Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 4 Jan 2022

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From YouTube: Board of County Commissioners Open Session - Most Recent Guidance from Governor Hogan and the State

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A

Okay, good morning, it's uh I'm, commissioner, ed russian. It's january 4th we're about ready to.

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Start an open session, it's a relatively short notice, open session uh with regards to the impact.

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Our governor has uh shared with us over the last few days during his press conferences, we'll we'll.

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Gavel in in just a couple minutes we're waiting on one to come on board. I apologize for the.

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Delay but just give us a couple of minutes and we will start no later than uh 9 55 or 10 55. thanks.

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Okay, once again, it's commissioner ed rothstein apologize for the delay.

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um As always, let us start for the uh with the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.

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And then we'll get right into the meet of uh the discussion for this morning, thanks.

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I pledge allegiance to the plight of the united states of america.

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And to the republic, and one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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Okay, as I shared a couple minutes ago, I appreciate my colleagues and team, especially.

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uh Chris, who is managing most of this, uh to get us on a very short notice, open session.

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The intent of this open session is to share the highlights from what our governor has.

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Done over the last few days, with his uh recent press release and then this morning at 10 o'clock,.

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With his press release and proclamations, there's uh also some things to unpack from.

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This past thursday, uh in moving forward, I really again appreciate uh our healthcare uh hospital.

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And carroll county health department for all they are doing. You know the numbers are still.

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Amazingly staggering uh in our hospital system at carroll hospital with 191 patients, they're.

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15 in a critical care unit, all 15 having kova 19. 12 on vents and 73 covet, plus patients.

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In the hospital right now also to break that down out of that 73 54 74 75 percent are unvaccinated.

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With an average age of 58 years old in the hospital, 19 or 26,.

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Are vaccinated with an average age of 78., just let that sink in for a second.

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The governor shared that there are 3050 says 3057 as of this morning.

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That are covet positive hospitalizations, that is an increase of 500 percent over the last seven.

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Weeks he has allocated now 100 million dollars of state funds to the hospitals and nursing homes.

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And moving forward um all nursing homes without breaks will have mandatory.

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Treatment available from state uh agencies, he expects things to change, and now this is.

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Our governor, talking from the information that he has been provided, things could change.

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Over the next four to six weeks, but this will be the most challenging times.

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um He expects again when I say he our governor was speaking, but let's take it.

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For the what the state is saying, more than 5 000 positive patients in our hospitals.

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He is now declared as effective this morning a 30-day state of emergency.

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Which really does two uh focused areas? One is focused on the hospitals, where the maryland.

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Department of health will regulate our hospitals across the state that will also uh provide.

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Allowances for interstate uh reciprocity for uh nursing and healthcare, along with providing.

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Allowances for retirees and graduate students of nursing and healthcare to be put into the system.

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He is also looking at augmenting our emergency management.

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No emergency services workforce by activating 1 000 national guard. uh In addition, 250 of those.

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National guard will be supporting our testing sites. There are two state testing sites right now.

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One up in bel air and one in arundel county they are now putting in place 20 additional testing.

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Sites that will be opening soon and I'm sure our health department is on the ground working.

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With the state to figure out where exactly those testing sites will be from the state, in addition,.

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To the testing sites that we are providing uh and putting in place at the ag center.

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And what everything the health department is doing, the governor shared that the best fix.

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To this challenge is to get vaccinated, he is highly encouraging. All as we all are.

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To get vaccinated, or at least I am from this position to wear the mask- to avoid crowds.

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And to keep ourselves, uh you know wash our hands and and use common sense.

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92 percent of marylanders adults, he said, are vaccinated or have begun. The vaccination.

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33 of our children uh and I didn't catch that was 12 to 18 or vaccinated. He is requesting this.

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Morning for the uh president biden administration for federal support of monocolonial, um you know.

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Support along with uh those pills that, and I don't know the the details but basically preventative.

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Medications uh that are held at the federal level he is um requesting for federal support of that.

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The other piece of this is.

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From his press release the other day, he is requesting that all.

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State facilities will require phase covering he uh is authorizing at the state level paid.

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Leave for booster shots to be provided, it is also providing at the state level.

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Updated quarantine protocols for all state employees that are within cdc guidance.

A

Thanks chris- and those are the three that I just mentioned- the state buildings.

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The paid leave for booster shots and the updated quarantine for state employees, additional actions.

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uh With cobin 19 first, I don't know if you have the next slide or another slide is establishing.

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Surge operation centers uh committed to the additional 100 million dollars that I shared.

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Begin to distribute the 500 000 at home, rapid test kits through our uh carroll county health.

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Department, the local health departments expand the days and hours of state-run testing facilities.

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Making an additional 30 million dollars in funding available.

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To school systems to further enhance their own testing resources and to expand the genomic.

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Sequencing to track and detect coven 19 variants. The other thing he highlighted this morning.

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Was the importance of keeping our schools open and doing everything that he can again? I use the word.

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He as uh the governor was speaking, but take it for him with his leadership and administration.

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To keeping our schools open um and everything he shared, just as we did on thursday, the importance.

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Of getting vaccinated wearing the masks and avoid crowds, the information we provided on thursday.

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Was? As I shared later on, to provide safety for uh our employees.

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To uh keep ourselves by leading by example, because of our authorities that we have not.

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Being able to go into the businesses, nor should we, because we have you, know shared this often.

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We do not want to mandate our community into doing something. It's not our place.

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To overstep our bounds, but what we can do is work within our local government. Our county government.

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And lead by example, and encourage everyone to get vaccinated, as that has been the proven.

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uh You know way of minimizing the impact of coven 19. and then the third is readiness, and this.

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Is a very important again: it may be the uh the military coming out of me, but everything we do.

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I believe in readiness we had a very slight small snow uh falling the other day.

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We need to ensure that the uh the plows can run. We need to ensure the drivers can drive those plows.

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So it's all about readiness, we, you know, we have a thousand, you know, plus workforce for carroll.

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County government- it's not just by protecting them just for them their their own uh sake, but it's to.

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Ensure that they have the ability to serve you for safety, security and quality of life and quality.

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Of life, for you in carroll county is ensuring that you can get out of the driveway. You can.

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Do the things you want to do you can get your kids to schools, you can go to the stores uh to.

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The shopping centers wherever you want to go and move around. That's all part of our quality of life.

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In order to do that, we need to be ready in order to be ready. We decided uh on thursday to put the.

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uh The uh decisions in place by uh masking those that are unvaccinated uh in government buildings.

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Those that are vaccinated have the option of either being masked or not masked.

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And to continue to encourage uh vaccines for all of our government, employees.

A

Now that's what we put in place um effective one january, I'm going to open up for discussion.

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Amongst my colleagues um and you know, I have here two different masks: the cloth mask and.

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The can 95 uh mask this is the standard mask that uh you know is being requested to be used in our.

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um County facilities currently for those that are unvaccinated um now again, that may that may change.

A

uh Through our conversation that we have but um last last recap, there is a state of emergency.

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That's been put in place by uh our governor, the focus is on our health care and our ems.

A

So with that does anybody have or who would like to lead this off after that.

B

Don't everybody jump at the same time uh good good morning, and uh here we are again.

B

um And I truly do think uh as the governor and uh a lot of the experts are saying that uh we're in.

B

A four to six week period here, where we've got to again uh be very mindful of what we're doing.

B

um Let's, let's be honest and I'm included in this, I believe we all became quite complacent.

B

As the as the numbers started to go down, and now we've got to get back to.

B

uh Making sure that we protect one another, uh I want to thank those in our workforce. First of all,.

B

That, for whatever reason that they have and I'm not going to get in that debate,.

B

Because their their rights are just as important as mine. But for those that that.

B

Respected the fact that we were trying to protect our fellow uh workforce and for those that were.

B

Not vaccinated, um you know covered up, and I want to thank those that that did that. uh I want to.

B

Be clear, we didn't mandate that we asked that to be to occur. I also uh want to say that um we.

B

Added to that that everybody should be uh masked into common areas, uh just as a matter of respect.

B

For for one another, until we get through this surge- and I think again it's going to be about.

B

Sounds to me like it's, going to be about four to six weeks, uh hopefully by the first of march, we're.

B

Back to some sort of normalcy here, so um I I think um I want to applaud the governor. um You know you.

B

All heard me say this when I was uh the president of this group um and we were, we were in the in the.

B

Heat of battle um we've always followed uh his guidelines, his team's guidelines, uh as we as we.

B

Get through this and uh I think again that's what we need to do. I believe we need to uh make sure.

B

That everyone is masked up in the building, uh regardless of your status, I'm. That is what it is.

B

But I think everybody should be messed up at this point, obviously, and use some common sense here. If.

B

You're in your own cubicle or in your own office, uh you know, let's be clear: you don't have to if.

B

You're by yourself, uh but if you're in meetings or in the common areas or whatever, I believe, all.

B

County buildings until we're through this search, we should be masked and just leave it at that.

B

And again, I want to thank everybody that has continued to to function here. uh We we dodged.

B

A bullet yesterday uh I was thankful to see that finally, the eastern shore got snow. They they are.

B

They always they always joke about us, and you know all flowers are always blooming blooming.

B

The sun's always shining on the other side of the bridge. Well, guess what uh I can that's six to ten.

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Inches that they've got down there doubt if the flowers are blooming, but anyway we dodged a bullet.

B

uh And didn't have to engage much here. I know in the southern part we had some ice or whatever.

B

uh But uh as commissioner uh rosting says, we've got to make sure that our workforce continues.

B

To be ready- and you know if we get us another snow here, um you know when you hear about the fact that.

B

You get a lot of folks that are that are not able to function in their job, because.

B

uh They're being quarantined, or whatever this, I think the masking policy goes a long way in hoping.

B

uh Or helping and assisting where that won't occur, and we can keep our workforce healthy and.

B

uh And again, look the masts are what they are um and everybody's getting tired of it, uh but.

B

I think for these next four to six weeks: that's what we need to do and um hey for no other reason.

B

I had 16 degrees at my house this morning when you have a mask on it keeps your face warm just saying.

B

uh Anyway, I don't want to make light of this, but I do believe that um we that's what we need to.

B

Do taking these next steps forward and certainly follow the rest of the guidelines, but that's the.

B

Most, I think, that's the most critical part here in our government building so I'll stop there.

C

Oh okay, um I have to agree with commissioner lance. I think it all thought this is pandemic.

C

We have followed the state's guidelines and follow what they've done they have requested.

C

That everyone in state buildings were a mask. I think we should request that everyone in the.

C

County buildings were a mask everyone, regardless of vaccination status. I just think it's. It's.

C

At this point, the right thing to do because it's the the virus is getting out of control.

C

We don't have, I mean the best tool, of course. Is vaccination but mass help washing hands.

C

Social dishes, all that helps mitigate it. So let's do everything we can to mitigate this.

C

And keep our workforce uh ready to go, as was the two previous commissioners have mentioned.

C

So uh my my suggestion is that we follow the state guidelines on this all county buildings.

C

Everyone's masked, when you're inside the building, I uh agree with you guys it's uh what we started.

D

Originally we're gonna follow the governor's guidelines, uh whether you agree with them or not,.

D

It's he's looking out for everybody in the state. We need to look out for everybody in the county.

D

As much as possible, so we follow those guidelines, at least for the next 30 days.

D

And just move ahead: try to keep everybody safe, try to keep the people out of the hospital. I don't.

D

Think we're doing anything unreasonable we're just looking out for safety of everybody in the county.

A

The state of emergency put out today were focused on health care and ems. His guidelines.

A

So that was not that's. You know that was the focus of the state of emergency.

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The guidelines that he put out the other day on not underneath this state of emergency but as you.

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Know, as he directed was the face covering in the state buildings, the paid leave for booster shots.

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And the updated quarantine protocols for state employees, so I guess my question is: is it the.

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Intent for us to take the word state out and put county in face covering requirements for all.

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County buildings provide paid leave for booster shots for our county employees.

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And updated quarantine protocols for our county employees is that.

C

Well, just to jump in uh the two hours that he's given. I think it's two hours he's given off for.

C

The booster shots also mentioned that if you haven't been vaccinated, you can use that time.

C

To take the two hours to be vaccinated as well, so it's not just boosters. In fact,.

C

To get the first or second shot the vaccine and and or boosters whatever you happen to.

C

Need at that time, two hours off, so I just wanted to head in there. I would- and yes.

C

If you're asking me yes just put county in there, instead of state, we can move forward with that.

D

Okay, that makes sense.

A

Okay, so is that a motion.

C

I'll make the motion that we follow the same guidelines I'll suck in it. Okay, I've got a.

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Motion I got seconds any further discussion on this. Seeing hearing, none all in favor, aye.

A

I apologize to thank you, okay against 4-1, okay, let's move on.

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Let's see, is there anything else to move on to from for this morning? um Oh.

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uh State of the county, we need to decide talking to um mike mcmullen, president of.

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Chamber, commerce, our state of the county, is scheduled for next week. I think on the 11th.

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In the morning there are options of what we can be done. uh We can do what we did last year, um where.

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We did conducted the state of the county in the uh reagan room and having those that um sponsor.

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um Get in front of us and make their comments and then uh push it out appropriately through.

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The magic of chris swam and and television land, uh another option that was thrown out there.

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Was to postpone and push it to the right um to see where this state of emergency goes and all.

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The activities go surrounding um the virus. um There's concerns for both one is. You know the.

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Less interaction with the uh the first option and the second challenge for the second option is the.

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Expectation to kicking off the new year with the state of the county has been something that.

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Mike has said, you know, this is a good thing plus there's other conflicts. If we push it to the right.

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On his calendar um and then we'll also be going into our budget um season and deliberation so.

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Those are uh two options: if there's a third throw it out there, but I think it's something.

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That we should discuss- and we can. The importance of this is to make sure that um you know chris and.

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The others and mike and he can get out to the county uh chamber of commerce, so any thoughts.

B

Well, I've got yeah. I've got some okay. Look here, here's I know everybody shock face. I have thoughts.

B

uh Anyway, uh I I was in favor of uh or I talked about.

B

Getting it postponed and I believe, when I had that discussion with the president of the chamber.

B

The first tuesday of february was available uh because that is typically their government day.

B

And obviously, they're not going to be able to do that, because the government buildings in annapolis.

B

Are are not able to take uh visitors or a limited basis, so the typical thing they usually do.

B

Won't happen, the interaction and I'd like to see where we are in in four weeks and see if we can.

B

Do it, then, if not, then we'll go virtual with it, but I I'd like to wait. That's me, that's what I'm.

B

Thinking um and maybe a little bit of selfishness here, this is my last state of county.

B

I sort of like to be in front of folks instead of the camera, so uh if they can work it out and.

B

Mike thought, maybe they could I'd just like to postpone it until that, first tuesday of february.

E

If that is a motion, I will second it.

B

I think we can make a motion eric on that. I think that's just a recommendation for mike.

B

And his folks to see if he can work it out, that's I think, right now. It's.

B

Maybe in the suggestion mode, but I don't know, that's just you and me there's three.

B

Other ones, so I don't know dick dennis whatever I don't. What are you thinking.

D

That makes sense, I mean um just simply uh push it down the road. A little bit see how things fare out.

D

uh And if not, we'll just go virtual okay, I do like the idea of doing a state of county in front.

C

Of people, I think it's just much better that way, much better interaction, I feel the energy, um so I.

C

Like that, the idea of pushing it back a little bit, but let's if we push it back to that tuesday, then.

C

It doesn't go beyond that. If we can't do it, then it's that day and it's virtual.

C

That, okay, I want to go on forever with. It sounds good, we'll uh pass that on to mike.

A

And the chamber- and I think it gives them enough lead time um what else.

A

Needs to be discussed this morning how about our future sessions here for the for the next.

B

Couple weeks, uh I don't know that it's a good idea to be. uh You know, even though we've got.

B

The barriers and stuff- um I I don't know, that's such a good idea, I think until we get through this.

B

Search, maybe at least the month of january, let's say and and monitor it. If we see things changing.

B

Then we can, we can flip back to in person, but at least for the next for at least four third.

B

Maybe we should go session, the section uh just to see how we're doing, but um I think.

B

That would probably make more sense, instead of just a blanket statement or virtual until whenever.

A

We put the 30 days in twice. What would you say? I think we put the 30 days in place.

B

We could say 30 days, but we could always change that too. I mean our staff's really good at.

B

You know making decisions on the fly, so at least for this thursday. I think we should stay virtual.

B

um Keeps everybody in place keeps folks out of the common areas. You know with the masking.

B

Thing and what have you, um thursday and maybe next thursday or whatever.

B

Switch to virtual see wait. I apologize say that one more time steve will you.

B

At least at least this thursday um I'd kind of like to go session, the session and stay said as.

B

A blanket statement, but at least this thursday, I think we need to go virtual.

B

um With our session on thursday uh and then we'll see where we are and good week the week.

A

Okay, any uh comments on this.

E

I'm just agreeing with commissioner williams once again.

A

Okay, any comments: okay, so we'll go virtual uh schedule go virtual on thursday, okay.

A

Recapping typical, well, no I'm gonna, say typical: the states of emergency that we have put in place.

A

Have been hey, hey ed, what I think roberta had her hand up or something she's going to reverse.

B

She was either jumping up and down or had her hand, go ahead. Just a couple um details, so uh the board.

F

Wants to award staff two hours of administrative leave to get boosted or vaccinated correct.

A

Correct, do you want to make it retroactive to folks who have already done so? No, I think.

A

We need to move forward with what the governor said his actions exactly the way they're written.

F

I think his were retroactive. If you put it back up, were they I apologize if they were.

A

My that's kind of where I was going to go with this next comment. Was you know the state of.

A

Emergency that the governor put in place had to do with health care and ems, and you know what we.

A

Are doing is not taking that state of emergency we're taking actions from what he's directed.

A

um The other day so yeah we can call it a state of emergency for carroll, county.

A

With these three actions, you know you can call whatever we want, but um well I didn't hear the.

F

Board actually declare a state of emergency right, and I don't know if there needs to be.

A

No not to do what you've done so far right and I don't think unless there's.

A

Needs to be a state of emergency put in place. I think what we can do is exactly what we said by.

A

The vote of four to one that we're putting these three actions in place effective now,.

F

Okay, so it does have a retro as you see, and that's halfway through the benefit will apply.

F

Retroactively for employees who present proof of receiving a booster will receive retroactive leave.

B

So so for me, I don't care, I don't. I don't care what it says. I absolutely think it should be.

B

Retroactive, uh okay, well it says retroactive, so, okay! Well then, I'm in complete agreement.

B

That we should provide that opportunity uh for those that have already done so and for those that.

B

Now, hopefully, will be influenced to do so. Is that for just booster shots or booster or vaccination.

F

Just want to be clear or vaccinations as far as I'm concerned. That's just me, yeah both.

D

Okay, okay, commissioner weaver, both rustin yeah we're good. Okay, and I don't know if you want.

F

To okay, thank you, commissioner, and then we we've already gone to the updated quarantine.

F

Protocols for pursuant to cdc and what the cbc did on on monday, um and so that's not a question.

F

um With regard the only other question I have.

F

Detail on is, the board is going to be virtual, at least for the next week or so. um What do you.

F

Want to do with boards and commissions: do you want to make those virtual.

B

Yes, if they can connect, I mean if business can be conducted in mask.

A

They can be conducted in mask, it doesn't seem like having boards and commissions.

A

You know, conducted and masked makes a whole lot of sense. Then we should be going virtual.

A

And that's kind of where we're at so it's not a week to week. It's we're putting this in place.

A

You know for the next 30 days whatever it is, then, let's just say we're going to go virtual.

A

I mean, if not, I think, we're gonna have a challenge with this. Okay, what about this week or next week.

A

You know, let's just say for january, we're going virtual for all boards and commissions.

E

I think that's a very good point, plus this thursday we have the joint boe meeting so.

E

We'll have to set that up as virtual as well yeah. I agree eric uh yeah spot on yeah. Look at that. I'm.

B

Agreeing with you, uh uh um I think, that's just in order to make the staff uh lives easier. Let's.

B

Just say for the next 30 days: uh everything will be virtual. I agree with that ed and eric okay, so.

F

Board of commissioner meetings: liquor board board zoning appeals planning, commission all virtual.

B

Say every day for 30 days.

F

Okay, just to keep it simple, thank you, but that helps okay. Thank you, gentlemen.

A

Okay, what else needs to be discussed.

A

I think we have clear direction on how we're going.

A

Again, you know uh I do get um just let you know, uh updates from the hospital and health department on.

A

The numbers- and um you know our focus- is whatever we can do, and that was the focus on thursday was.

A

Whatever we can do to support the hospital, our health department, our ems in resourcing.

A

And getting uh communications out, that's our responsibility, in my view, and uh let's just.

A

Continue to keep pushing that because they're the front line that's doing a whole heck of a lot of.

A

Work and uh some of these updates are just they're dire. You know from from our ems and from uh the.

A

Hospital, so one last thing, commissioner: rossing thanks for recognizing the hard work of our ems.

E

Staff and the hospitals do we have any numbers on the fatalities? How successful have we been or.

E

Everyone done in the county at saving lives. Once again, I don't know- and this has nothing to do with.

A

Fatalities, I'm given numbers from the hospital, so that's all I'm giving if you want to reach out you.

A

Can find out, but that's all I know, you're telling me that you get all this data from our hospital.

E

And they didn't include any fatality rates. No anything else quite puzzling because ultimately,.

E

What we're all trying to do is save people's lives. Are they withholding that information from us.

A

Commissioner, if you want to ask you can ask, I don't know, I'm giving you the numbers that are.

A

Provided by the hospital, I don't believe that the hospital or health department or maryland.

A

Is withholding anything, but that's just my view, I'm given the numbers and we'll just leave it.

A

At that, I can't go beyond that. I'm not I'm not you're tracking the fatality rate very closely.

E

For a year and a half and now you're saying we're not paying attention to the fatality rate.

A

I'm saying the numbers that I'm given from the hospital: that's it that's.

F

I'm not speculating, and I'm not assuming I'm given numbers that were given to me. That's it.

A

I I can't go beyond that. They're I have no data. I have no ability, I'm not a doctor, I'm.

A

Not in the hospital I'm given the numbers that are given to me, if you want further data, you.

A

Can request further data from the hospital or our health department or the state? I don't know.

A

I have to say that is quite irresponsible of us as a board not to put this information down.

E

In front of the public and the fact that the hospital did not release that information to us.

E

Says they're covering something up because their ultimate objective, as publicly elected officials.

E

Is to save lives, and the best gauge we have is to determine whether we're saving lives or not.

E

Okay, once again, I'm not going to talk talk about the hospital being lying to us or unethical or.

A

Anything they're doing I'm just saying these are the numbers that are given to me and that's it and.

A

I'm passing on these numbers because I believe they are relevant in the discussion, just as I.

A

Shared with you what our governor said with the numbers that are in hospitalizations uh currently.

A

That's all the num information I have uh to get further information. You can request further.

A

Information, I don't have it. That's all. I'm saying: listen whoever's out there in the hospital staff.

E

Or the leadership should get that data to us and get it out to the public, because it is the best.

E

Gauge to determine whether we're successful or not- and that is our ultimate objective- to save lives.

B

Sure, they're tracking, that I'm sure they're tracking it. I think right now because of last.

B

Minute stuff, they just gave us the numbers that we asked for, and we didn't ask for that specifically.

B

So they always tracked it I'm sure they have that. uh You know that I didn't. I didn't ask.

A

For any of this information, I didn't think they just yeah. They just gave us what they're, what.

B

We typically ask for as an ongoing issue here so, but I'm sure they've got that we can ask them.

A

Okay, any other discussion.

B

Yeah, the only thing once again for me, uh ed, is just to strongly encourage uh the citizens.

B

I know we've got. Apparently, we've got quite a bit listening today. uh Just encourage common.

B

Sense best practices as we move forward. um I don't think it's necessary to stop your lives here again.

B

Like we did at one point, but I think if we utilize best practices, if we continue to say gosh, you know.

B

Facts over opinions say that that masking and um vaccinations are uh effective, that we can.

B

Get through this next four to six weeks- and um you know just strongly ask our citizens to.

B

To work with one another respect one another and uh we should be able to get through this.

D

I I just want to say steve, I I agree with you. I've been to uh well many of the businesses we.

D

Have out here are individually some requiring masks some not, but I think you need to respect.

D

Each business owner and what they uh ask of the general public coming into their establishments.

D

The last thing we want to do is put things in a tailspin like we had a year or so ago. We.

D

Need to keep businesses open, we need to keep kids engaged as much as possible to do that. We just ask.

D

Everybody to uh hey, I know it's a pain, wear a mask, get vaccinated if you can and keep.

D

Moving forward, uh I would like to see the end of this uh by 2022, or at least a down tick to it.

D

That we're not uh going through this for a third year. This is uh it's getting old, it's wearing on.

D

Everybody, I think tempers are getting short in some aspects, but we have to uh stay the course.

D

Get through this get a get ahead of it, and this will be uh hopefully in a couple years, a memory.

A

Again, this is about the overwhelming hospitalizations there's 3057 there in hospitals.

A

In maryland, right now a 500 percent increase in seven the last seven weeks. The expectation is that.

A

There will be over five thousand hospitalizations. Our hospitals are overwhelmed. Our health care.

A

System is overwhelmed. Our ems is overwhelmed. The state of emergency put in place by maryland.

A

By our governor is to help this situation of the hospitals and ems being overwhelmed.

A

That's what this is about, so the numbers that we're given are given, I'm not asking for.

A

Additional information we can, but it's about hospitalizations in our health care system,.

A

And I just I once again personally want to end on a note of thanking them for all the work.

A

That they're doing and being so short staffed all the work that everyone is trying to do in keeping.

A

People out of hospitals get vaccinated is the most encouraging thing that could be said.

A

And uh that is keeping people out of hospitals. So um that's that's my last words. Anything else.

A

I need a motion to uh to move away to a motion to adjourn.

A

Do I have a second yeah? Okay, all in favor aye, we're charms.

A