May 27, 2025 County Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

EVENING. CHAIR CALLS ORDERED. LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DAY 25 ZERO 18. I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY I HAVE CHAPLAIN GENERAL RETIRED. SHAWN LEE, COME FORWARD, PLEASE. IN THE MICROPHONE. YES, MY. WELL, THEN, EVERYBODY ONLINE COULDN'T HEAR YOU. CHAPLAIN. THOSE WHO WOULD I INVITE TO BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER? GOD, WE DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY THIS DAY THE PRIVILEGE IT IS TO GATHER IN THIS ASSEMBLY FOR THE ECHOES OF MEMORIAL DAY YESTERDAY. REMIND US OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS AND ENJOY TONIGHT. HOW TO BEST LIVE TOGETHER AS ONE NATION AND ONE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY. MAY YOU GIVE WISDOM TO THESE WHO ARE ELECTED, WHO SIT BEHIND ME. MAY EACH OF US IN THE AUDIENCE, LORD, SPEAK THAT WHICH IS IN OUR HEARTS, WITH PROPER DECORUM AND GOOD SPIRIT FOR THE GENERAL WELFARE OF ALL. AND WHEN ALL THINGS ARE SAID AND DONE, MAY THIS MEETING BE JUST ONE MORE BLOCK IN A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR THE CONTINUED FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY.

AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. CHAPLAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. IF I MAY. YES. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK CHAPLAIN FOR SEAN LEE FOR COMING OUT TODAY, DOING MY READING TONIGHT, MY PRAYER. I MET HIM AT THE. APG EVENT THAT THEY HAD ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND WE WERE TALKING. SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HIM COMING AND DOING THAT FOR ME, FOR ME TODAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY, I SEE SOME UNFAMILIAR FACES IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING. AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WHILE WE'RE IN SESSION, WE RECOGNIZE ONE SPEAKER, ONE SPEAKER ONLY. NO OUTBURSTS SO THAT WE CAN BE MOVED FORWARD AND BE RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS. WE HAVE NONE. FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND

[6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

I'D NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMANDA HICKMAN. THANK YOU. GEORGE.

HELLO COUNCIL AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. I AM AMANDA HICKMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GEORGE MEYER, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF

[00:05:05]

THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS. IT IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE. SUPPLYING OUR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE COUNTY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ACCESS AND USE OF THE FACILITY BY THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT. ONGOING CARE OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS AND FACILITATION OF ADOPTION SERVICES, AND AN ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND SIDE SIZED STAFF TO PROPERLY CARE FOR THE ANIMALS. WITH THAT, MANY OF OUR STAFF CARRY PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS THAT REQUIRE ONGOING COMPLETION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS. OUR VETS ALONE ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM 18 CREDIT HOURS TO MAINTAIN THEIR LICENSURE. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO ANIMAL WELFARE AND SHELTERS, SPECIFICALLY, IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. IT ALLOWS STAFF TO OBTAIN CREDITS TO LEARN BEST PRACTICES FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS. IT'S A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT, IN MY OPINION. FURTHERMORE, OUR FACILITY IS LICENSED AND REGULATED BY THE FOLLOWING. IT'S QUITE A LIST. I APOLOGIZE. BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE DEA, THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE MARYLAND BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS, SUBJECT TO THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND THE MARYLAND VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT. COPIES OF THESE REGULATIONS, AS WELL AS OUR OWN STANDARDS OF CARE, ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. ADDITIONALLY, WE MAINTAIN A SECONDARY MOU WITH THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THIS IS RELATIVE TO SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR RABIES CASES. SPECIFICALLY, AND WHAT I THINK MOST FOLKS WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS TITLE 15, CHAPTER 11 OF THAT TITLE WITHIN THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND

[00:10:07]

THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AG, FOR EXAMPLE, ONLY COLLECTS OUR DATA ON CATS AND DOGS. SO EVEN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ONLINE FROM THEM ONLY REPRESENTS THOSE TWO POPULATIONS. AS AN OPEN ADMISSION SHELTER, WE ACCEPT EVERY TYPE OF ANIMAL, INCLUDING WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK. IN GENERAL, OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE IS CALCULATED BY DIVIDING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVE OUTCOMES BY THE TOTAL NUMBER OF OUTCOMES, EXCLUDING THOSE OWNER REQUESTED. EUTHANASIAS, WILDLIFE AND RABIES TESTING. WE EVALUATE THESE NUMBERS ON A MONTHLY BASIS INTERNALLY, AS WELL AS A QUARTERLY BASIS AND AN ANNUAL BASIS. WE HOLD MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH STAFF FROM LEADERSHIP SPECIFICALLY TO GO OVER THESE NUMBERS. OUR MINIMUM ANNUAL, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND WHAT I HOLD MY STAFF TO, IS A 90% LIVE RELEASE RATE MINIMUM. WE'VE HIT THAT EVERY YEAR. IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY. AS GEORGE MENTIONED, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS PUBLICLY POSTED EVERY IRS 990 REPORT DATING BACK TO 2015 DIRECTLY ON OUR WEBSITE. THAT LIST IS THERE. EVERY SINGLE ONE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. THIS REPORT PROVIDES THE IRS AND THE PUBLIC WITH A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION'S ACTIVITIES, FINANCES, AND GOVERNANCE. WE PROVIDE COPIES OF THIS ALONG WITH OUR AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND AN ANNUAL BUDGET DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS WELL. AS YOU MAY KNOW, OUR 2024 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT WAS RECENTLY COMPLETED. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE HERE AS WELL. AS ALWAYS, THE SUPPORT IS ALSO REPORT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE IN PDF FORMAT. PRIOR TO THIS FULL REPORT, YOU MIGHT RECALL AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, YOU WERE PROVIDED WITH A SINGLE PAGE.

THAT WAS JUST A QUICK SUMMATION OF THE DATA. THE IMPACT REPORT IS INCLUSIVE OF THE 990 AND THE AUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION AS WELL. I'LL BRIEFLY TOUCH ON SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS, THOUGH. AS FAR AS DATA FOR 2024, SPECIFICALLY, IN 2024, WE CARED FOR 3397 ANIMALS. OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PACKAGE INCLUDES SELECT REDUCED RATE VETERINARY SERVICES FOR STAFF. THAT TOTAL NUMBER EXCLUDES THOSE ANIMALS. OVERALL, IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO 3500 IF WE INCLUDED THEM. WE COMPLETED 1927 ADOPTIONS, WHICH WAS A 19% UPTICK FROM 2023. CAT ADOPTIONS SPECIFICALLY INCREASED BY 147%.

FARM AND EXOTIC ANIMAL ADOPTIONS DOUBLED. OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE HELD AT 92% FOR THE YEAR. WE ALSO ADMINISTERED OVER 5000 VACCINATIONS, PERFORMED OVER 1000 SURGERIES, AND OUR FOSTERS CARED FOR 340 ANIMALS. OUR VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 10,000 HOURS. SOME OF THOSE KEY DATA TRENDS INCLUDE ANIMAL CONTROL INTAKES, WHICH ROSE BY 34%, FARM AND EXOTIC ANIMAL INTAKES VIA ANIMAL CONTROL SURGED 167%. ANIMALS SEIZED BY ANIMAL CONTROL INCREASED 65%.

[00:15:07]

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE KNOW THERE'S A DEFICIT RIGHT NOW, AND WE'VE BEEN IN THIS DEFICIT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. THESE NUMBERS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THE RISING DEMAND AND SHIFTING CHALLENGES WE'RE EXPERIENCING. HAD IT NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY FOR STATE COVID RELIEF PROGRAMS AND SEVERAL LARGE BEQUESTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, WE WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DEFICIT MUCH SOONER. OUR SALARIES CONSUME A LARGE PORTION OF OUR BUDGET, BUT WE KNOW OFFERING COMPENSATION THAT REFLECTS INDUSTRY STANDARDS ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE. REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND REDUCE TURNOVER AND CREATE A SUSTAINABLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

AT THE START OF MY TENURE THIS YEAR, THERE WERE 45 EMPLOYEES. AS OF TODAY, WE ARE DOWN TO 39.

ANY FURTHER REDUCTION IN STAFF WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAMS WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE. OUR RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED POLE BARN IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A DEDICATED TRAINING FACILITY FOR OUR BEHAVIOR PROGRAM. GIVEN OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION, WE'VE HAD TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION ABOUT PRIORITIZING ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND HAVE ELECTED TO PAUSE THIS FINAL BUILD OUT. WHILE THE COMPLETION OF THE FACILITY REMAINS AN IMPORTANT GOAL, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR LIMITED RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED RESPONSIBLY TO SUSTAIN DAILY OPERATIONS AND CRITICAL ANIMAL CARE. WE ARE ACTIVELY EXPLORING ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FOR COMPLETION OF THAT. 2024 ALSO MARKED THE BEGINNING OF A FULL LEADERSHIP TRANSITION FOR THE SHELTER. THIS REPRESENTS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE ORGANIZATION'S GROWTH AND EVOLUTION. THIS YEAR SAW THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, RESPONSIBLE VETERINARIAN AND AN HR MANAGER. AS I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE, BUT I'D LIKE TO MENTION THIS AS IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, WE ARE UNABLE TO DISCLOSE SPECIFIC PERSONNEL ISSUES REGARDING THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S EMPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, I CAN CONFIRM THAT LAST YEAR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING SOME INTERNAL MATTERS. DURING THE COURSE OF

[00:20:04]

AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF OUR MOU WITH THE COUNTY. WE MUST ACCEPT WHAT IS DELIVERED AND WE MUST FOLLOW EVERY RULE ASSOCIATED. WE HAD THESE DOGS IN OUR CARE FROM FEBRUARY 15TH, 2024 UNTIL JULY 31ST, 2024, WHEN THESE DOGS ARRIVED. THE SHELTER WAS FULL. YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EASY THING TO DO? GO IN AND EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE. EASY, RIGHT? THERE'S ACTUALLY A CHECKBOX ON OUR ON OUR SOFTWARE THAT SAYS REASON FOR EUTHANASIA. AND THERE'S A CHOICE THAT SAYS TIME AND SPACE. WE COULD SIMPLY HAVE WALKED ON THE FLOOR AND CHOSEN 17 DOGS, KILLED THEM AND PUT THE BULLDOGS IN THEIR SPACE. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER KNOWN? WHO WOULD HAVE EVER CARED? WOULD WE DO THAT? THE ANSWER IS HELL NO. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD? WELL, THERE ARE SHELTERS. WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THAT? OUR SHELTER IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. BACK TO THE BULLDOGS REAL QUICK.

WE OBVIOUSLY DID NOT EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE. INSTEAD, WE RENTED A HUGE TENT. WE BUILT FENCING AROUND THE TENT. WE INSTALLED HEAT. WE INSTALLED LIGHTING. WE HIRED SECURITY TO PATROL THE SHELTER. AFTER HOURS COSTING CLOSE TO $100,000 IN CARE FOR THOSE BULLDOGS. DOES THIS SOUND LIKE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS JUST EUTHANIZING ANIMALS WILLY NILLY? I PRAY EVERY DAY FOR OUR STAFF, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR ANIMALS, AND I WISH THAT YOU WOULD PRAY FOR

[00:25:02]

OKAY. VERY GOOD. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING OR LISTENING THAT SENT QUESTIONS INTO THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE COULD MAYBE ASK ON THEIR BEHALF BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAVING A BACK AND FORTH TONIGHT. IT'S JUST COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKING QUESTIONS. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PRODUCING THE MOU AS QUICKLY AS YOU DID. I ASKED YOU DELIVERED IT WITHIN A VERY, VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE MOU IS CLEAR. THE COUNCIL HAS NO ROLE IN THIS. IT IS CLEARLY THE ADMINISTRATION. BUT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE WHERE OUR CITIZENS CAN COME AND BE HEARD. SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS FOR MISS IMHOFF, BECAUSE THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS WITHIN HER DISTRICT.

GOOD EVENING. SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF BOUNCE AROUND A LITTLE BIT. SO I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME, BUT I WANT TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THE MAJOR THEMES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I KNOW IT'S A SENSITIVE SUBJECT, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF WHO DECIDES MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS AND END OF LIFE SERVICES FOR ANIMALS, AND WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND TIMEFRAME FOR DETERMINING THAT AN ANIMAL IS UNSAFE? SO I CAN'T SPEAK. I'LL ALLOW FERNANDO TO SPEAK TO THE BEHAVIOR PORTION OF THAT. I'LL BEGIN BY SAYING THAT WE CONDUCT WEEKLY PATHWAY MEETINGS. SO WE HAVE A PATHWAY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTATION FROM LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SHELTER. THIS INCLUDES THE CLINIC, ADOPTIONS, CLIENT SERVICES, BEHAVIOR OPERATIONS, MYSELF, MARKETING, AND ALTERNATIVE PLACES. EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL THAT ANYONE IN THE SHELTER, FROM VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF THAT THEY BRING TO OUR ATTENTION AS MAYBE HAVING CONCERN FOR MEDICALLY OR BEHAVIORALLY, OR THEY JUST WANT TO DISCUSS THEM IN GENERAL. THEY ARE BROUGHT TO THAT PATHWAY COMMITTEE MEETING, AND IT IS THERE THAT WE DETERMINE THOSE OUTCOMES. THE OUTCOME IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY EUTHANASIA. WE DISCUSS POTENTIAL MARKETING PUSHES. MAYBE THIS PARTICULAR ANIMAL ISN'T VISIBLE ENOUGH OR NOT GETTING ENOUGH MEET AND GREETS. WE ADDRESS THAT. WE ALSO ADDRESS THOSE MEDICAL CONCERNS THAT ARE BROUGHT UP PRIOR TO THAT AND LEADING UP TO THOSE PATHWAY COMMITTEES. WE ALSO HAVE GROUP ROUNDS THAT ARE DONE AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. SO EVERY SINGLE ANIMAL, IN ADDITION TO THE DAY TO DAY CARE THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING, THEY ARE BEING TOUCHED AND HANDLED AND OBSERVED SPECIFICALLY BY OUR MEDICAL TEAM, OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM, AND OUR CLINIC TEAM. AND I'LL LET FERNANDO FILL IN THE GAPS. I THINK YOU COVERED IT QUITE NICELY. I WOULD ADD THAT WHEN WE DO THOSE ROUNDS, WE ARE STOPPING AT EVERY KENNEL AND HAVING A DISCUSSION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE FEEL THAT THE ANIMAL HAS SPECIAL NEEDS, IS STRUGGLING OR IS JUST DOING REALLY WELL. WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, WE'RE CONFIRMING THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. IT'S PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT MANAGERS, FROM DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN THE SHELTER, AND WE DISCUSS EACH AND EVERY ANIMAL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROGRESSING IN A WAY THAT WE FEEL IS APPROPRIATE. AND THEN WHEN WE DO OUR MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PATHWAYS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS. PATHWAYS IS KIND OF A SAFETY NET, IF YOU WOULD. IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHY IS THIS DOG BEEN HERE SO LONG? WHY WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAT? HOW DO WE GET THIS ANIMAL ADOPTED? AND MANY OF THESE ANIMALS HAVE SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL NEEDS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CATS THAT STRUGGLE WITH BODY HANDLING, AND THEY'RE GREAT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T PICK THEM UP. AND THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IS PICK UP THEIR CAT. AND SO WE DISCUSS ALL THESE THINGS. MY BACKGROUND PARTICULARLY IS IN BEHAVIOR. AMANDA TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONTINUING EDUCATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO FOCUS ON. I'VE GOT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR DIFFERENT CERTIFICATIONS, TWO OF WHICH ARE INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN. AND TO KEEP THOSE, I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD MY EDUCATION. AND SO I COME BACK AND I BRING BACK NEW IDEAS, NEW NEW OPTIONS, AND THEN DISCUSS IT WITH THE TEAM. AND REALLY, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AT THAT POINT WHERE WE REALLY DISCUSS WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THIS ANIMAL, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS ANIMAL SUCCESSFUL? WHAT IS FAIR FOR THIS ANIMAL? BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE

[00:30:03]

EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY, WE TRY TO FIT IN A TRAINING SESSION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE CAT AND DOG COMMUNICATION, OR DIFFICULT WAYS OF HANDLING OR HANDLING DIFFICULT DOGS. DOGS THAT HAVE HIGHER AROUSAL. AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY BUILDING ON THAT. WHEN I CAME HERE IN OCTOBER, I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL. THE NUMBER OF CAT AND DOG BITES AND SCRATCHES IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE HAVE NOW, EXCEPT THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE ON STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. NOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR BITES AND SCRATCHES OCCUR FROM THE PUBLIC BRINGING AN ANIMAL IN, AND OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE DROPPED BY ABOUT A THIRD, ABOUT TWO THIRDS. OKAY.

SO WHAT IS SO, GEORGE, YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT YOU ON, BUT WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS? SO. SO BOARD MEMBERS ARE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY. REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT YOU'RE ASKED TO SUBMIT A APPLICATION AND A RESUME. THERE'S A OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL INTERVIEW YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A GOOD FIT WITH THE BOARD. WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR A DIVERSE BOARD, BE IT TO BRING MONEY, TO BRING IN TALENT, TO BRING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE TRY, WE COULD BE A LITTLE MORE DIVERSE. WE'RE ABOUT 5050 WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN AND MEN. WE COULD BE A LITTLE MORE DIVERSE IN COLOR AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. BUT THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS.

IT GOES TO THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES IT. IT'S BROUGHT TO THE FULL BOARD FOR A VOTE. OKAY. CAN YOU DETAIL WHY WHY YOU CURRENTLY HAVE MULTIPLE

[00:35:08]

[00:40:02]

I'M ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE. SO I'VE BEEN IN SHELTERING SINCE 2012, AND PRIOR TO THIS I WAS AT SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY, WHERE I PROVIDED BEHAVIORAL EDUCATION THERE FOR THEIR STAFF, FOR OTHER SHELTERS AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL. AS PART OF MY PRIVATE BUSINESS WITH MY WIFE, WE ACTUALLY DO BEHAVIOR CONSULTING FOR SHELTERS, VET OFFICES, AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS. AND THROUGH HER CONNECTIONS, WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP BEING HIRED TO DO A WEEK LONG CONSULTING SERVICE FOR HARFORD HUMANE. AND WHEN I CAME HERE AND I MET THE BOARD AND I MET THE STAFF, THEY MADE A REALLY STRONG CONNECTION WITH ME. I SAW A GROUP THAT WAS REALLY COMMITTED. I WORKED WITH MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND I'VE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN IN AN ORGANIZATION WHERE EVERYONE IS COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY ON THE SAME DIRECTION, SAME PAGE, COMMITTED A LOT OF ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE. THAT'S WHY THEY GO INTO THE BUSINESS. BUT THEY'RE OFTEN YOUNG WHEN THEY START AND THEY THERE'S A LOT OF INFIGHTING. AND I DON'T SEE THAT HERE. I SEE A COHESIVE GROUP THAT WANTS TO WORK TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL. AND SO WHEN I WAS APPROACHED ABOUT POTENTIALLY COMING OUT HERE, IT WAS A PRETTY EASY DECISION FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A BIG MOVE WITH FOUR DOGS AND A CAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT IT WAS A VERY CLEAR DECISION FOR ME. AND FROM COMING HERE, WHILE THE WORK WAS MORE THAN I EXPECTED INITIALLY, IT HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. I'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM THAT I WORK WITH. THEY MAKE ME LOOK GOOD AND SO BUT THEY DO ALL THE WORK AND SO THAT'S FANTASTIC. HAVING A TEAM LIKE THAT, HAVING BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN SAY I'VE HAD BEFORE. MY FINAL QUESTION IS, OF YOUR 39 EMPLOYEES, WHAT IS THE BREAKDOWN OF OVERHEAD STAFF VERSUS DIRECT SERVICE STAFF? WE DON'T NECESSARILY BREAK THAT OUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT A LITTLE? SO WHO IS CLEANING KENNELS OR PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE VERSUS PEOPLE WHO ADMINISTRATIVE. YES. THERE ARE SIX ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM.

THE REST ARE DIRECTLY DEALING WITH THE ANIMALS THAT IS COMPRISED OF ANIMAL CARE, THOSE THAT ARE CLEANING THE KENNELS, THE CLINIC. SO OUR VET TECHS AND OUR VETS CLIENT SERVICES, THOSE DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE AN ADOPTIONS COUNSELOR AS WELL AND ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT COUNSELOR, MARKETING MANAGER, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR. AND THAT IS IT.

OKAY. YES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT IT'S NOT QUITE AS CLEAR CUT. LAST WEEK I DID SOMETHING I DON'T NORMALLY DO, AND I WENT OUT FOR LUNCH INSTEAD OF ORDERING GRUBHUB, AND I CAME BACK AND THE SHELTER WAS PACKED. AMANDA WAS IN OUR CAR LUNCHROOM DOING AN ADOPTION CONSULTATION.

MY ADOPTION, MY ANIMAL CARE MANAGER WAS CLEANING KENNELS, AND I SAW PEOPLE WAITING TO VISIT WITH THE CAT. SO I JUMPED IN AND DID AN ADOPTION CONSULTATION THERE. AND SO IT'S A LOT OF OVERLAP. AND WHILE WE DO HAVE MANAGERS WHO DO MANAGERIAL WORK AND CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE THAT KEEP US OUT OF THE KENNEL SPACES, NO ONE THERE IS AFRAID TO JUMP IN AND HELP OUT AS WELL. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MISS IMHOFF. MR. GIORDANO. SO, AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR COMING. GEORGE. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND, FERNANDO, WELCOME TO HARFORD COUNTY. SO WE APPRECIATE COMING HERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF EMAILS FROM CITIZENS. THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF CITIZENS IN HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THIS. SO I DO HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WERE SENT TO ME BEHALF OF BUNCH OF CITIZENS. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM.

SO AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE PRIOR DIRECTOR. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS

[00:45:05]

OKAY. SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL IS SO WE'LL GO ON THAT. SO CAN YOU CONFIRM WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALARY INCREASE FROM 86,000IN 2023 TO 150,000IN 2024? IF SO, CAN YOU PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE MORE THAN $60,000 INCREASE? I CANNOT CONFIRM THAT. I DO THINK THAT THAT IS INCORRECT. OKAY, ANYTHING OVER THAT? I BELIEVE $120,000 THRESHOLD IS INCORPORATED AND REPORTED ON OUR 990. IT WOULD BE REFLECTED THERE. OKAY. AND I'M ASKING QUESTIONS THAT I GOT. SO HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO APPOINTING A VETERINARIAN ON THE BOARD OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY, GIVEN THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SINCE 2019? WELL, I DON'T THINK I THINK BOB SILCOX WAS ON THE BOARD PRIOR TO 2019, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR VETERINARIAN TO SERVE ON OUR BOARD. YES. OKAY. AND LET ME SEE. UPDATE ON THE BEHAVIORAL BUILDING. IS THERE HEAT SOMEBODY. NO HEAT. YEAH OKAY.

AND LET ME SEE HERE. WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE. HOW IS THE ADDITIONAL 500,000 EXPECTED TO BE USED. AND IS THERE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION OR INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO JUSTIFY THIS ALLOCATION. THE ADDITIONAL 500,000 THAT WE'VE REQUESTED WAS DONE SO TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

SO EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED FROM THE COUNTY, WE ARE STILL GOING TO SEE A DEFICIT. WHEN WE REVISE OUR BUDGET, IT'LL BE CLOSER TO 568 RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU CAN CLEARLY AGAIN SEE WHERE OUR MONIES ARE DISTRIBUTED AND WHAT THEY'RE ALLOCATED TOWARD WITHIN OUR 990 AND OUR AUDITED FINANCIALS. WHEN DID YOU GUYS START TO BUILD THAT BUILDING? JULY, JULY, JULY 2020 FOR THAT BUILDING. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE POLE BUILDING? THE POLE BARN? I GUESS IF THAT'S THE BUILDING THAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING TO, I'M NOT SURE. I WOULD ASSUME SO. SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE STRUCTURE OF A POLE BARN? IT WAS BUILT BY THE AMISH. IT WAS. IT WAS FUNDED PARTLY BY FUNDS FROM A BEQUEST. AND WE BUILT THE SHELL OF THE BUILDING. AND AS AMANDA HAD SAID, AS ALL ORGANIZATIONS, WE'RE FACING A DEFICIT. SO WE HAVE A NICE LITTLE NEST EGG WITH HARTFORD FINANCIAL THAT WE'VE BEEN HITTING FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF AT THE TUNE OF ABOUT $200,000 EACH TIME. AT ABOUT FOUR TIMES A YEAR, WE HAVE THE MONEY TO OUTFIT THE BUILDING AND COMPLETE IT. HOWEVER, IN MY OPINION AND THE BOARD'S OPINION, IT WOULD NOT BE A PRUDENT THING TO DO TO PUT AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING AND THINGS INTO A BUILDING WHEN WE MAY NEED THAT MONEY FOR OPERATING FUNDS. OKAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. DENHAM. MR. BENNETT, HELLO. GOOD EVENING. IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. A LITTLE ASIDE FROM MY DAY JOB, I'M A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, AND AT THE START OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY AMONGST KINDERGARTEN PARENTS BECAUSE IT'S OFTENTIMES THEIR FIRST TIME PLACING THEIR CHILD WITH AN ADULT OTHER THAN THEMSELVES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAY TO FAMILIES AT THE START OF EVERY YEAR IS I DON'T WANT TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM YOU IN NOVEMBER SAYING YOUR CHILD HASN'T EATEN LUNCH SINCE SEPTEMBER. NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION, BUT BECAUSE I CAN'T REWIND TIME AND FIX TWO MONTHS OF HISTORY. SO I WANT TO KNOW THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY SKIP THEIR LUNCH, NOT THE 60TH. AND I JUST SHARE THAT BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE A LITTLE BIT LIKE A NOVEMBER NO LUNCH PHONE CALL WITH EVERYTHING WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, WITH JUST THIS BUILDUP OF TENSION THAT KIND OF HAPPENED WITHOUT OUR VISION ON IT. AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO KIND OF BE MORE IN THE LOOP THROUGH THAT PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY OR, YOU KNOW, AUTONOMY OVER YOUR WORK. I THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR US TO BE IN THE LOOP SO THAT WHEN WE'RE GETTING ALL THIS EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS OF COMMUNICATION, WE HAVE A BASIS OF UNDERSTANDING TO KIND OF BUILD OFF OF. SO THAT'S JUST ONE REQUEST I WANTED TO SHARE AND MAYBE GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT REQUEST FOR FUTURE COMMUNICATION EFFORTS. AND THEN THE SECOND THING I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT IS I SERVE ON TWO OTHER BOARDS THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. I AM ON THE CITIZENS CARE BOARD, WHICH IS A NURSING HOME IN HAVRE DE GRACE, AND I'M ON THE HARFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE

[00:50:06]

SPECIFICALLY, I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH THE PARVO OUTBREAK, WHICH OUR OFFICIAL AND DETAILED STATEMENT WAS RELEASED REGARDING THAT. THIS PUBLIC OUTCRY, IN MY OPINION, IS MISGUIDED. IT BEGAN WITH ONE INDIVIDUAL THAT I WOULD NOT ALLOW TO BULLY OUR STAFF, AND I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL JUST SHARE IS I WORRY THAT IF WE DO ENTER A SEASON OF RECESSION AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY, THAT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO FEEL THE BRUNT OF THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ANIMAL CARE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO FEEL THE BRUNT OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS AS DOGS AND CATS AND SNAKES AND SO ON END UP ON THE STREETS AND IN THE WOODS AND THEN EVENTUALLY IN YOUR HANDS. AND I JUST THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW THAT ALL HORSES ARE MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THERE'S NO SPACE FOR INFIGHTING. AND I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO COME TOGETHER WHO'S IN THE BUSINESS OF TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS SO THAT THOSE ANIMALS CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF. WELL SAID. WE AGREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MR. RILEY? YES, AMANDA, I JUST FIRST, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS YOU DO HAVE? CURRENTLY? APPROXIMATELY 250. I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE EXACT NUMBER. OKAY. AND I WILL ALSO SAY, ABOVE ALL THE NOISE I SEE THAT YOU DO HAVE GEORGE AND JOAN ON YOUR BOARD, HIGHLY RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT SAYS A LOT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MISS ROBERT. YES, I AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. IT DID PROVIDE ME A LOT OF INFORMATION. I DID HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. AND AGAIN, FOR TRANSPARENCY, I FROM THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I HAVE RECEIVED, THEY FEEL THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, SUCH AS FEEDING OF ANIMALS AND WHAT IS THE DAY TO DAY STRUCTURE, IS THERE LIKE A SCHEDULE THAT IS FOLLOWED AS FAR AS FEEDING? AND YOU KNOW, WHEN LIGHTS OUT, I GUESS KIND OF SAY LIKE, HOW DOES THAT ALL WORK? THERE IS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TONIGHT TO GO OVER ALL THE DETAILS. WE'LL DO THE ABRIDGED VERSION. YES, YES, I'LL ACTUALLY

[00:55:02]

PARTICULARLY MY ANIMAL CARE STAFF WORKS ON TEN HOUR SHIFTS, SO THEY COME IN IN THE MORNING, THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY GOING IN. THEY'RE CLEANING PANELS, PREPARING FOOD. WE HAVE ENRICHMENT TIME SET ASIDE SO WE PREPARE ENRICHMENT ITEMS. WE HAVE PRIORITY DOGS AND THOSE ARE DOGS THAT MAYBE WE'RE SAYING EITHER THIS INDIVIDUAL WALKS IN THE BUILDING AND CLEARLY NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE, OR THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DEGRADED AND NEEDS MORE ATTENTION. SOME OF THESE ANIMALS, MUCH LIKE US, REALLY DO WELL WITH CONSISTENCY. AND ALL ANIMALS, I THINK, DO WELL WITH CONSISTENCY, BUT SOME OF THEM REALLY NEED IT AND THEY SUFFER WITHOUT THAT. AND SO WE HAVE A BEHAVIOR PLAN SET ASIDE THAT SPECIFICALLY STATE WHEN ANIMALS GO OUT, HOW THEY'RE TREATED, HOW THEY'RE HANDLED. IF YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THAT'S ALL DONE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WHILE THAT'S HAPPENING, WE HAVE GUESTS COMING INTO THE BUILDING, OUR CLIENT SERVICES IS FIELDING PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, HELPING PEOPLE TO PICK OUT ANIMALS. ANYTIME GUESTS COME IN AND WANT TO MEET WITH AN ANIMAL, THE ANIMAL CARE TEAM IS CALLED UPON. THEY ALL HAVE RADIOS, AND SO THEY MAY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF CLEANING A KENNEL AND IT'S, OH, LET ME FINISH THIS UP TO A STOPPING POINT AND RUN AND DO AN INTRODUCTION. DO A MEET AND GREET. WHETHER IT BE TAKING A DOG OUT WITH A PATRON OR A CAT IN A ROOM, OR LET'S GO LOOK AT OUR CRITTERS. AND AS SOON AS THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THEY BRING THEM BACK TO CLIENT SERVICES TO FINISH THE ADOPTION PROCESS. AND THEN THEY'RE RIGHT BACK TO CLEANING, ENRICHMENT, TRAINING OF THE ANIMALS, DOGS, CATS, JUST LIKE A LOT OF ZOO ANIMALS, IF THEY DON'T GET CONSISTENT ENRICHMENT AND SOMETIMES IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES, THEY STRUGGLE AND THEY START TO DO WHAT WE CALL STEREOTYPICAL REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO AVOID AT ALL COSTS. AND A LOT OF ZOOS STRUGGLE WITH THIS AS WELL, BUT WE WORK VERY HARD TO PROVIDE THAT ENRICHMENT, TO GIVE THEM THAT CONSISTENCY WHILE TAKING CARE OF OUR DAILY DUTIES. AND WE ALSO, I TELL MY TEAM ALL THE TIME I WANT TRANSPARENCY. AND SO IF SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING WITH AN ANIMAL, IF SOMEONE IS MAYBE STRUGGLING WITH THE SCHEDULE, THEY OPEN DOOR.

THEY COME INTO MY OFFICE ALL THE TIME, WE SIT DOWN, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW CAN WE FIX THE SITUATION, HOW CAN WE GIVE YOU THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED? IS THAT HELP YOU QUESTION? IT DOES ANSWER MY QUESTION. I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT BRIEFLY, IF I MAY, THOUGH, I THINK THIS IS AN AREA THAT REQUIRES A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS PERSPECTIVE, ESPECIALLY, THAT AGAIN, WE FOLLOW A SPECIFIC STANDARD OF CARE AND A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL GIVEN TO US BY THE STATE. SO CLEANING, SANITATION PRACTICES, FEEDING, SCHEDULING, ALL OF THAT IS DICTATED TO US. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THAT WHEN NEEDED. AND THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY OUR MEDICAL AND OPERATIONS TEAMS. THE STANDARDS THAT VOLUNTEERS EXPECT. THEY ARE BASING THOSE OPINIONS ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND MOST OFTEN THEIR OWN HOME PETS. THIS IS NOT THE SAME. THIS IS A SHELTER. YES, THE KENNELS WILL BE A MESS. SOMETIMES THEY ARE CLEANED EVERY SINGLE DAY PRIOR TO OPENING. WE MONITOR AND MAINTAIN OUR TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE FACILITY. THIS PAST WINTER WAS EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT WITH THAT COLD SNAP AND OUR BUILDING IS NOW TEN YEARS OLD. NOW IS THE PERIOD WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE SYSTEMS FAILING AND WAVERING. WE NEED SUPPLEMENTARY HEAT. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SO WE'RE BRINGING IN SPACE HEATERS. THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR, I MADE A CALL TO THE COUNTY FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. SO AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE THOSE STANDARDS THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND VOLUNTEERS MAY HAVE ARE NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTIVE OF OUR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

OKAY. AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS I AND I, I THINK I KIND OF ADDRESSED ASKED THIS QUESTION DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS AS WELL, IS WHAT IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY GOING TO DO AS FAR AS POSSIBLY LOOKING INTO GRANTS OR MORE PHILANTHROPIC HELP, OR DO MISS LESLIE'S ASKING US NOT TO? OH, NO. NO, BUT I MEANT OKAY, BECAUSE THE WORK SESSIONS IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE OVER. OKAY.

THAT LEGISLATION IS PENDING. OKAY. AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS VOLUNTEERS, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE 250 VOLUNTEERS CURRENTLY. HAVE YOU SEEN A DECREASE IN VOLUNTEERISM AT THE SOCIETY? AND IS THAT BECAUSE THAT THEY ARE LEAVING VOLUNTARILY, OR ARE THEY BEING ASKED TO NOT VOLUNTEER ANY FURTHER? SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S NECESSARILY BEEN A MASSIVE DECREASE IN VOLUNTEERISM. WE HAVE A PRETTY DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHIC OF

[01:00:07]

MISS SOTOS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. MY COLLEAGUES TOOK CARE OF ALL THE QUESTIONS. WE WE'VE GOTTEN MANY EMAILS, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE FACED WITH EVERY DAY AND NAVIGATING THROUGH CHANGES AND TRANSITIONS. AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND ANY TIME THAT I'VE REACHED OUT, I'VE GOTTEN A RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY. A MATTER OF FACT, TODAY, WITHIN MINUTES. AND THAT REALLY IT REALLY STANDS OUT. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS MR. JANARDHANA. YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK. TWO MORE QUESTIONS. VOLUNTEERS. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED SOMEBODY FOR VOLUNTEERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ONE PERSON, BUT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD BACK. IT'S BEEN LIKE TWO MONTHS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL THEM, BUT THEY CAN EMAIL ME DIRECTLY. I CAN FIGURE THAT OUT FOR THEM. AND THAT'S MY SECOND QUESTION IS YOURSELF AND FERNANDO AREN'T ANYWHERE ON YOUR WEBSITE. IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT? WE ARE. YOU HAVE TO DIG A LITTLE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO DISCUSSION ON OUR WEBSITE. I THINK WE WENT OVER THAT IN THAT BUDGET WORK SESSION. IT DESPERATELY NEEDS AN OVERHAUL. WE ARE LISTED. THERE IS NOT A DEDICATED PAGE, THOUGH TO A STAFF DIRECTORY. THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I THINK TRANSPARENCY HERE THIS EVENING. I THINK IT GOES A LONG WAY. I ALWAYS SAY COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO ANY SUCCESS, RIGHT. SO I'M HOPING THAT SOME OF THE CITIZENS THAT HAD CONCERNS TONIGHT GOT ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS. AND I HOPE THAT IF THEY HAVEN'T GOT THEM, THEY CAN PICK THE PHONE UP AND CALL YOU DIRECTLY. SET A TIME ASIDE TO COME AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S MISSING, OKAY. OR EMAIL US. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. GEORGE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I KNOW THE DEDICATION THAT YOU HAVE. I SEE IT ALL THE TIME AT ROTARY AND OTHER EVENTS.

SO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SHERIFF BAIN, THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THAT YOU SPEND AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY AS WELL. WITH THAT, WE'LL CONCLUDE THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA NUMBER SEVEN,

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[01:05:02]

[10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS]

ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE MAY HAVE A MOTION. PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 11 TO BILL 20 5-005. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 11 TO BILL 25 005. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. BENNETT, JUST FOR ANYBODY WHO MAY BE WATCHING TONIGHT AND MISSED LAST WEEK WE HAD A REALLY EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS AND ABOUT OUR WATER AND SEWER, WHERE WE STAND FINANCIALLY WITH THAT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. MR. PRESIDENT I MRS. ROBERT I MRS. EMHOFF I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY I MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO IN THE NEGATIVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 11 TO BILL 25 005 ARE HEREBY APPROVED. MR. JOHN GIORDANO, PLEASE READ AMENDMENTS 12 THROUGH 15 INTO THE RECORD AMENDMENTS 12 TO 15 TO BILL 20 5-005, ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATE ORDINANCE INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ROBERT IMHOFF, JOHN GIORDANO, BOYLE AND BENNETT. AMENDMENT 12 ON PAGE 36, IN LINE 19. STRIKE 10 MILLION AND SUBSTITUTE FIVE 5 MILLION. AMENDMENT 13 ON PAGE EIGHT IN LINE 18. STRIKE 2,484,813, AND SUBSTITUTE 1,584,813. AMENDMENT 14 ON PAGE NINE. LINE 16 STRIKE 15,748,825 AND SUBSTITUTE 14,748,825. AMENDMENT 15 ON PAGE 13. LINE NINE STRIKE 2,650,469 AND SUBSTITUTE 2,341,829. THANK YOU, MR. GIORDANO. THESE WILL ALL BE DISCUSSED AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING, GIVING EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY AND PLENTY OF TIME TO GO THROUGH AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ANSWERED. 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS EXCUSE ME 11 CALL FOR FINAL READING OF

[13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS]

YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THROUGH SECRETARY SESHAMANI AND TO APPOINT MISS LAUREN LEVY, WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US THIS EVENING AS THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER. MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF LAUREN LEVY AS THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER. A SECOND, SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND, TO APPROVE THE HEALTH OFFICER'S SEARCH COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, LAUREN LEVY, TO SERVE AS THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO START. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE GONE THROUGH A NATIONAL SEARCH, AND AFTER 108 APPLICANTS APPLIED TO FIND AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE JUST ACROSS THE CREEK, AS I ALWAYS SAY, AND I IN TALKING WITH HER, I'VE ASSURED HER THAT IF SHE IS CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, THAT WE WANT HER TO CONTINUE A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH NOT ONLY EVERYONE HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, BUT CECIL COUNTY AS WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IN CECIL COUNTY IMPACTS HARFORD COUNTY. WHAT HAPPENS IN HARFORD COUNTY IMPACTS CECIL COUNTY. SO WITH THAT, ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN IT FIRST BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT WE WERE LEANING IN THIS DIRECTION, I REALLY HAD TO THINK A FEW TIMES, IS THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST CHOICE OR BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST CONVENIENT GEOGRAPHICALLY? BUT THE MORE I LISTENED TO MISS LEVY SPEAK AND I SAW THE WORK THAT SHE DOES, AND I HEARD FROM HEALTH HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES IN CECIL COUNTY, THE MORE IT BECAME VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT IT WAS BOTH. WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT THE BEST CHOICE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTY LINES, AND WE HAD A LOT

[01:10:02]

THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MR. GINGER, MISS LEVY, CONGRATULATIONS. SO MY THIRD HEALTH OFFICER IN SIX YEARS. SO PLEASE MAKE IT MY LAST. YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD WE FOUND YOU. I'M GLAD YOU'RE CLOSE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME MUCH MORE ONCE YOU'RE ONCE YOU'RE HERE. SO I ALWAYS SEEM TO BUG SOMEBODY. SO GET READY FOR ME TO BUG YOU.

SO THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, MISS ROBERT? YES. I CAN'T SEE YOU. HI. SO I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THAT MISS LEVY WAS HERE. I SPENT 18 YEARS IN CECIL COUNTY, AND WITH MY POSITION IN THE COURT, HAD TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND THINGS THAT AFFECTED THE FAMILY. SO WHEN I SAW HER NAME ACROSS THE BOARD, I WAS GREATLY PLEASED. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. I THIS IS EMHOFF I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY HI MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTING IN PRIMITIVE ZERO AND A NEGATIVE. THE RECOMMENDATION IS HEREBY APPROVED. MISS LEVY, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND SAY A FEW WORDS OR NOT. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M SERVING AS THE HEALTH OFFICER FOR CECIL COUNTY HAS BEEN THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME. I AM DEEPLY, DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY THERE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS AND VERY, VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. I HAVE LONG ADMIRED THE WORK OF THE HARFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE, AND JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO START BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF YOU AND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE IN HARFORD COUNTY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I REALLY VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO MISS AUSTIN? I HAVE GOOD, I HAVE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING YOU CONFIRMED AND MOVING FORWARD. LIKEWISE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 14 NEW BUSINESS, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS GOT MR. CLARK HERE THIS

[14. NEW BUSINESS]

THE NEW CORNELL BROWN OF. I LIKE IT. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE. ACTUALLY HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS. I'LL GO THROUGH THEM INDIVIDUALLY. IF YOU WANT TO DO OKAY, YOU CAN YOU CAN DISCUSS THEM AS A BLOCK. AND IF THEY WANT TO SPLIT THEM OUT, WE CAN OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

I'M ERIC CLARK, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. LIKE I SAID, I HAVE THREE AGENDA ITEMS FOR YOU. THE FIRST IS THE. WE ARE REQUESTING AN APPROVAL OF A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET. WE RECEIVED A $3 MILLION REFUND FROM THE HEALTHCARE CONSORTIUM FROM THE COUNTY, AND WE ALSO ARE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT OUR INTEREST INCOME OR INTEREST REVENUE WILL BE $2 MILLION HIGHER THAN BUDGETED. WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS REVENUE AND ALSO ALLOCATE THAT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. NON PUBLIC TUITION 4.5 MILLION. AND THEN INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR TEXTBOOKS BY HALF $1 MILLION. THAT'S AGENDA ITEM ONE OKAY. THE SECOND IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO MOST YEARS.

IT'S A REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS BETWEEN STATE CATEGORIES. ACCORDING TO MARYLAND LAW, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CANNOT OVERSPEND IN ANY OF ITS 13 CATEGORIES. THE BUDGET OFFICE MONITORS THESE EXPENDITURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND IN MAY WE DO, OR IN APRIL AND MAY WE DO PROJECTIONS AND WE MOVE FUNDS AROUND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WON'T OVERSPEND IN ANY CATEGORY THIS YEAR. THERE'S REALLY THREE CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE WE'RE TWO CATEGORIES THAT WERE CLOSE IN ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OVER IN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS. WE ARE PROJECTING TO

[01:15:04]

TRANSPORTATION. BUS CONTRACTS 1,650,000 AND OPERATION OF PLANT CUSTODIAL SALARIES 750,000. AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM I HAVE FOR YOU THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST TO TRANSFER FUNDS BETWEEN CAPITAL PROJECTS. WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE CLOSED OUT BUT HAVE REMAINING BALANCES. THOSE BALANCES ARE DUE TO WHAT I LIKE TO THINK OF AS EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, KEEPING COSTS IN CONTROL. WE HAVE A SYSTEMIC BAKERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILLER THAT WE'RE HAVE A BALANCE OF 25,385. A SYSTEMIC MEADOWVALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILLER, WHERE WE HAVE A BALANCE OF $58,250, AND THEN AN HVAC SCHOOL CHILLER AT HALLS CROSSROADS, WHERE WE HAVE A BALANCE OF 194,476. AND WE'RE REQUESTING TO TRANSFER THOSE EXCESS FUNDS OUT OF THOSE THREE CAPITAL PROJECTS INTO WHAT WE HAVE. IT'S A MAJOR HVAC ACCOUNT.

WE USE THESE FUNDS TO ADDRESS ANY TYPE OF HVAC PROBLEMS THAT COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THEY'RE NOT SPECIFIC TO A PROJECT RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW IF WE HAVE A CHILLER GO UP OR WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF HVAC PROBLEM, THIS IS OUR GO TO BUCKET TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS AS THEY COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THANK YOU ERIC. SO WITH THAT, KATHY, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ADDRESS. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FIRST TWO. AND KATHY CAN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CAPITAL PROJECTS REQUEST. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MISS IMHOFF? HI. SO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT TRANSFERRING 1.5 MILLION FROM TRANSPORTATION LIKE BUS CONTRACTS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. IS AGAIN, THERE'S RESIDUAL TRAUMA FROM HOW HOWARD COUNTY, HOWARD COUNTY STRUGGLED LAST YEAR. WOULD THAT AFFECT ANY OF OUR BUS ROUTES OR BUS ACCESS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? ABSOLUTELY NOT. IT'S EXCESS. IT'S EXCESS BUDGETED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE. AND THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT IS WHEN WE WERE CREATING THE FY 25 BUDGET 18 MONTHS BEFORE, DIESEL PRICES WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN THEY ARE NOW. WE WERE LOOKING AT OVER $5 A GALLON BUDGETING.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 325 TO 350 A GALLON THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. SO WHEN YOU MULTIPLY THAT OUT BY THE AMOUNT OF CONTRACTED BUSSES WE HAVE, THAT'S QUITE A SAVINGS. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS IMHOFF. ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT? HELLO. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE INCREASE FOR NONPUBLIC TUITION OF 4.5 MILLION, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN SHARED DURING BOARD OF ED MEETINGS THAT NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS, ON AVERAGE, ARE A LITTLE OVER $100,000 PER STUDENT PER YEAR. IS THAT AVERAGE? IT DEPENDS ON THE SERVICES, BUT THE AVERAGE IS PROBABLY AROUND 90,000. BUT WE DO HAVE PLACEMENTS THAT ARE WELL OVER 200, AND WE HAVE PLACEMENTS THAT ARE AROUND 40 TO 45. THAT'S THE COMBINATION OF TUITION AND TRANSPORTATION. TUITION. WELL, THIS IS JUST TUITION OKAY. WE DO HAVE SOME WE DO HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT DRIVE THAT COST UP. AND I KNOW A LOT OF THAT IS EXTREMELY CONFIDENTIAL. YOU KNOW, NDAS INVOLVED AND THE LIKE. BUT ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE, LIKE A ROUGH TRANSLATION OF WHAT THAT NUMBER MEANS AS FAR AS NUMBER OF CHILDREN OR STUDENTS? WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS. WE PROBABLY ARE RIGHT AROUND 300 PLACEMENTS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WE MAY HAVE A STUDENT THAT'S PLACED THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'S WAS PLACED LAST YEAR AND POTENTIALLY THE YEAR BEFORE, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO SEE AN INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS THE STUDENTS POTENTIAL BEHAVIORS OR SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS ARE MORE THAN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN HANDLE. AND TWO TWO MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS THREAD BECAUSE TO YOUR TO YOUR POINT, YOU JUST SHARED, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT

[01:20:02]

YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S THE BIGGEST PORTION OF IT. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. ANYONE ELSE? ERIC, I SEE NO REASON WHY WE JUST COULDN'T VOTE ON THESE ALL AT ONE TIME. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. WHENEVER YOU'VE GOT MONEY LEFT IN A PROJECT. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT? I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 11 TO BILL. WRONG ONE.

SORRY. WE'RE GONNA DO BUDGET TRANSFERS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO I MOVE TO THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TRANSFER REQUEST. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THE BUDGET TRANSFERS, THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, HI, MRS. ROBERTS. HI, MRS. IMHOFF. HI, MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY, MRS. BORSATO. AYE. MR. BENNETT, I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO AND NEGATIVE. THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSFER

[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]

TWO 1015 I'VE SPOKEN ON THE TOPIC THAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO AGAIN TONIGHT MANY TIMES, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR LISTENING EACH TIME THAT I'VE SPOKEN, AND SO HAVE SO MANY OTHERS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE PEOPLE WITH PETS, ANIMAL LOVERS, ETC. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS CERTAINLY ARE ANIMAL LOVERS, AND THEY CARE NOT ONLY ABOUT THEIR OWN PETS THAT THEY FEEL ARE FAMILY, NOT JUST PROPERTY AS THE LAW SEES IT, BUT THE ONES THAT THEY SEE ROAMING AROUND THE STREET, THE ONES THAT THEY SEE AT THE SHELTER, THE ONES THAT THEY STUMBLE ACROSS. SOMEBODY'S ABANDONED THEM. WE RUN INTO THAT A LOT. THEY CARE. WE ALL CARE

[01:25:06]

SO I HAVE TO SAY, TOO, THAT AS PRESIDENT OF SHADOW CATS TNR, I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT IN TERMS OF WHY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHELTER HAS BEEN BROKEN. IT ISN'T WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER TIME. I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS. LEADERSHIP IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE BUILT ON, STARTING WITH TRUST. IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRUST, IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HONEST WITH THEM. YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT CRITICISM. YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES WHERE YOU NEED TO, AND YOU'RE GOING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THEN THERE'S NO TRUST, AND YOU CAN'T LEAD WITHOUT TRUST. AND I'M SPEAKING FROM MY PAST AS A DOD CIVILIAN, MANAGED A LOT OF PEOPLE, WAS ON MANY, MANY TEAMS. I WAS BOTH A FOLLOWER AND A LEADER. IT'S ESSENTIAL. SO FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, I HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF MY MANY CLIENTS, THOUSANDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS FOR TNR CATS AND FOR PET SPAY AND NEUTER COMING TO US FOR LOW COST CARE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD WHAT IT COSTS OUT THERE IN HARFORD COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE. I'VE BEEN TELLING THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT I FOUND THIS CAT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO KILL IT. AND I'VE SPENT THE PAST THREE YEARS SAYING, NO, NO, NO, NO. THERE'S BEEN A BIG CHANGE AT THE SHELTER. PEOPLE THERE ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMAL. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY PUT IT DOWN. I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BAD STORIES, BUT THAT'S THE PAST. SO TRUST ME, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE PARTNERING WITH THEM IF THEY WEREN'T DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I NO LONGER RECOMMEND TO ANY OF OUR CLIENTS TO TAKE CATS.

CATS. THAT'S MY AREA TO THE SHELTER, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T TRUST EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD. AND THAT'S JUST WHERE I STAND. BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THEY CAN COME TO US SHADOW CATS. TNR WILL HELP THEM AS BEST WE CAN. AND I HOPE, I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE REAL CHANGE AT THE SHELTER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR. THEY ARE DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM. THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR. PRESIDENT.

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS]

[01:30:04]

THANK YOU, MRS. MR. RILEY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO THE HARFORD SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE FOLKS. AND ALSO THE DARLINGTON ELEMENTARY PATRIOT PROGRAM. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE YOUNG PATRIOTS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MR. JORDAN THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SO ON I DID THE HARFORD COUNTY SPORTS HALL OF FAME ON WEDNESDAY. ON THURSDAY I DID RING FACTORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PATRIOT PROGRAM WHERE I SHOWED ALL THE PATRIOTS MY MARYLAND FLAG ON THE INSIDE OF MY SPORT COAT, WHICH THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVED. TEN AT THE COMMENCEMENT FOR PATTERSON MILL HIGH SCHOOL TODAY AND THURSDAY, I GET TO GO TO MY ALMA MATER, WHICH IS BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL, AND DO THEIR GRADUATION. AND ON MONDAY I WENT OUT TO THE VETERANS CEMETERY OUT IN REISTERSTOWN. THEY WERE HAVING A CEREMONY OUT THERE, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I WENT OUT AND SAW MY FATHER, WHO'S BURIED AND GOT HIS PLAQUE. SO IT WAS A PRETTY EMOTIONAL DAY. ON A ON ANOTHER NOTE, MYSELF AND WELL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT MYSELF SENT A LETTER OVER TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE CASTLE THAT SAYS BASICALLY, WE STRONGLY WE HAVE A STRONG APPRECIATION FOR THE COMMITMENT FOR ALL OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE IN NO WAY SUGGESTED OR IMPLIED THAT ANY 3% COAL AND 1% MERIT INCREASE FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES BE BE CUT, NOR WILL WE EVER ADVOCATE FOR THAT BEING CUT. YOU KNOW, SO WE WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. WE SENT OVER A LIST WHERE WE THOUGHT THAT THINGS COULD BE MOVED, AND WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH COUNTY EXECUTIVE. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM HIM. BUT WE CERTAINLY HAVE A COMMITMENT TO ALL ALL THE EMPLOYEES. FOR HARFORD COUNTY, WE ALWAYS HAVE. WE ALWAYS WILL. SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. JENNIFER AND MISS IMHOFF. GOOD EVENING. SO MUCH. LIKE MR. BENNETT, COUNCILMAN BENNETT WAS SAYING I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES ON MAY 22ND. JUST A REMINDER, THE FALLSTON CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD IS TOMORROW. IT'S THE LAST ONE BEFORE THEY BREAK FOR SUMMER. SO ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED, IT'S AT 630 AT THE RONNIE CHENOWITH CENTER. I WILL BE ATTENDING MY ALMA MATER AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL ON THURSDAY FOR THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY. ALSO, JUST A REMINDER, THE OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES IS DOING A PATHWAYS TO POSSIBILITIES. IT'S AN EVENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE KIDS WHO ARE OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES THAT ARE TRANSITIONING FROM SCHOOL TO ADULTHOOD. IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE. I'LL ALSO BE GOING JUST BECAUSE OF MY OUTSIDE WORK TO THE COUNCIL AND AS A SIBLING OF SOMEONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, SO I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A LOVED ONE WHO WILL BE TRANSITIONING INTO ADULTHOOD FROM EDUCATION, FROM THE EDUCATION. AND THEN I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING THE EDGEWOOD JOPPA, JOPPA TOWN COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON JUNE 2ND. THANK YOU, MISS IMHOFF. MISS ROBERT. YES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY BEFORE I WENT AWAY, I DID ATTEND THE UNVEILING OF. WE HAVE TWO NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS IN THE EDGEWOOD AREA. THEY ARE VERY NICELY SET UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S AWARE THAT THEY ARE LOCAL AND THEY'RE AT THE PRESTBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND AT THE EDGEWOOD AMERICAN LEGION. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE GRADUATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE GRADUATING AND HAVE GRADUATED. I DID ATTEND ON MAY 22ND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, IN WHICH THEY HONORED 46 STUDENTS AND WERE ABLE TO GIVE OUT CITATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. TOGETHER, THEY HAVE $21 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS, SO I BELIEVE ALL OF THEIR EDUCATION IS PAID FOR AMONGST ALL OF THEM. AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE PROGRAM THAT THEY WENT TO AND TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING. AND WITH THAT, I'M THAT'S IT. THANK

[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]

[01:35:03]