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GOOD MORNING[County Council Budget Work Session]
EVERYONE.UM, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THIS, UH, LAST, LAST BUDGET WORK SESSION, UH, WITH PARKS AND REC.
UH, BRUCE, WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ARE, UH, LIVE STREAMED AUDIO.
SO, UH, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, BEN.
UH, PARKS AND REC BEGINS ON PAGE FIVE 20.
HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 13,302,492 ACROSS SIX BUDGETARY DIVISIONS FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND AND PARKS AND REC, SPECIAL REVENUES.
THE PARKS AND REC ADMINISTRATION BEGINS ON PAGE 5 26.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 987,096, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 11,993 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 20,893.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT OF 26,585.
AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING IN A DECREASE OF 5,692.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 2000 FOR REDUCTIONS IN LANDSCAPE AND GROUND MATERIALS BASED ON ACTUALS.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 6,900 DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN TRAINING, LODGING AND MEALS BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FUNDING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHESAPEAKE THERAPEUTIC RIDING RECREATION RECREATIONAL SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 5 29.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 4,003,330, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 102,426 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES ONE 34,926.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY INCREASING 1,101 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENT AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT OF 116,182.
TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASING 70,760.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING EIGHT 88,403.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 17,000 DUE TO REDUCTIONS FOR FAX SERVICE, RECREATION OFFICIALS, ADVERTISING, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 15,500 DUE TO REDUCTIONS FOR RECREATION SUPPLIES, COPIER SUPPLIES, AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN PRINTING.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL WHERE FUNDING INCREASES FOR LODGING FULLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE FOR TRAINING SEMINARS BASED ON ACTUALS.
FUNDING ALSO PROVIDES FOR VEHICLES MILEAGE AND FUEL.
NEXT IS PARKS AND FACILITIES, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 32.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUD TOTAL BUDGET OF SE 7,509,066, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 216,052 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 142,102.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES INCREASING 54,508 AS THE NET OF SALARY.
THE FY 26 AND MERIT TOTALING 86,925.
TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE 80 1056 AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 81,725.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 144,700 AS THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE OF 173,000 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR RESEALING AND MULCH AT PLAYGROUNDS.
AN INCREASE OF 137,800 IN ELECTRICITY BASED ON EXPECTED RATES AND AN INCREASE OF 20,000 IN COUNTY FACILITY REPAIR AND RENOVATION FOR RECODING OF GYM FLOORS.
AND THAT'S PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE OF 120,000 IN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AS A COST SAVING MEASURE, A DECREASE OF 49,500 IN OTHER RENTS AND UTILITIES BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND A DECREASE OF 34,000 IN BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICE DUE TO CONTRACTUAL REDUCTIONS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SNOW REMOVAL SERVICE AT 465,000.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 65,750 DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS, MATERIAL, RECREATION SUPPLIES AND DELIVERY SERVICES BASED ON ACTUALS, VISITS, AND TRAVEL DECREASES 5,000 DUE TO REDUCTIONS FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS, COURSES AND MEETINGS BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS.
NEXT IS THE EMERTON REC AND TENNIS CENTER, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 35.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 348,600, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 14,802 FUNDED BY PARKS AND REC.
SPECIAL REVENUE PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASED 14,952.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASING 12,773, THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 3,914.
AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING IN A DECREASE OF 1,735.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 1100
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DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN FACTS AND OTHER SERVICES BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 950 DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN, I'M SORRY, DUE TO, UM, INCREASES IN EQUIPMENT REPAIR PARTS AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS BASED ON ACTUALS.OAKINGTON PENINSULA BEGINS ON PAGE 5 38 AND HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 317,482, UM, 2 82, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF DECREASE OF $47,002.
AND THAT'S FUNDED BY PARKS AND REC.
SPECIAL REVENUES PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 45,493.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF A DECREASE IN TEMPORARY SALARIES OF 17,649 AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR A DECREASE OF 27,844.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE 2,700 DUE TO AN AN INCREASE FOR STAFFING SERVICES AND ELECTRICITY, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN FACT SERVICE.
AND, AND THAT'S BASED ON ACTUALS.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 750 DUE TO REDUCTIONS FOR EQUIPMENT REPAIR PARTS AND CRUSHED AGGREGATE BASED ON ACTUALS.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASES 1000 BASED ON ANTICIPATED NEEDS FOR EQUIPMENT AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 2,188 BASED ON PRO RATA SHARES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE THE RECREATION COUNCIL AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES DIVISION, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 5 41.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 137,001 18, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 3,800 FUNDED BY PARKS AND REC.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES, WHICH PROVIDES FOR OVERTIME IN FICA CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 3000 DUE TO A REDUCTION IN OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR A ONE TIME FY 25 EXPENSE.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 500 BASED ON ACTUALS AND BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 300 DUE TO A REDUCTION FOR FUEL BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THEN THERE WILL BE CAPITAL AFTER THE OPERATING.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MAGNUS.
UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS, UH, ONE TO THANK OUR STAFF AT PARKS AND RECREATION, UH, WHO WORK ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO OUR COUNTY CITIZENS, AS WELL AS MAINTAIN OUR COUNTY PARKS, BUILDINGS, TRAILS, AND OTHER AMENITIES INSIDE AND OUT.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL EXPERIENCE A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS COMING THROUGH HERE.
UM, MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS.
I SAY IT TO OUR STAFF EVERY DAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER PARKS AND RECREATION THE BEST DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY, UH, BECAUSE EVERY DAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.
UM, AND OUR STAFF REPRESENTS THAT IN EVERY DAY, UH, AND EVERYDAY WORK THAT THEY DO.
UM, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO MENTION, UH, AND THANK OUR RECREATION COUNCIL PARTNERS.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST AN EXAMPLE, UH, THEIR MOST RECENT, UH, YEAR THAT THEY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR 20 20 24, THEY REGISTERED OVER 120,000, OVER 129,000 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
THEY PROVIDED ALMOST 15,000 VOLUNTEERS, WHICH I AM ONE, UH, WITH THE BEL AIR RECREATION COUNCIL.
JUST HAD BASEBALL LAST NIGHT WITH MY SON'S TEAM, UH, AND PROVIDE OVER 480,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS EVERY YEAR.
UM, SO AGAIN, WITH THAT, UH, WE AWAIT YOUR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, PAUL, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND, UH, YOUR RIGHT.
I MEAN, OUR CITIZENS, OUR CITIZENS DO VALUE AND APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THAT PARKS AND RECREATION PROVIDES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, QUICK RESPONSE TO SCION FIELDS.
AND ALSO, UM, I GOT A QUESTION, AND I KNOW OTHERS ARE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THESE, ALL THESE ISSUES, BUT, OR QUESTIONS, UH, ANNIE'S PLAYGROUND, IT'S SOMETHING THAT POPS UP OR WHERE ARE WE AT ON THAT? UH, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND CAPITAL, THEIR CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION.
THEY BROUGHT ON AN ENGINEER TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
AGAIN, WE IDENTIFIED OUR REC, OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IDENTIFIED LAST MONTH, SOME CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD IN A PORTION OF ANNIE'S PLAYGROUND, DPW CAPITAL PROJECTS BROUGHT ON AN ENGINEER WHO'S REVIEWING THOSE CONCERNS AND EVERYTHING THERE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS UP TO SPEED AND EVERYTHING IS AS SAFE AS IT CAN BE BEFORE WE RE FULLY REOPEN THE PLAYGROUND.
AS, AS YOU SAW ON FRIDAY, WE OPENED THE TWO TO 5-YEAR-OLD SECTION.
AND, UH, I AWAIT AN UPDATE FROM DPW CAPITAL PROJECTS, HOPEFULLY SOON AS TO WHEN WE CAN OPEN THE REST.
YEAH, I, I REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE, THE PARK AS A WHOLE AND JUST, UM, THE AMOUNT OF, UM, FOLKS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN THERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE IN THE VOLUME OF, OF CONCERNS THAT WE'RE HEARING.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS, UH, LAST YEAR AT THE, UH, ITALIAN FESTIVAL.
UM, WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN CALLED YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS CAME OUT, PUT STRAW DOWN, FIXED ALL THE MUD ISSUES RIGHT AWAY.
YOU GUYS WERE THERE ALL THE TIME, UH,
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MAKING THE FACILITY GREAT.UM, NOW I KNOW THEY'RE MOVING IT THIS YEAR TO, TO RIP IN, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT THE ENTIRE STAFF PUT IN THERE CERTAINLY WAS APPRECIATIVE AND, UM, WE HAD SOME ISSUE WITH BEES, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU GOT RID OF THE HOPE.
HOPEFULLY YOU GOT RID OF THE BEES FOR ANY, ANY FUTURE, UH, PROBLEMS. BUT, UH, NO, EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT FACILITY WAS TOP NOTCH.
AND IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, YOU GUYS CAME OUT RIGHT AWAY.
I ALSO WANNA THANK OUR PARTNERS WITH DPW BECAUSE THEY PARTNERED WITH US WITH A LOT OF THAT WORK AS WELL, MS. MOFF.
UM, SO AS SOMEONE WHO HAS LOVED TAKING MY GIRLS TO ANNIE'S PLAYGROUND, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY TIMELINE AS TO WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE UP AND RUNNING, MAYBE BEFORE SUMMER KIDS GET OUT, OR NO IDEA? UH, I WILL CHECK WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND GET BACK WITH YOU ALL.
UM, I WILL SAY MY WIFE AND I TOOK OUR, OUR EIGHT WEEK OLD DAUGHTER ON MOM POD TRAIL YESTERDAY, UH, PARKING AT YOUR OFFICE AND THEN WALKING TO THE PLAYGROUND AND BACK.
AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE DOZENS OF FAMILIES UTILIZING BOTH THE OPEN SPACE NEXT TO THE PLAYGROUND AND THE TWO TO 5-YEAR-OLD SECTION, STILL IN HEAVY USE, EVEN WITH THE MAIN PORTION STILL CLOSED.
UM, AND THAT WAS REALLY, I JUST ENCOURAGING AND FUN TO SEE ALL THOSE FAMILIES OUT AND ABOUT.
ALSO, WANNA MAKE SURE TO THANK YOUR OFFICE FOR SUPPORTING ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND CELEBRATING JACKIE ROBINSON DAY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A TREMENDOUS EVENT.
AND, UM, THE, THE KIDS WERE SO IMPRESSIVE THAT DAY.
UM, YOU COULD TELL IT MATTERED TO THEM THAT WE, UH, DID THAT.
AND THEN GOING TO THE MIRACLE LEAGUE THAT SATURDAY, THOSE SAME KIDS WERE VOLUNTEERS, UH, WITH THE, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MIRACLE LEAGUE, WHICH WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE.
AND IT REMINDED ME THAT SO MUCH OF WHAT WE OFFER IS MORE THAN GAMES.
UM, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN COMMUNITY AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW FOR ALL PEOPLE.
UM, SO ONE QUESTION I HAD WAS JUST WHAT IS YOUR OFFICE DOING TO GET THOSE STORIES OUT? YOU KNOW, THE STORIES OF THE COACH WHO'S BEEN THROUGH MULTI-GENERATIONS OF, OF FAMILIES IN, IN, IN COMMUNITIES, OR THE FIRST TIME PLAYER WHO FINALLY DID SOMETHING LIKE HIT THE BALL OR JUMP IN THE POOL, UM, OR THAT FAMILY OR, YOU KNOW, THAT GROUP OF MOMS THAT MEET AT THE PLAYGROUND EVERY UH, WEEK.
I JUST THINK THOSE STORIES ARE SO IMPACTFUL AND THEY HELP SHOW THE WORK OF YOUR OFFICE.
UM, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO HELP GET THOSE STORIES OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY? SURE.
UH, ONE, OBVIOUSLY MANY OF OUR RECREATION COUNCIL PARTNERS OR, UH, OTHER GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH, LIKE THE MIRACLE LEAGUE, UM, HAVE THEIR OWN, WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, UM, THEY ALSO DO THAT AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE PUSHING THAT, THEY'RE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE AS WE SEE THOSE STORIES.
WE ENCOURAGE OUR PARTNERS TO SEND US, UH, GREAT STORIES TO TELL.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE ARE ACTIVE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, UM, ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, MY OTHER BIG QUESTION IS ABOUT OAKINGTON PENINSULA.
CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, I ATTENDED THE, UH, PUBLIC SESSIONS TO GET FEEDBACK ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO HAPPEN THERE.
HAVE, HAS OUR VISION FOR THAT SPACE, UM, CLEARED AT ALL AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE MOVING AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING, UH, IN THAT SPACE? OR ARE WE STILL IN A, A FACT FINDING STAGE OF, OF DEVELOPING THAT? OH NO, WE ACTUALLY ARE AT THIS POINT, UH, WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT TO FINALIZE A DRAFT PLAN, A DRAFT MASTER PLAN THAT WE WILL THEN PUT OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, IN THE COMING MONTHS.
UM, AND HAVE WORKED WITH, UH, WE STARTED WITH A, UH, FOCUS GROUP.
UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH THAT GROUP TO ALSO TAKE THEIR INPUT ON THE FINAL DRAFT.
SO AS WE AGAIN FINALIZE THAT, WE WILL THEN PUT THAT BACK OUT.
UM, AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT, FRANKLY, THE OAKINGTON PENINSULA PARK SYSTEM OFFERS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL, AT LEAST YEARS, PROBABLY 10, 15 PLUS YEARS.
IN TERMS OF, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT WHOLE PARK SYSTEM, ANY HINTS OF WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE, UH, EXPECTING IN THAT FIRST UH, DRAFT? OH, WELL, IT WAS A COMBINATION.
AGAIN, MUCH OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LOOKING FOR TRAILS.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES.
THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY, UM, A FOCUS ON THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, UM, THAT IS AND COULD ALSO BE PRESENT AT THE PENINSULA.
UM, SO WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE MARYLAND HISTORIC TRUST ON THOSE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES AND, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATIONS.
UM, THERE'S ALSO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL AREAS OF THE PENINSULA THAT NEED TO BE, UH, PROTECTED.
UM, SO IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD COMBINATION.
UM, AGAIN, WE HAVE OVER 1400 ACRES THROUGHOUT THAT ENTIRE PENINSULA, SO IT REALLY OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VARIED MIX OF ACTIVITIES.
UM, WE LOOKED, YOU KNOW, WE ARE INCLUDING EVERYTHING FROM FIELD SPACE,
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UM, A, A LIMITED AMOUNT, BUT SOME FIELD SPACE THERE, LIKE I SAID, TRAILS, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, CAMPGROUNDS, THINGS ALONG THOSE NATURE.SO IT'S A, A REAL VARIETY OF PASSIVE, MOSTLY PASSIVE, A LITTLE BIT OF ACTIVE ACTIVITY, UH, BUT JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE, UM, THE ENTIRE PARK SYSTEM AS IT DEVELOPS OUT IN PHASES OVER THE, OVER THE YEARS.
UM, AND THEN I WAS JUST GONNA ASK FROM A MAINTENANCE PERSPECTIVE, 'CAUSE I KNOW I'VE REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE, UH, DIRECTLY OR THROUGH UCL, WE FIX WHEN, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYBE THE DOG PARK HAD GOTTEN OVERGROWN OR, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WEEDS HAD TAKEN OVER A CERTAIN SPACE AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
I, I FULLY RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH LAWN, SPACE, PARKS AND REC HAS TO, TO MAINTAIN AND WHAT A, A BEAST OF A TASK THAT IS.
I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU ALL HAVE DONE ANY SORT OF WORK IN, YOU KNOW, HEAT MAPPING WHERE FEET ACTUALLY TOUCH GRASS AND WHERE IT DOESN'T, UH, REPLACING THAT WITH MAYBE, UH, THINGS YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOW LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, SHRUBBERY OR, OR, UH, UH, FLOWERS OR, OR THINGS OF THOSE NATURE SO THAT THERE'S JUST LESS SPACE THAT CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO BE MOWED.
SO THEN THE SPACES PEOPLE ACTUALLY STEP ON ARE EASIER TO MAINTAIN.
UM, ACTUALLY WE DID INITIATE LAST YEAR, UM, WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OUR LOMO PROGRAM.
UM, SO THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED NOW WE'RE WORKING ON ABOUT A HUNDRED ACRES, GIVE OR TAKE OF WHAT WE MOW OR WHAT WE MOWED, EXCUSE ME, UM, THAT IS GONNA GO INTO WHAT WE CALL LOW MOW.
SO THAT IS AN AREA WHERE AT VARIOUS PARK SITES THAT, AGAIN, ARE NOT USED, UM, ARE NOT PART OF THE ACTIVE SPACE, UM, WHERE THEY GET MOWED ONCE A YEAR, TYPICALLY IN THE EARLY SPRING.
AND YOU LET THAT GO AND BASICALLY DEVELOP INTO A MEADOW, UM, OVER THE YEAR.
UM, AND THEN YOU COME BACK, MAKE SURE THAT YOU TREAT IT FOR NOXIOUS WEEDS AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, AND AGAIN, BASICALLY JUST DEVELOP THAT MEADOW SPACE.
SO YES, THAT'S PART OF, AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, NOT ONLY IN OUR EXISTING PARK SYSTEM, BUT ALSO LIKE OAKINGTON IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
WE HAVE MEADOW AREAS IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.
AND THEN LAST QUESTION IS, UH, FOR BEN, DO WE HAVE A LIST OF ALL TEMPORARY SALARY POSITIONS LIKE WE GOT LAST YEAR? UM, YEAH.
YEAH, WE CAN, WE, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT LIST TO YOU.
'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THING, AS I GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, I'M ALWAYS LIKE, WHAT, YOU KNOW, DID THEY LOSE A TEMPORARY SALARY POSITION? DID SOMEONE TAKE LESS MONEY? DID SOMEONE TAKE LESS HOURS? AND IT CAN BE, IT'S THE LEAST, I THINK, UH, IT'S THE MOST OPAQUE PORTION OF THE BUDGET TO CONSUME.
I, YEAH, AND I WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK IN A LOT OF THE CASES IT, IN SOME DEPARTMENTS IT'S, IT'S MORE SET IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND THEIR SALARIES AND OTHERS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT MAY BE TRULY BE LIKE A SHORT TERM TEMPORARY TYPE OF THING WHERE YOU MAY NOT KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE.
UM, SO THAT, THAT'S WHY TEMPORARY SALARIES AS A WHOLE ARE SORT OF JUST LUMP FUND SUN, UH, LUMP SUM FUNDED IN EACH DEPARTMENT.
UH, BUT YES, THE, THE LIST WE PROVIDED YOU LAST YEAR, WE CAN REPRODUCE THAT FOR FY 26.
ANYONE ELSE? BUDGET YOU'RE OUT.
WOULD YOU LIKE, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RUN DOWN THE LIST OR WOULD YOU LIKE PAUL TO HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE PAUL HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS? UH, BECAUSE I SEE THERE'S WHAT, 15 OR 20, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO NOT ALL OF 'EM I THINK ARE SIGNIFICANT THAT WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT, SO, ALL RIGHT.
SO AGAIN, UM, OUR CAPITAL BUDGET IS ABOUT 13.8 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER $13.8 MILLION.
UH, IT'S A COMBINATION OF RECORDATION TAX, WHICH IS DEDICATED FUNDING, UH, THAT IS USED TO PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING, WHICH IS THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ANNOUNCER RESOURCES, EXCUSE ME, PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FUNDING TOWARDS ACTIVE AND PASSIVE PARK DEVELOPMENT, WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR DREDGING PROJECTS, AS WELL AS OTHER WATERWAY PROJECTS.
UM, AGAIN, A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UH, FUNDING.
UH, IN TERMS OF HIGHLIGHTS, I WOULD POINT OUT TO YOU, AGAIN, WE CONTINUE WITH OUR ATHLETIC FIELD IMPROVEMENTS ACCOUNT, UM, WHICH IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, THIS SUMMER WE'LL BE, ACTUALLY, WE'LL BE STARTING SHORTLY, UM, THE END OF THE SPRING SEASON, WE'LL BE REPLACING THE, UM, FIELD OF THE SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD AT JOPPA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UH, OUR ENLARGED, UH, GYMNASIUM AND JOINT FACILITIES.
SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WE CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS, UM, E ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, PROJECTS, UM, WHEN THEY GET CONSTRUCTED.
SO IN THIS CASE, HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, IT, IT PROVIDES FOR AN EXPANDED GYMNASIUM,
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WHICH ALLOWS THE USE OF OUR RECREATION COUNCILS, UM, FOR THOSE EXPANDED SPACES.AND YOU CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE BASKETBALL ALL THE WAY UP TO AGE 13.
WHEREAS THE OLDER SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE WHAT I REFER TO AS THE GYM MATERIALS, WHERE IT'S A CAFETERIA, IT'S A GYM AND IT'S AN AUDITORIUM
UM, AND YOU CAN USE THOSE FOR, YOU KNOW, CLINIC BASKETBALL, BUT YOU REALLY GET RESTRICTED ONCE YOU GET ABOVE, LIKE AGE EIGHT.
UM, AGAIN, AS I SAID, WE HAVE FOSTER BRANCH DREDGING, UM, THAT IS IN OUR BUDGET.
UM, THIS IS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDS, UH, WITH THE STATE.
UH, WE HAVE THIS, THE SWAN HARBOR FARM DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT REMEDIATION SITE.
AGAIN, WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDED.
THIS DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT SITE LOCATED AT SWAN HARBOR FARM PARK, UM, PROVIDES FOR CAPACITY FOR DREDGING AT THE ITY GRACE YACHT BASIN.
UM, PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE TENON MULTIPURPOSE COURTS, UH, AND PICKLEBALL COURTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE WORK IN TANDEM WITH HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE TENANTS AND MULTIPURPOSE COURTS AT ALL COUNTY SCHOOLS.
SO THAT'S PARTIALLY WHERE, UH, THAT'S WHERE WE USE FUNDING FOR THAT.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE JOPPA TOWN COMMUNITY CENTER.
UM, THIS WAS THE, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY COMPLEX THAT WE ARE GONNA BE DEVELOPING IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AT THE PROPERTY THAT WE ACQUIRED, UM, THE, UH, THE FOSTERS RUN PROPERTY IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT.
IT WAS, YOU MAY KNOW IT ALSO AS THE SALVO PROPERTY, UM, THAT LIES KIND OF CONTIGUOUS AND NORTH, NORTH AND WEST OF, UH, COPENHAVER PARK.
AGAIN, THIS WAS A PROPERTY THAT WE ACQUIRED, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOT ONLY, UH, LOCAL SIDE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND, BUT ALSO STATESIDE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING, AS WELL AS THE HARTFORD LAND TRUST.
SO THERE'S ABOUT 80, GIVE OR TAKE, ABOUT 80 ACRES OF THIS PROPERTY THAT WILL REMAIN, THAT WILL REMAIN IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION, AND ABOUT 43 ACRES THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE DEVELOPED INTO AN ACTIVE RECREATION FACILITIES, INCLUDING A FUTURE COMMUNITY CENTER AS WELL AS FIELD SPACE.
SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER THAT CONCEPT PLAN, UM, FOR THAT SPACE.
UH, AND AGAIN, THE, THE LAST ONE I WOULD POINT OUT IS OUR PARKLAND ACQUISITION.
AGAIN, THIS IS A COUNT, THIS IS A BROADER, UH, COUNTYWIDE ACCOUNT THAT, AGAIN, WE USE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE, LOCAL SIDE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE FUNDING.
WE HAVE TO USE AT LEAST 50% OF OUR ANNUAL ALLOCATION AND PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING FOR ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES FOR FUTURE PARK SITES.
SO THAT'S WHERE, UH, THOSE PROPERTIES WOULD BE ACQUIRED.
UH, WITH THAT, I AWAIT YOUR QUESTIONS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS.
UH, 'CAUSE I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE LISTENING FOR THE JOPPA TOWN COMMUNITY CENTER.
I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE, WE'VE DISCUSSED IS THAT IT'S GONNA START SMALL.
IT'S GONNA BE FIELDS, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, IN TRAILS TO START WITH, WITH THE FUNDING.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIELD SPACE.
AND THEN THE, THE FUTURE, THE BUILDING WILL COME IN THE FUTURE AS FUTURE FUNDING ALLOWS.
AND THAT, AND WE HAVE NAILED DOWN THAT THAT IS THE PLACE IT'S GOING TO BE.
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONTROVERSIAL DISCUSSIONS, UM, AND I JUST WANNA FIRM THAT UP FOR EVERYBODY WHO ALSO IS LISTENING.
I WILL REITERATE WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID IN THE STATE OF THE COUNTY
THIS IS WHERE THIS, THIS IS WHERE THIS FACILITY IS GONNA BE DEVELOPED.
UM, AND THEN I SEE, UM, THERE'S SOME OUT YEAR PROJECTS LIKE THE EDGEWOOD RECREATION PARK AND, UM, THE GUNPOWDER RIVER DREDGING AND THE MARINER POINT PARK.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO CONFIRM WHEN SOME OF THAT WORK WILL POSSIBLY BE DONE.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW OUR, I'M ON THE WHOLE WATERWAYS AND EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT CERTAINLY THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE.
UM, AND WE'LL USE GUNPOWDER AS AN EXAMPLE.
SO GUNPOWDER, UM, AGAIN, DREDGING THAT GOES OUT FROM KIND OF THE END OF MARINER POINT PARK OUT TO THE RAILROAD BRIDGE.
UM, I ACTUALLY WILL BE CONTACTING DNR, UM, TO HAVE THEM DO A, UM, BATHYMETRIC SURVEY.
UH, JUST TO GIVE US AN IDEA, AGAIN, I SCHEDULE IT OUT FOR PURPOSES OF BUDGETARY PUR, YOU KNOW, FOR BUDGET REASONS.
UM, BUT THEN AS WE GET, YOU KNOW, A YEAR OR TWO BEFORE, TYPICALLY I WILL REACH OUT TO DNR, HAVE THEM DO THE BATHYMETRIC SURVEY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE ACTUALLY, THE DREDGING NEEDS TO OCCUR.
IF IT DOES, THEN AGAIN, THAT'LL BE A WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT FUNDED PROJECT.
UM, WE WILL START WITH A REQUEST FOR, UH, THE ENGINEERING FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN THE ACTUAL DREDGING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
UM, SO IT IS SUBJECT OBVIOUSLY TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND THE, UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UH, UH, BUDGETARY APPROVAL PROCESS.
UM, AND IS ANY OF THAT GONNA, UM, COINCIDE WITH SOME OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH AMTRAK TOO IN MY AREA WITH THE BRIDGE, UM, RAISING AND THEY'RE, I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA START DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT WORK THIS SUMMER OF EVALUATING THAT.
[00:25:01]
UH, IT SHOULDN'T, THE DREDGING PORTION SHOULDN'T HAVE.UH, AN IMPACT, UNLESS THERE'S A SCHEDULING.
UH, IT, IT WOULD LITERALLY BE JUST A, A LOGISTICAL AND SCHEDULING ISSUE WHEN THE TIME OKAY.
POTENTIALLY WOULD COME, BUT NO IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT AMTRAK IS DOING.
DO WE OWN SWAN POINT? DO WE WRAP AROUND ASHLEY? WE WRAP AROUND ASHLEY AND ASHLEY ACTUALLY PURCHASED, WHAT WAS THE GOLF, UM, THE GOLF CLUB? YEAH.
BUT I MEAN, DO WE OWN SWAN POINT DOWN AT THE YES.
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE END OF THE POOL? YES, WE DO OWN THAT.
HOW MUCH GROUND DO WE OWN AROUND THAT? UM, UH, IT'S I'LL, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.
UM, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE WHAT WE CALL ELEANOR AND MILD TIDINGS PARK.
WHICH IS ON THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH SIDE.
UM, I WANNA SAY THEY'RE BOTH ABOUT, GIVE OR TAKE ABOUT 350 ACRES EACH, THOSE TWO PARCELS.
IS THAT CABIN STILL DOWN THERE? UH, THERE MIGHT BE THE ONE ON THE ISLAND, WHICH IS THAT ISLAND IS INDEPENDENTLY, IS NOT OWNED BY US.
UM, BUT ON SWAN POINT, THERE USED TO BE A CABIN IN THERE.
IS IT STILL THERE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
NO HOLES ARE STILL AT THE GOLF COURSE.
ARE THERE? NO, UH, NOT THE LAST TIME I WAS UP THERE.
YOU, YOU COULD BARELY RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS EVER A GOLF COURSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS MR. BEN? UM, QUICK QUESTION.
JUST FROM WHEN WE HAD, UM, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES BUDGET HEARING AT THE EDGEWOOD UH, REC CENTER, UH, THERE WERE MEMBERS OF, UH, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY WHO COULDN'T GET PARKING 'CAUSE ALL OF THE DISABLED HANDICAP SPOTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP.
UM, AND IT JUST HAD ME THINKING ABOUT, UH, I'M SURE ALL OF OUR PARKING LOTS AT OUR REC CENTERS MEET, YOU KNOW, GUIDELINES ON HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS.
BUT THINKING ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO UTILIZE OUR REC SPACES, WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, RETIREES OR THE ELDERLY OR MAYBE, UM, YOU KNOW, ADULTS WHO, UH, AREN'T WORKING DUE TO DIFFERENT DISABILITIES OR HANDICAPS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THEY'RE GOING THERE DURING THE DAY.
UM, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, MAYBE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AT OUR REC FACILITIES AND PARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEBODY SHOWS UP, THERE'S NEVER NOT A SPACE FOR THEM? UM, NOT SPECIFICALLY.
WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT THOUGH.
I MEAN, AGAIN, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING STANDARDS.
UM, AND MAYBE WE CAN START WITH THAT AT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS.
'CAUSE I, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT IN, UH, THE ASPECT OF WHAT POPULATION SHOWS UP, YOU KNOW, UH, TO A REC FACILITY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER GENERAL PLACE.
HE WOULDN'T LET ME GET AWAY WITHOUT HAVING ONE QUESTION.
I KNOW THAT HE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT LOW MO APPRECIATE
I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT ON THE SWAN HARBOR REMEDIATION.
UH, 1,000,500 THOUSAND AND WHATEVER THEY ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING THERE OTHER THAN PUTTING, MAKING ROOM FOR.
SO AGAIN, THAT DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT SITE, WHEN THE HA GRACE YACHT BASIN GETS DREDGED, ALL THE MATERIAL GOES INTO THAT DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT SITE.
UM, SO WE ACTUALLY ARE LOOKING AT, UM, SOME OPTIONS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE CAN POTENTIALLY PLACE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO BE PUT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OPTIONS RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING AT THE FIELDS THERE AT SWAN HARBOR.
IT WILL BE MOUNTED OR IT'LL BE LEVELED OR NO LEVELED.
AND AGAIN, AT SWAN HARBOR YOU'RE TALKING A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES OF FARMLAND.
SO WE THINK OF IT AS, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S A LOT OF MATERIAL, BUT WHEN YOU SPREAD IT OVER A COUPLE HUNDRED ACRES, IT MIGHT BE LIKE THREE TO THREE TO FOUR INCHES.
WELL, WHAT I WAS THINKING IS IT IS FARM GROUND AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING DRE MATERIAL ON TOP OF IT.
AND WHAT IS THAT GONNA DO TO THE SOIL? UH, WE HAVE THAT SOIL TESTED, UH, THE MATERIAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S THERE AT THE AT AND IT WILL BE DETRIMENTAL.
THAT'S THE PART THAT CORRECT? NO, 'CAUSE IT ALL SETTLES OUT.
UM, SO, AND AGAIN, WE, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE MATERIAL THAT WE PUT OUT THERE IS GONNA BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE CURRENT USE IS.
YEAH, HUMAN RESOURCES BEGINS ON PAGE TWO 30.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 6,102,264
[00:30:01]
ACROSS FOUR BUDGETARY COST CENTERS FUNDED THROUGH VARIOUS FUNDS.THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION BEGINS ON PAGE 2 34.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,000,460 1001 93, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 54,231 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 57,246.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 2001 84 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 AND MERIT TOTALING 44,272.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 15,158.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASES 540 BASED ON, BASED ON ACTUALS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 1,400 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES.
AND THEN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 1070 $5 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION.
ON PAGE 2 37 ARE THE THREE COST CENTERS FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, HIGHWAYS FUND AND WATER AND SEWER FUND.
GENERAL FUND PERSONNEL MATTERS HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2 MILLION 4 97 5 9 6, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 1 MILLION 883 180.
THE DECREASE IS DUE TO A HIGHER THAN USUAL ALLOCATION IN FY 25 FOR RETIREMENT PAYOUTS RESULTING FROM THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE HIGHWAYS FUND PERSONNEL MATTERS HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 883,871, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 25,610.
ALSO DUE TO THE HIGHER VOLUME OF FY 25 RETIREMENTS.
AND THE WATER AND SEWER PERSONNEL MATTERS HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1 MILLION 259 6 0 4, WHICH IS A DECREASE OF 25,610, AGAIN, DUE TO THE HIGHER VOLUME OF FY 25 RETIREMENTS.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR STEVENS
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
SO MY NAME IS TIFFANY STEVENS AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE NICOLE BARNWELL.
SHE'S THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
UM, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HR CONTINUE TO WORK EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS, ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND RETIREES.
UM, LAST FISCAL YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 200, UH, 2,800 EMPLOYEE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE PROCESSED, WHICH WE HAVE TO TOUCH EVERY SINGLE APPLICANT.
UM, WHILE THE CURRENT NUMBER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES IS AROUND 1204, WE ACTUALLY ACTUALLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO 1992.
UM, THAT INCLUDES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, AND THE CIRCUIT COURT, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, THERE ARE ABOUT OVER ALMOST A THOUSAND RETIREES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS THAT WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF.
SO I AM PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF OUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HR HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.
AND I CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN FY 26 AS WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN PROJECTS IN SCOPE.
SO I OPEN THAT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
TIFFANY, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SIT ON SOME OF THE BOARDS THAT WE HAVE POP UP FROM TIME TO TIME, SPECIFICALLY THE HEALTH OFFICER SEARCH.
UH, YOUR OFFICE IS AN INTRICATE PART OF THAT.
UM, AND UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I MEAN, YOU GUYS TOOK IN 108 APPLICATIONS FOR THAT ONE POSITION AND QUALIFIED 71 OF 'EM, OF WHICH WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FORWARD NOW.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, AND NICOLE, THANK YOU AS WELL.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT'S COMING IN THE FUTURE AS FAR AS HEALTHCARE? I CAN TRY, PLEASE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF IT.
SO ARE YOU REFERENCING MARATHON HEALTH? YES.
UM, SO MARATHON HEALTH IS A, A VENDOR THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH TO CREATE AN EMPLOYEE AND DEPENDENT HEALTH CLINIC.
UM, SO IT'LL ONLY BE USED FOR HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS ON THE HEALTH PLAN FOR HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
IT'LL BE FOR ANYONE AGES TWO AND ABOVE.
UM, SO IT'LL BE FOR THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HURT YOURSELF AT WORK, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A A ONE DAY APPOINTMENT, IF NOT NEXT DAY APPOINTMENT.
IT'S ALSO GONNA BE USED FOR SPORTS PHYSICALS.
SO CHILDREN THAT ARE DEPENDENTS OF OUR EMPLOYEES WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEIR SPORTS PHYSICALS.
UM, BEST PART ABOUT IT IS IT IS THERE'S ZERO COPAY.
SO IT IS FREE TO THE EMPLOYEE AND THE INDEPENDENT.
UM, SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO SIMPLE LAB WORK THAT WILL ALSO BE FREE TO THE EMPLOYEE INDEPENDENT, UM, AS WELL AS A PHARMACY THAT WILL BE CARRYING ANYWHERE FROM 175 TO 200 DIFFERENT, UM, GENERIC MEDICATIONS THAT YOU CAN GET ALSO FOR ZERO COST TO THE EMPLOYEE AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.
[00:35:01]
SO IT'S A GREAT PROJECT WE'RE HOPING TO GET UNDERWAY.IT WAS JUST APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES LAST WEEK.
UM, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH PROCUREMENT TO DO ALL THE FINAL THINGS OF THE CONTRACT AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE BUILDING THAT OUT, UM, HERE SOON.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IF NOT THE BEGINNING OF 26.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT A SITE, UM, THAT WE ARE LEASING THROUGH MARATHON HEALTH, UM, OVER NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL, SIX 20 WEST MCPHAIL ROAD.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SHIMANEK FUNERAL HOME.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE STRIP MALL BEHIND THAT.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PROJECTED SAVINGS? SURE.
ROBBIE PROBABLY KNOWS THOSE NUMBERS BETTER THAN I DO, SO I'LL LET HIM SPEAK.
UM, RIGHT NOW IT'S PROJECTED AROUND $10 MILLION WORTH OF SAVINGS.
AND THE THE THINKING IS, IS THAT OVER FIVE YEARS, RIGHT? OVER THE FIVE YEARS, CORRECT.
UM, IS THAT, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE SELF-INSURED THAT THIS WILL, UM, DEFER, UM, YOU CALL, UH, CALLS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN INCURRED FROM, YOU KNOW, VISITS TO AN URGENT CARE OR EVEN AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR, UM, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR A WHOLE LOT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, BY BEING ABLE TO EARLY DIAGNOSE, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, TREAT SOME THINGS EARLIER, GET SOME, UM, GET SOME, UM, SAVINGS EARLIER.
BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE WOULD SEE HOPEFULLY IS OUR SELF-INSURANCE COSTS WITH CAREFIRST TAKING A A LOWER TRAJECTORY, UM, YOU KNOW, DUE TO, DUE TO THESE SAVINGS.
AND ALSO JUST WANNA POINT OUT TOO, THAT THIS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT OPTIONAL.
IF INDIVIDUALS DO NOT WANT TO USE THE HEALTH CLINIC, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO.
YOU CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO GO THERE FIRST OR, OR, YOU KNOW, DO ANYTHING THAT RESULTS IN, IN IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PRIMARY DOCTOR.
AND THIS WILL ALSO HELP IN A SAVINGS, UM, FROM A HR STANDPOINT.
'CAUSE WE DO PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICALS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND SO INSTEAD OF CONTRACTING THOSE SERVICES OUT AS WE DO TODAY, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THEM AT THE HEALTH CLINIC.
UM, SO IN THIS MERIDIAN HEALTH PLAN, IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS AN ACCIDENT MARATHON, MARATHON, MARATHON, MARATHON, SORRY, MARATHON, IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS AN ACCIDENT WORKERS' COMP CLAIM, WILL YOU SEND THEM THERE TO ALSO DO TESTING FOR THEY CAN GO THERE YES.
INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
NOW IF THEY'RE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, WILL THEY STILL COME ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE FOR THAT? YEAH.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR SITES ARE, WE HAVE ONE IN BELL CAMP AND ONE IN ABERDEEN.
UM, SO, SO IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE COST SAVINGS AS WELL? YEAH.
SO THE, THE, UM, CONTRACT WHEN IT COMES TO ANY OF THE WORKERS' COMP, YOU KNOW, DEFERRED CLAIMS OR DRUG TESTING OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE, THE, THE, THE COST SAVINGS.
SO IN FACT, UM, WE ACTUALLY THINK THAT WE'LL SAVE MORE THAN THAN THE 10 MILLION.
THE 10 MILLION IS REALLY JUST WHAT WE THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA SAVE OFF OF OUR CURRENT CLAIMS CAREFIRST TRAJECTORY.
SO DO WE, DO YOU KNOW, WHAT WE SPENT ON, UH, TESTING FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS AND DRUGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? AND I, WELL, I WILL SAY I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT IS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GONNA NEED TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THAT OUTSIDE TESTING BECAUSE THE HOURS OF THIS FACILITY ARE GONNA BE MORE, UM, WE, WE MIGHT HAVE SOME EVENING HOURS, BUT THEY'RE LARGELY A MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
SO OBVIOUSLY IF AN INDIVIDUAL'S INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AFTER HOURS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING TO, TO DRUG TEST 'EM, MORE THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, SO WE HAVE THE ON-CALL SERVICES RIGHT NOW YOU DID SAY EMPLOYEES, DOES THAT MEAN IT DOES NOT INCLUDE RETIREES? SO IT INCLUDES THE PRE 65 RETIREES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.
NOT, SO SOMEBODY'S NOT ON, NOT THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE UNITED HEALTHCARE PLAN WAS THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE? CORRECT.
IS THERE, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING ELSE, UH, WITH THE LONG-TERM CARE GROUP.
LONG-TERM CARE, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU JUST GOT AN EMAIL? WELL, I DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT I KNEW, BUT I KNEW ABOUT IT AS YOU SITTING HERE.
SO I, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK TO THAT.
I, I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE ALL VOLUNTARY, BUT MM-HMM
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING GOOD FOR PEOPLE LISTENING TO REALIZE WHAT'S COMING AND WHAT'S OUT THERE.
SO I CAN'T SPEAK TOO MUCH ON IT OTHER THAN IT IS THE LONG-TERM CARE PLAN WITH WHOLE LIFE.
UM, SO IT WILL BE FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING TO CUT THEIR COSTS FOR AFTERCARE.
SO THIS WILL BE FOR WHEN YOU RETIRE, IF YOU HAVE TO GO INTO A RETIREMENT HOME, IF YOU NEED HELP IN SERVICE IN YOUR HOME, UM, THE PRICING IS BASED ON YOUR CURRENT AGE.
UM, SO THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE CHEAPER IT IS AND IT STAYS AT THAT RATE THE ENTIRE TIME THAT YOU'RE EMPLOYED.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S A GOOD THING TO JUMP IN, YOU KNOW, AT, AT, AT A YOUNG AGE.
UM, BUT MORE WILL BE COMING OUT.
UM, YOU JUST, EVERYBODY JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY JUST KIND OF INTRODUCING THE THOUGHT.
UM, AND THEY WILL BE AT OPEN ENROLLMENT ON MAY 5TH.
UM, THEY WILL BE THERE WITH A PERSON TO DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HOW THE PRODUCT WILL WORK, UM, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE INDIVIDUALLY FOR YOU.
UM, SO MORE TO COME AND IF YOU DON'T JUMP IN INITIALLY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MEAN MEDICALLY UNDERWRITTEN AFTER THE FACT.
[00:40:01]
SO IF YOU GET IN, IN NOW, WHICH IS, YOU SHOULD JUST MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THAT YES, YOU HAVE THE GUARANTEE ISSUE.UM, IF YOU JUMP IN NOW, UM, AND IT IS A PRODUCT THAT'S ONLY AVAILABLE DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT EACH YEAR.
UM, SO IT'S NOT AVAILABLE FOR NEW HIRES WHEN THEY START, BUT THOSE NEW HIRES WILL THEN BE ABLE TO ENROLL THE FOLLOWING JULY.
IS IT PORTABLE? IT IS PORTABLE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER QUESTIONS I HAVE.
UM, SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE GENERAL, UM, THE SPEND CATEGORY ON 2 39.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SPECIAL PAY SP UM, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN, WHEN I CAME OVER YOU, YOU MAY, THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE, THE, THE MEETING, THE FIRST MEETING YOU WERE NOT AT OR YEAH, YEAH.
UM, SPECIAL PAYS IS LARGELY HOW WE DO RETIREMENT PAYOUTS.
AND THE REASON THAT WE PUT THEM IN A SEPARATE BUDGET IS, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES YOUR RETIREMENT PAYOUTS, BECAUSE WHAT THAT ENTAILS IS ANY ANNUAL LEAVE YOU HAVE, UM, ANY SICK HALF OF ANY SICK LEAVE YOU HAVE AS WELL AS ANY COMP TIME.
SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE, YOU KNOW, QUITE LARGE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S WORKED FOR, FOR 30 YEARS.
AND SO RATHER THAN HAVE THAT HIT THE INDIVIDUAL BUDGET, WHICH CAN, IF YOU PARTICULARLY YOU HAVE A SMALL BUDGET CAN BE REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT AND MIGHT, UM, RESULT IN THAT BUDGET GOING OVER, OVER, UM, OVER BUDGET.
UM, WE KIND OF SEGREGATE THEM ALL INTO, YOU KNOW, ONE POT AT THE END OF, UM, UH, THAT, THAT WE PLACE THEM ALL INTO.
AND TYPICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD TO COME OVER BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF RETIREMENTS BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE HIRED A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS REALLY IN THE NINETIES AND EARLY TWO THOUSANDS AS THE COUNTY WAS REALLY GROWING.
UM, AND SO WE'VE HAD, UM, A JUMP IN RE IN RETIREMENT COSTS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A BUBBLE.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE TYPICALLY HAVE HAD TO COME OVER AND ASK FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PAY, UM, PAY ALL THOSE EXPENSES.
BUT RETIREMENT PAYOUTS IN THE SHORT ANSWER.
AND, UM, FOR THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT, I SEE THAT, UM, A GOOD BIT MORE HAS BEEN PUT INTO IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
HAVE WE BEEN MAXING THAT OUT OR IS THERE STILL A SURPLUS? SO WE JUST STARTED THAT PROGRAM PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO IT HASN'T, HASN'T BEEN A PROGRAM SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I THINK.
SO THE, THE FIRST TWO COLUMNS ARE THE ACTUALS OKAY.
FOR 23 AND 24, AND THEN THE 25 AND 26 IS THE BUDGETED MM-HMM
UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE, BUT WE ONLY PAY OUT WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHAT PEOPLE REQUEST.
I WAS JUST WONDERING, IT'S NOT THEIR FULL TUITION.
SO WE HAVE A POLICY THAT DICTATES HOW MUCH YOU GET PER YOUR GRADE, WHETHER IT'S AN A, B, C AND AS LONG AS IT'S RELEVANT TO YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT.
UM, FIRST ABOUT THE, UM, HEALTHCARE PROJECTED SAVINGS, IS THERE A PLAN FOR HOW YOU WILL USE THOSE SAVINGS TO EITHER INVEST BACK INTO THE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE HOLIDAYS OR BY FREEZING RATE INCREASES OR, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GREAT TO SAVE ON HEALTHCARE, BUT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF THOSE SAVINGS? SO THE EMPLOYEES ALONG WITH THE EMPLOYER US, UM, WOULD, WOULD MORE OR LESS SHARE THE COST SAVINGS BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'LL HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY, UM, KNOW THE, THE PREMIUM THAT THAT THE COUNTY PAYS, WHICH IS THE BULK OF THE, THE COST, IT'S GENERALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 90, 90% PLUS OF THE COST AND THE EMPLOYEES SHARE THAT COMES OUTTA THEIR PAYCHECK EVERY TWO WEEKS.
UM, SO INSTEAD OF THAT PERHAPS GROWING BY, YOU KNOW, 10% OVER TIME, MAYBE IT'S GROWING BY 5% OR GROWING BY 6%.
SO BOTH OF US WOULD SHARE IN, IN THOSE RESPECTIVE SAVINGS.
YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, WE MADE SOME, SOME CHANGES AND THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE, UM, UH, THE INCREASE TO ONLY BE 5% INSTEAD OF 10%, WHICH WAS WHAT WE ORIGINALLY EXPECTED.
SO THE EMPLOYEES SHARE IN THAT SAVINGS AS WELL, UM, BY JUST HAVING A LOWER AMOUNT DEDUCTED FROM THEIR PAY EACH TWO WEEKS.
AND THEN CER JUST ON TOP OF THAT, I'D ADD, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ANY SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY JUST INCREASES THE ABILITY IN FUTURE YEARS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, FUND EMPLOYEE COLAS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH THE CPI AND POTENTIAL, POTENTIAL MERIT INCREASES AND SO FORTH.
YEAH, I WOULD SAY IN THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET YEAR, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE 3% COLA AND THE 1000, THERE WAS, THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THAT OUR ABILITY TO, TO ONLY GROW HEALTH INSURANCE BY 10 BY 5% INSTEAD OF 10%, UM, IMMEDIATELY KIND OF MORE OR LESS WENT BACK INTO THE, INTO THE EMPLOYEE'S PAY.
AND THEN I JUST HAD A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ABOUT THIS, UH, TUITION REIMBURSEMENT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT YOU EXPECT THE ACTUAL TO BE FOR THIS YEAR JUST BECAUSE OF LOOKING AT FY 23 AND FY 24, IS 75,000 A A REASONABLE, UH, ESTIMATE OR WOULD YOU KNOW $50,000 BE MORE REASONABLE CONSIDERING THOSE PREVIOUS YEARS? UM, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LEAVING MONEY AVAILABLE FOR, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, UH,
[00:45:01]
ELSEWHERE.I, UM, I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME WHERE WE STAND IN, IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT TO YOU, BUT ALSO BEARING IN MIND IF FOR WHATEVER REASON IT, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER THAN THAN USUAL YEAR WHERE FOLKS REQUEST THESE SORTS OF THINGS, HAVING A NUMBER THAT'S TOO LOW MEANS WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT IT OFF AT SOME POINT AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT REIMBURSEMENT TO EMPLOYEES.
MAYBE JUST WHO MISSED, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HANDED IN THE LAST ONE THE DAY BEFORE AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON IS KIND OF OUTTA LUCK.
SO WE DO WANNA TRY TO AVOID THAT SITUATION.
I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
UM, BUT JUST WANNA, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT, 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA SET IT AT $10 MILLION FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT EITHER.
'CAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE YOU PLENTY OF WIGGLE ROOM, BUT YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE EXCESS WIGGLE ROOM EITHER.
IF IT'S ONLY EVER GOTTEN TO $28,000, JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW, $25,000 ELSEWHERE COULD MEAN A WHOLE LOT FOR A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.
UM, JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT SETTING THE BAR TOO HIGH WITH THIS YOUNG PROGRAM.
BUT, AND, AND, BUT AGAIN, JUST AS A REMINDER THAT, THAT ANYTHING THAT'S NOT SPENT DOES FALL BACK THE FUND BALANCE AND CAN BE REAPPROPRIATED IN A FUTURE YEAR.
AND WHILE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DESIRE TO SAY, WELL, OKAY, YOU COULD, COULD THAT MONEY HAVE GONE TO OTHER PLACES? IF THAT MONEY ENDS UP GOING TO OTHER PLACES THAT, UM, MAINTAIN THEIR OWN FUND BALANCES OUTSIDE AGENCIES, THEN IT'S, IT KIND OF PERMANENTLY CREATES A NEW LEVEL OF SPENDING THERE, WHEREAS THESE FUNDS WOULD, WOULD RESTORE TO THE COUNTY'S THUMB BALANCE.
AND, AND, AND THERE'S, AND LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY OFFLINE, THERE'S THAT DELICATE BALANCE OF, UH, MAKING SURE WE HAVE WHAT WE NEED FOR TOMORROW, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT UNDERCUTTING WHAT WE NEED TODAY UNNECESSARILY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, AND IF YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND WHAT OUR CURRENT ACTUALS ARE FOR THAT, IT WOULD BE HELP US TO KNOW IF THAT'S A REASONABLE AMOUNT OR, YOU KNOW, 50,000 WOULD OPEN UP $25,000 ELSEWHERE WITHOUT HURTING THE PROGRAM.
I, I WAS SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH A TUITION REIMBURSEMENT THOUGH, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IS A LOT OF THOSE COSTS ARE GONNA COME IN AFTER THE SPRING SEMESTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN YOUR, YOUR COLLEGE DAYS, YOU KNOW RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, EARLY MAY IS OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE FINISHING UP THE SPRING SEMESTER.
SO THOSE, THOSE COSTS WOULD BE COMING AND THAT, THAT WOULD, THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A, UM, OF, OF A PROGRAM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A, UM, UH, AN EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED, UM, SPEND, UH, SPEND SPEND DOWN RATE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE KIND OF A JUMP IN JANUARY WHEN THE FALL SEMESTER COMES IN.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A JUMP IN JUNE WHEN THE SPRING SEMESTER COMES IN.
BUT WE COULD ALWAYS TAKE, YOU KNOW, HISTORICALLY, HOW MUCH WAS IT IN THE FALL? HOW MUCH WAS IT IN THE SPRING? TAKE THE FALL, MULTIPLY IT BY THE RATIO, WHAT YOU EXPECT IN THE SPRING? YEAH, NO, NO.
JUST IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW, IS MY POINT IS THAT YOU WOULD, YOU, YOU, YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF THE SPRING SEMESTER COSTS TO COME, TO COME IN, BUT YES, MR. JAN DEN.
SO ROBBIE, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE DID SOME CHANGES TO THE HEALTH, UH, PROGRAM.
WERE WE, UH, SAY 5%, WHAT CHANGES DID WE IMPLEMENT THAT CUT OUR COST BY 5%? SURE.
UM, SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING, UM, FORMULARY TWO, UM, WHICH THAT CAME OUT IN AN EMAIL, I BELIEVE THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY.
UM, SO FORMULARY TWO IS, IS PUTTING OUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ON A DIFFERENT, WE WERE IN FORMULARY ONE, SO GOING TO TWO.
SO THAT MAY MOVE SOME OF YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS TO A HIGHER COPAY, UM, OR IT COULD PUT YOU ON A DIFFERENT TIER.
UM, CAREFIRST WILL BE REACHING OUT TO EVERYONE WHO HAS A DRUG THAT MAY BE AFFECTED.
UM, THEY'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH LETTERS AND OTHER WAYS, UM, TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN DO SOMETHING MAYBE GENERIC, UM, OR IF YOU CAN DO MORE OF A STEP THERAPY, LET'S, LET'S TRY THIS.
AND THEN IF THIS DOESN'T WORK, THEN YOU CAN KEEP THE PRESCRIPTION THAT YOU'RE HAVING.
UM, YOUR PROVIDERS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE MADE AWARE, UM, SO YOUR PROVIDERS WILL KNOW AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEE.
UM, AND THOSE PROVIDERS WILL THEN, WHEN YOU GO TO YOUR APPOINTMENT, WILL SAY, WE RECEIVED THIS LETTER.
UM, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN TRY YOU ON THIS DRUG.
UM, IF FOR ANY REASON YOU'VE ALREADY TRIED THOSE TYPE OF DRUGS AND YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA WORK FOR YOU AND YOU NEED TO STAY ON YOUR CURRENT DRUG, UM, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY STILL TAKE THAT DRUG.
IT'S JUST A FORM THE DOCTOR HAS TO FILL OUT AND GIVE IT TO US.
WILL THEY, WILL THEY EXCLUDE ANY DRUGS OR ANY CANCER DRUGS IF SOMEBODY'S TAKING CANCER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? UH, THERE'S NO EXCLUSIONS.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO IMPLEMENTING PRUDENT RX, UM, WHICH IS ALSO A PHARMACY PROGRAM, UM, THAT THE EMPLOYEE WILL ENROLL IN.
AGAIN, NOT EVERY EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO NEED PRUDENT RX, IT'S FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE TAKING THOSE DRUGS THAT ARE THE HIGH, HIGH COST, UM, AGAIN, THEY WILL REACH OUT TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW HOW TO ENROLL IN THE SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE GONNA DO IN BEN LOGIC, THE CURRENT SYSTEM, YOU'RE GONNA DO IT THROUGH CAREFIRST, UM, AND THROUGH THEIR PRUDENT RX PORTAL.
AND IT'S WHERE YOU CAN THEN IT'S ALMOST KIND OF LIKE A
[00:50:01]
COUPON PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR HIGH COST MEDICINE FOR FREE.SO, UM, ANOTHER QUESTION ON THAT IS, ARE ARE RATES THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY OR ARE THEY BANDED? SO IT DEPENDS ON YOUR, THE YEAR THAT YOU STARTED WITH THE COUNTY.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT RATES.
SO LET'S GO PRIOR TO 2010 AND AFTER 20 10, 20 10 AND AFTER.
SO, UM, RATES, ARE THEY, ARE THEY THE SAME FOR A MAN AND A WOMAN IN THE THIRTIES, FORTIES, AND FIFTIES? OR ARE THEY BANDED? MM-HMM.
NOPE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE SAME, SAME RATE.
WHAT IS THAT RATE? ANY I WELL, I'M GONNA, OKAY.
UH, YEAH, THE ONLY REASON I ASK THAT IS BECAUSE I THINK EVERY YEAR I BRING UP THE COST OF THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, INSURANCE IN, IN THE MARKET.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE THAT IF YOU'RE A FAMILY AND YOU'RE IN YOUR FORTIES, A FAMILY INSURANCE PLAN IS, UH, WHICH IS NOT AS GOOD AS THE COUNTIES BY ANY MEANS WITH DRUG IS OVER THREE GRAND A MONTH.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $36,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY INSURANCE CLAIM.
AND IF YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL AND YOU'RE IN YOUR THIRTIES, IT'S STILL PROBABLY FOUR TO $500 A MONTH.
UM, THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH.
SO, SO IT IS A, A BIG COST SAVINGS WHEN SOMEBODY DOES WORK HERE.
AND I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE DID NOT PASS THE 5% INCREASE OFF TO THE EMPLOYEES, BUT, UM, THIS YEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE WE, WE ARE DOING THAT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, AND I, I SHOULD SAY THAT TO THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, I THINK WE LOOKED AT IT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A, A, A COUPLE OF, A COUPLE OF DOLLARS.
IT'S, IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE A VERY GENEROUS, UM, PLAN EVEN FOR THE PEOPLE WE HIRED AFTER, UM, UH, 2010.
YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, WELL THE COUNTY'S STILL ABSORBING WELL ABOVE 90% OF THE, THE COST.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE, I THINK IS, UH, AFTER 2010 IS THAT THE COUNTY, UM, WASN'T ABSORBING AS MUCH AS THE DEPENDENT COST, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, UM, BUT EVEN THAT'S STILL EXTREMELY GENEROUS, BUT WE HAVE THOSE, THOSE, THOSE CHARTS MM-HMM
UM, AND THEN ONE MORE QUESTION, UM, THE LONG-TERM CARE, WITH THE WHOLE LIFE, DO YOU HAVE TO GET THE WHOLE LIFE? I BELIEVE SO.
I THINK, I THINK IT'S A WHOLE PRODUCT, BUT, SO IT'S A WHOLE PRODUCT.
YOU CAN'T JUST CHOOSE THE LONG-TERM CARE.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHOOSE THE WHOLE LIFE.
BUT AGAIN, THEY WILL BE AT OPEN ENROLLMENT AND MORE INFORMATION WILL COME OUT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SENDING OUT VIDEOS AND ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION.
SO I JUST SAW THE EMAIL, SO, BUT I, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR LOOKING AT THAT PRODUCT AND REACHING OUT.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY AS, AS WE HAVE A MATURING, UH, WORKFORCE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY HELPS RETAIN PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN A LOT OF COMPANIES FOR SURE.
SO NOW I'M NOWHERE NEAR AS VERSED AS, UM, MY COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT IS, AS IN INSURANCE MATTERS, OR YOU, BUT I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING AND I THINK OUR INCREASE TO INSURANCE IS 5.3% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I KNOW HOW VALUABLE THAT BENEFIT IS TO US.
BUT HERE WE ARE OFFERING OUR CITIZENS THE 3% RAISE, BUT YET THEIR COST OF INSURANCE IS 5.3%.
UM, IT'S ALMOST, I WOULD THINK NEARLY NEGATES WHAT THEY GET IN VALUE.
BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU'RE, THE, THE, THE, IF YOU FIGURE, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE SALARY IS 50, 60, YOU KNOW, THOUSAND.
AND THEN THE AVERAGE INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, PAYMENT MIGHT BE AROUND A HUNDRED DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, THREE, THREE MORE OR LESS, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR A PERSON MAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING $50,000, 3% PLUS $1,000, YOU KNOW, IS AROUND A 5% INCREASE.
UM, SO, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, EQUATE TO, YOU KNOW, $3,000 OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
SO, WHEREAS THEIR TOTAL COST MIGHT GO UP, YOU KNOW, MAYBE $40 OR $50.
A COUPLE THINGS THOUGH, TOO, ONE, THE, UM, THE, THE DENTAL AND THE VISION, THOSE ARE BEING HELD FLAT.
SO THE NET EFFECT IS, IS, IS 5%.
AND OF COURSE, THEY'RE GONNA, UM, AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR HAVE ACCESS TO THAT HEALTH CLINIC WHERE THERE'LL BE NO COST AT ALL.
SO THERE'S NO COPAY, THERE'S NO CO-INSURANCE, THERE'S NO COST FOR THE PRESCRIPTIONS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, AN INDIVIDUAL COULD KIND OF AMORTIZE THAT, THAT COST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'LL BE, I'LL BE USING IT.
WELL, I'LL BE USING A VISION TOO.
I GOTTA TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
LISTENING TO EVERYONE ELSE AND LOOKING OVER MY NOTES, I KNOW MS. BROOKS REACHED OUT TO ASK ABOUT PINS THAT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR 12 MONTHS OR LONGER.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK TO HER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE, ROUGH SENSE, THAT YOU COULD SHARE NOW ON HOW MANY YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE? NO, I DON'T.
IN THE SINGLE DIGITS, DOUBLE DIGITS? NOPE.
UM, PROBABLY IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS.
AND THEN, UM, ALONG THOSE LINES OF THE
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CLINIC BEING OPTIONAL, HAVE YOU THOUGHT AS A DEPARTMENT AT ALL ABOUT HOW TO INCENTIVIZE, LIKE, EITHER, YOU KNOW, KEEPING SCORE OF WHICH DEPARTMENT HAS THE, THE HIGHEST RATE OF PARTICIPATION OR, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF, AND THEN YOU CAN REWARD, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO THE BAGEL SHOP AND AFTER 10 STAMPS YOU GET, BUT, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU WANT, YOU WANNA CREATE A NEW HABIT.'CAUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO, THEY'VE ALWAYS GONE TO THE URGENT CARE RIGHT NEXT TO THEIR HOUSE TO BREAK THAT HABIT, SOMETIMES INCENTIVES.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ON HOW TO WE HAVE PUT THOUGHT INTO THAT? YES.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN AT THIS MOMENT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE THINKING ABOUT.
YES, I LIKE STAMPS, BUT
MR. JAN, SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, IS THE LONG-TERM CARE PRODUCT AVAILABLE FOR A SPOUSE AS WELL? YES.
THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD, VERY GOOD POINT.
AND IT'S A GOOD FEATURE, SO THANK YOU.
MR. ROBERT? UH, THANK YOU, MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
UH, JUST A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
UH, IT TALKS ABOUT, SO FOR FISCAL, THEY JUMP TO FISCAL YOUR APPROVED 5 MILLION AND THEN DROPS BACK DOWN TO 3 MILLION FOR FY 20.
THAT, THAT, I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S, YEAH, I MEAN, WELL THAT, THAT, THAT AGAIN WAS BECAUSE WE, WE BUMPED IT UP FOR THE, UM, UH, RETIREMENT INCENTIVE.
SO THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE THAT WE DID, UM, THAT WAS EFFECTIVE JULY ONE OF, OR YOU KNOW, OF, OF THIS YEAR, SAID THAT RETIREES, AND THEY HAD TO HAVE AT LEAST 30 YEARS OF, OF, OF SERVICE, UM, TO BE, UH, FULLY ABLE TO RETIRE.
THAT INSTEAD OF GETTING HALF OF THEIR SICK LEAVE, THEY WOULD GET, UM, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THEIR SICK LEAVE.
UM, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE, WE BUMPED THAT UP.
UM, AND AGAIN, STILL WE EVEN NEEDED TO DO A, A TRANSFER BECAUSE WE STILL HAD OTHER, UM, OTHER JUST NORMAL RETIREMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HIT THAT, THAT MARK.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE THINK THAT WAS A ONETIME, A ONETIME BUMP UP DUE TO THAT, DO THAT INCENTIVE.
BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS HAS BEEN IN, IT HAS BEEN INCREASING BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HIRED A, WE HIRED A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE 30 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE ALL RETIRING OR HAVE RETIRED IN RECENT YEARS.
OKAY, WE'RE TALKING SECRETS,
ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, TIFFANY.
I KNOW BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR LINE OF WORK.
UH, PROCUREMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 1 54.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 14,900,893 ACROSS TWO BUDGETARY DIVISIONS.
PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS BEGINS ON PAGE ONE 60.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,301,603, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 43,208 FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE IS 54,608.
SALARIES INCREASE 1,528 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 39,587.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 13,493.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 2,500 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND TELEPHONE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASED 2000 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR PRINTING BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
DECREASE 5,400 DUE TO REDUCTIONS IN MILEAGE, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, TRAINING AND LODGING BASED ON ACTUALS.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL DECREASES 1,500 FOR POOL CAR RENTAL.
FLEET MANAGEMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 1 66.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 13,599,290, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 31,279 FUNDED BY THE HIGHWAYS FUND.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE 108,049 SALARIES DECREASED 4,445 DUE TO TURNOVER.
ONE NEW POSITION CREATED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST, ONE AT A COST OF 77,565.
TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASED 10,000.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 13,600 HUNDRED SIX.
AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 11,323.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASE 100,320 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY BASED ON FY 26 CONSORTIUM RATES.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
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OFFICE SUPPLIES AND FUEL AND BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 24,000 FOR MOTOR POOL VEHICLE REPAIRS AND MOTOR POOL FUEL USAGE AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL MOTOR POOL VEHICLES.AND THEN THERE WILL BE CAPITAL AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MYERS.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU JUST FINE, KAREN.
UM, I'VE GOT MY COUGH DROP IN MY DRINKING CASE.
I, I CAN'T SHAKE THIS COUGH, SO I APOLOGIZE IF I START COUGHING.
UM, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M KAREN MEYERS, UH, DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT.
AND I HAVE WITH ME MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MARCUS WILLIAMS AND TIFFANY FITZPATRICK, WHO'S OUR FLEET ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT HAS TWO DIVISIONS, OPERATIONS AND FLEET MANAGEMENT.
SO I WILL ADDRESS, UM, A BRIEF SUMMARY.
I'LL, I'LL SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN OPERATIONS, AND THEN TIFFANY WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT FLEET UNDER THE COUNTY CHARTER.
THE DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING FOR SUPPLIES, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, INCLUDING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CONSULTANT SERVICES.
WE OBTAIN QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES IN A TIMELY MANNER AT THE BEST POSSIBLE COST FOR THE COUNTY.
WE ARE ONE OF THE SMALLEST DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY, BUT WE SERVE EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, STATE'S ATTORNEY, AND CIRCUIT COURT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE VOLUME THAT COMES THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE PROCESS ROUGHLY 2100 PURCHASE PURCHASE ORDERS ANNUALLY.
SOLICITATIONS RANGE BETWEEN 250 NEW RFPS AND IFPS AND PIGGYBACKS PER YEAR.
WE REVIEW OVER 19,000 P CARD TRANSACTIONS ANNUALLY, AND WE MANAGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME ABOUT SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY ACTIVE CONTRACTS.
UM, THAT INCLUDES ANY CONTRACT AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND, UM, CHANGE ORDERS.
WE ACTIVELY REVIEW THE MARKET FOR CURRENT PRICING AND WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER ENTITIES SUCH AS BRICK PACK, WHICH STANDS FOR BALTIMORE REGIONAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING COMMITTEE, UM, TO WORK THROUGH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO GAIN ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
UM, RECENTLY THE BRICK PACK GROUP JUST RENEGOTIATED, UM, WITH STAPLES, WHO'S OUR PRIMARY OFFICE SUPPLY, UM, CONTRACTOR RENEGOTIATED PRICING AND LARGER REBATES.
SO THE COUNTY DOES ABOUT 300,000 ANNUALLY WITH STAPLES.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENJOY BETTER PRICING AND, AND A GREATER REBATE RELATED TO THAT CONTRACT.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR USER DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE SPECIFICATIONS ARE DRAFTED FOR OUR SOLICITATIONS.
WE CONTINUOUSLY LOOK FOR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AND EFFICIENCIES, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING TO UPDATE OLD BID AND CONTRACT TEMPLATES AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.
WE HOPE PROCUREMENT 1 0 1 TRAINING SESSIONS EVERY YEAR AND REFRESHER TRAINING FOR OUR USERS.
OUR VENDORS MUST BE REGISTERED AND IN GOOD STANDING WITH SAT AND THE PROPER INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE IN PLACE.
SO WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RISK ON THESE TEDIOUS DETAILS, UM, AS WELL AS VERY CLOSELY WITH TREASURY AND BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, APPROVED AND IN THE PROPER ACCOUNTS.
WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A NEW PURCHASING CARD PROGRAM, WHICH WILL NET THE COUNTY A GREATER REBATE DUE TO BELONGING TO A A LARGER CONSORTIUM.
80% OF THE TRANSACTIONS REPRESENT 20% OF THE ANNUAL SPEND.
SO THE PCARD STREAMLINES THE PROCESS FOR THOSE SMALL PURCHASES.
IT GREATLY SAVES AN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND THE VENDORS LOVE IT BECAUSE THEY GET PAID WITHIN TWO TO THREE DAYS BY THE BANK.
WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A NEW CONTRACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THIS YEAR CALLED BONFIRE.
THIS REPLACED OUR LEGACY SYSTEM.
THE USERS INPUT THEIR REQUESTS FOR NEW BIDS.
IT GOES THROUGH AN APPROVAL PROCESS WHERE BUDGET REVIEWS FOR FUNDING IT, UH, PROCESSES THE SOLICITATION, GENERATES THE SOLICITATION, PROCESSES IT, AND POSTS IT FOR BID.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW SYSTEM THAT WE FOUND IS WE ARE RECEIVING MANY MORE RESPONSES BACK FROM VENDORS.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT COMPETITION IS KEY AS A BEST PRACTICE IN PROCUREMENT.
SO THIS IS CAST AT A WIDER NET, UM, IN GETTING RESPONSES FROM VENDORS.
I MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A SMALL STAFF, SIX OUT OF NINE IN PROCUREMENT OPERATIONS ARE NEW TO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT, AND THEY'VE BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN ONE TO TWO YEARS.
[01:05:01]
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF TRAINING.I PRAY EVERY DAY THAT THEY COME BACK TO WORK THAT I SAID
UM, THEIRS IS NOT AN EASY JOB.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES, A LOT OF DETAILS TO, TO GO THROUGH JUGGLING MULTIPLE PRIORITIES AND TRYING TO SERVE EVERY DEPARTMENT THE BEST THAT THEY CAN.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THEY'RE ROCK STARS.
UM, TRAINING HAS PLAYED A HUGE PART IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CLASSES THROUGH NIGP, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH NIGP TO ESTABLISH INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR OUR PURCHASING AGENTS.
WE NEGOTIATED DISCOUNTED PRICING WITH THEM AND EACH AGENT HAS A, A PATH, A PLAN TO GAIN CERTIFICATION.
THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT STARTED DOCUMENTING COST SAVINGS BACK IN 2015.
THE ROLLING COST SAVINGS SINCE THAT TIME IS OVER 45 MILLION.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY THAT UNDER THE CALEE ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED SAVINGS OF OVER 14.6 MILLION WITH ADDITIONAL SAVINGS TO COME AFTER FY 25 CLOSES.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN YOU OVER TO TIFFANY.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? MM-HMM
SO, UM, GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'D LIKE TO READ A LITTLE, UM, SPEECH THAT I WROTE UP TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY DEPARTMENT.
MY NAME IS TIFFANY FITZPATRICK AND I'M THE FLEET ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
UNDER PROCUREMENT, MY TEAM CONSISTS OF MY FLEET MANAGER, LEROY FLEMING, AND MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, TISHA WRIGHT.
FLEET MANAGEMENT HANDLES VARIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS MAINTENANCE, FUEL ACQUISITION, AND DISPOSAL OF UNITS AND REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE.
WHILE I'VE HAD SOME OF THE BEST MENTORS, I HAVE MY OWN IDEAS AND INITIATIVES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AND IMPLEMENT TO TAKE THE COUNTY TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF FLEET MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
OUR FLEET MANAGE OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE FACILITY IS STATE-OF-THE-ART AND HOUSES.
MY TEAM, ALONG WITH OUR CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE VENDOR AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, WE PROCESS APPROXIMATELY 480 SCHEDULED WORK ORDERS A MONTH.
OUR FLEET IS COMPRISED OF A LITTLE OVER 1200 VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.
OUR MAINTENANCE SHOP HAS TWO AREAS, A LIGHT SHOP AND A HEAVY SHOP.
THE LIGHT SHOP IS DEDICATED TO WORKING ON LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES AND POLICE UNITS, WHILE OUR HEAVY SHOP WORKS ON DUMP TRUCKS, SPECIALIZED LANDFILL EQUIPMENT, UH, ROLL OFF TRUCKS AND VARIOUS EQUIPMENT SUCH AS LOADERS, BACKHOES, AND DOZERS.
WE HAVE TECHNICIANS AT THE TRANSIT FACILITY THAT WORK ON OUR TRANSIT BUSES.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION A FEW ITEMS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTING TO SAVE COUNTY FUNDS.
THIS YEAR'S FOCUS IS ON RIGHT SIZING AND RIGHT TYPING OF OUR FLEET.
BY DOING THIS, WE HOPE TO PURCHASE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT VEHICLES, REDUCING FUEL COST, AND DOWNSIZING OUR FLEET BY UTILIZING THE CORRECT UNIT AND BUILD FOR THE JOB.
MY TEAM WILL ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO CREATE MORE MOTOR POOLS AROUND THE COUNTY AND MORE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SHARING.
WHEN POSSIBLE, THIS STRATEGY WILL HELP DOWNSIZE THE FLEET AND SAVE MAINTENANCE COST.
ONE PROJECT THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT IMPLEMENTING IS AN OFF THE LOT CONTRACT.
THIS ALLOWS OUR LOCAL VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH MY TEAM PURCHASING VEHICLES.
WE HAVE HAD A HANDFUL OF LOCAL VENDORS BID ON THIS CONTRACT, AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM ON VEHICLE PURCHASES.
REGARDING OUR AMBULANCE FLEET, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 40 AMBULANCES THAT WE PROVIDE MAINTENANCE FOR.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE IMPLEMENTED DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR PURCHASING AND SELLING THESE UNITS THAT WILL PROVIDE COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY.
WHILE WE STILL NEED TO PURCHASE NEW UNITS, WE HAVE STARTED TO PURCHASE NEW CABIN CHASSIS AND REMOUNT THE AMBULANCE BOX ON THE NEW CABIN CHASSIS, SAVING APPROXIMATELY $120,000 PER UNIT WHEN DISPOSING OF THESE UNITS.
WE HAVE TAKEN A NEW ROUTE OF POSTING THE OUTTA SERVICE UNIT ON GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT WEBSITES, AND HAVE SOLD AN AVERAGE OF $15,000 MORE PER UNIT VERSUS SENDING THESE UNITS TO AUCTION HOUSES.
FLEET HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT ON ACCIDENT UNITS AND DOING MORE IN-HOUSE REPAIRS.
WHEN POSSIBLE, THIS SAVES MONEY VERSUS SENDING THE UNIT TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR FOR REPAIR.
MY TEAM AND I HAVE IMPLEMENTED AN UPGRADE TO OUR MAINTENANCE COMPUTER SYSTEM,
[01:10:01]
WHICH HAS MANY NEW FEATURES THAT WILL HELP US TRACK EFFICIENCIES, KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, GENERATE MORE REPORTING, ASSIST WITH BETTER CONTRACT MAN MANAGEMENT OF OUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH TELEMATICS IN THE FUTURE.IN THIS BUDGET, WE ARE REQUESTING A FUEL POSITION.
THIS POSITION IS IMPERATIVE TO THE FLEET MANAGEMENT DIVISION AS IT SERVES AS ONE OF OUR LARGEST BUDGET BUDGET LINE ITEMS. THIS POSITION IS CURRENTLY MANAGED BY OUR CONTRACTED MAINTENANCE VENDOR.
THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD GIVE FLEET MANAGEMENT CONTROL TO OVERSEE AND MONITOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, FUEL PROGRAMS AND FUEL POLICIES FUTURE NEEDS SUCH AS TELEMATICS, FUEL SYSTEM UPGRADES, AUDITING OF FUEL CONSUMPTION, AND TELEMATICS.
DATA SUCH AS HIGH IDLE TIME, AGGRESSIVE DRIVING HABITS, ET CETERA, WILL NEED TO BE A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS POSITION.
THIS POSITION IS CRUCIAL IN KEEPING FUEL STATIONS OPERATIONAL DURING EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.
BY THIS POSITION BEING MANAGED BY HARTFORD COUNTY, IT WOULD ENSURE PROPER DIRECTION AND FOCUS SOLELY ON FUEL ISSUES, MDE COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY, AND NOT OTHER DUTIES ASSIGNED BY THE CONTRACTED VENDOR.
THE FUEL OFFICES PROCESSES 8,403 TOTAL FUEL TRANSACTIONS A MONTH.
WE USE OVER 60,000 GALLONS OF UNLEADED AND 58,000, 58,000 GALLONS OF DIESEL PER MONTH.
AND ABOUT 1300 GALLONS OF DEF HARTFORD COUNTY IS PART OF CONSORTIUM WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY.
TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS CONTRACT TO PURCHASE OUR FUEL.
CURRENTLY WE ARE PAYING THREE 10 A GALLON FOR UNLEADED AND $3 A GALLON PER DIESEL.
OUR FUEL STATIONS SERVICE OUTSIDE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, SOME OF THE LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE BEL AIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE LIBRARY TO NAME A FEW.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MY DIVISION.
THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST TIME SITTING HERE, SO YOU DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB, ACTUALLY.
AS YOU DO IN OUR BOARD OF ESTIMATES MEETING, UH, AND YOUR PREDECESSOR AS WELL, YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC.
YOU MAKE US AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, WHETHER IT BE A VEHICLE THAT WE'RE TRADING IN, YOU GIVE US A TRADE IN VALUE, YOU GIVE US THE AMOUNT OF HOURS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THAT VEHICLE OVER THE HOURS, WHAT THAT VALUE, WHAT THE NEW PIECE IS SELLING FOR.
SO I, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
YOU, YOU ABSOLUTELY BUY LOCAL WHENEVER IT'S POSSIBLE.
UM, SO I, THE NEW PROGRAM THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IS GONNA HELP US WITH THAT EVEN MORE.
UM, UH, AND KAREN, I, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE SAVINGS THAT YOU CREATE AND, AND MANAGE, UH, FOR THE COUNTY EVERY DAY.
UM, AND AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AS WELL, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM.
UM, IT HELPS, IT HELPS THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE EVERY DAY AT THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES MUCH EASIER.
HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE SPEND OR APPROVE, UH, IN THOSE MEETINGS.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
THE SAME QUESTION THAT I ASKED THE DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATION, SAME QUESTION THAT I ASKED, UH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
ARE YOU AWARE IN PROCUREMENT OF ANY POSSIBLE PURCHASES OF REAL ESTATE OVER $3 MILLION ACTIVE RIGHT NOW? NO.
SO I, I THINK I NEED THAT, UH, COUGH JOBS TOO.
UM, THANKS FOR COMING THE FIRST TIME.
UM, CAN I JUST STOP OUT TO SEE YOU OR DO I NEED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT IF I, I WANT TO GET A UPDATED TOUR? WE, WE LOVE TAKING PEOPLE ON TOURS IN THE BUILDING.
THEN I, I'M JUST GONNA, I'M GONNA STOP OUT, PROBABLY JUST RIDE BY AND I'LL COME BY 'CAUSE BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THAT.
SO, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, ARE THEY THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING ON THE VEHICLES? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO, UM, ANY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE, UH, TECH, UH, HARTFORD TECH IN GETTING PEOPLE IN ON, ON THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY DO? YES.
TRANSDEV DOES PARTICIPATE IN A PROGRAM.
UM, THEY HAD TWO YOUNG FELLOWS COME OUT AND ACTUALLY ONE WAS ACTUALLY HIRED.
DID WE ALWAYS HAVE, UM, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES WORKING ON THE, ON ALL THE VEHICLES BEFORE? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED? I'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN CONTRACT.
NOW, BEFORE THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UM, HARTFORD COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN I, IS THE CONTRACT WITH, UH, BALTIMORE COUNTY ON THE GAS, IS THAT MONTHLY THAT THEY
[01:15:01]
GET THOSE RATES OR IS THAT A LOCKED IN RATE FOR A YEAR? THAT IS A LOCKED IN RATE FOR ONE YEAR.WHEN DOES IT, WHEN DOES IT GET, COME BACK UP AGAIN? JULY 1ST.
SO POSSIBILITY OF SOME, UH, SAVINGS IF THE GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DECLINE.
WE'RE MAKING OUT VERY WELL ON OUR DIESEL, UH, 'CAUSE DIESEL ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW IS, I BELIEVE, 3 56.
UM, THE LAST TIME I SAW IT, THE GAS PRICES KEEP FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN.
UM, AND WE'RE PAYING $3 A GALLON FOR THAT DIESEL'S 3 59.
WELL, AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY ARE, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, KAREN, LIKE, BUT THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE ALLOWED IT TO FLOAT BEFORE THEY WOULD LOCK IT IN.
SO LIKE IF THEY DO THINK IT'S IN A TRANSITION PERIOD, THE CONSORTIUM, WE'LL SAY, LET'S LET IT FLOAT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN LOCK IT IN.
SO, AND, AND I DO LIKE THE, THE, THE COST SAVINGS OF PUTTING IT ON THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO SELL THE VEHICLES.
DO YOU DO THAT WITH THE POLICE VEHICLES TOO? WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT WITH THE POLICE VEHICLES.
UM, WE DO SEEM, BY THE TIME THE POLICE VEHICLES, UM, GO TO SURPLUS, THEY ARE USUALLY, UM, FOR LACK OF BETTER TERMS, A DOG
SO THE CAR DEALERS REFER TO 'EM AS SLEDS? YES.
SO, UM, BUT WE DO, WE DO MAKE OUT, WE USUALLY GET LIKE RIGHT AROUND FIVE TO $6,000 FOR THEM WHEN WE SEND THEM TO BEL AIR, UH, AUTO AUCTION.
WE HAVE TRIED RICHIE BROTHERS IN THE PAST, BUT THERE'S NO REALLY MARKET FOR THEM AT RICHIE BROTHERS.
THEY WANNA SEE THAT TYPE OF STUFF UP THERE.
UM, I HEARD YOU SHARED THAT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES CAN, UH, UTILIZE FUELING AT OUR FUEL STATIONS.
WHAT ABOUT FOR MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES? ARE THEY ABLE TO COME FOR, UM, THAT WORK AS WELL? I BELIEVE THAT THAT IS UNDER DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YEAH, JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE A FIRE ENGINE IS, ANY WORK WE CAN DO TO ADD A YEAR, TWO YEARS TO THAT ENGINE, I MEAN, THAT'S HUGE SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY.
ONE, ONE OF THE, THE, THE CHALLENGES WITH EVER, ANYTIME YOU BRING IN, YOU KNOW, OUT OUTSIDE ENTITIES IS YOU MORE OR LESS HAVE TO BE ALL IN MM-HMM
SO BECAUSE TRANS DEV NEEDS TO, YOU KNOW, HIRE ADDITIONAL, UM, TECHS AND MECHANICS.
AND SO SOMETIMES IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN A DESIRE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE WANT TO DO IT FOR THIS, THIS WORK, BUT NOT FOR THIS WORK.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FLOW CONTROL AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT COMMITMENT, SO THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE, UM, UH, THE LIMITING FACTORS IN SOMETIMES BEING ABLE TO DO THAT 'CAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT ON KIND OF AN A LA CARTE BASIS.
UM, AND THEN WITH PROCUREMENT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY YOU'RE ONE OF THE ONLY DEPARTMENTS THAT MORE THAN PAYS FOR ITSELF EACH YEAR.
UM, WHAT CHARACTERISTICS OTHER THAN COST DO WE, UM, PUT VALUE ON IN DETERMINING WHO TO DO BUSINESS WITH? FOR INSTANCE, PROXIMITY TO THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, SIZE OF THE BUSINESS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES THAT ARE OWNED BY, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT? WE HAVE DONE, WE'VE HAD ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS.
WE'VE DONE OUTREACH AS WELL AND HELD A VENDOR EXPO.
WE'RE PROBABLY DUE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP SOON.
UM, WE ATTEND OTHER EVENTS BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY PUT ON AND SPEAK TO THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE PROCURE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
THE, UM, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALSO ASKED US OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO LOOK AT LARGER CONTRACTS AND POSSIBLY BREAK THEM UP INTO SMALLER PIECES TO ENGAGE, UM, SMALLER BUSINESSES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE HELD TRAINING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE VENDORS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO REGISTER WITH THE STATE.
AND THEN, UM, THEY HAVE A WEBSITE CALLED EMMA E MARYLAND MARKETPLACE ADVANTAGE.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE POST OUR SOLICITATIONS BESIDES ON OUR WEBSITE AND THROUGH OUR NEW, UM, CONTRACT SYSTEM BONFIRE.
UM, SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO REGISTER AND THEN THEY PUT IN THE COMMODITIES THAT THEY SELL AND THEY WOULD GET NOTIFICATION NOT ONLY BY HARTFORD COUNTY, BUT ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
AND I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, HOW DO WE LOWER THE BARRIER OR LIKE THE, UH, THOUGHT OF DIFFICULTY FOR THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO KNOW IT'S NOT THIS, UH, CUMBERSOME TASK TO BECOME, UH, A PARTNER OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UM, IN PROCUREMENT.
UM, MAYBE OF HAVING FAQ SHEETS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT COULD JUST BE AT CHAMBER MEETINGS OR, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS FOR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING THROUGH TO SEE, OH, IF I HAVE THIS SERVICE, WHETHER IT WOULD BE
[01:20:01]
LAWN MOWING OR, UH, OR, OR ANYTHING OF THE SITE THAT THIS IS HOW I GET CONNECTED WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.UH, AND JUST KIND OF HAVING IT OUT THERE FOR THEM TO, TO SEE AND KNOW.
I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT AND CONTACT ANGELA ROSE WITH THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS THE ROUTE 40 BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
ANYONE ELSE? MS. LYNCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION HAS A FEW PARTS TO IT.
HAS THERE BEEN AN EV ASSESSMENT? IF SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR HARTFORD COUNTY, EV, EV EVS ELECTRIC VEHICLES? CORRECT.
SO WE HAVE, UM, IN THE PAST, IT WAS ACTUALLY A FEW YEARS BACK, WE DID A STUDY AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THE PAYOFF ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES WOULD TAKE ABOUT FIVE TO SIX YEARS FOR THEM TO PAY BACK US, UM, FOR USING THEM DUE TO US BEING MORE OF A COUNTRY SETTING, UH, TYPE OF COUNTY AND SMALLER CITIES.
UM, AND EV VEHICLES ARE ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE.
UM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE, UH, CERTIFIED MECHANICS TO WORK ON THEM AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IN THE SHOP TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THEM AS WELL.
I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO HYBRID VEHICLES.
I THINK THAT THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY FOR OUR COUNTY.
MR. BENNETT, JUST TO, UH, PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE EV VEHICLE, JUST 'CAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED A LOT.
I, I DRIVE A CHEVY BOLT THAT WAS, UH, BOUGHT AT ADAMS CHEVROLET FOR $9,000 WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY.
UM, AND ADAMS IS JUST A UNIQUE EXAMPLE.
THEY'VE BOUGHT 300 CHEVY BOLTS FROM, UH, BEL AIR AUTO AUCTION IN THE PAST YEAR AND THEN REPLACED ALL THE BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY.
AND SO THEN THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY SELLING BRAND NEW CARS FOR $9,000 THAT DRIVE, YOU KNOW, 300 MILES IN A SINGLE CHARGE.
UM, SO IT IS JUST, THE MARKET HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THAT, 'CAUSE I KNOW THREE YEARS AGO THE SAME CAR WOULD'VE BEEN $40,000 IF A MARKUP AND NOW IT'S JUST A FREE FOR ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, I NEVER WOULD'VE THOUGHT YOU WOULD BUY A CAR FOR BRAND NEW BATTERY FOR UNDER $10,000, BUT ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
SO THE PROBLEM WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS WHEN THEY'RE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS, HALF THE TIME THEY'RE GONNA BE TOTALED BECAUSE THEY'RE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.
UM, BUT I DO PROBABLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE HYBRID SIDE, BUT, UH, I, I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE COST TO REPAIR THOSE VEHICLES WITH, WITH THE BATTERIES AND, UM, STATE LAW SAYS IF IT'S, UH, OVER A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF THE CAR, THEY TOTAL IT.
AND AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, JACOBS IS A PRIME EXAMPLES.
THAT VALUE IS DOWN TO 10 GRAND.
SO ANY ACCIDENT ON THAT THING, IT'S GONNA BE TOTALED AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, CAPITAL? YEP.
SO THERE, UM, THREE, THREE PROJECTS.
FIRST ONE'S ON PAGE 64 OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET BOOK, AND THAT IS FOR THE GENERAL FUND FLEET REPLACEMENT.
UH, WE HAVE $1 MILLION THERE, UH, FROM INVESTMENT INCOME.
THE NEXT PROJECT IS ON PAGE 3 36 AND THAT IS OUR HIGHWAYS FUND FLEET REPLACEMENT.
AND THERE IS 4.5 MILLION IN HIGHWAYS FUND.
WHAT PAGE WAS THAT AGAIN? I'M SORRY.
GOT IT UNDER THE HIGHWAY'S MISCELLANEOUS TAB.
SO AGAIN, THAT WAS 4.5 MILLION OF HIGHWAYS FUND PAYGO.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE WATER AND SEWER FUND FLEET REPLACEMENT ON PAGE 4 0 1 UNDER THE WATER AND SEWER MISCELLANEOUS TAB.
AND THAT IS 1,125,000 OF WATER AND SEWER FUND.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? AND THERE, THERE THERE IS SOME OTHER, UM, FLEET REPLACEMENT RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, FOR DES, WHICH WE'LL COVER WITH DES AND SHERIFF'S FLEET, WHICH WE'LL COVER WITH THE SHERIFF.
KAREN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
NICE MEETING ALL OF YOU, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S.
[01:25:11]
I'M JUST GONNA QUICK SUMMARY.SO HEALTH DEPARTMENT BEGINS ON PAGE 2 76.
IT HAS A TOTAL COUNTY ALLOCATION OF 5,156,774, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 150,000 1 97.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN PERSONAL SERVICES FUNDING, WHICH PROVIDES FOR STIPENDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYEES.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES FUNDING, WHICH PROVIDES FOR OFFICE SPACE LEASES.
AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES TOTAL 150,000 1 97 FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE AGENCY'S REQUEST FOR A 3% OVERALL INCREASE TO ALLOW FOR MAINTAINING CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS AND TO COVER STATE EMPLOYEE COLAS.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MARCY
SO I GET THE COUGH DROP THING.
SO I WANNA START BY THANKING MR. CALEY FOR THE REQUESTED 3% INCREASE IN COUNTY FUNDING TO THE HARTFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
AND AS ALWAYS, MR. VINCENTI FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THAT INCREASE.
COUNTY FUNDING SUPPORTS OUR ENTIRE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUREAU IN ADDITION TO A SMALL PORTION OF SUPPORT, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
MARCY, PULL THAT MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE CLOSER.
I'M SORRY, I WAS WAITING FOR THAT
SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED SOME CUTS TO ITS BUDGET RECENTLY ON MARCH 25TH.
ALL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE STATE WERE TOLD THAT THEIR COVID GRANTS WERE BEING CUT AS OF MARCH 24TH, THE DAY BEFORE.
SO, UM, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES TWO OF THE FOUR FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE BEING CUT.
ONE WAS TO END AT THE END OF JUNE 30TH OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, 25, AND ONE WAS EXTENDED THROUGH, UM, 26 IN APRIL.
A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER WAS PLACED ON THESE CUTS.
SO FOR THE TIME BEING, WE ARE IN LIMBO.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THEY WILL BE CUT.
THE GRANTS INCLUDED SALARIES FOR FOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT NURSES AND SOME TEMPORARY AGENCY NURSES THAT WE PROVIDED TO HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ASSIST WITH COVID RELATED ISSUES.
WE HAD TO LET THE TEMPORARY NURSES GO PROACTIVELY AND IN INTA IN ANTICIPATION OF THESE CUTS, WE HAVE PLACED OUR PERMANENT MERITS NURSES INTO OUR CORE BUDGET.
WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS, WE CAN COVER THE STAFF FROM THESE TWO BUDGETS FOR THE REST OF REST OF FISCAL YEAR 25 AND IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
ADDITIONALLY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY PLANNING BUDGET WILL HAVE A 33% CUT IN FY 26, WHICH WILL AFFECT TWO ADDITIONAL NURSES.
UM, THESE NURSES WILL BE ALSO BE PLACED IN CORE FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
FINALLY, OUR OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW BOARD GRANT WITHIN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WITHIN OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUREAU WAS CUT IMMEDIATELY IN MARCH.
AND WE HAVE PLACED THE ONE EMPLOYEE IN THAT GRANT WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE IN A DIFFERENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS IMPORTANT BOARD.
SO I BELIEVE ALL PERMANENT MERIT EMPLOYEES ARE PROTECTED THROUGH FY 25 AND FY 26, BUT THAT'S BARRING ANY MID-YEAR FY 26 CUTS, WHICH COULD HAPPEN BEYOND THAT.
WITH FURTHER REDUCTIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING, WE RECOGNIZE THE RISK OF PROGRAM CLOSURES, LAYOFFS, UM, AND A WEAKENED NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES.
IN LIGHT OF THIS, THE NEXT HEALTH OFFICER, IN ADDITION TO HAVING A PASSION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, SHOULD HAVE A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF BUDGETS AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
THINGS RE REMAIN STEADY AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
FOR NOW, I WILL GIVE AN UPDATE OF ALL OUR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A NEW FIREARM SAFETY GRANT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AT THE BOARD OF HEALTH, UH, MEETING NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THIS IS MY LAST MEETING, SO STOP,
SO, MARCY, THIS IS, UH, THE 11TH BUDGET CYCLE THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH WITH YOU AS A PART OF IT, AND IT JUST, UM, I I DON'T EVEN WANNA THINK ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE NEXT ONE WITHOUT YOU BEING THERE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE IS GONNA DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
AND I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT OUR SEARCH COMMITTEE WILL COME UP WITH AN EXCELLENT, UH, CHOICE, UH, VERY SHORTLY.
[01:30:01]
BUT I'M STILL MAD AT YOU.YOU PROMISED ME YOU WERE NOT LEAVING.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE, I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU WANNA SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND TRAVEL.
SO, UM, I'M SURE YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
UM, I'M GONNA WAIT FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY BUDGET QUESTIONS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FULLY FUNDED YOUR REQUEST AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT FOR NOW YOU'RE ABLE TO COVER THE NURSES THAT WERE CUT.
UM, AND I'M SURE THAT, WELL, I GUESS I NEED TO ALSO TALK ABOUT, UH, REAL QUICKLY JUST THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT WITH MR. RELINE AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM THERE.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THE LETTER THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED ME.
I HAVE NOT SHARED IT WITH ANYONE YET.
UM, I WILL BE DOING THAT OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THE REVISED COPY THAT I RECEIVED Y YESTERDAY AND, UM, WE'LL BE BACK IN TOUCH PROBABLY WE MAY TALK ABOUT IT ON TUESDAY AS WELL.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.
UM, WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES IS A TREMENDOUS GIFT TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
UM, AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN VERY SOON.
UH, ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR TO CONSIDER FOR WHEN WE TALK AGAIN THINKING ABOUT POPULATION HEALTH, IS THOSE WHO LIVE WITH HOUSING AUTHORITIES, IT'S VERY EASY IN AN ORGANIZED MANNER TO REACH THEM WITH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
UH, BUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN OUR MOTELS AND HOTELS HAVE VERY SIMILAR NEEDS AND IT'S MUCH HARDER TO REACH THEM.
SO I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE MOTELS AND HOTELS TO BRING, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMMING TO THE PARKING LOTS.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S KIDS AND TEENS AND TWEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ALL NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW TO COOK A CROCK POT, HOW YOU KNOW, HOW TO GET HEALTH CARE SERVICES, HOW TO PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR TEETH, DIABETES MANAGEMENT, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF THAT YOU ALL DO IN POPULATION HEALTH.
UH, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO HELP US REACH THEM.
SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, MAKING SURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WAS AVAILABLE GOT TO YOU ALL, WHOEVER COMES IN AFTER YOU AND THE SEASON OF LIFE WE'RE IN NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUILD THOSE BRIDGES AND SO THAT MONEY CAN TRAVEL ACROSS THOSE BRIDGES,
UM, SO, UM, THAT, THAT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.
YOU SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR A HELP.
OFFICER
YEAH, MY DENTIST WOULD NEVER APPROVE OF ME.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. JAN? DOWN? OH, NO.
HUH? YOU HAVE NEW PEOPLE HERE.
YOU SHOULD TRY TO BE AN EXAMPLE.
WE'LL, WE'LL MISS, WE'LL MISS YOU, MARCY.
SO THANK THANKS FOR ALL YOUR, UH, YOU KNOW, PHONE CALLS HELP AND EVERYTHING, SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO THE RESTAURANTS, LOOK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THEIR, UH, THEIR STUFF, LET ME KNOW.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIBS? MAYBE I WILL.
I KNOW IT WAS STARTED AND STOPPED AND NOW IT STARTED AGAIN.
HOW MANY VISITS ARE THEY GETTING AND AND HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS IT BEEN? THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.
WE HAVE TWO PULL YOUR MICROPHONE OVER.
UM, SO WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DENTAL CLINICS.
ONE'S IN EDGEWOOD AND ONE IS RIGHT HERE ON ONE NORTH MAIN STREET.
AND WE SEE CHILDREN ON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND, UM, AND ADULT PREGNANT WOMEN AND ADULTS NOW.
UH, WE'VE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT WITH FINDING DENTISTS, GENERAL DENTISTS, UM, BUT OUR NUMBERS ARE BACK UP.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TWO GENERAL DENTISTS NOW AND TWO PEDIATRIC.
SO WE'RE GOING, WE'RE DOING VERY WELL.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
WE USUALLY SEE ABOUT 9,000 VISITS A YEAR.
NOW DO THEY NEED TO MAKE A LONG-TERM APPOINT APPOINTMENTS OR HOW ARE THEY YES, JUST WALK IN OR HOW THEY CAN CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
THEY CAN CALL, THEY CAN WALK IN AND IF WE CAN'T TAKE 'EM RIGHT, THEN THEY CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
UM, AND, AND USUALLY WE ARE BOOKED ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT NEED TO SEE THE DENTIST
[01:35:01]
AND THEY SAY, WELL, I CAN'T AFFORD IT.ANYONE ELSE? MS. ROBERT? HI MARCY.
WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHERE ARE THOSE LOCATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET LIKE, UM, IDENTIFIED FOR MENTAL HEALTH? SO WE HAVE OVER HERE, ACROSS THE STREET AT ONE 20 SOUTH HAYES.
OUR ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE TWO NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS.
UM, THEY DO IN, THEY DO OUTPATIENT SERVICES THERE.
UM, ONE-ON-ONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO COME VISIT, WE CAN, WE CAN GIVE YOU THE TOUR, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SERVICES UP THERE AND WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE UP THERE.
I WAS GONNA, AND I WAS GONNA ASK, UM, ARE THERE WAITING LISTS FOR THAT AT ALL, OR, OR IS IT NOT USUALLY? USUALLY WE CAN GET, WE HAVE ABOUT MAYBE 15 COUNSELORS RIGHT NOW.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE, THE PSYCH PSYCHIATRIST, UM, AND SOME, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
SO WE CAN USUALLY TAKE PEOPLE IN PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND THEN WE HAVE LIKE COURT ORDERED.
SO YEAH, I'D LIKE TO COME OVER AND VISIT.
ANYBODY ELSE? SEE YOU TUESDAY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING A SONG? NO.
DID WE NEED TO CALL IT? WE HAVE, UH, IT'S ON HIS WAY, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT HERE YET.
SO HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? LIKE, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.
WE'LL TAKE A SHORT RECESS, MR. CUBA.
WELCOME INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY BEGINS ON PAGE 2 82.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 16,716,674 ACROSS TWO BUDGETARY DIVISIONS BOTH FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THE OFFICE OF ICT BEGINS ON PAGE 286.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 15,748,825, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 940,713.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 200 270 5,529.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 30,622.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 137,725.
OVERTIME INCREASES 25,000 BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 82,182.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 674,084.
UH, UNDER THAT IS AN INCREASE IN SOFTWARE CONTRACTS TOTALING $504,084, AN INCREASE OF 117,000 FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES FOR ADDING CENTREX COST TO THE ICT BUDGET FROM TREASURY, AN INCREASE OF 40,000 FOR SECURITY SYSTEMS FOR ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT INCREASES 25,000 BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY AND INTERNET SERVICE AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
DECREASED 12,000 BASED ON ACTUAL APPLIES IN MATERIALS.
DECREASES 5,500 FOR COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND DELIVERY CHARGES BASED ON ACTUAL SPENDING, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES IN GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES AND MAILING BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 3,400 FOR TRAINING SEMINARS AND MEMBERSHIP FEES, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES IN MEALS, MILEAGE, AND FUEL, AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL.
NEXT WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF BROADBAND, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 2 89.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 967,849, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 10,954.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 10,954.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT TOTALING 4,445 AND OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ADJUSTED 4,962 BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS OR BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
AND THERE WILL BE CAPITAL TO GO OVER.
UM, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR UBA.
ALL, UH, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
[01:40:01]
MY NAME IS NICHOLAS UBA, UM, DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.NICK, IF I MAY PULL THAT MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOU.
HERE WITH ME TODAY IS MR. GREG GREEN, WHO'S THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE SHARON TAYLOR, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND CARISSA HIGBY, WHO IS THE BUDGET TECH FOR OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CASTLEY ADMINISTRATION AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR PAST AND PRESENT SUPPORT.
TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THE PARTNERSHIP REQUIRED FOR US TO PROVIDE THE CITIZENS OF HARTFORD COUNTY WITH A FRIENDLY, MODERN, SAFE, AND SECURE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE WHEN ACCESSING ONLINE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND OUR PARTNERS.
THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COORDINATION, OPERATIONS, SECURITY, AND OVERSIGHT OF TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES USED TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS, MISSIONS AND STRATEGIC GOALS.
AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO LEAD A DEDICATED TEAM OF 31 FULL-TIME PROFESSIONALS, TWO PART-TIME TEMPS, AND ONE CONTRACTOR.
THE FY 26 BUDGET REFLECTS OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A, A FRIENDLY, MODERN, SAFE, AND SECURE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE WHEN ACCESSING ONLINE SERVICES, PROVIDE THE COUNTY, AND AT THE SAME TIME PROTECTING THE COUNTY'S IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND DATA.
WE WILL USE CAPITAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE AND COST EFFECTIVE IT SOLUTIONS, IMPLEMENT THE LATEST CYBER TECHNOLOGY, MODERNIZE OUR SOFTWARE, AND ENHANCE ONLINE SERVICES.
A FEW OF THE PROJECTS, UH, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, UM, THE FIRST IS THE COUNTY'S PARTNERSHIP WITH HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO REPLACE THEIR AGING PBX PHONE SYSTEMS. IN MIGRATING TO THE COUNTY'S CISCO VOIP SYSTEM, THE SCHOOLS NOW HAVE 56 LOCATIONS CONNECTED TO THE COUNTY VOIP SYSTEM WITH 4,182 DEVICES ACTIVE.
THE FINAL THREE LOCATIONS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE MIGRATED THIS SUMMER, A SECOND PROJECT.
UH, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COUNTY WATCH NEIGHBORHOODS SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN EDGEWOOD, EDGEWOOD HARTFORD SQUARE AREA.
THESE CAMERAS WILL BE MONITORED DIRECTLY BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND THE THIRD IS A, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.
THINK BIG KCI CONSTRUCTION AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND PROVIDE FIBER TO THE HOME INTERNET SERVICES TO THE RURAL AREAS OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP, THINK BIG IS NOW SERVING OVER 1000 ACTIVE CUSTOMERS IN THE RURAL AREAS OF HARFORD COUNTY.
SOME OF OUR TOP INITIATIVES FOR FY 26 INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING NEW AND ENHANCED CYBER TECHNOLOGY, PERFORM AUDITS OF IT, INVENTORY, DATA SECURITY, AND ELEVATED SECURITY ACCESS PRIVILEGES, UPDATE AND INCORPORATE NEW SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
COMPLETE THE TECHNOLOGY REFRESH OF THE HAN NETWORK, PROVIDE IT SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICES IS REPLACING THE COUNTY'S TAX KNIT CUSTOM BILLING SYSTEM WITH TYLER TECHNOLOGIES ENTERPRISE ASSESSMENT AND TECH SOFTWARE.
THIS IS A, A CLOUD-BASED SOLUTION.
UH, WE LOOK TO EXPAND THE ONLINE OFFERINGS FOR OUR ENTER OF E PERMIT CENTER.
WE CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EXPAND CAMERA SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITY IN THE EDGEWOOD VILLAGE SHOPPING PLAZA, EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED FIBER OPTIC INTERNET SERVICES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THINK BIG.
AND FINALLY, THE RETIRING OF THE IBM MAINFRAME TO CONCLUDE, UM, THIS PRESENTATION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT TI AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR PROVIDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OUR FY 26 BUDGET, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, NICK, UM, BEFORE WE GET INTO ANY BUDGET, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT ON MY COMPUTER, THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THERE MM-HMM
AND, UH, I COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT AGREEING TO THAT MESSAGE.
AND MY CONCERN IS AS A SEPARATE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS I READ IN THAT MESSAGE, UH, CONCERNED ME A LITTLE BIT.
UH, I UNDERSTAND IT'S THE COUNTY'S EQUIPMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, UNDERSTAND IT'S THE COUNTY SERVER, UH, BUT THE INFORMATION THAT THIS DEPARTMENT
[01:45:01]
HAS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ACCESS BY YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE, UH, BECAUSE IT CONTAINS CERTAIN INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO CONSTITUENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AS IS THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.AND I JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY.
SHE HAS RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE AND I JUST TALKED WITH, UH, OUR ATTORNEY HERE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO SIT DOWN, UH, WITH, UH, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION AND HASH THIS OUT BEFORE WE GO TOO FAR, BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS START MAKING AMENDMENTS TO THIS BUDGET TO CREATE AN IT DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT POPPED UP NOT TOO LONG AGO.
UM, AND IT'S NOT GONNA GO AWAY.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TODAY AS WELL.
UM, MARY KATE, DO YOU WANNA COMMENT? NO, I, YOU'RE CORRECT.
I MEAN, WE'RE SEPARATE BRANCH, UH, YOU ALL NEED YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY AND YOUR EMAILS AND YOUR WORK AND SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THERE, NICK, IS, IS PROBLEMATIC FOR THAT FOR THEM.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE, AND THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU IN THE LAW DEPARTMENT ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, LIKE I SAID, I MEAN, PAT, THAT THAT PARTICULAR MESSAGE IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY REQUIRED ON ALL SYSTEMS AS FAR AS ACCESS.
UM, IT'S PART OF OUR CYBER INSURANCE THAT THAT NOTIFICATION IS THERE PRIOR TO THAT.
IT JUST STARTED TODAY THOUGH, RIGHT? WE, RIGHT, WE'VE BEEN, UM, TESTING A FEW DIFFERENT ONES.
THAT WAS ALL BASED ON, UM, CISA, WHICH IS THE, THE CYBERSECURITY GROUP WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A, A ONLINE MESSAGE PRIOR TO ACCESSING THE SYSTEM.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT YOU DOING SOMETHING PERSONAL ON THE COUNTY OWNED EQUIPMENT.
I GET THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IN REFERENCE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IS NOT FOR YOUR CONSUMPTION OR ANYBODY ELSE'S FOR THAT MATTER.
UM, SO, UM, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TALK ABOUT FAIRLY SOON.
COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? MR. JANAN? WHAT'S OUR BUDGET FOR CYBER THIS YEAR? UM, SOME OF THE, THE CYBER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING, UM, CURRENTLY WE'RE, UM, IMPLEMENTING, UM, WHAT THEY CALL PALO ALTO, XDR, WHICH IS EXTENDED DETECTION AND RESPONSE FOR OUR ENDPOINTS SUCH AS THE LAPTOPS, DESKTOPS THAT, UM, PROVIDES MONITORING OF ACTIVITY ON THOSE COMPUTERS, UM, AND WILL ACTUALLY EXECUTE WHAT WE CALL A PLAYBOOK, A GROUP OF INSTRUCTIONS.
IF IT, UH, DETECTS LIKE A MALICIOUS ACTIVITY OR THINKS IT'S MALICIOUS ACTIVITY, IT WILL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO AUTOMATICALLY SAY QUARANTINE A PARTICULAR COMPUTER AND, UM, MINIMIZE THE RISK OF ANY KIND OF, UM, MALICIOUS ACTIVITY EXPANDING BEYOND THAT ONE DEVICE.
UM, ANOTHER PACKAGE WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHAT, WHAT ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT THESE THINGS? WHAT ABOUT THE PHONES? WHAT, SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S, IT'S GONNA, SOMETHING HAPPENS ON A COMPUTER, IT'S GONNA SAY THERE'S A MALICIOUS, WHAT ABOUT IF YOU'RE ACCESSING YOUR EMAIL ON YOUR PHONE? IS IT GONNA TREAT THAT THE SAME WAY AS YOUR COMPUTER? THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT DEVICE.
IS THERE PROTECTION ON THE PHONES AS, AS OPPOSED TO THE COMPUTERS? WE ARE USING A MANAGE ENGINE MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT, UH, TO CONFIGURE WHERE, UM, PARTICULAR CELL PHONES OWNED BY THE COUNTY.
AND IF WE, UM, HAVE ANY REASON WE CAN REMOTELY WIPE THAT PHONE YOU, UH, VIA THAT SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
SO IF YOU, YOU LOSE YOUR PHONE, WE'RE GONNA NOTIFY YOU GUYS RIGHT AWAY, NOTIFY US AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL WIPE THE PHONE.
WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO SUSPEND THE SERVICE ON THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PHONE.
AND WE CAN ALSO, PROVIDED THAT PHONE PHONE IS ON, WE CAN, UM, RUN A REMOTE WIPE OF THAT, THAT PHONE.
CAN SOMEBODY GET IN THROUGH THE PHONE AND, AND HACK THE WHOLE SYSTEM? ESPECIALLY THE EMAIL, BECAUSE I'M ABSOLUTELY, IT'S A BROWSER.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR SOFTWARE IS WEB-BASED, SO YOU COULD USE, YOU KNOW, A WEB BROWSER TO AGAIN, GET ON ANY OF OUR SYSTEMS. IN FACT, OUR TECHNICIANS, UM, FREQUENTLY USE THEIR PHONE, UH, TO ACCESS THE SYSTEM.
AND, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CYBER ATTACKS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO PAY ANY RANSOM.
UM, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S REMARKS.
I DO THINK WITH ANYTHING LIKE THAT, UPFRONT COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN AFTERWARDS.
SO JUST EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE SEEING AND WHY.
AND, AND ALSO EXPLAIN TO US THE SAFEGUARDS YOU HAVE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
[01:50:01]
THAT COMMUNICATION WE GET, YOU KNOW, UH, A CONSTITUENT REACHING OUT ABOUT A LANDLORD THAT'S TREATING THEM UNFAIR ISN'T GOING TO THEN, UH, BECOME NO LONGER SECURE WHEN IT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS REACHED IN A MANNER THAT WOULD, UH, NOT PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY.UM, SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMMUNICATE THAT WITH US, UH, SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW YOU INTERPRET THAT LANGUAGE AND WHAT PRACTICES YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNICATION.
UM, AND THEN, UH, I WANTED TO ASK, THE DAY THE BUDGET CAME OUT, THE COUNTY WEBSITE WENT DOWN, AND I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF PANIC, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WEBSITE? WAS THAT JUST BECAUSE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC TO THE WEBSITE? OR WHY, WHY DID THE WEBSITE GO DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS? UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE VENDOR HAD, UM, ISSUES WITH THEIR SITE.
UH, WE WEREN'T THE ONLY CUSTOMER THAT WAS AFFECTED FOR THAT.
UM, WASN'T ANYTHING INTERNAL TO THE COUNTY.
IT WAS THE, UH, CIVIC PLUS WEBSITE ITSELF.
UM, AND THEN AS FAR AS HOW THE BUDGET'S UPLOADED TO THE WEBSITE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS HANDLED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT OR BY THE TREASURY OR, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO HANDLES? I MEAN, YEAH, WE, WE UPLOAD THAT TO THE, TO THE BUDGET SECTION OF THE WEBSITE.
UM, ONE, UH, FREQUENT REQUEST I'VE GOTTEN FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS THAT THEY REALLY MISS HAVING IT AS A STANDARD PDF YOU CAN SCROLL THROUGH VERSUS THE PAGES THAT YOU CLICK THE BUTTON IN EACH PAGE AS AN INDIVIDUAL LOADING, UH, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEN WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GO BACK, YOU HAVE TO CLICK BACKSPACE 50 TIMES.
AND, UM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IN, UH, IF NOT THIS YEAR, BUT FOR FUTURE BUDGETS TO UPLOAD THE BOOK BOOKLET VERSION, BUT ALSO A PLAIN SCROLLING PDF VERSION OR FOR EASIER CONSUMPTION? WE CAN TRY LOOK AT THAT.
I KNOW THAT THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IT'S A MASSIVE FILE SIZE IN THE WAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO UPLOAD IT.
I DO KNOW THAT UNDER THE, THE CURRENT WAY OF ACCESSING IT THROUGH THE LINK, UM, AND IT'S A PRODUCT CALLED SLIPPING BOOK.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A BUTTON TO DOWNLOAD IT, SO YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SAFELY DOWNLOAD IT TO YOUR OWN COMPUTER AND THEN YOU COULD OPEN IT AS A PDF IN ADOBE AND TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO I REALLY THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT IT, AS OPPOSED TO ANYTIME YOU'RE LIKE, THAT'S SORT OF THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS, IS UPLOADING A, A FILE TO THEN DOWNLOAD.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE, WE'RE SURE THAT OUR WEBSITE IS SAFE, BUT WE START DOWNLOADING THINGS OFF THE INTERNET.
THAT'S SORT OF AN OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS.
UM, BUT DOWNLOADING IT FROM THE FLIPPING BOOK ITSELF IS, IS A, THAT'S SORT OF OUR THIRD PARTY.
UM, AND THAT, THAT'S THE EASY WAY TO DO THAT.
YOU WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO SCROLL THROUGH IT IN A TRADITIONAL WAY, BECAUSE IT DOES, I MEAN, IT LOOKS REALLY COOL, BUT IT BECOMES PHYSICALLY INCONVENIENT.
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO, IF YOU WANNA DOWNLOAD IT, JUMP BETWEEN PARTS AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT FROM THAT SPECIFIC PAGE.
AND THEN, UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION SLASH CONCERN I HAVE, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK ON PHISHING WITH EMAIL AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND, AND NOT FALLING FOR PHISHING SCAMS AND SENDING OUT THE PRACTICE PHISHING SCAMS. I WAS REALLY PROUD WHEN I GOT ONE AND I REPORTED IT AND IT WAS LIKE, CONGRATULATIONS, YOU PASSED THE TEST.
UM, BUT I'VE NOTICED ON MY COUNSEL PHONE AND ON MY PERSONAL PHONE, A HUGE UPTICK IN PHISHING TEXTS WHERE ON MY COUNCIL PHONE I'M GETTING TEXTS ABOUT A BG AND E BILL ABOUT I MISSED AN EASY PASS.
AND I HAVE A FRIEND WHO'S YOUNG AND GOT THE B OR THE EASY PASS TEXT HE HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM NEW YORK BACK HOME AND HE WENT, OH, I MUST HAVE, YOU KNOW, MISSED A TOLL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HIS BANK ACCOUNT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS PAYING FOR HIS EPASS.
AND I JUST WORRY ON OUR, UH, GOVERNMENT PHONES, OUR COUNCIL PHONES, THAT SOMEBODY COULD GRAB THEIR PCARD, THINK THEY'RE PAYING FOR, YOU KNOW, A TOLL.
THEY DROVE THROUGH WHILE DOING COUNCIL DUTIES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR PCARDS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED, UH, BECAUSE OF THESE PHISHING TEXTS.
SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT YOUR OFFICE IS DOING WITH THIS HUGE UPTICK IN PHISHING TEXT MESSAGES TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE AS, AS COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE INSULATED FROM THE RISK THAT COMES FROM, UH, RESPONDING TO THOSE TEXTS OR, YOU KNOW, HEAVEN FORBID CLICKING ON A LINK USING MY P CARD TO PAY OFF SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY, UH, HAVING SOMEONE TRANSFER MONEY TO THEMSELVES.
UM, I'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST IN MY CASE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I WAS, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF A WEBEX MEETING GOING THROUGH EMAILS, YOU KNOW, NOT PAYING FULL ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, CLICKED ON A MESSAGE.
UM, EVERYBODY IS VULNERABLE TO CLICKING ON A MESSAGE, WHETHER IT'S ON YOUR PHONE OR ON YOUR COMPUTER.
WHAT WE TRY TO, UM, CONVEY TO THE, THE USER COMMUNITY IS THAT IF
[01:55:01]
IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, YOU KNOW, DON'T RESPOND TO IT.YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SOMEBODY YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE, WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, IT'S JUST AN EMAIL OR TEXT, DELETE IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S ANY DOUBTS, YOU KNOW, EITHER DELETE THE MESSAGE OR, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO IT AND REPORT IT AS A, A PHISHING, UM, MESSAGE.
AND THEN WE CAN INVESTIGATE THAT ONES THAT WE FIND THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, TO MULTIPLE USERS WITHIN THE, THE USER COMMUNITY.
UM, ONCE THAT'S IDENTIFIED, WE HAVE THE TOOLS THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND EXTRACT THAT OUT OF ALL THE OTHER MAILBOXES BEFORE ANYBODY, UM, ATTEMPTS TO ACCESS THAT.
NOW, DO WE HAVE A REPORTING TOOL FOR TEXT MESSAGES LIKE WE DO FOR EMAILS OR IT'S THE SERVICE DESK.
I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES I GET THE CALLS THAT, HEY, I, I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING AFFECTED AND 99% OF THE TIME I'LL EITHER CALL THE STAFF DIRECTLY OR I'LL FORWARD THAT IN AN EMAIL MESSAGE TO THE SERVICE DESK, UH, TO BE TAKEN OUT.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD TRAINING ON EMAILS.
IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO EXPLICITLY SEND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THESE TEXTS.
ESPECIALLY, I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY ON MY COUNSEL PHONE, I GET A TEXT CLAIMING AND I, I BARELY LEAVE THE COUNTY.
I KNOW I'M NOT DRIVING THROUGH TOLLS, BUT
AND, UM, IT JUST TAKES ONE PERSON TO FALL FOR IT, FOR US TO OPEN UP A HUGE RISK.
SO I THINK, UM, AGAIN, AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES, UH, UH, WE'RE VERY AWARE OF ALL THE UPGRADES THAT IT MAKES ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CYBERSECURITY STUFF IS UP TO DATE.
UH, COUNSEL, ANYONE ELSE? MS. LYNCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS QUICK, WHAT MADE YOU GO WITH PALO ALTO? DID YOU LOOK AT OTHER CYBER FIRMS? UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, CISCO AND MALWARE BYTES.
CISCO AMP AND MALWARE BYTES TWO PRODUCTS.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT REALLY THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOFTWARE WHERE AGAIN, WE GET THE EXTENDED DETECTION AND RESPONSE TO IT, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, A QUARANTINE OF AN, UH, AN EMAIL.
SO IT, IT'S MORE FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY.
UM, IT'S THE LATEST AND GREATEST TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT IS MONITORED SEVEN BY 24, UM, THROUGH A MANAGED SERVICE ALSO.
WHICH OTHER FARM DID YOU LOOK AT? UM, WELL, WE LOOKED AT THIS, OBVIOUSLY THE CISCO PRODUCT.
'CAUSE THAT WAS THE EXISTING ONE WE HAD.
WE LOOKED AT THE MALWARE BYTES.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE OTHER ONE WAS? RIGHT? NO, I MEAN, DID YOU LOOK AT FORTINET? WE USE A LITTLE BIT OF FORTINET FIREWALLS.
UM, ALONG WITH OUR, OUR CISCO, UH, I CAN'T SAY THAT WE DIRECTLY DID TAKE A LOOK AT FORTINET.
WANNA GO TO CAPITAL NOW? BEN? YES, SIR.
WHERE DO YOU WANNA START, MR. TS? I'M SORRY, MR. TS I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO FINISHING UP THE, UH, INTERNET IN THE UPPER PART OF THE COUNTY? UM, CURRENTLY, UM, SORRY.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID, OVER A THOUSAND, UH, CUSTOMERS.
UM, ON THE, THE THINK WORKING WITH THINK BIG, WE HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER HUNDRED, UM, CONTRACTS IN PLACE.
WE HAVE FOUR PARTICULAR GRANTS, UM, THAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM THE STATE WITH VALUED ABOUT 15 TO $16 MILLION.
WE'RE PROBABLY ABOUT 60% THROUGH THOSE GRANTS.
WE GOT ABOUT ANOTHER 40%, UM, OF THAT TO COMPLETE.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT IT ANOTHER TWO YEARS OF BUILD OUT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING WITH, UM, ARMSTRONG, COMCAST, AND VERIZON ON ADDITIONAL GRANTS.
THEY HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE DIFFICULT TO SERVE PROPERTIES GRANT.
AND WE HAVE, UM, LITTLE OVER $1.4 MILLION IN THAT GRANT SO THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING, UM, UTILIZED BY ALL THE PROVIDERS.
WILL WE BE GETTING ANYTHING, I WOULD SAY SOUTH OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY TO COMPETE WITH COMCAST? UM, THE, THE THING IS, THESE GRANTS ARE STRICTLY ASSIGNED FOR UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED, UH, HOMES OR COMMUNITIES.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT COMPETITION.
WE HAVE TO QUALIFY WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDS ON PARTICULAR PROPERTIES THAT QUALIFY FOR THESE GRANTS.
SO SOME OF THOSE WOULDN'T QUALIFY.
YEAH, I, I, I KNOW THAT COMCAST HAS TO GO THROUGH THE HERE AND IT, IT IS A HORRIBLE OUTFIT TO WORK WITH, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THE COUNTY COUNCIL GIVES THEM THE AUTHORITY THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE.
I KNOW WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, BUT IT'S, WHAT
[02:00:01]
IS IT, A 15 YEAR CONTRACT, ISN'T IT? UM, THIS ONE'S ONLY, THIS IS NOT THAT LONG.A WELL, I HOPE AT THE END OF THIS FIVE YEARS WE GET SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
MR. BENNETT, UM, I DID MEAN TO ASK AND THANK YOU MR. TIPS FOR BRINGING UP THE OFFICE OF BROADBAND AND THAT WORK.
IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL TO HAVE AN OFFICE WITH ZERO PERMANENT POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE.
UM, IS THERE ANY REASONING WHY THE EMPLOYEE WHO WORKS IN THAT OFFICE ISN'T ADDED AS A, A, A PIN AND IS KEPT AS A TEMPORARY SALARY? UM, NOT SURE OF THAT DECISION.
UM, CHAD SCH ROADS IS, UH, WORKING ON THAT PROJECT WITH IT, UM, PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH AS MUCH AS WE HAVE WITH HIS PROJECT WITHOUT HIS ASSISTANCE.
A LOT OF THAT NORTH END, THE HOMEOWNERS OWN TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD.
WE HAVE TO, I GUESS IF YOU WANNA, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT TO ALL OF THESE CUSTOMERS OR OWNER HOMEOWNERS ALONG THESE ROADS TO GET VARIANCES OR GET THEIR APPROVAL TO RUN FIBER THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY.
UM, NO, I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE VALUE OF THE WORK HE'S DOING.
I'M JUST, BECAUSE WHEN WE LIST THINGS AS TEMPORARY SALARIES, IT'S TOTALLY OPAQUE TO THE PUBLIC WHO'S TRYING TO CONSUME THE BUDGET MM-HMM
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COST? AND JUST GIVING THAT, UH, TITLE AND LISTING IT AS A POSITION, UM, SO THAT, YEAH.
THAT, THAT WOULD, I MEAN, IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL COST, NO, NOT NECESSARILY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
UM, THAT WOULD MEAN IT WOULD BECOME A PERMANENT POSITION.
UM, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY, I GUESS, DISTINCTION THERE.
BUT THEN IT COULD JUST, ONCE THE JOB IS DONE, BE LEFT VACANT, UM, I JUST THINK IN A POSITION LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT SOMEBODY WHO IS DOING A TWO MONTH CONTRACT.
THIS IS A LONG-TERM PROJECT AND UNDERTAKING, AND IT'S A FULL-TIME PROJECT AND UNDERTAKING.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR PUBLIC CLARITY TO JUST LIST WHAT THAT JOB IS.
'CAUSE I ALSO THINK IT'S WORTH CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING THAT WORK AND LISTING IT AS A POSITION WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO GO, OH, THERE'S SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CONNECTED.
WHEREAS TEMPORARY SALARY, YOU KNOW, IS THAT SOMEBODY DRIVING A VAN AND, AND, YOU KNOW, DROPPING STUFF OFF.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT DOESN'T LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, SO CAPITAL, UH, FOR ICT BEGINS ON PAGE 59.
UH, SO WE, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL PROJECT.
AND THAT CAPITAL PROJECT HAS 1.5 MILLION IN COUNTY PEGO AS A MATCH FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.
AND THEN THE NEXT THREE CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE GENERAL FUND, HIGHWAYS, FUND AND, AND WATER AND SEWER FUND EQUIVALENTS.
SO ON PAGE 65 IS OUR GENERAL FUND H MAN PROJECT WITH 1 MILLION IN FUTURE BONDS FOR BUILD OUT OF THE COUNTY'S FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATIONS BACKBONE.
NEXT ON PAGE 70 IS THE GENERAL FUND REFRESH PROJECT WITH A TOTAL OF 500,000 FROM A COMBINATION OF PEGO AND REAPPROPRIATED PEGO.
THAT'S THE SAFEGUARDING BUSINESS OPERATIONS CAPITAL PROJECT WITH 1 MILLION IN REAPPROPRIATED PAYGO ON PAGE 3 37.
SO YOU GOTTA FLIP BACK TO HIGHWAYS.
PAGE 3 37 IS THE HIGHWAYS FUND H MAN PROJECT WITH 6,600 IN HIGHWAYS PEGO.
ON PAGE 3 41 IS THE HIGHWAYS FUND REFRESH PROJECT WITH 250,000 IN HIGHWAYS, PEGO.
AND THEN ON PAGE 3 42 IS THE HIGHWAYS FUND SAFEGUARDING BUSINESS OPERATIONS PROJECT WITH 250,000 IN HIGHWAY WASTE PEGO.
AND THEN THE LAST THREE ARE WATER AND SEWER.
SO ON PAGE 4 0 2 IS THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, H MAN PROJECT WITH 75,650 IN WATER AND SEWER PEGO.
ON PAGE 4 0 4 IS THE HIGHWAY, I'M SORRY, THE WATER AND SEWER FUND REFRESH PROJECT WITH 250,000 IN WATER AND SEWER PAYGO.
AND THEN ON PAGE 4 0 5 IS THE WATER AND SEWER FUND SAFEGUARDING BUSINESS OPERATIONS PROJECT WITH 266,500 IN WATER AND SEWER PEGO.
YOU OKAY, MR. COOPER? A ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I GOT A QUESTION, MS. IMA, GOOD MORNING.
[02:05:02]
UM, IN A BUDGET SEASON WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO JUST KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ACCRUING ANY ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, IS THERE A REASON WHY THERE'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE FOR, UH, THIS PARTICULAR PEGO FISCAL YEAR OTHER THAN THE ONES FOLLOWING ON 3 42? UM, THE SAFEGUARDING PRIMARY, BLESS THE, THE PRIMARY, UM, APPLICATION ON THE SAFEGUARD SIDE IS THE DATA SECURITY SECURING THE INFRASTRUCTURE.UM, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SLATED FOR THIS, SHE, UM, FOR CYBER, LIKE I SAID, UM, WE'RE DOING A, A REFRESH OF THE DES SERVER ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A CYBERARK PROGRAM, WHICH IS CALLED PRIVILEGE ACCESS MANAGEMENT.
SO THAT'S TWO OF THE PROJECTS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, CLOUD-BASED STORAGE, UM, WHICH IS, UM, AIR GAP SOLUTION FOR, UH, RANSOMWARE.
SO THAT'S THREE OF THE, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE SLATED, UM, WHICH ARE SOME LARGER PROJECTS.
AND I ALSO KNOW, SO, AND THEN THE SAFEGUARDING, UM, BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND WE HAVE COMPONENTS THERE ON THE HIGHWAY SIDE AND THE WATER AND SOURCE SIDE FOR THEIR, FOR, FOR THEIR PARTS OF THESE, YOU KNOW, BIG COUNTY WIDE SYSTEMS. THIS BUDGET HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DOING A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN UPGRADING SO MANY OF THE SYSTEMS, UM, THAT WE, WE HADN'T, YOU KNOW, MORE OR LESS BEEN KEEPING UP ON.
SO WHETHER THAT'S THE WORKDAY SYSTEM, WHETHER THAT'S THE NEW PROPERTY TAX BILLING SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALL BEEN COMING OUT OF HERE.
AND SO WE ARE KIND OF AT THIS HOME STRETCH.
BUT AS WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE CERTAINLY GONNA BE IN THE MIDST OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY TAX, UM, SOFTWARE GOING LIVE.
WE, WE WILL HAVE JUST WENT LIVE WITH THE WORKDAY SYSTEM.
UM, SO I THINK THERE IS ALSO JUST A DESIRE TO TRY TO KEEP SOME, SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THERE BECAUSE AS WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE KIND OF ROUND OUT THESE BIG SOFTWARE, UM, UPGRADES AS WELL.
AND JUST TO, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT ROBBIE SAID, AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OUT YEARS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT MAYBE 150,000 AS SORT OF LIKE AN ONGOING TYPE OF COST, LIKE A MAINTENANCE, MAINTENANCE COST SORT OF.
I MEAN, THAT'S SORT OF LIKE A, LIKE A LEVEL THAT WE WOULD REASONABLY EXPECT NOW, YOU KNOW, COULD THERE BE A YEAR WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S A, A, A PRODUCT OR A PROJECT WE NEED TO UNDERTAKE, THEN WE MAY NEED TO BUMP THAT YEAR UP.
BUT AS WE SIT RIGHT NOW, WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT YEAR THAT IS.
AND JUST ONE OTHER THING TO ADD BETWEEN, BETWEEN SAFEGUARDING AND REFRESH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE TWO BIG BUDGETS FOR US AS FAR AS CAPITAL TWO BIG, UM, RENEWALS THAT ARE COMING UP THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE WHAT, WHAT'S CALLED A SECURITY ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT, WHICH ENCAPSULATES ALL OF OUR CISCO SECURITY PRODUCTS.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE ENTERPRISE VOIP AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT.
BOTH OF THOSE, UM, FIVE YEAR ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS, UM, IS THE ONE THERE LAST YEAR.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE BEING RENEWED IN JULY AND AUGUST OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND BOTH OF THEM WERE, ARE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, SPREAD OUT OVER THE THREE TO FIVE YEAR COST, UM, PERIOD.
UM, THAT, THAT'S A BIG PART OF THE RENEWALS FOR THESE TWO BIG, UM, ENTERPRISE AGREEMENTS.
COST GOING, COST GOING UP OR COST GOING DOWN, OR YOU DON'T KNOW YET ON THE ENTERPRISE? UM, WITH THE VENDORS, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME NEGOTIATION WITH VENDORS.
UM, HP ALREADY PUT TARIFFS OF 25%.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER PRICES WENT FROM EIGHT TO 900,000 TO 1.2, UM, WITH THE, UM, QUOTES THAT WERE PROVIDED, UM, DESKTOPS.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT, IT DEPENDS.
SO, UM, WE'RE SEEING VENDORS ALREADY APPLY, UM, ADDITIONAL TARIFFS TO, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PURCHASING.
WHAT'S OUR COVERAGE FOR? UM, IF WE HAVE, UH, OH GOD, WHAT'S IT NOT, NOT THINKING, UH, SOMEBODY, UM, WE GET HACKED.
WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE COVERED UP TO? UM, IF SOMEBODY WANTS RANSOM SURE.
IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 5 MILLION.
I I I THINK THEY, I KNOW, I KNOW THEY REALLY WENT THROUGH THAT.
WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO GET THE, I I BELIEVE THAT, UM, MATTHEW ANSWERED, ANSWERED THAT WHEN, BECAUSE RISK IS UNDER, IS UNDER LAW.
WE CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE THAT ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ANSWERS RATHER THAN DO, DO YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I GUESS YOU TALKED TO OTHER IT PEOPLE AROUND, AROUND DIFFERENT AREAS.
HAS ANY OTHER COUNTIES, UH, BEEN HACKED AND HAD TO PAY A RANSOM? UM, ANNE ARUN COUNTY RECENTLY GOT HACKED BACK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY
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TIMEFRAME.DID THEY PAY THE RANSOM OR DID THEY, UM, WE, THEY, WE REALLY DON'T HEAR THAT.
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT INFORMATION'S NOT DISCLOSED OR, YOU KNOW, THE EXACT, UM, WHAT WOULD WE DO? WE HAVE, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE WORK WITH THE, WE HAVE A CYBER INSURANCE, UM, COMPANY THAT WE WORK WITH.
PART OF THAT, UM, PROGRAM IS THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH ANY, UM, TYPE OF EVENT.
UM, WE DID ACTIVATE, UM, BACK IN JANUARY, UM, WHEN WE HAD SOME ISSUES GOING ON WITH THE NETWORK, WHICH WAS RANSOMWARE.
UM, OUR SYSTEMS HAD DETECTED SOME MALICIOUS ACTIVITY AND OUR LAYERS OF CYBERSECURITY WAS ABLE TO LOCK THAT DOWN AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, UH, THROUGH THE CYBER INSURANCE COMPANY, AS WELL AS OUR, UM, SEVEN BY 24 SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER STAFF TO, UH, REMEDIATE AND, UM, MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD NO FUTURE ISSUES.
THE LAST THING I WANNA DO IS HAVE TO RESET OUR SYSTEM LIKE BALTIMORE CITY DID A COUPLE YEARS AGO, SO, OKAY, THANKS.
SO IS THAT COST IS THE CYBER, AND I THINK I ASKED THAT BEFORE, BUT I DON'T THINK I GOT AN ANSWER.
IS THE CYBER COST, UM, HAS IT GONE UP, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY OR DO YOU ANTICIPATE IT GOING UP SIGNIFICANTLY? IS IT A LOCKED IN CONTRACT? I MEAN, YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
YEAH, I MEAN, THE CYBER INSURANCE SIDE OF IT, UM, WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE, UM, FROM WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM, FROM THE REPS THEMSELVES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF SECURITY IN PLACE.
UM, WE'RE IN A, A GOOD SITUATION AT THIS TIME, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT, OUR GOAL IS TO JUST KEEP FINE TUNING WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND ADDING ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
UH, ESPECIALLY WITH AI TECHNOLOGY COMING INTO PLAY THESE DAYS.
YOU GOT THE BAD GUYS AND THE GOOD GUYS, YOU KNOW, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AI WITHIN THEIR SYSTEMS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE NEW, NEW AND ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SECURITY, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE? UM, NICK, JUST TO FOLLOW UP, UM, I'LL HAVE MEGAN REACH OUT TO EVERYONE, OR MARY KATE ONE IN THE NEXT PROBABLY DAY OR TWO.
SO THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN AND TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
UH, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH IN THAT MESSAGE IS EXTREMELY PROBLEMATIC.
I SAID I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION AS FAR AS THE GUIDELINES THAT WE USE FROM THEA WEBSITE BASICALLY JUST SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT INFORMATION THAT, THAT YOU RECOMMEND BE WITHIN THAT, THAT MESSAGE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A BREAK, UH, COME AFTER BACK AFTER LUNCH, SITTING WATER AND SEWER.
IF WE GO AHEAD AND COME TO ORDER, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START OUR AFTERNOON SESSION OF OUR FINAL BUDGET WORK SESSION.
UM, AND AGAIN, I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, WE'RE LIVE STREAMING AUDIO.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEGINS ON PAGE 2 92.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 133,466,890 ACROSS SEVEN BUDGETARY DIVISIONS.
ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND ADMINISTRATION BEGINS ON PAGE 2 99.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF $11,137,032, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 830,517.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 323,842.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 8,625 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY STEP PLUS COLA COSTING 100,747, THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 130,529.
THE TRANSFER IN OF ONE POSITION FROM PATROL OPERATIONS AT A COST OF 103,965, TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED 68,042 OVERTIME INCREASES 4,541 AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 60,727.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 362,729 AS A RESULT OF SOFTWARE DECREASING 350,372 DUE TO TRANSFER OF COMPUTER REFRESH EXPENSE TO THE EQUIPMENT CHARACTER PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES IN SOFTWARE LICENSES.
INTERNET LINE SERVICE DECREASES 48,330 BASED ON ACTUAL AND EXPECTED EXPENSES.
FUNDING INCREASES A TOTAL OF 36,071 FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE, SPACE RENTAL, ELECTRICITY BUILDING, AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 4,940 FOR FOOD SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND LAB SUPPLIES.
[02:15:01]
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 4,394 FOR VEHICLES TRAINING SEMINARS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND MEMBERSHIP FEES PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN MEAL, MEAL REIMBURSEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL BOOKS.EQUIPMENT INCREASES 874,750 DUE TO THE COMPUTER REFRESH EXPENSE BEING MOVED FROM THE CONTRACTUAL SERVICES CHARACTER AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 4,800 FOR SERVICE AWARDS, UH, BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.
NEXT, WE HAVE PATROL OPERATIONS, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 0 2.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 49,881,805, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 2,386,747.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1,886,583.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 191,833 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY STEP AND COLA COSTING 1,590,502, THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 83,427.
THE NET RESULT TO THIS DIVISION OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN DIVISIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH 14 POSITIONS TRANSFERRING OUT AND 13 TRANSFERRING IN IS A DECREASE OF 249,679.
TEMPORARY TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED 20 1052 OVERTIME INCREASES 149,958.
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL INCREASES 105,601.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 419,659.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 463,212.
THAT'S DUE TO OTHER INSURANCE INCREASING PER ACTUARIES FOR THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND OF 424,017.
AND THEN BUILDING CUSTODIAL SERVICES, MEDICAL SERVICES, VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT SOFTWARE, OTHER RENT AND UTILITIES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT INCREASES BASED ON ACTUALS, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN OPERATING EQUIPMENT SERVICE, RESULTING IN AN INCREASE OF 39,395.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 34,540 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT REPAIR PARTS, ANIMAL FOOD SUPPLIES, AND DIESEL FUEL.
PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND SMALL TOOLS.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 9,200 FOR COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES AND MEMBERSHIP FEES.
FUNDS ALSO PROVIDE FOR FUEL AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COSTS.
EQUIPMENT DECREASES 6,788 FOR POLICE CAR PACKAGES, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN RADAR EQUIPMENT.
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 3 0 5.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF SIX 16,069,073, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 858,032.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 772,340.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF, UH, 30,979.
THE FFY 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY, STEP PLUS COLA OF 3% COSTING 454,918.
THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 77,640.
THE NET RESULT TO THIS DIVISION OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN DIVISIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH SEVEN POSITIONS TRANSFERRING OUT AND SEVEN POSITIONS, POSITIONS TRANSFERRING IN COSTING 53,908.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 154,895.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 44,481 FOR SOFTWARE VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT SPACE, RENTAL BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES AND ELECTRICITY PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN INTERNET SERVICE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT.
SERVICE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 9,736 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN DIESEL FUEL BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 31,575 FOR LODGING, COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, FUEL MEALS AND TRAINING PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN PROFESSIONAL BOOKS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS, WHICH PROVIDE FOR CONFIDENTIAL EXPENSES.
NEXT IS SCHOOL SAFETY, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 0 8.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 5,280,990, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 232,133.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES TWO 230,833.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 11,968 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY STEP PLUS COLA COSTING 174,598, THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 21,149.
AND THEN THE NET RESULT TO THIS DIVISION OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN THE DIVISIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH FIVE FUNDED POSITIONS TRANSFERRING OUT AND FOUR FUNDED POSITIONS TRANSFERRING IN IS A DECREASE OF $157,084.
[02:20:03]
OVERTIME INCREASES $78,090 SHIFT.DIFFERENTIAL INCREASE IS 12,108.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 113,940.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 2,150 FOR COMMUNICATION SERVICE APPLIES.
THE MATERIALS DECREASES 2,750 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT DUE TO ONE-TIME PURCHASES IN FY 25 PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE MEALS AND PRINTING.
BUSINESS, BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 1,900 FOR LODGING, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN MEMBERSHIP FEES.
FUNDS ARE ALSO PROVIDED HERE FOR FUEL AND VEHICLES CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE THREE 11.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 38,400,890, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $1,871,003.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 1 MILLION 1 22 9 74.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 269,924 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 CORRECTIONS OFFICER, STEP AND COLA COSTING 848,958, THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 1 0 8 1 67.
TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED 47,773.
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL INCREASES 24,566.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 226,830.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE 463,132 AS A RESULT OF MEDICAL SERVICES INCREASE FOR DETENTION CENTER MEDICAL CONTRACT FIDDLING 374,380 FUNDING INCREASES FOR ELECTRICITY BUILDING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES SOFTWARE, OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT TOTALING 99,458.
AND THOSE ARE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES FOR SELF INSURANCE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICE.
UH, AS A TOTALING A DECREASE OF 10,414 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 291,304.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE DETENTION CENTER FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT, CREASING 133,244.
FUNDING INCREASES FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, JANITORIAL SUPPLIES, PAPER SUPPLIES, WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION, EQUIPMENT REPAIR PARTS, PRINTING AND AV SUPPLIES, TOTALING 161,510.
AND THOSE INCREASES ARE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES FOR DIESEL FUEL, SALT AND DIE SERVICE LAB SUPPLIES AND MAILING, UH, RESULTING IN A DECREASE OF 3,450 BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 1,250 FOR PROFESSIONAL BOOKS AND COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP FEES.
EQUIPMENT DECREASES 5,157 DUE TO ONE TIME FY 25 EXPENSES.
THE NEXT DIVISION IS INMATE WELFARE FUND, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE THREE 14.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 1,380,525, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 189,351.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 31,425.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASING.
THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE TOTALING 6,405 OVERTIME INCREASING 3000.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 12,414.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 91,666 FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WHICH SUPPORTS BEHAVIORAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.
HIGH RISK INMATE MEDICAL MONITORING, JOB REENTRY, JOB REENTRY TRAINING, AND INMATE TRANSPORT ASSISTANCE, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 79,260 FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE MEALS, RECREATION SUPPLIES AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN PRINTING AND COPIER SUPPLIES.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 17,000 FOR IN-HOUSE TRAINING.
AND THEN EQUIPMENT INCREASES 4,000 FOR FURNITURE AND FIXTURES.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE COURT SERVICES, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3, 3 17.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 11,316,575, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 632,596.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 640,323.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 32,395 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY STEP AND COLA COSTING 170,139.
THE FY 26 CIVILIAN COLA AND MERIT INCREASE TOTALING 190,006 ONE.
THE NET RESULT OF THIS DIVISION OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN DIVISIONS OF DIVISIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH FOUR FUNDED POSITIONS TRANSFERRING OUT AND FIVE FUNDED POSITIONS TRANSFERRING IN
[02:25:01]
IS 155,621.DIFFERENTIAL INCREASE IS 10,687.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTAL IN 145,670.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 6,921 FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES FOR VEHICLE AND OPERATING EQUIPMENT, OFFICE EQUIPMENT SERVICE SOFTWARE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
DECREASED 6,000 5 0 8 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT BASED ON ONE-TIME FY 25 EXPENSES.
BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 5,000 7 0 2 FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, LODGING, MEALS, AND PARKING.
PARTIALLY OFFSET BY DECREASES IN MEMBERSHIP FEES AND PROFESSIONAL BOOKS.
AND THAT'S OPERATING AND IT WILL BE AFTER.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE SHERIFF.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT OF VINCENTI COUNCIL MEMBERS.
LET ME BEGIN TODAY BY ONCE AGAIN EXPRESSING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP, IN TRUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UM, BEFORE, UH, AT EACH DESK AND, AND FOR THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORS, WE DID BRING, UH, FRESH OFF THE, UH, PRINT, UH, PRINTER A, UH, COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT.
UM, IT'S BEEN A GOAL OF MINE TO TRY TO GET THIS PRODUCED A LITTLE QUICKER EACH YEAR.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, ONCE YOU GET THE STATISTICS TOGETHER AND YOU GET THE FORMATTING TOGETHER, HERE WE ARE, UM, END TO APRIL, AND WE JUST GOT THE PRODUCT.
BUT SO FAR, THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IT OFF JUST BEFORE OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UH, WHILE WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON ALL ISSUES, IT'S MY EXPERIENCE THAT THIS COUNCIL IS ALWAYS, UM, WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A PROFESSIONAL AND HONEST CONVERSATION RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN OUR COUNTY.
UH, MAKE NO MISTAKE, AS OUR COUNTY GROWS AND CONTINUES TO GROW, THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF MUST CONTINUE TO GROW TO KEEP PACE WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.
WE MUST BE MINDFUL THAT BY NEGLECTING PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS AND STAFFING IS GONNA RESULT IN CHALLENGES FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE CITIZENS THAT WE ALL SERVE.
AS WE DO EACH YEAR, THE COMMAND STAFF AND I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PREPARE A DETAILED AND COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADDRESSING CAPITAL PROJECTS, WAGE PACKAGE, AND PERSONNEL FUNDING, UH, FOR PRESENTATION TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE TWO NEW MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL WHO WERE NOT HERE IN OCTOBER TO RECEIVE THESE REPORTS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU COPIES OF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED LAST OCTOBER ON EACH ONE OF THOSE TOPICS.
ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR EACH OF MY 10 YEARS SERVING AS HARTFORD COUNTY SHERIFFS, MR. CALEY WHO JOINS US TODAY, UH, STANDS OUT AS PERHAPS THE ONLY ELECTED COUNTY, CITY, OR STATE LEADER ANYWHERE.
THIS SHOWS NO INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZEN AS THEY RAN LATE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.
HE DOESN'T LIKE THIS FORMAT OR ME SUBMITTING THIS REPORT.
AND YOU MIGHT BE ASKING YOURSELF, WHY WOULD THAT BE? WELL, IT SEEMS CLEAR TO ME HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE THE ONE HOLDING THE BAG WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS.
HE WANTS TO REMAIN IGNORANT SO THAT HE CAN POINT THE FINGER ELSEWHERE.
THIS IS NOT LEADERSHIP CHOOSING TO REMAIN INTENTIONALLY UNINFORMED.
IN MY OPINION, IT'S SIMPLY GROSS NEGLIGENCE.
WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW FOCUS AREAS REGARDING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL.
I'LL START OFF WITH THE CENTRAL PRECINCT.
AS THE ELECTED SHERIFF OF THIS COUNTY, MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS THE OVERALL SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AND COMMUNITIES.
AS PUBLIC SAFETY GOES, THERE IS NO MORE OF A VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT, IN MY OPINION, THEN THAT OF THE CENTRAL PRECINCT AND TRAINING ACADEMY.
AND YET HERE WE ARE THREE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER ITS APPROVAL, THEN THIS FULLY FUNDED PROJECT REMAINS STALLED BY THIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED NEW SCHOOLS, NEW FIREHOUSES, NEW COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR OUR GR COUNTY'S GROWING POPULATION.
ONLY ONE MAN BELIEVES THERE IS NO NEED FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRECTIONAL TRAINING CENTER AND PRECINCT.
OF COURSE, YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, AS THIS COUNCIL HAS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THROUGH UNANIMOUS VOTES, SOUGHT TO RE TO MOVE THIS NEEDED PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT FORWARD, UH, AND STOPPED MR. KALEY'S EFFORT TO DEFUND THIS POLICE AGENDA, UH, THE POLICE AGENDA RELATED TO THIS PROJECT.
AND TO BE SURE THERE ARE SOME, LIKE MR. MCCORD, I ASSUME WHO DON'T LIKE IT WHEN I USE THE WORDS DEFUND THE POLICE RELATED TO KENNY EXECUTIVE BOB KALEY.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THAT IS WHAT HE HAS DONE AND WHAT HE HAS PROPOSED SINCE TAKING OFFICE.
NEXT IS THE WAGE PACKAGE SALARY STUDY IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, YOU JUST RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ME, UH, IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WROTE AFTER HIS PRESENTATION, UH, DURING HIS PRESENTATION LAST WEEK.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CLAIMED THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SALARIES ALIGNED WITH THE MOST RECENT SALARY STUDY, TO BE CLEAR.
AND AS I WRITTEN, I WROTE IN THE LETTER, THE LAST STUDY WAS THREE YEARS AGO.
A NEW STUDY WILL, WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER
[02:30:01]
JULY OF THIS YEAR.IF THIS, IT, IT IS THIS YEAR'S STUDY THAT WILL TELL US IF WE HAVE MAINTAINED A MARKET RATE LEVEL OF COMPATIBILITY, COMPARABILITY OR NOT.
AS TO HIS OVERALL COMMENTARY, I WILL, I PROVIDED THE FACTS RELATED TO SALARY STUDY IN THE LETTER.
SO I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH REPEATING IT HERE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT IT AT THE END.
UH, AS TO HIS CLAIMS IN FRONT OF ALL YOU, THAT I'M FREE TO ALLOCATE FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY IN A MANNER THAT I DEEM BEST AS THE ELECTED SHERIFF.
HIS COMMENT IS COMPLETE NONSENSE.
WHAT HE MEANT TO SAY TO YOU IS THAT THE SHERIFF IS FREE TO DO AS HE DEEMS NECESSARY, BUT IF HE DARES TO DEVIATE FROM WHAT BOB KNOWS BEST, UM, PUNISHMENT WILL BE SWIFT AND SEVERE.
AND SINCE BOB CAN'T IMPACT MY SALARY, EXCEPT BY LAW, HE DECIDED TO ATTACK OUR CIVILIAN MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY NOT PROVIDING ANY FUNDING FOR ANY INCREASE LAST YEAR.
AND THERE'S ONE WORD FOR THAT, AND THAT'S SIMPLY BEING SPITEFUL.
UH, ON THE DRONES WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE, IN RECENT YEARS, TECHNOLOGY HAS BECOME CRUCIAL, A CRUCIAL COMPONENT IN VARIOUS ASPECTS, ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT.
NOTABLY OUR DRONE UNIT, WHICH IS AN ANCILLARY ASSIGNMENT FOR 14 OF OUR DEPUTIES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES WHO ARE TRAINED AS DRONE PILOTS, HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP HARFORD COUNTY SAFE.
A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS SEEN AGAIN IN SUNDAY'S HORRIFIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENT IN ABINGDON, WHERE WITHIN THE INITIAL RESPONSE, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO DRONES IN THE AIR AND AN EFFORT TO LOCATE THE SUSPECT.
ALTHOUGH LATER WE LEARNED THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION THAT HE HAD ALREADY FLED THE AREA.
THIS EFFECTIVE TOOL WITH THE ABILITY TO IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY HAS RESULTED IN OTHER APPREHENSIONS.
BUT EVEN IN THIS INSTANCE, OUR DRONES ALLOWED PATROL AND INVESTIGATORS TO ENSURE THE SUSPECT WAS NOT HIDING NEARBY, ADDRESSING THE SAFETY CONCERNS AS THE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN SEVERAL ITEMS OF CORRESPONDENCE.
AND AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE THE NEW MEMBERS WHO MAY NEED TO CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ASSIST.
UM, BUT YOU'VE BEEN, UH, SEVERAL ITEMS OF CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO MR. KALEY'S ADMINISTRATION BLOCKING OUR OFFICER'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OUR DRONES, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE WERE ATTEMPTING TO USE ASSET FORFEITURE FUNDS.
AGAIN, I REFER YOU BACK TO MR. KALEY'S CLAIM LAST WEEK, THAT HE HAS NO SAY IN HOW THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES OR THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIAL BEING THE SHERIFF, UM, USED THEIR ALLOTTED FUNDING.
AND AGAIN, JUST HIM FAILING TO BE HONEST WITH THE COUNCIL.
DESPITE BEING INFORMED THAT DJI DRONES WE CURRENTLY UTILIZE ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING USED BY THE SCARY CHINESE PEOPLE TO SPY ON US, THEY REFUSE TO ALLOW THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO MOVE FORWARD.
FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, WE'VE SAT AROUND WHILE MR. CALEY INVEST HARTFORD COUNTY TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN A LOCAL DRONE COMPANY THAT SUSPICIOUSLY HAS TIES TO HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT IN THE FORM OF LARGE POLITICAL DONATIONS.
AT MR. CASSIE'S PERSONAL REQUEST REQUEST, WE HAVE TWICE SENT OUR DRONE TEAM MEMBERS OUT TO THE LOCAL COMPANY IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN IF THE DRONES WOULD WORK FOR OUR NEEDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS.
BOTH VISITS NOT ONLY RESULTED IN AN ASSESSMENT THAT THEY WILL NOT MEET OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS.
EVEN THE VENDOR THEMSELVES TOLD US, TOLD OUR PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE NOT THE RIGHT COMPANY FOR OUR NEEDS.
AND YET BOB CONTINUES TO INSIST ON THIS COMPANY.
IN FACT, MR. KALEY HAS SPENT APPROXIMATELY $360,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO THE SAME COMPANY ON 12 DRONES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND HAS TOLD ME MEMBERS OF MY COMMAND THAT IF THEY DON'T WORK FOR US, HE WANTS US TO LOOK AT 'EM.
HE WILL GIVE THEM TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, FIRE, UH, COMPANIES AND MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THIS WOULD BE IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES TO JUSTIFY THE INITIAL PURCHASE FROM MR. CALEY STRO COMPANY, BUT NOTHING IN CONFLICT.
BUT NOTING A CONFLICT IN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TRULY NO SURPRISE.
UM, AXON TASER WHEN IT COMES TO OUR AXON PRODUCTS, WHICH INCLUDE TASERS, BODY-WORN CAMERAS, AND OUR IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEMS. THIS YEAR WE REQUEST, WE, WE REQUESTED $2.5 MILLION TO BUNDLE THESE TECHNOLOGIES UNDER A COMPREHENSIVE CONTRACT.
THIS APPROACH ALIGNS WITH AXONS NEW CONTRACTING MODEL, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SAVE THE COUNTY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER TIME, WHILE ENSURING THAT OUR DEPUTIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE MOST CURRENT RELIABLE AND SERVICEABLE EQUIPMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH OUR CAPITAL BUDGET BEING SHORTED BY $1 MILLION REQUEST BEING SHORTED BY $1 MILLION, WE ARE NOW FACING SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL CONCERNS.
OUR CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES WILL BE LEFT USING TASERS THAT ARE OUTDATED OUT OF WARRANTY AND NO LONGER SERVICEABLE BY AXON.
AXON HAS EXPLICITLY RECOMMENDED AGAINST CONTINUED USE OF THESE DEVICES DUE TO SERIOUS SAFETY RISKS WITHIN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
[02:35:01]
HAVE 50 TASER SEVEN.TASER SEVEN IS THE MODEL UNITS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT OF CONTRACT AND OUT OF WARRANTY.
ACCENT ADVISES THAT THESE SHOULD ALSO BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE FOR SAFETY REASONS.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, AN ADDITIONAL 100 LAW ENFORCEMENT TASERS TASER SEVENS WILL FALL OUT OF WARRANTY AND CONTRACT COVERAGE.
FURTHER COMPOUNDING THE ISSUE WITHOUT THE NECESSARY FUNDING TO SECURE THIS BUNDLED CONTRACT, OUR DEPUTIES, BOTH IN CORRECTIONS AND ON PATROL, WILL BE FORCED TO RELY ON SUBSTANDARD, POTENTIALLY FAILING SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
THIS NOT ONLY ENDANGER OUR PERSONNEL, BUT ALSO EXPOSE US THE COUNTY TO INCREASED LIABILITY SHOULD EQUIPMENT FAILURES OCCUR DURING CRITICAL INCIDENTS.
THE $2.5 MILLION BUNDLED SOLUTION WAS CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO ENSURE ALL AXON EQUIPMENT REMAINS UNDER WARRANTY AND UNDER SERVICE AGREEMENT PROVIDES DEPUTIES WITH UP-TO-DATE TECHNOLOGY FOR BOTH OFFICER.
SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ALLOWS FOR THE CON CONSOLIDATION OF 12 CONTRACTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, ALL INTO ONE COMPREHENSIVE CONTRACT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT PROCUREMENT SUPPORTS.
IT DELIVERS LONG-TERM COST SAVINGS BY AVOIDING PIECEMEAL REPLACEMENTS AND EMERGENCY PURCHASE AT PREMIUM RATES.
UH, AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.
FAILING TAC NOW PLACES BOTH OUR DEPUTIES AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK DUE TO AGING AND UNSUPPORTED EQUIPMENT.
UM, TACTICAL RIOT HELMETS, I THINK I MAY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS IN THE LETTER, UM, BUT NOWHERE, UH, IS MR. CASS'S LACK OF SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT MORE EVIDENT THAN A TIME WHEN PROTESTS AND CIVIL UNREST ARE ON THE RISE.
AND I SAY THAT WE'VE HAD THREE NOTABLE PROTESTS IN THE TOWN OF BEL AIR IN RECENT WEEKS.
UM, MR. CASSIE REFUSES REFUSE TO EVEN FUND A MODEST $122,000 CAPITAL REQUEST TO REPLACE OUTDATED AND EXPIRED HELMETS.
AND THEY, THEY HAVE EXPIRATION DATES, UM, FOR, TO PROTECT OUR MEN AND WOMEN.
IT'S CLEAR THAT MR. CASSEY DOES NOT WANNA ENSURE DEPUTIES HAVE BETTER TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT TO MORE SAFELY PERFORM THEIR DUTIES.
IN CLOSING, IT'S EXTREMELY TROUBLING THAT MR. LEY HAS ONCE AGAIN EXCLUDED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM CRITICAL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS THIS YEAR, A TROUBLE, A TROUBLING PATTERN THROUGHOUT HIS YEARS AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THIS PERSISTENT DISREGARD FOR COLLABORATION IS TRUE, A TRUE DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS EACH OF US ARE ENTRUSTED TO SERVE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
I WANNA WELCOME YOUR COMMAND STAFF.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO GET DOWN EARLIER WARDEN AS WELL, DEPUTY WARDEN.
UM, BUT IT'S VERY APPARENT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WHILE YOU'RE GIVING YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND WE'RE SITTING HERE, THERE'S A SHOOTING IN EDGEWOOD MM-HMM
SO, UM, IT, IT JUST, I IT JUST CONTINUES.
AND WITH, WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE CENTRAL PRECINCT, WE NEED THAT AS THE CITY OF ABERDEEN CONTINUES TO GROW, UH, THERE WAS JUST A MEETING AGAIN THE OTHER NIGHT, UH, WITH THE MAYOR OF ABERDEEN TALKING ABOUT A, A MUCH LARGER ANNEXATION, WHICH WE CAN'T STOP.
AND WE KNOW THAT, UH, WE ARE FACED WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, PUBLIC SAFETY BEING A BIG PART OF IT.
AND, UH, WE NEED TO GET OUR HANDS ON THAT, GET OUR ARMS AROUND IT THE BEST WE CAN.
UM, CLEARLY, UH, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED FOR.
UM, AND WITHOUT GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY, NOTHING ELSE IN THIS COUNTY REALLY MATTERS.
I MEAN, EDUCATION IS TOUGH, BUT YES, IT'S NUMBER TWO OR NUMBER ONE, DEPENDING ON WHICH SIDE YOU'RE ON.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE GREAT EDUCATION WITHOUT GREAT PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO, UM, WE AS A COUNCIL, UH, IN THE PRIOR TWO COUNCILS SUPPORTED THAT CENTRAL PRECINCT.
MY QUESTION, MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT IF THAT QUESTION WAS RAISED AGAIN WITH THIS COUNCIL, THIS CURRENT COUNCIL, THE RESULTS WOULD BE THE SAME.
UM, AND YES, IT'S ALWAYS A HEAVY LIFT TRYING TO FIND THE FINANCES, UH, TO GET US WHAT WE NEED.
BUT WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND REALIZE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE CLEAR AND PRESENT AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF 'EM.
UM, COUNSEL, ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. BENNETT? HELLO.
UM, I'LL SAVE MY CORRECTIONS QUESTIONS FOR LAST, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CORRECTIONS QUESTIONS.
I'LL HAVE TO, I MAY HAVE TO BRING THE WORDING UP FOR THAT.
THAT, THAT'S WHY I FIGURED BEFORE WE START DOING THE DAMPS OF CHAIRS, I'LL, I'LL TRY AND KEEP 'EM IN A GOOD ORDER.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK, YOU KNOW, HOW HAS THE EXPANSION OF THE SSL PROGRAM IMPACTED THE SROS? UM, DO THEY HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT IRONED OUT OF WHO'S HANDLING WHAT, UM, JUST CURIOUS HOW THAT'S DEVELOPED
[02:40:01]
OVER TIME.YEAH, REALLY THE SSLS, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE, UM, ONE, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH A, UM, YOU KNOW, VIBRANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM, UH, PLAN.
UH, WE CAN'T AFFORD, I RECOGNIZE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ONE DEPUTY OR OR POLICE OFFICER FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.
UH, BUT I THINK IT WORKS WELL.
YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT OF THE SSLS, UM, WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS, IS GREAT.
THEY DON'T COST AS MUCH AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY.
UM, SO I DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING, UM, AT, AT THEIR NUMBERS WHEN WE EVALUATE WHETHER WE NEED MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UH, WE ALSO, OUR DEPUTIES SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THE DAY-TO-DAY SCHOOL BUSINESS, WHICH THE SSL CAN BE AS A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PERSON IS THERE AS A DETERRENT, AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT FIRST RESPONDER.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAW IN JO OF TOWN, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE A FIRST, UH, UH, AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS MEDICALLY, UM, WHEN, YOU KNOW, BEING ON THE SCENE THERE SHOULD SOMETHING I, I HOPE NEVER AGAIN, BUT SHOULD SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPEN.
BUT AGAIN, THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP IS GREAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN US, UH, CAPTAIN PENMAN OVERSEES THE SCHOOL POLICING AS A PART OF THE, UM, CO UH, COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION.
UM, WE'VE, UH, YOU KNOW, LIKE ANYTHING, LIKE ANY TWO, UH, UNITS OF GOVERNMENT TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SMOOTHEST ROAD, BUT, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, SIT DOWN AND WORK THINGS OUT.
BOLS AND, AND, UH, ERIC DAVIS HAVE BOTH BEEN GREAT.
SO, UH, THAT THAT PROGRAM IS, IS WORKING EFFICIENTLY.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SPOKE EARLIER IN THE YEAR TO MEDIA ABOUT ENHANCING THE SRO PROGRAM, GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT THREE ADDITIONAL SROS WERE COMING TO THE COUNTY.
WELL, AEN IS JUST GONNA PUT THEIR BACK IN THE SCHOOL, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THOSE THREE TO MOVE BACK IN.
WE'RE CURRENTLY, WE'RE CURRENTLY THREE SHORT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO ON LONG-TERM INJURY ON INJURIES RESULTED FROM THEIR EMPLOYMENT THAT ARE LIKELY GONNA BE RETIRING.
AND, UM, I FORGET WHAT THE OTHER LONG-TERM ABSENT IS IN SCHOOL POLICING.
SO WE, WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR THOSE THREE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY FOR THOSE THREE PEOPLE.
UM, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING THAT ABERDEEN WILL RES ASSUME THE, THE SCHOOLS IN THE MUNICIPAL AREA SOONER.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DRUG POLICY.
UM, I KNOW LAST YEAR DURING OUR BUDGET SESSION, I HAD ASKED YOU, WELL, I SHARED WITH YOU HOW VOICES OF HOPE IN CECIL COUNTY HAS A REALLY STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HEARS OF AN OVERDOSE, THEY CALL VOICES AND VOICES IS ABLE TO THEN GO CHECK IN ON THAT PERSON AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU DOING? CAN WE GET YOU ANY HELP? UM, AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD LOOK INTO THAT IN THE PAST YEAR.
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO, UH, NOW THAT THE COUNTY'S EXPANDING THE RELATIONSHIP OF VOICES OF HOPE, UH, TO START HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IF WE COULD, UH, REPLICATE THAT HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY? WELL, IT, IT STILL COMES DOWN TO, UH, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, I, I THINK MR. KALEY WISHES HE HAD A POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO THE SHERIFF COULDN'T SIT HERE AND SPEAK HIS MIND.
UM, BUT SO WE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THEY'RE ALL SHERIFF'S OFFICES, THE ELECTED OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF.
SO, UM, THIS, IT WOULD'VE TAKEN LEGISLATION THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
SO WE CAN'T SHARE, UM, INFORMATION THAT RESULTS FROM POLICE RESPONSES OUT TO, UM, TO, TO ANY OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION.
I THINK HOPE IS THE VOICE FOR HOPE IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
UM, THEIR, THEIR EFFORTS ARE GOOD.
I'M NOT ALL FOR THE REPLACEMENT NEEDLE PROGRAM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M, I'M ALL ABOUT TOUCHES WITH THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK HAND IN HAND FOR EIGHT YEARS AND CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND RESPONSIVE, UM, TREATMENT AND EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAMS GOING.
YOU'LL, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE CONTINUING EFFORTS, UH, BETWEEN THE PLEDGE PROGRAM, THE HOPE HOUSE, AND THE CORE PROGRAM IN THE ANNUAL REPORT.
UH, IT WOULD, AGAIN, IT WOULD TAKE A, A FOCUS ON LEGISLATION.
AND MY LEGISLATIVE GUY IS TRAPPED IN SPAIN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE TOOK A VACATION AND CAN'T THEY HAVE NO POWER? HMM.
SOMEBODY UNPLUGGED THE POWER IN SPAIN,
SO I, I CAN'T ANSWER SPECIFICALLY, BUT I WILL HAVE HIM, UM, IF THE GOOD JENNIFER WILL REMIND ME OR SOMEBODY BEHIND ME, I WILL HAVE HIM GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO YEAH, I'D LOVE TO KNOW.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR USING THE WRONG VERBIAGE.
I JUST, UM, BUT, UH, I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW IT'S POSSIBLE IN CECIL COUNTY, BUT NOT HERE.
I, I, WELL, I NOT ALL PLACES WHERE PEOPLE DO THINGS, ARE THEY THINKING WHAT'S IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW? HMM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN'T TAKE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSES AND INFORMATION OBTAINED AND, AND SHARE THOSE NAMES OUT.
UH, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO DO IT.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, GUN SAFETY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES IN THE PAST YEAR WHERE WE'VE LOST CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY TO GUN VIOLENCE.
AND I BELIEVE IN ALL THE INSTANCES I KNOW
[02:45:01]
OF, IT WAS FIREARMS THAT BELONGED TO AN ADULT IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF.UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKE THIS MORNING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO GET, UH, SAFE GUN STORAGE MATERIALS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
WE, AS A COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO SEND HOME INFORMATION ABOUT SAFE GUN STORAGE.
UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN DO IN THAT REGARD TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, UH, KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFELY PUTTING YOUR FIREARMS AWAY SO THAT YOUR KIDS CAN'T GRAB 'EM BY MISTAKE, BUT ALSO TO GET THOSE MATERIALS AND THE PEOPLE'S HANDS.
AND WE DO, UM, COMMUNITY, UH, POLICING.
UH, WE HAVE A GUN LOCK PROGRAM, SO THEY, UH, DO HAND OUT.
I THINK WE'RE STILL, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S STILL OPERATIONAL.
UH, WE HAND OUT FREE OF CHARGE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, GUN LOCKS.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN GET IN OUR, UM, IN OUR DISPLAYS OR AT OUR TABLES.
UM, SO WE, WE DO, WITH THAT COMES THE INFORMATION, HOW TO SAFELY SECURE YOUR, UH, FIREARM.
UM, I AM ALL ABOUT, UM, RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.
UH, SADLY THE MOST OF THESE INCIDENTS YOU SEE AREN'T COMING FROM RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS WHO ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION.
YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS WE PUT OUT THERE, UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
BUT, UM, I I, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORTIVE.
AND AGAIN, WE, UH, THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANNUAL REPORT, THEY ARE BASICALLY AT AN EVENT.
IT'S A SMALL FIVE PERSON UNIT.
WE'VE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I THINK ONE OR TWO EXTRA FOR COMMUNITY POLICING.
IT'S IN THE PERSONNEL REQUEST NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT MR. LEY DOESN'T LIKE TO LOOK AT.
UM, BUT WE'VE ASKED A COUPLE EXTRA PEOPLE TO HELP SPREAD THAT, UM, HELP THAT DIVISION DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.
AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY DO IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR STATS.
BUT BASICALLY THEY'RE IN THE COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I THINK IT WAS LIKE 320 DAYS OUTTA THE YEAR THEY HAD AN EVENT.
AND I, I WAS JUST WONDERING ALONG THOSE SAME LINES IN THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HAD, I THINK IT WAS A KIA, WAS THAT THE CAR THAT PEOPLE KEPT BECAUSE OF TIKTOK, THE KIA AND THE Y ION DAYS HYUNDAI ON DAYS, THEY'RE BOTH SOUTH.
THEIR SAME SOUTH CAR, UH, SOUTH KOREAN MANUFACTURER.
UM, BUT I REMEMBER THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY AT THE CABINS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT, LIKE, IF YOU OWN ONE OF THIS CARS, STOP BY THE PRECINCT AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE THING TO HOOK UP TO YOUR WHEEL.
WE WERE GETTING THOSE THROUGH THE AUTO THEFT PREVENTION GRANT AND THEY, THEY WOULD GO, AS SOON AS THEY WOULD COME IN, PEOPLE WOULD SNATCH 'EM UP AND GO.
AND I THINK WE'RE STARTING, I JUST ASKED THE COLONEL ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, LOOKING THROUGH THE REPORTS, I THINK WE'RE SEEING ANOTHER TREND WHERE WE'RE GETTING HIT AGAIN.
IT KIND OF TAILED OFF, BUT WE'RE GETTING HIT AGAIN WITH THOSE.
AND THEN, UH, WOULD IT WORK THE SAME IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO GET, UM, A LOCK FOR THEIR GUN? COULD THEY STOP BY THE PRECINCT AND ASK, OR WOULD THAT BE A POSSIBILITY? THEY COULD CERTAIN, THEY COULD CERTAINLY ASK.
I DON'T THINK WE, TO MY AWARENESS, WE DON'T MAINTAIN 'EM THERE.
COMMUNITY POLICING KEEPS 'EM, WE DO HAVE 'EM AT THE PRECINCTS.
'CAUSE I'LL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE AT CAB MEETINGS TO KNOW THAT'S AVAILABLE.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST, IT'S COST PROHIBITIVE.
THEY DON'T WANNA SPEND THE MONEY OR GO, YOU KNOW, ORDER IT.
BUT IF YOU CAN KNOW THEY CAN, EVERY FIREARM IN MARYLAND HAS TO COME WITH A, UH, A SAFETY.
SO IF THEY BOUGHT IT, IF THEY BOUGHT A FIREARM COMMERCIALLY AT A DEALER, UM, YOU KNOW, THEN IT, IT CAME WITH A, UH, SECURITY LOCK DEVICE.
THAT'S, THAT'S AN IF THAT'S AN IF.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE STEALING THEM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FINDING THEM, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA PUT A LOCK ON IT IF WE GIVE IT TO THAT SAME PERSON.
UM, ALONG THE SAME LINES OF TALKING ABOUT CAB MEETINGS, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, WHERE PEOPLE, UH, LIVE AND WHERE THEIR, UH, DEPUTIES RESPOND TO, TO GET TO THEM.
DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE AT CAB MEETINGS TO SHARE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME FOR THE AREA? 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S, UH, IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONSUME, TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE IN ABINGDON, IT TAKES X NUMBER OF MINUTES.
IF YOU LIVE IN CHURCHVILLE, IT TAKES Y NUMBER OF MINUTES TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCATION FOR, UH, SERVICE.
YEAH, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S AN EASY NUMBER FOR US TO GET IT.
WE'D HAVE TO BE TRACKED THROUGH DES.
WE'D HAVE TO GET IT THROUGH DESI.
I'D BE FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK OUR TIMES ARE BECOMING, UH, EXTENDED BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS, UH, AS A COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON THAT CENTRAL PRECINCT.
WE HAVEN'T FOCUSED ON THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES.
I THINK IT TAKES TO, TO PUT OUT THERE ON PATROL.
WE'VE RECENTLY HAD TO REDRAW THE LINES, UH, DIPPING THE NORTHERN PRECINCT FURTHER DOWN INTO THE BEL AIR AREA SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE CALL VOLUME.
UM, SO, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ONLY GOING TO EXTEND RESPONSE TIMES.
UM, BUT OVERALL, YOU KNOW, I I I, AND I DON'T WANNA BE IN ANY WAY CRITICAL OF THE, THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE OUT THERE ON PATROL.
I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB GETTING THERE AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL A FARTHER DISTANCE, IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE MORE TIME.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION BY THE PUBLIC WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS.
YOU KNOW, MEDICAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY WANT THE COP OR THEY WANT THE AMBULANCE THERE YESTERDAY, UM, WITH SCHOOL BUS VIOLATIONS,
[02:50:01]
HAS THE FINE CURBED BEHAVIOR OR VIOLATIONS LESSENING, OR HAS IT STAYED PRETTY STEADY? UM, THERE, THERE'S A SHORT BLURB IN THE REPORT ON THE SCHOOL BUS VIOLATIONS.I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S UP OR DOWN.
I MEAN, IT'S STILL A HIGH VOLUME, LIKE MONTH TO MONTH.
DOES IT SEEM TO, NOW THEY'RE STILL RUNNING ABOUT THE SAME.
UM, I, I, I EXPECTED TO SEE IT, UH, TRAIL OFF.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, IS IS IT SPIKING IN EITHER DIRECTION? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, AND I WAS JUST GONNA ASK ALONG THOSE LINES, DO YOU FEEL LIKE MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE TO EITHER INCREASE THE BASE FINE OR ADD IN, UH, ADDITIONAL FINES FOR SECOND OFFENSE, THIRD OFFENSE TO TRY, UH, TRY AND REDUCE? 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT THE MONEY.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO STOP GOING AROUND THE BUS.
FIVE, UH, 5,753 CITATIONS, UH, SCHOOL BUS CITATIONS LAST YEAR.
UM, NO, NO, I AGREE A THOUSAND PERCENT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, UH, RECENTLY AND ONE OF THE, THE BIGGEST NUMBER ONE SPOT THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE NEW APARTMENTS.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE A FEW YEARS, UH, UP AT 5 43 IN THE BYPASS.
UM, THAT LANE IS ABOUT FIVE LANES AND THEY'RE BUILDING THE SHEETS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT, THAT'S ABOUT FIVE LANES ACROSS.
AND THERE'S A TURN LANE INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND THE SCHOOL BUS IS ALL THE WAY SOUTHBOUND OVER TO THE RIGHT WHEN IT'S STOPPING.
AND THE PEOPLE COMING NORTHBOUND, THERE'S NO DIVIDER.
AND THEY GET, THAT'S, UH, THE NUMBER ONE SPOT, I BELIEVE, FOR ISSUING CITATIONS.
SO WE'VE RECENTLY MOVED OUR, UM, BMS SIGN UP THERE JUST NORTH OF THE FUEL, THE COUNTY FUEL STATION, IN ORDER TO WARN PEOPLE SCHOOL BUS STOP AHEAD BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT AWARENESS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT GRABBING MONEY.
UM, BUT I JUST GOT A COMPLAINT AND IT WAS COPIED TO THE COUNTY AS WELL, UH, FROM A, A DISABLED VETERAN WHO WAS COMPLAINING THAT HE WAS NORTHBOUND IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE.
AND THE, THE FINE, THE FINE IS OUTRAGEOUS.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO LOWER FINE.
AND THE MARYLAND COURTS CAME BACK AND SAID, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
UM, SO I'LL BE RESPONDING TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO WROTE, BUT HE PASSED THE SCHOOL BUS FOR GOOD OR BAD.
SO, UH, YEAH, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST, UH, ON AS FAR AS AWARENESS.
UM, BUT THE TRAFFIC UNIT IS ALSO FIVE PEOPLE STRONG TO, TO PATROL EVERY HIGHWAY AND EVERY COUNTY ROAD IN THIS COUNTY, UM, TO HANDLE EVERY RADAR REQUEST THAT WE GET.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BECAUSE OF OUR GROWING POPULATION.
AND NO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, UH, NO ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN ADDED, UM, UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION TO MEET THAT REQUEST.
UM, AND MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU IS ABOUT VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THAT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, UM, BUT I HAD HEARD THAT IT'S JUST TOO EXPENSIVE OF AN ASK FOR, UH, FOR YOU ALL TO HANDLE THE, UH, YOU KNOW, DETERMINING THE FINES AND LOOKING AT THE, THE PHOTOS FROM THE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS. UM, AND REALLY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE REALLY JUST WANNA GET VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING SYSTEMS UP.
IF JUSTIN PCIA ROAD, MAYBE ALSO HOOKERS MILL ROAD, UH, BUT NOT ALL THE POSSIBLE SITES LISTED, DO YOU THINK IT WOULD REALLY TAKE A FULL-TIME SHERIFF DEPUTY TO HANDLE JUST THE VEHICLE HEIGHT MONITORING? I, I THINK IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL POSITION.
I THINK THE ONLY PERSON THAT WE HAVE THAT WE COULD GIVE THAT TO CURRENTLY WOULD BE OUR, UH, SCHOOL BUS.
AND I THINK THAT THAT PERSON, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN A GREAT TRAILING OFF OF THE NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS, THAT PERSON IS SUPER BUSY, UM, SCREENING THOSE.
AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, UH, WE'VE SEEN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHERE YOU'VE OVERLOADED SOMEBODY AND THEY JUST START PASSING THINGS THROUGH WITHOUT REALLY REVIEWING IT.
I DON'T WANNA BE CAUGHT IN THAT SITUATION.
UM, BUT, AND, AND MR. ROBBIE'S NOT HERE, SO I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON THE REST OF IT.
THERE WAS SOMETHING WHERE ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTIES THAT WAS DOING VEHICLE HEIGHTS HAD SOME SORT OF LEGAL OR LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.
UM, AND HE THOUGHT, I, I KNOW HE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT, POTENTIALLY PUTTING ANY EFFORT IN THAT DIRECTION IN JEOPARDY.
BUT I, I, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH.
'CAUSE I JUST KNOW THAT THAT COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, THEY MAKE FREQUENT CALLS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ASK FOR INCREASED PATROL, BUT THAT, THAT PUTS A STRAIN ON THE REST OF THE COUNTY.
UH, WHEN THEY'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GO AND, AND WATCH THE VEHICLES.
THEY, THEY, THEY, OUR TRAFFIC UNIT GIVES A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF ITS TIME UP IN PERMAN.
UM, NOT THAT THERE AREN'T TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS THERE, BUT THAT IS NOT WHERE OUR ACCIDENT HOTSPOTS ARE.
THAT IS NOT WHERE THE VOLUME, THE VOLUME OF OUR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ARE.
BUT THEY WANT THEIR OWN, THEY WANT THEIR OWN, AS EVERY COMMUNITY DOES.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT THAT WE GET, UH, ACROSS THIS COUNTY.
WHETHER IT'S NORRISVILLE OR HAVERTY GRACE, OR JOPPA TOWN OR DARLINGTON IS SPEEDERS ON MY ROAD.
AND SOMEONE'S GONNA GET HURT OR KILLED.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY'RE ALL RIGHT BECAUSE EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
UM, BUT PERRYMAN IS NOT THE ACCIDENT CAPITAL.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TERRIBLE COULD BE HAPPENING RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT'S NOT THE, THE DATA DOESN'T SAY THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING OUR
[02:55:01]
EFFORTS.AND WE TRY TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THE ACCIDENT HOTSPOTS AND THE VIOLATION HOTSPOTS.
UM, AND THEN I JUST HAVE A, A FEW CORRECTIONS QUESTIONS.
S**T, THAT WAS YOUR LAST ONE,
THAT WAS MY LAST ONE FOR THE SHERIFF.
REMEMBER I SAID I WAS SAVING CORRECTIONS FOR LAST TONY.
WE SHOULD GO FIRST, BUT, UH, I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
IT WAS GREAT TO READ IN THE, UM, IN THE DOCUMENT SHARED WITH US ABOUT THE WORK YOU ALL DO TO REDUCE REC RECIDIVISM BY OFFERING PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE ARE.
UM, AND ALSO IF THERE'S ANY PROGRAMS YOU'RE CURRENTLY NOT OFFERING THAT YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN OFFERING AND WHAT SOME OF THE BARRIERS ARE FOR YOU TO ADD THEM.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED ME THAT QUESTION.
'CAUSE THIS, THIS MORNING I RECEIVED AN EMAIL.
'CAUSE I ASKED THAT SAME QUESTION LAST WEEK AND OUR PROGRAMS PERSON WASN'T IN.
SO OUR POPULATION AS OF YESTERDAY WAS ABOUT 280 INMATES.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE 206 INMATES IN PROGRAMS, UM, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
WE HAVE NINE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER IN THE DETENTION CENTER FROM ALCOHOL ANONYMOUS, NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS BOOK CLUB, DISCUSSION, NEW DIRECTIONS, ANGER MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS, OVERCOMERS IN CHRIST, PARENTING INSIDE AND OUT MEN'S 33.
THOSE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER IN-HOUSE IN PERSON.
WE HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THAT ARE BOOKLETS THAT THE INMATES CAN TAKE BACK TO THEIR HOUSING AREAS AND DO THE PROGRAMS AT A SELF PACE IN THE, IN THEIR, UH, HOUSING AREAS.
AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS ON THE TABLETS THAT THE INMATES CAN DO TO DO SELF, UH, PARENT TO WORK WITH THEM THEIRSELVES TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T COME BACK INTO THE DETENTION CENTER.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE WISHING YOU COULD ADD BUT JUST CAN'T AT THE MOMENT DO EITHER DUE TO STAFFING OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE? STAFFING IS A BIG PART.
I HAVE 21 VACANCIES RIGHT NOW AS OF TODAY.
UM, WHEN WE HAVE IN-PERSON PROGRAMS, I NEED TO SAFELY MOVE THE INMATES FROM THEIR HOUSING AREAS TO THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM.
WE NEED TO MONITOR 'CAUSE WE HAVE CIVILIANS, VOLUNTEERS IN THERE WORKING WITH THE INMATE POPULATION.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE.
BEING 21 DEPUTIES DOWN MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SAFELY DO THOSE PROGRAMS. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE NUMBERS I GAVE, THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS WE DO.
WE DO RELIGIOUS SERVICE ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY.
UM, THERE'S MORE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THE IN MA POPULATION, JUST NOT SELF-HELP KIND OF PROGRAMS. AND NOT ONLY ARE WE 21 DOWN, WE ARE, UH, WE STARTED AN ACADEMY TODAY WITH HOW MANY, UH, START IN THE, WE LOST FIVE, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR ACADEMY HAS 12 IN IT STARTING TODAY.
SO THERE'S 12 IN ADDITION TO THE 21 VACANCIES.
THERE'S ALSO 12 MORE HOLES THAT AREN'T BEING STAFFED FOR THE NEXT 10 WEEKS.
'CAUSE THEY HAD TO SIT THROUGH MANDATORY ACADEMY TRAINING THAT DOESN'T COUNT.
SICK LEAVE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE, WE'VE EVEN REVERTED TO COMMAND STAFF GOING TO AND SITTING IN THE HOSPITAL.
'CAUSE THERE COULD BE A TIME WHERE I HAVE TWO TO THREE INMATES OUT AT THE HOSPITAL, AND THAT REQUIRES TWO SECURITY STAFF TO BE WITH THE INMATES.
UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS, I SAW YOU HAVE 11 CHAPLAINS WHO COME IN AND SUPPORT, UH, YOUR POPULATION.
UH, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE'S, UM, YOU FOUND THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER THE DIVERSE FAITH NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO END UP STAYING, UH, AT THE, UH, CORRECTIONS.
BUT, UH, OR IF THERE ARE GAPS, IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE AS, UH, A COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT AND GET YOU CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE GAPS, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY, I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE SUFFICIENT, UH, WE SERVICE, LIKE I SAID, FRIDAY, UM, WE HAVE SERVICES SATURDAY, WE HAVE SERVICES, AND SUNDAYS WE HAVE SERVICES FOR THE DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.
UM, SO I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
AND, YOU KNOW, CORRECTIONS IS SOMETHING THAT ISN'T AS VISIBLE AS, UH, OUR DEPUTIES WHO ARE OUT ON THE STREET.
IT'S A PLACE THAT I HONESTLY HAVE HAD A BLIND SPOT TO JUST 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN
I HAVE AN EIGHT WEEK OLD BABY
BUT, UM, I HAD ONE OF YOUR, UH, RETIRED OFFICERS REACH OUT AND WE MET FOR AN HOUR AND HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO IN CORRECTIONS.
AND I'M GONNA INVITE, UM, LIKE I'VE DONE OVER HERE, PLEASE COME TO THE DETENTION CENTER.
I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET OUT SAFELY,
[03:00:01]
TAKE A LOOK AROUND, TAKE A TOUR.THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU LEARN AND SEE WHAT THE GOOD THINGS THAT CORRECTIONAL STAFF, AND I SAY STAFF BECAUSE IT'S BOTH DEPUTIES AND CIVILIAN STAFF THAT WE HAVE THE AMAZING WORK THEY DO WITH THE INMATE POPULATION.
THAT'S EVERY, THAT'S REALLY EVERYTHING, TONY.
SO, AND I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY DO YOU TAKE A TOUR OF, UH, THE, UH, DETENTION CENTER, BUT IF, UH, IF THE SHERIFF COULD SEE HIS WAY FIT FOR, UH, THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE A RIDE.
I THINK IT WOULD OPEN YOUR EYES UP TO EXACTLY WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN DO AND FACE EVERY DAY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE AND I KNOW TONY G HAS, SO IT OFFERS THERE AT ANY TIME.
DENNIS GOT ONE QUESTION FOR YOU WHO I WAS SNEEZING BEFORE, SO THEY MADE ME TURN IT OFF.
WHO, UH,
THEY DO THE SAME THING IN MY HOUSE ALSO, SIR.
SO IF WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AND GET LEGISLATION PASSED THAT THEY CAN'T WELL, I'M JUST GONNA FIND OUT WHO, WHO'S, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THAT TONIGHT AND CALL 'EM.
I'VE HAD NEIGHBORS ASKING ME WHY THEY'RE PICKING TRASH UP AND SLAMMING THOSE CONTAINERS AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
AND IT HAS WOKE ME UP A COUPLE TIMES.
SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
DO YOU KNOW IT'S A COUNTY CONTRACT.
SO I'LL FIND THAT THE COUNTY HAS A CONTRACT WITH PROVIDERS, UM, AND WE JUST TAKE OUR SERVICES OFF THE COUNTY CONTRACT.
I HAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS, SO, BUT, UH, SHERIFF, GOOD AFTERNOON.
UM, THE, THE TASER, THE ADDED WARRANTY, THE REMOVAL PER PER SAFETY AND THE LIABILITY ISSUE THAT BRINGS, UM, AND THE COST OF THAT WAS ONE, 1.1 MILLION OR 1.3 MILLION.
WE ASKED FOR 2.5, UM, AND WHEN WE WERE ALLOTTED 1.5 IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, JENNIFER WILL KICK ME IF I'M GET WRONG.
WE REACHED OUT TO AXON TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR US, UM, IN THE LONG TERM, NOT FUNDING A MILLION THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE A MILLION NEXT YEAR AND A MILLION THE YEAR AFTER.
UM, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA RESULT IN THESE 12 CONTRACTS COSTING MILLIONS MORE AS THEY ARE INDIVIDUALLY RENEWED INSTEAD OF BUNDLING.
THAT'S WHY WE WERE TRYING TO GET THIS PACKAGE BUNDLED.
SHE, SHE GAVE ME AN A PLUS FOR THAT ANSWER.
WELL I THINK THE, THE, THE ISSUE COMES WITH ME IS A LIABILITY ISSUE MORE THAN ANYTHING.
ESPECIALLY ON STUFF THAT'S OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THAT STUFF.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU START TALKING ABOUT LIABILITY, I UNDERSTAND THE LIABILITY PORTION OF IT.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN OF MINE.
UM, I KNOW SOMETHING ELSE WE IMPLEMENTED WITH RICH TRUITT, UM, WHICH WAS FIRE LANES FINES FOR FIRE LANES THAT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FALLS IN WHAT DEPARTMENT AND, AND YOU KNOW, HAVE WE SEEN ANY REVENUE BASED ON THAT? HAVE WE STARTED ENFORCING THAT YET OR NOT? ARE THEY STILL WORKING ON THAT? I, I, I HAVE NOT HEARD.
IN OUR WEEKLY COMP, SAY I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, THAT IT WOULD JUST BE THE PATROL GETTING A CALL OR, YOU KNOW, ON PATROL TO SEE IT.
I KNOW IT BEFORE WE ONLY HAD LIKE TWO, ONE WAS MAYBE GREENBRIER AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS FESTIVAL.
THEY HAD A ENFORCEABLE FIRE LANE, I THINK.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN UPDATED OR NOT.
I CAN CHECK WITH OUR TRAFFIC UNIT AND CHECK WITH THE PRECINCT CAPTAINS.
UM, I, I WANT TO THANK YOU, CONGRATULATE YOU ON ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU DID FOR THE 2 87 G PROGRAM.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S MAJORLY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR US, THAT, THAT THAT'S, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LOOK, YOU, YOU, YOU COME IN HERE, YOU COMMIT A CRIME, YOU, YOU SERVE YOUR TIME.
I MEAN, YOU SHOULD GO BACK OUT, NOT PROBABLY, BUT, UM, ICE MAKES THAT DETERMINATION AS YOU ARE, I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE, BUT JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S, UH, INFORMATION ICE MAKES THAT DETERMINATION, NOT US.
BUT AGAIN, THEY DO THAT BASED ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, THAT THEY EVALUATE NOT ON WHAT THE PERSON IS ARRESTED FOR.
UM, IS THAT RINGS OR IS THAT UP OR DOWN FROM PR PRIOR YEAR? UH, AND I KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS CHANGED WELL, HOW WE PURPORT THINGS, I GUESS WITH THE FBI DOES, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR, UH, YEAH, AUTO THEFTS STILL.
I MEAN, WE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE THAT IT, IT, I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE HANDLING LESS AUTO THEFT THAN WE WERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE KIA AND THE HYUNDAI HYUNDAI, UM, BEING STOLEN.
AND AGAIN, I JUST NOTED TO THE COLONEL TODAY OR YESTERDAY, UM, I'M READING MORE, OH, ONES OUR, OUR FIELD REPORTS ABOUT THESE CARS BEING STOLEN.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST IT WAS THE JUVENILE ISSUE THAT THE JUVENILES WOULD, UM, STEAL THE CARS AND GET CUT LOOSE AND GO RIGHT BACK TO STEALING THE CARS.
[03:05:01]
TO, UM, TRAIL OFF A LITTLE BIT.I DON'T HAVE A HARD FIGURE, BUT I WOULD ASSUME WE'RE DOWN TO, UM, YEAH, I, I, I DON'T HAVE A HARD FIGURE, BUT WE CAN FIND IT FOR YOU.
I TOOK CARE OF THAT OTHER ISSUE THOUGH WHEN I SAT HERE.
SO IT'S WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GO DO IT.
IT WAS, IT WAS IN STORAGE, SO I DIDN'T, DIDN'T TAKE, BUT, UM, SO, UM, AND THEN, UM, I SAW HERE TOTAL VALUE OF ASSETS, SEIZURES.
DO WE GET TO SELL THOSE ASSETS AND YOU GUYS COLLECT THE MONEY? OR WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE ASSETS? UH, WE HAVE TO, DEPENDING.
AND MAYBE WHO'S, WHO'S GONNA BE BEST MAJOR? DUNBAR, YOU OR JACK? DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO DO ANSWER YOU SELL ASSETS? YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA COME UP HERE, HERE.
THE ANSWER'S YES, BUT I'LL LET YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY, YOU KNOW, TOOK THE GUNS AND MELTED 'EM OR, BUT MOST OF THE OTHER ASSETS ARE, ARE PROPERTY ASSETS LIKE VEHICLES AND ANY OTHER ASSETS LIKE THAT, WE GET 'EM IN AND THEN WE SELL 'EM.
AND YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO TAKE THAT MONEY IN AND USE THAT.
CAN YOU USE THAT FOR ANYTHING SPECIFIC OR GENERAL OR, WE DON'T BUY VEHICLES WITH THEM.
UH, WE, WE OP OPERATE OFF THAT MONEY.
UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING A LITTLE BIT NOW FOR, UH, DNA SAMPLES SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON SOME COLD CASES.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES HAVE A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS.
SO IF WE, FOR, IF IT'S FORFEIT UNDER STATE, UH, THE STATE OF THE FEDS, IT MATTERS ON HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY.
BUT AS I SAID EARLIER IN MY PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, WE HAD HOPED TO SPEND SOME OF THE ASSET FORFEITURE MONEY BUYING, UH, REPLACEMENT DRONES THAT WE HAD A NEED FOR.
UM, THE COUNTY STOOD IN THE WAY OF THAT, UH, THROUGH BLOCKING UP THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
SO WE, UM, WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THE FOUNDATION STEPPED IN AND PURCHASED THE DRONES THAT WERE NEEDED, UM, FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
BUT THAT CONTINUES TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE.
I, I KNOW I SAW THE ONE DRONE THAT THEY SAID, I WAS AMAZED AT THAT I'LL FLY IN LIKE, UH, RAINSTORM SOME TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RAINSTORM AND, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GONNA NEED A DRONE AND, AND IT'S, YOU NEED IT TO FLY IN THE RAIN LIKE THAT.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY BADASS.
I, I, I'M TOLD THE DRONES THAT ARE BEING BUILT HERE IN THE COUNTY ARE GREAT FOR THE PURPOSE THAT THEY'RE BEING BUILT FOR MILITARY, THAT THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON THE MILITARY PROJECTS, BUT AGAIN, THEY ADMIT THEMSELVES, THEY'RE NOT IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKET AND TRYING TO FIT IT, UM, SHOEHORN IT, I GUESS IS SET THE SAYING INTO, INTO SOMETHING MAKE IT FIT ISN'T, ISN'T WHAT OUR CITIZENS DESERVE OR NEED.
UM, I'VE GOT QUESTION FOR THE SHERIFF.
UM, FIRST WITH THE TASERS, UM, I'M, I WAS LISTENING TO YOU AND, UM, DEFINITELY SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK.
HOW LONG DO THE TASERS ACTUALLY LAST? UM, THEY PUT A FIVE YEAR IS WHAT AXON COMES OUT WITH A FIVE YEAR.
WE HAVE, WHAT'S THE MODEL THAT WE HAVE AT THE JAIL? X 26, WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE, UH, TASER SEVEN, WHICH IS NOW BEING REPLACED BY THE TASER 10.
SO JUST LIKE ALL TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ACROSS OUR SOFTWARE PLATFORMS, IT'S ACROSS EVERYTHING.
I GET THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T LIKE IT.
BUT THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE CONTINUING TO UP, IT'S LIKE YOUR IWATCH OR YOUR IPHONE, UM, THEY CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE TECHNOLOGY, MAKE IT BETTER, MAKE IT SAFER, BUT THEY'RE ALSO PUTTING THE LIMITS ON THE PAST PRODUCT.
UH, NONE OF THE X 26 THAT THEY, THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY WON'T FIX 'EM, THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE 'EM AND THROW 'EM IN THE TRASH CAN.
WOULD THEY STILL WORK? YOU KNOW, 99% PROBABLY.
SO I'D RATHER HAVE A TOOL THAT'S GONNA WORK, YOU KNOW, THAT I HAVE CONFIDENCE IS GONNA WORK A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY NEED TO BE REPLACING THEM EVERY FIVE YEARS BASED ON THIS WARRANTY CIRCUMSTANCE, KEEPING SAFETY AND LIABILITY DOWN BASED ON THE VENDOR'S, UH, RECOMMENDED SHELF LIFE FOR THE PRODUCT.
AND ALSO WITH THE DRONES, I, I DEFINITELY THINK DRONES ARE VERY USEFUL, AS YOU KNOW, SHERIFF, I TOLD YOU MY HUSBAND WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BALTIMORE CITY.
AND SO HOW MANY ARE YOU USING RIGHT NOW AND ARE, AND WHAT IS THE COST OF THE ONES YOU THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO USE? YEAH.
WELL, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE 11, UM, CURRENTLY, UH, THEY ARE, WE, WE HAVE PURCHASED WHAT WE INITIALLY PURCHASED WHEN WE STARTED THIS WAS THE DJI DRONE, WHICH IS A DRONE THAT'S MADE IN CHINA, WHICH NO ONE ARGUES IS THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED AND LEAST EXPENSIVE PRODUCT OUT THERE.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN PRESENTATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE, UH, STAND UP AND
[03:10:01]
SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHINESE DRONE.IT COULD BE USED TO SPY ON YOU.
WE HAVE SAT THROUGH OUR, OUR DRONE UNIT HAS, UM, GONE THROUGH GREAT LENGTH TO NOT ONLY EXPLAIN TO ME, BUT TO OUTLINE TO THE COUNTY ABOUT HOW THOSE CONCERNS ARE NEGATED IN HOW WE USE THE PRODUCT.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT MR. MCCORD SAT THROUGH A PRESENTATION AT MACO, I THINK NOW TWO, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, WHERE THEY, THAT THAT WAS THE GIST COMING OUTTA THERE AS WELL.
UM, THE NEXT CLOSEST PRODUCT IS SKYDIO, WHICH IS ALSO AXON.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE AFFILIATED WITH AXON.
UM, AND THEY, UH, BASICALLY THEIR DRONES ARE TWICE AS MUCH AND THEY'RE GETTING MORE RELIABLE, BUT NOT AS RELIABLE.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE, THE COMPANY HERE IN THE COUNTY, UH, GOD BLESS 'EM FOR WHAT THEY DO, THEY SUPPORT OUR MILITARY APPARENTLY, BUT THEY ARE NOT READY FOR, OR I DON'T THINK THEY HAD ANY INITIAL INTENTIONS TO BE, UH, IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT MARKET USED IN THAT.
UM, AND THEN I'M ON THE MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.
UM, AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KIND OF DOING A, A PARTNERSHIP, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL WORKER LICENSE ON THESE CRISIS AND SUICIDE CALLS.
HAS THAT BEEN HAPPENING YET? OR IS THAT STILL IN THE WORKS OF HAPPENING? I'M TRYING TO STILL FIGURE OUT IF IT'S, UH, SURE.
I, I MEAN, WELL, WE'VE HAD MOBILE CRISIS FOR YEARS.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN AN EFFORT.
UM, WHO'S STILL LEADING FROM THE COUNTY? IT'S JENNIFER REDING? NO, NOT JENNIFER THAT, JENNIFER THE OTHER, UM, JENNIFER LEFT.
UH OH, SHE LEFT, SHE LEFT, SHE LEFT THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE.
BUT IT'S BEEN, WE HAD A MEETING WITH HER AND MAYBE THERE HAD BEEN SOME OTHER MEETINGS SINCE, BUT IT'S BEEN PROBABLY GOING ON A YEAR.
IT'S, IT IS PROBABLY BEEN GOING ON A YEAR.
UH, I, I, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTY TO MY LEFT HAD INTENDED TO DO.
NOT, NOT THE WARDEN
I, I KNOW WE HEARD INITIAL TALKS ABOUT, UH, DEPUTIES AND MM-HMM
UM, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS RIDING IN A CAR TOGETHER.
UM, OR, OR, OR USING SOMEHOW THE MEDIC UNIT, NOT THE COUNTIES, ASSUMING THAT, UH, I, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY FORWARD MOVEMENT ON ANY OF THAT.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT OUR DEPUTIES CAN REACH OUT TO IF, IF WE HAVE A NEED.
I, I KNOW IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, THEY, THEY'VE DONE THAT.
I'VE DONE THAT PROGRAM WITH THEM.
SO I WAS JUST, I KNEW IT WAS KIND OF COMING OR TEETERING AND JUST WAS KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS OFFICERS ON PATROL IN A CAR WITH A YES.
AND IT HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO THAT, IT TAKES EXTRA PEOPLE AND, AND YOU HAVE TO COMMIT THAT THAT CAR IS NOT TIED UP ON A MAILBOX DESTRUCTION IN NORRISVILLE OR WORKING A TRAFFIC POST DOWN IN PERMAN AND ABLE TO RESPOND WHEN THE NEED COMES IN.
SO IT HAS TO BE A DEDICATED RESOURCE IS KIND OF WHAT WE HAVE SAID.
IF, IF THAT WAS THE DIRECTION THAT THIS PROGRAM WOULD ULTIMATELY TAKE HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
SO DEFINITELY WOULD NEED MORE FUNDING IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
LIKE EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ELSE, ANYTHING GOOD, COST, MONEY.
UM, AND THEN FOR THE WARDEN, I KNOW WHEN I MET AND DID THE TOUR, AND I DO RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T GO ON THE TOUR, UM, IT WAS A GREAT, UH, TO SEE EVERYTHING.
I KNOW WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT LIKE THOSE, UM, INMATES THAT COME IN WHO MIGHT BE ON METHADONE OR THOSE SUBOXONE PROGRAMS, AND YOU WERE FEARFUL THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CUTS IN SOME OF THAT MONEY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
FOR SOME REASON, I THOUGHT WHEN I WAS ON THAT TOUR.
WELL, THE, SO WE WERE ONLY DOING THE CONTINUATIONS.
WE'RE NOT DOING THE INDUCTIONS.
UM, THAT'S BECAUSE OF FUNDING.
UM, AS I SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE STATE SAID THEY WILL FUND THIS, AND THE STATE'S NOT FUNDING ANYTHING.
UM, THE, IT'S ABOUT $2.2 MILLION THAT WE NEED.
I NEED FIVE ADDITIONAL CORRECTIONAL STAFFS FIRST BEFORE I DO ANYTHING ELSE.
BECAUSE I SAID EARLIER, MOVING INMATES AROUND THE JAIL, I NEED CORRECTIONAL DEPUTIES TO MOVE THE INMATES FROM A HOUSING AREA TO OVER THEIR DOSING AREA.
SO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I NEED STAFF TO FACILITATE THAT.
AND THEN IF WE INCREASE MORE THAN 50 THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING, THEN I'M GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL NURSING, ADDITIONAL HOURS FOR THE DOCTOR TO VISIT ADDITIONAL PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO WORK WITH THESE INMATES.
AND IT'S ABOUT $2.2 MILLION, UM, THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS.
NOW, WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONS, UM, WITH, UH, SUZANNE AFFLECK BAUER DOWN AT THE HOUSING, BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE COORDINATING THE OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND.
AND TRYING TO USE THE OPIOID RESTITUTION FUND TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS.
INSTEAD OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAYING FOR THIS.
RIGHT NOW, THE HARTFORD COUNTY TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING ABOUT $848,000 A YEAR FOR 50 INMATES TO BE ON, UH, METHADONE OR B BUPRENORPHINE.
WANTED THAT CONVERSATION TO OCCUR.
[03:15:01]
IN HERE YESTERDAY, AND THEY WERE SHARING SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT NOT HAVING, UM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MUCH LIKE WE HAVE HERE, THAT PROVIDE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT.UM, AND IT KIND OF RAISED SOME RED FLAGS FOR US.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT ADDING SOME SHERIFF'S TO THEM? YEAH, WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSONNEL REQUEST THAT WE DID LAST OCTOBER, THE, THE THING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OBJECTS TO GETTING, UM, THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR OUR PERSONNEL, WE RATED THAT, UM, OUR FIRST PRIORITY WAS GETTING THE, UH, REST OF THE DEPUTIES FOR THE BUILD OUT OF THE CENTRAL PRECINCT PEOPLE, THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE THE BUILDING, WHICH I THINK WAS 24.
BEHIND THAT WAS THE DEPUTIES TO GET OUR SWAT TEAM.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, YOU'LL SEE HOW ACTIVE THEY ARE WITH SEARCH WARRANTS AND CALL OUTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, TO GET THAT UP TO A FULL-TIME TEAM.
AND OUR THIRD PRIORITY, STAFFING PRIORITY WAS TO TRY TO MEET THE JUDGE'S REQUEST FOR, UM, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
BUT, UM, WE DO THE SERVICE HERE AND AT THE COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING THROUGH A MOU WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SHERIFF TO PROVIDE COURT SECURITY AT THE CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE.
THERE WAS LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
IT ENDED UP BEING, UM, REALLY JUST A, THAT THEY HAVE TO DO A SURVEY.
I WAS ON THE CALL, I WAS ON A CALL THE OTHER DAY WITH MARYLAND SHERIFFS.
UM, ONE OF THE JUDGES, UH, IN THE STATE.
AND, UH, THREE OF THE SHERIFFS ARE ON THIS WORK GROUP.
THEY'RE GONNA BE PUTTING OUT A STUDY.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE THE LEGISLATURE ULTIMATELY MANDATE WHAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE IN THERE.
UM, BUT SO FAR, UH, WHEN YOU READ THE REQUEST, UH, THERE'S COURT FUNCTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE AT 18 OFFICE STREET, THAT WAS, UM, PART OF THE THING.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MANY? UH, IT WAS FOUR.
SO THE DEPUTIES THAT GENERALLY WORK HERE, NOT ALL THE TIME WERE AT THE COURTHOUSE ARE NOT, THEY'RE ALL MPTC, MARYLAND POLICE, UH, TRAINING COMMISSION CERTIFIED.
UH, IT'S A STANDARD THAT WE HOLD HERE IN THE COUNTY, BUT THE, GENERALLY, THEY'VE RETIRED FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY'RE WORKING.
THEY DON'T WANNA GO OUT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, ANSWER 9 1 1 CALLS.
THEY WANT THE, THE CONVENIENCE OF BEING IN A BUILDING WITH HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING,
UM, SO, UH, WE, WE HIRE SPECIAL FOR THAT.
THEY DON'T COST, THOSE FOUR POSITIONS DON'T COST US AS MUCH AS BY AS GETTING A PATROL DEPUTY, BECAUSE WITH THAT COMES THE COST OF A CAR.
UM, AND, AND THE OTHER THINGS.
MS. S, YOU ALWAYS SAVE ME FOR LAST
UM, I HAD A QUESTION THE OTHER DAY THAT CAME UP, AND I'M STILL KIND OF UNCLEAR ON IT.
THE, AND ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS TASER LIABILITY, IS THE COUNTY PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? UH, NO.
I WAS HERE A, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S AN ISSUE.
I KNOW THE COUNTY COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAVE AGREED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH US, INCLUDED ALL THE PARTNERS AT THE TABLE.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT MEETING.
I THOUGHT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED, BUT APPARENTLY THAT ONE HASN'T BEEN SCHEDULED, UM, YET, JUST YET.
SO I'M HOPING THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, THE COUNTY, UH, ATTORNEY, UM, AT LEAST LIVES UP TO HIS WORD ON THAT THING AND COMES TO THAT MEETING.
UM, SO YES, THE RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEING THE WORD DENY ON ONE OF THE LAWSUITS ARE BEING SUED.
WE HAD TO PERSONALLY ENTER OUR OWN REPRESENTATION BECAUSE THE COUNTY LAW DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPRESENT ME AND MY, UM, DEPUTIES, IF WE ARE PERFORMING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION OR CORRECTIONAL FUNCTION, UM, MR. BLOOMQUIST CONTINUES TO ASSERT IN THE SHOES OF THE AG THAT LAW CHANGED, AND HE SOMEHOW DOESN'T WANT TO COMPREHEND THE NEW LAW THAT, UM, IT'S NOT IN THE SHOES OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANYMORE.
IT'S NOT, UM, BEING DESIGNATED AS AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL OR A SPECIAL ATTORNEY GENERAL, JUST FOR THAT CASE.
UM, THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED PERIOD BY LAW, FULL STOP.
UH, AND YET MR. BLOOMQUIST HAS COME UP WITH A, UH, AGREEMENT THAT HE WOULD, HE WANTS OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO SIGN WHEN AND WANTS ME TO SIGN.
UM, SO I HAVE ON MY LEFT HAND THE OPTION THAT THE LAW SAYS THEY HAVE TO REPRESENT ME.
I LIKE THAT ON THE RIGHT HAND.
WHEREAS IF I WERE TO SPEAK MY MIND ABOUT SOMETHING, SAY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT, I DIDN'T AGREE WITH, UH, MR. B BLOOMQUIST COULD DECIDE NOT TO REPRESENT ME.
AND THEN I'VE AGREED THROUGH SIGNING THIS THAT I'LL PAY ANY, UM, JUDGEMENTS AGAINST, UH, ME OR MY DEPUTIES FOR TRYING TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS.
SO I HAVEN'T SIGNED AN AGREEMENT.
I WILL NOT SIGN AN AGREEMENT, AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UM, THE EXCHANGE THAT TOOK PLACE HERE THE OTHER DAY, UH, AND THE AGREEMENT THAT THERE COULD BE A MEETING THAT WE CAN PUT ARREST ALL THIS NONSENSE, AND THE COUNTY, UH, ATTORNEY WILL GET DOWN TO DOING THIS JOB.
[03:20:01]
YOU.UM, ANYONE, MS. LYNCH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I HAVE TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS.
UH, WITH THE DRONES, HOW ARE WE UTILIZING THAT FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES? UM, WE, WE USED THEM, AS I SAID, THE STABBING ON SUNDAY.
THEY WERE, UH, PUT UP WITHIN MINUTES.
UH, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL SUCCESS STORIES, INCLUDING A HOME INVASION ALONG THE MOM PA TRAIL COUPLE.
THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OR SO AGO WHERE, UH, THERE WAS A, A FIREARM DISCHARGE.
THE HOMEOWNER, WAS IT HOMEOWNER THAT WAS WOUNDED? YES, SIR.
THE GUY RAN OVER BEHIND THE OLD, UM, THE WAWA AND THE OLD, UM, USED TO BE A TOYS R US, I FORGET WHAT IT IS NOW.
AUTO PARTS STORE TO THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
OUR DRONE LOCATED HIM, UM, OVER THERE, UH, MR. MCCORD AND I SAT IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ONE NIGHT OVER TOP OF MR. WATSON, THE LENGTH COMMAND HUNT, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHOT TWO BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS.
AND I, UM, RECEIVED A LOT OF NICE COMMENTS BECAUSE I WENT, UH, ON A PRESS CONFERENCE AND ANNOUNCED THAT, UH, WE, THIS THING WAS GONNA END THERE.
AND WE WERE, YOU KNOW, HE WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
AND I HAD THAT LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE BECAUSE OUR DRONE WAS FLYING OVER TOP ALL NIGHT LONG.
WE SAT THERE AND WATCHED HIS HEAT SIGNATURE HUNKERED DOWN IN THE ROCKS ALL NIGHT LONG.
UM, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST CAME IN THE OFFICE, WE HAD A HELICOPTER.
HELICOPTER'S EXPENSIVE TAKES PEOPLE TO THIS TAKES A PERSON TO MAN THE OPERATION OF THE DRONE, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE TWO PEOPLE GOING UP IN THE AIR, A SPOTTER AND A PILOT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, UM, MISSING PERSON CASES, I THINK THERE'S A STAT IN THERE HOW MANY MISSING PERSON CASES IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, UM, IT'S BEEN USED FOR, UH, AND HOW MANY TIMES IT'S BEEN DEPLOYED.
BUT THE BENEFIT OF THE WAY THAT WE USE IT, UH, IS THAT THEY ARE ON PATROL WITH THE TRAINED DEPUTIES WHO, YOU KNOW, RE WHILE THEY'RE RESPONDING, IF WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE OF THEM WORKING, AND WITH THAT MANY OF THEM, UM, THERE'S USUALLY SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN GET THAT THING AIRBORNE QUICKLY.
THE 12 THAT WERE BROUGHT FOR DES, I MEAN, I, I, I, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THEM UP NEXT.
GOD BLESS 'EM FOR WHAT THEY DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, RICK DOES A GREAT JOB, AND I, I SEE HIM AND HIS STAFF IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, WHAT DES NEEDS WITH 12 DRONES.
UNLESS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT SAME SORT OF MOBILE DEPLOYMENT, UM, OFF THE BACK OF AMBULANCES OR SOMETHING.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS, UH, WHY YOU WOULD BUY 12 DRONES, UM, FOR DES.
BUT AGAIN, I, I, AS I SAID IN MY COMMENTS, WE'VE MET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY COMMAND WERE WITH ME WHEN WE DID, AND HE WANTS US TO TRY 'EM OUT.
AND IF WE DON'T LIKE 'EM, THEY CAN GO TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS, OR THE MUNICIPAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN ASKING, WELL, YOU BOUGHT 'EM BECAUSE D YOU'RE SAYING DES HAD TO HAVE 'EM.
AND THAT'S WHY THE PROCUREMENT WAS SINGLE SOURCE, SOLE SOURCE, WHATEVER THE WORDING IS, INSTEAD OF, UM, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING US TO MOVE FORWARD AND BUY WHAT WE WANTED, WE'VE NOW SAT TWO AND A HALF YEARS WITHOUT BUYING, UM, REPLACEMENT DJI DRONES.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS AROUND, UH, TRYING TO MITIGATE SPEEDING.
I USED TO SEE THE SPEED SIGN THAT WILL MOVE AROUND AND IT'LL LET YOU KNOW, HEY, SLOW DOWN.
AND NOT FOR ME, FOR PEOPLE AROUND ME,
AND, UM, SLASH UH, SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE? I REMEMBER WORKING WITH AARON, AND AARON WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME, TORI, WE ONLY HAVE ONE.
UH, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS? OR IS THAT NOT ON THE RADAR? WELL, IT'S TWO, IT'S TWOFOLD.
IT TAKES PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TO MOVE THE SIGN OUT, PUT IT UP, SET IT UP, AND THEN GO OUT AND MOVE IT TO THE NEXT PLACE.
SO ALONG WITH THE RADAR REQUEST, WHEN WE GET A REQUEST, I, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF WHERE I WENT JUST THE OTHER DAY AND I SAW OUR SPEED TRAILER SET UP.
I THINK IT WAS UP NORTH HARTFORD SOMEWHERE.
SO THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE ONE, I KNOW IT'S FUNCTIONAL.
DO WE HAVE TWO? I THINK WE HAVE TWO, BUT WE HAVE ONE THAT IS NEWER.
UH, WE'VE PROBABLY BOUGHT IT WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT'S NOT GOT A FIVE YEAR EXPIRATION.
UH, SO IT, UM, IT, IT, BUT IT TAKES THE TRAFFIC UNIT ALONG WITH ALL THEIR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF, YOU KNOW, SETTING UP DUI CHECKPOINTS, DOING ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONS, DOING SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS, UM, FOCUSING ON ALL THE RADAR, UH, ENFORCEMENT REQUESTS THAT WE GET.
UM, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THEIR POLICE OFFICER THAT THEY, THEY WROTE A LETTER FOR.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S, IF WE HAD MORE, IT WOULD JUST BE MORE CHALLENGING TO GET 'EM OUT.
SO WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT PURCHASING ANYMORE AT, AT THE PRESENT TIME.
BEN, YOU WANNA GO TO CAPITAL? YES, SIR.
UH, CAPITAL BEGINS ON PAGE 96 OF THE CAPITAL BOOK.
UH, THE, THE FIRST PROJECT THERE IS THE HARPER COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FACILITY REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.
THERE'S $3 MILLION IN FUTURE COUNTY BONDS ALLOCATED FOR FY 26.
[03:25:01]
ON PAGE 97 IS SHERIFF'S OFFICE FLEET REPLACEMENT.THERE'S 1,250,000 IN PEGO FUNDING PROVIDED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES.
ON PAGE 98 IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY AND EVIDENCE SOLUTIONS, CAPITAL PAR PROJECT.
THERE'S 1,500,000 IN PEGO FUNDING PROVIDED FOR EQUIPMENT.
AND THEN ON PAGE 99 IS THE MOBILE AND PORTABLE RADIO CAPITAL PROJECT.
THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS OVERSEEN BY DES TO MAINTAIN, UPGRADE, AND REPLACE PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS.
LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIOS WILL BE UPGRADED IN FY 26, UH, 90% OF WHICH BELONG TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH THE REMAINDER BELONGING TO MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THERE'S $5 MILLION IN FUTURE COUNTY BONDS ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CAPITAL SIDE? UH, JUST THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE COUNTY HAS DECIDED TO REFLECT THAT EXPENDITURE INTO OUR BUDGET TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE ON THE DECEPTIVE SIDE OF, OF, OF SITTING THERE SAYING THAT YOU'VE DONE 6% GROWTH FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UM, AND YET YOU THROW A HALF A MILLION OR $5 MILLION INTO SOMETHING THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT, JEN? SO IT'S UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY? IT'S UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH WELL, NO.
YES, DES GETS THE RADIOS, BUT I DON'T, WE'VE NEVER HAD IT AS A LINE ITEM IN OUR CAPITAL, UH, BUDGET BEFORE IT SURPRISED ME WHEN I SAW IT.
UM, ANYONE ELSE QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL? OH, A MILLION AND A HALF.
THE, THE, UH, INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY TECH IS THE AXON THING.
OH, THAT WE HAD SO MUCH DISCUSSION.
SO COUPLE THINGS REAL QUICK BEFORE WE GO.
UH, JEFF, YES, MEGAN IS WORKING ON THE MEETING WITH THE, UH, LAW DEPARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET.
UH, WE WILL KEEP YOU INVOLVED WITH THAT.
MR. CASTLEY, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER FROM ME ON THURSDAY IN REFERENCE TO MR. BLOMQUIST ACTIONS HERE IN THE CHAMBER.
UM, AND THEN ROBERT, I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM HERE, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US EVERY DAY.
UM, EMERGENCY SERVICES NEXT, WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP, UH, EMERGENCY SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE THREE 20.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 55,281,991 ACROSS EIGHT BUDGETARY DIVISIONS, ALL FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
DES ADMINISTRATION BEGINS ON PAGE 3 25.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 2,727,510, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 206,000 700 0 8.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 19,508.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 6,190 DUE TO TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT INCREASE TOTALING 58,636.
TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASE 1,914.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING IN A DECREASE OF $31,024.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 166,000 FOR ELECTRICITY, AS WELL AS, UM, INCREASES FOR HEATING FUEL AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
AND THOSE ARE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN OPERATING EQUIPMENT.
SERVICE BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 8,800 FOR MEALS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, DELIVERY CHARGES, AND, UH, GENER, UM, JANITORIAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM PURCHASE BUSINESS AND TRAVEL INCREASES 12,400 FOR TRAINING, SEMINARS AND PARKING.
NEXT DIVISION IS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 28.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 11,780,322, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 651,330.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 957,080.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES INCREASING 257,157 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, TURNOVER AND PARTIAL YEAR FUNDING FOR VACANT POSITIONS, FY 26 COLA AND MERIT INCREASE COSTING 302,786.
OVERTIME INCREASE OF 100,000, SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL INCREASE OF 26,700.
AND THEN BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 270 70,437.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES DECREASED 306,250 FOR EMERGENCY REPORTING SYSTEM DUE TO ONE TIME FY 25 EXPENSES,
[03:30:01]
AS WELL AS A DECREASE IN COMMUNICATION SERVICE BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS INCREASES 5,500 FOR UNIFORM PURCHASE, PARTIALLY OFFSET BY A DECREASE IN OTHER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 5,000 FOR TRAINING SEMINARS AND COURSES.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS TO PROVIDE FOR RHS FOR A GRANT.
EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SERVICES BEGINS ON PAGE 3 31.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 3,129,897, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 177,000 7 0 9.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASED 35,842.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE FY 26 AND MERIT INCREASE TOTALING 25,338.
AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 10,504 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASED 137,050.
UM, THAT'S THE RESULT OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES INCREASES OF 90,000 FOR MOTOROLA ANNUAL MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INCREASED 54,100 FOR VEHICLE LIGHTING AND STRIPING EMERGENCY REPORTING SYSTEM.
OFFICE EQUIPMENT AND TELEPHONE SERVICE DECREASE A TOTAL OF 7,050 BASED ON ACTUALS, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
DECREASES 7,000 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT BASED ON ACTUALS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS AND TRAVEL.
UM, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES IS NEXT.
I THINK I'LL JUST HOLD OFF ON THAT UNTIL THEY COME UP NEXT, IF THAT'S RIGHT.
THEN WE'LL GO ON TO, UH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 36.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 24 MILLION 841 180 8, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 1,919,058.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASE 1 MILLION 792 14, AND THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARIES DECREASING 18,413 AS THE NET OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND TURNOVER.
THE FY 26 COLA AND MERIT, TOTALING 530 1021 SIX, TEMPORARY PARAMEDIC AND EMT PHYSICIANS CONVERTED TO PERMANENT AT A COST OF 567,684.
TEMPORARY SALARIES DECREASED 600,000, UM, RESULT AS A RESULT OF MAKING, UH, SIX PARAMEDIC POSITIONS PERMANENT EMS EMPLOYEE RETENTION INCENTIVE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AT A COST OF 200,000, OVERTIME INCREASE OF 500,000.
EVENT BENEFIT RATE ADJUSTMENTS TOTALING 611,722.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE $192,044.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN THE EMS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND OF $187,044.
AND ALSO OPERATING EQUIPMENT SERVICE INCREASES BASED ON ACTUALS OF 500, UM, EXCUSE ME, 5,000 SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 35,000.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF MOVING SAFETY EQUIPMENT TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET AT A SAVINGS TO THIS COST CENTER OF 345,000.
MEDICAL SUPPLIES INCREASE BASED ON ACTUALS OF 300,000, AND THEN UNIFORM PURCHASE INCREASES 10,000 BUSINESS AND TRAVEL DECREASES 30,000 FOR TRAINING SEMINARS.
AND THERE'S NO CHANGE IN MISCELLANEOUS FUNDING, WHICH PROVIDES FOR ANNUAL FUNDING CONTRIBUTION OF 132,593 TO THE H GRACE AMBULANCE CORPS.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS BEGINS ON PAGE 3 39.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 936,769, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 76,841.
PERSONAL SERVICES INCREASES 57,141.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OF $915.
THE FY 26 COLA TOTALING 21,862.
TEMPORARY SALARIES INCREASED 26,924.
AND BENEFIT RATE ADJUST, UH, BENEFIT RATE INCREASES TOTALING 7,440.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASE 14,200 FOR SPACE RENTAL AND ELECTRICITY BASED ON RATE PROJECTIONS, SUPPLIES, AND MATERIALS INCREASES 13,000 FOR SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN BUSINESS IN TRAVEL.
AND MISCELLANEOUS DECREASES 7,500 FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES FOR HAZMAT RESPONSE AND FOR MASON DIXON RESCUE DOG INSURANCE BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY.
NEXT IS RESCUE SUPPORT, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 42 AS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 80,000, ALL OF WHICH IS NEW FUNDING PLACED IN THIS COST CENTER FOR BETTER ACCOUNTING OF FACILITIES THAT MAY SERVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS EMS, SPECIAL OPS, OR OTHER RESCUE FUNCTIONS.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 80,000 FOR UTILITIES, BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND FACILITY UPGRADES.
AND THEN LAST, WE HAVE NATURAL DISASTERS, WHICH BEGINS ON PAGE 3 43.
IT HAS A TOTAL BUDGET OF 160,000, WHICH IS
[03:35:01]
NO CHANGE FROM FY 25.THESE FUNDS PROVIDE FOR OVERTIME AND FICA FOR COUNTY PERSONNEL DURING EXTENDED EMERGENCY EVENTS, AS WELL AS FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE CONTRIBUTIONS, THERE IS CAPITAL TO FOLLOW OPERATING.
AND THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR AYERS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD.
MY NAME IS DIRECTOR RICK AYERS.
WITH ME TODAY IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR JOE WOODS AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION CHIEF MICHELLE SEXTON.
AS ALWAYS, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THIS REQUEST, THIS REQUEST REFLECTS OUR BEST EFFORT TO CONSTRUCT A BUDGET THAT WILL CONTINUE HARTFORD COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PROCESS CITIZENS' REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND TO DISPATCH COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY PROVIDERS IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER.
THE DIS THE OUR DISPATCH CENTER HAS THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR USE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DISPATCH PROTOCOLS, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, THE EMERGENCY FIRE PROTOCOLS, AND THE EMERGENCY POLICE PROTOCOLS.
AND RESULTED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS HONOR OF HARTFORD COUNTY BECOMING THE FIRST 9 1 1 CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY THE SECOND IN THE WORLD TO RECEIVE THE ACCREDITATION AND ALL THREE DISPATCH PROTOCOLS.
IT ALSO REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A HIGHLY TRAINED COUNTY EMS SYSTEM, A SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESPONSE TEAM TO HANDLE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL AND TECHNICAL RESCUE INSTANCE, INCLUDING SWIFT WATER RESCUES, HIGH ANGLE RESCUES, CONFINED SPACE RESCUES, TRENCH RESCUES, AND STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE RESCUES.
THIS REQUEST ENSURES THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION IS PREPARED TO STAFF THE EOC AND RESPOND ON A MOMENT'S NOTICE AND THE TECH SERVICES DIVISION PROVIDING RELIABLE WIRELESS RADIO COMMUNICATIONS VIA THE PUBLIC SAFETY VOICE AND DATA SYSTEM.
AND THAT THE TRAINING DIVISION ENSURES ADEQUATE, ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR ALL DES EMPLOYEES BEFORE ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS.
I ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKLOAD IN 2024 AND SOME SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2024.
THE NINE ONE ONE CALL TAKERS HANDLED 240,650 INCOMING TELEPHONE CALLS, INCLUDING 101,000 349 1 1 CALLS ABOUT 61%, ROUGHLY 61,659 OF THE INCOMING 9 1 1 CALLS RESULTED IN A DISPATCH OF EITHER FIRE EMS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM RESPONDED TO 228 CALLS IN 2024.
HARTFORD COUNTY EMS UNITS RESPONDED TO 35,080 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN 2024.
AND OF THOSE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICE AMBULANCES HANDLED 30,395 OF THOSE CALLS.
THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER WAS ACTIVATED EIGHT TIMES FOR VARIOUS DISASTER INCIDENTS IN 2024.
AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE FEDERAL EVALUATED PEACH BOTTOM EXERCISE, WHICH WE'RE REQUIRED TO SU TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE EVERY TWO YEARS, UM, OCCURRED IN APRIL OF 2024 WITH NO MAJOR ISSUES BEING IDENTIFY IDENTIFIED BY FEMA.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
RICK, AS ALWAYS, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED, UH, DES FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
UH, THE ONE QUESTION THAT, THAT I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT IS, UM, I SEE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR EMS. I SEE THE AMOUNT OF CALL, THE CALL VOLUME.
WHAT'S THE TOTAL BILLING RECEIVED FROM THAT? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE.
I MEAN, WE, SO I MEAN BILLING, BILLING WISE, UH, IN, SO THE CURRENT, CURRENT YEAR, WE HAVE IT ESTIMATED AT, UM, 8.2, 8.2 MILLION.
AND NEXT YEAR WE HAVE IT, UM, AT 9.5.
WE'LL, WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE, BUT I THINK THE NUMBERS THAT
AND DO WE STILL HAVE OUTSTANDING BILLING OR ARE WE UP TO DATE ON THAT WITH EVERYTHING NOW? I, I THINK THE, THE BACKLOG
[03:40:01]
HAS, HAS ALL, HAS ALREADY APPEARED CURRENT WITH EVERYTHING.EIGHT EIGHT 8 MILLION AND FOR NEXT YEAR, NINE AND A HALF.
SO 8 MILLION IS WHAT WE FUNDED FOUNDATION WITH YEARS AGO, CORRECT.
UM, AND THE, AND THE INCOMING CALLS AT THE DISPATCH CENTER WAS TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY THREE.
650 WAS ALL THE INCOMING NINE OR TELEPHONE CALLS.
AND THEN THE NINE ONE ONE SPECIFIC CALLS WAS 101,340.
HOW ARE WE KEEPING UP WITH OUR CALL TAKERS AND OUR DISPATCHERS AS FAR AS, UH, THE WORKLOAD THAT THEY HAVE? I KNOW THAT WE'RE SHORT, WELL, WE JUST IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING NEW.
UH, IT STARTED, ACTUALLY, THE GROUP GOT THE, THEIR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB WAS YESTERDAY.
WE ARE TRYING A, UH, CALL TAKER ONLY POSITION IN DISPATCH WHERE WE CAN HIRE PEOPLE AND TRAIN THEM QUICKER THAN BEFORE WHERE THEY HAD TO BE TRAINED RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS A CALL TAKER AND A DISPATCHER.
SO WE'RE TRYING THAT, IT'S KIND OF A TRIAL PERIOD TO SEE IF THAT'S SUCCESSFUL.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE KIND OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP US.
NOW THE HARDEST QUESTION I'M GONNA ASK YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ANSWERING IT.
ARE YOU KEEPING TRISHA IN LINE
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH AT BROAD CREEK WHO ARE NOW DRIVING OUR AMBULANCES HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY.
I KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING THOSE AMBULANCES ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE IN THE CALL CENTER ARE GOOD PEOPLE.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
UM, ALONG THOSE LINES, I DID WANNA ASK ABOUT THAT NEW POSITION OF, OF CALL TAKER.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS BASED ON JUST THE MATH OF MONEY PER POSITION THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID LESS THAN, UH, SPECIALIST ONE.
UH, WHAT'S THE STARTING SALARY DIFFERENCE FOR CALL TAKER VERSUS SPECIALIST ONE? WE, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
I JUST HAVE THIS FEAR THAT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT, UH, THEIR WORK IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
UH, IT'S INCREDIBLY, UH, DRAINING ON THEM EMOTIONALLY AND, AND, UH, MENTALLY TO CALL AFTER CALL, DO THAT WORK.
UM, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT UNLIKE OTHER MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY HAVE TO WORK FOR A 35 YEAR PENSION INSTEAD OF A 20 YEAR PENSION.
UM, AND I JUST DON'T WANT US TO, UH, UNDERCUT THE VALUE OF THEIR WORK BY MAKING A CHEAPER POSITION.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S 18 PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE FALLEN UNDER SPECIALIST, ONE WHO ARE NOW GONNA START AT A LOWER SALARY IN CALL TAKER.
UM, WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING TO ME.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I, I SPOKE THAT INTO THE AIR.
UM, MY OTHER THOUGHT IS, UH, IF I COULD JUST FOLLOW UP, BUT I, AS I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT, HOW WE PUT THIS IN, AND I WILL GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I BELIEVE WHAT WE DID WAS THE 18 POSITIONS FOR THE CALL TAKER.
WE STARTED AT THE SORT OF ENTRY LEVEL OF THE SPECIALIST ONE.
AND WHAT WE HAVE IN HERE FOR THE SPECIALIST ONES THAT WOULD INCLUDE A FEW PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR OR TWO, UM, THAT, THAT WERE, THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE, THE 3% COLA IN MERIT.
UM, SO I THINK THAT, AND I WILL GET YOU THE NUMBERS.
I BELIEVE THEY STARTED THE SAME NUMBER.
BUT I THINK IT'S JUST PUTTING 'EM IN A COUNTY LEVEL WITH NO COUNTY HIGHER COUNTY EXPERIENCE.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL TOO.
UM, ONE OTHER THING THAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE JOB, WHEN WE WERE HIRING PEOPLE TO BE A CALL TAKER AND DISPATCHER, BOTH, THAT MEANT THEY HAD TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT BOTH OR THEY WERE TERMINATED.
WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS PEOPLE THAT WERE VERY GOOD AT CALL TAKING AND WE HAD INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY IN THOSE PEOPLE.
AND THEN WHEN THEY WENT TO THE DISPATCH OPERATION, NO, NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
SOME PEOPLE CAN DO IT AND SOME PEOPLE CAN'T.
BUT THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN DISPATCH.
SO WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TERMINATE THOSE PEOPLE.
NOW WE CAN, IF SOMEBODY IS SUCCESSFUL AS A CALL TAKER, IT'S NOT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY ON THE COUNTY ANYMORE.
WE CAN SIGN THEM OFF AS A CALL TAKER.
THEY CAN STAY A CALL TAKER THE REST OF THEIR CAREER IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
IF THEY WANT TO ADVANCE DOWN THE ROAD TO BE A DISPATCHER AS WELL, IT WILL BE A PROMOTION.
AND THEY WILL ALSO BE TRAINED AT THAT TIME.
BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE FORCED
[03:45:01]
INTO A SITUATION WHERE IF THEY CAN'T PASS A DISPATCH POSITION, THEN WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THEM.SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT.
WE SHOULD JUST SAY TOO THAT, THAT OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL LOOK AT ALL POSITIONS KIND OF COUNTYWIDE IN ORDER TO ASSIGN 'EM.
AND IT'S IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF, OF, OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, OF AN ORGANIZATION THIS SIZE.
YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHERE TO PLACE AN ACCOUNTANT TO VERSUS, UH, A DISPATCHER VERSUS ALL OF THESE THINGS.
UM, BUT IT IS LOOKED AT IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY IN WHICH WE DO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING, UM, EQUITY AND, AND, AND YOU KIND OF ADHERING TO THOSE SAME PRINCIPLES OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND, YOU KNOW, THE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED TO DO THOSE JOBS.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AND AS WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THEY DESERVE SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT THEY, THEY GET.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T GOING AND CREATING A CHEAPER POSITION THAT UNDERCUTS THE RECRUITMENT OF, HEY, YOU GUYS DESERVE MORE.
DEFINITELY NOT THE REASON WHY WE DID IT.
AND THEN, UH, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT THERE'S $200,000 FOR RETENTION OF OUR EMTS, WHICH I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT PROGRAM, BUT I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE, IF NOT THIS YEAR, IN FUTURE YEARS, TO LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE OFFER FOR LONGEVITY FOR, UH, THOSE DISPATCHERS? BECAUSE AS I JUST SPOKE TO, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, I THINK THEY SHOULD GET THE 20 YEAR PENSION.
BUT IF WE AREN'T IN THAT IDEAL WORLD, HOW CAN WE KEEP THEM GOING TO HELP THEM GET TO THAT 35 YEAR PENSION? AND, AND ONE THOUGHT IS EVERY X NUMBER OF YEARS YOU RECEIVE A LONGEVITY TO HELP YOU JUST KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.
'CAUSE IT IS SUCH A DIFFICULT JOB.
AND IT'S, IT'S 30 YEARS, 30 YEARS, 30 YEARS.
I'M A, I'M A YEAR 21, SO I KNOW IT'S 30 YEARS
UM, BUT COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE $200,000 FOR THE RETENTION? SO WHEN WE HIRED, I, I, I, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU KNOW THAT WE JUST TWO YEARS AGO WERE, I DON'T KNOW THAT FOREST IS THE RIGHT WORD, BUT WE HAD TO PUT 17 COUNTY EMS UNITS IN SERVICE QUICKLY.
AND WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL, UM, IN DOING THAT IN UNDER A YEAR.
AND SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN THAT, BUT WE WERE COMPETING WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS ON PARAMEDICS.
THERE'S JUST LIKE A SHORTAGE OF NURSES.
THERE IS, I I'LL SAY A SHORTAGE OF PARAMEDICS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE BALTIMORE REGION, HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION WAS NICE ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO OFFER BONUSES OF $5,000 TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPLY AND WANT TO COME AND WORK FOR HARTFORD COUNTY.
UM, I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT WHEN THOSE BONUSES WERE GIVEN OUT, THEIR COMMITMENT TO HARTFORD COUNTY WAS TWO YEARS.
THAT TWO YEARS IS ALMOST OVER.
AND, UH, WE FELT THAT THE INCENTIVE, UM, WOULD HOPEFULLY BE ENOUGH TO WHERE WE WOULDN'T LOSE OUR E-M-P-E-E-M-S PEOPLE THAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO HIRE AND THAT, UM, THEY'LL STAY WITH HARTFORD COUNTY INSTEAD OF JUMPING SHIP TO GO TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION WHO WAS OFF ALSO AT THIS TIME OFFERING BONUSES.
SO THAT WAS THE REASON WHY WE, WE DID THAT AS A INCENTIVE TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE THAT WE'VE WORKED SO HARD TO HIRE.
YEAH, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
'CAUSE UH, YOU KNOW, I HEAR ABOUT THAT IN A LOT OF, UH, FIELDS WHERE YOU PAY TO TRAIN AND THEN AS SOON AS THE TIME IS UP, THEY GO AND SAY THANK YOU AS THEY GET THEIR NEXT JOB.
UM, WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TRAINING'S A A BIG PART OF RECRUITMENT.
IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS OTHER JOBS WHERE IF YOU SEEM LIKE A GOOD FIT, YOU CAN JUMP RIGHT IN.
YOU HAVE TO GET A LOT OF TRAINING TO, UH, WORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, IS THERE OVERLAP AND, AND A COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO GET PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TRAINED FOR YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS AT ANY GIVEN TIME? SO ALL OF OUR EMTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE HIRED THAT WANT TO, UH, PROGRESS TO BE A PARAMEDIC, WHICH I'M, I'M HOPING IS MOST OF OUR EMTS, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, THE, UH, THE AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO TEACH ALL OF OUR EMTS THAT WANNA BE A PARAMEDIC.
UM, IT'S A MIRRORED PROGRAM SO THEY CAN WORK FOR US.
THEY CAN GO ON A DAY OFF TO THE COLLEGE.
UM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING ON THEIR OWN TIME.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE CLOCK WHEN THEY'RE TAKING THE TRAINING, BUT WE DO PAY FOR THE TRAINING.
OUR FIRST GROUP OF, UH, 15 PARAMEDICS THAT WENT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IS DUE TO GRADUATE IN MAY.
SO THAT'LL BE 15 MORE PARAMEDICS THAT I'LL HAVE ON MY UNITS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CLASS OF 15 THAT'S DUE TO GRADUATE NEXT MAY.
[03:50:01]
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR OUR EMS FOLKS.AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THE COLLEGE IS WORKING WITH US ON THAT.
AND I WAS JUST THINKING, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LEADING EDGE IN BELL CAMP AND EDGEWOOD, THAT THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT PLACE TO DO TRAINING FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY CONSIDER DISPATCH WORK FOR INSTANCE, AND HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, WHAT'S THE WORD WHEN YOU ARE, ARE SWEEPING THE FIELD, UH, OF WHEAT, WHAT'S THE WORD, MR. TIBS FOR WHEN YOU'RE, UH, BUT YOU WANNA SEPARATE THE CHAFF FROM THE, UH, FROM THE WHEAT, THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF, THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF.
I'M JUST, YOU DIDN'T ASK ME THAT QUESTION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT IF YOU HAD, IF I'M, AND I'M SURE DR. HILL AND HHCC WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT, BUT TO OFFER SIMULATED UH, DISPATCH EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, AND THEN SOMEBODY GOES THROUGH THAT AND SAYS, OH, THAT SEEMS LIKE A JOB.
I'D WANT TO THEN COME TO YOU AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
BUT IF THEY'RE A HORRIBLE FIT ONCE THEY SHOW UP.
'CAUSE THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, SIMULATED EXPERIENCE ALREADY.
UH, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF ON THAT AWARD.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY SAID THAT, BUT CONGRATULATIONS.
UM, HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT BILLING THAT WE BILLED 8 MILLION, UH, THAT WE'RE ALL CAUGHT UP ON PAST BILLING.
BUT HOW MUCH IS, I GUESS MAYBE WITHIN THE LAST 90 DAYS OR A YEAR THAT WE HAVEN'T COLLECTED? BECAUSE I KNOW I GOT A BILL AND, UM, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT GOT SENT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT I THINK I SAW ANOTHER ONE, SO I THINK IT DIDN'T GET, UH, WENT AND PAID.
SO WHAT KIND OF BALANCE DO WE HAVE, UM, ON UNCOLLECTED? UM, DO YOU KNOW, YOU WERE ASKING HOW MUCH HAS BEEN BILLED BUT NOT YET COLLECTED? CORRECT? UM, I'D HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN WE, WE, WE HAVE A, A PORTAL AND ALL THAT.
THAT, THAT, THAT DOES SHOW IT.
AND THERE, THERE IS ALWAYS A LAG BECAUSE OF, BUT I GUESS APPARENTLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T SEND IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WE HAVE TO, IF I GET A BILL, I HAVE TO TURN IT INTO THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
I THINK SOME SOMEONE'S IT DOES.
AND THEN OTHERWISE, WELL, WHAT'S THE COUNTY'S INSURANCE? DOES IT NOT? 'CAUSE APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T.
WELL, THE BILLING COMPANY SENDS IT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
UM, CAN I, CAN I TALK SO YEAH, GO AHEAD.
YOU DIDN'T ASK THIS QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, BUT THE, THE BILLING COMPANY THAT WE HAD, WE WERE HAVING ISSUES LIKE YOU'RE BRINGING UP.
SO WE WENT TO THE COUNTY IN PROCUREMENT AND SAID, WE SUGGEST THAT WE GO BACK OUT TO BID AND LOOK AT HIRING, UH, BRINGING ON A DIFFERENT BILLING COMPANY.
SO, UH, WE, WE, WE SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH A NEW BILLING COMPANY, I'M GONNA SAY AROUND DECEMBER OR JANUARY.
AND MOST OF THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK HAVE BEEN CORRECTED WITH THIS NEW BILLING COMPANY.
I'M NOT SURE WHEN YOUR CALL FOR SERVICE WAS, BUT IF IT WAS BEFORE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD BEEN HAVING.
UM, BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THE NEW BILLING COMPANY.
I THINK MOST OF THOSE ISSUES HAVE, HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BEFORE WE HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF OUR CITIZENS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY.
AND DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE IS? WE SHOULD KNOW THAT.
I MEAN, BUT I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, BUT WE DO NOT TAKE A VERY AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO COLLECTIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE BILL FOR THE SERVICE.
WE, AND WE, WE DEFINITELY WANT PEOPLE TO PUT IT THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, PUT IT, PUT IT THROUGH THEIR INSURANCE, BUT WE DON'T BALANCE BILL.
AND YOU GENERALLY, IF THE INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS WHEREBY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN WRITE AND REQUEST A WAIVER AND THE, LIKE, IT'S NOT, IT, I MEAN, IT, IT, IT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT, SOMEWHAT REGULARLY, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME.
I THINK HISTORICALLY THAT'S HAPPENED.
I MEAN, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER FROM YEARS AGO.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU CAN GIVE US, IF YOU CAN SEND US THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF HOW MANY OF OUR CALLS ARE NOT GETTING COMPENSATED FOR NOTHING.
I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.
I'M JUST, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT VOLUME IS.
BECAUSE THE HOPES I WOULD HOPE SOMEDAY IS WE WOULD BE LIKE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
THIS, THIS ACCOUNT COULD PAY FOR ITSELF SOME, YEAH.
IT'LL PROBABLY NEVER QUITE BE AN ENTERPRISE FUND, BUT, BUT IN THE WAY THAT WATER, IN THE WAY THAT WATER AND STORE IS, BUT I THINK IT'LL PROBABLY BE A CLOSER PROXIMITY TO SAY HOW SOLID WASTE IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN SOMEWHAT OF THE CHALLENGE.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE RECOVERING A FAIR AMOUNT OF, OF REVENUE AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE LEAVING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE DECISION TO, TO BILL AT 175% OF, OF, OF MEDICARE'S RATE.
[03:55:01]
UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE ARE LEAVING ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE PER SE.I JUST KNOW THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF OUR CITIZENS CAN'T AFFORD IT.
YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN ASK THE, THE BILLING COMPANY AGAIN TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THERE'S ALWAYS A, THERE'S, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN IT'S KIND OF LIKE IN TRANSITION.
AND THEN WE DO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I, I DO ASK THEM BECAUSE THE AUDITOR LOOKS AT THIS ALL, YOU KNOW, I DO SAY LIKE, OKAY, LIKE ONCE WE'VE ALREADY EXHAUSTED ALL OF THE THINGS, I NEED TO WRITE OFF THOSE AS UNCOLLECTIBLE.
AND THEN, SO I DO ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY ON A, UM, YOU KNOW, QUARTERLY OR, OR OR HALF YEAR BASIS TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S COLLECT ALL THE ONES THAT WE, THAT WE THINK ARE UNCOLLECTIBLE.
BUT WE CAN GET THOSE, THOSE INFORMATION.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. TIBS? I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION ON THE INCENTIVE.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO GETS THAT INCENTIVE? SO IT'S, IT'S BASED ON YEARS FOR SERVICE FROM YOUR LAST DATE OF HIRE.
SO, UM, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE, BUT I THINK AT FIVE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, FIVE YEARS, YOU, EMS AN EMS, YOU GET AN INCENTIVE.
AND THEN IF YOU STAY WITH THE COUNTY UNTIL YOU GET TO 10 YEARS, YOU GET ANOTHER INCENTIVE.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE HOPING MR. TIBS THAT BY THE TIME WE HAVE SOMEBODY FOR 10 YEARS, THAT HOPEFULLY THEY'RE NOT LOOKING TO LEAVE AT THAT POINT.
THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO JUNIOR COLLEGE THAT WE'RE PAYING THEIR TUITION FOR, WHAT HOLDS THEM TO STAYING WITH THE COUNTY.
UM, THE AGREEMENT IS WHEN THEY SIGN UP TO TAKE THE TRAINING AT THE COLLEGE, IF THEY DECIDE TO LEAVE, THEY HAVE TO PAY THE COUNTY BACK THE COST FOR THE TRAINING FOR A PERIOD OF SO MANY YEARS OR JUST, NO, WE DIDN'T TITHE PEOPLE TO SO MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE SENT THEM TO BE A PARAMEDIC.
BUT IF THEY DO LEAVE THE COUNTY, UM, UNLESS IT IS TWO YEARS, IS IT TWO YEARS? SO I, I'M CORRECTED.
SO IF THEY DO LEAVE WITHIN TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE TO PAY THAT TRAINING BACK.
WHICH IS THE SAME THING THAT WE DO GENERALLY FOR, TO OTHER FORMS OF TUITION REIMBURSEMENT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY IT BACK IF YOU, YOU, IF, IF, UM, YOU WERE TO RECEIVE THAT THANK YOU MR. TIBS, YOU SHOULD JUST NOTE TOO, THEN, THEN, AND THOSE, THOSE, UM, THOSE BONUSES ARE OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL PUT THAT INTO THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, EACH, EACH YEAR.
AND OF COURSE IT'LL STILL ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL.
ALRIGHT, WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, SO CAPITAL FOR FY 26 BEGINS ON PAGE 94 WITH THE DES FLEET REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND THAT IS 500,000 OF PEGO AND 1 MILLION IN INVESTMENT INCOME.
NEXT ON PAGE 90 95 IS EMS SAFETY EQUIPMENT WITH $300,000 OF PEGO.
ON PAGE 100 IS THE 9 1 1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CAPITAL PROJECT WITH $2 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS FROM THE STATE 9 1 1 FEE.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS ON PAGE 1 0 1 IS PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT WITH 500,000 IN PEGO FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT FOR USE BY DES AND BFCS.
ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? THANK YOU, RICK.
SO I'LL, I'LL, UM, INTRODUCE THE, THE WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET BOOK FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND THEN WE'LL COME UP AND GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION.
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BEGINS ON PAGE 3 34 OF THE OPERATING BOOK.
IT HAS A TOTAL COUNTY ALLOCATION OF 11,626,000 3 0 5, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 703,972.
PERSONAL SERVICES DECREASES 10,570 BASED ON ACTUARIALS FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS PENSION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS LSAP.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES INCREASES 146,000.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE BASED ON CURRENT RATES OF 150,000.
TELEPHONE SERVICE DECREASES 4,000 BASED ON ACTUALS FOR A VL EQUIPMENT IN VOLUNTEER
[04:00:01]
FIRE COMPANY VEHICLES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS DECREASES 30,000 DUE TO MOVING FUNDS FOR GAS METER CALIBRATION TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.AND THEN MISCELLANEOUS INCREASES TOTALING 598,542.
THAT'S THE RESULT OF AN INCREASE OF 186,000 IN THE ANNUAL FUNDING ALLOTMENT DISTRIBUTED TO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES BASED ON THEIR FORMULA BRINGING THE TOTAL TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN FY 26 TO 7,580,711.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE OF 37,542 IN FUNDING PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS ASSOCIATION FOR OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS FOR A TOTAL OF 225,254.
THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 160,000 FOR VFC STAFFING INCENTIVE GRANTS BRINGING THAT TOTAL UP TO 460,000.
THERE'S FUNDING FOR OTHER COUNTY DIRECTED GRANTS TOTALING 175,000.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN COUNTY FUNDING FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 THAT REMAINS AT 250,000.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN FUNDING PROVIDED FOR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.
THAT FUNDING REMAINS AT 350,000 FUNDING FOR LADIES.
AUXILIARY LEGACY PROGRAM DECREASES 10,000 BASED ON ACTUAL EXPENSE HISTORY AND THAT FUNDING LEVEL IS AT 40,000.
THERE'S NO CHANGE IN FUNDING FUNDING FOR A LS REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND THAT REMAINS AT 20,000.
AND THEN THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDS OF 50,000 FOR VFC RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAMS. UM, AND THEY JUST HAVE TWO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THOSE NOW, IF THAT'S ALRIGHT WITH YOU, SIR.
UM, SO ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THE FIRST IS ON PAGE 1 0 2 AND THAT'S THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY FACILITY REPAIR PROJECT AND THERE'S 500,000 IN PEGO THERE.
AND THEN ON PAGE 1 0 3 IS THE FUNDING FOR THE NEW STATION AT WHITEFORD WITH $7 MILLION IN FUTURE COUNTY BONDS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE ASSOCIATION.
OKAY, TOM, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTI, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT HERE AND ADDRESS OUR BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL 26 WITH YOU TODAY.
UM, JUST A QUICK DISCLAIMER AS UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT KNOWS, I JUST INHERITED THIS POSITION IN THE LAST 35 DAYS, SO I HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO SPEED.
THIS IS MY, NOT MY FIRST GO ROUND AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION.
I SERVED IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS FOR MANY YEARS.
SO I HOPE TO BRING THAT EXPERIENCE AND TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
BACK TO THIS GROUP OF DISTINGUISHED FOLKS TODAY.
UM, AS YOU HEARD FROM, UH, THE BUDGET OFFICE, THIS IS OUR BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL 26.
WE WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE STAND READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME RELATIVE TO THIS BUDGET REQUEST OR ANYTHING OPERATIONALLY OR ADMINISTRATIVELY WE ARE INVOLVED IN.
UM, WE KNOW THAT IT'S A FLAT BUDGET, UH, MORE OR LESS WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY IS UP AGAINST GIVEN THE SITUATION IN ANNAPOLIS AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UM, LAST YEAR IN FISCAL 25, WE DID NOT REQUEST AN INCREASE, UH, IN DIRECT AID, UH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH KNOWING THAT THE BUDGETS WERE BECOMING TIGHTER.
UH, OBVIOUSLY AS IN EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT IN HARTFORD COUNTY, UM, WE'RE WE'RE ASSUMING RISING COSTS.
UM, OUR REQUEST WAS FOR A 20% DIRECT INCREASE, UM, TO A LOT FOR OUR OPERATING COSTS, FUEL SUPPLIES AND SO FORTH.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE DO, UH, OFFER AS PART OR IN ADDITION TO EMERGENCY SERVICE DELIVERY.
UH, WE DO, UH, HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE PART-TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, AN ANNUAL AUDIT THAT IS REQUIRED, A CERTIFIED AUDIT, NOT ONLY OF THE ASSOCIATION, BUT OF THE 12 MEMBER COMPANIES OF THIS ASSOCIATION, INCREASED VEHICLE INSURANCE, UM, OUR HONOR GUARD, UH, FIRE PREVENTION AND RISK REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND SO FORTH.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, IN PREVIOUS YEARS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL CADET PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT MODIFICATIONS TO, TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE FURTHERANCE OF OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE FIRE AND EMS SERVICES TO THE COUNTY CITIZENS.
THIS FISCAL BUDGET WILL ALSO ENTERTAIN FOR THE FIRST YEAR, THE NEW FUNDING FORMULA THAT WAS WORKED AT IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, DES, THE BUDGET OFFICE, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION.
UM, AS FAR AS ACTUAL WHAT IS, WHAT WE'LL CALL FAIR FUNDING FOR, UH, PERFORMANCE BASED DATA.
WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MANY YEARS WENT BY, WE SAT ON A 25 OR 30-YEAR-OLD EQUATION WHEN IT CAME TIME TO, UH, REQUEST FUNDING AND DIRECT AID TO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE SERVICE, LOOKING AT TRENDS, LOOKING AT ACTUAL PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A FORMULA THAT BASICALLY ADDRESSES THOSE ISSUES,
[04:05:02]
UM, IN THE JUNCTION.WITH THAT, WE WENT AHEAD AND LOOKED AT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND AGAIN, AS FAR AS NEW STATIONS, UH, YOU HEARD THAT THE PROJECTIONS FOR THE WHITEFORD FIRE STATION RELOCATED, REBUILT, UH, FOR THAT, UH, IS ON THE TABLE THIS YEAR AS WELL AS EIGHT OR NINE, DEPENDING UPON HOW FAR THE MONEY GOES, EIGHT OR NINE PROJECTS.
BLESS WITH RENOVATIONS AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR EXISTING FIRE STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, IN THE BUDGET PACKAGE THAT WAS SENT OVER BY MIRANDA, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OVER A WEEK AGO, UH, YOU WERE GIVEN INFORMATION FROM OUR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES ARE HANDLING ACROSS THIS COUNTY.
WE KNOW THAT WITH GROWTH COMES INCREASE CALL VOLUME, INCREASE CALL VOLUME, INCREASES, DEMANDS ON OUR SERVICES.
THOSE DEMANDS ON SERVICE OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES MORE EXPENSES BOTH OPERATIONALLY, ADMINISTRATIVELY, AND FROM A CAPITAL PERSPECTIVE TO KEEP THOSE SERVICE DEMANDS IN PACE WITH THE GROWTH OF THE POPULATION.
WE HAVE SOME FINANCIAL INCENTIVES THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH THE ASSOCIATION BUDGET.
OUR, UH, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER INCENTIVE PROGRAM, UH, HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN MAINTAINING STATION BASED PERSONNEL.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC IN THE COUNTY, WE CAN NO LONGER RESPOND FROM HOME AND ANSWER CALLS FROM HOME OR WHERE WE WORK.
SO WE'RE LOOKING NOW ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AT IN STATION STAFFING OF OUR VOLUNTEER FORCE.
SO THOSE FOLKS ARE GIVEN AN INCENTIVE BASED UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THEIR MANDATORY, UH, LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS OF 50 POINTS BEFORE THEY CAN ENTER INTO THAT PROGRAM.
AND WE'VE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
SO WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE IN THAT THIS YEAR, AND THE ADMINISTRATION DID, UH, IN CONCEPT, UH, AGREE TO THAT INCREASE.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THAT, UH, DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF YOU.
MANY OF THE COMPANIES HAVE ALSO DELAYED SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND SOME REPAIRS TO FACILITIES IN ANTICIPATION AND IN REALIZATION THAT WE WERE IN A TIGHT BUDGET CYCLE.
WE'RE EXTREMELY COGNIZANT OF THAT.
IT OBVIOUSLY FILTERS DOWN TO EVERYONE.
HOWEVER, IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION COSTS MANAGEABLE, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.
UH, WE HAVE INCLUDED PROJECTS, UH, THAT ARE RATED BASED UPON SUBMISSIONS OF EACH OF THE COMPANIES BY AN OUTSIDE CONSORTIUM OF FOLKS THAT LOOK AT SAFETY AS THE PRIMARY FACTOR WHEN LOOKING AT THINGS SUCH AS, UH, STABILIZATION OF ENGINE BAY FLOORS BECAUSE THEY ARE PRONE TO SLIPPAGE, UH, FROM BEING WET AND SO FORTH.
UH, SOME PARKING LOTS THAT HAVE REALLY DEGRADED OVER THE LAST QUARTER CENTURY.
AND AGAIN, YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT IN YOUR BUDGET PACKAGE.
WE CONTINUE TO STAND IN READY AS A GROUP TO PROVIDE TIMELY, EFFICIENT AND PROFESSIONAL FIRE AND EMS SERVICE.
ALTHOUGH OUR EMS SERVICE OBVIOUSLY IS AT ABOUT SIX POINT A HALF PERCENT OF TOTAL EMS SERVICE TO THE COUNTY NOW, WE STILL STAND READY TO DO THAT IN A SUPPORT FUNCTION.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY YEARS.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO SAY, UH, REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION AND THE 12 MEMBER COMPANIES, IT IS GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO SIT UP HERE BEFORE YOU AND SUPPORT THE DES REQUESTS FOR THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL.
WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THEM.
WE COULD NOT DO OUR JOB WITHOUT DIRECTOR HEIRS AND THE STAFF AT ALL LEVELS AND EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
TOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE, UH, DOCUMENTATION.
YOU'RE IN YOUR, IN YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
I'M, I'M LOOKING FOR, AND I JUST, MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT TYPICALLY WE GET A LIST OF FUNDING FOR EACH FIRE COMPANY.
I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WAS BEING SENT OVER AND IT MAY HAVE, IT MAY HAVE GONE TO THE SAME CYBER HOLE THAT THE OTHER PROJECT WENT, OR THE OTHER DOCUMENT WENT TO LAST WEEK THAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT.
THAT NUMBER USED TO BE IN THE BUDGET.
IT HASN'T BEEN FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S A TIMING THING.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S, THERE'S HALF OF THE NEW FORMULA THAT'S, UM, AS THE PRESIDENT SCH SAID, IS BASED ON, UM, RESPONSES AND THOSE SORTS OF PERFORMANCE RELATED THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT THE TIMEFRAME THAT THE ASSOCIATION WAS LOOKING AT WAS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH, IF I'M REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
AND THEN THE OTHER HALF IS MORE DEMOGRAPHIC TYPE OF INFORMATION.
SO POPULATION, UM, ROAD, ROAD MILES, UH, TOTAL BUILT, UH, BUILT SQUARE, SQUARE FOOTAGE IN, IN THE, IN THE TERRITORY.
UM, I FORGET THAT WAS LAND AREA OF THE, UM, THE, THE FOOTPRINT OF EACH COMPANY'S SERVICE AREA.
SO THAT PIECE WE HAVE, UM, THAT I, I GET THAT THROUGH PLANNING AND ZONING.
UM, AND THEN WE, WE JUST NEED TO RECONCILE THAT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT, SO YOU DON'T HAVE AN IDEA OF
[04:10:01]
WHAT EACH COMPANY'S GETTING YET? WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE, UH, THE PERFORMANCE INFORMATION YET.AND ONCE, BUT ONCE WE DO, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT THAT IN THE FORMULA.
THERE IS A BASE NUMBER OF $365,000, WHICH NO COMPANY CAN GO BELOW THAT.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS BASED UPON, UH, AS YOU JUST HEARD, AS FAR AS SQUARE MILES AND SO FORTH.
THAT INFORMATION WILL BE, UH, READILY AVAILABLE VERY SHORTLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, WE DEVELOPED AN AUDIT COMMITTEE AND USING THE PARAMETERS THAT WERE SET UP WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, UH, AND THE ASSOCIATION'S MEMBERSHIP, THE TRUSTEES, WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN AUDIT COMMITTEE.
IN FACT, WE ARE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME TOMORROW NIGHT TO DO A DRY RUN ON HOW THIS IS ALL GONNA PLAY OUT.
UH, THE COMPANIES BASED AGAIN UPON PERFORMANCE, THEY STAND TO MAINTAIN WHAT THEY HAVE.
AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE AND WE WILL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS AVAILABLE FOR YOU AS SOON AS I GET THEM, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE IT YOU GET THEM.
UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION RIGHT OFF THE TOP IS 50,000 FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
IS THAT ENOUGH MONEY? I THINK GIVEN THE PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THE VENDOR THAT WE WERE USING, UH, I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT WILL BE SUFFICIENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE EXECUTIVE BOARD INTERNALLY IS LOOKING AT RETENTION AS A PRIMARY FACTOR, AND THEN RECRUITMENT MAY NATURALLY FOLLOW.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, AND YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ON MANY OCCASIONS, UH, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MANY, MANY YEARS.
I MEAN, I'M PUSHING 50 YEARS THIS YEAR IN THIS BUSINESS, IN THIS COUNTY.
SO, AND I CAN LOOK AROUND AND POINT WITH PEOPLE, UH, PAST PRESIDENT WORTHINGTON IS IN THE BACK.
HE'S GOT A LOT MORE THAN I DO.
SO WE WANNA TRY AND KEEP THOSE FOLKS AND WE'RE GONNA USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
NO, AND I, AND I I JUST WOULD SAY THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S OTHER FORMS OF, OF, UM, RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT MONIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE IN THE VOLUNTEER BUDGET, YOU KNOW, NAMELY THE STUDENT LOAN, UM, UM, UH, REPAYMENT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT WILL WILL DO $5,000 A YEAR UP TO FOUR YEARS, UP TO $20,000.
SO THAT'S A FORM OF RECRUITMENT RETENTION.
AND, AND THE RENOVATIONS TO THE BUILDINGS, I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT I, THAT, THAT UNDERSTOOD THAT WE ARE ARE PROVIDING OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE.
YEAH, THERE ARE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACETS WITHIN THIS BUDGET THAT WE LOOK AT IN AN INDIRECT WAY AS BEING RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT TOOLS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I'M VERY LUCKY IN DISTRICT HALF, UH, DISTRICT F TO HAVE ABINGDON FIRE COMPANY AND SUSQUEHANNA HOSE COMPANY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD, UH, RECEIVED, UH, SOME EMAILS FROM MR. HURST JUST, UH, ASKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FORMULA IS FULLY FUNDED, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, UH, CERTAIN, UH, COMPANIES, UH, TO NOT HAVE A GAP LIKE THERE HAS BEEN.
UH, IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FORMULA WILL BE FULLY FUNDED? THERE WON'T BE ANY GAPS BETWEEN WHAT THE FORMULA SAYS AND WHAT COMPANIES RECEIVE BASED UPON THE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
OUR FUNDING FORMULA SHOULD BE FULLY AT THE LEVEL IT SHOULD BE.
UM, AND AGAIN, IT IS PERFORMANCE BASED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT, AND I SPEAK FOR THE CURRENT DIRECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, WE ARE LOOKING AT WORKING WITH ALL 12 COMPANIES, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD TO FORM A MORE COHESIVE GROUP AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP EACH INDIVI INDIVIDUAL COMPANY AS WELL AS COLLECTIVELY TO TRY AND IMPROVE THEIR RETENTION TO ASSIST THEM.
AND I WAS JUST HAVING THIS DISCUSSION WITH CHIEF BEAR FROM ABDON THIS MORNING.
THEY'RE DOING SOME PRETTY INNOVATIVE THINGS WITH RECRUITMENT THAT I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF A WEEK OR TWO AGO.
UM, SO IT IT, IT'S KIND OF EXCITING WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER COMPANIES, ONCE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW SUIT.
UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, I KNOW I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND I BELIEVE MR. SAN LIST, YOU WERE IN THE MEETING, UH, SUSQUEHANNA HOST COMPANY HOUSE FOUR IS BUDGETED, UH, TO HAVE DESIGN WORK DONE IN FY 29.
IS THAT CORRECT? UM, UM, IT'S IN AN OUT YEAR.
UM, AND, AND IN SPEAKING OF SUSQUEHANNA SUSQUEHANNA HOSE COMPANY, UH, THEY FELT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MOVE CLOSER, MAYBE FY 27, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO ACCEPT A REDUCED AMOUNT.
THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, HOUSE ONE ONLY COSTS THEM ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO DESIGN, SO THEY DON'T NEED A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT COULD BE REDUCED TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, $750,000, BUT THEN MOVE FORWARD THAT WOULD WORK BETTER FOR THEM JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS EMERGENCY SERVICES EXPAND, AS THE HORIZON OF PER UH, PAID FIRE COMPANIES EXPAND, THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR FACILITIES ARE READY FOR THE MOMENT THAT IS COMING.
AND, AND WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH LEADERSHIP AT SUSSNA HOSE AND CAVITY GRASS.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE
[04:15:01]
FLOATED AND IT IT'S, IT'S A VERY VIABLE IDEA IS IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, OR IF NO WORSE THAN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL 28, WE COULD LOOK AT SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF A 50 50 SPLIT, UH, IN THOSE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN COSTS, WHICH WOULD SAVE BOTH ENTITIES MONEY AND IT WOULD ALSO HELP HOPEFULLY TO MOVE THAT TIMEFRAME FORWARD.I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND IS EVEN WHEN I STARTED HERE, THE, THE COUNTY REALLY DID NOT PRO, UM, UH, PARTICIPATE IN MUCH IN THE WAY OF ANY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OUTSIDE OF THAT, UM, UH, REPAIR FUND, YOU KNOW, AROUND 600, 650,000.
SO, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY DOING, UM, STATIONS AND LIKE WITH SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY HASN'T DONE.
SO COUNTY HAS CERTAINLY MADE A, A MUCH MORE, UM, EXTENDED, UM, INVESTMENT IN IN ALL OF THOSE.
AND OFTENTIMES WITH OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO KIND OF BALANCE OUT THE BONDS, BALANCE OUT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT THINGS JUST IN ISOLATION.
NOT SAYING THAT WE CAN'T NECESSARILY MAKE, MAKE, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THAT IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO MAKE OUR BONDS EQUAL AROUND A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON AVERAGE.
UM, SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE, SOMETIMES A LITTLE LESS.
BUT I, I WILL SHARE WHEN I MET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE GENERAL FEELING IN THE ROOM WAS IT WOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH OF AN ISSUE TO MODIFY THE OUT YEARS TO SAY 27 INSTEAD OF 29.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WOULD, UH, DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR SUSQUEHANNA HOSE COMPANY TO FEEL THAT THAT PROJECT ISN'T GONNA BE SO FAR OUT ON THE HORIZON, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE TRANSITION WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, SUSSNA HOSE IS LOOKING AT IS MOVING THE MEDIC UNIT FROM WATER STREET AT HOUSE THREE TO REVOLUTION STREET AT HOUSE FOUR.
UH, THAT BUILDING WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HAVE, UH, STAY IN OR IN IN STATION PERSONNEL TO MAINTAIN A, A LIVING FACILITY OF SORTS THERE.
SO THERE ARE SOME CODE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, UH, BUNK ROOMS, RESTROOMS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
AND IT JUST KEEPS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING AS STAFFING IN STATION AS OPPOSED TO RELYING ON THE PREVIOUS FROM HOME FROM WORK RESPONSE.
AND THEN THAT JUST CUTS DOWN RESPONSE TIMES.
AND HOUSE FOUR IS A MUCH BETTER LOCATION, UH, AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION GOES BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT OFF OF ALL THOSE MAJOR ROADS TO GET THE PEOPLE, CORRECT.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD SHARE ANY MORE UPDATES, UH, ON WHERE YOU THINK WE ARE IN THAT TRANSITION AS WE PREPARE TO TAKE ON A PAID FIRE STAFF.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE AWARE OF, BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO BE AWARE OF.
WE DON'T WANNA END UP IN A SITUATION LIKE WE DID WITH, UH, OUR AMBULANCE STAFF WHERE IT WAS SURPRISED.
UM, WELL, WE WANT, WE WANNA MAKE SURE EACH STEP OF THE WAY WE'RE ALL INFORMED.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK THAT, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WILL PROBABLY BACK ME UP ON THIS FROM HIS HISTORY AND KNOWING WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
WHEN THE VOLUNTEER FIRE AND EMS SERVICE WAS THE PRIMARY PROVIDER OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE DELIVERY IN THIS COUNTY, UH, BACK IN 1999, WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH STAFFING.
HENCE WAS THE BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EEMS FOUNDATION GIVE ABOUT 2000.
AND, UH, WE WORKED WITH, UH, UH, AT THAT TIME WAS, UH, ACTUALLY GOING BACK BEFORE THAT WAS, UH, PAST, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE HARKINS AND, UH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, JOHN O'NEILL.
AND WE PUT THE FOUNDATION TOGETHER BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, THE COUNTY DID NOT WANNA ASSUME THE HUMAN RESOURCE ASPECT AND THE MANAGEMENT OF SUCH THAT WAS DESIGNED WITH A FIVE YEAR WINDOW.
AND AS YOU SEE, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS AT ANYONE, BUT WE NOW HAVE WHAT WE HAVE.
SO WE KEPT TELLING THEM THAT IT'S, THE CHALLENGES ARE BECOMING JUST AS, AGAIN, AS A HISTORICAL POINT, WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE FOUNDATION, IT WAS SOLELY GOING TO BE ON PART-TIME PERSONNEL.
I CAN TELL YOU, 'CAUSE I WAS A PART OF THAT GROUP.
WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF IMPLEMENTING THE FOUNDATION AND PUTTING SUPPLEMENTAL STAFFING IN STATIONS, WE LEARNED RIGHT AWAY IF WE'VE GOT A FULL-TIME CAREER PARAMEDIC THAT WORKS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, OKAY.
AND WE'LL SAY THEY MAKE $50 AN HOUR AND THEY'RE COMING HERE WORKING PART-TIME FOR 20, THEY GET A CALL BACK ON OVERTIME AT THEIR STATION, THEY'RE GONNA MAKE $75 AN HOUR IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WHERE ARE THEY GONNA GO? THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME HERE.
SO WE LEARNED THAT AND HAD TO ADAPT THE BUSINESS PLAN TO HIRE FULL-TIME PEOPLE.
SO THIS TRANSITION, I MEAN, IT, IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE, BUT WE KEPT MOVING THE TARGET.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE TRANSITION FROM A FULLY VOLUNTEER, ALTHOUGH PART-TIME PAID, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL SYSTEM INTO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, WAS NOTHING LESS THAN PHENOMENAL.
SO, AND ON THE, ON THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SIDE, I WOULD BE, UH, NAIVE TO SIT HERE AND ATTEMPT TO TELL YOU THAT EVERYTHING WAS FAT, DUMB AND HAPPY.
IT'S NOT VOLUNTEERISM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE FIRE AND EMS, BE IT THE ELKS CLUB, THE LIONS CLUB, THE MOOSE LODGE VOLUNTEERISM IS DOWN ACROSS THE BOARD.
[04:20:01]
IS EVEN, UH, ADVERTISING ON TELEVISION NOW AND ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA IN VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.UM, DO I HAVE A HARD TIMELINE ON TELLING YOU WHEN WE HAVE TO DO IT? NO, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO START THE PLANNING PROCESS NOW.
IT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE FISCAL IMPACT AND THEN WE NEED TO DECIDE ON AN ACCEPTABLE MODEL.
I THINK THAT MINDSET HAS BEEN ACROSS THIS FIRE AND EMS SERVICES TO MAINTAIN A VOLUNTEER, A VIBRANT VOLUNTEER COMPONENT.
BUT THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED ASSISTANCE AND I THINK WE KNOW THAT THE DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, THE US 40 CARD OR UP 24 AT SOME POINT IN TIME IS GOING TO NEED SOME SORT OF SUPPLEMENTAL STAFFING TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONTINUED INCREASE IN SERVICE CALLS.
I DON'T THINK THE VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING AWAY, BUT WE, AS, AS YOU SEE IN THIS BUDGET, WE ARE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE AND HOPEFULLY ATTRACTING NEW ONES.
AND ALONG THOSE LINES, I KNOW I THINK IT WAS ABINGDON FIRE COMPANY HAD SHARED A NEED FOR DAYTIME DRIVERS BECAUSE THE VOLUNTEERS SHOW UP, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE, UH, EQUIPPED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
IS THAT IN THIS BUDGET TO GET THEM DAYTIME DRIVERS? WELL, IT, THIS BUDGET ADDRESSES A COUNTYWIDE ISSUE WITH STAFFING.
IT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF AN INCENTIVE TO PROVIDE SOME, UH, I WON'T, I WON'T SAY MINIMAL, BUT SOME, SOME MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE A DAY OFF THAT MAY HAVE SOME FREE TIME, SOME FREE HOURS THAT THEY CAN STAY AT THE STATION FOR A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS AFTER THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THEIR LOW SAP, THEIR LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE STATE LAW.
AND THEN THEY CAN BE COMPENSATED AT A LEVEL, UH, THAT WOULD PAY THEM FOR THOSE HOURS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A STOP GAPP MEASURE.
I DON'T SEE THIS GOING AWAY ANYTIME BECAUSE EVEN IF WE ADAPT, OR EXCUSE ME, IMPLEMENT A CAREER ENGINE OR ENGINES, LADDER TRUCKS, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT ACROSS THIS COUNTY IN TARGET AREAS, WE ARE STILL NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE THE VOLUNTEER COMPONENT THAT WE RELY ON.
THIS COUNTY COULD NOT AFFORD IT.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY AT THAT TABLE, YOU FOLKS ARE, YOU, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS, WE COULD NOT AFFORD IT.
I MEAN, I COULD SIT HERE AND QUOTE BALTIMORE COUNTY'S NUMBERS TO YOU.
I'M, I'M A RETIRED CAPTAIN IN BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR 33 YEARS.
SO THE SAVINGS THAT THIS GROUP BRINGS YOU IS PHENOMENAL.
BUT AGAIN, WE KNOW WHAT OUR LIMITATIONS ARE AND WE WANNA BE PART OF THE PROCESS TO HELP HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS ULTIMATELY GONNA HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS.
WE STAND AT THE READY TO ASSIST, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S GONNA BE THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNCIL TO MAKE THOSE FINAL DECISIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CANDOR.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT WAS MORE SO SURPRISE ON OUR END THAN YOUR END, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK IF I JUST KEEP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, IT WILL KEEP ROLLING.
UH, AND THEN ONE DAY YOU HIT THE WALL AND SAY THE CAN WON'T MOVE ANY FARTHER.
I'D, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN QUITE CANDID, UH, IN PROVIDING WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE SEE OURSELVES.
UM, NOBODY'S PERFECT, NO VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION IS PERFECT, BUT I THINK WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND I KNOW IN SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE, OUR 1300 MEMBERS STRONG, THAT OUR PEOPLE STAND READY TO CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
ANYONE ELSE? MS.
UM, SO I SEE ON THE PACKET THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED, SORRY FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, UM, THERE'S TALK OF, UH, COMPANY 13 POSSIBLY DOING A OVERHAUL RENOVATION.
UM, I WAS ACTUALLY, I'M A MEMBER OF FALLSTON AS WELL.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS ON THE BUILDING COMMITTEE FOR THAT AND WHEN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS MADE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OF 2024, UH, WE DID A DEVIL'S ADVOCATE APPROACH TO THIS.
UH, WE HAVE PULLED THAT PROJECT FROM THE TABLE AND AGAIN, I DON'T MAKE ANY EXCUSES, BUT THIS WAS PREPARED.
THIS DOC, THE COVER DOCUMENT WAS PREPARED BY SOMEONE PREVIOUS TO ME AND I WANTED TO GO THROUGH AND I SHOULD HAVE, UH, TOLD THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MY APOLOGIES, UH, THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN PULLED FROM CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS TO THE EXISTING FACILITY ON CARS MILL ROAD, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE ARE NOT PURSUING A NEW RELOCATED STATION, UH, TO SERVE THAT COMMUNITY.
ANYONE ELSE? COBY, YOU'RE HERE.
YOU GOT ANYTHING TO SAY? THAT'S SIR.
CAN I ASK WHAT I'M ASKING? WE, WE UM, TOM BROUGHT UP THE RECRUITMENT ISSUE.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE DID THIS WEEKEND IN OUR AREA OF HOUSE THREE VIEW, EACH IS AN AREA THAT WE HAD.
SO WE TOOK PERSON OFF AND WE DOOR HANG ENTIRE,
[04:25:02]
UH, PROBABLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, TOMORROW NIGHT WE HAVE TO DO A COUPLE MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN THAT AREA.UM, AND RICK HAS BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO ASSIST US WITH THAT AND THE RIVERSIDE PROJECT WITH THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WE USE YES.
SO WE'RE HELPING THEM BEFORE THE MESSAGE FOR RECRUITMENT AND JUST ZONING IN ON THEIR, THAT THEY WANT THAT MESSAGE.
SO WAS I WAS YESTERDAY AND WENT THROUGH THE AREAS THAT WE'RE DO INFRINGE ON THE OTHER PARTS.
UM, AND WE'LL BE DOING THE SAME THING WITH THE RIVERSIDE, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE SOON.
UM, SO, UH, WE'LL HAVE, ANNOUNCES GONNA GO OUT THURSDAY EVENING AT SIX O'CLOCK AND SATURDAY MORNING AT 10 O'CLOCK UNTIL FOUR.
WE'RE HAVE RECRUITMENT, OPEN HOUSE, BEACH STATION, SO IF ANYBODY AVAILABLE TO WELCOME TO COME.
UM, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.
I KNOW THAT THE DOOR HANGERS THAT WE DID SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, UH, WE WERE ABOUT A THIRD DONE IN THE PROCESS AND WE'D ALREADY HAD INTEREST FORMS SENT TO US TO OUR WEBSITE BEFORE WE WERE THAT'S AWESOME.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I KNOW THAT I WAS JUST GIVEN 16 NAMES THIS MORNING OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE JOINED IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF.
UM, WE'VE GOT A FEW MORE COMING, HAVING THE FIRE COMING, NOT, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT AREAS RIGHT, BUT THAT'LL BE 16 MORE PEOPLE THAT, THAT WILL HAVE TO GET TOGETHER AND TRAIN THINGS LIKE CUBBY.
HOW MANY YEARS OF SERVICE FOR YOU? TWO
THE BEST BANKER YOU BUCK IS TO YOUR PERSON? YES SIR.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA ADD ANYTHING?
UM, I TELL THE STORY ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU JUST RECENTLY I ROLLED UP ON A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT ON 22 AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT, IT TOOK FOREVER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THERE, BUT IT WAS REALLY JUST A MINUTE OR SO, RIGHT? BUT WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THEY CAME FROM TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT COMPANIES FROM HARTFORD COUNTY AS WELL.
UH, AND EVERYBODY WORKED TOGETHER.
WE KNOW NOW THAT WHEN WE GET A FIRE CALL IN THE COUNTY, YOU GUYS DISPATCH MULTIPLE COMPANIES AND EVERYONE WORKS WELL TOGETHER.
UM, IT'S NOTHING FOR SUSQUEHANNA IDAHO'S COMPANY TO BE IN JAPA TOWN OR CECIL COUNTY.
IT'S NOTHING FOR BEL AIR TO BE ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTY, UH, WHEREVER NEEDED.
SO, UH, WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM AND ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT DEAL WITHOUT 'EM.
THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, TOM.
AND WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THIS WORK SESSION.