[00:02:26]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 13, 2025, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DAN GABEN OF GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH OF DENTON, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE. REVEREND?
ALL MIGHTY MOST GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE JOY OF SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE THANK YOU, LORD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE GIVEN US EVERY MANNER OF GIFT AND GRACE THAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR WILL FOR OUR COUNTY.
OUR GRACIOUS GOD, ALLOW FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO FALL UPON OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL THE DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS THEY WILL MAKE.
THAT AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THEY WOULD FULFILL YOUR WILL PERFECTLY THIS DAY.
BLESS US AS WE STRIVE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE THINGS. IN JESUS NAME.
[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Dan Gedman, Global Methodist Church of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
AMEN. [BACKGROUND]>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
WE APPRECIATE ALL CITIZENS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
[Public Comment]
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON, AND ANY COMMENTS LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.THIS COMMISSION RESPECTS YOUR RIGHT TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE FREELY, BUT ALL COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO COUNTY MATTERS.
WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND TOPIC OF INTEREST.
IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR OFFICE, WE ASK THAT YOU EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN A RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK THIS MORNING?
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS SABRINA, AND I LIVE IN FEDERALSBURG.
TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENT IS FROM ME PERSONALLY.
MY FEW MINUTES UP HERE, OFFERING YOU A MENTAL WELLNESS TECHNIQUE CALLED SELF REFLECTION.
IT'S A GREAT TOOL TO HELP SOMEONE TAKE PERSONAL INVENTORY OF THEIR BEHAVIOR, DECISIONS, AND EVEN THE WORDS THEY SPEAK, AND HOW THOSE ACTIONS IMPACT OTHERS IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM. DEEP BREATH.
LET'S START WITH THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, GRANDPARENTS, AND HUMANS, YOU HAVE CUT FROM THE BUDGET CHILDREN, ONE OF WHO HAS CANCER, WHOSE MEDICAL BILLS HAVE CAUSED THEIR FAMILY TO LOSE THEIR HOME.
AS WELL AS TWO OTHER FAMILIES WITH NEWBORNS WHO WERE JUST RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL'S INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.
[00:05:03]
FAMILIES, CHILDREN, GRANDPARENTS, HUMANS.NOT UNLIKE ME, HAVING LOST MY HOME DUE TO OUR EXORBITANT MEDICAL BILLS, NOT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE HAD CHOSEN THIS LIFE FOR US.
NOT UNLIKE EACH OF YOU, FAMILIES, CHILDREN, GRANDPARENTS, HUMANS, EVEN MORE ALIKE THAN YOU THINK.
MY SON, AN AP HONOR-ROLE STUDENT IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND AN ATHLETE WHO MADE REGIONALS IS BEING HONORED WITH THE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD.
OUTSIDE OF HIS SCHOOL, I SEE A TRUCK WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.
ONE OF US IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN HER POWER AND OUTSIDE OF THOSE CONSTRAINTS TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE, HUMANS.
YOU YOU ARE REDUCING THE FUNDING THAT HELPS HUMANS TO ZERO DOLLARS.
WHILE KNOWING THAT THE FUNDING CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE ALREADY IMPACTING PEOPLE HERE, SO I ASK YOU TO SELF REFLECT.
HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT WITH KNOTS IN YOUR STOMACH? HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT WITHOUT TOSSING AND TURNING OVER THE LIVES YOU ARE HELPING TO HOLD BACK.
INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR CATS AND DOGS, BUT COMPLETELY ELIMINATING ALL FUNDS AIMED AT PROVIDING SHELTER AND HELPING PEOPLE BECOME REHOUSED AND REGAIN STABILITY, HELP FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, GRANDPARENTS, HUMANS.
FURTHER, HOW DO YOU STAND HERE AND CALL YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN? IN JESUS' NAME, I SEE YOU PRAY, BUT I SEE YOU ACT AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIANITY, WHERE JESUS WASHED THE FEET OF HIS FOLLOWERS AND GOES ON TO SAY THAT THEY SHOULD WASH ONE ANOTHER'S FEET, AS HE HAS SET AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU SHOULD, "DO, AS I HAVE DONE FOR YOU" JOHN 13, OR MATTHEW 25, "FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT? I WAS THIRSTY, YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK.
A STRANGER, YOU INVITED ME IN.
I NEEDED CLOTHES, YOU CLOTHED ME.
I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME.
I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU CAME TO VISIT.
TRULY, I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME."
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? NONE SEEN.
I DO HAVE A REPORT OUT STATEMENT FROM OUR LAST MEETING,
[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
WHICH DURING THE MAY 6, COMMISSIONER MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE UNDER SECTION 7 REGARDING THE SALE OF DAY SPRING TOWNHOMES AND TO SEEK ADVICE REGARDING FEDERAL PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS OR ACTUALLY COMMISSIONER PORTER AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING.
COMMISSIONER BARTZ WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE.
KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, KIM RADER, STUART BARREL, JENNIFER RIDLEY, CHARLES SCOTT, LUKE DIXON, STEVE WISE, AND BRUCE BARIANO AND I BELIEVE CAPTAIN HELMER ALSO JOINED THAT MEETING VIA TELEPHONE.
MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE HONORABLE JUDGE PRICE.
[Proclamation—National Treatment Court Month]
>> I GOT A MESSAGE FROM JUDGE PRICE SAID SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
>> SHE WAS PLANNING TO ATTEND, BUT SHE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY.
>> MICHELLE IS THE PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT COORDINATOR.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL TREATMENT COURT.
>> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU GUYS?
>> DO YOU WANT TO BRING ANYBODY ELSE UP, OR THEY WANT TO JUST [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAROLINE COUNTY PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL DRUG COURT MONTH, MAY 2025.
WHEREAS SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS A MAJOR SOCIETAL PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHEREAS MAY IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL TREATMENT COURT MONTH.
WHEREAS THE CAROLINE COUNTY PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT MAKES SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CO OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS.
WHEREAS THE PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT PROVIDES FOCUS AND LEADERSHIP FOR COMMUNITY WIDE, ANTI DRUG SYSTEMS BRINGING TOGETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE, TREATMENT, EDUCATION, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AND CRIMINALITY, AND WHEREAS THE PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT PROGRAMS COMBINE INTENSIVE JUDICIAL SUPERVISION, MANDATORY MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, DRUG TESTING, AND ESCALATING SANCTIONS AND INCENTIVES IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF DRUG ADDICTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED CRIMES.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 AS NATIONAL TREATMENT COURT MONTH.
THE BOARD URGES ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE PRACTITIONERS AND PARTICIPANTS WHO MAKE THE PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT WORK AND THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE IN REDUCING DRUG USE AND CRIME
[00:10:03]
DONE AND PROCLAIMED THIS 13TH DAY OF MAY 2025 BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, SIGNED, J. TRAVIS BREEDING PRESIDENT, LARRY C PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT, AND MYSELF AND FRANKLIN BARTZ, THE THIRD COMMISSIONER.I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.
HOW MANY YEARS IS THIS NOW, MICHELLE?
>> THIS IS GOING ON OUR THIRD YEAR SINCE WE'VE MADE THE REVAMPING OF THE PROGRAM.
IF I MAY, JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.
AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THIS IS A POST CONVICTION DIVERSION PROGRAM FROM JAIL THAT TREATS INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
ADDRESSES THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER THAT BENEFITS THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS A SCIENCE BASED TEAM APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO TREATMENT.
FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM RESULTS IN REINSTATEMENT OF THE SUSPENDED SENTENCES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM.
THIS IS KEITH HOOK, OUR NEW PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT CASE MANAGER, MARY BECRAFT.
SHE'S OUR FORENSIC CASE MANAGER WITH MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
SHE'S THE FORENSIC EVALUATOR WITH MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, PAROLE ON PROBATION, THE CAROLINE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND ALSO GAIL [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS MY DATA ENTRY CLERK.
OUR NEWEST MEMBER IS KIMBERLY TAYLOR, WHO IS OUR DESIGNATED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT HAS PARTNERED WITH US AS WELL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE REST OF THE TEAM WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY.
I ALSO DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TEAM IS NATIONALLY CERTIFIED WITH ALL RISE, WHO IS THE TRAINING AGENCY FOR PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE AS BEING A MODEL PROGRAM ENROLLED JURISDICTIONS, AND OUR BEST PRACTICE COMPLIANCE RATING IS CURRENTLY 95.6%.
WE STILL HAVE PLANS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET EVEN HIGHER.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE JUST HAD A GRADUATION LAST FRIDAY IN WHICH SOME OF YOU ATTENDED, YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES.
THEY ARE QUITE INSPIRING AND MOVING.
AS ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS SAID LAST FRIDAY, SHE SAID THAT SHE IS LIVING A LIFE THAT SHE THOUGHT WAS NEVER POSSIBLE FOR HER.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE GRADUATION.
I THINK I'VE BEEN TO ALL OF THEM, I THINK, AND GREAT STORIES, VERY POWERFUL STORIES, AND, TO ACTUALLY SEE THE PEOPLE TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND AND LISTEN TO THEM IS VERY REWARDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT THE COURT DOES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS. HOPEFULLY, IT CONTINUES TO GROW, SO THANKS.
>> I GOT CERTIFICATE IF YOU WANT TO [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND].
>> DON'T MOVE YET. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE KATIE DILLY,
[00:15:02]
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND ANN SIMPERS OF[Katie Dilley, Chief Executive Officer & Ann Simpers, Behavioral Health Coordinator Mid Shore Behavioral Health]
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR FOR MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. GOOD MORNING.>> WE GOT A WHOLE GROUP OF US HERE TODAY.
WE'RE TRYING ON A NEW FORMAT THIS YEAR.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME DOING IT WITH A POWERPOINT AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR GRACE AS WE NAVIGATE OUR NEW FORMAT THIS YEAR.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS KATIE DILLY, AND I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
>> ANN SIMPERS, MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL, WELCOMING US THIS MORNING FOR OUR ANNUAL UPDATE AND HIGHLIGHTS AND OUR REQUEST FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND OUR RENEWAL OF OUR LETTER OF AGREEMENT TO SERVE AS YOUR CORE SERVICE AGENCY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY. THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> NO, YOU GOT IT. YOU'RE GOOD.
YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED OUR PACKET OF INFORMATION THIS MORNING TO REFER TO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
COUPLE OF THINGS I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ABOUT MID SHORE AND JUST THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHY WE'RE HERE DURING THE MONTH OF MAY.
MAY IS ALSO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, AND IT'S BEEN CELEBRATED SINCE 1949.
THIS PAST WEEK WAS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK SPECIFICALLY.
THIS WEEK'S RECOGNITION IS IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND NEEDS.
WEEK OVER WEEK, DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HONOR DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH.
BUT REALLY, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE SERVE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE ALSO AT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HAVE THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE ALSO SERVE AS THE REGIONAL HOMELESS SERVICES HUB AND COORDINATOR.
MID SHORE IS GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE OUR 33RD ANNIVERSARY AS AN ORGANIZATION COMING UP ON JUNE 8TH, SO WE'VE BEEN HERE SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND WE APPRECIATE THIS SUPPORT.
NEXT SLIDE. ANN AND I ARE GOING TO BE COVERING OUR HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY IMPACTFUL.
I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING HIGHLIGHTS FOR MID SHORE AS A WHOLE ORGANIZATION AND THEN ANN IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME CAROLINE COUNTY SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTS.
>> FIRST OF WHICH, WE HAVE OUR MID SHORE PLANNING COLLABORATIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN IN ESTABLISHMENT NOW GOING ON SINCE FISCAL YEAR '21.
THAT'S A FORMAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ALL FIVE OF OUR LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES HERE IN THE MID-SHORE COUNTIES.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH OFFICER ROBIN CAHALL REPRESENTED THIS MORNING.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ROBIN AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH JESSICA TUEL AS THE LOCAL ADDICTIONS AUTHORITY DIRECTOR.
THAT COLLABORATIVE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY I THINK, PRODUCTIVE IN ADDRESSING THE SPECTRUM OF NEEDS RANGING FROM MENTAL HEALTH TO SUBSTANCE USE FOR THE WHOLE REGION.
WE DO OUR ANNUAL PLANNING PROCESS TOGETHER, WHICH WE JUST COMPLETED OUR FY'26 PLAN, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
IF ANYONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WE LOVE A GOOD MEETING, SO WE HOST A LOT OF THEM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SPECIFIC WORK GROUPS TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEADERSHIP OF ALICIA AND MARY, WHO WERE JUST UP HERE WITH THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
THEY HOST OUR FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH AND CIT WORK GROUP MONTHLY.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EASTERN SHORE SAFE STATION COALITION, A RESIDENTIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE ROUND TABLE ON HOMELESSNESS, OUR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT GROUP.
WE HAVE AN AUTISM WORK GROUP, WHICH IS A NEWER WORK GROUP TO THE ORGANIZATION.
AS WELL AS OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WORK GROUP AND OUR ADULT SERVICES WORK GROUP.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO OF COURSE, ADVOCATE FOR SEVERAL THINGS ACROSS THE SHORE.
WE DO HOST THE EASTERN SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COALITION, AND THAT GROUP IS COMPRISED OF NINE COUNTIES OF THE SHORE, SO IT'S NOT JUST THE FIVE COUNTIES.
THERE'S LEADERSHIP FROM ACROSS THE SHORE, WHERE WE GATHER DURING SESSION IN PARTICULAR.
BUT ANYTIME THERE'S A REAL NEED FOR SOME SPECIAL ADVOCACY PROJECTS, THAT GROUP CONVENES, AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO OUR EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION ONCE A YEAR.
[00:20:04]
THIS YEAR THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS HOSTED ON MARCH 18TH, EXCUSE ME.SOME SPECIAL THINGS THAT WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON OVER THE YEARS, AS YOU KNOW, IS JUST FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR A. F. WHITSITT CENTER.
THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ADVOCACY PROJECT FOR THAT GROUP.
THIS YEAR, WE ALSO DID SOME ADVOCACY AROUND THE SUSTAINABILITY FOR OUR MARYLAND RECOVERYNET FUNDING IN ADDITION TO PRESERVING FUNDING FOR OUR CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM IN 9-8-8.
OUR BAY BRIDGE PARTNERSHIP IS A UNIQUE ACTIVITY THAT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HAS BEEN HOSTING SINCE AUGUST OF 2020 AND THAT'S A STATEWIDE PARTNERSHIP.
MOST RECENTLY, WE INVITED LAST YEAR OUR PARTNERS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY WHO WERE IMPACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY INCIDENT.
THEY'RE NOW PART OF OUR NETWORK OF COMING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT HOW CRISIS RESPONSE AND JUST COMMUNITY RESPONSE SERVICES IN AREAS SUCH AS THE BAY BRIDGE, WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS UNFORTUNATELY, A SPOT WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS CHOOSE TO END THEIR LIFE.
WE HAVE BEEN USING THAT AS A SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION OF SORTS.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION COALITION OF THE MID SHORE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN FY'24.
THAT GROUP IS A FIVE COUNTY GROUP.
WE'RE DOING IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHANNEL MARKER.
ONE OF OUR SPECIFIC INITIATIVES THAT'S COME OUT OF THAT IS ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THE DISTRIBUTION AND AVAILABILITY OF GUNLOCKS IN THE REGION.
WE'VE DISTRIBUTED SEVERAL OF THOSE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHICH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL.
ONE OF OUR EXCITING INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT THIS COMING YEAR TO INCLUDE CAROLINE COUNTY IS THROUGH THE HUB PILOT INITIATIVE, WHICH IS THE FUNDING OUT OF THE CONSORTIUM ON COORDINATED COMMUNITY SUPPORTS, WHICH IS FUNDING TO EXPAND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE FOR OUR YOUTH ENGAGED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE THIS PAST YEAR, HAVE REPRESENTED FOUR OF THE FIVE COUNTIES.
THIS PAST DECEMBER, WE MET WITH DR. SIMMONS, AND HE HAS ENDORSED MID SHORE AS REPRESENTING CAROLINE COUNTY IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR OF THAT INITIATIVE, WHICH IS REALLY WONDERFUL.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON CAROLINE AS ANOTHER COUNTY THAT WE'LL BE REPRESENTING IN THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOMES COMING OUT OF THE WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOLS, THE COLLABORATION THERE, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THOSE FUNDS, AND THEN THE SERVICE EXPANSION.
LET'S SEE. ANOTHER REALLY EXCITING THING THAT WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THROUGH OUR ASSISTED LIVING INITIATIVE AND OUR STATE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PROGRAM.
MID SHORE IS SUPPORTING THAT PROGRAM AS ONE OF TWO SITES FOR THE STATE.
THE STATE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE INITIATIVE IS A NEWER PROGRAM THAT WE'VE TAKEN ON WITHIN THE LAST YEAR WHERE WE'RE SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN HOUSED AND INSTITUTIONALIZED IN OUR STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH TRANSITIONING OUT INTO COMMUNITY BASED SETTINGS THROUGH ASSISTED LIVING FUNDING.
WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN THE LAST YEAR 35 INDIVIDUALS OUT OF STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE AND IN CENTRAL MARYLAND, WHICH IS A HUGE SUCCESS, SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT THAT PROJECT.
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I'M SORRY.
ANN NEEDS TO GO FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
I'M GOING TO TRANSITION TO ANN AND THEN I'LL COME BACK.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE A FEW OF CAROLINE COUNTY SPECIFIC.
I KNOW KATIE'S TALKED A LOT ABOUT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ITSELF AND WHAT WE DO WITHIN THE MID SHORE.
BUT THESE ARE JUST SPECIFIC TO OUR COUNTY HERE IN CAROLINE.
THE SAFE STATION, IT LAUNCHED IN 2021, SO IT'S FOUR YEARS RUNNING NOW.
DURING OUR RECENT LOCAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNCIL MEETINGS THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH THAT, THE SAFE STATION PEER, WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO DEVELOP A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE ORGANIZED AS PART OF THE PEER WITH THE SAFE STATION.
THAT WAS REALLY A VERY BIG HIGHLIGHT FOR US, TOO, AS WELL, BECAUSE AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MENTIONED NEEDING RESOURCES ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY GO TO A CALL, LIKE, HOW CAN THEY HELP? THAT WAS BROUGHT UP THERE SO WE JUST PROBLEM SOLVED RIGHT THERE.
THEN KRISTIE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO LEAD THAT, WHICH IS, AGAIN, SHE'S OUR PEER, KRISTIE THOMPSON.
[00:25:03]
SHE ALSO SITS ON THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT COMMITTEE AS WELL.SHE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, SITS AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK.
THAT'S OUR MAIN LOCATION, BUT THEY CAN CALL MOBILE CRISIS AND BE ABLE TO REACH UP HERE AT ANY TIME TO GET SERVICES THERE.
WE SUPPORTED THE PROJECT CHESAPEAKE, THE 3.1 COME INTO OUR AREA THAT STARTED ON MARCH 24, 2025, AND THEY'RE AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH IS A MUCH NEEDED RESOURCE AND A RESOURCE FOR OUR PROBLEM SOLVING COURT, AS WELL, WHICH WAS NEEDED.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE? KATIE ALREADY MENTIONED THE HUB PILOT, SO I DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE STARTING AT FY'26.
WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE PLANNING.
SOMEBODY FROM MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS PART OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTING THE CAROLINE GOES PURPLE, WHICH WE COLLABORATE WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE HOST THE PURPLE EVENTS SPORTING NIGHT.
THIS PAST YEAR, IT WAS A VOLLEYBALL GAME, AND IT WAS COLONEL AND NORTH HIGH TOGETHER.
THEY DID A PURPLE NIGHT FOR THAT GAME.
JUST THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, WE HOSTED CAROLINE COUNTY.
I SAY WE BECAUSE I AM A COUNTY MEMBER, AS WELL.
WE HOSTED THE GOING PURPLE TOGETHER EVENT, WHICH MANY OF YOU ATTENDED THAT, WHICH WAS A REALLY NICE EVENT.
WE ALSO DO THE MEMORY WALK, WHICH IS TO HONOR LOVED ONES THAT HAVE PASSED AND ALSO A PLACE FOR THOSE LOVED ONES TO REMEMBER THOSE LOVED ONES THAT THEY LOST.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT THIS PAST YEAR AND THAT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS.
WE'VE DONE THAT FOR THREE YEARS NOW, AND WE DO PLAN TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
NO, YOU DIDN'T. MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EVERY YEAR DOES THE POINT-IN-TIME WHERE THEY GO AROUND TO THE COUNTIES AND COUNT THE UNHOUSED POPULATION.
THIS POINT IN TIME COUNT REVEALED 195 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS THAT EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, 179 SHELTERED AND 16 UNSHELTERED.
PROBLEM SOLVING COURT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, SO I DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THAT, BUT EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO MENTION WAS MENTIONED BY MICHELLE, SO I WILL BYPASS THAT.
LET'S SEE. IN CAROLINE COUNTY, MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ANNUALLY DOES A VOLUNTEER DAY.
THIS PAST YEAR WE DID IT WITH POSITIVE STRIDES, WHICH IS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
WE DID LOTS OF, WE HELPED WITH THEM WITH THEIR CLEANING THEIR GROUNDS AND JUST GETTING THINGS UP AND RUNNING AND BEAUTIFYING A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN I THINK THEY EVEN HAD AN EVENT A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THAT.
IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE BACK THERE.
ONE OTHER THING FOR CAROLINE COUNTY I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THROUGH THE PUBLIC BEHAVIOR HEALTH SYSTEM, CAROLINE COUNTY HAS SERVED 1,050 RESIDENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE.
>> THIS IS JUST SUBSTANCE USE. I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT SO.
>> THAT'S FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND THEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH-
>> WAS 2,369 SERVED IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> FOR MENTAL HEALTH, THAT WAS 7% OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY POPULATION AND FOR SUBSTANCE USE 3%.
WE'VE TOUCHED ON SEVERAL OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE DO PRIORITIZE OUR INITIATIVES AND HOW WE GET OUT AND CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S A NEWER INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE TAKEN ON JUST IN THIS LAST SIX MONTHS, WHICH IS THE CRISIS INTERCEPT MAPPING INITIATIVE, AND THAT IS A SPECIFIC INITIATIVE FOCUSING ON VETERANS SPECIFIC SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT VETERANS IN CRISIS.
WE HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER LEADERSHIP SERVING THE VETERAN POPULATION IN EITHER A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE OR COMMUNITY CAPACITY.
OR CRISIS RESPONSE PROVIDER AND SERVICES THAT ARE EARMARKED IN THE REGION THAT ARE IDENTIFIED JUST FOR INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVICE CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS.
THAT IS A PROCESS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT, AND IT'S AN INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING ON STATEWIDE.
I THINK MID SHORE WAS, I THINK THE FOURTH JURISDICTION IN THE STATE TO BE MAPPED.
ONCE WE GET THE FORMAL OUTCOME OF THAT, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE IT.
NEXT SLIDE. I KNOW ANN TOUCHED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WILL GIVE ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO OUR FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP.
WE THIS PAST YEAR, HOSTED OUR 11TH SEQUENTIAL INTERCEPT MAPPING CONFERENCE,
[00:30:02]
AND WE WOULD WELCOME YOU ALL WITH PARTICIPATING IN THAT.WE HOST THAT ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN NOVEMBER.
THIS PAST YEAR'S THEME WAS LOOKING AT THE AGING POPULATION AND HOW WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR THEM.
THE SEQUENTIAL INTERCEPT MODEL AND MAPPING PROCESS LOOKS AT HOW INDIVIDUALS MOVE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM COMMUNITY TO INCARCERATION, AND THEN BACK OUT TO COMMUNITY AND REALLY LOOKS TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSION AND INCREASED TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PARTICULAR THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE NEEDS.
WE'VE BEEN HAPPY TO HOST THAT FOR 11 YEARS NOW.
THIS COMING WEEK, I KNOW THERE'LL BE LEADERSHIP REPRESENTED FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, PROBLEM SOLVING COURT, CIRCUIT COURT, OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS, AS WELL AS MID SHORE, WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING AT A STATE SUMMIT ON THE SAME MODEL.
THE STATE'S REALLY LOOKING AT HOW THE SEQUENTIAL INTERCEPT MODEL CAN HELP ENHANCE COMMUNITIES WITH DIVERTING INDIVIDUALS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, HOSTED OUR 14TH ANNUAL ACROSS THE LIFESPAN CONFERENCE.
OUR THEME THIS YEAR WAS WELLNESS PROMOTION, AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.
IN THIS PAST FEBRUARY, WE HOSTED OUR SECOND BEYOND INCLUSION CONFERENCE, AND OUR THEME THIS PAST YEAR WAS BUILDING BRIDGES AND BREAKING BARRIERS.
I THINK ANN'S GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT GOING PURPLE TOGETHER BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT. NEXT SLIDE.
>> I THINK, THIS SLIDE IT'S GOT LOTS OF PICTURES.
IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING IT IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY I LIVE IN.
IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THERE.
TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT, THERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THERE THAT SPOKE AT THE EVENT.
SHE WAS A PROBLEM SOLVING GRADUATE AND IS NOW WORKING WITH JESSICA TUEL AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THAT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AS WELL.
OUR SAFE STATION PEER IS THERE AS WELL.
JUST WE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATED THERE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS THERE, PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
WE HAD A COUPLE, ON I THINK THE FIRST SLIDE, DANA WAS THERE AND ALSO [INAUDIBLE] WERE THERE FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
IT WAS JUST A GREAT EVENT, AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO HOST IT IN OUR COUNTY.
I DID FORGET TO ADD ONE THING THAT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HOUSE SERVES AS THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE PRIMARY FACILITATOR FOR THE DRUG FREE CAROLINE COALITION, THE LOCAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNCIL, AND WE'VE DONE THAT SINCE 2015.
WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LEADERSHIPS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE MONTHLY MEETING AND BY MONTHLY EMAILS THAT ARE SENT OUT AS WELL.
WE ARE HOPING FOR YOUR ENDORSEMENT FOR OUR FY'26 PLAN.
>> WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM OUR LETTER OF AGREEMENT.
IF WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP, WE CAN ON THAT.
I THINK OUR LAST SLIDE IS JUST THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US WHILE WE'RE HERE, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE SLIDE.
>> THAT'S IN CAROLINE COUNTY AS WELL.
>> WE HOSTED OUR STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH AT CAROLINE'S THIS PAST FALL.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST A QUICK EXPLANATION OF HOW YOU ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
SOMETIMES TO ME, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEAL WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU INTERACT WITH THEM? HOW DO YOU INTERACT WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT?
>> WELL AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MID SHORE, WE HAVE A COLLABORATIVE THROUGH THE MID SHORE.
>> HOW THOUGH? WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> WELL, WE MEET TOGETHER AT LEAST MONTHLY.
WE DO OUR ANNUAL PLANNING TOGETHER.
I KNOW JESSICA TUEL AND I ARE IN COMMUNICATION AT LEAST DAILY, IF NOT EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK AND ROBIN AS WELL.
WE ALL ARE REPRESENTED BY THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITY SO WE DO COLLABORATIVE WORK TOGETHER AS ENTITIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
IN TERMS OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, WE HAVE OUR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE HAVE OUR ROUND TABLE ON HOMELESSNESS, WHICH MEETS AT LEAST MONTHLY, AND WE HAVE THREE TEAM MEMBERS AT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I UNDERSTAND ABOUT MEETINGS.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, FOR EXAMPLE,
[00:35:02]
WE HAVE HIS HOPE. DO YOU WORK WITH THEM?>> YES. OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE LEADERSHIP HAVE A MUCH CLOSER RELATIONSHIP ON A ROUTINE BASIS WITH THEM.
WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH OUR HOMELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS.
>> MAYBE WE CAN TALK BECAUSE I'M STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED HOW ALL OF THIS COMES TOGETHER.
BUT DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE WHITSITT CENTER?
>> WHAT'S GOING ON? I KNOW THE WHITSITT CENTER WAS ON THE LIST OF BUILDINGS TO BE CLOSED.
I'VE GONE TO A COUPLE OF MEETINGS.
>> IT WAS REMOVED TWO YEARS AGO FROM THE DIVESTITURE.
>> THAT WAS THE WITZ CENTER HAD BEEN IN THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT, I WANT TO SAY, SEPTEMBER OF 2021.
THERE WAS A PLAN FOR UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION FOR LOOKING AT STATE FACILITIES ACROSS THE BOARD.
THE WITZ CENTER WAS ACTUALLY NAMED AS ONE OF THE FIVE OR SIX FACILITIES IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE DIVESTITURE, WHICH WOULD BE HAPPENING IN FY 24-26.
AS SOON AS THAT REPORT CAME OUT, WE SWIFTLY ENGAGED OUR LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE SHORE TO REALLY ADVOCATE AND EDUCATE YOU ALL AROUND JUST THE EXTREME VALUE THAT THE FACILITY HAS AND WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO THROUGH THOSE ADVOCACY EFFORTS, NOT ONLY HAVE THE FACILITY REMOVED FROM THE DIVESTITURE LIST, BUT GOVERNOR MOORE, VERY EARLY IN HIS TENURE, EARMARKED $4,000,000 TO GO TOWARDS SOME INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTS.
THE FACILITY IS OVER 40-YEARS-OLD.
THINGS LIKE THE BOILER HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED.
IT'S BEEN WORKED ON, BUT IT'S IN DESPERATE NEED OF ACTUAL FULL REPLACEMENT, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OTHER FACILITY NEEDS.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE WORK, I BELIEVE WILL BE STARTING OFFICIALLY THIS SUMMER, AND IS EARMARKED TO BE DONE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY OF THIS YEAR FOR THE FACILITY ENHANCEMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK RECENTLY.
WITH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION TO ADVOCATE FOR AND CONSIDER HOW WE CAN DIVERSIFY SERVICES THAT ARE BEING RENDERED OUT OF THE BUILDING.
ON APRIL 4TH, WE HOSTED OUR DEPUTY SECRETARY, ALYSSA LORD, FROM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM FROM CRISIS SERVICES AND CLINICAL SERVICES TO TOUR THE FACILITY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN MIND THAT WE COULD LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN AND LIKE I SAID, DIVERSIFY HOW THE BUILDING IS SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRENGTHS OF THE FACILITY ITSELF IS THAT IT'S BEEN THERE SO LONG IN THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY'S REALLY EMBRACED THE BUILDING AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON THERE.
WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY, WE DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF THE STATE OPIOID RESPONSE GRANT THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S THREE YEARS.
HOPEFULLY FEDERAL FUNDING THAT IS SUPPORTING 12 CRISIS BEDS AT THE AF WITT CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED ADMISSION FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT FOR OPIOIDS OR STIMULANTS.
MOST OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS DO TRANSITION OVER TO THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SIDE FOR LONGER TREATMENT.
IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN FANTASTIC.
>> BUT THAT'S IN THE EXISTING FACILITY THAT'S NOW.
ABOUT HALF THE BUILDING IS STILL IN USE.
>> I WOULD SAY MORE THAN HALF.
THERE IS ONE WING OF THE BUILDING, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH, WHICH IS THE FORMER CARTER CENTER SPACE.
WHICH THE CARTER CENTER FORMERLY.
>> IS FOR THAT TO BE A YOUTH CRISIS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLEXITIES IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET AND WHO'S REALLY ON FIRST FOR WHO CAN GIVE THE THUMBS UP FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT SPACE, BUT WE'RE TALKING JUST AS OF THE MORNING OF MAY 2ND, I HAD A MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND SEVERAL PARTNERS ON THE EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR THAT PART OF THE BUILDING.
>> I ATTENDED THE MEETINGS THERE WHERE YOU HAD ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
SURE. THAT WERE THERE. I KNOW AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO WOULD ACTUALLY END UP OWNING THE BUILDING?
>> OR WHO THE PROVIDER WOULD BE BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY THAT CAN FIX THE BUILDING UP, BUT YOU NEED A PROVIDERS.
>> EXACTLY. THE STATE STILL OWNS THE BUILDING.
[00:40:04]
>> BUT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION THERE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE KENT COUNTY ON.
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT, THAT CONVERSATION IS NOT ON THE TABLE.
>> RIGHT NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO THAT MEETING WAS, BUT WHEN WE LEFT, EVERYBODY WAS ALL, ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.
>> THE STATE IS THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING.
THAT'S BEEN REINFORCED THROUGH THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FORMER CARTER CENTER SPACE IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE THE STATE DOES OWN THE BUILDING.
THAT FIREWALLS, WHAT RESOURCES CAN BE ALLOCATED TO PAY FOR ANY INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES, DECISIONS BEING MADE.
THERE'S A LOT OF ADVOCACY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ON DOING SOMETHING WITH THAT SPACE.
IT'S WE HAVEN'T LANDED ANYWHERE.
THE CONVERSATION IS VERY ACTIVE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE ARE PART OF THAT IN OUR REPRESENTATION AND OUR ROLE WITH KENT COUNTY, AND ALSO MORE SPECIFICALLY RECENTLY, JUST OUR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY LEADERSHIP, I KNOW, IS VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SPACE.
IF I HAVE FORMAL UPDATES ON WHAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAPPEN, I WILL HAPPILY SHARE, BUT RIGHT NOW.
>> WE RECEIVED AN E MAIL LAST WEEK THAT BASICALLY LAID IN.
IS IT TRUE THAT SOME YOUTH THAT ARE ADMITTED TO ERS ARE WAITING UP TO 20 DAYS FOR PLACEMENT IN PSYCHIATRIC?
>> THAT'S TRUE ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND UNFORTUNATELY.
>> THEY'RE ADMITTED INTO AN ER AND LEFT IN AN ER FOR 20 DAYS BUT ARE WAITING FOR A PSYCHIATRIC WHERE.
>> MOST OF THOSE YOUTH ARE AWAITING A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PLACEMENT, WHICH THE LAST RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PLACEMENT WE HAD ON THE EASTERN SHORE CLOSED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016, THAT WAS IN CAMBRIDGE, THAT WAS ADVENTIST HEALTH.
SINCE THEN, THE EASTERN SHORE HAS NOT HAD A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS A COMPLEX SERVICE TO LIFT UP BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF ALSO REQUIRING AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT, WHICH OFTEN FALLS BACK ON THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE TREATMENT FACILITY RESIDES.
YOUTH THAT ARE USUALLY IN THOSE SITUATIONS THAT ARE BEING HELD FOR THOSE REALLY LIKE UNGODLY AMOUNTS OF TIME.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT NO ONE WANTS TO EXPERIENCE THAT REGARDLESS OF YOUR AGE, BUT ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A YOUNG PERSON, THAT IS HAPPENING UNFORTUNATELY EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND NATIONALLY, BUT MARYLAND HAS A PRETTY POOR TRACK RECORD FOR THAT IN PARTICULAR.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY, IN THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PASSED LEGISLATION FOR THERE TO BE A HOSPITAL OVERSTAY, REALLY, LIKE ACTION COMMITTEE THAT'S LOOKING AT THIS MORE SPECIFICALLY.
I KNOW THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT IT'S NOT GOING UNNOTICED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE MEANTIME, IT'S CREATING A RESOURCE TO HELP DIVERT THESE INDIVIDUALS AND SUPPORT THEM WHILE THEY'RE WAITING PLACEMENT.
IT'S VERY COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE FUNDING CLIMATE RIGHT NOW IS STRESSED AND WORKFORCE.
>> SURE WAY TO NOT GET ANYTHING DONE IS TO APPOINT A COMMITTEE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT. THE COMMITTEES WILL MEET AND DO NOTHING. I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU MENTIONED THE HOMELESS COUNT.
IN THE COUNTY, DID YOU ACTUALLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS PEOPLE?
>> WHAT HAPPENS ANNUALLY, AND THIS IS NATIONALLY? THERE IS A DAY THAT'S RECOGNIZED, BUT THE WEEKS SURROUNDING IT ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO CAPTURE HOMELESS DATA.
THE POINT IN TIME IS AN ANNUALIZED REQUIREMENT FOR ANY JURISDICTION TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
FUNDING THROUGH THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE THE ENTIRE STATE OR ENTIRE NATION TO DO A POINT IN TIME COUNTING.
EVERYBODY DOES IT ON THE SAME DAY OF THE YEAR ACROSS THE NATION.
IT IS WHERE WE PHYSICALLY GO OUT.
WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS.
WE COUNT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY RESIDING IN OUR SHELTERS, BUT YOU HAVE TO MEET THE CRITERIA OF BEING LITERALLY HOMELESS.
NOT STAYING AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SOMEWHERE, LIKE, LITERALLY HOMELESS.
WE GO OUT AND MEET PEOPLE IN THE SHELTERS, WE HAVE PROVIDERS THAT FILL OUT THE FORMS WITH INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS A GREAT PARTNER IN THAT.
WE HAVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT ARE ALSO YOU KNOW INTERVIEWING STUDENTS, AND WE TAKE THE COUNT.
SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON THE YEAR, WE'VE YIELDED DIFFERENT NUMBERS, AND A LOT OF ELEMENTS COME INTO PLAY WITH THAT.
WEATHER IMPACTS IT VISIBILITY,
[00:45:06]
IF WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A COMMUNITY THAT'S RESIDING IN A CERTAIN ENCAMPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE.WE KNOW WHERE THOSE PLACES ARE, BUT WE DO TRY OUR BEST TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAN HELP GUIDE US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE WITHOUT THE COUNT, WE CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR OUR FUNDING THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL GETTING THROUGH THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
A LOT OF THAT'S ON THE TABLE IN THE FEDERAL CLIMATE.
BUT THE POINT IN TIME IS OUR ONE WAY TO LIFT THE VOICE UP OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CAPTURE 100%.
THAT'S VERY CHALLENGING, BUT WE REALLY TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO GET OUT THERE AND GET THOSE.
>> WHAT WERE THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN?
>> EXCUSE ME. THERE'S A PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> I PARTICIPATE ON THE ROUND TABLE, HOMELESSNESS.
>> THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE NUMBER IN?
>> SHE SERVED AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY ON OUR ROUND TABLE ON HOMELESSES.
SHE IS A VOICE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SERVING.
>> THERE'S A COMMENT PERIOD AT THE END, MA'AM.
YOU HAD YOUR SHOT EARLIER AND YOU TOOK SHOTS AT ME IN QUESTION MY HUMANITY.
YOU CAN RESERVE AND YOU CAN HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO IT AGAIN AT THE END.
OTHERWISE, SIT THERE OR YOU'LL BE REMOVED. THANK YOU.
>> IT REVEALED 195 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, 175 SHELTERED AND 16 UNSHELTERED.
>> SHELTERED WOULD MEAN THAT THERE, IN HIS HOPE OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT,16 UNSHELTERED?
>> KATIE, I SEE THE AWARDS TO THE FIVE COUNTIES HAS GONE 16-21 MILLION FROM FY 24-25.
ARE YOU PROJECTING CUTS FOR FY 26? DON'T KNOW. HARD TO SAY?
>> HARD TO SAY. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THINGS WILL BE PRESERVED TO THE EXTENT THEY CAN BE, BUT ABOUT ALMOST 50% OF OUR FUNDING IS FEDERAL.
>> THE FIVE MILLION INCREASE 24-25, THAT WAS OVER FIVE COUNTIES.
IS THAT USED TO SUPPORT AARON'S PLACE AND HIS HOPE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
>> WE HAVE PART OF OUR FUNDING, AND I CAN GET YOU A MORE SPECIFIC BUDGET IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IS MONEY THAT IS EARMARKED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE.
WE DO GET FUNDING THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE ARE STATE GENERAL DOLLARS COMING THROUGH DHCD.
THOSE TWO ENTITIES ARE SUPPORTING OUR HOMELESS SERVICES.
HIS HOPE DOES RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH US.
WE DO NOT FUND AARON'S PLACE, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THEM AS PART OF OUR ROUNDTABLE ON HOMELESSNESS.
THE COMPETITIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS PROGRAM IS THAT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.
WE PUT THAT OUT EVERY YEAR FOR BID.
WE JUST CLOSED THAT ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR APPLICATION.
>> YOU HELP ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS FILL OUT THE APPLICATIONS.
>> IT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
THEY APPLY TO US, AND THEN WE INCLUDE IT IN THE BIGGER APPLICATIONS.
>> BUT THEY HAVE TO REQUEST THE MONEY.
THE ORGANIZATION HAS TO REQUEST THE MONEY.
FROM YOU, AND THERE'S SOME PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH TO DO.
>> THEN WE DO RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING.
A LOT OF OUR FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT OUR INDIVIDUALS FACING HOMELESSNESS IS TO SUPPORT THEM IN, LIKE, APARTMENT OR HOMES, AND WE PAY FOR 100% OF THEIR RENT AND THEIR UTILITIES AND THEY'RE ENGAGED IN CASE MANAGEMENT THE WHOLE TIME.
THERE'S A PORTION OF THE FUNDING REPRESENTED IN THAT SCALING THAT YOU SEE THAT'S JUST FOR OUR HOMELESS SERVICES, AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS SPECIFIC FOR OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE.
COMES TO MID SHORE TO OPERATE GETS PROCURED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
>> MOST OF THIS GOES OUT AND IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> ALL GOING TO THE COMMUNITY.
>> WE'VE GONE FROM 2,019.8 MILLION TO 20,521 MILLION.
IT'S BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE.
>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE VERY PROGRESSIVE AND ASSERTIVE WITH SEEKING OUT FUNDING WHERE THERE IS FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
WHICH RIGHT NOW IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW.
>> WHAT ROLE DOES SOCIAL SERVICES PLAY IN THIS? IF ANY.
[00:50:02]
>> WELL, SOCIAL SERVICES WE COLLABORATE WITH THEM IS LIKE WE'RE A LOCAL CORE SERVICE AGENCY.
THEY'RE SERVING THE SOCIAL WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN SAID RESPONSIBILITIES.
>> I'M THE COMMISSIONER REMEMBER ON THE SOCIAL SERVICE.
WE'RE WORKING WITH SOCIAL SERVICES ALL THE TIME.
>> I KNOW. I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER AND HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DUPLICATING MONEY THAT GOES SOMEWHERE.
>> TRUST ME. WE'RE TRYING TO ADVOCATES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT.
>> I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
>> WELL, I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND REALLY WALK THROUGH HOW ALL THE SYSTEMS WORK TOGETHER AND HOW WE HAVE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES AND UNIQUE FUNDING?
>> I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER REPORTER IS GETTING AT IS, WE GET ALL THESE REQUESTS.
WE GET REQUESTS FROM AARON'S PLACE, BECAUSE ALL IT IS, YOU COME IN AND YOU REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY.
WE DON'T HAVE A GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS.
IS THERE OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE FUNDING STREAMS THAT THEY COULD BE TAPPING INTO? BUT IT'S JUST A LITTLE MORE ONEROUS THAN JUST SHOWING UP AT A COMMISSION MEETING AND SAYING, CAN I HAVE 5,000 OR $20,000, WHICH, WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH IS, IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO THESE 501 PERSONALLY, THEN BY ALL MEANS, I DO IT.
I PUT MONEY IN OFFERING PLATE EVERY SUNDAY, WHICH GOES TO A CHURCH, THAT GOES TO FOOD BANK OR WHATEVER TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THE REASON THE GRANT PROCESS IS THE WAY IT IS IS SO THAT THE STATE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE SURE THE MONEY GOES WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO, CORRECT? AND THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEING IMPACTFUL.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THAT SYSTEM.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS THAT I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN BUILDING ANOTHER BUREAUCRACY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL IF THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY DOING IT.
IF THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAN TAP IN THOSE DOLLARS WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.
>> SURE. PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THAT'S COMING UP, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE A SOURCE OF HELPING TO NAVIGATE THAT, REALLY. WE'RE HERE.
>> CONTACT US TO TALK THROUGH WHAT IS AND HOW WE COULD SUPPORT, STEERING THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND GET THE FUNDING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT FUNDING ALL THE TIME, AND WE COULD APPLY OR WE COULD NOT APPLY AND SOMEBODY ELSE COULD APPLY.
I'VE MADE A NOTE OF IT SINCE CAROLINE COUNTY IS THE COUNTY THAT I REPRESENT.
IF I SEE ANY GRANTS THAT MAYBE ERIN'S PLACE COULD APPLY FOR IS GETTING THEM THAT INFORMATION.
WE'RE HAPPY. IF THAT IS COMING UP, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO JUST LET US KNOW.
>> ANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, THAT WE HAVE SO MANY GOOD ONES YOU HOPE.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY, NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT I WANT THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAPPING IN TO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE BEFORE THEY COME TO US.
WHO WE DON'T HAVE A MECHANISM TO AUDIT.
THESE ARE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS, TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE MONEY IS SPENT ON.
I THINK THEY ALL SPEND IT PROPERLY, BUT THEY MAY TAKE IT AND JUMP ON A JET AND GO TO THE BAHAMAS ON A VACATION.
I DON'T I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IF THE DOLLARS ARE THERE, LET'S TAP INTO THE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS. MR. BARTZ.
>> TO ELABORATE ON HE ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT THE 21 MILLION WITH YOUR BUDGET.
>> TO ELABORATE ON COMMISSIONER PORTERS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS, I COUNTED UP HERE THERE WAS 50 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE OVERALL.
MY THING IS, HOW DO YOU KEEP A FINGER ON PULSE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE SPEND MOST OF DAY DOING.
>> IT'S NOT A TRICK QUESTION. BUT YOU HAVE 50 THINGS HERE.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE'S WORKING, WHICH ONE'S NOT WORKING? IT'S ABUNDANT.
IT'S NOT SERVING WHERE IT SHOULD BE SERVING.
THAT MONEY SHOULD GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> EACH PROGRAM THAT WE SPECIFICALLY MONITOR, AND PROCURE DOLLARS THROUGH.
WE HAVE A VERY STRINGENT CONTRACTING PROCESS, DELIVERABLE PROCESS, STATEMENT OF WORK THAT WE AGREE TO UPHOLD TO THE STATE.
WE MONITOR, REPORT, MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, WE GET FINANCIALS, WE GET THEIR FINANCIAL AUDITING, WE GO OUT AND DO SITE VISITS.
IF THERE'S A CONCERN ANYWHERE ALONG THE WAY, IF THE DATA IS SHOWING THAT THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, WE'RE LIKE, HOLD UP, WE GOT TO REGROUP HERE.
WHAT'S WORKING? WHAT'S NOT WORKING? THAT IS REALLY WHERE WE SPEND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OUR TIME ORGANIZATIONALLY IS IN OUR MONITORING FOR QUALITY.
[00:55:06]
THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, WE WORK WITH THE VENDOR, AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE AGREE THAT WE MAY NEED TO PUT SOMETHING BACK OUT FOR BID IF IT'S JUST NOT WORKING.
OR IF THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT UNFORTUNATELY, HAS REACHED A POINT WHERE THE NEEDS HAVE SHIFTED RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO REPURPOSE THE MONEY, REPURPOSE THE PROGRAMMING.
THERE'S A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT WE SPEND A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME ON DATA COLLECTION, MONITORING FOR ETHICAL PRACTICES AND UTILIZATION.
THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF REPORTING THAT'S REQUIRED FROM THE PROVIDERS TO US, AND THEN WE HAVE TO ALSO REPORT THAT UP.
>> WHO DO YOU REPORT IT TO? STATE, FEDERAL?
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION HERE.
IF HOMELESSNESS IS AN ISSUE, BECAUSE WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.
IT WAS LIKE, WHY IS IT WE HAVE SO MUCH THIS AND THAT? ONE OF OUR BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS SAY IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING.
>> WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS TO EXPLAIN. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT YES.
>> I'M NOT SAYING AFFORDABILITY.
>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A BIG ISSUE. YES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. IT'S NOT ALL AFFORDABILITY.
>> TO ANSWER AFFORDABILITY PART OF IT BEING YOU HAVE THE DATA OR YOU SEE THE DATA, PEOPLE THAT COME TO THIS DEMISE.
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE STATE MANDATES THAT TO BUILD A HOUSE, EVEN TO GET A HOME? RENTS ARE TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S JUST THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
>> WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THE STATE WE FEEL, AND I THINK I CAN FAIRLY SAY THAT WE FEEL THE STATE HAS CAUSED THE ISSUE WITH THEIR MANDATES ON WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO EVEN BUILD A HOUSE.
THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THE HOUSE THAT ARE RENTING THE HOUSES HAS SPENT ALL THIS MONEY AND THEY'RE CAPTURING AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU, IS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU COME ACROSS IN YOUR DATA WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, IS THERE A PERCENTAGE TO SAY, HEY, IT'S AFFORDABILITY PROCESS OR IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH OR SOCIAL ISSUES THAT IMPACTED MY LIFE? THAT'S THE DATA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND JUST WE DON'T SEEM TO GET THAT.
THAT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK US ALL THE TIME AND OUR FIRST THING IS, WELL, THE STATE CAUSES THE PRICES TO BE WHAT THEY ARE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY.
IT'S A LOT OF SOCIAL ISSUES AS WELL.
>> THERE'S A LOT THAT IS AT PLAY HERE.
>> WE'D LIKE TO KNOW A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT REALLY CAUSES THESE ISSUES.
>> WELL, IT'S IMMIGRATION, TOO, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE MOVED INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT TAKE ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE DO HAVE. [INAUDIBLE] DISPLACING OTHER PEOPLE.
>> I THINK THE AFFORDABILITY IS A DRIVING FACTOR PROBABLY ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> THERE DEFINITELY ARE A LOT OF OTHER ELEMENTS FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY CERTAINLY.
>> THAT'S THE ONE THING WE HEAR THE MOST.
THAT'S WHY I'M JUST ASKING BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DATA AND OTHER INFORMATION, AND YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE HOMELESS MOST OF THE TIME.
IT MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO THIS CONVERSATION, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS WITH HOW THEY DETERMINE THE FUNDING THAT COMES TO COMMUNITIES IS THAT THEY LOOK AT THE COST OF LIVING BY AREA.
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU FALL IN THE REGION, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT ALLOCATION FOR WHAT RESOURCES THEY'LL GIVE TO OUR ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN APPROPRIATELY HOUSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE FUNDING FOR.
WE HAVE AN EARMARKED AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND SLOTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE PLACED IN HOUSING.
THAT DOLLAR SHIFTS BASED ON WHAT THE TRENDS IN THE MARKET ARE SHOWING, AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING UP.
IT'S GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. BUT I THINK ONE THING WE'RE ALSO SEEING WE'RE ACTIVELY IN A REGIONAL ACROSS THE LIFESPAN NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
WE'RE CONDUCTING THAT RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY CONCLUDES AT THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
WE ARE SEEING THAT THE NUMBER 1 THING THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A CONCERN IS THE COST OF LIVING.
THAT'S FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HOUSED, NOT HOUSE JUST EVERYONE I THINK IS APPRECIATING THIS CRISIS THAT WE'RE ON THE EDGE OF AND ACTIVELY IN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER.
YES, THAT'S AN AREA WE NEED TO REALLY GET BEHIND.
[01:00:03]
>> WELL, ONE THING, AND THIS IS A BIT OFF TOPIC, BUT WHEN I RIDE THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND I SEE ON A PROPERTY MULTIPLE CAMPERS THAT ARE SET UP, THAT SENDS ME UP A RED LIGHT SOMEWHERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING THAT ISN'T THAT YOU'RE NOT READY FOR.
>> THE MONEY THAT COMES, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM DHCD TO THE MID SHORE, DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS SPENT IN EACH COUNTY?
>> OR IS THERE A REQUIREMENT FOR EACH MONEY? HOW IS THAT ALLOCATED, I GUESS?
>> THAT IS WE OPEN IT UP AS OPEN PROCUREMENT FOR ANY OF THE FIVE COUNTIES THEN.
WE HAVE A REVIEW PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE ALLOCATION REQUESTS AND REVIEWING THOSE RFP REQUESTS.
IT'S PRETTY. THERE IS SOME VARIABILITY, BUT I CAN PROVIDE YOU THE CAROLINE COUNTY INFORMATION IF YOU'D LIKE.
HAPPY TO DO THAT. THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT EVERY YEAR, WE'RE LIKE, OH, I HOPE THEY DON'T GET TOUCHED BECAUSE THEY'RE NEWER FUNDS.
>> IT WAS $5 MILLION INCREASE 2024-2025.
>> MOST OF THAT FUNDING IS ACTUALLY FOR THAT STATE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE INITIATIVE AND OUR STATE OPIOID RESPONSE GRANT.
>> THE DHCD MONEY HASN'T CHANGED TOO MUCH.
WHEN WE ALWAYS APPLY FOR BONUS MONEY [INAUDIBLE].
WHEN YOU HAVE AVAILABLE FOR FY 26, IT GOES ON ALL YEAR, YOU APPLY ALL YEAR.
>> I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION GIVEN THE CLIMATE IN RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY CANDID MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION LAST FRIDAY.
IN TERMS OF LANGUAGE THAT WILL COME IN OUR AGREEMENTS THIS COMING YEAR, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES WITH THE FEDERAL CLIMATE, THAT THERE UNFORTUNATELY COULD BE A SITUATION WHERE MIDSTREAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION.
THEY CAN ALLOCATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT TO US RIGHT NOW AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY.
BUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT GET FOLDED INTO THAT FEDERAL BUDGET HIT AROUND OCTOBER, AND THERE'S SOME ASSUMPTION THERE, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS THAT THERE MAY BE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS COMING BECAUSE OF REDUCTIONS.
I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE IN HOW WE LOOK AHEAD.
>> WELL, THERE MAY BE BUDGET REDUCTIONS COMING BECAUSE OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, ONE THING THAT IMPACTED OUR WHOLE PROVIDER COMMUNITY.
WELL, AND MEDICAID'S ANOTHER QUESTION.
WE'RE REPRESENTING THE PROVIDERS THAT ALSO SERVE THE PUBLIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM SPACE, WHICH ARE MEDICAID PROVIDERS.
YEAR OVER YEAR, IT DOESN'T GET ANY CHEAPER TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUSTAIN WORKFORCE, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IS REALLY HARD TO FIND AND SUSTAIN.
THERE WAS A 1% ALLOCATION THAT HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AND THE GOVERNOR REMOVED IT ON APRIL 2.
IT HAD GONE THROUGH AND THEN IT GOT PULLED AT THE LAST MINUTE.
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S BEEN ABOUT THREE OR 4%, BUT THIS YEAR, IT'S FLAT FUNDED.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE OUR PROVIDER NETWORK IS ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED, TOO.
>> I'M HAPPY TO MEET AND WE CAN WALK THROUGH YOUR EARLIER QUESTION.
>> WELL, ANY IMPACTS ON CAROLINE, I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY HARD FOR YOU TO DECIPHER HOW IT AFFECTS EACH COUNTY OR BREAK OUT HOW IT AFFECTS EACH COUNTY INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT IF THERE'S ANY MAJOR GRANT REDUCTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT, DO YOU COME ACROSS PLEASE SEND IT TO ME.
>> WE CAN DO WHAT WE CAN TO TRY TO EITHER PREVENT IT OR REINSTATE THOSE FUNDS. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT.
WALTER HERE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]?
>> NO. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF YOUR WORDING AND THAT'S A GOOD THING AGREE AND DISAGREEING IN THE COMMUNITY I WOULD SAY IT'S GOOD.
BECAUSE WHEN EVERYBODY AGREES, THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY IN SOME OF YOUR STATEMENTS HERE.
BUT I THINK AT THE END OF DAY YOU MAKE A OVERALL IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I'M GOOD.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> WELL, WITH THAT THEN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE
[01:05:03]
THE FY26 COURSE SERVICE AGENCY LETTER OF AGREEMENT.>> MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE GUYS HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
KATIE, YOU SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER DOCUMENT THAT WE [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'VE HAD AN ANNUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO ADMINISTER YOUR LOCAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN TODAY'S MATERIAL, WHICH WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON.
>> CAN WE APPROVE IT NEXT WEEK OVER [INAUDIBLE]?
>> JUST FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF AND GET THAT TO JEN.
>> SURE. WE'LL GET IT TO JEN. THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL ADD IT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR NEXT.
>> THANK YOU. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> COULD WE HAVE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS?
>> IT'S LIKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
[01:11:16]
>> I'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
[Robin Cahall, Health Officer, Health Department]
WHICH IS ROBYN K HALL, HEALTH OFFICER WITH CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CONVENE AS BOARD OF HEALTH.
>> A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT, AND TURN IT OVER TO ROBIN. GOOD MORNING.
BEFORE I START WITH MY PRESENTATION, I WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN OUR PARTNERSHIP.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE WORK TOGETHER.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
ONE OF THE THINGS OVER THE LAST YEAR, MAYBE 18 MONTHS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM IS A FEE FOR SERVICE SYSTEM.
WE DO BILL FOR SOME COMMERCIAL INSURANCES AS WELL.
THE PUBLIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM MEDICAID HAD TRANSITIONED TO A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE COMPANY CALLED CAROLINE, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU BILL THROUGH THIS COMPANY OR SERVICE, I SHOULD SAY, AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT WE HAD HAD IN THE PAST.
THE TRANSITION TO THAT IS OFTEN QUITE A LIFT.
MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN REPRESENTING AND ADVOCATING FOR PROVIDERS WHO ARE FEE FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THAT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT TO US THAT WE HAD SOMEONE AS A VOICE AT THE TABLE FOR US.
AS YOU KNOW, AS STATE EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN TERMS OF WE CAN'T LOBBY.
WHEREAS MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THAT, WHICH IS A HUGE HELP TO US.
THEY SERVE AS OUR COURSE SERVICE AGENCY, WHICH THEY HAD MENTIONED BEFORE.
ANOTHER ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GRANT WRITING AND HOW THEY ASSIST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK ONE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE RECENT OPENING OF A RECOVERY HOME SPECIFIC FOR WOMEN.
THEY, ALONG WITH OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR, PROVIDED SOME SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO OPERATES THAT TO SUBMIT THEIR GRANT APPLICATION.
THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE NOT EASY.
THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO FILL OUT, THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH.
YOU DO HAVE REPORTING STANDARDS THAT YOU HAVE TO MEET.
THEY PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF THAT, WHICH IS A HUGE HELP TO US AS WELL.
AS THE CORE SERVICE AGENCY, THEY PROVIDE SOME FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT COMES DIRECTLY TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
WE REPORT TO THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AGAIN, THE REPORTING IS EXTENSIVE, TAKES UP A LOT OF TIME.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, ONE OF THE MOST RECENT INITIATIVES THAT WE PARTNERED WITH THEM.
OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET OUR WORK DONE.
EXPANDING PROGRAMS SOMETIMES IS DIFFICULT.
OUR EFFORTS AND PREVENTION ARE VERY FOCUSED ON EXISTING PROGRAMS. OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM, WE HAVE TOBACCO CESSATION ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S A PREVENTION PIECE OF THINGS.
WE ALSO HAVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PREVENTION, THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THAT.
ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC EFFORT IS GUN VIOLENCE AND INJURY,
[01:15:01]
BUT MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DOES.THERE CAME AN OPPORTUNITY MAYBE SIX MONTHS AGO WHERE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS COULD APPLY FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT SOME PREVENTION IN TERMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND INJURY.
AGAIN, WE DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT I COULD PUT A STAFF MEMBER IN PLACE FOR THIS AND TRY TO PROGRAM, AND TRY TO BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE MID SHORE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ALREADY HAD A PROGRAM IN PLACE, THEY ALREADY HAD EFFORTS IN REFERENCE TO THEIR GUN LOCKS.
WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF GUN SAFES AND SOME EDUCATION MATERIAL, AND WE ALSO DID SOME CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY EFFORTS THAT WERE GOING ON IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PUSH THAT OUT.
THE FUNDING IS DONE JUNE 30TH, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRACK HOW MUCH OUTREACH WAS DONE, BUT THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE SYSTEM THAT IS SET UP WHERE THEY SUPPORT US IN TERMS OF THAT.
EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING, I STILL SAY THEY SUPPORTED US IN THAT EFFORT.
I VALUE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, AND I DO THINK IT'S VALUABLE TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
MY FIRST SLIDE, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
I THINK FY '23, I HAD GIVEN SOME INFO IN TERMS OF OUR STAFFING.
THERE WERE SOME CHANGES AT THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE WERE CONCERNED THAT MIGHT IMPACT SOME OF OUR STAFFING EFFORTS AND HIRING.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 106 ACTIVE STAFF MEMBERS, WHICH IS ABOUT A 24% INCREASE FROM FY '23, BUT I WANT TO SAY WITH SOME CAUTION THERE THAT AT THE TIME OF THE LAST COUNT, I'M NOT SURE WE WERE CATCHING EVERYTHING.
WE WERE NOT COUNTING EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTED IN THERE.
WE HAVE 10 OPEN POSITIONS, 16 NEW HIRES SINCE THAT, AND 11 JOB RECLASSIFICATIONS.
>> WHERE DO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WORK?
>> IN THE HABS BUILDING? [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE THAT VERY POINT OF BASIS.
>> WE HAVE THE PLAZA SITE, WHICH IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WHICH IS A HUGE PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE MAT, THE LOCATION, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE DRIVERS WHO YOU DON'T ACTUALLY SEE IN AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE.
WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY TELEWORK MAYBE TWO DAYS A WEEK, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT.
WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE A HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICER IN NOVEMBER 2023, WHICH WAS HUGE.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD A TRAINEE.
WE NEEDED A TOP LEVEL INDIVIDUAL TO REALLY GET THINGS ORGANIZED AND GET THINGS GOING, SO WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.
WE ALSO HIRED A DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.
SHE'S BEEN ON BOARD SINCE THE END OF NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH HIRES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE HAVE A VACANT POSITION FOR ONE OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS LIKE IN THE SCHOOLS, THEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISORS, OUR DIRECTOR HAS HAD TO STEP IN AS WELL.
WE STILL STRUGGLE WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER HIRES.
I JUST BECAME A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE EASTERN SHORE ADULT HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER.
THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD INITIATIVE FOR WORKFORCE WHERE THEY'VE PARTNERED WITH SALISBURY UNIVERSITY, THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
THAT'S EXCITING TO BRING TALENT LOCALLY TO US IN TERMS OF THAT. I'M EXCITED FOR THAT.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IN FY '25, OUR ORIGINAL CORE BUDGET, THE FUNDING, IT WAS REDUCED BY 225,000.
WE MANAGED TO MITIGATE THAT SITUATION PRETTY WELL.
WE WERE ABLE TO NOT IMPACT ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS SIGNIFICANTLY.
FY '25, WE'VE MENTIONED TERMINATION OF SOME OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE GRANTS WERE COMING TO AN END ANYWAY, SO IT WAS A LOSS OF ABOUT $61,000.
ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS IS, WELL, IT'S STILL QUESTIONABLE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT REALLY IS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY BECAUSE IT'S BEING HELD UP IN COURT, BUT THE EXPANSION OF LABORATORY CAPACITY GRANT,
[01:20:03]
WHICH FUNDED OUR DATA ADMINISTRATION PIECE OF THINGS FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.RIGHT THERE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN TERMS OF THAT.
FOR FY '26, WE'RE MOVING IN A LEVEL FUNDED FOR CORE STATE MATCH THAT I DO NOT HAVE THE AGREEMENT YET, SO IT'S NOT SOLIDIFIED.
THERE'S A PROPOSED ALLOCATION FOR COLLARS AND SALARY ENHANCEMENTS FOR FY '26, AND THEN ALSO, OUR MARYLAND FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM BUDGET FOR FY '26, THERE WAS A REDUCTION BY 33%, WHICH WAS ABOUT $54,000.
LUCKILY, THAT HAS NOT IMPACTED OUR STAFFING LEVEL, BUT MAY IMPACT SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES.
I WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UPDATES.
I HAVE ASKED FOR A FUTURE MEETING FOR THE BOARD OF HEALTH IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THE OUTCOME OF THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WE TOOK AN EFFORT INTO, AND THEN THE TRANSITION TO LAMA FOR PERMITTING, AND THEN ALSO THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE THAT IS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2005.
WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION AND COME BACK IN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT SINCE OCTOBER 2023, BUT THEN WE LOOKED BACK, AND IT WAS A LOT LONGER THAN THAT.
I ACTUALLY SIGNED IT LAST FRIDAY.
THERE HAD BEEN DISCUSSIONS FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT AN ADDENDUM WOULD BE NEEDED FOR OUR GROUNDWATER PROTECTION REPORT, WHICH I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.
WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION, I WAS PROVIDED A LETTER BY NDE THAT SOLIDIFIED AND ENSURED THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN OUR GPR BECAUSE WE'RE ONE OF SEVEN COUNTIES THAT HAS ONE.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE GPR, BUT IT'S QUITE SIGNIFICANT.
IT'S IN COMMA, AND IT INDICATES THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM MAY BE INSTALLED WITH LESS THAN A FOUR FOOT TREATMENT ZONE IN A COASTAL PLAIN COUNTY, WHICH CAROLINE COUNTY IS, IF THE SYSTEM COMPLIES WITH THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION REPORT INCORPORATED IN THE COUNTY'S MASTER WATER AND SEWAGE PLAN.
WE HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED, AND I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THAT CONTINUED BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, IT WOULD MEAN THAT HOLDING TANKS WOULD BE PUT IN PLACE.
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND IT COMES TO REPAIRS FOR SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
>> THIS IS A BIG REASON WHY KING COUNTY IS HAVING SO MANY ISSUES UP THERE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A GPR.
>> THEY DO NOT HAVE A GPR. WE'RE ONE OF SEVEN COUNTIES THAT HAVE A GPR.
>> THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE, THE GPR DATES BACK TO WHAT? THE EARLY '90S, LATE '80S.
>> A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LATE '80S WITH NITROGEN REDUCED IN SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT NONE OF THAT IS INCORPORATED INTO A LATE '80S DOCUMENT THAT DICTATES ON SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> SWITCH GRASS. THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> NOW, SOME OTHER COUNTIES LIKE TALBOT COUNTY HAS THREE DIFFERENT ZONES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THREE DIFFERENT GPRS, BUT THEY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ZONES.
YOU COULD CROSS A STREET AND HAVE TOTALLY DIFFERENT RULES THAN YOUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AS FAR AS THE SEPTIC INSTALLATION.
>> CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT A COMPLICATED, ANTIQUATED PROCEDURE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
>> ALONG WITH THE DELEGATION AGREEMENT, CAME MDE GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
WE HAVE 14 OF THEM CURRENTLY, WHICH IS A GREAT SUCCESS.
WITH THAT COMES OUR LOCAL SUBMISSION OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES TO MDE IN THEIR REVIEW.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
WE'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST 3-4 MONTHS.
WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THOSE FINALIZED.
WE HAD A NEIGHBORING COUNTY REQUEST TO SEE OUR SOPS THAT ARE PRELIMINARY OR IN DRAFT, I GUESS, I SHOULD SAY, SO THAT THEY
[01:25:02]
COULD TAKE NOTE OF WHAT THOSE SOPS WERE BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THOSE.>> LET'S SEE. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RESULTS.
LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO COME BACK FOR A FUTURE MEETING WITH BOARD OF HEALTH TO DISCUSS THOSE OUTCOMES.
OUR UPDATE ON THE TRANSITION TO LAMA.
WE WERE HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND ASKED FOR, I DON'T WANT TO SAY APPROVAL, BUT ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN TERMS OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERMITTING, TRANSITIONING OVER TO WHAT PLANNING AND CODES CURRENTLY USES FOR PERMITTING.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR CRYSTAL DADDS AND PLANNING COASTAL DIRECTOR BECAUSE WITHOUT HER, SHE HAS MADE JUST THE BUILDING OF THE CONFIGURATION A LITTLE MORE STREAMLINED FOR US.
IT IS A HEAVY LIFT, BUT WE'RE GETTING THROUGH IT AND THE MEETINGS AND THE DEDICATION THAT'S TAKEN TO DETAIL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SHE'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT, AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
WE'RE ON BOARD TO TRANSITION BEGINNING OF JULY.
WE'LL START TRAINING STAFF IN JUNE TO TRANSITION TO THAT SYSTEM, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
FOR FY '25, I ASKED FOR SOME DETAILS TO PERMIT APPLICATIONS TO DATE.
WE'VE HAD 37 PERC, 144 WELL, 117 SEPTIC, AND 411 OTHER.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERC, I DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON WET SEASON.
WE WERE LATE TO GET STARTED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF RAIN.
ESSENTIALLY, THE ENTIRE STATE IS SEEING SOME DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER 100 PERC APPLICATIONS FOR THE WET SEASON.
OUR STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH IT.
WE DID INITIATE LAMA, OF COURSE, THROUGH OUR WELL MONITORING.
WE ARE FORTUNATE IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE 30 YEARS OF WATER TABLE DATA, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN THESE DROUGHT OR THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE WEATHER.
WE HAD A TOTAL PERMIT APPLICATIONS COMPLETED OF 709, WHICH IS A 10% DECREASE FROM FY '24.
LICENSING, WE HAD 255 FACILITIES LICENSED AND THEN WE HAD 55 CONTRACTORS LICENSED.
>> ROBIN, THE ONLY QUESTION I'D HAVE ON THAT DATA, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW MANY PERK TESTS FAILED.
HOW MANY OUT OF THE 37 IN A YEAR FAIL? BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING.
EVERY TIME A PERK IS DENIED, THAT'S A HOUSE THAT'S NOT BUILT ON A LOT SOMEWHERE.
THAT'S SUCCESSFUL AMOUNT, BUT I CAN GET YOU THE NUMBER THAT WAS SUBMITTED SO WE CAN DO A PERCENTAGE.
>> JUST CURIOUS. I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF BUILDABLE LOTS.
THERE ARE LOTS, AREAS OF THE COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE CONTINUALLY TRY TO GET PERKS, WHERE IT'S JUST NEVER GOING TO PERK.
THEY'RE LOW OR GROUNDWATER TABLES HIGH.
>> RIGHT NOW, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK ON A SUCCESSION PLANNING.
WE DID HAVE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SANITARIAN TRAINEE THAT COMPLETED THEIR LICENSURE EXAM.
THEY'LL BE RECLASSED TO A LICENSED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SANITARIAN WITHIN OUR PROGRAM.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMUNICABLE DISEASE, FAMILY PLANNING AND OUR WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTH DIVISION. LET'S SEE.
YOU CAN SEE A DECREASE FROM FY 23 TO FY 24, BUT ESSENTIALLY, THAT HAS TO DO WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS COME IN TERMS OF TESTING.
WE HAD IDENTIFIED LATENT TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION AND FY 23 WE HAD 38 THAT WERE INVESTIGATED BY OUR PROGRAM TO DATES.
WE HAVE NONE, AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THINGS HAVE TRANSITIONED.
INDIVIDUALS TREATED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR LATENT TB INFECTION.
WE HAVE 28 FOR FY 23, 25 FOR FY 24.
THE WAY THAT WE TEST FOR TB CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
WE WENT FROM SKIN TEST TO QUANTIFERON, WHICH IS TB.
IT'S DONE IN A LAB, ESSENTIALLY.
WE HAD PREGNANCY TESTS PERFORMED.
A LOT OF THE REDUCTION IN TERMS OF PREGNANCY TEST, RN OFFICE VISITS, AND CLIENTS PRESCRIBED OR DISTRIBUTED, BIRTH CONTROL.
[01:30:02]
I'M GOING TO SAY AN INDICATION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH.WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH THEM ON REFERRALS FOR OBGYN PATIENTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
WE ALSO HAD OUR NURSE PRACTITIONER RETIRED.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST FULL FISCAL YEAR, I THINK WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT HER, BUT WE TRANSITION TO SHARING WITH TALBOT COUNTY, WHICH IT'S WORKING FOR US AND IT'S A BENEFIT.
PREVIOUSLY, WE SHARED OUR NURSE PRACTITIONER WITH KENT COUNTY. THEY'RE HERE.
THAT INDIVIDUAL IS HERE TWO DAYS A MONTH, I BELIEVE.
ONE OF THE SUCCESSES, I WANT TO MENTION.
WE JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, JURISDICTIONAL DATA.
THE STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IT ESTABLISHES PRIORITIES FOR THE STATE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH HEALTH.
OUR JURISDICTIONAL DATA, WHICH I GREATLY APPRECIATE, WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE TO US.
CAROLINE COUNTY'S PRE-TERM BIRTH RATE, IT REDUCED BY ALMOST 3%, AND THAT'S THE MOST RECENT DATA, WHICH IS 2022.
I BELIEVE WE CAN ATTRIBUTE THAT TO OUR PARTNER, CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THEIR EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH OBGYN SERVICES HERE ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING PROVIDERS.
OUR CONTINUED FOCUS, OF COURSE, WILL BE OUR BABIES BORN WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND OUR PRENATAL CARE IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER.
WE STILL STRUGGLE A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT, BUT WE ALSO, AGAIN, THE DATE IS 2022.
A LOT OF THIS EFFORT IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP WAS DONE IN FY 23.
I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT.
>> NO THING OF SIGN OF MEASLES OR ANYTHING.
>> NO. MARYLAND HAD ONE CASE, AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED PRETTY FAST.
WE ARE DILIGENT AND AGAIN, WE WOULD AT THE STATE, COORDINATE WITH MDH IN TERMS OF THAT SITUATION.
BUT NO, WE HOPE THAT IT STAYS THAT WAY.
WE HAVE A PRETTY DECENT IMMUNIZATION RATE.
ALL THE DILIGENCE THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY PUT INTO SOMETHING IS THERE.
OUR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE EASTERN SHORE AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER TO DELIVER NATIONAL DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED FUNDING, AND WE PARTNERED WITH GREATER NEW HOPE CHURCH AND MINISTRIES AND AARON'S PLACE TO SERVE 28 ADULTS THROUGH TWO IN-PERSON COHORTS.
THE MINI GRANTS PROVIDED TO FOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE FOUR WERE MEANT FOR CHANGE, CAROLINE PRIDE, SPIRIT AND MIND, AND THEN THE AFTER SCHOOL BASKETBALL YMCA PROGRAM.
LET'S SEE. OUR TOBACCO ENFORCEMENTS.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD RECENTLY HAD A SUMMARY FROM MDH COME DOWN WITH PROGRAMMATIC LEVEL COMMENTS, AND OUR TOBACCO PREVENTION CESSATION WAS NOTED AS BEING A STELLAR PROGRAM.
THE OUTREACH THAT'S DONE BY OUR COORDINATOR WAYNE FERRERA IS TREMENDOUS AND DOES A GREAT JOB.
TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CONDUCT TOBACCO COMPLIANCE CHECKS TO ENSURE NO SALES TO YOUTH UNDER AGE 21.
IT PROVIDES RETAILER EDUCATION.
OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF PROVIDE EDUCATION TO RETAILERS AS WELL AS PARTNER FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AS WELL.
THEN OUR PREVENTION AND CESSATION, WE SAW 20 ADULTS FOR CESSATION.
WE MANAGED TO CONDUCT OUTREACH TO 1,842 STUDENTS FOR TOBACCO BAKE PREVENTION.
LET'S SEE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.
THEN LEADERSHIP TRAINING ON PREVENTION AND CESSATION TO 69 ADULTS AND 41 TEACHER STAFF TRAININGS.
THEN WE ALSO PROVIDED MANY GRANTS TO LOCAL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS AND COLONEL RICHARDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR PREVENTION AND CESSATION ACTIVITIES.
ONE OF THE SUCCESSES IN TERMS OF LIKE REACHING SIX GRADE STUDENTS, WE HAVE COLLABORATED OR PARTNERED WITH A COMPANY THAT DOES WRAPPING ABOUT PREVENTION.
[01:35:01]
AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS HAVE THAT ASSEMBLY, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND YET.HOPEFULLY, MAYBE THIS YEAR, I'LL GET TO DO THAT, BUT I'VE HEARD THAT IT'S PRETTY GREAT.
>> MR. PORTER WILL GO WITH YOU?
>> THAT'S GREAT. ALL THE SIXTH GRADERS.
THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT OUR LOCAL OVERDOSE RATES.
FOR 2023, WE HAD 18 FATALITY OVERDOSES AND 2024, THE DATA IS SUPPRESSED BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET UNDER 11 YOU SUPPRESS YOUR DATA.
THAT IS A SIGN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION.
FOR FY OR CALENDAR YEAR '24, WE HAD, LET'S SEE, 1,021 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS FOR ALL SERVICES THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
OUR MOBILE TREATMENT UNIT SAW 120 CLIENTS, CARE COORDINATION, 102, OUR DETENTION CENTER, MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER SAW 44.
TOTAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM CLIENTS, 564, SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH 257, AND THEN OUR SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAM WAS AT 24.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANT TO MENTION, AGAIN, THROUGH OUR STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN JURISDICTIONAL DATA, DATA FOR 2022 SHOWED ADDICTIONS RELATED, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS REDUCED BY 12.4%.
THEN FOR DATA FOR 2023, OUR MENTAL HEALTH RELATED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS WAS REDUCED BY 28%.
THEY'RE MAKING HEADWAY FOR SURE.
IN TERMS OF THE STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OUR COUNTY LEVEL DATA, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE METRICS.
I'VE JUST LISTED HERE A COUPLE OF THE METRICS THAT I FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE REALLY IMPACTING NOT ONLY US, BUT ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ADULTS REPORTING NO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
THE STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN TARGET IS 17.5% BY 2029.
WE SAW 11% DECREASE FROM 2022-2023.
WE'RE AT 29.1%, SO AGAIN, WORK TO DO IN ORDER TO REACH THAT TARGET.
COLORECTAL SCREENING, CANCER SCREENING, WE SAW A 21% INCREASE FROM 2020-2022.
THE SHIP TARGET IS 68.3% BY 2029.
WE'RE AT 71.9%, SO WE'LL KEEP THAT MOVING.
THEN OUR PERSONS WITH A USUAL PCP.
THE SHIP TARGET IS 90% BY 2029.
WE SAW A 2% INCREASE FROM 2022-2023, SO WE'RE STILL MOVING THAT MARK.
>> I'M SORRY. PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN.
OUR SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER ENROLLMENT.
IN TERMS OF THE FACT WE ARE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE IN CAROLINE COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE A SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. THAT'S TREMENDOUS.
THEY SAW A 2% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT 2023-24.
CURRENTLY, THE COUNTY IS AT 74.8, SO IT'S 75%.
THE TARGET IS 70% BY 2029, SO WE'VE EXCEEDED THAT ALREADY.
THEN I MENTIONED A PRE-TERM BIRTH RATE.
WE SAW A 3% DECREASE FROM 2021-2022 DATA.
WE'RE AT 8.8, AND OUR TARGET IS 9.4, SO WE'VE MET THAT ALREADY AS WELL.
SOME OF OUR AREAS OF FOCUS, I WANT TO POINT OUT THE ASTHMA RELATED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS.
OUR CURRENT RATE, WHICH WAS MEASURED FOR 2023, IS AT 3.4 RATE PER 10,000.
WE SAW A 31% INCREASE FROM 2022-2023, THE TARGET IS 5.3 BY 2026.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT PLAY INTO THE INCREASE.
CERTAINLY, I LOOKED AT THE AIR QUALITY REPORTS, AND IT IDENTIFIED LIKE A NUMBER OF DAYS WHERE AIR QUALITY REACHED THE STATUS OF UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS.
IN 2022, IT REPORTED ZERO DAYS.
IN 2023, IT REPORTED EIGHT FOR THE EASTERN SHORE.
THAT COULD PLAY A FACTOR THERE.
[01:40:01]
WELL, AS THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING CAPTURED AS DIAGNOSIS AS WELL.LIKE DIAGNOSIS CODES, THINGS LIKE THAT, AS WELL.
PREVALENCE OF DIAGNOSED HYPERTENSION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THIS ONE.
WE'RE AT 37%, WHICH WAS, AGAIN, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 2021-23 WITH A 48% INCREASE.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE FACTORS COULD BE DUE TO THE IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS PROCESS AND AWARENESS.
THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE DIAGNOSTIC GUIDELINES IN 2017.
LET'S SEE. WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT COALITION, WHICH IS OUR LHIC.
WE'RE A MEMBER OF THAT IN TERMS OF THE FOUR OTHER COUNTIES, OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING TODAY.
THAT WILL HELP GUIDE OUR LOCAL STRATEGIC PLAN WHEN IT COMES TO TO HEALTH.
THEN FINALLY, I WANT TO GIVE JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH AND OUR INITIATIVE FOR THAT.
OUR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE BLS COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH UMMS SHORE REGIONAL GROUP.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT COMPLETED.
THAT'S ACTUALLY DUE TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COMMITTEE THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE.
IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO BUILD IN A 0.5 FTE COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE POSITION INTO OUR CORE FUNDING WHICH WILL HELP SUPPORT THIS BEGINNING JULY 1ST.
WE STILL PLAN TO PUT TOGETHER A SMALL CAPACITY, OR I SHOULD SAY, SMALL SCALE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
WE HAVE A DATA ADMINISTRATOR ON BOARD WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS, WHERE WE'VE TRANSITIONED AND WE STRUCTURED SOME OF HER DUTIES SO THAT SHE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF THE DATA NEEDS THAT COME ALONG WITH THIS, AND THEN OUR SUPPORT STAFF.
WE CHANGED OUR MODEL FROM USING A COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER TO ACTUALLY UTILIZE AN OFFICE CLERK THAT HAS COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER TRAINING FOR SCHEDULING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE APPLIED FOR GRANT FUNDING THROUGH MDH OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR 84,000 TO SUPPORT PERSONNEL COSTS.
WE JUST SUBMITTED THAT GRANT MONDAY, NOT THIS PAST MONDAY, BUT LAST MONDAY.
WE'LL AWAIT AN ANSWER FROM THAT.
BUT CURRENTLY WE'VE BUILT THIS SMALL SCALE INTO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE GOING ON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DES.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT ROLLING A LITTLE BIT. ANY QUESTIONS?
SOME YEARS AGO WHEN WE WOULD GET THESE REPORTS, WE WOULD BE LAST IN EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE LAST IN AND FIRST IN EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE FIRST IN.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE MAKING SOME IMPROVEMENT IN HEALTH METRICS.
>> I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOCUS REALLY ON THE METRICS AND HOW WE'RE MOVING THAT NEEDLE AS OPPOSED TO THE RANKINGS.
BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN THE ENTIRE STATE THERE'S DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES. YOU GUYS KNOW THIS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EVERY SINGLE JURISDICTION.
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REALLY MOVE THE MARK WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT HOW YOU RANK COMPARED TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY. WE CAN'T DO THAT.
I THINK FOCUSING ON THE METRICS AND HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING THROUGH THOSE AND REALLY FOCUSING ON THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE AND THE NEEDS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO HERE LOCALLY.
>> WELL, I MEAN, THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL.
>> THE COUNTY THAT DOES HAVE A HOSPITAL GOT THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH GRANT, AND WE DIDN'T. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
>> WELL, [LAUGHTER] WERE THERE ANY SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT IMPACTED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR? YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO DETAIL, BUT I MEAN, I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF HEALTH-RELATED BILLS. WHICH ONES WERE?
>> WELL, I SO I THINK THAT'S UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT I NEED TO SEE HOW THE REGULATIONS PLAY OUT IN TERMS OF THIS.
I KNOW THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH,
[01:45:05]
THERE'S THERE'S LEGISLATION FOR CHEMICAL TOILET SITUATION THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPACT.I'M TRYING TO THINK OF, THERE ARE A COUPLE IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THAT RAISE SOME FLAGS.
WHEN I SAY IMPACT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PROBABLY MOST LIKELY IN TERMS OF IF THERE'S NOT FUNDING THAT COMES ALONG WITH THOSE FOR US TO SUPPORT STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS.
THAT'S WHERE THIS PLAYS IN INTO EFFECT.
IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THE THINGS.
I THINK IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ONE.
AGAIN, I NEED TO LET IT, I NEED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO BE ENCOURAGED FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO WHAT OUR PLACE WILL BE IN, ENFORCEMENT, REGULATION, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> MUCH OF IT IS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S CLEAR GUIDANCE IN THOSE GRAY AND MURKY AREAS WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE, AND YOU CONTACT MDE, AND HOW RESPONSIVE ARE THEY?
>> WE HAVE MADE [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION PIECE OF THINGS.
I FEEL AS THOUGH I'M GETTING TIMELY RESPONSES WHICH HAS CHANGED.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY, YOUR DEPARTMENT IS THE ENFORCEMENT ARM.
MDE IS THE ONE WHO CREATES THE RULES AND SETS THE RULES [OVERLAPPING].
>> FOR A VERY SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF THE DELEGATION AUTHORITY? YES. THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS OF OMAR.
>> AS ALWAYS, ROBIN, YOU SUPPLY US WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED AND DATA, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE VERY TRANSPARENT.
>> I ALWAYS SAY EVERY YEAR, YOU'RE AN ASSET TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> MOTION MOVE. WE GO BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND,
[Discussion of Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (CRRF)]
AND I BELIEVE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX CAN GET US UP TO SPEED ON GUIDANCE WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE?OSE. LAST WEEK ON MAY 8TH, MYSELF, STACEY SEWARD, THE GREEN COORDINATOR FOR THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS JENNIFER RILEY, THE PIO, HAD A MEETING WITH COURTNEY DAVIS, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OSE AND REALLY WANTED TO SIT DOWN AND GO OVER WHERE THE STATE CURRENTLY IS WITH THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT REPAIR FUND, AND ALSO HERE ABOUT WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING IN THE AREA.
JUST TO WRAP UP THAT CONVERSATION.
THE OSE THROUGH SENATE BILL 894/HOUSE BILL 1364, IS ESSENTIALLY BEING REDIRECTED TO HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE NOW.
WITH THAT, COME SOME CHANGES IN THE REGULATIONS AND HOW THAT OFFICE IS GOING TO OPERATE.
THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, TO ESSENTIALLY ROLL OUT POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR COUNTIES TO FOLLOW ON HOW EACH COUNTY IS GOING TO ADMINISTER AND SPEND THEIR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUNDS.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT 20 OF THE 24 JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE HAVE DONE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING WE HAVE DONE, WHICH IS HELD ONTO THE MONEY AND WAITED FOR FURTHER GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE.
THEY ARE SAYING, PLEASE DO NOT GO ON YOUR OWN AND TRY TO COME UP WITH THIS, WAIT TO THE OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE.
THEY WILL HAVE PROGRAM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ROLL OUT.
THAT WILL INCLUDE TRAINING THAT WILL GO OUT TO THE COUNTIES ON HOW TO ADMINISTER THIS.
IN A REAL SUMMARIZED VERSION, THAT IS THE GENERAL GUIDANCE THAT WAS RECEIVED.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IN THE SENATE BILL THAT REALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WITH DEVELOPING OUR PLAN.
AGAIN, I'LL JUST READ OFF SOME OF THE LANGUAGE HERE.
THE OFFICE IS GOING TO REQUIRE EACH COUNTY TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
THE PLAN DEVELOPED BY THE COUNTY SHALL BE ESTABLISHED BEFORE DISTRIBUTING FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION,
[01:50:01]
DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND ALSO SUBJECT TO A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE FINALIZING THE PLAN.AGAIN, I'M SURE THE GUIDANCE IS GOING TO BE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT PROCESS OUTLINED, AS WELL AS THE REPORTING HALF.
IT LOOKS LIKE ON OCTOBER 1ST OF EACH YEAR, STARTING IN 2025, AND THEN THE FIRST REPORT WILL BE DUE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, EACH COUNTY SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF OSE, DETAILING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS RECEIVED UNDER EACH SUBSECTION, EACH ORGANIZATION THAT RECEIVED FUNDING FROM EACH COUNTY, AND THE METHOD THAT THE COUNTY USE TO SOLICIT, REVIEW, AND SELECT ORGANIZATIONS MUST ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW BY THE OSE.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOME FURTHER GUIDANCE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND REALLY, I THINK, IS GOING TO OUTLINE HOW WE PLAY THIS OUT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WAITING TO OCTOBER 1ST DATE OF GUIDANCE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING I CAN ANSWER AND LIGHTEN ABOUT THE CALL?
>> WELL, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
KIA, I KNOW YOU'VE MADE A REQUEST ON BEHALF OF, IS IT AARON'S PLACE FOR THE CLOTHING PROGRAM, IS THAT CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] SIGNATURE, BUT I'M SITTING HERE WONDERING, IS IT EVEN APPROPRIATE? THERE'S ONE AMERICAN [INAUDIBLE] WAS MINE.
WOULD IT EVEN BE APPROPRIATE TO PRESENT TODAY SINCE YOU GUYS ARE ANSWER [INAUDIBLE].
>> THE LEGION RENOVATION IS THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROGRAM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AMERICAN LEGION IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS DRAG ON LONGER THAN I WAS HOPING.
>> I JUST WAS LOOKING AT YOUR TIME FRAME ON THIS PROGRAM.
>> FOR US? NO, THERE ISN'T A DEADLINE.
BUT MY INTENT WAS THE WAY THE PROGRAM WE HAD TO STRUCTURE, WAS TRY TO HAVE IT DONE EVERY AUGUST BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
THE PROGRAM THAT WE INITIATED OR CAME UP WITH WAS THE SNEAKER INITIATIVE AND THE CLOTHING INITIATIVE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY WRAPPED IN TO MENTAL HEALTH.
I WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING BRAND NEW AND INTANGIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW IS KIDS DON'T REALIZE, WHAT THEIR STATUS IS IN SOCIETY UNTIL THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN BY WHAT THEY'RE WEARING AND IT'S NOT.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS THOSE INSECURITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE I FEEL I HAVEN'T SEEN A PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY WAS DEDICATED FOR K-8TH WITH THAT AND ADDRESSING THEIR SELF IMAGE AND HOW THEY SEE THEMSELVES.
BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED THE PAST THREE YEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY STUDENTS, SOMETHING GOES UP ON THE INTERNET ABOUT A CHILD, A PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S GOLDEN, AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE.
I THINK IT WAS JUST TIME TO START HAVING THEM SHAPE THEIR OWN IMAGE AND THEIR OWN SELF-AWARENESS AT A YOUNG AGE WITH SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CLASS ON, WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT THAT COULD FEEL LIKE TO THEM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> AND THE PLAYGROUND PROGRAM IN RIDGELY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. THAT WAS ANOTHER SEPARATE REQUEST.
>> YES. WE ACTUALLY WE'RE GETTING READY.
WE'RE DOING A FUNDRAISER AT THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.
WE DID REACH OUT TO RIDGELY AS WELL FOR A REQUEST.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT WITH THEM ON JUNE 2 AFTER THE FUNDRAISER.
WE ALSO DID A GRANT WITH VERIZON, BUT THE LADY, I THINK SHE MOVED TO SEAFORD, SO I DON'T KNOW IF VERIZON IS DOING THEIR GRANT NOW.
WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THERE WAS TWO OPTIONS: WE COULD STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET, BUT SPIRIT MINE WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS OCEAN ASPHALT THAT'S VERY DISTINCT FOR THE KIDS.
IT WENT OVER OUR BUDGET, AND THIS YEAR THAT GRANT FOR THE COMMUNITY HEALTH SOME WORK IS NOT COMING BACK AROUND DUE TO THE BUDGET.
WE DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE FUNDRAISING, AND WE JUST WANTED SOME SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT IN FOR THE 2-5-YEAR-OLDS.
MORE THAN LIKELY, IF WE DON'T GET WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WE'RE PROBABLY JUST GOING TO PROCEED AFTER JUNE 15 WITH THE PARK.
>> WHERE WERE YOU BUILDING THAT?
IT'S RIGHT NEXT UP AGAINST THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE PARK.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE SAME COMPANY WE'RE USING.
IS THAT THE NAME OF THE PARK? [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO. IT'S ACTUALLY UP AGAINST THE OTHER PARK WHERE THE SWINGS AND STUFF ARE.
THEY'RE GOING TO SIT RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
WE COULD STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET, BUT PATRICE WANTED SOMETHING THAT REALLY STUCK OUT FOR THE LITTLE KIDS.
THAT'S WHAT TOOK US OVER BUDGET, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT PLAYS OUT HERE IN JUNE BECAUSE SHE'S READY.
[01:55:04]
WE'RE JUST READY TO HIT GO.WE'RE JUST LOOKING THE FUNDING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET IT FOR THE ASPHALT.
>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE REGULATIONS IN PLAY, OR THE STATE.
OSE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE THE REGULATIONS.
I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY MAKE OCTOBER 1ST DEADLINE
>> THEY WERE [OVERLAPPING] I'M GOING TO SAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT THEY DIRECTED YOU NOT TO SPEND ANY.
>> UNTIL THOSE REGULATIONS, AND THEY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM DONE BY OCTOBER 1ST, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK THE INTERESTING PIECE FOR US, AND THIS IS GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE OF THE BILL, THEY SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS THAT YOU COULD SPEND THE MONEY ON. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WOULD RIDGELY EVEN QUALIFY? WE DON'T KNOW.
>> THIS IS RELAXING SOME OF THAT WITH THEIR GUIDANCE, AND WHAT THEY TOLD US ON THE CALL WAS IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO LOOK CLOSER AT POSSIBLY CENSUS TRACKS OR PROVING LOW-INCOME AREAS.
WE ASKED THEM WHETHER THEY HAD ANY DRAFT OR GUIDANCE ON THAT SO WE COULD START SEEING IF PLACES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REACHED OUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> COULD POSSIBLY, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED AN EMAIL BACK WITH ANY PROPOSED LANGUAGE, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> BECAUSE WE WERE ONE OF FOUR COUNTIES THAT DID NOT RECEIVE SPECIFIC ZIP CODES.
>> WELL, ACCORDING TO DANNY, ACCORDING TO OSE, THERE'S 19 COUNTIES THAT HAVEN'T SPENT A DIME.
EVEN THE ONES WITH THE ZIP CODES DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPEND IT APPARENTLY.
>> I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> HEAR THAT THERE WERE 19 COUNTIES.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE, AGAIN, JUST FROM WHAT I GOT FROM THE CALL, MOST OF THE COUNTIES ARE LIKE, PLEASE TELL US SPECIFICALLY HOW WE CAN SPEND THIS AND HOW WE HAVE TO RECORD IT.
THEY'VE BEEN HANDS OFF ON WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.
THE NEW LEGISLATION HAS ACTUALLY DICTATED THEM TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH THIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WAS SENATOR WASHINGTON, I THINK I BELIEVE IT THAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> DANIEL, I HAVE A QUESTION. HAVE YOU SPOKE TO ANYONE AT SALISBURY TO SEE HOW THEY WENT ABOUT THEIR RFP ON HOW HABITAT FOR HUMANITIES WAS AWARDED $100,000 OUT OF THAT FUND?
>> I HAVE NOT. THROUGH SALISBURY [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, SALISBURY. THEY DID THAT LAST YEAR, AND DORCHESTER WROTE OUT OF FRP LAST YEAR AS WELL.
>> THAT MIGHT BE STATE FUNDS, THOUGH. IT MIGHT NOT BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, IT CAME FROM THE CANNABIS FUND.
>> YEAH. BUT THOSE ARE STATE POT, TOO.
IT PROBABLY CAME OUT OF THE STATE MONEY.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT ANY COUNTY MONEY.
>> UNLESS, LETS SAY THE COUNTY PASSED IT DOWN [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TAX REVENUE GOES TO THE STATE.
ONLY THE COUNTIES GET A COUPLE PERCENT ON THE SMALL SIDE.
I DON'T KNOW. WE CAN LOOK INTO IT BUT IT PROBABLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> INCREASED THIS YEAR, DIDN'T IT WITH A BILL? [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE DIDN'T KATIE SAY SHE USING IT FOR SOME FUNDING?
>> I THINK THEY'RE USING SOME OF THE STATE.
>> YES. [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S A LOT OF EARMARKS IN THE STATE [OVERLAPPING].
>> SHE MENTIONED CANABIS TOO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN A PASS-THROUGH OF ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE DERIVED FROM THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, I THINK 20 COUNTIES AT ONE TIME ARE ALL GOING TO BE LOOKING TO STAND UP A PROGRAM.
TO ME, IT WOULD BE WISE TO SEE WHAT THE OTHER ONES ARE DOING TO ALSO BE ABLE TO MIRROR AND NOT DUPLICATE SOME TYPE OF PROCESS OR PROGRAM.
I CAN DEFINITELY DO A SEARCH AND TRY TO SEE WHAT THAT WAS POINTED AT. I HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO PRESENT TODAY, OR SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT WHAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR ME, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE GUIDELINES, AND I THINK WE WILL WORK ON THIS AND HAVE THINGS IN PLACE.
BUT YOUR PROGRAMS, I THINK, TO ME, SEEM VERY GOOD TO MAKE PERFECT SENSE, BUT, WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THAT.
>> THOSE TWO PROGRAMS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GROW IN THE COMMUNITY EACH YEAR.
THAT AMOUNT COULD SERVICE UP TO 100 KIDS ON EACH SIDE.
BASED ON THIS TRACK, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE THAN 100, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT EACH YEAR.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP THE PARENTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTING.
KIDS ARE GROWING UP THE SNEAKERS, [OVERLAPPING] AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL GOOD GOING TO SCHOOL ABOUT THEMSELVES BECAUSE A LOT HAPPENS IN THE SUMMER THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE OURSELVES.
>> THERE WAS A PROGRAM THAT I SOME YEARS AGO THAT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM, BUT IT WAS, TEACHING KIDS HOW TO, TIE TIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S A VERY, VERY SUCCESS PROGRAM.
>> THEY STILL HAVE IT. YOUNG GENTLEMAN'S CLOTHING [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WAS WELL DONE, BUT YOU HAVE A LADY WITH YOU? I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
>> YOU DON'T KNOW OUT AND YOU'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT ME ALL MORNING.
I'M CHERYL BELA FROM [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YES, I RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> KIA HAD PRESENTED INITIATIVE TO ME
[02:00:01]
ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR THE KIDS FOR THE SHOES AND THE CLOTHING.I THOUGHT IT WAS FANTASTIC BECAUSE I WENT AROUND CHECKING TO SEE WHO WAS DOING WHAT? EVERYONE HAS A BACKPACK PROGRAM, INCLUDING AIR SPACE.
WE'RE GIVING OUT BACKPACKS, PENCILS, AND STUFF.
IT WAS VERY SAD ONE TIME WHEN KIDS CAME IN AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE JEANS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
IF WE PUT TENNIS SHOES OUT, EVEN IF THEY WERE DONATED TENNIS SHOES, I CAN'T KEEP THEM.
WHEN THIS INITIATIVE WAS PRESENTED TO ME, I SAID, LET'S FIND OUT WHO ELSE IN THE COUNTY IS DOING IT BECAUSE I'M A HIGH COMPONENT, A PERSON OF NOT DUPLICATING SERVICES, SO LET'S FIND OUT WHO'S DOING IT.
I SAID, KIA, I'LL PARTNER WITH YOU.
WE'LL MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I CAME HERE TO SAY, SUPPORT FOR THAT.
ALSO, I WANTED TO LEAVE THIS BECAUSE IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T HEARD, I KNOW YOU ALREADY HEAR.
I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH DANNY. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS.
I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS FOR LEAVING LITERATURE HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING THAT BUILDING ON 404.
WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A TRUE HUB IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME HURDLES, I KNOW THERE'S SOME ISSUES, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF ACQUIRING IT.
I CONTACTED THE OWNERS WHO ARE IN CANADA.
AS WE SPEAK, OUR ATTORNEYS ARE NEGOTIATING THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE IT AS A HUB WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CREATE 80 NEW JOBS EASILY IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I'M IN COLLABORATION WITH HIS HOPE.
I'M IN COLLABORATION WITH [INAUDIBLE].
I'M IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY IN MUCH MORE PROFESSIONALLY EFFICIENT MATTER.
>> TALKING ABOUT THE OLD ELECTRO THERM BUILDING?
>> THE OLD ELECTRIC THERM BUILDING, YES.
>> I WENT OVER TO CLAYTON FARM ON MOTHER'S DAY AND SAID, EILEEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS BUILDING, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A HUB.
SHE WENT, THANK YOU, JESUS, BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT THAT CAME ABOUT WAS I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY HOW THE FARMERS, MARYLAND FOOD BANK, I'M A MARYLAND FOOD BANK PARTNER, AND I HAVE SEVEN PANTRIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE SERVE FROM MARY DALE TO FEDERALSBURG, BUT THE PRODUCE THAT HAS GROWN IN CAROLINE COUNTY IS TRUCKED TO BALTIMORE.
FROM BALTIMORE, IT'S TRUCK DOWN TO SALISBURY, AND FROM SALISBURY, IT'S TRUCKED BACK TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
I WAS LIKE, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY, A BETTER MECHANISM.
SOME OF THE LOCAL FARMERS ARE LOOKING FOR HUBS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY THEIR PRODUCE OUT AND BE ABLE TO MARKET IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE LOOKING AT IS REFRIGERATION THERE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE COLD STORAGE.
WE'D BE ABLE TO HOUSE HOT STORAGE, DRY STORAGE.
THAT BUILDING WHERE WE THOUGHT WAS 70,000 SQUARE FEET, THEN SOMEBODY TOLD ME IT WAS 90,000 SQUARE FEET.
NOW, THE ARCHITECT, DESIGNER JUST TOLD ME IT'S 140,000 SQUARE FEET, AND I JUST LOOKED AT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.
I CAME HERE NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE FOR THE SHOES AND THE CLOTHING, BUT ALSO, TO ASK YOU GUYS' BLESSINGS, ASK FOR PRAYERS, ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WHATEVER FUNDING, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO, WHATEVER IDEAS YOU COME UP WITH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN.
I'VE ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DANNY AND STUFF WITH DHTD.
SECRETARY JAKE SAID THAT HE WOULD HIGHLY SUPPORT THIS AND WILL DO WHATEVER HE CAN DO.
I'M WORKING WITH BOB BACK THERE FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M PULLING IN SOME STRATEGIC PLAYERS, NOT TRY TO GET THIS DONE, WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE.
THAT BUILDING'S BEEN SITTING THERE VACANT FOR TOO LONG.
THERE'S SOME HURDLES, BUT, GUESS WHAT? LIFE IS ABOUT CHOPPING DOWN MOUNTAINS.
>> WE WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THE TIME.
I'VE MENTIONED THAT BUILDING, BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY PRAY FOR IT. THANK YOU.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED FROM US?
WE'LL SAY THANK YOU FOR DISTRIBUTING THIS.
>> WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS MONEY, BUT WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT, SO THE STATE DOES IT.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE KNOW WE GOT TO GET RID OF IT,
[02:05:01]
BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THEY HAVE THESE GRAND IDEAS, THESE GRAND SCHEMES TO COME UP WITH THIS, THE MONEY IS SPENT, AND THAT'S FINE, BUT THEY DON'T EVER GIVE ANYBODY ANY GUIDANCE.THEY DO IT, AND THIS IS PART FOR THE COURSE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. NO?
>> THE MOU BETWEEN STATE HIGHWAY AND THE NORTH COUNTY PARK, IS THAT FOR THE ENTRANCE?
>> JAMIE IS NOT HERE, BUT YES.
I BELIEVE ALL THREE OF THOSE ARE RELATED TO THE NORTH COUNTY PARK ENTRANCE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> TWO THINGS TO REPORT ON. JUST REALLY AN UPDATE.
NEXT TUESDAY WE'LL BE GOING BACK INTO OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS.
WE HELD THE PUBLIC HEARING LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE A COUPLE FINAL LITTLE ITEMS TO CLEAN UP AND BALANCE OUT, BUT THAT WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY HERE. SECOND ITEM.
STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH DAN COHEN FROM COHEN BROTHERS ON OUR COMCAST FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
THAT PROCESS STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
THEY HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH, BUT STAFF HAS NOW RECEIVED A DRAFT VERSION OF THAT AGREEMENT.
STEWARD HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
I MADE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THAT IRONED OUT AND THEN BACK BEFORE YOU ON THE AGENDA ONCE COMCAST AGREES OR DOES THEIR HALF.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
>> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD. MR. BARTZ.
>> I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT I DID ATTEND THE PROBLEM-SOLVING GRADUATION.
VERY GOOD EVENT. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.
IT WAS VERY GRATIFYING TO HEAR THOSE STORIES. THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANKS.
>> I DID RECEIVE A TEXT FROM MRDC, JUST SIGNED THE AGREEMENT FOR THE GREENSBORO FUNDS.
WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT ONE.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAD.
WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
[Public Comment]
WHICH I WILL READ THE STATEMENT AGAIN.WE APPRECIATE ALL CITIZENS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER PERSON AND ANY COMMENTS LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.
THE COMMISSIONERS RESPECT YOUR RIGHTS TO CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE FREELY, BUT ALL COMMENTS MUST RELATE TO COUNTY MATTERS.
WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY INTO THE MICROPHONE, STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND TOPIC OF INTEREST.
IN KEEPING WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR OFFICE, WE ASK THAT YOU EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS IN A RESPECTFUL AND CIVIL MANNER.
I WILL ADD, WHILE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOU GET FURTHER WITH ME BY STAYING ON THE DECISION-MAKING AND NOT PERSONAL ATTACKS AT MY RELIGION OR MY BELIEFS, MY HUMANITY, OR ANYTHING ELSE.
WITH THAT, SABRINA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN, APPRECIATE THAT.
NOWHERE IN MY COMMENT DID I ATTACK YOU.
I DO APOLOGIZE YOU FELT THAT I ATTACKED YOU.
THE COMMENT STARTED OFF STATING THE BENEFITS OF SELF REFLECTION, AND THEN THE FACTS.
YOU DID CUT HOMELESS SICK CHILDREN FROM THE BUDGET.
THOSE LINE ITEMS REPRESENT THOSE CHILDREN.
THAT IS A FACT. IT'S NOT MY OPINION.
WHEN WE'RE ASKING CONSTITUENTS TO FOOT THE BILL BY GIVING MORE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE, WHILE WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SAME PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, I ALSO STATED THE WAYS THAT WE'RE SIMILAR.
WE BOTH HAVE CHILDREN WHO GO TO THESE SCHOOLS.
I ASKED HOW YOU CAN PUBLICLY PRAY.
I SEE AND KNOW THAT SERVICE IS INGRAINED IN WHO I AM AS A PERSON.
THESE DO GO AGAINST THE TENETS OF CHRISTIANITY,
[02:10:02]
SO I QUOTED THE BIBLES VERSES FOR THAT AS I WAS RAISED.THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE ROUNDTABLE.
THE MID-SHORE ROUNDTABLE OF HOMELESSNESS IS RUN THROUGH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THEY AGGREGATE DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES.
THE SCHOOLS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THE SOCIAL SERVICES, ALL OF THE NON PROFITS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THE AARON SHELTER.
HIS HOPE MINISTRIES, THE MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN, ETC, MY ORGANIZATION, HOMELESS AND HUMAN.
WE DON'T JUST MEET, BUT WE DO CASE MANAGEMENT.
WE REVIEW AVAILABLE SHELTER BEDS, WHICH IS ALMOST ALWAYS FULL AND A LONG WAIT LIST.
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN NEED FAR OUTWEIGHS AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
THE NUMBER OF CALLS CONTINUING TO INCREASE.
THESE ARE NOT MY OPINIONS. THESE ARE FACTS.
THE CAUSES OF THE HOUSING CRISIS FAR EXCEEDS THE STATE'S LIMITS.
THE HOUSING CRISIS EXACERBATES THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
SOME INCLUDE THE COST OF LIVING HAS DEEPLY RISEN, AND THE COST INCLUDING FOODS HAVE RISEN, BUT WAGES HAVE REMAINED STAGNANT.
THERE ARE SENIORS AND LACK OF SENIOR HOUSING, UNEXPECTED CRISES, INFLATION, WHICH IS A FEDERAL THING.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AS LONG COVID AND OTHER DISABILITIES CONTINUE TO RISE.
DIMINISHED CREDIT SCORES ARE A REASON.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE IS A CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS.
HOUSING IS A MEANS FOR PROFIT, LIMITED PROTECTION FOR RENTERS IS A CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS.
NO LIMITS TO CORPORATIONS BUYING HOUSING, AND MANY PROTECTIONS FOR LANDLORDS, AND THERE'S WAY MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S A POLICY FAILURE, AND IT'S NOT JUST AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND IT'S ACROSS THE WHOLE GLOBE, ACTUALLY.
PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING ALL OVER.
IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO CAROLINE COUNTY, AND THE PROBLEMS CAN'T BE SOLVED NECESSARILY THROUGH US, BUT I'M ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING WHERE WE'RE FINDING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RIGHT WATER.
THOSE ARE MY THREE MINUTES, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. SABRINA. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
I THINK YOU DID A GOOD THING IN PUTTING OUT THIS MEETING PROTOCOLS, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE ENFORCING THEM.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO RESPECT FOR GOD AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEIR COUNTRY CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO THEM WHEN THEY'RE MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON PUTTING THIS OUT AND ENFORCING IT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BAKER. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? KIA?
>> I UNDERSTAND. I HAVE A QUESTION.
OUT ON 404, IT'S THE LAND RATE TURN IN ORIGINALLY.
NOT FROM HILLSBORO, BUT BEFORE THAT.
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING OVER THERE.
ARE HOMES GOING TO GET BUILT OVER THERE IN THAT AREA? WHAT IS THAT? WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING [INAUDIBLE], YOU EITHER GO STRAIGHT ON 404 OR BEAR TO THAT LEFT, AND COME OUT ON 404 THAT WAY.
>> YES. DOWNSTATION. RIGHT ACROSS FROM DOWNSTATION THERE'S LAND.
>> THAT'S THE WOOD FARM SAND PIT.
>> THEY'RE NOT BUILDING HOUSING?
YOU JUST POKED COMMISSIONER PORTER.
THAT FIGHT STARTED BEFORE WE WERE IN OFFICE.
>> ROBIN, HE ADDRESSED YOUR DRAINAGE ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT, RIDGELY.
>> NO. I LET OTHERS ADDRESS THAT FOR NOW.
>> THEY CLEANED OUT THE DITCH THAT RUNS BACK THERE.
THEY GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
I HAVEN'T GOT THE FINAL DETAILS, BUT I GUESS THEY MADE SOME PROGRESS ON SOME OF THE DRAINAGE.
>> HOPEFULLY WE'VE GOT THE NEIGHBORHOODS ALL TO DRAIN.
IT WAS A DITCH THAT CROSSED MULTIPLE PROPERTIES, DID NOT HAVE A DRAINAGE EASEMENT, AND IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO JUST THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE A LOT OF AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY.
THERE'S ONE OUT ON CAROLINE DRIVE THAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RIDGELY, NEW YORK.
CAROLINE DRIVE IS GOING OUT TOWARDS THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE MAJOR FLOODING BACK THERE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY BUILT THESE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE YEARS AGO, DEVELOPERS OR WHOEVER, AND THEY DIDN'T SECURE A WAY FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN.
YOU GOT TO GO ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS TO CLEAR TREES AND MAINTAIN THOSE DITCHES AND WATERWAYS TO ACTUALLY GET THE WATER TO RUN OFF.
FORTUNATELY, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL THE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS WHERE THE DITCH CROSS ALLOWED US TO ACCESS THE PROPERTY,
[02:15:03]
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO IN AND CLEAN AND DO MAINTENANCE. HOPEFULLY, WE'VE GOT IT.>> AFTER THIS RAIN, WE'LL SEE.
>> I NEED A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK.
>> MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A RECESS.
[Closed Session: To Discuss a Matter Directly Related to Negotiating Strategy or the Contents of a Bid of Proposal or Sale Process, Under General Provisions]
>> MOVE WE GO TO CLOSED SESSION.
>> ROLL CALL VOTE, COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS, 10 MINUTES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.