For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Also on April 23, Council will discuss collective bargaining agreements, receive the Montgomery County Planning Board's Semi-Annual Report and review capital budget projects
The Council will meet virtually on Thursday, April 23 at 9:30 a.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
Resolutions to Indicate the Council's Intent to Approve or Reject Provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreements
The Council will discuss the collective bargaining agreements for the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Municipal County Government Employees Organization (MCGEO). Under the County Employees Labor Relations Law, the Council must review the terms or conditions of each final collective bargaining agreement requiring an appropriation of funds or enactment, repeal or modification of a County law or regulation. On or before May 1, unless the Council extends this deadline, the Council must indicate by resolution its intention to appropriate funds for or otherwise implement the agreement, or its intention not to do so and state its reasons for any intent to reject any part of an agreement. The Council is not bound by the agreement on those matters over which the Council has final approval. The Council may address contract items individually rather than on an all-or-nothing basis.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolutions to Indicate the Council's Intent to Approve or Reject Provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association
The Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association is the representative for the County's Local Fire and Rescue Departments. The Montgomery County Code requires the County Executive to submit to the Council any element of a collective bargaining agreement that requires an appropriation of funds, may have a future fiscal impact, is inconsistent with any County law or regulation, or requires the enactment or adoption of any County law or regulation. The Council must notify the parties within 60 days if it disapproves an agreement in whole or in part. The Council may by resolution extend the time for action.
On March 31, 2020, the Executive submitted a negotiated agreement between the County Executive and the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023, for Council review and action. The Council must review and act on each provision that requires an appropriation of funds for the first year of the agreement in FY21.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Compensation and Benefits for all Agencies and Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust
The Council will review compensation and benefits for all agencies in the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Recommended Operating Budget which includes Montgomery County Government, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College (MC) and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Council staff will provide information on the following:
The County Executive’s FY21 recommended tax supported aggregate operating budget is $5.133 billion, an increase of two percent above the FY20 amount. Across the four County-funded agencies, employee compensation costs (consisting of salaries as well as benefits) comprise about 80 percent of all agency operating expenditures. As such, the cost of government is driven by both the number of employees and the cost per employee.
The County Executive presented his FY21 Recommended Operating Budget, which was produced and presented prior to the current health crisis. As detailed in the Council’s budget overview presentation last week, County tax revenues could be reduced by as much as $600 million over FY20 and FY21 combined due to the health crisis.
While the Council is exploring continuity of service budget options for FY21 based on the current fiscal and economic uncertainty related to the Covid-19 pandemic, no decisions been made on compensation and benefit costs.
The Council will review detailed information on the various cost components and proposed increases as part of Thursday’s meeting, and is currently scheduled to take action on County Government compensation benefit costs and collective bargaining agreements on April 30.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 18-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Rent Stabilization During Emergencies
The Council is scheduled to vote on Expedited Bill 18-20, also called the Covid-19 Renter Relief Act, which would prohibit landlords from increasing rent for residential tenants during and after the Covid-19 public health emergency. Councilmember Will Jawando is the lead sponsor. The goal of the Covid-19 Renter Relief Act is to prevent landlords from increasing a tenant’s rent during the emergency caused by the global pandemic and to prohibit notices of rent increases during, and within a certain time period after, the emergency. Council President Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Craig Rice and Nancy Navarro are cosponsors. Councilmember Navarro offered amendments to the original draft language of the bill restricting its scope to the current Covid-19 declared state of emergency and making it applicable only to residential (rather than residential and commercial) tenants. The bill also was amended so that it sunsets 121 days after the end of the current state of emergency.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Fiscal Years 2021-2026 Capital Improvements Program (FY21-26 CIP):
Semi-Annual Report of the Montgomery County Planning Board
The Council will receive the Semi-Annual Report of the Montgomery County Planning Board. Twice a year the Planning Board produces a report that provides highlights from the work programs of the Montgomery County Planning Department and Montgomery Parks. Casey Anderson, chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board; Gwen Wright, director of the Planning Department; and Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks, are among those expected to participate in the meeting remotely.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
###
Release ID: 20-168