St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 15 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: 3/15/22 Commissioners of St. Mary's County

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Good come to order please, good morning welcome to the commission of saint mary's county meeting.

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This date, tuesday march 15th 2022, I am randy guy president commissioner of saint mary's county I'd.

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Introduce the other commissioners sitting to my right representing the first commissioner district.

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Which includes bridge piney point st george, I'm mr eric colvin good morning representing the second.

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Commissioner district, which includes leonardtown hollywood, mr mike hewitt good morning, standing.

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To my left represents third commissioner district, which includes charlotte hall, sam gesture golden.

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Beach and mechanical john o'connor good morning, representative, fourth, commissioner district.

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Which includes lexington park, some of california, great mills and some of hollywood. Mr todd morgan.

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David weiskopf, the interim county administrator, is setting at the table to my left, morgan, alisa, casas.

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Our communications director is sending the table to my right good morning, amy carter, our video.

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Media producer is behind the glass. Please turn your cell phones off from vibrate. When you come.

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To the commissioner's table presenters table, please approach by coming down to center aisle.

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And remember, this meeting is being televised, so you need to speak.

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Clearly, and directly into the microphone for recording purposes, in other words, always look good.

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At this time please stand we have the invocation and pledged by commissioner colvin.

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Almighty god, there are threats of war and viruses around the.

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World there's a lot of fear around the world. So this morning we pray for peace.

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We pray for calmness, we pray for comfort around the world and, as we do our jobs here today, we ask.

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That you would just guide us in the work that we have to do amen, amen. Please join me in the pledge.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republicans.

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With liberty and justice for all, thank you, commissioner. Thank you. Next, we need to.

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Approve the consent agenda so moved. Second, I move first and second, all in favor, aye.

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Any opposed eyes have it. Next we have a few proclamations. We have national social work.

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Month, uh commissioner, calvin will present that I think we have several people out in the audience.

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Needs to come up, jennifer, neff, taylor swelling and whoever else might be involved. Please come forward.

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Good morning being with us.

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So, thank you all for being with us this morning. Jen I've known you for many years, so it's I'm.

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Honored to be able to present this to you all, so this social work month proclamation reads: whereas.

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The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance overall well-being and help meet.

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Basic and complex needs of communities and people, social workers work with many different.

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Populations and types of people, particularly focusing on those who are vulnerable, oppressed and.

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Living in poverty and whereas the theme of this year's social work month, the time is right for.

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Social work embodies how social workers rose to meet the most pressing challenges of our lifetime.

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The coven 19 pandemic, even as our nation, continues to grapple with systemic racism, economic inequity.

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Global warming and other crisis, and whereas social workers have continued to push for changes.

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That have made our society a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved workplace safety.

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And social safety net programs that help ameliorate, hunger, homelessness and poverty.

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And whereas social workers work in all facets of our society, to meet people, no matter their.

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Circumstances and empower them to live lot to live to their fullest potential. Now, therefore,.

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We, the commissioners of saint mary's county, do hereby declare the month of march 2022.

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National social work month in recognition of all the numerous contributions made by.

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America's social workers and call upon all citizens to join with the national.

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Association of social workers in celebration and support of the social work profession.

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So, as you know, my sister is a social worker and I feel that social workers are people who choose.

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To make the world around them a better place, it is not an easy profession by any stretch of the means.

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And it takes a dedication and a good heart to be able to or to want to enter into this field.

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So do you all have any comments that you'd like to share with us today? We just like to.

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Thank the commissioners for recognizing the work that we do in the community each and every day.

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Let me stick this supposed to set this on the pillow right there. All right.

E

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you.

A

And next we have equal pay by commissioner hewitt. Yes, I think we have uh norma pipkin my neighbor.

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Hey neighbor lori harris, I think you're on this too. How are you how you doing.

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Okay, let's see that nice, oh you don't have it in there. Oh yeah we're gonna yeah. You need that.

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Like put that up, you need to put that out, so we can all right how's this there. You go hey.

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I love your colors, whereas 59 years after the passage of the equal.

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Pay act of 1963 women and people of color continue to suffer the consequences of inequitable pay.

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Differentials and whereas a civil rights act of 1964 further strengthened laws for gender equality.

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And whereas, according to statistics released by the u.s bureau of labor to statistics,.

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In 2020, women had medium weekly earnings of 344 dollars or 83.4 percent of the 412 median for men.

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And whereas over a working lifetime, this wage disparity impacts, social security benefits.

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And pensions, and whereas fair pay inc, strengthens the security of families today and eases future.

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Retirement costs, while enhancing the american economy and whereas fair pay equality policies can.

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Be implemented simply and without undue cost or hardships in both the public and private sectors.

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And whereas equal pay day was originated by the national committee on equal pay, equity.

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In 1966, as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men and women's wages,.

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Now, therefore, we, the commissioners of saint mary's county, do hereby proclaim tuesday march 15.

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2022 equal pay day in st mary's county and urged the citizens of the community.

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To recognize the full value of women's skills and their significant contributions to the labor force.

F

Norma, I think it's your turn.

G

Well, thank you, commissioners, for inviting us here this morning to raise awareness about the inequity.

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Of pay between men and women and the long-term impact of that on women and their families.

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uh Our commission is blessed with many talented women, and each of us have different skills in.

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Different areas- and this is marta's area- she keeps us surprised of this information.

G

And I'd like to turn this over to marta, so she can share with you some rather alarming statistics.

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First, thank you again for bringing this to awareness of everybody, because it impacts.

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Everybody not just women, it really does so. According to the maryland commission for women.

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Women represent 49 of the maryland workforce, but represent 60 percent of the minimum wage workers.

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And to equal the average lifetime earnings of men, age 60 asian women would need to work.

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To age 68. white women would need to work until age, 71., black women.

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Would need to work until age, 79 and hispanic women would need to work until age, 108.

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And women's average earnings are less than men at every educational level and.

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As was mentioned, this impacts social security benefits and children suffer probably as much.

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As women do so and also during the pandemic, women were affected more extremely because they often.

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Left the worm, of course, to take care of children who were home from school and everything else so.

H

Thank you for bringing this awareness we need to address it. Gloria.

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Just wanted to add uh thanks to the commissioners for bringing this to the forefront as well as.

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The work of miss pipkin and miss kelsey and the other commission for women members for.

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Working so hard on this issue, as well as other issues that affect women and their children.

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Women are in the red, that's what their goodness gracious.

I

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Again, our main agenda here with the department of finance decision on the supplemental.

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Appropriations ordinance and our chief financial officer, miss jeanette cudmore, will present that.

J

Good morning, commissioners, good morning yeah, I was in front of.

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The planning commission last night- and I also told them good morning last night,.

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This I'm here for your decision today on the um supplemental appropriation, four million dollars.

J

For grant funds the public hearing was held on march 1st, and the time of the public hearing was.

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At 9 30. so, as I said, the public hearing opened at 9 30 and it closed at 9 40.. No video submissions.

J

Were received no speakers or written comments by march, 8th 2022 at the public hearing I provided.

J

The historical background provided a summary of a need for the 4 million supplemental appropriation.

J

As indicated, these funds would only be needed should grant awards or other funding.

J

Come forward by june 30 2022. included in the board. Docs is the ordinance that.

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Would need to be signed if you approve the cfo certification in the budget amendment for the.

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Four million dollars to increase the supplemental appropriation revenue and expense account budgets.

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Any questions commission, I move to approve the supplemental appropriation ordinance.

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In the amount of four million dollars for the appropriation reserve and the budget.

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Amendment and authorize the commissioner president to sign the related documents.

B

Exactly we have a first question discussion now. It says that you're going to do this through june.

F

30Th to 2022, that's like what three months. Yes, sir! So can you give us some kind of report in july? I.

F

Know we don't have many meetings in july, but just some idea where we stand with this right and as we.

J

um Right now we're adding the four million dollars, but as grant awards come in or other requests or.

J

Other revenue comes in, I will be bringing those forward to you anyway, but did I see here that.

F

This only goes for the next three months, yes for june 30., so if we don't have any um reason to.

J

Use it, it just revert back yeah, okay, no impact at all in your financials all right. Thank you.

A

Have a first and second, all in favor aye any opposed eyes have it. Thank you.

A

Okay: next, we have the office of county attorney decision resolution to establish saint mary's.

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County police, accountability board and saint mary's county administrative charging committee.

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And I think mr uh john hauser is doing this good morning. Commissioners, as commissioner president.

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Guy said, the purpose of this appearance is to request the commissioners either make a.

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Final decision on the draft resolutions for the creation of a police, accountability board and.

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Administrative charging committee that had been put forward or or to request further.

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Instruction from the county commissioners, if they would wish edits and changes to the.

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Existing drafts to continue to be made, my thought is to summarize very briefly, the public testimony.

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We received and the comments we've received on the draft resolution, some thoughts on some.

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Changes that could, if the county commissioners so desire, be made and make myself available for any.

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Questions if the commissioners have any before coming to a decision on how to proceed on this.

K

John sounds good. As the commissioners know, hb 670 passed last year required every county.

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And baltimore city to implement a police accountability, board administrative.

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Charging committee to take discipline matters from law enforcement agencies and put that into.

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Civilian hands: we drafted a draft resolution for the creation of a police accountability board and.

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Administrative charging committee took that to public hearing on march 1st and of the drafts the.

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Comments we've received consisted on four main categories: first, whether regarding the.

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Law's prohibition that no active police officer should be should serve on the.

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Commit on the boards, whether that should be extended to include a cooling off period.

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So that police officers who are not active but have only been retired within a certain time,.

K

Span should also be prohibited from serving on the board. The second and probably the largest.

K

And most consistent comment we received was the number of members of the police, accountability.

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Board there was a off-repeated suggestion that, rather than the five as established in.

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The draft resolution that that number should be extended to nine, with some criteria set on.

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Making sure geographic diversity would come from those, the common suggestion being that.

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Two members should hail from each commissioner district with one coming from any of the four.

K

Third comment we received was: there was language in the draft resolution, which was inspired by.

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Similar language in other counties, resolutions about what, if any, restrictions an applicant's.

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Criminal background should have on their ability to serve on either the police accountability board.

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Or the administrative charging committee, the draft resolution as written, restricts membership or.

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Makes an eligible any member any applicant who has received a conviction of a crime punishable.

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By more than one year's worth of imprisonment and has actually received a sentence of more than one.

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Year's imprisonment or who has been charged with a crime but not yet proceeded to final adjudication.

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Of it that could result in an imprisonment of more than one year or- and this was the language that.

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Most folk that more comments focused in on was commission of any crime of infamy, which was.

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My attempt to capture language that gets to any crime or offense that, though not punishable by.

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More than a year's imprisonment could still raise questions about that applicant's.

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Candor and credibility and fitness to serve the reference to crime of infinity. There goes towards.

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In maryland criminal law, if you're convicted of a quote-unquote crime infamy, you can automatically.

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Be impeached for your testimony if given in court that can be brought out and the jury can.

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Be allowed to hear it and make the decisions that they will of your credibility. Crimes of infamy.

K

Are a crime are a term of art, they're defined to include treason, the common law, felonies and.

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More nebulously, any crime where deceit or falsity is a necessary element of convicting you for that.

K

Crime and then finally, there was also a provision that some other counties have gone along with that.

K

We included in our draft resolution to include an ex-officio member on the board, a non-voting board.

K

Who would be a designee of the sheriff and looking at how other counties have done it? Some counties.

K

Have omitted a provision like that entirely? Some counties have allowed the sheriff, as well as a.

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Designee of the sheriff to come in that would be possible because, under the law's definition,.

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Of active police officer, a sheriff or any other chief of a law enforcement agency or employee.

K

Of a law enforcement agency, who only serves in a supervisory capacity does not, for whatever reason,.

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Fit the law's definition of an active police officer, so it would be possible to do that.

K

um It's interesting and at first we were, there was probably about five weeks of my life, given.

K

To head scratch or five days of my life partner, not quite that long, not quite that long given to.

K

Head scratching, trying to figure that one out and seeing how some of these counties that do.

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Designate a sheriff as an ex-officio member of the board could do it and then finally had.

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The thought to actually go in and look at the definition of what a police officer is under.

K

The public safety article and it's right there does not include a sheriff head of the agency.

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Or employee in a similar supervisory role, now clarify that similar supervisory roads appointed.

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To the deputy chief position and or higher, usually it's the rank of captain and or higher if they're.

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Appointed that they're not considered under the definition of police officer, so it's it.

L

There's a nexus in which the leo br as it stands right now is not applicable to those positions so.

L

They would not be held to the same standards under uh the provisions of the public safety article in.

L

Komar, so it's there is a defining portion within that. So it's not just a supervisory position.

L

Like a sergeant or a lieutenant, and as the training commission would do it there's uh several.

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Layers, you have a supervisory position above above a supervisor, first line administrator.

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Above first line administrator, so it's usually when they're classified as above a first line.

L

Administrator with the maryland police training commission, they fall outside of that category.

K

And that would make sense as a reference back to the old law enforcement officer's bill.

K

Of rights, and also tracks with the other language in there is that um I believe, if.

K

I remember from the statute deputy is outright named, there's also language in there that says.

K

If the title is not deputy or captain, but the role is the equivalent, even if the title is different.

K

And still not be captured under that definition right, yeah, okay, mr houser. I I've over the.

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Past week had an opportunity to talk to several people that I've I'll use the term.

F

Semi-Interviewed for my pick to be on this board, and I would say that I I'm in favor this board.

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Member, this, commissioner, is in favor of moving to nine versus five. If we learned anything from that.

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Redistricting board that a broader base may be a good idea, but people ask me questions that.

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Hopefully they're listening this morning because I told them we were going to.

F

Take this up a little bit after nine this morning, and the point is: is that they'll be.

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Whatever the number be five or nine will be, the police, accountability board and it'll meet once.

F

A quarter is that true, that's true the um where the law states is that the county commissioners.

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Have discretion to quote unquote establish the membership of the police, accountability board.

K

That gives us in the county, attorney's office's opinion freedom to set the numbers of members.

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Qualifications for membership latitude and deciding who we want and who can be.

K

Qualified to serve on this board comparatively the administrative charging committee, the language is.

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Not shall establish the membership of the administrative charging committee.

K

That the languages the acc shall be composed of the following. It establishes.

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Board of the police, accountability or chairperson of the police, accountability board or his designee.

K

Two civilian members appointed by the police, accountability board and two civilian members.

K

Appointed by the county executive, we do not think there is any discretion to change the numbers of.

K

The acc and probably not the discretion, to go too deep into qualifications for those except.

K

As I said, prior to the public hearing to set baseline qualifications, such as terms of office,.

K

Base level fitness to serve processes for removal if a member does need to be removed, that was the.

F

Next question: they had the acc, the administrative charging committee. Now that group is going to be.

F

Three people that group is going to be five people, the chairman, five people and those will be people.

F

Who are also on the police accountability board, or will they be additional one? One of them will be a.

K

Member has to be by statute a member of the police accountability board, and that is the chairperson.

K

Of the pob or the pab chairperson's designee, who must also be a designee or be a member of.

K

The so do the commissioners appoint people to the acc, the administrative charging committee.

F

And the police accountability board correct. The commissioners will appoint all the members.

K

Of the police, accountability board and two of the five members of the acc okay, that's.

F

Maybe that's where I was going, because I thought the police accountability board.

F

Appointed some of the members to the administrator to him. I think, there's a point of clarity on that.

L

The two of the members of the acc come from the police. Accountability board correct, so the chair.

L

Also has the ability to appoint two members or is it uh the additional administrator yeah the.

M

With it, no it's the county executive, which would be you in in this uh role, our form of government.

M

But the administrative charging committee is comprised of five people. One is the pab chairman.

M

Two people picked by the pab board and two people picked by the county exactly when we put out.

B

A period of time for people to apply to serve on these boards, we'll need nine people for.

B

Potentially, nine people for the pab and two people for the acc correct and then.

K

The pab would need an additional two people out in the ether to appoint to the acc.

F

And that goes to the my point of the pab is going to have to have some knowledge. If that's the term.

F

Of people in the community that they would pick because it's not going to be people from the.

F

Some of the people I talked to people reached out to me interested in serving on this board.

F

Thought that the pab would be that committee and then they would also be on the other committee too.

F

But that's not the case, so I get that now now we talked about training or different people.

F

In the audience talked about training at that public hearing we helped are we going to have.

F

Any kind of training for people, because people ask me: how do you expect me to do this, or what do you.

F

Expect me to do if I don't have any guidebook or or any way to get started, do you have any help for.

F

Them on that, we have been promised and the law states that members must undergo training from.

K

State agencies that training has not been created or issued. Yet, though, so you don't have that.

A

Training yet okay, I get it, I get it, but that's part of the issue with if you want to appoint.

F

People they don't know what they're getting involved in and what I'm also telling people is. We.

F

Use this term, I thought I heard last time relevant experience and that they asked what.

F

Does that mean do they have to be if they can't be a police officer or a former police officer for.

F

A period of time, whatever the five year, whatever the period is, you know how's that I mean I'm.

F

I've been talking to former school principals and vice principals, people who are involved.

F

In some kind of disciplinary action that understood the difference between somebody.

F

Who made a stupid mistake than somebody who was a vicious? I shouldn't say vicious, but a chronic.

F

Troublemaker so because I think that gets to be the issue is understanding the severity or dealing.

F

With the person you're dealing with now, let me ask you a couple more, so we talk about no police.

F

Active police involvement or needing a period of cooling off, I think, was your term. You used.

F

Is that like, if they've retired, they need to be retired, for what do we have to set in length of.

K

Time that was the general gist and though that's not a state level requirement. That's what some.

K

Other counties in their discretion have chosen to do. I know. Culver county north has instituted.

K

A cooling off period of five years that no active police officer shall ser retired police officer.

K

Shall serve if they have not been retired for more than five years from the date of their appointment.

K

Other counties are not okay, so it's wide open so uh also we're talking about nobody who has.

F

A felony on their record or anybody who has a criminal record. I mean this this commissioner.

F

Is not appointing people with felonies, I'm not going to point somebody to this board that has.

F

Broken the law and now has an opportunity to look at a police. I don't think that's a good.

F

Model for me to pick, but that is just something that the public would like. We heard at the public.

F

Forum, that's just something from the public. That's again, that is a gap filler that most.

K

Counties, I've seen have instituted some sort of controls and some sort of qualifications.

K

But that's not grounded in the statutes. We have the authority to adopt what restrictions we would.

K

In that capacity, but it can be what the county commissioners make of it in terms of.

F

The and there's two questions and I'll get through them: real, quick. The next one was somebody asked me.

F

Why would we want a sheriff representative or the sheriff or some ex-officio member.

F

In the sense that we don't want an active police officer or somebody with a recently retired.

F

But then we want this ex-officio member who could influence people? Who are you know everyday.

F

Citizens and don't really well depending on the training we give them. Hopefully we.

F

Rev them up pretty quick, but if they come in here kind of uh green to the thing they may a.

F

Couple people told me they may feel intimidated by having the somebody from the sheriff's office.

F

Kind of advising, or what role that ex-officio member would have the thinking and including.

K

That provision was striking the balance between the law's purpose of giving overs.

K

To civilian control, the disciplinary process for law enforcement officers, but recognizing.

K

As well that she pointed out, commissioner, that pure civilians, without experience or background.

K

May not know some of the technical knowledge or on hands experience that may better enable them to.

K

Interpret and adjudicate what they're going to be charged with looking at and weighing.

K

In on the thought, there was that by including an ex-officio non-member voting, we give a liaison and.

K

A technical expert to sit on the board to advise them towards those things right: an advisory role.

K

Someone who's there to furnish information to ask questions who can put information in front of the.

K

Rest of the board, but who isn't a member for the purposes of deliberations.

K

Or of weighing in and helping that board reach or vote on a final resolution of a matter, that's in.

K

Front of them, okay, last question: people that have that either reached out to me, or I reached out to.

F

One lives in a ridge: one lives in piney point one lives in valley, lee one lives in.

F

Lexington park, one lives in wildwood, one lives in hollywood and one lives in mechanicsville. So.

F

Will you say that the commissioners would have to appoint whatever number of people the commissioner.

F

Or points has to be from their district? Is that going to be etched in stone, or is that going to.

F

Be a requirement, or are we going to be able to pick people from across the county who we believe.

F

To have the best interest in this right now, as the draft is currently written, the discretion is.

K

Entirely up to the county commissioners, on where those applicants geographically hail.

K

From what other counties have done, including charles and culver, have both created nine.

K

Member boards and said that two members shall hail from each commissioner district there's no.

K

Mention in their resolutions that each commissioner from that district will have.

K

Their own pick of two, I presume that it's still even if two have to come from the same district.

K

That will be taken on by the board as a whole. Anne arundel county, which is the only other.

K

Of the six jurisdictions where I that have implemented police accountability, boards.

K

That I can find will commissioners be able to object to other commissioners appointments.

F

That that's going to be up to the commissioners and, however, the appointment is worked out.

K

Between the five commissioners or whatever changes the commissioners direct me to or direct us to.

K

Make into the resolution, but for right now it's five members that must be appointed by a majority.

K

Vote of the county commissioners. So thank you. uh Question kind of a general broad question.

B

Section 2 a serve county-wide law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement agencies.

B

So- and I think you've probably been over this before- but this does not apply to.

B

State police is that correct. The state police will have their own state level, police, accountability.

K

Board that will hear all these matters in annapolis, but that won't be made up of.

B

Local representatives from our community reviewing state police correct. They will be judged and dealt.

K

With by that level, police accountability board, somebody could come from this county on that board.

A

Correct so I think, there's a few misunderstandings as to what the police accountability board.

L

Actually is through the the ramrodding of the legislation and even hearing a lot of the.

L

Questions that are being asked right now and from the community, so the police accountability board.

L

For the public's understanding does not administer discipline, that's not what they do. The police.

L

Accountability board goes over quarterly. The discipline that has been issued by the sheriff's.

L

Office to ensure that it is justly applied that there was no impropriety in the discipline that.

L

There was no, let's say you know, lowering of charges or favoritism that that's that's what the.

L

Pab actually does because there's three elements within the legislation that then would force the.

L

Pab to go to the administrative charging committee, which is a constitutional violation, misconduct and.

L

Criminal activity, so in order for those three in order for the administrative charging committee.

L

To get involved, the elements of those three would have had to be made now the pab can.

L

Receive complaints from the citizens and then they would turn it over to the investigating authority.

L

Which is the sheriff's office to investigate and then would come back to the pab with the findings.

L

So I think, there's a misnomer that the the police accountability board is going to be administering.

L

Discipline for the sheriff's office on a regular basis, which is just not the case. That's that's not.

L

How it's going to work? It's not! The law is not set up that way. It is a checks and balance to.

L

The internal process that's already being done at the sheriff's office. So if those three elements.

L

Miscon misconduct, criminality and constitutional constitutional violations, the administrative.

L

Charging committee is is not even going to be activated; I refer to them almost like the grand.

L

Jury, the pab is the state's attorney's office. If you want to look at it that way, so the the fact.

L

Is I don't see the acc in this county being utilized in that manner? So when it comes to.

L

Having an ex officio from the sheriff's office on the pab, um I I don't see where the any type of.

L

Fear should be invoked from any resident because, quite frankly, if they're reviewing.

L

The discipline that has already been administered from the sheriff's office.

L

They're going to have questions about that and the only person that's going to be able to.

L

Answer those questions is going to be either the commander of internal affairs, uh the investigating.

L

Officer or the sheriff or his you know the person that that's strictly involved in that.

L

So I think you have to have somebody that's there in order to facilitate those questions, um and this.

L

Pab is is supposed to be a part of the community, not a separate wedge. That's divided between.

L

Law enforcement and the community, so there has to be there- has to be a bridge between the two um so.

L

I do believe that the membership should be expanded, but in a different way. We already.

L

Have a hard enough time as it is filling boards it. Quite frankly, it is difficult and when you.

L

Look at the metropolitan commission and trying to put people from particular districts in there.

L

We have people that are we've held over for multiple terms, because we just can't.

L

Find people from those districts, so I disagree with the required membership from each district.

L

However, what I do agree with is stating a minimum of five up to nine members.

L

And the commissioners shall fill nine if the applications are there for those nine positions.

L

This way, we're not running into just always having vacancies that are just open up on the board.

L

Or worrying about a quorum and alternates and it's going to become a, uh I could see down the.

L

Road, probably a problem trying to fill this board just like others that way, you're saying a minimum.

L

Quorum of five correct, the minimum up to nine yeah minimum is five. However, nine is the maximum and.

L

The commissioner shall fill nine upon availability of those, so you always have when you have a.

L

An alternate you, no matter what you do. You always have that number. So if you have six and you have.

L

An alternate you already have seven, so you have you know, so you keep that staggered number. The.

B

Only issue I see with that is that would tie our hands in reflecting the diversity of the county.

B

If we have nine women apply for the board, all of a sudden we're hands are tied into only having.

B

Nine women on there and we wouldn't have any men represented on the board. Well, there is.

L

There's always going to be the complexity based on the language of the diversity and and demographic.

L

Of the community to to be filling it because you run into that position with five regardless, so.

L

You're never going to move away from that. I think this is a middle ground to say. Okay, we understand.

L

That the the citizen citizenry wants nine. um We have a hard time filling these boards, regardless.

L

Of what we're paying right, but the problem runs into if we have five white males that apply.

L

And that's it then there's going to be five white males. Excuse me: isn't the diversity of this board.

A

Already established in the law, yes, and no there's a requirement for in diversity in the law that.

K

This board shall, to the extent practicable, reflect the racial ethnic, gender et cetera that all states.

A

That in there, but uh it gives us it says it shall be- it's not mandatory, though it says it shall be.

K

The only limiting language, it sounds mandatory when you say yeah. Yes, that's the amusement park.

K

It is mandatory that diversity be achieved. The limiting language in that clause is the.

K

To the extent practice and the law- yes right right as being mandatory, we have to be.

A

Diverse yeah and who we appoint right and I the the thing I had had conversations with john and.

L

Neil about this, and- and I said what we need to do is we need to look at the census, information.

L

To look at the percentages of our population and then take that and apply it to the actual board.

L

Itself to say that 15 percent of the board shall be african-american. You know, 40 percent shall be.

L

You know women men, because the census data is is a hard push on that. There's no arbitrary about.

L

That so we can go ahead and use that number to fill up. The the demographics of the board.

L

Using the data-driven solution, so that's why the additional problem you run into with appointing.

L

Two people from every district is, you may not meet your demographic, so it has to. I really truly.

L

Feel it has to be based on data that that is how the board is going to be filled. If, um if I could.

C

Just jump in, um I think, commissioner coleman, would you talk to the state police having a pab? I don't.

C

Think they do yes, I think this is all nothing all localized no, and it is absolutely correct, maryland.

L

State police will report to their own board. I mean they're separate now. I do think that having.

C

Someone with some law enforcement background in this is a necessity, as was pointed out previously,.

C

You know bringing five seven nine people off the street and say you're, not the accountability board.

C

With little to no knowledge, um I think is a bad thing. I think that, as far as a criminal record is.

C

Concerned there's an axe to grind more than likely, so I would say if you have a criminal background.

C

You I'm really sorry that doesn't work. I don't think the sheriff has to have a rep who doesn't.

C

Vote, I think that's fair and I think the training, the training has to hate to say this, but it should.

C

Be a standardized statewide training program, st mary says one thing prince george's says something.

C

Hartford has another: I mean that just takes things all over the map and does not provide.

C

I think any consistency as to where we're going right now, but of course, the general.

A

Assumption coming up with any kind of training scenario, let me know this is all remember this.

C

Is a whole attack on the law enforcement by annapolis and taking away the capitalists.

A

Come over, there pulled out of their butt and whatever now they're trying to show.

L

Well, what I, what I'll say on that one is uh the maryland police training standards. Commission.

L

Is currently developing the training for the police accountability board, the anticipated.

L

Date that it's probably going to come out at some time in july, uh you know they they're who's, doing.

L

This, the merrill police training standards, commission so they're up there. That's that's.

L

That's good to know: yeah yeah, that's who holds all law enforcement, certifications and accredits all.

L

Annual in-service training, in order for officers to be uh continue their have their certification.

L

As law enforcement, they mandate the training. Okay, can I come back to my absolutely next slide.

C

um I do think, though, that each commissioner should have an appointment in this board.

C

It's being stated, you know, we don't know if we'll have enough board members well, the way this thing.

C

Is growing rapidly, I think we'll have more than enough people who want to serve on this sport.

C

That can reflect whatever diversity the county wants to be able to receive. I don't think that.

C

The commissioner should be able to nix the person from their respective commissioner district.

C

Yet, at the same time, I don't want to see one commissioner district ending up with a lopsided.

C

Three or four members at the expense of the other commission districts throughout the county.

C

For whatever reason whatsoever- and I did see, sheriff cameron walk in and I think good to get.

C

His perspective and take on this, since you know it's his his office, that we're directly affecting.

C

And discussing right now I don't have the rest of the commissioners. No, I didn't get behind.

B

Somebody else, while he's coming up, though I don't agree that individual commissioners should get to.

B

Appoint each or individual members of this board, I think that that makes it more difficult to ensure.

B

Diversity, what if we each appoint a white woman or white man or an african-american person? And we.

B

Lack reflective diversity of the community. I think it's too difficult if we are each.

B

Appointing individual ones, I think we need to come together as a body and the next board and.

B

The next board needs to be able to come together as a body and decide what the makeup should be.

B

Are you saying that the commissioner should vote majority on the membership? Yes, that's what I'm.

F

Saying I think I figured right. We as we as a board should see the applications review them.

A

And as a board vote on, what's this part about each commissioner will appoint two members or.

F

One member is that in there I didn't say that that was a profit from the community.

L

I think and that's how it came out- that's correct what we had was what's in the existing resolution.

K

Five members, no geographic requirement that they hail from any particular parts of the.

K

uh County what you have seen other counties do is particularly when they go up to. They have.

K

Done nine member boards, they have done it and said that each member or that two members shall.

K

Hail from each county, though they're silent as to how their county commissioners choose.

K

Those designees or if it's voted upon by the board of county commissioners as a whole in those cases.

F

Or hopefully doesn't happen is uh one board member appoints people and all the other board.

F

Commissioners, don't want that commissioner's appointments so that person doesn't get any.

F

Appointments because we can't agree on, I think, having nine members on there gives flexibility.

B

And room for balance and we would have to work together to come to consensus. But the.

B

Redistricting board that you mentioned: that's the the example of it. We all appointed republicans and.

B

That's what the community got upset about, because we individually appointed people.

B

But if we were able to decide, maybe we would learn from that redistricting board. This commissioner.

F

Appointed a democrat to start with she found out, she couldn't do it because she thought the.

F

Scheduling was too aggressive and I ended up pointing another, but my go. My point gets.

F

To be is what happens if a majority is board of commissioners decides on who they want to be the.

F

Nine members and the minority of this board of commissioners does not get to get a pick.

F

I think, in fact that commissioner can vote. No, that's that's. That's just a way. The unfortunate.

B

Thing way to crack or come it is, unfortunately, I think what you run into on the checks and balances.

L

With that, too, is, if again, you tie it to the census data on the demographics of the community. That.

L

You really don't it's there's a balancing point on that, so you have to you, can't just make arbitrary.

L

Decisions, you have to have a data to rely back to so I think that that's going to be crucial. I'd.

C

Like to hear sheriff cameron's opinion, since he's the his department is going to be the one affected.

C

By this, I think his input is very valuable for whatever decisions we're going to try to make.

N

Yeah, thank you, commissioners, um so pretty complex the the thought of setting this up.

N

I agree with commissioner o'connor in that nine is not a manageable number.

N

It's not very agile, I think you can get reasonable representation from a five-member board.

N

I I've watched the public hearing uh from home.

N

The only thing that wasn't communicated in the public- and there was a lot of misunderstandings.

N

About what pab and the administrative charging committee is and is not and you've covered that.

N

The reason I think the ex-officio and its ex-officio, which is a non-voting member.

N

Is important is because, and part of the bill is a mandatory training for members of the.

N

Pab and the administrative charging committee but understand this is the only professional.

N

Board that I'm aware of um that they're, not people from that profession, on the board.

N

I mean if you're a doctor, a lawyer, electrician, a plumber use the board that you're subjected to are.

N

Subject matter experts so we're we're expecting our citizens to to get a minimal 40-hour training.

N

Probably in sykesville, not here in saint mary's county right, that is going to make them.

N

Subject matter experts, that's not going to happen, so the ex officio in my mind, would be someone who.

N

Would be able to answer questions on our specific policy, our procedure, our technology, our practices.

N

Our initiatives, the tenor, sometimes of an operation that all comes from somebody that.

N

Does the job and has been in the job, so it's the sheriff or the sheriff's designee, which.

N

Would most likely be the number two, the major somebody outside the investigative process.

N

And we've talked about that in depth. I also asked our southern maryland delegation to piggyback a.

N

Bill in the legislator and legislature submitted by washington county to place an ex-officio member.

N

On the acc, the administrative charging committee, for the same reason, it's a non-voting member. It's.

N

It gives you a real-time subject, matter expert and when it comes to the members of the board.

N

All the law says you can't be an active police officer. There is an advantage to having someone on.

N

The board that was a police officer and the more current the better in my mind, because you know.

N

More about what the current law is, which is radically changing. You talk about complexities.

N

You know we, we have talked about the inherent risk and danger of policing. I don't know another job.

N

That is more complex in american society today than policing, because it changes so radically.

N

I would note before they dissolved leo br, that we did ask you'll, remember a bill to put.

N

Two citizens voting members on police trial boards. I was for that no problem with that. I.

N

Still think that there needs to be subject matter, expertise available to that board.

N

The other thing I asked for in discussions with my staff with mr weiskopf is to have.

N

Some input the sheriff to have some input on not a voting, not a vote, but a voice on the selection of.

N

The members commentary whatever that looks like, but you know that's just an ask you.

L

Know sheriff I I tend to agree with you on that one. um As far as the input is concerned, because.

L

When we heard about there's one particular line about not excluding people prior history with the.

L

Justice system should not automatically disqualify a candidate to be specific, um I think there's.

L

There's a balance that flows with that. um One of the things that I have a concern about and- and I.

L

Agree with mr hauser's opinion on crimes of moral turpitude, any brady giglio issues that may arise.

L

From that is these investigative files that come over may pertain ncic meters, sieges, information.

L

It may have driver's license histories so in order to even access that information you're going to.

L

Have to have a criminal history done whether it's through live scam, fingerprints, in order.

L

To just meet the minimum requirements for ncic meters. So if you have that that contact with law.

L

Enforcement and you're automatically prohibited from looking at that information. There's no way.

L

You could even sit on the board because you wouldn't get the full scope of what is there.

L

And there's there's lots of other things that would possibly have to be vetted and why. I.

L

Don't want to go too far down the road, but there could be an active criminal investigation against.

L

Somebody in which is not public information at the time which is not um readily accessible to.

L

That individual and that's only knowledge that the investigating agency would have so the last thing.

L

We would want is to have somebody that's under active criminal investigation sitting on the board.

L

And then, all of a sudden there's an indictment on a board member. That's just not. I mean one: it's not.

L

A good look for the county and it's not a and it's, but it's it's horrible for the process and the.

L

What is supposed to be the purity of the process that was dictated, so I do believe that somebody.

L

Needs to to be a part of that process to lend information um and kind of, I wouldn't say vet, but.

L

Borderline, I have to agree sure the other. The other thing that I would point out.

N

That was missed in the public hearing and I understand the commentary is: there's been.

N

Zero complaints or pushback from the public up until now on our trial board process. If anything.

N

One of the things I've been criticized over the years was discipline. I was criticized.

N

Mostly from employees that left employment about the manner in which a discipline was handed down.

N

It's always been quite simple, I mean you know, we use a matrix, we have for a long long time as.

N

Most agencies have in the state of maryland, which is now required a statewide matrix, but there are.

N

There are levels of misconduct or actions of misconduct where you absolutely could not stay.

N

In the agency, so this notion of somebody with prior experience coming to a board and dissuading.

N

Action, I don't think is realistic when, when you've been in a career as long as I have.

N

And and the personnel in the sheriff's office, who believe that we, we say we're held to a.

N

Higher standard- and we live that for me- it's been 43 years about the right and wrong right.

N

Calling out those people who either criminally did something wrong or internally did something wrong.

N

You know I had a choice that I had to make and I still don't agree with necessarily the makeup.

N

Of this I still say the law says the highest governmental authority, with with oversight of.

N

The police, which that's the police, the sheriff, is totally different, but I have great confidence.

N

In this board to set this pab up- and I think this would be beneficial for the community and.

N

Again after looking at the big picture, I stress the need for someone to provide those boards.

N

Correct current information: that's why I asked for the ex officio and.

N

Mr weiskoff and I agreed on that, I would make the same ask for the acc.

N

I think there will be much fewer cases than we anticipate, at least I hope so, but um well I I tend.

L

To agree with you, I think I've had the comment with mr weiskopf that we're lucky. If we see one.

L

Based on the elements that are laid out for the acc that I previously said,.

L

Again, I don't have a problem with retired law enforcement, former law enforcement that is left.

L

Sitting on the board, I don't believe you need an extensive five-year cooling off period because.

L

The the job of the police accountability board is to review the discipline. That's.

L

Already been done by the sheriff's office for fair and consistency whatever's, there.

L

They're not making a decision on the discipline right that so the decision's already been made.

L

Now, if there's a trial board that comes up that, I'm sure the procedures are going to have to be.

L

Navigated on that, so there's that's really to me. It's a moot point. You know if they have questions.

L

About that particular discipline or somebody understands the process, there needs to be somebody.

L

I'm not saying it has to be a five-year clean-off period. Maybe there's some other determination.

L

You know you just didn't, you know retire yesterday, walk over and.

L

You know now you're on the board. You know, maybe we we do something, but uh I just think there's.

L

A big misunderstanding as to what the pab is well and I I agree good points I just would.

N

Stress that anyone retired from law enforcement anybody that's been on on in law enforcement.

N

That has retired that would seek a position on this board would be doing so right to still hold.

N

Law enforcement to the highest standard possible that that's what we do! That's what every member of.

N

This agency does every day and we're fortunate here, because you're only talking about members.

N

Of the sheriff's office, there is no other police entity like in some jurisdictions.

N

Perfect example: prince george's county there's, 24-25 municipalities, 29 29 and growing so.

N

Yes, so the prince george's county will have a police accountability board that touches.

N

A number of entities we have one, so um that makes it the scope, I think significantly different, but.

N

Again, the point I'm making is we we, you know my three tenets have always been.

N

To hire good people to train them, to reinvest in them and then hold them accountable, and that is.

N

The the balance on public trust- and I think, we've done a really good job. I really do. I think, we've.

N

Done a really good job and sheriff I concur with you, I mean you hear a lot of bad stories from.

C

Bad guys and bad cops out of town. I don't hear anything in saint mary's county about your force.

C

Being bad or doing bad things, and simultaneously I do respect what you've just said. You do hold your.

C

Deputies to a higher standard and as a result, you know, if some don't like you, they leave.

C

But for the most part they stay, it's a good job, it's a good place to work and- and they know the.

C

Rules and ramifications and as a result like I said, I think that you know the number of.

C

Times that this board will be convened because you haven't carried out the duties or your predecessor.

C

Hasn't carried out, the duties is going to be very minimal yeah. I I I agree and I think.

N

I think every member of the agency, we all hold each other accountable, if that makes sense,.

N

I think that's the culture that exists here so again. I have great confidence in this board and.

N

Moving forward with the police, accountability board and the administrative charging committee.

N

Again, I would my ask, is to have someone ex officio a subject matter expert for the board.

N

Right to answer the board's questions and then, if the commissioners so see fit to have input.

N

On the selections, I have no problem with that. I think it's a good idea. You know next officio from.

A

Your department here, why would you use these boards, commissioner o'connor? I did want to say.

M

I want to make sure everybody understands the administrative charging committee.

M

Reviews the sheriff's office investigation, but then they determine whether or not the plea the.

M

Deputy should be charged and then they re, they recommend discipline right. It's not just a rubber.

M

Stamp, no, it's not no, and I'm not saying it's a rubber stamp. That's the administrative charging.

L

Committee, not the police, accountability board, the police accountability board because there's in.

L

Order for it to get to the acc, you know you have to meet the elements for them to review that, but.

L

The the minor disciplinary offenses are completed by the sheriff's office and the pab reviews. Those.

L

Because there's there's different levels of uh the discipline, I guess, if you want to make the.

L

Elements is basically, as it's laid out um correct me if I'm no you're, okay, you're right um and while.

L

You're here sheriff the one one thing I I saw you know, mptc is doing. I guess they're going to do a.

L

40-Hour block but that's mptc, maryland police training standards. Commissioners, the maryland.

N

Standards, commission yeah it'll be at least 40 hours, it'll be at least four at least 40 hours.

L

So we call it mptc. For short, so you don't have to say the the whole thing so mptc be doing that.

L

But a part of this board. What I think that needs to happen is one: the members need to participate.

L

In grand jury, training similar to that of which the grand jury would go through in.

L

Some situations of what it's like to be a police officer in these situations. What what happens when.

L

You're dealing with somebody with a gun, that's in the car or on their waistband, and so they.

L

Have that understanding grand jury's already do it so there's a precedent set for it, but additionally.

L

I do believe there needs to be some sort of annual in-service that's completed, and you know.

L

Law enforcement officers 16 hours two, you know one hour- firearms and you know a total of 18., but.

L

The there needs to be some continual in-service that I believe this board is participating in to.

L

Stay relevant in those changes that the agency is pushing out and the training commission is pushing.

L

Out because we all know, there's mandated training that comes every three years every two years and.

L

It rolls through so I want to get your thoughts on on that. So you know again uh the scope of this.

N

It's the pab and the acc, and just us so we're in a position to provide training for both boards.

N

I think that's an advantage for them and it's an advantage for us an advantage for the community.

N

Much like we do with the citizens police academy, we give the citizens that go through that academy.

N

A greater insight in what what we do, how we do it and why and they become our ambassadors out there.

N

Much like europe citizens academy and we get other requests for that yeah. I think regular.

N

Training for the board members would be a great investment in our time sheriff. When I hear what.

F

You're saying- and I will agree with you- that many things have happened in annapolis and probably in.

F

Washington that are forced down on us and in a reaction to you, know things that have happened.

F

Excuse me whether it be in minnesota or wherever they happened, and my point gets to be this.

F

We have three boards that I know of in st mary's county metropolitan commission planning, commission.

F

Zoning board of appeals. Now what people have the opportunity, what the citizens have the opportunity.

F

To do when they go before those boards is have a review by their peers. We're not expected to zoning.

F

People from the zoning board to have a zoning experience or have some kind of background in.

F

Zoning law planning- commission- we don't expect to have planners with planning degrees or have been.

F

Planners in the past metropolitan commission, we don't expect to be water, sewer engineers.

F

Or people like that, although those skills, if they're there to be had, are good things to have.

F

So when I look at this board, I look at it from the perspective of what got us here now have.

F

We gone too far and something needs to center us, and I guess where I'm going with that is. I.

F

Could see the board being people who don't have 40 hours of training in sykesville, because that.

F

Might preclude a lot of people from wanting to be involved because who would have that amount?.

F

Of time to take out of their schedule or their life or time away from their families, to do that.

F

Kind of a commitment, so the key in my opinion, gets to be. What are we trying to accomplish.

F

And I think what I'm getting at with that is, if we've seen instances where people thought okay,.

F

There's police brutality whether it is or not, I'm not going to make a statement on that, but.

F

What we've also seen is that the police police, the police, the state's attorney.

F

Comes back and says: oh, there was nothing happened. There were obviously people in the.

F

Public believe something did so. We have that nexus between the public feeling. Something was wrong.

F

But some kind of police investigation that was not open to public scrutiny that you know no one ever.

F

Knew what was said behind closed doors or what was done. You just have a police official come out.

F

Whether it be a state's attorney or a police chief come out and say we ruled that police officer did.

F

What he should so, what I'm getting at is I'm not saying any of this is right or wrong. I'm just.

F

Trying to say how we got here, and I want to say that this commissioner believes that this board.

F

Should be of people who are good moral character? I don't want any felonists or people who have had.

F

Trouble with the law in the past and people who have let's say the the benefit of the public in.

F

In in mind- and with that said, you know again, I I go by diversity. I go by make about the community.

F

Is what this board should look like, but at the end of the day, I don't think they have to be experts.

F

Or have been experts yeah? I agree. I think um you talk about subject matter, yes, and I don't.

F

Know if that's the case yeah, so uh my point was that doctors don't go in front of lay people.

N

On their boards, um but with that said, I don't have any issue again. I ask for two.

N

Two voting members to be added to our police trial boards. I think um nothing has changed in this case.

N

We basically are presenting the case: we're prosecuting the employees so to speak.

N

So we're the ones that are offering evidence of misconduct and prosecuting the case to this board.

N

You know first the pab, the first filter and then to the administrative charging committee.

N

Who has the authority to call the the accused in the witnesses in the investigators in and ask.

N

For further questions, review statements and so on, so um it's just a very long involved process and.

N

Again, I gauge this based on experience and what I saw in the public hearing. There was no question.

N

That we weren't doing holding people accountable and doing this appropriately and one of the things.

N

That changed in l-e-o-b-r in the last few years, where hearing boards were open to the public.

N

And we sent out, we we just recently did this with a correctional officer. We advertised to the public.

N

That we're holding hearing board you get to hear everything. So I think what the public clamors for.

N

And you know this is a result of what's going on across the country.

N

um What the public clamors for is they want the truth and they want all the facts and information.

N

And it's tough in policing, because we have victim information. We have sensitive information.

N

Things close to investigations and you learn from a very early early stage. You have to hold.

N

Those close to the vest, because once they get out it impings your ability to investigate or bring.

N

Wrongdoers to justice so, um but I think this is just a a way of the public holding us accountable.

N

Headstrong, let me ask this question: you had the appearing. You just said it was publicized. Is there.

C

Any way to tell how many people pay attention or listen to the hearing on that corrections officer.

C

So I know that the public paid attention because I got emails, asking questions: okay, um about hey.

N

Can can we really come absolutely that's why we show up. um You know I I wasn't there. Okay.

N

So I don't know uh if there were members from the public there, but we had it at uh our d4 station.

N

um So I I can't tell you, but um sometimes it's I I don't know it depends on what they think that.

N

The board is about, I mean with police boards same thing. We we they were open to the public. I don't.

N

Know that we've had anybody not associated with the case show up. We haven't had a lot of hearing.

N

Boards on the police side, maybe two or three over the last years- I'd say it's not customary for.

L

The head of the agency to involve themselves in a hearing board right because ultimately they're the.

L

Ones that administer the discipline so um at the end of the day, but the the the I think, a point of.

L

Clarity that that I would like to make why we're here talking about a police accountability board.

L

And all this now is, there are events across the country that were severely politicized.

L

Some right some wrong: we just face it as it is, and the the knee-jerk reaction from.

L

The legislature to try and ride that wave of uh politicizing and and quite frankly, in my.

L

Opinion uh beating down the police profession, uh unlike any other profession that has ever faced it.

L

Granted there is a great responsibility that comes with it. I just think that we're we're here now.

L

Due to politics and and that's evident and I'm not asking you to comment, this is my personal.

L

Even even on the hill right now that the party, the president, everybody else that has said it.

L

Were defund the police to fund the police lock the police up, you know, do everything and now they're.

L

Back to no, we have to reinstall law order, we have to fund the police, we have to train the police and.

L

So you can see that there's a ton of politics that plays into this and I think, we're also facing a.

L

I want the information now I want it now, and that is the um the definition of what justice is. Has.

L

Been has been skewed in some instances and is you know? I just think that there.

L

It's such a complex issue that it is it's it's tremendously. I agree with uh your commentary and.

N

I've said that a number of times this, our our profession now is so complex, and that is one.

N

Of the reasons why we're having difficulty in recruiting and retaining people as a profession.

N

We have successes here based on some advantages that we have here living in saint mary's,.

N

But but again things that occur across the country, reverberate to hear yeah and, and so.

N

What I say is those are good conversations. Those are conversations that we should have.

N

Been having long ago, in fact, we did in southern maryland the the three.

N

Sheriffs routinely get together because we're directors of our academy and say.

N

We need to look at certain things. That's why most of the the moratorium on chokeholds and.

N

Some other things we did long before george floyd. We questioned that long before it's.

N

About doing the right things for the right reasons and never forgetting who you serve. But.

N

You know the police profession, especially here, is all about accountability.

N

Again, that is the culture that I exist in in the sheriff's office. We hold each other accountable, so.

N

Moving forward, I think the challenge will be.

N

Putting this together, selecting your membership, putting this together receiving the training.

N

I had beat on the standards commission so much about the training for the for the hearing boards.

N

They finally gave me the lesson plan and said you can do it in st mary's. Here's the lesson plan.

N

This is what we need, and then it was all a moot point, because the law changed. I mean basically.

N

What we got rid of was due process for police officers, not more rights, actually less rights.

N

Than a typical citizen, so anyway, I appreciate the opportunities I think we're drilling too.

A

Much on the qualification of these board members, um my experience with I was on a grand jury once.

A

My experience with that is, we showed up. They gave us quick briefings about things.

A

And then the prosecutors started, presenting their various information.

A

They left the room, we made a decision amongst us. I had no special training as far as whatever this.

A

Guy's, a gal is being charged with the board of appeals. I spent five and a half years on the board.

A

Of appeals, yes, I did some building experience. I had a business and everything, but uh the first.

A

Day I walked in there lanes. Growth management gave me what they called the yellow book with all the.

A

Rules and regulations about building in the county right that dick said, here's your bible, I said.

A

Okay, thank you very much, but my first case I haven't looked at this book yet and I'm sitting.

A

Here, testifying and making a decision on a certain case, and I, the old book, did help out in the future.

A

But I think we have a hard time getting people to commit to a 40-hour. I know 40 hours, not enough.

A

To give anybody training by law enforcement's concern, but at the same time I think the extra.

A

Official person can help clarify things on during the meeting like we had board of appeals, we had a.

A

Lawyer sitting on the corner, who clarified things that all the board members didn't quite understand.

A

As far as the judgment of things so and that that helped us make a make a decision, the ex official.

A

Would probably do the same thing for his board by giving information? I was not clear about whatever.

A

This person did, he could clarify what training they received, what he should or should not have.

A

Done whatever, and that could have that now I I believe that that's good. Well, the state law.

L

So the state law it's required, that they have the 40-hour treatment. Yes,.

A

So, that's why you know it's: one of the state law require 40 hours of training.

A

We don't know if it's going to be 40 hours, the law does the law does require that they be subject to.

K

Whatever training the maryland police standards commission before it comes up, have training.

A

But doesn't say how much or how's your fish how's it going. It's it's 40 hours. Well, I mean.

A

But that could be translated to a 40 hour over zoom or whatever. It doesn't have to be really in.

A

Person going up to sykesville, um okay, I mean no. No, I mean, if you're saying all that that's fine, but.

A

Then you may have like so we're smiling, because the standards commission has never been accused.

N

Of being short and succinct or brief, no, I gotta, I gotta agree with commissioner hewitt on this.

A

About it might be tough to get people to volunteer, to take 40 hours of their time and go up and do.

A

This training done give a stipend to serve on this board yeah. Well, it's going to happen. You know what.

F

I think we've been spoiled and I'll use that term this commissioner's in school.

F

By having 15 years of you being ser, the sheriff sir, I mean you've done a great job. I've voted.

F

For you every chance I got and it's not I'm trying not trying to be political. I'm gonna buy your vote.

F

You're coming to an end, now I'm sorry to see you go but look you want to go out and do other things.

F

But who comes behind you? Whoever gets elected behind you right and whoever gets elected behind.

F

That person, I think, gets to be the the critical question of okay. We had 16 years of sheriff.

F

Cameron, we were very happy very few complaints. Suppose we get whatever we get next and it ends.

F

Up being different, so I guess I would have to say that I see your point, but we've had a steady diet.

F

15 16 years I tell the truth. I have a hard time remembering who the last sheriff was before you.

F

I think it was vojar, but maybe I would say no sheriff's. I, like so a good point, good point, but.

N

I would tell you this we're an internationally accredited law enforcement agency through kalia.

N

We adhere through alexa poll, which this board supported, so our foundation is very sure. The.

N

Culture is very healthy and it is a culture of doing the right things when no one's looking doing.

N

The right things for the right reason and and our personnel hold themselves and I'm talking about.

N

Professional staff, correctional officers and police officers they hold each other accountable.

N

I don't see that culture changing at all. Yes, certainly leadership can change directions of.

N

The course of the ship on new initiatives and and progress, but I think the tenets of that foundation.

N

Are unshakable moving forward but good point, and thank you for that. You know.

A

You definitely gotta, you established a good working relationship with everybody.

A

No doubt I guess ultimately, what we're looking at is definitely not ready to approve this, as it sits.

L

That's at least that's what I would say. I think we're ready to make a decision on approving it.

F

Don't we have to make a decision at some point in time eventually, but I mean the sooner rather.

B

Than later, because we need time to get applicants and then come together, I'm not willing to ramrod.

L

It through until these changes propose changes are put into the ordinance um agree and brought.

L

Back so the time the timeline we have is that this board needs to be up and functioning by july. First.

K

July one yeah have some time to still edit and make changes, but there does need to be enough.

K

Time left to whether it's five members, nine members or some number in between.

K

Get this board constituted up and running so they can hit the ground running on july. First, so.

B

The change I would like to see is for the resolution to read up to nine members. I I think.

L

Regardless we have the july deadline, but the problem is: is the board could take no action.

L

Regardless, until they've received the training from the maryland police training, commission.

L

So we could have a board constituted people sitting there, but they'll be twiddling their.

L

Thumbs because they can't do anything until they receive the approved training, so I think that's.

L

Another portion that we need to keep in mind uh when we're doing this, when is the approved.

A

Training going to be out safely july, 1st, hopefully by july yeah, there's there's a big push and.

L

Mptc has staff working on it, but well, how can you have a board established by july 1st and.

F

The training's not till july. Well, that's that's! That's! That's that's. My point gets to be this.

F

We have to appoint people. People have heard talked about this they've we've had public hearings.

F

And people are reaching out saying you know, hey. Consider me for this board.

F

I'm not trying to say I'm not considering those people who do that. I have my own.

F

People who I think I want to consider, but at some point in time we got to appoint somebody.

F

And if nothing else give them this, you know give them something to read, and I think we can do that.

B

If you can take back our recommendations and bring it back next week, if possible and.

K

And that should be doable next tuesday. The other thought I'm thinking is um a couple of different.

K

Approaches floated this morning is: I can drop a couple different drafts.

K

Best of my ability put them out there and pick and choose mix and match next week. I would think.

K

Internally, that if we could have a decision made within the next two three weeks, that ought to.

K

Leave enough time to get applicants, particularly if feelers have already been put out. We have some.

K

Names are already considered, but yeah. I think the annual training is going to be important. I do want.

L

To see that in there a certain amount of hours of annual training, I do want to see that they need to.

L

Participate in the uh basically like a grand jury experience, let's do some consensus on this nine.

F

I agree so you got two up to nine up to nine five nine, I would say five minimum up to nine.

A

Yeah, okay, I agree with that. Right now. There's part about training. I mean somebody's gonna, say.

E

It's gonna be 40 hours, but it's not in state law. Is it mr weiskopf or mr houser, or the membership.

K

Or the training training training will be dictated by state. The training. The state law says that the.

K

Members shall undergo whatever training will be issued by this maryland police standards.

K

Training, whatever that training is, we could set in an additional training requirement of our own.

K

But at the bare minimum as a bear qualification to serve, they will have to undergo whatever the.

K

State level training, we know what that training level is right. Now we do not, it is under draft and.

K

Commissioner, o'connor has said that I think there's 48 jobs. Mr connor already thinks it's 40.

A

Hours now again, but that's one person's opinion, my po, my point is: is we need that type of information.

F

So we can tell people well, let me let me clarify something: it's not my opinion. I happen to be.

L

A firearms instructor, evoc instructor expert, enhanced instructor, I'm a academic instructor.

L

For the maryland police training commission for several years, I'm involved in doing lesson plans.

L

And everything else- and I talk to the people at the maryland police training, commission.

L

Probably rattle off their names, I talk to them so much so when it comes down to what's going.

L

On there- and I mean you- you get the instances of where the training is going understanding it. The.

L

New appointments that have been made- and you know I mean radinski for the sro program and I know the.

L

Sheriff probably knows the name he put together the sro program after the last law. Was there.

L

So they did it from the ground up. So it's not an opinion. It is where it is going right now that.

L

It is most likely going to be a minimum of 40 hours. That's your opinion that it's going there.

N

It could be 80 hours, something, and my point is. I think this is great, because you have somebody.

L

That's never done police work, and this is the type of debate that you're going to have when you have.

L

Somebody with the experience on it, that's done the lesson plans and how to get all the information.

L

There saying it and then you have somebody that doesn't know anything about it, so I think you.

L

Have a great um a great contrast of what you're going to see on the phone, so we know by law. It's.

A

Going to be some kind of training, we understand that we, okay, that's that's! The resolution can.

B

Read the training requirements per se, you need to understand whoever the controlling authority.

F

Of that training period is going to be right, right that and hopefully the county administrator or the.

F

County attorney's office can help us find out what that is or when it is sure, certainly I'll.

N

Show you well, there was some discussion in the legislature about staying this for a year, because.

N

The the standards commission is so behind. This is one of the things uh the idea.

N

There's a physical fitness test. Now that's been implemented. We that our officers have to take.

N

Once a year, that's going to be a whole challenge in of itself. I've seen a rough draft of it, but.

N

We're waiting with baited breath, I mean um and that's we haven't decided on it. Yet huh that's.

B

Not something they would let individual sheriffs. No, because it's part of this.

N

Police reform bill uh several things I mean you know we have to sign two pledges now.

N

You know we have a new use of force standard that nobody can explain. um So I don't know how.

N

We train to a standard that is not the law of the land. It's a law in maryland, but it's not the law.

N

Of the land, it's not the supreme court's any of their decisions based on use of force cases.

N

So I mean there's a lot up in the air now so um but anyway I they obviously did not decide to stay.

N

Any of this for a year so we're we're moving ahead in uncertain waters. So you know the legislature.

C

Is not going to do that yet! No, I I don't until until shiny die until it's over- I I don't know, but.

C

So there's there's a chance. It could be delayed. It's an election year. Let's be.

C

Serious, I mean there's a lot of things that are in annapolis, getting pushed for a year right to get.

C

Sure legislators, through the respective election periods, so I could easily see you know politics.

C

As politics I mean we just saw this couple days ago, you know which I'll discuss later, but I can.

C

See the skin pushed a year, there was a lot of discussion on that and it seemed to die down.

N

As they took up other other issues, but it was real clear that there was no desire to go back.

N

On these police, accountabilities boards or any of these bills from last year, because.

N

It was an election year, but I mean we're. The standards commission is not where it needs to be.

N

As far as a number of these issues there's all kinds of requirements which, by the way.

N

Are unfunded mandates? Oh yeah? This right here is one of them. Yeah yeah. I mean.

N

The psychological, basically, in my opinion, it's a fitness for duty evaluation every other year.

N

Just like the military yeah, it's it, those are unfunded mandates. I mean.

N

This bill was very, very encompassing and we're really still unwrapping a lot of the.

N

The final product to this right, yeah, but commission president guy, yes, sir, this is.

F

On our agenda, as a decision item, which I know the commissioner president makes this agenda up.

F

So, do you want to get consensus on? Do we want to make a decision today or not? Well, I think.

A

Today is we can we can either uh not make this decision and and make the appropriate changes.

A

Right for further uh drafting for president guy, it seems to me the only thing I've heard.

M

Consensus on was going to changing the membership from a minimum of five to a maximum of nine right.

A

But then also we're are we talking about we. We understand that we know this by law. This.

A

Training is going to be done, but we have no idea when it's going to start how much it's going.

A

To be yet, but we know by law, it's going to be a training, but it seems like it would be reasonable.

F

To wait on making a decision until we know some ideas of what this training is going to be. So when.

F

We have prospective people, we can tell them what to expect the trouble with that is. I don't think.

K

We'll know with finality what the training will be until very, very late in the game. Commissioner,.

A

We were hoping to get better guidance this year and, of course, todd can tell you the same thing.

A

The general assembly is not going to clarify anything on this bill. Well then, I would say.

F

They're not going to be the present guy, I would be in favor of saying we do not make a decision today.

F

Other than to say we're ready to go to nine, but we need more information, but I I would add.

C

To that an ex-officio member from the sheriff's office- okay, okay, but let's be very clear in the.

L

Language, a minimum of five up to nine, not nine minimum five up to nine. I do think we should.

B

Approve this within the next couple weeks, so that we can get the board set. I agree.

A

I I would think personally, I think next week I agree, we need to make a decision next week. I I.

A

Gotta advertise, the only change is the number we can approve. No, I I do think there needs to be more.

L

Changes to this, uh as it sits, I mean the criminal change. You recommend well, I've already recommended.

L

That the criminal history uh portion needs to be worded appropriately um and that they are excluded.

L

From the board, but it I I believe, I've already provided language to neil and john in reference.

L

To that which is, they must undergo a criminal history background investigation, utilizing the.

L

Live scan, fingerprinting system for sieges or follow the standards that are set up by sieges.

L

um And have those uh results returned uh because they're gonna be accessing that? Well I mean do you.

F

Guys think that's a change! That's a change there right. I would propose. We defer this for a week.

F

Yes, I propose we I'll second, the proposal to defer for a week, but I think we need three commissioners.

F

Or majority commissioners decide upon what the changes we do are? Is it's not fair to have one.

F

Commissioner, say I want this understand: do you want it? Do you want to go through the changes now.

A

So again it sounded like so you could put your health could bring back some alternatives for.

B

Us next well he's no he's got he's going to bring back. No, no, commissioner president.

F

I would recommend that what we do over the course of the next week is we get in touch with either. Mr.

F

Houser or mr weiskopf and say these are some ideas that we have and then you maybe present those.

F

Ideas to us next week, so we can, as a consensus of the board, say three of us. The majority of us.

F

Think you should go in that direction and in my head making myself available the latter.

K

Part of this week for individual meetings- that's I've accepted that in my heart already.

K

Available- and I have to, I have to wholeheartedly disagree with with that methodology behind it.

L

Look ramrodding this through without the proper language. That's in there properly formatted.

L

Having the rules and procedures in place for everything else, that's going to be.

L

There is the same thing: annapolis did. This should be a very, very public conversation.

L

Not a uh you know, just a a one-on-one, you know I've had conversations with with neil and you.

L

After the last public hearing and I've discussed every single topic that has been brought up and.

L

The reason I say that is because, when we're talking about police accountability board.

L

The sheriff's already made the point that this is the only board where civilians do it.

L

Or they're in this process and you're talking about the lives of our law enforcement officers,.

L

That are going to be very, very public. Our citizens and our law enforcement deserve to have this as a.

L

Public conversation just like they're going to be on the spot very publicly. I don't think it should.

L

Be one-on-one behind the doors and then all of a sudden, it's out there. This discussion needs to be.

L

Out publicly, can you have this public discussion right now? Well, I'm talking about including I'm.

A

Ready to put it out publicly right now, that's my point. I know you, let's not go behind closed doors.

A

And do anything we're not that's the way we work this business around. Thank you. So if you want to.

A

Discuss changes now to mr houser we'll do it now. Thank you. That's that's my point. I think we ought.

F

To see this totality, what they are, commissioner, president, well, fine, let's! Well, let's make the.

A

Suggestions to mr our attorney right now of what we need to put on there. We'll have a vote right.

A

Now for each one of the changes and let him put him in so I want him to put this to me next week.

A

Or to us for a decision we got to be in place by july 1st we got to advertise for personnel.

A

And then make a decision who's going to be on the board and we haven't got much time left agree. I'm.

M

Hearing three things that the commissioners want: one, it seems like there's consensus on a minimum.

M

Of five to a maximum of nine correct. Second, oh and I just completely lost my train of thought.

A

Okay, first, that's first point: yeah: uh do we all do we all agree with that.

A

We all agree with that everyone's sitting with the ex officio okay and the other is.

M

The qualifications that somebody that's a felon or sentence you know convicted of a.

A

Crime background investigative crime- that's that can be sentenced to more than one year.

M

Would be excluded well yeah, but the person gets 364 days, and so they doesn't that that's. Why.

L

I did a catch-all and- and I that language can can be skewed a million ways. You know one. The.

L

Sheriff's department should be participating in that process and we agree with the ex-officio.

A

During our process of yes and choosing the board, they should have to undergo a background.

L

Investigation at a minimum fingerprinting so they can meet the sieges requirements.

M

I think I read one of the other counties. What they simply did was they called it an extensive.

M

Background frederick county says that um it's a frederick county rather than spell out as we do.

K

Crimes in prison more than one years etc specific crimes or situations which would be disqualifying.

K

Frederick county has language that says every applicant must submit to a quote-unquote.

K

Extensive vetting process that will include in-person interviews, criminal background checks.

K

And that this vetting process will have to establish the their board of county commissioners.

K

Satisfaction that the person is a fit and sound morally proper person to serve on the board.

K

Let's not reinvent the wheel, that's that's exactly what I'm looking that sounds good to me. So what.

K

That would look like is on article 4 of this draft resolution, wiping out items e6 e7 that talk about.

K

Terms of imprisonment and disqualifying factors, crimes of infamy, keep section, e3 and just change.

K

The language in there to be a little more thorough, little more controlling taste is, is.

L

From frederick this is what I think you got from us all right, so he can make those three.

M

Changes does everybody agree with that change yeah. I agree with that. Got all that. Okay, the.

L

The other one that I I recommend is that the makeup of the board is reflective of.

L

The most recent census for demographics, that is, data driven and not arbitrary,.

K

What I would suggest on that one then is: I want to keep the specific language that the board shall to.

K

The greatest extent practicable reflect the gender racial et cetera diver, because that language.

K

Comes from the from the law statute itself, I would suggest the way to handle that one is a subsection.

K

Under that that this shall be based upon the most recently available census data. Thank you.

L

Okay, so I'm good with that, and you go with that. Mr president, everybody good with that sounds good.

A

Mike yeah, okay, everybody's good with that we're good with the staggered terms, I think that we.

C

Do with that, when I was on the board of education committee staggering, those boards has turned out.

C

To be really good, because there's never any empty time when an experienced person isn't sitting.

C

There so so you mean a uh like a three year term. Four years ago, it's in since they're section nine.

C

Right right, three year, two year, one term whatever right. However, you compose the five seven nine.

C

Whatever the number is going to be hike, you know that's already in there right, you wait, but we it.

C

Depends on how many people we get, but the terms have to be staggered well counts down here right.

K

Right so as we did under five member board and the taggart store are staggered terms, um I fleshed.

K

That one out a little bit myself right now, it's two members with a full three-year term: two.

K

Members with a two-year term, one poor applicant of just a one-year term, okay, okay, what we could.

K

Do is if we figure that out accountants also believe the commission should get an appointment.

K

So if I could, the one suggestion I've thought up, which would be hard with the minimum five maximum.

K

Of nine, but would go to a system where it's nine members, each member of the county, commissioner,.

K

Board gets one member. There would be enough from their district or just theirs to point.

K

We could tie it to geographical requirement. That would also leave enough in the four.

K

To fit any required racial, gender or other diversity requirements, so each member would.

K

Be guaranteed one pick then, from the remaining four would have to agree to a slate and that.

K

Slate could be used to satisfy any requirements for diversity, but that would probably require.

K

Rather than a minimum of five maximum of nine just biting the bullet and accepting nine members.

L

Well, you can still have the minimum of five up to nine, but the same rules apply at the five.

L

If necessary, if you can't find the membership, that's the only reason why I mean you: could you.

L

Could word word that in there my only hesitation about doing the five up to nine is it sets the.

M

Quorum as a moving target right, if we have five, then it's three: if we have you know and then, if.

M

God forbid, we have six you've got ties right, god forbid, you have eight you've got ties.

M

I think there's a lot of interest in this board. My humble suggestion would be to just set it at nine.

L

Well, yeah, I guess you accomplished the same thing, even if you set it at nine and you only have.

L

Six members: it's there's three va yeah. Okay, right, that's fair! Well, I think we've run into.

F

Issues with other boards, where we've had a number set and then we find out, we can't get a quorum so.

F

We end up setting the lower number and you think about it. We've never had that problem with the.

M

And I don't want to be the planning commission or the board of appeals.

M

Board of appeals, you know the the high profile ones that everybody wants to serve on. That's.

F

A good point: that's a good point. So we're you know so, fair enough. I guess you could say if the.

L

You could set the quorum, you could set the quorum requirements differently. Where you know it's a.

L

Nine-Member board, but you know you must have you have a minimum of five to have a quorum.

L

Right, I, I guess yeah five. We have five yeah, but I mean, even in that case, if you didn't have anything.

L

Else or somebody left you uh and and commissioners always remember to quote you know, judge familia.

M

Anything you do with a pen, you can undo with a pen right. So so, if we create this and something.

M

Doesn't work, we can always come back true true, but I I think, uh commissioner, are we all in agreement.

A

To the changes we just made, so he can go back here and change this for next week. Yeah an agreement to.

B

Individual commissioner appointments yeah, neither am I but I don't like that either: okay, okay.

L

The I'm not offering individual commissioner um and do we have consensus, though, on a.

K

Membership body of nine at least one member from each commissioner district.

A

You know what everybody wants. That's fair! That's fine!.

L

Okay- okay, that's fine! Okay! I do want to see the annual training put in there if they're going to.

L

Be on that board, don't know about annual training right now, I'm not subject. I don't think we should.

A

Put that in yet no, let's see what this training does from the board now, if they have 40 hours plus.

A

And see what their advice is uh on and they have that for planning commission for board.

M

Of appeals and they're able to take it via the computer right yeah, there's online training.

L

Yeah and that's what we do now on more online training, we got online training course. We need to.

A

Just spin up, let them do that and uh commissioners I'll I'll make a phone call before uh the budget.

N

Work session this afternoon with the training commission to find out whether they've established.

N

The minimum or what it looks like I say, 40 hours, based on the lesson plan that they sent me for the.

N

Trial board citizen appointments which were 40 hours and do you have an annual training.

A

For that too, or is that not well? No there? No, but it's easily made up, I mean that could be.

N

An agreement again with the ex officio, which would either be the sheriff or or the major.

N

um Between the the chair of the pab and the acc to provide uh training, I think it's a real.

N

Advantage for that for us to be able to provide that you might question between see if they're.

A

Also establishing some kind of semi-annual or annual training for these. The standards commission.

N

From experience is not going to do anything, nothing codified, okay, so they're going to.

N

Provide only that we can, you know between the the sheriff's office and the board. They could ask for.

N

Any trading whatever either provided by the board or by the sheriff's office, certainly we'd, be glad.

N

To provide that, I mean I'm not pressed about it being in the ordinance because it can be in.

L

The rules and procedures yeah, so it either way it can come up, so it I'm sure now, as far as we know,.

A

There's going to be a training part of what the pab does is, with the sheriff they sit down, they.

N

Look at the complaints on personnel and we talk about training. What requisite training could be.

N

Provided that would uh minimize those type of complaints, so the same conversation could go on.

N

How how would the board the pa b or the acc what training could be provided to make their job.

N

Simpler bank right, more inclusive sheriff is that the commission is also going to create a template.

M

For the rules and procedures is that, did I hear that correctly? No, I! uh No that's! uh No. What.

N

What the standards commission is charged with is the training program for members.

N

The other thing they're charged with is coming up with a physical fitness test and assessment.

N

um A yearly assessment um and the statewide matrix right, okay, I've seen drafts of.

N

It's it's. You know I saw that months ago and I haven't no no more, no more information out.

N

Of them they, they were assigned a lot of responsibilities. Quite frankly, and.

N

They had a lot to begin with. Quite frankly, I sat on this. The very first police standards commission.

N

And I sat on the commission or the standards commission for a number of years.

N

And came off last year, but the role of that change and, of course, the legislature added more to it. But.

N

I'll make a phone call and talk to them for a few days and see what I can find out if they.

N

Have an idea what that's going to look like, and thank you that way. You could tell your.

N

Prospective board members expect the good thing is they're they're experienced with the use of.

N

Zoom or webex, or whatever provide training so hopefully they'll go in that direction.

N

And not drive the 105 miles from leonardtown to psychso. I don't think they're ever going.

L

Back to that I mean you could still take everything online, so centralized training.

N

Thank you, commissioners for mitch any other questions. Thank you very much jared for your input.

A

Very valuable anything else: okay, so our direction is to make those changes and bring.

A

It back next week, so no motion right now that can be done. Thank you. Thank you. Commissioners.

A

Okay: next, we uh go right into county administrator time.

M

Thank you, commissioners, and first up we'll have the um draft agendas for march 22nd and march.

M

29Th and on tuesday march 22nd, you'll start at your normal time. 9 a.m and the invocation and.

M

Pledge by commissioner hewitt approval of the consent agenda, then a proclamation for national.

M

Agriculture day, followed by county administrator time, commissioner time closed session for.

M

Personnel and real property you'll adjourn and then come back at 1 30 for the budget work session.

M

Then, on march, 29th start at your normal time at 9 00 a.m. You'll have the invocation and pledge.

M

By commissioner o'connor the approval of the consent agenda and then at 905 you'll have four.

M

Commendations on the retirements of major michael american captain, richard gray, sergeant mark.

M

Porter and earl young and then at 9, 15 you'll, have the department of land use and growth management.

M

Public hearing for the proposed amendment to the 2010 comprehensive, planned land use map to change.

M

The land use from rural preservation to rural commercial and to change the zoning map from rural.

M

Preservation to rural commercial, limited zoning district for property located at 41170, oakville.

M

Road to mechanicsville and then at 9 35 department of finance for the fiscal year 2023 recommended.

M

Budget county administrator time, followed by commissioner time and then you would adjourn.

M

And first up on the county administrator agenda is the department of public works.

M

And transportation for the um uas donation and I saw the.

M

um Director here as well and some other people, joe gotch and allison swint from the department.

M

Of public works and transportation, and mr gotch can hopefully introduce his guests. Yes,.

A

Mr sassero, how are you doing today, matt yeah, thank you for your patience.

O

Well, good morning, guys good morning again have uh two awesome things. It's been a heavy.

O

Meeting already so these are two great things we're bringing to you today. The first up is a.

O

Is a wonderful gift that we're receiving from the university of maryland the uas.

O

System, so let me read to make sure I don't mess this up. So what we're recommending.

O

The commissioners to do is accept the donation for the retired, uav solutions, talon, 240 g, unmanned.

O

Aircraft systems uh vehicle to suspend in the walter, francis, duke airport, terminal.

O

And to sign the related document that accepts the agreement, transferring the uas to us.

O

And I I could read you the background, but we have the experts of experts here today. So we have.

O

Jim alexander and matt's castro, who have a powerpoint presentation for you.

P

Good morning, commissioners, I'm jim alexander, I'm the project manager at the university of.

P

Maryland unmanned aircraft systems test site, I'm also the chair of the county airport advisory.

P

Board so glad to be here this morning. Thank you. um Next slide, please, university of maryland is.

P

Donating a talon, 240 g uas for display in the airport terminal, the talon 240g was one of our.

P

First uas, but it's been retired. Now it's older technology. The picture here shows it flying at.

P

3000 feet over the eastern shore of maryland back in 2016., we believe it'll make a unique.

P

Addition to the terminal building to represent the high technology work that goes on there.

P

At the airport, and particularly as more people visit the terminal building in the future, with.

P

The opening of a restaurant there, hopefully in the coming year, next slide please so as referenced.

P

In the most recent airport advisory board annual report that was issued in january, something else.

P

That may attract more visitors to the terminal is the promise of advanced air mobility or aam, where.

P

Electric vertical takeoff and landing or evtal aircraft will serve as air taxis to connect remote.

P

Hubs to urban, centers or large airports. Further ports will be needed for for these takeoff and.

P

Landing locations for advanced aero mobility and small airports like st mary's regional are well.

P

Positioned to capitalize on the expected demand, because the flight operations infrastructure is.

P

Already in place and the expertise is there as well, the airport is within a short distance of.

P

Thousands of local passengers in southern maryland, who could benefit from quick, quiet, economical.

P

Travel to d.c, baltimore richmond or the eastern shore, for example, imagine a 30-minute flight ev.

P

Tall flight to bwi as the start of your business trip or to ocean city for a day at the beach, much.

P

More convenient and relaxing than the long drive we'd all currently have to make without at all.

P

A vertiport could also be a new source of revenue for the aeropark innovation district.

P

And make st mary's airport a key location in the chesapeake uas route network, which.

P

Is currently under development development in which matt will discuss here in a moment.

P

So we recommend the county start considering and planning for this advanced air mobility.

P

Opportunity now the major issue to resolve would be the electric charging infrastructure that would.

P

Have to go into the airport, but we're confident that could be worked out fairly straightforward.

P

With probably with smeko's assistance, the faa has already released a draft engineering brief.

P

On vertaport design, both for uh airport managers and for aam operators, so that draft document.

P

Already exists and the department of public works and transportation already has that.

P

The faa is also holding a virtual industry day on march 29th. Two weeks from today.

P

To discuss that draft, so it may be valuable for a county participation in that virtual industry day.

P

Let me turn it over to matt's casserole for the remainder good morning, commissioners, and thank you.

I

Very much your interest, your time, and especially your support of everything, the university of.

I

Maryland has been doing with the uas test site and now, with the new matrix lab and the smart building.

I

Next slide, please, as jim mentioned, we're really focusing on future support of endeavors, as we.

I

Bring technology to the county and as the county continues to exercise their role nationally as.

I

Leaders in this technology- uh one the next project, I'm going to be talking about as jim mentioned.

I

Is the chesapeake uas route network? Many a few states north dakota new york virginia, have done.

I

Segregated corridors in their states, what we're looking to do is focus on this project as a.

I

Real-Time on-demand integrated airspace for drones, with manned aircraft doing beyond visual line of.

I

Sight flight over people and supporting commercial operations and public safety, as well as research.

I

Operations, so it's a very significant effort. We are the only state that is stepping in this.

I

Direction with this time, we know it's going to be multi-year multi-phase kind of operation. It's.

I

Going to be hard and we're working with the fa on making this a reality next slide, please and again.

I

Our focus is to make this real today we're going to be supporting commercial operations by the.

I

End of this year we're looking to fly operations. The idea here is that we have several points of.

I

Interest around the state already of uas activity from aberdeen with a army research lab down.

I

Through baltimore city, the college park area with the camp main campus of the university of maryland.

I

Eastern shore, we have crissfield salisbury wallops island with the offshore warning areas out that.

I

Direction and, of course down here in southern maryland, besides patuxent river naval air station.

I

We have our airport, we have indian head and dahlgren, so the idea is that we connect these up.

I

With a what you see on the screen, a notional route network, but there's going to be nothing notional.

I

About the operations we're going to use the methodologies and the architecture that the faa.

I

Recognizes today from manned aircraft and apply that to drones, so if you will it'll be air traffic.

I

Control for drones, nobody else is doing that today. Did you include easton in that? I'm sorry.

C

Did you include easton in that discussion? Yes, okay, thank you, and this is again all notional to start.

I

With we've done a feasibility study, we finished that uh january of 2021 was delivered. uh We just.

I

Hired a new project manager, ben griffith you'll be meeting him in the future. I'm sure and he's.

I

Running with this ball as fast as he can to make this a reality as soon as possible, the last update.

I

On this is we're talking to mr john hartline and chris casalimus about the rural improvement grant.

I

Money would it directly apply, because not only does it serve southern round, it also serves the.

I

Eastern shore so we're- and I would say I've also been talking to my peers on the eastern shore.

C

About this on the mid-shore, particularly with easton and they're in dorchester, county they're,.

C

Excited about this opportunity, great yeah, somerset, county, dorchester county. All of them are very.

I

Involved in this discussion, and it's up at the state level we're having this discussion, so this.

I

Is a very exciting project? You'll be hearing more about this in the near future. Next slide, please.

I

And just as a segue into we're, providing this growth of opportunity for drones, we're also.

I

Looking to expand the opportunity for education in southern maryland and the autonomous technology.

I

Research across all domains- and the highlight of that really is the smart building you've seen.

I

It you've been there you've heard more about it. Just a little more focused update on that.

I

It is bringing together that partnership of academia with industry, the defense contract.

I

Industry, as well as the larger autonomous technologies industries across all domains.

I

Not just air so ground, surface subsurface vehicles, even space, bringing those technologies here and.

I

Dovetailing the research with the education opportunity in this dramatic new building.

I

The building is open. The last thing was turning on the wi-fi that was turned on about three weeks ago.

I

So I'm moving in this week, so the building is up and running next slide. A real highlight of the.

I

Research portion of it is the matrix lab and you can see uh you know be careful with acronyms in.

I

The future you can see the acronym there, but it's focused on again autonomous technology research.

I

Across all domains, and it's to it's going to have an affiliation with the uas test site right.

I

Down the road so we'll be able to continue to fly drones at the airport in the local area and around.

I

The country and around the world we have a team in hawaii right now, flying for noaa and nasa. So.

I

The affiliation is there, you can see on the screen there, the unique and buffer capabilities, some of.

I

These things exist on the base hard to get to scheduled for years in advance. We now have our.

I

Own anechoic chamber, in the matrix lab we have an open air flight lab. We have a fluid dynamics, tank.

I

We have a wind tunnel, we're working on putting ground test tracks outside for ground vehicles.

I

So we have very significant capabilities in this building, uh just very exciting, to really bring.

I

This to life and that's my new job, as I said, going out of the u.s test site. I'm now the director of.

I

Research, innovation and outreach for this new building, I'm going to be getting into the schools.

I

Talking to parent groups making sure they see the opportunity for their kids.

I

As well as the opportunity for the industry for the state to continue to be a leader in this area,.

I

So you go to minneapolis chambers eight by ten by twelve, yes, and it's similar to the big antique.

C

Chamber on the base, which is bigger, exactly yeah, the base has about twelve anecdote chambers from.

I

Very small component to the huge hangar we have one now that's component level. You could put.

I

A group three uas in there a couple hundred pound uas in there. If you wanted to to test.

I

Component level, interaction, thank you, cool, significant capability and, lastly,.

I

So we continue to appreciate your support, we're leveraging federal state and local investment.

I

Your million dollar investment in the building from the design phase was critical to really show.

I

The commitment of the local area for that building and, as I mentioned with the euro improvement, grant.

I

We're continuing to leverage multiple sources of funding to make this a reality for the people of.

I

Southern maryland, this is cool. This is cool. This is really stunning very future. Looking.

B

I'm impressed this is awesome. Thank you tell me, what do you think it cost us to hang that thing.

O

We don't have, we don't have an estimate for that yet, but you have it in your budget. Yes, yes,.

Q

It's with engineering services and dbwt right now, okay, good now move to accept the donated.

L

Retired uav solutions, talon 240g unmanned aircraft system uas vehicle to spend in the walter francis.

L

Duke airport terminal, second, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye, nays, nice.

A

Thank you very much, and thanks for the before you go, I I I'm interested commissioner morgan.

L

Asks how much does it weigh? How much does that thing weigh um when we flew it was about 170.

P

Pounds we've stripped it of fuel oil and some components. So it's about 135 pounds now: okay,.

F

Thanks great, I think that was in your report. I thought I saw it in your report.

A

Thank you very much, your presentation. Thank you. Thank you for continuing your hard work out there.

M

Thanks next up is the department of public works and transportation regarding their.

M

Fiscal 2023, saint mary's, transit system, annual transportation plan grant application.

O

Okay, the second thing we're bringing is uh from maryland department of transportation. It's it's.

O

Grant funding again so another good thing we're getting money from the state good good.

O

For our training, we like getting money. I like getting money this afternoon, I'll ask for money.

O

But this morning we're getting money so uh again we're going to recommend to the commissioners that.

O

You approve the 2023 maryland transport transit system, annual transportation, grant application.

O

To to the maryland transit administration and the amount of 3 million, 228 thousand 210 dollars.

O

For operating in capital programs and authorize the department director to.

O

Submit the atp electronically, consistent with the reviewed documents reviewed by the commissioners.

O

Of saint mary's county and authorized the commissioner president to sign.

O

Any related documents, so what this is is uh each year we have uh funding for.

O

Well, it's grant funding from mta, mdot and and the federal trans administration as well.

O

So last week we had talked about the job, access and reverse commute the jerk one. Two and three.

O

Funding that we were gonna get this is this is that's part of this process as well, so this is.

O

Sts public transportation, the shark, the americans with disabilities act routes.

O

And the state specialized transportation program routes that came up as a discussion last week too.

O

And we might have good news for you on that later this afternoon, for the seniors and and.

O

People with disabilities and and it's critical service to residents throughout our county.

O

So, in summary, what what we're proposing is, we have a grant application that we have to.

O

Submit to the state and the total grant is three million two hundred and twenty eight.

O

Thousand two hundred and ten dollars of that, the federal and state share that they're kicking in.

O

Is one million four hundred and ninety eight thousand seven 780 dollars.

O

And then our local share is 1 million 729 thousand 430 dollars. Do we have any? uh I I try to read this.

F

Thing but it's pretty thick, but my point would be, is we have anything on these bus stops? Are.

F

We getting anywhere with bus stops. Mr hewitt, I'm glad you asked thank you. I came prepared.

F

Thank you. There you go. I like.

Q

For our first 75 oh hold on hold on you, get it pull that back. Okay, can I see please? Yes,.

C

Of course, yes, yes, so we just took delivery late last week of the first 75 we do have a hiccup in.

Q

State highway with our permit application, it was well it failed to go to their traffic.

Q

Department a year ago, so we are rectifying that it is with their traffic department. Now.

Q

As soon as we receive that permit back, it will go to our highways division, at which point.

Q

We will put these signs in the ground for the locations that are outlined in their traffic plan.

Q

So not too much longer we're making headway after this, so this will go on the.

Q

235 chancellor's run great mills road and then curve around to leonardtown. Those are.

Q

Our first 75 stops primarily the central part of the county, and then, after that, we will do.

Q

The next phase, which will be the north and the south good portions of the county, okay above.

F

The sign will there be a bench with a cover of some type at some point, not always the mpo study.

Q

Addressed nine additional bus, stop shelters for the county to be phased in.

Q

Of that we are piggybacking off charles county. I did ask charles county what the status was. Is the.

Q

Solicitation is still under review with mta how many bus stops. Are we talking about having nine.

Q

Nine additional to the five that we currently have, so we would have a.

F

Total of 14, yes, bus stops with a bench with the shelter with the full shelter. Okay, good.

L

Fy 23 st mary's transit system, annual transportation grant application to the.

L

Maryland: transit administration, the amount of 3 million 228 210 for operating and capital.

L

Programs and authorized the department director to submit the atp electronically.

L

Consistent with the reviewed documents reviewed by the commissioners of saint mary's, county and.

L

Authorized the commissioner president to sign any related documents. Second, I have a first and second.

A

All those in favor all right, any disapproval, nice have it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all very.

A

Much thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next, on the agendas department of recreational parks, travel.

M

Tourism and outdoor recreation program application art shepherd, presenting this stone with them.

R

Good morning, good morning, good morning, fasten you for authorization of online grant.

R

Application submittal: this is a great opportunity through the department of commerce and economic.

R

Development administration and tourism: this is a grant application that would provide the direct.

R

Funding for the cost of a boat vessel boarding, ramps and potential transportation of getting the.

R

Vessel here in the amount of two hundred thousand nineteen thousand dollars, so you can see how.

R

Wonderful opportunity that is to have access a boat to the island for people of all abilities, so.

R

I'm asking for your approval to submit that online grant application. I moved to approve recreational.

L

Parks, the middle of an online application for grant funding for a new water taxi through.

L

The u.s department of commerce, commerce, economic development administration's american rescue plan.

L

Travel tourism and outdoor recreation program. Second discussion: will we be responsible for.

F

Administering it so we'll have to hire the taxi operator and yeah, and that's already there yeah.

R

There will be no additional expenses above what we have going on now.

F

Correct correct ongoing maintenance but yeah we'll have to take care of our boat sure.

A

Is this repairing the loading ramp on the island this part of this phone? No? No! That's.

S

An additional 680, 000 dollar program and project that we're in now that's being.

A

Handled right now to get that repaired, dnr is working on that with us, okay and hopefully they're.

A

Still working though we don't know anything, we don't have any time anything about that. Okay,.

S

No, the people peers are good, that's the the loading. This is all the people stuff here I.

A

Understand that I'm just curious about that with storm damage that was done. I'm sorry go ahead. The.

A

Storm damage that was done. Okay, would you expect the taxes to be up and running by this summer.

F

This summer, yeah look, I'm optimal. My purchase won't be made and ready to go this summer.

R

I thought it said potentially by the middle of this summer. Yes, I think, but.

S

Potentially, by the middle of the summer, it depends on whether we locate an existing.

S

Boat that we can move here or if we end up having one built it's good, but there is a there, are like.

S

Your optimism, yeah you're, optimistic yeah, built the long story short. This is a necessity to be.

C

Able to get the handicapped folks out to the island to see what's out there etc and how we.

C

Get there and the sooner we get there, the better yeah no on the way. So if you find a boat in the.

A

Next few weeks it might be the beginning of the summer. You just never know right. You understand.

A

I understand thank you very much for working hard on it. Okay, we have our first and second on this.

A

Everybody agreement aye aye aye any opposed hi zap. Thank you very much. Thank you.

M

Next is from the department of finance for the bay district volunteer fire department request.

M

For a 460 000 loan under the fire and rescue loan fund program, ms jeanette cudmore, presenting.

J

Hello again good morning.

J

As of february 28 2022, the approximately 1.9 million is available in this revolving fund.

J

Currently, there are seven loans with loan balances, ranging from approximately 47 000 to 1.5 million.

J

The bay district volunteer fire department has requested a loan of 460 000 to assist cost.

J

For the purchase of a new 2021 pierce arrow xt pumper, the total estimated cost.

J

Of the vehicle is 756 thousand bay district volunteer. Fire department has one other loan.

J

Through the county's revolving loan program, with a current balance of 134 907, this loan.

J

Was approved in 2016., based on the audited financial statements for the past three years,.

J

And other required loan documents required in the fire and rescue revolving loan fund application.

J

Process the borrower bay district volunteer fire department should have the capability to.

J

Repay the requested loan, the annual debt service on this loan will be about 67 thousand dollars.

J

The application was submitted to finance on january 11 2022 the approval letters for the st.

J

Mary's county fire board and the emergency services board were received on february 10th.

J

Once approved by the commissioners, the county attorney staff is expected to.

J

Prepare the legal documents for the loan with the execution of the loan schedule for march 23rd.

L

I'll move to improvement authorized staff to prepare the necessary loan documents for a.

L

Seven-Year loan for the bay district volunteer fire department in the amount of 460 thousand.

L

Dollars from the fire and rescue revolving loan fund to assist in the purchase of a new 2021.

L

Pierce arrow xt pumper and authorized commissioner president and staff to execute the necessary.

L

Documents with the understanding that the county attorney will have approved them for legal.

L

Sufficiency prior to execution of the documents second discussion, I was at a board meeting of the.

F

Bay district board of directors a few months back, and they talked about this- resolving revolving.

F

Loan fund that we have and that it has a max on it, did you say that was one nine, something like.

F

That the amount of um legislatively approved is five million and currently the amount of money.

J

That's been appropriated from our capital improvements program is 4.1, so another 900.

J

000. once that's been appropriated and we're at that max of 5 million, then the fun truly will be.

J

Going forward um revolving alone- okay, I guess where I'm going with this, as they indicated that.

F

Fire equipment is getting more and more expensive and does that five million.

F

Ceiling need to be raised. Would you have an opinion on that um if it was to be um and.

J

That could be possibly something that needs to be done. It would have to go to annapolis.

J

For approval for that to be lifted, okay, so we know by say whatever the board looks like.

F

Sitting up here next year will we have some idea what that look, because it sounds like.

F

We're we're bumping up against the ceiling right, so would that be? I would think when the um county.

J

Attorney's office puts out the legislative request at that time. Maybe if it's the interest, is there.

J

They should submit it so that it can be a part of the legislative items that are submitted.

F

Certainly yeah they indicated a new ladder truck or something was going to be.

F

Or 1.9 million, and they were afraid that they wouldn't have the borrowing authority to.

F

Look for currently based on the loans that have when the entire cip process.

J

And with the fire revolving loan, we ask for the request that they are going to request from this.

J

Revolving loan out to our current um cip, which is fy, 2028, okay and based on those items that.

J

They provided to us back in january. um We have enough money in that fund to get us through 2028.

J

With adding 900 000, I think in 26 or 20 in the out years, and so they have enough money to do whatever.

J

But you're right I mean, but the cost of these items will go up and that could change what they.

J

Need to request, because when I see wayne johnson I'll just mention to him that.

F

He needs to maybe coordinate with you or whoever the appropriate people are to right in the fire.

J

Departments and rescue they also, they need to. Let us know what loans they need. This one.

J

In particular was not a part of the request from last year, so we can move forward with this, because.

J

There's enough money in there and nobody else came forward with loans. So it's important yeah.

A

Maybe ask questions. I have a first, a second all in favor all right, any disapprovals, all right.

A

Thank you, mr moore. Thank you, commissioners and next is from the county. Administrator's.

M

Office to approve the employment contract for the chief of the ems career operations.

M

And mr steve walker is here.

M

Thank you, mr walker.

T

Okay, so our candidate is mr george edelen. He comes from naval district uh washington. uh He has.

T

Served as an ems chief for them for eight years, I think he is an excellent candidate and I think.

T

That I think we're ready to move with him and I would request that you approve his contract.

T

So he seems like a highly qualified candidate. I think we're lucky to get him.

T

I think he's very qualified. I think he's he's uh he's you think he's ready. So I think it's.

T

What we need, I moved to approve the employment contract for the chief ems career operations as.

L

Presented and authorized commission presence on the related documents. Second, discussion.

C

It seems, mr walker, that how many cars you have over there now in your department.

T

I think about 10 or 12, maybe okay, so I'm looking at this contract, it looks like they're.

C

Going to get an operations guy person a car with a reduction of fifty dollars per pay, so he can drive.

C

Back and forth from his home, which is outside the county, and this afternoon, you're coming this with.

C

Four or five more cars, trucks, tahoes and your budget requests, it seems that you, if you're a.

C

Medic I get it if you're a sheriff's department person. I get it because you have to respond, but.

C

I don't understand why all these people need cars before long. You have as big a fleet as a sheriff.

T

I don't think we'll get that big, but I mean there are very specific.

T

Needs for each of those, but everyone needs a car, an operation, not everybody needs an operations.

C

Person needs a car to drive back and forth to work. Are they responding to medical calls.

C

Are they responding to emergency calls all the time, not all the time, but there are occasions.

T

Because they feel like they have to respond, so they can use the car.

L

I disagree with you on that and and the tenor of the conversation, because chiefs are required.

L

To respond to certain incidents, and if there is something that happens, that they need to respond.

L

Then it should be in a county vehicle. You know it is standard industry practice that the chiefs.

L

And deputy chiefs in the fire community have those vehicles whether they live in the county.

L

Or not, we've had this conversation, there is prince george's county, charles county other other county.

L

Fire deputy chiefs battalion chiefs, even at the lower level that have their vehicles and come.

L

Home and the reason for that is because, at that level of command, you are required to respond in.

L

You know that the the 50 deduction was something that I've seen in programs.

L

In various agencies, when it's outside of the county, I do believe he falls well within the.

L

26 air mile radius- that is the standard that's normally used. I just don't see how.

L

You have a a chief that needs to respond to to a situation, and you ask them to do it in their pov.

L

Personally own vehicle getting a lot of chiefs, not on indians. We have one chief.

L

Two, we have too many indians right now and uh no chief, if you, if you want to use that term.

C

That's my commentary.

A

Good commentary, uh I I'm personally, I don't know how we regulate.

A

This person, or how many miles he uses this vehicle outside of his.

A

From work to home- and back I mean I don't know, do we check the mileage every.

A

60 days or something or I don't know, I'm just we seem to be hiring more and more people outside the.

A

County now, and then we give somebody a car. Fifty dollars is maybe one tank of gas and.

A

That vehicle, probably nowadays, if you get that much you'll, get that much I mean I just filled.

A

My truck up the other day and it was 70 dollars and uh I think it's 18 gallon tank. It was over 70.

A

Dollars but I I don't I just I'm, I'm very curious about the same thing about and where does this.

A

Individual live now in welcome over in charles county welcome yeah, it's a pretty good trip. Yeah.

A

I knew I got a good quality guy. Believe me, I I I. I can't knock that one bit.

A

But you got a great quality guy, uh but uh I mean we could you know we could work to put.

T

Devices on the vehicles to to monitor the mileage yeah, I don't know how do you, how do you, I think.

B

That's something we could address if we suspect it becomes a problem, but I mean there's this.

G

Point in time we have a system in need of a chief, and we have an incredibly qualified.

B

Applicant here and I agree, I agree understanding that there's no liberal use of this vehicle.

L

Yeah there is no liberal use, we, we do specifically have policies on that. They can't go out and drive.

T

It to and from you know, if the guy's on his way home and stops the grocery store. Fine, but.

T

They cannot leave their house and go out and go shopping or go to the doctor, or this is right.

A

Right now and that's a trust thing you got to put in an individual, you hope that happens. It.

T

Is and there's policy against it, and we have addressed some some of that, where we will.

T

Address that but again, if, if there's a desire, we could certainly you know, put devices on vehicles.

T

Though yeah not at this time of design, but I I would say uh to to that point: uh sts.

L

Has telematics all of our v? All of our emergency services vehicles should have telematics on them.

T

I'm not opposed to that yeah. I really do they've they've reduced a lot over there and I can tell.

L

You from the legit side, um hagerstown just did it and it's an overwhelming success anyway,.

A

Okay, do we have a motion on this yeah? I already made the motion yeah.

F

I thought we had a motion in a second move, a second okay. We got our first and second.

A

All in favor aye any opposed, nay one name. Thank you, mr walker. Next up is.

M

Legislative update from the office of the county attorney mr john howser, presenting.

A

John, I thought your package would get smaller by now. It's still pretty big.

A

It's you know, it's not what it was. I mean this morning fooled us with the memo too yeah and you.

A

Got that memo you stuck in there, you know jeez all right. The first update is where.

K

We stand on our remaining um bills, sought by the commissioner of saint mary's county we've had the.

K

Hb 527 requiring polygraph examinations come out of the house passed. um It is.

K

Now, making its way through the senate, we have received an unfavorable report on hb 475, the.

K

Allowing golf carts on roads where a speed limit is under 35 miles per hour, don't know any details.

K

Don't know any details on that one, yet I know um delegate clark is on the committee kendama.

K

Ask him for insight, but that vote to issue it. If unfavorable report was made.

K

Unanimously by the committee, they just don't like golf carts. I was there for the last one.

L

Delega clark fights and they they just it- was a fight to get golden beach through. So I don't.

L

Know what it is um of the two remaining uh the update to the human relations commission again, not.

K

Expecting controversy on that one, there certainly wasn't any at the hearing.

K

Neither on the hb 522 for allowing us to charge the actual cost of auctioneer services at the.

K

County tax sale auctions, no movement, yet either from the change of definition. For a newspaper.

K

In general circulation, but I've shared what rumors I've heard on that bill before.

K

We received no requests for letters of support or opposition in the last week.

K

That only remains taking through legislation of interest and tracking some items from last week.

K

First, one thing that did come up: hb one three: five: three: we saw this on mako, the omnibus procurement.

K

Reform act: this would change state procurement practices in place. Any county contracts involving.

K

Any state funds under new state procurement rules, including appeals processes that would be without.

K

Any any county contract in which the state contributes any portion of the cost of that.

K

Contract, the way this law is written even down to justice cent, would be thrown under these new laws.

K

Mako opposed it for that reason that this would place county procurement under a much more onerous.

K

Process than it is right now, if there's any commingling of county and state funds, there's.

K

A hearing on the house on march, 8th, there's no cross file. Our plan is to track this one.

K

And bring it forward to the county commissioner's attention if it does make movement in the senate.

K

And we can weigh whether to issue a letter of support opposition, no comment at that time.

K

So we're still talking about, we increase the cost of county projects. Yes, it does. This is a killer.

C

Project I mean a killer bill, so I moved to oppose hb 1353 onto this procurement reform act, oprah.

C

The world ended of 2022 and to approve and authorize commissioner president guy to send her a.

C

Letter of support to house and senate committees for hearings on these bills. Second, letter of.

A

Opposition to the bill got it first and second, all in favor, aye aye any opposed eyes have it and what.

K

We will do. We will send that letter of opposition to the house committee after the fact, and we will.

K

Keep one in reserve for the senate to send if it um ever goes to and in the opposite house.

K

I'm moving on to legislation of interest on memo, two which are the only other items.

K

Sb528 climate solutions now act of 2022.. This received a fairly significant amendment in that.

K

Schools will no longer be required under this law to retrofit their existing buildings.

K

The laws being chained or the amendments that have been offered in the senate are only to.

K

Require that the schools measure and report direct greenhouse gas emissions and consider.

K

Placing solar panels on their roofs and if they opt not to place solar panels on their roofs.

K

They have to write a justification of their reason for not doing so to the interagency.

K

Commission on school construction, so the burden for public facilities, at least lessened slightly.

K

Still, no changes that I'm aware of on the requirements placed on private residential.

K

Or commercial structures- it was a vote on this last night on this is pinsky's bill. I believe I.

C

Believe so it's so the bill passed the pill passed last night on a party-line vote. There were some.

C

um This cause was taken out. It was a fossil fuel. Men put in that basically says.

C

You're gonna still use fossil fuels um a couple other nuances along the way.

C

Senator pinsky think it didn't when didn't go far enough. However, with the amendments that.

C

Maker had been proposing and some other stuff it did take a little bit of the gutting of the.

C

Green out of it, it still makes it pretty green, but it's not as green as originally proposed. True.

K

And the other update is on sb 726, slash hb1187. This is the transportation. The.

K

Reallocation of highway user revenues across the municipalities, counties.

K

State, the um I know, commissioner, president guy and commissioner morgan, you both testified on the.

K

Senate house versions of this one each aft the day after testimony, the house bill was passed.

K

With amendments that would drastically reduce the highway user revenues that this bill would.

K

Have reallocated to the county, whereas previously they were going to restore the.

K

um Quote-Unquote original full funding back to 15.3 percent to be shared among all the counties.

K

They are now going to keep it at the existing 3.2 percent of highway user revenues to be distributed.

K

Among the counties, but that will increase by 0.1 percent through fy 27., it will increase by.

B

0.1 percent- this I'll just use my commissioner time now to address. If that's our delegates vote.

C

For that, well, let me finish please so anyhow, the house environmental committee voted unanimously to.

C

Increase this by 0.1 through 2027 and are advocating. Excuse me that uh we face.

C

A fiscal cliff in 2027 they're being fiscally prudent at this point in time, it hasn't gone to.

C

The house four yet for a vote. When I went up last wednesday to a vote on sb 726, I can tell you that.

C

Every major leader in the state of maryland from jurisdictions was present, testifying in support.

C

Of the highway user revenue bill there's a hearing today, tangentially to sb 726, is taking place that.

C

Sb 726 has not yet been voted on by the senate. The hope and mako in conversation last night was going.

C

To be that, they would address a compromise somewhere in between, because if you look at.

C

The numbers just so just so citizens are aware what you're getting taken for. Currently we get.

C

One point: we get: 2.1 million dollars in highway user revenue back to the.

C

County, it's 1.9 million dollars for us at 200 000 for honor town. If it was full.

C

Under the old rules, we would get 9.9 million dollars with 9.6 with 300 000, going to.

C

Leonardtown and under the house bill now we will get up to 2.5 million.

C

And 200 000 will go to huntertown. Now I did the calculation since I came into office. We're about.

C

75 million dollars short on highway user revenue, so there's a camaraderie and what the compromise.

C

I don't know what it's going to be, that mako's trying to say is. We will try our very best to get.

C

More money back from the senate bill that would then go to conference to compromise on, but then.

C

The argument that they can't seem to address is, we all want to get electric vehicles and, with all.

C

These tax credits for electric vehicles- well, the problem here is with gas prices spiking, so high.

C

Electric vehicles pay no highway user revenue, but we want more electric vehicles on the car to tear.

C

Up the roads, but they don't have to pay a tax and then, if you go into some of the debates, that's.

C

Going on now, yes, we realized the the price of gas is very high and it's been rising for well over a.

C

Year year and a half based upon supply constraints and various moves, it doesn't have a lot to do with.

C

The war in russia, I'm sorry that that just seems to be a narrative out there, but at the same time,.

C

We every year have a gas tax which most people just don't see, but every year in july a gas tax.

C

Is imposed by the state of maryland on gas, and it goes up by a consumer price index.

C

So nominally it's two to three percent, which really looks is pennies than on the gallon. That.

C

You really just don't see, but now the consumer price decks with inflation is might be somewhere.

C

Between seven and eight percent, so we don't know what that number is going to be in july. But that's.

C

Going to be reflective in the new price per gallon, so while the federal guys are saying.

C

In the state guys, let's just suspend the gas tax for a month or two months to make us feel good.

C

The real money is hidden in that highway use of revenue that continues to go up the road that.

C

We don't receive back. The state, then, can take the highway use of revenue and it decides where.

C

It wants to dispose of that money and where it wants to spend that money and the county, then.

C

We are shorted our revenue, so when you come back to the board of commissioners- and we have to do.

C

Overlays we have to do striping or we have to do um tarn chip or we have to do emergencies over.

C

That comes out of our budget. So it's it's! It's just not fair. It's just it's just not fair and.

C

Highway user revenue has been one of those ones that the state has attacked for years.

C

To take money from us that we pay our taxes on and use it for their discretion.

C

For projects that they see fit so half my commissioner time is not done, mr guy, thank you.

A

Wait testified. I testified on the other bill and every jurisdiction that was on there voting. They.

A

Voted for highway user fund being restored, except for amadon mdot, didn't make statement that if this.

A

Pundit was taken out of their budget, they would have to be billions out and would jeopardize some.

A

Of their major projects that they're working on now, but they're, the only ones, I know that opposed.

A

And unfortunately, didn't even get out of committee, I think he went to the floor.

C

Let's just hope that a nice, a suitable compromise, can be struck.

C

With the senate and then go back to the house in conference, we hope so so the only other things.

K

I would note is that, as commissioner morgan points out, senate has not taken any activity.

K

On the bill, yet in the house, commissioner colvin, you asked if any members of our delegation voted.

K

For it, there has been no vote by the house as a whole. Only a vote within the committee.

K

Environment and transportation committee, which did vote to adopt these amendments unanimously.

K

Only other two things I would note about this is that the one little bit the one bit of relief.

K

That's in here is that quote: unquote fiscal cliff, a point at which that county's share of highway.

K

User revenues would have further dropped from the existing 3.2 percent to its pre-2010 levels of 1.5.

K

Percent that cliff has been pushed back a further two years from fiscal year, 25 to fiscal year, 2027.

K

The only other comment I would make is that the committee described these amendments as.

K

Quote: unquote; leadership; amendments for whatever worth that might be the last specific bill to.

K

Point out for an update is sb 956 hb1409. This we talked about, I believe last week. It would.

K

Add health officers, election administrators and public employees responsible for inspecting and.

K

Enforcing housing and building codes to the list of public officials, against whom it is illegal to.

K

Issue a threat commissioner o'connor. You last week did question that you wanted us to look into what.

K

The exact definition of a threat is and state with more particular, more particularity. What this would.

K

Mean and what this bill does, is it rather than other iterations or variations of this law, that.

K

Have been issued that talked about health officers, specifically, this just creates, adds those three.

K

Categories of public officials to the existing list of public officials, against whom it's a.

K

Legal issue: a threat under criminal law 3708. That means it has the exact same case law and.

K

Stands as a threat against them that already exist in law, so, among other things, this threat.

K

Would have to be one that a reasonable person if delivered, would actually believe it communicates.

K

A serious intent to harm that this person actually has to have some means, or someone have to believe.

K

Reasonable person we have to believe they have means to actually act upon this threat and that.

K

In the totality of the circumstances that you know, a threat is just that: it's an actual threat to.

K

Cause physical harm and would believe be believed by a reasonable person to be such uh there's. No.

K

Hearing date for the house, yet the senate hearing is on 316 and mako does support both bills. We can.

K

Issue letter support, stay neutral, whatever the commissioners might prefer stay neutral, understood.

K

The only other um content on these two memos are just updates, just tracking of the bills. We.

K

Have tracked and talked about the multitude of them, what their current status is and something.

K

That's a little more legible and apparent than the print off of the list of tract bills. We keep on.

K

The county administrator's website and for the commissioner's convenience, it's just there. The.

K

Track bills that have crossed over to the opposite chamber so have passed their original house.

K

Bills that have been voted out of committee and other bills that are still in their original.

K

House of origination, but might be at second or on third reading, along with amendments.

K

The only ones of these that I picked out to talk about particularly were sb 528, because there was.

K

Substantive work there, the only other ones I might think to point out here- are um sb1, which.

K

Would have allowed the state commissioner of labor to issue a stop work order on any public works.

K

Project where they determined that the prime or subcontractor is paying less than the prevailing.

K

Fair minimum wage that has been changed from rather than allowing the commissioner to come.

K

In there issue the stop work order on his own. There at least has to be an initial investigation.

K

Determining that there might be wages not being paid as they should be there, that amendment has.

K

Been made and has passed the second reading in the senate, the special education classroom, video would.

K

um This would have been a requirement that special education classrooms have live. Video captioning.

K

That has been changed from a requirement across the state to the amendments now.

K

Created just as a pilot program to try this out in a few classrooms and perhaps revisit it.

K

In future years, as seeing how that pilot program goes, the only other thing then was a particular.

K

Interest to st mary's county in southern maryland, general sb, 378 hb 646, the 900 000 per year, funding.

K

Increase for the southern maryland agricultural development commission there's a notation on the.

K

Mga's website that it was reported favorable with amendments out of committee, looking at the text.

K

That actually made it out of the senate, though I do not see any amendments made on there. It.

K

Still looks like it's just the same: 900 000 from the cigarette restitution fund being added into.

K

Smadc's senator jackson, sponsoring that yes he's on appropriations, yeah we're okay. I mean that if.

K

Any other ques, if any other laws that weren't mentioned, are of interest or have questions.

K

About I can feel those right now answer the best of my abilities or get back to commissioners.

K

Otherwise that is my only planned update. Thank you anything else. For mrs I would say I was at a.

F

Event, thursday night over in prince, frederick and delegate morgan was mentioning to me that the.

F

Filing deadline for filing for office may be extended to april 22nd, or it could be april. 30Th.

F

Not sure what that is, but my question to you, mr houser, would be, can you maybe take a look.

F

At that, because we know there's supposed to be a court case- I think march 21st. So it looks.

F

Like the march 22nd deadline, maybe in flux, and that also could impact the primary election date.

F

So maybe you can help us with that. I've stayed up to date. The legislative redistricting challenges.

K

And the couple of ancillary challenges you're, seeing across the state to county redistricting.

K

Plans in baltimore, county and montgomery county now have both had challenges met. I have stayed.

K

On top of those to monitor them for what in fall or what reading the tea light leaves they might.

K

Entail for st mary's county, nothing there! I haven't additionally stayed on top of the.

K

Legislative and congressional redistricting, where we're at right now is for the moment the filing.

K

Deadline is still set for march 22nd. There are rumors out there and I've heard them from several.

K

Places now, but that redis that that um deadline may be pushed back again to as commissioners. I.

F

Mean we're talking like a week right. This is the 15th, the 22nd next tuesday. Nothing.

K

Has been made yet the um court case will not be decided before then. What we have coming.

K

Up on march 21st in a week or so are hearings and evidence, hearings in front of the special.

K

Magistrate on the legislative redistricting case, his report is still due, I believe, on.

K

April 5th is when he said: he'll have his report issued no later than that would tee up the court.

K

Of appeals to make a final decision sometime in mid towards the end of late april, if they.

K

Stick on roughly the same schedule as when they adjudicated this in 2012. For that redistricting.

K

So for right now everything is still the way it is, but we've heard those rumors as well.

K

That both the filing deadline may be pushed back and the primary deadline may be pushed back from.

K

Currently june 28 to some date in september, I mean the reason I bring this up is. I know people.

F

Who have filed for office had to sign a piece of paper that said your district could be changed.

F

And if that were the case, then you're filing for the wrong office. In case you were redistricted.

F

To another district uh I mean it just seems to throw a lot more questions in there than answers.

K

Correct- and you can also imagine a scenario where someone who might be.

K

Seeking legislative or congressional office in a new boundary might determine their chances are.

K

Less than what they are right now and could choose to seek, if they're still intent on pursuing public.

K

Office of some sort either county commissioner county council, something less or down so.

K

You can see the reasons for doing it, but um for right now that filing deadline is still march.

K

22Nd next tuesday, right, correct and the primary is still 28 june right now for right now and it's.

K

um Again, we should know the redistricting have a decision on that sometime in mid-april. I would.

K

Imagine reading the tea leaves as I attempt to that. If the plan is upheld, you'll probably see.

K

The primary date preserved where it is, if it's thrown out and the court has to create its own map.

K

Then it's much much much more likely that they will september but push that.

K

Yeah primary date back to where it was before it was moved up a couple of cycles ago to where it.

K

Is now I'm wondering if you can call the board of elections because a friend of mine, it's an.

L

Attorney that's up in annapolis. Today I actually sent me a few messages in reference to the.

L

Filing deadline and the primary, and basically that one of the.

L

Conversations that they're having now is that they're not going to change the filing date.

L

The primary is going to remain the same, but if there's any changes that come down.

L

From the court case that the central committees are going to be responsible for uh pushing.

L

The names in uh essentially in some form way form or another if there's another vacancy, so I'd like.

L

To get some clarity on it, just just so people know we'll follow up, then I will add that up as I.

K

Obviously, if anything does happen in the next week, we'll issue a memorandum before them, but.

K

Just a general overview of where things are and yeah best that I've been able to discern we'll.

K

Add that to next week's memo, good good! Thank you all right all right. Thank you. Thank you very much.

A

Thank you that ends uh county administrator time. Thank you. You ended all right, uh we'll go right.

A

Into this get right into commissioner time and we'll start with commissioner hewitt. Oh thank you.

F

I think it was saturday night. It was a busy week last week, went to the ridge volunteer fire.

F

Department for the annual farm bureau banquet- it's always a great time. I mean thank god for farmers.

F

Thank god, we got food to eat and I feel sorry for these people. They they they're getting hit with.

F

Triple price of fertilizer extra prices for seed and just things that they need to to plant a crop.

F

And then, hopefully, mother nature cooperates uh one farmer who farms uh almost a thousand acres.

F

He farmed several different pieces of property said to me. You know mike I'm just gonna about.

F

Have all my budget tied up and fertilizer and everything- and I just hope to god- there's not.

F

A drought, so when I, when I think of people who do that type of thing, my dad was a farmer from south.

F

Carolina before he went into the navy, but the point was I remember: he used to get this time.

F

Of year we get a 60 degree day and he'd go out and smell the air, and it's time to till this soil and.

F

That's the kind of feeling it had the other night there sitting with some of the farmers who talked.

F

About you know they really want to get out there and till those fields and do that farming and.

F

God bless them and hopefully they'll have the weather. They need to have a bumper crop.

F

So they can break. Even one farmer was saying to me: he needs a bumper crop just to break even given.

F

The cost of um well anyway, he did say wheat's good, but they don't do much wheat, but the bottom.

F

Line was, he said he needs this great crop just to break. Even so, he doesn't lose money farming again.

F

Also turned out, I went out to the friday morning for the breakfast, with the town of leonardtown.

F

Very exciting plans to have for the town of leonardtown if you haven't seen them, I.

F

Think they they really have some great concept, ideas and they've been working on some very good.

F

Things that will attract people to the area to I did sit with the gentleman who's going to take the.

F

Existing bell motor company, which I know has been there since 1923, has been.

F

Selling cars and he's going to turn it into 40, somewhat luxury apartments and in.

F

Condos great idea, it again turns to downtown area into a residential area where people like to walk.

F

And we've seen that same thing happen with the old first national bank and anybody who's been in.

F

In this county, a long time remembers those what I'll call institutions bell motor company first.

F

National excuse me, bank of america, all those buildings now that were commercial.

F

Are converting more to residential and honestly, that's a good thing now, this afternoon, 1 30, we.

F

Have another budget work session we're working our way through these things.

F

Today is the county part when I had a meeting yesterday with some people who were concerned.

F

About what had happened last week with different decisions that were made and were those decisions.

F

Final and my point to them was, is this all comes up for appeal later in the year.

F

We'll have our public forum at chaptercon this year, that'll be in april, and we'll have people.

F

Giving testimony, if that's the term, hopefully it will be that they have come forth and explain why.

F

They need more or what they think are priorities, and those will be things that this commission.

F

Aboard will entertain and then we will have two more sessions to talk about making any adjustments.

F

To the budget so because we've made our decisions or made some decisions, don't think it's the final.

F

It's still time. Lastly, two groups of people have reached out to me over the past week. I.

F

Had to miss last tuesday morning's meeting, I had a doctor's appointment, so I apologize I had to miss.

F

Last tuesday morning's meeting and in that meeting there was a discussion about steer horn neck.

F

A road on in hollywood, I actually lived down past. Sadly, I drive past that road twice a day if.

F

Not more, and the idea was that we were lowering the speed limit from 50 miles per hour to 40 miles.

F

Per hour- and I think the justification was- is that it was 40 mile an hour was the speed limit on.

F

Satellite road route maryland route 245, so maybe it was a good idea to be consistent with that.

F

And make stair horn nook 40 miles an hour, well, people who live on that road and I traveled it.

F

On sunday, just to get a feel for it believe that that road is wide great sight lines, except for.

F

The intersection of stair horn, neck and saddly road, but for the rest of it, that reducing it.

F

From 50 to 40 is not a good idea, it's not worth the time we've talked. I did listen to the.

F

Youtube or watch the youtube of the meeting and there were concerns about enforcement.

F

And when I talked with sheriff cameron, he says: well, they have almost no complaints about.

F

Speeding out there that their enforcement requests are very minimal, the people who live there kind of.

F

Feel like the road's fine and why fool with it? So that's important. The other group that's reached.

F

Out to me is people who live in the seventh district and they live in the able area and.

F

They're affected by what we're going to call the cannabis grow houses that are being built there.

F

I had heard bits and pieces about this. I didn't know that permit had been lit.

F

And when I went out and visited last week, I was appalled at what is being built.

F

In the critical area now understand, people cannot have. Let me just say this I'll rephrase. It.

F

There are challenges getting approvals for decks, for improving your roadway down that maybe.

F

Has some erosion issues different small things like that? There's challenges getting approvals.

F

By the critical areas commission, this commissioner, is saint mary's county representative to the.

F

Critical areas: commission, I understand that many times that critical area commission is overbearing.

F

But in this case you have a group building a 52 850 square foot, industrial building in.

F

The thousand foot buffer they've got permission to build a five thousand square foot commercial.

F

Industrial building in the thousand foot buffer they've had permission to.

F

Build a seventeen thousand square foot commercial industrial building, along with a 2500 square foot.

F

Administration building 119 lot parking lot paved parking lot for what they claim to be 20 employees.

F

This just does not make sense now it was just brought to my attention about a week ago by people.

F

Actually, a howie guy and a gilbert dorsey out there, I'm I'm sorry.

F

My point gets to be how, in the world does something like that get approved, get a permit.

F

Without no public hearing, but no input from the the residents- and it just is a monstrosity- that's.

F

Sitting there I've reached out to critical areas. Commission they say. Well, you know those rules.

F

Don't apply when it's agricultural use and that's what's been called, but they've they're investing.

F

Two million dollars in a fence in a berm around this structure, and that is not in any farmers.

F

Idea, a agricultural use, it's an industrial use, but when you talk to critical areas they say.

F

Hey, it's not us, go talk to the department of agriculture talk to them. Yesterday, they're.

F

Saying well, you know we need to look into it, we don't know, but this is all brand new. It's all.

F

Something brought up by the legislature, so honestly, we'll get back to you, commissioner. Hewitt.

F

But on april 12th at 6 30 in this room we're going to have a public forum that night- and that is the.

F

Ideal time for residents who are concerned about the cannabis grow houses in the sabbath and the.

F

Stair horn, neck regulation that was just passed on speed, limit to come out and give us your opinions.

F

I don't think the thing in the seventh district I'll use the term that cows out of the barn.

F

To switch that now would be a major major, probably lawsuit involved. I.

F

Don't know if that can be changed, but the steer horn neck thing maybe can so please.

F

Come out to our public forums, tell us what you think. Thank you. You got it, commissioner, very good.

B

So last friday I was able to attend the state of the town presentation for leonardtown, so.

B

Interestingly, uh when I was elected, leonardtown was not part of my district, but with the new.

B

Redistricting the next commissioner, who sits in the seat leonardtown, is part of that district. So.

B

um Part of leonardtown is part of the first district, the first district.

B

Is massive, it goes from leonardtown all the way down to point lookout. It is a huge district, but.

B

It was very interesting presentation. I got to commend the mayor and the town council, the.

B

They're doing good work in leonardtown and there's some really exciting plans moving.

B

Forward and a good plan for the future, it's good that they have a vision for what they want to see.

B

In the future and they're working towards that, um I was also able to attend the farm bureau banquet.

B

On saturday, I have attended a numerous farm bureau banquets and, and they do a phenomenal.

B

Job they're always a fun banquet. They give away some great door prizes. I believe, commissioner,.

B

Hewitt won two gallons of pre-mixed anti-freeze, but I was lucky and won a a big basket of.

B

Mixed nuts and stuff it was very nice very good, but it was a good time and the farm bureau does.

B

A lot for us they reach out and provide a lot of good input and really do a good job. So I'll keep.

B

My comments brief this morning, we have a budget work session this evening, or this afternoon tune.

B

In if you're interested, if you're not it'll, all get recapped, and I want to wish everyone a happy.

B

St patrick's day later this week, thank you very much, commissioner o'connor. Thank you. Thank you.

L

um So let's talk about the able and the uh the the facility that's being built down there.

L

Because what I want to avert is is the fact like this was just brought up to the.

L

Commissioners and somebody swooping down bringing it to the attention, commissioner,.

L

Morgan and I have been working this issue for a few weeks now, county staff has already met.

L

With a majority I'd say a rather large group, 20 plus members of the community.

L

Down there here here had a great conversation with them related to the building the facility.

L

Calls have already been made to the critical area prior to this department of agriculture.

L

On behalf of county staff and as well as lugum, our land use and growth management was involved.

L

So the uh the all the permits and everything were already requested several weeks ago.

L

What it comes down to is that the way the state classified this was as agriculture.

L

So they um unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever side of the argument you're on the uh the facility.

L

Is built under those pretenses, there is no um zoning requirements for those particular.

L

Facilities in saint mary's county, as it's also state controlled. However, the agreement that we.

L

Already, commissioner morgan and I and staff are are looking at, is the text amendments.

L

So this doesn't happen again in the future without the commissioners being involved. So.

L

We're we're looking at how that can be done. What the legal process is should another facility.

L

Like this come up, so there is a different type of process the the community was involved. There was.

L

Advertisements that did go up, uh and you know they they were very open about it. It's just that there.

L

Was no public process with the commissioners of st mary's county? So with that being said, there's.

L

Already action, that's being taken, uh we've heard it loud and clear. The the same emails and people.

L

That have contacted other commissioners have already contacted commissioner morgan and myself.

L

So I do appreciate the county staff and the energy that they put behind it. Ensuring that should this.

L

Happen again, that there'll be other processes in place, but what I can guarantee the rest of.

L

The citizens of saint mary's county is that it is very, very highly probably 99.9 percent.

L

uh Chance that it'll never happen again, because the state is only giving out. So many of these.

L

Licenses and the licenses are well above two hundred thousand dollars right now. Yeah 20 of.

L

Them and it's based and they're, assigning it to different regions. So it's just so happened that.

L

There there is one here, there was an agricultural use and you know: there's lots of arguments made.

L

On both sides of the argument, there's a lot of misinformation.

L

Some of which I've heard already here today about the industry and about what the facility does and.

L

The size of the facility and, and that so you know part of the part of the process is talking to.

L

Everybody involved and that's what our staff did um based on our request, so I do appreciate that.

L

While I do understand the arguments from the community there, because looking at it in its.

L

Current form, it's not the prettiest of sight to see it definitely isn't. I hope that the.

L

Individuals that own it will be solid community partners and work through these complaints that.

L

Are there ensuring that uh you know? Basically, uh you know the cat's out of the bag on this one.

L

It's already a ship, a sail that can't be rewound. So what's the best way to help the community at.

L

The same time, and I understand, there's going to be uh trees that block the entire thing uh full.

L

Grown trees that are going to be put in and a berm, so you don't have to look at it. So I hope.

L

That still holds to be the case. I appreciate all the emails that have come in and the many phone.

L

Calls from the leaders down in the 7th district and probably the same ones, commissioner morgan got.

L

The state of the town was amazing. I I think it's truly truly uh great. The projects that are going.

L

On it's, uh it's glad to see leonard town, putting it into high gear. For many years there there was.

L

Lots of talks about what they were going to do and just some vignettes, and I think that.

L

It's truly amazing to see where the where the town can go, and on top of that I, the boy scouts that.

L

Reached out about a bridge, a foot bridge because they're doing earning one of their merit, badges.

L

And I don't know which one it is. Commissioner, morgan probably does, because he was an eagle scout.

L

So with that being said, I had a great conversation with them.

L

Seventh district pretty active if you want a good fish fry shrimp, steamed, shrimp, 5 p.m, to 7.

L

P.M: colton point road, 7th, district, optimus, great food, amazing people- and you know you might see me.

L

Out there you, you know there are lots of people, volunteering helping to uh get that get that food.

L

uh Out to the people, uh the lines are always long so get there early. Then they had the turkey shoot.

L

On sunday, which was great and had a chance to give away a remington, 870 shotgun to a lucky.

L

Winner, so good for you, I'm glad to see that they raised a significant amount of money on on that.

L

And if anybody wasn't aware they did pass the house and the senate passed the george walter.

L

Taylor act for pfas, so that was really important.