Jan 09, 2024 County Commissioners Meeting

[00:03:47]

UM, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER THIS MORNING, WE HAVE PASTOR DON REYNOLDS IN FROM CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH TO DO OUR INVOCATION. AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.

GOOD MORNING. LET US PRAY.

[1. Call to Order]

WE BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ABOVE ALL, AND WE LOOK TO YOU.

WE LOOK BACK AT THIS PAST YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR MARVELOUS GRACE AND OFTENTIMES MERCY.

NOW, UH, WE COME, UH, THANKFUL FOR THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.

WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR THESE COMMISSIONERS, THEIR LOVED ONES, THE STAFF HERE, UM, THOSE THAT ARE SERVING.

AND I DO PRAY, LORD, FOR OUR CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY TO BE, UM, TO BE, UH, AS BEST WE CAN.

YOUR SERVANTS ALSO.

SO GIVE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN ALL DECISIONS.

UH, LORD, I PRAY OFTEN LORD, THERE NEEDS TO BE GOOD COMMUNICATION.

THAT TAKES AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK.

SOMETIMES THERE'S MISUNDERSTANDING.

[00:05:01]

BUT LORD, HELP US TO GO FORWARD, THAT WE BE A WONDERFUL COUNTY.

A COUNTY THAT'S KNOWN FOR HONORING YOU.

I PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR, FOR COMING IN AND KICKING OFF THE FIRST MEETING OF 2024.

AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR SCHEDULING ALL THE PASTORS THAT COME IN AND DO OUR INVOCATIONS.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

NEXT, UH, FEW WEEKS, WE, UM, THE PASTORS THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING TO PRAY ARE FROM THE, UM, CAROLINE COUNTY CHRISTIAN CLERGY ASSOCIATION.

AND, UM, AND I APPRECIATE THERE ARE SOME NEW ONES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT SO VERY MUCH.

I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY OTHER PASTORS, IF, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE A PASTOR, THAT I'D BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM THEM AND ONCE AGAIN, ADD THEM TO THE LIST [INAUDIBLE].

SO IT'S OPEN TO THE PASTORS.

CERTAINLY. THANK YOU.

SOMETIMES IT'S LAYPERSONS REPRESENTING CHRISTIAN [INAUDIBLE].

YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS FOR US AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO DO OUR INVOCATIONS.

AND, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN THIS FIRST MEETING SO.

ALL RIGHT, UM, AT THIS POINT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?

[2. Public Comment]

HELLO. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN PARTICIPATING IN ANYTHING SUCH AS THIS.

WE JUST DID THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT LIBERTY IN HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, IS SOME LIBERTY TO MAKE OUR OWN FREE CHOICES AND STUFF.

SO I ACTUALLY AM ASKING AND SEEKING TWO RESOLUTIONS, BUT THEY ARE INTERTWINED.

MHM. UH, AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB.

THEY HAVE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DUTIES TO DO AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT, BUT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW LAWS AND PROTOCOL.

WELL, FOR THE RECORD CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

UH, CHARLENE CONNORS, 23416 IVANS ROAD.

MARYLANDERS. AND GENERALLY, THE VOTERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS LONG STANDING PRACTICE IT'S BEEN GOING ON AROUND 130 YEARS.

UM, SOME VOTERS HAVE VOTER CONFIDENTIALITY, WHEREBY THEIR INFORMATION IS COMPLETELY, UH, NON DISCLOSABLE OR PARTIAL NON DISCLOSABLE. SOME GROUPS HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ARE REGISTERED VOTERS ARE NOT INCLUDED AT ALL.

AN EXAMPLE IS THE NON-CITIZEN REGISTERED VOTERS IN HYATTSVILLE.

THEY'RE NOT SOLD ON THE DATABASE THAT THE BOARD SELLS LIKE THE REST OF US.

SO WHAT I'M SEEKING IS AN OPT OUT PROVISION.

IT'S NOT MANDATORY, SO IT'D JUST BE SOMEBODY'S CHOICE IF THEY WANT TO OPT OUT OR NOT TO PROTECT THEIR INFORMATION.

THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY IMPACT OR NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITIZENS BECAUSE IT'S JUST AN OPTION.

OKAY. AN OPT OUT RESOLUTION WOULD NOT OFFEND THE MARYLAND CODE, THE FOIA, THE PRACTICE, THE PRIVACY ACT, OR THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT.

AND THE TIME HAS COME TO PROTECT OUR INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY BECAUSE BAD ACTORS ARE TARGETING AMERICANS.

AMERICANS ARE 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT AND CRIMES THAN ANY OTHER NATION OR ANY OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.

IT'S BECAUSE DOZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE PRIVACY LAWS, AND WE DON'T.

WE'RE SELLING IT. WE'RE HEMORRHAGING IT.

UH, THERE'S ALREADY BEEN TWO BILLS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GIVE AN OPT OUT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, BOTH OF THOSE BILLS DIED IN COMMITTEE.

UM, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO RESOLUTIONS TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY UNDER HOME RULE DOCTRINE.

AND YOU HAVE ACTUALLY A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE HISTORY, BECAUSE NO OTHER COUNTY OR STATE PROVIDES AN OPT OUT FOR THE VOTER REGISTRATION TO PROTECT THE INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY OF OUR REGISTERED VOTERS.

AND SIMILAR PROVISIONS OF OPT OUT ARE MANDATORY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE SHOULDN'T ASK MORE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN OUR GOVERNMENT SECTORS.

AND THE NEXT ONE IS, OF COURSE, IF WE DO AN OPT OUT, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS BY POLITICIANS IS THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THEIR

[00:10:09]

IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

UH, LESS UH, UH, PAPER THROWN AWAY.

AND IT WOULD BE A SECURE SITE BECAUSE IT THE, THE CANDIDATES ARE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION INTO THAT PAGE.

THERE WOULDN'T BE A CHANCE FOR MISINFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S THEIR SOURCE AND THEY CAN ADDRESS, UH, MISINFORMATION THAT'S ON OTHER PUBLIC MEDIA RIGHT AWAY.

SO ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WOULD KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

UM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? UM, I TALKED TO YOU ON THE PHONE.

YES, SIR YOU DID.

WE'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON.

AND I REFERRED YOU TO STEWART.

YES, YOU DID.

AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOUR CALLS, AND I KIND OF.

THIS IS OUT OF MY REALM HERE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY FOR PRIVACY.

IT'S, UH, VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW, NOBODY NEEDS YOUR INFORMATION, SO I'M STILL GOING TO GO.

I GOT TO RELY ON, UH, OUR ATTORNEY COUNTY ATTORNEY TO, YOU KNOW, HANDLE THIS BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF MY REALM HERE.

SO I'M REFERRING TO HIM, RIGHT, AND I APOLOGIZE.

I LOVE THIS IS AWESOME THAT YOU PROVIDED US WITH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I, UH COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. UM, I'M ALL FOR PROTECTING PRIVACY.

AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF AN OPT OUT CLAUSE SO THAT IF YOU WANT TO, UH, PREVENT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.

UH, I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE FLASH DRIVE THAT I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO LAST YEAR.

JUST TO KNOW WHAT CONSTITUENTS, YOU KNOW, TO GO TALK TO, TO CALL.

UH, PRIMARILY, WHAT I WANTED TO SEE IS WHO OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT I KNEW WERE REGISTERED OR NOT.

AND I KIND OF DID MY OWN CAMPAIGN.

IF YOU'RE NOT ON THIS LIST, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO CALL AND TRY TO GET YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, BOLSTER MY SUPPORT AT THAT POINT WAS WHAT I WAS AFTER.

BUT, UM, BUT, UH, SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW I USED IT.

I THINK IT WAS $50 FOR THE FLASH DRIVE, AND IT HAD EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN CAROLINE COUNTY PARTY AFFILIATION AND ADDRESS, AND THEN IT DISCLOSED WHETHER OR NOT THEY VOTED, DIDN'T SAY NATURALLY WHO THEY VOTED FOR, BUT IT IT DISCLOSED WHETHER OR NOT THEY VOTED IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN EACH YEAR'S PRIMARY OR EACH YEAR'S GENERAL ELECTION.

SO IS THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? THE, UH, BASICALLY THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SELL IS THE VOTER'S NAME ADDRESS, UNLESS THEY'RE IN A HOME ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY.

THEN THERE IS A FICTITIOUS ADDRESS THAT'S APPLIED TO IT.

UH, THEY ALSO SELL THE DATE OF BIRTH.

UH, IT WAS DROPPED FOR A WHILE, AND THEN THEY HAD TO PICK THEY STARTED PICKING IT BACK UP.

UM, SO THAT IS INCLUDED THE GENDER.

NOT EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY LIVES IN THEIR ASSIGNED GENDER, AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO BE SHARED.

UH, IT ALSO GIVES THE, UM, HAS ON THERE THE PERSONAL VOTER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

NOBODY NEEDS TO HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION.

THAT'S ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR VOTER FRAUD AND CERTAINLY ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR BAD ACTORS TO GET A FALSE ID OPEN UP ACCOUNTS. UH, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF IDENTITY THEFT, AND IT HAPPENS SO FAST.

AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS.

I HAVE ACTUALLY CALLED PEOPLE THAT HAVE PURCHASED THIS INFORMATION.

AND CLEARLY IT IS NOT ALL FOR THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

CERTAINLY BY THE THE NRPA, THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT REQUIRES THAT RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.

THAT'S A THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN 4.2 MILLION MARYLANDERS HAVING THEIR INFORMATION PUBLISHED AND SENT OUT.

IF SOMEBODY'S RESIDING IN ANOTHER STATE, THEY CAN'T POSSIBLY TAKE THAT DATA AND LOOK AT THE STATE OFFICIAL RECORDS TO SEE IF IT'S CORRECT AND ACCURATE AND CURRENT, THEIR ARM ISN'T GOING TO BE LONG ENOUGH TO GO THAT FAR.

IT'S JUST IT'S A DATA MINING INDUSTRY.

AND OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULDN'T BE APPLIED TO A DATA MINING INDUSTRY.

WELL, WHEN YOU SAY THAT WHEN YOU SAY THEY SELL IT, WHO WHO WHO IS SELLING THE INFORMATION, WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

[00:15:02]

UH, AND THEN THEY EMAIL THIS INFORMATION GENERALLY, MOST OF THEM ARE SENT EMAILS.

THE EMAILS AREN'T EVEN MOST OFTEN IN THE SAME NAME.

YOU CAN'T EVEN IDENTIFY IF THAT EMAIL BELONGS TO THE APPLICANT.

SO ANY APPLICANT IN ANY STATE CAN FILE THE APPLICATION AND DECIDE, DO THEY WANT A COUNTY, UH, LIST OR DO THEY WANT THE STATEWIDE LIST, PAY THE FEE AND IT IS EMAILED TO THEM.

YEAH, I THINK THE FEE IS, UH, SET TO TRY TO COVER THE COST OF PRODUCING THE INFORMATION, EITHER ON A FLASH BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE TO GET A FLASH DRIVE. AND, UM.

WELL, THEN. THEN WHAT THE BOARD SENDS IT TO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO IT JUST GOES TO THE MARYLAND GENERAL FUNDS.

YEAH. SO.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I THINK, UH, WE'LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY.

TONY, STEWART. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I WAS CURIOUS, MA'AM.

DID YOU TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF THE BILLS? UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MY ELECTRICITY.

I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH, UH, MY INTERNET SERVICE.

I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MY PERSONAL VEHICLES.

I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH ENTRY INTO MY HOME.

UH, AND RIGHT THE MOMENTS BEFORE I WAS TO TESTIFY BY ZOOM TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, UH, THE ELECTRICITY FAILED IN MY HOUSE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT, UM, OFFICES OR ENTITIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN OPPOSING THE BILLS? I, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME BAD ACTORS.

THEY DON'T WANT THIS TO BE AN OPT OUT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BUY THE INFORMATION.

AM I GOING TO PUT FINGERS ON ANYBODY? NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

THAT WOULD BE DEFAMATION OF THEM.

DO YOU KNOW WHY NO OTHER COUNTY IN MARYLAND HAS ENACTED AN OPT OUT YET? UH, THERE'S TWO REASONS.

UH, ONE, THE CANDIDATES LIKE TO HAVE VERY EASY ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.

THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE REASONS.

IT'S, UH, PROFITABLE, BECAUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION IS THE BIGGEST, UH, GROWING COMMODITY THAT THE AMERICANS PUT OUT.

AND IT'S USED AND REUSED AND REUSED.

ONCE THESE PEOPLE BUY THIS, THIS DOCUMENTATION, THEY AGGREGATE IT WITH OTHER INTO A DOSSIER OR DOSSIER, AND THEY RESELL IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

AND ONCE IT IS COLLECTIVELY GATHERED, THEY CAN'T SEGREGATE IT OUT.

SO IT'S A IT'S A MONEY ENTITY, UH, INSTITUTION, NOT JUST FOR THE BOARD.

THEY'RE NOT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.

IT'S VERY, VERY CHEAP.

BUT, UH, SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WANT THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S A LEAD THAT BAD ACTORS CAN GO AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

OTHERWISE THEY HAVE TO GO AND AND LOOK ONLINE TO FIND CHARLENE.

BUT IF CHARLENE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, IT'S EASY TO TO TO DO A COMPUTER SEARCH AND FIND ALL THE INFORMATION ON THAT ONE PERSON.

UH, SO THAT'S ONE GROUP.

THE CANDIDATES WANT TO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO IT SO THAT THEY CAN SEND OUT FLYERS OR CONTACT THEM.

AND THE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE THAT I HAVE FOUND IS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

MY PERSONAL SURVEY NATIONWIDE IS LESS THAN 3% OF THE POPULACE KNOW THAT THIS IS EVEN TAKING PLACE.

I HAVE INTERVIEWED STATE WORKERS, I HAVE FEDERAL WORKERS, AND THEY WERE ALL VERY SHOCKED THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THIS CONTROL. UM, SO THAT'S THAT REALLY IS THE BIGGEST THING IS IF THEY PROVIDE AN OPT OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE BEEN SELLING IT ALL THESE YEARS. AND ALSO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TOO IS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, EVERY SINGLE DELEGATE IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE HOUSE, I PERSONALLY SENT AN EMAIL TO IN BETWEEN MY INTERNET BEING DEACTIVATED BY SOMEBODY. UH, SO THEY ARE ALL AWARE OF IT.

16 AND 17 YEAR OLD MINORS ARE INCLUDED IN THAT LIST.

NO OTHER STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY IS ALLOWED TO SELL OR DISCLOSE MINORS INFORMATION.

AN EXAMPLE OF IT IS A LOT OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS PROVIDE VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITY DATE, AND A LOT OF KIDS GET EXTRA CREDIT IF THEY REGISTER TO VOTE.

THE PARENTS AREN'T AWARE THAT THEIR OWN PERSONAL INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE SOLD.

THEY CERTAINLY DON'T KNOW THEIR CHILDREN'S INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE SOLD, BUT BECAUSE THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITY, THEY BECOME REGISTERED VOTERS AND THEY'RE INCLUDED ON THAT DATABASE THAT'S SOLD, WHICH VIOLATES ALL THE OTHER LAWS TO PROTECT MINORS.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH MANY REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

[00:20:05]

ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS CASA, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

I INTERVIEWED WITH THE YOUNG LADY OVER THERE LAST YEAR.

SHE WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE THAT WHEN SHE WAS REGISTERING ALL THESE DOZENS OF KIDS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THEY ENDED UP BEING SOLD.

THAT OFFICE IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND SHE IS PARTICIPATING IN DISCLOSING THEIR INFORMATION. SO IT'S NOT KNOWN.

WELL IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.

UM, IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE INTERESTING.

IS THERE ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THE COUNTY HAS DIRECTED A STATE AGENCY TO PROVIDE AN, UH, AN OPT OUT? I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE, UH, IT'D BE WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE I CAN GIVE YOU THE, UM, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN HYATTSVILLE, MARYLAND.

UM, THEY HAVE ALTERED THE CURRENT, UH, MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS POLICIES AND STATE LAW, AMENDING IT SO THAT IF THEY'RE NON-CITIZENS, CAN PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

YES, 16 YEAR OLD'S CAN PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS.

THEY'VE ALREADY AMENDED THAT.

AND SO SOMEHOW THEY THEY WOULD NOT DISCLOSE TO ME.

I COULDN'T GET TO THE RIGHT PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT I THINK MUNICIPALITIES RUN THEIR OWN ELECTIONS.

I DON'T THINK THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS INVOLVED.

SO SO THEY THEY DON'T GO BY THE RULES.

SO THE STATE LAW DOESN'T SAY THAT NON-CITIZENS DON'T HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT NON-CITIZENS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THERE.

SO IT JUST IS RIDICULOUS THAT NON-CITIZENS GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

AND THEY'RE NOT SOLD OUT LIKE THE REST OF US ARE.

BUT I THINK THE REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE LACK OF AWARENESS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE NATIONWIDE, ALMOST 200, IF NOT OVER 200 MILLION PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS SOLD BY THEIR RESPECTIVE BOARDS.

EVERY STATE HAS ITS OWN REGULATIONS, AND THEY CAN THEY CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

BECAUSE IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE INCLUDED A PHRASE IN THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT SAYING, WHAT INFORMATION IS DISCLOSABLE, THEY WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR OWN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT EXEMPT EXEMPTION SIX SO THEY DID NOT INCLUDE THAT.

AND THERE'S NOT A STATEMENT, NO WORDING, NO LANGUAGE, NOTHING TO SAY IN THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT THAT THERE CANNOT BE AN OPT OUT.

THEY'VE ALREADY PROVEN THERE IS AN OPT OUT BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CITIZENS, REGISTERED VOTERS.

THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED THEY'RE NOT SOLD AT ALL.

MHM. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. AND YET WE HAVE TO HAVE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND SO YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH. WELL WE'LL DO A LITTLE INVESTIGATING.

UM AND SEE YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH IF, IF WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN IN FACT, UH, REQUEST AN OPT OUT, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.

AND I WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN OFFER MY TIME AND SERVICES.

OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. UH, NONE BEING SEEN.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS MISS HEATHER GUERIERI WITH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF COMPASS REGIONAL HOSPICE.

[3. Compass Hospice Update]

I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR.

I WANT TO FIRST, JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TODAY.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON 2023 AND HOW COMPASS FARED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND ALSO, AS ALWAYS, EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR NONPROFIT.

UM, OPERATING IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU.

AND HERE WITH ME TODAY IS JESSICA LAWSON.

SHE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES.

AND I BROUGHT JESS BECAUSE SHE WAS A GREW UP IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

UM, AND ALSO SHE OVERSEES ALL OF OUR CLINICAL OPERATIONS FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT, ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOMES WITHIN THE COUNTIES.

UM, AND YOU MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO CLINICAL THAT JESS COULD ANSWER BETTER THAN I.

AND ALSO TERRY MEADE, UM, BOARD MEMBER FOR THREE YEARS AND ALSO THE TREASURER AND A CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FROM CAROLINE COUNTY ON OUR BOARD CURRENTLY, CAROL VISINTAINER.

AND MOST RECENTLY ELECTED WAS, UM, [INAUDIBLE] MALIKA.

MISS MALIKA, SHE WAS FROM A SCHOOL TEACHER IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

SO SO WE'LL GO ON TO THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF STAT STATISTICS, PATIENT STATISTICS.

FOR 2023 AS OF NOVEMBER, WE SERVED 13 CAROLINE COUNTY PATIENTS IN OUR HOSPICE CENTER.

[00:25:08]

UM, IT IS OUR TRI COUNTY, UM, CENTER THAT SERVES PATIENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL LEVEL OF CARE AS WELL AS GENERAL INPATIENT.

THAT'S THE HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT.

PEOPLE COME IN, THEY STAY FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THEIR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME.

MOST PEOPLE, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, LIKE TO STAY IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT, UM, INSTEAD OF BEING IN A FACILITY AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

UM, TOTAL PATIENTS SERVED IN THE HOMES IN CAROLINE COUNTY IN 2023 WAS 90 AND PATIENTS SERVED IN FACILITIES IN THE COUNTY, WHICH IS ASSISTED LIVING HOMES AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES WITH 61.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THAT NUMBER OF 61.

UM, THAT'S A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS THAT ARE SERVED IN CAROLINE COUNTY ARE IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVINGS.

AND I KNOW TERRY CAN SPEAK TO THAT TOO, BECAUSE HE IS ALSO A PATIENT CARE VOLUNTEER AND GOES AND SEES PATIENTS IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN SEES THEM IN THE FACILITIES.

SO WE HAVE GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF OUR ASSISTED LIVING AND NURSING HOMES IN THE COUNTY.

AND TOTAL PATIENTS SERVED WAS 164.

ON AVERAGE WE HAVE ABOUT 30 PATIENTS A DAY IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

IS THAT, UH, IS THAT 164 COUNTY RESIDENTS, CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS? OKAY, YES. WE'RE JUST SPEAKING OF CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

YEAH. AND THAT'S THROUGH NOVEMBER AND THAT'S THROUGH NOVEMBER.

11 MONTHS. YEAH.

11 MONTHS. YEAH.

AND THAT THAT IS LIKE ON TRACK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

IT VARIED A COUPLE FROM YEAR TO YEAR DURING COVID.

OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY SPIKED A BIT MORE IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT GETTING SEEN AS MUCH OR GOING TO HOSPITALS.

SO THE PHYSICIANS WERE REFERRING EARLIER AND MORE TO HOSPICE IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I PROCEED? UH, HOW MANY DO YOU KNOW? HOW MANY CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS WERE ACTUALLY SERVICED IN THE CENTERVILLE FACILITY? YES, I DO THAT. THAT NUMBER WAS, UH, 13.

13. YEAH. OKAY.

AND IN 2020, THERE WAS 21 PATIENTS SERVED THERE FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.

AND 21 IT WAS 17 AND 2022 WAS 19.

SO AGAIN THE 13 IS ONLY THROUGH NOVEMBER OKAY.

STATISTICS. YEP.

SO HEATHER. YES.

WHAT WHEN YOU THE 61 PATIENTS THAT WERE SERVED IN NURSING IS THAT THROUGH BASICALLY ARCADIA? NO, IT'S ALL OF THEM.

IT'S LIKE CAROLINE NURSING AND REHAB DENTON, UM, HOMESTEAD, MANOR AND ARCADIA.

YEAH. OKAY.

WE'LL GET TO THE ARCADIA AS WELL, THOUGH.

UM, BUT GOOD. GOOD QUESTION.

I JUST ALSO WANTED TO GIVE SOME STATISTICS TOO, BECAUSE ABOUT INSURANCE, 93% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVED IN CAROLINE COUNTY WERE PATIENTS THAT HAD MEDICARE AS THEIR PRIMARY PAYER SOURCE, AND ONLY 4% HAD PRIVATE INSURANCE, AND ONE PATIENT HAD MEDICAID AND ONE WAS UNINSURED.

TOTALLY. AND JUST TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT THE UNINSURED, WE DO NOT TURN ANYBODY AWAY BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY.

SO IF SOMEBODY DOES NOT HAVE INSURANCE, OR NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF INSURANCE THEY HAVE, WE TAKE THEM ON FOR WHATEVER THAT IS, BECAUSE SOME PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES, WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THEM.

THEY PAY A LOT LOWER RATE THAN MEDICARE.

SO IT DOESN'T COVER THE COST OF THE CARE THAT WE PROVIDE.

WE ALSO FOR OUR ROOM AND BOARD FEE FOR OUR HOSPICE CENTER.

AND AS I'LL GET TO AT ARCADIA, IT IS A SLIDING SCALE FEE.

SO IT'S BASED ON THE PERSON'S ABILITY TO PAY.

SO IF THEY CAN ONLY PAY $10 A DAY, THAT'S WHAT WE CHARGE THEM AND WE HAVE TO FUNDRAISE THE REST OF THE MONIES.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, UM, ABOUT FINANCIALS OR INCOME AND EXPENSES.

UH, THE ROOM AND BOARD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BILL PEOPLE WAS $153,000.

THE CHARITABLE DISCOUNT THAT WE GAVE THROUGH THAT WAS $63,217.97 OF CHARITABLE ROOM AND BOARD.

UM, INSURANCE INCOME WAS $1.6 MILLION AND LOST REVENUE WAS ALMOST $36,000.

AND OUR TOTAL EXPENSES ARE $1.84 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.

UH, SO WE RAN AT A LOSS OF $177,943.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A NONPROFIT, YOU YOU DON'T LIKE TO HAVE A LOSS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

[00:30:02]

AND, UM, AS I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, UM, IN A FEW MINUTES, CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE VERY GENEROUS TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND CONTINUE TO BE.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR FESTIVAL OF TREES THAT WE JUST HAD.

UM, AND ALSO THE MOU WITH ARCADIA.

AS UM, COMMISSIONER PORTER POINTED OUT, ARCADIA EARLIER, WE WENT INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, UM, THAT I SENT YOU ELECTRONICALLY WITH ARCADIA AND DENTON TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BEDS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO STAY IN THE COUNTY, AREN'T IN AN ASSISTED LIVING OR A NURSING HOME, DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTY TO COME TO OUR FACILITY IN CENTERVILLE AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE THERE.

BRICKS AND MORTAR ARE IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WE WERE NOT WE'RE NOT SEEING THE AMOUNT OF PATIENTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE SERVED IN A FACILITY TYPE SUCH SETTING THAT WOULD WARRANT A BUILDING HERE CURRENTLY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, EXCUSE ME, IN THE PAST.

SO THIS AGREEMENT WITH ARCADIA WAS LIKE A WIN WIN, I THINK BOTH FOR ARCADIA AND FOR FOR OUR PATIENTS.

AGAIN, WE SEE A LOT OF PATIENTS IN ARCADIA.

THEY REFER TO US ALL THE TIME WITH PATIENTS THAT ARE ALREADY LIVING THERE, THAT WE COME ALONGSIDE OF ARCADIA AND PROVIDE HOSPICE SERVICES TO.

AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE HAD NOBODY IN CAROLINE COUNTY REQUEST TO GO TO A BED IN ARCADIA THAT ALREADY WAS NOT LIVING THERE.

BUT WE HAVE THAT OPTION.

UM, IT'S A SCATTER BED OPTION.

ARCADIA ALWAYS HAS AN EMPTY BED.

DONNA HAS ASSURED US OF THAT.

WE CONTINUE. JESSICA WORKS WITH THEIR STAFF ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS WITH OUR PATIENTS THAT ARE THERE, AND WE DO OFFER THAT OPTION TO CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THE ONE DIFFERENCE I LIKE TO MAKE CLEAR, THOUGH, IS ARCADIA FOR PATIENTS FROM CARE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY TO GO TO ARCADIA, THAT IS JUST A RESIDENTIAL LEVEL OF CARE.

WE DON'T DO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE THERE.

WE CAN'T BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A ROUND THE CLOCK NURSING.

IT'S A LOT MORE INTENSIVE.

YOU HAVE TO PHYSICIANS SEEING THE PATIENTS SO THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR MEDICATION SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEM COMFORTABLE.

SO THE THAT LEVEL OF CARE STILL COMES TO OUR CENTERVILLE, UM, LOCATION.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR THE AGREEMENT WITH ARCADIA? I DO SURE.

UM, SO ARCADIA IS BASICALLY A FEE BASED.

I MEAN, YOU PAY TO STAY THERE.

CORRECT. SO HOW I GUESS YOU JUST ANSWERED THIS QUESTION, BUT HAS THERE BEEN A PATIENT MEETING YOUR HOSPICE CRITERIA? THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE AT ARCADIA.

YOU ENTERED INTO THIS MOU IN AUGUST, CORRECT? OR UH, IN JUNE.

IT WAS EFFECTIVE IN AUGUST.

UM. IN THAT MOU, ARCADIA IS OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 1 TO 2 BEDS.

BUT YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED.

COMPASS IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PUT PEOPLE THERE.

CORRECT. SO NOR ARE WE OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR EMPTY BEDS, WHICH IS WHAT WE COULD NOT.

YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO OR COULD NOT AFFORD TO DO.

SO LIKE WE DON'T PAY FOR A BED THAT'S SITTING THERE EMPTY.

WE PAY WHEN THE PATIENT GETS IN THE BED.

BUT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE AN MOU WITH ARCADIA, BUT YOU HAVE PATIENTS IN OTHER NURSING FACILITIES.

YES.. THAT YOU ARE PAYING.

NO NO NO NO. SO THOSE, SO THAT'S A GOOD THAT'S A GOOD POINT THOUGH THAT CAN GET CONFUSING, COMMISSIONER PORTER, THE WE SEE PATIENTS IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES AND ASSISTED LIVINGS EVERYWHERE THAT THAT IS THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT.

SO THINK OF IT JUST AS INSTEAD OF US GO INTO THEIR HOME DOWN THE STREET, THEIR HOME IS THE NURSING HOME, THEIR HOME IS THE ASSISTED LIVING.

AND WE GO IN THERE JUST LIKE WE WOULD IF THEY WERE IN A PRIVATE HOME ENVIRONMENT.

THIS ARCADIA MOU IS SPECIFIC BEDS FOR US TO HAVE SOMEBODY GO THERE.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE MAJORITY OF PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE DO NOT PAY FULL PAY TO BE IN ONE OF OUR BEDS.

WELL, THEY WAIVE THEIR THEY WAIVE THEIR ADMISSION, THEY WAIVE THEIR ADMISSION.

BUT WE HAVE TO PAY THEM A DAILY RATE NO MATTER WHAT WE GET FROM THE FAMILY.

RIGHT. SO IF WE GET $10, LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER FROM THE FAMILY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD, WE STILL ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH ARCADIA TO PAY THAT AMOUNT TO THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. SO THE QUESTION WHEN I MET WITH ARCADIA, THE QUESTION THAT I GUESS THE BASIC QUESTION WAS, IF YOU HAVE A PATIENT WHO GOES INTO ARCADIA AND THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE WHEN THAT MONEY RUNS OUT, WHEN THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL ABILITY ENDS FOR THEM TO PAY.

[00:35:08]

IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OR IS THERE ANYTHING SET UP SO THAT COMPASS COULD ASSIST WITH HAVING THEM STAY THERE? SO SO IF THEY ARE LIVING THERE AS THEIR RESIDENT? NO. THAT IS BETWEEN ARCADIA AND THAT PATIENT, JUST LIKE THEM PAYING THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD MORTGAGE.

IF THE COMPASS PUTS THE PERSON IN THERE BECAUSE THEY NEED A THREE MONTH OR LESS, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR RESIDENTIAL BEDS ARE, WHETHER IT'S IN CENTERVILLE OR HERE, IF THEY ARE IN NEED OF A THREE MONTH STAY AT END OF LIFE BECAUSE THEY, THEIR PRIMARY CAREGIVER IS ELDERLY, OR LET'S SAY THEY FELL ILL AND THEY CAN'T STAY IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT ANYMORE AND THEY NEED TO GO THERE.

COMPASS WILL PAY THAT IF THAT PERSON OUTLIVES THE THREE MONTHS.

AND LET'S JUST SAY THEY WERE PAYING US FULL PAY AT FIRST AND THEY RUN OUT OF MONEY, THEN THEY CAN STAY THERE.

AND COMPASS WILL COVER THAT WITH OUR WITH OUR FUNDRAISED DOLLARS.

IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING, BUT IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEBODY LIVING THERE AS THEIR HOME AND COMPASS PUTTING THEM THERE AFTER WE ARE ALREADY INVOLVED WITH THEM FOR RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE CARE.

WE'VE NEVER PUT ANYBODY THERE YET.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

YEAH. WE HAVEN'T WE HAVEN'T HAD NOBODY HAS, WE OFFER IT.

PEOPLE HAVE OPTED 17 PEOPLE IN 2023.

NOW GRANTED, WE DIDN'T LIKE LARRY SAID WE DIDN'T START THE MOU UNTIL AUGUST.

SO IT'S HARD TO TELL.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS.

THAT'S ALWAYS A TIME WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HOME.

SO I THINK WE WE NEED TIME TO SHOW THAT THAT OUR ARCADIA BEDS WILL BE USED FOR RESIDENTIAL HOSPICE LEVEL OF CARE.

IF I IF I MAY SPEAK, ONE OF THE INTERESTING PIECES OF THIS WAS AS THE TREASURER, I SAW THE CENSUS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

BUT AS A CERTIFIED HOSPICE VOLUNTEER, I WAS ASSIGNED TO VETERANS AT THE END OF LIFE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

SO THE VERY FIRST NIGHT I WENT TO SEE ONE OF MY LATEST ASSIGNMENTS WAS AT ARCADIA.

SO BEING ON THE CAROLINE NURSING HOME BOARD, I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE GABLES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT WHEN I WENT THERE, I MEET THE INDIVIDUAL.

AND THEN I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, AS A CAREGIVER, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHOULD I DO? AND I ASKED ONE OF THE ATTENDANTS AND SHE SAID, YOU GOT TO TALK TO THE HEAD NURSE.

SO I SAID, OKAY. SO I TALKED TO THE HEAD NURSE, GOT MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

AND TO MY SURPRISE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN, WHO WAS IN WHICH PLACES, WHETHER THEY WERE IN THEIR HOME OR WHATEVER.

SHE SAID, IS THIS YOUR ONLY HOSPICE PATIENT? AND I SAID, YEAH, IT'S MY ONLY ASSIGNMENT.

WHY DO YOU HAVE MORE THAN THAT? AND SHE SAID, OH YEAH, WE HAVE TWO, THREE, FOUR HERE ALL THE TIME.

AND SO WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT A DEAL WITH ARCADIA, THAT WAS AN EYE OPENER FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A TREASURER, BUT I'M ALSO NOW A VOLUNTEER.

SO WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES, THE OWNERS OF ARCADIA, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME APPARENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME IS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THE LAW SAYS THAT IF SOMEBODY IS IN AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MEDICAL CAPABILITIES, AND THEY'RE DEEMED TO BE QUALIFIED FOR HOSPICE BY LAW, THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY THE LOCAL HOSPICE FOR HOSPICE CARE TO BECOME INVOLVED.

AND IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, THERE IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE IT HAPPENED.

IT'S OVER IN IN, UH, STEVENSVILLE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOCATION THERE.

IF THEY DON'T DO THAT NOW, SOMEBODY CAN DIE IN THE NURSING HOME OR AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY FROM A HEART ATTACK, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DEEMED TO BE TERMINALLY ILL AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

THAT'S NOT A CRIME.

BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THIS PATIENT HAD BEEN DEEMED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR HOSPICE WAS NOT REPORTED WHEN THAT PERSON DIED.

IT WAS A CRIME SCENE.

THEY LITERALLY PUT YELLOW TAPE AROUND THE BUILDING, SEQUESTERED ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE KITCHEN AND DIDN'T LOCK THE DOOR.

SO SOME OF THE PATIENTS WERE GETTING OUT.

BUT THAT WAS A CRIME.

AND SO HOSPICE IS EMBEDDED WITH ANY NURSING HOME FACILITY OR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED BY LAW THAT IT'S REPORTED.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS AN EYE OPENER, WAS THAT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF THEIR HOME? THEY, BY THEIR OWN CHOICE, MAKE A DECISION TO GO IN TO ONE OF THE FACILITIES, WHETHER IT'S ARCADIA OR THE NURSING HOME OR WHATEVER.

AND ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE IS WHEN THEY BECOME DEEMED TO BE TERMINALLY ILL AND THEN THEY QUALIFY FOR HOSPICE.

SO HOSPICE HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF THESE FOLKS WHEREVER THEIR WHEREVER THEIR BED IS, WHETHER IT'S IN THEIR HOME OR WHETHER IT'S THEY'RE IN A FACILITY LIKE 60 OUT OF 163 PEOPLE ARE IN FACILITIES BY THEIR CHOICE AS TO WHERE THEY'VE CHOSEN TO GO.

IT'S ONCE THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE DEEMED TO BE TERMINALLY ILL.

AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS.

AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN WITH PATIENTS IN THEIR HOMES AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON AND ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE NEWS WITH THE NURSING HOMES AND PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE THE RELATIVES BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE NURSING HOME, PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HOME.

[00:40:01]

THE NURSING HOME AND IN THE FACILITY OVER IN CENTERVILLE.

CENTERVILLE HAS THE CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE 24/SEVEN, SO I ACTUALLY WANTED THE PATIENTS THAT I WAS DEALING WITH.

HE WAS IN HIS 80S.

HE LIVED ALONE.

BUT HE GETS TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, I'D GO TO HIS HOME OR I'D TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE ALL THE TIME.

HE GOT DEHYDRATED AND STUFF.

SO HE ACTUALLY CHOSE TO GO TO CENTERVILLE FOR A WEEK.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS GIVE HIM THE 24 HOUR KIND OF SERVICE.

THEY BUILD HIS FLUIDS BACK UP.

IF HE CHOOSES TO GO HOME AND HE'S CAPABLE OF DOING IT, HE GOES HOME.

BUT THAT'S A LEVEL OF CARE THAT CAN'T BE PROVIDED HERE, AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THAT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK THAT OUT OF 163 PEOPLE IN 11 MONTHS AND 13 HAVE BEEN THERE MOST OF THE TIME, THAT'S BECAUSE THEIR LEVEL OF CARE IS NEEDED. AND AGAIN, BEING THE TREASURER, ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT I MEAN, THE INTERESTING PIECES YOU SEE IS THEY HAVE TEN BEDS THERE AND A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S MAYBE 6 OR 7 PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T COME THERE TO THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WE CHECK IN AND THEY'RE THEY PASS AWAY IN 24 HOURS, 48 HOURS.

SO EVEN THOUGH THERE'S TEN BEDS FOR THREE COUNTIES, IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE HAVE TEN PEOPLE FROM THREE COUNTIES THAT GO THERE FOR THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

AND THAT WAS THE EYE OPENER TO ME, IS HOW MANY BEDS ARE HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

THAT HOSPICE TAKES CARE OF THOSE FOLKS.

AND A LOT OF TIMES THOSE CHOICES WERE MADE BEFORE THEY QUALIFY FOR HOSPICE.

AND THAT'S NOT REALLY WELL KNOWN.

SO, WELL, WE'VE HAD THIS LONG CONVERSATION MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I DID AND I YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE CERTAINLY PREFER TO BE AT HOME.

AND I THINK YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I KNOW BY EXPERIENCE THAT YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THE HOME CARE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOT EVERYONE IS IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN STOP THEIR JOB, STOP THEIR LIFE AND GO TAKE CARE OF A PARENT YOU KNOW, IN THEIR HOME.

THEY JUST CAN'T DO IT RIGHT. SO IT BECOMES NOT FEASIBLE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND I GUESS MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE AND I'M NOT I DON'T THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT.

I'M JUST SAYING MY OPINION IS THAT THE REASON THAT YOU MAY HAVE THOSE EMPTY BEDS IN QUEEN ANNE COUNTY IS THAT PEOPLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY DON'T WANT TO GO TO CENTERVILLE.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, YOU LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.

YOU WANT TO DIE IN THIS. ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO, I MEAN, BUT THAT GOES BACK TO THE SAME SITUATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ABOUT A FACILITY IN THIS COUNTY.

IF IT BECOMES FEASIBLE, IF IT'S NOT FEASIBLE TO BUILD IT.

YEAH. THEN THAT THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

I, I WAS I AM NOT IT'S NOT UP TO ME TO BE TO BE HAPPY OR NOT HAPPY WITH THE ARRANGEMENT THAT'S MADE.

BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE WITH ARCADIA.

I IT ISN'T, BUT IT'S NOT.

I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO NEGOTIATE THIS DEAL, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND A PRIVATELY RUN FACILITY.

MY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THIS WAS GOING TO LOOK WAS GOING TO BE THAT THERE WERE WOULD BE BEDS, THAT BASICALLY ARCADIA WOULD SERVE AS THE QUEEN ANNE, YOU KNOW, FACILITY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WANTED TO GO TO A HOSPICE FACILITY, YOU WOULD HAVE THE CHOICE TO GO TO THIS, TO THIS FACILITY, AND THERE WOULD BE A BED THERE FOR YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY COULD COME VISIT YOU IN DENTON INSTEAD OF DRIVING TO CENTER.

THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS, THAT IS THAT IS 100% CORRECT.

THAT IS THE ARRANGEMENT.

NOBODY HAS REQUESTED THAT YET.

YES. YOU SPEAK FROM THE CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S YOUR NURSES THAT ARE IN AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND CNAS THAT ARE IN THESE HOMES.

BUT DO THEY KNOW THEY CAN? YES THEY ARE.

WELL, THEY ARE GIVEN THE OPTION.

I THINK THE WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS? EXCUSE ME FOR ASKING THIS, BUT THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HOSPICE CARE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE ONLY THE THE HIGHEST LEVEL CAN BE PROVIDED AT CENTERVILLE.

WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT PALLIATIVE CARE? NO, THAT'S CALLED GENERAL INPATIENT.

GENERAL INPATIENT. AND THAT'S TO MANAGE A SYMPTOM.

LET'S SAY THEY'RE AT HOME AND THEY'RE UNDER HOSPICE AND OUR NURSES ARE GIVING PAIN MEDICINE.

BUT THE PAIN KEEPS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET ON TOP OF IT.

SO THEY THE FAMILY HAS ASKED AND THE PATIENT AND THEY MAKE A DECISION.

WE'LL GO INTO CENTERVILLE TO GET ON TOP OF THE SYMPTOMS BECAUSE DOCTORS ARE THERE, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, NURSES, THEY GET ON TOP OF THE SYMPTOM.

[00:45:01]

THAT'S THE GENERAL INPATIENT LEVEL OF CARE.

THE NEXT LEVEL IS RESIDENTIAL AND THAT IS WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER IS TALKING ABOUT.

THAT IS PROVIDED FOR CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS AT ARCADIA, AS WELL AS IN CENTERVILLE.

FOR ANYBODY, ANY THREE COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE OR AT HOME, IF YOU HAVE RELATIVES THAT CAN, WHAT WAS THAT? OR AT HOME IF YOU HAVE RELATIVES THAT CAN HANDLE THE.

EXACTLY. AND THEN THE LAST LEVEL, LAST, LAST LEVEL IS HOME BASICALLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE OPT TO DO.

MOST PEOPLE STARTED HOME.

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO COME IN FOR SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT OR BECAUSE LIKE WE SAID, SOMEBODY GETS ILL OR THEY CAN'T.

IT'S LIKE A LONG ILLNESS AND THE PERSON IS FATIGUED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I GUESS LET ME JUST BOIL THIS ONE MORE QUESTION.

SO YOU HAVE A PATIENT WHO IS AT HOME.

YEP. THEY HAVE BEEN AT HOME FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND BECAUSE OF WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TAKE DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR THAT PATIENT. SO WHEN IT WHEN THERE IS A DETERMINATION MADE THAT THIS PERSON NEEDS TO MOVE TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF CARE, WHICH IS AN IN, I'M GOING TO CALL IT AN IN OUT OF THE HOME CARE.

SO AT THAT POINT IN CAROLINE COUNTY YOU THAT FAMILY IS TOLD HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

YEP. YES YOU CAN COME TO CENTERVILLE OR YOU CAN GO TO ARCADIA OR YOU CAN GO TO ARCADIA.

IS THAT WHAT. THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY. YEAH. BUT IF BUT IF THE PERSON IS ON, LIKE A VENTILATOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DO YOU HANDLE THAT AT CENTERVILLE? I MEAN, WE USUALLY DON'T TAKE VENTILATORS, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE COULD NOT DO AT ARCADIA.

RIGHT? YOU KNOW, PATIENTS THAT WOULD RISE TO THE GENERAL INPATIENT LEVEL, THAT WOULD NEED A NURSE TO BE THERE 24 SEVEN.

OKAY. YEAH. AND I THINK THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT CAROLINE, COMPARED TO OUR OTHER COUNTIES IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY FACILITIES HERE THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED VERSUS QUEEN ANNE. YOU'VE GOT ONE NURSING HOME AND ONE ASSISTED LIVING.

WELL NOW TWO ASSISTED LIVING.

UM, SO I THINK THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING HERE IS THERE ARE SO MANY FACILITIES THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

DO YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY OF THE 13 COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT TRAVELED TO CENTERVILLE REQUIRE GENERAL INPATIENT? DID ALL OF THEM? NO MAJORITY.

NO. UM, MAJORITY WERE RESIDENTIAL LEVEL OF CARE.

OKAY. SO THERE'S VERY FEW PATIENTS THAT RISE TO THAT LEVEL OF NEEDING TO GO TO CENTERVILLE, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND WE SO WE HAVE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS THAT EVER USE GENERAL INPATIENT LEVEL OF CARE FROM ANY COUNTY, BECAUSE WE DO DO A GOOD JOB AT MANAGING THEIR SYMPTOMS IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT AND GETTING ON TOP OF THAT.

SO AND MEDICARE DOES NOT WANT A HOSPICE BILLING FOR A LOT OF GENERAL INPATIENT, BECAUSE IT IS A LOT HIGHER RATE THAT WE ARE BILLING MEDICARE.

SO WE ARE WE ARE AUDITED OFTEN FOR THAT LEVEL OF CARE BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TO VERIFY THAT IT WAS INDEED NECESSARY.

YES. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH. AND JUST I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP TO THE GRIEF SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE COUNTY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE ARE IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. OUR GRIEF COUNSELORS PROVIDE, UM, GRIEF SERVICES TO ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD A LOSS IN THE COUNTY.

SO LET'S SAY A CAR ACCIDENT, A SUICIDE, DRUG OVERDOSES, CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL, THEY ACTUALLY GO TO THE SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR SO THAT THE CHILD DOES NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THAT SCHOOL TO GO TO A COUNSELOR'S OFFICE.

UM, ALSO, IF KIDS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION OR THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE HOME TO GET THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AND BE DRIVEN THERE AFTERWARDS.

SO WE'RE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.

THE COUNSELORS ARE ALWAYS CALLING US FROM THE SCHOOLS FOR OUR GRIEF COUNSELORS TO COME IN THERE.

SO AND THAT IS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS WELL AS ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS OUR SERVICES.

WE ALSO PROVIDED A GRIEF GROUP AT CAROLINE COUNTY ADULT DAY CARE, BECAUSE THEY HAD HAD A LOSS THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT WITHIN THEIR STAFFING, AND THEY CALLED US TO ASK US IF WE WOULD COME IN AND DO A GRIEF GROUP TO ALL OF THEIR STAFF THERE, AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR THAT FOR ANY BUSINESS.

UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, ON A REAL POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAD OUR FESTIVAL OF TREES FOR 2023 AGAIN, UM, AND IN DECEMBER AND IT WAS AT THE TOWERS MUSEUM AGAIN.

AND A HUGE THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF BILL AND GAIL TOWERS AND OUR CO-CHAIRS, DAVE WHALEY AND MELANIE MACMAHON.

WE HAD 76 TREES THIS YEAR.

WE HAD 21 SPONSORS.

20 OF THEM WERE CAROLINE COUNTY BUSINESSES AND ONE WAS A FAMILY.

AND AT OUR PREVIEW PARTY THE FIRST NIGHT OF KICKOFF, WE HAD ABOUT 150 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

[00:50:05]

YEAR FINANCIALLY, WE RAISED OVER $50,000 FOR THAT EVENT.

SO A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT.

OKAY, TARA, YOU HAD SOMETHING.

YEAH. ONE COMMENT WEARING ANOTHER HAT.

THAT'S WHY I'M BALD. I WEAR A LOT OF HATS.

AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION SPEAKING FOR THE BOARD, WE'RE A STRONG SUPPORTER OF HOSPICE IN THIS COUNTY.

FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WE'VE GIVEN MONEY TOTALING $800,000 FROM THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT HOSPICE CARE IN THIS COUNTY.

AND A REAL QUICK STATEMENT ON THE CAROLINE COUNTY, I MEAN, ON THE CAROLINE FOUNDATION.

I WAS RECENTLY ASKED A QUESTION IN DECEMBER, HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU GUYS START WITH? IN A ROUGH GUESS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED EVER SINCE WE SOLD THE NURSING HOME AND GAVE WITH THE SALE OF THE OF THE FACILITIES, THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAD, THE COLLECTING OF THE RECEIVABLES OVER 38 MONTHS.

WE BASICALLY STARTED WITH AN ESTIMATE OF $13.5 MILLION.

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE GIVEN OUT 150 GRANTS TO OVER 40 NONPROFITS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, TOTALING ROUGHLY $5 MILLION.

AND WE GAVE OUT 21 GRANT CHECKS AT OUR NOVEMBER BREAKFAST, TOTALING 800,000.

WE FINISHED AFTER EIGHT YEARS WITH 15 MILLION.

SO TO START OUT WITH 13.5, GIVE AWAY FIVE AND A HALF 15.

AND DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME WE HAVE BEEN WE'VE RECEIVED CONTRIBUTIONS OF ROUGHLY 250,000.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT TO COMMISSIONERS.

DID WE SUPPORT A LOT OF A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS? AND WE REALLY ARE TRUE BELIEVERS, THE 13 BOARD MEMBERS THAT I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE A PART OF BELIEVE IN HOSPICE.

YEAH, YEAH. YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.

YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

I THINK I JUST THINK THAT THE BOTTOM LINE IS GOING TO BE I, YOU KNOW, ME, I'M NEVER GOING TO BE HAPPY UNTIL WE HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR FACILITY IN THIS COUNTY FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO.

I'M NOT ARGUING ABOUT YOU DO.

AND I WILL TELL YOU AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THE HOME CARE WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

THANK YOU. FROM START TO FINISH.

AND, UM, SO I DON'T EVER WANT TO, YOU KNOW, NOT EXPRESS THAT, BUT I WANT SOMETHING HERE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ALL KNOW.

WE KNOW IT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOMETHING HERE, TOO.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT SO IT DOESN'T CLOSE DOWN LIKE THE LAST ONE DID.

YEAH. WE JUST WANT TO BE SMART.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA DO DO RESIDENTIAL LEVEL PATIENTS EVER OPT TO LEAVE NURSING FACILITIES HERE IN THE COUNTY AND COME OVER TO THE CENTERVILLE LOCATION? YEAH, I THINK IT'S WHAT WE DID WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.

I THINK SHE CAME FROM ARCADIA AND ACTUALLY MOVED OVER TO THE CENTERVILLE LOCATION.

UM, SO YOU DO SEE THAT FROM DIFFERENT COUNTIES TO TO FILL THE BEDS? SOME AS WELL.

OKAY. ONE OF MY ASSIGNMENTS I WAS WITH FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, GREAT GUY.

HE HAD LIVED AT HOME FOR A LOAN FOR 20 YEARS, LOST HIS LICENSE BECAUSE HE HAD AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE OF HIS AGE AND SO ON.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE VERY FIRST TIME I MET HIM, HE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO THAT PLACE IN CENTERVILLE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO THAT PLACE IN CENTERVILLE.

DON'T YOU SEND ME THAT PLACE.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE PHONE, AND I WENT TO SEE HIM AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND I ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO BE OUT ON A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA FOR TEN DAYS.

AND WHILE I WAS GONE, HE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE HAD TO GO.

SO HE WENT OVER THERE FOR A WEEK WITH THE UNDERSTANDING HE WAS GOING TO GO FOR A WEEK.

AND HE WAS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, COUNTY RESIDENT.

BUT ONCE HE GOT THERE AND HAD THE EXPERIENCE, UM, HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO HOME.

AND HE LITERALLY DIED IN CENTERVILLE.

YEAH. OH, IT'S A GREAT FACILITY.

WELL, I'M NOT I'M NOT SAYING IT'S.

NO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION, SO THAT'S A CASE THAT HE JUST FROM DAY ONE.

WELL, THE THE LEVEL OF CARE WAS MUCH HIGHER IN CENTERVILLE, AS I REMEMBER, THAN WHAT ARCADIA WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, AT THE RESIDENTIAL RIGHT LEVEL.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY. BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUR PATIENTS IN CENTERVILLE ARE RESIDENTIAL CARE.

YES. VERY FEW RISE TO THAT GENERAL INPATIENT LEVEL.

AND WHEN THEY DO RISE THERE, THEY'RE ONLY ON THAT LEVEL OF CARE FOR A DAY OR TWO OR MAYBE THREE, AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO THE RESIDENTIAL LEVEL OF CARE.

OKAY. SO IT'S REALLY IT'S LIKE FLIPPING A SWITCH FOR BILLING MEDICARE AS WELL AS THE LEVEL OF CARE BECAUSE THEY GET, YOU KNOW, PHYSICIAN VISITS EVERY DAY AND THEY'RE TITRATING MEDICATIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GET COMFORTABLE, THEY IF THEY DECIDE TO STAY THERE UNDER RESIDENTIAL, THEY ARE FLIPPED BACK TO RESIDENTIAL OR THEY ARE ABLE TO GO BACK HOME.

ARE THERE EVER PERIODS WHERE YOU HAVE ALL TEN BEDS FILLED? VERY, VERY RARELY, VERY FEW TIMES.

OKAY. WE OUR AVERAGE CENSUS IN CENTERVILLE IS 6 TO 7 PATIENTS A DAY.

[00:55:01]

YEAH. HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS.

ABSOLUTELY. IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR.

YES. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. TAKE CARE.

OKAY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE SUE SIMMONS, UH, INTERIM MANAGER OF CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS, FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE ARTS COUNCIL WITH A REQUEST TO BECOME THE OFFICIAL ARTS AGENCY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.

AND BEFORE THESE GOOD FOLKS LEAVE, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE PERSONALLY, I'VE ALSO HAD A RECENT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH COMPASS REGIONAL HOSPICE THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDED IN-HOME CARE FOR MY DAD AT CATHERINE, WHO ALSO MOVED THERE TO THE THE CENTERVILLE HEADQUARTERS AND, UM, DIED THERE VERY PEACEFULLY. AND I WAS ACTUALLY SPENT A LITTLE TIME PRACTICING MY CLAWHAMMER BANJO FOR HIM.

AND I ENTERTAINED HER, TERRORIZED THE STAFF WHILE I WAS DOING THAT.

[4. Caroline County Arts Council Discussion]

WE DON'T GET OUT OF THIS LIFE ALIVE.

IT'S A NICE WAY TO DIE.

YEAH. I SWEAR TO GOD. IN THEIR CARE.

YEAH. THANK YOU. DID YOU BRING THE BANJO TODAY? I DIDN'T KNOW PORTER REQUESTED.

I DIDN'T, AND NOW? NOW. IN FACT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START MY STOPWATCH.

LARRY, COMMISSIONER PORTER DOESN'T SAY I TALKED TOO MUCH.

YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK THE BRIEFING THAT I SHARED WITH THE COMMISSIONERS IS, UH, PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS BENEFITS FROM IS A COMMUNITY ARTS DEVELOPMENT GRANT THROUGH THE MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL, AND WHICH IS A DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

AND WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY DOES IS IT PROVIDES US WITH PROBABLY 80% OF OUR OPERATING GRANT FUNDINGS, WHICH THE ARTS COUNCIL USES TO NOT ONLY RE GRANT AND PARTNER WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL GRANTS THAT WE USE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF, SAY, FACES, THE FIBER ARTS CENTER OF THE EASTERN SHORE, AND WE ALSO USE THAT TO SUPPORT OUR OWN PROGRAMING AND DEVELOPMENT.

WE'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTNER, THE ARTS COUNCIL, IN, UM, A LOCAL EVENT LIKE CAROLINE SUMMERFEST FOR SINCE SUMMERFEST INCEPTION. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STATE, THOUGH HAS REQUESTED THIS IS A NEW REQUIREMENT TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IS BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO LEVERAGING TAX DOLLARS FROM THE STATE LEVEL, UM, NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S STILL VERY SIGNIFICANT TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

UM, IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE A DESIGNATION BY YOU ALL AS A GOVERNING BODY TO ESTABLISH CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS AS AN OFFICIAL ARTS ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

THAT BASICALLY IS AN ENDORSEMENT, A TICKET OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING STAMP OF APPROVAL ON SOME LEVEL FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE TO APPLY FOR THOSE GRANTS.

THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS IS NOT NECESSARILY COMPETITIVE, BUT IT IS EXHAUSTING.

IT IS DETAILED.

IT DOES LOOK AT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

IT CHALLENGES US TO CONSIDER HOW WE'RE GOING TO ENGAGE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, HOW DO WE PARTNER ACTIVELY AND DELIVERING ARTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMING THAT TYPE OF A THING.

UM, SO I DID PROVIDE YOU WITH A SAMPLE LETTER FROM THE KENT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

IT IS A REASONABLE TEMPLATE.

THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS TO ISSUE A LETTER.

THE HARDER THING TO DO IS TO ACTUALLY DO A LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION AND FOLLOW THAT EXHAUSTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE PATH. BUT THEN THAT IS A ONE AND DONE.

I WOULD INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER THE LETTER INITIALLY, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. MR. PORTER. SUE, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.

YOU I GOT YOUR MESSAGE.

I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO CALL YOU BACK YESTERDAY, BUT I GOT TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.

YES, SIR. NUMBER ONE, UM, BY DOING THIS WITH THIS, PRECLUDE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FROM APPLYING FOR MONEY.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, NO, IT WOULD NOT.

GOOD. UM, THERE ARE CERTAINLY IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN COLLABORATING AND SUPPORTING FACES EFFORTS TO APPLY FOR A VARIETY OF GRANTS, NOT ONLY THROUGH MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL, BUT UM, OTHER STATE FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS, PARTICULARLY

[01:00:08]

OKAY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ASKING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COMMUNITY ARTS DEVELOPMENT GRANT, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST AWARD THAT THEY MAKE TO LOCAL ARTS COUNCILS. AND YOU SAT IN THESE MEETINGS ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MY NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHERE I WOULD LOOK AT MARGARET AND SHE WOULD EITHER GO OR SHE WOULD GO.

SO WHEN THIS MONEY IS RECEIVED, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT REPORTING IS DONE TO THE STATE? AND AND TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE COUNTY ON THE HOOK FOR ANY OF THIS MONEY, IF IT'S NOT SPENT PROPERLY? FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE NOT ON THE HOOK.

CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS IS AN INDEPENDENT 501C3, GOVERNED BY ITS OWN BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SO THEY ARE INDEPENDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

CERTAINLY THE ARTS COUNCIL DOES REQUEST CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR BUDGET PLANNING FOR A CONTRIBUTION TO ITS EFFORTS, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT AGAIN.

BUT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE, UM, THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR BUDGET AND GRANT ACCOUNTING.

SO IF YOU, IF YOU GET $50,000 AND FOR SOME REASON, SOMETHING SLIPS BETWEEN THE CRACKS AND A REPORT DOESN'T GET FILED, WE'RE NOT ON THE HOOK.

NO, SIR. YOU WILL THEY WILL NOT COME BACK TO YOU BECAUSE WE ARE INDEPENDENT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THOSE WERE MY TWO QUESTIONS I COULD HAVE ASKED YOU YESTERDAY, BUT RETURNED YOUR CALL.

BUT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.

IT'S ALL GOOD. UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER ART, UM, GROUPS THAT I KNOW YOU'RE A COUNCIL.

I'M SORRY, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE PROPER TERM, BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER GROUPS IN CAROLINE COUNTY THAT, YOU KNOW, FUNCTION THE SAME WAY YOU GUYS DO THAT WE'RE UNAWARE OF? UM, I THINK THAT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S REALLY FORMALIZED THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO THE ARTS COUNCIL BUT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON FIBER ARTS, IS THE FACES. BUT YOU GUYS WERE KIND OF WE ABSOLUTELY COLLABORATE.

WE ACTUALLY GIVE THEM WE MAKE AN APPROPRIATION ANNUALLY, AN ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATING GRANT TO THEM OF ABOUT $14,000 TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR OPERATION.

THEY ALSO CAN SOLICIT THE ARTS COUNCIL FOR MANY GRANTS OR SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE CERTAINLY COLLABORATE.

UM, THERE ARE OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT THE BANJO, THE EASTERN SHORE BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION THAT HAS MONTHLY CONCERTS, THERE'S ONE THIS SUNDAY, UM, COMING UP AT THE AMERICAN LEGION HALL THAT DO NOT BENEFIT FROM AN ARTS COUNCIL GRANT BUT STILL EXIST.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY WE PARTNER WITH WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO THE TOWN OF PRESTON FOR SOME OF THEIR ARTS PROGRAMING.

WE'VE PROVIDED GRANTS TO THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO, UM, RIDGELEY, TO THE RIDGELEY LIONS CLUB FOR THE, YOU KNOW, STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE DO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE OUR REACH TO STIMULATE ART PROGRAMING.

THE ARTS COUNCIL HAS, AT THIS POINT ONE AND A HALF EMPLOYEES, A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND A HALF A PERSON IN ME AS WE NAVIGATE THE SEARCH PROCESS FOR THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

HOW'S THAT? THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.

HOW IS THAT? IT'S GOING.

YEAH, IT'S GOING WE HAVE NINE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.

WE HAD ABOUT WE STARTED WITH A POOL OF ABOUT 31 FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WE'VE SET UP A PROCESS SO THAT THEY COULD SCREEN THEMSELVES IN.

AND NOW THE SELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD HAS THE REAL WORK TO DO TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THOSE NINE CANDIDATES.

SO INCLUDING FACES, HOW MANY ARTISTS DO YOU KIND OF, UM, THAT COME THROUGH THE COUNCIL BARTZ OUT, INCLUDING THE FACES? I'M JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE.

MM HMM.

I I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU TO GIVE YOU AN ACCURATE COUNT, BUT I AM GOING TO GUESS THAT INCLUDING FACES, I WOULD SAY EASILY WELL OVER 200.

REALLY? YEAH. YEAH.

NOT ONLY THE ARTISTS THAT ARE EXHIBITING IN OUR GALLERY, BUT FACES.

FACES, THEY'RE ROCK STARS IN TERMS OF THAT, IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND THAT'S I MEAN, I'M SORTING IT ALL FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT NO.

CORRECT. YEAH. I MEAN, IN MANY WAYS OUR GALLERY IS FEATURING AND FOCUSING ARTISTS FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.

FACES IS REALLY THE FIBER ARTS CENTER OF THE EASTERN SHORE.

[01:05:02]

THEY ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, QUILT [INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE.

REALLY? YEAH. YEAH, YEAH.

ONE LAST QUESTION. AND WHAT IS PROBABLY YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET AT THE COUNCIL? AT THE COUNCIL OF ARTS, WE ARE PROBABLY ABOUT 270,000..

REALLY? ANNUAL BUDGET.

UM, THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT THAT THE ARTS COUNCIL ALSO MANAGES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DENTON MAIN STREET AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO WE'LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED ON THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.

SO YEAH, YOU ALSO CONTRIBUTE MONEY TO SUMMERFEST, RIGHT? YES. TO SOME OF THAT, YES.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THIS GRANT FUNDING GETS USED FOR? LIKE THE MURAL THEY, THEY JUST DID AT PRESTON FUNDING CONCERTS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT OR.

YES, YES. I MEAN CERTAINLY A SINCE A MAJORITY OF THE UM, THE PROGRAM OPERATING, WE'RE CERTAINLY USING THOSE FUNDS TO HELP STAFF THE ORGANIZATION AND DOING SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT WORK THAT'S NECESSARY FOR A VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

WE'RE GRANTING, WE'RE CREATING PROGRAMING AND WE ARE ALSO ADMINISTERING THOSE SERVICES.

SO THE BUDGET A MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET IS CERTAINLY FOCUSED ON, I WOULD SAY, 65% OF THE BUDGET THAT WE GET FROM THE MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL, WE'RE USING FOR STAFFING, OKAY, FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE'RE ALSO MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THE HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE OCCUPY.

THE FOUNDRY IS AN OLD BUILDING.

IT'S A SMALLER BUILDING WITH LESS PERSONALITY THAN THE ARMORY WHERE I PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED.

BUT IT IS THERE.

YEAH. AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AS WE ADDED SOME PARKING.

A PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT.

UM, WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF SOME LANDSCAPING AND THAT KIND OF THING, AND EVENTUALLY WE'LL TACKLE OUR INSIDES.

BUT YEAH, SO THOSE RESOURCES HELP US WITH THAT.

GOTCHA. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

DO A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL PASS THAT ON TO THE TEAM AS WELL.

YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL UH, WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH LEGAL.

I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING'S COVERED THERE, SO MY QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO. ALL RIGHT, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH..

JEN. SOMEONE IN REGARDS TO THE LETTER ITSELF..

WILL MAKE SURE WE'LL GET YOU A.

YEAH, WE'LL GET UH, JEN WILL GET IT DRAFTED.

WE'LL OR USE US GET IT THROUGH LEGAL FOR AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK.

SO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS, SUE. HAVE A GOOD ONE, SUE.

OH, RIGHT.

GUY'S GOOD. KEEP GOING.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH IS AN INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-001.

AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY.

MR. BARROLL. I MOVE WE GO TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

OH, SORRY.

SECOND MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE AYE.

THE AYES HAVE IT. NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER.

FINALLY LEARNED..

TURN THAT EVERY COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL.

IN THIS PARTICULAR BILL, WE ARE REVISITING ONE THAT WAS, UM, DEALT WITH IN 2023.

BUT THE NOTICE OF THE PASSAGE OF IT WAS NOT, UM, PROPERLY PUT IN THE PAPER.

SO WE ARE HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS ONCE MORE.

THIS IS BASICALLY A REALLOCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND REFUNDING BONDS OF 2019, UM, TO SHIFT BASICALLY THE SPENDING OF THAT MONEY, UM, FROM THE DETENTION CENTER RENOVATIONS TO THE COSTS OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS, WHICH ARE THE FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT, PRESTON ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, AND FRETTERD CENTER HVAC.

SO. THIS TODAY IS THE INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING.

THE SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE JANUARY 23RD.

THE THIRD READING AND THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND IT IS FEBRUARY 13TH OF 2024.

[5.Legislative Session: Bill #2024-001,]

AND IN SUMMARY, THIS IS AN ACT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING BILL NUMBER 2019-3 FOR THE PURPOSE OF, IN EFFECT, AUTHORIZING AND

[01:10:02]

THAT WILL BE A FAIR SUMMARY OF THE BILL FOR OUR PURPOSES TODAY.

SO IF IT FEELS LIKE GROUNDHOG DAY, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS.

WE ARE REVISITING THIS BILL BECAUSE OF A TECHNICALITY AND ADVERTISING AT THE END.

CORRECT. RIGHT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAD NO PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE, NO OPPOSITION RE-ALLOCATING BOND FUNDING FOR ROOF REPLACEMENTS AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.

CORRECT. ESSENTIALLY.

SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL IT IS.

ALL RIGHT. SO DOES THAT COVER OUR LEGISLATIVE.

THAT DOES COVER IT. ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? NO. NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO END LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IS THAT RIGHT? CLOSE.

YOU DON'T NEED ANY. YOU DON'T NEED ANY VOTE ON IT.

IT'S JUST INTRODUCED.

SO IT'S BEEN INTRODUCED OKAY I WOULD MOVE WE CLOSE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? CONCERNS WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I KNOW THE MOTION. WE APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[6.Consent Agenda]

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

I. OKAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[7.County Administrator's Report]

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A LOT OF SIGNIFICANT ISSUES, MOST OF WHICH YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF.

UH, A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO BRING UP THERE.

DANNY AND I MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS YESTERDAY FOR OUR WEEKLY, UM, MEETING WITH THE LEADERSHIP OVER THERE.

WHILE THEY ARE NOT WITHOUT A DIRECTOR.

SO I HAVE SEVERAL DPW THINGS TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON.

UM, WE ARE WAITING STILL FOR INFORMATION FROM CONTRACTORS FOR THE GILPIN POINT ROAD EMERGENCY REPAIRS.

JUST AS FYI, WE HAVE NOT STARTED THAT PROJECT YET.

WE HAD SOME INITIAL NUMBERS FROM A COUPLE OF CONTRACTORS, AND THEN WE'RE REQUESTING MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, SO WE'RE WAITING ON THAT.

UM, THIS WAS IN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.

ALSO ARE THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE HAS ARRIVED.

IT IS PARKED OVER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THEY'RE PUTTING THE SEAL ON IT, AND WE WILL HAVE A VEHICLE THAT WE CAN USE AND STOP PUTTING MILES ON SOME OF OUR OWN VEHICLES.

YEP. I HEAR IT'S VERY NICE.

HAVEN'T BEEN IN IT. UM, ALSO YESTERDAY AT OUR MEETING, KEVIN BROWN, YOUR SUPERINTENDENT OF FACILITIES, UH, MENTIONED TO US THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TREES OVER IN THE PARKING LOT THAT ARE DYING, DISEASED AND ALSO IMPACTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE CURBS AND THE ROADS.

SO JUST AS FYI, IF YOU SEE THOSE TREES COMING DOWN, WE WILL BE TAKING THOSE TREES DOWN.

AND HE IS GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MATT KOSINSKI AT PLANNING AND CODES TO FIND SOME APPROPRIATE NATIVE PARKING LOT TREES TO REPLACE THOSE, SOMETHING THAT WILL BE LESS IMPACTFUL.

AND THAT PLANTING, HOWEVER, WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL THIS SPRING.

SO SORRY.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME EYEBROWS RAISED WHEN THE TREES START COMING DOWN.

SO IN CASE YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT OR SEE IT.

UM, ALSO, THIS IS KIND OF EXCITING NEWS FROM DPW.

THEY ARE STARTING TRAINING ON THEIR NEW SOFTWARE ON THE 22ND.

UM, SO THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

THAT NEW SOFTWARE I THINK WILL BE A HUGE HELP TO THEM IN TRACKING THEIR PROJECTS, REPAIRS, ROAD MAINTENANCE, ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO, UM, TRAINING IS STARTING ON THE 22ND AND THEN UNRELATED TO DPW DOCTOR DEREK SIMMONS AND I MET A, UM, A WEEK OR TWO AGO.

TIME'S BEEN FLYING BY, BUT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED QUARTERLY MEETINGS TO JUST TO IMPROVE, UM, AT LEAST AT THE ADMINISTRATION LEVEL, UM, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BOARD OF ED AND US.

UH, SO WE'VE ALREADY HAD SOME ACTUALLY VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS, MOSTLY ABOUT THE BUDGET COMING UP, UM, WHICH WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET SEASON.

UM, BUT DOCTOR SIMMONS USED TO BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT.

[01:15:01]

SO I THINK THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD VERY WELL.

UM, AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DANNY, TO TALK ABOUT THE MID SHORE LANDFILL PROJECT.

WE MET WITH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, I GUESS, LAST WEEK.

THE WEEK IS LIKE A BLUR. SO IT WAS LAST WEEK AND WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP WITH THEM.

BUT DANNY HAS REALLY BEEN THE LEAD FOR THIS PROJECT, SO I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND GIVE AN UPDATE.

YEAH. SO LAST FRIDAY, KATHLEEN AND I HAD THE CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, TODD MOHN, MES..

AND A GENTLEMAN AT THE NAME OF JOE ZIMMERMAN, WHO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY HAS NOW CONTRACTED AS A CONSULTANT FOR THEM AND THE OTHER COUNTIES TO DIVE INTO MES FINANCIALS.

SO THE MEETING FRIDAY, WE WANTED TO SIT DOWN AND REALLY GO OVER SOME OF THE THOUGHTS THAT, UH, JOE HAD, AS WELL AS KATHLEEN, TODD AND MYSELF.

UM, THAT QUESTIONS WE'VE HAD ON MES FINANCIALS AND REALLY HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS IN THE NEXT STEPS.

UM, THE, THE LONG AND SHORT OF THE MEETING IS WE'VE KIND OF ALL DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE FINANCIALS AS A NORMAL, UH, GAAP ACCOUNTING PRESENTATION, THAT IT WOULD BE ALMOST IT WOULD BE EASIER TO EXPLAIN AND GO THROUGH IF IT WAS MORE ON A CASH BASE, HOW MUCH MONEY COMES IN, HOW MUCH MONEY GOES OUT AND WHAT'S LEFT OVER.

AND TRY TO DETERMINE IF A HOST FEE IS AFFORDABLE.

IN THAT SCENARIO, IT CAN KIND OF GET LOST IN THE ACCOUNTING JARGON AND HOW IT GETS PRESENTED.

AND FOR OUR BOARD AND THE OTHER THREE BOARDS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS DECISION, WE FELT AS A GROUP THAT THAT WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE MANNER TO GO ABOUT THIS.

SO, UH, JOE HAD SOME HOMEWORK TO GO THROUGH AND TRY TO MAKE ESSENTIALLY A SCHEDULE OR A PRESENTATION THAT TAKES OUT THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS OUT TO THE 2042 DATE THAT THE LANDFILL, UH, COULD OPERATE IF WE ALL VOTED TO.

UM, SO THE GOAL WAS THIS WEEK, UH, THEY WERE GOING TO CIRCULATE A DRAFT OF THAT PRESENTATION.

AND IF EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDINGLY, AND WE ALL AGREED THAT THAT MADE SENSE, I WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD ON THE 23RD AND PRESENT SOME TYPE OF PRESENTATION OF THAT.

UM, I THINK IF YOU WANTED JOE TO SPEAK ON IT AS WELL, WE COULD ALSO HAVE HIM COME SOMETIME WHEN HIS SCHEDULE WAS AVAILABLE.

SO JUST AS A LITTLE BACKGROUND, JOE WORKED FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AT ONE POINT, HAS ALSO WORKED FOR MS. AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED KIND OF BOTH SIDES OF THIS PICTURE AND UNDERSTANDS THE LANDFILL OPERATION VERY WELL.

SO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO KIND OF SEEING HIS ANALYSIS AND WHERE THAT TAKES US FROM THERE.

SO WAS, UH, WAS HE PROVIDED WITH THE PFM MODELS THAT WERE DONE? BOTH THE BOTH THAT WERE PROVIDED US.

OKAY. SO HE HAS THE INITIAL AND THEN THE ONE WITH THE SO CALLED AMENDED POST CLOSURE COSTS, THAT IS.

RIGHT. UM, HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THOSE ALL THE PAST AUDITS.

UM, HE'S BEEN GIVEN 2023, I THINK, DRAFT AUDIT.

UH, THAT HAS SOME OF THE MORE RELEVANT AND, UH, UH, NUMBERS IN THERE, ANY OF THE EMAIL EXCHANGES WE'VE HAD WITH MES, WHERE THEY'VE ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS. ONE OFF.

SO AND JUST TO REITERATE, IT HAS BEEN OUR POSITION AS A BOARD THAT WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE SAVINGS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CAROLINE COUNTY CONTINUING TO HOST THE LANDFILL PAST OUR, UM, AGREED END DATE.

AND, UM, WHAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS THAT CAROLINE, OUR POSITION.

IS THAT IT? WE WANT CAROLINE COUNTY TO KEEP ALL OF THE SAVINGS, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE SAVINGS ARE, TO PRESENT THAT TO THE CITIZENS, TO GIVE THE THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER THEY FEEL IT'S ENOUGH FOR THE CONTINUED INCONVENIENCE OF HOSTING THE LANDFILL.

SO THAT'S WE'VE BEEN, WHAT, EIGHT MONTHS TRYING TO GET TO THE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR, FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UH, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.

SO NEXT STEP IS RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION FROM JOE, SEE WHAT HIS TAKE IT, MR. ZIMMERMAN, SEE WHAT HIS TAKE IS ON THE ACTUAL SAVINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE AGREE WITH IT, THEN WE CAN GO TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

YES. AND THEY HAD KIND OF ASKED WHAT THE NEXT STEPS.

AND THAT'S WHAT KATHLEEN AND I RELAYED THAT ONCE THE BOARD IS PRESENTED AND YOU GUYS KIND OF AGREE THAT THIS MAKES SENSE, WE WOULD GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING, UM, AND THEN A RECEIVE COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON WHETHER WE ACCEPT OR RIGHT, WHAT OFFER WE ULTIMATELY MAKE TO THE OTHER COUNTIES.

YES, I THINK THAT IS THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY TO OFFER TO THE OTHER THREE THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY VOTE.

YEAH. WELL, I DO THINK AND IN CONVERSATION WITH, UH, TODD MOHN, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

AND WE'LL GET THERE WHEN WE GET THERE.

[01:20:01]

YEAH. AND I THINK TO THAT POINT, THEY WERE GOING TO BE PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION.

IF THEY WON'T AGREE, IF THEY WON'T AGREE TO THE TERMS, THERE MAY NOT BE A NEED.

THEN WHY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING? RIGHT? RIGHT. VERY TRUE.

RIGHT. SO AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS OF ALL FOUR COUNTIES.

THAT IS CORRECT. I DID SEND YOU BECAUSE THAT QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT THE AGREEMENT.

AND SO, UM, DPW HAD A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT AND SOME OTHER INFORMATION ALSO FROM BACK IN THE EARLY 2000.

SO YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT NOW.

YEAH, I SAW THAT.

SO. OKAY.

UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE TWO OTHER THINGS TO ASK.

GILPIN POINT I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM DONNA AND BRIAN.

THEY HAVE TALKED TO TWO OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT WILL BE FILLING OUT THE REQUESTED INFORMATION.

SO THAT DOES LOOK PROMISING.

PROMISING. UM, THE SECOND ITEM.

SO OVER THE PAST, I'D SAY 2 TO 3 MONTHS, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES COME THROUGH THAT.

WE HAVE SURPLUSED AS WELL AS TWO TRACTORS.

UM, SO AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE WE HAVE EIGHT VEHICLES TOTAL THAT WE HAVE AT PUBLIC WORKS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON HOW TO EXACTLY DISPOSE OF THOSE.

I KNOW WHEN WE CAME BEFORE THE BOARD WITH ONE OF THE RESOLUTIONS, THE REQUEST TO USE LOCAL AUCTIONEERS, UH, WAS MADE, WHICH IS PERFECTLY FINE.

SO WE HAVE TALKED TO, UH, SOME OF THE LOCAL AUCTION HOUSES.

UM, I GUESS AT THIS POINT WE WOULD LIKE SOME TYPE OF GUIDANCE, WHETHER IT'S DETERMINED BY STAFF ON WHICH VEHICLES GO WHERE, WHICH ONE TO USE, UM, AND HOW THAT LOOKS.

SO JUST FOR CLARITY, WE HAVE, UH, TWO TRACTORS, WE HAVE TWO AMBULANCES THAT HAVE BEEN SURPLUSED, TWO 1500 SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS AND THEN TWO F-350S.

SO KIND OF COVER THE GANTLET OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

AND AS WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE MORE COME THROUGH THAT WE'LL ALSO NEED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON.

SO, UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON THE THE BUYERS SELLERS PREMIUMS THAT ARE THE TWO? I DID GET AN UPDATED ONE LAST YESTERDAY AFTERNOON FROM.

YEAH, ONE FIRM.

OKAY. UM, I THINK IT'S I THINK, YEAH, WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ALL WANT THEM DISCLOSED WHAT THEIR BUYERS SELLERS ARE.

YES. WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY DONE A SURVEY AND HAD THE DIFFERENT ONES PROVIDE WHAT THEIR FEES WOULD BE.

OKAY. UM, IS THAT CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY? COULD WE DISCUSS THAT IN CLOSED SESSION? WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO? IT'S A COMPETITIVE.

YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY. YOU DON'T DISCUSS FEES.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. UM, SO WE COULD DO THAT.

WE COULD, WE COULD DISCUSS THAT, UM.

WHEN WE CLOSE HERE AS WELL WITH OUR OTHER CLOSED SESSION STUFF.

SO THAT WILL BE.

MY HANDY CLOSED SESSION SCORECARD HERE.

DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE WHILE I'M LOOKING? YEAH, JUST LOOKING FOR FINAL SALE ON THAT.

OKAY. YOU CAN START GETTING THEM OUT OF OUR LOT AND OFTEN SOLD.

TO YOU. THE MEETING THAT YOU HAD LAST WEEK WAS TALBOT COUNTY INVOLVED IN THAT AT ALL? THEY WERE NOT. NO.

OKAY, I THINK I GOT ONE THAT APPLIES.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR DANE? UM, NO. UM, YEAH.

SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE COUNTY IS IS THE ONE.

AND THE OTHER THING WITH THE LANDFILL IS, IS, IS I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE, BUT IF I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE IT RECONCILED PERIODICALLY, WHATEVER WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND IF WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ENOUGH AT THE END OF THE AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, IF IT PROVES THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY MORE SAVINGS, THEN MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, A PAYOUT AT THE END. OR IF WE WERE ASKING FOR TOO MUCH THROUGHOUT THE AGREEMENT, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY CUT BACK THE HOST FEE, TO BE FAIR TO THE OTHER COUNTIES, YOU KNOW, AND THAT POINT WAS MADE, UH, FRIDAY AND REALLY TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT FORMULA MAY BE OR HOW THAT LOOKS,

[01:25:06]

GOTCHA. OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU DAN. YEP. OKAY.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

[8. County Commissioners Open Discussion]

THAT'S WHY THEY ADDED TO THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

SO, UM, THEY WERE THEY ACCEPTED THAT, UM, I ATTENDED THE PUBLIC DITCH, UH, MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER PORTER. UH, THEY WERE VERY GRACIOUS WITH THE MONEY WE ALLOCATED TO GO TOWARDS DITCH REPAIR BREAKFAST.

GOOD. YES.

AND SATURDAY I ATTENDED THE FUNDRAISER ON A, UH, FOR WAYNE WINCHESTER FROM THE RIDGELY FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE WAS INJURED. OKAY.

I ATTENDED THAT, UH, SATURDAY NIGHT.

THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

I GOT, UM, TALKED INTO AUCTIONING ABOUT 12 ITEMS OFF, SO I WOULDN'T ANTICIPATE KNOWING THAT, BUT I ELECTED FOR IT, SO.

UM, THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR ME.

OKAY, MR. PORTER. YEAH, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE BILLS THAT IS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED IS BEING SPONSORED BY SENATOR AUGUSTINE DELEGATE JONES AS PART OF THE MAKO INITIATIVE ABOUT RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF FIRE COMPANIES FOR FIRE COMPANIES.

THEY ARE PROPOSING A 50% TUITION FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP, STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM AND FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

SO I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS BILL IS GOING TO PASS.

IT'S BEEN A MAKO INITIATIVE.

UM, SO, UM, WE'LL TRACK THIS.

WE START OUR MONDAY NIGHT, WE START OUR, UM, BILL REVIEW, UH, BY ZOOM.

BUT, UM, IF WE CAN MAYBE FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT TO OUR FIRE COMPANIES, BECAUSE THEY MAY WANT TO TESTIFY IN FAVOR OF THIS IF THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF IT. BUT THOSE ARE THE SPONSORS, CO-SPONSORS OF THE BILL.

UM, I THINK WE WE HAD A GOOD MEETING, UM, LAST WEEK WITH THE FARM BUREAU.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PRODUCTIVE.

UM, LASTED A WHILE, BUT I THINK WE HAD A GOOD, GOOD CONVERSATION.

UM, ABOUT DEATH.

YEP. AND I REMEMBERED TO BRING THIS GUY'S CARD WITH ME.

OH. OKAY. SO, UM, BUT IT IT SEEMED LIKE.

I THINK WHEN WE LEFT, WE WERE ALL KIND OF ON BOARD WITH THE DIRECTION WE WERE GOING TO GO.

AND, UM, I ATTENDED THE SEALARK MEETING YESTERDAY.

DON'T ASK ME WHAT THAT STANDS FOR, BUT IT'S IT HAS TO DO WITH THE OPERATION OF THE JUDY CENTERS IN THE COUNTY AND DAYCARE.

AND INTERESTING STATISTIC CAME UP IS THAT WE'VE LOST ABOUT HALF OF OUR DAYCARE CENTERS, UM, THAT WERE IN, IN, UH, USE BEFORE COVID, AND WE'VE LOST ABOUT 50% OF THEM.

PART OF THE REASONS THAT WERE GIVEN WERE, UM, REGULATORY.

OUR OUR DAYCARE CENTERS NOW ARE BEING PRETTY MUCH ASKED TO BE TEACHERS.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE TEACHING FACILITIES.

SO, UM, I THINK WHEN WE HAVE OUR BLUEPRINT DISCUSSION, WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING THAT UP.

AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THAT.

BUT, UM, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD MEETING.

I TRY TO GET TO IT AS OFTEN AS I CAN, BUT, UM, SO THAT'S ALL I GOT.

OKAY. UM, I HAVE A FEW THINGS.

UM, AS FAR AS, UH, BLUEPRINT, UM, I HEARD THAT THERE ARE RUMBLINGS FROM SOME OF THE AIB.

UM. BUREAUCRATS, I SHOULD SAY EMPLOYEES THAT, UM, THE. FACT THAT PERCENTAGES OF COUNTY BUDGETS

[01:30:08]

SO A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTY BUDGETS, SOME COUNTIES BUDGETS HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SO BE READY FOR THAT AS A TALKING POINT THAT YOU MIGHT GET HIT WITH.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEING BROUGHT UP.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I ACTUALLY HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH DANNY ABOUT YESTERDAY THAT, UM, CAROLINE'S HAS REDUCED FROM ABOUT 28% DOWN TO 22%. WE'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW, OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO.

UM, SO, UM, CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES HAVE THEIR EYES ON THAT, UM, IS WHAT I'M WHAT I'M HEARING.

UH, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ON THIS DISSOLVED AIR FLOTATION, DAF STORAGE, UM, STUFF.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD I TRY TO AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, SOME TROLLS ON THERE SAYING THAT WE ARE ALLOWING IT WHEN IT HAS BEEN THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIND REASONABLE, UM, WAYS TO PROTECT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FROM LAWSUIT, BUT ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE RESIDENTS FROM NUISANCES.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE, AND WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

UH, PLANNING COMMISSION, WE MEET TOMORROW NIGHT.

AND ON OUR AGENDA, WE DO HAVE THREE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY, IF THEY GET APPROVED, WILL BE IN FRONT OF US HERE IN SHORT ORDER.

UH, ONE IS THE SOLAR REVISITING THE SOLAR BILL THAT WAS IN FRONT OF US A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT WE REMANDED BACK DOWN TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

UM, IN DISCUSSIONS AT PLANNING COMMISSION, WE, THE BOARD, PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD AGREED THAT THE 200 FOOT SETBACK WAS REASONABLE.

UH, WE MADE SOME TEXT AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE AS FAR AS CONTIGUOUS PARCELS, UM, NOT NEEDING THE 200 FOOT SETBACK.

AND I THINK WE HAD CONCERNS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, ABOUT INTERPRETATION OF THE 200 FOOT SETBACK AS IT PERTAINED TO RIGHT OF WAYS.

DID IT APPLY OR DIDN'T IT APPLY? I THINK WE CLEANED UP THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT THE RIGHT OF WAYS NOW HAVE TO HAVE A 200 FOOT SETBACK, UM, FOR REASONABLE SCREENING, UH, CANNABIS SITING, UH, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, PRETTY NON-CONTROVERSIAL.

ONE IS REDUCING OUR STREAM BUFFER SETBACK TO 50FT TO BRING US IN LINE WITH THE STATE.

CURRENTLY, COUNTY REGULATION IS 100FT, AND THE STATE ONLY REQUIRES US TO BE 50.

SO WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT TO GIVE PROPERTY OWNERS MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR PROPERTY.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS WE'RE DISCUSSING TOMORROW NIGHT THAT MAY BE IN FRONT OF US UH, IN SHORT ORDER.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? DAN HERE, MR. BAKER? YES, MY NAME IS JAMIE BAKER.

I THINK MISS CONNORS MADE A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, AND I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE INFORMATION IS HELD BY OUR ELECTRIC

[9. Public Comment]

NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

AND AGAIN, I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT, BUT I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL WAS AWARE OF IT.

AND I KNOW YOUR ATTORNEYS.

I KNOW I'M AWARE OF IT.

YEAH. SO I SPOKE WITH HER, UH, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO ABOUT IT.

YEAH. WELL, LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE ARE SOME BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE PAST.

YEAH. AND IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ONE COUNTY CAN HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW.

AND I THINK YOU ALL PROBABLY FIGURED OUT THE REASON FOR THAT.

YEAH. UH, I HAVE CERTAINLY.

AND I'M, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN LOOKING INTO IT.

YEAH. YEAH. I THINK WE'VE GOT AND WE'LL GET TO IT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH WITH THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT.

THANK YOU. YEAH. AND I HAD A LITTLE DISCUSSION WITH HER.

I HAD NOT MET HER BEFORE BUT I A WHILE AGO.

SO THE MAIN, THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW IS SOLAR DEATH AND, UH, THIS LANDFILL EXTENSION DEAL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO IT'S.

BUT WE'LL WE'LL GET TO IT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YEP. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? THAT THING HAS BEEN GOING ON.

[01:35:02]

IT'S JUST IN RECENT MONTHS IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT, BUT IT'S BEEN HERE AND PEOPLE NEVER EVEN KNEW IT WAS HERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS SLUDGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS HUMANS.

IT'S EVERYWHERE AND PEOPLE DON'T.

PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.

AND, UM, IT'S JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, ONE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT'S MADE IT AWARE.

AND NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL.

YOU'RE LETTING IT HAPPEN. WELL, NO, IT'S BEEN HERE.

WELL, I DON'T THINK WE HAD A MASS STORAGE SITUATION, YOU KNOW, POP UP, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT WAS STINKING YEAR ROUND.

WE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE THEY WERE APPLYING IT ON A FIELD, AND WE HAD ODORS FOR THREE, FOUR DAYS AT A TIME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT BECOMES EIGHT MONTHS, TEN MONTHS, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE YEAR, I THINK THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHOA, WE GOT SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON.

YEAH, BUT SO GOOD.

OKAY. UH, AT THIS TIME, THE COMMISSIONERS WILL VOTE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

[10. Closed Session 1 Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee(s) Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]

MARYLAND, UH, AUTHORITY, 2014 MARYLAND CODE.

STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B UM ONE WILL BE SUBSECTION 14 BEFORE A CONTRACT IS AWARDED, OR BIDS ARE OPEN TO DISCUSS A MATTER DIRECTLY RELATED TO NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OR THE CONTENTS OF A BID OR PROPOSAL.

IF PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR DISCLOSURE WOULD BE WOULD ADVERSELY IMPACT THE ABILITY FOR THE PUBLIC BODY TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMPETITIVE BIDDING OR PROPOSAL PROCESS, AND THE OTHER TWO WILL BE FOR THE DISCUSSION OF AN APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES. ATTENDEES WILL BE COMMISSIONER BREEDING, COMMISSIONER PORTER AND COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

UH, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DANNY FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, PIO JENNIFER REIBLY, AND WARDEN CHARLES SCOTT.

SO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, I. BUT YOU DO NEED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.