Nov 12, 2024 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:02:53]

COME ON. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 12TH, 2024 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.

THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND KEN DANIEL OF BETHLEHEM WESLEYAN CHURCH.

AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. AND FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND MINOR BUT JUST A REAL QUICK CORRECTION.

WE'RE NOT THE CHURCH OF DENTON.

WE'RE BETHLEHEM [INAUDIBLE] CHURCH IN PRESTON, MARYLAND.

SO AGAIN, MINOR CORRECTION, BUT JUST WANTED THAT.

NOTED. SO LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND YOUR MERCY AND YOUR GRACE TO US TODAY.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US AS INDIVIDUALS, AS FAMILIES, AS COMMUNITIES, LORD, AS A NATION.

AND SO TODAY, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE YOUR BLESSINGS, CONTINUE TO GRANT WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO THOSE IN LEADERSHIP.

WE THANK YOU FOR THEM AND WE PRAY FOR THEM TODAY THAT, LORD, YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE DISCERNMENT THAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS NECESSARY TO LEAD THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE.

AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT THE DECISIONS MADE, THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE HEADING, LORD, THAT IT WOULD BE PLEASING TO YOU THAT WOULD BE HONORING TO THE CITIZENS.

LORD, THAT OUR COMMUNITIES WOULD AGAIN TRULY BE BLESSED BY YOUR PRESENCE AND BY YOUR POWER.

WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY.

CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE US, AND WE WOULD JUST GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE AND GLORY.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

REVEREND, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN, TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO COME IN AND DO THE INVOCATION.

IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU. DURING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ON OCTOBER 29TH, 2024, A CLOSED

[President’s Report Out]

[00:05:09]

THE CLOSED SESSION WAS ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONERS STEWART BARROLL, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, JENNIFER REIBLY, AND MARY BERNACKI.

WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING?

[Public Comment]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS MR. BRUCE BURIANO OUR COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR US IN, IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER IN ANNAPOLIS

[VAMSA (Veteran and Military Support Alliance) Presentation]

SO, MR. BURIANO, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE.

YES. GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

FOR THE RECORD, BRUCE BURIANO AS YOU INDICATED, AND I DO HAVE THE TREMENDOUS HONOR, ALONG WITH STEVE WISE, OF REPRESENTING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THOROUGHLY ENJOY THAT.

I'M HERE IN ANOTHER CAPACITY TODAY WORKING WITH VAMSA, WHICH IS PHYSICALLY LOCATED ON KENT ISLAND AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.

WE'D LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO YOU OF WHAT VAMSA IS DOING AND ATTEMPTING TO DO ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF MEETINGS WE ARE HAVING WITH ALL THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

WE'RE STARTING WITH THE UPPER SHORE AND THEN THE LOWER SHORE.

AND WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH SENATOR HERSHEY AND DELEGATE JACOBS AND DELEGATE AARON'S ABOUT THIS WHOLE MATTER.

THE DELEGATE CHRIST WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT WE'VE SUPPLIED HIM WITH ALL THE INFORMATION, AND HE KNEW OF IT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THIS.

AND THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR AND, AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

AND I WILL JUST SAY, FINALLY, THAT WE INTEND TO BE WITH THE VETERANS CAUCUS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH DELEGATE CHRIS ADAMS, WHO CHAIRS THE EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE ENTIRE DELEGATION, YOU KNOW, AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING TO EACH OF YOU.

I'M GOING TO INVITE OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR LEE TO INTRODUCE HERSELF.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I'LL DO THE SAME, AND THEN WE'LL JUMP RIGHT IN.

ALL RIGHT. HI. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS LEE ELLINGSON.

I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE VETERANS AND MILITARY SUPPORT ALLIANCE, OR VAMSA.

I GREW UP IN COLUMBIA, MARYLAND AND THEN TRAVELED IN VARIOUS OTHER STATES, AND NOW I AM MOVED BACK TO MARYLAND AND I LIVE IN KENT ISLAND WITH MY MOTHER.

MY BAD. I DO NOT HAVE AN IMMEDIATE MILITARY BACKGROUND.

HOWEVER, MY BACKGROUND IN MENTAL HEALTH AND CAREGIVING AND PUBLIC POLICY HAS BROUGHT ME TO WORK WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S BEEN VERY GRATIFYING, VERY EDIFYING, AND I'M LEARNING A LOT.

EXCELLENT. SO AGAIN, IT'S ERIC JOHNSON.

I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VAMSA, WHICH WAS FOUNDED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION.

I GREW UP IN CENTERVILLE, MET MY HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART AT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE FAMILY HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND THIS IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

AND THE DRIVE HERE WAS JUST WONDERFUL, SO WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO SENSE A LITTLE BIT, IF NOT A LOT OF PASSION ON MY PART.

AND SO WHAT I LIKE TO SHARE IS I AM A VETERAN.

I SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN.

I WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AS MY COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER BRANCHES OF SERVICE LIKED TO SAY.

AND I WOULD ALWAYS RESPOND WITH, I REPRESENT THAT RATHER THAN I RESENT THAT.

BUT I WAS EMBEDDED WITH THE ARMY 82ND AIRBORNE FOR THE FIRST HALF OF MY DEPLOYMENT AND THE 101ST AIRBORNE FOR THE SECOND HALF, AND I ENDED UP IN A POSITION THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS A WHOLE NOTHER STORY.

BUT I HAD AN NEAR CAPTURE INCIDENT ABOUT THREE DAYS BEFORE I CAME HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN.

AND SO I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND IN MENTAL HEALTH.

SO WHEN I GOT HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN, I KNEW THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL PTSD.

AND SO I'VE BEEN VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT EVER SINCE.

ON AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE, I HAVE TWO SIBLINGS WHO COMPLETED SUICIDE, WHO WERE AIR FORCE VETERANS AS WELL.

SO IT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOUND SUCCESS IN IS WHEN WE TALK TO VETERANS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH MEDICAL AND OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT VETERANS CAN DO IS GET INVOLVED IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

NOT ALL VETERANS ARE READY TO GET INVOLVED WITH OTHER VETERANS, BUT IF WE CAN GET THEM TO THAT POINT, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT SEEM TO HAVE THE GREATEST RESILIENCY AND PREVENTION

[00:10:09]

SO BEGINNING WITH THE END IN SIGHT, I'M A BIG FAN OF BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT TODAY IS THREE THINGS.

ONE, WE WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND SOME NEWER RESOURCES HERE ON THE SHORE.

AND SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS THAT WE HAVE TO SHARE.

THE SECOND ITEM IS WE'RE FINDING AS WE GET SMARTER ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REST OF THE STATE, THAT A LOT OF COUNTIES HAVE A VAC, A VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL, OR SOME SORT OF FORMAL VEHICLE, IF THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO BE THAT.

AND THERE'S A STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK AT LEAST BRIEFLY ABOUT TODAY, AND ANOTHER SETTING AND TIME WE CAN GET INTO MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE DO WANT TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

IF BY VIRTUE OF OUR PRESENTATION TODAY AND IF YOU HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE, THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE CAUSE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND IF NOT, WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN AT LEAST COME TO THE TABLE DURING YOUR NEXT FORMAL BUDGET CYCLE.

TO MAKE A MORE FORMAL PRESENTATION AND ASK.

SO THAT BEING SAID, WE DO NOT LIKE TO DO DEATH BY POWERPOINT.

SO WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE BRIEF SLIDES.

AND DO YOU HAVE THOSE BY CHANCE? WE DO NOT HAVE THEM.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO THEM.

THAT'S OKAY. I WILL SPEAK TO WHAT WE HAVE AND I'LL BE AS COLORFUL AS I CAN.

AND THE SPOKEN WORD.

SO WE PUT OUR SLIDES TOGETHER IN AN SBAR FORMAT.

SO SITUATION BACKGROUND ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS THE SITUATION STARTING UP FRONT.

AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE BIG ON DATA AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS, UNDERSTAND THAT THE NUMBER OF VETERANS IN THE OVERALL POPULATION IS DECREASING.

SO WHEN YOU, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I WAS RECENTLY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR THE TOWN OF CENTERVILLE, I SERVED ON THE COUNCIL.

SO I UNDERSTAND HOW DATA SHOULD DRIVE DECISIONS IN SOME WAYS.

RIGHT. AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RESOURCING FOR THE VETERAN POPULATION, WELL, IF THE POPULATION IS GOING DOWN, ARE WE ABLE TO CUT BACK IN THAT AREA? AND ACTUALLY THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE NUMBER OF VETERANS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANT COMORBIDITIES.

SO YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM RATING.

SO A VETERAN WHO GETS A DISABILITY RATING, THE HIGHER THE RATING, THE HIGHER THE CHECK IS, IF YOU WILL, IN MOST CASES THE NUMBER OF VETERANS THAT ARE NOW 100% TOTAL AND PERMANENT IS SKYROCKETING COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS 20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS, THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF ENCOUNTERS A VETERAN MIGHT HAVE EACH YEAR IN MENTAL HEALTH OR IN MEDICAL CARE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

WHILE THE POPULATION 20, 30 YEARS AGO LOOKED LIKE THIS, SO WE HAVE FEWER VETERANS, MUCH GREATER NEED.

THERE REALLY IS NO ONE STOP SHOP FOR VETERANS, MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO AND MANY AGENCIES ARE RESTRICTED BASED ON IF THEY'RE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, THERE'S ACTUALLY LEGISLATION THAT RESTRICTS THEM IN THEIR POPULATION ABILITY.

AND SO AN EXAMPLE OF THAT MIGHT BE AN AGENCY LIKE THE VA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CANNOT TAKE CARE OF VETERANS THAT HAVE BEEN DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED.

THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS FOR THAT.

BUT THEY ARE FEWER AND FARTHER BETWEEN.

AND IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE MADE A DECISION THAT WHILE IT'S RELEVANT WHAT THEY WERE POTENTIALLY DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED FOR, THE REALITY IS, IF THAT PERSON SPENT THREE TOURS IN AFGHANISTAN AND HAS MAJOR PTSD ISSUES, MAYBE SOME RAGE ISSUES AND THAT IS IMPACTING THEIR FAMILY.

SOMEBODY HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FAMILY.

AND WE HAVE SELF-IDENTIFIED AS AN AGENCY THAT'S WILLING TO DO THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS, IF THE VETERAN AND MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER IS IN NEED, SOMEBODY ELSE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD IS IN NEED.

AND I THINK THE LATEST STATISTICS ARE FOR EVERY VETERAN THAT HAS AN ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS AND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED.

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 CHILDREN ASSOCIATED WITH THAT VETERAN THAT ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS.

SO THEY'RE INTERRELATED.

WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE FAMILY.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES US UNIQUE, IS WHEN A VETERAN COMES IN AND SAYS, I CAN'T PAY MY RENT THIS MONTH, AND WE WORK TO FIND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM.

THE NEXT QUESTION IS, WELL, CAN YOU PAY YOUR RENT NEXT MONTH? AND SO ARE WE WORKING ON A PLAN NOT JUST TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT TO DEAL WITH THE OVERALL CAUSES, IF YOU WILL, AND TO PREVENT THEM, BUT ALSO TO SAY, AND HOW'S YOUR FAMILY DOING TODAY? RIGHT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE US UNIQUE.

AND A FOUNDATIONAL PREMISE OF WHAT WE DO IS WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE VETERANS OUT THERE WHO ARE SO SICK WITH MEDICAL ISSUES AND OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WHEN THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING, THE LAST THING THEY HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY OTHERWISE IS FIGHT WITH A COMPLICATED SYSTEM.

AND I'M NOT HERE TO INDICT THE VA.

I'M A PROUD CONSUMER OF VA RESOURCES, AND I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THERE.

BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS WHAT THE VA IS REALLY GOOD AT, BURN INJURY, AMPUTEES.

[00:15:03]

VERY, VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, WHEN THEY FAIL, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT THAT, TOO.

SO WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE CASES WHERE THE VA IS MESSED UP, IT'S THEY'RE ALL IN ON THAT, IT SEEMS. SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO INDICT THE VA, BUT THEY AND THEY ARE A PARTNER OF OURS THAT WE FEEL IS IMPORTANT.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR WHEN WE MOVE TO THE B AND S BAR BACKGROUND.

SO OUR HISTORY AND OUR RESOURCE CENTER IMPLEMENTATION.

JUST A COUPLE KEY POINTS THAT I THINK ARE WORTH STRESSING.

IN JANUARY OF 2022, WE FORMED A COALITION.

AT THAT TIME, ADMITTEDLY, IT WAS VERY QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY CENTRIC, AND THAT'S KIND OF THE DIRECTION WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING IN.

AT THAT TIME, THE GROUP SAID, WE KNOW WE WANT TO DO A RESOURCE CENTER, BUT WE WERE SMART ENOUGH TO SAY, LET'S LET FORM FOLLOW FUNCTION.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO SIT IN A ROOM AND SAY, OH, LET'S DO A RESOURCE CENTER AND LET'S OFFER THIS AND THIS AND THIS, AND THAT SOUNDS GOOD AND IT FEELS GOOD.

NOW LET'S PUT SOME DATA AROUND THAT.

SO WE LAUNCHED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN MARCH OF 2022.

AND THAT WAS TO REALLY STRATIFY AND IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION.

SO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS STILL OUT.

IT'S DIGITAL. WE CAN SEND IT TO YOU ALL AND IF YOU WANT TO SEND THAT OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR VARIOUS EMAIL LISTS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US.

BUT IT'S A 2 TO 3 MINUTE OR LESS SURVEY THAT BASICALLY SAYS, WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF RESOURCES FOR THE VETERAN POPULATION, FOR THE MILITARY POPULATION AND FOR THE FAMILY MEMBER? AND THEN WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS? AND THEN, OF COURSE, THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, WHAT CAME BACK WAS NUMBER ONE WAS MEDICAL ACCESS AND NAVIGATION OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS. SAME THING ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE.

LEGAL RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL AND ALL OF THAT, IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT AN UMBRELLA, WOULD BE CLAIM SUPPORT.

VETERANS STRUGGLE WITH HOW TO LEGITIMATELY FILE FOR A CLAIM FOR DISABILITY, WHETHER IT BE TO THE VA, SOCIAL SECURITY, ANY NUMBER OF AGENCIES.

WHEN YOU'RE SICK AND YOU'RE STRUGGLING, IT IS HARD TO SIT AT A COMPUTER AND PORE THROUGH COMPLICATED FORMS AND TRY TO GO AFTER YOUR MEDICAL RECORD.

THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HELP WITH.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, WE BECAME A COMPONENT FUND OF THE MID-SHORE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF THAT.

THAT WAS SO HELPFUL TO US, WE NEGOTIATED A VERY TINY RATE THAT THAT THEY TOOK TO BASICALLY BECOME OUR AUDITOR, OUR CHECK WRITER.

SO WE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY IN OUR FIRST YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS OF OPERATION BY WORKING WITH THEM.

SO BASICALLY, THEY WERE OUR INCUBATOR FOR NONPROFIT STATUS WHILE WE WORK TO GET OUR OWN INDEPENDENT BY OCTOBER OF 2022.

OUR BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE RESOURCE CENTER WAS APPROVED, AND WE BEGAN FORMAL FUNDRAISING AROUND THAT IN 2023.

LAST YEAR IN MAY, WE OPENED OUR LOCALLY, REGIONALLY FACING RESOURCE CENTER ON KENT ISLAND AT BAY BRIDGE MARINA.

SO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH LIBBY'S RESTAURANT, WE'RE RIGHT ON THAT SAME CAMPUS RIGHT ON THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

IT'S A REAL HARDSHIP TOUR TO LOOK OUT MY WINDOW AND JUST SEE THE BAY AND WANT TO BE OUT THERE.

THAT'S THE HARD PART, I WANT TO BE OUT ON THE BAY, BUT I DO ENJOY MY JOB.

SO IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR, WE SUBMITTED OUR APPLICATION TO THE IRS FOR OUR OWN 500 1C3 STATUS.

AND THEN THAT WAS APPROVED IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.

AND THIS YEAR, FEBRUARY, WE MOVED TO A LARGER OFFICE ON THE SAME CAMPUS.

BUT OUR CLIENT DEMAND HAS JUST SKYROCKETED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.

SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT DEMAND WITH THE APPROPRIATE SPACE, FUNCTIONALLY AND OTHERWISE.

AND THEN IN OCTOBER.

AND THIS IS THE REALLY EXCITING NEWS.

HOW MANY OF YOU, JUST BY A QUICK STRAW POLL, HAVE HAD FEEDBACK FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO THE TUNE OF IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THE WESTERN SHORE HAS X, Y, Z, AND WE ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAVE A, B, C, RIGHT.

WE ALL HEAR THAT.

THANK YOU. AND WE ALL YOU DON'T HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HANDS.

BUT I THINK WE ALL PROBABLY BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THE POPULATION IS THERE THE TAX DOLLARS ARE THERE.

SO WE ALL UNDERSTAND MECHANICALLY WHY.

BUT WE STILL NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOLKS OVER HERE.

AND VETERANS ARE DEFINITELY IN THAT CONVERSATION OF FEELING LIKE, IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, YOU LIVE ON THE WESTERN SHORE, YOU'RE TAKEN CARE OF, AND IF YOU'RE OVER HERE, YOU'RE FORGOTTEN ABOUT. SO WE MET WITH TONY WOODS, SECRETARY OF WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE MARYLAND VA, IS NOW THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

WE OPERATE THE CENTER FOR THE MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES.

SO WHEN WE MET WITH HIM IN MAY, IT WAS A NICE SYNERGY.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF EXPANDING THEIR MISSION AS RECENTLY APPROVED BY OUR GOVERNOR, AND BASICALLY SAID, BEFORE WE EVEN GOT A THIRD WAY THROUGH THE BRIEFING, WE BEGAN WITH THE END IN SIGHT, AND WE KNEW WE WANTED TO BE A PARTNER.

WE WANTED AN MOU MOA, AND WE WERE HOPING WE COULD GET SOME FUNDING BEFORE WE EVEN GOT A THIRD WAY.

THROUGH THE BRIEFING, SECRETARY WOODS WAS LIKE, I WANT YOU TO BE A PARTNER.

I WANT TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITY OF THE EASTERN SHORE VETERANS HEAD ON.

AND AS A RESULT, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE THE FACE OF THAT MOVEMENT AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE THE SUCCESS STORY.

SO WE RECENTLY SIGNED THAT MOA, AND WE ARE NOW IN THAT ROLE AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN THAT, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ELABORATE ON THAT FURTHER.

[00:20:03]

YEAH. AND LET'S SEE JUST MOVING ON, AND I PROMISE WE'RE CLOSE TO THE FINISH LINE HERE.

THE A AND S BAR ASSESSMENT.

SO OUR IMPLEMENTATION HERE'S SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT ARE WORTH KNOWING.

AND I DID BRING COPIES OF THIS DOCUMENT.

IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO READ IF YOU HAVE THE 11 BY 17.

THIS IS KIND OF THE SNAPSHOT OF IN THE YELLOW COLUMN WHAT WE DID IN 2023 BY PROGRAM 2024, OUR NUMBERS YEAR TO DATE THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, AND THEN THE TOTAL COMBINED NUMBER NUMBERS.

SINCE INCEPTION, WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 23 UNIQUE SUICIDE SAVES.

21 OF THOSE OR EXCUSE ME, 23 SUICIDE SAVES, 20 OF WHICH ARE UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

ONE OF THOSE SUICIDE SAVES HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND THAT'S A CLIENT THAT WE STILL HELP.

SO WE HAVE NOT HAD SO FAR ANYONE TAKE THEIR LIFE ON OUR WATCH.

WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE SORT OF CONSOLIDATED NUMBERS, 60% OF OUR CLIENTS NEED CLAIM SUPPORT VIA SOCIAL SECURITY.

OTHERWISE, 90% OF OUR OF CLAIMS ARE DECIDED IN FAVOR OF THE VETERAN, SUCCESSFULLY ADJUDICATED 80% OF OUR CLIENTS REQUIRE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY. ALREADY KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THAT.

NOT A SURPRISE THERE.

BUT IF YOU'RE AN AGENCY LIKE THE VA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, YOU COULD HAVE A SPOUSE WALK IN WHO IS SO OBVIOUSLY IN NEED OF RESOURCES.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR HER OR HIM.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESTRICTION.

SO WE WANT TO GET IN THAT SPACE AND TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE FAMILY.

95% OF OUR CLIENTS COME IN WITH ONE NEED AND LEAVE WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS.

THREE OR MORE AND 15% OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE CURRENT OR PAST SUICIDAL IDEATION.

SO IT'S NOT A SMALL NUMBER.

SUBJECTIVELY, VETERAN MILITARY FAMILIES ARE IN CRISIS, AND THEY REALLY DO NEED A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE CENTER.

AND BASED ON THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY, WE ARE PROVING THAT OUT.

MOST OF OUR CLIENTS REPORT NEEDING A NAVIGATOR, AN ADVOCATE, JUST SOMEBODY THAT CAN SAY, OKAY, SO YOU SEE THIS SPECIALIST IN THE VA, YOU HAVE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT'S PAID BY YOUR MEDICARE.

WHO DOES MY PRESCRIPTIONS? WHO DO I CALL IF I'M CONFUSED ABOUT SOMETHING? IT'S VERY COMPLEX.

SO WE SOMETIMES THAT'S THE HELP THAT WE PROVIDE, IS JUST THAT NAVIGATION.

MANY ARE UNABLE TO NAVIGATE INDEPENDENTLY.

WE DO HAVE AN AGED POPULATION HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

SO WE HAVE FOLKS THAT MAY NOT USE AN IPHONE.

THEY MAY NOT USE A COMPUTER, THEY MAY NOT HAVE AN EMAIL ACCOUNT.

SO WE HELP IN THOSE CASES.

AND THE GREATEST NEEDS REPORTED AND I KIND OF ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS IN TERMS OF CLAIMS ARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MEDICAL AND LEGAL RESOURCES AND INCREASINGLY TRANSPORTATION.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO ALMOST EVERYTHING WE OFFER.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE SUMMARY OF THE STATISTICS.

ALL OF OUR SUPPORT GROUPS ARE OFFERED BOTH IN PERSON AND THROUGH ZOOM.

SO ANYBODY ON THE EASTERN SHORE, WE HAVE CLIENTS OUTSIDE THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS. SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND ENHANCE OUR VIRTUALLY ACCESSIBLE SERVICES.

WE KNOW THERE'S A TRANSPORTATION BARRIER HERE ON THE SHORE, SO THAT DEFINITELY HELPS IN THAT.

WE WANT TO ESTABLISH REMOTE ACCESS SITES.

SO WE HAVE STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DENTON LEGION AND COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE MID SHORE, AND ULTIMATELY THIS WILL INCLUDE THE LOWER SHORE.

BUT WHERE YOU COULD GO INTO A LEGION AND MAYBE IN A CORNER, THEY HAVE A COMPUTER SET UP AND CERTAIN DAYS OF THE WEEK YOU CAN SHOW UP AND ALL THE FORMS THAT YOU MIGHT NEED ARE SITTING TO THE LEFT.

INFORMATION ON THE RIGHT.

AND WE COULD START A ZOOM CALL FROM WHERE WE ARE AND HELP THAT PERSON FROM THERE.

IT'S A GOOD MODEL THAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER STATES, AND WE WANT TO START TO EMPLOY THAT AND REALLY LEVERAGE THE TECHNOLOGY.

WE WANT TO INCLUDE MORE VIRTUALLY ACCESSIBLE SUPPORT GROUPS THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY, YOUTH, TEENS, WOMEN'S SUPPORT GROUPS.

THOSE ARE ON THE HORIZON RIGHT NOW.

WE OFFER THE ONLY COMBAT PTSD SPECIALIZED SUPPORT GROUP ON THE EASTERN SHORE THAT'S NOT RUN BY THE VA.

AND THEN WE HAVE A SPOUSE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP THAT HAS ALSO BEEN MEETING FOR ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THOSE STATISTICS ARE IN THAT SAME HANDOUT.

SO SOME OF THE ASKS IF YOU WILL.

WE WANT TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN OUR VFW AND LEGION RELATIONSHIPS.

RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM VFW AND LEGION'S.

SECOND UP WOULD BE.

WE'VE RECEIVED $50,000 A YEAR FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THE LAST FISCAL YEAR FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE THRUST OF OUR OPERATION BEGAN IN QUEEN ANNE'S, AND WE ARE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO EXPAND.

WE ARE OPEN FULL TIME, AND CLIENT DEMAND HAS EXCEEDED OUR CAPACITY.

THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO, AND WHEN I HAVE TWO SIBLINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN THEIR LIVES, IS DISAPPOINTED VETERAN THAT'S IN CRISIS.

SO ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

SEE IF YOU CAN JUMP IN AND HELP US IN ANY WAY.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SOLICIT GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING TO ENSURE OUR VIABILITY AND GROWTH.

OBVIOUSLY, THE LONGER WE CONTINUE TO EXIST WITH SUCCESS, THE MORE YEARS OF GOOD FINANCIALS WE HAVE, THE MORE WE BEGIN TO QUALIFY FOR GRANTS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE SELECTIVE IN THE PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PENDING REQUESTS SIX DIGITS.

[00:25:03]

THROUGH THE MARYLAND VETERAN TRUST.

TONY WOODS HAS PROMISED US SOME FUNDING, SO THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING UP FOR US.

AND WE WANT TO WORK WITH STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO LEVERAGE FUNDING SUPPORT WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

SO THAT BEING SAID I DEFINITELY HOPE THERE'S AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME DATA THAT YOU MAY BE AWARE OF.

BUT JUST TO KIND OF PUNCTUATE THIS THE US NUMBER OF VETERANS IS 6.2% OF THE POPULATION.

MARYLAND IS 7.6%, CAROLINE COUNTY IS 8.8%.

SO YOU HAVE 2245 VETERANS OUT OF YOUR POPULATION OF JUST NORTH OF 25,000.

AND IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR YOUR POPULATION, WE RAN THE NUMBERS 27 OF OUR CLIENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FORMAL SERVICES ARE FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.

150 PLUS WERE PROVIDED JUST GENERAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL.

AND WE DID HAVE ONE OF OUR SUICIDE SAVES CAME FROM CAROLINE COUNTY AND HERE IN DENTON.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.

WE'RE HOPING WE DON'T ASSUME ANY OF THE COUNTIES ON THE EASTERN SHORE ARE REALLY ANY OF THE COUNTIES NATIONALLY ARE WEALTHY AND HAVE MONEY TO BURN.

BUT IF YOU DO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME SORT OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE A ONE TIME DONATION, WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

AND IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND.

BUT WE'RE HOPING THAT WHATEVER YOUR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET CYCLE IS ON, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR FINANCE FOLKS TO MAYBE SUBMIT A FORMAL PROPOSAL.

AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO AS PART OF THAT PROCESS IS REALLY TAKE THE MID SHORE, THE LOWER SHORE, AND REALLY START TO SAY, OKAY, SO CAROLINE COUNTY REPRESENTS 5% OF THE VETERANS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

WELL THEN GUESS WHAT? WE SHOULDN'T BE EXPECTING CAROLINE COUNTY TO DO MORE THAN 5% OF THE BUDGET.

AND NOT THAT I'M ASSUMING YOU CAN DO 5% OF THE BUDGET, BUT WE WANT TO BE EQUITABLE AND WE WANT TO BASE, YOU KNOW, THE ASKS AROUND SOME NUMBERS SO I CAN JUST JUMP IN, JUST BRIEFLY SEE THEY WANT TO INCREASE THEIR STAFFING SO THAT THEY CAN BE OPEN.

724 365.

WE ALL KNOW THINGS DON'T HAPPEN BETWEEN 9 AND 5, YOU KNOW, THE WEEKENDS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO THEY HAVE VERY LIMITED STAFF, A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS.

SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS IT.

AND SECONDLY, AS, AS ERIC INDICATED WE WANT TO BE OF SERVICE TO THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE AND ALSO WANT TO ASSIST YOU AS YOU ASSIST YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN KNOWING ABOUT THESE SERVICES.

WHEN WE MET WITH THE SENATOR AND THE DELEGATES, THEY WERE VERY ECSTATIC ABOUT IT.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS.

SO PART OF OUR DOG AND PONY SHOW TO ALL THE JURISDICTIONS IS TO LET YOU ALL KNOW AS OFFICIALS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM IN THE DRUGSTORES, IN THE IN THE SUPERMARKET, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME THAT THERE ARE SERVICES AND THEY'RE NOT FAR AWAY.

SO YOU CAN HELP US, HELP YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND JUST IF ANYBODY WANTS MORE INFORMATION, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BEING RECORDED AND FOLKS CAN WATCH FROM HOME, BUT OUR PHONE NUMBER IS 844- MILVETS, M-I-L-V-E-T-S, OUR WEBSITE IS VAMSA VAMSA.US AND IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL US, IT'S INFO@VAMSA.US.

SO YEAH.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOUR SERVICE.

WE WERE TOUCHED BY THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

AND I THINK IT'S A SITUATION THAT WAS A PERSON THAT WE ALL KNOW VERY CLOSELY.

IT SHOOK THIS COMMUNITY WITH, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ANYTHING STILL IS.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK AND THAT FAMILY HAS ACTUALLY MOVED TOWARD HAVING A FILM THAT THEY HAVE PREPARED.

OH WOW. THEY SHOW, I'VE WE'VE SEEN IT.

THEY SHOW IT AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED A FUND AND I'LL MENTION IT'S THE LUCAS NAGEL FUND.

OKAY. SO AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHERS, WE DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THOSE, BUT THIS WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS A DEPUTY, SHERIFF'S DEPUTY.

AND YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS A SITUATION THAT STILL I THINK IS WITH ALL OF US.

YES, SIR. AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS SURPRISING TO ME SOME YEARS AGO WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT OUR LOCAL VFW, BECAUSE OF THE PHASING OUT OF PEOPLE AND THE INTEREST THAT WAS BEING SHOWN, ACTUALLY GAVE UP THEIR CHARTER AND DID NOT HAVE THE PARTICIPATION.

GENTLEMAN SITTING BACK THERE BEHIND YOU.

MR. JIM BAKER IS OUR, YOU KNOW, THE VETERAN OBVIOUSLY, AND A VERY, VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LEGION.

[00:30:05]

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD LOOK AT SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

I MEAN, WE JUST THANK YOU TODAY AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HOLIDAY.

I THINK THAT WE ALL TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND THERE'S SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE.

SO IT'S NOT ALL BAD NEWS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

JEN CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH, YOU KNOW, GET YOU CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NAGEL FOUNDATION.

THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YEAH.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD REACH OUT TO THEM, AND THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD, AND THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED.

THEY STILL HAVE. I THINK THEY JUST HAD A FUNDRAISER, A CLAY SHOOT, RIGHT? THEY DO SOMETHING EACH YEAR, AND THAT STORY IS ONE THAT I THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR.

ABSOLUTELY. AND REAL QUICK, COMMISSIONER, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO STRESS.

WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR STRATEGIC PARTNERS CONSTANTLY.

SO THE NAGLE ORGANIZATION MAY BE DOING SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PARTNERING ON AND HELPING TO RAISE FUNDING FOR THEM.

SO WE'RE NOT OUT JUST WITH OUR HAND OUT.

WE ARE ACTUALLY OUT ALSO SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO SUPPORT THIS AND LEVERAGE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.

IT'S A VERY POWERFUL FILM.

AND I WANT TO GET IT LIKE THE SECOND I WALK OUT OF HERE, IT'S, MORE GEARED TOWARD FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE HE WAS ALSO NOT ONLY IN A, I BELIEVE AN ARMY VETERAN, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, A DEPUTY FIRST RESPONDER HERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO IT'S KIND OF A TWO PRONGED, YOU KNOW, WITH THE MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

BUT HE HAD, I THINK HE WAS AN IRAQ VETERAN.

AND OKAY, SO BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMEBODY THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD PROBABLY TALK TO.

OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HEARD A PRETTY DISTURBING STAT YESTERDAY.

MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK TO THIS, BUT WE HAVE NOW LOST MORE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS TO SUICIDE THAN WE'VE LOST IN COMBAT. CORRECT.

IN FACT, WHAT'S MORE DISTURBING IS THAT THAT STATISTIC, THAT THRESHOLD WAS PASSED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT JUST HAPPENED.

RIGHT. AND WHEN I HEARD THAT TEN YEARS AGO THAT MORE HAVE DIED OFF THE BATTLEFIELD THAN ON THE BATTLEFIELD IS IT'S CRIMINAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THAT WE WERE ABOUT ONE SUICIDE AN HOUR, APPROXIMATELY 24 A DAY.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS IMPROVED.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK AS OUR WORLD WAR II VETERANS ARE SORT OF FEWER AND FARTHER BETWEEN.

WE HAVE VIETNAM VETERANS THAT AS THEY AGE AND SOME OF THEIR HEALTH ISSUES GET WORSE.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE OF THEM WHO MAYBE HAD SOME HIBERNATING PTSD.

AND AS FOLKS APPROACH END OF LIFE, THEY TEND TO BECOME MORE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR MEMORIES AND WANT TO START MAYBE SHARING THOSE THINGS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

AND SO, SOME WOUNDS ARE BEING RIPPED OPEN AND IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S TOUGH TO BE A VETERAN AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRAUMA OBVIOUSLY FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION AND WHEN YOU ADD THOSE LAYERS FOR A VETERAN IT'S DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES EVERY DAY AND WE WANT TO BE IN THAT SPACE.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AT ANY LEVEL.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE YOU GUYS WROTE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE VETERAN TREATMENT COURT.

WE WILL BE THE DOCKET COORDINATOR FOR THAT.

SO WHEN A VETERAN GOES THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THEY WILL COME TO US FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.

AND THEN WE WILL WRITE THEIR TREATMENT PLAN, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS AND THEN WORK WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HAPPY TO SEE ON HERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS, THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT.

YES. MY FATHER WAS A VETERAN ALSO.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAMILY SERVICE.

BUT ONE THING THAT I SAW WHEN HE RETIRED MANY YEARS AGO WAS JUST WHEN HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES LOOKING FOR JOBS, ONCE THEY CAME OUT OF THE MILITARY, THAT MILITARY SERVICE DOESN'T REALLY TRANSFER TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

YES. AND THEY ALL STRUGGLED TO FIND JOBS.

IT WAS REALLY HARD. AND WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO REINTEGRATE THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, INTO NON-COMBAT SOCIETY, IT WAS IT WAS A CHALLENGE.

AND IT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK, FOR MY FATHER TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WORKED FOR HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING.

AND JUST REAL QUICK. SO WHEN I WAS AT BAGRAM AIR BASE IN AFGHANISTAN, CRAIG JOINT THEATER HOSPITAL, AT THAT TIME, NO LONGER OPERATIONAL OF COURSE, WITH THE MISSION CHANGING.

BUT IT WAS THE BUSIEST TRAUMA CENTER IN THE WORLD AND WE WOULD HAVE SURGICAL TECHNICIANS THAT BECAUSE OF THE

[00:35:07]

AND YOU MAY NOT BE A SURGEON, BUT YOU WERE DOING SURGERY.

AND SO WE HAD MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE TRUSTED TO SAVE LIVES AND DO SURGERIES.

AND GRANTED, YOU DON'T THEN JUST COME BACK TO THE STATES AND SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO PUT MY SHINGLE OUT TO BE A SURGEON.

BUT THE FACT THAT SO MANY STATES DON'T OFFER RECIPROCAL CREDENTIALING.

CORRECT. AND NOW YOU'RE HUNTING FOR A JOB AND YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I LEFT OUT, AND THIS IS PROBABLY A GOOD POINT TO END ON, IS JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AS A RESTORATION OF DIGNITY.

THERE IS NO DIGNITY IN FIGHTING FOR CARE THAT YOU DESERVE AND FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES.

SO WE WANT TO STOP THAT AND BE PART OF THAT RESTORATION OF DIGNITY.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

SO MANY TIMES SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS, AND WE ALWAYS GET ASKED FOR SIGN OFF ON THE GRANT TO GET FUNDING FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO SOCIETY OR TAX PAY OR OR DO ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, THE CAREER AND TRANSPORTATION, THE VA, THE VETERANS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.

THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.

SO, I MEAN, WE PAY FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO GET FREE TRANSPORTATION, FREE CAREER DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S VERY TROUBLESOME BECAUSE I GET UPSET SOMETIMES.

COMMISSIONER BREEDING, HE WE TALK TIME TO TIME LIKE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I DON'T USUALLY SAY TOO MUCH, BUT I DO GET WORKED UP WHEN I HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON A GRANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WELL, THIS JUST DO A STUDY TO HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE MONEY GOES TO WASTE.

SO IN THIS CASE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE MONEY WOULD GO TO WASTE.

YOU KNOW ONE THING, COUNCILMAN DORCHESTER COUNCILMAN MIKE DETTMER, YOU KNOW HIM BRUCE.

HE WORKS FOR ANDY HARRIS, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO HIM SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE DOES A LOT OF WORK.

MIKE DETTMAN YEAH.

MIKE DETTMER, HE DOES A LOT OF WORK.

HE WORKS FOR ANDY HARRIS.

HE DOES A LOT OF WORK FOR VETERANS.

AND ANDY HARRIS OFFICER GETS A CALL ABOUT VETERAN PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, VETERANS. PLUG INTO HIM.

HE IS OUR NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR CONGRESSIONAL FILING.

YES. AND HE REFERS FOLKS TO US.

SO. OH, YOU ALREADY TALKED TO HIM? YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY, GOOD.

OKAY. HE'S A GOOD FRIEND.

HE'S WONDERFUL. BUT YOU JUST REINFORCED WHY WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH HIM, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH. HE'S TOLD ME ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HANDLES VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR ON THE EASTERN SHORE FOR YES, SIR.

CONGRESSMAN HARRIS. SO, NO, THAT'S GREAT THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT UP TO A POINT THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW.

BUT NO, JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

THANK YOU SIR. VETERANS ARE FORGOTTEN.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME.

COMMISSIONER, AS I SAID BEFORE, I DON'T MEAN TO BELABOR IT, BUT WE'RE NOT HERE PRIMARILY FOR MONEY.

WE'RE NOT. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE MORE MONEY, WE CAN DO MORE, AND WE CAN.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS BE OPEN MORE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL STAFF.

BUT THE PRIMARY THING WHICH YOU ALL CAN HELP IN YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IS SPREAD THE WORD.

SPREAD THE WORD THAT VETERANS ON THE EASTERN SHORE HAVE A SERVICE TO, TO DO WHATEVER FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WHAT HAVE YOU TO DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO THAT REALLY HELPS ENORMOUSLY.

AND OUR 844-MILVETS LINE, WHEN YOU CALL THAT, ONE OF THE OPTIONS IS TO SPEAK WITH STAFF DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.

BUT ANOTHER OPTION IS AFTER HOURS.

SO WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY ON CALL ALL THE TIME.

AND IF I COULD ASK ONE MORE QUESTION.

YES, SIR. TALKING ABOUT MONEY.

AS COMMISSIONER BART SAID, WE I'M SURPRISED WE WON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT WILL SHOW UP HERE TODAY ASKING FOR MONEY.

AND ONE OF OUR CONCERNS ALWAYS IS HOW DO WE ACCOUNT FOR THE MONEY? SO WHEN YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO YOU KNOW, WE'RE OFTEN ASKED TO BE A SUB RECIPIENT OF THAT MONEY. AND WE'RE SIGNING SAYING, YOU KNOW, IF WE GIVE YOU THIS MONEY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS A, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

YES, SIR. WE WALK OUT OF THIS ROOM IN THIS COUNTY, SOMEBODY SAYS, I SEE YOU GAVE MONEY TO THIS ORGANIZATION.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT CORRECTLY? HOW DO YOU I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SERVES AS THE REPORTING.

THIS GENTLEMAN SITTING RIGHT HERE IS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.

OKAY. AND WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MONEY, WE LOOK AT HIM AND HE GOES, YES OR NO? BUT EXACTLY. YOU REPORT TO THE COUNTY ON THE 50,000.

WE DO. SO.

QUEENS COUNTY HAS RESTRICTED THEIR FUNDS.

SO I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND SO I DO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MY TIME.

IT SHOULD BE A LOT MORE THAN IT IS SPENT ON THE OVERHEAD TYPE OF THINGS, FUNDRAISING.

[00:40:05]

BUT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID WE DON'T WANT ANY MONEY GOING TOWARDS YOUR SALARY.

WE DON'T WANT ANY MONEY GOING TOWARD THE GRANT WRITER THAT WE DO PAY PART TIME.

AND OF COURSE, THOSE WERE EASY.

YES. YES, SIR.

THAT THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO YOU CAN RESTRICT IT IN ANY WAY YOU WANT.

YOU CAN SAY, WE REALLY WOULD LIKE IT TO GO TOWARD OUR POPULATION, AND WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF PURCHASING A CLIENT TRACKING TOOL THAT WILL ALLOW US NOT TO HAVE TO HAND PRODUCE THE NUMBERS WE GAVE YOU TODAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE EVEN MORE TECHNOLOGY.

BUT IF YOU WERE TO SAY WE WANT IT TO ALL GO TO YOUR CASE MANAGEMENT, YOUR DIRECT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SUPPORT GROUPS.

WHATEVER CONDITIONS YOU WOULD PUT ON THAT, WE WOULD WE HAVE AUDITS, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF AUDITING DONE.

AND ALL WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO THE AUDITOR IS, HERE'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY, HERE'S HOW IT WAS SPENT.

YES. AND TO BE ABLE TO SATISFY, WE WILL FULLY ACCOUNT FOR THAT.

COMMISSIONER MORAN IS OUR POINT PERSON IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.

AND AS ERIC INDICATED, IT IS RESTRICTED ON THE USE AND EVERYTHING.

SO TO WHATEVER EXTENT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING, IT CAN SIMILARLY BE RESTRICTED.

AND YOU'D GET FULL REPORTING AND FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR OBLIGATIONS, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR END.

WE ALSO IN DEVELOPING THESE STATISTICS THESE ARE GRANT REPORTING STATISTICS.

AND WE CAN BREAK THEM OUT BY COUNTY LIKE WE DID DURING THE PRESENTATION.

SO THAT NOT ONLY CAN YOU SAY THAT WE ONLY SPENT IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES, YOU CAN ALSO GET SOME PRETTY FINITE NUMBERS ON WHO WE SAW FROM YOUR COUNTY.

I'M NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT RESTRICTING FUNDS AT THIS POINT, JUST THAT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR, DANNY TO SAY I NEED INFORMATION ON HOW THIS MONEY WAS SPENT, THAT'S GOING TO SATISFY OUR AUDIT REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S THERE AND IT'S IN THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT.

YES SIR. WELL, WE STAND COMMITTED TO PROVIDE WHATEVER MIGHT BE NEEDED.

YEAH. AND I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP WITH OUR COMMANDERS AT OUR AMERICAN LEGION POST AND OUR VFW POST IN FEDERALSBURG AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR TAKE IS. AND MAYBE WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE COVER THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT TO PUT IN THOSE POSTS AND GET THE RESOURCES THERE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HELP WITH THAT EXPANSION INTO CAROLINE COUNTY INITIALLY AND SEE.

SO BUT WE'LL DO SOME INVESTIGATION.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, IT'S COMMISSIONER'S BARTZ POINT.

IT IS VERY DISTURBING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SEEMED TO WALK AWAY FROM OUR VETERANS AND HAS, YOU KNOW, FORGOTTEN THEIR SERVICE AND NOT PROVIDED THE RESOURCES THAT THAT THEY NEED IN THIS, YOU KNOW, NEW, YOU KNOW, TO THIS NEW GROUP OF VETERANS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. SO, IT'S AND OTHER CONFLICTS AROUND THE GLOBE, BUT IT'S A SHAME THAT IT COMES DOWN TO THIS.

THIS IS ONE THING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING.

AND IT'S A SHAME THAT THIS VOID IS THERE FOR US TO FILL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE SOMETHING WE WOULD ENTERTAIN DOING.

SO WE HAVE A MOBILE TREATMENT VAN THAT GOES.

IT COVERS KING COUNTY, QUEEN ANNE COUNTY.

IS THAT THE MEDIC? WHAT'S THAT? THE MICK, M-I-C-H IS THAT WHAT I'M.

MOBILE TREATMENT VAN.

OKAY. THE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. AND THEY'RE ALL OVER.

THEY GO TO CROCK HALL.

THEY HAVE, LIKE, A TOP.

WE'VE BEEN SOLICITED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT THEIR PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY [INAUDIBLE] ROGER MCKNIGHT, HE'S AT THE LEGION.

HE'S A BIG LEGION GUY, AND HE'S RETIRED.

I THINK HE'S AIR FORCE, TOO.

BUT ANYWAY, HE RUNS THE MOBILE TREATMENT VAN, THE UNIT, AND HE'S ALL HE SEES PEOPLE ALL OVER, AND HE COULD BE A GOOD CONTACT.

CAN WE GET HIS INFORMATION FROM.

CAN WE GET IT? YEAH, IF WE CAN GET THAT.

ANYWAY, HE COMES ACROSS PEOPLE ALL OVER.

HE'S IN ROCK HALL, LIKE I SAID, QUEEN ANNE COUNTY, WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH HIS MOBILE TREATMENT VAN.

IT'S MAINLY PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SO HE MIGHT BE A RESOURCE THAT HE CAN HAND YOUR INFORMATION OUT TO.

YOU KNOW, IF HE COMES ACROSS VETERANS, I'M SURE HE SEES THEM ALL THE TIME IN HIS TRAVELS.

SO WE'LL GET THAT.

THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GREAT. YEAH.

IT IS, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. MR. BAKER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I DID WANT TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.

WE HAVE A VERY ACTIVE SERVICE OFFICER IN THE AMERICAN LEGION, NOW IN THE PERSON OF YVONNE LIZWELL.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD CONTACT WITH HER, I SUGGEST YOU DO, BECAUSE SHE HAS REALLY SERVED A LOT OF VETERANS IN HER SHORT TIME IN OFFICE.

IS HAWK STILL A COMMANDER? HAWK IS STILL A COMMANDER.

WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH HIM.

IS HE A GOOD PERSON TO REACH OUT TO GET YVONNE'S CONTACT INFO? YES. YES.

[00:45:01]

ROGER. THANK YOU, SIR.

HE'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR ROGER TOO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A SHORT RECESS HERE? YES. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A RECESS FOR A MINUTE.

FIVE MINUTES.

[00:50:21]

MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION. SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT.

[Legislative Session: Third Reading and Potential Enactment]

FIRST IS LEGISLATIVE BILL, 2024-006, WHICH I'LL TURN OVER TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN FOR THE READING.

OKAY. SO AS YOU SAID, THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT.

A SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024 006 IS AN ACT TO AN ACT, TO REPEAL SUBSECTION A OF 1803, LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OF CHAPTER 18, COMMISSIONERS OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND TO REENACT THE SAME, WITH AMENDMENTS SPECIFYING THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CONVENE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL DAYS.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DETERMINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH TO THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

SO WHEREAS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER ARTICLE 11 F OF THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION TO ADOPT PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS IN GENERAL, AND WHEREAS THIS BILL MAY BE KNOWN AS ITS SHORT TITLE, CHAPTER 18 COMMISSIONERS.

SECTION 18 THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

ADDITIONS OF FOURTH TUESDAYS AS LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

NOW, THEREFORE, IN AN EXERCISE OF THE COUNTY'S POLICE POWER AS A CODE HOME RULE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, THAT SECTION ONE, SUBSECTION A OF 18-3, LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND IS HEREBY REPEALED. SECTION TWO.

A NEW SUBSECTION A OF 18-3 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OF CHAPTER 18 IS HEREBY ENACTED IN LIEU THEREOF, TO READ AS FOLLOWS.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CONVENE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF EACH MONTH, AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL DAYS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DETERMINE IN NO EVENT, MAY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONVENE ON MORE THAN 45 DAYS, OR MORE THAN SUCH OTHER TIME OR SESSIONS AS STATE LAW MAY REQUIRE OR ALLOW. SECTION THREE.

THE RECITALS TO THIS BILL ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN AND DEEMED A SUBSTANTIVE PART OF THIS BILL.

AND DO WE NORMALLY READ ALL THE SECTIONS? NO. OKAY, GOOD. I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL THAT.

SO BASICALLY, THIS BILL ALLOWS YOU, AS I SAID, TO HAVE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN THE MONTH COMPARED TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE SCHEDULED.

SO STATE LAW ALLOWS US TO MEET IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION A MAXIMUM OF 45 DAYS IN A CALENDAR YEAR, AND THIS WILL TAKE US UP TO 36 SCHEDULED DAYS.

SO WE'RE STILL BELOW THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WE CAN MEET IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS DICTATED BY STATE LAW.

BUT THIS GIVES US MORE DAYS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHANGES AND AMEND OUR CODE AND ISSUE NEW, NEW LEGISLATION.

SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE WE HAVE A VOTE? I'M GOOD. OKAY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I REALLY BELIEVE THIS WILL HELP US MOVE FORWARD.

IN GETTING LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO HELP US SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY BETTER AND ALSO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO MAKE CORRECTIONS TO ISSUES WITHIN OUR EXISTING CODE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL TWO.

WELL, FIRST, I NEED A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024006.

SO MOVED SECOND.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER PORTER MOVED.

MR. BARTZ SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE AYE.

THE AYES HAVE IT.

BILL WILL BE ENACTED AND THAT IS AN EMERGENCY BILL.

[00:55:01]

CORRECT? OKAY.

OUR NEXT BILL.

OKAY. THE NEXT BILL IS ALSO AN EMERGENCY BILL.

LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-007, CHAPTER 175 ZONING ARTICLE 18 APPEALS, JURISDICTION AND RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

THIS IS AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS, SUBSECTION B OF SECTION 175-161, AND SUBSECTIONS B4 AND B6 OF SECTION 175-162 OF ARTICLE 18 ZONING OF THE COUNT OF CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THAT A PERSON MAY NOT APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

THE ISSUANCE OF A CITATION WHICH IS BASED UPON A PRIOR DECISION ORDER REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH WAS NOT APPEALED, REDUCING THE PERIOD FOR SUCH AN APPEAL TO BE FILED FROM 90 DAYS TO 30 DAYS, AND PROVIDING THAT THE FILING OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT STAY ANY PROCEEDINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE DECISION OR ACTION APPEALED FROM AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.

WHEREAS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER ARTICLE 11 F OF THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 9-308 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND TO ADOPT PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS IN GENERAL.

WHEREAS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE LAND USE ARTICLE TITLE FOUR OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND TO ENACT AND ADMINISTER ZONING AND LAND USE BILLS.

AND WHEREAS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 197 B OF CHAPTER 175, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE RECEIVED THE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE STAFF OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND CODES REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE APPEAL, ABILITY TO THE BOARD OF ZONING, APPEALS OF CERTAIN CITATIONS, THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH AN APPEAL MUST BE FILED TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, AND THE PROVISION THAT THE FILING OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT STAY ANY PROCEEDINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF A.

OF THE DECISION OR ACTION APPEALED FROM AS PROPOSED IN THIS BILL.

WHEREAS THIS BILL MAY ALSO BE KNOWN BY ITS SHORT TITLE.

CHAPTER 175 ZONING, ARTICLE 18 APPEALS AMENDMENT TO JURISDICTION AND RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, IN AN EXERCISE OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY'S POLICE POWER AS A CODE HOME RULE COUNTY, BE IT ENACTED THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SORRY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, THAT SECTION ONE, SUBSECTION B OF SECTION 175161 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, IS HEREBY REPEALED.

SECTION TWO NEW.

SUBSECTION B OF 175-1 61 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 IS HEREBY ENACTED IN LIEU THEREOF, TO READ AS FOLLOWS.

A PERSON SPECIALLY AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION ORDER REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR BASED OR CLAIMED TO BE BASED IN WHOLE OR IN PART UPON THE APPLICATION OF A ZONING REGULATION TO A PROPERTY.

MAY APPEAL SUCH DECISION, ORDER REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS BY FILING A REQUEST FOR APPEAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 175 162 B.

A PERSON MAY NOT APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, THE ISSUANCE OF A VIOLATION NOTICE AND OR CITATION, WHICH IS BASED UPON A PRIOR DECISION ORDER REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH WAS NOT APPEALED.

SUBSECTION THREE.

EXCUSE ME. SECTION THREE, SUBSECTION B4 OF 175-162 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND IS HEREBY REPEALED.

NEW SUBSECTION B4 OF SECTION 175-162 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 IS HEREBY ENACTED IN LIEU THEREOF, TO READ AS FOLLOWS. AN APPEAL OF ANY DECISION, ORDER, REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR SHALL BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE ACTION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR THAT'S BEING APPEALED.

AND LET'S SEE, SECTION FIVE, SUBSECTION B6 OF 175-162 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 IS HEREBY REPEALED. NEW SUBSECTION B6 OF 175-162 OF ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 175 IS HEREBY ENACTED IN LIEU THEREOF, TO READ AS FOLLOWS. NO STAY OF PROCEEDINGS.

THE FILING OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT STAY ANY PROCEEDINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE DECISION OR ACTION APPEALED FROM.

SO, IN LAYMAN'S TERMS AND IN SUMMARY, CURRENTLY A DECISION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR CAN BE APPEALED AND AN APPLICANT HAS 90 DAYS TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL.

[01:00:03]

ALSO, CURRENTLY, AN APPLICANT CAN WAIT 90 DAYS TO SUBMIT AN APPEAL AND THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, ANY ACTION IS STAYED. AND IF THERE'S AN EXISTING VIOLATION OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, IT IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE APPEAL IS RESOLVED.

THIS LANGUAGE CHANGES THAT SO THAT ANY VIOLATION OR THE MATTER THAT'S BEING APPEALED CAN NO LONGER CONTINUE UNTIL THE MATTER IS RESOLVED.

SO 30 DAY APPEAL TIME AND NO STAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS BILL? NO, NO QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK IT WAS PRETTY THOROUGHLY COVERED THERE THAT THIS BASICALLY SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS.

IF WE HAVE A PERSON THAT WILL NOT COMPLY WITH OUR ZONING REGULATIONS.

SO AND IT REMOVES OUR OWN RULES THAT HANDCUFF OUR ENFORCEMENT, BASICALLY, AND ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE TO THE MAXIMUM SPEED ALLOWED BY STATE LAW.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-007.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE AYE.

THE AYES HAVE IT. THIS BILL IS ENACTED.

OKAY, I THINK THAT ENDS OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE? MOVE! WE GO. MOVE! WE CLOSE. LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SECOND. OKAY. MOTION.

SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE AYE.

THE AYES HAVE IT. ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda]

I'M ASSUMING THAT IS THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THERE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM THAT ORIGINALLY WAS BROUGHT UP BY HARRY MARTIN.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

AND IT INVOLVES THE WILLISTON HEIGHTS RUNOFF ON PEALIQUOR.

YEAH, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT ANYWAY IT APPEARS.

SO THE DESIGN PHASE IS FINISHED.

THAT WAS COMPLETED THROUGH A GRANT WITH THE CHESAPEAKE BAY TRUST.

OKAY. WE'RE IN CONSTRUCTION PHASE THAT'S BEING FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM MD 319 PROGRAM.

OKAY. WE HAVE FINAL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS THAT ARE JUST WRAPPING UP, PERMITTING RIGHT NOW WITH SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND MD.

BUT WE'RE JUST WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO OF ISSUING THE RFP.

OKAY. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM MR. MARTIN, BUT COULD WE KIND OF REACH OUT TO HIM AND LET HIM KNOW WHERE WE ARE? HE'S BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE, I THINK, OF EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE SO FAR, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KIND OF UPDATE HIM AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO WE'RE IN THE HOMESTRETCH.

OKAY. GOOD. THANK YOU.

YOU BET. THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAVE.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

NO, THAT WAS GOOD.

LESLIE, ON THAT DESIGN.

ARE THERE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FEATURES THAT WILL BE IN THE COUNTY RIGHT AWAY? STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS AND AS ROBIN, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THOSE? BUT WE'VE WORKED WITH ROBIN AND BRIAN NORTH.

THE COUNTY COMPONENT IS IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM OF THE COUNTY ROAD, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY IMPROVED DRAINAGE THROUGH SWALES AND GRADING AND CULVERT PIPING. AND THEN THE BULK OF THE PROJECT IS IN THE CONSTRUCTED WETLAND THAT WILL BE ON MR. KRAUSE'S PROPERTY. OKAY.

WHICH IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN ITSELF.

AND WE'LL BE CHECKING IN PROBABLY ONCE A YEAR JUST TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GROWING AND BEING MAINTAINED.

AND, AND THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT SELF MAINTAINED.

RIGHT. SO THERE'S NOT ANY PERCEIVED INCREASE IN MAINTENANCE PUT ON PUBLIC WORKS.

SO. OKAY. PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE THE OPPOSITE.

OKAY. BOB, ON THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, MARYLAND TOURISM

[01:05:03]

YEAH. BUT THIS IS A GRANT.

WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINED FOR YEARS, AND I THINK IF THERE WERE ANY SERIOUS COMPLAINTS, I WOULD BE AWARE.

YEAH. SO YEAH, WE'RE TRACKING THEM.

OKAY, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO, MOVED. SECOND.

THAT MOTION AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[County Administrator’s Report]

THE FIRST ITEM ON MY LIST IS AN UPDATE ON DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.

AS YOU KNOW, WE COMPLETED OUR ALL OF OUR INSPECTIONS ON OCTOBER 23RD, AND THERE WERE SOME ITEMS OF NOTE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED EXPEDITIOUSLY.

WITHIN A WEEK OF HAVING RECEIVED THAT REPORT.

IN FACT, ACTUALLY, THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER WE MET WITH MH EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, EXCUSE ME, ALL SMOKE DETECTORS WERE INSTALLED IN ALL OF THE UNITS AND INCLUDING IN ALL OF THE BEDROOMS. SO WE'VE GONE POSSIBLY ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH THE SMOKE DETECTOR UNITS, BUT THAT WAS DONE IMMEDIATELY.

I HAVE AN UPDATE FROM EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ON NOVEMBER 8TH.

LAST FRIDAY, THAT REPLACEMENT GLASS HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR THE FEW BROKEN WINDOWS OR CRACKED WINDOWS THAT WERE NOTED.

REPAIR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ORDERED FOR ALL THE OTHER ISSUES AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED AND WE WILL BE GETTING WEEKLY UPDATES FROM EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AS THEY ADDRESS ALL THOSE ISSUES.

SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

ROBIN, YOUR DPW DIRECTOR IS HERE REGARDING RIVER ROAD.

IT IS CURRENTLY OPEN.

WE STILL HAVE GUARDRAIL TO INSTALL.

WHICH HE IS COORDINATING, AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS MEETING AS WELL.

LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE I'VE GOT.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SOLAR TASK FORCE THAT THE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL IS LEADING FOR US.

WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING LAST THURSDAY, AND THE BULK OF THAT MEETING WAS JUST GETTING ORGANIZED.

WE MET WITH THE OFFICE OF LAW AND JESSE HAMMACK, WHO IS AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL ALSO ASSIGNED TO HELP US WITH THAT, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING AND CODE STAFF.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE I THINK WE'RE IN THE GATHERING OF INFORMATION STAGE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TASKS, I THINK, SHARED AT THAT MEETING FOR INFORMATION THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING ALSO OF NOTE, I DON'T KNOW IF STEWART HAS MENTIONED IT TO YOU.

THE JAILHOUSE STUDY, WHICH IS A JOINT LAND USE STUDY DONE BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE IMPACTED.

THERE IS SOME LANGUAGE IN THAT STUDY REGARDING SOLAR PANELS AND GLARE AND WHERE THEY CAN GO AND WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T GO, AND IF THEY DO GO THERE, WHAT THEY SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF MILITARY. SO WE'RE IMPACTED IN CAROLINE COUNTY BY BOTH DOVER AIR FORCE BASE AND PATUXENT.

ACTUALLY, MOST OF THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY IS IMPACTED BY PATUXENT, SO WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT AS PART OF THAT.

ALSO, DELEGATE GRACE AND TALBOT COUNTY ARE WORKING ON AND I THINK WE'RE AND US ARE WORKING ON PULLING TOGETHER A SOLAR TASK FORCE.

WE HAD TRIED TO HAVE A KICKOFF MEETING, I THINK, THIS AFTERNOON FOR THAT, BUT THE AVAILABILITY JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT.

SO THAT FIRST MEETING WILL BE AT WINTHROP ECHO WITH DELEGATE GRACE.

AND ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL IS AT A SOLAR MEETING TODAY IN ANNAPOLIS GATHERING MORE INFORMATION AND MEETING WITH SOME EXPERTS.

SO SEE IF I HAVE ANY OTHER UPDATES FOR YOU.

THIS ONE IS MINOR, BUT REGARDING THE HOBBS ROAD SOLAR PROJECT, WE'VE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO HANDLE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND WHETHER OR NOT THE EXISTING FACILITY IS IMPERVIOUS BECAUSE OF THE LINER.

WE'VE HAD TO WAIT FOR SOME INFORMATION FROM THE STATE.

I KNOW THAT OUR CONTRACTORS WHO ARE I GUESS I'LL CALL THEM OUR CONTRACTORS.

THE PROJECT PARTNERS ARE ANXIOUS TO GET GOING.

[01:10:03]

THEY GAVE US INTERESTING INFORMATION.

DO THEY CONSIDER IT IMPERVIOUS OR NOT? WELL IT DEPENDS.

IT WAS VAGUE. HONESTLY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A CAP ON IT TO PREVENT WATER FROM GOING THROUGH.

I WOULD SAY.

WOULDN'T THAT BE IMPERVIOUS TO YOU? TO ME, I WOULD SAY BASED ON THE GUIDANCE THEY GAVE US AND IN ADDITION TO EXISTING GUIDANCE, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, LOOK AT THIS AND MAKE A DETERMINATION. SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF BEEN KICKED BACK TO US TO MAKE A DETERMINATION.

SO THAT'S HAPPENING.

SO THE ANSWER TO QUESTION WITH A QUESTION.

YES. OKAY.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR UPDATES.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING. YES.

JUST ONE THING.

POST THE MEETING WE HAD WITH ANDY HOLLIS AND DELMARVA COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION WE'VE GONE AHEAD AND SET UP AN INTERNAL MEETING, WHICH WE'LL HAVE ON NOVEMBER 20TH.

HERE IN THIS ROOM WITH DS DELMARVA COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, RECREATION AND PARKS, AND THEN THE OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT MAY WANT TO SIT IN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND START TO LEVERAGE SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION THAT DELMARVA IS PROVIDING TO THE COUNTY.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SIT IN ON THAT I CAN SHARE THAT WITH THEM AS WELL.

I THINK AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO THAT TO HELP US JUSTIFY ANY ADDITIONAL NO EXPENDITURE ON FROM THE COUNTY STANDPOINT WOULD BE SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A BETTER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, CAN WE KEEP MILES OFF OF OUR AMBULANCES? CAN WE, YOU KNOW, SAY EVEN IN OTHER, OTHER AREAS YOU KNOW, TO OFFSET ANY ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO MAKE IN TRANSPORTATION.

SO ALL THAT I HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER. OPEN DISCUSSION.

PERIOD. WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

GOOD. OKAY. I GOT A BUNCH.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

THE DAY SPRING.

THE SCHEDULED VISIT BY SECRETARY DAY.

WE WERE GOING TO KIND OF SEND HIM A I HATE TO USE THIS WORD PREEMPTIVE LETTER ON WHAT WE WERE GOING TO ASK SO THAT HE COULD, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY DO SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE SOME ANSWERS.

AND WE COULD START OFF MAYBE, YOU KNOW, GET A HEAD START ON THAT.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT TO SEND.

AND I THINK BASICALLY OUR POSITION AT THAT AT THIS POINT THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPRESS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SELLING THAT PROPERTY AND TO A, TO A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND IF WE END UP THE QUESTION WE NEED TO HAVE ANSWERED IS THE MORTGAGE AMOUNT.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THAT LETTER, MAYBE GIVE HIM HIS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.

THERE WAS ALSO A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT THAT I DID SOME REVISIONS TO, AND I KNOW IT.

I THINK STEWART WAS GOING TO WORK ON THAT TOO, BECAUSE IT WAS OUTDATED.

IT WAS DONE IN 2000 AND MOST OF IT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO WHILE WE'RE FIGURING OUT WHAT THE DISPOSITION OF THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE AN UPDATED AGREEMENT.

IT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS THE POSITIONS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.

THE INFORMATION ON THE LESLIE, THE GRANT FOR THE 1998 REPLACEMENT OF SEWER LINE IN THE TRINITY AREA. ARE WE AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN RESPOND TO THAT? I KNOW WE WERE WAITING ON A MAP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE ACTUALLY WAITING BECAUSE IT WAS 1998.

THE TOWN IS GOING THROUGH ARCHIVE FILES LIKE BOXES OF PAPER AND PULLING WHERE THEY ARE FINDING REQUISITION AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS TO VERIFY THAT THE GRANT THEY RECEIVED IT, AND THEN THAT IT WAS SPENT ON THOSE PROJECTS.

AND I WAS JUST TALKING TO ROBIN, WHO WORKED FOR THE TOWN.

IT WAS SPENT ON REPLACEMENT OF TERRA COTTA SEWER LINE ON FOURTH STREET BETWEEN SUNRISE AND SUNSET, AND ON THE SEWER.

[01:15:03]

THE QUESTION THAT THE TOWN HAD WAS, AND THEY WERE TRYING TO DETERMINE THAT FROM THE REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST WAS IT ALSO DONE THAT IT ALSO REPLACED MANHOLES? AND TO WHAT EXTENT BEYOND THE TERRA COTTA LINE, WAS THAT DONE? BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YES, YOU CAN CONFIRM IT WAS SPENT ON REPLACING AGING TERRA COTTA LINES.

SO DO WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT WE CAN MAKE A LEGITIMATE RESPONSE TO THIS, AND MAYBE FOLLOW UP WITH ANY INFORMATION WE HAVE? YES. OKAY. SO WHO'S GOING TO RESPOND? I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.

WOULD THAT BE A I MEAN, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO RESPOND AND PUT THIS IN A, YOU KNOW, FORMAL RESPONSE TO MISS PIERCE.

SO I'LL PUT SOME I'LL DRAFT TOGETHER FOR YOU AND EMAIL YOU THIS AFTERNOON, OR I CAN SEND THE RESPONSE WHEN SHE HAS IT PUT TOGETHER.

OKAY. JUST AS LONG AS WE GET IT.

AND I MEAN, IF THERE'S MORE INFORMATION THAT'S GOING TO COME, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY FORWARD THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT THAT PRETTY MUCH CONFIRMS THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE MONEY WAS SPENT.

AND IF IT WAS SPENT FOR MANHOLES, WE CAN DETERMINE THAT AS WELL.

OKAY. DANNY, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE WERE WE WERE WAITING ON A DESIGNATION ABOUT WHERE THE CANNABIS RECOVERY FUNDS COULD BE SPENT.

DO WE HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AT THIS CURRENT TIME, THOUGH, I WAS CC'D ON AN EMAIL THAT KEVIN CONNOLLY FROM MAKO HAD SENT TO COURTNEY DAVIS AT THE OSC.

I ALSO FOLLOWED UP WITH THE EMAIL MYSELF TO HER REQUESTING SOME FOLLOW UP INFORMATION REALLY SPECIFICALLY TO SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND ITEMS THAT WE'VE EARMARKED INTERNALLY ASKING FOR THEIR COMMENT AND INPUT, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE BACK EITHER.

SO THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT UNTIL WE KNOW THE LOCATIONS OR PROGRAMS THAT IT CAN BE SPENT FOR.

YES, SIR. SO WE HAD IN THE EMAIL THAT I HAD SENT OFF WERE REALLY KIND OF PROPOSING SOME OTHER AREAS THAT LIKE MSD, THE SCHOOL BOARD, DIFFERENT STATE AND LOCAL ENTITIES USE FOR DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS AND SEEING IF THEY'LL ACCEPT THAT AS WELL.

SO. RIGHT. WE HAD ALSO RECEIVED A I GUESS, A REQUEST REGARDING THE RENOVATION OF THE MANNY SCOTT POST 193 AMERICAN LEGION BUILDING OUT ON SIDE OFF ROAD.

I RODE OUT AND TOOK A LOOK AT IT.

IT'S JUST A BUILDING SITTING THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, IS PRETTY MUCH ABANDONED.

I MEAN, IF THERE ARE FUNDS THAT COULD BE APPLIED FOR, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT TO TO PUT THAT BUILDING BACK, YOU KNOW, TO WHERE IT COULD BE UTILIZED, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES. WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VETERANS TODAY.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD PROJECT TO SUPPORT.

THE LAST THING IS I'LL FOLLOW UP.

WE HAD A SOLAR ZOOM DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, I THINK COMMISSIONER BREEDING, YOU PARTICIPATED IN IT AS WELL? SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED ABOUT WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE COUNTY.

I THINK IT WAS PRETTY ADAMANT AND PRETTY CLEAR THAT ANY AT THIS TIME, ANY ACRE, ANY ACREAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER ANY TYPE OF AN EASEMENT ACT PRESERVATION EASEMENT COULD NOT BE UTILIZED FOR SOLAR.

THERE WAS NOT A WAY FOR THEM TO FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BREAK THOSE EASEMENTS.

MY QUESTION WAS, IS THERE WOULD THERE BE A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, UTILIZE SOMETHING IF WE WERE TO DETERMINE OUR OWN EASEMENT PROGRAM, WOULD THAT STICK? AND I THINK THE KIND OF THE OFF THE CUFF ANSWER WAS IT WOULD.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU I THINK YOU PICKED UP ON IT.

TRAVIS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID ABOUT THE CHANGE, THE ELECTION CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL MAY BE CHANGING SOME OF THIS, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THAT MUCH OF A GREEN ENERGY.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN UNLIMITED SOURCE OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO COME ALONG NOW, THAT'S GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE PROJECTS.

THEY MADE STATEMENTS SAYING THEY WEREN'T GOING TO LIMIT THEY WERE GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT NOT ELIMINATE IT.

YEAH. SO THAT TELLS ME ONE OF TWO THINGS.

THE GOALS THAT THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY THE GOVERNOR ARE GOING TO BE HARDER TO

[01:20:01]

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY, BUT I DON'T, YOU KNOW, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

LOOK FORWARD TO, I THINK THE SECRETARY OR NO, THE IS IT DELEGATE KORMAN? YES. COMING DECEMBER 20TH AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO SHOW HIM, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT.

AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE READY TO DO THAT.

I THINK THE OVER THE WEEKEND, WE GOT THE DRAFT SOLAR LEASING PROPOSAL THAT WAS DONE.

AND WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED THE LIST OF QUESTIONS FOR THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO GO OUT.

MARY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS, OR ARE WE PRETTY CLOSE ON FINALIZING THAT QUESTIONNAIRE? YEAH. OKAY.

STEWART [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

CONFERENCE TODAY. BUT, YEAH, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO IT.

THE LEASING INFORMATION AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE.

I HOPE WE WILL HAVE PRIOR TO WINTER MAKO, BUT IT WOULD BE IMPERATIVE TO HAVE THAT WHEN WE GO TO THIS MEETING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING IT WINTER.

MAKO. YEAH. THAT'S ADVANCED.

SO I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES HAVING THAT, BUT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY PROBABLY HAVE THAT.

OKAY. BUT THE I READ THROUGH THE PROPOSED LEASING ARRANGEMENT THAT THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.

OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I GOT.

OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A POSSIBILITY. LESLIE, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING THE CONTACT OR THE PERSON AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. WAS IT A LAW CENTER AT DEPARTMENT OF OR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AG EXTENSION LAW CENTER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? OKAY, THAT'S A CONFERENCE WHERE STEWART AND JESSE ARE TODAY.

OKAY. PAUL GEHRINGER IS ONE OF THE LEAD PRESENTERS OF TECH CONFERENCE, AND THEY WERE GOING TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT COMING TO DO THIS PROGRAM HERE FOR OUR FARMERS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AND MAYBE DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THAT TOGETHER BEFORE WINTER MAKO THE MEETING THERE OR.

I WOULD THINK SO BECAUSE PAUL HAS WORKED ON THAT'S WHAT HE'S WORKING ON NOW FOR OTHER STATES AND ALSO OTHER COUNTIES.

SO HE SORT OF HAS A PACKAGE DEVELOPED, IF NOT FINALIZED, NEAR FINALIZATION.

I THINK HE WAS SHOOTING FOR HAVING IT FINISHED BY THIS CONFERENCE TODAY.

OKAY. SO THERE SHOULD BE ENOUGH MATERIALS.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM STUART IF HE'S ABLE TO COME FOR A PROGRAM HERE.

BUT HE WAS WILLING TO.

OKAY. I THINK RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THE TWO REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT DOING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, GETTING THAT MAILER OUT THE EDUCATIONAL PIECE OF LITERATURE TO OUR LANDOWNERS.

BECAUSE THERE IS A PUSH.

I MEAN, A LOT THERE'S A LOT OF SOLICITATION GOING ON.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING WOULD BE PUTTING IN PLACE THE POINT SYSTEM FOR SOLAR SITING INSIDE OF OUR 2000 ACRE CAP.

SO MY SUGGESTION IS THAT WE INSTITUTE A POINT SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHERE SOLAR CAN ACTUALLY BE SITED WITHIN THE REMAINING 2000 ACRE CAP THAT WE HAVE EXISTING IN COUNTY CODE.

SO THOSE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE TWO MAJOR THINGS THAT I, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET ON OUR AGENDA SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

I GUESS THE MAILER CAN GO OUT, PROBABLY WITHOUT COMING THROUGH THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THAT LEGISLATIVE BILL ON OUR AGENDA TO INSTITUTE THAT POINT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO WHAT TALBOT COUNTY HAS. OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK COMMISSIONER PORTER PRETTY MUCH COVERED EVERYTHING.

WE DID GO DOWN TO THE FEDERALSBURG VETERAN'S DAY PARADE.

WHAT WAS IT, SATURDAY? SO BUT.

[01:25:03]

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?

[Public Comment]

I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR A DISCUSSION OF APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO

[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee and Consult with Counsel to Obtain Legal Advice :Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (7) (1)]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

OKAY, I NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE HERE.

COMMISSIONER. MOTION AND SECOND.

COMMISSIONER PORTER. AYE.

COMMISSIONER BREEDING.

AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

AYE. OKAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

TAKE A FIVE MINUTE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.