[State of the County and Legislative Address on January 11, 2024.]
[00:00:08]
CALLS THE ORDER THIS SPECIAL NON LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE STATE OF COUNTY AND LEGISLATIVE ADDRESS. IF I MAY. MR CASTELLI, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE REAL QUICK, JUST TO THANK OUR DPW WORKERS AND OUR BOC WORKERS DIRECTOR AIRS, MR SHERMAN, UM, FOR THE EFFORTS AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE THROUGHOUT THESE STORMS THAT WE RECEIVE AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANOTHER ONE TOMORROW NIGHT. HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WILL STAY SAFE THROUGH THAT AS WELL. UM THIS EVENING. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DELIVER HIS SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS. HE WILL BE SPEAKING TO US HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND THROUGH LIVE STREAMING ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. VIDEO OF THE ADDRESS WILL ALSO BE ARCHIVED ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AS PART OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION BE HERE BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING THE ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GOVERN THROUGH POLITICAL RHETORIC, SPIN OR EMPTY PROMISES. WE WON'T ASK YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO IMAGINE THAT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OR IMAGINE A BETTER WAY. TALK IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER RESULTS.
[00:05:48]
MHM. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CATHOLIC. COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO MY SECOND ANNUAL STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS. UM I'M HARVARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CASSILLY, AND I'M PLEASED TO ADDRESS THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC ONCE AGAIN BEFORE WE BEGIN. I JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS. SOME THANK YOU'S HERE TO MY DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION, ROB MCCORD. HAVE ALL MY DIRECTORS, DIRECTORS AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS OF STAND UP THAT ARE HERE, PLEASE. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE WANT TO THANK ALL THE ACCOUNTING EMPLOYEES WHO DO SO MUCH TO MAKE OUR SUCCESS POSSIBLE. UM AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE SPECIAL GUESTS THAT ARE HERE. A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO CAME OUT ALL YOU FOLKS HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SPECIALLY THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. UM AND LIKE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT. IF I CAN ASK OUR PUBLIC WORKS, AND, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES EMPLOYEES WHO JUST STAND REAL QUICK WHO ARE WHO ARE HERE? AND THAT'S WHAT I THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, TUESDAY.TUESDAY NIGHT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. UM IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS EVENING AND YOU WATCH WHAT TRANSPIRED AND WATER RISING AT A REALLY ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED RATE AND FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE'RE SURE FOLKS ARE HERE AND DUMP THEM AS WELL. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES BACK IN THAT CORNER FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU APPRECIATE IT. UM IT HAS BEEN MY DISTINCT HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO SERVE AS YOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THIS FIRST YEAR OF MY FIRST TERM, UM, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, UH, HOPEFULLY YOU SAW SOME IN THAT VIDEO, BUT FURTHER IN MY TALK YEAR, WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO REDIRECT GOVERNMENT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL HERE. WE'VE ASSEMBLED A VERY HIGHLY COMPETENT AND PROFESSIONAL TEAM OF DIRECTORS, DEPUTY DIRECTORS WHO WORK IN VERY HARD EVERY DAY TO PROVIDING OUR CITIZENS WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE, THEIR INTEGRITY AND SELFLESS COMMITMENT OR BEYOND QUESTION. WE'RE BUSY BREAKING DOWN BUREAUCRATIC SILOS AND OPERATING AS ONE TEAM. TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT CONFRONT EVERY PART OF OUR COUNTY. WE HOLD BI WEEKLY DIRECTORS MEETINGS WHERE EACH DIRECTOR BRIEFS THE OTHERS ON KEY INITIATIVES AND EVENTS, SO THAT EVERY PART OF OUR GOVERNING TEAM FULLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING WHERE WE'RE GOING WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGED THEIR COLLEAGUES, ACTIVITIES AND COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE IS AND EXPERIENCE WILL BENEFIT OF ALL.
WE WORK AS PART OF REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE COLLABORATIVE NEED REGULARLY WITH LEADERS IN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT AND WITH MY FELLOW COUNTY EXECUTIVES THROUGHOUT MARYLAND TO SHARE IDEAS FIND SOLUTIONS. MY DEPUTY DIRECTORS ARE MY DIRECT. MY DEPARTMENT ARE IN MY DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE ALSO LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN ADDRESSING MUTUAL CONCERNS. UH OUR QUARTERLY VIDEOCONFERENCES WITH STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, UH AND THE THREE MISSING PALETTE, EASE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. AND THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW AND ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. FOR EXAMPLE, AT OUR REQUEST STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY RECALIBRATED THE TIMING ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON ROUTE 24 FROM I 95 INTO ROUTE ONE TO HELP KEEP TRAFFIC MOVING ALONG THIS THIS CRITICALLY AND HEAVILY TRAVELED CARTER. MAKING OUR CITIZENS AND ACTIVE AND INFORMED PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES TO THIS END. I'M OUT IN THE COUNTY EVERY DAY LISTENING AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN DOING A MONTHLY CALL IN SHOW ON HARFORD TV. THANK YOU, ALL, UM AND SENDING OUT MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS
[00:10:03]
ON ON ALL ASPECTS OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE RESURRECTED MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING REAL DISCUSSION INPUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ON IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND MY DIRECTORS PARTICIPATE FREQUENTLY IN THE SESSIONS TO ANSWER CITIZENS QUESTIONS. SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEER CHAIRPERSONS FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARDS ARE HERE TO ADJUST TONIGHT AND I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. PUBLIC SAFETY. AS I SAID WHEN I WAS FIRST, UH, SPOKE TO THE PUBLIC AFTER ELECTION REMAINS MY TOP PRIORITY. OUR POLICE AND E M S PERSONNEL WILL ONCE AGAIN BE THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OVER THE PAST 10 MONTHS, MY ADMINISTRATION RESPONDED VERY EFFECTIVELY TO A CRISIS. WITH OUR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICES. MOST OF YOU IN THE ROOM ALREADY KNOW THAT JUST ABOUT A MONTH INTO THIS ADMINISTRATION ARE VOLUNTEERS INFORMED ME THAT OUR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE COULD NOT CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AS OUR PRIMARY AMBULANCE SERVICE AND THAT THEIR DUTIES NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OVER BY THE COUNTY. AND IN VERY SHORT ORDER, MY VERY CAPABLE GOVERNING TEAM HERE RECRUITED AND HIRED FULL TIME E.M S PERSONALS PERSONNEL. PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, CREATIVE WORKSTATIONS AND BUNK ROOMS AND FOR 14 NEW FULL TIME AMBULANCE CREWS THAT ARE NOW STATIONED THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY. WE ALSO ADDRESS SERIOUS CHALLENGES WITH OUR 911 SYSTEM AND OUR OVERALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BEFORE WE LEAVE THE SUBJECT OF A VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AT THIS TIME TO THANK ALL OF HER M S VOLUNTEERS THROUGH OVER THE YEARS HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS WHEN THEY ARE IN MOST NEED. THESE THESE SELFLESS VOLUNTEERS LEFT HOME AND FAMILY. TIME AND AGAIN TO ANSWER THE CALLS THAT CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. DURING HOLIDAY EVENTS, EVENINGS WEEKENDS WHENEVER THE CALL CAME, AND I JUST LIKE ALL OF THEM TO STAND UP, IF YOU CAN. WE GOT SOME OF YOU FOLKS IN HERE NOW AND JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. AND ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS FOR AN AMAZING 45 YEARS. WHO WAS HERE THIS EVENING WITH US IS DADDY ARNOLD, DADDY. JUST RAISE YOUR HAND FOR EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW YOUR STAND UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DARLING. THAT THANKS. YEAH. CONTINUE HEALTH PROBLEMS. DADDY SERVED AS THE HARFORD COUNTY VOLUNTEER FIRE D. M S FOUNDATION SINCE ITS CREATION IN 2005 OF THE FOUNDATION WAS INTENDED AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR ALL VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE AND THE SERVICE WE HAVE TODAY. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A MUCH LONGER ENDURING BRIDGE THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY INTENDED. UH BUT DADDY KEPT THAT BRIDGE OPEN AND UNDER RIPPED UNINTERRUPTED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CURRENT TRANSACTION TRANSITION. DADDY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF HARVARD COUNTY. THANK YOU. AND THANKS TO ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR A JOB, SO WELL DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE REMAINS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE REALLY CAN'T DO ENOUGH TO PRAISE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DEDICATION OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINE. UH WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS. THIS YEAR, WE COMPLETED IMPROVEMENTS TO FIRE STATIONS AND ADDINGTON, FALLSTON, HAVERTY GRACE JARRETTSVILLE JOPPA LEVEL NORRISVILLE PERRIMAN, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR PLANS TO CONSTRUCT NEW STATIONS IN BELCAMP AND WHITE FURRED. UH, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, UH, BOTH IN MY GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FIRE SERVICE, THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO GET THE JOB DONE. UH AND THESE EFFORTS ARE GREATLY ENHANCED BY THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. WORKGROUP AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE TONIGHT. THIS IS A GROUP THAT THAT THAT MEETS MONTHLY TO IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. UH WITH THE BRUTAL MURDER OF RACIAL MORIN ON THE MOM. PART TRAIL REALLY COMPROMISED OR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN OUR BELOVED REAL AND SHORTLY AFTER HER BODY WAS DISCOVERED ALONG THE TRAIL BY ADMINISTRATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY WORKGROUP BEGAN EVALUATING OPTIONS TO USE CAMERAS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO ENHANCE SECURITY ALONG THE TRAIL. UH THERE ARE A LOT OF LOGISTICAL HURDLES FROM POWER PLACEMENT AND SUPPLIED PLACEMENTS. BUT THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF OUR COUNTY STAFF AND CONTRACTORS AND BG AND SOME OTHERS, UH, WE EXPECT TO HAVE THESE THESE CAMERAS UP AND RUNNING AT THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, AND IT WILL BE A MOST WELCOME ADDITION TO OUR SECURITY. I WANT TO THANK
[00:15:07]
EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THAT. AND THESE THESE THESE CAMERAS ARE REALLY GOING TO PROVIDE US WHAT WE HOPE A DEGREE OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE TO RESTORE FOLKS FAITH IN OUR IN OUR BELOVED TRAIL. IN ADDITION TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE WORKING IN MANY OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, UH, ONE BEHIND THE EXAMS. ONE BEHIND THE SCENES EXAMPLE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING TEENS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING, WHICH WHICH PRODUCED AWARD WINNING TAP WATER, UM, FROM OUR ADDINGTON IMPAIRMENT TREATMENT PLANS. UH ONE OF THOSE SMALL WINS THAT YOU TASTE EVERY TIME YOU YOU PUT YOUR GLASS UNDER THERE. A MORE VISIBLE EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE WORK THAT OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT PAUL'S HERE, UH FOR PARKS AND REC THAT THAT THEY'RE DOING AND EXPANDING OUR COUNTY'S PARK SYSTEM. I LOOK FORWARD WITH GREAT EXCITEMENT TO CUTTING THE RIBBON ON ADDITIONAL ACRES THAT WE RECENTLY ACQUIRED ON THE BEAUTIFUL POKING HIM. PENINSULA BETWEEN THAT'S LOCATED BETWEEN HAVING GRACE AND ABERDEEN. UH THIS COUNTY JAM NOW CONSISTS OVER 1200 ACRES, COUNTY OWNED ACRES WITH MORE THAN TWO MILES OF WATERFRONT AND WE'RE STILL IN THE IN THE PLANNING STAGES, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS PART COMPLEX HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SYSTEM OF WATERFRONT TRAILS AND OTHER USES. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS COMPLEX, A CROWN JEWEL IN THE MID ATLANTIC REGION, NOT JUST FOR HARFORD COUNTY, BUT FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND. IN ADDITION, I'M PROUD THAT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD LAND TRUST AND THE MARYLAND PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED 129 ACRES OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND THAT HAD BEEN SLATED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 232 HOME SITES IN JOPPATOWNE, AND THAT WILL NOW BECOME A LOCAL PARK. UH, THIS YEAR WE. THIS YEAR. WE ALSO ADDED MORE THAN 2000 NEW ACRES TO OUR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION. UH STOCK. HAVING WORKED WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU ON THE NEAR FUTURE LEGISLATION, WHICH WE'VE ACTUALLY PRESENTED BECAUSE OF DELAY IN THIS, THE COUNCIL'S GOT IT AND I AM CONFIDENT MOVING FORWARD SOON. UH LEGISLATION UPDATE OUR AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION PROCESS. AND THIS WILL ALLOW GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTER GOAL OF PRESERVING VALUABLE I'M SORRY, VIABLE FARMLAND. WE'RE ALSO ENGAGED IN PLANNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW RECREATION CENTERS IN ABERDEEN. ABERDEEN AND. JUMPING DOWN, OKAY? DON'T FORGET ME IN EDGEWOOD. WE'RE BUILDING A COMMUNITY PARK ANOTHER AVENUE AND THE PARK WILL HAVE WALKING TRAILS AND OPEN FIELDS FOR GATHERING. IT'S THE PLATE THAT HAS A PLAYGROUND WITH THE MILITARY THEME TO HONOR THE HISTORIC USE OF THAT PROPERTY AS A SITE DURING THE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDGEWOOD ARSENAL SECTION OF ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. UH, REGARDING OVERALL LAND USE THIS YEAR WILL BE UNDERTAKING A COUNTYWIDE ZONING REVIEW PROCESS AND I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURING FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THIS PROCESS WILL BE A VERY OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT WILL KEEP THE CITIZENS FULLY INFORMED AT ALL TIMES. AS THE FIRST COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO IS ALSO A VETERAN.I APPOINTED OUR FIRST EVER FULL TIME VETERANS COORDINATOR WHO WAS AVAILABLE 24 7 TO HELP OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY. I ALSO APPOINTED A VERY ACTIVE VETERANS COMMISSION, AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE HELD VERY SUCCESSFUL VETERANS FORMS IN OUR COUNTY. THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO THE AMERICAN LEGIONS OF THE FWS. AND THEY CREATED NEW WEB PAGES, INCLUDING A CALENDAR OF VETERANS EVENTS COUNTYWIDE, OUR VETERANS CRISIS INTERCEPT TEAM HELPS CONFRONT THE EPIDEMIC OF VETERAN SUICIDES AND HAS BECOME A MODEL WITHIN THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF THANK ME FOR SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF BOB BROWN HIS EFFORTS TO DO THAT. UM UH, THE WERE VERY DETERMINED TO HELP EVERY VETERAN THAT WE CAN, UH, BOB BROWN OR COORDINATOR RECENTLY GOT A CALL FROM AN ARMY VETERAN, A COMBAT VETERAN WHO HAD BEEN TRYING FOR FIVE YEARS TO GET THE BENEFITS TO WHICH HE IS ENTITLED, AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS CALLING THE COUNTY AS A LAST RESORT. UM BOB WAS ABLE TO JUMP INTO ACTION. AND WITHIN A MONTH OF THE VETERAN, HAVING CONTACTED US, HE RECEIVED A WELL DESERVED CHECK OF $45,000 BACK BENEFITS. MOVING FORWARD. I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT HARFORD COUNTY WILL HOST A VIA CLAIMS CLINIC ON AUGUST 14TH IN EDGEWOOD. UH THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MEET DIRECTLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES TO FILE OR FOLLOW UP ON EXISTING CLAIMS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE. I TASKED MY DIRECTORS AND THEIR DEPUTIES WITH DEVELOPING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE ROUTE.
[00:20:03]
40 COMMUNITIES, UH, AWARE THAT THE RESIDENTS AND THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE WEARY OF DECADES OF ENDLESS TALK AND LITTLE ACTION. MY DIRECTION WAS TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS. FOR WHICH MY ADMINISTRATION WILL STAND ACCOUNTABLE. WE USE A RIGOROUS, DATA DRIVEN APPROACH TO ANALYZE THE REGION AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE DEVELOPED 60 SPECIFIC ACTION ITEMS SPREAD ACROSS EACH OF MY DEPARTMENT'S TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WE MEET MONTHLY TO CHART OUR PROGRESS ON EACH OF THOSE ACTION ITEMS, AND JUST LAST MONTH WE PUBLISHED OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY APPRISED OF OUR PROGRESS. UM THIS EFFORT IS DIRECTED NOT ONLY MY HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOLKS HERE BUT ALSO STRIVES TO LEVERAGE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY, LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND THIS SPRING WE PLAN TO PRESENT THIS COUNCIL WITH PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF RENTAL HOUSING AND ADDRESS OTHER CHALLENGES ALONG THE ROUTE. 40 CORRIDOR. UH ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRONT, MY ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING HARD TO UNLEASH THE AWESOME POWER OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR. GIVEN OUR LOCATION ON THE I 95 CARTER. PROXIMITY TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND ARE EXCELLENT WORKFORCE ARE STRONG SCHOOLS AND OUR STRONG COMMUNITIES WERE WELL POSITIONED TO ENHANCE OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS. IN AN EFFORT TO MAXIMIZE THE FULL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND HARFORD'S PRIVATE DEFENSE SECTOR IS RECEIVING UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT FROM MY ADMINISTRATION. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM INCLUDES THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL OFFENSE COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATION AND THE FORMER DEPUTY, THE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, SENIOR COMMANDER. FACILITATE FURTHER CORROBORATION. WE ACTUALLY OPENED AN OFFICE ON ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH A DOZEN OF A VERY WELL ESTABLISHED LEADERS OF OUR DEFENSE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY TO DISCUSS THEIR UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AND TO FURTHER EXPAND THE STABLE OF WELL PAYING DEFENSE RELATED JOBS. JUST LAST MONTH, I TOURED A $30 MILLION FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVEN GROUND CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL SUPPORT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES WITH BOTH DEFENSE AND CIVILIAN APPLICATIONS. AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO SEE WITH THAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE FROM MY ADMINISTRATION. HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS ALREADY WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR BEING PROVING GROUND TO TAILOR THE ACADEMIC MAJORS TO FILL THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE THAT WILL BE NECESSARY SUPPORT THE THIS NEW A PG CAPABILITY AND THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALREADY HAS INTERNS WORKING AND AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND IN THE EDGEWOOD SIDE WHO WILL MOVE INTO THIS NEW NEW FACILITY? UH THIS FALL, WE SPONSORED THE DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY FAIR JOBS FAIR THAT HOSTED MORE THAN 225 CANDIDATES. FOR 37 DEFENSE CONTRACTORS, AND WE ALSO HELD NETWORKING EVENTS FOR SMALL DEFENSE AND TECH COMPANIES SO THEY CAN MEET WITH A LARGE PRIME CONTRACTORS AND IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION. IN NOVEMBER, HARFORD COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CAROL AND FREDERICK COUNTIES, WAS AWARDED A TOTAL OF $275,000 100,000 OF WHICH IS FOR HARFORD COUNTY TO EVALUATE OUR REGION'S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO SPARK INNOVATION IN OUR COUNTY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEUR, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. CONCLUSION OF THIS INITIAL EFFORT ARE TRI COUNTY PARTNERSHIP TENDS TO FURTHER PURSUE OR PURSUE OTHER FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. IN RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT OF 2022, THE BALTIMORE ECONOMIC REGION, OF WHICH HARFORD COUNTY IS A IS A PART WAS DESIGNATED BY THE U. S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AS ONE OF 31 NATIONAL TECH HUBS, OR HARFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE PREPARATION OF THE REGIONAL SHIPS APPLICATION. AND EACH OF THESE TECH HUBS IS NOW COMPETING FOR BETWEEN 40 $70 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO FINANCING. WE WERE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF RESURRECTING THE COUNTY'S DORMANT BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM, AND THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO ACCESS LOANS TO PURCHASE LAND BUILDINGS, TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, NEW EQUIPMENT AND MORE, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THESE LOANS WILL ALLOW US TO SPARK ADDITIONAL BUSINESS GROWTH AND EXPAND OUR TAX BASE. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS ALSO BEEN BUSY SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH DIRECT BUSINESS OUTREACH OVER 250 BUSINESSES THIS YEAR ALONE DURING ONE OF THOSE OUTREACH MEETINGS, WE LEARNED THAT A LOCAL HIGH TECH FIRM WAS UNABLE TO HAVE BEEN ON ME UNABLE TO EXPAND JOBS, AND, UH AND PHYSICAL SPACE DUE TO CASH FLOW PROBLEMS, AND MY TEAM WAS ABLE TO CORRAL THEM IN AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF STATE GRANTS FOR WHICH THEY HAVE SINCE APPLIED AND IF THIS IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, THEY WILL RESULT IN 56 NEW HIGH TECH JOBS WITH MORE[00:25:03]
THAN $1 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT. THIS FALL, WE CELEBRATE EDITION OF 61 NEW FORMS TO OUR LEGACY FARMS PROGRAM, WHICH HONORS FARMS THAT HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS CONTINUALLY IN HARTFORD COUNTY. UNDER THE SAME FAMILY OWNERSHIP FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS. OUR OUR FARMERS ARE NOW SERVED BY FULL TIME AGRICULTURAL ADVISER WHO TRAVELS DAILY THROUGHOUT HER FARMING COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR FARMERS TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS. SHE COMMUNICATES DIRECTLY UP TO MY LEVEL. IF SHE'S IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, WE DEAL WITH IT. OR ENERGIZED AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY BOARD IS ACTIVELY ADDRESSING THE MANY CHALLENGES ARE FARMERS FACE AND REMAINING COMPETITIVE. THE BOARD'S PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOCAL MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY. AGRITOURISM SIGNAGE AND BETTER ENGAGEMENTS WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OTHER PARTNERS. WE'RE ALSO EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES ROLE PAYING JOBS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE TALENTS MANY TALENTS OVER WORKFORCE. AND THANKS TO THIS COUNCIL SUPPORT, WE'VE REVERSED THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO ALLOW VALUABLE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ALONG I 95 TO BE FILLED WITH MEGA DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. THAT OFFER A FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR WELL PAYING JOBS AND CAREERS, AND NOW WE'RE WORKING HARD TO RECRUIT THE HIGH TECH BUSINESSES MANUFACTURING THAT ARE SUITABLE TO THOSE LOCATIONS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. UH AS REALLY TAKEN ON A WHOLE NEW MEETING AND ENERGY IN THIS COUNTY AND BEYOND. AND AS WE PARTNER WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COLLEGE AND BUSINESSES TO PURSUE LUCRATIVE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES, AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE BETTER ALIGNING THEIR CURRICULUM WITH THE WORKFORCE DEMANDS AND I WANT TO THANK THE COLLECT FOR THE IMMENSE COLLABORATION WE'VE GOT IN THIS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA. I WANT TO THANK DR TERESA FELDER. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT BOLSON AND I, IT'S THE PRESENCE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS HERE AS WELL. UM I WANT THE A B G SENIOR COMMANDER MAJOR GENERAL EDMONDSON, UPPER CHESAPEAKE MEDICAL CENTER DIRECTOR ELIZABETH WEISE IS WITH US HERE THIS EVENING. ALL FOR PARTNERING WITH US WITH THIS ENDEAVOR. AND THANKS TO EACH OF YOU WERE ABLE TO BE HERE THIS THIS EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT OF YOUR SUPPORTERS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD EAGERLY TO HARVARD COMMAND COMMUNITY COLLEGES, DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. AND SIMILAR EFFORTS, WHICH I KNOW WILL BE FORTHCOMING BY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE FOR ECONOMIC SUCCESS WE ARE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING ARE SMALL AND MINORITY BUSINESSES. LAST SPRING, WE MET WITH A GROUP OF OUR MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS TO DETERMINE THE REASONS WHY THEY JUST RARELY SUBMIT FORBIDS ON OUR COUNTY PROJECTS. UM AND WE ALSO REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF A COUNTY STUDY A MINORITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COUNTY. UH AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT, WE'VE SEPARATED A NUMBER OF OUR VERY LARGE CONTRACTS INTO SMALLER CONTRACTS TO ALLOW SMALLER BUSINESSES TO FAIRLY COMPETE FOR THESE. THESE THESE MANY CONTRACTS. I WANT TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THE UPCOMING BUDGET.UM I HAVE PROMISED REPEATEDLY TO BE A CAREFUL STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY SAVED OVER $10 MILLION ON NECESSARY PURCHASES THROUGH BEST PRACTICES AND NEGOTIATION. AS OUR TAXPAYERS MUST LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS SO MUCH GOVERNMENT LIVE WITHIN THOSE SAME MEANS. AND IT'S SINCERE EFFORT TO ALIGN BUDGET PRIORITIES. MY ADMINISTRATION. I HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OTHERS TO ANALYZE NEEDS AND FUNDING. HOWEVER I FULLY EXPECT THAT ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL FACE VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES TO ALIGN OUR RESOURCES WITH OUR NEED. EDUCATION FUNDING IS OUR PRIORITY, AND IT'S ALREADY REPRESENTS A FULL 48.3% OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. ALL MARYLAND COUNTIES, INCLUDING HARFORD, ARE CURRENTLY FACING TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES OF MEETING INCREASED SPENDING OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED BY THE SO CALLED STATE MANDATED BLUEPRINT FOR EDUCATION, OR KERWIN. UM I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES AND THAT THOSE EFFORTS WILL BENEFIT. THE STRONG WORKING WILL BENEFIT FROM THE STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT MY ADMINISTRATION HAS FORGED WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THESE GENTLEMEN, THE CHOICE BEFORE US IS SIMPLE. HOLD THE LINE ON SPENDING OR INCREASED TAXES. I REQUEST THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IS FOR INTELLECTUAL HONESTY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. I WILL NOT SUPPORT A TAX INCREASE, AND I WILL THEREFORE NOT SUPPORT OVERALL SPENDING INCREASES THAT EXCEED THE RATE OF REVENUE GROWTH, WHICH WE VERY CONFIDENTLY ESTIMATE TO BE AROUND 5. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL DO THE SAME. MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FISCAL 2025 BUDGET PROCESS. WE MUST STEADFASTLY CAN SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY BY PROVIDING OUR DEPUTIES AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WITH
[00:30:02]
COMPETITIVE SALARIES. WE MUST ALSO FUND TEACHERS, SALARIES AND ALL NEW STATE MONEY REQUIREMENTS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HOWEVER IN DOING SO WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO REDUCE SPENDING ON THE REST OF THE COUNTY COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS. MAKING ALL THIS WORK IS GOING TO REQUIRE IMMENSE COOPERATION ALREADY INITIATED. DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE BOARD MEMBERS AND OTHERS. OTHER OUTSIDE AGENCIES IN EFFORT TO LAY OUT THE IMMENSE CHALLENGES THAT WE ALL FACE. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE TO BALANCE OUR CITIZENS NEEDS WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING. I KNOW THAT HARFORD COUNTY IS UP TO THE CHALLENGE. OR ANY CHALLENGE. WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY. YOU HAVE MADE IT THROUGH 2.5 CENTURIES.HARPER COUNTY MUST BE DOING SOME OF MY LIFE, AND I THINK IT'S THIS JUST LIKE A FAMILY. WE MAY DISAGREE FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT WE COME TOGETHER WHEN IT COUNTS. PERSONAL CONNECTIONS ARE ARE SUPER POWER. LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND WE GIVE A HAND UP WHEN IT'S NEEDED. WE CHERISH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. WE SACRIFICED FOR THEM. WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR FUTURE IS BETTER AND BRIGHTER THAN HER OWN. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT HARFORD COUNTY I BELIEVE IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND I KNOW THAT EVEN AFTER 250 YEARS, OUR BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD OF US THESE GENTLEMEN THANK YOU. ALL GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS HARPER COUNTY. THANK YOU.
OKAY. YEAH. JOPPATOWNE'S 330 YEARS OLD. GOOD EVENING. HOW DO YOU FILE THAT? UM GOOD EVENING, CAN EXECUTIVE CASHLEY COUNTY COUNCIL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, STAFF AND CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY AND ATTENDING AND WATCHING US ONLINE WELCOME THIS EVENING. I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HARTFORD COUNTY, A DEDICATED FAMILY MAN, A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR ALL HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS NOT JUST A PUBLIC SERVANT. HE'S A BEACON OF COMMITMENT. INTEGRITY AND PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY. HE SERVES WITH A TRACK RECORD OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF HARFORD COUNTY. HE HAS EARNED THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF MANY. PATRICK VINCENTI HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. HE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES THE ABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND UNITY FOR THE GREATER GOOD. HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN INCLUSIVELY FAIRNESS AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF OUR RESIDENTS GROUPS. I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH PAT. WE COMMUNICATE DAILY. SOMETIMES WE AGREE. SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE AND MEET OFTEN ON VARIOUS ISSUES. WE HAVE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND NEW CHALLENGES. AS WE END OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WITH A NEW COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION AND OUR UPCOMING SECOND BUDGET. I'M CONFIDENT THAT WITH PAT'S EXPERIENCE AND ALL AROUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOVERNMENT PROCESS, HE HAS THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY, THE COUNTY COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON THE UPCOMING BUDGET. AND ANY OTHER ISSUES WILL ENCOUNTER. WE STILL SEE GROWTH IN DEFENSE AND A HIGH TECH SECTOR, ALONG WITH PROGRESS AND INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING AND WELCOME PROGRESS IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO LISTEN AND OFFER SOLUTIONS OR COMPROMISES. THE TRADEMARK OF GOOD LEADER IS TO SEEK THE KNOWLEDGE AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT PATRICK VINCENT. COUNTRY. FOR A MINUTE. I THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE TO. UM THANK YOU, MR VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HARTFORD COUNTY AND TONY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP. I APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD EVENING, MR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MRS. CASTLE E. COUNCIL MEMBERS, DIRECTORS, COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND FELLOW HARFORD COUNTY AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE AND A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU THIS EVENING. WE AS A COUNCIL LOOK FORWARD TO HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP
[00:35:05]
WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING DILIGENTLY DESERVED ALL CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY. WE WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS THIS EVENING. THIS VENUE IS TRULY ONE OF THE FEW, IF NOT THE ONLY SPACE AVAILABLE FOR CITIZENS. TO PUBLICLY EXPRESSED THEIR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO THEIR LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL LEADERS.ONE OF MY DUTIES AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS AFFORDED A RESPECTFUL, SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WHAT IN THESE CHAMBERS? AND REAL QUICK. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK OUR SECURITY TEAM IN THE SYSTEM. THAT'S WITH THAT. THANK YOU. I WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO LEADING THIS COUNCIL WITH INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM. A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MEETING AGENDA EACH NIGHT IS COMMENTS FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS. WE TRULY VALUE YOUR PARTICIPATION AND INPUT. OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE RECEIVED HER. EXCUSE ME. WE REVIEWED AND REVISED THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES CHAPTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY CODE TO MATCH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO A COUNTY CHARTER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF CHARTER GOVERNMENT.
MR CARNEY, OR COUNSEL ATTORNEY HAS ALSO PROVIDED THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE NEEDED CHANGES TO UPDATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCHES CHAPTER OF THE COOP. COUNCIL HAS DUTIFULLY ACTED ON REVISIONS IN THE ZONING CODE AND SUPPORTED MUCH NEEDED ENHANCEMENTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. IN ADDITION TO THESE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS, WE ALSO ADVOCATED FOR MANY OF OUR PARTNERS, SUCH AS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, NONPROFITS, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY DURING THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON SEVERAL ITEMS TO MAINTAIN AND EVEN IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR CITIZENS HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO AND EXPECT.
COUNCIL SERVES AS A FISCAL AUTHORITY TO THE ADMINISTRATION, EXERCISING FINAL APPROVAL OVER THE ANNUAL BUDGET. FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LAND USE AND OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT REMAINS OUR PRIORITIES. AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE IN HARFORD COUNTY IS OUR CITIZENS. AND PARTICULARLY OUR NEXT GENERATION. FOCUSING ON OUR YOUTH. HELPS TO ENSURE THE BRIGHTEST POSSIBLE TOMORROW FOR ALL THIS IS WHY THIS COUNCIL REMAINS COMMITTED TO MAKING FUNDING FOR EDUCATION AND OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. UH, IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE DR BOLSON. DR FELDER PRESIDENT, POINTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WITH US AND ATTENDANCE, EDUCATORS AND OTHERS WITH US THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN. OUR FUTURE. WE KNOW THAT GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE AND ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE. WE EXPERIENCE IN OUR COUNTY. IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE SHERIFF GAYLOR. COLONEL DAVIS.
MEMBERS OF YOUR COMMAND STAFF ARE STATE MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS. DIRECTOR AIRS R. E. M S AND FIRE LEADERSHIP. OUR VOLUNTEERS AND PERSONNEL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNT. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER OUR SUPPORT TO ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS. FUNDING THESE PRIORITIES IS PARAMOUNT TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO EFFECTIVELY MOVE OUR COUNTY FORWARD AND PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. MY COLLEAGUES AND I STAND COMMITTED. TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CREATE NEW HIGHER PAYING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY. WE SUPPORT REVITALIZATION PROJECTS AND PROVIDING ADEQUATE SEWER SERVICES TO OUR LONGSTANDING BUSINESSES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SEPTICS ISSUES AND FAILURE, ALL HELPING TO ENSURE A STRONGER AND HEALTHIER WORKFORCE INTO THE FUTURE. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A BALANCE BETWEEN REVITALIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WHILE PRESERVING OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE IN HARFORD COUNTY. COUNCIL LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING LEGISLATION TO UPDATE THE COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, HELPING TO ENSURE PRESERVATION EFFORTS ALL ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY. MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATUS OF UPDATING HARFORD COUNTY'S MASTER PLAN AND THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PROCESS. WHILE THE STATE OF MARYLAND REQUIRES COUNTIES TO UPDATE THEIR MASTER PLAN EVERY 10 YEARS, THE HARTFORD COUNTY CHARTER MANDATES THE COUNTY REVIEW ITS MASTER LAND USE PLAN
[00:40:03]
EVERY 8 TO 10. FOLLOWED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PROCESS. CURRENT MASTER PLAN. HARFORD NEXT WAS COMPLETED IN 2016 AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE UPDATED UNTIL 2026. AT THE HEART OF OUR PLAN IS THE LAND USE PLAN, WHICH GUIDES DECISION MAKING ON LAND USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, INFORMS, COMPREHENSIVE REZONING PROCESS. THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN INFORMED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED TO FOREGO UPDATING THE MASTER LAND USE PLAN THIS CYCLE.AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO INITIATE A COMPREHENSIVE REZONING CYCLE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF NEW MASTER PLAN. COUNTY COUNCIL'S ROLE IN THIS PROCESS IS TO REVIEW WHICH PROPERTIES MAY RECEIVE A CHANGE IN ZONING CLASSIFICATION BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW BASTARD PLAN. UNDOUBTEDLY ON THE HEELS OF THE COMPLETION OF THE 2024 COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PROCESS. I WOULD BE REMISS IN TALKING ABOUT LAND USE AND ZONING WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THAT A LARGE PART OF OUR COUNTY'S AGRICULTURAL AND ON WELL AND SEPTIC ACTING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION. THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO OUR CITIZENS ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS ARE INVALUABLE. SO WE WANT TO THANK MISS AUSTEN AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR CITIZENS. WE AS A COUNCIL RECOGNIZE THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF ALL CITIZENS. AND WE DID NOT TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY LIGHTLY. I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNICATION AND COMPROMISE IS ALWAYS THE KEYS TO SUCCESS. AND I THANK EACH OF THEM MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THIS IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS. WHILE WE MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE US I APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THE RESEARCH WHILE ADVOCATING EFFECTIVELY FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR DISTRICTS AND THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. IN CLOSING MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I THANK THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY FOR PLACING THEIR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN US TO REPRESENT THEM AND LEGISLATE ON HER BEHALF. THIS TASK WOULD BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT WITHOUT OUR COUNCIL STAFF. LEGISLATIVE AIDES , ADMINISTRATORS, LEGAL COUNSEL AND AUDIT STAFF WE THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY. AND I WANT TO OFFER MY SPECIAL THANKS AND SINCERE APPRECIATION TO MS DICKSON AND MR CARNEY. MY LEGISLATIVE AIDES, MISS HARRIS, MISS LINZ AND MISS SAP. TO MY BUDGET ADVISOR, MR ON DISH FOR THE SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO ME MY OFFICE THIS COUNCIL IN THE COUNTY JEANNIE IS ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AT HOME AND IN OUR BUSINESS WITHOUT THIS OR YOU COULDN'T SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY. THEY CONTINUED HEALTH SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF HARFORD COUNTY'S IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF THIS COUNCIL. HARFORD COUNTY TRULY IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS HIS GREAT COUNTY.
YEAH, THANK YOU. 12 YEAH. COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS. BREAKDOWN. KEVIN SO I THINK THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS SPECIAL NOT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MR CARNEY ADVISED ME NOT TO ASK IF WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS READY TO SPEAK. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT . THANK YOU, MR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR, UH YOUR ROLE HERE IN THE COUNTY AND ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.