Sep 02, 2025 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:04:07]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DAN GEDMAN OF SAINT LUKE'S GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH HERE IN DENTON.

REVEREND GEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, SO EVERYBODY'S BACK TO SCHOOL. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND INCORPORATING THANK YOU SIR.

EVERYONE PLEASE RISE. LET'S GO BEFORE OUR LORD.

GRACIOUS GOD, HOLY FATHER, WE GIVE YOU PRAISE AND GLORY AND THANKSGIVING FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU BESTOWED UPON US WHO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK YOU'VE CALLED US TO DO.

ON THIS DAY, LORD, WE ASK FOR A SPECIAL TOUCH OF YOUR BLESSING UPON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, UPON ALL THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS, THOSE WHO WORK IN THE KITCHENS, THOSE WHO CLEAN THE SCHOOLS LORD, BE A BLESSING UPON EACH OF THEM AS THEY START THEIR WORK THIS DAY.

[00:05:03]

[Call to Order: Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

SO GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND FOR ALL WHO WORK WITHIN THAT SYSTEM THIS DAY.

OH LORD, WE ALSO PRAY TODAY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY WILL DO.

WE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE TO COME UPON THEM AS YOU HAVE GRANTED THEM.

SO MUCH SO IN THE PAST THAT THROUGH THEIR DELIBERATIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND DECISIONS, THEY MAY CONTINUE TO FULFILL YOUR WILL IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY. THIS WE ASK AND PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. REVEREND. THANK YOU. YEP.

OKAY, OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS A WORKSHOP FOR A POTENTIAL BILL ADDRESSING THE COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION. SO I DON'T KNOW, MR.

[Workshop County Commissioners Compensation Committee Bill]

YES, SIR. THE IMPETUS BEHIND THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN THE FACT THAT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT HAD AN INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY SINCE 2009.

AND IN LOOKING AROUND, WE SEE THAT SUBSEQUENT TO THE LAST TIME OUR COMMISSIONERS EVER GOT A RAISE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENACTED A PROVISION IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY SECTION 10-302 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE.

AND WHAT THAT SECTION DOES IS PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER SALARIES, NOT JUST COMMISSIONERS, BUT ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN OTHER LARGER COUNTIES TO HAVE THEIR SALARIES REVIEWED BY AN IMPARTIAL COMMISSION THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND WHICH IS CHARGED WITH REVIEWING THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND DECIDING, AND THE ALLOWANCES, ALLOWANCES BEING, IN SOME CASES, IN SOME COUNTIES, IT'S A STANDARD SET OF MONEY, A SUM OF MONEY THAT IS GIVEN TO THE COMMISSIONERS WITHOUT PROOF OF.

THEY DON'T NEED TO SHOW THAT THEY'VE SPENT ANY MONEY.

BUT SOME COUNTIES GIVE $250 A YEAR. AND THIS IS FOR MISCELLANEOUS, TRAVEL EXPENSES TO AND FROM EVENTS, MAYBE TICKETS TO GET INTO CERTAIN EVENTS, THAT THAT'S HOW THEY SORT OF JUSTIFY A SET SUM.

AND THEN IT ALSO YOU CAN HAVE PROVISIONS FOR COUNTIES TO REIMBURSE COMMISSIONERS FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WHICH THEY MIGHT HAVE INCURRED ATTENDING A CONFERENCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THIS BILL THAT I'VE DRAFTED IS COMPLIANT WITH 10-302 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE.

AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS ONCE THE COMMISSION IS UP AND RUNNING, ITS CHAIRMAN WILL DECIDE WHEN THEY MEET WHAT INFORMATION THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW. AND MOST OF THE TIME, I BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A REVIEW OF SURROUNDING COUNTIES, HOW THEY'RE DOING IT, AND ALSO REVIEWING IN SOME WAY THE NUMBER OF HOURS THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS PUT IN FULFILLING THEIR DUTIES. THERE'S YOU KNOW, I DON'T MIND SAYING THIS TO A LARGE EXTENT.

THEY'RE UNSUNG HEROES. I MEAN, NOBODY KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME YOU ALL PUT IN ON WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, THAT SORT OF THING, TAKING CARE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ATTENDING FUNCTIONS AND MEETINGS WITH ALL KINDS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

SO THIS COMMISSION COMES BACK. IT MAKES A, WHAT'S CALLED A RESOLUTION.

THE COMMISSION RESOLVES TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHAT THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE, AND HOW THE ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE. WHAT THE COMMISSION CAN DO AT THAT POINT IS DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT, ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION, WHICH MAY INCLUDE REDUCING SALARY OR ALLOWANCES, BUT YOU CANNOT INCREASE IT.

SO IF THEY RECOMMEND A SET NUMBER, YOU CANNOT GO WELL, YOU KNOW THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SOMETHING.

[00:10:04]

SO AND IT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION.

THERE'S REQUIREMENTS THAT IF THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CURRENT BOARD WOULD BE THE ONES TO ENACT IT, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE RETROACTIVE AND IN ANY WAY BENEFIT THE THREE CURRENT COMMISSIONERS, IT'S PROSPECTIVE ONLY.

IT WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE FUTURE. THERE'S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY I DON'T HAVE IT IN HERE, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T YOU HAVE NOT GOT AN ORDINANCE THAT SETS YOUR SALARY THAT YOU HAVE ACTED ON.

BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR A COST OF LIVING INCREASE TO THE COMPENSATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND YOU CAN TIE IT TO THE COLAS THAT YOU GIVE TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

AND PERIODICALLY, COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN RECEIVING COLAS, COST OF LIVING INCREASES, BASICALLY, SO THAT IT MAY NOT BE AS NECESSARY TO REVISIT THE COMMISSION EVERY FOUR YEARS.

AND THE COMMISSION. I MEAN, IT CAN CONVENE FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, AFTER IT'S DONE ITS BUSINESS FOR THIS TERM AND DECIDE THAT EVERYTHING'S GOING FINE BECAUSE THAT COLA IS KEEPING THEM CURRENT.

WE'VE LOOKED AT QUEEN ANNE'S, WE'VE LOOKED AT TALBOT, WE'VE LOOKED AT WORCESTER. AND WE THINK THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE.

AND THEY WOULD JUST, IF THEY WISH, MAKE A RESOLUTION AND JUST INFORM THE COMMISSION THAT WE THINK YOU GUYS ARE FINE.

AND JUST EVERY FOUR YEARS THEY WOULD BE REVISITING THIS.

MEMBERS WOULD SERVE FOR FOUR-YEAR TERMS. IT'D BE FIVE MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

THE WAY IT'S DRAFTED HERE, THEY HAVE TO BE HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

WHAT DID I SAY? THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS? YEAH.

AND, I MEAN, THESE ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS. THIS IS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE ANYWHERE.

THIS IS, WE CAN PLAY AROUND WITH THIS, BUT IT'S A GOOD FIRST START ANYWAY, FOR YOUR REVIEW.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO I GUESS I'LL START OFF GOING THROUGH A FEW THINGS HERE.

ON THE SECOND PAGE. A, SO THIS, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH VERBATIM WHAT IS IN OUR EXISTING CODE. THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS OF 16,000 ANNUAL SALARY, OF THE OTHER MEMBERS IS 15,000. AND YOU KNOW, IT CONTINUES ON.

WOULD THAT, SO BY ORDINANCE, WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATION, THE ORDINANCE WOULD CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE IN THE CODE.

RIGHT. IF WE DO ADOPT ANY CHANGE. YES. SO THAT WOULD REMAIN.

I THINK ON PAGE THREE I HAD, WHERE YOU HAVE HERE THE, ABOUT, IT'S IN PARAGRAPH B, I WOULD SAY TEN OR SO LINES DOWN. THE POSITION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PART TIME POSITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING COMPENSATION. I WAS THINKING WE COULD STRIKE THROUGH THAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO ANALYZE IS, IS HOW MUCH TIME IS ACTUALLY INVOLVED.

AND THEY'LL SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT IS A PART TIME POSITION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU QUANTIFY PART TIME? I MEAN, SOME WEEKS IT'S A 40 HOUR A WEEK JOB.

IT'S EASY. FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WOULD ALSO ADD IN SOME OF THE LARGER COUNTIES LIKE PRINCE GEORGE'S, THEY ACTUALLY STATE IN THEIR CODE OF LOCAL LAWS THAT BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER IS A FULL-TIME POSITION, AND THEY'RE BEING PAID 145, $150,000 A YEAR PLUS ALLOWANCES.

YEAH. WE'RE NOT I'M NOT ADVOCATING GETTING ALL THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT, I DON'T THINK THAT SENTENCE IS IN OUR CURRENT CODE.

I DIDN'T SEE IT ANYWHERE. IT'S NOT. I, I JUST WOULD I MEAN, MY POSITION IS WE STRIKE THROUGH THAT AND LET THE COMMITTEE DETERMINE, IS IT A PART TIME OR YOU KNOW HOW TO THE AMOUNT.

WHAT PAGE? WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? SO I'M ON 3.

IN PARAGRAPH B. 2, LAST SENTENCE. OKAY. YEAH.

COMMISSIONERS MAY RECOMMEND AN INCREASE, OR THE COMMISSION MAY RECOMMEND AN INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND THEN YOU KNOW, SENTENCE AFTER THAT, THE POSITION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHALL BE CONSIDERED A PART TIME POSITION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING COMPENSATION. I MEAN, I THINK

[00:15:10]

BUT THAT'S JUST ONE RECOMMENDATION I HAD. AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM PARAGRAPH D WITH THE STAGGERED MEMBERSHIPS, I DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT COMMITTEE, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO STAGGER THE MEMBERSHIP.

I THINK IF WE JUST ESTABLISH A FOUR-YEAR TERM AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT BOARD WOULD REAPPOINT PRIOR TO, OR HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPOINT NEW MEMBERS, RIGHT? RIGHT. I DID MAKE THAT CHANGE THE VERSION I'M LOOKING AT, WHICH WAS REVISED AUGUST 24TH.

OKAY. THAT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE? GOT RID OF STAGGERED TERMS. OH, YES. THE ONLY THING ABOUT APPOINTING FOUR YEARS IS THEY ONLY DO THEIR WORK ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.

SO DO WE NEED TO APPOINT FOR FOUR YEARS? BECAUSE THEY WOULD, YOU WOULD APPOINT THEM, THEY WOULD DO THEIR WORK AND THEN BE MEMBERS FOR THREE YEARS, BUT THEN YOU'D HAVE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY ELSE OR REAPPOINT PRIOR TO THE NEXT.

RIGHT, I DON'T KNOW. RIGHT. THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL THEY ARE, BASICALLY, THEY EITHER RESIGN OR YOU TERMINATE THEM, THEIR TERM EXPIRES AND YOU DECIDE TO NOT REAPPOINT AND YOU SOLICIT SOMEBODY ELSE.

SO IT'S A STANDING COMMITTEE IF YOU WILL, BUT IT ONLY REVS UP KIND OF LIKE LOCUSTS OR SOMETHING.

IT ONLY COMES OUT REALLY DOES ANYTHING EVERY FOUR YEARS.

RIGHT. AND UNLESS THEY COME BACK AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO TIE TO THE JUDGE'S SALARY A PERCENTAGE OF OR, YOU KNOW, STATE'S ATTORNEY OR WHATEVER. YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE COLA SUGGESTION BECAUSE THEN THAT THAT INFLUENCED, YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER SEE IT IF WE WERE GOING TO, IF THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO, TO HAVE IT INCREASE PERIODICALLY ON ITS OWN.

I WOULD RATHER SEE IT TIED TO SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER, LIKE THE JUDGE'S SALARY OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, STATE'S ATTORNEY, ALL OF THOSE OFFICES ARE TIED TO THE JUDGE, RIGHT? I THINK I THINK SO, YEAH. I MEAN. GO AHEAD.

NO, NO. THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, I THINK THAT, BUT THAT'S UP TO THE COMMITTEE, REALLY.

I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE THEIR RECOMMENDATION. I MEAN, I THINK THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE WOULD BE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND OR HAVE INFORMATION ON HOURS.

I MEAN, WE ALL SERVE DIFFERENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION IS ASKED TO DO THINGS THAT THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE NOT. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PRESIDENT REPRESENTS, THE COMMISSIONER, THE MACO REPRESENTATIVE. I MEAN, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU NOW, YOU KNOW THAT DURING SESSION.

WE'RE ON THE PHONE TWICE A WEEK. I MEAN, I'M ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

THAT'S EVERY MONDAY NIGHT AND THEN EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

I MEAN, THERE'S HOURS IN HERE THAT WE DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS, THAT THIS COMMITTEE WOULD EVEN RECOGNIZE OR UNDERSTAND.

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, AND MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT THIS COMMISSION BE STAFFED BY KIM RAEDER IN THE OFFICE OF LAW AND THAT THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION BE THAT THEY INTERVIEW ONE AT A TIME THE SITTING COMMISSIONERS, MAYBE YOU WOULD COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR A MEETING AND JUST DISCUSS WHAT IT WHAT IT ENTAILS.

BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY DON'T KNOW. AND NONE OF US ARE KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE SURFACE OF IT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW INTERNALLY AND PRIVATELY WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I MEAN, A LOT OF IT, I CAN TELL YOU. AS, YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2010, THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS IN 2010. IN 2010, I MEAN, WE HAD THERE WERE EMAILS, BUT I MEAN, IT WASN'T EVERY DAY. IT WASN'T IT WASN'T CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE CONNECTED EVERY DAY.

THERE IS NOT A DAY, LITERALLY A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T, AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU GUYS DON'T DO SOMETHING CONNECTED AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO A GROCERY STORE AND HAVING SOMEBODY ASK YOU A QUESTION AND ENDING UP IN AN HOUR AND A HALF CONVERSATION.

[00:20:03]

SOME OF IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

THERE COULD BE, YOU COULD SAY, I'M COMING TO THESE MEETINGS AND I'M GOING TO PUT MY TIME IN HERE, BUT I'M NOT TAKING PHONE CALLS FROM ANYBODY. I'M NOT.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SPENDING ALL DAY ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEBODY.

SO, I MEAN, THERE ARE TIMES, YOU KNOW, BUDGET TIMES.

HOW MUCH TIME DO WE PUT IN DURING THE BUDGET? SO I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT THING.

AND MAYBE YOUR SUGGESTION, BUT I THINK IT MAY VARY FROM COMMISSIONER TO COMMISSIONER AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO SET UP HERE AND VOTE YOURSELF A RAISE BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE, OH YEAH, THEY'RE IN THERE AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE MONEY. THAT'S NOT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY RUNS FOR THIS POSITION TO MAKE MONEY.

I CAN TELL YOU. I THINK TO YOUR POINT, THE QUESTION IS TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE CITIZENRY.

HOW INVOLVED DO YOU WANT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS? YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT DO YOU WANT $15,000 A YEAR INVOLVEMENT WHERE BASICALLY THEY COME TO JUST THE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO AND DON'T DO THE RESEARCH OR ENGAGE WITH STAFF AND ASK QUESTIONS. TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE OPERATIONS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY OR, YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN WORKING, YOU KNOW, 20, 25, 30 HOURS A WEEK? YOU KNOW, DEPENDS ON HOW IT GOES. SOME WEEKS IT MAY BE 5 OR 6 HOURS.

SOME WEEKS IT MAY BE, LIKE I SAID, 30 HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT.

AND I THINK MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE AS A TAXPAYER AND A CITIZEN, I WANT MY COMMISSIONER TO BE ENGAGED.

I WANT THEM TO BE, I MAY BE, I, THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, I HAVE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED ME DIFFERENT DAYS, DIFFERENT HOURS OF THE DAY. I TRY TO ANSWER MY PHONE, I DO, I ANSWER MY PHONE.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN OBLIGATION THAT YOU HAVE.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND YOUR DAY GOING TO WALMART THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO PICK UP A COUPLE THINGS AND YOU END UP IN THERE FOR THREE HOURS.

DON'T DO IT, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL.

AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY SAY TO PEOPLE, OH, I'M OFF.

I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU. YOU CAN'T, I WON'T DO THAT, YOU DON'T DO THAT, FRANKLY.

SO I MEAN, BUT I THINK IT'S A HIDDEN THING. MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS COMING IN HERE AT 9:00 ON TUESDAYS AND GETTING YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AND YOU KNOW, AND SITTING UP HERE AT THE THING AND THEN YOU LEAVE AND GO HOME AND YOU'RE DONE TILL NEXT TUESDAY. IT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. WELL, AND THINK ABOUT THE, THE COMPLEXITY OF, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT, JUST HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T REMOVED, THE STATE OF MARYLAND HASN'T REMOVED ANY REGULATIONS SINCE 2010, AND THE COUNTY ALWAYS ENDS UP BEING THE MESSENGER FOR THOSE REGULATIONS.

YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY IS THE AGENCY THAT TELLS A PROPERTY OWNER OR A CITIZEN, YOU KNOW, WELL, ACTUALLY, STATE LAW SAYS YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN MANY CASES, YOU KNOW.

SO AND WITH THAT, WITH THOSE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS, I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION AS COMMISSIONERS WHEN SOMEBODY COMES TO US AND SAYS, WHY DID PLANNING AND CODES TELL ME, I COULDN'T DO THIS FOR US TO BE EDUCATED AND HAVE A RESPONSE.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE, THAT'S THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH EXPECT FROM US, YOU KNOW, IS TO UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, WHY I CAN'T BUILD A DECK HERE, OR WHY I HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING, BUT, I JUST THINK MY POINT IS, I'M NOT SURE IT'S EASY.

IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN POSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY THE TIME, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, WE ALL SERVE ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW SO, I MEAN, IT'S, TO PUT HOURS ON IT.

I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE WE CAN DO IT IF I WERE ON THAT COMMISSION, I THINK WHAT I WOULD LOOK TO DO WOULD BE TO EVALUATE WHAT IT IS IN COMPARISON TO WHAT OTHER COUNTIES DO AND WHAT THE TAXPAYERS THINK, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD BE. I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF, WHAT THAT'S HOW I WOULD LOOK AT IT.

AND, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY REALLY HAS EVER THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING FOR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAID, SO, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE SO.

NO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING, FRANK?

[00:25:03]

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEW EACH OF US AND LET US YOU KNOW, WE TELL YOU WHAT WE DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, SO. THE, I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING FRANK, SORRY.

THE DECEMBER 15TH, DID WE DETERMINE, THE STATE STATUTE SAYS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS TO REPORT BACK BY.

IT'S 15 DAYS OUT. WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE TERM.

IS THE TIME FRAME? YEAH. SO THE BEGINNING OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE TERM IS DECEMBER 1ST.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH, CLOSE TO IT. IT'S THE FIRST COMMISSIONER MEETING IN DECEMBER, RIGHT? YEAH. WHICH WAS THE SECOND? WHAT? SO WAS THE SECOND THIS YEAR OR WILL BE. IT'S THE SECOND THIS YEAR. OKAY.

SO IT'S REALLY THE 16TH. RIGHT. BUT 15TH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT DATE. SO THE COMMITTEE HAS TO REPORT BACK BY THEN.

AND AS THIS IS DRAFTED, WE WOULD HAVE TO ACT ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION WITHIN 60 DAYS, OR IT WOULD JUST GO AWAY.

WELL, YOU CAN THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR OPTIONS, WHICH IS I MEAN, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AN ORDINANCE IF YOU DECIDE TO NOT CHANGE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT BINDING UPON YOU.

IT IS ADVISORY ONLY. AND THEY'VE DONE THIS FOR THE EXACT REASON YOU MENTIONED, WHICH IS IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SIT UP THERE AND TO OUT OF. HOW CAN I PUT THIS? JUST OUT OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OR THIN AIR YOU COME UP WITH NUMBERS AND ENACT THAT AS THE COMMISSIONER SALARIES. SO THIS IS TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR THE PEOPLE TO HAVE A ROLE IN DETERMINING THE SALARIES THAT ARE FAIR COMPENSATION FOR WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN.

IT WILL, I SUSPECT, NEVER NEARLY COMPENSATE YOU ON ANY REASONABLE HOURLY BASIS FOR WHAT YOU DO.

BUT IT WOULD BE A LITTLE FAIRER THAN THE SITUATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

YOUR CURRENT RATES HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED A PENNY SINCE 09.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THIS THIS IS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEES, REVIEW COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION, AMEND THE RECOMMENDATION BY A MAJORITY VOTE.

OTHERWISE, THE RECOMMENDATION SHALL STAND APPROVED.

OKAY. SO WE NEED TO GET A COMMISSION APPOINTED, AND THEY NEED TO MEET.

RIGHT, RIGHT. AND EVEN THOUGH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE, IF WE INTRODUCE IT NEXT TUESDAY, WHICH IS A LEGISLATIVE DAY, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS IT COULD NOT BE INTRODUCED TODAY IF WE WANTED TO. RIGHT.

THAT WE WOULD, IF WE'RE FAR ENOUGH ALONG ON IT.

AND IT CERTAINLY GOES THROUGH THE FIRST READING AND YOU ALL ARE APPROVING OF THAT.

JEN WOULD BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THIS COMMISSION.

YOU COULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS, AND THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULDN'T ACTUALLY BE A COMMISSION UNTIL THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE.

YOU HAVE THE OPTION, OF COURSE, OF MAKING THIS AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE.

IF YOU FELT THAT STRONGLY ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE THE COMMISSION UP AND RUNNING SOONER.

BUT AS, EVEN AS A REGULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE.

I MEAN, THEY'LL, THE EFFECTIVE DATE IF I HAVE THAT CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME.

DID WE. SEE WHERE THAT MIGHT BE? THEY DO. I THINK IT'S PRINTED IN THEIR PACKET.

IS IT? YEAH. SO THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE NOVEMBER 8TH.

THAT'S RIGHT. SO THEIR APPOINTMENTS COULD BE EFFECTIVE SATURDAY THE 9TH.

[00:30:06]

YES. YEAH. SO IT'S A PRETTY TIGHT WINDOW. AND I CAN'T ADVERTISE TODAY.

I CAN'T ADVERTISE UNTIL THE 9TH. NO, THERE'S NO.

OH, I CAN ADVERTISE. YOU COULD ADVERTISE. YOU COULD SIMPLY, IN THE NOTICE THAT A COMMISSION IS BEING FORMED BY LEGISLATION.

THE COMMISSION WILL. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD BE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO USE THE WORD.

EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 9TH OR. YES, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH.

OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? I DO. YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE ON IT? ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE BILL AT THE, AS REGULAR LEGISLATION, NOT EMERGENCY, AS REGULAR LEGISLATION.

AT OUR NEXT MEETING NEXT TUESDAY. I'LL SECOND.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT, SO.

THANK YOU. WE'LL INTRODUCE NEXT WEEK. COMMISSIONER.

BREEDING. YEAH. DID YOU WANT ANY OF THOSE CHANGES MADE TO IT OR WILL YOU DO THAT AFTER INTRODUCTION.

WE CAN DO IT AFTER INTRODUCTION, I THINK. STEWART THE I THINK THE CIRCULATED COPY HAD REMOVED THE STAGGERED TERMS. OKAY. SO. I'LL REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO PART TIME POSITION.

I THINK YOU GUYS GOOD WITH THAT? YES. YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEP. OKAY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION INITIATIVES AND ITEMS OF CONCERNS

[2026 Legislative Session Initiatives and Items of Concern]

SO I PRINTED OUT THE CTP LETTER THAT WE SENT IN BACK IN APRIL, AS WELL AS JUST THE LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS AND ITEMS OF CONCERNS WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE MEETING A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN USUAL, SEPTEMBER 16TH FOR OUR MEETING WITH STATE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS THE DELEGATION.

SO I WANTED TO GO OVER ANY REQUESTS. THE THREE OF YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE I CAN GET THAT PACKET PUT TOGETHER, AND THEN SENT OUT TO OUR DELEGATES, AS WELL AS OUR OUTSIDE AGENCY.

YOU'RE REFERRING TO JUST THE CTP RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW, THE CTP AS WELL AS, WE HAVE THE NEWSPAPER OF RECORD AND THEN THE RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY INVESTMENT FUND FROM.

SCOTT WARNER. SCOTT WARNER. YEAH. THE ONLY THING ON THE CTP, REBUILD 454 MARRIED OUT TO TEMPLE VILLE.

THAT'S ON 313. RESURFACING FROM GREENSBORO TO GOLDSBORO.

THREE STRAIGHT, 317 BURRSVILLE ROAD, RIGHT TURN LANE.

THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I'VE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT IS STAGGERING.

THE LEFT TURN LIGHT AT ROUTE 16, HARMONY ROAD AND 404 BY THE ROYAL FARMS. RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE MAKING A LEFT TURN OFF OF 16 ONTO 404, LIKE YOU'RE COMING TO DENTON FROM PRESTON.

YOU HAVE ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM DOUBLE HILLS THAT'S GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH.

SO I THINK THE REQUEST IS TO STAGGER THE GREEN LIGHTS FOR DOUBLE HILLS ROAD AND ROUTE 16, SO THAT THE TRAFFIC TURNING LEFT DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CROSSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

OKAY. HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY? YEAH, IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A WHILE.

FOREVER. RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. THERE WAS ANOTHER.

THERE'S A LOT I THINK THERE'S A THERE ARE SOME ACCIDENTS THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T YIELD TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE PEOPLE COMING STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM DOUBLE HILLS, LIKE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID AT RIVER ROAD IN 404. THEY STAGGERED THAT LIGHT AS WELL. SO IT'S JUST A BASIC SETTING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. SO IF WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE CTP.

OKAY. DID YOU DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NOT FOR THE CTP.

[00:35:05]

SHE WAS GOING TO TALK TO THE DELEGATION TO SEE. YEAH, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SHE, WE NEED TO PUT IT ON HER SHEET FOR HER IN REGARDS TO THAT, WHETHER SHE'S FOLLOWED UP WITH THEM OR NOT. OKAY.

I DON'T, I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO MAKE THAT REQUEST.

I THINK IF SHE WANTS TO WORK IT OUT WITH HIM, I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME FROM US. WELL, IT WOULD COME FROM OUR BOARD, WOULDN'T IT? LIKE THAT'S WHAT OUR NORMAL REQUESTS.

I GET THEM FROM CRYSTAL WHEN IT COMES. WELL, SHE COULD GET THEIR SUPPORT.

RIGHT. TO STATE. LET'S JUST NOTED OKAY. SO WE REMEMBER IT.

OKAY. I DON'T I MEAN I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT.

YEAH THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY REQUEST. WELL YEAH, BUT SHE, I DIDN'T KNOW WE NEEDED.

YEAH. MAKE MENTION IF. I REMEMBER RIGHT HER REQUEST WAS GOING TO HAVE STATEWIDE IMPACTS.

YEAH. OH, YEAH. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE REQUEST WAS.

YEAH. YOU WERE OUT OKAY. YEAH. LARRY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE CTP THAT YOU WANTED TO. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MENTION THAT STAGGERING OF THE LIGHT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS.

I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO PUT IN A COUNTY REQUEST FOR WHAT ROBYN RITTER.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING. IF SHE WANTS TO WORK THAT OUT DIRECTLY WITH THE DELEGATION, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED IN ACTUALLY REQUESTING. I WOULD AGREE. AS FAR AS THE FLEXIBILITY FOR PAPER RECORD, I AM, I'M FINE WITH MAKING THAT LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT. I'M OKAY WITH. I STILL AM LOST.

THIS IS THIS IS LIKE A BLIND SPOT FOR ME, WHICH I CAN'T FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

BUT, DEBBIE, MAYBE WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THIS IS ALL.

I'M OKAY WITH THE. OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO REVISIT THIS, THEN? YEAH. AS FAR AS THIS. YEAH. AND I'LL KEEP BRINGING IT BACK UNTIL WE MEET.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE MEET THIS MONTH. IT'S JUST IT'S SOONER.

THE END OF THIS MONTH IS. THE 16TH, SO WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING.

YEAH. HAS STAFF RESPONDED WITH ANY REQUESTS? NOT YET.

AND I'LL KEEP PUSHING IT. AND WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE MORE REQUESTS AFTER THE MEETING, IT'S JUST.

I KNOW LAST YEAR WE PUSHED FOR THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE FUNDING SO THAT WE COULD USE THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION FUNDS FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN GO AFTER.

NOTHING'S COME UP. YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF FLEXIBILITY.

I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, THE STATE IS TAKING A PRETTY ADVERSARIAL OR CONDESCENDING APPROACH OR STANCE TOWARDS COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. SO, I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO BE REALISTIC TO PASS THAT WE THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH.

BUT OKAY. SO WE'LL BRING THIS ONE BACK UP, THE RMPIF GRANT APPLICATION OR FUNDING? I'M FINE WITH THAT.

YEAH. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

OKAY. AND I WILL MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, AT MACO, WE HAD THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES WHERE WE TRIED TO NARROW THOSE DOWN TO FOUR. I THINK WE GOT DOWN TO, I CAN'T REMEMBER WE IT WASN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO FOUR.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE WORK THAT WILL CONTINUE BY ZOOM CALLS, I GUESS BEGINNING IN, YOU KNOW, MONDAY NIGHTS NOW TO START LOOKING AT THOSE. YOU KNOW, THE, THE OTHER THING, I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN GIVE ME SARAH RICH'S NUMBER.

YEAH. SO I CAN REACH OUT TO HER. YOU KNOW, THE EMAIL THAT WE DID RECEIVE FROM HER WHERE SHE WAS, SHE HAD TO REDUCE STAFF BY 10% IN CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S BECAUSE OF.

FUNDING. RIGHT. SO I'LL TRY TO REACH OUT TO HER AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING LEGISLATIVELY THAT WE COULD ASK FOR TO PROMOTE HEALTH CARE IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE. I MEAN, THAT'S A LITTLE DISTURBING TO HEAR THAT, THAT THEY'VE HAD TO REDUCE THEIR,

[00:40:05]

I MEAN, I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.

I THINK, MR. HUESTER, THE DIRECTOR'S COMING IN NEXT WEEK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS ELIMINATED OR WAS NOT, I WAS IT WAS NOT FUNDED IN CAROLINE AND CECIL COUNTY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHY, AND I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS AND, YOU KNOW, BUT I WE NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWER. AND I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, THE ORGANIZATION THAT MADE THAT DECISION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAS SOME OBLIGATION TO EXPLAIN IT AND TO AT LEAST NOTIFY THEM THE AGENCY.

SO WE'LL GET MORE DETAILS ON THAT. HE'S ON COMING IN.

OKAY. SO PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK.

GIVE DEPARTMENT HEADS, YOU KNOW, A FINAL CALL, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GET US ANY LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS.

AND I'LL TALK. I'LL TALK WITH CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN PUT IN TO MAYBE HELP THEIR SITUATION.

YOU'LL CHECK WITH MRDC, WHICH THEY'LL BE HERE NEXT WEEK.

YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? JOHN? YOU GOT ANYTHING? GOOD. OKAY. NEXT UP, THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[Consent Agenda]

OKAY. AND THE FENCING IS THE BALLPARK. THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FENCE SHARPER. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. OKAY. WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO MOVED.

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

AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. I HAVE A VERY SHORT REPORT FOR YOU TODAY.

[County Administrator’s Report]

SO THE POSITION IS NOW ADVERTISED. WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THAT HR DIRECTOR VACANCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. AND I ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION OR, I GUESS, AN EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH TODMAN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, WHO IS SEEKING SOME KIND OF CONFIRMATION OF WHETHER WE ARE IN OR OUT OF THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.

SO I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINAL OPERATING BUDGET, BUT I THINK MAYBE WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK AT THE MEETING TO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION. I'M OUT. RIGHT, THAT'S MY SENSE.

SO IF. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT.

WHERE ARE YOU AT? OUT. WE WERE OUT BEFORE. I DON'T, I'VE BEEN OUT I DON'T.

YEAH I MEAN, I. YEAH, THE CONVERSATION HAPPENED BECAUSE I SAID I DON'T THINK WE'RE PARTICIPATING.

WELL, I RAN INTO TODD AT MACO AND HE BRIEFLY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, SAID, DO, I THINK I JUST BASICALLY TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD GIVE HIM AN ANSWER, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION, THEN I THINK WE DON'T.

WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW, WE NEED TO PUT THIS TO BED.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE, WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH CAROLINE. YEAH, I DON'T. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THEIR SCHEDULE AND THEIR PAY SCALE, I DON'T THINK CAROLINE COUNTY IS GOING TO SAVE ANY MONEY.

BY ENTERING INTO THE AGREEMENT, IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE ANY MONEY, WHY RELINQUISH THE AUTONOMY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO OPERATE AS OUR OWN FACILITY AND AND BETTER SUIT THE NEEDS OF CAROLINE COUNTY. YEAH.

AS OPPOSED TO THE THREE COUNTY ORGANIZATION. I MEAN, I JUST DON'T SEE THE THE UPSIDE AT THIS POINT.

SO, I MEAN, WE WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE. WE LOOKED INTO IT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, SO. AND THERE'S ALSO A LETTER TO THE AG'S OFFICE FROM KENT COUNTY ASKING, IS IT EVEN. LEGITIMATE FOR A JUDGE IN THEIR CASE?

[00:45:05]

IS IT PROPER? IS IT LEGAL FOR THE JUDGE TO ORDER THAT THAT TIME BE SERVED IN THE DETENTION CENTER OF ANOTHER COUNTY? AS OPPOSED TO THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE TRIAL TOOK PLACE OR THE SENTENCING TOOK PLACE.

SO. WELL, AND I THINK GOING FORWARD TODD INDICATED TO ME THAT QUEEN ANNE'S AND KENT COUNTY INTEND TO PROCEED.

BUT IN THE KENT COUNTY CASE RIGHT NOW, KENT COUNTY IS, A LOT OF THEIR INMATE POPULATION IS BEING HOUSED, OR THEY'RE PLANNING FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE SCALING WAY BACK JUST BECAUSE OF THE COST, YOU KNOW, THE RATIO OF EMPLOYEES TO INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR DETENTION CENTER.

SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD SUGGESTED OR IMPLIED TO TODD THAT WE WERE PROBABLY NOT PARTICIPATING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET THAT SHOWS THE EXPENSES, AND IT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT'S GOING TO BE FAR MORE COSTLY FOR US TO PARTICIPATE THAN NOT.

AND EVEN WITH OUR RECENT NUMBERS, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX WAS AND I WERE LOOKING AT THE CURRENT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND ALL OF THE DETENTION CENTERS FOR THE THREE COUNTIES. OUR POPULATION HAS GONE UP.

SO WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAYING A HIGHER SHARE THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, EVEN IF WE PROCEEDED.

SO THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP IN THAT REGARD ALSO.

SO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, I'LL TELL HIM.

WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT KENT AND QUEEN ANNE HAVE PUT IN TO RESEARCHING THIS. RIGHT. AND OUR STAFF. WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE, AND WE JUST DON'T WE DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR US TO ENTER INTO THE THREE COUNTY AGREEMENT.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON MULTIPLE MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT I ATTENDED WITH YOU GUYS, WE, YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IN THEORY, IT LOOKED LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD DEAL FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT IT JUST IT HASN'T IT HASN'T WORKED OUT TO BE THAT WAY.

WELL, I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT.

AND, YOU KNOW, OVER YEARS, WE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THESE REGIONAL AGREEMENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SET UP HERE MANY TIMES AND SAID, I THINK THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, COOPERATE AND DO THINGS REGIONALLY THAT I THINK MAKES SENSE. BUT DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS.

WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT THIS DOES, IT'S GOING TO THEN SHIFT THE EMPHASIS TO US NOW ON WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND ON OUR JAIL AND TO MAKE RENOVATION.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG TICKET. YEP. AND SO WE BUT I THINK TO GET CLARITY TO BE ABLE TO SAY NOT WE DON'T HAVE THIS HANGING OUT HERE AS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT'S GOING TO ALLOW THE BOARD, THE NEXT BOARD TO FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOLLARS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SPENT BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME.

YEP. BUT THE IDEA OF THIS WAS TO, YOU KNOW, WAS TO SAVE MONEY BUT ALSO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT.

DANNY, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING WHERE THERE'S ANY SAVINGS? NO, WE HAVEN'T REALLY RECEIVED A FORMAL BUDGET BREAKDOWN, BUT FROM WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD SAY WE'RE OUT. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL BE EXCUSED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WITH THE AG. YEAH. GOOD LUCK. IS THE AG ON THE CALL? SUPPOSEDLY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. GOOD LUCK. I'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU LATER.

THANK YOU. THANKS. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, KATHLEEN? I DO NOT. OKAY. COUNTY COMMISSIONER. OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

NEXT WEEK? NEXT WEEK. OKAY. ALRIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A LIST READY FOR THEM OR WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO START? WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO START. SOUTH, NORTH? CHERRY LANE. CHERRY LANE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE'RE AT WE'RE MOWING IN ADVANCE OF THEIR ARRIVAL WITH MOON MOWER.

SO THEY'VE BEEN COMING IN BEHIND ME. I WAS MADE AWARE OF A, I GUESS ANTHONY MILL ROAD.

THERE WAS A COUPLE MAJOR TREES THAT ARE IN QUESTION THERE.

[00:50:02]

AND MILL POND ROAD. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER PORTER. YEAH. I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE THE MRDC ISSUE.

SO I THINK I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ENOUGH. I WILL MENTION AT THE AT MACO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE CALVIN BALL, WHO IS AN EXCELLENT, IN MY OPINION, COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I MEAN, HE IS AND WE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE HE BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP ABOUT CANNABIS FUNDING.

AND I TALKED TO HIM INDIVIDUALLY AND ASKED IF HE COULD HELP US FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, GET SOME CLARIFICATION.

SO HE IMMEDIATELY HAD HIS PERSON WHO HANDLES THAT REACH OUT TO ME.

THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY.

AND BASICALLY THE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT BACK WAS THE SAME ONE WE'VE BEEN GETTING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE OCTOBER BEFORE WE WOULD GET ANY CLARIFICATION.

I EXPLAINED TO TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE BALL THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED HARD TO PUT TOGETHER APPLICATIONS AND GRANT FUNDING REQUESTS, AND WE JUST CAN'T KEEP DELAYING. I MEAN, WE'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND HE AGREED, AND I THINK HE I THINK HE INDICATED TO ME THEY HAD RUN INTO THE SAME SITUATION.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME THAT WE'LL KEEP PUSHING.

BUT THAT WAS THE RESPONSE THAT WE GOT. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM.

YES. YEAH. YEAH, SO THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS CONTACTED WITH WAS COURTNEY DAVIS, WHO'S THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE OSCE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUALITY.

AND THAT'S THE INITIAL PERSON, HONESTLY, STACY AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH WHO GOT THE GUIDANCE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF FEW COUNTIES THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY DESIGNATED AREAS THAT THE STATE DETERMINED WHEN THEY CREATED THE CANNABIS FUND.

THEY CALL THEM DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS.

WE WERE WAITING FOR CLARIFICATION AND GUIDANCE ON HOW THAT COULD BE SPENT.

AND THEY KEEP POINTING TO THIS OCTOBER FALL DATE OF THE OSC WILL GIVE OUT FURTHER DETAILS.

AND THAT EMAIL THAT SHE HAD SENT OR YOU HAD RECEIVED DIRECT TO THAT AS WELL.

SO. WELL, IT'S FRUSTRATING FROM OUR STANDPOINT AS WELL.

IT IS. AND I APPRECIATE I APPRECIATE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BALL BECAUSE HE, I MEAN, IT WAS ALMOST BEFORE I GOT BACK TO THE, YOU KNOW, TO THE ROOM THAT I HAD A RESPONSE. YEAH.

BUT HE'S ALWAYS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND IS A BIG HELP.

SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR ME. OKAY. OKAY.

JUST HANG TIGHT, DANNY. MAKE IT EASY. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I HAD, THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY COMMUNITY AND TRANSPARENCY GRANT, THE PAC GRANT. WE DID RECEIVE NOTIFICATION LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS CUT IN HALF. REACHED OUT TO KEVIN KINNALLY AT MACO TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS JUST A CAROLINE COUNTY REDUCTION OR IF IT WAS STATEWIDE.

I BELIEVE THE ANSWER I RECEIVED WAS IS THAT IT WAS A STATEWIDE REDUCTION AND A COST SAVING MEASURE.

THE PAC GRANT IS THE GRANT THAT IS USED TO FUND THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE. IT WAS REDUCED TO $55,433. SO WE WERE RECEIVING ABOUT 110, $111,000, DOLLARS IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THE ATTORNEYS THAT ADVISE BOTH OF THOSE BOARDS, COMPUTERS, STAFF TIME. SO IT'S WHAT WE ALL EXPECTED.

STATE OF MARYLAND PASSES A LAW THAT CREATES A NEW BOARD AND A NEW EXPENSE THAT THE COUNTIES HAVE TO SHOULDER. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY FUND IT AND PROGRESSIVELY DEFUNDED AND SHIFT THAT COST ON TO THE COUNTY.

SO WE ALL KNEW IT WAS COMING, AND IT JUST KIND OF CAME OUT OF THE BLUE.

RIGHT? YEAH. WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY TODAY IS WHAT, SEPTEMBER 2ND.

OUR BUDGET STARTS JULY 1ST, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN WILL THE AWARDS BE MADE?

[00:55:01]

AND THEY RELAYED THAT IT WAS CUT 50%. THEY DID ALLOW THE COUNTY TO DECIDE WHERE THE CUT WAS MADE.

SO STACY STEWART, OUR GRANT COORDINATOR AS WELL AS KIM RAEDER, WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PRETTY MUCH ALL SAT DOWN AND COME UP WITH THE GUIDANCE ON WHAT WOULD BEST BE FIT TO STAY FUNDED.

AND ESSENTIALLY, AS COMMISSIONER BREEDING MENTIONS, WE'RE NOW ABSORBING THE REST AND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO COVER THE $55,000 THAT WAS NOT AWARDED. SO WHERE ARE YOU TAKING THAT FROM? CONTINGENCY, LIKELY.

MORE THAN LIKELY. WE'LL TAKE IT OUT OF CONTINGENCY FOR THE CERTAIN ASPECTS THAT WE NEED TO FUND.

WE'LL TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF THOSE INDIVIDUALLY AND KIND OF KNOW WHAT OUR TOTAL OUT IS, BUT.

SO YOU CAN BUILD IT IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? CORRECT, YES.

OKAY. YEP. THE OTHER THING WAS YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FEDERALSBURG ADOPTION OF OUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.

HAVE YOU GOT A RESPONSE? YES, I TALKED TO DIVISION CHIEF JONES OUT TO EMERGENCY SERVICES ABOUT THAT.

MAYOR ABNER DID RESPOND BACK AND STATE THAT THEY HAD CREATED THE RESOLUTION AND LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD IT SCHEDULED TO GO TO AN AGENDA, BUT IT SEEMINGLY DID NOT MAKE IT ON THE AGENDA.

SO SHE WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND SEE IF THEY EITHER DID PASS IT OR COULD GET IT ON TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE MEETING.

I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNICATION WAS LAST WEEK, SO STILL WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITH THAT.

AND THE STAFF IS GOING TO, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STAFF IS GOING TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT AND MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THERE ARE GRANTS THAT ARE IN LIMBO. RIGHT.

UNTIL. THERE ARE. YEAH. SO AS A LOCAL JURISDICTION, WE MUST COMPLY WITH HAVING A HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE IT SO MANY YEARS.

THEY ARE THE LAST PIECE FOR US TO GET OURS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE AND APPROVED SO WE CAN STAY IN COMPLIANCE FOR THE GRANTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED THROUGH THAT OFFICE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO MAKE SURE. THAT IS ON TOP OF MY LIST TO STAY UP WITH THE TOWN AND DES TO GET THAT THROUGH.

OKAY. WE ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM DOCTOR COPPERSMITH ABOUT THE REAPPOINTMENT OF BRENT FUCHS TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.

WHAT IS THAT, ADVISORY BOARD OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS? BOARD OF TRUSTEES. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. OKAY. I WOULD GET THAT ON OUR NEXT CONSENT AGENDA.

IF. I SWEAR, I FEEL LIKE WE JUST PUT THEM ON THERE.

YEAH. WE DID. HE FILLED OUT. THE REMAINDER OF SOMEONE WHO CAME OFF.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO REAPPOINT HIM. HE FILLED A TERM FOR NASH.

OH, RIGHT. RIGHT. YEAH. SO HE'S ALREADY STAYING.

YEAH. SOMEBODY PROBABLY. YOU HAVE TALKED TO HIM.

OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO, YEAH, IF WE CAN GET THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

ROBYN, YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE BATHROOMS FOR NORTH CAROLINE AND COLONEL RICHARDSON STADIUMS. SURE. SO FOUNDATIONS, PIPING EVERYTHING FOR, ON OUR SIDE.

IS COMPLETED. GENTLEMEN FROM SMITH MIDLAND MET US OUT THERE LAST TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY.

TO MEASURE EVERYTHING UP, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.

COLONEL RICHARDSON, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT THERE. WE GOT THE CRANE.

WILL BE ABLE TO SET UP THE TRUCKS, WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN PRETTY EASY SET.

WAITING ON AN ACTUAL DELIVERY DATE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

NORTH CAROLINE, WE HAD TO REMOVE A SECTION OF FENCE, WHICH THEY WERE PERFECTLY FINE WITH.

AND TOLD US NOT. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT IT BACK.

AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO COORDINATE NOW IS A WIRE OVERHEAD GOING TO THE SCOREBOARD TO COME DOWN, WHICH I WAS GOING TO CALL AS SOON AS I LEAVE HERE TODAY.

TRY TO GET THAT COORDINATED THROUGH EITHER CHOPTANK OR ANOTHER LOCAL VENDOR.

SO ONCE WE HAVE THAT DELIVERY DATE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IT'LL TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK FOR A CONTRACTOR TO POUR THE CONCRETE SLAB, HOOK UP THE ELECTRIC FINAL AND WATER AND SEWER AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE ABOUT MAYBE THREE WEEKS OUT FROM UTILIZING THOSE.

I KNOW THAT, COLONEL MOST OF THEIR HOME FOOTBALL GAMES ARE IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, SO THAT WORKS OUT PRETTY GOOD.

AND THEN THE FIRST ONE IN COLONEL OR AT NORTH HIGH IS THE 19TH.

17TH. SO IT'D BE VERY CLOSE TO MAKING IT TO THAT DATE, BUT WE'RE WE'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH.

OKAY. SO THERE WAS A LITTLE DELAY ON PLUMBING THINGS ON BACK ORDER FOR THE BUILDING, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HELD US UP.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEP. ALRIGHT, GUYS, I'M GOING TO MAKE ONE SUGGESTION HERE.

I WOULD SAY THAT FROM THIS, FROM NOW ON, WHEN WE RUN INTO SOMETHING LIKE THE FUNDING FOR THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD,

[01:00:07]

SO I THAT'S I WOULD SUGGEST THAT DON'T THINK IT'S GOING UP ANYTIME SOON.

NO. MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS JUST POPPED IN MY HEAD WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE SHARP ROAD FENCING. WHAT WHAT IS THE DISPOSITION OF THE LOCKERMAN FIELD? WHAT HAVE WE? WE NEED TO HAVE PROBABLY SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT.

CORRECT. YEAH. WE MAY NEED TO KEEP IT IN USE ANOTHER YEAR.

OKAY. IT WOULD BE MY GUESS. IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.

SO THEY MAY NEED TO USE IT ANOTHER YEAR, SO. BUT AT SOME POINT THAT PROPERTY IS GOING TO BECOME AVAILABLE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE USED TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE EXPENSES.

YEP. OKAY. YEAH. SO WHAT WE DO WITH THAT. OKAY.

NOW HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?

[Public Comment]

SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[Meeting Adjourns]