By Cecily Jackson
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Howard County Council held an emergency administrative meeting Thursday to discuss ways of operating amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How can the DAP [Design Advisory Panel] conduct meaningful hearings and how will the Planning Board conduct meaningful hearings,” asked Councilwoman Christina Rigby of the 3rd District. “At this point, we all know it’s just not one month or two months; we know it’s going to be at least a few months. So how do we conduct business within this new normal.”
Council members discussed operations as Gov. Larry Hogan announced 580 confirmed cases of COVID-19, described as a record increase for the third straight day.
Chairperson Deb Jung of District 4 offered one idea about hiring personnel, describing it as a “hybrid” where people being considered for appointments could send in resumes and testimonies. She said the council could telephone potential appointees with questions.
Jung added “that way we can vote on them based on their resumes and testimonies.”
However, Vice Chair Liz Walsh of the 1st District stressed it would be inappropriate to proceed or conduct business involving anything that is not urgent.
The board voted to move forward with the applications process so that there will be people on the board when the coronavirus crisis ends, and operations return to normal.
Walsh added that some people will not have the same opportunity as before because of other counter obligations the council had to handle because of the pandemic.
The council also voiced support for both written and verbal testimonies from residents interested or opposed to new legislation that will be voted on soon in future meetings.
“Written testimonies are meaningful in matters because if we act as though it isn’t then we might as well say everyone who writes us is no point and that’s not right,” said Rigby. “It should be treated with the proper weight that it should be given as written testimony.”
Rigby urged the council to use extreme care to continue reading emails many residents send about issues or certain topics.
“I really am in almost full agreement with Liz,” said District 5 Councilman David Yungmann. “Regardless of what we do, people’s ability to participate is going to be somewhat impaired in some way. I think we develop a standard that is what absolutely has to get done in the next few weeks and we push it through.”