[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
THREE. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR. CALLS TO ORDER. LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 25 007. I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. TROOP 265 FROM JARRETTSVILLE IS HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. IF YOU GENTLEMEN WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD. AND IT WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCIL WOMAN SADDLES. RIGHT DOWN FRONT, GENTLEMEN. AND LADIES. LADIES. HERE, WE KNOW. EVERYBODY. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, GO AHEAD AND ATTENTION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. I PLEDGE 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 ALL. DEAR LORD, WE GATHER WITH GRATITUDE, SEEKING YOUR GUIDANCE IN OUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY. HELP US SERVE HARFORD COUNTY WITH WISDOM, UNITY, AND COMPASSION. MAY OUR DISCUSSIONS BE FILLED WITH RESPECT AND OUR DECISIONS BE JUST AND BENEFICIAL FOR ALL RESIDENTS. GRANT US THE COURAGE TO FACE CHALLENGES AND THE COMMITMENT TO FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. COUNCIL, IF I MAY, BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU AND SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT THIS PAST WEATHER EVENT. OUR HARFORD COUNTY DPW WORKERS, STATE HIGHWAY WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES, OR BGA CREWS. AND I SEE TODAY THAT THEY ARE PREPARING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE MAY GET OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS. SO I JUST WANT TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION AND LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH WE DO APPRECIATE
[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]
ALL THAT THEY DO. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS 2020 5TH FEBRUARY, BLACK HISTORY MONTH. COUNCILMAN BENNETT. WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH WAS FIRST RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY PRESIDENT GERALD R FORD IN 1976 DURING THE UNITED STATES BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. PRIOR TO THIS OFFICIAL NATIONAL CELEBRATION, CARTER G. WOODSON DESIGNATED THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY AS HISTORY WEEK IN 1926, AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR A THEME IS ESTABLISHED FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THE THEME FOR 2025 IS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND LABOR, FOCUSING ON THE VARIOUS AND PROFOUND WAYS THAT ALL TYPES OF WORK FREE AND UNFREE, SKILLED AND UNSKILLED, VOCATIONAL AND VOLUNTARY, ARE AT THE CENTER OF BLACK HISTORY AND CULTURE. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL PAN HELLENIC COUNCIL NPHC WAS FOUNDED IN 1930. EACH OF THE NINE NPHC ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED, DURING A PERIOD WHEN AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE BEING DENIED ESSENTIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS A WAY TO ALIGN THEMSELVES WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS PREPARING TO ENTER THE SKILLED WORKFORCE WHILE FACING RACIAL ISOLATION AND SOCIAL BARRIERS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE NPHC MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS REMAINS COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ACTION THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES. THE NPHC HARTFORD ALUMNI COUNCIL SERVES AS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE TO THE LOCAL BLACK GREEK LETTERED ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS OUR COMMUNITY, SPONSORING VARIOUS EVENTS AND PROGRAMS. MEMBERS OF THE CHAPTERS CAN BE FOUND VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHEREVER THERE IS A NEED. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, ON THIS 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2025, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE BLACK HISTORY MONTH. FEBRUARY 2025. HELLO. SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO ASK US TO SCOOT THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. OKAY, I'VE LEARNED FROM ENOUGH OF THESE, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING US RECOGNIZE YOU THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED TO TOUCH UPON DIFFERENT THEMES EACH YEAR, FROM THE CAUCUS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS TO THE COLORED SCHOOL AND HAVERTY GRACE. AND NOW TO YOU ALL. IF I CAN JUST SHARE PERSONALLY MY FIRST EXPERIENCE LOCALLY WITH THE DIVINE NINE AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO WAS IN MY TIME WORKING IN SERVING AT MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SEEING JUST THE TREMENDOUS ACT OF PRESENCE THAT YOU ALL HAD THERE IN SUPPORTING THOSE KIDS, JUST BEING A PRESENCE IN THE BUILDING, BRINGING IN SUPPLIES. IT WAS SUCH A GIFT. AND THEN THE[00:05:04]
OTHER PERSONAL STORY I JUST WANTED TO SHARE IS LAST YEAR AT OLD POST ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME WAS LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE HBCUS AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE HISTORY OF THAT TO FIVE AND SIX YEAR OLDS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD SAID TO THEM WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, BROWN AND BRILLIANT PEOPLE STOOD UP AND SAID, WE'RE DESERVING OF A QUALITY EDUCATION, JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE. AND A LITTLE GIRL IN MY CLASS RAISED HER HAND AND SAID, MR. BENNETT, I'M BROWN AND I'M BRILLIANT. AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT YOU ALL AS AN ASSOCIATION AND AS MEMBERS OF THE DIVINE NINE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IS YOU GIVE A GLIMPSE FOR CHILDREN OF WHO THEY COULD BE A PAIR OF SHOES TO TRY ON AND SEE HOW IT FITS. AND IT'S JUST SUCH A LIGHT. IT'S SUCH A BEACON FOR PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT COMMUNITY CAN BE LIKE, WHAT EXCELLENCE CAN LOOK LIKE. AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, BOTH ACTIVELY AND THEN INCIDENTALLY THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND. I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE YOU COULD JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEN I SAY DIVINE NINE, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. AND SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE RECENTLY. SURE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MUCH BETTER. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR FULL NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL, HARTFORD ALUMNI COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN BENNETT, TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE, AND TO THE FULL HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR THIS RECOGNITION. ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, ALL NINE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATIONS, WORK TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE WITH OUR LOCAL EIGHT CHAPTERS IN HARTFORD COUNTY. SO WE HAVE LOCAL CHAPTERS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED, OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED. DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED. PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED.
ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, AND SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INCORPORATED. AND SO YOU MAY SEE ALL OF US ROCKING OUR DIFFERENT COLORS, RIGHT? BUT WE ARE ALL UNITED IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. MOST RECENTLY, SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE DONE, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES THAT EACH ONE OF OUR CHAPTERS DO WITH REGARDS TO EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, SOCIOECONOMIC JUSTICE. SO IN ADDITION TO THE WORK THAT WE DO INDIVIDUALLY, COLLECTIVELY EACH YEAR, WE DO OUR BEST TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF HARTFORD COUNTY. SO WHETHER IT'S WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH A WELCOME BACK, PARADES AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY, OR WHETHER IT'S ATTENDING AN ATTENDANCE PARADE LIKE WE DID AT EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY A FEW WEEKS AGO TO CELEBRATE THOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE MISSED NO MORE THAN ONE DAY OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING STUDENTS, BOTH HIGH SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, OR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE FOOD INSECURE IN WORKING WITH THE SHARING TABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, OUR GOAL IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SERVE HARTFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME UP FOR A. YEAH. IF WE COULD HAVE ALL THE D9 MEMBERS PLEASE COME UP. ON THIS SIDE. NO, NOT AT ALL. YOU'RE FINE. SHE'LL STRAIGHTEN YOU OUT. IF YOU ARE. JUST TELL US WHERE TO GO. YEP. GOOD. TYPICALLY, THEY TELL ME I HAVE TO STAND ON MY TIPTOES BECAUSE WHEN I'M DOWN HERE, I'M GOOD TO GO. YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. AND THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO SCOOCH IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND ONE MORE THING. WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY. AND IT IS MADE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND WE CELEBRATE IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO WE REALLY JUST APPRECIATE IN A TIME WHEN THE WORK OF GROUPS LIKE OURS IS, IS GETTING REDUCED VISIBILITY. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE COUNTY COUNCIL TAKING THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE US HERE IN THIS FORUM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
YOU. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS. APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON. MAY I HAVE A MOTION?[00:10:04]
COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILMAN BENNETT. THANK YOU.MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE MR. BENNETT FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON POSITION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. PENN? MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMAN BENNETT AND HIS ATTRIBUTES, HIS TALENTS, AND TAKING THIS RESPONSIBILITY AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LIAISON. THERE'S NO BETTER PERSON, A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, TO BRING BACK THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. I APPRECIATE THIS COMING UP. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED WHEN IT CAME UP FOR A VOTE, ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF IT, BECAUSE TWO, ROUGHLY TWO YEARS AGO, COUNCIL FORMER COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE HAD COME TO ME AND EXPRESSED THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE HAVING TO STAY UP SO LATE WITH THE BOARD OF ED MEETINGS OFTEN GOING PAST 10:00, YOU KNOW, 4 OR 5 HOURS LONG. AND SO I HAD TAKEN THAT OVER FOR HIM BACK IN 2023, AND I'VE BEEN SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY SINCE THEN. BUT I GUESS WE JUST HAD NEVER OFFICIALLY PUT A BOW ON THAT. BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, ESSENTIALLY MY DUTIES AS BOARD OF ED LIAISON HAVE BEEN TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS TO MAKE NOTE OF ANYTHING THAT'S RELEVANT TO THE WORK WE DO AS A COUNCIL, AND MAKE SURE I RELAY THAT INFORMATION TO OUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SO THEN HE CAN RELAY THAT TO EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT ESSENTIALLY, MY JOB IS JUST TO SIT THROUGH EACH MEETING AND RELAY THAT INFORMATION BACK. AND SINCE I ALREADY GO TO ALL THE MEETINGS, IT'S FIVE LESS HOURS.
ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HAS TO BE IN DOWNTOWN BEL AIR. SO THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT? HI, MRS. ROBERT, I, MR. BENNETT OR MR. I MR. I MR. RILEY. NO MRS. I MR. BENNETT I WILL BE SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ONE NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF WAYNE GODDARD. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU. MR. RILEY MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE MISTER GODDARD TO THE LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. PENMAN? MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW MR. GODDARD IS HERE AND I KNOW HE TOOK OVER THAT POSITION. I GUESS IT'S BEEN A YEAR OR TWO AGO AND FROM ALL INDICATIONS SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN THAT ORGANIZATION, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR BEING HERE AND HIS WORK FOR IT. THANK YOU, MR. PENMAN. MR. JORDAN. SO I ALSO WANT TO ECHO MY APPROVAL FOR MR. GODDARD. IN THE COMMUNITY, I DEAL WITH A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, LIQUOR STORE OWNERS. SO IT'S BEEN A STABILITY THAT MAYBE WASN'T THERE BEFORE, SOME THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I'VE MET WITH MR. GODDARD, AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE LIQUOR BOARD'S WORKING, WORKING WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JORDAN. AND MR. RILEY. YES. SOMETHING THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL. WE HAVE THE MARYLAND SENATORS AND ALL THE MARYLAND DELEGATES THAT UNANIMOUSLY, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED YOU AS THE LIQUOR, LIQUOR BOARD, LIQUOR BOARD CHAIR. AND SO CONGRATULATIONS, BECAUSE THAT'S A FEAT JUST IN ITSELF. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? HI, MRS. ROBERT I, MR. PENMAN, MR. I MR. RILEY. HI MRS. BOLADOS HI MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. MR. GODDARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION OR. EXCUSE ME? EXCUSE ME. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THAT. I CAN'T READ MY OWN NOTES. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MAY HAVE A MOTION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF LENORA ROBINSON. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY, OR. EXCUSE ME, MR. PENMAN. IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS. WE'RE ALL TONGUE TIED. ONLY A COUPLE MORE.
A MAN OF MANY FACES. FORGIVE ME. LEONORA, WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF I MAY, I HAVE A PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF LEONORA AND ALL THAT SHE'S DONE FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I THINK SHE'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND FULLY SUPPORT HER. MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I MR. PENMAN I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY MRS. I MR. BENNETT I SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE.
THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. MAY I
[00:15:01]
HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ANGELA MANGIONE.THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN A MOTION. AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? HI, MRS. ROBERT, I, MR. PENMAN. HI, MR. I MR. RILEY. HI MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF MELINDA VELEZ. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE MISS VELEZ TO LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. I MR. PENMAN, MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY I MRS. BORSATO I MR. BENNETT I THE SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO AND NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED HARTFORD COUNTY CULTURAL ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF LISA MANGIONE AND MICHELLE SWEET. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MICHAEL. SWEET. SORRY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, MRS. ROBERT I MR. PENMAN, I MR. GIORDANO, I MR. RILEY, MRS. BORSATO I MR. BENNETT I THE SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED.
HARTFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF KIRK VALMIKI JUNIOR, SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND TO APPROVE. MR. I'M GOING TO SAY I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I SPOKE WITH SHERRY THIS PAST WEEK AND SHE'S REALLY EXCITED FOR KIRK TO JOIN US ON THE BOARD. SHE CONSIDERS HIM JUST LIKE AN EMBODIMENT OF THE VERY BEST OF WHAT THE HARTFORD CENTER TRIES TO DO EACH AND EVERY DAY, AND IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO EXPAND REPRESENTATION ON OUR BOARD. SO VERY EXCITED FOR THIS. THANK YOU. MR. BENNETT. AND I TOO, DID SPEAK WITH MISS NULTY TODAY, AND SHE ABSOLUTELY SAID THE SAME AS YOU HAVE SAID. SO ANYONE ELSE, MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT I MRS. ROBERT I MR. PENMAN I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY MRS. ROSADO I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO TO NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVED. AGENDA NUMBER SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NONE SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES.SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE DAY 20 5-004 FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025. PUBLIC HEARING FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025.
LEGISLATIVE DAY 20 5-005 FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS OR EXCUSE ME, THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS THE MINUTES AND
[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]
APPROVED. MR. GIORDANO, PLEASE READ IN RESOLUTION 002 25. RESOLUTION 002 DASH 25 AUTHORIZATION HOUSING HUD GRANT 2025 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF ALL GRANT APPLICATIONS WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BY HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE UNDER ANY OF ITS PROGRAMS AND AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT OF THESE FUNDS. THANK YOU. MISS RICHARDSON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE? GOOD EVENING MADAM. GOOD EVENING. I THINK I KNOW MOST OF YOU, BUT WELCOME, COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT. MY NAME IS BARBARA RICHARDSON, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. THIS RESOLUTION WILL, IN ESSENCE, ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR BOTH FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS STATE FUNDING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. JUST TO GIVE YOU A REFRESHER COURSE OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR DIVISION, WE HAVE A MISSION TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE AGENCY ADMINISTERS MORE THAN $12 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ANOTHER $3 MILLION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. THE MAJORITY OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS IN THE FORM OF HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE EXTREMELY LOW INCOME, DISABLED, ELDERLY. SOME OTHER SPECIAL POPULATIONS, MOST OF WHICH WHO PAY NO MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE BENEFIT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THAT SERVE LOW TO[00:20:02]
MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, INSTALLATION, COMMUNITY CENTERS, HOUSING, REHABILITATION, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND A LIKE. SO, SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CURRENT YEAR FUNDING WOULD BE WE FUND HABITAT'S CRITICAL RAMP AND REPAIR PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICE FUNDING FOR OUR TWO HOMELESS SHELTERS, ANNA'S HOUSE AND THE WELCOME ONE EMERGENCY SHELTER. WE DID SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HARFORD FAMILY HOUSE. WE PAVED THE PARKING LOT. WE DID SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HARFORD CENTER, HELPED WITH OUR WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM. WE FUNDED A NEW COMMUNITY BASED DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, THE 755 ALLIANCE. WE DID SOME HOMEBUYER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WITH HABITAT. WE HAVE A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE UP TO $20,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS WHO PURCHASE A HOUSE IN THE SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE AREA, AND WE PROVIDE SOME TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND JUST REAL QUICK, IF YOU EVER WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR FUNDING, IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS THE CURRENT SPENDING PLAN FOR THE YEAR. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE CAPER, WHICH STANDS FOR CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH WILL SHOW AND TELL WHAT WE DID WITH THE PRIOR YEAR'S MONEY. SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PASS THIS AUTHORIZATION BECAUSE, AGAIN, A LOT OF CITIZENS DEPEND ON THIS MONEY, AND IT JUST ALLOWS US TO APPLY FOR BOTH ENTITLEMENT FUNDS AS WELL AS COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDS.AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO YEAR AFTER YEAR. CORRECT? CORRECT. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? MR. JORDAN? GOOD EVENING, MR. RICHARDSON. THANK YOU FOR COMING BEFORE US. QUESTION. HOW MANY PEOPLE DID WE HELP WITH DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND WHAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE GIVE? THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS $20,000. AND I THINK FOR LAST YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR I THINK WE'VE HELPED SEVEN. AND I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE DONE 12 LAST YEAR. BUT I COULD EMAIL YOU THOSE EXACT FIGURES. AND WE HAVE A HOUSING COUNSELOR IN OUR OFFICE AND HE KIND OF DOES A YOU CAN GET UP TO 20,000. SO HE DOES WHATEVER LOAN OFFICERS DO. AND SOMETIMES FOLKS MAY ONLY GET FIVE, 10 OR 15, BUT UP TO 20. BUT I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THEM DID RECEIVE 20. AND DO THEY? IT'S A SILENT SECOND SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON IT. BUT IF THEY EVER GO TO SELL OR REFINANCE THE HOME, THEN THEY HAVE TO PAY BACK THE COUNTY AT 0% INTEREST. OKAY? AND THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE HUD THAT COMES FROM THE HUD, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. IT'S CALLED HOME INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM STANDS FOR HOME. WE GET ABOUT A HALF $1 MILLION FROM THEM EACH YEAR, AND THE MONEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. SO WE CHOOSE TO USE IT FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. WE USE A LITTLE BIT FOR TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. SO SOME OF OUR HOMELESS SHELTERS HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY'LL MOVE FOLKS FROM EMERGENCY SHELTER TO THEIR OWN APARTMENT, AND THEY USE THAT CALLED TBR, A TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND OCCASIONALLY WE USE SOME OF THE MONEY TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. OKAY, SO WHY DID WE SPEND MONEY ON PAVING A PARKING LOT? THAT'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. THAT'S A DIFFERENT GRANT THAT COMES FROM HUD AS WELL, BUT THAT'S AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE. ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS. WE PUT OUT A AN ACTION PLAN EVERY YEAR. IT'S OPEN FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. I BELIEVE THE CURRENT ONE, I'M NOT SURE IT'S GONE TO PUBLIC HEARING, BUT YOU HAVE THE OPTION. CITIZENS HAVE THE OPTION TO SAY YES, NO, WE LIKE THIS. WE DON'T LIKE THIS. AND SO THAT'S SOMETIMES A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND IT'S AN ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY. AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY WHY WE SPEND IT ON PARKING AND MAYBE NOT ON HELPING THEM OUT IN HOUSING OR SOME OTHER WAY. BUT I GUESS THEY'RE THEY APPLY FOR THE NON-PROFITS, WILL WILL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO US FOR WHAT THEY THINK THEY NEED THE MONEY FOR. SO FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE HARFORD COUNTY HARFORD FAMILY HOUSE PARKING LOT, THAT'S WHAT THEY ASKED FOR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S GOOD TO LEARN IT AGAIN. YOU SAID HALF A MILLION GENERALLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES INTO THE COUNTY, DO WE. HOME. AND ABOUT 1.2 MILLION IN CDBG. SO BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT $2 MILLION. DO WE NORMALLY SPEND THAT ENTIRE THING? AND IF IT DOESN'T DOES IT ROLL OVER TO IT ROLLS OVER. AND WE WE'VE NEVER GIVEN ANY BACK. SO IT'S A CONTINUUM. YOU HAVE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF YEARS FOR CDBG. YOU HAVE UP TO FIVE YEARS TO SPEND THE MONEY. WE LIKE TO SPEND IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME TIMELINESS GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. BUT YEAH, IT WILL ROLL OVER AND AGAIN, WE SPEND EVERY PENNY THAT WE GET. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PENMAN. MR. BENNETT, HELLO.
OFF TOPIC, BUT WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE, COULD YOU SHARE JUST AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE TIMELINE WITH THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND? I KNOW THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE ALL DONE. THAT WAS A BIG SUCCESS, BUT HELD SIX PUBLIC HEARINGS. THOSE HAVE ALL FINALIZED. WE ARE GOING TO RELEASE THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY, I BELIEVE, FEBRUARY 24TH. TOWARDS THE END
[00:25:05]
OF THE MONTH, THE POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WILL HAVE ABOUT A MONTH TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN EARLY MAY FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL BEGIN JULY 1ST. AND UNLIKE A LOT OF OUR COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WE PUT OUT ON THE STREET, WE ARE REALLY TARGETING ANY KIND OF ORGANIZATION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO MANDATE THAT THERE ARE 500 1C3. THEY CAN BE SMALLER GROUPS BECAUSE WE THINK, YOU KNOW, FIVE, TEN, $15,000 WITH A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF GROUP, A LOT OF GOOD, BUT IT WILL BE OPEN AND THERE'LL BE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT YOU CAN ASK FOR. I BELIEVE IT'S 50 OR 60,000, I'M NOT SURE. AND JUST FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, CAN YOU STATE AGAIN THE GENERAL AREAS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO TARGET WITH? WELL, THERE'S THREE IDENTIFIED ZIP CODES, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY CANNABIS ARRESTS. SO THE STATE TOOK AN AVERAGE OF ARRESTS FROM, I THINK IT WAS 2002 TO 2022 OVER THE 20 YEAR PERIOD, SOME COMMUNITIES WERE REALLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED. THEY HAD A FORMULA BASED. SO THE THREE COMMUNITIES, THEIR ZIP CODES IN HARTFORD COUNTY ARE EDGEWOOD, ABINGTON AND ABERDEEN.THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? BARBARA, WITH THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE'LL TAKE THIS UP AT A FUTURE MEETING. THANK YOU. NINE INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. WE HAVE NONE TEN INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE NONE 11 CALL FOR FINAL
[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
READING OF BILLS BILL 20 5-001 TERM LIMITS CODE REVISION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 20 5001. THANK YOU MADAM. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. PITTMAN. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. I MR. PENMAN I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY, MRS. ROSADO I MR. BENNETT I BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN A NEGATIVE BILL 20 5-001 IS HEREBY APPROVED ENROLLMENT OF BILLS. BILL 20 501 TERM LIMITS CODE REVISION SERVES AS A TEXT. FINALLY PASSED 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE HAVE[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]
NONE 14. NEW BUSINESS WE HAVE NONE. 17 COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE DO, MR. PRESIDENT. WE HAVE TWO THIS EVENING. JEFF BECK, FOLLOWED BY STEVE MCCURDY. I DON'T SEE MR. BECK. STEVE MCCURDY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. STEVE MCCURDY 2704 DALE COURT, BALDWIN, MARYLAND. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND BOARD MEMBERS GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUP HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, I. PROVIDED A. THIS INFORMATION TO YOU ALL, WHICH I'M GOING TO READ. THE WRITTEN PORTION. DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 11 A.M. AT 100 STATE CIRCLE, WHICH IS THE LAWYERS MALL DOWN IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. THE FOCUS OF THIS EVENT IS TO CHANGE LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE VOTER AS NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO IS REQUIRE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION.AND NUMBER THREE IS TO CLEAN UP THE MARYLAND VOTER ROLLS. MARYLAND VOTERS REQUIRE THAT OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IS TRANSPARENT, ACCURATE, SECURE, AND EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY ALL CITIZENS OF MARYLAND. HOWEVER, MANY REGISTERED AND CONCERNED VOTERS CONTEND THAT OUR CURRENT VOTING SYSTEM IN MARYLAND IS NOT ANY OF THE ABOVE. FOR REASONS AS OUTLINED BELOW, WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT OUR VOTER ROLLS ARE NOT BEING UPDATED. FOR INSTANCE, DECEASED VOTERS ARE STILL ACTIVE, ARE STILL ON THE ROLLS AS ACTIVE VOTERS EVEN THOUGH THEY DIED 15 TO 20 YEARS AGO, AND PARTICULARLY IN HARFORD COUNTY. TWO OF THE DECEASED VOTERS WE FOUND ON THE ROLLS VOTED IN MULTIPLE ELECTIONS AFTER THEY DIED. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT OUR VOTING EQUIPMENT IS NOT UP TO DATE. FOR INSTANCE, DOCUMENTED INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN 2024 THAT IN FIVE MARYLAND COUNTIES, VOTERS CHOICES ON THE BALLOT MARKING
[00:30:04]
DEVICES WERE FLIPPED FROM THEIR CHOICE TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT VOTERS ARE BEING INACTIVATED JUST ONE MONTH AFTER THEY VOTED, ACCORDING TO THE MARYLAND ELECTION LAW. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW. THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE VOTING WITHOUT PROPER UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ADDRESS INFORMATION, I.E. YOU CANNOT USE A PO BOX AS YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY THE ELECTION COMMITTEE FOLLOWS THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, HENCE WHY THE MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND WHY. SENATOR KAGAN HAS INTRODUCED CURRENT LEGISLATION TO BE ADDRESSED IN COMMITTEE. ALL THE ABOVE ITEMS AND MORE ARE REASONS WHY MANY PEOPLE NO LONGER TRUST ELECTIONS IN MARYLAND AND FOR THAT MATTER, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MR. MCCURDY, I'M GOING TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS UP. OKAY? BUT BUT PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME. IF YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THIS DOCUMENT, EACH ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE A COPY OF IT. I'M SURE THEY WILL GO THROUGH IT, BUT WE DO HAVE A THREE MINUTE RULE. THANK YOU.WANT TO THANK THE. IF ANYBODY WANTS A COPY OF THIS I DO HAVE A FEW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEM 16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. BENNETT. HELLO. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL. I DID ATTEND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET TOWN HALL, WHICH WAS A WELL ATTENDED EVENT. YOU KNOW, TWO GENERAL PIECES OF FEEDBACK I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS FIRST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PARKING LOT THAT HAS AMPLE PARKING, ESPECIALLY HANDICAPPED PARKING. I NOTICED IT WAS HARD, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF OUR PARTICIPANTS IN THE QUEUE, CAME TO SPEAK OUT TO FIND A WAY FOR THEM TO PARK SOMEWHERE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE A PART OF THE EVENT. AND YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO ACCESS THAT TYPE OF EVENT. AND THE SECOND THING IS, I KNOW IN THE PAST, THOSE BUDGET TOWN HALLS HAVE BEEN BROADCAST ON HARTFORD TV, AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PHYSICALLY COME TO STILL FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A PART OF THE PROCESS. SO I HOPE IN FUTURE BUDGET TOWN HALLS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD CONSIDER, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO BE A PART OF THAT. I ATTENDED THE ROUTE 40 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEET, GREET AND EAT AT COAKLEY'S, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD JUST TO BE AROUND OUR BUSINESSES AND HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE UP TO AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. I ATTENDED THE ABINGTON FIRE COMPANY AWARDS BANQUET CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ABINGTON FIRE COMPANY, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING, A BIG MILESTONE YEAR, AND ALSO THE NAACP FREEDOM FUND LUNCHEON WITH COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT, WHICH WAS A REALLY SPECIAL ONE. SHE DID A LOT OF THE WORK TO ORGANIZE IT. I ATE THE FOOD. UP. UPCOMING, THE HAVRE DE GRACE ICE FESTIVAL IS GOING TO BE ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, AND THEN THE LANGSTON HUGHES YOUTH ORATORICAL CONTEST GOT RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER TO SUN SUNDAY, THE 23RD AT 3 P.M. AT THE STAR CENTER. AND THEN LASTLY, I'M MORE LIKELY THAN NOT GOING TO MISS OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN MARCH BECAUSE MY WIFE, ABBY, WILL BE DELIVERING A BABY, SO I'LL MISS THAT NEXT MEETING. BUT THAT ALSO MEANS THE NEXT TIME I'M BACK, I'LL BE 30 AND WE'LL NO LONGER HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR 20S ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL. SO WE'RE GETTING OLD UP HERE, FOLKS. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT.MISS SADDLES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE THAT THE CHURCHVILLE CRESWELL FOUNTAIN GREEN COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING IS THIS THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE CHURCHVILLE REC CENTER. AND MY AIDE, TARA WILL BE THERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO COME OUT AND SPEAK ON THOSE. THE HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS HOSTING A MINORITY AND SPECIAL BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR AT THE CONVERGE CENTER ON FEBRUARY 26TH, FROM 9 A.M. TO 1230. IT'S A FREE EVENT, AND REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE CHAMBER'S WEBSITE. I ALSO SHARE THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE HAVE BEEN ATTENDING THE ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUENT NEEDS AND STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL. IF THERE'S ANY CONCERNS IN ABERDEEN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND I THINK THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ELLIS. MR. RILEY, YES, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SCOUT LEADERSHIP TROOP 265 AND ALL THE SCOUT MEMBERS COMING OUT TONIGHT AND ALSO LEADING IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND TALKING ABOUT GETTING OLD. OUR
[00:35:06]
SHERIFF HAD HIS 60TH BIRTHDAY THIS PAST WEEK. SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SHERIFF. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MR. GIORDANO, THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ON FRIDAY, I ATTENDED THE GRAND OPENING OF GSI HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THEY DO SOME HOLISTIC HEALING MEDICINE AND REGULAR MEDICINE, AND MYSELF. AND COUNCILWOMAN ROBERTS WAS WITH ME AND WE HAD A PLEASANT AFTERNOON.WISH THEM WELL. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, SIR MR. PENMAN. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. IT'S EXCITING TO STILL BE HERE ON THE COUNCIL.
AND IN CASE SOME DON'T KNOW, THERE IS AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE ME BECAUSE I'M A COP AND A COUNCILMAN. AS A MEMBER OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A STAY. SO I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MY DISTRICT. DISTRICT, BE AS THE MAKO REP, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A FEW LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES OR PROPOSED BILLS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN ANNAPOLIS. MANY OF THEM ARE NOT GOOD. THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY BILLS. WE HAVE AN ENERGY CRISIS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THERE ARE TAKEN OFF A LOT OF FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS TRYING TO ADD RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT IT'S JUST NOT KEEPING UP. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO OUTSOURCE. I THINK IT'S UP TO 40% JUST FROM PENNSYLVANIA, BUT THERE IS SOME MORE ATTEMPTS. HOUSE BILL 1036 RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTAINTY ACT. THIS IS A BAD BILL. THIS TAKES AWAY EACH COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PLAN AND ZONE FOR SOLAR AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND ALLOWS THEM TO PRETTY MUCH ESSENTIALLY GO WHEREVER THEY WANT WITHIN THE COUNTY. HOUSE BILL 1111 FLOATING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN THE BAY AND TRIBUTARIES OF THE BAY. THAT IS PROBABLY ENVIRONMENTALLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. SO THAT BILL IS GOING TO BE PUSHED FORWARD. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, MAKO IS OPPOSING BOTH OF THOSE BILLS, HOUSE BILL 1111 AND HOUSE BILL 1036. HOUSE BILL 1164. COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES IN HOMELESSNESS. LOOK AGAIN, I SAID IT BEFORE. I'M ALL FOR HELPING THOSE THAT NEED HELP AND RESOURCES. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE IN CRISIS AND WITHOUT HOMES, BUT PROHIBITING COUNTIES FROM ENACTING LAWS TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM RESTING AND SLEEPING IN PUBLIC SPACES IS NOT THE ANSWER. MIKA WAS OPPOSING THAT BILL AS WELL, JUST ON THE NO FEES AND TAXES ANYMORE. WE ARE GETTING FEES AND TAXED OUT THE WAZOO IN HARFORD COUNTY IN THE STATE. AND ANNAPOLIS HAS CREATED ANOTHER PROPOSED LEGISLATION. HOUSE BILL 1469 IS THE SODA TAX. THEY WANT TO ADD TWO CENT PER OUNCE OF FLUID SODAS OR SUGARY PRODUCTS IF YOU WERE GOING TO BUY THEM. SO LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF SEEING THAT BILL DIE IN ANNAPOLIS AS WELL.
HOUSE BILL 1084, THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FUNDING. THERE IS THIS IS A BILL THAT WAS PASSED MANY YEARS AGO FOR TREATMENT AT THE DETENTION FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
THIS COUNTY FUNDED. NOW, I THINK WE SPENT $1 MILLION IN THIS COUNTY FOR THIS. AND THIS COST WILL BE TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE WITH THE OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND. SO THAT WILL HOPEFULLY CREATE EXTRA DOLLARS HERE IN OUR COUNTY. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE. WE HAVE ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE DOWN IN MAKOW TOMORROW AND BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION AT THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. ROBERT, YES, I WAS WITH COUNCILMAN BENNETT AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BUDGET TOWN HALL. I CONCUR WITH HIM WITH THE LOCATION. PARKING WAS HORRIBLE. I WAS TEXTING HIM. I'M LIKE, I'M TRYING TO FIND PARKING. SO IT REALLY NEEDS TO EITHER BE AT A BETTER LOCATION THAT EVERYBODY COULD PARTICIPATE AND SIT DOWN.
IT WAS A LONG MEETING AND I AGREE. IF NOT, THEN HAVE IT SOMEHOW TELEVISED SO THAT EVERYONE CAN CAN SEE IT ON. I THEN ATTENDED A BREAKFAST AND READ. I ATTEND EVERY YEAR FOR AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION MONTH AND THAT WAS A GREAT EVENT. LEARNING ABOUT NUTRITION, LEARNING ABOUT HOW WE CAN BETTER EAT, DRINK AND ENSURE THAT WE CAN LIVE HEALTHY LIVES BASED ON OUR NUTRITION. AND THEY HAD A LOT OF NUTRITION PROGRAMS, WHICH I THINK CAN BE VERY EASILY IMPLEMENTED TO HELP GET PEOPLE THE FOODS AND NUTRITION THEY NEED FOR THAT. I ALSO SPOKE AT THE CHESAPEAKE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S NETWORK LUNCHEON. I WAS ASKED TO DO THAT, AND THAT WAS GREAT, GREAT GROUP OF WOMEN AND GOT TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IN THAT
[00:40:07]
ORGANIZATION DOES AS FAR AS THEIR EMPLOYMENT. I HAVE BEEN DOING WHAT I SAID I WAS GOING TO DO. I HAVE BEEN TOURING ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I WENT TO THE HARFORD COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, LOOKED AT THE FOOD BANK, LOOKED AT EVERYTHING THEY HAD, TALKING AND FIGURING OUT WHAT EVERYONE'S NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. I MET WITH THE SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE, GOT TO KNOW WHAT THEY DO, GOT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY COMMUNITY, AND ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I FIND THAT A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO NOT KNOW. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT, MORE OF WHAT THINGS ARE TO COME. AND THEN WENT TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GI HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I'M A BIG WELLNESS PERSON, SO I'LL BE BACK THERE, BUT THAT WAS A GREAT OPEN HOUSE AND TALKED TO THE PERSON IN CHARGE. AND SHE'S GOT A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS AND I'M GLAD SHE'S IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN FINALLY I DID MY FIRST EAGLE SCOUT CEREMONY ON SATURDAY, AND THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE TO ME. THE TWO BOYS CAME FROM JOPPATOWNE, AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED BY THEIR SERVICE THAT THEY DID TO OBTAIN THAT AWARD. AND THEN YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE NAACP FREEDOM LUNCH.SO I'VE BEEN BUSY THAT OH, AND I DID WANT TO MAKE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT ON FEBRUARY 20TH. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE SAY, BUT THERE IS THE GOOD ENERGY. OPEN HOUSE, UNDERSTANDING YOUR ENERGY BILL THAT'S GOING TO BE AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN EDGEWOOD FROM 5 TO 730. AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE UNDERSTANDING YOUR BILL, HOW ENERGY WORKS, THE WHOLE BIG PICTURE SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE INCREASES. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. 15 BUSINESS FROM THE
[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FROM THIS PAST MEETING THAT WE HAD TO POSTPONE, BUT TRY TO CATCH UP ON THEM REAL QUICK. BUT FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE SCOUT TROOP FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. ALSO THE LEADERSHIP THERE. ALSO MEMBERS OF THE JARRETTSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY AND I WAS THERE THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH THE SHOW THAT THE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE HAD PUT ON. GREAT ORGANIZATION, GREAT, GREAT. BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE GREAT. ISAAC WALTON DOES A GREAT JOB WITH CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION. AND OF COURSE, THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY ARE INDISPENSABLE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING OF OUR TWO DEPUTIES. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THIS YEAR. IT'S THE FIRST YEAR, BUT I WISHED EACH ONE OF US HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE ALONG WITH OUR DEPUTIES AT SOME POINT IN TIME. SO, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO GET IN A CAR AND RIDE WITH THEM FOR A SHIFT AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY. AND I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE AN OUTSTANDING AND A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THESE GUYS AND GALS PUT UP WITH. SO KUDOS TO OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM. WE APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH. ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SUE LINGENFELTER. SHE WAS A VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT HER COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY AND STORYTELLING. SHE WOULD FREQUENT OUR STORE ON A REGULAR BASIS IN HAVRE DE GRACE AND OF COURSE SPEND SOME TIME WITH JEANIE. SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP HER AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. ALSO, WHO DIDN'T? WHO'S NOT GOING TO MISS TIM TOOTEN FOR GOD'S SAKE? JUST SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT. HE'S A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION. I'VE HAD PERSONALLY HAD A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT AND TALK WITH HIM AND BE INTERVIEWED BY HIM, AND HE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE MISSED. HUGE PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN FINALLY, IN LINE WITH BLACK HISTORY, THE HAVRE DE GRACE DECOY MUSEUM HAS RECENTLY PUT TOGETHER A AFRICAN AMERICAN DECOY CARVERS EXHIBIT. IT IS OPEN, IT'S INTERACTIVE. IT IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY. AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HOPEFULLY TO HAVE EITHER HIM OR HIS DESIGNEE COME AND HELP US CUT THE RIBBON ON THIS THIS EXHIBIT, THIS COVERS THE ENTIRE CHESAPEAKE BAY. WE DO. WE'RE BLESSED TO STILL HAVE TWO OF THESE OLDER GENTLEMEN STILL ALIVE, ONE IN CHINCOTEAGUE, VIRGINIA, AND ONE IN LOWER DELAWARE. AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE THE TREK UP FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING. ONE IS ALMOST 90 AND ONE IS 100 AND SOMETHING, I THINK. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL WE HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S[00:45:04]
OFFICE OR SOMEONE A DESIGNEE. AND WITH THAT. WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING.