* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.
          GOOD 
          [00:00:01]
EVENING, CHAIR CALLS 
          [1. CALL TO ORDER]
TO ORDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 24 DASH 0 1 7. 
          I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US IN STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCIL MEMBER J ANO. 
          I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT SUSTAINS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, AND NEVER BE JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GATHER HERE TODAY WITH A SHARED PURPOSE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND INTEGRITY. 
          GRANT US THE CLARITY TO SEE THE NEEDS OF THOSE WE REPRESENT THE COURAGE TO MAKE JUST DECISIONS AND THE HUMILITY TO LISTEN TO DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES. 
          MAY OUR DELIBERATIONS BE GUIDED BY RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD. 
          HELP US WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND TO LEAD WITH OPEN HEARTS AND MINDS. 
          LET US REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY, PROTECT OUR EMS, FIRE, POLICE, AND MILITARY. 
          THEIR BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT INSPIRE US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH DEDICATION AND INTEGRITY. 
          AMEN. 
          AMEN. 
          AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATIONS. 
          WE HAVE NONE. 
          FIVE 
          [5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND NOMINATIONS. 
          UM, EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT CHAIRPERSON FOR HARTFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR. BENNETT, MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF KRISTEN KLEIN AS CHAIRPERSON TO THE HARTFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 
          I HAVE A SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          THANK YOU, MR. ANO. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE, UH, THE NEW APPOINTMENT FOR KRISTEN KLEIN. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO? AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. BOLS? AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT? AYE. 
          THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE. 
          THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. 
          SIX SPECIAL 
          [6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
PRESENTATIONS FISCAL YEAR 25 CITIZEN. 
          BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD REPORT, MR. ISH? MR. TIBS? I GOT A FEW FRIENDS WITH YOU, MR. SHIRT ARE, THAT'S THE THREE OF US THAT ARE HERE. 
          GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, YEP. 
          UH, JUST WANTED TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITIZENS BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD THIS YEAR. 
          THREE OF US ARE IN ATTENDANCE HERE THIS EVENING, UM, WHICH IS MYSELF, ANDREW ISH. 
          WE HAVE BROOKE SHIRT, SIR, AND MR. BOB TBS. 
          AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE GLORIA MOON, ERIC BERT, BRAD STOVER. 
          AND WE WERE EXCITED TO, UH, WELCOME KEVIN MCKINNEY THIS YEAR, WHO WAS A PHENOMENAL MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. 
          UM, A A BIPARTISAN TEAM. 
          I WOULD, WOULD THINK THIS YEAR, THE WAY THAT THIS COUNCIL SET UP, WHICH WAS VERY, UM, IT WAS GOOD. 
          IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THE PERSPECTIVE OF EVERYONE. 
          IT WAS GOOD TO GO THROUGH THAT, UM, PROCESS, THE HEARINGS, HEARING CONCERN, KIND OF EVERYWHERE. 
          SO I I WE'RE GONNA DO THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR AND, UM, JUST KIND OF HAVE, UH, A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE AND THEN JUST KIND OF GO INTO WHERE WE TRULY SEE THIS GOING IN THE FUTURE, UM, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF DIALOGUE. 
          SO, UM, GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENT AND MEMBERS OF THE HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. 
          WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED THE CITIZENS BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. 
          WE FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY TO KNOW WE ARE A BOARD CONSISTING OF MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WITH ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTY BUDGETING PROCESS. 
          OUR MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCED IN AGRICULTURE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESS EDUCATION, LEGAL AND FINANCE. 
          THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET BROUGHT A FISCAL CHALLENGE DESCRIBED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WHERE REVENUE, PROJE REVENUE PROJECTION PERCENTAGES WERE REDUCED. 
          THE COUNTY IS SAID TO BE BRACING FOR A DECREASE IN REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN PROJECTED BY THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY REPORT. 
          THE COUNTY HAS, UH, NO CHANGE IN TAX RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. 
          UH, WE LISTENED TO FOUR DAYS OF TESTIMONY FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS MET IN PRIVATE TO DISCUSS VARIOUS MATTERS RELATING TO THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. 
          DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE CREATED THIS LIST THAT WE NOW PRESENT TO YOU THIS EVENING THAT WE FELT WAS MORE APPROPRIATE THAN EVER TO DISCUSS THIS LIST WITH YOU, ALONG WITH THE LETTER SENT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DATED MAY 23RD. 
          IT IS OUR HOPE WITH YOU THAT YOU WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OUR ANNOTATIONS AS YOU MOVE ALONG IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS. 
          UM, THE MAJOR CONCERNS OR MAJOR ITEMS THAT WE BROUGHT UP, AND THIS IS, THIS IS VOTED ON BY EVERYBODY THAT WAS AT THAT MEETING, UM, WHICH HAD SIX OF US IN ATTENDANCE THAT EVENING. 
          AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AS WELL, OR WILL BE FILED, UM, BY EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD THAT CHOOSES TO DO SO. 
          BUT THE MAJORITY OF OUR, UM, COMPROMISES CAME AROUND THESE MAJOR BULLET POINTS THAT WE WERE HAPPY TO SEE THE DROP AT COMMUNITY CENTER MOVING FORWARD. 
          AS PROMISED, UH, EMS AND AMBULANCE COSTS ARE MORE THAN ARE BEING LED ON, UH, NO INCREASES FOR THE BOARD 
          [00:05:01]
OF EDUCATION LIBRARY, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FORCING 'EM TO USE THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FUND BALANCE OR CUT COSTS, THE USE OF FUND BALANCES OR WHAT HAPPENS IF ALL THEY'RE USED UP IN THE FUTURE IS A CONCERN OF THIS BOARD. 
          UH, NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ARC AND OTHER TREATMENT FACILITIES THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN LEFT TO PICK UP WHERE THERE'S NOT A FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE. 
          IT'S, IT'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE COUNTING ON RAISES, COUNTING ON, BRINGING ON PEOPLE, BRINGING BACK PEOPLE FROM COVID NOW THAT, UM, ORGANIZATIONS ARE STARTING TO REALLY PICK UP, UM, MORE OF A CASELOAD. 
          UM, NO REAL PLAN IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AFTER BEING ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, UH, NO PLANS PROVIDED TO RAISE REVENUE, ESPECIALLY IF TAX INCREASES ARE OFF THE TABLE. 
          UH, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SECURE AAA BOND RATING? UH, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND EXECUTIVE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. 
          UH, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 5% RAISE ACROSS THE BOARD AND WHAT IS SPOOKING THEM IN THE INCOME TAX REVENUE? AND THAT INCLUDES WHERE THE, WHERE THE PROJECTIONS WOULD BE AT WHEN WE GET THAT MAY DROP. 
          THAT'S SUPPOSED TO EITHER IT'S OUT NOW OR, OR COMING AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 
          UM, UH, THE EXECUTIVE NOT SHOWING UP AND HAVING THESE STATEMENTS, UM, BE READ BY A DIRECTOR OR OF THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, CAPITAL AND, AND NO TRUE CENTRAL PRECINCT OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT THAT WILL COST HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHICH IS NOT SUSTAINABLE TO ANYBODY AS WELL. 
          AND THEN THE AVAMAR SITE PURCHASE FOR A NEW SCHOOL, NOT CURRENTLY IN OUR CIP AT ALL. 
          UM, WE WOULD LOVE TO SIT HERE AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT EACH DEPARTMENT THAT'S GOING UP OR DOWN OR, UM, BUT THAT'S NOT THE YEAR THAT WE HAD THIS YEAR. 
          IT WAS A YEAR THAT WAS FLAT. 
          IT WAS A YEAR THAT WE DID THAT BUDGET, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST. 
          UM, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT, UH, DON'T FEEL AS BEARISH AS I THINK WE FEEL HERE. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 
          AND WE RESPECT THAT DECISION BECAUSE THAT IS WHO WAS ELECTED AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PUT AROUND THEM IS, UM, THE, THE SOLE DECISION OF THE BUDGET RESTS ON THEM. 
          AND AS WE ALL KNOW, WE CANNOT CHANGE REVENUE NUMBERS. 
          IT HAS TO BE CHANGED THROUGH CUTS. 
          UM, AND THEN EVEN WHERE THOSE CUTS COME FROM ARE DETERMINED FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE ALREADY PREDETERMINED AS TO WHERE THEY'D HAVE TO GO AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 
          SO, UM, I'M GONNA OPEN UP AND TO, TO BROOKS TO SEE IF HE WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE HAS. 
          AND THEN, UM, ANY QUESTIONS ON, ON WHAT OUR CONCERNS ARE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AND MR. TS AS WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING AT THIS POINT. 
          NOW, JUST TO ECHO SOME OF THE DISCUSSION, I THINK THE NOTION OF A FLAT BUDGET, UM, AND AS ANDREW SAID, NOT A LOT TO, TO DIGEST. 
          AGAIN, WE'VE ALREADY DIGESTED WELL, MIKE, CLOSER. 
          SORRY. 
          BETTER. 
          YEAH. 
          UM, NOT A LOT TO DIGEST FROM A FLAT BUDGET. 
          OBVIOUSLY WE DID A LOT OF DIGESTING LAST YEAR. 
          THE MAIN CHANGES, OBVIOUSLY BEING EMS, UM, AND I THINK ANDREW TOUCHED ON THAT. 
          THE LONG TERM COST OF THAT I THINK IS UNWRITTEN AT THIS POINT. 
          IT'S HARD TO SAY WHERE THE BOTTOM IS ON THAT. 
          UM, ESPECIALLY THE TESTIMONY GIVING BY THE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, I THINK IS A PRECURSOR TO A POSSIBLE EXPANSION AT SOME POINT. 
          UM, WE PUT IN OUR REPORT THE SUB REPORT THAT'S EASILY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS LINE ITEM IN THE FUTURE. 
          UM, HOW ARE WE GONNA PREPARE? AND AS ANDREW SAID, REVENUE I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE PROJECTED. 
          UM, ALTHOUGH NONE OF US CAN SEE THE FUTURE, SO NO ONE CAN MAKE A GOOD PRODUCTION. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S ANYBODY'S BEST GUESS, AND I THINK WE ALL RESPECT THAT. 
          BUT WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THE ANTI, UH, GROWTH PATH THAT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE ON, AND WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, BE WRONG, UM, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SPENDING MORE TIME WORRYING ABOUT WHAT'S BEING SPENT INSTEAD OF HOW WE'RE GONNA GROW REVENUE. 
          UM, AND THAT TO ME IS A LONG-TERM CONCERN, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH STAGFLATION. 
          AND, UM, MY REPORT FOR DISTRICT B IS CENTERED ON THAT. 
          UM, MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE DO GO INTO THAT RECESSION, WHETHER IT'S THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR, OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, IT WON'T BE LIKE THE RECESSION OF 2008. 
          UH, INFLATION IS NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR. 
          UM, AND IT'LL BE SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN YOU HAD PRICES GOING UP. 
          GAS LINES, UH, UNEMPLOYMENT. 
          YOU'LL BE IN THE WORST POSSIBLE POSITION. 
          YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RAISE REVENUES THROUGH GROWTH. 
          UM, AND THROUGH GROWTH WITH TAXES ONLY MAKES INFLATION WORSE. 
          SO IT BECOMES KIND OF A CIRCULAR SPIRAL BACKWARDS. 
          SO TO BUILD THAT PIPELINE OF REVENUE, I THINK IS A KEY DISCUSSION FOR THE COUNCIL WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION FOR HOW WE ARE GONNA GROW REVENUE OVER TIME. 
          UM, BECAUSE IT WILL NEVER BE CHEAPER IN THE FUTURE TO PAY TEACHERS, DEPUTIES, UH, COUNTY WORKERS. 
          UH, IT WILL NOT GET CHEAPER INTO THE FUTURE. 
          SO TO SAY THAT FISCAL CONSERVATISM IS CUTTING, THAT'S PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, GOOD MANAGEMENT IS KEY, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT REAGANOMICS, LAISSEZ-FAIRE, FREE MARKETS, CAPITALISM, PROPERTY RIGHTS, AND GROWING YOUR 
          [00:10:01]
TAX BASE. 
          SO IF WE, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN TAX INCREASES, WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH REVENUE, JUST LIKE A BUSINESS HAS TO COME UP WITH REVENUE. 
          SO THE MAIN POINT THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THE EMS SYSTEM. 
          WE SPENT BASICALLY $40 MILLION LAST YEAR. 
          WE PROJECTED 22.9, I THINK IS THE RIGHT FIGURE FOR THIS COMING YEAR, JUST FOR OPERATING. 
          IT'S AS A VOLUNTEER FOR 60 YEARS, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO SEE THIS COMING. 
          I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING A BETTER SYSTEM FOR IT. 
          I THINK WE MAY BE GETTING SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE QUICKER, BUT IT'S COSTING A LOT OF MONEY AND WE HAVE NO WAY OF FUNDING IT OTHER THAN THE GENERAL FUND, MAYBE, POSSIBLY DOWN THE WAY ANOTHER NINE 11 TA TAX PUT ONTO IT FOR OUR, UH, UH, JUST FOR THE OPERATING OF THE NINE OF THE, UH, EMS SYSTEM. 
          THAT'S A BIG, BIG PART OF THIS COUNTY'S BUDGET THE WAY I SEE IT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE LOOKED INTO HOW MUCH OVERTIME IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REQUIRED TO, TO FUND THIS, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED. 
          SO THAT'S A BIG CONCERN THAT I HAVE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          I THINK JUST TO, TO SUM UP IS THAT WE, WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES. 
          I THINK THAT THE BILLS THAT WE'RE PUSHING DOWN THE ROAD ARE ADDING UP AND THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO ADD UP. 
          AND THERE HAS TO BE A PLAN. 
          LIKE ANY BUSINESS, LIKE ANY HOUSEHOLD, THERE HAS TO BE A PLAN. 
          AND THAT'S, I THINK WHAT WAS CHALLENGING FOR US THIS YEAR IS TO, TO NOT HEAR WHAT THAT PLAN'S GOING TO BE OUTSIDE OF REVENUE ALREADY BEING THERE, OR PROJECTIONS BEING THERE. 
          AND THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS YEAR, OR I DON'T THINK ANY OF US SITTING HERE, WERE ABLE TO. 
          UM, SO I THINK FOR US, WHEN YOU LOOK AT BLUEPRINT, YOU GOTTA GET EVERY TEACHER TO $60,000 AND YOU HAVE TO GET ALL OF THE MANDATED, UH, UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE GONNA SIT IN FRONT OF US. 
          AND WE, I, I BELIEVE WE HAVE TILL FISCAL YEAR 27 TO GET THAT INTO PLACE BEFORE YOU'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE. 
          AND OUT OF COMPLIANCE MEANS YOU DON'T GET YOUR STATE MONEY. 
          WELL, THEREFORE, EVERYTHING FALLS APART, IT COLLAPSES. 
          SO IT, THAT'S A CONCERN IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY. 
          THAT'S NOT A HARTFORD COUNTY THING. 
          THAT'S, THAT'S EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. 
          SO THE CONCERN FOR US IS IF, IF, IF THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WE'LL BE VOTED ON, THEN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD THAT ENDED THIS BUDGET SESSION NEED TO START NOW FOR THE NEXT ONE. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CAN CHALLENGE EACH ONE OF YOU TO, TO TAKE ON, IS THAT THE WORK REALLY STARTS NOW FOR NEXT YEAR IF THIS IS HOW FAR BEHIND WE ARE. 
          SO WE, WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR ATTENTION THIS EVENING AND, AND THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AS AN HONOR FOR US. 
          THERE IS ONLY SEVEN OF US IN THE COUNTY THAT GET TO HAVE THIS HONOR, AND WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. 
          AND THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT GOES IN BEHIND THE SCENES, US WORKING WITH YOU ALL, UM, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT WE GO BACK AND FORTH AND, YOU KNOW, BROOKS WITH AARON, UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THIS FOR OUR CITIZENS AS WELL AND FOR YOU GUYS. 
          AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE AS CONCERNED ABOUT AS TAX PAYING CITIZENS HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          SO, THANK YOU, ANDREW. 
          LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED ME, MY OFFICE AND THE CITIZENS AS YOU JUST SPOKE TO. 
          UM, IT'S, IT'S TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE TO ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, THE IN INNER WORKINGS OF THE BUDGET AS WE LOOK AT IT TOGETHER. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL RIGHT OUTTA THE GATE BECAUSE WE GET THE, THE BUDGET ON THE 15TH AND WE START OUR WORK SESSIONS A A WEEK LATER, LET'S SAY. 
          SO, UM, THE SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDE US AND LIKE I SAID, IS INVALUABLE. 
          SO, UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD, UH, A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. 
          I'VE MADE HIM AWARE OF THE CONCERNS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, THE INTEREST WHERE MY COLLEAGUES ARE AND I ARE, AS FAR AS ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THAT WE WANNA SEE ADDRESSED. 
          UH, WE DID PUT TOGETHER A LETTER. 
          WE DID SEND IT TO THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          UM, THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIVING THE, THE LETTER. 
          UM, WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION THIS PAST FRIDAY IN THE AFTERNOON, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND I, AND I'M PATIENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM HIM NOW. 
          SO, UM, FROM THERE I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE GO. 
          UM, BUT, UM, MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE READY TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP, WHATEVER THAT IS. 
          UM, AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES, UM, MR. GUTHRIE, WE'LL START RIGHT AT THE END AND COME DOWN. 
          UH, YOUR, YOUR, UH, COMMENTS ON EMS. UH, I BELIEVE IT'S, UH, IT'S WHERE OUR AMBULANCE SERVICES ALSO. 
          AND, AND, UM, AND OF COURSE WHAT, WHAT WE HAD GOING THERE WAS, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, 
          [00:15:01]
AT THE TIME FOR 266,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY, WE HAD 20 AMBULANCE, WHICH I COULDN'T BELIEVE. 
          AND THAT, THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THAT COST WENT TO BUYING OR GETTING 20 MORE AMBULANCE. 
          NOW, THAT'S ONE PROBLEM, BUT THE OTHER PROBLEM IS YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA, UH, HAVE PEOPLE IN THEM, YOU KNOW, QUALIFIED PEOPLE. 
          AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE ALL THAT MONEY WENT. 
          AND , ODDLY ENOUGH, IT THE, UH, CAUGHT MY EYE BECAUSE, UH, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, WHO'S NOW JUST TURNED 98, SHE LIVES WITH US. 
          AND, UH, AT ONE NIGHT WE WERE HAVING DINNER AND SHE HAD A STROKE. 
          AND WHEN WE GOT TO HER, SHE WAS SITTING THERE AT TABLE. 
          WE GOT TO HER, WE CALLED 9 1 1 RIGHT AWAY, AND THEY SENT THE PARAMEDICS RIGHT AWAY AND GOT, GOT HER AT LEAST SETTLED DOWN. 
          AND THEY CALLED THE AMBULANCE TO TAKE HER TO, UH, UH, OF COURSE, UH, THE HOSPITAL UP HERE WAS CROWDED. 
          SO HE WENT DOWN TO, UH, UM, UH, DOWN ROUTE 40. 
          UM, AND, UH, UH, THE AMBULANCE BACKS UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND I'M OUT THERE, UH, GIVING HIM DIRECTION AND, AND THAT WAS GREAT TO COME IN AND SAID BALTIMORE COUNTY. 
          SO I, I GOT TO THE BAPTISM RIGHT THERE AS A, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, AND AS A, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY COUNTY. 
          SO THAT, THAT'S HOW I GOT MY VOTE. 
          . 
          WELL, AND I, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY FOR WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS SITUATION. 
          I MEAN, IT, IT WAS NOT, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE THERE IF WE DIDN'T. 
          BUT I THINK AT THAT POINT, AND, AND MAYBE THIS IS A COST THAT EVERYONE'S STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, AND THAT'S A FAIR ASSUMPTION, IS THAT, UM, WHEN YOU TAKE ON SOMETHING LIKE AN AMBULANCE CORPS, YEAH. 
          YOU'RE NOT JUST TAKING ON THE, THE EQUIPMENT, THE ASSETS AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE TAKING ON THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO NOW BE STAFFED AT EVERY SINGLE LOCATION THAT THEY'RE RUN OUT OF. 
          UM, THE, THE TRAINING, THE CERTIFICATION, EVERYTHING. 
          AT THAT POINT, WE, SO THERE ARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BUT WE DO NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT THOSE COSTS WILL BE ANNUALLY, BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY TAKING WHATEVER GROWTH THAT WE HAD. 
          AND IT'S TRUTHFULLY, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GONE. 
          I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY AROUND IT, OUTSIDE OF THE, THE 1% RAISE AND, AND VARIOUS OTHER LITTLE THINGS THAT WE SAW. 
          SO WHEN WE DO HAVE THAT, I THINK THAT THERE'S JUST AN IDEA OF LIKE THAT COMMUNICATION EVEN THAT, JUST HAVING THAT BACK AND FORTH THERE AND SAYING, YES, THIS IS GONNA COST, IT'S GONNA HURT. 
          WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL FROM ALL, THAT'S THE COMMUNICATION I THINK WE'RE CRAVING THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR. 
          IF, IF THIS IS WHEN IT STARTED, 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF BEEN A, A MULTI-YEAR SITUATION. 
          YOU HAD TO DO THE CAPITAL SIDE FIRST, THEN YOU HAD TO MOVE IT INTO OPERATION. 
          UM, IT'S JUST, IT TOOK AWAY FROM EVERYTHING ELSE. 
          EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S SITTING IN THE ROOM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT'S SITTING IN THE ROOM, UH, OUR, OUR FRIENDS AT THE ARC AND, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, THAT LITTLE, LITTLE DOLLAR VALUES HELP INCREDIBLY OUR KI OUR KIDS, YOU KNOW, IN THE SCHOOLS AND OUR, OUR OUR OLDER KIDS AT THE COLLEGE THAT NOW HAVE TO FIND THE STATE'S NOT GIVEN ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING HERE. 
          I MEAN, THIS , THOSE, THOSE, THOSE MONIES ARE TAPPED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 
          AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A FAIR, THE FAIR ASSUMPTION THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO, TO, UM, AND ROBBIE'S SEEING IT WITH THESE REVENUE PROJECTIONS. 
          I MEAN, THE STATE IS GOING TO DO WHAT THE STATE NEEDS TO DO. 
          WE'VE SEEN IT IN SCHOOL, PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED EIGHT YEARS. 
          I MEAN, HOW DO YOU BUILD SOMETHING OVER EIGHT YEARS A SCHOOL AND THEN SAY WE'RE GONNA BUILD NOT ONE, ONE TIME. 
          SO I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION. 
          I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, IS, OKAY, IF THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SITTING TONIGHT, WHAT IS THAT BLANK CHECK GONNA LOOK LIKE? COME THREE YEARS FROM NOW GOING TO BROOKS' POINT? WHAT IF THAT EXPANDS INTO OTHER THINGS THEN NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IT'S MORE THAN A 9 1 1 FEE. 
          I, I APPRECIATE THE . 
          I'VE NOTICED THE STATE'S RAISED A LOT OF THEIR FEES. 
          I'VE NOTICED THAT. 
          BUT, BUT I ALSO, UH, UH, JUST CLOSING, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, Y'ALL VOLUNTEERED TO DO THIS WORK. 
          IT'S DURING THE DAY AND ALL. 
          AND, AND, UH, I KNOW YOU HAD OTHER THINGS TO DO AND THANK MY GLORIA, THAT'S FANTASTIC. 
          I'M SURE SHE HAD, UH, A FEW THINGS TO SAY. 
          ABSOLUTELY . 
          SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE. 
          AND THEN BEFORE I MOVE ON TO MR. PEPIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CALL VOLUME HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY. 
          PEOPLE ARE USING MEDIC UNITS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, UH, FOR REGULAR VISITS TO A DOCTOR OFFICE, LET'S SAY. 
          SO, UM, AND, AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. 
          I HAD, UH, 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE BACK OF ONE OF THOSE MEDICS. 
          AND I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THEY, UH, PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT THEY PROVIDE, PROVIDE TODAY. 
          AND I MEAN, JUST BEL AIR ALONE, PROBABLY 30 CALLS A DAY, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          MR. PENMAN, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 
          UH, MR. ON DISH. 
          MR. TIBBS. 
          MR. SEARCHER, THANK YOU. 
          IF YOU CAN PASS ON MY APPRECIATION TO THE OTHER, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UM, 'CAUSE YOU GUYS ARE AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE TO US. 
          MR. SEARCHER, UM, IS AN INCREDIBLE RESOURCE TO ME WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE THAT HE BRINGS FORWARD, UH, INSIGHT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY JUST DIVING INTO THE BOOKS AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S SUPER COMPLEX, AS YOU ALL KNOW. 
          UM, AND 
          [00:20:01]
I'M PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT WE ALL HAVE PRETTY MUCH COME TOGETHER, UM, THAT YOU ALL HAVE AIDED, UH, TO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, PRODUCE A REPORT AND ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION AND SEND IT OVER TO THE EXECUTIVES ADMINISTRATION. 
          SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. 
          BUT I DID HAVE SOME JUST FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. 
          I'M GLAD YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STRATEGY, UH, OF REVENUE GROWTH GOING FORWARD OR LACK OF STRATEGY. 
          UH, AND I HOPE OVER THE NEXT YEAR THAT THE COUNTY, WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO, TO FIND WHAT THAT STRATEGY IS AND HAVE THAT GROWTH WITHOUT RAISING FEES AND WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. 
          UM, BECAUSE THAT JUST HELPS INFLATION IF WE DO THAT. 
          UM, NEXT QUESTION I HAVE THOUGH IS, UM, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST YEAR AS FAR AS, UM, THE CITIZEN ADVISOR, UH, BUDGET GROUP, UH, MEETING PERIODICALLY OVER THE YEAR. 
          UM, BECAUSE, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE, WE WERE FACED WITH WAS, IS THIS A TIMING ISSUE OR IS THIS AN ACTUAL BUDGET ISSUE? RIGHT? AND THAT, THAT MAY COME TO FRUITION HERE IN A COUPLE DAYS WHEN THE MAY DISBURSEMENT, UM, IS RELEASED. 
          AND THEN THE FOLLOWING, UH, THE JUNE DISBURSEMENT. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION TO KIND OF SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. 
          'CAUSE THOSE ARE N NORMALLY, UM, WHAT I CAN GATHER THE LARGEST, UM, DISBURSEMENTS OF THE COUNTY GETS. 
          UM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT, THAT EVALUATION. 
          UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I WAS HARD, IT WAS HARD TO TRACK DOWN DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS ABOUT FUND BALANCE AND WHAT, HOW MUCH WE NEED IN FUND BALANCE TO MAINTAIN A TRIPLE A BOND RATING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT LOWER INTEREST RATE. 
          SO, UM, IT, IT WAS A MOVING TARGET. 
          I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SEE FROM YOU, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER ANALYSIS ON KIND OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE? BECAUSE REALLY IN THE GRAND SCHEME, IF WE'RE TRYING TO RESOURCE DIFFERENT FUNDS, THAT FUND BALANCE, IS THAT THE, THE VERY QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE DECIDED FIRST? YEAH. 
          UM, LEMME TRY TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT AND ANSWER SOME OF THOSE AND THEN MOVE MY WAY INTO THE FUN BALANCE, AND THEN I'LL LET, UM, ANYBODY ELSE THAT WANTS TO CHIME IN ON THAT AS WELL. 
          UM, A, UH, WE CERTAINLY, I THINK WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP THIS YEAR. 
          I, I REALLY THINK THAT, UM, IT IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP. 
          I MEAN, IT, THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN EXCITING. 
          WE HAVE ALL BEEN, UM, GOTTA GIVE MR. TIBS AND EVERYBODY WE HAVE BEEN MEETING VIRTUALLY. 
          WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT TO YOUR CREDIT OF WILL THIS GROUP STAY TOGETHER AND, AND BE A FOCAL POINT, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPEN THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO REVIEW, YOU KNOW, AND, AND TO THE POINT OF JUST FOR THE DATA, WE DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE NOT HERE TO DO VICTORY LAPS OR TO POINT FINGERS OR TO SAY, I, I, I HOPE THE REVENUE COMES IN STRONGER BECAUSE THAT HELPS EVERYBODY. 
          I DON'T WANT IT TO SEE IT COME DOWN. 
          BUT IF IT DOES, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL ADDRESS AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH THIS COUNCIL IF WE REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. 
          SO I, TO THAT POINT, I THINK THAT WE WILL DO A BETTER JOB WITH THAT THIS YEAR, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UH, MULTITUDE OF THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE STATE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE REALLY KIND OF DRIVING PUBLIC SUPPORT TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT VOICE HEARD. 
          SO I, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CERTAINLY WORK WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL STAFF ON TO, TO MAYBE BE HERE QUARTERLY OR, UM, YOU KNOW, AFTER CERTAIN THINGS ARE RELEASED. 
          AND, AND WE CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO ASK US THOSE QUESTIONS OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO REVIEW AND CONTINUE AS A GROUP AND, AND INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL. 
          SO, UM, CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT TO COMMEND THIS GROUP ON THE, THE WORK THAT WE DID THIS YEAR FOR THE, THE TYPE OF BUDGET THAT WE WERE GOING INTO. 
          UM, THE TIMING QUESTION, I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS TIMING. 
          THE BUDGET SEASON IS A WHOLE TIMING MECHANISM OF ITSELF. 
          I THINK THAT, UH, ROBBIE, THE, THE TREASURER WOULD, WOULD ADMIT TO THE SAME THING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO HIT THAT FOUR 15 DATE. 
          SOME, SOME COUNTIES ARE FOUR, ONE, THEY HAVE TO GET A BUDGET OUT, AND THEN THE STATE GOES BACK, CHANGES THINGS ON YOU NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, AND HE'S STUCK WITH THE BUDGET THAT HE'S PRESENTED YOU ALL. 
          THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ON THE AMENDMENT SIDE OF THINGS. 
          SO, UM, I, I LIKE THAT THEY HAVE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO AT LEAST GET THE BUDGET OUT TO THIS COUNCIL, BUT IT DOESN'T LEAVE A LOT OF TIME OPEN FOR US TO GET TO THIS JUNE VOTE THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED TO, SO THAT EVERYBODY, THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN ESSENTIALLY DO THEIR PART AT THE END. 
          UM, BUT I THINK THE ONE BIGGEST TIMING PIECE THAT ALWAYS HAS BEEN A POINT OF EMPHASIS FOR MYSELF IS HOW MUCH FUN BALANCE YOU ROLL FROM A A YEAR THAT'S ENDING INTO THE YEAR THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN. 
          SO THERE'S THIS LIKE, SWEEPING MOTION OF LIKE THE, THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR, IF YOU SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF ON JUNE 30TH, ANYTHING NOT SPENT IS GONNA JUST DRAIN RIGHT OUT OF THERE AND GO INTO FUN BALANCE. 
          ESSENTIALLY. 
          THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER NUANCES THAT HAPPEN INSIDE OF THERE AS WELL. 
          BUT THEN WE HAVE THIS, WELL, WE'RE GONNA USE SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE TO NOW FUND THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. 
          SO YOU'D NEVER GET A CLEAR PICTURE WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE VARIOUS AUDIT REPORTS THAT COME OUT WHEN YOU SAY A, YOU HAVE RESTRICTED, SO YOU HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT GO INTO A CERTAIN FUND THAT ARE THEIR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. 
          UM, OR STORM WATER HAS BEEN ONE 
          [00:25:01]
THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN HEAVILY USED. 
          BUT THAT TRUE, UH, UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE IS ALWAYS A ROLLING, UH, SAVINGS ACCOUNT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. 
          SO YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT IS WHAT YOU USE TO PAY YOUR BILLS, AND THAT IS YOUR OPERATING ACCOUNT. 
          AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE BUDGETING. 
          SO WE DON'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME ON FUND BALANCE BECAUSE BY THE TIME WE GET THE ACTUAL TRUE NUMBER, IT'S ALREADY BEEN ROLLED INTO ANOTHER TYPE OF, NOW SOME OF IT HAS STAYED, AND THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE GET. 
          SO IF I WANTED TO PORTRAY A FUND BALANCE NUMBER, I COULD DO WHATEVER NUMBER YOU ASKED ME TO DO ON THE DATE THAT YOU ASKED ME TO DO IT, BECAUSE I CAN JUST ROLL MORE INTO THE BUDGET OR, OR FIND OUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE. 
          NOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT, AGAIN, OF A MOVING TARGET TIMING ISSUE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ALL YOUR REVENUE UNTIL YOU'RE DONE. 
          SO YOU STILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT JUNE 30TH. 
          SO FUND BALANCE COULD BE HIGHER THAN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN HERE. 
          IT'S REALLY NOT BEEN QUANTIFIED, IT'S BEEN JUST KIND OF WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. 
          BUT ALL THE, THE DATA WE'RE LOOKING AT LAST YEAR IS FROM JUNE 30TH OF LAST YEAR. 
          THAT AUDIT REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED IN OCTOBER, I BELIEVE. 
          SO I THINK FOR ME, THAT IS WHAT GOES INTO THE BASIS OF YOUR BOND RATING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, LIKE, I'M NOT IN THE, I I DON'T VISIT NEW YORK AND GO INTO THE BOND RATING MEETINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, JUST LIKE MOST OF US DON'T. 
          BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE TRUE NUMBER OF WHAT YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT BINARY, I THINK SOMEBODY KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMAN. 
          AND I THINK THAT, UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN THROWN AROUND 60 HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND, A HUNDRED'S BEEN THROWN AROUND. 
          I THINK 150 HAS BEEN THROWN AROUND. 
          IT DEPENDS ON WHAT EXACTLY WE HAVE ALLOCATED TO EACH ONE OF THESE FUNDS AND HOW THAT BOND RATING AGENCY LOOKS AT IT. 
          THE BOND, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT COMPANIES OUT THERE EVEN TOO, UH, THAT WILL DO DIFFERENT TYPES OF RATINGS. 
          SO OBVIOUSLY YOU KIND OF GO WITH THE ONE THAT LOOKS THE BEST WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL THEM. 
          BUT TRUTHFULLY, IT'S, IF WE'RE GONNA GO INTO WHAT WE'RE SAYING WITH AN INFLATION STAGFLATION SITUATION, IT'S GONNA BE WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY, WHICH IS GONNA ULTIMATELY CONTROL YOUR INTEREST VALUE AT THE END OF THE DAY. 
          SO EVEN PRESERVING THAT NUMBER, I THINK THAT IF YOU WERE TO TURN AROUND AND DO $5 MILLION OF AMENDMENTS SOMEWHERE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO YOUR FUND BALANCE PROBLEM AT ALL. 
          NOR DO I THINK THAT WOULD COME INTO YOUR, UM, BOND RATING. 
          BUT AGAIN, IF I'M WAY OFF AND WAY WRONG AND THE NUMBERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME OUT, DON'T DICTATE THAT ANSWER, THEN WE WILL GET THAT ANSWER. 
          AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE CAN COUNTERACT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS KEEP AN EYE ON IT AS THESE COME OUT AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. 
          DO YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING? I KNOW YOUR FUND BALANCE IS YOUR THING. 
          . 
          NO, I MEAN, UM, MR. SANDLES AND I HAVE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF HIS SHARING DURING THE MEETINGS THAT, UH, HE HAS TO PUT UP WITH MY QUESTIONS. 
          BUT, UM, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT AND, AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT FUND BALANCE IN 2014, IT WAS ROUGHLY $72 MILLION IN 2022. 
          IN THE LAST REPORT IT WAS 211 MILLION. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR ME, I NEEDED THAT CONTEXT. 
          IT DID GO DOWN IN 2023. 
          IT'S NOW CLOSER TO 174, GIVE OR TAKE, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT TREND WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. 
          THE COUNTY WAS, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY REVENUE WAS WELL ABOVE WHAT IT NEEDED AND IT WAS BUILDING IT UP. 
          NOW WE'RE ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THAT CURVE. 
          UH, THE COMPTROLLER JUST SPOKE AT A LUNCHEON I WAS AT LAST WEEK THE OTHER DAY, AND SHE WAS POINTING OUT THAT SHE FEELS THAT GDP HAS STARTED TO WANE SINCE 2017. 
          UM, WE DIDN'T SEE THAT HERE. 
          WE MIGHT BE SEEING THAT NOW. 
          UM, IT GETS INTO THAT GROWTH CYCLE MENTALITY OF WHAT PHASE OF GROWTH IS HARTFORD COUNTY IN, ARE WE ON A, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE BEEN CALLED NOW A MORE DEVELOPED COUNTY, A WEALTHY COUNTY, BUT A COUNTY THAT IS STRUGGLING TO FIND THAT NEXT LEG TO GET A 10% GROWTH, UM, THAT WE EXPERIENCED FOR OVER A DECADE. 
          AND AGAIN, PART OF THAT'S INFLATION. 
          IT'S EATING UP YOUR TRUE GROWTH RATE. 
          UM, AND SO WHEN YOU START TO LOOK AT FUND BALANCE, I THINK ALL OF US AGREE WITH MR. SANLI. 
          WE DO NOT WANNA PLEDGE IT ALL EVERY YEAR AND BE REDLINED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE MIDYEAR CUTS. 
          I DON'T THINK ANY OF US ON THE COUNCIL ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT EITHER. 
          I DO THINK IT BECOMES A QUESTION AND ANSWER, UM, TO YOUR POINT, MR. PENMAN, ABOUT HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY NEED? 'CAUSE WHEN WE START EARMARKING THAT MONEY, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE HONEST THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEND IT EVERY YEAR. 
          UH, WE CAN PREPARE TO CLOSE THE LANDFILL AND WATERSHED AT THE SAME TIME. 
          IF WE DO FALL INTO THAT SCENARIO WHERE BOTH OF THOSE LIGHTNING BOLTS STRIKE AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SPEND ALMOST $50 MILLION ALL AT ONCE. 
          UM, SO AGAIN, WE WOULD USE BONDS OR SOME OTHER MECHANISM. 
          I DON'T THINK WE WOULD CASH FUND THAT TYPE OF OPERATION. 
          SO IF WE ARE EXPERIENCING SLOWER GROWTH, THOSE TYPES OF TACTICAL DISCUSSIONS HAVE TO BE, I THINK, MADE TRANSPARENT, UH, TO GIVE YOU ALL A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHEN CONSTITUENTS COME TO YOU AND SAY, WHY ARE YOU EARMARKING THESE FUNDS FOR THAT TYPE OF EVENT, WHEN I NEED PAYROLL NOW, YOU KNOW, OR I NEED EMSS NOW, OR FIRE OR WHATEVER, OR A PRECINCT OR DEPUTIES PAY BECAUSE BALTIMORE COUNTY'S TAKING, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT LEG. 
          YOU KNOW THAT THAT COMPETITION IS NOT GONNA GO AWAY. 
          SO I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, TO MR. ISH AND MR. PENMAN POINT, YOU KNOW, THAT DISCUSSION HAS TO BE MADE MORE CLEAR. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN A HUGE POINT OF CONTENTION AS THE LOCAL RESERVE, 
          [00:30:01]
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, IN THE TRUEST FORM, BUT I DO THINK IT'S AN HONEST CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO AGAIN, BE HAD THAT THE, WE SENT A LETTER TO THE STATE AND THEY'VE PROVIDED A REPORT BACK TO US AND AFFIRMED THAT THAT IS OUR MONEY, ROUGHLY 120 MILLION THAT IS IN ARREARS. 
          UM, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. 
          ANOTHER TIMING ISSUE, THE COMPTROLLER TOUCHED ON IT A BIT. 
          UM, SHE IS HOLDING BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          SHE'S UNCERTAIN ON SOME OF THE TIMING ISSUES FOR HER END AS WELL. 
          SHE DOESN'T WANNA UNDERPAY OR OVERPAY A COUNTY THAT AFFECTS MR. SANDLES AND THE ADMINISTRATION. 
          SO I THINK WE'RE ALL SYMPATHETIC TO THAT. 
          UM, BUT I I, I THINK IT GETS BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT ON A RAZOR'S EDGE YET. 
          SO I THINK THERE'S THIS BRINKMANSHIP TACTICS OF BUDGETING, UM, ARE STARTING TO REALLY HURT. 
          UH, AND AS MR. PENMAN SAID, HE, A DISCUSSION IS DEFINITELY WARRANTED WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS. 
          AND JUST BE HONEST, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP THE AAA? HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY NEED IN RESERVE? AND WHAT ELSE CAN WE WORK WITH? I THINK THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO GET, OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO RAISE REVENUES, BOTTOM LINE FEES AND TAXES WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE. 
          SO, AND THEN JUST ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION. 
          I I, I'M NOT EXPECTING AN ANSWER. 
          UM, JUST MAYBE FOR FUTURE, UH, CONSIDERATION OF THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISOR GROUP, UH, BILL 24 16, UH, WHICH COULD INCREASE, UH, THE AUTHORITY, UH, AND BALANCE THE BUDGET, UH, POWERS OF HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          UM, I, I THINK IT'S CRITICAL, UM, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR GROUP ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, YOU TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, INCREASING, DECREASING. 
          AND THIS WOULD GIVE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL MORE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT. 
          SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FURTHER CONVERSATION. 
          I KNOW WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP ON JUNE 11TH, UM, BUT EVEN COLLABORATIVE WITH YOUR GROUP, KIND OF, UM, WHAT THEY'RE FEELING AND SENSES ON THAT. 
          AND WE'RE, AS WE'RE DOING, UM, ACROSS THE COUNCIL AS WELL. 
          SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT. 
          THANK YOU, UH, MR. JAN JORDANA. 
          THANKS, GENTLEMEN. 
          I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE ANSWERED, UH, A LOT OF INFORMATION, GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION. 
          SO APPRECIATE THAT. 
          APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING IN HERE WITH US, SITTING AND LISTENING AND ASKING ALL THE QUESTIONS. 
          I, I KNOW IT'S TOUGH. 
          AND THEN YOU GUYS GO BACK AND, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR MEETINGS AND INPUTS, AND I KNOW BROOKS, YOU PUT A LOT AND ANDREW AND MR. TBS, UM, AND I DO TALK TO ERIC. 
          UH, I DO WANNA BRING UP, I UNDERSTAND MR. TIBS WITH THE EMS AND THE COST. 
          THE OTHER THING THAT ALERTED WAS ALERT TO ME WAS THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING IN AND SAYING THAT THEY DON'T FORESEE IN THE FUTURE, IT BEING AN ALL VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. 
          THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I THINK JUST SCARES ME TO DEATH OF THE COST OF THAT AND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM. 
          UM, AND I JUST WASN'T EXPECTING THAT AND WASN'T EXPECTING HIM TO SAY IT'S PROBABLY GONNA HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE PREPARE FOR THAT. 
          UM, BUT I CERTAINLY HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT. 
          I'M SEEING ONE SIDE, I'M, I'M SEEING, UM, INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAXES GOING UP, BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, I'M SEEING EXPENSES FOR OTHER ITEMS GOING UP. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, UH, YOU KNOW, MY BUSINESS, I'VE SEEN 30 TO 40% INCREASE THAT I SAID WAS GONNA HAPPEN AFTER THREE YEARS. 
          EVERYTHING CATCHES UP. 
          BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEEING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE RESTAURANTS SLOWING DOWN. 
          UM, I'M HEARING FROM THEM, I'M HEARING FROM SOME OTHER BUSINESSES. 
          CONSTRUCTION OBVIOUSLY SLOWING DOWN. 
          I INSURE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION PEOPLE, NOT AS BUSY AS THEY WERE. 
          MOST OF THEM THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IS REPAIR WORK, FIXING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYTHING, WHICH THERE'S A TON OF WORK, BUT NOT A LOT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION. 
          UM, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IF YOU BUILD NEW HOUSES, IT ALSO COST US MONEY FOR, FOR THOSE NEW HOUSES. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BENEFIT OF, YOU KNOW, SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, HAVING A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE HOMES AND EVERYTHING BEING BUILT OF WHERE IT COST US MONEY. 
          AND, AND THEN AS YOU BUILD THESE AND YOU INCREASE YOUR POPULATION, THEN YOU HAVE TO BUILD THESE SCHOOLS. 
          AND WE KNOW THESE SCHOOLS ARE NOT CHEAP. 
          YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, 80 MILLION, A HUNDRED MILLION, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ONE THAT'S GONNA BE OFF OF 5 43 IF THEY BUILD IT, I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD THE PRICE TAG. 
          IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUNDRED MILLION PLUS. 
          UM, SO, YOU KNOW, BUT, UH, ANYWAY, SO I, UM, I THANK AARON FOR SOME OF HIS QUESTIONS. 
          I'M, I'M SURE SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE THAT, BUT I, I DON'T WANNA BEAT A DEAD HORSE AND KEEP ASKING YOU GUYS THE SAME THING. 
          SO I APPRECIATE IT. 
          WELL, AND I THINK YOU, YOU HIT ON SOMETHING THAT WE, WE ARE LISTENING TO TREASURY AND ROBBIE AND, AND MR. SANDLES AND, AND HIS TEAM. 
          UM, WE WE'RE NOT HERE TO SAY THAT HE'S WRONG. 
          I'M NOT SAYING IN ANY WAY THAT HE IS WRONG. 
          I'M JUST SAYING THAT IF WE NEED TO, AND, AND I, THE, THE JOB THAT THEY DEAL WITH, 
          [00:35:01]
THE JOB THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DEALS WITH IS TOUGH. 
          YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CRYSTAL BALL. 
          THE REST OF US ARE JUST WATCHING AND OBSERVING. 
          SO I, I THINK YOU HIT ON SOMETHING WHERE WITH EMS, WITH LOOK, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE FEELING THE SAME NIGHTMARES THAT WE'RE FEELING WITH THAT. 
          AND WE'RE, WE'RE JUST SPECULATING ON HOW TO HANDLE IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. 
          SO, UM, I THINK THINGS LIKE THAT ARE, UM, CONTAGIOUS. 
          WHEN YOU START TO BRING IN ONE ENTITY, EVERYBODY ELSE GETS THE, THE SAME ITCH. 
          AND I THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT IN DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES, BECAUSE NOW THAT'S LIKE, UH, THAT'S BEEN A VERY METROPOLITAN THING TO DO, IS TO HAVE A CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT MORE PAYING PEOPLE IN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO OFFSET THOSE COSTS. 
          WHEN YOU TAKE THAT OUT TO RURAL AMERICA, YOU'RE CHANGING THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND THE FINANCIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE MUNICIPALITY OVERNIGHT. 
          AND, AND WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT I THINK HAPPENED IN THIS CASE. 
          I THINK THERE WAS A SLIGHT, LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS JUST DUMPED IN THEIR LAP. 
          AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S FAIR TO BRING UP THAT IT'S NOT PROBABLY THE WAY THAT THEY EXPECTED THE FIRST FEW YEARS TO GO WITH THAT. 
          MAYBE WE KNEW KIND OF IT, IT, IT WAS COMING, BUT NOW THAT PRICE TAG SIDE, GOING BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN GOT WAS TALKING ABOUT, WE DO NEED TO, WE, WE GOTTA HAVE A HANDLE ON THAT. 
          AND THEN IF WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT BIG ONE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO I, I THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A VALID POINT THAT'S BROUGHT UP THAT WE, WE SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT AND SHARE THE, UM, THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. 
          I MEAN, THERE, THERE'S JUST IDEAS AND PLANS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THIS EVENING IS THAT THAT PLANNING, THAT COMMUNICATION STARTING NOW IS HELPFUL EVEN IN A HYPOTHETICAL WORLD. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. 
          YES. 
          AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, SIR. 
          AND UH, MR. TED, I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, BEING MY BUZZER ADVISORY. 
          MS. SS, THANK YOU. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK. 
          I KNOW IT'S TIME CONSUMING AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          I THINK THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THERE WASN'T REALLY ANY SORT OF CLEAR STRATEGY OR PATH ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO BROADEN OUR TAX BASE FOR OUR CITIZENS, BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST CHOICE. 
          UM, BUT THROUGH ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS, THERE WAS NEVER REALLY A STRATEGY GIVEN FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND THAT'S CONCERNING. 
          BUT, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY OR, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE LAND CAPABILITIES PER SE ON 95 THAT OTHER COUNTIES WE'VE SEEN BRINGING AMAZONS IN A GREAT WOLF LODGE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT BROADEN A BASE IN A DIFFERENT WAY. 
          UM, I THINK WE'VE DONE IT A LOT HERE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT IN REGARDS TO SINGLE FAMILY AND, UH, TO AN EXTENT COMMUNITIES. 
          AND, AND WITH THAT, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ALREADY DISCUSSED, BRINGING IN WATER AND BRINGING IN OTHER CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN SCHOOLS. 
          SO I SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT THAT YOU SHARE. 
          I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN, I BELIEVE THERE'S A PLAN IN PLACE. 
          I'LL PUT THAT OUT THERE TONIGHT. 
          I BELIEVE THERE'S A PLAN BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE THAT, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT FOR THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE'VE ELECTED. 
          SO I AM AS ANXIOUSLY WAITING THAT PLAN AS WE GO AND TO SEE WHERE THAT'S AT. 
          AND I'M GONNA GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT UNTIL, UM, WE DON'T SEE THAT TO WHERE THAT CONVERSATION MIGHT START TO CHANGE. 
          ESPECIALLY AS YOU SEE OTHER POLITICAL LANDSCAPES CHANGING ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE, THE, THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GENERAL ELECTION YEAR. 
          THERE'S A MAY, MAYBE NOT A BIG ONE FOR HARFORD COUNTY, BUT IT'S A BIG ONE ELSEWHERE. 
          UM, SO I THINK THAT HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION OPEN UP WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST STEP. 
          JUST HAVE THAT VISIBILITY WITH OUR LEADERS AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THESE CONCERNS AND NOT HAVE TO BE INVITED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO DO SO. 
          YOU KNOW, OR A PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS, UM, WHICH WE, WE COMMEND ALL OF THE CITIZENS THAT SHOWED UP FOR YOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
          I MEAN, THAT THEY CAME OUT AND SHARED THE SAME CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD AND THAT WAS THEIR NIGHT THAT I HAD A VOICE. 
          WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SIT IN HERE FOR FOUR DAYS AND ALSO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY NIGHT TO SPEAK TO YOU ONE-ON-ONE AND ALL OF YOU ONE-ON-ONE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. 
          SO I, I SHARE THE SAME, I I WOULD AGREE THAT THE TWO GENTLEMEN NEXT TO ME SHARE THE SAME, UM, THOUGHT PROCESS, WHICH IS WE'VE GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING IF THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED. 
          RIGHT? WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MS. ES. 
          MR. BENNETT. 
          OH, I'M SORRY MR. SHERK. 
          NO, I WAS JUST GONNA ADD TO THAT, UM, I AGREE WITH YOU, UM, ON THAT QUESTION OR STATEMENT. 
          I THINK ALSO WE HAD SOME GOOD DISCUSSIONS DURING THE MEETINGS ABOUT THAT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF TASTES CHANGING IN THE MARKETPLACE. 
          UM, CREATIVITY FOR REVENUE, WHETHER IT WAS, UH, THE 80 A DU LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S AIRBNB LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS TOURISM, MR. GUTHRIE HAS TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOTELS. 
          UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE AIRBNB OPTION AND WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR COUNTY. 
          IT IS A, UH, OLDER COUNTY, IF YOU WILL, AND THAT WILL CHANGE OVER TIME. 
          BUT, UH, IN TERMS OF AGING IN PLACE, THERE IS REVENUE TO BE HAD THERE WITH THAT. 
          UM, ITS BENEFITS TO THE CITIZENS AND 
          [00:40:01]
BENEFITS TO THE TAXPAYER, UM, AND THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF. 
          AND I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE AREAS OF GROWTH THAT HAVE SUCCEEDED, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ABERDEEN IS DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB REDEVELOPING ITSELF. 
          UM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPAND. 
          THERE'S OLD STUFF INSIDE OF OUR COUNTY THAT PROBABLY CAN BE REDONE, WHETHER IT'S THE TOWNS OR WHETHER IT'S THE 40 CORRIDOR. 
          THERE SHOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, INSTEAD OF RAISING FEES AND TAXES, THERE SHOULD BE TAX INCENTIVES FOR REDEVELOPMENT TO TRY AND SPUR THAT GROWTH. 
          A MORE CAPITALISTIC MINDSET OF HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO POUR MONEY INTO THAT AREA AND, AND GET THAT TAX BASE RAISED. 
          UM, AND WE HAVE TO HONOR THE TASTE OF THE NEXT GENERATION, WHICH SADLY, WITH HOUSING BEING AS EXPENSIVE AS IT IS, APARTMENTS ARE NOT ONLY A TASTE FOR PEOPLE 'CAUSE THEY WANNA LIVE, WALK, EAT, AND BE IN A SMALL AREA. 
          UH, THAT MAY NOT BE EVERYBODY'S TASTE, BUT IT IS A MORE MODERN TASTE AND THEY ARE COMING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. 
          AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC OF WHERE THEY GO. 
          AND WE CAN'T JUST SAY NOT IN MY BACKYARD, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A TAX BASE, IT IS A WORKING BASE. 
          IT'S OUR WAITERS, OUR WAITRESSES, OUR FIRST START JOB. 
          UH, NOT EVERYBODY STARTS AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER AND THOSE INCOME TAXES ARE NOW GOING TO BALTIMORE COUNTY. 
          THEY WORK HERE AND THEN THEY GO HOME AND SLEEP IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THEY GET THAT SHARE OF THE INCOME TAX. 
          UM, SO YES, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A BROADER STRATEGY. 
          UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO TILL UP EVERY PIECE OF LAND TO DO IT. 
          UM, BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE CRITICAL ABOUT IT. 
          AND AGAIN, THE INVESTMENT IN THE ABERDEEN AREA, A BIG REASON FOR THE PRECINCT, CENTRAL PRECINCT, UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CITIZEN GROWTH, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS A COST AND SAFETY AND CAPITALISM IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE PILLARS. 
          TO HAVE A GOOD ECONOMY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SAFE ECONOMY. 
          SO I WOULD AGREE. 
          THANK YOU MR. SHIRT. 
          SIR. 
          MR. BENNETT. 
          MR. TIM HAS, I'M SORRY, MR. DIPS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PART. 
          AS, UH, AS THEY'VE, EVERYBODY KIND OF AGREES WE NEED TO HAVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT OF OPEN BUILDINGS ON THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR THAT WE NEED TO GET SOME PEOPLE INTO. 
          AND RATHER THAN EXPANDING OUT INTO THE ROYAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, WE, WE CERTAINLY SHOULD DO THAT WHERE WE HAVE WATER AND SEWAGE ALREADY IN PLACE NOT BEING USED. 
          AND THAT WOULD PRESENT AND MORE INCOME TO THE COUNTY IN MY OPINION. 
          SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO HIT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          THANKS. 
          THANKS MR. GIBBS. 
          MR. BENNETT. 
          HELLO. 
          UH, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          I KNOW KEVIN AND I HAD SEVERAL LATE NIGHTS WHERE WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET TOGETHER. 
          IT'S A, IT'S A BIG JOB AND IT'S A HUGE VOLUNTEER ROLE YOU ALL TAKE ON. 
          AND, UH, THE PAST TWO YEARS I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH WORKING FROM WORKING WITH YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE DONE THIS FOR MANY YEARS. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE WHAT YOU ALL SHARED. 
          UM, I HOPE THAT THERE'S A PLAN AND THAT WE HEAR THAT PLAN. 
          'CAUSE THERE'S THREE OPTIONS, RIGHT? THERE'S RAISE TAXES AND FEES, THERE'S GROW THE ECONOMY. 
          AND THE THIRD OPTION IS CUT SERVICES. 
          AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANT, WANTS THAT TO BE THE CHOICE THAT'S MADE, BUT WE JUST NEED TO HEAR OUT LOUD WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT THE CHOICE THAT WE'RE MAKING MOVING FORWARD. 
          UM, AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF BIG LINE ITEM PAR PARTS OF THE BUDGET THAT GET A LOT OF POINT OF THE CONVERSATION, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, THE SCHOOLS. 
          UM, BUT I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I SAID THIS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHEN I MET WITH HIM, YOU CAN MAKE A MOUNTAIN NOW PEANUTS, YOU KNOW, IF WE CATCH A LOT OF THE SMALL THINGS AND DO THE SMALL THINGS RIGHT, THAT HELPS MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL WELL ABOUT THE BUDGET. 
          SO I HOPE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE THE $60,000 TO THE ARC, UH, AS POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY COULD SEND OVER WITHOUT TAKING AWAY EVERYONE'S COLAS AND DISSOLVING PARKS AND REC, UM, AND SO ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. 
          I HOPE THAT THEY'LL BE SENDING THAT TO US BEFORE THE, THE END OF JUNE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE THINGS. 
          SO THANK YOU. 
          I I THINK WE SHARE THAT. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THE, AT LEAST AT THE VERY LEAST, SOME OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, CREATE WAY MORE BENEFIT. 
          UM, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ACTUALLY, UM, SEEING THE ARC IN ACTION EVERY DAY AT WORK AND IT IS AN AMAZING THING AND I KNOW HOW FAR A LITTLE GOES AND THEY DO A PHENOMENAL JOB. 
          UM, AND THERE'S THERE THAT STORY CAN BE TOLD FOR 20, 30 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. 
          I DON'T WANNA JUST CALL OUT ONE MM-HMM, , UM, THE, OUR TREATMENT FACILITIES, SAME WAY. 
          THE AMOUNT OF, UH, WORK THAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT THAT THEY DO FOR VERY, VERY, VERY LITTLE MONEY. 
          I THINK THAT IF WE COULD AT LEAST START THERE AND GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE LITTLE THINGS, THAT IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY. 
          MM-HMM,  AND I, I A HUNDRED PERCENT SHARE YOUR SENTIMENT. 
          UH, AND, AND GOING ON TO, UM, IT'S HARD TO JUMP INTO THIS GROUP AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND MR. MCKINNEY CERTAINLY MM-HMM,  DID A PHENOMENAL JOB OF THAT. 
          I MEAN HE WAS A VERY VALUABLE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD. 
          ALL OF US WERE. 
          AND THIS IS GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO COUNCIL EMIN'S POINT. 
          I THINK THIS WILL BE A BOARD THAT YOU'LL HEAR FROM AGAIN BEFORE 
          [00:45:01]
THE END OF THE YEAR. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE THANK YOU GUYS. 
          SO AS I SIT HERE TONIGHT, I HEAR YOUR INTEREST, YOUR PASSION, YOUR INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, YOUR DESIRE TO STAY INVOLVED AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          THANK YOU, YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          TAKE CARE. 
          YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM ME TOMORROW, . 
          SURE I WILL, SIR. 
          AGENDA ITEM 
          [7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NUMBER SEVEN, APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING. 
          MAY 21ST, 2024 LEGISLATIVE DAY. 
          24 DASH ZERO 16, MAY 21ST, 2024. 
          THERE ARE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES BEING NO CORRECTIONS OF MINUTES. 
          STAND APPROVED. 
          EIGHT. 
          INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS. 
          WE HAVE NONE. 
          NINE. 
          INTRODUCTION OF BILLS, WE HAVE NONE. 
          [10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS]
10. 
          INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. 
          WE HAVE THREE MEMORANDUMS OF CHANGE, UH, TO RESOLUTION. 
          0 12 24 FISCAL YEAR 25, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
          UH, MR. JAN ANO, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MOVE TO APPROVE MEMORANDUM OF CHANGE ONE DASH THREE TO RESOLUTION ZERO 12 DASH 24. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MR. GUTHRIE. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF CHANGE. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT AYE MR. GUTHRIE? OF COURSE. 
          AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN AYE. 
          MR. ANO AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. S AYE MR. BENNETT AYE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE MEMORANDUM OF CHANGE TO RESOLUTION 0 12 24 FISCAL YEAR 25, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS HEREBY APPROVED. 
          UH, MR. JAN ANO PLEASE READ AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 27 FOR BILL 24 DASH ZERO 14. 
          I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT UH, BASED ON COUNCIL, UH, RECOMMENDATION, UH, AMENDMENTS 28 AND 29 HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD AMENDMENTS ONE DASH 27 TO BILL 24 DASH 14 ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12 STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 5 MILLION 912 770 3000 AND THEY ARE IN OKAY IN SUBSTITUTE 5,912,773 TO REALLOCATE 412,773 OF PRIOR BONDS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINE 17 AND 18, INSERT THE FOLLOWING, BAKERFIELD ES CHILLER REPLACEMENT IN FOUR 12,773 IN PARENTES TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT BAKERFIELD ES CHILLER REPLACEMENT AMENDMENT THREE ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE IN 5,500,000 IN SUBSTITUTE 5,704,270 IN PARENTHESES TO REALLOCATE 204,270 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 24 25, INSERT THE FOLLOWING MEADOWVALE ES 4 270 TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROJECT MEADOWVALE AMENDMENT FIVE ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12, STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 5,619,149 AND TO REALLOCATE 119,149 UH, PRIOR BONDS AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 25 AND 26 INSERT FOLLOWING ROOF REPLACEMENT BAKERFIELD ES ANDES 119,000 149 AND TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT ROOF REPLACEMENT BAKERFIELD ES AMENDMENT SEVEN ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE 5,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 5,707,190 TO REALLOCATE 207,190 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 25 AND 26, INSERT THE FOLLOWING ROOF REPLACEMENT CEO BUILDING 207,190 AND TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT ROOF REPLACEMENT CEO BUILDING AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12, STRIKE 5,500,000 IN SUBSTITUTE 6,035,281 INES TO REALLOCATE 535,281 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 10 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 25 AND 26, 
          [00:50:01]
INSERT FOLLOWING ROOF REPLACEMENT HDG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND PARENTES 535,281 AND PARENTES TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT ROOF REPLACEMENT HDG HA GRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AMENDMENT NUMBER 11 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE 500,000, SUBSTITUTE 6,027,837 TO REALLOCATE $527,837 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 12 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 25 AND 26, INSERT THE FOLLOWING, SWAN CREEK HVAC 527,837 TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT WAN CREEK HVAC AMENDMENT NUMBER 13 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE 500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE FIVE MAIN 475,000 TO REALLOCATE 25,000 OF PRIOR BONDS AMENDMENT 14 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE 17, STRIKE 500,000 IN SUBSTITUTE 525,000 TO ADD PRIOR BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 25,000 TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT, ATHLETIC RECREATION, REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 15 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12, STRIKE INES FIVE, MAIN 500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE TO, TO REALLOCATE 500,000 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 16 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 21 AND 22, INSERT THE FOLLOWING HCPS FACILITIES MASTER PLAN 500,000 ANDES TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, HCPS FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, CAPITAL PROJECT AMENDMENT NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 21 AND 22. 
          THAT'S PAGE 35. 
          SIR, THAT SAYS 37 IN HERE, BUT I'LL CORRECT IT AND I'M GONNA TAKE A SIP AMENDMENT NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 35 BETWEEN LINES 21 AND 22. 
          AND BETWEEN LINE 12, THAT SOMETHING MISSING. 
          NUMBER 17, I'M ON 17, RIGHT? YES. 
          YEAH, BUT YOU'RE READING 18, I'M READING SEVEN ON AMENDMENT NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 37. 
          35. 
          35. 
          MINE, YEAH, 35. 
          OKAY, SO I HAD, I HAD 37 RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE. 
          NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE INES FIVE, MAIN 500,000 IN SUBSTITUTE 5 MILLION INES TO REALLOCATE 500,000 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 18 ON PAGE 37, BETWEEN LINES 21 AND 22, INSERT THE FOLLOWING HCPS FACILITIES REPAIR PROGRAM, 500,000 AND TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT HCPS FACILITIES REPAIR PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 19. 
          ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12, STRIKE IN PARENTHESES 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 5,200,000 IN PARENTHESES TO REALLOCATE 300,000 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 ON PAGE 37, BETWEEN LINES 21 AND 22, INSERT THE FOLLOWING HCPS SITE IMPROVEMENTS, 300,000. 
          AND TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT HCPS SITE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 300,000. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 21 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12, STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 5,200,000 INES TO REALLOCATE 300,000 IN PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 22 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE 24, STRIKE 771,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 1,071,000 TO ADD 300,000 OF PRIOR BONDS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT LIFE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLIANCE MEASURES AMENDMENT 23 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE 5,500,000. 
          A SUBSTITUTE 5,118,500 TO REALLOCATE 381,000 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 24 AND 500 503 8 380 1,500 OF PRIOR BONDS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 24 AND PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES 24 AND 25, INSERT THE FOLLOWING, MAJOR HVAC 381,500 AND TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT MAJOR HVAC IN THE AMOUNT OF 381,500. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 25 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 18, STRIKE 6,458,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 6,532,000 AND TO ADD OTHER FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 74,000. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 26 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 14, STRIKE 44,562,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 44,577,000 
          [00:55:03]
IN TO ADD STATE FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 15. 
          IS IT 15 MILLION? SAYS 15,000 HERE. 
          15,000. 
          15,000. 
          OKAY. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER 27 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE 25, STRIKE 3,611,314 AND SUBSTITUTE 3,700,314 IN PARENTHESES TO ADD FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 89,000 TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT PROSPECT MILL S ROOF. 
          THANK YOU. 
          YEAH. 
          NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER DRINK? YEAH, I'M GONNA MR. CLARK, MR. BROWN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD IF THERE ANY ANSWER, ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE. 
          ALL OF YOURS, KIM. 
          OKAY, MR. SO COUNSEL, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL OF MS. SPENCE, UM, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THESE THIS EVENING. 
          OKAY? SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          AND I PUT 'EM IN TWO SEPARATE VOTING BLOCKS. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          FOR TWO DIFFERENT REASONS. 
          YES, MA'AM. 
          CAN WE SPEAK ON, WHAT'S THAT? CAN WE SPEAK ON THE ONE YOUR TAKE OFF? NO. 
          UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. BEN? UM, I ASSUME THESE WERE DONE, UM, IN COMMUNICATION WITH THIS LIKE SCHOOL SYSTEM? ABSOLUTELY. 
          OKAY. 
          SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ALL. 
          NO, WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR. 
          . 
          ANYONE ELSE SINCE YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE NEXT YEAR, DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAPPEN AGAIN? YOU'LL HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DOING THEM. 
          I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. 
          SORRY. 
          DRAFT YOU'RE BRINGING BACK. 
          ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MS. SPENCE. 
          UM, AGAIN, AS MS. SPENCE SAID, WE HAVE TWO VOTING BLOCKS TO WORK ON. 
          WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH, UH, ONE VOTING BLOCK IS ONE THROUGH 16, 17 THROUGH 24. 
          SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION ON AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 24 TO BILL, GO AHEAD. 
          I'M SORRY. 
          COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER ONE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MR. PENMAN. 
          MOVING TO SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER ONE, AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 24. 
          IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY DISCUSSION? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. LES AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT, AYE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO NO NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS, ONE THROUGH 24 TO BILL 24 DASH ZERO 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 2 25 THROUGH 27. 
          MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER TWO. 
          I HAVE A SECOND. 
          SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MR. PENMAN. 
          IT'S MOVING. 
          SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER TWO. 
          ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. BULLS AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT AYE. 
          THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO TO NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS 25 THROUGH 27 TO BILL 24 0 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVED. 
          MR. JAN JORDANI, PLEASE READ IN AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH FOUR AND FIVE TO BILL 24 DASH ZERO 11 SETTLEMENT CONTROL AMENDMENTS 1, 2 1 THROUGH FOUR TO BILL 24 DASH 11 SEDIMENT CONTROL INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PENMAN AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON PAGE ONE AFTER LINE 12, INSERT THE FOLLOWING, UH, 2 2 14 DASH FOUR EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS. 
          B, CONTENTS OF EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS. 
          EIGHT. 
          EROSIONS AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS INCLUDING HA STATEMENT REQUIRING THE OWNER SLASH DEVELOPER OR APPLICANT TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT AT THE FOLLOWING STAGES OF THE PROJECT. 
          WERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLAN, GRADING, PERMIT, OR BUILDING PERMIT, ONE PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH DISTURBANCE. 
          TWO, UPON COMPLETION OF THE INSTALLATION OF PERIMETER EROSION AND SENTIMENT CONTROLS, BUT BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY OTHER EARTH DISTURBANCE OR GRADING. 
          THREE ON SITES WHERE THE PROPOSED DISTURBANCE IN EXCESS OF 20 ACRES GRADING WORK MAY PROCEED TO A SUBSEQUENT GRADING UNIT WHEN AT LEAST 50% OF THE DISTURBED AREA IN THE PROCEEDING GRADING AR UNIT HAS BEEN STABILIZED AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 
          BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL MORE THAN TWO GRADING UNITS BE ACTIVE AT ANY TIME. 
          THREE FOUR PRIOR TO THE START OF ANOTHER PHASE OF A CONSTRUCTION OR OPENING OF ANOTHER GRADING UNIT AND FOUR FIVE PRIOR TO THE REMOVAL OF SEDIMENT CONTROL 
          [01:00:01]
PRACTICES. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO ON PAGE THREE AFTER LINE 11, INSERT THE FOLLOWING SECTION TWO AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED THAT PROJECTS AND SITES WITH PRELIMINARY PLAN OR SITE APPROVAL AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACTION NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE 20 ACRE GRADING UNIT LIMITATION AND PROSE BY THIS ACT AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE ON THE TITLE PAGE IN THE SECOND LINE OF TITLE PARAGRAPH AFTER DEC DEFINITIONS, INSERT THE FOLLOWING TO REAPPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS SECTION B EIGHT. 
          THAT'S SUBSECTION SUBSECTION B EIGHT H OF SECTION TWO 14 DASH FOUR EROSION AND SENTIMENT CONTROL PLANS. 
          AND ON THE SAME PAGE IN THE FIFTH LINE OF THE PARAGRAPH AFTER UNIT, INSERT TO PARAGRAPH AFTER UNIT INSERT TO PROVIDE FOR WORK ON NO MORE THAN ONE GRADING UNIT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE ONE IN LINE THREE AFTER AMENDMENTS, INSERT THAT SUBSECTION B EIGHT H OF SECTION TWO 14 DASH FOUR EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL PLANS B AND IT IS HEREBY REPEALED AND REENACTED WITH AMENDMENTS. 
          AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE, INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GUTHRIE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE THREE IN LINE 12, STRIKE THREE AND SUBSTITUTE TWO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          AGENDA ITEM 
          [11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
NUMBER 11, CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS BILL 24 DASH ZERO 12 SOPP AMENDMENTS, SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN 2024. 
          MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 24 DASH YEAR ONE 12. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          HAS IT BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE 24 DASH 12. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN AYE. 
          MR. ANO AYE. 
          MR. RILEY AYE. 
          MR. OSAS AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT AYE. 
          THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE BILL 24 DASH 12 SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN AMENDMENTS 2024 IS HEREBY APPROVED. 
          BILL 24 DASH ZERO 13 DIT FEES. 
          MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 24 DASH 13. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. RILEY. 
          BEEN MOVED. 
          AND SECOND TO APPROVE BILL 24 DASH ZERO 13. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. PRESIDENT? MR. PENMAN? I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF THESE FEES. 
          UM, I KNOW WHEN WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT REV REVENUE GROWTH, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS. 
          I THINK THESE FEES ARE DRASTIC. 
          I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT MR. TRUITT AND HIS TEAM DID. 
          UM, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INFLATION, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN MY CLOSING ARGUMENTS, UH, HERE IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHEN COMPTROLLER BROOKE LEHRMAN SPOKE, UH, SHE TALKED ABOUT THE SLOWING GROWTH TO THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AND HOUSING, HOUSING INCREASING OVER 23% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          UM, BECAUSE THAT IF WE PUT THESE FEES ON TOP OF IT, IT'S ONLY GOING TO ESCALATE INFLATION. 
          UH, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE BEING PROPOSED. 
          I UNDERSTAND THE GAP THEY'RE TRYING TO OBTAIN. 
          UH, BUT I STILL CAN'T SUPPORT THIS FEE, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE ANOTHER TAX. 
          THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. RILEY. 
          AGAIN, THESE FEES HAVEN'T BEEN INCREASED SINCE YEAR 2000. 
          UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONFOUNDS ME IS SOMETIMES COUNCILMAN FROM B WANTS TO SPEND MONEY OTHER PLACES. 
          HERE'S A PLACE WE CAN GET REVENUE AND HE'S NOT IN, UH, FAVOR OF IT. 
          UM, I'M GONNA BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL. 
          THANKS. 
          THANK YOU MR. RILEY. 
          MR. ANA, UM, 20 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO LOOK AT ANY CHANGES IN ANYTHING. 
          UM, STATE DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN INCREASING THE, UH, UH, COST FOR YOU TO INSURE YOUR VEHICLE STARTING JULY 1ST. 
          UM, MORE THAN DOUBLING SOME, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR VEHICLE'S OVER 3,600 POUNDS. 
          SO YOU DRIVE A TRUCK, I DRIVE A TRUCK THAT'S GONNA GO UP. 
          UM, I THINK WHEN WE LOOKED AT LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PAID FOR THE SUBSIDY OF THE TRASH FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR THE INCREASE THAT WE HAD FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. 
          AND THEN WE, WE GOT A, A LARGER BILL THE FOLLOWING YEAR. 
          AND IT'S A USE BILL. 
          SO IF YOU USE TRASH, YOU'VE GOTTA PAY FOR IT. 
          YOU SHOULDN'T EXPECT THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, A USE PERSON HAS TO PAY FOR. 
          SO THE REST OF THE COUNTY DOESN'T NEED TO PAY FOR THE INCREASE IN, IN TRASH. 
          UM, SO THERE, THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE GONNA GO UP. 
          UM, YOU, YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP HOLDING ONTO IT, MAKING THE COUNTY PAY FOR EVERYTHING. 
          YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BALANCE YOUR BUDGET. 
          YOU'RE NEVER GONNA, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA SEE THE LIGHT OF 
          [01:05:01]
DAY. 
          SO, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? UM, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT NOW. 
          UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED ON SINCE I WAS, UH, A 5-YEAR-OLD. 
          AND, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE SERVICES THESE FEES ARE SUPPOSED TO COVER AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE IT WAS SHARED DURING OUR, UH, OUR HEARING FOR THIS BILL THAT THESE FEES COVER LESS THAN HALF THE COST OF THE SERVICES, WHICH MEANS THAT THEN, I MEAN, THE SERVICES STILL NEED TO BE PAID FOR BY THE COUNTY. 
          IT MEANS IT COMES OUT OF YOUR TAXES THAT YOU PAY FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S SERVICES. 
          SO ADJUSTING THE FEE, AND THEY WERE VERY REASONABLE SHOOTING FOR A 90%, UH, COVERAGE RATE. 
          UM, TO GET US BACK TO A HEALTHIER MARGIN ON THERE, IT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING THE SERVICE PAY FOR THE SERVICE AND IT HELPS THE REST OF US HAVE OUR MONEY GO TO OUR SERVICES. 
          UM, IT'S A VERY REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT. 
          THEY LOOKED AT CARROLL COUNTY AS THE MODEL TO LOOK AT. 
          CARROLL COUNTY IS HARDLY THE TAX AND SPEND CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. 
          I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE CARROLL COUNTY IS A PRETTY REASONABLE PLACE, REASONABLE BUDGET THAT THEY WORK WITH. 
          UM, VERY SIMILAR TO US. 
          SO I THINK IT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT, RESPONSIBLE, REASONABLE THING FOR US TO DO. 
          THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. 
          ANYONE ELSE? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? NO. 
          MR. ANO? AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. BOLS? AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT? AYE. 
          THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 
          ONE NEGATIVE BILL. 
          24 DASH ZERO 13 IS HEREBY APPROVED. 
          12 ENROLLMENT 
          [12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS]
OF BILLS BILL 24 DASH ZERO 12. 
          AND BILL 24 DASH ZERO 13 ARE CERTIFIED AS BEING THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED. 
          13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS. 
          WE HAVE NONE. 
          14 
          [14. NEW BUSINESS]
NEW BUSINESS HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NOW, MR. CLARK. 
          MR. BROWN? MM-HMM. 
          , UH, WE HAVE INTER CATEGORY OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFERS BEFORE US THIS EVENING? YES. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENT CENTI, VICE PRESIDENT G AND GIARDANO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS? UH, MY NAME'S ERIC CLARK, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET FOR THE, UH, HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          UM, YOU KIND OF BEAT US TO THE PUNCH ON THE, THE CAPITAL, UH, TRANSFER. 
          UH, SO AFTER I FINISH THE INNER CATEGORY, UM, PRESENTATION, I'LL LET MR. BROWN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOR, FOR THAT PARTICULAR ONE. 
          UM, EACH YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE REVIEW IN THE SPRING OUR, UH, THIRD QUARTER PROJECTIONS, UM, FOR FINAL YEAR END SPENDING. 
          UM, BY STATE LAW. 
          WE CAN'T OVERSPEND IN ANY OF WHAT ANY ONE OF THE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, ADMINISTRATION, MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND SO ON. 
          SO WE GO THROUGH AND I SEND OUT AN EMAIL TO ALL OUR PRINCIPALS AND ALL OUR BUDGET MANAGERS, AND THEY GET BACK TO ME WITH, UM, WHAT THEY'RE PROJECTING TO SPEND THROUGH JUNE 30. 
          IN ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, I COMPILE A BIG SPREADSHEET AND THEN I SAY, WE'RE GONNA BE TIGHT HERE, WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSE HERE, WE'RE GONNA BE, BE OVER HERE. 
          WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF VARIANCE IN THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY. 
          SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING THE FUNDING AROUND WITHIN OUR, UM, APPROVED FY 24 BUDGET. 
          SO THERE'S REALLY THREE PLACES, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OVER INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES. 
          UM, WE'RE GONNA BE WITHIN $200,000 IN A 200 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR CATEGORY. 
          IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY MUCH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO SHOOT YOU OVER. 
          SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO TRANSFER $1 MILLION INTO THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY. 
          OUR NON-PUBLIC PUBLIC PLACEMENT IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CATEGORY, WE'RE PROJECTING TO BE OVER BY ABOUT $1.85 MILLION. 
          SO WE'RE PROJECTING TO, OR WE'RE, UH, REQUESTING TO PUT $2 MILLION INTO THAT. 
          UM, STATE CATEGORY 1 0 6, WHICH IS SPECIAL EDUCATION. 
          AND THEN, UM, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED SOME MATHEMATICAL, UM, UH, CONSUMABLES FOR OUR ENVISION MATH PROGRAM FOR OUR, UH, K THROUGH, I BELIEVE IT WAS EIGHT, UM, STUDENTS. 
          UM, AND THAT'S GONNA PUT US OVER IN THAT CATEGORY. 
          THAT WOULD BE A YEAREND PURCHASE. 
          SO WE'RE REQUESTING A MILLION DOLLARS TO BE PUT INTO THAT PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS. 
          UH, STATE CATEGORY, THE, UM, AREAS WE'RE ASKING THE FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM. 
          UM, WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT AREAS. 
          MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, 250,000 TRANSPORTATION, 750,000 OPERATION OF PLANT, UH, COMMUNICATIONS, 100,000 OPERATION OF PLANT CUSTODIAL SALARIES, 400,000. 
          AND THEN FIXED CHARGES, HEALTH INSURANCE, 2.5 MILLION. 
          SO THAT TOTALS $4 MILLION. 
          I WOULD ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE INTER CATEGORY TRANSFER FOR THE FY 24 
          [01:10:01]
OPERATING BUDGET. 
          MR. DEN. 
          SO EVENING GENERAL GENTLEMEN, I JUST WANNA, UH, SAY ONE THING. 
          THE CUSTODIANS NEVER GET ANY, ANY PRAISE OR ANY ANYTHING FOR THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND WORK THAT THEY PUT IN AND DO EVERY DAY. 
          I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A STUDENT YEARS AGO, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE. 
          THEY'RE THERE LATE AT NIGHT AND EVERYTHING. 
          AND I JUST WANNA ECHO MY, UH, APPRECIATION FOR THEM PUBLICLY. 
          ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND I, I HEARD YOU GUYS MENTION THAT. 
          SO THAT, THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY. 
          I THINK THEY NEVER GET ACCOLADES AND EVERYTHING AND, AND, UH, THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE AND THEY'RE ALWAYS DOING THE WORK. 
          SO I I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          FIRST THREE PEOPLE I MET WHEN I WAS A TEACHER. 
          I WAS THE LEAD SECRETARY, THE HEAD CUSTODIAN, AND THE FOOD NUTRITION WORKERS DOWN IN THE CAFETERIA. 
          IF YOU, IF YOU KEEP THOSE THREE PEOPLE HAPPY, YOUR LIFE'S PRETTY EASY. 
          . 
          SO I, I WOULD ECHO THAT SENTIMENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          ANYONE ELSE? WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS BEFORE WE SPEAK WITH MR. BROWN. 
          UM, SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE INTER CATEGORY OPERATING BUDGET TRANSFER FISCAL YEAR 24 SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MR. GUTHRIE. 
          IT'S BEEN MOVED. 
          SECOND, UH, TO APPROVE THE INTER CATEGORY TRANSFER. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? ANY DISCUSSION, MS. DIX OR MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO? AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. WIL SOS AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT, AYE, THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES? AFFIRM IS ZERO A NEGATIVE, THE BUDGET TRANSFER IS HEREBY APPROVED, MR. BROWN? UH, YES. 
          SO EACH YEAR, UM, SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR, WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, TO SEE WHICH PROJECTS WE CAN CLOSE OUT. 
          SO, UM, WITH WORKING WITH OUR PROJECT TEAM AND WORKING WITH THE, UM, BUDGET OFFICE WITH THE HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UM, WE SEE THAT, UM, BAKERFIELD ELEMENTARY, UM, PROJECT CAN BE CLOSED OUT. 
          UM, HAVE THE GRACE ELEMENTARY, UM, ROOF PROJECT CAN BE CLOSED OUT. 
          UM, AND THE SWINE CREEK ROOF PROJECT, UM, CAN ALSO BE CLOSED OUT. 
          SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, TRANSFERRING THOSE FUNDS TO OTHER PROJECTS. 
          UM, AT BAKERFIELD WE HAVE A CHILLER PROJECT, UM, THAT'S NEAR IN COMPLETION. 
          WE LIKE TO TRANSFER FUNDS AND THEN JUST, UM, HOLD ON TO $20,000 TO CLOSE THAT PROJECT. 
          UM, THE MEADOWVILLE CHILLER PROJECT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THAT PROJECT OUT. 
          AND THEN OVER AT SWAN CREEK WE HAVE THE HVAC PROJECT WHERE WE LIKE TO TRANSFER SOME FUNDS, UM, BUT TO HOLD BACK ON 27, 915,000 TO CLOSE THAT PROJECT OUT. 
          UM, THE PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TRANSFER FUNDS TO, UH, WE HAVE A FACILITIES REPAIR, UM, PROGRAM, UM, AND SOME A DA WORK THAT WE LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, DO AT A COUPLE OF SCHOOLS FOR, UM, $500,000 THAT WE'D LIKE TO TRANSFER INTO THAT. 
          UM, PROJECT CATEGORY OVER AT JOB TOWN HIGH. 
          UH, WE'RE PLANNING FOR SOME, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE AND, UM, STORMWATER, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE TO IMPROVE THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ON THAT PROJECT. 
          UH, WE LIKE TO TRANSFER $300,000. 
          WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR ENGINEERS TO SCOPE THAT PROJECT OUT. 
          UM, WE GOT SOME ESTIMATES AND WE LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER FUNDS SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT. 
          UM, YOU'RE AWARE THAT, UM, WE, UM, STARTED THE, THE DESIGN ON, UM, THE ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL TICKET BOOTH SO THEY CAN HAVE A TICKET BOOTH SIMILAR TO WHAT, WHAT OUR OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE. 
          UM, THERE'S SOME ELECTRICAL WORK THAT WE DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR IN ORIGINAL A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ESTIMATE. 
          UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TRANSFER 25,000 IN THERE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT. 
          UM, SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF SOME, UM, ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, AFTER OUR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES. 
          UM, WE LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, OUR HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES, UM, DO A LIGHTING EVALUATION AND, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME EXTERIOR LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS ON SOME OF OUR, UM, PARKING LOTS. 
          SO THAT IS SOME $300,000 TO GET THAT STARTED. 
          UM, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL WORK ONCE WE COMPLETE THE EVALUATION. 
          UM, THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, UM, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE ENROLLMENT, UH, CAPACITY ISSUES. 
          UM, WE KNOW WE HAVE, UH, BLUEPRINT, UM, INITIATIVES THAT, UM, WE NEED TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE. 
          SO WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS, UH, PLANNING EFFORTS SO WE CAN EVALUATE, UM, OUR BUILDINGS AND SPACES AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, MAGNOLIA AND HAVE A GRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE WE HAVE SOME CAPACITY ISSUES THERE. 
          WE LIKE TO DO A, UH, FEASIBILITY STUDY, UM, OF THOSE FACILITIES SO WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, DETERMINE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE THERE AND THE BALANCE OF, UM, THE FUNDS WE LIKE TO PLACE IN OUR MAJOR HVAC PROJECT IS A ROLLING CAPITAL, UM, CATEGORY THAT WE, UM, KEEP GOING FOR ANY UNFORESEEN MAJOR HVAC, UM, 
          [01:15:01]
REPAIRS THAT, UM, COME UP. 
          SO, UM, THAT TOTALS A LITTLE BIT OVER $2 MILLION THAT WE'D LIKE TO TRANSFER FROM PROJECTS THAT ARE, UM, GOING TO BE CLOSED OUT OR NEARING, UM, YOU KNOW, CLOSING INTO THOSE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES SO I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. 
          THANK YOU MR. BROWN. 
          ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CORNELL? SEEING NONE. 
          MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION. 
          I NEED A MOTION. 
          OH, . 
          SORRY. 
          TRYING TO GET AHEAD. 
          COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN CAPITAL PROJECTS. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU MR. PENMAN. 
          MOVING TO SECOND AND TO APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS. 
          NOW IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO? AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. BULLS? AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT AYE, YOU BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE TO BUDGET TRANSFER FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 IS HEREBY APPROVED. 
          THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. 
          THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE IT. 
          UH, COUNCIL SUMMER, LEGISLATIVE DAY, SUMMER SCHEDULE. 
          UM, WE TYPICALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY MEETINGS IN JULY OR AUGUST, ALTHOUGH I WAS MADE AWARE OF A POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE LATE AUGUST. 
          WE MAY BE CALLED BACK IF THIS IS APPROVED. 
          UM, BUT NEVERTHELESS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE COUNCIL, UH, LSD SUMMER SCHEDULE. 
          MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          THANK YOU. 
          MR. PENMAN. 
          MOVE IS SECOND TO APPROVE THE SUMMER SCHEDULE. 
          IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. 
          MR. GUTHRIE? AYE. 
          MR. PENMAN? AYE. 
          MR. ANO? AYE. 
          MR. RILEY? AYE. 
          MRS. LES? AYE. 
          MR. BENNETT? AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE TO SUMMER SCHEDULES HEREBY APPROVED, UH, AGENDA NUMBER 
          [17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
17, COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS? MS. DIXON, WE HAVE ONE, MR. PRESIDENT DAVE MITCHELL. 
          I THANK YOU, MITCHELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          A PATIENT, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, 16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. 
          UM, MR. BENNETT? HELLO, UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. 
          UM, IT'S BEEN A BUSY, UH, BUSY WEEK. 
          UM, I WANNA CONGRATULATE THE GRADUATES FROM HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. 
          UH, ESPECIALLY OUR FIRST TWO PTECH STUDENTS FROM JOPPA DOWN HIGH SCHOOL WHO RECEIVED THEIR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT PRIOR TO THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. 
          SO THAT'S A REALLY HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. 
          BUT TO ALL THOSE FIGHTING ALS WHO GRADUATED, CONGRATULATIONS. 
          AND THEN ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE AT PARIS AND MILL HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAD THEIR GRADUATION TODAY. 
          I WAS VERY LUCKY TO ATTEND THAT. 
          THAT'S MY ALMA MATER, WHICH DATES ME SOME, UH, AS PART OF THE FOURTH GRADUATING CLASS. 
          NOW THEY'RE ON THEIR 15TH THIS YEAR. 
          SO, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE, UM, WHO CELEBRATE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MS. OTS. 
          GOOD EVENING. 
          UM, I WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK THE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. 
          AND ALWAYS, WE, YOU'RE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 
          UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING AT HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, 30TH CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATION EXERCISE LAST WEEK. 
          AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL GRADUATES AND UPCOMING EVENT ON MAY 31ST FROM FIVE TO NINE AT LIDOS FIELD IN RIPKIN STADIUM. 
          THERE WILL BE A YOUR MIND MATTERS FAMILY WELLNESS NIGHT. 
          SO STOP OUT AND ENJOY SOME TIME WITH THE FAMILY. 
          HAVE A GOOD EVENING. 
          THANK YOU MS. S, MR. RILEY. 
          YES. 
          UH, I WANNA CONGRATULATE JANIS RUPE, UH, IT 36 YEARS OF SERVICE HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. 
          ALSO, I ATTENDED THE, UH, NORVILLE AND NORTH BEND ELEMENTARY PATRIOT PROGRAMS THAT WAS ON FRIDAY. 
          AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GAVE THEIR LIFE FOR THIS COUNTRY. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU MR. RILEY. 
          MR. JAN ETT. 
          THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. 
          UM, I ATTENDED THE BEL AIR MEMORIAL, UH, CEREMONY AT, UH, IT'S THE 39TH CEREMONY PUT ON BY THE AMERICAN LEGION AND ALSO THE BEL AIR COMMUNITY BAND DOES ALL THE HYMNS FOR THE, UM, ARMED SERVICES, WHICH IS PRETTY, UM, PRETTY NEAT. 
          IT'S VERY WELL ATTENDED. 
          AS I SAID, IT'S THE 39TH, SO, UM, UM, ALSO CONGRATULATIONS. 
          THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL. 
          UM, DID THAT THIS PAST FRIDAY AND TODAY, ALONG WITH, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN PENMAN, COUNCILMAN, UM, BENNETT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, VINCENTI. 
          WE WERE AT PATTERSON MILL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MY ALMA MATER, UH, BELLOR HIGH SCHOOL ON THURSDAY AND SEEING THE ROSE ARCHES, WHICH, UH, I THINK THEY'RE THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT DOES THAT. 
          SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. 
          THANK YOU. 
          UM, MR. PENMAN. 
          THANK YOU, MR. 
          [01:20:01]
PRESIDENT. 
          UH, I TOO WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE HONORABLE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR FREEDOMS. UM, I ALSO, UH, WANT TO NOTE, UH, THE ADDICTED PLAY BY CRYSTAL HENZEL IS COMING TO SEVERAL SCHOOLS, UH, IN MOUNT ZION CHURCH, UH, NORTH HARTFORD SCHOOL, THURSDAY, MAY 30TH, THUR, UH, THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL IN MOUNT ZION CHURCH ON SATURDAY JUNE 8TH. 
          SO IT'S A ADDICTED PLAY WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL HENZEL, JUST, UH, REALLY PROMOTES AWARENESS AND RECOVERY. 
          UH, SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB ON MULTIPLE PROGRAMS, UM, FOR THE HARTFORD COUNTY, UH, TO INCLUDE THE HARTFORD, UH, COUNTY OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY. 
          UH, THIS IS ALSO SPONSORED BY THE MARYLAND CENTER OF ART, SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IT SHOULD BE OUT THERE, UM, ON THE COUNTY PAGE. 
          UM, I DO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE FOTON BOYS LACROSSE, UH, TEAM WHO WON THEIR THIRD, UM, STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR ONE A, UH, IN FOUR YEARS. 
          I THINK THEY BEAT LIBERTY, UH, 15 TO TWO. 
          SO I'M IN, UH, DIALOGUE WITH THEIR, UH, SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. 
          HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM IN AND, UH, DO A PROCLAMATION BEFORE THEIR SUMMER BREAK. 
          UM, I DO WANT TO NOTE A COUPLE THINGS. 
          WE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER AS FAR AS, UH, THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK. 
          UM, COMPTROLLER BROOKE LMAN SPOKE AT THE GREATER HARTFORD, UH, GREATER HARTFORD MEETING ON MAY 22ND AT THE MARYLAND GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB. 
          I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT MY CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISOR, BROOK SCHERER, WAS THERE. 
          AND, UH, THERE WAS A COUPLE POINTS THAT I THINK, UH, AGAIN, THAT WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER. 
          UM, RIGHT NOW, UM, OUR LABOR, THERE'S THREE JOB OPENINGS PER, UH, FOR EVERY ONE PERSON LOOKING IN MARYLAND, COMPARED TO 1.3 JOB OPENINGS FOR EVERY ONE PERSON LOOKING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. 
          AGAIN, SLOWING GROWTH, UH, DUE TO HIGH COST OF LIVING IN, IN MARYLAND, AND THE LACK OF HOUSING INVENTORY IS A HUGE PROBLEM. 
          UH, HOUSING SUPPLY IN MARYLAND HAS DECREASED BY OVER 70% OVER THE LAST DECADE, UH, WHICH IS CAUSING, YOU KNOW, 23% INCREASE ON, ON HOUSING COSTS. 
          SO IT ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, FUELS THE INFLATION, SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER GOING FORWARD. 
          SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. PEN. 
          AND MR. GUTHRIE. 
          UH, I THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 
          UH, FIRST I'D ELECTED TO CONGRATULATE, UH, CHARLES CARNEY. 
          GOT BACK FROM ITALY IN ONE PIECE SINCE, UH, HE WENT ALL THE WAY TO ITALY TO RIDE HIS SUBWAY TO GET MUGGED . 
          CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? AND, UH, FORTUNATELY HE DIDN'T GET HURT. 
          , UH, GOT WELL IN FACT. 
          BUT, UH, THAT, UH, I AIN'T GONNA SAY THIS TO TONY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE GOT LOPSIDED IN ITALY. 
          SO, UH, UH, BUT GLAD YOU'RE BACK IN ONE PIECE. 
          ANYWAY, CHARLIE, UM, ON WEDNESDAY I ATTENDED THE, UH, TEACHER'S ACADEMY IN, UH, MARYLAND GRADUATION AT, UH, THE TOWSON, UH, UH, UNIT UP HERE IN HAVE IN, UH, UH, NEAR, NEAR THE COLLEGE, UH, THAT'S, UH, 16 GRADUATES THAT, THAT ACTUALLY ARE FROM JOPPA TOWN. 
          ON THURSDAY, I ATTENDED THE HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT WITH A COUPLE OF, UH, WITH, UH, UM, APP PENMAN AND, AND THE, AND, AND, UH, OUR PRESIDENT AND THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE. 
          AND ALSO ATTENDED AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, UH, CEREMONY AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE GRADUATED, UM, UH, 26 GRADUATES. 
          AND I PROVIDED THEM ALL WITH A, UH, UM, A COUNCIL CITATION ALONG WITH THE, UH, HARTFORD'S, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HAD 12 GRADUATES, UH, ACADEMY OF FINANCE AND 96 GRADUATES, ALONG WITH, UH, UH, TEACHER'S ACADEMY OF MARYLAND DAY. 
          HAD, UH, FROM CHOPPA TOWN, 16 GRADUATES. 
          HAR HARFORD ACADEMY HAD SEVEN GRADUATES FROM CHOPPA TOWN AND HARFORD COUNTY HARFORD, UH, UH, ACADEMY OF FUTURE LINK HAD 10 GRADUATES. 
          SO I'VE BEEN KIND OF BUSY WITH, UH, WITH, UH, IONS THIS PAST WEEK. 
          UM, THE EDGEWOOD JOB OF TOWN COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WILL MEET, UH, UH, NEXT MONDAY, JUNE 3RD AT SIX 30 AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 
          SHERIFF'S SOUTHERN PRECINCT AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE WILL BE OUR SPEAKER. 
          ALSO WANNA HONOR THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY, UH, AND, UH, OUR WARS, UH, HAVE FOUGHT AND, AND, UH, UH, IN ALL OUR CONFLICTS, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN I HONOR MY, UH, FATHER-IN-LAW, WHO'S NO LONGER WITH US. 
          HE DIED ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, WHO WAS A WORLD WAR II, UH, VET, UM, WITH THE SLEW OF MEDALS THAT HE DIDN'T TELL US ABOUT TILL WE FOUND OUT AFTER HE PASSED AWAY. 
          AND HE HAD 'EM ALL IN THE BOX. 
          HE MUST HAVE 10 OR 12 OF THEM. 
          UM, I THINK I'LL BRING HIM IN ONE TIME. 
          WE MOUNTED HIM. 
          I THINK I'LL BRING HIM IN TIME SO I CAN SHOW EVERYBODY. 
          UH, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 18 OR 19, HE WAS IN THE GERMAN WARD. 
          HE LANDED, UH, AT, UH, NORMANDY. 
          AND, UH, ALSO, AND, UH, UH, 
          [01:25:01]
HE, UH, TALKED. 
          HE NEVER, HE NEVER TALKED ABOUT IT MUCH, BUT WE FOUND THIS NINE PAGE LETTER THAT HE WROTE. 
          UM, UH, MANY YEARS LATER, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 18 OR 19 YEARS OLD, HE WROTE A NINE PAGE LETTER BY A HAND, OF COURSE, AND SENT IT BACK TO THE FOLKS. 
          UM, AND HE TALKED ABOUT KILLING HIS FIRST GERMAN. 
          AND, UH, THAT NINE PAGE DOCUMENT, I SENT A COPY OF IT TO, UH, WORLD WAR II MUSEUM, WHICH IS IN, IN, UH, NEW ORLEANS TO LOUISIANA. 
          AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE FRAMED THAT, UH, DOWN THERE, UH, IN NEW ORLEANS. 
          AND, UH, HE TALKED ABOUT WHERE HE CAME AROUND THE CORNER. 
          HE WAS A BAZOOKA GUY, AND HE CAME AROUND THE CORNER AND THERE WAS A GERMAN THERE. 
          AND HE, HE, HE, UH, FIRED HIS LUGER AT HIM, GERMAN LUGER, AND IT MISFIRED. 
          AND HE WAS ABLE TO, TO KILL HIS GERMANS, SAVE HIS LIFE. 
          SO HE FIGURED IT'S 18 OR 19 YEARS OLD HOW THINGS COULD CHANGE AN ENTIRE LIFE. 
          YOU KNOW, IF THAT DOESN'T MISFIRE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET MARRIED. 
          YOU DON'T HAVE MY WIFE . 
          WELL, LET ME THINK ABOUT THAT. 
          NO, UH, UM, UH, BUT YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU THINK ABOUT HOW, HOW ONE THING LIKE THAT IN ONE EVENT, LIKE I CAN CHANGE, UH, UM, A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES IN, IN, IN THE FUTURE. 
          UH, SO, UH, WE CERTAINLY MISS HIM. 
          AND, UH, SINCE THEN, OF COURSE, WE MOVED, UH, MOM IN WITH US AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US, AND SHE JUST TURNED 98 ON MOTHER'S DAY. 
          SO WE HOPE WE GET HER TO A HUNDRED. 
          SO WE CAN BRING HER HERE AND GIVE HER A LITTLE PROCLAMATION. 
          THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. 
          THANK YOU, MR. GUTHRIE. 
          UM, WHEN WE SAY THANK YOU, I, I JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE. 
          I'M EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS IN THIS COUNTRY. 
          UM, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL THAT MY GRANDSON IS PROGRESSING AS WELL AS HE IS. 
          UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE GRADUATES OF THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS THAT WE'VE ATTENDED OVER THE LAST, UH, WEEK OR SO. 
          UH, WE HAVE NORTH BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR THEIR PATRIOT PROGRAM, FOUNTAIN GREEN FOR THEIR PATRIOT PROGRAM, C MILTON WRIGHT, EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, PATTERSON MILL, SWAN CREEK, UH, FUTURE LINK. 
          I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, AND CONGRATULATE JANICE RU, UH, FOR HER 36 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE IT DEPARTMENT HERE AT THE COUNTY. 
          UH, SHE'S SORELY GONNA BE MISSED. 
          I WANNA CONGRATULATE JAY YOUNG ON HIS GOOD SCOUT AWARD AND, UH, RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS 50 YEARS OF SERVICE AT BROWN, BROWN AND YOUNG. 
          AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE, UH, FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT HE'S GIVEN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS, UH, IN OUR COUNTY OVER THOSE YEARS. 
          SO DON'T WANNA LOSE, UH, SIGHT OF THAT. 
          AND THEN ALSO, UH, BUSINESS SIDE, I HAVE TO ADD, ADVERTISE THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON JUNE 5TH, 6:00 PM SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM. 
          AND THEN FINALLY, I WANNA THANK THE, UH, SHERIFF FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO JOIN THEM AT THEIR DUI CHECKPOINT FRIDAY EVENING. 
          AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ALONG, UH, WITH THE DEPUTIES AGAIN, UH, TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE FOR US. 
          I THINK, UM, I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT FIRSTHAND. 
          THEN WHEN WE GET THESE FUNDING REQUESTS, UH, WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE USING THOSE FUNDS FOR. 
          UM, SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS MEETING. 
          OH, EXCUSE ME, ONE THING I FORGOT. 
          MARILYN WAS IN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, LACROSSE, THEY LOST TO NOTRE DAME, BUT IT WAS A GREAT SEASON. 
          I'M A PROUD TURP. 
          I WON MY TURP TIE. 
          SO ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS, MARYLAND TERRAPINS. 
          THANK YOU. 
          WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS MEETING OR ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.