* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. GOOD [00:00:01] EVENING CHAIR CALLS [1. CALL TO ORDER] THE ORDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 25 DASH ZERO EIGHT. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE AND LIKE TO HAVE CUB SCOUT PAC 8 65 COME FORWARD, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, FELLAS IGI TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH THE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR HONOR. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU IN PRAYER THIS EVENING ASKING FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM. WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES. LORD, HELP US TO ALWAYS COMMUNICATE WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS. LEAD US IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, HELPING US TO SEEK THE BEST RESULTS AND DECISIONS FOR ALL. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER ALL OUR MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS. KEEP THEM SAFE AND OUT OF HARM'S WAY. FATHER, WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR MORE, MOST HOLY NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. YES SIR. MR. RILEY. SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, STEVE MAYO AND CUB SCOUT PACK 8 65 FROM JARTS FULL FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND SAYING IN OUR PLEDGE, THANK YOU FOLKS AND MOM AND DAD'S THAT ARE WITH YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU MR. RILEY. UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATIONS. WE HAVE NONE. FIVE [5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS] CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND NOMINATIONS. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. MS. SOLS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF SHARIF SAMA TO THE HARTFORD TV ADVISORY BOARD. THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND, MR. OR EXCUSE ME, MR. ANO. IT'S MOVING A SECOND TO APPROVE THE HARTFORD TV COUNCIL APPOINTMENT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. MRS. ROBERT? AYE. MR. ANO? AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. AL AYE. THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE? ONE ABSENT. ONE VACANT. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCILMAN BENNETT IS NOT WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HE AND ABBY ON THEIR NEW BABY, UH, ADA RAY AND, UH, WISH THEM ALL THE BEST AND I'M SURE HE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY. EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MR. JAN? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF LINDA FLINT AND ALLISON MCCORD. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND. THANK YOU MS. ROBERT. WE MOVE A SECOND TO APPROVE MS. FLINT, MS. MCCORD TO THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. MR. ROB? MRS. ROBERT? AYE. MR. ANO? AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. BULL? AYE. THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE? ONE ABSENT. ONE VACANT. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED. MS. FLINT, MS. MCCORD, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED? MS. MCCORD NOT HERE. AND THEN ALSO, IS IT SALAMA? IS THAT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE? THE LAST NAME IS MR. SALAMA IN THE AUDIENCE? ALRIGHT. HARFORD COUNTY LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF PAUL MAJESKI. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU MR. RILEY. IT'S GONNA MOVE. A SECONDED TO APPROVE MR. MAJESKI TO THE HARFORD COUNTY LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. MR. ANO ? CALL ME MR. RILEY. AGAIN, I I'VE HAD A LOT OF HIM TODAY. I GOTTA TELL YOU. . SO, YEAH, SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, MR. MAJESKI. I SEE HE'S OUT IN THE AUDIENCE. UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE REACHED OUT TO MR. MAJESKI ON VARIOUS, UH, THINGS WITH THE LIQUOR BOARD. SO WE DO APPRECIATE, UH, HIS WORK ON THE LIQUOR BOARD AND, UH, GLAD TO SEE HIM MOVE FORWARD AGAIN AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM SOME MORE. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM. I'LL ECHO THOSE COMMENTS. MR. RILEY? YES, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, PAUL, CONGRATS ON THIS. AND ALSO, AGAIN, I SEE A LETTER FROM THE HARTFORD COUNTY DELEGATION AND YOU GOT ALL OF THEM TO VOTE FOR YOU HOW YOU EVER DID THAT. THAT'S A, THAT'S A FEAT IN ITSELF, SO CONGRATULATIONS [00:05:01] MS. DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT. AYE. MRS. ROBERT? AYE. MR. DANO? AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. BOLLE AYE. THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE? ONE ABSENT. ONE VACANT, THE APPOINTMENT'S HEREBY APPROVED. MR. MAJESKI, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NONE. SEVERAL APPROVAL OF [7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] MINUTES. LEGISLATIVE DAY. 25 DASH ZERO SEVEN. FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES STAND APPROVED. EIGHT. [8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS] INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 0 2 0 0 2 25. AUTHORIZATION AND HOUSING HUD GRANT, 2025 MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. 0 0 2 DASH 25 MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU MR. RILEY. IT'S MOVED. AND SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 0 2 25. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MS. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. MRS. ROBERT AYE. MR. ANO AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. BODO AYE. THERE BEING FIVE VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE? ONE ABSENT ONE. VACANT RESOLUTION 0 0 2 25 IS HEREBY APPROVED. MR. JAN ANO PLEASE READ IN RESOLUTION 0 0 3 25 RESOLUTION 0 0 3 DASH 25 AUTHORIZATION TRANSIT MTA GRANT APPLICATION FISCAL YEAR 26 AS INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTIA AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR S-S-T-A-P, STATEWIDE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND SECTION 5 3 0 3 5 3 0 4 5 3 0 5 5 3 0 7 5 3 0 9 5 3 1 0 5 3 1 1 5 3 1 8 AND 5 3 3 9 FORMULA AND DISCRETIONARY OPERATING AND CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAMS UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR AND FOR ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU MR. ZEKI. IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD PLEASE. MS. RICHARDSON, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO GOOD EVENING. BARBARA RICHARDSON, HOUSING COMMUNITY SERVICES. I HAVE MY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT HARTFORD TRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR GARY BUDZINSKI. AND BASICALLY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO AUTHORIZE THIS ENABLING LEGISLATION. SO THE MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION IS THE DESIGNATED RECIPIENT IN MARYLAND FOR GRANTS UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT. THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE GRANTS TO COUNTIES AND TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR MASS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROJECTS. THIS CONTRACT FOR FEDERAL GRANT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL IMPOSE CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS UPON THE APPLICANT, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF THE LOCAL SHARE OF THE PROJECT COSTS AND THE PROGRAM. HARTFORD TRANSIT LINK IS A SUB-RECIPIENT OF THE MARYLAND TRANSIT AUTHORITY. THE RESOLUTION IS A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF GRANT GUIDELINES, GIVING HARTFORD TRANSIT LINK, THE ABILITY TO APPLY FOR MULTIPLE OPERATING AND DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR OPERATING AND CAPITAL GRANTS UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT. WE ARE REQUESTING THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THEN THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ALLOW HARTFORD TRANSIT TO APPLY THESE FOR THESE FUNDING SOURCES. GARY, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN TO ADD? NO, JUST WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. UH, THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, FILE FOR OUR ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES, UM, BUT ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY THAT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE RELEASED THROUGH THE YEAR ALSO APPLY FOR THAT, LIKE DISCRETIONARY GRANTS. AND THIS IS A, THIS IS AN APPLICATION, A GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE SEE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, CORRECT? CORRECT. YEAH, WE, WE GET JUST RIGHT AROUND $4 MILLION FROM THE INITIAL GRANT. THANK YOU. UH, COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? SO, UH, BECAUSE WE SEE THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR, I'M NOT GONNA MAKE YOU COME BACK. WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON IT TONIGHT. DOESN'T NEED A PUBLIC HEARING, SO, UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 0 3 DASH 25. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU MR. RILEY. AND MOVE TO SECOND TO APPROVE, UH, THE RESOLUTION 0 0 3 25. IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION? SEE NONE. MS. DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. MRS. ROBERT? AYE. MR. ANO? AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. BOLE AYE BEING FIVE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ONE ABSENT, ONE VACANT, UM, RESOLUTIONS HEREBY APPROVED. THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. UM, MS. DIXON, DID YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT PROBLEM? I DID. I, I'VE BEEN [00:10:01] ADVISED THE LIVE FEED IS WORKING. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, AND THEN WHILE WE HAVE A LITTLE BREAK, COUNSEL, I WANNA RECOGNIZE MS. HERBECK AND HERE THIS EVENING, MS. ALLEGED YOU COULD NOT BE HERE, BUT, UH, TRULY HONORED TO HAVE, UH, MARY KATE HERE WITH US. UM, MR. JAN, PLEASE READ RESOLUTION 0 0 4 25 RESOLUTION 0 0 4 DASH 25 MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN UPDATE SPRING 2025 IS INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTIA THE CREST AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE MASTER WATER AND SEWER PLAN SPRING 2025, UPDATED COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED HERE TO AND FOR SUBMISSION OF THE PLAN TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR ITS APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION, AN IMPLEMENTATION PURSUANT TO TITLE IX OF THE ENVIRONMENT. ARTICLE OF THE MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST AT 6:00 PM IN EAST COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU. AND PLEASE READ RESOLUTION 0 0 5 25 RESOLUTION 0 0 0 0 5 DASH 25 ESTABLISHED SEARCH COMMITTEE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A SEARCH COMMITTEE TO SECURE AND INTERVIEW APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF HARTFORD COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERS SO THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MAY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE SECRETARY OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A MOTION PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 0 0 4 DASH 25 0 0 5 DASH 25 0 0 5 DASH 25. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ? MR. DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? AYE. MRS. ROBERT AYE. MR. ANO AYE. MR. RILEY? AYE. MRS. BULL, AYE BE FIVE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ONE ABSENT, ONE VACANT? UM, THE RESOLUTION IS HEREBY APPROVED. MR. ANO, PLEASE READ [9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS] BILL 25 0 0 2 OR EXCUSE ME, 25 DASH 0 0 2 INTO THE RECORD. BILL 25 DASH ZERO TWO COMPREHENSIVE ZONING, HARTFORD COUNTY ZONING MAPS AS INTRODUCED, INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ACT TO REAPPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS. SECTION 2 67 DASH 1 23 INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF ARTICLE HMM 24 OFFICIALS, HARTFORD COUNTY ZONING MAPS OF PART TWO, MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 2 67, ZONING OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY CODE AS AMENDED TO ADOPT THE 2025 OFFICIALS ZONING MAPS TO INCORPORATE THE MAPS INTO THIS ACT AND GENERALLY RELATING TO THE COUNTY'S OFFICIALS ZONING MAPS. PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST AT 6:00 PM AND APRIL 8TH AT 6:00 PM IN EAST COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU. UH, 10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE NONE. 11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS. WE HAVE NONE. 12 ENROLLMENT OF BILLS WE HAVE NONE. 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS WE HAVE NONE. 14. NEW BUSINESS WE HAVE NONE. 17 COMMENTS AND [17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS] INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS. MS. DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE DO. MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO THIS EVENING. GARY JOHNSON, FOLLOWED BY JEAN SALVATO. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PLEASE. GARY JOHNSON. 7 0 4 PLEASANT HILL CIRCLE IN KINGSVILLE, MARYLAND. THANK YOU SIR. ON FEBRUARY 26TH OF THIS YEAR, THE SUPREME COURT OF MARYLAND DENIED A PETITION BY HARTFORD COUNTY COUNCILMAN AARON PENMAN TO REVIEW A SECOND A CIRCUIT COURT DECISION THAT SAID HE COULD NOT CONTINUE AN ELECTED OFFICE WHILE ALSO WORKING FOR THE COUNTY. SHERIFF NEWS REPORTS SAID THAT THE HIGH COURT DID NOT OFFER INSIGHT INTO WHY HIS PETITION WAS REJECTED. I COULD NOT HELP BUT REMEMBER THE OPINION RENDERED BY THIS SAME COURT REGARDING JACOB BENNETT'S ELIGIBILITY TO SIT ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THAT OPINION OFFERED ALL KINDS OF INSIGHTS. NONE OF THEM MADE ANY SENSE, BUT THEY WERE USED NONETHELESS TO SUPPORT THE COURT'S DECISION. HARTFORD'S CHARTER CLEARLY STATES THAT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL NOT HOLD ANY OTHER OFFICE OF PROFIT OR EMPLOYMENT IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, HARTFORD COUNTY, OR ANY MUNICIPALITY WITHIN HARFORD COUNTY. BUT IN THEIR OPINION, THE MARYLAND SUPREME COURT SAW NO CONFLICT WITH MR. BENNETT'S SIMULTANEOUS EMPLOYMENT WITH BOTH THE HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THEY VIEWED THE SCHOOL BOARD AS AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, CONNECTED NEITHER TO THE STATE NOR TO THE COUNTY. HOWEVER, IF THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS TRULY INDEPENDENT, THERE WOULD NEED BE NO NEED FOR IT TO HAVE TO COME TO THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING. YET THEY COME, THEY DO REGULARLY AND AGGRESSIVELY BY FINDING FOR MR. BENNETT. THE COURT TOOK THE CLEAR WORDING OF OUR CHARTER AND TWISTED IT BEYOND UNDERSTANDING THE LAW IN THIS CASE WAS HARTFORD COUNTY'S CHARTER [00:15:01] AND ITS STATED QUALIFICATIONS FOR SITTING ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOUNDER THOMAS JEFFERSON. IN A LETTER HE WROTE TO WILLIAM JOHNSON IN 1823 MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT REGARDING LAWS. HE SAID LAWS ARE MADE FOR MEN OF ORDINARY UNDERSTANDING AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE CONSTRUED BY THE ORDINARY RULES OF COMMON SENSE. THEIR MEANING IS NOT TO BE SOUGHT, IS NOT TO BE SOUGHT FOR IN THE METAPHYSICAL SUBTLETIES, WHICH MAY MAKE ANYTHING MEAN EVERYTHING OR NOTHING AT ONE'S PLEASURE. METAPHYSICAL SUBTLETIES WERE PRECISELY WHAT THE COURT USED TO INTERPRET THE BENNETT CASE. IN DOING SO, THEY UNDERMINED NOT ONLY THE MEANING OF THE LAW BUT ALSO THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW. CHARTER GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THAT YOU, THE COUNTY COUNCIL, NOT ONLY GOVERN, BUT THAT YOU ALSO DEFEND OUR CHARTER AS OUR LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. YOU SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGED THIS OPINION EVEN TO THE US SUPREME COURT. AFTER ALL, WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS, NOT OPINIONS. IT IS JUST SHY OF ONE YEAR AGO THAT I STOOD BEFORE YOU CHARGING YOU WITH DERELICTION OF DUTY IN THE BENNETT CASE. THE MARYLAND SUPREME COURT HAS APPARENTLY FLIPPED AND NOW APPEARS TO AGREE WITH OUR CHARTER. AND SO YOU APPEAR TO HAVE DODGED A BULLET AS REGARDS TO MR. PENMAN, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO CLEAN UP THE MESS MADE REGARDING MR. BENNETT BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO BITE YOU AGAIN REGARDING OUR CHARTER, YOU SHOULD DEFEND IT. YOU SHOULD CHALLENGE THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF ITS WORDS OR WE WILL BE UNDONE. THANK YOU SIR. CALL YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, GENE SALVATO. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. HI, I AM JEAN SALVATO. MY ADDRESS IS 2007 RUFFS MILL ROAD, BEL AIR, MARYLAND 2 10 15. UM, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION, SHADOW CATS, TNR. DOES THAT MEAN I'M ALLOWED A FEW MORE MINUTES? NO, MA'AM. OKAY. JUST CHECKING 'CAUSE IT USED TO BE. YES MA'AM. I'LL BE I'LL BE BRIEF. SO I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A PROBLEM IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND THAT IS THE UNWANTED REPRODUCTION OF ROAMING CATS. I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO SOME OF YOU ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DO TO HELP, I HOPE, SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SHADOW CAT'S, TNR HAS BEEN OPERATING IN THE COUNTY AS A NONPROFIT, AN OFFICIAL NONPROFIT SINCE 2016. AND WE ARE DOING PART OF THE SOLUTION TO, TO REALLY CORRECT THIS ISSUE. UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, CATS CAN GO INTO HEAT AT FOUR MONTHS. TWO CATS CAN MAKE A HUNDRED IN ABOUT TWO YEARS AND AFTER THAT THOUSANDS IF THEY KEEP REPRODUCING. SO OUR PART OF THE SOLUTION, AS I SAID, IS TO DO WHAT WE DO, WHICH IS TNR IS TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE AND RELEASE TO COLONIES, USUALLY MAINTAIN COLONIES. PEOPLE ARE FEEDING CATS. WE'VE, WE'VE FIXED OVER 14,000 CATS IN HARVARD COUNTY AND IN BYRONS AROUND. WE, WE DO GO A LITTLE BIT UP TO BALTIMORE COUNTY AS WELL AS CECIL COUNTY AND EVEN LOWER PENNSYLVANIA TO GET THIS WORK DONE. UM, THAT'S A LOT OF CATS AND UM, WE KEEP ON BRINGING THEM IN AT ABOUT 1800, 1900 OF THEM A YEAR. SO, UM, WHAT WE HAD SEEN IN THE BEGINNING WAS THAT WE HAD FERAL CATS AVERSE TO HUMANS AND WE WOULD RELEASE THEM. THAT WENT ON FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE ARE TAKING IN FRIENDLY CATS AND WE ARE ALSO FIXING LOCAL RESIDENTS PETS AT LOW COST. THIS IS A PART OF THE SOLUTION. WE CAN'T DO VERY WELL BECAUSE WE ARE EQUIPPED TO DO TRAP NEUTER AND RELEASE. UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE TAKING IN PETS, IT'S BECAUSE THE AVERAGE COST IN HARFORD COUNTY TO FIX ONE CAT OR KITTEN IS $500. AND I HAVE HAD PEOPLE BRING ME ESTIMATES AS HIGH AS 800. LOCAL VETERINARIANS ARE SAYING YOU HAVE TO COME BACK IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS. IF MY CAT'S IN HEAT, THAT ISN'T REALLY GOING TO HELP ME. AND LOCAL VETERINARIANS ARE REFERRING CLIENTS TO US BECAUSE THEY EITHER CAN'T OR DON'T WANT TO ACTUALLY DO THE SURGERY. SO THE REST OF THE SOLUTION IS THIS, AND THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP WITH. PLEASE PASS THE BILL THAT MR. PENMAN DRAFTED. IT'S ABOUT TWO SENTENCES THAT WOULD ALLOW UNDER THE COUNTY CODE FOR OUR LOCAL SHELTER TO DO LOW COST PET SPAY AND NEUTER. FOR SOME REASON, THEY HAVE TO BE PERMITTED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THE DEFINITION OF ANIMAL SHELTER. ALTHOUGH MOST ANIMAL SHELTERS DO THIS ALREADY, THAT WOULD TAKE THE PETS OUT OF OUR PURVIEW AND THAT WOULD LET US CONCENTRATE ON WHAT WE DO BEST, WHICH IS TRAP NEUTER IN RETURN. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE IF I WERE YOU, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS MONEY. I'M NOT BRINGING YOU A MONEY PROBLEM. THIS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT THE COUNTY PAYING MORE MONEY. THERE ARE A LOT OF GRANTS OUT THERE TO DO JUST THIS KIND [00:20:01] OF WORK. WE RECEIVE A GRANT ALMOST EVERY YEAR FROM MARYLAND STATE SPAY NEUTER GRANT, UH, PROGRAM. AND WE, WITH THAT MONEY, WE DO A WHOLE LOT OF THE SABOTEUR. PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO A CLOSE AND I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO PLEASE PUSH THE SHELTER. THERE'S A NEW, UM, THANK YOU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DO THAT THING. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MS. DIXON? WE DO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SPEAKER. GINA KRIEGER. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. I, MY NAME IS GINA KRIEGER. I, I LIVE AT 7 0 4 CONNELLY FARMS ROAD, FALLSTON, MARYLAND 2 1 0 4 7. I'D JUST LIKE THE COUNTY TO ASK THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO BECOME A NO KILL COUNTY IN 2025. A NO-KILL COMMUNITY IS ONE THAT ACTS, UM, ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT EVERY HEALTHY OR TREATABLE DOG AND CAT SHOULD BE SAVED. THIS COMMUNITY FOCUSES ON SAVING AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE THROUGH INCREASED ADOPTION, SPAY NEUTER, TRAP NEUTER, RETURN, RETURN TO OWNER, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT KEEP ANIMALS OUT OF SHELTERS. NO KILL IS A PHILOSOPHICAL PRINCIPLE THAT MEANS SAVING EVERY DOG OR CAT IN A SHELTER WHO CAN BE SAVED. BUT IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE A WAY TO CLEARLY MEASURE LIFESAVING PROGRESS. AND THAT'S WHERE THE 90% BENCHMARK COMES IN. TYPICALLY, NO MORE THAN 10% OF DOGS AND CATS ENTERING SHELTERS ARE SUFFERING FROM IM, UH, IRREPARABLE MEDICAL OR BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT COM COMPROMISE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND PREVENT THEM FROM BEING RE-HOMED. SO A SHELTER IS CONSIDERED NO KILL WHEN AT LEAST 90% OF THE ANIMALS WHO ENTER LEAVE ALIVE. OUR ASK IS THAT THE COUNTY AND RESIDENTS TAKE THE NO KILL PLEDGE, WHICH CAN, WE CAN FORWARD TO YOU. UM, AND, UM, THE FUN FACT THAT, UH, HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY HAS ACHIEVED NO KILL FOUR OUT OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS, UM, WITH THE HELP OF AREA, UM, RESCUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA NUMBER 16, [16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS] BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. MS. SOS. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UM, MY AIDE TARA ATTENDED THE LEVEL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY'S ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER AND BANQUET THIS PAST SATURDAY. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL OF A FIRST RESPONDERS, UM, FOR ALL OF THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR COUNTY. THE HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAUNCHED THE FOUR-PART PLEDGE PROGRAM TODAY AT PROSPECT MILL ELEMENTARY FOR STUDENTS AGES EIGHT TO 11. I'M EXCITED THAT MY SON LUCA IS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. UM, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT EDUCATING STUDENTS ON THE DANGERS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL REFUSAL SKILLS AND HANDLING PEER PRESSURE, THEY WILL BE HOLDING MORE OF THESE EVENTS, UM, AT OTHER SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT SERGEANT SANCHEZ FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MS. SALS. MR. RILEY? YES. UH, AGAIN, UH, AURORA ATTENDED, UH, FOR ME FOR THE LEVEL OF VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY. CONGRATS TO ALL THOSE OF YOU WHO GOT AN AWARD. AGAIN, THANK UH, CUB SCOUT PAC 8 65 FOR, UH, LEADING THE PLEASURE THIS EVENING. AND THAT'S IT, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU MR. GINGER. JEN, THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UH, I ATTENDED A GRAND OPENING OF CHOCOLATE MOONSHINE ON FEBRUARY 19TH, LOCATED ON NORTH MAIN STREET. UM, LOTS OF DIFFERENT CHOCOLATE, UH, FUDGE TOO, SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP THERE. STUFF WAS DELICIOUS. WE ALSO DID A ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR LET GO WELLNESS CENTER ON FRIDAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO, UH, BRENDA PETRICK ON HER ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY. THEY HAVE, UM, A, UH, HOLISTIC, UH, NURSE IN THERE, UM, THAT, UH, HOLLY. AND THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THERE THAT DO DIFFERENT THINGS. SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE, STOP IN AND SEE THEM. AND TODAY WE, I ACTUALLY STOPPED DOWN AND GAVE A, UH, CITATION TO DYLAN FRANCE. UM, HE IS A BARTENDER WHO SAVED SOMEBODY'S LIFE OVER AT, UH, SEAN BOLENS. SO, UM, UM, I WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR, UH, FROM THE CITIZENS, FOR HIS QUICK THINKING AND, UH, AND ABLE TO SAVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE. SO, UM, ANYWAY, AND UH, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU MR. JAN AND MS. ROBERT. UM, YES. UM, AND I'VE DONE A COUPLE TOURS. UM, I ACTUALLY TOURED THE, UH, PYRAMID HEALTHCARE FACILITY. UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN THERE. IT'S IN MY, UM, DISTRICT AND WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. IT'S A VERY, UM, WELL-RUN OILED MACHINE FOR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UM, RESIDENT PROGRAM. AND, AND SO, UM, I TOOK A TOUR OF THAT, FOUND OUT ABOUT THEIR FUNDING AND ET CETERA. UM, I HAD TWO MEET AND GREETS, UM, ONE IN JOPPA TOWN AND ONE IN EDGEWOOD. I HAVE ONE LEFT TO DO, AND THAT IS ON THURSDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK IN ABINGDON. UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UM, EDGEWOOD JOPPA TOWN CAB MEETING YESTERDAY. [00:25:01] AND, UM, COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS A SPEAKER, WAS A GREAT CROWD, UH, WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY. UM, BUT THOSE MEETINGS HAVE BECOME A LITTLE BIT MORE CROWDED, UM, SINCE I'VE BEEN, UM, PUT INTO, UM, OFFICE. AND THEN TODAY I ATTENDED THE ARMY ALLIANCE LUNCHEON AT THE VAN DIVER INN. UM, THAT WAS A, THAT WAS INTERESTING. UM, THE SPEAKER SPOKE A LOT ABOUT THE FUNDING ACROSS THE BOARD COMING FROM FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY AS IT RELATES TO, UM, OUR DEFENSE. AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO LEARN WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT IS IT FOR ME. THANK YOU MR. ROBERTS. UH, 15 BUSINESS FROM [15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT] COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UH, PURSUANT TO THE HARTFORD COUNTY CHARTER SECTION 2 0 9 REGARDING A COUNCIL VACANCY. THE COUNCIL HAS 60 CALENDAR DAYS TO FILL THAT POSITION WORKING WITH THE, IN THIS CASE, REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE. UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO MR. MCBRIDE ON FRIDAY AND THEN ALSO, UH, BACK IT UP WITH A EMAIL LETTING HIM KNOW THAT THE 60 DAY CLOCK HAD STARTED. AND, UM, SO WE ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE ADVERTISING NOW AND THAT THEY WILL PRESENT A LIST TO US NO LESS THAN THREE APPLICANTS FOR US TO CONSIDER, UH, FOR DISTRICT B. AND THAT DEADLINE TO FILL THAT SEAT IS APRIL 28TH, 2025. UM, TOMORROW WE WILL BE HOSTING OUR FIRST HEALTH OFFICER SEARCH COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, WITH ABOUT 14 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, STATE HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES, MEDICAL, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY, UM, JUST AVERAGE CITIZENS. UM, AND, UH, WITH THE HELP OF HR HERE IN THE COUNTY, WE HAVE RECEIVED 30, 34 APPLICANTS TO DATE. UH, SOME ARE PHYSICIANS, SOME ARE NON-PHYSICIANS. AND, UH, WE'LL START, UH, WITH THE PROCESS TOMORROW. PROBABLY NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE APPLICANT'S TOMORROW, BUT JUST, UH, GETTING EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY FOR OUR FIRST MEETING. UM, THE EVENTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT WAS THE, UH, LEVEL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES FIRE EVENT I DID ATTEND. IT IS MY COMMUNITY FIRE COMPANY. THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY OF LEVEL, BUT UH, ALSO ALL OF HARTFORD COUNTY. UH, THEY'RE CLEARLY, UH, ONE OF OUR MORE ACTIVE COMPANIES. UM, LADIES AUXILIARY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THEY ACTUALLY BROUGHT CATER IN FOR THAT EVENT SO THE LADIES COULD, UH, PARTAKE AS WELL. BUT, UM, MS. HARRIS ATTENDED ABERDEEN'S VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY AWARD BANQUET FOR US, AND, UM, SHE SAID IT WAS ALSO WELL ATTENDED. WE ALSO, UH, PARTICIPATED A READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY ON MARCH 3RD, UH, READ TO MISS NEELY'S SECOND GRADE CLASS AT DARLINGTON ELEMENTARY. AND, UM, THE KID, THE KIDS ARE ALWAYS GREAT. THEY REALLY ARE. UM, I WANNA OFFER MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES, UH, TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF, UH, RICKY MARS. UNFORTUNATELY, RICKY LOST HIS SEVEN YEAR BATTLE WITH CANCER THIS PAST WEEK. UH, HE'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS A GREAT OUTDOORSMAN. UH, HE WAS A RETIRED NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER AND THEN AFTER THAT HE STARTED A CAREER IN HUNTER SAFETY TRAINING WITH THE KIDS AND DID A GREAT JOB. HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND FRIEND. UH, WE ASK YOU ALL TO KEEP, UH, HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.