Press Releases

Council to meet virtually on Dec. 15 to introduce, conduct a public hearing and vote on Executive Order 139-20AM2, COVID-19 Local Order to help reduce COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations

For Immediate Release: Monday, December 14, 2020

Council agenda also includes the introduction of a supplemental appropriation for the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund and operating budget amendments

The Council will meet virtually Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html. The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.

On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056 and Fios 30.

Council Agenda Items

Board of Health Regulation to Adopt an Executive Order 139-20AM2, COVID-19 Local Order Amending and Restating Order Dated Nov. 10, 2020
At 1 p.m. the Council, sitting as the Board of Health, is scheduled to introduce, conduct a public hearing and vote on a Board of Health regulation to adopt Executive Order 139-20AM2 transmitted by County Executive Elrich.  If approved by the Council, Executive Order 139-20AM2 would be effective December 15, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The number of known COVID-19 cases in the Washington metropolitan region climbed past 500,000 last week, which has led to leaders across the region implementing expanded public health protections. These steps are necessary to help drive down cases and save lives. As of Dec. 14, there are 39,721 cases of COVID-19 in Montgomery County and 980 residents have lost thier lives to the virus. The hospitalization data also shows that 77 percent of hospital impatient beds are occupied, and 72 percent of hospital impatient beds are in use in Montgomery County.

This amended public health order would do the following:

Face coverings

• Amend the language regarding face coverings for children and sports so the exception only applies while actively playing sports.
• Add an information link to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance regarding face coverings.

Food Service Establishments

• Except for licensed health care facilities, indoor dining would be suspended.
• Restaurants would be limited to outdoor dining, carry-out, drive-through or delivery.
• Outdoor dining hours are restricted to 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. to comply with the Governor’s last Executive Order.

Retail Establishments

• Add language explicitly including large retail and grocery stores.
• Allow retail establishments to remain open with a limit of one person per 200 square feet of retail space. Any retail establishment that intends to have, and can physically accommodate more than 150 people, must have a Letter of Approval to exceed 150 persons, effective Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. The Letter of Approval request must detail how the establishment will monitor the number of people in the building at any given time; explain how social distancing will be maintained; and include modified staffing strategies to reduce employee exposure. The Letter of Approval request must be submitted by Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. .

Gatherings

• Include non-professional sports and events in the definition of social gathering.
• Include that one household does not constitute a social gathering unless more than one household is present. If there is more than one household present, each individual present at the gathering would be counted for the purposes of determining compliance toward the applicable gathering limit.

Childcare

• Add language referencing the Maryland State Department of Education's November 19, 2020 childcare waiver letter covering child-adult ratios.

Fitness centers

• Fitness centers must strictly enforce social distancing and the requirement that persons wear face masks.

Sports

• Remove automatic approval to exceed gathering limits to accommodate parents, guardians, and immediate family.
• Sports would follow social gathering size limitations.

Other changes

• Incorporate face covering language and gathering size restrictions from the Amended Health Officer Directive dated November 24, 2020.
• Incorporate the Governor’s suspension of in-person dining between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. as stated in his last Executive Order.
• Update citations and links to new declarations of emergency and orders issued by the Governor and the Maryland Department of Health.
• Change the word “patron” to “person” to address questions about whether staff count towards occupancy or capacity numbers.

Executive Order 139-20AM2 and the Council staff report can be viewed here.

Supplemental Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Capital Budget and Amendment to the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program, Department of Housing and Community Affairs - $8,000,000 for Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund
The Council will introduce a supplemental appropriation of $8 million for the Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund. Montgomery County has a shortage of housing that is affordable to moderate- and low-income households, particularly households earning less than 50 percent of area median income. Additional financing strategies to help preserve affordable housing are needed. This fund would help fill the financing gap, and it’s expected that these funds will primarily be used for initial short-term financing of up to 36 months but may also be used for intermediate term agreements. Eight million dollars is requested for fiscal year 2021 and six million dollars for fiscal year 2022. A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Amendment to FY21 Operating Budget Resolution 19-472, Section G, FY21 Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Awards: FIRN, Inc and HIAS, Inc.
The Council will introduce and vote on a resolution that would provide screening and legal services to low-income county residents in immigration deportation or removal proceedings. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is recommending amendments to enter a new contract with FIRN, Inc. and increase the contract with HIAS, Inc. The contracts are funded with appropriation approved in the FY21 operating budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. Since FY19, the county has funded contracts with Ayuda, HIAS, and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) for this same purpose. There is no change to these current contracts.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Amendment to Resolution 19-683, Special Appropriation to the FY21 Operating Budget Montgomery County Government Department of Health and Human Services Children Youth and Family Services, Therapeutic Recreation Services for School-Age Youth, $312,455
The Council's agenda also includes the introduction of, and a vote on, an amendment to Resolution 19-683, special appropriation of $312,455 for therapeutic recreation services for school-age youth. On December 1, 2020, the Council adopted Resolution 19-683, which appropriated $312,455 to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) fiscal year 2021 Operating Budget. Of the total, $106,205 was designated as personnel expense and $206,250 was designated as operating expense. The amount for personnel expense was allocated based on the presumption that DHHS would expand staffing in the Positive Youth Development Program. However, after the approval of the resolution, DHHS indicated that the whole amount of the appropriation should be designated as operating expense to initiate contractual services in the current fiscal year.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

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Release ID: 20-497
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931