May 05, 2026 County Council

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EVENING. CHAIR CALLS TO ORDER PUBLIC HEARING FOR BILL 26-003. APPROPRIATIONS SPECIAL PAYS.

MR. LEWIS, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. ROBBIE SALAS, COUNTY TREASURER, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE REQUESTING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION TO COVER RETIREMENTS THAT THAT WE PLACE IN A IN A SEPARATE IN A SEPARATE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, GENERALLY AFTER INDIVIDUALS HAVE 30 YEARS OR SO, THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY WHEN THEY RETIRE, THEY HAVE THEIR, THEIR LEAVE PAYOUTS, WHICH INCLUDE THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE, ALSO HALF OF THEIR SICK LEAVE. AND SO SOME OF THESE PAYOUTS CAN BE LARGER THAN A REGULAR BUDGET CAN ABSORB. SO WE PLACE THEM INTO A, INTO KIND OF A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, IF YOU WILL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING HERE FOR IN ORDER TO COVER THESE THESE RETIREMENTS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS. YEAH, THIS TIME THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR FOR THE MOST PART, EVERY YEAR. AGAIN, THE COUNTY HIRED A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORKERS 30 OR SO YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY REALLY STARTED TO, TO TAKE OFF. A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE STARTING TO RETIRE. NOW. MANY OF YOU HAVE ATTENDED QUITE A FEW RETIREMENT PARTIES. AND THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE THE FINAL GOODBYE OF THOSE RETIREMENT PARTIES. VERY GOOD. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS, MR. BENNETT? AND THIS IS ALREADY REFLECTED IN THE PROPOSED 2017 BUDGET. WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. SO WE WE HAVE A A LINE ITEM IN THERE FOR FOR THESE RETIREMENTS EVERY YEAR. HOWEVER, AGAIN, TYPICALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, THIS BLIP IN ADDITIONAL RETIREMENTS, WE OFTENTIMES HAVE TO COME IN AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE HAD MORE RETIREMENTS THAN NOT, OR THEY'VE BEEN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN EXPECTED AND HAVE TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING. ARE WE STILL DOING THE EARLY NOTICE INCENTIVE? IF SO, A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A WE HAD A RETIREMENT INCENTIVE. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT, BUT THIS IS NOW JUST THE STANDARD RETIREMENT. THAT'S PART OF COUNTY CODE, WHICH IS ALL OF YOUR ANNUAL LEAVE. OF COURSE, ANNUAL LEAVE, THOUGH, IS CAPPED GENERALLY AT AROUND 40 DAYS AND THEN HALF OF YOUR SICK LEAVE. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MISS DICKSON, WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. FD

[1. CALL TO ORDER ]

[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ]

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THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW I HAVE. A TERRIBLE DISEASE. MY AUNT, MY MOTHER'S SISTER PASSED WITH THAT AND JUST JUST A TERRIBLE THING TO WATCH. I WILL TELL YOU THAT

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

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

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[9. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS ]

THE MANNER BY WHICH BONDS AND INDEBTEDNESS MAY BE SECURED, AND THE RATES OF INTEREST TO BE PAID, AND GENERALLY FOR SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY COUNCIL BY ADMINISTRATIVE RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BY EXECUTIVE ORDER TO DETERMINE THE FORM OF VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AS ARE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE FINANCING AUTHORIZED HEREIN, THE MANNER OF ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY OF ANY BONDS OR ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. THE PAYMENT OF ALL NECESSARY EXPENSES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, THE METHOD OF WHICH BONDS OR ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS SHALL BE SOLD. MATURITY SCHEDULE AND REDEMPTION PROVISION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN AGENTS AND OTHERWISE GENERALLY RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE, SALE, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT OF BONDS OR ANY OTHER EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS, PROVIDING THAT THE BONDS OR ANY OTHER INDEBTEDNESS SHALL BE ISSUED UPON THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT AND TAXING POWER OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND, PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES OR OTHER FORM OF INDEBTEDNESS. UPON ADOPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESOLUTION BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVING THE INTEREST RATES OR RATES TO BE BORNE THEREBY FOR ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PROJECTS DESCRIBED HEREIN, FOR WHICH THE PROCEEDS OF SALE OF THE BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES SHALL BE USED, PROVIDING THAT OTHER. AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND, ANTICIPATION NOTES OR OTHER FORMS OF INDEBTEDNESS OR ANY OTHER RENEWAL. THEREFORE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL SHALL AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO PAY SAID BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES OR ANY OTHER FORM OF INDEBTEDNESS PROVIDING FOR DISBURSEMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF THE BONDS OR ANY OTHER INDEBTEDNESS AUTHORIZED HEREIN AND FOR LEVYING OF CHARGES, ASSESSMENTS AND ALL TAXES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL AND THE PREMIUM ON INTEREST OR OTHER FORMS OF INDEBTEDNESS, PROVIDING THAT CERTAIN ADDITIONAL MATTERS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OR MAY BE RESERVED ONTO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS PRESCRIBED BY SUCH RESOLUTION. PROVIDING THE METHOD AND FIXING THE INTEREST RATES TO BE BORNE BY SUCH BONDS AND GENERALLY PROVIDING FOR DETERMINING VARIOUS MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH US AND GENERALLY RELATING TO PROJECTS DESCRIBED. PROJECTS DESCRIBED RELATING TO FUNDING OF THE PROJECTS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2026 AT 7 P.M. 757 15 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. THANK YOU, MR. GIORDANO. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT I. I MOVE TO INTRODUCE BILL NUMBER 26-009. I HAVE SEVEN COPIES AVAILABLE FOR

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SUCH RESIDENTS SHALL NOT HOLD ANY OTHER OFFICE OF PROFIT, EMPLOYMENT OR TRUST, OR UNDER STATE GOVERNMENT OR COUNTY GOVERNMENT OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF A HARFORD COUNTY MUNICIPALITY, OR WHILE EMPLOYED BY OR WORKING ON BEHALF OF ANY UNIT OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE SHERIFF OF HARFORD COUNTY OR ANY OTHER UNIT OF GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED FUNDS THROUGH ANY COUNTY BUDGET AND TO PRECLUDE A COUNCIL MEMBER DURING THE WHOLE TERM FOR WHICH ELECTED OR APPOINTED FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT TO TWO OR EMPLOYMENT BY STATE GOVERNMENT, COUNTY GOVERNMENT, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OR HARFORD COUNTY MUNICIPALITY, OR WHILE EMPLOYED BY OR WORKING ON BEHALF OF ANY UNIT OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE SHERIFF OF HARFORD COUNTY OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED FUNDS THROUGH THE COUNTY BUDGET AND TO REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF THIS AMENDMENT TO THE LEGALLY QUALIFIED VOTERS OF HARFORD COUNTY FOR THEIR ADOPTION OR REJECTION. IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 905 OF THE HARFORD COUNTY CHARTER PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M. IN EAST COUNCIL CHAMBERS. DOES THAT TIME FIT YOUR SCHEDULE? I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DRAFTED AGENDA WE HAVE FOR JUNE 2ND. WE HAVE A BOARD OF APPEALS CASE THAT NIGHT, JUNE 2ND, AND WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, I BELIEVE THAT EVENING. YEAH. 630. IT'S ALREADY BEEN ADVERTISED. SO WE HAVE 24 HOURS TO SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT NIGHT, AT THAT TIME, IT MIGHT NOT. WE'VE ALREADY ADVERTISED FOR THE BOARD OF APPEALS, AND I BELIEVE WE CAN'T START BEFORE SIX. CAN YOU PICK CAN YOU CHOOSE ANOTHER NIGHT? NOT RIGHT NOW. LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE. YOU'VE GOT TO YOU'VE GOT TO ADVERTISE. AND SO IT CAN'T. WE CAN'T. OKAY. BUT YEAH, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BOARD OF APPEALS FINAL ARGUMENT THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS HAS ALREADY BEEN ADVERTISED. SO THE BILL'S PROPERLY INTRODUCED WILL JUST SET ANOTHER TIME FOR THEM. LOOK AT IT, SEE IF IT'S SIMILAR.

THEN WE'LL HAVE WE HAVE AN ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T YOU CAN'T UPON READING IT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO ME. BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. AS YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT INTRODUCE A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR BILL THAT HAS BEEN REJECTED, FAILED, VOTED DOWN, NOT APPROVED, NOT ADOPTED, ACCEPTED WITHIN THE SAME COUNCIL SESSION. IT'S A IT'S A SEPARATE BILL. IT'S NOT ABOUT SEPARATE. IT'S ABOUT IS IT SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE BILL THAT FAILED? IT WAS REJECTED. AND THAT'S THE QUESTION, MISS ALLEGING. COULD YOU MAKE SURE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE FOR PEOPLE AT HOME? IF IT IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR, THEN YES, IT'S NO PROBLEM. IT CAN BE INTRODUCED THIS WAY. AND WE WILL SCHEDULE SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING WITHIN 24 HOURS OF INTRODUCTION, WHICH IS WHAT THE CHARTER REQUIRES. SO WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR IF IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE LAST BILL, THEN IT CANNOT BE INTRODUCED WITHIN THE SAME LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS ARE CALENDAR YEARS 26TH JANUARY FIRST OF 2026 WAS THE VERY FIRST DAY OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION 26, WHICH MEANS THE NEXT SESSION STARTS IN 2027. SO YOU'LL REVIEW IT? YES. AND GET BACK? YES. AND IF IT'S NOT SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR, THEN WE'VE JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT CAN BE SCHEDULED. YEP. WITHIN 24 HOURS WE WILL GET IT SCHEDULED. OKAY. BUT JUNE 2ND AT 630 WILL NOT WORK. AND IT DOES SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT IN THAT IT CHANGES THE SCOPE OF THE APPLICATION, ALTERS THE LEGAL AND PRACTICAL EFFECT. AND THESE SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCES PRESENT A DIFFERENT POLICY QUESTION FOR THE BODY. BUT I GOT I GOT YOU, I UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S NOT A NEW RULE. THAT IS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. SO WHO MAKES THE DECISION? THAT IS IT'S SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR. IS THAT THE QUESTION? YEAH. WELL THAT'S GOING TO BE UP FOR MY INTERPRETATION. THE LEGAL IT'S LEGAL INTERPRETATION. SO. WELL THEN IT SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECTIVE THEN. WELL A LEGAL INTERPRETATION. I MEAN YOU COULD GET TEN LAWYERS IN A ROOM AND TONY SAYS IT ALL THE TIME AND NONE OF THEM CAN DIFFER. WELL THAT'S THE TRUTH. SO I MEAN, I MEAN, THE THE BOTTOM LINE IS DEALT WITH THEM FOR 20 YEARS, RIGHT? THE RULES OF PARLIAMENT. I DEALT WITH YOU FOR THE LAST THREE. SO I UNDERSTAND. SO THE RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, WHICH HAVE BEEN CLEAR SINCE 1896 WHEN THEY WERE ENACTED, SAY THAT'S THE LANGUAGE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR OR SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT. SO YOU CAN USE IT EITHER WAY. IF THIS IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT THAN IT'S FINE THAT THAT'S THE LANGUAGE. SO THAT'S THE COURTS HAVE LOOKED AT THAT. SO COURTS HAVE TAKEN IF THEY'VE TAKEN THIS UP, THEY'VE LOOKED AT TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO DETERMINE. BUT IT'S CASE BY CASE BASIS. SO WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE. LAWYERS NECESSARY EVILS. LOVE IT. THANK YOU. MR. THANK YOU, MR. GINGER. TEN

[10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS ]

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NO. NO. COMPREHENSIVE ZONING. HARFORD COUNTY ZONING MAPS. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN HERE. I LOOK AT THE ACTUAL AMENDMENTS THAT WERE DONE, AMENDMENTS ONE AND TWO TO BILL 26-005 SHOULD BE IN THE BINDERS. THOSE ARE THE TWO AMENDMENTS BEING INTRODUCED TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'VE GOT AMENDMENT ONE ON PAGE TWO ON LINE THREE STRIKE 90 AND SUBSTITUTE 180. AMENDMENT TWO ON PAGE TWO, STRIKE IN THEIR ENTIRETY. THE LINES BEGINNING WITH LINE FOUR THROUGH LINE SIX, INCLUSIVE AND SUBSTITUTE BE SHORTENED OR EXTENDED BY FURTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTION BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THERE WAS ANOTHER PIECE IN THERE, THOUGH. THAT'S SORRY. COMPREHENSIVE REZONING IS DONE BEAUTIFULLY. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. 11 CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS. NONE. 12 ENROLLMENT OF BILLS NONE. 13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. NONE. 14 UNFINISHED. EXCUSE ME. 14. NEW BUSINESS. NONE. 15 COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS.

[15. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS ]

TRYING TO COMBINE IT. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP CODE, PLEASE. JOHN MALLAMO TWO 1015.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOUR ZIP CODE WAS THERE FOR A MINUTE. WELL, I'M HOPING I GOT IT RIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN ANY NEW PROJECT SEEKS ENTRY INTO HARFORD COUNTY, SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED WHY HARFORD COUNTY. THAT IS A MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION. I WOULD SHARE THESE THOUGHTS. PROJECT OWNERS SEEKING ENTRY INTO HARFORD COUNTY. LOOK AT CHEAP LAND, LOW TAXES BY THEIR OWN STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS. COUNTY ELECTED AND APPOINTED DECISION MAKERS PRESENT THEMSELVES AS NAIVE, GULLIBLE, SHALLOW, SIMPLE, OBTUSE, PETTY AND VAIN. PROJECT OWNERS OBSERVE THAT AND DEPEND ON IT FOR THEIR ADVANTAGE.

PROJECT OWNERS KNOW THAT HARFORD COUNTY DOES NOT ENFORCE ITS OWN ZONING CODE, WILL BEND IT FOR EXPEDIENCY, OR WILL JUST IGNORE IT. CONSIDER, PLEASE. THE MUD AND JOPPATOWNE EVERMORE IS ONLY CONSTRUCTED STRUCTURE DESIGNED AS A MULTI RESIDENT DWELLING PLANNING AND ZONING DESIGNATED AS SIMPLE AS A SINGLE RESIDENCE STRUCTURES AT THE SOBER LIVING FACILITY OCCUPIED BY MULTIPLE UNRELATED RESIDENTS. PLANNING AND ZONING DESIGNATED AS A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AND OF COURSE, THE HARFORD COUNTY AIRPORT PLANNING AND ZONING DESIGNATED AS A NON CONFORMING USE. TWO YEARS AFTER THE CIRCUIT COURT ORDER CONFIRMING THE BOARD OF APPEALS APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO OPERATE A GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT AS A PERMITTED USE WHILE IGNORING ALL NON-COMPLIANT ELEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY. PROJECT OWNERS KNOW THAT ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIAL DECISION MAKERS ROUTINELY BEND TO LOCAL INFLUENCERS THE RAINMAKERS. THEY KNOW WHO THOSE RAINMAKERS ARE. LOCAL RAINMAKERS CAN FLIP A NO TO A YES QUICKER THAN IHOP FLIPS PANCAKES. PROJECT OWNERS KNOW THE CATCH PHRASE TO OPEN DOORS. HUNDREDS OF JOBS. MILLIONS OF TAX REVENUE. THE PRESENTATION ON DATA CENTERS WAS SLICK. TWO PRETTY PEOPLE ARTICULATE, POLISHED, POISED POWERPOINT VIEW GRAPHS.

HUNDREDS OF JOBS, NOT JUST MILLIONS IN TAX REVENUE. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS.

NONETHELESS, THE PRESENTATION WAS FLAWED. THERE WAS NO LOCAL RAINMAKER FRONTING THE PROJECT.

NO DOUBT THAT GALVANIZED OPPOSITION TO DATA CENTERS IN HARFORD COUNTY. THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL THIS. EACH NEW PROJECT IS LESS DESIRABLE THAN ITS PREDECESSOR. CONSIDER THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL. JAMES RUN TIFF ZONING CHANGE FROM MEMO TO RESIDENTIAL WITH MINIMAL OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES. MEGA DISTRIBUTION CENTERS. DATA CENTERS. WHAT REPUTABLE COMPANY WOULD FALL IN? ON TOP OF THE MESS IN HARFORD COUNTY? CONCLUDING IT IS NOT SELFISH LANDOWNERS, GREEDY DEVELOPERS, SLEAZY RAINMAKERS THAT ESTABLISH THIS MESS. IT IS THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS WHO MAKE THE DECISION THAT IS YOU, YOU SEVEN AIDED AND ABETTED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING. BETTER OPPORTUNITIES, BETTER OUTCOMES. START WITH YOU. CHANGE YOURSELVES. CHANGE THE WAY YOU OPERATE. HARFORD COUNTY DESERVES THAT. GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING SIR.

GOOD EVENING BRIAN. TONY 22 1085. AT THIS POINT, MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOUNTAIN BRANCH GOLF COURSE'S NEW SALES PITCH ON HARFORD ENERGY.COM. NOT ONLY DOES THE WEBSITE LOOK FANTASTIC, AND I'D ASSUME TOOK SOME REAL TIME MONEY AND RESOURCES TO CREATE, BUT IT

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THAT'S PRETTY SNAZZY. I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY MAGICAL STUFF TO DO. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SALES PITCH TAKES THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY FOR STOOGES. IT SUGGESTS WE'RE EITHER UNINTELLIGENT, UNORGANIZED, OR SIMPLY GULLIBLE. IT ASKS US TO SELL THE SOUL OF HARFORD COUNTY AND GIVE UP WITHDRAWALS. PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE CITIES AND TO A COUNTY FULL OF GREEN SPACES, FRESH AIR AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE. INTERESTINGLY, THE WEBSITE INDICATES THAT I QUOTE POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DEBATE KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE. MANY ARE PRIVATELY SUPPORTIVE OF RESPONSIBLE AI INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT PUBLICLY CAUTIOUS, AFRAID THAT A SMALL, WELL-ORGANIZED OPPOSITION WILL DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION WHILE THE SILENT MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WORRY QUIETLY AT HOME, AS MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR BY THE 4000 PLUS SIGNATURES ON OUR PETITION AGAINST SITING AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX ON MOUNTAIN BRANCH GOLF COURSE, OR THE 2600 MEMBERS WE HAVE OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUP CALLED OUR LAND, OUR HOME, OUR HARFORD. I BELIEVE THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY IN FALLSTON AND JOPPA, BUT RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, ARE OUTRAGED AND UPSET WITH THE PROPOSED SITING OF SUCH AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

WHILE THE CLAIM REGARDING THE SILENT MAJORITY IS EASY TO DISPEL, BY SIMPLY LISTENING TO OTHER COMMENTS OR THE WIDESPREAD VOCAL OUTRAGE THIS ISSUE IS CAUSING, WHAT'S NOT EASY TO DISPEL IS WHY THE WEBSITE WOULD PUBLICLY STATE THAT POLITICIANS, ASSUMEDLY SOME ON THIS COUNCIL, WOULD BE PRIVATELY SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAIN RANCH GOLF COURSE. THAT RAISES THE ADDITIONAL AND UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTION IS THE COMMUNITY BEING LIED TO? ARE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL SECRETLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX? AS THE WEBSITE ARGUABLY SUGGESTS? IF THAT'S THE CASE, WHAT IMPETUS WOULD THE COUNCIL HAVE TO BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE CURB FOR EITHER 90 OR 180 DAYS? COULD IT POSSIBLY BE TO DEFER A DECISION UNTIL AFTER THE PRIMARIES UNTIL AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION? I CAN ASSURE YOU, IF THIS COUNCIL AND OTHER POLITICIANS ARE PROPOSING OR SUPPORTING THE TEMPORARY MORATORIUM SIMPLY TO AID IN THE ELECTION CHANCES WHILE PRIVATELY SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRIAL DESTRUCTION OF HARFORD COUNTY'S GREEN SPACES, THE CITIZENS VOICES WILL BE HEARD AND THEIR RAGE WILL CARRY THROUGH TO THE BALLOT BOX, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER ELECTION CYCLE. AS SUCH, I'D RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE MORATORIUM EITHER RESULT IN OR BE CHANGED TO AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON DATA CENTERS, SITING ON LOCATIONS OTHER THAN BROWNFIELDS LANDS OR LANDS. HISTORICALLY ZONED FOR LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL USES. THEY SHOULD BE. THEY SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE ALLOWED ON RURAL, AGRICULTURAL, RESIDENTIAL, LIGHT, COMMERCIAL OR OTHER INAPPROPRIATE SITES AND SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE PLACED ON LANDS REQUIRING UP ZONING OR ZONING MODIFICATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A LARGE SCALE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME IS IT? MY NAME IS LINDA STINE FLINT. I'M 1102 AND 015 IN BEL AIR. FIRST TO MR. BENNETT. NICE TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE CLEARED AND FREE TO WORK AGAIN. I WOULD BE VERY CLEAR THAT MY COMMENTS REGARDING YOUR SUSPENSION WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NO DOUBLE DIP, BECAUSE AS A TEACHER, YOU ARE SERVING IN CONFLICT WITH OUR CHARTER AND THAT THE TAKING SO LONG TO CLEAR YOU WAS MAYBE RELATED TO THAT BECAUSE SINCE YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THEY MOST LIKELY HAVE TO MAKE TAKE THE EXTRA TIME TO DOT THE I'S AND CROSS THE T'S. NO ONE WISHES ILL WILL ON ANY PERSON, AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T. BUT MY COMMENTS WERE ALWAYS DIRECTED TO THE PROCESS OF THE DOUBLE DIPPING AND DISRESPECTING OUR CHARTER. AND SADLY, HOW ALL OF YOU, EXCEPT FOR TONY G, SHUT DOWN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT VERY PROCESS. SO BECAUSE YOU SHUT IT DOWN, WE MAY HAVE TO GO ABOUT THIS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

I'M ALSO SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A REMINDER ABOUT THE HARFORD COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, THAT THE HARFORD TRANSITLINK PLAN THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, CASSIDY, HAS OBTAINED A FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT TO REPLACE THE CURRENT EXISTING FACILITY LOCATED ON ABINGDON ROAD, THAT IS INADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN AND SERVICE THE BUSSES FOR THE COMMUNITY. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS VERY AWARE THAT THE GRANT FOR THIS TRANSIT LINK HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH BRINGING IN PEOPLE FROM BALTIMORE OR ANYWHERE ELSE. THOSE BALTIMORE COMMUTER COMMUTER BUSSES ARE NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT'S A COMMUNITY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT SERVES OUR SENIORS, DISABLED AND THOSE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION TO HELP THEM GET TO WORK, TO THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SHOPPING, AND TO PUBLIC SERVICES. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED THAT TRANSPORTATION PLAN SO HE KNOWS IT'S NOT ABOUT BRINGING IN OUTSIDE PEOPLE. SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHY CAMPAIGN LITERATURE SENT OUT TO HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS IS TOTALLY FALSE INFORMATION AGAINST THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. IT'S NOT BEING TRUTHFUL WITH THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY, AND IT'S A GREAT DISSERVICE. I SUDDENLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT OUR SENIORS, DISABLED PEOPLE AND CITIZENS WITH NO ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. REMEMBER, REMEMBER THIS MORATORIUM FOR 180 DAYS OR 90 DAYS ON TO TO DELAY THIS THING ABOUT DATA CENTERS UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION? REMEMBER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO VOTE IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL, THOSE

[00:30:04]

AFTER LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, AT THE BOTTOM IT SAYS YOU CAN CONTACT US. SO I DID, AND LO AND BEHOLD, I JUST LET THE GENTLEMAN THERE KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PLACE IN DISTRICT B FOR THIS KIND OF NONSENSE AND THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ATTENDING THE MAY 19TH COUNCIL MEETING, BECAUSE ON THAT PAGE IT SAID, ATTEND THE MEETING. AND I ALSO TOLD HIM TO GIRD HIS LOINS. WELL, I DID GET A RESPONSE FROM THE GENTLEMAN, AND I. HE THANKED ME FOR WRITING, EVEN THOUGH I OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE WITH WHAT WAS BEING SAID. HE GAVE SOME INFORMATION DIRECTLY OFF OF THE WEBSITE, TELLING US THAT IT SITS ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR, NOT ON ACTIVE FARMLAND IN THE AGRICULTURE, LIKE IN THE AGRICULTURAL NORTH OR WEST OF THE COUNTY, AND THAT IT IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE. NOT WRONG. OKAY, SO I THANKED HIM FOR HIS REPLY. I SAID, I READ YOUR PROPOSAL. IT'S ALL UNICORNS TO ME, RAINBOWS AND DOLLARS IN YOUR POCKET. AND I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW AGAIN, WE'LL ALL BE THERE ON MAY 19TH. AND I KNOW THAT MONEY IS A DRIVER FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS LAND AND WANTS TO MAKE MONEY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IF IT'S A GOLF COURSE AND A RESTAURANT, LET'S KEEP IT AS THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DISTRICT B NEEDS, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

AT THE END OF HIS SIGNATURE IN HIS LETTER TO ME, HE QUOTES EPHESIANS, EPHESIANS 42529, AND I QUOTE, LET ALL OF US SPEAK THE TRUTH TO OUR NEIGHBORS, AND I'LL END IT THERE. SO I SAY, WHAT IS THE REAL TRUTH? DO WE GET THE COMMUNITY JUST ALL WORKED UP, THREATEN US WITH STUFF LIKE THIS, AND ULTIMATELY DO SOMETHING ELSE? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU THE TRUTH, AND THE TRANSPARENCY FROM THIS GRAMMY WILL ALWAYS OCCUR ON THIS SIDE OF THE MICROPHONE. GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU MA'AM. YOU ALL ARE GOING TO GET ME IN TROUBLE. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY YOU CAN'T APPLAUD IN HERE. THAT'S THE THIRD TIME OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE UPSET WITH ME FOR ALLOWING IT. SO DON'T WORRY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THEY NEVER APPLAUD FOR ME. NAME AND ZIP CODE PLEASE. SIR, I'M RYAN BURBY. I LIVE AT 1701 MOUNTAIN ROAD IN JOPPA, MARYLAND, RIGHT DOWN FROM THE SOUL SUCKING MONSTROSITY THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED. MY, MY FAMILY MOVED MY MY GRANDPARENTS MOVED TO THE HOUSE THAT I CURRENTLY LIVE IN SOMETIME IN THE 50S. THEY HAD BEEN DAIRY FARMING IN PENNSYLVANIA. MY. MY MEEMAW RAISED HER SISTERS FROM THE

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AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DID. THEN? SHE MARRIED MY GRANDFATHER WHEN THEY WERE LIKE 12, 13, 16, SOME RIDICULOUSLY YOUNG AGE. AND, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDFATHER BUILT A LOT OF HOUSES THAT ARE HERE.

HE LABORED TO BUILD THE HOUSES. HE WASN'T KRAUSS OR ANY OF THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION MAGNATES.

AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DEBATE, OH, IT'S UNSIGHTLY. OH IT'S HORRIBLE. OH IT'S INDUSTRIAL.

THAT'S NOT THE REAL PROBLEM. THERE'S LOTS OF UNSIGHTLY THINGS. I THINK THE I THINK MOUNTAIN BRANCH IS UNSIGHTLY AND WISH IT WASN'T THERE AS WELL AS THE CHURCH UP THE STREET FROM IT. AND I REALLY WISH THE WEEKLY TRAFFIC JAM WASN'T OUT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

HOWEVER, THE REAL PROBLEM IS WATER. ALL RIGHT, IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS BUILT, IT WILL DRAIN OUR WELLS. PERIOD. THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. IN THE 80S, MY GRANDPARENTS STARTED PULLING UP MUD IN THEIR WELL AND THEY HAD TO DRILL ANOTHER WELL. AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY DEEP AND THE WATER IS REALLY COLD AND IT COMES OUT HIGH PRESSURE. BUT IF WE PUT SOMETHING IN THERE, ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY LOSING WATER BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A DEBATE ABOUT NEEDING PUBLIC WATER THERE FOR A LONG TIME ARE GOING TO DRY UP. BUT IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE THEM.

IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON THE WELLS. IT'S GOING TO BE ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE ON THE WELLS. IT'S GOING TO BE MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN CHURCH THAT'S ON THE WELL. ALL OF THAT IS CONNECTED. AND SO I APPLAUD THE MORATORIUM. IT SHOULD BE A BAN. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WATER USE. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT BUILDING AND WATER USE. AND WE HAVE TO EXPAND PUBLIC WATER. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT TO BUILD A DATA CENTER SOMEWHERE ON THE ISLAND THAT'S FULL OF, YOU KNOW, UNEXPLODED MUNITIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUSQUEHANNA. THAT'S GREAT. SUCK ALL THE RIVER WATER YOU WANT, ESPECIALLY DURING FLOODING TIME.

RIGHT. YOU WANT TO BUILD A DESALINATION PLANT AND AND SUCK THE WATER OUT THE BAY. THAT THAT'S FINE. AS LONG AS YOU'RE PRODUCING ALL THE ENERGY YOU NEED, PLUS SOME FOR YOUR LITTLE INDUSTRIAL PROJECT. AND THESE SHOULD BE STANDARDS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FOR ALL DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD. LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO END WITH, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE THAT ANYONE WOULD MAKE ME WANT TO VOTE FOR BILLY BONIFACE, BUT, MR. GIORDANO, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU DID IT. THIS IDEA THAT PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD, ON THIS COUNCIL, IS UTTERLY INIMICAL TO DEMOCRACY. PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO A CLOSE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD SEEING YOU ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING SIR. NAME AND ZIP.

MATTHEW BROWN 21015. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN RAISED FOR THE SO-CALLED DOUBLE DIP CIVICALLY, WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE WHO'S A TEACHER COULD BE A COUNTY MEMBER. LET'S SEPARATE EMOTION FROM LAW. MARYLAND HAS ALREADY GIVEN THE FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS. PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE GARDEN GOVERNED BY STATE ETHICS LAW, FOCUSED ON ACTUAL CONFLICTS WHERE SOMEONE COULD USE A POSITION FOR PERSONAL GAIN, NOT SIMPLY HOLDING TWO PUBLIC ROLES. SECOND, HOW ARE THESE SYSTEMS STRUCTURED? HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NOT A PART OF HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT. IT IS A PART OF THE STATE'S AND STATE GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SYSTEM. ALL THE EDUCATION SYSTEMS, ALL THE BOARDS IN MARYLAND ARE GOVERNED BY THE MARYLAND STATE. THEY'RE NOT GOVERNED BY THEIR COUNTIES. AS A RESULT, THEY MIGHT RECEIVE FUNDING IN TERMS OF TAXATION, BECAUSE TAXATION FOR EDUCATION IS PART OF NOT ONLY THE STATE BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. A TEACHER WORKING ALONGSIDE THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS NOT GETTING PAYCHECKS TWICE OVER FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE GETTING A PAYCHECK FROM TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. THAT DISTINCTION CLEARLY IS BEING LOST IN THIS DISCUSSION. BUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS DOUBLE DIP, PEOPLE OFTEN IMPLYING THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO THEIR OWN MEANS, THEY'RE GETTING THEIR PAYCHECK FROM THEMSELVES TWICE AND BEING ABLE TO LITIGATE ON WHAT KIND OF PAYCHECK THAT IS. THAT'S SIMPLY NOT HOW THIS WORKS. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EXISTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THEY ARE THE ONES IN CHARGE OF THAT, WHO THE PERSON IN QUESTION IS NOT EVEN A MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THIS SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE STANDARD. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DOUBLE DIP. IF YOU'RE SAYING A TEACHER CAN'T SERVE, WHAT ABOUT A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER? BROKEN ECONOMIC POLICY, A RETIREE TALKING ABOUT PENSIONS, A HEALTH CARE WORKER WEIGHING IN ON THE CURRENT STATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. AT SOME POINT, YOU'RE NOT ELIMINATING

[00:40:04]

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]

I SUGGEST EVERYONE GO THERE. I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST FOR KIDS. IT SEEMED LIKE A FUN PLACE THAT YOU CAN GO WITH YOUR ADULT FRIENDS. IT HAD A LOT OF SOME OF THE SIMILARITIES THAT IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A DAVE AND BUSTER'S, BUT THIS COUPLE DID A GREAT REVAMP OF THIS BUILDING AND THEY GAVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY GAVE CHECKS TO HARFORD FAMILY THAT DAY FOR A DONATION, HARFORD CENTER THAT DAY, AND LAYLA'S AND SO WENT THERE AND THEN SARC ON FRIDAY HAD THEIR YACHT, ROCK BOWL AND OYSTER ROAST. THAT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE AS WELL. FUN. AND

[00:45:05]

CENTER. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE GOING. THAT'S WHY I'M. IT'S ON MY CALENDAR. AND ON FRIDAY, MAY 8TH IS THE FAMILY WELLNESS NIGHT AT RIPKEN STADIUM FROM 530 TO 9. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE FLOTILLA IS GOING TO BE AT GUNPOWDER RIVER MARINER PARK AT 9 A.M. IF YOU HAVE A KAYAK, ANY SORT OF WATER DEVICE THAT FLOATS OR IS MOTORED, YOU CAN GO AND ATTEND. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE. IT'S US HONORING THE WATER AND IT'S ALWAYS GIVEN BY MAD ABOUT MUD. AND THEN THAT SAME DAY, NOW ON THE 16TH IS THE SPRING NATIONALS POWERBOAT RACING. THERE WILL BE PARKING AT DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY AND SOME SHUTTLE BUSSES. AND THAT'S ALL FREE. AND BECAUSE WE TIED IT IN WITH OUR MUSIC AT THE POINT THAT WE USUALLY HAVE LATER IN THE YEAR, THERE'S GOING TO BE LIVE MUSIC ALSO THAT DAY, THOSE TWO DAYS GOING ON. SO COME THERE, ALL OF IT'S FREE AND THEN HOPE FOR IN A HOPE IN A HORSESHOE IS HAVING THEIR GRAND OPENING AS WELL ON MAY 16TH. AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOOD TRUCKS FROM 11 TO 3, AND YOU WILL GET TO SEE WHAT THAT FACILITY LOOKS LIKE. AND THAT IS IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. MISS IMHOFF, GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THAT MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO BREAK DOWN STIGMA, HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE ANYONE WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING KNOWS THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND SUPPORTED AND SUPPORT IS OUT THERE. WELL MAY HELPS BRING AN ADDED AWARENESS TO MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT ALL YEAR LONG. BY LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER, CHECKING IN AND KEEPING THESE CONVERSATIONS GOING, WE CAN BUILD A STRONGER AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITY TOGETHER. AS FAR AS EVENTS THAT I'VE ATTENDED. THE HARFORD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY HAD THEIR MONTHLY BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 24TH. WE WERE HERE IN THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS AFTER THAT. ON APRIL 27TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE COMPTROLLER OF MARYLAND, HARFORD COUNTY OFFICE GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING. FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHERE IT IS, IF YOU CAN FIND THE SONIC NEAR THE FESTIVAL, IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE. IT'S ACTUALLY IN A REPURPOSED OLD BANK, SO IT WAS A GREAT USE OF OTHERWISE VACANT PROPERTY, AND THEY ARE THERE TO BE ABLE TO HELP ANSWER ANY TAX QUESTIONS OR OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE IN REGARDS TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. ON APRIL 29TH, WE HAD THE FALLSTON COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING ON MAY 4TH. I WAS ACTUALLY YESTERDAY, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE HARFORD COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION LAW DAY CELEBRATION. THIS IS AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION WHERE THEY HONOR DIFFERENT LAWYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE DEDICATED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF PRO BONO SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PAY FOR REPRESENTATION OR JUST, HONESTLY, CONSULTATIONS AS WELL. THEY DO EVERYTHING FROM FAMILY LAW SITUATIONS TO RENTAL AGREEMENTS TO DISPUTING CRIMINAL CHARGES. AND IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE OFFER HERE. I BELIEVE THE PERSON THAT THEY HONORED FOR HAVING THE MOST PRO BONO HOURS HAD LIKE 700 AND SOME HOURS JUST BY THEMSELVES THIS PAST YEAR. AND THEN THIS MORNING, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FALLEN HERO MEMORIAL SERVICE, WHERE WE UNFORTUNATELY WERE ABLE TO ADD ANOTHER OFFICER TO THE NAMES THAT WE HONOR EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR, WE HONORED SERGEANT GREG DIETZ. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO

[00:50:02]

A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT UP AND TALKED, GAVE A HISTORY ABOUT AIDEN. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO AIDEN. AND YESTERDAY ALSO WAS AT THE LAW DAY. AND ANDREW IT WAS ANDREW HARRIS. HE HAD 750 HOURS. THAT WAS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT HE'S WON THAT AWARD FOR THE MOST PRO BONO HOURS. AND IT'S ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER EAMON GORDON, WHO WAS A PROMINENT LAWYER IN BEL AIR THAT DIED SOME YEARS AGO. ALSO, DID THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S FALLEN HEROES MEMORIAL CEREMONY TODAY. AND THEN THE BOAT RACES AT FLYING POINT PARK. THE REASON THEY'RE FREE IS THAT THEY ARE HAVING SPONSORSHIPS, AND THE SPONSORSHIPS ARE PAYING FOR ALL THE EXPENSES, AND SO THAT THE TICKETS ARE FREE THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR YOU HAD TO PAY TO GET IN. THIS YEAR THEY'RE HAVING SPONSORS. THERE'S STILL SOME SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE. IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR COUNCILWOMAN ROBERT AND WE WILL GET YOU IN TOUCH WITH THEM. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST YEAR THEY'RE HAVING SPONSORSHIPS. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVENT FOR ALL THE SPONSORS ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

THEY'RE HYDROPLANE BOAT RACES. THEY GO ABOUT 140 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, THIS IS A CHANCE TO WATCH THESE BOATS. YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOWN IN KEY WEST OR ANYTHING. SO I WENT LAST YEAR. IT'S A IT'S A GREAT THING. GLAD THAT THEY'RE UP HERE. THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AGAIN, THE WATER IS REALLY SMOOTH AND THEY ENJOY THAT AS WELL. AND I'M GLAD THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY BILL AND HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT THIS TIME, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. RILEY. YEAH, JUST ONE THING. I ALSO WENT TO AN EAGLE SCOUT CHRISTOPHER FROM TROOP 265 AND JARRETTSVILLE. THEY DID A GREAT CELEBRATION. THEY ALSO CELEBRATED OUR 250 AMERICA. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER WARD. THANKS. THANK YOU MISS. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTED MOST OF MY LIST HERE TONIGHT, SO I'LL KEEP IT SHORT. TOMORROW I WILL BE ATTENDING THE GRAND OPENING OF DEMO TO FINISH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE LOCATED IN DISTRICT E ON CHURCHVILLE ROAD. IT'S A NEW CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS MR. BENNETT. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO BE WITH EVERYONE THIS EVENING.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK TO WORK AND TO HAVE EVERYTHING CLEARED UP. AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UP DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE MY MORATORIUM BILL. AS THE PERSON WHO DRAFTED THE BILL, I WANT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. I STARTED DRAFTING THIS MORATORIUM WELL BEFORE THERE WERE EVEN WHISPERS IN THE COMMUNITY OF SOMETHING POTENTIALLY COMING TO MOUNTAIN BRANCH, THE EARLIEST RECORDED MEETING I KNOW OF WITH A COMMUNITY MEMBER ABOUT DATA CENTERS WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2025. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ABOUT DATA CENTERS SINCE BEFORE THAT TIME. I FIRST REACHED OUT TO MISS LG ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND DRAFTING. THE MORATORIUM WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2025, SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOW FACING A POTENTIAL DATA CENTER BEING PROPOSED TO THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY COINCIDENTAL TO THAT WORK, ALTHOUGH I WOULD SAY IT WAS MORE SO ME BEING PROACTIVE AND SEEING READING THE TEA LEAVES AND LOOKING WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND WHY I'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COULD FEEL LIKE CONVENIENT TIMING, BUT IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTION OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO POSTPONE THINGS UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AND MY PLAN IS TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION IN THE COMING WEEKS, AND MISS LG AND I ARE WORKING ON IT TOGETHER TO CALL ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO FORM A WORK GROUP THAT WOULD INCLUDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND SO ON TO A PLANNING AND ZONING PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD AND SO ON TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE VERY BEST

[00:55:06]

[17. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT ]

I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL AND DISRESPECTFUL TO THE COUNCIL, SEEING AS HOW THE CHARTER GIVES THE COUNCIL OVERSIGHT AND FINAL APPROVAL AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET. AND THEN ALSO, AS MISS IMHOFF MENTIONED, MAY 1ST, A DELANEY VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS HONORS OUR FALLEN HEROES, AND THEY REPRESENT AND RECOGNIZE FALLEN HEROES FROM ACROSS THE STATE. BUT HERE LOCALLY TODAY, THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REMEMBERED THEIR FALLEN HEROES, SEVEN OF THEM, I BELIEVE. SO I ATTENDED THAT AND PAY OUR RESPECTS THERE. SO WITH THAT,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.