Mar 03, 2026 County Council

[00:00:05]

ONE. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR. CALLS TO ORDER. LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DAY 26 008. I WOULD ASK YOU TO

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

THAT'S RIGHT. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. I PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE TO OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. HELP US TONIGHT TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE SLOW TO SPEAK AND QUICK TO LISTEN. LET US BE PEOPLE WHO REACH OUT, OUR HANDS OPEN TO ONE ANOTHER, KNOWING THAT WHEN WE HELP A NEIGHBOR, WE ARE LOVING YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH US TONIGHT, FOR WE WERE ONCE THEM, AND THEY WILL ONE DAY BE US. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU FELLOWS. THANKS, TROOP. THANKS FOR CALLING ME OUT, JACK. GOOD JOB. JACK. COME BACK AND DO IT AGAIN. AGENDA

[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THEY EDUCATE EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON WHEN TO HOW TO DEAL WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND ADULTS, WHEN THEY'RE HAVING A STOP, WHEN THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS. AND SHELLY IS ONE OF THE TRAINERS THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON ON HOW THAT WORKS. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH AND DISABILITIES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THOSE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY ARE DEALT WITH IN A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MANNER. AND, SHELLY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE GREATLY HONORED. I ESPECIALLY AS BOTH A PARENT AND AN ADVOCATE PATHFINDERS FOR AUTISM IS THE LARGEST AUTISM RESOURCE CENTER IN THE STATE. WE DO WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS, WE DO FAMILY FUN EVENTS. SO WE JUST LAST WEEKEND RENTED OUT THE SCIENCE CENTER FOR A NIGHT. WE'LL RENT OUT THE AQUARIUM FOR A NIGHT. WE DO SAILING, BASEBALL GAMES. WE HAVE SEVERAL BASEBALL GAMES COMING UP THIS SUMMER. LADU GARDENS, WHICH IS UP HERE, AND WE AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FOR FAMILIES IS FREE

[00:05:02]

WE REALLY INCLUDE PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SO WE WELCOME ALL FAMILIES. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A NEW NIKON. OKAY. ONE MORE SECOND. WHAT'S YOUR STATED HOLIDAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AGENDA NUMBER FIVE CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS APPLICATIONS

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

HI, MR. RILEY. HI, MRS. HI, MR. BENNET. I FOR BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO IN A NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED. HARFORD COUNTY LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD MAY HAVE A MOTION FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS OF STEVEN SIGNS AND JAMES WALTERS MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION JAMES WALTERS HERE. LAST TIME HE CAME UP, HE HAD HIS WORK ADDRESS, AND I THINK I GAVE HIM A HARD TIME FOR THAT. SO BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY HE PUT IT THERE. SO NO ISSUES THIS TIME. THANKS, JAMES. AND I'VE WORKED WITH THE LIQUOR BOARD ON A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES OPENING UP HERE. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME. I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF YOU GUYS, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY RESTAURANTS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S OPENING UP IN HERE. I THINK IT'S A VITAL PART FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GET THINGS TO GO ALONG SMOOTHLY. SO THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. ANYONE ELSE? I TOO WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT THAT I BELIEVE THINGS HAVE BEEN RUNNING MUCH SMOOTHER AT THE LIQUOR BOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT. HI, MRS. ROBERT. HI, MRS. EMHOFF. HI, MR. HI, MR. RILEY. HI, MRS. HI, MR. BENNET. HI. BEING SEVEN VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE, ZERO TO NEGATIVE. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED. BOTH GENTLEMEN, I BELIEVE, ARE IN THE AUDIENCE. WOULD YOU STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE? SIX SPECIAL

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]

[00:10:07]

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. SO WITHIN THE PAST WEEK I'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE. ON FEBRUARY 19TH, I WENT TO THE INTER COUNTY OUTREACH EVENING OF CONNECTION, WHICH WAS GREAT. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THAT INTER COUNTY OUTREACH WAS GOING TO NOW BE TOOK UNDER THEIR WING. FRESH START, AND THEY'RE GOING TO WORK HAND IN HAND IN ORDER FOR FRESH START TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE HOUSEHOLDS WITH THE FREE FURNITURE THAT IS NEEDED. SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT CONNECTION AND IT WILL BENEFIT BOTH AGENCIES. WHILE I WAS DOING THAT, DEBBIE WAS ATTENDING THE SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON MY BEHALF, AND THEN I DID TAKE A TOUR OF BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS. WHAT I FOUND TO BE INTERESTING IS THEY ACCEPTED CHILDREN FROM 18 MONTHS TO TEN YEARS OF AGE, AND THEY ACCEPT MEDICAL INSURANCE. SO IF ANY CHILDREN WHO ARE OUT THERE WHO NEED THOSE AUTISTIC SERVICES FOR EDUCATION PURPOSES, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND. THEY HAVE TONS OF OPENINGS FOR CHILDREN AT THIS TIME. ON FEBRUARY THE. 23RD, I HAD THE COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES MEETING. THERE'S LOTS OF EVENTS COMING OUT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, SO JUST KEEP AN EYE OUT ON THEM AND I WILL ANNOUNCE THEM AS THEY COME FORWARD. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MORE THINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE SOME SOME ENTERTAINMENT AND SOME OTHER THINGS. I BELIEVE WE ALL WENT TO GREATER HARTFORD NIGHT ON THE 24TH, AND THAT WAS GOOD TO SEE A LOT OF US THERE AND BE ABLE TO TALK TO OUR FELLOW COLLEAGUES. ON FEBRUARY 26TH, MYSELF AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOFF ATTENDED THE MEDCO'S SECOND BUILD A FUTURE OVER BREAKFAST EVENT. THE PRIMARY CONVERSATION ON THAT WAS DATA CENTERS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT'S THE COST OF THAT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN THE COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY? IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION, WHICH LED US TO HAVE SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS AND MAYBE SOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT EVENING I WENT TO THE NORTHERN MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL VISIONARY AWARDS AND DID PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL. FEBRUARY 27TH, I HAD A SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE BOARD MEETING, AND WE'RE DISCUSSING MORE OF THE BUDGET AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR CONTINUING TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR THOSE IN COLLEGE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND ATTENDED THAT SAME DAY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S MINORITY HEALTH PROGRAM. THAT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION ON KIDNEY DISEASE AND SICKLE CELL, AND HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR MINORITY COMMUNITIES. AND FOR EVERYONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW, MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME IS LEADING CHANGE AND WOMEN. AND TODAY IS ON MARCH 3RD. IN 1913, IT WAS NATIONAL WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE PARADE, AND SO 5000 WOMEN MARCHED UP PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. DEMANDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE. SO THAT IS ALL FOR ME. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. MISS IMHOFF, TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO HONOR THE WOMEN WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR SO MANY OF US TO SERVE AND LEAD. TODAY. IT IS NOT ONLY A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE PAST, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN TO LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE, INTEGRITY AND PURPOSE. I'M ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR THE MENTORS WHO SHAPED MY PATH AND MODELED MY TRUE LEADERSHIP AND MODELED TRUE LEADERSHIP. I'M ALSO MINDFUL OF THE YOUNG GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WATCHING US, LEARNING WHAT IT LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE, AND STARTING TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN LIMITLESS POTENTIAL. MAY WE CONTINUE TO LEAD IN A WAY THAT INSPIRES AND SUPPORTS THEM, AND REMINDS THEM THAT THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE. I AM PROUD TO STAND ALONG BY SO MANY WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SERVE, MENTOR AND INSPIRE. HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND ALSO HAPPY SOCIAL WORKER APPRECIATION MONTH AS WELL. I KNOW THIS PAST WEEKEND, EXCUSE

[00:15:06]

THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL TEENS AND ADULTS. ON SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH, THE FALLSTON LIONS CLUB WILL HOLD ITS SCHOLARSHIP BINGO AT THE FALLSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.

DOORS OPEN AT 11 AND THEN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST, THE CHARLIE RILEY COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WILL HOST THEIR CASH AND BAG BINGO AT THE LEVEL FIRE HALL AT 2 P.M. SOME OF THE EVENTS AND MEETINGS THAT I ATTENDED OVER THE LAST WEEK. LAST TWO WEEKS, FEBRUARY 19TH, I ATTENDED THE HARFORD COUNTY LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING. FEBRUARY 20TH, THE CUB SCOUT PACK 899 BLUE AND GOLD CEREMONY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL. FEBRUARY 24TH I ATTENDED HARFORD COUNTY NIGHT IN, NIGHT OUT, ANNAPOLIS FOR THE GREATER HARTFORD COMMITTEE, AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 25TH, I ATTENDED THE FALSE, FALSE, FALSE AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. FEBRUARY 26TH ATTENDED THE BUILD OUR FUTURES OVER BREAKFAST. THEN I ATTENDED THE NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL WITH COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT, AND THEN ATTENDED THE HUMANE SOCIETY BOARD MEETING, THE EDGEWOOD JOPPATOWNE CAB MEETING AND ATTENDED THIS MORNING. HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FIFTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S SUMMIT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MISS. MR. GINGER TO FOLLOW THAT ONE. SO QUITE BUSY. I HAVE TO SAY, AS ALL WE AS ALL OF US ARE DIFFERENT TIMES, WE ALL TRAVIS AROUND THIS COUNTY DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. SO IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO GO SOMEWHERE, DO SOMETHING AND BE SEEN. DEFINITELY LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTY AND DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND WHAT'S GOING ON. SO BUT IT WAS NICE TO GO DOWN TO ANNAPOLIS. WHAT WAS EVEN NICER WAS WE HAD OTHER DELEGATES FROM OTHER AREAS THAT STOPPED IN AND WANTED TO PARTAKE IN HARFORD COUNTY, SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT, I THINK EVEN THE BROOKLYN LERMAN WAS THERE AND EVERYTHING. SO IT REALLY WAS A NICE EVENT. AND THEN WE DID THE CAB MEETING OF JARRETTSVILLE, THE CHAMBER CELEBRATING 50 YEARS TOMORROW WILL BE THERE FOR THAT. AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. MR. RILEY. YES. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK MR. BROWN AND PACK, AGE 65, FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND LEADING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WHAT? TONY FAILED TO SAY THAT HE WENT. HE WANTED TO GO DOWN HARFORD COUNTY NIGHT, DOWN ANNAPOLIS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO VISIT MY WIFE. SHE TOOK HIM OUT TO DINNER, AND SO HE GOT A FREE DINNER OUT OF IT. ALSO, I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THE HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS CELEBRATING 50 YEARS TOMORROW. SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PLEASE BE THERE FOR THE HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THAT'S ALL, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYONE AN UPDATE ON THE HARFORD ACADEMY AND NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT THIS AFTERNOON. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH KATHY BENDIS, WHO'S THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE PROJECT IS NOW IN THE DESIGN PHASE, AND IT'S BEING PLANNING ON OPENING THE 2029 2030 SCHOOL YEAR. THE SCHOOL IS DESIGNED TO SERVE 600 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND 150 HARFORD ACADEMY STUDENTS. A VIDEO UPDATE FOR THE HARFORD ACADEMY COMMUNITY WILL BE SHARED ON MARCH 19TH, AND MY OFFICE CAN PROVIDE THE LINK IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MR. BENNETT, HELLO. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU TO OUR CUB SCOUTS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. IT'S FUN THAT YOU GUYS.

IT'S A QUICK MEETING, BUT YOU'RE ABLE TO STAY THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW, IN 2006.

SO 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS A BOY SCOUT ATTENDING MY FIRST COUNCIL MEETING FOR MY CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY MERIT BADGE. AND 20 YEARS LATER, HERE I AM ON THE COUNCIL. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND I THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT PREPARE ME TO BE ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I THINK ABOUT MY TIME AS A DEN CHIEF AND PATROL LEADER AND THEN WORKING UP AT BROAD CREEK. SO IT'S JUST SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE AS YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU DO 20 YEARS FROM NOW FOR OUR COMMUNITY. PAST TWO WEEKS, I GOT TO ATTEND THE ABINGDON FIRE COMPANY AWARDS BANQUET, WHICH WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT AND I ALWAYS ENJOY BEING AROUND THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS VOLUNTEERS AND FIRE AND EMS.

[00:20:02]

[17. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT ]

WE'LL RECEIVE OUR COPIES OF THE BUDGET ON APRIL 15TH AND OUR BUDGET WORK SESSIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 WILL START ON THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD AT 9 A.M. AND THEN AGAIN FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH AT 9 A.M. MONDAY, APRIL 27TH AT 10 A.M. AND THURSDAY, APRIL 30TH AT 10 A.M. ALL OF THESE WORK SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IF ANYONE WANTS TO ATTEND, AND THEN COUNCIL WILL BE HOSTING TWO BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS HERE IN THE CHAMBERS, THE FIRST ON THURSDAY, MAY 7TH AND WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH AT 7 P.M. IN THE CHAMBERS. SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK. AS FAR AS EVENTS, MISS ROBERT MENTIONED THE INTER-COUNTY OUTREACH AND THE FRESH START FURNISHING EVENT. THOSE ARE TWO STRONG ORGANIZATIONS MERGING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE GREATER SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS IN NEED AND WELL ATTENDED, AND A STRONG SUPPORT FOR THAT BOTH GROUPS. SO THAT WAS A NICE EVENT. HARFORD NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS, WE ALL WERE THERE. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.

JARRETTSVILLE CAB MEETING. I ATTENDED THAT WITH COUNCILMAN RILEY AND COUNCILMAN JOHN GIORDANO YESTERDAY MARKED THE READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY, AND I STARTED THAT WITH THE STUDENTS AT DARLINGTON ELEMENTARY, THE THIRD GRADE CLASS, READING WITH THEM. AND AS WE SAW TONIGHT, OUR CHILDREN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY. RIGHT? SO THE MOST SCARY PART OF THAT IS SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM, YOU READ, THAT'S FINE. AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THAT, YOU ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. SO YOU NEVER, LIKE I SAID, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY REPRESENT OUR FUTURE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO PREPARE THEM FOR THAT. AND IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT, GREAT TIME. I TOO, WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE CHAMBER. HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER, FOR ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, AND I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO WISH ADA A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. WITH TH

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.