Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
The Anne Arundel County Council convened on December 2, 2025. The session featured the annual election of council leadership, recognition of staff milestones, introduction of new legislation, and public hearings on infrastructure, development, and public safety bills. Key legislation debated included updates to the sidewalk snow removal ordinance and a major transportation adequate public facilities bill. The council voted to hold the land acquisition resolution for a school bus facility and its related budget transfer pending environmental assessments.
The following items were formally introduced and will be available for public review:
Invitation to the Audience (Non-Agenda Items):
Bill 76-25 (Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal):
Bill 81-25 (Transportation Adequate Public Facilities):
Bill 76-25 (Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal) - Passage: The bill transfers enforcement from the Police Department to Inspections and Permits (DIP), changes penalties from criminal to civil, and adds a warning step with extended compliance timeframes (24-48 hours based on accumulation). Councilmember Fiedler voiced concerns about the burden on residents in her district during the previous winter's extreme weather, advocating that the council simply move the enforcement agency and enforce existing law. Councilmember Volkey thanked the administration for their work on the bill. The bill passed with a vote of 4-3. (Ayes: Rodbyan, Smith, Pickard, Hummer; Nays: Volkey, Fiedler, Ledbetter).
Bill 81-25 (Transportation APF, Mitigation, and Impact Fees) - Amendments and Hold: The council debated four amendments to the bill. The administration stated the amendments aimed to balance development costs with multimodal transportation goals. Key debate surrounded Amendment 10, which exempted frontage improvements during redevelopment or change of use. Councilmember Volkey questioned the logic of exempting older, denser areas most in need of pedestrian upgrades. Councilmember Pickard noted the amendment also defined road frontage more narrowly. The council adopted Amendments 9 (5-2), 10 (6-1), 11 (4-3), and 12 (4-3). Following the adoption of amendments, the bill was held for a final vote on December 15.
Resolution 34-25 (Land Acquisition - Harmans Bus Facility and Edgewater Park): The council reviewed the $7.6 million purchase of a 7.9-acre property in Harmans for a school bus facility and a $4.5 million purchase of 68 acres in Edgewater for a park. The Harmans parcel sparked significant debate due to its proximity to an EPA Superfund site and the lack of a completed Phase 2 environmental site assessment. Councilmember Volkey criticized the administration for asking for a vote without the study, calling it a $700,000 over-appraisal risk. He and other councilmembers sought clarity on remediation costs. The administration cited an opt-out clause in the contract if contamination is found. Councilmember Ledbetter emphasized the urgent need for the facility. Councilmember Pickard noted the scarcity of industrial land driving the price. The council voted unanimously to hold the resolution until the December 15 meeting pending the Phase 2 results and a cost analysis.
Bill 89-25 (Budget Transfers - Land Acquisition Funding): The bill included a $1.1 million transfer to the advanced land acquisition capital project. Councilmember Volkey successfully moved to hold the bill alongside the land acquisition resolution, as the funds are contingent on the Harmans purchase proceeding. The vote was 7-0.
The December 1st, 2025 legislative session of the Ane Rundle County Council is closed to order. Call to order. Please ensure all phones and electronic devices are set to silent. Please rise for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Please pray according to your custom as I pray according to mine. Dear God, as we go through this holiday season, open our hearts to those most in need and assistance. May we provide food for those who are hungry, shelter for those who are cold, and serve others in this time of giving. Guide our actions tonight that we may best use our resources to serve the most vulnerable in our county with compassion and that we may bring joy to others now and throughout the year. Amen. The ethics commission has asked that I advise you that under certain circumstances, members of the public may qualify as lobbyists when they testify before the county council. If so, the law requires that certain information be filed with the ethics commission. The chair of the ethics commission has asked that those who wish to testify in any form review the general information on lobbying sheet located on the ethics website under forms and publications. If there are any questions about lobbying requirements, please contact the ethics commission at 410-22 4412. Okay. At this time, we have a couple of special citations. So I'm going to turn it over to Councilwoman Fiedler and Mr. Councilmember Smith. Whoever wants to go first. So I'll um so we have a special tribute here. For those that don't know, um, everyone on this council has someone who is a part of their staff. We have a legislative aide uh who contributes significantly to our success uh as well as to the success of various uh districts uh here in Ana Rondo County. And quite frankly, if it was not for our legislative aides, uh we would we would not be as uh uh generous with our time uh and everything else because they're taking care of that that that hard work when it comes to constituent services, uh helping us with legislations and some capacities, uh attending various community meetings. And so uh we wanted to do something special for at least our legislative aides, uh, primarily because they've reached a significant milestone. Uh, if for those that don't know, in District One, uh my council, uh my council person, my legislative aide uh is Linda Harris, and she has uh eclipsed a milestone that is very significant, and she has today, or not today, it was actually uh reached her 30th anniversary working for Ana Rondo County government. And so I don't know if if you all know how long that is, but 30 years is a long time uh to be servicing the public and servicing the county. Uh and so uh we certainly wanted to give her a huge uh round of applause, but before we do that, uh I know there's another aide who also reached a significant milestone, and then we'll read the citation to tell you how special they really are. Thank you. So, in true form in wanting to be the support behind the scenes, our aides are working diligently in their respective offices right now, but they know that we are presenting these publicly, and they um are so appreciative. Pam Scarborough has been my aide since my first term, and she not only served me in District 5, but she has served previous uh previous council member in District 5 and another council member in District 7, as well as worked in different county agencies. Um bring such life to the council office with her humor in tough times and due diligence and just really really hard work. Uh so I'm thrilled to be able to recognize her publicly on the record uh here this evening. And with that, Pete, would you like to read your citation first? Gracefully uh worked for this county for 30 years, uh, is an incredible milestone. The Ana Ronda County Council would like to recognize her hard work and dedication, and we are grateful for her commitment and invaluable contributions uh that make uh not just my citizens, quite frankly. I think uh Linda has also helped uh other legislative aides uh over that last 30 years uh and citizens of Ana Ronda County and to this council office. Thank you and congratulations. She is certainly a diamond in a rough, and I'm grateful that she has uh graced at least district one with her uh time and her energy, and I'm just proud to be a person who has stood in her shadows uh to operate in this capacity. So thank you, Linda, for being who you are. And this citation is presented to Pamela Scarborough. The Anarundo County Council recognize and celebrates your 25 years of service, hard work, professionalism, and dedication, supporting four council council members in two districts, in addition to the Greater County and other agencies and capacities. This incredible milestone is a testament to the invaluable service you have provided in so many ways. You add joy in life to the workplace, and the county council sincerely thanks and congratulates you on this day. Madam Chair, we are having uh visual issues with our rundal TV. They need to reboot. So it might be who of us if we just take a few minutes while they do that and then okay. We're gonna take a couple of minutes to reboot.