[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
EVENING CHAIR. CALLS TO ORDER LEGISLATIVE SESSION DAY 20 6-010. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN US FOR STANDING WITH THE PLEDGE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPENING PRAYER BY COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS CHAMBER AS WE CARRY OUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ENTRUSTED TO US. GRANT US WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE FAIR, JUST, AND IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL RESIDENTS. HELP US LISTEN WITH OPEN MINDS, TO SPEAK WITH RESPECT AND TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION. GIVE US PATIENCE IN MOMENTS OF DISAGREEMENT, CLARITY IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY AND UNITY AND PURPOSE AS WE STRIVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. WE ASK FOR STRENGTH AND DISCERNMENT IN OUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR CONTINUED BLESSINGS OVER THIS COUNTY AND ALL WHO CALL IT HOME. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. FOR
[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS]
PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HARFORD COUNTY BEING A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY. AND THE MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE OF THE CITIZENS HERE IN THE COUNTY. AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER HOMETOWN HERO.SO, SARAH VALENTINE, IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE. AND ALSO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND WE'LL START WITH THAT.
WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 12 P.M. THE WHITEFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY AND SURROUNDING MUTUAL AID COMPANIES WERE DISPATCHED TO A REPORTED DWELLING FIRE WITH RESCUE IN STREET, MARYLAND. AND WHEREAS, PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, SARAH VALENTINE, AN AMAZON DELIVERY DRIVER, WAS MAKING DELIVERIES IN THE AREA WHEN SHE SAW HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM A DRIVEWAY. SHE DROVE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PORCH OF THE RESIDENCE WAS ON FIRE, IMMEDIATELY OBTAINED THE ADDRESS AND CALLED 911. AND WHEREAS MISS VALENTINE HEARD YELLING COMING FROM INSIDE THE RESIDENCE. SHE SAW MARY CHAVIS, AN 84 YEAR OLD WOMAN, AT A SLIDING GLASS DOOR WITH NO DECK OR STAIRS AVAILABLE FOR HER TO ESCAPE, WITH NO REGARD FOR HER PERSONAL SAFETY. MISS VALENTINE LOCATED A GARDEN CHAIR NEARBY AND CALMLY GUIDED MRS. MISS CHAVIS TO SAFETY, REMOVING HER FROM THE BURNING HOME. SHE THEN LED THE VICTIM TO HER VEHICLE AND REMAINED WITH HER UNTIL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARRIVED. NOW, THEREFORE, WE. THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND ON THE 17TH DAY OF MARCH 2026, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SARAH VALENTINE, AMAZON DELIVERY DRIVER, HOMETOWN HERO AND EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR HER DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY OF THE HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS. SO, SARAH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS THAT MORNING BECAUSE THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DIFFERENT HAD YOU NOT BEEN THERE. AND TONIGHT, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE WATFORD FIRE COMPANY WITH US, AND ALSO THE FAMILY THAT YOU SAVED, I'M GOING TO SAY. RIGHT.
SO BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU. WOULD WE'D LIKE YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS, AND I WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND ACTUALLY FOR ALL OF OUR HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS. THANK YOU. YES. OKAY.
TO BE FAIR, I DID NOT PREPARE FOR THIS AT ALL. I THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH. IT STILL IS TOO MUCH, I JUST DID I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. ALL I SAW WAS FIRE. AND I HEARD MISS MARY AND I JUST DID WHAT I THOUGHT ANYBODY WOULD DO. THAT.
THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU'RE WELCOME. THIS ISN'T QUITE ENOUGH. SHOULD BE. WHERE'S THE CHECK? IN THE MAIL.
I'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. MARY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING OR NOT. I WOULD JUST
[00:05:05]
LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS WOMAN IS MY HERO. AND I DO. ON BEHALF OF WATFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY.WE COULDN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE AN HONORARY MEMBER AT ANY TIME AT OUR FIRE STATION, BUT WE CAN'T THANK YOU AND THE CITIZENS FOR HELPING SUPPORTING WATFORD AND AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN THIS COUNTY. AND ALSO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO A PHOTO REAL QUICK. I'M GOING TO MOVE A COUPLE OF THESE REAL QUICK. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE.
YOU GUYS. THERE WE GO. PERFECT. SO GOOD. CAN I HAVE YOU ON THE END. COME OVER RELOCATED. THEN I HAVE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE BACK MOVE THIS WAY A FEW STEPS. AWESOME. LET'S GET EVERYBODY CENTERED HERE. I WANT TO DO A FEW WITHOUT THE FLASH. ALL RIGHT. 321321321. I'M GOING TO DO A FEW WITH THE FLASH REAL QUICK. AND 321. ONE I GUESS NO FLASH TONIGHT ONE ONE MORE.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY. OKAY. NO THIS IS AWESOME. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT. THANK YOU THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT YOU TWO TAKE CARE. OH MAN. THAT TASTES GOOD. DO YOU HAVE COFFEE? OH, YEAH. THE SPIKED COFFEE. HE ALWAYS DRINKS COFFEE. I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE ASLEEP. AGENDA NUMBER FIVE.
[5. CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS]
CONSIDERATION OF PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PLANNING AND ZONING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF BRIAN LEITNER. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. BENNETT? MR. PRESIDENT, GOOD EVENING. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION TODAY, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE FOR MR. LEITNER TO COME TO MY OFFICE AND SPEAK TO ME ABOUT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AROUND ZONING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE DATA CENTERS, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE RESILIENT AGAINST EXTREME WEATHER, AND TO HEAR HIS STANCES ON HOW TO OPERATE AND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL PRESSURE WILL ALSO EXPERTISE IN HIS FIELD. SO I FEEL REALLY ENCOURAGED BY HIS APPOINTMENT, AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. I, TOO, WANT TO SPEAK TO THE TIME THAT I SPENT WITH BRIAN AND ALSO THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT KNOW HIM IN THE FIELD AND IN THE INDUSTRY, AND I THINK HE'S GOING TO DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB. SO I'M SURE HE IS GOING TO BE CONFIRMED. MR. GIORDANO, I, TOO, HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO BRIAN, ALTHOUGH TODAY ACTUALLY SO, BUT WE DID GET A CHANCE TO TALK. I ACTUALLY HAD A QUESTION AND HIM AND MATT CALLED ME BACK. SO. BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT. I WE ARE NOT EXPERTS.THEY ARE THE EXPERTS. AND WE RELY ON THE EXPERTS, WHETHER IT'S PLANNING AND ZONING OR LICENSE PERMITS, JUST EVERYTHING WE, WE WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERTS TO HELP US WHEN WE HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS OR WE NEED ADVICE, WE NEED SOMETHING. SO YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SOMEBODY AND ASK THEM THE QUESTIONS AND THEY GIVE YOU THE, YOU KNOW, THEY GIVE YOU THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE. SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. I READ HIS RESUME. I KNOW HE'S BEEN BEEN AROUND A COUPLE DIFFERENT PLACES, WHICH IS, HE SAID, REALLY HELPED PREPARE HIM FOR THIS JOB. HE WAS HERE ONCE BEFORE, SO I'M GLAD HE'S COME BACK. I ALSO, YOU KNOW, HE ALSO GOT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE HIGHLY TOUTED. SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. AND AND I AM MOVING FORWARD TO VOTE FOR HIM. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. GIORDANO. I THINK THAT'S IT, MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT HI, MRS. ROBERT.
[00:10:04]
HI, MRS. EMHOFF. HI, MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY. HI. MR. BENNETT, I YOU'RE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. ONE ABSENT. THE APPOINTMENT IS HEREBY APPROVED. MR. LEITNER, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU. HARTFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF NIKKI BIGGS, MICHAEL HAGAN, CHARLES KELLY, KRISTIN KLEIN AND LISA SNODGRASS. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE HARTFORD CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REAPPOINTMENTS. IS THERE ANY COMMENTS, MR. BENNETT? MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THE HARTFORD CENTER IS A REALLY SPECIAL BOARD. I'M VERY LUCKY TO BE ON IT, AND WE DO A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK AT THE HARTFORD CENTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST I'M SO THANKFUL THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO SERVE WITH US AND HELP SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT.HI. MRS. ROBERT. MRS. EMHOFF, MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY. HI, MR. BENNETT. HI. THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ONE ABSENT, THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED. ARE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE? ALL RIGHT, SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NONE. SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES. PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 10TH, 2026. LEGISLATIVE DAY 20 5-009. MARCH 10TH, 2026. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS, THE[8. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS]
MINUTES STAND APPROVED. EIGHT INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 005 26 MEETAPP GRANT MAY HAVE A MOTION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 005 DASH 26. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 005 26. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MR. JORDAN? I HAVE A DISCUSSION. I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU WOULD, THEN I WILL. I THINK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE TALKED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM LAFCO. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT LOCAL COMPANY. THEY CONTINUE TO REINVEST IN HARFORD COUNTY. THEY'RE LOOKING TO BRING 120 JOBS TO THE COUNTY. AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND SUPPORTED. SO THEREFORE I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT. MR. GINGER, I DO STAND CORRECTED. SO I. I ECHO WHAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT VINCENTE SAID THE THE AMOUNT OF TIME EFFORT THAT THEY PUT INTO AND THE PROJECT TO TAKE OVER THIS BUILDING IS CERTAINLY, I THINK, MORE THAN THEY THOUGHT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DID COME FORWARD, GLAD THAT THEY'RE INCREASING THEIR SIZE. IT'S BUILT UP A NICE COMPANY. AND GENTLEMAN WAS ORIGINALLY FROM C MILL, RIGHT. SO HE WANTS TO BE IN HARFORD COUNTY AND STAY IN HARFORD COUNTY. WE CERTAINLY APPLAUD THAT. SO DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO TO APPROVING THAT. AND WE WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SUPPORT AND BRINGING JOBS TO HARFORD COUNTY AND HIGH PAYING JOBS, TECHNICAL JOBS. AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF JOBS THAT WE LOOK FOR TO HELP SUPPORT OUTSIDE THE BASE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT. HI, MRS. ROBERT. HI, MRS. EMHOFF. HI, MR. GIORDANO. HI, MR. RILEY. HI.MR. BENNETT, I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT RESOLUTION 005 26 IS HEREBY APPROVED. RESOLUTION 008 26. THE HOUSING HUD GRANT HAS BEEN REMOVED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. AND, MR. OVERBY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE SOME CLARITY ON THAT, PLEASE? THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IN PREPARATION FOR THIS EVENING'S MEETING, IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL EDITS AND CHANGES THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE TO SOME OF THE SUPPORT DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS RESOLUTION. SO THEREFORE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MADE THE REQUEST TO WITHDRAW IT AT THIS TIME SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN COMPLETE THOSE CHANGES AND BRING IT FORTH IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL IN THE COMING WEEKS.
THANK YOU. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. MR. THANK YOU. YEP. MR. CHANDRA, PLEASE READ RESOLUTION 009 26, AUTHORIZATION TRANSIT MTA GRANT APPLICATION 2026. RESOLUTION
[00:15:04]
009 DASH 26 AUTHORIZATION TRANSIT MTA GRANT APPLICATION 2026 IS INTRODUCED. INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR S T A P STATEWIDE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND SECTION 5303 5304 5305 5307 5309 5310 5311 5318, AND 5339. FORMULA AND DISCRETIONARY OPERATING AND CAPITAL GRANT PROGRAMS UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. AND FOR ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ACT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. THANK YOU, MISS CLARK. MISS RICHARDSON. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION FOR HARFORD TRANSIT LINK. THIS AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION IS A REQUIREMENT OF OUR ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION. YOU'LL HEAR IT CALLED THE ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN OR OUR ATP. IT IS AN ANNUAL GRANT APPLICATION. IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE STATE FUNDING AND THE 5307. THOSE ARE TYPICALLY OUR OPERATING CAPITAL AND MAINTENANCE GRANTS. WITH THOSE, WE ACTUALLY ARE REDUCING THE COUNTY MATCHING FUNDS, THE BURDEN TO THE COUNTY TO OPERATE PUBLIC TRANSIT, THE MTA, WE ARE SUB RECIPIENTS OF THE MTA, SO THEY APPLY FOR ALL OF OUR GRANTS, AND THEN THEY WILL DO AWARDS BACK DOWN TO US BEING A U, Z, A, WE HAVE OUR WE HAVE OUR OWN POT OF MONEY, SO TO SPEAK. SO WITH THIS AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION, IF APPROVED, WE WOULD THEN TAKE IT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR HIS APPROVAL AS WELL. AND THEN WE ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT OUR GRANT APPLICATION TEN DAYS FROM NOW. VERY GOOD COUNCIL QUESTIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO ANNUALLY. YES, SIR. EVERY YEAR. THIS ALLEGED. IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE HOLD THIS? YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOLD IT. YOU CAN CERTAINLY MOVE IT TONIGHT AND VOTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. OR YOU CAN HOLD IT TILL THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS TYPICAL, BUT THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO. WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO FILE IN TEN DAYS. OUR NEXT MEETING'S NOT TILL TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. SO, COUNCIL, ARE YOU OKAY WITH MOVING IT TONIGHT? YES. ALL RIGHT. MOTION. YEP. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AUTHORIZATION OF RESOLUTION 009 DASH 26. AUTHORIZATION TRANSIT MTA GRANT APPLICATION AS INTRODUCED. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO MOVE RESOLUTION ZERO ZERO 29 OR EXCUSE ME. 009 26. IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT HI, MRS. ROBERT. MRS. EMHOFF, MR. GIORDANO. MR. RILEY, MR. BENNETT, I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE AND ONE ABSENT THE MOTION OR THE RESOLUTION 009 IS APPROVED, 26 IS APPROVED. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YES. NINE INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. WE HAVE NONE. TEN. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. WE[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]
HAVE NONE. 11 CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS BILL 20 6-001 HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PENSION PLAN AMENDMENTS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE BILL 20 6-001. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE BILL 26 001. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT HI, MRS. ROBERT. HI, MRS. EMHOFF. MR. GIORDANO HI, MR. RILEY. HI. MR. BENNETT, I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE. ONE ABSENT. BILL 26 001 IS HEREBY APPROVED. 12 ENROLLMENT OF[12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS]
BILLS BILL 26 001 SERVES AS THE TEXT FINALLY PASSED. 13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE. 14 NEW BUSINESS WE HAVE NONE. 15 COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS. MISS[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]
DIXON, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP, MR. PRESIDENT, 16 BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. GINGER THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I REALLY JUST HAVE ONE THING. THE END OF THIS MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON THAT'S HELPED MYSELF AND OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE. AND HE'S GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED. AND IT'S RICH TRUETT. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF LICENSING PERMITS, AND I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH RICH ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS. HE'S[00:20:02]
ACTUALLY STILL WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR ME, WHICH IS THE PARKING AND THE FIRE LANES AND TRYING TO GET THAT CODE SQUARED AWAY. I TALKED TO HIM TODAY ABOUT THAT, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BE COMING THROUGH SOON. HE'LL BE ABLE TO PASS THAT ON TO HAROLD. BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH RICH ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND IT'S THAT KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU JUST CAN'T GET ANYWHERE. IT'S HARD TO REPLACE THAT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE THAT'LL DO THAT. BUT I WISH RICH THE BEST. I KNOW HE'S GOING TO WORK FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND THAT DOES A LOT OF THESE THINGS. SO HE'S HE'S STILL GOING TO BE AROUND. AND I'M SURE IF I NEED TO BOTHER HIM, I CAN DO THAT, WHICH I PROBABLY WILL, BUT HE WILL BE MISSED. AND I DO APPRECIATE HIS TIME AND EFFORTS ALL THE TIME AND HELPING IN THIS ROLE. SO THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU, RICH. IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AND YOU HEAR THIS. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. JUST TWO THINGS. DON'T FORGET. TOMORROW NIGHT, THERE'S THE JARRETTSVILLE KNOXVILLE. WAIT FOR TOWNSVILLE STREET. FOREST HILL COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AT 630, AND NORTHVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY. AND IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, TODAY'S SAINT PATTY'S DAY, HAPPY SAINT PATTY'S DAY, EVERYBODY. MUSIC ACROSS THE STREET. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MR. BENNETT, GOOD EVENING. I THINK ANYBODY WITHIN A TEN MILE RADIUS OF LOONIES KNOWS THAT TONIGHT IS SAINT PATRICK'S DAY. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING WITH US TONIGHT. THE REAL PARTY OF THE DAY IS HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK. I MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF SAINT JOHN'S TOWERS TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR THEIR ELEVATORS TO BE FIXED, AND ALSO LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT THE COUNTY OR THE STATE CAN SUPPORT THEM IN GETTING THAT WORK DONE. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ABINGDON CAB MEETING, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE WE GOT TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON THIS YEAR. TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY, AND THEY HAD A HISTORICAL RE-ENACTOR COME TO SHARE WITH US ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON 250 YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS REALLY JUST FUN EXPERIENCE.AND I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW GREAT OUR LOCAL CAB MEETINGS ARE TO ATTEND. IT'S A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. IT'S ALSO A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR CAB MEETINGS ARE UNDERUTILIZED IN SOME COMMUNITIES, SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME AND ATTEND THEIRS. THE NAACP WILL HAVE ITS FREEDOM FUND GALA THIS WEEKEND, THE 21ST, AT 6 P.M. AT ROCKFIELD MANOR. THERE ARE TWO GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS LEFT.
SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME AND AND BUY THOSE LAST TWO TICKETS AND ENJOY IT. I'M EXCITED TO GO, AND I'M SURE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE THERE AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, MR. BENNETT. MISS ROBERT, THANK YOU. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, MYSELF AND COUNCILWOMAN IMHOFF AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE ATTENDED THE ARMY ALLIANCE LUNCHEON AND THAT WAS VERY NICE AFFAIR. WE GOT TO HEAR MORE OF UP AND COMING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH APG AND OTHER SURROUNDING ARMY FACILITIES, AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FINANCIALLY WITH THEIR INCOME. THEY DID A PRESENTATION AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING.
BUT COME TO FIND OUT, A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT WERE SITTING NEXT TO US REMEMBER APG WHEN IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE BACK EVEN IN LIKE EARLY 2000. SO GOOD CONVERSATION. CONGRATULATIONS TO EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL THEY HAD OVER THE WEEKEND ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. AND THAT WAS A GOOD PERFORMANCE. AND THEN THIS WEEK I WILL BE READING TWICE FOR AG LITERACY WEEK AT OLD POST ROAD ELEMENTARY ON TOMORROW AND FRIDAY AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER, THERE'S A HOUSING FAIR ON SATURDAY AT THE EPICENTER. IT'S FREE EVENT FROM 9 TO 130 SPRING INTO WELLNESS COMMUNITY FAIR, ALSO FREE SATURDAY FROM 3 TO 6 AT HARFORD DAY SCHOOL AND THEN THE. ON MARCH 28TH THERE IS AN INCLUSIVE EGG HUNT AT COPPER MINE BEL AIR ATHLETIC CLUB FROM 1 TO 4 SO THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. MISS IMHOF, GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE COUNCILWOMAN ROBERTS SAID I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ARMY ALLIANCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON, WHICH WAS A GREAT CHANCE TO CONNECT AND HEAR UPDATES ON THE IMPORTANT WORK BEING DONE AT APG TO ENSURE OUR WARFIGHTERS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES THAT THEY NEED.
ALSO, OVER THE WEEKEND, I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT A FEW VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES TO DROP OFF SOME TREATS AND SAY THANK YOU, INCLUDING ABINGDON, BEL AIR, FALLSTON AND JOPPA MAGNOLIA.
IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD REMINDER THAT THESE THAT OUR COMMUNITY RELIES SO HEAVILY ON THE VOLUNTEERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN GIVING BACK, THEY ARE A GREAT
[00:25:03]
RESOURCE AND A GREAT PROGRAM TO WORK WITH. ALSO, IF ANYBODY KNOWS ANY UP AND COMING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES OR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR, THEY HAVE, WE HAVE WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A REALLY REMARKABLE CADET PROGRAM HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, WHERE SENIORS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS CAN ACTUALLY SPEND HALF THEIR DAY ACTUALLY AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND LEARNING LIFE SAVING SKILLS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GO BECOME PROFESSIONAL PARAMEDICS OR FIREFIGHTERS, BUT A LOT OF THEM JUST KIND OF KEEP THOSE SKILLS IN THEIR BACK POCKET AND THEY STAY VOLUNTEERS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF YOU KNOW ANY SOON TO BE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE FALSE AND LION CLUB'S BINGO AT THE FALLSTON FIRE HALL THIS PAST WEEKEND. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PRETTY CONSISTENT BINGOS, SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. THERE'S ACTUALLY ONE THAT'S COMING UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO BENEFIT PAC 899 OF FALLSTON. THEY WERE ACTUALLY JUST HEARING THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO ON SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST, THE CHARLIE RILEY COMMUNITY SERVICES SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION WILL BE HOSTING A CASH AND BAG BINGO AT THE LOCAL FIRE HALL BEGINNING AT 2 P.M. A REMINDER THAT THE NEXT FALLSTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH AT 630 AT THE VERONICA CHENOWITH ACTIVITY CENTER. AND JUST FOR ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T KNOW, THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY TASTE OF HARFORD TICKETS WENT ON SALE TODAY.THEY SELL OUT EVERY YEAR, SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING YOURS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MISS IMHOF. DO I GET TO GO TWICE? I'M SURE YOU COULD. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT. I
[17. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]
JUST WANT TO AMPLIFY WHAT MISS EMHOFF TALKED ABOUT. AS FAR AS OUR WARFIGHTERS, EVERYTHING THEY WEAR, TOUCH OR RIDE IS TESTED IN ABERDEEN AND EDGEWOOD. AND I THINK THAT'S AMAZING THAT THAT MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE INSIDE THE GATE AT THOSE FACILITIES. ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO TALK OR SPEAK TO THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. THAT'S MAY 7TH AND MAY 13TH AT 7 P.M. IN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE RICH TRUITT FOR HIS RETIREMENT, AND I THINK IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD FOR US. WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT RICH IS LEAVING AND MOVING ON INTO SOMETHING THAT HE TRULY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO, HE AND HIS WIFE, AND HAS SERVED THIS COUNTY WELL FOR 31.5 YEARS. BUT I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE LOSING. AS HE WALKS OUT THE DOOR HE'S TAKEN WITH HIM. SO I KNOW MR. BOWLING, IN THE INTERIM WILL DO A GREAT JOB, AND I'M SURE THE TEAM THERE WILL FILL THE GAPS WHEREVER NECESSARY, BUT I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM, THANK HIM FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE. I THINK BASICALLY THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO. OH NO NO NO NO.SATURDAY EVENING I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL'S CLASS OF 81 BULL ROAST. IT WAS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED WITH OVER PROBABLY 300 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. AND THEY DO SUCH GREAT THINGS WITH THE MONEY THAT THEY RAISE THERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. SO I DID WANT TO TALK TO THAT. I DID WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ALSO YESTERDAY, I HAD THE HONOR AND GREAT PLEASURE TO SIT WITH RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALLEN WEST, FORMER CONGRESSMAN, AND SPEAK TO HIM IN REFERENCE TO OUR 287 G PROGRAM THAT HAS LEFT AND THE PROGRAM THAT WAS AT OUR CORRECTIONAL CORRECTION CENTER. SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL MORE TO COME ON THAT. BUT THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAVE. ONE OTHER THING. AS I'M LOOKING AT MY NOTES, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AGAIN FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL MADISON MITCHELL ENDOWMENT TRUST BANQUET. IT ALSO FRIDAY EVENING WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. THE FUNDS RAISED THERE GO TO SUPPORT THE HIRING OF GRACE DECOY MUSEUM IN ITS ACQUISITION, PRESENTATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT THEY HAVE THERE. AND THAT MUSEUM HAS WENT FROM BEING A, A LOCAL MUSEUM TO A NATIONAL MUSEUM. WHEN THE AWARD MUSEUM CLOSED IN SALISBURY RECENTLY, IT BROUGHT MORE ATTENTION TO THE DECOY MUSEUM, AND THE DECOY MUSEUM HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS, A LOT OF IT BY VOLUNTEERS, AND THAT ENTIRE TIME HAS REMAINED IN THE BLACK. THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES THIS COUNTRY HAS SEEN, THAT MUSEUM HAS REMAINED IN THE BLACK. SO VERY PROUD OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. AND WITH THAT, I
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WILL ADJOURN THIS