My first budget season as a Councilmember has been an intense experience. The County has unlimited need and limited resources. My job is to make sure that these resources are used wisely and responsibly. This requires attention to the macro and the micro level, from the high-profile school system to the lesser-known departments and government operations. I've dug deep into the numbers and have exhausted a lot of highlighters this month.
Thank you all to the constituents who have reached out during this process, expressing your concerns and priorities. The budget process is a complicated one and I hope that I've effectively communicated how the process works.
As usual, funding for the school system's operating budget dominates the headlines and Facebook posts. Developing a funding strategy for the school system is a challenge. Negotiated contracts, increased health-care costs, and parent expectations all come with a hefty price tag. Meanwhile, County revenues can’t keep up with these demands. It is time to face the tough budget decisions with a plan: an amendment to meet some, but not all of the needs coupled with conditions to create a realistic and sustainable blueprint for the future. Read more
here
.
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Tax Credit Help
Get help filing for County tax credits. A Maryland Access Point (MAP) counselor will be available at the Cashier’s Office at the George Howard Building on the following dates:
- July 15, 9am-1pm
- August 7, 8am-5pm
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Potholes Be Gone
Got potholes and other road and infrastructure repair requests? Report the problem and track the solution through
SeeClickFix
.
Create a login, set your location, and rest assured that the county is working on it for you.
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Go Litter Free!
Do your part to keep Howard beautiful by disposing of trash in a proper receptacle. And if you meet trash on the trails, collect it to keep it from accumulating in our waterways and highways.
Thank you
!
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Fire Staffing Report
A report detailing the staffing needs of the fire department has been released. The committee recommends the following:
- Four fire-fighters on the engine and two on the transport unit, at all fire stations
- Advanced Life Support (ALS/Paramedic) staff at all stations
- EMS transport units at peak times
- Personnel needs calculated annually
- Response times improved to 15 firefighters on the scene within 10 minutes
- Mobile Integrated Health Units assessments to address the opioid crisis
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AFRICAN ART MUSEUM OF MARYLAND (AAMM)
The African Art Museum of Maryland (AAMM) is the first museum in the community of Maple Lawn. The AAMM observes 39 years of service to the public this year.
AAMM explores the art of Africa and is dedicated to the encouragement of broader understanding and awareness of the diverse cultures and artistic expressions of the people of the African continent.
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The Council is working through the
FY2020 Operating & Capital Budget
for all departments including the Board of Education, Howard Community College, and Libraries.
We have dutifully poured through pages of spreadsheets and listened to hours-long testimonies during work sessions with government departments, public facilities, and HCPSS.
Our most recent work session was on May 15 and focused on the school system and their operating budget. The Board of Education asked for a 12.8% increase over last year but County revenues have only increased by 1.8%. Thanks to State and Federal dollars, the County Executive was able to boost funding to the schools by 3.5%.
The work session discussed the school system's budget obligations: negotiated contracts, health-care liabilities, and increased parent expectations. These factors are outpacing the County's available resources. Several improvements were discussed:
- Increasing collaboration among the County Executive, County Council, and HCPSS in building a realistic budget proposal within the constraints of County revenue.
- Timing contract negotiations to better fit with the County's budget process.
- Defining a plan for tackling the health-care fund deficit and reducing costs for benefits.
In addition to budget matters, on May 6 the Council voted on bills introduced in April. Here are some highlights:
- CR49 - Development Rights & Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) with Chase Land, LLC ( see below for a description of a DRRA). This passed without my proposed amendments that would have removed the undeveloped parcel from the agreement.
- CB17 - Increasing the number of consecutive years a project must be retested under the school capacity test of APFO. This bill proposed the extension of the school wait time to seven years; it was tabled for later consideration.
- CB 14 - Requiring diaper changing stations in new buildings. Approved.
- CB 51 - Requiring certain appointments to be subject to County Council confirmation. Failed
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Budget Season: the Finale
The County Council will prefile budget amendments on May 22, hold one more work session on May 24, and vote on May 29.
The end is near but the hard work is just beginning.
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Howard County’s Curbside Recycling Goes Plastic Bag Free
Effective Saturday, June 15, 2019, Howard County’s Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Environmental Services will no longer accept curbside recycling placed in plastic bags. Items for recycling, should be placed loose in the county assigned recycling bin/cart. Any plastic bagged recyclables will not be collected curbside.
Plastic bags and plastic film foul machinery, by getting wrapped around recycling equipment and jamming the screens. Small plastic fragments also become air- and water-borne litter.
In addition, the county’s Alpha Ridge Landfill’s Residents Convenience Center will no longer accept items for recycling bagged in plastic.
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Cherrytree Farms Stream and Pond Improvement Projects
A public meeting will be held on
Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00 pm
in the
Einstein
Meeting Room at Howard County Library’s Savage branch (9525 Durness Lane, Laurel) to present the plans for a stream stabilization and pond-repair project at
Cherrytree Farms stormwater management pond adjacent to 8409 Sand Cherry Lane in Laurel
.
The County's Department of Public Works will make safety and maintenance upgrades, increase pollutant-load reduction, and stabilize and restore approximately 1,200 linear feet of a nearby unnamed tributary to the Rocky Gorge Reservoir. Construction on both projects is expected to begin
in spring 2020.
US 29 & Rivers Edge Road Interchange
The State Highway Administration (SHA) has updated its public information for the proposed interchange at US29 and Rivers Edge Road. Six alternatives were under consideration but due to budget constraints SHA is collecting new traffic volume data in order to develop other alternatives. conducting preliminary studies associated with the widening of US29 from the Middle Patuxent River to Seneca Drive from two to three lanes, covering 1.7 miles.
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Pre-Submission Meetings & Public Hearings
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5/23 - Tributaries to Little Patuxent River 1, 2 & 3, stream restoration project
6/20 - Wilde Lake Multi-Use Path
6/6 - Resubdivision, 3 single-family units, Edwin Basslery
6/7 - RLJ Lodging Trust (Double Tree)
7/24 - KimCo, Hickory Ridge Village Center, amend PDP in NT district
Visit the county's interactive
pDox
tool for more.
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Summer Food Service Program
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will serve free meals to children on a first come, first served basis this summer.
When:
Weekdays, June 25-August 16
Where:
D4 locations listed here.
- Wilde Lake Middle School, 1-2 p.m.
- Atholton High School, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
When:
Weekdays, June 25-August 21
Where:
D4 locations include
- Swansfield Elementary School parking lot, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Wilde Lake Tennis Club parking lot, 12:15-12:45 p.m.
- Howard County Library System-East Columbia Branch, 12-1:30 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: Meals will not be served on Wednesday, July 4, or any day that HCPSS schools are closed.
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Below are some of the events and meetings I have recently attended. Let me know about your community activities so I can stop by, if my schedule allows.
05/02 - ACS Humanitarian Awards Luncheon
05/02 - Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families
05/03 - HCHS Spring Fundraiser - Classic Hollywood
05/03 - Swansfield ES Guest Reader Day
05/04 - FIRN 5K
05/04 - HoCo Cup Races
05/07 - Police Memorial Ceremony
05/09 - PFLAG Fundraiser
05/11 - Freedom Fund Jazz Brunch
05/11 - Gender & Politics Forum
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Top to bottom
: Police Memorial Ceremony, Swansfield ES Guest Reader Day, HCHS Spring Fundraiser;
Bottom left:
Freedom Fund Jazz Brunch
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THIS WEEKEND
click
here
for ticket information
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WINE in the WOODS
May 18th and 19th, 11am
Symphony Woods
(by Merriweather Post Pavilion)
5950 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia
Wine in the Woods is one of the premiere events in the region and a source of pride for Howard County. The entire Department of Howard County Recreation and Parks has worked together as a team to produce this event. The festival has been voted Best Outdoor event by Columbia Magazine in 1997 and 1998 and awarded Best Annual Festival in Howard County by Howard Magazine for the past five years. It has become a tradition and a mainstay for the local community and beyond, becoming a sparkling tourist attraction that brings visitors from far and wide.
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SOUND of MUSIC SING-A-LONG
May 25th, 5:30pm
Merriweather Post Pavillion
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
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The film will be screened with subtitles during the songs so the whole audience can sing along together.
There will also be a pre-show vocal warm up, costume competition, and instructions for using the “magic moments” party pack that every guest will receive!
There will also feature a pre-show vocal warm up, costume competition, and instructions for using the “magic moments” party pack that every guest will receive!
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Note: Seating is reserved and inside the pavilion only for this show. No lawn seating.
Cost: $22
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Howard County Government Closings for Memorial Day Holiday on May 27th
Howard County Government offices, courts, animal shelter, 50+ centers and Alpha Ridge Landfill will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27. There will be no trash, recycling, yard trim or food scrap pick-up on Memorial Day. The county’s holiday "slide” schedule will be in effect; click
here
for more information.
County parks and the Roger Carter Community Center will be open; however, the Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Activity Rooms, the Gary J. Arthur and North Laurel Community Centers, Kiwanis-Wallas Hall, Meadowbrook Athletic Center, Robinson Nature Center and county historic sites will be closed.
The Regional Transportation Agency (RTA) will operate on a “Sunday” schedule. Click here for
more.
County offices will re-open on Tuesday, May 28.
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Closed on Monday, May 27
County Government Offices
Courts
Animal Shelter
Landfill and all trash and recycling services
50+Centers
Cedar Lane and Schooley Mill Activity Rooms
Gary J. Arthur and North Laurel Community Centers
County Historic Sites
Kiwanis-Wallas Hall
Meadowbrook Athletic Center
Robinson Nature Center
Open on Monday, May 27
County Parks
Roger Carter Community Center
RTA will operate on a “Sunday” Schedule
All parking regulations and fees will be in effect
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Memorial Day Weekend
- the Unofficial Start of Summer~
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June 14th - 30th
Click
here
for the showtimes and events
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LAKEFEST WEEKEND
June 14th -16th
Downtown Columbia Lakefront
10275 Wincopin Cir, Columbia
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The FREE LakeFest Weekend includes three days of live music, an invitational arts and crafts show, strolling performers, festival food, a Clyde’s of Columbia Beer Garden and an array of activities and entertainment for all ages. One of the highlights of
LakeFest
this year includes
evening performance(s) and residency activities by Bridgman Packer Dance.
Click
here
to view schedule
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HOWARD COUNTY PRIDE
June 29th, 11am-5pm
Centennial Park
10000 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City
Remember | Resist | Rejoice
Celebrate Howard County's first annual LGBTQ pride event.
click
here
for more information
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Click
here
for more information.
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HoCoPoLitSo & the COLUMBIA FILM SOCIETY CELEBRATION
June 30th, 2:30pm
Smith Theatre, Howard Community College
Campus Dr, Columbia
Celebrate the education of girls, the beauty of story, and the power of collective action featuring
a talk by Aminatta Forna, one of the writers of
Girl Rising,
and the documentary film that inspired global awareness about the importance of education for girls.
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Concert season has begun!
Check out the full 2019 calendar of live music for an endearing Howard County tradition.
Click
here
for the calendar.
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Chrysalis Events
More outdoor shows, more intimate setting. Columbia is blessed with fine arts and cultural performances.
Click
here
for the calendar.
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