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HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND WILLIAM TARBUTTON, THE BLIND EVANGELIST OF PRESTON, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.
GOOD MORNING, REVEREND. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. GOOD MORNING.
IF WE COULD BOW OUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WE CAN TAKE THIS TIME TO COME TO YOU AND RECOGNIZE THAT WITHOUT YOU, WE ARE LOST. FATHER, WE PRAY THAT EVERY DECISION THAT'S MADE AND EVERY CONVERSATION THAT'S HAD IS DONE WITH LOVE, ACCURACY, AND KINDNESS. WE PRAY THAT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE HERE ALL THE TIME TO GUIDE ALL THOSE WHO COME AND GO TO PROVIDE LOVE, KINDNESS, AND GROWTH FOR CAROLINE COUNTY. WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THE GROWTH THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US AND THE FELLOWSHIP, AND WE DO THAT IN JESUS NAME. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY. I HAVE A CLOSEOUT STATEMENT FROM OUR FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING.
IF THE PUBLIC BODY DETERMINES THAT THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION WOULD CONTINUE OR CONSTITUTE A RISK TO THE PUBLIC OR TO PUBLIC SECURITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CLOSED SESSION WAS TO DISCUSS DETAILS REGARDING COURTHOUSE SECURITY.
THE ATTENDEES, JUMPED OFF THE EMAIL. THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS STEWART BARROLL, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, JENNIFER REIBLY, DANIEL FOX, AND JUDGE HEATHER PRICE.
OKAY. MOVING ON, FIRST THING ON OUR AGENDA THIS MORNING IS A LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MOVED TO GO TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. WE HAVE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF THREE LEGISLATIVE BILLS, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARROLL, COUNTY ATTORNEY.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THIS, WE ARE HERE FIRST TO INTRODUCE AND HAVE THE FIRST READING OF LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-001, CHAPTER 175 ZONING ARTICLE 12 AMENDMENT PROCEDURES A NEW SECTION 175
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202 ENTITLED ZONING MAP CORRECTIONS. THE BACKGROUND TO THIS IS, ON THE DAYSPRING TOWNHOMES PROJECT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A ZONING MAP DID NOT ACTUALLY CONFORM TO THE ACTUAL ZONING OF THE PARCEL ON WHICH THOSE TOWNHOUSES ARE LOCATED, AND WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS ALLOW THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTRATIVELY CORRECT SOMETHING TO CONFORM TO WHAT THE ACTUAL ZONING IS.AND THIS IS DONE BY CREATING NEW SECTION 175 202 AND ENTITLED ZONING MAP CORRECTIONS IN ARTICLE 12, WHICH IS AMENDMENT PROCEDURES OF CHAPTER 175, ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, TO PROVIDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO CORRECT MINOR TECHNICAL OR CLERICAL ERRORS IN THE ZONING MAPS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE SCHEDULE IS FOR IT TO BE INTRODUCED TODAY ON THE 10TH OF FEBRUARY.
THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON SATURDAY THE 14TH.
THE EFFECTIVE DATE UNDER THIS SCHEDULE WOULD BE APRIL THE 11TH.
OKAY. THESE MAPS, JUST A LITTLE FURTHER CONTEXT, THESE MAPS HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED AND TRANSFERRED BASICALLY FROM PAPER MYLAR TO DIGITAL. AND OVER THE YEARS, YES, SLIGHT VARIATIONS IN WHERE ZONING LINES MAY HAVE GOT MESSED UP. SO THIS ALLOWS YOU TO GO IN AND CORRECT THOSE WHEN IT'S AN OBVIOUS ERROR.
THAT WAS DONE BY ESRGC IN 2006, AND WITH THE RECENT REQUEST TO VERIFY ZONING ON THE DAYSPRING PARCELS, THAT'S WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT THE MAPS WERE NOT DONE CORRECTLY, AND REFLECTING THE ZONING THAT ACTUALLY WAS ADOPTED BY THE COUNTY IN THE EARLY 90S. SO IN ORDER TO FIX THAT, WE ALSO REALIZED WE NEED A PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR CRYSTAL? OTHER THAN THE DAYSPRING HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED ANY ANY OTHERS SPECIFICALLY? NO, WE HAVEN'T DONE A THOROUGH CHECK OF IT TO TO TO VERIFY IT, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION OTHER THAN THIS MOST RECENT ONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WITH INVOLVING AN INDUSTRIAL SOMETHING IN NEAR FREDERICKSBURG.
IT WAS A TRUCKING COMPANY REZONING. IT SHOULD HAVE CHANGED. IT WAS NOT ZONED PROPERLY.
IN THAT CASE. IT WASN'T A LINE ERROR, BUT IT WASN'T AN ERROR TYPE OF ERROR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY? I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS AS THE FIRST READING OF LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-001, AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE THAT MR. BARROW OUTLINED. SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT BILL, SIR.
THE NEXT BILL IS LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-002.
THIS ALSO PERTAINS TO CHAPTER 175 ZONING. AND THIS IS AN ACT TO AMEND THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USE REGULATIONS 175. ATTACHMENT 3-2 OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING TO ADD WAREHOUSE MINI STORAGE FACILITIES AS A PERMITTED USE BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION IN THE VILLAGE V.C.
AND AS THE DRAFT OF THE BILL RECITES, THERE APPEARS TO BE A NEED AND A DESIRE TO HAVE THESE KIND OF FACILITIES IN THE VILLAGE CENTRAL DISTRICT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS COMING OUT OF THIN AIR.
THERE HAS BEEN PUBLIC OPINION EXPRESSED ON THIS.
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MINI STORAGE WAREHOUSING. SO IN 2014, WHEN THE COUNTY CREATED THE VILLAGE CENTER AND THE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING DISTRICTS IN OUR VILLAGES, THE INTENT WAS TO PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTIAL, AND THAT THOSE USES ALIGNED WITH OUR CURRENT C-1 NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING DISTRICTS.FOR WHATEVER REASON, MINI STORAGE IS ALLOWED IN THE C-1 BY SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION THROUGH THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, BUT WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY THAT AS A CATEGORY TO ALLOW IN THE VILLAGES.
AND MAYBE THE THOUGHT WAS THERE'S NOT REALLY PROPERTY AVAILABLE. BUT AS TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND NEEDS HAVE CHANGED, THE DESIGN OF THOSE STRUCTURES, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE TO BE LONG, NARROW BUILDINGS.
THEY COULD BE TWO STOREY, THEY COULD BE SMALLER.
AND ALSO THE USE OF THOSE HAS CHANGED OVER TIME TO WHERE YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT UTILIZE THOSE MINI STORAGES FOR THEIR BUSINESSES TO STORE THEIR EQUIPMENT OR THEIR THEIR SUPPLIES.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE, AND IT'S EXPENSIVE TO RENT IT AND THEY MAYBE CAN'T NECESSARILY ACCOMMODATE IT AT HOME, DON'T HAVE THE STORAGE. SO WE DO SEE THAT THEY TEND TO BE UTILIZED BY LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND THIS WOULD HELP THE BUSINESSES IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS TO HAVE A PLACE TO, TO STORE AS PART OF THE CITIZEN REQUEST, THEY DID, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY THE MINI STORAGES AROUND THE COUNTY AND THAT NOTED THAT SEVERAL OF THEM HAD WAITING LISTS.
SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF AVAILABILITY OUT THERE IN TERMS OF THE MINI STORAGE.
AND THIS WOULD ALIGN IT WITH THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR IN A C1 DISTRICT.
IT WOULD BE BY A SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION. WE HAVE SPELLED OUT SOME CRITERIA THAT WAS WORKED THROUGH WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON SPECIFIC SETBACKS AND BUFFERING FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT MAY BE NEXT DOOR, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ALL OF THESE BILLS DO HAVE POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SPECIFICALLY, THIS REQUEST CAME FOR THE TAN YARD AREA.
VILLAGE CENTERS ARE JUST GIVE US A FEW TAN YARD, HARMONY? YES HARMONY.
SO THE LITTLE BREAK, RIGHT? SO THE LITTLE DENSELY POPULATED, MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS WITHOUT SEWER AND WATER, BASICALLY WELL SERVICED BY WELL AND SEPTIC.
THE ONES THAT HAVE THE VILLAGE CENTER ZONING.
BUT THESE ARE ONES WHERE THERE'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY PARKS.
SO THEY'VE BECOME KIND OF GATHERING COMMUNITY AREAS LIKE ALMOST LIKE MINI TOWNS.
YEAH. SO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE FINDING THIS PROPERTY IS ACTUALLY ACROSS FROM THE OLD CHANCE'S STORE.
SO IT'S ON DOVER ROAD. IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, HEAVILY TRAVELED KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, IT FITS.
SO THEREFORE, TRADITIONAL BUSINESSES LIKE RETAIL, YOU KNOW, GAS STATIONS OR SOME TYPE OF RETAIL FACILITY THAT WOULD NEED A BATHROOM, CANNOT GET A SEPTIC PERMIT, ONSITE DISPOSAL PERMIT.
SO THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL USE AT WORK. NOW, THERE HAS BEEN A SNAG WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MAY OR WITH NOT, I SHOULDN'T SAY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WITH MDE AND STATE REGULATIONS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S A PREEXISTING LOT.
SO, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WE DIDN'T GET A FIRM ANSWER.
SO. AND I BELIEVE LESLIE HAD RUN A MAP SCENARIO JUST TO LOOK AT WHERE WE HAVE C1 ZONING IN THE COUNTY, AND WE DO HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT. LESS THAN 60 ACRES.
LESS THAN 60 ACRES. 58 ACRES. THAT YOU COULD IN THE COUNTY.
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PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE THERE'S A POPULATION TO BE SERVED, YOU KNOW, A CLUSTERED POPULATION.SO KEEPING THE USES SIMILAR TO THAT OF C1 AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO USE THEIR PROPERTIES WAS THE GOAL HERE? YEP. ABSOLUTELY.
ALL RIGHT. EITHER ONE OF YOU TWO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK IT'S A GOOD FIT FOR THE, YOU KNOW, THE RV BOAT STORAGE YOU KNOW, FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT ACCESS, YOU KNOW, SUBDIVISION.
SO, NO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'M GOOD. OKAY.
STEWART, DID YOU GO OVER THE SCHEDULE? NOT YET.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE 14TH.
OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
DASH 002. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.
NEXT UP BRINGS US TO LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-003.
THIS DEALS WITH CHAPTER 175 ZONING, AGAIN CREATION OF R-3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND ADDITION OF TOWNHOUSE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS.
THIS IS AN ACT TO IN EFFECT REESTABLISH R-3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IN CAROLINE COUNTY WITH THE ADDITION OF TOWNHOUSE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS BY NUMBER ONE, AMENDING SECTION 175-8 WORD USAGE IN ARTICLE TWO DEFINITIONS OF CHAPTER 175 TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF TOWNHOUSE DWELLING UNDER THE TERM DWELLING.
TWO, AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION SECTION ONE 75-12.A OF THE CODE TO ADD R-3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AS A PRIMARY ZONING DISTRICT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
THREE, MENDING BY INTERLINEATION. SECTION ONE.
75 DASH 12 B RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS OF THE CODE TO ADD THE DEFINITION OF R-3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT FOR CREATING A NEW SECTION 175-21 TOWNHOUSES IN ARTICLE FIVE.
SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS OF THE CODE FIVE, AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF USES, 175 ATTACHMENT 3-1 TO ADD TOWNHOMES AS A PERMITTED USE IN THE R3 DISTRICT AND SUBJECT TO SITE PLAN APPROVAL IN THE VC DISTRICT AND AMENDING BY INTERLINEATION THE CAROLINE COUNTY TABLE OF GENERAL DESIGN REGULATIONS 175, ATTACHMENT 4-1 TO ADD THE DESIGN REGULATIONS FOR THE R3 DISTRICT.
OKAY, SO THIS BILL EVEN GOING TO ATTEMPT TO THIS ONE.
SO THIS BILL GOES HAND IN HAND WITH BILL NUMBER ONE FOR THE ZONING MAP CORRECTIONS AGAIN.
AND WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THERE WAS A ZONING MAPPING ERROR WITH THE DAYSPRING PROPERTIES.
AND DIGGING INTO THAT, WE REALIZED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MAPPING ERROR, WE REMOVED THE R-3 ZONING WHEN WE DID THE COMPREHENSIVE REZONING IN 2014, IN ITS ENTIRETY. SO IN ORDER TO NOW MAKE THAT COMPLIANT WITH THE ZONING, WE HAVE TO PUT THE DISTRICT BACK.
SO THE WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING FOR IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRITTEN PRIOR TO REMOVING IT.
THE ONLY CHANGE IS THAT IN THE TOWNHOUSE SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACCESS DRIVES AND PARKING, WE UPDATED BECAUSE IT DID HAVE REFERENCE TO COUNTY ENGINEER, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE, AND REPLACE THAT WITH DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE DEFINITION WAS PUT BACK IN, THE DISTRICT WAS PUT BACK IN, AND THE ACTUAL SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE AT THAT TIME FOR TOWNHOUSES WOULD BE PUT BACK IN WITH THIS BILL AND THEN ALLOWING THAT TOWNHOUSES IN THE R-3 DISTRICT.
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AND THAT WILL ADDRESS THAT WHEN WE DO OUR REZONING REWRITE OR OUR ZONING CODE REWRITE.OKAY. ANY IDEA WHY IT WAS REMOVED IN 2014? BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROPERTIES EXCEPT FOR WHAT, THERE WAS, THE REASON THAT THE R-3 WAS INCORRECTLY SHOWN FOR THE DAYSPRING, IT WAS DONE IN TWO PHASES.
PHASE TWO WAS NEVER EVEN SHOWN ON THE MAP, SO IT APPEARED WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT PROPERTY ZONED R3 PHASE ONE HAD A SLIVER THAT CROSSED A BOUNDARY LINE, AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT JUST DIDN'T ALIGN. SO THAT WAS THE PART OF REMOVING IT WITHOUT THE UNDERSTANDING THAT JUST BELOW THAT WAS THE DAYSPRING PROPERTIES.
R3 RIGHT. SO IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY R3. THERE WAS NO REASON TO HAVE A REGULAR SECTION AND A COAT FOR IT.
RIGHT. AND YOU ALSO WITH MULTIFAMILY NEEDING THE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER WHICH TOWNHOUSES REQUIRE.
RIGHT. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE PROPERTIES THAT WERE SERVED BY THE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER.
RIGHT. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW PROPERTIES IN THE COUNTY THAT'S SERVED BY A MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM, BUT IS NOT ANNEXED INTO THE MUNICIPALITY'S TOWN LIMITS.
SO IT'S IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S SERVICED BY TOWN UTILITIES.
SO IT IS. THERE'S A LOT OF ODDITIES IN THIS ONE PROPERTY.
IT'S NOT UNIQUE STATEWIDE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT SERVICE PROPERTIES OUT IN THE COUNTIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE, BUT IT'S VERY UNIQUE IN CAROLINE COUNTY. SO BUT ANYWAY, THIS FIXES THAT AND PUTS DAYSPRING, YOU KNOW, GETS ALL THE ZONING AND EVERYTHING BACK IN ORDER.
YEP. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE MOVE LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-003 TO ITS SECOND READING.
SECOND. YEAH. AND THE SCHEDULE WILL BE IDENTICAL TO THE PRIOR TWO BILLS.
YEP. OKAY. I'M SORRY. AND ADOPT THAT SCHEDULE.
THAT'S RIGHT. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU CRYSTAL.
THANK YOU. LESLIE. OKAY, NEXT ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WE HAVE A THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-015. I WILL AGAIN TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARROLL.
THANK YOU SIR. THIS IS LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2025-015.
THIS IS CHAPTER 18 COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS AN ACT TO AMEND THE COMPENSATION OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AFTER REVIEW OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION. IT'S AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS SECTION, SUBSECTION A, OF SECTION 1805 COMPENSATION AND COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION, OF CHAPTER 18 COMMISSIONERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING THE CURRENT RATES OF COMPENSATION FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AFTER REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMISSION, WHICH COMMISSION UNDERTOOK A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE RATE OF COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS, AND GENERALLY RELATING TO COMMISSIONER COMPENSATION, AND PROVIDING THAT THIS TITLE BE DEEMED A FAIR SUMMARY OF THIS PUBLIC LOCAL LAW FOR ALL PURPOSES.
THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 16TH OF 2025.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT, JANUARY 3RD OF 26.
THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY THE 13TH OF 2026.
OKAY. JUST TO REITERATE SOME OF THE KEY POINTS IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS HERE, WE, THIS PROCESS WAS DICTATED BY STATE LAW AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE DICTATES TO COMMISSION FORM GOVERNMENTS.
THE PROCESS FOR ANALYZING AND ADJUSTING THE COMPENSATION IT CAN ONLY BE INSTITUTED FOR THE BOARD FOLLOWING THIS BOARD, SO WE CANNOT GIVE OURSELVES A RAISE.
ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE TO DO IT IN THE LAST YEAR OF OUR TERM SO THAT IMMEDIATELY UPON DOING IT, WE HAVE TO FACE THE VOTERS. SO THEY GET A CHANCE TO KICK US OUT IF THEY THINK WE'VE PAID OURSELVES OR THE NEXT BOARD POTENTIALLY TOO MUCH,
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REQUIRES A COMMITTEE BE ESTABLISHED, WHICH WE DID TO REVIEW THE TIME THAT IT THAT WE ALL PUT INTO THIS POSITION AND AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY THINK FAIR COMPENSATION IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND, AND I THINK IT WAS VERY MUCH IN LINE FOR THE JOB WHICH WAS FOR US TO GO OUR OUR CURRENT COMPENSATION IS 14 FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER, AND IT IS 15,000 FOR MYSELF.I GET EXTRA THOUSAND AS THE PRESIDENT. THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR US TO MOVE TO 24,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEXT TERM FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND $1,000 MORE FOR THE PRESIDENT AND INCREASED $2,000 A YEAR TO THE END OF OF THE NEXT TERM TO FINISH AT 31,030 THOUSAND.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, YES. WELL, WE HAVE ELECTED TO DO IS TO REDUCE THAT.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO GO TO 24,000, FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION AND GO TO 24,000 FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN TAKE ONE STEP TO 26,000. AND THE PRESIDENT WILL RECEIVE 27,000.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD STOP. I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S A FAIR ADJUSTMENT, CONSIDERING ALSO THAT THE COMPENSATION HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 2015.
9. OH 09. 2009 I'M SORRY. SO COMPENSATION FOR COMMISSIONERS HAD NOT BEEN ADJUSTED SINCE 2009.
SO WHEN YOU CONSIDER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, I THINK IT'S I THINK WE'VE SORTED OURSELVES HERE, BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS AND TO THE COUNTY AND YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I FEEL FINE WITH, WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS VOTING TO ENACT IT TODAY.
SO ANY COMMENTS? WELL, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE I WASN'T I WASN'T HERE IN 2009, BUT I STARTED IN 2010. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE JOB HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE AMOUNT OF TIME HAS INCREASED SINCE 2009 OR 2010. SO YOU KNOW, NO ONE EVER LIKES TO SIT UP HERE AND GIVE YOURSELF MORE MONEY, BUT I'M, I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE MADE IN RELATION TO WHAT THE COMMISSION CAME UP WITH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE.
AND I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THIS.
I AGREE AS WELL. THE DUTIES INVOLVED HAVE FROM WHAT I'VE, YOU KNOW, TALKED TO COMMISSIONER PORTER HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM WHAT IT USED TO BE TECHNOLOGY AND THINGS. WE'RE REQUIRED TO GO TO ATTEND THE BOARDS.
SO I CAN ONLY SEE JUST GETTING MORE AS YEARS COME, YEARS GO BY.
SO I'M, I'M, THE WORKLOAD, I CAN SEE GETTING MORE AND MORE, MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.
SO IT'S I, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT IT IS AN INCREASED BURDEN.
SO I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION WHO VOLUNTEERED.
ALL OF THOSE MEMBERS VOLUNTEERED TO DO THAT. TOOK A COUPLE MEETINGS TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION AND DISCUSS SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THOSE COMMISSION MEMBERS, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR, THEIR VOLUNTEERING TO DO SO.
SO WITH THAT I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2025-015.
CHAPTER 18 COMMISSIONERS. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THAT CONCLUDES THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE. MOVE. WE GO BACK TO REGULAR SESSION.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE A 2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL DISCUSSION.
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BUT TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AND THOSE LISTENING AN IDEA OF KIND OF THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH HERE IS THAT AS BILLS ARE ARE, AS BILLS ARE INTRODUCED, WE REVIEW THESE BILLS WITH OUR, THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE BELONG WITH MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.WE DO THAT ON A SCHEDULE OF EACH MONDAY NIGHT.
WE SPEND TIME ON A ZOOM CALL GOING THROUGH THE BILLS THAT ARE, THAT ARE CALLED RURAL COUNTY BILLS.
AND THEN ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, WE RECONVENE AS THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF MEMBERS FROM EACH COUNTY AND BALTIMORE CITY.
WE TAKE A POSITION ON THOSE BILLS OF EITHER SUPPORT OR OPPOSE OR NO POSITION OR SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS OR OPPOSE WITH WITH AMENDMENTS. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT BASICALLY THE BILL IS NOT COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE BUT THERE ARE THINGS WITHIN THE BILL THAT WE WANT TO SEE CHANGED AND THEN THAT IS THEN SUBMITTED BACK.
AND SO MACO'S POSITION IS BASICALLY I THINK IS IMPORTANT IN THE BILL PROCESS BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A, IT'S A VOTE REPRESENTING ALL OF THE COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T ALWAYS AGREE. THERE IS A, SOMETIMES A YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF A, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN THE WHAT, WHAT THEY CALL THE BIG COUNTIES AND THE RURAL COUNTIES. SO IT'S IT'S DIFFICULT IN THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY GO THROUGH AND DO EVERY SINGLE BILL. THERE ARE BILLS THAT ARE CALLED SUBTRACTION MODIFICATION BILLS WHICH REALLY DON'T AFFECT REVENUE.
AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS MAINLY BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE UNFUNDED MANDATES, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SERVICES OR SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY ON A BILL THAT IS GOING TO GENERATE MORE RESPONSIBILITY, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A FISCAL STATEMENT WITH IT THAT IS GOING TO SHOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM. A LOT OF THESE BILLS THE BIGGEST BILL THAT THAT WE REVIEWED IS THE BRFA, BUDGET RECONCILIATION AND FINANCING ACT.
HE TRIES TO PUT HIM IN TO BRFA. SO BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE US AND THEN AND THEN FOLLOWING UP ON THE WEDNESDAY MEETING IS A MEETING WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES, WHO OUR LOBBYISTS WHO REPRESENT US ON THURSDAY.
SO AND THEN ON FRIDAY, THERE IS ANOTHER ZOOM MEETING, WHICH BY THAT TIME I'M KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ZOOMED OUT AT THAT TIME AND THAT'S, THAT'S DURING THE SESSION.
BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF A LOT OF NUMBERS, A LOT OF BILLS.
SO THE BILL THAT WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONVERSATION ON LAST NIGHT WAS SENATE BILL 255, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2026. AND I THINK WHAT THIS BILL IS BASICALLY DOING IS TRYING TO CONTROL, FROM A LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT, TRYING TO CONTROL HOW WE VOTE IN THIS COUNTY, IN ALL COUNTIES.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS AN AT LARGE COUNTY. WE DO NOT HAVE DISTRICTS.
ALL THREE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REPRESENT EVERYONE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
AND I SAY TO THEM, I DON'T REPRESENT YOU. YOU HAVE TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER BREEDING, OR I DON'T REPRESENT YOU, YOU HAVE TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER BARTZ. OVER THE YEARS THERE THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED.
FIVE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED OVER THE YEARS GOING TO FIVE COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE DISCOVERED AND COUNCILOR, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
WRONG. BUT IF WE WENT TO FIVE COMMISSIONERS, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
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AND WE HAVE DECIDED OVER THE YEARS THAT THREE IS ENOUGH AND THREE PEOPLE CAN REPRESENT THE COUNTY OF 33,000 PEOPLE.I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT EVER WANT TO HAVE TO SAY TO A CONSTITUENT, I DON'T REPRESENT YOU, I REPRESENT, I WANT TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY, AND I WANT TO BE BE ABLE TO TO TRY TO RESOLVE THEIR ISSUE OR HELP THEM, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE WITHIN CAROLINE COUNTY.
SO THIS IS A BILL THAT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED BY A SENATOR FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND I THINK A SENATOR FROM BALTIMORE CITY OR BALTIMORE COUNTY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR ELECTIONS FOR.
I COULDN'T TELL YOU. BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, I THINK IT'S THE DREAM OF EVERY LEGISLATOR TO HAVE A BILL WITH THEIR NAME ON IT, AND THEY DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THE BILL SAYS.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO WANT TO WRITE A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.
THEY DON'T LIKE TO OPPOSE BILLS. THEY DO OPPOSE THEM, BUT THEY REALLY DON'T LIKE TO, BECAUSE THEN THAT MAY ALIENATE THE SENATOR OR THE THE DELEGATE WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THE BILL. SO WE RUN INTO THAT.
WE HAVE RUN INTO THAT ON THE REDISTRICTING BILL.
SO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT BILL, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE SEND A LETTER OF OPPOSITION.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? YEAH, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE DO.
I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE, AYE. THERE'S ANOTHER BILL. HOUSE BILL, 190.
THAT IS KIND OF ALONG THE SAME. LET ME SAY SOMETHING ON THIS SB-255 COMMISSIONER PORTER MADE, YOU KNOW, SOME VERY GOOD POINTS THERE. I, AND I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS FROM ANOTHER KIND OF PERSPECTIVE HERE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE GET A LOT, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO ELECTION SEASON, IS HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FIVE COMMISSIONERS? AND MY RESPONSE TO THAT, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY IS THAT OUT OF 34,000 PEOPLE, WE STRUGGLE EACH AND EVERY ELECTION CYCLE TO HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE STEP FORWARD AND FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK, PAY THE $25, AND ACTUALLY ENTER THE PUBLIC ARENA.
YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH BY THE TIME A DECISION GETS TO THE THREE OF US.
YOU KNOW, ALL, ALL THE EASY DECISIONS ARE MADE.
AND IT'S HARD TO GET THAT OUT OF 34,000 PEOPLE, IT'S HARD TO GET THREE.
AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE GO TO FIVE, IT'LL BE THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO FIND GOOD CANDIDATES AND AND TO GOVERN RESPONSIBLY. SO, YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN WITH THIS IS, IS.
IS NOT RELATED TO YOU KNOW, ANY ANYTHING POLITICAL.
I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO DISENFRANCHISE ANYBODY BASED ON RACE OR LANGUAGE THAT THEY SPEAK OR PLACE OF ORIGIN AS SENATE BILL 255 ADDRESSES.
BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE SITTING IN THESE THREE SEATS AND AND MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THE COUNTY.
AND AND THAT'S WHAT MY THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS WITH SB 255 IS THAT IT PUTS IT POTENTIALLY IN THE HANDS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A JUDGE, AS OPPOSED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY THAT ELECT US.
[00:40:05]
SO. RIGHT. AND I THINK, AGAIN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT IF IF WE HAD THIS THIS IS ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND BALTIMORE INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN OUR BUSINESS.IT'S 34,000 PEOPLE. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S THIS WE WANT TO SAY WE DID SOMETHING, THAT WE FACE.
BUT IT'S MANDATORY CHARTER GOVERNMENT FOR COUNTIES.
NOW CAROLINE COUNTY IS A CODE HOME RULE COUNTY.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY TO RUN THE COUNTY, TO SET POLICIES, TO SET TAX RATES, TO, TO, TO HAVE TO, TO PURSUE THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE COUNTY.
IN A CHARTER GOVERNMENT, YOU HAVE A COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO IS ELECTED.
WE HIRE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, THEY WORK FOR US AND A CHARTER COUNTY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RUNS FOR FOR ELECTION AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE BASICALLY RUNS THE COUNTY, MAKES THE DECISIONS, OPERATES THE COUNTY.
WE ARE A CODE HOME RULE COUNTY. I WOULD NOT EVER CONSIDER SPENDING MY TIME OR RUNNING FOR OFFICE, RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER IF I COULDN'T MAKE DECISIONS AND AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, CONTROL OVER WHAT WE DO ON THE DECISIONS IN THIS COUNTY.
WHY ANYBODY WOULD WOULD TRY TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD FORCE COUNTIES WHO HAVE ALREADY DETERMINED THEIR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PURPOSE IS BEHIND THIS.
IT IS A I THINK THIS IS COME INTO I THINK IT'S BEEN CONSIDERED EACH YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND I KEEP SAYING IN THE MACO MEETINGS, AND I WON'T USE THE TERM THAT I USED, BUT I KEEP SAYING, CAN'T WE HAVE LIKE A THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT HERE BECAUSE IF YOU INTRODUCE A BILL THAT YOU KNOW IS NOT GOING TO PASS AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ANYBODY, WHY DO WE HAVE TO KEEP CONSIDERING IT EVERY YEAR? SO NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT. WE WILL OPPOSE THIS BILL.
I THINK MACO OPPOSES THIS BILL. AND I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT IT IS IT IS ON THERE AS WELL.
ALRIGHT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILL 190.
190. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. THE THIRD BILL IS HAS JUST BEEN INTRODUCED.
HOUSE BILL 63 FAIRNESS AND GIRLS SPORTS ACT. THIS WAS INTRODUCED BY DELEGATE SZELIGA.
AND IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT MALE STUDENTS CANNOT PLAY FEMALE SPORTS AND CANNOT USE MALE OR CANNOT USE FEMALE LOCKER ROOMS. I MAKE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT. SECOND.
OKAY. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. AND THE THE FOURTH ONE, AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THESE ON THURSDAY.
I'VE LOST TRACK OF WHAT DAY IT IS THURSDAY. THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER.
IT'S HOUSE BILL 203, AND IT'S A BAN ON TRAINING REPAYMENT AGREEMENTS, AND WHAT, THE IMPACT, THE IMPACT ON, ON THE COUNTY WOULD BE THE PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE EMPLOYERS MUST STOP USING TRAINING REPAYMENT CONTRACTS.
THIS COULD PROTECT EMPLOYEES FROM FINANCIAL BURDENS, BUT SHIFT TRAINING COSTS ENTIRELY TO EMPLOYERS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT HUMAN RESOURCE POLICIES MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED.
NOW WE HAVE WE HAVE SITUATIONS HERE WHERE PEOPLE WHO, FOR EXAMPLE, GO TO WORK, WANT TO BE PARAMEDICS AND EMTS, WE PAY TUITION AND HELP ME OUT HERE. WE PAY TUITION FOR THEM TO BECOME CERTIFIED.
THEY HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THEN COME BACK AND WORK FOR THE COUNTY FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
IF THEY LEAVE WITHIN, IF THEY LEAVE BEFORE THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS OVER, THEN THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE,
[00:45:02]
SUPPOSEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING BACK. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. THERE'S A, THERE'S A CREDIT FOR EVERY LET'S SAY IT'S 24 MONTHS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK.1/24 OF THE TUITION IS IN EFFECT FORGIVEN, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT IF AFTER ONE YEAR YOU DECIDE TO LEAVE, YOU WOULD OWE 50% OF WHATEVER THE COUNTY HAD PAID ON YOUR BEHALF.
SO IT IT GOES DOWN TO ZERO AFTER THE 28 MONTHS, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT JUST PARAMEDICS, SO IT'S ANY, WE HAVE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR.
CDL AND. CDLS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS. SO IT'S BEEN A POLICY THAT WE AND I THINK SOME OTHER COUNTIES AND THE AND THE REASON IS THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE ARE CONSTANTLY IN A RECRUITMENT AND RETAIN MODE FOR CATEGORIES TRUCK DRIVERS, PARAMEDICS, EMTS. SO I THINK TAKE A POSITION ON THAT ONE YET.
MACO, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK. I THINK THEY OPPOSED THIS BILL.
OPPOSED? ALRIGHT. I'D MAKE A MOTION TO SEND A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO HOUSE BILL 203.
SIX. SORRY. 203. 203. SO. OKAY. MOTION SECOND.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM. BUT WE TRY TO, WE TRIED TO GO THROUGH AND, AND YOU KNOW, REVIEW THESE, SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE.
IF IT'S A, IF IT'S AN IMPACT, IF IT'S A BILL THAT IMPACTS OTHER COUNTIES SPECIFICALLY, I'M NEVER GOING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A POSITION ON THOSE BILLS BECAUSE AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TO MAKE BILLS ENABLING.
AND I DON'T LIKE THE WORDS PROHIBIT. I DON'T LIKE IT PROHIBITING ANYBODY FROM DOING ANYTHING.
WE WANT ENABLING LEGISLATION. SO THAT'S THAT'S NORMALLY WHAT WE WHAT WE SHOOT FOR.
WE ARE ABOUT WHAT GEN QUARTER AWAY THROUGH I THERE'S THE THE DEADLINE FOR BILL DROPS IS MONDAY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A THE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT FROM WHAT I WHAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HERE, THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED ARE ARE LESS THAN THEY USUALLY ARE.
SO TRY TO KEEP EVERYBODY UPDATED. IF YOU WANT TO GO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC BILL, YOU WANT TO GO ONLINE. YOU CAN GO TO THE THERE'S A SITE YOU CAN GO TO AND REVIEW BILLS.
BE HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, TO TALK ABOUT IT AND BRING IT UP.
YOU KNOW, BUT AGAIN, THESE ARE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE LONG SESSIONS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A REAL THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE A REAL DISAGREEMENT ON THESE BILLS, AND IT MAINLY FALLS BETWEEN THE RURAL EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES AND WHAT THEY CALL THE BIG EIGHT COUNTIES. AND SO AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE CHARTER GOVERNMENTS IS THEY GET A HALF A VOTE BECAUSE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE GETS A VOTE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GETS A VOTE, SO THAT THOSE BILLS ARE ALWAYS KIND OF SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE COUNTIES.
SO INTERESTING PROCESS. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU EVER WANT TO SPEND AN EVENING, YOU KNOW, BEING ENTERTAINED BUT. SO WE SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUEST, THE DOG LICENSING.
AND THERE WAS, WHAT WAS THE OTHER? LIQUOR? I THINK WE HAD IT.
DID WE HAVE A LIQUOR BILL INTO THE INSPECTION? OH, YEAH. CORRECTION OF YEAH, THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE ALCOHOL INSPECTIONS.
OKAY. SO WE SUPPORTED THEM. HOW ABOUT A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION OF HIGHWAY USER REVENUE? I THINK THERE'S TESTAMENT. HAVE WE ALREADY SENT THAT? THAT IS A THAT IS A STRONG SUPPORT POSITION FROM MACO.
I MAKE A MOTION TO SEND LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE THREE BILLS.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF YOU KNOW, I THINK LAST.
YEAH. I'M SORRY. YES. I. THE BURFORD, DANNY, I SENT YOU
[00:50:06]
INFORMATION. I KNOW YOU'RE DISSECTING THAT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT A 200 MILLION SHIFT TO THE COUNTIES FROM THE BURFORD BILL.SO FAR, THERE'S ONE BILL THAT I REALLY WANT TO LOOK INTO.
AND I TALKED WITH OUR HEALTH OFFICER, ROBIN CAYHALL, ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT'S THE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT REQUIREMENT.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THAT COULD BE A POTENTIALLY VERY EXPENSIVE BILL TO THE COUNTIES.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MAYBE TRY TO HAVE ROBIN SET IN ON OUR CALL TOMORROW OR THURSDAY.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE AN OUTPATIENT. WE DO IT THROUGH A REGIONAL.
MID-SHORE REGIONAL, I THINK WE DO IT THROUGH A REGIONAL CLINIC.
SO THERE IS A BILL IN THAT WILL REQUIRE EACH COUNTY TO DO IT AND NOT DO NOT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. THAT WOULD WOULD WOULD REQUIRE.
YEAH. I GUESS I'LL JUST HIT REAL QUICK ON THE DISCUSSION THAT YOU'VE PROBABLY SIMILARLY HAVE HAD WITH ROBIN K HALL, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD REQUIRE EACH COUNTY TO FUND THE OUTPATIENT.
SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
SO IF WE AGREED THAT, HEY, WE WERE FINE WITH XYZ COMPANY DOING THAT FOR THE FOR US REGARDLESS WE WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE TO FUND THAT EVENTUALLY UP TO 100%. SO WE COULD EITHER CHOOSE TO DO IT AND FUND IT, OR WE COULD GET A BILL TO FUND IT THROUGH A THIRD PARTY.
SO RIGHT NOW THE STATE IS FUNDING THAT THROUGH THE, MY UNDERSTANDING, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO AGAIN, PASSING THAT ON TO COUNTIES. SO IT'S A SHIFT TO THE COUNTIES.
YEAH. WE DON'T HAVE A FISCAL NOTE ON THAT. I DO NOT AT THIS TIME.
NO. AND THEN JUST GENERALLY ON THE BRFA, I KNOW A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WILL PROBABLY COME TUESDAY WHEN WE PRESENT THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, BUT SOME OF THE BIG HITS WE HAVE NOW, I THINK WE'VE MENTIONED PUBLICLY THE DISPARITY GRANT, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $770,000 REDUCTION IN THAT GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FOR BEING A DISPARITY COUNTY.
YES. SO, OKAY. WE'RE RICHER. THANKS. CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE'RE RICHER THAN WE WERE. [LAUGHS] YEAH, EXACTLY.
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE STATE, 75% AVERAGE.
THE REST OF THE STATE? YES, SIR. AND THEN THE OTHER BIG ONE TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT.
SO IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR TWO YEARS AGO AND FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT $685,000 FROM THE STATE IN A TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT TO SUPPORT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO TEACHER RETIREMENT.
THAT WAS CUT IN HALF LAST YEAR. SO THIS YEAR WE ARE CUT TO ZERO.
YEP. WE RAN IT ON HARD TIMES WHEN GOVERNOR O'MALLEY WAS IN OFFICE.
SO THEY FELT BAD FOR US DISPARITY GRANT COUNTIES.
AND THEY GAVE US A SUPPLEMENT. YES, SIR. TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DID THAT CHANGE OVER THE TIME OR WAS THAT JUST A FLAT RATE? NO, THE LIABILITY INCREASED. CORRECT. THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BUDGET HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME.
RIGHT. NUMBER ACROSS THE BOARD, EVEN THOUGH THE LIABILITY EVEN THOUGH THE LIABILITY DOES CHANGE.
AND THEN. SO THAT SUPPLEMENT NEVER CHANGED. IT STAYED THE SAME.
CORRECT. AND NOW THEY SEE FIT TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
DO AWAY WITH IT. AND THEN ON THE OTHER END, THE EXPENSE SIDE WE DO HAVE AN INCREASED CONTRIBUTION OF THE RETIREMENT NOT JUST THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
LIBRARY. AND LIBRARY HAS A NEW ONE IN THERE AS WELL.
IT DOES. AND THEN IF THEY GET NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED, THERE'S ANOTHER THAT INCREASES THEIR SALARIES, ANOTHER 10,000. AND THE PENSION LIABILITY IS BASED ON THE THREE AVERAGE THREE HIGHEST YEAR SALARY.
SO NOW IT'S FULLY DUMPED ON US. WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE THE SALARIES.
WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE THE EXTRA TEN GRAND. IF YOU GET A WORTHLESS CERTIFICATION FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD, AND EVERY EDUCATOR WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS A WORTHLESS CERTIFICATION.
[00:55:04]
I'M MARRIED TO ONE. I KNOW. $10,000 ADDITIONAL PAY TO VIDEO YOURSELF AND TURN IT INTO SOMEBODY.YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES, I'M TELLING YOU WHAT IT DOES.
IT TAKES AWAY FROM THEIR ATTENTION ON PUTTING THEIR LESSON PLANS TOGETHER AND TEACHING THE STUDENTS NEEDS INSTEAD, UNTIL THEY GET THE CERTIFICATION, THEY WORK ON PUTTING LESSON PLANS TOGETHER THAT MAKE THEM LOOK GOOD, WHERE THEY CAN VIDEO THEMSELVES AND TURN IT IN AND GET THEIR CERTIFICATION.
IT IS THE BIGGEST DEBACLE IN THE ENTIRE BLUEPRINT AND IT IS BAD.
YOU PAY FOR IT. AND LOOKING BACK, I KNOW, COMMISSIONER PORTER I THINK PRIOR TO THE TWO GENTLEMEN HERE THIS WAS A DISCUSSION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WITH THE INCREASED PAY FOR THE TEACHERS THAT WAS INITIALLY SUBMITTED IN THE BLUEPRINT AND THE THE SECONDARY EFFECTS THAT IT WOULD HAVE ON TEACHER RETIREMENT WITH THE INCREASED PAY. AND AT THE TIME, WE WERE CONSTANTLY TOLD, WELL, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BLUEPRINT AND STATE AND LOCAL ALLOCATION.
SO IT'S COME FULL CIRCLE NOW AND WE'RE GETTING OUR INCREASED SHARE FROM THAT.
I WILL SAY IT'S A LOT. YOU DON'T HAVE A NUMBER ON THAT YET.
IT'S A LOT TO READ THROUGH BETWEEN THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHT VOLUME ONE, VOLUME TWO, ALL OF THE NEW BILLS THAT ARE DROPPING, WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING PINGED OF ALL THE CHANGES THERE.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE A, I THINK A FIRM UNDERSTANDING ON A LOT OF THE POINTS.
SO YOU DON'T YOU DON'T KNOW THE TEACHER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOSING THE 325,000.
YEAH, DEFINITELY LOSING THE THE SUPPLEMENT. THE DISPARITY IS IN THERE.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INCREASE IN EXPENSES, I HAVE A FISCAL NOTE ON SOME OF THOSE AND HAVE A NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE I'M STILL MISSING THE LIBRARY BECAUSE THE PORTION OF IT AND THE WORDING IS A LITTLE, I SAY UNIQUE BECAUSE THE IT'S 50% OF THE INCREASE ABOVE PRIOR YEAR.
SO IT'S I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE INCREASE IS, WHAT HALF OF THAT IS.
YEP. SO DLS ALWAYS PUTS OUT THIS COUNTY REVENUE SOURCES.
YES. BREAKDOWN A YEARLY BREAKDOWN OF THAT. AND ON THERE IT IT ALWAYS SAYS, YOU KNOW CAROLINE COUNTY I CAN'T ZOOM IN ON IT. EYES ARE GETTING BAD. GETS LIKE 50 OVER 50, LIKE 51%.
WE ARE THE HIGHEST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AS FAR AS COUNTY REVENUES SOURCE FROM THE STATE, IS THAT CORRECT? I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I KNOW WE HAD TALKED PRIOR AND I LOOKED THROUGH THE REPORT, AND IT'S WEIRD THAT THEY HAVE THAT BROKEN DOWN LIKE THAT BECAUSE, WELL, BECAUSE IT INCLUDES EDUCATION SPENDING OF ED, EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER COMES TO THE COUNTY THE WAY DLS REPORTS IT IS A SOURCE OF REVENUE.
YES. IS FROM THE STATE. YES. YEAH. WE ARE WE ARE THE HIGHEST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE ACCORDING TO DLS 50.8% OF CAROLINE COUNTY REVENUE SOURCE THIS IS IN FY 24 CAME FROM STATE GRANTS.
AND THAT THAT LINE BUDGET LINE ITEM I THINK IS WORDED AS AID TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
CORRECT. BUT 97% OF THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. WELL, LIKE I SAID, WHEN WE GO OVER THE BUDGET TUESDAY, YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE I MEAN, BY OUR REQUIREMENT BREAKING OUT FEDERAL, STATE FUNDED GRANTS AND PROGRAMS AND THE STATE PORTION HERE, DISPARITY GRANT BEING THE LARGEST, WHICH IS, AGAIN, GOING TO BE CUT A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET.
AGAIN, GENERAL FUND IS REALLY OPERATING ON PRIMARILY PROPERTY TAXES AND INCOME TAX AND SUPPLEMENTED WITH A FEW OTHER SMALL GRANTS AND PROGRAMS. SO THAT NUMBER OFF THE CUFF IS VERY CONFUSING TO SEE, BUT IT REALLY IS THE FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK IT'S ON PURPOSE. THAT IT? YEAH. YEAH.
YEAH. YEP. SO. ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT OVERVIEW, DANNY.
YEAH. ONE MORE BILL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST NIGHT.
SENATE BILL 569, THE ONLINE DATA PRIVACY BILL.
REMEMBER THAT? THAT'S WHERE OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WHO'S SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE.
[01:00:06]
AND IF OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER GIVES THEM INCORRECT INFORMATION, THE PUBLIC NOT ONLY IS THE COUNTY LIABLE, BUT THEY, PIA OFFICER IS PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR GIVING OUT THE WRONG INFORMATION.SO THAT'S SENATE BILL 569. SO WE NEED TO GET OUR LOBBYISTS ON THAT ONE RIGHT AWAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO IF EVERYBODY IS NOT CONFUSED ENOUGH, WE'LL KEEP GOING.
SO THAT'S HER. THAT'S HER. THAT'S HER FAULT [LAUGHS] I BLAME HER, THAT'S WHY WE GET LESS DISPARITY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I GUESS WE'LL MOVE ALONG.
AND A LIQUOR BOARD LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER.
ANY QUESTIONS? I MOVE, WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
COMMISSIONER PORTER BROUGHT IT UP BASED ON A CONVERSATION HE HAD HAD.
SO JUST AN UPDATE. I DID SUBMIT THE APPLICATION, HOWEVER, THE STATE GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS OFFICE SYSTEM IS DOWN SO IT WOULDN'T REALLY TAKE IT. AND THEY SAID THEY THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THOSE APPOINTMENTS UNTIL APRIL ANYWAY.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT FIXED AND IN THERE BY APRIL.
BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I DID, I DID SUBMIT IT.
AND THEN THE SECOND UPDATE REALLY MORE FOR DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX AND ATTORNEY BARROLL REGARDING DAYSPRING, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND GIVE AN UPDATE, THE ONLY UPDATE I HAVE ON DAYSPRING IS THE PURCHASER IS LOOKING FOR ANY EXISTING SURVEYS THAT WE HAVE, AND I'LL BE SENDING THEM THOSE DOCUMENTS TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING ON A NEW SURVEY FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO YEAH. AND I THINK BETWEEN STEWART AND I REALLY NO NEWS ON PROGRESS WITH DCD.
WE HAD A COMMUNICATION MIDDLE OF LAST WEEK BACK FROM DCD, ESSENTIALLY RELAYING THAT THEY HAD THE REQUEST FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE AND THAT THEY WOULD LOOK TO HAVE IT TO US BY LAST FRIDAY.
I BELIEVE MR. BARROLL HAS REACHED OUT TO THEM BECAUSE WE ARE NOW PAST LAST FRIDAY, AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING OR MY EMAIL, I HAVE NOT SEEN A RESPONSE BACK FROM DCD ON THE FOLLOW UP.
SO WE'RE STILL WAITING. THE BUYER HAS ALSO REQUESTED A STATUS UPDATE WHICH MR. BARROLL PROVIDED. WAITING ON DKD FOR. SO AS WE KIND OF REPORTED OUT LAST WEEK, WAITING ON DCD, UNFORTUNATELY. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD TO THAT? THEY HAD PRE-APPROVED THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE, AND I DIDN'T CHANGE A WORD OF IT AND MADE THAT CLEAR TO THEM.
SO IT SHOULD BE. AND NOBODY'S EXERCISED THE RIGHT OF FIRST PURCHASE.
SO MAYBE IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
MR. PULVER, I THINK, WAS SOMEBODY WHO HAD TO BE IN APPROVING IT.
THE FOLKS OTHER THAN MR. PULVER WERE THE ONES I WAS IN TOUCH WITH.
AND MAYBE HE'S JUST BEEN TIED UP SINCE THE SNOW AND ICE AND EVERYTHING, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I'LL PING HIM AGAIN TODAY. YES. AND JUST THE ONLY OTHER UPDATE, OBVIOUSLY, I'D REACHED OUT TO YOU THREE GENTLEMEN LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE PIPE SLASH SPRINKLER BUSTING IN ONE OF THE UNITS THERE.
WHEN THEY WENT ON SCENE, IT WAS PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS WATER FLOWING FROM SOMEWHERE.
IT WAS IDENTIFIED SHUT OFF. DELMARVA POWER CAME OUT, DISCONNECTED THE VACANT UNIT AS WELL.
I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE THE LAUNDRY SLASH MAINTENANCE ROOM THAT WAS ALSO AFFECTED.
SO GOT AHOLD OF EAST COAST LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE OUT THERE WITH THEIR MAINTENANCE STAFF AND ARE CURRENTLY IN TOUCH WITH THEM LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE ONCE THEY DO A FULL ASSESSMENT TODAY.
WE HAVE NOTIFIED OUR PURCHASING COORDINATOR, WHO OVERSEES INSURANCE AS WELL FOR THAT PROPERTY AND WILL MOST LIKELY BE A COORDINATED EFFORT BETWEEN EAST COAST AND OURSELVES TO GO THROUGH AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND REPAIR OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS THAT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT.
[01:05:06]
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE HEAT ON IN THE AT THAT AREA? MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS ONE OF THE SPRINKLER HEADS THAT WERE IN THE ATTIC, SO IT WAS ABOVE A VACANT UNIT IN THE ATTIC.I'M UNSURE OF IF IT FROZE, IF SOMETHING HIT IT, WHAT THE MALFUNCTION OF THE THE HEAD WAS, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT, BUT THE. HE PROBABLY WASN'T ON HIGH ENOUGH IN THE VACANT UNIT, BUT.
SO WE'RE YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
THIS IS, THIS IS A WONDERFUL IT'S A WONDERFUL BUSINESS.
YES YES. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS WE NEED TO PING DCD.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO US BY FRIDAY AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET. OKAY.
AND, DANNY, WHILE YOU'RE THERE, COULD YOU KIND OF JUST BRIEFLY UPDATE US ON THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY? YES. COMMISSIONER PORTER LAST WEEK RELAYED THAT ON ONE OF THE STATEWIDE MACRO CALLS THAT THE OFFICE OF STATEWIDE EQUITY, WHO OVERSEES THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND, THE CANNABIS SALES TAX MONEY THAT'S BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE COUNTIES AND BALTIMORE CITY. AND ESSENTIALLY THEY RELAYED THAT THEY WOULD BE REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE WITH AN UPDATE OR SOME DISCUSSION.
WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE OSC LOOKING FOR CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE COUNTY.
SO STACEY, OUR GRANT COORDINATOR IN MY OFFICE, WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK THE CALL, GAVE THEM HER AND MYSELF'S CONTACT INFORMATION AND PINGED THEM WITH, HEY, WE HEAR THAT YOU GUYS WERE KIND OF INSTRUCTED TO REACH OUT.
CAN WE EXPECT A FOLLOW UP ON THE DISCUSSION THAT ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS HAD WITH YOUR STAFF? THE INDIVIDUAL ON THE PHONE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY CONVERSATION THAT HAD OCCURRED AND KNEW NOTHING OF IT, BUT THEY WOULD RELAY THAT TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WHO WAS OUT OF THE OFFICE.
IT SOUNDED LIKE, FOR SOME EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, SO IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE LEAVING THEM A NOTE.
AND FROM THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE PEEP OUT OF THE OFFICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND I LISTED ALL THE DATES THAT YOU HAD REACHED OUT TO THEM.
AND SO THE ANSWER YOU GOT WAS WHAT? JUST SPEND THE MONEY AND WE'LL WORRY ABOUT IT LATER? WELL, IT THE CONVERSATION WENT A LITTLE DEEPER AND THE INDIVIDUAL SAID, WELL, WHAT'S THE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE HAVING? STACEY RELAYED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A COUNTY THAT HAS A DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREA OR SERVICE THEIR DEFINITION OF LOW INCOME, WE WERE UNABLE TO SPEND THE MONEY. THEY SEEMED VERY SURPRISED IN HEARING THAT.
AND WE'RE LIKE, WELL, JUST FIGURE OUT SOME PROGRAMS AND THINGS YOU GUYS WANT TO DO WITH THIS, AND WE'LL MAKE IT RIGHT IN THE END. AND I THINK MY OPINION, STACEY'S OPINION, AND I THINK THE THREE OF YOU AGREE.
I AM NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY THAT HAS RULES AND REGULATIONS ON IT THAT THEY HAVE NOT PUBLISHED YET, AND HOPE THAT THEY DON'T COME BACK AND GO, HEY, SORRY, BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE IT LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE NOT DOING ANY FIGURING IT OUT AND AND MAKING IT RIGHT AT THE END.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING THE STATE SAYS ANYWAY, SO I DON'T.
FROM WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME, THEY'RE INEPT OF EVERY DEPARTMENT THEY, THEY HAVE. SO I MEAN, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT LESS DISAPPOINTING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHO SAID, WE WILL GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT AND WE WILL GIVE YOU AND THEN BUT WE'RE NOT.
YEAH. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST, GENTLEMEN, THAT WE DON'T DO THE FIGURE IT OUT LATER.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT BURNING A HOLE IN MY POCKET.
NO. AND AGAIN WE ARE ACCOUNTING FOR IT AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
I AGREE. SO ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS.
GOOD. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
WE GO FIRST. SURE. I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF EVENTS OVER THE WEEKEND.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT AND ABOUT SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND THE NONPROFITS.
AND IT WAS VERY REFRESHING TO SEE ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE OUT DOING.
[01:10:04]
SO THAT'S ALL I GOT. OKAY. MR. PORTER. I THINK I'VE TALKED ENOUGH.AND I THINK I GAVE YOU SOME INFORMATION TODAY IN CASE ANYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THE FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS AND STUFF, JUST MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT GETTING PAID, RIGHT. YEAH.
OKAY. I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING. WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? OKAY. I DO NOT SEE ANYONE. WE DO HAVE AN ADVERTISED CLOSED SESSION UNDER MARYLAND CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS 335B1 TO CONVENE IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT PERFORMANCE, COMPENSATION OF ONE OR MORE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CLOSED SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? SO MOVED. MOTION TO SECOND. NEED A ROLL CALL? VOTE, COMMISSIONER. PORTER. AYE. MR. BREEDING AYE.
COMMISSIONER BARTZ. AYE. AND WE'LL TAKE A RECESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.