[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
CALLS OVER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 24-001. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US FOR STANDING WITH STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCILMAN PENDANT. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WHICH IS STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD HAS BROUGHT LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DEAR LORD, AS THE DAWN BREAKS ON THE NEW YEAR, WE LOOK TO YOU FOR OUR HOPE. JOY AND PEACE. LET US GIVE. THANKS FOR ALL WE HOLD DEAR, OR HEALTH OR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. GIVE US THE COURAGE TO DO ALL THAT YOU ASK, ALLOW US TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES OF THIS PAST YEAR AND USED THEM TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FURTHER YOUR WORK. PLEASE SHOW US HOW TO WALK AND GRACE AND EMBRACE YOUR LOVE IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.
AMEN. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS. FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NO
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
BUSINESS THIS EVENING. SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES. PUBLIC HEARING DECEMBER 1920 23 LEGISLATIVE DAY 23-0 33 DECEMBER 19TH 2023 OR THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES.BEING NO CORRECTIONS MINISTER AND APPROVED EIGHT INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION RESOLUTIONS.
[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]
WE HAVE NONE. NINE INTRODUCTION OF BILLS, MR PENMAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ AND BUILD? 24 DASS ICH IS THERE ONE? YES, MR PRESIDENT, BILL 24-001. INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS PENMAN, BULL SADDLES AND GUTHRIE AND ACTIVE REPEAL OR ENACT WITH AMENDMENTS THE DEFINITION OF A QUOTE UNQUOTE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT. UH, A D U IN SECTION 22 67-4 DEFINITIONS OF ARTICLE ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS AND TO REPEAL BACK WITH AMENDMENTS SUBSECTION B EIGHT OF SECTION 2 67-28 TEMPORARY USES OF ARTICLE FIVE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS ALL APART. ONE STANDARD OF CHAPTER 267 ZONING OF THE HARFORD COUNTY CODE AS AMENDED TO PROVIDE REVISED THE DEFINITION OF QUOTE UNQUOTE ASSESSOR ACCESSORY, DWELLING IT TO ALLOW AN ACCESSORY DWELLING IT TO BE EITHER ATTACHED OR DETACHED FROM THE PRIMARY, SINGLE, DETACHED DWELLING UNIT TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT ONLY A RELATIVE MAY OCCUPY AND ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT IN GENERAL LEADING TO THE ZONING. PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY. 6 2024 AT 645 PM AND THESE COUNCIL[10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS]
CHAMBERS. THE GENERAL NUMBER 10 INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS MAY HAVE EMOTION PLEASE ON AMENDMENTS, ONE THROUGH FOUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS 1 TO 4 TO BUILD 23-0 34 THANK YOU MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVING A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH FOUR TO BUILD 23-0 34. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR GOVERNOR. UM CAN WE DEAL WITH THEM ONE AT A TIME. I THINK THE MOTION IN SECONDS ALREADY BEEN MADE. YES, SIR. IF HE'S ASKING TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION, IT'S RIGHT OF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER TO HAVE IT. OF EACH AMENDMENT. OKAY, ALRIGHT. THEN MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO BUILD 23-0 34 COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO BUILD 23-0 34. MAY HAVE A SECOND SECOND. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. IT'S BEEN A MOVED AND SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO BUILD 23-0 34. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR GUTHRIE? YES SIR. UM I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALL FOUR OF THESE AMENDMENTS. THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME. SO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO, UH, SPEAK ON THEM. UM AMENDMENT ONE IS, UH , IS AN AMENDMENT THAT REMOVES THE LANGUAGE PROVIDING A COUNCIL MEMBER TO BYPASS TOURISM APPLICATION PROCESS AND APPROACH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTLY FOR CONSIDERATION. APPROVAL OF TOURISM BRANDS. AND I THINK, FOR THE MOST PART THE IN THIS COVERS ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS COUNCIL MEMBER KNOWS MORE ABOUT THEIR DISTRICT. THEN I WOULD THINK MOST PEOPLE DO. THEY KNEW THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IT NEEDS OR THE NEEDS ARE WHERE THE TOURISM STUFF, UH, IS LOCATED AND THE KIND OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO TAKE CARE OF. THE SITUATION SO WITH THE FACT THAT THE, UH[00:05:10]
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS FOR THE MOST PART, UH, HE IS THE HAS THE LAST SAY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THEY ONLY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE. I WILL VETO IT OR WILL PROVE IT, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH CASH SHE HAS AVAILABLE TO HIM, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHERE A COUNCIL MEMBER WOULDN'T DO IT ANYWAY. BUT THAT IS THE REASONING. UH THE LAST NINE YEARS. UM, NO. ONE FROM THIS GROUP. HAS APPROACHED, UM.ANYBODY IN THE DISTRICT A OR ASKED TO COME TO ANY OF THE COUNCIL. THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EXPRESSED AND ASK ABOUT ANY OF THE NEEDS OTHER SOUTHERN PART OF COUNTY. THEY JUST TOOK THE $5.5 MILLION FROM DISTRICT A SPEND IT IN HELL HE WANTED AND THEN SPEND ANY OF IT IN DISTRICT A. IS THAT IT? ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT UM, THIS AMENDMENT IN PARTICULAR IS IMPORTANT TO ME AS REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT F, WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY APPLICANTS FOR TOURISM GRANT FUNDING. UM I JUST IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT THERE WILL BE ON THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT DEATH DOWN THE LINE . YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, IN REGARDS TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD THEN COME TO ME DIRECTLY IN ORDER TO DO THIS ACTION OF REQUESTING FUNNY FUNDING DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I WORRY ABOUT LIKE, WHAT KIND OF SITUATION THAT COULD CREATE. UM AS FAR AS FAVORITISM OR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THINGS THAT AREN'T BEST PRACTICE AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY AND RECEIVING FUNDING, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING CURRENTLY THAT STOPS ANYBODY FROM ADVOCATING JUST PASSED BUDGET CYCLE. YOU KNOW WHEN PEOPLE IN DISTRICT F. WE'RE GOING FOR FUNDING FOR THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, AND THEY WERE BEING TOLD THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET AS MUCH AS THEY HAD IN THE PAST. YOU KNOW, I HAD PEOPLE LIKE THE MARITIME MUSEUM, REACH OUT TO ME AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE CONCERNED AND I WENT TO THEIR FACILITY. I TALKED WITH THEM. THEN I WENT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTLY TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRITTEN IN LAW THAT SAID THAT WAS A PROCESS THAT HAD TO BE DONE. YOU KNOW, THEY STILL HAD GONE THROUGH THE TOURISM GRANT. PROCESS. UM I JUST WORRY ABOUT THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN ON A STICKY SITUATION IT COULD CREATE AS FAR AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MONEY AND HOW IT IMPACTS TOURISM AND THEIR DISTRICT. SO I THINK THIS AMENDMENTS IMPORTANT AND I'LL DEFINITELY BE, UH, SUPPORTING IT. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT.
ANYONE ELSE? MR PENMAN, MR PRESIDENT? UM I BELIEVED IN THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS BILL THAT ALLOWED THAT PROCESS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR DISTRICTS, AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A PROCESS OF FORMAL PROCESS IN WRITING THAT ALLOWS US TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, WHETHER IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION OR NOT. EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS A DIFFICULT DECISION HERE ON THE DIET, SO I SUPPORT THE VERSION THAT ALLOWED US TO HAVE THAT CONTACT WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU FROM FIRSTHAND UM, JUST BY BEING OSTRACIZED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. SOMETIMES THAT PROCESS IS NOT THERE AND THIS WOULD ALLOW IT TO, UH, TO OCCUR. THANK YOU ANYONE ELSE? MR GUTHRIE. QUICK COMMENT. UM I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE WOULD BE ANY. COULD BE ANY FAVORITISM BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY CAN'T EXECUTIVE IS GOT THE FINAL SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU LIKE THE PROCESS OF DON'T LIKE THE PROCESS. THAT'S THE PROCESS. YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA PLAY WITH THE CARDS THAT ARE DEALT YOU AND, UM IF, IN FACT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIDE TO DO SOMETHING FOR FAVORITE SYSTEM CAN DO IT. YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT HAVING TO COUNCILMAN GO DIRECTLY TO HIM, OR, HOWEVER, THEY MAY WANT TO DO IT. SO IT'S THAT THERE'S NO ARGUMENT ON THAT ON THAT PART OF SUBJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON. MR PRESIDENT, MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN NO. MR JAN GIORDANO. MR RILEY, THIS IS BULL SADDLES. NO, MR BENNETT. FOR BEING FOR VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THREE IN THE NEGATIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 TO 2334 IS APPROVED. NUMBER.
TWO COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO BUILD 23-0 34. MAY HAVE A SECOND
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SECOND THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. MOVED TO MOVED IN A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO BUILD 23-34 ISRAELI DISCUSSION. MR GUTHRIE. UM. I CAN'T SEE A AMENDMENT THAT'S MORE UNFAIR THAN THIS AMENDMENT. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S EVEN HERE ON THE TABLE, AND THEY REALLY SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED. EVEN HAVE IT HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING TO DISTRICT A. THAT DOES NOT AFFECT . UH DISTRICT UH, E OR DISTRICT F. THEY ALREADY HAVE THIS. THEY ALREADY GET 50. IN FACT, EVEN EVEN AT THE DISTRICT A. IF WE WERE TO GET 50% WE STILL DON'T GET IT. WE STILL GOT TO GO AFTER IT ONLY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER THE 50% THE BOTTOM LINE AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THE SIDE OF THE FUNDS ARE THERE HE MAY ONLY APPROVE 25. SO THE NUMBER COULD BE 100% FOR THAT MATTER. IT JUST IT JUST, UH I CAN'T BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. UH THERE'S ONLY THREE DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY AND OUR HOTELS AND A E N F. AND THE NFL RE GETS IT. WHAT? WHY DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A GETTING THE SAME AS, UH, AS E AND F? UH THERE ARE NINE HOTELS AND DISTRICT A. I SPENT MY WHOLE DAY YESTERDAY NEW YEAR'S DAY, GOING TO ALL NINE HOTELS. SPEAKING TO ALL THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS THERE THEY AH ONE OF THE NICEST HOTELS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A NATION WINNING THIS, BUT THE HAMPTON INN AND SUITES AND EDGEWOOD IS A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE NATION THAT I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN TO IT IS THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS THERE, THERE'S A LITTLE QUANTA IN WHO THE SMALLEST ONE IS MOTO EDGEWOOD. ALL THE REST ARE BIG. MOTEL SIX QUALITY INN AND SUITES . RAMADA INN CONFERENCE CENTER RED ROOF INN, EDGEWOOD WHEN GATE SUITES AND EDGEWOOD THEY'RE ALL BEAUTIFUL PLACES, AND AH, UM, BEEN OVERLOOKED AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THEY'RE VERY UPSET PEOPLE AND THEY'VE GOT EVERY RIGHT TO BE UPSET. FOR NINE YEARS, THEY SAID. FOR NINE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN OVERLOOKING THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET SOMETHING HAPPENED TO OUR AREA. WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING THIS TAX FOR NINE YEARS PAYING INTO THE COUNTY WE'VE PAID IN OVER $5.5 MILLION IN THAT NINE YEARS, AND THEY HAVE GOT ZERO BACK. ZERO IN AN ENTIRE AREA WHERE MOST OF THESE HOTELS ORDER RIGHT THERE AT 95 AND 24. AND UH, THEY'RE THEY'RE SPEAKING TO, UH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. EVEN HAVE THAT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER AND THEY WERE IN SENDING EMAILS IN THINKING THAT THE BILL WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON TONIGHT, AND THEY SENT A NUMBER OF THINGS AND THEY BURN IN. THEY SET UP MR RALPH COAL MINE, HE SAID. AND I AM WRITING ON THE ABOVE SUBJECT ASKED YOU TO HELP US IN DISTRICT A TO FIX AN UNFAIR AND UNBROKEN BILL BY ALLOWING THE CITIZENS OF THIS TRICK IT TO SHARE EQUALLY IN THE TAX REVENUE THAT IS GENERATED IN OUR AREA. EITHER OR NO DISTRICT SHOULD BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THIS REVENUE SHARING OR ALL DISTRICTS SHOULD HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT THE SAME PERCENTAGE AND THEN THOSE FROM THOSE FUNDS AND SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES AS THE OTHER DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY HAVE BUT THIS BILL HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. AND HOW AND WHY IT'S ALLOWED TO BE EXECUTED UNDER SUCH UNFAIR WAY IS BEYOND ME. AND AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY AND THE COUNCIL OR HAVE A RARE AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RIGHT THAT WRONG. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR FUNDS ALREADY COLLECTED, BUT WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING TO BE TREATED AS EQUALS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND COMPARE TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COUNTY. DISTRICT A IS WHAT I WOULD ARGUE, IS THE HIGHEST NEEDED AREA IN HARFORD COUNTY, AND I COULD AND IT COULD BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY FROM ACCESS TO THESE FUNDS. AS YOU KNOW, IN THE RECENT WORK AT COPPER MINE FACILITY HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING IN A VARIETY OF SPORTING EVENTS. IT'S MADE TO BRING OVER 10,000 OVERNIGHT STAYS IN A GIVEN WEEKEND. THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING ON OTHER IDEAS AND OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE BOAT RACING, FISHING SECTOR SECTOR GOT LOTS[00:15:02]
OF POSSIBILITIES ON TOURISM, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A MARINA. WE'VE GOT A BOAT MARINA AND A BEAUTIFUL PARK RIGHT IN JOPPATOWNE. WE HAVE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MARINA IN EDGEWOOD AND WE GOT TO. WE GOT TO UM AH, GOD CLUBS THERE, UH, HAVE A HAVE A LETTER FROM FROM THE OWNER AND MEMBER OF THE RAMADA INN CONFERENCE CENTER. THAT'S THE BIG ONE, HE SAYS. I AM THE OWNER, MANAGING MEMBER OF RAMADA CONFERENCE CENTER REACHING TO YOU TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT WE WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR CONCERNS ON BUILD OUT 2 3 DASH STREET FOUR. I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD SUPPORT THIS BILL IN FAVOR SINCE IT WAS UNFAIR FROM THE DAY ONE WHEN THEY GOT IT APPROVED THIS OCCUPANCY TAX THE WAY IT WAS USED. GOD USED AND DISTRIBUTED WAS NEGLECTED BY OUR PREVIOUS COUNCILS AND EXECUTIVE IT WAS UNFAIR. IT WAS AN UNFAIR ACT AT THE TIME AND WE GOT SIDELINED DURING VOTING AND IT AND AT THAT TIME THE OPPORTUNITY NEEDS TO BE TO CORRECT IT. AS MY BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE IN DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS INTRODUCED AND I GOT SUPPORT. I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO SUPPORT AND MAKE FAIR TO DESTROY GATES CITIZENS. I THINK IT'S THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL BENEFITING BUSINESS AND GENERAL AND GENERATE EMPLOYMENT FOR CITIZENS AND ABSTAIN EMPLOYEES FOR MORE VISITORS AND TRAVELS AND DISTRICT HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES. THIS IS THE THIS IS HARRY PATEL. HE IS THE MANAGING UM, MEMBER. IS THE OWNER AND MANAGING THE MEMBER OF THE MONITOR AND CONFERENCE CENTER. UH, TRYING TO MAKE THESE SHORT BUT BILL TARMAC ROAD I AM WRITING TO UM. I'M WRITING YOU TO CONSIDER OPPOSING THE AMENDMENTS OF 23 02 34 MY REASONS I SUSPECT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS. MINOR STRAIGHTFORWARD, DROPPING IN EDGEWOOD OR AMONG THE NEEDIEST AND THE COUNTY AREAS. YET MONEY FROM HOTELS AND OTHER AREAS ARE GOING TO THE RICHEST PART OF THE COUNTY. MEANWHILE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOURISM, REALLY ACTIVITIES. ANOTHER DIME WORTH OF MONEY IS BEING BRINGING THEM TO REALITY. NOW WE THINK YOUR REASONS WOULD BE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT TO BILL WITHOUT AMENDMENTS WOULD BRING MUCH MORE MONEY TO OUR DISTRICT AREAS JUST OUTSIDE OF ABERDEEN WOULD HOST TREMENDOUS EVENTS AND COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. THE NEW COMPROMISE IN FIELDS LIKELY ALREADY CREATE A NEED FOR REGIONAL COORDINATION. THIS CAN BE EXPANDED FROM THERE. I SURELY I AM FAIRLY SURE JOPPATOWNE IS ABOUT TO GET ONE OF THE NEW PIECES OF PROPERTY FOR REGRESSION DEVELOPMENT. AM SURE I AM WORKING TO CREATE ANOTHER, ALONG WITH HARFORD COUNTY SIDES OF GUNPOWDER RIVER. AS THE NEWLY IMPROVED OF OASIS MARINAS BEGINNING TO CREATE A SMALL BUILDING EVENTS SUCH AS FISHING TOURNAMENTS, OR THEY HAVE A KAYAK PADDLEBOARD LAUNCHED AND OPERATIONAL IN SIGHT. THEY WERE LOOKING TO EXPAND AND NEED TO BE READ TO BE REGIONAL OR EVEN NATIONAL EVENTS. THE POSSIBILITY OF NORTH CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING AND BUILDING WOULD ENHANCE THE AREAS. UM. THERE ALSO HAS BEEN, UM BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE, UM UH, THE TAX AND THE SOME OF THE NON PROFITS AND WHICH IS WORKING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE UP IN ANOTHER TIME BECAUSE WE THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE KNOWLEDGE OF THESE NONPROFITS. BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING. AND WE'RE FINDING OUT RECENTLY THAT A LOT OF IT'S GONE FOR SOME HEAVY SALARIES, SO THAT THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. MR PENMAN. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.UM I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT OF THESE HOTELS HAVE ON DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY SPECIFICALLY, EDGEWOOD AND JAPANESE. UM MUNICIPALITIES GET 50% THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FRONT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. UM I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY EDGEWOOD AND JOPPA WOULD NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT INCORPORATED. I THINK IT'S THIS IS INVESTMENT IN EDGEWOOD AND GIAMPA. WHAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART AND I GREW UP THERE GRADUATED THERE, AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN EDGEWOOD AND JAPANESE. UM EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE COMING UP WITH COPPER MINE IN THE DIFFERENT MARINAS THERE. AH AND I THINK THIS IS SHORT SIGHTED TO PRODUCE IT FROM 50 TO 25. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN ANYONE ELSE? MR BENNETT. UM THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. A FEW THOUGHTS FIRST, YOU KNOW THE WAY THE BILL IS WRITTEN. WHATEVER PERCENTAGE WE PUT THERE IS NEITHER A FLOOR NOR CEILING BECAUSE IT'S A MAY IT'S MORE SO A GOAL LINE SO IF THERE WAS ENOUGH APPLICATION AND
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INTEREST IN ANY DISTRICT TO RECEIVE 26% 51% 75% OF THE MONEY GENERATED THAT COULD FEASIBLY HAPPEN IF THE APPLICATIONS WERE THERE, THE GRANT FUNDING WAS, UH , YOU KNOW, APPROVED THAN THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN, SO NO MATTER WHAT PERCENTAGE WE PUT THERE, IT DOESN'T STOP MORE MONEY FROM COMING TO DISTRICT DAY. REALLY OR ANY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE PRAGA TIVE OF EACH COUNCIL MEMBER IF THEY SEE A NEED FOR MONEY TO COME TO THEIR DISTRICT IS YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THOSE APPLICATION TRAINING SESSIONS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS OFFICE LAST YEAR TO LEARN WHAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS WOULD BE LIKE. SO THEN WE CAN GO AND ADVOCATE WITH THOSE NONPROFITS ARE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE DOING TOURISM WORK AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET MONEY TO HELP START THOSE BOATING RACES OR, UM , YOU KNOW, SOCCER TOURNAMENTS OR WHATEVER THE NEED IS, UM, TO GET THAT MONEY GOING. YOU KNOW, I HAD PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT DEAF WHO REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, WE'RE CONFUSED ABOUT THE APPLICATION. SO THEN I GOT THEM CONNECTED WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE TO HELP THEM WITH THE APPLICATION AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR APPLICATION WAS DONE IN TIME. UM THE PERCENTAGE HERE DOESN'T STOP ANY OF THAT FROM HAPPENING. AND I MEAN, IF THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE RECORD OF NONPROFITS APPLYING AND BEING DENIED AND NOT RECEIVING MONEY, I THINK I WOULD FEEL DIFFERENT ABOUT THAT. BUT AT THIS POINT, I SEE A PROCESS THAT WORKS.APPLICATIONS GO THROUGH AND YOU KNOW PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE APPROVED IN COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE UM AND I THINK THE NEXT STEP IN THAT WORK IS TO GET PEOPLE TO APPLY SO WE CAN GET THE MONEY TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. BUT NO MATTER WHAT PERCENTAGE IS SET HERE, MONEY DOESN'T START FLOWING UNTIL APPLICATIONS COME IN, AND THAT BECOMES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE HARD WORK INVOLVED. YOU KNOW YOU COULD. YOU COULD SAY 99% BUT 99% ISN'T GOING TO COME UNLESS THE APPLICATIONS ARE THERE IN THE PROJECTS ARE THERE TO FUND SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE OF THIS. I THINK IT'S LOST IN THIS CONVERSATION. THIS BILL PASSES WHEN IT PASSES, BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. UNLESS APPLICATIONS COME IN. UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE HAS SPOKEN TO THAT THAT YOU KNOW, WHATEVER PERCENTAGE WE SET. IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN UNLESS THAT MONEY GETS APPROVED THROUGH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THIS ISN'T A SHALE. IT'S A MAY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE PERCENTAGES, AND I THINK THAT'S I CAN GET LOST IN THE SAUCE AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND INPUT. UM BUT THAT'S REALLY I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT HAS TO BE DONE IS APPLICATIONS HAVE TO COME IN AND BE ADVOCATED FOR AND GET APPROVED SO THAT MONEY CAN CAN COME FORWARD. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. ANYONE ELSE? MR GUTHRIE? UNFORTUNATELY MR BENNETT IS AUTOMATICALLY GETTING 50. MR GAY ISN'T GETTING ANYTHING. 50% GOES TO HIM. 50% GOES TO ABERDEEN. AND IT GOES RIGHT INTO THE COFFERS OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THOSE TWO DISTRICTS VERY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT TO SPEND IT ON. SO TO SAY THAT THAT THAT YOU CAN GET UP TO 99% IS A LITTLE, UH, A LITTLE RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THERE ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW THAT THAT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ISN'T BE LUCKY TO EVEN GET IT UP TO 50% MUCH LESS 99. IT'S THAT THAT'S SILLY ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. HE'S ONLY GOT SO MUCH TO DEAL WITH. IF THE SUBTRACT MONEY OUT OF IT FOR, UH, DISTRICT E AND F AND ON THE OTHER COST, UM, AND SOME SALARIES I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BEFORE WE HAD THE ORDER AUDITORS SOME OF THIS STUFF. UM SO THAT THAT THAT PART OF IT'S SILLY THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE GETTING THE 50% AND I'M EVEN IF THIS BILL PASTE ON ITS FACE DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO GET 50% WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AWAY AFTER IT. WE STILL GOT TO GO AFTER IT. DISTRICT F AND EAT DOES NOT HAVE TO GO AFTER THEY GOT IT. IMMEDIATELY GOES INTO THERE AND THE COUNTY CAN'T TOUCH IT. IT'S IN THEIR PROSECUTIVE.
THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH IT, AND, UH, MY 50% IF EVEN CAME TO THAT. I STILL GOTTA GO AFTER IT. OR MY, MY DISTRICT STILL HAS TO GO AFTER. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A MISS PALETTE. HE TURNED THE MONEY OVER TO SORRY. I DON'T BUT I DON'T. UM SO I KNOW IT'S CERTAINLY TOTALLY UNFAIR. ALL I WANT ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET DISTRICT A EQUAL WITH DISTRICT TNF. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO DO , AND IT CAN'T EVEN BE EQUAL. BECAUSE I STILL GOTTA EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LEFT AT 50. I WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO AFTER AND PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WOULD STILL HAVE TO GO AFTER IT. SO UM UNFAIR. IT'S UNFAIR. IT'S CLEAR UNFAIR AND I'M TELLING YOU CAN
[00:25:07]
HAVE ABOUT I'VE GOT 43,000 PEOPLE THERE, AND IT'S A SHAME THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT. THESE 43,000 PEOPLE MAY GET SCREWED BY ONE VOTE. MR GUTHRIE. SURE I AM. JUST BETTER, VERY QUICKLY. BUT THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. POINT OF CLARIFICATION. PUBLIC CLARIFICATION. DISTRICT DEATHS A LOT MORE THAN HAVING TO GREECE, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THERE'S MORE HOTEL TAX REVENUE GENERATED IN THE BELCAMP ABINGDON PORTION OF DISTRICT DEATH, THEN DIDN'T HAVE ANY GREASE. UM AND SO ALL THAT MONEY THAT'S GENERATED DISTRICT DEATH DOES NOT GO TO THE CITY OF HAVE DEGREES OR TWO DISTRICT EFFICACY THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS. THE REST OF THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE GENERATED AND AH, HARTFORD COUNTY GOES THROUGH AND SAME THING IN, UH, DISTRICT D, YOU KNOW, DISTRICT HE'S A LOT BIGGER THAN ABERDEEN. IT INCLUDES CHURCHVILLE AND PIECES OF BEL AIR, SO YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AND I THINK TO COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE'S POINT. THE LARGER SOLUTION HERE IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF EDGEWOOD AND JOPPATOWNE TO CONSIDER BECOMING A MUNICIPALITY TO HAVE DEMOCRACY AND OWNERSHIP OVER THEIR COMMUNITY DIRECTLY, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE 50% OF THE REVENUE GENERATED CONTROLLED BY THE COMMUNITY, NOT GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. UM AND IF THAT IF THAT'S THE PREROGATIVE OF THAT COMMUNITY THAT I WOULD SUPPORT THAT, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO THAT. THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO FIND EQUALITY BETWEEN WHAT'S DONE THERE AND DONE AND HAVE DEGREES IN ABERDEEN. UM YOU KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT FOR THEM THERE. THAT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS. AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THEY HAVE STATE DELEGATES THAT SUPPORT THAT PROCESS. AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PROCESS DOWN IN DISTRICT A SO UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE JUST MY TWO QUICK POINTS ON THAT. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. MR GUTHRIE TO FINISH OFF. UM MR BENNETT IS NOT TELLING YOU IS THAT ALL THIS BILL THIS FACE OF THIS BILL? MR GOFF GETS MORE OUT OF THIS BILL AND EVEN JUST REALLY GETS BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID DOES THE COURSE THEY KEEP THEIR 50% BUT HE NOW UNDER THIS BILL, HE CAN GO OUT TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, F AND SOLICIT MONEY. UM WHEN HE ADDS IT ALL UP FROM ALL THE HOTELS, WHICH COMES TO ABOUT IF IT WAS 50% FROM ALL THE HOTELS BEHALF OF MILLION DOLLARS. HALF A MILLION. HE CAN NOW GO AFTER THAT WITH THIS BILL, BUT HE AIN'T TELLING YOU THAT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON. MR PRESIDENT, MR. GUTHRIE. MR PENMAN. MR JAN GIORDANO, MR RILEY SADDLES? NO, MR BENNETT. THEY'RE BEING FOUR VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THREE AND A NEGATIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO TO BUILD 23 DEBT. 0 34 IS APPROVED.NUMBER THREE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO BUILD 23-34.
THANK YOU MAY HAVE A SECOND. YOU HAVE A SECOND SECOND. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO BUILD. 23-34 IS VERY DISCUSSION, MR GUTHRIE. UH UM. WE KEEP GETTING MORE UNFAIR. ER IF THERE'S SUCH A WORD AS WE GO ALONG WITH THESE, UH NOT JUST AMENDMENTS. UM BECAUSE THEY ONLY AFFECT ONE DISTRICT. ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY ANY OF THESE FOUR AMENDMENTS. THEY'RE ALL AFFECTED ONLY BY DISTRICT A WHERE THEY PASS OR FAIL OR WHATEVER HAD NO EFFECT ON THE OTHER FIVE DISTRICTS WHATSOEVER ONLY AFFECTS THIS TURGAY. SO YOU KILL MORE. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS WITH THIS AMENDMENT THIS AMENDMENT PROVIDES FOR UNSPENT FUNDS NOT SPENT IN DISTRICT A GO TO THE COUNTY, WHERE THEY CAN SPEND IT WHEREVER THEY WANT. INSTEAD OF ROLLING IT OVER. AND USE IT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN DISTRICT A, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO CUT CUT US IN HALF THERE AIN'T A LOT YOU CAN DO $137,000 YOU THINK IT IS A MAJOR PROJECT? I CAN'T EVEN GET THE I CAN'T EVEN GET THE, UM PATHWAY DOWN ON WORLD BE TRUE, WHICH IS CRUSHER ON AND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PUT CONCRETE DOWN THERE, GET DOWN TO THE PARK. GOING TO COST 200,000 JUST TO PUT THE CRUSHER RUNNING. THIS AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS SO WE CAN'T KEEP THE MONEY THERE AND ROLL IT OVER BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GIVE THAT BACK TO THE COUNTY. BUT AGAIN, MR JEAN F DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THEY DON'T SPEND IT ALL. IT'S STILL IN THERE COFFERS AND THEY CAN STILL SPEND ON ANYTHING THEY WANT. UH I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE THAT THEY CAN CONSIDER THAT THESE
[00:30:01]
BILLS. THESE THESE AMENDMENTS ARE FAIR. DONE. THANK YOU. MR BENNETT AGAIN, JUST TO CLARIFY REALLY AMENDMENTS NUMBER THREE AND FOUR ARE AT THIS POINT JUST GRAMMATICAL NEEDS BECAUSE OF AMENDMENT TO PASSING. YOU KNOW THESE ADJUST THE REST OF THE BILL BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE JUST STRUCK 50% REPLACED 25% AMENDMENTS THREE AND FOUR. JUST WORK IN CONGRUENCE WITH THAT CHANGE, SO PASSING AMENDMENTS THREE AND FOUR ARE REALLY BASED ON GRAMMATICAL NEEDS AND NOT SUBSTANTIVE NEEDS. NOW, THE AMENDMENT TWO HAS PASSED. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. MR GUTHRIE.THAT'S RIDICULOUS. THREE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 23 IS AN AMENDMENT THAT IF WE GOT IF WE WERE GOING TO GET 300,000, AND WE ONLY SPENT 300,000 GOES BACK TO THE COUNTY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHETHER IT'S CUT FROM 50% TO 25% ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AMENDMENT ALTOGETHER. IT COULD BE SEPARATED. TOTALLY. FROM ALL THE OTHER FROM TWO AND FOUR. NO BEARING ON THEM WHATSOEVER. IT'S WHATEVER IT DOESN'T GET SPENT, GOES BACK TO THE COUNTY, AND IT DOESN'T STAY IN DISTRICT GAY IN DISTRICT DNF. IT STAYS IN THERE. UM AH IN THEIR IN THEIR AREAS IN THERE, MR PALETTE EASE DOESN'T WON'T STAY HERE IF THAT'S PASSED. DONE. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON. MR PRESIDENT, MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN MR. JAN GIORDANO, MR RILEY SATO'S NO, MR BENNETT. YOU'RE BEING FOUR VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND THREE AND A NEGATIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 TO 23-0 34 IS APPROVED. NUMBER FOUR. PLEASE CANCEL PRESIDENT. I MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR TO BUILD 23-0 34 MAY HAVE A SECOND SECOND. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. AH! AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 TO 23 DAYS, 0 34 HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WHY WASTE MY TIME? ANYONE ELSE? MS DICKSON, MR. PRESIDENT MR. GUTHRIE. MR. PENMAN MR. JAN GIORDANO. MR RILEY, MRS. BELL SADDLES? NO MR BENNETT. I'M YOU'RE BEING FOUR VOTING AFFIRMATIVE. THREE IN THE NEGATIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 TO 23 DASH YEAR, 34 HAS BEEN APPROVED. AMENDMENTS. FIVE AND SIX SEPARATE YES. COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO BUILD 23 DASH YEAR OR 34. MAY HAVE A 2ND 2ND. THANK YOU, MR PAEMEN. IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS. 52 EXCUSE ME. AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO BUILD 23 DEATHS HERE. 34 ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? MR PENMAN.
THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT, UM, THIS AMENDMENT IN THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
I SUPPORT AH, THIS IS JUST EARMARKING OF FUNDING FOR THE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, THE DAMO THE PRIMARY ONE FOR THE COUNTY. UM SO THEY CAN RECRUIT YEARS OUT.
UM, AND THEY HAVE A DEDICATED PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE. I THINK IT WAS PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR GINGER. DANNON PRESIDENT. JUST, UM THANK YOU. I WANNA CLARIFYING ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR VISIT HARFORD AND THEIR $180,000 PAYROLL. 90 OF THAT IS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VISIT HARTFORD. THE REMAINING AMOUNT IS FOR THE OTHER TWO STAFF PEOPLE NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VISIT HARTFORD WAS MAKING ABOUT 88 OR 80 IN THE EIGHTIES, BUT HIS BENEFIT PACKAGE TOOK HIM OVER OVER THAT AMOUNT FOR WHAT HIS PENSION WAS AND HEALTH CARE. AND I KNOW MR GUTHRIE HAD MENTIONED THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR THE NONPROFITS, BUT THREE EMPLOYEES TOTAL PAYROLL 180,000 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEVER LOOKING TO HIRE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOW AT 90,000, SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR JANITOR, DAN. ANYONE ELSE? YES MR GUTHRIE, UM, TO SEE TONY BROUGHT IT UP. I'VE GOT THEIR 990 REPORT RIGHT HERE. OKAY, GOT FROM THE ORDER. AND, UM IN 2020. THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO UH, THAT ORGANIZATION. HMM FROM THE HOTEL TAX WAS 782,403. OUT OF $782 AT SOME $182 EXCUSE ME,
[00:35:05]
782,403. 191,000. WAS PAID FOR SALARIES. NOW IF YOU'VE GOT A COMPANY IN THE BUSINESS, AND YOU'RE UM, THE TOTAL YOU TOOK YOU TAKE IN NOT TOTAL YOU CLEAR. BUT YOUR TOTAL. UM IS 782,000.WOULD YOU HIRE ANYBODY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY $200,000 TO WORK AND PAY AND TAKE CARE OF 782,000? WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A THING FOR IT? YOU DON'T RAISE IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND, UH, GET DONATIONS. IT'S COMING TO YOU RIGHT FROM THE HOTEL TAX. YOU GET THE MONEY.
YOUR ONLY JOB IS TO DISTRIBUTE IT. TO FIND OUT NEEDY PEOPLE AROUND THAT, UH, THAT. YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS MONEY TO THAT'S IT, AND FOR THAT WE PAID ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION I HAVE FROM FROM THE AUDITOR, OK? UM. SHE SAYS THE COUNTY DOESN'T PAY THEM VISIT OFFERED IS NOT A PART OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE HOW MUCH ANY OF THEM RECEIVED FROM VISIT HARFORD, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. MOST BOARD MEMBERS AND SMALL NOT FOR PROFIT DON'T GET PAID, AND I ASSUME MOST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS , UH, OUR BOARD MEMBERS RATHER THAN EMPLOYEES, ACCORDING TO THEIR FISCAL 2021 990 FILING, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GREG IS OTTO WAS PAID 106,661. NONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS REPORTED THE W TWO BUT 1099 COMPENSATION SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 100 AND 197,001 PAID TO SEVERAL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND I FIGURED THAT GOT SPLIT BETWEEN FOUR MEMBERS SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. AND IF WE THINK THAT'S UH THAT'S . THEY NEED TO BE AUDITED. WHO WE'RE GIVING THIS MONEY TO BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN AUDITED. WE ONLY AUDIT THAT THE HOTELS UM AND WHICH, OF COURSE, THE HOTELS ARE UPSET OVER THAT, BECAUSE, UM, THEY GET PRESSURED, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT ADMINISTRATION WORK. THEY GET NOTHING FOR IT. THEY CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING ELSE 6% TAX THAT THEY CHARGE THE PEOPLE STAYING AT THE HOTEL, BUT THEY GOT TO DO ALL THE WORK TO GET IT TO RAISE IT AND SEND THAT MONEY IN AND IF THEY DON'T SEND IN ALL THE TIME, YOU BASIS, THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE FINE, 10.
THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. ANYONE ELSE? UM MISS DIXON. MR PRESIDENT, MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN MR. JAN GIORDANO, MR RILEY SADDLES, MR BENNETT. THEY'RE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THE AMENDMENT FIVE TO BUILD 23 DASH THERE 34 IS APPROVED. NUMBER SIX, PLEASE COUNCIL PRESIDENT MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO BUILD 23 DASH YEAR OR 34. MAY HAVE A 2ND 2ND. THANK YOU. MR PENMAN HAS BEEN MOVING SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO BUILD 23 DASH YEAR 34. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEN ON MS DICKSON. MR. PRESIDENT MR. GUTHRIE. MR PENMAN, MR JAN GIORDANO. MR RILEY. MRS BULL SADDLES, MR BENNETT BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX TO BUILD 23 DESKS. 0 34 IS HEREBY APPROVED. NUMBER 11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS BILL 23 DEATHS 0 36 HUMAN RELATIONS
[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP MAY HAVE EMOTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVED TO APPROVE BILL 23-0 36 2ND 2ND. THANK YOU, MR RILEY. IT'S MOVING SECONDED TO APPROVE BILL 23-0 36 IS RAIN DISCUSSION.SEEING NON. MS DICKSON. MR. PRESIDENT MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN, DANNO. MR RILEY SADDLES, MR BENNETT. BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE BILL 23 DESKS, 0 36 IS HEREBY APPROVED. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 12 ENROLLMENT OF BILLS BILL 23-0 36 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. MEMBERSHIP IS CERTIFIED AS BEING THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED. 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 14 NEW BUSINESS. WE HAVE NEITHER. 17 COMMENTS FROM INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS, MISS DIXON THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS THIS EVENING, MR PRESIDENT. 16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
[00:40:06]
UM MR BENNETT. HELLO GOOD EVENING TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. UM, FIRST REAL QUICK. I JUST WANT TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES OUT TO THE LEWIS FAMILY. I KNOW THEY WERE HAVING A VIGIL TONIGHT OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE. UH SO JUST SENDING A SUPPORT THEIR WAY. UM AND LASTLY, IT'S VERY QUICK NIGHT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS HOSTING AN IN PERSON BUDGET TOWN HALL ON JANUARY 23RD AT 6 P.M. AT THE DARLINGTON HALL AT HARVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT SIX PM ON JANUARY 23RD. SO THREE WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, I JUST REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO BE THERE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR DISTRICT, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING THAT YOU SEE THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. WE PUT, UM YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, ONCE A YEAR TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND SAY WHAT YOU SEE THAT OUR NEEDS I'M DEFINITELY GONNA, UH, BE THERE TO LISTEN IN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING FOR, SO I CAN BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR ASKS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE COME OUT TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS BECAUSE BY THE TIME THE BUDGET GETS TO US, IT BECOMES A LOT MORE COMPLICATED AND A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE FIXES . SO SPEAKING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN HIS STAFF, NOW IS MORE PROACTIVE WAY TO GET THE CHANGES YOU WANT IN THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD, SO PLEASE COME OUT JANUARY 23RD 6 P.M. OKAY? TO DARLINGTON HALL AT HARVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT. MISS IDOLS. GOOD EVENING. HAPPY NEW YEAR. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. UM LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST YEAR, ONE OF OUR MAJOR ISSUES HAS CENTERED AROUND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING QUESTIONS , AND I HAVE BEEN CLEAR ON MY PRIORITY OF MAINTAINING PROPERTY RIGHTS AND FOLLOWING ZONING LAWS AS THEY EXIST TODAY, THE COUNTY MASTER PLAN HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN QUITE SOME TIME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL. AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS WITH INPUT FROM CITIZENS AS WELL AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THIS AND HAVE A GREAT UPDATED PLAN AND BRING CLARITY AND CONSENSUS AROUND FUTURE PLANS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISSILES, MR RILEY. YES I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SPECIAL REQUEST THAT EVERY REMOVED FROM BILL 23 04. IF YOU WOULD DO THAT, MY LIFE, I APPRECIATE IT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR RYDER. MR. JANITOR DONNA , I WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CONGRATULATIONS TO DR HILL AND KEVIN EWING JR ON THE OPENING OF THEIR NEW PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO HARTFORD HAVENS STUDIO RIGHT HERE IN BEL AIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR CHANDLER. DINNER, MR PENMAN. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. I DO WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT JUSTICE AND TRANSPARENCY WILL PREVAIL AND HARVARD COUNTY WITH FLOURISHED OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AS MY PROMISED OUR OFFICE DISTRICT B WILL REMAIN ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON THE ECONOMIC AGENDA. REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AS A COUNTY NOW AND LOOKING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. UM AS SUCH, MY OFFICE, UH, HAS PRODUCED FY 23 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REVIEW AND ECONOMIC AGENDA, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW.
TOMORROW I WANT TO THANK MY CITY, UH, BUDGET ADVISOR BROOKS CHIRCHIR IS HERE FOR HIS THOROUGH REPORT. JUST A FEW TAKEAWAYS FROM THE REPORT WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF HARFORD COUNTY BUDGET. ONE OF THE MAIN REVENUE REDUCTIONS WAS ACTUAL PROPERTY TAX FROM THE 5% PROPERTY TAX CREDIT, WHICH WILL BE WIPED OUT BASICALLY BASED OFF THE INCREASED PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS. ALSO ENCOURAGING IS FUN BALANCE IN THE OVERALL HEALTH OF HARFORD COUNTY. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE DECREASED BY 36.4 MILLION VERSUS THE APPROPRIATED FY 23 OF 90.7. MEANING THE BUDGET CRISIS AND THE MASSIVE 90.7 MILLION SHORTFALL DO THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION'S SO CALLED POLITICAL SPENDING TURNED OUT TO BE A FAR CRY FROM THE BUDGET FINANCIAL CLIFF THAT WAS PROMISED GOING FORWARD. WE MUST ASK, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT FINDING GROWTH TO RAISE THOSE REVENUE ESTIMATES FOR FY 25 AS INFLATION SHOWS ONLY SLOW SIGNS OF REDUCTION? EVEN THOUGH THE MARKET IS PRICING IN, UH AND RATE CUTS IN FY 24 AS MY COMPREHENSIVE BUDGET REPORT NOTED BACK INTO JULY OF 23, WE CANNOT JUST CUT OUR WAY OUT OF AN INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT CUTTING AT THE RATE OF INFLATION , UH, KEEPS US FLAT AND DOES NOT PROVIDE REVENUE GROWTH AND LEAD TO STAGNATION AND WILL REQUIRE TAX INCREASES, WHICH I WILL NOT SUPPORT. WE CANNOT SIMPLY JUST JUDGE OF BUDGET SOLELY BY HOW
[00:45:03]
MUCH WE CUT. WE MUST MAINTAIN PRUDENT SPENDING HABITS AND RESTORE A FOCUS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENT. I WILL NOT ALLOW POOR ECONOMIC POLICY TO FORCE TAX AND FEE INCREASES ON TAXPAYERS. THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY TELLING THOSE WHO THEY TALK TO.IF WE DO X, WE MUST RAISE TAXES ON WHY THIS IS NOT STRATEGY OR GROWTH PLAN. THIS IS CONTINUED FEAR BUDGETING WITHOUT LONG. TERM SOLUTION. WHILE FY 23 IS IN THE BOOKS. I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH, AS WE KNOW, IS FAST APPROACHING. ON OTHER EXCITING NEWS WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW YEAR ALSO BRINGS HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CELEBRATION OF THEIR 250TH ANNIVERSARY. IT'S INCREDIBLE TO THINK THAT ON MARCH 22ND 1770 FOR THE FIRST SHERIFF THOMAS MUELLER WAS APPOINTED SINCE THE INAUGURAL YEAR, THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS GROWN TO BECOME THE LARGEST SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
DURING THE NEXT YEAR, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL HAVE SEVERAL WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY, WHICH I'M SURE WILL BE POSTED ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN THE WEBSITE, SO PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT WITH THAT. SO WITHOUT MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. MR PENMAN, MR GUTHRIE. MR GUTHRIE. I ASSUME MR GUTHRIE HAS NO COMMENTS TONIGHT. UM SO AGENDA NUMBER 15 COMMENTS
[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
FROM THE PRESIDENT. UM I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE ADDRESS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS AT 7 P.M. I BELIEVE AND THEN ON A PERSONAL NOTE, GENE AND I WANT TO WISH WISH TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MISS JOYCE CURLIN DUE TO A RECENT PASSING, WE FIRST MET JOYCE, HER HUSBAND HUNTER. BACK IN THE EIGHTIES, WE BECAME VERY GOOD FRIENDS. THEY LIVED IN SEVERNA PARK, BUT LOVED HARFORD COUNTY SO MUCH THAT THEY MOVED TO HARFORD COUNTY AND WHERE THEY LIVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THE CURL AND FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. UM, AND WITH THAT. WE'