OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Baltimore County Council Meeting – November 19, 2025: Retirement, Legislation, and Public Testimony

County Council — Wednesday, November 19, 2025
BodyBaltimore County, Maryland
SessionCounty Council
DateWednesday, November 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:24

Transcript — Verbatim
2:46

You guys did a great job.

3:08

Thanks, gentlemen.

3:13

Councilman Ketch, did you want to say a few words about Yeah, yes, I would.

3:19

I just uh got the sound.

3:22

I I didn't hear a thing that had happened uh prior to you calling on me.

3:27

But I want to welcome True Three Four O from Lutherville Timonium, Maryland.

3:34

And I just want to say that every time I go to a scout function, uh, you know, you read the paper and you read all the negativity.

3:45

Uh, once you've attended a scout meeting, uh, scout ceremony, you're leaving very optimistic about the future.

3:54

And I want to thank the truth for coming down to uh visit us tonight.

4:00

Thank you.

4:02

Thank you, Councilman Catch.

4:04

Um, we also have a very special occasion tonight, and that one of our own is um retired, and she's been with us a long time.

4:16

I was going to call up um our secretary um Mr.

4:20

Boswick to talk about Christy Gower, who is leaving us as of tonight.

4:26

This is her what last meeting as a county employee.

4:38

Um, Mr.

4:39

Chairman and members of the council, and everyone who is here, and those of you who may be listening to us.

4:44

Um, this is a bittersweet uh evening.

4:48

Um we get to say farewell to uh one of our longtime colleagues uh who is retiring, Christy Grauer, as the chair indicated.

5:00

Um Christy started with the county in 2002, uh no, two thousand three.

5:04

Um she's been with the county council for about 20 years.

5:09

Um she is she's really anonymous.

5:11

She she's the person that no one really knows because she sits as a receptionist and she doesn't get a lot of fanfare.

5:20

Um she gets a lot of phone calls.

5:22

Um and every one of those phone calls is people calling to tell us what a great job we're all doing here.

5:29

Um she she has a way and a manner about her that uh makes people feel at ease and uh she puts them in the right uh right direction um uh with whoever they need to speak with, whether it be a council member or their staff or some other county department, and um we we've been very lucky to have her on on our staff.

5:52

I've been with the council since 2011, and I knew uh Christy in the law office when I was over there in the early two thousands, and it's just been a pleasure knowing her professionally um and also becoming uh you know friends, and um it's going to be uh it's gonna be big shoes to fill.

6:10

Um so I do have a uh a council proc proclamation if you'd like me to read that.

6:15

Absolutely, Mr.

6:16

Secretary.

6:24

So be it hereby known to all that the Baltimore County Council offers sincerest congratulations to Christy Grouer, who is retiring after over 22 years of faithful and dedicated service to Baltimore County.

6:38

Christy Grower began her career with county government on May twelfth, two thousand three in the office of law.

6:44

After wearing out her welcome there after only a few short years, Christy then moved to the county council as the receptionist for the main council office in Towson, where she somehow managed to keep that job for the last 20 years.

6:58

Throughout all the changes in council member offices and staffs over the years, Christy has been one of the constants on the council's central staff.

7:07

Perhaps she has seemed anonymous at her post in the council's lobby, buzzing in all of us each day, but she has been much, much more than that.

7:16

Christy has literally been the face of the county council for two decades, providing a friendly greeting to the council members and their staff, and especially providing a genuine warmness and friendly greeting to all the council's visitors as the first person they'd see when coming through our front door.

7:33

Christy's wonderful attitude will be sorely missed, and we can all learn from one of her favorite Irish proverbs that sums up her appreciation of life.

7:43

Do not resent growing old.

8:27

And that's for you.

8:37

Everybody, everybody, everybody affiliated with the council.

8:40

Why don't we all stand in front of the dais?

8:50

Come on, Steph.

9:28

All right.

9:33

Yeah, okay.

10:29

Mr.

10:29

Chairman.

10:30

Yes, Councilman Catch.

10:32

Thank you.

10:33

Since I was unable to be here this evening, Christy, I want to uh congratulate you on your retirement and uh wish you all the best uh in the future.

10:46

I also want to make the statement that uh you know she sits out there alone greeting people, and uh you know that job is not the easiest in the world.

10:57

I'm sure she has some people come in who aren't very happy.

11:01

Uh she has people calling on the phone who are uh displeased about something.

11:06

But if you've been there, if you've heard her, she handles it like a champion.

11:11

I mean, she she is great.

11:13

And uh I'll miss her.

11:15

I know we all will miss her.

11:18

Uh when I first was elected to the council, I had the uh honor of listening to her answer a phone.

11:26

So we've spent about the last five years working on her uh work working on her answering the phone, the proper way to do it.

11:37

And uh so I took on my role as a teacher and helped her, and I think she's made tremendous progress.

11:47

So uh anyhow, Christy, all kidding aside, thank you for all you've done.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████████████33%
Public Safety████████████12%
Zoning Regulations██████████10%
Procedural████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Community Engagement██████6%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Immigration Policy█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Baltimore County Council Meeting – November 19, 2025

The Baltimore County Council convened on November 19, 2025, for a regular legislative session. The meeting included the retirement recognition of longtime council staffer Christy Grauer, confirmation of a planning board reappointment, final passage of several bills addressing artisanal manufacturing, rental inspections, and sewer project transparency, approval of fiscal contracts and donations, and public testimony on library worker treatment, police accountability board independence, and a DOJ MOU concerning immigration enforcement.

Consent Calendar

No items were placed on a consent calendar; all actions were considered individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sharonda Hoffman (virtual) expressed dismay over the brief termination of 14 part-time librarians at Baltimore County Public Libraries, called for better treatment of county employees, and raised concerns about bed bugs at the North Point Library.
  • Nicole Dvorak (virtual), former library staff and union executive board member, testified that the library administration has a history of intimidation and abuse toward staff, urging the council to hold leadership accountable.
  • Mark Moore (in person) thanked the council for passing Bill 77-25, which improves transparency in sanitary sewer projects, noting benefits for his community and future projects.
  • Anita Bass (virtual), president of AFSCME Local 4538 representing library workers, requested that the council take action to remove the current CEO of Baltimore County Public Library, citing mismanagement and the recent firing of 14 part-time librarians without union notification.
  • William Smith (in person) expressed concerns about the sewer project in Perry Hall Manor, arguing that grinder pumps increase public health risk and that water service would be a better solution. He requested a thorough field inspection and independent engineering review.
  • Pete Fitzpatrick (in person), District 1 representative on the Police Accountability Board (PAB), asked the council to provide the PAB with independent legal counsel, stating that current counsel from the Office of Law creates a conflict of interest. He noted that the PAB does not have access to complaints filed with it due to legal advice from the county.
  • Peter Richkiss (in person) echoed Mr. Fitzpatrick's request, arguing that independent counsel is essential for effective oversight and transparency.
  • Edwin Perez (in person), board member of the Baltimore County PTA Council, urged the council to use oversight to reverse the damage from the county's MOU with the U.S. Department of Justice, saying it creates fear in immigrant communities and harms children's safety. He called for transparency and a local ordinance to protect all families.

Council members Patoka and Marks responded to library testimony, with Patoka vowing to call library officials for budget hearings in FY2027 and Marks noting the library received a 3.5% budget increase between FY25 and FY26. Patoka also acknowledged Perez's testimony and indicated he is working on companion bills for introduction on December 1 to address MOU concerns.

Discussion Items

  • Retirement of Christy Grauer: Council members honored Christy Grauer, a receptionist for the county council for over 20 years, with a proclamation and personal remarks praising her warm demeanor and service.
  • Appointment Confirmation: Emily Brofe was unanimously reappointed to the Planning Board. Councilman Marks raised concerns about the planning board's review of its rules and the lack of recommendations for "Neighborhood Commons" zoning; Brofe agreed to discuss these with the board.
  • Bill 73-25 (Artisanal manufacturing/maker space use): Passed unanimously after Councilman Crandall and Ketch praised it for modernizing the zoning code.
  • Bill 74-25 (Zoning regulations in BMC C district): Similar to 73-25, clarifying uses; passed unanimously.
  • Bill 75-25 (Rental property inspections): An amendment was added to create a third category for inspections related to unauthorized rooming/boarding houses, fire safety, and bedroom count discrepancies. Passed as amended unanimously.
  • Bill 77-25 (Sewer project property owner obligations): An amendment passed requiring disclosure of estimated costs and financial responsibilities when a project is 95% designed for properties without failing septic systems. Passed as amended unanimously.
  • Fiscal Matters: Six fiscal items were considered. Fiscal Matter 2 (contract with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl LLP) was separated because Councilman Patoka recused himself due to his wife's employment. The remaining five items were approved unanimously. Fiscal Matter 2 was approved with Patoka abstaining.
  • Resolutions:
    • Resolution 51-25 (Red Run Meadows PUD) approved with an amendment for $25,000 donations to three volunteer fire companies.
    • Resolutions 56-25, 57-25, 58-25 (affordable housing PILOTs and loan) all passed.
    • Resolutions 59-25 (Rotary Club donation to Codensville Community Park) and 60-25 (Wawa Foundation donation to fire department) passed.
    • Resolution 61-25 (amending Towson Commercial Revitalization District boundary) passed.
    • Resolution 62-25 (agricultural preservation easement purchases) was introduced only.
  • Public Comments on Police Accountability Board: Councilman Young acknowledged the issue and noted that a complaint about disproportionate traffic stops was not reviewed by the PAB.

Key Outcomes

  • Bills Passed: Bill 73-25, 74-25, 75-25 (as amended), 77-25 (as amended) all passed unanimously (7-0).
  • Resolutions Passed: 51-25 (as amended), 56-25, 57-25, 58-25, 59-25, 60-25, 61-25.
  • Appointment Confirmed: Emily Brofe reappointed to the Planning Board (7-0).
  • Fiscal Matters Approved: Five contracts approved unanimously; one contract approved with a recusal (6-0-1).
  • Library Issue: Council members expressed support for librarians and will call library officials for FY2027 budget hearings.
  • Police Accountability Board: Council heard testimony requesting independent counsel; no immediate action taken but discussion noted.
  • Immigration MOU: Councilman Patoka announced upcoming companion legislation to address concerns raised by PTA.

The meeting was adjourned after public comments. No further business.

Meeting Transcript

You guys did a great job. Thanks, gentlemen. Councilman Ketch, did you want to say a few words about Yeah, yes, I would. I just uh got the sound. I I didn't hear a thing that had happened uh prior to you calling on me. But I want to welcome True Three Four O from Lutherville Timonium, Maryland. And I just want to say that every time I go to a scout function, uh, you know, you read the paper and you read all the negativity. Uh, once you've attended a scout meeting, uh, scout ceremony, you're leaving very optimistic about the future. And I want to thank the truth for coming down to uh visit us tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Catch. Um, we also have a very special occasion tonight, and that one of our own is um retired, and she's been with us a long time. I was going to call up um our secretary um Mr. Boswick to talk about Christy Gower, who is leaving us as of tonight. This is her what last meeting as a county employee. Um, Mr. Chairman and members of the council, and everyone who is here, and those of you who may be listening to us. Um, this is a bittersweet uh evening. Um we get to say farewell to uh one of our longtime colleagues uh who is retiring, Christy Grauer, as the chair indicated. Um Christy started with the county in 2002, uh no, two thousand three. Um she's been with the county council for about 20 years. Um she is she's really anonymous. She she's the person that no one really knows because she sits as a receptionist and she doesn't get a lot of fanfare. Um she gets a lot of phone calls. Um and every one of those phone calls is people calling to tell us what a great job we're all doing here. Um she she has a way and a manner about her that uh makes people feel at ease and uh she puts them in the right uh right direction um uh with whoever they need to speak with, whether it be a council member or their staff or some other county department, and um we we've been very lucky to have her on on our staff. I've been with the council since 2011, and I knew uh Christy in the law office when I was over there in the early two thousands, and it's just been a pleasure knowing her professionally um and also becoming uh you know friends, and um it's going to be uh it's gonna be big shoes to fill. Um so I do have a uh a council proc proclamation if you'd like me to read that. Absolutely, Mr. Secretary. So be it hereby known to all that the Baltimore County Council offers sincerest congratulations to Christy Grouer, who is retiring after over 22 years of faithful and dedicated service to Baltimore County. Christy Grower began her career with county government on May twelfth, two thousand three in the office of law. After wearing out her welcome there after only a few short years, Christy then moved to the county council as the receptionist for the main council office in Towson, where she somehow managed to keep that job for the last 20 years. Throughout all the changes in council member offices and staffs over the years, Christy has been one of the constants on the council's central staff. Perhaps she has seemed anonymous at her post in the council's lobby, buzzing in all of us each day, but she has been much, much more than that. Christy has literally been the face of the county council for two decades, providing a friendly greeting to the council members and their staff, and especially providing a genuine warmness and friendly greeting to all the council's visitors as the first person they'd see when coming through our front door. Christy's wonderful attitude will be sorely missed, and we can all learn from one of her favorite Irish proverbs that sums up her appreciation of life. Do not resent growing old. And that's for you. Everybody, everybody, everybody affiliated with the council. Why don't we all stand in front of the dais? Come on, Steph. All right. Yeah, okay. Mr. Chairman. Yes, Councilman Catch. Thank you. Since I was unable to be here this evening, Christy, I want to uh congratulate you on your retirement and uh wish you all the best uh in the future. I also want to make the statement that uh you know she sits out there alone greeting people, and uh you know that job is not the easiest in the world.

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