Sep 09, 2025 County Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:24]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US HERE TONIGHT. PLEASE HELP US GUIDE THIS COUNCIL AND OUR ADVOCATE CITIZENS AS WE WORK TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR COUNTY. AS THE ANNIVERSARY OF NINE OVER 11 FAST APPROACHES, PLEASE HELP US REMEMBER THAT THE LIVE THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST AND THE FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED. PLEASE ALSO GUIDE AND PROTECT THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES AS THEY WORK TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, NATION AND ALLIES. PLEASE HELP US SEE THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SILENT BATTLES.

HELP US PROVIDE CHIVALRY TO OUR FELLOW MAN, AND HELP US ALL GET HOME SAFELY TONIGHT. AMEN. AMEN.

COUNCIL MAY HAVE GENERAL CONSENT TO SKIP TO ITEM FIVE ON THE AGENDA AND RETURN TO FOUR

[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]

[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]

FROM 1976 TO 1984, MR. RECTOR SHARED HIS EXPERTISE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS AN INSTRUCTOR AT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE. AND WHEREAS, MR. RECTOR WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE CHURCHVILLE LIONS CLUB, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 14 YEARS, WHERE HE ACTIVELY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS AND OUTREACH, HE SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB, PRESIDENT OF CHURCHVILLE LIONS CLUB, AND WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANT IN A BIG M CAR SHOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS. AND WHEREAS FOR 28 YEARS, MR. RECTOR PERFORMED MONTHLY WITH HIS MUSICAL GROUP AT THREE LORAIN NURSING HOMES, BRINGING JOY AND COMFORT THROUGH MUSIC TO COUNTLESS RESIDENTS. HE ALSO PLAYED GOSPEL MUSIC IN VARIOUS LOCAL CHURCH CHURCHES DURING THAT TIME. AS PART OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT RETIREES ASSOCIATION. HE REMAINS AN ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT. NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, ON THIS NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM EDSEL HANK RECTOR A HARTFORD LIVING TREASURE. AND BE IT FURTHER KNOWN THAT HIS LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AND CONTRIBUTION TO HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE A PERMANENT RECORD WHICH WILL RECALL THE PAST, INFORM THE PRESENT, AND GUIDE THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY, AND THAT HIS MEMORIES AND HISTORY WILL BE RECORDED BY THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ORAL HISTORIAN WILL BECOME PART OF THE ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION OF THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU, TONY,

[00:05:08]

CONGRATULATIONS. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU TALK. OKAY. DID I DO ALL THOSE THINGS? NO, I REALLY THE IN HARFORD HEART MAGAZINE. DEBBIE UMBERGER INTERVIEWED US IN ALL FOR ABOUT 2.5 HOURS, AND SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE SAID, ARE YOU SURE YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES DOING ALL THIS? BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE IT. AND HARFORD COUNTY IS MY HOME, AND THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY, DID I TELL YOU THAT JOKE? WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND TELL IT? OKAY, I'LL TELL IT.

NOW, SOME OF YOU OLDER FOLKS LIKE I'M NOT. I WAS ON THE CECIL TV INTERVIEW AND WE STARTED OUT AND THE GUY SAID, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY OR HAVE TO SAY? I SAID, YEAH, ONE THING, I DON'T LIKE TO BE AROUND OLD PEOPLE. AND HE SAID, WHAT? I DON'T LIKE TO BE AROUND OLD PEOPLE. HE SAYS, WHY? BECAUSE IT'S CATCHING. HE SAYS, I'M NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT.

ANYWAY, I THAT'S ALL IN FUN. AND WE PLAYED NURSING HOMES AND EVERYTHING AND AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I WROTE A LOT OF MY SONGS AT THE NURSING HOMES. ONE IN PARTICULAR, I REMEMBER, AND I ASKED SOMEBODY IF I COULD SING A SONG HERE, AND THEY SAID NO. AND I SAID, OKAY, WELL, WE'LL GET BY SOMEHOW HERE. WELL, HOW LONG IS THE SONG? HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO SING THIS SONG? NOT VERY LONG. I DON'T HAVE A GUITAR. HAVE AT IT. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE A GUITAR. JUST DO IT WITHOUT IT. TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. TAKE ME BACK A LONG, LONG WAYS. DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT WAYS. TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. TAKE ME BACK TO MOM AND DAD. TO A LIFE THAT WAS GOOD AND BAD. WHERE MEMORIES ARE THERE TO STAY.

TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. WISH I COULD GO BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. BUT TIME HAS PASSED. NOW IT'S TOO LATE. BUT I STILL CAN THANK GOD AND PRAY LIKE I DID IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

WISH I COULD GO BACK JUST ONE MORE TIME. TO A LIFE THAT WAS YOURS AND MINE. TO ALONG ON MEMORY. TAKE ME BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS. THERE YOU GO. MARY, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR LOVELY HUSBAND? YOU DON'T WANT HER TO SAY ANYTHING. 33 YEARS. THERE'S A LOT OF DIRT THERE. HOW ELSE DOES HE SHARE PAINS IN THE AUDIENCE? SHERIFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SAY ANYTHING? WELL, I'D BE IN TROUBLE IF I SAID NO. WELL, I KNOW THIS YOUNG MAN WORKED FOR YOU AT ONE TIME, SO. I WORKED FOR HIM, AND THEN HE WORKED FOR ME. NO. YOU LEFT BEFORE YOU WORKED FOR ME. I FORCED YOU OUT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I. I'VE KNOWN HANK SINCE 1972, AND HE'S A GENTLEMAN, A CHRISTIAN, VERY STRONG FAMILY MAN. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I LEARNED FROM HIM WHEN I WAS UNDER HIS COMMAND,

[00:10:01]

SO THIS SORT OF TOPS IT. THERE YOU GO. YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. APPRECIATE ALL YOU FOLKS AND ANY SONG I CAN SING, YOU LET ME KNOW. WE'LL BRING YOU BACK. WELL, HANK, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. I KNOW THE FOLKS WANT TO COME DOWN AND TAKE A PICTURE.

YEAH, WE CAN COME DOWN. SURE. I'LL PUT THAT UP THERE SO IT DOESN'T GET IN THE PICTURE UNLESS YOU WANT TO. WELL, THAT THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW THAN THIS IS, RIGHT? I KNOW THIS IS WORTH MORE, BUT. ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY SAY CHEESE. WE'LL SAY HEY. HEY, HANK. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA NEED EVERYBODY TO GO THIS WAY. WE'RE GONNA GET CENTERED TO THE BACKGROUND.

THERE YOU GO. OKAY, ABOUT 1 OR 2 MORE STEPS. ALL RIGHT? THERE'S GOING TO BE A FLASH.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BRIGHT. BUT EVERYBODY LOOK AT ME. THREE. TWO. 132131.5321321.

THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN. HANK. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. GOOD SONG I ENJOYED THAT. SO MUCH. I WILL MOVE ON WITH EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MAY HAVE A MOTION. PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF LAURA SULLY SUHAIL SOUHAIL. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND

[00:15:08]

SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE MR. MILLER'S TO THE MECHANICAL BOARD. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. I MR. RILEY I MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED IS MR. MILLIKEN ROOM IN THE CHAMBERS THIS EVENING? NO. OKAY. PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT APPEAL BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF CHINOOK. SHEKINAH. ROBERTS MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU. MR. RILEY MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE. MISS ROBERTS, THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT? HI, MRS. ROBERTS. HI, MRS. EMHOFF. MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY. HI, MRS. HI, MR. BENNETT. I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO OR NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF TERRY LEE HUNT. JUNIOR MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE. MR. HUNT TO THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS ROBERT? YES. I SPOKE TO MR. HUNT YESTERDAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME, LOOKING AT HIS RESUME AND THEN HAVING SOME OF THE SIMILAR FACTORS. WE TALKED ABOUT JUVENILE SERVICES AND OTHER THINGS. HE JUST CAME INTO MY DISTRICT AND REALLY WANTS TO HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND SO I DEFINITELY THOUGHT HE WAS AN APPROPRIATE PERSON FOR THE BOARD. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. HE'S AN OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE. ANYONE ELSE, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY. HI MRS. ROSADO I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ZERO TO NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. MR. HUNT JUST CAME. OH, THERE HE IS. TERRY. NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY. THANKS.

THANKS FOR COMING THIS EVENING. SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT. WERE VERY HONORED TO

[6. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

AND TO MY RIGHT IS MR. MICHAEL SANDERSON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN'T SING, SO WE'LL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THAT. SO YOU ARE. I BELIEVE THIS TAKES US OVER TO 50% MARKER. PRETTY CLOSE IN TERMS OF VISITS. WE STARTED OUT RIGHT AFTER SESSION ENDED. AND THEN FOR THE FIRST PROBABLY 7 OR 8, WE KIND OF KEPT THE FOCUS ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION. BUT NOW WE'RE KIND OF PIVOTING BECAUSE WE'RE JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM ANOTHER SESSION. SO MICHAEL KIND OF BRINGS SOME HIGH LEVEL STUFF OF WHAT MAY BE COMING, BUT ALSO KIND OF GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF A LOOK BACK AS TO WHERE WE CAME FROM THIS YEAR. FOR THOSE THAT SPENT TIME IN

[00:20:03]

LET'S SAY THE STATE LEADERS KNEW THEY NEEDED, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TWO, $3 BILLION PROBLEM, AND WE NEED TO LOOK TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR $100 MILLION. THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PLACES WHERE THE STATE SENDS CASH TO THE COUNTIES TO SUPPORT SERVICES WE DELIVER LOCALLY, LOCAL. I WANT TO BE LIKE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THEY COULD HAVE ZEROED OUT ALL THE STATE FUNDING, GONE TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND SAVED ABOUT 100 MILLION BUCKS. BUT IMAGINE THAT HEADLINE LIKE BACKING OFF ON PUBLIC HEALTH. WE'RE JUST A FEW YEARS OUT OF THIS, OF THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS TERRIBLE PANDEMIC AND SO FORTH. IT WOULD SEEM LIKE A TERRIBLE HEADLINE YOU'D GET FOR SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO TURN OUR BACKS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREPAREDNESS AND SO FORTH.

BUT INSTEAD, INSTEAD OF CUTTING A PROGRAM, YOU JUST SHIFT THE COSTS YOU'RE GOING TO THERE.

TURNS OUT THERE'S A THERE'S A COST INCREASE IN THE COST OF TEACHER PENSIONS. THE STATE STATE PROVIDES THE FUNDING FOR TEACHER PENSIONS. SOME OF THAT IS ACTUALLY BAKED INTO THE SCHOOL BUDGET THAT YOU SUPPORT. BUT WHEN THAT COST WENT UP, THEIR ANALYSTS SAID, WELL, HOW ABOUT WE JUST SHARE SOME OF THOSE COSTS WITH THE COUNTIES? WE'LL INVOICE THE COUNTIES FOR SOME OF THE COST OF TEACHER PENSIONS. SO WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY TALKED ABOUT DOING ALL OF IT. THEY ENDED UP DOING HALF OF IT. THAT'S A $93 MILLION CUT. AND NOBODY UNDERSTANDS. RIGHT.

THE ONLY STAKEHOLDER THERE, IT DIDN'T SAY THE PENSIONS ARE GOING TO BE THINNER. IT DIDN'T LEAVE THE TEACHERS HOLDING THE BAG. IT JUST LEFT THE COUNTIES PAYING AN INVOICE FOR A FUNCTION THAT WE'VE NEVER SUPPORTED BEFORE. SO SO THE SHARE FOR EACH JURISDICTION, EVERY COUNTY BUDGET JUST WAS THINNER BY THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE YOU HAD A NEW MOUTH TO FEED. I DON'T LOVE HOW POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT THAT IS FOR ANNAPOLIS TO JUST SAY, LET'S KEEP DOING THE THING AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE PICK UP THE COST. I DON'T THINK IT'S UNFAIR. THE FUNNY THING IS, OUR ANNAPOLIS LEADERS ALSO DON'T THINK IT'S UNFAIR WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUTS A SIMILAR SQUEEZE ON THEM. WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO SHIFT COSTS FOR ADMINISTERING THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE OLD FOOD STAMPS, OR FOR MANAGING MEDICAID, WHICH IS A STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP. THE STATES CORRECTLY CRY FOUL AND SAY, THAT'S NOT FAIR TO SHIFT THOSE COSTS ONTO THE STATES. BUT THE SHELL GAME AT THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL LEVEL, SADLY, IS ALIVE AND WELL. SO THAT WAS PART OF WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS LAST CIRCUMSTANCE. THE PLAN BACK IN APRIL WAS WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH A COUPLE OF YEARS AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ANOTHER SERIES OF TOUGH BUDGETS AND DECISIONS IN THE 26 SESSION. IT MIGHT BE A VARIETY OF MOTIVATIONS FOR HAVING A RELATIVELY CALM YEAR AND THEN THE ONE AHEAD. WE'LL SEE HOW HOW WELL THAT PLAYS OUT. WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SOFTNESS IN THE

[00:25:07]

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT THE MOMENT. A FAIR AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY, EVEN ON THE HEELS OF A PRETTY BIG RESOLUTION THAT WAS TOUGH TO GET THROUGH JUST THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

RELATED TO THAT, ON THE ON ON THE FISCAL FRONT, THE STATE HAS BEEN FUNDING ITS OWN BLUEPRINT, THE TEN YEAR PLAN TO RAMP UP OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR EDUCATION. THAT HAS A PRETTY BIG PRICE TAG FOR THE STATE AND FOR THE COUNTIES. YOU'RE ALREADY FEELING IT IN YOUR BUDGET, BUT THE STATE HASN'T BEEN FEELING IT BECAUSE THE STATE HAS AN EDUCATION TRUST FUND WITH CASINO REVENUES AND SOME OTHER THINGS BASICALLY SET ASIDE BY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. THE VOTERS SPOKE FIRST AND BUILT UP A BALANCE BEFORE THE BLUEPRINT GOT UP AND RUNNING. SO THEY'VE HAD A PIGGY BANK TO PAY FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE BLUEPRINT UP THROUGH FY 26. NOW, FY 27 NEXT YEAR IS BASICALLY PAID FOR, AND IT'S THE FOLLOWING YEAR IS WHEN THE STATE RUNS OUT OF CASH AND NEEDS TO START ABSORBING THE COST OF THE BLUEPRINT IN THEIR OWN GENERAL FUND BUDGET. THAT'S WHEN THEIR FORECAST GOES FROM BEING FINE TO 2 OR $3 BILLION UPSIDE DOWN ONCE AGAIN. SO WE'RE NOT REALLY OUT OF THIS LONG TERM QUITE YET. NOW, A BIG PICKUP IN THE ECONOMY COULD HELP ON THAT FRONT. YOU KNOW, REVENUE GROWTH BACK TO 4 OR 5, 6% LIKE WE USED TO SEE IN GOOD OLD DAYS THAT COULD HAPPEN. BUT AT THE MOMENT THE FORECASTS ARE NOT REALLY STRONG. EDUCATION IS A PART OF THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY WE'LL SEE A REALLY A REAL FOCUS ON THE BLUEPRINT THIS COMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THERE IS AN ELEMENT IN THE TEN YEAR PLAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE GOING SORT OF FUNCTIONALLY, OPERATIONALLY, LOOKING AT OUTCOMES AND SO FORTH. THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN POLICY LEADERS HANDS BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. SO IT PROBABLY TEES UP A WHERE ARE WE HALFWAY THROUGH CONVERSATION IN THE 2027 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO IF YOU'RE THINKING, WHERE'S THE WIND BLOWING ON THIS BIG EDUCATION INITIATIVE AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR POLICY AND FOR OUTCOMES FOR OUR KIDS AND FOR BUDGETS AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL, THE BIG SHOW IS PROBABLY 15 MONTHS AWAY, NOT THREE MONTHS AWAY. I'LL SPEAK ON A COUPLE THEIR DOLLARS ISSUES, BUT THEY'RE ALSO BROADER THAN THAT. AND THEN THEN SEE IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO GET INTO. I THINK HOUSING, PRESENCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING IN ALMOST EVERY STRATA WE'RE SHORT IN OUR STATE DEPENDS ON WHAT REPORT YOU READ, BUT WE'RE SHORT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS OF HOUSING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED FOCUS ON THAT AREA, PARTICULARLY IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. BUT SOME OF THAT DEBATE IS ABOUT LOCAL PERMITTING AND APPROVALS AND PROCESSING AND SO FORTH. SOME OF THAT IS KIND OF OUT OF OUR HANDS. THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. ABOUT 7%. MORTGAGES ARE JUST A DIFFERENT AFFORDABILITY UNIVERSE THAN THE 3% MORTGAGES WE HAD JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. SO SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE KIND OF OUT OF OUR HANDS, BUT I THINK WE WILL SEE THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS WANT TO ENGAGE ON HOUSING, LOCAL POLICIES AND TRYING TO MESH THOSE DESIRABLE OUTCOMES WITH THE KIND OF COMMUNITY INPUT THAT KEEPS THINGS ON TRACK LOCALLY. WE'LL FIND A MARRIAGE BETWEEN THOSE TWO, THOSE TWO COMPETING IDEAS POTENTIALLY. AND I'LL JUST MENTION ONE OTHER TOPIC THAT HAS COME UP IN A NUMBER OF OUR VISITS, AND I WANT TO BUILD IT INTO OUR COMMENT, EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THIS IS NOT REALLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT STUFF, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING OF A PERFECT STORM ON ENERGY ISSUES AND. A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENING AT ONCE. WE HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF GENERATION STOCK THAT IS SORT OF REACHING THE END OF ITS NATURAL LIFE.

AMERICA DID A WHOLE LOT OF BUILDING OF GENERATION PLANTS IN THE 50S, 60S, 70S, AND KIND OF INTO THE 80S, AND THEN SORT OF TOOK A GENERATION LONG BREAK ON BUILDING OUT GENERATION CAPACITY. AND LO AND BEHOLD, JUST AS WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF OLD PLANTS BE SCHEDULED TO BE MOTHBALLED, WE'RE SEEING A MASSIVE SPIKE IN DEMAND FOR ENERGY AS A RESULT OF EVERYONE'S FASCINATION WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE THE THE QUICK REQUEST ON YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU SAY GOOGLE DIRECTIONS TO SOMETHING OR ASK ME WHAT TIME IS THE SHOW ON TONIGHT OR WHATEVER WHEN IT'S AN AI RESULT, YOU'RE USING 20 TO 50 TIMES MORE ELECTRICITY FOR GETTING A WELL-RESEARCHED RESOURCE. WHAT THAT'S TURNING INTO IS A DEMAND FOR BIG DATA

[00:30:03]

BUT WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. I'LL START WITH MR. RILEY AS OR MAKE A REPRESENTATIVE. MIKE, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. YOU HIT A COUPLE OF TOPICS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTOOD. I JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT THERE'S ALSO AN EXIT EXIT TAX. APPARENTLY, WE HAVE MIRRORED WHAT NEW YORK IS DOING, WHERE IF YOU EXIT MARYLAND, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A TAX. AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA? IT STARTED JULY 1ST. IT'S I HEARD IT'S 6%, BUT I'M NOT SURE. OKAY. THAT'S IT'S THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT'S SITTING IN MY HEAD FROM WHAT I REMEMBER READING ABOUT. THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD TOO, JACK. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. AND AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, AGAIN, YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS, BUT SOLAR IS A BIG A BIG ISSUE UP IN MY IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF FARMS. AND AGAIN, THE STATE CONTROLS MOST OF THAT, THAT IF THEY WANT TO DO IT, NO MATTER WHAT IT HAPPENS. BUT SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A HOT TOPIC. THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM AT LEAST THIS GUY THAT REPRESENTS MAKO. SO REAL QUICK, JUST WE JUST PASSED AN ORDINANCE IN QUEEN ANNE'S TO COME IN LINE WITH THE SOLAR BILL, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO READ IT. WE PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A TWIST IN THERE THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT, AND POSSIBLY LATCHING ON TO QUEEN ANNE'S. YEAH. THANKS. YEAH, I KNOW OUR COLLEAGUES IN CECIL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOLAR ON PRIME, YOU KNOW, SOILS. SO IT'S A VERY WIDESPREAD CONCERN. AND HONESTLY, THE THE MAP ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAS BEEN RED HOT ON THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

BUT AS AS THE DEMAND FOR LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY GOES UP, THAT THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT BECOME TARGETS FOR, HEY, LET'S LET'S PUT IN AN OFFER AND SEE IF THIS IS A SUITABLE FOR SOLAR IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE. IT'S GOING TO COME INTO MORE PLACES THAT ARE NOT THE LOW LYING FLAT CLOSE TO A TRANSMISSION WIRE THAT RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHERE YOU GO FOR IT. BUT IT'LL JUST BE CONCENTRIC RINGS FROM THERE. IN LAST YEAR'S BIG SOLAR BILL, WHICH WAS A GIANT, HARD FOUGHT COMPROMISE. NOT GREAT BY ANY STRETCH. WE DID GAIN ONE PARTICULAR THING. THE STATE HAS PREEMPTED US THROUGH THE COURTS, HAS BASICALLY SAID ELECTRIC GENERATION IS THE STATE'S BUSINESS, NOT A LOCAL ZONING MATTER. SO WE'VE HAD VERY LITTLE AUTHORITY, ESPECIALLY TO JUST SAY, NO, NOT HERE. BUT THE STATE DID PUT A PIECE IN THE BILL SAYING FOR A JURISDICTION WHO SET UP A PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA FOR AGRICULTURE, IF YOU'VE GOT THAT AREA ZONED, IF YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE 5% OF THAT IS SATURATED WITH SOLAR, YOU CAN

[00:35:05]

THAT'S WHERE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE PRIVATE INSURANCE SYSTEMS TO TO OFFER SOMETHING ON THAT. THE OTHER THE OTHER THING IS WE WE LAST YEAR WE WENT UP TO CECIL COUNTY AND HAD A BRAND FAIRLY NEW POWER GENERATION PLANT STEAM, MILLION MEGAWATTS, ALL THAT POWER. VIRGINIA, EXCEPT FOR ONE ONE PIECE IS GOING TO TO DELAWARE. BUT YOU KNOW, JUST UNBELIEVABLE THAT THEY BUILT THAT CO-OPT IT. IT'S ALL GOING TO VIRGINIA. NOTHING IN NOTHING IN MARYLAND. SO AND THE THE TREND IS GOING TO CONTINUE. LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA IS THE NATIONAL HUB FOR THE DATA CENTER GROWTH. NOW THEY WERE GENERATION ONE. AND GENERATION

[00:40:01]

WE'LL SEE. THANK YOU JOHN. THEY GOT TO BUILD POWER PLANTS. SO THAT'LL BE GOOD FOR ELECTRICIANS. THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT. YEAH. MICHAEL YOU STICK YOUR FINGER ON THE LOUDOUN COUNTY. WHY DID EVERYONE GO THERE? CHEAP LAND BACK IN THE DAYS. WHAT? THEY SAID CHEAP, CHEAP LAND, GREEN LIGHT FOR REGULATION AND GETTING STUFF BUILT QUICKLY.

AND ALSO REALLY QUICK ACCESS TO A CENTRAL GRID. AND FOR LIKE, INTERNET PROVIDERS AND SO FORTH.

REMEMBER AMERICA ONLINE BACK IN THE DAY, AOL WAS BASED OUT OF THERE. SO AOL WAS A NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMPANY, AND WHEN THEY SHOWED UP, THEY THEY WENT HUGE AND THEY BUILT A TON OF INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT JUST TURNED INTO ITS PLUG AND PLAY TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY. RIGHT? IN THAT ZONE WAS JUST A HOTSPOT FOR 25 YEARS NOW. MR. BENNETT. HELLO.

GOOD EVENING. IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER TO HARFORD COUNTY.

I FIRST WANTED TO JUST TOUCH ON SOLAR A LITTLE BIT. YOU THINK THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES? I READ WITH, JUST LIKE THE FEDERAL INCENTIVES GOING AWAY ON HOW THAT COULD IMPACT US AT A STATE LEVEL OR A LOCAL LEVEL. DO YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ADJUSTMENTS TO PROGRAMS LIKE EMPOWER MARYLAND ANYTIME SOON, OR DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S PRETTY STEADY? SO MY CRYSTAL BALL IS CLOUDY. FIRST OF ALL, TRUE LIKE ELECTRIC POWER POLICY AND SO FORTH IS GETTING BEYOND MY PORTFOLIO. I TRY TO PLAY STUMP THE BAND AND SO FORTH, BUT THIS IS GETTING BEYOND MY EXPERTISE. I WILL SAY. I THINK THE PRESSURE, UPWARD PRESSURE ON ELECTRIC RATES IS A BIG ENOUGH POLITICAL ISSUE THAT ANNAPOLIS LEADERS ARE GOING TO TRY AND DELIVER SOMETHING ON THAT FRONT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU TRY AND DO ON THAT FRONT. LAST YEAR THEY PASSED A BILL AND THEY SORT OF KOWTOWED THE UTILITIES TO DO A TWO CYCLES OF REFUNDS. YOU'RE GOING TO GET A, YOU KNOW, GET A DISCOUNT IN YOUR IN YOUR RATES AND THAT SORT OF STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES OR IF IT'S SOMETHING MORE STRUCTURAL. DO YOU MOVE TO REREGULATE THE GENERATION SIDE WHERE YOU HAVE MORE ABILITY TO GUIDE AND CONTROL? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE EMPOWER PROGRAM. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE, THE LARGER PROGRAM THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES AND SO FORTH. I THINK ANY OF THOSE COULD BE ON THE TABLE FOR SOME ATTENTION. AND IN AN ELECTION YEAR WHERE THE STATE'S GOING TO BE BROKE, I MEAN, WHATEVER VERSION OF THE BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ONE WHERE THERE'S 300 MILLION BUCKS LYING AROUND JUST TO SPEND AND FIND NEW THINGS TO DO.

SO IN AN ELECTION YEAR WITHOUT MONEY TO SPEND, TRYING TO FIND WINS IN SOME INDIRECT WAY BECOMES A HIGH PRIORITY. SOMETIMES THAT TURNS INTO BAD THINGS FOR COUNTIES. IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE, I DON'T EXPECT THAT, BUT IT MAY BE THEY FIND A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT SOMEWHERE IN THAT SIDE AND DELIVER SOMETHING FOR RATEPAYER RELIEF THERE. SO AND JUST SO REAL QUICK, IF I COULD JUST FROM THE INDUSTRY SIDE THAT THAT I LIVE IN PART OF THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE SOLAR, IS THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MIDDLE MILE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TODAY THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET, YOU KNOW, 85, 90 100 MEGAWATT SOLAR FARMS TO THE GRID. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE LARGER 40 TO 60, 80 FOOT TRANSMISSION LINES TO GET IT TO THE MAIN GRID, ESPECIALLY IF YOU TAKE THE CASE. MICHAEL'S TALKING ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY RUN OUT OF THE FLAT LAND THAT THEY CAN GO AFTER QUICK. THAT'S RIGHT. IN THE TWO MILE WINDOW OF THE TRANSMISSION, THEY. NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT SOME OTHER KIND OF MIDDLE MILE TO GET IT THERE, AND THAT'S GOING TO BECOME COST PROHIBITIVE. SO MY SENSE IS UNLESS THE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION COMPANIES, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS BGE, YOUR PEPCO'S, YOUR DELMARVA'S GET IN THE GAME OF STARTING TO PUT UP LARGE LINES TO FILL THAT GAP.

IT'S THE REALITY IS ALL OF THE CARDS ARE NOT BEING PLAYED NOT ONLY IN MARYLAND BUT ACROSS THE

[00:45:05]

IF YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES ON WHAT'S COME OF THAT FOR BALTIMORE CITY, AND IF ANY OTHER LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT, JUST WITH THE IDEA OF WE DON'T WANT PLACES, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS AND PARKING LOTS AND THE LIKE TO SIT VACANT. AND THEN WE BUILD ON OUR GREEN SPACE A LITTLE BIT LEFT THAT WE HAVE. SO ON YOUR ENERGY COMMENTS, I THINK THE I THINK THE ANSWER IS ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE GOING TO BE IN PLAY. EVERY SINGLE THING YOU MENTIONED, AND MORE ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR SO WITH ENERGY POLICY.

NOT JUST MARYLAND, NOT JUST OUR REGION, BUT THIS IS NATIONWIDE ON ON THE VACANCY TAX.

BALTIMORE IS OUR ONLY JURISDICTION. WHO'S DONE IT. BUT THEY ARE A SPECIAL CASE BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY AREA WITHIN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE IS A CANDIDATE FOR GROWTH.

UNTAPPED GROWTH, AND NOT ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IS AS UNIFORM THAT WAY. SO I THINK FOR ANOTHER JURISDICTION TO TAKE IT UP, YOU ALMOST WOULD THINK OF IT LIKE AN ENTERPRISE ZONE WHERE YOU DRAW BOUNDARIES AND SAY, HERE'S SOME PLACES WHERE WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE RESIDENTIAL GROWTH OR MORE MIXED USE AND SO FORTH. AND WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO TRANSIT OR OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT, BUT NOT THERE. WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE THE SAME INCENTIVES IN A CORNFIELD THAT YOU DO IN THE OLD SHOPPING MALL ZONE. RIGHT.

SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE NEXT WAVE IS PLACES SAYING NOT NOT TO DO IT STATEWIDE OR COUNTY WIDE, BUT TO PICK THIS EIGHTH OF THE COUNTY AND SAY, THAT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO USE A TOOL LIKE THAT. THAT'S MY BEST GUESS AS TO HOW THIS WILL GO. HAVE THEY SEEN SUCCESS IN BALTIMORE CITY? HAVE THEY SHARED? I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MISS IMHOFF, HI. GOOD MORNING, GOOD EVENING, I'M MARTY AND TOMORROW. SO I'VE RECENTLY BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH BGA BECAUSE THE BRANDON SHORES MITIGATION PROJECT GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH MY DISTRICT. THE COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY HAS A TON OF CONCERNS ABOUT EMF AND VARIOUS OTHER PROPERTY VALUE CONCERNS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH BJ, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THESE HUGE LINES INSTALLED THROUGH OUR DISTRICT IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN OTHER LINES. AND I ASKED THEM, WHAT HAPPENS FIVE YEARS FROM THERE? AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME. AND SO WE TALK ABOUT PUTTING UP THESE HUGE POWER LINES TO PUT A BAND-AID ON SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON COMMUNITIES.

BUT WHAT DO YOU GUYS PREDICT TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM THAT? IF I WAS GOING TO GUESS, I HONESTLY MICHAEL TOUCHED ON IT A BIT IS AND IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE WITHIN THE ENERGY CODE NATIONALLY. AND THAT'S CO-LOCATION FOR THESE LARGE ENERGY EATERS LIKE LOUDOUN

[00:50:04]

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]

AND IN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, BILL 20 5-0 TEN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD AS INTRODUCED INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE. IT'S A REQUEST TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS. SECTION 9-1 36 ESTABLISHMENT MEMBERSHIP TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS. SECTION 9-1 37 MEETINGS, BUDGET AND RECORDS. ALL OF ARTICLE 22 HARTFORD COUNTY POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD OF PART THREE AUTHOR, AUTHORITATIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF CHAPTER NINE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COUNCILS AND AGENCIES OF HARTFORD COUNTY CODE, AS AMENDED, TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHALL APPOINT MEMBERSHIP AND THE CHAIR TO THE BOARD, SUBJECT TO THE CONFIRMATION OF COUNTY COUNCIL. TO PROVIDE THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHALL PROPOSE THE BUDGET AND ASSIGN STAFF FOR THE BOARD AS NEEDED, AND GENERALLY RELATED TO THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2025 AT 7 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU. AGENDA TEN INTRODUCTION.

CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE NONE 11 CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS WE HAVE NONE 12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS NONE 13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NONE 14. NEW BUSINESS HARTFORD COUNTY

[14. NEW BUSINESS]

[00:55:06]

THEY'RE THEY'RE PAYING 100% TO CONVERT THEM INTO LED LIGHTS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THAT. I KNOW OUR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY'VE WORKED THROUGH. I'D HAVE TO CONFIRM IF ALL OF IT IS DONE, BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT IF IF WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ALL GONE TO LEDS, AND IF NOT, AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING BGA IS GOING TO PAY FOR, CAN CAN YOU GUYS LOOK INTO THAT? SURE. LIKE, LIKE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO. STILL THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUSHING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE RIGHT TOTAL CHANGE. AS I'VE SAID TO MANY PEOPLE, JUST LOOK AT YOUR HOME ELECTRICITY USAGE THAT YOU KNOW OR COST THAT'S GONE UP. MINE'S GONE UP BY AT LEAST 35%. I CAN'T GET ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE TO TURN A LIGHT OFF. I'M TRYING CHANGE THEM ALL TO LEDS. SO THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU ALL. I JUST WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ENERGY IS ONE OF THOSE PIECES OF THE BUDGET THAT'S NOT REALLY EXCITING OR THRILLING. YOU KNOW, HAVING THE LIGHTS TURN ON ISN'T GOING TO BOOST OUTCOMES. BUT NOT HAVING LIGHTS IS GOING TO BE A DETERRENT TO READING A BOOK, FOR INSTANCE. BUT. DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF ANY SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT BE ENERGY SINKS, WHERE MAYBE WE'RE HAVING MORE ENERGY EXPENSES THAN COMPARABLE SCHOOLS, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE ISSUES WITH EFFICIENCY OR OR THE LIKE JUST TRYING TO THINK THROUGH FUTURE CAPITAL EXPENSES OR PROJECTS THAT COULD HELP REDUCE ENERGY EXPENSE. SO WE'RE DEVELOPING THE CAPITAL BUDGET NOW, AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS IN THERE AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, INSULATION, CORRECT, CLOSING GAPS AND DOORS. I CAN HAVE OUR

[01:00:01]

SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA. YOU KNOW, OUR OLDER BUILDINGS, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE MORE INEFFICIENT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SOME UPGRADES AND ENHANCEMENTS TO MANY OF THOSE, BUT IT'S STILL NOT THE NEW BUILDING. YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THE EFFICIENCIES THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET. SO THERE CERTAINLY STRUGGLES IN CERTAIN BUILDINGS. BUT I'LL SEE. I KNOW LIKE I SAID, WE'VE WE KNOW WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS.

AND THEN I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO, YOU AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION, WERE CONSIDERING HIRING A COMPANY THAT WOULD HELP WITH PINPOINTING SOME OF THOSE THINGS. HAS THERE BEEN ANY FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AROUND SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND HELP PROVIDE THOSE AUDITS? I DO THINK THAT THERE'S DISCUSSION. I DON'T KNOW THE STATUS OF THAT AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. YES, TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST, I SEE YOU DOUBLED IN SUBSTITUTES THE EXPENSE THERE. IS IT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS AND SO YOU NEED ALL THESE SUBS? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT DOUBLED. WELL, SUBSTITUTES. IT'S IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNKNOWNS. SO WE COULD HAVE TWO, 2 OR 3 TEACHERS THAT FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY.

GO GO OUT ON A FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, ACT FOR AND REQUIRE A LONG TERM SUB. SO THEY'RE WE'RE PAYING THEIR SALARY WHILE WE'RE PAYING A SUBSTITUTE. AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE OUR JUST DAILY SUBS, WHEN A TEACHER EITHER CALLS OUT SICK, HAS A FAMILY EMERGENCY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT JUST HAPPENED THAT THAT SPECIFIC LINE ITEM OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER CLASSROOM SUBSTITUTES WAS $209,000 OVER BUDGET. NEXT YEAR IT COULD BE $100,000 UNDER BUDGET. IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT'S THAT'S REALLY TRICKY TO PREDICT, MR. RILEY.

AND THE OTHER THING I CAN I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT NORTH HARTFORD MIDDLE. THE LIGHTS ARE TOO BRIGHT ON THE PARKING LOT. SO IF YOU WANT TO SAVE ELECTRICITY, YOU TURN THEM OFF, YOU MAKE THE NEIGHBORS HAPPY AND SAVE SOME MONEY. I THINK THE SAME THING. BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE SAFETY TOO. YOU KNOW, I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME TOO, BELIEVE ME. THANK YOU, MR. IMHOFF. GOOD EVENING. I FEEL LIKE BACK IN JUNE, THERE WAS ANOTHER ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE TRANSFER THAT WE DID AT THAT TIME. SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A HIGH NEED AREA IN OUR BUDGET AND IT IS INCREASING EVERY YEAR. SO WHAT WHAT DO YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THAT? IS IT JUST MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS? IS IT CHANGING POPULATIONS? IS IT ADDITIONAL SERVICES? I THINK IT'S CHANGING POPULATIONS. SO WE ALSO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY IN HARFORD COUNTY, OUR PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE VERY STRONG. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S FAMILIES THAT POTENTIALLY ARE MOVING HERE IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE. SO BUT ACROSS THE STATE, PROBABLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SPECIAL EDUCATION COSTS ARE RISING AND THERE'S MORE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. SO WHAT IS THE FUNDING GOING TOWARDS TOWARDS LIKE MORE STAFFING, TOWARDS MORE RESOURCES RELATED SERVICES? ONE OF THE ABOVE. YEAH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COST DRIVERS IS OUR NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS. SO IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT AND I WORK IN TO NONPUBLIC. SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR, THAT'S GOING UP. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH MAKO, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY PICKED UP ON THIS ONE OR NOT, BUT THE STATE CHANGED THE NONPUBLIC SPLIT. SO WE HAVE TO PAY THE FIRST 300%, WHICH IS ABOUT $25,000 FOR THAT STUDENT, AND THEN AFTER THAT CURRENTLY, OR I SHOULD SAY PREVIOUSLY IN FY 25 AND PREVIOUSLY, THE STATE WOULD PICK UP $0.70 ON EVERY DOLLAR. AFTER THAT THRESHOLD WAS MET, THEY DROPPED IT TO 6040. AND NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO 5050. THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 1 MILLION TO 1 MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET THAT THE STATE USED TO PAY FOR. SO I'M RIGHT WITH MAKO, WHEN IT'D BE REALLY EASY FOR ME TO BALANCE MY BUDGET. IF I COULD SHIFT HALF MY MORTGAGE TO SOMEBODY ELSE TO PAY, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S IRRITATES ME WHEN THEY SAY THEY BALANCE THEIR BUDGET. BUT THEY SHIFTED, WHAT, 3.8 IN TEACHERS PENSIONS, THE BLUEPRINT'S DRIVING TEACHER SALARIES. DID THEY NOT THINK THAT TEACHER PENSION COSTS WERE GOING TO GO UP? THEY'RE BASED OFF OF TEACHER SALARIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS IMHOFF. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT WITH NO OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. JAMES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFER.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MISS IMHOFF. A SECOND. TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFER OR ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT. HI, MRS. ROBERT. HI, MRS. IMHOFF. HI, MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY. HI, MRS. WILSON. MR. BENNETT, I BEING SEVEN VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO NEGATIVE. THE BUDGET TRANSFER IS HEREBY APPROVED. THANK YOU.

[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]

[01:05:04]

THE HUMANE SOCIETY CURRENTLY POSTS STATISTICS, BUT WHAT'S MISSING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURE OF SUCCESS THE LIVE RELEASE RATE. THIS IS THE PERCENTAGE OF ANIMALS WHO LEAVE THE SHELTER ALIVE THROUGH ADOPTION, TRANSFER OR RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT POSTING THIS NUMBER MONTHLY. THE PUBLIC HAS NO CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW OUR SHELTER IS TRULY PERFORMING. I URGE YOU TO REQUIRE THE HUMANE SOCIETY TO PUBLISH THE LIVE RELEASE RATE EVERY MONTH, ALONGSIDE THE OTHER STATISTICS THEY PROVIDE. THIS IS A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL STEP TOWARD TRANSPARENCY. SECOND, SPAY AND NEUTER ACCESS. HARFORD COUNTY IS FACING A GROWING PROBLEM OF OVERPOPULATION, AND FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH RISING VETERINARY COSTS. OUR MUNICIPAL SHELTERS SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO DIRECTLY OFFER LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, I ASK YOU TO AMEND THE COUNTY CODE TO THE SHELTER CAN PROVIDE THESE LIFE SAVING SERVICES AFFORDABLY. THIS WOULD NOT ONLY REDUCE INTAKE AT THE SHELTER, IT WOULD ALSO PREVENT THOUSANDS OF UNWANTED LITTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. FINALLY, COMMUNITY CATS WE KNOW TRAP NEUTER RETURN IS THE HUMANE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO MANAGE COMMUNITY CAT POPULATIONS. BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS ALREADY SET A STRONG EXAMPLE BY REQUIRING RESIDENTS WHO FEED COMMUNITY CATS TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THEM STERILIZED, HARFORD COUNTY SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR LEAD BY SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING FREE TNR PROGRAMS, SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY FEEDING CATS CAN DO SO RESPONSIBLY. AND WITH THE COUNTY'S BACKING. IN CLOSING, I'M ASKING FOR THREE STRAIGHTFORWARD CHANGES POST THE LIVE RELEASE RATE MONTHLY, ALLOW THE SHELTER TO OFFER AFFORDABLE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, AND SUPPORT FREE TNR WITH A REASONABLE FEEDING POLICY. THESE ACTIONS WILL SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, REDUCE SHELTER INTAKE AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, SAVE ANIMAL LIVES. HARFORD DESERVES A SHELTER SYSTEM WE CAN BE PROUD OF. NOT ONE WE HAVE TO QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. BRIANNA COLEMAN, 2347 ENGLE ROAD AND FALLSTON. I'M NOT GOING TO SING AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT CATS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IMPACT FEES. I WANTED TO SHARE A POSITIVE UPDATE REGARDING THE RECENT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE HARFORD COUNTY'S IMPACT FEE STRUCTURE IN THE JUNE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES BOARD MEETING, THE COUNTY TREASURER REPORTED A NOTABLE INCREASE IN REVENUE FROM IMPACT FEES, DIRECTLY BENEFITING DEDICATED FUNDING FOR SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS. WHILE THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. AS YOU KNOW, STATE LAW STILL CAPS THE AMOUNT HARFORD COUNTY CAN CHARGE, LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO FULLY ADDRESS SCHOOL FACILITY NEEDS.

DESPITE RECENT PROGRESS, HARFORD COUNTY CONTINUES TO FACE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING SHORTFALLS, PARTICULARLY DUE TO TWO DECADES OF STAGNANT FUND FEES. WITH YOUR HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO UPDATE THE AMOUNT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT BECAUSE OF STATE LAW, WE ARE STILL NOT COLLECTING ENOUGH TO COVER THE COST A STUDENT HAS ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE HARFORD ACADEMY PROJECT, I'M SURE. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO COST $180 MILLION, WITH ONLY 50 MILLION ANTICIPATED FROM THE STATE, FURTHER INCREASING OUR DEBT BURDEN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY AROUND $42 MILLION. HARFORD COUNTY'S IMPACT FEE ENABLING LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED BY THE STATE IN 2004, AND IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE. RAISING THE CAP TO ALIGN WITH THE RECENT IMPACT FEE STUDY SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS CHANGE IN ANNAPOLIS BY ASKING THE HARFORD COUNTY COUNTY DELEGATION TO PRIORITIZE LEGISLATION IN THE 2026 SESSION THAT LIFTS OR ADJUSTS THE CAPS ON IMPACT FEES, THIS WOULD BE A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SINCE I HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY THEY JUST CAME TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY, FOR THE ELECTRIC BILLS, FOR THE SCHOOLS. I DRIVE BY FALLSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL ABOUT SEVEN TIMES A DAY AS I'M A MOM, UBER ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR FALLSTON CAB MEETINGS, SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD ADDRESS WITH THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, MISS DIXON? NO ONE ELSE, MR. PRESIDENT. ALL RIGHT.

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]

[01:10:07]

AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. SO RAISING CANE'S IS GOING TO BE OPENING SEPTEMBER 16TH. AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED BECAUSE I WAS HOUNDING THE STATE HIGHWAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROAD WAS FIXED, NOT JUST PATCH FOR THE POTHOLES, I MEAN, FOR ALL THE DIGGING THAT THEY DID TO GET RAISING CANE'S IN SHAPE. BUT THERE WAS THE ROAD HAD JUST GOTTEN PAVED BRAND NEW ALL THE WAY DOWN. I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY STARTED CUTTING HOLES IN JACK HAMMERED UP, BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A BOND AND THEY WOULD GO BACK AND MILL IT AND PAVE IT. AND I WANT TO SAY THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. SO I'M I'M THANKFUL THAT THAT WAS DONE. I APPRECIATE RAISING CANE'S STICKING TO THEIR WORD AND GETTING THAT DONE. THAT'S BEEN A BIG THING FOR ME THE LAST SIX YEARS, TO GET THAT ROAD PAVED AND TO SEE IT TORN UP LIKE THAT JUST REALLY BOTHERED ME. SO SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A. A WREATH LAYING FOR THE TERRORIST ATTACKS. SO I THINK THE MANTRA WITH THAT IS DON'T EVER FORGET I DID HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN NEW YORK. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY PASSED AWAY FROM MY FAMILY, BUT I DID HAVE SOME FIRE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE ON SCENE, AND I HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT HAD HER.

THEY BOUGHT BICYCLES AND BICYCLED ALL THE WAY BACK TO LONG ISLAND THAT DAY AND HEARD THOSE STORIES. SO KEEP WAS TODAY CHESAPEAKE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S NETWORK. MY SISTER SPOKE ON THAT. AND THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, THE SOCIETY OF ITALIAN AMERICAN HAD THEIR CRAB FEAST THAT 250 PEOPLE. SO THAT WENT REALLY WELL. AND THEN SEPTEMBER 26TH TO THE 28TH IS THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL AT RIPKEN STADIUM. IT'S A NEW LOCATION. IT'S NOT AT THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER. SO THEY'VE GEARED UP ALL KIND OF MUSIC EVENTS, VENDORS, FOOD VENDORS FROM ALL OVER. SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, STOP BY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, MR. JORDAN AND MR. RILEY. SO TONY G WAS RAISING CAIN WITH RAISING CAIN. IT'S IT'S AN UNUSUAL THING TO DO THERE TONY. ALSO CONGRATS TO ALL THE AWARDEES AT THE HARTFORD COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. THAT'S IT, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. SADDLES. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THOSE WE LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AND ALSO REFLECT ON THE BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE SHOWN THAT DAY. LAST NIGHT WAS THE ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND COUNCIL MEMBERS SHARED SOME EXCITING UPDATES AND SOME NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS A KEEP ABERDEEN BEAUTIFUL INITIATIVE, WHICH IS HAPPENING ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH, APRIL THROUGH NOVEMBER AT ABERDEEN FESTIVAL PARK. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP ABERDEEN BEAUTIFUL AND

[01:15:07]

THE CRESWELL COMMUNITY HAS THE CHURCHWELL CRESWELL CAB MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 18TH AT 6:30 P.M.

AND THE CHURCHVILLE REC CENTER. YOU KNOW, CAB MEETINGS ARE A REALLY AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY TO GET INFORMATION, BUT ALSO TO TAKE ACTION. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CABS SUBMIT LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS TO US IN THE PAST. WHEN YOU'RE ENGAGED WITH YOUR CAB, YOU'RE ABLE TO REALLY ENGAGE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT I THINK IS UNIQUE AND ALSO REALLY EMPOWERING. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO THEIR LOCAL CAB MEETING AND TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY IN A WAY THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN HAVING THIS GIANT DESK SEPARATING US. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MISS ROBERT, GOOD EVENING. SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I TOO MET WITH OUR BGA REPRESENTATIVE, MAINLY TO TALK ABOUT HOW BILLS ARE INCREASING AND HOW WE CAN HELP THE LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS BE ABLE TO FACE AND BE ABLE TO PAY THOSE BILLS. AND WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOLAR AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND SO AND FAMILIES. WE HAD OUR EDGEWOOD FARMERS MARKET ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH. IT KEEPS SEEMS TO BE GROWING AND GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER. AND OUR OUR FOOD IS THE VEGETABLES ARE PLANTING AND WE HAVE GREAT FARMING PEOPLE HELPING EVERY DAY AND VOLUNTEERING TO DO THAT.

WE HAD THE CAB MEETING YESTERDAY, OUR EDGEWOOD, JOPPATOWNE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, AND THAT WENT WELL. MR. MAGNUS ADVISED EVERYONE ABOUT WHAT'S COMING OUR WAY AS FAR AS THE JOPPA REC CENTER, AND THAT WILL GET STARTED ON WITH THE FIELDS FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHERE THINGS LIE NEXT FOR THE BUILDINGS. I ALSO ADVISE THAT WE HAVE OFFICIALLY, THERE'S BEEN A LEASE SIGNED AT THE WOODBRIDGE CENTER, SO WE WILL HAVE A TRAMPOLINE PARK. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OPENING SOMETIME THIS FALL. WE JUST DON'T KNOW A DATE AND TIME YET. I ALSO ATTENDED THE HARFORD COUNTY REALTORS ASSOCIATION AWARD CEREMONY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE RECIPIENTS AS WELL AS IN MY. MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE WAS ATTENDING THE HARFORD COUNTY HOPE FOR HOMELESS ALLIANCE AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT A LOT OF ISSUES AND INITIATIVES FOR HOMELESSNESS IN OUR AREA. AND FRIDAY IS THE SYMPOSIUM ON ADDICTION AND RECOVERY AT MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN.

I WILL BE THERE. AND FINALLY ON SEPTEMBER 30TH FOR THE EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY, SEVEN BREW COFFEE SHOP IS PROPOSING TO HAVE A LISTENING SESSION AND IT WILL BE AT THE EDGEWOOD LIBRARY FROM 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. FOR INPUT ON REMOVAL OF THE AREA OF AN EXISTING PARKING LOT IN ORDER TO MAKE LANES FOR DRIVE THROUGH. AND I TOO WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11TH, I

[01:20:02]

[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]

SO I TO KNOW I TO WANT TO HONOR THEIR MEMORY AND BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MISS CANTOS AND MISS HARRIS BEARY FOR RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF HAVRE DE GRACE FARMERS MARKET THIS PAST SATURDAY FOR THEIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS OF HAVRE DE GRACE. YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. ALSO YESTERDAY, THE ABERDEEN ROTARY CLUB HELD THEIR 35TH ANNUAL CURTIS MORGAN GOLF TOURNAMENT. IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I'M SURE THEY RAISED A GOOD BIT OF MONEY FOR THAT CLUB. SATURDAY I WAS ON THE EASTERN SHORE IN GALENA FOR A DECOY SHOW AND AT THAT DECOY SHOW MY MY NEIGHBORS AND DEAR FRIENDS, THE BOATS, BOTH BERNIE AND BRIAN WERE THERE, HAD TO TRAVEL 60 MILES TO SEE MY NEIGHBORS. BUT SO BERNIE CAME UP TO ME AND GAVE ME A COPY OF HIS NEW BOOK THAT HE DID. AND IT'S A LIFETIME OF HISTORY COLLECTING, CANNING HISTORY AND PRESERVING OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE AND RURAL LEGACY THROUGH A BOOK THAT HE DID. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. IF YOU'RE INTO ANY TYPE OF AG, IT'S ALL ABOUT CANNING LABELS, CANS THEMSELVES. THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS THAT WERE MADE HERE LOCALLY, THE THE PRODUCT THAT WAS RAISED AND AND HARVESTED HERE LOCALLY. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HIS TWO COAUTHORS, HENRY PEDEN AND JACK CHAGNON. THEY TWO HAVE DONE A LARGE AMOUNT OF BOOKS, I THINK 17 VOLUMES OF LOCAL HARFORD COUNTY HISTORY, ALL ABOUT FARMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT READ. BERNIE'S HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER IN THE MID 1800S WAS INVOLVED IN CANNING IN CHURCHVILLE. AND AND I, AS I ALWAYS SAY, I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF A RURAL COMMUNITY, A FARMING COMMUNITY. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY VOTES OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OR OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS, PRESERVING OVER 10,000 ACRES HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY AND BASICALLY SAVING OVER 100 FARMS, WHICH GOES A LONG WAY TO PRESERVE OUR AG HERITAGE AND RURAL LEGACY, AS I SAID. BUT IT'S A GREAT READ. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED. AND WITH THAT,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.