Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 5 Feb 2019

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Work Session February 5, 2019

Description

Veterans Shuttle Program
Department of Public Works ~ Mr. Jeff Castonguay

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Today is, unlike other days, we're starting off out of the game, work.

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Session, no, so we're gonna just go ahead and turn it over I'll. Tell you what.

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Before we get started, though, on we're talking about the veterans program and.

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The services associated with that, I think, as a result of that, I think we.

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Should all rise in a pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of.

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America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible.

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With liberty and justice for all.

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Okay, thank you very much so jeff. I suppose I will turn it over to you we'll.

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Let you know pun intended here, lead the charge there. We go all right.

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Commissioner thought we were here today for work session, discuss the future makeup of our veterans, transportation services. The program is fully funded.

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From the general fund to provide a veteran with caregiver to go to and from.

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Any being to and from any va medical center in maryland and west virginia as.

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You remember, we were in front of you a couple weeks ago asking for an.

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Additional forty thousand dollars of funding to finish out the remainder of.

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This key or fiscal year 19 next year, we're projecting projecting the program.

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To be running possibly north of $230,000 to continue our operating, we were over.

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Running today, this is a $90,000 increase from fy 19 from the updated budget.

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$142,000, this change is due to an increase of door-to-door services and we.

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Need to dedicate staff to this program today we're asking for direction and how.

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You want us to proceed with these services as the program program.

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Continues to grow today we will be will begin with a brief history of the.

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Veterans program by stacey nash, our grants coordinator information on our.

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Qualifications of the process for the veterans to determine, if our that the.

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Veterans can be using our services, whether they're, going from a shuttle or.

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From or door-to-door services will be presented by, gina valentine and will.

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Follow back up with stacey for discussion on the current ridership.

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Numbers and how a program is running today and will open up to questions in.

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Any discussions from the point some of the direction we're gonna need today.

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From the from the board is for our upcoming to fy 2012 and some of the.

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Items that we will need to discuss is do we continue our contract with a cap on.

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Services based on the dollar amount, the tougher the discussion with that is in.

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Our contract is, if we hit the cap and we don't have any additional funding that.

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That point services stop. If the service is needed on a given day exceed the.

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Capacity either by vehicle capacity or by drivers is the denial of services.

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Acceptable door-to-door services may need to move from the veteran shuttle to.

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The ccts demand response services to meet the appropriate needs of the riders.

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This will also come at an added cost to the program, so there's a few things that.

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We need to come, we have people need to iron out today. I know there's been some.

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Ideas of some other programs in and out of the county, but I think to get things.

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Started: let's pass the super stacey to provide you a little bit of the history.

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Of the program of how we got you know, services, as we got here today, okay,.

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Before we do that for the for the new folks, could we just at least get around.

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To that part and introduce to everyone is at the table, I'm celine steckel the.

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Beer-Cheese of ag and disabilities with carroll county government, gina, valentine aging and disability services supervisor, with jeff casting.

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Wage director public works, lisa, watkins, executive director carol, transit service.

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Crystal weinbrenner, director of operations, carol transit. I think we can.

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Stop now, you all know, there's two folks in the background who play a major part.

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And a lot of statistics and a lot of the great things that we do so just to let.

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The folks know who's back in the background please and there's. What's.

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Your name again, I'm sorry wes key. Isn't it all right.

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Thank you and I don't know that we've had the official opportunity to say.

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Welcome to you, we've seen what's-her-name your logs so but but.

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We'd like to officially say, on behalf of my colleagues, welcome to two cts and we.

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Look forward to what you bring over there working in conjunction, of course,.

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With crystal, who has done a tremendous job over there as well, so thank you.

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Thank you both for being here, we appreciate it: okay, antha stacey, stacey.

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I'm gonna give you an entire history of what we would have been able to pull.

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Together, the shuttle originated in 2012 board of county commissioners, supporting.

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A 25 thousand dollar match towards a pilot program to assist tax at the time.

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With vouchers for transportation of the perfer veterans service began november.

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13 2012 and at the time was planning to run through the end of fiscal year 13. It.

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Was funded by a new freedom grant, which was awarded to cats in a conjunction.

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With the max2, the county department of social services was involved. They.

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Completed the registrations and we believe they also held the money and paid cats riders at the time, boarded the shuttle at either town hall in.

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Westminster or the carroll town mall in eldersburg, it was operated three days a.

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Week on tuesdays and thursdays went to baltimore and on wednesdays, went to fort.

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Detrick in mid-year, fy 13 budget to dss was increased to 25,000 for the veteran.

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Shuttle services, an additional 10,000, was provided to dss.

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Service in fiscal year, 15 fiscal year, 16 25,000 was transferred from dss to.

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Citizen services, when cts took over the contract in fiscal year, 16 shuttle ran.

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For five days, a week and transported veterans to four approved destinations.

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Green street loch raven, fort detrick and martinsburg, the shuttle pickups are.

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Currently, at the westminster senior center and the shoppers in eldersburg.

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Veterans are encouraged to schedule their metal medical appointments between.

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10 a.m. and 2 p.m. mid-year fiscal 16 25,000 was.

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Transferred to public works in 2016 staff of bureau and aging disabilities.

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Began: completing the veteran shuttle registrations and qualifying individuals.

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For her pickup veterans, who do not drive or do not have transportation, are.

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Encouraged to find a way to get to the shuttle pickup tina will give you.

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Additional information on that vetting process in fiscal year, 17 budget.

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Included, seventy-five thousand for the program and public works additional.

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Funding of 31,000 was provided mid-year for the purchase of new freedom bands.

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The alternate destination requests started increasing in fiscal year 17 as.

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The va contracted with private medical practices to complete exams with.

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Veterans who filed compensation claims the exam is required in order for the.

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Claim to be processed, and that seems to be the result in the increase of.

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Additional destinations, the fiscal year 18 budget was a hundred and five.

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Thousand in public works fiscal year, nineteen budget was its own budget for.

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Veterans and a hundred and two thousand that was an overall decrease to the.

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Budget due to transferring insurance to legit, but we were just back in front of.

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Us before another, forty thousand, so not really.

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Previously cats had been charging veterans for pickup at seven seven.

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Dollars and fifty cents they pick up, but that practice stopped when the.

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Commissioners became aware that we were charging.

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In anything so to talk about the registration process and we have form.

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And through that process they verifies that.

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A veteran you know it's qualified, they are about a minute back and we also.

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Verify their calc, we collect documents that keep those in.

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Their file, the phone pick up, we have a form, also there's always a form, and so.

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On that form, the options that are listed on the form is nota are, are sorry no.

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Driver's license no transportation to the shuttle, pickup site or a disability.

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And we obtain verification of that disability. We do encourage veterans if.

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They don't have a driver's license or they have no transportation to the.

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Shuttle pickup site to to find other means, you know, do they have a family.

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Member that can take them to the shuttle pickup site today have a friend that can.

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Take them so we are encouraging them to to find other ways, and so I mean that's.

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Basically, the process, I went back and looked at the registration since we.

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Started taking them in fiscal year 2016 and to date, there's 36 veterans that are.

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Approved for home pick up, there are times that I veteran may have a surgery.

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Such as an eye surgery but they're not permitted to drive, and so that, like on.

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Those instances when I contact crystals that cts and ask you know if they are.

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Able to accommodate that, for that instance only, and so that's how we work.

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Through that, so there are some times that are going.

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Well, we were charging for them pick up where the complaints- well, I don't know.

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That there were complaints back then, but we didn't know it was happening and so.

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Then, when we heard it was happening, we're kind of sharing that information and the board at the time was not pleased with that, because they indicated.

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That it wasn't a free shuttle, then, because none of us, you know, between our.

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Our agency and the board were aware that that was happening it. This is our best.

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Our best understanding these backing cats back at the beginning of the program when the program first started.

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What is the charge for the right now? The average cost to go to a shuttle, stop.

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Would be four dollars that would be the average, not many people.

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That five-mile radius, if that person drives themselves to the facility.

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Doesn't it be a provide funding? There are instances in which the va will.

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Qualify individuals: I brought that criteria with me. They have to be.

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Service-Connected at a rating of 30% or more or if they are travelling on for.

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Treatment for a service-connected condition, they receive a va pension or.

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Their income does not exceed the maximum and you'll be a pension rate. Their.

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Income does not exceed the maximum annual the attention rate again, I'm.

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Sorry, I don't want access to twice or they're traveling for a scheduled.

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Compensation or exam.

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I can't really answer that because I don't know.

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I would expect.

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Right in the reimbursement goes directly to, the veteran does not cannot pass. We.

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Can't be in the middle first: that's not being accessed right now, right veteran.

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Or by the organization, by the veteran or.

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Right, we wouldn't know that unless we actually asked that question.

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Are you aware, travel cost.

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How's its online folks.

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One of the questions would be is, and I knew that question would come up because.

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That, as we talked also, commissioner, all the commissioners at that point do.

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We start charging the veteran for them to get briefed when they get reimbursed.

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They're kind of they're getting reimbursed by the veteran by the va or.

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Just let them get the reimbursement that exists for the va for our veteran.

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Community, so I think providing an education service from the shuttle you.

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Know, driver or whoever I mean, let's start slow and you know they can make a.

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Buck doing it good on them, you know and then build from there on okay, here's how.

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We can look at reimbursements, you know for funding, but it's not always about.

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Making the dollar or saving the dollar you know it's about what quality of life.

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For our veterans and that's what you're doing thunder a name when I know uh so, I think that's what I would recommend you know.

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Not not always looking for what's the return on how to make a dollar.

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You know or let's educate, first yeah. Thank you. What I'll take a quick moment.

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Here all passes back over the stacy just for a moment to explain the handout that.

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We provided with the map and also by show you the graphs just a couple.

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Numbers of a program just as part of our discussion.

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Back together, the map is from july, we picked july, just because it was our.

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Average month for the last six months, so give you a kind of good idea of where.

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Everybody was coming from most most. Are people go to baltimore, as you can tell.

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By this map, but it also shows that our home pickups are very scattered since.

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We're only picking up at the westminster senior center and in the choppers and.

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Eldersburg, all the other little bats are home pickups and they are very spread.

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Out and coming in very different directions: our graphs just going to give.

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You an idea of the last three fiscal years. Yes, so stop or those are clinics.

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Correct all those dogs, corrector clinics or hospitals right. No, there are direct.

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Use yeah there are areas where they're going this way. The color is where.

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They're holding cups and that's where they're going correct yeah, so the green dots are going to find marge. Oh yeah, okay, it's already.

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There, who pickups, even at the larger green dots with the large green dot in.

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The middle of westminster is the senior center okay, so it's all of the pickups.

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But all the ones that are not the one in little senior center and the one in.

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Eldersburg are how it goes.

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Yeah we're zeldin cuz right, there's no dot yeah I mean we might not have we may.

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Have only picked up one that months yeah, we don't have a lot of pick up. God.

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It is very low, got it. This is a snapshot from july. Her only.

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Grants got it yes, so yeah, there's, probably just no pickup yeah. I think we.

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Have one or two gentlemen that utilized the shoppers, location and yeah don't go.

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On a regular basis,.

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And then graphs, just you know, show you the last three years I gave you through.

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January for fiscal year, nineteen, just because we have it everything.

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Essentially, is increasing cost from pickups number, our number of veterans, a.

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Month are kind of are kind of close our average, but our number of trips is.

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Increasing so you see in the last page for the number of veterans in a number.

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Of trips, so, while some of our number, our veterans numbers, may be on the lower.

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Side, we have a lot of riders now that are writing five days a week, because.

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Their treatments or whatever you know the services that they that they need at.

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This time, so, as you see in fy nineteen, our average number of trips it was- is.

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Running even closer, you know to eighty eight at a time. Thank you and you'll see.

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An fy 18, you know in seventeen we wanted to give that comparison of the average.

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Number of trips just to show that that increment it continues to go up. This is.

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Why the funding of this program is has also gone up. Some of the funding needs.

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So crystal you go back to the basics from again, please and I apologize if I.

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Stepped out for a minute when, when one of these folks need a ride to wherever.

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They call you guys and you attempt to try to get them on the schedule where.

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You can correct correct yeah so once they register. So how often is it that.

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You get one to call that wants to go to say, martinsburg and then the next day.

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You get another one too cause here's where the word attempt comes in. Do you.

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Attempt to try to get them on the same day or is that that's sort of a function.

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Of the va, isn't it you don't have anything to do with that, so we make sure.

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That we get them there, so there have been times and not recently, but there.

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Have been times that we've sent three vans to three different locations right.

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Yeah, that's kind of where I'm getting with it with my questions, so you guys.

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Sometimes you're challenged by that because you got them going like this.

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Into ad well crystal is saying: there's a lot of those appointments and you'll.

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Have to speak to this, the appointments are made typically multiple weeks, if not.

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Months ahead of time, so we're looking at that schedule so as that day starts.

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Approaching right at that point, they've scheduled this to add-on for the fact.

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That we'd want the control over which begs the other question: how much in.

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Advance, do they call you for a ride.

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They're pretty good about calling us about two everyday at the house: okay,.

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That's about as much notice as we get so the flip side of that. The va also.

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Cancels their appointments sometimes same day, so we'll have a driver in.

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Already ready to go and we don't send them because they.

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So a lot of things, I think, that's probably why they wait so long to make.

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The appointment because there's things change so often so that's, okay, yeah! I.

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Just think I wanted to get some of those facts out because that's what's really.

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Behind the scenes here happening, we got a lot of people going this way when I.

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Wish there was a way we could get them a little bit more pheasants. They make.

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Their appointments months in advance, sometimes there's their way or have we.

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Looked into saying, okay, on whatever tuesdays, we go to green street on.

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Wednesdays, we go to frederick, so if we tell them that not right now, because.

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That won't cut anybody off, but let's say starting three months. This is the way.

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We're going to do it so when they make their appointments, if they're going to.

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Baltimore they're make this partition the designated big ones there. Some of.

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That sort as we look into so it sounds like that way started yeah. We only had.

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Two, the manatee as when we started at cap, so we went only to green street on.

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Two days orders berg another, but so I guess, if you give them enough notice,.

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Yeah, it could potentially be it that could be up for discussion. I just I.

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Guess it depends on really what direction that were given, as I was right.

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Now we accommodate at work, someone calls on a wednesday to go to green street and.

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It's martinsburg day are we gonna divide that veteran to go, get the treatment.

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That they have, we had contact with the hospitals to try to do this or not.

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Yeah, no, no, we have not contacted the hospitals very much of any.

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They're not with a little bit that we have different instances, they've, not.

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Been buried helpful and about three years ago I think secretary owens here.

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And we were looking at maybe access carol as a site that whatever happened.

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With I don't know much, but they were denied whatever that sites called. I.

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Forget name they, but the ex of carol was denied for whatever reasons, although now.

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That I think about it, part of that was because we didn't have vash, and we have.

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Vash vouchers now right, so we should probably explore that with access carol.

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Yeah I mean two things we shut down. The number of trips keep them local and I'm.

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Sure I know some of the veterans who have used this shuttle system and said.

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You know it's a god-sent to them for treatments, they need major treatments.

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And what it's done for ms, unbelievable and they're going to be needing the.

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Specialized services, but a lot of them could be handled if we could do it.

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In-House to reduce that budget, and I think we could provide all the services.

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Without you know, and also we contact the hospitals and community care county.

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Residents, try to condense them into these days to make it easy for us with.

B

Because these hippa laws and what we're asking what we're trying to what.

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Information we're trying to gain in order to set us a schedule, and it really.

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Does it is dependent on, as you see him, by the charts, the services needed at the.

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Time, yeah and any veteran may have a specialized service where there would be.

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A couple days today, they'll they could be in baltimore. They may be telling.

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Their veteran tomorrow, you need even the next day third day. You need to be down.

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At nih, because you need to see this, this specialist, you know the specialist.

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Whether they happen it doesn't mean we can't look.

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Get to try and schedule the green street thing on the one set and, and I mean from.

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My perspective, instead of telling the hospitals let the veterans know that 90.

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Days out we're going to try to do it this way. Now, if it comes up that someone's okay well, I have to go there, then you have to go there. I'm not saying.

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Do not anybody anything well, then we can make it more efficient on our end and.

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You just do it that you know say: okay, this is what we're going to go here here.

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Here now, if something goes outside that parameter, then it goes outside of that.

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Mare and we still provide service yeah, I think that's what happened.

N

Right, I think we were doing that and then we were having receiving special.

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Requests outside those days right, but it depends on and how you.

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I guess presented these are the days we're actually going here and for an.

L

Exception we'll go there a different day, not that okay, you can make your point.

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Easier than demo, it's not like that if it's a pointment and it's regular.

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Schedule the schedule three months in venice or however long it is this one. Oh.

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One second: now, if something comes up and you can't make it on fed that's an.

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Exception, but it's not what we started here down. Okay, what could do anything.

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The fed is doing wasting away it's pointless. What else the vector is doing.

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The scheduling, correct your funds, they're doing scheduling for their.

H

Appointment yes for like right now, though, just as an example at the.

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Locations because in theory that does I mean from a treatment by 30 days a week,.

C

And that can change at any time. So if we do limit it- and we say okay well, we're.

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Only going to go to the green street, but we have to at this point, go five days.

H

Would they have a treatment program there and.

H

And if we limit the others, and then they too have to then move up to a different.

H

Program in there five days a week, then we're just we're back to what we're.

H

Doing right now, so can we create a yearly schedule ahead of time that we.

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Recommend martinsburg on these days, baltimore in these days when they.

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Schedule that they try to schedule them into those in theory, it sounds.

D

Absolutely what we would love to be able to do, but it's a specialist it were it's.

D

A lot of variables that, unfortunately, even the veteran problems and have any.

L

Control it'll worse, if you put out information to say in an effort to keep.

L

This free to the veterans, if you could schedule your appointments at these.

L

Locations on these days, it would really took the county off something that.

L

Matters attack, or do something really really close in like that. I think the.

L

Better is were cooperating. Try to make your appointments on those days. Nothing.

L

Can't in the command, but aren't those variables now we're here now that I mean.

H

Because so- and just I've been doing this since we started it so in some of the.

H

Frustration on our end on how to manage these situations is that we don't have a.

H

Concrete, yes or no answer, so we can say right now.

H

Listen, this is the annual calendar for 2019 charts.

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Appointments, but we also know we're not going to deny veterans and which is.

H

Great, so I'm not advocating for denying that, but then we're in the same boat. So.

H

We're still going to have that unknown. Are we gonna have four buses today or.

H

Two or one or three so in my in my opinion, I think it's best to say: listen.

H

We go to martinsburg, we go to baltimore, religiously, let's set up, let's budget.

H

For those two drivers, those two routes that go every day, if we don't have any.

H

One that goes great, we've saved that day's budget, but in in my opinion and.

H

The cost of it is really where we can start fixing. That is, on the other end of.

H

It is we're picking up all these people at home, which I know need it, but I think.

H

We need to come up with a better way to get them rather than driving all over.

H

The county, because we already know we're going to martinsburg in baltimore, so.

L

That variable goes, I see one next point. Okay, what never do no, I was accident, say.

L

Is there a way to work with the transit system for the for the on-demand and.

L

Then the order demand takes them to our hubs, rather than our veterans, how they.

L

Lost all those places, so the own demand picks you up at your house brings you to.

L

The hub and then then they just like the hub side of use right there again takes.

L

It to the hub and then the bus or the van, so there are shuttle vans in there.

L

Take you down for those places that way we don't have to pick up around the.

L

County because on demand already goes all those places when they're called.

L

That is my second point, commissioner. Frazier sounds when she broke her eye.

H

And so there's supposed to be a good point in my north as well.

H

So my my suggestion, I mean, I think that we need to handle it on that end of.

H

Things so just in this, I just did some rough math here. In my you know, while we're talking so it's probably all wrong, but.

H

We're gonna go with them. um The average cost is $4. Some of the.

H

Passengers who could potentially get to the hub- and I think we need to expand.

H

What our hubs are? We have a lot of folks in north carroll, the north carroll.

H

Senior center being a stop is not, it would be very beneficial for the.

H

Veterans, it would be $4 one way they live within.

H

That zone $5, rent or it would be $8 on a trip um or somebody who could.

H

Potentially live within the shuttle, so it would only be $1 for them, because.

H

They're just right there just off the path or they would be able to get close.

H

Up that they could walk to the end of their street, get on the shuttle, so that could save them money also there's a lot of ifs, but so that that's one scenario.

H

If they get reimbursed for transportation, they could use that money.

H

To lately supplement their $8 and, of course, that would only be for those who.

H

Would require home pickup and while I understand income is low, $8 is pretty.

H

Nominal fee it to baltimore, frederick or martinsburg, where you're going so if they could, if they could offset that with getting.

H

Reimbursed for their transportation, that could certainly be a an idea for them, as.

H

Well, right now, with having, we have an average of 15 passengers that utilize.

H

Home pickup by my calculations a month we have an average of about 65 trips, a.

H

Month, for whom pickup? If we were to charge them our fare box collection.

H

Would be about fifty five hundred dollars a year which doesn't sound like.

H

A lot, but that fare box collection and not having our veterans on the road.

H

Right now, at our current hourly rate would save $12,000 a year, just in.

H

Shaving off one hour before and one hour and the end of running around to pick up.

H

All these folks at home, so I mean we're looking at about almost $20,000 as this.

H

Increases a year and that's not including fuel maintenance and there's.

H

Really early and late pickup, so that's good, certainly stable. There's money as.

H

Well, what it costs.

M

All said that no not really for right now we pick up.

H

At 8 o'clock at 8:30- and we are, our veteran drivers- are starting at about.

H

6:45 in the morning, so if we were to pick them up at if we were to pick them.

H

Up at 7:30 they would start a little bit later and it would still shave off that.

H

Time running around for home and pay props in the morning, so that would that.

H

That is including north carroll senior center being a pickup spot. Do you know.

N

Your vetting these folks, before they call cts for their ride right so kind of.

N

What are you saying, what are your thoughts, a lot of the individuals they.

G

Don't have transportation or they don't drive vehicle again or don't drive and.

G

It's typically due to a disability with multiple that are entering legally blind.

G

If you utilize the shuttle, you know again every once in a while. It's it's.

G

Well, a lot of them are older veterans as well, and every once in a while again.

G

There's just somebody that, due to like a surgery or what happened that they, they.

G

Can't you know or something that okay.

G

So we haven't had, I brought probably, but I did take a look at the number of.

G

Veterans on who have been asking for home shopping, and recently there have.

G

Not been that many in the registrations for this fiscal year so with the.

L

Roadblock be either using the cts on-demand service to pick them up and.

L

Take them to a hub, there's a robot to that hurt. Just just announced yeah. It's.

B

All fair collection right what the commissioners want that to be reimbursed.

B

Through some voucher program, would you look? Would that be a past? The cost that.

B

Was be passed on to them to the veteran, and these are its: where do you want that.

B

Expense to be, I mean the ends, I think it would still be cheaper at the end of the.

B

Day and would come in, we have a large overmatch where they're a regular.

B

Service program, so there would still be net savings at the end of the year. If we.

B

Were to voucher it, but that's a decision that happened would have to be made by.

B

The board don't lee ho. Are we the only.

A

Jurisdiction is providing this transportation still. Yes, I don't.

F

Understand why we can't reach out to the state get involved in some sort of.

A

Disbursement or or some sort of program have we tried that. Have we told anybody.

A

Besides, you guys a couple of you guys that have you have you told somebody in.

A

The state that we're doing this and it would be nice to get some sort of of.

A

Buy-In from the state to it to assist with this or don't they even know that.

A

We're doing it, I mean I heard you mentioned secretary kramer, but do they.

A

Even know what we're doing here well, secretary elion certainly does, but the.

M

Governor had his carol day and appleís and carol days several years ago. We all.

M

Met with secretary kramer and and and showed him a shuttle, bus and.

M

He was very thrilled and hoped that other counties would would take up the.

M

Church and do the same kind of thing I didn't blah-blah-blah-blah-blah yeah and.

A

So so that's why so, maybe that's where I'm going here, what it certainly.

A

Wouldn't hurt to ask by whoever to say, look we're doing this. What are the.

A

Possibilities I mean I heard I hear you talk about reimbursement programs that.

A

Are available but we has anyone just merely just said: hey. We did ask about.

I

That, and that has to go right to the ducks leg, wouldn't reimburse us at the.

I

Time that was three years ago and that's fine.

A

But it would offset the cost of getting it on with other guys are talking about.

I

The other part of this that make about a year and a half ago, they have a program.

I

From another county- and they did a presentation, what they're doing for.

I

Veterans, it was about a third of what we were. We are in this whole thing right.

I

Where they were getting giving a presentation to the state and we're.

I

Doing three times what they're doing in an area, so yes, we do not have the word.

I

Out to the white people here and seems to be, there should be a couple days here.

A

This morning, right, yeah and our understanding is howard. County is.

B

Looking into this right now, just a similar program but they're just in the.

B

Infancy, stage of discussion can our vans route through howard county and picked.

I

Up at a reimbursement cost, if we have.

F

Yeah, that would be a schedule like that.

H

Okay, if you want to purchase software that will cover howard in baltimore.

H

County, which leads to the question: how much time do you spend on scheduling.

A

Just for the veterans shuttle, I would like to tell you it's a lot, but there's.

H

They're very simple, so I okay less than two hours in a week. Okay, we have it down.

H

To a science, so they call this, which is why you spend less than two hours.

A

Because you've got it down to a science, okay, the veteran says they can use the.

L

Cts service, it's four dollars: what is it discount book senior citizen center says.

L

We could get them to the veterans that would cut it in half like that. It would.

H

Cut them now, so if they could get that, they would pay five dollars for a book of ten. If they did that. Some of the veterans, though, and I began looking at.

H

This, when states- and I was talking about this before a lot of them- I can get them.

H

On a shuttle, so they're trailblazer cost would be one dollar each way. Now the.

H

Only issue with that would be the end, the end trip, so, if they're all their.

H

Appointments run over and they're getting back too late to catch that shuttle obviously never better, and the shuttle would take them home. So it would.

L

Beat that that running around, but that would be on a case. Thank you. Thank you.

L

That would happen, but it decided all the time kind of thing right. So we're.

H

Guaranteed to shave at least an hour off in the morning, and and if we got the information out and gave them a month or two notice. This is.

L

What we're trying to take now and gave me an option to buy the discount.

L

Booklets, I mean, I think it's a good first step one. I don't know how many the.

H

Bureau of aging has to give out, so I don't know if maybe there's a separate.

H

Pool that we should have just for those better and so they're, not trying they're not taking from the or the seniors that are trying to get them all ready. But if.

L

We don't the seniors have. I had no, because I've heard it they'll. First.

L

Think about the yeah, but we can make extra available to the veterans so at.

C

This point we have been running a pilot since november, with our our discount and.

C

Donated ticket booklets to see if we didn't stop the sales per person 7 an.

C

Individual comes in and gets their allocation of booklets per month. What, if.

C

We continue to sell and did it put a cap on it. What would that look like, and we.

C

Have not seen a significant increase in those sales, so we are right now serving.

C

Everyone through those discount and donated ticket books allowing everyone.

C

To purchase it comes to our door. That being said, adding the veterans in I was.

C

Just thinking are we tracking which individuals that were selling the.

C

Discount donated booklets to buy veteran and I'm not sure, we've been doing that.

C

Because some veterans would qualify, most veterans would qualify. Now. I think it's.

C

All water, so we may have some and we can go back and because we have the.

C

Individual names and we can pull that data and see how many are currently.

C

Accessing that now, what about charging the companion? Okay right now, the.

N

Veterans think of a look at the hand in on the shuttle and they're. Both writing.

N

For free mm-hm, so do you want to consider maybe.

N

Charging the companion for their ride- I don't if that happens, if it's, if it's a.

G

It's an attendant, you know, that's going with it, that's not a family member, then.

G

That costs that go back to the veteran.

G

I'm sure I don't know how many who need care. There was not a lot I want. I looked.

H

Over that and of all the veterans that we have registered only six religiously.

H

Take someone with them and of those six only to go on a regular basis, but and.

H

They're required they really need some, I think, either they are legally blind and.

H

Can't see or they're- and you know a chair them they're not physically able to get there. So if they don't go, then our drivers pushing them or walking them.

H

And which we kind of do already now, but so the cysts the driver is much the same.

M

Thing to have there yeah yeah, because our drivers are currently their care.

H

Assistants, if they don't bring one just because they don't always know where.

H

They're going there.

O

So we're servicing around 30 some veterans a year to this program. What's.

O

The total number of much month problems at month.

A

I'm on well: what's our total now veterans were helping the total number.

G

Registered is 7 359 to date,.

A

So anything else I mean you come up with.

A

Some good ideas crystal, I think, to help save cost, but how does to god? I continue.

A

To say, I think, it's time for us to stand up and start bragging about this and and.

A

Perhaps that'll lead to some assistance, so I mean one of our cup two of our.

A

Colleagues are now veterans, so what better seems like a perfect storm to me veterans program just count, I'm sorry. I.

H

Don't know the answers this, but is it just counting on it or is this a non-profit? Is this something that could be a nonprofit that people treat donate.

H

To because I feel, like everyone likes to donate, so it's rubber gloves to say care.

M

The county, governments, local governments, the original nonprofit- that is true, yes,.

M

People can donate to programming to me no, they gotta. Maybe we should have some.

H

Veteran fundraisers, it's not for anything, but just the shuttle we could.

H

Certainly do that so maybe there are some other I mean. Obviously I think.

H

Going, I think, going to the states is a fine idea, but don't abuse your stamps.

F

Right, I mean fundraising is fine, but that's a one-time, one-shot and.

I

Fundraising is not a sustainable way to support it's, not an entity, but it would.

H

Help or something of that nature just to kind of help, I mean there's a lot of.

A

Those things that go on you know so how much mean can we take? I often hear our.

A

Philanthropy community say and now we're going to this next week now we're going.

A

To this next one now we're going to this, so you know you: can you can mack some.

A

Out to what what's the the new veterans group, what's the acronym.

I

The updated yeah is that what it is yeah, the vein is probably right. Has there.

A

Been any discussion from that group on this issue, or is it just a or or are we.

A

Just at a place where it's just a given that we provide transportation to.

A

Veterans, that's heard enough to know: we've been able to support it and in.

I

This work now, all of a sudden, it's over many of them needs a little help more.

I

Services, it's getting expensive for us right and I agree with you a hundred.

I

Percent, we need to let people know in the state locally. I think we do a pretty.

I

Good job, but once we get on carroll county people don't know about it's a.

I

Whole lot, what we're doing there and I've heard bits and pieces they really.

I

Don't know what we do and I think we need to seek state assistance, funding.

I

For veterans shuttle, let them know what we're doing. I think we have to pursue.

I

The end county service that we dropped a couple years ago or got denied at that.

I

Point a decimal and carol, and we have to look what you said on the defray.

I

Expenses here somehow to bring it down, maybe using the on demand to hub or for.

I

Some of these people, but some of these guys are in pretty bad shape and women.

I

They, you know sight, hearing everything's going on them and they need some.

I

Assistance and those guys really need to be helped here, and you know I get to go.

I

Back to this, this is not a freebie they've earned these benefits, and you.

I

Know we have do what we can to help the guys who keep.

I

Us here I agree wholeheartedly. Isn't there someone start a local veteran.

A

Shuttle yeah, okay, so you know perhaps I mean I don't want to get one tugging at.

A

The other, but there's another possibility of getting them to where they need to get if they need to get to the hub. You know I don't know. Okay, I.

A

Don't know what they're doing or where they're taking them out with the assumed.

A

Local physicians, appointments or or beauty of the like, but maybe there's a.

A

Possibility to get those that's so what's his name right, yeah, maybe maybe.

A

We could get him hooked up to take them from home to wherever, and we have.

H

Discussed that with him, okay, um I think they've had some staffing challenges and.

H

A couple other okay: it's not it's a possibility.

C

Okay- and I think that, because it's a volunteer-based model right he's he's.

C

Had some some things had to work through and we all came.

C

Together and we met when he was starting up and we pulled in cts and stacy with.

C

From the county side and really talked about exactly that in these home pickups.

C

At north carroll in that area- and we feel he wants to be part of that- and.

C

They want to be part of that process and to help us they can. But it's not come to.

C

Fruition at this occurring, or so we are still exploring that as an option, but I.

C

Think their startup is taking a little bit longer too, and they are up and running. But to get it you know the volume right crease and their drivers.

I

Are all volunteer veteran charter guys and their and what their goal is is to.

C

Provide in county transportation only then so it's not just acute with cps and.

C

Also to provide it, I like to read some so like to reiterate what commissioner.

O

Rothstein is mentioned about educating these veterans of potential.

O

Reimbursement from the federal government- I don't know if there's a.

O

System we can have a place to get them data and information, because if they.

O

Have a chance to be reimbursed, they should be, and also down the line. If.

O

There's a chance we can tap into that they get reimbursed at this level with.

O

Those funds I'd like to pursue that at least we get some sort of federal.

O

Subsidy through that avenue, but doubt have to be based upon what type of.

O

Reimbursement they're getting, and I don't know what that is. I don't know.

O

What type of formulas used what's the amount, but if we could someway tap into.

O

That revenue stream from the federal government assistance and their transportation to bring it into this program that would be helpful.

O

Gina, do we cross-reference that folks to see the beth counselors with these.

M

People the best shuttle users so that, if they're already seeing that counselors.

M

Than they're talking about their benefits, so they would, they would know.

M

Whether they were eligible, they could work on them about their eligibility for.

M

Reimbursement for their shuttle service straight away, the va shows, don't go into.

K

That detail with veteran service officer, I'm sorry what, and especially if I.

G

Explain to them that that needs to be part of the process. They would certainly do that, but if that regular vsos may not, I don't typically do which, of course, our.

G

Services you see that, but if the process, I'm sorry, is it a suspect form a.

I

Government form can't be simple, but I can ask the moon, I am pretty sure jim.

G

Coleman is very familiar with this process, so I'll talk to him about this today and ask him how easy it is, how much it is. I've kind of heard like there.

G

Was a veteran who was transporting himself for treatment five days a week and it sounded like 25 bucks a week might have been his reimbursement. That's.

G

What mine's, but you know at least it'd, be something I think. The other question I would have is that if the county's paying the service or providing the service at no charge, would they be.

G

Eligible for the reimbursement, because I don't know what that looks like, I think.

I

They said no at one time, but I don't know the reason. I can't remember the.

I

Reason on that, but they it has to go through the individual factor in the way.

I

It is set up, but with some help on the mad dog shuttle, here's your form, you.

I

Know submit this, but it has to go to the veteran now. You know I don't yeah yeah. I.

O

Think we're all only little bit of education on that reimbursement program.

O

That we could tap into it possible well, one of the veterans from the young vac.

D

Told me that, basically, after the end of their appointment, there's either paper.

D

Form or computer that they actually have to check out and they can actually state.

D

That they were either transported by themselves by a family member or an.

D

Outside transportation, he was telling me that, basically, when he goes to.

D

Martinsburg he gets about between 50 to $60 per trip, and it's because he.

D

Service-Connected and, of course, service-connected means that in his.

D

Service he was hurt and the injury sustained was throughout through his.

D

Service, so he actually gets a check. He says that most vets do not know that.

D

Because he, you know when he was going for his particular injury. That's when.

D

They they told him that you can get this money so one it would be to let the vets.

D

Know to kind of ask some type of questions that hopefully aren't going to.

D

Encroach on hipaa I'm an hr person by nature for the past 20 years. Oh, you know.

D

It'd have to be very, you know, either with other entities that we can kind of.

D

Ask those questions and have them to understand what can and cannot happen.

D

But he did state that lots of people do not realize.

D

Money is there one of the concerns that I know that when we spoke with the vet.

D

Was what if the vets are actually using this money for other things, food.

D

Utilities things of that nature, so we want to be very cognizant of what we may.

D

Ask from them seeing as though that, if they are already getting this money, this.

D

May be something that they use the money for so that's another option as well, but.

D

It is out there and they have several means on getting it, but it literally is.

D

A check to to the actual vet, so we just have to get them to understand if it's.

D

Service-Connected, he also stated that it may be a another way that, if the vets.

D

Are do not have a lot of money that they can it's a means test as well to state.

D

You know if they financially may need this money for transportation, that they.

D

Would be able to get that money as well? So it's just something that we would.

D

Have to work with veteran services to really figure out what we can say, how we.

D

Can say what's necessary and to kind of help them better long as well yeah. I.

A

Think that's where we need to go. I really do and we're still providing the service. It's merely creating a pass-through.

A

That's all it's all that we're doing so we're not taking away anything.

A

Necessarily we're we're tapping into a resource that that we need so perhaps.

A

That's the direction we have to go to so I would suggest we do that and I would.

A

Also suggest that whoever looking at the upper management here, somebody needs to.

A

Have a veterans day or something here in the county enough stuff what they need.

A

To know what we're doing here- and it's not just in passing when you see.

A

Somebody in an event, they need to come up here and spend four hours and go out.

A

To talk to crystal you again, you know see what we see, what we're doing.

A

Whatever somebody needs to have that sort of whatever a day or you've done.

A

You have to be a day, I mean they could do it in four hours and I think you.

A

Might get some dividends as a result of just merely showing people? What, in the.

A

World we're going here, we don't have the mad dog shovel to pick them up. I mean.

A

You know the possibilities are endless. I mean we've done some amazing things here.

A

And to just be sitting on our honor on our hands and saying: okay! Well, okay, now.

A

We need a little help. This way, you know we had to ask for some extra revenue.

A

Come on somebody needs to know what we're doing so. Somebody needs to work on.

A

That, two years ago, a veterans conference, soviet veterans.

N

Forum about two years ago, where we did just we showcased our veteran services.

N

We're over the community college and it was basically showcasing the cat all all.

N

Of all county services, whether it's not popular county government of services,.

N

Provided veterans, we had a pinning ceremony for vietnam, vets.

N

So we at that time, that was just it was just a staff front. It was actually.

N

Commissioner, howard, who recommended we do do that, and we did it which really.

N

Staff run- and we had said- maybe we would do that every other year. So it's not.

N

Saturate, what's going on so actually in a twenty we're due to have a forum and.

N

We're actually coming before the board soon, with the veteran advisory council.

N

Because we want the veterans advisory council to get direction from you on.

N

What they should be working on, and we thought that may be a good project for.

N

The back to work on in concert with the staff for the bath y20 before we could.

N

You just stop actually some of the things we're talking about today may be.

I

Direction to the advisory council to especially promotion.

I

Into this it's part direction, and as far as in county service, I think that would.

I

Be one of it working with them would be really important. We need to guess them.

I

To do am I wrong what part of 20 are you looking to doing this early middle and.

A

Where yeah veterans day last movie did it in the fall last year january, I think.

C

It was judging, was it that late? We could do it really any. You know any time. Well,.

F

The other piece, as far as involving the state meet two years ago, we also did our.

C

Our expo with the veterans celebrating veterans theme and we did invite state.

C

Officials into that, as well and secretary kramer, the maryland department.

C

Of aging secretary sent her deputy director to that event, where we.

C

Showcased all the veteran services, including the shuttle at that expo as.

C

Well, but I think providing a more detailed in the presentation at makeover.

C

We talked about even presenting our national area agency on aging conference.

C

Where state officials attend as well might even be a broader and better for them to do that.

A

I just don't want to get to the point where you know the howard counties, the.

A

World start to do this, and then you know we sit back, say: yeah well, we've been.

A

Doing that, for you know two years, but yet they get the accolades, we should be.

A

Getting the accolades it's a well-kept secret.

I

I think every american legion and vfw knows exactly where it's going. The cuts.

I

This counselor does, but when you get out to the general population, I'm not sure.

I

They're very aware, and when you get outside the county, bits and pieces, but.

I

They really don't know. This is a major promotion, they know about it.

I

They really don't have a feel for us. We are speaking of that. um It's kind of a.

H

Two-Part thing, but I agree that a lot of people don't know about it. So if we are.

H

Gonna push for that to increase the volume there. There are many many many.

H

Things we can do so we can get more veterans on board, but we don't right now.

H

We have a flyer like the most basic flyer, that explains what we do and some.

H

Of that is because this has grown much faster than I think anyone really.

H

Anticipated and as from from the vendor standpoint, part of the part of the.

H

Concern financially, obviously, is a big portion of that, but we don't really have.

H

A structure on what this program is, and I think, and we talked about that. The.

H

Veterans, advisory council once before I brought it up, and so you know we're just.

H

Provide veterans transit which we which we are doing, but we don't really have a.

H

Structure- and we don't have you know, and we need that guidance from you. What are.

H

Our hours, when do we I mean I will be the first to tell you. I just make the.

H

Rules of what I see fit, you know as long as we.

H

Can get our drivers in and out and a reasonable amount of time, but that would.

H

Also really help with budget and and what we're looking to fund. But we don't.

H

Really have set hours, we don't have. Is there a cut-off? I don't know. I was.

H

Always told we can't deny, nor would I want to, but that we can't deny anyone so.

H

We make everything happen. All the time is there, you know. Are there we just.

H

Don't really have any, we don't have a structure, we don't have a program. We.

H

Have where we run a shuttle for veterans, and that is literally the only.

H

Information we have so I think if I can someone something and say we offer this.

H

Service, these are the hours. These are the locations that kind of structure.

H

Would not only help us as a vendor, but the people utilizing the service yeah. I.

A

Think that's part of the growing things. First, a little bit occurred. There's.

A

There's really no, and if we started this and it all sounded good and it was great.

A

But with that has to come some parameters and we sort of let that go.

A

Right with with the you know you just, may it work we're good just you know, I.

F

Mean and then come back and get another for either end, which is where we're.

A

Anything you know, that's why we're here right so something's got to give. I think.

K

A few things one, you know I guess to pull rigging. It's amazing. We.

K

Can get done, nobody cared, but he takes credit. So I'm not worried about.

K

Accolades and how would tell me or anybody else, we're doing amazing things.

K

I only said that early giving very valuable service to our veterans. We can.

K

Work continue to do that that event at carroll community college was standing.

K

The moment and we had federal and state folks there as well.

K

Recognizing our veterans, the paying ceremony, it was awesome.

K

We're doing it continuously shared with secretary owens and, along with the.

K

Delegation and everyone else, the programs that we're doing it's not a.

K

Secret, you know they they know. Now. The challenge is getting them to listen more.

K

And look at applying resources when their time people have money towards.

K

These programs, because I agree 100%, we are in a a form of what, in the.

K

Military, we call mission creep, and that is basically when you start something.

K

But you don't have an end state or a vision, and you just continue to grow and.

K

We don't need this to be another somalia, where we just continue to grow, grow, grow.

K

Without understanding what the exit strategy is or the strategy to you know.

K

Like to mature, when said parameters around the program, I think.

K

I think it is a partnership of all of us around the table to come up with those.

K

Very specific objectives and goals, and we can do that. What is the problem? We're.

K

Trying to solve the problem trying to solve is to leverage is, is to you know.

K

Allow for our veterans in our community that don't have the means to get the.

K

Care necessary- and that is you know at the at the va now va- is also changing.

K

Their processes and allowing for veterans to go to other locations.

K

Outside the va, are we prepared to service? Those veterans are now going to.

K

Private physicians that may be closer to get that service are. We are we looking.

K

At service the va community, the va, centers and hospitals, or are we there to.

K

Service, our veterans and where their service, our veterans, I mean, I understand.

K

That, let me just be so rhetoric about, but in doing that, we're gonna go into.

K

Other places that we're going to have to service it suppose of orange bergen and.

K

Green street- and we are we prepared to do that- I think if we, if we define that.

K

Problem, the veterans that do not have the luxury or the means or whatever we.

K

Want say that meet the criteria that you shared, providing them appropriate.

K

Service to get the best care possible.

K

This is a method to doing that, allen say it's a whole holiday. It's the full.

K

Method, I do believe we need to talk to the state in the region more and I do.

K

Believe that carroll county is stepping up. Finally, and.

K

You know how to service their veterans and they have a very large veteran.

K

Community as well, how we can possibly partner with them, if that's feasible, we.

K

Should look at, I don't know if that's the right answer or not, I don't know.

K

Logistics wise how difficult it would be to look at a regional approach. But it's.

K

Worth looking at, my biggest concern is that we started in 2012, like you shared.

K

With 25,000 and now you're gonna be looking at 230,000 and it's only 7 years.

K

And we're growing these numbers and that 40,000 that you asked for the other day.

K

Which again, I appreciate everything we're doing to take care of our veterans.

K

But I think you're right, I think we're in a mission creep and we're to continue.

K

To bleed us indian dollars, but not understanding the actual reason why.

K

We're doing it so we got a 10 say, stop you know.

K

You know where's that $230,000 protected to go. Is it meeting? Is it? Is it helping.

K

To fix the problem that we're trying to solve and when I won't say enough is.

K

Enough but where are other resources you know? I look at three artists. It's it's.

K

Risk risk management, resource management and return on investment and those three.

K

Things have to be have to be looked at, not one or the other, but all three, the.

K

Risk associated resources that were willing to apply, and then what is the.

K

Return on investment for quality of life for our veterans and I undo I'm just.

K

Concerned that we're kind of where we're spinning you know and because you've.

K

Shared this often- and I agree with you- let's define the vision and the goals.

K

And then come up with the objectives and then resource those objective. That's it.

K

And it's it's as straight and then we stop, I mean we cannot save the world.

K

Well, let's save a little piece of the corner of the world right now and that's.

K

Identified batteries, the services you know for their quality of life, with the.

K

Resources we have, and we can do that now and if the cost comes out to two hundred.

K

And thirty thousand dollars, then we make that decision yes or no to fund.

K

That two hundred thirty thousand dollars, but it's but the biggest concern if we.

K

Don't define ourselves we'll keep asking for another forty thousand twenty-five thousand and that will drive mr. zaleski.

K

Crazy, along with all of us, because it's not disposable money and we gotta get it.

K

From somewhere with, so we gotta, we gotta, get to a point, now stop and define it.

K

And then resource it apologize being so pro fuel about it. But you know it's not.

K

About the state, not knowing the state knows, our delegation knows I'm confident.

K

A then, where are they? I don't know they, they know it, but they know, and I've seen.

A

This happen again and I'm gonna, I'm gonna argue with you a little bit about.

F

The accolade, I only use that in a sense of I've, seen it over the last four years.

A

Things that have happened that we've done here that have happened across the.

A

State and then they all of a sudden get get get funding for it. But yet we've.

A

Been doing it for two years, so I'm not saying that we should get out there and.

A

Crow about how fantastic we are I'm using accolades by saying somebody needs.

A

To know- and I hear you say that our delegation knows and our state knows.

A

Well, if they know, then where are they I don't they I didn't even know again. I am.

K

Confident that they are been made aware of this multiple times, I am not.

C

Confident that they are prepared to put resources against their own time.

K

Money so you're right, let's give them this program with the fine parameters.

K

Like you said and say, this is what we are doing, and this is where, in order for.

K

Us to sustain the operations closely where we would want your assistance and.

K

And and then physically give affection or something to the delegation to.

K

Secretary owings and everybody else, I mean we, where we have the luxury of.

K

Being county clear, the luxury of being aggressive of being down maiko.

K

And being willing to step up, I think what we need to do is is do that for.

K

These types of services- you know, but but it starts back to us and that's defined.

K

Like like yeah, you know, chris, is asking and put it in paper, get a vision.

K

Statement done because I can't I can make one up. I think it's close to.

K

Being right, but I wanted to be able to be obtainable a vision statement and.

K

State goals and objectives, goodness how we're resourcing it and then put it on.

K

Paper and that's it, we need a vision statement, business plan put down into a.

I

Second, okay- and I do agree with you- people know about our program. They just.

I

Don't know details, they know a lot, but I don't have now certain people did the.

I

State do yes yeah, but there's a lot of people out there and I'm talking about.

I

The delegate from any body from howard, county or montgomery county they may.

I

Have a catch, an idea what we do, but they really don't know what we do.

I

And that's, I think, you're right. That's part of our responsibility really.

K

Concerned about internally within the county, there's still so many veterans.

K

That just don't know the services that are available to them, especially like.

K

You mentioned the kiosk with the transportation, I'm aware of.

K

That, because I check out from the va and it's in there but again I'm driving.

K

There and coming back so it's it's, it's knowing and understanding the services.

K

It's education, you know, like mr. boucher shared earlier, it's educating our.

K

Veteran force, it's educating folks around us. I have asked you know through.

K

The veterans advisory council that we get the carroll county times more.

K

Engaged and they started to come to the meetings, but then they left, you know.

K

They came like two three times hey, this is good, they never got and there should.

K

Be a veteran's corner in the paper once a week or once every two weeks here are.

K

The services available- you know I, why not I supposed to so many.

K

Other things that are in the paper you know and because we are we're doing.

K

Amazing things I am so proud of all of you, the work you're doing taking care of our veterans, no county is doing or going and.

K

You know, like you, know, last thing, commercial and said we should be being.

K

The drum very loudly continue to see this well.

M

That's step 100%, the grease of you. That's! Why we're here? Because we'd love.

M

To get them back gram direction, what does what do the.

M

Policy, the county want this program to be didn't, want to be more scheduled. You.

M

Know go to certain streets, certainly site certain days. We.

M

I don't think that could be defined as quickly. I think it's again to find the.

K

Problem come up with the vision and then saying okay. In order to accomplish that.

K

Within the resources that we have available to us, the amount of buses and.

K

On bunny mount drivers mount services: these are things that were capable of.

K

Doing if you want us to do more like door to door or whatever it is, this is.

K

The amount of resources it would take in order to do that, the money time and.

K

People, um but right now we know what the budget is. We know what your budgeted for.

K

You know what you're proposing with that proposal. You're gonna say these are the.

K

Services that are being provided and then determine whether we should be.

K

Curtailing it or doing more, you know that's kind of where we're at, but it.

K

Comes to find the problem. First, sorry, I mean I'll give my background in.

L

Athletics, I, like sorta a dynamic conversation, but is there anything we.

L

Can do I'm sorry what anything we can do today to move this forth, I mean we can.

L

Look at everything was meant, you mean it's all, it's all good and we should be.

L

Looking at defining that primitive priming our parameters and what we're.

L

Gonna do with this book. What can we do today because one day night, I think that.

L

We should be looking at right now is instead of ship, sending the shuttles to.

L

All these places have the cts go there, because when they call in they call on.

L

You anyway, so you can say: okay, we're going to send out the on-demand service.

L

To your house for this and then bring you to the hub, I mean: can we start that.

L

Now is there any reason why we can't start that now, would you guys be.

L

Agreement that that would be the first step to get it done today to make a step.

A

Toward that, when challenges the money well, it has to be across the.

H

Board I mean we'd have to this is why and we need kind of the structure. First,.

H

Because to them say: okay! Well, then, if you need this, here's what you do because.

H

We kind of we have to do it for everyone across the board, not just like this.

H

Person or that person there right, yeah, okay, the money, we're not charging for.

L

The shuttle pickups right now through the mad dog shuttle so itself right now.

L

Maybe we wouldn't charge them for on demand either but yeah, but that would.

L

Actually be cheaper than the show, so that's a step right there. So we don't.

L

Have to worry about charging them right now now, if we look at that later and say.

L

Okay, you know what we will give you, the booklets, and that way it's two dollars a.

L

Trip or whatever it is, that's nominal fee. Yes,.

L

Yeah, well, we can do that, but we don't have to do that today. Today we can say.

L

We want to send cts out with on-demand buses, because that's gonna cut our costs.

L

They're still getting a service that they need, but just a different way to.

L

Provide that service in the cts will take them to either the senior says in.

L

The senior center up in to one of those three places and then from there the.

L

Shuttle will take them to where they're going to go. That is a cut and not in.

L

Services, but never in our cost, so we could do that.

L

Right now right and come back with a quarterly report saying this is what yes.

H

Now and then there would be some people that would not utilize. The man responds.

H

Because logistically it doesn't make sense, so there would be people who we.

H

Would still from their home just on the regular veteran shuttle, because it would cost more money, he can't go to you yeah. So.

C

Just the right yeah so that wouldn't apply to everyone, but so it's answer.

C

Your question you asked me to do that now: no, it wouldn't apply to everyone and.

H

Yes, it would cut what we're sending. I think I mean, I think, that's a good first.

L

Step, I don't know if you all agree with that, but if you did then that's make sure you start with that. Are there other efficiencies we need to.

I

Look at in the system can I just ask one question: looking back at that option,.

C

Moving to that model is, is that gonna increase their time spent on the bus. No.

H

Well, no because they would still be picked up from their home anyhow, so they.

H

Would just be picked up by a different bus data, our veteran shuttles, not.

H

Starting earlier to gather stuff in people, they would have their own perspective. Buses take them to that one place so they're still taking that trip.

N

Any of you picked up earlier makes I'm there for the time we're not there.

F

Because there they are already being picked up earlier, the only thing so.

H

Right now we have a gentleman it's in hampstead. He gets picked up at 7:15.

H

Every day so that we can pick up all the other folks, he would still get picked up.

H

At 7:15, just by a different bus he's already on the schedule, not by the.

H

Veteran services, so it would not impact their time on the bus at all. So where do.

B

You answer the question about the efficiency. The efficiency would come on.

B

Into the demand response box is, at that same time, they're picking up multiple.

B

Other citizens in that area, so that we would in many cases, they'd be.

B

Multiple people on the main response, bus, where today there might be one or two.

B

Never leave that that that veteran, maybe the third on that route, so goodie, that's.

B

Where some efficiency comes in is the fact that you already have a bus, that's driving to those areas. There are the occasions that wouldn't be that separate.

B

Trip as we put our vision together and our business plan on this, I think we do.

I

Keep it in mind efficiencies where we can change it as we're doing that, and.

I

That's a perfect time to implement every bus, that's right and every bus that goes.

B

To our green street or to fort detrick in martinsburg, it depends on the number.

B

Of riders for the day will depend if there any, if run with us,.

B

Will fill up a minivan or they're filling up one of our row masters so.

B

They they're cognizant about the number of better. You know: number riders going.

B

Where they're going on what size vehicle that we're utilizing but as we sit back.

B

We continue to promote and continue to increase the services and really get the.

B

Word out there we just don't want to get to the point we're at capacity.

B

You know we maximize the capacity while we have some minivans that probably a.

B

Couple years from being replace, we have to be looking thinking about in that.

B

Business plan are we replacing those minivans with pro masters or or like.

B

Type vehicle or replace it instilled with the minivans, but we'll need to be.

B

Those are discussions again. That's we are going to discuss.

B

With capacity, if we're going to have a capacity max or missionary, but we also.

H

Combined martinsburg in fort dietrich together, I don't know if you said combined or not so I apologize if I'm repeating, but we don't run the buses to.

H

Those two locations, unless it's a constant to the veterans, employment, so.

H

We do just hit frederick on the way down, so we are not currently running an extra.

H

Bus for those two we just said once we are just so what.

I

Are we going to get accomplished between now and the next meeting we're gonna.

B

Utilize, the demanders, we're gonna, look at the demand response before it. Now we.

B

Run to this crystal melesa, we're penciling the numbers, real, quick.

B

On paper, we'll get some of the efficiencies built put down on paper and.

B

Some spreadsheets to show kind of a snapshot as you will. What that savings.

B

Will be right now we're finalizing our budget for upcoming, but we gave you a.

B

Worst-Case a hole, a way worst case scenario with with the contingency built.

B

Into it for growth in the program as a number, but we have to, we had to start.

B

Somewhere and then about a number for today, disposal will have to do is we'll.

B

Look at that we're going to finalize the budget for fy 20, so we can get that.

B

Presentative to the board here in the next month.

K

Giving us a capital cost or cost of shovels, maybe a value. This way we can.

K

Actually, physically give something to the delegation to administration, saying.

K

This is what the cost would be to continue the value services for our.

K

Community, you know whatever that dollar amount is cost per rider cost for never.

B

Prosper, nope just sort of lead yourself to vehicles, yep yep, so it is. You know if.

K

I'm gonna talk to it. You know when I talk to the delegation anybody I always.

K

Want my pocket and ask you know: why am I talking to you just for having to see or.

K

Just be aware, or natural physical hey, I need $150,000 for this. To do this. I can.

B

Have those speakers after I also think we should ask the delegation for.

L

Matching funds, if we're, if, if our advisors $230,000 for this, let's look at.

L

Them for half that is they apparently say that that you know we have two.

L

Matching funds here, it's much easier for them to get money from annapolis, so we.

L

Have the money we're already putting it out there now it's to earn 30,000 can.

L

You give us are in 15 well in was in one of our delegates, a former commissioner.

H

To approve shuttle, as its implementation is also veteran seems like that would be on his priority list about that through capital.

K

Costs it is about what can a good point? What can they take roberto right? He.

H

Could carry the water he approved the shuttles, so no, he was on the board of.

H

Commissioners at that time, so he should not only know about it but have a little.

H

Pride in the service that he put in place so a shoemaker. I think we should.

O

Ask him about it. I think I'm concerned about once we do all the public.

O

Awareness how big this will become, we don't know what it potentially can.

O

Explode into that's an unknown and with that I'm really concerned about the.

O

Revenue sources, whether state or getting a connection with the end users of some.

O

Novel connection, I'm a real strong advocate of always trying to connect the.

O

End user to the expense, nothing is truly free and if we can get some sort of.

O

Reimbursement from the federal government, even if it's a nominal fee de.

O

To veterans, I don't feel guilty about it that there should be some sort of.

O

Connection, even if it's nominal, we have to have some sort of financial.

O

Connection of the end user to the expense. Well, and as long as we have the.

H

Permission which we clearly do now to navigate them in the morning, their home.

H

Pick this one pickup thing: we can do a lot more on our end to decrease that 24.

H

Hours an hour b and get them on a regular bus, so we'll put that into place.

H

And that will our structure playing going forward and how once they're determined to people pick up senate will be up to us to.

H

Determine the most cost effective way to get them to the veterans service, so that.

H

Gives us a lot more flexibility as far as book? Let's go if we're gonna, let.

N

Folks know that reduce we're gonna be letting them know they're available the.

N

Senior center, are we gonna, have an extra, I don't know fifty on hands or they.

C

Would be available at the bureau's and that's what we already have so every.

N

Matter: okay, yeah, I mean, but before we tell them that there's discount cuz.

D

We're not asking them to pay currently so yeah yeah, not right now, so I mean I'm.

F

Just in the future, then we can that's we'll look at that later right now, we're.

L

Just switching from the veteran shuttle picking up their house to the own demand.

L

Service pick one for house which would be less money after we look at that, and.

L

Maybe that we're gonna say: okay, we'll still pick you up and now you there's a.

L

There's a book that you can get a coupon booklet and it's be two dollars for the.

L

Trip or whatever it is, which is, I think, is extremely reasonable. Well on another.

H

Thing to consider right now is that we only offer discount on our travelers or.

H

Service to seniors and people with disabilities, not to veterans and.

H

So it's definitely be included right. Yes, and if we do that, then it wouldn't.

H

Matter if they do have a disability, if they are senior, they can get on that bus.

H

They can navigate here and get to the medical appointments for a dollar which.

H

Would be very helpful and then potentially, if we do start charging them.

H

To get from home pickups if they can navigate the trailblazer, they can do.

H

That for a dollar there's my smart department.

I

Transportation offer any veterans programs to say a bus running in the.

I

City or anywhere else, not that I'm aware of.

H

I looked after we had the conversation about the veterans, getting reimbursement.

H

Not not that I could find the one thing that historically had happened here in.

C

The past was that the va. Actually, when you talked about the scheduling of.

C

Appointments and then scheduling of transportation va had a volunteer based.

C

Service where they had a driver that would come and pick up folks that were.

C

And it was a coordinated effort because it really takes that coordination from.

C

The va side of the scheduling of the appointments that has since gone. This is.

C

Well well before my time years and years ago, but that is gone by the wayside. But.

C

That is something that, in other counties, the va provided that service as well. So.

C

You know for certain individuals that, based on medical condition and their.

C

Service connection, they would have the ability to get these appointments.

C

Scheduled now, in my experience that never worked like a well-oiled machine.

C

It was difficult, you know, schedules got, changed, appointments got canceled.

C

But I think that we could maybe useful to the va again to question. Is there any.

C

Possibility of that resource, or is it still in existence, but we're not aware.

C

With certain individuals, I think the va work to mitigate that issue and that's.

K

Why, because of length of time it took for veterans to get appointments and.

K

Then also the distance, so they now are allowing for local appointments in the.

K

Community, as opposed to go into va clinics and hospitals, I think that may.

K

Have been a way to yeah minimize that effort, I don't know that still exists or.

K

Not remember it did, but it was. It was very cumbersome and challenging to get.

K

The va to come out at somebody else, so I mean we're we're fortunate. We are really.

K

Again blessed one the work they're doing, but also because baltimore is not that.

K

Far and warrensburg and teacher learn and the claims are not that far there.

K

Are areas that they are very spread out and yeah? I'm aware what you're saying.

K

And I do want to, and I do just to clarify from what I've heard we are.

C

Providing trips to these non va medical sites as the special requests come in.

C

When somebody needs to go to a certain medical facility that may be in town.

C

Sooner or another location we are providing those and as a special request.

C

And we're vetting those so that is happening now, but those have greatly.

C

Reduced I mean they really have. I don't know what the changes it was typically.

G

On a veteran filed, a compensation claim and then they had to have what's called.

G

A cmp exam, then they were outsourced to other physician fragrances and so that.

G

Was going on for a while, and there was a good many of them and we really haven't.

G

Gotten receive this kind of request. The va is broken up and has resourced.

K

Their own hospitals or clinics to service our veterans better and they are.

K

I mean which is good, I mean we, you know it's been tough, but it is good and I.

K

Think, maybe that's why I'm seeing less private calls like that and you guys.

I

Have done a great job, I mean there's not a veteran in this county. They asked for.

I

Service doesn't get it and thank you for what you're doing there at this time and.

I

I know we need to move ahead now to our formalize this a little better, but up to.

I

Now is just I know, the board was just make it happen, you've done that, but we need to get a formal plan in place. Thank you for what.

I

You've done, okay got direction.

A

Can we put a time frame with this transition before we leave here, so that.

C

We know when we're transitioning those rides to start as a beyond autumn and.

C

Rather than just a question, why couldn't start tomorrow? Yeah absolutely can and.

A

There's a policy to include the veterans, be part of the process yeah, so when they.

H

Call in I'm just at what I'll do is I'll. Just have my staff and I'll direct all.

H

The calls to me, which is what I used to do any comments, will get a little bit easier, but for the time being I'll, just direct them back to me. So I can explain.

H

Whether or not they're getting picked up by the veteran show or what that transition would look like for them, so that they're not concerned about who's.

H

Picking them up, because they're pretty set in their ways like every other.

H

Transit user so and then just so I'm clear, then so when we're doing the.

H

Demand response portion of this. What we'll do to submit our hours for billing.

H

And then we'll power demand response portion of that it will just be included.

H

All together and then we'll, then we can talk about what those savings and hours.

H

And it will we do that at our veterans, advisory council meeting? Are we going to.

H

Come back together to have that conversation when we need a plan.

B

I mean I would suggest it I would suggest over the next part week or so we.

B

Look at her current ridership, where they're being picked up how we can get.

B

Them to whether it's the senior center in hampstead to the hub here at the perk.

B

Give us a couple days, you know we look at it, let's evaluate with current.

B

Leadership build to sandy. We can work it and figure out how we're gonna track. It.

B

Is it this way for both both purposes for checking balances, both parties? This.

B

Will recover and we can also show those numbers when we've hit, that reduction to.

B

Be based off of kind of our current ridership. This will help us develop our.

B

Upcoming budget for fy 2000 get a program without it just flip the switch.

B

Tomorrow, to make sure it's thought of you, we have our members in their.

B

Protector balances, but I have no problem, that's my suggestion for that. As far as.

K

The variance advisory council- I think it's a good suggestion. I think we need.

K

To further define some of the objectives for the veterans, advisory council and.

K

That's gonna be a meaning. That's when we come up soon. I'm looking forward to that.

K

Too, giving them also direction from from us, but it again it's a suggestion made.

K

That may be the right approach, but let's figure out how we want to shape the.

K

Boehner's advisory council birthday yourself.

M

Ditto, I would suggest that we implement what's been suggested here. The next.

M

Month or two and then we come back to the board and relate to them how it's.

M

Been going and maybe offer other suggestions or to the veterans that are.

D

Now, using the service, how are we going to help them to know about football.

D

Right, I'm the service connection. Is it going to be through your office or are.

D

We going to work with the va: is there something that we need to do so that way.

D

We can start that process, so I'm gonna go back and talk to the veterans.

G

Services staff get a little more information about their process of what it looks like and then what I was thinking was that than the forms. If we.

G

Could give the forms, along with the instructions to maybe the drivers, for.

G

The veteran shuttle to then give to the veterans.

G

And maybe, with some type of cover letter that we, you know, give them to explaining.

G

What it is that we're asking them to do. We could also send out a mass mailing.

G

But you know if we can reach the people that are active they're using a shot off.

D

Now can we have any of your counselors to come in the busses with them to.

D

Explain the forms, because I think that having the driver to do that, I mean it's.

D

It would be great for someone that's from your office to kind of do that.

D

Instead of putting that on the on the bus driver, I think the difficulty will.

G

Be assignment be able to send somebody every day of the week. That's gonna be what we're gonna have to work out, because their workload will not permit.

G

Them I want to do that five days a week and in two different locations. Well, if.

D

We if we hit a list, so we have a list of all the people that we need to basically.

D

Talk to and if we can figure out when they're writing and to get that kind of.

D

Done then we can get that list down. You know pretty significantly because then.

D

That's something else that we can bring to the board about. Okay, we had 100.

D

Writers, all of them know what they're getting reimbursed. So that way, we can.

D

Actually have those numbers to come back to say what we need to do far as if.

D

We're going to some type of reimbursement so, but you definitely work.

D

Together, no matter, I think we're going to the passengers getting them educated.

K

Whether it's having somebody actually on the cross or just having their names and.

K

Numbers a fact sheet, there's different ways to do it. I am concerned about.

K

Stretching our resources, you know where we're mostly overkilling with too many.

K

People on the van trying to educate somebody, it may just be that bus driver.

K

Handing something it's in their best interest to draw the past.

K

And our veterans to understand it best, um I didn't happen. A phone number saying.

K

Hey, if you have questions and fill in this out or you know dan- maybe the way.

K

To do it, as opposed to I'm just concerned about stretching our resources.

K

um Yeah, the others- yes, I would think is these writers are all going to a va.

C

Medical st. so as they're on the bus we're able to read on the bus they can.

C

Take that into the va site and get some direction while they're there would be.

C

My hope as well to fear their utilize their resource. They were we're helping.

C

With with the assistance on our site to get them to their medical appointments, but I think the va has a part of this as well, and we need to make sure that we're having them do what they can on their.

C

Side to help educate these individuals about the programs that they have, I mean.

C

We certainly will it on our side, but I think they could be a resource to huson.

B

Sure that we have anybody with visually impaired or any other sheriff.

B

Well, on the flip side of that, could our drivers sit down? We have made a couple.

H

Of main drivers, because they sit down with your staff for 20-30 minutes to.

H

Understand what it is so not to answer any important questions or to steer them.

H

In a direction but just to be able to say this is the you know, basics of this.

H

Form- and this is what you need to do, because they're obviously always with us.

H

So maybe that would be maybe they can understand it that way. Yeah part of this.

K

Is also breaking down the stigma of the va. I mean that means gone through a lot.

K

And I do think it's going in the right direction. I think the services they do.

K

Provide at the clinics and the hospitals are getting better all the time.

K

I mean, I am ninety percent, you know service, disabled and the va has done a.

K

Lot, you know they've come a long, long ways, so you know it's it's. They have.

K

Information kiosks and all that kind of stuff there, as well so you're using them.

K

It's been some of the work on them, but they're they're prepared to do this. I.

K

Think, better now than they were just a few years ago, as drivers or the person.

I

These people rely on that's the personnel going to talk to you for an hour and a half and the education of that driver is critical, and I.

I

I commend you yeah, they are the ones who are gonna have to answer that. A lot of.

I

The questions, or at least um call the number at the bottom to get that service.

I

But they're gonna be on the bus one on one right and there are representatives.

I

Out here this shuttle was implemented in 2012. We hired, we hired two drivers.

H

Alvin tasker to to be our veteran shuttle driver, and he was has been with.

H

Us since 2012, unfortunately, it's fallen ill back in.

H

November and he passed away this over the weekend, so I just wanted to mention.

H

That um you know obviously we'll miss them a great deal and he wasn't.

H

Excellent excellent driver and a wonderful asset to our our veterans.

H

Service and all of this concern don't miss. I just want to.

H

Appreciate you sharing that there's a lot of unsung heroes. There do a lot of.

B

Work, there's not looking for names we're at the mission you're just doing it. They.

G

Had questions he'd, probably on their behalf, and they would call him on the.

H

Cell phone and ask them questions yeah, you know, and actually he was where he.

F

Was not to give his personal information, but he was in hospital from november. So.

H

This past weekend, and so his wife told me every day I was really the only thing.

H

He was crude about us when they was gonna, be able to come back to work and whether or not his veterans were being taken. I mean I don't know why we.

H

Wouldn't take them to his very confirming it to their appointments. You.

K

Know it can't hurt to capture the successes that we're doing and the.

K

Vision, moving forward, sharing it with the carroll county times and with the.

K

Media highlighting the services like this no gentlemen provided because.

K

They're not looking for the certificates on the wall they're just doing it.

K

Because it's the right surface to do and that's really what you're doing so. I.

F

Think you know using the media the best we can.

K

This is another happiness, the public you know, press release or.

K

Something from us saying: hey here's where we're moving forward and.

K

Highlighting that so I appreciate it, it's a work on a plan at this point.

B

Services will we remain? Anybody calls anybody, everybody has arrived, we don't.

B

Have a capacity issue today with the equipment that we have to crow masters.

B

And for minivans, sometimes it's just pulling in additional drivers when.

B

Needed when services, you know a services made if they were increasing ride, was a.

B

Great job of making sure that we maximize any bus, that's getting the road.

B

Is maximize number of riders on it will work on the plan, our business plan and.

B

Mission statement and we'll also sit back and give send out the capital cost for new buses.

B

Replacement buses to meet future capacity needs what we're going to be.

B

Looking for other for asking for funding from the state, or would it be something.

B

That, just for your note on knowledge as we're looking at our capital project of.

B

What these costs are into coming up in the near future. Thank you.

B

Is there anything I missed? The only question I have is that we're gonna.

G

Encourage veterans to apply for the reimbursement for travel.

G

We kindly ask the patients that are there anything that money pathologist.

E

Right yeah one day, thanks get some money back, that's good for that, but if, when we.

L

Come back and revisit this if we're gonna start something and coupon booklets, that's how we will handle that we need to get a handle. What rate and.

O

Reimbursement- all that is to it look at it. I saw suarez anyway. The protection.

O

Memorialized that driver in some form or fashion- I don't know what the county.

O

Normally does maybe come back to some suggestions: name a shuttle after them or.

O

Something like that something to leave his legacy with. Oh sure they were named.

I

After from the doctor, okay, well, that dog is the name. He went.

I

By I mean, I think, it's dedicated to something that we get the same with mad.

K

Dog we could do something similar now be really cool, and that could be fun for.

K

But others advisory council because he certainly touched your life. We can all.

O

Tell and I'm sure he touched hundreds of other veterans and.

A

Okay, good all right, I don't eat it. Only their I've never had a motion.