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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baltimore County Council Legislative Day 18 – November 4, 2025

County Council — Tuesday, November 4, 2025
BodyBaltimore County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, November 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:06:20

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0:08

That's okay.

0:08

Good evening, everyone.

0:10

Um legislate legislative day 18 will now come to order.

0:14

Um I please ask everyone to pause for a silent uh a moment of silent meditation before we do the pledge.

0:32

Thank you.

0:33

Uh Councilman Marks, could you lead us in the pledge tonight?

0:38

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:42

To the Republic for which it stands.

0:45

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice world.

0:51

Okay.

0:54

See Councilman Crandall is online, and I think Councilman Ketch is somewhere in the is he on yet?

1:03

Okay.

1:03

He was on, Mr.

1:04

Chair.

1:05

Um has some connection problems.

1:07

Okay.

1:08

He's just not pictured yet.

1:12

Okay.

1:13

Um is there a motion to approve the journal for the meeting of October 20th, 2025.

1:20

Moved.

1:20

Second.

1:21

All in favor?

1:22

Aye.

1:23

Okay.

1:24

Journal journal is approved.

1:26

Thank you, Councilman Crandall.

1:28

Um, enrollment of bills.

1:31

Bill 6725 was passed by the council, signed by the executive, and is hereby enrolled.

1:38

Mr.

1:38

Secretary, will you now read all bills for introduction?

1:42

Certainly, Mr.

1:43

Chair.

1:43

Uh, first is Bill 7825.

1:47

Uh, this is a bill from the current expense budget related to the continuation of SNAP and other benefits.

1:55

Bill 79-25 personnel law of Baltimore County.

2:00

Bill 80-25, current expense budget, commercial vehicle safety alliance, and mist and the bill 81-25 is sponsored by Councilman Jones.

2:11

Zoning regulations uses permitted in the business major or BM Zone, Animal Boarding Place Class B.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

Thank you, Mr.

2:21

Secretary.

2:22

Um as to Bill 7825, which was just introduced.

2:28

We have been requested by the administration to convene an emergency session in order to consider and vote on Bill 7825 this evening.

2:37

Is there a motion to convene an emergency session?

2:41

So move.

2:42

Second.

2:42

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

2:44

Mr.

2:44

Secretary, please call the roll on the motion.

2:47

Mr.

2:48

Bertell, aye.

2:50

Mr.

2:50

Crandall.

2:51

Aye.

2:52

Mr.

2:52

Young.

2:54

Mr.

2:54

Potoka.

2:55

Aye.

2:56

Mr.

2:56

Jones.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Zoning Regulations████████████████████20%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Public Health████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Immigration Policy████4%
Environmental Protection████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Baltimore County Council Legislative Day 18 – November 4, 2025

The Baltimore County Council convened on November 4, 2025, for Legislative Day 18. The meeting included an emergency session to address SNAP benefit disruptions, followed by regular business: appointments to the Planning Board and Advisory Committee on Public School Capacity, final readings of several budget bills, and a controversial bill on restaurant hours in the Honeygo area. Public testimony covered sewer project transparency, property concerns, and the failed restaurant hours legislation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the journal for the October 20, 2025 meeting.
  • Enrollment of Bill 67-25 (passed by council and signed by executive).
  • Introduction of Bills 78-25 (SNAP emergency funding), 79-25 (personnel law), 80-25 (commercial vehicle safety), and 81-25 (zoning regulations – animal boarding).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • William Smith (Perry Hall resident): Expressed concerns about grinder pump failure rates (claimed average 7 years vs. septic field 20+ years) and urged consideration of public water as an alternative to sewer. Supported Bill 77-25 for transparency.
  • Amy Grassi (attorney for community): Argued that the county changed the sewer project design from pump station to 100% grinder pumps without re-circulating opt-in forms, violating transparency. Supported Bill 77-25 to require new opt-in disclosures.
  • Sharonda Hoffman: Criticized council civility, urged hearings on a secret settlement, DOJ MOU with ICE, and inspector general information requests. Also asked for review of fair election fund requirements.
  • Danielle Williams (homeowners association representative): Opposed 24-hour dining near homes in Honeygo, stating residents unanimously reject it. Thanked Councilman Marks for Bill 72-25 and urged its passage.
  • Linda Sumeski and Mary Harvey: Detailed ongoing issues with Rancho Sosa property – illegal dumping of contaminated fill, animal deaths, and inadequate county code enforcement. Requested council intervention and a community meeting.
  • Jason Walsh: Supported Bill 72-25, criticized developer bypassing community negotiations, and urged protections for Honeygo overlay district.
  • Thomas Costello: Supported Bill 72-25, emphasized breach of trust by developer Southern Land, and warned of a dangerous precedent for developers ignoring communities.
  • Mark Moore (Perry Hall Manor community): Updated on Bill 77-25, highlighted concerns about grinder pump warranty voiding if homeowners add bathrooms. Asked for continued dialogue with DPW.

Discussion Items

  • Emergency Session – Bill 78-25 (SNAP Relief): The council convened an emergency session to consider $4 million in temporary relief for SNAP recipients due to federal shutdown. Deputy Administrative Officer Sam O'Neill explained the threefold plan: funding existing nonprofits, vendors, and a grants program via Baltimore Community Foundation. Amendments included a “turn-off” if federal funding resumes. Council members questioned direct payments (not possible locally), notification of recipients, and clawback provisions. The bill passed unanimously (6-0).
  • Appointments:
    • Peter Airy reappointed to Planning Board (7-0).
    • Mark Heckman reappointed to Planning Board (7-0).
    • Matthew Mark Clem appointed to Advisory Committee on Public School Capacity (7-0).
    • Charlene Bankie appointed to same committee (7-0).
  • Final Reading of Bills:
    • Bills 68-25, 69-25, 70-25 (transportation-related budget bills) were amended technically (clarifying federal/state funding sources). All passed as amended.
  • Fiscal Matters 1-6: Approved with no questions.
  • Miscellaneous Business: Four non-competitive awards (Skyline Technology, Martin Marietta, downlink software for police, EMS Technology) reported.
  • Resolution 53-25: Accept donation for Animal Services – passed.
  • Resolution 51-25 (Red Run Meadows PUD): Deferred to November 17 at sponsor’s request.
  • Resolution 55-25: Property tax refund for blind exemption – passed.
  • Bill 71-25 (Open Space Fees): Amendments removed Eco Park District and tied fee payment to plat recordation for residential components. Passed as amended.
  • Resolution 54-25: Companion resolution setting open space waiver fees – passed.
  • Bill 72-25 (Honeygo Restaurant Hours): Councilman Marks proposed limiting hours for restaurants within 300 feet of homes (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.), with amendments exempting fast food and liquor-licensed restaurants. After extensive debate, the bill failed (4-3 or 3-4, chair declared it did not pass). Councilman Patoka suggested a future bill focusing on landscape buffers.
  • Councilman Patoka Statement: Expressed dismay over lack of communication from administration regarding Baltimore County's compliance with ICE, announced intent to introduce guardrails legislation.

Key Outcomes

  • Bill 78-25 (SNAP emergency funding) passed unanimously as an emergency measure.
  • All four appointments confirmed unanimously.
  • Bills 68-25, 69-25, 70-25 as amended passed.
  • Fiscal matters 1-6 approved.
  • Resolutions 53-25 and 55-25 passed.
  • Bill 71-25 and Resolution 54-25 passed.
  • Bill 72-25 (Honeygo restaurant hours) failed. Councilman Marks indicated willingness to work on alternative legislation.
  • Resolution 51-25 deferred to November 17, 2025.
  • Councilman Patoka committed to introducing legislation on ICE compliance guardrails.

Meeting Transcript

That's okay. Good evening, everyone. Um legislate legislative day 18 will now come to order. Um I please ask everyone to pause for a silent uh a moment of silent meditation before we do the pledge. Thank you. Uh Councilman Marks, could you lead us in the pledge tonight? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice world. Okay. See Councilman Crandall is online, and I think Councilman Ketch is somewhere in the is he on yet? Okay. He was on, Mr. Chair. Um has some connection problems. Okay. He's just not pictured yet. Okay. Um is there a motion to approve the journal for the meeting of October 20th, 2025. Moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Okay. Journal journal is approved. Thank you, Councilman Crandall. Um, enrollment of bills. Bill 6725 was passed by the council, signed by the executive, and is hereby enrolled. Mr. Secretary, will you now read all bills for introduction? Certainly, Mr. Chair. Uh, first is Bill 7825. Uh, this is a bill from the current expense budget related to the continuation of SNAP and other benefits. Bill 79-25 personnel law of Baltimore County. Bill 80-25, current expense budget, commercial vehicle safety alliance, and mist and the bill 81-25 is sponsored by Councilman Jones. Zoning regulations uses permitted in the business major or BM Zone, Animal Boarding Place Class B. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Um as to Bill 7825, which was just introduced. We have been requested by the administration to convene an emergency session in order to consider and vote on Bill 7825 this evening. Is there a motion to convene an emergency session? So move. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Mr. Secretary, please call the roll on the motion. Mr. Bertell, aye.

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