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Montgomery County Council Committee Meetings on April 28
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 28 at 9 a.m. to discuss the FY22 Recommended Budgets for the Department of Recreation and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) Non-Department Account (NDA).
The members of the Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.
The joint PHED and Education & Culture (E&C) Committee will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss FY22 funding for school-based programs within the Department of Recreation and the WorkSource Montgomery NDA.
The members of the Education & Culture (E&C) Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro.
The joint Health & Human Services (HHS) and E&C Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to receive a presentation about services for unaccompanied children who arrive in Montgomery County.
The members of the Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.
Review: The County Executive’s $46.5 million recommended FY22 Department of Recreation budget is consistent with the FY21 Approved Budget. The Department of Recreation provides high quality, diverse and accessible programs, services, and facilities that enhance the quality of life for residents in Montgomery County. The Committee is expected to discuss the impact of vacancies, remote assignments and potential savings due to the delayed opening of facilities in 2021.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Robin Riley, director, Montgomery County Department of Recreation (MCRD); Adriane Clutter, division chief, Programs, MCRD; Traci Anderson, division chief, Business Operations, MCRD; Melanie Sasse, division chief, Recreation Facilities and Aquatics, MCRD; David Dise, director, Department of General Services; and MCRD and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) NDA
Review: The PHED Committee will continue its review of the FY22 Operating Budget Non-Departmental Account (NDA) for the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). The County Executives' $6 million FY22 Recommended Budget is a 20 percent increase from the FY21 Approved Budget and includes $1 million in additional budget enhancement programs.
The Committee has requested that MCEDC return to discuss additional details regarding the recommended enhancements for FY22, including their approach to marketing and leveraging the County’s efforts in the White Oak area. The Committee has also asked for performance metrics related to further development of MCEDC’s federal engagement strategy, including any cost estimates to perform that work in FY22 and how MCEDC’s efforts align with BioHealth Innovation’s efforts.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Robby Brewer, MCEDC Board; Ben Wu, CEO, MCEDC; Bill Tompkins, executive vice president and COO; MCEDC, Stacey Hardy, vice president of operations, MCEDC; Jerome Fletcher, assistant chief administrative officer, Office of the County Executive; and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Recreation School-Based Programs
Review: The joint PHED and E&C Committee will review the County Executive’s recommended budget for school-based recreation out-of-school time (OOST) programming, which includes $2.6 million within the Department of ‘s Recommended Budget.
In FY20 the Council expanded OOST programming. This included funding to expand the Excel Beyond the Bell programs to Whetstone, Roscoe Nix, Weller Road and New Hampshire Estates elementary schools and expand the RecXtra program at Briggs Chaney, Earl B. Wood and Redland middle schools.
The department was able to successfully launch the new programs in FY20 by giving additional assignments to existing staff but was unable to complete the hiring process for the three required recreation specialists due to the hiring freeze. The department has also been working with partners including Montgomery County Public Schools to phase in afterschool services in FY21.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Robin Riley, director, Montgomery County Department of Recreation (MCRD); Adriane Clutter, division chief, Programs, MCRD; Traci Anderson, division chief, Business Operations, MCRD; Melanie Sasse, division chief, Recreation Facilities and Aquatics, MCRD; Essie McGuire, associate superintendent of operations, MCPS; Cara Lesser, CEO, KID Museum; and MCRD and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Review: The joint PHED and E&C Committee will also review the County Executive’s recommended $1.4 million FY22 Operating Budget Non-Departmental Account (NDA) for WorkSource Montgomery.
WSM’s mission is to meet the talent needs of strategic industries and to develop career pathways that lead to sustainable wage jobs. An effective workforce delivery system is important to the County because it ensures that talent development meets the needs of current and future businesses in the County.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Anthony Featherstone, executive director, WorkSource Montgomery (WSM); Jerome Fletcher, assistant chief administrative officer, Office of the County Executive; and WSM and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Unaccompanied Minors/Children Fleeing Violence
Briefing: Unaccompanied children come to Montgomery County every year, some by formal process through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and some who make their way from the border to the County on their own to reunite with family.
The joint HHS and E&C Committee will receive a presentation from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) on planning and preparations for what is expected to be a substantial increase in the number of unaccompanied children who come to Montgomery County.
DHHS will provide information about the convening of its steering committee and the roles of Ms. Huebner and Dr. Navarro, an overview of the process by which Montgomery County becomes aware of the arrival of unaccompanied children, the services that children need when they arrive (such as health and dental care) and the programs and supports that are in place for the child and the family or sponsor to support reunification and family strengthening.
MCPS will provide an overview of its intake process, the number of children it has been welcoming into the system, and the educational and other supports that are provided at school.
In April of 2019, the Committees heard from panelist about the humanitarian needs of families and unaccompanied children at the border seeking asylum because of violence and other dangers in their home countries. In 2019, the number of children referred to ORR was 69,550. In 2020, these referrals are reported to be 15,381.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS; JoAnn Barnes, chief, children, youth, and family services, DHHS; Luis Cardona, administrator, Positive Youth Development in DHHS; Gillian Huebner, consultant to DHHS; Dr. Maria Navarro, consultant to DHHS; Ruschelle Reuben, associate superintendent, Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement (OSFSE), Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); Cheryl Dyson, area associate superintendent, MCPS; Everett Davis, director, Student, Family, and School Services, MCPS; and MCPS and DHHS staff.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review 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 Committee 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, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
Release ID: 21-181Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884