COVID-19 Updates: Baltimore County

May 15, 2020

• Baltimore County recently unveiled a $10 mm program for small businesses to get up to $15k each in grants for covid-19.

Eligibility requirements and link to apply are below. I don’t have any other information than what is below and/or on the website, but if you or clients/orgs have questions, between me and Adam Baker, we can get in touch with someone at the County to answer it.  

This grant is available for certain small, for-profit businesses that have not obtained other forms of federal or state COVID-19 assistance at the time of application, and can demonstrate a loss of revenue of at least 40 percent since the beginning of the Maryland “Stay at Home” order issued on March 30. In order to qualify a business must:

• • • Be located in Baltimore County
    • Be a for-profit entity
    • Have been in operation for at least one year as of January 1, 2020
    • Be in good standing with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, if required to do so by law
    • Have at least two full- or part-time employees (W-2 or 1099) who are not owners or part owners as of January 31, 2020
    • Have no more than 25 employees per Baltimore County location
    • Demonstrate that it has lost at least 40 percent of its revenue at the location since the “Stay at Home” order enacted on March 30
    • Not have received other forms of federal or state COVID-19 assistance, loans, grants or relief at the time of application
    • May not currently be in default on any loans from Baltimore County or delinquent on any taxes owed to Baltimore County

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/economicdev/covid19-assistance/smallbusinessgrants.html#apply

• Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski has made available 100 Individual Artist Grants at $1,000 each to Baltimore County-based artists, performers, and musicians who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Use of Funds

Artists can use funds to offset financial losses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic including, but not limited to:

• • • Financial losses due to cancelled events:
    • Performances, exhibitions and events in all artistic disciplines
    • Readings, panels and speaking opportunities
    • Travel expenses related to creative work paid for by the Grantee:
    • Attending conferences and convenings that have been cancelled
    • Artist residencies
    • Touring
    • Loss of income for a teaching artist who could not teach because of cancelled classes and school closures
    • Loss of supplemental income for artists working full- or part-time other jobs to support their creative practices

Eligibility

Artists can apply for $1,000 in grant money. Each artist is entitled to one application. To apply, artists must:

• • • Be over the age of 18
    • Have incurred losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Have been a County resident for at least one year
    • Provide a copy of a utility bill (power, gas, cable, phone or water-sewer) to show proof of County residence 
    • Have a strong artistic portfolio
    • Not be in default on any loan from the County
    • Not be delinquent on any taxes due to the County

To apply and for more information, visit:  https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/commartssciences/individualgrants.html

May 3, 2020

Baltimore County Office of Administrative Hearings: Due to COVID-19 precautions, all Administrative Law Judge hearings remain postponed. However, the County Administration is currently taking all necessary steps to put a system in place that will enable these hearings to be held virtually.

It is anticipated that the notice provisions for these hearings will be in place very shortly and that these virtual hearings in zoning and development cases will resume by the end of May. All efforts are being made to ensure access to these hearings for all interested persons.

March 31, 2020

Earlier today, Johnny O announced the establishment of an Emergency Response Fund.  A link to the County’s announcement is below along with a brief summary of the fund: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/BaltimoreCountyNow/county-executive-olszewski-unveils-new-fund-to-support-covid-19-response

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced the launch of the “Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund”.  The fund is intended to support residents and promote public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Olszewski said contributions to the fund may be used to support various efforts, including providing groceries to needy families and seniors, ensuring first responders and public health workers have adequate personal protective equipment, and other initiatives that the county is undertaking to prevent the spread of the virus and support residents.  He did not put a dollar amount on the fund, but stated that contributions to the fund can be made through the County’s website.

The fund will be managed by the Baltimore Community Foundation, a local foundation that manages more than 800 philanthropic funds and $173 million in assets.  

March 24, 2020

• The County has launched a public comment application through which members of the public can submit comments on CZMP issues.  Citizens can also submit comments via email or snail mail.  All comments must be submitted by April 10.

• The Planning Board will host a live-streamed meeting on April 21 at 6pm where it will summarize the comments received.

• The Planning Board will begin hosting virtual Work Sessions on April 22 where it will discuss and take formal positions on individual CZMP issues (one Councilmanic District at a time) – these will be live-streamed on the county’s website. 

March 18, 2020

• Baltimore County is permitting certain establishments to deliver alcoholic beverages.

March 17, 2020

• The Liquor Board announced that it is temporarily allowing Class A, B and D License holders to deliver alcoholic beverages to citizens in Baltimore County only (e.g., cannot cross County/City lines). A formal request must be emailed to the Board at liquorboard@baltimorecountymd.gov.

• For establishments that close (temporarily), the Liquor Board does not appear to have addressed the applicability of Rule 26 of the Rules and Regulations of the Baltimore Count Liquor Board, which provides that if a licensee closes his or her business for any reason for a period exceeding ten (10) days, the licensee shall inform the Board in writing within 72 hours of the closing date, giving the reason for the closing, the estimated time the business will not be operated, and the future intention as to use of the license. Per Rule 26, if no such written explanation is received, the Board may consider such failure to communicate as evidence that the license has been vacated.

March 16, 2020

• On March 16, 2020, County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced a series of new efforts to further expand Baltimore County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• All Administrative Law Judge hearings are postponed effective Monday, March 16 through Tuesday, March 31. Hearings will resume on Wednesday, April 1. If your hearing is scheduled to occur between March 16 to March 31, you will be contacted to reschedule. 

• All non-essential meetings of public boards, commissions or committees (including the Planning Board, Board of Appeals, and County Commissions and Workgroup meetings) are cancelled or postponed and members of the public are prohibited from attending those meetings deemed essential.

• County Executive Olszewski issued an Executive Order providing an extension of all County licenses, permits, registrations and other authorizations until 30 days following the end of the local state of emergency. The order also authorizes the head of each government agency to suspend the effect of any legal or procedural deadline, due date, time of default, time expiration, period of time or other statute, rule or regulation that it administers. This applies to suspensions concerning payments of late fees owed to Baltimore County.

• The Planning Board’s remaining CZMP Hearings are cancelled. Additional information will be shared in the coming days regarding the Planning Board work sessions and the proceedings before the County Council.

• All legislative sessions and work sessions of the County Council are presently being held as scheduled. However, until further notice, members of the public will not be permitted to attend these meetings. Only essential County employees may attend in person and measures will be taken to ensure the total number of attendees is as few as possible.  All in-person meetings between Councilmembers and the public are cancelled for the time being. All meetings are being restricted to phone conferences rather than in-person.  All Council sessions will be available to live-stream on the Council website. The public are encouraged to provide written testimony or comment by email, fax, or traditional mail.

• County office buildings remain open at this time, but the County is instituting steps to limit public access. Permit requests and all other meetings with County department staff will be by appointment only as of Wednesday, March 18. All meetings and appointments currently scheduled with County departments or staff are cancelled unless individuals are otherwise notified. Instructions for scheduling appointments with County departments will be available in the next several days and posted to the County’s website. Until such time, members of the public will be restricted from entering County buildings. Visitors and those requesting appointments will be screened for illness prior to gaining access to County buildings.