Baltimore County Council Legislative Day 20 – December 1, 2025

The Baltimore County Council convened legislative day 20 on December 1, 2025, at 3:49 PM. The meeting covered multiple fiscal matters, contract approvals, bond ordinances, and introduced several bills, including a major tax incentive for a proposed privately operated container terminal at Sparrows Point. Public testimony was heard on the container terminal project, and numerous council members expressed support.

Consent Calendar & Routine Approvals

• Chris Martin (OIT) presented a one-time purchase order not to exceed $59,000 with Mitchell & McCormick for installation, data migration, testing, and support of the Health Department’s VHN medical record system, migrating servers to Red Hat Linux 8 for security updates. Councilman Young questioned long-term plans; Martin noted an RFP for a replacement system is underway.
• Tony Russell (DPWT) requested approval for two contracts:
  • Safety Tank of Maryland: five-year (1+4) contract for removal and processing of compressed cylinders and tanks at solid waste facilities, estimated total $160,000.
  • Three snow removal and de-icing contracts (Keith Hargis, Dundee Farm, Piscape Inc.) for single-axle dump trucks with plow and spreader, each five-year term based on storm emergency budget. Councilman Katch asked about winter projections; no forecast provided. Councilman Young noted auditor questions about previously expired contracts.
• Director Kevin Reed (Budget & Finance) presented two contract amendments:
  • Life Insurance Company of North America and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company: three-year amendments for life insurance and long-term disability benefits (no price increase) to ensure continuity.
  • Bolton Partners Inc.: three-year contract extension for OPEB actuarial and advisory services (cooperative procurement via Frederick County, blended rate $278/hour, annual spend ~$200,000). Councilmembers had no questions.
• Director Renee Coleman (HR) introduced Bills 79-25 (personnel) and 80-25 (commercial vehicle safety alliance), noting they had already testified at a prior work session with no council questions. On Bill 79-25, Councilman Grant raised an auditor’s concern about the pension system’s 60% funded status; Director Reed explained that bond rating agencies focus on the conservative discount rate (6.375%) and the county’s willingness to fund the ARC, and that a $50 million infusion had improved funding by about one percentage point.
• Chief Ebert (Fire Department) presented two supplemental appropriations:
  • Bill 85-25: $12,499.11 federal Homeland Security grant for election security cameras and incident management training for police, fire, and emergency management.
  • Bill 86-25: $1.368 million federal Assistance to Firefighters grant (90% FEMA, 10% county match) for advanced firefighter rescue/survival and thermal imaging training over two years.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Pappas (by phone, later disconnected) questioned the financial model of the container terminal tax incentive, arguing that the projected property tax revenue from the parcel would be far less than if the full assessed value were taxed. His call dropped before completing.
• Aaron Tomarchio (Executive Vice President, Trade Point Atlantic) expressed strong support for Bill 88-25, stating the container terminal would double Baltimore’s container capacity and make it a top-tier East Coast port. He highlighted a joint venture with Terminal Investment Limited and MSC, a $1.2 billion investment, and over 8,000 jobs (1,100 direct). He noted the project uses prevailing wage and union labor, and has a private labor agreement (PLA) preventing work stoppages. In response to Councilman Crandall, Tomarchio explained truck traffic will stay mostly on the Sparrows Point Peninsula directly connecting to I-695, avoiding local communities, and that the project timeline is now Q1 2029.
• Mark McQuay (Business Manager, IUOE Local 37) testified in support of the container terminal, noting the union’s long partnership with Trade Point Atlantic and that ~120 members work at the site daily. He urged the council to support the legislation to ensure decades of prosperity.
• Don Moeller (Chair, Sparrows Point Alliance) emphasized the transformative impact of Trade Point Atlantic, stating it has invested over $1 billion, created 15,000 jobs, and secured leases from 50+ companies. He called the container terminal the next step and presented a letter from all living former county executives in support.

Discussion Items

• Agricultural Preservation Easements – Director Lafferty (Planning) presented Resolution 62-25 to approve $5,078,845 in matching funds ($2 million per year budgeted) for 10 agricultural easements totaling ~562 acres through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation. The state combined FY25 and FY26 cycles due to budget constraints, offering a unique opportunity to preserve more land. Total cost including state funds is $7,302,973. The county currently has 72,502 preserved acres; this would push above 73,000. Council members Katch and others expressed support and added co-sponsors.
• Bill 81-25 (Zoning – Animal Boarding) – Councilman Jones introduced a bill to allow dog boarding in a specific shopping center where other animal boarding businesses already operate, but a zoning discrepancy prohibited dogs for one new business. He noted one amendment will be forthcoming.
• Bills 82-25 & 83-25 (988 Crisis Hotline Services) – Deputy Director Richardson (Health) requested supplemental appropriations: $1,485,889 (state 988 trust fund) and $34,794 (federal) to support the 988 Lifeline Call Center, including counselors, equipment, electronic medical records, and 24/7 operation managed by the Affiliate Sante Group. No questions.
• Bill 84-25 (Dementia Care Program) – Director Tan (Aging) requested $179,916 in state funds (no county match) to hire a full-time senior affairs associate, a human services associate, a 34-hour/week dementia navigator, and provide grants to nonprofits for memory cafes. Councilman Katch expressed caution about funding sustainability, but Tan noted it is a state legislative line item with good prospects.
• Bill 88-25 (Port Property Tax Incentive) – DCAO Samir Sid presented a proposal to create a property tax incentive for the first privately operated container terminal in the U.S., planned at Sparrows Point. The real property tax credit would require the applicant to pay three times the base year property tax in year one, with 2% annual increases through year 10 and 3% through year 50. Personal property would be exempt. The bill would generate over $40 million in revenue from the parcel alone, plus spinoff development. Sid noted discussions with the auditor about clarifying that the credit cannot exceed the normal tax liability. Councilman Jones, Marks, Crandall, Katch, and Patoka all expressed strong support and added co-sponsors. The CAO and others praised Sid’s work.
• Bill 89-25 (Bond Ordinance) – Director Reed presented the annual borrowing ordinance authorizing up to $189 million in CPI bonds (schools $123M, public works $34M, water $21M, parks $8M, community college $4M, ag preservation $3M, etc.) and $160 million in metro district bonds (including via state revolving loan program). The county expects to issue bonds in March-April 2026 with rates similar to last issuance (3.75% for 20-year CPI, 4.25% for 30-year metro). Councilman Katch asked about an auditor’s recommendation to increase the general fund balance target from 10% to 15% to maintain AAA bond rating. Reed said the administration is evaluating and may propose a phased approach starting with FY27.
• Bill 90-25 (Honeygo Sidewalk Exemption) – Councilman Marks introduced a bill to exempt single-family developments in the Honeygo area from requiring sidewalks if a hiker-biker pathway already connects to a public road. He noted he is working with the administration on an alternative approach.

Key Outcomes

• No final votes were taken on fiscal items or bills; the meeting was largely informational and a work session. However, numerous council members expressed support for the container terminal tax incentive (Bill 88-25) and several co-sponsored it.
• The agricultural preservation resolution (62-25) received broad support and was expected to move forward.
• The bond ordinance (Bill 89-25) and other bills were discussed with no objections.
• Director Reed indicated the administration will consider raising the fund balance target to 15% and present a plan with the next budget.
• The meeting adjourned with a focus on the upcoming December 15 vote.