Nov 21, 2023 County Commissioners Meeting

[00:02:59]

GIVE ME, LIKE, A THUMBS UP OR SOMETHING.

[1. Call to Order:]

WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING.

IT IS ALMOST 9:00, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

THIS MORNING. WE HAVE PASTOR BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH OF PRESTON IN TO DO OUR INVOCATION, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD RISE, PLEASE.

GOOD MORNING BUDDY. LORD, YOU TOLD US THAT WHEN WE PRAY TO PRAY OUR FATHER, WE DO THAT TODAY AS A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER THAT CREATED ALL NATIONS OF MEN, OF ONE BLOOD BREATHED INTO THE NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE, THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE TO GIVE US THE WISDOM THAT WE NEED, THE SEVERAL ABILITIES, THE GIFTS AND THE TALENTS, EVEN THE LONGINGS AND DESIRES.

YOU SAID YOU CREATED THEM FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT.

AND I PRAY, FATHER, THAT THOSE WHO ARE ENTRUSTED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM THAT WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THOSE THEIR HELPERS, THOSE THAT HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION TO THEM, THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THOSE THAT HANDLE THE FINANCES HERE, THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE RUN BY THE COUNTY.

WE PRAY THAT EACH ONE WOULD BE GIVEN THAT SPECIAL ANOINTING.

YOU WOULD SPEAK TO US, AS YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD, IN THE SLUMS, UPON OUR BEDS, SEALING OUR INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DAY AHEAD.

I PRAY, FATHER, THAT EACH ONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY DO HEAR FROM YOU.

[00:05:03]

WE PRAY FOR THESE MEN, YOUR PROTECTION, THESE PEOPLE THAT HELP THEM.

FATHER, I PRAY TODAY THAT YOU WILL GIVE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING AND A PEACE.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN AND AMEN.

ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU REVEREND.

OKAY. DURING THE NOVEMBER 14TH, 2023 COMMISSIONERS MEETING, THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE

[2. Closed Session Report Out]

STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO DRAFT A CONTRACT AND SCHEDULE A CLOSED SESSION DURING THE NOVEMBER 21ST MEETING.

THE ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING, PORTER, AND BARTZ.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JENNIFER REIBLY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC, IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? OKAY. NONE BEING SEEN.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF, PUBLIC HEALTH THANK YOU DAY, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER PORTER TO READ THE.

[4. Caroline County Health Department Staff]

IT'S NOT VERY LONG.

SO LIKE LUCKILY.

THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN THIS DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO AN ELEVATED QUALITY OF LIFE.

PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTES AND PROTECTS THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS BY PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, PROMOTING PROPER NUTRITION, ENCOURAGING AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE, SUPPORTING POLICIES TO ENSURE SAFE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS.

CHAMPIONING ACTION TO MAKE OUR OUTDOOR SPACES SAFE, DISCOURAGING UNHEALTHY HABITS, ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND WORKING TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE.

THANK YOU PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

PRESENTED ON THE 20TH NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023 BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, J.

TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT.

LARRY PORTER, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND FRANKLIN BARTZ, COMMISSIONER.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

YEAH. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND WE'LL GET A PICTURE.

AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING.

YEAH. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO TELL US OR DID NOT PREPARE ANY SPEECHES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BY THE FLAG.

OH, PERFECT. OKAY. ROBIN SAID YOU HAD A LONG SOMETHING.

SHE SAID ROBIN WAS VACATION.

MISINFORMED. SHE'S ON VACATION.

SHE DESERVES. HOLD THAT.

DO YOU WANT TO HOLD IT? SURE.

WE'LL GET YOU GUYS A LITTLE SEMI GOING BY HEIGHT.

NOT TOTALLY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

GREATLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SIR VERY, VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, JAMIE, YOU'RE NEXT UP.

[5. Discussion of Grant Award from Maryland Department of Education for Caroline County Summer Learning Centers]

STILL. OKAY, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS JAMIE BEACHY, DIRECTOR OF CAROLINE COUNTY RECREATION AND PARKS, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE GRANT AWARD FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR CAROLINE COUNTY SUMMER LEARNING CENTERS.

REALLY GLAD I LOOKED AT THE AGENDA LAST NIGHT TO ACTUALLY KNOW THAT I WAS ON IT THIS MORNING, BUT I APOLOGIZE.

SO I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF RECREATION AND PARKS TO ASK THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD FROM MSDE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, TOTALING $1.191411 MILLION FOR OUR SUMMER LEARNING CENTERS.

THIS IS A UNIQUE GRANT YEAR.

TYPICALLY, THEY RUN IN THREE YEAR COHORTS, SORT OF BACK TO BACK TO BACK.

[00:10:04]

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE FIRST SUMMER YEAR IS THAT WE'LL WE WILL BE LOOKING AT FIVE, FIVE SCHOOL SITES, AND UNLIKE OUR PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WE TARGETED 700 STUDENTS.

WE WILL BE TARGETING 1100 FOR NEXT SUMMER.

YES, WE ARE INSANE.

FULLY AWARE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BIG LIFT FOR US.

AND THEN YEARS TWO AND THREE SANDS, ANOTHER FUNDING STREAM BECOMING AVAILABLE, WE WILL DROP BACK DOWN TO THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH A TOTAL OF 400 STUDENTS.

SO IT'S KIND OF A WAIT AND SEE.

WHAT WE LEARNED WITH THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS UNSPENT FROM BEFORE SORT OF LEFT OVER THAT THEY NEEDED TO GET OUT THERE TO BE SPENT BECAUSE MSDE DOES NOT REQUIRE COMMISSIONER SIGNATURE.

I'M HERE AS PART OF OUR PROTOCOL FOR ACCEPTING GRANT FUNDS.

SO SO IT WILL EXPAND TO FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE AT FIVE NOW WITH A LIMIT OF 700 CHILDREN.

I SAY LIMIT OF 700.

WE SERVE 758 LAST SUMMER.

BUT WE'LL WE'LL BE EXPANDING TO 1100 THIS COMING SUMMER.

OKAY. WOW.

SO GIVE ME A TYPICAL DAY.

CHILDREN ARRIVE AROUND 8:30-8:45..

AND TRANSPORTATION. TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED FOR THEM BUSSING, TRANSPORTATION.

OR THEY CAN DRIVE THEMSELVES OR THEIR PARENTS CAN DRIVE THEM IN.

TYPICALLY HOW WE HOW WE ALIGN IT IS DURING THE MORNING SESSIONS.

SO BEFORE LUNCH IS MOSTLY ACADEMIC BASED.

SO THERE WITH WITH INSTRUCTION, WITH TEACHERS WORKING ON A SPECIFIC CURRICULUM.

BECAUSE PART OF WHAT WE DO IN SUMMER CAMP IS ENSURING THAT THERE'S NO SUMMER SLIDE SO THAT THEY AREN'T LOSING ANYTHING THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER TIME.

THEN, AFTER LUNCH IS TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE CALL OUR ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES ARTS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, EMOTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS TO BE KIDS, THAT CONCEPT.

SO WE USUALLY STRUCTURE IT THAT WAY.

SO THE INSTRUCTION IN THE MORNING IS PROVIDED BY TEACHERS, TEACHERS, CERTIFIED TEACHERS FROM OUR FROM OUR SCHOOL.

WELL, MOSTLY FROM OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

YES. WE LOOK TO CONTINUE THAT EVEN AS WE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDING IS THROUGH THIS NEXT SUMMER.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S A PARTNERSHIP OF OF BOTH MONEY AND RESOURCES, AND THEN THEIR FUNDING IS EXHAUSTED AT THE END OF NEXT SUMMER.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE WILL LOOK TO CARRY THIS GRANT INTO YEARS TWO AND THREE.

SO THE FUNDING GOES TO COVER THE SALARIES AND EXPENSES FOR THE TEACHERS AND THE AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSPORTATION AND THE COST OF KEEPING THE SCHOOL OPEN WITH CORRECT UTILITIES AND SO ON. AND THEN WHEN WE ASSUME IT, IT WILL GO BACK TO TRADITIONALLY WHAT TRANSPIRED PRIOR TO OUR ESSER FUNDS IS WE PAY THE TEACHERS, WE STILL KEEP A CERTIFIED TEACHERS ON BOARD AND WE'LL PAY THE TRANSPORTATION.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE.

I'M ASSUMING THE MONEY IS SOMEHOW PRORATED BY SCHOOL.

I MEAN, AS FAR AS THE NUMBER.

LIKE WHAT? WHAT IS THE GENERAL ENROLLMENT OR PARTICIPATION BY SCHOOL? UM GES IS OBVIOUSLY THE LARGEST ENROLLED ATTENDED DENTON AND FEDERALSBURG.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS WE'LL FOCUS ON POST NEXT YEAR WITH RIDGELY AND PRESTON BEING SOMEWHERE IN THE 100 LEVEL 100 STUDENTS, GREENSBORO CAN GET UP.

YEAH, GREENSBORO CAN GET UPWARDS OF 240 TO 60.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THIS YEAR WITH THOSE FOCUSING ON THOSE THREE SCHOOLS WITH THE GRANTS FEDERALSBURG, GREENSBORO AND DENTON, THOSE ENROLLMENTS NUMBERS BEING CLOSER TO 300 EACH. SO YOUR MONEY'S ALLOCATED ACCORDING TO THE PARTICIPANTS, I ASSUME SOMEHOW.

YEAH. WHO HANDLES ALL THE WHO YOU I MEAN, YOUR DEPARTMENT CONTROLS THE MONEY AND MAKES THE PAYMENT TO DECIDE HOW EACH SCHOOL. IT'S REALLY I MEAN WITHOUT GETTING INTO TOO INTO THE WEEDS HOW ENROLLMENT IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THREE FIRST GRADE CLASSES AND NO FIFTH GRADE CLASSES.

SO IT KIND OF BREAKS OUT TO WHAT WE CAN MANAGE, WHAT WE HAVE STAFFING FOR AND WHAT THE ENROLLMENT LOOKS LIKE.

AND IT'S JUST A PUZZLE PIECE UP UNTIL THE VERY FIRST BUS GOES TO PICK ALL THE KIDS UP AND HOW WE HOW WE CAN SERVE AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT BREAKING INTO THAT NEXT, OPENING A CLASSROOM AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THAT CLASSROOM.

IS THERE ANY CHARGE TO THE?

[00:15:01]

HOW MANY? I'M ASKING YOU QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT IS THIS? DO YOU? PARDON ME? OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WHAT PERCENT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

I KNOW GREENSBORO IS OVER 800 NOW, SO.

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE SAYING 250, WE SERVE ALMOST 30, 33% OF GREENSBORO.

I CAN LOOK THAT UP FOR YOU.

THAT'S ACTUALLY I'D LIKE TO LOOK THAT UP.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING FACT. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF THE ELEMENTARY AGE PARTICIPATES IN THIS.

AND THIS STARTS WHEN AND ENDS WHEN? USUALLY STARTS EITHER THE LAST WEEK IN JUNE OR THE FIRST WEEK IN JULY, AND RUNS FOR FIVE WEEKS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FOR FIVE WEEKS.

OKAY, THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS BOTH THE SCHOOL AND OUR RESOURCES CAN HANDLE BASED ON END OF SCHOOL OR CAMP, AND THEN THEM GETTING READY FOR REGULAR SCHOOL, RIGHT.

HOW MUCH HELP DO YOU GET FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN ADMINISTERING THIS PROGRAM? I MEAN, YOU'RE USING THEIR FACILITIES.

THEY OBVIOUSLY HELP YOU RECRUIT THE TEACHERS TOO.

YEP. AND THEN THE FOOD SERVICES IS 100% THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TRANSPORTATION IS A ALWAYS A WORK IN PROGRESS FROM BOTH ENDS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A NORMAL BUS ROUTE.

RIGHT. SO YOU WORK TOGETHER AND GENERATING THOSE BUS ROUTES, CORRECT? YEP. SO IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LABOR SPLIT IN TERMS OF ADMINISTRATION.

NOW IN TERMS OF THE GRANT ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S 100% ON US.

RIGHT. BUT SOME OF THOSE FIGURES WE HAVE TO DRAFT FROM THE DISTRICT THEMSELVES.

ARE THERE OTHER COUNTIES THAT HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? I CANNOT IMAGINE ONE THIS OF THIS SIZE, EVEN IN LARGE, LARGE DISTRICTS.

THIS IS THIS IS A BIG LIFT.

AND AND THE MAX DOLLAR YOU CAN GET IN THIS ROUND WAS $400,000 A YEAR.

AND WE WERE RIGHT THERE.

SO TO BE ABLE I MEAN, I CAN'T OUR STAFF ARE INCREDIBLE.

AND I SAY THAT AT EVERY CHANCE I GET.

BUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS IT'S IT'S LIKE AS A KID WATCHING THE ANTS PUT THEIR PUT THEIR WHOLE SYSTEM TOGETHER AND YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY DO IT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT ROLLS OUT.

AS SOON AS CAMP ENDS FOR THE SUMMER, WE START PROJECTING FOR NEXT YEAR AND PLANNING FOR THAT.

AND. THE WHOLE EVEN THE TRAINING SCHEDULE IS IS WHAT I WOULD CALL LIKE ROBUST FOR PART TIME INDIVIDUALS.

IN FACT, TODAY IS THE FRIENDSGIVING FOR OUR PART TIME STAFF, AND IT ORIGINALLY WAS FOR SUMMER CAMP AND AFTER SCHOOL.

BUT IT BECAME WHEN WE IDENTIFIED HOW MANY PART TIME HOURS THAT WE YOU UTILIZE EACH YEAR.

WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO OPEN THAT UP TO ALL OF OUR PART TIME STAFF AND DO AN AWARD CEREMONY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE US, SORT OF WITHOUT THE LOOK OF BENEFITS.

IT'S PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.

YEAH, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO.

SOMEHOW TRACK UM TEST SCORES, YOU KNOW, OF KIDS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO WE DO.

OH, YOU DO. THAT'S PART OF PART OF MSDE'S REQUIREMENTS.

NOW WE DON'T TRACK THEM NECESSARILY BY STUDENT.

WE TRACK THEM BY AN ID NUMBER.

RIGHT. SO BUT THE SCHOOL CAN LOOK AT THOSE THAT INFORMATION.

THE SCHOOL PROVIDES THE DATA.

WE DO A THE SCHOOL DOES A.

WELL THEY WERE WORKING WITH IREADY AND THEY WOULD DO THAT IN THE SPRING RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL WOULD LET OUT TO GET A BASELINE OF WHERE THE STUDENT IS.

AND THEN THEY DO IT RIGHT WHEN THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL TO SEE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY ARE.

AND SO PART OF OUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE MSD WITH THAT DATA TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE STANDARD THAT THEY'VE SET FOR US.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HELPS YOU BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE PROGRAMS AND.

YEAH, AND THE AND THE SCHOOL TEACHERS THEMSELVES ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY ADMINISTER THE IREADY.

THAT'S NOT A STATE REQUIREMENT.

THAT'S A BASELINE FOR WHAT TO TEACH DURING THE YEAR, SEE WHERE THEY'RE LESS PROFICIENT.

AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO SEE SORT OF HOW THEY'VE MEASURED UP WITH WITH THEIR CURRICULUM.

RIGHT. HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU LIKE A STUDENT QUALIFIES? WHAT'S THE INDICATOR THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM? SO THE FIRST INDICATOR IS THEY PARTICIPATED WITH US BEFORE.

THE SECOND INDICATOR WOULD BE A STUDENT OR AN ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION.

SO THE THE FIRST SERIES OF ENROLLMENTS THAT WE TAKE ARE BASED ON EITHER THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM BEFORE A STUDENT OR ADMINISTRATOR OR COUNSELOR HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE IN CAMP.

AND WE WE TAKE ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE GET THOSE STUDENTS ENROLLED, AND THEN WE OPEN IT UP FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.

[00:20:04]

CORRECT. OKAY. AND WE GENERALLY I MEAN, WE HAD I THINK IT WAS ALMOST 850 STUDENTS THAT SIGNED UP TO TRY TO BE ENROLLED THIS YEAR.

SO 1100, EVEN THOUGH IT'S LIKE, AH, IT'S IT'S RIGHT THERE.

YEAH. IT'S IT'S AMAZING TO ME.

IT REALLY IS. GOOD.

YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE IN.

ALL THREE OF US ARE IN SUPPORT.

WE WANT TO VOTE ON SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SUPPORT.

ACCEPT THE AWARD. ACCEPT THE AWARD OF THE GRANT.

SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

OKAY, I'M GETTING A PHONE CALL, SO LET'S TAKE A RECESS.

OKAY. REAL QUICK HERE.

ALL RIGHT. SORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE BACK. THAT WAS A QUICK RECESS.

TELEMARKETER PHONE CALL.

LIVE TV RIGHT.

OKAY, SO WE ARE NOW ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, ANYTHING WITH ANYTHING ON THE LENGTHY CONSENT AGENDA?

[6. Consent Agenda:]

THE WELLPATH.

IT'S OVER $1 MILLION.

I'LL ASK THE QUESTION YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT ANYTHING TO DO WITH DAN.

YEAH. SO, DAN, CAN YOU.

GET USED TO COMING UP HERE? SO WELLPATH IS OUR CONTRACTED MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDER FOR CORRECTIONS.

SO THIS IS OUR YEARLY FLAT CONTRACT THAT WE SIGNED WITH THEM THAT OUTLINES THE TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICE AND STAFFING THAT THEY PROVIDE AT THE JAIL.

SO WE'LL ACTUALLY DIVIDE THAT INTO 12 PAYMENTS AND PROVIDE THEM AN ALLOCATION EVERY MONTH FOR A 12TH OF THAT TOTAL AMOUNT.

SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH WELLPATH, WHICH YOU GENTLEMEN ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF, IS THE COST OF THIS IS GOING UP AND UP AND UP EVERY YEAR. A LOT OF THE CONTRACTS HAVE STIPULATED PERCENTAGE INCREASES.

AND THAT'S TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE IS I MEAN, ANYWHERE FROM FIVE, SEVEN, 8% THAT THEY'RE CAPTURING EVERY YEAR OF CONTRACTED CALL COST INCREASES.

SO IS IT BASED ON OUR INMATE POPULATION OR IS OR IS THERE A LOT OF IT IS BASED ON POPULATION AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE TO OUR FACILITY.

SO IF THERE IS AN R.N., AN LPN, DOCTOR, WHATEVER THEIR HOURS WORKED AND THAT ARE ESTABLISHED OR BAKED INTO THE CONTRACT.

SO LET'S SAY WHETHER THERE'S 40 INMATES OR 80, THAT TYPICALLY STAYS THE SAME WITH STAFFING THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE TO THE FACILITY.

AGAIN, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER, BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE KIND OF GETTING THE BAD END OF THE DEAL WITH THIS AS WELL. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE THIS IS OVER LAST YEAR? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO NOT.

I CAN GET THAT PERCENT FOR YOU.

OKAY, SO IS IT WITHIN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT OR I I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET.

BUT I BELIEVE WE RAISED IT UP PER THE CONTRACT INCREASE.

SO IT SHOULD BE IT SHOULD BE COVERED.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW NICOLE WAS WORKING WITH THE JAIL ON THIS AND GOING THROUGH THE CONTRACT, AND OBVIOUSLY IT GOES ACROSS TO STUART'S DESK AS WELL.

BUT A LOT OF THE INCREASES ARE KNOWN.

THEY'RE JUST CONTRACTED IN, AND WE PUT THAT INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.

IS THIS AN ANNUAL CONTRACT? IT IS. YES.

WHAT'S THE.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT.

WE ARE WITH SOME NOTICE.

CORRECT. YEP.

WITH SOME NOTICE, ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT.

ONE OF THE DOWNFALLS TO BEING A SMALLER FACILITY LIKE THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF VENDORS THAT WILL PROVIDE THIS SERVICE IS VERY

[00:25:05]

VERY TRUE. YES.

LIKE WE SAY WITH WORKER'S COMP RADIOS, I MEAN, THEY KIND OF HAVE A MONOPOLY ON THE PENINSULA FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE.

SO. GOOD.

OKAY. GOOD.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE ARE SURPLUS ING TO AMBULANCES.

CORRECT? OKAY. TWO ON THERE.

YEP. OKAY.

ARE THEY GOING TO. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN LOCAL TWO.

SO WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY OPINION IN THIS.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE TWO VEHICLES WHICH WERE THE SMALLER I THINK A 1500 AND 2500 PICKUP TRUCK FROM LAST WEEK'S AGENDA TO GO TO THE TWO LOCAL AUCTION HOUSES.

UM, IF I WOULD SAY AMBULANCES ARE MORE OF A OBVIOUSLY SPECIALTY VEHICLE, THAT I WOULD PERSONALLY FEEL THAT GOING ON GOV DEALS WOULD PROBABLY GET THE BETTER RETURN ON JUST BECAUSE OF THE MARKET THAT IT HAS.

NOT SAYING IT WOULD NOT SELL AT A LOCAL AUCTION, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A BETTER CHANCE TO GET A HIGHER RETURN.

IF I COULD PITCH ANYTHING, I WOULD THINK IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THE LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES AT THE AUCTION HOUSE WHERE THEY'D BE CARS, PICKUP TRUCKS, BUT IF IT CAME TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC, SUCH AS AN A GRADE ALL, AN AMBULANCE, I MEAN A SPECIFIC TYPE OF ATTACHMENT THAT WE MAY LOOK TO GO TO GOV DEALS FOR STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE AUCTION, WE CAN SEE WHAT TYPE OF RETURN WE'RE GETTING ON THAT AND GO OVER THERE.

BUT COMPLETELY UP TO YOU GUYS IF YOU WANT.

WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK IT THROUGH EITHER WAY.

DO WE KNOW? HOW MANY MILES IS THAT ONE? YEAH, A LITTLE OVER 200, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

LIKE 220.

SO YEAH, THE FIRST, FIRST ONE HAD 212 AND THE SECOND HAD ABOUT 219.

I GUESS THE QUESTION I WOULD BE IS LIKE, HAVE WE SOLD THAT WAVE OF DEMOLITIONS BEFORE THAT WAY ON GOV DEALS? YES, SIR. AND I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE HOW THEY DID.

WE CAN CERTAINLY PULL THE THE LAST 1 OR 2 THAT WE'VE SOLD.

WE'RE IN THE PATTERN OF DOING ABOUT ONE A YEAR.

SO WE SHOULD HAVE ONE THAT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SOON THAT WE SOLD IF.

WELL I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW DORCHESTER JUST SOLD ONE AT CURTIS'S NOW I THINK I THINK IT HAD IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WELL WELL USED. YEAH. YEAH.

BUT YEAH I THINK THAT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE THING.

WE CAN GO IN AND SURPLUS AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MONEY WE'VE GOTTEN FOR PREVIOUS AMBULANCES, BECAUSE THERE ARE I MEAN, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO BUY THEM LOCALLY AS WELL.

THEY DO. I'VE SEEN FARMERS USE THEM AS SERVICE TRUCKS.

YEAH. I LIKE TO SEE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU STAY LOCAL.

OKAY. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THAT'S ME.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME, IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH TO DO SOME RESEARCH.

NO, NO I CAN GO ON GOV DEALS AND WE CAN PULL WITH THE LAST 1 OR 2 SOLD.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO TALK TO LIKE SAY ANDREWS AUCTION.

ANYWAY. MAYBE WE CAN ASK THEM WHAT THE ONE FROM DORCHESTER WENT FOR.

JUST TRY TO GET SOME DATA POINTS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT I MEAN. I CAN UNDERSTAND SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY IT'S JUST A BOX VEHICLE, YOU KNOW? BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE MONEY STAY LOCAL, YOU KNOW? OKAY. YEAH. WE CAN OKAY WITH THAT.

YEAH, I AM ANYTIME WE CAN STAY LOCAL.

YEAH. THAT'S FINE. WE CAN. WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT.

WE'RE AT THE PROCESS OF REACHING OUT TO BOTH.

I SAY, TRACY AND ANDREWS TO TRY TO GET SOME TYPE OF CONTRACT AND FEE BASED SET UP FOR WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE, AND THEN WE CAN START ROLLING THIS STUFF THROUGH, AND IT GIVES LOCAL PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON IT.

THEY KNOW IT'S OUT THERE IF WE PUT IT ON GOV DEALS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW, JEN'S BEEN DOING SOME OUTREACH TO TO TRY TO GET OUT THERE WHEN WE ARE SURPLUS EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW.

BUT BUT NOT EVERYBODY PICKS UP ON THAT.

NOT EVERYBODY IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DOESN'T KNOW THE ITEMS ARE FOR SALE.

SO WHERE DOES THE THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THAT GO? DOES THAT GO INTO NEXT YEAR'S CAPITAL? DO WE HAVE A SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE A SURPLUS EQUIPMENT FUND.

SO THE MONEY THAT COMES FROM SURPLUS VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT IS SET ASIDE IN ITS OWN LITTLE FUND OR POT, AND IT JUST ACCRUES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

ONCE IN A WHILE, WE'LL HAVE A DEPARTMENT MAKE A REQUEST TO PULL MONEY FROM THAT.

I THINK THE LAST TIME WE HAD PUBLIC WORKS ASKED TO PURCHASE SNOWPLOWS FOR SOME OF THE 3500 TRUCKS THEY HAD,

[00:30:06]

DEPARTMENTS CAN COME IN AND REQUEST SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT IN THE REGULAR BUDGET OR SOMETHING THAT EXCEEDED THE REGULAR BUDGET TO PULL FROM THAT.

SO GOTCHA.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE? GOOD.

NO. GOOD. I WOULD MOVE, WE APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA.

A SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION TO AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[7. County Administrator’s Report]

ONE IS MORE OF AN FYI.

SHERRY BROUGHTON, DIRECTOR OF HR, IS OUT PROBABLY UNTIL AT LEAST MID DECEMBER.

SO JUST AS A HEADS UP, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM HR TO REACH OUT TO AMY HUBBARD, WHO'S TAKING CARE OF ALL THE THINGS WE NEED HER TO, INCLUDING THE BONUS CHECKS THAT WILL BE ISSUING AND ALL THE HR FUNCTIONS.

SO AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM I HAD, I HAD EMAILED YOU THE DRAFT ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT.

IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT.

I HAVE PAPER COPIES HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM, IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET THAT ADVERTISED.

DANNY AND I HAVE MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TWICE NOW.

WE HAD A MEETING FIRST WITH.

WE HAD A MEETING FIRST WITH THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.

TWO SEPARATE MEETINGS WITH HALF AND HALF.

AND THEN THIS WEEK WE STARTED OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE FOUR DIVISION HEADS.

SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY THEY'RE DOING WELL.

THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

SO I THINK I THINK WE'LL BE FINE IN THE INTERIM PERIOD.

BUT I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TOO LONG.

SO THIS ADVERTISEMENT, WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT, THIS IS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO WHAT WAS ADVERTISED IN 2019.

I MADE A COUPLE OF MINOR CHANGES, BUT IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME AD.

YEAH, I LOOKED IT OVER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD.

SO. DID I EAT RIGHT PERSON? WHEN DO YOU WANT TO POST IT ON? WELL, SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY EDITS.

I DON'T. I MEAN, I'VE SAID BEFORE THAT I THINK.

THE SCOPE OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE DONE BY PUBLIC WORKS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AT SOME POINT, IN MY OPINION, IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REDUCED.

THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE THINGS CONTRACTED OUT THE LARGER JOBS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS STILL PRETTY MUCH WITH THE DETERMINATION THAT THAT DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO HANDLE THE BULK OF THE OF THE LARGE JOBS.

I KNOW IT WOULD REALLY YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GIVING THIS POSITION A LOT OF THOUGHT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE WHO IS WELL VERSED IN THE DESIGN PROCESS, PERMITTING PROCESS, BID PROCESS.

I ALMOST FEEL LIKE IT'S A IT'S A TWO PERSON ROLE, EVEN WITH LIKE JAMIE TO HELP PARKS AND RECREATION WITH THE DESIGN, THE PERMIT, THE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN GET INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE GRANT APPLICATION STUFF AS IT PERTAINS TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO HELP WITH THOSE TECHNICAL DETAILS. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE RECREATION AND PARKS HAS A LOT GOING ON WITH PARK CONSTRUCTION INVOLVING CIVIL ENGINEERING, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT IN ROADS, LIKE, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE, DESIGN ROLE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO MAYBE HAS THE HANDS ON SAFETY TRAINING EXPERIENCE, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE EXPERIENCE, THE TECHNICAL SKILLS ON HOW TO APPROACH CERTAIN PROJECTS, WHETHER IT BE MOWING OR TREE TRIMMING OR BRIDGE REPAIR, YOU KNOW, SO TO ME, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TWO PERSON ROLE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT HERE, YOU KNOW?

[00:35:04]

SO MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SEE WHO THE APPLICANTS ARE OR SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

AND MAYBE IT'S A HYBRID.

MAYBE IT'S A PERSON WHO CAN DO THOSE TWO DIFFERENT TASKS.

MAYBE WE FIND A PERSON THAT CAN DO BOTH, BUT I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY LOFTY EXPECTATION.

SO. BUT I AGREE WITH LARRY AS FAR AS THE SCOPE, BUT IT'S STILL GOOD TO HAVE THAT PERSON THERE THAT CAN HANDLE THAT OTHER ASPECT OF IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT STUFF HAS GOTTEN SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED OVER THE YEARS TO CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, THE BID, THE BID PROCESS.

YES, THE PERMITTING PROCESS, PERMITS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN THINGS AND THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PERMITS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. SO YEAH, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE TO ME, IT'S GOING TO BE A REDUCED SCOPE OF THE ACTUAL WORK THAT THEY DO.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GUYS OUT THERE THAT WORK HARD.

I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SKILLED PEOPLE AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE OR HOW MANY PEOPLE DOWN SEVEN, SEVEN NOW. OH SEVEN HOWEVER, ONE OF THOSE VACANCIES IS A MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE MECHANIC HAS BEEN HIRED, JUST NOT STARTED YET.

SO SIX VACANCIES IN ROADS.

AND DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IT TAKES TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK, JUST TO HAVE IT SIT THERE WHEN WE HAVE MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS, YOU KNOW, IN THE AREA THAT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT AND THE ABILITY TO DO IT.

AND IN A LOT OF CASES, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE CAN EVEN DO IT ANYMORE.

SO AND I THINK THAT THE AT THE MODEL THAT WAS USED AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE CRITICS OF, YOU KNOW, TARGETED SHIPPING. BUT I THINK THAT THAT HAS GONE WELL.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER AT THE TIME THAT WE WERE MAKING THAT DECISION, WE WERE WE WERE LOOKING AT SPENDING WHAT, ANY HALF $1 MILLION ON A STONE SPREADER.

I MEAN, IF WE DON'T HAVE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO SPEND THE MONEY TO BUY IT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT IS WE DO WELL, CONCENTRATE ON THOSE AREAS, TURN IT OVER TO PEOPLE WHO DO IT FOR A LIVING.

FOR ME, I KNOW THAT'S A RADICAL, YOU KNOW, JUMP FROM WHERE WE'VE BEEN FOR, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS.

BUT I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S THE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LIVE IN.

YEAH. SO.

ALL RIGHT. YOU GOOD WITH THAT ADVERTISED? I THINK SO, YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD DEAL. OKAY.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

[8. County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

COMMISSIONER PORTER. I DO.

I MET WITH, I'LL START WITH THE SIMPLE ONE FIRST.

I MET WITH MILTON NAGEL ON FRIDAY TO CATCH UP.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FORMATION OF A FOUNDATION IN THE NAME OF HIS, OF HIS SON, LUCAS.

HE HAS BEEN DOING SOME WORK WITH A FILMMAKER WHO I THINK HAS PUT TOGETHER A FILM DEALING WITH PTSD.

MILTON WOULD LIKE TO GET ON OUR AGENDA AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

HE IS NOT ASKING FOR MONEY IN ANY WAY.

HE JUST WANTS TO BRING BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT MAYBE WE CAN HELP COLLABORATE A LITTLE BIT WITH BRINGING THIS, BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

SO, JAN, IF HE HASN'T BEEN IN TOUCH WITH YOU, IF YOU'LL REACH OUT WITH HIM.

AND. HE GAVE ME SOME INFORMATION AND I DON'T HAVE I DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME.

BUT I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO HAVE HIM COME.

COME HERE AND EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROCESS AND WHAT IT IS.

[00:40:01]

YEAH, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY WORTHWHILE TO LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO IT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO BE PTSD FOR MILITARY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES FIRST RESPONDERS.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED WITH DEALING WITH EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER FOR THE COUNTY.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ALL ENCOMPASSING.

AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

WE'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES WHEN WE'VE GIVEN CITATIONS AND AWARDS TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S OKAY TO SAY YOU'RE NOT OKAY, AND WE NEED TO, I THINK, RAMP THIS UP AND IF WE CAN DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM.

NO BETTER REPRESENTATIVE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

SECOND THING IS, DEBBIE, I MAY ASK YOU TO COME UP, IF YOU WILL.

WE? WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE COMMERCE REPRESENTATIVES WITH DAVID TRIVET LAST WEDNESDAY.

I THINK IT WAS. IT'S FRIDAY, BUT TIME HAS NO MEETING AND TALKED ABOUT THE, IN GENERAL, HIS OPERATION AND IN SPECIFIC THE POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZING THE TECH PARK FOR HIS OPERATION.

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO AT THIS POINT IS TO.

HAVE. MR. TRIVETT, COME MAYBE TO A MEETING.

DESCRIBE TO US WHAT HIS PLANS ARE, AND I HAVE.

I THINK WE REACH OUT AT THIS POINT TO THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND.

SO I THINK, IN OTHER WORDS, BRING EVERY PERSON, BRING ALL THE PARTIES IN THAT ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS EVERY ASPECT OF THIS BEFORE WE SPEND MUCH TIME MOVING FORWARD.

I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT OUR REQUEST TO RESTRUCTURE THE LOAN ON THE LAND WAS PROBABLY.

NOT GOING.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT LOAN FORGIVENESS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH IN MY EXPERIENCE USUALLY MEANS, YEAH, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT SOME OTHER WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THIS MONEY BACK.

BUT BUT I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.

I MEAN, IN ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, THE COMMERCE.

WHAT IS ANDY'S TITLE? HE'S A DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. HE HE KIND OF BROUGHT UP SOMETHING ABOUT THE COUNTY GUARANTEEING SOMETHING.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I THINK THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE WE WANT TO MOVE THIS LAND.

WE SPENT ENOUGH TIME OWNING THIS LAND, SO.

I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN GET ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER, HAVE EVERYBODY BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE INVOLVING THE TOWN AS WELL, THEN I THINK WE THAT'S PROBABLY THE NEXT STEP.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANY HESITATION, ANY GLITCHES.

I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I THINK DAVID WANTS TO MOVE QUICKLY AND YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT SOME PARTNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED AND SO ON.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T JUMPING THE GUN HERE AND WE'RE NOT.

YOU KNOW, I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I GUESS THAT'S MY BIGGEST.

SO I DON'T CERTAINLY PLAN TO MEET WITH HIM ANYMORE WITHOUT EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

SO OKAY.

SO IS IT IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'LL TAKE A REDUCED RATE, THAT THEY'LL TAKE A HAIRCUT ON IT, OR THEY WANT ALL THEIR MONEY BACK OUT OF IT? OH, OKAY.

SO THE AND I'M HESITATING BECAUSE THERE IS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONFIDENTIALITY HERE.

SO FROM A PURELY COMMERCE PERSPECTIVE, THEY GAVE NO INDICATION THAT THEY WILL BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU CAN TAKE OFF OF THEIR WEBSITE. SO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH THE LOBBYISTS, WITH THE SECRETARY AND MR. FISH, NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS MAYBE TOO SOON FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT.

[00:45:02]

AND ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS REQUIRES THAT THERE'S A SHARE, AND I USE THAT TERM VERY LOOSELY FROM THE COUNTY, AND THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER WAS REFERRING TO. SO, YEAH, THEY DIDN'T COME IN AND SAY, OH, GREAT, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY.

LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN STRUCTURE THIS.

BUT AGAIN, THEY MAY JUST BE AND WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT IS THAT NUMBER 30, 35, 35, 35,000 AN ACRE, CORRECT? YEAH. 3.3 MR. TRIVETT WOULD POSSIBLY PURCHASE THIS LAND.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE THINKING OR.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM, BUT BUT I THINK THAT HE I'M NOT SURE THAT HE'S INTERESTED IN PURCHASING IT FOR THAT AMOUNT.

RIGHT. NO, NO. YEAH.

BUT AND THE GOAL WOULD BE TO PURCHASE NOT WE'RE NOT TALKING DOLLAR FIGURE BUT MAYBE JUST PURCHASE.

YEAH. I MEAN I THINK THAT HIS HIS ULTIMATE GOAL WOULD BE TO PURCHASE THE, THE LAND, PUT IT PUT A OPERATION THERE TO PROCESS THIS PRODUCT AND USE A PORTION OF THE LAND TO GROW THE PRODUCT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. BUT, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST VERY GENERAL TERMS. BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE WAS NOT IN OUR ORIGINAL ASK WHEN WE WENT TO ANNAPOLIS AND MET WITH THE SECRETARY, WAS THAT THE PRICE OF THE LAND BE REDUCED TO REFLECT OUR APPRAISAL OF WHAT WE HAD? I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING CORRECT STANDING OUT THERE THAT DAY THAT WOULD TELL ME THAT THERE AT THIS TIME, WILLING OR PREPARED TO DO THAT.

CORRECT. I MEAN, I THINK YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH, MR. FISH TAKING THE TIME HE SPENT PRETTY MUCH MOST OF THE DAY.

AND HIS POINT IS, AND I THINK IT'S WELL TAKEN THAT THESE FUNDS TO DEVELOP THIS PARK ARE ARE A KIND OF A REVOLVING FUND.

WHEN WHEN THE MONEY COMES BACK TO THEM, THEY'RE USING THAT MONEY TO INVEST IN OTHER IN OTHER PROPERTIES AND OTHER BUSINESSES.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF LIKE OUR, OUR, OUR REVOLVING LOAN FUND, THE SAME THING.

SO I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM CUTTING IT IN HALF.

IT ISN'T LIKE THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SAY, OKAY, WE CAN DO THEY.

AND HE HAS A BOARD AND AUDITORS.

HE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR TO THAT.

AUDITORS COME IN AND LOOK AT THIS MONEY AND SAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HALF OF WHAT? SO HE'S GOT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AS WELL.

AND I AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I THINK UP TO THIS POINT THAT DEPARTMENT HAS GONE ABOVE WHAT I, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THOUGHT THEY WOULD DO.

SO I MEAN, WE'VE HAD THE SECRETARY AND HIM NOW AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US.

BUT I DON'T I DON'T ENVISION THEM JUST COMING IN AND SAYING, YEAH, OKAY.

WE'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, SIGN OFF ON THIS.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS I THINK THAT COULD BE UTILIZED THAT COULD HELP.

THERE'S ALL THE ALPHABET FOAM OR BITGO.

RIGHT. ALL OF THAT, WHATEVER THAT STANDS FOR.

I MEAN, BUT LOOK, MY EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE HAS BEEN THAT THEY'RE THERE.

BUT YOU GOT TO KIND OF BE BORN ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF THE WEEK TO GET THEM TO QUALIFY FOR THEM.

I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT BUT IT'S WE'RE TALKING.

BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, MY POINT IS WE'VE TALKED TO THE POINT WHERE I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A OPEN OVERALL, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSION WITH EVERYBODY.

SO I WOULD ASK A GOOD JOB PUTTING TOGETHER NOTES THAT WE SENT TO YOU GUYS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S WE'VE REACHED THAT TALKING POINT NOW WHERE I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE A LOT A LOT OF INVOLVEMENT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN GO IN A CLOSED SESSION BECAUSE THERE ARE BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONS.

SO I WOULD ASK STEWART TO ADVISE ON THAT.

WE CAN HAVE IT WITH ALL THE PARTNERS, BUT PUTTING IT OUT THERE, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THERE, YOU KNOW, EVEN TO THE DEGREE OF WHAT THEIR RESOURCES ARE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS FAIR TO THEM OR IF THEY WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT SO I JUST I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AND I'M HAPPY TO COORDINATE THAT AND GET IT ON AN AGENDA, WHETHER IT'S OPEN OR CLOSED WITH EVERYBODY.

IF THAT'S IF THAT'S THE ASK OF ME, IT COULD BE THAT PART OF IT'S CLOSED AND PART OF IT'S OPEN.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A PAIN, BUT TO ACCOMMODATE THE LAW AND THEM, THEIR INTERESTS, IT COULD BE DONE.

[00:50:08]

I MEAN, IT COULD EVEN INVOLVE A VISIT BECAUSE I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A LOT EASIER TO UNDERSTAND IF YOU SEE WHAT HE'S ALREADY DONE. HE'S GOT ABOUT TEN YEARS, I THINK HE SAID INVESTED IN THIS AND.

. YEAH. SO BUT ANYWAY THAT THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED TO GET.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PROCEED FROM HERE.

WHAT WAS, BECAUSE I DID NOT GO TO THE THIRD STEP OF THAT TRIP.

SO WHAT WAS THE ENDING? WHERE WAS IT LEFT DEBBIE THAT? JUST THAT DAVE IS GOING TO GET WITH HIS PARTNERS AND PUT TOGETHER A BUSINESS PLAN.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S MORE FORMAL AND WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, WHAT THEIR PROJECTIONS ARE, AND THEN GET THAT BACK TO US AND, AND WORK THROUGH OUR OFFICE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GETS TO COMMERCE IN THE WAY THAT THEY THINK.

WE THINK COMMERCE WOULD WANT TO SEE IT.

SO THE STEP IN BETWEEN ONCE HE DOES THAT, OR EVEN BEFOREHAND, WOULD BE THIS LOCAL MEETING, AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHERE THAT MOVES FORWARD.

IT'S IMPORTANT AT THIS POINT TO ME THAT WE BRING RIDGELY IN, AND AGAIN, I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED ALONG WITH ANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY THE PART.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT EXCLUSIVELY DEALING WITH ANYONE HERE.

IF SOMEONE ELSE COMES IN TODAY AND SAYS, HEY, I'D LIKE TO BUY THAT.

WE CONSIDER IT EVERY WAY WE POSSIBLY CAN.

SO, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT BUT THIS IS THE PERSON AT THIS POINT WHO HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST.

SO YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH.

YES. THAT'S. YEAH.

OKAY. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE HAD ANOTHER SCHOOL BUS INCIDENT YESTERDAY.

CORRECT. VEHICLE REAR ENDED ONE OF OUR SCHOOL BUSSES ON GREENSBORO ROAD WITH THREE STUDENTS ON BOARD. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE ON THE BUS WAS INJURED.

NOT SURE ABOUT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, BUT JENNIFER JEN HAS POSTED SOME STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT SCHOOL BUS SAFETY, DRIVING SAFETY, SCHOOL BUS AWARENESS.

BUT IT HAS BEEN ONE SCHOOL BUS EVENT AFTER ANOTHER SINCE WE'VE TAKEN OFFICE.

I THINK THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH.

SO JUST BRINGING BRINGING AWARENESS TO DRIVING SAFETY, I THINK IT'S PEOPLE THAT ARE DISTRACTED OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER ISSUES.

SO UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT, BUT VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR SEVERELY INJURED.

WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION LAST MEETING ABOUT THE DCT BUILDING.

SO KIND OF FOR LEGALS.

BRINGING BRINGING BACK UP TO DATE.

WE WE WANT TO PURSUE THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING THERE FOR POTENTIALLY LEGAL H.R AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION LAST MEETING ABOUT THE STEPS MOVING FORWARD.

HOW DO WE CLEAR OURSELVES OF ANY WRONGDOING IF WE SHOULD DO THAT? DO WE SEND A LETTER THAT JUST SAYS, THIS IS OUR INTENTION, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE TYPE DEAL? OR THAT HAS BEEN MY ADVICE IN THE PAST AND HAVE A DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK, PERHAPS EVEN WITH SOME PLANS ATTACHED TO THE LETTER SAYING THIS IS WHAT WE INTEND TO DO, AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING THEY WANT AT THAT STAGE.

OKAY. BUT SO FAR WE'VE ASKED FOR ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD POSSIBLY RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO DO IT.

AND THERE IS NONE.

NONE HAS BEEN PRODUCED.

SO THAT'S THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP WOULD BE OKAY.

IS THAT WHERE WE KIND OF LEFT IT? DANNY, TO FOLLOW UP ON MY PORTION OF THAT AND SOMETHING STEWART WAS MENTIONING.

SO I DID HAVE A SHORT MEETING WITH PEYTON FROM DAVIS BONE AND PARIETAL, AND EXPLAINED THE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.

SO PEYTON IS TAKING THE THE PLANS THAT HE HAD PRIOR AND IS REDESIGNING THEM BASED ON THE MEETINGS HE'S HAD WITH THE THREE DEPARTMENTS IDENTIFIED, TO GIVE US A COUPLE OF OPTIONS FOR PLANS.

[00:55:03]

AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THEN THAT COULD PROBABLY LEND TO THE LETTER THAT WE COULD ALSO ATTACH.

THAT WAY DCT WAS WELL AWARE OR ANY AGENCY WITH WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO.

SO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. UM, WITH THE RECENT CHANGE AT PUBLIC WORKS, WE ALSO HAVE THE RIDGELEY CHRISTMAS EVENT COMING UP AS WELL.

SO I THINK DAVID WITH THE TOWN ORIGINALLY WAS GOING TO CONTACT BRIAN, AND THAT'S WHAT I RECOMMENDED THAT HE DO WAS JUST TALK TO BRIAN THERE.

SO OKAY.

AND THE LAST THING I HAD WAS THE LITTLE SKETCH FOR THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE COURTHOUSE HERE, IF THAT. HAVE THOSE TALKS GONE ANYWHERE? NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS, REALLY, WITH WHAT THE STATE WILL FUND? NO. SO I REACHED OUT TO THE COURT AND ASKED JUST SOME MORE, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SECURITY THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND THE FUNDING, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

MY THOUGHT IS IF THE STATE IF THE STATE IS GOING TO PICK UP THE COST, I WOULD BE OKAY WITH PUTTING A PARKING LOT IN BETWEEN THE TWO PARKING SPACE LOTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, IF WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT IN.

BUT AS FAR AS EXPANSION OUT INTO THE REST OF THE GREEN, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD DO THAT.

SO I KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS THEY MOVE FORWARD, WHAT JUST IF WE HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE CAN LIVE WITH, WHAT WE THINK AS A BOARD IS, IS SUITABLE OR WHAT, YOU KNOW.

SO, I MEAN, DO YOU THINK IF WE STAY WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE TWO PARKING LOTS, THAT THAT YOU COULD LIVE WITH THAT, OR WOULD YOU RATHER NOT SEE ANYTHING CHANGE AT THE BACK OF THE BUILDING? MAYBE WE TAKE A WALK BACK.

YEAH. I MEAN, YEAH, I'M NOT I'M NOT FOR EXPANDING OUT INTO THE GREEN.

RIGHT. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE.

YEAH. OKAY.

MY OPINION. ALL RIGHT.

WELL WE'LL WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE.

BUT MY THOUGHT IS, IS IF YOU COULD DO A FENCED IN PARKING LOT IN BETWEEN THE TWO LOTS AT THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, YOU WOULDN'T REALLY BE CHANGING THE ESTHETICS OF THE GREEN.

THAT AREA IS KIND OF A UTILITY AREA ANYWAY, WITH AIR HANDLERS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO LIKE ALL THIS, THEY'RE TALKING A FENCED IN AREA OR YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE IN THE FENCE.

OR IS IT, I THINK CAMBRIDGE, IT'S A BLACK ALUMINUM FENCE, BUT YOU COULD SEE THROUGH IT, I DON'T SEE I THINK IT'S JUST TO SEPARATE HOW THEY EVEN ELEVATE SAFETY.

DOESN'T EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

I MEAN. YEAH I DON'T YEAH, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS EVEN SAFE EITHER WAY.

YEAH. MY OPINION RIGHT I DID AND I DID ASK THAT QUESTION WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THEM.

YEAH. EXACTLY WHAT SAFETY PROTOCOLS OR WHAT'S DESIRED BENEFITS TO I MEAN WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FROM THE COURT TO TALK ABOUT THAT EMAIL WAS TO JUDGE PRICE.

AND I THINK SOME OF HER STAFF.

YEAH, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH JUDGE PRICE AND LOOK INTO HIS THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR.

BUT I THINK IT'S I MEAN, I THINK THIS SOUNDS TO ME MORE OF A PEACE OF MIND THING THAN IT'S REALLY GOING TO.

I DON'T THINK IT'S PRACTICAL TO IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET HERE.

YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY WITH THAT? I'M GETTING A PHONE CALL. PROBABLY ANOTHER TELEMARKETER.

YOU WANT TO GO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL STEP OUT. OKAY.

CAN YOU FORMALLY SAY YOU'RE GOING TO CANCEL THE 28TH? LIKE NEXT WEEK AND ROLL UNTIL DECEMBER 5TH IF THAT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO? YES. OKAY.

I'M TO FORMALLY SAY WE'RE CANCELING THE NEXT MEETING ON NOVEMBER 28TH.

YOU OKAY? YEAH.

OKAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ONE MORE THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP THE.

CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY.

SO WE DO.

WE HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN IS BEING PUT TOGETHER FOR THAT.

THAT IS TOGETHER. YES, IT IS TOGETHER.

OKAY. AND I KNOW MR. DEAN REQUESTED TO BE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE.

SO IS THAT IS THAT COMMITTEE MEETING REGULARLY OR HOW ARE WE DOING?

[01:00:06]

AND THEN WE WERE GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT I CAN SEND MR. DEAN AN EMAIL. OKAY.

SO IS BASICALLY GOING TO BE A VIDEO THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING.

AND THEN WE COULD ALSO MAYBE HAVE SOME WRITTEN.

YEAH. SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A VIDEO TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY, BUT ALSO KIND OF USE THAT VIDEO AS MARKETING TOO, BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS.

SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE IT, PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE, PUT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEN CREATE A LANDING PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN GO TO THAT AND HOVER OVER DIFFERENT FACTS AND STUFF POPS UP, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE 250 YEARS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD ENOUGH.

UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? I'LL LET TO GO AHEAD SINCE.

YEAH. SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE 250TH COMMITTEE ON THE RECORD. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING MY NAME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU KNOW ABOUT MY ACTIVITIES WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL HISTORY, BUT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS ALONE, I'VE PUBLISHED OVER 100 ARTICLES ON CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORY. I'VE BEEN ON TV MORE THAN ANY OTHER CAROLINE COUNTY ENTITY, PERIOD, WHEN IT COMES TO TV.

SO THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE DOING A VIDEO AND I'M SURE IT'LL BE GREAT.

AND IN TERMS OF TOURISM AND MARKETING, BUT LET ME SAY THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE COULD DO.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STORIES AND SO MANY OTHER PROPERTIES AROUND CAROLINE COUNTY THAT YOU SHOULD NOT STOP WITH THE VIDEO.

AND SO I WOULD ENJOY VERY MUCH BEING ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING ALL YEAR LONG IN 2024.

AND WHAT WE DO IN THAT YEAR SHOULD EXTEND FAR BEYOND 2024 AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU JOHN. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? THANK YOU GUYS ON YOUR STAFF ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

WELL, AND I WANT TO AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY THANK YOU KATHLEEN AND DANNY FOR YOU KNOW I KNOW IT'S BEEN I KNOW YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, FEET ARE CONSTANTLY MOVING.

JEN THANK YOU TOO FOR KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING.

I MEAN, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE INFORMATION THAT COMES TO TO THIS OFFICE DOESN'T ISN'T ONLY FROM 8 TO 4 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

IN FACT, IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE.

IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS, IT'S NEVER DURING THE DAY, DURING THE WEEK.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT COMES IN THAT, JEN, ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, YOU KNOW, AND SHE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB PULLING THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER AND KEEPING US INFORMED.

SO I MEAN, BELIEVE ME, WHETHER YOU PEOPLE LIKE IT OR NOT, THERE'S VERY LITTLE THAT HAPPENS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

SO AT ANY TIME WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, ON THE WEEKENDS OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT YOU OPEN YOUR PHONE AND YOU SEE JENNIFER, YOU GO.

SO BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE, I MEAN, IT IS A FULL TIME.

IT IS A EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY.

SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD, UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.

BUT YOU KNOW SHE DOES A GREAT JOB PULLING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER, BEING CONCISE, PUTTING IT IN A FORM THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

AND MOST OF THE TIME THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO SAY IS THANK YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT.

COMMISSIONER I DO HAVE SOMETHING WHICH MIGHT BE OF SOME INTEREST.

THE EASTERN SHORE HAS ONE SLOT ON THE APPELLATE COURT OF MARYLAND, AND JUDGE CHRIS KEHOE FROM TALBOT COUNTY WAS OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE APPELLATE COURT.

HE HAS RETIRED, AND THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO APPOINT A SUCCESSOR.

I AM ON A COMMITTEE OF THE STATE BAR CALLED THE JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE.

WE ARE INTERVIEWING ON THE 30TH OF THIS MONTH, SEVEN APPLICANTS FROM ALL OVER THE EASTERN SHORE.

AND WE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS TO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS TO THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE GOVERNOR DIRECTLY.

SO I JUST THOUGHT YOU WOULD FIND THAT OF INTEREST.

THE EASTERN SHORE DOES GET REPRESENTATION ON THE APPELLATE COURTS, BUT IT'S ONLY ONE SEAT ON EACH OF THE TWO COURTS.

[01:05:02]

SO. ALL RIGHT.

SO WITH THAT I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

I JUST WANT TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CANCEL THE MEETING ON TUESDAY.

OH, THE 28TH.

SORRY. AND THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE DECEMBER.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? ANYONE HAVE? YEAH.

GOOD. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD THAT WE CANCEL THE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH.

SO. OKAY.

YES. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.

SO A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[10. Closed Session: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee(s)]

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. WE'LL GET A CALENDAR.

OH, YEAH. YOU'LL GET ALL THAT.

OKAY. OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.