For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
The Committees will discuss the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, the Cable Television and Communications Plan, WSSC Water’s FY23 spending control limits, amendments to the County employee’s retirement system, talent pipelines in the county and career pathways post COVID-19, programs to support workforce development and transfers of project balances for
Montgomery County Public Schools
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee will meet on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. to receive an update on the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) and the cable television and communications plan. In addition, the Committee will review Expedited Bill 33-21, Personnel - Employee’s Retirement System - Group E – Amendments.
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 9:30 a.m. to review WSSC Water’s FY23 spending control limits.
The members of the T&E Committee include Chair and Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer.
The joint Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) and Education and Culture (E&C) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to discuss talent pipelines in the county and career pathways post COVID-19. In addition, the joint Committee will receive an update on County grant-funded programs to support workforce development through English literacy.
The members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.
The Education and Culture (E&C) Committee will meet at 3 p.m. to review FY22 Capital Budget and Amendments to the FY21-26 CIP - Transfer of Funds for the Charles W. Woodward High School Reopening Project and FY22 Supplemental Appropriations and Amendments to the FY 21-26 CIP Transfer of Funds - Capital Projects.
The members of the E&C Committee include Chair Craig Rice and Councilmembers Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Nancy Navarro.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions
Briefing: The GO Committee will receive an update from the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS). Representatives from TEBS will provide the Committee with updates on key programs and initiatives and review any relevant spending or performance data.
TEBS provides digital services and support to Montgomery County Government and to County residents. This meeting will include review of the department’s expansion of services during the COVID-19 pandemic, plans for future consolidation of these expanded services, the shift to cloud-based operations and industry partnerships. In addition, TEBS will provide an update on the digital equity initiative and the way that technology is used to promote racial equity goals.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Gail Roper, chief information officer, Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS); Shayna Taqi, chief change officer, TEBS; Skyler Grubbs, acting change manager, TEBS; Joe Webster, Chief, Office of Broadband Programs, TEBS; Allison Dollar, chief budget officer, TEBS; and Julie Knight, analyst, Office of Management & Budget (OMB).
Cable Television and Communications Plan
Briefing: The GO Committee will receive an update on the Cable Television and Communications Plan and discuss key County cable and television communications programs and initiatives and review any relevant spending or performance data.
The Cable Television Communication Plan is a special revenue fund provided by cable franchise agreements and fees from the Transmission Facility Coordinating Group. The plan provides effective management of the fund and the County's cable franchise agreement. In addition, the plan ensures quality Public, Educational, and Government (PEG) programming, broadband governance, planning, execution and operation of the County's communications network and effective management and deployment of wireless facilities throughout Montgomery County.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Gail Roper, chief information officer, Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS); Shayna Taqi, chief change officer, TEBS; Skyler Grubbs, acting change manager, TEBS; Joe Webster, Chief, Office of Broadband Programs, TEBS; Allison Dollar, chief budget officer, TEBS; Derrick Kenny, digital media manager, Office of Broadband Programs, TEBS; Nannette Hobson, chief executive officer, Montgomery Community Media; Barry Hudson, co-chair, Connect Montgomery Alliance Public Information Officer; and Julie Knight, Analyst, Office of Management & Budget (OMB).
Expedited Bill 33-21, Personnel – Employee’s Retirement System – Group E – Amendments
Review: The GO Committee will discuss Expedited Bill 33-21, Personnel - Employee’s Retirement System - Group E - Amendments, which would move resident supervisors in the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation from Group J to Group E. The bill would also permit resident supervisors to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan for sworn deputy sheriffs and uniformed correctional officers, clarify the application of credited service for employees who move from the GRIP to Group E and generally amend the retirement laws.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Jennifer Harling, director, Office of Labor Relations; Linda Herman, executive director, Retirement Plans; Corey Orlosky, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Gino Renne, president, MCGEO; and Lisa Blackwell, secretary-treasurer, MCGEO.
FY23 WSSC Water Spending Control Limits
Review: The T&E Committee will review and make recommendations to the full Council on the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) WSSC Water Spending Control Limits. WSSC’s spending control limits process was established in April 1994 via resolution by both Montgomery and Prince George’s County Councils, with the goal of both Councils agreeing on certain budgetary limits by Nov. 1 of each year.
WSSC is the bi-county governmental agency charged with providing water and sanitary sewer service within the Washington Suburban Sanitary District, which includes most of Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
Those expected to attend and provide information representing WSSC Water include Carla Reid, general manager and CEO Joe Beach; deputy general manager for administration; James Price, deputy general manager for operations; Monica Johnson, deputy general manager for strategy and partnerships; Patti Colihan, chief financial officer; Letitia Carolina-Powell, budget division manager; Julie Pohutsky, budget section manager; Fariha Babar, incoming budget section manager; and Brian Halloran, capital budget section manager. Those expected to attend and provide information representing the County Government include Steve Shofar, division chief, Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Environmental Protection and Rafael Murphy, fiscal and policy analyst, Office of Management and Budget.
Talent Pipelines in the County: Career Pathways Post COVID-19
Review: The joint PHED and E&C Committee will hold a second discussion on continued education and employment opportunities for career pathway students during and after the COVID-19 health pandemic. An initial Committee meeting was held on Mar. 15, 2021 and included a discussion of the roles of the County’s education agencies in supporting career pathway students, an update on the impacts of the COVID-19 health pandemic on efforts to educate and secure employment for students and graduates, a discussion of the collaboration between agencies and consideration of ways to strengthen the career pathways pipeline post COVID-19. At this meeting, the joint Committee will receive an update from Montgomery College and partners on the Biotech Bootcamp.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Dr. Sanjay Rai, senior vice president for academic affairs, Montgomery College; George Payne, vice president and provost, Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Montgomery College; Steve Greenfield, dean of business, information technology, and safety, Montgomery College; Niki Hazel, associate superintendent of curriculum and instructional programs, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); Scott Murphy, director of the department of college and career readiness, Districtwide Programs, MCPS; Elaine Chang, director, Partnerships Unit, MCPS; Genevieve Floyd, supervisor, Career and Postsecondary Partnerships, MCPS; Dr. Anne Khademian, executive director, The Universities at Shady Grove (USG); Robyn Dinicola, chief student affairs officer; Mary Lang, chief strategy officer, USG; Steve Simon, interim director, Marketing and Communications, USG; Anthony Featherstone, Executive Director, WorkSource Montgomery; and John Hattery, director of strategic initiatives, WorkSource Montgomery.
County grant-funded programs to support workforce development through English literacy
Briefing: The joint PHED and E&C Committee will receive an update on County grant-funded programs to support workforce development through English literacy supported by the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL).
MCAEL partners with Montgomery County to provide grant programs that increase the availability of adult ESOL and literacy services in the County. MCAEL's activities directly support a network of more than 70 adult ESOL and literacy service provider programs and more than 7,500 adult learners are served annually through its programs.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Kathy Stevens, executive director, MCAEL and Deborah Lambert, senior fiscal and policy analyst, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Review: The E&C Committee will review an amendment to the Montgomery County Schools (MCPS) FY21-26 CIP current revitalizations and expansions project and a related transfer within the FY22 capital budget to the MCPS local unliquidated surplus account. The Council will also introduce a transfer of $4 million within the FY22 capital budget from the MCPS local unliquidated surplus account and a related amendment to the MCPS FY21-26 CIP Charles W. Woodward High School reopening project.
The transfer is needed for the current revitalizations and expansions project which includes three completed subprojects with surplus balances due to cost savings. These projects are at Seneca Valley High School, Tilden Middle School and Wheaton High School. Conversely, the Woodward High School reopening project is facing cost increases because the construction industry has experienced an unprecedented increase in material costs, disruption in supply chain and labor shortages. The unforeseen additional funding needed to complete the Woodward reopening project is $4 million, which includes opportunities for value engineering and a redesign of areas of the building.
In addition, the Committee will review an amendment to the MCPS FY21-26 CIP Dufief Elementary School addition and facility upgrade project and a related $33.9 million transfer within the FY22 Capital Budget to the MCPS local unliquidated surplus account.
The Council is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing on Oct. 26 and vote on these transfer requests and CIP amendments on Nov. 2, 2021.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Seth Adams, director, Department of Facilities Management, MCPS and Adrienne Karamihas, director, Division of Capital Planning and Real Estate, MCPS.
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 Council and committees are meeting via Zoom this fall because of ongoing construction and technology upgrades in the Council's Hearing Room and the inability to conduct meetings in a socially distant way in other areas of the Council Office Building with television broadcast capacity. Councilmembers will continue to hold meetings in their offices by appointment.
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: 21-414