For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 28, 2021
The Health & Human Services Committee will meet on Thursday, April 29 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss funding to support the Service Consolidation Hubs and a call center for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
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.
The Public Safety (PS) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss FY22 Operating Budget and FY21-26 CIP Amendments for the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. The Committee will also review collective bargaining agreements with the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA).
The members of the Public Safety (PS) Committee include Chair Sidney Katz, Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Council President Tom Hucker.
Funding to Support Service Consolidation Hubs
Review: A system of eight Service Consolidation Hubs has grown over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These Hubs have been critical to distributing the substantial amount of food and goods needed by residents facing hardship. The FY22 recommended budget includes $3.6 million for the continued funding of the Hubs.
For FY22, Hub funding was first approved through resources allocated to the Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar Program, which was spearheaded by Councilmember Navarro and Council Vice President Albornoz, and then through DHHS. For the second half of FY22, base amounts of $150,000 have been provided to each Hub for operations and additional amounts have been provided in response to the different needs of the Hubs.
The Hubs are expected to be see continued usage throughout FY22. Each Hub includes both on-site services and home deliveries for as many as 20,000 County residents per week.
DHHS Call Center for Tier 2 calls from MC311 and call volume
Review: A call center is recommended for DHHS to improve response times for Montgomery County residents. Calls for DHHS-related issues have increased with the need for rental and financial assistance and information about COVID-19. About 34 percent of calls to MC311 are related to DHHS. The total first year costs for staffing, equipment and operations are expected to be $635,708.
In the month of April, MC311 answered approximately 1,900 calls per day. Thirteen percent of calls were related specifically to COVID-19 and rental relief. Trash and recycling accounted for 31 percent of calls, followed by social services at 21 percent of calls and permitting at 12 percent. Transportation, tax issues and housing accounted for a combined 22 percent.
MC311 is currently the main entry point for most calls, although separate lines have been created for the Public Health Helpline, the Food Access Call Center, pre-registration for COVID-19 vaccinations and the 24-hour Crisis Center. The Food Access Call Center is also assisting Services to End and Prevent Homelessness.
Those expected to attend and provide information on both DHHS FY22 Operating Budget topics include Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS; Mark Hodge, special assistant to the chief operating officer, DHHS; Jason Rundell, Budget Team Manager, DHHS; Heather Bruskin, executive director, Montgomery County Food Council; Netta Squires, NCR emergency preparedness specialist, Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security FY22 Operating Budget
Review: The PS Committee will review the recommended $3.4 million FY22 Operating Budget for the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS), which is a 9.8 percent increase from the FY21 Approved Budget. The increase includes the addition of a hydrologist to manage flooding due to increasingly frequent storms and the addition of a of a planning support specialist to manage outreach to and coordination with other County departments.
OEMHS is responsible for preparing for and protecting against major threats that may harm the Montgomery County community and managing the County’s response and recovery from the consequences of such disasters or event should they occur.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Dr. Earl Stoddard, director, Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEHMS); Michael Goldfarb, administration and finance division chief OEMHS; Danelia Quiroz, management and budget specialist, OEMHS; Taman Morris, fiscal and policy analyst, Office of Management and Budget.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) FY22 Operating Budget and FY22-26 CIP Amendments
Review: The Committee will also review the FY22 recommended expenditure of $232.7 million budget for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS), which is a 3.5 percent increase from the FY21 Approved Budget.
The budget recommendation includes ten new paramedic training positions to help address understaffing, one new paramedic chase car and one new daywork ambulance to enhance EMS service delivery. In addition, the MCFRS audit will be split into two studies, one for operations and one for racial equity and social justice.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Scott Goldstein, fire chief, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS); Dominic Del Pozzo, division chief, MCFRS; and Rachel Silberman, budget and management specialist, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Collective Bargaining Agreement with MCVFRA.
Review: The Committee will also discuss and make a recommendation to the Council regarding the actions necessary to implement the collective bargaining agreement with the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA).
Those expected to attend and provide information include Eric Bernard, executive director, MCVFRA and Scott Goldstein, fire chief.
FY22 Operating Budget Consent Items
The PS Committee will also review the following FY22 Operating Budget Consent items:
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 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: 21-182