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EVENING CHAIR CALLS TO ORDER PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT BILLS THIS EVENING.BUT FIRST, I'D LIKE TO START BY, UM, ANNOUNCING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ASKED US TO PULL, UH, THREE BOND BILLS THIS EVENING.
AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKED AT, UH, OVER THE SUMMER BREAK AND PROBABLY BE INTRODUCED LATE AUGUST, EARLY SEPTEMBER.
UH, BOUND BOND COUNCIL BELIEVES IT WOULD BE MORE, I GUESS, UH, EFFICIENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND GIVE THEM TIME TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN UP WITH BILL 24 DASH ZERO
[PUBLIC HEARING ]
18 LIQUOR STORES AND B ONE NEIGHBOR BUSINESS DISTRICT, MR. PENMAN.UM, BILL 24 18 LIQUOR STORES AND B ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT.
UH, THIS IS LEGISLATION BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE OF A COMMUNITY REQUEST AND A DEMAND.
I STRIVE TO HEAR AND LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS ON ALL ISSUES AND MAKE THE BEST JUDGMENT AFTER CAREFUL EVALUATION AND CONSIDERATION OF ALL FACTORS.
THIS IS WHY I HAVE VOTED TO REMOVE APARTMENTS IN B THREE, WHICH HAS WAS DRIVEN BY A FOSTERING COMMUNITY.
THIS IS WHY I'VE ADVOCATED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, INTRODUCE CHICKEN LEGISLATION AND A DU LEGISLATION.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, WHICH IS WHY I BROUGHT THIS LEGISLATION HERE FORWARD.
THE OWNERS AND THE NEIGHBORS OF MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI HAVE SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THEY WANT THIS LONG TENURED COMMUNITY STABLE TO REMAIN IN PLACE BECAUSE CURRENTLY ITS EXISTENCE IS IN JEOPARDY.
OVERWHELMINGLY, UH, UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM REAL PEOPLE, NOT BOTS LIKE WE'VE RECEIVED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR OTHER LEGISLATION, I SHOULD SAY, EXCUSE ME, BUT REAL PEOPLE SIGNING PETITIONS RIGHT HERE.
I HAVE A PETITIONS FROM 112 SIGNATURES FROM NEARBY NEIGHBORS OF THE MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE RECEIVED OVER 40 EMAILS, 40 EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN DISSEMINATED ACROSS THE COUNCIL HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA READ A COUPLE QUOTES, UM, FROM THESE EMAILS.
THE FAMILY THAT, UH, HAS THE MOUNTAIN ROAD LIQUOR BUSINESS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY NICE PEOPLE AND RUN AN EXCELLENT AND VERY CLEAN STORE.
I HAVE KNOWN THEM FOR ABOUT 19 YEARS SINCE THEY BECAME THE OWNERS.
THE STORE AND THE FAMILY ARE GREAT ASSETS TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE OWNERSHIP IS VERY RESPECTFUL, AND THE PROPERTY IS CLEAN AND SAFE.
THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
UH, AND, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI, SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS FOR 19 YEARS, SERVING COMMUNITY WITH HONESTY.
I AM WRITING THIS EMAIL IN SUPPORT OF BILL 24 18 FILED BY MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI IN SPIRITS.
THIS IS WHY I'M ADVOCATING TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
BILL 24 18 WOULD ENSURE THAT MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI REMAINS IN PLACE BY ALLOWING LIQUOR STORES TO BE PERMITTED IN B ONE RATHER THAN ACCESSORY OR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THE MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI HAS NO NEED TO SELL CHIPS OR DELIS THAT RURAL FARMS IN THE WAWAS HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT NEED, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, UH, LONG BEFORE THE RURAL FARMS IN THE WAWAS WERE THERE.
THERE IS A COMMUNITY NEED FOR THE VITAL BUSINESS THAT HE, UH, PROVIDES.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD, UH, DIRECTLY ONLY AFFECT ABOUT SEVEN LOCATIONS, UH, THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE.
UH, AND I TELL YOU HERE THEY ARE THAT ARE UNDER, UH, THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY ARE THE P AND G MINI MARTIN ABERDEEN ON OLD PHILADELPHIA ROAD, THE MOORES MILL LIQUOR AND CONVENIENCE THERE ON CHURCHVILLE ROAD.
THIRD BASE LIQUORS ON FOUNTAIN GREEN ROAD, EDGEWOOD LIQUOR'S GROCERY AND DELI ON PHILADELPHIA ROAD FALLS, BEER AND WINE.
THE SEVEN 11 THERE ON PLEASANTVILLE ROAD.
HERB'S ON THE CURB ON CHAPEL ROAD AND MOUNTAIN ROAD.
DELI AND SPIRITS, UH, IN JOBA TOWN KIND OF SPREAD OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
WHEN EVALUATING THE CURRENT ZONING LAWS, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT THE LIQUOR STORES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN B ONE.
IF WE ARE COMPARING ZONING TYPES, THERE ARE PERMITTED IN MUCH LESS DENSE AREAS LIKE VB VILLAGE BUSINESS IN MUCH MORE DENSE LIKE B TWO, B THREE AND CI.
YOU MAY HEAR ARGUMENT FROM SOME THAT BELIEVE THE LIQUOR STORES WILL END UP ON EVERY CORNER IN B ONE ZONE PROPERTY, WHICH IS JUST NOT TRUE.
THE LIQUOR BOARD CONTROLS THE LIQUOR LICENSES ISSUED, AND ALCOHOL ZONING, UH, IS SUBJECT TO THE ANNOTATE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND.
TITLE 22, THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE ARTICLE.
THE ARTICLE HIGHLY REGULATES THE NUMBER OF LOCATIONS ON BOTH CLASS A AND CLASS ONE A, UH, LICENSES.
FOR INSTANCE, CLASS A LICENSES ARE LIMITED FOR EVERY 4,000 INDIVIDUALS IN A HARTFORD COUNTY AS SPECIFIED BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
BASED ON THE HARTFORD COUNTY'S CURRENT
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POPULATION, THERE IS ABOUT 12 UNUSED LIQUOR, UH, LICENSES AVAILABLE TO BE USED, UH, IN HARTFORD COUNTY.AND TO ASSESS, SUGGEST THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE ON EVERY CORNER, UH, IN A B ONE IS JUST, IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
FURTHERMORE, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES DISTANCING FROM LIQUOR STORE MEASURE NEAR THE POINTS.
YOU KNOW, UH, NEAREST POINT, UH, TO THE BUILDING MAY BE WAVED BY THE LIQUOR BOARD FROM 1000 TO 300 FEET, UM, WHICH IS GONNA BE SUBJECT TO SECTION TWO, UH, DASH 1602, UH, AND HAVING A, A WAIVER HEARING IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
IN PREPARATION OF THIS LEGISLATION, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH LIQUOR BOARD CHAIR WAYNE GODDARD, THAT SUPPORTS THE LEGISLATION, AND I'LL READ A QUOTE FROM MR. GODDARD.
FRANKLY, I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED IN THIS SONY CLASSIFICATION.
I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AS WRITTEN, AND IT SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD, SO THE LIQUOR BOARD SUPPORTS IT.
I KNOW OTHER ARGUMENTS, UH, IN THIS, UH, DISCUSSION COULD BE THAT THE MARIJUANA WOULD THEN BE ALLOWED IN B ONE, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A REAL POSSIBILITY EITHER.
ACCORDINGLY, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE FIVE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN HARTFORD COUNTY, AND THEY'RE ALL LOCATED IN B THREE OR CI, WHICH HAS VAST MORE DENSITY THAN B ONE.
AND IF WE WANT TO COMPARE THAT, TECHNICALLY THE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES COULD BE IN VB, WHICH IS A WHOLE LOT LESS DENSE THAN B ONE, BUT IN TOTAL, THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT LICENSED DISPENSARIES THAT ARE COMING TO HARFORD COUNTY.
SO THERE'S THREE REMAINING, AND THE STATE IS GONNA DETERMINE WHERE THEY GO.
SO, UM, BASED OFF THE REQUEST, BASED OFF THE UNATTENDED, UH, CONSEQUENCES, I BELIEVE THIS IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
I BELIEVE THIS IS GOOD FOR HARTFORD COUNTY, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, HARTFORD COUNTY.
THAT'S WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE MOUNTAIN ROAD DELI IN SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION.
AND I ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL DO AS WELL.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT.
COUNSEL, ANYTIME FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, MR. GUTHRIE? WELL, UH, MY, I MY CONCERNS ARE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, UM, THIS IS ONE STORE AND ONE PLACE THAT WE'RE PASSING A BILL THAT BASICALLY COVERS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OPEN B ONE TO LIQUOR STORES ALL OVER THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THIS ONE, UH, ESTABLISHMENT.
THIS ESTABLISHMENT WON'T BE HURT BY THIS BILL.
THEY, THEY'RE OPEN AND THEY RUN.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SO LONG, THEY'RE, THERE'S A PROBLEM, UH, THAT THEY'D BE GRANDFATHERED AT SOME POINT IN TIME, UH, AND COULD BE NOW, UH, AND COULD BE MADE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION WHEN WE HAVE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE REZONING, WHICH IS COMING UP, UH, RIGHT AWAY, UH, SOON, UH, WE NOW, WE NOW HAVE LIQUOR STORES IN, IN VB, B TWO, B THREE, CI AND MO RIGHT NOW.
NOW WE WANT TO ADD, UH, UH, WE WANT TO ADD, UM, B ONE.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, IF WE ADD B ONE, AND THIS IS EACH AREA, AND IT HITS EVERY AREA, EVERY, UH, COUNCIL, EVERY DISTRICT ON, ON THIS ENTIRE COUNCIL, UH, IT WOULD ADD 230 MORE, UH, FACILITIES WITH A POSSIBILITY OF HAVING, UH, ADDITIONAL LIQUOR STORES.
NOW, THAT'S THE TOP OF THE LINE.
I MEAN, UH, UH, THAT ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN.
ABERDEEN 32, ABINGDON 25, AIRE 49, BELL CAMP TWO, CHURCHVILLE SEVEN, DARLINGTON SEVEN, EDGEWOOD 18, FALLSTON 13, GRACE 13, JARRETTSVILLE 12 JOPPA 27 MONCTON, ONE PERM, UH, PINEVILLE 12 STREET EIGHT, WHITEFORD THREE FOR A TOTAL OF, OF 230.
SO I DON'T NEED, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED ONE.
BILL COVERS THE WHOLE COUNTY JUST BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S, UH, ONE STORE THAT WON'T BE AFFECTED AT ALL, EVEN IF IT'S BILLED, DOESN'T PASS, UH, UM, UH, THAT, THAT THE WHOLE COUNTY SHOULD, SHOULD BASICALLY PAY THE PRICE.
UM, AND AGAIN, THE POTENTIAL FOR EACH ONE ALSO TO HAVE, UM, UH, UH, MARIJUANA OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A FANCY NAME EITHER WAY.
UH, THE POTENTIALS, THE POTENTIAL'S THERE.
SO, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MY CONCERN.
AND, UH, I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S LEGISLATION.
IT'S NOT JUST TAKING CARE OF THIS ONE STORE IS PUTTING B ONE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, UH, UM, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE LIQUOR STORES IN A, IN A, IN A ANOTHER WHOLE, UM, UH,
[00:10:01]
ZONING DISTRICT.UH, WE GOT COMPREHENSIVE REZONING COMING UP, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE PLACE TO DECIDE IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PLACE TO DECIDE THAT.
YEAH, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, THREE OF THE POINTS THAT YOU MADE.
UM, YOU SAID IT'S ONLY ONE LOCATION, BUT THAT IN FACT, IT'S ACTUALLY SEVEN.
I WENT AHEAD AND, UH, MENTIONED ALL OF THOSE.
AND ONE OF 'EM IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, THE EDGEWOOD LIQUOR GROCERY, AND DEHI.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WENT DOWN THERE AND TALKED TO THEM, BUT I'M SURE THEY WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, LEGISLATION.
UH, AND THEN COPPER ZONING, YES, WE DO HAVE COPPER ZONING, BUT IF YOU, UH, EVALUATE THIS IN COMP ZONING, BUT YOU HAVE POTENTIAL TO, UH, UPGRADE THE, UH, THE ZONING AND THEN ALLOW MORE PERMITTED USES, UM, WHICH COULD BE A BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A PRE-EXISTING LIQUOR STORE AT THIS LOCATION.
AND TO OPEN IT UP TO A WHOLE LOT MORE PERMITTED USES, I WOULD HAVE A LOT OF WHOLE, YOU KNOW, MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, RESISTING THAT AS WELL.
AND THE 230 LOCATIONS, THAT'S JUST NOT FACTUALLY CORRECT.
UH, THERE'S 4,000, UH, INDIVIDUALS, UH, FOR EVERY ONE LIQUOR STORE, THERE'S ONLY 12 ONUS LIQUOR LICENSES AVAILABLE.
UM, SO TO GET TO TWO THOU 230, I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A MASS ENTRANCE IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY.
UH, AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE APARTMENTS TO EVEN TO PUT THEM UP.
SO GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND, I'VE SEEN THE EMAILS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A LOT OF THEM COME FROM THE PEOPLE THAT SURROUND THAT, THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
BUT I ALSO HAVE GOTTEN EMAILS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTY WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THAT.
UM, MYSELF, THIS IS, THIS IS A FIX FOR ONE, UH, STORE, SO IT CAN BE COMPLIANT AND SOLD TO FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT THERE, THERE, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THIS.
UM, I KNOW HE DOESN'T HAVE A DELI IN THERE.
HE GOT RID OF THE DELI BECAUSE OF THE MEATS, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER STORE THAT WAS IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT.
THEY BECAME USED, THE CONVENIENCE STORE HAD ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW, LOOK, WHEN YOU GO AND BUY SODA AND BEER, I'M, I'M SORRY, AND WINE AND EVERYTHING.
USUALLY PEOPLE WANT TO BUY SOME KIND OF SNACKS.
THEY COULD MAKE DRY GOODS IN THERE.
UM, I SAW THE LETTER FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO FOR THE MOORE'S MILL SEVEN 11 THAT TURNED INTO A, FROM A CONVENIENCE STORE TO PLACE THAT SELLS BEER, WINE, LIQUOR, AND SPIRITS.
THEY HAD TO DO A CERTAIN THING, AND THEY WERE APPROVED TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT THIS GENTLEMAN CANNOT DO THAT.
SO I CAN'T SEE, UM, APPROVING THIS BILL FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY BECAUSE OF ONE PERSON'S WISH FOR THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S SEVEN LIQUOR STORES NOW, OR 10 LIQUOR STORES DOWN THE ROAD, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT CANNABIS STORES, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE PUT IN, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH LIQUOR LAWS IN, IN FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER WAY IS IF HE, IF HE GOES THAT WAY AND GETS HIMSELF IN COMPLIANCE, THEN MAYBE HE CAN BE GRANDFATHERED IN, BUT HE'S GOTTA BE IN COMPLIANCE, SO THAT, THAT'S A STEP TO TAKE.
AND THEN HE'S GRANDFATHERED IN AND CAN DO THAT.
OR LIKE DEON SAID, WE CAN GO COMPREHENSIVE REZONING.
SO, UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, MR. JAN DEN AND MR. BENNETT.
I JUST WANNA ECHO, UH, THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMAN IN DISTRICT A AND DISTRICT C.
UM, IN JUST MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION, I DEFINITELY HEAR, UM, THE RESIDENTS WHO REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID, HEY, WE LIKE THIS BUSINESS.
WE GO TO THIS BUSINESS, WE USE THIS BUSINESS.
I THINK THERE ARE, UH, BETTER WAYS TO FINESSE SUPPORT FOR THIS BUSINESS THAT DON'T INVOLVE, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOSENING THE RESTRICTIONS ON B ONE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT MY HISTORY IN REGARDS TO BEING THE, THE CHILD OF AN ALCOHOLIC.
I'VE BEEN DRUNK, DRIVEN TO A
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I THINK WE HAVE 11.ALRIGHT, WE HAVE 11 SPEAKERS FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
I WILL REMIND EACH ONE OF YOU THAT YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES A PIECE, AND THAT YOU BE RESPECTFUL TO, UH, EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER WHILE YOU'RE SPEAKING.
CALL YOUR FIRST SPEAKER, AV PATEL, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL STEINMEYER.
YOU'LL GO TO THE MICROPHONE IN THE BACK.
SIR, I'D ASK YOU FOR YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF BILL NUMBER 24 DASH 0 1 8.
THE PURPOSE OF THE B ONE DISTRICT IS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT AND CONVENIENT LOCATIONS FOR BUSINESS USES THAT SERVE THE NEEDS OF LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
THE B ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE RETAIL AND SERVICE FACILITIES CONVENIENT TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE HARFORD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CODE STATES THAT THE USE ARE LIMITED PRIMARILY TO CONVENIENCE OF GOODS AND SERVICES, SATISFYING THE HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, ABUTTING THE PROPERTY, ALLOWING THE LIQUOR STORE ON THE PROPERTY IN THE B ONE ZONING DISTRICT WILL SERVE THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE TRAVELING PUBLIC ON STATE ROUTE 1 52, ALLOWING THE LIQUOR STORE ON THE PROPERTY IN THE B ONE ZONING DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE A RETAIL FACILITY.
I HAVE PROVIDED COUNCILMAN PENMAN WITH PETITIONS OF SUPPORT FROM MY NEIGHBORS AND THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
IF BILL NUMBER 24 DASH 0 1 8 IS ENACTED, I INTEND TO PURCHASE THE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY KNOWN AS 24 10 OLD MOUNTAIN ROAD DROPPER AND MOVE TO HARFORD COUNTY.
I AM TRULY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CON, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY.
I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UH, MICHAEL STEINMEYER, 24 0 7 GREEN SPRING AVENUE.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO SAY, I'VE BEEN A HARTFORD COUNTY RESIDENT ABOUT 35 YEARS, AND I HAVE KNOWN MR. P AND HIS BUSINESS SINCE FOR 19 YEARS WHEN HE TOOK IT OVER.
IT'S A NICE CLEAN PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I LIKE GOING THERE AND, UH, I JUST HOPE THIS BILL WILL PASS.
THOMAS RITTER, FOLLOWED BY DONNA SADOWSKI.
UH, THOMAS RITTER, 2 4 0 4 ROMNEY ROAD, WHICH IS, UH, THE COMMUNITY JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
AND LIKE MIKE, I'VE ALSO BEEN A RESIDENT FOR OVER 35 YEARS.
UM, WHEN, UH, WE FIRST, UM, MOVED IN THERE, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE, THE CLOSEST PLACES TO GET, UH, DELI MEATS AND, AND CHEESE AND THAT SORT OF THING.
THIS IS LONG BEFORE THE ROYAL FARMS MOVED INTO THE AREA.
SO THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVENIENCE FOR, FOR THAT SORT OF THING OVER THE YEARS.
UM, I'VE GOT TO KNOW, UM, PUCH AND HIS BUSINESS, UH, NOT JUST BEING CONVENIENT.
HE BECAME MORE OF A FRIEND AND FULL OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DESIRE TO HELP YOU AND, AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT OTHER THINGS.
SO IT'S SORT OF BEEN A, UH, UM, UH, A FRIENDSHIP
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RELATION AS WELL AS A, UH, A STORE OWNER.UM, SO I, I SUPPORT HIM AND I WISH YOU THAT, UH, ALL THIS BUSINESS ABOUT ZONING HADN'T REALLY GOTTEN IN HIS WAY FOR ALL HIS DEDICATION AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO KEEP THE BUSINESS RUNNING AND, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE HIS, HIS LIFE WHAT HE WANTS IT TO BE AS WELL.
DIANA SADOWSKI, 1113 STROM CO DRIVE FALLSTON.
UM, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS CHANGE IN THE ZONING CODE.
MAKING A BLANKET ZONING CHANGE ACROSS THE COUNTY AS A RESULT OF THE REQUEST OF ONLY ONE BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY IS LUDICROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE LAWS AND PROCEDURES ALREADY IN PLACE FOR THEM TO REQUEST EXEMPTIONS.
B ONE ZONING EXISTS IN MOSTLY RURAL, QUIET, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND CHANGING THIS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY.
ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE WITH IS ALL THIS NEW CANNABIS BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE.
I KIND OF, MY CRYSTAL BALL COMES OUT LIQUOR STORES EQUALS CANNABIS SHOPS.
AND AS WE PEEL BACK THE SKIN ON THAT ONION, IF I COULD, WE SEE HOW THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS SWEEPING CHANGE KIND OF GREASES THE WHEEL, SO TO SPEAK, TO ALLOW THAT CONCERN TO HAPPEN ACROSS THE COUNTY.
YEAH, THERE ARE EIGHT LICENSES TODAY, BUT IN THE FUTURE, WE DON'T KNOW.
WE SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BY THIS INTRODUCTION.
AS THE LOBBYIST WHO IS IN THE DEEP POCKETS OF THE CANNABIS PRODUCERS IS A MENTOR OF THE COUNCILMAN INTRODUCING THE BILL.
I GUESS WE SHOULD ALL SIT BACK AND ACCEPT THESE CHANGES AS PART OF THE MATURATION OF THE COUNTY.
BESIDES THE STATE SAYS IT IS THE LAW.
THERE'S A LOT OF HYPOCRISY SURROUNDING THE SUBJECT.
THE REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCING THIS BILL WHO HOLDS DUAL EMPLOYMENT WITH THE SHERIFF SAYS HE WILL UPHOLD THE LAW EVEN IF THAT LAW PROMOTES AND MAKES IT EASIER TO OBTAIN AND USE DRUGS, INCLUDING CANNABIS.
WE HAVE CONCERNS WITH DRUG DRIVERS.
NOW, WE HAVE WORRIES ABOUT HIGH DRIVERS.
I'VE SEEN COMMERCIALS NOW ON TELEVISION TO THAT EFFECT.
POT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MARKETED AS A GATEWAY DRUG, BUT I GUESS WE SHOULDN'T WORRY.
THERE'S THE SHERIFF'S HOPE, MOBILE AND THEATRICAL STORIES LIKE THE ONE THAT JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED.
SO CAN YOU SAY HYPOCRISY IN CAPITAL LETTERS? ALL OF THIS, INCLUDING THIS, BILL, FUELS THE FIRES OF ADDICTION, WHETHER IT'S DRUG OR ALCOHOLISM, AMUSINGLY, I WATCHED THE MOVIE OLIVER TWIST RECENTLY.
THERE WAS AN INTERESTING LINE THAT SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
IF THAT'S THE RULE OF LAW, THEN THE LAW IS AN IDIOT.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU TH LISTENING TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TODAY.
AND SO, CIRCLING BACK, I SAY NO.
STEPHANIE FLASH, FOLLOWED BY GARY AYS.
GOOD EVENING, STEPHANIE FLASH.
UM, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF HARTFORD PO BOX 2 9 4 ABEY IN MARYLAND 2 1 0 0 9.
UM, FRIENDS OF HARTFORD DOES OPPOSE.
UM, CITIZENS, WE DO VALUE THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT HOWEVER, HAS BEEN MENTIONED ALREADY, THE CHANGE TO PERMIT LIQUOR STORES AND B ONE AREAS, UM, HAS SEVERAL CONCERNS AND UNKNOWN IMPLICATIONS.
CURRENTLY, LIQUOR STORES ARE ALLOWED IN VILLAGE BUSINESSES, AS I MENTIONED, BUT THEY ARE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
SO EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LOW DENSITY, THOSE AREAS WOULDN'T BE IMPACTED AS MUCH AS WHAT'S BEING SPOKEN ABOUT.
AND MORE INTENSE BUSINESS DISTRICTS LIKE B TWO AND B THREE, WHICH ARE WELL PLANNED FOR, FOR THE SURROUNDING AIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS ZONING ENSURES THAT ESTABLISHMENTS ARE PLACED IN SUITABLE LOCATIONS CONSIDERING THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR NEEDS.
THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PROCESS, WHICH IS ACCEPTING THE PROPERTY APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST.
AND THIS PROCESS ALLOWS ANY BUSINESS OWNER TO REQUEST THAT ZONING, AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, PROVIDING A STRUCTURAL AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO ZONING DECISIONS.
IF A PROPERTY OWNER WANTS TO DO THAT AND WANTS TO HAVE A LIQUOR STORE, THEY CAN APPLY FOR THE APPROPRIATE CHANGE OR GO ABOUT DIFFERENT MEANS.
THIS ALLOWS A REVIEW OF THE USES AND THE IMPACTS ON THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PROCESS ENSURES THAT RESIDENTS DO HAVE A VOICE, IT DOESN'T HAVE A BLANKET.
AND IT GIVES COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER THEY WANT CERTAIN TYPES
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OF BUSINESSES, LIQUOR STORES, THE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.AGAIN, A BLANKET REZONING FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY AS PROPOSED IN THIS BILL, WOULD BYPASS A CRITICAL STEP AND POTENTIALLY FORCE UNWANTED CHANGES UPON RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT.
FURTHERMORE, AS WE ALSO MENTIONED, THE STATE LAWS ARE EVOLVING, UM, TO ALLOW THE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES NEXT TO THE LIQUOR STORES, MAINTAINING LOCAL ZONING CONTROL BECOMES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT.
SO THIS BILL WOULD STRIP AWAY THE LOCAL AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS LEADING TO THE INCREASE IN SUCH BUSINESSES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT PROPER OVERSIGHT AND CONSIDERATION, AGAIN TO THE COMMUNITY IMPACT.
SO WE ASK THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO HELP PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ZONING PROCESS, ENSURE COMMUNITY INPUT, AND MAINTAIN THE CHARACTER OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR GARY AYRES, FOLLOWED BY DONNA DRISCOLL.
CALL YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, DONNA DRISCOLL.
MY NAME IS DONNA DRISCOLL, AND I LIVE AT 1309 LAKE VISTA DRIVE, JOPPA, MARYLAND 2 10 0 5.
I THINK HE'S A WONDERFUL BUSINESSMAN.
HE KEEPS A CLEAN PLACE, HE DOES AN HONEST BUSINESS.
HIS WHOLE FAMILY IS WONDERFUL, AND HE DOESN'T HURT ANYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ASSUMING THE SAME ADDRESS? YES, SIR.
UM, I PRETTY MUCH ECHO WHAT MY WIFE SAYS.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF HARTFORD COUNTY FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.
FAMILY'S NICE FAMILY, RUNS A GOOD BUSINESS.
I BELIEVE HE'S GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I GREW UP WITH A DRUNK FATHER, SO GETTING RID OF LIQUOR STORES AREN'T GONNA HELP.
SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
ZACH SHERMAN, FOLLOWED BY RICK PATEL.
SURNAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE? YEAH, ZACH SHERMAN, UH, THREE 11 BOEING COURT, ABINGTON, MARYLAND.
UH, SO I ACTUALLY JUST HAD WRITTEN MY NAME DOWN IN CASE THERE WAS MORE OF A, UH, HOT BUTTON ISSUE, HEATED DEBATE AROUND THIS.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE HEARD THE EXPLANATION FROM ALL THE COUNCILMEN, UH, I'VE GOT SIDE WITH THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD REALLY JUST GO THROUGH THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ALREADY, UH, IN LINE, UH, ZONING REGULATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, NECESSARILY LET IT SQUEAK THROUGH AND THEY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, UH, APPROPRIATE MATTERS AS OF, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY, UH, LICENSEES IN THE COUNTY.
AND, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD TO FOLLOW THOSE, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY SHOULD TOO.
YEAH, MY NAME IS RICK PATEL, 9 53 EAST STRING FACTORY ROAD, AND I OWN THE GREENBRIER LIQUOR STORE.
AND, UH, I OPPOSING THIS BILL, EVEN THOUGH SINCE LIQUOR BOARD APPROVED THE LICENSE, LIQUOR LICENSE FOR, FOR, FOR STILL, I'M SORRY, THE SEVEN 11 CROSS STREET FROM MY STORE.
GREENBRIER WINE SPIRITS IS HURTING MY BUSINESS, SO, UH, THAT'S THE REASON I'M OPENING MY BILLS.
WE DON'T NEED TO SEE MORE LIQUOR STORE OPEN.
THE LAST SPEAKER, ERIC DEAN, CALL HIS NAME ONE MORE TIME.
AARON DEAN, 3 1 5 SOUTH MAIN STREET.
I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
UM, LIKE, UH, ZACH HAD MENTIONED, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH REGARDING, UH, THE LAWS AND, YOU KNOW, ZONING AND AS MENTIONED BY SOME, UM, MEMBERS THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE TO PUT SOMETHING IN LIKE THIS WHEN WE'RE FOCUSING ON JUST ONE BUSINESS WHO WOULD SUPPOSEDLY, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT FROM IT.
AND LIKE RICK HAD MENTIONED THAT WITH, UH, MILL BEING PUT IN ACROSS
[00:30:01]
FROM HIS STORE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE ON MAIN STREET AND WE'VE EVEN SEEN IT AFFECT US, SO I AM AGAINST THIS BILL.THERE ARE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH NO MORE SPEAKERS.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON BILL 24 DASH ZERO 18, AND IT WOULD BE BROUGHT UP AT OUR NEXT WEEK'S MEETING.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, BILL 24 DASH ZERO 19 FASHION WAY.
MR. SNYDER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO STEP UP, PLEASE.
I NEVER REALIZED YOU'D HAVE THIS EFFECT ON THE AUDIENCE.
MR. SCHNEIDER
UM, I REPRESENT, UH, DIRECTOR HEIRS FOR DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
UH, WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.
UH, THERE'S THREE REASONS WHY.
WHEN, WHEN AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS, UH, EITHER ON WINTER'S RUN ROAD OR FASHION WAY, OFTENTIMES THE CALLERS CONFUSED WHERE THEY ARE.
THEN THE NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKER CAN BE CONFUSED OF WHERE THE CALLER'S CALLING FROM.
AND THEN OFTENTIMES THE RESPONDERS ARE CONFUSED ON WHAT PART OF THAT ROAD THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
CURRENTLY, CURRENTLY, AS WE SPEAK, THE ROAD RUNS BETWEEN SINGER ROAD AND ROUTE SEVEN.
IF YOU ENTER OFF OF SINGER ROAD, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, THE SIGN ADVISES YOU'RE ON WINTERS RUN ROAD.
HOWEVER, AS YOU TRAVEL SOUTH, THERE'S NO INDICATION WHEN THAT ROAD NAME CHANGES.
IF YOU'RE ON ROUTE SEVEN AND YOU GO NORTH ON FASHION WAY, YOU HAVE NO INDICATION THAT THE ROAD NAME CHANGES AGAIN, BACK TO WINTERS RUN ROAD.
SO WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, UH, GOING BACK TO WINTERS RUN ROAD.
UM, WE DO ALSO HAVE SUPPORT FROM THIS BILL.
I SPOKE WITH CHIEF OF THE JO OF MAGNOLIA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, THE HARTFORD COUNTY CHIEF OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS.
UH, HE'S IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AND THE HARFORD COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES.
GIS ANALYST IS ALSO IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL.
UH, AGAIN, THE, THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO REDUCE ANY CHANCES OF ANY EMERGENCY RESPONSE DELAY.
COUNSEL, ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, UH, THIS WILL BE, OR NO? WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP.
MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, UH, WITH NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB,
UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO BILL 24 DASH 20 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY LOAN FUND.
PRESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AS, UH, THE COUNCIL IS AWARE, WE HAVE A, AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY LOAN FUND, UH, WHICH PROVIDES, UH, BELOW MARKET LOANS TO BUSINESSES, ALL WITH THE INTENTION OF INCREASING THE COUNTY'S TAX BASE THROUGH PURCHASE AND ASSISTING BUSINESSES THROUGH PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, EXPANSION OF REAL PROPERTY, EXPANSION OF NEW PROGRAMS. UH, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THIS PROGRAM, WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS IN THE COUNTY, HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN BOTH INCREASING THE NUMBER OF JOBS AS WELL AS INCREASING THE NUM THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL I IN THIS COUNTY, UH, AS THE LAW CURRENTLY READS, UH, AND THIS HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE 2012, THAT IN ORDER FOR A LOAN THAT'S IN EXCESS OF $50,000 TO BE APPROVED, IT REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THIS BODY.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION IS TO INCREASE THAT THRESHOLD AMOUNT FROM 50,000 TO 70,000.
UH, WE'RE MAKING, UH, AND SUGGESTING AND RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF THIS LEGISLATION AS, AS, UH, THE SPEED OF BUSINESS INCREASES, UH, AS THE NEEDS OF BUSINESSES, UH, UH, INCREASE BY MORE DIFFICULT LENDING REQUIREMENTS BECOMES MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ACT QUICKLY.
UM, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COUNCIL, THAT WITH THE SCHEDULES BEING AS THEY ARE, AND SOMETIMES THE AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK THAT'S INVOLVED, YEAH, SOMETIMES THAT BECOMES A TRUE IMPEDIMENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THIS LOAN PROGRAM.
AND WE FEEL, AGAIN, WITH THE, UH, THE, UH, THE LENDING ENVIRONMENT BEING AS IT MAY BE, UH, THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS INCREASE TO 70,000 WILL ALLOW THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ACT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF BUSINESSES.
AND SO, FOR THAT PURPOSE, WE, WE ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS BODY FOR
[00:35:01]
THIS LEGISLATION.SO, RAJ, JUST FOR, UH, CLARITY HERE, IT SAYS 75,000, NOT 70,000.
YEAH, I, I APOLOGIZE TO THAT'S QUITE ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNSEL, ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS? MR. JANA? RAJ? GOOD EVENING.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY WHO HAS APPLIED YET FOR ANY OF THESE LOANS? THIS, UH, PAST FISCAL YEAR? UH, YES, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE TWO, UH, WE HAVE TWO IN THE PIPELINE, AND WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL MORE THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST.
UH, BUT AT THIS POINT WE HAVE, UH, TWO TWO.
AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY ASKING FOR? UH, MOST OF THEM ARE LOOKING PROBABLY AROUND THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MARK.
SO YOU, RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TWO.
AND HOW ARE YOU IDENTIFYING, OR HOW ARE YOU MARKETING, UH, TO PEOPLE THAT THESE LOANS ARE AVAILABLE? BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING OUT THERE.
UM, SO UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS SOMEBODY THEY'RE THERE, MAYBE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WORD OF MOUTH.
UM, I KNOW BONNIE DOES A LOT OF GOOD JOBS ON, ON THAT, BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES DON'T KNOW THE AVAILABILITY OF, OF THESE LOANS OR WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING TO PROMOTE THESE? YES, WE HAVE A, A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH.
UH, WE DO, UH, THROUGH OUR SITE VISITS, UH, ACTUALLY VISITING BUSINESSES, WE HAVE A FLYER AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSINESS OWNER IS, IS AWARE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE FUNDS.
UH, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF NUMBERS, SMALL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUMS. UH, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE, UH, A LARGE ONE THAT WILL BE OCCURRING NEXT TUESDAY, UH, IN EDGEWOOD, THE EPICENTER FOR SMALL AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.
SO WE HAVE, WE'RE EXPECTING CLOSE TO ABOUT 80 TO 90 BUSINESSES.
UH, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF THOSE TYPE WHERE IT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE, UH, THE LOAN PROGRAM TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
UH, WE UTILIZE THE, UH, THE NUMBER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCILS THROUGH, UH, CITY OF HARRY GRACE, UH, ABERDEEN, BEL AIR FOR US, FOR THEM TO PROMOTE ON OUR BEHALF.
UH, WE HAVE OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, BIZ BYTES, AND WE'VE MADE, UH, A CONCERTED EFFORT TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOAN PROGRAM IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
SO, SO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE MULTIFACETED PRONGS, WE, WE FEEL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE WORD HAS GOTTEN OUT, BUT, UH, BUT WE'RE MINDFUL THAT WE'VE NOT GOTTEN THIS INFORMATION OUT TO ALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND WE DEFINITELY INTEND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF, OF, OF MARKETING OF THIS PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM.
DO YOU HAVE A CHECKLIST OF ITEMS THAT THEY'RE GONNA NEED? LIKE ARE THEY, HOW MANY YEARS TAX RETURNS, DO THEY HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, DO THEY HAVE TO MAKE MONEY? DO THEY HAVE TO BE IN BUSINESS FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS? DO DO THEY HAVE TO BE? UM, I, I DON'T KNOW.
IS THERE A CHECKLIST THAT GIVES US SOME OF THAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, OF WHAT YOUR, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THE LOAN? I MEAN, HOW MANY YEARS, LIKE I SAID, HOW MANY YEARS ARE THEY IN BUSINESS? DO THEY HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE SHOWING A PROFIT OR CAN THEY BE SHOWING A LOSS? UM, IS IT MOSTLY FOR CAPITAL EQUIPMENT? UM, IT'S NOT FOR ANY OPERATING EXPENSES.
JUST A DETAIL OF WHERE THE PROGRAM WAS MAYBE AND WHAT WE'RE CHANGING IT TO.
I'D BE BE PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
AND, UH, YOU'RE ASKING FOR THAT BEFORE? YES.
UH, SO THAT DOES EXIST, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE BOTH YOU AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WITH THAT INFORMATION.
UH, IT, IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
I, I'VE KNOWN SOME PEOPLE WHO GOT INTO IT AND REALLY DONE WELL.
UH, DON'T YOU ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF THAT, UH, FROM THE INVESTMENT FOR THE LOANS THAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN, UH, WHAT THESE BUSINESSES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COUNTY SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS AFTER YOU'VE MADE THE LOANS? DON'T YOU HAVE A NUMBER THERE? UH, WE DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, THE TOTAL LOANS THAT WE'VE MADE HAVE, UH, OVER THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROGRAM SINCE 2000.
UH, WE HAVE MADE LOANS TOTALING MORE THAN $2 MILLION.
UH, THAT'S RESULTED IN 157 NEW JOBS AND, UH, HAS GENERATED CLOSE TO $15 MILLION OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
UH, SO THROUGH, UH, THE INCOME TAX AS WELL AS CORPORATE TAX THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THAT, UH, THE TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN WELL SERVED BY THIS PROGRAM.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? UM, WHAT WILL BE FOR YOU ALL, UH, THE PRACTICAL BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE, LIKE WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN 50,000 VERSUS 75,000 AND WHAT THAT DOES FOR SOMEBODY REQUESTING MONEY? WE, WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE, THE, THE ORDINARY, UH, USES IT ARE, UH, TYPICALLY FOR NEW PROGRAMS, NEW EQUIPMENT, UH, MAKING, UH, FACADE IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL ESTATE.
GIVEN THE COST OF MUCH OF THOSE EQUIPMENT.
LOOKING AT WHAT FEEDBACK WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING FROM BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, WE FEEL THAT THAT THRESHOLD ACTUALLY DOES EXCEED THE 50,000.
SO WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE SWEET SPOT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM MORE ATTRACTIVE, UH, TO
[00:40:01]
BUSINESS OWNERS.AND AGAIN, BEING ABLE TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE AND TO FACILITATE THE APPROVAL OF THE LOAN PROGRAMS, ASSUMING THEY MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, OF COURSE, UH, WE BELIEVE WE CAN WORK AT MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY AND AT THE PACE THAT THE BUSINESS OWNERS REQUIRE TO UTILIZE THE CAPITAL, UH, FOR PROPER USAGE.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UH, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, ATTACHING THIS CAP TO SOME SORT OF FORMULA SO IT NATURALLY ADJUSTS ITSELF TO TIME, UH, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY FIVE TO 10 YEARS COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, THAT NO LONGER IS A FEASIBLE NUMBER FOR US TO WORK WITH.
WE APPRECIATE, UH, WE APPRECIATE THAT SUGGESTION.
WE HAVE NOT, UH, ENTERTAINED THAT, UH, JUST HISTORICALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A SET AMOUNT.
UM, BUT WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO BE ABLE TO LET THIS PROGRAM ADAPT AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT HAVING TO RECEIVE, UH, COUNCIL APPROVAL.
SO WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK AS WE REALLY PROMOTE THIS PROGRAM, UH, I THINK, AND IN THE COMING MONTHS, I THINK WE'LL GET BETTER DATA, MORE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER REVISIONS AND OTHER TWEAKS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO THE PROGRAM TO MAKE THIS MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THE COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. DIXON? WE HAVE ROOM SIGNED UP.
I KNEW SHE WASN'T GONNA BE IN HERE FOR BE QUIET.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNTY COUNSELORS.
MY NAME IS ANGELA ROSE, REPRESENTING THE HARTFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND WE ARE LOCATED AT 1 0 8 SOUTH BOND STREET.
UM, AND I LOVE IT WHEN I GO TO DO MY RESEARCH AND WRITE TESTIMONY, AND THE BILL HAS WRITTEN ITSELF FOR ME.
SO IN BILL 24 DASH 20, IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, THAT THIS BILL WILL ADJUST THE COUNTY'S THRESHOLD FOR LOAN APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL THROUGH RESOLUTION FROM 50,000 TO 75,000 APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSING THE INFLATIONARY IMPACT AND ANTICIPATES FUTURE INFLATION TRENDS.
SETTING THE THRESHOLD AT $75,000 ENABLES THE COUNTY TO REMAIN AGILE IN RESPONDING TO ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS AND EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES, THEREBY FACILITATING A SMOOTHER TRANSACTION WITH THIRD PARTIES BY STREAMLINING THE APPROVAL PROCESS, MAKING IT MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR BUSINESS TO APPLY FOR LOANS.
ON BEHALF OF OUR OVER 600 MEMBERS, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECHO EVERYTHING THAT RAJ SAID THIS EVENING ABOUT IT, JUST STREAMLINING THAT PROCESS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO, UM, GET THIS LOAN.
AND COUNCILMAN ATTORNEY G IN ADDITION TO WHAT RAJ TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE ECONOMIC OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS WITH THE CHAMBER TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC LISTENING AND WATCHING THIS EVENING, UH, INFORMATION FOR THE LOAN PROGRAM IS LOCATED ON THE WEBPAGE OF THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE.
AND WE ALSO WALK WORK WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
SO A LOT OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING WITH ASPIRING BUSINESSES OR CURRENT BUSINESS OWNERS THAT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE LOANS, WE HAVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND THEY'RE VERY EXCITED TO INCREASE THIS THRESHOLD, UM, JUST DUE, DUE TO THE STREAMLINING PROCESS AND THE ABILITY TO HELP BUSINESSES, UH, IN A MORE EXPEDITIOUS FASHION.
ANYONE ELSE? THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRES.
WE'LL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON BILL 24 DASH ZERO 20, AND WE'LL TAKE IT UP IN OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, 24 0 21 24 0 22, UH, HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA AND WOULD BE LOOKED AT AT A FUTURE DATE.
BILL 24 DASH 0 23 ZONING WALL SIGNS.
UM, THIS IS, UH, A PIECE THAT I BROUGHT UP, UH, TO ADDRESS THE NEED IN THE COUNTY FOR ADDITIONAL SIGNAGE AS FAR AS ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARDS.
AND, UH, THIS GIVES A BUSINESS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER HAVE EITHER A WALL SIGN OR A FREESTANDING SIGN.
A MUST, UH, UH, IT MUST APPLY TO THE CURRENT REG REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE NOW.
UM, AND THERE IS A AMENDMENT COMING FORWARD LATER THIS EVENING THAT SPEAKS TO THAT, EITHER ONE OR THE OTHER.
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT.
COUNCIL, ANYONE ELSE? MR. PENMAN? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT OF BRINGING FORWARD, UH, THIS, UM, WE'LL SIGN.
UM, BUT I, I DO FEEL THAT IT SHOULD GO FURTHER.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PICTURES ON ELECTRONIC SIGN.
UM, SO I'M IN DISCUSSION, UH, WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
[00:45:01]
ON THAT.SO IF NOT NOW, HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, THANK MR. PRESIDENT.
AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE FUTURE FOR SOME OF OUR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HE AGREES THERE IS A NEED, UH, FOR SOME OF THESE, UH, IN DIFFERENT AREAS TO SERVE, UH, THE NEED FOR SOME, SOME ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, UH, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS LEGISLATION'S BEEN OPENED UP.
IT WON'T BE THE LAST, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE ELSE.
MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES, MR. PRESIDENT.
ALEX THEODORE OPOLIS, FOLLOWED BY ETAN GRA.
UH, THE REASON AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR A SIGN, OUR BUILDING IS A SL WITH, UH, FAIR COMPETITION BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE VISIBILITY ON THE MAIN ROADS.
AND, UM, IT'S LIKE A
SO THE SIGN, WHEN IT'S UP HIGHER, IT'S SO PEOPLE WITH SOME OTHER PLACES ON THE MAIN ROADS, THEY HAVE THE SIGNS, UM, ON A, ON A REGULAR, UH, POSTED SIGNS, UH, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ADVERTISE.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE EQUALLY SIGNS TO HAVE ON OUR BUILDING.
SO TO HAVE NO MORE, IT'S, DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE DISTRACTION FROM A SIGN BEING, UH, DOWN ON THE ROAD L LED D SIGNS TO BEEP FROM, FROM BEING UP IN THE BUILDING.
I DON'T THINK THAT WILL MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THE SCIENCE.
AND THANKS FOR CONSIDERING BRINGING THIS, UH, TO THE LEGISLATION.
CALL THIS NEXT SPEAKER PET GRA.
THEN AGAIN, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING ON BILL 24 DASH 0 23.
AND THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED AT A FUTURE DATE.
BILL 24 0, 24 LIVABILITY CODE.
HOW ARE YOU? PLEASURE TO BE HERE AGAIN THIS EVENING.
BEFORE YOU SPEAK WITH BILL 24 24, THE INTENT OF THE BILL IS THE UPDATE CHAPTER 1 62 OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY CODE LIVABILITY CODE TO TRANSFER ENFORCEMENT FROM HOUSING AGENCY, WHICH NO LONGER EXISTS TO DEPARTMENT INSPECTION, LICENSE PERMITS.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL HERE IS TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES IN GOVERNMENT, AND SINCE STILL PUT SIMILAR RESOURCES AND EXISTING STRUCTURE, UH, TO EFFICIENTLY ENFORCE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A LOGICAL LANDING SPOT.
THE MODIFICATIONS BEFORE YOU REALLY ARE SIMPLE.
UH, FIRST OFF, THE MODIFICATION HERE IS TO DEFINE, REDEFINE.
CODE OFFICIAL WOULD BE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, THE DEPARTMENT SINCE RIGHT NOW THE APPEALS DECISIONS THAT ARE ALREADY LISTED IN THE CODE MUST COME TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT I COULD EFFECTIVELY DO BOTH POSITIONS.
WE ALSO WORK TO CLEAN UP LANGUAGE, UH, ADDRESSING OUTDATED LANG, UH, REFERENCES TO STATE LAW AND COUNTY CODE.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH CURRENT ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY CODE REGARDING NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS, ISSUANCE OF CIVIL CITATIONS, AND LIENS ON PROPERTY.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS THE APPEALS PROCESS THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH, AGAIN, CURRENT PROVISIONS FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY CODE.
I'LL MAKE THIS SHORT, SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS COUNSEL MAY HAVE.
UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU OF BOTH.
WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONCE BEFORE IN YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU NOT ONLY SPENT WITH ME, BUT ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MAKING THEM AWARE OF SOME OF THE CHANGES.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO FLOOR.
UH, CERTAINLY THIS IS, UH, THE STATE'S LONG OVERDUE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
UH, AND, UH, THE BILL WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT FAILED BY A FOUR TO THREE VOTE, SO I'M CERTAINLY GLAD TO SEE IT COME BACK.
I SENT OVER, UH, EARLY ON, UH, UH, THE, THE, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE ASKED ME FOR A COPY, AND I SENT HIM OVER THE COPY OF THE 1988 LIABILITY CODE.
SO THIS IS CERTAINLY, UH, A LONG OVERDUE AND, AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND, UH,
[00:50:01]
THANKS TO SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT.THANK, THANK YOU, MR. GUTHRIE.
MR. BENNETT, UM, JUST FROM A A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW THESE CHANGES WILL IMPACT, UH, RESIDENT OF HARTFORD COUNTY? LET'S SAY THEY'RE A RENTER WHO LIVES IN THIS COUNTY, UM, HOW COULD THIS BENEFIT THEIR LIVES? HOW COULD THIS BENEFIT OUR SUPPORT OF THEM IN, IN THESE CHANGES TO THE LIVABILITY CODE? SO WE'RE NOT REALLY MAKING ANY TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE, UM, STATUTES OF WHAT THE LIVABILITY CODE IS STANDING FOR.
REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST TRANSFERRING THE ENFORCEMENT.
SO DYL HAS MORE RESOURCES THAN COMMUNITY SERVICES DOES.
WE HAVE MORE INSPECTORS OUT ON THE ROAD SO WE CAN EFFICIENT, DO A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT, UH, ENFORCEMENT OF IT.
UM, WE DID CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE IN REGARDS TO, UM, PROPOSED LANGUAGE TO HELP ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, ISSUANCE OF CIVIL CITATIONS, NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS, THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO ENFORCE THE CODE, UM, AS WRITTEN.
SO I THINK THE BENEFITS TO THE CITIZENS ARE, ARE EVIDENT AT THIS POINT.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE GONNA BE COMPLAINT DRIVEN.
SO ONCE THE, UH, COMPLAINT COMES INTO THE DEPARTMENT, WE ALREADY HAVE RESOURCES AND STRUCTURE ALREADY SET UP TO ADDRESS THE COMPLAINT, UH, ISSUE, UH, WORK THROUGH OUR PERMITTING AND ELECTRONIC CODE ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM TO, UH, PROCESS THOSE COMPLAINTS AND INSPECT THEM AND MAKE DETERMINATIONS ON HOW TO, UH, PROPERLY PROCEED.
THANK YOU, MR. BE OR PENMAN? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, MR. TRUITT, I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU COMING HERE AND EXPLAINING IT.
UM, ON THE SURFACE, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS I LIKE WITH THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE CERTAIN PROPERTIES ACROSS OUR COUNTY THAT ARE JUST BRINGING DOWN THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND THIS WOULD GIVE YOU THAT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT, IT'S A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, UM, THAT IT, IT COULD BE ABUSED IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT APPLYING THAT OR REFLECTIVE ON YOU AND YOUR OFFICE, YOUR, YOUR TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE COUNTY.
A A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, UH, IN YOUR TEAM.
UM, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE ISSUES THAT I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, WITH AUTHORITY AND, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY WEAPONIZING IT IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THE APPEAL PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE OUTLINED IN HERE, UH, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MR. BOLAND AND, AND HIS POSITION, UH, WOULD OVERSEE, UH, THE APPEAL AND THEN IN THE END, YOU AS A DIRECTOR WOULD MAKE THE DECISION OF THAT APPEAL.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OR THE CODE OFFICIAL WOULD MAKING DETERMINATIONS ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE CODE.
IF SOMEBODY WERE TO DECIDE TO APPEAL THAT DECISION, THEN IT WOULD COME TO THE DIRECTOR, COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT AND I HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS, UM, NOT PART OF THIS BILL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT RECOGNIZES THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO THIS BODY AND ADDRESS, GETTING US BACK UP TO MINIMUM LIVABILITY CODE THAT'S MANDATED BY THE STATE.
WE'RE GONNA DO THAT ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE THAT.
AND AS PART OF THAT, UH, ASSESSMENT, WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT THERE'S POTENTIAL THAT AN APPEALS BODY WOULD BE CREATED.
SO WE ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE, THE CONCERN THAT YOU HAVE.
UM, BUT WE ALREADY HAD SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS RIGHT NOW.
THE, THE INTENT WAS JUST TO GET THIS OVER TO DI SO THAT WE CAN START ENFORCING AND THEN WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDRESSING THE, A MORE EFFICIENT AND PROPER ENFORCEMENT.
UH, AS, AS WE GET INTO THIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS JUST PREMATURELY ON HOW THAT WOULD COME TO LIGHT? YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE ZONING APPEALS THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL OVERSEES, MAYBE A SEPARATE POSITION ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL SIDE THAT WOULD OVERSEE THOSE APPEALS AND BILL? WELL, THE, THE, UM, PROCESS WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS.
SO THE STATE LIVABILITY CODE IS ESTABLISHED UPON THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE DOCUMENT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAS AN APPELLATE PROCESS IN IT.
SO THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WHERE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD NOMINATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS COME TO THIS BODY, THEY WOULD CONFIRM THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE, UM, THE SEX OF WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS GONNA COME FROM, WHAT, WHO THEY'RE GONNA REPRESENT.
SO WE HAVE A BALANCED APPEALS PROCESS.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE COULD, YOU KNOW, BRING IN SOMEBODY THAT IS, HAS EXPERTISE, A CITIZEN HAS EXPERTISE IN RENTAL PROPERTY OR A, UH, CITIZEN THAT OWNS RENTAL PROPERTY.
SO IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COULD HELP BALANCE OUT THOSE DECISIONS AND LOOK AT THE DECISIONS, UH, THAT ARE MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO JOINING THAT, UH, CONVERSATION.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION, I HAVE VIOLATIONS, PENALTIES.
UM, I KNOW IT REFERENCES THE GENERAL PENALTIES, UH, IN THE CODE, WHICH ARE 500 TO A THOUSAND, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL SIDE, 1006 MONTH IN JAIL.
SO BASICALLY, IF SOMEONE IS AND NON-COMPLIANT IN 30 DAYS OR 60 DAYS AND THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY, THE COUNTY CAN COME IN AND JUST TAKE THAT, TAKE THE PROPERTY AT THAT POINT.
UH, WELL, WE WOULD END UP PLACING A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY AFTER ISSUING THE CIVIL CITATION AND GOING THROUGH THAT,
[00:55:01]
UH, EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND, AND ULTIMATELY GOING TO COURT.UM, I DON'T FORESEE THAT POTENTIALLY HAPPENING.
I DON'T, SINCE MY CAREER IN THE COUNTY, UH, I THINK I CAN ONLY REMEMBER A FEW CASES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE BUILDING CODE, WHERE WE ACTUALLY MULTIPLIED THE VIOLATION BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WERE ISSUED.
PLUS IT'S ALSO A CAP BASED UPON A MISDEMEANOR THAT ACTUALLY CAN BE APPLIED, UH, I THINK THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
WHAT IS, WHAT IS THAT CAP? I DON'T REMEMBER RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I WANNA BELIEVE IT'S RIGHT AROUND $30,000 AT MOST.
BUT, UH, I DON'T, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT.
I CAN GET BACK TO, IT CAME UP IN A, IN A SIMILAR CASE, THAT WE ARE, UH, CURRENTLY ENFORCING.
AGAIN, I, I SEE THE NEED IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COUNTY, UH, WHEN YOU HAVE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.
UH, BUT IT IS A, IT IS A LOT OF AUTHORITY, SO THAT THAT'S UNDERSTOOD A CONCERN.
UH, ANYONE ELSE? UH, I DO AGREE WITH MR. PENMAN.
IT IS AN AWFUL LOT OF AUTHOR AUTHORITY AND A LOT OF RANGE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR LEVERAGE TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES.
BUT I, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT AN AMENDMENT THAT I WAS BRINGING FORWARD TONIGHT, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION.
AND IF APPROVED, YOU WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO US WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD, GIVE US SOME SORT OF REPORT ON WHERE YOU'RE AT STATUS WISE, UM, GIVE US SOME IDEAS, SOME SUCCESS STORIES, SOME CONCERNS, SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT YOU MAY HAVE CROSSED HOPEFULLY BEFORE THAT TWO YEARS.
BUT THIS, THIS AMENDMENT TONIGHT WILL BE FOR TWO YEARS.
SO THAT WE ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE ONCE WE GIVE THE ENABLING LEGISLATION, THERE WAS NO WAY FOR US TO HAVE A, AN ABSOLUTE REPORT BACK.
SO THIS WAY WE CAN, AND THROUGH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROCESS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE CERTAINLY, UH, RESPECT YOUR DECISION AND, UH, HONESTLY, AND, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF BOTH OF US AND THE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE IN.
UM, MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE WAS NO ONE SIGNED UP.
WELL, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL.
OH 24, AND WE WILL CONSIDER IT NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
UH, AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE INTO THE LAST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND, UH, COUNCIL ATTORNEY HAS ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE THAT I DO MENTION THAT BILL 24 0 17, AGAIN, AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, HAS BEEN PULLED AND WOULD BE LOOKED AT AT A FUTURE DATE.
UM, BILL 24 DASH ZERO 16, CHARTER AMENDMENT, ARTICLE FIVE, BUDGET AND FINANCE SECTION FIVE 12, MR. PENMAN.
UM, WHILE WE GET THE PRESENTATION READY, UH, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I WANT TO COVER ON BILL 24 16, WHICH IS THE CHARTER AMENDMENT, ARTICLE FIVE, BUDGET AND FINANCE SECTION FIVE 12.
UM, I WANNA COVER WHAT DOES THE BILL DO? UM, THE COUNCIL, HAVING THE ABILITY TO REALLOCATE AND INFLUENCE A BUDGET, UH, IS A COMMON PRACTICE.
UH, I WANT TO NOTE THAT HOW, UH, IT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND THE FACTORS, UH, OF THAT, UH, THE CURRENT COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES KIND OF OUTLINED THAT, UH, WHY THIS CHANGE IS NEEDED, UM, AND DISCUSS THE EXPERIENCE AND THE EXPERTISE HERE ON THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO, UH, IMPLEMENT THIS, UH, MUCH NEEDED CHANGE.
WHAT DOES THE BILL DO? IT ENCOURAGES THE COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION, UH, BETWEEN BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, UH, WHICH CAN TAKE PLACE ON THE FRONT END OR THE BACK END.
UM, DURING THOSE, UH, THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET, UH, PROMOTES A SHARED BALANCE OF BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
UH, WHY DO WE WANT ONE PERSON CONTROLLING THE ENTIRE BUDGET? UH, THE COUNCIL WILL STILL NEED FOUR OR FIVE VOTES TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, DEPENDING FOUR COMING OUT OF THE COUNCIL.
FIVE, TO OVERTURN ANY, UH, BUDGET CHANGE VETO.
THE COUNCIL ALREADY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECREASE, AND THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO INCREASE ASSIGNED AREAS OF THE BUDGET ONLY.
AND WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT HERE, IF PASSED, IT ONLY ALLOWS THE QUESTION TO BE ADDED TO THE BALLOT THIS NEXT ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, GIVEN THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DECIDE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T WANT THE COMMUNITY TO DECIDE WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE SCARED OF THAT, UH, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE, UH, THAT'S THE CASE.
NOW, I KNOW IT'S BEEN PERCEIVED OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, THERE IS VERY LITTLE AUTHORITY ACROSS THE STATE, UH, WHERE COUNCIL CAN INFLUENCE THE BUDGET, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.
IN FACT, OUT OF THE 24 JURISDICTION, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE THAT CURRENTLY, UM, UH, DON'T GIVE THE COUNTY THE INFLUENCE THAT I'M SEEKING OR THE COUNCIL WAS SEEKING.
UM, THE ABILITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO HAVE MORE INFLUENCE OVER THE BUDGET IS THE NORMAL PRACTICE ACROSS OUR STATE.
[01:00:01]
UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES ARE HOME RULE COUNTIES WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS OR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE COMPLETE AUTHORITY AND OFTEN APPOINT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.UH, MANY OF THESE COUNTIES ARE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN COUNTIES.
SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT, UH, MATCH OUR WAY OF GOVERNMENT ALSO, UH, ALLOW THE COUNTY TO REALLOCATE FUNDS.
UM, AND A LARGE PORTION OF THEM ARE AAA BOND RATED, UH, AS WELL.
UH, AGAIN, ABOUT FIVE COUNTIES, UH, IN THE ENTIRE STATE, AND I'LL NAME THEM IN ARUNDEL COUNTY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, CECIL COUNTY, HARTFORD COUNTY, AND HOWARD COUNTY DO NOT ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE OR INCREASE LINE ITEMS, UM, IN THE BUDGET.
THE FACTORS OF, UH, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, THE COUNCIL MUST STILL FOLLOW THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS THE COUNTY'S EXECUTIVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THE COUNCIL CANNOT ADD A NEW LINE ITEM TO THE BUDGET.
UH, COUNCIL CANNOT CHANGE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
SO THIS MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE A TAX INCREASE IS NOT CORRECT.
UM, THE BALANCE, THE BALANCE BUDGET WOULD STILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
WE CANNOT EXCEED THE, UH, THE BUDGET, UH, THAT IS ASSIGNED, UH, AND PUT BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
UH, AGAIN, THE COUNCIL CANNOT USE UNASSIGNED FUNDS OR THE FUND BALANCE.
UH, AND THE LEGISLATION STILL PROMOTES FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WILL NOT AGAIN, REQUIRE TAX SECRETES.
MOVING ON, CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE TAX RATE.
THE COUNCIL CONDUCTS SEVERAL DAYS OF BUDGET HEARING, UH, FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
UM, COUNCIL FORMS OUR OWN CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS COMMITTEE TO SOLICIT INPUT AND SUGGESTIONS, UH, FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL ALSO, ALL THESE BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES.
UH, WE HAVE ALL THESE BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT WE HAVE VERY LITTLE AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY INFLUENCE THE BUDGET, WHICH I BELIEVE IS WRONG.
NOW, THIS NOTION THE COUNCIL DOES NOT HAVE, UH, THE KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE TO HANDLE THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT CORRECT EITHER.
THERE'S A COUPLE POINTS OF THIS.
THE COUNTY AUDITOR FALLS UNDER THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE COUNTY, UH, AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO ANALYZE AND EVALUATE THE BUDGET.
IF YOU RECALL, UM, WE HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT NOTE OF THIS BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND THE COUNTY AUDITOR PRODUCE AN ACTUALS VERSUS BUDGETED SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE WE SPEND THIS MUCH.
AND DURING DISCUSSIONS, WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSION, DISCUSSING, UM, ALLOCATING DIFFERENT FUNDS, UM, THROUGH AMENDMENTS, WE USE THOSE SUGGESTIONS, UH, AS KEY POINTS.
IN FACT, UM, THE COUNTY AUDITOR IS THE PERSON WHO HAS IDENTIFIED THE MISAPPROPRIATIONS IN THE IRREG IRREGULARITIES.
LAST YEAR, WHEN THAT MISAPPROPRIATION OF $7 MILLION OCCURRED, UM, WHO I MIGHT ADD, THE ACCESS WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE, UH, AFTER THAT WAS DISCOVERED.
IN ADDITION, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THAT $6.5 MILLION THAT WAS REALLOCATED TO THE SCHOOL FUNDING.
UM, BUT THAT WAS THE COUNTY COUNCIL THAT WAS PREPARED, UH, DEVELOPED, UH, AMENDMENTS PREPARED TO PASS THOSE AMENDMENTS PREPARED TO INTRODUCE THOSE AMENDMENTS, UH, PRIOR, UH, TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PASSING LEGISLATION OR INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO REALLOCATE THAT.
SO WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO EVALUATE THE BUDGET WE HAVE EXPERIENCE, UH, AND DID, DID SO.
UH, AND I THINK THE COUNCIL IS PREPARED, UH, FOR THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A LEGAL TEAM.
WE HAVE A LEGAL TEAM THAT IS WELL RESPECTED IN THE BUDGET AUTHORITY COMMUNITY, UM, UH, FOR IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES.
I KNOW CHARLIE WILL BE MOVING ON, UH, BUT HIS REPLACEMENT, UH, HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE IN, UH, THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, AND TO EVALUATE THE BUDGET AS WELL AS MARY KATE.
SO, THE NEXT THING, WHY IS THIS CHANGE, CHANGE NEEDED? I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.
DURING THE TWO BUDGET SESSIONS ON WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE, THERE IS A CLEAR TRACK RECORD OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH NOT WORKING TOGETHER WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS A, UH, WHAT I APPEARED TO BE, WHAT I TOOK TO BE A THREATENING LETTER TO CUT VITAL RESOURCES.
IF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AMENDED THE BUDGET, AND I'LL READ THE QUOTE, THIS WAS DELIVERED, UH, BY THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AT THE LAST DAY OF THE BUDGET SESSIONS.
[01:05:03]
THIS MEANS THAT ANY CUTS THIS COUNCIL MAKES TO THE COUNTY BUDGET TO GIVE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE VERY MODEST SALARY INCREASE WE HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING WOULD BE ELIMINATED THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND REC, INCLUDING ACTIVITY CENTERS, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, INCLUDING SENIOR CENTERS, ALL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND CROSSING GUARDS, COUNTY FUNDING TO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COUNTY FUNDING FOR SOLE CONSERVATION AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES.
SO THIS WAS GIVEN TO US AT THE END OF THE SESSIONS THAT IF WE INFLUENCE THE BUDGET, THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S NOT WORKING WITH YOUR PARTNERS.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID NOT EVEN ATTEND THE BUDGET HEARINGS, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN HARFORD COUNTY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
HE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION NEGOTIATION WITH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS OR LEADERSHIP OUTSIDE ENTITIES.
AND I'LL READ A COUPLE QUOTES FROM THOSE LEADERS OUTSIDE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
HERE'S A QUOTE FROM A LETTER OF SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY ALLISON HEALY.
BILL 24 16 DOES NOT SUGGEST IN ANY WAY, AS OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS STATED THAT THIS BILL WILL REQUIRE TAX INCREASES.
CONVERSELY, IT SIMPLY PROVIDES THAT CHECKS AND BALANCES TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF HARTFORD COUNTY NEEDS ARE MET.
IN ADDITION, IT WILL ENCOURAGE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS AND COHESION BETWEEN OUR EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF HARVARD COUNTY.
INSTEAD OF A SYSTEM WHERE ONE OFFICE MAKES ALL THE DECISIONS, THE LATTER FLIES IN THE FACE OF TRUE DEMOCRACY.
SORRY, I HAD TO BE LABELED SO I WOULDN'T DO THIS, BUT IT DID
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE FROM THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
NO MATTER WHO RUNS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, NO ONE PERSON SHOULD HOLD ALL THE COUNTY'S POWER AND THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY SHOULD HAVE AN ADEQUATE VOICE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR TAXPAYERS.
THAT'S FROM THE HARTFORD COUNTY EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.
AND HERE'S ONE, UM, FROM THE PRESIDENT OF DEPUTY SHERIFF'S UNION.
THIS SYSTEM OF CHECK AND BALANCE, IT WILL ALLOW EACH OF YOU AS MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ADEQUATELY MET.
SO THESE ARE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT HAS GROWN FROM THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED THIS POSITIVE CHANGE.
THE BUDGET AUTHORITY, UM, IS BEING LEVERAGED AND ABUSED, UH, TO INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AS WELL.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A LETTER WRITTEN FROM RECENTLY FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UM, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT $5 MILLION COULD GO TO THE BOARD OF ED FOR CERTAIN STIPULATIONS.
WHAT ARE THE FOR CERTAIN STIPULATIONS? SO IF WE HAVE $5 MILLION, WHY ARE WE NOT GIVING IT TO THE BOARD OF ED? WHY ARE WE PLAYING QUID PRO QUO? IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
UM, IN ADDITION, THERE'S BEEN RETALIATION ON SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
VISIT HARTFORD IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
VISIT HARTFORD HASN'T EVEN RECEIVED THEIR MONEY, THEIR MONEY, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY SOMETHING THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL JUST RECENTLY PASSED, UM, THROUGH THE HOTEL TAX INITIATIVE.
THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRECINCT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
IT WAS UPSET WITH THE SHERIFF AND TOOK AWAY THE PRECINCT.
THESE ARE INFLUENCING OF THE BUDGET THAT ARE NEGATIVE, NEGATIVELY AFFECTING HARTFORD COUNTY.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN, UH, RECENT ERRATIC, UH, ERRATIC BUDGET PRACTICES.
UM, AGAIN, TRANSFERRING THE MONEY WITHOUT APPROVAL, UH, TAKING ON EMS AND NOT FULLY EVALUATING THE COST.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE CONSTANT MISINFORMATION, UM, THAT MAKES THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE WHAT IS THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS FAR AS FINANCIALLY IN THE COUNTY.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU, UH, KIND OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND TRANSPIRED THIS YEAR IN MARCH, THE ADMINISTRATION WAS GIVEN 5% BUDGET INCREASE TO, TO THE SCHOOLS AND TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
NEXT ADMINISTRATION WAS FLAT FUNDING BASED ON A JANUARY DISBURSEMENT, WHICH THEY LATER SAID THAT DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS THEY HAD, THEY HAD AN IDEA THAT JANUARY WAS GONNA BE LOW, UH,
[01:10:01]
LOW.HOWEVER, ON JUNE 4TH, UH, DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING, UM, EXCUSE ME, IN JUNE, THE THE COUNTY OFFERED 5% GROWTH, UM, AND $6.5 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL, WHICH AGAIN, WAS BASED OFF OF, UH, THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE DRAFTED PREPARED TO BE, UH, INTRODUCED AND VOTED ON.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON THE SCHOOLS GOT THE 6.5 MILLION.
SO, UM, AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF, UM, THE STATEMENTS PRODUCED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WE ONLY HAD 2.5 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE AVAILABLE, BUT SOMEHOW WE FOUND $6.5 MILLION.
SO THE CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS, AND WE NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND MORE INFLUENCE, UH, TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THE COUNTY BUDGET TO POSITIVELY AFFECT OUR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, UH, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MUCH NEEDED INFLUENCE.
UH, IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE, FOLKS.
UM, I'M HOPING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL SEE THAT.
UM, I THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT.
I KNOW THERE'S DISCUSSIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS ARGUMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING, UM, YOUR CONCERNS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM EVERYBODY TONIGHT.
I JUST WANNA SHARE MY INITIAL PERSPECTIVE ON THIS LEGISLATION.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THAT ANY CHANGE THAT WE AS A COUNCIL COULD, UH, PUT FORWARD WOULD HAVE TO BE A NET ZERO CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT WE COULD MAKE $50 MILLION, YOU KNOW, RAIN FROM THE HEAVENS AND PUT INTO PARKS AND REC OR, OR THE LIBRARIES OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
ANY CHANGE WE WOULD MAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE FROM ONE PART OF THE BUDGET TO ANOTHER PART OF THE BUDGET.
SO THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WOULD NOT CHANGE IN ITS TOTAL, UM, UH, COST TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER THOUGHT IS WITH IT HAVING TO BE NET ZERO CHANGES, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BUDGET IS VERY TIGHT AS IT IS.
WE ALL SPEND SO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT THE BUDGET.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CLEANLY CUT FROM WITHOUT IT IMPACTING SOMEONE.
UM, AND KNOWING HOW TIGHT THE BUDGET IS AND HOW FEW DOLLARS THERE ARE TO, YOU KNOW, TO POOL TO PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE, UM, I SEE, UH, THIS TYPE OF CHARTER AMENDMENT NOT BEING, UH, THE SILVER BULLET TO, YOU KNOW, SOLVE ALL THE BUDGET CRISISES THAT WE SEE EXISTING IN HARFORD COUNTY.
BUT IT IS A WAY FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THOSE, UM, SMALL ISSUES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC WORK SESSIONS.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, UM, TWO, UH, BUDGETS AGO WHEN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAME TO US ABOUT, UH, NEEDING MORE MONEY FOR GETTING PEOPLE TO STAY ON SITE SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND QUICKER.
OR WHEN WE HEAR FROM THE ARC THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T GET $60,000 THAT THEY NEED, RATHER THAN HAVING TO THEN GO TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS AND HIS STAFF TO SHARE ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT COME UP.
THOSE SMALL DOLLAR ISSUES BECOME SOMETHING THAT WE CAN THEN ADDRESS THROUGH WRITING THE AMENDMENTS TO TAKE CARE OF 'EM.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO HIS CREDIT FOR THOSE SMALL TYPES OF ISSUES HAS BEEN PRETTY RESPONSIVE TO US THESE PAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS THIS YEAR.
I WAS ABLE TO GET HIS ASSURANCE THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET MONEY FOR THE ARC THIS YEAR.
OUR, UM, BUT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO JUST HANDLE THAT ON OUR OWN, I THINK HELPS THE PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE US TO ASK FOR OUR HELP IN, UH, GETTING THAT, UH, TAKEN CARE OF.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA FIND $10 MILLION TO SQUEEZE OUT OF IT.
UM, BUT I AM SURE THAT WE COULD FIND $75,000 TO MOVE FROM HERE TO THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUGE BUDGET AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS TEAM WORK REALLY HARD ON IT.
BUT WHEN YOU WORK ON SOMETHING THAT LARGE, THERE'S BOUND TO BE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT THEN WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS AS A COUNCIL WHEN THEY COME BEFORE US TO SHARE THOSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
SO THAT WOULD JUST BE, UH, MY INITIAL THOUGHTS.
AGAIN, MY INITIAL THOUGHTS IS, UH, COUNCILMAN BENNETT, BECAUSE IT'S NET ZERO HERE.
EVEN IF YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE $60,000 PROBLEMS, UM, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO IF I'M IN CHARGE OF HIGHWAYS, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT TO TAKE $60,000 OUTTA MY BUDGET, NOW I CAN'T DO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO WITH THE ROADS IN DISTRICT D OR DISTRICT F.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WHEN WE START WANTING TO PLAY WITH THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE PIE DOESN'T GET ANY BIGGER.
IT'S THE SAME PIE, AND ALL WE'RE DOING IS TAKING FROM SOMEBODY ELSE AND GIVING TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO SOMEBODY WHO WE'RE TAKING FROM, WHO'S ALREADY SAID TO US, HEY JIM, I NEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SO I CAN DO THE ROADS IN
[01:15:01]
HARTFORD COUNTY.I'VE JUST DECIDED NOW YOU DON'T HAVE 60,000, YOU HAVE $60,000 LESS BECAUSE I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EACH ONE OF US HAVE OUR OWN SPECIAL INTEREST.
I HAVE MY SPECIAL INTEREST IN D, SHE'S GONNA HAVE AN EF.
AND SO THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THEN WE START BRINGING SPECIAL INTEREST INTO THE BUDGET BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEND $60,000 ON SOMETHING GOING ON IN MY AREA.
AGAIN, HE WANTS TO SPEND 60,000 ON HIS AREA, AND THEN IT GETS ALL CONVOLUTED TO WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION NOW CAN'T DO ANY BUSINESS BECAUSE WE HAVE DECIDED TO SERVE OUR SPECIAL, SPECIAL INTEREST.
SO JUST ON MY TAKE OF THIS, THE BEGINNING, THAT THAT ZERO BUDGET, BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE NET ZERO, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS, UM, FOR THOSE FOLKS, UH, THAT WE AREN'T SERVING, THAT DON'T HAVE SPECIAL, SPECIAL INTEREST.
AND THAT WOULD BE MY TAKE, UH, AS THE FIRST BRUSH OF THIS MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PENMAN, JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON MR. RILEY'S COMMENTS.
UM, WHETHER YOU WERE ADVOCATING FOR, UM, A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET, YOU WOULD STILL REQUIRE FOUR TO FIVE VOTES.
SO IF IT'S NOT A PROJECT THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET THE SUPPORT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT YY YOUR REFERENCE OF TAKING SOMETHING FROM ANOTHER PERSON OR ANOTHER ENTITY, IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S COMPLETELY ACCURATE, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT MYSELF AND MY CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISOR, UH, THOROUGHLY LOOKED AT THE BUDGET AND FOUND DISCREPANCIES AND FOUND THE ACTUALS VERSUS BUDGETED ISSUES.
AND WE TOOK THOSE AND WE PUT THOSE IN AMENDMENTS PREPARED TO CUT THE BUDGET AND TRANSFER.
THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF IT WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
UH, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND WITH THE HOPES OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHETHER IT'S THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR THE NEXT COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ENGAGING IN A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRIOR TO JUNE 11TH OR UH, JUNE 15TH, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY, AND BALANCING OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR BUDGET.
IT THIS, THIS NOTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA SPEND MORE, UH, THAN IT WAS BUDGETED.
AND, UH, IT'S GONNA RAISE TAXES.
IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT ACCURATE.
AND I, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT LAST NIGHT DURING THE SPECIAL, UH, HEARING WHEN THE PRECINCT WAS VOTED ON, THAT'S WHY WE NEEDED TO BALANCE IT.
THAT'S WHY THAT FIRST AMENDMENT TO RETURN, THE PRECINCT WAS VOTED ON AND ALL THE OTHER AMENDMENTS WERE VOTED ON TO MAKE SURE IT WAS BALANCING.
THAT'S WHAT THOSE OTHER AMENDMENTS WERE FOR.
AND THAT'S WHY WE VOTED FOR IT.
MR. GUTHRIE, UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND, UH, UM, MR. UH, COUNCILMAN RILEY.
WE A HUNDRED PERCENT, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON TARGET.
UH, COUNCILMAN PENMAN, I THINK YOU JUST TALKED AGAINST YOUR OWN BILL
I SAID BECAUSE YOU MADE REFERENCES TO WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE MONEY AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS UNDER THE PRESENT LEGISLATION, JUST LIKE WE DID LAST NIGHT WHEN WE MOVED.
AND WE COVERED, UH, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR, FOR SOME THINGS.
HE WANTS, UM, UH, UH, I KNOW THIS, UH, THIS BILL HAS, UH, HAS A LOT OF ATTENTION.
AS, AS I, I RECEIVED, UM, 65, UH, UH, EMAILS ON THIS SUBJECT.
AND, UH, IT WAS 55 TO 10 AGAINST THE BILL.
UH, AND A LOT OF THE REASONS ARE, UH, UH, I KNOW MR. PENMAN AND THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, UH, HAVE, HAVE, UH, ISSUES WITH EACH OTHER.
BUT TO, TO SAY THAT THE, THE, THE BUDGET IS DECIDED BY ONE MAN IS ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, A RIDICULOUS STATEMENT.
UM, WELL, YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT 15 DEPARTMENTS BASICALLY IN THE COUNTY, UM, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMERGENCY SERVICES, HOUSES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY INSPECTION, LICENSE AND PERMITS, LAW DEPARTMENT, PARKS AND REC, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING AND PROCUREMENT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, TREASURY, AND ALSO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND ALSO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
DO YOU THINK ALL THEM PEOPLE DON'T HAVE SOME INPUTS TO THE BUDGET? I MEAN, THEY ALL HAVE HEADS OF ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, UNDER, UNDER THOSE, UH, UH, PEOPLE, THEY HAVE A STAFF AND THEY, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO PUT THEIR BUDGET TOGETHER AND SEND IT OVER TO THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SO THE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AND HIS PEOPLE CAN PUT THE ENTIRE BUDGET TOGETHER, WHICH THEN THEY HAVE TO SEND TO US.
SO, UH, I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
BUT, UM, UH, UH, THE COUNTIES THAT, UH, UH, MR.
[01:20:01]
PENMAN REFERS TO, UH, THE ONES HE REFERS DON'T HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVES.THE TWO THAT DO HAVE COUNTY EXECUTIVES, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT ARE, HAVE ALMOST MIRRORED THIS LEGISLATION IS PRINCE GEORGE'S AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
PRINCE GEORGE'S AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARE TWO OF THE HIGHEST TAX AND SPEND COUNTIES IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF, UM, PROVISIONS THAT THEY HAVE AND THEY CAN DEAL WITH.
AND THAT'S WHY THEIR, THEIR, THEIR TAXES AND EVERYTHING ARE THERE.
SO TO SAY THAT, THAT THAT WON'T HAPPEN HERE IS, IS REALLY, UH, UH, A, A GUESSTIMATE BECAUSE, UM, UH, IT, IT'S CLEAR, UH, JUST LIKE COUNCILMAN RILEY SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOTTA TAKE PETER TO PAY PAUL.
AND I'VE TOLD A NUMBER OF THE COUNCILMAN WHEN I TALKED TO HIM AND SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU GET ELECTED HERE.
UM, I SAID, YOU GOT A FOUR YEAR TERM, FOUR YEAR TERM.
IT'S FOUR BUDGETS THAT YOU'VE GOTTA GO.
SO I'VE KNOWN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUDGETS 'CAUSE I DID A LOT IN MY OTHER, UH, WORK BEFORE I EVER RETIRED FROM THERE.
I HAND THEM MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS ON PENSIONS AND, AND, AND, AND SALARIES AND HEALTHCARE.
SO I, I KNOW, I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUDGETS.
SO, UH, WHEN YOU SIT HERE AND TALKING ABOUT, UH, THIS BUDGET TO, TO TRY TO SAY JUST ONE PERSON DOES IT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A WHOLE SLEW OF PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT THESE, UH, PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER.
AND, UH, SO I I, THE WAY IT IS, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL BEFORE, UH, MY SLUTSKY WAS, WAS, I THINK HE WAS CHAIR AT THE TIME, HIM AND I WERE WORKING TOGETHER.
'CAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE, THE BOARD OF EDUCA, UH, BOARD OF EDUCATION, ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS SO WE COULD GET 3% SALARY RAISE FOR THE TEACHERS.
AND, AND SO WE, WHAT WE DID, WE TOOK, UH, UH, WE MOVED A MILLION DOLLARS FROM, UH, THIS EXACTLY WHAT THE LEGISLATION HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
WE MOVED A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, EXCUSE ME, FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SO THEY COULD GET THEIR RAISE.
WELL NOW EVERYBODY AT THE, IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT GOT TICKED OFF.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF 'EM GOT TICKED OFF.
'CAUSE WE TOOK A MILLION DOLLARS FROM 'EM.
SO, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THREE AREAS RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT, THAT ARE, UH, AIMING FOR MORE MONEY.
AND THAT'S THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT THE, THE, UH, UH, STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND, AND, UH, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UH, UH, SO IF YOU WERE, IF YOU WERE TO, IF THIS LEGISLATIVE WAS IN PLACE AND YOU TOOK CARE OF THOSE THREE, WELL WE GET THEM MONEY, MOVE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE TO GIVE TO THEM TO TAKE IT FROM THREE OTHER PLACES.
NOW YOU TICKED OFF THOSE THREE PLACES, YOU KNOW, NOW YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT FOUR TIMES.
'CAUSE YOU GOT FOUR BUDGETS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION COMES OFF.
NOW YOU'RE GONNA TAKE OFF ENOUGH, ENOUGH PEOPLE.
I TOLD MR. PENMAN WAS HIS OFFICE A WHILE AGO BACK.
I SAID, LOOK, YOU KNOW, YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR TERM LIMIT BILL.
HE SAYS, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUR TERM LIMIT, BILL? I SAYS, BECAUSE WHERE THIS GOES IN PLACE, IF SOMEBODY LASTS TWO TERMS,
YOU KNOW, I'M ON MY FOURTH AND LAST 'CAUSE I PLAN TO RETIRE FROM, FROM HERE.
UH, SO, UM, UH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, I I, I, I SEE THAT HAPPENING AND I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN TO THE COUNCIL.
THAT YOU'RE GONNA SIT HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND MOVE AND, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET YOUR OWN LITTLE PIECES OF WHAT YOU WANT.
AND, UH, HOPE SOMEBODY ELSE GETS, YOU'RE GONNA ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER AND, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO, UH, FOR THAT, I THINK IT'S THE BENEFIT TO THE COUNCIL, UH, AND FUTURE COUNSELS THAT WE NOT PASS THIS LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE, UM, UH, COUNTY.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE FUTURE OF, OF, OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
UM, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT FATHOM WHY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD WANT, WOULD NOT WANT MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET, MORE INFLUENCE OVER THE BUDGET, MORE ABILITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND IF WHAT I'M HEARING IS CORRECT, THE REASON WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO IS BECAUSE YOU POTENTIALLY WOULDN'T GET REELECTED BECAUSE YOU COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE AN IMPACT.
IF I LOSE FOR ADVOCATING FOR MY COMMUNITY, THEN I LOSE, WE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTS COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE BUDGET.
AND ONE OTHER POINT, TWO OTHER POINTS ACTUALLY, UM, YOUR REFERENCE TO WHERE I'M ARGUING AGAINST MYSELF IS TOTALLY INCORRECT BECAUSE ALL WE CAN DO IS CUT AND IT GOES TO ONE AREA.
I CAN TELL YOU, BOB FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS HERE AND HE NEEDS FUNDING.
HE WASN'T CONSIDERED, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT.
I CAN TELL YOU THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES THAT HOUSE THE EMS UNITS THAT GIVE THEM THE BUNKS THAT USE THEIR ELECTRICITY, THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR STIPENDS ANYMORE.
[01:25:01]
THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS, VISIT HARTFORD.THEIR MONEY IS BEING RANSOM, AND WE'RE JUST GONNA SIT HERE AND, AND NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HAVE NO ABILITY TO DO IT.
IT JUST, IT JUST, IT BOGGLES MY MIND WHY YOU WOULDN'T WANT, WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, THE, THE, THE BEING ABLE TO INFLUENCE THE BUDGET FOR YOUR DISTRICT.
AND THE REFERENCE AS FAR AS ALL DEMOCRAT COUNTIES, BECAUSE DORCHESTER, THAT'S NOT A DEMOCRAT COUNTY, UH, FREDERICK, UM, THAT'S NOT A DEMOCRAT COUNTY.
TALBOT, WICOMICO COUNTY, YOU ONLY MENTIONED MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S.
AND THE REST OF THOSE, UH, COUNTIES, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THEY HAVE ALMOST COMPLETE AUTHORITY OVER THEIR COUNTY.
WACOM CO COUNTY IS MAYBE PRODUCING LEGISLATION TO GET RID OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALTOGETHER.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE DO THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING ACROSS OUR STATE, THIS IS THE TREND TO GIVE THE INFLUENCE, THE BUDGET, THE INFLUENCE OVER THE BUDGET, NOT ENTIRELY, BUT A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ADVOCATING FOR.
UH, JUST TO FINISH, I DON'T WANNA GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, MY INFERENCE WAS THAT THE 15, 16 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.
AND WHEN IT'S BUDGET TIME, I KNOW THAT THOSE COUNT, THOSE, UH, EVERY ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, THE HEAD OF EACH DEPARTMENT CERTAINLY, UH, UM, GETS TOGETHER WITH THEIR, EVERYBODY ON THEIR STAFF DECIDES WHAT THE BUDGET THEY NEED AND THEY SEND IT OVER TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT ON.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE PERSON THAT MAKES THESE DECISION BY FAR.
AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE PERSON TO DECIDE WHERE $1.2 BILLION IS GOING TO GO.
UH, UH, YOU KNOW, AND THESE PEOPLE IN THESE DEPARTMENTS, THEY'RE HIGHLY PAID PEOPLE OR EDUCATED PEOPLE IN, IN THAT, UH, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR, UH, AREA.
AND THIS COUNCIL IS NOT, THIS COUNCIL ARE MOSTLY PART-TIME PEOPLE.
THERE'S ONLY TWO OF US HERE THAT REALLY ARE FULL-TIME.
RUSSELL EITHER HAS ANOTHER JOB OR THEY HAVE BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU'RE GONNA TACKLE THIS STUFF AND, AND DECIDE THAT, UH, ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE YOUR, YOUR AREA HERE NEEDS 50,000 OR A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO SOMETHING, YOU'RE NOW NO MORE THAN WHAT ALL THE 15 DEPARTMENTS KNOW AND ALL THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
MY POINT IS WHEN IT COMES TO WE, WE, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES.
WE'VE MADE THEM, WE MADE SOME LAST NIGHT, UH, WE HAVE AUTHORITY TO DO SOME OF THAT AND, UH, UH, TO, TO GO FURTHER AND, UM, UH, SIT THERE AND BE ABLE TO MOVE MONEY LIKE THAT IS, UH, IS NOT GOOD FOR THE, UH, COUNTY PERIOD, REGARDLESS OF, FORGET ABOUT THE, YOU WANNA THINK ABOUT REELECTION? FORGET ABOUT THAT, THROW THAT OUT THE WINDOW, BUT IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. PENMAN? JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
UM, THIS MAY BE A PART-TIME JOB, BUT I TREAT IT AS A FULL-TIME JOB.
AND WE HAD, UH, FOUR DAYS OF BUDGET HEARINGS, FOUR DAYS TO EVALUATE EVERY STAKEHOLDER THAT RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THIS COUNCIL TO GET TO KNOW THEIR ISSUES, UNDERSTAND THEIR ISSUES, AND THE FACT THAT WE, YOU, YOU MENTIONED WE DON'T HAVE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO EVALUATE THIS.
WE HAVE A COUNTY AUDITOR THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BALANCE THE POWER, WHO IDENTIFIED IN HER REPORT SEVERAL AREAS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED WITHOUT TAKING FROM AN ENTIRELY ONE ENTITY AND REALLOCATED FOR DIFFERENT, UH, NEEDS.
SO IT'S BEEN PROVEN, IT'S BEEN PROVEN WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT THIS COULD BE IMPACTFUL FOR OUR COUNTY.
IT COULD BALANCE, UH, THE BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, AND ANYTIME WE CAN BALANCE OUR POWER IN OUR, IN OUR GOVERNMENT, THAT'S A GOOD THING, FOLKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT IS OPPOSED AT ALL ON THE COUNCIL.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATING FOR THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
ANYONE? SO I AM GONNA JUST WEIGH IN HERE A LITTLE BIT.
THE CHARTER DOES GIVE THE COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET.
IT IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PREPARES THE BUDGET, SENDS IT TO US FOR OUR INPUT, AND I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A NEED FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
THIS, THIS BILL SIMILAR WAS INTRODUCED OR TRIED TO BE INTRODUCED IN 21 BY COUNCILMAN WAGNER AT THE TIME.
UM, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
[01:30:01]
THERE WAS A NEED THERE, AT LEAST HE THOUGHT IT WAS A NEED THERE.UM, I DO BELIEVE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GIVE MORE CONSIDERATION TO.
UM, I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT MR. PENMAN MADE EARLIER.
UH, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT RIGHT.
I JUST, I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.
UM, A LOT OF WHAT HE SAID, I DO AGREE WITH, I DO NOT LIKE THE MISINFORMATION THAT WAS PUT OUT, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT ALLOW US TO INCREASE IF PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY, WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY INCREASE IN THE BUDGET AS MR. BENNETT SUGGESTED.
UM, WE ALREADY HAVE ENABLING LEGISLATION OR LABOR AUTHORITY FROM THE CHARTER TO, UM, THE FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY, AS I SAID, BUT WE'RE ALSO HAVE STATE LAW MANDATING US TO LOOK AT EDUCATION AND CUT WHERE NECESSARY FOR THAT.
UM, AND AS LONG AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE SCHOOL PUT IN, WE ARE ABLE TO CUT DIFFERENT AREAS AND MOVE TO THE SCHOOLS OR BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND.
SO WE DO HAVE THAT ABILITY SOMEWHAT ALREADY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY INCREASE, DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY NEW LINE ITEMS, DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY REVENUE, UH, PROJECTIONS TO BE MESSED WITH AT ALL.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THE FACTS OUT AND UM, WE WILL HEAR FROM ANYONE SIGNED UP.
WE HAVE 16 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
MR. PRESIDENT JERRY EATON, FOLLOWED BY JOY CLARK.
GERALD ED, REPRESENTING THE HARTFORD COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF'S UNION, 45 SOUTH MAIN STREET IN BEL AIR.
SIR, AS PRESIDENT OF THE H-C-D-S-U, I REPRESENT APPROXIMATELY 400 ACTIVE AND RETIRED HARTFORD COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS OUR FULL SUPPORT OF BILL 24 DASH ZERO 16, GIVING COUNTY COUNCIL MORE CONTROL OVER A COUNTY BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO ONE PERSON OFFERS A MULTITUDE OF ADVANTAGES.
IT FOSTERS TRANSPARENCY AMONG OUR ELECTED LEADERS.
IT PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT ALLOWS FOR GREATER REPRESENTATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UNLIKE THE DECISIONS OF A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, WHICH COULD BE INFLUENCED BY PERSONAL BIAS OR INTEREST, A COUNTY COUNCIL MADE UP OF DIVERSE REPRESENTATIVES WITH VARYING BACKGROUNDS ENSURES BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS ARE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED, DEBATED, AND DECIDED UPON WITH AN INPUT FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.
ADDITIONALLY, A COUNTY COUNCIL STRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR CHECKS AND BALANCES PREVENTING ANY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL FROM IRRESPONSIBLY WIELDING DISPROPORTIONATE POWER OVER FINANCIAL MATTERS IN THE COUNTY.
THROUGH OPEN DELIBERATION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS, CITIZENS WILL BE GRANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND THEIR PRIORITIES, ENSURING THE BUDGETARY DECISIONS ALIGN WITH THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF EACH DISTRICT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
THE GREATEST STRENGTH OF OUR COUNTY COUNCIL WAS THEIR COLLECTIVE EXPERTISE OF ITS ELECTED MEMBERS DRAWN FROM MULTIPLE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS.
THIS SERVES TO ENHANCE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS LEADING TO MORE INFORMED EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF COUNTY RESOURCES.
THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH PROMOTES LONG-TERM PLANNING, STRATEGIC INVESTMENT.
IT SAFEGUARDS THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY AND IT FALSE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
IN ESSENCE, ENTRUSTING THE COUNTY BUDGET TO A COUNCIL RATHER THAN A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES, PROMOTES INCLUSIVITY, FAIRNESS, AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
CALL YOUR SECOND SPEAKER, JOY CLARK.
JEN ZER, FOLLOWED BY JEFFREY BECK.
JEFFREY BECK, 1 0 2 SHELL ROAD IN JOPPA TOWN, MARYLAND.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR US OUT TONIGHT.
UM, I'M START OFF BY JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR EVERYBODY.
ACCORDING TO THE MARYLAND DECLARATION OF RIGHTS ARTICLE SIX, UH, IT SAYS, ALL PERSONS INVESTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE OR EXECUTIVE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT ARE THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC AND AS SUCH ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CONDUCT.
UH, I TAKE THAT TO MEAN OUR FREE GOVERNMENT EXISTS AS A SOLE PURPOSE, UH, TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES OF THESE CITIZENS.
AND EVERY BILL DRAFTED, EVERY AMENDMENT OFFERED AND EVERY PRESS RELEASE ISSUED OUGHT TO BE PROCEEDED BY THIS QUESTION OF HOW THIS ACTION WILL PRESERVE THE LIBERTIES OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
UH, IN REGARDS TO BILL 24 16 TO AMEND THE CHARTER, TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AUTHORITY TO INCREASE, DECREASE, OR DELETE ITEMS FROM THE BUDGET, UH, INTRODUCED BY A COUNCILMAN WHO IS EMPLOYED BY AN AGENCY THAT IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY, IF EVER THERE WAS AN ETHICAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UH, WE SEE EVERY WEEK IN WASHINGTON DC AND EVERY SPRING IN ANNAPOLIS RUNAWAY EXCESS SPENDING AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE OUR POLICY MAKERS AT THOSE LEVELS ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY SPECIAL INTEREST.
DO WE REALLY WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN IN HARTFORD COUNTY? GIVEN
[01:35:01]
THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, UH, CURRENT PAST AND POTENTIALLY FUTURE THAT ARE EMPLOYED OR AFFILIATED WITH AGENCIES AND OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT RELY ON OR RECEIVE COUNTY FUNDS, ALLOWING THE COUNCIL TO INCREASE FUNDS AT WILL IS A PLAN THAT IS RIPE FOR ABUSE.UH, WHILE THIS AMENDMENT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO ADD NEW ITEMS, ANY INCREASES WOULD LOGICALLY EITHER REQUIRE, UH, REDUCED SPENDING SOMEWHERE ELSE AS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COUNCIL, UM, OR BORROWED MONEY.
UH, WE DO HAVE THAT BALANCE BUDGET, UH, BUGABOO THERE, UH, WHICH BRINGS US TO THE POINT OF OUR GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS OR TAKING ON UNNECESSARY DEBT.
I URGE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON BILL NUMBER 24 0 16.
I URGE, UH, THE INTRODUCING COUNCILMAN TO WITHDRAW THIS BILL AND SHOULD IT MAKE IT TO THE BALLOT, I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN THE REST OF MY CITIZENS, UH, THAT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT.
DALE LIVINGSTON, FOLLOWED BY DONNA SADOWSKI.
PRESIDENT VINCENTE AND THE COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS DALE LIVINGSTON, 1908 INGLESIDE ROAD.
MOST OF WHAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BY COUNCILMAN.
UM, I APPRECIATE UM, THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT FORTH UM, AGAINST THIS BILL 'CAUSE I'M AGAINST THE BILL.
UM, ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT I DID WANNA SAY IS THAT IF YOU VOTE YES TO THIS BILL, YOU ARE ALLOWING AN ENTITY POSSIBLY OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE AND POSSIBLY COUNTY COUNCIL TO HAVE AN UNAUTHORIZED SAY IN HOW OUR COUNTY BUDGET IS STEWARDED.
IT IS JUST SO VERY OBVIOUS AS TO WHY THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, WE AS CITIZENS DO HAVE RIGHTS AND WE APPRECIATE OUR COUNCIL, PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT US, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN TRUST YOU.
AND IF WE FEEL THAT YOUR POWERS THAT BE WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S POWERS, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.
WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN JUST SAID, UM, IS VERY APROPOS.
IT'S FROM FEDERAL OWNED DOWN TO LOCALS.
IF YOU KEEP PULLING UM, AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, YOU'RE IN ESSENCE DISHONORING YOUR OATH.
AND I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT YOUR OATHS MANY TIMES SO I WON'T REPEAT MYSELF, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DIANA SADOWSKI 1113 STR AND CO DRIVE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I AM OPPOSED TO THIS BILL AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR NOT INCREASING OUR TAXES.
GOD KNOWS ANNAPOLIS HAS DONE ENOUGH OF THAT TO US.
I THINK MARYLAND'S NEW MOTTO SHOULD BE CHANGED FROM THE FREE STATE TO THE TAX HEALTH STATE.
AS A RESULT OF GOVERNOR MOORE'S RECENT ACTIONS, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS ELECTED TO ASSERT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS.
AND NOTICE I SAID CITIZENS NOT STAKEHOLDERS AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
THERE'S A SAYING, TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH, BUT IN THIS CASE, TOO MANY HANDS CAN SPOIL THE BUDGET.
I'M TIRED OF HEARING THIS COUNTY DOES THIS AND THAT COUNTY DOES THAT.
HARTFORD COUNTY IS NOT THOSE COUNTIES.
WE HAVE OUR OWN INDIVIDUALITY AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
THIS BILL'S ACTION COULD RESULT IN A REDIRECTION OF FUNDS TO SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SINCE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS HOLD DUAL EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS ALREADY SUSPECT AND THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT WOULD CAST MORE SHADOWS ON THE ACTIONS OF THE COUNCIL AND THAT MUST BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
PUTTING FORWARD CHARTER AMENDMENTS ARE A CHALLENGE FOR VOTERS.
NOT MANY PEOPLE READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE THING.
SOMETIMES THEY WON'T EVEN CHECK THE BOX.
SOMETIMES THEY SO SAY NO WHEN THEY SHOULD BE SAYING YES AND IT COULD ULTIMATELY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE FOR SPENDING IN THE COUNTY.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED MORE SPENDING IN THESE INFLATIONARY TIMES THIS EVENING.
I'VE HEARD SOME INFLAMMATORY WORDS I'VE HEARD.
UM, UH, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE THAT WOULD THAT COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT B? UM, UM, ANYWAY, UH, THE THEATRICS HAS GOT TO STOP.
WE'VE BEEN SITTING IN THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR ALL OF THIS TIME AND IT JUST NEEDS TO STOP AND WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO ESSENTIALLY, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS BILL AND I'M RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT B WITHDRAW IT.
DAVID BAUER FOLLOWED BY VERNA WHITE.
[01:40:11]
GOOD EVENING.I'M DAVID BAUER, 29 52 KIRK WALL COURT ABINGDON.
SO I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL.
LET'S START OFF WITH SOME BASIC GOVERNMENT SEPARATION OF FUNCTIONS, SEPARATION OF AUTHORITIES.
SO LOOK NATIONALLY, LOOK AT THE STATE LEVEL BUDGET AS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CARRYING OUT THE LULLS.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS HUGE BECAUSE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES.
WE ALREADY GIVE A LOT OF POWER TO INDIVIDUALS OF THE PRESIDENT, THE GOVERNOR, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE FURTHER CONCENTRATING THAT POWER BY TAKING A FUNCTION THAT IS LEGISLATIVE AND PUTTING WAY TOO MUCH OF THAT INTO THE HANDS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
SO THE EXISTING LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER CAN BE INTERPRETED AS A BIT OF A ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURE.
WE DON'T WANT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOING EARMARKS, SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE COUNTY COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO BASICALLY STOP THAT.
OKAY? BUT AS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED, CORRUPTION CAN COME FROM CUTS WITHHOLDING AS WELL AS FROM EARMARKS OR ADDITIONS.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS NOT NEARLY STRONG ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH NOT JUST THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUT THE PREVIOUS ONE.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BROADLY, IT IS A RISK TO CONCENTRATE POWER.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE, WE SPREAD OUT THE AUTHORITY BETWEEN SO MANY OF YOU HERE.
HAVING A GROUP OF PEOPLE SHARING THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS A MUCH LOWER RISK.
AND MR. GUTHRIE, I RESPECT YOUR EXPERIENCE, BUT PLEASE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVING INPUT TO THE BUDGET AND ONE INDIVIDUAL HAVING AUTHORITY OVER THAT BUDGET.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PRESENT, IF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAN IGNORE IT COMPLETELY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS SOME PROTECTION FROM STATE LAW.
DOES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE ANY PROTECTION OTHER THAN TRADITION AND LOBBYING? HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES DOES THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE GIVE US TO LOBBY TO HIM ONCE A YEAR? THE BUDGET HEARING IN JANUARY WHERE HE WOULD NOT LOOK AT ANYONE WHO WAS NOT SUPPORTING HIS SIDE.
SO OVERALL, PLEASE GIVE THE VOTERS A CHANCE TO APPROVE THIS.
I'M HOPING WE WERE GETTING FAN WHITE.
GOOD EVENING SURNAME AND ADDRESS.
STEVE MCCURDY 27 0 4 DALE COURT, BALDWIN, MARYLAND, THE HARTFORD COUNTY SIDE
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
IF I CORRECTLY UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF BILL 24 0 16, IT APPEARS THAT IT ESSENTIALLY TRANSFER THE POWER OF INCREASING ITEMS IN THE BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL AND REMOVES THAT RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SECTION 5 0 4 THROUGH FIVE 11 OF THE CHARTER STIPULATES THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING AND SUBMITTING AN ANNUAL CAPITAL BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL FOR REVIEW THEN PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THEREAFTER ACTION BY THE COUNCIL BY SECTION FIVE 12.
[01:45:01]
THE COUNCIL COUNCIL CURRENTLY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECREASE OR DELETE ANY ITEMS IN THE BUDGET WITH EXCEPTIONS.THIS BILL IF PASSED, WOULD ALLOW THE COUNCIL AFTER ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS TO INCREASE ANY ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THAT THEY DESIRED, WHICH CIRCUMVENTS ANY FURTHER PUBLIC INPUT IN ACTION BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IF, IF I INTERPRET THIS BILL CORRECTLY, SINCE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS CHARGED WITH A PREPARATION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET, INCLUDING DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND ANY INCREASES BY THE COUNCIL COULD HAVE SERIOUS NEGATIVE IMPACTS UPON ONE OR MORE OF THE DEPARTMENTS REQUIRING AFTER THE FACT ADJUSTMENTS AS ENUMERATED IN THE CONS US CONSTITUTION AND REFLECTED AS WELL IN THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION.
I BELIEVE THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND OUR STATE LEGISLATURES LEGISLATORS THROUGH THE INSPIRATION OF A MIGHTY GOD CAREFULLY CRAFTED THE SEPARATIONS OF POWERS IN THESE DOCUMENTS TO ENSURE THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.
AND HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY WE HAVE THE CURRENT CHARTER TO FULFILL THAT GOAL AS WELL.
PLEASE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO BY PASSING BILL 24 0 16 AND AMENDING OUR CURRENT CHARTER AND FOR THOSE ATTENDING THIS MEETING TONIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM OF THE OATH THAT EACH OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TOOK BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD AND THE RESIDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY WHEN YOU WERE SEATED ON THIS COUNCIL AND I HOPEFULLY TRUST THAT THIS BILL IS NOT A POWER GRAB FOR EXPEDIENCY AND TO CIRCUMVENT AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
TRACY POCK FOLLOWED BY CINDY POPPER.
TRACY POCK, 3 48 WOODLAND GREEN COURT, ABERDEEN, MARYLAND.
TONIGHT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT CHARTER AMENDMENT 24 16.
AS A FORMER GOVERNMENT TEACHER AND HISTORY MAJOR, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO PREVENT ANY ONE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT FROM HAVING TOO MUCH POWER.
AFTER ALL, WE SEPARATED FROM A KING WHO HAD TOO MUCH CONTROL.
LORD ACTON ARTICULATED THAT ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY OUR LOCAL CHARTER CURRENTLY GIVES TOO MUCH POWER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THIS BILL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO BALANCE THAT POWER.
IT IS MORE FAIR FOR ALL CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT BODY OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE COUNTY THAT ARE DEBATING AND COMING TO CONSENSUS RATHER THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL MAKING THAT DECISION.
IT IS MORE IN THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY RATHER THAN THE SPIRIT OF A MONARCHY.
DEMOCRACY IS STRONGER WHEN MORE VOICES ARE INVOLVED IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
IN FACT, IF THIS BILL PASSES, IT STILL HAS TO BE APPROVED BY HARTFORD COUNTY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.
I DON'T THINK I COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER EXAMPLE OF DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
WHEN WE KNOW BETTER, WE DO BETTER.
THIS IS A CHANCE TO DO BETTER FOR OUR HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS.
I FULLY SUPPORT THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT.
CINDY POP, 9 5 2 ANGEL VALLEY COURT.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT THEY WERE FORMING FOR OUR NEW COUNTRY.
THEY DISAGREED ON SOME BUT ALL BELIEVED THAT OUR NEW GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO BE A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE A SEPARATION OF POWERS WITHIN THE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND A FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
THEY NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT OUR GOVERNMENT COULD EVER TURN INTO A MONARCHY OR THAT ONE PERSON COULD EVER TAKE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.
THEY DEVELOPED THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT EACH WITH SPECIFIC POWERS, EACH WITH A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES OVER THE OTHERS.
IT IS NOT LOST ON THOSE THAT STUDY GOVERNMENT
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THAT THE FIRST OF THESE BRANCHES DESCRIBED IN THE CONSTITUTION IS THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.THE FOUNDING FATHERS BELIEVED THAT THIS BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THUS WAS GIVEN THE LION'S SHARE OF THE POWERS THEY BELIEVED WERE NECESSARY TO GOVERN AMONG OTHERS.
THEY GAVE CONGRESS THE POWER TO LAY AND COLLECT TAXES, DUTIES, IMPOSE AND EXCISES REVENUE TO PAY THE DEBTS AND PROVIDE FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE APPROPRIATIONS AND TO MAKE ALL LAWS WHICH SHALL BE NECESSARY AND PROPER FOR CARRYING INTO EXECUTION.
UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THEY WERE WRITING THE CHARTER FOR MARYLAND AND MANY OF ITS COUNTIES, SOMEONE FELT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO MOVE A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE POWERS TO THE GOVERNOR AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES STRIPPING AWAY THE POWER OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THE CORRESPONDING CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT OUR CONSTITUTION INCLUDES.
IN MANY WAYS THIS ALLOWS THE GOVERNOR AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES TO OPERATE IN A MANNER THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WORKED SO HARD TO PREVENT LIKE A KING ALL POWERFUL WITH NO SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
IN VERY FEW STATES TODAY AS THE GOVERNOR AND THE EQUIVALENT OF A COUNTY EXECUTIVE, GIVEN THE UNCHECKED POWER TO COMPLETELY CONTROL THE REVENUE AND APPROPRIATIONS FOR A POLITICAL ENTITY, I SAY COMPLETELY UNCHECKED BECAUSE ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 5 1 2 SUBSECTION C OF THE CHARTER ELIMINATES THE COUNTY'S POWER TO VETO THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
ANOTHER CHECK AND BALANCE ELIMINATED.
I'M GIVING THIS CIVICS LESSON BECAUSE MR. PENMAN BILL IS THE FIRST STEP IN RESTORING THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS ENVISIONED AND DEVELOPED.
IT INSTILLS A SMALL PIECE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WERE MEANT TO EXIST AND GIVES THE LEGISLATIVE ARM OF OUR GOVERNMENT BACK SOME OF THE POWERS THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS MEANT FOR THEM TO HAVE.
PERSONALLY, I WISH THE BILL HAD GONE FURTHER, BUT IT IS A START.
ERIC RUBY, FOLLOWED BY JOHN MALMO.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD.
ERIC ROBY, DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF JEFF GAYLER AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS BUILT AROUND A PROCESS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO PRESENT TO PREVENT ABSOLUTE POWER FROM CORRUPTING ANY ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE DULY ELECTED BY THE CITIZENS TO ENSURE WE HAVE A FAIR AND NON-BIASED SYSTEM TO ADMINISTER THE PUBLIC FUNDS COLLECTED EACH YEAR FOR THE TAXPAYERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS EACH HAVE ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN PROCESS THROUGH THEIR CHARTER THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THE VOTERS IN THE TAXPAYERS OF HARTFORD COUNTY TO DECIDE WHICH SYSTEM THEY PREFER.
AS AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE WITH AN ELECTED STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, WE RELY ON COUNTY TAX DOLLARS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND APPROVED BY THIS COUNTY COUNCIL.
THESE TAX DOLLARS ALLOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE TOP QUALITY PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE 260,000 PEOPLE THAT CALL HARTFORD COUNTY HOME.
BILL TWENTY FOUR SIXTEEN SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ALLOWING ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL OR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FROM HAVING UNLIMITED AND UNCHECKED POWERS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE BUDGET AS A POLITICAL WEAPON AGAINST OUTSIDE AGENCIES, NON-PROFITS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND EVEN TAXPAYERS.
UNDER THIS CURRENT SYSTEM, AN UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET MOVE WAS MADE THIS YEAR.
ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL ATTEMPTED TO DEFUND AN ALREADY APPROVED AND FUNDED PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT AND USE THE FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED IN 2022 TO FUND PROJECTS IN THE FY 25 BUDGET.
THANKFULLY THIS PROJECT WAS ALREADY FUNDED AND THANKFULLY THE COUNCIL HAD THE AUTHORITY IN THIS CASE TO STOP THIS VINDICTIVE DECISION TO REMOVE THE FUNDING FROM THIS APPROVED PROJECT BY DELETING THE REMOVAL OF THE FUNDS, THUS ENSURING THESE FUNDS REMAINED IN THIS VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT.
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU ALLOWS YOU AS ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO ADEQUATELY REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND PROVIDES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.
NOW THAT STATEMENT THERE REMINDS ME OF THE CONVERSATION THIS COUNCIL HAD PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO WHEN IT CAME TO THE HOTEL TAX AND I CAN TELL YOU THE COUNCILMAN FROM DISTRICT A MADE SOME VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENTS ABOUT HOW THAT HOTEL TAX FUNDING WAS BEING COLLECTED.
BECAUSE REMEMBER, HE MADE THE ARGUMENTS THAT THE HOTEL TAX, THE FUNDING THAT WERE IN COLLECTED THOSE HOTELS WERE IN HIS DISTRICT AND HE ADVOCATED FOR HIS DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THOSE FUNDS WERE ACTUALLY SPENT IN THAT DISTRICT.
FOLKS, THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
[01:55:01]
AS THE COUNCIL, THE POWER TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.IN CLOSING, I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.
I THINK MOST OF YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE GOVERNS THE BEST OUTSIDE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES.
THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT OFFICE CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE THAN THAT OF A COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER PROVIDING EACH OF YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AFTER YOU THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE CHECKS AND BALANCES REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS INTEREST AND ENSURE THE BUDGET PROCESS IS FAIR AND BALANCED FOR ALL CITIZENS AND STAKEHOLDERS IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE PHILOSOPHY GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE GOVERNS BEST.
I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER VOTING YES FOR 24 16 AND SEND THIS LEGISLATION TO THE VOTERS AND ALLOW THEM TO DECIDE THE BEST PROCESS.
GOOD EVENING TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.
JOHN P MALANO 24 0 2 EAGLEVIEW DRIVE, BEL AIR, MARYLAND.
MR. PENMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT WITH THE GOAL OF APPROVING IT ON ITS WAY.
YOUR BILL CALLS TO MIND A STORY OF YOGI BERRA AND HIS PIZZA ORDER.
MR. BERRA ORDERED A PIZZA AND THE CASHIER ASKED IF HE WANTED TO CUT INTO FOUR, EIGHT OR 16 SLICES.
MR. BARER RESPONDED, CUT IT INTO FOUR SLICES.
I DON'T THINK I COULD EAT EIGHT OR 16.
REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU SLICE IT, THE BUDGET IS THE SAME.
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO REARRANGE THE TOPPINGS BUT NOTHING ELSE.
HONESTLY, THE CON HARTFORD COUNTY BUDGET HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MESS.
THIS BILL WILL NOT CORRECT IT.
YOUR BILL IS NOT A REFERENDUM ON THE CHARTER OR THE CODE, RATHER A REFERENDUM ON THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
I CANNOT PREDICT WHAT A FUTURE COUNCIL WILL LOOK LIKE.
I DO KNOW THAT THE PRESENT AND PREVIOUS COUNCILS ARE NOT A PRETTY SITE.
REVIEWING THIS BILL AND CONTEXT WITH HOW THE COUNCIL HAS HANDLED THEIR MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF LAND USE AND ZONING, ALL OF THE RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO LAND USE AND ZONING HAVE BEEN INITIATED IN THESE CHAMBERS BY THE HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
PLEASE CONSIDER HOW RESIDENTS ADDRESS YOU WITH THEIR DISSATISFACTION.
WHILE YOU TAKE NO ACCOUNTABILITY OR A RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS OR DECISIONS, IT'S DISTURBING THAT YOU HAVE TAXING AUTHORITY AND THAT YOUR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS ARE SHAPED BY OTHERS IN SOME OTHER AREA OF THE COUNTY OUTSIDE THESE CHAMBERS.
MR. GUTHRIE, YOUR RECENT BILL TO LIMIT GRADING UNITS WAS PRECIPITATED BY A COUNCIL THAT CHANGED THE COUNT, THE CODE TO REMOVE THOSE LIMITS.
MR. BENNETT, YOUR EFFORT TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF WAREHOUSES AND RESTRICT TRAFFIC ON THE PERMAN PENINSULA WAS PRECIPITATED BY A COUNCIL THAT CHANGED THE LAND USE AND ZONING IN THAT AREA TO ALLOW THOSE USES, NO CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS AND WITH NO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO MITIGATE THAT IMPACT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI, YOU OFFER A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF CURIOUS LEADERSHIP ESTABLISHING A REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE ONLY TO REJECT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, LEGISLATE A MORATORIUM AMONG WAREHOUSES ONLY TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS ILLEGAL.
ADVISE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT ENFORCE DECISIONS OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND RESPONDING.
I HAVE ISSUES THAT I'VE RAISED WITH YOU AND I'VE GOTTEN RESPONSES.
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU OR WE'LL GET TOGETHER SOON.
NEVER HAPPENS, TO BE HONEST SIR, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND THE LEGISLATION YOU ENACT OR THE CONSEQUENCES YOU HAVE.
DAMAGE YOUR CREDIBILITY, YOUR BRAND AND THE CHARACTER OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.
IT'S AMUSING TO WATCH YOUR INTERACTIONS AS YOU DEBATE THE DETAILS OF THE ISSUES YOU REPRESENTED.
I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW YOU WOULD SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE BUDGETARY ISSUES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE COUNCIL CAN CONVENTIONALLY DEMONSTRATE EXEMPLARY CREDIBILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, MORE COURAGE AND MENTAL ACUITY.
IT WOULD BE COUNTERINTUITIVE TO GRANT THEM MORE POWER AND AUTHORITY.
THIS BILL IS TAINTED NOT ON ITS MERITS, BUT BY THE HISTORICAL BEHAVIOR OF THE SITTING AND PREVIOUS COUNCILS.
NO DOUBT ON THAT BASIS IT WILL CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES AND SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN.
STELLA PETERS, FOLLOWED BY AMY O'NEILL.
UM, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANNA START BY THANKING, UH, COUNCILMAN JACOB BENNETT IN MY DISTRICT FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB.
AND MR. PENMAN SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME YOU PRESENT LEGISLATION, THIS IS PETERS, I NEED YOUR ADDRESS.
UM, ANYWAY, SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME YOU PRESENT LEGISLATION YOU GET SOME PUSHBACK
[02:00:01]
FROM THE SAME PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE WEEK.SO, UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS, UH, BILL 24 16.
FIRST I HEARD THAT YOU'RE RAISING TAXES AND ADDING ADDITIONAL SPENDING TO THIS BILL, WHICH WAS VERY, VERY CONCERNING.
SO I TOOK A LOOK AT THE BILL AND I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING IN THE BILL THAT WAS ADDING SPENDING OR RAISING TAXES.
SO AFTER READING THE BILL, IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IT'S FAIR AND EQUITABLE WAY FOR OUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE THE BEST OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
IN FACT, THIS BILL ACTUALLY OFFERS CHECKS AND BALANCES AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE DISCUSSED.
WELL, I'M A BIG CONSTITUTIONALIST.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS KNEW FIRSTHAND WHAT TYRANNY LOOKED LIKE.
THEY LIVED IT AND THEY EXPERIENCED IT.
THEIR GOAL IS TO ENSURE AND CREATE A GOVERNMENT THAT OFFERED THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.
THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT ENSURED THAT NO ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT COULD ACCUMULATE MORE POWERS THAN OTHER BRANCHES.
OUR COUNTY CHARTER IS MODELED ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO I SPEAK A LOT ABOUT CHECKS AND BALANCES AND SO MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE DONE AS WELL BECAUSE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE ACTUALLY VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IS OFTEN CITED IN DEBATES ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
HISTORY SHOWS THAT HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES.
NO ONE IN OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MAKING ALL OF THE RULES.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS KNEW THAT.
SO THEY CREATED THE MECHANISMS WHICH TO DISTRIBUTE AND MAKE THE RULES.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS KNEW THAT THIS WOULD WORK, SO THEY CREATED THESE MECHANISMS TO DISTRIBUTE POWER THROUGHOUT THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, PREVENTING ANY ONE INSTITUTION OR ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM EXERCISING TOTAL CONTROL.
IT PROVIDES THE PROPER CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT ARE NEEDED IN THIS COUNTY.
THEREFORE, I ASK THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON THIS BILL.
GOOD EVENING COUNT COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS AMY O'NEILL AND MY ADDRESS IS 1 0 3 EAST JARRETTSVILLE ROAD IN FOREST HILL AND I OPPOSE BILL 24 16.
AND THE REASON THAT I OPPOSE IT IS THAT I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT IT IS ADEQUATE IN ITS CHANGE TO THE CHARTER.
IT SIMPLY GIVES THE COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE ABILITY TO INCREASE A LINE ITEM.
IT DOESN'T STATE WHAT THAT DOES TO THE REST OF THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET PROCESS OF HARTFORD COUNTY, THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVES THE DECISIONS OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES WORKING WITH, IN THIS CASE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE GOVERNOR, TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT LOOKS AT BOTH THE NEEDS, THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THE INCOME THAT THE COUNTY IS GENERATING.
IF THE COUNCIL IS ALLOWED TO MAKE AN INCREASE TO A LINE ITEM AFTER THE COUNT, THE BUDGET PROCESS IS COMPLETED WHEREIN THE BUDGET IS DEPENDENT UPON PROJECTED REVENUE.
HOW DOES THE COUNCIL THEN MAKE THE CHANGE WHERE THE REVENUE IS GENERATED TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE? THEREFORE, WITH THOSE QUESTIONS, I SUBMIT THAT THE LEGISLATION AS IT IS WRITTEN, IS INADEQUATE.
THAT GREATER CONSIDERATION NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE COUNCIL VOTES TO INCREASE THE LINE ITEM OF A BUDGET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT TOGETHER IN ITS MANY PIECES TO MATCH PROJECTED REVENUES.
SO I DO SUGGEST THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST BILL 24 16 AND THANK YOU.
WADE SEWELL 24 14 HURST COURT FALLS, MARYLAND.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
I WANNA THANK THIS COUNCIL FOR YOUR STRONG FINANCIAL ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE ADDITIONAL $6.5 MILLION THAT YOU SECURED FOR HCPS FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURING THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[02:05:01]
I THANK ALL OF YOU AND I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK THE EFFORTS OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI, COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT TONY G, MY COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN PENMAN AND COUNCILMAN BENNETT.YOU ALL WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND PUTTING IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FACES AND GOING TO BAT FOR US.
SOME SCHOOL SYSTEMS AROUND THE STATE HAVE VIRTUALLY NO FUND BALANCE GOING INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
YET IN ALMOST ALL CASES, THEY RECEIVE AN EVEN GREATER PORTION OF THEIR COUNTY'S OVERALL BUDGET.
HCPS WILL CONTINUE TO BE, CONTINUE TO BE AN EXCELLENT STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLLAR AS EXEMPLIFIED BY OUR PAST CONSERVATIVE APPROACH THAT HAS LED TO OUR CURRENT FUND BALANCE.
I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE STEWARDSHIP FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND PASSPORT OF EDUCATION.
THEY ENSURED THAT WE WOULD HAVE FUNDING TO WEATHER FINANCIAL STORMS AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM.
THIS COUNCIL ISN'T A TOUGH POSITION WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COUNTY'S BUDGET.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CREATES A BUDGET THAT MYSTIFIES MANY OF US.
YET THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOW THE BUDGET IMPACTS THE CITIZENRY RESTS ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
YOU'RE TASKED WITH HEARING FROM THE CITIZENS AND OUR BELOVED ORGANIZATIONS AND COUNTY RESOURCES WHEN THE FINANCIAL GOING GETS TOUGH.
HOWEVER, YOU CURRENTLY HAVE VERY LITTLE SAY IN HOW TO WRITE THE SHIP FOR THEM.
YOU'RE TASKED WITH APPROVING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET AND HEARING FROM EVERYONE IN EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT IMPACTS YET YOU CAN DO LITTLE ABOUT IT.
THIS HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I AM PROUD OF THE EFFORTS THAT THIS COUNCIL MADE THIS FISCAL SEASON TO OBTAIN THE NEEDED FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I WISH THAT YOU HAD THE POWER TO ALSO IMPACT OTHER BUDGETS LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM, CLERK OF THE COURT, STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE MYRIAD OF NONPROFITS THAT RELY ON COUNTY FUNDING TO PROVIDE VALUED SERVICES TO OUR COUNTY.
THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET.
FOR TOO LONG THE OFFICE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN UNCHECKED AND ITS POWER TO UNDER PROJECT REVENUE AND SCROLL AWAY TAXPAYER DOLLARS TAXES ARE MEANT TO BE INVESTED RIGHT BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITIES TO CREATE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT WE ALL WANT TO LEAVE THIS PLACE AND THIS DAY BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT.
OUR BELOVED ORGANIZATIONS CAN HELP DO THAT WITH THE REQUIRED FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
YOU HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT IN YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING BALANCE TO OUR GREAT COUNTY.
PLEASE LET THE CITIZENS DECIDE.
CRYSTAL OTT, 700 HESTON COURT AT BEL AIR.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT.
UM, I'VE TAKEN MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THE BUDGET AND MY PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THIS PROCESS IN HARTFORD COUNTY IS THAT TOO MUCH POWER LIES WITH ONE POSITION.
IT'S MY DESIRE TO SEE A BETTER BALANCE OF POWER AND INCREASE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
I AM A VOCAL OPPONENT OF THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET AND HIS DEALINGS WITH, UM, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS.
IF THE OPPOSITE WERE TRUE AND I HAD SUPPORTED THIS BUDGET AND THE BEHAVIOR OF OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, I WOULD STILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT WILL BRING INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION.
THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRE INCREASED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DURING THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN THE BUDGET IS RELEASED AND WHEN IT'S ADOPTED.
CURRENTLY, AS A RESULT OF YOUR INTENSIVE EFFORTS MEETING WITH EACH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS WORKING WITH YOUR BUDGET ANALYSTS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU CAN PROPOSE CHANGES, YOU CAN SEND LETTERS, WHICH WE GREATLY APPRECIATE, BUT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAN LITERALLY NEGATE ALL OF THAT WORK AND IGNORE YOU.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAN IGNORE EVERY STAKEHOLDER THAT PROVIDES INPUT AND GO ABOUT AS IF NONE OF THAT TOOK PLACE.
DECREASING UNILATERAL POWER OF ONE WOULD PROVIDE FOR BETTER BALANCE OF POWER AND THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
WHEN CONSIDERING THIS LEGISLATION, WE HAVE TO THINK TO FUTURE COUNCILS AND FUTURE COUNTY EXECUTIVES.
THE SITUATION WE'RE CURRENTLY IN DEMONSTRATES PERFECTLY THE NEED FOR THIS CHANGE BOTH LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HELD A COMMITTEE, OR SORRY, COMMUNITY BUDGET INPUT SESSION.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RELUCTANTLY AGREED TO ENGAGE EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT A DATE AND A LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY OF MANY CITIZENS.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS NEXT TO ZERO
[02:10:01]
PUBLICITY AND THAT PUBLICITY CAME LATE THIS YEAR.WHEN ASKED EARLY, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S RESPONSE WAS, OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED IN PUBLIC INPUT.
IT WAS, HOWEVER, ONLY DUE TO OUR PROACTIVE APPROACH, OUR PUBLICITY AND ARRANGING OPTIONS FOR A VENUE THAT THIS WAS SCHEDULED EARLY AND THAT IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.
FAST FORWARD TO THE NIGHT OF THE INPUT SESSION WHEN HE WOULD NOT LOOK AT US AS WE SPOKE.
WHEN HIS BUDGET ROLLED OUT, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE LISTENED TO THAT INPUT.
COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE MENTIONED JUST NOW THAT WE HAVE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS THAT WORK WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT HE DOESN'T WORK ALONE.
THEY MEET WITH HIM AND THEY INDICATE WHAT'S NEEDED.
BUT NOT ONLY DOES HE NOT LISTEN, HE GOES ON A PR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THOSE PEOPLE WITH FALSE INFORMATION.
SOME OF MY FAVORITES, THE SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T LIVE HERE IF SCHOOLS WOULD JUST DO X, Y, AND Z AND THEN HE STATES SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS LESS THAN 1% OF THIS BUDGET.
AS THINGS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP DURING THIS CYCLE, WE LEARNED ABOUT A BACKDOOR DEAL BETWEEN APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
HAD THE BOARD OF ED PASSED THAT, UM, THAT UM, YOU KNOW, EFFORT, UM, POLITICALLY, IT WOULD'VE PAINTED HIM IN A POSITIVE LIGHT WITH REGARDS TO FUNDING.
THESE ARE, THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES.
UM, I ASK THAT YOU VOTE IN SUPPORT, UM, OF THIS.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UM, TO US AND THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THIS COUNTY.
THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR, UH, BILL 24 DASH ZERO 16 AND WE'LL BRING IT UP, UH, FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A SHORT RECESS.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
CHAIR CALLS TO ORDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 24 DASH ZERO 20.PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCIL MEMBER BENNETT.
I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR OUR OWN.
DEAR LORD, UH, WE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO DID SO MUCH FOR US IN THE PAST WEEK WITH THE WEATHER THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.
WE ALSO PRAY THAT WE'LL HAVE STABLE AND SAFE WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
WE PRAY THAT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OF HEAVY LEGISLATIVE WORK THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR US, COURAGE, CLARITY, AND THE STRENGTH TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
AGENDA NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION
[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]
OF PROCLAMATIONS.[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS, EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS, COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.MR. ANA, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COURTNEY WALLACE TO THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
MR. BENNETT AYE FOR BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE, THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL JONES TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD.
MOVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PARKS CERTAIN RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD, A BOARD APPOINTMENT OR NEW APPOINTMENT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
MR. BENNETT AYE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE, THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED.
ARE EITHER ONE OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE, THEY'RE SMART BACK.
UM, SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
[6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
WE HAVE NONE.[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING.JUNE 24TH, 2024 LEGISLATIVE DAY 24 DASH 18.
ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NO CORRECTIONS.
MS. STAND APPROVED COUNSEL MAY I HAVE GENERAL CONSENT
[10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS]
TO SKIP TO AGENDA ITEMS 10 THROUGH 12 AND RETURN TO ITEM EIGHT THEREAFTER.INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS.
[02:15:01]
ONE TO WORKBOOK GRIDS MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN.SPRING 2024 UPDATE MR. RILEY, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? YES, I MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE TO THE WORKBOOK GRID.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS, ONE TO WORKBOOK GRID MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN.
SPRING 2024 UPDATE IS HEREBY APPROVED AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH THREE TO RESOLUTION 0 0 7 DASH 24 MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN SPRING 2024 UPDATE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH THREE TO RESOLUTION 0 0 7 DASH 24 MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
MOVE A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH THREE TO RESOLUTION 0 0 7 24.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MRS. BOLS AYE MR. BENNETT AYE THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH THREE TO RESOLUTION 0 0 7 24 MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN SPRING 2024 UPDATE ARE HEREBY APPROVED.
MR. JAN ANO PLEASE READ AMENDMENTS 37 TO 79 FOR BILL 24 14 INTO THE RECORD AMENDMENTS 37 THROUGH 79 FOR BILL 24 14 ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 37 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12 STRIKE 5,500,000 SUBSTITUTE 6,000,005 IS AROUND THAT.
YOU WANT ME TO READ THAT? OKAY, STRIKE IN PARENTHESES 5,500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 6,542,935.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 38 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 13 STRIKE 62,950,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 61,172,737.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 39 OF PAGE 35 IN LINE 13, STRIKE 60 IN QUOTATIONS OR DO I HAVE TO SAY THAT? YEAH, 62,950,000 IN SUBSTITUTE.
52,950,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 40 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 13 STRIKE 62,950,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 61,684,328.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 41 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 14 STRIKE 44,562,000 A SUBSTITUTE 45,562,000, AMENDMENT NUMBER 42 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12 STRIKE IN 5,500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE IN 5,635,460.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 43 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 13 STRIKE 62,950,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 63,085,460.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 44 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE IN IS SUBSTITUTE 11,907,475.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 45 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 13 STRIKE 62,950,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 69,357,475.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 46 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE THREE STRIKE 5,500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 3 MILLION AMENDMENT NUMBER 47 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE FOUR STRIKE 1 MILLION IS SUBSTITUTE 3,500,000.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 48 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE THREE STRIKE 5,500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 4,500,000.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 49 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE FOUR STRIKE 1 MILLION AND SUBSTITUTE 2 MILLION AMENDMENT NUMBER 50 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE THREE STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 3,500,000.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 51 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE FOUR STRIKE 1 MILLION AND SUBSTITUTE 3 MILLION AMENDMENT NUMBER 52 ON PAGE SEVEN AND LINE 23 STRIKE 773,608,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 780,108,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 53 ON PAGE 15 IN LINE 11 STRIKE 7,770 3 MILLION MILLION 608,000 IS SUBSTITUTE 780,108,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 40 54 ON PAGE 29 AND LINE 15 STRIKE 968,824,500 AND SUBSTITUTE 975,324,500.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 55 ON PAGE 33 AND LINE 12 STRIKE ON PAGE 35 SIR, ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 12 STRIKE IN PARENTHESES 5,500,000 IS SUBSTITUTE ZERO, AMENDMENT NUMBER 56 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 13 STRIKE 62,950,000 IS SUBSTITUTE
[02:20:01]
56,450,000.AMENDMENT NUMBER 57 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 14 STRIKE 44,562,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 45,577,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 58 ON PAGE 35 AND LINE 21 STRIKE 165,792,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 165,881,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 59 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE 34 STRIKE 165,792,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 165,881,000, AMENDMENT NUMBER 60 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE THREE STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE ZERO AMENDMENT NUMBER 61 ON PAGE 40 IN LINE FOUR STRIKE 1 MILLION AND SUBSTITUTE 6,500,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 62 ON PAGE 45 IN LINE 14 STRIKE 263,539,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 263,628,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 63 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE SIX STRIKE 697,768,911 AND SUBSTITUTE 704 700 4,268,911 AMENDMENT NUMBER 64 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE EIGHT STRIKE 149,595,759 AND SUBSTITUTE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SIX MILLION NINETY FIVE THOUSAND NINETY FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY NINE AMENDMENT NUMBER 65 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE NINE, STRIKE 149,595,759 AND SUBSTITUTE 156,095,759 AMENDMENT NUMBER 66 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE 16, STRIKE 36,608,400 SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND SUBSTITUTE IN PARENTHESES 39,005,400, AMENDMENT NUMBER 67 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE 20 STRIKE 54,633,349 AND SUBSTITUTE 60,808,349.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 68 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE 22, STRIKE IN PARENTHESES 73,608,000 AND SUBSTITUTE SEVEN 80,108,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 69 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE 23 STRIKE 2,656,979 AND SUBSTITUTE 2,331,979.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 70 ON PAGE 46 IN LINE 24 STRIKE 38,680,400 AND SUBSTITUTE 39,005,400.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 71 ON PAGE 59 IN LINE 16 5,500,000 IN SUBSTITUTE ZERO AMENDMENT NUMBER 72 ON PAGE 59 IN LINE 17 STRIKE 62,950,000 IN SUBSTITUTE 56,450,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 73 ON PAGE 59 IN LINE 19 STRIKE 30,122,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 31,122,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 74 ON PAGE 59 IN LINE 20 STRIKE 14,440,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 14,455,000.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 75 ON PAGE 59 AND LINE 22 STRIKE 6,458,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 6,532,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 76 ON PAGE 59 AND LINE 23 STRIKE 165,792,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 165,881,000.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 77 ON PAGE 59 IN LINE 24 STRIKE 165,792,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 165,881,000 AMENDMENT NUMBER 78 ON PAGE 61 AFTER LINE 13, STRIKE 5,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE ZERO AMENDMENT NUMBER 79 ON PAGE 61.
IN LINE 14, STRIKE 1 MILLION AND SUBSTITUTE 6,500,000.
WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE?
SO COUNSEL, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON A TIME SCHEDULE.
SO WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THESE AMENDMENTS THIS EVENING IN THE VOTING BLOCKS THAT, UH, MS. SPENCE HAS PROVIDED.
UM, SO AMENDMENTS, UH, TO BILL 24 DASH ZERO 14 ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER FIVE, AMENDMENTS THROUGH SEVEN, EXCUSE ME, 37 THROUGH 51 MAY HAVE A MOTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS 37 THROUGH 51.
MOVING TO SECOND AND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK FIVE AMENDMENTS 37 TO 51.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. BENNETT? UM, I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD
[02:25:01]
BE GOOD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING AT HOME OR IN THE ROOM TO JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS ARE.UH, MAYBE MS. SPENCE COULD JUST SHARE TO EXPLAIN WHY THERE'S SO MANY AMENDMENTS AND HOW THAT WORKS.
I KNOW WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S GOOD FOR PUBLIC CLARITY.
IS THAT THE DROP OF THE MIC,
UM, VOTING BLOCK NUMBER FIVE, UM, BASICALLY AMENDMENTS 37 THROUGH 51.
WERE BASED ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU PUT FORWARD LAST NIGHT AND APPROVED BECAUSE THEY, UM, ADJUSTED OR DECREASED LINE ITEMS, THE APPROPRIATION SIDES, WE HAD TO GO BACK AND BALANCE THE REVENUE SIDE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS DO.
AND ALL THESE AMENDMENTS ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL BALANCERS.
EVERY ONE OF 'EM ARE FOR ARE BALANCERS, CORRECT? YEP.
ANYTHING ELSE MR. BENNETT? NO, I JUST THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE GOOD BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT TO READ OUT AT ONCE.
UM, ANYONE ELSE? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MR. BENNETT, AYE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER FIVE AMENDMENTS 37 TO 51 TO BILL 24 0 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER SIX AMENDMENTS 52 TO 54.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS.
LET'S MOVE TO SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 6 52 TO 54.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. SPENCE, DO YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND SURE.
UM, THESE THREE BALANCING AMENDMENTS BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET.
SO ALL THE MEN AMENDMENTS THAT WE DID PRIOR THAT AFFECTED THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGET.
THESE ARE THE THREE THAT BALANCE THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
DEAN, SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER SIX.
AMENDMENTS 52 TO 54 TO BILL 24 0 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER SEVEN AMENDMENTS 55 TO 59.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS.
SECONDED TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER SEVEN.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. SPENCE? SURE.
UM, BALANCE THE GENERAL CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, THEY'RE ALL FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, AND THESE WILL BALANCE THAT PORTION OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND.
ANYONE ELSE? ANY DISCUSSION MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER SEVEN TO BILL 24 0 14 IS HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER EIGHT, AMENDMENT 60 TO 62.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 60 TO 62.
LET'S MOVE TO SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER EIGHT MS. SPENCE.
PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS BLOCK NUMBER FIVE, EXCEPT THIS IS FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION CAPITAL, CAPITAL FUND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO.
A NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER EIGHT TO BILL 24 0 14 IS HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER NINE, AMENDMENT 63 TO 70.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 63 THROUGH 70.
SUBMIT A SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER NINE, AMENDMENT 63 TO 70 MS. SPENCE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER NINE AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST THREE THAT YOU SEE.
THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND, THE OPERATING SIDE, THE ESTIMATED UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
IT'S THE STATEMENT THAT'S IN THE BACK OF THE LEGISLATION AND IT'S, IT'S BALANCING THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
[02:30:01]
THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK.NUMBER NINE, UH, TO BILL 24 0 14 IS HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 10, AMENDMENT 71 THROUGH 77.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 71 THROUGH 77.
MOVE SECONDED TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 10, MS. SPENCE? SURE.
UM, VOTING BLOCK 10 IS THE GENERAL CAPITAL FUND BALANCE STATEMENT AND ESTIMATED OF UNAPPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE.
SO IT'S BALANCING THAT STATEMENT THAT'S IN AGAIN, THE BACK OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MR. SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO.
A NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 10.
AMENDMENTS TO BILL 24 0 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVED VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 11 AMENDMENTS 78 AND 79.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS 78 AND 79.
LET'S MOVE A SECOND TO APPROVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 11, MS. SPENCE.
UM, THE LAST TWO, UM, BALANCING AMENDMENTS ARE TO BALANCE THE PARK AND RECREATION CAPITAL FUND STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED UNAPPROPRIATED UPON BALANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
MR. BENNETT AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE VOTING BLOCK NUMBER 11, AMENDMENT 78 AND 79 TO BILL 24 0 14 ARE HEREBY APPROVED.
MR. JAN ANO, PLEASE READ AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 16 IN THE RECORD.
PLEASE AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 16 CHARTER AMENDMENT ARTICLE FIVE, BUDGET AND FINANCE SECTION FIVE 12 INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE ON PAGE ONE IN LINE NINE, AFTER DEFICITS INSERT ANY INCREASE IN A BUDGET ITEM SHALL REQUIRE AN AFFIRM AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 16.
MOVING A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH ZERO 16 AND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, UH, I BROUGHT THE AMENDMENT FORWARD BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IF WE WERE GONNA MOVE THIS, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY THAT NO MATTER WHAT, IF THIS GETS APPROVED AT THIS LEVEL, MOVES TO THE CITIZENS, UH, THEY NEED TO BE ASSURED THAT THIS IS A VOTE THAT WILL HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY BEFORE IT EVER LEAVES THIS DA.
SO, UM, I HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT AND THERE MAY BE ANOTHER AMENDMENT COMING FORWARD.
SO, UM, ANY ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, MR. BENNETT? I THINK, UH, REQUIRING FIVE VOTES HELPS EASE THAT CONCERN WE HEARD OF TONIGHT OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY GOING AFTER SOMETHING THAT'S ONLY GONNA IMPACT OR SUPPORT THEIR DISTRICT OR, YOU KNOW, THEIR PASSIONS.
BUT IT WILL REFLECT THE FACT THAT AT LEAST FIVE OUT OF SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREE WITH THAT NEED FOR AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD AMENDMENT.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF IT IS, UH, TO MAKE A VETO PROOF, PROOF WE'RE GONNA NEED FIVE VOTES ANYWAYS IF IT WERE TO COME BACK.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE COMPROMISE.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. GINGER? YEAH, I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M AT AT THIS BILL, BUT THIS DOES MAKE IT STRONGER.
UM, SO IF, IF THE BILL DOES GO THROUGH, I'D LIKE TO SEE A SUPER MAJORITY VERSUS NOT, BUT, UH, UH, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHERE I'M AT WITH THE BILL.
MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE? ONE NEGATIVE.
THE AMENDMENT TO BILL 24 DASH ZERO 16 IS HEREBY APPROVED, UH, AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 0 23 ZONING WALL SIGNS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 23.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 0 23.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I, AGAIN, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH PLANNING AND ZONING, THAT ANY PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE BOTH SIGNS.
THEY EITHER HAVE A FREESTANDING
[02:35:01]
SIGN OR A WALL SIGN AND, UM, I JUST THINK THIS HELPS.ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THEY WANTED WAS THE ABILITY TO HAVE MORE TEETH, BUT AFTER TALKING TO MS. HERIC, UH, THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO HAVE THE ENFORCEMENT THAT THEY NEED IS ALREADY THERE.
UM, SO, UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT DOWN THE ROAD WE WILL BE REVISITING THIS LEGISLATION FOR OTHERS.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. ANO? SO IT, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD SOMETIMES WITH THE COUNTY HAS ONE ISSUE WITH THE SIGNS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE SIGNS.
SO WHAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY DOESN'T APPLY TO THE TOWN OF BEL AIR, TOWN OF ABERDEEN AND TOWN OF HABER GRACE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
UM, MY BUSINESS IS IN THE TOWN OF BEL AIR, UM, AND THEY DO HAVE SOME VERY STRICT, UM, SIGN REQUIREMENTS EVEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF LIGHTING THAT AN LED OR A A SIGN COULD PUT OUT AT NIGHTTIME.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS, ONE TO BILL 24 DASH 0 23 IS HEREBY APPROVED AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 10 TO BILL 24 0 24 LIVABILITY CODE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 10 TO BILL 24 DASH 24.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 10 TO BILL 24 DASH 24.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, NONE.
I'M SORRY MR. GUTHRIE, UM, SINCE THESE ARE COMING FROM YOU AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, SEE THESE, UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THESE TO THE, TO WALLACE? UH, THESE ARE NOT COMING FROM THESE OR THESE ARE COMING FROM THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY.
UH, MR. KEARNEY, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THOSE AMENDMENTS PLEASE? UH, YES, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T, UH, ONE AND TWO.
UH, BUT ESSENTIALLY ALL
UH, SO THESE CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE AND ALLOW THE BILL TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH IT.
ORIGINAL INTENT THAT WAS DRAFTED WAS BELIEVING SOME SECTIONS OF THE LAW.
THAT DEFINITIONS NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO ASK THE MEETING.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MR. GUTHRIE? IT DOES.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE AMENDMENT ONE THROUGH 10 TO BILL 24.
NOW WE ARE WITHDRAWING AMENDMENT NUMBER 11 BECAUSE OF SOME IN CORRECTIONS TO IT.
SOME, UH, SOME PIECES THAT WERE MISSING TO IT.
UH, SO MR. JAN ANO, PLEASE READ AMENDMENT ONE OR AMENDMENT 12 TO BILL 24 0 24 AMENDMENT 12 TO BILL 24 DASH 0 24 LIVABILITY CODE INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AMENDMENT NUMBER 12 ON PAGE 13 IN LINE ONE, STRIKE SECTION TWO AND SUBSTITUTE SECTION THREE.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 12 TO BILL 24 DASH 0 24.
IT'S MOVING A SECOND TO APPROVE AMENDMENT 12.
AND AGAIN, UH, AS FAR AS DISCUSSION, THIS AMENDMENT IS JUST TO REPLACE AMENDMENT 11, UH, WHICH WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
SO ANYONE ELSE? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVES AMENDMENT 12 TO BE BILL GOY BILL 24 24 IS HEREBY APPROVED.
[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS BILL 24 0 14 ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AS AMENDED.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 24 DASH 14 AS AMENDED.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
MR. LOOKING FOR SECOND MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I, UH, MENTION SOMETHING? UH, CAN YOU WAIT TILL WE GET TO A DISCUSSION POINT, PLEASE? WELL, THERE'S JUST AN ERROR.
I SEE ERROR HERE UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT SOMETHING INCORRECT ON THE BILL.
[02:40:01]
24 DASH OH 14.YES, IT SAYS, UH, COUNTY COUNSEL OF HARTFORD MAR COUNTY, MARYLAND.
LOOK, THEY ALL SAY 21 DASH OH 14.
NO, NO, NO, THEY DON'T SAY 24 21 DASH OH, I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT IT.
HE'S TALKING AT THE HEADER OF THE BILL, THE HEADER OF THE BILL.
WELL, THAT, THAT, THAT COULD BE CHANGED IF YOU PASSES.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO, IT'S ACTUALLY NOT PART OF THE BILL, SO, WELL, I WANT TO BRING IT TO EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION, SO WE'RE FINE.
SO ARE WE GOOD? YEAH, WE'RE GOOD.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND, UM, TO BILL 24 0 14 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. BENNETT? UM, UH, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, UM, I REALLY AM STRUGGLING ON HOW TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I, I DID VOTE AGAINST THE BUDGET, UM, ALSO LAST YEAR I THINK WAS A LOT MORE CONTENTIOUS BUDGET SEASON THAN THIS YEAR.
UM, AND I DO COMMEND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
YOU KNOW, HE MET WITH ME BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON BEGAN, AND ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I ASKED FOR HIM WAS TO HAVE A CALMER RHETORIC THROUGH THIS SEASON SO THAT WE COULD JUST HAVE CALM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS ACHIEVED.
UM, I MADE REQUESTS FOR, UH, SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR MANY THINGS, AND HE MET MANY OF THOSE REQUESTS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT HE WAS AMENDABLE TO THE BUDGET AND SENDING OVER SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO TAKING CARE OF OTHER NEEDS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
HE HELPED ASSURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE ARC.
UM, I, BUT ONE PIECE I AM STRUGGLING WITH IN PARTICULAR IS JUST TOURISM AS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT F, WHICH HOLDS HALF GRACE AND MUCH OF THE WATERFRONT IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, PROTECTING TOURISM AND ENSURING TOURISM IS, IS WELL MAINTAINED AND GROWING IN OUR COUNTY'S SOMETHING THAT MATTERS A LOT TO ME.
UM, AND WITHOUT SEEING, UH, THE LIST OF WHO'S RECEIVING, UH, TOURISM FUNDING THIS YEAR, UM, AND WITHOUT THE ASSURANCE FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, BILL 23 DASH, UH, 0 3 4 IS BEING FOLLOWED AND ENSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, VISIT HARTFORD, WHICH IS OUR DMO IS, IS FULLY FUNDED TO THE, THE MEASURE THAT WAS REQUIRED BY THAT LEGISLATION.
I'M JUST HAVING A HARD TIME, UH, SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION.
I'LL COMMEND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ON TAKING MY PHONE CALL TODAY, UH, TO ASK HIM ABOUT THIS.
BUT HE WASN'T WILLING TO ASSURE ME THAT VISIT HARTFORD WOULD BE FUNDED IN THIS BUDGET.
AND WITHOUT KNOWING THAT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME VOTING YES ON THE BUDGET TONIGHT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT.
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE MY HEAD IS AT IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET.
NO, I I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILMAN BENNETT.
UM, I TOO HAVE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, TOURISM IN OUR COUNTY AND THE FUTURE OF IT.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, I DID HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
HE HAS ASSURED ME THAT, UM, HE IS FILING THE PROCESS THAT, THAT HE HAS COMMITTED TO AS FAR AS THE NONPROFITS, UM, WITH THE, YOU KNOW, INTENT TO PRODUCE A LIST TO US TO LOOK AT.
YES, VISIT HARTFORD IS STILL A CONTENTIOUS POINT.
HE'S TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THAT AS WE ALL ARE.
I'VE OFFERED MY SERVICES TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO TRY TO, UH, HELP FIND A PATH TO, UM, PRESERVE VISIT HARTFORD BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB PROMOTING TOURISM, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY AND HAVE DONE SO FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
UM, BUT, BUT I DO BELIEVE BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS RECENT AS FRIDAY, UM, AND IT IS ALSO, UH, I GUESS IT WAS MONDAY AS WELL, UM, MONDAY MORNING, HE, UM, HE HAS SAID HE WAS COMMITTED TO FUND, UH, THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, HE ACTUALLY SPOKE TO DISTRICT A SOMEWHAT, UM, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
AND, UM, I I, I AM HOPEFUL THAT WE FIND A PATH TO ENSURE VISIT HARVARD'S FUTURE IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND IF I, WHEN I DID MY RESEARCH AND I LOOKED BACK, IT WAS AFTER THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED LAST CYCLE WHEN WE GOT THE LIST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE BEING FUNDED.
SO I'M HOPING THAT HE'S STAYING TRUE TO FORM WITH THAT AND WE SHOULD RECEIVE THEM VERY SHORTLY.
UM, MR. PENMAN, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
[02:45:01]
COUNCILMAN BENNETT REMAIN DISAPPOINTED IN THIS BUDGET AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS.UM, ON MAY 23RD, UH, THE ON COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTI ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, UM, SENATE REQUEST OF THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE BUDGET, UM, EDUCATION TO THE THRESHOLD, UH, THAT WE REQUESTED WAS NOT MET, UH, CIVILIAN SALARIES, UM, WERE RETALIATED AGAINST AND THEY GOT ZERO.
UM, VISIT HARTFORD TO STILL A QUESTION.
UH, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OH, INUNDATED WITH BODY-WORN CAMERAS.
UM, THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THEY HAVE DOGS THEY HAVE NO HOUSING FOR.
THESE ARE CONCERNS THAT, THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED.
AND WHILE WE DID MAKE SOME PROGRESS BECAUSE OF THE GRIT WE HAVE ON THE COUNCIL, UM, I THINK THERE, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME ISSUES WITH THIS BUDGET.
WITH THAT SAID, UM, SAYING NO TO THE BUDGET SAYS NO TO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET BUDGET, YOU KNOW, UM, THE NEW MONEY FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALL THESE THINGS.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT, BUT I JUST HOPE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THIS PROCESS IN 24 16, THAT THAT COMMUNICATION DOOR IS A WHOLE LOT EASIER, UH, TO USE NEXT YEAR RATHER THAN THIS YEAR.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, I HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ABOUT THE NON-PROFITS.
UH, CERTAINLY NON NON-PROFITS IN OUR COUNTY DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR OUR COUNTY, ALL OVER OUR COUNTY.
UH, THE PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH SOME OF THE NON-PROFITS, UH, IS, UH, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE COUNTY TO THE NONPROFITS ONCE WE HAND OFF THE MONEY.
UM, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO THE COUNTY, UH, HOW THEY'RE SPENDING IT.
UM, WE JUST DON'T SEE THAT KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE'RE STARTING HANDING OUT TO, UM, LOTS OF MONEY AND I THINK WE NEED TO FIND OUT, UH, EXACTLY WHERE IT'S GOING AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO, UH, UM, UH, THE PROPER PLACE.
'CAUSE WHEN I SEE, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I SEE THE, UH, UM, UH, THE HOTEL TAX MONEY AND HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT ON, ON, UH, UH, TOURISM, UH, I MEAN, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE WHAT THE MONEY IS.
BUT WHEN YOU, YOU LOOK AT THE LIST OF, OF WHERE THAT MONEY GOES AND, AND HOW IT'S SPENT, WHEN YOU GET THE LIST THAT YOU REALLY GOTTA QUESTION A LOT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT'S THAT GOTTA DO WITH TOURISM.
SO THAT WAS TWO OF THE ISSUES I HAVE, UH, IS THAT WE NEED TO, UH, UNDERSTAND AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS TOURISM MONEY COMING FROM THE HOTEL TAX IS SPENT ON TOURISM RELATED ACTIVITIES.
UM, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT LIST, YOU, YOU ALL CHECK IT OUT, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND THEN SEE WHAT, SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH.
I COME UP WITH A, A LOT OF MONEY GOING PLACES, WHICH I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND, MR. GU, MR. GUTHRIE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND GO OVER HURDLES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY HAS A FULL ACCOUNTING OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT GOES TO THAT ORGANIZATION.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR 100% OF THEM, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR A LOT OF 'EM FIRSTHAND AND HAVE SEEN THE DOCUMENTATION.
SO TO BLANKET ALL THE NONPROFITS WOULD BE WRONG.
NO, I'M NOT TRYING TO BLANKET ALL THE NONPROFITS.
I'M TRYING TO SAY THAT, UH, I THINK YOU, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BLANKET ALL OF THEM WELL.
UM, IS, IS IT YOUR, UH, PLACE TO INTERRUPT A COUNCIL MEMBER WHEN HE IS TALKING? IT IS, IT IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME'S YOUR, IT IS, YOU'RE NOT YOUR, IT'S NOT YOUR PLACE AS WHEN YOU'S NOT YOU'RE SPEAKING.
IT IS WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING FROM A POINT OF VIEW THAT APPEARS THAT YOU'RE COVERING ALL NONPROFITS.
LET'S, UH, LET'S HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY THAT, DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE A RIGHT TO INTERRUPT THE COUNCILMAN WHEN HE'S SPEAKING? I, I DO NOT RUN THE MEETINGS.
BUT I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, MR. GUTHRIE.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO CREATE ANY, ANY ARGUMENT WITHOUT, I JUST, WITHOUT, I DON'T WANNA SINGLE OUT ANYTHING, ANYBODY.
BUT THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS AND THEY NEED TO BE CORRECTED.
I JUST DON'T WANNA SOUND LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO BLANKET EVERYONE.
AND THE SAME, THE SAME WITH THE HOTEL TAX MONEY.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AND ONE NEGATIVE BILL 24 0 14 AS AMENDED IS HEREBY APPROVED.
BILL 24 DASH ZERO 15 PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN AS AMENDED.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
[02:50:01]
I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 24 DASH 15 AS AMENDED.IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE BILL 24 0 15 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE BILL 24 0 15 AS AMENDED IS HERE BY APPROVED AGENDA NUMBER 12, ENROLLMENT
[12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS]
OF BILLS BILL 24 0 14 AS AMENDED, AS CERTIFIED AS BEING THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED.BILL 24 0 15 AS AMENDED, AS CERTIFIED AS BEING THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED.
[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]
EIGHT, INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 0 7 0 0 7 DASH 24 MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN, SPRING 2024, UPDATE AS AMENDED.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 0 7 DASH 24 AS AMENDED.
LET'S MOVE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 0 7 DASH 24 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. DIXON? I'M SORRY.
NO, I, I DIDN'T KNOW IF JIMMY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT, UH, UM, IT'S GOING.
WELL I JUST WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT, UH, MR. UH, RILEY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO GETTING THIS, UH, WORKED OUT FOR, UH, UM, THE, UH, MOOSE LODGE AND WARGO WHERE THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR SOME, UH, IMPROVEMENTS IN FINALLY GETTING THEIR WATER AND SEWER PIPE.
DAN, ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE RESOLUTION.
0 0 7 DASH 24 AS AMENDED IS HEREBY APPROVED RESOLUTION ZERO 11 DASH 24 ADOPTION OF PROPERTY TAX RATE MAY HAVE A MOTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 1 1 DASH 24.
LET'S MOVE AND SECONDED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION ZERO 11 DASH 24.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I SEEING NONE.
MRS. S AYE MR. BENNETT AYE, BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND A NEGATIVE RESOLUTION 0 11 24 IS HEREBY APPROVED RESOLUTION 0 12 25 FISCAL YEAR 25, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AS AMENDED, MAY HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 1 2 DASH 25 AS AMENDED.
OH, IT'S BEEN MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 12 25 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, MS. DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT? AYE.
THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE RESOLUTION ZERO 12 DASH 24 AS AMENDED IS HEREBY APPROVED.
[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS.[13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS WE HAVE NONE.[14. NEW BUSINESS]
NEW BUSINESS SCENE, NONE.[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
17 COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS.MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP.
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.MR. BENNETT? HELLO, UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
UM, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF TONIGHT, BUT I JUST WANNA SHARE, I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION FOR THE OAKINGTON PENINSULA PARK THAT'S COMING, UH, BETWEEN H GRACE AND ABERDEEN.
UM, IT'S A VERY EXCITING PROPOSITION, BUT IT ALSO INVOLVES A LOT OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT COMES THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT WILL BE COLLECTING YOUR FEEDBACK, UH, UP THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA OR A VISION OF WHAT THAT PARK SHOULD LOOK LIKE, PLEASE BE REACHING OUT TO THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, UH, PAUL MAGNUS AND TERRY HANLEY, UM, AND LETTING THEM KNOW, UH, WHAT YOU THINK THAT PARK
[02:55:01]
SHOULD LOOK LIKE.I'M VERY EXCITED, UM, AND HOPEFULLY IT CONNECTS TO THE CITY OF HAV GRACE AND I CAN WALK THERE.
UM, I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE MAJOR GENERAL EDMONDSON ON HIS RETIREMENT AND I WANNA THANK HIM, HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY THIS PAST 33 YEARS.
GETTING TO KNOW HIM THE PAST TWO YEARS AS A COUNCILMAN, UH, WHO REPRESENTS A GOOD PORTION OF A EPG HAS BEEN A REAL TREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY, UH, AND TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A VISION FOR APGS CONNECTIVENESS TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.
YEAH, I JUST GOT ONE THING I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE D MELISSA.
MY GRANDSON GRADUATED FROM HARTFORD TECH AND I WAS ABLE TO GIVE HIM HIS DIPLOMA AND THAT WAS SPECIAL FOR ME.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE, UH, RELINQUISHMENT OF COMMAND AND, UM, RETIREMENT FOR GENERAL EDMONDSON, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE MS. LIZ MIRANDA NOW AS SHE'LL BE, UH, TEMPORARILY IN CHARGE OVER THERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND THEN, UM, TWO, TWO HARTFORD COUNTY PRINCIPALS.
I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND RECOGNIZE, UM, UH, MYSELF AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO, UH, SEAN, UH, DR.
SEAN ABEL PATTERSON MILL, UH, 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO HARTFORD COUNTY.
UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS I GOT TO GO TO WHEN I, UH, WAS ELECTED AS COUNCILMAN.
AND, UM, HE TOLD ME I WAS THE FIRST FIRST COUNCILMAN TO COME OUT TO THAT SCHOOL SINCE HE WAS THERE.
AND THEN BLAINE HAWLEY, RED PUMP ELEMENTARY, AND I WENT OUT THERE AND, AND THEY SAID, NO, SHE'S NOT HERE.
SHE'S OUT WITH THE FIFTH GRADERS.
SO I WENT OUT TO THE FIELD DAY AND, AND ALL THE KIDS WERE LIKE, CAN YOU OPEN UP YOUR COAT? AND, UH, I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT HER WITH A PROCLAMATION AND SURPRISE HER.
AND SHE HAD 32 YEARS OF SERVICE, SO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
AND, UH, I WISH THEM THE BEST IN RETIREMENT.
THANK YOU MR. GERDEN AND MR. PENMAN.
JUST, UH, ONE THING, UH, THE LIBRARY PLANNING WORK GROUP, WHICH IS THE, THE WORK GROUP THAT ESTABLISHED, UM, THE, UH, PROCEDURE, UM, FOR THE BOOK REVIEWS IN THE SCHOOLS, UH, WE MET AND WE EVALUATED OVER 600 APPLICATIONS, UH, FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WANT TO JOIN THAT REVIEW PROCESS, THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES.
UH, GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT PUT IN FOR THAT.
SO IT WAS TOUGH SELECTION GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE BEING IMPLEMENTED, UM, TO HELP THE PROCESS WITH THE SCHOOL BOOK.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
ON, UH, JANUARY 6TH, I ATTENDED THE HARTFORD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATION.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE A BUNCH OF MY OLD FRIENDS THERE, 'CAUSE I GRADUATED FROM THERE YEARS AGO.
UH, THAT'S HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED IN, IN, UH, LEARNING AS MUCH ABOUT THE COUNTY AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND THAT, UH, ACADEMY.
IT'S ONLY, THEY ONLY HAVE ONE CLASS A YEAR, SO, AND IT'S HARD TO GET INTO, BUT IT'S A GREAT ACADEMY TO, UH, GRADUATE FROM.
ALSO, I WAS AT THE, AT THE, UH, UH, UH, COMMAND CEREMONY OF MAJOR GENERAL EMERSON, UH, UH, KNOWN WELL OVER THE YEARS.
UH, IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
UH, AND IT'S VERY, VERY COLORFUL.
SO GOOD LUCK TO HIM AND HIS, UH, GRADUATE IN HIS, UH, RETIREMENT.
UM, ALSO, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO COMMUNICATED YOUR COMMENTS AND ALL, AND ALL THE BILLS AND ALL THE AMENDMENTS, UH, OVER THE LAST, UH, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
UH, WE, WE TRIED TO DO OUR BEST.
WE HAD A LOT OF, UH, NEGOTIATIONS, DISCUSSIONS AND ARGUMENTS AMONG OURSELVES, UH, TRYING TO COME, TRYING TO COME TO A REASONABLE SOLUTION.
AND, UH, FOR NOW, THIS IS THE, UH, THE BEST WE CAN COME UP WITH.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS.
AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. GUTHRIE.
I MEAN, WE DO BANG HEADS FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT WE'RE HERE FOR THE BENEFIT TO CITIZENS AND, UM, WE DO OUR BEST TO DO THAT EVERY DAY.
[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
ANY COMMENTS TONIGHT, UH, IN CLOSING, BUT, UM, THEY TALKED ABOUT, UH, ROB AND ELLEN EDMONDSON, UH, GENERAL EDMONDSON AND MRS. MRS. EDMONDSON, AND WHAT A FANTASTIC REPRESENTATION OF A FAMILY, UH, 33 YEARS TOGETHER IN THE MILITARY.UH, THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
WHEN WE VISIT THEM AT QUARTERS ONE, THEY HAVE A LITTLE CHAIN IN ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM THERE, AND IT'S EVERY STATION, EVERY BASE, EVERY PLACE THEY'VE BEEN.
AND, UM, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE PICKING UP AND MOVING AS MANY TIMES AS THEY HAD.
AND WE WENT TO THE RETIREMENT DINNER THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND, UM, THE COMMENTS, UH, THE ACCOLADES, THE, UM, THE WORK THAT MR. EDMONDSON HAS DONE, NOT ONLY WHILE HE WAS COMMANDING GENERAL HERE AT ABERDEEN, BUT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER WAS AMAZING.
[03:00:01]
UH, TRUE COMBAT WARRIOR, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.AND, YOU KNOW, WE THANK HIM ALL FOR THE SERVICE.
BUT THEN EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL FOR ME, WE GOT A SHOCK OF OUR LIFE LAST NIGHT, UH, WHEN THEY BROUGHT MY GRANDSON HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL.
I, I, WE WERE BLOWN AWAY FOR IT.
UH, HE DOES STILL HAVE A LONG, UH, ROAD OF RECOVERY AND, AND REHABILITATION.
UH, BUT THEY'LL BE MAKING TRIPS TO JOHN HOPKINS, UH, THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK.
UH, BUT HE IS HOME AND THAT'S AMAZING.
I GOT TO SLIP OUTTA HERE TODAY FOR A LITTLE BIT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE HIM AND CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY, UH, 12 YEARS OLD.
AND, UH, I ASKED HIM, I SAID, JAKE, WHAT DO YOU WANT? HE SAID, CASH
SO JUST LIKE HIS MOTHER, I HAVE TO SAY.
BUT, UM, YOU CAN'T SPEND IT ALL.
UM, BUT NO, UH, JUST WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND JUST ABSOLUTELY SO, SO GRATEFUL AND BLESSED NOT ONLY FOR THE FACT OF HIM COMING HOME, BUT FOR THE AMAZING HEALTHCARE HE RECEIVED AT JOHN HOPKINS.
AND WE ARE ALSO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE FACILITIES LOCAL FOR US.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS MEETING.