Baltimore County Council Legislative Day 20 — November 3, 2026

The Baltimore County Council convened for Legislative Day 20 on November 3, 2026. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for the prior day's plane crash in Palm Beach, Florida, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Crandall. The council approved its journal, enrolled prior legislation, and moved through final readings, fiscal matters, resolutions, and public testimony. No new bills were introduced.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the journal for the October 19, 2026 meeting.
• Enrolled Bills 89-26 through 97-26, which had been passed by the council and signed by the executive.
• No new bills for introduction from the administration or council.

Legislation and Zoning

• Bill 98-26: Current expense budget bill for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Modernization Program. Passed.
• Bill 99-26: Current expense budget bill for Woodlawn school-based wellness centers; the chair noted the program is not limited to Woodlawn. Passed.
• Bill 100-26 (transcribed in places as Bill 126): Personal property tax credits for eligible maritime manufacturing property, submitted at the administration's request and sponsored by Chairman Ertel, Councilman Crandall, and Councilman Marks; Councilman Jones added as co-sponsor. County Executive Kathy Klausmeyer was present. Councilman Crandall said the 7th District—Dundalk, Edgemere, Fort Howard, and Sparrows Point—would benefit and that a company supporting national defense at Sparrows Point would make the community proud. Councilman Jones cited the prospect of 3,000 to 3,500 jobs and the power of one job for a family; Councilman Patoka said a job is dignity; Councilman Marks called Trade Point Atlantic a consequential decision and defended the 2018 incentives. Former Councilman Johnny Shasky Sr. was acknowledged. Passed.
• Bill 101-26: Improper out-of-state registration enforcement. Passed.
• Bill 102-26: Zoning regulations, mixed-use overlay district, sponsored by Councilman Young. An amendment updated rules and exceptions for changes to development plans approved prior to June 1, 2024, including residential density and limited exemptions, plus technical corrections. Amendment and bill as amended passed; Councilman Patoka recorded a no vote.
• Bill 103-26: Zoning regulations, uses permitted in Resource Conservation Critical Area RC20 and RC50 zones, VFW Post, sponsored by Councilman Crandall. The council extended the bill to the November 16, 2026 legislative session; a work session was expected November 10.
• Bill 104-26: Zoning regulations, uses permitted in the Business Roadside (BR) zone, car wash, sponsored by Councilman Mangioni. Mangioni said the bill responds to an oversaturation of car washes along York Road—about seven in a small stretch—and cited the Hunt Valley/Timonium Master Plan's consistency concerns and planning letters opposing another car wash. Councilman Jones argued the council should not change the rules in the middle of pending litigation and sought grandfathering for applications filed before October 5, 2026. Two amendments passed: one struck retroactivity and set a November 16, 2026 effective date; the other grandfathered any petition/project/development with a special exception application filed before October 5, 2026. The bill as amended passed. Mangioni said he opposed Jones's amendment.
• Bill 105-26: Zoning regulations, uses permitted in the Business Local (BL) zone, service garage, sponsored by Councilman Mangioni. Passed with no opposition noted.
• Bill 106-26: Withdrawn prior to the meeting.
• Bill 107-26: Baltimore County final landmarks list, Eden Derry (spelled D-E-R-R-Y, not dairy), sponsored by Councilman Mangioni. Passed.
• Bill 108-26: Property tax credit bill sponsored by Councilman Jones. A technical amendment replaced the title OT Zone of Owings Mills with Revitalization property tax credit clarification. Jones explained the bill changes the median-income threshold from 60 percent to 60 percent or less and applies beyond Owings Mills; he called the original title a drafting error. Amendment and bill as amended passed.

Fiscal and Contract Matters

• The council considered fiscal matters after extensive testimony at the October 27, 2026 work session. Approved fiscal matters 1-3, 5, and 6: two amendments to contracts for on-call industrial hygienist services; a contract of sale with Woodmore Properties LLC; amendments to three contracts for snow removal and de-icing services; two contracts for temporary staffing services; and a purchase order with Towson University CQ Arena. Fiscal matter 4 was withdrawn.
• The secretary announced three non-competitive contract awards over $25,000: a license/proficiency-test purchase for forensic unit examiners through the police department (estimated five-year total $40,000); a contract amendment with JOT formated for enterprise form-creation software (estimated six-year total $603,506); and a purchase order with Aviation Specialties Unlimited for two E3 night vision goggles through the police department ($37,065).

Resolutions

• Resolution 38-26: Annual compensation for the county administrative officer. Councilman Patoka supported the recommended salary but raised concern that the county executive, county council, and CAO are not eligible for cost-of-living adjustments; he asked future legislative bodies to review the issue and said no county employee should be exempt from a COLA. Councilman Mangioni voted no because of the nearly $50,000 increase, not as a slight to the current CAO. The chair defended the position's scope and the need to compete for talent. Passed 6-1.
• Resolution 41-26: Sponsored by Councilmen Marks and Crandall, encouraging the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation on occupational disease presumptions for first responders in workers' compensation claims. Councilman Patoka's amendment broadened first responder to include volunteer firefighters, auxiliary police officers, and career and volunteer EMTs. Councilman Jones noted that Baltimore County already includes volunteer firefighters in workers' compensation and that the resolution is a message to the state, not local law. The amendment and resolution as amended passed. Delegate Ross of the 8th District was mentioned as possibly sponsoring state legislation.
• Resolution 42-26: Introduced only—Baltimore County Financial Assurance Plan, watershed protection and restoration program, submitted by the administration.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Casey Jackson, speaking virtually, opposed the proposed integrated student housing development, which she referenced as Bill 11-26 and Bill 119-26 and said could include up to 500 purpose-built student bedrooms, attached housing, a pool, and a clubhouse. She linked her concern to the council's approval of Bill 102-26 and said residents are already experiencing construction disruption, increased traffic, road-safety problems, and missing sidewalks, including on Summit Avenue. She described an incident in which a contractor nearly ran her over and said police are investigating; she also mentioned PTSD. She urged the council to reject the student housing proposal and to require a comprehensive, independently reviewed traffic and pedestrian safety analysis plus enforceable road, sidewalk, crossing, and traffic-calming commitments before occupancy.
• Tony Berger, speaking in person, criticized the approximately $300,000 CAO salary, saying it exceeds the police commissioner, fire chief, and county executive. He argued county day-to-day operations are failing and cited unpaid bills, county vehicles being serviced out of state, and a quarry refusing to release stone because of unpaid bills. He called for more council oversight and approval over the CAO appointment. Councilman Patoka and the chair responded on the COLA issue and the need to pay competitively; the chair said 33 of the top 52 county salaries come from one agency whose employees can receive COLAs, while the CAO, council, and executive cannot. Berger and Patoka respectfully disagreed.
• Emma Davenport, speaking in person, described a 2024 incident in which Brian Villatoro destroyed her home after she fired him, while her mother was gravely ill. She said witnesses and signed affidavits were excluded because unsigned affidavits were submitted, and she raised concerns about the Maryland Insurance Administration and Office of Administrative Hearings, including funding relationships she viewed as conflicts of interest. She said fraud wiped out most of her savings and 401(k), that she became homeless and stayed in sheds, and that her mother died in January 2025 before being able to return home for hospice. She asked for accountability and due process so other families do not face similar loss. The chair said he was confused by some details but committed to calling her the next day at the number she provided.

Key Outcomes

• Bills 98-26, 99-26, 100-26, 101-26, 102-26 as amended, 104-26 as amended, 105-26, 107-26, and 108-26 as amended passed. Bill 103-26 was extended to November 16, 2026 (work session expected November 10). Bill 106-26 was withdrawn.
• Fiscal matters 1-3, 5, and 6 were approved; fiscal matter 4 was withdrawn.
• Resolution 38-26 passed 6-1; Resolution 41-26 passed as amended; Resolution 42-26 was introduced only.
• No action was taken on the public testimony. The chair committed to follow up with Emma Davenport. The meeting adjourned.