Baltimore County Council Work Session - September 3, 2026

This work session for legislative day 16 was held on September 3, 2026, beginning at approximately 12:17 PM. The council considered a lengthy agenda including multiple appointments, contract approvals, legislation on eviction notices, data center moratorium extensions, smoke shop regulations, and other zoning and administrative matters. Most items were discussed and will be voted on at the next council session on September 8, 2026 (Tuesday, due to Labor Day). Several public hearings featured testimony from stakeholders.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bill 7426 (Eviction Notice): Multiple speakers testified.
  • Aaron Greenfield (Maryland Multi Housing Association) spoke in favor with amendments (lock and leave, no reclamation period).
  • Jim Johnson (former police chief, representing MMHA) opposed reclamation periods citing public safety concerns.
  • Catherine Baxter (Maryland Legal Aid) supported the bill but argued a reclamation period is needed to meet constitutional due process requirements.
  • Dr. Takemia Dorsey (Randallstown NAACP) supported 14-day notice and urged connecting tenants to county resources like rental assistance.
  • Albert Turner (Public Justice Center) supported a reclamation period, citing examples from other states.
  • Roland Patterson supported both notice and reclamation, noting the Todman decision.
• Bill 6826 (Smoke Shops):
  • Mike O'Halloran (MAPTA) and Kirk McCauley (dealer representatives) supported a 30% linear display threshold for smoke shop definition and a grandfather clause for existing businesses. They opposed language that could include convenience stores.
  • Lisa Yeager (Cromwood Coventry Community Association) asked that hookah lounges not be exempted (clarified that existing regulations still apply).
  • Pete Matzah (Parkville community) described ongoing issues with a hookah lounge.
  • John Pika (Royal Farms) supported the 30% threshold and opposed including convenience stores.
  • John Fiastro (on behalf of Halion) spoke favorably on the nicotine replacement therapy amendment.
  • Ronald Ward (vape shop owner) thanked the council for separating vape shops from smoke shops and for addressing lighting and signage.
• Resolution 26-26 (Jerusalem Mill): Richard Albright (Friends of Jerusalem Mill) testified in favor, describing the organization's preservation work and concerns about DNR's new affiliation agreement. Council members expressed support.
• Bill 8226 (Surplus for Volunteer Fire Companies): Susan Bollinger (Baltimore County Volunteer Firefighters Association) testified in favor, citing cost savings and equipment needs. She gave an example of a fire engine sold at auction for $40,000 and later repurchased by a volunteer company for $300,000.
• Bill 7926 (Data Center Moratorium Extension): Andrew Zirkel (Maryland Tech Council) testified in opposition, arguing the extension would harm investment and that the council should await the planning board's report.

Discussion Items

• Appointments: The council interviewed four nominees: Trisha Sokolowski (Public School Capacity Advisory Committee), Robert Giram (Design Review Panel), Paul Taburzi (Baltimore County Revenue Authority), and Brady Locker (Acting Director of Environmental Protection and Sustainability). All received favorable comments and are expected to be approved at the next session.
• Bill 7226 (Waterway Improvement Grant): Major Wideck presented a $10,000 state grant for abandoned vessel removal from waterways. Councilman Crandall praised the effort. The bill will be voted on next week.
• Bill 7326 (Fire Prevention Code): Chief Dixon presented the triennial update adopting NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 (2024 editions). Effective October 4, 2026.
• Department of Corrections Medical Contract: Prime Care Medical will provide comprehensive healthcare for 850–1,000 incarcerated individuals (average daily population). The contract is valued up to the approved appropriation and uses opioid abatement funds for the MOUD program.
• KCI Technologies Amendment: Property Management requested removal of the compensation cap for well water testing and maintenance to allow for emergency repairs and compliance with MDE/health regulations.
• TDA Consulting Contract: DHCD requested $150,000 for technical assistance on HOME-ARP programs, using federal administrative funds.
• Shannon Bomb Signs Contract: DPWT requested a one-year contract with four renewals for traffic sign fabrication and installation. The company is a certified WBE. Estimated annual expenditure ~$120,000.
• Gwenda Water Wheel Contract: Brady Locker presented a cost-sharing agreement with Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore for the Gwenda trash water wheel. The county pays ~40% of O&M costs (about $75,000/year, up to $400,000 total over 2+3 years). The wheel collects ~250 tons of trash annually, and the county receives credits toward its trash TMDL.
• OIT Contracts: Chris Martin presented two items: HVAC maintenance for IT environments (up to $2.054 million, time and materials) and an amendment to Paradigm Software for solid waste tonnage system (adding SaaS functionality and a customer portal, no interface with Workday).
• Real Estate Contracts: John Herbst presented a conservation easement (112 acres, $928,393) in Pony Run Rural Legacy Area, and a temporary construction easement for the Green Spring Station sewer project ($150,000 after updated appraisal and negotiation).
• Security Square Mall Redevelopment: Third amendment to Redgate contract to extend advisory services for one more year as negotiations with developers continue.
• Resolution 24-26 (Ag Preservation): Approved four applications (210.88 acres) for MALPF easements. The public hearing was closed with no testimony.
• Resolution 23-26 (County Code): Brad Croner presented the decennial approval of the 2025 edition of the Baltimore County Code.
• Bill 7426 (Eviction Notice): Detailed discussion on the 14-day notice requirement. Multiple amendments proposed: lock and leave vs. reclamation period. The council indicated further work on Amendment 15.
• Bill 7926 (Data Center Moratorium Extension): Councilman Marks introduced a one-year extension of the temporary controls enacted in Bill 3-26. Several council members expressed support, citing the need for careful study.
• Bill 6826 (Smoke Shops): Extensive discussion of amendments including 20% vs. 30% linear display threshold, grandfathering, exclusion of convenience stores/vape shops/hookah lounges, and addition of nicotine replacement therapy requirements. Councilman Ortell's amendments were outlined.
• Other Bills: Bills 6926 (houses for elderly), 7026 (auto parts store parking), 7126 (union hall in ML zone), 7526 (rental housing advertising), 7626 (electricians licensing), 7826 (IG office clarification), 8026 (MLR zone uses in Hunt Valley), 8126 (beauty services in RO zone), and 8326 (property tax credit for FOP) were briefly presented and will be taken up at future sessions.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken at this work session. All appointments and legislation will be voted on at the council's next legislative session on September 8, 2026.
• The council added co-sponsors to several bills: Councilman Patoka joined Resolution 26-26 (Jerusalem Mill), Resolution 25-26 (IG oversight of BCPS), and Bill 7926 (data center moratorium). Councilman Crandall joined Bill 7826 (IG clarification).
• The public hearings for Bill 7426 and Bill 6826 were held, and testimony will inform further amendments.
• The council will continue work on the eviction notice bill (Bill 7426) at a work session on September 15, 2026.