Jun 02, 2026 County Council

[a. Zoning Board of Appeals Case No. 6002 (Matthew Watson) ]

[00:00:02]

FIVE. FOUR. THREE. TWO. GOOD EVENING. CHAIR. CALLS TO ORDER. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR CASE 6002, MATTHEW WATSON. WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING FOR FINAL ARGUMENT ZONING CASE NUMBER 6002, WHICH WAS REMANDED BY THE HERTFORD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT TO THE HERTFORD COUNTY COUNCIL BOARD OF APPEALS FOR THE SCHEDULING OF A HEARING BEFORE THE HEARING EXAMINER FOR THE PETITIONERS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS-EXAMINE WITNESSES BEFORE. SPECIAL EXCEPTION COULD BE RECOMMENDED AND GRANTED OR DENIED. MR. KEHOE IS ISSUED HIS DECISION ON JUNE 4TH, 2024, RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF SPECIAL EXCEPTION WITH THE CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE APPLICANT MET THE ELEMENTS OF THE ZONING CODE. THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS APPEALED TO COUNCIL SITTING AS THE BOARD OF APPEALS FOR FINAL ARGUMENT. FINAL ARGUMENT WAS HELD AT THE NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 COUNCIL MEETING. COUNCIL VOTED SEVEN ZERO TO AFFIRM AND UPHOLD THE HEARING EXAMINER'S RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THE REMAND HEARING WAS HELD ON APRIL 15TH, 2026, AND THE HEARING EXAMINER SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION WAS RENDERED ON MAY 1ST, 2026. THAT DECISION RECOMMENDED THE APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO ALLOW FOR A GROUP HOME FOR SHELTERED CARE IN THE R-2 URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS FINAL ARGUMENT WAS SCHEDULED PURSUANT TO THE AMENDED COURT ORDER DATED JUNE 3RD, 2025 ISSUED BY JUDGE HOWELL. THIS FINAL ARGUMENT SHALL BE BASED SOLELY ON EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD THAT WAS CREATED AT THE REMAND HEARING, WHICH INCLUDES THE APPLICATION.

ANY DOCUMENTATION SUBMITTED TO THE HEARING EXAMINER. THE RECORDED TESTIMONY RECEIVED AT THE HEARING, THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE HEARING AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL DECISION OF THE HEARING EXAMINER. THE APPLICANT IS HERE THIS EVENING. MATTHEW WATSON AND MR. SNEE, THE PETITIONERS ARE ALSO HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONERS. SO WOULD YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF? RACHEL WATERS. YOU EACH HAVE 15 MINUTES FOR YOUR ARGUMENT AND CAN RESERVE TIME FOR REBUTTAL. THE BOARD WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION THIS EVENING, AND WE WILL TAKE THIS UP AT A LATER DATE. MISS DIXON, ARE YOU READY, MR. SNEED, ARE YOU READY? YES, I AM. MR. PRESIDENT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PETITIONERS ARE THE THE MOVING PARTY IN THE APPEAL. SO THEY WOULD THEY WOULD. MISS WATSON, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? ORDERS. AND WHILE SHE'S COMING FORWARD JOSEPH SNEED JR, 112 SOUTH MAIN STREET, BEL AIR, MARYLAND. TWO 1014. ON BEHALF OF MATTHEW WATSON, TO MY RIGHT IS MEGAN CHAMBERS, MY PARALEGAL WHO WILL BE ASSISTING ME TONIGHT. MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. MISS WATERS.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS OF TO RESERVE REBUTTAL TIME. I THINK SHE CAN LET US KNOW THAT AS SHE GOES THROUGH. WELL, NO, WE NEED TO KNOW NOW BECAUSE THE CLOCK HAS TO ASSESS THAT. I'LL CUT THE CLOCK OFF WHEN SHE'S DONE SPEAKING. IF SHE WANTS TO RESERVE TIME. THAT'S THE WAY WE TYPICALLY DO IT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, NEIGHBORS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS RACHEL WATERS AND I LIVE NEAR THE PROPOSED FACILITY AT 1601 PHILADELPHIA ROAD IN JOPPA. FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HEARINGS, REVIEWED TESTIMONY, SUBMITTED COMMENTS, ASKED QUESTIONS, AND ATTEMPTED TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, RESIDENTS RESIDENTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY RAISED CONCERNS REGARDING TRANSPARENCY, OPERATIONAL READINESS, PUBLIC SAFETY, NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY, AND THE PRESERVATION OF RESIDENTS. RESIDENTIAL ZONING PROTECTIONS. LET ME BEGIN BY MAKING ONE THING CLEAR. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST RECOVERY OR LACKING COMPASSION. SOME RESIDENTS SUPPORT RECOVERY PROGRAMS WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY PLANNED, STAFFED, APPROPRIATELY LOCATED AND OPERATED WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE. BUT THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT IS NOT WHETHER RECOVERY IS IMPORTANT. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THIS SPECIFIC PROPOSAL AT THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS

[00:05:04]

ONE THEME APPEARED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE HEARINGS. RESIDENTS WERE REPEATEDLY ASKED TO TRUST FUTURE STAFFING POLICIES, FUTURE PROCEDURES AND FUTURE OVERSIGHT. BUT ZONING DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED UPON DEMONSTRATED FACTS, NOT FUTURE PROMISES. FIRST, OPERATIONAL READINESS. THROUGHOUT THE HEARINGS, RESIDENTS REPEATEDLY SOUGHT ANSWERS REGARDING WHO WILL SUPERVISE, ENFORCE RULES, RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES, MONITOR COMPLIANCE, AND PROVIDE DAY TO DAY OVERSIGHT. YET MANY OF THOSE ANSWERS REMAIN UNKNOWN TODAY. THE TESTIMONY REVEALED THAT STAFFING HAS NOT BEEN FULLY IDENTIFIED. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THE STAFF WILL BE, WHAT ARE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, WHO WILL PROVIDE SUPERVISION, AND WHO WILL ULTIMATELY BE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS ARISE. NOT APPROVAL SHOULD BE BASED UPON WHAT EXISTS TODAY, NOT UPON ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING WHAT MAY EXIST LATER. ANOTHER CONCERN INVOLVES THE NATURE OF THE OPERATION ITSELF, AND WHETHER IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION BEING RELIED UPON. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY HEARD REFERENCES TO PRN SOLUTIONS LLC OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES, STAFFING STRUCTURES, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND FUTURE PROGRAM OPERATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, HARFORD COUNTY ZONING CODE DEFINES A BOARDING HOME FOR SHELTER CARE AS A NONPROFIT HOME FOR THE CARE OF UNRELATED PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS NOT SIMPLY EVALUATING A BUILDING.

THE COUNCIL IS EVALUATING WHETHER THE PROPOSED USE ACTUALLY FITS WITHIN THE PROPOSED AND INTENT OF THE ZONING CATEGORY BEING RELIED UPON. THE NONPROFIT LANGUAGE WAS INCLUDED FOR A REASON. WHETHER A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT OPERATION FITS WITHIN THAT DEFINITION IS CENTRAL TO DETERMINING WHETHER THIS APPLICATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ZONING CODE. YET THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY HEARD REFERENCES TO A PRIVATE BUSINESS ENTITY OPERATING A RECOVERY RESIDENCE WHILE RECEIVING VERY LITTLE EXPLANATION REGARDING HOW THAT STRUCTURE ALIGNS WITH A ZONING CLASSIFICATION THAT EXPRESSLY REFERENCES A NONPROFIT HOME. THAT RAISES A QUESTION, A LEGITIMATE QUESTION HOW DOES A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS OPERATION ALIGN WITH A ZONING CLASSIFICATION THAT SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES A NONPROFIT SHELTER CARE USE? AT A MINIMUM, RESIDENTS BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE DESERVES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SCRUTINY THAN IT HAS RECEIVED DURING THIS PROCESS. THE COUNCIL SHOULD CLEARLY DETERMINE HOW A FOR PROFIT RECOVERY RESIDENCE FITS WITHIN A ZONING CLASSIFICATION THAT REFERENCES A NONPROFIT HOME BEFORE GRANTING A SPECIAL EXCEPTION. SECOND, TRANSPARENCY AND CREDIBILITY. DURING THE TESTIMONY, RESIDENTS WERE TOLD THAT A TEAM WOULD BE INVOLVED IN CRITICAL DECISIONS REGARDING ADMISSIONS, STAFFING AND OPERATIONS. THAT TESTIMONY SUGGESTED THAT MULTIPLE EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THIS FACILITY. IT WAS ONLY THROUGH EXTENSIVE QUESTIONING THAT RESIDENTS LEARNED THE SO-CALLED TEAM ULTIMATELY APPEARED TO CENTER ON MATTHEW WATSON HIMSELF. RESIDENTS WERE TOLD THERE WAS A TEEN. WE NOW KNOW THE TEAM IS MATTHEW WATSON. THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A 16 PERSON RECOVERY RESIDENCE. WHILE MUCH OF THE DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY APPEARS CONCENTRATED IN A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WITH LITTLE DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE

[00:10:02]

THIRD NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY. THE TESTIMONY ITSELF REVEALED MAJOR OPERATIONAL CONTRADICTIONS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THE ISSUE OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROPOSED USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. YET THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED TELL A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. RESIDENTS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY ON FOOT. RESIDENTS MAY BE DISCHARGED IF THEY DO. RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO AVOID A NEARBY SCHOOL PROPERTY.

ONGOING SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED FOR THESE RESIDENTS. THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY CONDITIONS IMPOSED UPON AN ORDINARY RESIDENTIAL USE. THESE ARE EXTRAORDINARY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BECAUSE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS EXIST REGARDING HOW THIS FACILITY WILL FUNCTION WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. AND THAT RAISES AN IMPORTANT QUESTION IF THIS PROPOSED USE IS TRULY COMPATIBLE WITH AN R-2 RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, WHY ARE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY RESTRICTIONS NECESSARY IN THE FIRST PLACE? THE APPLICANT'S OWN WITNESS ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXISTENCE OF NEARBY CHURCHES, SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITY, CHILDREN AND BUS STOPS. IN FACT, WHEN THE ISSUE OF TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL WAS DISCUSSED, THE WITNESS AGREED THAT THE SCHOOL'S PROXIMITY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND CONSIDERED. THE WITNESS FURTHER TESTIFIED THAT RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT GO ONTO SCHOOL PROPERTY. THAT ADMISSION IS SIGNIFICANT IF RESTRICTIONS ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE A SCHOOL IS NEARBY, THEN THE SCHOOL'S PROXIMITY IS CLEARLY RELEVANT TO THIS APPLICATION. RESIDENTS DID NOT CREATE THAT CONCERN. THE APPLICANT'S OWN WITNESS ACKNOWLEDGED IT UNDER OATH. LIKEWISE, RESIDENTS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THE PROPERTY. THE TESTIMONY ESTABLISHED THAT RESIDENTS ARE NOT PHYSICALLY CONFINED TO THIS FACILITY. IF A RESIDENT LEAVES WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, THE SOLUTION WAS TO DISCHARGE THEM FROM THE PROGRAM. BUT DISCHARGE PROTECTS THE FACILITY. IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. A PERSON WHO LEAVES THE PROPERTY IS STILL A PERSON WHO LEFT THE PROPERTY. THAT REALITY CANNOT SIMPLY BE IGNORED. THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A 16 PERSON RECOVERY RESIDENCE.

WHILE MUCH OF THE DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY APPEARS CONCENTRATED TO A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL WITH LITTLE DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE OPERATING A FACILITY OF THIS SIZE AND COMPLEXITY. THE APPLICANT HAS REPEATEDLY SUGGESTED THAT CONCERNS REGARDING STAFFING LEVELS, RESIDENT MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH STATE REGULATIONS. WHILE MARYLAND MAY INDEED REGULATE AND MONITOR LICENSED RECOVERY RESIDENCES, THAT DOES NOT RELIEVE THE COUNCIL OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO EVALUATE WHETHER THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS SPECIFIC USE BEFORE APPROVAL IS GRANTED. ONCE A FACILITY IS APPROVED AND OPERATING, THE COUNCIL WILL NOT

[00:15:03]

ADMISSIONS DECISIONS. RESIDENTS REMAIN CONCERNED REGARDING ADMISSIONS. THE TESTIMONY ESTABLISHED THAT SOME RESIDENTS MAY HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORIES, AND ADMISSION DECISIONS WOULD ULTIMATELY BE DISCRETIONARY AND HANDLED INTERNALLY. RESIDENTS WERE ASKED AGAIN TO TRUST FUTURE DECISIONS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN FULLY DEFINED. RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THE PUBLIC NOTICE AND DUE PROCESS. EVIDENCE WAS ADMITTED INTO RECORD INCLUDED SIGNAGE THAT MANY RESIDENTS FOUND DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. PUBLIC NOTICE IS NOT A TECHNICALITY. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT COMPONENT OF DUE PROCESS.

RESIDENTS CANNOT RESPOND TO INFORMATION THEY CANNOT READ. ULTIMATELY, THIS MATTER COMES DOWN TO ONE QUESTION HAS THE APPLICANT DEMONSTRATED THAT THIS PROPOSED USE IS COMPATIBLE WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS EXIST TO PROTECT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES? RESIDENTS ARE NOT ASKING FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. WE'RE ASKING FOR EQUAL APPLICATION OF THE ZONING LAWS. WE'RE ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THAT RESIDENTIAL ZONING PROTECTIONS MEAN WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO MEAN. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, AND BECAUSE THE APPLICANT HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THIS PROPOSAL SATISFIES THE STANDARDS NECESSARY TO JUSTIFY A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IN THIS RESIDENTIAL SETTING, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL TO DENY THIS APPLICATION AND PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF RESIDENTIAL ZONING, THE EXPECTATIONS OF SURROUNDING HOMEOWNERS, AND THE CHARACTER OF THE JOPPA COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU MA'AM, YOU'LL HAVE A MINUTE LEFT FOR REBUTTAL IF YOU NEED IT. I'M SORRY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING WITH MR. SNEE HAS DONE, YOU'LL HAVE A MINUTE LEFT. OKAY. TO DO THAT? OKAY. STAND BY.

THANK YOU, MR. DIXON. AGAIN. MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS, JOSEPH ANTHONY JR ON BEHALF OF MR. MIKE JOHNSON. I APOLOGIZE. LET ME START AGAIN. JOSEPH EPSTEIN JR ON BEHALF OF MATTHEW WATSON IS WATCHING REMOTELY. TO MY RIGHT IS MEGAN CHAMBERS ASSISTING ME AS WELL. I REPRESENT MATTHEW WATSON WITH RESPECT TO THIS CASE. IT IS LOCATED AT 1601 PHILADELPHIA ROAD THAT IS IN JOPPA. LET ME SAY AT THE OUTSET, THOUGH, WITH RESPECT TO THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUE TO THE LEFT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE SPECIAL

[00:20:04]

SLIDE THREE. THE PROPERTY IS ZONED OR TWO. IT IS 2.3 ACRES. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE BOTH ARE PREREQUISITES FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPROVAL. IT IS CURRENTLY APPROVED AND IT HAS HELPED OUTBUILDINGS ON IT. WITH RESPECT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION AND RECORD, IT IS KNOWN AS TAX MAP 65, PARCEL 132, AND IT'S LOT TWO. THIS WAS DEEDED BY VIRTUE OF A DEED 13523 FOLIO 212. NOW THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY IS LONG. IT STARTED BACK ON JANUARY 3RD, 2024, WITH THE APPLICATION FOR THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION BY MR. WATSON. AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERY BULLET THERE, BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEXT ONE IN YELLOW. NOVEMBER 5TH. THIS CASE WAS OBVIOUSLY BEFORE THE BOARD OF APPEALS PREVIOUSLY, AND THE BOARD CONSIDERED ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND THE LAW AT THE TIME AND APPROVED THE SPECIAL, SPECIAL EXCEPTION UNANIMOUSLY, SEVEN, FOUR AND ZERO AGAINST. THEN I JUMP TO THE BOTTOM.

DECEMBER 4TH, 2024. AND YOU NOTICE THAT THE BOARD OF APPEALS DECISION WAS A TIMELY APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HARFORD COUNTY. THE RESULT OF THAT CIRCUIT COURT WAS, AS THE PRESIDENT INDICATED, JUDGE HOWELL REMANDING IT TO THE HEARING EXAMINER FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROTESTANTS TO CROSS-EXAMINE THE WITNESSES SO THAT IN FACT OCCURRED ON 5126. AND ON THAT DATE, MR. CAHILL RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. WE'RE HERE WITH THE FINAL ARGUMENT. SOME 881 DAYS AFTER THE INCEPTION OF THIS CASE. NOW I GO TO THE IRAC METHOD AND HEARKENING BACK 45 YEARS AGO TO LAW SCHOOL. THIS IS HOW WE WERE TAUGHT TO ANALYZE IN THE SOCRATIC METHOD A ISSUE OF LAW, AND COME TO THE CORRECT CONCLUSION. YOU SPOT THE ISSUE.

YOU IDENTIFY THE RULE OF LAW, YOU APPLY THE ISSUE TO THAT RULE, AND THEN YOU REACH A CONCLUSION. WITH THAT METHODOLOGY IN PLACE, I'M GOING TO GO FORWARD. AND THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMPLE. SHOULD THE BOARD AFFIRM MR. KEHOE'S RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BOARD OF APPEALS TO ALLOW A GROUP HOME WITH RESPECT TO A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IN THE R2 URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, AND THE ANSWER SHOULD BE AN OVERWHELMING YES. AND HERE'S WHY WE GET INTO THE RULE OF LAW. THE RULE OF LAW IS A BIFURCATED. IT'S A FUNCTION OF COMMON LAW, AND THAT'S THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THE SEMINOLE CASE AND SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS IS SCHULTZ V PRITTS. AND IT ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT IF THE IMPACT HERE IS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE IMPACT IN ANY SIMILARLY SITUATED R2 ZONING IN HARFORD COUNTY, THEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT THE IMPACT HERE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN IT WOULD BE FOR ANY R-2 ZONE IN ANY DISTRICT IN HARFORD COUNTY, AND THAT SCHULTZ V PRITTS. BUT WHAT'S MISSED OFTEN IN THE CASE LAW ANALYSIS ARE WHAT I HIGHLIGHTED IN THE TWO CASES, AND THEY'RE KNOWN AS CRESWELL. CRESWELL IS STANDS FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT LEGISLATIVELY THIS BODY HAS PREDETERMINED THAT THAT USE IS ACCEPTABLE AT THAT LOCATION, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS, AND THOSE CONDITIONS ARE MEANT TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE VICINITY. AND THAT'S WHAT MR. KEHOE DID HERE. HE IMPOSED TEN CONDITIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE REMAND TO ADDRESS MISS WALTERS AND HER NEIGHBORS CONSIDERATIONS. THE OTHER ONE IS AT THE BOTTOM, AND THAT'S THE CROMWELL CASE. AND I QUOTE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION. EXCEPTION CONTEMPLATES A PERMITTED USE. ONCE PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS ARE

[00:25:02]

WITH MR. KO REDUCED TO ITS SIMPLEST TERMS, THE FIRST THREE ARE PERSONS LIVING IN THE AREA, TRAFFIC CONCERNS AND ORDERLY GROWTH. THE NEXT THREE ARE FUMES AND NOISE, EMERGENCY SERVICES AND CONSISTENCY WITH ENGINEERING AND SOUND, LAND USE AND PLANNING PRINCIPLES. AND FINALLY, TO ROUND THAT OUT, THERE'S FOUR MORE INSTITUTIONAL PRESENCE DEVELOPMENT CODE ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PRESERVATION OF LANDMARKS. NOW, EACH OF THOSE ISSUES WAS ADDRESSED BY OUR EXPERT WITNESSES. THERE WAS NO EXPERT WITNESS WITNESSES OFFERED BY THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL WHO APPEARED AND CROSS-EXAMINED THE WITNESSES. I OFFERED TO SUPPORT OUR CASE, AND AS A RESULT, IT STANDS UNREBUTTED. THEN YOU GO TO 26788 WITH RESPECT TO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS, SPECIFIC STANDARDS FOR GROUP HOMES, FOR SHELTER CARE. AND IT HARKENS BACK TO WHAT I JUST SAID. WE NEED A MINIMUM PARCEL ACRE AND WE NEED EIGHT RESIDENTS PER ACRE. AND THEN WE GO BACK TO THE APPLICATION. AND THIS IS THE THIRD LEG OF THE FOUR LEGGED STOOL GROUP HOMES FOR SHELTER CARE. THAT IS THE DEFINITION. EIGHT UNRELATED FOLKS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, WHO ARE OFFERED AND DEMAND AND WILL RECEIVE SERVICES. AND WE WILL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY NEEDED. I DO BELIEVE MISS WALTERS WAS REFERRING TO A BOARDING HOME FOR SHELTERED CARE, WHICH IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH A GROUP HOME FOR SHELTER CARE. BUT I DON'T KNOW WITH RESPECT TO THIS COUNCIL'S USE CHART, WHICH IS LEGISLATIVELY ENACTED, WE ARE IN THE R2 ZONING DISTRICT. YOU CAN DROP DOWN TO SEE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, AND THAT ALLOWS FOR GROUP HOMES FOR SHELTERED CARE. AND AGAIN, THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS JUST ABOVE A PRINCIPAL PERMITTED USE. IT SAYS IT'S PRESUMPTIVELY APPROVED AS LONG AS YOUR IMPACTS ARE NO DIFFERENT HERE THAN THEY WOULD BE IN AN R2 DISTRICT IN HARFORD COUNTY. SO BACK IN APRIL OF 2024, WE CALLED FOR WITNESSES. THEY'RE ALL THERE. IT WAS REMANDED. AND BEFORE IT WAS, THERE WAS NO EXPERT WITNESSES OFFERED BY THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL. THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL WAS OBVIOUSLY IN ATTENDANCE. IT CROSS-EXAMINED THE WITNESSES AND OFFERED NO EXPERTS OF THEIR OWN. SO THE REMAND HEARING THEN OCCURRED APRIL 15TH, 2026. AND THESE ARE QUOTES FROM HEARING EXAMINER KEHOE'S TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE OF RECORD. AND THEN THE SECOND PART FROM HIS FINDINGS OF FACT, THE NEIGHBORS ELECTED TO QUESTION ONLY ONE WITNESS OF THE FOUR THAT WERE RECALLED, AND THAT WAS COURTNEY WONDOLOWSKI. SHE IS, IN FACT, A CONSULTANT FOR THESE TYPES OF USES THAT THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES. AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH MR. WATSON FOR, WELL, WELL OVER WELL TWO YEARS NOW. AND HEARING EXAMINER. KEHOE INDICATED THAT HER TESTIMONY WAS QUITE CLEAR AND NO NEW FACTS WERE RAISED, NO NEW ISSUES WERE RAISED, AND SHE SIMPLY AUGMENTED HER TESTIMONY FROM A YEAR OR TWO YEARS EARLIER, AND SHE WAS, IN FACT, EXAMINED BY THREE FOLKS. MISS DONNA FORSTER AND I WON'T GO INTO ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I THINK I HIGHLIGHTED WHAT MISS WALTERS WAS TOUCHING ON THIS PROGRAM. FACILITY WHEN OPERATIONAL, IF OPERATIONAL,

[00:30:01]

SO MR. KEHOE CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE TESTIMONY OF COURTNEY WONDOLOWSKI WAS CLEAR NO NEW FACTS, NO NEW ISSUES. MR. KEHOE WENT ON TO SUGGEST THAT THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR A GROUP HOME IN THE ARE TO BE APPROVED, SUBJECT TO THOSE CONDITIONS WHICH THE BOARD HAS BEFORE IT, AND I THINK IT GOES OUT OF ITS WAY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO WITH. TO OUR ASK, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE'D ASK THAT THE BOARD REAFFIRM, IF YOU WILL, THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR MR. WATSON TO OPERATE IN HIS R-2 ZONING DISTRICT, A GROUP HOME FOR SHELTERED CARE. AND I WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THE SUMMARY OF THE PREVIOUS TESTIMONY IS THERE FOR THE BOARD'S PERUSAL, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S. NECESSARY TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THAT. BUT IT'S THERE FOR THE BOARD'S CONSUMPTION. SO WITH THAT, I'LL CONCLUDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SNEE. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT FOR REBUTTAL IF YOU NEED IT. THANK YOU, MISS WATERS. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT MISS WANDA LASKEY'S TESTIMONY SHOULD NOT BE FULLY CONSIDERED. SHE WAS BEING COACHED FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM BY MATTHEW WATSON.

THAT IS CLEARLY ON THE RECORD, AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT IF SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT, SHE SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE COACHED FROM ANYONE. SHE SHOULD BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS AGAIN, FROM HER OWN KNOWLEDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO BRING UP THE POINT OF THE SIGNAGE THAT WAS ENTERED INTO EVIDENCE THAT WAS NOT LEGIBLE. NO ONE COULD READ IT.

IT WAS SCRIBBLE, SCRABBLE AND YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT IN YOUR BRIEFING OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE. I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THE PROPER WORDS. WE COULDN'T READ IT, AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INPUT AND PROTEST. FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. I THINK HE CAME FROM OUTER SPACE BECAUSE HE APPEARED ONE DAY AND WE NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. WE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM. IT DIDN'T APPEAR HE WAS WORKING FOR US. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. SNEE. NOTHING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH. AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CASE HEARING, AND WE WILL PICK THIS UP AT A LATER MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON INTO PUBLIC HEARING FOR BILL 26. WE

[00:35:02]

[a. Bill 26-007 (Revise Prior Year Bond Bills) ]

AND WE'RE ABLE TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS, YOU KNOW, TO OTHER NEW PROJECTS. AND THIS IS ALL TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED TO YOU EARLIER THIS THIS THIS YEAR, FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF THESE ARE JUST SOME SMALL CLEANUPS. THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL ONE IS THAT THE HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAD SOME SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS. AND AFTER CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REALLOCATE MOST OF THOSE FUNDS. ABOUT 3.5 MILLION OF THOSE REMAINING FUNDS TO THEIR GENERAL HVAC PROJECT, WHICH THEY'LL BE USING FOR THE EDGEWOOD MIDDLE HVAC REPLACEMENT. THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER SMALL CHANGES THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING AS WELL, LARGELY JUST DEALING WITH OTHER THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS REQUESTED. AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER CLEANUP ONES ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE, MOSTLY JUST FIXING A KIND OF A CLERICAL ERROR THAT WE HAD WHERE WE IDENTIFIED THE SAME PROJECT TWICE, WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO WE WERE JUST JUST CLEANING THAT UP. AND ACTUALLY THAT JUST COMPLIES WITH WHAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD IN THE, IN THE BUDGETS. SO I CAN LET OUR BOND COUNCIL DISCUSS WHAT'S HAPPENING LEGALLY. YEAH, SURE. THANKS, ROBBIE. SO THIS BILL REPEALS AND REENACTS WITH AMENDMENTS, CERTAIN SECTIONS OF LEGISLATION THAT YOU'VE PREVIOUSLY ENACTED HERE AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL IN 2023 AND 2024, AS ROBBIE SAID, THIS IS JUST A REALLOCATION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, FUNDS TO REDUCE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUDGETS THAT HE'S ALREADY TALKED ABOUT. SO THE SPECIFIC BILLS BEING MODIFIED HERE TONIGHT ARE BILL NUMBER 23-20, BILL NUMBER 24-27 AND BILL NUMBER 24-28. SO YOU'LL ADOPT THE YOU'LL ADOPT THE BILL. WE'LL REALLOCATE THE BOND PROCEEDS TO TO THE PROJECTS. AND THAT'LL BE THAT. THANKS, CHRIS. COUNCIL. MR. GIORDANO. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN. SO THE MONEY, THE MONEY FROM THE HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE 3.5 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO GO TO THE. EACH EDGEWOOD FOR THE HVAC PROGRAM. WAS THEIR MONEY ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR THAT HVAC PROGRAM? HVH THERE ARE THERE IS SOME THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THAT THEY HAVE. I BELIEVE THAT PROJECT IS 7 OR $8 MILLION PROJECT. SO THIS DOESN'T COVER ALL OF IT. SO THEY HAD OTHER FUNDS ALREADY WITHIN THAT PROJECT. AND ACTUALLY THERE'S SOME LATER AMENDMENTS LATER ON TODAY.

THAT'S ALSO, I THINK, MOVING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS. BUT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE THOSE THINGS WHERE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS HVAC NEEDS AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE ABLE TO ACCUMULATE FUNDS. AND THEN WHEN THEY HAVE SOME MORE SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS IN THIS REGARD, THEY WERE ABLE TO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF FULLY FUND THAT PROJECT. NORMALLY AN HVAC PROJECT LIKE THAT, WE WOULD ALSO HAVE STATE PARTICIPATION ON. I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS BECAUSE THE HARTFORD ACADEMY PROJECT IS SO LARGE, IT'S BASICALLY KIND OF SUCKING ALL THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM.

AND MONIES THAT MIGHT HAVE IN THE PAST FROM THE STATE COULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE USED TOWARDS THOSE TYPES OF HVAC PROJECTS. NOW THE COUNTY IS HAVING TO FULLY FUND BOTH PARTIALLY WITH NEW MONEY, BUT THEN ALSO WITH SOME OF THESE EXISTING SAVINGS OFF OF THE HOMESTEAD PROJECT. AND WHEN DOES THAT PROJECT START? ANY IDEA THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD PROBABLY BE. BUT GENERALLY, LIKE THOSE HVAC PROJECTS, THEY. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ALWAYS OFTENTIMES WORRIED ABOUT HOW LATE THE SCHOOL YEAR GOES BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY WANT TO START THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY CAN BE FINISHED UP DURING SUMMER, DURING THE SUMMER. BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT SHOULD BE STARTING. IT SHOULD BE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STARTING THIS SUMMER OR THE FOLLOWING SUMMER, BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE TO BID IT AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT WILL LARGELY BE A SUMMER SUMMER PROJECT. THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? MISS DIXON, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP? THERE IS NO ONE SIGNED UP, MR. PRESIDENT. ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOR 26007. AND WE'LL LOOK AT

[b. Bill 26-008 (Bond Authorization-CPI) ]

[00:40:01]

IF WE ARE GOING TO INCUR EXPENDITURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PAID BACK WITH FUTURE WITH FUTURE BONDS. AND THE IDEA REALLY BEHIND THIS IS, IS THAT FUTURE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THESE, THESE BILLS. SO THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL. IT'S NOT PART OF THAT, THAT ANNUAL THAT ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION PROCESS. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 26 PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED WITH BONDS. THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL, OF COURSE, IS THE IS THAT NEW HARTFORD ACADEMY PROJECT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE 55 MILLION. SO OF THE TOTAL OF 156 MILLION, A THIRD OF THAT IS FOR THE NEW HARTFORD ACADEMY PROJECT. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE PROJECT. IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT $175 MILLION, WITH 50 MILLION OF IT COMING FROM THE STATE AND 125 COMING FROM THE COUNTIES. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE ALSO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE WHITFORD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, NEW NEW STATION.

THAT'S JUST SHY OF 14 MILLION. A LOT OF FUNDING IN HERE FOR STORM WATER IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S BECOME A VERY EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR IN COMPLYING WITH THOSE. EPA AND MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS ALSO, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, SITE ACQUISITIONS, ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS, TURF FIELDS, REPLACEMENTS. SO AGAIN, ABOUT 26 PROJECTS, WHICH ARE ALL DETAILED OUT. AND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ALL IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED TO THE TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THAT HAS BOND FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AND I'LL LET OUR BOND COUNCIL DISCUSS. YEAH. THANKS, ROBBIE.

SO BILL 26-008 AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY TO ISSUE ITS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. AS ROBBIE SAID, THE AMOUNT IS 156,380,000 THIS YEAR. AND I'LL JUST GO SECTION BY SECTION JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBING WHAT THEY SAY. SO SECTION ONE OF THE BILL DESCRIBES ALL THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ROBBIE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2027 AND THE RESPECTIVE AMOUNTS TO BE FUNDED. SECTIONS TWO AND THREE OF THE BILL PROVIDE THAT PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS, THE COUNTY COUNCIL SHALL DETERMINE BY ADMINISTRATIVE RESOLUTION THE ESSENTIAL TERMS. SO WE SOME OF MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS ALREADY. LATER IN THE YEAR WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO SELL THE BONDS, WE'LL BRING A FURTHER RESOLUTION TO YOU TO ADOPT AT THAT TIME. SO SECTION TWO AND THREE SET FORTH THE INTEREST RATE ON THE BONDS SECTIONS FOUR THROUGH EIGHT, 14 AND 15, AND 20 OF THE BILL FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE COUNCIL, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY TREASURER, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO PROCEED WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS TO ADOPT ANY SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE SALE AND DELIVERY IN 2027. SO SECTION NINE OF THE BILL PROVIDES A MAXIMUM MATURITY OF 20 YEARS FOR THE BONDS AND SETS FORTH THE ANTICIPATED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL WHEN WE ACTUALLY SELL THE BONDS. THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES THE FORM OF THE BOND SUBJECT TO YOUR MODIFICATION AT YOUR DISCRETION. SECTION 11 OF THE BILL CONTAINS THE FORM OF THE BONDS THEMSELVES. 12 AND 13 DESCRIBE THE ADVERTISING PROCESS AND THE FORM OF THE NOTICE OF SALE WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY AGES EVERY YEAR ADVERTISING THE BOND SALE IN 2027. THESE SECTIONS ALSO INCLUDE THE FORM OF THE ISSUE PRICE CERTIFICATE AND THE FORM CERTIFICATE OF THE COUNTY'S MUNICIPAL ADVISOR, DAVENPORT AND COMPANY AND JEN DIRKSEN.

SIX AND 16 OF THE BILL STATES THAT THE EXTENT THAT RECORDATION AND TRANSFER TAXES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PAY DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS, THE COUNTY'S FULL FAITH AND CREDIT AND TAXING POWER ARE PLEDGED TO SECURE THE REPAYMENT OF THE BONDS. SECTION 18 OF THE BILL AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY TO REIMBURSE ITSELF FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE BONDS FOR MONEYS PREVIOUSLY SPENT ON THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THAT'S THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS. ROBBIE TALKED ABOUT THE COUNTY COVENANTS THAT THIS REIMBURSEMENT SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TAX EXEMPT BOND REGULATIONS ISSUED BY THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES, IN COORDINATION WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. COUNTY ALSO, COVENANTS THAT WILL NOT TAKE ANY ACTION WHICH WILL CAUSE THE INTEREST ON THE BONDS TO BECOME FEDERALLY TAXABLE UNDER THOSE REGS. I JUST TALKED ABOUT SECTION 19 OF THE BILL COVERS ADDITIONAL TAX COVENANTS OF THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE PUT IN THE TAX CERTIFICATE THAT YOU SIGN WHEN THE BONDS ARE ACTUALLY CLOSED. WE CLOSE ON THE DEAL. AND THEN FINALLY SECTION 21 IS STANDARD SEVERABILITY PROVISION THAT SAYS IF ANY OTHER ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL ARE BECOME ILLEGAL OR INOPERABLE, THE REST OF THE BILL STAYS ACTIVE. SO THAT'S THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE BILL. ROBBIE'S TALKED ABOUT THE PROJECTS, AND I THINK WE'RE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN. ANY QUESTIONS. YEAH. AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF OF THIS DEBT.

IT DOESN'T REALLY BECOME REAL AND BECOME REAL DEBT SERVICE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SELL THE BONDS. AND BECAUSE OF THE COUNTY'S KIND OF STRONG FINANCIAL FOOTING, WE ARE GENERALLY ABLE TO REIMBURSE OURSELVES. SO WE DON'T RUN INTO ARBITRAGE ISSUES AND THE LIKE BY HAVING TO KIND OF FORWARD FUND BONDS AND THEN MEET ALL THE IRS FOR REQUIREMENTS. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE JUST COMMITTING OURSELVES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IF WE DO OPT TO, TO SELL BONDS IN THE FUTURE FOR THESE, FOR THESE PROJECTS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO. SO. AND

[00:45:04]

[1. CALL TO ORDER ]

PLEDGE OF 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.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER HERE TODAY AS WE UNDERTAKE THE WORK BEFORE US. GRANT US THE WISDOM TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS, PATIENCE TO LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY OF PURPOSE AS WE SEEK WHAT IS BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS WE REPRESENT.

HELP US LEAD WITH FAIRNESS, COMPASSION, AND RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, EVEN WHEN OPINIONS

[4. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS ]

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

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT. BUILDING CODE. BOARD OF APPEALS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS OF MICHAEL W JONES AND JOHN A KILLIAN. HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. SECOND, TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS FOR BUILDING CODE. ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MRS. ROBERT I MRS. EMHOFF I MR. I MR. RILEY I MRS. SADDLES I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE HEREBY APPROVED AND MAY I MAY I SAY, BEFORE I MOVE FORWARD. MR. BENNETT IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.

HE HAD A HEALTH ISSUE WITH HIS WIFE, AND HE'S AT HOME WITH THE FAMILY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF CAROL WRIGHT? I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND? THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. MOVED A SECOND TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

CHAIRPERSON, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, I MR. MRS. ROBERT I MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. GIORDANO I MR. RILEY I MRS. SADDLES I FOR SIX IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ONE

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

[10. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS ]

LEGISLATIVE DAY 26-0 17TH MAY 2626. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS, THE MINUTES STAND APPROVED. EIGHT INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS. WE HAVE NONE. NINE INTRODUCTION OF BILLS WE HAVE NONE. TEN INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS. MR. EMHOFF, PLEASE READ AMENDMENT FIVE TO BILL 26006.

AMENDMENT FIVE TO BILL 26006 ON PAGE 12. LINE FIVE. STRIKE 245,008,863 AND SUBSTITUTE 247,333,863. THANK YOU. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED THIS EVENING.

SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO BILL 26 S 006. THANK YOU. MAY HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT FIVE TO BILL. 26006. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

[00:50:18]

AMENDMENT NUMBER 14 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES FIVE AND SIX, INSERT THE FOLLOWING BLUEPRINT.

FACILITY PROGRAM 250,000 TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT BLUEPRINT FACILITY PROGRAM AMENDMENT NUMBER 15 ON PAGE 35. IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000 AND SUBSTITUTE 3,250,000 TO REALLOCATE 250,000 PRIOR BONDS. AMENDMENT NUMBER 16 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE EIGHT.

STRIKE 5 MILLION. SUBSTITUTE 4,642,493. TO DECREASE PRIOR BONDS. IN THE AMOUNT OF 3,057,507 TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT. HCPS SITE IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT NUMBER 17 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE 3,142,493 TO REALLOCATE.

357,507 A PRIOR BONDS AMENDMENT NUMBER 18 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES EIGHT AND NINE. INSERT THE FOLLOWING HARFORD TECH HIGH SCHOOL LIMITED RENOVATION PROJECT 1 MILLION. TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT, HARFORD TECH HIGH SCHOOL LIMITED RENOVATION PROJECT AMENDMENT NUMBER 19 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE 4,500,000 TO REALLOCATE 1 MILLION. OF PRIOR BONDS. AMENDMENT NUMBER 20 ON PAGE 37 AND BETWEEN LINES SIX AND SEVEN. INSERT THE FOLLOWING EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PROGRAM 364,996. TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PROGRAM AMENDMENT NUMBER 21 ON PAGE 35. IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE 3,864,996. TO REALLOCATE. 364,996 A PRIOR BONDS AMENDMENT NUMBER 22 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES FIVE AND SIX. INSERT THE FOLLOWING ATHLETIC AND RECREATION REPAIR IMPROVEMENTS 150,000. TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT. ATHLETIC AND RECREATION REPAIR IMPROVEMENTS. AMENDMENT NUMBER 23. ON PAGE 35.

[00:55:16]

SUBSTITUTE 3,650,000 TO REALLOCATE 150,000 OF PRIOR BONDS. AMENDMENT NUMBER 24 ON PAGE 37 BETWEEN LINES EIGHT AND NINE, INSERT THE FOLLOWING HARFORD, GLENN P 200,000 TO ADD TO THE. TO ADD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. CAPITAL. PROJECT. HARFORD, GLENN PIER. AMENDMENT NUMBER 25 ON PAGE 35. IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE 3,700,000 TO REALLOCATE 200,000 PRIOR BONDS. AMENDMENT NUMBER 26 ON PAGE 37 IN LINE TEN. STRIKE 7,500,000.

SUBSTITUTE 8,500,000. TO INCREASE PRIOR BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PROJECT. MAJOR HVAC AMENDMENT NUMBER 27 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12.

STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE 4,500,000 TO REALLOCATE 1 MILLION OF PRIOR BONDS.

AMENDMENT NUMBER. 28 ON PAGE 35 IN LINE 12. STRIKE 3,500,000. SUBSTITUTE ZERO TO REALLOCATE 3,500,000 PRIOR BONDS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I THINK BEFORE WE MOVE ON, AND I KNOW THAT OUR FOLKS FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE ARE HERE, AND TREASURY, THEY'LL HELP EXPLAIN WHY THESE AMENDMENTS ARE JUST COMING TO US AT THE LAST MINUTE BETWEEN THEM AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. MR. LLOYD, MISS SULLIVAN, MR. SANDERS, MR. OVERBAY TO. MR. WE CAN FIND A FOURTH ONE IF WE NEED. IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

AND JUST FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY, COUNCIL DIDN'T RECEIVE THESE UNTIL I THINK, FRIDAY AND THEN WORKED DILIGENTLY YESTERDAY WITH ALL OF YOU AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO GET THEM TO WHERE WE COULD INTRODUCE THEM TONIGHT. SO YEAH, SO THESE AMENDMENTS REFLECT THE BOARD OF ED'S APPROVED PLAN TO MOVE PRIOR BOND FUNDING OUT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER TO BE CLOSED, THAT HAVE EXCESS FUNDING OR THAT ARE BEING REPRIORITIZED. AND THEN IT MOVES FUNDS INTO PROJECTS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS IDENTIFIED. YEAH. AND I GUESS JUST TO DISCUSS THE THE PROCESS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAD IDENTIFIED THESE PROJECTS AS, AS HAVING EXCESS FUNDS OR ABLE TO BE CLOSED AND NEEDED TO PRESENT THEM TO THEIR, TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BOARD. AND KIND OF, I THINK DUE TO TIMING, YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE THEM TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BOARD, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH AFTER THE POINT THAT THAT WE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO. THERE WAS A BIT OF AN OVERLAP. THEY WEREN'T COMFORTABLE. WE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AND WE WERE BASICALLY SAYING, WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE IF WE JUST INCLUDED THESE IN? AND THEY WERE LIKE, NO, WE WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL OUR BOARD APPROVAL, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, GIVING DEFERENCE TO THEIR TO THEIR BOARD, IF THEY HAD ANY CHANGES OR IF THEY WOULDN'T APPROVE THEM. AND SO WE KIND OF JUST THIS IS ONE OF THE DIFFICULTY THINGS OF THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET IS, HAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND, AND REALLY TAKES SEVERAL WEEKS TO REALLY KIND OF FINALIZE. AND SO I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT, WE, WE FOUND OURSELVES IN THAT SITUATION AND WE WEREN'T SURE EXACTLY IF THEY WERE, IF THEY INTENDED FOR THESE CHANGES TO BE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR CHANGES, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THAT OPTION, WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT THEY WERE FISCAL YEAR 26 CHANGES, OR IF THEY WERE FISCAL YEAR 27. AND THEN UPON, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THEY WANTED THESE TO BE FISCAL YEAR 27 CHANGES, WHICH IS WHY THEY WERE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WILL BE BE VOTED ON IN IN A FUTURE WEEK. AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMING FORTH AS AMENDMENTS. HAD THEY BEEN CURRENT YEAR CHANGES, IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN KIND OF A CURRENT YEAR VOTE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU WILL NOTICE THAT A LOT OF THE THE PROJECTS WERE MOVING PRIOR YEAR BONDS. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER WITH THAT PRIOR YEAR BOND BILL, WHICH IS THAT WE HAD BONDS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE PROJECTS, MOST NOTABLY HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, BUT ALSO SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE NOW MOVING TO OTHER PROJECTS. AND SO NOT ONLY ARE WE MOVING APPROPRIATION THROUGH THAT OTHER ACTION, WE'RE ALSO MOVING BOND AUTHORITY. SO I JUST APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'VE ALL HAD IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO BRING THIS TOGETHER, MR. JORDAN. SO WHY WOULD THEY WHY WOULD THEY DO IT FOR NEXT YEAR? NOT THIS YEAR. IS THERE A SIGNIFICANCE IN THAT? IS THAT THEIR DECISION OR YOUR DECISION, OR IS IT JUST IT'S ULTIMATELY THEIR THEIR DECISION? YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE LARGELY APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS TO THEM, WE GENERALLY DON'T TAKE ANY ACTIONS UNTIL THEY, THEY, THEY INITIATE. AND BECAUSE OF STATE LAW AND HOW THE BOARD OF ED IS A IS A SEPARATE BODY, WHEREAS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF IT WAS, SAY, A PARKS AND REC PROJECT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, IT WE LARGELY DEFER TO THEM. BUT HARFORD COUNTY, YOU KNOW, BY, BY VIRTUE OF BEING THE THE FUNDING AUTHORITY AND THEN ALSO OTHER PARTS OF STATE LAW MEANS THAT WE'RE WE ARE A PART OF IT. AND

[01:00:04]

OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S A IF IT'S A IF IT'S IF IT'S A CURRENT YEAR TRANSFER, THEY HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU AND YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THAT TRANSFER. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT REFLECTED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT THROUGH THE AMENDMENT PROCESS. AND WE'VE SEEN BOTH IN THE PAST, BUDGET TRANSFERS COME FROM BEFORE US, BEFORE. SO I'M GOOD. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WOULD THAT ANSWER HE GAVE ME I MEAN, I GOT. WELL, THANKS AGAIN FOR EXPLAINING THE PROCESS, MISS DIXON. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON THESE COUNCIL MOTION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 13. THANK YOU. SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. ROWLEY. NO. 6 TO 28, THE BUDGET BILL. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE SIX THROUGH 28 ON THE BUDGET BILL. OF 26006 I SECOND DIDN'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. SORRY. THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON? YEAH. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO? THAT WAS A LOT OF READING. I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME INITIALLY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. NO, I KNOW THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I TOOK THE TIME TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU DID NOT HAVE WHAT YOU NEEDED IN FRONT OF YOU. MISS DIXON. MR. PRESIDENT, I, MRS. ROBERT I, MRS. EMHOFF, I MR. GIORDANO, I MR. RILEY. HI. MRS. I THERE BEING SIX VOTES IN AFFIRMATIVE ONE ABSENT AMENDMENTS SIX THROUGH 28 TO BILL 26006 IS HEREBY APPROVED. NOW, MR. GIORDANO, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE READ AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 13. OKAY. TO BILL 26008. AMENDMENTS ONE, TWO, ONE THROUGH 13 TO BILL 26008 BOND AUTHORIZATION CPI. INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT VICENTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AMENDMENT ONE ON THE TITLE PAGE STRAIGHT, BEGINNING WITH ONE AND THE THIRD LINE OF THE TITLE PARAGRAPH DOWN THROUGH 1 MILLION. I'M SORRY, 156,380,000. IN THE FOURTH LINE OF THE TITLE PARAGRAPH AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000.

AMENDMENT TWO ON PAGE TWO. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE IN LINE, FIVE DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000 IN LINE SIX, AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE ON PAGE THREE. STRIKE 1,000,500 AND 156,380,000 IN LINE SIX AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000.

AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR ON PAGE FOUR, IN THE FIFTH LINE OF THE CHART. STRIKE SITE ACQUISITION 10 MILLION IN SUBSTITUTE SITE ACQUISITION 5 MILLION. AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE ON PAGE SIX, IN THE EIGHTH LINE OF THE CHART, STRIKE 156,380,000 AND SUBSTITUTE TOTAL 151,380,000.

AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX ON PAGE SIX. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE LINE ONE IN LINE THREE DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000 IN LINE FOUR. AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN ON PAGE 13. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE IN LINE 17 DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000 IN LINE 17 AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT ON PAGE 14. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH SEVEN IN LINE, ONE DOWN THROUGH 7,819,000 IN LINE TWO. AND SUBSTITUTE 7,569,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE ON PAGE 14. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE LINE IN LINE SIX DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000 IN LINE SIX. AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER TEN ON PAGE 41 IN LINE 16 STRIKE, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 156,380,000. AND SUBSTITUTE, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER 11 ON PAGE 43. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE IN LINE, 22 DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000. ON PAGE 44 IN LINE ONE AND SUBSTITUTE 151,000,300 AND 151,380,000. AMENDMENT NUMBER 12 ON PAGE 45. STRIKE BEGINNING WITH ONE IN LINE 16 DOWN THROUGH 156,380,000 IN LINE 17 AND SUBSTITUTE 151,380,000.

[01:05:02]

THANK YOU. ROBBIE, YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS. SO THIS IS AMENDMENTS TO THE THE NEW BOND BILL THAT WE JUST RECENTLY RECENTLY JUST HAD A COUPLE MINUTES AGO, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR, AS I STATED BEFORE, WITHIN THE BUDGET, WE WE ASSIGN NEW BONDS OR NEW DEBT TO VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS. THE COUNTY COUNCIL OPTED TO REDUCE THE. ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, THE SITE ACQUISITION PROJECT, FROM $10 MILLION TO $5 MILLION. AND WHILE THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATION ARE DISAPPOINTED IN BECAUSE THAT'S. FUNDING FOR SCHOOL SITE ACQUISITION AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR OTHER FOR OTHER, OTHER ESSENTIAL PROJECTS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOND BILL BE LINKED AND SYNONYMOUS WITH THE WITH THE BUDGET THAT IS PASSED. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE CHANGES. SO LARGELY, JUST WHAT THIS DOES IS IT TAKES THE SITE ACQUISITION PROJECT FROM $10 MILLION, REDUCES IT TO FIVE, AND THEN TAKES THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF OF BONDED DEBT FROM 156, 380 TO 151 380, WHICH DOES JUST GO TO SHOW THAT WHEN WE, WHEN YOU DO MAKE A SOMETIMES A SMALL CHANGE IN THE BUDGET, OR AT LEAST WHAT WOULD YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE A SMALL CHANGE. IT DOES HAVE THIS RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT ALL THESE BITS OF LEGISLATION WHICH REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, AMENDMENTS, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS FOR THIS ONE CHANGE. BUT THEN THIS WILL MAKE THIS THE BOND BILL LINKED TO THE BUDGET AS IT IS CURRENTLY BEEN AMENDED. THANK YOU, MR. SANDERS.

ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ROBBIE? WHAT IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS? WELL, IT IS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT THE BOND BILL BE LINKED. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE BOND BILL, I UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANT. MY QUESTION IS WHAT IF WE DON'T? WELL, BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH BONDS, WE'RE WE'RE ALMOST DEALING WITH SOMETIMES A HIGHER AUTHORITY.

AND THE HIGHER AUTHORITY IS THE IRS. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE SELLING TAX EXEMPT BONDS. AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT TAX EXEMPT STATUS, THERE ARE CERTAIN HOOPS YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH. AND ONE IS THAT IT KIND OF GOES THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. HERE'S MY QUESTION. THERE ARE TWO OF US THAT OPPOSED THAT FIVE $5 MILLION TRANSFER. YES. IF WE VOTE NO ON THIS, DOES THAT NEGATE THAT $5 MILLION TRANSFER? I THINK THAT NO, IT DOES NOT NEGATE THAT ACTION. WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEN IS YOU WOULD HAVE A BOND BILL THAT IS NOT LINKED TO THE PAST BUDGET, AND THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, FROM A BOND AUTHORITY, A BOND ISSUANCE STANDPOINT WHEN THE TIME COMES TO ISSUE THOSE BONDS. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS THESE THESE CUTS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THAT THE TWO BITS OF LEGISLATION ARE LINKED SO THAT WE DON'T JEOPARDIZE ANY OF THAT, ANY OF THAT IRS DESIGNATION. BECAUSE IF WE HAD TO SELL TAXABLE BONDS INSTEAD OF TAX EXEMPT BONDS, INSTEAD OF SELLING FOR 3.5%, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE SELLING FOR 5%, 6%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATE THINGS, WHICH IS AGAIN, WHY WE CAME FORWARD WITH THESE THESE THESE AMENDMENTS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IN THE IN THE MICRO SENSE, YOU DON'T SUPPORT THAT THAT REDUCTION. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOND BILL BE LINKED TO THE THAT THE BOND BILL BE LINKED TO THE BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO BE PASSED. SO NOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? I DON'T I DON'T KNOW, I, I CAN'T NECESSARILY SAY, BUT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THE BOND SALE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFTENTIMES REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TAKE CONSIDERABLE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS, IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH, WITH HOW HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. SO.

MR. GINGER. DANA. SO IS THE IRS GOING TO COME AFTER YOU OR ME? MAYBE ALL OF US. AND WE CAN ALL SHARE. WE CAN ALL SHARE A CELL. AND I'M NOT SHARING A CELL. BUT SECOND QUESTION, WHAT WAS? ME AND PAT WERE TALKING BEFORE THE BOND SALE IN FEBRUARY. WHAT WAS OUR RATE? WAS IT 3.1? NO, IT WAS ABOUT, I BELIEVE ABOUT THREE AND A THREE AND A HALF. YEAH. THREE AND A HALF OR THREE.

NO. OR WAS IT THREE AND A QUARTER. IT WAS THREE. THREE AND A QUARTER OR THREE AND A HALF. I THINK IT WAS THREE AND A QUARTER OR 3.3. SO WE CONTINUE TO GET REALLY, REALLY STRONG RATES EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, IN THIS INFLATIONARY KIND OF PERIOD THAT WE'RE IN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE A TRIPLE A RATED COUNTY. YOU KNOW, WE JUST SAW THIS WEEK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WELL, THEY FIRED ONE OF THEIR THEIR RATING AGENCIES, MOODY'S, BECAUSE IT DOWNGRADED THEM. AND THEN THEY, THEY CHOSE SOMEBODY ELSE. BUT THEN S&P GAVE THEM A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK. AND NORMALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IS ONCE YOU GET A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK FIRST AND THEN THEY, THEY REASSIGN YOU, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DON'T WE WE DON'T HAVE ANY NEGATIVE OUTLOOKS. AND WE HAVE A STRONG TRIPLE A RATING. AND AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT

[01:10:04]

SO WHEN WE LIKE THIS PAST YEAR, I THINK WE SOLD 100 AND EITHER 105 OR $110 MILLION. SO AS I STATED BEFORE, LIKE WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE BUDGET IN THE BUDGET ISN'T NECESSARILY WHAT THE BOND SALE IS GOING TO BE, BECAUSE WE ONLY DO IT WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE EXPENDITURES. BUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE WERE ONLY BUDGETING 40 OR $50 MILLION, AND THEN THE PRICE OF BUILDINGS TRIPLED. SO NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE BONDING $150 MILLION. SO WHILE WE MAY NOT SELL $150 MILLION NEXT YEAR, WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS, EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO SELL THAT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DOES IT DOES IT HAVE AN IMPACT? I THINK WHEN YOU GET INTO REALLY BIG SALES, WHEN YOU GET INTO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME INVESTORS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BID ON THAT.

SO MAYBE YOU ONLY HAVE SOME OF THE MORE LARGER INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS. YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU ONLY HAVE THE THE BANK OF AMERICA'S AND THE, THE CHASE AND THE LIKE. AND MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES. WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD SPOT WITH KIND OF IN THIS SELLING AROUND 100 MILLION, WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GET 14, 15 BIDDERS AND GET REALLY STRONG RATES, OFTENTIMES BETTER THAN OTHER TRIPLE A RATED COUNTIES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU OUR BOND SALE IS LINKED TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT'S APPROVED. AND IF THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY, THE HARFORD ACADEMY, THE WHITEFORD FIRE STATIONS, YOU KNOW, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TO DO, LIKE THE STORMWATER PROJECTS.

THEN EVENTUALLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. SO AND LAST QUESTION, DO YOU FORECAST NEXT YEAR TO WHAT AMOUNT FOR ANY IDEA YET? NO. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF YOU KIND OF LOOK AT HOW I MEAN, INTEREST RATES WERE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TICKING UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT FEELS LIKE NOW EVERYTHING CHANGES WEEK TO WEEK, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT USED TO BE LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TREND. AND IT'S LIKE THIS WEEK, IT'S THIS, THIS WEEK IT'S THAT, I MEAN, SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO DEPEND UPON THE SITUATIONS THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT HARFORD COUNTY, UNLIKE THE STATE, IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS TRIPLE A BOND RATING THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE STRONG RESERVES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST RATE POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S 3.25 OR IT'S THREE AND A HALF. I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE LARGELY MARKET DEPENDENT.

BUT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET VERY STRONG COMPETITIVE RATES. THANK YOU.

AND WE'VE CONTINUED OUR TRIPLE A BOND RATING SINCE 2012. CORRECT. YEAH. ABOUT A YEAR OR SO BEFORE I, I, YOU KNOW, I CAME ON BOARD, SO 2000 LAST YEAR, LIKE THE LAST YEAR OR SOMETHING OF THE OF THE CRAIG ADMINISTRATION. SO YEAH, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT, THAT RATING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THROUGH GREAT, YOU KNOW, SOME THROUGH SOME TRYING ECONOMIC TIMES, PANDEMICS AND THE LIKE. OKAY. SO AGAIN, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THESE AMENDMENTS AND TIMING, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THEM TONIGHT. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I MOVE TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 13 TO BILL 26008 TO BILL 26008.

SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THESE AMENDMENTS ONE THROUGH 13. IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION, MISS DIXON? MR. PRESIDENT, HI, MRS. ROBERT. HI, MRS. EMHOFF. HI, MR. GIORDANO. NO. MR. RILEY. HI. MRS. WILSON. I WITH FIVE VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ONE NEGATIVE, ONE ABSENT AMENDMENTS, ONE THROUGH 13 TO BILL 26, 008 ARE HEREBY APPROVED. AND, COUNCIL, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE BACK TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. MR. ROBERT HAS LET ME KNOW THAT HER PERSON IS IN. YES. SO IF YOU'D STEP DOWN. THANK YOU. ROBBIE.

OKAY. HERE WE GO. WHEREAS JUNE IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH APHASIA AND TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES. APHASIA IS A COMMUNICATION DISORDER AFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE. IT IMPAIRS A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PROCESS LANGUAGE, INCLUDING SPEAKING, UNDERSTANDING, READING AND WRITING, AND MOST COMMONLY RESULTS FROM STROKE, BRAIN INJURY, OR BRAIN TUMOR. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL APHASIA ASSOCIATION NAA IS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH APHASIA TO FULLY ENGAGE IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE, PROVIDING

[01:15:01]

YOU DID. AND JESSICA IS A WAS AN EDGEWOOD RESIDENT, WENT TO EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. SHE REACHED OUT TO ME AS SHE'S PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, NATIONAL APHASIA ASSOCIATION AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. AND WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO WAS REALLY EDUCATE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT COMMUNICATION ISSUES CAN OCCUR AS IT RELATES TO STROKE, AS IT RELATES TO BRAIN INJURY, OR ANY OTHER NEUROLOGICAL ISSUES THAT MAY OCCUR. AND SO THAT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. AND SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS ARE WHO WE CALL ON, WHO ARE DEDICATED TO DO THAT WORK. AND THERE'S NOT VERY MANY SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AROUND ANYMORE. I FIND THEY'RE HARD TO FIND, EVEN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT ALONE HELPING ADULTS IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO I WANTED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO HONOR THAT MONTH TO THEIR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU FOR COMING, JESSICA. AND YOU CAN SAY A FEW WORDS.

YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING APHASIA. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO BE LEARNING ABOUT APHASIA TONIGHT, BUT WHILE I HAVE YOUR EAR, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE WITH APHASIA AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES JUST WANT TO BE PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY, AND TO DO THAT, IT REALLY HELPS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THEIR COMMUNICATION NEEDS. AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS JUST HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE AND A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE. SO THAT'S WHAT NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH IS ALL ABOUT, JUST SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT APHASIA. SO I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME HANDOUTS HERE. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE I'LL LEAVE ON THE TABLE THERE SOME TIPS FOR HOW YOU CAN BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WITH APHASIA AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS. SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. TRULY DROPPED THE MIC. ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY, CENTER TODAY. GET ALL YOUR BLINKS OUT. NOW I'M GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO ON 3123123. 4123123. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU THANK YOU. MOVE ON TO AGENDA 11. CALL FOR

[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS ]

[01:20:05]

BOTH COUNCILMAN RILEY AND I TOLD HER WE WOULD OPPOSE THE CONCEPT, SHE STATED. IT WAS SIMILAR TO HOW THE STATE OPERATES, WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT ACCURATE. THERE IS ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I BROUGHT THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT FORWARD. THE MARYLAND SUPREME COURT DID NOT HOLD THAT DUAL SERVICE BY A TEACHER AND COUNCIL MEMBER IS GOOD PUBLIC POLICY. THE COURT RULED THAT THE LANGUAGE OF SECTION 207 WAS AMBIGUOUS AS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, AND BECAUSE THE CHARTER DID NOT CLEARLY PROHIBIT IT, APPLIED A RULE FAVORING CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY. THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT SIMPLY CLARIFIES THE LANGUAGE, SO THE VOTERS OF HARFORD COUNTY CAN DECIDE WHETHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BOARD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO SERVE ON A COUNTY COUNCIL WHILE RECEIVING A PAYCHECK FROM THOSE COUNTY FUNDED ENTITIES. THE PEOPLE OF HARFORD COUNTY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE THIS ISSUE FOR THEMSELVES. I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO ARE READY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO PLACE THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT. ON THE 2028 BALLOT, APPROXIMATELY 10,000 VALID SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED HARFORD COUNTY VOTERS WILL BE REQUIRED. IT'S NO LONGER JUST A DISCUSSION INSIDE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT CHAMBERS. RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY WANT THEIR VOICES HEARD, AND WHETHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVE ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL, WHILE ALSO RECEIVING A PAYCHECK FROM HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO THAT'S IT.

LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, MISS ROBERT? YES. THERE WERE TWO BILLS ACTUALLY PRESENTED ON THIS ISSUE. AND THIS BILL ACTUALLY WAS EVEN MORE BROADER THAN THE FIRST ONE, BUT IT STILL TARGETED PRETTY MUCH TWO ENTITIES, THE SCHOOLS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND AS FAR AS SERVING ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

AND SO THE QUESTION BEFORE US SHOULD NOT BE WHETHER A PERSON IS EMPLOYED AS A TEACHER, A POLICE OFFICER, A FIREFIGHTER, A STATE EMPLOYEE OR OTHER PUBLIC SERVANT. THE QUESTION SHOULD BE WHETHER THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS A DIRECT AND UNIQUE FINANCIAL INTEREST IN A SPECIFIC MATTER BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT STANDARDS I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'VE BEEN PULLING LEGISLATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ALL THAT KIND OF RELATES TO SOME OF WHAT OUR COUNTIES AND OUR STATE ARE DOING AS IT RELATES TO ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. HARFORD COUNTY CHARTER ALREADY CONTAINS CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROVISIONS AND ETHICAL SAFEGUARDS. WE DO NOT NEED TO CREATE NEW BARRIERS TO PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN MECHANISMS ALREADY EXIST TO ADDRESS ACTUAL CONFLICTS. IN FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN RULINGS AND OPINIONS CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SERVING IN ELECTED OFFICE THAT CLEARLY ESTABLISHED WHAT THEY MAY AND MAY NOT VOTE ON EXISTING ETHICS LAWS. RECOGNIZE THE PARTICIPATION IN MATTERS AFFECTING AN ENTIRE PROFESSION, DIFFERS FROM PARTICIPATION IN MATTERS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S EMPLOYMENT. THE ETHICS COMMISSION REVIEWED COUNCILMAN BENNETT'S SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND FOUND NO ETHICAL WRONGDOING. THAT FACT ALONE DEMONSTRATES OUR EXISTING ETHICAL FRAMEWORK CAN IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS CONFLICTS WHEN THEY ARISE. IF THERE ARE GENUINE ETHICAL VIOLATION, THE COMMISSION HAS VERY EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SO.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNIQUE TO HARFORD COUNTY. THROUGHOUT MARYLAND, TEACHERS CURRENTLY SERVE ON COUNTY COUNCILS, BOARDS AND OTHER ELECTED BODIES. AT THE STATE LEVEL. SOME LEGISLATIONS. LEGISLATORS MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. I AM FRIENDS WITH THEM. I KNOW WHO THEY ARE WHILE SERVING MULTIPLE TERMS IN OFFICE. MARYLAND LAW HAS HISTORICALLY ADDRESSED THESE SITUATIONS THROUGH ETHICS, OVERSIGHT, DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS AND RECUSAL WHEN NECESSARY, NOT BY CREATING BLANKET PROHIBITIONS THAT PREVENT QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS FROM SERVING. THE PHRASE DOUBLE DIPPING HAS ALSO BEEN USED FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DEFINE WHAT THAT TERM ACTUALLY MEANS. TRADITIONALLY, DOUBLE DIPPING OCCURS WHEN AN

[01:25:02]

THANK YOU. IT'S IRONIC THAT WE BRING UP THE IN DISTRICT ELECTIONS FOR QUESTION A, BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS OUT GETTING THE 10,000 SIGNATURES. THE WHOLE POINT OF IN DISTRICT ELECTIONS IS THAT PEOPLE WITHIN THE DISTRICTS THAT THEY LIVE IN CAN APPOINT THE PERSON THAT THEY FEEL IS THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE OF THEM. THAT IS WHAT THE COUNTY DECIDED UPON. AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRESERVING. BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, IS DISTRICT A MIGHT NEED SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN DISTRICT E OR F, AND THEREFORE THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY VOTED ON IN DISTRICT ELECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTED GET TO CHOOSE WHO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IS, AND MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PROTECTED. THANK

[01:30:03]

WOW. I WOULD NEVER CALL THE VOTERS STUPID. I DON'T THINK SHE SAID THAT. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I DON'T THINK SHE SAID THAT. I WOULDN'T CALL THE VOTERS STUPID. OKAY? I THINK THEY'RE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE ON ANY VOTING MACHINE. AND IF WHAT IS UNCLEAR, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US UP HERE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THERE'S NO AMENDMENTS BROUGHT FORTH. I PERSONALLY WANT TO DEPEND ON THE VOTERS, NOT THE FOUR. AND I'LL PUT IT LIGHTLY, THE FOUR OR THE SEVEN POLITICIANS THAT ARE UP HERE.

ANYONE ELSE, MISS DIXON, MR. PRESIDENT, NO. MRS. ROBERTS, NO. MRS. EMHOFF. NO. MR. GIORDANO.

YES. MR. RILEY. YES. MRS. BULL. NO. YOU'RE BEING FOUR VOTES IN THE NEGATIVE, TWO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, ONE ABSENT. BILL 2609 IS HEREBY DENIED. 12 ENROLLMENT OF BILLS. 13 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 14. NEW BUSINESS. WE HAVE NONE. 15 COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM

[15. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS ]

[01:35:03]

THE BILL PASSED 5 TO 2. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO ROLL BACK THE CHANGES INTRODUCED IN 21-003 AND CONSIDER HOW YOU PROTECT THE GROUNDWATER AS A RESULT OF ANY FUEL STATIONS THAT WERE ADDED AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE OLD SAYING AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE. WE NEED COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT PROACTIVELY LOOK AHEAD AND LOOK OUT FOR THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS. EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WELL OR YOUR DISTRICT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF WELLS, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LEGISLATORS IS TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY AND WHAT IS TRULY IN THE INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE. WHAT IF YOUR GRANDCHILDREN OR YOUR FRIEND HAS A HOUSE WITH A WELL, WHICH IS LIKELY. SINCE 50% OF HARFORD COUNTY'S POPULATION IS SERVED BY PRIVATE OR COMMUNITY WELLS, LEGISLATORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS BASED ON THEIR RECORD OF LEGISLATION, AND APPEARS THAT SOME OF YOUR RECORDS CONTAIN BILLS THAT WERE CHAMPIONED BY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND THEIR SUPPORTING CAST OF CHARACTERS. I MENTIONED THREE OF THE PATRIOTS THAT SPOKE AGAINST THIS BILL. THE LAST SPEAKER IN 2021 WAS MRS. STEPHANIE FLASH, NOW A CANDIDATE FOR HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. SHE OPPOSED BILL 21-003. I HAVE NEVER MET HER AND I DO NOT LIVE IN HER DISTRICT, BUT I ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW VOTERS TO LOOK AT THE RECORDS AND PAST ACTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE SEEKING ELECTION TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT. £0.03 HAS A LIST OF RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES. THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO START LISTENING TO THE WILL OF THE CITIZENS AND IMPLEMENT COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION BEFORE THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE TRADITIONAL HARFORD COUNTY. HERE'S WHAT I SUGGEST. A PERMANENT COUNTY COUNCIL WORKING GROUP ON NONPUBLIC WATER TO ADVISE ON LEGISLATION INVOLVING LICENSED EXPERTS AND LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

ALTHOUGH I THINK THE COMMON SENSE APPROACH WAS WELL ADVOCATED BY CITIZENS, INCREASED THE SPEAKING TIME TO A NUMBER GREATER THAN THREE MINUTES. THE THREE MINUTE RULE IS PETTY AND JUST SUGGESTS THAT YOU DON'T TAKE COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ALL THAT SERIOUSLY. AS A REMINDER, 100% OF THE CITIZENS SPEAKERS WERE OPPOSED TO BILL 21-003, BUT SOME OF THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO PASS IT ANYWAY. IF THE COUNCIL REPRESENTS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IT IS LIKELY THAT VERY FEW SPEAKERS WOULD ATTEND THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS.

PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO A CLOSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME AND ZIP. LINDA ZISKIN 21047. I FELT COMPELLED TO SPEAK THIS EVENING TO REMIND THE. COUNCIL AND CITIZENS INCLUDE A DATA, INCLUDING DATA CENTER, MR. BILL, ABOUT STANDARDS AND HOW SAID STANDARDS MEAN VERY LITTLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN QUALITY OF LIFE IS CONCERNED. I AM CERTAIN THE EXXON GAS STATION IN UPPER CROSSROADS IN FALLSTON HAD STRICT STANDARDS WHEN IT WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED IN 2005 DUE TO A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS INVOLVING THE GASOLINE ADDITIVE MTBE. MTBE LEAKED FROM THE UNDERGROUND TANKS, TAINTING GROUNDWATER AND CAUSING OVER 200 WELLS TO BE CONTAMINATED, REQUIRING CARBON FILTRATION AND UNDERGROUND WATER TREATMENT PLANTS. NATURALLY, IT CAUSED EXTREME STRESS AND EFFORT ON THE COMMUNITY AS THEY WORK TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN WELLS HAD BEEN POISONED. MY DEAR FRIEND, LIVING NOT A QUARTER MILE DOWN BALDWIN MILL ROAD FROM THE EXXON STATION, DIED SHORTLY THEREAFTER FROM CANCER. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT RIDGLEY RESERVE IN JOPPA, WHERE ALL THE STANDARDS IN HARFORD COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND COULD NOT STOP THE POLLUTION, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, ACCORDING TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MR. GUTHRIE. IF I REMEMBER THIS CORRECTLY, THERE IS A STANDARD IN HARFORD COUNTY THAT IF YOU ARE TAKING DOWN A FOREST FOR BUILDING, YOU NEED TO TAKE DOWN 20 ACRES AT A TIME, NOT CLEAR CUT. AN ENTIRE 100 PLUS ACRES INSPECTION AFTER INSPECTION.

[01:40:06]

DID YOU ADVISE HIM THAT ANY ACTION TO PERMIT A DATA CENTER ON THE PROPERTY WOULD REQUIRE A ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS APPROVAL? WHEN YOU WERE WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY, DID YOU TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE DATA CENTER? DID IT OCCUR TO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE ADVISED AFFECTED RESIDENTS? A NO ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS A FAILURE. COUNCILWOMAN IMHOFF, THE PROPOSED DATA CENTER IS IN YOUR DISTRICT, A $6 BILLION PROJECT, ARGUABLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST PRIVATE PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF HARFORD COUNTY. WHEN WERE YOU ADVISED OF IT? IF YOU KNEW BEFORE MARCH 2026 AND OBVIOUSLY DID NOT ADVISE THOSE AFFECTED, THAT IS A FAILURE. IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, THEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR DISTRICT. THAT, MA'AM, IS A FAILURE ITSELF. PERHAPS AT FUTURE MEETINGS YOU COULD SPEND YOUR TIME ADDRESSING THE LAND USE PROPOSALS IN YOUR DISTRICT, COUNCILMAN BENNETT DECLARED ON 19TH MAY 2026, STUDIED THAT HE STUDIED DATA CENTERS FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE PAST YEAR, AND BEGAN WORKING ON A MORATORIUM IN DECEMBER OF 2025.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, A MORATORIUM DOES NOTHING. IT IS HALF STEPPING. IF YOUR. IF THE RESEARCH CONCLUDED THAT ZONING AND LAND USE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRED ATTENTION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES, DID HE PREPARE LEGISLATION TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS, I WONDER, DID HE REVIEW THE CURRENT ZONING CODE RELATED TO SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS WITH THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY? IF NOT, THAT IS A FAILURE. HARFORD COUNTY WILL BE APPROACHED WITH SOME VERY SERIOUS AND COMPLICATED PROPOSALS. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY ESTABLISHED PROCESS FOR EVALUATING THOSE PROPOSALS. OBVIOUSLY, YOU DO NOT APPRIZE RESIDENTS OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COUNTY, AND APPARENTLY THERE IS NO CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT UNTIL THE PROJECT IS ANNOUNCED AS A DONE DEAL. WHO DO YOU REPRESENT? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE OFFICE YOU HOLD CONFERS GREAT AUTHORITY UPON YOU. THAT OFFICE DOES NOT CONVEY HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECTABILITY OR CREDIBILITY. I WONDER HOW DO YOU MEASURE HONESTY, INTEGRITY, RESPECTABILITY AND CREDIBILITY WITH THE RESIDENTS TO WHOM YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIBLE? GOOD NIGHT. GOOD EVENING SIR. IT MATTHEW BROWN 21212021015. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, ETHICS, INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE BEEN THE CENTRAL ISSUES IN HARFORD COUNTY POLITICS. AND I BELIEVE RESIDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE TOO OFTEN THESE CONTROVERSIES SEEM TO BE QUIETLY BRUSHED ASIDE INSTEAD OF FULLY ADDRESS. ONE OF THE CLEAREST EXAMPLES OF THIS IS BACK WITH JOE CASSERLY IN 2020 3RD FEBRUARY, WHEN HE WAS ABOUT

[01:45:07]

THAT'S WHY THE ROMAN EMPIRE FAILED. WE HAVE BEEN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY SINCE OUR INCEPTION, THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, THIS COUNTRY, FOUNDED 250 YEARS AGO, WAS FOUNDED AS A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. THE PEOPLE WHO SIT ON THAT COUNCIL WERE CHOSEN BY YOU. AND THE BIGGEST PROOF OF WHY THIS FORM OF DEMOCRACY WORKS IS LOOK AT THIS VERY ROOM.

THERE'S LESS THAN 40 OR 50 PEOPLE IN HERE. THIS IS A COUNTY OF 260,000. PLEASE TRY TO GET THEM IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME. MAKE A DECISION, UNDERSTAND HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS.

IT HAS WORKED FOR 250 YEARS FOR A REASON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME IS IT? GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EVELYN BISCHOFF AND MY ZIP CODE IS 21047. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT VIBRATIONAL NOISE AND ALL OF THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE IN REGARDS TO DATA CENTERS.

I KEEP COMING BACK TO THE LACK OF SOLUTIONS FOR REGULATE REGARDING VIBRATIONAL NOISE.

NEIGHBORS LIVING WITHIN 400FT REPORT NOISE LEVELS BETWEEN 65 AND 70DB, WHICH IS EQUAL TO A VACUUM CLEANER RUNNING 24 OVER SEVEN. BACKUP GENERATORS RUN DURING TESTING, AND POWER FAILURE CAN REACH 105DB, WHICH IS AS LOUD AS A JET. A JET FLYING OVERHEAD, EVEN SOUND BELOW 220HZ, WHICH IS BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF HUMAN HEARING, CAN BE FELT AS PRESSURE OR VIBRATION. THIS IS CALLED INFRASOUND OR LOW FREQUENCY NOISE. INFRASOUND IS NOT BLOCKED BY WALLS OR TREES BECAUSE OF ITS LONG WAVELENGTH. IT PENETRATES STRUCTURAL BARRIERS LIKE HOMES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC. INFRASOUND TRAVELS FOR MILES IN HUMANS.

INFRASOUND STIMULATES THE VESTIBULAR SYSTEM AND CAN CAUSE SUBTLE FLUID SHIFTS WHICH CAUSE DIZZINESS, VERTIGO AND NAUSEA. SIMILAR TO SEASICKNESS, IT CAN ALSO INTERACT WITH THE BRAIN'S AUTONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL CONTROL CENTERS AND CAN TRIGGER FEELINGS OF ANXIETY, PANIC AND GENERAL UNEASE. CHRONIC EXPOSURE CAN CAUSE PERSISTENT SLEEP DISTURBANCES, HEADACHES, AND DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING. I WILL GO BACK TO THE STATEMENT I MADE A FEW WEEKS AGO. NO ONE

[01:50:03]

THAT'S NOT PROTECTING HARFORD COUNTY. THAT'S LETTING SOMEBODY ELSE PROFIT FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE ALL DEPEND ON. NOW, WHEN A COMMENT ABOUT WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN. EVERYONE KNEW, IT STARTED OFF AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLIC ON ON FACEBOOK THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS PUT OUT. AND I ASSURE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT HE KNEW AT THE SAME TIME, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT ALL STARTED, I COULD BRING THE RECEIPTS. AND MUCH BEFORE THAT, WITH A PROPOSED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND WITH A EMAIL TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ODDLY ENOUGH. AND THEN IT FOLLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN. AND FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO HAVE POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP. AND HE PLAYED EVERYONE SMOOTHLY. BUT I'M JUST HERE TO STATE THE FACTS. LIKE I'M STATING THE FACTS FOR THE DATA CENTER. YOU CAN TAKE IT FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU CAN TAKE THE THE TRUTH FOR WHAT IT IS, OR YOU CAN MANIPULATE THE TRUTH HOWEVER YOU WANT IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GARY JOHNSON 21085210878 5 OR 8 787. THANK YOU SIR. SOMEONE INVITED SOME DATA COMPLEX PROMOTERS TO SPEAK TO US WINK WINK MR. VINCENTE. AND THEY LED US TO BELIEVE THAT PUTTING A DATA CENTER COMPLEX ON THE MOUNTAIN BRANCH PROPERTY WOULD HAVE ALL BENEFIT WITH NO RISK. YOU HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. MR. JOHNSON, BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, DON'T PUT ANY WORDS IN MY MOUTH. I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT A DATA CENTER BENEFITING ANYONE. DID I SAY YOU SAID ANYTHING? I SAID, I SAID THEY DID. NO, YOU SAID I DID. NO, SIR. READ YOUR COMMENT AGAIN. ARE WE GOING TO START THE CLOCK AGAIN? YES, SIR. WE CAN. OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT. I SAID SOMEONE INVITED SOME DATA COMPLEX PROMOTERS TO SPEAK TO US. WINK, WINK, MR. VINCENTE. THERE YOU GO. THAT WAS SIMPLY A WINK, SIR. WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU READ INTO THAT? I SAW YOU WINK WHEN THEY WERE HERE. AS I RECALL, IT'S ON VIDEO, I. OKAY.

THEY LED US TO BELIEVE THAT PUTTING A DATA CENTER COMPLEX ON THE MOUNTAIN BRANCH PROPERTY

[01:55:01]

THIS CURVE REDUCES LOW FREQUENCIES, THUS MATCHING THE WAY WE PERCEIVE SOUND THROUGH OUR EARS. HOWEVER, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS KNOW THAT PERCEIVED SOUND IS ONLY A PART OF TOTAL SOUND. IN A STEREO SYSTEM, YOU CAN TURN THE TREBLE DOWN BUT STILL HEAR IT. BUT IF YOU TURN DOWN THE BASS, YOU MAY NO LONGER HEAR IT, BUT YOU FEEL IT SOUND THAT YOU FEEL IS CALLED TONAL SOUND. TREBLE NOISE IS LIKE THE NOISE YOU HEAR AT THE FENCE LINE, BUT BASS OR TONAL NOISE IS ALSO THERE. BEYOND. THEY'RE NOT HEARD BUT FELT. AND BECAUSE IT'S FELT, IT HAS A BIOLOGICAL IMPACT AFFECTING BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. IT CAUSES RESTLESSNESS AND CONFUSION, MOSTLY IN CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND THE ELDERLY. IT ALSO AFFECTS LIVESTOCK, RESULTING IN DECREASED REPRODUCTION AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF MEAT, MILK AND EGGS PRODUCED. OUR MILITARY HAS BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH THESE IMPACTS THAT THEY SOMETIMES USE TONAL SOUND AS A TORTURE TECHNIQUE. AI COMPLEXES RUN 24 OVER SEVEN CONSTANTLY PUTTING OUT THIS LOW FREQUENCY HUM, THIS TONAL NOISE. YOUR COMPLEX PROMOTERS IGNORE THIS, BUT INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS DON'T. THEY CONSIDER TONAL NOISE TO BE AN INDUSTRIAL HAZARD THAT DOES NOT BELONG IN A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY? WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, THE INFLUX OF TAX DOLLARS THEY PROMISE, OR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CITIZENS. YOU'VE GOT A TEACHERS UNION AND SHERIFF GAYLE GAYLOR AND HIS DEPUTIES UNION AT YOUR BACK, ALSO BY YOUR SIDE.

THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO TAKE DOWN MR. CASSERLY, YOUR OPPONENT AND THE MAN WHO WANTS TO BAN THESE DATA COMPLEXES. WILL YOU SIDE WITH THEM OR WITH US? I PRAY THAT YOU CHOOSE WISELY. THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAN ELECTIONS. GOOD EVENING MA'AM. NAME? IS IT JACKIE JOHNSON? TWO 1087. DATA CENTERS ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM DURING CONSTRUCTION. OPERATORS CONTINUOUSLY PUMP GROUNDWATER OUT OF THE WAY TO POUR DEEP FOUNDATIONS, PUMPING THE GROUNDWATER FASTER THAN IT NATURALLY REPLENISHES CAUSES WATER TABLES TO DROP, THREATENING DRINKING WELLS FOR SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AND AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO INTRODUCES POOR WATER QUALITY AND SEDIMENT INTO LOCAL WELLS. AN AQUIFER IS AN UNDERGROUND LAYER OF WATER BEARING PERMEABLE ROCK, GRAVEL, SAND OR SILT. AQUIFER IS THE SOURCE OF OUR WELL WATER FALLSTON. LOCATED IN THE PIEDMONT REGION OF HARFORD COUNTY, HAS AN UNCONFINED AQUIFER, WHICH MEANS IT LIES NEAR THE EARTH'S SURFACE, CAN DRY UP QUICKLY AND BE SUBJECT TO CONTAMINATION. DATA CENTERS PUT A STRAIN ON LOCAL AQUIFERS BOTH DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND WHEN FUNCTIONING. A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM ISN'T AS GOOD AS WE'RE BEING TOLD. IT INVOLVES USING GLYCOL AND 50% WATER. IT PICKS UP WATER, AND WATER IS LOST THROUGH EVAPORATION AND LEAKAGE. IT MIGHT REDUCE THE WATER NEEDED, BUT IT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE NEED. VIRGINIA IS SUFFERING AQUIFER DAMAGE TO THE POINT. PEOPLE MUST ADD WATER TO TOILETS. THE AQUIFERS IN MARYLAND ARE ALREADY STRAINED DUE TO DROUGHT, AND THEY CANNOT SUSTAIN THE HIGH VOLUME WATER DEMANDS CAUSED BY DATA CENTERS. A MEDIUM SIZED DATA CENTER CONSUMES 100 MILLION GALLONS PER YEAR, EQUAL TO 1000 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY. A LARGE HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER USES 1 TO 5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER DAILY. THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT A TOWN OF 30 TO 50,000 PEOPLE WOULD USE. THESE DATA CENTERS, WITHDRAW WATER, AND WHAT IS NOT CONSUMED IS RETURNED AS WASTEWATER INTO SEWERS OR TREATMENT PLANTS.

THIS WASTEWATER IS TOXIC DUE TO FOREVER CHEMICALS. IT PENETRATES THE SURROUNDING GROUND AND EVENTUALLY GETS INTO OUR WELLS. THESE CHEMICALS LINGER IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND ACCUMULATE IN THE BODY, CAUSING SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING CERTAIN CANCERS. IN

[02:00:05]

THIS WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE TRUE IN OREGON. THESE CANCERS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO TOXINS IN THE LOCAL WATER. AFTER SURVEYING 770 WELLS THERE, 68 WERE FOUND TO HAVE VIOLATED THE FEDERAL LIMIT FOR NITRATES IN THE DRINKING WATER. IN THE FIRST 30 HOMES, 25 RESIDENTS HAD RECENTLY HAD MISCARRIAGES, WHILE SIX LOST A KIDNEY. ONE MAN HAD HIS VOICE BOX REMOVED DUE TO A CANCER THAT ONLY SMOKERS GET, BUT HE NEVER SMOKED A DAY IN HIS LIFE. THINK ABOUT EAST PALESTINE, OHIO. MISS DIXON. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP, MR. PRESIDENT.

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]

THANK YOU. THIS WEEKEND IS THE TOWER ROCKS MUSIC FESTIVAL AT FESTIVAL PARK IN ABERDEEN. IT'S GOING TO BE HELD THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WITH FAMILY ACTIVITIES, FOOD TRUCKS AND MORE. AND ON SATURDAY IT'S THE 2026 ANNUAL FLY IN AND CAR CRUISE AT HARFORD COUNTY AIRPORT FROM 9 TO 4. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS. MISS ROBERT. YES. THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO SAY I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF GRADUATIONS. JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL HAD THEIR GRADUATION, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE AND SEE SOME OF THE SAME CHILDREN I'VE SEEN IN SOME OF THE AWARDS CEREMONIES RECEIVE FINALLY THEIR ACCOLADES. FRIDAY I WENT WENT TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, HAD ONE OF THEIR DEDICATION CEREMONIES UP IN DARLINGTON. THEY'RE ALWAYS LOVELY TO SEE HOW HARD INDIVIDUALS WORK TO OBTAIN HOME OWNERSHIP. IT IS DEFINITELY A WANT. IT WAS NEXT TO A GRAVEYARD, SO SHE WAS YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE CHOOSY, BUT IT'S WAS A VERY LOVELY CEREMONY.

AND THEN EARLIER THAT DAY WENT TO SEE WHISPERED BEAUTY LAB AND WINKS AND LINK IN BEL AIR. AND THAT IS A VERY SPA RELAXING BUSINESS. THEY GAVE OUT NICE TREATS THERE YESTERDAY, WENT TO THE ARMY ALLIANCE LUNCHEON WHERE SPEAKER CONGRESSWOMAN SARAH ELFRETH GAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING DOWN THERE FOR THE ARMY AS FAR AS PROVIDING FINANCIAL DOD FINANCES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ARMY HAS ITS CAPABILITY TO CONTINUE TO RUN. BUT ALSO, WE HAD THE CAB MEETING YESTERDAY AT EDGEWOOD JOPPATOWNE COMMUNITY. IT WE WERE PRESENTED WITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION INFORMATION THAT IS GOING TO BE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT HARFORD COUNTY. BUT IF YOU'RE UNAWARE AND YOU OWN A BOAT, THE BIGGEST THING NOW IS WITH AMTRAK. AMTRAK IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING NEW BRIDGES, WHICH IS GOING TO AFFECT ANYBODY WHO IS A BOATER IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE AS THEY ARE GOING TO CREATE THE BRIDGES, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT THE HEIGHT OF THOSE BRIDGES. THEY CAME BACK TO US ALL WITH A HEIGHT THAT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE IN EVEN LOW TIDE. AND SO THEREFORE, THE COAST GUARD IS ASKING EVERYONE TO COMPLETE AND SEND A LETTER TO THEM. AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING THAT INFORMATION SENT OUT IN VARIOUS RESOURCES. BUT IF YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION, YOU CAN GET IT FROM MY OFFICE. THEY EXTENDED THE DATE. IT WAS JUNE 11TH TO JUNE 25TH. WHAT THAT MEANS IS TELL THEM WHAT YOUR SIZE OF YOUR BOAT IS AND WHY WE NEED HIGHER LEVEL FOR THE BRIDGE, SO THAT WE DON'T NEED MANY VOTERS NEEDING TO HAVE THE BRIDGE RAISED IN THE BUSH. IT CAN BE RAISED IN THE GUNPOWDER. IT HASN'T BEEN RAISED AT ALL. IT IS ON LOCKDOWN AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO WE NEED VOICES. AND I'M PUTTING THIS OUT THERE BECAUSE AS A BOATER THIS WEEKEND I WAS NEXT TO THE OTHER TWO BOATERS AND I WAS TELLING THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY HAD NO IDEA. SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR BOATS AT THEIR HOUSES THAT MAY NOT HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT IT. AND SO WE DECIDED LAST NIGHT TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY MARINAS AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE ON A BOAT, YOU'RE TRAVELING AND YOU'RE TRAVELING TO ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO END UP GOING UNDER THESE BRIDGES, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BOATS THAT CANNOT GO THROUGH WITHOUT CALLING THE BRIDGE TO BE RAISED, AND THAT TAKES TIME TO DO SO. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE. AND TODAY I MET WITH DPW AND LINDSEY KROHN WITH GUNPOWDER CONSERVATORY

[02:05:03]

TO 1 P.M. ON SUNDAY AND THEN JUNE 7TH AT AMERICAN LEGION AS WELL. WE ARE HAVING A COMMUNITY FLAG EVENT POLE DEDICATION THERE. THERE WILL BE FREE FOOD, ADULT AND CHILD GAMES, AND THAT IS FROM 12 TO 330. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS ROBERT. MISS EMMA, GOOD EVENING. SO ON MAY 27TH I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND BOTH THE JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND THE HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CORRECTIONS GRADUATION ON MAY 28TH, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ATLANTIC BLUE WATER RIBBON CUTTING IN FOREST HILL, AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND THE BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. ON MAY 29TH, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL WITH JB JENNINGS, SENATOR JB JENNINGS OFFICE TO DISCUSS DATA CENTERS, INCLUDING UTILITY RIGHTS AND CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC. AND THEN ON JUNE 1ST, I. YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ARMY ALLIANCE ANNUAL MEETING AND AS WELL AS THE EDGEWOOD JOPPA JOPPATOWNE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. UPCOMING EVENTS.

JUNE 11TH AT 6:30 P.M. IS THE ABINGTON EMERSON COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING AT THE ABINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, MISS EMHOFF. MR. GINGER, THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SO DID BELLAIRE'S GRADUATION. IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS ROSE ARCHES.

SO IT'S A TRADITION THEY STARTED. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO, BUT THEIR 120TH GRADUATION CEREMONY. SO IT'S MY ALMA MATER. SO THAT WAS GREAT TO DO. IT ALSO DID THE GRAND OPENING OF SEAWEED SPA BEAUTY LAB, WINKS AND LINKS. SO I WISH THEM ALL THE BEST. FIRST FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH IN DOWNTOWN BEL AIR. BEL AIR TOWN RUN ON SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH AND BEL AIR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES BEGINS ALSO ON SUNDAY, JUNE 7TH. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. YES, CONGRATS TO ALL THE NORTH HARFORD HIGH. I WAS THERE WITH THE PRESIDENT ALSO. CONGRATS TO ATLANTIC BLUE WATER SERVICES, FOREST HILL INDUSTRIAL PARK. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING THOSE FOLKS. TOMORROW NIGHT, THERE'LL BE A COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING AT BEL AIR LIBRARY IN REFERENCE TO OUR SOLAR PROJECT AT 2901 ROCKS ROAD. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE COME OUT 6:00 AT BEL AIR LIBRARY. WE'RE TRYING TO DO ALL WE CAN TO PUT A KIBOSH ON THAT. AND SINCE JACOB'S NOT HERE, I'LL MENTION IT. DON'T FORGET ABBY GRACE HAS FIRST FRIDAYS THIS FRIDAY. HOPEFULLY. I'LL SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. 17

[17. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT ]

SECOND FLOOR MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. THIS PAST WEDNESDAY, I SAT WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. HE AND I BOTH PRESENTED TO THE HARFORD LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND WE WERE THERE FOR TWO AND A HALF, THREE HOURS, I BELIEVE. IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT. WE'VE DONE IT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, ANSWERING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND TALKING ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, ATTENDED GRADUATIONS, JOPPATOWNE, FALLSTON, BEL AIR, HAVRE DE GRACE, NORTH HARFORD THIS PAST WEEK. JUST EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR SENIORS. THIS WEEK. WE'RE ATTENDING THE LAST TWO, WHICH IS FUTURE LINK AND HARFORD ACADEMY ON FRIDAY WENT TO THE BOARD OF ED LAST NIGHT FOR THE RECEPTION FOR MISS MILLER. CLEARLY BY WAITING, WE ABSOLUTELY FOUND THE BEST CANDIDATE TO SERVE THAT ON THAT BOARD. WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE RORY WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS HARFORD COUNTY'S FIRST MARYLAND PURPLE STAR DESIGNATION. MISS MARTINEAU AND MISS HARRIS AND THE REST OF THE TEAM THERE DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS

[02:10:05]

SO WE ASK YOU TO KEEP WANDA'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.