Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Well, Especially, you know,

Yeah. Well, I mean that would be like I thought I had a short

Morning. We'll call the January 5th meeting of Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. I will ask our new judge, Lauren Hughes, to lead us in pledge of allegiance. Thank you. I aliance it stands nation under God indivisible with liberty for all of

Hey everyone happy new year. Uh it was nice to already see many people excited uh in the elevator on the way up here. I took the local and saw many people and stopped on every floor. Uh but it's uh it's an exciting new year. Uh we ended this last uh year in the boardroom on a really great note. We've passed the first bipartisan budget in almost a decade, which is something uh really to be proud of. But I thank both of my colleagues for working with our senior team on getting that done. I think it really sent a signal that here in Monco, we're working hard to uh do what's best for our residents, all of our residents, and uh we're working creatively uh as a team. So, I think there's a couple of things that uh you all uh know about, have heard about that we launched in 2025 that are going to become a reality in 2026. uh including our behavioral health center, emergency center, the 247 crisis center, which we broke ground on last year. Three homeless shelters or transition shortterm transitional housing facilities in Lansdale, Potts, Pottstown, and Norristown. Uh and uh all of this shows that we're genuinely making an impact on the issues that are most pressing to our constituents. Uh you also know that we launched a number of initiatives including our office of innovation strategy and performance which helped us save costs. Uh which is also working with all of our row officers to innovate to better deliver services through technology like

AI and and other um uses that will help us find efficiencies. And uh we're doing all of this while putting every resident uh in mind and making sure that we reach every population. And I'll just say, I don't know if Nellie's here, it's been a uh [clears throat] complicated few days in the world. Um but we're, you know, Nellie's our director of immigrant affairs. Uh always thinking about how we make sure we're serving our 100,000 uh immigrant um citizens of Montgomery County and u you know I just want to thank you for all of your work. We can don't have to get into everything that's happening right now but um it's just an example of how we make a deliberate effort to represent every community and make sure that people have a voice here in county government. So, uh, finally also say in 2025, we had the highest voter turnout ever in a local election. We beat 50%. Well, I hope we'll keep that record up and do the same thing in 2026. Uh, because we've got another election, of course, as our team knows, we have an election every few months whether anyone notices or not. U, but, uh, thanks again to our voter services team. Uh thank you to our whole senior team and uh today uh we're going to do the reorg and I want to thank my colleagues uh for this year as chair. It's really been rewarding and fulfilling to sit in the middle. Um excited to pass the baton to Commissioner Winer who's held it before. So we're doing the relay race and uh hopefully uh Commissioner Deella won't interrupt her as much as uh I've gotten

this year. I'm just kidding. But uh no, it's uh it's genuinely been a pleasure uh to to be able to help facilitate these meetings and and to move our agenda collectively forward. So that I'll pass on. Commissioner Winder, I'm good on good on comments. Just wishing everybody a happy new year. I'll save my comments for later on in the meeting. Thanks for being here. Oh yeah, sure.

You got anything? No, I mean I just want to wish everyone a happy new year. 2025 was a busy year. We did get a lot of a lot accomplished. Um McGomery County is a growing county. There's a lot going on throughout McGomery County. Um it's one of the hottest counties I think um not weather-wise, but it is one of the hottest counties out there. Uh a lot of people want to move here. A lot of businesses are looking at McGomery County. Um, so that's really exciting and rewarding part of being a county commissioner knowing that uh we are are really doing good work to to continue to promote McGomery County. I see good things happening in 2026. Um, uh, Commissioner McGa um mentioned a few things that we accomplished in 25 and I know 26 is going to be just as busy. Um, and the good news is is that uh we'll take a little bit of a break maybe for a couple weeks and we're going to dive in um to really look at the the budget for 27 and really start laying out what that framework looks like and how we're going to proceed forward. Um

how long is that break? Uh just a couple weeks. [laughter] Just a few. Um, but I also, you know, I recommend um and I I know I mentioned to my colleagues that I hope in 26 that our meetings become a little bit more business focused. Um, I'd like to see more meetings uh topics discussed about expenses and projects and different things that are going on in the county as well as getting project updates on a regular basis. and I know that they uh uh my understanding is that they they agree with that's a great approach for us to go into 2026 because there's a lot going on. So I look forward to uh look forward to those meetings as well.

Great. Okay. Uh with that uh we will have public comments period which is the first which is only limited to the topic on the agenda. Do we have any comments? comments. Um, next up, I will call for nominations for chair. Uh, I could also just make a motion. Go ahead.

Okay. Uh, I'll make a motion uh or I'll I guess Sorry, this is a very complicated process. There's two there's a nomination stage and then there's a vote. So, um, are there any nominations for chair? I would like to nominate Commissioner Jamila Winder, chair. Uh, is there a second? I'll second it. Seconded by Commissioner Dell. Any board comments? Well, wait, wait. And in in the through presence of diversity, inclusion, and all that, I'm not to nominate myself since we're doing a rotation

uh through the commissioners. It's I thought last year I mentioned this that it would be my turn if I remember. I just want to, you know, revisit that. Um, does that have a second conclusion? Well, actually we have to we have to accept each nomination individually, rightly. So I I mean I'm so you seconded Jam. So then I'm making another nomination. Yeah. You're running against me, Tom. [laughter]

I nominated myself, too, which I can do. Okay. All right. So, we have two nominations. So, one does not have a second. So, I don't know what we do with that. Then move on close nomination. Okay. So, I'm going to move to nominate to close the nominations for chair. Um, is there a second? Second. Seconded by commala. Any board comment? All in favor? I

I. Okay. So, I will make a motion to appoint Commissioner Winder as chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners for a term to expire on January 4, 2027. Is there a second? Well, since I didn't get a second, I'll second that. Second, Commissioner. Seconded by Commissioner Deello. Any board comment? All in favor?

I I approve. Uh good morning everyone. Happy new year. How's everyone doing?

Uh before we go on uh to nominations for vice chair, uh I want to thank everyone for being here. Uh I want to thank my colleagues, Commissioner McKesia, uh and Commissioner Dello. uh two years ago when our board uh first convened, despite our polarized national politics, we made a deliberate choice, I mean a deliberate choice to approach leadership as a shared and bipartisan uh responsibility. I want to thank uh Commissioner McKasia. I want to thank you for your leadership this past year uh and your partnership. Um I look forward to partnering with you in the days, weeks, and months ahead. We've got two more years of this great work. And Commissioner Dell, I want to thank you for your vote of confidence and look forward to working with you and collaborating with you this year as well. You know, I'm proud to work alongside my colleagues to advance a shared agenda and to fill fulfill our promises to the residents of Montgomery County because we know that's what this work is all about. There are far too many examples throughout our country today at the federal, state, and local levels of governments that aren't delivering for the residents that they serve. But here in Montgomery County, we're putting people before politics. We're finding ways to compromise and get things done. And we're able to disagree respectfully most times and keep our shared focus on what matters most, which is sh uh serving the residents of Montgomery County. County government doesn't often get the headlines uh especially in politics, but our work directly impacts families, local businesses, and communities that need our support. We each have unique perspectives that shape the policies that we've brought forward to ensure that every resident is considered and supported. So even when we see issues differently as a board, we reached

solutions that represent the whole community. We have demonstrated to Montgomery County what effective leadership looks like. Um together, as Commissioner McKesia mentioned, we passed a bipartisan budget that focuses support where it's needed most and manages our county resources carefully and effectively. At the same time, we know we have great challenges ahead, housing insecurity, rising prices, mental health needs, and those friends and neighbors that continue to be on the margins. And we know there are other pressures that are making it harder for our residents to thrive and get ahead. Meeting these challenges requires a collective effort of this entire board. So, this is an important year for Montgomery County and we are positioned to make meaningful progress on several key issues. Commissioner McKesia mentioned several in his remarks. We have several milestones coming up that I'm quite proud of because our our board and our county team has done a lot of work to get several projects and initiatives through to 2026. Transitional housing. I look forward to opening transitional housing facilities in Lansdale and in Narstown. We launched our behavioral health crisis center. I look forward to opening that. We're going to focus on justice and public safety. I see our DA in the corner there. are hiding. Look forward to supporting you and sustainable infrastructure projects. As I become chair of this board, here's what you can expect from me. I will support open dialogue. I will respect individuals different lived experiences. I will roll up my sleeves and dig into the details and I will keep our focus on what matters most. It's serving the residents of Montgomery County. Before I came into county government, I had the opportunity to work in the private sector and lead

the most amazing teams. We know we have our work cut out for us, but I look around this room and I see some of our team members that are doing this work to ensure that this board's agenda gets actually fulfilled in in real time. So, I'm dedicated to working collaboratively with my colleagues and operating operating with full transparency and mutual respect. And I'm proud of how this board has approached leadership together. It's an honor to serve with both of you and Montgomery County benefits when we all work together and rely on each other to meet the needs and the demands of this great community. That is my commitment to you and all of Montgomery County as I take back uh the chair of the board of Montgomery County Commissioners. So, thank you everyone and thank you for the support. So, with that, I'd like to open nominations for a call for nominations for the vice chair of the uh board of commissioners, Montgomery County Commissioners. Um so, I'll make a mo um motion. Go ahead. Any Okay, so I'm going to nominate Commissioner Neil McKa to be vice chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Any other nominations?

Well, since I've sat on bipartisan boards in the past and shared leadership was a common thing, I'm going to nominate myself again. Any other nominations? I guess. So, what do we have to do? Are there seconds? You should get a second to the motion to Is there a second to the first motion? Is there a second to the first motion? Got a seconded by Commissioner McKisa. All right. Is there a second to the motion by Commissioner De. Is there a second to the motion made by Commissioner Della? Okay. With that, I'm going to make a motion to accept the nomination of Commissioner Neil McKa for vice chair of the Montgomery County. Got to close Got to close nominations.

Well, that's what it reads. No, you got to close the nomination. We'll close the nominations. Thank you for this one. Uh we'll close the nominations. Is there a second? Second. Okay, nominations are closed. Yeah, it's not even written here. Yeah, it's written. Okay, sorry about that. Okay, so I'd like to make a motion to accept the nomination of Commissioner Neil Mcka for vice chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Is there a second? Second.

Second by Commissioner Dello. Any board comment? All in favor? I Okay, motion carries. Uh, next, I'd like to make a motion to appoint uh Commissioner Neil McKa as vice chair of the McGomery County Board of Commissioners for a term to expire on January 4th, 2027. Is there a second? I thought we just did that. That's I mean that's Yeah, that's second. Yeah, I know it reads funny. We got to fix this. All right. Yeah, that's what it reads. So, wait, do you have a Where we at? Sorry. It's a point. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Della. Any board comment? All in favor? I I Congratulations.

All right. Next up is general public comment. Do we have any public anyone signed up for public comment? State Representative Greg Scott. Yeah.

Well, good morning, uh, team. First of all, congratulations, my commissioner Wer. Incredibly proud of you and thank you for your leadership. Uh I just want to put a pin note that um right now we're living in uncharted territory and the county government is big such a vital role uh in the intersection of providing a government that works for workingclass people and for people in my district and I think it's incredibly uh important that we make sure that we continue to partner together to deliver on that. We've got um access to uh for example, we had over 4,000 people in my district that are on SN benefits to the dysfunctional federal bureaucracy and the big ugly bill. There were families that were food and secured, right? And we partnered together to make sure that no family uh did not have a warm bill during those um during those months. But we've got more work to do, especially when it comes to mental health, when it comes to our um underfunded, systemically underfunded school system. And the state has a huge role to play in that. Um but we've got to continue to think outside of the box. I'm happy that we've got a great relationship with all three of you, but we've got to continue to to put the gas on the pedal when it comes to our commitment to Narstown, making sure that as we're building up this new advice across the street, that we're also delivering on our commitment to make sure that the unhoused in our community have access to warm housing, to make sure that those that need food have access to food, uh those that need access to mental health services have access to those things. I look forward to continue to partner with you with your leadership and I'm hopeful that we're able to uh put the gas pedal on moving forward and not take the gas pedal off. I do think that we should have some serious conversation. You should individually with your constituents about this transition every year. I think it's hard when dealing with developers and other people with uh people into the county government to have stable leadership over a period of

time. I don't know if the transition every year benefits the entire county as a whole. So I would encourage each of you individually to have conversations with your constituents about it, but we look forward to working together particularly on the issues of mental health, particularly in the issues of housing in security to make sure that we deliver a government workingass people. And I know we have your commitment to do that. Just want to say congratulations.

Thanks, Representative Scott Doug Ballard. Well, I mean county and um everything I need to say has been said. this I moved to Montgomery County in 19 or 2025 and 192 pardon I'm Sorry. [laughter]

Okay. Hungry memorial. It never seemed to have gotten anybody until this was convened. And we know and Neil and Tom are compassionate and smart and willing to do the work that the county needs to guarantee that Montgomery County is a functioning society. And I appreciate it. I want all you to know that um you two have three sorry u have changed Montgomery County for the better and I'm proud that you're our representative and our commission. Thank you.

Thank you for your comment. Appreciate that. Next up Carina Taylor.

Good morning. Good morning. Um I don't know if some of you know the three of you know that um a few years ago I received an award from the White House um as a national uniter and I received the award based on the work that I did in rural Pennsylvania which happened to be uh the whole country and I ended up having relationships with Republican majority water commissioners and counties across the state that no one would ever think that a black woman could have a conversation with white men of health, people and quality of life. And um having traveled across this state, I really want to say that this community demonstrated what governance in bipartisan and I am just imploring you to continue to lead to continue to demonstrate what can be done despite ideological differences. I think that again I think I have spoken many times in this board and he's leading to say that we've got to be examples of civil discourse and civility and I think you guys have an opportunity again to show the rest of the state what can be done when you have um four opposite ideologies but you putting yourselves and people that you serve. I'm really big on public servantthood and having elected officials once they win a general election or when they switch over and reorganization um leadership shifts that you have to govern everyone. You have to focus on what is the best interest of everyone. And if you don't take advantage of this time in this moment in Colorado, outside of Montgomery County, outside of Pennsylvania, then who will? So, I'm imploring all of us in community as well to be civil to each other. Um, to figure out a way that we as residents of Montgomery County can keep doing better

and rising to the occasion. And to the black women in this room, we have to continue to support our black female commissioner because there is no moment greater than right now to lift up her heels and support her and to enlighten in this room. There's no greater moment for you to lift up the heels of a woman of color because our lens looks different. Our lived experience looks different and there's value in that. And when you recognize those values, then you can just look at her as a woman behind that post leading account. So I implore all of us in McGomery County to do better and to respect each other. I will certainly continue to work on that. And I've said this before, Tom and I are the perfect example. I met him when he was a schoolboard director at Springboard and now I could possibly eat breakfast with him. No, not possibly. Not possibly. We we because you and I have been having conversations. So, anytime you want to go to breakfast, you let me know. Yeah, that's my hand. We already have something started, but definitely Well, I respect you for who you are.

Oh, I thought Oh, I thought you said Yeah, I do the same. And I think that's another demonstration of what he's done and thank you. Thank you, Carmen. I appreciate those comments. That's all comments. Okay, great. Uh, any closing commissioner comments? No, I just look forward to busy 2026. Thank you. Thank you. Me, anything?

Yeah, I think we got a really exciting year ahead of us. Um, you know, as we said in the beginning, uh, we share these commit commitments collectively, homelessness, mental health, making sure nobody goes hungry in our community. We're going to continue doing that. Uh, the three of us together. And um you know, it's yeah, it's honestly it's a privilege working with with both of you and I'm I'm excited to move into this year. Thanks.

Yeah. No, it's going to be a good year. It's going to be a hard year. Um uh but we've got a great team uh and we've got the uh aptitude and the attitude uh to get it done. Um, I would encourage everyone to just continue to keep us honest on uh the things we need to be focusing on, uh, the missteps we may make because we're human. We make mistakes. We don't get everything right. But, um, I'm thrilled uh, to serve alongside my colleagues. And what I would close with uh, just in the spirit of collaboration, I remember when I first became a commissioner, it'll be three years February 1st of this year. Um, and I remember former commissioner uh Ken Lawrence uh sharing with me that it takes two people to get anything done on a board of commissioners. Uh we are not Philadelphia, we are not Alageney County, not we don't have a singular county exec. Uh it really takes the collective board uh to advance the agenda uh for this great county. So I want us to be reminded of that as we head into 2026. Uh, Commissioner Lawrence still tells me it takes two uh to get anything done. Um, but but that's in the spirit of partnership. Um, and in the spirit of collaboration. Um, so I want to thank uh everyone for be being here. Our next uh board of commissioners meeting will be January 8th at 10:00 a.m. in this very room. Uh, I'm gonna ask everybody just sit uh stay put because we're going to have a short meeting right after this. But I'd like to adjourn adjourn the um make a motion to adjourn the January 5th, 2025 meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Is there a second? Second by Commissioner Dell. Any board comment? All in favor? I.

Uh hearing none. Um meeting is adjourned. Uh we'll invite our controller Bob Hart up for a quick salary board meeting. So, I'd like to call to order as he's walking up and changing chairs uh the January 5th, 2026 uh salary board meeting. Is there any public comment? No com public comment. Okay. Um I'd like to um we go to item number three. I'd like to make a motion to approve the annual compensation of county employees. Well, come on up. I'm rusty. I'm rusty, Tony. I'll be good by Thursday. So, go ahead. current employees that were evaluated and approved for the 71 Monday January 2026 46 a.m. The list has been approved by management and has

Okay. Now, I'd like to make a motion uh to approve the annual compensation of county employees as presented by Mr. uh Tony Bro. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Dello. Any board comment? Just quick question. Is do we post that on the website then? Is that available? I mean, I know when I was on the school board, we we used to have to post it. So, I don't know if we Not sure. So, I don't know where it is posted, but it is a publicly available document. Um, and we can talk to HR about Yeah, I just didn't because I I didn't I haven't seen it out there, so I didn't know, but I know previous board when we approved the salary book, we we had to post it also. So, I didn't know if we posted it or not.

So, there isn't a legal requirement required about posting, but it is a publicly available document. We can review that. Any other comments? Okay, moving to a vote. All in favor? I I motion carries. Thanks, Tony. Um I'd like to make a motion to adjourn the January 5th, 2026 meeting of the Montgomery County Salary Board. Is there a second? Second. second by Commissioner Dello