Carroll County, MD Board of County Commissioners Open Sessions, 23 Feb 2021

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From YouTube: Board of Carroll County Commissioners Open Session February 23, 2021

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https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/commissioners/board-of-carroll-county-commissioners-weekly-agenda/

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Okay, good morning carol county commissioner ed rothstein. It is february tuesday february 23rd.

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I believe we have a full agenda for this morning and then we'll be going into closed.

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And then we uh come back together on thursday for open session, as we always do. Let's stand for the.

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Pledge of allegiance and uh a moment of silence, reminding us about the five hundred thousand.

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Plus that have now died for cobit 19 or from kobe 19. Our flags are at half staff through friday.

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Reminding us of the uh challenges that we still are living in.

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uh Giving um strength and courage to those serving uh on the front line, those health care workers and.

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Keeping all those in uh in our hearts and prayers thanks, stan.

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I pledge allegiance to the fire. The united states of america.

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

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Okay, it's uh for me a little hard to start after reminding us.

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A half a million plus folks have already died from this uh carroll county is not an island.

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And uh we're going to go into priority carol, I'm just going to start with sharon. What's on my mind,.

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That, I believe, is a priority for carroll county, and that is we are not an island and we are not.

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Alone, we are going through this pandemic. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the.

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Vaccines and let's keep uh you know, wishing that the johnson johnson vaccine will get put in place.

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um And kudos and strength to our healthcare providers again, who are providing the vaccines.

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You know like the uh like the opera, uh the fat lady has not sung, so we shouldn't be leaving.

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The uh the theater right now we shouldn't be abandoning the due diligence, we're wearing.

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The masks or keeping safe distance or washing our hands, we should continue to look at the community.

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And our neighbors: this has nothing to do with politics and has everything to do with the.

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Community, so I applaud all those that continue to wear our masks and keep in safe distance. I applaud.

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All those looking out for our community and our neighbors, and we should not shy away from that.

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And if the paper can pick up anything from today.

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I think that needs to be a continuing message that we will not.

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You know slow ourselves down in watching out for our community and our neighbors.

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It's not time to leave the theater. This pandemic is still with us. um I did mention the vaccines.

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I do talk with the state, along with many of us uh talk with the state on the vaccine program. I am.

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Still not convinced that it is in carroll, county's, best interest the way it's being distributed uh as.

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Far as the vaccines, because they are continuing to use the regional, centers and pharmacies which.

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Are good things but they're not as good for those that are vulnerable in getting sick, in other words,.

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The over 75 and those that we have put also on the front lines are educators in our schools.

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That need to be vaccinated as we continue to strive in opening our schools.

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So keep looking out for our community and neighbors make sure that they're signed up.

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To get vaccinated, we will do our best in getting more and more vaccines.

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In place here in carroll, county bottom line is we're leaders we've got to lead by example, and.

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Leading by example, is wearing a mask, leading by example, is doing what's right and taking care of.

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Our community, so I will leave it at that for my priority here in carroll county uh commissioner.

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Frazier again, when you follow commissioner ross team, there's not much left to say.

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Say that uh why the numbers are going in the right direction and they are. We certainly hope that they.

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Keep going that way, but still have to be vigilant and everything. Commissioner rostein said I I.

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I I agree with completely keep mass washing distance all that stuff. We still need to do it.

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It's not over yet I'm hoping it will be soon, but it's not over yet and then at vayne. I I.

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Still haven't seen or heard anything from the board of ed about their plan.

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Of when they go back into school, I was hoping to have heard something by now, but we haven't.

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I I'm thinking wednesday at their meeting they're going to talk about this and they'll have a plan.

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Worked out because what worries me about it is, we went to cohort a and cohort b because you couldn't.

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Have all the kids in school at one time because of social distancing, but now they're asking all.

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The kids to come back in school at one time and we're still supposed to be social distancing so.

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I can't wait to see the plan, I'm hoping it's going to work out well because, as a retired.

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Teacher of over 40 years experience nothing beats in-person learning. I love to have the.

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Kids in there, but I want it done safely. Thank you. That's all. I have absolutely commissioned boucher.

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Thank you, president. We're all seeing, and I appreciate you mentioning the.

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75 plus population, those are the ones that seem to be the most vulnerable in the hospitals and.

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The fatalities, so that's the focus of us. I want to thank mr swam and bonnie stav and her tourism.

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Department for bringing this information up on african-american heritage month, commissioner.

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Lanson mentioned this earlier in the month, and I said that we had different brochures. Well, here's.

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The brochures and you can go online and get this information. I really like the tours. I'm.

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Very much particularly uh partial to the civil war veterans. We have numerous african-american.

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Troops who served in carroll county who are buried throughout the county.

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You can go online, you can find all these different locations to go on a tour. I believe, commissioner,.

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Lance also mentioned frederick douglass and harriet tubman. There are wonderful facilities.

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On the eastern shore, you can get a tour two of the biggest leaders and advocates of the.

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Abolition of slavery came out of the state of mural. A lot of people, don't realize that and the.

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Federal government, the state government invested a substantial amount of money in recording that.

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History and having the facilities, you can go tour and get a better understanding of struggle. That.

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African americans face and not only the state of maryland but throughout the state. So I appreciate.

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Them for getting this information together, the month's almost over- but please remember to be.

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Aware of these facilities and museums throughout the year and down in sykesville, they have the one.

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Room schoolhouse, you know, history can be ugly, but history can be learned from so please take the.

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Time to get on these tours and have recognition for what we face as a society, and uh here we go.

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I went on a storm water management tour this week with euro chief uh chris hines and thanks to the.

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Director tom devilis for taking me out this is sullivan road. I was not aware of how large the.

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Stormwater management facility is in westminster on sullivan road. It's absolutely gorgeous.

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And I'm grateful for him taking me out there and educating me on this. You know it's fascinating to.

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See all the runoff going in these storm facilities and nice clean water coming out the other end.

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We did the sullivan road in westminster, and I believe this one here chris is at the new yeah.

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There is new windsor on stormwater management that was neat. While we were out there a whole.

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Herd of deer came running through and there was lots of tracks around even bunny rabbits. So.

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These storm water maximum facilities also offer a water source to wildlife.

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And the grass is kept up, so it's healthy grass for them to eat. If I could hunt them I'd, hunt them, but.

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They're enjoying it very much and the winds are at a neat facility as well new windsor and mount.

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Airy both had very nice facilities. It was honored to go out and get a tour of what's taking place.

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Out there, because we as a commissioner board, invest a lot of capital into these projects, so.

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To go out there and be educated on what they're doing and ultimately, it impacts.

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Water quality throughout the state, especially at chesapeake bay. You know I love fishing hunting.

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I love oysters, I love crabbing, as many of you do and all that is an accumulation of quality.

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From the projects that we institute locally along with other counties, so I want to thank.

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The atlanta resource management bureau for giving this tour and allowing us to show this to.

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The public to see what we're doing to help create water quality in the county. So thank you very much.

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Okay thanks, commissioner boucher commissioner uh weaver.

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Yes, um first of all, uh uh you said it all. I think, with beginning here this uh we're not out of this.

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Yet we still have to remain vigilant that we wear face masks wash our hands, keep our distance and.

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um This will uh spring comes on. People think you know well we're gonna have it's going away. We have.

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The vaccines- yes we're fighting it, it's happening, but it's almost been a year now, but that two-week.

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Period we were going to get into this, and at two weeks has turned into 50 weeks, so uh just remain.

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uh Stay the course is what I'm gonna just say on this one, so we can get through this.

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uh Dennis you mentioned the school plan. It's a 60-page document right now will be.

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Given out tomorrow, night uh gone through at the meeting on their plan for opening schools, here,.

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In carroll county so should be interesting, make some light reading. If you have the time.

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On the other note here, um this is national ffa week and we've always traditionally given a.

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Proclamation this week, schools during session, we always had people in. uh However, uh that's.

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Not gonna happen this year, it's a little different uh program, but this began in 1948 and and it was.

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To let people know that george washington's legacy was that of an agriculturalist and farmer.

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And he is one of the uh people that the ffa really looked up to as far as the way he was.

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Balanced his budget and the way he was a leader in this country, so.

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Just to shout out to the people involved in that I uh and where everybody is, if they eat.

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So I just want to uh have a shout out that this is national ffa week and as you eat your next meal.

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Thank somebody who helped uh get it to your plate for you. So um thank you and uh have a good week.

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Thanks, commissioner weaver commissioner lance good morning, everybody.

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That I had, I had to close the blinds in here, because the sun's so bright isn't that a good.

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Thing, I think, maybe spring has sprung, and I need to apologize to the groundhog who I called stupid.

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About five weeks ago, hopefully we're in the sixth week now and my apologies to the groundhog.

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On that note, I'd like to give a shout out to everybody: that's been out working in the elements.

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We've had several very challenging storms over the last several weeks. uh Not only are folks uh in dpw.

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And the guys and gals that are behind the steering wheels of the trucks.

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uh But are our law enforcement partners uh have done an excellent job, uh making sure that that.

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They watched over us out there and our first responders our volunteer fire companies. uh Several.

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Incidents during some of these heights of some of the storms and uh they were instrumental in.

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In uh bringing those to an end, so a huge thank uh thank you to everybody in and that's been out.

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In these elements, uh on that note, public safety wise there have been 11 fire deaths in the state.

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Of maryland to this point: well, let that sink in a little bit, 11 in the state of maryland.

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That is a very tragic number. The latest was in hagerstown, uh so it's we. We need to be forever.

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Mindful of public safety and and and make sure that we're doing the best things there, because.

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You know at any given time uh you could have a serious incident. uh We saw what happened in.

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Texas, uh with with the storm that hit down there- and uh you know you just you just never know,.

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So on that note, I want to give a shout out to our emergency management. Folks too, they.

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Were on top of the uh all of the forecasts? They pretty much hit them right on the head.

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uh We knew that yesterday was going to be a challenge because the time period that it hit.

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A good call from the folks here to get everybody in early if they had to, because I got a.

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My phone went off and said at 7 57 a.m. We begin seeing snow in westminster. Well, guess what time.

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We began seeing snow in westminster, 7 57 a.m. It's pretty pretty remarkable how you can do that so.

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um I think that's all that I have right now. uh I will echo uh commissioner rostine.

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With everything coveted, I I still don't get the fact that the state.

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Continues uh to want to put all of the eggs in the baskets of the mass vaccination sites.

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I've got a huge problem with that. I've been a huge supporter of governor hogan and his team.

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This one doesn't make any sense to me our local health departments, that's where it needs to be.

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Done so I'm hopeful, uh listen. I know commissioner rostein has been has been working hard on that as.

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As well as ed singer and everybody, um we haven't gotten anywhere with that, and I don't think that.

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We will but appreciate your efforts anyway uh and we'll continue to hopefully get uh an uptick in.

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Vaccines here so we can get more shots in the arms, so uh I think that's all that I've got right now.

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And uh again, I think it's supposed to be 54 degrees tomorrow get out and enjoy yep. I think.

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So and uh hopefully you did not jinx us, uh I think spring's coming early, so knock on wood.

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That it will be uh over the next couple weeks. I do think it's going to be in the 40s and 50s so.

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It'll be nice um and I do applaud the uh the team, the dpw and all the folks in making the decisions.

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And getting the word out communications uh getting the word out yesterday was tough because.

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You know we're used to saying things are delayed or closed. We're not used to saying please come in.

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Early, you know so, but uh we did our best in doing that and a lot of the employees in workforce.

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Listened and took advantage of that and uh came in early to beat the uh snow that came down um the.

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Last little factoid uh mount suribachi on february. 23Rd is the day the flag was risen in iwo jima.

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So another just marker on how important it is to recognize who we are and what we stand for.

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Just thought about that state directives: we talked about the vaccine, we're.

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Continuing to work with uh secretary schroeder and uh steve schuh and the entire team and.

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Trying to figure out what the right mix is for the vaccines uh working with our legislator.

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Legislative body excuse me on uh highlighting the need to get the numbers um right now over the next.

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Four weeks, we should expect a thousand doses a week being distributed into our health department.

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Priority still remains is 1b, which is 75 and over, and then also our education system and anything.

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Left over for continuation of government, um but we are not in one seat, does not mean do not register.

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uh 401C, but this is the distribution of uh of vaccines right now, also in partnership.

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With lifebridge they're they're, just rock stars over there from the head of life bridge carroll,.

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Hospital to uh leslie simmons and dr meltzer, they are uh started their remote or travel.

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Vaccination program getting to houses and to places where people are to getting them vaccine or.

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Vaccinated so I really do applaud them being part of our team, other state directives, um anything.

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From mako, uh commissioner, wants your commissioner fraser, you think of no commissioner.

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Now uh nothing menko's been a little quiet lately because we're getting towards the end.

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Of being bill's being introduced and we'll hear from mike here, but uh nothing as far as cove is.

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Concerned I know that they also tried their their best to get the word out that the vaccines belong.

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In the local health departments- and they also uh didn't get very far so that's all that we.

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Had from there yeah and uh thursday, we will get an update from our health department.

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I don't believe they're on today uh we were given the information on thursday. um The numbers seemed.

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To be in a small downtick, but the priority still remains, uh as I mentioned, and that is.

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Vaccinating those most vulnerable in the 1a and 1b um priorities. So let's jump right into uh release.

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Quick, I do know that the governor is having a press conference this afternoon at 2 30 to update.

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uh Covet uh get code updates or what have you so uh must see tv at 2 30 this afternoon.

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Okay, um let's jump right into mr fowler mike. I expect you're on.

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Yes, the more deficient sunshine is always a good thing, especially this time of year.

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So by the end of the week, we'll be halfway through this session at least.

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Halfway through the number of bills, as commissioner lance mentioned,.

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We've pretty much seen the introduction. There'll be a few stragglers here and there coming out.

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Of the rules committee, but uh by and large we're just sitting around 2300 bills right now, which is.

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Substantially fewer than a typical session, which sounds like some of the some of the legislators.

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Listen to their leadership when they were told to minimize the number of bills, so the next.

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I think big date that we're we're eyeing is uh crossover which is march 22nd. That's when the.

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Bills have to be in in opposite chambers, so we'll know what bills have life and and what bills don't.

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The only constitutional obligation the legislature has is to pass a budget and.

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They have to do that by the uh fifth of april and then shiny die would be on the 12th. So.

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I don't think we'll see any confetti or balloons. This year, like like we did last year.

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But uh nonetheless, we've got our eyes on that date, so the governor's vetoes were overridden.

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Which include the blueprint for maryland's future the kerwin bill and the digital tax bill.

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uh The kerwin bill for the most part will remain unchanged. There may be some technical uh matters.

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In there that need to be addressed, but for the most part that that sails through as it was passed.

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Last session, uh the governor's budget, the uh the burfa bill, I think we've talked about some of the.

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Challenges to the counties that we see in there they they continue to remain the shift of estat.

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Funding right now, that's a 50 50 split uh the governor in in in past sessions, as he has in.

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This session is attempting to shift those costs to the county that will be uh proposing 90 by 2026.

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And you've heard all the reasons why that's such a bad idea, mainly that they're, not our employees,.

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Another interesting one is to ask the counties to bear 50 percent of the costs of.

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Erroneous incarceration settlements, uh the hold harmless grants for education and the impact on.

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On moe is likely to be addressed by dls in an amendment to the berfa.

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And funding cuts of 10 to our local management boards remain in there, and that would.

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Then rebase the future funding on that cut. uh The subcommittee hearing was last.

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Subcommittee's hearing uh was last week that was a joint uh hearing senate and.

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And house subcommittees uh the local management boards made their case uh to the subcommittees.

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And so we'll be watching that as they as they continue to work on the budget and then, of course,.

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The changes to the cave formula for community colleges, uh a similar uh cut in last year's.

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Or similar proposal, last year's burfo would have cut overall funding to community colleges by.

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Approximately 100 million in 2025, so a lot of focus on the challenges to community colleges.

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The governor's relief bill did pass through both chambers. There was a a minor hang up regarding.

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Making available to both documented and undocumented immigrants.

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The benefits of the bill they decided to to end the discussion on that passed. The bill as.

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It was proposed, it was signed and made effective immediately, the legislature, the democratic caucus.

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Said that they would introduce a separate bill to deal with the uh the immigrant issue.

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And uh the unemployment insurance tax impact remains, but it really is unclear. I've given.

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You some numbers which were initial dls estimates, but no one really has a handle on what that means.

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Many of the people that are getting these unemployment.

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Benefits probably or may not have paid taxes uh to begin with. So when you talk about the impact.

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It's it's very difficult to calculate right now, so uh we'll just again have to see how that develops.

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uh We're in the business and taxes category, so a number of covet presumption bills. These are.

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Workman's comp that would presume that anyone contracting coven 19 did so in the workplace.

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Much as there are presumptive diseases, occupational diseases, as you can see there.

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Are quite a few of those the house hearings will begin next week and uh and the senate.

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Hearings will follow the following week: there's also a workman's comp bill on medical cannabis.

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The injury would be covered under workman's comp if it's the result of effects. If, if.

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The result is the effects of a prescribed medical cannabis, so the individual would have to have the.

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Certificate that the state issues the counties are concerned about this any of these cannabis bills.

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Bring some concerns forward about the conflict between federal law and state law, federal law.

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It's still illegal, and so they are concerned about the their ability to continue to receive.

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Federal funding proposal, hp uh 1079, would prohibit the collection of admissions and.

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Amusement tax for recreational facilities so think about gyms. um I know: there's a proposal to.

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To uh construct a pretty significant recreational facility in the county, uh those are the kinds.

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Of things that will be impacted by that that hearing was last week no movement on the bill, yet.

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We've talked about this one before senate bill 710. The teleworking bill requires teleworking.

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To the extent practicable and requires each entity, both uh public sector and private sector.

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To submit an annual report to the senate budget and tax committee on compliance with the plan.

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I mentioned to you, this sponsor has uh has admitted this is a traffic bill more so than a.

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A teleworking bill so that that's been heard, but again no movement on that uh house. Bill 581.

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And senate bill 496 for the maryland essential workers protection act very very broad. I think.

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I mentioned six pages of of identified essential workers. This is still in the respective committees.

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The the house committee chair opened his hearing by saying this was a starting point.

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Not a starting point to build on, but a starting point.

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I think just throw everything in the pot and let's see how much we can get through.

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uh On the senate side, the sponsor admitted in the hearing that the bill needed a lot of work um and.

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He was open to changing it, so I think if the bill does move, I think you'll see it significantly.

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Reduced in comparison to its its current impact, but we'll be keeping an eye on that. Obviously.

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uh House, bill 583 and senate bill 414. That's the climate solutions uh now act, the heavily amended.

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Version has passed committee in the senate on a party-line vote and it now goes to budget.

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And tax because it was a bill that was jointly assigned the the house bill had its hearing, but.

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It has not moved, I suspect, a lot of that will depend on what the senate sends over house bill.

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472 was the prohibition on the use of glyphosate. That's received an unfavorable report in committee.

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There were a lot of concerns from the agricultural community and the uh the chemical is used. Although.

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Sparingly by local governments in their vegetation management programs, house bill 103 and 7 bill 90.

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The senate version has been withdrawn. That's a good thing. That was a bill that would.

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Have have codified, in my opinion, a limited local involvement in the cpcm process, uh particularly.

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As it as it relates to solar facilities, you'll remember the the suit and the issue of how much.

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Involvement, you can have in the cpcn process. The state has the authority there. The public service.

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Commission must consider your concerns. This would have limited your your involvement to.

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Simply a letter stating your position so that has essentially fallen by the wayside.

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The election bills we've we've talked about the specific of those.

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Early voting, centers uh post election tabulation audits, a very expensive proposition polling.

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Places to continuing care retirement communities which we've seen in the past.

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And accessibility for voters with disabilities, where we need to, we would be required to.

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Have these uh these particular ballot marking devices for all voters.

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These were heard last week, I'm coming to you a couple of days late, so this was last week.

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And we're still following those, so they haven't moved in in committees, yet either uh the senate.

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Bill 361 would create a statewide 3-1-1 system, which is a good thing. That hearing was last week.

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So we'll be following that bill, that's being supported by by mako and by the counties.

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Collectively senate bill 645 was the 911 board procurement reform. Mako has been successful in.

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Getting that bill amended to be now just a a report, the original bill would have subjected.

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Our contracts to a an additional review by the state and would have delayed them significantly.

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Now that the bill has been amended to just be a collective report, the contracts will simply be.

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Sent to the state the state will review and issue a report. The expectation is, a report will show.

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That the counties are conducting these these contract negotiations according to the rules, so.

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That was a good thing. uh Police reform continues to be a a big subject of headlines in the press.

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There are numerous bills in play which include the speaker's bill. You will remember, we submitted.

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The letter of information that discussed some of the uh the issues that particularly.

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Local governments uh commissioned governments that have a an elected sheriff have um the the.

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Senator's bill uh senate bill 627 was a repeal of the law enforcement officer bill of rights.

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And a replacement with a prescribed disciplinary process which would be essentially driven by the.

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The chiefs of the forces, a heavily amended version of that was voted out of.

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Out of judicial uh proceedings, the senator's very upset with the.

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With the way the bill was amended, uh it's it's limited to offer discipline and there are no.

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Local government mandates in in that bill that offers the counties the opportunity.

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To become involved in the process, but is not an obligation uh body cameras continue to be.

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A subject there, they are body, cameras are included in the speaker's bill, but there are also.

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Several individual bills addressing those and I believe that the sheriff will have more to.

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Say on that a little bit later um and then house bill 120 and senate bill 178 would would exclude.

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Disciplinary issues from personnel records classification so right now, they're they're.

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Considered personnel issues and not discoverable this bill would change that amended version.

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Has passed uh why, on your on your notes, I have education, health, environmental affairs, obviously.

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It's judicial proceedings, uh hearing those bills, the sro, related bills. There are several of those.

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They range from limiting the ways in which the sro can interact in the school to completely removing.

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The funding from the program and diverting so no movement on those. Yet I think these.

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These uh police bills will see them uh think you'll see them change in certain ways. Maybe.

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Be included in a larger omnibus type bill or or come through separately, but a lot of.

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Different ideas and have to be hashed out on those bills house bill 851. This is a bill that would.

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Limit inmate stays in restrictive housing to 15 days, so these are are people with serious.

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Mental illness issues the problem is, there is no availability in the appropriate state facilities.

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That's really the answer to this, and this would put requirements on local jails to provide.

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Housing for these type of inmates, which is very challenging so that had had its hearing last week,.

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House, bill 1123 and senate bill. 563 are the mako initiative for funding local health departments.

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They've been heard and we'll be watching those uh cannabis legislation, so house bill 32.

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Would legalize uh cannabis in maryland? uh That was heard on the 16th, but it has not moved.

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As of this reading and senate bill 708 senate version, that's scheduled for.

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Next week, both of these bills set up a regulation regime regime and a tax regime for senate bill. 708.

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A county or municipality may opt out of this.

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Program, but if they opt out, they will not be eligible to receive revenue from from the sale.

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Public works and transportation, so house bill 1094 and senate bill 650.

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That's a work group to evaluate the establishment of regional waste disposal facility, so this would be a bill that affects.

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All of the counties that are currently.

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Members of the northeast maryland waste disposal authority, with the exception of frederick.

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County and montgomery county so be baltimore, baltimore city carroll, howard, anne arundel,.

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And harford counties the bill was submitted at the request of baltimore county administration.

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Interestingly, the affected the counties were not really contacted in advance of this. It sets out.

F

Conditions for a work group to be formed uh with a set of prescribed issues for an outcome.

F

So, for example, facility citing uh the costs associated and it commits the.

F

Language seems to commit the affected parties to whatever conclusions the work group reaches.

F

So I know that uh commissioner wants may have some more to say on this, but this is a this.

F

Is a bill? That's probably not very good for us, and uh and so it's being heard today- we've not.

F

Taken a formal position on it, but uh but we're going to watch it closely. Yeah, if I could.

E

Chime in real quick on that mike just to let I think commissioner ross dean knows, I cc'd him on a.

E

Correspondence that I sent to uh uh johnny oleszewski's office office yesterday morning.

E

uh That that's that's sort of that gives you an idea of the limitations that we have. This.

E

Year with this session, because you've got to be signed up or give written testimony two days prior.

E

To a bill being heard, it's not like it used to be when you can walk in down there and and meet.

E

Folks face to face, uh but they had reached out to us to see if we would help would support that bill.

E

uh So I immediately engaged mike and uh he he uh did what he does best and honestly, uh as he said,.

E

Our folks didn't know anything about it. No one was contacted about this bill, so that troubles me.

E

um And it also troubles me that they want to try to do something legislatively that. I believe the.

E

Counties should be working around the table to do and not hearing from the folks that really.

E

Don't know what, with all due respect, they have no idea what the challenges are with waste disposal.

E

You know the very fact that that montgomery county wasn't included in the bill is is crazy because.

E

Right now, county executive eldridge is struggling with what he has no place to put a landfill.

E

Anymore, so he's struggling and yet they've been they they weren't a part of this, so I think was.

E

Thrown together real quick by somebody, it may have good intentions and I hope that it does.

E

But I hope that it it it turns and lets the counties all sit around the table with their.

E

Respected staffs that know best again to get it to get to a good place here with waste disposal. So.

E

Mike I appreciate your work on that. I I kind of got you at last minute. You you, uh you stepped.

E

Up and we got uh good information- and I I passed that on to county executive uh olszewski's office,.

E

So we'll see where it goes, thanks, yeah! Well, you you've got great people working on the issue. They.

F

Were fully up to speed on it, so it was easy. Just pick up the phone and find out what's going on.

F

So, interestingly, though, there is a bill, that's somewhat similar in nature house bill 1103.

F

By elliot weibel from allegheny county, which would create a task force to study recycling.

F

And processing and solid waste in statewide bill, so it takes a similar approach, but it's statewide.

F

It does include the study of some technologies that are specifically prohibited in the more local.

F

Bill in the baltimore county bill, for instance, waste to energy is precluded in in the baltimore.

F

County bill, uh but the the larger statewide bill takes a more holistic approach, so that might be.

F

Something that that makes a little bit more uh sense and- uh and we may be able to get behind.

F

On that um and honestly, our public facilities bond bill was heard uh in senate committee last.

F

Week and it'll be in the house committee on thursday, so I just weighed in very quickly.

F

uh To say we we hopeful hopeful for a favorable report, which I really have no concerns. If we won't.

F

um And just uh a note quick note on redistricting, so apparently the census data will be delayed.

F

Until the end of september, so basically you're not going to have the information until october.

F

Which means the proposal from the governor to create a new map is, is unlikely in 2021.

F

uh So that'll start to to jam up the process a little bit. um So that's that's where we are.

F

Today and uh I'll be uh tied to the to the hearing schedule for the balance of this session. Okay,.

A

Mike thanks and uh again, like uh commissioner wentz shared thank you for all you're doing.

A

Keeping the pulse on the activity happening in uh in annapolis and then also uh those other pieces.

A

Like the one you just talked about coming out of baltimore county um as a proposal, uh are there any.

A

Questions comments from the team on what was shared a quick question mike, and I probably should.

E

Know the answer to this: the two cannabis bills, 32 and 708.- um has law enforcement. This is probably a.

E

Good segue here has law enforcement weighed in on on uh these two bills, or have we not or they are.

E

Are they not to that point yet, and I see I see the sheriff is maybe lighting up here.

E

You know most of the, like pun, intended lighting up like see what I did there.

D

Yes, yeah. Well, you know so I'm johnny, I guess yeah well, you know, there's that.

E

um But maybe your take jim from your colleagues, where are you guys on these two bills.

G

So the cannabis bill is that what you're, yeah yeah third yeah house bill, 32 and senate bill.

E

708 they're, both the cannabis, um like you guys, I I'm and I think the state's attorney will be.

G

On soon we all belong to association, so you guys have mako that that represents a larger body of.

G

The of the counties and- and I also participate in the maryland sheriff's association and we.

G

We submit you, know our stance on different legislation and- um and I have a personal stance on.

G

That and when it comes to recreational marijuana, I just simply I just can't get behind it.

G

But when it starts to effect there are, there is legislation.

G

For the police training commission to um allow uh individuals to uh that are processing to be.

G

Law enforcement officers are correctional deputies to um have medical marijuana uh cards and and.

G

There's no limited usage of marijuana that uh that allows me to disclude them from hiring so.

G

um Just just philosophically and then as association we're against it.

G

I mean when you start bringing in mind-altering drugs to and the ability to to operate as a police.

G

Officer carrying a gun, driving a car um and- and I I just don't think that that uh you should have.

G

That in your system- and it stays in your system for days so if one of my deputies is involved in.

G

Something a crash or something like that and there's civil litigation and.

G

Blood tests and there's just so many things that come into play when you're, when you're.

G

A police officer, we just just don't agree with it. Okay, thanks, I you know we were under.

E

The impression mike that these bills wouldn't rear their their ugly heads uh in this session.

E

But I guess because of budgetary constraints and what have you it seems like they're being pushed.

E

It is that is that, where we are and where have they, either of those been heard, uh the the one.

F

Has the senate bill uh will be next week the house bill has been heard. I think you could argue that.

F

They're, primarily revenue bills. um There are some advocates that are, I think, looking at it from a.

F

Decriminalization perspective that it will impact certain communities, you know in a favorable way.

F

Some of the challenges, I think, from a physiological perspective, it's.

F

It's much more difficult to address than alcohol. You know the effects of it are.

F

Just not, I think, it's predictable uh or as well understood as as alcohol. So um I I wasn't sure.

F

Really whether this was going to be put forward in a bill or whether it would go to referendum.

F

I think the thought was always we we needed some direction from the electorate. First,.

F

uh And, as you know, there are, there are some pretty significant issues this session and this one seems.

F

To me uh is my personal opinion, a little bit outside of of what the the focus.

F

Of the general assembly is and- and maybe should be this session- so I'm not so sure they'll go forward.

F

They're, pretty big bills in terms of you know how prescriptive they are and what they do and what.

F

They're setting up so I I would be surprised if they pass, but don't don't hold me to that.

F

And maybe I'll have a little bit more specific guidance for you next week.

E

Okay thanks, I appreciate that I appreciate your your uh your opinion on that too. Sheriff thanks.

A

Okay, anything else for mike for the good, the group. Okay mike. I would again.

A

Appreciate all the work you're doing, I think at this time uh sheriff you're.

A

Still lit up and we're gonna you're gonna be joined by uh chief ledwell and I think.

A

uh Mr d, leonardo, if he's on, don't know if he is or yet or not, and we're going to get a.

A

Briefing: okay! Oh there, you are man uh briefly on the law enforcement body, worn camera project.

A

So the three of you, whoever wants to start, have at it, so um that kind of how we'll.

G

Go through the presentation is, I I have a presentation for you, a powerpoint uh kind.

G

Of from the law enforcement side and then the state's attorney will kind of come in and say.

G

This is what the effects of this program are on his side and then chief bloodwell's on, because.

G

He's the largest municipality in the county- and he can do this a little differently.

G

Than then I'm going to be able to do it and he's going to actually do it, I believe soon so he'll.

G

Give his perspective on how the body-worn camera system works within his organization.

G

So just so, you guys understand my. I have a representative for all legislative issues from.

G

The sheriff's office, major chuck rapp, sits on a committee with with the sheriff's association.

G

He does speak with mike fowler periodically on on things that affect carroll, county and law.

G

Enforcement and um those two go kind of way back from from baltimore county days. So uh it's good.

G

Relationship so that we can communicate with him- and I do have a number of stances on the.

G

Legislation, that's that's coming through annapolis, the sro program. I think you guys know where I.

G

Stand with that, the irony with the sro program is that you've got to go through metal detectors.

G

And you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a cop in annapolis um and there's always a state.

G

Trooper or two sitting in a hearing room, so the protection's okay for them, but it's not okay for.

G

For our kids in school- and I think overwhelmingly in this county, if you polled folks that program.

G

Shouldn't go anywhere, it's very popular and ironically, if you pulled the people into counties.

G

Where the delegates and senators are against it, it's blatantly obvious that they're not in touch.

G

With their constituency, because their constituency would also say overwhelmingly that sros work.

G

In their schools- and they should remain so- I'm going to try and share a screen of the first time.

G

Doing it on on teams of a powerpoint uh that that we've put together I'll, go through the powerpoint.

G

If you guys got any questions along the way, just ask and then I'll switch over to the state's.

G

Attorney and let him do his presentation, there's a lot of information with body, worn cameras.

G

There's a lot of uh issues when it comes to uh space that you guys have with hardware.

G

With personnel and I'm going to try and answer it as best that I can and- and this is just merely.

G

A briefing and and then we can discuss where you guys might want to go or some follow-up questions.

G

At the end, so um let me go ahead and share uh my powerpoint screen. Do you guys see that okay.

G

We do we got it. Okay, let me try and move this around, so I can get the presentation going.

G

So what I'm going to do is uh it's a little slow, so give it a second to to go ahead and jump on so.

G

What I'll do is is kind of brief you on in three different manners so or four different ways, so.

G

The current legislation- that's going through the house, the hardware and equipment needs personnel.

G

And and office space, and when, when we start talking about the legislation, there's things that.

G

Affect the carroll county, sheriff's office and law enforcement in the county and throughout the state.

G

And that we have to adjust to whether it's policy or or training and then there's things that affect.

G

The overall uh operation of the county and it's some physical issues that that that you.

G

Guys are going to have to tackle and take on so uh going to the legislation. So, as mike said, there's.

G

There's a number of pieces of legislation that have been floated by a number of delegates and.

G

Senators throughout the state, uh primarily in the baltimore washington area, you'll, see the majority.

G

Of the the reform uh legislation that comes coming through, we believe that everything reform-wise.

G

When it comes to law, enforcement will be captured under house bill 670, and it's currently moving.

G

Through legislature- and it deals with a number of of issues um when it comes to police reform,.

G

So uh leo vr, which you guys have heard a lot on law enforcement officers bill, writes.

G

There's some training issues, body-worn cameras, use of force, uh mpia issues. So when it comes to.

G

The body-worn cameras there's got to be some some mpia cleanup, so that so that.

G

Certain things that we give out uh can't be just handed out willy-nilly: we've got to be able to.

G

To follow the law when it comes to mpia and giving those that information out, so you know to be able.

G

To give go through body-worn camera information and give it out in a timely manner, there's going.

G

To have to be some adjustments that are made um to to the mpia uh positioning, so um we're not.

G

Opposing it when it comes to body-worn cameras, um the sheriff's and the chiefs have have asked.

G

For amendments in hb 670 with delhi, obr with um uh body-worn cameras with a number of things that.

G

That that that legislation entails but we're not opposing sensible police reform by any means.

G

Mike did bring up leo br. This is my 32nd 33rd year in law enforcement.

G

My entire career, I've been under law enforcement officers. Bill of rights never had an issue with it.

G

The legislature thinks they're doing me a favor by amending leo vr um as the sheriff um we're.

G

We're uh for chief bloodwell but they're not. We certainly can work under the currently obr system.

G

And weed out bad cops, I I don't have an issue with that. um This current hb bill for body, worn cameras.

G

There doesn't appear to be any funding assistance to local governments for um for this mandate, uh I.

G

I believe that the reason is is because the larger jurisdictions already have this and they've.

G

Already funded it, so I don't think there's gonna be a whole lot of funding or or care for the the.

G

Rural jurisdictions that have to implement this, it's gonna be another unfunded mandate. Go ahead.

A

Question you said other jurisdictions already have this: do we know which ones.

G

Yeah there's a lot of jurisdictions that have it so you know baltimore city, baltimore, county.

G

Are the larger jurisdictions that that put it together, prince george's county.

G

Has it montgomery county has it? I think the only uh urban jurisdiction around here.

G

That doesn't have body-worn cameras right now would be howard county or one of the.

G

You know the larger police departments a lot of the smaller agencies throughout the state. Have it.

G

But the larger organizations that surround the baltimore washington area predominantly have.

G

Body-Worn camera systems have a in-car camera system, but they don't have the body warm.

A

So with that said, do you know if, um like you said, howard but howard, harford, frederick cecil, charles.

H

Correct, do they have it or you're? Not, I don't know. I got mark aboard sitting here.

G

In research and I'm not sure um whether harford or or uh charles, have it or not.

G

Okay, they would be other larger jurisdictions that look like ours, predominantly.

G

Okay, thanks the um we believe that the mandate will be by 2025 and, I think um might brief. You.

G

On that a couple of meetings ago, that we believe that will be the phase-in period by 2025.

G

So I you know, I don't say this reluctantly, if, if legislature mandated body-worn cameras based on.

G

Complaints driven by citizens we'd be the last agency in the state to get it because we just.

G

Simply don't have a whole lot of issues when it comes to complaints outside of the organization.

G

We we often say that that you've got to recruit, hire train, retain and then continue to train.

G

Throughout their career, until they retire and and that keeps any complaints from happening.

G

They're invested and we do a really good job with with uh training our personnel and and.

G

Keeping the complaints down and, and so the body-worn cameras we're not against, and I.

G

Think that what people um the the proponents of it, the people that want law enforcement to have.

G

Body-Worn cameras, I I think they believe they're going to see widespread misconduct and corruption.

G

And um I got news for you: you're, going to see the complete opposite, the absolute complete opposite.

G

So you'll see good policing and um you'll see folks that care about their community. uh We.

G

Have um and the next slide piloted the program, so we knew that this was going to be a part of.

G

Legislature moving into this session, so we reached out to all of our partners here in carroll, county.

G

Including westminster pd, and we decided we would work with a company called watchguard, which.

G

Does in-car camera and body cameras and we would pilot the program.

G

So you can see in the slide that in october we started piloting the program.

G

um My office sykesville pd manchester mount airy and westminster pd begin an evaluation evaluation.

G

Period of the body-worn cameras and technology, and just so you know that hamster pd uh they have the.

G

Watchguard system with the in-car camera and the body worn uh tawnytown pd has uh in-car camera.

G

Systems, and so there are a number of agencies throughout the county that have a variation.

G

Of in-car or body worn, so they opted out right now until we we got done our pilot period.

G

So we did 10 body, worn cameras, my office piloted uh four of them.

G

So how does the data flow so what happens when, when uh a deputy gets out of a car or police.

G

Officer gets out of the car with an in-car camera system and a body-worn camera system. How does that.

G

Information get into a system so that so that we can review it. So the picture that you see in the.

G

The lower half of it, you see a combination of the in-car camera and the body-worn camera and.

G

You can see on the picture that uh the deputy was was wearing, that in-car camera sits on or the body.

G

Camera sits on their chest um and that was nick sherman, deputy nick sherman he's a big guy and he.

G

Can't carry much more on his on his body other than that body camera, and I jokingly say if I.

G

Throw him in a pool he'd sink right to the bottom and drown, because he he's got to weigh another 30.

G

40 pounds with everything that he's got on so that body camera sits on the center of their chest. The.

G

In-Car camera that you see to the right, there's three cameras, one that shines out the front that.

G

Views out the front one that goes out the back and there's another one inside the car that you can.

G

Adjust and you can watch a prisoner after you've taken them into custody so that data is stored.

G

In the cloud and I'll go over that how that data works in the next slide, but essentially.

G

It goes up into an evidence, library, and so all the information goes up into an evidence. Library.

G

And then there are different flows on how it gets to um other other parts of the.

G

Of the agency, so inevitably there's um uh mpia or foia requests that come in uh subpoena requests.

G

They come in and that information has got to be passed along to our records unit um so that they.

G

Can go through a redaction and a fulfillment of it, and then eventually it goes to a quality control.

G

Check with supervision, and then we fulfill it now, let me give you one example: so, a deputy with.

G

A body-worn camera that goes into a department store anywhere in the county for a theft, so in.

G

A lot of cases we go into a department store after they've caught a shoplifter or loss prevention has.

G

As they're navigating through the department store before they get out of the car, they tap the camera.

G

It turns on as they're navigating through the department store and they go into loss prevention.

G

And they start interviewing talking to the person that they have in custody. All that information is.

G

Now being stored on the camera- and it eventually be uploaded into this data flow that you see.

G

But when it comes over to the mpia requests and then it goes to records unit for fulfillment.

G

And redaction, if eric beshea and richard weaver are at the department store walking through and.

G

We see you on that camera. We have to redact you. We have to redact voices, we have to redact.

G

Faces- and you see that when you look at some body-worn camera where the faces are blurred.

G

Out of people and anybody that has nothing to do with that individual arrest or incident we've got.

G

To redact that footage the only way to redact it is to go through and watch it all, and so there's.

G

A lot that goes through redaction and then the quality, control and quality assurance check before.

G

It's it's fulfilled now with the four body cameras that we have and the requests that we've gotten in.

G

The redaction that we've had to make we estimate somewhere in the neighborhood of three to four.

G

Hours to fulfill one individual request for uh body, one camera footage and that's from the time.

G

The the mpia comes in to it's actually fulfilled and goes through its quality control check.

G

On the other side, you see um it goes, it goes into internal review. There's three.

G

Three different ways: kind of we look at other, the other information. That's in the.

G

Data flow or it's in the evidence, library, so um there will be quality control check within.

G

Within the system so that we can do internal review, uh randomly of of traffic stops of.

G

Incidents that take place so essentially, what will happen is a commander or supervisor will.

G

Periodically go one to a camera that one of the deputies has and uh do some quality control checks.

G

So make sure their officer survival skills are correct, um training issues how we're speaking.

G

With and dealing with citizens um so internal review and if we get any internal complaints.

G

That are driven by by a call for service or a traffic stop. Then we can go into the evidence.

G

Library and start reviewing data that way, then, um as the state's attorney comes on in a little bit.

G

He'll explain to you the state's attorney requests for discovery and the state's attorney's office.

G

Ability to redact and review the information, and just so you understand that when it comes.

G

To preparing documents for court: yes, we send everything to the state's attorney's office.

G

But when it comes to discovery and information, that's got to go to defense attorneys on arrest.

G

That we make it all has to come through the state's attorney's office. We do not supply.

G

Recovery and from our discovery, information for uh defense attorneys and the state's attorney.

G

Will go through that in a little bit on how uh his office has to comply with some of this stuff.

G

So then you look at the hardware and yeah quick question for you before you send the information.

B

The video I guess to the state, attorneys or defense attorney: do you go through and take out.

B

People's faces and all that aren't part of the crime before it gets sent to them as well.

G

No, so that's their job, one that it says when we fulfill an mpi mpia request that comes out.

G

Of our office and would go to a citizen or to an insurance company or something like that.

G

That has nothing to do with the state's attorney. Then we then we would redact that information, but.

G

Only the state's attorney the state's attorney takes the raw footage and it's his office's.

G

Responsibility to redact the information, because there may be something in there that he decides.

G

He wants follow-up on, or information for witnesses those sort of things, but the raw data all goes to.

G

The state's attorney for redaction all right. Thank you. Yes, sir and jim another question jim another.

B

Question is there time? Are there parameters assigned to the amount of time that you have.

E

uh To to complete an mpi a request, or how does that work? Yes, sir? So we get when we get an mpi.

G

A requested we have 10 days to fulfill it. Now we can, we can um send a letter to the requester.

G

Saying it's going to take us a little bit longer to fulfill this and get up to. I believe, 30.

G

Days to fulfill the request, so the time the timeline starts and it's pretty aggressive.

G

When it comes to getting these requests so 10 days generally and up to 30 days, if we.

G

Communicate with and and explain the need for the time to the requester.

G

And I think, commissioner, I think you everybody that, even when you guys get an mpia request in.

G

Your office, it applies to you guys as well, because I get stuff from tim burke periodically that needs.

G

To fulfill a request that comes to the to the larger body over at the commissioner's office,.

G

Anything else on that so again, what you're seeing is on this screen you're, seeing the equipment.

G

And so we believe that the total package for uh body cams would include an in-car camera system.

G

And we believe, that's optimal. That's absolutely the best package that you can buy, which you see.

G

On on the tv, and so essentially what happens? Let's say you don't have a body camera and you have just.

G

An in-car camera, so the in-car camera system. What you see take the body camera out of there is in.

G

Our patrol vehicle anytime, a deputy, a trooper, an officer, turns on their lights. It's situated. It's.

G

Set up so that the camera automatically comes on, and so what happens is that a deputy officer.

G

Trooper has a a microphone, usually it's right on their on their uh just under their their chin. So.

G

That when they speak, it can be, it can be picked up and heard, and so, when you see in car camera, you're.

G

Seeing the video from the camera but you're hearing audio from the communication between.

G

The driver and the and the law enforcement officer and when the law enforcement officer goes up, they.

G

Have to say- and I said this for many years- hi I'm trooper dewis with the maryland state police.

G

This stop is being audio visually recorded. It is something that we said constantly all the time.

G

And my deputies now that are wearing body, worn cameras have to give a similar approach when they.

G

When they make contact with someone one feasible when feasible, so it's something that I said just.

G

For forever, so in this case, what you would see is you would see a body-worn camera.

G

And you would also see in-car camera footage. The two would synchronize with one another.

G

And so you would see the the traffic stop itself. You'd see video coming out of the back of the car.

G

In front of the car, but then you would also see the contact with the driver themselves.

G

And so the synchronization would take place within the body-worn camera and the watchguard.

G

Car system, if another deputy pulled up to uh back up a deputy or multiple cars showed up on a scene.

G

This package automatically synchronized with each camera as an in-car camera system.

G

So we started working with watchguard as we were looking through piloting the program they're.

G

Already on a contract that we could piggyback off of if we chose to go in this direction,.

G

So we started looking at some preliminary prices and refining as much as we could and looking at.

G

The total package of this watchguard system, in-car camera and body-worn camera system and so you're.

G

Looking at the total price for five years, 1.54 million- that includes an integrated camera system.

G

Unlimited video storage, which is huge over a five year period, that video storage does not go on the.

G

County's hardware system, it does not go on their server, it's cloud-based and it's all managed by.

G

By watchguard, so the video management software, of course, the cloud-based system, the no fault.

G

Warranty a hardware refresh, so if there is a uh a refresh that needs to be done every three years to.

G

Give us better technology, then then they will do that um all the accessories are included setup and.

G

Configuration of the system, uh camera installation and then there are multiple payment options.

G

So if, if you chose to take this one now- um and you said, uh we want to pay for it all up front for the.

G

Five years and we can cover the 1.54 million, we believe that there are, um there are reductions.

G

In that there there could be reductions in the 1.54 million. You can finance it, you can do it.

G

Annually through the budget, you can do it a number of different ways, but watchbart has explained to.

G

Us that the 1.54 million dollars includes in-car camera body-worn system, and that would be for.

G

140 combination units so we're looking at about 110 cars and an additional 30 body warrants for.

G

Investigators, court security folks, like that throughout the organization that would need body.

G

Warrants that don't generally get in and out of the police cars, and so um we we believe that there.

G

Will be a reduction in cost if the county chose to take it on all at once, and we can certainly refine.

G

Those costs any questions on the cost: hey jim, what about sros? So that's a good question so um and and.

G

I'm sitting here looking at an at an article that I downloaded um about body-worn cameras within.

G

Within the schools, there's no clear direction when it comes to or there's no clear, I guess.

G

You can't mandate that that we don't wear it in the schools, so the sros would have them and.

G

They would operate under the same guidelines as a regular deputy, so they would only tap the.

G

Camera and turn it on if there's an incident that they're responding to within within the facility.

G

And I would suggest that that they would rarely turn it on in the school setting only if they were.

G

Running to an incident, if they're going into a bathroom, the same thing applies.

G

After speaking with a student counseling them on something or working with them on an issue.

G

The camera would not come on and you would know if the camera is on. If you look at this slide, there's.

G

A green button on top of it and it shows that it's on, so everybody would know that that camera is on.

G

um So would we output them? We would likely do that. We would likely outfit our sros with the camera.

D

um You know I'm looking at all this hardware. That uh officer has to wear now I mean this is getting.

D

Quite a bit of um around the waist around the chest he's really getting inundated with materials.

D

But is this the only system uh out there the only way we can know one we can look at or there are.

D

Other systems, so I knew you guys were going to ask that so, inevitably, I'm looking at how, how can I.

G

What do I believe, is optimal for the organization. I believe that the in-car camera system and the.

G

Body-Worn camera system, through through watts guard, is the absolute best product. That's out on.

G

The market- and you guys- um and I think you notice and I've, told you this before you- have a habit.

G

Of buying really good stuff, um whether you know it or not, you buy me the best card for.

G

My deputies, the best bull approved best, the best handguns and um so the best equipment.

G

That we can put on these folks and send them out do I believe, there's a better way that we.

G

A way that we can do it yeah, I think that we can scale down and go with just body, worn cameras and.

G

So if we went with just body worn cameras you're looking at even if I went with just body worn.

G

uh Put a body worn camera on every one of my deputies that would require it, give them an.

G

Extra battery and then what we would need to do, we we would set up kiosks throughout the county.

G

Maybe four or five of them I'd use local pds, that I could work with and set up a downloading.

G

Docking station for the deputy, so essentially the deputy would then have a body-worn camera.

G

Nothing in car, they would go home every night before they went home and came off ship.

G

They would have to dock that camera at one of the several locations throughout the county.

G

It would download the data and then it would then go cloud-based, so it would, it would be there.

G

They go home, they can put it in a charging dock that they have at their house and almost like.

G

Their portable radio, they come on duty, it's fully charged and they're ready to go. The reason I like.

G

That system is because my deputies are coming in from all different parts of the county in their.

G

Cars, and so if they handle something um it's it's often that they'll get a call before they even.

G

Get into the county or they'll, hear the radio and say I'll: go to that so to put a kiosk where they.

G

Have to go and physically grab a camera would be extraordinarily inconvenient and may not capture.

G

Some of the things that we're looking for so what would be the cost? We believe the cost would run.

G

About a half million dollars over five years, so you're looking at a significant difference in.

G

Cost there is some mod, I think, modest up front money. I think about 60 70 000 in order to get.

G

Those kiosks set up around the county and then and then have the deputies upfitted with them.

G

So it is a, it is a significant difference in cost all the same applies. If you just go with the body.

G

Worn but you're, looking at a difference of about a million dollars over over a five year period,.

G

So yeah, commissioner you're right, it is a. It is another option, the the other option that I think.

G

Chief ledwell is going to go with is a handful of cameras that are at his station because he does.

G

A roll call every day at his station and then sends his folks out to the patrol areas from.

G

A physical location and then they can come in each night and download the data. The other thing that I.

I

Don't think is a good idea. Is phasing in something like this and the reason I don't think phasing it.

G

In is a good idea for us is because who then do you decide, gets a camera and then what happens if.

G

Something happens to a deputy or or the data needs to be captured and- and I have to say, we didn't.

G

Have a camera on that that particular deputy, um I think, that's a disadvantage if we, if we just put a.

G

Handful in play now and phase this in a sheriff. um Yes, sir, you know the way you do. Business now works.

A

So changing to a hill street blues approach where everybody comes in and then dispatches um is not.

A

The model that you use, so you know instead of adapting two things I rather adapt. One thing.

A

And that is bringing these cameras into the into the system, um but not changing your operations.

A

Because it like, I said, I believe it works and I think you believe it works.

A

The um contract you said, there's an existing contract already with watch card. Is it an existing.

A

Contract with watch card that carroll county has the primary or is it within the state or.

A

uh Is it within your organization? I mean what existing contract are we talking about so it's.

G

Not we don't, we don't use them uh within the sheriff's office and I don't believe carroll.

G

County does but it's a contract that can be piggybacked on um currently hampstead pd has.

G

A contract with watchguard because they have this particular system but there's a number of.

G

Organizations throughout the state that allows us to piggyback on this system without.

G

Going out to an rfp, I mean we're not recreating the wheel here. This is being done by a lot of.

G

Organizations and it's been refined by watchguard and there are other vendors.

G

That are out there that supply services um and believe it or not. We communicated.

G

With those other vendors to try and test their equipment to see if, um if it was better equipment,.

G

And very few of them got back to us to even even test them. In fact, watchguard was the only one.

G

That got back with us to to test it, and there are other commissioner rosting. There are other.

G

I guess devices other than the body cam that sits on your chest. I think baltimore county uses a set.

G

Of glasses, and so you put on the glasses and the the camera, sits on either the left.

G

Or right side um there are uh ones that that sit on your lapel here that you can that you.

G

Can strap to your lapel? It appears as though this particular piece of of hardware is the.

G

Most durable but captures the majority of what we're looking for um and you're right. I I bring.

G

In people from a lot it, if I brought everybody to westminster, that drove all the way down here.

G

In our police cars and then sent them back out to their jurisdictions, it just simply wouldn't.

G

Work, I mean they've got to come in and they go straight to their patrol areas. Inevitably,.

D

Okay, how durable are these units I mean we have deputies diving into uh uh uh finding run to.

D

Save people or to save people we have uh you, know they're gonna, get down and dirty some where a long.

D

Line arresting somebody: how do they hold up so they're watering weather resistant? I don't believe.

G

If we dive 15 feet to the bottom of the liberty reservoir that they're going to survive, but we do.

G

Have a new fault: this does come with uh a no-fault warranty, um so that camera would be replaced.

G

So if there is an issue with the camera, then watch guard with with the total package will come along.

G

And replace that camera um and the hardware and get us back up and running. But we also.

G

um With that package are looking at spares, so you can buy something like this without having.

G

A handful of spares that we can send out um and replace and then send the camera itself back for.

G

A replacement so um yeah they can go out into the snow and they can go out into the rain, but they're.

G

Not going to be able to go to the bottom of the reservoir, the other thing that um is interesting.

G

About this system is, if we, with the with the, if we went commissioner weaver with just a.

G

Camera system and we went with a these kiosks throughout the state. We believe that.

G

Within the next year, there's going to be technology through wi-fi through our car.

G

That will automatically upload allow us to upload the video from our cameras. um I believe motorola.

G

Was purcha or I'm sorry, I believe watchguard as you can see, has been purchased by motorola and.

G

We use motorola radios and we believe that the technology is now. We believe it's there.

G

Now, um but we we believe that it will be refined within a year so that we don't have to physically.

G

Go anywhere dot these things. We believe that the technology or the data will automatically.

G

Be extracted through the in-car camera system through the car systems that we have um currently.

G

Anything else on the equipment, so the equipment is the cheap part.

G

Yeah so positions um and I've talked to all of you about this, so.

G

My budget in 21 um is going to. It looks different than the recommended budget going into 22 and one.

G

Of the significant things you're going to see is that there's there were four and a half positions.

G

That are still currently in the 21 budget uh from food services that were that were saved.

G

And um as we move into 20 2022 budget you're going to see they've been that they've been removed and.

G

I understand that, but as we currently sit in the 21 budget, um I have four and a half positions.

G

Through food services that were saved, um so you know uh this is not this. This is the the difficult.

G

Part of this is um the positions required in order to administer a program. This large, let me throw.

G

This at you, so as you look at it, there's got to be quality control. There's got to be records. Tax, I've.

G

Got to have I.t support um and we believe we're going to need a total of nine positions. And if you.

G

Guys were to fund total of nine positions tomorrow, for what I need it'd be about: 1.1 million dollars.

G

A year in year, one and then it would go down a little bit after that um after equipment was.

G

Purchased, if I can reallocate and repurpose the existing positions that I have in fy, 21.

G

Then we're looking at an approximate cost of fifty thousand dollars for one time cost for year. One.

G

So so how do I do that? So, inevitably, the lieutenant sergeant and corporal these some of.

G

These folks are gonna, be repurposed, but they're going to have to take on more responsibility.

G

I'm going to have to stand up a a digital evidence unit, and so I'm going to bring on 140 cameras.

G

And then I'm also uh I've got another 130 static cameras throughout the jail and and.

G

uh In different areas of the organization that that we manage, um let me throw this out at you.

G

In 2020 we made 21 267 traffic stops. We made 1546 arrests, we arrested 163 people for dui.

G

We went to and responded to, 550 traffic stops and we had just under 60 000 calls for service.

G

When you start putting body cameras on people, twenty one 21 267 traffic stops. There is a.

G

Chance that somebody's going to request data from one or more, if not all, of those stops.

G

1546 arrests included in that 163 163 du irs that take a lot of time to process that camera stays on.

G

The entire time traffic crashes- we go to a lot of them. We do a report for a lot of them.

G

A lot of them don't result in charges or arrests, but insurance companies want the data.

G

That comes off of those cameras, somebody's got to sit and watch it and somebody's got to package.

G

It up for mpia request and somebody's got to send it over to the state's attorney's office.

G

We anticipate a significant increase in npia requests and requests that go over to the.

G

State's attorney, it's inevitable, when you have that much camera footage, it's going to go. It's.

G

Going to require an awful lot of personnel, and where did I grab these numbers at.

G

We looked at organizations that were about the size of the carroll county, sheriff's office,.

G

And the amount of uh mpia requests and discovery requests that they've got to fulfill.

G

And the amount of people that they use in their organizations in order to to accomplish that task.

G

I'll use laurel pd and wycomico county sheriff's office as examples now remember, laurel pd and.

G

Wycomico county sheriff's office don't have an additional 130 cameras in their jail. I do.

G

They don't ever see corrections laurel, pd uses 10 total people to administer their program.

G

Which is about the same amount of cameras that that I would stand up, wycomico, county sheriff's.

G

Office uses 12 people to administer their program with about the same, if they're, slightly smaller,.

G

Than the carroll county sheriff's office, they do not have a jail and they don't have the additional.

G

130 cameras that I get requests for um inevitably, so uh that is what we believe it will cost.

G

And the amount of people that we that we're going to need.

G

um For for the positions to administer this, and so as you as we move into the next phase of the.

G

Budget, I want you to keep in mind that that we can, if repurpose and reallocate we can do this without.

G

um Adding additional pins I've got the pins. I just need to be able to re repurpose them. The.

G

Fifty thousand dollar one-time cost would be to um upfit a digital, um a digital surveillance unit.

G

A divisional a digital unit, so uh with records text with people that can can take all this so.

G

We currently get these requests from the jail in other areas, where there's ring footage that.

G

We've captured and and the state attorney is going to talk about that footage that he gets.

G

And other surveillance footage that is captured throughout the county involving cases a.

G

A digital unit would would get all those mtia requests, and then we also have bus patrol that.

G

That we would like to carry under this, but um we believe we have the structure internally. If we can.

G

Use the current positions that 50 000 would cover some licenses equipment and stand up a a unit, so.

G

That that, but that's one time cost and then the annual cost would continue from there. That would.

G

Look like the 21 21 budget would already have in, and I know, there's questions about. Personnel.

A

Well, I definitely believe, there's going to be a question about personnel.

A

Going back to the requirement itself.

A

If legislation you know passes and and there there is the requirement that's going to be levied on us.

A

That's going to take place no later than 2025 correct. Yes, sir! So and I know you.

A

Shared that you do not believe piecemealing or phasing in the approach is the best approach.

A

However, phasing in the approach may be the um more economical, efficient approach for us to be able.

A

To uh to handle you'll be able to um to handle that, I'm sure uh have you gone through different.

A

Courses of action I'm looking at how that phased approach would be or look be, looked at so yeah. I.

G

Mean if you guys came along and say this is this is the direction we wanted to go and you wanted.

G

To phase it in, um I will adjust, but but I will I will say this with respect to commissioner firmly.

G

If, if the commissioners do not allow for personnel to administer this program, you can give me all the.

G

Cameras you want, I won't put them on my deputies right and I don't care what legislature says.

G

There's simply no way that I can put cameras on deputies and administer a program without support.

G

For the program- and I think the state's attorney is going to say the same thing- um there are.

G

Agencies that may have four or five people that can do it internally without any issue, but we're.

G

Talking about standing up, 140 cameras, so it's an awful lot of data that is going to be. That is.

G

Going to be put out there, so if I had to yes, the other thing I want to caution you about is that.

G

um You know watchguard and axon, and everybody else is in the business of making money.

G

The longer you go to put in this put it put in this program, the higher the price is going to.

G

Be and if we wait until the end of the the 2025 year then hold on because they know they've got us.

C

Sheriff I have to agree marks out that comment, because I think we're looking.

C

At a lot of inflationary indicators, after it all causes us to jump up and a reflection of.

C

The surplus we potentially are looking at, I think, it'd be good to get on top this on the front end.

C

And get the personnel in place and try to figure out what the annual cost is going.

C

To be a personnel in your budget and the out years, I'm also really concerned that with new technology.

C

That, if we don't have the personnel and technology properly in place, this can cost us cases and I'm.

C

Sure the leonardo was all mentioned this- that, with the proper chain of command and ownership.

C

Of evidence, we can lose cases if we do not have this properly set up from the very beginning.

C

So I'm very much in support of this. I uh I worry about cases. I also worry about the civil.

G

Aspects that that it puts the uh that my office and the county um under, if we don't uh properly.

G

Administer it, I think, if you go back to the fall of uh uh 20 you'll, see an article out of the.

G

Frederick news post that the state's attorney over out and charlie smith is quoted in that article.

G

What happened there? Was the frederick police department decided, they were just going to buy.

G

A bunch of cameras and put them into play. They had already had a handful.

G

um 630 over there had to deal with the data that was coming in, but ultimately what he.

G

Said was: is you can put as many cameras as you want out there? um If I don't have the personnel.

G

To review the data and properly handle that data, those cameras mean nothing to me, and so you can.

G

Put if we're- and I think the state's attorney mr dealing order is going to say I don't care if you.

G

Buy one camera: if it's used 24 hours a day, it's the amount of cameras that are going to be used.

G

um And the amount of time that they're going to capture data, so we could buy 10 cameras and.

G

Say well, if you only have 10 deputies out there and put 10 cameras on them and that's the cost.

G

But those 10 cameras are going to be used, 24 7 and that's the amount of data that it's gonna. That.

G

It's going to put together so I you know the the hardware itself, um I don't think is the biggest.

G

Ultimately, it's the personnel and then the storage of that information is huge. And if you go back to.

G

The slide that talks about um the price for for the total package, um I think the state attorney.

G

Was over a couple weeks ago, saying he's going to.

G

At avenues to go outside and store all this data and the amount of footage, if we were just to say.

G

Let's go on the server for the county, it wouldn't work. We would just [ __ ], the county's storage, so.

G

This price included all the storage, and that's one of the bigger things that we looked at was how to.

G

Deal with that storage and as we start to to work through storage, we're looking at taking more off.

G

Of the accounting server and putting it on to our own storage system so that we can free up space.

C

Sheriff as your department interface and communicate with their director, mr ripper, about.

C

The compatibility and us being in line with y'all has he weighed in on edius or have you.

C

Communicated with them yeah, we talked to sixteen a lot. um That's who our our liaison is through I.t.

G

And sharper's attack knows exactly what we're doing. We communicate with him. I think daily in.

G

Some way shape or form. So yes, they they understand this. They understand uh how this would work.

G

With the county system and and honestly um if this is the direction that you chose to go, I t.

G

Really wouldn't see a whole lot of issue on their end, because everything would be cloud-based.

G

Through watchguard, we wouldn't really use the support of the county per se. The support from.

G

The county would come in at a location where we needed the internet technology um and the wi-fi.

G

And those sort of things, but once this goes into the cloud it's out of the county's hands, it's.

G

It's our data that gets shared based on the request that we get internally. Thank you so.

G

In order to house all these people, and and I want to go back to some of the mandates and and the.

G

Legislation, that's out there, so there's a mandate and training. um There's a mandate with uh use of.

G

Force policies which myself, chief ledwell and the other chiefs throughout the county have worked on.

G

I preach constantly training, we train as good as any organization in the country and that's.

G

Why our complaints are are significantly down? We are in the process of looking at a virtual.

G

A use of force system that would need to be housed so that deputies, both corrections and.

G

Law enforcement could come in as well as allied agencies and work through use of force scenarios.

G

In as realistic a way as we can possibly make it, but I need space to do it and there's going to be.

G

Mandates for that sort of training um we currently use north carol high school. I know that you guys.

G

Went in went through a uh purchase of that. We were included in that which we're very appreciative of.

G

But there is existing space up there that we can that we believe we can use.

G

For um you know a body-worn camera or a digital evidence unit um in order to house those folks.

G

The other thing is that mr de leonardo is going to need personnel that deal with.

G

Just digital evidence, we believe we can share that space together.

G

The state's attorney- and I also believe that having the digital evidence units from his.

G

Shop and my shop together with a transition to body worn camera, um would make it really.

G

Seamless because it's going to be more novice at it and we're going to we're going to have to.

G

Work with one another on on these requests that come back and forth from his office to my office.

G

So we're looking at um uh potentially getting approval to redesign existing space at north carol.

G

um If you've been up here recently, we have had to expand space, and so we kind of took over a larger.

G

Classroom, that's a couple hallways down it's next to quartermasters so that we can spread out our.

G

Current academy class, which we have there now so we have 19 students that are in the academy now.

G

From all over the state, including my office, I'm currently running a correctional academy that.

G

We have there and we also run in service programs daily at north carol, high school, so the space is.

G

Very much very much needed. I have no space here, I'm in a building. That's almost 200 years old.

G

um My jail is 50, some years old and I'm in a roadway building across the street. That's old.

G

As commissioner bruchet, so um I mean the space, I got you guys know and space is always an issue.

G

In the county, um I've got no other place to put people um the other thing I want you to.

G

Understand is that the space can be primitive, um and I've spoken with the folks that are purchasing.

G

North carol they're willing to work with us um on a lease agreement for the existing space. That's.

G

There and potentially working with standing up and maybe designing um that space for us to work with.

G

A digital evidence unit, but when you start putting you know, I've looked at the community college. I've.

G

Looked at the um public safety training center uh there's just simply no space for the amount of.

G

uh Programs that we're putting in and out of north carol high school, the community college, it isn't.

G

The best avenue for me, especially with a milo machine or a machine that deals with use of force.

G

Because there's inevitably a lot of screaming and yelling. That goes with that, because we're.

G

Putting people in situations and we're asking them to work and what work themselves out of it.

G

And the milo machine kind of the way it works is if the deputy is successful within how they're.

G

Communicating and verbally de-escalating, then we can take that scenario in a different direction.

G

If they come in and they're out of control and they're not handling it, the way we've trained.

G

Them then, we can force a confrontation that should never have been forced and there's real.

G

Actors that that um play out different directions and the instructor can send the virtual scenario.

G

In that direction, we purchase weapons that are ours that look like cars that are retrofitted.

G

For the machine, so there's a lot of value in that with in that machine and the ability to.

G

Train at north carol, we would eventually pull that classroom of deputies out once they've graduated.

G

And repurposed the larger space that they're in for a digital surveillance unit co-located by.

G

Myself in the state's attorney's office and then we would push the academy class back down to its.

G

Original classroom space, which is the 5 000 square feet that you guys agreed on with the purchaser of.

G

North carol, high school, so space is an issue and I've got to have space to put people. I just simply.

G

Don't have it and if you guys haven't all of you walk around my office, um I'm out of it. I've got 20.

G

People in the building that I'm in right now and it's 5 500 square feet. I can't close off walls.

G

Anymore than what I've got now sheriff, you have those little jail cells underneath in the basement.

G

Yeah, um the that's a the ghost tour comes through there, so I don't think they'd want to see any of.

G

My personnel sit through there and it's pretty cold and damp down there. um Yeah I mean it's. It.

G

It is what it is, I'm telling you I need space, and so I think that if, if, if the commissioners agree.

G

That we can look at the overall project and the space. I think that, with the the preliminary cost.

G

Of leasing, north carol, high school and all of the space to deal with all of the programs.

G

Police academy, digital surveillance and and training purchase. Let's let's say let's say.

G

You guys decided 1.5 million. We can do that over a five year period. I I believe that we can.

G

Scale down to just body, worn cameras and purchase and lease all the space at north carol, high school.

G

And, and accomplish everything we need to accomplish for the same prices, it would cost just.

G

To do in-car, camera system and body warrants for a five-year period, so I believe we can do all this.

G

For three hundred thousand dollars or thereabouts annually, if I'm allowed to repurpose the pins that.

G

That came out of food service and um use the space at north carolina. I believe we can accomplish that.

G

And I think what needs to happen? I know this is information. You guys need to tell me what.

G

You're, looking for um what questions you have what research you want me to do, and I.

G

I I think that what needs to happen is during the budget process. I need to refine all these numbers.

G

And then come back to you and say: here's here's, the the the refined numbers and what we believe.

G

Is is going to be needed in order to accomplish this program? That's just for the sheriff's office.

C

Sheriff I appreciate the presentation it's very well done I'd like to uh if you could.

C

Have sergeant holland get in touch with me, I like to go back up to the north carol facility.

C

And look it over again to see what you exist and have and what you're talking about expanding into.

C

So I can get a good idea long term, what type of investment we'll need to make in the expansion.

C

Of that facility for you, yes, sir, that's easy to do and I invite anybody um any of the commissioners.

G

If you want to set something up that we can walk through, so you can take a look at the.

G

The space one of the other things that we've done is we created.

G

A housing unit in one of the classrooms that we're looking at.

G

Ultimately, hoping to lease for the training unit and that housing unit looks almost identical to a.

G

Housing unit that you would see in the jail and then we've been we've been able to take and put.

G

Plexiglass doors on the housing unit to mock the going in and out of an individual cell so that we.

G

Can train our deputies that are in in service and keep up with the training requirements of.

G

The mandates that are coming out of annapolis and train them the best way.

G

To keep from injuring themselves and and um the inmates that we have housed one of the things that.

G

Mike talked about was the legislation on housing and restrictive housing and segregating inmates.

G

um And and that's a huge issue, uh you know we we decide to uh put inmates in housing units.

G

By themselves, based, we don't just say you know what we don't like you you're going.

G

Into a housing unit by yourself, um it's based on a lot of factors that our classification folks.

G

And our command staff review every single morning we're constantly moving people in.

G

And out of housing units based on a lot of factors, one of one of them is could be their medical needs.

G

The other is how how at risk are they from being injured if we put them in a housing unit with.

G

Other with other inmates, and that can be based on the crime they've committed or what we've learned.

G

About that individual and um I've said this to you guys before we we go to great length and beat the.

G

Hatfields and the mccoys out of the same housing units together, and so um that's legislation that.

G

Colonel hardinger keeps his eye on and that that we're participating in and making amendments to if.

C

I'd like to needed that your office has tremendous liability with it, and these cameras actually.

C

Help protect you and us as a county, long term and I'm sure that a lot of your officers.

C

Probably feel the same way, because you get citizens make complaints that aren't founded.

C

Having a camera system will negate that down for you and will have less liability exposure.

G

So um you're right and my deputies would love to have them now, after the pilot program, we had three.

G

Complaints that came in that were immediately um unfounded, based on the body. Camera footage that.

G

That we had, I have internal investigators that will will go through great lengths to look at.

G

Internal complaints that are made, but I will tell you, commissioner, the overwhelming majority of the.

G

Complaints that we investigate in this office and throughout law enforcement are internally driven.

G

Very few come from citizen contacts very very few and almost none in this county. I think last.

G

Year, colonel hart would tell me that there may be maybe four or five um that came from outside of.

G

The outside of the organization from citizens that had contact with one of my deputies that wanted.

G

To complain about something and the body camera stopped three of them in their tracks and if I.

G

Didn't have body cameras, then it could take upward of 80, 100 or even more hours from an internal.

G

Investigator to uh to contact witnesses and put together an internal investigation to present.

G

To me for potential discipline, so they avert an awful lot of issues externally and I think.

G

Initially, we were standoffish I'll, be honest with you. Body cameras were not something that was on my.

G

Radar uh legislature is now mandating it. Once we went through the pilot program, then.

G

The deputies are saying: let's do it, they like them. I I don't know that I would have back in the day.

G

But I don't know they only know what they know now. So, um even if they don't have a body camera.

G

One there's a camera somewhere taking a picture of what happens. It keeps everybody in check. It.

G

Keeps uh holds us accountable, and it also holds the people that we have contact with accountable.

C

You made a really good point that there's actually a savings in this with the reduction of the.

C

Investigations, when you have the cameras and also like to state that the lack of citizens complaint.

C

Is a very clear statement of the good job that your officers are doing in the field.

A

Hey sheriff, I think you muted.

B

I think that means you move on to dealing with it. Yes, sir yeah thanks dennis.

H

I'm silent for two seconds and you got rid of me and didn't think I hear it, I'm just muted, not you.

A

Hey um no actually sheriff. I appreciate it. I appreciate the.

A

The the information, the wealth of information you provided providing a situation, awareness.

A

Especially as we're walking into as you know, the budget sessions coming up very soon.

A

Understanding uh the impact um you know of the body cameras- and you know your thoughts and ideas.

A

In moving this forward, um a lot for us to uh think through uh you know today was obviously a day for.

A

uh Some discussion, but really for providing situation. Awareness to us um on on the the body.

A

Worn camera project. um Now with that, I see you got a summary slide up and then we want to go to.

G

I think uh the state's attorney would be up next and then um chief lead will explain uh his program.

G

And then any overall questions that you have um before we move on yep, I I appreciate it. It's not.

A

This intent is not to cut you short of you. I've taken up an awful lot of time, I'm going to try.

G

And figure out, unless chris or someone in the control room can get rid of the screen and make.

G

And and bring you guys back up, I'm going to try and figure out I'm going to get.

G

Miss mcdonald, in here too, I think we'll do, I think, we'll take the control from you and then take away.

A

The slide deck so there you go. Okay, thank you guys appreciate it. Thank you, our state's uh attorney, mr.

A

Brian d, leonardo well good morning, commissioners, I appreciate the opportunity to come in and talk.

J

And I uh I want to just make a couple preliminary points and then I'm going to do my best to share.

J

This powerpoint presentation screen so uh first of all, as to the idea of it being mandated or not.

J

From the legislature, um you know this is something I've had discussion.

J

Actually, with uh budget for uh quite some time, um because it was clear to me that this was.

J

Ultimately, going to be something we were going to be required to do, but even apart from that.

J

I think the question is whether it's something we should do, and I think certainly uh as the.

J

Sheriff pointed out my experience with body cam footage has been incredibly helpful.

J

um To not only having transparency for any incidents that occur, but resolving them quickly,.

J

We in our office I've had the opportunity to handle uh other shooting officer-involved, shooting.

J

Cases from other jurisdictions, where there were body cam footage, and I can tell you that you know.

J

That kind of information is really valuable um in being able to, you know, deal with transparency, be.

J

Able to reach the right result in any particular case, so I think, apart from whatever legislation.

J

I think there's an idea that the commissioners, as you would have to grasp is you know what should.

J

We be doing and- and I think it's clear- that um there's a real value to the cameras being used.

J

And I agree with the sheriff: my experience is 99 of the time. um It shows accurately that.

J

You know the officer was doing absolutely the right thing and what I also think you find is.

J

That it de-escalates certain situations um when people know it's being recorded. That's just my.

J

Experience in finding this second of all, I would say um this has also been a common question about.

J

Is there going to be money tied with this, um and I I deal a lot both as president of the maryland.

J

State's attorney's association, as well as our legislative activities, and I think a resounding- is.

J

uh Probably absolutely not they're gonna, because exactly what the sheriff was pointing out.

J

The larger jurisdictions that probably control, I believe, most of the voting power on issues.

J

Like this in annapolis, they're already funded, so I I don't really anticipate that for all the.

J

Outlying jurisdictions that there's going to be a big demand to fund and to give money for.

J

Us to implement it that when they didn't have that money from the outside to implement it, that's just.

J

What I hear what my sense is the second point and then I'm going to dive into mine, which is.

J

um There's a discussion today about body cams, but it is in the context.

J

Of a larger issue, which is digital evidence, and obviously I came before you not long ago-.

J

um To try to address a storage issue, and so, as I stepped through here, I certainly want to talk.

J

About the body cams and the impacts of that, but there is obviously a greater demand with all types.

J

Of digital evidence that we're seeing so uh with that, I'm going to make my attempt to share here.

H

You're good to get that. Okay, I'm almost there.

A

Two beautiful little girls- sorry about that, don't ever be sorry for showing kids.

A

All right, one second,.

J

Okay, now I gotta get back.

B

You got it, I wanted to give him a minute before I said that.

A

Hey brian, we're not seeing it right now we're seeing you and that's that's it.

A

Instead of two beautiful little girls, we see commissioner weaver and commissioner boucher.

A

Oh well, that's you never know that we are working on it here. Well, the sheriff had us on a body.

C

Camera here at the department store, I think we were in this pretty good section weren't. We.

A

Okay, uh brian, your the slide deck's back up. Okay,.

A

There you go yep, we got you all right, okay, excellent! So um I'm going to talk a little.

J

Bit about uh digital evidence and sort of the uh amount of data that comes in and and our.

J

Obligations and why um you know this becomes a real issue. So when we talk about digital evidence,.

J

um Certainly dash cameras, which are you know you heard discussed today and which are already.

J

Been implemented, many have been implemented over the last year. uh Certainly body-worn cameras.

J

We have uh one department that is, you know and implemented it more fully. We have pilot programs.

J

Being done at pretty much the sheriff's office and all the municipal agencies, we also get.

J

The closed circuit city, videos, whether those are static cameras set up with towns or in the city.

J

uh We get an enormous amount of ring or home security, video uh related to incidents that occur.

J

uh We have video that is done with all of our recorded interviews and statements that are tape.

J

Recorded uh video recorded um typically, uh so we can wind up having hours of those in one incident.

J

You certainly have implemented the school bus video program, so those are things that, depending.

J

On the incident would come through us, we get a lot of cell phone video every today. Everybody is.

J

Shooting video the moment incidents are occurring and when that happens, that is.

J

All evidence that in a criminal case, we have to collect, and we have to do something with.

J

We get store, checkout register videos uh with shoplifting, so you go into martin's and you.

J

Don't uh buy your groceries or scan them, then we have all that video that we have to establish or.

J

Places like walmart, we get recorded jail calls. We have many times, individuals that are incarcerated.

J

Waiting trial have conversations about their cases and their involvement, and that becomes.

J

Evidence that we use certainly 9-1-1 calls in talk to me video. We have now video that records someone.

J

That is arrested and that is uh taking the breath tests. uh It in fact, will then um that's video that.

J

Becomes very relevant when we go to prove that case and the condition of the person um and then.

J

Youtube video: uh we have individuals that will record incidents and post them on youtube um and.

J

So we often find that we actually sometimes are having cases where we have to go and, and certainly.

J

Pull that down. So I say this because when I talk about digital evidence, I'm talking about an.

J

Entire world of evidence, which has exponentially grown uh actually over the last year, even more so.

J

So when I'm talking about the significance of of what this is, you know we did analysis um last year.

J

Before uh covet outbreak, I had actually had a position request to start a first supervisor.

J

For digital evidence- and I had that in there because you know- I knew that this was a growing.

J

Issue and we were going to have a problem keeping up when covet hit in light of the concerns with.

J

Budget and the impact that was going to be and knowing that our court system was shutting down.

J

um I uh I pulled that request. Obviously I'm putting that request back in for this year, but.

J

We had already been doing the analysis, so here's a bit of the numbers.

J

So in district court, 90 of our cases we're finding involve some kind of digital evidence. I mean.

J

That's just amazing the amount of increase that we found in our uh circuit court we're finding 85.

J

Of those cases are resulting in the need for some digital evidence management and we found 75.

J

Percent of our juvenile cases are involving again some type of digital evidence. Now that.

J

Has been a growth that we have seen tremendously over, like I said, certainly the last two years.

J

uh But even more so, strangely enough during the pandemic, um we have seen it exponential growth.

J

And probably a lot of the home security cameras is a big area as well as the steps taken as you.

J

Heard outlined by the sheriff with our department, so with that being said, we have to get all of.

J

That evidence and we have to be able to process that and I'm going to talk about our obligations.

J

But the number of people that we have in our office dedicated to do that, unfortunately, is.

J

There's none okay, so you can imagine that this has been a whole new area for us.

J

I mean cumulatively, we will get about five or six thousand.

J

Cases a year, criminal cases coming through, um so certainly this is a major issue. I heard.

J

uh Commissioners, you were asking a little bit earlier about you know, kind of who has what so.

J

uh Tawnytown uh we currently are dealing with ten dash cameras that they have implemented.

J

And when we look at the maryland state police, they ended up implementing 19 dash cameras.

J

And so that certainly has added a load to our processing of evidence, westminster, there's.

J

Three closed circuit uh city based cameras uh and they are piloting as you've heard.

J

In the william, the four body-worn cameras and I'm certainly looking to expand that.

J

Carroll county public schools, they had their, uh we get school.

J

Surveillance videos on assaults or incidents that happen there, um but now we also have.

J

The addition of times where their school bus camera video that might be used for violations.

J

With mount airy, uh they have ten dash cameras and they are piling one body-worn camera at the mug.

J

We talk about hampstead um and with hampstead, we have four dash cameras, they have nine permanent.

J

Body-Worn cameras now they kind of jumped all in and and so they actually have their department.

J

Outfitted with body-worn cameras, uh I don't want to leave out or forget that we uh also have.

J

We talked about uh manchester, they have one uh body, worn camera, that they're using.

J

Mcdaniel college uh there's 13 closed circuit and we sometimes will forget about the colleges.

J

But that is a big issue too, and so those surveillance cameras are issues that we address.

J

When we um talk about the sheriff's office, uh there are the implementation of dash cameras.

J

In some of the vehicles uh they have the ring doorbell program where they get. You know the.

J

Video that is provided from citizens, certainly with the detention center. There is a video that.

J

Often will deal with from incidents in the jail as well as jail calls.

J

And you've heard currently the four body-worn cameras that are being piloted.

J

When we talk about sykesville, that is situation where there's two city cameras that also again.

J

They're there for a reason where they could produce information, that we need.

J

They are piling a body-worn camera and expect you more in this year, so um I think.

J

Clearly we're seeing the evolution of that we also have the baltimore environmental.

J

Group that that agency um they are intending to implement body-worn cameras soon as well. So.

J

I just think it's important to first give an overview of the entire county for us. Obviously,.

J

All of these um come in through our office, um and so we have to be able to handle the video and.

J

And all these different formats, so brian before uh just real quick, are all of those body-worn cameras.

A

uh Out of watchguard vendor and this not necessarily for you, but it's for a sheriff.

A

Or unless you can answer, I can't answer. The answer is yes, I mean one of the the big issues um that.

J

We all sat down and worked on and from my standpoint, what I need is consistency.

J

um I certainly would not want to have different agencies using different uh platforms. It would.

J

Make it obviously that much more difficult, so even earlier when I came to talk about our storage, I.

J

Wanted to make sure it was consistent with the body, worn cameras and the dash cameras that are.

J

Out there, so, yes, everybody has moved to watchguard. I think the reality is it sort of is the gold.

J

Standard in this area, it is used and it provides a compatibility among all the different agencies.

J

And certainly for us having it, you know in one format, is uh it prevents us from having to have.

J

Different mechanisms to deal with the data- so yes um is baltimore county baltimore city also.

A

Using watchguard, so we can share and transfer information. I I'm not sure that is that they use.

J

A watch card- I I'd- have to check on that, um but um no, I think they're axon, okay, they're axon, um using.

J

What we do is probably the best okay. The last question I I apologize is sure watchguard is using.

A

A motorola platform or the other companies using also motorola platforms, are they using other.

A

Variants or other brands, yeah there's absolutely other varieties. Okay, the key is, I think, what we're.

J

Using and certainly when I came in and I talked about bulk and and our editing, we've made sure.

J

That that was um compatible, so we were interested in a platform where, even when we deal with for.

J

Example, baltimore county video that we would still be able to handle that and every car platform.

J

Okay thanks, so uh this is just an example of you know. Sometimes we forget when we talk about.

J

Like we put out a dash camera or body worn camera, you know there is ultimately multiple angles of.

J

The same incident that each has to be reviewed, so here's an incident where you see both the dash cam.

J

You would see a body worn camera and you would also see it in car camera, which is another aspect.

J

Of this, so when a defendant is placed in the in the vehicle, um there's also a camera on them in.

J

The back seat, so uh that's an example where you know when we talk about this, I just want to make.

J

Sure it's clear that that there's multiple formats going on at the same time that we have to address.

J

um Same with body-worn cameras, I mean we will have a situation where, if I have three officers.

J

In a case that are all out wearing body, worn cameras um we're in a position where.

J

We have to look at each one of those incident. You know all those perspectives.

J

To review the video, so while it's now one incident that has occurred, there's going to.

J

Be multiple body cams, there's multiple in-car cameras and, um and so that's something we have.

J

To be mindful of as we go forward, so I I wanted to try to give an example of.

J

Of just a simple case, because I think it's important to help stress or to understand.

J

When I talk about the significance on our office in the workload, so um let's just take a a normal.

J

Call for uh shoplifting- let's say one of our big boxsters: okay,.

J

So when we have an incident that that occurs along those lines for us, we could potentially have two.

J

Officers responding and in that incident we will have a dash cams. We will have on scene both from.

J

You know that dash cam, as well as transporting we could potentially have had two suspects.

J

With audio and video each recording an hour on the site so that ultimately amounts to about six hours.

J

Of total footage for two officers with you know: in-car cams and body cams, responding to the scene.

J

We probably would also have surveillance camera angles from inside the store. So let's assume we.

J

Get 15 angles: we will typically get outside the building, walking into the building being tracked.

J

Within the building leaving the building at the register, it's not uncommon for us to be able to.

J

Have 30 minutes um from each of those angles, which is about another seven and a half hours of footage.

J

So we're talking at that point about 13 and a half hours of total footing from two officers.

J

Responding to a shoplifter okay, which obviously is a misdemeanor offense, we're not even talking.

J

About our most serious offense that may bring you know a dozen deputies uh or officers out to a seat.

J

So when we think about that issue, we're talking about about an hour and a half uh 1.5.

J

Hours for every hour of footage, and that is to market, to tag it to redact the things.

J

That we're required to do and to shield what's required so for us on the back end.

J

It takes us over 20 hours to prepare footage for one shoplifting case.

J

And- and I mean that is accurate- I mean that is absolutely accurate. The amount of footage.

J

That and the process that we have to go through on the back end when we do this.

J

Now it's important to also note that that's assuming that everything goes perfect, okay, which.

J

I think we all know isn't the way it happens. We encounter all kinds of issues we get inconsistent.

J

Players or or basically, platforms, um we have many times where we have to search out something. That's.

J

Going to be able to play the video because we're getting it from a private citizen um who's using.

J

Some different kind of equipment uh we get errors in it being sent in, uh sometimes they send it. It.

J

Doesn't work it didn't transfer properly. uh We have situations where the wrong video gets sent to.

J

Us so now I have someone that's tracking down the rate video. uh Some of the videos are labeled.

J

We get that are incorrect. uh Sometimes we get the wrong officer name on the camera that has come up.

J

And so we have to take the effort to identify who actually the camera belongs to. uh We have issues.

J

Saving or copying the videos sometimes or corrupt files, so I I put all of this on because you know.

J

It's important to recognize that when I talk about the hours I'm talking about, it goes well.

J

um And these are just some of the issues that my staff have has had to address.

J

Sometimes it could take hours to deal with one of these issues and ultimately we also.

J

I mean this video is important for trial to go into court and be able to present.

J

To a judge or to a jury, so I've got to have people that can package this for presentation.

J

And so those are all issues that we've uh dealt with when we talk a little bit about what some.

J

Of the other jurisdictions are doing, um you know, obviously you know a place like baltimore county.

J

Is is far larger. um They have 1600 body warning cameras in use, uh they have 14 full-time staff.

J

Seven part-time staff and six interns that are only and everything only assigned to downloading.

J

Shielding or redacting body uh body-worn camera footage again we have none. Frederick uh is now.

J

In a position of 119 uh body-worn cameras, one attorney supervisor, that's reviewing.

J

The felonies they have one it service and four investigators that are uh designed to mark and.

J

Shield, so they have uh six for 120 cameras, so just to put that a bit in perspective.

J

I do think it's important and I I want to present this to you because we talk about.

J

Discovery obligation and I think it's important um when you have to make funding decisions and.

J

I've always said I I wouldn't want your job like you know, it's a tough decision to figure out.

J

What the fun and what to not define my perspective is what my role is to tell you what we have to do.

J

To meet our constitutional obligations and to secure convictions, and- and I can tell you that.

J

This area hasn't continued to become a very hot topic and grow, but in the end, as you see, we have.

J

The obligation all evidence, including recording that we intend to use a trial, we must provide.

J

Any of the information um any electronic surveillance we must provide.

J

uh Any evidence that, uh or statements uh of the defendant or witnesses, we must provide.

J

And what these are requiring is, if we don't, then we lose that case that case gets dismissed.

J

um That's the thing that'll keep you up at night is prosecutors. You know I never ever want to have.

J

A citizen that I have to explain that because we didn't meet our constitutional discovery.

J

Obligations we can't go forward. I just will not allow that, um so we work incredibly hard. We have.

J

Incredibly, uh competent staff to do this now I say this as well like we are required to meet this.

J

Obligation, whether it's in our possession or not so when a department is using body-worn cameras.

J

We have to collect that information like it's not enough. We are not in a position.

J

Where we can simply say not, our problem like that obligation is on us, regardless.

J

um When we talk about redaction, so there are very important issues that come up for us. um I.

J

Mean, for example, we will have situations where we may be dealing with confidential informants.

J

So we have to be able to ensure that that is properly redacted and not just on the fly.

J

Like we have information that that gets turned over um we're, not getting it back, you know we.

J

Have to make sure that it's done and it's done correctly we will sometimes ask for.

J

Protective orders, for you know to get the court to uh pass an order that allows us not to comply.

J

Because the information is sensitive and we will do that, we have to get rid of personal.

J

Identifying information, um people's license social security numbers, uh medical information, we have.

J

For example, officers that may uh respond to a hospital. You know we need to be able to redact.

J

The information that's being done there, we have officers that will be responding in the middle of.

J

The night to a domestic- and there might be young children, they may be people partially clothed.

J

Again, we have to have people that understand the legal requirements. We must meet and can do this.

J

There's many times in the footage where there's the discussion about outstanding warrants or.

J

Criminal record, we have to redact that we are not allowed to provide that out into the you know into.

J

The sphere, both as to a defendant as well as um you know, we have to recognize when we pass this.

J

Information off someone could go, do something with it. They could post it on youtube. You know we have.

J

To be very careful when we are processing this data that we're doing it right, um certainly as the.

J

Sheriff indicated, while they will get uh public information act requests, certainly we will as well.

J

um I think in many ways we may become the big source of this for all criminal because we will be.

J

uh Repository to that extent, in terms of all the municipalities and all the departments.

J

um So we're not going to be able to to shrink from that obligation now, certainly when we.

J

Have ongoing investigations? um We can uh answer that. It's not something we have to.

J

Comply with because it's a pending investigation or pending prosecution, but certainly once those.

J

Cases are resolved, we would have to do that. Still, the shielding and redaction obligations will exist.

J

um And so you know we have to be prepared for that. So um I talked a little bit about.

J

Our obligations- and I want to talk about who can do this job, I mean the reality is for us.

J

um I've it's an evidentiary issue. I have to have people that have legal background that can.

J

Understand uh the significance of what they're watching and that there are, in fact uh something.

J

Relevant that needs to be dealt with. They will also be making notations for attorneys, because.

J

I can't have someone who's redacting, watching 20 hours of footage, and now the prosecutor has to.

J

Watch 20 out of footage to figure out what they're going to use out of it. So these are people that.

J

I need them to be able to mark hey at minute three. The defendant makes a statement and then.

J

It you know 4 15, they find the drugs like that way. When it goes to the prosecutor, we're not redoing.

J

uh All of the watching they're also going to have to be able to prepare these videos for trial.

J

I mean that is a major issue that we have where we have to be able to present this.

J

In court, because it is evidence- and sometimes it is critical evidence.

J

They need to have an expertise in handling all the media and the editing and the software, so this is.

J

You know it's a challenging area to do and it's a challenging area because they also have to work.

J

With all the different municipal agencies, in order to accomplish this task, so I mean.

J

I think that is a reason why, when I talk about this, that I just wanted to impress information.

J

That that's the issue um now I'm coming forward. Obviously this budget session, I'm asking for.

J

A lawyer to be overseeing the unit as well as at least one and that's just based on what.

J

We have right now additional person to handle the onslaught of digital evidence. We have now.

J

I certainly anticipate if, if there is a roll out more generally to the community with bodybuilding.

J

Cameras, and certainly knowing the expansion of digital evidence, I expect we would need probably.

J

A total of six positions- um and these would be paralegal level uh positions uh they're either.

J

Going to be, for example, investment users that have been doing this would be paralegals that.

J

Has been the format that we've seen elsewhere and and the reality is with the obligations and the.

J

Importance and weight the legal significance being placed on these reactions and.

J

What's being marked, uh there's really no other option so um with that I I certainly can.

J

uh You know turn it back to you, but I just wanted to make sure at least this.

J

Gave a little bit of perspective on what we're experiencing and a recognition that.

J

You know we have to deal with that for every agency in the county.

C

Mr d, lee, if I may, you laid out a really good presentation here and this one is what I was.

C

Concerned with, when the sheriff spoke, how we made all this technology with the discovery.

C

And the evidence procedures as I'm sure, there's defense attorneys out there who've won cases or.

C

Just little teeny glitches and there's so many different options. You laid out that things can.

C

Go wrong, so I appreciate this presentation to clarify for the public what we're faced with.

C

And in particular the hurdle that you're faced with overcoming, but I think once we make the.

C

Investment, this should run much smoother for your operation and for the sheriff.

C

It's just a matter of trying to get the capital together and get all this all in place for you.

C

So I'm very supportive of this, and I appreciate your presentation well. Thank you, uh commissioner.

J

And I do think it's important, I mean you know the sheriff uh chief ledwell, uh you know we have met.

J

To talk about this for a period- and I think one of the benefits- uh and I think it's important for the.

J

The citizens that may be listening, um you know this is what makes it I think work so well and.

J

What the presentations work so well in the county is that we've continued this dialogue uh from and.

J

This has been going on for some time where this was talked about and uh and how we work together.

J

So that we don't run into a problem, I think it's the sheriff mentioned like in frederick, where.

J

You know you had a department doing all these things, but the.

J

State's attorney's office didn't get the things in place. It needed to really process this.

J

I think we're trying to bring it jointly, so we don't run into those problems.

C

Thank you, and also it emphasizes that we shouldn't go cheap. With this I mean I'm.

C

All about investing in quality and in the long term, it'll pay off for us. I don't want to do.

C

Do anything cheap on and get you guys implemented.

G

I don't know if you want to go to him now, uh commissioner, ross.

A

Yeah, I I do uh first off uh yeah brian. Thank you for the information again giving us providing us.

A

Situational awareness on what you know, challenges lie ahead for you and how you're thinking through.

A

The process as well um again, the intent here is providing the briefing no decisions, but more.

A

uh Discussion and getting us along with the community um the situation, awareness of.

A

uh The body worn camera project as a whole for carroll county chief uh ledwell morning.

K

Commissioners, thank you for having me on, so I think between the sheriff and the state's attorney.

K

You guys have been given a lot of details. I think they've done an excellent job at hitting all the.

K

Major points I don't want to be redundant and drag this on any longer I'll offer a few things.

K

I think when we talk about who we decide to go with if we're headed in this direction,.

K

You know just like when we get our vehicles upfitted and equipped.

K

If you don't have a vendor who is responsive and available to your needs, it can be a nightmare.

K

So you know once we have a system like this up and running. The expectation is that we're gonna we're.

K

Gonna have them on us when we're doing business. So if we had equipment that would go down and.

K

We can't get a hold of a vendor because you know they're either unavailable or not responsive. That.

K

Could be a nightmare for us, so I think one of the things in our discussions in our planning was that.

K

This particular vendor, um through uh some of the individuals that are involved in this work group.

K

Had a has a history of being very responsive to the smaller agencies, so that's a big factor for us.

K

um Video evidence it's not an easy or inexpensive prospect as as you've heard, but it is the reality.

K

Of modern policing from a number of standpoints, we solve a good amount of our open investigations.

K

Through video cameras that are in particular areas that we locate and without that video evidence, we.

K

Would probably have ongoing open cases? We also have unfounded significant allegations like.

K

Robbery and rape because we've been able to locate video cameras that have refuted.

K

What was reported to us, so this is an opportunity cost. It saves our investigators a lot of time and.

K

Effort in going through the motions had we not had that ability to get that definitive evidence. I.

K

Think when rightfully show the sheriff talks about how few externally generated complaints, we have.

K

Compared to other jurisdictions he's absolutely correct. The issue. Now, though, is it only takes one.

K

Emotional incident that could make our agency or the sheriff's office or any other agency, the focus.

K

Of national attention- and I think the expectation is that we have this technology now in policing,.

K

And if we didn't- and we were unfortunate to have that kind of incident to refute or to get out.

K

That video footage right away, that that refutes what what even the perception that that tends to.

K

Circulate now on social media and to exponentially spread, you know nationally internationally.

K

It would be, it would put us in a very difficult position, so I think this needs to be looked at.

K

When we're talking about liability mitigation, the ability to get in front of something like that.

K

Is crucial and if we don't have that ability, then we're stuck with trying to get people.

K

To believe our word, um which I I think, locally we'd have more success, but in the.

K

You know national spotlight, that's a difficult hurdle because you're, you know it happened unless.

K

You can prove otherwise in in social media. It seems like so. We've got all that to consider.

K

The evidence supports both criminal and traffic arrests. I touched on that a bit.

K

Trust and transparency are big uh topics in the police reform uh movement. I think you know the.

K

Body-Worn cameras, the in-car systems; they they, they support that trust and transparency from the.

K

Community towards us, as police officers and his deputies, the ability to de-escalate since we've.

K

Had these four cameras uh on trial and evaluation out in the field, we've had several incidents that.

K

Just the mere presence, uh the calming of uh of the situation, was directly affected by us being able.

K

To say to the individual or the group that they're being video and audio recorded, so it has that.

K

Effect also, um I've been surprised at anecdotally here through the chain. The overwhelming support.

K

Of the program from our uh line officers and our rank and file, you know I think that that.

K

Our officers and our supervisors know that uh you know it's not a gotcha tool.

K

It's a um you know, a support of, what's being done. What's being said,.

K

Out on the street, and I think the officers want them.

K

For that purpose, I think it does hold everybody accountable, and I think it it.

K

Might help to prevent things like civility complaints that you know you might think.

K

Otherwise, before you use particular language or or something, although we don't have, uh you know.

K

A significant problem with that you know it works both ways and in the majority of, if not all, of the.

K

Cases it's going to show that we did things right so we've had our officers and our supervisors.

K

Showing support for them and and wanting to get them, so I I'll talk about that. Also, you know it's.

K

Not a one-size-fits-all tool so, as you guys have astutely pointed out, there's a difference between.

K

The westminster police department operations and the carroll county sheriff's office operations.

K

They cover a much larger geographic area, they have a different operating.

K

Process our plan is to have the kiosks here to share the cameras. We have an incoming shift.

K

And we have an outgoing shift um so that that we can have that uh cost savings. I don't think that.

K

That would be feasible with the sheriff's office because they just don't operate the same way as us.

K

So um we also considered you know that the timing of the whole budget process here is is difficult.

K

Because you know we don't know what the state's attorney's office will be able to stand up, as he.

K

Just talked about to handle the video footage that we would provide to him for discovery purposes.

K

So we have decided to start incrementally, but one of the good things about uh watchguard is that.

K

There is not a huge cost increase to increasing the number of cameras. The hardware up front costs.

K

Would pay for the kiosks for the upfitting? We we're looking to upfit our prisoner transport.

K

Vehicle in the back, but the actual cameras, it is a per month fee that would go into the um the.

K

Annual contract, so the infrastructure in essence would be in place for the body-worn cameras. So if.

K

If we were to look at going from going starting with 10 versus five cameras, there wouldn't be a.

K

Huge ask from a capital standpoint for us to do that, so we don't want to overwhelm the state's.

K

Attorney's office with footage, especially as we're you know, in the putting our toe.

K

Dipping our toe in the water fiscal year figuring out how much staffing this is going to require.

K

uh So we that's one of the reasons why we decided to start incrementally, but we also can, I think, at.

K

A relatively low cost um increase the number of cameras, body-worn cameras that we put into play.

K

Because it wouldn't be a big capital cost, it would just be.

K

An addition of the annual fee that goes into the camera system. We also.

K

Unlike the sheriff's office we'll be able to, since we can share the cameras and we have that ability.

K

To probably outfit our uniform personnel with about 15 cameras, so it's it's apples to oranges,.

K

Versus you know what the sheriff has to prepare for, especially between all of his patrol staff,.

K

And and corrections staff, so that's kind of our take or my take on it in a nutshell and.

K

If you have any questions for me, specifically I'd be happy to answer them. Steve floodwell. I.

C

Just want to appreciate the services provide validating the quality control to vendor.

C

That was my concern and you expressed that they have a good track record of other jurisdictions.

C

So this isn't no fly-by-night operation that we can depend very heavily on their services.

J

Hey chief, uh mr rusty, uh would it be okay if I comment quickly.

A

Yep, just just real quick. Let me just uh share chief just appreciate the insight.

A

uh The candidness, you know, I always believe commander on the ground, has the best information.

A

So you and the sheriff providing that is, uh is good for us for again situation, awareness and.

A

In moving forward so go ahead. uh Brian thank you. I I just wanted to to touch on. I think real.

J

Quickly, what we said first of all, as chief ledwell noted it, it makes obviously a lot of sense for.

J

His department to use the rotation of the cameras, as opposed to the sheriff's office, which.

J

Operationally is very different so, but for us it matters the amount of footage, that's being done.

J

Whether it's one camera that's being shared or one camera, that's only one deputy so.

J

For us, it doesn't really matter um how many cameras there are it's. How many are active.

J

In the 24-hour period is what we deal with. Second thing is, I know there was a discussion about like.

J

Stepping partially or not, and and obviously I mean how it's done- affects our office and.

J

Our staffing, but I do think it's important- I think chief floodwell kind of notes that, like.

J

You know who do we give them to if we give four or five like you know, then, if we're.

J

In a position of selecting which officers will have them- and we uh god forbid, have an incident.

J

um And we don't have that uh accuracy and transparency of body cam footage, then um you know.

J

We're missing an opportunity there and I and I do think that is irrelevant. I know several years ago.

J

There was a shooting case that I had to review that occurred over by the hospital and um you.

J

Know we were relying on individual cell phone footage as well as hospital surveillance, footage.

J

Again, imagine how beneficial it would have been to actually have body cam footage of audio. So.

J

I do think it's something uh to keep in mind and last uh certainly, not least um as I would all for.

J

Any of you, if you decide, uh there's something you're interested in I'd, be happy to take your.

J

For example, to baltimore county and take a look at their redaction and editing uh section and kind of.

J

Get a sense to see what really goes into it from our side, so I'll put that out there. Obviously any.

J

Of you could ask and uh I'd be happy to take and arrange that. So. Thank you. Thank you. All.

D

I I just wanted to say thank you for painting the picture of the county here from the municipalities.

D

Sheriff's office states, attorney's office and our responsibilities as they're going to be dictated.

D

To us I'm sure here in the future, but you guys have done a great job of really laying it out.

D

Financially and obligations, we were going to be picking up for public safety and.

D

It's scary really is the amount of obligations this is going to we're going. Gonna have to take.

D

On due to this, but thank all three of you for putting this together in that package.

B

I I'd like to thank you all as well uh sheriff. I have a question for you. Do you have dash cameras.

B

On your cars right now on sheriff vehicles, I only have a camera in the transport vans that we use. Oh.

G

Just so I don't want any no dash cameras and we're piloting the four uh body-worn cameras. So that's.

G

All we have okay, all right. Thank you, okay, anything else, gentlemen. Once again, thank you uh for your.

A

Time uh an hour and a half, I believe, well spent on a lot of information that you shared so with.

A

That, let's uh move on to uh firing ems, I believe uh bob mccoy should be up our director of fire ems.

A

Give us a few minutes of what's been going on and path forward.

A

Good morning, yes, what I want to do is uh just start off.

L

uh With our presentation this morning, um hopefully you can see my screen. We got it. Okay,.

L

Let me start to.

L

Trying to start my slideshow a little bit.

L

So, for the sake of time, I always start out each morning.

L

um Going over what we originally started with, what three primary questions were, so for the sake of.

L

Go over those again I'll just go through those slides.

L

What we decided back in november, the 2020 the direction we were provided we had four.

L

Milestone goals, which were the mou, the budget, the hiring and the public safety training center.

L

So today's objective, what we want to do is review the current.

L

Budget commitment of the carroll county fire service.

L

Currently, fy 21 there's a total commitment of approximately 13 13 million 800 thousand dollars.

L

That consists of station personnel operations, the low sap program that we fund uh for the.

L

Volunteer system and then the fire ems department, that's the current uh budget for the fire ems.

L

Which consists of casey and myself and then the small budgetary items that are required.

L

When we look at budget categories, what I'd like to do is switch to another screen.

L

To show you what we currently fund, I went through the budgets.

L

uh For the volunteer stations- and this isn't all-inclusive, but it lists the categories.

L

And the sub-categories uh of operational items that we fund through the volunteer budget.

L

In talking with the presidents, um one of the overlying concerns I hear I believe is: will we.

L

Continue to be funded throughout the future, so if you look at all these items, we go to training.

L

Protective equipment all the way down to fuels, disposable supplies.

L

Utilities, insurance dues, memberships, contractual services for equipment and buildings and apparatus.

L

Interest expense, public education and we even fund some major projects to keep these firehouses.

L

Operational, so I believe one of the major concerns is that we continue to fund these items.

L

uh As the we transition to the fire ems department, so my recommendation uh is that we continue to.

L

Fund all the operational components of the fire ems department and I think the benefits absolutely.

L

We continue to provide an outstanding service. I, when I go through each of the stations I go.

L

Through the budget, the commissioners have been graciously funding the fire service for years.

L

We have some of the best equipment out there on the apparatus and in the stations so we'd like to.

L

Want to be able to continue that continues to maintain all the stations and apparatus.

L

While we prepare for the future, but I think what the key is in in ensuring that we continue to.

L

Support the operational aspects as it assures the volunteer stations that funding will continue even.

L

As the department expands as far as risk, there are none um to me. We we've assumed responsibility.

L

For the firing and ems department, um it is advantageous and in our best interest to continue.

L

Funding all aspects: each budget year, we will identify efficiencies as we go through the budget.

L

Over time you will see, even though we will fund the same.

L

Categories through the budget process, you may see a change in who actually pays the bill. There will.

L

Be times where money, instead of going to cc visa, to actually pay for items or be funneled.

L

To the stations for individual payment, you'll see the county handling that within house and.

L

The benefits is the cost savings for the county through existing procurement and bulk purchasing.

L

It removes additional burdens of the volunteers trying to secure savings while utilizing the.

L

Purchasing power of the county, and it coincides with a one department approach as we come together.

L

We all need to work together to make this as cost-effective and outstanding department, as.

L

Possible and risks associated with the budget transition I see, is none as well.

L

So for 2000 fy 22, I should say for the fy 22 budget process. We've identified certain areas.

L

That we believe the funding could remain with the county. We will be able to ensure some efficiencies.

L

And some savings and the items that we at least identified this year, we haven't finalized.

L

Our ppe utilities for the fire stations fuel for each station each station has their own tanks.

L

Trash removal, pest control, elevator service maintenance, inspection, fire alarms, same thing.

L

Service maintenance, inspections, the public safety training center, the manager's position.

L

Which we currently fund through cc visa the public safety training center ems coordinator.

L

The atr, the hazmat public information tfmc, which is the training center committee, the ems.

L

24 7 and evod money, which would transfer back to the county as we assign personnel.

L

These are all areas that we believe could stay with the county and fy 22.

L

Possibly enjoy some efficiencies with those line items and then each year as we progress in the.

L

Department development you'll slowly see more opportunities for savings as we look into more.

L

Of the subcategories and maybe the development of a quartermaster bulk purchasing program.

L

So that's what I have today as far as budget like I said, I wanted to remain brief. uh Next update.

L

uh We'll present hiring options which is actually thursday uh and we'll discuss the application.

L

Requests for the safer grant, which is thursday, the 25th. So if you have any questions, I'm more.

L

Than welcome to answer annie, the application for the safer grant has not been forwarded yet.

L

That's correct: we are drafting it uh for your decision. It's not due until march 12th.

L

Okay thanks: yes, sir any uh comments, questions discussion for bob at this time.

B

Thank you for the brief update.

E

uh Yeah, I'm gonna have uh some questions later on, as we get more as we delve more.

E

Into the um specific areas, bob of what you're, you're you're.

E

Presenting here when it comes to the budget, one of the areas that I'm.

E

Specifically focused on is I'm really having some issues uh with and he didn't bring it up.

E

Today, I know it's going to be later on down the road, but purchasing all these uh transport units.

E

I got a real, I got a real issue with that and I think there's a place. That's a that's an example.

E

Of a place where we need to maybe save a little money and and do something else there, um you know.

E

We just heard a really long presentation, but a good presentation on on the body uh camera.

E

And and the personnel associated with getting that in place, and that goes in hand with what we're.

E

Suggesting here and I've talked about it before the internal positions that we're going to need.

E

As we begin to progress into this this department, so I just want to put that on the radar. I think.

E

There are going to be areas that we're going to really have to talk about, and that's the.

E

One area that I'm having a real problem with is is purchasing all those things out of the gate. I just.

E

um I'm hopeful that we can talk about things like that and maybe come up with a different way.

E

To do it uh so appreciate appreciate that today, and I look forward to uh to thursday sounds good.

L

Thank you, commissioners yeah. I think uh devil's in the details in a lot of this you're starting very.

A

Broad, very big macro uh chunks, but um getting into the specifics you know, is where we're really gonna.

A

Put pen to paper and figure out what right looks like so appreciate it.

A

Again also appreciate bringing being brief on this one and look forward to thursday as well.

A

Did you have some dennis? No, oh, okay, anything else, pretty good! A group. Okay appreciate it.

A

Now, let's, uh I think uh bob you're going to stay on for a loan request from hampstead fire company.

A

An adoption of resolution declaring intent to reimburse expenditures with debt proceeds.

A

And it has to do with purchasing what.

A

Busan uh well, we've got a whole group on. We got jennifer wesley bob and jim dwyer, okay, who's.

A

Going to start this um good morning, commissioners, this is jennifer hobbs bureau, chief of accounting.

M

um I think I'm going to take the lead on this for the comptroller department we're here today.

M

Mr bob, mccoy from director of fire and ems, is here, mr jim dwyer from president of.

M

Hampstead fire company and mr wesley martin, who is the treasurer from hampstead fire company.

M

Today, we've received an application from hampstead volunteer fire company to borrow money from the.

M

County through the low interest loan program in the amount of five million dollars to be used.

M

For the construction of a new operational building for hampstead volunteer fire company, just a brief.

M

Background, the company, um sorry, the county, offers fire companies who are within the county.

M

The opportunity, if it is to their advantage to use the county's financing program in order to borrow.

M

For their own needs, this program is primarily for capital, either building construction or.

M

The renovation of equipment- they do have other sources for your estate, but they choose what is.

M

Best in the best interest for the fire company for these loans, uh if this proceeds we will work.

M

With hampstead tire company, as they proceed with the construction of the new operational building,.

M

We would set up the fire company loan in our next bond issue. This is a pass-through debt.

M

Where we pass the interest rate of to the fire company, which means they would receive the rate.

M

Of um our next bond issue, that will be the rate that they would pay repay the county over the.

M

Term of the loan, the term would be set for 20 years, as requested for the fire company.

M

And we usually do um 20 years for buildings and that attaches to the repayment of the bonds.

M

Because the bonds are normally a 20-year repayment for the county, currently hampstead.

M

Fire company has one outstanding loan on equipment with a balance of 674.

M

Cents 339.67 be exact.

M

And are current on all their payments. We've never had any issues with repayments. um The fire.

M

Companies know what they're able to commit to when purchasing the equipment or doing any building.

M

Construction or renovations, I'm asking for the board's approval of the loan request, approval.

M

Will allow the fire company to proceed with the construction of the new operational building.

M

Additionally, I'm requesting the board to adopt the resolution declaring the county's official intent.

M

To reimburse expenditures with the debt proceeds, this resolution is to enable the fire company.

M

And the county to expend funds with the intention to reimburse with future proceeds.

M

In an amount of five million dollars, subject to requirements of any tax exempt debt issuance.

M

Mr mccoy, mr dwyer, mr martin and myself are all available for any questions. The board may have.

A

Okay, any questions, president uh dreyer, you have any comments.

N

Thank you for having us on this morning. The um the fire company's current building is a uh was.

N

Constructed in 1974 the fire company's been in business since 1900 um in 1974, we were never had.

N

Any intentions of having paid crews, uh therefore, the building has never been designed. It was always.

N

Dual purse with for the volunteers and for fundraising, and it never did either one really.

N

Well, um because of that, um what we've experienced recently is um the need to completely separate.

N

Fire rescue and ems operations from uh all social and fundraising uh the fire company I've met with.

N

The chris nevin who's, the mayor of the town as well in hampstead, and I've committed to him that.

N

The hampstead fire company is committed to being the center of the community as much as possible.

N

So we're going to be building the first building. We're going to build is a social hall.

N

As an interim fire station, that's on the rear of our property. It will act as our emergency center.

N

For one year and we're not asking for any funding for that building from you after that year, we.

N

Will um then move all the equipment into the new building and operate there and we'll convert the.

N

uh Interim building into a social hall which we will use for fundraising as a community.

N

uh Center for meetings and for um celebrations, so um we feel very comfortable in terms of our.

N

Fiscal ability to respond to this and to meet this obligation. We think this is money well spent new.

N

Building is about seven hundred square feet. It'll be a five bay drive-through. uh It will have crew.

N

Quarters that can be configured from anywhere to eight to sixteen people in terms of the active.

N

Crew for sleep ends. uh This is um something that also goes along with the direction that I've.

N

Discussed this with director mccoy as well to meet the direction that we're going in the fire service.

N

Our company intends to remain an active part of the fire service in carroll, county and.

N

To be a center of services for the town of hampstead and I'll, be glad to.

N

I actually do have a graphic drawing if I can bring it up real quick. Can I share, uh I don't see.

N

The sharing on here- that's okay, I'll, send it to you later. You have the ability to share now. Okay,.

H

Can you see yeah, it's really small? No, no! It's really small! Oh there! It is. We got it right.

A

Now we're good okay, so the fire company- this is the will be the new building. It's going to be.

N

On the same location that our current building is, but it's gonna be larger, it's gonna be wider.

N

And so we have more uh facilities for uh training, for meetings uh for administrative.

N

Services, uh the five-day drive-through, if you can see in the back the building in the back.

N

Will be the social hall and that's intended to sells about up to 325 people for social events.

N

The approach we're taking on this is not one of extravagance by any means we're very functionally.

N

Oriented but we want to ensure crew, safety and comfort, and that's what we're focused on with this.

N

This allows us to have decon areas and facilities within the new building that we don't currently.

N

Have so to us, it's an investment in the fire company. It's investment in the community as well.

N

But I'll be glad to answer any questions it's uh this is our artist's rendition. If you've got.

N

Any questions regarding this we'll be glad to answer that as well. A couple of quick questions.

A

One one is: what is the 674 000? um What was that used for that you're still in debt, for.

A

Oh, that we purchased a new class, a pumper went in service january 1st 2021.. um That was part of our.

N

Planned replacement uh of the engine the engine we had there was actually sold to new market.

A

And the timeline for uh completion of uh the social hall sure so we're at the uh I apologize.

A

The operations facility- well, no, that's all uh commissioner ralphstein. It's all hooked together.

N

So we will break planning on breaking ground in may of this year, uh which time we will construct.

N

The interim building we'll expect to move all the emergency operations to that new building.

N

As of november of 2021, we'll immediately begin the demolition of the existing structure for the.

N

Fire station and then a new building, we hope to be up and running with the new operations.

N

Building on main street in town uh by november of 2022 and the social hall will be up and running.

N

Again, as a social hall be converted back from the interim building uh in the spring of 2023.,.

A

Okay, thanks sure, um first of all, director mccoy are you in.

D

Agreement, yes, commissioners, I totally support this. It's going to secure uh service delivery for that.

L

Area for decades, absolutely having seen the fire department move from the carpet, but presently the.

D

Carpet store in hampstead to the new facility and what you have now of bill 74 to this is, I think, a.

D

Move in the right direction, with that I moved the board of county commissioners approved the loan.

D

Request of 5 million dollars by the hampstead volunteer fire and host company number one.

D

And adoption of the resolution declaring the county's intent to reimburse.

D

Expenditures for death proceeds. Second, okay: I have a motion on flooring. Second, is there.

A

Any further discussion, commissioner, lance hey jim good, to see you.

N

Good to see you thank you, a picture of us.

N

From 1982 a while back- and uh we were a lot younger and a lot thinner, yeah yeah- I probably.

E

Had a little bit of hair back then too jim, I don't know, hey that. Wasn't the commissioner.

N

Yeah, I think it looks like we were both about 15 at the time, so.

E

Hey jim, what's the total uh the total cost for the entire project.

N

uh Steve you just want to know about the fire. You want to talk about the social hall as well.

N

But both of them, what's your what's, what's the total, what once you're done, what what.

E

Where are you with with money there? It's gonna be right around six million dollars, it's uh okay.

N

So the uh there's we all- we have about a half a million dollars more um on the site, work utility.

N

uh Water um storm water management- uh that's all gonna, be taken care of. That's all included in this.

N

um And uh the building in the back is going to be um it's about 850 000, to build the building.

N

We have costs going back and forth to convert to and from a operations building and then back again.

N

It's going to work very well, though, and we're quite excited about it yeah, I think, listen. I.

E

Think you guys have done an excellent job of of taking that piece of property and and putting.

E

Both buildings on there, like that, I think, I think uh kudos to whoever came up with that uh when the.

E

Just a quick question: when the equipment responds out of the new building, will they be coming out.

E

On 30, or do they come out in the alley? It's kind of hard to tell with that, rendering.

N

Sure, uh on the interim basis, they'll be actually coming out on upper beckleysville road for about.

H

A year they're gonna come out the back and come out there and we've already worked with the town.

N

To make sure that we have the clearances for the turns and everything else right, the town's.

N

Actually, in the process of they're, gonna be widening up for becklesville and uh as they've.

N

Done doing some road work there? um After that, all the equipment will come back out on the new bui.

N

Okay, well done I mean I, you know, I've been through building new buildings before, as you well know, and.

E

uh It's not easy, so you guys, I I congratulate you and I give you. I wish you the best um you guys are.

E

Doing really well over there kudos to all of you. Thank you, sir appreciate it any other questions. I.

N

Can answer any other comments? Discussion? Mr martin, you have anything to say you know strong silent.

A

Type sure I just write the bills and try to figure out where the money's coming in and going out.

I

And uh but uh we're excited about it, and we uh really do appreciate your your support and also.

I

uh Director mccoy's support on this, and uh we look forward to working with you to market that.

I

And make it a point of interest for the community to hold other things in and hopefully generate.

I

Some income for the county through through other projects that we have in there.

A

Yes, sir good presentation uh with that, let's take a vote all in favor.

A

It is unanimous bibo. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you, jennifer, and let's move on to a big approval.

A

For 2021 pipe culvert repairs replacement with additional uh alternative one and old hanover road.

A

Who's on I'll take it. um This is maureen in purchasing office, and um we are here to ask your.

O

Approval to award a contract for the pipe call but repair and replacement to cj miller in the amount.

O

Of four hundred and sixty six thousand one hundred ninety eight dollars and fifty cents, this work.

O

Consists of repair and placement of pipe culverts on sixteen county roads, the county requested.

O

Competitive sealed bids and received one response: this amount is within the adopted budget and no.

O

Additional funds will be necessary and if you have any questions about the project, I'll turn it over.

O

To chris lonachen, thank you. um As I said, uh this work uh is for 16 roadways with 30 different sites.

P

um I can list all the roadways if, if you would like um or we can have those for the end.

P

We will be doing pipe replacements due to failures or pipes not functioning properly.

P

New pipes to address issues or property owner concerns, I will be addressing some end. Walls.

P

Inlets stream, maintenance, mains to traffic and roadway patching until we get.

P

To our overlay and reclamation later in the summer, this bid did include an ad alternate to complete.

P

Some additional work on old hanover road, the bid came in very favorable for us and we've.

P

Included old hanover into this work with our aging infrastructure, we need to take advantage.

P

Of the opportunity that we presented here to play catch-up so we're going to take advantage of that.

P

We are very familiar with cj miller's work and we anticipate starting as soon as the weather permits.

P

When this white stuff keeps falling stops, falling out of the sky,.

A

Well, according to commissioner, wants, it is done so you should be able to start. Maybe tomorrow.

A

But we'll see, um thank you very much. It said it was competitive, sealed bids. How long was the bid.

A

Process was it out for two weeks or a month, or how long do we know? Well, you do know just.

O

The bid process- usually um it was out probably for at least three weeks, uh because we put it.

O

Out, um usually for at least a week, and then we have a pre-bid conference and then it's usually.

O

Like two weeks after that, so I would say all together, it's probably at least three weeks.

A

So, in other words, you're very confident that big process was out in enough time, for others.

A

That were interested in providing a sealed bid had the opportunity. Okay, definitely, okay,.

A

Okay, any other questions or comments, commissioner weber, without a move, the county.

D

Board of commissioners award the contract for the 2021 pipe culvert repairs placement uh with.

D

Our ad alternate one for old hanover road to cj, miller llc in the amount of 466 000 100 466 198.

D

And 50 cents. Second, okay: we got a motion, I'm glad you were tongue, tied on that.

A

Motion as well, and we have a second any further discussion: okay, all in favor, unanimous five, oh.

A

Let's move on to uh rehabbing the pleasant valley, water storage, tank.

A

Okay, again, we are seeking your approval to award a contract for the rehabilitation of the pleasant.

O

Valley, water storage, tank to mid-atlantic storage systems incorporated of washington, ohio in the.

O

Amount of 61 289 and again the bid amount is within the adoptive budget and no additional.

O

Funds will be necessary and for questions on the project, I'll turn it over to andy watcher.

B

Did we get more than one wait.

A

Hold on andy, commissioner frasier did we get more than one bid on this.

Q

Commissioners, this one was viewed as a specialty type of work.

Q

And and the same contractor, who originally installed the the tank, is the contractor, who.

Q

We are reaching out to for the rehab work, so we didn't.

B

We didn't put a bid out on this. We just asked him to do the work that is correct.

B

Okay, those mid-atlantic storage systems have multiple water tanks in carroll, county.

Q

As far as I understand this is this, and bark hill may be the the two that they installed for.

Q

For us here in carroll county, they they are a a well-established uh firm who do work on.

Q

A national basis, I I've no doubt about the the uh the confidence level in their work.

R

Okay, I mean this is a it's a good amount of money. It's over fifty thousand dollars.

B

Why wasn't it put out to bid well, let me explain a little bit.

Q

As far as the background of those commissioners, the uh the um the uh the work includes two two.

Q

Major uh components, one is the actual uh rehab work on the on the water storage tank itself.

Q

um The the cost for that portion is approximately one one half of the overall cost, and it includes.

Q

The edge coating and quilting of the of all the interior and exterior panel seams and believe it.

Q

Or not the installation of 4 700, volt caps and steel, uh we're also going to install some some.

Q

Bars inside of the tank itself, these improvements will will slow the corrosion of the tank and will.

Q

Extend its service life by approximately 10 years, the other half of the cost associated.

Q

With this, contract is for the the temporary water supply system for the poor, pleasant valley, while.

Q

This work is being being performed. um The the downside of having the the relatively small.

Q

Small community of pleasant valley is we. We essentially have one system that serves the.

Q

The entire area as far as water supply goes so for this work to be done properly. The tank has to be.

Q

Taken offline and drained for three to four week period, so so approximately thirty thousand dollars.

Q

Of this cost is about just to play. It safe is about eight weeks worth of temporary water supply.

Q

System for for the for the uh community, the uh the two groundwater wells and the treatment plant will.

Q

Still stay in operation, the the the plan for this is to uh install a temporary uh system.

Q

Connected to the fire hydrant near near the fire station that that will include a 10 000 gallon.

Q

Storage tank and the pressurization system for the community, so while the cost does that it is high.

Q

uh What one one half of that approximately is for the temporary system itself.

Q

And as far as the rehabilitation work goes, I I believe it's it's money well spent that.

Q

Will absolutely extend the the useful service life of the water storage tank.

D

Where, where is this located uh in relation to the fire department, and is this a total metal tank.

Q

It's a it's a metal, it's an exterior metal panel tank and the inside is glass coated.

Q

And it's located um it's on high street, it it's essentially at the highest point in in.

Q

In pleasant valley, it's it's about a uh a half mile or so from from the buyer house.

C

Mr lance, when you're in high school, did you go to this water tank and spray paint? You love kathy on.

C

It I appreciate the fact that you think I was in high school in 1994.. Thank you so very much.

E

When I go to the top of the tank weaver, I can see your house from there.

A

So going back to uh the question commissioner frazier asked and I followed up you're saying.

A

This was not a competitive bid. Is there anything proprietary on the work that is being done.

A

On this, or is it that the uh the builder knows the tank best and it's in.

A

Our best interest to use the same vendor for the repairs in rehab.

Q

The um the accommodation of the vendor of building the original tank, with the knowledge of how the.

Q

Glass, the the glassline panels function and, and and and the history that they have of other rehab.

Q

Type efforts similar to what's needed for or this tank plays a huge role in in in not bidding it as.

Q

A general type of a project, uh it's very specialty oriented and, as I said previously,.

Q

I believe the county will will gain a great deal of value with this rehab effort. Okay,.

A

Any other questions, uh commissioner lance. No. I was going to make the motion that we.

E

Award the contract for rehabilitation of the pleasant valley, water, storage, tank.

E

To mid-atlantic storage systems in the amount of 61 289 dollars.

A

Okay, we have a motion, we have three seconds. I think I know where this is going. No further.

A

Discussion all in favor, okay, let's move on. uh Let's see we got a bit of approval.

A

Springfield avenue engineering and construction management services looking forward to listening.

A

To this one uh maureen andy, I think you're still both up maureen. Yes again, we are.

O

Asking your approval to award a contract for the engineering and construction management services.

O

For the replacement of the sykesville maryland 851 springfield avenue water and sanitary.

O

Sewer systems to rummel plumper and coal in the amount of 363 346.53.

O

This award is being made via the competitively bid term contract.

O

The proposal proposal amount is within the adopted budget and no additional funds will be necessary.

O

And again I'll turn it over to andy for questions about the project.

Q

Gentlemen, this this project is the replacement of the springfield avenue water and sewer systems.

Q

And is the continuation of the overall capital improvement project planned and funded for the.

Q

Town of sykesville as part of the overall freedom service area, this project follows the main street.

Q

Water and sewer project that that was board approved last year. The scope of work includes.

Q

The design of replacement water and sewer service means and laterals on the 2300 foot segment of.

Q

Springfield avenue from the intersection with main street and extending eastward to warfield road.

Q

The water and sewer mains and laterals date to the 1960s and 70s and have reached the limits.

Q

Of their respective service life, this project will directly impact approximately 32 properties.

Q

As with many of our projects, this one also also includes a complication in this instance. However,.

Q

The complication will benefit the county and the overall work. Springfield avenue is owned and.

Q

Maintained by the state highway as maryland age 51, the state is currently exploring springfield.

Q

Avenue storm drainage system improvements via via rumble, klepper and claw, and call.

Q

Or rk, which is much easier to say in understanding the critical need to coordinate the storm drainage.

Q

Improvements with the replacement, water and sewer improvements and with the knowledge.

Q

That the county has an existing term contract in place with rknk. The bureau.

Q

The bureau quickly realized the potential time and cost savings with having the same.

Q

Firm managed both projects, so we we have reached out to the state highway staff to to go over this.

Q

Matter and obtain their their approval to like to use rknk for our work once that was obtained.

Q

The dura met with rknk on several occasions to establish the overall scope of the project.

Q

So, as far as cost savings go a considerable amount of the survey work needed for the county's portion.

Q

Of the project has already been completed as part of the state's project, we're going to.

Q

Realize additional cost savings by not having two separate firms coordinate the improvements.

Q

And modify the drawings for each of the projects. The construction plans that our community will.

Q

Complete to uh as part of the scope of work will be the basis for the construction bid process and.

Q

We expect that to go to bid in in 2022 and then finally, we we will continue to coordinate with the.

Q

State highway with respect to the roadway repair responsibilities to springfield avenue if any of.

Q

You have driven springfield avenue recently, uh the the state of the roadway is in pretty bleak shape.

Q

And the state has acknowledged a responsibilities for for with respect to their the age of their.

Q

Storm drainage uh network near near main street. So with that, do you have any questions for me.

A

Andy, I appreciate that rundown and uh you know we are working. We, the county, are working very.

A

Closely with the town um with the mayor and uh town manager, along with district 7 sha for the.

A

Last year and a half, as you know, and um you said liv, uh it lived a life span from the 60s and 70s.

A

I think it lived its life span 10 years ago and uh if not 15 or 20 years ago, um because you're.

A

Right, it is really broken, underneath the roadway um so looking forward for this uh did this to take.

A

Place um I'd like to make the motion that we award a contract for engineering construction management.

A

Services for the replacement of the sykesville maryland 851, springfield avenue water and sanitary.

A

Sewer systems to remove klepper and call llp in the amount of 363, 346 dollars and 53 cents. Second,.

A

I got a motion a second. Are there any further discussions again really good work, karen, seeing.

A

None all in favor, okay, we got five. Oh thank you. Okay, let's move on to having a discussion about.

A

The locus wetland purchase, we got tom and chris there. You are yep good afternoon. Commissioners.

S

Yes, we're here today to request your approval to participate in the purchase of a property related.

S

To one of our mpds ms4 projects and this project is located within one of our municipal partners,.

S

Jurisdiction, the town of union bridge, so I will turn it over to chris to give you a few details.

S

About it, chris, yes good afternoon, so uh in 2018 we identified a location in union bridge for a.

T

Potential storm water facility and the facility, uh the proposed location, is on private property.

T

Adjacent to locust avenue, uh and so we approached the property owner at the time. uh The farmer who.

T

Owned the property about um purchasing the two acres and he was very amenable to working with us.

T

He, since, though, has sold the property to union citizens- uv solar.

T

Solar company and they went through a process of a couple of years of working with the town.

T

On all the permitting requirements and all the approvals and the agreements.

T

Those have all now been resolved and we are ready to move forward with this project and.

T

So the project requires the purchase of approximately two acres. That's in its flood.

T

Plain primarily floodplain area, so it has very little development um if any potential and the.

T

Solar company is willing to work with us. It's in their agreement with the town.

T

So at this point, uh we're looking to get approval to fund the purchase, which is nine.

T

Thousand dollars, which is the appraised value of the two acres with the town of union bridge.

C

Mr hines, mr doublelift, thank you very much for bringing some fried aboard.

C

This is great for the town, I don't think there's much debate or any of all this, so I moved at the.

C

Board of county commissioners approved the payment to the town of union bridge.

C

Nine thousand dollars for the purchase of two acres of property from citizens, uv store.

C

Llc for the construction of the locust wetland stormwater facility. Second, second, okay: we got.

A

A motion in a couple of seconds is there any further discussion here in cnn all in favor.

A

Okay, we got five. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

A

Thank you, commissioners. Thank you, chris. Let's move on to open admin.

A

The first uh step is the approval of the closed minutes from 211 from february 11 21.

A

Okay, we got a motion. Second got motion in god's second, approving of the minutes of 211, enclosed.

A

Any further discussion or any discussion on that hearing scene, none all in favor, okay, we got five.

A

Is there any uh phone calls any public comment? I have no public comment on the call. We got no.

A

Public comment on the call before we go into closed for land acquisition, open admin.

A

I'd like to uh bring up a couple of uh thoughts in open admin, as I started uh this morning,.

A

With the sharing of the 500 000 that have died so far,.

A

From coven 19 do believe, leaders lead- and this is not about politics- it's about leadership and.

A

Resource management, how we can continue to do what we do best and that is protecting our community.

A

And our neighbors I'd like to with that said uh we're going to be going into the budget season.

A

Real soon and we're going to have to have a lot of conversations amongst us, we do have the ability, as.

A

We did during the state of the county to separate ourselves appropriately in a room and still have.

A

The face-to-face uh discussions so I'd like to uh have that conversation moving forward getting us.

A

All five of us either in the reagan room or up here uh you know in 300 having in the.

A

On the dice, we have room for three on the dyes and then the two uh where roberta and tim would sit.

A

You know as we're going into the budget um any challenges with that I mean I think.

A

I think it's the right thing to do. I think it's a step towards normalcy,.

A

And I think we get a whole lot more out of it than.

A

The effects we're having on virtual any comments or thoughts. I think it's a good.

B

Idea for us to all come together, especially for the budget. It just works much better. That way.

B

We can still social distance. We have barriers up up here if we're going to go downstairs like.

B

We have in the past. We can certainly be spread out enough to do everything that we need to do.

B

As long as we have our mass going in the building and so forth, I think everything will be just fine.

D

I agree with you it's time to you know. I think we do the budget where.

D

Social distance wear the masks and whatever we'll be fine, okay, say if, if you truly want.

C

Normalcy, you have to get rid of the mass. I will not be coming into the building with the mass.

A

We well, we can't get rid of the masks, I mean the masks are mandated and.

A

I mean yeah we're just like going into any public uh facility. You know it's.

A

We don't have a choice and you know we're not in a position to make a choice.

A

um We are in a position to adhere to the state and federal guidelines, um but we cannot go.

A

Less than what's already been provided by the state, we can only go more and we know that.

A

So what we said we would do uh was adhere to the state uh directives, uh executive orders and.

A

Guidelines presented um as soon as they'd come out. So if the governor does come out at 2, 30 and.

A

Lessens those guidelines regarding masks, then we can put that in, but the expectation is he will not.

A

So uh yeah we don't. We are not at liberty to say we will go less.

A

Than what the state has already provided, um you know that's where we're at so.

A

um I mean it's a personal choice that you have to make, but you know the value of us coming together.

A

uh To work through the budget, I think, is important, but again it's not me. It's it's us so.

A

Anybody else on that, commissioner, lance yeah- I listen- I just as it was pointed out today that.

E

The only obligation that their general assembly has is to do the budget, one of the most important.

R

Things, if not well, it is the most important thing that we do is our budget and I think.

E

With the uh challenges that we're going to see with this budget, I mean you know, we heard two.

E

Presentations today that are going to be extremely challenging, the body-worn cameras and fire and ems.

E

And all of those include internal positions that we are going to have to look at extremely hard.

E

And I believe the best way to do that is to be able to see one another.

E

In person eric, I understand what you're, where you're, coming from from a personal standpoint,.

E

uh I can assure you that for me it's about respect for my co-workers when I come in here.

E

uh When we're in a room together, we don't have to wear the masks. Obviously we're we're going to.

E

Be able to talk to one another in the room as long as we're socially distanced or plexiglased, or what.

E

Have you, but when you're moving from from room to room, I think it's just a matter of respect until.

E

Such time that that folks are are able to to to do less with the mass. But I quite frankly after.

E

Hearing from a lot of the professionals, because now there's a lot of debate on well, if you get.

E

The shot do you have to keep doing the social distance? Do you have to keep washing your hands.

E

Well, common sense tells me, and you know how I rule I rule with common sense, a.

E

Lot common sense tells me that we're going to have to keep doing that for a long time.

E

So look I, I just think it's really important uh to have the face to face and it doesn't.

E

Mean a parade of people coming in here we can still have the the budget presentations by the.

E

Departments and agencies virtual, but I think it's important for us as the leaders of this county.

E

To be together, even if it's a half a mile apart from one another here in a room, I just feel like.

E

We'll be able to do and make decisions much better, so I applaud the efforts. I know it's going to be.

E

A little bit challenging with the the virtual aspect of it, uh but so far uh chris swam and his.

E

His guys have really stepped up to help with that, and I know that they'll find a way to do this. So.

E

I just really feel it's a matter of respect that we that we make this happen. I I I.

E

And I appeal to you to to to to go to that area and find your your way to do that.

A

Okay, any further discussion on it; okay, so starting with the budget, we will be.

A

Meeting together and we will determine whether it's up here or down in reagan, room uh whatever.

A

Is best uh that will allow us to maintain live broadcast and continue to be transparent, as we are.

A

And see everybody eye to eye whether it's through pixie class or not um but we'll get through it.

A

We started talking the other open admin piece. I just want to bring up and then hand it off.

A

Is we started talking about organization and organizational charts and how uh we look in being.

A

Effective and efficient within uh carroll county government to serve our community and commissioner.

A

Wentz uh you're you're 100. You know correct in my view that our priority is the budget. Is.

A

Resource management, time, people and money, and uh so ensuring that we have the organization aligned.

A

With time people and money to most effectively and efficiently run, our county is important.

A

In order for us to have these discussions about organization, uh it needs to be open, it needs to.

A

Be transparent uh using that word a couple times I apologize, but it needs to be open and communic.

A

Communicate amongst us and allow others who have views to communicate to us.

A

So it's not personnel specific, it's organization specific, so uh my recommendation is we either do.

A

It during open admin- or we carve out time uh during a session, and we have that open.

A

Candid conversation uh amongst us either way I think, works um if it's on the agenda to have.

A

The open discussion I expect we will have higher viewership of interest uh to that specific topic.

A

um Or we just do it during open admin and we we carve out time during open admin, but.

A

I think it's uh it's important enough, because we all started talking about it.

A

um With a couple you know with a couple of folks leaving as a catalyst, but we all started.

A

Talking about the organization, so if there's any thoughts on that um and and you know the answer.

A

May be we're rolling we're doing really well, why mess up something that's working really well and.

A

That's you know, but that that may be the result, uh but I think it's fair enough to say: let's.

A

Take a look at it, so any any thoughts on that yeah go ahead eric. Thank you. I applaud your efforts on.

C

This, but I think it probably best if we wait until we got to the budget process, because I think any.

C

Type of adjustments and organization we do would probably be after the budget process, and I think.

C

What the impetus for me with getting involved in this and supporting you on this initiative.

C

Is for us to accumulate a greater understanding throughout the course of the year leading up to.

C

The budget, so I'd really like. I want us to focus in on the budget right now and once we get through.

C

The budget, then we can try to address this because I think whatever we come out of this with is going.

C

To be exponentially helpful for each and every one of us to understand different portions of the.

C

Budget as we go into the next budget, that's just how I feel about. I applaud your initiative. Okay,.

D

Yeah, you know continuously looking at structures, nothing, nothing wrong with that. However, you know.

D

That structure is part of the budget. uh You might want to look at it as we're going through that or.

D

Basically, the same time, because uh you know change there does affect how we uh are going to look into.

D

The budget uh in the long run but yeah, I think we need to just carve some time out and session.

D

There and look at some different areas in our structure. That's uh and steve- pointed out earlier.

D

That you know we are talking about public safety quite a bit here and it's going to.

D

Affect our budget, I think personnel on that is going to be a big part of it.

D

uh Yes, I think uh we have to discuss this in open session and throwing options out.

E

Yeah, I don't I don't. I agree with both eric and and dick. I agree with both of you. I I think.

E

A holistic approach here is is very important because it, I don't think it's anybody, it's it's.

E

No mystery that a lot of what we're going to be doing in the next three months, two and a half.

E

Is going to be personnel driven uh which- which I don't know that that? Well, I don't think I've been.

E

Through a budget like that, dick and dennis I don't nev, never I don't think has a has a budget been so.

E

uh Dependent on personnel- and I think this one is going to be uh so I I'd like to take- I don't.

E

Think we have to spend a whole lot of time on it. I I really don't I maybe if it ain't broke, don't fix.

E

It routine here would come into play. I do think there's could be some tweaks that can be made.

E

So maybe a maybe a session before budget, but then include it in budget too. That's why I.

E

Agree with both of you, eric and and dick, because I think yeah, let's, let's: let's do it both ways.

E

Let's sit down have a chance to look at it holistically.

E

uh And then go into budget with maybe a little bit better understanding, but that'll help us too, when.

E

We do get to identifying where these personnel positions are most strongly going to be needed.

E

uh Gosh, you know we heard from jim today deuce nine over there. How many would brian need, if.

E

We do body cameras. How many folks are we're going to need internally to do fire and ems.

E

Risk management- hr payroll, uh you know, so I think it's important to. As you say, commissioner rostein.

E

Look at it holistically in a session. It might only take an hour who knows, but at least look at.

E

It it'll give us a chance to refresh our memories on who's where and then. I think include that in.

E

The budget and off we go that's my two cents since we're talking about budget I'll, make it two cents.

A

uh That uh commercial freezer any comment on it. I I don't think very sadness. I agree with.

B

Everything you said before me: we need to talk. We need to look at this. We need to do an open session.

B

I think a workshop or something before we get to the actual budget would be very, very helpful.

A

Okay, okay, um anything else for open. I do want to make a comment. Yes sure um there was a comment and.

B

Actually, I think, was more than comment made at the in the last board of ed meeting about where the.

B

County is coming out so well ahead uh financially this year, much better than we thought we were.

B

And we're looking okay, but you also have to remember. A couple of things are brought.

B

Up today, what's already been mentioned, the body cameras, the fired ems, uh adding personnel because.

B

Of those things into our own structure, it's not looking as bright and rosy as you might look from.

B

The outside saying: oh, they got this extra money. We do have a lot of these other considerations.

B

To look at as well, so why I'm very optimistic that you know it's very nice that we didn't turn.

B

Out as as poorly as we thought, we were during the pandemic and which is not over yet by the way. But.

B

We have these other budget constraints to look at first, and you know we can't just say we have the.

B

Extra money and we're- and I know the school board- voted to ask for additional funding, which is fine.

B

But we have to be realistic over doing this. We have these other things coming up.

B

And everything has to be considered at the same time, just just throwing that out. There.

B

It looks like we have extra money, but I don't think we actually do.

A

Okay, anything else for open admin before we go into close for land acquisition.

A

Okay, I'm going to need a motion to go into close for land acquisition.

A

And then, after that, a motion to adjourn motion to go into closer land acquisition back in second.

A

Okay, all in favor, going into land acquisition motion to adjourn after land acquisition.

A

Okay, we got a couple seconds on that as well.

A

All in favor to adjourn after land acquisition or after closed okay, we will go back into open.

A

uh We will go back into open on thursday at 0 900. with that thanks, but there's no one we're off.

A