For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 6, 2020
The following committees will meet virtually on Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday Oct. 8. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for committee review can be viewed at: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current committee agendas can be viewed at:
https://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 (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity).
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Meeting: Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
T&E Committee: Council Vice President Tom Hucker (Chair) and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer
Topic:
Annual WSSC Water Spending Control Limits
The T&E Committee will review the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s annual spending limits. WSSC’s spending control limits process was established in April 1994 through a resolution with both Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils, with the goal of both Councils agreeing on budgetary limits by Nov. 1 of each year. The process is based on a multi-year planning model, which is intended to stabilize annual rate increases over time and hold customer fee-supported debt service below 40 percent of the operating budget. The spending limits also provide direction to WSSC regarding what to request. The Councils have agreed on these limits in most years. In years when no agreement was reached, the process provided a rate increase range for WSSC to work within to build its budget.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Thursday, Oct. 8
Meeting: Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice
Topic:
Montgomery Cares, Care for Kids and County Dental Program
The HHS Committee will receive updates from Montgomery Cares, Care for Kids and the County Dental Program. Just as COVID-19 has impacted private medical and dental practices, it has impacted the County’s programs for the uninsured and low-income residents. The HHS Committee received two letters, which were signed by the chair of the Montgomery Cares Advisory Board, the chair of the Health Centers Leadership Council and the chair of the Primary Care Coalition’s External Affairs Committee. The September letter provides comments and concerns for each of the programs in the Healthcare for the Uninsured Program. The July letter focused on the Care for Kids Program.
Montgomery Cares provides primary health care to medically uninsured, low-income adults who live in the County. Care for Kids provides access to health care services for uninsured children in the County, including pediatric care, prescription medicines, optometry, dental and other limited specialty care services. The County also provides dental services for income eligible residents through dental clinics.
The Council staff report can be found here.
Meeting: Joint Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee and Public Safety (PS) Committee
Time: 1:30 p.m.
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice
PS Committee: Council President Sidney Katz (Chair), Councilmember Gabe Albornoz and Council Vice President Tom Hucker
Topic:
Mobile Crisis Team and Crisis Now
The HHS and PS Committees will meet jointly to receive an update on the County’s Mobile Crisis Team and the Crisis Now framework. In July, the Council approved a special appropriation of $592,202 to add six clinical behavioral staff to increase and enhance the County’s Mobile Crisis Team response. Mobile Crisis Teams can respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises or are in need of conflict resolution. The special appropriation provided by the Council was a first step to create additional Mobile Crisis Teams. The County's Department of Health and Human Services operates the Crisis Center and staffs the Mobile Crisis Teams.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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Release ID: 20-395