Greetings!

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 Tuesday, February 16th 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.
Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2021
Howard County Council Chairpersons
Chair: Councilmember Elizabeth Walsh, District 1
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Opel Jones, District 2

Zoning Board
Chair: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

Board of License Commissioners
Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
Vice-Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee
Representative: Councilmember Opel Jones, District 2
     Alternate: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

National Associations of Counties
Representative: Councilmember Jones, District 2
      Alternate: Councilmember Jung, District 4
Introduced Legislation
Appointments
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Brooke Abercrombie to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Rev. Brian Akers to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Alexandra Berry to the Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Dr. Cherron L. Blakely, to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Amma Felix to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Geetha Jayaram to the Commission on Aging.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Frank W. Kirkland to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elizabeth Oyebode to the Commission for Women.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Colonel Eric Towns, to the Howard County Commission for Veterans and Military Families.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Gudell L. Ward to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of David M. Woodruff to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency. 

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Bert Hash to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kathy Land to the Commission for Transitioning Students with Disabilities.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Edward T. Plitt to the Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Yetta Roggerson to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Charley Sung to the Alcoholic Beverage Hearing Board.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Kurt W. Wall to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
Financial
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT pursuant to Section 612 of the Howard County Charter, approving a Ninth Amendment of Lease between Howard County, Maryland and Symphony Woods, LLC, that expands the leased premises located at 5950 Symphony Woods Drive, Columbia, Maryland, by approximately 184 square feet and that results in an increased rental amount; authorizing the County Executive to make changes to the Amendment, under certain conditions; authorizing the County Executive to execute the Amendment; and generally relating to the Amendment.

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 grant funding from the United States Department of the Treasury to provide rent and utility assistance; and declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet a public emergency affecting life, health or property.
General
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the term of board and commission members to be consistent with recently enacted amendments to Section 404 of the Howard County Charter; and generally related to boards and commissions.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION endorsing the provision of financing by the State Department of Commerce for an economic development project in Howard County and certifying that the project is consistent with the County’s goals for economic development.

Introduced by: The Chairperson
A RESOLUTION setting a date by which the Councilmanic Redistricting Commission is required to prepare a plan of Councilmanic Districts and present the plan to the Howard County Council; setting a date following presentation of the plan of Councilmanic Districts to the County Council by which, if no ordinance re-establishing the boundaries of the Councilmanic Districts has been enacted, the plan submitted by the Councilmanic Redistricting Commission becomes law; and generally relating to Councilmanic Redistricting.

Introduced by: Christiana Rigby, Opel Jones and Liz Walsh
AN ACT to prohibit the sale or distribution of certain single-use straws and stirrers, certain condiment packets and certain plastic food ware by certain food service facilities and retail business entities under specified circumstances; providing for exceptions to the prohibition; requiring certain establishments to have specified materials; providing for enforcement of the prohibition; specifying the duties of the Office of Community Sustainability; requiring fines to be placed in a certain Fund; and generally relating to waste reduction in the County.

Introduced by: David Yungmann
AN ACT to allow a landlord to show a model or similar unit to a prospective tenant if the unit to be leased is not vacant under specified circumstances; to alter the authority of a tenant to terminate a lease without penalty if certain violations are not abated within a certain time; to alter the authority of a tenant to terminate a lease because of an involuntary change of employment; to allow a lease to provide that a tenant will pay specified costs under specified circumstances; to alter the lease payment grace period; to allow for the collection of specified charges; to repeal the prohibition against a lease stating that it is a contract under seal; making a technical correction; and generally relating to landlord-tenant relations.

Introduced by: The Chairperson
A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on a specified date.
Legislation for Final Consideration
APPOINTMENTS

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Nailah Brock, Ph.D. to the Board of Social Services.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Maurice C. Frazier to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ralph C. Glover, Jr. to the Board of Social Services. 
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ayesha Holmes to the Local Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
Status: Tabled

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Shoshanah Hornum to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Elizabeth Kromm to the Commission on Aging.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved as amended

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Chalise Cassandra Latimer to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Ivette Lopez to the Board of Social Services.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Rev. Dr. Elizabeth R. Sapp Jones to the Board of Social Services. 
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson
A RESOLUTION appointing Amy Renee Brooks to the Board of Appeals of Howard County, Maryland, to fill a term ending on December 31, 2025.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

Introduced by: The Chairperson
A RESOLUTION appointing David Marker, Everlene Cunningham, McNeal Brown, Mahesh S. Kukata, Chris Oxenham, Ray Serrano, and Donna Hill Staton to the Councilmanic Redistricting Commission and naming Donna Hill Staton as the Chairperson of the Commission; and generally relating to Councilmanic Redistricting.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved as amended

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jerome Rollerson to the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Approved

FINANCIAL

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ORDINANCE approving the execution and delivery by Howard County, Maryland (the “County”) of a conditional purchase agreement or funding agreement (the “Conditional Purchase Agreement”) in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000 in order to refinance one or more lease agreements of the County and to pay the costs of such refinancing; providing that the County’s obligation to make purchase installment payments under the Conditional Purchase Agreement shall be subject to annual appropriation by the County Council of Howard County, Maryland and shall not constitute indebtedness of the County; providing that the refinancing hereby approved is being undertaken for the purposes of realizing lease payment savings for the County; and generally providing for other matters related to the execution and delivery of the Conditional Purchase Agreement by the County.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION approving a nonrefundable application fee and a license fee for an annual Private Animal Shelter License.
Status: Tabled

GENERAL

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the timing for Fiscal Analysis provided by the County Auditor; providing that certain exceptions apply to Fiscal Analysis provided by the County Executive; and generally relating to the enactment of legislation.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Failed

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the Howard County Retirement Plan in order to create a Deferred Retirement Option Program for Participating Corrections Employees (Corrections DROP); defining certain terms; establishing certain deadlines; setting forth the eligibility for Corrections DROP to include certain employees of the Department of Corrections; providing for the term of Corrections DROP participation; providing for the termination of participation in Corrections DROP; requiring that certain accounts be established and maintained; setting forth provisions related to the disability, death, or retirement of Corrections DROP participants; and generally relating to the Howard County Retirement Plan. 
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT requiring a license for private animal shelters; defining certain terms; authorizing the adoption of certain regulations; providing for certain exemptions; requiring that a license application contain certain information; requiring an application fee; requiring that certain fees be adopted by Resolution of the County Council; providing for inspections; providing that a denied application can be resubmitted under certain conditions; providing for a license term; providing the conditions under which the license can be suspended or revoked; providing for appeals and license renewals; requiring certain records; providing standards of care for private animal shelters; providing for certain penalties; adding to the duties of the Animal Matters Hearing Board; and generally relating to private animal shelters in Howard County.
Status: Tabled

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 16.1203 of the Howard County Code, adopting a new Forest Conservation Manual; and generally relating to Howard County Forest Conservation. 
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of Annapolis Junction Town Center, LLC
AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow structures within 750 feet of a MARC station platform to exceed 100 feet in height up to a maximum of 180 feet in height under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Zoning District.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of Blue Stream, LLC
AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow all CAC (Corridor Activity Center) zoned properties to reduce the required commercial square footage below 20 square feet per dwelling unit if the Department of Planning and Zoning finds based on a market study submitted by the developer that the reduction is necessary for the financial viability of the project; and generally relating to the CAC zoning district. 
Status: Tabled

Introduced by: David Yungmann
AN ACT to repeal a prohibition against the installation of certain multiuse sewerage systems; and generally relating to private sewer systems.
My Vote: Yes
Status: Passed as amended

Introduced by: The Chairperson
A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on a specified date.
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:

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2021 - Legislative Public Hearing (Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants)
  • Monday, February 22, 2021 - 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.