Dec 02, 2025 County Council

[a. Bill 25-016 (Animal Shelter)]

[00:00:08]

TO ORDER PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR BILL 25 ZERO 16 ANIMAL SHELTER. AND OUR PRESENTERS THIS EVENING ARE MISS COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOFF. MISS ROBERT, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

YES. SO I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THIS BILL BASED ON THE FACTORS THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS OWN CATS AND DOGS, AND SOME OF THEM CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THEM SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT NORMAL VETERINARIAN CLINICS. SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, THIS BILL UPDATES THE DEFINITION OF AN ANIMAL SHELTER IN THE HARFORD COUNTY ZONING CODE TO ALLOW NONPROFIT SHELTERS TO PROVIDE LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES AND WELLNESS VACCINATIONS SUCH AS RABIES AND CORE VACCINES TO ANIMALS OWNED BY THE PUBLIC, NOT JUST ANIMALS ABANDONED OR SURRENDERED TO THE SHELTER. THE BILL KEEPS THE SCOPE NARROW THAT SHELTERS MAY ONLY PROVIDE SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES AND WELLNESS VACCINES TO THE PUBLIC. NO OTHER VETERINARY SERVICES. WHY IS THE CHANGE NEEDED? THE CURRENT CODE RESTRICTS SHELTERS TO CARING ONLY FOR ANIMALS ALREADY IN THEIR CUSTODY. THIS CREATES BARRIERS FOR NONPROFIT SHELTERS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY, EXPERTISE AND CAPACITY TO OFFER PREVENTATIVE SERVICES THAT SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. THE AFFORDABLE PREVENTIVE PREVENTATIVE SERVICES DIRECTLY REDUCE UNWANTED LITTERS, ANIMAL ABANDONMENT, SHELTER, OVERCROWDING, THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS IN COMMUNITIES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH RISK RELATED TO UNVACCINATED ANIMALS. THIS BILL SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY GOALS BECAUSE IT DOES WELLNESS VACCINATIONS, SUCH AS RABIES AND CORE DISEASE VACCINES PROTECTS NOT ONLY PETS BUT ALSO FARM ANIMALS AND RESIDENTS, ALLOWING SHELTERS TO OFFER LOW COST VACCINES REDUCES THE SPREAD OF PREVENTABLE DISEASES AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY PROTECTION. THIS BILL DOES NOT ALLOW SHELTERS TO OPERATE AS A FULL VETERINARY CLINIC. THE BILL STRICTLY LIMITS WHAT SHELTERS CAN OFFER TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. SPAY NEUTER SERVICES. WELLNESS.

VACCINATIONS. NO EXAMINATIONS, NO DIAGNOSTICS. NO TREATMENT OF INJURY OR ILLNESS. NO FULL SERVICE VETERINARY CARE. THIS ENSURES THAT SHELTERS COMPLEMENT, NOT COMPETE WITH PRIVATE VETERINARY PRACTICES. HOW DOES THE BILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY? ALLOWING SHELTERS TO OFFER AFFORDABLE PREVENTIVE CARE HELPS. IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF STRAY AND ABANDONED ANIMALS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, PREVENTS DISEASES LIKE RABIES AND PARVOVIRUS. IT REDUCES THE BURDEN ON ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES. IT LOWERS LONG TERM COUNTY COSTS RELATED TO SHELTER INTAKE, PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, AND PROTECTS LIVESTOCK AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS FROM PREVENTABLE ILLNESSES. THE SERVICES PERMITTED UNDER THIS BILL OCCUR INDOORS WITHIN EXISTING SHELTER OPERATIONS, AND DO NOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF SHELTERS, FOOTPRINT, NOISE PROFILE, OR NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY. THIS AMENDMENT AUTHORIZES WHAT MANY SHELTERS ARE ALREADY EQUIPPED TO DO, BUT ARE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED FROM OFFERING BY ZONING LANGUAGE.

IT'S A MINOR ZONING CHANGE WITH MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THE BILL ADVANCES THE COUNTY'S GOAL OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF STRAY AND ABANDONED ANIMALS BY PROVIDING AFFORDABLE PREVENTIVE CARE. THIS ANIMAL. THIS WILL HELP REDUCE ANIMAL ABANDONMENT DUE TO COST BARRIERS. THE NUMBER OF UNWANTED LITTERS ENTERING THE SHELTER SYSTEM, AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMAL CONTROL. SPAY NEUTER SURGERY IS THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR REDUCING OVERPOPULATION, AND FAMILIES WHO CANNOT AFFORD SURGERY OFTEN END UP WITH UNPLANNED LITTER, WHICH FREQUENTLY BECOME OWNER SURRENDERS, STRAYS, COMMUNITY CATS, AND SHELTER INTAKES, SO PROVIDING LOW COST ACCESS PREVENTS THESE OUTCOMES BEFORE THEY OCCUR. HOW MANY SHELTERS WILL THIS APPLY TO? THIS BILL APPLIES TO ALL NONPROFIT ANIMAL SHELTERS IN HARFORD COUNTY. WHILE THE COUNTY SHELTERS, THIS LEGISLATION ENSURES A CONSISTENT BOARD. THIS BILL DOES NOT COST TAXPAYERS ANYTHING. THIS AMENDMENT DOES NOT CREATE NEW COUNTY SPENDING. SHELTERS OFFERING LOW COST SERVICES TYPICALLY FUND THEM THROUGH DONATIONS, GRANTS, VOLUNTEER VETERINARIANS, AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS. THIS BILL REMOVES STRICTLY ZONING BARRIERS, PREVENTING SHELTERS FROM PROVIDING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS BILL CAN HELP REDUCE SHELTER, OVERCROWDING, AND PREVENTATIVE CARE, REDUCING THE FLOW OF ANIMALS ENTERING THE SHELTERS. EVERY SPAY NEUTER SURGERY AND EVERY VACCINATION DECREASES STRAY POPULATION GROWTH, SURRENDER RATES, DISEASE OUTBREAKS AND SIDE SHELTERS. THE NEED FOR COSTLY ANIMAL CONTROL INTERVENTIONS.

[00:05:06]

THANK YOU, MISS EMHOFF. COUNCIL, MISTER GINGER, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID WAS IT'S IN CARE ONLY. SO IT SO IF THAT'S WOULD IT BE FEASIBLE AS WELL.

JUST IF SOMEBODY DROPPED OFF SOMETHING THAT THEY GAVE THEM PERMISSION, THAT IT WAS IN THEIR CARE THAT THEY COULD DO THE WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO CHANGE THE CODE? I THINK THEY HAVE TO SURRENDER THE ANIMAL AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, THE, THE, THE ONLY. THIS DOESN'T CHANGE THE SERVICES, THIS CHANGES THIS, THE TYPE OF ANIMAL THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO.

BUT WHAT SHE SAID WAS, WAS IT'S GOT TO BE IN THEIR CARE. SO IT'S NO DIFFERENT. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED OR BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER BY HARFORD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL. THOSE ARE THE ONLY ANIMALS THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THIS KIND OF CARE TO.

NOW I, AS A CITIZEN WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING MY PET TO THEM TO HAVE THESE SERVICES PROVIDED.

OKAY, SO MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF I, AS A CITIZEN BRING MY PET, CAN'T THEY SIGN SOMETHING THAT SAYS THAT PET IS IN NOW IN MY CARE AND THEY CAN DO THE WORK? NO NO NO NO. BECAUSE THE CURRENT DEFINITION SAYS ABANDONED AND LEFT THERE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY OR BROUGHT BY ANIMAL CONTROL. OKAY, WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR. THAT'S WHY I JUST WANTED TO BE EXCLUSIVE. I'M SORRY. YOU ARE ALLOWED. IT'S FOR THE RECORDING. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SURE THEY COULD HEAR. BUT. YEAH, IT'S RIGHT THERE. THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS. TO CLEAN THAT UP AND TIGHTEN THAT UP. SO THERE WAS NO QUESTION THAT IT WAS AN EXPANDED SERVICES TO PETS OWNED BY THE PUBLIC. AND HOW MANY NONPROFIT SHELTERS DO WE HAVE IN HARFORD COUNTY? IS IT JUST THE ONE. IT'S JUST THE ONE. JUST THE ONE. AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING? WHERE ARE PEOPLE GOING NOW? ARE THEY ARE THEY ABLE TO GO TO BALTIMORE COUNTY, OR ARE THERE OTHER COUNTIES RIGHT NOW THAT CURRENTLY OFFER THOSE SERVICES AT A REDUCED RATE? PENNSYLVANIA. TWO SOCIETIES, PENNSYLVANIA. OKAY, AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. THANK YOU. MISS YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, MR. BENTON. I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE END OVER THERE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR PLUS ABOUT HOW DO WE HELP SUPPORT OUR ANIMAL COMMUNITY HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND I JUST THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL STEP IN DOING THAT WORK. AND IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH THEM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS BECAUSE I FULLY SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MISS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THIS.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE ADDED AS A SPONSOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS. ANYTHING ELSE

[00:10:04]

I DO WANT TO NOTE BECAUSE THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC TO US CURRENTLY, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THIS UP TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IMMEDIATELY IF THIS CHANGE WERE TO TAKE EFFECT, WE DO NEED TO OBTAIN GRANT FUNDING. THE MARYLAND SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM IS WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING. OF COURSE, WE CANNOT DO THAT YET UNTIL THIS ZONING IS FURTHER CLARIFIED. BUT AGAIN, OUR INTENT IS NOT TO BE COMPETITION FOR ANYONE. WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDES OUR VETERINARY COMMUNITY AND TO COMPLEMENT WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY PROVIDING. I WILL MENTION ONE OTHER THING BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER. THERE ARE OTHER SHELTERS IN THE STATE IN THE REGION THAT DO OFFER AFFORDABLE SPAY AND NEUTER, BUT THEY ARE VERY LIMITED IN WHO THEY CAN OFFER THAT TO. BALTIMORE HUMANE AND THE MARYLAND SPCA. WHILE THEY DO HAVE THIS, THEY ARE LIMITED TO CERTAIN ZIP CODES THAT THEY ARE EVEN ABLE TO OFFER THIS TO. SO YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT FOR THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE FROM HARFORD COUNTY CURRENTLY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT. SO AGAIN, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO CLOSE THAT GAP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HICKMAN. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? THERE IS NO ONE ELSE, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. WITH NO OTHER SPEAKERS, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING ON BILL 2516. IT WILL BE CONSIDERED AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

[b. Bill 25-017 (Finance and Taxation)]

[00:15:01]

THE STATE IS GOING TO CAP THAT AT 10%. SO WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT SETS THAT AT 12%. WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE OUR LEGISLATION. THAT WOULD BE THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION TO MAKE IT AT THE THE 10% RATE. ANOTHER CHANGE IS ON ADVERTISING. THE STATE REQUIRES THAT THERE BE FOUR ADS IN THE LOCAL PAPER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX ADS IN THE LOCAL PAPER. WE RUN TWO ADS THAT ARE KIND OF PRELIMINARY ADS, FOLLOWED BY BY FOUR MORE, LONGER, MORE DETAILED ADS THAT ALSO INCLUDE THE TOWNS. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT REQUIREMENT TO ADHERE TO THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT OF FOUR FOR ADS INSTEAD OF SIX. NOW, WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE SAVINGS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE ADS IN THE LOCAL PAPER, IS WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT TO SEND OUT CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY READS THE PAPER. IT CERTAINLY THIS INFORMATION IS STILL GOING TO BE IN THE PAPER. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS. AND WE FEEL LIKE THIS WILL BE A BETTER WAY TO KIND OF COMBINE THAT STATE REQUIREMENT OF FOUR FOR ADS IN THE PAPER, BUT ALSO DOING ADDITIONAL OUTREACH THROUGH THROUGH A CERTIFIED THROUGH CERTIFIED MAILING. ONE PART THAT'S NOT IN THIS LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT I DID WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. AND IT IS IN THE THE STATE LAW IS THAT CURRENTLY THE THE STATE ALLOWS THE, THE TAX COLLECTOR TO WAIVE FROM THE TAX SALE ANY SALE THAT'S 200, $250 OR, OR LOWER. THE NEW STATE LAW SAYS THAT IF IT'S HOMEOWNER OCCUPIED, THAT THRESHOLD NEEDS TO BE $1,000, SO THAT IF YOU WERE $500 BEHIND ON YOUR TAXES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T SELL YOU A TAX SALE.

WE WOULD STILL ADVERTISE. WE WOULD STILL SEND YOU LETTERS, LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE BEHIND, AND THAT MONEY WOULD CARRY ON TO A FUTURE TAX YEAR AND WOULD EVENTUALLY PROBABLY REACH THAT $1,000 THRESHOLD. BUT I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN STATEWIDE ABOUT PEOPLE LOSING, LOSING THEIR HOMES OR GOING THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF BECAUSE THEY HAD $25 OUTSTANDING OR WHAT HAVE YOU. SO THIS THIS LEVEL DOES CHANGE, CHANGE THAT. SO NOW IT CREATES A $1,000 FOR HOMEOWNER HOMEOWNER OCCUPIED. AND THEN FINALLY THERE IS ONE PART OF THE LEGISLATION. IT'S NOT SO MUCH RELATED TO THE STATE PROCESS, BUT IS A CHANGE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES. AND THAT IS THAT CURRENTLY THE TAX SALE IS SET IN LAW AS ON THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH. AND THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PUT INTO LAW BACK WHEN THE BUDGET NEEDED THE BUDGET AND THE CORRESPONDING PROPERTY TAX RATE NEEDED TO BE PASSED BY JUNE 1ST. NOW, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE MOVED THAT DEADLINE FROM JUNE 1ST TO JUNE TO JUNE 15TH. ANOTHER THING IS ALSO HAPPENED IS THAT IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, JUNETEENTH HAS BECOME A COUNTY, A COUNTY HOLIDAY. SO THE COUNTY OFFICES ARE CLOSED. AND SO THAT'S ALSO RIGHT AROUND THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH. SO BY MOVING THIS DATE TO THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, IT KIND OF ELIMINATES A CRUNCH THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN THE, IN THE TREASURY OFFICE.

TREASURY ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO HAD 48 PEOPLE. NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 42 PEOPLE. WE'VE TAKEN ON A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BACK THEN, RANGING FROM COLLECTING RECORDATION TAX TO THE SENIOR VETERANS TAX CREDITS TO GRANTS. AND IT REALLY IS JUST KIND OF CREATED A TIME CRUNCH. AND THAT THAT END OF THE YEAR WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GET THOSE PROPERTY TAX BILLS OUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD WE'VE RELIED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TOWNS, WE'VE RELIED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION, AND WE JUST DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO TRY TO RUN THAT PROCESS OF GETTING THE THE UPCOMING PROPERTY TAX BILLS OUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TO DO THE TAX SALE.

SO BY MOVING THIS UP TO TO THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, IT KIND OF EVENS OUT THAT WORKFLOW A LITTLE BIT FOR US. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS ON THE TAX LEGISLATION. OKAY.

COUNCIL. MR. GINGER. HEY ROBIN. GOOD EVENING. HOW MANY PROPERTIES DO YOU GET THAT GO INTO THE TAX. THE THAT SOMEBODY'S PAYING THEIR TAX BILL UNTIL AND THEY GET REIMBURSED. SO LIKE IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT SAY LAST YEAR LIKE THE FIRST TIME WE, WE HAVE

[00:20:01]

AND THAT'S WHY YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THE INTEREST PAYMENT AT A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL THAT IT DOES ENTICE INDIVIDUALS TO BID FOR THESE PROPERTIES. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. GINGER.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. BENNETT, I WAS HELLO. I WAS LOOKING AT THE FISCAL IMPACT NOTE, AND I NOTICED THAT WITH THE CAP BEING LOWERED TO 10%, IT WILL REDUCE THE INTEREST REVENUE EACH YEAR BY ABOUT 8500 DOLLARS. SO THAT WOULD BE THE REVENUE THAT WOULD REALLY BE GOING TO THE BENEFICIARIES, NOT NECESSARILY THE COUNTY. SO THE COUNTY WOULDN'T HAVE HAVE HAVE THE IMPACT. THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE THE IMPACT WOULD BE IF THE RATE WAS SO LOW THAT INVESTORS DIDN'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. SO THIS ULTIMATELY REDUCES THE RATE OF RETURN FOR THOSE INVESTORS, NOT SO MUCH FOR THE COUNTY. SO IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY IMPACT OTHER THAN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE TAX SALES ARE DONE SO THAT WE HAVE THE FULL REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES IN A, IN A, IN A IN A PERFECT WORLD, IF WE IF WE TOOK 346 TO SALE, YOU WOULD YOU WOULD SELL THEM ALL. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOME PROPERTIES THAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INHERENT VALUE OR, OR THEY'RE UNDERWATER BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BEEN A LOT OF YEARS HAVE HAVE ACCUMULATED. NOBODY WANTS TO BID ON IT. SO AND I GUESS TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND WHY THE STATE PUT A CAP, JUST LET ME KNOW IF MY REASONING IS RIGHT. IF THE CAP IS TOO LOW, IT'S NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING A LOT OF INTEREST. BUT IF IF THE INTEREST RATE WAS TOO HIGH, WELL, THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GETTING PAYMENTS EITHER. YEAH. AND IT'S IT IS THIS THIS PROCESS IS IS PROBABLY BEST DESCRIBED AS A NECESSARY EVIL. YOU KNOW, WE PROPERTY TAXES DO NEED TO BE PAID AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A MECHANISM FOR, FOR DOING THAT. BUT THERE IS LEGITIMATE CONCERNS OUT THERE THAT SOME CITIZENS MAY NOT FULLY COMPREHEND WHAT'S GOING ON OR THAT SOME OF THESE, THESE INTEREST RATES MAY BE TOO EXCESSIVELY HIGH. SO HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT? AND IT'S PROBABLY NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER TYPES OF BALANCES ON INTEREST PAYMENTS. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK AROUND THE STATE, I THINK THAT THAT THE 10% WOULD SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM STATEWIDE. BUT EACH YEAR, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF MARYLAND DOES OFTENTIMES ADD MORE AND MORE REGULATIONS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL COME A POINT WHERE IT MIGHT DISSUADE SOME INVESTORS FROM FROM PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU. AND THEN, ROBBIE, WE'RE GOING TO GO FROM SIX WEEKS TO FOUR WEEKS IN ADVERTISING JUST ON THE ADS.

YES. SO THE ADS BUT BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, WE WILL BEFORE ALL THAT PROCESS. NOW WE'LL SEND OUT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TO SEE IT IN FOUR WEEKS IS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STATE THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS. SO THIS WAS A CASE WHERE OUR WE WERE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT. AND THOSE FIRST TWO ADS ARE PRETTY LIMITED. THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION. THEY DON'T INCLUDE THE TOWNS BECAUSE WE ALSO DO THE TAX SALE ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNS. SO THOSE FIRST TWO ADS WERE ALWAYS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY OF NO VALUE, BUT OF LIMITED VALUE COMPARED TO THE MORE DETAILED ADS. AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THOSE FOUR VERY DETAILED ADS. AND IS THE SAVINGS THAT SIGNIFICANT? I MEAN, THE SAVINGS WOULD BE I THINK IT'S A SO WE SPENT ABOUT $24,000 ON THE SIX ADS, YOU KNOW. SO IT'S A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. OKAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WITH, WITH WITH ANYTHING.

THERE'S LOTS OF PLACES WHERE THE STATE DOES REQUIRE US TO DO ADS AND, AND THAT WOULD BE,

[00:25:05]

[c. Resolution 040-25 (Interest Rate of Redemption)]

[d. Resolution 041-025 (Economic Development Opportunity Loan Fund - RPM Tech, LLC)]

[00:30:05]

OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. SO YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND THE FIREHOUSE. OKAY. WHEN WE GET DONE AND WE TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF RECESS. THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS FEEDBACK ON THIS MIX. YEAH. ANYONE ELSE? MAYBE. I'M JUST LOUD. YEAH. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP, MR. PRESIDENT. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU, BUT NO ONE SIGNED UP. WE'LL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CHAIR CALLS TO ORDER.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

HELP US TO LISTEN, TO COLLABORATE, AND TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION. MAY OUR CHOICES TONIGHT REFLECT THE CARE FOR EVERY FAMILY AND EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD WE SERVE. AS WE ENTER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING. MAY THIS BE A TIME OF PEACE, GRATITUDE, AND RENEWED CONNECTION WITH ONE ANOTHER. WATCH OUR FAMILIES WHO GATHER, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE AND THOSE WHO MAY BE FACING HARDSHIP OR LONELINESS. LET KINDNESS, GENEROSITY AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR ACTIONS GUIDE US BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER.

BLESS OUR COUNTY, OUR LEADERS, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THOSE WHO WORK EACH DAY TO MAKE THIS SAFE, A SAFE, THRIVING AND WELCOMING PLACE TO LIVE. AMEN. THANK YOU MISS. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS. WE HAVE NONE. COUNCIL WILL NOW BE ACTING AS A

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

FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, CASE NUMBER 6032 MW ONE PROPERTIES, LLC MAY HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO AFFIRM THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINERS DECISION. THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND, MISS IMHOF, WAS THAT. YES. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO UPHOLD THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. IMHOF, MR. GIORDANO I MRS. BUSTOS I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SIX IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT THE MOTION TO AFFIRM THE HEARING. HEARING EXAMINERS DECISION IS APPROVED. COUNCIL WERE NOW ACTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS A COUNTY COUNCIL COUNSEL APPOINTMENT. COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT MAY HAVE A MOTION. PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT I MOVE TO APPOINT APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF TONY JOHN GIORDANO AS COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. SECOND TO APPROVE MR. GIORDANO AS COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. GIORDANO, THANK YOU FOR SAYING MY NAME CORRECTLY. I GOT IT ONCE. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. GIORDANO I MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. MAKO REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN RILEY AND COUNCIL AS THE REPRESENTATIVE AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOF AS THE ALTERNATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE COUNCILMAN RILEY AS THE MAKER REPRESENTATIVE AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOF AS THE MAKO ALTERNATIVE.

THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? THANK YOU, MISS SOTO'S. MOVED AND SECOND TO APPROVE.

MISTER RILEY. MISS IMHOF, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS IMHOF? I WAS APPOINTED AS THE ALTERNATE FOR THE MAKO REPRESENTATIVE LAST MAY OR JUNE. AND WHILE MY TIME WITH THEM HAS BEEN VERY SHORT, I HAVE ENJOYED MY TIME. AND I DO SEE A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR HAVING MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE MAKO. THANK YOU MA'AM AND WE DO HAVE A MAKO SESSION COMING UP, SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. ANYONE ELSE, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, A MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. GIORDANO. HI MRS. I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE

[00:35:01]

THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. AGENDA NUMBER SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]

MR. PRESIDENT. HI, THIS IS ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, MR. GIORDANO, I MRS. BULL, I MR. BENNETT I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT RESOLUTION ZERO 3525 IS HEREBY

[00:40:03]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. GIORDANO I MRS. I MR. BENNET I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT RESOLUTION ZERO 3725 IS HEREBY APPROVED MR. PLEASE READ. RESOLUTION 042 25 AND ZERO 4325 INTO THE RECORD FOR INTRODUCTION RESOLUTION 042 DASH 25 NOTICE OF SALE REFUNDING BONDS SERIES B RESOLUTION 2026 AS INTRODUCED. INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE AND SALE, SALE AND DELIVERY BY HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, THE COUNTY OF ITS BOND DESIGNATED HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND. REFUNDING BOND SERIES 2026 B THE REFUNDING BONDS AND THE ORIGINAL AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 49 MILLION. PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 19 DASH 207, A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, 2013. REPLACEMENT VOLUME 2024 SUPPLEMENT. THE REFUNDING BONDS ACT, SECTION 524 OF THE CHARTER OF HARFORD COUNTY, SECTIONS ONE, 23, 40 AND TWO, 56, 26 OF THE HARFORD COUNTY. HARFORD COUNTY.

THE COUNTY CODE AND BILL 20 1-0 21, ENACTED ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2021, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 3RD, 2022. THE REFUNDING BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE REFUNDING OF CERTAIN MATURITIES OF THE COUNTY OUTSTANDING. HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS SERIES, 2015 A ISSUED BY THE COUNTY PURSUANT TO BILLS NUMBER 1424, 15, 18, 16, 19, 17, TEN ARE ALL AS AMENDED 18 DASH 009. 19 DASH ZERO 14 AND 20 DASH ZERO 14, AS AMENDED. THE OUTSTANDING 2015 A BONDS AND REFUNDING OF CERTAIN MATURITIES OF THE COUNTY'S OUTSTANDING HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND REFUNDING BONDS SERIES 2015 BE ISSUED BY THE COUNTY PURSUANT TO BILLS NUMBER 14, 24, 15, 18, 16, 19, 1710, AS ALL AS AMENDED. 18 DASH 009, 1914 AND 2014, AS AMENDED. THE OUTSTANDING 2015 B BONDS AND TOGETHER WITH THE OUTSTANDING 2015 A BONDS, THE OUTSTANDING BONDS AND INCLUDING ACCRUED INTEREST AND COSTS OF INSURANCE PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE REFUNDING BONDS NOT TO EXCEED 49 MILLION. CONFIRMING THAT THE PRINCIPAL PREMIUM, IF ANY, AND INTEREST THEREON SHALL BE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE COUNTY, SHOULD SECURED BY ITS FULL FAITH AND CREDIT AND UNLIMITED TAXING POWER, DETERMINING THAT THE REFUNDING BONDS SHALL BE SOLD BY COMPETITIVE BID. APPOINTING A BOND REGISTER AND PAYING AGENT FOR THE REFUNDING BONDS.

APPROVING THE SUBSTANTIALLY FINANCIAL FORMS FOR VARIOUS DOCUMENTS TO BE EXECUTED ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY OF THE REFUNDING BONDS, INCLUDING AN ESCROW DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, IF NECESSARY, TO DETERMINE THE DATE AND SALE.

DETERMINING VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE REFUNDING BONDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROVISIONS IN THE NOTICE OF SALE FOR CHANGES IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF REFUNDING BONDS TO BE SOLD, AND CHANGES IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT TO MATURE IN CERTAIN YEARS. RESOLUTION 043 25 NOTICE OF SALE CPI SERIES A RESOLUTION 2026 AS INTRODUCED INTRODUCED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE, AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY BY HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND COUNTY OF ITS BONDS DESIGNATED HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND CONSOLIDATED CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS SERIES 2026 A THE CPI BONDS AND THE ORIGINAL AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 110 MILLION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 19 ZERO ONE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND, 2013. REPLACEMENT VOLUME IN 2024 SUPPLEMENT THE CONSOLIDATED

[00:45:02]

I'LL HAVE BOND COUNSEL KIND OF WALK THROUGH KIND OF THE THE LEGALITIES OF THE LEGISLATION.

AND I'LL JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COUNTY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRIS SENATE, AND I'M HERE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AS BOND COUNSEL. I'M A COUNCIL MEMBER AT MILES AND STOCKBRIDGE TO DISCUSS THE TWO RESOLUTIONS THIS EVENING. RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 42, DASH 25 AND 4325, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF HARFORD COUNTY'S 2026 CPI AND REFUNDING BONDS, RESPECTIVELY. I WILL BEGIN MY DISCUSSION WITH RESOLUTION 43 DASH 25, WHICH IS THE CPI BOND RESOLUTION ON JUNE 17TH, 2025, THIS COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED BILL NUMBER 20 5-7, AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE COUNTY TO ISSUE ITS 2026 CPI BONDS FOR COUNTY PROJECTS. PLEASE NOTE THIS YEAR THERE WAS NO SEPARATE BILL FOR NEW WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR 2026. THE BILL AUTHORIZED BILL 25 SEVEN, AUTHORIZED THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT ONE OR MORE RESOLUTIONS TO SELL ITS 2026 CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BONDS UPON PUBLIC SALE AT A LATER DATE. THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TONIGHT AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF UP TO 110 MILLION OF CPI BONDS, AND THE RESOLUTION PROVIDES NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC SALE WILL OCCUR NEXT YEAR ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026. ALL BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY TREASURER ON THAT DATE AND COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR, DAVENPORT AND COMPANY. THE NOTICE OF SALE IS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION AS EXHIBIT B. THE RESOLUTION ALSO AUTHORIZES THIS NOTICE OF SALE TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE HARFORD COUNTY ARGUS PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO SELL FEWER THAN $110 MILLION OF CPI BONDS UPON THE ADVICE OF DAVENPORT. THE RESOLUTION OUTLINES THE INSTALLMENTS AND MATURITIES OF THE BONDS EXPECTED TO BE SOLD ON FEBRUARY 3RD. IN ADDITION, IT ALSO SETS FORTH THE TERMS FOR REDEMPTION OF THE BONDS, THAT IS, PAYOFF OF BONDS, INCLUDING THE. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE FORMS OF BONDS THAT ARE TO BE SOLD AS EXHIBIT C. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, THE RESOLUTION ALSO PROVIDES THE REPAYMENT SOURCES FOR THE BONDS AND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE PROVISIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THE BONDS, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS. THIS IS ALSO OUTLINED IN A TAX CERTIFICATE THAT IS EXECUTED BY THE COUNTY AS OF CLOSING. ONCE THE CPI BONDS ARE SOLD, THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY TO APPLY THE FUNDS THE BONDS TO SPECIFIC PROJECTS LISTED IN EXHIBIT D, WHICH ROBIN WILL TALK ABOUT LATER. IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE COUNTY SHALL USE THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, DTCC, AS THE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR THE BONDS AND MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY AS THE PAYING AGENT. FINALLY, THE COUNTY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY, LIKE THE TREASURER, TO SIGN THE APPROPRIATE BOND DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE BOND SALE AND CLOSE ON THE DEAL. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR 42 OR 43 DASH 25. I'LL MOVE ON TO 42 DASH 25. REGARDING THE 2025 2026 REFUNDING BONDS OF THE COUNTY. EXCUSE ME. ON NOVEMBER 21ST, THE COUNCIL OF 2021, THE COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTED BILL NUMBER 21, DASH 21, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY TO ISSUE UP TO 170 MILLION IN REFUNDING BONDS. THE BILL AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION AT A LATER DATE, GIVING THE COUNTY THE AUTHORITY TO REFUND ITS OUTSTANDING 2015 BONDS AND 2015 B BONDS. THIS RESOLUTION, 42 DASH 25, AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY TO SELL UP TO 49 MILLION IN REFUNDING BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFUNDING THE 2015 AS THE 2015 BES, YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE ADOPTED A SIMILAR RESOLUTION NOTICE OF SALE RESOLUTION LAST YEAR TO REFUND THESE TWO SERIES OF BONDS, BUT ULTIMATELY COUNT THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISER, DAVENPORT, ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY TO REFUND THE BONDS, SO WE DIDN'T END UP SELLING REFUNDING BONDS LAST

[00:50:03]

FINALLY, AFTER THE FEBRUARY 3RD SALE, WE WILL AGAIN APPROACH THE COUNCIL WITH ADDITIONAL REVENUE RESOLUTIONS SETTING FORTH THE EXACT TERMS OF THE BONDS, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE DENOMINATIONS, INTEREST RATES AND MATURITY YEARS FOR BOTH SERIES. I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE FOR LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR THIS BILL. OTHERWISE I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ROBBIE. THANK YOU CHRIS. SO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS. AND THIS IS A PROCESS THAT REALLY BEGINS DURING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WHEN WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THE CAPITAL BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS, LONG TERM ASSETS THAT THE COUNTY HOLDS, CAPITAL ASSETS THAT GENERALLY HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF 20 YEARS OR MORE, THAT WE ASSIGN BONDS AS THE FUNDING SOURCE TO. AND ULTIMATELY, THESE BONDS WILL BE PAID BY FUTURE TAXPAYERS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE THE, THE, THE, THE BOND AUTHORIZATION DEBT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE COMMITTING FUTURE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THESE THESE BENEFITS. BUT THESE ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR THOSE FUTURE TAXPAYERS AS WELL. SO WE PUT BONDS AS THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY SELL THE PROJECT THE, THE BONDS UNTIL WE'VE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY NEED TO. NOW, FORTUNATELY, WE ARE IN A GOOD ENOUGH STATE AS A, AS A COUNTY THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SELL THE BONDS AHEAD OF TIME IN ORDER TO HAVE THE NECESSARY CASH FLOW. SO WE'RE ABLE TO REIMBURSE OURSELVES. AND THAT KEEPS US OUT OF. I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S OUR SOUND GUY. AND I'LL COME HERE. IT'S A SECOND JOB. THIS IS SUCH A FASCINATING CONVERSATION, MIKE. SO WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TO REIMBURSE OURSELVES, AND THAT KEEPS US AWAY FROM ANY ARBITRAGE ISSUES OR THE LIKE, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RULES GOVERNING TAX EXEMPT BONDS BECAUSE THEY ARE TAX EXEMPT.

AND THAT SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES A KEEN INTEREST. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY USING THESE FOR SCHOOLS AND FOR ROADS AND NOT TO JUST, YOU KNOW, BUILD UP OUR PORTFOLIO. SO AGAIN, WE ONCE WE WE MAY BUDGET FOR FOR PROJECTS, BUT OFTENTIMES IT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS FOR A PROJECT TO GET UNDERWAY. AND THEN THAT TAKES US TO WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THE BOND SALE ITSELF. AND SO A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP THIS $110 MILLION, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE BUDGETED IN YEARS, IN YEARS PAST. AND THE PROJECTS ARE ARE WELL UNDERWAY. SO WE ASK FOR THESE TERMS OF SALE RESOLUTION, ENGAGE IN ALL OF THE ADVERTISING WORK WITH THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY TO GET TO TO RATE THE COUNTY. WE HAVE BEEN A TRIPLE A NOW FOR ABOUT MORE THAN TEN YEARS. WE HOPE TO MAINTAIN THAT TRIPLE A STATUS, AND THEN WE WILL SELL THE BONDS AGAIN ON FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 3RD. AND THAT WILL AGAIN COME BEFORE COUNCIL TO APPROVE TO APPROVE THAT SALE. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MAKES UP THIS SALE OF THIS $110 MILLION, 91 MILLION IS FROM TAXPAYER SUPPORTED, WHAT WE CALL CPI, CPI DEBT. MORE THAN HALF OF THAT IS FOR SCHOOLS 10 MILLION AT 48 MILLION, 10 MILLION FOR THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, 13 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, 5 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, 6 MILLION FOR STORMWATER NEEDS, STORMWATER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, 5 MILLION FOR PARKS, AND THEN 4 MILLION FOR JUST KIND OF VARIOUS COUNTY COUNTY FACILITIES, ROOFS AND PARKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN 19 MILLION IS FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS. NOW, BOND COUNCIL NOTED THAT THIS LAST BOND AUTHORIZATION FROM THE 2026 BUDGET DID NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW WATER AND SEWER DEBT. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS FROM OLDER BUDGETS. SO FROM 25, 24, 23 AND THAT TOTALS 19 MILLION. SO JUST SOME OF THE KIND OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE BIGGEST ONE IS HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, WHICH RECENTLY OPENED. THAT'S $15.4 MILLION THERE. HARFORD TECH IS 11 MILLION. CHESAPEAKE WELCOME CENTER AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS 10 MILLION. ABERDEEN SCHOOL HVAC 9.5. JUST TO KIND OF DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW EXPENSIVE THESE HVAC PROJECTS ARE. AND THEN I'M NOT GOING TO CONTINUE ON DOWN THE LINE. BUT BUT YOU KNOW, THEY THEY THEY THEY KEEP ON GETTING SMALLER AND ALL FROM THAT. BUT AGAIN, THEY ALL MAKE

[00:55:05]

THAT WAS MY FIRST BOND SALE AS TREASURER, AS WELL AS REFUNDING WE DID OF 2009 PROJECTS, WHICH WAS ALSO MY FIRST REFUNDING. AND SO THAT TOTALS ABOUT $45 MILLION. AND JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF TASTE OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE, YOU KNOW, BACK IN IN 2015, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MAN INTERNET SERVICE, JARRETTSVILLE ELEMENTARY, FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE NEW ALLIED HEALTH BUILDING AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, WHITEFOOT LIBRARY EXPANSION. AND THEN IF YOU WERE TO GO BACK TO 2009, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT, THE BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT. THOSE WERE SOME OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL LEFT FROM THOSE YEARS. SO AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS REFUNDING, BUT IT'S IF WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO DO IT, THEN WE CAN'T PULL THE TRIGGER. SO WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE A RATE THAT'S LOW ENOUGH AND IF SO, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, GO FORWARD AND MAYBE SAVE THE COUNTY A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. BUT IF NOT, WE'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE WITH OUR CURRENT BONDS AS IS. SO ROBBIE, DO YOU REMEMBER IN OUR LAST PROCESS WHEN WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN SELLING SOME REFUNDING BONDS, WHAT THE SAVINGS WAS? I HAVE TO GO BACK AND AND BECAUSE EACH ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT GENERALLY SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WE HAVE REFUNDED MOST OF THE, OF THE DEBT THAT, THAT WE CAN THIS, THIS DEBT. NOW AGAIN, THESE RATES ARE STILL REALLY GOOD. SO SOME OF THE HIGHER RATES WE'VE ALREADY REFUNDED BACK DURING THE FIRST TRUMP TAX TAX CUTS IN 2018 OR SO, THEY PROHIBITED US FROM FROM ISSUING TAX EXEMPT REFUNDING. SO NOW YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A BOND IS CALLABLE TEN YEARS UNTIL YOU CAN DO UNTIL YOU CAN DO A REFUNDING WITH TAX EXEMPT DOLLARS. YOU COULD DO A REFUNDING WITH TAXABLE DOLLARS, BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PAY A HIGHER RATE. BECAUSE THE REASON IS, IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL ACCEPT A LOWER INTEREST RATE BECAUSE IT'S IT'S TAX FREE. ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS WITH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT JUST PASSED IS THAT IT DID MAINTAIN TAX EXEMPT STATUS, WHICH IS A HUGE PLUS FOR FOR ALL OF US ISSUANCES, ISSUERS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE BUILDING SCHOOLS AND BUILDING ROADS AND THE LIKE. AND SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A BIPARTISAN EFFORT THAT WE WERE GLAD TO SEE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUES TO TO GET SUPPORT IN WASHINGTON. THANK YOU, MR. GINGER. SO YOU YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION BY ANSWERING PAT'S QUESTION, BUT HOW MANY MORE YEARS DO WE HAVE LEFT OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES MOVING FORWARD THAT WE MIGHT LOOK TO DO? SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S EVERY TEN YEARS. YOU HAVE TO WAIT TEN YEARS TO REFINANCE.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT. SO THAT WAS WE'RE DOING 2015 UP TO WHAT YEAR DO YOU SEE US REFINANCING THESE BONDS MOVING FORWARD? YEAH. SO WE'VE ALREADY I MEAN EVEN NOW THE THE EXISTING COUPONS ON THOSE REFUNDING DEBT IS ONLY 3.3. SO BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DOING 20 YEARS WE THINK WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2.75 AND 3%. SO THE CLOSER IT IS TO 2.75, THE MORE LIKELY WE ARE TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND DO THE REFUNDING, THE MORE LIKELY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A ONE FOR ONE RATIO LIKE YOU STILL, BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE CLOSING COSTS AND ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO THAT DEBT RUNS THROUGH THE 2015 DEBT RUNS THROUGH 2020, 20 2034, 2035. BUT AGAIN, EVEN THAT'S NOT HIGH RATES. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'VE GOT 10% OR EVEN 5% DEBT STILL IN THE BOOKS. SO WE REALLY HAVE A VERY LOW INTEREST PORTFOLIO ALL AROUND. THE LOW HANGING FRUIT HAS LONG SINCE BEEN BEEN CAPTURED, AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES BACK IN A SITUATION THAT WE END UP WITH HIGHER RATES. YOU THINK BACK TO THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN WE HAD NEW SALES. LAST YEAR WAS 20 YEARS AT 3.5 WAS A GOOD RATE. I THINK THE YEAR BEFORE WE WERE 3.25 AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WAS 3.5. NOW I DON'T THINK WE'RE WE HAD ONE YEAR DURING COVID WHERE WE DID FROM 1% LIKE THAT. THOSE DAYS WILL PROBABLY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, SOME OTHER COUNTIES WERE GETTING, YOU KNOW, FOUR, FOUR AND A HALF, FOUR AND A QUARTER. SO WE WERE FORTUNATE WE DIDN'T PAY PAY THAT RATE. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES THERE WILL BE FOR FOR REFUNDING. BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES, WE WILL BE PREPARED. WHEN WILL YOU HAVE AN IDEA IF IT'S GOING TO BE FEASIBLE OR NOT? IS THAT LIKE A WEEK BEFORE? A MONTH BEFORE? YEAH. GENERALLY WE CAN PULL IT. PULL IT. I MEAN, WE WOULD GENERALLY PROBABLY START START MAKING THE CALL BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING BOND SALES FROM OTHER COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR

[01:00:03]

THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SELLING MORE LIKE $50 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT. YOU'LL NOTICE THIS IS 110. AND WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING THAT? IT'S THE FACT THAT THE PROJECTS NOW COST TWO AND THREE TIMES MORE THAN THEY USED TO. YOU KNOW THIS, THE NEW HARFORD ACADEMY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A 150, $175 MILLION PROJECT. IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WE WERE BUILDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR 25 MILLION, YOU KNOW, AND NOW WE'RE BUILDING THEM FOR 150 MILLION. I KNOW THAT'S NOT A TYPICAL SCHOOL, BUT EVEN HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD WAS AN $80 MILLION SCHOOL. SO WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE HIGHER DEBT JUST BECAUSE THE PROJECTS COST, YOU KNOW, COSTS MORE. AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT OF OF OF OF CAPITAL NEEDS. YOU HAVE AN AGING FACILITIES. YOU GOT TO KEEP ON TOP OF THE ROOF, THE ROOFS AND THE HVAC. BUT WE ALSO HAVE SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO BE MODERNIZED. AND THERE'S THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STATE DOLLARS TO KIND OF COME AROUND. SO THE LOCALS REALLY HAVE TO KIND OF PICK UP PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE. SO I DO THINK OUR DEBT WILL WILL GO UP. I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB OF KIND OF HOLDING, YOU KNOW, HOLDING DEBT AS AT A LOWER LEVEL AS MUCH AS WE COULD. BUT NOW I THINK THE PRICE PRESSURES ARE TOO HIGH THAT IF WE IF WE TRY, IF WE TRIED TO GO BACK TO SAYING ONLY $50 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT, WE WOULD NOT REALLY BE ABLE TO TACKLE ALL OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. SO IT'S A BALANCING ACT. I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES HAVE A LOT LESS LEVERAGE. SOME OF THE LARGER, MORE METROPOLITAN COUNTIES NOW, THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THEIR OTHER OWN CHALLENGES, BUT THEY'RE UP AGAINST DEBT AFFORDABILITY GUIDELINES. YOU KNOW, THE AND THE RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT THEM AND THEY'RE SAYING LIKE, OH, YOU YOU KNOW, YOUR YOUR RATING MIGHT BE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING ON A LOT OF DEBT OR BECAUSE YOUR ECONOMY IS NOT GROWING. SO WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN A LOT. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LIE AND SAY IT'S CERTAINLY A VERY EXPENSIVE. SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE GETTING VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO GET MORE SO. AND THAT WAS THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON JUST WHILE YOU'RE SITTING HERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S INTEREST WE PAY ON BONDS, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO LIKE AN INVISIBLE INTEREST IN INFLATION, WHERE WHEN WE DON'T REPLACE AN HVAC SYSTEM THIS YEAR, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE IN TEN YEARS. SO WHY NOT TRY WHILE PRICES ARE WHERE THEY'RE AT, BE MORE AGGRESSIVE. YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT IN 2021 WHEN INTEREST RATES WERE BASICALLY IT WAS LIKE A CAR DEALERSHIP, YOU KNOW, 0% INTEREST FOR 20 YEARS, WHY NOT BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN THOSE TIMES TO, IN THE LONG RUN, SAVE MONEY BOTH ON INFLATION AND WHEN THERE'S LOWER INTEREST RATES? AND I THINK THAT IT IS A IT IS A BALANCING. BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY'S BONDS ARE TOMORROW'S DEBT SERVICE. SO THEN WHEN WE'RE BACK AND LOOKING AT THE OPERATING BUDGET, IF YOU LOOK AT LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE THE INTEREST ON THE DEBT IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST ITEM IN THE BUDGET AND IT CROWDS OUT OTHER SPENDING. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BOTH CHALLENGES FROM INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CHALLENGES ON THE OPERATING SIDE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW,

[01:05:05]

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DID RAISE, SAY, THE IMPACT FEES, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE HIGHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH, YOU KNOW, THESE CAPACITY RELATED PROJECTS. BUT EVEN BEYOND THE CAPACITY RELATED PROJECTS, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGHER COSTS. AND THAT CERTAINLY WILL WILL CROWD THINGS OUT FOR ANYONE WHO IS GOING TO WINTER. I WILL BE SPEAKING ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, TAKING ON ALL OF THESE TOPICS.

SO I'LL SEE YOU ALL THERE ON THURSDAY. I'LL GET MY POPCORN, I WILL SAVE I WILL SAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR YOU, AND I HOPE THE STATE MEETS ITS COMMITMENT. YEAH, WELL, I MEAN THE ISSUE AND AGAIN, NOT TO SPOIL THE PRESENTATION IS, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS THE STATE HAS ABOUT $300 MILLION IN THEIR IAC PROJECT, AND THEY HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER $100 MILLION IN DEALING WITH LIFE CYCLE COSTS, HVACS AND THE LIKE. BUT WHEN A SCHOOL COSTS 150 MILLION AND THE STATE'S COMING IN WITH 400 MILLION, YOU GOT 24 JURISDICTIONS, DOESN'T IT DOESN'T GO FAR, YOU KNOW, JUST IT JUST DOESN'T GO FAR. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BOTH OF YOU. I

[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS]

[14. NEW BUSINESS]

[01:10:02]

AND SO THERE WERE NINE CROSSING GUARDS WHO WERE PAYING TOO MUCH IN BENEFIT DEDUCTIONS. THAT WAS CORRECTED BY MANAGEMENT, AND THOSE EMPLOYEES GOT REFUNDS FOR THEIR BALANCES. SO THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN CLOSED. WE LOOKED AT THE INMATE ACCOUNT CONTROLS AT THE DETENTION CENTER. WE WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT WHEN SOMEONE'S BROUGHT INTO THE DETENTION CENTER, THAT SOMEBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT CASH THEY HAVE ON HAND AND COLLECTING THAT AND SECURING IT, THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE GETTING DEPOSITS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER, THAT IT GOES INTO THEIR ACCOUNTS. AND LIKEWISE, WHEN THERE ARE WITHDRAWALS FROM THOSE ACCOUNTS, THAT THEY ARE BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORRECT ACCOUNTS AND THAT THERE AREN'T CHARGES THAT ARE UNEXPECTED ON THOSE ACCOUNTS. SO THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF THAT PROCESS.

BUT WE DID FIND THAT THE TIMELINESS OF RECONCILIATION. SO THE HOW FREQUENTLY THE DETENTION CENTER WAS MAKING DEPOSITS INTO THEIR BANK AND ALSO SENDING REVENUE TO THE COUNTY TO BE RECORDED, THAT THAT WASN'T HAPPENING AS FREQUENTLY AS IT SHOULD. THE REASON WAS JUST THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON ASSIGNED TO DO THESE ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS. SO IF SHE WAS ON VACATION, THEN, YOU KNOW, THINGS GOT POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. THE DETENTION CENTER HAS CHOSEN SOMEBODY TO BE A BACKUP TO THAT ACCOUNTANT. SO THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. WHEN I TALK TO YOU ALL LAST WEEK COMPLETED ONE OF OUR HOTEL TAX AUDITS, BUT WE DID FOUR MORE IN THE INTERIM. THEY WERE ALL COMPLETE. THERE WERE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THOSE FOUR HOTELS. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN $16,000.

WE FOUND THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAID TO THE COUNTY. AND THOSE HOTEL OPERATORS HAVE REPAID THE BALANCES THAT WE FOUND IN THOSE PROJECTS. WE COMPLETED AN AUDIT OF PURCHASE CARD CONTROLS. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THAT PROJECT. WE FOUND THAT CARDHOLDERS WERE SUBMITTING THEIR RECEIPTS, THEIR SUPERVISORS WERE REVIEWING AND APPROVING THOSE TRANSACTIONS, AND THE TRANSACTIONS WERE BEING ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORRECT ACCOUNTS. THE COUNTY GOT A NEW PURCHASE CARD SYSTEM IN THE SUMMER. NO, I'M SORRY, IN THE WINTER LAST YEAR. AND WE DID FIND THAT BECAUSE OF THAT NEW SYSTEM, THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING TRANSACTIONS HAPPENS MUCH QUICKER, QUICKER. THE RECONCILIATION OF PURCHASE CARDS CAN HAPPEN QUICKER. AND OUR ALSO OUR AUDIT GOT WRAPPED UP A BIT QUICKER ON THAT. SO THERE WERE NO ISSUES THERE TO REPORT. AND THEN FINALLY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE DID AN AUDIT RELATED TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING WHO LEFT IN JUNE, AND WE FOUND NO INDEBTEDNESS RELATED TO HIM.

THOSE EXIT AUDITS ARE COMPRISED OF US LOOKING TO SEE THAT FINANCIAL ACCESS HAS BEEN REVOKED. LOGICAL ACCESS HAS BEEN REVOKED. IF THERE WERE ASSETS ASSIGNED TO THE EMPLOYEE THAT THEY WERE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY. WE LOOKED TO SEE THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS MAKING THE CORRECT PAY, AS HAS BEEN APPROVED IN THE BUDGET OR IN OTHER HR DOCUMENTS, AND THAT THEIR LEAVE PAYOUT IS CORRECT. AND SO THERE WERE NO ISSUES THERE. SO THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS. I'LL JUMP INTO THE FISCAL 26 PLAN. I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED, STARTING WITH THE STATUS OF PRIOR AUDIT FINDINGS. EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE AUDIT FINDINGS THAT WE'D HAD IN PRIOR AUDITS TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT MANAGEMENT HAS ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT WE BROUGHT UP. THERE WERE AT THE END OF THAT PROJECT THIS YEAR, THERE WERE 15 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CLOSED AND SEVEN THAT REMAIN OPEN. SO WE'LL CIRCLE BACK AND FOLLOW UP ON THEM AGAIN NEXT YEAR. OF THOSE ONES THAT ARE STILL OPEN, MOST OF THEM EITHER THERE ARE EXPIRATION, NOT THEIR EXPIRATION, THEIR EXPECTED COMPLETION DATES HAD NOT YET PASSED, OR IF THEY HAD PASSED, THEY WERE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH MANAGEMENT. THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO CORRECT THEM. AND SO THEY'RE NOT MATTERS THAT REALLY REQUIRE ANY ESCALATION AT THIS POINT. THE GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT OUR OFFICE BE EVALUATED BY A PEER REVIEW TEAM EVERY THREE YEARS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE AUDIT PROCESS. THIS ANSWERS THE QUESTION OF WHO AUDITS THE

[01:15:03]

SO I'M GLAD ABOUT THAT. AND YOU PARTICIPATE IN OTHER PEER REVIEWS AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

RIGHT? RIGHT. WE PAY FOR OUR PEER REVIEW BY PROVIDING PEER REVIEW SERVICES TO OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT OFFICES. IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, ONE, FOR US TO INTERACT WITH OTHER AUDITORS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THEY DOING THEIR OFFICES, BUT ALSO FOR THEM TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, WHAT THEY SEE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON, AND JUST TO GENERALLY DIALOG WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN COMPARABLE POSITIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. SO IT'S A GOOD EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME. WE HAVE STARTED AN AUDIT OF WATER AND SEWER BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS, THAT PROJECT IS IN PROGRESS AND I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO REPORT TO YOU ALL ON THAT, IF NOT LATE THIS MONTH AND EARLY IN JANUARY. WE'VE HAD THIS AUDIT OF PAYROLL CONTROLS THAT WE'VE PUSHED BACK A FEW TIMES. IT'S IN PLANNING NOW. MY HOPE IS TO REPORT TO YOU ALL IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH ON THAT PROJECT. THIS INVOLVES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL. NOPE. JUST THE COUNTY. JUST THE COUNTY. OKAY. YEAH. AND JUST THE CONTROLS RELATED TO THE COUNTY'S NEW PAYROLL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS IMPLEMENTED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. OKAY. THIS YEAR WE ALSO LOOKED AT GRANT AND AID AWARD AND MONITORING CONTROLS. THOSE ARE THE GRANTS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY SERVICES.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE COUNTY IS GIVING A GRANT TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT, WELL, ONE, THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION THAT DESCRIBES WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY. AND THEN ALSO THAT MANAGEMENT IS THE COUNTY'S MANAGEMENT IS GETTING UPDATED INFORMATION FROM THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SHOWING HOW THEY'VE SPENT THE MONEY AND WHAT THE OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES WERE AND HAVE THEY BEEN MET. SO WE FOUND THAT THOSE THINGS WERE HAPPENING. WE DID INCLUDE ONE RECOMMENDATION IN THE AUDIT REPORT, AND IT WAS BECAUSE SOME OF THE APPLICATIONS FROM A PRIOR YEAR WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR US TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD CONFIRM THAT SOMEBODY WAS REVIEWING THE GRANT APPLICATION.

THIS WAS A SYSTEMS PROBLEM. AND SO MANAGEMENT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THOSE FILES BACK WITH THE VENDOR. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO, BUT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE BECAUSE MANAGEMENT HAS CHANGED THE PROCESS FOR HOW THEY'RE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS IN FIRST PLACE. SO. THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR THIS YEAR. YOU ALL WILL GET AN UPDATE FROM THE COUNTY'S EXTERNAL AUDITORS NEXT WEEK.

BUT THE COUNTY HAD AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THAT MEANS THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY CORRECT, THAT THERE ARE NO MISSTATEMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BUT YOU ALL WILL GET A FULL REPORT ON THAT NEXT WEEK. RELATED TO THAT, WE LOOK TO SEE THAT THE COUNTY'S AFFILIATED AGENCIES, SO THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES, THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THE ARC THAT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS GET FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS DONE EVERY YEAR. AND SO I WILL REPORT TO YOU ALL LATER THIS MONTH CONFIRMING THAT THOSE THINGS ARE DONE. AND ALSO, THE COUNTY'S SINGLE AUDIT IS IN PROGRESS. AND SO YOU'LL GET A REPORT ON THAT PROBABLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, TOO. THAT'S THE AUDIT THAT CONFIRMS THAT THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVES ARE USED CORRECTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL POLICIES. WE FINISHED AN AUDIT RELATED TO INVESTMENT CONTROLS. THIS PROJECT REVIEWS WHETHER THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENTS. SO AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE COUNTY'S GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST SITTING AROUND NOT EARNING INTEREST. BUT THERE ARE ALSO. PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN PLACE SO THAT THERE ARE LIMITS ON WHAT THE COUNTY CAN INVEST IN. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN THERE'S INTEREST BEING RECEIVED, THAT IT'S GOING TO THE CORRECT ACCOUNT, THAT IT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORRECT FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS. SO WE LOOK TO SEE THAT ALL THOSE CONTROLS WORK THE WAY THEY WERE EXPECTED TO. AND THEY WERE. WE HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCLUDE IN THAT AUDIT REPORT. WE ALSO DID AN EXIT AUDIT RELATED TO THE DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT, WHO LEFT HER POSITION A FEW MONTHS AGO. AGAIN, WITH HER AUDIT, WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO INDEBTEDNESS OWED TO THE COUNTY. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING OR PLANNING. EXCUSE ME, WE'VE JUST STARTED AN AUDIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES BILLING AND COLLECTION CONTROLS. WE'LL BE LOOKING TO SEE THAT THE BASICALLY ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT THE LANDFILL FINANCIALLY ARE GOING THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. WE CONTRACT WITH MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES TO HAVE THEM MANAGE LANDFILL. SO WE'LL CONFIRM THAT ONE, THE AMOUNT WE

[01:20:01]

THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE US EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE ANYTIME. MR. BENNETT, HELLO.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST AND BEYOND, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS AND WE COME TO YOU, YOU JUMP ON THAT. AND WHEN WE HAVE A BILL, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A DETAILED WRITE UP ON IT. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO. I HAD A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION AUDIT. WAS PART OF THAT AUDIT LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IF EMPLOYEES ARE CHOOSING THE THE PLAN THAT MATCHES THEIR NEEDS, LIKE FOR THIS IS AT MY DAY JOB, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAS BEEN HAD IS THAT EMPLOYEES ON GUT INSTINCT CHOOSE WHATEVER PLAN COSTS THE MOST MONEY BECAUSE THEY THINK, OH, THAT MUST BE THE THE PLAN I NEED. BUT THAT ALSO IN TURN COSTS US AS AN ORGANIZATION, THE MOST MONEY TO COVER THE REMAINING BALANCE. AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE PAYING FOR BENEFITS THAT GO UNUSED.

LIKE SO. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL LOOKED AT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVER INSURING OUR EMPLOYEES, OR THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR THINGS THAT THEY DON'T NEED, LIKE, YOU KNOW, OUT OF NETWORK COVERAGE, BUT EVERY THEY NEVER USE OR THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THIS AUDIT COVERED.

HUMAN RESOURCES DOES WORK WITH A BROKER TO HELP ENSURE THE PLANS THAT WE'RE CHOOSING MAKE SENSE. SO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE MEDICARE ELIGIBLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BE IN A PARTICULAR PLAN THAT ACCOMMODATES THAT. BUT NO, THAT'S SOMETHING HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGES WITH THE BROKER FOR THEY BUY POLICIES. MR. GINGER, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP COUNCILMAN BENNETT ON ON SOME OF HIS QUESTIONS WITH THE. THEY DO HAVE A SEMINAR AND THEY HAVE SPECIFIC REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT WILL COME IN AND EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS. THEY'RE EXPLAINING THEM TO YOU, THEY'LL GIVE YOU OPTIONS, BUT INVARIABLY IT'S UP TO YOU TO PICK THE OPTIONS. SOMETIMES IT SOUNDS GOOD. YOU MIGHT NEVER USE IT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHAT INSURANCE IS, IS IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

AND YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST THING, MIGHT COST YOU MORE MONEY, NOT NOT THE COUNTY, BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING FOR SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAT WITH CRYSTAL ON THESE ON THESE AUDIT MEETINGS, WHICH SHE'S EXTREMELY THOROUGH. BUT I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT HAYES. IS SOMEBODY SELLING US OR THE EMPLOYEE SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T NEED OR IS TOO MUCH MONEY? AND SOMETIMES THAT DOES HAPPEN. THAT'S WHY EACH YEAR YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND REVIEW YOUR BENEFITS AND, AND LOOK AT THAT AND, AND SAY, HEY, I REALLY DIDN'T USE THAT AS THIS WORTH ME DOING IT AGAIN. I'LL ALSO ADD THAT THE COUNTY IS SELF-INSURED FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PURPOSES. AND SO IF AN EMPLOYEE GOES TO THE DOCTOR, THEN, YOU KNOW, THE CLAIM GOES TO CAREFIRST AND CAREFIRST PAYS IT. WE PAY THAT AMOUNT. IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T GO TO THE DOCTOR, WE DON'T PAY ANY AMOUNT. SO THE THE RISK OF OVERSPENDING IS A LITTLE BIT LESS. BUT IT'S THERE'S, I GUESS A LITTLE BIT MORE ART IN TERMS OF HOW THE PLANS ARE DESIGNED TO SORT OF DETERMINE THE COST SHARING BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE AND THE COUNTY. BUT AND WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE USE WAS MOSTLY THE SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS THAT THEY HAVE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT JACOB MEANT. BUT THERE'S SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS, YOU KNOW, FROM LIKE METLIFE OR SOMEBODY ELSE THAT THEY COME IN AND DO THAT AND EMPLOYEES PAY. TO MY RECOLLECTION, EMPLOYEES PAY FOR ALL THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL THINGS. BUT THE ONES THAT ARE THE BASIC HEALTH, DENTAL, YOU KNOW, VISION, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A COST SHARE WITH THE COUNTY. SO ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU CRYSTAL. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO 17 COMMENTS AND

[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]

[01:25:02]

A GRIEVANCE MAY BE INITIATED BY A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, THE EMPLOYEE. AN ORGANIZATION MAY REPRESENT THAT EMPLOYEE IN THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS, BUT CANNOT INITIATE A GRIEVANCE. THERE ARE NO PROCEDURES FOR BINDING ARBITRATION PRESENTED IN BILL 2512 AT CODE ONE TWO. AUTHORITY AND EFFECTIVE CODE. BE EFFECTIVE CODE PROVIDES TWO CONFLICTING PROVISIONS A IF THE PROVISIONS OF DIFFERENT CHAPTERS, ARTICLES, OR SECTIONS OF THIS CODE CONFLICT WITH OR CONTRAVENE EACH OTHER, THE PROVISIONS OF EACH CHAPTER, ARTICLE, OR SECTION SHALL PREVAIL AS TO ALL MATTERS AND QUESTIONS GROWING OUT OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THAT CHAPTER, ARTICLE OR SECTION. I BELIEVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT AS A MINIMUM YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED CONFLICTING LAWS. BILL 2512 IS THEN NULLIFIED. SIMPLY ADDING THE TERM BINDING ARBITRATION IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO SERVE THE PURPOSES INTENDED. I WOULD REFER YOU TO RAGLAN VERSUS RIPKEN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR FURTHER EDIFICATION. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS]

[01:30:04]

AND SATURDAY IS THE 48TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE FROM 3 TO 430. LASTLY, I'VE RECEIVED SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE FREEZING WEATHER PLAN, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I SEE MR. OVERBY IS IN THE AUDIENCE THIS EVENING. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, SOMEONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITY SERVICES, PROVIDE US WITH SOME DETAILS ON THE NEW PLAN. WOULD THAT BE OKAY? FINE WITH ME, MR. OVERBAY. YOU CAN LOOK INTO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO BE WITH EVERYBODY. I ATTENDED THE HAVERTY GRACE OYSTER FEAST, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL EVENT THAT HELPS FUNDRAISE FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERED AT THE GRACE COMMUNITY PROJECTS ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER. THIS YEAR, OVER 1300 MEALS WERE PROVIDED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW COUNCIL PRESIDENT WAS BUSY IN THE KITCHEN COOKING TURKEYS. I WAS NOT AS INCLINED TO COOK, SO I WAS FOLDING THE BROCHURES THAT WENT INTO ALL THE MEALS. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE MORNINGS OF THE WHOLE YEAR. SEEING DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FLOW THROUGH THOSE DOORS TO VOLUNTEER AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A MEAL. AND MY DAY JOB, I'VE BEEN IN A UNIT TEACHING MY STUDENTS WHAT THE WORD COMMUNITY MEANS, AND ONE OF THE BASIC DEFINITIONS I SHARE WITH THEM IS THAT COMMUNITY IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. AND I THINK, WHAT A BETTER EXAMPLE. I DON'T KNOW IF A BETTER EXAMPLE EXISTS OF COMMUNITY THAN ON THANKSGIVING MORNING. EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A MEAL AND SOMEONE TO STOP BY AND SAY HELLO ON THANKSGIVING DAY. HOLLY JOLLY FIRST FRIDAY IS COMING UP THIS FRIDAY, INCLUDING THE PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING. IT'LL BE AT 6 P.M. IN DOWNTOWN HAVRE DE GRACE, AND THEN I'LL ALSO BE AT THE ABERDEEN PARADE ON SATURDAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MISS ROBERT. YES. GOOD EVENING. SO I HAVE ATTENDED THE CROSSROADS COMMUNITY REMODEL OPEN HOUSE THROUGH ARROW, WHICH COUNCILWOMAN IMHOF WAS ALSO WITH ME AS WE PRESENTED A PROCLAMATION. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR OUR TEENAGE YOUTH AND GIRLS WHO LIVE THERE, AS THEY HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO LIVE. AND IT WAS IT WAS SET UP REALLY NICELY. A NICE LITTLE APARTMENT, COTTAGES. I ALSO HAVE. I'M ON THE MARYLAND AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST BOARD OF TRUSTEES. IT'S A VERY LONG TITLE, AND WE REVIEWED 71 APPLICATIONS, ONLY ONE FROM HARFORD COUNTY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A LOT OF OUR NONPROFITS KNOW THAT THERE IS MONEY OUT THERE TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF HOUSING INITIATIVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HOMELESSNESS. AND SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ABOUT TO AWARD 45 OF THEM THIS WEEK. SO THAT WAS GOOD TO KIND OF READ THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THINGS. AND THEN MYSELF AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOFF WERE AT THE IUI YOUTH SYMPOSIUM AT THE Y THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE WERE BOTH PANEL PANELISTS. THE GIRLS WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME. IT WAS ABOUT 150 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS PUT THAT IN THE ROOM AND THERE'S A LOT OF SCREECHING. WHAT WE SAID AT ONE POINT, BUT IT WAS GOOD. THE GIRLS LOVED IT. THEY THEY GOT LOTS OF DONATED BEAUTY SUPPLY ITEMS, RAFFLES, AND SO IT WAS A GOOD TIME. I ATTENDED THE TRAUMA REBOOT AND REBOOT ADVANCE GRADUATION AND THAT IS IS INTERESTING. ONE OF THE 14 GRADUATES AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN THROUGH A 12 WEEK INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH BOOT CAMP TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN LIVE SUCCESSFUL, HEALTHY LIVES MENTALLY. THE STORY THAT THE ONE SPEAKER SAID FROM TRAUMA FROM THE AGE OF NINE TO PRETTY MUCH 30 WAS, I FIND THAT SHE WAS RESILIENT. IT WAS DEFINITELY AN EMOTIONAL EVENING. THEY DO ONE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS. THAT ONE WILL BE INITIATED IN JANUARY 2026, AND ONCE I GET THAT INFORMATION, I'LL LET THAT BE KNOWN. BUT THEY ALSO DO ONE FOR VETERANS AS WELL IN MILITARY. AND THEN I SERVED THANKSGIVING DINNER AT THE AMERICAN LEGION. THEY HAD ABOUT 100 COME THROUGH, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SO

[01:35:04]

AND THEN TODAY I WENT TO THE LIKE LOCAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT COALITION MEETING AT TOWSON, WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THROUGH OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THEN LOOKING AT STATISTICALLY, WHAT WE LOOK LIKE FOR SUICIDE, WHAT WE LOOK LIKE FOR DRUGS, WHAT WE LOOK LIKE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, LUNG CANCER, YOU NAME IT. AND IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. I DID HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HEALTH OFFICER EARLIER LAST WEEK ABOUT COMMUNITY, MORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT DISCUSSIONS. AND THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MOVEMENT TO THAT.

HAVING A MOBILE BUS GOING THROUGH HEALTH BUS, BEING ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THAT IS STILL IN THE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL. AND THEN EDGEWOOD IS GOING TO HAVE ITS FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING IN TEN YEARS. AND SO WE ARE ALL EXCITED. WE GET OUR TREE TOMORROW BEING DELIVERED AND IT'LL BE AT ON DECEMBER 13TH. BUT WE'RE EXCITED THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER AND WERE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT IS IT FOR ME. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. MISS IMHOF, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING. I'M LIKE WAY OUT OF LINE. I HOPE THE KIDS ENJOYED THEIR FIRST HOLIDAY. SNOW DAY, RAIN DAY TODAY. I KNOW MY GIRLS ENJOYED IT. THEY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS THOUGH. ON NOVEMBER 19TH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CELEBRATING THE REMODEL OF THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES CROSSROADS COMMUNITY.

AS COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT EXPLAINED, THIS IS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENAGE GIRLS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN FOSTER CARE, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR WHOLE PERSON SUPPORTED. SO THEY VERY MUCH WORK ON LIKE A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF BREAKING ABUSE CYCLES, MENTAL HEALTH CYCLES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE CYCLES, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LED TO THEM COMING INTO CARE AND THEN LAUNCHING THEM INTO INDEPENDENCE. SO IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE THE TIME, THE MONEY, THE DEDICATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO MAKING THEM HAVE A NICE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. ON NOVEMBER 21ST, I SERVED AS A PANELIST FOR THE IU MATTERS SYMPOSIUM. IT WAS GREAT AND LOUD. THE GIRLS HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME. THERE WERE SO MANY GIRLS THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE LIKE LIFELONG BEST FRIENDS. TURNS OUT THEY HAD JUST MET THAT DAY. BUT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER, TO HAVE FUN, TO MEET NEW FRIENDS. THEY DID VISION BOARDS, THEY DID DANCE PARTIES. WE TRIED TO KEEP THEIR ATTENTION WITH THE PANEL AS LONG AS WE COULD, BUT BY THAT POINT THERE WAS BETTER THINGS TO BE DONE. BUT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TIME. SO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING THAT ON. THEY DID A REALLY GREAT JOB. AND THEN ON DECEMBER 1ST, I ATTENDED THE EDGEWOOD JOPPA JOPPATOWNE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING WHERE WE HAD HARFORD TRANSIT COME OUT, WHICH WAS A LOT HAS CHANGED WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS. SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO KIND OF LEARN ABOUT THEIR NEW BUS ROUTES, THE APS, THE THE TIMING, EXPECTATIONS, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO APPARENTLY HAD NEVER USED HARFORD TRANSIT. SO IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE US KIND OF AMPLIFY THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. ON NOVEMBER 20TH, THE FALSE AND VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY PROUDLY KICKED OFF THE HARFORD COUNTY MODULAR RAILROAD SECOND ANNUAL TRAIN GARDEN. THIS IS AN EVENT PRESENTED BY GRADUATES OF HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHO ARE IN THEIR MODEL TRAIN CLASSES. THE TRAIN GARDEN IS LOCATED AT FALLSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE, FALSE AND FIRE AND AMBULANCE COMPANIES. CROSSROADS STATION AT 3108 FALLSTON ROAD IN FALLSTON. SO JUST A SHOUT OUT FOR THEM. ADMISSION IS FREE AND THEY ARE ALSO THIS COMING SATURDAY, DOING A CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

THIS WEEK, THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. THE SHRINERS BHUMI TEMPLE IS HAVING THEIR FESTIVAL OF TREES. THERE'S A LOT OF LOCAL SHRINERS AND FREEMASONS THAT HELP PUT THIS TOGETHER.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE SHRINERS DO A LOT OF REALLY TREMENDOUS WORK, INCLUDING THEIR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, SO WE ALWAYS LIKE TO GO AND SUPPORT THEM. IT'S ALSO A REALLY COOL EVENT. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER, GIVING TUESDAY IS NOT OVER YET, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO FIND THEIR FAVORITE CHARITY OF CHOICE. AND PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE

[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]

[01:40:06]

ATTENDED TWO OR ACTUALLY WE PRESENTED PROCLAMATIONS AND I ATTENDED ONE OF THE SUSAN PRICET FACILITIES. WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER 26 FOR HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTY. WE ATTENDED. MISS BEARY ATTENDED THE SHARP DINNER FOR ME AND WE ALSO ATTENDED THE HARFORD COUNTY FARM BUREAU DINNER. AND THAT WAS HERBIE HARKINS. THAT WAS THE FARMER OF THE YEAR.

OUTSTANDING FAMILY, VERY WELL DESERVED. ALSO, THE THANKSGIVING DINNER THAT THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS OF HAVRE DE GRACE PUTS ON. THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB. AND WHEN YOU SAY COMMUNITY PROJECTS, IT DEFINITELY IS A COMMUNITY PROJECT BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHOW UP THE WEEK PRIOR TO, AND SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY WORK ON THIS DINNER ALL YEAR LONG. THEY'VE PROBABLY ALREADY STARTED NEXT THANKSGIVING DINNERS PLANNING TODAY, KNOWING THEM. BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO RODNEY. SWAM AND SWAM UP HIS DAUGHTER KATIE ARNOLD, HER HUSBAND. AWARD FROM WATER STREET SEAFOOD, CHRIS SCARLATO, WILLIE NORI FROM COAKLEY'S, GARRETT PENCIL, KASSIE BOYER, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED TO PUT THAT DINNER ON. WE COOKED OVER AT DAVE LYNCH. ALSO COOKED OVER 100 TURKEYS, MAYBE 110 TURKEYS, SERVED 1300 MEALS. DEWERT WAS VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT HE MADE 50 GALLONS OF GRAVY. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, 50 GALLONS OF GRAVY. LAST YEAR, I THINK HE SAID HE DID 70. HE GOT A LITTLE CARRIED AWAY, BUT I STARTED MY MORNING ACTUALLY AT 430 IN THE MORNING AT THE DETENTION CENTER FOR THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH THE CORRECTIONS DEPUTIES THERE. AND GREAT BUNCH OF GUYS. I THINK THERE'S 15 ON THAT SHIFT, AND THEY JUST ROTATED IN FOR FOR THEIR FIRST MEAL AT 430 IN THE MORNING, BUT SADLY, THIS PAST WEEK OR SO, WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, SPECIFICALLY IN THE HIGHER DEGREES AREA AND THE LEVEL AREA. MIKE KNIGHT, MEMBER OF THE KNIGHT FAMILY. RALPH KNIGHT'S FAMILY NEXT TO THE LEVEL FIRE HALL HE PASSED AWAY.

CONDOLENCES TO PAT WALSTON. SHE PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK. CATHERINE HILL, CECIL HILL'S WIFE, PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF. I THINK SHE'S 88 TOMORROW. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE DEVASTATION WITH THE SHOOTING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TWO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND LOSING MISS BECKSTROM IS JUST TERRIBLE. AND THEN, SADLY, MY COUSIN LINDA PACKARD LOST HER BATTLE WITH CANCER. I THINK SHE FOUGHT IT FOR THREE YEARS. SHE PASSED AWAY. SHE'S GOING TO BE SURVIVED BY HER, HER SON, HER AND HER HUSBAND, AND CHARLIE AND HER SON, CHAD. AND THEN, OF COURSE, CONDOLENCES TO THE PACKARD FAMILY, THE FAMILY, THE VINCENT FAMILY, JUST ON AND ON AND ON. SO WE JUST ASK YOU TO KEEP OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.