[00:00:01]
GOOD EVENING.[1. CALL TO ORDER]
BOARD OF APPEALS FOR ZONING, BOARD OF APPEALS CASE NUMBER 59 84.MS. COUNTLESS, YOU'RE WITH US THIS EVENING.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, MS. COUNTLESS, AS THE APPLICANT.
YOU'LL HAVE 15 MINUTES TO PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE ZONING APPEALS BOARD.
AND AFTER THAT, UM, WE'LL, WE MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY REQUEST.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS THAT I BELIEVE THE DENIAL OF MY VARIANCE SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND REVISED.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING MY THOUGHTS TOGETHER, I HAVE WRITTEN THEM DOWN AND THROUGHOUT THE HEARING MAY BE LOOKING DOWN, BUT I'M PAYING FULL ATTENTION TO THE MATH.
THEY ARE FOUR POINTS THAT I'M ASKING THE HEARING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER.
POINT NUMBER ONE, THE TRANSCRIPT ON THE ORIGINAL HEARING DATE, THE HEARING OFFICER STATED, I WILL LEAVE THE CASE OPEN.
GET A LETTER FROM YOUR H O A, TELLING ME IT IS APPROVED.
AS LOCATED AS LOCATED, IT IS APPROVED.
HE TOLD ME THAT IF I'VE GOTTEN APPROVAL FROM MY H O A TO LEAVE THE SHED AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION, THEN HE WOULD LEAVE THE CASE OPEN.
SO AT THE HEARING OFFICER'S REQUEST, I WAS IN FACT ABLE TO PROCURE MY H O A APPROVAL.
I EMAILED A COPY OF THE APPROVAL ON JUNE THE FIRST AND MADE THE REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS.
THE H O A DECIDED THAT IF I REMOVE FOUR FEET FROM THE SHED, I WOULD NO LONGER BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY EASEMENT LAW.
I PAID $1,200 TO CUT OFF FOUR FEET.
HOWEVER, I'M NO LONGER IN VIOLATION OF ANY EASEMENT, BUT MY VARIANCE WAS DENIED.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I COMPLIED WITH THE HEARING'S OFFICER REQUEST, AND I DO HAVE A COPY, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALREADY HAVE COPIES OF THE TRANSCRIPTS AS REQUIRED, BUT I DID BRING A COPY OF IT.
I ALSO HAVE A COPY OF THE APPROVAL AS HE REQUESTED.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I BROUGHT JUST, UM, A COPY OF THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO GOTTI, YOU KNOW, TO SUBMIT TO THE HEARING OFFICER AS HE REQUESTED.
SO I COMPLY WITH HIS REQUEST FOR APPROVAL.
OH, WELL THAT'S ALL IN THE RECORD.
AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALL READ READ THE RECORD.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS THE EMAIL THAT I SENT, BUT IT'S THIS.
THAT WAS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, A PART OF THE DECISION.
MY VARIANCE WOULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIAL DETRIMENT TO MY NEIGHBORS OR ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE SHED DOES NOT POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AS IT DOES NOT BLOCK ANY SIGNS.
IT DOES NOT IMPEDE ANY WALKWAYS.
IT DOES NOT OBSTRUCT ANY VIEWS FOR MY NEIGHBORS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR PACIER ON FOOT, BIKE OR CAR.
IT DOES NOT HINDER FIRE HYDRANTS ACCESS.
AND LASTLY, THERE ARE NO POWER OR UTILITY LINES NEAR MY SHED.
NEIGHBORS ON BOTH SIDES OF MY HOME TESTIFIED AND JUSTICE CENTER.
TO REITERATE, IT IS IN THE RECORD, BOTH OF MY NEIGHBORS ON BOTH OF MY SIDES WHERE I LIVE AT, ALL OF MY NEIGHBORS DID SIGN THE CONSENT THAT THE SHED COULD STAY THERE.
BUT THEY SHOWED UP JUST AS THEIR SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT ALL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE SHED, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM.
NUMBER THREE, CASE LAW, IN THE CASE OF CHELSEA VERSUS CITY OF ANNAPOLIS, THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS, OUR CASES ARE NOT THE SAME AND ARE NOT SIMILAR IT, I'M SORRY.
AND ARE SIMILAR IN THAT WE BOTH WERE REQUESTING A VARIANCE IN THE CHELSEA CASE.
HE OR SHE HAD A STRUCTURE BUILT WITH FOUR FULL PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE.
IN THIS REGARD, CHELSEA TOOK A GAMBLE.
HOWEVER, I DID NOT, I DID NOT KNOW THAT I WOULD REQUIRE A VARIANCE.
I OBTAINED PRIOR CONSENT AND PRIOR APPROVAL FROM MY H O A IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY COMMUNITY POLICIES.
[00:05:01]
PREPARED THE NECESSARY PERMITS.AND UNLIKE CHELSEA, I WAS UNABLE TO FORESEE THAT I WOULD IN THE FUTURE REQUIRE A VARIANCE.
HAD I KNOWN AT ANY TIME THAT MOVING THE SHED WHERE IT WAS, I COULD HAVE, AND THE H O A HADN'T GIVEN ME PRIOR APPROVAL, AND THE POOL COMPANY DIDN'T PULL PRIOR PERMITS, I WOULD'VE KNOWN THAT MAYBE WE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE SIZE OF THE POOL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ALSO MAKE CLARITY ABOUT THAT.
SO THE CASES ARE TOTALLY, THAT WAS CITED OR ARE NOT THE SAME.
UM, HARDSHIP IS MY LAST POINT, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, I LIKE TO MAKE, I DO NOT, I DID NOT CREATE MY OWN HARDSHIP.
I FOLLOWED ALL OF THE PROPER PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS.
IT WAS ONE YEAR INTO THE POOL BILL THAT I WAS ALERTED THAT MY SHED WAS A POTENTIAL ISSUE.
HAD I BEEN AWARE OF THESE POSSIBLE ISSUES SOONER THAN I COULD HAVE MADE THE NECESSARY SIZING ALLOTMENT TO THE POOL.
HOWEVER, BY THE TIME I WAS MADE AWARE MY POOL PROJECT WAS UNDERWAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
IN CONCLUSION, I'M HUMBLY ASKING THIS COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER MY VARIANCE, LARGELY IN PART TO THE FACT THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S POLICIES GRANTING THIS VARIANCE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY DETRIMENTAL TO ADJACENT PROPERTIES OR THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
ADDITIONALLY, I'M ASKING FOR THE VARIANCE BECAUSE NOT ALLOWING THE VARIANCE WOULD RESULT IN AN UNREASONABLE HARDSHIP, A HARDSHIP THAT CONTRARY TO THE DECISION I DID NOT SELF-INFLICT.
AS A COUNTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBER, I OBTAINED PRIOR PERMISSIONS AND APPROVALS.
I DID NOT GO ROGUE AND SIMPLY CHOOSE TO IGNORE ANY RULES.
THE HARD TRUTH IS THE H O A TOOK OVER A YEAR TO MAKE ME AWARE THAT MY SHED POSED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM.
AND THEREFORE, I SIMPLY DID NOT CAUSE MY OWN HARDSHIP AS STATED IN THE DECISION.
HOWEVER, DENYING THIS VARIANCE WOULD CREATE AN UNREASONABLE HARDSHIP.
'CAUSE AFTER PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $1,200 TO KEEP THE SHED WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED, I SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MOVE.
I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MOVE IT.
AND LASTLY, I WILL ASK THAT THE COMMITTEE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN MY CASE, IN CHELSEA'S CASE, I HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE THAT I WOULD NEED A VARIANCE IN THAT CASE, THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE POLICIES.
THAT IS NOT WHAT I DID AND I HAVE EVER DONE.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE OVER NINE MINUTES LEFT.
UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, UH, ANY QUESTIONS, UH, PERTAINING TO THE TEXTS? YES, MA'AM.
AND I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF THE MODIFIED SHED AS REQUIRED BY THE HEARING OFFICER.
UM, IF, IF YOU, IF YOU NEED THEM, I HAVE THE, THE PICTURES THAT ARE IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY SUBMITTED ORIGINALLY.
AND THEN I HAVE THE MODIFIED SHED, WHICH SHOWS THE FOREFOOT, WHICH PUTS ME IN COMPLIANCE WITH COUNTY EASEMENT REGULATIONS.
IF YOU NEED COUNSEL AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, MR. PENMAN? THE MODIFIED SHED? I, I REMEMBER SEEING PICTURES OF THE BEFORE.
DO WE, DO WE HAVE, IS THERE IN THE PACKET HERE? NO, BE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT BEFORE THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER IN THIS, THIS CASE IS, UH, REQUEST FOR FINAL ARGUMENT OF THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER BASED UPON ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS BEFORE HIM AND ALL THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO HIM.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE IT.
IT IT HAS OCCURRED IN TIME AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE HEARING.
SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THE MODIFIED SHED IS IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE AT THIS POINT.
WELL, NO, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT, IT IS NOT RELEVANT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS.
NOW, UH, HAVING SAID THAT, I GUESS PLANNING AND ZONING WOULD, WOULD POTENTIALLY KNOW WHETHER IT'S IN COMPLIANCE OR NOT? VERY WELL, THANK YOU.
MR. RILEY? WELL, MR. BARNEY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE FACT THAT THE MODIFIED SHED IS IN COMPLIANCE.
'CAUSE THE SHED WAS MODIFIED AFTER THE FACT.
ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY, I GOT IT AS REQUESTED BY THE HEARING OFFICER.
MR. GUTHRIE, UH, SO TALK ABOUT MODIFICATION.
DID YOU ENLARGE THE SHED FROM ITS ORIGINAL SIZE? NO, I REDUCED IT, SIR.
[00:10:01]
ABOUT FOUR FOOT ALL THE WAY AROUND IN THE, PER THE PERIMETER.HOW LONG WAS THE SHED ON YOUR PROPERTY, UH, BEFORE YOU MOVED IT? 18 YEARS.
UH, DID YOU PUT IT ON THERE ORIGINALLY? YES, SIR.
OR WHAT DID YOU BUY IT WITH THE HOUSE? NO, UM, I DID NOT BUY IT WITH THE HOUSE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY GIFTED TO ME BY A NEIGHBOR WHO FAMILY MEMBER HAD GOTTEN ILL AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL GOT TOGETHER TO KIND OF FACILITATE THEM, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOVE.
AND, UM, IT WAS, IT WAS GIFTED TO ME.
DID YOU GET A PERMIT? I DID GO TO THE H O A AT THE TIME AGAIN AND REQUEST, WAS IT OKAY TO HAVE THE SHED RELOCATED FROM MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD? WELL, NOT WITH THE H O A WITH THE COUNTY.
DID YOU GET A PERMIT FROM THE COUNTY? NO, SIR.
I DIDN'T TO PUT THE SHUT, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT TIME THAT I REQUIRED A PERMIT.
AGAIN, I WENT TO THE H O A IF, IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE PERMIT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, I HAD A POOL BUILT.
SO NO ONE EVER IN, IN THE 18 YEARS SAID THAT.
AND I, I FEEL LIKE A FOOL, BUT I, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
SO THE POOL, I MEAN THE SHED RIGHT NOW IS WHERE YOU MOVED IT TO? YES.
AND IT'S IN THE RELOCATED PLACE WHERE I HAD RELOCATED IT.
AND WHERE, UM, LIKE I SAID, THE HEARING OFFICER SAID IT HAD TO BE A APPROVED AND THAT LOCATION.
I NOTICED IN SOME OF THE PICTURES, THE, THE SHED WAS, UH, UP NEAR THE HOUSE AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS, THE DIRT WAS DOWN AND THERE WAS A SUPPORT TO HOLD IT UP ON ONE END.
IS THAT THE CASE WITH IT? WELL, BASICALLY, I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD TWO FRONT YARDS.
THE SHED IS TECHNICALLY, I, I THOUGHT I WAS PUTTING IT IN MY BACKYARD 'CAUSE EVERYTHING IS IN THE BACKYARD.
BUT THE COUNTY COACH SAYS, BECAUSE I'M ON A IN-HOUSE, I HAD TWO FRONT YARDS.
ANYONE KNEW THAT WE HAD TWO FRONT YARDS.
SO ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE, TECHNICALLY IN THE BACK OF MY HOUSE, IN MY BACKYARD, THAT'S WHY I WAS IN VIOLATION, BECAUSE I HAVE TWO FRONT YARDS.
I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I KNOW YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, BUT, SO YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, SO THANK YOU, SIR.
SO I, I, I UNDERSTAND I I'M GONNA CORNER A LOT TOO, SO I, I FEEL YOUR PAIN A LITTLE BIT.
THE, THE PICTURES THAT ARE IN HERE, ARE THEY FROM WHEN YOU PUT THE POOL IN ORIGINALLY THEY'RE, THIS SEEMS LIKE THE, THE GROUND IS DISTURBED.
THE, AND THE, THE POOL, YOU KNOW, I COULD SEE THE PIPING AND STUFF OUTTA THERE.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE, THEY'RE MUCH OLD, YOU KNOW.
AND YOU SAID THE, IT WAS AROUND FOR 18 YEARS.
ARE THESE OLDER PITCHERS? NO, NO, NO, SIR.
BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THE POOL BUILDER, AND I HOPE I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, I'M TRYING TO ANSWER QUICKLY.
THE POOL BUILDER WAS CATALINA POOLS.
WHO CAME IN, MOVED EVERYTHING AROUND.
MA'AM, CAN YOU BRING THE MICROPHONE CLOSER TO, I'M SORRY.
THE POOL BUILDER WAS CATALINA.
CATALINA POOLS, AND I'M SURE YOU GOT MINE, BUT I HEARD ABOUT IT.
SO THEY CAME IN, THEY MOVED EVERYTHING AROUND, THEY GOT ALL THE PERMITS.
I LEFT EVERYTHING TO THEM, THE ELECTRIC, THE PLUMBING, THE SHED, EVERYTHING.
SO THE REASON WHY, IT'S STILL DIRT AND EVERYTHING OUT THERE, BECAUSE THE POOL DIDN'T EVEN GET FINISHED UNTIL LITERALLY THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU STILL SEE IT.
AND IT LOOKS SO DISTURBED BECAUSE IT, THE PROJECT ACTUALLY TOOK OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OKAY.
TO GET, BUT THE SHED'S BEEN THERE FOR 18 YEARS.
YOU JUST HAD THE POOL BUILT RECENTLY AND THEY HAVEN'T COME AND FINISHED IT AND PUT THE FENCE UP AND EVERYTHING ELSE AROUND.
SO THAT THE SHED BE IN AND AROUND THE FENCE.
THE PICTURE THAT WE HAVE OF THE SHED IS NOT THE REDUCED SHED.
UM, IT'S THE OLD SHED AND YOU'VE GOT TWO FRONT YARDS AND YOU'RE, I THINK THE ISSUE IS ONE OF THE, IT'S THAT YOU'RE 25 OR 30 FEET IS THE VARIANCE, IS WHAT, UH, I THINK THEY WERE.
UM, I THINK I ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT, PROBABLY NOT A REALLY GOOD PICTURE, BUT I DO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE REDUCE SHED, IF THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SUBMIT THAT BECAUSE IT'S AFTER THE FACT, BUT I DO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE REDUCED SHED, THE SIZE THAT IT IS.
NOW, DO YOU HAVE, AND I KNOW I SAW ONE OF THE THINGS IN HERE, AND I, I I DON'T SEE THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL APPROVAL THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT FROM THE H O A NOW OF WHERE THE SHED IS LOCATED? YES.
WHAT I DID IS I HAD TO, AND THEY WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL IN MY APPROVAL LETTER, BECAUSE I GUESS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HAPPEN.
WHAT WE JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED ON MAY THE 31ST.
SO WHAT I HAD TO DO IS I HAD TO SUBMIT A NEW DRAWING FROM LEYS.
THEY HAD THE COMPANIES TO COME OUT AND MAP OUT
[00:15:01]
EVERYTHING.SO I HAD TO SUBMIT ALL OF THAT, WHERE IT ACTUALLY IS AND WHERE EVERYTHING WAS GONNA BE.
AND THIS IS THE APPROVAL LETTER OKAY.
THAT I RECEIVED AND I SENT IT TO THE HEARING OFFICER.
DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THAT APPROVAL LETTER? YES, THAT'S IN THERE TOO.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. GOWANS, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS? DO YOU STILL HAVE TIME? NO.
UM, AGAIN, I JUST HOPE THAT, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, I'M A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY PROPERTY.
I DID ALL OF MY DUE DILIGENCE AND, AND TO ENSURE THAT I COMPLIED WITH THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND EVERY POLICY THAT I WAS AWARE OF AND THAT I WAS MADE AWARE OF.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT LIKE THAT, YOU SUBMIT YOUR DOCUMENTS TO YOUR H O A AND THEY AND, AND TO YOUR BUILDERS AND YOUR CONTRACTORS.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT AT LARGE, IT IS NO WAY DO YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, WHAT ELECTRICAL PERMITS YOU NEED TO PULL OR, OR WHAT, WHAT POOL PERMITS YOU NEED TO PULL.
YOU PAY PEOPLE FOR THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES.
AGAIN, HAD, HAD I KNOWN I COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO AS IT STATED IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT I BROUGHT A UNDUE HARDSHIP ON MYSELF, THAT'S JUST SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
AND PLEASE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE PRECEDENCE THAT WAS USED TO SET, TO MAKE THE DECISION IS FUNDAMENTALLY NOWHERE EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, GENTLEMEN.
WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, MA'AM.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THE ZONING APPEAL CASE FOR NUMBER 59 84, AND IT WILL BE TAKEN UP AT A DIFFERENT MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE RIGHT INTO A REGULAR SESSION.
IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO ALL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UM, AND FOLLOWED BY OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCIL MEMBER BENNETT, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE REPUBLIC REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE SPRAWL.
UM, IN IS MY MICROPHONE ON IN RECOGNITION OF RASH HASHANAH.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A TRADITIONAL GRACE FROM THAT HOLIDAY.
WE PRAISE YOU, ETERNAL GOD, SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE, CREATOR OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE.
ETERNAL OUR GOD THAT THIS BE A GOOD AND SWEET YEAR FOR US.
COUNSEL, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE OUR HOWARD COUNTY'S COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALVIN BALLS WITH US THIS EVENING.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU, SIR.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AS WELL, AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE HEARING FROM YOU SHORTLY.
[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]
PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS.PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS, UH, THIS SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, AND IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE TO COME FORWARD HERE AND JOIN ME UP FRONT, MS. LINDA WILLIAMS, SIDNEY CHUPE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE, WENDY BECK AND RACHEL BONJOURNO.
MARGARET KAISER HARFORD COMMUNITY SERVICES, OR HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES.
OUR REGISTER OF WILLS KEEPS LYING DOWN, SIR, MR. DAN MCKINNEY FROM DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
WHEREAS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH IS A NATIONAL OBSERVANCE HELD EVERY SEPTEMBER TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT NEW EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PRACTICES, THE EMERGENCE OF A STRONG AND PROUD RECOVERY COMMUNITY, AND THE DEDICATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND C COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE NATION WHO MAKE RECOVERY POSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS THE THEME FOR NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH 2023 IS JOIN THE VOICES FOR
[00:20:01]
RECOVERY.THIS YEAR'S FOCUS IN RECOVERY MONTH IS ON THE FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ADVOCATES HELPING TO SUPPORT RECOVERY IN OUR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THIS SEPTEMBER, HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, HARTFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HEALTHY HARTFORD, THE BEL AIR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, UPPER CHESAPEAKE HEALTH, THE KLEIN FAMILY CRISIS CENTER, AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTNERS ARE COMING TOGETHER THROUGHOUT HARFORD COUNTY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND ON THIS 19TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2023 TO HERE HEREBY PROCLAIM NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, SEPTEMBER, 2023, AND THANK OUR PROVIDERS AND CITIZENS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE HEALTH OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY.
IF I MAY, I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND JUST THANK YOU, UH, ALL OF YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO THROUGHOUT HARTFORD COUNTY AND BEYOND.
UH, SO MANY PEOPLE RELY ON THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SPEAK TO IT HERE TONIGHT.
EACH ONE OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE OUTSTANDING AND MY COLLEAGUES, AND I WANNA TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE YOU.
AND BECAUSE I'M SAYING NEXT TO YOU, LINDA, I'M GONNA PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, EASY TO SPEAK.
I DON'T THINK EVERYONE REALIZES HOW IMPORTANT RECOVERY IS.
UM, MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE, WE SUPPORT THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY.
EVERY DAY WE MEET THE PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WE, UH, TRY NOT TO BE JUDGMENTAL.
WE ALSO, TREATMENT IS SO MUCH MORE AVAILABLE NOW THAT I FEEL THAT THE FUNDS AND THE FOCUS NEED TO BE ON KEEPING THOSE IN RE IN RECOVERY THAT ARE THERE.
SO, UM, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN DO MUCH MORE IN THE COUNTY, ALL OF US TOGETHER.
AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA ALL WORK TOWARDS A RECOVERY CENTER.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP DOING THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU BEING, UH, ONE WHO SUPPORTS THOSE IN RECOVERY, UH, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
AND, AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS IT'S NOT JUST ONE HOUSE.
IT'S ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL.
I SEE IT BEING IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
AND I ALSO SEE IT AS BEING A MAN WHO, WHO RUNS TWO HOUSES WITH AN AMAZING GROUP.
AND AGAIN, WITH ALL THE SUPPORT OF THESE HERE FOLKS BEFORE US.
UM, E M SS IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND THE VOLUNTEER SERVICES IS GROWING.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE PROVIDERS NOW TAKE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THAT PATIENT THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING, GIVE 'EM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED, AND SOMETIMES SIT ON SCENE AND WAIT FOR THESE LADIES TO SHOW UP REMOVAL CRISIS.
AND LIKE HE SAID, IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
I'M STANDING UP HERE AND I'M STILL SHORTER.
NEXT TIME, GIMME A BIGGER PAIR.
[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
FIVE, CONSIDERATION OF PETITION'S, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATION.COUNCIL APPOINTMENT BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON MAY HAVE A MOTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER BENNETT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON.
LET'S MOVE TO SECOND TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER BENNETT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, A LIAISON POSITION.
ANY DISCUSSION? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
[00:25:01]
LES AYE.THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES, INFER OF ZERO AND NEGATIVE.
THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED.
EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE NEW APPOINTMENT OF JAMES CUTTERBACK.
LET'S MOVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW APPOINTMENT OF JAMES CUTTERBACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE.
THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED CITIZENS NURSING HOME BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MR. BENNETT, MS. MR. PRESIDENT, UH, I MOVE TO REAPPOINT MS. PATRICIA SCOTT TO THE CITIZENS NURSING HOME BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
MR. JAN ANO, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF PATRICIA SCOTT BADR.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE, THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED.
COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MAY HAVE A MOTION.
MR. GUTHRIE, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, I'M GONNA POINT, UH, WELL THE NAME'S MISSING HERE.
RACHEL HAR TO THE COMMISSION OF DISABILITIES.
IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW APPOINTMENT OF RACHEL HARBIN TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO INTO NEGATIVE, THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED.
[6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
SIX, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.UH, AGAIN, IT'S MY, UH, PLEASURE AND, UH, HONOR TO WELCOME, UH, BOTH, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE BULL AND MR. SANDERSON, UH, FROM MACO FOR THEIR ANNUAL UPDATE.
IT IS, UH, QUITE AN HONOR TO BE HERE, UH, BEFORE YOU.
UH, I, I AM CALVIN BALL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
I ALSO SIT AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF HOWARD COUNTY, THE OTHER H COUNTY, UH, BEFORE I WAS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AND I'VE BEEN, SO FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
I SPENT ABOUT 13 YEARS IN OUR COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND SO I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE ROLES THAT YOU ALL PLAY.
UH, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING, UH, ACTIVE IN, IN MAKO.
UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBER PENMAN HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE AND I GO, UH, BACK PRETTY FAR ALSO.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A, A ROBUST AGENDA, ALTHOUGH YOU'VE BEEN VERY EFFICIENT THUS FAR, SO KUDOS TO YOU.
UH, BUT WITH THAT, I WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO MICHAEL SANDERSON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHO WILL RUN THROUGH, UH, SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL ITEMS. AND THEN, UH, WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATION QUESTIONS, ANYTHING ELSE THAT, UH, YOU'D LIKE, MR. PRESIDENT? THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
I'M A DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
WE SERVE, REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF COUNTY OFFICIALS AND ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO MARYLANDERS ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, PART OF THAT IS WORKING IN ANNAPOLIS ON YOUR BEHALF.
PART OF IT IS MEMBER EDUCATION AND PEER EXCHANGE AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
TRY AND HELP YOU ALL DO YOUR JOBS WELL AND, AND SERVE YOUR RESIDENTS WELL.
I PREPARED A BIG PACKET OF MATERIALS.
A LOT OF THAT IS DRAWN FROM OUR CONDUIT STREET BLOG.
THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND AGGREGATOR SO FORTH OF, OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE VALUE TO YOU.
TEND TO BRING A BIG PACKET OF STUFF AND THEN DELIGHT YOU WITH THE NEWS THAT I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH IT.
AND THAT'S USUALLY A GOOD WAY TO START THINGS OFF.
BUT I WANT TO PUT SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES INTO YOUR HANDS.
UM, AND IF, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON THERE, THAT'S GREAT.
I'D LIKE TO SPEND JUST A FEW MINUTES ON A, ON A CHOICE NUMBER OF TOPICS.
UM, I'LL WALK THROUGH THESE RELATIVELY QUICKLY AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER OR IF I OMIT, BUT LET'S SPEND TIME ON THAT AT YOUR REQUEST.
SO, UM, I'LL, I'LL SPEND A COUPLE MINUTES ON THE STATE'S FISCAL SITUATION OVERALL, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT TENDS TO HAVE A TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ON YOUR ABILITY TO MEET YOUR PRIORITIES AND, AND MEET NEEDS IN, IN LOCAL SERVICES.
UM, STATE'S FISCAL SITUATION HAS BEEN WEIRD FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEALTH PANDEMIC.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY TO TRY AND
[00:30:01]
KEEP THERE FOR BEING A RIDE ALONG CRISIS WITH THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.AND THAT PROBABLY PAPERED OVER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BONAFIDE RECESSION AND WHATNOT.
IT'S ALSO LEFT US IN A REALLY TOUGH SPOT TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT'LL HAPPEN WITH GOVERNMENT REVENUES.
FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO, THE STATE HAS SEEN RELATIVELY HEALTHY NUMBERS FROM ITS IMMEDIATE REVENUES.
THINGS LIKE THE INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX, MORE OR LESS ARE OF A REFLECTION OF THE, THE ECONOMY OF RIGHT THIS MOMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CLOSED OUT LAST BUDGET YEAR WITH A $2 BILLION SURPLUS.
UM, IT LEFT THE BUDGET THAT WAS JUST SETTLED BACK DURING THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO BE A RELATIVELY EASY ONE.
GOVERNOR MOORE INHERITED A SITUATION WHERE IT WAS, YES, WE CAN AFFORD ALL THE AUTOPILOT THINGS AND FORMULAS AND SO FORTH, AND IT WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF CONSTERNATION BUILDING THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET.
HOWEVER, THEY GOT ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE ANNAPOLIS SORT OF, UM, FINALIZES ITS REVENUE PROJECTIONS IN MARCH, SO THEY CAN BALANCE TO THAT NUMBER IN APRIL.
AND THE MARCH ADJUSTMENT WAS A DOWNWARD NUMBER AND IT FELT LIKE THE FIRST BALLOON GOT POPPED AT THE PARTY.
SO MAYBE THAT IS THE, THE END OF SORT OF A PONTOON ECONOMY.
AND BACK TO REALITY A LITTLE BIT.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AT THE MAKO SUMMER CONFERENCE, WE USUALLY HAVE THE GOVERNOR DO A CLOSEOUT PRESENTATION.
AND FREQUENTLY THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT BIG THING.
I'M GONNA LAUNCH AN INITIATIVE, OR WE'RE GONNA GO GO FULL BORE ON THIS BIG PROBLEM.
GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT SOME, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW MARYLAND HAS, HAS SOME, SOME GAINS TO MAKE AND HOW WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON OUR STRENGTHS.
BUT THEN HE ALSO SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME TALKING ABOUT CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'VE GOT AS A FUNCTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS ARE DRYING UP, AND A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, USING ARPA DOLLARS AND SO FORTH.
THAT'S JUST NOT GONNA CONTINUE FOREVER.
SO, UM, HE, HE, HE TALKED ABOUT FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND, AND RESTRAINT AND SO FORTH AS PART OF HIS MESSAGE AS WELL.
UM, I, I WOULD CONNECT THAT TO THE STATE DOES ITS NEXT ROUND OF REVENUE FORECASTS BEING UPDATED LATER THIS MONTH.
I THINK THE SMART MONEY IS THAT THAT'LL BE ANOTHER DOWNWARD REVISION IN THAT FORECAST.
SO THE MARYLAND ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE IT'S SOFTENING UP.
UH, YOU, WE GET, UH, REMITTANCES FROM BUSINESSES COLLECTING SALES TAX AND FOLKS WHO ARE, WHO ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING WE'LL HAVE, UH, WITHHOLDING ON THEIR INCOME.
SO WE HAVE A DECENT IDEA SORT OF WEEK BY WEEK, MONTH BY MONTH HOW THINGS LOOK.
AND IF THE STATE ENDS UP ELEVATING ITS CURRENT FORECAST OF ABOUT A $400 MILLION SHORTFALL ON THE SORT OF THE, THE, THE, THE VANILLA BUDGET PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR.
IF THAT NUMBER GETS MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT, THEN THAT'LL BE MORE THAN JUST NIP AND TUCK AND LOOK UNDER THE COUCH CUSHIONS.
IF THAT NUMBER GOES FROM 400 TO SIX OR EIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S A DECENT GUESS, THEN, UM, IT MAY BE A BONAFIDE BELT TIGHTENING KIND OF ENVIRONMENT NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
UH, WE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS OFF FROM HAVING TO PLAY A LOT OF MEANINGFUL DEFENSE IN THE, IN THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT WE MAY BE BACK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE, UM, YEAH, THE, THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF MAY BE LOOKING AT, WELL, WE COULD SAVE SOME MONEY BY SHIFTING A COST HERE OR THERE, AND SOME SQUEEZE ON LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OR LOCAL JAILS OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE TRIPS BEFORE.
THEY'RE THINGS THAT POP UP WHEN THINGS GET TIGHT, WE'LL BE THERE TO DEFEND YOU.
BUT THAT KIND OF STUFF, THAT MIGHT BE THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE IN.
UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR EDUCATION SPENDING? I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THREE OR SO YEARS INTO THE, THE 10 YEAR PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT IN, IN, IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND, UM, COUNTIES ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE ALREADY.
IT'S ALREADY BY FAR THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN COUNTY BUDGET AFFORDABILITY AND PLANNING THE STATE'S A LITTLE BIT BEHIND US.
THERE'S A WEIRD CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE MARYLAND VOTERS SORT OF CREATED A LOCKBOX FOR MOSTLY CASINO REVENUE TO GO INTO AN EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND SAID, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, NOT JUST TO FUND WHAT WE'RE DOING ALREADY.
SO THAT MONEY SORT OF ACCUMULATED FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE BLUEPRINT REALLY KICKED IN AND STARTED HAVING A PRICE TAG, WHICH MEANS THEY'VE GOT A SOCK WITH MONEY IN IT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BLUEPRINT COSTS FOR 24 AND INTO 25 AND INTO MOST OF 26.
SO WHILE WE HAVE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WHO ARE ALREADY FINDING THEIR NUMBER FOR THE BLUEPRINT, SAYS, WELL, WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA FIND AN 11% INCREASE IN OUR SCHOOL BUDGET.
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT AND FUND THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, 45% OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET.
UM, THE STATE ISN'T QUITE IN THAT POSTURE YET, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR OUT TO SEE THEMSELVES IN 27 FEELING PRESSURE FROM THE PLAN THAT THEY'VE ALREADY BASICALLY ASSEMBLED AND COMMITTED TO.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT MEANS THERE'LL BE A FULL SCALE TOP TO BOTTOM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE A FULL REBOOT, BUT SOME ASSESSMENT OF WHAT'S AFFORDABLE SHORT TERM AND WHAT ARE THE INTERMEDIATE TIMETABLES BETWEEN NOW AND
[00:35:01]
THE ULTIMATE GOALS.I THINK SOME OF THOSE ISSUES MAY BE ON THE TABLE FOR THIS COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THEY'VE GOT, THEY'VE, THEY'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT, UH, FISCAL ISSUES LARGE AND THE EDUCATION FUNDING ARE THE BIGGEST DOLLARS AMONG ALL THE MOVERS IN THE BUDGETS, BOTH AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL.
LET ME JUMP THROUGH A COUPLE MORE THINGS, UM, MORE RAPIDLY THAN THAT.
UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BUILT A A, A PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM, UH, FOR, FOR FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS.
UH, THEY CREATED THE PROGRAM IN 22.
THEY HAD TO COME BACK IN 23 AND TIDY SOME THINGS UP.
WE WERE VERY ENGAGED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS A CLEAR OFF RAMP FOR ENTITIES.
LIKE IN ALL CANDOR, I THINK COUNTY GOVERNMENTS WHO ALREADY ARE IN THE BENEFITS BUSINESS TO OPT OUT OF THE STATE SYSTEM AND RUN YOUR OWN PROGRAM.
UH, SO WE GOT, WE GOT THE TIMETABLES AND PROCESS FOR THAT ALL CLEARED UP WITH A FOLLOW-UP LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
AND MAKO IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR SISTER ORGANIZATIONS, THE, THE ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS EDUCATION AND THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
WE THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE A BIG GROUP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS POOL TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
OPT OUTTA THE STATE PROGRAM, PROVIDE THIS DIRECTLY.
UH, ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF DOING SO IS YOU MISS, THERE'S A STRANGE TIMETABLE THAT THE STATE HAS TO BASICALLY POPULATE ITS FUND.
IT HAS TO GET MONEY INTO ITS TRUST FUND BEFORE THEY CAN START SENDING OUT BENEFITS.
SO PRIVATE EMPLOYERS WHO STAY IN THE STATE SYSTEM, THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE A 15 MONTH PERIOD WHERE THEY'RE PAYING IN PAYING PREMIUMS INTO THE STATE SYSTEM BEFORE BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE.
WE THINK THE IDEA OF 50, 60, 80 LOCAL UNITS ALL GOING TOGETHER WILL GET US THE BEST PRICE IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR THE PROVIDERS AND ALSO A QUICK ACCESS TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ONE BIG PLAN.
SO, UM, ANTICIPATE YOU'LL PROBABLY BE HEARING ABOUT THAT AS AN OPTION.
I THINK IT MAY VERY WELL MAKE SENSE FOR HARTFORD COUNTY.
UH, THIRD TOPIC I'LL, I'LL MENTION BRIEFLY IS THE VOTERS SPOKE ON, ON MAKING CANNABIS USE, UH, ADULT USE LEGAL UNDER MARYLAND LAWS.
UH, THE IMPLEMENTATION STARTED BACK ON JULY ONE.
IN ALL CANDOR, SOME OF THAT WAS THE EASIEST STUFF AS FAR AS SITING AND LICENSING GOES.
'CAUSE THAT WAS EXISTING MEDICAL FACILITIES GOING TO COMMERCIAL.
UM, WHAT WE STILL GOT AHEAD OF US IS ANOTHER WAVE OF ADDITIONAL LICENSEES WHO ARE GONNA WANT THEIR STATE LICENSE.
THEY'LL WANT APPROVAL ON SITE LOCATIONS AND SO FORTH.
THE STATE DIDN'T DO US A WHOLE LOT OF FAVORS WITH THEIR IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION.
UM, THEY CREATED A PECULIAR STANDARD FOR, UH, FOR ZONING APPROVAL FOR THE LOCATION OF THE LICENSES.
THE WORDS, UM, THE WORDS REASONABLE ZONING APPEAR IN THE, IN THE CANNABIS BILL.
THEY'VE NEVER APPEARED IN MARYLAND LAW ANYWHERE BEFORE.
SO YOUR, YOUR PLANNING DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND THERE'S A WHOLE CA STACK OF CASE LAW THAT SAYS WHAT IS AND IS NOT REASONABLE IN ZONING, BUT REASONABLE ZONING IS A NEW DEFINED TERM.
SO MAYBE WE'LL END UP IN COURT OR MAYBE BACK IN THE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE THINGS REFINED.
IF THE LEGISLATURE OPENS THE BOOKS ON THAT, MAYBE THEY TAKE ANOTHER SWING AT GIVING A FAIR SHAKE AT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR A PIECE OF THE REVENUE PIE WHERE WE GOT REALLY A REALLY SMALL SLICE OF A RELATIVELY SMALL PIE.
UM, I WILL SAY THERE WAS A DELIBERATE DECISION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO NOT OVERTAX THE LEGAL PRODUCT OR A FEW STATES THAT HAVE MAYBE GONE TOO FAR IN THIS DIRECTION.
IF YOU TAX THE GROWERS AND THEN THE DISTRIBUTORS AND THEN AT THE RETAIL SALE AND YOU END UP WITH 40, 50, 60% AGGREGATE TAX RATE, YOU END UP WITH FOLKS WHO MIGHT WANNA BUY LEGALLY SAYING, I'D RATHER JUST GO BACK TO THE ILLEGAL GUY ON THE OLD CORNER.
AND YOU MISS THE SOCIAL BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF HAVING A REGULATED, OVERSEEN PRODUCT AND SO FORTH AS OPPOSED TO WHERE WE USED TO BE.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND AVOID THAT, BUT MAYBE HAVE MISSED THE MARK.
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, COUNTIES AND OUR MUNICIPAL FRIENDS, UM, HAVE LEFT OUT MUCH, MUCH SMALLER SLICE THAN IN OTHER STATES.
SO I'LL, I'LL CLOSE WITH ONE MORE ITEM AND I'M DOING SO AT THE NEGLECT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN OUR PACKET AND HAVE BEEN ON OUR MINDS, BUT I'LL MENTION THIS HAS BEEN COMING UP AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE BALL AND I'VE BEEN VISITING WITH YOUR COUNTERPARTS IN, IN OTHER COUNTIES, UM, COUNTIES LARGE AND SMALL ARE HAVING JUST A DEVIL OF A TIME BRINGING IN NEW FIREFIGHTERS.
UM, DELIVERING E M S SERVICE IS ITS OWN CHALLENGE.
AND WE GOT A NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS WHO ARE REFRAMING THAT, BUT JUST THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND CAREER FIREFIGHTERS, THERE'S JUST NOT THE GENERATION WALKING IN THE DOOR TO REPLACE FOLKS WHO PROBABLY EARN THE RIGHT TO BE WALKING OUT THE DOOR.
WE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE DECADES AND DECADES LONG IN SERVICE, AND THEY'RE STILL RUNNING CALLS FOR LACK OF 28 YEAR OLDS WALKING IN THE DOOR.
SO ANNAPOLIS SOMETIMES, LIKE WHEN YOU LIKES, WHEN YOU HAVE A VEXING ISSUE, YOU BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, YOU DO A TASK FORCE OR A COMMISSION, THAT SORT OF THING.
WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER INFORMATION SO WE CAN END UP WITH A PACKAGE OF, OF PROPOSALS THAT THE VOLUNTEERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH,
[00:40:01]
THE CAREERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH, AND ASK THE STATE TO GIVE US SOME MORE ASSISTANCE AND SORT OF LIKE DOUBLE DOWN ON EFFORTS THAT WE'RE MAKING LOCALLY.WE'VE GOT SOME TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX, BUT MAYBE WE NEED SOME MORE STUFF WITH EDUCATION ASSISTANCE OR, OR, YOU KNOW, TUITION REIMBURSEMENT OR OTHER THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES THAT MIGHT BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE FIREFIGHTERS OF TOMORROW BECAUSE WE NEED MORE FOLKS IN THE DOOR, PARTICULARLY FOR AREAS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
SO, UM, ALL THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT MAKO IS FOCUSED ON, AND I'VE LEFT AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS OFF THE LIST, BUT I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR TIME AND AGENDA.
SO IF ANY OF THOSE THINGS WE DIDN'T GET INTO ENOUGH OR YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT OTHER STUFF NOW WOULD BE GREAT.
APPRECIATE THAT MR. SANDERSON.
UH, WE'RE GONNA LET, UM, MR. PENMAN TAKE THE LEAD.
THANK YOU MR. SANDERSON, COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, I TELL YOU JUST 10 MONTHS INTO THIS, I'M SUPER IMPRESSED WITH MAKO.
UH, YOU HAVE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM, UM, AND JUST THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF EACH OF THE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE IN THOSE COMMITTEES AND THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES JUST TO, TO INFORM THE LOCAL LEGISLATORS, UM, THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR THE INTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF EACH OF THOSE BILLS.
SO I APPLAUD YOU BOTH IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS FOR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICES, UH, TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO MY ALTERNATE JIM RILEY JOINING ME, UH, AS, UH, DOWN IN MACO THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT I DID WANT TO HAVE ONE QUESTION I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION JUST ON YOUR RADAR.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR IT, BUT, AND IT CONCERNS THE LOCAL RESERVE FUND.
UM, LIERMAN, UH, COMPTROLLER, LIERMAN, EXCUSE ME, WAS HERE AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING AND WE DISCUSSED THE LOCAL RESERVE FUND.
AND, UH, MY ISSUE IS PARTICULARLY IN 2008 AND 2009, THERE WAS A TRANSFER OF FOR OVER $900 MILLION FROM THAT LOCAL RESERVE FUND.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THAT RESERVE FUND IS WHERE THE STATE COLLECTS THE MONEY AND THEN DISPERSES IT BACK OUT TO THE COUNTY AT A TIME 2008 WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BASICALLY A FINANCIAL CRASH.
THEY TOOK $900 MILLION FROM THAT AND NO REPAYMENT HAS EVER BEEN MADE.
THERE WAS AN EFFORT IN 2014 TO TRY TO REPAY THAT, UH, STARTING IN 2021.
AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, JUST DOING THE RESEARCH, UH, EACH YEAR THAT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED, THAT REPAYMENT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OVER LIKE $33 MILLION ROUGHLY.
SO, UM, I'M JUST LEARNING ALL THIS.
I'M HOPING TO KIND OF BRING THIS FORWARD AND JUST HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE ON HOW WE GET THAT MONEY BACK THAT WAS TAKEN FROM THE COUNTIES, UH, AND THE LOCAL RESERVE FUND.
SO AGAIN, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO HAVE AN ANSWER, JUST KIND OF WANT TO PUT IT ON YOUR RADAR AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON IT.
SO I, I APPRECIATE YOU RAISING THE ISSUE.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT TECHNICAL FOR THIS FORUM.
UM, SOMETHING I'M HAP I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON.
I'M, I'M PRETTY WELL VERSED IN THE TOPIC.
I THINK IN THE, IN THE GRAND SCHEME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW AS CUSTODIANS OF, YOU KNOW, OF THE, OF THE COUNTY TRUST AND YOUR STAKE IN THIS IS WHAT THIS, THIS HAS NEVER AMOUNTED TO A NICKEL BEING SHORTED TO ANY COUNTY FOR THE INCOME TAX THAT WAS, THAT WAS DUE FROM YOUR RESIDENCE.
SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SORT OF A, A HOLDING ACCOUNT THAT THE STATE MAINTAINS.
THEY PUT MONEY IN THAT ACCOUNT SO THAT THERE'S A CHECK.
SO THERE'S AN ACCOUNT TO DRAW FROM WHEN IT'S TIME TO MAKE THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTIONS.
SO THAT'S NEVER RESULTED IN, OH, HARTFORD COUNTY'S ONLY GONNA GET 87 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR BECAUSE THAT FUND HAS FEWER DOLLARS THAN IT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE.
SO IF I WRITE YOU A CHECK TO PAY FOR A BICYCLE, YOU KNOW, AT, AT YOUR GARAGE SALE, DO YOU CARE HOW MUCH IS IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT? JUST AS LONG AS THE CHECK CLEARS, YOU'RE, YOU AND I ARE BASICALLY FINE.
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE WAY TO FRAME THIS ISSUE.
BUT, UH, THE TECHNICALITIES, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE FISCAL STAFF OF THE COUNTY WHO ARE, WHO ARE ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL, AND I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
MR. GUTHRIE, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, CALVIN, UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
OR DO I HAVE TO SAY MR. BALL SINCE NOW? YOUR'RE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE? I'LL ALWAYS BE CALVIN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH ABOUT THE JOB YOU DO DOWN THERE AS A GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM DOWN THERE.
UH, THIS IS MY, THIS WAS MY 13 CONFERENCE, UH, AT MACO.
UH, AND, UM, YOU KEEP LEARNING ALL THE TIME.
IT, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST, UH, UH, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST CONFERENCES THAT, UH, ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN GO TO.
UH, THE, UH, EDUCATORS IS, IS THERE IF YOU WANT IT.
UM, UH, AND YOU NEVER SEE, UH, ALL THE ROOMS ARE PACKED.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S THERE TO, UH, UM, LEARN WHAT, WHAT THEY CAN LEARN.
AND WHAT'S REALLY GREAT WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU START SOCIALIZING, YOU MEET, TALK TO OTHER, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM, UH, OTHER DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, IT'S SURPRISED AT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES.
UH, YOU GOT, THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, UH, YOU FIND OUT HOW THEY SOLVE THEIRS AND THEY ASK YOU QUESTIONS AND THINGS THAT YOU, YOU SOLVED.
AND, AND, UH, SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY A, A, A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU ALL HERE AND, UM, AGAIN, UM, KEEP UP THIS CONFERENCE.
[00:45:01]
IT'S GREAT.AND I CAN'T WAIT A LITTLE NEXT YEAR OR MAYBE THE FALL.
OUR SUMMER CONFERENCE, UH, ATTENDANCE WAS UP 30% LARGEST, UH, TURNOUT THAT WE'VE HAD.
THE TEAM WORKS INCREDIBLY HARD, UH, LED BY MICHAEL, YOU KNOW, EVERY SESSION THEY ANALYZE VERY CAREFULLY, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND 800 PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCAL VOICE ISN'T FORGOTTEN.
AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE ACADEMY, UH, FOR EXCELLENCE, PLEASE CONSIDER IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, COLLEGE PARK.
AND THERE'S SO MANY HELPFUL CLASSES THAT YOU CAN ATTEND THAT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A, A, A STRONG BASE.
AND THEN AS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE SAID, THEN IT'S THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS WHERE YOU CAN REALLY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER BECAUSE THE STRONGER EACH AND EVERY COUNTY IS, THE STRONGER THE STATE IS.
AND WE CAN ONLY DO THAT TOGETHER.
HOW ARE YOU? UM, MY QUESTION IS THE PAID LEAVE LAW, IS THERE GOING TO BE, AND I KNOW I DEAL WITH A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, IS THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER? LIKE IF YOU'RE UNDER 15, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS, IT'S NOT GONNA APPLY? OR IS IT FOR EVERYBODY AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE OR MORE? IS THERE AN ANSWER TO THAT? YEAH, THERE, THERE IS AN ANSWER AND I, I'M, I'M AT RISK IF I TRY TO QUOTE YOU A CHAPTER IN VERSE, UM, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS EMPLOYERS WITH LIKE, FEWER THAN 15 EMPLOYEES ARE JUST COMPLETELY EXEMPTED.
I THINK THE BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
UH, THERE'S AN OPEN QUESTION WHETHER THERE HAS TO BE AN ASSESSMENT ON THE EMPLOYEES FOR THE SMALLEST EMPLOYERS, BUT I THINK THE VISION OF CREATING THIS AS AN INSURANCE PROGRAM WAS MEANT TO TRY AND MODEL WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE DO WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, AND EVERYBODY PAYS A LITTLE SLIVER INTO THE BIG FUND.
AND THEN THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFITS COME FROM.
SO THE BIKE SHOP HAS THREE PEOPLE ON LEAVE.
THEY DON'T GET DROWNED BY, BY PAYING THOSE, THOSE BENEFITS DIRECTLY.
SO IT'LL COVER, IT'LL COVER PART-TIME AS WELL AS FULL-TIME.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BASED ON A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS, BUT I THINK IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 600 HOURS WORK OVER THE, OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA COVER AN AWFUL LOT OF FULL-TIME FOLKS.
I, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TASK YOU WITH A MM-HMM.
SOMETHING ELSE IS THAT WHEN I WENT DOWN TO MAKE IT AND I SIGNED UP FOR MY CLASSES, I AM NOT IN THE SYSTEM ANYMORE.
THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY OF MY CLASSES, SO I COULDN'T TAKE THE CLASSES I NEED TO TAKE TO FINISH TO, TO GET A DEGREE LIKE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BALL OVER HERE.
AND, UM, NOBODY HAS ANY IDEA
WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT COUNCIL.
SO I, UH, THEREFORE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CLASSES TO TAKE TO GET MY, UH, TO GET MY DEGREE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE'LL MAKE SURE BY THE TIME THE WINTER CONFERENCE ROLLS AROUND, YOU'LL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THEY'VE BEEN GOOD PARTNERS WITH US AND I CAN PROVIDE THEM.
THEY'RE, THEY HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COUNCIL, THE ACADEMY.
I SIT ON THE COUNCIL SO I CAN RAISE IT WITH THEM.
JUST LET ME KNOW WHO TO CONTACT.
HOW, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH 13 YEARS? SO I FINISHED UP SOMEONE ELSE'S TERM AND THEN WERE TERM LIMITED TO 12.
SO I DID THREE TERMS AND, AND WRAPPED UP A YEAR OR SO OF SOMEONE ELSE'S.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, WELCOME TO MY, MY HOMETOWN OF BEL AIR.
SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
STOP AND EAT A PLAY BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
ARE YOU DONE NOW? YEAH, I'M DONE NOW.
UM, IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
UM, IN REFERENCE TO THE BLUEPRINT, 'CAUSE THAT WAS A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU SHARED, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER, WHICH I THINK EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THIS STATE IS DEALING WITH THE STRESS IN THE STRAIN OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT AND THE TIMELINE.
2027 IS A LOOMING DATE THAT USED TO SEEM FARTHER AWAY.
UM, BUT IN MY OTHER HAT, AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR, A PUBLIC SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE THROUGH AND I'VE READ EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
AND WHAT I SEE OVER AND OVER IN IMPLEMENTATION PLANS IS REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTION OR EXTENSION, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S A STRAIN ON THE SCHOOL BOARDS AS WELL.
NOT FEELING LIKE THEY CAN REACH THOSE TIMELINES AND THOSE GOALS BY 2027 FOR, UH, PRE-K EXPANSION OR FOR, UH, CAREER PROGRAMMING OR, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
UM, SO MY QUESTION TO MAA WOULD BE, ARE YOU COLLABORATING WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IN A, A PLAN THAT HELPS WITH THE STRAIN FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND THE STREAM FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO
[00:50:01]
SEE VIABILITY AND FEASIBILITY MOVING FORWARD? WELL, I, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO CREATE THE BEST TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS.UH, I THINK ALSO WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE WANT SOMETHING THAT'S SUSTAINABLE AND THAT CAN ACTUALLY BE FUNDED THAT ACTUALLY ACHIEVES THOSE GOALS.
I THINK THERE IS GROWING THINKING THAT THE BLUEPRINT NEEDS REEVALUATION.
UM, AND SO WE ARE NOT ONLY TALKING EVERY JURISDICTION WE'VE BEEN TO THUS FAR, BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY.
WE'VE BEEN IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND, WESTERN MARYLAND, THE SHORE, UH, AND, AND HERE IN CENTRAL MARYLAND.
UH, I, I THINK, AND, AND I APPRECIATE MICHAEL IN, UH, HIS TEAM PUTTING TOGETHER ACTUALLY CONVERSATIONS WITH BOARDS OF EDUCATION.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH MABE SUPERINTENDENTS.
AND SO I THINK WE ARE COMING TO SOME CONSENSUS THAT, UH, WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD IN A COLLABORATIVE FASHION.
UH, THAT'S SUSTAINABLE, I THINK.
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT IN THIS UPCOMING SESSION THERE'LL BE, UH, MORE CONVERSATION.
I THINK EVEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE PRESIDING OFFICERS RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A WAY TO IMPROVE.
AND SO MLE WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND, AND LIKE YOU AND, AND WHEN I, BEFORE I BECAME COUNTY EXECUTIVE, I WAS AN EDUCATOR, MY DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION.
AND SO I RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE AND, AND, AND THE OPPORTUNITY AROUND THESE CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK THAT THE BLUEPRINT, UM, I THINK WE'RE ALL RECOGNIZING HAS SOME WAYS THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE.
IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE, ONE QUICK THING, I'LL DO IT BEST TO BE QUICK, BUT, UM, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND TRY TO EXPAND PRE-K THREE FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND FOUR YEAR OLDS IS, IT'S, IT'S AN EASY CASE STUDY IN HOW A PLAN CAN HAVE A SMART VISION UPFRONT, BUT WHEN THE PIECES DON'T FALL TOGETHER, YOU END UP INTO THE PLAN AND YOU'RE ALREADY OFF TRACK.
I WAS EVEN ON A THING BEFORE THAT, BEFORE IT TURNED INTO THE LEGISLATION.
AND THEN THE ULTIMATE BLUEPRINT AND THE, THE COMMISSION FELT REALLY STRONGLY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WAVE OF, BASICALLY DAYCARE PROVIDERS ARE GONNA COME IN AND WANT TO BECOME FULLY CERTIFIED TO GET INTO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BUSINESS, AND WE'LL GET THEM ALL GEARED UP AND TOP TIER, AND WE'LL HAVE ALL THESE TOP TIER OFFERINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA NEED TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS OR MINI SCHOOLS OR ADD-ONS BECAUSE PLACES THAT ARE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, DAYCARE FOR NINE KIDS WILL BECOME PRE-K FOR NINE KIDS AND IT'LL WORK FINE.
AS IT TURNS OUT, THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS HAVE NOT TAKEN THE BAIT IN THE WAY THAT MARYLAND HAD HOPED AND PLANNED.
AND NOW WE'RE LEFT WITH, THERE LITERALLY IS NO PHYSICAL SPACE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 36 MONTHS.
SO, AND THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE A, YOU KNOW, REPURPOSE A BOOKSTORE OR WHATNOT.
THERE'S, THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO THERE.
SO WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO TRY AND REACH THOSE GOALS.
BUT MAYBE IT'S A NEW TIMETABLE, MAYBE IT'S A NEW, NEW SET OF EXPECTATIONS, BUT WE STILL WANT TO GET THERE HOW IS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AS A FORMER GRADUATE, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THE VALUE THAT YOU BRING IN YOUR CONFERENCE, THE FACT THAT WE ARE GRADUATES AND WE GO BACK THAT'S RIGHT.
UH, TO DO FOLLOW UP, UH, CLASSES AND THINGS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHAIRING THE LARGE COUNTY COALITION.
AND I THOUGHT YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
UM, AND WE APPRECIATE, UM, THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO AND TALK TO OUR COLLEAGUES ALL ACROSS THE STATE IN, UH, DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS ABOUT ALL SORTS OF, UH, LEGISLATION PENDING OR NEW.
UM, IT IS JUST SO VALUABLE TO ALL OF US.
AND I, I, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT ALL OF US WERE AT MAKO, UH, THIS AT THE SUMMER SESSION.
SO, UM, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE JOB, MR. SANDERSON, THAT YOU DO AND YOUR TEAM.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING AND, UM, WISH YOU A SAFE TRIP BACK.
WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE COLLABORATION, THE HONOR OF PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
NUMBER SEVEN, APPROVAL OF MINUTES LEGISLATIVE DAY, 23 DASH 0 23.ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE MINUTES STAND APPROVED.
[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]
INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 0 36 DASH 23.HISTORIC LANDMARK FRIENDSHIP FARM.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MR. PRESIDENT, I MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE RESOLUTION OH 36 DASH 23
[00:55:01]
HISTORIC LANDMARK FRIENDSHIP FARM.IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE, UH, RESOLUTION 0 36 DASH 23.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MR. BENNETT AYE, BEING SIX, OR EXCUSE ME, SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVES, ZERO TO NEGATIVE RESOLUTION 0 36 DASH 23 IS HEREBY APPROVED.
[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]
READ BILL'S 23 DASH 30 AND 23 DASH 31 INTO THE RECORD.BILL 23 DASH 30 RESTAURANTS MORATORIUM CONTINUATION INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PENMAN GUTHRIE, GANO, BOYLE SADDLES AND BENNETT AND ACT TO CONTINUE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY ZONING CODE RELATED TO SETBACKS, PARKING REQUIREMENTS, TEMPORARY USE SIGNS, OUTDOOR STORAGE AND DISPLAY AND SEATING CAPACITY WITH REGARD TO USES THAT INCLUDE NIGHTCLUBS, BARS, BREWERIES, AND RESTAURANTS, PUBLIC SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2023 AT 6:45 PM IN THESE CHAMBERS.
BEFORE YOU MOVE FORWARD, MR. KEARNEY, COULD YOU ADD MY NAME TO THAT PLEASE? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR.
IT WAS ADDED THIS SAME, IT WAS AND I MISSED IT AND SO WAS MINE ALSO CORRECT? YES.
ALRIGHT, BILL 23 DASH 31, DISTRIBUTION HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS GUTHRIE PENMAN, JAN ANO RILEY AND BOYLE SADDLES, AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS.
SECTION 1 23 DASH 68, DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUE OF ARTICLE SEVEN, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX OF CHAPTER 1 23.
FINANCE AND TAXATION OF HARTFORD COUNTY CODE IS AMENDED TO REQUIRE 50% OF THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE COLLECTED FROM HOTELS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO BE EXPANDED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES IN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT WHERE THE HOTELS ARE LOCATED AND GENERALLY RELATING TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX AND FINANCE.
TAXATIONS PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2023 AT 6:45 PM IN THESE CHAMBERS.
AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 10, 11, 12, 13, AND 14.
WE HAVE NO BUSINESS THIS EVENING.
[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS.MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE, UH, SIX SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
SORRY, OUR FIRST, FIRST GO AHEAD.
SPEAKER IS KATIE GUANO, FOLLOWED BY DIANA SADOWSKI.
UH, MS. GUANO, I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, PLEASE? NO MA'AM.
A LOT OF TIMES CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, MA'AM.
I LIVE AT 2320 FRANKLIN'S CHANCE COURT FALLS TO MARYLAND TWO TEN FOUR SEVEN.
GOOD EVENING, COUNTY COUNSEL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF HARFORD COUNTY.
I'M GONNA SKIP OVER THAT LITTLE PART HERE.
UM, OH, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, I HAVE THREE YOUNGER CHILDREN, UM, TWO OF WHOM ARE IN YOUTH BENEFIT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MR. PENMAN, YOU'VE PROBABLY BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HER NAME BY NOW.
UM, SHE CONTINUES TO ASK ABOUT HER FULL SCHOOL AND WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING IF AND WHEN REDISTRICTING HAPPENS.
UM, VIOLET IS STILL WORRIED ABOUT HER FRIENDS AND COACHES IN QUOTE UNQUOTE NANA PAPA'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
I E THIS IS GLEN ELLEN AND PLEASANT PROSPECT WITH Y B S ALREADY BEING AT 104% CAPACITY AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUING TO RISE PAST PROJECTIONS.
WHAT WILL BE DONE AFTER IT HITS 110%? LAST THURSDAY I WENT TO Y B S TO VOLUNTEER FOR MY SON'S CLASS AND SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN THE TEACHER PLANNING ROOM MAKING COPIES.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE I WAS MAKING 32.
YES, 32 COPIES OF EACH ITEM FOR STUDENTS.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, I AM NOT SAYING THAT I THINK CHILDREN NEED TO CURRENTLY BE REDISTRICTED WHO ARE ATTENDING Y B S, JUST THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE MORE THAN NUMBERS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.
I CANNOT IMAGINE THE CHALLENGING CHALLENGES OF TEACHING 32 8 YEAR OLDS WHEN HALF OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO TIE THEIR OWN SHOES.
UH, WE NEED BETTER SCHOOL FORECASTING PROJECTIONS.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, UM, AT PRIOR MEETINGS.
WE NEED BUILDING MORATORIUMS. WHERE ARE WE ON A P F O? YOU DON'T NEED TO ANSWER ME THIS MOMENT.
ALL OF YOU SITTING UP THERE KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF, UH, ALSTON IS OPPOSED THE APARTMENTS EXCEPT A PARTICULAR DEVELOPER WHO INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I FOUND
[01:00:01]
OUT LIVES ON A BEAUTIFUL ANA.WE'LL GO ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, OUR, UH, WHILE AT ALSTON'S DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE MIGHT BE SMALLER THAN OTHER CITIES.
IT IS CURRENTLY BURSTING AT THE SEAMS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND MONEY IS NECESSARY, THE PROPOSED DEPARTMENTS AT THREE 17 MOUNTAIN ROAD AND ROUTE ONE ARE SHORTSIGHTED.
ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA HAVE TO SKIP OVER A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, UM, HOW A SCHOOL BUS OR A FIRETRUCK WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE PREMISES BOTH SAFELY AND IN A TIMELY FASHION.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, I'M CURIOUS WHERE WE ARE ON SOME NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT I'VE BROUGHT UP PREVIOUSLY, BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA EMAIL, UM, AND ALSO ON THE PHONE WITH YOU, MR. PENMAN.
I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME LAST WEEK.
UM, BEING IN AN AE FLOOD ZONE, UM, I THINK WE NEED A NEW LAND ASSESSMENT BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
I'VE ALSO EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THAT SINCE THE LAST, UM, TESTING WAS IN JULY OF THE, THE PROPERTY, WHICH SHOULD BE STILL NON-TITLE WETLANDS.
I DO NOT WANT MY CHILDREN AND THEIR FRIENDS TO BE LEFT WITH A COMPLETE DISASTER ON THEIR HANDS DUE TO GREED AND POOR PLANNING.
MR. PENMAN, I CAN SEE YOUR PASSION WITH THE, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND I HOPE YOU CAN BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE OF FALLSTON.
MR. GUTHRIE, I APPRECIATE SOME OF THE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS YOU HAVE MADE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND I HOPE WHEN BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, YOU THINK ABOUT THAT SEVEN YEAROLD GIRL WANTING SOME ANSWERS BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'LL BE WAITING UP FOR ME.
AND BEFORE OUR NEXT SPEAKER STEPS UP, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, THE LAST THING I WANNA DO IS CUT YOU OFF, BUT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE ON OCTOBER THE SECOND FOR THE THREE BILLS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US.
THAT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK TO THOSE SUBJECT.
DIANA SADOWSKI, 1113 STROM CO DRIVE, FALLSTON, MARYLAND.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOU ARE THINKING, OH NO, NOT HER AGAIN,
BUT HERE I STAND IN OPPOSITION OF THE OVERDEVELOPMENT THAT'S TAKING OVER OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTY.
AFTER LIVING IN FALLSTON FOR OVER FOUR DECADES, THAT GEM OF AN AREA IS BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE A CHEAP PIECE OF COSTUME JEWELRY.
AND THANKS TO THE ALLOWED BUILDING ENVELOPE, I'M LAYING THE BLAME FOR THIS TOTALLY.
ON THE PREVIOUS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S GIVING DEVELOPERS CART BLANCHE, OUR ZONING AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THIS COUNTY IS FLAWED.
BIG TIME AT A STROKE OF A PEN, FORMERLY ZONED AG BECOMES B THREE.
AND AS I SEE IT, IF LEFT UNCHECKED, OUR AG ZONES WILL BECOME THE HARKO MUSEUMS OF THE FUTURE.
I TESTIFIED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT RESIDENTS DO NOT BELONG IN ANY BUSINESS ZONE AREAS.
THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT OPINION.
I'M NOT A FAN OF 15 MINUTE CITIES WHO WANTS A CITY ANYWAY.
IF WE WANTED TO, WE'D BE THERE.
HOWEVER, ONCE ONE KNOWS IT CANNOT BE UNKNOWN.
WE IN THIS FIGHT HAVE SPENT SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND MANY HOURS EDUCATING OURSELVES ON ZONING, GOVERNMENT PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES.
WHO CHARACTERS ARE IN THE DEVELOPMENT DEBACLE, THE ENVIRONMENT SCHOOLS, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
EVERYONE WHO STANDS AND CONTINUES TO STAND IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITIES.
I'M SENDING A SHOUT OUT TO OUR THREE P NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE MODELED FOR US HOW TO STAND FIRM, BECOME EDUCATED AND DEMAND TO BE HEARD BY THOSE WE ELECTED.
IF I HAD AN ORANGE CAP, I'D BE WAVING IT AT THEM.
I'M SEEING THAT OUR ABINGDON NEIGHBORS ARE IN A FIGHT TO SAVE ABINGDON WOODS.
SO MORE CONSTITUENTS ARE UNHAPPY, MR. PENMAN AND THOSE CONSTITUENT CONCERNS ADD TO YOUR MANY WORK HOURS.
I HAVE FEARS OF AN ENCROACHING BUILDING ENVELOPE IN MY COMMUNITY.
I KNOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE TRUE URBAN SPRAWL IN FALLSTON, BUT IT TAKES MORE.
ALL IT TAKES IS MORE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER LINES.
THERE'S UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY WEST OF HARTFORD ROAD ON 1 52, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE DEVELOPER SALIVATING AT THE THOUGHT OF GETTING THAT MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING APPROVED AND CREATING ANOTHER STREAM OF INCOME FOR HIMSELF AND HIS SUPPORTERS.
HE EVEN HAD THE AUDACITY TO SUBMIT THIS TO THE COUNTY USING A JUSTIFICATION FROM THE 1980S WHEN FALLSTON GENERAL HOSPITAL WAS IN EXISTENCE.
AT THE LAST COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING HELD EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY NO WHEN IT ARISES AGAIN.
IT'S A FACT THAT THE WELCOME MAT HAS BEEN WELCOME.
MAT HAS BEEN OUT TOO LONG FOR DEVELOPERS, THIS RESIDENT, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE WORKING ON PULLING UP THAT MAT FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE SAY, ENOUGH, MY SIX YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER, LILY, WHO LIVES IN FOREST HILL, ASKED ME TO DELIVER THIS MESSAGE TO YOU.
AND I QUOTE, PLEASE STOP BUILDING BECAUSE THE HABITATS OF THE ANIMALS WILL BE GONE.
[01:05:01]
A PEN.OUR LANDSCAPES ARE CHANGED FOREVER.
I KNOW THE LEGACY I WANNA LEAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
HOW ABOUT YOU? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
TINA GRAFF, FOLLOWED BY JOSH KOZEL.
TINA GRAFF, 1732 BOGS ROAD, FORESTDALE, MARYLAND 2 1 0 5 OH ON NINE SIX, I EMAILED EACH ONE OF YOU WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT A BOOK COMMITTEE.
MR. PENMAN ANNOUNCED ON NINE FIVE.
I RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM COUNCILMAN RILEY AND BENNETT CLAIMING THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS COMMITTEE.
PRESIDENT VINCENTI RESPONDED AS WELL.
COUNCILMAN JUDGE JORDANO AND COUNCILWOMAN BOYLE SADDLES DID NOT RESPOND, AND MR. PENMAN RESPONDED ASKING IF YOU COULD CALL INSTEAD.
EIGHT DAYS LATER, COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE RESPONDED FROM HIS PERSONAL EMAIL ASKING IF I RECEIVED HIS RESPONSE, AND I REPLIED NO.
THE NEXT DAY, HAVING NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE, I EMAILED AGAIN SAYING, PLEASE RESEND YOUR ORIGINAL EMAIL.
MR. GUTHRIE THEN THROUGH A SERIES OF EMAILS, ASKED ME FOR MY EMAIL ADDRESS, WHICH HE ALREADY HAD.
I RESPONDED EACH TIME WITH DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO FORWARD AN EMAIL.
HIS NEXT EMAIL TO ME SAID, AND I QUOTE, SORRY, CAN YOU SEND YOUR EMAIL TO THIS ADDRESS? AND I WILL RESPOND.
I THEN EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ASKING WHY I WOULD RESEND MY EMAIL WHEN HE ALREADY HAD IT, AND ASKED WHY HE WAS EMAILING ME FROM HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT, WHICH I'VE NEVER SENT ANYTHING TO HIS FINAL EMAIL TO ME.
SAID, AND I QUOTE, TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AND I WILL ANSWER.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THEN STOP BOTHERING ME TONIGHT.
I'M HERE TO TELL, TO BOTHER YOU AND TELL YOU THAT MY CONCERNS HAVE NOW BEEN COMPOUNDED EXPONENTIALLY.
THE MORE I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, THE MORE ANGRY I'VE BECOME.
PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED A PERSONAL EMAIL TO GET WHATEVER DIRT HE WAS WILLING TO DISH OUT WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING SPIED ON.
HOW CAN WE THE PEOPLE TRUST YOU, OUR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, IF YOU DON'T TRUST EACH OTHER OR YOUR OWN LEADERSHIP? AND THE WORDS OF MR. CALEY, THIS IS A THEATER OF OF THE ABSURD.
MY TRUST IN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS MINIMAL.
EVEN YOUR PUBLIC FACEBOOK PAGE HAS ELIMINATED THE OPTION TO SEE ALL COMMENTS AND YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE MOST RELEVANT.
AND OTIS, WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT IS RELEVANT AND YOU DELETE OR HIDE COMMENTS ALL THE TIME.
THE CIRCUS ACT YESTERDAY WAS YET ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY IN DISCUSSION OF THE INEPTITUDE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
YOU CAN'T FORGET THAT IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP WITH OUR COUNTY EXEC EXECUTIVE AND MANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS COUNTY.
MR. CASTLEY IS NOW ENGAGED IN YET ANOTHER INTER-PARTY FIGHT THIS TIME POTENTIALLY COSTING US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE CONSTANT POLITICAL INFIGHTING OF ELECTED LEADERSHIP IN THIS COUNTY SHOWS A CLEAR INABILITY TO GOVERN IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS AND A MASSIVE WASTE OF TAXPAYER FUNDED RESOURCES BEFORE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT CASH LEADS PREVIOUSLY REFUSED TO USE TO FUND SERVICES THAT HELP REAL CITIZENS.
MAYBE THERE'S AN ADULT IN THIS PARTY WHO COULD STEP UP AND BROKER THE PIECE.
IT'S TIME TO PUT ASIDE PETTY DIFFERENCES AND DO WHAT WE, WHAT ALL OF YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO.
MR. CALEY SAID YESTERDAY, IF YOU DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE P****D, THEY'RE REALLY ANGRY AT ME RIGHT NOW.
THE BIG GUYS, NOT THE AVERAGE CITIZENS.
AND HE CLAIMED TO BE DOING THE WORK OF THE WORK OF THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WHILE I'M AN AVERAGE CITIZEN AND I'M P****D TOO.
MY FINAL COMMENT TONIGHT IS PLEASE DON'T EVER SHARE YOUR PASSWORDS.
UH, 1106 EMERALD DRIVE, BEL AIR, MARYLAND, 2 1 0, UH, 2 1 0 4 7.
UM, I KNOW IT'S A LIGHT NIGHT TONIGHT BECAUSE OF BACK TO SCHOOL IN FALLSTON, BUT OUR COMMUNITY HAS EACH OTHER'S BACKS AND PROUD TO STAND TOGETHER WITH EVERYONE SINCE WE HAVE FAILED REPRESENTATION FROM YOU.
LET ME BE CLEAR, THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT THIS PROJECT.
WHY SHOULD WE HELP THE DEVELOPER WHO MADE A POOR INVESTMENT? THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TEN TWO FOR THE APARTMENT WAREHOUSE AND TERM LIMIT BILLS NEEDS TO BE SPLIT INTO DIFFERENT DAYS OR A BIGGER, BIGGER VENUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED POTENTIALLY.
CONTINUING FROM MY TESTIMONY LAST WEEK WITH IDENTIFYING AND GOING ON RECORD ABOUT THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE PROJECT AND WHY OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT SUPPORT IT.
GOING TO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND E M S, NO FIRE ACCESS FOR A FIRETRUCK BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS CAUSES A GREAT RISK AND THE SAFETY CONCERN ALSO, WHERE ARE THE REQUIRED FIRE HYDRANTS TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT? LASTLY, THE FIRE PROTECTION, UH, FOR THE PARKING GARAGE BELOW APARTMENTS IS OF MAJOR CONCERN, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE ON RECORD STATING THE SAME THING.
LOOKING AT IT, UH, THE HARKO WATER AND SEWER IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY WITH ADDING A HUNDRED UNITS TO THIS AREA? NEXT, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
THIS PROJECT SHOULD REQUIRE A HUNDRED YEAR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE IT'S IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A FEMA A HUNDRED YEAR FLOODPLAIN.
[01:10:02]
LASTLY, I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY REJECTED THE INITIAL TRAFFIC STUDY AND HAS REQUESTED A MORE EXTENSIVE REVIEW.JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW MANY ISSUES THAT THIS PROJECT HAS, UH, HAS CAUSED AND WILL CREATE.
IT'S TIME FOR DISTRICT B TO HAVE REPRESENTATION, NOT THE DISTRACTIONS, NOT THE POLITICAL GAMES.
UH, LIKE YOUR MEETING WITH A DEVELOPER, IT WAS VERY CLEAR LAST MEETING WHERE YOUR ALLEGIANCE STANDS, 20 SECONDS FOR RECOVERY MONTH.
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT IT WAS CELEBRATED TONIGHT.
25 SECONDS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF FALLS IN OVER FOUR MINUTES FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN YOUR POLITICAL GAMES.
THIS GOT, THIS, HAS TO GET BETTER.
DEBBIE TRENCH, FOLLOWED BY JOHN MALMO.
MA'AM, THERE'S NO APPLAUDING IN THE CHAMBERS, MA'AM.
OKAY, TO BILL NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, MA'AM.
UM, I'M DEBBIE TRENCH, ADDRESS 1705 OAKMONT ROAD.
I'M NOT SPEAKING ABOUT THE APARTMENTS, BUT I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THE APARTMENTS IN FALLSTON HAVING LIVED THERE FOR, FOR 35 YEARS.
UM, I AM HERE ACTUALLY BECAUSE I AM TOTALLY FRUSTRATED WITH, UM, HARTFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN HARTFORD COUNTY PARKS AND RECS.
UM, IN RESPONSE TO NUMEROUS EMAILS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS ABOUT PICKLEBALL IN HARFORD COUNTY, THIS IS A REALLY EASY SOLUTION, A COMMON SENSE THING.
I FINALLY GOT A RESPONSE FROM MR. PENMAN WHEN I EMAILED HIM.
HE CALLED ME AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO ACTUALLY GET TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.
UM, AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND A BUNCH OF OUR FRIENDS ARE HERE, UH, TO PLAY PICKLEBALL, UM, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE NOBODY LISTENING TO US.
WE GET NO RESPONSE OR, UM, WELL ACTUALLY TOTALLY IGNORED WITH EMAILS AND REQUESTS.
WE'VE BEEN TO, UM, PARKS AND REC MEETINGS.
I'VE, UH, I'VE BEEN TO PICKLEBALL ADVISORY MEETINGS AND NOBODY LISTENS TO US.
I JUST FOUND OUT THIS WEEK THAT WE HAVE A PARKS AND REC ADVISORY COUNCIL.
UM, WHEN YOU GO ONLINE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEIR MEETINGS, THEY TELL YOU WHERE THEY ARE AND THAT THEY, UM, NOT WHERE THEY ARE WHEN THEY ARE AND THAT THEY'RE AT SIX O'CLOCK, BUT NOT WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, THEY HAVE NO NOTHING POSTED.
NOT EVEN AN AGENDA SINCE 2020.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DO OR WHO THEY ARE OR HOW THEY KNOW WHAT WE WANT AS HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS, BUT THAT'S NOT WORKING.
SO, UM, MR. PENMAN SUGGESTED MAYBE WITH MY FRUSTRATION, I COULD COME AND TALK TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT HOW YOU SPEND OUR MONEY AND IT'S OUR MONEY AND GOES TO PARKS AND RECS.
SO I HAVE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT I'M GONNA SAY THAT I CAN SAY IN THREE MINUTES.
UM, I HAVE A PRINTOUT THAT I CAN GIVE TO EACH ONE OF YOU TOO.
SO FOR WHATEVER I DON'T GET TO.
BUT, UM, FIRST OFF, UM, HARTFORD COUNTY HAS SPENT, UM, $562,693 AND 2022 AND $602,100 ON PICKLEBALL IN 2023.
UM, AND THEY'RE SPENDING IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON DEDICATED COURTS THAT COST $45,000 OR MORE TO BUILD WHEN THEY COULD MUCH BETTER SPEND THAT MONEY.
UM, BY PUTTING LINES ON ALL THE COURTS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE THAT AREN'T AT A HIGH SCHOOL.
YOU CAN DO THAT FOR $700, UM, WHICH, UM, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECS HAD TOLD US THAT'S WHAT THAT COST.
SO IF THAT WAS COMING OUT OF YOUR CHECKBOOK AND AND YOUR PRIVATE BUDGET, I DON'T THINK THE MONEY WOULD BE SPENT THE WAY THAT HARTFORD COUNTY IS SPENDING IT.
WE NEED MULTI COURT COMPLEXES.
IT, UM, INVOLVES PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
UM, IT'S UP 158% OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
THE BIGGEST, UM, GROWING AGE GROUP ARE PEOPLE UNDER 21.
SO, UM, HARTFORD COUNTY NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT.
THEY NEED TO GET LINES ON ALL THE TENNIS COURTS.
THEY NEED TO ADDRESS, UM, MULTI COURT SITES.
THEY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY PLAYING.
FALLSTON IS CROWDED EVERY WEEKEND.
FIVE COURTS GOING CHALKED COURTS ON THE OTHER TENNIS COURTS.
WE CAN'T GET LINES THERE FOR SOME REASON BECAUSE PARKS AND RECS WON'T DO IT.
UM, YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE PLAYING THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GET THE MOST COURTS THE MOST QUICK WAY TO DO THAT BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE ARE GOING OUTTA COUNTY TO PLAY.
AND MS. TRENCH, UM, YOUR TIME IS UP NUMBER ONE.
MR. PENMAN GAVE YOU GREAT ADVICE BECAUSE MR. RICHARDSON IS SITTING HERE UP FRONT TONIGHT AFTER THIS MEETING, IF YOU WOULD APPROACH HIM AND GIVE HIM YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND THE COPY OF THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE WITH YOU.
OKAY? I'M SURE THAT HE WILL TAKE IT BACK TO MR. MAGNUS AND, UM, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU, OKAY? OKAY.
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A VOICE, ALL OF US.
[01:15:08]
SAME PROBLEM.GOOD EVENING TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
JOHN P MALMO 24 0 2 EAGLEVIEW DRIVE, REVIEWING THE FUNCTION OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
THIS IS HOW THE PROCESS WORKS BY CODE AND CHARTER.
THE ASSOCIATED THE ATED CODE OF MARYLAND REQUIRES THE LEGISLATIVE BODY TO PROVIDE FOR APPOINTMENT OF A ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS BY COUNTY CODE AND CHARTER.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS DESIGNATED AS THE BOARD OF APPEALS BY CODE APPLICATIONS FOR VARIANCES.
SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND RECLASSIFICATION SHALL BE FILED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING BY THE PROPERTY OWNER.
PROPERTY OWNERS AUTHORIZED AGENT OR CONTRACT PURCHASER APPLICATIONS FOR FINAL DETERMINATIONS MAY BE FILED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING BY ANY PERSON.
FILED APPLICATIONS ARE FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS FOR HEARINGS.
THE FINAL WRITTEN DETERMINATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPEAL TO THE BOARD BY THE APPLICANT WITHIN 20 CALENDAR DAYS OF THE DATE OF THE DECISION.
A DECISION FROM THE BOARD OF APPEALS MAY BE PETITIONED FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HARFORD COUNTY BY CHARTER.
NO PERSON SHALL INFLUENCE OR ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY EITHER THE COUNTY COUNCIL OR ONE OF ITS HEARING EXAMINERS IN ARRIVING AT A DECISION IN ANY PENDING ZONING CASE, EXCEPT AS THAT PERSON MAY APPEAR BEFORE THE COUNTY COUNCIL SITTING AS A BOARD OF APPEALS OR ONE OF ITS HEARING EXAMINERS AT A PUBLIC HEARING AND AS A PARTY OR AS A REPRESENTATIVE OR A WITNESS ON BEHALF THEREOF BY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS RULES AND PROCEDURES.
THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING WILL ISSUE A STAFF REPORT SETTING FORTH FACTUAL INFORMATION REGARDING A SPECIFIC PROPERTY, INCLUDING IF ANY ZONING ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING IS AUTHORIZED TO ACT IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.
NOTHING MORE OR THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING DECIDES NOT TO FORWARD AN APPLICATION TO THE BOARD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND DOES NOT ANSWER.
IN ADDITION, IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING DOES NOT FORWARD THE REQUEST OR PROVIDE AN ANSWER, THERE CAN BE NO APPEAL TO EITHER THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS OR THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE THEREBY DENIED ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL PROCESS TO CHALLENGE LAND USE AND ZONING DECISIONS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
IT WOULD APPEAR UNDER THE LATTER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING SIMPLY AND EFFECTIVELY CIRCUMVENT AUTHORITY OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND RENDERS DECISION FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS.
ADDITIONALLY, NOWHERE IN THE CHARTER OR CODE ARE THERE ANY PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR ANY OF THE EXECUTIVE SUBORDINATE AGENCIES TO SCREEN OR WITHHOLD APPLICATIONS FROM THE BOARD OF APPEALS OR INFLUENCE THE BOARD WITH A RECOMMENDED OUTCOME OR MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE BOARD COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT VINCENTI, DID YOU GIVE THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING AUTHORITY TO CIRCLING THE, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS? IF NOT, WHO, WHO DID PLEASE ADVISE WHAT LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENT WAS ESTABLISHED TO TRANSFER THAT AUTHORITY TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING.
THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA NUMBER 16,
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE BROUGHT SOME, UH, UH, INFORMATION TO THE FRONT FIRST THOUGH.
I WANT TO, UH, LET YOU KNOW FROM THE, UH, UM, PROCLAMATION TONIGHT.
UM, THE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, THE, THE GROUP THAT UP HERE, THE LADY WAS THE SECOND TO THE END OVER HERE.
UH, LYDIA BRENNAN WAS MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE FOR WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST GO ROUND.
SO IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE, UH, LYDIA AGAIN.
ARE, ARE YOU, WERE YOU AT THE, UH, TOWN HALL MEETING IN, IN, UH, EDGEWOOD AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER? NO, SIR.
SO I WANT TO ADD THIS TO THE LA I'M GONNA PIGGYBACK THE LADY WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE, UH, PICKLEBALL PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME PRO, A BIGGER PROBLEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BIGGER, THE SAME SIZE I GUESS, IN, IN EDGEWOOD.
AND THIS CAME UP AT THE, UH, UH, TOWN HALL MEETING THAT, UH, THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE HAD WITH ALL HIS, UH, ALL HIS, UH, UH, HEADS OF HIS APARTMENTS THERE WHEN A COUPLE PEOPLE GOT UP AND TALKED ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL PROBLEM AT THE, UH, EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UM, UH, INSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WE, WE PUT A, WE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A, UH, UH, UM, BASKETBALL COURT PULLING BACK AND THEY USE IT AS A PICKLEBALL COURT ALSO.
AND, UH, FOR SOME REASON THEY STOPPED IT, UM, AS THEY LOST THE PEOPLE TO, TO PUT IT ON OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I NEVER REALLY GOT AN ANSWER TO WHY IT STOPPED AND WHY WE CAN'T GET IT STARTED AGAIN.
[01:20:01]
UH, UM, I DUNNO IF THE GUY WAS CORRECT AND THE TWO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL PROGRAM THERE, BUT HE SAID THAT THEY, THEY WERE TOLD THAT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE THE PICKLEBALL PROGRAM, THEY WERE GONNA HAVE TO PAY $200 A YEAR.NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY AND, UH, MAYBE THE LADY HAS, UH, ANY INFORMATION ON THAT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT, UM, UH, THEY STATED THAT NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTY DID THEY CHARGE FOR THE PICKLEBALL PROGRAM.
AND, UH, $200 A LOT JUST TO PAY, PLAY PICKLEBALL, YOU KNOW, IS, UH, I I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS SINCE THE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THEY, THEY PAY FOR THE WHOLE, UM, AND CABOODLE, UH, NOT ONLY WANTED 'EM TO PAY $200 A YEAR ON TOP OF IT.
SO IF YOU COULD GET THAT INFORMATION FOR ME, I APPRECIATE IT.
ALSO, UH, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE MA'AM MA'AM, YOU CAN'T TALK OUT MA'AM.
UH, ALSO, UH, TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, UM, A P F O, WE WE'RE WORKING ON A BILL, UH, UH, TO, UM, ATTACK THAT ALSO, UH, ANOTHER ONE ABOUT 20 ACRES, UH, UH, UH, THAT WERE A 20 ACRE REQUIREMENT ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE, WHICH WAS REMOVED FROM THE, THE LAW IN, UM, 2017.
I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON IT WITH HELP OF OUR ATTORNEY HERE IN 2013.
UH, THE LAW WAS PUT ON THE BOOKS THAT REQUIRED THAT A CONTRACTOR HAD TO BUILD UP 20, WHETHER HE HAD A HUNDRED ACRES OR WHATEVER ACRES HE HAD TO KEEP FROM POISONING AND CONTAMINATING ALL OUR RIVERS AND OUR STREAMS AND OUR, OUR WATERS, WHICH IS WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW BECAUSE OF THAT BIG CONSTRUCTION SITE GOING ON ON 1 52.
UH, AND 2013 WAS PUT IN A LAW THAT, UH, THEY COULD ONLY DO 20 ACRES AT A TIME.
AND YOU FINISH THAT AND YOU GO TO THE NEXT THAT, THAT PREVENTS ALL THE RUNOFF.
WELL, 2017, IN THE FALL OF 2017, UM, VERY QUIETLY THE LAW WAS REMOVED AND THERE WAS NOTHING, NO REQUIREMENT PUT ON THERE OF ANYTHING.
THEY JUST WIPED IT OUT AND, UM, AND, UH, UH, THAT COULD HAVE VERY EASILY SNUCK IN, UH, WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.
LOT OF STUFF COMES ACROSS THE DESK HERE, UH, IT, IT CAN HAPPEN, AND THAT ONE SENTENCE OR ONE WORD OUT AND NOW IS NOTHING THERE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WOUND UP WITH THE, THE MESS WE HAVE, UH, IN, IN OUR AREA.
UH, GOVERNOR, I, I ATTENDED THE, UH, TAPING OF THE GOVERNOR'S, UH, UM, UH, EDUCATION, EXAMINING EDUCATION PROGRAM HE HAD OVER AT, UH, MARYLAND, UH, PUBLIC TELEVISION ON NINE 13, UH, UH, SEPTEMBER 13TH OR WEDNESDAY 3:00 PM UH, I KNOW IT WAS BY INVITATION, BUT, UM, UH, WHAT SURPRISED ME, THERE WAS SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE THERE.
UH, WHAT SURPRISED ME ABOUT IT IS THAT, UH, UH, I, I WAS THE ONLY ONE FROM HARTFORD COUNTY.
NOBODY ELSE THERE, NOBODY ELSE WAS FROM HARTFORD COUNTY.
COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY THERE FROM HARTFORD COUNTY, UM, TO LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR SPEAK FOR AN HOUR.
AND THEN IT WAS TELEVISED THAT NIGHT ON, UH, TV AT FROM SEVEN EIGHT ON CHANNEL 11.
UH, AND I LIKED A LOT OF THINGS TO, YOU HAD TO SAY, PARTICULARLY THAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT SPECIAL ED ED FOR KIDS, THAT HE'S A, HE'S A HEAVY SUPPORTER FOR, UH, UM, UH, KICKING IN SOME MORE MONEY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
UH, UH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, ALSO, I WAS GLAD TO GO OVER TO MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION 'CAUSE MY SON HAPPENS TO WORK OVER THERE.
SO I, HE GOT, HE CAME AND SAT WITH HIM.
UH, WITH THAT, THE ONLY THING, UH, UM, MYSELF AND JIM RILEY AND, AND PAT, WE ATTENDED THE, UH, HARTFORD SOUL CONSERVATION DISTRICT ANNUAL, UH, COOPERATORS DINNER IN POND VIEW FARMS. AND BOY, THAT IS ONE BEAUTIFUL, YOU CALL, CALL IT A, UH, BARN.
BUT MAN, IT'S ONE BEAUTIFUL BARN.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN THERE, UH, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A WEDDING OR EVENT AND THEY'LL RENT IT TO YOU.
OKAY, THAT THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THE 3 15 3 17 MOUNTAIN ROAD WORK GROUP UPDATE.
UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORK GROUP IS PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER DEVELOPER IN AN EFFORT TO LESSEN THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOL CAPACITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN REFERENCE TO THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
UH, AS COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE MENTIONED, THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS.
I THINK, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK ON IT, UH, A POSSIBLE MEETING GOING FORWARD, UM, TO EXPRESS
[01:25:01]
SOME OF THE CONCERNS, UH, AND HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.UH, I KNOW I'VE SPOKE TO, UH, BOARD OF, OF ED, UH, MEMBER OF WADE SEWELL, ALONG WITH DR.
BOLSON, UM, TO GET SOME INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT IMPACT, AS WELL AS, UH, DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE LOCAL IMPACT OF THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, UH, IN THE FAUCET AREA.
UH, DEBBIE, JUST, UH, ALONG TO PICKLEBALL.
UH, SO I'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
UH, AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PICKLEBALL COURTS, NOT JUST IN FOLSON, UH, OR DISTRICT B THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY.
ALSO, I THINK THEY HAD A, A HEALTHY DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD CONCERNING, UH, THE START OF SCHOOL.
I THINK THERE IS A POLL OR A SURVEY THAT'S GONNA BE CIRCULATED ABOUT STARTING SCHOOL BEFORE OR AFTER LABOR DAY.
SORRY IF I STOLE YOUR THUNDER THERE.
UM, AND ALSO I THINK THERE IS SOME DISCREPANCIES, UH, FLOATING AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA, CIRCULATING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT PACKAGE FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I DO HAVE SOME, UH, DOCUMENTATION, UH, FROM THE HR DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY, SAYS, UH, 10 YEARS VESTED, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER IS VESTED, UH, IN A STATE PENSION SYSTEM AT 10 YEARS AND RECEIVES 1.5% PER YEAR.
AND I, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE WHO WAS RETURNED.
UM, SO, UH, GOING FORWARD, I'M SURE IT WAS A DIFFERENT PENSION THEN IT CHANGED.
SO I'M SURE AT 10 YEARS NOW, IT'S A 4 0 1 K WAS THE PENSION 12 YEARS AGO, THEY'LL BE VESTED.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, I JUST WANNA SAY IT'S, UH, NATIONAL HISPANIC MONTH.
MY GIRLFRIEND IS, UH, A LATINO.
SO, UM, STARTED SEPTEMBER 15TH ENDS, UH, OCTOBER 15TH.
SO, UM, UH, I, I ATTENDED THE TOWN OF BEL AIR E C D C MEETING.
THEY, UH, HAVE SOME GREAT PLANS COMING UP FOR WINTER WONDERLAND.
THE BEL AIR PARADE, THAT'LL BE, UH, FORTHCOMING.
THE PARADE IS THE FIRST SUNDAY IN DECEMBER.
UM, SO IN, IN REGARDS TO, UH, COUNCILMAN PENMAN, JUST STATEMENT ON THE, UM, PENSION FA FUND, IF YOU SIGN UP FOR A STATE PENSION, YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT FOR 10 YEARS TO BE VESTED.
IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE COUNCIL FOR 10 YEARS, UM, ANY MONEY THAT THE COUNTY PUTS IN, YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE.
SO NO MEMBER SIGNS UP FOR THE STATE FUND.
THERE IS A 4 57 B PLAN, WHICH IS A, UM, PLAN THAT YOU PUT MONEY IN AND THE COUNTY WILL, WILL MATCH SOME FUNDS, BUT IT, THERE'S NO PENSION PLAN CURRENTLY THAT ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR.
PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE IN A PENSION PLAN.
I'M SURE CHAD WAS, HE WAS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE BEFORE, AND SO WAS JOE WOODS.
BUT NOBODY IS SIGNED UP IN THE PENSION PLAN, AND THEY HAVE TO BE VESTED FOR 10 YEARS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO QUALIFY.
BUT THERE'S NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU MR. GERDEN AND MR. RILEY.
UH, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DAVID KEYS FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE 2023 COOPERATOR OF THE YEAR.
ALSO, OUR NORTH HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL EVON TEAM FOR WINNING THE MARYLAND STATE ENVIRONMENT COM COMPETITION.
AND THEY ALSO PLACED 10TH OVERALL IN THE NATIONAL.
AND I REALLY LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, TO A YOUNG MAN, BILL AMOS, WHO HAS EDUCATED ME VERY MUCH ON THE, UH, LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM AND MYSELF AND, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, GUTHRIE AND THE PRESIDENT HERE.
UH, I GAVE HIM A PROCLAMATION FOR 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HARTFORD COUNTY AND TO THE CITIZENS.
SO, BILL MAY, BILL, AMOS, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK FOR ALL YOU DO.
UM, IT IS RECOVERY MONTH, AND IT'S ESPECIALLY DEAR TO MY HEART AS I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE HOMECOMING PROJECT, WHICH IS A SAFE HOME FOR WOMEN IN THE AREA.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE GALA LAST WEEK, AND IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
AND THEY'RE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE WOMEN, UM, AROUND OUR, OUR COUNTY AND OTHERS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN PERCOLATING FOR SOME TIME, AND IT'S BECOME PAINFULLY OBVIOUS.
UH, BOTH THIS COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN BACK AND FORTH ATTACKS TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR CITIZENS.
CERTAINLY, WE WON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH EACH OTHER, AND SOME CI CITIZENS WON'T AGREE WITH MY VOTE AND OTHERS HERE.
BUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY, I IMPLORE EVERYONE ON THIS DAIS TO COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTY.
I PLEDGE TO REMAIN OPEN TO MEET WITH ANYONE AND ALL OF YOU TO DISCUSS ANY MATTERS, AND I WOULD LIKE THE SAME FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
SO, WITH THAT, UH, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
UM, THE HARD THING ABOUT BEING IN DISTRICT F IS EVERYBODY ELSE COVERS
[01:30:01]
ALL THE MONTHS AND CELEBRATIONS.UM, BUT THERE WAS ONE THAT WASN'T BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS INTERNATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MONTH.
UM, WE PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO THE MARITIME MUSEUM.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MARITIME MUSEUM OVER IN HAV DE GRACE, UM, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY GREAT MUSEUM.
A COUPLE OF THEIR, UH, EXHIBITS ARE RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
UM, AND ONE OF THOSE THAT WE JUST PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO THIS PAST WEEKEND IS IN, UH, RECOGNITION TO OUR LOCAL CONNECTION TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD AND OUR LOCAL STORY AND HISTORY IN REGARDS TO THAT.
IT'S BEAUTIFULLY DONE WITH INCREDIBLE ARTWORK AND SO MUCH TO READ AND LEARN.
UM, SO I REALLY RECOMMEND THE MARITIME MUSEUM.
AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, WALK THE PROMENADE, CHECK OUT THE DECOY MUSEUM, GET SOME ICE CREAM, UM, AND ENJOY THE TOWN LIKE, UH, MY WIFE AND I DO EVERY DAY, UM, BEYOND, UH, THAT.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT MY OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE DISCOVERY CENTER AT WATERS EDGE IS GONNA BE HOSTING A WORKFORCE EDUCATION NIGHT.
UM, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES AND THOSE WHO ARE HOPING TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREER TO GET CONNECTED AND TO FIND OUT ABOUT, UH, THE RESOURCES.
HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE THROUGH DR.
HILL IS OFFERING TO HELP YOU GET CONNECTED WITH QUALITY WORK AND, UH, QUALITY EMPLOYEES.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN GROW AND BECOME SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT THAT'S ALL FOR ME TONIGHT.
[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
15, BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT.UM, AS YOU HEARD FROM EVERYBODY, UH, WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY AND, UM, THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN BOTH REWARDING AND CONCERNING AT THE SAME TIME, UH, YOU'VE HEARD OF SEVERAL OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'VE ATTENDED.
UH, THE ROUTE 40 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON, THE HARTFORD, UH, COUNTY SEWELL CONSERVATION BANQUET, THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CORRECTIONAL DEPUTY'S GRADUATION.
I HAD TO HONOR AND PLEASURE TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION TO GERTRUDE HAWKINS.
UH, ON BEHALF OF COUNCILMAN BENNETT.
UH, SHE'S 104 YEARS OLD, UH, STILL, UH,
UH, ALSO GOT TO VISIT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S THERE AS WELL.
UM, VISITED, UH, THE E O C CENTER ON SATURDAY, UH, FOR THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY DAY.
UH, THIS ALSO IS THE NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AS I SAID, TO BE AT THE E O C THIS WEEKEND.
AND, UM, MS. PLUNER, UH, GAVE ME THIS, THIS FOLDER HERE.
AND, UM, SHE AND ALL OF HER PARTNERS, RICK AYERS BENICKY, UM, WOODS, UH, ALL OF THEM DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB THERE IN MAKING SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY ARE PROTECTED TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES.
UH, YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE A P F O.
UH, WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA BE HOSTING ANOTHER MEETING HERE, UH, ON OCTOBER THE 12TH AT 6:00 PM I BELIEVE THE CROWD WILL BE BIG ENOUGH THAT WE WILL TAKE IT FROM THE BOARD, MEET BOARDROOM UPSTAIRS, AND WE'LL BRING IT DOWN HERE IN THE CHAMBERS.
THAT MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I'VE INVITED SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, NOT ONLY THE A P F BOARD, BUT ALSO, UH, MEMBERS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, MEMBERS FROM, UH, DR.
OLSON'S OFFICE, UH, PTAS, A COUPLE MEMBERS FROM THE CITIZEN CITIZENS THAT HAVE SPOKE PASSIONATELY ABOUT A P F O.
SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SOME, UH, PROS AND CONS, UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE A P F O NUMBERS AND MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE.
UM, THIS PAST MONDAY EVENING, I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ACCESS THAT OUR COUNTY AUDITOR HAS HAD BEEN, UH, CUT OFF.
AND OUR, OUR AUDITOR DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB, MS. CRYSTAL BOOKS.
SHE WENT TO, COUNCIL ATTORNEY, COUNCIL ATTORNEY, BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION, AND, UM, FOR FOUR DAYS BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, WORKING TO GET IT, UH, REINSTATED, UH, ALL THE, THE CHARTER, UH, SECTION TWO 13 OF THE COUNTY CHARTER TALKS ABOUT THE AUDITOR AND HER ROLE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND THE FACT THAT SHE HAS TO HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ALL OF THE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS THROUGHOUT.
AND IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE, UH, PROTECT THAT IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS THAT ACCESS.
UM, ON FRIDAY EVENING, THE ADMINISTRATION NOTIFIED ME AFTER A MEETING WITH, UH, UH, COUNSEL ATTORNEY, MR. KEARNEY AND WITH MS. BROOKS
[01:35:01]
THAT THE ACCESS HAD BEEN REINSTATED.AND, UH, I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT, BUT I STARTED REACHING OUT TO MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WEDNESDAY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, UM, THE ACCESS HAD BEEN INTERRUPTED, UH, AND JUST TO MAKE THEM AWARE THAT WE WERE MOVING FORWARD, TRYING TO GET IT BACK IN PLACE, WHICH WE DID.
AND I'M PLEASED TO HAVE THAT DONE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY, I THINK THE, THE BIGGEST PART OF IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE.
UM, IT IS, IT IS OUR JOB TO PROTECT ALL OF THE, THE FOLKS THAT WORK UNDERNEATH THIS COUNCIL, FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HARTFORD CABLE NETWORK, UH, TO THE ZONING APPEALS BOARD, UH, THE A P F BOARD.
UH, EVERYBODY THAT FALLS UNDER US, AND I'M SURE I'VE MISSED SOMEBODY, BUT, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THEM AND THEIR ROLE FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, MAKE SURE THAT THEY SERVE THE CITIZENS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
AND WITH THAT, I, UM, WILL DRAW THIS MEETING TO A CLOSE.