For Immediate Release: Friday, November 12, 2021
Committees will review policy priorities for Health and Human Services advisory boards, committees and commissions, regulation detailing window guard specifications and legislation on police training and receive an update from the Department of Permitting Services
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will meet on Monday, Nov. 15 at 8:30 a.m. to review policy priorities with each of the chairs of the Health and Human Services advisory boards, committees and commissions.
The members of the HHS Committee include Chair and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness & Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. to receive updates from representatives of the Department of Permitting Services (DPS). In addition, the Committee will review Executive Regulation 11-21, Landlord Tenant Relations – Obligations of Landlord – Window Guards, which provides technical specifications for all window guards required under Bill 51-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Window Guards.
The members of the PHED Committee include Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando.
The Public Safety (PS) Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. to review Bill 17-21, Police – Community Informed Police Training, which would create partnerships between the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and local educational institutions to recruit and train police officers in a manner that promotes community informed policing.
The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz, Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Council President Tom Hucker.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Boards, Committees and Commissions Priorities
Review: The HHS Committee will discuss policy priorities with each of the chairs of the HHS advisory boards, committees and commissions. During the meeting each chair has been asked to identify their top two policy priorities.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Jacqueline Williams, African American Health Program; Laura Mitchell, Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council; Dr. Nguyen Nguyen. Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI); Marquette Rogers Board of Social Services; Marci Roth, Citizen Review Panel Advisory Group; Barbara Selter, Commission on Aging; Tracey Clay, Commission on Child Care; William Hegwood, Commission on Child Care; Renae McPherson, Commission on Children and Youth; Jessica Kronstadt. Commission on Health; Chris Jennison, Commission on Juvenile Justice; Seth Morgan, Commission on People with Disabilities; Wayne Miller, Commission on Veterans Affairs; Robert Koffman, Commission on Veterans Affairs; Lisette Engel, Community Action Board; Taniesha Woods-Myles, Early Childhood Coordinating Council; Jeff Goldman, Interagency Commission on Homelessness; Ebony Johnson, Interagency Commission on Homelessness; Michelle LaRue, Latino Health Initiative; Olivia Carter-Pokras, Latino Health Initiative; Garrett Mannchen, Mental Health Advisory Committee; Wayne Swann, Montgomery Cares Advisory Board; Kathryn Pontzer, Victim Services Advisory Board; and Juanita Rogers,Victim Services Advisory Board.
Department of Permitting Services
Briefing: The PHED Committee will receive an update on the Department of Permitting Services (DPS). Representatives from DPS will provide the Committee with updates on key programs and initiatives and review any relevant spending or performance data. The discussion will include an overview the department’s budget, enterprise systems, changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition from Rockville to Wheaton office spaces.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Mitra Pedoeem, director, Department of Permitting Services (DPS); Ehsan Motazedi, deputy director, DPS; Tyler Mosman, project manager, DPS; Barbara Suter, manager, Central Services Unit, DPS; Henry Mobayeni, IT chief, Information Technology Services, DPS; Carmen Berrios, division chief, Customer Support & Outreach, DPS; Victor Salazar, division chief, Zoning, Well & Septic and Code Compliance, DPS; Linda Kobylski, division chief, Land Development, DPS; George Muste, division chief, Residential Construction & Fire Code Compliance, DPS; Rick Merck, division chief, Commercial Construction, DPS; and Rafael Murphy, Fiscal & Policy Analyst, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Executive Regulation 11-21, Landlord Tenant Relations – Obligations of Landlord Window Guards
Review: The PHED Committee will review Executive Regulation 11-21; Landlord Tenant Relations – Obligations of Landlord – Window Guards, which provides technical specifications for all window guards required under Bill 51-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Window Guards.
Bill 51-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Window Guards, also known as Ezechiel’s Law, was enacted on April 6, 2021, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2022. The legislation requires the installation and maintenance of window guards in certain rental housing and allows the County Executive to develop Executive Regulations to implement the law.
This executive regulation provides technical specifications for all window guards with additional specification for single and double hung windows, sliding windows and vertical pivoting windows. If the building includes windows not specified, the landlord must seek a variance. In addition, the regulation states that landlords must strictly follow the instructions to ensure proper and safe installation and the openings must prevent the passage of a solid sphere that is four inches in diameter.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Aseem Nigam, director, Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCA); Frank Demarais, deputy director, DHCA; Christopher Anderson, chief, Community Development Division, DHCA; and Dan McHugh, manager, Housing Code Enforcement, DHCA.
Bill 17-21, Police – Community Informed Police Training
Review: The PS Committee will review Bill 17-21, Police – Community Informed Police Training, which would create partnerships between the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and local educational institutions to recruit and train police officers in a manner that promotes community informed policing. The lead sponsor of the bill is Councilmember Jawando. Councilmember Riemer is a cosponsor of the legislation.
The bill would require MCPD to collaborate and partner with local educational institutions to expand the recruitment of police cadets who reflect the diversity of the County, sponsor communication sessions with prospective cadets and community members and develop internship programs for prospective cadets.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Marcus Jones, chief, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); Darren Franke, assistant chief, MCPD; David Smith, captain MCPD; Dr. Sanjay Rai, senior vice president for academic affairs, Montgomery College; and Lee Holland, president, FOP, Lodge 35.
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: 21-463