Baltimore County, MD Budget Town Halls, 9 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: 2022 Budget Town Hall - District 6

Description

County Executive Olszewski and Councilwoman Cathy Bevins joined together with residents and stakeholders who live in District 6 to get their input and ideas on what should be prioritized in the County's FY23 budget.

A

They've been before crowd this launch. My meetings have been virtual, with the community association and even with the directors that so um this is all brand new. All over again, it's been on two years uh full of a lot of hardship and illness and um issues that families have have faced, and our employees have faced, whether it be child care or keeping their job or learning to work virtually from home.

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So it's been very trying and very difficult for a lot of our families, but the one thing that has been constant is baltimore. County has been open for business and video. For you every step of the way my office worked uh day and night during the whole pandemic. Our office was uh open.

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Our district offices and I know the agencies a lot of people work from home, but things still still got done so with that being said, I just want to say what a great uh partnership that uh I have with the county executive and his administration.

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I've been an accounting executive for many many years before I was in this office and he was in this office and we're just a couple east siders and he's doing a fantastic job, and I appreciate the transparency of these meetings.

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We've missed the last two years because everything was virtual and I remember the first budget town hall we had it was very successful and this fight has really got you. It's all about you, it's about you, uh seeing where your tax dollars are spent in this year's budget, seeing where the money goes and what communities it's going to, and we're also here for you for any questions that you may have or concerns in your community, something you think you may be lacking or something you're excited about, or you think that uh things have been overlooked.

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So tonight is all about you and we're here to answer your questions, and I want to thank all the directors uh that are here from all of our agencies this evening. I think almost every agency is probably represented here this evening and if I don't know the answer right off the bat or the county executive doesn't, hopefully our directors will and if not, I'm sure they will get back to you. My staff, doris and patrick, are also here.

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So if you have something you feel you need to have some follow-up on they're in the background as well. So now I would like to introduce my partner in government and your leader of baltimore county executive, dr johnny oshesky,.

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Good to see all of you, thank you so much for coming out. uh I am very proud of that degree, so, especially that college being appropriately recognized.

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um Thank you for for being here, uh district six uh with council more better than my every every single department is represented by either a director and or a deputy of your county government tonight. So I'm looking forward to hearing directly from you later tonight and also answering anything you may have, with the advice and input and uh feedback from our incredible leadership team, um headed up by our outstanding administrative officer, jc rogers, and so many others. So thanks thanks to our team for being here. Thank you all for being here um really excited.

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The council have mentioned the work of these last few years and the work has been about getting back on track and I'm proud to report to you that, because of our efforts together, we are in fact very much getting back on track.

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uh Whether it was our award-winning vaccination efforts at the timonium.

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Or our uber and lyft rides to the clinics doing homebound vaccination efforts. We really are getting the job done. We've got about, 80 percent of our residents are now vaccinated, and, what's staggering about that, is um of that number uh of that number. The vast majority of people who have been hospitalized um have been those who've been unvaccinated. So that's why we continue to earn folks. If you haven't gotten your vaccination, please get it.

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You haven't gotten your boosters, please give it uh we're particularly pushing that for our our children, especially as our schools are returning and we want to keep them open. uh Bcps recently uh made the decision to allow children to be masked optional, and so the best way to keep our kids protects it uh hands down is the vaccine. It's the best tool that we have.

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In addition to vaccination, we've done a whole host of other things to support our residents in business we've distributed over 100 000 rapid test kits during the overcrown period, another 250 000. Through the school system. We built out a robust food distribution network in partnership with bcps and the maryland food bank, where we've now distributed uh in partnership with them and other local organizations over 18 million meals. uh Director terry hickey's team has helped us prevent evictions for over 1500 families.

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We've provided internet essentials to low-income families across baltimore county, something we plan to continue with our american rescue dollars.

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We set up a child care program for our low-income families, as well as our employees in baltimore county and provide 26 million dollars of direct aid to businesses across our county, we're going to be doing it more in the years ahead, not just through our budget, but also to the 160 million dollars that was made available by president biden and our congressional delegation in the american recovery plan.

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Three million of that is actually go towards a covenant response and a community recovery in essex, uh 16 million dollars to have more sustainable and attainable housing across baltimore county, more supports for our child care providers. Behavioral health supports supports for domestic violence issues that we've seen incredibly rise. These past few years, more money for small business and county tourism.

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Money for equity districts across baltimore county and more so I'm proud to report that because of you and the way that you've engaged and the way that you've asked questions and the way that you've given us feedback.

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We have made tremendous progress these past three years and we've done that even amidst the worst global health crisis of our lives. So from the very beginning, you work with councilmember veterans and councilman marks and others, and we introduce major ethics reform legislation so that we strengthen that trust in county government. We created the county's first ever inspector general, we strengthened our lobbying laws and we stood up the county's first ever public financing of elections, which will take effect in the next election cycle.

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We've engaged thousands of residents across baltimore county in this budgeting process through events just like tonight, thousands of people attending hundreds of people testifying and to put that in perspective, the two years prior to my tenure as county executive. I believe there were two people who testified on the budget in total in total.

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So again, I commend you for your presence here and for your involvement. uh We also created uh the community engagement office. uh Zach basso introduced himself he's our new district six coordinator, uh but we're here to talk about the budgets man. So, let's talk a little bit about the budget.

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The county budget that we currently are operating under is a 4.2 billion dollar spending plan that reflects our values uh where the money comes from primarily our property and income taxes. We certainly get a fair amount of state aid. We had some other fees about. Half of all of that revenue goes to support our county workers. This is everything from salaries and french benefits to contractor supplies and other materials.

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I would say over half of our money goes to education, obviously, one of the most important investments we make in local government and after education, we have about 450 billion dollars, each for our other top priorities in local government, public safety and public works on the capital budget sides of all the buildings like the one, we're in that's funded by bonds and supports our construction projects. These are our schools, our community centers, our police stations, and these are the things that you actually may have remembered voting on uh last november.

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This is something that really you know you all went in on the ballot box and I'm proud of the ways that we've made smart strategic investments, um because we're balancing these investments with fiscal responsibility and uh baltimore county has consistently been rated a triple-a bond rating, which is the highest bond ratings. You can have by all three uh bond rating agencies, and that puts us in very elite companies.

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Fewer than two percent of all counties across this country have a triple triple a respond rating that saves us money, because we can borrow at a lower rate, and it also speaks to how we are being responsible with your precious resources.

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Delivering on our vision, uh really is about also modernizing our services.

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Are continuing to make those investments that improve your quality of life, uh whether it's a bulk trash pickup, which was one of the big town hall recommendations given to us and worked with councilmember veterans? Our colleagues? We got that done for the first time since 1992 and the service was discontinued now to put things in context on bulk trash with the houston was top of the charts, which I will always love. You uh johnny carson was being replaced by jay leno on the tonight show.

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So it's been a minute, but we're really thrilled that, because of our partnership, we've been able to do that. We're also investing in things like ramped up code enforcement, hiring more officers, launching a code enforcement dashboard and creating a new fund to address derivative properties, as we strengthen our neighborhoods we're also investing in our main streets and we're doing that across all of baltimore county towson was named. The main street affiliate back in 2020 reisterstown maryland was named our second main street.

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We have an a a the county's first ever in music city maryland, peytonsville sparrow's point at trade point atlantic is a huge off the largest on the east coast and maybe maybe the largest in the country. uh The way things are going we're here at ccbc, so it's appropriate. We talk about the ways in which they've been an essential partner uh for three years in a row, I've partnered with dr kurt. um She has been just a dynamic leader for this institution and she's- probably not here but dr k.

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Thank you wherever you're, hopefully listening working with dr k, we've frozen in county tuition for three years in a row, we've expanded our college promise program, so our young people have access to free school, 500, more students this year for a total of 850 since the program's inception, we're working to expand, ccbc's early college access and p-tech programs, which is a partnership with our schools and local businesses that help students complete their high school diploma and their associate degree in six years, no cost to our students.

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We believe in investing in our seniors, which is why director reilly and her team helped us launch age-friendly baltimore accounting. We have an action plan in place. We launched those senior needs alone to fight social isolation.

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We launched the become program in partnership with the weinberg foundation to make sure that seniors who need home repairs are getting it done and they can stay and age in place.

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The parkville senior center closer to home in district 6 is getting plumbing renovations and we're studying for an expansion of parking there and the overlea senior center is having an upgrade to their hvac system.

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Transportation has been a focus of this administration as well. Last year we launched the county's first ever fixed route transit service, the towson loop a couple of weeks ago. It reached its first milestone of 10 000 riders. This is a service.

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That's going to be critical to replicate, as we think about a stronger local transit system, so you think about communities all over baltimore county that could benefit and replicate that and as we move forward, that's what we're looking at public safety, of course, is one of the most critical responsibilities for local government uh chief hike.

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I want to thank you and your leadership team for all that you're doing day in and day out, I want to thank you for being dedicated and consistent in your public safety plan targeting crime prevention, our hot spots, using data analytics to drive our policing strategies being out in the community and helping us get the job done. It's a plan. That's working uh violent crime year over year is down 16 and our click return rate is among the best.

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We are well above the national average, with an 81 clearance rate, the real testament to the men and women of the baltimore county police department.

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The message that we've been saying loud and clear all are welcome in baltimore county, but if you commit a crime in baltimore county, we will find you, it will arrest you and we will prosecute you and you can bank on that. Given the statistics, you can actually track those statistics about crimes in your community arrest data by by going on that bc, stat our first ever data driven dashboard for the county and you can see firsthand.

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We do know, however, that we did experience an increase in homicides last year, an unfortunate part of what has become a national trend. But I want you to know that we are doing everything necessary to ensure that baltimore county remains a safe place to live work and raise a family.

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Half of all of our homicides last year had a behavioral health or a domestic violence component, so we also know that these are tragedies that can't be solved or stopped by law enforcement alone. That's why we're also investing in things like our crisis team expansion? It's why we're setting up the clinicians uh program in our 9-1-1 call center? It's why we're making significant investments that have more resources for domestic violence?

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It's why we're leveraging our arp to also have 10 vulnerable law coordinators, in addition to those 10 domestic violence coordinators, even as we support our police and the important work they do, we're also ensuring our policing practices are equitable, while we're keeping our community safe, we created an.

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Equitable policing work group.

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And baltimore county became the first jurisdiction in the region to enact policing reforms. We passed the bipartisan smart policing act which banned chokeholds prevented officers from misconduct from serving and really codified. Many of the other reforms that were already underway here in baltimore county.

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We're also continuing to tackle the opioid epidemic head on.

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We have expanded our harm reduction services like drug take back boxes, we're expanding access to treatment, uh galdenzia launched the county's first new treatment center in carolina in 2020 and we're partnering with shepherd craft that the first um of its kind hub and smoke model, which cares both for people who are experiencing mental health and substance abuse conditions, we're also in the process of building our own hub and spoke to connect people to a network of healthcare providers.

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Baltimore county is also taking big steps in sustainability, and that starts with getting the basics right. So back in 2013 recycling was discontinued a few years ago. We resumed that, but we didn't stop there. We created the county's first ever chief sustainability officer, and we set a new energy renewal, renewable energy goal of 100 renewable energy. By the year 2026.

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we partnered with bg e to install charging stations for electric vehicles. We we signed a new executive order to put new and replacement vehicles uh being electric or hybrid we're, also investing significantly in open space. Another important part of making our counties more sustainable.

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This year's budget includes 75 million dollars and director johnson told us we're finally putting some meat on the bones for wrecking parts. It's the most. This year's budget represents uh the last six years of budgeting combined in one year, so just to put in perspective how much we're investing.

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um That means that councilman bevin was able to deliver on two new pal centers in the design phase, one at the cornick elementary school in rosedale and one at glenmar elementary school in the middle river, and both pal centers are expected to open sometime next year at lenovo park, eastern regional and double rock park. Our budget includes funds to refer to natural fields. We also have funding for led lights at both lenovo and double rock.

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We're also actively pursuing acquisitions for land and middle river, and we hope to have more information to announce about that soon and as we continue, our master planning process for recreation parks we're going to keep looking for opportunities across baltimore county last year, director lichens and environmental protection helped us launch retreat baltimore county to expand that tree canopy in our more urbanized communities and using arp. We also plan to put millions of dollars forward to do a more robust trail network across baltimore county.

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The waterfront is also an important feature here. In district six, we've already enacted a successful midge program to treat midges on back river.

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Working with the maryland department of agriculture and secretary barton felder to try to make that program more permanent last, but certainly not least, is education very personal for me, both as a former teacher in our county schools as the parent of a kindergartner in baltimore county and his county executive. The current budget that we're operating in has the single largest increase of maintenance of effort in the county's history.

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We've fully funded all the teaching positions that were set to be lost so that we can preserve smaller class size, we've funded step increases and colas for bcps staff. We work with the school system and dr williams to use that aarp funding to raise pay for our school bus drivers and eliminate pre-employment barriers.

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I want to thank all the teachers and education professionals who continue to do heroic work and in the budget ahead. I think we should focus on working with bcps to pay the workers strong wages and benefits so that we can fill the hundreds of positions that unfortunately remains vacant and after teaching, in a trailer for most of my career, I know firsthand how important it is to have quality learning environments.

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That's why, since we've taken office, we've put forward hundreds of millions of dollars to finish the schools for our future program and ensure that every school in baltimore county finally has air conditioning the northeast elementary school is under construction on rossville boulevard opened up next year, so buy that on my way here today, a new red house run is in the construction phase, the september 2023 completion date in may.

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We will break ground for a new addition at pine grove middle we're breaking ground this spring for a new middle school in the northeast area expected to open in 2024, and there are millions more for systemic renovations and maintenance, including roof rehabs at parkville, high school fullerton, elementary school mccormick, elementary school and villa cresta, and a new turf field at parkville. High school is set to begin construction next summer. That was a lot of schools and schools are very expensive.

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I think it's a testament to this county to this council and the partnership we've had with all of you to make sure we were able to make that happen, because I've seen incredible needs throughout baltimore county I've had the chance to tour our schools. I've seen schools that are literally crumbling into the ground.

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I've seen schools with around drinking water and that's why, over the last two years, we engaged 22 000 baltimore county residents in a long-term planning discussion uh with surveys where we had independent experts come in and rank all of our schools according to our condition, capacity needs and our ability to meet the needs of our young learners.

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This led to the creation of the multi-year improvement plan for all schools, my ipads this. This is our north star and our foundation as we move forward. It's 2.5 billion dollars of transformational investment for all of our kids, where every single school receives meaningful capital investment and it is fully paid for with our with our existing funding mechanisms.

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My ipas has a place for every student within the school building within the next decade, so we will finally be able to say there are no trailers involved.

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It makes career in technology education and stem education priorities. There are significant funds for community schools, special alternative schools, and we also again put investment in every school in renovations and preventative maintenance.

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We are currently in the process of working with bcs as part of that plan to develop addressing the high school high school needs in northeast baltimore county. So last year I put forward funds to address enrollment growth and improve high schools in the northeast area, and bcps has announced two community input meetings for that. uh They are wednesday march 9th and wednesday april 6th.

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I think we have zach flyers uh up upstairs if folks are interested in participating in those discussions. Now I mentioned my ipas as a solid baseline. It is because it is transformative, but it's also based on existing funding. So while it was scaled to our budget, I've always said, let's make sure we're meeting the full needs and I've pushed ourselves to go further.

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It's why we've committed the funding to finish schools for our future. It's why we push for the passage of the bill to learn act with our state legislators and it's why we're going to raise the bar and do even more raising the bar means a budget for additional resources.

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This is what the current funding is. We currently put a hundred million dollars locally. You can go back one hundred about a hundred million dollars locally for baltimore county. uh The state traditionally has done about 40 to 45 million, with the passage of the build to learn act. They double that over a 10-year horizon, but we're going to go even further with additional funding. We know that we can invest more in our older high schools.

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We know that we can build classrooms for the 3 000 new young learners, who are going to have pre-k programs expanded under the maryland blueprint uh we're going to improve security at our school so that kids are safer.

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We can modernize our classrooms with furniture, investments and other technology and again all the while bringing meaningful investments to every school. So as we wrap and turn the floor over to you I'll just say, I will be introducing my fiscal year 23 budget in april. The council has until the end of may to approve it.

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To the partnership that I have with councilman bevins and her colleagues on the council to get a budget right that meets the needs of not just district six but all communities across baltimore county. So uh with that, I'm going to pass the floor over to zach here who will give instructions for folks who want to come up and testify on the district's six budget house budget. Thank you all so much.

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Thank you, mr comic. Thank you. So we are going to ask that if you, if you could just remain seated- and we will have- um we have brenda over here and then we'll have carmen on this side, if you could just kind of raise your hand and one of them will bring you a microphone and then you'll have two minutes to ask your question or share your budget proposals, and if that question cannot be answered tonight, a member of our community engagement team will get with you.

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For this opportunity, um fiscal year, 23 budget.

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I'm speaking on behalf of green towson alliance, I'm speaking on behalf of our trees and our open space and we've submitted other comments in writing. But I'll highlight a few items thanks.

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uh We know that in the fiscal year 2022 budget.

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The county only appropriated about 0.3 in total budget for the department of environmental protection and sustainability in this time of climate change, baltimore county must prioritize the environment and fund depths at adequate levels to safeguard the health and quality of life of our citizens.

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Please fund additional development, reviewers and environmental inspectors in depths to protect our natural resources from poorly planned.

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Development, please fund expansion and maintenance of the shade tree canopy.

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Throughout the county- and this will reduce flooding and excessive heat impacts due to climate change and improve air quality and improve habitat for native.

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Insects and birds, please form additional.

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Forestry positions in depths, the county has one forester for the entire county in the public works department and there's no budget.

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For maintaining the existing tree.

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Canopy now, please fund a canopy tree inventory by desk. It can be using gis and it could be based on the downtown thousand tree survey, which was created by the greenhouse and alliance.

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In addition, the county has.

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An opportunity to replace trees, lost or removed in towson.

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In downtown towson, using existing legislation required in the downtown towson overlay district. There's a large residential development in in the works in planning on the southwest corner of baltimore avenue and allegheny avenue uh in towson. And it will trigger an obligation to.

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Remove trees that were lost and.

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We um this will require the planning of approximately 180 new trees. The developers indicated the willingness to work with the county to replace.

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Those treaties.

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The county executive has promised to install more shade trees in towson if we find the source for those trees. So we ask you to make good on that promise.

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We ask you to find a position in the department of recreation and parks to administer a volunteer weed water project or program, like programs involved our city of montgomery county, and we endorse neighbor space's initiative to create a county-wide open space plan. Thanks very.

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In our budget hearings, we are actively trying to figure out um if and how we find additional resources, uh particularly for that, but I appreciate the uh hold on here and then uh jenny osa is our current um uh climate change and sustainability leader. um So if you haven't had a chance tonight retreat guys out, I know you guys have been in a lot of meetings, but thank you guys both for the work as well. Thank you, rick.

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Hello, my name is bronwyn uh strong, I'm a bcps parent of theory and.

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I believe that accessing science should not cost a family.

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To go to the maryland science center for a family of four costs, 120 just to enter the building the aquarium, 190 dollars import discovery 80.

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the smithsonian's are free, but it takes a minimum of an hour driving each way, navigating dc.

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And parking and who.

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Wants to do that so imagine a building.

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In the heart of baltimore county that is home to collections that tell a 4 billion year, history of maryland, in rocks, minerals, fossils plants, animals and archaeology. In fact, if we had to rebuild.

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The state all of the pieces to do so would be.

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There and imagine an organization.

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Led by volunteers.

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Where scientists work with the community to push.

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The scientific.

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Frontier forward.

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Where community of the curious explore and make discoveries together and imagine that its discoveries together and imagine that entering that facility would cost.

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You nothing well, you.

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Don't have to imagine.

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It it exists at 6908, bel, air road in district 6.. It is the natural history society of maryland, in that unassuming building is an archive of maryland's natural history that has been added to and kept safe for over 93 years by committed volunteers.

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And it is ready.

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Moment because.

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With the support of the county that unassuming building can be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility for science and discovery open and accessible to all, where the cost of admission is only one's curiosity, so please help us open the doors to wonder for all. Thank you.

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Thank you. My daughter is still playing with the shark teeth that uh she has the opportunity to tour. Your presence.

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We are actually so. We need the county to address.

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The inadequate stormwater management system, in our part.

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Of the neighborhood we are at the sump for the low point of several hilly streets.

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During heavy rains,.

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Runs off in earliest.

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The very least we would like the company to install a higher concrete.

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Between a road and a bird.

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In front of our house.

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This is what was suggested.

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By county engineer, zach davis, who came to look at it in 2018. that.

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Summer there were two severe ones where you could have rode a boat.

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In the street, with climate change, we are nervous about this problem: worsening we're putting in a native plant rainforest repair backyard.

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And we planted several trees in our property, but that's not enough. We need your help. We've testified at meetings and notified our elected officials over the last several years about.

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This problem, with no results so far.

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Could you please let me know who I'm I can contact as a follow-up.

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To this meeting so that we can work towards the solution, this will help.

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Not only us as individuals, but also help reduce the run-off.

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That concept, streams and chesapeake.

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I believe that we've got uh deputy director, laura butler, is in the back there she's waving to you, so if you actually want to go ahead and make your way connect to the hallway or whatever we'll show all the information but laura before you do that, just for the benefit of the crowd and talk about some of the infrastructure investments we're making. In addition, it's nice time to raise time, we're also exploring the possibility.

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Infrastructure, in addition to some of the traditional.

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And we can use that data.

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To determine our next steps and where we're going to fix these problems, to make it better for the overall area instead of just one off.

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Tweaks that aren't fixing the bigger picture.

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But we're also having conversations around what a climate uh resiliency authority looks like for baltimore, county and really sort of stepping up and having a mechanism not just for county dollars, but also you know, private funding and other resources that we can tackle these issues. A little more systemically.

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Absolutely mr county executive, I think he hit the nail on the head and my office has been working really nicely with the department of affordable transportation on these efforts.

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Evening and thank.

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You to both the county, executive and councilman evans for hosting this council again and taking the time to hear our concerns and suggestions.

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My name is caitlin clem helmer and I am a lifelong president of.

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6, a community activist and a.

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Candidate for county council tonight I want to start with police staffing. It is known that baltimore county police department has staffing shortages. In my experience, I have seen this within the community outreach department. Some precincts should have five communities officers. These are officers that attend community meetings.

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And are the lifeline between community groups.

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The community as a whole and the police department instead of five community outreach officers, this precinct has one that.

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To cover their priesthood instructions from the city line from harford county to attend.

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Meetings and to reach out to multiple community groups attend community events and more.

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If there is a shortage of student resource officers or that community obvious officer is needed elsewhere, they can be pulled and put on that assignment. To help with this scouting shortage and based on the success of the office of community engagement, I propose an office of community engagement within the baltimore county police department's community outreach team. This would include civilians on staff that live and look like the community in which the precincts are located.

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They would work in conjunction with officers community.

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Groups, police, community relations councils, citizens on control and more.

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This would not eliminate the community outreach officers who provide a level of support for officers. The department community groups.

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And more, they can provide flexibility to attend meetings and to assist in cop.

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Training center prime reports and have a dialogue with community groups and more.

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I'm almost out of time, but thank you so much for the time to listen to me. Thank you.

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Just for county staff- I don't know if we're having we're getting some messages from folks who are trying to watch the livestream they're. Having specifically hearings.

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I don't know if there's a we can turn back on or just check that, but uh uh some of our proven retention strategies, whether it's the signing, bonus and some other things we're talking about.

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So, first of all you for that great suggestion. um Obviously, community engagement is incredibly important to us uh right now, as we are dealing with some vacancies, we do have to do some shuffling around it and look. Our top priority is when somebody calls 9-1-1 making sure that we've got the officers in places to get them.

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A lot of work as it pertains to our recruitment strategy. We've done some community hiring events across baltimore.

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Conversations we're continuing to have, but.

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Hi, um um so I just want to ask about making the personal part more handicap accessible.

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uh To get in from the main entrance there's a knee-high barrier, you have to step over and then the majority of the part is not connected to the.

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um I'm assuming, if there's a problem for people in wheelchairs, is also a problem for people with strollers, so um yeah. It's also the barrier that you have to step over to get into or out of the.

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Yeah director johnson started this great hashtag all hearts for all people where we are trying to be more intentional about those issues, and I know that she and our team would also be happy that cost percentage about rosedale parks, but also just generally about our efforts to be more accommodating for all of.

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Our others. Thank you. Thank you for your question. um It's an excellent question and something that I'm happy to say we're working on. One of the things that our department is undergoing is accreditation and what impressionation does is it looks at over 150 standards. One of those standards is our accessibility of our parts and our facilities. So we have to do an assessment.

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um Our capital chief of capital, through emma, is here he's taking that rosedale park, but that would be one of the sites that we have to do an assessment, for we are not where we should be as a county, as the county executive mentioned, he's funded our department in an unprecedented way.

L

Thank you, mr county executive, again, where we have more in our capital budget than we've had in the last six years, combined, so we're working on trying to move forward, we're also undergoing a process where we look at all of the amenities and our parks and our facilities and determine and determine the quality of them so that we can make the best decisions possible. So we will be working through that we have rosedale park on our list and so we'll be at the top of our list. So thank you.

L

Hi, I'm ken stansberry and I am actually running for baltimore county executive.

G

I have a couple of safety questions, one I'm very concerned about the decrease in the 911 budget, so 652 000 less than two weeks ago, rulings on donaire road, the car went through.

L

Rules um some of the people there tried to call 9-1-1, but they were put on top. It wasn't until one of the employees of another office in that facility. Actually.

G

Called a family member who was a member of.

I

The baltimore county police department, you need to get ems, the police and the fire department. Here now you have four.

G

L

Other public safety concern is much.

G

Like one I just heard, my husband is in a wheelchair most of the time he can walk with the cane, but a lot of the sidewalks in baltimore county. There are holes.

H

In the middle of the sidewalks, where it's in a wheelchair, but he cannot.

G

Go to where he needs to be, and once you're on the sidewalk.

L

You can't get down the curb because there's nowhere to go so that is the safety issue, and I was really hoping that we could get some input on that.

B

Sure thank you for thank you for your attendance.

C

B

If you have specific sidewalk locations, I think uh director buckler can also take those and we're happy to look at fixing those. um In addition, uh sidewalks more generally have been an area of focus and emphasis for councilmembers for councilman marx for all all of the council members and we're trying to work with the pwt to make all of our our neighborhoods more walkable and likeable with those uh resources on both uh on public safety. Generally, uh I'm proud. This is a county.

B

That's consistently invested more in our fire department and our police department in corrections uh director, ed blades, uh helps oversee him. Tammy is here tonight, but I think if you could speak to, I don't know yeah. So if you want to speak to that part of the question, but um we consistently fund those public safety agencies um year over.

C

B

um We have general funds and we have special funds.

N

When you look at the general fund budget technically, yes,.

B

However, historically we have we um by the state 901 board.

B

Two years ago. We set that up as a grant, so it looks like a decrease if you'll get a total nylon budget for general funds and special funds, it increases and it increases a lot um based on that new reimbursement from the states. So you see a technical reduction, but um no redox.

J

Hi, I'm phoebe evans, latosha and first I wanted to thank the county executive and our towson area.

I

Elected officials for supporting replacement level funding uh for planning and design for towson high to enable construction of a rebuild of towson high.

G

That preserves the historical elements of the building.

I

Relieves overcrowding and creates a new 21st century learning environment for all of our communities. I also appreciate the efforts to expand available funding, so school school needs throughout baltimore county are met.

G

My question relates to the larger issue of school overcrowding and development impact. Last year, the adequate public facility task force developed a set of recommendations.

I

Prevent future overcrowded schools situations.

G

I um eliminate by reducing uh loopholes, do for.

I

Each of you do you support those recommendations.

J

And when can we see legislation to implement them, and would you be open to closing some of the exemptions in the.

I

Impact legislation uh to bring in more and more funding that way, so the developers pay their fair share.

J

For our schools and infrastructure, citizens are tired of developers getting sweetheart deals.

I

And fee exemptions, while we've paid the price through overcrowded schools. Thank you.

B

Thank you. So for me the short answer is yes, and I will say particularly on the impact fee uh question I was proud to put forward. uh That is part of my budget's mission is my first year and I think that we certainly deserve to take a look at how it has been working since since it's an action, so I I think that is something that we should certainly engage in conversation about.

A

Yes, I thank you county executive. Yes, I agree with the county executive. Thank you so much for coming out this evening. uh It's good seeing you so yes, this is an ongoing conversation and um it's always a window that developers should probably pay a little bit more um for sure, and uh thank you for that legislation, county, executive and the.

J

A

J

Apfo, the adequate public facilities, ordinance recommendations.

J

The apfo recommendations, in addition to the.

K

Impact being the apfo.

J

Recommendation.

J

So the apfo recommendations, the adequate public facility recommendations in addition to the impact fee. Could you um vote state your positions on those recommendations.

B

Like I said, the short answer for me is yes, uh it's a legislative, I mean it requires legislative change, so I mean that would be something that the county council would ultimately take up, but I believe we had membership from the county on that and you know.

C

Again, both both issues happen.

B

To work with you and other community members on from my perspective,.

B

G

F

This is my first time.

F

E

Health insurance at low cost, no matter if.

F

G

Because we are here, we have amazing children and.

N

They need also a lot of help for.

G

For us, but sometimes I don't know how to do it, because we know that or we don't speak, 100 400 english and you know sometimes we want to apply for scholarship. For you know, we're looking for place after school, also actually for the.

G

License also, a lot of people haven't a license, but you know a lot of people have small companies and sometimes they don't know how to go through that to the district, and it tells you what you're going to need for one lesson for building a house and to make one extension in my house. So I really appreciate I know you uh survive all the patients in spanish, but sometimes I would like to get you know.

G

Special people.

B

Thank you so much for coming tonight. I first want you to know that it's, oh, it's been long overdue, uh but we have um actually hired giuliana valencia banks as our first ever immigrant affairs coordinator for baltimore county, and so we affirmatively recognize the need to be better partners with all of our communities and certainly if there are good examples of what other jurisdictions do to provide those services and that we can sort of look to replicate.

B

uh I would encourage even early on to connect, if you're not already to share that feedback so that we can work with whether it's dr branch in the health department or our director pete gutwall in our permitting department to make sure that we are making sure those services are open and accessible to all of our residents.

G

Your unexpected, because you want to go to attention in court, but I don't know how to do it. So I.

G

G

D

G

E

Know that one should be receiving like one or two letters before having to go.

E

G

G

F

E

B

The let's get the details of the case because I'm not clear if it's uh code enforcement or if it was a district court, uh but we will, we will get the details and uh connect you to the appropriate resources tonight.

C

B

Just say more generally, juliana is helping to uh lead language access efforts across the county enterprise she's worked with all of our departments.

C

B

Ensure that, whatever the point of entry, um whatever issue any of our companies are facing, is.

B

A yeah well, we've got one over there.

G

G

School evening I'm the secretary of pta council of baltimore county, represent pta council on the baltimore county school board, nominating commission and testifying tonight of food insecurity in baltimore county. I'm.

C

G

For support for funding free, effective programs which are underfunded summer staff for children would help over 51 000 children living in poverty receive food during school breaks. Second, increasing the minimum snap benefits for recipients under the age of 62. We provide over 7 000 residents with at least one dollar a day of food assistance for a minimum of 30 per month.

G

Third, fully funding maryland meals for achievement provide free breakfast to nearly 20 000. Students in schools that qualify, but currently not participating in the program in all about 6.7 million, would fully fund these three programs to help.

I

About 50 000 baltimore, county residents.

G

Thousands of bcgs students suffer from food insecurity, food.

C

G

Toxic stress and instability, which affect academic performance but also put these students at higher risk of drug use, making a suicide plan fighting at school, more food for families in need means they can spend precious resources on other essentials for their children.

G

Baltimore county can do better to ensure that all residents have enough to eat, including our most vulnerable children, with full funding.

B

B

Just since we're talking to schools, I just want to recognize dr jennifer lynch who's, our director of educational partnerships,.

B

B

To is learn, love document and preserve the nature of our places. We strengthen people's.

L

Connections with nature, people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences.

N

We offer programs inside our.

B

Building and beyond in parks, backyards neighborhoods streams, beaches sidewalks, we.

H

Help people hunt for fossils identify plants, listen for frogs, collect research data make nature art during the pandemic. We offer numerous online.

N

Programs to the community.

H

B

For every natural interest, fossils, minerals.

L

Moths, reptiles and amphibians, archaeology,.

H

We preserve natural history collections, minerals, fossils, shells.

L

Bones, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, insects and more. They.

H

N

Story of maryland's past and they help us understand our present and make informed.

H

Decisions about the future.

L

We are an anchor in the ovary community, the community association, a scout troop and a farmers market all be at our building.

H

Our state is one of the few without a state national history.

C

H

Our goal is to become that place.

H

The maryland museum of natural.

A

History, we are on the way.

L

The state has supported us financially and generously.

A

L

The county to do the same.

H

L

Bring great value to the community and to the county.

B

Help us become the maryland museum of natural history.

B

My name is dave conrad, I'm a baltimore county resident in the sixth district, I'm a business owner, I'm involved with some community associations uh throughout the county. um One of the things that I wanted to touch on tonight was um you know. We have a lot of great ideas in the budget. I'd like to see that this personally and for the community a much higher focus on trades and trade development within the county. So you know obviously workforce development is important across all occupations, but particularly here you guys are both the east side.

B

You know the 6th and 7th districts. We've got the waterfront, you know trades that are not just you know, obviously getting typical trades. Like your. uh You know electrical plumbing you see, but in this area we've got the waterfront, so all the trades related to that you talk about trade plan atlantic all the functions and the things that are going on down there. Those industries are going to continue to expand as long as we can provide a workforce for them.

B

Otherwise, they're going to go somewhere else for their place of business or they're, going to look outside of baltimore county to get those people to come in so.

F

C

B

Just from experience, obviously, I'm I'm a little biased, I'm a tradesman, I'm electrician by trade I got my master's license and in 2020 the two businesses I was in the trade. I left the trade and I had my own businesses. Both my businesses basically went belly up um for a year during 2020.

B

During the pandemic, I was able to enter after being 15 years out of the field back into the electrical trade at a working wage for that year, while I was able to recover- and now I'm back into the two businesses that I was in successful because of the fact that I had to trade reliance, it's been 20 years, obviously, but when I paid for school, my total tuition for the four years that I went to school with training was three thousand dollars that was paid by my employer and that's typical of most contractors that work with the program.

C

So I know we've got a lot.

B

Of great programs in baltimore county that work on trades, I think we need a bigger focus on them, whether that's a specific trade school or trade programs throughout the existing schools that we already have. Thank you for the time.

A

Thanks for coming out tonight and representing all these quarters as well as you know, since I've been in office, I've been trying to designate uh property for a trade school, and it's been very important for eastern baltimore county and a few years ago we did secure.

A

And it just wasn't large enough, but, as you know now, working with large the laplace property, they are donating- probably at least 200 acres to baltimore county and on that 200 acre will be a professional trade school. We know how important the trades are to baltimore county. Everybody goes to college and even some of the trades. Sometimes they send you for a year or two, um so we're looking for something different. We know what scholarspoint offers. uh We know what eastern check offers.

A

We have a hardware offer, so there's been a lot of talk over the years between the marine trades and the chamber talking about what we think would be a good fit there, and we have automotive and a lot of our trade schools. But we don't have anybody boats and that would be perfect with the 200 miles of waterfront that we share between the 6th and 7th district.

A

We don't have any kind of agricultural programs right now. That would be a good fit because of the farmland that we still have in the 6th and 7th district. So there's definitely a need.

A

We have the land now so now we just have to get to the condo.

B

And then, uh in addition, dave, um I mentioned the my ipads plan, um part of that 1.5 billion includes investing in career technology education more meaningfully across our entire spectrum of schools. So, dr lynch can speak more about that. If you have questions and then director leonard halley is here as well from the department of economic workforce development, is there any questions about uh what.

D

B

Leonard there's quite a bit of uh ideas in our arp. um Our arp proposals in the year ahead also sort of ramp up and ratchet some of the some of these very issues.

B

um Right where we have special articles on economic development and even agricultural services, so.

C

B

We're hearing about them here on the very trade initiatives uh that we are planning to implement that can address the trades, uh the need for trades work with cte program, but also we understand that uh trade behind atlantic and just other employers around uh there is that that shortage of workers in those particular occupations and that.

E

Where are they life support.

B

Like life, changing and.

C

Our intent is to.

B

Really maximize our ability to channel individuals interested in the trade and to really build out their workforce needs and all these great manufacturers that we actually have at tpa and at other areas throughout the county. So that's very much our.

A

Ccbc has been a great partner uh with the trades and working uh with the county uh as well, and it's not in my district, but it's in the seventh district that whoever thought that you would go down to trade point and learn how to drive a tractor trailer, that's happening and that's from ccbc. So I think that we have great partners in providing trains in the future.

A

K

You councilwoman.

K

Maryland's future law expands cte programming. Part of what we've been talking about is what that expansion looks like certainly with over 600 miles, waterfront community in baltimore county. We know that there's waterloo, as well as the agricultural trades, so I can tell you that those have been in concessions.

K

Part of what you talked about was the feeds and how they were able to get more trade for a very low cost, and that's part of the work that happens with the prevention of ccdc is starting that very important training in cte programs in high school and then partnering with vcdc, so that you can gain an industry credential so that by the time a student graduates high school or with minimal additional work at ccdc, we have students who are ready to enter into the workforce, we're continuing to work with our trade partners with uh how his offices do to make sure that we are supporting vcps and supporting our industries to make sure that we're developing the workforce of tomorrow.

I

Thank you. What do you think.

I

My name is patty eagles and I live in the community of black hill and recently we had an unprecedented coin event in our new baltimore county police department.

I

The perpetrators were swiftly apprehended, and so I personally like to express my gratitude to the police department uh for keeping us safe and and for all you, each and every day. For us, um I would like to ask that the budget include, which I understand it: doesn't the purchase, maintenance, repair and replacement a fitness equipment for our police officers, not only said they'd be staying fit, so they can chase down the bad house, but also for their overall health, wellness and and well-being.

I

I think they um deserve that and I think it should be um included in the budget. Thank you.

A

B

Thank you patty, and I will tell you that uh I think some of the some of the uh especially the local precincts I'll tell you especially at the precinct uh that I get it up close. My wife will say not as much as I should, but I get up close and personal view of the equipment and uh totally agree in terms of the need to have that.

L

Here we go, you got one over there, perfect, okay, we'll go there.

I

Hi I'm christina humphrey, I'm kristina humphrey. I am one of the lead volunteers for student support network. I'm also an area vice president council of baltimore county and.

I

We know from the maryland youth risk behavior survey that food insecurity is related to a much higher risk to violent behavior in schools, including fighting and carrying a weapon to school. Effective efforts to reduce violence in our schools must target the root causes, including student security.

I

Students that arrive at school hungry are not ready to airwork, even if their students have the best teachers, curriculum or resources.

I

Security is not the same as hunger, which we all experience. It refers to the lack of regular and consistent access to nutritious food. The stress of food insecurity is revealed to the child. You know to be able to be sitting in the school cafeteria at lunchtime, but then at the lunch box pretending to have food or the student, who knows they will have to try to borrow money from friends again to get food.

I

It is assumed for including a locker weekend that is worrying about whether there will be food at home from there tonight or tomorrow night. It is knowing that school breaks during the year, including days and summer vacations our times when getting out food security also takes a tremendous role in school staff who who witness hunger and insecurity affecting their students every day. Tyler needs to.

I

The maryland meals for achievement funding um would provide quick breakfast over 19 000 students in schools that qualify that are currently not participating, including parkville high school, which currently has over 1200 students living in severe poverty, which is 60 of all students in the school and over 500 in severe poverty qualified for snap and over 170 are experiencing.

I

O

My name is charles davis and I'm here this evening to request that baltimore county support, the natural.

B

History, society, so that it can continue an expanded museum and associated programs.

F

With research and education, much of what we understand about our world, we owe to the collection, preservation.

O

And ongoing study of natural history collections, natural science collections of the libraries that earth life forms and processes that.

B

Contain the data that researchers need to create complete pictures of complex systems of our environment.

B

O

Organized systematically natural science collections enabled us to reconstruct.

B

This history understand the present and.

O

Forecast the future information that profoundly affects our life on this planet, to make sound choices about potential environmental impacts of our actions. It's essential that people know their environment and how the physical and biological world works.

O

Finally, conservationist collections and research activities and associated public programs can only happen in an appropriate building. The society would appreciate support from our parents.

C

G

What about the classes.

G

B

uh I want all of our children to have every potential to be the best version of their selves, and I personally feel like I I'm on this stage because of the educational opportunities that I've been employed in my life. We consistently support the school systems budget, which includes significant funding for our growing english language learner population.

B

I believe dr lynch there's provisions in the blueprint as well, so there will be even more resources uh coming forward, but if you want to speak more generally to efforts at vcps, that would be.

A

K

Absolutely and thank you for starting with a question about my ipads, because what my ipad does is provide motivations and enhancements to school buildings across baltimore county to provide 21st century learning, spaces that support all learners, including english language, learners, so create spaces that will really help students learn both their in their native language, as well as the english language as well.

K

There is an expanding number of students in baltimore county who are unique. English language, learner services and so part of what we want to make sure is that those buildings are ready to welcome students and that they have the services that they that they need. The blueprint for maryland's future does expand services for english language learners and supports, and so that's something that we will continue to work with.

K

We are very lucky to have a county executive, who has always over funded education to make sure that our students do have the teachers, the small class sizes and the supports that they need to be successful. We will continue to work with bcps, to support and solve expansion and to make sure that your students have what they need.

B

And the other, the other space, where both my ipads contemplates funding and the blueprint um or the operational is in community schools and so community schools are a great resource and I think it actually ties to the earlier question where we're actually inviting families in also connecting them to the resources, the services, the translations, the english language, learning opportunities for parents and families who want it as well. So um it's sort of all very interconnected and I'm excited about the years.

F

Identified 4.7.

B

Billion dollars of capital, backup, 4.7 billion dollars of usable construction, useful.

F

Organizations based.

B

On our current funding levels, we're not going to hear that another 25 years or.

F

B

B

E

Job since her office, but.

B

She's working with a tiny staff, you could increase the size of her office by a factor of five and she would still have an office which is smaller than that.

E

Of the equivalence, inspection and baltimore city, even though the most.

B

We are actively- uh I guess I could have been even more explicit but put a fine point on it. Our number one two and three priority. This legislative session is more money construction, and so we are um confident that we're going to secure additional state resources, I'm prepared to put forward even more county resources, because I I do think it is one of the best investments we can make and we have under invested.

B

But we are finally turning that ship around and you can start to see it in any number of schools across the county, but we want to make sure that that that standard of excellence is true for all of our students and all of our communities. We want to see that I see uh director alcantara antoine the library is behind it. We want to make that standard the same for our libraries.

B

We want to make sure that our families and our communities have access to world-class amenities, um and I want baltimore county to set the standard for uh what innovation and excellence can look like, and we've made a lot of progress again. Like I said, two years of the three years have been in the middle of the global pandemic. uh We came in with a budget deficit deficit to start, and yet, despite that, we are at least on our way to seeing um some light and addressing these long-term solutions. But thank you very much.

E

Hello, so my name.

E

About is way you handle the pandemic, but I'll say that for future debates tonight is about the budget. Back in the summer of 2020, a group of doctors, including an ivy league epidemiologist, and the professor, came up with a solution to end to help and end the pandemic with early treatment medication.

E

I watched as the state of maryland, baltimore, county and other jurisdictions did not follow these protocols. People continued to die by the time I got covered in the fall of 2020.

E

I did not have access to these early treatment options. I had to pay out of pocket if I wanted them forward to the winter of 2021.

E

I started learning about something called the eye mask plus protocol, which was created by dr and dr pierre, curry.

E

In virginia these protocols again saved many people's lives and they were once again ignored by governor hogan and also the county government. So what I'm asking for the budget is, will you county, executive chesky?

E

Will you finally look into these early treatment code, 19 protocols and possibly put them in the budget so that we can save more people's lives and they don't have to pay out of pocket to organizations such as the frontline, critical, frontline, critical care alliance and other organizations like that? uh Typically, they would spend about 150 to 200 and get these early treatment medications.

B

Thank you thanks adam, and we I'm happy to talk more about our response later, but I I think, if you ask most professionals, they have cited baltimore county as having one of the most outstanding responses to this pandemic holistically uh comprehensively, not just by vaccinating our revenue, which which remains the best preventative tool that we have, but also we talked about the eviction prevention, the food distribution, the support for families and businesses.

B

I throughout this pandemic can work very closely with dr gregory branch. I don't know if dr branch of you or bella are here tonight uh you're up next doc, but we talk uh regularly that we were talking every day throughout the pandemic. We've talked regularly with our hospital executives, health professionals, who have spent entire lifetimes, studying and partnering and being bringing in the best and the brightest to do that throughout we've relied on the health data and the science to help inform our decision making.

B

I'm very proud of that, and I think everything we have done and all the treatments that have been available have made a consultation with um not just baltimore area but but state and national leaders and experts in their field. So if there's other, if you have other information for us to consider, we certainly will look at it, but I can. I can assure you and I'll let dr brandt just have a moment. uh We have been consistently looking at best practices throughout this pandemic and uh we'll continue to do so.

O

O

uh World health organization regarding the treatments that we have.

O

Remember the that we have to do what is the best practice before completing anything, so I would love to have a conversation with you afterwards.

O

O

Thank you. Thank you.

M

Thank you for being here. Thank you very much.

M

To um they're curious as well.

M

um On we need to do the research we need to educate them, we need to inform them. There are 17 carriers who are excellent, who are passionate about their work.

M

A

I'm a frequent flyer there, uh no matter what the uh um yeah what's going on, whether it is something for the um museum itself or the farmers market or a community meeting uh you're a huge asset, so not just overlay, but the eastern baltimore county and we're currently working right.

A

Now, I'm working with the administration with one parking lot across the street and hoping that we can have some kind of lease there to help with the parking situation, and I see the museum as not just a something special for eastern baltimore county, but actually to go enough to somehow connect with our in baltimore county and the county executive. I know has been to both the farmers market and the museum on several occasions, and it is a big gem. It really is, and we really want to see you succeed.

A

I know that I know that you do have an aspen right now, besides the parking lot, and I think that both the academy and the state have been very generous, and I hope that that will continue, because it really is a great partnership, a lot of smart people donating their time there and I get to see it up close and personal to see the joy that children uh get just from the learning on.

A

um You know, whatever programs that you have there, and um I thank each and every one of you for all that uh time that you spend and the talents you give for the museum good thanks.

C

For coming tonight,.

B

Mr county executive dave lightman's director of environmental protection sustainability. I was just curious. I was not aware of whatever I asked society. I wasn't aware of an issue. What exactly were you asking for in support? Did you apply for physical grant.

B

So they're they're just seeking to have uh towards the uh development of the basically becoming the museum right and it's effectively trying to help the states put forward some bond initiatives today. I think the disaster in the county that to be.

C

A partner I've also mentioned.

B

For future years, uh leonard um that we should consider uh making sure that our friends are connected to the operating.

D

B

For the arts and sciences commission, I think it's sort of the right candidate in addition to operating support future your budgets as well.

F

Hello good evening, my name is darren. um I have two children that attend ecps, um I'm a deacon at a local church in direct operations for a local mentorship program, I'm also running for baltimore county executive nominee. I'm here tonight fighting for our children, the same thing and maybe our police officers.

F

We have you know crime is not down in baltimore county, uh despite the numbers that we put up. We have a major issue with crime going on. Here. We have criminals in the streets, and criminals in the schools continue to push the boundary to see what they can get away with. Like we had mentioned in 2021, we had the most homicides and the same administration broke that record. In 2019.

F

we had 400 kids, walk out of bedlock high school and 200 kids walk out of tactical high school because of the violence and the sexual assaults being pushed them through.

F

Recent data shows that non-federal shootings are actually on the rise here in baltimore county. It just came out. Police morale is at an all-time low. Our rest are down here in baltimore county, because engagement is down. Police officers are scared to do their job. It's the only profession. They can't use their instincts if they pull somebody over and something happens, they get trouble.

F

Why are we not providing more funding for our police officers and support for our police officers? I know that you said the crime is down. It's not. I believe that 92 of the budget is from salary positions over 150 officers, sure what are we doing with that money, and also that mentions that's my question: why are we not providing more funding for our police, more support? And my second question was: I know where all this money that's going to construction through schools, you know, let's stop making developers rich and start putting the people first.

F

B

So, thank you again.

E

C

Reiterate what we said the last.

B

Time, which is that we have consistently increased our funding for all public safety. We will continue to do that again in this year's budget, um and we welcome your.

B

We want you, the table, uh mr diaz, be part of the conversation about how we can continue to support, uh not just our police officers, but our firefighter chief runs here as well and all of our public safety professionals. um You, you are welcome to believe what you want to believe. The facts are facts and data doesn't change, um and so yes, we want to make sure that every community, every person feels is safe in their house and their neighborhood, but violent crime part one crime is down year over year.

B

It's a fact are we gonna do more to keep fighting the bad guys absolutely, and I want to.

C

B

All of our men and women who are here tonight day in and day out and work tirelessly to make sure that we are safe so that we are making the rest.

B

We are the bad guys, we're working to make sure that they're prosecuted and held accountable, but we're also making sure that we are making those upstream investments so that we prevent young people and even adults from being in that circumstance in the first place, so that people get their early childhood education so that we're providing direct opportunities so that we're creating jobs, because that actually is the best crime prevention tragedy. So, even as we invest in our police department,.

N

um First off in our area along the river road campbell boulevard 43, we have been building houses, building thousands of building houses and we have not expanded it. We have not had parks or fields any kind of baseball field, soccer fields, anything like that in that immediate area to accommodate all these houses.

N

um The other day, I learned that greenlee is known when it's built out completely would be over 2000 residences. So we've got to do something in that area alone I mean yeah. We have eastern regional, but in our area it would be nice if we could have something for the kids and fields for the families right there.

N

My other give you an answer.

N

And my issue with that is precinct 11, essex. That building is absolute. I mean that building has got to go: it's not fair to the police, it's the flooding and asbestos, and you know when they have lockups and there's just not enough room for them, and it's not fair. To that.

N

I mean we put so much money out right now for recruiting which we need to do, but that push push push and then we get them through the academy, which is another issue, but when they get assigned to essex or get assigned to vote this, then I'll walk up there and be like this was not in the brochure because there's beginners november really- and you know we got to do everything we can for these police nowadays, because we are asking a lot and everybody's against them and we have to have police with confidence. So.

B

So I'll take the precinct question and I'll, let the council and then speak to the green league. um We have the funding in place to do a brand new precinct. We are actively working with a few opportunities to purchase the land and potentially move into a more ideal location for our officers.

B

uh In addition, uh I will say: essex is probably priority, one two and three for chief hyatt and we're talking about capital budget for for this year. So it's definitely our radar, but I appreciate raising that as well.

A

Yeah, so talking about open space and recreation for middle river, I don't know where we are getting a park, slash playground on bourbon road. uh That was when the fields didn't work out. um They decided the developer said that he would do another project.

A

And this is why we're working so hard to get over 200 acres of the 425 dedicated to the county, just for that for recreation for the um the training school. So it's really going to be a benefit to middle river.

B

And if there are other parcels that you'd like us to consider, please actually pat mcdougall is the rock star of all things program. Open space he's got that cool maryland play.

C

A

Have things you'd like to have our right team to check out anytime? Please find it as well, and we just got a new community health center for glamour elementary, which serves on the river as well. Not you know right there where you live, but it will be serving as well, but we're working on it.

B

We'll turn it back over to you and I'm gonna defer to councilman.

C

Evans first.

B

uh Before I wrap up so I'll prefer to you.

A

Well, I just want to thank everybody for coming out tonight. um It was really great to break in this way and there were some great ideas uh that we heard of this evening and suggestions and thanks uh you for coming out. The budget is very important. uh You can contact my office or anyone in the county executive's office. If you have any questions about the budget um once the county executive provides the budget to us, um then.

B

You're going to just say that it's a perfect budget wrong.

L

A

Perfect, so it is time-consuming and we do work very hard at it and we do like the public's opinion on the on the budget.

C

A

You we cannot add to the budget, the county council. We can only take away from the budget and I have to tell you I've never cut education or public safety uh since I've been in office. So that's very important to me. um So thank you for coming out tonight and um obviously you're very involved with your community and paying attention, which is a good thing. I see a couple of my community leaders here tonight and um thank you so much for coming out.

A

I'm sure you'll take this information um back to your communities and- um and I did want to recognize uh my colleague councilman david marks- is in the back of the room and uh once the maps are approved when they're approved um he will be taking. The fifth district will be coming um into the sixth district. I mean yeah he'll, be coming into the sixth district, I'll be losing um all of my waterfront and um a lot of uh properties in middle river up to rap 40..

A

um So it was very good that david could come out tonight and hear some of the things that is going on in the sixth district and we work very well together on the council. Although we're on different uh sides of the house politically uh 95, maybe 98 of the time, we do those the same, because our communities have so much in common. So thank you for coming out.

A

I want to thank all the county executive staff for making this so easy, and um I just look forward to hearing from any of you um when it comes to the budget or anything. My uh back is in the back of the business card to reach out to my office.

A

If you don't already know how to contact me and count the executive you're, a great partner, uh the having government- and I have to tell you for the folks in the sixth district, I've advocated for it for the projects in the sixth district and the county executive has been very generous to dollars that have come into the sixth district. There will be two brand new community centers, uh which will include health centers. We have our first state park coming. I haven't had a brand new state park over 50 years in baltimore county.

A

That's coming to rosedale, we've had so many um just really uplifting um projects, and you know communities that have had every single street paid curbs sidewalks stutters. um So it's been a fun ride with your county executive. I can't thank you enough. I've never had that many tax dollars um coming to the district before so. I'm certainly grateful, and I know we have new schools being built. We have the northeast school.

A

We have red house run, we have a new middle school, that's being erected now, of course, all that may move into the david marx district. um Just remember david. I got those dollars.

C

A

I'll be at the ripping cuttings, no matter where I am um so, it really is uh great to have a county executive that.

C

A

Understands uh baltimore county and the needs of the people here, um so I hope that um we'll get through this budget it'll be great. It'll, be perfect, it'll, be.

O

B

um And if I, if I just take a point of personal privilege um just to say, um councilman actually stole some of my thunder, but uh no it's it's great I'll. Just reiterate um what appears to have to get district six has um and a lot of the projects that are happening have been um very much a direct result of kathy's uh advocacy on behalf of the residents here. So I thank you for your partnership uh council mark. Thank you for your partnership.

B

uh As kathy said uh more often than not we're just about solutions in baltimore county, we have a four free council, four democrats, three republicans, um but we just we just find.

H

B

Thank you for making the time to be engaged in your communities. This way, thank you to the baltimore county staff.

B

um I hope that uh you know residents and baltimore county staff alike, walk away from these meetings, having a more deep and profound appreciation for the rich diversities of our communities, the needs of our communities and get excited for the ways in which we can all deliver together. So I hope everybody.

C

B

Great night and we'll see you in the next town hall, which is zach 19, the 19 16. next week, all right, everybody.

B