[00:01:53]
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH 26TH, 2024 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR GREGORY BLOXON OF
[Call to Order: Invocation- Pastor, Gregory Blockson, Denton, Pledge of Allegiance;]
ENGAWI CHURCH MINISTRIES IN DENTON AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE. THANK YOU, PASTOR.
>> LET US PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU LORD GOD FOR BLESSING US TO SEE ANOTHER DAY. WE THANK YOU LORD GOD FOR THE BLESSINGS OF LIFE, HEALTH AND STRENGTH.
LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU TO BE ALIVE GOD.
WE PRAISE YOU, AND WE WORSHIP YOU.
GOD TODAY WE LIFT UP OUR LOCAL LEADERS TODAY.
WE PRAY FOR OUR MASS, WE PRAY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE PRAY FOR THE POLICE CHIEF, WE PRAY FOR THE JUDGES AND ALL WHO SERVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
STRENGTHEN THEM WITH WISDOM AND GRACE FOR THE HEAVY BURDENS THEY CARRY.
MAY THEY MANAGE THEIR TEAMS AND PROJECTS WITH LOVE.
KEEP THEIR HEARTS PURE AND THEIR EYES TURNED TOWARD YOUR FACE AS THEY WALK, WORK IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE CALLED TO SERVE.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW.
LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU GOD IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY 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.
>> WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM.>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AREA OF RESIDENCE.
>> CHARLENE CONNORS, AND I LIVE IN HARMONY.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN TO TALK ON BEHALF OF INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY OF OUR REGISTERED VOTERS HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SADNESS THAT HAS OCCURRED EARLY THIS MORNING OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE PARTNERSHIP COLLIDING INTO THE KEY BRIDGE AND THE LOSS OF LIFE THEREOF.
SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OF ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AT OUR LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
THEY WORK HARD TO MANAGE OUR ELECTION SYSTEM HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY DECLARED THAT INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY.
VOTING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
[00:05:03]
CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR WELL BEING, INCLUDING THEIR INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY, OUR PAPERS AND OUR BELONGINGS.ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS SHOULD BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CITIZEN AND NOT THE STATE.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'M COMING BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW OUR CITIZENS TO OPT OUT FROM THE STATE BOARD SELLING OUR INFORMATION.
>> WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S WITHIN OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
THE ELECTION SYSTEM IS RUN BY THE STATE.
WE ONLY SUBSIDIZE THEIR OPERATION THROUGH STATE MANDATED FUNDING.
THEREFORE, NONE OF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE EMPLOYEES OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> WE DON'T PAY ANY OF THE ELECTION EMPLOYEES, BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR ANYTHING.
I THINK THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DICTATE TO THEM WHAT INFORMATION THEY CAN OR CANNOT DISCLOSE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
>> UNDER THE HOME RULE DOCTRINE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITIZENS IN YOUR JURISDICTION, WHICH IS CAROLINE COUNTY.
JUST SIMILAR AS THE LEADERSHIP IN SAY HYATTSVILLE.
THEY AMENDED THE CURRENT STATE ELECTION LAW TO ALLOW THEIR NON CITIZENS TO REGISTER AND TO VOTE FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS GRANTED, IT'S LOCAL.
BUT THE NON CITIZENS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE THAT THE STATE BOARD SELLS LIKE OUR STAFF IS
>> WELL, MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ARE HANDLED BY THE MUNICIPALITIES, SO THEY'RE TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF COUNTY OR STATE ELECTION.
I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY STATE OVERSIGHT, BUT I THINK THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUAL TOWN OR MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES.
>> THOSE CITIZENS ARE REGISTERED VOTERS.
UNDER THE MARIN LAW, STATE LAW, THERE IS NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN A CITIZEN AND A NON CITIZEN.
REGISTERED VOTERS SHOULD ALL BE INCLUDED IN THE SALE OF THE DATABASE OR IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO OPT OUT IF WE DO SO DESIRE.
IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THE CITIZENS PAY THE TAXES THAT RUN THE STATE, THAT RUN THE BOARD OF ELECTION, THAT SUPPORT THIS ELECTORAL PROCESS, THAT PAY ALL THE TAXES.
WE'RE SOLD LIKE A COMMODITY, AND OUR RESOLD IT'S BIG BUSINESS.
RIGHT NOW, OUR GOVERNMENT IS ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN ENTERPRISE AT OUR EXPENSE.
IT PLACES OUR RESIDENTS AT RISK FOR IDENTITY CRIMES AND FOR SCAMS.
>> MA'AM, I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS IT'S NOT OUR JURISDICTION.
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY. WE CAN'T DO THAT.
THE STATE CAN DICTATE, BELIEVE ME.
WE SIT HERE FRUSTRATED ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE STUFF THAT THE STATE MAKES US DO.
WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO TELL THE STATE YOU CAN'T SELL.
WE DON'T HANDLE IT. IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH ANY COUNTY AGENCY, THE COLLECTION, THE PUTTING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER AND THEN SELLING IT.
THE COUNTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
THAT'S TOTALLY DONE AT THE STATE AND THE COUNTY DOESN'T GET TO DICTATE TO THE STATE WHAT IT HAS TO DO.
WE CAN LOBBY OUR STATE LEGISLATURES.
WE CAN HELP YOU THERE BUT THIS IS REALLY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE LEVEL.
>> WELL, THERE'S NOT ANY PART OF ELECTION LAW, OR STATE MARYLAND CODE, OR FEDERAL LAW THAT WOULD PREEMPT AN OPT OUT.
I THINK IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO DO A RESOLUTION, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE STATE WOULD EVEN BUCK ON THAT.
I THINK THEY WOULD ALLOW THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY SET A PRECEDENT BY NOT INCLUDING OTHER CITIZENS.
THERE'S ALSO CITIZENS THAT HAVE COMPLETE VOTER VOTER CONFIDENTIALITY.
SO YOU CAN'T GIVE SOME PROTECTION TO ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND DENY ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SOMEWHERE SOMEBODY THAT WE PAY AND WE ELECT NEEDS TO STAND UP AND PUSH THROUGH THAT FEAR FACTOR THAT THEY MAY BE FEELING AND DO SOMETHING.
EVEN IF IT MAY NOT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH, IT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH THAT THE STATE BOARD IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THEIR HEAD IN THE SAND AND TRY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT ALL YOUR INFORMATION IN THE STATE, BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN IN THE COURT'S RULING,
[00:10:04]
ANYBODY LIVING IN ANY STATE CAN USE ANY NAME AND ADDRESS, AN EMAIL AND PURCHASE OVER 4 MILLION MARYLANDERS PERSONAL INFORMATION.IT'S SOLD AND RESOLD AND THERE'S NO CONTROL FOR US TO HAVE IT EXCEPT FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CONFIDENTIALITY OR THOSE THAT ARE NON CITIZENS.
THERE'S SOMETHING VERY WRONG HERE AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT UNDER THE HOME RULE DOCTRINE, BECAUSE IF THE STATE IS REFUSING OR UNABLE TO PROTECT YOUR CITIZENS, YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STEP IN AND DO THAT.
IT MAY FAIL, BUT IF NOTHING ELSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY AND JUST IGNORE THE SITUATION ANYMORE.
ESPECIALLY OUR 16,17 YEAR OLD REGISTERED MINORS.
SOME PERVERT IN ANOTHER STATE COULD BUY THAT INFORMATION AND EXTRACT IT AND KNOW WHERE EVERY 16 AND 17 YEAR OLD GIRL LIVES.
CROSS REFERENCE THAT TO THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEIR SCHOOL AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
PARENTS AREN'T AWARE OF THAT THEY SHOULD BE.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN ENTIRELY ABILITY TO DO IT, BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO START IT.
YOU PROBABLY WILL BE ABLE TO FINISH IT.
>>HAVE YOU PASSED THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH THIS?
>> I HAVE ACTUALLY FILED A LAWSUIT WITH THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
>> IT WAS DISMISSED. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, I'M A RETIRED NURSE.
IT BROUGHT FORTH THE INFORMATION.
THEY CAN'T HAVE DENIABILITY OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ABOUT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT ANY OPENING THERE.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS, BUT WE CAN'T SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON LEGAL FEES TO FIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A BATTLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO WIN.
>> I HONESTLY, BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STATE REPRESENTING THE BOARD, WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID IN THE DOCUMENTS, IN THE CASES THAT THEY'VE ALREADY STATED AND DECLARED, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BACKPEDAL ON WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY SAID.
THEY CAN'T COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, DENY CERTAIN THINGS.
IT'S IN THE DOCUMENTS, THEY'VE ALREADY STATED IT.
THEY CAN'T CHANGE AND FLIP FLOP IT NOW.
MOSTLY THE BOARD IS NOT GOING TO COME AND TELL OVER 4 MILLION MARYLANDERS, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO SELL YOU OUT.
BECAUSE WHAT IS IT GOING TO DO? THE ONLY THING THAT IT'S LEFT FOR US CITIZENS TO DO, TO PROTECT OUR INFORMATION, IS TO COME OFF OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION DATA LIST COMPLETELY.
YOU CAN DO THAT, AND THAT WILL PROTECT OUR INFORMATION FROM BEING SOLD TO STRANGERS AND BEING SOLD OUT OF THIS COUNTRY.
THEN OF COURSE, MARYLAND HAS SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTING.
ONCE ELECTION IS CERTIFIED, WE CAN COME BACK OFF OF THAT LIST AND PROTECT OUR INFORMATION.
>> SEND US ANY COURT OPINION INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE.
DID YOU SEND THAT TO US LAST TIME?
>> I BELIEVE THAT I DID SEND SEVERAL PIECES OF ARGUMENTS THAT COULD OPPOSED THE BOARD'S PUSHBACK ON IT, BUT PUBLIC OPINION MATTERS.
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIDE THIS SUFFICIENTLY THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS.
>> IS IT NOT CORRECT THAT THEY CAN ONLY SELL IT TO REGISTERED CANDIDATES OR SOMEONE INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS?
>> FROM LAW 356 OF MARYLAND SAID THAT A LIST OF REGISTERED VOTERS WILL BE PROVIDED TO A MARYLAND REGISTERED VOTER.
IN THE CASE OF JUDICIAL WATCH VERSUS LEMON, THAT COURT OVERRULED THAT MARYLAND CANNOT RESTRICT THIS LIST PURCHASE TO ANYONE.
THEN THEY CAN'T VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF THE PERSON THAT'S BUYING IT.
THEY CAN'T IDENTIFY IF THE EMAIL THAT THEY'RE SENDING ALL THIS DOCUMENTATION TO IS WITHIN THIS COUNTRY OR RECIPIENT OF THE COUNTRY.
>> JUST AS THE TIMING IS RIPE ON THIS.
IF FEDERAL IS PUSHING FOR DATA PRIVACY, YOU'RE PUSHING FOR PRIVACY LAWS BY THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES IS A PERFECT TIME.
YOU COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER TIME TO DO IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS CONNORS AND I WILL LOOK INTO HOW THAT LIST IS SOLD DEFINITELY WITH ALLISON SO WE'LL DO A LITTLE RESEARCH. THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WISH, I COULD E MAIL YOU THE EXACT TEXT
[00:15:02]
OR AT LEAST THE CASE NUMBER AND YOU CAN PULL IT OUT. IT SHOULD BE ONLINE.>> IT WAS REITERATED AND FOR SARA. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE KATHY MACKELL,
[Discussion Bond Bill Application #291-The Medford House Agricultural Interpretive Center]
CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND AT START WITH SHORE STRATEGIES LLC FOR A DISCUSSION ON BOND BILL APPLICATION NUMBER 291, THE MEDFORD HOUSE AGRICULTURAL INTERPRETIVE CENTER. GOOD MORNING.>> GOOD MORNING. A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE STATED FOR YOU AT BEFORE YOU.
I AM RETIRED TOURISM DIRECTOR AND I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS A GRANT WRITER, AND I'VE BEEN THERE PROJECT MANAGER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
TODAY WITH ME IS, ARE YOU GOING TO DO SO?
I'M THE OWNER OF SHORE STRATEGIES, LLC AND PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IS SUPPORTING NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH PLANNING WORK.
A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THIS PROJECT WITH KATHY HAS BEEN DONE BY NANCY SCAZARI, WHO IS THE FORMER PLANNER FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> BECAUSE OF THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND NANCY'S EXPERIENCE, THE SOCIETY HAS CONTRACTED AT SHORE STRATEGIES TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE NEVER DONE A BOND BILL BEFORE.
I WAS VERY FRANK WITH THE BOARD TELLING THEM, I'VE MANAGED GRANTS BUT NEVER A BOND BILL.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WE CONTRACTED AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED.
I'LL JUST BEGIN IF I MAY. THAT'S RIGHT.
I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A REAL BRIEF, AND I MEAN BRIEF, THIS WILL NOT BE A JOCK WALSH HISTORICAL LESSON WILL BE A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
AS YOU KNOW, CAROLINE COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR ITS AGRICULTURE.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY AGRICULTURE CENTER WHATSOEVER OR REALLY MUCH INFORMATION ON THAT, EXCEPT WHAT YOU CAN FIND IN MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE.
IN 2016, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY GAIN POSSESSION OF AN 1855 CIRCUIT 1855 DWELLING THAT WAS CAPTAIN MEDFORDS HOUSE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW CHOP, TANK VILLAGE WAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS MEDFORDS WORTH UNTIL ABOUT 1885.
THEN IT BECAME CAPTAIN VILLAGE.
WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKS AND REC JOCK TALKED TO THEM ABOUT MOVING THE DWELLING ONTO A PARKS LAND SITE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
BECAUSE DUFFY MCCONNELL WHO DONATED THE DWELLING AND ALSO HELPED PAY FOR THE MOVING, HE NEEDED TO PUT IN A PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM, SO HE NEEDED IT OF THE DWELLING OFF HIS LINE.
PHASE ONE WAS COMPLETED IN 2016.
WE MOVED IT DOWN TO THE SITE AND THEN WE WENT IN SEARCH OF FUNDING.
WE DID RECEIVE A MARYLAND HERITAGE AREA GRANT.
REMIND YOU WE HAVE TO MATCH EVERYTHING DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR OR IN KIND.
RIGHT NOW, PHASE TWO IS TO REMOVE THE 20TH CENTURY ELEMENTS OF THE EXTERIOR AND THAT INCLUDES NEW SILLS, FOOTINGS, AND A FOUNDATION.
THAT WILL BE COMPLETE IN OCTOBER.
SUBSEQUENTLY, WE KNEW THAT WE NEEDED A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S HARD, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A LOT OF MONEY HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE DID SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
WE APPLIED FOR A BOND BILL, AND WE WERE JUST SO DELIGHTED THAT JEFF RICE, DELEGATE GRICE, HAD ALSO APPLIED FOR ONE.
HE WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND HIS STAFF, AND I WORKED WITH THEM.
WE DID THE APPLICATION, AND WE WENT FOR THE BOND BILL.
WE WERE AWARDED THE FUNDS, BUT WE CANNOT COLLECT THEM AS WE ARE NOT THE LAND OWNER, THE COUNTY IS.
WE OWN THE BUILDING, BUT NOT THE LAND.
BEFORE I HANDED YOU WHEN I ARRIVED, THE FORM THAT HAS THE WORD STOCK AT THE BOTTOM, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.
IF YOU NOTICE THAT FORM, ALL THE BOXES ARE CHECKED OFF, IS DONE.
WE'VE FILLED REQUIRED BUILD UP.
THE ONLY ONE THAT IS NOT IS THE VERY FIRST ONE.
THAT ONE STATES THAT IF YOU ARE NOT THE OWNER OF THE LAND, THE PROPERTY OWNER AS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE GRANT, NEEDS TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT.
TODAY, I'M HERE TO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONER SUPPORT OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SUBMISSION OF THE FULL APPLICATION PACKAGE TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS,
[00:20:02]
THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AND THEY WILL IN TURN SEND YOU A FORM TO BE SIGNED.THE BOND RATHER IS $150,000 BOND BILL REQUEST, AND THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO COMPLETE THE EXTERIOR ELEMENTS, ADD NEW WINDOWS, DOORS, AND A ROOF TO THE DWELLING, AND ALSO RENOVATE THE INTERIOR.
WE WILL HAVE AN OUTDOOR CURVING WALKWAY, CEMENT PATHWAY, WHICH WILL HAVE SELF GUIDED INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE FOUR AGE PARK TO THE WILLIAM STILL, THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT I COMPLETED IN 2022.
THAT SITE ALLOWS US TO DO THE INTERPRETATION EXTERNALLY, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT INDIANS FARMING, POOR WHITE TENANTS, OR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORY.
IT'S ALL DONE EXTERNALLY WITH A GLASS WINDOW WHERE YOU CAN PEEK INSIDE TO PEEK INTO THE PAST.
THAT IS WHAT WE PLAN TO DO AT THE MENFORD DWELLING, THUS ALLOWING ANYONE TO SEE IT IN THE LIGHT OF DAY WITHOUT HAVING A VOLUNTEER, WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO FIND, SIT INSIDE THE DWELLING FOR THE PUBLIC.
THE BOND BILL WAS SUBMITTED IN FY 22.
AGAIN DELEGATE GRICE A DELEGATE SUBMITTED IT WITH SUPPORT FROM SENATOR ADDIE ECKERT AT THE TIME SHE HAD TO DROP IT IN THE BOX.
BUT WE SEND VERBAL ONGOING SUPPORT FROM TWO SENATORS, JOHNNY MOTTS AND J. J.
WE REALLY FEEL POSITIVE ABOUT THIS, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS THE LANDOWNER, COMMISSIONERS WILL RECEIVE A PACKET FROM THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, ASKING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE, AND YOU WOULD BE SIGNING THE AGREEMENT AS THE BENEFICIARY.
THEN WE, AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WOULD SIGN THAT SAME DOCUMENT AS THE GUARANTEE.
I HAVE HEARD OR RATHER YOU HAVE HEARD, WE WANT TO TELL ABOUT THAT.
WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE THE PASS THROUGH BECAUSE OF DATE.
>> IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM WORK THAT NANCY HAS DONE THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY CAN BE THE DIRECT RECIPIENT OF THE FUNDING.
THE DOCUMENT WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING INVESTED IN THE BUILDING, BECAUSE IT'S SEATED ON COUNTY PROPERTY.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF PROCESSING THOSE DOLLARS, IT APPEARS, CAN GO DIRECTLY TO CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND DOES NOT NEED TO PASS THROUGH THE COUNTY.
>> BUT WE STILL NEED TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS.
THE STATE, AS YOU KNOW, HAS NUMEROUS LAYERS OF BUREAUCRACY AND DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT BILL.
I DID WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT KNOW IT, ARE NEW HERE THAT I SAY WE THE SOCIETY HAS HAD PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL GOING BACK TO 2005 WITH THE JAMES H. WEB LOG CABIN, WHICH IS OUT ON GROVE ROAD.
YOU ALL OWN THE LAND? WE OWN THE DWELLING.
WE'VE SINCE DONE TWO RESTORATION PROJECTS ON IT TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING AS PART OF THE MOU AND THE WILLIAMS STILL PROJECT OUT OF THE FOUR GE PARK.
WE OWN THE DWELLING AND WE MAINTAIN IT.
WE HAVE AN MOU WITH THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS I JUST SPOKE OF, BUT ALSO WE HAVE AN MOU WITH YOU DATING BACK TO I THINK, 2016 WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED THIS PROCESS FOR THE MEDFORD AGRICULTURAL CENTER DWELLING.
IN OTHER WORDS, KEEPING THE BUILDING MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY REASSURE YOU WITH THAT.
>> I DO. MY CONCERNS WITH THESE THINGS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME.
WHAT DOES THIS OBLIGATE THE COUNTY TO DO AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING THE MONEY AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THE MONEY IS NOT HANDLED PROPERLY?
>> WELL, IT WILL GO THROUGH THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
OUR TREASURER IS CAROLYN SPIKER.
THE WAY THINGS ARE SET UP, THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE IS FOR SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE LISTED, MAINLY JUST EXTERIOR AND INTERNAL THINGS.
THE OVERSIGHT WILL BE DONE BY CAROLYN AND MYSELF AND I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD WITH WILLIAM STILL.
[00:25:01]
I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PREVIOUS PROJECTS.>> BUT WHAT ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS AND STIPULATIONS ARE PUT ON MONEY THROUGH A BOND BILL?
>> I'M NOT SURE. WHAT I CAN HONESTLY SAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT I GUESS IS WHAT WAS IT, THE STEAMBOAT WHARF WHERE WE HAD TO PAY THE MONEY BACK?
>> YES. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT ONE.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO OBLIGATE OURSELVES.
IF YOU WERE TO NOT GET THREE PRICES OR FOLLOW STATE PROCUREMENT, WOULD THE COUNTY THEN BE ON THE HOOK TO PAY IT BACK, OR IS THAT THE CASE WITH A BOND BILL? DANNY, DO YOU KNOW?
>> I THINK BECAUSE OF THE OVERSIGHT REQUIRED NOW, I THINK.
>> YES. ANYTIME WE'RE SIGNING ON THOSE STATUS, SOME TYPE OF BENEFICIARY IN THAT TERM OR A SUB RECIPIENT WOULD PASS THROUGH.
>> SO IF THERE'S NO PASS THROUGH, IF IT GOES STRAIGHT TO-
>> WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT-
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A PASS THROUGH. THERE.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE PASSED THROUGH TO US.
BECAUSE MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE THINGS IS THEY ALWAYS WANT SOMEBODY ON THE HOOK, AND THE PERSON TO BE ON THE HOOK IS ALWAYS, THEY WANT THE COUNTY TO BE ON THE BOOK.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PROJECT.
I WANT TO SEE THE PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND WHAT OBLIGATIONS OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL AUDITING AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS MONEY.
SO SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS GOING TO HAVE SOME CAVEAT IN THERE THAT SAYS THAT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MONEY IS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE REGULATIONS.
YOU'VE NOT WORKED WITH THE BOND ISSUE BEFORE, YOU SAID.
I DON'T KNOW IF CAROLYN HAS. I DON'T KNOW.
>> NO, SHE IS NOT, BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WELCOME THE TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE I WANT THAT.
>> I UNDERSTAND, BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS WE'VE GOT PEOPLE INVOLVED WHO HAVE NOT WORKED WITH BOND ISSUES BEFORE.
>> WE GOT TO KNOW UPFRONT WHAT ARE OUR OBLIGATIONS.
OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS LIMITED IN STAFF, IT'S LIMITED IN TIME.
WHENEVER THESE THINGS WOULD COME UP, I WOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT MARGARET.
MARGARET WOULD GO LIKE THIS, OR SHE WOULD GO LIKE THIS.
MORE AND MORE TOWARD THE END, SHE'D GO LIKE THIS BECAUSE WE'VE GOTTEN BURNED BEFORE.
NOT GOING TO DO IT AGAIN, I CAN TELL YOU.
I GOT ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD IN WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'M JUST SAYING WE GOT TO KNOW UPFRONT WHAT THE STORY IS SO WE DON'T GET STUNG WITH SOMETHING IN THE BACK.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH NANCY IS THAT SHE HAS SEEN BOND BUILD PROJECTS THROUGH AND SHE ALREADY HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH THE DIVISION.
>> NANCY SCAZARI [PHONETIC], WHO WORKS WITH SHORE STRATEGIES AND IS A PLANNER, HAS DONE BOND BILL PROJECTS ON BEHALF OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND THEIR TRAILS PROJECTS.
SHE'S WORKED WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESSES THAT GO BEHIND THIS APPLICATION PROCESS.
I THINK THAT ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, WE CAN GO BACK AND VERY SPECIFICALLY ASK AND WORK WITH DANNY TO GET THE ANSWERS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING.
>> IS THERE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE SHORE STRATEGIES?
>> TO NOT ONLY APPLY FOR THIS BUT TO ALSO MONITOR AND DO THE PAPERWORK?
>> CURRENTLY, THE CONTRACT IS TO PUT THE APPLICATION THROUGH AND GET THE APPLICATION THROUGH TO THE BPW FOR IT TO PROCEED.
CERTAINLY, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK FOR FURTHER ON DOWN THE LINE, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED.
THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW IS FOR THE APPLICATION ITSELF.
>> THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE JOCK'S [PHONETIC] PASSING UNEXPECTEDLY, AND THE DELAYS, WHERE THE CLOCK IS TICKING, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST ACCEPT THE MONEY BY JUNE, OTHERWISE, IT JUST GOES BACK IN.
>> THIS HOUSE, IS IT STILL SETTING IN THE PARKING LOT DOWN THERE?
[00:30:03]
>> IT, S BEHIND THE PARKING LOT.
THE PIERS WERE PUT IN ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO PROBABLY NOW.
>> ON PIER FOOTING, BUT SILLS AND FOUNDATION HAVE SINCE BEEN ADDED.
>> ARE WE GETTING A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN?
>> MY REQUEST WOULD BE TO SEE THE DOC.
>> IF WE COULD HAVE THAT SHARED BETWEEN MADAM STEWART AND MYSELF, THEN WE CAN REVIEW THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY'RE USING AS BENEFICIARY AND ALL OF THAT.
WE COULD CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT OUR RELATION WOULD BE IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE AND WHO'S ON THE HOOK IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE OR WHAT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS MAY BE.
I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK WITHOUT SEEING THE DOCUMENT FIRST THOUGH.
>> I CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT, DANNY, AND SEND IT RIGHT OVER TO YOU.
THERE'S A SAMPLE DOCUMENT THAT'S INCLUDED AND THEN ONCE IT'S TIME TO FILL IT OUT, IT'S REALLY JUST A BOILER.
IT CLEARLY DEFINES WHAT THE GRANTEE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND WHAT THE BENEFICIARY RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD BE.
IS YOUR TREASURER, BY ANY CHANCE BONDED?
SHE'S A RETIRED BANK PRESIDENT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S BONDED.
>> THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HER PERSONALLY, BUT THE ORGANIZATION CAN PURCHASE A FIDELITY BOND.
A LOT OF VOLUNTEER CORPORATIONS DO THIS, OR NON PROFITS.
>> IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF ASSURANCE TO SOMEONE LIKE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY WENT SIDEWAYS, THERE'S A FIDELITY BOND THAT HELPS.
I THOUGHT I JUST BY HIRING KAT AND HER COMPANY THAT WE WOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND HAVE OVERSIGHT IN GETTING THIS APPLICATION THROUGH.
>> THE TIMELINE IS YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY BY JUNE.
AND YOU'RE THINKING WORK ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING BY OCTOBER?
>> WELL, THAT IS A SEPARATE GRANT.
WE HAVE A SMALL HERITAGE AREA GRANT AND THAT GRANT ENDS IN OCTOBER.
>> SO THERE WILL BE SOME WORK THERE THIS SUMMER?
>> YEAH. WE JUST NEED TO COMPLETE THE DWELLING.
WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT DOWN THERE.
>> UNDER A SEPARATE FUNDING SOURCE.
SO THIS FUNDING SOURCE WILL CONTINUE.
>> AND FINISH EVERYTHING ELSE UP.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINISHED, I THINK WE HAVE IT IN THE APPLICATION, IT'S BY 2025.
>> HOW WAS THE $150,000 ARRIVED AT AS THE REQUEST?
>> INITIALLY, WE HAD BIGGER PLANS AND WE ASKED FOR MORE MONEY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY MAKE THEIR DECISIONS IT CAME DOWN TO 150,000.
SO WE FELT LIKE WE COULD HAVE A GOOD FACILITY FOR THAT PRICE.
THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE WILLIAMS STEEL COTTAGE WAS.
>> KATHY, WHAT IS THE PLAN IF IT ENDS UP NOT BEING ENOUGH?
>> WE WOULD GO LIKE WE HAVE BEEN PROHIBITED INTERIOR GRANTS WHICH ARE SMALLER AND WE HAVE TO CASH MATCH.
>> MY QUESTION IS ME BEING THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST THAT I ALWAYS AM.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, THIS MONEY IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THERE'S A SPECIFIED USE FOR THIS MONEY TO COMPLETE THE EXTERIOR.
WHAT HAPPENS IF, BECAUSE OF RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS OR MATERIAL COSTS OR WHATEVER, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS HAPPENING? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET TO A POINT AND YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXTERIOR WITH THE MONEY THAT WAS GRANTED BY THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT PENALTIES THERE ARE? IS THE COUNTY GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO COME UP WITH MONEY TO DO THIS?
>> NO, THE COUNTY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
IF LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE THE SCENARIO YOU PRESENT, LET'S SAY THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS JUST FINAL UPWARD AND WE CANNOT FULFILL THAT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO SCALE BACK, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT WITH OTHER PROJECTS AND SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF COST INCREASES FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO.
[00:35:01]
WELL, WE MIGHT CUT BACK IN SOME OF THE ELECTRONIC INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS.THE PUSH BUTTON ELEMENTS WERE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO.
THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE WE COULD, WITH OUR EXTERIOR SIGNAGE, STILL BE COVERED WITH GIVING PROPER INTERPRETATION, BUT THOSE ARE ALSO COSTLY ITEMS THAT WE COULD CUT BACK ON.
IN NO WAY WOULD WE TAKE AWAY FROM THAT.
>> IS THE PLAN FOR THIS TO BE SUPERVISED BY MICKEY?
>> RIGHT NOW MICKEY MCCRAE, BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH HISTORIC STRUCTURES FOR THE HERITAGE AREA GRANT, HE IS THE CONTRACTOR IN WORKING WITH THE WILLIAM STILL PROJECT WHICH REQUIRED FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.
I HAD TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL PROCEDURES IN PROCUREMENT.
IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER, BUT IN THE END THEY AGREED THAT YOU CAN'T JUST HIRE A REGULAR MODERN DAY CONTRACTOR.
YOU NEED TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR WHO WORKS WITH THE TRADITIONAL MALES WHO DOES THE HAND PLAN, ETC.
IN OUR CASE, THERE WERE THREE OF THEM ON THE EASTERN SHORE THAT FULFILLED ALL OF THAT AND ALL THREE OF THEM PUT FORWARD BIDS.
BUT TWO OF THEM WERE INCREDIBLY BUSY IN TALBOT COUNTY.
THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH WORKING THERE ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT MICKEY MCCRAE LIVES IN PRESTON AND WE ARE ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH HIM, BUT THIS WOULD BE BID OUT AS WELL.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE WESTERN SHORE BIDDERS WERE ANYWHERE FROM 3-5 TIMES THE PRICE INSURED.
>> SURE. MICKEY HAS CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATED HIS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
I WOULD SAY THAT MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT YOU GET THAT INFORMATION TO DANNY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE TAKE A QUICK LOOK.
VERY NOT QUICK, BUT WE TAKE A THOROUGH LOOK TO MAKE SURE OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE BEFORE WE EXECUTE ANYTHING.
WE'LL TRY TO DO IT WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME.
>> YEAH. DO YOU HAVE ANY RECORD NAME?
>> NO. LARRY PRETTY MUCH SUMMED IT UP.
>> YOU HAVE $45,500 AS A MATCH AMOUNT ON THIS APPLICATION, BUT I THINK I SAW ANOTHER SPOT WHERE IT SAID THAT A MATCH AMOUNT WAS NOT NECESSARY.
WE WERE TRYING TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND THAT WE HAVE EXPENDED MONEY BETWEEN JO WALSH AND DUFFY.
>> THAT'S MONEY ALREADY SPENT TO MOVE IN.
>> PERSONALLY, AND WITH GRAINS.
THAT'S JUST TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE EXPENDED MONEY, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BUS BEING A NONPROFIT, TECHNICALLY, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED.
YOU WILL GET THAT SAME VERBIAGE IN THE HERITAGE CENTER THAT BOB BILL COMES TO YOU.
IT'S GOING TO COME THROUGH SHORTLY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT YOU'RE CARRYING THIS ON.
BUT THANK YOU FOR PICKING THIS THING UP AND CONTINUING IT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT WORK. I KNOW IT HAS.
>> NEXT UP. DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH A FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET WORKSHOP.
>> BEAR WITH ME FOR ONE SECOND.
THEN I GET LOGGED BACK IN AND HOOKED UP TO THE SCREEN.
[Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Workshop]
I THINK EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT.PERFECT. THIS MORNING WE'RE LOOKING TO CONTINUE ON WITH OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP THAT WE STARTED LAST WEEK, WHERE WE HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW AND GO THROUGH THE FY25 CAPITAL BUDGET.
THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AND WALK THROUGH THE FY25 OPERATING BUDGET.
I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH EACH COMMISSIONER INDIVIDUALLY TO GO THROUGH
[00:40:02]
A BUDGET VERSION THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ANSWERS TO ANYTHING THAT THEY HAD THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FURTHER.THROUGH THAT, WE'VE COME UP WITH THE VERSION THAT IS ON THE SCREEN TODAY AND THAT I HAVE PRINTED OUT AND HANDED OUT TO THE BOARD JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE THAT'S IN THE ROOM.
THE BUDGET THIS YEAR STARTS OUT WITH A 2% COLA FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS A 2% MERIT RAISE.
ABOVE THAT, ALL VACANT POSITIONS ARE BUDGETED AT A 2% COLA ABOVE OUR FY24 SCALE.
WITH THIS, SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO INDIVIDUALLY GO THROUGH THIS, I IMAGINE WE CAN GO THROUGH IF THERE ARE LINES THAT DON'T ALIGN OR WE WANT TO ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS ON, WE GET HIT ON THOSE.
SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR REVIEW ANYTHING THAT WE'VE HAD ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
I GUESS BEFORE I GET STARTED, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS WITH OPERATING?
>> I DON'T THINK SO. I IF I CAN SUGGEST, I MEAN, I'M GOING THROUGH THE LINES WHERE WE'RE IN AGREEMENT.
WOULD IT MAKE SENSE JUST TO GO TO THE ONES WHERE WE'RE NOT?
>> I GET MINE ALL HIGHLIGHTED.
>> I'M TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT AS WELL.
>> I'LL MIND HIGHLIGHTING BECAUSE I HAVEN'T DID THE SECOND FOLLOW UP THAT WAS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE THIS AFTERNOON.
SO AS LARRY THAT BEING SAID, THE FIRST ONE IS STATE'S ATTORNEYS.
AFTER THE READJUSTMENT, YOU AND TRAVIS ARE $6 OFF, I THINK IT'S JUST A TYPO.
WELL, A LOT OF THOSE TWO. I'VE JUST 3,000 OFF FROM THE ORIGINAL WHERE I SAID BEFORE.
>> YEAH. THEN THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE THE FIRE COMPANIES.
THEY'RE BOTH AT 2,006,000, I'M AT 1995.
WHAT WAS THE 2,006,000? THE $2,006,165 WAS TAKING THEIR ALLOCATION FOR FY24.
REDUCING THE $33,000 THAT THEY HAD REQUESTED FOR THE CLOUD BASED FIRE REPORTING THROUGH CONVERSATION.
I THINK THE OPINION WAS THEY COULD COVER THAT OUT OF THE INCREASED ALLOCATION FOR THE YEAR.
ESSENTIALLY GIVING THEM THE 10%.
>> BUT THEY'VE GOT TO COVER THE SUBSCRIPTION INSIDE OF THAT.
>> THAT'S 33 IS TOTAL AMONG ALL THE COMPANIES?
>> YES. CORRECT. FOR THE ONES THAT USE THE SOFTWARE, I THINK THERE ARE TWO COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT ON THAT CLOUD BASED SOFTWARE.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THE 10% INCREASE ELIMINATE THE CLOUD COVERAGE.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. 2,006,165. I CAN MAKE THAT ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THREE OF AN AGREEMENT.
THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE HUMANE SOCIETY?
>> WHAT DID I DO, A 5% INCREASE?
>> I THINK IT WAS 10% INCREASE THERE.
IT'S 10% OVER THE 33 OR 3,306,955 OF LAST YEAR.
THAT'S ANOTHER 37,000 BASICALLY.
DO YOU WANT TO START HERE? ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT?
>> YEAH. THE ONLY OTHER ONE IS, GOING THROUGH THESE NON-PROFITS, RE-EVALUATING THEM, ME AND LARRY LEFT MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN AND EVERYBODY AT 75.
[00:45:02]
WE PRETTY MUCH FLAKED ON THEM LIKE WE DID BEFORE.>> I THINK WE SHOULD GO TO FIVE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> MY OPINION IS [OVERLAPPING] I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE FIVE.
LIKE WHERE MUG SHOULD BE QUARTER 75, KEEP THEM TO FIVE.
THEN I KNOW MEANT FOR CHANGE WAS EIGHT AND WE GAVE THEM EIGHT LAST YEAR.
>> BUT I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GO WITH THE FIVE. THAT'S UP TO LARRY.
>> I'M GOING TO STICK TO MY LAST YEAR'S STANCE ON THIS.
I ADMIRE ALL THE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS THAT THEY DO BUT IT'S NOT CHARITY.
IF WE CONFISCATE TAX MONEY FROM THE CITIZENS AND GIVE IT TO NON-PROFITS, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
MY OPINION IS WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, EMS, POLICE, SAFETY, ROADS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GOING TO COME TODAY.
>> I'M OKAY WITH PUTTING IT AT FIVE FOR ALL.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT THAT POSITION.
I JUST THINK IT'S NOT A LOT IN THE BUDGET.
EVERY DOLLAR IS IMPORTANT BUT IT'S NOT A LOT.
BUT I THINK IT MEANS A LOT TO THEM.
I THINK THAT AMOUNT MEANS A GOOD AMOUNT TO SOME OF THESE.
BUT I'M OKAY WITH REDUCING EVERYTHING TO FIVE.
>> COMMISSIONER BARTZ, WERE THERE ANY OTHER STUFF?
>> THE OTHER ONE I HAD HIGHLIGHTED WE WERE OFF AT IS.
>> PARTS 3,000, IT'S INDEPENDENT GOOD.
3,000 IT'S CHANGED, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN UNGRADED. GO DOWN TO THE C16.
>> I THINK THAT WAS BASED ON UPDATED MOWING NUMBERS IN CONTRACT THAT WE DID THERE.
>> THAT WAS ADJUSTMENT DOWN IN THE MOWING CONTRACT.
>> THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THAT.
WE UPDATED THE 4H PARK AS WELL FOR THE MOWING, CORRECT?
>> WENT UP. I'LL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT ONE.
>> THE [INAUDIBLE] JUST BECOME SECOND.
NOW, THE NEXT ONE WOULD BE THE AG PRESERVATION FUND.
>> WE'VE SEEN A MASSIVE INFLUX OF MONEY INTO THAT FUND FROM TRANSFER AG, TRANSFER TAX COLLECTION.
WE'VE HAD PRIOR YEARS WHERE IT'S BEEN LITTLE TO NONE.
THE 20,000, THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS THAT UP.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME ON THAT.
BUT SO THE TRANSFER ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, TRANSFER TAX, WHERE DOES THAT GO?
>> THE TRANSFER ON RESIDENTIAL GOES TOWARDS OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> THAT'S [OVERLAPPING] ALLOCATION TO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
NOW, JUST FOR CLARITY, TRANSFER TAXES COLLECTED HERE AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
THAT'S ALLOCATED EACH MONTH TO US FROM THE STATE.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE GENERAL FUND.
WE HAVE AG TRANSFER THAT IS COLLECTED ON CERTAIN AG PROPERTIES.
THE STATE TYPICALLY HAS TO REVIEW THOSE PROPERTIES WHEN THEY TRANSFER AND THEY WRITE UP WHAT IS OWED AND WHAT THEY CONSIDER THE AG TRANSFER.
WE'LL GET A STATEMENT FROM THE STATE THAT SAYS, COLLECT $1,500 FOR TRANSFER OF X PROPERTY.
THAT MONEY GOES INTO A SEPARATE FUND THAT WE COMBINE WITH THIS ALLOCATION THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE STATE AS WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO BE OUR COUNTY PORTION FOR AG PREP.
I KNOW KATHLEEN HAS HAD A GOOD HAND IN THIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH PLANNING CODES BEFORE MY TIME,
[00:50:02]
I THINK WHEN WE STARTED PUTTING THE $20,000 IN.>> I CAN GET INTO THAT. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THAT.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY AND WHY THE 20,000 IS THERE.
WE USED TO HAVE THE EXCISE TAX THAT WAS CHARGED WHEN PROPERTY IS TRANSFERRED.
A PORTION OF THAT EXCISE TAX WENT TO AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION.
WHEN THE COUNTY SWITCHED FROM EXCISE TAX TO IMPACT FEE, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER PORTER WAS THE ONLY COMMISSIONER HERE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, [NOISE] A PORTION OF THE FEE NO LONGER WENT TOWARDS AG-PRES.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THAT TIME, THEY LOOKED AT THE AVERAGE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT CAME OUT OF THE EXCISE TAX ANNUALLY TOWARDS AG-PRES AND $20,000 WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS AN AVERAGE DEPENDING ON LOW AND HIGH YEARS.
IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, $20,000 WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS IN THE BUDGET.
WE DO HAVE, AS YOU KNOW AND DANNY HAS DESCRIBED, A LOT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM OTHER TRANSFER TAX THIS YEAR.
BUT IN FUTURE YEARS, I WOULD JUST WANT YOU, IF YOU TAKE THE 20,000 THIS YEAR, JUST BE COGNIZANT THAT WE MIGHT NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE OTHER AMOUNTS.
THE REASON THE $20,000 IS IMPORTANT IS EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE CONTRIBUTE IS LEVERAGED.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE MULTIPLIER.
>> ON WHAT THE RATE IS. DO YOU REMEMBER?
>> MANY TIMES THAT $20,000, WE GET THAT MUCH FROM THE STATE.
IT'S NOT ONE FOR ONE, WE CONTRIBUTE 20, THEY CONTRIBUTE 20.
IT'S SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAT.
THAT WOULD JUST ALL GO TOWARDS EASEMENTS IN THE COUNTY.
BUT THIS YEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF TRANSFER TAX FUNDING AND WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FUNDING FROM PREVIOUS YEARS THAT WE FINALLY PULLED TOGETHER BECAUSE IT WAS IN VARIOUS POTS IN THE BUDGET, REALLY COMPLICATED AND HARD TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.
THIS YEAR I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE STATEMENT OUT LOUD THAT IN FUTURE YEARS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT EXTRA TRANSFER TAX.
WE WON'T HAVE THOSE OTHER POTS OF MONEY SO THE $20,000 COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE OF A FARM GOING IN AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION.
PROBABLY NOT THIS YEAR. WELL, IT COULD STILL BE THAT DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR BUT NOT AS CRITICAL.
>> I WILL WITHDRAW MY BUDGET CONTRIBUTION AND THEN FULL DISCLOSURE.
I ANTICIPATE THAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO APPLY FOR OUR FARM AND BE PUT IN THERE SO I'LL RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANY FUTURE [LAUGHTER] VOTING WITH ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT PRESERVATION.
I'M FINE WITH ELIMINATING THAT 20.
>> JUST FOR CLARITY, WHILE WE WERE SITTING HERE I WAS PULLING UP ON THE BACK END OF THE SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW THE $20,000 ALLOCATION WE SET ASIDE AND WHAT'S LABELED AS OUR FUND 23, AG-PRES.
RIGHT NOW THERE'S $79,000 SITTING THERE THAT'S AVAILABLE.
AGAIN, WE REPORT THAT TO THE STATE EACH YEAR.
AS FAR AS THE MONEY COLLECTED ON THAT TRANSFER, WE'RE SETTING AT $435,000.
>> THAT'S WHAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH ABOUT 112 AND IT'S GOING UP TO 435 SO WE'VE COLLECTED JUST OVER $320,000.
>> THE 20, IT'S ONLY 2% OF 20 AND WE PUT THAT IN THERE ON YOUR 2%.
>> OF THE MONEY SITTING THERE.
>> OF THE MONEY SITTING THERE.
IT WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT'S LIKE FOUR OR FIVE.
>> SO YOU'RE TAKING YOURS OUT, LARRY, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEND A SIGNAL THAT WE'RE AGAINST AGRICULTURE OR ANYTHING, AND I DON'T THINK NOBODY IS GOING TO TAKE IT THAT WAY.
>> I'M JUST SAYING PROBABLY FUTURE YEARS [OVERLAPPING] YOU'LL SEE THIS COME BACK UP AGAIN AS ANOTHER ASK AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AGAIN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE ARE WELL FUNDED IN THIS, SO IT'S OKAY.
THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I THINK WE NEED TO IS THE LIBRARY.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT AGAIN?
>> YEAH, I CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIBRARY THAT THE BOARD HAD AT THE LAST MEETING THAT WE TRIED TO SET UP A PHONE CALL WITH DEBBIE TO ADDRESS AS FAR AS HER DEPARTURE AND THEN SHOWING UP BEING PROMOTED INTO THAT ROLE,
[00:55:07]
AND SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES IN SALARIES GOING UP IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED.UNFORTUNATELY, FRIDAY, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND A TEAMS MEETING THAT STACY HAD WITH DEBBIE AND JONAH ABOUT THIS.
WHAT STACY HAD COMMUNICATED TO ME WAS THE LIBRARY DURING COVID TIMES HAD TRIMMED BACK A LOT OF THE POSITIONS AND SALARIES THAT THEY HAD PRIOR TO COVID, AND THROUGH THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TO REINTRODUCE AND BRING THOSE POSITIONS BACK ON BOARD.
WITH JONAH STEPPING INTO THE DIRECTOR ROLE, THEY WERE BRINGING BACK IT POSITION.
THEY WERE GOING TO FUND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AGAIN, AND THEN THERE WAS A THIRD POSITION THAT WAS BEING ADDED INTO THE BUDGET THAT WERE NOT THERE IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO SEEK CLARITY.
OBVIOUSLY THE LIBRARY'S WHOLE FORMAT HAS CHANGED, BUSINESS PLATFORM HAS CHANGED FROM COVID PRE NOW, FAIR TO SAY.
SO TO SAY WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO PEOPLE THAT WERE PRE-COVID, THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE NOWADAYS ISN'T THE SAME, AND WE REDID EVERYTHING OVER THERE; THE AMOUNT OF BOOKS, IT'S MORE OF A IT, PAY COMPUTERS, OR MEDIA [OVERLAPPING] MEDIA IS DONE DIFFERENT.
DO WE REALLY NEED THAT THIRD PERSON, IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT? OBAMA, THE IT PERSON, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE PERSON THAT REPLACED HIM.
BUT THAT THIRD PERSON THERE, A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE ON THAT.
WE HAVE SOME TIME AND I APOLOGIZE, STACY HAD TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE FOR A GRANT MEETING.
THEY'RE HAVING A HOUSING BLOCK GRANT THAT SHE'S ATTENDING AND OBVIOUSLY, SHE HAD THE CONVERSATION.
IF SHE DOESN'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF HER HEAD, WE'LL CERTAINLY TALK TO DEBBIE AND CAN GET SOME ANSWER ON THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS YEAR WITHOUT THE THIRD PERSON, AND THEN SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.
>> BECAUSE OUR BOARD OF ED NUMBER IS STILL NOT SETTLED, SO WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE ASK FOR THE BOARD.
>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT. YOU KNOW JAMES AS THE MANAGER, APPOINTS HIM.
HE WOULD BE THE ASSISTANT, RIGHT?
>> DID YOU HAVE AN IT PERSON NOW?
>> I BELIEVE THEY DO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK JERMAN DOES SOME OF IT.
>> CHRIS IS FILLING IN, RIGHT?
I THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING SOME HELP FROM THE EASTERN SHORE REGIONAL LIBRARY.
>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT BECAUSE I THINK THEY ARE GOING MORE THAT WAY IN THEIR PLATFORM OVER THERE, BUT THE THIRD PERSON THEY WANT TO HIRE, I'M ON THE FENCE ON THAT.
>> I'LL NOTE HERE. I'LL GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK, LARRY?
>> THAT'S FINE. I JUST THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH MAYBE AN AGENDA FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
>> DEBBIE DID MENTION THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME IN AND SIT DOWN AND [OVERLAPPING] TALK THROUGH MORE.
>> SHOW US THE NUMBERS. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET, RIGHT?
>> IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, SHOW US THE NUMBERS, PLEASE.
>> IN HERE IT SAYS, INCREASE TO COVER ACROSS THE BOARD, PAY INCREASE OF 4%.
IT DOESN'T SAY INCREASE STAFF. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> IT'S EITHER YOUR INCREASING 4% OR YOUR INCREASING STAFF, WHICH ONE IS IT? THAT 4% INCREASE FOR STAFF IS DIFFERENT THAN HIRING MORE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU FACTOR IN HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS AND ALL THAT STUFF, RETIREMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.
[01:00:03]
>> WE'LL GET AN ANSWER ON THAT AND EITHER GIVE YOU GUYS AN EMAIL CIRCULATING ON YOUR RESPONSE PROCEED.
>> WHERE ARE WE AT NOW? THAT'S THE ONLY ONES I THINK WE'RE ALL HAVING DIFFERENCE IN.
>> RIGHT NOW, COLUMN G, COLUMN H, R, COMMISSIONER BARTZ AND COMMISSIONER PORTER, WHICH ALIGNED TO 71,000, $456,202 WHICH HAS ESSENTIALLY A DEFICIT OF $7,560 SO YOU WOULD THEN SMALL FRACTION OF BEING TO ZERO THERE.
TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO AT THIS POINT IS THAT IS SPREAD OUT TO THE CONTINGENCY OR WE'LL HAVE ALLOCATION OF SOME POINT.
I BELIEVE THE WHOLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMISSIONER BREEDING AND THE OTHER TWO ARE GOING TO BE THE NON-PROFITS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE.
I WILL SAY TO COMMISSIONER BREEDING'S POINT, WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE UNKNOWNS WITH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, ONE BEING OUR BOARD OF ED NUMBER.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY NUMBER THAT WE'VE WORKED INTO THE BUDGET, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT NUMBER CHANGES BEFORE WE GET THE FINAL.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME INDICATORS OUT THERE THAT WE MAY SEE A CHANGE THERE.
ON THE FLIP SIDE, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR REVENUE, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS THERE THAT WE HAVE BUILT IN THAT POTENTIALLY COULD CHANGE.
THE FIRST BEING OUR REAL PROPERTY TAX LINE ITEM.
I HAVE A NOTE, WE REMOVE $10,588 OF REVENUE DUE TO THE STATE ASSESSMENT NOTICES NOT GOING OUT PROPERLY.
THIS WOULD BE OUR FIRST YEAR HIT.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE TWO OTHER YEARS.
OUR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND '27, WE WOULD SEE A REDUCTION IN REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE NOTICES NOT GOING OUT PROPERLY.
THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS LEGISLATION IN THE PIPELINE TO ESSENTIALLY GRANT A FORGIVENESS ON THIS MISTAKE AND ALLOW US TO COLLECT THE FULL REVENUE.
I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THAT CURRENTLY SITS AS FAR AS APPROVALS OR WHAT TRACTION THAT HAS.
>> MAKO SOUNDED VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT WAS GOING TO GET FIXED.
>> THAT WOULD BE SAY 10, FIVE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PUT BACK IN AS REVENUE.
THE OTHER END WE HAVE OUR DISPARITY GRANT.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE CURRENT FORMULA SHOWING US WITH A REDUCTION OF ABOUT $615,000.
I THINK IN CONVERSATIONS WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT IS GOING TO BE HELD HARMLESS OR RESTORED TO A PRIOR YEAR'S NUMBER.
>> EVERYBODY IS HIDING BEHIND THE FORMULA.
IT'S FORMULA-DRIVEN, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GETTING CHANGED.
>> BOTH OF THOSE LOSSES WE HAVE BUILD IN.
THIS IS TO-DATE WHAT I BELIEVE THE MOST ACCURATE VERSION WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE BOE NUMBER BEING THE UNKNOWN.
>> DO YOU HAVE FULL HIGHWAY USER FUNDING BUILT INTO THIS?
>> I DO. THE HIGHWAY USER I HAVE IF WE LOOK HERE AT 1,362,000 WHICH IS UP 218,000 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR; THAT'S BASED SOLELY OFF LETTERS THEY SEND US ABOUT EACH QUARTER WITH WHAT OUR HIGHWAY USER NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.
>> WITH THE INCREASE THAT WAS PAID LAST YEAR OR A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
>> EXACTLY. THAT IS THE LATEST LETTER THAT I HAVE SHOWING THAT NUMBER.
>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL WE'RE WAITING ON, BOE NUMBER.
>> PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FIX, NOT INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER, AND REVENUE FOR THIS BUDGET, AND THEN THE HIGHWAY USER.
FULL HIGHWAY USER IS BUILT IN.
>> I THINK FOR MOVING FORWARD AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, IN DOING THE CAPITAL BUDGET LAST WEEK, WE HAD UNALLOCATED FUNDING AT THE VERY END AND I THINK THAT WAS DONE VERY PURPOSEFULLY KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THESE ITEMS THAT ARE UNKNOWN, I THINK WE LOCK THIS IN TO ZERO.
[01:05:01]
WE ADJUST THE CONTINGENCY DOWN BY THE 7,560, ZERO IT OUT AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET KNOWING THAT IF THE BOARD OF ED NUMBER COMES IN AT A HIGHER NUMBER, WE CAN PULL THAT UNALLOCATED CAPITAL OVER AND POSSIBLY REOPEN THIS UP TO LOOK AT OTHER VARIATIONS OR CUTS IF WE NEED TO.>> I THINK WE ENDED UP WITH, WAS 1.1 MILLION? [OVERLAPPING]
>> AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BEAT THIS HORSE ON EDUCATION FUNDING.
IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT WE GOT TO BE FORCED TO DO IT, BUT WHEN THEY CAN GET YOU THE RIGHT NUMBER, THAT'S A PROBLEM AND EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR, EVERY PERSON THAT I TALKED TO, IS TELLING ME THAT 2027 IS GOING TO BE THE BOTTOM OUT YEAR SO WE BETTER START BUCKLING UP.
BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE, THE LEGISLATURE, IS SPENDING MONEY LIKE IT'S GOING OUT OF STYLE.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO COME TO AN END WHEN THEY SPEND THE SURPLUS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> VERY MUCH SO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVERY FEE AND EVERY TAX KNOWN DEMAND KIND IS GOING TO BE PROPOSED IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
>> EVERYTHING THEY CAN PUSH DOWN ON US TO FUND, THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MO THE LAST TIME, WAS PUSH IT DOWN TO THE COUNTIES TO PAY FOR IT.
TEACHER PENSION, THEY THEY ROBBED OUR HIGHWAY USER AND THEY DUMPED THE TEACHERS PENSIONS ON US.
>> YEAH. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO TURN OVER EVERY ROCK TO FIND A WAY TO GET MONEY FROM US AND THE TAXPAYER, SO GET READY.
>> I WILL SEND YOU THIS VERSION BALANCE A ZERO OUT OF CONTINGENCY.
I'LL CIRCULATE A COPY WITH THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE CAPITOL FROM LAST WEEK AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEN IF WE GET TO THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BACK IN, YOU JUST PUT IT BACK IN THE CONTINGENCY?
>> I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT BILL'S GOING TO [OVERLAPPING].
THEY'RE GOING TO CORRECT YOURSELF. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, IT'S NOT HURTING US THAT BAD, BUT IT'S HURTING SOME OF THE BIG COWS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS INTO THE MILLIONS OF LOST REVENUE [NOISE].
>> PLUS THEY HAD A $240,MILLION CALCULATION ERROR IN MEDICARE OR MEDICAID. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SOMEBODY MADE AN ERROR THAT WAS 240 MILLION.
>> REAL QUICK BEFORE I LOCKED THIS DOWN.
WE HAD OUR QUARTERLY PENSION AND OPEB COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH IS MADE UP OF A FIVE MEMBER BOARD PLUS THREE, SHERRY AND THE EAB REPRESENTATIVE, MAKAZINSKI.
THE LAST MEETING, WE DISCUSSED WHAT THE HRA SUPPLEMENT AND THE PENSION PAYMENTS TO THE RETIREES WOULD LOOK LIKE IN FY '25 AND IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANY RECOMMENDATION BY THE BOARD TO DO ANY ADJUSTMENT OR INCREASE TO THAT.
THROUGH CONVERSATION AT THE BOARD, WE LOOKED AT, SAY, THE RETIREE PAYMENTS.
THE LAST TIME THE RETIREES RECEIVED A INCREASE WAS JULY 1ST OF 2022.
NOTHING WAS DONE IN THE PRIOR BUDGET, SO ACTUALLY IT WOULD BE TWO YEARS.
THIS YEAR, THE BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND 2% COLA, JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING FOR THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THAT TO THE BOARD AND YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE TO WORK THAT IN TO THE PENSION.
THE OTHER PIECES, OUR HRA SUPPLEMENT IS CURRENTLY $500 THE LAST INCREASE THAT RECEIVED WAS JULY 1ST OF 2021, SO THAT WOULD BE THREE YEARS HITTING THIS YEAR.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT GO 500-550 AND THESE ARE, AGAIN, JUST INCREASES WITH TAKING IN INFLATION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF WHAT'S BEEN, I DON'T WANT TO SAY MISSED, BUT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH INCREASED COSTS.
>> WHERE DO WE PULL THAT OUT OF?
>> THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE PENSION.
>> THE PENSION AND OPEB, THEY PAY THAT DIRECTLY.
WE SEE NO EFFECT ON IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE OPEB IS OVER-FUNDED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE 500 TO 550 WILL COME OUT OF?
>> YES, SIR. THEN THE 2%. [OVERLAPPING]
[01:10:02]
>> IS OUT OF THE PENSION? THAT'S FUNDED AT 80%.
>> THE LAST TIME WE HAD OUR STUDY, IT WAS THE MID 80S.
WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PENSION AND THE REDUCTION OR THE YEARS OF SERVICE CHANGING, I IMAGINE THAT NUMBER WILL CHANGE SLIGHTLY, BUT WE HAVE YET TO RECEIVE OUR GASB 67 68 REPORTS.
SHERRY AND I HAVE BEEN REQUESTING THEM MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE'RE STILL WAITING ON BOLTON AND PARTNERS TO CONDUCT THAT.
>> YOU NEED TO VOTE FROM US ON THAT?
>> IF YOU GUYS JUST SHARE THAT YOU ARE FINE WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO PREPARE THE RESOLUTIONS AND ALL THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT IS POST RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE.
IF YOU RETIRE PRE 65, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT ON THE MARKET AND PUT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE, SO THIS ASSIST IN THAT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> CURRENTLY ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE RECEIVING THAT.
>> CURRENTLY, I THINK WAS THERE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MAKING BY WITH THE 500.
>> THE OTHERS ARE PAYING MORE THAN THAT.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY GET THE ACTUAL DOLLAR COST THAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
THAT GOES THROUGH THAT AGENCY.
THEY REQUIRE THE RECEIPTS THROUGH THERE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ENOUGH BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO GO.
>> I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE PAYING BUT IT SHOULD BE CLOSE.
>> THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. WE'LL WORK ON MY FAVOR THE DOCUMENTS, AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU, DANNY. EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK.
>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR THANKING US.
THANK YOU, STACY WHO IS NOT HERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> OKAY. CONSENT AGENDA. QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. MR. BARTZ?
[Consent Agenda:]
>> JUST THE CDL. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING THEY HAD TO BE HERE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE THERE HAD TO BE HERE BEFORE. [OVERLAPPING]
IN OTHER WORDS, I THOUGHT THEY HAD TO BE HERE SO MANY MONTHS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN GO GET THE CDL.
>> THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT THE AGREEMENTS ARE BEING SIGNED FOR HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE OVER THE SIX MONTHS THAT WE'RE TALKING TO OR AT LEAST THEY WILL HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PROBATIONARY PERIOD BY THE TIME THEY FINISH THE CLASS.
I BELIEVE THE ONE GENTLEMAN STARTED IN DECEMBER, THE OTHER ONE'S ALREADY MET HIS SIX MONTHS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, THAT'S ALL.
>> YES. THEY START IN MAY AND THEY'LL END IN BEGINNING-END OF JULY.
>> HAVE THEIR PERFORMANCE BEEN EVALUATED BEFORE WE?
>> THE LEADERS OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVE, YES, MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THESE PEOPLE FORWARD.
>> OKAY. STEWART, HOW EASY IS IT TO RECAPTURE THIS $5,200?
>> WELL, WE HAVE ONE CASE WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO RETRIEVE THAT MONEY FROM SOMEBODY WHO DID A SIMILAR THING.
IT WASN'T CDL, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT THIS AGREEMENT, I'VE UTILIZED THAT BASIC FORMAT FOR THE TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN POLICE AND ALSO FOR [INAUDIBLE] RESCUE SQUAD, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR TYPE BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS.
IT HAS ALWAYS WORKED IN THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECOVERY.
WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON HAS THE MONEY OR YOU CAN COLLECT IT ACROSS A STATE LINE IS ALWAYS AN OPEN QUESTION, BUT IT'S A SOLID DOCUMENT.
>> IS THIS COURSE DURING THE DAY?
>> THEY WILL ALSO BE PAID WHILE THEY TAKE THE CLASS?
>> CORRECT. THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WILL BE SETTING THIS TIME HAVE ACTUALLY FROM DAY ONE, BEEN WANTING TO BE INTO THE CLASS, HAVE BEEN ASKING, VERY MUCH WANT TO BE HERE AT THE COUNTY.
>> PRIOR WHEN CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE WAS ALLOWING US TO ENROLL THROUGH GRANTS, WE HAD NO RETAINER OR ABILITY TO REQUIRE THEM TO STAY WITH THIS, WE TOOK THE DOCUMENT.
THANKS TO STEWART, WE UPDATED WHAT WE WERE USING FOR OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND CORRECTIONS AND NOW WE'LL
[01:15:02]
BE REQUIRING A YEAR OF STAY POST-COMPLETION OF THE CLASS.AGAIN, THAT YEAR TIMELINE IS IN LINE WITH WHAT WE DO FOR CORRECTIONS, ANY COLLEGE EDUCATION THAT WE ALLOW OTHER EMPLOYEES TO TAKE, AS WELL AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL.
>> THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS, DO WE HAVE THE LIST FOR THE ROADS THAT WERE TAR CHIPPING? THIS ISN'T IT.
THAT'S A LIST I GOT THE OTHER DAY.
>> THIS IS THE PAVING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THEY GOT TO BE DONE EITHER WAY.
>> THE NEW ERA MARK FOOD SERVICES CONTRACT, WE HAVE NO CHOICE REALLY ON THAT ONE, THEY'RE OUR SOLE SOURCE VENDOR, CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR, AND THE CONTRACTOR ALLOWS FOR SO MANY YEARS OF EXTENSION WITH A INCREASE BASED ON CPI.
>> THAT'S BUILT INTO THE BUDGET?
>> THAT'S BUILT INTO THE BUDGET, YEAH.
>> THE RESOLUTION FOR THE CLASS SPECIFICATION CHANGE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
WE'RE GIVING THE CORRECTIONS CENTER THE ABILITY TO HIRE AN UNCERTIFIED CORRECTIONS OFFICER AS LONG AS THEY RECEIVE THEIR CERTIFICATION WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN THEY ACTUALLY HAD HIRED THE CURRENT PERSON IN THIS POSITION, THEY HAD NO QUALIFIED APPLICANTS THAT DID NOT HAVE THAT AND THE CLASS SPECIFICATION WAS NOT CHANGED, BUT THEY DID ALLOW THAT INDIVIDUAL OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET HER CERTIFICATION LATER.
>> THE CLASSIFICATION SUPERVISOR HAS TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
WE ARE ADVERTISING INTERNALLY FOR THIS POSITION NOW.
AT LEAST ON COMAR, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND THEN THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THE CERTIFICATION LATER.
>> COMAR, YES, ALLOWS THAT AS WELL.
WE JUST DID NOT IN THEIR CLASS BACK.
THE LAST THING I HAD WAS A TAX EXEMPT HOUSING BOND LETTER, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WHAT IS THAT?
>> EACH YEAR, THE STATE ALLOWS COUNTIES TO SPONSOR AND GO THROUGH TAX EXEMPT BONDS, SO YOU CAN BOND AND BORROW MONEY TAX FREE, ESSENTIALLY.
WE COULD GO THROUGH WITH A HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BOND AND BORROW TO DO HOUSING PROJECTS.
>> YOU NEED TO HAVE A HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO?
>> THIS IS 1.4 MILLION THAT THE COUNTY COULD LOAN TO HOMEOWNERS TO DO THIS?
>> YES, THROUGH US, THROUGH THE STATE, COULD LOAN TAX EXEMPT TO DO HOUSING PROJECTS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING EACH YEAR.
>> NO INTEREST PAID BACK, BUT IT'S NO INTEREST, NO TAX?
>> EACH YEAR THE STATE SENDS US A LETTER WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY THAT GIVES CAROLINE COUNTY'S ALLOCATION.
I THINK AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, COMMISSIONER PORTER HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS, HAVE HAD TO SIGN THIS OVER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY WITH NO HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.
>> THAT'S WHY WE NEED A HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
>> YEAH, AND WHY WE NEED A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IN ORDER TO DO THAT?
>> SOUNDS GOOD. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ANY MOTION TO BE SECOND? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO?ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
ONE, I WANT LESLIE GRUNDEN TO COME UP.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US FROM CDBG REGARDING A MOBILE HOME PARK OR COUPLE MOBILE HOME PARKS.
THE OTHER THING, WHILE SHE'S COMING UP HERE, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, SO THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, DANNY FOX AND I ARE LOOKING AT THE DAYSPRING APARTMENTS ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CONDITION OF THE APARTMENTS, AS WELL AS OUR OBLIGATIONS OF OWNERSHIP AND A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.
COMMISSIONER PORTER HAS SOME HISTORY AND PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE,
[01:20:04]
SO HE'S GOING TO HELP US.HE'S ALREADY SET UP A MEETING OR ASKED THEM TO SET UP A MEETING WITH US, THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, MILFORD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED, BUT WE ARE TACKLING THAT WHOLE ISSUE.
THEN, REGARDING THE MOBILE HOME PARK OPPORTUNITY, I GUESS, LESLIE, IF YOU WANT TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US AND THEN MAYBE JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK.
>> DANNY'S HERE BECAUSE HE WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH CINDY STONE.
LAST THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, I GOT A CALL FROM CINDY STONE, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ABOUT A HUD PROGRAM CALLED PRICE, PRESERVATION AND REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT.
THAT'S A FEDERAL PROGRAM THROUGH HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S ONLY I THINK A YEAR OR TWO OLD.
IT HAS $200 MILLION IN IT FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, AND THEN NEXT YEAR 20 MILLION, AND THEN IT GOES AWAY.
THE PROGRAM IS TO REVITALIZE MOBILE HOME PARKS IN COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMPETITION WITH $200 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO COMPETE.
SHE CALLED US BECAUSE SHE WAS THINKING OF THE NORTH COUNTY AREA AND MOBILE HOME PARKS UP THERE IN NEED OF REFURBISHMENT.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS INCLUDE REPLACING OUTDATED TRAILERS, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS INSIDE OF MOBILE HOME PARKS.
THAT INCLUDES WATER, SEWER, ROADS, LIGHTING, COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS.
FUNDING COMES THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'RE THE ACTUAL RECIPIENTS, AND THEN THE SUB-RECIPIENTS CAN BE A COUNTY, OR A MUNICIPALITY OR A HOUSING AUTHORITY OR NON-PROFIT HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF DANNY WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH CDBG GRANTS.
I HAVE SOME, BUT NOT NEARLY HIS LEVEL OF EXPERTISE.
WE DID A ZOOM MEETING WITH HER ON FRIDAY TO WALK THROUGH WHAT THIS IS.
IT'S NEW TO HER TOO, SO WE'RE ALL LEARNING TOGETHER.
SHE FELT THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A NATIONAL COMPETITION, SOMETHING LIKE A COMMUNITY UP NORTH THAT IS NOT JUST HOUSING STOCK STRUGGLING, BUT INFRASTRUCTURE STRUGGLING.
BOTH PARKS HAVE I&I PROBLEMS IN THEIR SEWER SYSTEMS THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO GET FUNDING FOR TO TRY AND UPGRADE BEFORE THE REGIONAL SYSTEM COMES THROUGH.
THAT'S A BIG HELP TO THE REGIONAL SYSTEM TO HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS RESOLVED.
SHE FELT THAT BOTH THE NEED FOR HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT WOULD GIVE THIS A LEG UP IN A COMPETITION THAT'S NATIONWIDE, WHICH IS WHY SHE CALLED US.
WE, OF COURSE, ASK WHAT THE POTENTIAL PITFALLS COULD BE.
THE BIG ONE THAT DANNY AND I BOTH RECOGNIZED WAS, IT'S A HARD PROGRAM, AND THE GOAL IS NOT JUST IMPROVING HOUSING STOCK, BUT ALSO IT REQUIRES A RENT CONTROL FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS IN THE PARK.
WHEN THEY GET NEW TRAILERS, THEY CAN'T TURN AROUND AND DOUBLE THEIR RENT.
THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN AN AFFORDABLE RENT BASED ON AFFORDABLE RENTS IN THIS AREA.
>> THERE'S A COMPLIANCE ASPECT TO THAT THAT WOULD ALSO BE COUNTY SURVEYS, RECALL.
>> YOU'D BE DOING RENT SURVEYS, ESSENTIALLY FOR 30 YEARS, MONTHLY RENT SURVEYS.
THE PROGRAM IS OPEN, SHE BELIEVES, AND SHE WAS GOING TO FIND OUT TO BOTH THE MOBILE HOME PARKS THAT OWN THE TRAILERS AND THE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WHO OWN THE TRAILERS.
BECAUSE THERE'S BOTH. SOME PARKS, IT'S 50/50.
THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE TRAILER OWN THE MOBILE HOME, AND THEY RENT THE LOT.
IN OTHER CASES, THE MOBILE HOME PARK OWNS THE MOBILE HOME AND THE LOT.
SHE BELIEVES THE PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR BOTH THE PRIVATE OWNERS AND THE MOBILE HOME PARK OWNERS.
EVERYBODY WOULD BE UNDER 30 YEAR CONDITIONS TOO.
THERE WOULD BE A LIEN ON THE MOBILE HOME FOR THE PRIVATE OWNERS, AND THEN THE MOBILE HOME PARK COULD NOT INCREASE RENTS AND ALSO COULD NOT USE IT FOR GAIN TO SELL THE TRAILER AT A HIGH PRICE.
THERE'S A LOT OF BUILT-IN DUE DILIGENCE AND ENFORCEMENT IN THE PROJECT.
>> WHEN WE STARTED TO QUESTION THE WORKFLOW OF WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE,
[01:25:05]
WHERE DOES THE MONEY ROUTE THROUGH? WHO'S IN CHARGE OF PROCURING TRAILERS? PROCURING SERVICES.CINDY REALLY WAS ALIGNING IT WITH LIKE THE BLOCK GRANTS THAT WE DO.
THE BURDEN FOR ALL OF THAT IS TYPICALLY ON THE COUNTY.
SHE DID MENTION THAT, IN THIS APPLICATION AND FUNDING, WE COULD APPLY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WE WOULD HIRE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO MANAGE AND WORK THROUGH THIS.
THE PROCUREMENT PART, MY CONCERN AND THINK, LESLIE AND STACY AS WELL WHO WAS ON THE CALL, IT'S EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT.
WE WOULD FACE THE SAME CLAWBACK OPPORTUNITIES IF SOMETHING WASN'T PROCURED CORRECTLY, MANAGED CORRECTLY, IF THAT WOULD BE ON US WITH COOPERATION WITH STATE.
>> I THINK THAT, IT'S JUST MY OPINION BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO TACKLE IT.
>> IT'S A NON-CONFORMING USE, WE'D BE BREAKING OUR OWN PLANNING.
>> IT IS A NON-CONFORMING USE. THAT IS CORRECT.
I'M GLAD THAT THEY THOUGHT OF US.
>> I AM TOO. SHE EXPRESSED 100% UNDERSTOOD OUR OWN RESERVATIONS.
I THINK SHE FELT COMPELLED BECAUSE IT'S AN UNUSUAL PROGRAM.
IT'S A LONG SHOT, BUT I THINK SHE FELT LIKE SHE HAD TO AT LEAST LET US KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH HER TOMORROW TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
IT HAS A LOT OF GOOD INTENTION, BUT THE LIFT IS JUST STAGGERING JUST TO ACTUALLY PULL IT OFF.
BUT THEN THE 30 YEAR COMMITMENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR THE COUNTY BEING LIABLE FOR A FAILURE ON SOMEBODY'S PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
>> I MEAN, WHAT IF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS DON'T COME UP TO PAR AND THERE'S ISSUES? THEN WE DUMP ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE STUFF, AND THEN WE HAVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ISSUES WHERE THEY GET SHUT DOWN.
THEN WHO'S PAYING THE MONEY BACK?
>> IN BOTH LOCATIONS, OBVIOUSLY, THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS WOULD HAVE TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS.
>> THEN WE'RE PARTNERING UP WITH PEOPLE WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
>> THAT'S THE RISK THAT I FELT WAS A LITTLE SCARY.
>> WHO'S TO SAY THERE'S NOT SOME OTHER, FIRST DAY ON THE JOB, SORRY ABOUT THAT, WHEN YOU SAY RENT CONTROL, WHO'S TO SAY THERE'S NOT SOME BACK DOOR DEALING SOMEWHERE.
>> THAT POSSIBILITY WAS WHAT WORRIED US.
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, AND IN THE END, IF THAT WERE DISCOVERED, WE WOULD BE HOLDING THE BACK.
>> EXACTLY. THE MANIPULATION OF THAT IS THAT SCARY.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GET INTO MY TRAILERS.
>> I MEAN, SOMEBODY SAID, OH, WELL, HEY, I NEED $200 CASH THIS MONTH, AND THEN THE REST, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO FIX BRIDGES AND ROADS AND UPGRADE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS, AND I MEAN, THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH TOP-DOWN GOVERNMENT.
THEY FIND DUMB STUFF TO SPEND THE MONEY ON.
>> I THINK SHE SAID THIS WAS STARTED BY SENATOR PRICE.
>> PRICE. WHO WAS NAMED AFTER A SENATOR WHO WAS FINE.
>> VERY MUCH IN MOBILE HOME BEING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT NEEDED A SHOT IN THE ARM.
LIKE I SAID, THE INTENTION IS GOOD.
WHEN WE TALK TO HER TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO POINT OUT THAT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND A RURAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT, PERHAPS THE RURAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T HAVE THE BURDEN OF LIFTING THIS.
IT SHOULD GO TO THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL.
WE WOULD CERTAINLY HELP THEM IF WE COULD, IF THEY WANTED TO UNDERTAKE IT.
BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO DO GOOD, BUT JUST TOO MASSIVE FOR US TO TRY AND MANAGE CORRECTLY.
>> YOU GOT THREE NOTES. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THAT.
>> I WAS HOLDING BACK. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> MS. HIGGIN. COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION PERIOD.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
MR. PORTER, YOU WANT TO GO?>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE DAFT BILL IS MOVING ALONG.
WE DID GET AN OPINION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STEWART THAT WAS FORWARDED ON.
[01:30:04]
I THINK STEVE WISE DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB.YOU DID EVALUATION OF THE BILLS TO DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE BILL.
I THINK WE OBVIOUSLY WOULD WANT TO HOPE THAT THE HOUSE BILL PASSES.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE SENATE BILL DIDN'T HAVE QUITE A NUMBER OF THINGS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT I THINK WE CAN ENFORCE THIS BILL, AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LANGUAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS, BUT I THINK WE MAYBE TO A POINT WHERE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, CERTAINLY A LOT OF GOING BACK AND FORTH AND TESTIFYING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAYBE HAVE REACHED TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN WORK WITH THIS ISSUE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I WAS GONE LAST WEEK, I HAD A GOOD TIME.
WE DID GET A RESPONSE FROM MILFORD HOUSING, SO I THINK WE'LL TRY TO SET UP A MEETING FOR THAT.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> I ATTENDED THE GOALS FOR VOLUNTEER PART ON THE CASH BASH, SATURDAY NIGHT.
THAT WAS A GOOD EVENT, TALKED TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THERE.
JAMIE, DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO CHECK ON THAT MACHINE VENTURE? ARE THEY BRINGING YOU A DEMO? COOL. COOL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WHEN YOU GET THAT, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.
>> I IMAGINE THERE'S TWO COUPLE OF YOU OUT THERE THAT WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO.
>> I ASK WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC WORKS FOR ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAD LAST WEEK.
THEY DID MANAGE TO GET THAT DONE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME.
>> I JUST THOUGHT, I THINK ALSO OBVIOUSLY GIVE OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE BRIDGE INCIDENT THIS MORNING.
HORRIFIC. FIRST RESPONDERS AND TO EVERYONE WHO IS DEALING WITH THAT, IT'S A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
>> I DID DO SOME QUICK MATH ON THE PIPE REPLACEMENT AT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
I THINK THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE FOR AROUND 200,000 COMPLETE PIPE REPLACEMENT.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE CHEAPER THAN THE REALIGN AND WE GET A NEW PIPE.
SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE SHOULD PURSUE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND HDPE PIPE, BLACK ADS PIPE, NOT THE CORRUGATED METAL, SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE AGAIN IN HOWEVER MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN THERE, 70 YEARS OR WHATEVER.
>> IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE, WE COULD CERTAINLY WORK WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO GET A BID PUT OUT, GET THAT ISSUED.
I THINK THE QUESTION WOULD BE FUNDING.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS NOT A BUDGETED ITEM TO EXPEND OR PROCURE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE AVENUES THAT WE COULD USE.
WE HAVE ARPA MONEY THAT IS STILL SET ASIDE THAT WE'RE DOING SOME OF THE DIRT ROAD CONVERSIONS TO PAVING.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY TAPPED INTO ANY OF THAT BECAUSE WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE FIRST TWO.
>> DO YOU HAVE LANE ENGINEERING LOOKING AT THAT?
SO WE COULD OBVIOUSLY REALLOCATE 200,000 OF THAT 1.5 MILLION TO COVER THIS PROJECT.
WE COULD DIP INTO FUND BALANCE, WE COULD LOOK AT WHAT'S LEFT IN CAPITAL RESERVE.
>> I LIKE SPENDING THE ARPA NOW.
IT'S THE ONLY ONE WITH A TIME LINE ON IT.
DOES THAT INCREASE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO REPORTING THOUGH? DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE ANY REPORTING TO THEM?
>> IF IT'S WITHIN THE SPENDING CATEGORY.
SO ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS TELL THEM WHAT WE SPEND AND ALL.
>> WE WERE THE EASIEST CATEGORY WHICH WAS LOSS OF REVENUE.
ANY COUNTY THAT RECEIVED LESS THAN $10,000,000 COULD LUMP ONE CATEGORY SO WE CAN ALLOCATE IT TO ANY GENERAL FUND USE FAIRLY EASY.
>> IF IT'S NOT A HEAVY LIFT FOR YOU TO REALLOCATE IT, THEN I THINK ARPA.
>> IT'S THE ONLY POT OF MONEY THAT HAS A SPENDING TIME FRAME?
>> UNLESS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IT NOW. THAT'S AVAILABLE?
[01:35:01]
WHAT ELSE DID I HAVE? I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME. YOU GUYS GOOD?
[Public Comment]
MY NAME IS JAMES BAKER, OF COURSE.
I KNOW YOU'VE SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR $1 MILLION WITH AMERICAN PAVING FABRICS AGAIN FOR YOUR ROADS.
I NOTICED ALSO IN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS, YOU DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC WORKS REPRESENTATIVE FOR ANY OF THEM OR MOST OF THEM.
THEY HAVE A HECK OF A JOB TO DO AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF YOUR BUDGET. I KNOW.
I HOPE THAT WHOEVER COMES IN WILL HAVE SOME QUALITY CONTROL OVER AMERICAN PAVING FABRIC COMPANY AND FOR THEIR SAFETY CONTROL.
IT WAS A FORCE WHEN THEY CAME IN HERE LAST YEAR.
NOT ONLY WAS IT UNSAFE WITH THEIR MOBILE, THE FLAGMAN THAT SET IN A PICK-UP TRUCK UNTIL THEY SAW A CAR COMING AND JUMPED OUT WITH A FLAG OR ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
BUT THEN YOU NEED SOME CLOSE SUPERVISION FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS OVER THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF THE ROAD THAT THEY DID WAS TERRIBLE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT TO YOU, AND I HOPE YOU WILL BE AWARE OF.
>> WE'LL PASS ALONG, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE SIGNBOARDS, MR. BAKER.
THAT WOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE FOUR SIGNBOARDS THAT WE HAVE.
>> PRIOR TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAR AND SHIPPING SO WE CAN MOVE THEM.
>> I HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC ROAD SAFETY AND IT WAS TERRIBLE, BELIEVE ME.
>> WELL, HOPEFULLY A NEW DIRECTOR.
I'LL MAKE THAT UP. WELL, ONCE THAT WOULD COME IT.
>> I THINK YOU JUST NEED CLOSER SUPERVISION OVER THE CONTRACTORS THAT YOU ENGAGED WITH. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
>> ANYONE ELSE? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> WELL, CLOSED SESSION, NOT ADJOURN.
[Closed Session: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee(s) Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]
>> WE ADJOURNED THE GENERAL MEETING AND A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
>> THIS CLOSED SESSION WILL BE FOR THE DISCUSSION OF APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B1, THERE ACTUALLY BE TWO CLOSED SESSIONS FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.
I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> AYES HAVE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.