HVBF Monthly Meeting - Facilities, Security, Transportation Roundtable
Wednesday, October 17, 2001, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Host:

Loyola College in Maryland

Attending:

Steve Antonsen, Colliars Pinkard
Pam Balcerak, Eastern Savings Bank
Elwood Banister, Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company
Susan Fine, PDP Group Inc
Gary Green, Becton Dickinson
Jack Gurecki, A A I 
Kathy Hammel, J M T 
Rod Hemphill, Eastern Savings Bank
Jay Huff, Brooks-Huff Tire & Auto Center 
Lt. Marty Lurz , Baltimore County Police Dept
Joan Levin, Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Md
David Malkowski, State Highway Administration
Alan Mlinarchik, Clifton Gunderson LLP
Melanie Jensen-Ney, Ecolair Properties
Julie Nolan, Advance Business Systems
Stephen Roth, BGE
Shirley Tyler, Right Management
Rick Webb, Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union
Lynn White, Colliers Pinkard
Gail Williams, McCormick
Steve Woods, WorkForce Metrics


Rick Webb reported on the Shawan Road Extension/Ashland-Papermill Road Issue. Rick and I met with state delegates Klima and Kach, and a representative of state senator Harris on September 26. They were grateful for the interest of the Forum and the initiative to move the process toward resolution. Delegate Klima would arrange a meeting with SHA and the Baltimore County Executive’s office to address requested surveys and community objections of the extended bike path from light rail to the NCR Trail. That meeting has been scheduled for November 14 at the SHA Brooklandville office. A report will follow on our next meting November 28.

Lt. Marty Lurz, Assistant Commander, Cockeysville Precinct, Baltimore County Police Department, began our discussion on the effects of the events of September 11 on our security. Lt. Lurz introduced Sgt. Anthony Zelenka and Sgt. Cary Koch of the Baltimore County Police Department Community Outreach Team for an in-depth discussion on terrorism.

Sgt. Koch told us that terrorism is an attack focused on significant targets. Secondary events normally follow an initial attack. The attack on Tower II following the attack on Tower I is an example. This exacerbates the effects of the attack because of our normal reaction to rush in to help after a disaster. Those who respond are then susceptible to the secondary event. Restraint before rushing in will allow time to consider the safest response.

Sgt. Koch defined different types of attacks as biological, nuclear, incendiary, chemical and explosive. He defined each type and likelihood of use.

In the event of a suspicious event, you must determine at what point emergency services should be called. A credible event always warrants reporting. Events should be evaluated for credibility. Summoning emergency services for unlikely events places a burden on services that may make them less effective if a real event occurs.

It is important that every company develop a plan in writing. This should be tested and practiced. A copy of the plan should be filed with the Baltimore County Police Department at Cockeysville. It should be clear about who calls for emergency services, who clears the premises and who secures the premises.

Sgt. Koch offered the following:

  • All events should be treated as crime scenes
  • Clear the premises
  • Do rush back in before professional help arrives
  • Be aware of strange behavior trends of employees 
  • Be aware of unusual increases in employee illness
  • Note presence of dead animals
  • Channel all visitors
  • Keep exterior doors closed
  • Require I.D. and sign in
  • Keep front door manned
  • Use closed circuit television. if possible
  • Provide a panic button or a code phrase for receptionists
  • Get away from hazardous area…stay 500’ uphill and up wind…put something between you and the hazard
  • Be aware of suspicious letters and packages
  • Do send your written plans and building blueprints to the Baltimore County Police Dept at Cockeysville.

David Malkowski, S.H.A., provided two helpful handouts, one from the U.S. Postal Service on use of the mail to transmit anthrax and the other a C.D.C. health advisory on anthrax. If you did not receive copies or did not attend (and you should), contact me with your fax number and I will send them to you.

The Baltimore County Police Dept provided a hand out of their regular bulletin “Business Beat” which is available regularly on the web at www.co.ba.md.us/p.cfm/agencies/police/media/business_beat.cfm or go to www.co.ba.md.us home page search out the police department under agencies, click on Crime Prevention and end up at the Business Beat section. Business Beat is a regular advisory from Baltimore County Police.

More information on Bio-defense can be found at www.hopkins-biodefense.org

Jack Gurecki of AAI asks if some of us would like to meet on a weekly basis to discuss current security issues. Please indicate your interest to me. We intend to make security a regular monthly discussion event but you may want to be more timely focused.

This summary will appear on our website www.hvbf.org, click on the EVENTS section and then on the event to see a summary.

The next scheduled meeting of the Roundtable will be November 28 at the Graduate Center at Loyola College from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Elwood Banister, Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Company, will bring a guest from the Baltimore County Fire Department to discuss disaster issues with us. Please reply to me if you plan to attend.

Subsequent meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Please advise me if there are others in your company who should receive these summaries and announcements at director@hvbf.org.