Statements by Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.
552 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Mar 24, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
and seconded to uh bring it back in at the next meeting um with uh the proposed amendments. Is there uh is there a discussion? Dr. Sudler.
Play from 1:21:44Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Rocha seconds.
Play from 00:08Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Rocha seconds.
Play from 01:01Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:23Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. Are Are there any um are there any types of buildings that are more susceptible to false alarms, or...
Play from 32:55Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
So it so that's a, um, reasonable That's a lot of hours and the like. That's a reasonable justification as well for the, um the the fire grant moneys and the like because you don't get uh compensated for that if that
Play from 33:28Mar 23, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Uh-huh. Yeah, thank you. And, uh, we're also grateful for, uh, particularly the state grant, as well. So thank you very much.
Play from 35:00Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I'm sorry. Point of order. Council President?
Play from 01:49Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Can can we quiet the room please so I can hear the presentation? I'm just the getting up there in age and uh the extra conversation just creates a distraction for me, so I just... Thank you.
Play from 01:53Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Council President. That just triggered something that uh Councilman Anderson mentioned just in the dialogue. Um do you have any 3D um models that, you know, if we were to have a town hall or something like that and get our constituents aware of what it would look like um and how it would enhance the city? Is there something like that that you all have developed?
Play from 28:07Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. That that's very interesting. I yield to uh Councilman Boggerty.
Play from 28:07Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Like in the whole neighborhood basically?
Play from 28:49Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Council President. And uh thank you for uh bringing this to our attention. Um, a lot of it uh we have had many many discussions on in the past. Um, the only thing that I would like to know currently is where the numbers are as far as trying to match what the need is for our city. In other words, um, how many fam- versus
Play from 1:15:04Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, council president. I, uh, I believe we have Dr. Soso is online tonight? And I think that's it as far as the committee goes. Uh, and with that said, uh, is Dr. Soso, he's online? Okay.
Play from 1:32:58Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
With that said, I now call the Utility Committee to order. I will entertain, uh, a motion to adopt the agenda for this evening.
Play from 1:33:15Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
It's been properly moved and seconded for the agenda. Any discussion or questions on the, on the motion?
Play from 1:33:26Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Hearing and seeing none, all those in favor, please state by saying aye.
Play from 1:33:32Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Any opposed? The ayes have it. The agenda is adopted.
Play from 1:33:38Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
First item on the agenda is Dedication of Water Infrastructure on South Bay Road. Our uh director of Water and Wastewater, uh Mr. Jason Lyon, uh the floor is yours, sir.
Play from 1:33:42Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Any questions? Uh, Ms. Arndt, you're recognized.
Play from 1:40:57Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
It's been properly moved and seconded to accept staff recommendation. Any question or discussion on the motion? Hearing and seeing none, all those in favor, please state by saying aye.
Play from 1:41:23Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Any Any opposed? The ayes have it. Motion is
Play from 1:41:32Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Second.
Play from 1:42:51Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Could you help me out with the 5% rule? I I just want to understand it a little better. I thought we kind of addressed this kind of last year, did we, or or was that with the non-bargaining folks?
Play from 1:48:35Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Because they they gain the experience so they can go somewhere else.
Play from 1:51:08Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
I- I would be I would be curious to see the gap in pay between taking the 5% and what the person that left that position was getting. Like, if it's a six-digit, $100,000, let's say, for the person that was working there and then they left, and then we're asking for somebody to move in on an interim, what that, were they making $70,000 and now we're only giving them 5%, and the person that left was getting $100,000, that that really does mean, I mean, you know, if they're going to do that work and then we want to incentivize them to maybe apply for the position, I think that, you know, the 5% bump wouldn't make sense. And- and- and I kind of understand where you're coming from. So that needs to be looked at, I think. Thank you.
Play from 1:51:32Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. Thank you for uh that explanation. I- I yield.
Play from 1:52:25Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. So, to me in reference to that, it makes sense. But it to me the budget line is already there. Uh unless unless I'm speaking, right, the budget line for that $100,000, let me just use as an as an example, and then that person leaves and then the number two or somebody that's been with the city could take it as an interim, and let's say they're making 70, I don't know what the numbers are, right? $70- or $80,000, but that 5% bump brings them up to 83 or whatever that number is, there's still that, subtract the 100 from the 83, that's still money that was already budgeted. So, I don't think it would put a strain per se on the budget.
Play from 1:53:33Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you, Mr. Murphy. Any questions?
Play from 2:04:52Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay.
Play from 2:04:56Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Look forward to continuing the dialogue.
Play from 2:04:57Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Anyone? Yeah, please, come forward, uh. Thank you. Well, you'll have to wait till you get to the mic. Thank you, Mrs. Anderson. Thank you. Uh, just wait till you get to the mic, please. Thank you.
Play from 2:04:59Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Um, is that uh actually not on the agenda tonight.
Play from 2:05:41Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Are you are you talking about the uh—
Play from 2:05:44Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
—the the uh proposal by People's for a uh—
Play from 2:05:46Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
—for to allow uh police to lease uh office in there?
Play from 2:05:49Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you for your comments. Any other citizen comments?
Play from 2:07:41Mar 10, 2026, Council Committee of the Whole Meeting
Okay. If there's uh no other business before—
Play from 2:07:46Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Yes.
Play from 01:22Mar 9, 2026, Regular Council Meeting
Good evening. Uh thank you, Council President, for recognizing me, and thank you for this presentation. Um it's it's a uh uh to me an exciting venture to see things transpire. I was I attended the groundbreaking for the mobility station, the parking garage, and uh I'm excited about that. And I I commend you for your your work, you you and your team and and of course the board of directors who who are guiding us through this process. Um so, you know, uh I do a lot of traveling around lately to different municipalities, and I'm taking looks to see if revitalization happening in other areas of Maryland and stuff like that. And I I think I was in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and I saw how and I'm wondering if we have it in our plans, when we block off the street, um instead of using the orange um—
Play from 39:59