The Opel Jones Legislative Digest

Dear Friend,

Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Resolutions and Council Bills proposed by the Howard County Council.

As your County Council representative, I encourage you to review this information and lend your voice by testifying via email or in person. To voice your support or opposition, please email councilmail@howardcountymd.gov. The next Legislative Public Hearing will be Monday, September 21st at 7 PM off-site (meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants). To sign-up in advance to testify, click here.

It is my pleasure to serve you, your family, and residents of District 2. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling (410) 313-2001 or by emailing ojones@howardcountymd.gov. I hope you will continue to stay engaged by visiting my council website at https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/Districts/District-2.

Sincerely,

The Process

The County Council is responsible for adopting the laws of the County. The legislative process generally follows a monthly cycle:

1st Monday- New legislation is introduced; legislation from prior month is given final consideration
3rd Monday- Public hearing on legislation introduced that month
4th Monday- Legislative work session, if needed

Council Bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of the Council's presentation of passed legislation.

Council-Related Legislation

Howard County Council Legislation

Unless otherwise noted, the following legislation is introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

Highlighted Legislation

CR142-2020

Introduced by: Councilmembers Opel Jones and Christiana Rigby

A RESOLUTION creating a Racial Equity Task Force to study racial inequities and disparities in Howard County and recommend legislative actions to close racial disparities in our community.

Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2020

Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee

Representative: Councilmember Rigby, District 3

Alternate: Councilmember Jung, District 4

National Associations of Counties

Representative: Councilmember Rigby, District 3

Alternate: Councilmember Jung, District 4

Board of License Commissioners

Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5

Vice-Chair: Councilmember Rigby, District 3

Zoning Board

Chair: Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones, District 2

Vice-Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5

Howard County Council Chairpersons

Chair: Councilmember Jung, District 4

Vice-Chair: Councilmember Walsh, District 1

Introduced Legislation

Appointments

CR110-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION appointing members to the Planning Advisory Committee to assist in the development of HoCo By Design, Howard County’s next General Plan.

CR111-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Hunter Craig to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR112-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Teresa Garcia to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR113-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Larry Scott Hencshel to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.

CR114-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kevin Hill to the Board of Electrical Examiners.

CR115-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Lawrence Lewis III to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR116-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Eduardo Marin to the Recreation and Parks Board.

CR117-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kimberly McCauley to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR118-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Mike Mitchell to the Howard County Local Children’s Board.

CR119-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Daniel Thomas Nairn to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR120-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kelly Shalcosky-Proctor to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.

CR121-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Kelly L. Smith to the Board of Library Trustees.

CR122-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Bonnie Sorak to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

CR123-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of James W. Brown to the Howard County Agricultural Land Preservation Board.

CR124-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Katie Collins-Ihrke to the Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.

CR125-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Shahriar Etemadi to the Multimodal Transportation Board.

CR126-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Cynthia Gula to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.

CR127-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Wei Guo to the Commission on Aging.

CR128-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Patricia Warr Marshall to the Housing Commission.

CR129-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Judi Olinger to the Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.

CR130-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Cynthia Parr to the Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.

CR131-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Charles A. Phillips, Jr. to the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority.

CR132-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Steven J. Plakitsis to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.

CR133-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Paul Rivers, to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.

CR134-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Linda Skelton to the Housing and Community Development Board.

CR135-2020

Introduced by: Councilmember Christiana Rigby

A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jennifer Bevan-Dangel to the Citizens’ Election Fund Commission.

Financial

CB43-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ORDINANCE authorizing the issuance, sale and delivery of up to $150,000,000 consolidated public improvement bonds and up to $50,000,000 metropolitan district bonds, pursuant to various bond enabling laws; providing that such bonds shall be general obligations of the County; authorizing the County Executive to specify, prescribe, determine, provide for or approve the final principal amounts, maturity schedules, interest rates and redemption provisions for such bonds, and other matters, details, forms, documents or procedures and to determine the method of sale of such bonds; providing for the disbursement of the proceeds of such bonds and for the levying of taxes to pay debt service on such bonds; and providing for and determining various matters in connection therewith.

CB44-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT making emergency appropriations pursuant to Section 610(b) of the Howard County Charter and amending the Annual Budget and Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021 in order to receive approximately $9,733,000 of additional State funding in the Board of Education’s Capital budget for Fiscal Year 2021; and declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet a public emergency affecting life, health or property.

CR136-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION approving the inclusion of approximately $9,733,000 of additional State funding in the Board of Education’s Capital budget for Fiscal Year 2021; and generally relating to the Fiscal Year 2021 budget of the Board of Education.

CR137-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION approving an application to the State of Maryland for funding under the Maryland Community Development Block Grant Program for funds awarded through the federal CARES Act; and authorizing certain actions necessary to carry out the intent of this Resolution.

General

CB45-2020 (ZRA191)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT revising the definition of Housing Commission Housing Development to include the Howard County Government so that the Department of Housing and Community Development can facilitate the construction of affordable housing on non-residentially zoned land; allowing the Planning Board to approve up to a maximum of 12 acres of housing developments on non-residentially zoned land owned by the Howard County Government or for housing developments owned by a business entity in which Howard County Government is a general partner or managing member; and generally relating to the Howard County Zoning Regulations.

CB46-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT authorizing the County Executive to award points under the Length of Service Awards Program for active service by Executive Order based on a declared state of emergency; and generally relating to the Length Of Service Award Program for volunteer firefighting/EMS personnel.

CB47-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT amending the Pay Plan for Howard County in order to add pay scales for Emergency Communications Supervisors, members of Local 3085 and members of Lodge 131; amending specialty pays applicable to Emergency Communication Supervisors and Police Lieutenants; providing for the application of certain pay schedules; and generally relating to the Pay Plan for Howard County.

CB48-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT amending the Howard County Code in order to change the name of the Office of Human Rights to be the Office of Human Rights and Equity; and generally related to the Office of Human Rights.

CB49-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT prohibiting parking in a bike lane; defining certain terms; and generally related to parking control in Howard County.

CR138-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION approving a fine for parking in a bike lane.

CR139-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION authorizing the sale, for nominal consideration, of a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer owned by Howard County to the Maryland State Police, Forensic Sciences Division.

CR140-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code, authorizing the County Executive to grant easements to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company so that BGE may place equipment on poles owned by the County in three locations in Ellicott City; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to grant the easements if he finds that the property may have a further public use.

CR141-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that land containing 0.188 acres owned by Howard County, Maryland is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to convey, at no cost, fee simple title to the Property to the State of Maryland; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to convey the Property if he finds that the County may have a use for the Property.

CB50-2020

Introduced by: Councilmember Deb Jung

AN ACT to update a reference in the LEED green building rating system related to bird-friendly buildings; and generally relating to environmental design.

CR142-2020

Introduced by: Councilmembers Opel Jones and Christiana Rigby

A RESOLUTION creating a Racial Equity Task Force to study racial inequities and disparities in Howard County and recommend legislative actions to close racial disparities in our community.

CR143-2020

Introduced by: Councilmember Liz Walsh

A Resolution declaring policy support by the Howard County Council for the “Fight For $15” Coalition, which successfully advocated for the passage and eventual enactment of a phased-in $15 per hour minimum wage for Marylanders, and for maintaining the first minimum wage phase-in as enacted, effective January 1, 2021.

CR144-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION establishing Wilde Lake High School as a fifth early voting center for the 2020 general election.

CR145-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on a specified date.

CR51-2020

Introduced by: Councilmember Liz Walsh

AN ACT prohibiting the Howard County Department of Corrections from accepting into its custody persons detained by federal immigration law enforcement agencies and housing those persons as they await disposition of exclusively immigration-related proceedings.

CR107-2020

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION authorizing the execution of a First Amendment to a Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement by and between Camilla Carroll and Philip D. Carroll and Howard County, Maryland in accordance Title 16, Subtitle 17 of the Howard County Code.

CR89-2019

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

AN ACT declaring that a portion of Old Maryland Route 108, containing approximately 1.087 acres, is no longer needed for a public purpose and authorizing the County Executive to waive the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code in order to convey the County’s property interest to the developer of the adjacent property, Dorsey Overlook, LLLP.

Legislation for Final Consideration

CR137-2020

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed as Amended

CR98-2019

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION adopting the Housing Unit Allocation Chart for Fiscal Year 2020 pursuant to the Adequate Public Facilities Act of Howard County.

Status: Withdrawn

CR89-2019

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed as Amended

CR144-2020

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive

A RESOLUTION establishing Wilde Lake High School as a fifth early voting center for the 2020 general election.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed

Upcoming Council Meetings

Unless otherwise noted, the County Council will hold its meetings in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD. The next meetings are as follows:

Monday, September 14, 2020 - Monthly Meeting (Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants)
Monday, September 21, 2020 - Legislative Public Hearing (Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants)
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 - Legislative Work Session (Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants)

Please note these dates are subject to change. To access the most up-to-date calendar of meetings in its entirety, click here.

Can't attend a meeting but still want to stay involved? You can stream the Council's sessions online and click on the meeting you would like to watch. The Council's sessions are also streamed in real time on this website.