Howard County Council passes solar and grant bills in final session

The Howard County Council voted Friday on a final slate of measures before four of its five members depart, marking the end of an eight-year tenure for the current group. All five members were elected in 2018. Council Chair Opel Jones, Councilman David Yungmann, Councilwoman Deb Jung, and Councilwoman Liz Walsh will leave their seats. Vice Chair Christiana Rigby is the only member returning for another term.

The council failed to pass a bill that would have designated Inspector General Kelly Madigan as a custodian of county records. The measure, introduced by Jung, sought to resolve a dispute over access to personnel files under the Maryland Public Information Act. A 2011 Maryland Supreme Court ruling in a separate county case led the Howard County law office to issue mandatory denials to Madigan. The vote failed 3-2, primarily due to legal concerns.

Jung argued that the bill would reduce conflict between the county executive and the inspector general. "Passing this bill and making our IG an official custodian of records is much less contentious than months-long litigation between our county executive and our inspector general," Jung said. Jones and Yungmann suggested the issue requires a state-level fix. Yungmann noted that a supermajority in Annapolis has refused to address the problem. He committed to testifying in support of legislation being drafted by Del. Chao Wu.

Two other bills passed with amendments. Yungmann’s solar energy measure shifted from a moratorium to a framework that increases the role of the Agricultural Preservation Board in project approvals. The final version also shortened timeframes for public meetings on solar projects. Jung’s bill regarding county grants was also amended. It originally targeted all nonprofit grants but now applies only to grants involving construction, redevelopment, or property purchases. The changes require stricter audits and reporting.

During their final meeting, the council members thanked one another and their staff. Yungmann, who was the first to announce his departure, expressed his desire to see the agricultural industry in Western Howard County protected. "I love protecting Western Howard County and the [agriculture] industry, that community," Yungmann said. "I just have to hope whoever follows me does the same."

Rigby reflected on the challenges the council faced during its term, including government shutdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of federal department cuts. "There's really just been some very big system shocks that have happened during our terms," Rigby said. "I'm really proud of the way the body's come together to meet them."

Kevin Chin, Jessica Nichols, and Janssen Evelyn won their council seats in recent elections, as no Republican candidates ran in those races. District 5, Yungmann's former district, is the only seat facing a competitive race. Democrat Cat Carter is running against Republican Ryan O'Connor for the position.