[0:00] going to go ahead and get

[0:03] started, guys.

[0:05] >> This webinar is being

[0:08] recorded and summarized.

[0:09] >> Okay. Welcome everybody. I'm

[0:12] going to call to order the

[0:14] meeting of the Compensation

[0:16] Review Commission on Wednesday,

[0:20] DECEMBER 17th, 2025, at

[0:24] whatever time it actually is.

[0:29] Six 3634 okay, I'm going to

[0:32] call the roll, okay. Ellen

[0:34] Flynn Gile present. Scott

[0:37] Horton present. Maura Dunnigan

[0:41] Rashida George present. Ginnie

[0:43] Gick.

[0:44] >> Present.

[0:47] >> Kia Payne.

[0:48] >> Present.

[0:50] >> And we know that MR. Ponnuri

[0:52] is absent. He has already

[0:53] informed us of that and will

[0:56] hope that Maura makes it before

[0:59] the end of the meeting. So the

[1:02] first thing on the agenda is to

[1:07] approve the minutes of DECEMBER

[1:11] 3rd. Can I have a motion to

[1:13] approve?

[1:14] >> a motion to approve the

[1:16] minutes from DECEMBER 3rd?

[1:17] >> I'll second.

[1:20] >> Okay. All in favor or any

[1:21] discussion? Any discussion?

[1:22] Does anybody have any

[1:25] corrections or adjustments or

[1:27] anything? Okay then I'll go

[1:29] down. I'll go down the the list

[1:32] again for I just to make sure

[1:35] Ellen Flynn Gile I Scott Horton.

[1:41] I Rashida George. I Ginnie Gick

[1:45] I and Kia Peyton.

[1:45] >> I.

[1:47] >> So that's unanimous for the

[1:50] members present. And now we

[1:52] move on to discussion of

[1:54] outstanding questions. Do you

[1:57] have anything in particular to

[1:58] advance on, or is there

[2:01] something we need to establish.

[2:03] >> Yeah, I can go through

[2:04] quickly some questions that I

[2:05] have, and then we can open it

[2:07] up for any other commission

[2:08] members that want to talk about

[2:10] the draft. I'm going to share

[2:14] my screen. Okay. This is the

[2:16] draft of the report that was

[2:20] shared with you by email. Yes.

[2:22] And I am going to scroll down

[2:25] to the top of page three. I

[2:29] added a paragraph briefly

[2:30] explaining the Commission's

[2:32] decision on their preliminary

[2:33] recommendations. That's new

[2:34] language since our last meeting.

[2:36] So I wanted to give you a

[2:41] chance to take a look at that.

[2:42] >> And that was what we agreed

[2:45] to insert, to make it clear

[2:47] that we took advice from

[2:48] counsel.

[2:49] >> Yeah, I can't remember who,

[2:50] but somebody asked that we

[2:51] mention it.

[2:54] >> It was Joel Hurwitz.

[2:55] >> Oh, right. Yeah. Member of

[2:56] the public.

[2:58] >> a member of the public. And

[3:00] I think it was necessary to

[3:03] explain why we changed. Why

[3:05] what was an initial change? I

[3:07] mean, that that was important.

[3:08] So okay, I don't does anybody

[3:10] have any questions about that

[3:12] or any comments.

[3:14] >> No. I think that was helpful.

[3:16] So yeah definitely helpful okay.

[3:19] >> Okay I'm gonna move on. The

[3:21] section is yellow is what Maura

[3:24] had written in justification of

[3:26] the salary increase for council

[3:28] members. I just wanted to

[3:30] highlight that for you, since

[3:32] that was new from our first

[3:33] draft, but I didn't get any

[3:35] email comments on that, so I'm

[3:36] going to.

[3:37] >> It was pretty

[3:38] straightforward. Yeah, I think

[3:39] reflected the discussion.

[3:40] >> Absolutely.

[3:41] >> Yeah. Anybody else have

[3:43] anything to add? I want to make

[3:45] sure because now I can only see

[3:46] okay, Rashida name is huge. And

[3:48] the rest of you are a little

[3:50] teeny tiny words at the bottom.

[3:51] So I just want to make sure

[3:56] everybody, everybody gets heard.

[3:57] Okay.

[3:58] >> This is key. I thought it

[3:59] was really great.

[4:00] >> Okay, good.

[4:02] >> Thank you. Yeah. Thanks. And

[4:03] thanks to Maura.

[4:05] >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[4:06] >> And I think we said thanks

[4:07] tomorrow, but thanks again,

[4:09] Maura. But definitely again

[4:10] really helpful. And I think

[4:14] it's just comprehensive.

[4:15] >> Good. Okay.

[4:17] >> Good and I agree.

[4:18] >> Yay. Okay.

[4:20] >> Just two more short things.

[4:21] I had a request to clarify that

[4:24] the vote was unanimous.

[4:26] >> Okay. And then on all of the

[4:28] on both recommendations, right.

[4:29] >> Yes.

[4:30] >> Okay.

[4:34] >> And then. Zoning board

[4:35] members who are also County

[4:37] Council members get $100 for

[4:39] each meeting. Yes. We hadn't

[4:40] specifically talked about this

[4:42] when we voted on the

[4:43] recommendations. I just wanted

[4:44] to make sure the commission

[4:46] didn't have any changes to that

[4:47] amount.

[4:49] >> Is that within our scope?

[4:51] >> It was four years ago.

[4:52] >> Yeah. I mean, I think it is

[4:54] one of the one of the extra

[4:56] pieces and it was listed on the

[4:58] schedule. But I think we sort

[5:00] of, as I recall it, at the

[5:01] beginning, we asked, were there

[5:03] any questions about those? And

[5:05] I don't think we delineated

[5:08] them, but I think we said those,

[5:10] those particular awards, the

[5:12] technology, the, you know, the

[5:13] and asked if anybody had any

[5:15] questions because we had heard

[5:17] nothing about those in

[5:18] particular. There was no

[5:20] testimony about raising those

[5:23] or removing those or adjusting,

[5:24] you know, adjusting those in

[5:26] any way. So I think we did that

[5:28] at the beginning in order to

[5:30] take care of something that was

[5:32] pretty fit within a box that

[5:33] everybody felt comfortable

[5:35] about. So I think we did. I

[5:36] don't just don't think we

[5:38] listed each one of them. Okay.

[5:41] So I'm fine is everybody else.

[5:42] Is that the intent that we had

[5:44] that those stay the same?

[5:45] That's how I remember it.

[5:48] >> Yeah okay okay. And then the

[5:50] last thing is for the first

[5:52] year of the county executive

[5:54] salary based on previous years

[5:56] legislation, it looks like they

[5:58] usually set an initial floor.

[5:58] >> And then use.

[5:59] >> And then use that.

[6:01] >> We'd have to vote on that

[6:02] because that would be different

[6:03] than what we discussed.

[6:05] >> You can yeah. If you want to

[6:07] vote on that. The cpi for this

[6:08] period would have been 3%

[6:10] anyway. So it would be 2.5%.

[6:12] But yeah, if you want to okay.

[6:14] >> The cpi from 26 right to

[6:16] drive $27.

[6:18] >> Because did we put in there

[6:23] about the. Okay. This was one

[6:24] of the things I wanted to make

[6:26] sure that we were using the cpi

[6:27] based on the Washington

[6:27] Baltimore.

[6:29] >> Yeah I think that's in there.

[6:30] You know.

[6:30] >> Baltimore Towson.

[6:32] >> Yeah. And so when I think

[6:33] that's issued SEPTEMBER 3rd, I

[6:35] think it runs SEPTEMBER. They

[6:35] they calculate SEPTEMBER

[6:38] through SEPTEMBER. So I think

[6:40] that that is issued in

[6:40] SEPTEMBER.

[6:43] >> Yeah, I think for budgeting

[6:44] reasons, they usually use the

[6:46] report that covers.

[6:47] >> The prior year.

[6:49] >> Calendar year prior. So okay,

[6:51] if you look at the legislation

[6:55] that was drafted, it states

[6:57] that it uses the cpi from the

[6:59] year that ends DECEMBER 31st.

[7:02] >> Okay, okay. I'm fine given

[7:04] the raise or just letting cpi

[7:05] ride and then they get the 3%

[7:07] or whatever. I don't I don't

[7:09] particularly I mean you're

[7:11] talking not a big difference.

[7:12] >> I mean if that if that's

[7:14] what how it needs to be written.

[7:16] And we wrote it to be whatever

[7:21] we said then I think that's. I

[7:22] don't think I don't think we

[7:24] specified they were going to do

[7:25] it based on 26, because we're

[7:27] in fiscal year 26 right now. So

[7:28] it's again, are we talking

[7:29] about a count.

[7:31] >> Well they have they got to

[7:32] count for the budget. Right. So

[7:34] yeah I think what he's saying

[7:36] is they have to use it. They

[7:37] have to use what. They already

[7:38] have budget in time.

[7:40] >> Right. Yeah. Right. Yeah. So

[7:41] if, if you want to I don't

[7:43] think you have to vote on this.

[7:45] But if you, if you want a

[7:46] motion, you can just motion

[7:48] that for the first year 2026

[7:49] they have a 2.5% increase.

[7:51] >> I think we do have to vote

[7:51] on that.

[7:52] >> Well, no.

[7:53] >> We voted on.

[7:55] >> The 26 is what the 26, the

[7:56] JANUARY 26th increase which

[8:00] would be voted is already in

[8:01] place. Right. So we're talking

[8:03] about what would take place in

[8:03] JANUARY of 27.

[8:04] >> That's correct.

[8:05] >> Yeah. Okay.

[8:06] >> Yeah.

[8:08] >> The way he has worded is

[8:10] correct okay. So does anybody

[8:11] have any opinion on whether we

[8:21] change the language to 2.5% or.

[8:23] >> Is everybody comfortable

[8:25] with the language that's there

[8:26] or do they want.

[8:27] >> I'm comfortable. This is

[8:28] Rashida I'm comfortable with it.

[8:30] >> So we just need a motion.

[8:32] >> This is key I'm fine okay.

[8:33] >> I'm good okay.

[8:35] >> So we need a motion to

[8:36] accept the the language as.

[8:38] >> So I'll make a motion to

[8:39] change the language for 2027,

[8:42] for the county executive to

[8:44] include a 2.5% increase over

[8:50] the 26 2026. Yeah.

[8:53] >> And I'll second. And then I

[8:55] think we can just do an

[8:58] affirmation here. All in favor.

[8:59] >> I.

[9:01] >> I.

[9:04] >> I any opposed any

[9:06] abstentions, any questions okay.

[9:07] I think we're I think we're

[9:08] good.

[9:09] >> That's all for me then.

[9:11] >> Okay. Does anybody else have

[9:14] anything they want to bring

[9:17] forward before we talk about

[9:21] what comes next?

[9:22] >> It's just presenting it.

[9:23] Right okay. That's all we have

[9:25] left is presented in JANUARY

[9:27] after you finalize it.

[9:29] >> Yep. Once the commission

[9:30] approves the report today, I'll

[9:31] get Ellen's signature on it.

[9:34] And then I will transmit it to

[9:36] the council, probably tomorrow

[9:36] morning.

[9:37] >> Okay, okay.

[9:38] >> And then the legislation

[9:40] will be introduced for

[9:41] consideration in JANUARY.

[9:43] >> And the our responsibility

[9:45] is to provide testimony is it's

[9:47] essentially sort of deliver our

[9:49] recommendation at the hearing.

[9:50] >> Yeah. Okay. If at least one

[9:56] of you can be here okay. Yeah.

[9:57] Amanda, do you have your hand

[9:59] up?

[10:00] >> Yeah. I'm. I'm sorry. Maybe

[10:02] I'm just not catching it. And

[10:03] you kind of scrolled fast, and

[10:05] I know I saw an early version,

[10:10] but is the. So the compensation

[10:12] is for four years, right.

[10:15] Starting in 26, 27, 2020.

[10:20] >> Starting in JANUARY 27th.

[10:21] >> 26 is a new new county

[10:22] executive, right.

[10:25] >> The 26 will take office in

[10:28] 27. Well, they'll take election

[10:29] DECEMBER 6th. Yeah, but they

[10:29] don't.

[10:33] >> So so the first and I, I was

[10:35] trying to look at the report.

[10:38] So the first raise will be in

[10:42] DECEMBER of 26. Right. And then.

[10:43] I just wanted to make sure it

[10:45] was covering four years not

[10:45] five years.

[10:46] >> Yes.

[10:48] >> Yes. Yeah. It's DECEMBER

[10:51] 2026 through DECEMBER 2030.

[10:52] >> Monday the whatever the

[10:53] first Monday in DECEMBER. But

[10:54] then they don't.

[10:55] >> We've just been talking it

[10:58] talking about it more like 2027.

[10:59] >> But the way it was worded on

[11:01] the charts, we looked at it,

[11:03] spoke to it as if it was a

[11:04] JANUARY 20th.

[11:04] >> Yeah.

[11:07] >> The next year. So as long as

[11:08] it mirrors what what we've done

[11:10] in the past.

[11:11] >> Yeah, but it's just for when

[11:13] they take off as to when they

[11:16] leave office. Yes. Yep.

[11:22] >> Okay. Thank you Amanda. Okay.

[11:25] So now we actually have to we

[11:26] approved the amendment to the

[11:28] language, but we didn't approve

[11:30] the whole agreement okay. So

[11:33] now yeah. Now I'll move that.

[11:37] We accept the report of the

[11:39] compensation review commission.

[11:40] And do we do we actually have

[11:41] to approve the legislation to

[11:43] or. No.

[11:44] >> Just the report.

[11:45] >> Just the report. So we're

[11:47] approved. I move that we

[11:49] approve the Compensation Review

[11:52] Commission report, as amended

[11:52] this evening.

[11:55] >> I'll second that motion.

[11:57] >> And in this case, I think I

[11:59] will call out the role. I just

[12:01] think that's that's a good idea.

[12:04] So Ellen Flynn Gile I Scott

[12:04] Houghton.

[12:07] >> I.

[12:14] >> Rashida George. Rashida.

[12:17] >> Sorry guys. Yes I.

[12:23] >> It's okay. Ginnie Gick.

[12:24] Ginnie.

[12:28] >> She's good. I can't see

[12:31] sorry. That's okay I.

[12:34] >> And keeping.

[12:35] >> I awesome awesome.

[12:38] >> So again we can report that

[12:41] this was unanimous.

[12:42] >> Is there.

[12:42] >> That's it.

[12:44] >> Is there anything else for

[12:44] us to do.

[12:47] >> That is it. You are done. I

[12:49] will just go through the next

[12:51] few months just so you're aware.

[12:53] Okay. The legislation is going

[12:55] to be introduced for

[12:57] consideration in JANUARY. There

[13:01] will be a public hearing on the

[13:03] legislation on Tuesday, JANUARY

[13:05] 20th. Be great if at least

[13:08] Chair Gile could be there. Okay.

[13:09] And everybody else is welcome

[13:11] to come if you want.

[13:11] >> Sure.

[13:15] >> The council MAY consider

[13:17] amendments. They might adopt it

[13:19] as is. It's hard to know for

[13:21] sure, but at some point in the

[13:22] early part of the year, they'll

[13:23] adopt legislation. This

[13:24] commission is technically

[13:26] convened until APRIL, but I

[13:28] don't think we'll have another

[13:29] meeting. We're just here if

[13:30] they have questions.

[13:31] >> Right.

[13:32] >> Okay. We're technically

[13:33] still a body, but this is your

[13:34] last meeting.

[13:35] >> Okay? Okay.

[13:36] >> Thank you. Owen.

[13:37] >> Okay. And I just want to

[13:39] thank everybody who's been here

[13:41] through the duration. Everyone

[13:43] who came tonight, everyone who

[13:45] wasn't able to come tonight.

[13:47] And thank you for participating

[13:50] in what I think is an important

[13:52] citizen, oversight of the kinds

[13:54] of things that happen in county

[13:54] government.

[13:56] >> It's good work. This is what

[13:59] it's all about. I value my time

[14:00] with with everybody every

[14:01] couple of weeks, and I

[14:03] appreciate everybody's

[14:04] contribution, and I'm sure

[14:06] we'll see more of each other

[14:08] down the road on some more of

[14:09] these.

[14:09] >> Thank you.

[14:11] >> Now same here.

[14:12] >> You're now on the list.

[14:13] >> And thanks for your

[14:14] leadership, Ellen.

[14:16] >> Thank you for putting up

[14:17] with us.

[14:19] >> And Amanda, thank you so

[14:21] much. Yeah.

[14:24] >> You're a saint. Yes,

[14:25] absolutely. Always a pleasure.

[14:27] >> Give him a raise.

[14:27] >> Oh.

[14:29] >> I think we might. I think we

[14:31] might have to recuse ourselves

[14:31] from that.

[14:32] >> Yeah, for sure.

[14:35] >> But thank you, everybody.

[14:36] >> Thank you everybody.

[14:37] >> Thank you all. Thank you

[14:38] everyone.

[14:39] >> Thank you. We have.

[14:40] >> Formally adjourned. Do we

[14:41] have to formally adjourn?

[14:42] >> Sure.

[14:43] >> Okay. I'm going to move that

[14:45] we adjourn with thanks to all

[14:46] the participants.

[14:46] >> Oh, second that motion.

[14:48] >> All in favor?

[14:51] >> I, I I I.

[14:53] >> Thank you. Have a wonderful

[14:54] holiday everybody.

[14:55] >> Happy holidays everyone.

[14:56] >> Happy holidays everybody.

Compensation Review Commission

Agenda

Transcript