Solomon Abiola

The meeting agenda covered extensive items across multiple departments. The Department of General Services items included maintenance contracts for janitorial services at 201 West Preston Street and 2100 Guilford Avenue in Baltimore City, a real property conveyance request involving a Release of Right of First Refusal for land in Baltimore County to the Estates of Vernon and Evelyn Mathena, and various lease actions for the Public Defender System, Department of Human Resources, and the Department of Maryland State Police. The agenda also addressed Capital Grants and Loans for entities such as the City of Gaithersburg, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Board of Directors of the Carrie Weedon Science Center Foundation, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and Govans Economic Management Senate (GEMS). The Secretary's agenda included resolutions authorizing the sale of State of Maryland general obligation bonds totaling $200,000,000 and approval of several wetlands licenses for projects in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City and County. The Department of Transportation agenda included construction contracts and maintenance items.

The meeting covered numerous agenda items across multiple departments. Discussions included a revision to the Circuit Court fee schedule to conform language to repealed statute, the Neighborhood BusinessWorks Loan for RXBSA Properties, LLC, and several Rental Housing Works Loans. Significant debate occurred regarding the high cost per unit for the Perkins Homes Phase I, LLC project, which was explained by the inclusion of contemporary amenities, a community center, and price escalation due to COVID-19 environment factors. The Board also addressed the slow disbursement of federal rental relief funds amid ongoing evictions, requiring DHCD to prepare a detailed presentation on fund allocation and eviction prevention agreements with landlords. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) agenda featured discussions on Local Parks and Playgrounds Infrastructure Development Projects and Program Open Space Acquisition. The Lieutenant Governor directed an increase in DNR's construction procurement delegation authority from $50,000 to $100,000 to streamline maintenance projects. Members also emphasized the need for DNR to update program descriptions to reflect statewide, rather than only coastal, resiliency concerns.

The meeting agenda covered numerous items across several departments. Key discussions included reports on Procurement Agency Activity for June 1992, the submission of draft regulations for a Price Preference for Recycled Materials, and formal approval requests for Wetlands Licenses across various counties. The Board also addressed grant requests from the Department of the Environment for multiple projects, including watershed assessment and restoration in Baltimore County, WWTP improvements in Garrett County, and funding increases for WWTP upgrades in Kent County and Wicomico County. Additionally, grant increases were discussed for the Patapsco BNR Pilot Study in Baltimore City and the Cox Creek WRF BNR Pilot Study in Anne Arundel County. Other items included approving the reversion of unneeded funds from Construction Grants Program projects, considering a Shore Erosion Control Lien Subordination, approving the release for a Shore Erosion Control Loan project, committing a $2,000,000 grant to the City of Frederick for the Carroll Creek Flood Control Project, approving a $375,000 loan under the Maryland Industrial and Commercial Redevelopment Fund (MICRF) for the Women's Business & Resource Center in Baltimore, and approving certification that the Olney Theatre Corporation raised its matching fund for renovation. The Appendix detailed several emergency procurement actions, such as securing a Project Executive for the Department of Human Resources' CARES/CSES systems to avoid loss of federal funding, modifications to the BWI security system, installation of medical isolation area ventilation and smoke barriers at MCI-Hagerstown, and emergency consultant contracts for the Office of People's Counsel regarding Potomac Electric Power Company's rate increase application.

The meeting agenda covered multiple key areas including Procurement Agency Activity Reports for November and December 1991, and requests for release of Letters of Credit related to Wetlands Licenses (86-0532 and 87-0142). Discussions included granting a wetlands license to American Telephone & Telegraph Company for submarine cable placement in the Potomac River, assessing compensation for the license. Several grant requests were reviewed and approved under the Maryland Agricultural Cost-Share Program totaling $93,300. The Board also addressed grant requests from the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan, including $75,000 for the Foster Branch Watershed Improvement Project in Harford County. Loan actions involved approving certification for matching funds for The Children's Guild, Inc. Loan of 1990 ($500,000 match required) and the Federal Hill Park Loan of 1990 ($750,000 match required). Numerous commitments were approved under the Program Open Space Local Share and Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for various park and recreation projects across several counties. Other business included approving a settlement payment for OFCC v. University of Maryland, College Park, awarding a construction contract for the relocation of the University of Maryland at Baltimore's Department of Parking, awarding an elevator maintenance contract to Towson State University, and renewing an oil spill remediation service contract for Towson State University.

The Board meeting involved extensive discussion regarding procurement practices, particularly concerning the Department of General Services (DGS) agenda items. Comptroller Schaefer raised numerous objections regarding the process, specifically concerning consolidated items (like 19 park projects under DGS Item 15) not being subject to individual review or sole-source procurements. Significant debate occurred over DGS Item 2-C-MOD (Baltimore City Juvenile Justice), which involved 56 change orders on a $44 million project, and the process for funding these changes through deduct-alternates. Another major point of contention was the modification to an energy performance contract at Rosewood Center (DGS 4-EP-MOD), where an $8,000,000 modification followed a small initial $72,000 contract, reportedly awarded on a rotating basis without full competitive bidding. Furthermore, the Board discussed a sole-source procurement for audio/visual equipment for Baltimore City Courtrooms (DGS 8-E) based on compatibility with existing systems. The agenda also included project approvals for the Maryland African American History and Culture Museum (DGS 14-GM) and various other capital and service projects across departments like Transportation and Budget and Management.