[00:00:01]
. COOL. THREE. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR CALLS OVER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 23-0 25. I WOULD ASK
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER.I PLEDGE TO LEAVE YOU FLY. AMERICAN. REPUBLIC WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE JUSTICE FOR ALL. GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER. WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING AS WE GATHER TOGETHER. BLESS THIS MEETING AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT . WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. MAKE OUR WAY PURPOSEFUL. AND OUR DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS WE SERVE. LORD, WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER AND PROTECT OUR MILITARY. FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE, MISS PERSONNEL. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND GRACE. ALL THESE THINGS WE ASK IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME. AMEN. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR PRESENTATION OF
[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]
PROCLAMATIONS TONIGHT WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE MEMBERS FROM SARK WITH US, LOUISA AND, UM MR VICE PRESIDENT, IF YOU PLEASE. SURE, WHEREAS OCTOBER IS ANNUALLY RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND WHEREAS ALTHOUGH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE TOWARD PREVENTING AND ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, IMPORTANT WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE. THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SPOUSE ABUSE RESOURCE CENTER SHARK IS A LIFELINE FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY PROVIDING A SAFE HAVEN AND ADVOCACY RESOURCES AND HOPE IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND WHEREAS THERE IS A NEED TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS CAUSES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS. SEXUAL ORIENTATION AGE IS RACIAL, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS AND ECONOMIC GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES. AND HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY IN 2022 STARK SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 1200 SURVIVORS EACH YEAR AND ANSWERED 33,556 HELPLINE CALLS. AND WHEREAS HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS JOINING FORCES WITH SARK AND CONSERVATISM'S THROUGHOUT HARFORD COUNTY TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE ENCOURAGE THOSE IN NEED OF SUPPORT TO CALL SAARC'S 24 HOUR HELPLINE AT 41083684.AGAIN 410836. AND WE ENCOURAGE HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS TO TAKE A STAND. AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY PARTICIPATING IN START DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AWARENESS MONTH EVENTS AND BY PRACTICING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AMONGST ONE'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS. NOW, THE NOW THEREFORE WE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARTFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, ON THIS THIRD DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023 TO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2023. NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. THE REASON GENERAL. I SEE YOU'RE IN PURPLE. SO TELL US WHAT THE SPECIAL MEANING FOR PURPLISH THANK YOU. SO PURPLE IS THE COLOR FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND AS TONY JUST SHARED. THIS IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH AND I'M SO PLEASED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE COUNCIL RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS SOMEONE AND BEING ABLE TO SHARE THE HELPLINE TODAY IN THE WORK OF SARK WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SHARE THAT WITH SOMEONE IN NEED . UM IF YOU COME ACROSS THEM AND CONNECT THEM TO SARK RESOURCES, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE AND GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION OVER HALF OF ALL MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND WE KNOW YOU GUYS DO WONDERFUL WORK LOT OF ITS BEHIND THE SCENES AND THAT THAT'S GOOD KEEPS KEEPS AWARENESS, BUT BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AWARENESS IS OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THERE'S A PLACE TO CALL AND SOMEBODY THERE IS THERE TO HELP . I KNOW YOU GUYS DO SOME EVENTS AND WE DO SUPPORT THAT. WELCOME ISLAND. HER SHOES. UM YOU KNOW, WE'RE MEN WALK AWHILE AND WOMEN'S HIGH HEEL SHOES. UH I DON'T THINK PATCH. DONE IT. I HAVEN'T DONE IT. BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS MAYBE MY BACK FEELS BETTER. I'LL DO THAT. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. CONGRATULATIONS . MICHAEL YOU CAN KEEP IT IF YOU WANT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE GETTING HIM OUT OF THE PICTURE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, LOUIS. I'M
[00:05:06]
GONNA MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT LATER ON ON BEHALF OF SHARK AT THE END FOR MY COMMENTS THAT LUISA GAVE TO ME. SO IF YOU LISTEN TO THANK YOU. SO COUNCIL IF I MAY WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GUESTS THIS EVENING.WE HAVE THE SHERIFF GAYLOR IS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. COLONEL BILL DAVIS IS HERE WITH THIS EVENING SCHOOL. REMEMBER MISS LAWRENCE CROSSES HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR COMING. UM AND I THINK THAT'S EVERYONE. COUNCIL WILL ACT NOW AS THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
AND RETURN BACK TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION THEREAFTER. AGENDA NUMBER FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. IT'S ONLY BOARD OF APPEALS CASE NUMBER. 59 84 NADINE COUNTESS ON SEPTEMBER 19TH 2023. WE HEARD THE FINAL ARGUMENT ON CASE NUMBER 59 84. MR BENNETT. THANKS. EXCUSE ME. IF I, UM YOU KNOW, SAY THIS INCORRECTLY BECAUSE IT'S MY FIRST TIME MAKING THIS KIND OF MOTION. SO CHARLIE, JUST CORRECT ME IF I SAY IT WRONG. UM BUT I MOVED TO ACCEPT THE HEARING EXAMINER'S OPINION. SURE SURE. HOLD IT.HOLD IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAY HAVE A 2ND 2ND. THANK YOU MOVED A SECOND TO UPHOLD THE DECISION TO RECOMMENDED BY THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS DICKSON . MR. PRESIDENT MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN, MR. GIORDANO MR. RILEY, THIS IS BULL SADDLES, MR BENNETT HIGH THREE AND SEVEN. VOTING AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE DECISION TO UPHOLD DESIGNING EXAMINER'S DECISION IS APPROVED. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NONE.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES LEGISLATIVE DAY 23-0 24 SEPTEMBER 19TH 2023. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS. THE MINUTES STAND APPROVED. AGENDA NUMBER EIGHT INTRODUCTION CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS, WE HAVE NONE. MR JAN JORDAN, PLEASE[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]
REBUILD 23-0 32 INTO THE RECORD. 23-0 32 TAX CREDIT FOR PROPERTIES NEAR REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTEM INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ACTOR DETERMINE WHICH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A COUNTY OWNED, REFUSE DISPOSABLE SYSTEM ARE ENTITLED TO A REAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR TAX YEAR BEGINNING ON JULY 1ST 2024 ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH BILL'S NUMBERS, 92-89 AND 10-02 PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH 2023 7:15 P.M. IN THE EAST CHAMBERS. THANK YOU GENERATE A NUMBER 10 INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. 11 CALLS FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS. 12 ENROLLMENT OF BILLS 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE HAVE NO BUSINESS ON ANY OF THOSE FOUR[14. NEW BUSINESS]
ITEMS. 14 NEW BUSINESS. THIS EVENING. WE HAVE JEFFERSON BLOOMQUIST COUNTY ATTORNEY WITH US WITH AN EXECUTIVE REQUEST FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL. MR BLOOM. QUIST THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO REQUEST OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR THREE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY AND EMPLOYEE OF THE SORRY YOU GOTTA TALK INTO THE MIKE. SORRY. IT'S TERRIBLE WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL. IT SUGGEST THAT I WAS PROJECTING, BUT APPARENTLY NOT. THERE YOU GO. SHOULD I START FROM THE BEGINNING AUDIENCE THAT ARE STREAMING SO ALRIGHT RIGHT WHERE YOU WERE. YOU'RE FINE, AND AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY. THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO PRECLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW FROM PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THESE THREE EMPLOYEES. I AM REQUESTING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO RETAIN OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL. I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE INCLINED TO DO SO YOU CAN CAPTURE REQUESTED AT $15,000. I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE THAT THAT MUCH IT MAY IT MAY WELL BE LESS. BUT AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, I FEEL THAT THE WAR DEPARTMENT CANNOT PROVIDE THE ADVICE. IN THIS MATTER, AND THAT'S WHY I'M REQUESTING OUTSIDE COUNSEL. SO, UM. IN YOUR BEST RECOLLECTION. HAVE WE EVER BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN BOND COUNSEL OR ZONING ISSUES, LAND USE ISSUES. SURE. UH YEAH. IF YOU WANTED ME TO DRAW AN ANALOGY, I WITHDRAW. I CAN DRAW AN ANALOGY TO YOU AS A CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH I WAS INVOLVED WHERE? WHERE? THE[00:10:03]
DEPARTMENT OF WHAT HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THIS WAS ACTUALLY BACK IN 1989. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY AS AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY IN THE CASE WAS RUCKER VERSUS HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND , WAS A CASE INVOLVING A NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS. WHO HAD ACTED IN A WAY THAT PERHAPS VIOLATED THEIR GENERAL ORDERS AND THE COUNTY ALSO HAD WAS IN THE SITUATION OF CONTESTING WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE POLICE OFFICERS WAS AT THE STATE OR WAS IT THE COUNTY THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS? AND SO AS A RESULT OF THOSE CONFLICTS, AND THIS IS TYPICAL GET IN THE LAWSUITS WERE INTENTIONAL, TOWARDS OR INTENTIONAL, WRONGFUL ACTION IS ALLEGED, AND THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF COUNTY POLICY PRACTICE AND CUSTOM. AND THE COUNTIES IN THE POSITION OF REPRESENTING THE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO POLICY PRACTICE AND CUSTOMS CLAIMS, BUT IT GETS OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL REPRESENT THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ACCUSED OF THIS ROCK FOR CONDUCT. WHAT DO WE DO THAT? WELL ONE BECAUSE THESE ARE THESE ARE IMPORTANT EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE THE ACTS THAT THEY COMMITTED WERE COMMITTED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT. THESE WEREN'T ACTS THAT WERE COMMITTED. ON A WALK AT NIGHT. WELL WHILE THEY WERE OFF DUTY, THESE THESE RACKS THAT WERE COMMITTED WHILE THEY WERE PERFORMING THEIR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES. AND SO THE COUNTY THE COUNTY MAY WANT TO RESERVE ON WHETHER IT PROVIDES INDEMNIFICATION, BUT CERTAINLY THE COUNTY WANTS TO PROVIDE THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WITH THE BEST LEGAL COUNSEL THEY CAN HAVE UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S A SITUATION WHERE THE COUNTY LAW DEPARTMENT HAS A CONFLICT THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM REPRESENTING THE INDIVIDUALS, BUT SHORTLY DOES NOT PRECLUDE THEM AND ACTUALLY YOU COULD ARGUE THAT UNDER THE TOUR CLAIMS THAT THAT WE HAVE A DUTY TO GET GOOD LEGAL COUNSEL FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT, IF YOU WANT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN GOOD AND COMPETENT EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY NEED COUNSEL AS THE RESULT OF ACTS COMMITTED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND KIND OF IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS YOU NEED TO PROVIDE COUNCIL TO THEM, AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE COUNTY LAW DEPARTMENT HAS A CONFLICT THAT INCLUDES THE COUNTY LOT APARTMENT FROM REPRESENTING BOTH THE COUNTY. AND THESE INDIVIDUALS, BUT WERE THESE INDIVIDUALS? WERE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND CERTAINLY ARE DESERVING OF THE DEFENSE AND WE WOULDN'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS A COUNTY THAT DIDN'T PROVIDE A DEFENSE BECAUSE THAT WOULD HURT FUTURE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND RETENTION EFFORTS. FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT WHEN THEY WERE ACCUSED OF WRONGDOING. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT BRINGS US HERE, AND I'VE CONFRONTED THAT CIRCUMSTANCE BOTH IN THIS COUNTY AND IN MY REPRESENTATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UM WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR THREE EMPLOYEES DO ANTICIPATE OTHER UH, EMPLOYEES OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS NEEDING LEGAL COUNSEL DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT I CAN GUARANTEE THE COUNCIL THAT NO REPRESENTATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. NEW REPRESENTATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE DIRECTOR OF MINISTRATIONS AND NO REPRESENTATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT THAT I'M NOT SEEKING APPROVAL TO PROVIDE ANY OUTSIDE REPRESENTATION TO MYSELF, WHERE THOSE OTHER TWO COUNTY OFFICIALS YOU MENTIONED THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THREE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO IS THE RESULT OF MY PARTICIPATION. I CAN'T GO FURTHER AS A RESULT OF COURT ORDERS AND OPEN SESSION, BUT I KNOW I MET WITH SOME OF YOU TO EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU KNOW, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WHO I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM. HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU. EVEN AFTER TONIGHT IF YOU WANT FURTHER INFORMATION. UM COUNCIL. MR PYM. MR BLOOM. QUIST I'LL TELL YOU I'M EMBARRASSED FOR A COUNTY AND FRANKLY SHOCKED AT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD COMMIT THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST THE COUNCIL AND THEN COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL AND REQUEST TAX DOLLARS FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE. AND THE CASE THAT YOU DECIDED THIS SIDED WAS THE RUTGERS. THAT'S A CIVIL CASE THAT WAS IN RELATION TO LIABILITY IS THIS IS A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. I'M SORRY, MR PENMAN. IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. AND AGAIN, I'LL BE HAPPY. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO PRESENT THE LAW THAT ESTABLISHES CONCLUSIVELY THAT IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND NO ONE HAS MADE ANY PROBABLE CAUSE FINDING OR SUBMITTED ANY PROBABLE CAUSE, FINDING OR STATEMENT OF CHARGES AGAINST ANY OF THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS, SO YOUR CHARACTERIZATION IS BLATANTLY INCORRECT AND AGAIN. I WILL BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AFTER THIS PROCEEDING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION, I AM PRECLUDED AS A RESULT OF COURT ORDERS. FROM DISCLOSING MORE INFORMATION AND PUBLIC, BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDING OR A CRIMINAL. MATTER OF ANY NATURE.[00:15:04]
THAT'S BEEN DEPENDING I DISAGREE WITH YOU. AND I THINK THAT THOSE ARE SEMANTICS BECAUSE THE GRAND JURY EVALUATES THE STATE EVIDENCE AGAINST A PERSON WHO DECIDES WHETHER THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE GRAND JURY. AND IF IT'S NOT CRIMINAL, WHY WOULD THOSE SUBPOENA NEED ATTORNEYS AT ALL? WHY DO THEY NEED ATTORNEYS TO TELL THE TRUTH? WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH SELF INCRIMINATION IF IT'S NOT CRIMINAL? I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAILS HERE BECAUSE OF THE RESULT OF COURT ORDERS, AND WHAT I KNOW IS THE RESULT OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCEEDINGS HAVE GIVEN YOU THE REASONS AND THE BASIS FOR WHY I'M MAKING THE REQUEST. I TELL YOU LAST NIGHT ON THE NEWS, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING. IT'S MY FAULT COUNCILMAN PENGUIN'S FAULT TO BE EXACTLY COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UH, IN THIS SITUATION SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST THE HEADLINE SEEKING POLITICIAN WITH A VENDETTA. BUT ISN'T THIS INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE? THERE ISN'T I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS ACTING ON A VENDETTA? UH I'D BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT MATTER. I THINK THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS NO AUTHORITY. I'VE RAISED THAT ISSUE. I BELIEVE THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU. THEY COULD DISAGREE WITH ME. THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS IN THE LAW ALL THE TIME. I GIVE YOU THE MISSION OF THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAVE YOU HAVE YOU? WELL, I'M WELL VERSED IN IN IN THE LEGAL AUTHORITY OF THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND WHAT MATTERS. THEY'RE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS IN GOING TO READ IT JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. THE STATE PROSECUTOR MAY INVESTIGATE ON HIS OR HER OWN INITIATIVE OR AT THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DID YOUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION OR THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THESE INCLUDE STATE ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS. STATE PUBLIC ETHICS, LAW VIOLATIONS.STATE BRIBERY, LAW VIOLATIONS, EVOLVING PUBLIC. OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE BY A PUBLIC OFFICIAL OR EMPLOYEES OR EXTORTION, PERJURY , OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE RELATED TO ANY OF THE ABOVE OFFENSES. SO BASED ON THAT MISSION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS 100% CRIMINAL.
BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO CIVIL MR BLOOM QUIST. NOW THERE'S A GRAND GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT CRIMINAL. THE WAS VERY CLEAR THAT GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT CRIMINAL GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS PER COME BEFORE ANY CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. THERE'S NO THERE HAS BEEN NO FINDING OF PROBABLE CAUSE, AND THERE'S BEEN NO ESTABLISHMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE OF WRONGDOING ON ANY INDIVIDUALS AND AGAIN I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO HOW I KNOW, BUT I HAVE REPRESENTED THE COUNCIL. I HAVE NO PROBLEM REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL THAT THE THREE INDIVIDUALS FOR WHICH I AM REQUESTING INFORMATION DID NOTHING OUTSIDE OF THEIR ORDINARY SCOPE. A BUSINESS AND DUTIES AND AGAIN. I. I SEE THAT THAT'S EXACTLY ANALOGOUS TO A POLICE OFFICER. I CAN YOU KNOW, I CAN GIVE YOU ALL KINDS OF SCENARIOS. THAT WANTS TO REQUEST FOR HAVING KILLED SOMEONE IN THE WHILE THEY WERE UH, WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES, RESPONDING TO EVENTS BUT IF THEY WERE NEGLIGENT IN THEIR CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OR THEY'RE UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE AGENCY IS NOT GOING TO COVER THEM. THEIR UNION REPRESENTS REPRESENTATIVES ARE NOT GOING TO COVER THEM CHARGED.
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN CHARGED BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN CHARGED. THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO BE QUESTIONED BY ANYONE. THAT'S THAT'S A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE. I DISAGREE, AND I DISAGREE THAT THAT THIS SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO RETAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, AND I'LL CITE THIS. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE MARYLAND STAGE GOVERNMENTS CODE 12 3 13, WHICH PROVIDES RESTRICTIONS ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR APPOINTED COUNSEL FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND READ IT, TOO. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY NOT REPRESENT OR APPOINT OR PROVIDE COUNSEL TO REPRESENT A STATE OFFICER OR STATE EMPLOYEE IN ANY INVESTIGATION OF THE OFFICER AND EMPLOYEE BY A CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, RIGHT AND ANY CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST THE OFFICER OF THE EMPLOYEE IN A COURT OF THE STATE OR THE UNITED STATES, SO IF IT'S NOT PERMITTED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE , WHY ON EARTH IS IT PERMITTED HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY? THAT DOESN'T THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT ADDRESSES, CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. AND AS I TOLD YOU IN THE LAW IS CLEARING UNEQUIPPED. TYPICAL GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS ARE NOT CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SEND OVER THE CITATIONS TO THAT. BUT THAT'S THAT'S WIDELY WIDELY RECOGNIZED AND ANYONE THAT'S CONVERSANT AND GRAND JURY LOT KNOWS THAT SO GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS ARE NOT CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND SO CHARACTERIZING THEM AS CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS IS INACCURATE. AND NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW. I DISAGREE AND WHAT YOU'RE WELCOME TO DISAGREE, BUT THAT'S
[00:20:05]
THE BLACK LETTER LAW, AND WE'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT. SO I FIND IT INTERESTING, THOUGH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO HAS PROCLAIMED TO HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT FUNDING SCHOOL BUDGETS TO FUND IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRECINCT AND MANY NONPROFITS BUT NOW WANTS TO FUND HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION'S CRIMINAL DEFENSE. I FIND IT UNETHICAL TO USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. MR RILEY. MR BROWN CRIST. I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. A GRAND JURY IS NOT A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING IN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 24 YEARS BEEN IN THE COURTS. 20 YEARS, UM NOBODY HAS BEEN INDICTED IN THIS AT ALL. IT'S A IT'S A IT'S A ALMOST WANT TO SAY A FISHING EXPEDITIONS, SO TO SPEAK AS A CRIMINAL JURY AS A CRIMINAL AS A GRAND JURY, AND, UH, THEREFORE I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE AS A COUNCIL APPROVED THIS APPROVED THIS MONEY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE JUST FULFILLING WHAT THEIR THEIR SUPERVISORS INFORMED THEM TO DO. NOBODY'S BEEN FINGERPRINTED. NOBODY HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED.ANYTIME I CHARGED ANYBODY ANYBODY ANYTIME ANYBODY HAS BEEN CHARGED, THEY ALWAYS ARE FINGERPRINTED AND PHOTOGRAPHED. SO I VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH MY COUNCILMAN FROM THE THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A CRIMINAL ACT. IT'S A NOT A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AT ALL. THANK YOU. MR RILEY. MR. PRESIDENT MR. BENNETT UM, MR BLOOM QUEST IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK TO THE SCOPE OF THE REPRESENTATION LIKE IF YOU COULD TALK US THROUGH. AT WHAT POINT THE REPRESENTATION WOULD CEASE UNDER THIS FUNDING THAT WOULD BE PROVIDED. UM AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTATION WOULD LOOK LIKE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN SPEAK TO THAT. BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT WOULDN'T. REPRESENT AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND YOU CORRECT ME. IF I'M WRONG, THE REPRESENTATION WOULD NOT CONTINUE THROUGH. AN INDICTMENT OF COURT CASE NOT NEW REPRESENTATION THROUGH INDICTMENT OR STATEMENT OF CHARGES AT THAT POINT, REPRESENTATION CEASES. AT THAT POINT, THERE'S A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING. IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME. AT THAT POINT, THE EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE TO FIND REPRESENTATION FOR THEMSELVES CORRECT. AND I'M NOT . I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT APPROVAL FROM THIS COUNCIL. THANK YOU THAT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT SCOPE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. ANYONE ELSE? IT'S BEEN REALLY DOESN'T HAVE JUST 11 FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO YOU. YOU SAID THAT THEY WERE CARRYING OUT ORDERS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THESE THREE THAT OR INVOLVED IN THIS CASE. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY WERE CARRYING OUT ORDERS. I DON'T RESPOND TO MY COLLEAGUES RESPOND TO MR BLOOM, CHRIS MR BLOOM. QUIST. DO YOU HAVE ANY EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST MR PENDANT. I'M UNDER COURT ORDERS NOT TO GO INTO SPECIFICS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT. I THINK WE'VE COVERED ALL THAT ENOUGH. THANK YOU. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE NOT MET WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SO. AND THEN WE WILL TAKE THIS UP AT ANOTHER MEETING. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE SAT BEFORE THE GRAND JURY TODAY. CORRECT THEY NEED A LEGAL COUNSEL. MORE THAN LIKELY. THEY ALREADY HAD IT WITH THEM. I HOPE SO, UM, WELL CONSIDER LEGAL COUNSEL. AGREED NOT TO CHARGE THE INDIVIDUALS INDIVIDUALLY PENDING A DETERMINATION BY THE COUNCIL AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL APPROVE FUNDING. FOR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL IN THIS MATTER. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF DAYS TO MEET WITH EVERYBODY THAT YOU NEED TO TALK WITH. AND THEN WE'LL RECONSIDER THIS. I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. UM. UNDER NEW BUSINESS AGAIN, UM. MR GUTHRIE, BILL 23-0 31. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION TODAY ON ON IN REGARD TO THIS BILL, AND THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED THE HOTEL. COME SEE TAX BILL. UM IT'S A BILL THAT PROVIDES THAT 50% OF THE HOTEL TAX RAISED. IN THE DISTRICT, A EDGEWOOD JOPPATOWNE AREA, PERCENT OF IT WOULD BE SPENT IN THAT AREA. UH JUST AS IT IS IN ABERDEEN AND HAVE ANY GREASE ABERDEEN GETS 50% HAVING A GREAT AGAINST 50% AND WE DON'T AND WE HAVE NINE HOTELS THERE THAT RAISED ABOUT 9600 AND $85,000 A YEAR. OF WHICH ALL OF IT GOES NORTH AND LITERALLY, NONE OF IT OR VERY FEW. VERY FEW PENNIES OF THAT IS EVEN IS SPENT IN THE AREA. SO UH
[00:25:07]
, MY CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SENT TO LISTEN TO HIM. HE'S GOT SOME SOME BUSINESSES OR GROUPS THAT WANT TO DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE MORE SO I'VE AH, I'VE TALKED TO MY COHORTS ON THE COUNCIL WHO SIGNED ON THIS BILL AND WITH ME, AND I APPRECIATE MR PENMAN AND TONY G AND JIM REILLY AND JESSICA BOILS WHO ALL SIGNED ON THIS BILL AND I GOT THERE, OKAY , BECAUSE I NEED THERE OKAY TO WITHDRAW IT. FOR NOW, BUT I HAVE VERY INTENTION OF WHAT OF INTRODUCING THE VERY SAME BILL ON NOVEMBER THE SEVENTH AND I CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO PRESIDENT FOR SANTA TO DISCUSS. UH SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY OR HOWEVER HE WANTS TO THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. INDEED, WE HAVE EVERY ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THIS DAY, AS HAVE RECEIVED MANY, MANY CALLS FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TOURISM GROUPS ARE BUSINESSES OR RESTAURANTS OR HOTELS OR QUESTIONING THE BILL, AND I THINK IT'S PROPER FOR MR GUTHRIE MYSELF AND WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS, SO THAT IF WE DO I'LL COME FORWARD WITH ANY LEGISLATION BASED ON THE HOTEL TAX WHERE THE REVENUE WE DO IT IN A WAY THAT EVERYONE AGREES I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HIS CONCERN OF WANTING TO BRING MORE REVENUE TO HIS DISTRICT. HE HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE GROUND WITH COPPER MIND TO ENHANCE TOURISM CAPABILITIES IN THE DISTRICT. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. TO DISCUSS THIS. WE'RE GOING TO SET UP SOME MEETINGS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO GET THESE INDIVIDUALS IN HOUSE, UM SO THAT WE CAN HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, IDEAS AND QUESTIONS AND THEN FROM THERE, MR GUTHRIE IS CORRECT. WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS BILL BACK ON NOVEMBER, 7TH.RIGHT NO MORE THAN THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT A TIME. THAT'S CORRECT. I WAS TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY MR GUTHRIE MYSELF. YES. YES. UM, AND WITH THAT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 17.
[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
COMMENTS FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS. I BELIEVE WE JUST HAVE TO THIS EVENING, MR PRESIDENT, JOHN MALLAMO, FOLLOWED BY BRIANNA COLEMAN. YES, EVERYBODY'S TALKED UP FROM LAST NIGHT. I'M SURE THE DAYS ISN'T THAT'S CORRECT. MR IN LAST NIGHT WASN'T HERE. GOOD EVENING, SIR.NAME AND ADDRESS. GOOD EVENING TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. JOHN PEMA LHAMO 24 02 EAGLE VIEW DRIVE. HARFORD COUNTY AIRPORT RUNWAY, 01 19 HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 3353 FT. 500 FT MORE THAN 22,850 FT COURT RUNWAY AND 153 53 FT MORE THAN APPROVED BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS IN CASE 58 14, THE MOST RECENT M A APPROVED AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN INDICATES THAT THE OBJECTIVE RUNWAY WILL BE 4200 FT IN LENGTH . SUPPOSE THAT EXPANSION MIGHT REQUIRE A ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CASE BEING CURIOUS. I SUBMITTED A REQUEST PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT TO HARPER COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO THE EXTENSION. IN RESPONSE, I RECEIVED THREE INTERNAL SCHEDULING NOTICED IT FOR MEETINGS RELATED TO MY REQUEST.
NO NOTES OR MINUTES IN THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO RECORD FOR THE MEETINGS, JUST THE SCHEDULING NOTICE. I ALSO RECEIVED A DRAWING OF THE AIRPORT WITH WHAT COULD BE 16 MORE BUILDINGS, 55 MORE PARKING SPACES AND AN EXTENDED RUNWAY. THERE WAS NO LEGEND ON THE DRAWING TO EXPLAIN HOW IT RELATES TO THE AIRPORT. THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF ADAK MEETING NOR REFERRAL TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. CURIOUS SITUATION AT BEST, IN A RECENT CASE INVOLVING THE MODIFICATION TO A SPECIAL EXCEPTION, THERE WAS A BOARD OF APPEALS CASE HEARING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AND PERSONAL CARE BOARDING HOME FROM 15 TO 16.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI YOU ARE THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS. COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW EXPANDING THE RUNWAY CONSEQUENTLY PUSHING THE COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS FURTHER INTO THE AG DISTRICT OF BOYS AND MODIFICATION TO THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION OF CASE 58 14? HOW DOES THAT PRESERVED AUTHORITY AND STATUS OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS? NOW SOME MIGHT TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY ZONING LAWS DO NOT APPLY THAT THEY ARE PREEMPTED BY FEDERAL LAW THAT THE FAA COMPLETELY OCCUPIES THE AREA OF AVIATION. THAT IS TRUE FOR RELICS, ROUTES AND SERVICES . IT IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG IN HARFORD COUNTY NEAR THE FEDERAL LAW, NORTHERN FAA REQUIRE HARPER
[00:30:01]
COUNTY TO HAVE AN AIRPORT PRESCRIBED WHERE IT MAY BE LOCATED, NOR ZONING RELATED CONDITIONS FOR OPERATING. PLEASE REVIEW GRIGGS VERSUS ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND FARBER HANDS VERSUS FREDERICK COUNTY. AND 14 CFR PART 1 57. ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE DECIDED BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN OBSERVATION OF THE HARFORD COUNTY LAWS AND CONDITIONS OF THE BOARD'S DECISION. THE ZONING LAW IN HARFORD COUNTY OF SPECIFIC ON AIRPORT LOCATIONS NO MORE THAN 50% OF THE LAND UPON WHICH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION INCLUDING APPROACH AND LANDING PATH IS CONDUCTED UPON MAY BE LOCATED IN THE AG DISTRICT. AS THE RUNWAY IS EXTENDED. MORE OF THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION IS PUSHED INTO THE AG DISTRICT. IF YOU BELIEVE I'M WRONG, RUN YOUR FACTS. SHOW ME THE FAA LEGAL INTERPRETATION. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR.GOOD EVENING, MA'AM NAME AND ADDRESS EVENING. MY NAME IS BRIANNA COLEMAN, 23 47 SINGLE ROAD AND PFOSTEN. I GET TO FOLLOW AN AIRPORT GUY. I MEAN, WHAT AN HONOR. GOOD EVENING.
COUNCIL MEMBERS. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. MY SEAT WAS STILL WARM FROM ALL THE SUPPORTERS HERE LAST NIGHT FOR THE BILLS THAT I CAN'T TALK ABOUT. I RECENTLY HEARD A SPEAKER THAT WAS A DOCTOR MENTIONED THAT HARFORD COUNTY IS ABOUT TO LOSE ONE OF THE TWO HOSPITALS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY. WHICH WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BEDS, QUALITY OF CARE, ETCETERA. I WOULD HOPE THE INFORMATION SHARED BY A LOCAL DOCTOR IS AS CONCERNING TO ALL OF YOU AS IT IS TO ME. I WOULD IMAGINE THIS FALLS UNDER THE ADEQUATE FACILITIES CATEGORY LIKE THE SCHOOLS AND THE ROADS, ETCETERA. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW ALL SEVEN OF YOU HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THERE ARE INADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES. IN OUR COUNTY AND YET YOU ARE MOVING AT A SNAIL'S PACE TO CORRECT THEM. SOME OF YOU ARE NOT EVEN MOVING AT ALL. AND MR PEMON, I'M LOOKING AT YOU. UM. I LIKE TO PREFACE BY SAYING SAYING THAT I HAVE GOOD DIALOGUE WITH MR PENMAN. I THINK HE'S A GREAT GUY. BUT I THINK THAT HE COULD DO A BETTER DOT JOB FOR DISTRICT B. YOUR LETTERHEAD IS BEING PUT TO GOOD USE, BUT NOT FOR THE ISSUES THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT MR PITTMAN. YOU CONTINUE TO LOBBY FOR DEVELOPERS AND THEIR LAWYERS INSTEAD OF DISTRICT B. SOUNDS MORE LIKE A CAREER THAN A CALLING AS YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE REQUEST OF DISTRICT B AND REPRESENT SOMEONE ELSE'S INTERESTS. I AM ALSO VERY NEW TO THIS AND I AM TOO CONFUSED. BY YOUR ACTIONS IF YOU TRULY SUPPORT THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT B, PLEASE SHOW IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. NO MORE SPEAKERS. MR PRESIDENT WITH NO MORE SPEAKERS WILL MOVE TO
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS]
AGENDA ITEM 16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR GUTHRIE. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. JUST TO FINISH UP ON THAT BILL 23 OR 31 THAT WE'RE HOLDING OFF UNTIL NOVEMBER. 1 NOVEMBER, 7TH SITTING OVER SEVEN. I'M SORRY. UM LET'S TRY WITH SO ALL MY CONSTITUENTS NOW BECAUSE I HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IS BILL AND I'VE ONLY I'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE NEGATIVE EMAIL, AND I'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF, UH, EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS THAT SUPPORT THE BILL. OF COURSE, IT'S MY DISTRICT. SO I GUESS MAYBE THAT'S WHY I'M GETTING SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN FAVOR OF IT. UM AH! SO I JUST WANTED ALL MY PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S COMING BACK, AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET TO TALK TO ALL THE GROUPS AND THE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN AND GET THE POINT ACROSS. UM, OF WHAT? HOW NEGATIVE IT'S BEEN TO, UM, DISTRICT A AND THE AREA WHEN WE'RE RAISING $685,000 A YEAR AND THEN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS $5.5 MILLION HAS WENT INTO THE HOTEL TAX FUNDED HERE AND THIS SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND LITERALLY PROBABLY NOT A PENNY OF THAT HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE EDGE WITH HER JOPPATOWNE AREA WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING RAISED. SO AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE ME A ONE THING BECAUSE WE DID SPEND $14,000 FROM THE HOTEL TAX TO BUILD A NEW STATUE AND MARYLAND POINT PARK. SO WE DID GET THAT WE DID GET 14,005 AND HALF MILLION UM, ALSO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. UM . ON THE THURSDAY THE 21ST ATTENDED TO, UH, THE LIBRARY AND, UH, JOB IN CHOPPER TOWN WHERE THE GUNPOWDER RIVERKEEPER CAME AND GAVE US A ROUND TABLE[00:35:03]
DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ON THE GUNPOWDER, BIRD, BUSH AND MIDDLE RIVERS, WITH ALL THE RUNOFF FROM MAINLY ORIGINALLY RESERVE IT'S MESS, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A MESS, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN IT. MISS OUT. UM IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR LAST SUMMER AND THIS SUMMER. AND IT SAID STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN YOUR ENTIRE WATERWAYS IN ALL THE CHOPPER TOWN IN GUNPOWDER RIVER ALL THE WAY OUT PAST THE PAST THE BRIDGE THE RAILROAD BRIDGE THAT THE ENTIRE WATERWAYS THERE CAN TURN LIKE, UM, A CUP OF COFFEE THAT WITH TOO MUCH CREAM IN IT. IT'S JUST IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT THAT MASSIVE BODY OF WATER THAT THERE COULD BE ENOUGH MUD TO COME DOWN TO CHANGE THE WHOLE COLOR OF THAT WATER. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. IT'S HAPPENED. WE GOT PICTURES TO PROVE IT AND WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT WILL BE SHOWN THEM ONLY OVERHEAD HERE. ALSO, I MET WITH THE NEW OWNER OF THE EDGEWOOD PLAZA AS EDWARD SUPPLIES OR SOMETHING. CENTER RAY HANSON ROAD AND H WOOD ROAD WAS RECENTLY SOLD. AND THE NEW OWNER, HIS NAME IS RAJ. PATEL P 80 E L HAD LUNCH WITH HIM ONE DAY AND FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, SO GREAT GUY. HE'S GOOD. HE'S GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY OWNS HE OWNS ABOUT 26 DUNCAN DONUTS SHOPS IN AND AROUND HARFORD COUNTY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET A FREE DONUT. I GOT LIKE THAT. AH! BUT HE'S GOING TO BE GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GREAT FOR THE SHOPPING CENTER. UH IRAN STRONG . WHO WHO SOLD THE PLACE I WORKED WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS. HE WAS A GREAT OWNER OF THAT, AND HE AND HE UPDATED IT AND THE NEW GUY IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB. I'M SURE I SPENT THE DAY OVER EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ON SEPTEMBER, 26 MET WITH, UM RYAN BEAN AND TATUM WILLIAMS OVER THEIR APPRENTICESHIP WORKSHOP.THE THEY ASKED ME TO COME OVER AND TOUR THEIR APPRENTICESHIP. THEY KNOW I HAVE APPRENTICESHIP BACKGROUND AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT AND THEY'RE REALLY DOING IT SUPERB JOB AND I COMPLIMENT HIM. WITH THAT, UM ALL THE HONORABLE THING I WANT ON THE 29TH. I TURNED AND PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION TO THE RURAL BIBLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH ON THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT RICHLAND BALLROOM. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. MR PENMAN. I THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID THIS EVENING. HOLD MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR PITTMAN. GINGER DANA. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO WISH A VERY, UH CENTURION HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MRS RUTH HAGAN SHALL BE INDUCTED INTO THE HARFORD COUNTY CENTURY CLUB ON OCTOBER. 28TH THIS IS HAGI IS TURNING 101 . SO I HOPE SHE DOESN'T MIND ME TELLING HER AGE BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUTH AND BEST WISHES. UM SECOND THAT THE MARYLAND TOWN FESTIVAL WAS HELD THIS WEEKEND AT THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER. WE HAD OVER 23,000 PEOPLE THAT CAME OUT WE RAISED OVER 300,000 FOR CHARITY. I SEE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT THAT WERE VOLUNTEERS, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT WITHOUT ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEAD DEDICATION AND EFFORT. I KNOW I WORKED FOR THREE DAYS. COOKING SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS. WE SOLD OVER FIVE WE SAW 5000 SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS, AND IT COMES OUT TO BE THREE SAUSAGES EVERY MINUTE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIME, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SOCIETY OF ITALIAN AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN FOR THEIR EVENT AND FOR ALL THE HELP THAT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY PUT OUT, UM WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT AND WE KNOW THERE'S SOME ISSUES AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK THROUGH THOSE NEXT YEAR AND MAKE IT A BETTER BETTER EVENT. UH, THIRD, UM OH, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.
MY ROOMMATE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, MY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER TEAMMATE, MR PAUL GREEN PASSED AWAY. UM HE HAD BEEN GETTING KIDNEY DIALYSIS THREE DAYS A WEEK, LIVING IN A IN A REHAB CENTER AND EVERY NOW AND THEN I GO DOWN AND SEE HIM. IT WAS TOUGH WITH COVID, BUT HE WOULD ALWAYS WANT FRESCO. I TURNED. I TURNED PAUL ONTO FRESCO, BUT FIFTH NOW BY 25 YEARS AGO, HIS LOVE FOR FRESCO AND MY LOVE FOR FRESCA. WE USED TO DRIVE DOWN TO COLLEGE PARK TO GET PIZZA AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY UNTIL THEY TASTED THE PIZZA AND THEY SAID YOU GUYS GOING TO COLLEGE PARK? CAN YOU BRING ME BACK A PIZZA, WHICH WE USED TO DO PLAY GOLF A LOT, YOU KNOW, GAMBLE, PLAYED POKER AND WENT TO ATLANTIC CITY BUS TRIPS . SO MR GREEN WAS 62. I THINK I
[00:40:03]
TOOK IT PRETTY HARD AND I HOPE, HE SAID PEACE. UM HE WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE. YOU SAW HIM ON FACEBOOK. HE ALWAYS HAD ROLL CALL FOR SOMEBODY THAT WAS IN REHAB CENTER FOR FIVE YEARS. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN ANYBODY SO AMAZING MY WHOLE LIFE. HE'S HIS SISTER WAS KAREN GREEN. SHE PROCEEDED HIM. AND IF ANYBODY KNEW KAREN GREENS WORKED AT PARKS AND REC, SHE WAS SHE WAS FABULOUS. WONDERFUL WHEN I MET KAREN, WHEN I MOVED DOWN HERE, SHE TREATED ME LIKE YOU KNOW HER LITTLE BROTHER AND ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF ME AND WATCHED OVER ME, SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. UM AND FINALLY , LUISA ASKED ME TO PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE THAT I'M GOING TO READ. IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH 2023 AT 2:20 P.M. EASTERN TIME, A NATIONWIDE TEST OF THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM WILL TAKE PLACE. ALL CELLPHONES WILL BROADCAST A LOUD BLARING SOUND LIKE AN AMBER ALERT. AND THEN THIS DISPLAY A TEXT MESSAGE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN FOR SURVIVORS WHO HAVE SECRET PHONES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HIDE FROM ABUSERS TO PREVENT THIS AND ANY LOCAL OR NATIONAL ALERT FROM SOUNDING PHONES CAN BE POWERED OFF TURN TO AIRPLANE MODE, OR THEY CAN BE TURNED OFF AND THE PHONE SETTING IF AN OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO DO SO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EMERGENCY ALERTS CAN BE FOUND AT AH, IT'S A LONG WEBSITE. FEMA DOT GOV EMERGENCY SLASH MANAGERS UM, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT SO JUST VERY IMPORTANT. AND UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MR JAN DREW DOWN AND MR RILEY. THANK YOU, MR RILEY. MASSAD ALS.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. UM I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I RECEIVED YESTERDAY. HUNDREDS OF EMAILS. I AM STILL WORKING THROUGH THEM AND TRYING TO RESEARCH AND RESPOND. I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AND, UM WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL. IT WAS GREAT. MY FAMILY REALLY ENJOYED IT VERY FUN TIME. AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU, MA'AM, MR BENNETT. HELLO UM , IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT. JUST A FEW UPDATES. I GOT TO MEET WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO'S A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND A BASEBALL PLAYER, AND HE WANTED TO MEET TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF PARKS AND RACK AND ALSO THE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LEAGUES, UM, CELEBRATING JACKIE ROBINSON DAY THIS YEAR, IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, UM, SO I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM CONNECTED WITH THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM SO WE CAN START TRYING TO THINK THROUGH HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I WAS REALLY EXCITED THAT 17 YEAR OLD WOULD THINK OF AN ISSUE. THINK OF SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SEE, UM, AND TO REACH OUT TO THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE IS A NEAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I ALSO THIS PAST WEEK MET WITH THE MAJOR GENERAL OVER A P G. MAJOR GENERAL EDMONDSON INVITED ME AND MY WIFE INTO HIS HOME. AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW A PG CAN SUPPORT EDUCATION HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY TO GROW THE WORKFORCE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT WAS A REALLY FRUITFUL CONVERSATION. UM UH, SPEAKING OF WORKFORCE, MY OFFICE HOSTED THE FIRST HOPEFULLY OF MANY WORKFORCE EDUCATION NIGHTS FOR DISTRICT F THIS PAST WEEK, SO WE PARTNERED WITH HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND WE INVITED PEOPLE FROM THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND A CHEAP PS. WE INVITED EMPLOYERS FROM ACROSS DISTRICT DEATH, AND WE INVITED PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND WE LEARNED ABOUT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT, UM, HELPING PEOPLE GET CAREER ADVANCEMENT. WE LEARNED ABOUT PROGRAMS TO HELP GET TAX CREDITS FOR EMPLOYERS WHO EMPLOY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SO THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO GET SUPPORTIVE JOBS. UM IT WAS JUST A REALLY TREMENDOUS EVENT. I THINK DR HILL FOR HIS HELP IN PLANNING IT. UM AND IT WAS GREAT. ALSO, WE HAD THE 60TH. HAVE DEGREES ART SHOW THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN. UM AND THEN, UM, TWO THINGS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE. ON SATURDAY MORNING, THERE'S GONNA BE A WALKED AND ALZHEIMER'S FROM 9 TO 11 AT LEDO'S FIELD, I'LL BE WALKING WITH CITIZEN CARE AND SUPPORT OF, UH, OF THEM IN OF THE CAUSE. UM AND I HOPE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY. UH, IN THIS EFFORT AND THEN ALSO ON SATURDAY WILL BE HAVING THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE FESTIVAL FROM 2 TO 6 IN HAVING THE GRACE THE FAMILY FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT THAT MY HOME CHURCH OF ST JOHN'S
[00:45:03]
SPONSORS EACH AND EVERY YEAR, UM AND I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO IT . IT'S A LOT OF FUN WITH MUSIC AND CRAFTS AND VENDORS. UM AND FOOD AND THAT FOR ME. THAT'S EVERYTHING TONIGHT. THANK YOU[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. UM AND COMMENTS FROM PRESIDENT. UM FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE LAST NIGHT WHO ATTENDED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. I KNOW IT WAS A LONG NIGHT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE ALL THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN A SPECIAL SESSION. WE HAD SEVERAL 100 PEOPLE HERE LAST NIGHT SPEAKING THEIR MIND THEIR CONCERNS AND, UM I APPRECIATE THE FACT FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYONE IS EXTREMELY RESPECTFUL ALLOWS EVERYONE TO BE HEARD AND ALLOWS EVERY VOICE TO BE HEARD. UM THE BILL 23 OR 26, I THINK IS CORRECT FOR THE WAREHOUSE LEGISLATION THAT DROP DEAD DATE FOR THAT AS OCTOBER THE 10TH. WE ARE WORKING ON AMENDMENTS TO THAT BILL. AH YESTERDAY TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT TILL, UH, WE GET EVERYTHING WE NEED PREPARED FOR MR CARNEY AND FOR INTRODUCTION HERE ON THE 10TH. UM. HE OTHER BILLS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US DROP DEAD DATE ON THEM IS ONLY EIGHTH, SO WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THEM PRIOR TO NOVEMBER, 7TH. UM. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT QUICKLY. IS THAT NOW FOR LAST NIGHT AND AGAIN TONIGHT, BRIANNA BROUGHT UP UPPER CHESAPEAKE. SO I THINK IT'S TIMELY THAT WE, MILO SAM, THAT WE REACH OUT TO MS WISE, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE FROM UPPER CHESAPEAKE.BRING THEM IN LIKE WE'VE DONE BEFORE. LET THEM GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE THEY'RE AT ON THE RENOVATIONS. AND THE OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN OFFICE AND THE OTHER RENOVATIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. UM THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MR REYNOLDS, YOU HAVE A QUESTION. UM, JUST IN REGARDS THE HOSPITAL. I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN THE CITY OF HAVING GREECE BUT THE CITY OF HAVING GRACE'S ACTIVELY COLLECTING FEEDBACK ON HOW THEY SHOULD ZONE, THE PROPERTY WHERE THE CURRENT HOSPITAL SITS, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT POSSIBLY A MEDICAL FACILITY COULD GO THERE OR, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE HOSPITAL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU PARTICIPATE IN THAT FEEDBACK. SO WE CAN BE CONSTRUCTIVE MOVING TOWARDS THE FUTURE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REAL SHOT THIS POINT OF SAVING THE HOSPITAL FROM CLOSING, BUT WE CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT'S IT'S IN THE CITY OF HAVING GRACE BUT IMPACTS THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. AND OBVIOUSLY, UM, DR WISE CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF THAT AS WELL. UM ALSO OCTOBER, 12TH WILL BE HOSTING A PF MEETING HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 6 P.M. IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO ALL OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL BE HERE, ALONG WITH OTHERS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVENTS, WE ATTENDED THE LOCAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT COALITION MEETING. AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER OF THE OTHER DAY WE TALKED ABOUT OPIOID OPERATIONAL COMMANDS ARE OPIOID OPERATIONAL COMMAND CENTER, UM, EMILY KELLER OR SPECIAL SECRETARY WAS THERE. IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED. ALSO ABERDEEN CHAMBER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AWARDS. WE ATTENDED THAT LAST WEEK. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND RECOGNIZE STEVE HORN. UM SAY, DELICIOUS BAKERY.
AND ALSO OUR HEALTH AND PROPERTIES FOR THE REWARDS THAT ARE THE AWARDS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED. TONY SPOKE ABOUT THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL. IT WAS AMAZING . I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST KEPT ROLLING IN THERE. I THOUGHT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH PARKING AS BEST THEY COULD. UM AND JUST I DO BELIEVE, LIKE TONY SAID. WE WILL LISTEN TO ALL OF THE COMMENTS IN THE AFTER ACTION MEETING AND THEN TRY TO MAKE IT A MUCH BETTER EVENT NEXT YEAR. AND THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO WISH MY BRIDE GENIUS OF VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T SEE HER. I HAVEN'T SEEN HER SINCE. UH YOU KNOW 7 30 THIS MORNING SO HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH UP IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AND GO OUT FOR DINNER. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY. YEAH. EXACTLY THE BEST GIFT YOU COULD HAVE GAVE. THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAY SO AND I'M SURE SHE WOULD AGREE, BUT WITH THAT WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.