[00:03:28]
OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 8TH, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DON REYNOLDS OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF DENTON.
FATHER, WE COME THIS MORNING, AND WE LOOK BACK OVER THE WINTER AND WE GIVE THANKS FOR HELPING US THROUGH THE WINTER, BUT HERE WE ARE IN THE EARLY SPRING AND LORD, WE BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE BLESSINGS IN STORE.
LORD I PRAY THAT YOU WILL HELP THEM TO BE VERY DISCERNING AND TO DO THEIR BEST.
[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Don Reynolds; Calvary Baptist Church of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
I PRAY FOR US CITIZENS, LORD, THAT WE WOULD LOVE YOU AND HAVE RESPECT FOR YOU AND APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE RULE OVER US.SO WE ASK YOUR CONTINUED BLESSING ON THEM, THEIR FAMILIES.
WE KNOW TODAY OUR NATION NEEDS. WE HAVE EVERYTHING, LORD, BUT WE HAVE NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR BLESSING.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE, AND WE WOULD PRAY FOR ALSO FOR THOSE THAT BE IN AUTHORITY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND STATE LEVEL. GIVE THEM MUCH WISDOM. WE ASK IN JESUS NAME.
[00:05:14]
THANK YOU, REVEREND REYNOLDS, FOR COMING IN AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE NORTH OR IN THE CAROLINE COUNTY CLERGY ASSOCIATION FOR FOR VOLUNTEERING TO COME IN ON TUESDAY MORNINGS AND DO OUR INVOCATIONS FOR US.YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.OKAY, NONE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS ROBIN HALL, OUR HEALTH OFFICER,
[Robin Cahall, Health Officer, Caroline County Health Department]
AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATION HERE.[Proclamation for April as National Public Health Week]
DO YOU WANT TO? YEP, INTRODUCE EVERYBODY. YEAH.I HAVE KATIE PAUL, WHO IS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.
I HAVE JOSH PARKER, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WITH ME TODAY.
NO ONE ELSE. RIGHT. GOT EVERYBODY? YES, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU. WELL. THANK YOU. I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHICH STATES WHEREAS THE RESIDENTS OF RURAL AREAS LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES, INCLUDING INCREASES IN CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, OBESITY, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THAN THOSE LIVING IN SUBURBAN AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. WHEREAS THESE ADVERSE HEALTH OUTCOMES ARE BASED ARE BECAUSE RURAL RESIDENTS ARE OFTEN MORE LIKELY TO FACE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND LIMITED HEALTHCARE ACCESS.
WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK SEEKS TO RECOGNIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE HAVE ON THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK SEEKS TO DRAW FOCUS TO THE FOLLOWING.
PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS. COMMUNITY WHERE WE SEEK TO INCREASE SUPPORT, CONNECTION AND INCLUSION BETWEEN RESIDENTS TO REDUCE ISOLATION, LONELINESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION WHILE BUILDING STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.
VIOLENCE PREVENTION WHERE WE SEEK TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL PEOPLE ARE SAFE FROM VIOLENCE, INCLUDING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. HEALTH EDUCATION WHERE WE SEEK TO FOSTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, AND AVAILABLE HEALTH RESOURCES.
ACCESSIBILITY WHERE WE SEEK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SERVICES ENSURE THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE NECESSARY MEDICAL ATTENTION. FOOD AND NUTRITION WHERE WE SEEK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HEALTHY FOOD FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO COMBAT OBESITY AND END FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 7TH THROUGH 11TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
SIGNED THIS DAY, APRIL 8TH, 2025, BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND.
YOU KNOW, TO PROVIDE OR TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN ORDER TO PUSH OUR INITIATIVES FORWARD.
[00:10:05]
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
PERIOD AT THE END OF THE MEETING. YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR THEN, ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY, I'LL WAIT. ALL RIGHT. TRUSTEE WITH BLACK MOLD.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE A. WELL, THAT PROCLAMATION. I DON'T SEE BETH HERE YET, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP OPERATING AND CAPITAL REQUESTS. SO, MR.
[Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Workshop: FY2026 Operating & Capital Requests]
FOX, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THE DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS MORNING IS OUR DRAFT CAROLINE COUNTY FY 26 FEE SCHEDULE.BASED ON THE DISCUSSION THAT OCCURRED AT OUR LAST TUESDAY BUDGET WORKSHOP.
SO IF YOU WANT TO FLIP THROUGH, YOU'LL SEE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW.
WE'VE DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE SITE PLAN REVIEW AND REALLY CALLING OUT MAJOR SITE PLAN.
USE SPECIFIC ADDITIONAL FEES FOR COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND MINERAL EXTRACTION FACILITIES.
SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR SIZE CATEGORIES UP TO FIVE ACRES, 5 TO 20, 20 TO 50 AND 50 AND ABOVE, AND THOSE ARE STAGGERED AND $1,200 INCREMENTS.
SO I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION BEFORE ABOUT WHAT WE COULD CHARGE ON THOSE FEES FOR SOLAR REVIEW AND DIFFERENT FACILITIES THAT ARE APPLYING AND THEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, YOU'LL SEE ON THE BACK OF THE FOLLOWING PAGE, WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED OR A PLACEHOLDER FOR WHAT WE'RE LABELING AS A PRE-CCPN SITE PLAN REVIEW. SO AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS UNDER WORKSHOP NOW WITH CRYSTAL SHOP AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS WELL AS, I BELIEVE MR. HAMMACK AS WELL, ABOUT HOW THAT PROCESS GOES AND WHAT WE CAN ASK FOR IN THE TIMELINE, AND I THINK THE QUESTION FOR TODAY WAS WHETHER WE SHOULD CHARGE A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PRE-CCPN SITE PLAN REVIEW.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN CHARGE A FEE, CAN WE? MR. BARROLL, YOUR OPINION? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN THE STATUTES THAT PREVENTS US, AND IT'S NOT A FEE THAT'S CREATED OUT OF THIN AIR.
IT IS ACTUALLY SIMPLY COMPENSATION TO THE COUNTY FOR THE STAFF TIME IT TAKES TO REVIEW THIS.
WHAT IS OFTEN GROSSLY INADEQUATE FILING BEFORE THEY EVEN FILE WITH THE PSC, THEY THROW SOMETHING TOGETHER, SHOVE IT OVER TO THE COUNTY TO WASTE ITS TIME REVIEWING.
KNOWING FULL WELL IT'S NOT ADEQUATE AND THEN GET TO CLAIM IN THEIR APPLICATION, YOU KNOW, WEEKS LATER THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED EVERYTHING TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, [INAUDIBLE] WASTES A LOT OF TIME PICKING IT APART AND SENDING
[00:15:10]
THEM A NOTICE. WHAT THEY DIDN'T FILE, AND WE'VE NOW FORMATTED.I MEAN, IT'S SO ROUTINE FOR THE SOLAR DEVELOPERS TO BE INADEQUATE IN THEIR PRE-APPLICATION FILING THAT WE'VE ALMOST COME UP WITH A TEMPLATE BECAUSE IT'S SO TERRIBLE AND A WASTE OF MATT'S TIME. SO DO WE DO WE KNOW WHAT THE FILING FEE IS FOR THE C SEE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I THOUGHT I HEARD $10,000.
IS IT OKAY? WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT AND FOLLOW UP WITH AN EMAIL ON THAT.
OKAY. WELL, I'VE HEARD I THINK JUST AS A GENERAL COMMENT HERE ON THIS, YOU KNOW, I SAW SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING A LIKE A TAX INCREASE. I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT FEES THAT ARE CHARGED ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH SERVICES.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE MONEY ON FEES, BUT THE COST OF THE FEE IS SUPPOSED TO AT LEAST COVER THE COST OF, YOU KNOW, REVIEW AND, AND THE COST OF THE SERVICE THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THAT ORDINANCE. WE'VE ALL READ THAT THING ENOUGH TIMES.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING PREVENTING FEES IN THERE, SO I WOULD SAY WE WOULD DO IT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH A FIGURE.
YES, AND HONESTLY, IF CRYSTAL HAD AN IDEA OF HOW MANY HOURS WE SPENT, WE JUST DID TWO OF THEM SO WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE HOURS OF STAFF TIME THAT WE SPENT REVIEWING THAT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COMMENTS BACK TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON COMPLETENESS OF THE APPLICATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT THE STANDARDS WERE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REVIEW.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU'LL COME BACK TO US WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT FEE? YEP. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. SO FOR THIS MORNING, THAT'S REALLY THE LAST THING WE HAD.
JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP. NEXT TUESDAY, THE 15TH ANDY HOLLIS WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU TO DISCUSS DCT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE, BASED OFF OUR CONVERSATIONS LAST WEEK AND TODAY, THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE LAST ITEMS WE NEED TO FINALIZE FOR THE BUDGET TO GET TO A PROPOSED STATE, AND AGAIN, DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S THE FINAL VERSION.
THAT IS JUST THE VERSION WE HAVE TO PUBLICLY ADVERTISE AND THEN POST THE MAY 6TH PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. JUST TO CONFIRM, ALSO, IT'S $10,000 FOR THE CPC.
IT IS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG.
[Legislative Session: Third Reading & Potential Amendment or Enactment]
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. WE'RE NOW IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO, MR. BARROLL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INITIATE THE THIRD READING.
[• Legislative Bill #2025-001, Cannabis Facilities]
11TH WITH A FIRST READING AND FOLLOWED BY A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING ON THE 18TH OF MARCH.WE'RE HERE FOR THE THIRD READING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND IT OR TO ENACT IT.
THIS PARTICULAR BILL DEALS WITH THE RECENT CANNABIS LEGISLATION THAT CAME OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND THIS IS AN ACT WHICH HAS A PURPOSE OF COMPLYING WITH RECENTLY ENACTED STATE LAW BY AMENDING CHAPTER 175 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH IS OUR ZONING CHAPTER, TO ALLOW CANNABIS FACILITIES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REGULATIONS, INCLUDING SETBACKS. BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 170 58B TO ARTICLE FIVE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS AND BY ADDING TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS 175 ATTACHMENT THREE FOUR PROVISIONS FOR CANNABIS DISPENSARY, SMALL SCALE CANNABIS DISPENSARY, LARGE SCALE CANNABIS GROWER AND CANNABIS PROCESSOR AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL. I DO NOT RECALL THAT WE HAD ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:20:09]
JEN, DO YOU RECALL? I DON'T. OKAY. ALL THE ADVERTISING WAS AS REQUIRED BY LAW.I DON'T KNOW IF CRYSTAL WANTS TO ADD ANY COMMENTARY COLOR COMMENTARY ON THIS ONE.
I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER PORTER HAD ASKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT WHERE THE COUNTY MAY HAVE HAD ANY C-2 ZONING, WHICH WOULD BE WHERE THE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES WOULD BE ALLOWED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ANY OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THE ONLY TWO AREAS WE FOUND WAS DENTON, CLOSE TO THE LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THERE IS SOME C-2 ZONING NORTH OF THAT AROUND THE GOOSE CREEK DOMINOES AREA.
THERE'S SOME C-2 ZONING THERE, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE OF THAT 500 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT, AND THEN OVER BY THE DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THERE IS SOME C-2 OUT ON 404 NEAR THE SHORE PAVILION IN THAT AREA, BUT AGAIN, STILL OUTSIDE OF THAT 500 FOOT SETBACK REQUIREMENT, AND WE DID CHECK WITH THE TOWNS OF RIDGELEY, PRESTON, FEDERALSBURG, JUST TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY SETBACK RESTRICTIONS FOR LIQUOR STORES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO COMBINE THEM TO.
THE ONLY TOWN THAT DID WAS DENTON, AND THEY HAVE A 500 FOOT SETBACK FROM SCHOOLS.
SO, OBVIOUSLY IF IT'S IN TOWN THAT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO GO BY THEIR REGULATIONS.
CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS? NO. OKAY, WELL, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-001. CANNABIS FACILITIES.
MOVE. SECOND. MOTION, AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? OKAY. THE BILL PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT LEGISLATIVE BILL. THE NEXT BILL IS NUMBER 2025-002, WHICH IS A NEW SECTION 194,
[• Legislative Bill #2025-002, Permit Denials]
PERMIT DENIALS OF ARTICLE 21 OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING.THE BACKGROUND TO THIS IS THAT IT HAS LONG BEEN A POLICY OF THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CODES IN THIS COUNTY TO DENY AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT IF THE SAME PROPERTY ALREADY HAD AN EXISTING VIOLATION THAT HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED AND IT WAS THAT POLICY WAS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAD EITHER LET THEIR PROPERTY GO INTO DISREPAIR, OR HAD CONSTRUCTED SOMETHING WITHOUT A PERMIT TO BRING THEIR PROPERTIES INTO COMPLIANCE. IT WAS A VERY GOOD WAY TO COERCE PEOPLE INTO DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND WE, AFTER DISCUSSION MONTHS AGO, DECIDED THIS SHOULD BE ACTUALLY CODIFIED AND PLACED IN CODE SO THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION AS TO THE ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS POLICY, AND SO WHAT, IN EFFECT, THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS IS FOR THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR TO DENY AN APPLICANT A PERMIT IF THE APPLICANT OWNS REAL PROPERTY IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE APPLICATION, AND THERE EXISTS ON THE SUBJECT REAL PROPERTY A VIOLATION OF EITHER STATE LAW OR COUNTY LAW.
THE EXCEPTION TO THIS BEING THAT IF THE APPLICATION IS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE WE WILL GRANT THAT APPLICATION, BUT IF IT'S AN UNRELATED VIOLATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIX THE PREEXISTING ONE BEFORE YOU CAN GET THE NEW PERMIT.
CRYSTAL, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? I THINK STEWART COVERED IT. OKAY. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS BILL? NO. ANY POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS? NO. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025002. PERMIT DENIALS.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
I. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003 AND LEGISLATIVE
[• Legislative Bill 2025-003, Elimination of BZA Term Limits]
[00:25:03]
BILL 2025-004. THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, AND I WILL READ THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE YOU OPEN THE HEARING.YEAH, AND THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT FOR SUNDAY, APRIL THE 6TH.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025 003, CHAPTER 175 ZONING ARTICLE 20 BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, SECTION 175-1 71 CREATION, MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. VACANCY AND REMOVAL AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS.
SECTION 175-171 OF ARTICLE 20 OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELIMINATING TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
IN ROOM 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURT HOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND.
21629. TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING, EMAIL THE ADDRESS, VISIT, WEBSITE OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629. PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, WE HAVE NOT. CAN WE RECEIVE ONE NOW? YES.
THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN RELATION TO THIS BILL.
OKAY. FIRST OFF, I NEED A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003.
SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OKAY. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS BILL, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE MEETING. WE ALSO HAD A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, WHICH WAS OFFERED, AND NO ONE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME WILL BE LIMITED TO LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003, WHICH IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE BZA TERM LIMITS. AGAIN, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THE END FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE COMMISSIONERS RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE FREELY, BUT ALL COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003 AT THIS TIME. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME ADDRESS IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR OFFICE.
WE ASK THAT YOU EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN A RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER.
OKAY. HELLO. MY NAME IS SABRINA TURNER. MY ADDRESS IS 105 SOUTH MAIN STREET, FEDERALSBURG, AND I AM AGAINST THE ELIMINATION OF TERM LIMITS.
I AM ALSO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF A LOCAL NONPROFIT CALLED HOMELESS AND HUMAN.
I BELIEVE THAT THE POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS OF REMOVING TERM LIMITS INCLUDE STAGNATION OF IDEAS, REDUCED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CONCENTRATION OF POWER, DECREASED ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CORRUPTION.
I BELIEVE THAT HAVING NEW AND FRESH IDEAS AND NOT LIMITING IT TO JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY OBVIOUSLY NOT DOING A GOOD JOB BECAUSE OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, THE HOUSING POPULATION AND THE HOUSING INSECURITY IS INCREDIBLE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
KATHLEEN, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS ACTUALLY DOES IN RELATIONSHIP TO HOUSING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF? SO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS WHICH THIS LEGISLATION IS SPECIFICALLY FOR ONLY ADDRESSES APPEALS ON
[00:30:11]
ZONING. LIKE APPEALS OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISIONS OR SPECIAL USE EXCEPTIONS.SO IF SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BUILD WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING WITH A 20 FOOT SETBACK AND THEY THE LAW REQUIRES A 25 FOOT SETBACK, THEY GO TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, BUT THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS DOES NOT DEAL WITH ANY HOUSING ISSUES OR ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO, IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO LIMIT IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY THERE.
SO NO MATTER WHAT, WHAT ROLE THEY PLAY. I MEAN, I'LL JUST ADD ONE OTHER THING, AND I, I THINK WE HEAR YOUR COMMENT, DEFINITELY, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME FINDING ANYBODY TO SERVE ON THOSE BOARDS.
SO OFTEN WE ADVERTISE CONSTANTLY AND MAINTAIN A DATABASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED, AND THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. OFTENTIMES WE GO WITH VACANCIES BECAUSE NOBODY WILL DO IT, AND ANOTHER SPECIFIC THING IS IT ONLY RELATES TO COUNTIES.
MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THEIR OWN BZAS, SO THEY DO IT.
WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION INSIDE CORPORATE LIMITS OF TOWNS ESSENTIALLY.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA OR I MEAN? IT'S DIFFICULT. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIND QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
IT'S A VERY TO CLOSE IT OFF. WELL, IT'S STILL OPEN.
IT'S OPEN. WE HAVE AN OPEN POSITION NOW TO APPOINT SOMEONE, BUT YOUR POINTS ARE TAKEN.
ONCE SOMEONE'S IN THERE, THEY'RE IN THERE. OH, NO, THEY GET REAPPOINTED EVERY FOUR YEARS.
YEAH. JUST ELIMINATE THOSE TERM LIMITS IN THE TITLE.
SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES, SO BZA TERM LIMIT IS FIVE YEARS.
THREE. SORRY THREE YEARS. SO WE PREVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE TERM LIMITS, AND MAYBE TEN YEARS AGO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE ENACTED THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE SIMILAR REASONS TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND THEN WE FOUND OUT THAT AS WE WERE AS TERMS WERE EXPIRING, BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO SERVE SO MANY TERMS, WE COULDN'T FIND ANY BOARD MEMBERS TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE NOBODY WAS INTERESTED, AND AS COMMISSIONER BREEDING STATED, IS ACTUALLY ALL OF THE BOARDS ARE PRETTY HIGHLY SPECIALIZED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING IN THE IN THE BACKGROUND THAT GOES ON.
SO REPLACING A WHOLE BOARD BECOMES A CHALLENGE ALSO.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY CAN ONLY SERVE TWO CONSECUTIVE THREE YEAR TERMS. SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SERVE A THIRD TERM IF WE REAPPOINT, BUT THEY HAVE TO APPLY WHEN THEIR TERM IS UP EVERY SINGLE TERM, AND SO WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT COME IN.
WE HAVE AN ONLINE PORTAL. SO IF THERE ARE FIVE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ONE THAT IS POTENTIALLY BEING REAPPOINTED, WE STILL LOOK AT ALL FIVE APPLICATIONS . YEAH.
SO IT DOESN'T PRECLUDE ANYBODY NEW FROM COMING ON THE BOARD, BUT BUT WE NEVER GET FIVE APPLICATIONS.
YEAH. YEAH. WELL WE'LL TAKE, AND THEY HAVE TO BE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.
THAT NARROWS THE POOL A LOT, TOO, BECAUSE ANYBODY WHO SERVES ON OUR BZA OR PLANNING COMMISSION CAN'T LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION IN THE MUNICIPALITY. SO IT'S A THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE STUFF, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR POINTS AND CERTAINLY WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME, SIR.
MY NAME IS GERALD FRANZ. I LIVE IN GREENSBORO, 507 PINTAIL STREET.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF YOU ELIMINATE TERM LIMITS, IT'S POSSIBLE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PERSON FOR 20 YEARS OR A LONG TIME IN THIS POSITION, AND LIKE SHE SAYS, THAT COULD INVOLVE A LITTLE BIT OF CORRUPTION OR LOSS OF CONTROL OR POWER. YEAH, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
OKAY. WE MAY HAVE THE SAME PERSON FOR A LONG TIME, IN THAT POSITION? YEP. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-003? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE A--CAN WE PAUSE? THE CHILDREN ARE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION. DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THEM IN FIRST BEFORE WE CAN WE DO LET'S LET'S FINISH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
LET'S NOT DO THAT WHILE WE'RE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO LET'S HAVE THE SECOND READING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 004.
YES, SIR. I'LL START WITH THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
[00:35:04]
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPECIFYING THAT FOR A FACILITY TO MEET THE DEFINITION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.THE PURPOSE OF THE FACILITY MUST BE FOR THE TREATMENT, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF CERTAIN WASTES AND CHANGING THE CLASSIFICATION OF NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES FROM A PERMITTED USE, SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE R RURAL DISTRICT TO A NON PERMITTED USE WHILE ADDING THE CLASSIFICATION OF ONE ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE, SUBJECT TO A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS AND TWO NON ACCESSORY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE I-2 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND MH MOBILE HOME DISTRICTS BY
[• Legislative Bill 2025-004, Wastewater Treatment Facility]
AMENDING IN CHAPTER 175 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS.175 ATTACHMENT 3-4 TO SO REFLECT THE CHANGE AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON APRIL 8TH, 2025, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M.
IN ROOM 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURTHOUSE, LOCATED AT 109 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND.
21629. TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING, EMAIL THE ADDRESS, VISIT WEBSITE OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND 21629. PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 410-479-0660. JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? WE HAVE NOT. OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-004? WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES. SO MOVED.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. BEFORE I OPEN THE FLOOR, I WILL SAY THAT ALL OF THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENT RULES APPLY, AND AT THIS TIME WE ARE ONLY RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT AS IT IS.
IN REGARDS TO LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-004 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE BILL? OKAY. NONE SEEN. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-004 WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION, AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYES HAVE IT, UNANIMOUSLY. I HEREBY DECLARE THAT LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION ITEMS FOR TODAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? IS IT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD TO CONTINUE WITH A THE SCHEDULE FOR THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT FOR THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH? YES. OKAY. YEAH. I HEAR A MOTION TO CONTINUE WITH THE SCHEDULE.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.
I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION, AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY. NOW WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO OUR PROCLAMATION FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROCLAMATION FOR APRIL AS MARYLAND'S FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK.
HELLO. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. YEP, THAT'LL WORK.
YOU BRING ANY TREATS? COMMISSIONER PORTER LIKES TREATS.
[Proclamation for April as Maryland’s Food Waste Prevention Week]
[CHUCKLING] IT'D BE HELPFUL. SORRY.GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING US.
ABSOLUTELY. I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS THE PROCLAMATION.
SO ALREADY? MARYLAND'S FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK, APRIL 7TH, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 13TH, 2025. WHEREAS FOOD WASTE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH UP TO 40% OF ALL FOOD PRODUCED BEING THROWN AWAY RATHER THAN EATEN, AND WHEREAS REDUCING FOOD WASTE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM, AND WHEREAS PREVENTING FOOD WASTE CAN HELP SAVE MONEY WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR, SAVING AN AVERAGE OF $1,600 ANNUALLY BY PREVENTING FOOD WASTE,
[00:40:07]
AND WHEREAS FOOD WASTE HAS SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, INCLUDING WASTED RESOURCES, LOST INCOME, AND WHEREAS FOOD WASTE PREVENTION IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT REQUIRES ACTION FROM ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT, AND WHEREAS, PROMOTING FOOD WASTE PREVENTION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR ALL. NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DO HEREBY SUPPORT THE STATE OF MARYLAND PROCLAIM APRIL 7TH THROUGH 13TH, 2025 AS FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK IN CAROLINE COUNTY.SIGNED APRIL 8TH BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY J.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN. AS YOU CAN SEE, I DON'T WASTE ANY FOOD.
JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS, IF THAT'S OKAY.
SURE. ABSOLUTELY SURE. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. I'M CLAIRE.
CAN HELP CROPS USE A COMPOSTER, AND IT KIND OF CIRCLES THE FOOD, AND THEN YOU CAN PUT IT ON CROPS TO HELP IT GROW. I'M KYLE. I'M BRINLEY AND I'M KAYLEE.
WE WANTED TO ALSO FOCUS ON COMPOSTING FOR THAT.
IF YOU COMPOST, YOU ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HELPING FOOD WASTE, AND OUR POSTER IS REALLY SUPPOSED TO INFORM YOUNGER PEOPLE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN AND CANNOT COMPOST SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO HELP FOOD WASTE.
HI, MY NAME IS ALEC AND MY NAME IS JACKSON NORTH AND WE DECIDED TO COMPOST.
COMPOSTING IS GOOD SO PEOPLE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE WORLD, LIKE IF YOU LITTER YOU, YOU COULD HURT OTHER ANIMALS. YOU CAN. COMPOSTING CAN HELP WITH WASTE AND LAND.
YEAH. COMPOSTING IS GOOD FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, BECAUSE IT HELPS OUR SOIL AND OUR PLANTS TO GROW.
SO WE CAN HAVE FOOD AND IT HELPS WORMS AND OTHER ANIMALS SO THEY CAN HAVE FOOD AND WATER.
[INAUDIBLE] . SO WE DID, IT SAYS ONLY TAKE YOUR PORTION BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH FOOD, YOU ONLY EAT SOME OF IT AND MOST PEOPLE WILL THROW THAT AWAY AND THAT CAN LIKE GO TO PEOPLE THAT NEED FOOD, LIKE IF THEY'RE HOMELESS OR LIKE IN SHELTERS AND STUFF.
WE WERE SAYING THAT DON'T WASTE FOOD BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT, THEY CAN'T GET IT BECAUSE YOU'RE WASTED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WENT TO DO ALSO, AND STRAY ANIMALS SICK. RIGHT. VERY WELL DONE, ALL OF YOU.
SO WHERE DO YOU ALL GO TO SCHOOL? DENTON ELEMENTARY.
GOOD. THEY AIN'T SHY. NO. THEY'RE FROM THE GREEN CLUB THAT WE JUST STARTED IN FEBRUARY, AND I'M ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE GREEN CLUB AND THEY'VE JUST DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED.
WELL , VERY WELL DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS.
VERY GOOD. GREAT JOB GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
BRIEF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN SCHOOLS IS FOR WE ARE STARTING TO COMPOST.
WE'RE IN THREE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL BE IN THE OTHER TWO BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEN BY NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE IN ALL THE SCHOOLS COMPOSTING, AND WE'VE BEEN SENDING SOME OF THE FOOD THAT HASN'T BEEN EATEN TO A PIG FARM AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE TAKING THEM FOR THEIR GOATS OR THEIR CHICKENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ALSO START BULK MILK, SO WE HAVE LESS WASTE ON BULK MILK.
THEY CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS THEY WANT. IT TASTES BETTER, FRESHER.
[00:45:07]
SO THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB.WE'RE STARTING TO GET GREEN CLUBS IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.
YOU KNOW, FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION, THE FIRST THING THEY DID WAS MAKE BOXES FOR EVERY CLASSROOM TO RECYCLE BREAKFAST BAGS THAT WERE JUST BEING THROWN AWAY, AND NOW WE'RE RECYCLING ALL OF THOSE. SO THAT'S ABOUT 700 BAGS A DAY.
GOOD. YEAH. SO WITH THE BULK MILK, WE DON'T HAVE 3000 CARTONS GOING INTO THE LANDFILL.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M A LITTLE SHORT NOTICE, BUT THEY WOULD LOVE TO GET A PICTURE.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME RIGHT UP AROUND HERE.
VERY WELL DONE. WHO WANTS TO HOLD THE PROCLAMATION? OH, EVERYBODY. OH, YEAH, I THINK SO. SORRY. CAN YOU HOLD THAT? PUT THAT IN THE MIDDLE THERE. WE'LL OPEN IT UP.
YOU GUYS DID GREAT. GREAT JOB, GUYS. SORRY. YOU'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. OH, GOOD. WE HAVE EVERYONE. BIG SMILES.
THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
GOOD JOB. YEAH. LET'S TAKE A, NO, YOU GUYS GET TO KEEP THAT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. LET'S TAKE FIVE.
[00:51:41]
OKAY, I'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AND WE WILL MOVE ALONG TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE CAROLINE COUNTY CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY DISCUSSION.SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WHERE WE ARE TO SEND OUR PRIORITY LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, PAUL WIEDEFELD WITH OUR REQUESTS FOR STATE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS.
[Caroline County Capital Transportation Priorities (CTP) Discussion]
I BELIEVE IN OUR PACKAGES. WE HAVE LAST YEAR'S LETTER.THAT WAS SENT JULY OF 23. WHEN DID THEY WANT THE LETTER? THIS YEAR. THEY WANT IT IN MAY. MAY? OKAY. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO FINALIZE THIS IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WAS IT WAS IT THE BEGINNING OF MAY? THEY WANT THE LETTER.
OKAY. SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER MEETING OR TWO THIS MONTH.
SO ON LAST YEAR'S LETTER, WE HAD THE COMPLETION OF THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT MARYLAND 404 AND MARYLAND 328 SLASH RIVER ROAD WHICH IS THE INTERSECTION BY THE HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL IN 404 PRIORITY B, WE HAD THE WIDENING OF MARYLAND 404 TO 4 LANES FROM HARMONY ROAD TO MARYLAND ROUTE 16 EAST, WHICH I BELIEVE IS GREENWOOD ROAD. SO IT'S 16 TO 16 HARMONY ROAD TO GREENWOOD ROAD.
PRIORITY C, WE HAD THE INSTALL REMAIN ON 404 SIGNS TO MANAGE BEACH TRAFFIC ALONG 404 PRIORITY D, WE HAD IMPLEMENTATION OF NO RETURN TO 404 SIGNS AT MITCHELL ROAD AND HIGNETT ROAD TO TRY TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO STAY ON MARYLAND 404 AND PRIORITY E WE HAD THE FINALIZATION OF PAVING OF ROUTE 16, HARMONY ROAD WHICH IS GETTING PRETTY ROUGH. SO I BELIEVE THEY ARE PLANNING ON PAVING ROUTE 16 FROM WHERE THEY LEFT OFF LAST YEAR AT PINE TOWN ROAD TO LAKE DRIVE, WHICH LAKE DRIVE IS A SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROAD JUST PAST WILLISTON ROAD ON THE RIGHT. HEADED BACK TOWARDS DENTON, SO THAT WILL STILL LEAVE A STRETCH OF MARYLAND ROUTE 16 UNPAVED FROM LAKE DRIVE TO 404. JEN, THAT EMAIL FROM KENNY FENDER ON THEIR PAVING LIST.
IS THAT IN THE PACKAGE? YEAH, I JUST PUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY LISTED.
OH, IN OUR BRIEFING. OKAY, SO IT'S IN OUR BRIEFING.
SO IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE RIGHT NOW THEY ARE THIS FISCAL YEAR PLANNING ON PAVING MARYLAND 306 FROM THE DELAWARE LINE TO FEDERALSBURG MARYLAND ROUTE 16 FROM PINETOWN ROAD TO LAKE DRIVE, WHICH I JUST STATED, AND THEN MARYLAND 328 AT THE MARYLAND 404 INTERSECTION.
[00:55:03]
SO FAR. AT THAT INTERSECTION. SO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ANY OTHER REQUESTS OR IDEAS, THINGS YOU'VE HEARD? ROBIN I'M ASSUMING THAT I KNOW WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR PAVING ON RIVER ROAD, BUT THE INTERSECTION THERE WHERE THE LIGHT IS.IS THE TURN LANE READY THERE? ISN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A TURN LANE COMING FROM DEPICTED IN THE PAVING AND THE NEW LINE STRIPING ONCE THEY COMPLETE THAT PROJECT? YEAH, I THINK THEY.
YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THE SCHOOL SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.
WAIT TILL SCHOOL GETS OUT SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS.
YEAH, RIGHT. YOU'RE ASKING FOR SUGGESTIONS TO ADD? YES. WELL, WE WANT ON OUR LETTER FOR THIS YEAR I THINK THE 454 THE IT'S BAD MAN. 454? I THINK THAT'S THE ROUTE NUMBER, 454.
YOU WANT TO LOOK IT UP ON YOUR PHONE? I'M PRETTY SURE.
I THINK IT IS. PUBLIC COMMENT. AT THE END, NOT ON THIS, MR. BAKER. WE DON'T HAVE TO FINALIZE IT, BUT WE CAN DO IT AT THE END.
YEP. OKAY, AND IF YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTES OF ROADS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON.
OKAY. WE'LL DO THAT AT THE END AND THEN I'LL, I WILL YEAH 454.
IT'LL BE SHOT. SO, GREENSBORO TO GOLDSBORO? YEAH.
313. YEAH. 313. THAT'LL BE WAITING TILL AFTER THE SOLAR STUFF.
SO I HAD TO FROM GOLDSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY.
THEY WANT A LIGHT THERE. IN REGARDS TO A BLINKING LIGHT, IF THEY'RE OUT ON A CALL BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WON'T STOP WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE FIREHOUSE. YEAH, THAT'S A STATE ROUTE.
YEAH, I MEAN, I MENTIONED IT TO COUNTY FENDER.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE. I MEAN, IT'S JUST DIFFICULT WHEN THEY COME BACK, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, TO BACK THE EQUIPMENT BACK INTO THE FIREHOUSE.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF BREAK IN THE TRAFFIC THERE.
DID THEY DO. DO WE KNOW DID THEY EVER REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT ON 313 BETWEEN DENTON AND OIL CITY? DID THAT EVER GET DONE? IT'S JUST 40. YEAH I THINK THE LIGHT SLOWS IT DOWN SOME, BUT SO IT DID. IT DID GET REDUCED. NO, I THINK THE LIGHT THERE.
SAME SPEED. OKAY. SAME SPEED. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD A CONSTITUENT COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT? RIGHT. THEY WANTED IT REDUCED. DO WE WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE LIST? I DON'T THINK SO. YOU CAN I MEAN, I THINK REGARDS TO THAT, THEY FLY UP AND DOWN THERE REGARDLESS.
I MEAN RIGHT. IF IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE POLICE ENFORCEMENT PROBABLY, I WOULD IMAGINE, TO GET THEM THEIR ATTENTION. OKAY. WHAT DO YOU THINK, RJ? WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU'D THINK THERE'D BE BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THIS TOWN.
CAPTAIN HELMER, I'M SORRY. I APOLOGIZE. YEAH.
CORRECT. SO THAT'LL COME OFF. I THINK WE LEAVE PRIORITY B WIDENING MARYLAND ROUTE 404.
WOULD YOU SAY RESURFACING OF ROADS IN NEED? SO WE'LL MAKE, I WOULD SAY FOR NEXT MEETING'S DRAFT LETTER, PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER DRAFT LETTER, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO TAKE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE, THE MEETING HERE FOR ANY OTHER ROUTES BUT I WOULD SAY PRIORITY A WOULD BE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCLUDE MARYLAND 454, AND MAYBE 313 GREENSBORO TO GOLDSBORO.
[01:00:03]
WE'LL LEAVE THE WIDENING. DO WE WANT TO LEAVE THE REMAINING 404 SIGNS? NO. RETURN 404 AND FINALIZE PAVING THE ROUTE 16.I GUESS WE COULD TAKE PRIORITY E AND ADD THAT INTO A AND JUST JUST ADD THAT INTO THE PAVING.
COMPLETE COMPLETE THE RESURFACING OF MARYLAND ROUTE 16 FROM LAKE DRIVE TO MARYLAND 404 INTERSECTION.
I GUESS YOU'RE DOING TRAFFIC STUDIES NOW OUT THERE.
I THINK FEDERALSBURG HIGHWAY IS RIGHT THERE. THERE'S ONE ON 16 AND 404, IS THERE? YEAH. OKAY. LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO GREENWOOD. THEY GOT THE CENTER THERE.
OKAY. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROUTE . I THINK I THINK FEDERALSBURG HIGHWAY IS GETTING PRETTY BAD, TOO. SO MAYBE WE WANT TO ADD THAT ON THE LIST.
WHAT IS THAT ROUTE NUMBER? DO YOU KNOW? 313 FOR 404 TO FEDERALSBURG.
YEAH. INFRASTRUCTURE'S GETTING BAD. IT IS TERRIBLE.
ALL RIGHT. SO DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO WORK ON A DRAFT LETTER FOR NEXT MEETING? OKAY. WHEN'S THE ROAD SHOW? IS THAT DONE IN? THAT'S IN THE FALL.
IN THE FALL. SO THAT'LL BE OCTOBER. NOVEMBER? WELL, WE HAVE OUR MEETING IN MAY. OH, YES. SUMMER IN AUGUST.
YEAH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THAT? GOOD. OKAY. MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER BARTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. OKAY. COMMISSIONER PORTER. I DON'T THINK SO.
ALL RIGHT. I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE HAVE ONE ACTION AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS RESOLUTION
[Action Agenda]
2025-011. A RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2010-015 AND RESOLUTION NUMBER 2015-007 DESIGNATING THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE AS THE PRIMARY LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT FOR STATE LAWS REGARDING JUNK, SCRAP METAL, SECONDHAND PRECIOUS METAL OBJECTS, PAWNBROKERS, AND AUTOMATED PURCHASING MACHINES.IT DESIGNATED THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THE PRIMARY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR THE JUNK AND SCRAP METAL DEALERS AND THE SECOND HAND PRECIOUS METAL DEALERS IN CAROLINE COUNTY. WHAT THAT MEANT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS THAT WE WOULD OVERSEE THE OPERATION AS FAR AS THEIR REPORTS, AS THEY GO TO THE STATE AND THEN SEIZE ANY ITEMS THAT WERE PUT ON HOLD AS PART OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION, AND THEN WE ASSISTED WITH THE STATE POLICE SETTING UP NEW LICENSEES IN THE COUNTY THAT WERE APPROVED, YOU KNOW, FOR IMPLEMENTATION, WHETHER IT BE A PAWN SHOP OR A JUNK AND SCRAP METAL DEALER.
OVER THE YEARS WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE POLICE, THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY PERSONNEL FULLY ASSIGNED TO OVERSEE THIS, EXCEPT FOR ONE OR 2 OR 3 THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT, YOU KNOW, SAW THIS OPERATION FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.
SO SINCE THEN THE EASTERN [INAUDIBLE] OF THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, THEY HAVE DESIGNATED PERSONNEL THAT OVERSEE DORCHESTER, TALBOT AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY. SO THEREFORE, WE WERE THE ONLY ONES BESIDES WICOMICO ON THE SHORE THAT STILL OVERSAW IT.
SO WE THOUGHT SINCE THEY HAVE DEDICATED PERSONNEL THAT PRIMARILY ARE ASSIGNED TO THIS UNIT, THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF IT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS ENTIRE REGION.
RIGHT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP WHERE THEY'RE SENDING THEIR PERSONNEL IN HERE, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE SAME VIOLATORS ARE USING OUR SCRAPYARDS? THEY ARE, BUT WHAT THEY DO IS WHEN WHEN AN INVESTIGATOR SEES SOMETHING THAT'S REPORTED THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY BE SUBJECT TO THEIR INVESTIGATION, THEY REQUEST THE HOLD, PUT ON IT, AND IT GOES TO IF IT'S IN OUR COUNTY,
[01:05:03]
IT GOES TO US, AND THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S FULLY DESIGNATED FULL TIME TO OVERSEE THAT.OFTENTIMES THEY SEE IT BEFORE WE DO, AND THEN THEY TAKE CARE OF IT, YOU KNOW, ON OUR BEHALF, AND THEN WE FOLLOW UP TO GO TO GO TAKE CUSTODY OF IT.
SO SINCE THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT CAN FULLY PROMOTE THE TIME TO IT YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST IN WITH SHERIFF BAKER THAT IT WAS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO LET THE STATE POLICE HAVE IT FULLY.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. I THINK JUST FROM MY.
FROM WHAT? I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I MEAN, THEY'RE LIKE YOU SAID, IT ALL GOES TO THEM ANYWAY.
SO, I MEAN, AND YOUR RESOURCES CAN BE BETTER SERVED SOMEWHERE ELSE UNLESS SOMETHING POPS UP.
I MEAN, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE GO TO DELAWARE TO SEE STUFF AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO GO TAKE CUSTODY OF THAT STUFF. SO AGAIN, IT'S IT WOULD JUST BE BETTER SUITED FOR THE STATE POLICE TO OVERSEE IT SINCE THEY HAVE THE DEDICATED PERSONNEL FOR IT, PLUS THE STATE. THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE LAWS INVOLVED WITH THIS ANYWAY.
I MEAN, WHAT YOU CAN DO AND WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
OKAY. I GUESS I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SETTING UP A SCHEDULE AND OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION OF.
OR CAN THIS JUST GO? THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE A LEGISLATIVE BILL.
CORRECT. SO THIS CAN JUST THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION.
OKAY. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-011.
SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT, UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
I HAVE TWO THINGS TO MENTION TO YOU. YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY EVENING THE EDUCATIONAL SPECS COMMITTEE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL MET.
WE MET FOR CLOSE TO TWO HOURS TO TALK ABOUT FACILITY NEEDS AT THE PROPOSED NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND MOST OF THE CONVERSATION WAS BETWEEN THE CONSULTANTS AND THE TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL OF LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TALK ABOUT THEIR CURRENT SPACE AND WHAT KIND OF SPACE NEEDS THEY NEED AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEIR WISH LIST AND THEIR MUST HAVE LIST FOR THE NEW FACILITY.
THIS COMMITTEE DOES NOT REALLY FOCUS ON LOCATIONS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SO MUCH AS WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ITSELF, HOW MANY ROOMS THEY WOULD NEED, WHAT THE SIZE OF THE ROOMS AND THE COMPOSITION.
SO THAT CONVERSATION IS CONTINUING IN TWO WEEKS.
LIKE I SAID, WE MET FOR PROBABLY CLOSE TO TWO HOURS TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS LAST NIGHT, AND MY ROLE WAS MORE LISTENING. THAN ANYTHING TO HEAR FROM THE MOSTLY THE PRINCIPAL, I THINK, TO HEAR ABOUT THE KINDS OF PROBLEMS THEY HAVE IN LOCKER ROOM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE DID DISCUSS THE FACT THAT IF THE SCHOOL JUST IN PASSING, IF THE SCHOOL WERE TO STAY AT THAT SAME LOCATION, PROBABLY TWO FLOORS WOULD BE NEEDED AS OPPOSED TO ONE FLOOR, AND WE TALKED ABOUT ELEVATORS AND ADA ACCESS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
IN THE EVENT THAT A TWO FLOOR FACILITY IS NEEDED, AND THE CONSULTANT MENTIONED THREE FLOORS ALSO, AND WE ALL KIND OF. RIGHT. YEAH, AND THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU IS YESTERDAY EVENING.
I ALSO RECEIVED FINALLY OUR DRAFT FRANCHISE RENEWAL AGREEMENT FOR COMCAST, SO I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT YET, BUT THAT WILL BE ON AN AGENDA EITHER NEXT TUESDAY OR THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY AFTER DANNY AND STEWART AND I GET TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND PRESENT THAT TO YOU. SO I THINK WE STARTED THAT PROJECT LAST FALL.
OUR AGREEMENT HAS EXPIRED. SO SO FAR IT DOES LOOK GOOD, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER PORTER AT ONE POINT SAID YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RESERVED OUR RIGHT FOR A PUBLIC CHANNEL GOVERNMENT CHANNEL, AND THAT IS IN THE AGREEMENT JUST BASED ON WHAT I SKIMMED.
SO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISCUSSION PERIOD.
COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS OVER.
[County Administrator’s Report]
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
THANKFULLY AND THE SOLAR BILL PASSED. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO[01:10:08]
LISTEN TO A LOT OF THE DEBATE BACK AND FORTH AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THERE THAT I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND.THERE WAS REALLY NO CLEAR DEFINITION OF BATTERY STORAGE SAFETY.
PROVISIONS. I RAISED THAT QUESTION ON THE MACO CALL THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER, AND I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON WHETHER THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION LAND THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THAT AREA, OR WHETHER IT WOULD NOT.
SO I IT WAS DISAPPOINTING, OBVIOUSLY THAT THE BILL PASSED.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT IT WOULD, BUT I WAS HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME CONTINUED REVISIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT COULD BE USED IF WE TAKE THE FULL AMOUNT OF PRIOR PRIMARY PRESERVATION AREA.
IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT HERE, IT WOULD BE THERE ARE 173,000 ACRES.
5% OF THAT WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF 8000 ACRES THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COULD CONTROL IN THE COUNTY FOR FOR SOLAR. SO I KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE SOME YOU KNOW, SOME FIGHTING GOING ON HERE WITH YOU KNOW, REGARDING THIS BILL, I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY FROM AND I THINK YOU DID AS WELL.
OR YOU TALKED WITH JAY FALSTAD ABOUT THEM COMING IN, AND IF THEY CAN BOTH ARRANGE TO BE ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK, HE AND MR. DAVIS, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FARMER ALLIANCE THEY STILL HAVE SOME PLANS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO AS FAR AS HOW WE APPROACH THIS, BUT AS OF NOW THAT BILL PASSED.
DANNY, I'M NOT SURE. I TRIED TO FIND THE CANNABIS BILL THAT SENATOR WASHINGTON HAD IN, AND I COULDN'T FIND WHETHER IT WAS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT. THE LAST I CHECKED IN THE LAST WEEK.
IT WAS MAKING PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS, BUT I'LL DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S STILL ON TRACK, AND THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW THAT WOULD CHANGE HOW THAT IS STRUCTURED.
AS FAR AS HOW FUNDS COULD BE SPENT? YES. MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CLEARS UP DEFINITIONS OF FUNDS AND ALSO THE REPORTING, THAT TYPE OF RELATION BETWEEN COUNTIES AND THE STATE.
HOW COULD COULD WE CHECK INTO THAT, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, COULD WE CHECK INTO THAT.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A REQUEST IN FOR AN EXPENDITURE FROM THAT MONEY THAT WOULD I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, EXPEDITE, MAKE A DECISION ON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS SOON AS WE KNOW THAT BILL HAS PASSED AND THAT LANGUAGE IS IN PLACE.
I THINK IT I THINK IT PASSED, BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE, AND I JUST I DON'T HAVE THE BILL NUMBER, BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE DETAILS AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO START MOVING ON ON THIS.
OKAY. I THINK THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL I, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE ANY WORSE THAN WE ALREADY GOT, WHICH WAS BAD ENOUGH. SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKS LIKE STILL THE 144 MILLION BEING PASSED TO THE COUNTIES, ROUGHLY FOR FOR COSTS. WE DID NOT GET THE 100% TEACHER PENSION SHIFT, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT'S GOING TO PROBABLY BE ON THE TABLE NEXT YEAR, AND SO I THINK THE [INAUDIBLE] IS DONE.
THAT'S THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT IS DONE, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS IS THERE WAS NO THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THE BLUEPRINT.
CORRECT. NOT THAT I HAVE SEEN THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR ALLOCATION.
[01:15:05]
SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT ABOUT 1.8 MILLION FROM THAT.SO I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY HAVE THE INFORMATION WE NEED AT THIS POINT FROM THE STATE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE BUDGET. ON THE BUDGET HEARINGS, AND WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
WE'RE NOT IN BETTER SHAPE. WE HAVE MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN WE DID BEFORE.
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE STILL UP IN THE AIR ON THE REVENUE SIDE WITH THE INCOME TAX ADJUSTMENT.
WE NEED SOMETHING FROM WHICH DEPARTMENT? BUDGET, REVENUES AND ESTIMATES.
OKAY. THEY WERE THE ENTITY THAT PROVIDED THE FISCAL NOTE FOR THE ORIGINAL INCOME TAX CHANGE THAT SHOWED US HAVING A REDUCTION OF THE $1.1 MILLION IN COLLECTION. SO THE ORIGINAL VERSION VERSUS WHAT IS IN THE HOUSE BILL 352 OF THE CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT LEVELS, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN UPDATED NOTE OF HOW THAT CHANGES AT 1.1 NUMBER.
SO THAT'S I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING UP IN THE AIR AT THIS POINT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I HAVE. OKAY, AND THERE WAS ALSO A PROVISION, I THINK I SAW A PROVISION IN THE BERTHA THAT THE INCOME TAX MAXIMUM RATE COULD BE CHANGED FROM 3.2 TO 3.3.
THAT'S CORRECT. YES. OKAY. WELL WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTS OUR DISPARITY GRANT.
IT SHOULDN'T I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYONE COMMENT OR HAVE ANY INPUT TO SAY THAT THE DISPARITY LANGUAGE IS CHANGING FROM US GETTING THE FULL FUNDING AT 3.2? I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT ESSENTIALLY FORCING THE HANDS OF THE COUNTY TO HAVE TO GO TO THE THREE THREE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE FULL FUNDING FOR THE DISPARITY GRANT, BUT SO FAR, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY TIME OF THAT IN THIS CURRENT VERSION.
AGAIN, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THAT AS WELL. YEAH. YEAH, I THINK IT'S THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS PLAY OUT.
IT WILL DEFINITELY BE A AN ITEM THAT CONTINUES TO COME UP.
OKAY. THAT'S ALL. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. THE EMAIL WE GOT ABOUT THE TECH BUILDING, QUEEN ANNE COUNTY.
THEY SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY BE SMALLER, RIGHT? IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING? IS THERE? I MEAN, THERE'S NO ESTIMATES YET ON HOW WHAT KIND OF REDUCTION THAT WOULD BE OR NOT THAT I HAVE RECEIVED. AND DO YOU KNOW A TIMELINE? THEY DIDN'T HAVE A TIMELINE ON IT.
THEY DID NOT. I KNOW WE HAVE OUR UPCOMING MEETING THE 17TH, AND TYPICALLY THEY'LL DO A FULL ROLLOUT I TALKED TO DOCTOR COPPERSMITH OKAY, THE OTHER DAY, AND HE.
HE SAID THAT HE JUST FELT THAT THE FOOTPRINT WAS GOING TO BE SMALLER.
THERE WAS NOT HE DID NOT CERTAINLY FEEL THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ANY MORE AND PROBABLY SOME REDUCTION IN OUR, IN OUR PART, BUT I THINK FROM A BUDGETING STANDPOINT, WE PROBABLY KEEP THAT NUMBER THE SAME UNTIL WE KNOW.
SO ARE WE SAFE TO LIKE, DO WHAT WE WERE THINKING? I THINK SO. LIKE, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH THIS YEAR .
OKAY. I THINK, YEAH. I FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT THAT ANYWAY.
I MEAN, BUT YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT WHEN MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHEN THE CAPITAL BUDGET GETS STRUCK FOR THE GOVERNOR, I JUST DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THAT IT'S STILL IN THERE AND IT MAY STILL BE IN THERE, BUT I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME SLICING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE SOMEWHERE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT IF THAT PROJECT'S GOING TO STAY IN THERE OR NOT.
I HOPE IT DOES, BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST NOT SURE.
FOR NOW, IT'S IN THERE. YES, SIR. ROBIN IS THERE HAVE YOU HAVE YOU GOT THE ROADS FINALIZED YET FOR THE NOT THE PAVED? NO, PAVING WHERE WE CUT IT UP AND THEN DO THE EDGING AND ALL THAT? YEAH. IS SUBSTATION ROAD ON THERE. HAVE YOU. DID YOU KNOW? IT'S PRETTY BAD. I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
YOU KNOW IT IS. I DROVE IT LAST NIGHT. YEAH. YEAH.
I MEAN, HE'S GOT MAJOR POTHOLES. I MEAN, THE EDGES ARE.
YEAH. YEAH. OKAY, BUT DO YOU HAVE THE A TYLER TOWNSHIP ONE? DONE. YEAH ALL RIGHT. CAN WE GET A LOOK AT THAT OR. YEAH, I CAN FORWARD IT TO YOU.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S ALL I GOT.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. SO WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WHICH I'LL READ THE STATEMENT AGAIN. WE APPRECIATE ALL CITIZENS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
[01:20:01]
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.ANY COMMENTS LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.
[Public Comment]
WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE.STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND TOPIC OF INTEREST, AND IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR OFFICE, WE ASK THAT YOU EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN A RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER.
THANK YOU. SO, ANYONE? MA'AM, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, I'M READY.
YEAH. SORRY TO MAKE YOU WAIT, BUT WE HAVE ONE AT THE BEGINNING AS WELL, AND ALL DAY LONG.
YEAH. SO I HAVE BEEN OVER HERE AT THIS COUNTY JAIL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME? ASHLEY. PLEASANTON. HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER WALKED THROUGH THAT BUILDING? YES. YOU HAVE. OKAY. SO MOVING FORWARD, DID YOU NOTICE THE BLACK MOLD INFESTED IN THE WHOLE BUILDING? I DID NOT. IT WAS ACTUALLY VERY CLEAN WHEN I WALKED THROUGH MY EMAIL.
MY PHONE CALLS. NO ONE HAS RESPONDED. OKAY. ACTUALLY.
VERY STRANGE. SO MOVING ON. YOU KNOW, THE PIE CHART THAT YOU GUYS SEND OUT TO EVERY HOME ONCE A YEAR? MY PARENTS SHOWED ME THAT. LOUIS KIBLER AND LORI KIBLER AND YOU GUYS SAY THAT YOU CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS HERE OR THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COUNTY, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T, AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT FOR A FACT, BECAUSE IF YOU DID, THERE WOULD NOT BE BLACK MOLD IN THE SHOWERS.
I WAS THERE FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. OKAY. RIGHT OVER THERE.
THE WATERFRONT VIEW HERE OF DENTON AND I HAD TO SHOWER WITH BLACK MOLD.
DO YOU REALIZE YOU COULD BE FACING A HUGE LAWSUIT? BUT INSTEAD, YOU GUYS DON'T TEAR THAT DOWN AND BUILD A NEW ONE. INSTEAD, YOU GIVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE A GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH THAT BUILDING COST TO BUILD.
SO PRIORITIES IN THIS COUNTY ARE NOT THOUGHT OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, BRAND NEW SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR WHAT THEY GOT ONE RIGHT THERE.
THEY GOT ONE UNDERNEATH OF THE JAIL, BUT INSTEAD THE JAIL IS A BUSINESS.
IT'S A COUNTY BUSINESS. YOU GUYS ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THIS.
NO WE'RE NOT. IT COST US MONEY. WELL, IT'S STILL A BUSINESS.
IT'S STILL A COUNTY JAIL, AND IF YOU LOOK UP COUNTY JAILS, THEY'RE FUNDED UNDER THE WH AT IS THAT CALLED? WHAT'S THE FOOD OVER THERE? WHAT'S THE PROGRAM? ARAMARK IS THE FOOD VENDOR. YEAH. OKAY, SO AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO BUILDING A NEW JAIL.
WE'RE LOOKING INTO REGIONAL OR BUILDING A NEW ONE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
SO WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADDRESSING THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, AND HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN LOOKING INTO? WELL, WE WERE GOING FOR THREE YEARS NOW. YEAH, IT TAKES A LONG TIME BECAUSE IT GETS 50% STATE FUNDING.
SO IT TAKES US YEARS TO GET ON THE STATE LIST TO ACTUALLY GET IN THE QUEUE.
THE SHERRIF'S OFF DIDN'T TAKE YEARS, DID IT? NO, BECAUSE THAT WAS 100% COUNTY FUNDED.
THERE WERE NO STATE DOLLARS WENT INTO THAT. OKAY.
SO WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SHOWERING WITH BLACK MOLD? WOULD YOU? YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULDN'T. NO. I DIDN'T.
ALL ALL I KNOW IS THAT WE ARE TOLD THERE IS NO MOLD IN THAT FACILITY.
SO WE WILL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND WE WILL INVESTIGATE IT.
I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT. THAT IS A LIE. BECAUSE THERE IS BLACK MOLD THERE.
OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU'RE GETTING YOUR INFORMATION FROM, BUT IT'S NOT CORRECT.
OKAY. THERE IS BLACK MOLD EVERYWHERE IN THERE.
OKAY, AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST SAYS IT ALL.
SO DO YOU INVESTIGATE WHAT BLACK MOLD CAN DO? I DO NOT. OH, WELL I DO. OKAY. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. OKAY, AND THE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A ONE YEAR JAIL, RIGHT? ONE YEAR, RIGHT? UP TO A YEAR. YEAH. OKAY, PERFECT.
SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THERE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR BREATHING ALL THIS BLACK MOLD.
WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? I MEAN, YOU SAY THIS, YOU SAY THAT.
I'VE HEARD IT. THAT JAIL'S BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED, AND THERE IS BLACK MOLD.
I ACTUALLY TOOK A PIECE OF BLACK MOLD BEFORE I LEFT AND CHECKED OUT.
OKAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, I HAVE IT AT HOME.
NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE WILL DO OUR OWN. WE WILL DO OUR OWN INVESTIGATION.
WE WILL LOOK INTO IT, AND IF ANYTHING IS FOUND, I PROMISE YOU, WE WILL ADDRESS IT.
DON'T WE HAVE A IT'S EVERYWHERE. THE STATE OF MARYLAND ACTUALLY DOES.
YES. THE STATE OF MARYLAND ACTUALLY DOES INSPECTIONS AS WELL, BUT WE WILL LOOK INTO IT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD. WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.
IT'S EVERYONE KNOWS IT. EXCUSE ME. DID YOU SERVE TIME AT THE JAIL? YOU DIDN'T. OKAY, WELL, I WAS IN THERE FOR TEXT MESSAGES.
LITERALLY. I SERVED 90 DAYS A MONTH AND A HALF FOR TEXT MESSAGES.
ISN'T THERE A BIGGER FISH TO FRY IN THIS COUNTY? WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LAW.
JUDGE PRICE. YEAH, YEAH. OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[01:25:01]
YEAH. SO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. GO AHEAD. HELLO AGAIN.
HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME AGAIN IS SABRINA TURNER.
I'M PRESIDENT AND CEO OF A CAROLINE COUNTY BASED 501 NONPROFIT, HOMELESS AND HUMAN, AND THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE MID-SHORE ROUNDTABLE ON HOMELESSNESS. THE REASON INHUMANE FEDERAL ACTIONS ARE CAUSING DETRIMENT TO OUR COUNTY BY EXACERBATING ALREADY EXISTING FINANCIAL DURESS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY JOBS LOST IN OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH IN THE FEDERAL AND PRIVATE SECTORS, AS WELL AS CUTS AND THREATS OF CUTS TO FOOD INSECURITY.
PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE USDA FARM TO SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, SNAP FOOD STAMPS, HOUSING PROGRAMS, MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT HELPS MAKE OUR RURAL SCHOOLS MORE EQUITABLE, AND OTHERS. COMBINED WITH TARIFFS AND SUBSEQUENT INFLATION, THE COST OF LIVING HAS ALREADY BEEN, BUT IS QUICKLY BECOMING UNREASONABLE TO EVEN MORE PEOPLE.
FINANCIAL STRUGGLE OFTEN GOES UNSPOKEN DUE TO THE SHAME AND STIGMA THAT SURROUNDS IT.
MY ORGANIZATION HAS PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY RESOURCE BOXES, MOBILE AID UNITS, WORKING WITH SCHOOLS, AN AREN'T YOU GLAD CAMPAIGN TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND TO BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE.
THE ISSUES WITH THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN WORDS LIKE ACCESSIBLE ADVOCATE, BARRIERS, WOMEN, DISABILITIES, DISCRIMINATION, DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, FEMALE INEQUITY, MINORITY, NATIVE AMERICAN STEREOTYPES.
ALL OF THESE ARE VICTIMS. THESE WORDS BEING REMOVED FROM THINGS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO IMPACT US AND ARE ALREADY, AND SO I GUESS I'M ASKING YOU ONE IF YOU'D MEET WITH ME.
I LIKE I SAID, I REPRESENT MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS AND SO I COULD ALSO BRING OTHER PEOPLE WITH ME, BUT WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PROCESS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING.
MY ORGANIZATION IS VOLUNTEER BASED, BUT WE ARE WITH THE ISSUES OF THE FINANCIAL STRUGGLE, WE ARE NOW SEEKING FUNDING TO DO THE WORK THAT WE DO, ALTHOUGH WE WILL CONTINUE DOING IT, AND I GUESS JUST REALLY HOPING THAT YOU GUYS TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
HOW WHAT'S GOING ON IS IMPACTING PEOPLE SO NEGATIVELY? AND PEOPLE WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING THOUGH, SO TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
YEAH. WELL, APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR COMMENT AND YOUR ADVOCACY IN THIS AREA.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US THROUGH EMAIL, SEND US ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE AND SOMEONE FROM OUR OFFICE WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU AND WE CAN POTENTIALLY SET SOMETHING UP. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. DID ANYBODY ELSE RECEIVE? I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY EMAILS FROM THE LADY WHO WAS HERE BEFORE.
ME NEITHER. YES, SHE SHE DID SEND EMAILS TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
SHE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH CINDY, AND WE SPOKE TO CHARLES, OR I SPOKE TO CHARLES, AND CHARLES INDICATED THERE'S NO MORE THAT HE'S AWARE OF IN THE FACILITY.
DID THEY CLEAN DAILY? AND HE CHECKED AFTER I MADE THE INQUIRY WITH HIM AND WE CONTACTED HER BACK.
ALSO, THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO HER, SHE SAID IT WAS BEHIND THE WALLS AND YOU COULDN'T SEE IT.
I HAVE ALSO HEARD I WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, AND SO THAT ALSO INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST FREAKING OUT THAT THE CONDITIONS THERE ARE DEPLORABLE. THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS, AND THEY'RE ALSO TREATED POORLY IN ADDITION TO I'VE HEARD THAT THEY'RE OKAY.
MR. BAKER, THANK YOU. MR. BAKER. YEAH. MY NAME IS JAMES BAKER.
I LIVE AT 178 GARLAND ROAD. I WAS JUST WANTING TO MAKE SOME COMMENT ON YOUR PRIORITIES TO THE STATE.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER IT, BUT THANKFUL FOR THE LIGHT OUT AT 317 AND 313.
HOWEVER, THE ROAD ENGINEERING OUT THERE IS A NIGHTMARE.
YOU KNOW THERE IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO GET THE LIGHTS UP THERE.
PEOPLE ARE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO BLOCK THE OTHER LANE OR ONE THING.
THE INTERSECTION HAS BEEN AS MUCH TROUBLE AS NOT HAVING A LIGHT, REALLY, AND SO I JUST I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR PRIORITY OF ROAD WORK IN 317 AND 313. OKAY. I KNOW THE STATE ROAD ENGINEERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THEIR ENGINEERING DEGREE, BUT ANYWAY, ALMOST ANYTHING GO.
THEY JUST PIECEMEAL STUFF AND PUT IT UP, AND SOMETIMES THEY CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN THEY DO.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT TO YOU. JUST LIKE YOU ASKED FOR A LIGHT.
THEY GIVE YOU A LIGHT, BUT NOTHING ELSE IS. IT'S LIKE, OH, HERE'S YOUR LIGHT, BUT NOTHING ELSE.
[01:30:01]
THE LIGHT UP THERE. LIKE I SAID, IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO GET A LIGHT BUT THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, THE ROAD THAT TURNS ON 317. YEAH. WELL, THERE'S ENOUGH SHOULDER THERE, WOULD YOU? SO ARE YOU. ARE YOU ASKING IF WE ADD A RIGHT TURN LANE, DO AWAY WITH THE SHOULDER AND NOT NEW PAVING, BUT JUST MAKE THE SHOULDER A RIGHT TURN LANE.YES. WELL THAT'S GOOD. EVERYBODY USES THAT RIGHT TURN LANE ANYWAY, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO RIGHT TURN OR NOT, YOU KNOW. RIGHT, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A CROSSROADS, TOO, YOU KNOW.
YEAH. EVEN THOUGH THE STATE DOESN'T. MAYBE JAN, WE'LL ADD THAT AS 317 AND 313 TO MAKE IT NOT TO WIDEN THE SHOULDER, BUT JUST RESTRIPE THE SHOULDER SO THAT THERE'S A RIGHT TURN LANE.
THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT. THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY FOR THAT. THEY CAN RESTRIPE IT, BUT THAT MIGHT BE A BRIDGE TOO FAR. AS FAR AS REPAVING, BUT YEAH.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. NONE BEING SEEN. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER A MATTER THAT
[Closed Session: To Consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand , or remain in State. General Provisions]
CONCERNS THE PROPOSAL FOR A BUSINESS OR INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION TO LOCATE, EXPAND OR REMAIN IN THE STATE UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS.ARTICLE 3-305B4. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.