For Immediate Release: Friday, July 16, 2021
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Monday, July 19 at 9:30 a.m. to review Bill 19-21, Finance Reports on Settlements Agreements, and discuss additions to the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearing comprehensive fee schedule for solar collection systems in the Agricultural Reserve (AR) Zone.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
The Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the County’s Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan.
The members of the T&E Committee include Chair and Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer.
Bill 19-21, Finance – Reports on Settlement Agreements
Review: The GO Committee will discuss Bill 19-21, which was introduced by lead sponsor Councilmember Jawando, to increase public transparency regarding settlement agreements entered into by the County to resolve complaints against County employees. Council President Hucker and Councilmembers Glass, Riemer, Rice and Navarro are cosponsors of the legislation.
Bill 19-21 would require the County Attorney to periodically report to the County Executive and Council regarding settlement agreements entered into by the County and require the County Attorney to publish each report on the County website.
Additions to the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings’ Comprehensive Fee Schedule
Review: The Committee will also receive information about and discuss a proposed amended fee schedule that adds an application fee for Solar Collection Systems in the AR Zone.
The fee scheduled relates to Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-01, Solar Collection System – AR Zone Standards, which was adopted by the Council on February 23, 2021, and became effective on March 15, 2021. The ordinance requires conditional use approval for solar facilities larger than 200 percent of on-site energy use but less than two megawatts (AC) instead of site plan approval.
With conditional use approval now required, the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings (OZAH) fee schedule must be amended to include an application fee for Solar Collection Systems. OZAH worked with the Planning Department to propose a fee that is consistent with the existing application fee for agricultural processing.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Lynn Robeson-Hannan, director/hearing examiner, Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings (OZAH); Robert Kronenberg, deputy director, Planning Department; and Christina Sorrento, chief, Intake and Regulatory Coordination (IRC) Division, Planning Department.
Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan
Review: The T&E Committee will meet to review and make recommendations on the Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan transmitted by the County Executive. The plan includes information on the legal and regulatory environment for solid waste management and background on the County’s solid waste programs and facilities.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Adam Ortiz, director, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Patty Bubar, deputy director, DEP; Willie Wainer, chief, Recycling and Resource Management Division, DEP; and Rich Harris, management and budget specialist, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
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.
The virtual Council and Committee meetings 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: 21-295