILL SEE THAT DURING THE LAST COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, OUR BUDGET GROWTH WAS JUST A, A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT OF THE COUNTY GROWTH.
I DO HAVE CHARTS OF OUR OWN, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE I GUESS JENNIFER, UM, HANDOUT AND YOU WILL SEE THERE'S ENOUGH FOR THE, UH, CITIZEN ADVISORS AS WELL.
THE WHITE LINE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THE BLUE LINE IS HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
IN THE ORANGE LINE IS HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
PERCENTAGE OF THE INCREASES IN THE BUDGET.
UM, YOU CAN SEE AND AND AND I DON'T BEGRUDGE THEM THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THE GROWTH OF D E S AND, AND THE FULL-TIME MEDICS ARE A NECESSITY, UM, THAT THAT GREATLY OUTPACED US.
BUT WHERE HE WANTS TO MAKE HEAVING, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WANTS TO MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT LAST YEAR.
THE COUNTY'S INCOME WAS SPIKED LAST YEAR AS WELL.
AND, UH, AGAIN, OUR GROWTH, IF YOU PUT A TREND LINE TO ANY OF THIS, IT'LL SHOW OUR GROWTH IS PRETTY MUCH ON PAR WITH THE COUNTY GROWTH OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
DESS IS IS MARKEDLY ABOVE IT, BUT DESERVEDLY SO.
UH, I DON'T BEGRUDGE THEM THAT, BUT IT, THE, THE FALSE SENSE OF THE CHART THAT HE HANDED OUT, THE FAKE NEWS THAT HE HANDED OUT TO HIS CHART THE OTHER DAY IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NOT SIT HERE AND ALLOW TO PASS WITHOUT COMMENT.
AS I SAID, DURING COUNTY EXECUTIVE GLASSMAN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES RATE OF GROWTH GREATLY OUTPACED THAT OF EVERY SERVICE PROVIDED OTHER, EVERY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDED IN OUR COUNTY.
AS I SAID, MR. GLASSMAN WAS WORKING TO ADDRESS THE EMS ISSUE AND WAS DOING SO AT A MARKEDLY INCREASED EXPENSE, BUT IN A DELIBERATE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
SO FAKE NEWS ASIDE, LET'S DISCUSS SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT DID MOVE AHEAD.
OUR COMMAND POST VEHICLE, OUR C N T VEHICLE, OUR HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION PROJECT, NORTHERN PRECINCT RENOVATIONS, THE DETENTION CENTER, KITCHEN AND RENOVATION, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THREE HVAC SYSTEMS IN THREE HOUSING AREAS AT THE JAIL.
MR. CASSIE GOT IN THE WAY OF ALL OF THESE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS AND SLOWED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DOWN AN UNNECESSARY WASTE OF TIME IN MY OPINION.
BUT AS THE INCOMING COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND IN RESPONSE TO HIS DELAYS, WE WANTED HIM TO SEE THAT EACH PRIOR APPROVED PROJECT WAS WORTH THE EXPENDITURES BEING MADE ULTIMATELY OTHER THAN THE CENTRAL PRECINCT.
AT PRESENT, HE AGREED THAT NONE OF THESE REQUESTS WERE JUST ONCE
[02:30:01]
HIS WORDS AND INDEED THEY WERE, NEEDS HIS WORDS AND ALLOWED THEM TO MOVE FORWARD AND TOOK CREDIT FOR GIVING US THESE PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS.LET ME BE CLEAR, COUNTY EXECUTIVE GLASSMAN PROVIDED OUR CITIZENS THESE IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS.
AND FOR SEVERAL OF THEM, THE PREVIOUS COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THEM.
THEY GAVE 'EM TO OUR CITIZENS AGAIN, SINCE THEY ALL MOVED FORWARD MET MR. MEANT, MR. CASTLEY AGREES WITH MR. GLASSMAN'S DECISION TO FUND ALL OF THESE NECESSARY PROJECTS.
TO SUM UP THIS PART, AND AGAIN, TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, MR. CALEY DID NOTHING BUT SLOW THEM DOWN AND THEN EXPECTED TO BE US TO BE APPRECIATIVE OF HIS EFFORTS.
ANOTHER ADDITION TO OUR BUDGET, WHICH MR. CASSIE EXPECTS ME TO BE THANKFUL FOR IS THE NEARLY $1 MILLION INCREASE IN OUR MEDICAL CONTRACT AT THE DETENTION CENTER.
SOMETHING HE ALSO MENTIONED IN THESE CHAMBERS LAST WEEK, YOU RECALL TO THE EFFECT THAT THESE UNFUNDED MANDATES IN ANNAPOLIS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE JAIL STAFF DRUG DEALERS.
HE'S JUST NOT WILLING TO BE TRANSPARENT.
THIS DRAMATIC INCREASE TO OUR MOST EXPENSIVE CONTRACT IS NOW, IS NOW BECAUSE WE MUST PROVIDE MEDICATED ASSISTED TREATMENT MAT, THE MAT PROGRAM TO OUR INMATE POPULATION.
MEANING INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ASSIST INMATES IN GETTING CLEAN AND OFFERING ABSTENTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS AS WE HAVE OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE MUST NOW SUPPORT THEIR ADDICTION WHILE THEY ARE INCARCERATED.
THIS IS NEARLY A $1 MILLION INCREASE TO THE CONTRACT COST FOR CRIMINAL OFFENDERS, AND THAT IS JUST FOR 50 INMATES.
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE, THIS COST IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW AS MORE INMATES ARE INCLUDED AND THE PRICE OF DRUGS INCREASED.
YOU KNOW WHO VOTED FOR THIS? I, I, UM, COUNCILMAN PENMAN ASKED ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, SENATOR BOB CASTLEY IN 2019.
SO AGAIN, I SHOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE MONEY HE ASSISTED.
MARILYN'S LEGISLATURE TAKE OUT A TAXPAYER POCKETS.
I'M NOT, I HAVE THE BILL AND I HAVE THE VOTE SHEET FOR ANY OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
AT THE OUTSET OF MY REMARKS, I MENTIONED THAT THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL DOES PROVIDE FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AS A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW CONCERNING THIS VITAL INCREASE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE WORKING WITH THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE TWO PREVIOUS SALARY STUDIES OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING EVERY SALARY AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SWORN CORRECTIONS, AND OUR CIVILIAN STAFF TO A MARKET LEVEL RATE OF COMPARABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS.
WITH THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE COMPETE WITH FOR OUR WORKFORCE, WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS NEARLY 10 YEARS OF NEGLECT AND THE NUANCES OF THE SALARY STRUCTURE AND, AND, AND ADDRESS BOTH COMPENSATION IN THE STRUCTURE AND INFERIOR COMPENSATION AS COMPARED TO THOSE OTHER AGENCIES.
THIS YEAR OUR THIRD SALARY STUDY WAS COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT GROUP AND WE PROVIDED A COMPLETE IN-DEPTH OVERVIEW OF THE DATA GATHERED DURING THAT STUDY TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE CASTLEY AND HIS STAFF.
WHAT THIS MOST RECENT STUDY SHOWS IS THAT WE HAD MARKEDLY FALLEN BEHIND THOSE COMPARABLE AGENCIES, AND I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT POLICINGS NOT CHEAP.
AND AS MORE ANNAPOLIS DOES, THE MORE EXPENSIVE IT GETS.
AND THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVING THIS BIDDING WAR.
AGAIN, THIS YEAR'S INCLUDED INCREASES WILL ALLOW OUR AGENCY TO REMAIN AT LEAST MINIMALLY COMPETITIVE WITH THOSE AGENCIES TO COMPETE WITH FOR PERSONNEL FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
IT IS MY HOPE IT WAS DONE FOR OUR CITIZENS, AGAIN TO ATTRACT GREAT MEN AND WOMEN TO SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT IT IS MY SUSPICION THAT IT WAS DONE ONLY TO MASK THE GENERAL THEME OF DEFUNDING THIS COUNCIL IS NOW THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS MAIN PRIORITY IS VENGEANCE IN DISHONORING THOSE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM.
NOTHING DEMONSTRATES THIS MORE CLEARLY THAN HIS ATTEMPTS BY MR. CALEY TO REMOVE CAPTAIN JIM'S NAME, A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, AND A LIFELONG SERVANT TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THE CITIZENS OF, OF THIS COUNTY FROM THE VETERANS COMMISSION.
IN MY OPINION, THIS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN TARGETING AN INDIVIDUAL WHO GAVE A LIFE OF SERVICE TO ALL OF US AND IS NO LONGER HERE TO EVEN DEFEND HIMSELF.
THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THIS ACTION WAS SUSPECTED BEST, AND I'M GLAD IT WAS CLEAR THAT BILL WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THIS COUNCIL SUCCESSFULLY.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD ASK THIS COUNCIL, WHICH LIKE ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES MADE IT CLEAR, THE PREVIOUS ONE MADE IT CLEAR THAT PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL ASPECTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ARE VITAL TO OUR CITIZENS WELLBEING AS WELL AS THE COUNTY.
AND I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED TRUST AND SUPPORT.
I PROMISE EACH OF YOU, AND I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW IT TO BE THE CASE.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME AS YOUR SHERIFF, THAN
[02:35:01]
THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AND THE SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.I ASK ALL OF YOU TO SUPPORT ME BY MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THEM, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR NEIGHBORS IN THIS IMPORTANT AND MOST UNUSUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
AS ALWAYS, I WELCOME ANY CONVERSATIONS YOU WISH TO HAVE AND I PROMISE AS ALWAYS TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST IN OUR DEALINGS AND ASK FOR THE SAME IN RETURN.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME EXPECTATION I OUTLINED TO MR. CALEY AS OUR NEW COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR HIM AND FOR ME BOTH WAYS.
AND SADLY, THIS HAS PROVEN TO BE A BAR TOO HIGH FOR HIM.
OUR COUNTY IS GROWING, CORRECTION HAS GROWN AND CONTINUES TO GROW.
THE PATH AHEAD IS NOT ONE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM DEFUNDING THE POLICE LAW AND ORDER IS THE CORNERSTONE OF WHAT MAKES HARFORD COUNTY SO GREAT AND AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES TO LOCATE MR. CASSIE'S DEFUNDING EFFORT IS NOT WHAT IS NEEDED HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
I'M GONNA BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
WE DO HAVE A SHORT POWERPOINT AND I DO WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MS. SPENCE HAD TO SIT HERE BESIDE ME AS I HAD MY COMMENTS AND THIS IS NO WAY TO REFLECT ANY, UM, UNFAVORABLE.
I THINK SHE'S BEEN PUT IN THAT A TOUGH POSITION OVER THE LAST, IN EVERY BUDGET CYCLE.
NO WAY TO REFLECT THE COUNTY'S WORKFORCE.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN ME AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UH, YOU WANNA GO AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATION PLEASE? NO, NO.
YOU WANNA SIT? THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UH, IN THE GALLERY AND THERE'S LISTING ONLINE, UH, MY NAME IS MAJOR LEE DUNBAR.
I'M CURRENTLY SIGNED AS THE BUREAU CHIEF OF THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT DIVISION, WHICH SPECIAL PROJECTS CAPITAL PROJECT BUILD PROJECTS FALL UNDER ME AS WELL AS TRAINING.
UM, I HAVE BEEN IN CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT SINCE, UH, DAY ONE, ALONG WITH TWO OF MY PROJECT MANAGERS WHO ARE SEATED BEHIND ME HERE, UH, NOW MAJOR ERIC GONZALEZ AND CURRENTLY CAPTAIN MICHAEL SCHLEPPER.
I'M GONNA GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW, UM, OF THE PROJECT HERE AND, UH, WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
I WILL SAY MY OPENING REMARKS, IT'S UM, UNFORTUNATE THAT I'M HERE TODAY PRESENTING THIS TO YOU AND THAT WE'RE NOT STANDING OUT ON THE GROUND FOR A SHOVEL-READY PROJECT.
WE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE OUT ON THE SITE.
GROUND SHOULD BE BROKEN WHERE I SHOULD BE DISCUSSING THE PROGRESS, PROGRESS OF THIS PROJECT VERSUS TRYING TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS.
UM, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF OF WORK.
THAT INCLUDES PLANNING, UH, DESIGNING, ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING.
LET ME EMPHASIZE AND I WILL EMPHASIZE THROUGHOUT THIS, THIS IS A NEED, NOT A WANT.
UM, THIS IS DUE TO CALLS FOR SERVICE, PROPER ALLOCATION OF MANPOWER AND OUR ASSETS.
I'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
AS WELL AS PROVIDING A PROF, A PROFESSIONAL POLICE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEASTERN AND PART OF OUR COUNTY, WHICH THIS WAS ALREADY PROMISED TO THEM BY THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MR. GLASSMAN, ALONG WITH SHERIFF GAYLOR AND SOME OF YOU WERE ALSO PRESENT ON THAT PRESS CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2021.
SO AGAIN, AND WHENEVER, WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY, PART OF THAT REASON THERE IS GROWTH OF THE COUNTY AND GROWTH OF OUR AGENCY AS WELL AS UPDATED COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS THERE.
THE GROWTH OF OUR COUNTY HAS GROWN APPROXIMATELY 8% ACCORDING TO THE LAST CENSUS OVER THAT 10 YEAR PERIOD FROM 2010 TO 2021 IN OUR COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW AS WELL AS OUR DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE.
AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, WITHIN THAT CENTRAL PRECINCT ENVELOPE, WHICH CUTS ACROSS THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE COUNTY.
HERE WE HAVE DIVIDED OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE.
I'LL GET IN A LITTLE BIT LATER FROM OUR NORTHERN UH, PRECINCT TO OUR CENTRAL PRECINCT, THE PROPOSED CENTRAL PRECINCT AND OUR SOUTHERN PRECINCT.
UM, AS OUR AGENCY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW, WE ARE ABOUT, UH, PLUS 68 SINCE 2017.
WE'VE REQUIRED SEVERAL CIVILIAN POSITIONS SUCH AS ANIMAL CONTROL AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MANDATED, UH, THROUGH THE LEGISLATION AND THEN UPDATED COMMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND COMMAR REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR TRAINING ACADEMY.
THIS IS CURRENTLY WHERE WE ARE TODAY, ALTHOUGH WE ARE ALLOCATING, HAVE SPLIT OUR CALLS FOR SERVICE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER 10 SECTORS THERE, UM, AS WELL AS CERTAIN POSTS THAT ARE BROKEN DOWN, EVEN FINER, UH, THAN THAT.
CAN YOU GO BACK ONE? YES, SIR.
ON, ON THIS, ON THIS PICTURE JUST FOR THE COUNCIL'S, UM, EDUCATION, I GUESS IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN OUT ON RIDE ALONGS, UM, THAT THE COUNTY IS BROKEN INTO 10 SECTORS AND WITHIN EACH SECTOR OUR POSTS.
UM, SO WE DO NOT HAVE POLICE OFFICERS.
WE KEEP POLICE OFFICERS IN EVERY SECTOR.
[02:40:01]
HAVE NECESSARILY A POLICE OFFICERS IN EVERY POST, BUT THAT IS HOW WE DO OUR DEPLOYMENT.AND THEN THE MAJOR'S GONNA GO THROUGH THE CALLS TODAY AND THEN WHERE THEY WOULD BE WITH THE FUNCTIONING CENTER.
YEAH, THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE OVER ADAM MINOR CALLS THAT ARE COMING TO DISPATCH.
THEY FIRST CONTACTED US, THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CALLS AND I, AND YOU'LL SEE HERE, I'LL GO TO THE UH, NEXT SLIDE HERE.
UM, AND THAT IS MY PROFESSIONAL HANDWRITING.
WHEN WE STARTED DOING SOME ROUGH WORK HERE, JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHEN WE WERE STARTING TO DELVE IN AS THE PLANNING, YOU COULD SEE THAT 73% OF THE CALLS ARE BE HANDLED BY THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY, CURRENTLY OPERATING OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT AND ONLY 20% IN THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY.
AND WHAT WE DID AT THE REQUEST OF DS IN PARTNERING WITH THEM, UM, BECAUSE THE CALL LOAD WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR DISPATCH TO HANDLE AND ALSO OUR RESPONSE TIMES THAT WE FELT, UM, NEEDED TO BE REDUCED AS DEPUTIES RESPONDING FROM THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT, WHICH IS THERE, UH, IN THE EDGEWOOD AT ROUTE 1 52 AND ROUTE 40 THERE IS TO SPLIT THAT UP INTO A NORTHERN, CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN THAT ALLOWS FOR EQUAL CALL DISTRIBUTION.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING THAT.
BUT AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE A PRECINCT IN THAT AREA FOR OUR DEPUTIES TO OPERATE OUT OF AND RESPOND FROM.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE RESPONSE TIME IN THAT BUSIEST PART OF THE COUNTY.
73% OF THE CALLS FOR SERVICE WHEN DEPUTIES HAVE AN ARREST AT DUI OR AN ARREST FOR DRUGS, THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT.
THE PROCESS TOO AS WELL AS OUR CITIZENS OUT IN THE, IN THAT AREA, ESPECIALLY IN THE CENTRAL DESIGNATED AREA WHERE WE WERE HOPING TO ALREADY BE ON A CONSTRUCTION FOR THAT PRECINCT.
UM, IT PROVIDES BETTER POLICE SERVICE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT AREA, IN THAT GROWING AREA AS WELL THAT THEY CAN HAVE A PRECINCT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND NOT HAVING TO TRAVEL TO THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT.
UM, AS FAR AS OUR TRAINING ACADEMY IS CONCERNED THERE, YOU'LL SEE THESE ARE PICTURES TAKEN OF OUR TRAINING ACADEMY.
WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO HAVE THAT AND ONE OF THE FIRST TO ALSO BE FULLY ACCREDITED.
BUT OUR TRAINING ACADEMY STARTED IN 1974 AND THE BASEMENT OF OUR DETENTION CENTER THERE AND YOU CAN SEE THE RANGE WAS THERE THOUGH RANGE WAS THERE AS WELL AS THE UH, C FORM IN 1989 WE MOVED OUR OPERATIONS IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UH, EDGEWOOD HALL.
AND YOU COULD SEE THAT WE HAVE QUICKLY OUTGROWN THAT.
AND AGAIN, TRAINING FALLS UNDER ME, ALL TRAINING OPERATIONS AS A BUREAU CHIEF.
UM, I'M OUT THERE QUITE OFTEN AS WELL AS MY CAPTAINS AND OTHER SUPERVISORS.
UH, WE ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS. I WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT A OFFICE WHERE A PROFESSIONAL, A PROFESSIONAL POLICE AGENCY SHOULD BE OPERATING OUT OF WHERE WE'VE HAD TO TAKE A CONFERENCE ROOM AND CONVERT THAT INTO A STORAGE AREA AS WELL AS A WEAPON STORAGE AREA.
YOU CAN SEE THE SAFES IN THE BACKGROUND AND WHERE I'M TAKING THE PICTURE FROM.
THERE'S TWO CUBICLES RIGHT BEHIND ME THAT WE HOUSE TWO TO THREE INSTRUCTORS IN AS WELL.
THE PHOTOGRAPH THERE TO YOUR RIGHT I TOOK THAT AS WELL.
THAT WAS OUR CLASS BEFORE LAST.
OUR LARGEST CLASS IN HISTORY OF 31, ALTHOUGH WE ENDED UP GRADUATING 30.
UM, THEY'RE WALL TO WALL AND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER COMMAR REGULATIONS.
UH, ASK FOR 25 SQUARE FEET PER RECRUIT.
AS YOU COULD SEE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
AGAIN, THIS IS OUR CURRENT LOCKER SITUATION IN STORAGE ROOM AND THAT WAS AFTER MY GUYS CLEANED IT UP.
UM, IT GETS QUITE MESSY AS THEY'RE ACTIVELY IN AND OUT OF THERE.
WITH RECRUITS FOR UNIFORMS, YOU COULD SEE THE LOCKER ROOM SITUATION TO YOUR RIGHT WHERE RECRUITS HAVE TO GO IN, THEY ARE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND BACK TO BACK WHEN THEN THEY'RE ARE CHANGING UH, THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR AT THE END OF THE DAY.
UH, TO THE CURRENT HEAT CENTER.
THIS IS THE CURRENT HEAT CENTER.
THE WAY IT EXISTS TODAY, IF YOU WENT OUT THERE AND AGAIN, UM, IT SHOULD LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT BECAUSE DEMOLITION SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN WELL UNDERWAY BUT IT IS NOT.
SO THIS WILL ESTABLISH A NEW DIVISION, THE CENTRAL PRECINCT YOU SEE UNDER THERE.
OUR PATROL OPERATIONS BUREAU AND UH, THE MAJOR BUREAU CHIEF MAJOR ERIC GONZALEZ IS SEATED RIGHT BEHIND ME.
UH, CURRENTLY THERE WE HAVE OUR NORTHERN PRECINCT, OUR SOUTHERN PRECINCT SPECIAL OPERATIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CENTRAL PRECINCT UH, WOULD BE ADDED TO THAT.
AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, THIS WAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED.
THIS WAS ALREADY UM, AGREED UPON BY THE PREVIOUS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
WE PUT THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE SHERIFF MADE A PLEDGE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AT THE TIME AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVING THOSE FUNDS.
AND I SHOULD NOTE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE CENTER SITTING IN A CAPITAL PROJECT AT 22.5 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THAT WAS APPROVED BY ADULE ELECTED COUNTY EXECUTIVE PRIOR TO AND SOME OF YOU MEMBERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SEATED, UH, ON THE COUNCIL THERE.
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING? YOU'LL SEE THE HEAT THAT ARE PLAYING RIGHT THERE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR ENGINEERING DONE, ALL OF OUR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS DONE AS WELL AS PERMITTING.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SITE PLANS WE'LL GO THROUGH HERE.
YOU'LL SEE WHAT'S CIRCLED THERE IS THE FUEL CENTER.
UH, MYSELF AND ERIC GONZALEZ, WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING TO THIS, WE STARTED SEEING CALLS FOR SERVICE RESPONSE WITHOUT A FUEL STATION.
SO WE'D HAVE THE PRECINCT THERE AND THAT IS REDUCED CALLS FOR SERVICE.
SO HAVE A DEPUTIES OPERATING OUT THERE.
PRECINCT REDUCED, UM, RE REDUCE OUR RESPONSE TIMES.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT A FUEL STATION, OUR ROUND TRIP, THE FUEL TO ABINGTON WAS
[02:45:01]
APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES EACH WAY KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.YOU CAN BUILD THE PRECINCT BUT YOU GOTTA PUT FUEL INTO CARS AND IF OUR DEPUTIES GOTTA DRIVE 20 MINUTES EACH WAY AT A FUEL KIND OF DEFEATS THE PURPOSE.
SO, UH, WE MET WITH D EES, I ALSO MET WITH FLEET MANAGEMENT.
WARREN PATRICK AS THE SHERIFF SAID, THEY WERE BOTH VERY SUPPORTIVE AS WELL.
THERE'S A NEED FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE A FUEL STATION THERE AS WELL.
EVERYTHING FROM DUMP TRUCKS TO SCHOOL BUSES, UH, TO COUNTY VEHICLES AND EMS AS WELL AS OUR POLICE CARS.
IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW MR. CASSIE WANTS TO MOVE THAT FUEL STATION.
WE'VE ALREADY SPENT CLOSE TO $1 MILLION ON PLANNING AND DESIGN.
SO INCLUDING A FUEL STATION, WHICH EXCUSE ME, REQUIRES A LOT OF PERMITTING FOR ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AS WELL AS STORMWATER, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.
SO TO MOVE THAT LOCATION SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET THAT ACCELERATING PERMITTING DONE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN BECAUSE WE GOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT SLASH EMERGENCY OPERATIONS EXEMPTION.
TO DO THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN WITH THE COUNTY.
PLUS WHETHER THE SITE IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND, THIS PROJECT HERE, IT'S READY TO GO.
THIS IS A SECURITY OFFENSE THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED THERE AROUND OUR TRAINING ACADEMY IN CENTRAL PRECINCT FOR THE PRECINCT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S VERY UH, VERY IMPORTANT FOR SECURITY.
WE'RE BRINGING PRISONERS IN ONCE THEY COME INTO THE GATED AREA, THEY GO INTO THE SALLY PORT, THEY CAN BE PROCESSED THERE AS WELL.
IT ALSO PROVIDES A RUNNING TRACK FOR OUR TRAINING CENTER.
BUT THIS ALLOWS US WITHIN THAT APPROXIMATE NINE ACRE, NINE ACRE PARCEL FOR US TO HAVE SEGREGATION OF OUR TRAINING.
WE ARE NOT GONNA BE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOWS THE HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S RULES AND REGULATION.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT WITH COVID IT WRECKED HAVOC ON OUR TRAINING THERE WITH MASS REQUIREMENTS AND DISTANCING AND ALL OF THAT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN FACILITY.
WE CAN OPERATE DURING A TIME OF A PANDEMIC GOD THAT EVER HAPPENS.
BUT IT GIVES US THE CLASSROOM SIZE THAT WE NEED UH, TO OPERATE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPERATING OUTTA TWO CLASSROOMS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR TRAINING FACILITIES AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF OUR TRAINING OUT ON A PARKING LOT, NAVIGATING CARS WITH KIDS COMING IN AND OUT.
ANOTHER THING THAT CAUSES A PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS AND WE'VE RECEIVED A RECENT COMPLAINT, IS HOW WE TRAIN.
WE ARE A PILLAR PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS TO GO OUT THERE AND INSTITUTE LAW AND ORDER AND AT TIMES THEY MAY HAVE TO TAKE DEADLY FORCES.
WE'VE DONE SO THAT'S A PROPER MATTER OF TRAINING OUR OBJECTIVE AND MY TRAINING FOR OUR DEPUTIES TO MAKE SURE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY THE BEST TRAINED DEPUTIES IN THE COUNTY BUT THE BEST TRAINED DEPUTIES IN THIS COUNTY, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO HOME IN ONE PIECE.
THAT'S OUR OBJECTIVE WITH TRAINING AND WITH THAT, WITH THAT PARA CHARGE, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S OFFSETTING FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS AND WE'VE RECEIVED COMPLAINT FROM STAFF AND TEACHERS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE WE'RE CO-MINGLED WHEN WE'RE DRESSING DOWN A RECRUIT OR WE'RE CHALLENGING THEM A CERTAIN WAY.
SO HERE IS A RENDERING THE ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING FROM AN ARCHITECT FIRM HERE OF WHAT THE FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE.
AND AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST LOCATION FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
BUT ALSO KEEP IN MIND THIS IS COUNTING OWN PROPERTY THAT SOUND VACANT FOR YEARS IT WASN'T BEING USED.
WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE POTENTIAL BUYERS.
THOSE BUYERS HAS NOT COME FORTH YET.
THE SHERIFF HAS ASKED FOR THAT.
WE STILL HAVEN'T GOT AN ANSWER.
WE'VE DONE OUR OWN RESEARCH ON THAT ABOUT HOTEL DEVELOPMENT AND ALL THAT.
NOBODY SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR HOTELS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE RUNNING UNDERCUT AS IT IS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY THIS IS A SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS.
THIS IS A PLUS PLUS FOR US AND THE CITIZENS CUZ WE ARE REPURPOSING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS BUILDING.
THE ONLY ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS WOULD BE THE FUEL STATION AND THE T GARAGE YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.
I'M GONNA START THIS VIDEO AND NARRATE IT FOR YOU HERE.
THIS IS DONE PROFESSIONALLY BY THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM OF WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE ONCE IT'S BUILT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE ASPHALT AREA THERE TO YOUR RIGHT.
THAT WOULD BE WHERE THE GENERAL AREA WHERE THE FUEL STATION WOULD BE DESIGNED.
THE EXISTING BUILDING, THERE IS A TWO-STORY BUILDING THERE.
THE HEAT CENTER THAT WOULD BE RETAINED.
WE WOULD BE STRIPPING IT DOWN TO THE WALLS AND BUILDING AT THE SPEC TO MEET OUR NEEDS AS WELL AS THE COMMAR REGULATIONS THERE.
I WOULD PROVIDE UH, MUSIC UH, TO THIS BUT I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE APPRECIATE HAIR BAND MUSIC BUT JUST SO MUCH.
IT'S A TWO STORY BUILDING THERE AS YOU COME DOWN THE DRIVEWAY IS THE TRAINING ACADEMY.
SO THAT WHOLE BUILDING IS COMMITTED TO YES, THE TRAINING ACADEMY WITH A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM THERE ON THE CORNER.
WHICH CAN BE USED FOR BRINGING IN OUTSIDE TRAINING, LARGER EVENTS OR YOU KNOW, EVENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WE HAVE AT OUR OTHER PRECINCTS.
IT'S JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW AND THEN WE'LL ZOOM IN UM, A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
YOU'LL SEE THE SECURITY FENCING AREA THAT'S NEEDED.
THAT'S WHERE OUR DEPUTIES WERE BRINGING PRISONERS AND EVIDENCE BEHIND THAT.
THAT WOULD BE OPERATED WITH A KEY FOB SO THEY WOULD ENTER THAT SECURITY AREA THERE WHERE WE'RE COMING IN.
AGAIN, ALL THAT'S TRACKED ACCESS CONTROL, UM, JUST BEYOND THAT ARE APPROACHING IS OUR T GARAGE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, WE CALL OUR TECH GARAGE BUT WE STORE ALL OF OUR VEHICLES THERE.
SOME OF THOSE SUCH AS OUR T R V OR OUR BEARCAT, THOSE VEHICLES CAN RANGE UP TO A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
WE CALL THERE'S LIFE-SAVING VEHICLES OR RESCUE VEHICLES AND WE HAVE MANY INCIDENTS AS SHOWN THAT WHERE WE HAVE SAVED LIVES WITH THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY MAXED OUT WITH THE NEW EDITION OF OUR BOAT AND AS
[02:50:01]
WELL AS THE DUAL USE D E S AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMMAND BUS.WE DON'T HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT 'EM SOUTHERN, WE'RE MAXED OUT SO SOMETHING'S GONNA HAVE TO SIT OUTSIDE AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US WHEN THESE THINGS NEED TO BE ON A TRICKLE CHARGE OR TO SET A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR VEHICLE OR A COMMAND BUS THAT'S UPWARD TO $2 MILLION SITTING THAT OUTSIDE.
THIS SERVES A PURPOSE FOR GROSS.
IT GIVES US THOSE ADDITIONAL BAYS TO PUT THOSE TWO VEHICLES IN PLUS THREE MORE BAYS, UH, TO OPERATE OUT.
THIS IS THE OTHER EXISTING SINGLE STORY BUILDING OF THE HEAT CENTER.
AGAIN, AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE FULLY REPURPOSED.
WE'LL JUST BE GUTTING THE INTERIOR OF IT.
AND THIS WILL BE OUR UH, CENTRAL PRECINCT AREA THAT IS THE RUNNING TRACK THERE THAT WE WILL BE UTILIZING FOR OUR TRAINING FOR RECRUITS, UM, AS WELL AS OUR DEPUTIES CUZ WE ARE NOW REQUIRED BY LEGISLATION TO HAVE A PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT DONE EACH YEAR.
YOU ALSO SEE APPROACHING WILL BE THE GYM.
THAT WILL BE AN ADD-ON, UH, TO THE TRAINING CENTER.
UH, THAT'S JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ADEQUATE STA SPACE IN THAT TWO-STORY BUILDING.
AND I SHOULD NOTE THE GYM EQUIPMENT WILL BE PAID FOR COURTESY OF OUR DRUG DEALERS THAT WE LOCK UP IN THIS COUNTY.
THE DRUG DEALERS WILL BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE FULL EXPENSE OF THAT GYM EQUIPMENT THAT'S UH, IN THERE.
SO THIS IS ENTERING THE LOBBY.
AS THE VEHICLE SPLITS, IF YOU WOULD GO CONTINUE ON TO YOUR LEFT, YOU WOULD ENTER THE TRAINING ACADEMY.
IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE HERE ONTO THE RIGHT, YOU WILL ENTER THE CENTRAL PRECINCT SIDE.
THAT IS OUR SECURITY BOOTH THERE.
SO THAT'S, UH, AND YOU GUYS WILL HAVE A COPY OF THIS.
I'M GONNA LEAVE THIS SO YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, UM, AS WELL THERE.
SO IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME HERE.
SO HERE'S THE OVERALL FLOOR PLAN.
AGAIN, YOU'LL BE LEFT WITH THIS.
WE'VE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT.
UH, CAPTAIN GONZALEZ AT THE TIME WAS SENT DOWN TO DALLAS FOR A WEEK LONG COURSE ON THIS, ON HOW TO BUILD, BUILD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO HE WAS THERE WITH COHORTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON UH, BEST PRACTICES AS WELL AS US VISITING THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE WENT OUT TO WESTERN MARYLAND AS WELL AND OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK FOR BEST PRACTICES.
AND THAT'S HOW THIS WAS DESIGNED.
IT'S A VERY WELL DESIGNED UTILITARIAN BUILD THAT WILL SERVE US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UM, TO COME THERE AGAIN, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.
SEE YOU GET IN, WE'LL HAVE A DEPUTY'S ROOM RIGHT THERE WHERE DEPUTIES CAN COME IN AND DO THE REPORTS.
THERE'S ALSO A ROLL CALL ROOM THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE ROOMS AS WELL FOR OUR LIEUTENANT'S COMMAND STAFF.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL GET IN A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING.
UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SALAD PORT AREA.
THESE BUILDS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE CUZ IT IS A POLICE STATE STATION THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE HARDENED, UH, IN THEIR WALLS.
SO THEY WILL HAVE, UH, FULLY FILLED CENTER BLOCK WALLS.
A LOT OF THEM WILL HAVE STEEL ABOVE THE CEILING, ESPECIALLY, UH, IN THE THING.
SO THAT CAN GET RATHER EXPENSIVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T AVOID.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, AGAIN, THIS IS A NEED, NOT A WANT.
UH, THIS IS TRAINING, THIS IS PICTURE SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS WE HAVE THERE.
ONE THING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO RUN CONGRUENTLY WITH ENOUGH SPACE IN SERVICE CLASS, A LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY AS WELL AS A CORRECTIONAL ACADEMY, AS WELL AS HOSTING TRAINING.
WE ARE RECOGNIZED IN A MID-ATLANTIC REGION HOSTING SOME OF THE BEST TRAINING OUT THERE.
AND WE DO BRING IN DEPARTMENTS, AGAIN FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA TO COMMONWEALTH.
AND THIS ACADEMY RIGHT HERE WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S A TACTICAL GARAGE.
AGAIN, THE TENT CENTER, I TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UH, THERE WE ALSO HAVE REQUIREMENTS WITH SIGHT AND SOUND WITH JUVENILE.
SO THERE IS A JUVENILE, THE TENS FACILITY IN THERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO HAVE COMPLETE SIGHT AND SOUND SEPARATION, UM, AS WELL.
AND AGAIN, THE PROJECTED TIMELINE, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.
BUT, UH, WE'RE HOPING FOR APPROVAL, UM, THROUGH YOU ALL AND HOPEFULLY BY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE TO GET THIS MUCH NEEDED PROJECT UNDERWAY.
A A AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS PROJECT IS, I THINK, DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN HISTORY TO HAVE MOVED TO THIS POINT AND THEN BE STOPPED.
UH, I'M ANOTHER A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE IF THAT'S THE CASE, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE AND WE FIGURE IT'S, IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, UM, THAT HAS BEEN EXPENDED SO FAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF WORK THAT WE PUT INTO THIS, UH, TO GET IT THIS PART INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION'S APPROVAL, THE COUNTY PRIOR COUNTY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
UM, WE FIGURE AGAIN, ROUGHLY A MILLION WE'RE I I THINK IT'S A, UH, MISSERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS TO SIMPLY FLUSH THAT MONEY DOWN THE TOILET.
THIS PROJECT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH WE'VE HAD AND WE HAVE MORE GROWTH COMING.
IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN 5 43 JAMES RUN, CAPTAIN SCHLEPPER CAN GIVE US AN OVERVIEW.
I'M NOT GONNA ASK HIM TO DO IT TODAY, BUT HE CAN PROVIDE YOU ANY OF 'EM.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMING PROJECTS.
WE NEED THIS PROJECT FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY, SO THAT WE ARE THE POLICE TODAY, AND TO BE PREPARED TO GROW INTO TOMORROW.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DOING IT NOW WHERE IT'S ALL APPROVED AND READY TO GO OR DOING IT LATER IS IT'S JUST GONNA COST A LOT MORE LATER.
UM, THIS PROJECT, UH, AGAIN, I I, I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM THAT THIS PROJECT WITH THE APPROVAL AND WITH THE PROGRESS THAT IT'S MOVED THROUGH, THE, THE STEPS THAT'S MOVED THROUGH GET TO THIS POINT, UM, THAT IT WOULD BE
[02:55:01]
THROWN OUT THE WINDOW.SO, UM, WITH THAT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT KIM TO GO BEFORE QUESTIONS.
LET'S, KIM'S LIKE GETTING ME OUTTA HERE.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I'M GONNA JUST GO THROUGH THEIR CALL CENTERS.
UM, WE'LL START ON 3 0 8 IN TOTAL.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE INCREASES 3 MILLION 5 58, 3 38, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, WHICH IS ON 3 0 8.
THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 2 53 9 60.
UM, IT'S THE NET OF PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASING 1 7 1 77 599.
THAT'S, UM, ALSO THE NET OF, UH, THE REDUCTION OF THE 27TH PAY AT 1 47, 0 50.
UH, NET TRANSFER OF, UM, POSITIONS BEING TRANSFERRED THROUGHOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, DECREASES 1 55 0 17.
UM, BUT THERE IS 142,429 IN THERE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CASE SCALE ENHANCEMENT AND 36 210 FOR, UH, TEMPORARY SALARIES ON PAGE 3 0 9, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 3 44 8 34 80,955 IS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES, UM, FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY MANDATES.
A HUN UH, DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE INCREASES A HUNDRED THOUSAND 586 SPACE AND REAL ESTATE RENTAL INCREASES ONE 13,488.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU GO DOWN TO SUPPLIES OF MATERIALS, THERE'S A SMALL INCREASE THERE OF 12,771, AND THAT'S SPREAD THROUGHOUT FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, PRINTING, ET CETERA.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 62 9 54.
THIS IS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, UH, MEALS, LODGING, ET CETERA.
BASED ON, UM, EXPENSE HISTORY, RETURN TO PAGE THREE 12 PATROL OPERATIONS.
A INCREASE 2 MILLION 5 0 8 498.
IT'S THE NET OF PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASING.
UH, 2.7 OF THAT IS FOR THE, UH, 20 F I 24 LAW ENFORCEMENT PAYCO ENHANCEMENT.
1 MILLION 48 7 62 IS FOR 10 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES THAT WERE CREATED ALREADY DURING THE YEAR.
UM, AND THEN THE NET RESULT OF TRANSFERS INTO THIS DIVISION IS INCREASING 7 0 2 180 3.
THERE IS AN OVERTIME INCREASE OF 2 58 881 OFFSET BY THE 27TH.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 39,446, 16,252 OF THAT IS FOR VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL SERVICES, DATA SOFTWARE.
AND THIS IS ALL BASED ON, UM, BASED ON EXPENSE HISTORY, OTHER INSURANCE INCREASES.
UM, THIS IS FOR GENERAL, GENERAL AND AUTO PROPERTY OR COMP 23,194.
SUPPLIES OF MATERIALS DECREASE 1 MILLION 5 57 387.
THIS IS MAINLY THE RESULT OF, UM, OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
DECREASED DUE TO THE ONE TIME EXPENSES IN FY 23 TO OUTFIT NEW DEPUTY POSITIONS.
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION INCREASE 93 8 57 BASED ON ACTUAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
UM, AND OTHER, OTHER SUPPLIES, MEALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES INCREASES 56 7 56.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 2 58 289.
THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR VEHICLES.
FUEL, UM, PARKING, TRANSPORTATION COST EQUIPMENT INCREASES 463,377.
THE BULK OF THIS IS FOR THE POLICE CAR PACKAGES FOR OUTFITTING 30 CARS.
UM, COMPARED TO, UM, LAST YEAR THE COST WAS 13,000 PER VEHICLE.
THIS YEAR, IT'S 28,000 PER VEHICLE.
UM, RADAR EQUIPMENT INCREASES FOR STALKER AND, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT.
AND THEN WE HAD A DECREASE IN AV EQUIPMENT FOR NINTH GOGGLES THAT WE PURCHASED LAST YEAR ON PAGE THREE 16 AS INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES.
THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE OF 7 0 7 996.
IT'S THE NET OF A DECREASE IN PERSONAL SERVICES OF 8 66.
677 IS THE RESULT OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AGAIN, WE, UM, HAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE ENHANCEMENT IN THERE AT 6 73.
6 76, AND THEN OFFSET BY THE 27TH PA, WHICH WAS ELIMINATED AT 2 69.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 2 32 3 10 49.
[03:00:03]
EIGHT 40 IS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.AND, UM, INC WELL, IT'S FOR COVERT VEHICLE LEASE IS WHAT IT IS.
SPACE AND REAL ESTATE RENTAL INCREASES ONE 17,672.
AND DATA PROCESSING SOFTWARE FOR PEN LINK WIRE TAP SOFTWARE INCREASES 84 3 86 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
AND THIS IS DUE TO ONE TIME EXPENSES FOR NEW DEPUTIES IN FY 23 BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 54,858.
AGAIN, IT'S VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FUEL AND SO FORTH.
AND THAT, THAT CHARACTER LINE ITEMS. AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES 40,000.
AND THIS IS FOR CONFIDENTIAL EXPENSES FOR THE SHERIFF'S REQUEST.
SCHOOL SAFETY INCREASES 93 8 0 6.
IT'S THE NET RESULT OF PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASING 71,479.
UM, 2 15 369 IS ADDED FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE ENHANCEMENT.
WE, THE NET RESULT OF STAFF TRANSFERS BETWEEN DIVISIONS IS NEGATIVE ONE 17,000 2 24.
AND THEN WE, THE ELIMINATION OF THE 27TH PAY AT 65,447 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES THREE, SORRY, SAY 3 MILLION
IT'S JUST A SLATE DECREASE BASED ON ACTUALS.
BUSINESS TRAVEL, 25 592 INCREASES.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
AND FUEL CORRECTIONS ON PAGE 3 24 INCREASES 1 MILLION 24 2 18.
IF YOU TURN THE PAGE, IT IS THE NET RESULT OF DECREASE IN PERSONAL SERVICES OF 54,473.
UH, THE FY 24 CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PAY SCALE ENHANCEMENT IS ADDED FOR 4 86 0 59.
OVERTIME AT 2 23 726 OFFSET BY THE 27TH PAY, UH, FOR A DECREASE OF 5 0 6 8 0 3.
ON THE NEXT PAGE, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 1,007,119.
UH, MEDICAL SERVICES CONTRACT GOES UP 8 67 0 56, OFFICE EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICITY, FUEL, A BUNCH OF THINGS ADJUSTED FOR A COST INCREASE OF 70,847.
AND THEN COUNTY FACILITY REPAIR INCREASES FOR NEED REPAIRS AT DETENTION CENTER FOR 69,964.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 6 67 9 0 2.
THE BULK OF THAT IS FOR THE MEALS FOR THE INMATES.
THE FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT AT 6 43 2 53.
ON PAGE 3 32 IS COURT SERVICES.
THEY HAVE A DECREASE OF 3 56 9 18.
IT IS THE NET RESULT OF PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASING 4 31 6 42.
UM, AND THAT IS MAINLY DUE TO, UM, THE 27TH PAY PENSION ADJUSTMENTS AND THE NET RESULT OF THE DIVISION, UM, FOR FULL-TIME STAFF TRANSFERS BETWEEN OTHER DIVISIONS, BUT ALSO ADDS THE 5 28 3 36 FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY SCALE ENHANCEMENT.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES SLATE INCREASE OF 18,150.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR VARIOUS ITEMS. OFFICE EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE, UM, OPERATING EQUIPMENT BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS WENT DOWN 8,116.
AGAIN, THE DECREASES BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES FOR COMMERCIAL PRINTING AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL, AGAIN INCREASES 64,690 FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FUEL TRAINING SEMINAR COURSES BASED ON ACTUALS.
I DID FORGET TO MENTION THAT WE DID, UM, YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN FROM THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE VERY FIRST RECIPIENTS OF OUR 2022 ANNUAL REPORT SHOULD HAVE FOUNDED THAT YOUR, UH, UH, SHEETS AS YOU CAME INTO THE ROOM, UM, HIGHLIGHTING SOME THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T, WE WOULD NORMALLY PROBABLY GET THERE.
WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO COVER IN MY LENGTHY REMARKS.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE CONTINUED SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE OUR, OUR CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECEIVE A COPY OF YOUR OPENING COMMENTS.
UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, IF YOU WOULD SEND 'EM TO MS. HARRIS, SHE'LL DISTRIBUTE IT AMONGST THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND, UM, MAJOR DUNBAR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. PENMAN.
SHERIFF, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT COMMUNITY, UH, APPRECIATES IT TOO.
I THINK IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE COMMUNITY
[03:05:01]
SURVEY AND UPWARDS OF 90% APPROVAL RATE.SO, UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, AND I'LL START WITH, UM, I'M GONNA SWITCH.
UM, WERE YOU AWARE ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET, ON PAGE 75, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE PRECINCT THAT WAS FUNDED WITH A MILLION DOLLARS SPENT IN ENGINEERING DESIGN, THAT, UM, THEY REMOVED THE TITLE OF THAT, UH, THE PROJECT WAS FORMALLY TITLED 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE TO JUST A PROJECT, UM, MR. SAND, MS. SPENCER, DO WE KNOW WHY THAT WAS DONE? TO YOUR QUESTION? I AM AWARE THAT IT WAS DONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT TOOK PLACE.
UM, THIS YES, THAT IT USED TO BE A, THE NAME OF THAT PROJECT USED TO BE 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE.
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE WAS CHANGED LAST YEAR TO THIS, TO THIS TITLE THAT WAS DONE IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, I KNOW THERE WAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MOVING THAT PRECINCT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, STRATEGICALLY PLACED THERE AND DESIGNED THERE.
UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, IF IT ISN'T IN THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, AND IT WAS APPROVED AS THE TITLE KNOWN 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE IS, IS THERE A WAY, UH, MR. MCCORD TO, TO RETURN THAT TO THE NAME 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE? IS THAT POSSIBLE? NAME 1201 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ADDRESS WHERE THE PROJECT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PLACED.
IF YOU FOLLOW ME, OTHER PROJECT NAME BY THE ADDRESS.
IT WAS, IT'S, IT WAS NAMED THERE.
IF YOU CAN AT LEAST CON CONVEY MY CONCERNS RESPECTFULLY.
UM, COUNSEL, WHEN YOU, YOU ASKED A QUESTION IN THERE AND IT SLIPPED MY MIND, AND YOU, YOU ASKED, ASKED ME A QUESTION, AND THEN YOU SLIP.
SO, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THAT AND THE, AND THE REMOVAL OF THAT NAME? UM, NO.
I, AGAIN, I, I THINK THE NAME IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THAT IS.
THE, AND I, I THINK BETWEEN MAJOR DUNBAR AND HOPEFULLY MY COMMENTS, THAT LOCATION IS PERFECT FOR US.
MAJOR DUNBAR, UM, SPOKE ABOUT HOW LONG THAT PROPERTY HAS SAT VACANT.
IT HAS VACANT FOR AS FAR AS EIGHT TO 10 YEARS.
UM, I KNOW THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD DONE A RIBBON CUTTING WITH ANOTHER BUSINESS THAT WAS GOING TO COME IN THERE IN 2018 THAT FELL THROUGH.
UH, AND IT GOES TO ONE OF THE OTHER COUNCIL HEARINGS THAT I LISTED IN ON WHERE IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THERE'S BEEN NO, UH, OR THAT MY REQUESTS HAVE BEEN, UM, BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT MY REQUEST, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, PAST COUNTY EXECUTIVE DECIDED NOT TO DO IT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
UM, WE DIDN'T ASK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO DO IT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
IT CAME UP AGAIN AS A RESULT OF DS, THE VOLUME CALLS GOING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT, THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE, UH, SOUTHERN CHANNEL.
UM, WHEN MAJOR DUNBAR SAID, WE'RE RUNNING THAT NOW, NOT ENTIRELY ACCURATE.
WE ARE RUNNING TWO SHIFTS ON A DIFFERENT TALK GROUP NOW THAT ARE CALLED CENTRAL.
UM, THE, UH, WE HIT UP, I, IN PASSING, I HAD ASKED THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEED TO BE OUT THAT WAY SOMEWHERE FROM, AND I REMEMBER WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS, SOMEWHERE FROM, UH, 22 OUT TO THE 95, UH, OR THE COLLEGE OUT TO 95, SOMEWHERE IN THAT CORRIDOR.
UM, AND I ASKED HIM ABOUT THE HEAT CENTER, AND THEY HAD PLANS FOR IT.
IT WAS A PASSING CONVERSATION.
UH, I ASKED HIM A COUPLE OTHER TIMES, HE SAID THEY HAD SOMETHING COMING.
THAT WAS THE 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, I ASKED HIM AFTER THAT FELL THROUGH, HE WAS, I, I BELIEVE HE WAS THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THERE.
AND THEN I HIT HIM UP LATE AND HE SAID, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
UM, HE, HE SAW THE VISION FOR IT.
HE UNDERSTOOD NOTHING ELSE HAD GONE THERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, PUTTING WORDS INTO HIS MOUTH.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S STILL WITH US.
UH, BUT, UH, JEFF, CAN YOU PULL THOSE MICS IN TIGHTER TO YOU, PLEASE.
HE, UH, AT THAT POINT, HE DREAMED LIT THE PROJECT AND, AND EVERYTHING STARTED AND, AND BROUGHT US TO THE POINT AGAIN, I THINK OF A PROJECT, UH, THAT HAS HAD NEVER GONE, UH, THAT FAR ALONG TO HAVE THE PU THE PLUG PULLED ON IT.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOUR QUESTION WAS, HAVE WE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK AT OTHER LOCATIONS? UM, YOU DID ASK THAT
SO THE, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN MY REMARKS I TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS HAS HAD US DOING BUSY WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY SENIOR COMMAND STAFF AND I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BUSY JOBS TO DO.
UM, AND YET HIS REQUEST, AND WHEN WE THOUGHT WE WERE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH, UH, HE PUT US ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT AND HAD AN AGREEMENT HE WAS GONNA DO ONE THING.
WE WERE GONNA LOOK AT OTHER THINGS.
UH, IN REALITY, WE WENT AND LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AND, UH, HE ASKED US TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AT SHUCKS ROAD, WHICH WE LOOKED AT.
IT DOES NOT WORK FOR OUR NEEDS, BOTH FOR THE TRAINING ACADEMY OR THE PRECINCT.
[03:10:01]
UM, AND HE ASKED US TO LOOK AT A BUILDING OFF OF THE, UH, 22 GATE THERE THAT THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING PURCHASING.AND HE, HE EVEN SAID IT WOULDN'T WORK FOR A PRECINCT, BUT HE THOUGHT MAYBE SOME OF OUR OTHER NEEDS COULD BE MET, AND WE WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH HIM.
BUT IT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE PRECINCT OR THE TRAINING ACADEMY.
AS YOU HEARD FROM MAJOR DUNBAR, UM, COLLEGE CAMPUS OR AROUND OTHER CIVILIAN, UM, OPERATIONS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR PARA PARAMILITARY TRAINING, IN MY OPINION.
UH, IN CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD, WAS THERE SOME CONFUSION THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BELIEVED THAT, UH, THE HEADQUARTERS WOULD BE MOVING OUT OUT OF BEL AIR? I, I HEARD HIS REMARKS IN HERE.
I THINK IT WAS DURING HIS COUNCIL, UH, BUDGET PRESENTATION.
HE, HE WROTE ME, UH, I, I, HE WROTE ME A MESSAGE THAT THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM, THAT HE SAID, UM, HE NOT BEING SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING THE CENTRAL PRECINCT FROM THE COUNTY SEAT DOWN TO THE, UH, ABERDEEN AREA.
UH, THAT STATEMENT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME AND CALLS, CALLS INTO MY MIND.
HAS HE EVEN LISTENED TO ONE THING THAT WE'VE PRESENTED TO HIM, UM, OVER YOU, YOU SAW THE POWERPOINT.
THIS IS A FACILITY WE DO NOT PRESENTLY HAVE, THAT WE, UM, CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE HIDDEN IN THE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING THAT IS NEEDED IN THAT PART OF OUR COUNTY IN INSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE.
I'M GONNA, UH, SWITCH GEARS A LITTLE BIT, UM, TO THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE DEFUNDED IN THE BUDGET.
UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T FIRE THOSE EMPLOYEES, SO HOW WILL YOU MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE? WE, WE WILL FIND THE MONEY WITHIN OUR BUDGET TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE CAN'T FIRE 'EM.
AND, AND ONE IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE.
AND I EXPLAINED WHY I WANTED TO BE THAT TOO DEEP.
ONE WAS, UH, FUNDED AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I READILY ADMITTED IT WAS FUNDED AT A LOWER LEVEL BECAUSE AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE IDEA THAT ATTORNEY WOULD BE IDEAL.
UM, SO WE CHANGED, UH, DIRECTION ON THAT.
BUT THE FUNDING THAT WAS INITIALLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS 79,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WAS INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, THAT HAS BEEN ZEROED OUT.
THE SECOND POSITION I THINK WE USED FOR THE SECOND ATTORNEY THAT I HIRED, UM, WAS A SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, PIN, UH, THAT WE CONVERTED OVER.
UM, SO THAT IS A POSITION THAT WAS FUNDED, AND BOTH OF THOSE IN OUR BUDGET ARE ZERO DOWN.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION, UM, THERE WAS SOME CRITICISM ABOUT THE HARVARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S HR DEPARTMENTS.
UM, CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HR DEPARTMENT? WELL, I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR WHICH THERE WOULD BE CRITICISM.
CAUSE I GOTTA TELL YOU, BEFORE I TOOK THIS, BEFORE I TOOK, I TOOK, BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO THIS JOB, UM, I, I HEARD ABOUT, I, I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE JOB THAT TWO INDIVIDUALS DO IN THAT OFFICE AND FOR THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
ONE IS MS. JENNIFER BLESSING, OUR DIRECTOR OF OUR BUDGET.
AND I WILL NOT ARGUE WITH THAT.
CERTAINLY, I SIT BETWEEN THE TWO SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM.
UM, SO NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE ELSE.
AND THE OTHER ONE WAS TRACY MARTINELLI, OUR HR DIRECTOR, WHO DOES A, UH, UH, INCREDIBLE JOB.
AND, UH, I, I CAN'T IMAGINE SOMEONE DOING IT BETTER.
THE HIRING CHALLENGES, UM, THE BACKGROUND PROCESS, OUR BACKGROUND, UH, WHERE A, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE BEST D S BECAUSE THEIR GROWTH IS NEEDED, THAT, THAT MEDIC SYSTEM.
BUT YOU CAN GO OUT AND HIRE A PARAMEDIC.
IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, YOU CAN HIRE 'EM PRETTY QUICKLY WITH US.
IT IS A FOUR OR FIVE MONTH PROCESS.
EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, OR CIVILIANS ARE HIRED, HIRED TO THE EXACT SAME STANDARD.
THE ONLY THING OUR CIVILIANS DON'T HAVE TO DO ARE THE P IS THE PT AND A PSYCH, BUT THEY HAVE TO DO A POLYGRAPH.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERGO A COMPLETE BACKGROUND CHECK.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHO WORK MAYBE IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO WOULD NOT BE EMPLOYED AT THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND I WISH THAT WAS THE SAME FOR EVERY POLICE DEPARTMENT OR CORRECTIONAL AGENCY ACROSS THE STATE.
OUR, OUR HR DIRECTOR AND HER STAFF, UM, OF 4, 5, 5, UM, HAVE, UH, VERY DEMANDING JOBS, A LOT TO MANAGE IN A BACKGROUND PROCESS THAT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE COUNTY.
UH, SHERIFF, BEFORE I ASK ANYONE ELSE, UM, I ALSO, UH, WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE IN THESE CHAMBERS AND IN THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY, UM, FOR ALL OF US HERE.
UH, I KNOW MY STAFF APPRECIATES IT.
WE, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UH, THOSE GUYS DO, AND, AND GALS DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR US.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT.
UH, THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR BEING HERE, AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR STAFF.
UM, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT COUNCILMAN DISTRICT B SOMEHOW
[03:15:01]
TAKE IT AS CRITICISM AND REFERENCED TO HR.UM, AND, AND HE SHOULD HAVE ASKED BEFORE HE MADE SUCH A ASININE COMMENT.
AND THE REASON WHY I DID THE HR IS BECAUSE OF THIS.
I WORKED IN THE COURTHOUSE AND WE HAD AN HR PERSON THAT WORE 14 OR 15 HATS, AND ALL I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT THEY WERE UP TO PAR, SO THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED AND WE GOT SUED, THAT WE AS A COUNCIL WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
THERE'S NO WAY CRITICISM OR YOUR HR, THE HR IN THE COURTHOUSE, OR THE HR IN THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE UP TO PAR AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING HR.
I, I DIDN'T REALIZE WHERE THE COMMENT HAD COME FROM, BUT I, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU'VE ALWAYS, ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND I COME FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, SIR, SO I, I, I DO THINK THAT THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS IN THE PAST, NOT FROM YOU.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS IN THE PAST ABOUT WHY DOES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEED ITS OWN HR.
UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS PROBABLY GONNA BE DIRECTED AT MR. SANLESS.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE SPENT A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS PROJECT.
AM I CORRECT? UM, YEAH, I, I BELIEVE THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS IN IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S PROBABLY A, IT'S SOMETHING NEAR THAT.
I KNOW, I KNOW THIS YEAR'S, UH, BONZO 607, YEAH, 8 57 OKAY.
AND THERE HAS BEEN BOND SALES FOR IT AS WELL.
SO I MEAN, THE PROJECT WAS, WAS, WAS, UM, UH, BOND FUNDED.
SO ANY, ANY EXPENDITURE WOULD THEN, UM, SUBSEQUENTLY RESULT IN, IN A BOND SALE.
SO HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A COUNTY EXECUTIVE PUT A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN PLANNED, A MILLION DOLLARS BONDS SOLD, PUT ON HOLD, JUST COMPLETELY? I HAVE, I HAVE SEEN CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE THREE COUNTIES, WHICH I'VE, I'VE WORKED IN, UM, PUT ON PAUL'S WHILE A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES ON BOARD.
I'VE SEEN IN CARROLL, I'VE SEEN IN BALTIMORE.
UM, SO IT DOES SOMETIMES HAPPEN WHERE A NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN, UM, AND FOR, FOR A KIND OF A, A HOST OF REASONS, SAYS, LOOK, WE WANNA HOLD OFF ON ANY CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU WOULD, THERE, THERE ARE CERTAIN POINTS WITHIN A CAPITAL PROJECT WHERE, UM, YOU ALMOST KINDA GET TO THE POINT OF, OF NO RETURN.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IF ONCE YOU'RE ALREADY UNDERWAY WITH CONSTRUCTION AND YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNED THAT, UM, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THIS KIND OF IN BETWEEN PHASE, UM, IT DOES, IT DOES HAPPEN.
WHERE WHEREBY, UM, ADMINISTRATION WOULD SAY, WELL, LET'S, LET'S HOLD OFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOT STAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S IN THE DESIGN PHASE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, SO A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT TO BE IN BETWEEN.
WELL, BUT IN A, IN A 22, IN A 22, 20 $3 MILLION YEAH.
BUT NO, I MEAN, I, YOU, I'M NOT GONNA DENY THAT THERE IS, THERE'S BEEN EXPENDITURES, UM, EXPENDITURES MADE.
UM, NOW, YOU KNOW, SOME, TO SOME EXTENT, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH DESIGN, UM, YOU, YOU HOPEFUL CAN, ONCE YOU DECIDE TO PICK BACK UP, UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THAT.
NOW, IF YOU SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE THE PROJECT, THEN YOU WOULD, UM, YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT, AT, UH, NEW DESIGN CALLS TO HAVE THERE BEEN CHANGES MADE THERE HAVE NOT, THIS, THIS PROJECT, I, I, I KIND OF MAKE THE ANALOGY, IT'S LIKE FALLING DOWN AND YOU'RE ABOUT AN INCH OFF THE GROUND.
UM, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP.
YOU COULD DO IT, BUT IT'S MERELY IMPOSSIBLE.
AND, AND SHOULD, SHOULD YOU STOP AT THAT POINT.
THE, UH, UM, THIS PROJECT WAS READY TO GO TO BID MEANING, UH, 30, WAS IT 30 DAY, 30 DAY CON BID, 30 BID.
EVERY DETAIL, EVERY LIGHT SWITCH, EVERY DOOR, EVERY LOCK, UM, IS ALL PLANNED OUT.
THAT MUCH WORK HAS GONE INTO IT.
AND THAT NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MAN HOURS OF, AT LEAST ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SIDE, THAT OUR PERSONNEL COMMITTED TO THIS.
I KNOW MAJOR GUN, UH, MAJOR GONZALEZ SAID HE PROBABLY HAD OVER A THOUSAND HOURS ALONE HIMSELF, UM, BEFORE HE WAS PROMOTED.
AND, UH, CAPTAIN SCHLEPPER HAS PICKED UP THE, THE HELM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT INCLUDES THE COUNTY, UM, STAFF EMPLOYEE COSTS OF MAN HOURS.
UM, IT WAS READY TO GO TO BID, AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A 30 DAY PROCESS, AND WE WOULD'VE BEEN WELL UNDERWAY.
MY CONCERN, AGAIN, I, I WAS TOLD IN OTHER CIRCLES, UM, WITH MY OTHER HAT ON THE POLITICAL HAT, THAT, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AFTER RUNNING ON A PLATFORM OF SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAD MADE IT CLEAR THE INCOMING COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAD MADE IT CLEAR THIS PROJECT WAS NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
AND HE AND I HAD THE CONVERSATION, AND HE ASSURED ME THAT, THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS DIDN'T TAKE PLACE.
EVERYTHING HAS PLAYED OUT TO WHERE I FULLY SUSPECT IT WAS NEVER HIS INTENTION TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT AT ALL.
AND AGAIN, I SAY, YOU'RE GONNA DO IT NOW, OR YOU'RE GONNA DO IT LATER.
[03:20:01]
IT.THE CITIZENS NEED IT, AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA GET A BETTER RESPONSE.
AND, AND SOMETHING THAT CAME TO MIND, AGAIN WITH OUR PARTNERS AT DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, UH, IT'S NOT ONLY, I HEARD THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.
THERE ARE MANY TIMES, MOST TIMES, WHERE THERE'S A POLICE CAR ON THE SCENE FIRST, UM, TO, TO MANY OF THESE CALLS, CERTAINLY CARDIAC ARREST CALLS, AND, UM, MAINTAINING OUR RESPONSE TIMES ARE AWFUL.
AND MANY TIMES WITHIN AMOUNT OF MENTAL HEALTH OUT THERE, WE'RE WAITING FOR A POLICE CAR.
AND AMBO WILL BE SITTING THERE WAITING FOR A POLICE CAR TO MAKE SURE THAT ARRIVAL IS SAFE, UM, THAT IT'S SAFE TO, SAFE TO TAKE OVER A SCENE.
UM, OUR RESPONSE TIMES ARE, I WOULD SAY, EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, SO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO BE LOST.
WE DON'T HAVE A NATIONAL STANDARD, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT SAYS IT SHOULD BE A POLICE CAR AND DRIVEWAY.
BUT I BET YOU IF YOU ASK ANY CITIZEN HOW FAST THEY WANT A COP THERE, WHEN THEY DIAL 9 1 1, IT'S PDQ.
UM, I GUESS I'M STILL NEW, SO I APPRECIATE YOU'RE ALL BEARING WITH ME ON THIS, BUT MAYBE MR. MCCORD CAN HELP, BUT THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED, THE MONEY WAS THERE.
AND WH WHY ARE WE HOLDING OFF? WHEN DO WE GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER? LIKE, HOW DOES THAT WORK NEXT? WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? IT'S ADMINISTRATION'S PRIVATE.
IT'S JUST, I, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, SO I'M JUST VERY CURIOUS.
AND I, I, I DO RECOGNIZE MR. MCCORD'S, A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE CONTROLS THE PURSE STRINGS.
UM, HIS, HIS OVERSIGHT OF THE, NOT OVERSIGHT, BUT HIS INVOLVEMENT, PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVOLVES FUNDING, UM, ONLY, AND, UH, IN THIS INSTANCE, HE SAT BEFORE YOU LAST WEEK, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, AND CHALLENGED EACH OF YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER THIS PROJECT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, I'M HERE ASKING THAT THIS COUNCIL'S SUPPORT MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
MR. GUTHRIE CHAIR FIRST, THANKS, UH, FOR WHAT YOU DO IN THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
WE HAVE OUR LOT OF ISSUES DOWN THERE IN THE MID PART OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
UM, UH, AND, UH, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, PERSONALLY, BECAUSE, UH, EVERY TIME I CALL YOU, IT AIN'T DONE THAT MANY TIMES, BUT WHENEVER I CALL YOU, I GOT YOUR CELL PHONE, I CALL YOU AND YOU ALWAYS ANSWER IT.
I, WHICH ALWAYS BAFFLES ME THAT, THAT ONCE IN A WHILE, THE MESSAGE DOESN'T COME IN.
BUT I, I CERTAINLY A APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, YOU, SOME MAJOR ISSUES, SOME MINOR ISSUES, WHATEVER THEY ARE, YOU HELP ME OUT.
UM, AND BY THE WAY, I'M NOT GONNA ROOT FOR MORE DRUG DEALERS, SO YOU CAN GET MORE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.
WE'LL BE HAPPY IF THAT MONEY DRIES UP.
WELL, IT, THE YEAH, I SURE YOU WILL.
I, I KNOW, UM, RECENTLY I HAD A TOURED THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT AND I WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED AT HOW THAT'S COME ALONG THE LIST OF, SAY, ABOUT 10 YEARS.
CUZ MUHAMMAD WAS ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE I HEAVILY SUPPORTED, YOU KNOW, I HEAVILY SUPPORTED AT SOUTHERN PRECINCT AND PUSHED HARD TO GET IT.
PROUD TO HAVE MY NAME ON THAT BLACK AT THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT.
BUT I'M VERY AWARE OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND I APPRECIATE THAT PAST FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CITIZENS.
UM, A A COUPLE OF, OF, UH, QUESTIONS SOME PEOPLE ASK ME THAT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, SO DON'T BEAT ME UP BECAUSE I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS.
FIR FIRST OFF, THERE'S SOME, SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME, UH, YOU'RE GONNA BUILD THIS FACILITY, BY THE WAY, 22 TO 23 MILLION IS, IS THE NOT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I BELIEVE THE COSTS ARE ACTUALLY COMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT, UM, SINCE THE, THE PEAK OF ALL THE SHORTAGES ON EVERYTHING, LEE, DO WE HAVE A UPDATE? YEAH, WE'RE PROJECTING NEW, WE'VE WENT ON NOW, BUT EVERYTHING COST TO COME DOWN AROUND 22, 20 4 MILLION FULLY WITH IT.
FURNITURE AND ALL OF THAT, UH, WE'RE HIGH END AROUND.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE FUEL STATION AND THE TACTICAL GARAGE.
AND AGAIN, THAT, THAT, THAT TOUR OF THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT WAS, I MEAN, JIM AND I, UH, UH, WENT AND, UH, I EVEN TRIED THAT, THAT, UH, THE, UH, SHOOT THE GUN ME SYSTEM.
HE WENT VERY GOOD WHEN I WENT ON, WHEN I WENT BACK AND, YOU KNOW, MY SON WAS RETIRED, LIEUTENANT, AND I WENT BACK AND TOLD HIM THAT I FAILED THAT FIRST SHOT.
AND HE SAYS, YOU GOT THE 20 FOOT SHOT.
HE SAYS, I KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SHOOTS RIGHT AWAY.
AND WHEN THAT GUY TAKES OFF, IT'S TOO LATE.
HE'S GONNA GET YOU WITH THAT KNIFE.
YOU KNOW? SO I, I WILL SAY THAT THE, THE, THE, THOSE WHO HAD A HAND IN BUILDING THE, UH, SOUTHERN PRECINCT AND, AND THE DS WHO'VE BEEN THROUGH DS, THIS BUILDING, THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE DONE A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT.
UM, AND IN NECESSARY IN NEED OF, OF THIS
[03:25:01]
COUNTY.THE COUNTY WAS IN NEED OF THEM.
AND THIS PRECINCT AND TRAINING CENTER FIT THAT BILL AS WELL.
VERY IMPRESSIVE EQUIPMENT DOWN THERE TO SEE SOME OF THAT EQUIPMENT.
IT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE.
UM, THE, THE ON ON, UH, OF COURSE BUILDING THIS, UH, FACILITY IN THE ABERDEEN AREA, WHICH HAS ITS OWN POLICE FORCE.
UH, I'VE HAD THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL, IS THERE GONNA BE ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ABERDEEN POLICE AND THE, AND THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? UH, UM, UH, YOU ALWAYS THINK ABOUT, WELL, IT'S, SOMEBODY'S GONNA SAY, WELL, THIS IS MY JOB, OR THIS IS MY JOB, OR, COULDN'T YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TO ME, ME? SO, NO, NO.
THE, THE MUNICIPAL LINES ARE CLEARLY DRAWN.
NOW, THE TOWN MAY, UH, THE CITY OF ABERDEEN MAY EXPAND, UM, UM, THEIR BOUNDARIES A LITTLE BIT BY INCORPORATING, UH, SOME AREAS AROUND THERE COULD EVEN INCORPORATE THE, THE LOCATION OF THE HEAT CENTER WITHIN TOWN.
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE RESPONSIBILITY.
WHO HAS PRIMARY POLICING RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT AREA? THIS DOES NOTHING TO ENHANCE ABERDEEN'S POLICE COVERAGE OR REDUCE FROM IT.
UM, IT, IT SIMPLY ALLOWS US TO BE BETTER LOCATED GEOGRAPHICALLY IN THE COUNTY, SPREADING THE CALLS FOR SERVICE, UH, AND THE RADIO TRAFFIC, UM, TO A THIRD.
YOU CAN SEE THE, THE SOUTHERN IS A MUCH SMALLER FOOTPRINT CUZ IT'S SO BUSY.
THAT'S WHERE OUR POPULATION IS.
THEN THE CENTRALS SMALLER THAN THE NORTHERN BECAUSE IT'S MORE SPREAD OUT.
IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A PRECINCT ON THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE TRAINING ACADEMY.
IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A PRECINCT ON THAT SIDE OF THE COUNTY.
UM, THOSE ARE WITHIN, YOU HEARD FROM MAJOR DUNBAR, THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, UM, THAT JAMES RUN PERRY, I, I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS HAD HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT PERRYMAN PERRY PENINSULA, ALL THAT WOULD BE SERVED FROM THIS PRECINCT.
THE AREA OF 40 THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE CITY OF HABER, UH, ABERDEEN AND TOWN OF HABER GRACE.
I DON'T KNOW, I, I CAN NEVER REMEMBER WHICH ONE WANTS TO BE CALLED A CITY.
AND WHICH ONE'S A TOWN BETWEEN ABERDEEN AND HAVERTY GRACE.
UM, THAT'S OUR PATROL AREA, UH, UP, UP AND ACROSS INTO BEL AIR.
SO, UM, THAT IT, IT'S AT THE RIGHT LOCATION.
I DID HEAR THE COUNT, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN HERE THE OTHER DAY SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL, AND GOT A QUESTION SIMILAR TO THAT.
UM, I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM AND IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME WITH THIS POLICE REFORM.
ABERDEEN IS CURRENTLY, UM, LOOKING FOR A LIEUTENANT FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THEY HAVE BEEN, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ONE.
THEY'RE NOW GONNA ADVERTISE FOR A SERGEANT FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEIR PEOPLE AREN'T MOTIVATED.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T STAY UP TO SPEED IN COMPENSATION, IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND SUPPORT OF THE ELECTED PEOPLE.
THEY ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME RECRUITING.
THEY WANTED TO PUT FIVE, UH, OFFICERS IN THE ACADEMY THAT WE JUST SAT A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY HAD ZERO AT THE HIRING POINT WHEN WE WERE READY TO GO.
I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A TIME COME WHERE THE MAYOR REACHES OUT TO ME AND OR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND SAYS, WE NEED HELP.
AND INSTEAD, AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE KNOWS I SAID THIS, THAT IT WOULD COME AT AN EXPENSE TO THEM.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE TO GO IN THERE AND POLICE.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE HE GAVE YOU AN HONEST ANSWER WHEN HE RESPONDED, UM, THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
IT WOULD BE DONE THROUGH A CONTRACT.
THIS HAPPENS ELSEWHERE AROUND THE STATE WHEN AN OUTSIDE POLICE AGENCY POLICES YOUR JURISDICTION.
UH, WELL I KNOW HOW MUCH THE, UH, SOUTHERN PRECINCT HAS SPENT, UH, SUDDEN.
UM, I KNOW WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL, UH, WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES.
WE HAD A, LIKE A MURDER A WEEK ALMOST.
NO, ALL MURDER A MONTH DOWN THE EDGEWOOD.
WE HAD SOME RAIL SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
AND, UH, UH, BUT THE SOUTHERN PRECINCT HAS DONE KNOCK ON.
LET ME SEE IF I'VE GOT ONE ON THE PHONE.
UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN, IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN, UH, UH, CREATED A LOT OF SERIOUS, UH, STUFF IN THE SOUTHERN PART.
UH, POLICE ARE ALL, YOU ALWAYS SEE 'EM AROUND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
UM, DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR BUDGET CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE? AND IF YOU DO NOT THINK SO, CAN YOU PROVIDE, IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE IT TODAY, CAN YOU PROVIDE HOW, UM, WE CAN REACH THAT PINNACLE? UM, THE COUNCIL HERE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE RIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO HIGHLY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR COUNTY.
AND I'M A DEMOCRAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.
AND I, I THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, IS I THINK THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE LOW.
[03:30:01]
TREASURER HAS A TOUGH JOB TO DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO LOOK AT WHAT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE GONNA BE.BUT I THINK, UH, IT, IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN HERE THAT GENERALLY IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, 15 OR SO, UM, MILLION OR YOU KNOW, MORE OFF, UH, I THINK THAT THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE GONNA BE MUCH HIGHER AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I THINK THERE'S OTHER MONIES, UM, PUT ELSEWHERE IN THIS BUDGET THAT COULD BE MOVED BACK.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT, AGAIN, THE DS GROWTH, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ANY, CAUSE NO ONE IS HIRING, NO ONE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO HIRE COPS OR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES.
UM, BUT I, I THINK THE, THE NUMBER OF 130 I THINK IT IS, THOSE POSITIONS AREN'T GOING TO BE FILLED.
THAT'S GONNA BE A SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE BEEN, IF IT NEED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE TO, UH, I THINK THE NUMBER WAS 17 MILLION TO TAKE HALF OF THAT AND GROW DS HALFWAY THERE AND THEN TAKE SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS.
WE, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO TALK ABOUT POSITIONS.
UM, BUT WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO STAFF UP, WE GOT FIVE LAST YEAR FOR A FULL-TIME.
THERE'S, I I I, I MADE SOME PERSONNEL CONCESSIONS.
YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE CHART YOU GOT, BUT I PULLED SOME, UH, UH, 18 CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES OFF OF OUR REQUEST BECAUSE WE CAN'T FIND THEM.
SO I KNEW WE WEREN'T GONNA HIRE 'EM.
SO I PULLED THEM DOWN AND I PULLED DOWN SOME OF THE SWORN DEPUTIES AND WE TOOK OFF SOME OF OUR CIVILIANS IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
BUT I ASKED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO STILL FUND 15 TOWARD THE GROWTH OF THE PRECINCT FOR WHEN IT HAPPENS, CUZ IT'S COMING.
WHETHER THIS BUILDING, UH, WHETHER HE DECIDES TO DO IT OR NOT, IT, IT'LL EVENTUALLY IS THERE, UM, OR, UH, THE FIVE S R T AS WE SAW FROM THAT F INCIDENT A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WE HAD ANOTHER WOODLAND OPERATION OVER THE WEEKEND UP IN ROCK STATE PARK THAT S R T IS, THEY'VE DONE SEVERAL SEARCH WARRANTS, UM, OVER THE LAST WEEK.
UNFORTUNATELY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND I KNOW, UM, DEL, UH, DELEGATE, SORRY,
AND, AND I'M SAD TO SAY IN PAST TENSE, BUT WHEN THAT FOTON INCIDENT HAPPENED, MANY OF THE, UH, MUCH OF THEIR DECLINE, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR TACTICAL OPERATIONS, SHOWED AFTER TWO POLICE OFFICERS WERE SHOT.
AND THAT GUY CAME UP HERE AND THREATENED OUR COMMUNITY.
DID THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOWN THERE IS NOW POURING MONEY, GETTING THEM A SECOND, TRV BUYING THEM THE LATE VISION GOGGLES THAT KIM SPOKE ABOUT WITH MANEUVER, OUR INCREASED COSTS.
UM, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITIES THAT OUR PART-TIME UNIT HAD, UH, TO GO THROUGH AND FIND THAT GUY AND SAFELY RESOLVE THAT.
SO WE ASKED FOR THOSE POSITIONS AND I ASKED FOR TWO TRAFFIC.
I, I KNOW THE NUMBER ONE THING I GET ARE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT TRAFFIC.
CERTAINLY PERRYMAN IS A LARGE PART OF THAT.
UM, WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE IN OUR TRAFFIC UNIT.
UH, WE CANNOT BE EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE.
AND I ASK FOR TWO ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES TO ASSIST WITH THAT.
UM, WE SCALED BACK OUR PERSONNEL REQUEST.
SO TO YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THE DS GROWTH COULD HAVE BEEN SCALED BACK OVER SEVERAL YEARS INSTEAD OF THIS ONE YEAR.
AND I THINK WE'LL FIND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE'S MILLIONS SITTING THERE THAT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SIT THERE AND ROLL OVER INTO NEXT YEAR.
UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS, I I, I USED THE DESCRIPTION NUCLEAR OPTION.
I DON'T THINK THE NUCLEAR OPTION WAS NECESSARY.
I THINK WITH SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS COUNTY HAS HAD WONDERFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS VOLUNTEERING TO GO OUT AND SAVE LIVES, DAY AND NIGHT, RAIN OR SHINE FOR 250 YEARS.
THEY WERE NOT GONNA LEAVE US HANGING OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS.
AND I THINK AGAIN, COUNTY EXECUTIVE GLASSMAN RECOGNIZED THAT WORKED WITH THEM, BUT STARTED THE GROWTH THAT WAS NECESSARY.
AND IF IT NEEDED TO BE ACCELERATED, I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE SO BETTER.
AND I THINK IT WAS JUST A BAD BARGAINING, UM, SESSION OR SESSIONS.
I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THING I WANT TO COMMENT.
THERE'S MIKE GOGGLES ARE UNBELIEVABLE.
CAUSE WE GOT A CHANCE TO TRY THEM OUT IN A ABSOLUTELY BLACK ROOM AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD ALMOST RIGHT SEAT.
LIKE IT'S BROUGHT THE ALMOST LIKE BROAD DAYLIGHT.
DID THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY COST? UH, TWO THOUSANDS.
WHAT? THE PIECE, HOW MUCH? 15,000 A PIECE.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING, UH, DID, MAYBE WE COVERED THIS, THE, THE OVERHEADS THAT YOU HAD, CAN WE GET A COUNT COPY OF THOSE? ABSOLUTELY.
ACCOUNTS GOING FOR THE COUNCIL.
SO I'M GONNA ASK A COUPLE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
UM, UH, DO WE HAVE, OR DO YOU HAVE A UNIT AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE IN A UNIT JUST FOR, UM, COMPUTER, FOR KIDS? AND, AND, UH, I GUESS FOR PEOPLE CAC FOR KIDS, WHAT'S YOUR CALLED? CAC? WHAT'S CAC CENTER? NOT ADVOCACY CENTER?
[03:35:01]
WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR GETTING THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THE YOUNG KIDS TO ONLINE PREDATORS.THAT'S HANDLED THROUGH THE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.
WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN, UM, WE CERTAINLY DO OPERATIONS IF THEY COME OUT OF, UM, THE MARYLAND, UH, WHAT'S IT CALLED? MAJOR SIMPSON.
UM, WE, WE DO JOINT INVESTIGATIONS, UH, ON, ON THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
UM, WE HAVE HAVE MAJOR SIMPSON COME UP.
HE OVERSEES C I D IT FALLS UNDERNEATH HIM TO GO A LITTLE BIT INTO WHAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANALYSTS.
UH, WE DO HAVE ONE PHONE FORENSIC PERSON PRESENTLY, I THINK, UH, WE LOST ONE.
SHE WENT DOWN TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
UH, AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE ONE PRESENT.
SO WE ARE NOT, UH, IS THAT WHERE WE SHOULD BE OR SHOULD WE, YOU KNOW, I JUST WORRY ABOUT ALL THE STUFF ONLINE, AI COMING, THESE, THESE KIDS IN THE PREDATORS AND SURE.
THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS THAT, THAT CAME UP ON THAT.
WE'VE, WE'VE MADE SEVERAL CASES, SEVERAL STINGS WORKING WITH STATE, UH, PARTNERS AND, UM, THE ICA UH, INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE.
UH, GENERALLY IF WE GET A COMPLAINT, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO WORK IT TECHNOLOGY WISE FULLY IN-HOUSE.
UM, AND I THINK THERE WAS A NEW BILL THAT AFFECTS SOMETHING WITH THE PENSION MOVING FORWARD, HOW IS THAT GONNA AFFECT THE BUDGET? AND UH, IS THAT GOOD FOR, FOR YOU GUYS? OR, OR, OR BAD, DOES IT KEEP SOMEBODY STAYING ON LONGER? MAYBE THAT THE DROP PROGRAM OR SOMETHING CHANGE RETIREMENT WAS STRETCHED OUT TO SEVEN YEARS.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL WORK FOR RETENTION.
UH, THEY HAD A FIVE YEAR, UH, RETIREMENT.
I, I CAN TELL YOU IF I COULD TURN BACK THE WHEELS OF TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO GO THROUGH A SEVEN YEAR DROP.
UM, IT, IT FINANCIALLY LUCRATIVE.
UM, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE POLICE OFFICERS REACH THEIR SERVICE TIME AND SAY THEY GOT THROUGH SAFELY AND A POLICY VIOLATION, DIDN'T PUT 'EM IN JAIL AND IT'S TIME TO RETIRE AND GO ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M HOPING THAT THE SEVEN YEAR DROP, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY IT PASSED BECAUSE THE STATE POLICE CAN NOT HIRE, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY CANNOT HIRE BALTIMORE CITY CANNOT HIRE, UH, METROPOLITAN PD JUST GAVE UP ON $25,000 INCENTIVES.
THEY HAD 20, THEY WENT TO 25 AND THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ON EARTH THEY'RE GONNA POLICE THE CITY CUZ THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET THE PEOPLE.
UM, SO I, I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL HELP WITH THE RETENTION, THAT PEOPLE WILL STAY WITH US LONGER AND, AND GOING ON TOP OF THAT, MY, MY ONE CONCERN IS, UM, IF HIS, IF AN OFFICER IS INJURED ON THE JOB, UM, AND HE'S INCAPACITATED AND CAN'T WORK EITHER FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS OR FIVE YEARS OR FOREVER, HOW ARE THEY COMPENSATED? THEY, THEY COULD 66 AND TWO 30, THEY'LL BE, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A MEDICAL, UH, RETIREMENT WHERE THEY WOULD GET ACTUALLY 66 AND TWO THIRDS OF THEIR SALARY, UH, UNTIL THEIR RETIREMENT AGE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE STATE POLICE, IT'S FOR A LIFETIME HERE.
IT'S, UH, UNTIL THEIR SERVICE RETIREMENT AGE, THEN THEIR, THEN THEIR PENSION RETURN REVERTS TO A SERVICE RETIREMENT.
BUT THEY WOULD GET THAT TAX FREE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
UH, ANYONE ELSE COUNSEL? MR. BENNETT? UM, HELLO.
I I I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU KNOW, UH, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO, UH, WANTING TO HAVE, UH, US LISTENING TO THE TOPIC EXPERTS.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN MY OWN CAREER FIELD, I'M CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCING PEOPLE IN ANNAPOLIS WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT I DO, TELL ME HOW TO DO IT.
UM, AND I KNOW HOW HARD THAT CAN BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY EXPECT YOU TO BE THE ONE TO PAY FOR IT.
UM, BUT I THINK THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU SHARED MAKES COMPLETE SENSE IN REGARDS TO JUST THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC, UH, IMPACT OF CHOOSING THE HEAT CENTER.
I MEAN, REPURPOSING A BUILDING USING EXISTING PAVED OVER SPACE, UH, PICKING A SPACE THAT WOULD SAVE ON, UH, GAS CUZ YOU'RE NOT USING GAS TO REFILL ON GAS.
AND IT, IT JUST, UH, MAKES THE ARGUMENT FOR LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE OR BETTER NOT MAKE A WHOLE LOT SENSE.
CAUSE I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE'S SOME SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY WHERE YOU CAN FIND THAT LEVEL OF PRIVACY, UH, SOMEWHERE SO CENTRAL AND SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU ALREADY HAVE THE SPACE TO REPURPOSE THAT WOULD FIT THE NEED SO WELL.
UM, AND I MEAN, WE HEARD SIMILAR ARGUMENTS IN REGARDS TO THE JOPPA TOWN COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE GOTTA FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO IT AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DELAY IT.
UM, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A COMMON ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE HAVE TO STOP A, A A A PROJECT FROM MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UM, I JUST APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER COMMUNICATION.
I THINK WE'RE MEETING ON FRIDAY TO TALK SOME MORE, UH, BUT I JUST THOUGHT THE PRESENTATION WAS REALLY HELPFUL TODAY.
[03:40:02]
CITIZEN.MR. SCHER, JUST TO ADD, UM, AN MOST LIKELY A QUESTION FOR MR. SANDLES.
I THINK LOOKING BACK AT 2023, THE CAPITAL PROJECT HAD THE FIRST APPROPRIATION EXPECTED OF 22 AND A HALF.
MAY I ASK WHAT THE FY 25 IS FOR 7 MILLION? IF WE'RE NOT INTENDING TO BUILD THE PROJECT, WHAT WOULD THAT APPROPRIATION BE? AND, AND I KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE APPROPRIATION OF THAT PROBABLY GOES BACK TO BEFORE, BEFORE 23.
ANYTIME LIKE YOU SEE LIKE THE NUMBER AND IT SAYS LIKE A 20, LIKE 20 MEANS THE FIRST TIME THAT PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY.
SO THAT PROBABLY GOES BACK TO WHY WE WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED 18, 18 12 0 12, 12 0 1 OR WHATEVER.
BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO BEFORE IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROJECT, UM, AS TO AS TO THE 7 MILLION IN IN 25, I'M GONNA DEFER.
UH, WE JUST MOVED IT TO THE RIGHT.
SO AGAIN, NO, BUT, SO WE ORIGINALLY HAD THAT IN THE PLANT LAST YEAR.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS ORIGINALLY IN LAST YEAR'S PLAN BUDGETED AT, AT 30 MILLION.
NO, UM, IT COULDN'T, I THINK 7 MILLION WAS ADDED BECAUSE F ALL 24, FY 24, THEY WERE REQUESTED TO COST.
AND I GUESS THEN IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MR. MCCORD HAS ALREADY KIND OF ANSWERED THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BUT NOT IN TERMS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS UNDER ARTICLE FIVE AND THE BUDGET AND FINANCE, A PROJECT WOULD'VE TO LAY DORMANT FOR THREE FISCAL YEARS WITHOUT AN EXPENDITURE, WOULD THE 1 MILLION OR 857,000 COUNT AS AN EXPENDITURE, THEREFORE PUSHING THIS, PUSHING THIS PROJECT OUT TILL, SO WHENEVER THE LAST EXPENDITURE, WHENEVER THE LAST EXPENDITURE, YOU KNOW, WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE LAST EXPENDITURE WAS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THAT A PROJECT YOU HAD.
NORMALLY BY THE TIME WE KIND OF, WE, WE'D GET TO THAT POINT THAT A PROJECT WOULD JUST SIT THERE FOR THREE YEARS.
IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE REAPPROPRIATED.
UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME A PROJECT, I KNOW WE HAD ONE COME CLOSE WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY ONCE, BUT THERE ARE SOME WITH VOLUNTEER FIRE YEAH, SOMETIMES, BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S A DIFFERENT BALLGAME.
BUT, UM, THEY'D HAVE TO STAY OPEN FOREVER UNTIL, BUT YEAH.
SO, BUT AT THIS POINT, I KNOW, I MEAN, WE JUST HAD ONE IN THE LAST, WE JUST HAD WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.
BUT TO CHANGE THAT APPROPRIATION THEN BEFORE WAITING THREE YEARS FROM WHENEVER THE LAST DOLLAR WAS EXPENSED, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO REAPPROPRIATE THE 22 AND A HALF MILLION.
ANY, ANY CHANGE IN THE C I P? UM, ANY, ANY CHANGE IN APPROPRIATION COMES FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, AND IT'S MORE OR LESS LIKE THEY PROVIDE THEM A LIMIT.
THEY WOULD SAY, OKAY, IN THIS CASE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAN SPEND UP TO 22, 22 5.
THIS GETS BACK INTO THE QUESTION OF, OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE PREROGATIVE, DOES IT MEAN THAT HE HAS TO SPEND UP TO THE, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T REALLY MEAN HE HAS TO SPEND ANY OF IT.
UH, BUT THEN HE CAN'T EXCEED THE 22, UH, 22 5.
IF HE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING IN THREE YEARS, THEN WE NEED TO COME AND SAY, HEY, THIS PROJECT IS NOW, UM, DORMANT AND WE NEED TO, TO REAPPROPRIATE DO ANOTHER, UM, TO ANOTHER PURPOSE.
I THINK IT JUST ADDS TO THE POINT THEN THE, THE TIMELINESS.
IF WE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE BUDGETING FOR A RECESSION, WE'RE BUDGETING FOR FISCAL AUSTERITY WITHOUT CHANGES IN PROJECTIONS OF REVENUE, THEN I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS A CITIZEN AND A TAXPAYER, THEN WE SHOULD REAPPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS OR, YOU KNOW, FULFILL THE PROJECT EITHER OPTION.
UM, BUT LEAVING IT DORMANT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD FISCAL OUTCOME IN ANY BUDGET.
MR. STOVER, UH, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, SHERIFF, I WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
YOU SAID, UM, THE POSITIONS THAT WE SEE ON THE BUDGET THAT SHOW ZEROS NEXT TO 'EM, UM, DON'T GET TOO FAR INTO THE WEEDS, BUT DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT THE JOB DUTIES ARE.
AND I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON PERHAPS SOME OF THOSE JOB DUTIES WOULD BE STATUTORILY DRIVEN.
UH, EACH HOUSE BILL SIX 70, WHICH WAS THE POLICE REFORM LEGISLATION PACKAGE, UH, FROM TWO YEARS AGO, IT TOOK EFFECT LAST YEAR, REQUIRED EVERY AGENCY TO HAVE A VICTIM SERVICES ADVOCATE.
AND THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THAT VICTIM, AND I I I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD, BUT IT'S A COMPLAINANT SERVICE ADVOCATE, IS TO BE THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED BY THAT AGENCY.
UM, SO EVERY AGENCY, SO IT REQUIRED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE THAT POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A CITIZEN WHO HAS MADE A, UH, COMPLAINT OF POLICE MISCONDUCT AT EVERY POINT OF THE INVESTIGATION.
SO WHEN THEY RECEIVE IT, UH, WHEN IT'S INVESTIGATED, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, UH, WHEN IT'S RESOLVED, IF IT'S SUSTAINED, WHEN IT'S PUSHED OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE, UM, THEN BACK TO THE, UH, TRIAL BOARD PROCESS AND THEN NOT REQUIRED IN LAW.
BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE THESE POSITIONS PROSECUTE THOSE TRIAL BOARDS BECAUSE I HAVE ATTORNEYS TO PROSECUTE THE TRIAL BOARDS.
UM, SO THEY, THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT SIX 70 REQUIRED EVERYONE TO DO.
SO WE HAVE AROUND THE POLICE REFORM, UM, WORKING THE, THESE, THESE, THE TWO ATTORNEYS I HAVE, THEY WORK
[03:45:01]
WITH THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD NOW ESTABLISHED IN THE COUNTY AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE.UM, THEY WORK ON REVIEWING THE INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE DONE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE DONE TO ENSURE THAT IF THEY'RE PROPERLY, IF THEY'RE SUSTAINING A FINDING AGAINST THE POLICY OR PERHAPS LAW, I DON'T WANNA JINX MYSELF, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE, THAT THEY THEN, UM, REVIEW THE CASE FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY TO MAKE SURE BEFORE IT GOES TO THE CHARGING COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE.
AND IT'S A SOUND LEGAL CASE THAT WE ARE HANDLING OVER, UH, TO, TO THE CHARGING COMMITTEE.
UM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES BACK TO, UH, THE ADDITIONAL DUTIES THAT WE'VE TASKED THEM WITH ARE STUFF, UH, LIKE POLICY, GENERAL POLICY REVIEW TRAINING, OUR PERSONNEL REVIEWING PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST TO ENSURE THAT WE RESPOND WITHIN THE LAW.
IT'S A HOST OF OTHER DUTIES BECAUSE, UM, THEY, THEY HAD TO ASSIST AND WE'RE STILL THERE, WE'RE STILL BUILDING OUR PROCESS.
WE WERE THE FIRST POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BANNER, THE FIRST POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE TO ACTUALLY BRING A CASE THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE.
UM, BECAUSE UNLIKE MANY PLACES IN THE STATE WHO HAVEN'T ADHERED TO THE LAW, OR AT LEAST BUILT TO SPEED, WE HAD THE ASSISTANCE OF THESE TWO VICTIM SERVICE ADVOCATE ATTORNEYS THAT I HIRED, UH, TO HELP US BUILD OUR PROCESS.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE SEE ZERO, THESE POSITIONS AREN'T GOING AWAY.
THEY CAN, THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE MONEY AROUND INTERNALLY TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY.
THAT IS A SIMPLE ACT OF DEFUNDING.
ANYONE ELSE? MR ISH? UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE SHERIFF, SORRY THAT THIS IS GONNA GO UP THERE IN YOUR SESSION HERE, BUT, UM, WE'RE HEARING A LOT FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIAL SIDE OF THINGS THAT THE COMMUNICATION THAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S AN ADMINISTRATION MONTHS HAVE PASSED HERE.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD SPEAK ON THAT FOR A SECOND BECAUSE WE, OUR BOARD SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT COMMUNICATION TODAY ALONG WITH OUR COUNSELORS.
IS THERE SOMETHING THERE THAT, UM, YOU COULD TOUCH ON THAT, UM, AND, AND I CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT A LOT OF YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS SUPPORTED EACH OTHER HERE, BUT AS WELL, UM, SO I, I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO THE CHANGE IN THAT OR IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON TO THAT.
UH, WOULD I LIKE TO SPEAK ON IT? NO, I, I THINK IT'S ABYSMAL AND, UH, YEAH, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T GIVE ME PLEASURE TO SPEAK.
I, I, THERE'S NO ONE, UM, I CAN PROMISE YOU THERE'S NO ONE SITTING IN THIS ROOM OR IN THE 265,000 PEOPLE IN HARVARD COUNTY THAT WANT THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO SUCCEED MORE THAN ME.
UM, BUT YOU DON'T DO IT, UH, WITH THE WAY HE HAS CHOSEN TO RUN HIS ADMINISTRATION TO DATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE QUITE HONEST, IT'S, IT'S NOTHING BUT BEING A BULLY.
AND I THINK FOR OUR SIDE, AND, AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF SOME THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP WITH US, IS THAT, UM, IT, IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S CONFUSING AND IT'S ALSO JUST NOT THE WAY TO WORK GOVERNMENT WITHOUT YOUR ALLY PARTNERS.
YOU NEED YOUR PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO, AND THAT COMES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COUNCIL.
WE, WE WOULD, I THINK WE'D BE JUST AS UPSET TO YOU GUYS IF THAT WAS THE CASE.
SO JUST, I JUST WAS CUZ WE, YOU WERE THE LAST ELECTED OFFICIAL.
I, I MEAN, I, I, YOU KNOW, I I WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS.
WELL, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, SO YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE THIS PROJECT STANDS OR ARE WE ALL JUST OH NO, I READING THE ROOM THAT THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.
WE KEEP GETTING PUSHED DOWN THE ROAD TO DO TO, TO, HEY, LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT AT THAT AND, AND IN TELL US STUFF.
IN THE LETTER I SENT TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT THE SHUCKS ROAD PROPERTY AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTED TO US IN A MEETING, UM, WHERE SOME OF HIS STAFF WERE THERE AND SOME OF MY STAFF.
SO IT JUST WASN'T A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION THAT HE WOULD COMMIT TO DOING THIS PROJECT AT SHUCKS ROAD AND DO IT WITHIN TWO YEARS.
UM, AND WE FIGURED IT WAS GONNA BE TWICE THE COST AND HE SAID, WELL, HE IS NOT GONNA PAY THAT FOR IT.
BUT I MEAN, EVEN IF IT'S NOT TWICE THE COST, EVEN IF IT'S THE EXACT SAME COST, UM, WHY THROW THE MILLION DOLLARS OUT AND NOT JUST MOVE FORWARD AT THE HEAT CENTER? UM, SO WE LOOKED IN, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH.
I HAVE, AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO MAKE A PRETTY, UH, WHO ARE BUSY AND, AND MAKE A PRETTY PENNY THAT HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO THIS RESEARCH, TALK TO THE EXPERTS, AND, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL DOING JUST BUSY WORK, UM, IN ORDER TO PUSH THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER TWO OR THREE WEEKS.
AND, UM, I THINK WE'RE TO THE POINT.
WE NEED TO STOP PUSHING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, HE CHALLENGED THIS COUNCIL WHEN HE WAS IN HERE THE OTHER DAY, UH, TO MAKE YOU ALL DECIDE, I THINK IS MORE OR LESS HOW HE PUT IT.
SO, UM, I'M CURIOUS IF YOU SHOULD, UM, SUPPORT IT AS A GROUP, UM, WHETHER THAT MAY MOTIVATE HIM OR WHETHER YOU MAY SEE THE SIDE THAT WE HAVE SEEN.
ANYONE ELSE? WE'LL JUST END ON THAT NOTE, SIR.
[03:50:03]
DO WE RUN SOMEBODY ELSE LEAVE? WHAT'S THAT? WE CAN, IF WE WANT.