Baltimore County administrative officer orders legal review of Human Relations Commission, promises training and in-kind support

DeAndrea Walker, Baltimore County's county administrative officer, told the county's Human Relations Commission on Thursday that her office has asked the county attorney to review the commission's enabling bill and bylaws to resolve conflicting provisions and to determine what legal authorities the commission can exercise.

"When Savitra left about a year ago, there's no documents. There's no history," Walker said, describing gaps in records and staff turnover. She said an initial review found inconsistencies among the commission's articles, citing conflicts in "Article 3 and Article 29" and that the enabling bill dates to 1963.

Walker said the county will pair the commission with the Office of Law and a consultant as needed to ensure any subpoenas, public hearings or rulings have the legal foundation to withstand challenges. "I'm gonna protect the commission. I wanna protect the county and make sure that whatever rulings that you all are making, that they have the legal standing behind them," she told commissioners.

While that legal review proceeds, Walker said the commission should continue to accept complaints, but the county will partner with subject-matter experts to advise the commission on housing discrimination and similar matters. County Attorney Benjamin cautioned commissioners against relying on generative AI for legal determinations, saying HUD statutes, federal regulations and case law are the reliable authorities.

On funding and administration, Walker explained the county budget process and said departments cannot unilaterally reassign line items. She described the formal cycle for FY27 budget requests and encouraged the commission to submit specific project or brochure needs to the DEI chief for possible in-kind support. "We don't wanna adversely impact you, but we wanna do business in order and decency," Walker said.

Walker also said her office supplied a "skeleton" set of bylaws for the commission to build from, and reported that two commissioners resigned at the last meeting, leaving four vacancies; four appointments expire on Dec. 31, 2025. She said chief Bryant and the appointments office are working on reappointments and new appointments.

The administrative officer committed to a 30-day initial comparative analysis of peer human-relations commissions and to biweekly follow-ups with the HRC but cautioned that changing statutory articles could require a bill and at least 60 days for legislative action. "I don't wanna promise you something that I can't deliver on," she said.

The commission voted earlier in the meeting to approve the agenda and the previous meeting's minutes; procedural votes were recorded at the start of the session.