State of Delaware Legislative Council
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STATE OF DELAWARE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Meeting Minutes Wednesday, March 4, 2021 Members Present: Senator David Sokola, Chair; Representative Peter C. Schwartzkopf, Vice-Chair; Senators Bryan Townsend, Elizabeth Lockman, Gerald Hocker, and Brian Pettyjohn; Representatives Valerie Longhurst, J. Larry Mitchell, Daniel Short, and Timothy Dukes In attendance: Mark Cutrona, Director, Division of Research/Legislative Council; Ruth Ann Jones, Controller General; Holly Vaughn Wagner, Deputy Director, Division of Research; Colinda Marker, Division of Research Staff; Ruth Ann Jones, Controller General; Bert Scoglietti, Deputy Controller General; Janet Roberson, LIS Director; Angel Burack, LIS Deputy Director; Jesse Chadderdon, Senate Majority Chief of Staff; Sean Finnigan, House Majority Chief of Staff; Deanna Killen, Senate Minority Chief of Staff; Dave Deputy, House Minority Chief of Staff; Ryan Dunphy, Secretary of the Senate; Rich Puffer, Chief Clerk of the House; Doug Dennison, House Maj. Director of Strategic Engagement; Sarah Wootten, Deputy Chief of Staff; Valerie McCartan; Jennifer Coverdale, Director of Facilities Management; Don Gerardi, Deputy Director of Facilities Management; Michael Hertzfeld, Chief of Delaware Capitol Police; Maj. David Hunt, Delaware Capitol Police; Lt. Scott Simpson, Delaware Capitol Police; Alexander McNeil; Bill Hickox, Advantech; Chase Roy, DTI AGENDA 1. Welcome – Sen. Sokola, Chair 2. Approval of January 27, 2021, Meeting Minutes 3. Legislative Council Report – Mark Cutrona, Director of the Division of Research 4. Controller General Report – Ruth Ann Jones, Controller General 5. New Business a. Legislative Hall Upgrades – Mark Cutrona, Director of the Division of Research b. Legislative Hall Building Committee - Representative Schwartzkopf c. Proposed Constitutional Amendment Regarding Publishing Notice of Proposed Amendments – Doug Denison, House Maj. Director of Strategic Engagement & Mark Cutrona, Director of the Division of Research 6. Old Business a. Legislative Hall Security* - Michael Hertzfeld, Chief of Delaware Capitol Police 7. Next Meeting – April 7 8. Adjournment 1. Welcome Senator Sokola called the meeting of Legislative Council to order at 12:02 p.m. He announced due to the COVID-19 pandemic Legislative Hall remains closed to the public and Council is meeting virtually under the authority of the virtual meeting procedures adopted by the 151st General Assembly in House Concurrent Resolution No. 1. The meeting is being held via Zoom and broadcast on the General Assembly's House YouTube channel. Questions or comments regarding this meeting should be directed Legislative Council Meeting March 4, 2021 1 to [email protected] or call the Division of Research at (302)744-4114. Senator Sokola asked Mark Cutrona to call roll. Mark Cutrona called roll for attendance and voting purposes. Attendance roll call revealed the following members present: Representative Dukes, Senator Hocker, Senator Lockman, Representative Longhurst, Representative Mitchell, Senator Pettyjohn, Representative Schwartzkopf, Senator Sokola, Representative Short, and Senator Townsend. Senator Sokola noted that a quorum is present, and he has verified the identities of the members of Council. 2. Approval of January 27, 2021, Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Rep. Schwartzkopf and seconded by Rep. Longhurst to approve the January 27, 2021, Legislative Council meeting minutes. Motion carried. Vote: 10 yes. Senators Sokola, Townsend, Lockman, Hocker, and Pettyjohn; Representatives Schwartzkopf, Longhurst, Mitchell, Short, and Dukes. 3. Legislative Council Director’s Report - Mark Cutrona reported on some of the accomplishments of the staff in the Division. Holly Vaughn Wagner, Deputy Director, took the time this year, in addition to running the Division and drafting bills, to reimagine the annual legislative drafting workshop into a 2-day virtual event. She balanced a combination of new information and basic drafting concepts in an informative way to provide new and returning drafters the resources for a successful session. Mr. Cutrona thanked the Code Revisors, Dan Wolcott and Jamie Sharp, for their assistance and time co-presenting the workshop. He thanked Debbie Gottschalk for her expansive knowledge, hard work, and attention to detail. She spent the better part of 2 years providing legislative attorney services for the New Castle County Local Services Functions Task Force while maintaining her normal workload of drafting requests. Donnie Sellers, Print Shop Manager, has found alternate sources during the pandemic to save the State money and continue to furnish legislators with the necessary print materials. Joel Rudnick, Legislative Librarian, has developed the library’s print materials to include a nearly complete collection of the 1952 and 1974 versions of the Delaware Code. He has also focused on increasing access and staff knowledge of the electronic resources that are available. Last week he held a training for all legislative staff regarding using LexisNexis. Mark Brainard and Amanda McAtee, JLOSC analysts, have worked over the past year to innovate the JLOSC process and products. This includes an overhaul that has made reports more user friendly, an easier system for the public to provide written comment, and a use of technology to establish better communication among staff and committee members. 4. Controller General’s Report – Ruth Ann Jones advised they have just wrapped up JFC hearings through the month of February. She thanked her staff as well as DTI staff that made everything run smoothly despite multiple obstacles. During the coming break staff will be working through Grant In Aid applications, summarizing and preparing to meet with the assigned legislators for each category. They have received over 319 general and veteran applications this year; senior applications close on Friday and they are expecting at least 43 applications in that category. They have over 30 new applicants this year. Staff is also preparing for Bond Bill hearings that will be held the week of May 3. Bert Scoglietti, Deputy Controller General, is taking the lead on preparing and scheduling hearings. DEFAC is meeting on March 15, that will be the next check on revenues. Operating budget mark up begins on May 24 for two weeks. Mrs. Jones noted that included in Council’s packets is a small presentation of IT related projects providing an update from the IT Governance Board and Janet Roberson, LIS Director. Mrs. Jones advised the vacant legislative analyst position has been posted, interviews are scheduled for March 5. Senator Sokola commented on a relief bill making its way through Congress that contains funds for state and local governments, he inquired on the role of the Controller General office regarding those funds. Mrs. Jones stated that the State Clearing House Committee receives all federal funds that come through; the Controller General staff, JFC chairs, and other appointees are included on the Committee. Once the federal money comes in, the committee Legislative Council Meeting March 4, 2021 2 will review and report back on expenditures and additional revenue coming in. Sen. Sokola inquired about the timing after the funds are approved. Mrs. Jones noted it varies but State Clearing House Committee meetings are typically rescheduled to expedite the process. Rep. Short inquired if there is a detailed listing of expenditures on the Cares Act funds. Mrs. Jones noted she thought the Department of Finance had a breakdown of where the funds went. She has received other inquiries and has a request in with OMB for the information, she will follow up. 5. New Business a. Legislative Hall Upgrades – Mark Cutrona presented proposed upgrades for Legislative Hall; plans for many of these upgrades started before the pandemic hit. He noted that he would like to move ahead with the upgrades as we move forward to potentially reopening the building and staff return. Upgrades include ceiling tile and grid replacements throughout the building as needed, the Division of Facilities Management is in the process of procuring a quote. Rep. Mitchell inquired about the discoloration on the old ceiling tiles and whether they have been tested for mold. Don Gerardi noted they are aware of the possibility of mold and it has been addressed. DTI requested a dedicated, secure workspace in Legislative Hall outside of the server room. The old Division of Research reception area next to the library was determined to be the best location. The project proposal is to divide the area into two secure offices and replace the windows in the front of the library with a door providing direct access to that room. The third project is to update the cafeteria furniture with more mobile furniture that is easier to move. This update also creates a more welcoming and functional space for the public by including bars on either wall with electric for charging devices. The fourth project would be an update to the library space, including new furniture. Rep. Schwartzkopf inquired how much the projects would be, if Mr. Cutrona already has the funds, and if he is seeking Council’s approval. Mr. Cutrona confirmed this is his intent and that funds are available; additionally, Facilities will be providing some funding for the replacement of the ceiling tiles and grids. Rep. Short inquired about the cost of the proposed upgrades. Mr. Cutrona provided the following breakdown: secure office space is $31,000; cafeteria is $30,000; library space according to a preliminary