Baltimore County Council Work Session - July 29, 2026
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Baltimore County Council Work Session - July 29, 2026
The Baltimore County Council held a work session on July 29, 2026, at 3:15 PM. The meeting covered multiple appointments, fiscal matters, and legislative bills including zoning changes for a former American Legion, smoke shops, senior housing, union halls, and a resolution regarding the closure of the Apple Store in Towson. No formal votes were taken as this was a work session, but council members discussed issues and heard public testimony.
Appointments
- Suzanne Ibo was nominated by Councilman Crandall to the Baltimore Fair Election Fund Commission; she was not present. Councilman Crandall remarked she was highly recommended.
- Megan Weber was nominated by Councilman Crandall to the Advisory Committee for Public School Capacity. She introduced herself as a mother of three BCPS students with a history of local advocacy, specifically for equitable education and addressing overcrowding. Several council members expressed support, noting her enthusiasm and the importance of the committee.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill 67-26 (American Legion zoning): John Walsh (virtual), representing the Catonsville community, initially expressed concerns about the bill being a "thin end of the wedge" for residential zoning, but after discussions with Councilman Ortell, he withdrew objections due to added language restricting outdoor amplified music. Chris Mudd (Venerable LLP) and Tyler Banks (owner of the property) spoke in support, stating the bill would allow continued operation of a catering hall at the former Legion, with significant renovations planned ($750,000–$1 million).
- Bill 68-26 (Smoke shops): Mike O’Holloran (virtual, representing convenience stores and gas stations) had connection issues; his testimony was partially heard. He expressed concerns about grandfathering existing locations and sales standards. Council members noted they received an email from another stakeholder and will consider amendments.
- Resolution 2026 (Apple Store closure): Anita Bass (union president, IAM Local 4538) and Eric Brown (vice president, same local) testified in support. Eric Brown stated that the store closed on June 20, 2026, workers were denied transfers despite being a unionized store, and have not received severance pay, which prevents them from collecting unemployment. He urged Apple to re-establish a union presence and honor the collective bargaining agreement.
Discussion Items
Fiscal Matters
- Arts, Sciences, Cultural, and Tourism Grants: Jonathan Sachs (Director of Economic and Workforce Development) presented $4.187 million in total grants, with $3.7 million in operating grants for FY2027. Council members thanked him for including the Pikesville Armory and Glenn L. Martin Museum.
- Recovery Housing Services Contracts: Lawrence Richardson (Deputy Director, HHS) requested approval for two contracts with Serenity Sisters Inc. and Uplift Recovery Homes ($38,000 initial, $201,334 over five years) for up to 120 days of recovery housing for adults with substance use disorders. Retroactive approval needed due to summer scheduling. He addressed auditor questions about decreased individuals served (38 vs. previous higher numbers) due to shift to family support contracts.
- Building Automation System at Pikesville Fire Station: Deb Schindle (Chief of Property Management) requested a purchase order for $156,384 with Johnson Controls to install a new building automation system at the Pikesville fire station, needed after an emergency HVAC repair.
- OIT Contracts: Chris Martin (Director of OIT) presented two contracts: three contracts for radio tower inspections (Blue Sky Management, Mid-Atlantic Contracting, Elevated Consulting) and a contract with Stericycle for secure document destruction. Both contracts are retroactive due to summer schedule; Martin explained that the county code allows expenditures up to $25,000 without council approval.
- Development Impact Fee Study: Steve Lafferty (Director of Planning) requested a contract with TischlerBise ($248,860) to study impact fees and excise taxes as required by Council Bill 20-26. The study will take until March 2027, beyond the December 31, 2026 deadline, but an interim report may be provided. Council members emphasized the need to compare baselines with other Maryland counties like Howard County.
- DPWT Contracts (multiple): Lisa Ikeholt (DPWT) presented several contracts to remove compensation caps for on-call engineering services for pumping stations, transportation design, consent decree management, and a new contract for electric motor repair and training. All will allow continued work without formal caps, subject to council appropriations. Councilman Patoka disclosed his wife's employment with RKK and recused himself from related discussion.
- Legal Services Amendment: Jenna Frankovich (Assistant County Attorney) requested an amendment increasing Beveridge & Diamond PC's compensation from $75,000 to $150,000 for continued work on the sanitary sewer overflow consent decree. She cited expanded negotiations with EPA and MDE.
- Fuel System Maintenance Contract: Kevin Reed (Director of Budget and Finance) requested approval of a contract with Spigler Petroleum Equipment ($745,500 over five years) for fuel system maintenance at 38 stations. He noted human error in the previous contract's cap omission and improvements in the new system.
Legislative Bills
- Bill 67-26 (Zoning - DR5.5 zone, American Legion): Sponsored by Councilman Ortell. Amends zoning to allow a private club, catering hall, or event venue on property that received approval before March 30, 1955, as a private club. Councilman Ortell explained the property was originally a Legion hall dating to 1955, surrounded by residential. The new owner plans renovations. Councilman Crandall inquired about similar properties (yacht clubs) and was told most are now in appropriate zones. Amendments will be added to restrict outdoor amplified music.
- Bill 68-26 (Zoning - Smoke shops): Co-sponsored by Councilman Ortell and Councilman Marks. Establishes distance requirements from schools, parks, etc., and limits luminosity and density of smoke shops. Councilman Marks noted proliferation of smoke shops in commercial areas. Councilman Patoka asked to be added as co-sponsor. Councilman Mangioni raised questions about grandfathering existing shops with long leases; Councilman Boswick suggested a hardship waiver amendment based on Baltimore City's approach. Council members discussed potential amendments to address convenience store concerns.
- Bill 69-26 (Uses in DR zones - Senior housing): Sponsored by Councilman Ortell. Allows senior housing in a specific area (bounded by Charles Street, Osler Drive, Towson Town Boulevard, Stevenson Lane) to facilitate the conversion of Villa Assumpta (former Catholic sisters' home) into senior housing by Roland Park Place. Councilman Ortell noted the property has operated as a senior home for 70 years and the change avoids a lengthy rezoning process.
- Bill 70-26 (Auto parts sales facility parking): Sponsored by Councilman Ortell. Reduces parking requirements for auto parts stores in BL zones, citing the nature of quick transactions vs. furniture stores.
- Bill 71-26 (Union halls in ML zone): Sponsored by Councilman Marks. Allows union halls as an accessory use in the ML (light manufacturing) zone. Pasquale Petrovia (Business Manager, Plumbers and Steamfitters UA Local 486) testified in support; the union recently purchased property for a training school and is seeking to purchase an adjacent property at 11448 Pulaski Highway for a union hall. He noted the union has been in the area for 125 years.
- Resolution 2026 (Support for Apple Store employees): Sponsored by Councilman Patoka. Urges Apple to negotiate in good faith with IAM regarding the closure of the Towson Town Center Apple Store, offer transfers to employees as done in other closures, and re-establish a Baltimore County presence. Councilman Patoka expressed concern that workers have not received severance and cannot apply for unemployment. He requested an amendment to specifically address severance pay. Council will consider the amendment.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; all items are expected to be voted on at a future legislative session.
- Amendments were discussed for Bill 67-26 (outdoor amplified music restriction), Bill 68-26 (potential hardship waiver for existing smoke shops), and Resolution 2026 (severance language).
- Introduction of new Banner reporter Olivia Benson, who will cover the council.
- Councilman Patoka recused himself from voting on RKK-related contracts due to his wife's employment.
- The work session adjourned with a reminder of stormy weather.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Um, we will now call uh this work session um for legislative day 15 to order. I will stay away from this mic, really seems is that me or does it sound good out there? It sounds like it's echoing up here. Sounds very authoritative, Mr. Chair. Oh, good. All right. So we will uh we'll get our meeting started, and it looks like first up we have some appointments. Is that correct, Mr. Secretary? Yes, sir. Um first we have one from um councilman Crandall to the Baltimore Fair Election Fund Commission, Miss Suzanne Ibo. Is that I butcher that? She will not be here. Oh, she will not be. No, not today, sir. All right. Mr. Chairman. Yes. Yes, can you just let everyone know I'm joining remotely? Yes, Councilman Marks. We know you're joining remotely, and I think the crowd does. We see you. Thank you very much. Okay, Mr. Chairman. Yes. I just want to remark that uh Ms. Ibo um has been uh very highly recommended to the commission by the administration. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Oh, good. There is definitely an echo. Yeah, it's weird. Okay. I'll be here in that school. Remember, we don't mean as much, so we're a little rusty today. Um we also have an appointment um from Councilman Crandall. You're br you're busy this week um on the advisory committee for public school capacity. And this is Miss Megan Weber, who I do know is here. Um Miss Weber, did you want to come up and tell us a little bit about yourself? Good evening, and uh thank you, County Council, specifically to Councilman Crandall for this opportunity. My name is Megan Weber. Um I am a mother of three BCPS students uh with a history of local advocacy for our schools, specifically in the realm of equitable educational experience for all students, no matter where they live in the county. Um I do live in Southeast Baltimore County. Um currently district seven, soon to be district nine. Uh, but uh from whether it's been sitting on principal selection boards or um advocating with the Baltimore County student and parent coalition for transparency and uh those types of things. Uh just have been working to make sure that all of our kids have the best opportunity that they can.
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