Jan 06, 2026 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[Call to Order: Invocation— Rev David Gedman; Global Methodist Church of Denton, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

[00:01:18]

OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 6TH, 2026 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING,

[President’s Closed Session Report Out]

REVEREND GEDMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. LET US PRAY.

GRACIOUS GOD, HOLY LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR PLACE AND TIME IN THIS WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE BROUGHT US TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSES THAT YOU HAVE DESIGNED.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE WONDERMENT OF ALL YOU HAVE DONE, THE WORK IN AND THROUGH US, AND AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR IN 2026.

OH LORD, WE PRAY THIS DAY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS FOR THE DECISIONS THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE AND FOR THEIR DELIBERATIONS.

GRANT ALL WHO SERVE OUR COUNTY. OH LORD, SAFETY, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, THE GIFTS AND GRACES THAT THEY NEED TO FULFILL YOUR WILL.

IN THIS TIME. WE PRAY IN JESUS NAME. 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.

[Daniel Fox, Deputy Administrator]

THAT CLOSEOUT STATEMENT. IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DATE ON HERE. WHAT DATE WAS THAT MEETING? DECEMBER 16TH OF 2025. SORRY. FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS THIS MORNING IS DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, WITH A WORKSHOP PERTAINING THE COUNTY PURCHASING CODE.

AND STACY STEWART. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

I ASKED STACY TO JOIN ME THIS MORNING. SHE'S AN INTEGRAL PART WITH OUR PURCHASING IN THE OFFICE AND HAS SOME INSIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE.

I KNOW A COUPLE OF THE DIRECTORS ARE ALSO HERE AS WELL. IF THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE PROCESSES OR ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE DIRECTORS, AS A TEAM AND GROUP HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WHAT WE WOULD SAY ARE PINCH POINTS AND THE PURCHASING PROCESSES AND CODE OF THE COUNTY. AND WHEN WE REALLY STARTED TAKING A LOOK THROUGH THE PURCHASING CODE WE STARTED TO REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE TERMINOLOGY, SOME OF THE POSITIONS AND JUST OTHER SMALL THINGS ARE OUTDATED AND HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE IT LOOKS ABOUT 2014 AND OTHER ITEMS WELL BEFORE THAT.

SO BEFORE YOU TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS QUICKLY JUST A FEW POINTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND SEE IF WE COULD RECEIVE SOME INPUT.

SO AS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT BODY OF CAROLINE COUNTY IS REALLY DICTATED TO CHAPTER 51 PURCHASING ON HOW WE CONDUCT BASIC PURCHASING IN THE COUNTY. SO RIGHT NOW, IF A DEPARTMENT LIKE RECREATION AND PARKS WANTS TO GO OUT AND REQUEST A SERVICE OR LOOK FOR A PRODUCT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT ITEM COST OR MAY COST WOULD DICTATE THE PROCESS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE TO PROCURE THAT ITEM. AND WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS BREAK THAT OUT IN THE EMAIL THAT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE INTO A BASIC TABLE OF WHAT OUR CURRENT CODE LOOKS LIKE. SO RIGHT NOW, ANYTHING UNDER $1,000 IS REALLY CONSIDERED INCIDENTAL, AND THE DEPARTMENTS CAN GO OUT AND PURCHASE THOSE

[00:05:09]

REALLY, ANY, EXCUSE ME, ITEM OR ORDER UNDER A THOUSAND, THEY'RE REALLY TO USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO GO OUT AND PRICE OR CALL AROUND TO 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT VENDORS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST.

SO THAT KICKS US INTO REALLY THE FIRST BRACKET THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS MINOR PURCHASES.

SO THIS IS ANYTHING OVER 1000 TO 5000. OUR PURCHASING CODE REQUIRES THAT THOSE MINOR PURCHASES RECEIVE THREE OR MORE VERBAL QUOTES.

AND AS FINANCE WE ASK THEM TO DOCUMENT THAT. SO, IF.

JAMIE, SHE'S HERE. IF JAMIE BUYS SOMETHING ON HER PURCHASE CARD FOR $1,500 SHE'S GOING TO BE GETTING AN EMAIL.

IF SHE ALREADY HASN'T ASKING WHERE HER THREE QUOTES REALLY ARE, AND WE SAY VERBAL OR WRITTEN, SHE CAN SIMPLY WRITE ON THAT RECEIPT OR PIECE OF PAPER.

CHECK STAPLES, $1,200. CHECKED HOME DEPOT OR WHATEVER.

YOU NAME THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT MAY SELL SOMETHING SIMILAR AND JOTS DOWN WHAT THE THREE ARE, AND WE LOOK FOR THAT DOCUMENTATION. SO AGAIN, 1000 TO 5000.

THAT'S A A CHECK THAT THEY MUST DO AND WE REQUIRE.

AND THEN WE REALLY KICK IT UP INTO WHAT IS CONSIDERED ALSO MINOR BY CODE, BUT IS THE BRACKET BETWEEN 5000 AND 40,000.

AND THAT REQUIRES WRITTEN PROPOSALS. SO THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET A LITTLE INTERESTING NOW, BECAUSE INSTEAD OF JUST GOING ONLINE AND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING OR JUST WRITING IT DOWN ON A SHEET OF PAPER.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR DOCUMENTED PROPOSALS. SO IF JAMIE HAS A, I'M GOING TO SAY, A SMALL ELECTRICAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE BUILDING THAT SHE THINKS IS GOING TO COST ABOUT $6,000. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THREE VENDORS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN, ALL PRICE OUT, PROVIDE HER PROPOSAL. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO ANALYZE THEM, GO THROUGH THAT AND PROVIDE IT TO US WITH BACKUP, THE ASSOCIATED PURCHASE ORDERS AND THE FULL PROCESS THERE.

SO IN DISCUSSION, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR YEARS, AND THE NUMBERS HAVE REALLY NEVER CHANGED.

SO WE'RE STILL BUYING THE $1000 ITEMS AND GETTING THE QUOTES.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE PURCHASING POWER BACK IN 1988, 1990, WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS PUT IN, IS COMPLETELY CHANGED TO WHAT IT IS NOW TODAY. AND IT'S REALLY BECOME TEDIOUS, AND WE'RE CUTTING MORE PURCHASE ORDERS AND WE'RE SPENDING MORE TIME FOR ITEMS THAT ARE REALLY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER INCIDENTAL IN NATURE THAT'S BOGGING DOWN. AGAIN, I KNOW JAMIE, ROBIN.

THEY'VE SPOKEN A LOT WITH ME ABOUT THIS. AND WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE NOW IS THAT VENDORS, KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE TO COME IN TO PRICE SOMETHING OUT AGAIN, EVEN THAT SAME ELECTRICAL WORK, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME IN AND PRICE OUT A $1,500 WORK ORDER, WRITE UP A PROPOSAL NOT KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT, KNOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE MORE WEEKS FOR IT. AND IT'S JUST BECOMING A NIGHTMARE TO GET VENDORS AND PEOPLE LINED UP TO DO SMALL TASKS THAT IS KIND OF BOGGING DOWN THE FLOW OF THINGS IN GOVERNMENT.

SO WE'VE TALKED AS A GROUP AND WE'VE REALLY LOOKED AT THESE LIMITS AND TRIED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE LOGICAL IN TODAY'S TERMS. SO ON THAT TABLE YOU HAVE WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING DRAFT AND ESSENTIALLY BUMPING UP THAT INCIDENT INCIDENTAL LEVEL FROM 1000 TO 2500 TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT FOR ANYTHING UNDER $2,500.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T PRICE IT OUT OR DON'T NEED, OR IT IS THE NEED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT YOU CAN IF YOU WANT. BUT THE $2,500 WOULD BE THE LIMIT.

AND THEN THE WHAT WAS THEN THE 1000 TO 5000 FOR THE MINOR WOULD THEN GO TO 2500 TO 7500.

SO 7500 WOULD BE THE NEW CUTOFF FOR THE WRITTEN PROPOSAL.

SO IT'S ONLY A $2,500 CHANGE THERE FROM THE 5000.

AND WE'RE NOT ASKING OR PROPOSING ANYTHING TO CHANGE ON BIDS, WHICH WOULD BE $40,000 OR ABOVE.

STILL LOOKING FOR THAT TO BE THE SAME. NOTHING CHANGING THERE.

SO THOSE ARE THE SMALL CHANGES AS FAR AS THE THE LIMITS GO, AND WE CAN DIVE INTO THAT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

WE ALSO HAVE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE CODE ARE NO LONGER POSITIONS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SO IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS, WE'D LIKE TO CLEAN SOME OF THAT OUT.

I KNOW AS YOU FLIP THROUGH, WE ALSO HAVE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN CREATED OR POSITIONS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE WHEN THIS.

[00:10:05]

SO RIGHT NOW, THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TECHNICALLY DOES NOT HAVE A PURCHASING AUTHORITY.

SO YOU HAVE THE OLD OFFICE OF TAX DIRECTOR, AGAIN, NOT A DEPARTMENT ANYMORE.

CHIEF OF STAFF, NOT A POSITION ANYMORE. AND THEN WE HAVE SOME MISALIGNMENTS WITH AMOUNTS.

SO YOU HAVE SOME DIRECTORS, THE WARDEN, EMERGENCY SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, ALL $20,000.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE IT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGER PURCHASERS OF TANGIBLE ITEMS. RECREATION AND PARKS ARE 10. SO AGAIN, SOME SMALL CHANGES.

JUST LOOKING TO TRY TO DO A CLEANUP AND MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER ON US AS FAR AS PURCHASING AND KEEPING UP WITH TODAY'S PRICING OF ITEMS, IT'S, I KNOW THAT'S A LOT. AND TEN MINUTES. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DIVE INTO OR TRY TO HELP OUT WITH THIS IN THIS DISCUSSION? MR. PORTER YOU GOT ANYTHING? DO WE HAVE ANY PROVISIONS IN HERE FOR BUYING LOCAL? WE DO. SO I CAN REFER RIGHT TO IT. SO THERE IS A CHAPTER IN THE CODE HERE FOR IN COUNTY PREFERENCE. SO THIS IS IN REGARDS TO BIDS.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S OVER $40,000 THAT WE PUT TO BID IT'S REALLY QUICK, SO I'LL JUST READ IT OFF.

THE AMOUNT OF, EXCUSE ME, I'M RECOVERING FROM SICKNESS, THE AMOUNT OF PREFERENCE SHALL NOT EXCEED 5% AND PURCHASES UP TO OR EQUALING $100,000 AND 2.5% IN PURCHASES GREATER THAN $100,000.

SO ESSENTIALLY, WHEN A BID GOES OUT, IF IT'S BETWEEN 40 AND 100 WE CAN PROVIDE A 5%, SAY, REDUCTION IN THAT COST FOR COMPARISON FOR IN COUNTY PREFERENCE.

AND THEN TWO AND A HALF ONCE IT EXCEEDS $100,000.

SO AND THAT'S BEEN A PRACTICE THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR A LONG TIME HERE IN THIS COUNTY.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH LANGUAGE IN I THINK WE NEED TO GO PAGE 7, 51-7.

A, INCIDENTAL PURCHASES WHILE SEEKING THREE OR MORE VERBAL OR WRITTEN BIDS IS RECOMMENDED.

IT IS NOT REQUIRED. I THINK THERE WE NEED TO STRIKE VERBAL OR WRITTEN BIDS IS RECOMMENDED AND JUST PUT QUOTES FROM LOCAL VENDORS ARE DESIRED. IT IS NOT REQUIRED. I THINK WE SHOULD REFERENCE LOCAL VENDORS AGAIN.

WHICH SECTION? 51-7. I DON'T THINK THE PAGES WERE NUMBERED, SO I NUMBERED THEM MYSELF.

BUT IT SHOULD BE THE SEVENTH PAGE. OKAY. A. ROUTINE.

PURCHASING PRACTICE. YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO ADD LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WE NEED TO TRY.

I MEAN, THESE ARE LOCAL VENDORS THAT IN MANY CASES PAY INCOME TAXES TO THE COUNTY THAT PAY PROPERTY TAXES IN THE COUNTY.

I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO PATRONIZE THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S NOT, IF THEIR PRICE ISN'T THE CHEAPEST, IT'S NOT THE CHEAPEST, BUT IT GOES A LONG WAY TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU PAY A TON OF TAXES TO CALLING YOU UP SAYING, HEY, CAN I GET A PRICE FOR TIRES FROM YOU OR SOMETHING.

YEP. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ENOUGH OF THAT GOES ON RIGHT NOW FOR MY LIKING, BUT.

SO THAT WAS MOVED HERE FOR THAT ONE. YEP. IF YOU DON'T MIND, WHILE YOU'RE ON THAT SAME PAGE, ALSO CALL SOMETHING ELSE OUT. YEP. SO UNDER 51-6 CONTRACTS, A, REQUIRED, CONTRACT IS REQUIRED FOR MAJOR PURCHASES OR MINOR PURCHASES OF SERVICE. SO WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THAT AMOUNT, MINOR PURCHASE AGAIN, IS ANYTHING $1000 TO $40,000 THAT'S TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL AND NOT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY HONESTLY DOING RIGHT NOW.

SO IF I WANT TO BUY SOMETHING FOR $100, I NEED A 12 PAGE CONTRACT.

SO WE'VE TALKED WITH STEWART OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THIS.

SO THE LANGUAGE THAT I HAD KIND OF JOTTED DOWN WAS ESSENTIALLY TO STRIKE MINOR PURCHASES OUT OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY REQUIRE THEM FOR MAJOR PURCHASES, AND THEN ALL MINOR PURCHASES ARE SUBJECT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BETWEEN STEWART, I, KATHLEEN.

IF IT'S A SERVICE, SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO PROCURE A SERVICE FOR $30,000, MORE THAN LIKELY WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE YOU TO GET THE CONTRACT BECAUSE YOU ARE HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT JUST A ONE FOR ONE TANGIBLE ITEM BEING SHIPPED TO YOU.

AND THAT DISCRETION CAN BE USED BY KATHLEEN AND I AS WE REVIEW THESE AGAIN.

THOSE ITEMS ARE COMING TO US ANYWAY TO HAVE TO SIGN, BECAUSE THEY'RE OVER THE $20,000 THAT A LOT OF THE DEPARTMENTS ARE, HAVE IS THEIR LIMIT. SO JUST STRIKING THAT MINOR OUT AND ALLOWING A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING.

[00:15:02]

51-5, PURCHASING AUTHORITY. I THINK THIS WAS ALREADY ADDRESSED.

I MADE THIS NOTE BEFORE I HAD READ THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT, BUT COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS.

ONE, COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE THE PURCHASING AUTHORITY AS DEFINED BELOW.

I THINK IT ADDRESSES THIS LATER ON, BUT I HAD FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OR SINGLE SPECIFIC SERVICES BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE STACKING OF INVOICES TO BREAK UP AND GET BELOW THESE THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS A PARAGRAPH LATER IN THE POLICY THAT ADDRESSED THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HELPFUL TO REITERATE THAT AT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS SECTION AS WELL.

YEAH, WE I'LL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. I KNOW IN FINANCE WE FOCUS ON THIS A LOT.

WE SPEAK OF IT AS FRAGMENTING. YEAH. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A COMMODITY AND YOU BUY AGAIN YOUR LIMITS.

20,000. I BUY 19,000 THIS WEEK. AND THEN I DO A ORDER FOR 19,000 THE NEXT WEEK.

IF WE SEE THAT COME ACROSS WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE CORRECTING IT, MAKING IT INTO ONE PURCHASE ORDER AND BRINGING IT BEFORE THE GROUP HERE, SO. RIGHT. WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S ALIGN.

IT'S IN HERE. I'M PRETTY SURE I REMEMBER READING IN THE BACK OF.

THERE IN THE BACK. YEAH. OKAY. WE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT ONE.

51-7. I ALSO HAD NOTES THROUGH. IN PARAGRAPH B, MINOR PURCHASES UP TO, AND WE'RE PROPOSING CHANGING IT FROM 5000 TO 7500.

YES, SIR. THREE OR MORE QUOTES ARE REQUIRED. I MEAN, I WOULD I DON'T SEE WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO JUST GET A, AN EMAIL QUOTE BACK FROM SOMEBODY.

I MEAN, I DO QUOTES ALL THE TIME FOR 1500, $2,000.

I DON'T AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD REQUIRE THREE OR MORE.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO DOCUMENT SOLICITATION OF THREE OR MORE.

I MEAN, IF YOU CAN'T GET RESPONDENTS, YOU CAN'T GET RESPONDENTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET ONE WRITTEN QUOTE AND YOU SENT THREE EMAILS TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I DON'T. WE CAN'T FORCE SOMEBODY TO GIVE YOU A QUOTE.

NO, AND WE'VE HAD TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE OUT HERE KIND OF JAMIE CHUCKLING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

NO NO NOT IN A BAD WAY. WE ASKED TO DOCUMENT.

I MEAN, I'VE HAD PLENTY OF CONVERSATIONS WITH HER. ROBIN WRIGHT OTHER TIMES I WAS LIKE, HEY, I'VE CALLED 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT VENDORS, AND THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WILL GET BACK TO ME.

IT'S BEEN THREE WEEKS. I HAVE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

HEY, WRITE IT DOWN ON THE, ON YOUR SHEET AND EMAIL THIS ONE ON THIS DAY.

CALL THIS ONE ON THIS DAY, AND WE ROLL ON. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T FORCE PEOPLE TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO PROVIDE, SO. SO I WOULD SOMEHOW MAKE A, I THINK I WOULD, YOU KNOW, INCLUDE A PROVISION IN HERE THAT, YOU SOLICIT. YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST SOLICIT THREE QUOTES.

IF YOU CAN'T GET THEM, YOU CAN'T GET THEM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ADDRESSED ANYWHERE IN THIS.

OKAY. FOR MAJOR PURCHASES I WOULD STRIKE OUT THREE OR MORE SEALED BIDS ARE REQUIRED BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW, SOMETIMES WE GET ONE BIDDER. SO I WOULD JUST SAY MAJOR PURCHASES, SEALED BIDS ARE REQUIRED.

CORRECT. YEAH. I MEAN, FOR MAJOR PURCHASES, WE'RE ADVERTISING ON OUR WEBSITE AND PROBABLY ON EBAY MARKETPLACE.

WE ARE. SO IF YOU GET ONE RESPONDENT, TWO RESPONDENTS BY THIS PROCEDURE, YOU CAN ACCEPT ANY OF THEM.

SO YEAH. SO I WOULD SAY FOR MAJOR PURCHASES SEALED BIDS ARE REQUIRED.

51-8, ALTERNATIVE PURCHASING PROCESSES. YES. I DO NOT AGREE WITH PIGGYBACKING WHATSOEVER UNLESS IT IS THE CHEAPEST METHOD. I THINK WE SHOULD STILL BE SOLICITING BIDS IN MANY CASES, AND THEN IF THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT IS CHEAPER THEN WE CAN PIGGYBACK. BUT YOU KNOW, COOPERATIVE PIGGYBACKING PURCHASES.

SO WHAT I HAD WAS STRIKING THE SECOND SENTENCE IN THAT PARAGRAPH.

AS A MATTER OF POLICY, THE COUNTY STRONGLY SUPPORTS COOPERATIVE PURCHASING.

[00:20:01]

I'M GOING TO READ THE WHOLE THING. AND THEN I ALSO HAD STRIKING THE LAST SENTENCE, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING OR CONTRACTS, LEAVE THAT IN. AND THEN START STRIKING AT MAY BE DONE WHEN DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE TO BE IN THE COUNTY'S INTEREST. AND WHAT I HAD WAS I'LL BE DONE WHEN IT IS LESS COSTLY THAN A COMPETITIVE BID.

SO THAT LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED, BUT I WAS JUST JOTTING STUFF DOWN.

BUT THE, I MEAN, BASICALLY WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS IF WE'RE GOING TO BUY A DUMP TRUCK AND, YOU KNOW, WE PUT IT OUT AND SPEC IT OUT AND PRICE IT.

IF THE STATE CONTRACT IS CHEAPER, THEN WE TAKE THE STATE CONTRACT.

BUT THAT'S NOT AUTOMATICALLY JUST GO THERE AND TRY TO PIGGYBACK SOMETHING WITHOUT VERIFYING THAT THAT IS THE CHEAPEST METHOD TO GO WITH.

OKAY. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARTICULATE THAT.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. YEAH. TAKING SOME NOTES TO TRY TO.

YEAH. AND THEN IN PARAGRAPH C, THE SOLE SOURCE.

YES, I HAD ADD A NUMBER FOUR IN THAT PARAGRAPH THAT NO OTHER BIDS RESPOND TO SMALL SOLICITATIONS WITHIN A YEAR.

NO OTHER BIDDERS RESPOND TO SIMILAR SOLICITATIONS WITHIN ONE YEAR, SO HOLD ON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEANT BY THAT. IF WE PUT SOMETHING OUT MULTIPLE TIMES AND NOBODY'S RESPONDED WITHIN A YEAR.

RIGHT. AND IT MAY NOT NEED TO BE. MAYBE WE DO THREE YEARS I JUST THROUGH, WE WERE SUPPOSED, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS LIKE A MONTH AGO.

YES. SO I MADE THESE NOTES ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

A LOT OF TIME HAS PASSED SINCE I LAST LOOKED AT THEM.

YEP. SO SOLE SOURCING. WHY DON'T YOU GO OVER WHAT THAT IS, DANNY. THAT'S WHEN BASICALLY THERE'S NO THERE'S ONLY ONE COMPANY THAT PROVIDES THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT WE'RE.

CORRECT, IF THERE IS AN ITEM THAT IS PROPRIETARY TO A CERTAIN COMPANY.

SO, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT MAKES IT THE ONLY ONE THAT SERVICES OR REPAIRS THAT ITEM.

AGAIN, IT'S IMPRACTICAL TO GO ASK THREE INDIVIDUALS TO PRICE THAT OUT, BECAUSE THERE REALLY ARE NOT THREE INDIVIDUALS, THERE'S ONLY ONE. SO, THE DEPARTMENT CAN REQUEST A SOLE SOURCE.

AS DICTATED IN THIS, THE SOLE SOURCE CAN ONLY BE SIGNED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, OR THE DIRECTOR'S DESIGNEE, DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT.

SO IF THE AMOUNT IS OVER THE 40, OBVIOUSLY IT'S COMING HERE TO THIS GROUP.

SO WE GET INTO WEIRD SCENARIOS WHERE THERE ARE ITEMS OR PRODUCTS THAT AGAIN, ONLY ONE COMPANY SELLS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PROPRIETARY OWNER OF THAT PRODUCT, OR THERE'S A SERVICE THAT'S THE SAME. SO WE ALSO SEE IT WHEN THERE ARE THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION FOR I'M TRYING TO THINK CERTAIN LIKE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LIKE REFEREE SERVICES OR DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE AGAIN, THERE'S NOT A LONG LIST OF REFEREES THAT ARE PROVIDING BASKETBALL REFEREE.

THERE'S THE ONE ORGANIZATION AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM, SO.

SO I'M JUST PROPOSING ADDING ANOTHER REASON TO SOLE SOURCE, WHICH WOULD BE IF WE BID SOMETHING AND WITHIN A YEAR OR A PRESCRIBED TIME FRAME WHERE WE ONLY HAVE ONE RESPONDENT, THEN THAT WOULD BE JUSTIFICATION TO DEEM IT AS A SOLE SOURCE. OKAY. WE'LL MAKE A NOTE AND TRY TO WORDSMITH SOMETHING.

SOME LANGUAGE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARY OR NOT.

THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING I POINTED OUT. AND THEN THE LAST.

I THINK YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OVERREACHING ON THE SOLE SOURCE THING BECAUSE THERE'S I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS THAT YOU REALLY DO, SOLE SOURCE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S LIKE YOU'RE JUST ADDING VERBIAGE THERE.

AND I THINK THEY GOT IT ALL COVERED FOR THE SOLE SOURCE.

WELL, YOU'RE LIMITED AS IT IS WHEN IT COMES TO A SOLE SOURCE.

I WILL CALL ATTENTION TO WHY WE'RE ON THIS TO D, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.

SO THAT'S A UNIQUE ONE THAT WE SEE A LOT OF TIMES.

SO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS INVOLVING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS ACCOUNTING, ARCHITECTURE, AUDITING, ENGINEERING, LAW, PLANNING, SURVEYING MAY BE NEGOTIATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING OR DESIGNEE RATHER THAN COMPETITIVELY BID.

SO AGAIN, A LOT OF TIMES THERE ARE SERVICES LIKE THAT THAT ARE JUST SO SPECIFIC THAT WE CAN'T

[00:25:09]

AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A FLIER OUT LOOKING FOR THE LOWEST COST ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE SERVICE.

WE WANT TO ESSENTIALLY ENGAGE WITH SOMEBODY WHO WE THINK IS GOING TO BE THE BEST FIT FOR THE COUNTY IN CERTAIN POSITIONS, WHETHER IT'S ENGINEERING, AUDITING, SERVICES, OUR AUDIT IS BID.

I'LL JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE. BUT IF THERE ARE ONE OFF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH.

SO, THAT IS APPROVED BY DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IF IT HITS OVER THAT $40,000 NUMBER.

SO YOU GUYS SEE THAT HERE AND THERE. WE HAVE A VETO ON THE SOLE SOURCE AS PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION.

RIGHT. SO YOU HAVE, I MEAN THERE'S NOTHING. WELL, THE ONLY, WHAT I'M THINKING IS LIKE TAR & CHIP LIKE THERE'S REALLY THERE'S ONLY TWO VENDORS, RUSSELL STANDARD AND AMERICAN PAVING FABRICS.

SO IF ONE OR IF ONLY ONE RESPONDS TO A BIT LIKE MAYBE RUSSELL STANDARD GOES OUT OF BUSINESS OR DOESN'T DO ANY MORE TAR & CHIPPING IN THIS AREA AND YOU ONLY GOT AN AMERICAN PAVING FABRICS, THEN IT WOULD JUST BE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE RESPONDENT, WHICH WAS AMERICAN PAVING FABRICS, THEN YOU THEN THAT WOULD DEEM IT AS A SOLE SOURCE, YOU KNOW, VENDOR THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS THE NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY, IS TO TRY TO AVOID FROM HAVING THESE BID PROCESSES EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW, FOR SOMETHING. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT THERE.

THE LAST SECTION I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH IS DEBARMENT PROCESS.

YES. WHAT A HOT MESS THAT IS. YEAH. IT. SO WHAT I WAS STRIKING ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE MAY PROPOSE THAT A VENDOR BE DEBARRED AND SAY A DEPARTMENT HEAD OR THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR.

YES. MAY. DEBARMENT. THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT SAME PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS EMPLOYEE.

I WOULD THEN AGAIN REFERENCE A DEPARTMENT HEAD OR DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING.

AND THEN AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, I WOULD GET RID OF B, PROCESS, PARAGRAPHS 1 AND 2.

CHANGE 3 TO REMOVE FURTHER FROM IN FRONT OF PURSUED.

AND, ALSO IN PARAGRAPH 3 IT SAYS COUNTY PROVIDE THE VENDOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND NOT TO BE HEARD A HEARING.

WE'RE NOT HAVING A HEARING. WOULD TOTALLY GET RID OF PARAGRAPH 4.

PARAGRAPH 6, THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING SHALL RENDER A DECISION PROMPTLY AND UNLESS DELAYED FOR GOOD CAUSE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT, INSTEAD OF THE HEARING AND FAILURE OF THE VENDOR TO RESPOND, STRIKE APPEAR AT THE HEARING AND JUST PUT RESPOND.

AND A, VENDOR MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL A DEPARTMENT DECISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING TO THE COMMISSIONERS INSTEAD OF DEPARTMENT PANEL IS WHAT I THOUGHT. YEAH. SO WE DID BORROW SOMEBODY AND THEY WANT TO.

APPEAL IT. APPEAL IT. IT COMES TO US. YEAH. I WILL SAY OVER THE YEARS I CAN'T SAY I CAN THINK OF A SINGLE INSTANCE WE HAVE DEBARRED A VENDOR. RIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO ENGAGE WITH THE VENDOR.

I CAN THINK BACK TO A A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE VENDOR THAT WE HAD.

WE HAD SOME ISSUES AND WE JUST SAID, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU ANYMORE.

AND WE MOVED ON WITH OUR WAYS. WE DIDN'T DEBAR THEM TECHNICALLY.

WE'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH THEM LATER ON WITH SOME DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WE TYPICALLY DO NOT DIVE INTO THE PROCESS JUST BECAUSE IT'S. YEAH. A LOT. ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T, I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GOING TO 2500 ON THE MINIMUM PURCHASES TO THREE OR MORE VERBAL QUOTES. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS AT ON THAT? FRANK, YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, I MEAN, I LIKE THE EMAIL. I MEAN, MOST, MOST DIRECTORS IN MY DIRECTOR EMAIL, THEY WANT EVERYTHING IN EMAIL ANYWAY. TRY. YES.

[00:30:02]

SO I'M GOOD WITH THE EMAIL PROCESS. OKAY. SO JUST AS LONG AS.

AND WHAT I'M SAYING. THE PERSON AND THEY SAY, OH, NO RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? RIGHT. YEP. WELL, THAT'S WHY. I MEAN, IF YOU CAN'T GET THREE, I MEAN, AS LONG AS YOU REACH OUT FOR THREE PRICES, IF YOU CAN'T GET.

CORRECT, I THINK AGAIN, JUST SHOOTING OFF THE HIP HERE, THREE OR MORE SOLICITATIONS, I MEAN, SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE JUST, AGAIN, DOCUMENTING THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE STEPS AND HAVE DONE YOUR BEST EFFORT.

CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESPONSE, THE DELAY. YEAH.

I MEAN. YEAH. WE'VE GOT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HOLDING UP THINGS BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON THEM, SO. AND I DON'T. I'M MORE CONCERNED. UNFORTUNATELY, IS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE WORLD WE'RE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS.

YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. AND I, I THINK THE REST OF IT WE'RE OKAY WITH.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COMMISSIONER BREEDING MADE, SO I GUESS. THANK YOU SIR. REWORK THIS AND BRING IT BACK TO.

YES, BECAUSE IT IS IN COUNTY CODE. THIS WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.

SO PROBABLY THE NEXT STEP IS HAVING A MEETING WITH THE OFFICE OF LAW TO SIT DOWN AND START DRAFTING THE CHANGES.

SO WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE THREE MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT WE'VE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.

SO, YES, WE'LL TAKE THESE NOTES. WE'LL WORK OFF THE LAW AND COME BACK WITH A REFINED VERSION.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND ADDRESS.

I DON'T SEE CHRIS HERE. JAMIE, CAN YOU GIVE, LIKE, WHAT EXAMPLES, THE OTHER BETWEEN THE 10 AND 20.

LIKE WHAT WILL THAT ALLOW YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO? WHAT ARE YOU BUYING IN THAT 10 TO 20? IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW WITH THE PRICES THE WAY THEY ARE.

YEAH, I CAN'T BUY THREE PICNIC TABLES WITH SHIPPING FOR $10,000.

SO IT'S, I MEAN IT SOMETIMES IS DAY TO DAY, RIGHT.

SO THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET TO IT. IT'S IT CAN BE LABORIOUS BECAUSE THEN DANNY HAS TO SIGN AND WRITE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO I MEAN, EVEN WHAT WE DO, LIKE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT SHARP RIGHT? YEAH. IT'S EASIER FOR ME JUST TO SIGN OFF IF I HAVE A LITTLE MORE AUTHORITY TO DO SO WITHOUT.

HAVING TO GO THROUGH DANNY. IT'S BOGGING DANNY DOWN SOMETIMES, TOO.

CORRECT, AND I WILL SAY, WITH ALL THE PARK PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON, I THINK THIS HAS COME UP QUITE A BIT, SO. RIGHT. I MEAN, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T GET 2 OR 3 REQUESTS FOR OVER THE DEPARTMENT LIMIT PLUS SOLE SOURCE.

THAT'S RIGHT. WHAT KIND OF STUFF IS IT RUNNING INTO? SERVERS, MULTIPLE COMPUTERS. LIKE THEY ORDER.

CORRECT. SO AGAIN, THEY'RE BUYING ALL OF THE IT HARDWARE FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

SO IF THEY'RE OUT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO PUT IN A NEW MDT INTO A CAR AND IT'S OVER TEN GRAND, THEY'RE SENDING IT UP TO ME. SO JUST GIVING CHRIS A LITTLE MORE LEEWAY FOR HIM AND HIS GUYS TO KIND OF DO THAT STUFF INTERNAL.

A LOT OF THAT STUFF THAT THEY'RE BUYING IS ON CONTRACT FOR THE STATE WITH DELL AND SOME OF THE ONES.

SO IT'S MORE OF JUST A PROCESS AND GETTING THEM RIGHT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU.

GENTLEMEN. ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T, I'M GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

THANKS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT NEXT UP, WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I DON'T HAVE ANY. OKAY. WHAT. DOES IT SAY HOW MUCH THE GRANTS FOR? THE STATES, FOR THE POLICE. POLICE AID. OH, WE JUST APPLIED, THEY JUST GIVE YOU WHATEVER THEY.

YEAH. YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. I'M GOOD. ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYE'S HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

ALL RIGHT, SO THREE THINGS I WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON.

THE FIRST, JUST A GENERAL UPDATE ON THE SALE AND TRANSFER OF DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.

PROBABLY TALK TO ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AT SOME POINT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. BUT THE 3000 NOTICES WERE SENT TO ALL THE POSSIBLE BUYERS OR PEOPLE WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE PROPERTY. ACCORDING TO DHCD THE FIRST DAY WE SENT THOSE EMAILS AND I THINK DANNY PROBABLY TOOK LIKE ALL DAY WORKING WITH IT TO SEND 250 AT A TIME.

BUT AS SOON AS THEY STARTED GOING OUT, WE STARTED GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS PEOPLE EITHER ASKING IF IT WAS SPAM,

[00:35:08]

SO WE'VE TALKED TO, I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE.

I KNOW DANNY'S TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE THAT I KNEW. STEWART HAS TALKED TO PEOPLE, SO WE ARE FIELDING PHONE CALLS.

[Consent Agenda]

SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS OR THOSE EMAILS ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH PROBABLY DAILY.

[County Administrators Report]

WE ALSO POSTED THE NOTICES ON ALL OF THE RESIDENTS DOORS OUT AT DAYSPRING.

SO THAT DID TRIGGER SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND PHONE CALLS FROM SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AT DAYSPRING.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE RESIDENTS ARE ALSO GOING TO THE PROPERTY MANAGER WITH THEIR QUESTIONS.

SO WE HAVE, JUST YESTERDAY I SPOKE TO THE PROPERTY MANAGER ADVISING THEM THAT FOR THOSE RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO EXTEND THEIR LEASE FOR ONE YEAR, THE MOST CRITICAL THING FOR THEM TO DO AT THIS POINT IS TO SIGN THAT PAPER AND GET THAT BACK TO US, AND THEN WORK WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGER ON FILLING OUT THE LEASE APPLICATION, BECAUSE APPARENTLY THERE'S SOME DETAILS ON THERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE AND THE RESIDENTS MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ABOUT THEIR HISTORY, THEIR RENTAL HISTORY AND THAT KIND OF THING AT DAYSPRING.

SO I WAS ALSO UPDATED YESTERDAY BY THE PROPERTY MANAGER THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY 18 VACANT UNITS, OR 17, WITH ONE PERSON IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING OUT.

SO WE'RE DOWN TO 18 VACANT UNITS AT THIS TIME.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT DAYSPRING? WE'RE JUST MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS AT THIS POINT.

THE SECOND THING, VERY BRIEFLY. COMMISSIONER BREEDING ASKED ME TO CHECK IN WITH DELEGATE GHRIST OR JACKSON LEE REGARDING THE DOG LICENSE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. SO, I'VE REACHED OUT TO JACKSON, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, AND ALSO HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, JESSE, COULDN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.

JESSE, WHO'S ALSO TALKED TO STEVE WISE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT STEVE WISE HAS ALSO REACHED OUT TO DELEGATE GHRIST'S OFFICE.

SO I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL. I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY TOUCHED BASE WITH HIM OR HEARD BACK FROM HIM AT THIS POINT, SO. BUT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD.

AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A GENERAL UPDATE AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING MAY HAVE MORE ON THIS, BUT WE DID HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH STROLLER ARCHITECTS, THE STROLLER ARCHITECT TEAM, WHICH IS THE JAIL PLANNING DETENTION CENTER PLANNING GROUP THAT WE WENT TO FLORIDA TO WORK ON, YOU KNOW, STARTING THE PROCESS FOR BUILDING A NEW DETENTION FACILITY.

SO THEY HAVE SENT US SOME EXAMPLES. WE UPDATED THEM ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

THEY SENT US SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME DOCUMENTS, PART ONE AND PART TWO, THAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING SIMILAR BEFORE.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROJECT.

SO WE ARE, I GUESS WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SET UP WITH THEM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T MAKE HUGE STRIDES AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE DETENTION CENTER PROCESS.

SO WE HAVE IT GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A ROW. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

MR. PORTER. YEAH. WE HAD OUR ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY FARM BUREAU. THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT, ISSUES THAT THEY RAISED, AND I MIGHT NEED SOME HELP ON THESE. DANNY, THE, THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED ABOUT THE FUNDS THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE MARYLAND EXTENSION OFFICE. AND WHAT I GOT OUT OF THIS WAS THAT IF THERE WAS ANY SURPLUS MONEY THAT IS LEFT OVER AT THE, IN THAT OFFICE.

IN THE PAST, THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE USED TO PURCHASE LIKE COPY MACHINE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THOSE FUNDS ARE NOW FROZEN. AND THIS IS APPARENTLY A BIG ISSUE WITH THE EXTENSION PEOPLE.

YES, I WAS REALLY THE SAME THING LAST WEEK. SO ESSENTIALLY EXTENSION OPERATES INSIDE OF A UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

THEY'RE A WEIRD, I WOULD SAY, ALMOST LIKE QUASI GOVERNMENTAL TYPE OF ORGANIZATION.

[00:40:02]

WE GIVE IT TO THEM QUARTERLY, AND THEN WE TYPICALLY ARE HANDS OFF IN THEIR OPERATION.

SO WHAT I WAS TOLD LAST WEEK IS THEY RECEIVED THE FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE SALARIES, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER SMALL ITEMS IN THEIR BUDGET THAT WE CONTRIBUTE TO.

AND IF THEY HAD ANY SAY, LEFTOVER OR UNUSED MONEY FOR THE YEAR THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY RETAIN THAT, KEEP IT AS I WOULD JUST COIN IT LIKE A FUND BALANCE.

THEY WOULD USE IT FOR OTHER ITEMS. SO WE NEED A COPIER.

WE NEED TO DO THIS. BUT I'M BEING TOLD STATEWIDE, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HAS SAID THAT IS NOT YOUR MONEY.

THAT IS OUR MONEY. WE ARE FREEZING IT AND WE WILL SEE FIT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

SO I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING MORE OTHER THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME CONVERSATION.

IF IT COMES OUT OF OUR BUDGET. CORRECT. SO. SO I KIND OF HAVE THE SAME QUESTION THAT I'M SURE IS ROLLING AROUND YOUR MIND, HOW DOES CAROLINE COUNTY MONEY ALLOCATE IT FOR RESOURCES TO SOIL CONSERVATION ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW BECOMES SOMETHING THAT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CAN GET THEIR FINGERS INTO. WE'RE NOT. I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN MONEY COMING OUT OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BUDGET TO BE USED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT IN. COMPLETELY AGREE, YES.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS BEING TOLD TO. I KNOW A LOT OF THE SURROUNDING EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES AS WELL, AND THEY'RE KIND OF BE TELLING THEIR COMMISSIONERS, HEY, CAN YOU ASK THESE QUESTIONS? CAN YOU SEE WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS? SO I THINK IT'S A VENTURE WORTH DIVING INTO AND ASKING THE QUESTIONS OF, IS THIS TRUE OR WHAT'S REALLY BEING DONE WITH THAT? SO, OKAY. WELL, I THINK I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO I SPOKE TO ABOUT THIS SOMEBODY, BUT THEY WERE SAYING IT'S PUTTING A SECTION PEOPLE IN A BAD POSITION BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REALLY GO TO THEIR EMPLOYER AND SAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU HAVE THIS.

CORRECT. THEY REALLY NEED ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL FROM US.

CORRECT. TO DEAL WITH THIS. IT'S ESSENTIALLY THEM GOING TO THEIR EMPLOYER GOING, HEY, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US? YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS MONEY. WELL, WE CAN. CORRECT.

YES. OKAY. SO THE OTHER CRYSTAL WE THE ISSUE, I'M KIND OF GOING. THERE WAS ANOTHER CONCERN ABOUT UTILIZING PRISONERS FOR THE CARE PROGRAM FOR.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING THAT ANYMORE. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ALLOWING A PROPERTY WITHOUT A RESIDENCE TO OBTAIN A 911 ADDRESS. NOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BEING ABLE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF A FARM ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEONE NEEDED TO HAVE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT, THEY CAN USE GIS TO LOCATE THEM.

THIS WAS FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, A SPECIFIC CASE WHERE A FARMER WANTED TO HAVE FERTILIZER OR SEED DELIVERED TO A SITE, AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE THE ADDRESS TO A DISTRIBUTOR.

WHAT DO THEY USE? SO I MEAN. SO, WE REVIEW THEM ON A CASE BY CASE.

THE NUMBERING SYSTEM IS DONE ON A GRID. WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE A NUMBER AVAILABLE EVERY FOOT.

AND TO KEEP THOSE NUMBERS SEQUENTIAL, IF YOU HAVE A LARGE FARM THAT MIGHT FRONT TWO ROADS AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE TO PROPERLY DEPICT THAT NUMBER FOR THAT PROPERTY, WITHOUT A STRUCTURE, A DRIVEWAY, IT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC IN KEEPING THOSE NUMBERS SEQUENTIAL.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE PROBLEMATIC. ONCE SOMEBODY ESTABLISHES A ADDRESS FOR A PROPERTY, IT AFFORDS THEM THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH RESIDENCY OR USE THAT CAROLINE COUNTY ADDRESS TO OBTAIN OTHER THINGS.

TO SAY THEY'RE A CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT BECAUSE I HAVE THIS CAROLINE COUNTY ADDRESS. SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WE SCRUTINIZE WHEN THOSE CASES COME UP.

WHAT IS THE NEED? SO IT'S NOT A FLAT OUT NO. WE DO LOOK AT IT ON A CASE BY CASE TO SEE WHAT IS THE NEED FOR IT.

CAN WE ACCOMMODATE AN ADDRESS, OR IS THIS SOMEONE SIMPLY SEEKING TO SKIRT AROUND REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AN ADDRESS IN CAROLINE COUNTY? BUT OFTENTIMES WE'VE HAD FARM BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT HAVE A NEED FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMEONE WORKING THERE AND THEY'RE HAVING DELIVERIES MADE THERE, SO WE DO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE. OKAY. WELL, I MEAN, TO ME, IF I WOULD SAY THAT

[00:45:10]

BUT TO ME, MOST OF THESE FARMS HAVE ACCESS TO A DRIVEWAY THROUGH GOING OVER CULVERTS OR SOMETHING.

SO, I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE TOO HARD MYSELF ON THEM IF THEY SAID, LOOK, WE NEED THIS ADDRESS SO THAT WE CAN TELL SOMEBODY WHERE TO DELIVER SOMETHING, SO. YES, WE. UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT.

YEAH, WE HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY FIND WHERE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE IS TO GIVE A NUMBER TO SO THAT WHEN YOU LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE, IT'S GETTING YOU TO THE RIGHT LOCATION. IF YOU'RE ON THE CORNER OF TWO ROADS, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE DO WE ADDRESS OFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY PROPERLY POST IT.

BUT YES, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE FARMS BECAUSE OF DELIVERIES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO DO THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT SUNDAY HUNTING, ALL DAY HUNTING, WHICH IS THE ANNUAL THING WHICH, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT'S MORE OF A STATE, I THINK, LEGISLATURE THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS GET TO PUSH BACK FROM THE EQUESTRIAN PEOPLE ON THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MY ANSWER IS, WELL, THEN DON'T RIDE YOUR HORSES ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY.

SO BUT THE, THE OTHER ONE WAS AND DANNY, I DON'T KNOW HOW.

I MEAN, WE, WE HAD THIS HORROR STORY LAST NIGHT, AND I THINK THIS WAS IN DELAWARE.

CORRECT. WHERE A FARMER ALMOST HAD HIS PROPERTY SOLD WITHOUT HIM KNOWING ABOUT IT.

HE HAD A NEIGHBOR CONTACT HIM AND SAY, HEY, IF YOU WERE GOING TO SELL YOUR FARM, YOU KNOW, I WISH YOU'D HAVE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN BUYING IT. APPARENTLY, THIS FARM HAD BEEN LISTED THROUGH A REALTOR ONLINE WITHOUT THE OWNERS KNOWING IT, AND THEIR IDENTITY HAD BASICALLY BEEN STOLEN AND ALL THE PAPERWORK WAS DONE.

AND YOU KNOW, HE CITED ANOTHER CASE WHERE SOMEONE SHOWED UP AT THEIR HOUSE DOWN AT THE BEACH AND PEOPLE WERE LIVING IN IT, SAID THEY HAD BOUGHT IT. AND IT WAS, THE RESPONSIBILITY WAS ON THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO PROVE THEY HADN'T SOLD IT.

SO, YOU KNOW, I. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BECOME FAIRLY COMMON AS FAR AS A SCAM OR SCHEME THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO, TO PULL. WE HAVE CALLS AT THE TAX OFFICE A LOT COME IN WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

HEY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY PROPERTY DOESN'T SELL.

I HEAR SOMEBODY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.

THE ONLY THING WE REALLY ADVISE THEM IS, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN CHECK YOURSELF, YOU CAN CALL IN, YOU CAN GO ON TO THE STATUTE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR PROPERTY.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO THIRD-PARTY SERVICES, ALMOST LIKE A, I WON'T CALL IT LIKE A LIFELOCK OR SOME TYPE OF NOTIFICATION.

HOME TITLE LOCK. HOME TITLE LOCK, THAT'S IT. WHERE.

YOU ONLY SEE THAT COMMERCIAL LIKE TEN TIMES? YES.

YES. WHERE ESSENTIALLY YOU WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THROUGH THAT SERVICE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT. SO ACCORDING TO THIS GENTLEMAN, DELAWARE HAS A SUBSCRIPTION.

THEY DO. THAT YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR. IT'S RIDICULOUS TO ME THAT YOU, AS A TAXPAYER, WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SUBSCRIPTION TO A COMPANY TO WATCH YOUR TITLE. I MEAN, IT SHOULDN'T THERE BE SOME PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT CAN PROTECT YOU FROM, I MEAN, THE. I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS AT ALL, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF VERIFICATION THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER IS THE ACTUAL PERSON COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION.

WELL, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE STATE HAS JUST SENT OUT LAND RECORDS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM COMING SOON, EXPECTED SEPTEMBER 2026. PROPERTY OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO ENROLL FOR THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THAT WILL ALERT IF THEIR PROPERTY HAS TRANSFERRED OWNERSHIP. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. AFTER THE FACT YOU'LL BE NOTIFIED TO REVIEW YOUR CURRENT PROPERTY INFORMATION.

YOU MAY VISIT STAT @ THIS ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR VIEW YOUR DEED ON MARYLAND LAND DIGITAL LAND RECORDS AT THE ADDRESS.

WHICH YOU NOW PAY FOR. SO TALBOT COUNTY HAD A GREAT CASE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT RESULTED IN ALL KINDS OF CHANGES ON HOW YOU DO REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS, BUT IT'S NOT, THIS IS NOT COMPLETELY NEW.

IT'S BEEN DECADES AND DECADES WHERE SOMEBODY WILL IMPERSONATE A SELLER AT CLOSING, WALK OUT WITH THE MONEY, AND THEY'RE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY WITHIN 2 OR 3 HOURS.

SO WHAT? THERE'S ALL KINDS OF INDEPENDENT CHECKS AND BALANCES AT A CLOSING THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE,

[00:50:01]

SO, HAVING DONE SETTLEMENTS FOR 40 YEARS, I AM A LITTLE BIT AGHAST THAT THERE'S A WAY THAT SOMEBODY COULD CONDUCT A REAL ESTATE CLOSING AND NOT HAVE VERIFIED THAT WHOEVER IS SIGNING.

THE ONE IN TALBOT COUNTY WAS A HUSBAND AND WIFE SHOWED UP AT CLOSING TO SIGN, SIGN, EVERYTHING WENT FINE.

THEY LEFT WITH CLOSE TO $300,000. AND THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT THE WIFE WAS THE GIRLFRIEND.

THE REAL WIFE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN LISTED.

THE HUSBAND HAD ARRANGED THE WHOLE THING. AND THE TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY AT THAT POINT, A MORTGAGE HAD BEEN GRANTED BY THE BUYER'S BANK.

IT WAS A TERRIBLE BLOW UP. AND TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD ISSUED A TITLE POLICY STATING THAT THE BUYERS HAD GOOD TITLE.

WELL, THEY DIDN'T, BECAUSE THE GIRLFRIEND WAS NOT THE WIFE.

SO THE WHOLE THING WAS. THAT'S RESULTED IN A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN EFFECT NOW.

SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW ANYBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING CONDUCTING REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS DOESN'T HAVE THOSE IDENTITY CHECKS NOW.

UNLESS THE REALTOR IS INVOLVED. I MEAN, WHICH I THINK KIND OF.

BUT IN THIS CASE, I THINK THERE WAS AN INDICATION THAT THE REALTOR, BECAUSE WHEN THEY CONTACTED THE REALTOR, THEY WERE LIKE, OH NO, EVERYTHING'S FINE. I MEAN, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE ALL THIS IS IN PLACE IS INVOLVED IN THIS, THEN YOU'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, UP THE RIVER, BUT.

YEAH. YEAH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

AND MAN, BY THE TIME YOU GET DONE SIGNING EVERYTHING AND VERIFYING YOU'RE IN THERE ALL DAY, BUT. THIS WAS AMAZING TO ME, AND, YOU KNOW. BUT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING, I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE THAT TAX. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR OWN PROPERTY ISN'T BEING SOLD OUT FROM UNDER YOU, SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW. CORRECT. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE AFTER THE FACT STATE NOTIFICATION PROCESS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

HOW DOES DELAWARE DO IT? I MEAN, IT MUST BE PENDING TRANSACTIONS.

THERE'S NO WAY. SO WE ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF A PENDING CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.

THE ONLY THING WE GET IS WHEN IT COMES IN, WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN AND RECORDS THAT I'M THE NEW OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY.

CORRECT, YES. SO WHEN THEY'RE RECORDING IT MAKES THE FIRST STOP IN MY OFFICE.

WE'RE VERIFYING THAT TAXES ARE PAID. THERE'S NOTHING OUTSTANDING.

AND REALLY, THAT'S ALL WE'RE LOOKING. SO THAT THEN COMES DOWN TO CLERK'S OFFICE.

SORRY. I WAS GOING TO SAY. A FRAUDULENT DEED CANNOT TRANSFER TITLE.

THAT IS BASIC REAL PROPERTY LAW. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE BANK CAN'T SEND YOUR MONEY OUT IN THE DIRECTION THAT YOU DID NOT AUTHORIZE THAT MONEY TO GO OUT.

THE BANK IS ON THE HOOK FOR THAT. SO YOUR TITLE IS YOUR TITLE IS YOUR TITLE.

ALL IT DOES IS MUCK UP THE PUBLIC RECORD, BUT YOU HAVEN'T LOST TITLE TO YOUR LAND.

YOU STILL OWN YOUR FARM OR YOUR HOUSE, BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER CONVEYED IT.

THERE'S BEEN A FRAUD PERPETRATED ON THE BUYERS AND ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, WHICH NEEDS TO BE STRICKEN, AND THE COURT WILL STRIKE THE FRAUDULENT DEED.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S A BANK THAT'S PUT OUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

TITLE INSURANCE COMPANIES INSURED THE TITLE. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE CRIME.

THE REAL OWNER ONLY HAS INCONVENIENCE. YOU HAVEN'T LOST TITLE TO YOUR LAND.

OKAY. AND I GUESS, AGAIN, WITH THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, I MEAN, YOU WOULD FLAG RIGHT AWAY.

THAT, HEY. YEAH, THE STATE IS CHANGING THAT RECORD, AND THEN.

IT SOUNDED LIKE THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE THERE LAST NIGHT WERE GOING TO PURSUE THIS THROUGH DLS OR SOMETHING.

GET EXPERTS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO START TO RESEARCH WHAT POTENTIAL REMEDIES THERE MAY BE OR SAFEGUARDS THAT COULD BE PUT IN PLACE.

YEAH. SO I'D DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT GOES OR WHAT THEY END UP DOING WITH THAT.

THERE WERE A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS ON HERE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS WITH ROBIN. FARM RELATED, FOR EXAMPLE, PUTTING THE STICKS ALONG THE ROAD, I, I'M SURE THEY'RE THERE FOR THE MARKING THE EDGES OF THE ROAD FOR SNOW REMOVAL.

YEP. WE NEED TO STAGGER THEM. SO IF THEY'RE RIGHT ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER AND A COMBINE MEETS SOMEBODY, THEY CAN GO AROUND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU STAGGER THEM, THEY'LL GIVE THEM A SPACE TO GET AROUND WITHOUT THEM BEING.

PINCH POINT. WE JUST NEED TO, YOU KNOW, DO THAT.

BEFORE THE COMBINE, THEY'LL PULL THEM OFF. I DON'T KNOW.

[00:55:01]

IF THEY'RE MOVING EQUIPMENT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW.

AND ROAD SIGNS, TOO. MADE THE SAME COMMENT ABOUT PUTTING, LIKE, SPEED LIMIT SIGNS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER STAGGER THEM AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THEM DIRECTLY ACROSS. SO IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY AND ONE OF YOU HAS TO GO AROUND, THERE'S A SPACE FOR THEM TO DO IT, SO. TRUST. AND. TRASH. TRASH THE LANDFILL. LANDFILL TRASH, BUT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH WE CAN DO WITH THAT OTHER THAN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR THE STATE POLICE TO TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON LITTERING AND POTENTIALLY TRASH BLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF GARBAGE TRUCKS GOING TO THE LANDFILL.

THERE WAS ONE RESOLUTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RECOMMEND, AND THAT WAS TO SUPPORT THE MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE STATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCES AT COMMERCIAL ENERGY OPERATING SITES.

SOLAR. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. I MEAN, WE HAD A GOOD, GOOD DISCUSSION AND ALWAYS ENJOY MEETING WITH THOSE GUYS. THEY DO A GOOD JOB. ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL START THE MAY GO LEGISLATIVE ZOOM MEETINGS, I THINK, NEXT WEEK.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ GOT ANYTHING? NO? THE ONLY THING I'VE GOT IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SHARPE ROAD, WHICH I'M DOING VOLUNTEER. MOVING ALL THAT DIRT WITH HELP OF RECREATION AND PARKS.

WE'VE GOT MOST OF THE DIRT MOVED RIGHT NOW, SO THE FIELDS ARE REALLY TAKING SHAPE.

PUBLIC WORKS PUT THE STORM DRAIN IN. MOST OF THE STORM DRAIN IN WITH THE HELP OF RECREATION AND PARKS AND A FEW OF MY GUYS. WE DID CLOSE THE PATH DOWN YESTERDAY WITH THAT WALKING PATH IS USED QUITE A BIT, SO IF WE HEAR ANY COMPLAINING, THAT'S WHY. THE PATH HAS TO BE RELOCATED FURTHER OUT, BECAUSE THE OUTFIELD FENCES ON BOTH THE NEW SOFTBALL FIELD AND THE NEW BASEBALL FIELD GO INTO THE PATH, SO WE RIPPED THE OLD ASPHALT OUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT USE THAT PATH. THE LIGHTS SHOULD GO UP AROUND THE END OF THIS MONTH.

WE'RE LIGHTING BOTH FIELDS, SO BOTH THE SOFTBALL/SMALL BASEBALL FIELD AND THE BASEBALL FIELD WILL BE LIT.

SO HOPEFULLY THOSE LIGHTS WILL GO UP END OF THIS MONTH OR EARLY NEXT MONTH, SOME SOMETHING IN THAT TIME FRAME.

AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH PROBABLY IRRIGATION AND FENCING OR FENCE AND THEN IRRIGATION.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE DUGOUTS AND ANY OTHER AMENITIES AROUND THE SITE.

SO PARKING LOTS ROUGHED IN. I THINK YOU ORDERED SOME STONE, RIGHT? SO FIVE SHOULD BE GETTING FIVE LOADS OF STONE.

[Public Comment]

TALKING TO JAMIE, I THINK WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IS PROBABLY TAR AND CHIP IT.

JUST TAR AND CHIP THE PARKING LOT. BUT WE HAVEN'T MADE A FINAL DECISION YET.

WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW THE BUDGET ALL WORKS OUT, SO.

BUT IT'S MOVING ALONG. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE READY FOR THE LITTLE LEAGUE AND SOFTBALL TO USE IN THE SPRING, BUT IT'LL BE CLOSE. WELL, I THINK FOR THE RECORD, THAT YOU SHOULD BE CERTAINLY COMMENDED FOR DOING THAT WORK OUT THERE, BECAUSE. THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

I RODE BY THE OTHER DAY. SO, ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY YOU KNOW.

THANK YOU FORDOING THAT. THAT WAS A BIG, BIG LIFT I KNOW, SO.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. SO, ALRIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL. WELL THEN HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TARANCE BAILEY. I'M WITH THE BAILEY-GROCE FAMILY FOUNDATION.

WE'RE THE ONLY FREDERICK DOUGLAS FAMILY FOUNDED.

NONPROFIT 1(C)(3) IN THE STATE. I JUST COME I COME THIS MORNING JUST AS A, TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I'VE TALKED TO COUNCILMAN. BARTZ. WE'RE DOING A PROJECT HERE IN DENTON DOWN ON MEETINGHOUSE ROAD.

24872 MEETINGHOUSE ROAD. WE HAVE $400,000 IN.

150,000 IN AN LBI. AND 250,000 FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESERVATION TRUST

[01:00:01]

THAT 150,000 FOR IS PROCUREMENT TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY WHICH WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO TO, CLOSING LATER IN THE MONTH.

ACTUALLY, WE'VE HAD THAT PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. OKAY. THE $250,000 IS FOR THE RENOVATIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO GUT THE PLACE OUT, TAKE IT BACK TO LIKE, 1830 OR WHATNOT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER FOR FREDERICK DOUGLASS WIFE.

THE PROJECT GOES TO THE STATE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS TOMORROW FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

SO I'LL COME BACK ON THE. Y'ALL GET ON THE AGENDA AND COME BACK WITH THE FULL, WITH ALL THE, YOU KNOW, MARKUPS AND ALL THAT STUFF. WE GOT TO GET.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE BID ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE OVER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.

SO IT'S GOT TO BE BID OUT. AND THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE GREATER.

ACTUALLY, THE LAUNCH IS FEBRUARY 14TH NEXT, OF NEXT MONTH. FREDERICK DOUGLASS 208TH BIRTHDAY.

IT'S THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS SOCIETY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS, HISTORY AND CULTURE FOR THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE AND GREATER CHESAPEAKE.

AND THE BOARD WILL CONSIST OF TWO PEOPLE FROM EACH COUNTY TO SIT ON THE GENERAL BOARD WITH TWO PEOPLE WITH ONE VOTE FOR EACH COUNTY.

EACH COUNTY IS REPRESENTED. THEY TRY TO OPEN UP THE HISTORY OF THE OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AS FAR AS INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TRIBALISM.

EACH COUNTY LIKE, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT PERSON BECAUSE THAT PERSON WASN'T BORN HERE, BUT IT'S A, BUT THIS PENINSULA HAS PRODUCED MORE AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO HELPED SHAPE THE COUNTRY THAN ANY OTHER PER SQUARE MILE, THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE NATION. WE ACTUALLY INVENTED GOSPEL MUSIC HERE.

SO IT'S BEST TO OPEN IT UP AND BECAUSE IT'S BETTER FOR EDUCATION IF YOU JUST OPEN IT UP, BECAUSE THEN YOU SHARE.

YOU GET MORE WHEN YOU SHARE. YEAH. SO I JUST WANT TO COME AND INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I TALKED TO MR. BARTZ IN THE PAST. I DON'T KNOW, I THINK I MET YOU.

I MET YOU AT THE WAYMAN. WAYMAN. YEAH. EVENT.

I SPOKE TO BOB AND JENNIFER, I GIVE THEM YOUR INFORMATION.

YOU WILL BE COMING IN. WELL, THIS IS THE ONLY WEEK I HAD.

I WORK 14 HOURS A DAY AND THEN RUN A NONPROFIT.

YEAH. SO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE LADY ACROSS THE STREET.

KENDALL. KENDALL. YEAH, YEAH. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ON THE, ON THE PURCHASING PART WE'RE ACTUALLY $30,000 SHORT.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT $150,000 INTO THE SELLER'S HANDS BECAUSE HE'S BEEN WAITING A YEAR AND A HALF, SO. BUT EVERYTHING'S GOING GOOD, SO. MR. BAILEY, DID YOU SAY 24872, IS THAT THE CORRECT ADDRESS? 248, YES. OKAY. AND WHAT CONTACT HAVE YOU HAD AT ALL WITH OUR OFFICES AS FAR AS PERMITTING? AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING, YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, CONTACT THEM EARLY AND OFTEN TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY RENOVATIONS, RENOVATIONS OR WORK YOU'RE GOING TO BE YOU'RE DUE GOING TO DO TO THE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, IS IN COMPLIANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T GET HUNG UP WITH DOING WORK AND THEN FINDING OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M JUST I'M JUST GIVING YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE PIECE OF ADVICE.

YOU GOT THE LADY SITTING RIGHT BACK THERE THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, BE EITHER YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE.

SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TO COORDINATE IT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE IN PLACE.

SO THAT'S. YEAH, THESE ARE GOVERNMENT FUNDS. SO, WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE JUST SO BEFORE CHECK IS WRITTEN BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM BREATHING DOWN OUR NECK. OKAY. SO. I THINK ANOTHER GOOD STOP WOULD BE TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT STATE AGENCY.

JUST KIND OF LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING.

WE DO NOT HAVE MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER AT THAT LOCATION, SO YOU'RE ON WELL AND SEPTIC THERE, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. ULTIMATELY, YOU'RE DEALING WITH MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

THEY'RE THE PUPPET MASTER, PER SE, BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THE MESSENGER WHICH BOTH ARE STATE AGENCIES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF. LET'S SAY THIS NICELY, COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE ABOUT NAVIGATING THROUGH THOSE REGULATIONS.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND TALKING TO THEM BECAUSE IT IS ON WELL AND SEPTIC OUT THERE.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE. OKAY.

THAT WAS OUR FAMILY HOUSE FOR MANY YEARS. MY GRANDFATHER SOLD THAT HOUSE BACK IN THE 90S, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S LIVED IN IT SINCE.

OKAY. YEAH. SO THERE'S AN EXISTING SEPTIC SYSTEM THERE, AND.

[01:05:01]

YEAH. YEAH. BUT. SO. YEAH, YOU KNOW, START THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU MAY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING STATE FUNDING, YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE AT THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IN MDE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR PROJECT AND, AND MAYBE DEAL WITH THEM DIRECTLY TO TRY TO SEE.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, ULTIMATELY THEY ARE THE REGULATOR THAT GENERATES ALL OF THE RULES THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TO ADHERE TO.

SO IT'S BETTER IF YOU CAN TRY TO MAKE SOME CONTACTS INSIDE OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS ON SITE DISPOSAL SYSTEM, SEPTIC SYSTEM. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND DOING.

SO, I PLAN TO BRING UP TO THE BOARD FOR US TO JUST GET A COORDINATOR, SOMEBODY, SOME, YOU KNOW, JUST A COORDINATOR ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, JUST TO, TO NAVIGATE ALL THIS STUFF.

YEAH. INSTEAD OF PLAYING GUESSING GAMES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF AND THEN HAVING TO GO AND RESEARCH THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, GET SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA. AND JUST AND I WAS THINKING MAYBE LIKE CHUCK CALLAHAN OR SOMEBODY JUST YEAH, JUST LET THEM GET A BUILDER. YEAH. AND LET THEM DO ALL THAT.

THE. CRYSTAL, DO WE HAVE ANY, THERE'S NO ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE BUILDING CODE FOR LIKE RESTORATION OF A HISTORICAL BUILDING, IS THERE? I MEAN, IT'S LIKE.

MARYLAND DOES HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE MARYLAND REHABILITATION CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS, THAT DOES PROVIDE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO SOME OF THE THINGS IN REHABBING AND RENOVATING OLDER STRUCTURES.

OKAY, THERE'S NOT A LOT IN THERE, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY AFFORD A FLEXIBILITY FOR.

RIGHT, BECAUSE THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS TO PUT IT BACK HISTORICALLY HOW IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE 1800S, RIGHT? YEAH. THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE IS NOT THAT OLD.

BUT IT'S THE ONLY STRUCTURE WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE CHOPTANK REGION THAT IS ACTUALLY ATTACHED TO THE FAMILY.

IT ACTUALLY THE FAMILY ACTUALLY HAS A HISTORY IN.

I, WHAT'S HER NAME? DOCTOR? OH, MY GOD. JULIE SCHABLITSKY WITH MDOT. I HAD HER PULL IT UP AND EVERYTHING, BECAUSE BEFORE WE WOULD DO ANY RENOVATIONS OR START TURNING THE GROUND OVER, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE STATE TO GO IN AND DO A DIG.

AND SHE LOOKED IT UP AND SHE SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THERE WOULD BE ANYTHING THERE.

AND THE HOUSE ISN'T THE HOUSE. I THINK THE HOUSE IS THE RECORDS SAY 1900.

OKAY. BUT WHAT A LOT OF THE HOUSES AROUND HERE, MINE INCLUDED OVER ON 6TH STREET ARE MUCH OLDER THAN WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

I THINK IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, LIKE THE TOWN BURNED DOWN, LIKE, THREE TIMES OR SOMETHING. YEAH, A LOT OF THEM THAT SAY 1900S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL DATE. YEAH. AND I KNOW MY HOUSE GOES BACK TO AT LEAST 1880.

OKAY. SO BUT I DON'T THINK THE HOUSE GOES BACK TO 1839, NOT MY GRANDFATHER'S OLD HOUSE.

BUT WE WOULD BE DOING A REPLICATION OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE IN A HOUSE THAT ANAMARIE GREW UP IN.

THE HOUSE IS PROBABLY EVEN TOO BIG TO EVEN SAY THAT. BUT SINCE THERE'S NO SISTER HARRIET TUBMAN SPOT OVER THE WHARF HAS BEEN SOLD.

WE'LL PROBABLY PUT SOME OF THAT STUFF IN THERE, TOO, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT FREDERICK DOUGLASS, HARRIET TUBMAN WERE COUSINS. SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO THAT SAME BUILDING SINCE THE OTHER BUILDING WAS SOLD.

OKAY. SO, AND IT'S AND IT'S MAYBE LIKE 150 YARDS FROM, FROM THE RIVER.

OKAY. SO. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH THE PROJECT.

OKAY. NICE MEETING YOU. GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.

HERE'S MY IF. I CAN HELP YOU ON THAT. I THINK I GAVE YOU MY FOUR, SO.

I THINK I HAVE YOUR CARD. I COULD MAKE WALLPAPER.

I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF THEM. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

NO ONE. NO ONE ELSE. SO WITH THAT, FINE. WE'RE DOING OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEWS THIS TIME OF YEAR. SO THAT'S WHAT THE REASON FOR THE CLOSED SESSIONS ARE.

THAT I ENTERTAIN A MOTION. DO I HAVE DO I HAVE WRITTEN OUT MOTION HERE FOR THE CLOSED SESSION? NO. YOU READ IT FROM THE. FROM THE LIST. FROM THE AGENDA.

OH, WHAT I'LL DO WITH IT. THERE WE GO. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE

[01:10:02]

THE PURPOSE OF THE CLOSED SESSION IS TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS AND TO RECEIVE DEPARTMENTAL UPDATES FROM STAFF.

MOVE WE GO TO CLOSED SESSION. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.

ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PORTER? AYE. COMMISSIONER BREEDING? AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ? AYE. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.