>> FORUMS MEMORIAL CHURCH OF DENTON HERE TO DO OUR INVOCATION.
[1.Commissioners Meeting Convenes]
[00:00:05]
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.MORNING, REVEREND, COULD YOU COME RIGHT UP HERE TO THE TABLE, CLOSE TO THE MICROPHONES, EVERYONE ONLINE [OVERLAPPING]
>> TURN MY BACK. [LAUGHTER] GRACIOUS, FATHER IN HEAVEN, THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DAY THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROVISION, AND WE THANK YOU FOR A BRAND NEW DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHICH THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GATHERED TODAY TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, REPRESENTING VARIOUS AGENCIES, BUT MOST OF ALL REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE IN THE BETTERMENT OF THEIR LIVES.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE THOUGHTS THAT GO THROUGH THE HEADS OF ALL THE PRESENTERS.
WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE COLLABORATION AND THE THOUGHTS OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT FEASIBLE IN YOUR SITE, TO TAKE CARE OF THE BABIES, THE MIDDLE AGE AND WORKING, AND THE SENIORS THAT ALL LIVE HERE AND LOOK FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THIS COUNTY.
WE ASK THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF US NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF OUR LIVES THAT WE WILL LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE, LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION, AND WE WILL OBEY YOUR WORD AND YOUR WILL.
THIS IS MY HOME PRAYER IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> SORRY ABOUT THE MICROPHONE.
NOW, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD.
[2. Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? NO. OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS THIS MORNING IS WITH DEBORAH BOWDEN, THE DIRECTOR OF CAROLINE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.[3. Special Business Recognition to Randy Hunt for Christopher Insurance’s 60th Year Anniversary]
WE HAVE A SPECIAL BUSINESS RECOGNITION FOR RANDY HUNT OF CHRISTOPHER INSURANCE FOR THEIR 60TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY. GOOD MORNING.>> I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?
>> WELL CONGRATULATIONS ON 60 YEARS.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND READ THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
IT STATES CHRISTOPHER INSURANCE, INC, CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE THAT CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER INSURANCE, INC FOR 60 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
FOR 60 DECADES, CHRISTOPHER INSURANCE, INC HAS EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
YOUR LEGACY OF SERVICE, RELIABILITY AND INSURANCE SOLUTIONS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, PROVIDING PEACE OF MIND TO OUR RESONANCE AND SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE COMMISSIONERS THANK RANDALL A.
HUNT FOR CONSISTENTLY TAKING THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND AND MEET THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF HIS CUSTOMERS AND OUR CITIZENS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
PRESENTED ON SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2023 BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND ITS QUITE AN HONOR. I APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE RECOGNITION WITH JACK CHRISTOPHER WHOM I BOUGHT THE AGENCY FROM.
HE GOT THIS THING GOING IN 1963.
I FEEL LIKE THE RELAY GUY, I TOOK THE BATON IN 2001.
SIXTY YEARS IS A LONG TIME, BUT IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO DO WHAT I DO IN A SMALL TOWN.
WE HAVE THREE BUSINESSES ON NORTH MAIN STREET THAT PROBABLY SHARE THE SAME LONGEVITY THAT I DO.
WE HAVE JOE THE SEWING OUTLET, HIM AND HIS TWO SONS ALREADY MARRIED AT THE CROSS THE STREET, AND HIS SISTER, AND THEN US, WE'RE ALL WITHIN 50 FEET OF EACH OTHER.
A TRUE MAIN STREET BUSINESSES.
IT'S AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION AND I THANK EVERYBODY FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MAIN STREET ALIVE IN THESE SMALL TOWNS.
YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT AND YOU SEE A LOT OF THOSE SMALL TOWN MAIN STREET BUSINESSES GOING AWAY.
IT'S QUITE A ACCOMPLISHMENT AND GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> WELL, WE'VE BOUGHT A LOT OF DRAPES FROM THE SEWING OUTLET WAS JUST IN MY KITCHEN LAST WEEK, FIXING MY REFRIGERATOR.
>> I WAS TALKING TO TELL HIM DEBBIE EARLIER AND IN TODAY'S TIMES YOU CAN BUY ANYTHING ANYWHERE.
[00:05:01]
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GOT TO AMAZON PRIME AND YOU GOT ANYTHING.BUT WHEN YOU SELL A PRODUCT AND YOU SERVICE IT, THAT'S THE THING, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND IT JUST LIKE, JOE AND YOU BUY MANY BLINDS OR WHATEVER FROM HIM AND HE COMES OUT AND WE CAN PUT THEM UP AND MARTY DELIVERS THE WASHING MACHINE AND HOLD PAUSE THE OLD ONE WAY AND THAT'S HOW YOU RETAIN THE BUSINESS.
YOU RETAIN THE CUSTOMERS IN THAT FASHION.
I'M SURE THERE'S MANY IN DENTON THAT ARE THE SAME WAY.
YOU KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THESE LITTLE PROBABLY EIGHT OUT OF 10 PEOPLE TO COME IN OUR OFFICE BETWEEN MY STAFF AND MYSELF.
WE'RE ALL ON FIRST-NAME BASIS.
>> THANK YOU, RANDY FOR MAKING CAROLINE COUNTY A BETTER PLACE.
>> FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING CAROLINE COUNTY YOUR HOME FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 60 YEARS WITH YOU.
>> I WOULDN'T BE THERE. [LAUGHTER] BUT MY DAUGHTER WORKS FOR ME, SO WE'LL SEE.
>> YOU WANT TO COME UP AND GET A PICTURE?
>> NEXT UP, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO VICE PRESIDENT PORTER TO ISSUE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR DR. CHARLES STONECIPHER.
>> THANK YOU. SEPTEMBER 23RD IS DR. STONECIPHER DAY THAT WILL BE CELEBRATED IN GREENSBURG, SATURDAY MORNING PHENICE AT 10:00 O CLOCK, CORRECT?
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT HOW HE DELIVERED ME AND PUT ME IN A SHOE BOX AND PUT ME ON THE OVEN DOOR.
BUT YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT DR. STONECIPHER WAS THE CLOSEST THING THAT I CAN REMEMBER TO A SAINT IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBURG AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
I MEAN, MY MEMORIES OF HIM, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST OF A GENUINE PUBLIC SERVANT, A GUY WHO SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE SERVING PEOPLE.
HE DID NOT LOOK FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT HE NEVER OWNED A HOME.
HE LIVED IN BASICALLY A ROOMING HOUSE AND SPENT ALL OF HIS TIME SERVING THE PEOPLE,
[4. Special Presentation for September 23, 2023, as Dr. Charles Hiram Stonesifer, M.D Day in]
24 HOURS A DAY.WHEN YOU WENT TO HIS OFFICE, THERE WERE NO APPOINTMENTS.
YOU JUST TOOK A CHAIR AND WAITING YOUR TURN AND TO THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT TODAY IS BAD OR I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE DEDICATION AND THE CARE THAT HE GAVE TO HIS PATIENTS AROUND THE CLOCK.
IT'S JUST IT WOULD TAKE THE REST OF THE DAY TO EXPLAIN.
THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER.
I HOPE WE HAVE A BIG ATTENDANCE.
I THINK I'M GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER IS DR. CHRISTIAN JENSEN.
I'M SURE I'VE HEARD DR. JENSEN SPEAK BEFORE AND HE'LL DO A GREAT JOB.
I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION HERE, BUT THIS WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE FUNCTION ON SATURDAY MORNING.
WHEREAS DR. CHARLES HARAM STONESIFER, M.D., DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, PROVIDING UNWAVERING MEDICAL CARE TO THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINE COUNTY FOR 50 YEARS.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1900, AND DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE UNTIL HIS PASSING ON JULY 4, 1978.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER GRADUATED FROM WESTERN MARYLAND COLLEGE AT WESTMINSTER IN 1923 AND EARNED HIS M.D.
[00:10:03]
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IN 1927, SHOWCASING A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE.WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER BEGAN HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER GRADUATION, REGISTERING AS A CAROLINE COUNTY PHYSICIAN ON JUNE 21, 1927, DEMONSTRATING AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO HIS COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER WOULD MAKE HOUSE CALLS AT ANYTIME OF THE DAY OR NIGHT, VISIT PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND MAINTAIN A BUSTLING OFFICE OPPOSITE TO GREENSBORO FIREHOUSE ON STONESIFER CIPHER LANE, EMBODYING A SELFLESS DEDICATION TO PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE MEDICAL CARE.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER BUILT ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AS EVIDENCED BY THE HEARTFELT POEM WRITTEN ABOUT HIM BY HIS CLOSE FRIEND FRED MONROE, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY THE COUNTY RECORD, LEAVING AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE HEARTS OF MANY.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER NEVER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MONEY, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO PRIORITIZE THE WELL-BEING OF HIS PATIENTS AND TRUSTING THAT THOSE WHO COULD PAY WOULD DO SO, ILLUSTRATING A COMPASSIONATE AND ALTRUISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE.
WHEREAS DR. STONESIFER HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS DELIVERING MANY CHILDREN IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND LEAVING A LASTING LEGACY OF CARE, COMPASSION AND DEDICATION TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
NOW THEREFORE, THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2023, AS DR. CHARLES HARAM STONESIFER M.D.
I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DR.
CHARLES STONESIFER ON THIS DAY AND REFLECT UPON THE IMMENSE IMPACT HE MADE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO SERVED.
SIGNED BY PRESIDENT TRAVIS BREEDING, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER FRANK BARTZ.
THIS IS VERY SPECIAL TO A LOT OF US AND IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO GET HERE, BUT NO ONE COULD EVER UNDERSTAND WHO DIDN'T KNOW HIM AND KNOW THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD.
I REMEMBER EVERYONE THAT I CAN REMEMBER WHO HAD A CAR WENT TO HIS FUNERAL IN WESTMINSTER AND IT WAS STRANGE FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL.
I DON'T THINK MY FATHER EVER LEFT GREENSBORO IN HIS LIFE, BUT THEY JUST MOURNED.
HE WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE MAN.
IF HE DEFINED PUBLIC SERVANT IT WOULD BE SO, THANK YOU.
I WILL PRESENT THIS TO THE MASTER OF CEREMONY, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PORTER [NOISE].
THAT HEALTH CARE IS NOT AROUND ANYMORE.
NEXT UP WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ IS GOING TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION FOR CORAL SEASONS, I GUESS FOR SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL SUICIDE AWARENESS MONTH, NO MATTER WHAT, YOU MATTER.
[5. Proclamation—September as National Suicide Awareness Month “No Matter What, You Matter”]
MS. JEN FRIEDMAN IS HERE.>> THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF NO MATTER WHAT YOU MATTER, SUICIDE PREVENTION 2023.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, MS. FRIEDMAN.
>> WHEREAS IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE PERSON DIES BY SUICIDE EVERY 11 MINUTES, IS IN THE 12TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OVERALL.
IN MARYLAND, SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR 10-34 YEAR OLD [NOISE].
A FOURTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR AGES 35-44.
EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THESE DEATHS ARE PREVENTABLE, MORE MALES DIE BY SUICIDE THAN BY HOMICIDE EVERY YEAR.
WHEREAS 48,183 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING 620 PEOPLE IN MARYLAND, DIED BY SUICIDE IN 2021 AS REPORTED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL.
WHEREAS SUICIDE AFFECTS US ALL, WITH EACH STEP A SUICIDE AFFECTING OF AVERAGE OF 115 PEOPLE.
WHEREAS THE ECONOMIC TOLL SUICIDE ON SOCIETY IS IMMENSE.
SUICIDES AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS COST AN AGENT ALMOST 70 BILLION PER YEAR LIFETIME MEDICAL OR WORKLOADS COST ALONE.
WHEREAS THE 2021 YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY CONDUCTED
[00:15:03]
BY LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, REVEALED A 24 PERCENT OF CAROLINE TEENAGERS, AGES 14-18, HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THE 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SURVEY.WITH 42 PERCENT REPORTING SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, 21 PERCENT OF CAROLINE TEENS ACTUALLY ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.
WHEREAS, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RELEASED A SCIENTIFIC BRIEFING IN 2022 REPORTING THAT GLOBAL PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION INCREASED BY 25 PERCENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE THE LEADING PRECURSORS FOR SUICIDE.
WHEREAS, MANY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS, OR WHO DIE BY SUICIDE, NEVER RECEIVE EFFECTIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MANY REASONS.
INCLUDING THE DIFFICULTY OF ACCESSING THE SERVICES OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TO REDUCE SUICIDE RISKS, THE STIGMA OF SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH LOSING A LOVED ONE TO SUICIDE.
URGES ALL CAROLINE COUNTY CITIZENS TO TWO, NUMBER 1, SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCESSIBLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SUICIDE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.
NUMBER 2, RECOGNIZE SUICIDE AS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH RISK AND TO DECLARE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT A PRIORITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY DECLARED A MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS NO MATTER WHAT, YOU MATTER, SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO ACTUALLY WORK TOWARDS PREVENTION OF SUICIDE AND TO REACH OUT TO ONE ANOTHER, AND ASK, ARE YOU OKAY? LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT AND SHARE VITAL RESOURCES TO PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE AND MENTALLY HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND THE GREAT SEAL OF CAROLINE COUNTY, THIS 19TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2023, SIGN PRESIDENT TRAVIS BREEDING, VICE PRESIDENT LARRY PORTER AND MYSELF, COMMISSIONER FRANK BARTZ.
THANK YOU, MS. FRIEDMAN FOR TAKING THIS DAY TO JOIN US TO BRING THIS AWARENESS TO CAROLINE COUNTY AND TO MAKING IT SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
COMMISSIONER PORTER SAYS IT ALL THE TIME, IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY.
SORRY FOR STEALING YOUR LINE LARRY, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHO'S AROUND US AND PICK UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND SOMETIMES JUST TALK TO SOMEBODY AND MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
AS YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS JEN FRIEDMAN AND I'M A THERAPIST AT FOR ALL SEASONS RIGHT HERE IN DENTON.
FOR ALL SEASONS IS YOUR COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER.
WE PROVIDE THERAPY, PSYCHIATRY, VICTIM IN CRISIS SUPPORT AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDE THESE SERVICES REGARDLESS OF ANYONE'S ABILITY TO PAY OR THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK.
FOR ALL SEASONS HAS SEVEN OFFICES ACROSS THE MID SHORE AND WE SERVE CLIENTS ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
WE HAVE AN OFFICE RIGHT HERE AT MAIN STREET, 322 MARKET STREET.
WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF DENTON AND WE WANT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A NEW PROGRAM CALLED OPEN ACCESS.
ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE OFTEN HEAR IS THAT IT'S HARD TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SUCH A LONG WAITLIST.
WELL, WITH OPEN ACCESS HAS ELIMINATED OUR WAITLIST COMPLETELY, AND PEOPLE CAN WALK IN FOR SERVICES DURING SELECT HOURS AND SEE A THERAPIST ON THAT SAME VISIT.
WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OPEN ACCESS @FORALLSEASONSINK.ORG.
AS YOU KNOW, SUICIDE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE STATISTICS, IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN OUR NATION AND STATE, BUT ALSO HERE ON OUR VERY OWN BACKYARD OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CHECK IN ON THE PEOPLE IN THEIR LIFE REGULARLY, ASK THEM HOW THEY ARE FEELING AND LISTEN CAREFULLY WITHOUT JUDGMENT.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH.
IF WE ALL TAKE THE TIME TO REACH OUT, TO LISTEN AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES, WE CAN DEFINITELY HELP SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YES, MA'AM. [LAUGHTER] ABSOLUTELY.
>> I JUST LIKE TO MENTION AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO BETH ANNE A COUPLE OF TIMES.
BETH ANNE WHO IS THE DIRECTOR FOR ALL SEASONS.
>> I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO LISTEN TO THIS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AS WELL.
[00:20:06]
WE TALK ABOUT PTSD WHEN IT COMES TO MILITARY PEOPLE WHEN THAT CERTAINLY IS APPLICABLE.[NOISE] BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR VOLUNTEER FIREMEN AT OUR EMS PERSONNEL SEE THINGS, HEAR THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE.
SOMETIMES I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO SAY, I'M FINE, I'M FINE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT SOMETIMES AND I CAN TELL YOU AS A FORMER VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SOMETIMES, MARY, YOU KNOW THIS.
YOU GO HOME AND YOU JUST SIT THERE AND THINK MAYBE WHAT HAPPENED AND IT CAN GET TO YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THERE BE A PROGRAM OR ACCESS SETUP SO THAT IF SOMEONE WANTED TO COME AND TALK, THEY CAN.
IT'S OKAY TO SAY YOU'RE NOT OKAY.
[LAUGHTER] I JUST KEEP SAYING THAT BECAUSE REMS PEOPLE, THEY SEE THINGS ALL DAY LONG THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T IMAGINE.
IT WILL WORK ON YOU, IT WILL GET TO YOU.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE THERE.
I THINK THE ACCESS THAT YOU HAVE IS GREAT AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE AND JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, IT'S A SIGN OF WANTING TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AS WELL AS TAKING CARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY. [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD PICTURE?
>> JUST KEEP TRACK WITH MY BIO.
>> LARRY YOU MAKE ME NERVOUS THIS MORNING.
[LAUGHTER] I KEEP HEARING NOISES.
>> LARRY I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU SMILE SINCE MORNING.
>> I'M GETTING BETTER. I'VE BEEN PRACTICING.
[LAUGHTER] NOW THE NEXT ONE I WON'T.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH A NEW EMPLOYEE INTRODUCTION,
[6. New Employee Introduction: Doug Jones, Emergency Management Safety Coordinator]
MR. DOUG JONES, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAFETY COORDINATOR. GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.>> GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME WILLIAM DOUG.
HE LIKES TO BE CALLED DOUG. DOUG JONES TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
HE IS OUR NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SAFETY COORDINATOR, A DS.
HE BRINGS OVER 35 YEARS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AND WICOMICO COUNTY, MOST RECENTLY AN ACHROMATIC COUNTY.
HE'S BEEN THERE, HE'S DONE IT AND HE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, HAS A RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OR HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE, SO HE'S GETTING ACCLIMATED.
I THINK IT'LL BE AN ASSET TO THE COUNTY AND THE DS.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
IF YOU SEE ME RUNNING IT'S THIS BECAUSE HE'S NOT CHASING ME. I'M DOING MY OWN THING.
[LAUGHTER] I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE'LL GET SOME STUFF DONE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO WORK ON, BUT THEY'LL HAVE SOME SO YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU DOUG AND WELCOME TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
JUST ONE THING YOUR PREVIOUS PERSON YOU'VE REPLACED AND HE WORKED ON,
[00:25:04]
I BELIEVE, COMING UP INTO WINTER MONTHS, JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND WITH THE COLD WEATHER.REACHING OUT TO THEIR SHELTERS FOR TRYING TO COORDINATE A COLD WEATHER SHELTERS.
FROM TIME TO TIME, HERE IS ONLY SURE, WE DON'T GET TOO MANY COLD NIGHTS, BUT THERE'S IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WE DO EXPERIENCE.
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE A MILD WINTER THIS YEAR AND GRAF THERE.
BUT LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HERE AND KEEPING US ABREAST OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU HERE.
>> [BACKGROUND] OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS SHERRY BRANDON, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES WITH A DISCUSSION OF
[7.Discussion of the Time to Care Act (Family Leave) Collaborative]
THE TIME TO CARE ACT FAMILY LEAVE COLLABORATIVE. GOOD MORNING SHERRY.>> WE ACTUALLY SAT IN ON A SEMINAR TOGETHER ON THIS AND MAKE UP SO I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO BE DANGEROUS.
>> FIRST OFF, I GUESS I WANTED TO GO OVER JUST A SHORT SUMMARY OF WHAT THE TIME TO CARE ACT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE HERE.
THIS IS BASICALLY PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND BE AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES IN JANUARY OF 26 WAS WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE IT THE BENEFIT AVAILABLE.
THE STATE OF MARYLAND ENACTED AND APPROVED THIS.
THEY WILL BE PROVIDING RATES FOR THEIR BENEFIT PLAN IN OCTOBER 1ST, AND THEN THEIR GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN IN JANUARY 1ST OF '24.
WE STILL DON'T HAVE AT THE CURRENT TIME, THE FULL REGULATIONS ON WHAT THIS TIME TO CARE ACT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
BUT AGAIN, IF WE WERE TO CHOOSE TO GO WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND, CONTRIBUTIONS BEGAN BEING DEDUCTED FROM EMPLOYEES AND FROM THE PAID BY THE EMPLOYER IN OCTOBER OF '24, I'M SORRY.
AGAIN, THE BENEFITS DON'T BEGIN UNTIL JANUARY OF 26.
THE MARILYN, I WILL NOT GET IT RIGHT.
>> THERE IT GO [LAUGHTER] AND MAY GO MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE WENT TOGETHER TO JOIN A COLLABORATIVE GROUP.
MOST OF THE COUNTIES THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH HAVE JOINED THIS ALREADY OR WILL BE JOINING THIS COLLABORATION IN ORDER TO COMBINE TOGETHER FOR THIS RESOURCE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY TO SEE WHETHER THE COUNTY HAS INTEREST IN BEING A PART OF THIS GROUP OR TO PROVIDE THE BENEFIT UNDER THIS DATE, WE HAVE TO SIGN ONTO MAPE AS PART OF THEIR GROUP BY OCTOBER 1ST, SO THE END OF THIS MONTH, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS AGREEMENT MOU SIGNED AND SENT BACK TO THEM IF WE WISH TO GO WITH MAPE.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF SAVINGS ARE GOING TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH GOING WITH MAPE? WE DON'T KNOW YET RIGHT?
>> NO. BECAUSE EVEN THE CONTRIBUTION RATES HAVE NOT BEEN SET BY THE STATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
>> WELL, IT 0.6% OF PAYROLL FROM THE EMPLOYER AND 0.6 FROM THE EMPLOYEE, CORRECT?
1.2, IT CAN'T BE MORE THAN THAT, BUT THE RATES HAVE NOT BEEN SET YET.
IT WON'T BE MORE THAN 1.2 FROM THE STATE AND YOU CAN DIVIDE IT 50/50 BY THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE.
>> IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN FIVE EMPLOYEES, THE EMPLOYER IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE THE 0.6%, THOUGH IT'S FOUR OR FIVE EMPLOYEES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WILL BE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE POINTS 0.6%.
THE EMPLOYER WILL NOT IF THEY HAVE LESS THAN FIVE EMPLOYEES.
>> IF THE RATE IS 1.6 YES OR 1.2 FOR THAT.
THE COLLABORATIVE GROUP, THEY'RE LOOKING TO SEE ALL THE COUNTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT OUT RFP IN ORDER TO GET SOMEONE TO ADMINISTER THIS FOR THAT GROUP.
THAT'S THE PART OF THE PROCESS.
>> THEY'RE IN A CONTRACT WITH A LARGE INSURANCE PROVIDER?
>> YES. THERE IS A MEMBERSHIP FEE AND TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP AS WELL.
>> THAT WOULD START AS OF OCTOBER 1ST?
>> LIKE I SAID, I KNOW JUST ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS FROM THE MCO CONFERENCE,
[00:30:01]
THE SEMINAR THAT I SAT IN ON.THE ADVANTAGE TO GOING WITH YOUR OWN PROVIDER IS YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY IN THE STATE CONTRIBUTION RATE STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE STATE AND EVERY EMPLOYER THAT IS NOT PRIVATELY GOING TO OFFER THE INSURANCE, HAS TO START CONTRIBUTING OCTOBER OF 2024 AND PAY UNTIL JANUARY OF 2026 BEFORE ANYONE WILL RECEIVE A BENEFIT TO BUILD UP THE FUND.
>> THAT'S CORRECT AND ALSO ANOTHER BENEFIT IS THAT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE EMPLOYEES USE THIS.
I THINK ONCE YOU'RE OUT AND YOU'RE GOING WITH SOMEONE ELSE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PAY A BENEFIT FOR IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR STANDARD. WHAT HAPPENS? WE GIVE A LOT MORE THAN SOME AGENCIES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EMPLOYEES.
YOU CAN'T GO MORE THAN 100% OF YOUR SALARY.
MYSELF INCLUDED, IF I HAVE SICK LEAVE, I'M GOING TO USE MY SICK LEAVE AND GET PAID INSTEAD OF GETTING PAID THIS MINIMUM OF THE TIME TO CARE ACT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REQUEST A BENEFIT THROUGH THIS.
YOU COULD USE YOUR OWN LEAVE TIME.
I WOULD SAY A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO DO THAT.
>> YOU CANNOT. IT'S A WEIRD SYSTEM BECAUSE, I NOW POSE.
>> I THINK THAT THE ISSUE IS GOING WITH A BETTER COLLABORATIVE GROUP AS WELL AS HAVING SOMEONE ELSE ADMINISTER IT FOR YOU.
IF WE WERE TO GO UNDER THE STATE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
THIS BENEFIT IS PAID TO EMPLOYEES.
YOU CAN HAVE A NEW EMPLOYEE COME IN AND IF THEY'VE WORKED I BELIEVE IT'S 680 HOURS.
>> ANYWHERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS BENEFIT.
>> ON DAY 1, THE DAY THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM 12 WEEKS.
PAID FAMILY MEDICAL SICK LEAVE.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPLIT THAT.
WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? IS THAT THE PRIOR FLORA GOING TO PAY FOR IT OR IS THIS CURRENT EMPLOYEES.
>> I SAW THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE YOU HAVE TO START DOING THIS?
>> IT WOULD BE NICE, BUT WE'VE GOT A HR AFFILIATE GROUP THROUGH MOROCCO AS WELL, AND SEVERAL OF THEM ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARINGS AND GOING THERE AND WE GET NOTIFICATIONS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ALL THE REGULATIONS YET.
THIS WAS AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT WAS CREATED WITHOUT A LOT OF THE INPUT.
>> DANNY, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THIS AT ALL, YOU WANT TO COME FOR? I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE JOINING THIS INSURANCE COLLABORATIVE MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE HERE'S THE OTHER THING.
WELL, THIS INSURANCE COLLABORATIVE DETERMINE IF THE BENEFITS PAID OUT OR NOT OR IS THAT STILL LEFT UP TO THE STATE AGENCY? I THINK IT IS STILL THE STATE IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE IS ELIGIBLE FOR IT.
IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE WORKMAN'S COMP.
>> IF YOU HAD A COLLABORATIVE, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE BENEFITS BASED ON, YOU'RE GOING TO DETERMINE WHEN THE BENEFITS ARE PAID.
AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT MORE IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ALL THAT DOCUMENTATION.
THE THING IS IS TO IT AGAIN, YOU SAID 12 WEEKS.
THAT'S 12 WEEKS, BUT YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PATERNITY LEAVE, AND MATERNITY LEAVE.
IT CAN BE UP TO 24 WEEKS AND THEN A CALENDAR YEAR AND A YEAR.
>> IS THAT BOTH PARENTS TO HAVE.
>> IT DOESN'T SAY IT JUST SAYS MATERNITY LEAVE.
>> IF YOU GET SICK AND YOUR ELIGIBLE FOR 12 WEEKS, IF YOU HAVE AN ILLNESS SEVERE ENOUGH, AND THEN YOU RECOVER FROM THAT ILLNESS AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER GETS SICK AND YOU NEED TO GO TAKE CARE OF HER.
YOU CAN TAKE ANOTHER 12 WEEKS AND GO DO THAT.
>> I THINK IT HAS TO BE PARENT AND FOR A CHILD LIKE ONE OF HER BIRTH OF A CHILD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE STILL NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FULL REGULATIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE IN JANUARY IS WHEN THE FULL REGULATIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
>> WE HAVE TO DO WITHOUT THAT PERSON FOR 12 WEEKS AND STILL HAVE THE JOB?
>> I LIKE THIS MEMORANDUM BECAUSE MAKE THOSE INVOLVED.
YOU DO HAVE SOMEBODY THERE AND IT'S JUST BEEN KEEPING A GOOD EYE ON THINGS?
>> I THINK AS THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE INDICATED ANYTHING WITH THE STATE AND MANAGING SOME OF OUR PLANS AND OTHER ITEMS, WE COLLABORATE WITH THEM AND THAT'S TYPICALLY A STRUGGLE.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND FAITH AND COMMUNICATION.
[00:35:05]
>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REACH SOMEONE AT THIS POINT.
>> MAYBE SLASH, MAY GO ORGANIZATION.
THE CONVERSATION THAT SHARON I HAD ABOUT THIS, I THINK WE BOTH WERE MORE INCLINED TO GO WITH THE MEMBERSHIP FEE OF $5,000.
>> FIVE THOUSAND ANNUAL AND THEN I THINK THERE'LL BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY.
>> THE BENEFITS BE M BEING PAID, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A ADMINISTRATIVE INSURANCE PREMIUM BASICALLY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
>> YES. BUT THE HARD PART IS THE UNKNOWN.
>> THE HARD PART IS THE UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO RECORD KEEP AND FIND OUT WHAT SOMEONE WORKED IN ANOTHER AGENCY.
THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE TALKING ABOUT GOING SELF-INSURED THEIR OWN, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT.
ALSO WITH THIS, YOU HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE STATE TO NOT TAKE THEIR PLAN.
>> RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO PROVE TO THEM THAT YOU HAVE A EQUAL OR BETTER PLAN? YES. IS THERE AN APPROVAL PROCESS? AGAIN, WORKING WITH A BIG COLLABORATIVE GROUP, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT INITIATIVE AND SEND THAT TO THE STATE FOR ON OUR BEHALF AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT APPROVAL TO NOT HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE STATE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE EMPLOYEES OR THEIR EMPLOYER HAVE TO PAY FOR TWO YEARS BASICALLY AND NOT HAVE A BENEFIT.
>> THAT'S JUST, I MEAN, 1.2% OF SALARY IS A LOT MORE THAN A $5,000 ANNUAL PREMIUM RIGHT NOW TO JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP.
>> IT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT CONTRIBUTION IF WE JOIN THIS?
>> THAT'S THE WAY WE TAKE IT. YES.
>> YES. IF WE JOINED THIS, WE WON'T HAVE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE.
WILL BE ACTING LOUD AND BEING APPROVED TO BE OUR OWN PLAN.
>> STEWARD OF YOUR RESUME, REVIEWED THIS.
>> I LIKE IT. YOU CAN PULL THAT ON 30 DAYS NOTICE.
IT'S NOT A PARTNERSHIP, IT'S NOT A CORPORATION.
IT'S WHEN YOU'VE GOT VERY GOOD PLAYERS IN HERE WHO ARE GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT MEANS CAROLINE COUNTY GETS LOOKED OUT FOR AS WELL.
>> I'LL TAKE YOU THIS BECAUSE I GUESS IT'S BEEN SUBMITTED TO ALL THE COUNTIES?
>> YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER ONES.
>> THAT WERE TAKING IT? I DID SEND THAT TO JANE, I APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT LIST RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU THAT I'VE HEARD FROM THEIR GROUP THAT WE'RE TAKING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
>> I BELIEVE I HAD THE LISTING THERE THAT WE HAD.
FREDERICK COUNTY WAS CONSIDERING AT THE TIME THAT I SENT THIS, SEESAW WAS AS WELL HARFORD RECOMMENDED.
CITY OF BALTIMORE HAS RECOMMENDED CALVERT IS JOINING, QUEEN ANNE AND HAS RECOMMENDED AND ST. MARY'S IS RECOMMENDED THIS TO JOIN.
>> HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DID WE HAVE?
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 250 FULL-TIME.
THAT'S I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT PART-TIME EMPLOYEES.
AS WELL, WE WENT THROUGH MARYLAND SICK AND SAFELY WHEN THE STATE ENACTED THAT, WE DID HAVE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT ALSO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT BENEFIT AND WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT WILL WORK OVER 680 HOURS.
>> BUT IT WON'T PUT US OVER THE 499 EMPLOYEES THAT SHOULD NOT?
>> WE FALL INTO $5,000 MEMBERSHIP FEE CATEGORY.
>> DID YOU SAY CAROLINE COUNTY REFORM?
>> CALVERT, CAROL, I DID NOT SEE WHERE THEY HAD AGREED.
THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO JOIN OR NOT.
>> DANNY, WHERE WERE WE PULL THIS FROM?
>> FOR ONE TIME THIS YEAR, WE WOULD PROBABLY TAKE IT OUT OF CONTINGENCY.
>> THEN ANY RE-OCCURRING COSTS WE WOULD BUILD INTO OUR FY25 BUDGET THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>>> THROUGH PAYROLL OR THROUGH SALARY?
OUT OF HR BUDGET, WE CAN BUILD A LINE ITEM THEN.
>> BUT WE WERE PRETTY HEALTHY CONTINGENCY THIS YEAR AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM TO TAKE IT OUT OF THERE FOR THIS YEAR.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER, I CAN'T EVEN FORMULATE A QUESTION FOR SOMETHING THAT'S ROTATING.
>> WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET THIS IS OVERARCHING.
THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT DIRECTED AT STAFF, BUT YOU THINK IT'S HARD TO GET WEIGHTED ON, ON A RESTAURANT NOW OR GET A CARPENTER OR AN ELECTRICIAN.
NOT THAT EVERYBODY SHOULDN'T BE ENTITLED TO 12 WEEKS OFF, BUT YOU THINK WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE NOW,
[00:40:01]
DO YOU THINK TO THINK THAT THERE WILL BE NO ABUSE IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS? LOOK AT WORKMAN'S COMP, HOW MANY PEOPLE GET HURT PLAYING SOFTBALL OR CHANGING A LIGHT BULB AND MIRACULOUSLY HAPPENS TO TURN INTO A WORKMAN'S COMP ISSUE.WE'LL SEE HOW THE STATE POLICES THIS.
BUT MY CONCERN AS A BUSINESS OWNER IS IF I GO OUT AND GET A CONTRACT WITH SAY THE TOWN OF EASTERN TOMORROW AND I'M OBLIGATED TO HAVE THAT CONTRACT FULFILLED BY A CERTAIN DATE AND THE PERSONNEL THAN I WAS EXPECTING TO PUT ON THAT PROJECT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DONE ON TIME, HAVE SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY AND THEY'RE OUT FOR 12 WEEKS.
GUESS WHO'S HOLDING THE BAG TO GET THE PROJECT DONE? IT'S GONG TO BE THE EMPLOYER MAY LIQUIDATE.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE INJURED MYSELF AT WORK AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN A WORKMAN'S COMP BENEFIT BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO.
I JUST FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO IN THE OFFICE.
THIS IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET STUFF DONE ARE GOING TO GET STUCK FLIPPING THE BILL FOR PEOPLE TO ABUSE IT.
I THINK THAT'S AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE DO HAVE DANNY AND MYSELF INCLUDED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY'RE SICK LEAVE FOR MAJOR THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ABUSE THE SICK LEAVE, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL.
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A BENEFIT, SO THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT HOWEVER THEY CAN MOST LIKELY. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T PILE AND HE'S SICK LEAVE WHO ALSO USE THIS ON TOP.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS OUR SICK LEAVE POLICY AND WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THAT AT SOME POINT ONCE WE FIND OUT.
I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FORECAST THE EFFECTS THAT THIS HAS GOT TO HAVE.
BUT IT MAY FORCE US TO REVISIT OUR ACCRUING SICK LEAVE AND HANDLING THAT.
THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE IS THAT NEXT WEEK WE WOULD BRING BACK THESE AGREEMENTS FOR YOU TO AUTHORIZE TO BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SIGNATURE SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM TO ME BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 30TH DATE.
>> WE DON'T NEED TO HOLD ABOUT THEM.
WE JUST NEED TO SAY THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH IT GOING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE VOTE WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK.
I'M FINE WITH IT GOING ON AND CONSENT AGENDA. COMMISSION REPORT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR GETTING OUR BLOOD BOIL IN THESE ROOM.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[8. Consent Agenda:]
>> RYAN WHITE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS IS JUST A PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE PATCHING THAT WE HAD ALREADY APPROVED GRADED, IT'S JUST LUMPING THEM INTO ONE.
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE OF FUNDING SOURCES.
THAT'S JUST THE REMAINDER OF THE BOND MONEY THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY ALREADY GOING, SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT ANOTHER PURCHASE ORDER AND NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE.
>> I KNOW WHAT WILL THE OTHER ONE COME OUT OF, OUT OF BOND AS WELL OR?
>> NO. IT WILL COME OUT OF CAPITAL.
>> THERE ARE OTHER LUMPY THAT WE HAD HERE MARK, WAS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED IN THE 24 BUDGETS.
>> THERE WILL ACTUALLY BE 23 BUDGETS.
>> THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PURCHASE ORDER ON TOP OF THIS ONE FOR ADDITIONAL.
>> THAT'LL BE PATCHING AS WELL OR IS THAT MAIN LINE PAVING?
>> THAT WILL BE PATCHING, MAINLINE PAVING THAT CAME OUT OF RPA.
THAT'S ALL COME OUT ON THE LANE.
>> CHURCH LANE AND CENTRAL AVENUE.
>> CORRECT. THAT MONEY IS ALREADY SET ASIDE.
>> WHAT ROADS ARE WE DOING WITH THIS? DO WE HAVE LEFT TO DO THAT'LL COME OUT OF THIS 677.
>> GARLAND, WE GOT TO FINISH UP.
WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY TWO DAYS LEFT ON GARLAND.
[00:45:02]
A CUSTOMER BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION DOWN ON SHOP TANK THAT WE'RE GO BACK AND TOUCH THAT UP.WE HAVE THE PIPE ISSUE DOWN ON [INAUDIBLE] THAT WOULD NEED TO NEED TO REPAIR, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OUT NICE BOX TOWARDS STATE ROUTE AND AFTER THAT WE'RE GOING TO REGROUP AND SEE WHERE WE GO PROBABLY IN THE SPRING.
>> KNIGHT BOXX, YOU'RE JUST DOING SHOULDERS?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE ROADS THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING MAIN LINE AND WITH THIS LIKE MILO AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE DOWN ON SOUTH TIME?
>> YOU'RE JUST GOING TO DO PATCHING?
>> NOT. JUST AREN'T GOOD, CORRECT.
>> WE FINISHED UP TAR AND CHIPPING AND WE'VE DONE THAT.
>> I WAS TALKING TO THE TOWNSHIP GUYS ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING.
THAT SHOULD BE COMING IN NEXT WEEK, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE RAIN ALL NEXT WEEK.
>> NO TAR AND CHIPPING HAS HAPPENED YET.
TAR AND CHIPPING SHOULD COME IN NEXT WEEK.
>> SO WE DID BEFORE WAS FROM LAST YEAR?
>> FARMERS ARE GOING TO LOVE US.
WE HAVE TAR AND CHIPPING AND RIGHT ONE THERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.
>> THE PHONE CALLS. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT IN SUMMER, IT'S TOO HOT.
>> YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT THERE.
>> IT'S JUST THAT WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR IT HAPPENS? IS IT THE SPRING WHEN THEY'RE PLANTING OR FALL WHEN WE'RE PLANTING.
SUMMER TIME IS TOO HOT, IT JUST BLEEDS.
>> I THINK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT ALL SIDE NOTE BUT FOR NEXT YEAR AT BUDGET I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO INVESTING FORD AND BIG SIGNS, GET A CALL TO THEM AND CERTAIN BIG SIGNS SO YOU WOULD CALL SO WE CAN LET PEOPLE PREPARE INSTEAD OF GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF DAYS NOTICE BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S ON FACEBOOK.
IN TODAY'S WORLD, IT'S ALL OVER WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT.
I JUST THINK I'M LOOKING TO MAYBE PURCHASE FOR THEM SIGN, JUST GET A PRICE [OVERLAPPING] FOR MESSAGE BOARDS.
>> WE HAD A PRE CTP TOUR YESTERDAY.
IT WAS EYE-OPENING IS A COMPLETELY NEW STAFF.
I KNEW NO ONE AT ALL ON THE STATE SIDE THAT WAS THERE.
>> THE TOUR THAT WE DO WITH STATE AS FAR AS THE 404 DUALIZATION, THE ALL CITY LAIGHT, ALL THAT STUFF THAT'S COMING UP IN OCTOBER.
WHEN THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION COMES IN, KENNY FENDER COMES IN AND SO ON.
WE DID A PRE TOUR WHICH WAS SUBMITTED BACK IN APRIL.
SAME THINGS WE'VE HAD ON THERE FOREVER, BUT IT WAS A COMPLETELY NEW STAFF.
THEY'RE FOCUSING VERY MUCH ON EMISSIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A WHOLE LOT ABOUT EMISSIONS, WE HAVE A WHOLE EMISSION CONTROL FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR GRANT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS FAR AS THE EMISSIONS IS CONCERNED.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG PUSH.
WHERE DO WE WANT ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS PLACED AT.
>> [LAUGHTER] LIKE BIKE PATHS.
>> WHERE DO WE WANT OUR BIKE PATHS TO GO? IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING. AFTER THAT I WENT AHEAD AND REACHED OUT.
KENNETH FENDER WAS AT ANOTHER MEETING.
HE WAS NOT AT THIS PARTICULAR ONE SO I REACHED OUT TO KENNY AFTER THE FACT AND HE APOLOGIZED RIGHT ON BEFORE I GOT INTO MY MOUTH.
HE APOLOGIZE TO ME; IT WAS NORMAL TO KENNY, AND HE SAID, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD WE'RE RUNNING A MEETING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE ANYTHING WAS.
ACCORDING TO THEM YESTERDAY, WE HAVE ALL THE PAVING THAT THE STATE HAS DONE TO THIS POINT. THAT'S ALL WE'RE GETTING.
WE'RE GETTING NOTHING ELSE UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THEY'RE DONE WITH US IN CAROLINE COUNTY?
>> NO ROUTE 16, NO HARMONY ROADS.
>> THERE IS HARMONY ROADS AND THEY'RE LISTED THERE AS CONCEPTS/
>> HARMONY ROAD IS GETTING DONE NOW.
>> 578 IS THE LAST ROUTE THEY'RE DOING FOR US UNTIL NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE BETTER HOPE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH SNOW THIS WINTER.
>> I GOT A FEELING OCTOBER 3RD I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL CITIZENS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE.
THEY KNOW ABOUT IT THIS YEAR AND WHEN THEY HANDED OUT THAT FLYER FOR 44, I THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE AT THAT MEETING.
>> DO WE TYPICALLY OPEN AT THE PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> THERE'S THE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DON'T THINK WE OPENED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> DIRECTED AT THE STATES PORTION.
>> THEY DID SAY THEY DEDICATED 500,000 FOR STUDY FOR DUALIZATION OF 44 AND THAT'S
[00:50:06]
16-16 THAT'S SAYING STUDIES GOING ON NOW.IT DIDN'T SOUND VERY PROMISING.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE.
>> BICYCLES DON'T NORMALLY CATCH ON FIRE.
>> WELL, THE CITIZENS FEEL THAT THEY'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO JUST STUDY ALL THESE YEARS, WHY THEY NEED TO DO A STUDY? BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE PRIOR TO.
>> WHEN THEY DID IT NEXT THE SECOND SECTION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT.
>> THEY BOUGHT THE RIGHT-OF-WAY 40 YEARS AGO.
SOMEBODY HAD TO FORCE RUN ON IT.
>> THERE'S YOUR STUDY. BOUGHT THE PROPERTY 40 YEARS AGO BUILDING.
WHILE YOU'RE HERE, THIS IS A COMMISSIONER URBAN DISCUSSION THING, BUT WHILE YOU ARE AT FRONT.
I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM MAURICE AGASTINO FROM MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY REACHING OUT, WANTING TO SET UP A MEETING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT BRIDGE PROGRAM.
HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM HIM? HE HASN'T REACHED OUT TO YOU.
I'VE RESPONDED AND ASKED THEM TO CONTACT JENNIFER TO SET UP A MEETING SO WE COULD DISCUSS SOME OF THESE BRIDGE PROJECTS AND SEE IF THERE WAS ANY FEDERAL FUNDING.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING FORM THAT?
>> JUST FOR AN EMAIL THAT YOU SENT ME.
WE STARTED THAT PROCESS YESTERDAY OF PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.
>> CAN YOU FOLLOW UP WITH HIM?
AIR CRITERIA, WHAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER FOR YOU GUYS IS BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT'S NARROW.
>> ANYTHING IS POSTED NOW THAT'S UNDERWEIGHT LIMITS AND ANYTHING THAT'S CLOSE TO 100-YEARS-OLD OR MORE.
IT SHOULD BE ABOUT; I'M GUESSING NINE TO A DOZEN BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD THE TWO BRIDGES THAT ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.
I HAVE REACHED OUT TO DORCHESTER COUNTY ABOUT THE ONE DOWN SHOP TANK AND THEY HAVE NO DESIRE TO HUNTING CREEK.
>> FAIRLY THREE BRIDGES IS ON THERE.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE FULL LIST YET.
THAT'S JUST A CRITERIA THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WHAT WE HAVE CORRECT AND WEIGHT LIMITS.
>> [INAUDIBLE], THERE WAS A WEIGHT LIMIT ON THERE THAT YOU LOOKED INTO.
>> WE REMOVED OFF OF THAT BRIDGE AND THEY ARE JUST EVALUATING IT.
INSTEAD OF EVERY OTHER YEAR, EVERYBODY ARE WAITING EVERY YEAR NOW BUT TO THIS STAGE IT'S STILL OPEN TO FULL LOOP, BUT THAT BRIDGE I BELIEVE IS FROM 1914 OR 1917.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A WEIGHT LIMIT ON IT RIGHT NOW?
BUT AFTER DOING SOME DIGGING, IT WAS PUT ON THERE FOR POLITICAL REASONS FOR THE TOWN TO KEEP THE TRUCKS OUT OF THE TOWN.
>> HILLSBOROUGH, THIS ONE IS ON OUR ROAD.
>> STATE OVERSEES ALL OF OUR BRIDGES.
THEY DO INSPECTIONS FOR ALL OF OUR BRIDGES, ALL THE DIVING, ALL THE EVERYTHING.
AT SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS, THEY HANDLE ALL THAT FOR THE COUNTIES? WE DON'T DO ANY OF THAT.
THEY KEEP US INFORMED AND WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE DATABASE AND SO ON, AND SO ON BUT WE HAVE REALLY A WHOLE LOT INVOLVEMENT.
>> YOU'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.
I JUST READ FORWARDED THAT EMAIL TO YOU, SO IT SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST BECAUSE I HAD IT UP HERE.
IF YOU DON'T MIND FOLLOWING UP WITH HIM, COORDINATE WITH JEN.
WE CAN GET A MEETING SETUP WHERE WE CAN START TO GET SOME BRIDGES REDONE.
>> ALL THOSE CRITERIA IS OKAY FOR YOU?.
I WOULD START WITH NARROW BECAUSE I'M WORRIED ABOUT AN ACCIDENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONE-WAY BRIDGES ESSENTIALLY OR THE NARROW BRIDGES.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NARROWS AND THEN WEIGHT LIMIT AND THEN AGE.
>> BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> MOTION IN A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[00:55:02]
NEXT UP WE HAVE AN ACTION AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE RAILROAD BRIDGE DEMOLITION.
WHO HAS THE BACKGROUND ON THIS ONE? DEBBIE [LAUGHTER]. DEBBIE BOWDEN, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM.
>> WE ARE COVERING M.EMPLOYEE, SO [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHY THIS CAME TO ME.
MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO GIVE SOME QUICK BACKGROUND, OWNS THE RAIL LINES THERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
THEY LEASE THE ACTIVE LINES TO CAROLINE COUNTY BASED BUSINESS, BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN INACTIVE, MEANING THAT THEY FOLLOWED FAR FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION GUIDELINES, EITHER HAVE BEEN DEEMED INACTIVE OR RAIL BANKED.
IT'S A WHOLE SPECIAL PROCEDURE TO DO SUCH.
THE BRIDGE THAT'S IN THE TOP TANK RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE HAS BEEN DEEMED THAT THERE WOULD NEVER EVER BE ANY MORE FREIGHT RAIL ACTIVITY ON THAT BRIDGE.
IT'S UNSAFE, AND SO M. WOULD LIKE TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANT, I'M ASSUMING THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO DEMOLISH THE BRIDGE.
WOULD TAKE AWAY THE BRIDGE THAT WE SEE TURNED DOWN AND LEAVE OPEN THE WATERWAY THROUGHOUT THAT.
INFORMALLY, THEY HAVE ASKED IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY HEARTBURN ABOUT THEM MAKING THE GRANT APPLICATION.
ONCE THEY MAKE THE GRANT APPLICATION, THERE'S NO OBLIGATION FROM THE COUNTY, THEN THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY DO THE DEMOLITION WOULD BE GO THROUGH CLEARING HOUSE AND THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE ACTIVITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU GENTLEMEN FEEL CAN BE HARMFUL TO THE COUNTY.
THAT'S THE REQUEST, AND THERE WAS BACKGROUND SENT FROM JT THOMAS, WHO IS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH TRANSPORTATION, THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING OFFICE.
HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE FREIGHT RAIL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
I THINK THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR, THE QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS FROM THE COUNTY FOR M. TO MAKE THIS GRANT APPLICATION? IF THERE ARE, THEN I'M HAPPY TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT OR SETUP TIME FOR JT TO COME IN AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER PORTER?
>> WHAT IS THE TIME WHEN THIS TIMEFRAME WHEN THEY HAVE TO HAVE THIS?
>> IT'S NOT URGENT. IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
>> I'M NOT SURE IF THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
IF WE CAN SET UP A HEARING AND HAVE THIS MR. THOMAS HERE, AND PUT IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM.
I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK, BUT THIS IS A PRETTY BIG UNDERTAKING, SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS.
>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN ABANDONED NOW?
>> IT'S BEEN FROM THE '70S I WOULD IMAGINE.
>> IT LOOK LIKE IT LOOKS NOW AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER [LAUGHTER].
>> I'M FINE WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M FINE WITH THAT. JUST TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEM.
>> CAN WE JUST ADVERTISE IT INSTEAD OF HAVING A HEARING? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JUST ADVERTISING AND SEE IF ANYBODY SENDS ANYTHING HERE? IF THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST IN HAVING A PUBLIC COMMENT.
CAN WE DO THAT OR AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE AND IN PUBLIC HEARING AND ALL THAT?
>> WE'LL JUST ASK FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
>> I'M FINE. SOMEONE WILL COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE'LL BE SOMEBODY THAT WILL COME UP WITH A REASON NOT TO TAKE IT DOWN.
THE RAIL TO TRAILS PEOPLE, IN THE BRIEFING, DNR HAS A LEASE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR LEASE STARTS, WHAT MILE MARK IT STARTS AND WHERE IT ENDS, BUT THE BRIDGE IS WITHIN THAT SEGMENT THAT DNR
[01:00:01]
HAS AT LEAST TWO TURN IT INTO A RAILS TO TRAIL, AGAIN, WHICH IS ANOTHER FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION TO DO.I WOULD IMAGINE IF ANYONE HAS A CONCERN, IT WOULD BE THAT AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A COMMENT ABOUT BLACK BASS COMMISSION SENT A LETTER SUGGESTING THE BRIDGE IS IMPORTANT TO THE BLACK BASS POPULATION.
JUST IN MY INFORMATION FROM MR. THOMAS, THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS I THINK WE WOULD HEAR A CONCERN ABOUT.
>> I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM HIM HIS BOARD SOCIETY.
THAT BRIDGE HAS BEEN, I CAN'T IMAGINE HE DOESN'T HAVE SOME OF THE STORIES TO IT.
I THINK THAT AARON FINDS THE CAUTION, WE BETTER GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM, THEN I'M FINE.
>> YOU JUST WANT TO ADVERTISE IT ALL?
>> WE CAN ADVERTISE IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IF WE GET ENOUGH, THEN WE MAY WANT TO HAVE IT HERE.
>> LET'S DO THAT. MY INITIAL THOUGHT IS GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT DOWN.
IT'S EITHER GOING TO ROT AND FALL IN THE RIVER AND BE AN EYESORE EVENTUALLY, WHILE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AND THEY'RE INTERESTED, THAT THING, GO AHEAD AND CLEAN IT UP, BUT.
>> BUT THE ISSUE YOU HAVE IS IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT WHERE NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE IT DOWN, ANY COMPLETED RESPONSIBILITY, WHO'S GOING TO FIX IT UP OR DO WHATEVER WITH IT? THEN IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S GOING TO DETERIORATE MORE.
SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO FALL INTO RIVER.
SOMEBODY HIT SOMETHING OR SOMETHING.
>> WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT PUBLIC COMMENT WE RECEIVE ON IT.
>> COORDINATE WITH MRS WOBBLY.
>> COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
>> QUICK UPDATES ON THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. OUR AUDIT.
CURRENTLY THE AUDITORS HAVE LEFT THE BUILDING AND ARE DOING EVERYTHING AND REVIEW AT THEIR SITE.
[9.County Administrator’s Report]
OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERYTHING OR THEY WILL HAVE EVERYTHING COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR THE UFO AND FILING BY OUR DECEMBER 31ST DEADLINE.I HAVE STRESSED THIS WITH THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN AFTER LAST YEAR'S CONVERSATION, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SEEING THEM IN THE BUILDING AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO DO SOME TYPE OF MAILER FOR EMPLOYEES WITH WORKING WITH HR.
THAT'S IN PROGRESS JERRY AND I HAVE A MEETING COMING UP TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THAT AND WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO REVIEW WITH THE BOARD GOING FORWARD.
OUR FALLS ON THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE I IMAGINE YOU GUYS WANT TO DISCUSS THAT AND COMMISSIONERS DISCUSSION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING DIRECTED FOR ME.
>> NO, I GUESS THAT'S IT AS FAR AS ADMINISTRATORS REPORT.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND BREAK INTO THE MES MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK.
WE HAD A PRETTY LIVELY CONVERSATION WITH MES ABOUT OUR OFFER TO EXTEND THE LANDFILL POTENTIALLY EXTEND THE LANDFILL PENDING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR $4 PER TON HOST FEES STARTING WHEN THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED, AND THEN JUMPING TO A $6 HOUSE FEE AFTER 2030, WHICH IS THE LIFE OF THE END OF OUR REQUIREMENT TO HOST THE LANDFILL.
WE ASKED FOR SOME FINANCIAL INFORMATION BACKUP REGARDING THEIR RECENT BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT THEY PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AT MAYO, WHICH WE DID RECEIVE AN E-MAIL YESTERDAY [OVERLAPPING] THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW YET.
>> I STARTED LOOKING THROUGH IT LAST NIGHT AND I WAS SITTING ON THE COUCH AND SO FAR IT'S JUST BROUGHT UP MORE QUESTIONS.
TODAY I'M PLANNING WE'LL DO IT A FULL DIVE AND TRYING GET SOME IDEAS, JOT IT DOWN.
>> FURTHER QUESTIONS. AT THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION I THINK STAFF,
[01:05:01]
WHICH WAS IN THE MEETING, WAS MARY BRUNELLESCHI, [INAUDIBLE] BARREL, DANNY FOX AND MYSELF FROM CAROLINE.I THINK AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT MEETING, WE FELT LIKE OUR BEST PATH FORWARD WAS TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE AUDITING FIRM TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE IN THE MES'S BOOKS AND ACTUALLY GENERATE A TRUE FIGURE OF WHAT SAVINGS WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE LANDFILL.
WITH THAT, I GUESS WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DO YOU GUYS AGREE WITH THAT? WHAT ARE THOUGHT WAS TO HAVE DANNY AND STEWARD AND MARY WORK ON PUTTING TOGETHER AN RFP TO TRY TO ACQUIRE OR GET PRICING FROM MULTIPLE ACCOUNTING FIRMS SO THAT WE CAN CONTRACT WITH THEM TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO MES'S BOOKS.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> OVER SOMETHING LIKE THAT YOU THINK WOULD CAUSE.
>> IN DISCUSSION, WE'RE THINKING ANYWHERE FROM 10-20,000 DEFINITELY 20 BEING ON THE HIGHER END OF THINGS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE QUESTIONS THAT KEEP COMING UP THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GROUP HAS WERE REALLY NOT RECEIVING THE RESPONSE IN A MANNER THAT WE FEEL IS APPROPRIATE.
A LOT OF THE LINE ITEMS AND WAY THEY PORTRAY THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE SO CONSOLIDATED AND SUMMARIZED.
IT'S HARD TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT CERTAIN LINE ITEMS ARE.
WE GOT INTO A BIG CONVERSATION WITH JUST DEPRECIATION.
YOU WOULD THINK DEPRECIATION AS A WHOLE WAS DEPRECIATION OF ASSETS.
BUT THEIR CONVERSATION, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALSO A PRINCIPAL ON DEBT SERVICE IN THERE.
THERE'S JUST A REAL CONFUSION OF WHAT THE LINE ITEMS REALLY REPRESENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S WITHOUT HAVING SOMEBODY FROM AN OUTSIDE FIRM GO IN THERE AND GO THROUGH THAT AND SPECIFICALLY SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND ASK THEM THE HARD QUESTIONS ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP GETTING THE SAME RESPONSES AND THE SAME ANSWERS THAT WE'RE GETTING NOW.
>> WOULD THEY BE RECEPTIVE TO AN OUTSIDE CONFERENCE?
>> WE DID BRING THIS UP TO MES AND THEIR ANSWERS WERE, OUR BOOKS ARE OPEN.
YOU TELL US WHAT DAY THEY WANT TO COME HERE.
>> THEY'RE OPEN TO AN OUTSIDE AUDITOR, BUT NOT NOT THE FOUR COUNTIES.
>> THEY SEEMED LIKE GOODBYE AND STUART WANTED TO GO OVER THERE TOMORROW.
THEY WOULD ALLOW US TO COME SIT DOWN AND LOOK THROUGH THEIR ITEMS.
LET ME DISCLOSE WHERE IT GOT A LITTLE MORE SPIRITED.
APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT.
THEY RECENTLY KEPT MID SHORE REGIONAL 1 IN EASTERN.
THE FIRST LANDFILL CONSTRUCTED DURING THE AGREEMENT, THEY RECENTLY KEPT IT AND THERE WAS A DISPUTE BETWEEN THEM AND THE CONTRACTOR APPARENTLY.
THEY SETTLE THAT DISPUTE FOR HALF OF THE REQUESTED FEE FROM OUR EXTRA FROM THE CONTRACTOR, I THINK IT WAS 1.2 MILLION.
THEY SETTLED THE LAWSUIT FOR 675,000.
NOW THEIR CLAIM WAS THAT WE DIDN'T PAY FOR IT, THE FOUR COUNTIES DIDN'T PAY FOR IT.
MES PAID FOR IT. MES HAD TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF ANOTHER PROJECT IF WE DIDN'T DO IT.
>> THE COST OF THAT CAME OUT OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED THE CLOSURE/POST CLOSURE LINE OF THE MINIATURE LANDFILL.
THE LANDFILL ITSELF TOOK THE HIT FOR THAT.
BUT THE QUESTION WE HAVE IS, YOU'VE PUT IT UNDER POST CLOSURE/CLOSURE COST, WHICH IS TYPICALLY A LINE ITEM SET ASIDE TO HOLD MONEY FOR FUTURE CLOSURES.
IT'S VERY MISLEADING AND HARD TO SEE WHERE THE TRENDS AND WHAT TYPE OF LINE ITEMS WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT I THINK IT'S LIKE AN $11 MILLION OPERATION THAT HAS EIGHT LINE ITEMS. I MEAN EVEN OUR MOST BASIC BUDGETS ARE FINDING ITS OFFICE MAY HAVE 25.
AGAIN, THIS LEADS INTO THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WE KEEP HAVING ABOUT HOW THIS HAS TRAINED OR SHOW.
>> BUT BEFORE THEY AGREE TO THE SETTLEMENT, THEY DID NOT CONSULT WITH THE COUNTIES, THEY DIDN'T CONSULT WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S.
THEY RELIED ON THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE.
[01:10:01]
THE AGREEMENT SAYS THAT MES RUNS THE OPERATIONS OF THE LANDFILL FOR THE FOUR COUNTIES.I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY HOW INVOLVED WE ARE ALLOWED TO BE PER THAT AGREEMENT.
BUT I THINK THE COUNTIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT SETTLEMENT CONVERSATION.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THAT'S AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT.
>> HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE, LIKE AN ORDER TO DO THAT ONCE WE GOT THE RFP BACK AND WE AGREED UPON [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WE'RE THINKING 3-4 MONTHS TO TRY TO GO THROUGH THIS, IT'S NOT A, UNFORTUNATELY, A SHORT TIME.
BUT ONCE WE HAVE A SCOPE OF WORK ISSUED, WE ISSUE THE RFP, HAVE TO GO THROUGH A VIEW, GET THEM ENGAGED, OR THINK OF PROBABLY 3-4 MONTHS OR SOMETHING.
>> ARE THE OTHER COUNTIES AGREEABLE TO PITCHING THEM FOR THE COST?
>> NONE OF THEM MENTIONED ARE OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO 15.
>> I HAD A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE KENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BEFORE THE MEETING LAST NIGHT AND BROUGHT THAT UP.
[NOISE] SHE THINKS THE WHOLE IDEAS IS GOOD AND SMART AND I THINK THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO CONTRIBUTING.
I THINK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS SHOW THEM WHAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SHOWN IN THE PAST AND THEY WILL PERK UP.
THE AUDIT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT LIKE THE AUDIT THAT DANNY'S OFFICE JUST WENT THROUGH.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A TARGETED AUDIT WITH OUR OBJECTIVE BEING FAIRLY ACCURATE SCOPE OF THE SAVINGS THAT SHOULD STAY IN CAROLINE IF WE EXTEND NOT TO FIND EVERY MISCALCULATION OR MISREPORTING THAT MES IS PROBABLY BEEN DOING, RATHER FOCUS ON OUR MISSION RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS TO GET ACCURATE NUMBERS FAIRLY ACCURATE AS TO WHAT THE SAVINGS WILL BE.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE'D BEEN ASKING MES TO HELP US MAKE THAT CALCULATION OR TO MAKE IT FOR US OR WHATEVER.
AS DAN MENTIONED, THE ACCOUNTING FIGURES WE SEE ON THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE VAGUE AND I KNOW INACCURATE IN THE SENSE OF WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE SHOWING DEPRECIATION ON A NON-PROFITS FINANCIAL SHEET.
THEY HIDE BEHIND OLS GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRACTICES? WELL, YES.
BUT NOT FOR A NON-PROFIT THAT IS MANAGING FOUR COUNTIES PROPERTY MONEY.
>> THEY'RE DEPRECIATING THE LINER, THEY'RE, DEPRECIATING THE EARTH'S WORK, THEY'RE DEPRECIATING THE PROPERTY.
YOU DON'T DEPRECIATE EQUIPMENT UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A TAX RETURN WHERE YOU'RE PAYING TAXES.
>> THEY'RE NOT. WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN GETTING ALL THESE YEARS IS A CASHFLOW STATEMENT, BASICALLY, MONEY IN AND WHERE WE'VE BEEN SPENDING IT EACH MONTH OR EACH YEAR, A REPORT TO YOU ALL.
>> I THINK THAT ITEMS LIKE THAT ARE WHAT WE WOULD OUTLAY AND A SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE AN ORDER QUOTAS ON SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC LIKE THAT MAY COST LESS THAN THE TEN OR 20.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND THAT RANDOM ERROR ESTIMATES.
>> WELL, WHAT IS OUR CONTINGENCY PLAN IF THEY TRIED TO STONEWALL THE AUDITOR'S JUST LIKE THEY HAVE US? WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE US THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO OPEN CULTURAL, BUT I CAN SAY [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF STUFF.
BUT I MEAN WHAT IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION?
>> THIS WAS A QUESTION THAT THE THREE OF US HERE STARTED THROWING AROUND AS WELL.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE SEND THE FIRM OUT THERE AND THEY LOCKED THE DOOR AND SAY, SORRY, HAVE A GOOD DAY? I THINK WE START DIVING ESSENTIALLY INTO THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT AND WHAT POWERS THEY DO AND DON'T HAVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN 33 YEARS OF UNDERSTANDING A 33-YEAR-OLD DOCUMENT WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY GOING THROUGH IT WITH A COMB AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT POWERS THEY DO HAVE,
[01:15:01]
DON'T HAVE AND THEN ENFORCING WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO.I THINK LEGALLY STILL HAVE AN OPINION THAT.
>> THEIR FIDUCIARY [NOISE] THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIDE AND CONCEAL.
THERE ISN'T AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS STATE, THEY WOULD THINK THAT THEY DO WITH THEIR TRACK RECORD OF MR. MCGRATH, CHAIRMAN OF THEIR BOARD, CHAMPIONING HIS $400,000 PAY OFF SEVERANCE PAY, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW BEING TRYING TO BE RECOVERED DOWN IN FLORIDA IN A BANK ACCOUNT WHERE THAT 400 GRAND COME FROM.
WHAT WAS OUR SHARE OF THAT? THEY ARE A NON-PROFIT WHOLLY OWNED BY THE STATE.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S WATCHING THE WATCHER IN THIS CASE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO SETS THEIR SALARIES. THEMSELVES?
>> I'M SURE THEY'RE VERY WELL COMPENSATED.
>> BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AUDITING FIRM.
IT JUST IS IRRITATING TO ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY TO GET INFORMATION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
>> IT JUST HASN'T BEEN PRESENTED IN A FORMAT THAT'S EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE FOR US.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HIRING THE AUDITING FIRM TO GATHER AT COMPILE IT IN A WAY IN A FORMAT THAT WE CAN INTERPRET, UNDERSTAND, AND VERIFY.
>> EVEN NOT TO GET OFF INTO THE WEEDS ABOUT THIS, THE INFORMATION THAT I DID CLICK INTO SPECIFICALLY ALL THE DEPRECIATION BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE CLARITY OF QUESTIONS WE'VE BROUGHT UP.
IT WAS LUMP-SUM FOR EQUIPMENT, DEPRECIATION OF EQUIPMENT, MONTH OF JULY, $10,000.
WELL, WHAT EQUIPMENT IS JULY, AUGUST EQUIPMENT 10,000.
[NOISE] IT JUST AGAIN OPENS MORE QUESTIONS AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THE THREE OF US CONTINUING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OR EMAIL SEEMS TO BE GETTING NOWHERE.
>> IF YOU GUYS ARE THE THREE ARE OKAY WITH GOING FORWARD WITH THIS INTERNALLY, I CAN START WORKING WITH OUR PURCHASING COORDINATOR, WELL OBVIOUSLY LUPIN MARY STUART, AND WE CAN START GETTING TOGETHER WHAT A SCOPE OF WORK WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR.
>> WOULD EVENTUALLY ONCE THE PURCHASE.
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING FORWARD WELL, IF IT STAYED UNDER THE 40,000, WE COULD INTERNALLY.
BUT YEAH, I THINK AS LONG AS WE UNDERSTAND THE BOARD'S DIRECTION, WE SHOULD BE FINE.
>> IF IT'S OVER 20,000, BRING IT BACK TO US.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT, YOU'VE GOT THAT?
I GUESS WE'LL CONTINUE ON MORE COMMON IN COUNTY COMMISSIONER URBAN DISCUSSING PERIOD HERE. COMMISSIONER PORTER.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM STEVE WISE ABOUT THE PROCESS.
HE AND BRUCE BEARING HAD REACHED OUT TO THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE 2024 NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION CODE 855, WHICH WILL INCLUDE BATTERY STORAGE.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING THIS SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SEPARATE LEGISLATION FOR IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS ON THAT THROUGH THEM.
I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH LIBRARY REPRESENTATIVES, MRDC LAST WEEK.
[10. County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
WE'RE STILL BATTLING AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS AND WILL BE BATTLING HEAT PROBLEMS. GOT A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL FROM DEBBIE SAYING THAT GAN IN REFRIGERATION WAS ABLE TO GET THE UNIT SERVING THE LIBRARY BACK UP TO 50%.BOTTOM LINE IS MRDC OWNS THE BUILDING AND AS THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE SPACE THAT WE LEASE.
THEY HAVE RECEIVED SOME FUNDING FOR THE ROOF, BUT APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DO THE ROOF AND REACHED OUT TO DELEGATE GRACE TO SEE IF THAT MONEY COULD BE REALLOCATED TO THE HVAC UNITS, I THINK THEY'RE SEVEN UP THERE ON THE ROOF.
[01:20:04]
WHERE ARE WE? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS SITUATION HAS GOT TO BE RESOLVED AND WE'RE I'M NOT GOING TO SET UP ROUND AND HAVE OUR STAFF UP THERE HAVING TO CLOSE THAT AREA BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BEING PROVIDED HVAC UNITS OR WE GOT WATER DRIPPING ON US FROM A LEAKING ROOF.THE LEAST EXPLORATION, I THINK STEWART ON THAT SPACE COMES UP IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> WE GOT SOME SERIOUS TALKING TO DO BEFORE WE'RE GOING TO START BEFORE I'M GOING TO AGREE TO RENEW THAT LEASE IF THESE THINGS AREN'T ADDRESSED.
>> WELL, WHAT I WAS THINKING WAS I ACTUALLY DID GIVE THEM A NAME OF A ROOFER, RUFF'S ROOFERS DOWN IN QUEENS DOWN TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET A PRICE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD CONSIDER FIXING THE HVAC IN RETURN FOR LEASE REDUCTION, RENT REDUCTION, MOVING FORWARD TO RECOUP THE COST, TO KEEP US THERE.
I KNOW MRDC IS A NON-PROFIT, THEY'RE NOT A BUILDING LEASE SPECIALIST, THEY'RE NOT A TYPICAL LANDLORD FROM THAT ASPECT, I DON'T THINK.
BUT I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO IF WE HAD TO FIX THE HVAC DOING THAT IN RETURN FOR A LEASE REDUCTION BECAUSE I THINK OUR LEASE SAYS THAT WE HAVE NO RENT AFTER THE TWO YEARS OR WHEN IT EXPIRES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN GET THE ROOF.
>> WELL, THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS MONEY, THEY'VE HAD $300,000 THAT THEY REALLY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH, EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
AT THIS POINT I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SPEND MONEY ON A BUILDING WE DON'T KNOW.
I'M ALL FOR HELPING AND I'M ALL FOR DOING WHAT WE CAN BUT IT JUST SEEMS OTHER THAN HAVING MEETINGS, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE TO ME WE'RE STUCK IN THE SAME PLACE.
I BELIEVE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN AND I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL THE INTENTION FROM DELEGATE GRACE WAS THAT THAT ROOF BE REMOVED AND THAT'S JUST A TYPICAL STANDARD A-FRAME ROOF BE PUT ON.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHAT HE INDICATED BECAUSE I GOT HIM ON THE PHONE DURING OUR CONVERSATION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'LL EVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT ROOF LINE WITH ALL OF THE ANGLES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL EVER BE ABLE TO GET THAT THING DONE.
BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR THAT THEY CONTACTED, THE ONE I THINK THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO REACH TOLD HIM THAT THAT WASN'T NEARLY ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THEN YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM OF DO YOU DO THE ROOF AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SYSTEMS ALL AT THE SAME TIME? MAKE SENSE. BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER WE CAN WAIT.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO CLOSE THAT LIBRARY TO PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE THE CENTRAL BRANCH CLOSED.
WE CAN'T HAVE THAT LIBRARY BRANCH CLOSED BECAUSE OF HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING.
THE POINT THAT I TRIED TO MAKE WAS I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, BUT I KNOW ABOUT BEING A LANDLORD AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS FAR AS WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE.
AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING AND A ROOF THAT DOESN'T DRIP ON YOU.
I'M ALL FOR HELPING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS THEIR PROBLEM.
>> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT FOR ME TO DO IT.
BUT IF WE COULD EXTEND THE LEASE AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT, IT WOULD BE CHEAPER THAN BUYING ANOTHER FACILITY OR RELOCATING AND ENTERING INTO ALL THAT.
I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE AS AN OPTION TO TRY TO KEEP US WHERE WE ARE NOW IF THEY CAN GET THOSE ISSUES RESOLVED.
>> THERE AREN'T A LOT OF OPTIONS.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR SPACE.
CERTAINLY MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO KEEP IT WHERE IT IS, BUT WE JUST CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
WE JUST CAN'T KEEP, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND THE BOAT HEARING SPEED LIMIT HEARING IS COMING UP ON SEPTEMBER 26.
[01:25:05]
PLAN TO GO, COMMISIONER BARTZ?>> WE'LL SEE. I TALKED WITH THE BOAT ACTION ADVISORY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN A FEW DAYS AGO AND HE SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HEARING TO SOLICIT INPUT AND THE DECISION WOULD BE MADE BY THE DNR SECRETARY.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT ONE.
THERE IS SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION TO DOING THIS FOR THE ENTIRE DISTANCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS FROM DENTON TO GREENSBORO.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP AND EXPRESS OUR OPINION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S THE ANSWER.
WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE SAFE VOTING AND IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NARROW PARTS OF THE RIVER, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, BUT NOT THE ENTIRE LENGTH JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I ATTENDED A PORTION OF THE MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR JACK WALSH ON SUNDAY, DELIBERATE HOUR PROCLAMATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS CROWD THERE.
I THINK IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THE IMPACT THAT JACK HAD ON THIS COUNTY AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE ON THIS COUNTY FOR THE WORK AND DEDICATION THAT HE ACTUALLY DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO PRESERVING HISTORY AND IMPACTING THIS COUNTY.
IT WAS EXTREMELY GRATIFYING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP.
I COULDN'T PUT A NUMBER ON IT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY FOR THAT.
IT WAS A VERY NICE EVENT FOR VERY DESERVING PERSON.
WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW, I GUESS THE CHESAPEAKE.
>> DISCUSSION. I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR LATER, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE, PRESIDENT.
>> I HAVE ENOUGH FOR SURE RAISING MEETING TOMORROW.
ANYTHING? WE'LL BE ON HOLD ON THE BUILDINGS FOR DCT AND PERHAPS BUILDING, CORRECT?
>> I'LL TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE WHERE WE ARE.
>> YEAH. WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH [OVERLAPPING] VCT.
>> I KNOW. I DID GET AN INVITE THROUGH SCOTT WARNER FROM MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
TOMORROW THERE'S A, I CAN'T MAKE IT, IT'S A ZOOM MEETING ABOUT THE WHITSETT CENTER.
IF YOU WANT TO SIT IN, I CAN FORWARD YOU THE EMAIL, BUT I HAVE A PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT.
I'LL FORWARD IT TO YOU IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. THAT'S JUST FOR ME.
>> OKAY. I GUESS THE LAST THING IS THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
>> OKAY. WELL, LET'S TAKE A SHORT RECESS.
WE'LL COME BACK AND WE'LL UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, QUEEN ANNE BUILDING DISCUSSION.
[01:35:50]
WELCOME BACK. I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.[01:35:54]
THE LAST MAJOR ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS, LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A ZOOM MEETING ADVERTISED WHERE ALL OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS, OR THE MAJORITY, THERE WERE SOME NOT PRESENT FROM THE FIVE COUNTIES INVOLVED IN THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AGREEMENT, CAME TOGETHER AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE QUEEN ANNE BUILDING.MAJOR TAKEAWAYS WERE THAT DORCHESTER PRETTY MUCH DISCLOSED THAT THEY WERE A NO ON THE PROJECT.
IT IS A $79 MILLION BUILD FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MISSED THE SEPTEMBER 5TH MEETING WHERE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE CAME IN AND PRESENTED.
SINCE THAT MEETING, WE WERE PROVIDED WITH, BASICALLY, A DEBT SCHEDULE OR A PROJECTED DEBT IF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WERE TO TAKE OUT A BOND ON THE LOCAL SHARE.
IT WAS A $79 MILLION BUILD, 75% OF WHICH IS STATE-FUNDED, 25% IS LOCAL-FUNDED.
OF THAT 25%, CAROLINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 19.3% OF THE BILL, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR POPULATION IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER FIVE COUNTIES' POPULATION.
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING FORMULA IS DETERMINED BY COUNTY POPULATION, WHEREAS SOME OF THE OPERATING FUNDING IS DETERMINED BY ENROLLMENT FROM THE COUNTY IN CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
I THINK TALBOT COUNTY WAS PRETTY CLEAR YES LAST NIGHT.
QUEEN ANNE HAS ALREADY VOTED AS YES TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
SO FAR THE UNANNOUNCED WOULD BE KENT COUNTY AND CAROLINE COUNTY, US.
OUR SHARE COMES OUT TO BE, DANNY, I'VE GOT 3,892,000, BUT THAT'S WITH DEBT SERVICE INCLUDED.
WHAT IS THE FIGURE WITHOUT GOING TO BOND?
>> WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT FULL $3,816,178.
>> THAT'S NUMBER, THE 3,892,501 IS INCLUDES THE BOND.
>> CORRECT. [NOISE] THEY'VE NOTED THAT IT'S COI, WHICH IS COST OF ISSUANCE FOR TAKING OUT THE BOND.
SO I WOULD ASSUME WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT IF WE WERE NOT PARTAKING IN THE ISSUANCE.
>> OKAY. OUR PORTION, IF WE PAID IT OUTRIGHT, WOULD BE 3,816,000 AND SOME CHANGE.
IF WE TAKE THE BOND OUT, THE PRINCIPAL WOULD BE 3,892,501, AND THE INTEREST AT 5% WOULD BE $2,354,386 IN INTEREST.
THE TOTAL COST, IF WE BORROW THE MONEY FOR THE PROJECT OVER 20 YEARS, WOULD BE $6,246,887.83.
THAT WOULD BREAK DOWN TO A YEARLY PAYMENT OF $312,344 FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR 20 YEARS STARTING AFTER 2026.
THAT IS ON TOP OF THE H PACK BUILDING
[01:40:02]
THAT WE CURRENTLY PAY APPROXIMATELY $110,000 ON.THAT WILL PUT OUR PAYMENT FOR FACILITIES AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AT 422,000 ROUGHLY UNTIL 2034 WHEN THE H PACK BUILDING DROPS OFF.
I'M OTHER MAJOR TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT WHERE THAT ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE CALL WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT.
THEY FELT THAT THE PROJECT IS NEEDED, WHICH IT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED WE TOURED THE FACILITY.
THANK YOU. I THINK I HEARD IT WAS BUILT IN 1976.
BUT THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT ABILITY TO PICK UP THE LOCAL SHARE.
DELEGATE GREY SPOKE ABOUT POTENTIALLY BEING ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE, AND POTENTIALLY EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP OFFSET THE LOCAL SHARE BUT IT'S LIKE TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH.
IF WE TURN IN THE LETTER OF INTENT TO FUND THE PROJECT AND THAT FUNDING DOES NOT COME THROUGH, WE ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE OUR PORTION OF THE LOCAL SHARE.
I AGREE WITH THE CONSENSUS OF EVERYONE ON THE CALL THAT THE BUILDING IS IS NEEDED, BUT I'M NOT SURE YET HOW IT FALLS INTO MY PRIORITY LIST.
WE HAVE ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS IS, AND I WANT TO GET A FEW MORE ANSWERS FROM THE COLLEGE BEFORE I VOTE ON IT.
IS HOW MUCH OUR LOCAL CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FACILITY DURING THE DAY? IF WE CAN POOL OUR RESOURCES WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND POTENTIALLY OFFER CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION THAT WE ALONE COULDN'T JUSTIFY DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST FROM STUDENTS.
MAYBE WE COULD DIVERSIFY OUR OFFERINGS AND HAVE POTENTIALLY FOUR OR FIVE STUDENTS FROM CAROLINE, FOUR OR FIVE FROM QUEEN ANNE, FOUR OR FIVE FROM TALBOT, COUPLED FROM KENT, AND JUSTIFY ENOUGH INTEREST TO ADD ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION COURSES.
ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER TRADES, HAVING A BETTER FACILITY TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE OUR EXISTING TRAITS THAT WE OFFER AT OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL.
BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE PETALS BERG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT PART OF THAT SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1930S.
WE HAVE LOCKERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE HAVE DENTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN WE HAVE ORIGINALLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED IN THE '70S AS WELL.
WE HAVE A CCTC BUILDING AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1960S.
NOT TO MENTION, WE HAVE A DETENTION CENTER BUILD LOOMING ON THE HORIZON WHETHER WE SEE THIS REGIONAL AGREEMENT THROUGH.
I'M CONCERNED WITH OUR ABILITY TO TAKE ON THIS MUCH DEBT.
I DON'T WANT A HAMSTRING FUTURE BOARDS WITH A $312,000 PAYMENT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A LINE ITEM THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER AND THEY WILL BE FORCED TO FUND, AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BLUEPRINT.
THAT BRINGS EVERYONE UP-TO-DATE ON HOW THAT MEETING WENT.
I KNOW MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE SOME DIFFERING OPINIONS.
I'M ON THE FENCE WITH THIS, AND I'M GOING TO DO A LOT MORE RESEARCH INTO NEXT WEEK.
THIS IS POPPED UP TWO WEEKS AGO, AND IT'S TAKING A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF THOUGHT.
I'VE REALLY DWELLED ON THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS IN PARTICULAR, ABOUT TAKING ON THIS CONDUIT DEBT.
>> BUT MR. PAUL DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY [NOISE] I AM IN PRETTY MUCH THE OPPOSITE PLACE ON THIS THAT I WAS ON THE H PACK BUILDING.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AROUND, [NOISE] I DID NOT SUPPORT THE H PACK BUILDING WHEN IT WAS DONE, HOWEVER MANY YEARS AGO AND IT WAS SIMPLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T DISAGREE WITH A NEED FOR IT.
I JUST DID. WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
I THINK THROUGH BETTER MONEY MANAGEMENT, THROUGH BETTER BUDGETING.
[01:45:05]
AGAIN, MONEY MANAGEMENT, I THINK WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL POSITION WHERE WE CAN HANDLE THIS.IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WE ALL, ME IN PARTICULAR SITS AROUND AND COMPLAINS ABOUT THE EASTERN SHORE DONE, PARTICULARLY THE FIVE COUNTIES THAT WE WORK WITH THAT WE DON'T GET ANYTHING.
JUST BE COLLEGE'S SECOND ON THIS PRIORITIZED LIST AND THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PROJECT FROM THE EASTERN SHORE THAT'S LOCATED THAT'S LISTED ON HERE.
I THINK WHILE THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE, WE SHOULD UTILIZE IT.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT [NOISE] WE CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND DORCHESTER IS POSITION.
BUT KEEP IN MIND, DORCHESTER HAS A TRADE SCHOOL, AND THEY ALSO HAVE A CAMPUS FOR CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, WHICH WE DON'T.
THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED OR ELECTRICAL, WELDING, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, HVAC, AGRICULTURE, CONSTRUCTION TRADES, MARINE TRADES, CULINARY SKILLED TRADES, OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE.
THESE ARE THE EXACT JOBS THAT WE HEAR, DEBBIE, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY NEED PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DO.
WHAT I ANTICIPATE WOULD BE THAT IF THESE STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING THIS TRAINING AND THE CERTIFICATIONS, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IN THIS COUNTY AND NOT HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE FROM WORK.
I THINK IN LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN THAT DANNY HAS GIVEN US.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BOND THE ENTIRE AMOUNT.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH YOU.
COMMISSIONER BREEDING 100% IN BURDENING FUTURE GROUPS.
WE GOT BURDENED WITH [LAUGHTER] DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE, AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS WHEN HE'S SAYING STRETCH OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO A PORTION OF THIS ANYWAY.
I'M ALSO CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ABILITY OF DELEGATE GRACE TO GET SOME BLUEPRINT CREDIT FOR THIS.
I'M NOT COUNTING ON YOU NOT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE CAN DO IT.
I JUST DON'T COUNT ON THINGS THAT ARE NOT CONCRETE, THINGS THAT WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING BY.
YOU PLAN FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION.
AGAIN, I'M A LITTLE BIT FLABBERGASTED BY THE NUMBER.
I MEAN, WE BUILT A SCHOOL OR AN ENTIRE SCHOOL FOR 56 MILLION AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING HERE FOR 79.
I REALIZED THE ROPE THEY'RE OPERATING WITH NUMBERS THAT ARE PROJECTED, AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THE LETTER OF INTENT IS SEPTEMBER 28, I BELIEVED.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, DO ALL THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE TO DO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU.
>> I TOO I'M CONCERNED WITH THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THE UPSWING AND THE PRICE ROOM, WOULD SAY 56 PER DEGREES FOR SCHOOL, LARRY.
>> TODAY, 80 MILLION IS PROBABLY HAS TO DO WITH ELECTRICAL RUNNING, HEAVIER WIRE FOR WELDERS.
YOU HAVE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR WELDING IN MOTORS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I'VE IMAGINED THAT QUITE A BIT OF A MISTAKE ON THAT.
I'M JUST AFRAID MIGHT NOT HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN, TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY YOUTH.
WE TALK OVER AND OVER AGAIN, KIDS LEAVING.
THIS MIGHT ENTICE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE COMMUNITY AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THEIR FUTURE.
BUT I WILL SAY I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DEBT TO FUTURE BOARDS AND THE CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.
I DO FIND IT PROMISING THAT THE STATE PUT THIS AS A TOP PRIORITY IN THEIR LINE ITEMS FOR SCHOOLS
[01:50:01]
AND AT CHESAPEAKE IS THE ONLY ONE ON THE SHORE THAT THEY SEEM WHEN THEY INVEST IN THE FUTURE HERE.I DO LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BOND AND ALL THIS OUT AND TAKING A PORTION OF IT AND PAYING IT OUT, OR EVEN MAYBE TO PAY AT ALL IF DELICATE GRACE CAN'T COME THROUGH WITH HIS ABILITY TO GET IT FROM THE STATE.
I SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO DO SOME MORE INVESTIGATION, GET SOME MORE QUESTIONS, AND GO FROM THERE.
DO YOU KNOW WHETHER CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE KEEPS STATISTICS ON ITS GRADUATES? THAT WOULD TELL US HOW MANY GRADUATES, PARTICULARLY THE TECH GRADUATES, EITHER RESIDE OR WORKING IN CAROLINE COUNTY? TO ME AN INTERESTING STATISTIC TO HAVE.
>> THEY CURRENTLY KEEP ROLL OF THE ENROLLEES AND I IMAGINED GRADUATES LIVE FURTHER OPERATING FORMULA.
THEY SHOULD BE A TEASE OUT WHAT PROGRAM THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE LISTED THEM.
THINK SOMETHING, THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PARAMEDICS AND EMT PROGRAM ABOUT WHERE THEY GO.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT PROGRAM PRETTY WELL WITH HIRING PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTY AND KEEPING THEM HERE.
BUT I THINK ALL OF US TALK WITH CONTRACTORS, ELECTRICIANS AND HVAC PEOPLE.
WHAT I HEAR IS, I JUST CAN'T FIND THE PEOPLE.
I CAN'T FIND THE TRAINED CERTIFIED PEOPLE.
I THINK AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE TO SPEND THE MONEY, I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY.
I UNDERSTAND THE DECISIONS AND I DO FOR THE OTHER COUNTIES BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT ON THE PREVIOUS ISSUE, SIMILAR TO THIS, WE GOT OUT VOTED AND WE GOT HANDED THE BILL.
IT HAPPENS AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A PROVISION THAT WAS INTRODUCED SOME YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID THE HVAC BUILDING TO GO TO A SUPER MAJORITY IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS THIS TYPE OF EXPENDITURE.
I THINK CAROLINE COUNTY WAS THE ONLY COUNTY THAT REALLY SUPPORTED THAT, WOULD HAVE MEANT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE FOUR VOTES INSTEAD OF THREE.
BUT IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE, TOUGH DECISION.
I KNOW WE GOT AN E-MAIL FROM DR.
COPPER SMITH WHO WAS LOOKING INTO THE LETTER OF INTENT BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WAS THAT THIS WAS NOT BINDING.
BUT SOMEONE LAST NIGHT SAID THAT IT WAS.
HE'S GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT SOME MORE.
>> THE LETTER OF INTENT IS A STATEMENT OF INTENTION AND IT'S NOT A BINDING CONTRACT TO SIGN IT.
IT WOULD BE EASILY AMENDED FOR SOMEONE TO PUT NON IN FRONT OF BINDING.
IN OTHER WORDS, NON-BINDING LETTER OF INTENT, THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, JUST LETTER OF INTENT.
YOU CAN JUST PUT THE WORD IS NON-BINDING, WHICH IS STANDARD IN THE CONTRACTING WORLD.
A NON-BINDING LETTER OF INTENT IS SIMPLY A STATEMENT THAT WERE IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY INCLINED TO ASSUMING ALL THE PAPERS THE WAY WE THINK THEY WILL, THAT WE WILL BE WILLING TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AT THAT TIME.
I HEARD THAT TOO. I THINK THAT'S BASED ON CUSTOM, THAT IF YOU SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH THE LOCAL APPROPRIATION.
>> I THINK THE WAY THAT IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME WAS THAT THE LETTER OF INTENT WAS INSTITUTED BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN AGREEMENTS THAT HAD BEEN MADE AND THEN THE SCOPE OF THE WORK GOT CHANGED.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC TO THESE NUMBERS.
I THINK IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SOMEONE CAN'T GO IN AND SAY, IT'S NOT A 79 BILLION, IT'S 179 MILLION DOLLAR BILL.
I THINK IT WAS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
BUT THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HAVE ANY EFFECT.
I WOULD CERTAINLY PREFER IF WE CAN ADD NON-BINDING.
[01:55:04]
I THINK THAT OPINION LAST NIGHT CAME FROM WHETHER IT WAS BINDING OR NOT, CAME FROM A COMMISSIONER FROM ANOTHER COUNTY WHEN IT DIDN'T COME FROM AN ATTORNEY.IF WE COULD DO THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> THERE'S A DEADLINE COMING UP, ISN'T THAT?
>> WE HAVE TO DO IT. STAFF WILL HAVE TO GET THE LETTER READY FOR CONSENTED GENOA AT OUR NEXT MEETING FOR US TO VOTE ON THE LETTER.
>> THAT MIGHT BE A VERY REASONABLE EMAIL TO SEND A DR. COPPER SMITH AND ASK IF THOSE WORDS CAN BE PLACED IN THEIR NON-BINDING.
>> JUST IT ELIMINATES ANY QUESTIONS.
BECAUSE AT THIS STAGE AND WE HAVE DEFINITE OTHER PLANS.
I MEAN, HAVE THEY BEEN SPECKED OUT.
>> NO, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED DESIGN.
GUESS IS BY A STATE FORMULA IS WHAT DR. COPPER SMITH LAID OUT.
>> PROGRAMMING SPACE, THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THEY HAVE SQUARE FOOTAGE RATES THAT THEY DO AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WAS DETERMINED BY THE STATE.
THEY DETERMINED THE 90,000 SQUARE FEET BY THEIR FORMULA.
>> I THINK WHAT I TOOK FROM THE CONVERSATION, THE 79 WAS WITH A PRETTY HEALTHY ESCALATOR FORMULA, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE THE HIGH END OF THE PROJECT.
BUT TYPICALLY ANYTHING LIKE THIS THAT COMMITS FUNDING.
I MEAN, THE COUNTY HAS NEVER ON THE HOOK UNLESS THEY'RE STRIKING IT AT A BUDGET RESOLUTION COMMITTING SIGNING.
I AGREE THAT TWO WORDS COULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE CONFUSION.
>> NOT TO REPEAT THE SAME THING, BUT I'VE LIVED MY LIFE BY THE STANDARD THAT YOU FINANCE YOUR NEEDS AND YOU PURCHASE YOUR TOYS OR YOUR WANTS.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH THIS PROJECT IS NEEDED, I DON'T THINK IT'S NEEDED.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT A NECESSITY.
I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF HEARTBURN WITH FINANCING THIS NEEDS OR DETENTION CENTER.
GOT US AN ABSOLUTE NEED OF ERRORS.
THAT HAS TO TAKE PRIORITY OVER THIS FOR ME.
NEED IS LOCKED THEM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT'S OVERCROWDED, IT'S OLD. IT'S A NEED.
THEN PROBABLY DENTON ELEMENTARY.
A MAJOR CONVERSATION THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE OVER THE NEXT WEEK IS, HOW MUCH IS RCCTC PROGRAM.
OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM, GOING TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS FACILITY AND WILL IT ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR US TO BUILD ONE HERE? PART OF THE PROBLEM IS IN THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION IN KERWIN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT MANDATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE AT OUR LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION.
HOW WILL THIS HELP US IMPLEMENT THAT KERWIN BLUEPRINT RESPONSIBILITY? WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS BEHIND ON DEVELOPING THE REGULATIONS, WHICH IS NO SURPRISE.
THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION ARE LOOKING THROUGH THE LEGISLATION AND TRYING TO DRAW A CONCLUSIONS FROM THE LEGISLATIONS WITHOUT THE REGULATORS INPUTS AS OF YET.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME DOWN WITH AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION DO.
WITH THAT IT'S HARD TO KNOW IF THIS REGIONAL FACILITY IS GOING TO FILL THOSE NEEDS AND HELP ALLEVIATE THAT BUT IF WE DO THIS AND THEN WE HAVE OUR BOARD COME BACK TO US AND SAY, WE NEED A CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION BUILDING AS WELL.
I THINK OVER THE NEXT WEEK, I'M REALLY GOING TO TRY TO DRAW DOWN ON HOW WILL OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS FACILITY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR SELLING POINT FOR ME.
BUT WE WILL WORK ON THIS AND WE HAVE THE LETTER READY FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND WE'LL ADDRESS IT THEN.
>> WE'LL BREAK THE LETTER OUT AS AN ACTION ITEM SO IT'S NOT WON'T END WITH
[02:00:03]
THE NORMAL CONSENT AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE, SOUNDS LIKE STEWART HAS A HOMEWORK WITH A NONBINDING.IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOU WANT GENERAL MYSELF TO REACH OUT ON OUR BEHALF TO DO JUST LET US KNOW AND WE'LL TRY TO GET ANSWERS BEFORE NEXT TUESDAY.
>> WELL, YOU DID THIS SPREADSHEET HERE, DANNY, WHERE IT SHOWS THE $312,000 BOND FOR THIS PROJECT IN 20.
LET'S GO TO 2027 AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A POTENTIAL LOCKERS AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL LOAN IN THAT YEAR AS WELL.
>> WHAT IF WE ADDED A DETENTION CENTER LOAN? THAT'S GOING TO PUT US?
>> DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF THE LOAN.
>> BECAUSE THEORETICALLY, THAT DETENTION CENTER CONVERSATION THAT COULD BE COMING ONLINE ABOUT 2027. [OVERLAPPING].
>>THE SAME TIME, SO JUST FOR CONTEXT, TYPICALLY OR PER OUR COUNTY RESOLUTION OUR DEBT SERVICE IS CENTRALLY REQUIRED TO STAY UNDER 10% OF OUR BUDGET SO IN THE SHEET THAT I'VE GIVEN THE BOARD, WE HAVE THAT PERCENTAGE AND WE'RE WE'RE CURRENTLY TRACKING WITH THE ESTIMATES THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN FOR THE BOND FOR CHESAPEAKE.
WE'RE ESTIMATING LOCKER MEN MIDDLE SCHOOL BASED OFF VERY LOOSE NUMBERS.
NOW, WE PEAK AT ABOUT 6.24% ON THAT IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN AROUND THAT SIX OR SEVEN AND TRY NOT TO EVEN GET IN THE CONVERSATION OVER APPROACHING TEN JUST BECAUSE OF MANAGEMENT AND HOW WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO BURDEN HERSELF AND PUT THAT STRAIN ON.
THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS AS WE START GETTING INTO THE LONGER YEARS, YOU DO SEE THAT 2019 REFUND SLASH NEW MONEY START TO RESTRUCTURE AND FALL OFF IN DIFFERENT PIECES.
BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THE BOE, THE LOCAL SHARE, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND COMMISSIONER REPORTER KNOWS VERY WELL, GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY MEAN AT THE TIME, I THINK WE WERE AROUND 81% BOE AND 19% COUNTY AND THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE DESIGN, FF&E I MEAN, I THINK WE TEND TO GET CLOSER TO ALMOST A 60, 40 WHEN THOSE TYPE OF PLANTS WENT THROUGH WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW IS THAT IT'S MORE OF A 94% BOE,6% COUNTY.
THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH BLUEPRINT AND HOW THAT LOOKS AT FOR CAPITAL WITH DESIGN, FF&E SO AGAIN, THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE USING ON THIS ARE PRETTY LOOSE FOR LOCKER METAL, BUT THEY VERY WELL COULD RESTRUCTURE AND CHANGE AS THE YEARS GO ON WITH THIS PERCENTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO AFFORD FIRST WHAT THE STATE SO ALL THINGS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO TAKE A BEST GUESS ON IMPACT THAT WILL HAPPEN IN FOUR YEARS OR SO THIS WEEK OR TODAY SO IT MAKES IT TOUGH.
>> WHILE WE'VE GOT YOU HERE DETENTION CENTER, PULP LUNG, IS THAT IS THAT A BOND?
>> THAT IS NOT THAT IS A USDA LOAN REAL QUICK RECAP, WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PUMP THAT WAS FEEDING INTO THE SEWER FROM THE DETENTION CENTER ABOUT $500,000 TO REPLACE THAT THROUGH LESLIE, ENOUGH TO CLAIM THAT CODES, WE WERE ABLE TO GO WITH A USD LOAN TO GET HALF OF THAT FORGIVEN SO WE ONLY HAD TO LEARN THE 250,000 AT THE TIME.
MYSELF AND MARGARET REQUESTED JUST TO PAY THAT OUTRIGHT INSTEAD OF TAKING A LOAN BUT ONE OF THE CONDITIONAL PURVIEWS OF THE LOAN WAS YOU HAD TO TAKE IT OUT TO TERM YOU COULDN'T PAY IT OFF EARLY, SO THAT'S WHAT THAT SMALL AMOUNT.
>> YES, WE COULDN'T PAY IT OFF IF WE WANTED TO.
>> CORRECT [LAUGHTER] AND IT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO WAS USDA HAS MANAGEMENT FEES THAT ARE BUILT INTO THOSE PAYMENTS AND THEY DIDN'T WANT THE INTERESTS OR THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IS TO BE PAID OFF EARLY SO THEY MAKE YOU PAY IT OUT THERE WITH THE LIGHT.
WE HAVEN'T OFFERED TO JUST PAY THEM ALL UP FRONT AND THEY'RE LIKE, NOPE, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE LOAN.
>> THE SHEET THAT I HAVE GOES UP TO 2035, I WOULD HAVE TO PULL IT UP.
>> IT'S AFTER 2035, [LAUGHTER] $13,005 EACH YEAR.
[02:05:01]
>> THE BRIEFING, MY BRIEFING DISAPPEARED WITH CLOSED SESSION.
>> IT'S UNDER THAT YOUR THING.
>> NO, I'VE LOOKED TWICE THROUGH EVERY PIECE OF PAPER HERE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? NO. THIS TIME, I GUESS I NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSE SESSION. MOVED.
>> IS THERE READOUT STATEMENTS SOMEWHERE THERE?
>> WE'RE JUST DOING THE FIRST ONE.
>> THIS CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD UNDER GENERAL PROVISION ARTICLES DASH THREE, DASH THREE OF FIVE B, SUBSECTION ONE, TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE AND MOTION, COMPENSATION REMOVAL, RESIGNATION, OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES ARE OFFICIALS OVERHEAD AND IT HAS JURISDICTIONS OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS.
>> WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY IN THE [OVERLAPPING]?
[11.Closed Session]
[02:36:09]
[02:40:03]
>> I THINK IT'S ALL FOUND IN THE FLAGS.
[02:40:06]
[02:40:07]
[02:40:07]
[02:40:08]
[02:40:08]
>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS.
>> [NOISE] SO WE MET TO DISCUSS THE HIRING PROCESS OF AN ATWILL EMPLOYEE.
PERSONS INTENDING TO CLOSE SESSION WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING, BARTZ, AND PORTER.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE WAS DANIEL FOX, STEWART BARRE, MARY BRUNELLESCHI, AND JENNIFER RODWAY. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.