For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Council to meet with U.S. Senator Ben Cardin; Committees will discuss COVID-19 and flood-related emergency response expenses
The joint Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, March 24 at 9:30 a.m. to review a more than $69.6 million supplemental appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for COVID-19 pandemic emergency expenses and expenses related to the response to the Rock Creek flood.
The members of the GO Committee include Chair Nancy Navarro and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Sidney Katz.
The members of the HHS Committee include Chair and Council President Gabe Albornoz, Council Vice President Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Councilmember Craig Rice.
The Council will meet virtually with U.S. Senator Ben Cardin on Friday, March 25 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss issues impacting Montgomery County and his work in the U.S. Senate. The virtual meeting will be broadcast on County Cable Montgomery and streamed on the Council's YouTube and Facebook pages.
More detail on the committee agenda item is provided below.
Review: The joint GO and HHS Committee will review a more than $69.6 million supplemental appropriation to DHHS for COVID-19 pandemic emergency expenses and expenses related to the response to the Rock Creek flood. The ongoing global pandemic requires the County to respond quickly to the public health needs of county residents as well as related emergency services, such as modifying procedures for emergency shelter.
DHHS has incurred costs that were not included in their FY22 approved budget, and a supplemental appropriation is required to recognize these expenditures. In addition to costs related to the pandemic, $100,000 is included in this supplemental for emergency response to the Rock Creek flood. The County is pursing FEMA reimbursement for all costs to the extent that those costs are eligible for reimbursement.
The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the County Executive.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS; Vicky Buckland, chief operating officer, DHHS; Jason Rundell, DHHS; Josh Watters, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); David Gottesman, OMB; Lindsay Lucas, 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.
All Council committee meetings are currently being held on Zoom.
The Council returned to in-person meetings on March 15; residents continue to have the opportunity to testify remotely for public hearings or provide in-person testimony at the Council Office Building in Rockville for many public hearings.
The Council is recommending that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.
Council and committee meetings are 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: 22-132