Jun 09, 2026 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:01:14]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JUNE 9TH, 2026 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE TO DO OUR INVOCATION THIS MORNING, SO WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

DURING THE JUNE 2ND, 2026 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS SUBSECTION 3-305B1,

[President Closed Session Report Out]

STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO DRAFT LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT TO BE APPROVED IN OPEN SESSION DURING THIS MEETING, THE JUNE 9TH, 2026 MEETING. ALL RIGHT. FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS, DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND STACY STEWART, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE WITH TWO PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS.

[Daniel Fox, Deputy Administrator, Stacy Seward, Deputy Director of Finance]

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I THINK STACY AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY.

BUT WE FEEL THIS ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THE REQUESTS AND DIRECTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED UP TO DATE IN ONE PACKAGE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, DANNY. SO, SIR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER PORTER, ABOUT THESE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS? I DON'T. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE HARD WORK AND PULLING ALL THIS TOGETHER.

I THINK THIS INCLUDES THE TAX DECREASE. AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

HOPEFULLY THAT'LL HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, INCREASE IN ASSESSMENTS TO PEOPLE.

BUT THIS HAS ALWAYS MADE A LOT EASIER WITH YOUR WORK AND PHONE CALLS AND VISITS TO THE OFFICE AND QUESTIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. SIR. MR. BARTZ.

NO, JUST THANK YOU AND THE STAFF FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

STACY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, DONE A GREAT JOB. YES.

DOING YOUR ABSENCE. AND THANK YOU, STACY. AND JUST WE DID THE BEST WE COULD ON THE TAX CREDIT.

YOU HOPE TO BE. NOT TAX CREDIT. THE TAX DEDUCTION.

COULD BE MORE. BUT HEY, IT'S WHAT WE COULD AFFORD AND.

YEAH, MAYBE TAKE IT. HELP SOME PEOPLE. DEFINITELY.

SO. OKAY. JUST WITH THAT, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2026-010. FISCAL YEAR 2027 AMENDMENT TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY

[• Resolution #2026-010 Fiscal Year 2027 Amendment to Caroline County Government Fee Schedule]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. I WILL ALSO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-011.

[00:05:04]

[• Resolution #2026-011 Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating & Capital Budgets]

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

GREAT. ALL RIGHT. ANOTHER BUDGET DONE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BOTH. OKAY. WE NOW HAVE A SCHEDULED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

[• Legislative Bill #2026-004, New Chapter 138 Property Maintenance—Rubbish & Garbage]

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

SO WE HAVE THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-044, AND I WOULD TURN IT OVER TO MR. BARROLL. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

YES, WE ARE HERE FOR A. OH. SORRY. A THIRD READING WITH POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-004 WHICH IS AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CHAPTER 138 OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, ENTITLED PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, RUBBISH AND GARBAGE, PROHIBITING THE ACCUMULATION OF RUBBISH AND GARBAGE ON EXTERIOR PROPERTY AND PREMISES, AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND CODES TO SERVE AN ORDER TO ABATE A VIOLATION, PROVIDING CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA, PROVIDING FOR AN ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, INCLUDING FINES AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER 138 AND PROVIDING THAT THIS TITLE BE DEEMED A FAIR SUMMARY OF THIS PUBLIC LOCAL LAW FOR ALL PURPOSES. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. BARROLL. CRYSTAL, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US JUST A SYNOPSIS ON WHAT THE CHANGES WE MADE.

RECENT CHANGES THAT WERE MADE? ABSOLUTELY. SO WE REMOVED THE ONE SECTION THAT PERTAINED TO THE BURNING CHAPTER.

SO THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO BURNING IN THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL.

AND WHAT THIS DOES IS DEFINE RUBBISH AND GARBAGE.

IT DEFINES WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROPERLY STORING IT AND HOW IT CAN BE STORED.

IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND THE TIME FRAME THAT WOULD BE ALLOTTED TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION.

WE ALSO HAVE PROVISIONS FOR REPEAT VIOLATIONS IN THERE AS WELL, BUT BASICALLY IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE STORAGE OF GARBAGE OR RUBBISH UNLESS IT'S IN APPROVED CONTAINERS. AND IF NOT, AND WE RECEIVE A REPORT OF IT, THEN WE WOULD ISSUE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, GIVING THEM TEN DAYS TO CLEAN IT UP. IF IT'S NOT CLEANED UP, WE WOULD MOVE TO A CIVIL CITATION.

AND IF THE VIOLATION REOCCURS WITHIN THREE YEARS, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A REPEAT OFFENSE AND FOLLOW THE PROVISIONS FOR REPEAT OFFENSE, WHICH IS A HIGHER FINE AND A SHORTER TIME FRAME.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGES OR COMMENTS? I DON'T. OKAY. MR. BARTZ? NO, IT LOOKS PRETTY TO THE POINT.

YEAH. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD BABY STEP INTO RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE AND PROTECTION OF NEIGHBORS.

YOU KNOW, WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON EVERYONE WHO, YOU KNOW, IS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.

I MEAN, THIS WILL DEFINITELY TARGET THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CREATING A NUISANCE AND CREATING A MAJOR ISSUE AROUND THE COUNTY.

SO WITH NO OTHER DISCUSSION, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENACT THIS TODAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2026-004? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

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

THANK YOU. NEXT UP WE HAVE A DISCUSSION FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2026-005.

[• Legislative Bill #2026-005, New Chapter 124 Open-Air Burning Regulations & Authorization for Burning Ban]

CHAPTER 124 WILL CONSIST OF TWO ARTICLES. ARTICLE 1 AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ADOPT AN OPEN AIR BURNING BAN IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTY OR

[00:10:03]

PROVIDES FOR NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF THE ADOPTION OF AN OPEN AIR BURNING BAN.

AND PROVIDES FOR A RIGHT OF ENTRY TO EXTINGUISH A FIRE STARTED IN VIOLATION OF AN OPEN AIR BURNING BAN.

ARTICLE 2 PROVIDES FOR JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER 124 AND FOR CIVIL PENALTIES.

BASICALLY, THIS VERSION IS A REDUCED VERSION OF THE BILL THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN DISCUSSING.

RIGHT. IT REMOVES. THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE 2, WHICH WAS STRICTLY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF ANY OUTDOOR BURNING WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED.

SO.

THIS BILL SIMPLY NOW, IT JUST GIVES THE COMMISSIONERS THE AUTHORITY TO INSTITUTE A BURN BAN DURING CONDITIONS OF SEVERE DROUGHT.

CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? SO THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM. THIS CAN'T SERVE AS A THIRD READING.

WHAT ARE WE THINKING HERE? WELL WE HAVE UNFORTUNATELY AN EXTENDED NOTICE PERIOD TO THE PUBLIC.

OKAY. BY STATE STATUTE, YOU CANNOT ENACT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FIRE PREVENTION CODE WITHOUT GIVING ADDITIONAL NOTICE PERIODS TO THE PUBLIC. OKAY. IT'S ONE OF THOSE UNUSUAL LITTLE QUIRKS.

AND WE HAVE SCHEDULED, OBVIOUSLY TODAY THE DISCUSSION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED VERSION, AND WE WOULD ADVERTISE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE CONSIDERING THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.

WE WILL ADVERTISE THAT IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON SATURDAY THE 13TH OF JUNE, SATURDAY THE 20TH AND SATURDAY THE 27TH.

THIS IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE. RIGHT. SO YOUR ABILITY TO ENACT IT ON A LEGISLATIVE DAY, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE SUMMER CALENDAR TAKES US ALL THE WAY TO JULY 21ST FOR THE THIRD READING, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND AND ENACT AT THAT TIME.

OKAY. AND I WOULD SAY THE CONDITION IS RIGHT NOW THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE A BURN BAN IN EFFECT, RIGHT? YEAH. I MEAN, THIS IS ABOUT AS DRY AS IT CAN GET.

SO. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT CALENDAR.

YOU GUYS GOOD WITH THAT? I'M GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET IT ON THE FIRST AVAILABLE LEGISLATIVE DAY TO GET THIS ENACTED.

AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION, AND PLEASE ANYONE WHO COVERS THIS, PLEASE EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS A BURN BAN DURING CONDITIONS OF SEVERE DROUGHT.

IT WOULD GIVE US THE AUTHORITY. NOT AT ANY TIME.

SO CERTAIN CONDITIONS WILL HAVE TO BE RIGHT IN ORDER FOR US TO INSTITUTE THE BURN BAN.

SO. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? OKAY. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda]

I DO. YEP. THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE HABITAT FOR HOME REPAIRS. I DON'T SEE THE LETTER IN HERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HELPING HOMEOWNERS. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN PRIOR YEARS THIS HAS BEEN DONE. I THINK IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS SOME PROVISION IN THERE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE HOME AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE DONE, BEFORE THEY CAN SELL THE HOUSE.

THE CONCERN IS SOMEBODY WILL, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR HOUSE FIXED UP AND THEN TURN AROUND AND FLIP IT.

AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I'M PREPARED TO SEE DONE.

SO I DON'T SEE THE LETTER. BUT DO WE HAVE THE LETTER FROM THEM? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS.

WHO IS THE PERSON THAT.

I'M FINE WITH THE PROGRAM, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT IF THEY CAN HELP, BUT THIS HAS CROPPED UP.

[00:15:03]

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD GO IN, YOU OWN THE HOME, REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S SAYING, OH, I'M GOING TO SELL IT, MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME PROVISIONS. IF THERE ARE, FINE. IF THEY'RE NOT, THEY NEED TO ADD THOSE PROVISIONS.

SO IF YOU CAN GET ME CONTACT INFORMATION FOR HER, I'M FINE WITH REACHING OUT TO HER DIRECTLY.

I DON'T KNOW HER, BUT THAT'S IT. I MEAN, IT'S, A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THEM TO ACCESS DECD FUNDING.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE DECD HAS STIPULATIONS TO THAT EFFECT, DON'T THEY? THAT YOU HAVE TO OWN. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, IN THE PAST, THEY DID NOT.

IT HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED. THAT PROVISION HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED LOCALLY BECAUSE.

AND THE PROBLEM THAT THAT WE ALWAYS HAD. AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE, IF YOU SAY THAT THE HOMEOWNER HAS TO OWN THE HOUSE FOR TEN YEARS, WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE TEN YEARS FROM NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERSON, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEMS COME.

DO YOU WANT TO PULL IT OFF, PENDING FURTHER INFORMATION? YEAH, WELL, I DON'T MIND SENDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROVISIONS ARE IN THERE.

IF THEY ARE, FINE, IF THEY'RE. BUT IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN I THINK THEY SHOULD BE.

SO I'M FINE WITH REACHING OUT TO HER DIRECTLY, SO.

SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? I'M FINE ON THE CONDITION.

YOU WANT TO PULL IT OFF AND MAKE THAT AN ACTION ITEM, AND THEN WE'LL ADD.

OKAY. WE CAN. ALL RIGHT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHOPTANK LETTER OF SUPPORT AND MOVE THAT TO AN ACTION ITEM. WE'LL DISCUSS. PENDING CLARIFICATION OF THE DETAILS.

YEAH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AFTER WE APPROVE.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA THEN.

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

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. IT SAYS HERE IN THE LETTER THAT.

REAL QUICK. YEAH. ACTION. SO LET'S ADDRESS THIS ACTION ITEM WHICH WOULD BE THE LETTER OF SUPPORT.

GO AHEAD, FRANK. IT SAYS THIS IS FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN POORLY BUILT AND AGING STRUCTURES WITH THE MOST SEVERELY IMPACTED BEING SENIOR CITIZENS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES. SAFETY, DISEASE MANAGEMENT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE LETTER OF SUPPORT TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHOPTANK WITH THE STATEMENT IN THE LETTER. IF THE PROGRAM REQUIRES THE BENEFICIARY TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS? I WOULD SAY AT LEAST TEN YEARS. THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS LETTER ABOUT.

THIS IS A COOKIE CUTTER LETTER THAT EVERYBODY FILLS OUT.

AND IT'S JUST. SO WE'LL HAVE TO. JUST FILL IN THE COUNTY IS ALL YOU DO.

RIGHT. BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP OR HOW LONG.

IT JUST SAYS THAT IT'S EARNING UNDER 80% OF THE AVERAGE INCOME NEED ASSISTANCE AND THEN SENIOR CITIZENS ON FIXED INCOMES. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT IT ADDRESSES, WHO QUALIFIES.

I'LL ADD THAT. YEAH. YEAH. MAYBE ADD LIKE, UNLESS IN THE CASE OF SEVERE ILLNESS OR DEATH OR SOMETHING.

AND WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS IS, WHEN THIS FUNDING IS GIVEN, THEN IT'S NORMALLY UP TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH REGULATIONS.

SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO. I'LL REACH OUT TO HER.

CONTACT INFORMATION IS HERE. I'LL TRY TO REACH OUT TO HER.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE IN. ANY REGULATIONS THAT.

NO, IT WOULD FALL UNDER A HOUSING AUTHORITY. OKAY.

AND THIS PROGRAM WAS BROUGHT UP SOME YEARS AGO BY THE CAROLINE COUNTY HABITAT.

AND I RAISED THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHO WOULD MONITOR THIS, BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT EVERY TRANSACTION AND,

[00:20:06]

IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS.

SO I MEAN, THAT'S THE CONCERN. I'M ALL FOR FIXING UP THE HOUSES.

AND I THINK THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THAT WAS DONE MANY YEARS AGO AND IT DID WORK.

BUT I'LL REACH OUT, BUT I'M NOT IN OPPOSITION TO SENDING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROVISION IS IN THERE. VERY WELL MAY BE.

BUT HOPE IT IS. OKAY. SO I MADE A MOTION TO SEND THE LETTER WITH THAT ADDED STATEMENT. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER BARTZ SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

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

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. I ONLY HAVE ONE THING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON TODAY.

[County Administrators Report]

COOL. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNTY COMMISSIONER URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

COMMISSIONER BARTZ. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.

COMMISSIONER PORTER. I HAVE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF JUST TO RAISE, AND STEWART, THIS MAY INVOLVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I STILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THESE ABANDONED BUILDINGS THAT WE. HAVE PARTICULARLY IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, THE BUILDING ON MEETINGHOUSE ROAD IS LOOKING WORSE AND WORSE.

I WAS TALKING WITH A COMMISSIONER FROM ANOTHER COUNTY.

THEY HAVE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON ABANDONED BUILDINGS.

[Commissioners Open Discussion]

MY CONCERN IS THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING HAD THE BUILDING ON THE MARKET, THEY WERE OFFERED THE PRICE. NOW, THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.

THEY WERE OFFERED THE PRICE. AND THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, NO, WE WANT MORE.

IS THERE A WAY? I MEAN, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF HAVING ADDITIONAL TAXING AUTHORITY ON BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABANDONED OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE. I MEAN, IS THAT POSSIBLE TO DO? I'M NOT SURE I CAN GIVE YOU AN ANSWER SITTING HERE RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

I DO KNOW THAT YOU CAN REQUIRE VACANT BUILDINGS TO BE REGISTERED AND TO CHARGE A FEE FOR THE REGISTRATION.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THE NEIGHBORING COUNTY HAD AN ATTORNEY THAT DID SOME RESEARCH BEFORE THEY ENACTED A TAX ON THOSE BUILDINGS.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET YOURSELF IN LITIGATION OVER YOUR AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE AN EXTRA TAX LIKE THAT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT.

DO YOU KNOW WHICH COUNTY IT WAS THAT HAS DONE THIS? I'LL TELL YOU. OKAY. BECAUSE I MEAN, WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ENACT ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST. IT'S IRRITATING TO KEEP SEEING THESE BUILDINGS SITTING THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, REPOSSESSED BY BANKS.

WE HAVE BUILDINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP SITTING HERE AND SITTING THERE AND SITTING THERE. AND THERE'S DOESN'T SEEM TO BE.

I WANT SOME WAY THAT WE CAN FORCE THE PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION TO AT LEAST BRING THESE BUILDINGS UP TO A STANDARD THAT YOU DON'T DREAD DRIVING BY THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

IN THE PIPELINE, CRYSTAL AND I HAVE, I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY NUMBER TWO RIGHT NOW, IS THE VACANT BUILDING REGISTRATION ORDINANCE, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, STEWART, GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.

THE REGISTRATION, DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE A CODE, GUIDELINES AS TO HOW THOSE VACANT BUILDINGS NEED TO BE MAINTAINED? WOULD WE HAVE THE ABILITY, OR IS IT JUST STRICTLY A REGISTRATION OF THOSE VACANT PROPERTIES? WELL, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW. AND THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT.

[00:25:06]

SO YES, IT WILL HAVE A COMPONENT LIKE THAT. THE WAY I'M DRAFTING IT, IT'S GOING TO APPLY TO BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A POLICY DECISION BY THE COMMISSIONERS AS TO WHETHER YOU WANT TO INCLUDE BOTH TYPES OF PROPERTIES, BUT I'M AT LEAST STARTING WITH THAT PREMISE THAT IT'S MANDATORY REGISTRATION WITH PLANNING AND CODES.

IF THEY DON'T REGISTER, THEY CAN RECEIVE A CITATION, A NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE A VACANT BUILDING AND YOU BETTER REGISTER IT.

AND AFTER THAT, IT CAN GO INTO A CITATION AND A FINE.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A GOOD EFFECT ON THINGS LIKE BANKS THAT HAVE FORECLOSED AND ARE JUST LETTING THE PROPERTY SIT THERE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ANY MONEY INTO IT.

AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EVEN CONTACTED A REALTOR TO LISTED FOR SALE.

SO THIS WILL BE A WAKE UP CALL IF YOU'VE GOT WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE AN ABANDONED BUILDING SITTING IN CAROLINE COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND WE WILL BE ON YOU ABOUT THAT.

SO I'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE TAXATION. YOU AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER PORTER, LATER, BUT WE'LL HIT THEM WITH EVERYTHING WE CAN. WELL I KNOW.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS I'VE LEARNED A FEW LEGAL TERMS. SOMETHING LIKE AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE IS SOMETHING THAT IS JUST LEFT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO COME.

AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME ANECDOTAL. THERE IS SOME ANECDOTAL INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIDS THAT ARE GOING OUT THERE. I NOTICED THE WINDOWS ARE BROKEN OUT OF THAT BUILDING. IT IS A PROBLEM FOR GREAT PLACE TO GO HANG AROUND.

SO BUT IF WE CAN EXPLORE THAT ON AT LEAST THE VACANT BUILDINGS, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, I'M FINE WITH THAT AS WELL, SO. IF WE CAN EXPLORE THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THOSE BUILDINGS ALSO HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE VALUE OF THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.

OKAY, THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ROBIN, I HAVE ONE QUICK THING. I'VE BEEN MEANING TO CALL YOU FOR A COUPLE DAYS ABOUT.

I KEEP GETTING CALLS ABOUT A MAJOR POTHOLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF DION AND JONES CORNER.

OFF, LIKE TO THE RIGHT SIDE. I THINK IT'S FROM VEHICLES TURNING RIGHT OFF OF JONES CORNER ONTO DION RIGHT BY CONCORD CHURCH.

SO THERE'S A PRETTY BIG HOLE THERE ON THAT TURN.

AND MARK, IS THERE AN UPDATE ON ANY STATEWIDE BURN BAN WITH THE DROUGHT CONDITION OR IS IT. IT'S COUNTY BY COUNTY? YEAH.

RIGHT. YEAH. HAS STATE OF DELAWARE DONE ANYTHING? NO? NOT YET.

IT'S A BURN BAN THAT AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO EFFECT? OKAY. GOTCHA.

STARTED. YEAH. RIGHT. A CONTROLLED BURNING CAN TURN INTO AN UNCONTROLLED BURNING REAL FAST THESE DAYS. YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS ALL I HAD.

SO WE ARE NOW AT OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. DO NOT SEE ANYONE. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION SCHEDULED UNDER MARYLAND CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 3-305B4. THE BOARD WILL MEET IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO THE PROPOSAL OF A BUSINESS OR INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION SEEKING TO EXPAND OR LOCATE WITHIN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND TO DISCUSS MATTERS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATION, SALE OR BONDING PROCESS INVOLVING COUNTY PROPERTY.

SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THAT PURPOSE.

[00:30:05]

COMMISSIONER PORTER. AYE. COMMISSIONER BREEDING.

AYE. COMMISSIONER BARTZ. AYE. OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.