By John Lynch
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
The Baltimore County Council met Monday to determine how best to distribute millions of federal dollars to fight and possibly contain the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic.
The County Council unanimously passed legislation that distributes about $3.7 million from the Community Development Block COVID-19 Fund as well as the Emergency Solutions Grant COVID-19 Fund Gifts and Grants Fund programs.
Officials said $2.5 million of the total is from the Community Development Block and will be used to build and improve public facilities needed to house and treat COVID-19 patients, assist businesses and nonprofits with pandemic response activities and job training, provide healthcare services and meal distribution, as well as craft emergency infectious disease response plans.
From the Emergency Solutions Grant, officials will use about $1.2 million for emergency shelter operations and homelessness prevention, staffing for nonprofits responding to the pandemic and administrative costs.
In other unanimous decisions, the council awarded the Police Department $6.5 million, mostly due to COVID-19 pandemic-related needs and budget deficits. Officials explained that the department would provide essential duty pay once legislation takes effect on May 3.
While the bill was discussed, Councilman David Marks asked Col. David Folderauer about crime trends due to most people staying home during the pandemic.
“We’re doing much better, obviously,” said Folderauer. “Our person’s crimes are down this year, for the most part. Having the public together, we are bracing for an increase in family-type disturbances, so far we are not seeing that, but we are certainly prepared for that.”
Currently, health officials said there are 1,875 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 44 deaths. Across the state, 13,684 confirmed cases have been reported and 516 deaths.
The Police Department also asked for federal funds in the Justice Assistance Grant COVID Response Grant Gifts and Grants Fund program. The emergency funds aid in the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials said more than $1 million would be paid in overtime to staff, used to purchase supplies for the health and safety of the staff and fringe benefits related to increased overtime.
The council unanimously passed the police funds, which officials said would last until Jan. 19, 2022.
Chief of the Fire Department Joanne Rund asked for an additional $1.1 million, adding up to $3.3 million in funds to the department’s Field Operations Program. These funds will cover higher-than-anticipated salaries and essential workers hazard pay and will take effect on May 3, she said..
The Department of Health and Human Services requested $1.5 million in funds for salaries, security services, translation services and overtime related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was passed unanimously by the council, which explained it will take effect on May 3.
Council Chair Cathy Bevins recommended that
Adam Sampson be appointed to the Baltimore County Board of Appeals. She pointed
to Sampson’s history of practicing law and public servitude. He was president
of the Baltimore County Bar Association and served on the Baltimore County
Planning Board and the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission Inquiry Review
Panel. He was appointed unanimously.
1 Comment
This article doesn’t mention all the Public Works personnel who are receiving the equivalent hazard pay of $200 that the police and fire receive. Unheard of, to put the guy that “may” have to talk to a homeowner about their sewer system, or the guy digging a hole in the road on the same level as the paramedic picking up the patients suffering with Covid. They should all be mission critical $100 a pay. Bad decision in my opinion. On addition Public Works employees have been staying home on administrative leave for over half of the month of April. Bet our true first responders would have liked that extra benefit.