St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 5 Jan 2021

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Please come to order good morning and welcome to the commissioner's meeting for january 5th, 2021.

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Welcome to the happy new year to everyone, I'm commissioner, eric colvin I'll, be chairing this.

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Meeting today, while commissioner guy is on the phone with us, commissioner guy, can you hear me.

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I hear you loud and clear, very good, like to introduce the other commissioner sidda to.

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My right is, commissioner, mike hewitt district two good morning and also on the phone. Is commissioner.

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John o'connor, commissioner o'connor, can you hear me good morning good morning and happy.

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New year and also on the phone, is commissioner todd morgan. Commissioner morgan, can you hear me.

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Good morning, everybody good morning, seated to my left, is dr rebecca bridget. Our county.

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Administrator sitting at the table to my right is alisa casas. Our public information officer.

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Good morning and behind the glass is amy carter, our media whiz who's running the cameras.

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Thank you amy, so we've got a good agenda for today and I believe the first order of.

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Business is the approval of the consent agenda under the invocation and pledge invocation and.

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Pledge, yes, see what happens when I don't look down invocation and pledge from commissioner hewitt.

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Good morning, lord, thank you for this great day and thank you for this new year. More than anything.

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Else, thank you for this vaccine that hopefully, will return our lives back to normal. Thank you.

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For all the hard-working people on the front lines, first responders nurses and doctors and.

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Everybody who's doing a wonderful job to keep us safe in that regard, thank you for all you've done.

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Please give us the the wisdom to make the right decisions and the courage to make.

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To keep up with our decisions and do the right thing for the people of saint mary's county.

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Thank you for these beautiful days a little jury out there today, but you need a little.

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Dreary to understand the sunshine, all this in your name 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 republic for which.

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It stands one nation, under god, liberty and justice for all. Thank you, commissioner. Hewitt.

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Okay, I moved to approve the consent agenda.

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Commissioner, uh okay, all right, I have a first and second, all those in favor aye, all right. Okay,.

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So one nay and consent agenda passes.

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I believe we have a public hearing now for the disposition of surplus county, real owned property.

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So, mr weiskopf, do we do the did. I skip something again? The land use uh saint clemens shores.

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So number: two: the main agenda item is department of land use and growth management.

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Yes again, gotta look down and read. What's right in front of me, my apologies, we will go to.

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The department of land use and growth management decision- I believe mr hunt- is coming forward.

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For that, thank you sir. Thank you, commissioner colvin, and this is for the amendments to the.

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Saint mary's county, comprehensive plan and the comprehensive water and sewage plan and.

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Resolution for connection to the expanded saint clement shores wastewater treatment plant, mr hunt.

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Good morning, thank you, everyone, I'm appearing to ask for your decision.

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On three individual documents, which, as a set, establish a priority funding, exception area.

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For 140 built houses in the vicinity of the saint clement shores, wastewater treatment plant that are.

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On septic systems, a sewage service area for vacant planted lots near the plant and the resolution.

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Containing the standards for connecting property to the expanded wastewater treatment plant.

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The state clinton shores, wastewater treatment plant is at capacity and an expansion is needed.

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Planning and engineering for this expansion are underway by the metropolitan commission.

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The design for the expansion is expected to be completed in 2022, but the engineering.

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Information currently on hand indicates that there will be up to 320 additional edus available.

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This number will be able to accommodate connection of the 140 existing houses and allow one reserved.

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Edu for the planted undeveloped lots in the vicinity that can be developed. The area around.

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The saint clement shores wastewater treatment plant is not in a growth area designated in the.

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Comprehensive plan this makes the amendment to the comprehensive plan, the most important of the three.

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Documents in that it enables the pfa exception, area and sewer service area to be established.

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The comprehensive water and sewerage plan is a regulatory document required by the state.

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The cwsp had to be amended to include the area as an area to be served by public sewer following.

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The amendment to the comprehensive plan- the third is the resolution which contains the.

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Standards and rules for properties to connect to the expanded wastewater treatment plan.

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After approval by the commissioners, the comprehensive plan amendment and the amendment.

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To the comprehensive water and sewage plan have to be submitted to the state departments of planning.

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And environment for their final approval, drafts of the amendments were reviewed by mdp and mde prior.

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To the amendments being considered by the planning commission comments on the drafts have been.

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Addressed by staff and staff is thus optimistic that state approval will not be difficult.

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The pfa exception area for the 140 existing houses has already been approved by the state. Smart.

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Smart growth coordinating committee, the planning committee, I'm sorry, the planning commission voted.

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To recommend that the commissioners approve these documents at a public hearing that.

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Was held on october 26th, this public hearing began in the leonardtown high school auditorium.

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900 letters were sent to property owners in and within 200 feet of the proposed sewer.

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Service area, approximately 20 people attended, covert precautions and procedures were in place.

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In the auditorium for this public hearing, the planning commission continued the public hearing.

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Until november 9th on november 9th, the planning commission voted its recommendation for approval.

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Request for public hearing by the commissioners of saint mary's county was presented on november 17th.

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The public hearing was held on december 8th the public comment period closed on december 15th.

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No one spoke or sent comments about the documents. That concludes my presentation. No public comment.

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At all, none that I have received that works for me. I moved to approve the proposed amendments to.

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The comprehensive plan, the comprehensive water and sewage plan and the resolution to allow.

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Sewer service in the sewer service area of the expanded, saint clements shores, wastewater.

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Treatment plant and authorized the commissioner president to sign the related documents.

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Second, all right, I have a first and a second all, those in favor say aye, aye, all right, all right.

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All right all right, non-opposed this passes. Thank you very much, mr hunt. Thank you, commissioner.

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Hewitt for your work with this, this has been a long time coming. uh Thank you for all your you.

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Put a lot of time in this thing, and your staff did too thank them all for yes, sir. Indeed also.

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I'm sorry also met common health department. Oh yeah yeah. It was a big. It was a big coordinate.

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And mde they were, they were instrumental in this. So thank god thanks everybody very good. Thank you.

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All right now we will move into our public hearing times. So if mr weiskopf would come forward.

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And we can get started with our public hearings.

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Good morning, commissioners, good morning, I believe the first public hearing is for disposition of.

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Surplus property- and that is referring to the 20-foot uh tenth less than tenth of an acre.

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Alley at tulagi place: this is this: isn't the one about the house owner the first one's rolling.

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Road 9 10., oh apologies. First one is on fdr boulevard at the corner of old, rolling road and.

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Fdr the county, when we were building fdr, purchased three lots. One of one still has a house on it.

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The other houses were demolished, so what the county was doing was contracting with our survey.

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You know outside survey, people to create a blap to put those three properties or parcels into one.

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Property and then list it with um realtor ron, lord at local remax in leonardtown.

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For sale and the blap is almost done, what we were able to do is alan settle was able to reconfigure.

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The blap so that we could keep the existing septic, so that's going to make it a little bit.

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More valuable right because people aren't gonna have to you know, put a line in to um you, know: pay.

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I don't know thirty forty thousand dollars to metcom to do that, so we're looking at probably.

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Selling it for about 280, I know he's had some offers. Some of you know some have come and gone.

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Because this you know the black process takes a while, but with the market right now we don't have.

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Any time he doesn't think we'll have any problem selling it. It's a four bedroom house. It's under.

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Three with some elbow grease it'll, you know give somebody. So that's that's where we are with that.

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One, I don't know if there's questions on it, so the blap should be done. Probably in the next 30 days.

C

No questions for me: are you ready for the guidelines for the public hearing.

G

Okay, commissioner colbin so public hearing number one january 5th 9 10 a.m. Here are the guidelines.

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For the commissioners of saint mary's county public hearing for the office of county attorney.

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For the disposition of surplus county-owned real property, if you wish to address the commissioners.

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Please call 301-475-4200 extension 1234 to provide your name and address for the record.

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You will then be given an opportunity to speak to the commissioners via phone conference. All.

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Speakers will be allotted three minutes to address the commissioners at the end of the.

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Three minutes our communications director, elisa casas, will let you know your time has expired.

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We ask that you respect the three-minute time limit in order to give all those who.

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Wish to participate an opportunity to be heard. This public hearing is being televised, live on.

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St mary's county government tv 95 in the county's youtube channel. If you should miss any part of the.

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Hearing it will re-air on channel 95 this friday january, 8th at 6 30 pm and will remain available.

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For on-demand viewing on the st mary's county government youtube channel, citizens were provided.

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An opportunity to address the commissioners via video submissions. But because we did not receive.

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Any video submissions for the public hearing. We will now begin accepting comments through our.

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Teleconferencing system, ms casas, thank you, dr bridget commissioners. It doesn't appear.

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That we have any calls for this public hearing, but let me check in good morning julie. This is.

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Elisa costas, I'm calling to see if we have any public comments through our teleconference line.

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For the public hearing for the disposition of surplus county owned real property julie, thank.

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You commissioners, dr bridget, we have no calls on our teleconference line for this public hearing.

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Thank you, ms costas, commissioner colvin. That concludes our public hearing. Please note that.

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The public comment period will remain open for seven days until close of business january 12th.

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Should the public wish to send an email to csmc at st mary's, md.com or u.s mail by po box 653.

D

Leonard town, thank you very good. Thank you very much. I believe we have another public hearing now.

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I've got three minutes to go on that one. I I'd hate to. I hate to be a stickler and start.

F

Okay start early, but since I'm sitting here, if if to kill three minutes, I could certainly discuss.

F

The uh redistricting board, if that would be okay, that sounds that's up to you, sounds like a good.

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Use of time, it's a wolf board now shift over to county administrator, county administrator.

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Time the redistricting board item g. I apologize but oh I see it. Okay, so the redistricting board.

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You'll recall that um census is done every 10 years. As a result. We look at the five commissioner.

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Districts every 10 years as well, pursuant to our local law- I think it's 26-2 and what it is.

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Is each com there's five commissioners, as you know, and each commissioner gets to pick one person to.

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Serve on this board, um of course, with covid we've got, you know, and it's supposed to be done. The.

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What we're looking for is to have all this done way in advance of february of of.

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2022 right, which is the drop dead date for people that want to run in next election.

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um Exactly what is what is the date for people to sign up? The candidacy is in it's in february.

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Of 2022. you have to okay, and this has to be done by december 31st of 21. we're hoping.

F

So right we don't. We don't believe that we're going to get the census data until the summer.

C

Yeah, I remember saying that, but but we're we're hopeful that it will be able we've already set up.

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A list of meetings and and things like that, and obviously we can adjust them if we need to now.

A

That's the same data that the state redistricting will be working off of also right. Yes at the state.

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Level for the federal and state once yes, so there's a pretty good time crunch to turn this.

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Around, oh, I think the state board is even more nervous than we are to be quite honest because it.

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You know they they, um you know the last time theirs was done. I think was under.

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Governor o'malley in 2010 right and it was uh looked at, seemed like the last time they had.

C

Quite a while to do it I mean, I guess what I'm saying to you. So what's going to happen in this.

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Timeline and if it's all everything's met will be december, 31st 21 will be the new redistricting.

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Lines for saint mary's county for commissioner for delegates just for commissioners, that that's all.

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That we look at okay, so just commissioner, yes, sir! So if someone wants to run for commissioner in 22.

C

They'll have how long before they I mean suppose they don't know if they're in the district.

C

They don't know their district well, I know it's it's going to be tough, but it's not going to be.

F

Your candidacy deadline is sometime in february of 22., so hopefully, six weeks, eight weeks later,.

C

They have to make sure right, it's it's. You know it's the best we can do because of covet. I think.

F

That's delayed the census, I guess my other thought would be is. Do we know how it's trending? I guess.

C

What I think about is, I remember last time, one of the people from the board of education was.

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Redistricted into another member's uh district- and you know, then you got to think about what.

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You want to do right right, I'm sorry to see such a condensed timeline and hopefully very.

C

Very they can do. You know then get to work down in that time. I hope so. You know we sincerely do.

C

Let me get to where this one this one require a motion. It does.

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It does there's a resolution that we had created.

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It's item g for the approval and authorization of the resolution. All right. Sorry,.

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I move to approve and authorize a resolution establishing the redistricting redistricting board.

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And authorize the appointment of members there too. All right, I have a first do I have a second.

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Sorry was that a second.

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Second by me, five all right, very good. I have a first and a second all, those in favor aye, aye, aye,.

B

Aye very good this passes. Thank you very much. Mr weiss call thank you, commissioners, for taking.

F

That out of turn- and now I'm two minutes- past 9 20., so we can certainly have the public hearing.

F

On tulagi place and talagi place, if you'll recall, is the alleyway that we discovered last year that.

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The county actually owns when the two properties on either side bait bay, district old firehouse.

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And the talaki place llc, I always call it linda's cafe um we're trying to be sold and.

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They researched the alleyway in between and realized the county owned it it's less than.

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A tenth of an acre, it's 20 feet wide, and so the thought process was to give it to bay district to.

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Since they have been maintaining it, probably for the left them and the people on the other side,.

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For the last 70 years to go ahead and give it to um bay district, but also allowing for an easement.

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To be used by the other side and an easement for metcom for any pipes, they have underneath.

B

Very good, I don't know if you have any questions. Are there any questions on this.

D

Are you ready for the guidelines we're ready for the guidelines? Thank you, dr bridges. Thank.

D

You, commissioner, colvin public hearing number two for january 5th, 2021 at 9 20 a.m. Here are.

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The guidelines for the commissioners of saint mary's county public hearing for the office of.

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The county attorney for the transfer of surplus, county-owned, real property, south coral place and.

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Tulagi place alleyway to a non-profit corporation. If you wish to address the commissioners, please.

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Call 301-475-4200 extension 1234 to provide your name and address for the record. You will.

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Then be given an opportunity to speak to the commissioners through the phone conference.

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All speakers will be allotted three minutes to address the commissioners at the end of the.

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Three minutes our communications director, elisa casas, will let you know your time has expired.

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We ask that you respect the three-minute time limit in order to give all those who wish to.

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Participate an opportunity to be heard. The public hearing is being televised on the saint mary's.

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County government, tv, 95 and the county's youtube channel. If you should miss any part of the hearing.

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It will re-air on channel 95 this friday january, 8th at 6 30 pm and will remain.

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Available for on-demand viewing on the on the saint mary's county government youtube channel.

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Citizens were provided an opportunity to address the commissioners via video submissions, but.

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Because we did not receive any video submissions for the public hearing uh for the transfer of.

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Surplus county-owned, real property, south coral place and talagi place alleyway to a non-profit.

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Corporate corporation, we will now begin accepting comments through our teleconferencing system.

D

Ms costas, dr bridget commissioners, good morning, we do have some calls on our teleconference sign.

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Good morning, thank you for calling in to participate in the commissioners of saint.

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Mary's county public hearing office of the county attorney for the transfer of surplus.

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County-Owned real property, south coral place to laggy place alleyway to a non-profit corporation.

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Please remember: you are allotted three minutes to address the commissioners at the end of the three.

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Minutes I will let you know that your time has expired. Please speak clearly into your phone state.

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Your name and your address for the record, and it is preferred that you speak directly into your.

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Phone, rather than using the external speaker, this will allow the commissioners and the public to.

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Clearly understand you good morning, you may begin your remarks now. You may begin your remarks now.

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Good morning, good morning, good morning, mr fairfax, this is alisa costas. Could you please turn down.

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Your internet or your television, and you may begin your remarks, sir, as soon as you're ready.

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Okay, this is key fairfax representing the bay district volunteer fire department. My.

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Home address is where I am now is 46516 walnut court section park maryland 20653. I just wanted.

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To say to the commissioners uh we would we certainly would appreciate the gifting of the.

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Alleyway to the bay district fire department, so we can move ahead with the development of the entire.

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Corner there with the talaghi place, llc, that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you, mr fairfax.

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Thank you, mr fairfax commissioners, dr bridget, we have another call on our teleconference line.

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Good morning and thank you for calling in to participate in the commissioners of saint.

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Mary's county public hearing for the office of the county attorney for the transfer of surplus.

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County-Owned real property, south coral place, chilaji place alleyway to a non-profit corporation.

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Please remember: you are allotted three minutes to address the commissioners at the end of the.

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Three minutes I will let you know your time is expired. Please speak clearly into your phone.

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State, your name and your address for the record, and it is preferred that you speak directly into.

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Your phone, rather than using your external speaker, this, will allow the commissioners.

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And the public to clearly understand you good morning. You may begin your remarks now.

K

Good morning my name is linda palczynski. I am the owner of linda's cafe at 217798 the logging place.

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In lexington park, I'm calling in reference to the alleyway um I read in the paper about what the.

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Final decision was being done, the property was being given to the bay district fire department.

K

Which is a non-profit corporation property is being given to them, of course, as we.

K

All know to be sold as a package deal, so the non-profit corporation will be making a profit.

K

The alleyway, no one, really knew who it belonged to until the.

K

Property was surveyed, and um actually the property has not been taken care of by anyone. But me.

K

I have paid for snow removal which exceeds ten thousand dollars all these years.

K

So my employees could park in the back, so delivery trucks could deliver.

K

And uh nothing was, has ever been done. I didn't know I could build the county.

K

uh The landlords would never have uh pay for this, so I'm I'm just a little.

K

Concerned about the alleyway, I know it, it had to be done because the block is up for sale.

K

What concerns me is that the is that the walkways all around that block on coral place, talaghi place.

K

235 great mills road has been repaved beautiful. The walkways bricked expensive trees planted.

K

Beautiful lights and the county owns that the landlord owns as you step out the door. One foot.

K

So when the time comes and the block is sold again, is the sidewalks going to be put up.

K

For sale to save the trees and the lights and the beautiful bricks that was paid by taxpayers, money.

K

Do I sound a little sour? I guess I do because I've been there 32 years and I've kept up that block.

K

I can't tell you how many people come into st mary's county that lives outside of maryland.

K

Comes back to see the area that they grew up in, it's never ending, they bring their kids, who.

K

Are now bringing their kids and they remember the safeway on the block, the joy shop, the hub.

K

Everything about the block- that's all we have left in lexington park.

K

I've been one of the people that have said it should have been saved years ago by the.

K

County, like they saved around camden yards all the historical property that is a historical building.

K

But I can't fight big business, but I just want to want to know what will be happening. I personally.

K

Think the county must own the whole block, because I can't imagine just owning an alleyway.

K

That is used by me and to other businesses, so I hope that it will be maintained.

K

Now, for for use to keep going on until we are given our six months notice that we have to leave.

H

Mr oginski, your time has expired. Would you please wrap up your remarks? Yes, uh my final remarks as.

K

I'd like to thank the county commissioners for the money that they extended to small businesses like.

K

Me who kept me alive and my 14 employees employed. Thank you very much. I appreciate you very much.

K

Thank you. Thank you, miss palczynski. Thank you for your remarks. uh Commissioners, dr bridget.

H

Appears that those are the only calls I'll check in with our conference center.

K

Public caring call center julie. This is alisa costas. I'm calling to see if we have any other.

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Public comment on our teleconference line for the transfer of surplus county owned.

H

Real property public hearing, we do not thank you, julie, commissioners, dr bridget,.

H

That's the end of our calls for our teleconference line for this public hearing. Thank you. Miss casas.

D

And commissioner colvin, that concludes our public hearing. Please note that the public comment period.

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Will remain open for seven days until close of business on january 12th should the public.

D

Wish to send an email to csmc.stmarysmd.com or us mail, po box, 653 leonardtown. Thank you, commissioner.

D

Colvin very good. Thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you, mr weiss. Thank you, commissioners.

A

And I just want to reiterate dr bridget's comments that the public record does remain open for a week.

A

So if you have additional thoughts, if you didn't have a chance to call in, please send us an email.

A

Send us a letter, let us know what you're thinking about this. Thank you at this time. I believe we'll.

A

Move into county administrator time, thank you back to dr bridget. Thank you, commissioner. Colvin.

D

We'll review the draft agendas for january 12th and the 26th just to note that the commissioners.

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Do not have a meeting scheduled for january 19th, so on january 12th you have your your annual state.

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Of the college from st mary's college of maryland as part of your morning, business meeting, you.

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Adjourn and then reconvene 6 30 pm that evening for your first public forum of the year, then on.

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January 26, your business meeting begins with a proclamation for school choices week. Then you.

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Tentatively, have a presentation schedule for the groundbreaking of the north county farmers market.

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Then you have the annual state of the college from college of southern maryland.

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St mary's county board of health, also tentatively scheduled from the department of finance.

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Is a request for public hearing? Should the fire and rescue departments request a rate.

D

Change also office of the county attorney has two decisions as a follow-up to your public hearing.

D

Today, the disposition of surplus, county-owned, real property and proposed transfer of south.

D

Coral place to laggy place alleyway the office of county attorney also has legislative updates.

D

uh That day and they'll continue throughout the legislative session that afternoon, you have a. I.

D

Mean yes, you have a closed session for personnel. You adjourn your business meeting and 6 pm that.

D

Evening you have a public hearing scheduled from the department of land use and growth management.

D

With the proposed amendment to the comprehensive zoning ordinance for commercial wedding use,.

D

For today's business meeting, you begin with item b from the sheriff's office for the fy.

D

2021 school resource officer, adequate coverage grant award.

D

And I believe major american is on webex to introduce the request good morning. Major american.

L

This is the steve hall. I do not believe the major is going to be with us today.

L

Myself and lotte bell are here: my apologies. Captain hall, please good morning continue.

M

So the grant award received for the continuation of the school resource officer, adequate coverage.

M

In fy, 21 is for two 210 thirty one dollars which is formula based on 30 schools.

M

Due to coven 19 and school closings, the sros have been temporarily reassigned and are not currently.

M

Being paid under the sro grant, the projected actual cost needed under the grant is less than.

M

The two hundred ten thousand two thirty one cover vice grant best county funding needed.

M

In the fy 21 grant is zero. A budget amendment is included to increase the grant funding by.

M

Twelve thousand two hundred eleven dollars and three lines of fifty four thousand four hundred.

M

Sixty six dollars in county funding to the law account to cover the salary fringe for the sros.

M

During their temporary reassignment and we're online, if you have any questions.

C

uh Miss bell, or maybe uh captain hall- you can tell me, uh commissioner, here out here uh when you think.

C

You're going back into schools, I know that's a loaded question, sorry, but uh it seems like until.

L

And secondly, um we've actually had several times that we've geared up.

L

Warm back only to have it uh canceled prior or only last, a couple of days.

L

Yeah we're ready to go. These, ladies and gentlemen, want to get back to their schools, but the decision.

L

Unfortunately, is not ours look. I knew the answer to that and I apologize for asking I I.

C

I've heard from many people over the holidays that we were off the last couple weeks that.

C

When are the kids getting back in school, and uh I know it's not your fault, thank god. You.

C

Guys are in there your men and women are in there, and I appreciate everything you're doing.

L

Yes, sir, are commissioners on the line? Are there any questions from you all.

B

No, no, no. I moved to approve the fy 2021 school resource officer, backslash, adequate coverage.

C

Grant award project md2115 from the maryland center for school safety passed through the.

C

Maryland state department of education in the amount of two hundred ten thousand two.

C

Hundred and thirty one dollars excluding county funds and approved the related budget, amendment.

C

To increase, grant funding and realign county funding to the law accounts and authorized the.

C

Commissioner, president, to execute the related documents and staff to submit electronically.

C

Consistent with the documents reviewed by the commissioners of saint mary's county.

A

Very good, we have a first and a second all, those in favor aye, aye, all right.

A

All right this motion passes. Thank you very much. Captain hall miss bell. Thank you. Commissioners.

D

And item c is also from the sheriff's office, with the budget amendment related to ffy 2021.

D

Cooperative reimbursement agreement and lari bell fiscal manager and captain hall or on webex.

M

Commissioners, you may recall proving the fy 21 cooperative reimbursement agreement.

M

Application in june we have now received a fully executed agreement from the state.

M

The disagreement allows for reimbursement of around 66 percent of the expenditures.

M

And uh for 4.765 full-time employees, as well as a vehicle and fuel costs and minor equipment needs.

M

For the child support unit, the grant is for a total approximate cost of 795 thousand dollars.

M

With approximately 495 000 of that federal funding and 300 000 county funds, this grant.

M

And the related positions are included in the fy 21 approved budget. However, the budgeted amount is.

M

Less than awarded so we are presenting a budget amendment to increase the grant budget and the.

M

County funding, the additional accounting funding is being covered within the sheriff's budget.

M

Do you have any questions of us? Grants are good doing a great job.

M

Thank you. Are there any other questions.

C

I move to approve the budget amendment related to the fully executed cooperative reimbursement.

C

Agreement for fy 2021 project us-2117 from the maryland department of human services for child.

C

Support enforcement, which includes increasing the grant funding to four hundred ninety four thousand.

C

Seven hundred and three dollars and realigns the additional county funding needed from within.

C

The sheriff's budget to bring the total county funding in the grant to three hundred thousand.

C

Three hundred and fifty six dollars and authorize the commission of president.

C

To execute the related documents, all right, I have a first and a second all, those in favor aye, aye,.

A

Aye very good the eyes have it. Thank you very much. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you. Thank you.

D

Lottie. Thank you. Captain hall item d is from the department of aging and human.

D

Services with the community development block grant covid 19 southern maryland, continuing.

D

Care grant agreement and award for homeless individuals lori jennings harris director.

D

Presenting this morning good morning good morning and thank you, dr bridget, so um that was a mouthful.

G

Dr bridget just said we had the opportunity to apply for a grant in july of last year.

G

To the department of housing and community development in the amount of 200 000, we have.

G

Been awarded that grant in the full amount, and so this is uh before you for your review and approval.

C

Miss harris tell me, um has our homeless population grown and, and are we like in line? Are we like.

C

Calvert county and charles county, as far as proportion of homeless people to the number.

C

Of population that state a percentage I can give you some basic information. Lanny lancaster, is also.

G

On but it seems that st mary's county trends between the two counties between calvert and.

G

Charles charles has a higher number of homeless individuals, but since january of last year, the.

G

Numbers have been trending down in a downward fashion for saint mary's county, which is good.

G

And it's directly attributed to some of the grant funds that we have received from the state.

C

Well, I always believe we need to take care of the people who are most vulnerable.

C

I do remember from my days in border education, which was a long time ago,.

C

Is when we had additional resources open up our infrastructure, opening up to help people who are.

C

Vulnerable that other counties may like to export their their uh homeless or needy populations of.

C

Vulnerable populations to st mary's county to um get our help and and look we're there, we're.

C

There we're there for everybody who needs help and and thank you and your team for everything you do.

C

I just want to make sure everybody's doing their fair share. Thank you, commissioner. So miss harris. I.

A

I'm pretty sure we talked about this back when you brought the application before us, but this grant.

A

That we are receiving goes to apply to the entire tri-county area. How does that work exactly.

G

uh So it's the continuum of care. It's a regional grant award so calvert st mary's and charles.

G

Counties can benefit from it, so the two hundred thousand dollars will come to saint mary's county.

G

And go directly to three oaks center, so lanny, lancaster, um leading three oaks is the the lead.

G

Agency so based on the need of each county, the funds will be distributed accordingly.

A

A

Are there any other questions from other commissioners on the line.

B

No, no very good I'll. Take a motion. I moved to accept the county. I'm sorry! I moved to accept.

C

The community development block grant coved 19 southern maryland continuum of care grant award.

C

And grant agreement on behalf of the maryland department of housing and community development.

C

For two hundred thousand dollars, total grant award.

C

Approved the budget amendment to set up the new project execute the sub-recipient agreement with.

C

Three oak center and authorize the commission and president to sign the related documents.

A

All right, I have a first and a second all, those in favor all right.

D

Thank you, commissioners, very good. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you.

D

And item e is from the department of economic development with the restaurant and hotel relief.

D

Grant program chris kassalimus director, presenting this morning good morning.

N

Good morning, thank you, dr bridget, good morning, commissioners, good morning.

N

On december 17th governor hogan announced another round of relief funding. The state will provide 467.

N

805 of saint mary's county for a second round of restaurant relief fund grants and 370 852.

N

Dollars for grants for hotels and other lodging providers so today we're asking commissioners to.

N

First, approve the parameters for the restaurant relief fund and the hotel relief fund programs.

N

To approve the restaurant relief fund ii grant agreement and the hotel relief grant.

N

Agreement which we haven't gotten yet, but we're expecting that at the beginning of next week,.

N

And approve the budget amendments for the restaurant and hotel relief fund grant monies.

N

And have the commissioner president sign the grant agreements and any related documents.

N

So, just a little bit of detail on the parameters for the restaurant relief fund.

N

We're going to open this on friday, the 8th open it up for a two week period. um It will be open.

N

The first two weeks for those entities that have not received a grant already and the parameters.

N

Are pretty much the same? A little bit different? We must have an up-to-date food service license.

N

That's the same: the food license is for you either need to have a full-service restaurant license a.

N

Carryout restaurant license a bar license that serves food, food trucks and caterers. So initially.

N

We did not allow carryout restaurants before so we're, including those up front, and we did.

N

Not allow caterers last time so they're included. He must be in good standing or have active stats.

N

With the state must have no outstanding county tax liability, as determined by the treasurer.

N

Obviously, the establishment must be located in the county uh for franchises. They must be.

N

Locally owned, nor no corporate owned national chains- and there are some restaurants because.

N

You ran out of money kind of quickly, so there were some businesses that applied but didn't.

N

Get funding so they won't have to reapply they'll they'll, be in the queue up front and.

N

The applicant, let's see so then, after two weeks, if we have funding left over we'll redistribute.

N

It among the people that have already gotten grants for the hotel and lodging relief fund.

N

Some of the same requirements must be in good standing. No tax liability.

N

But you also excuse me, must be paying st mary's county accommodations tax and, if, for some reason,.

N

They're not currently paying they can remit fiscal year, 21 accommodations tax, and then they.

N

Can become eligible so we'll hold their spot until they sign up and remit those taxes and what we're.

N

Proposing for the hotel and lodging relief fund is the grant. Amounts will be based on the number of.

N

Lodging rooms grants will be calculated by taking the number of rooms and multiplying it by 300.

N

uh And we'll have minimum of a thousand dollars. So if you have a hundred room hotel, you get.

N

Thirty thousand dollars, if you have ten rooms, you get three thousand dollars. So that's what.

N

We're proposing um we're going to open this on friday, but we don't have the grant agreement yet.

N

From the state tourism office, so we're going to wait till we get that we want to make sure.

N

That there's nothing in there that conflicts with the parameters that we have laid out here.

N

But if there is nothing we're going to move forward with what we've we're not presenting.

N

To you today, mr castlemas, anyone who's running an airbnb would not be eligible for this, since they.

A

Aren't paying accommodations tax right now? There are uh some that are paying accommodations. We have.

N

One, maybe two, so they would be eligible if they're paying accommodations tax, so this might be a way.

N

To get more people signed up to the accommodations tax which actually, for all the grants, we've had.

N

You know we check with the treasurer and there's some people who have not been up to speed on their taxes, so kind of an ancillary benefit to all these programs that people are paying back.

N

Taxes and some people didn't know they need to be paying the county uh property taxes have paid.

N

Up have decided or they're paying county taxes too, so we're getting these businesses that are.

N

Getting uh up to speed on their taxes, so that's been a side benefit of all these grant. Programs.

C

It is a good side benefit. Yeah. Tell me uh a couple things yeah. I like the idea that you're gonna try.

C

And reach out to people who maybe got outside of the window of the first grant for restaurants.

C

Is that a large number I know I know we had like 78 79 the last time right we had 78 grants, uh 10.

N

000 grants um there are quite a few caterers in town, okay, so the caterpillar do you expect.

C

The 467 0805 to go to new people are applying uh people who didn't get it before. Yes, I do okay, yeah.

C

Well, that's good to know yeah. I would also say that maybe we look at people who.

C

Didn't qualify because you know lord knows they find out they're, not in good standing with the.

C

State department of assessment and taxation because they didn't paid their 300 dollar.

C

You know personal property tax fee or whatever they didn't pay and they scrambled to get that.

C

Together but they lost out because they didn't get the timeline right. Another thing I'd like to.

C

Take have you take a look at is the people who didn't qualify for the county grants.

C

And the reason being is, I know we had this criteria of 30 percent loss from the last year and.

C

A couple people reached out to me and said mike: I I don't have that kind of history. I haven't been.

C

In business that long other people have been in business. That long who did say our carryout was.

C

Phenomenal people supported our restaurant, but they were still all impacted, so my sense would be.

C

Is that you look at people who went through the process as the term I'll use and filled out all.

C

Our paperwork and for because they didn't meet the 30 or because they didn't have this form.

C

Ready on time, and they lost out that you kind of give them maybe a little bit of leeway as far as.

C

You know they've done it now: they've paid their fees, they've paid their taxes or whatever they.

C

You know whatever issue they had, they rectified it and that they somehow get some kind of a.

C

Priority in the list, and not it's all about fairness- is where I'm at.

N

So that those are good points and um those establishments there's no parameters with.

N

This money, in terms of you, need to have lost 30. So if you're in business and if you opened up.

N

Even a month ago, if you're in business today, you have a active food license, you you're eligible.

N

For a grant- and there were- and just as a reminder also when we con people apply if they are behind.

N

On their state taxes or county taxes or they're, not in good standing, we give them time. We say: hey.

N

You've got until this date to get that in order and, for example, the being in good standing with.

N

The state that can be handled typically within a like a half hour or an hour, so you can do that.

N

Relatively well, but we have, let me interrupt you on that. That's easier said than done now. Of course,.

C

You know they run into the state thing of hey, look, we're all coved. You can't come in the office.

C

Yeah, so you got to do this online right and by the way you didn't fill out. Your federal id number.

C

I mean it gets to be tedious, some tedious for some people who aren't familiar with doing that.

C

Or haven't have accountants to do it right? I I you know I I was a small business owner for.

C

A long time- and my heart goes out to those people who you know get up early in the morning, work all.

C

Day, work late and have employees and kind of I use the term retail jail. I hope people come in.

C

And this second, it's not a shutdown but let's say contraction that the governor.

C

Put in place because of the spike in covet, you know it's hard and morse right. You know they.

C

Can't afford to be open, you know as many days a week as they once were right. So I think the.

C

Struggle that's going on with these small business. People is continuing and they're just you know.

C

Week to week or day to day and they're, just hoping that the pandemic you know is over with, and they.

C

Can get back to normal, but look out for those people who already have that business license and.

C

Been out there, opening those doors and trying to keep those people employed and yeah and.

N

I agree 100 and you know the ded staff. That's working with these people, we're they're right.

N

There with them on the phone back and forth and doing everything they can to help people.

N

So we're really going to try to get the money out a couple people reached out to me and said mike. I.

C

Need help with this, and I say: okay, we have good people and they're willing to help you.

C

But you got to help yourself right. You know, we've had people who just never hit the submit button.

C

Right, I'm like, why didn't you do that? Oh I did I did it like five times how come they never got? It.

C

I don't know I mean again, look you can lead them in the water, but you can't make them drink, but.

C

They still are hurting that's my point: okay, well yeah, if they somehow missed out because they were.

N

For example, last time I think we remember we had one, we had a restaurant, they couldn't get their.

N

State standing they're in line now to be first so, if they're in good saying now, they'll they'll.

N

Fly right through very good yeah, commissioner morgan o'connor, mr jeff go ahead. Yeah quickly,.

B

I agree with commissioner hewitt's statement. My concern is: are you looking to give everybody.

B

We have a hundred thousand dollars less about than we had last night. Are we considering a ten.

B

Thousand dollar grant again or are we considering, maybe a lesser amount, so we can spread the wealth.

N

Commissioner morgan, what we're proposing is ten thousand dollar grants again.

N

We think that will cover the people in need, but if the commissioners care to have a.

N

Smaller amount, we can do that also we're open to that. Well, I'm just looking at the number of.

B

Restaurants, we serve I'm looking at the expansion that you're adding to those that didn't get it.

B

The people that have that 30 requirements, uh the caterers and things like that.

B

And I'm thinking, okay! Well, if we have a hundred thousand or less than we had.

B

78 people last time and we ran out of money- is that why is there to cut the amount made.

B

By a thousand dollars or something to make sure we have more participants at the end of the day,.

N

Yeah we're happy to do that. I think that's that's a good suggestion. We can definitely offer a lower.

N

Amount is if the other commissioners are in favor of that, if you want to go 9 000 or commissioner.

C

Morgan, let me um bring this commissioner here bring this in. I agree with you. You know that.

C

The more we can disperse this money to the maximum number of people is is great. Last thing I want to.

C

Do is have to give it back right as back to the feds, so I guess my thought process. Commissioner.

C

Morgan, if you would agree with it is, I think we can agree to do this, but the actual metric.

C

Will be uh based upon the number of applicants and mr castellimis can come back later and said.

C

Oh, by the way to you know, we had this number of qualified applicants and we want to make sure we.

C

Want to take care of them and we may just have to re-divvy the money, whether it's a thousand, whether.

C

It's 3 000, you know whatever the differential gets to be. Would you be in agreement with that.

B

Oh, that's! Fine! I just want to make sure that we we spread the wealth as many.

B

Operators possible, I agree yeah, so I think one of the things we need to look at here is.

O

That uh not to be rigid with the department of economic development. I think it's easier.

O

To say an amount up to ten thousand dollars. Therefore, the metric come back. They can easily.

O

Just work through the program there's no delays that have to come back to the commissioner, so at.

O

Least it in the department heads and go ahead and say: look, you know, we have x amount of money and it.

O

Makes it easier? Because we have this amount of applicants? We need to lower the amount to this.

O

Amount and go ahead and do it, but um it allows them to make that decision operationally. So if we.

O

Say up to 10 000, then the program can move forward without having to come back to the commission.

C

Well, tell me, mr castle lamas: do you have a deadline that this money has to be spent by.

C

There is a deadline. It's out pretty far. What we were proposing was a two-week period so.

N

What we could do is open up for two weeks, see how many people apply and then divide it by the 470.

N

Thousand that can be the grant amount or you can. We can open it for long. How long was the period.

C

Open last time uh it was open, I think it went out. It went pretty quickly. I think it went for about.

N

I think, 10 days if the money was gone in less than two weeks.

C

Well, I agree with the idea of getting as many people as possible so.

C

Whatever helps you do that we can work on yeah, we can consider different parameters so we'll open.

N

It up for a certain period of time, see how many applications we have and then divide it by the.

N

Total dollars for the restaurant program was your original intention when it opens.

A

This friday, you get applications in to start sending the checks out as soon as possible. So.

A

That they, the businesses, get the money or were you planning to wait the full two weeks before.

A

Checks started going. We typically try to get the checks out pretty quickly. So usually it goes from.

N

Our office to dr bridget to finance and they just deposit in the accounts of the people, but.

N

There's no problem in waiting. You know a couple of weeks wow! No, I guess my thought is. Is that.

C

As soon as you qualify somebody, you can get it out or you just want to go ahead and wait till you get.

C

All everybody in and see how many you get. What do you want to do? We can do it one of two ways.

N

We can agree to a lower amount, now eight thousand dollars nine thousand dollars and see how far that.

N

Goes or we can open it up for two weeks and say we get 50 applications. Then say we have 470 000.

N

Divided by 50 people, everyone gets 87.52 or whatever that dollar amount. Well, I I agree with.

C

The idea of up to 10 000 would be the ceiling yeah and, as you get your apps in, you have to do your.

C

Arithmetic and if 10 is still there now, if you get to the end of the two weeks, and you still have.

C

Money left over then: let's go ahead and open up the application period for some longer.

C

Period, if that's the case, but I guess my thought process is make sure we distribute the maximum.

C

As many people as possible, I think you got it okay, well, so, just to summarize commissioners we'll.

D

Leave the restaurant portal open for two weeks calculate the funds the 467.

D

For the grant to distribute to those applicants up to ten thousand dollars.

D

If they're surplus, then we'll come back to the commissioners for a second decision or I'm sorry.

D

If there's surplus, we would reopen the application portal yeah, that's right and extend the time right.

C

Well, I had one question about the hotel thing yeah, so.

C

um I guess you know the number of hotels I mean we can't be more than 20. I don't. I don't know the.

C

Number one, but I think we calculated in 2023 24 range roughly lodging that would qualify.

C

Okay and the reason you're doing it per rate for me per rate per room.

C

Is you think, that's more equitable that that doesn't mean like the bigger guys get bigger share.

C

I I guess I worry a little bit about the small guys that have uh 24 rooms versus a guy that has.

C

84 rooms yeah: well, it's what we thought was most most equitable. So I think the problem was- and I.

N

Think different counties are doing a different way. Some are doing it based on the accommodations tax.

N

Paid in but the combination of taxes, the room rentals, have been different. I mean people have.

N

Not been going to hotels, so some hotels have done. Okay, most have not done so well,.

N

So um it was our determination that if you did it by rooms that would be most equitable, so those.

N

We wanted to make sure that the if you've got a hundred room hotel, you shouldn't be getting the.

N

Same size grant as someone who has 24 rooms, so you want to make sure you're really helping out.

N

The larger hotels also, but if you've got eight to ten rooms, you're still getting a decent amount.

N

Of money, you know that still covers your per room cost, so I I in our opinion that was the.

N

Most equitable way to do it all right, you're, the expert, so the bigger hotels have more employees.

B

That's right: well, I guess it gets the occupancy rate from me. I mean if you get, you know. I know.

C

Someone recently emailed me from wherever they were, they were at a resort and it was 27.

C

Capacity right and they said jiminy, you know everybody was anyway, uh I'm sure you guys are.

C

Doing just make sure you give it all out and don't give any back you'll do that.

C

All right well for the for the record, I do like to say there's only two commissioners actually.

C

Present, so that's why I'm reading all these minutes, I moved to approve the parameters for.

C

The restaurant relief fund in the hotel relief fund programs, the restaurant restaurant relief.

C

Fund 2 grant agreement and the hotel relief grant agreement with the state of maryland when received.

C

Provided it meets financial and legal requirements, approved the budget amendments for the restaurant.

C

And hotel grant monies and have the commission or president sign the grant agreement in any.

C

Related documents I have a first, do I have a sec very good, all those in favor, aye, aye,.

A

Aye all right sounds like it passes. Thank you very much. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you.

D

Commissioners and item f is from the department of finance, with the cares grant. First addendum.

D

And I believe ms cudmore is on webex for today's presentation good morning.

B

Good morning, commissioners and dr bridget um on november 17.

B

A number of requests that will not be attributed to the assessment and human services. I'm sorry.

B

Are targeted to tpd and supply chain, the county health department.

B

Aired it in the prosecuting resource for news for tennessee studies, pm 2018 on december 15th.

B

The commissioners approved utility assistance for department of social assistance, science.

B

The sarah founded the identified congressional supplies, ms cudmore you're number 20, and you just.

H

I apologize for interrupting you. uh The commissioners cannot hear you.

H

uh If you're on your speaker phone, could you please speak directly into your phone and I.

H

Apologize uh you, you would need to go all the way back to the beginning of your presentation.

H

uh It was muffled and the commissioners cannot hear you. Thank you very much.

B

Okay, can you hear me now? Yes, yes much better? Yes, I'm so sorry.

B

All right on november 17th, the commissioners approved.

B

A number of requests that were not able to meet the very next deadline december 30th, definitely.

B

Babies and human services were not able to secure the chairs. Sms was not able to secure outdoor gym.

B

Equipment so those dollars were repurposed for sanitation efforts, providing restroom facilities.

B

At many of our parks successfully were targeted to pce and supplies for sanitation.

B

The county and the health department shared dictates with trafficking.

B

And storage trailers, the testing sites in the new assassination plan.

B

On december 15th, the commissioners approved the policy assistance for the department of.

B

Social services, science, the sheriff's office, identified additional size equipment as he owned.

B

On december 28th estimated excess boom provided a foreign supplement.

B

Fifteen hundred dollars to the gpd small business and non-profit program recipients.

B

Although excess funds are not anticipated at this time,.

B

We recommend approval of the addendum to prepare for any unforeseen cause.

B

Such as late delivery, back order items etc that day american calendar year, 2021.

B

Once the care is funding, first addendum, the federal funding and trust education.

B

Agreement is completed. We will continue to report expenditure to the maryland budget management for.

B

Reconciliation, the deadline has been extended for any remaining funds until december 31 2021.

A

Ms cudmore, I want to recognize you and your department. You did a really good job. This was.

A

A lot of work to spin this all down right up until the last moment. Unfortunately, the way our higher.

A

Levels of government worked, they didn't give us the deadline. Extension until right at the very.

A

End so it wasn't as helpful as it could have been, but this was a lot of good work on you. All's part.

A

Like commissioner hewitt keeps saying, we don't want to send any money back.

C

Thank you now now tell me, uh um ms cudmore.

C

We were under a lot of pressure to spend this money by december 31st of 2020.

C

And I'm not trying to say we made any decisions we wouldn't have made. If we'd known we'd had to.

C

December 31st 2021, but it just seems like when you're rushed to do something there could be.

C

Some review that you would say I wish I had done something different.

C

Do you believe that uh we're gonna have any of that? Do you think we're happy with the way.

C

Everything turned out or if we had this year's extension, where we have done something different.

B

um I think we would have done things the same. We really wanted to get the funds.

B

Sent by the current december 2020., um we did a good job. My staff process.

B

We actually did extend um 9.2 million, so we've got about 3 600 000 um that we have been that's been.

B

Still in encumbrances and also um reconciliations that need to be completed, but we did a great job.

B

I appreciate all of your support. Okay, I guess I didn't really hear everything you said, but are you.

C

Saying that of the 9.8 million that was awarded were down to 400 and some thousand left over.

B

Yes, sir, okay.

A

All right on the phone are there any other questions.

A

Doesn't sound like it I'll take a motion I'll move to approve the cares funding first addendum.

C

To federal funding certificate in agreement with the state of maryland approve the care's.

C

Funding plan and authorize the commissioner president to sign any related documents.

A

Second, all right: I have a first and a second all, those in favor all right.

A

Hi hi all right. This motion passes. Thank you. Miss codmore.

D

Thank you, commissioners, and thank you from david weiskoff. You already covered. That was your first.

D

Item you might remember out of order, uh so our last county administrator item is item.

D

H from the department of human resources for the personnel policy manual update, katherine pratzen.

D

Director presenting this morning good morning good morning, good morning, commissioners good morning.

P

Annually the saint mary's county government, manual of personnel policies and procedures is reviewed.

P

And updates are proposed as necessary.

P

As with all things, 2020 was an unusual year for policy development and based upon the pandemic.

P

And various legislative actions policies reviews were conducted throughout the year policy changes.

P

Presented today include modifications to temporary pandemic related policies.

P

The incorporation of policy changes required by legislation and recommended policy changes.

P

The various updates have been grouped into these three categories, with the changes to each item.

P

Highlighted and included for your reference, so if you'll bear with me, I will begin and.

P

The first group of edits result from changes to temporary policies and enacted during the pandemic.

P

Item number one is paid emergency, sick leave and paid emergency fmla leave, and you may recall that.

P

A provision of the family's first coronavirus response act passed by congress in march of 2020.

P

Included these leave provisions. These leave provisions were not ex extended in the most recent.

P

Coveted relief and spending bill. Consequently, these leave provisions expire, 12, 31, 2020.,.

P

Another item provided in the ffcra act provided tax-free status to employer-provided student loan.

P

Repayment assistance that was extended in the most recent coveted release and spending bill.

P

And that tax free status will extend through december 31.

P

And then, lastly, the commissioners previously authorized granting up.

P

To 10 days of paid administrative leave for employees with confirmed covid19 diagnosis.

P

In lieu of utilizing personal, sick, personal, sick or annual leave,.

P

This was administered in conjunction with the emergency paid sick leave.

P

With the expiration of this paid sick leave, the commissioners are asked to consider providing paid.

P

Leave for employees who may experience a coveted 19 exposure as a result of a work related incident.

P

Further further requested is consideration to provide and extend this benefit to hourly.

P

Employees who also may experience a covid related exposure as a result of work. Experience so tell me.

C

Is this kind of consistent with other counties and what we're doing in calvert or charles or.

C

Other counties in maryland so everybody's all over the place because it's all just occurred.

P

And we've been sort of tracking the coveted relief bill to see if this would be extended.

P

And some counties have extended administrative leave calvert, one of them.

P

Charles has not, we spoke with our workers comp attorney yesterday. This is really going to impact.

P

Our sworn personnel and if sworn personnel are exposed to a coveted positive person, for example,.

P

In their line of work, is that a workers comp incident and according to the attorney, it is not.

P

Because a worker's comp incident requires illness and injury, so if that exposed person becomes.

P

Positive then, we're encouraged to file a claim, but again, if that positive person doesn't become.

P

Sick, it would not be covered by workers comp, but what happens is that exposed deputy, for example,.

P

Has to has to quarantine and what the emergency sick leave provided um throughout the course of.

P

This pandemic was paid leave if you were required to quarantine. So if you were quarantined and you.

C

Weren't really sick, you still got paid correct. Well, I mean I agree with that. It's a good thing.

C

Tell me, did we use it much? Well, we did so. I ran some reports to to look at this and we averaged.

P

About 20 people per month- oh okay, wow um that required how many we've got what 800 employees.

P

Yes yeah! Well, although I'm sorry, it would be larger than that. It's it's a group of 1200, because.

P

It would have included our enterprise employees, okay, because we had employees through gymnastics.

P

For example, through the parks that may have had to quarantine now of that average, though some people.

P

Were required to quarantine because of travel or because of exposure through personal reasons,.

P

What we're proposing is this paid administrative leave is limited to those who are required to.

P

Quarantine because of work related exposure, now tell me if someone has to go out of state it's. I.

C

Think- and you can help me if I'm misinterpreting this is usually when they come back, they got a.

C

Quarantine for two weeks correct. So if someone were to well whatever uh any of our deputies.

C

Were required or any of our pre personnel were required to go somewhere, they come back and they.

C

Have to stay home or they have to stay isolated for two weeks, they're paid for that. Of course,.

P

So they have been through this emergency sick anybody that had to quarantine, regardless of the.

P

Reason was allowed this leave. What our proposal is. Is it's only if it's a work-related exposure.

P

So if we were requiring somebody to travel, um then yes, but I believe that that situation.

P

Is not occurring because we're we're really have limited any required travel out of state.

C

Okay, so we haven't, we haven't had to deal with that per se correct correct, but if you are.

P

You know: uh we've had landfill attendance, for example, and if you are a landfill attendant that.

P

Have been exposed to the public and have um been exposed to covid and are required to quarantine.

P

This proposal would would pay for their quarantine would pay pay for their leave. Well, you know.

C

There's you know, I I hate to make it personal, but I lost a. I got unfriended by a facebook friend.

C

That I've known since the seventh grade- and it was over what we call this continuing of governments.

C

That you know his point was hey. Look all you all. You politicians, whether you're, local state or.

C

Federal, you guys go out and get all the vaccines and you don't leave it for the people who really.

C

Need it and of course, I kind of took that comment personally and he lives in north carolina. I live.

C

In maryland, but the point is, is that I looked into it and of course he said well, if you read.

C

Anything you'll notice that this is happening nationally everywhere and my point is: it gets.

C

To be the continuation of government that we have to make sure we have people who you know, police.

C

Officers out there can go out and keep order we get so with that said are- and I know you're not.

C

The vaccine people they're coming in 15 minutes um are our government people being vaccinated.

P

So I believe our deputies and our corrections personnel have had the opportunity good.

P

Potentially our dispatchers, I don't believe that they are dispatchers and I think that's.

P

Been the extent of it again? Well, I guess I use the term continuation of governance.

C

Because you don't have dispatchers, you don't have police officers, I mean it's going to be a mess.

P

We've we've been in business throughout the entire pandemic, and we've had people that have had to.

P

Come into work and that don't have the opportunity to tell the work um you know, since this began.

P

So so, commissioner, hewitt first responders, are in the first group.

C

Okay, so they those who want it are getting. Yes, good news.

P

I don't know if there are any other comments from any of the commissioners. I I see sheriff cameron's.

P

On the line as well before I move on yes, mr president, I I want to thank you for um working on.

O

This diligently after uh having that conversation with you um and looking at it from the perspective.

O

You know from the work related portion where you know we have people out there all the time and.

O

You know they can't do anything about the fact that you know they may be asymptomatic or they.

O

May come in contact with somebody and them not having to use their first belief in their personal.

O

Sick leave in order to quarantine for a job-related illness or uh mandated by a.

O

Medical professional, so I do appreciate that and addicted from that aspect, and I think it's big.

O

Relief to those that are having to work out there every day, knowing that they can save their fee for.

O

Family events and other things that may come up in the future and not have to burn it because of hope.

B

Mr preston, do you have any idea what that says, how much that stopped so far being reimbursed.

B

By the fed um we, the report that I ran yesterday, commissioner morgan reflected.

P

Approximately forty five thousand dollars monthly for the sixteen hundred hours of.

P

uh Quarantine of emergency sick last year, but the the people that are receiving the.

P

Paid leave are not being paid their salary, so it really isn't a dollar for dollar comparison.

P

They're receiving the leave in lieu of their salary, so truly the cost is productivity.

P

um And then the cost would be, the leave, balances would accrue, you know or would continue, would.

P

It wouldn't would be unused, for example, so it's it's difficult to quantify in dollars.

P

I anticipate and I anticipate the use.

P

Will be much less again in county government, we've experienced very few people that have been exposed.

P

In the line of work, certainly in the sheriff's office, that's different, but in county government.

P

More people have quarantined because of personal choices and personal exposure than work related.

A

Very good did you want to discuss the policy updates too? Please, if you, if you bear with me.

P

The second group of policy changes are the result of policies developed throughout the year due to.

P

Legislation and pandemic policy development, sick and safely, if the maryland legislature.

P

Expanded the definition of covered family members under the sick and safe leave requirement.

P

So the policy has been modified to reflect that.

P

Our substance abuse program, effective january of 2020, the federal motor carrier, clearing our.

P

Administration rather required drivers that have a commercial driver's license.

P

I think it's class b to register with this clearinghouse.

P

And the drivers are required to allow saint mary's county government to have access to those records.

P

And then, lastly, we've developed a pandemic response policy throughout the year.

P

The commissioners have seen that and have approved that revisions throughout.

P

The year and these four items will be formally incorporated into the manual.

P

And then the next group of proposed changes were the result of using the manual in.

P

Ways that we had not imagined throughout 2020, so many of the proposes are to.

P

More clearly identify current practices and then it also incorporates recent legal guidance.

P

So to begin employees, record management.

P

We provide supervisors the opportunity to review an employee's personnel file.

P

For the employees, under their supervision that may.

P

Come into play when someone's writing an eval, for example, and they want to reference back.

P

We had not intended or don't intend that that is um for former employees, that that is offered.

P

um That's what our attorneys recommend as well, so we just clarified the policy to indicate that it's.

P

For active employees under supervisors under the supervision currently under their supervision, okay,.

P

Other employee files are confidential and that references, drug and alcohol.

P

Testing workers, comp records benefits, life insurance and health insurance, for example,.

P

Under recruitment and selection, we allow departments to advertise internally, although we.

P

Really encourage external advertising. The current policy indicates that internal advertisements.

P

Are posted for five days? We would prefer those five days to be business days. We want, as many.

P

Employees as possible to see opportunities and to be able to respond to them so that clarifies that.

P

Under the competitive process, when an internal candidate is being considered for a position.

P

Best practices expects that a neutral party is in the interview and hr reps.

P

Typically sit in on those interviews and we wanted to just clarify and memorialize that.

P

And then, finally, we keep job files when positions are posted and interviews are conducted.

P

If, in the future, the selection process is questioned, um so we're encouraging and asking or.

P

Requesting, rather that departments would provide us with the questions, asked the notes taken.

P

And the documentation from the interview process so while that can be memorialized in the job file.

P

You know, should we ever have to go back in the because we're questioned in the future.

P

Under the professional ethics chapter for secondary employment, we have a policy and a forum.

P

And we expect employees who engage in secondary employment to let us know and have that approved.

P

And one of the um abilities that we want to have is to be able to contact that secondary employer.

P

To if we have questions to verify that there's not a conflict and that just clarifies that.

P

Salary administration, so if an employee voluntarily applies for and accepts.

P

Reassignment to a position in a lower grade, what we're proposing is that the rate of pay will be.

P

Adjusted to that grade to that advertised position. Currently there is no provision for that. So.

P

If I decided that my job was too stressful and I wanted to be a building services, worker.

P

Currently, I could take my pay with me to that position and it just seems.

P

Not not appropriate, so this clarifies that now will this be retroactive for.

A

Employees who have already done this are we looking to lower employees, salaries that.

A

There are no, it would be going forward and truly in that example um often I would not be considered.

P

Because I would be considered, you know over overpaid for the position, so not not qualified.

P

In that sense, but this just memorializes that practice and quantifies that practice very good.

P

um We had employees that were called in and worked on christmas day.

P

And we wanted to clarify how holiday premium pay and how they would be paid in that instance,.

P

Under work schedules, this is really just again clarifying what we already do. Our.

P

Work weeks are friday through thursday and when employees have cws, and they are.

P

Taking a day off it just clarifies which day it will be, so it occurs within the same pay period.

P

Under family medical leave act we wanted to ensure that employees knew that they did not have to.

P

Provide the family, medical leave, paperwork to a supervisor or a department head, and they should.

P

In fact, have their medical certification form sent directly to the fmla coordinator.

P

Under the grievance and appeal chapter, we asked the county attorney's office to look.

P

Through this policy with us, we had the opportunity to use this policy this year.

P

And ran into a couple of items that just weren't clear, so neil murphy really helped.

P

Improve the language clarifying the language again, it's it's our current practice. It's that.

P

What he has proposed doesn't differ from what we currently do, and it just makes it more clear.

P

And then, lastly, we in the manual have a definition section and we improved.

P

The definition of grievance- and we wanted it to be reflected in the.

P

In the definitions, as well as in the grievance chapter,.

C

I'm glad you're able to do this without a consultant yeah. The lord knows good point.

A

So I believe, sheriff cameron. You had some comments. You wanted to make or questions.

Q

Yeah. Thank you, commissioner colvin. I just wanted to uh thank miss pratts and this power change.

Q

I think it will assuage some of the concern that our employees had, especially in a number.

Q

Of examples lately, where they felt to respond to work, uh had exposure and.

Q

We were no longer under the care and care of that. So again, thank you and commissioners. I appreciate.

Q

You considering this, are you good do any of the other commissioners on the line? Have any questions.

B

No, mr smith, did a very good job. uh Thanks for all you look good on this.

C

All right: well, I moved to approve the updates to the saint mary's county manual.

C

Of personal personnel policies and procedures, as presented.

A

First and a second all those in favor aye.

A

Aye, thank you very much, commissioners, and as that admin leave applies to hourly employees. I will.

P

Come back with proposed updates to the hourly employee manual to incorporate that.

P

And thank you very much for your consideration very good. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners, and.

D

This completes county administrator time very good at this time and moved that we adjourn as.

C

The board of county commissioners and reconvene as the saint mary's county board of health.

A

I have a motion there's a second all, those in favor hi, hi,.

A

Very good who was the second commissioner colvin sounded like commissioner guy.

A

I did thank you good all right, dr brewster, hello, thank you for coming and joining us today.

R

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

R

Michaels is going to join us a little bit later in the afternoon or in the morning. What's up.

S

R

Good morning, commissioners, good morning, dr bridgette good morning, good morning,.

R

uh Lisa, thank you. Now we're gonna move over to our typical start off and again thanks.

R

For your time this morning, I'm just going to give another update on covet 19., we'll start off with.

R

Our data dashboard and some of the metrics that we've seen over the past couple weeks.

R

So this data is, as of yesterday and as of yesterday, we've tested over 36 percent of.

R

Our saint mary's county population, at least once we've had about 3 800 cases,.

R

Of covet 19 in st mary's county residence- and we appear, if you scroll down to the weekly numbers.

R

Right there, so we appear to be entering the expected post-holiday surge.

R

That is adding on to uh what we have experienced in december.

R

So we're we'll see how this pans out over the next couple weeks.

R

As we saw after the thanksgiving holidays, we did experience a surge, as you can see here in this.

R

Graph- and we do expect that to happen as well after the holidays of christmas and new year's.

R

New to our data dashboards, if you actually scroll up sorry about that, thank you. We are reporting.

R

Now, the all the way to the top we are reporting now the number of saint mary's county residents.

R

That have been vaccinated. This is important to keep in mind, though, that the data for this.

R

uh Is primarily coming from a system that can be a couple days delayed uh in uploading, its.

R

Data, so you may have vaccinated more than women, absolutely yeah. We have vaccinated more than this.

A

And these aren't these individuals aren't just vaccinated by the health department.

A

Correct um so the data that we report on our local website uh includes individuals who are vaccinated.

R

Right now, the main modes of vaccination are through the hospital through the health department.

R

All our mass physics, vaccine, clinics etc through a pharmacy partnership which I'll talk about in a.

R

Little bit that's vaccinating long-term care facilities and then, through the department.

R

Of defense, so pacspace over there is reporting numbers to us. The data on the state website does.

R

Not include the vaccinations provided by pax river naval air station, this data does do they have.

C

Their own health experts, they have their own, they have their own clinic and in their clinic they're.

R

Providing vaccines according to their own plan of rolling out vaccine administration for their staff.

R

Also of note, as we are vaccinating people by different occupational categories,.

R

If they work in st mary's county, but they are residents of another jurisdiction.

R

uh Those vaccines may still be administered by us, but they may they won't be reflected in.

R

This number so that we're actually maybe administering more vaccine than what's.

R

Reflected in this number here, because of that, let me back up just for a second back to the navy, so.

C

Do are, they vaccinating, say the dependence of uh people, so that would that would be a.

R

Question for them they have their own plan as to how they're moving through they have.

R

Different phases and and different at this time, they've definitely done their first responders. I.

C

Guess my hope is, is that you know they're getting added to ours, because they're in our county and.

C

Hopefully we're they're reporting data to us on a daily basis, but they don't report that data to.

R

The states, well, you know, we've been hearing that the rollout slow we're not doing it fast enough. So.

R

Look and I'm going to talk quite a bit about all that plan and what's what's going on with.

R

That our new cases, if you scroll down, please to our new case rate and our uh our new case rate.

R

Is a above 30 per 100 000 residents we have seen if you scroll down to hospitalizations.

R

That was a new case rate. uh We have seen a a sharp increase in covert related hospitalizations back.

R

In december those did start coming down. We are seeing a little bit of an uptick right now, but.

R

Not sure if that's going to be another spike like what we saw back in that time,.

R

Period of december november, there has been a an increase in covid related fatalities as well.

R

Over the past couple weeks, if we scroll down to that.

R

We so far have had 83 saint mary's county residents, who've passed related to covet 19.

R

With an additional 30 non-saint mary's county residents, who've passed here in our county.

R

And then out below it talks about the different long-term care facilities a little lower than this.

R

We have active outbreak status in two of our long-term care facilities, charlotte hall veterans.

R

Home and st mary's nursing center, the one at chesapeake shore is closed. All right next slide.

R

Please, which I know you're going to get into this in a bit, but that's why it's vitally important.

A

For the vaccine to get to those long-term care facilities and all the staff within the long-term.

R

Care facilities because they're the ones going in and out the most right right. So again, our testing.

R

Sites are still operating, uh despite our mass vaccine efforts, we're able to keep both sites.

R

Open nine to three thirty monday through friday, at either the leonard town or the lexington park,.

R

Location and both of them offer drive up uh and walk, uh walk up options how's that bay.

C

District working out for you, it's working out really well yep yep. Thank you next slide. Please.

R

This is a link to our vaccine website and here we're gonna. We put any updates that we have as.

R

We have them about our local vaccine efforts, get posted to this web link. So if people want.

R

More detailed information, they can go there and see click on the different links that we.

R

Have there for them all right, so I'm going to really talk about vaccine quite a bit.

R

And where we are with that, I know, there's been a lot of questions in the community about.

R

What categories are a priority and when they're a priority, and when it's going to be rolled out, some.

R

Of these questions are unknown because we don't know how much vaccine we're going to get until.

R

Probably a couple days before they're delivered to us is that right, that is correct. We found out.

R

On saturday, and what we're getting this uh today on tuesday? Well, I guess my thought process is how.

C

How does it, how do you plan impact you as the number of people you can administer it's a huge.

R

Impact because at the local level, there's a lot of mechanics that need to come together to.

R

Launch the effort to plan the effort logistics to work out, it's challenging to do that when you.

R

Don't know exactly how much vaccine you're going to get it's doubly challenging because of the way.

A

The vaccine works and what's required with it too. Hopefully you can talk yeah in terms of all the.

R

Dilution and everything with the one particular one sure, but let's go on we've- been doing a really.

R

Great job because we've got fabulous partners that have been working together to make this happen.

R

And so I think so far, we've we've been able to use up all the supply that we've gotten through.

R

The health department and uh we're waiting for the next batch to come in so we can then.

R

Administer that immediately to our community, so you've used all the ones you have so far. Yep.

R

Go to the next one there's a new batch coming in today. They didn't have any wasted, because.

C

They were wasted and properly used. No, we don't waste vaccinations. Thank you. Let me try it out.

R

Too, there might be an occasional, but we haven't had those yet um so initial vaccine supply. So.

R

We're in phase one a uh so there's phase one phase two and then there's this potential phase. Three at.

R

The over the long term phase one is broken up into a b and c. uh We are in category phase, one.

R

A right now, the whole state is in phase one a in phase 1a. These are the entities that are receiving.

R

Vaccine supply, currently in our county, medstar saint mary's hospital, was the.

R

First, to start with, vaccinating their hospital and outpatient staff that are medstar affiliated.

R

Saint mary's county health department was the next to start and I'll talk about that timeline.

R

In a few slides, our role is to vaccinate all other local health care personnel.

R

First responders, the judicial system within that phase 1a period of time, the department of defense.

R

uh Received vaccine us also around the same time and started vaccinating their population according.

R

To their plan that mean you're going to vaccinate all the lawyers, so the judicial system is.

R

Primarily all the the people working in the courts or people who have to be in person at the courts.

R

Okay, the national pharmacy partnership is something that I've mentioned before. That is a.

R

Partnership nationally to assist with staffing, to get vaccine into the arms of staff and residents.

R

At long-term care facilities, that's the first part, that's part one. It's the long-term care facility.

R

So we have three charlotte hall veterans, home chesapeake shores and st mary's nursing center.

R

There's a part two to this pharmacy partnership: those are the assisted living facilities, so in.

R

Our county, that's discovery, commons, taylor, farms and the assisted living facility. That's part of.

R

Charlotte hall veterans, home right, in addition, there's also the dda group homes, the developmental.

R

Disabilities association group homes and then the residential recovery programs, which are.

R

Associated with behavioral health people living together in congregate, settings more vulnerable.

R

Population now you may have covered this, but what about like victory? Woods or people were so those.

R

Are not considered assisted living facilities, uh nor are they considered long-term care facilities.

R

But aren't they congregant they're senior living settings? There are people living together just.

R

Like you would, in a multi-unit apartment, complex for example, uh but they're not considered.

R

As part of this pharmacy partnership, uh a a kind of healthcare or extended care type of facility, it.

C

Just seems like they would be a priority because of that and and they would be uh based on age.

R

And I'll talk about that in a moment where we start getting to population-based uh vaccination.

R

Based on age so part, one of this national pharmacy partnership has been activated by the state.

R

Cvs or walgreens is actually going out into these long-term care facilities and providing that first.

R

Dose of vaccine so so far in our county, saint mary's nursing center has received its first.

R

Dose of vaccine chesapeake shores is scheduled for tomorrow, and charlotte hall is scheduled.

R

For the 13th of january to receive their first dose of vaccine and you're talking, both residents.

A

And workers correct by the pharmacy partnership and it's primarily walgreens, I believe in our.

R

County that's doing this, it may not be the local walgreens stuff. um Sometimes they are activated.

R

To assist it could be walgreens, stuff walgreens in nightmare. Yes, there are, um and so it could.

R

Be walgreens staff from other jurisdictions that come out the one in leonard town by the.

R

Food line is actually a walgreens pharmacy. um I'm sorry, I didn't no, it's okay! It just changed over.

R

uh And so they can uh activate local people, but uh sometimes they're bringing people from other.

R

Jurisdictions to help assist with the veterans, I'm sorry to interrupt you again uh we're hearing.

C

That some professionals, healthcare, whatever they may be, aren't don't want to get it yet. I know we.

C

Saw I saw one in somewhere in the country where 60 percent opted out. What's your, what your percentage.

C

Of 100 of people in the nursing homes getting 100 percent of the people yeah, we have um it.

R

Depends on the groups that you're looking at uh we, I don't have an exact percentage for you at.

R

This point, uh because we're not tying people back to their workplaces and seeing what percentage of.

R

This particular workplace got vaccinated, that's up to the manager of the workplace to follow that, but.

R

We have been inviting everyone and we've, as we saw with last week, where we vaccinated over 900 people.

R

It was a pretty good response. We think that over the course of a few weeks as more and more people.

R

Get vaccinated more and more healthcare providers and first responders who didn't get vaccinated.

R

In this phase will will make the decision to get vaccinated.

R

But we've been having pretty good uptake so far. Good uh next is uh the the next slide. Please.

R

So in phase one a uh this is where there's uh it's important for people to understand.

R

That we really look very closely to national recommendations for priority categories.

R

For vaccination and those recommendations are provided by that advisory committee.

R

Of immunization practices or acip or asip those that's a a very uh well-established.

R

Body of medical professionals and scientists who have provided guidance on vaccines and who to.

R

Administer vaccines to for for decades, asip did not make specific recommendations about.

R

The moderna and the pfizer vaccine until they were approved, emergency use, approved.

R

By the fda that just happened a few weeks ago, so this is all happening very quickly over the.

R

Past two to three weeks where all of this movement is happening, so asip did provide recommendations.

R

Of what categories should be in the phase 1a category that's listed up here in this table.

R

Locally health officers across the state and all the jurisdictions have also provided.

R

Recommendations to the state as to what we think, based on our knowledge of our local jurisdictions,.

R

And the needs of our population should be in the priority category for phase 1a.

R

In maryland, those were recommendations provided to the state, as listed here.

R

The state has then generated and made public what they feel should be in that.

R

Phase 1a category for the state of maryland. That's in this last column here on this table.

R

So this is the process. That's unfolded over the past couple weeks when asip first put out.

R

Its national recommendations about two to three weeks ago so again, a very short period of time.

R

Where all of this has rolled out, we are as as in st mary's county. We have reached out to all of.

R

These facilities, the ones that have an asterisk nest to them, are ones that are tied into the.

R

Pharmacy partnership because they are tied into the pharmacy partnership, local health departments.

R

Are not supposed to be offering that vaccine to those groups? They have to wait for the pharmacy.

R

Partnership, the vaccine doses for those groups go straight to the pharmacies from the feds and.

R

Then the pharmacies then administer those vaccine doses. Those vaccine doses do not come to maryland.

R

To then uh be determined who to distribute it to it's a it's, an activation of the pharmacy.

R

Partnership- that's probably one of my biggest concerns about this whole process and hopefully.

A

Cvs and walgreens can manage this on a national scale on a local scale, to the extent that they.

A

Need to, but without a doubt they are responsible for one of our most vulnerable populations and.

A

Hopefully they are on the ball and getting moving on this. I think it's important to to clarify.

A

Just what you said, there's four different areas of vaccine in phase 1a. The medstar is getting vaccine.

A

They're distributing, however, their corporate entity is directing them to. um The pharmacies are.

A

Getting it directly from the federal government, the state is providing it to you at the health.

A

Department and you can only distribute the vaccine based on the state guidelines, correct and then the.

A

Department of defense is doing whatever they're doing with the vaccine. Correct. That's the way the.

A

Vaccine is being passed out right now correct. um Now recently the state did distribute a.

R

Small number just 100 doses to different federally qualified health centers in the state. But we don't.

R

Have an fqhc located here we have a part-time office, that's associated with greater baden.

R

But that hasn't uh that's not a full-time location. You know specific location for the fqhc.

R

um So and again, our rollout of phase 1a is based upon what we've been approved to roll out by the.

R

State, so if the state has not put forward a plan for roll out for a particular phase,.

R

We can't move forward, we we need to get permission from the state to be able to move forward with who.

R

The priority categories are, even if we make our own local recommendations to the state. We.

R

Have to wait for that approval? Yes, you probably said it, but I want to make sure I got it right.

C

Pharmacies are going to be doing these vaccines at some point in time, they're not doing them now.

C

But they'll be doing them sometime, so the pharmacy partnership is doing vaccines, they're doing them.

R

Specifically in the nursing homes, okay, but I got to the gym you're, not you can't go to cvs. No, it's.

R

Not to the general public, it's not like getting a flu shot yet, okay in the future, they will, but.

R

Not now I I guess I know the end, I'm just trying to be clear sure. Secondly, if a physician because.

C

A lot of people want to consult their physician before getting it to make sure they don't have a.

C

Issue and physicians: don't have it not at this time they will in the future.

R

They're trying to get physicians registered and their practices registered and trained so that.

R

They would be willing to ready to accept vaccine okay if you can move to next phase so phase 1b.

R

We in st mary's county are ready to move into phase 1b. We are rolling out mass vaccine clinics.

R

This week for additional first responders and healthcare personnel towards the end of this week,.

R

We will be ready to move on to the next phase. We do not yet have permission from the state to move.

R

Into phase 1b, the state has not yet made public what its priority categories are for phase 1b.

R

Asip nationally did put out recommendations for phase 1b. Those came a couple weeks ago and those.

R

Are those categories here, the prime category, the first category in phase 1b would be adults aged 75.

R

Years and older and then there's occupational categories as listed below now, some of those.

R

Occupational categories that asap has listed for phase 1b, we're already addressing right now for.

R

Example, fire rescue law enforcement corrections because that's part of the state's phase 1a.

R

Approach there's some additional categories as well so locally. As I mentioned locally, the.

R

Health officers have made recommendations to the state as to what we think should be in the phase.

R

1B category those are listed here very similar to asip. In fact pretty much exactly, except for the.

R

Ones that are already part of phase 1a here in maryland, now tell me what about people who have.

C

Underlying conditions, as a term I use, I see we got 75 years and older right, but I know.

C

The directive, some guidance, we've seen said 65 and older that'll, be in the next phase. Now.

C

Look I'm over 65. My point is it's not about me: I'm not going to get one until everybody.

C

I'm gonna wait until everybody who wants ones has gotten one and there's plenty I'll get mine.

C

But my point is: is that you know there's people who are in their late 60s that have.

C

A heart disease, or some other kind of and and they're worried that they can't get it either.

C

So what what how's that fit in, if so, phase one c I'll talk about that in a moment. That's actually.

R

The next one, that's actually one c, that's phase one. So if you have some kind of a pre-existing.

C

Condition that makes you more vulnerable. You fall below the 1b, yes correct. Okay, um so again the.

R

State has not yet released its priority categories for phase 1b. This is partly why we haven't been.

R

Communicating here locally, because we don't know yet what is going to be approved by the state.

R

For phase 1b, what's taking them so yeah go ahead. Sorry, I'm sorry, but I I know I'm spontaneous, but.

C

What's wrong with the state, um I I'm not sure uh there is a there's, a press conference today.

R

This evening and I'm hopeful that information will be shared and I'm hopeful we'll be able.

R

To move forward as a local jurisdiction, not every jurisdiction is ready to move into 1b.

R

We are, we will be by the end of this week, but now is this a statewide.

C

When I guess it makes sense to me that when they implement something, it's implemented statewide but.

C

Do we have any flexibility county-wide based upon our specific situations in the county, which may be.

C

Different than montgomery county or garrett county, or at this time, no okay, so I think it would be.

A

Just as the board of health look there's some people who don't want to get the vaccine.

A

That's okay, there's a lot of people who do want to get the vaccine right and we're getting a shipment.

A

Of the vaccine today, um it's unacceptable in my mind that we have vaccines sitting on the shelf.

A

Not being used because the state hasn't allowed us to move into the next phase, yet I think she said.

C

We had that, though yeah we don't have that problem. Yet we will get vaccine today and that will become.

R

A problem if we're not able to move forward into phase 1b by the end of the week, okay. So, but if.

A

The governor does not announce the plans for that in his five o'clock press conference today.

A

I would support this board sending a letter up to the state encouraging more local control over that.

A

So I would hope that the other commissioners would support a similar type letter.

R

I think um we will address that.

C

I know I I think we're all on board with the commissioner colvin, I I got to believe the.

C

State's getting a lot of heat too, as that's the term I'll use, so yes, I think, if we're able to.

R

Address this locally, I mean local communities, know their communities the best we have great.

R

Partnerships here in saint mary's, county I'll talk to them. In a moment we have volunteers.

R

I can't tell you how many nurses and physicians have reached out to the health department wanting.

R

To volunteer their time to help us out, but they're they're not going to be willing to drive two hours.

R

To some other jurisdiction to volunteer, they want to help out their own neighbors here in st mary's.

R

And uh we uh are we're ready to move forward to phase one b. We want to be able to move forward to.

R

Phase one b we don't have vaccines sitting on the shelf right now we haven't really the day.

R

That the health department's received vaccine we've mobilized it right as I'll talk about in.

R

A moment- and we are receiving vaccine today that will uh allow us to carry forward with the mass.

R

Vaccine clinics that we have planned this week, but again if we're able to move into phase 1b, then.

R

We will be the most efficient with getting that vaccine into arms of saint mary's county residents.

A

Now also important to note in phase 1b, our recommendation at least locally is that educators.

A

Would be from that too so, which would again help to open up schools quicker, get the students back.

A

Into school and the superintendent have had long discussions about this already and a plan in place.

R

If we were given the local authority by the state to move forward, we have plans in place to.

R

Get students or sorry to get teachers and staff vaccinated so that it can assist them in their.

R

Return to school plans, superintendent told me that the schools would be able to open in two weeks if.

A

We were able to move into phase 1b. Lord knows that we need to move into phase one, I'm just cool we're.

C

Getting to be a real pro, we would love to be able to move into phase 1b as soon as possible. In fact,.

R

We had mass vaccine clinics plan for this weekend that we've put on hold because we haven't yet.

R

Received any authority from the state or clarity as to what the next categories are next priority.

R

Categories are, let me back up for a second, so you, when you mentioned about you, had something for the.

C

Weekend you're doing this monday through friday, nine to three thirty. Is that right, so we're not.

R

That's that's testing, um so vaccines testing, yeah vaccine clinics. We don't know because we don't.

R

Know when we receive vaccine until a couple days or a few days before we right now, we have vaccine.

R

Clinics planned for the latter half of the week every week and that's assuming that we'll get.

R

A vaccine delivery either on monday or tuesday or by by tuesday. Hopefully so we, I know you have your.

C

Dashboard and whatnot so you'll have some type of an app or something when you get the information.

C

About when people are allowed to get these vaccines correct, we put out communication so.

R

Right now in phase 1a, it's all been specific occupations, so we've contacted those work.

R

Environments to be the points of contact for all of their employees and we put out a press.

R

Release where people could complete a survey that had a link to a survey based on the responses to.

R

That survey, then we would send the invitations out for the mass vaccine clinics in the next.

R

Phase if phase 1b, if maryland, agrees uh with our local recommendations and national recommendations.

R

That we have a general population approach of individuals 75 years and older. Then we will put.

R

Out a press release, we actually have the whole press release prepared we're just waiting for the.

R

You know authority to hit the enter button um and we put out a press release and that press release.

R

Has links to the clinics where people can go ahead and register for that vaccine registration is.

R

Required in maryland, in order to receive vaccine, and fortunately, we have the a partnership with the.

R

Department of aging and human services to assist us with this group of individuals in particular.

J

Very good and we'll roll that out as soon as we have clearance from the state to do so.

R

You could go to the next stage, so phase 1c. uh Commissioner hewitt, you brought up the question.

R

About individuals over 65 and those with medical conditions, that's according to national guidance.

R

Because of the large numbers of people that this would encompass and the amount of time it'll.

R

Take to ramp up vaccine supply, that's partly! Why they're in this category here of phase 1c and so.

R

Those are the population categories and then below that are the groups of occupational categories.

R

That would be in phase 1c. The health officers have recommended to the state following asep.

R

Guidance in this matter, and so that's where phase 1c carries over with the addition of.

R

Social and human services that have in the field or home-based contact with clients, as well as.

R

Continuity of government again, there's no clarity yet from the state as to what they have adopted as.

R

Phase 1c and we don't yet have permission to keep moving forward from the state at the local level.

R

Phase 2 is essentially all other persons that are approved age approved for the vaccines.

R

That we currently have available again asip recommendations are made after vaccines are.

R

Approved by the fda, and so the only two vaccines that have been approved by the fda here in the u.s.

R

Are the moderna vaccine and the pfizer vaccine, and I think I went through those.

R

At our last board of health meetings, are we using both? We are using both 50 50.? No, it depends on the.

R

Week we, the first shipment we had in the first couple weeks, was all moderna and I'll talk about.

R

That in a moment, and then this week, we're getting mostly pfizer well we're hearing the challenges.

C

Of fiber pfizer- I'm sorry not fiber pfizer- is that it's, you know so cold and are we equipped.

C

We are equipped to handle that. That's partly, why we're getting um a lot of doses this week, good, we.

R

uh We several months ago, the health department purchased an ultra cold freezer um so that we.

R

Could be prepared uh for vaccine supplies, but your care is funding. I hope yes, absolutely. There's.

A

Actually, very good forward. Thinking on your part, that's positioned, saint mary's, county, very.

A

Well, thank you. Yes, I think we uh we're fortunate that we have that capacity, we're fortunate that.

R

Our hospital has that capacity as well and, as do others who are going to be getting vaccine.

R

In the future, so that's good next, please all right. So this is just an accounting of what has.

R

Happened specifically with the health department vaccine december 21st, uh we received 100 doses.

R

We started administering those doses that same afternoon, we have to let the medication, sorry, the.

R

Vaccine thaw out for a little bit and prepare it, uh but we were able to start administering.

R

Those doses that first week that we received the first day we received them. Those doses were just.

R

To test out, primarily the shipping process and our ability uh to get all of our vaccinators.

R

Vaccinated and train them with them, with drying up the vaccine and how to administer it and all the.

R

Logistics that are involved with the vaccine, so that's how we applied most of those doses.

R

On december 28th, the health department received an additional 900 doses on that same day that.

R

Same afternoon we began administering those 900 doses, and that week we had already planned mass.

R

Vaccine clinics, in anticipation of getting vaccine supply that week and because of those mass vaccine.

R

Clinics we were able to administer over 900 doses within the few days of those mass vaccine clinics.

R

I really have to recognize here the incredible partnerships locally, that.

R

Have been able to come together and make these mass vaccine clinics operate and operate well,.

R

The department of emergency services, the saint mary's county, sheriff's office, dpw.

R

The local paramedics and our ems departments have been phenomenal in coming together and many other.

R

Partners as well, but those are probably the main ones that have really come together to.

R

Provide assistance to our health department in carrying out these mass vaccine efforts. It.

R

Is no easy task, there's a lot of logistics to think of there's a lot of staffing to think of.

R

Training, especially with these new vaccines and how you handle the vaccines, it takes a.

R

Lot of effort to get these things together and to monitor them, and we have to monitor people.

R

After they receive the vaccine at the site, so it's it's a lot of work. That's going into this and a.

R

Lot of partners at the table that are that are working together to make it happen. Tell me have.

C

You had to turn any people away, I mean um yes, we had people in line and then you get to this.

C

Car and if people are not pre-registered, uh they they need to leave and come back after they've.

R

Registered and that's why it's so important that people don't just show up at the mass vaccine site.

R

We have to have them pre-register ahead of time. It gives us a chance to do medical school.

C

You can do that through your website. They can pre-register. Well, they do that through.

R

The vaccine links the invitations that we send. Do it online yes online and it gets fantastic.

R

No, they don't call us, we send them the links. Okay right now, we're only because we're in phase 1a.

R

We're only inviting certain occupation groups so really the way they get invited is by completing.

R

That survey that we have on our website, that's associated with the press release we put out.

R

A couple weeks ago and all those people have access to online internet correct and we send.

R

Them all of that information I mean most of them are healthcare providers of first responder groups.

R

They have access to that. We will reach out to them with the invitation for the vaccine clinic.

R

If they have questions or concerns, they can always call the health department.

R

Covid19 hotline that we have set up and get you know, get their questions answered or or.

R

Leave a message so that the right person can give them a call back.

J

Very good right now we're just in phase one okay.

B

And they can pre-register via the internet. Is anybody signed? um I hate to use the word cheat.

B

That are they sharing that website information with different families that they can get in ahead.

B

Of yeah great great question people who really need to get this stuff right, yeah great question.

R

Thank you, commissioner morgan. I think you know the actually one of the other jurisdictions in the.

R

State did have a problem with that with people were uh sharing the link, and uh you know the.

R

People were scheduling for vaccine when it wasn't their turn to get vaccine based on what.

R

The criteria were for that category, and so that's why we took the choice of not making the vaccine.

R

Links public through a press release because it's not intended for the general population.

R

It's intended for certain occupational groups and that's also why, when people register, they affirm.

R

That they're part of a particular occupational group and then when they come on site to the mass.

R

Vaccine clinic, we not only confirm that they've pre-registered. We also ask for work identification.

R

That tells us and confirms to us that they are a part of that occupational group.

B

That's great, thank you.

A

Now, when we move into phase one and b and we get into um more elderly population,.

A

Online registration is probably not the best way to go, so they will have to register because.

R

That's how the state that's mandatory for this vaccine in maryland is registering an immune.

R

However, we can provide assistance to them to get them registered, and so that's where.

R

That partnership is really going to be great, with department of aging and human services.

R

They're actually going to be assisting us and providing a phone number where individuals.

R

In the community can call to have somebody walk them through the registration process.

R

Even do the registration on their behalf and then what they do is they actually show up at the site.

R

With their identification that shows their age and shows that they're, a saint mary's county.

R

Resident good, when we get to the general population with the occupational groups.

R

uh It doesn't it matters that you work here or that you are resident here um and with the.

R

General population groups, like the 75 plus age group, it's going to matter that you're.

R

A resident here, and so that's where we're going to be checking to make sure people.

R

Are residents of saint mary's county uh and uh meet the age range for that population group.

B

Again, I worry about the doctor in that same regard. If an individual is a saint mary's county resident.

B

Yet is it a provider emergency services provider say out of county? Are they cued into our? They.

B

Can or they get to go to where their employer is either of those two options so other jurisdictions.

R

Are also offering clinics for their local first responders, for example, and they are.

R

Vaccinating local first responders that may not be a resident of their jurisdiction, including any.

R

Saint mary's county residents, we are going to be vaccinating people who live here but work in other.

R

Jurisdictions as part of that occupational group, the reason why we do that is because they are at.

R

Higher risk, because of their occupation, that's why their occupation has been prioritized and if they.

R

Are at higher risk and they return to this county and they live in our county. Then there's a higher.

R

Risk of them contributing to community spread here in saint mary's county to the st mary's county.

R

Residents and so for that reason, we're concerned not just about the people working in our county.

R

But about the people who are living in our county but work in those groups and other jurisdictions.

C

You know I worry about people who are doing um elderly people who don't do internet. I remember.

C

When I did my research for the library six years ago and went over and sat in the library and a lot.

C

Of people using it were elderly people filling out uh social security forms or maryland state.

C

Or federal forms of some type of insurance- and I remember asking somebody hey: why don't you do.

C

This at home, he said, look it. I get fifty dollars a month for this thing, I don't know what kind of.

C

Internet service, I got fifty dollars a month, but they were talking about how that money. That goes.

C

Towards that they can use for medications for food and stuff, so my point gets to be is if you.

C

Have people that are say shut-ins meals on wheels recipients, people who are not connected to the.

C

Internet world uh will it be a way to reach out to those or identify that population correct and.

R

That's why we're partnering with the department of aging and human services for the next phase.

R

um So we've already had conversations and and uh decided how that partnership will work and.

R

That department is very familiar in reaching out to seniors in our county and others in.

R

Our county, who may not feel comfortable using the internet or have access to the internet.

R

And because they have those ways of communication and that trust already built.

R

uh We thought it would be a a good way to make sure we're reaching the population that's eligible.

R

Okay and they'll be providing assistance. People can call them directly and we'll announce that.

R

By press release, and so for everybody listening I'd really encourage you to.

R

Sign up for the press, release notices on our website at smchd.org and then, of course check all.

R

Your local newspapers, hopefully they'll, share the information when we're authorized to put it out.

A

Dr brewster backing up to talk about the virus. Again, I know we've moved on to the vaccine, but.

A

We've seen over the past couple weeks, new strains of the virus that spread more rapidly.

A

Is that um now, if I remember correctly to your presentation about how the vaccines.

A

Work, the vaccines attack the protein or something like that, so they should still.

A

Cover you for the new strains of the virus that are spreading more rapidly, but is that something.

A

You're concerned about in our community, these new strains- yeah great recall um yes, so these.

R

Two vaccines in particular target: what's called the s protein, that's on the virus and the spike.

R

Protein, the s protein, and so the spike protein is something you know, because it's targeted by.

R

These vaccines, if there's a change in the spike protein, it could theoretically cause a change in.

R

How effective this vaccine is or these vaccines are these two? We don't know yet, and we don't have.

R

The data yet to say that those new strains are here in our county or even here in maryland, all.

R

Of that is, is uh there's work being done to try to determine whether uh those strains are circulating.

R

In maryland, or to keep an eye on that at this point in time we have two vaccines available. We.

R

We think those vaccines will be effective against different kinds of strains of this coronavirus.

R

But again we don't have the information to be able to know for sure until we get to that phase.

C

That is that your presentation, yes, and actually, if we move to the next slide, dr michaels.

R

Will be coming up and talking a little bit about how medstar saint mary's hospital has.

R

Handled all this well before you leave us sure, I hope you don't leave us, I'm not going to I'll be.

R

Here I want to say this to you the last meeting. I used the terms overbearing and narrow-minded those.

C

Were poor choices of words and many people, you have many many supporters out there. Many of us are.

C

Mutual friends of ours and reached out to me and said, commissioner hewitt. She had a tough job. We.

C

Don't like you scolding her and let me understand, let me just say this: I appreciate what you do.

C

Dr brewster and and I do say that if I've used the wrong terms, I apologize, but I will say this.

C

I am not an anti-massacre, I'm not an anti-vaxxer, I'm not someone who wants to open in violation of.

C

Government or governor hogan's orders- and I know you have a tough job making sure all that. But it.

C

Still comes to mind, for me is again I'll, say I'm small business. I did my family did it for.

C

53 years in st mary's county- and I still feel for people who have these smaller businesses.

C

When I see walmarts and targets and lows where they used to keep track of the number of people.

C

That going in and they used to restrict the accesses and the exits and those types of things.

C

And I don't see that anymore and it just seems to be somewhat unfair and again I'm trying to come.

C

Up with kinder gentler words that this smaller people seem to take, you know, there's nobody. There.

C

At walmart to say, hey you're allowed 25 capacity, which someone probably doesn't know exactly what.

C

That I know the general public doesn't know what that number is, but you just see people coming and.

C

Going as they wish and as they want and my wife and I don't go out much because we're.

C

Of that age we have to worry about where we go, but you know we're at somewhere having breakfast after.

C

Church, the other day and all all the servers were had their masks underneath their nose.

C

And it was just one of these things where it just seems to be so inconsistent with enforcement. So I.

C

Apologize if I've uh came off the wrong way, but my concern is mainly for the constituents of the.

C

Saint mary's county and the fairness of the big box stores, who are posting record profits.

C

Record, you know during this time and these poor little guys that are just struggling to hang on.

C

So understand I appreciate what you do you're doing a great job and I support you. Thank you.

R

Sir, and I I really appreciate that and and really appreciate you bringing that up, I I think you know.

R

To your comment about um other locations and the and the restaurant and the stores and so forth,.

R

Our process through the health department, has has very much been focused on education.

R

And has been very much driven by complaints, so if people are submitting community complaints, if.

R

They're in a restaurant, and they see people aren't wearing their masks and so forth if they submit a.

R

Complaint, that's the only way, we're really going to know and that's the only way we can then go out.

R

And provide education in the very beginning we reached out to a lot of our food service.

R

Facilities a lot of our retailers to give them copies of signs to talk. You know to talk about the.

R

Things they could do to make their environments more safe to make sure they were understanding.

R

What the executive orders entailed and, at this point in time, we're responding if people are.

R

Filing complaints, and so if, if people are concerned about a particular environment in the.

R

Community, whether it's a walmart or a restaurant or a smaller store, that's that's the only way.

R

We're going to know that there's an issue is when they report that we don't have the ability to.

R

You know constantly be out there in every single store and restaurant. We do what we.

R

We can for restaurants through a food safety program, uh but outside of that uh you know we.

R

Don't have the staffing to be able to be around everywhere all the time. So that's why we really.

R

Rely upon our community to be the eyes and ears and if they have concerns to raise those concerns.

R

So that we can then provide the education and the resources that those businesses might need to.

R

Have and offer a safer environment. Well, look I appreciate you saying that, but don't let me.

C

Dr bruce they're right, if I can, if I can scold you in public, I can apologize to you in public.

C

So that's something! Thank you, sir. I appreciate that. Thank you.

R

Commissioner o'connor was that you, dr bruce, I think I just want to or.

O

Yeah, I just want to phrase what you said a a different way, so people understand.

O

When the health department comes out, it's essentially because your customers.

O

Are the one calling and complaining so when we're looking across saint mary's county in the state.

O

It is a complaint driven process, it is not a proactive process on behalf.

O

Of the health department, so the people that are coming into your establishment.

O

Are the ones that are actually picking up the phone and complaining on you.

O

So I think that takes some self-reflection as well, because there's a lot of blame that gets.

O

Put on the government there's a lot of blame that gets put on the health department, but meanwhile.

O

It is the population and the citizens that are reporting on each other, just like if somebody.

O

Was to call 9-1-1 for a noise complaint, so I think that's very important that people understand that.

O

Because it's not something you're actively out trying to shut down businesses and that you do.

O

Work with them continually to get into compliance right. Thank you. Thank you for raising that.

R

And again, there was a time where we were reaching out and we were providing education and doing an.

R

Inspection and providing feedback- and we still do that periodically, for example, with our restaurants.

R

Just because we have a food safety program and that's part of our food safety process as well.

R

But but right now for covet inspections, it's largely complaint driven. Thank you. So dr michaels.

R

Was hoping to come up and talk a little bit about how medstar st mary's hospital has done during.

R

The course of this pandemic, dr michaels, thank you for being with us this morning good morning.

T

Good morning, how are you morning a lot of our success in phase 1a is because of medstar being.

A

Able to vaccinate your employees and staff thanks yeah, I'm happy to report. um Well before I say that.

T

I just want to um join in with the praise of dr brewster. I think she's done a outstanding job.

T

Here in saint mary's county, her organizational ability her ability to communicate.

T

And her ability to coordinate the county health needs is really outstanding and, from my vantage.

T

Point at the hospital I couldn't have asked for a better partner, so I just wanted to.

T

Make sure that got on the record because she really has done a great job. I'm happy to report.

T

That, as um at by the end of the day today, we'll have vaccinated over 700 um health care workers.

T

In saint mary's county, both at the hospital and at the various offices throughout the county,.

T

We are, we've been reaching out to. The broader group includes, not only but the nurses and techs.

T

And we started out in the emergency room and the urgent care clinics. We move to the.

T

Icu's and we move to the coveted units we've vaccinated providers who come to the hospital.

T

Regularly and we move to providers who are just in their offices and including now, their staffs.

T

We're um offering up to 125 vaccin vaccination slots per day. We do have vaccine um at this time. I.

T

I don't have a crystal ball to tell you how long we'll have vaccine, but um it.

T

Appears that there's still a significant supply available for health care workers throughout the.

T

um Throughout the state, the state sort of has gone through some evolution. We were initially.

T

Allocated as one of the 28 hospitals in the state to get a vaccine, we were the only.

T

Hospital in the in the in the southern maryland tri-county area to get vaccine initially, but then.

T

The large systems decided that they would um get the vaccines and allocate them to all hospitals.

T

In a certain formulation- and so we have gotten- we have plenty of vaccine right.

T

Now and we're actually out there today, I'm calling people to come in and get vaccines so.

T

If you fit into the the people who are approved for our vaccination program,.

T

We have room for you and we're we're there every day um now and we're going to actually be running.

T

Some saturday vaccine um time time frames. I think this saturday to accommodate people who.

T

Can't get in during the week! I'm sorry, dr mike, what are your time frames? Nine to twelve. uh We.

T

Start at 8 40 in the morning and run to 4 40 in the afternoon, oh all day, good. We do.

T

We've also continued to run our drive through testing clinic we've tested close to 9 000.

T

Count res 9 000 people and not all residents initially when we first started the program.

T

We had people coming from all over the eastern seaboard to come, because we were one of the first.

T

Drive-Through clinics um that were established but um we're, I think, at 8, 800 now, 800 plus.

T

People and there's a huge line out there today, and so we continue to test those hours are.

T

9 to 12 daily um and we take all comers and we and I field requests for specialty.

T

um Requests for tests from people all the time from from doctors, offices who need.

T

Results immediately and the hospital is able to perform pcr testing in a two-hour window.

T

For for people who need it, we also are testing. All patients that come in are admitted to the hospital.

T

That everyone who comes in is tested so we know um so we can segregate the patients appropriately.

T

We also offer a associate testing program. It's not a pcr test.

T

Any associate who wants to be tested can show up at our associate testing facility where they'll.

T

Receive an antigen test, it's different than a pcr test, and the antigen test is then run.

T

And if the antigen test comes back positive, then the associate is tested with a pcr test.

T

To confirm that result, and only the pcr test is considered the valid so that the antigen test is a.

T

Is a screening test that we use to sort of um preserve, pcr testing capabilities? Let me ask you a.

T

Couple questions about that real quick sure. So if someone has the antigen I'm concerned antibodies.

T

Antigen not antibodies, antigen is the actual. It's it's. What the antibody is too okay, let's.

C

Just say someone's got the antigen okay. Now that person cannot get it and cannot give it.

C

Cannot get okay if someone were to say I've been in meetings where someone says.

C

I've got the antibodies, so I don't have to wear a mask and I don't have to do these protocols.

C

Because I can't give it to you and I can't get it, is it what's there, what is it? No so so here here's.

T

Here's the difference so um there's the virus. Okay, the virus um um has a certain proteins on it. That.

T

You've that we did, I heard you discussing before those proteins are the antigens. So if we find that.

T

You have antigen in your system that technically means at some point. You were exposed to the.

T

To the virus that you developed in anybody, not yet so you, you may have an active infection because.

T

It's an indication that there may be an active infection present. So then we want to go back.

T

And test you to see whether you actually have that using the pcr test, the antigen test has a lot more.

T

False positives and false negatives associated with it, so the pcr is much more.

T

Sensitive to that antibody testing is something that's totally different, so antibody testing we're.

T

Not looking for parts of the virus, we're looking to see whether you have antibodies to the virus.

T

Antibodies to the virus, you know, are what you're going to get after. You have a vaccine.

T

So um antibodies mean that could could technically mean you're protected.

T

We don't know whether or not antibody presence means that you can't transmit the disease.

T

The the data shows that, if you have antibodies in sufficient quantities, you should.

T

At least what the eua fda announcement said, this is that moderna and pfizer people with antibodies.

T

That are produced by that vaccine should not get a serious disease, and moderna also suggested that.

T

You might not be able to transmit or get the disease that data is still not entirely clear.

T

In there and that's sort of nuanced, but the bottom line is: is that consider what we're doing for our.

T

Associates as a mass screening and then when we find somebody who's got a positive result, then we.

T

Go to the more sensitive tests to make sure- and this is only for the worried people- the people.

T

Who are worried? These are asymptomatic people. If you are symptomatic, we won't even see you in that.

T

Clinic, we immediately refer you to occupational health, where you go through a regular series of of.

T

Testing right so, if you're symptomatic, if you have a fever, if you have any type of symptoms.

T

This is not for you, this is just you know. I've been working in the hospital.

T

I just want to feel safe, I'm going to go and get it. I just want to get an antigen test, so it's for.

T

The the health and the well-being of our associates that we've established this program.

T

And this is throughout the medstar system. Well, it sounds very complicated, but I guess the bottom.

C

Line is if someone says I get the antibodies, I don't need to wear a mask. You still need to wear a.

C

Mask still need to wear a mask. Yes, you still need to wear a mask because there still isn't enough.

T

Data that says that if you have antibodies, you're still not going to be able to transmit the disease.

T

So I I do believe that that you know better days are coming. Commissioner, I really do. I think that.

T

uh I'm very very confident that you know, as we get the vaccines out uh and as time passes, um this.

T

Is going to wane um as a as a health as a public health issue until that time, I'm wearing my mask.

T

As far as your your questions earlier to dr brewster about people not taking the.

T

Vaccine, so I just want the public to know and and the commission to know that um that.

T

That the um health care of the physicians are taking this vaccine.

T

Hands down I mean I have. I have not seen one physician who has not decided to take the vaccine.

T

So that doesn't say: that's not scientific, but what it tells me is people who have significant.

T

Experience and understand how these vaccines work is that they do feel confident and they're rushing.

T

To take them, and I'm just so pleased with the response that we've gotten throughout medstar st.

T

Mary's hospital and the surrounding healthcare people in our community. Well, I think you can.

C

Understand some of the trepidation people have when something's called warp speed. Sure because.

C

You know I I have a son who's, a scientist and does this kind of stuff you do, and I shouldn't say that.

C

Bottom line is, he says, you know these trials usually take months, if not years, right and and.

C

You need to figure out if you get a liver function or you know something else function in your body.

T

I understand the concern and so really it's a risk benefit analysis sure. But your doctors.

T

Are getting is what you're saying doctors are getting it? That's good. Let me let me just let.

T

Me just harken back, um you know, I'm I'm barely old enough to remember the 50s, but before 1954.

T

Every summer- and I'm sure it was down here in st mary's county, there was a huge worry.

T

um Amongst parents that you know polio would come around and um you know polio was a devastating.

T

Disease, I'm an orthopedic surgeon. The last polio case in the united states occurred in 1979.

T

So there was a whole subsection of of orthopedic surgery designed just to do surgery to make.

T

Polio, victims, the lives, easier muscle, transfers, releases, etc. That's a dead art now. Nobody knows.

T

How to do it because, like having a typewriter? Exactly because the vaccine worked and at my.

T

Medical school graduation, uh dr sabin, who was one there's dr salt and dr saban, who were the first.

T

To to to administer polio vaccines um and it was just an expose, I think it was in the post.

T

Where they talked about, you know dr saul uh uh uh saul, taking the vaccine.

T

And giving it to his kids and then just giving it to his neighbors, and you know just just I.

T

Mean obviously we couldn't do that now, so um you know when you have a real public health threat.

T

And you've got the potential for cure, or for for you know to stem it, you really have to weigh.

T

The risks and benefits- and in this case I think that you know science- has come a long long way.

T

Since the 50s, and so I feel very confident that you know what the fda has done and what the what.

T

The industry has done in terms of testing this at this point appears to be very, very adequate for me.

T

And um I personally am waiting for my turn to get the vaccine and that's going to be this week and.

T

So I'm thrilled to have that good yeah. So I did want to like speak just generally about the.

T

The status of the hospital I wanted to reassure the commissioners and the residents of saint.

T

Mary's county that that st mary's hospital is well positioned to handle um what has been a you know.

T

Serious epidemic in our state in our country we were very, very lucky to have the the efforts of.

T

The supply chain, people at medstar health go out and procure just vast quantities of ppes.

T

We have an adequate supply, in fact, it was just announced this week that we were able to secure.

T

A very long-term supply of n95 masks. We no longer recycle our masks at medstar, st mary's.

T

We're still using extended use of the masks, but over time in the short period, I think we'll.

T

We'll start trimming back on that so gloves. Mass gowns things like that work to protect.

T

Our associates and to protect patients as well seem to be in very good supply. We're also.

T

Very very stable in terms of our staffing where, as you've heard throughout the country, the ability to.

T

Procure temporary workers throughout in hospitals across the country is almost non-existent now or.

T

The salary or the the pay is just so high um that that it just it's just prohibitive, but we luckily.

T

Have you know where we need to be and staffing to handle what what we've seen so far now, obviously.

T

um If things got a lot worse that that situation could change, but for right now.

T

Medstar st mary's is is, is handling this very well, and I have to tell you the engagement of.

T

Our associates and physicians has been fantastic and we continue to perform at a very, very high.

T

Level for of quality and safety at the hospital um just um to toot our own horn. You know we.

T

Are a um grade a hospital from the leapfrog um study? That's a national ranking of hospitals.

T

And that's our sixth grade of aid that we've received over the course of the last several years.

T

We're also the first in the state, by a long shot in the last ranking for the quality-based.

T

Reimbursement program that the state of maryland holds, and so we're very proud of the of the work.

T

That we do at the hospital- and um you know I would put it out to the to the commission.

T

uh Commissioners, that you know that we are providing the highest quality of care. That said,.

T

You know we're continuing to work on that. um What dr brewster spoke about.

T

um In terms of her graphs, I just want to confirm so we have treated 424, coveted, positive patients.

T

The ed has treated that many, I'm sorry. We admitted our first covet positive patient on.

T

March 23rd 2020, we have treated over 334, coveted, positive patients. 300 of those were inpatients.

T

13 of those were admitted to the hospice house um and of that 334 21 were in observation status.

T

We had a low initial prevalence of cova during the first outbreak in the spring.

T

It was lower than the rest of the um the uh the state, and so we were very blessed around that.

T

uh But post thanksgiving we definitely saw a rise in covet cases. um In december we were.

T

Averaging 21 coveted patients per day two weeks following thanksgiving, we averaged 29.

T

These are hospitalizations, yes, 29 covered patients per day and on december 8th we saw the highest.

T

Coveted volume at 35 positive patients per day, and that goes along directly with what dr brewster.

T

Showed in her bar graph in terms of the spread of the disease, so it's um it's um it's it definitely.

T

Is worse in this surge and we are starting to see a plateau of of covered positive patients and I'm.

T

Hoping that that plateau then turns into a sort of a dive down and then certainly as.

T

The prevalence of vaccinated people show goes that that's really gonna, I think, move the situation in.

T

The right direction um we've had about uh 51 uh deaths with the first death occurring in april.

T

uh On april 17th, we averaged three deaths per month in july, through october.

T

um In this, in the summer months, we had many many days and in fact, several weeks where.

T

We have zero, coveted patients in the house, so I mean there's, definitely covid and then cove.

T

It went up significantly in november, our deaths rose to about five per month and then in december.

T

We were averaging about 14 deaths uh per month, and so um so definite. This has definitely been.

T

The worst period of time- and I think that goes along with what dr brewster's data has been so.

T

I'm glad to answer any additional questions. I don't have any other.

T

Major factoids to to to let you know, um but uh clearly, I'm glad to um answer any questions about.

T

How we're doing if, if I would say that um that you know we have detailed plans for surge capacity.

T

um Within the hospital we have detailed plans for surge capacity outside the hospital. If we.

T

Need it we've done that in conjunction with the health department and dr brewster, we have.

T

A community facility that we could discharge patients to, if need be so far, the the facilities.

T

That we have erected temporarily on campus have not been needed, and my sincere hope is that.

T

They're not going to be needed, but they are there and they're equipped and ready to use. So um I hope.

T

That gives the commissioners and acting as the board of health, some confidence that the community.

T

Is in good hands, we also are participating with all of the state uh programs, including.

T

Transfer programs that the state might have and we're also obviously very much working with our.

T

Our medstar system, which I think really has been very, very proactive in in making sure.

T

That resources are available for all the all the communities that they serve. Okay, you ready. Yes, sir.

C

I've been um asking dr brewster for several months now about the I I tell I call it the capabilities.

C

Or the capacities and capabilities and capacities of our local, saint mary's hospital sure and she.

C

Has continually said, I can't tell you that that's kind of I don't know if it's hipaa information.

C

And I continue to believe that look, we want to be partners and we want to help you and part of.

C

That is knowing that our icu is at you know: 80 percent 40, 100 percent. uh Could we turn the news.

C

On at night- and you see these hospitals, whether in new york or california, wherever there may be.

C

Breaking point and showing all these people lined up in the hallways, so that gets a lot of people.

C

Concerned about how our local facility is doing so, I'm not interested in names and gender. I don't.

C

Want to know any of that personal information at all, but to support you. I think it's important that.

C

People like us, know: okay, we're at so much capacity now when one of the people who email me about.

C

My discussions with dr brewster said: look commissioner hewitt you keep wanting to know.

C

About capacities, I can tell you how to find that, and she put me onto a new york times website.

C

Now I don't deal much with the new york times, because every time you go to their article.

C

They want money right, you know it's not like, and there's too many one we'll give it to you for free.

C

But I did get to that website and I did get to st mary's hospital and in that website it said that.

C

We had 24 icu beds and 23 of them were taken, and she said therefore, commissioner hewitt they're at.

C

93 capacity, if you would do a little research, you could figure this information out yourself.

C

So I thank that person for giving me that you know sometimes you need to know so. My question to you.

C

Is is that information that information that new york times? Is that accurate, no actually uh very.

T

Surprising, because I mean we haven't, we haven't had 24 icu beds ever at medstar, st mary's. We.

T

Have an ic unit that has 12 beds, I mean we could potentially flex to 22 icu beds, but that would be.

T

Just taking beds off the floor and trying to turn them into icy bits, we've never had. Let me just say.

C

New york times may not be as accurate as people tend to make them be yeah. So what I would say.

T

To your request is: is that um especially, first of all this, the data that you're you're you're your.

T

You're wanting to know on a regular basis is, is recorded on daily at the state level and at the.

T

Federal level, and where can we find it it's you can't you can't, because there's only you're, not.

T

It's only released to certain um groups of people. Why? Why can't we as board of.

C

Health or people in the public know what the challenges are at our local hospital.

C

um So, what's the fear? Well, there are several good reasons in my mind why we don't do this. I mean.

T

In a small community like this, where there's one hospital, if we had six coveted patients in the icu.

T

It's not a big stretch um for for somebody to to figure out who's in the icu.

T

I mean there's word of mouth, you can you can come and visit and and and and you could realistically.

T

Figure out who would come and visit the hospital? Sir? I'm sorry and no no, but but.

T

You could you you could call in and ask to speak to. um You know somebody and you could.

T

Find out they're in the icu it it, it wouldn't be easy, but you could get it done. I'm telling you.

T

And, and so it would be, it would be not inconceivable that um you would be able to tell.

T

Who is covet positive and who isn't now? That's not today. That's not such a big deal anymore.

T

But initially it was a big deal and there was a lot of potential. You know social.

T

Discrimination that might occur and that's exactly why we have hipaa laws well. Well, let me ask you.

C

This is so much like hiv when hiv came along- and I remember this guy magic johnson had basketball.

C

Player had it and he decided to play basketball again and he got a cut and everybody's. Oh, my gosh.

C

This guy's, you know, is it: is it that type of thing where you get astigmatism associated with being.

C

A co-ed positive, um I I think initially, yes, there was, I mean there was. Definitely uh you know. People.

T

Have now you know what have now learned to live with covid and they and uh but you know there is a.

T

You know a an aversion to people and there could be you know, infringements of of of civil rights.

T

With respect to people who who have certain diseases, that's what hip is about hip is.

T

About protecting your health care information, and so it's not hard, I mean if we announce.

T

Where there are small numbers of patients- and we announce exactly how many they're covered.

T

That you could figure it out. Additionally, let me tell you even a better reason or additional reason.

T

So let's say my grandmother sitting home at home and she reads that you know: we've got 53 percent.

T

Of the hospital covered positive now we were never that high. But let's say that that was.

T

The possibility right and she starts to have chest, pain, okay, and she says you know, I'm not going to.

T

That hospital, because of a bunch of covert there, okay, so that she might sit home and die, I mean.

T

Furthermore, that information isn't going to change how I mean we can give aggregate.

T

Information, I'm glad to tell you how many coveted patients we've had per month. I'm glad to tell you.

T

That that dr brewster lets out on a regular basis that the data that comes out regularly in order.

T

For the board of health to to um to make policy and to implement policy, but on a day-to-day basis,.

T

You there's no way you could possibly help us react to that that those are acute.

T

Acute phase things that have that are made by professionals who are in that business every.

T

Day and who are reacting to that every single day, so um I would put back to you that the the fear.

T

That that you could generate with that kind of information being public every day would likely be.

T

Caused more harm than good. I I'm not saying that I'm against release of information and.

T

You know I always say that the truth sets you free, but you have to be careful if, if the state.

T

Wanted to release this information, they could release this information on a daily basis.

T

They could release it by hospital by icu unit. They can release in any number of.

T

Ways and in fact many health professionals have access to that information on a regular basis.

T

The general public and it's not released to the political world and that's not my decision. That's.

T

That's the state's decision. We report the same information to the to health and human services.

T

At the federal level, they also don't release this information um to the general public.

T

So um there are specific local reasons. There are specific medical reasons um that I've.

T

Talked about and then there's state and federal reasons that that you know fall way beyond my.

T

Above my pay grade in terms of why this information isn't available.

T

I'm glad at any time to come or provide the information to dr brewster, which she has.

T

On things that you could help us with, I mean, if that we were not. um You know we, we were.

T

A bit unusual, I know other hospitals in our area had issues with ppe had issues with other um other.

T

Things that they could use to help you know manage the pandemic. Luckily, we did not have those issues.

T

In st mary's county we have, we have continued to be very, very proactive. In fact, in 20 minutes.

T

I'm going to get honest on a system call and I'm going to report exactly. You know how many people.

T

We're anticipating discharging today so that we can make sure that we have adequate capabilities.

T

In case there's a surge coming up, we want to maintain our ability to perform elective surgery.

T

When we cut elective surgery back in back in the spring, we found that there was a significant.

T

Increase in in severity of illness because of some of the delays that had occurred and so we're.

T

Trying to also continue to take care of patients who have um you know, healthcare conditions that.

T

We can treat and help them early um and so we're trying to maintain those capabilities and right.

T

Now we're managing it today, it actually was a day. We, we started a brand new program where we will.

T

Where we have essentially leased a an ambulance, um one ambulance for saint mary's hospital.

T

That will be at our disposal so that we can discharge patients on a regular basis.

T

One at 11 one at one, one at three one at five, so so that we don't delay opening up beds in.

T

Case there is another surge, so we're getting these kind of operational efficiencies in place.

T

So that we are ready, um if things get worse now, I'm hoping that things aren't going to get worse.

T

I'm hoping that we're at the at the you know the the zenith here of this, but I can't tell you that.

T

And you know I'm sure um dr brewster knows much more about that than I do well. Dr michael, I I want.

C

To thank you for coming in, and that is from the heart look great. The information you gave us today.

C

Was kind of the information oven after so whether it's every day or whenever we hold the board of.

C

Health, if we can get some kind of data, I believe it's about transparency, sure and and if you think.

C

You got a problem, then people should know you got a problem. If you don't have a problem. Well, then,.

C

You know: okay, that's good glad to provide. You know what we, what we think that we could use on.

T

An operational basis at any time, the the the uh the county commissioners feel like they'd like.

T

Us to get that information, we're glad to do it in person, we're glad to do it any in any format.

T

That you like, thank you, commissioners, on the line. Do you have any questions for dr michaels.

B

I do that well, dr michaels. I want to thank you too. It's medstar st mary's. It's part of the larger.

A

Medstar system, but at the end of the day it's really a local hospital. It was built locally and.

A

And so I I like the partnership, everything I've seen and and thank you very much. We certainly.

T

Feel it we certainly feel the local commission, the local connection to the community very good. Thank.

T

You very much, gentlemen, have a good day. Dr bridget, do you have enough from us in case governor hogan.

A

Does not provide the local authority that we need later on to be able to send a letter um from the.

A

Commissioners, yes, thank you, commissioner colvin. I believe we had consensus from the commissioners.

D

Earlier in your board of health meeting, thank you very good. All right, I will accept dr brewster. Do.

A

You have more sorry nope. I was just waiting for an adjournment very good, um I'll, accept.

A

A motion to adjourn as the board of health, I moved to join adjourn as the board of health.

A

Okay, I have a first and a second all those in favor aye aye, all right, very good. Thank you at.

A

This time, we'll move into commissioner's time and we'll start with commissioner president guy.

A

Commissioner guy, can you hear me.

H

Commissioner president, you would need to unmute yourself, sir. I can see that you're muted, you may.

H

Need to I'm sorry, I was muted there. You are heard me now yep. We hear you loud and clear, good, good.

B

Okay, I'm sorry about that. I was muted and didn't first right, but.

B

Hey I want to thank uh commissioner colvin for helping me run the meeting today.

B

Mr hewitt put him on the spot. That's doing all the first uh readings. uh I'm.

B

Sort of a reason: I'm not there, I'm still quarantined myself and uh hopefully next.

B

uh Next week, I'll be able to attend, and I want to wish everybody a happy new year.

B

In this hope that 2021 will be a bit of all of us, and I do appreciate our health department.

B

And hospitals and everything for getting this vaccine out as quickly as possible.

B

And I assure you that we as county commissioners, do everything we can to get the vaccine.

B

Distributed as quickly as possible and we'll see what the government says at five o'clock today,.

B

And if he doesn't, we will probably send the letter to give us some relief to do a little clear.

B

uh Also, uh the uh we we got pretty good results right now. We seem to be with people we'll see.

B

What happens travel unfortunately? I know a lot of people did travel during the holidays and they.

B

Have enough kicks, but with this uh distracting coming out, hopefully things will get better for.

B

All and with that said, I'm gonna pass it on to the next commissioner for their comments. Once again,.

B

Let's make this good new year uh right now we do this we're in a match. It's both distancing and.

B

And hopefully, our board of health. Thank you, commissioner guy commissioner morgan. Your turn.

B

Thank you, commissioner. Coleman. First of all, I want to wish everybody a happy new year.

B

um I would like to also thank dr and the doctors for coming over today and giving us a much better.

B

Recap of where we are on the clothing to make people realize that we're doing our very best to.

B

Get the vaccines out as fast based upon the governor's criteria. I do think it's important that.

B

Counties have the ability to act on their own and if we see things changing here that are, you know.

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Better, we should be able to follow the doctor's orders versus waiting for some indianapolis to.

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Help make this video for us. Lastly, I'd like to congratulate and open up that master harris that.

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Got to the orphan's courtroom last week after I don't know how many years he's serving over.

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There so, on behalf of the commissioner with him the very best and appreciate everything he did.

B

A very successful career there, that's it! Thank you, commissioner morgan commissioner o'connor.

O

Thank you um well, one of course happy new year. um Hopefully we can uh everybody yell jumanji at 12,.

O

O'clock and uh we got through 2020 and hopefully it's all over and we're on the the upswing.

O

um And it's one of those things that we all we all look at. We hope for a better 2021.

O

And moving forward, especially with everything that our health partners are doing,.

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With the vaccination process with reaching out to the community.

O

And getting through this, so it's been a key process to work together as a team.

O

I do appreciate wholeheartedly the human resources department, mrs preston, and her team for working.

O

Together on this policy to figure out the lead, it is really important for our employees. Our.

O

Frontline workers that they know that they're not essentially going to be penalized for having.

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Contracted something on the job and knowing that, when they're coming to work continually serving.

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Beyond that front line that we are taking care of them, and so they can continue to take care.

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Of the citizens that we all serve, so I do do thank our teams for that and giving them that.

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Vote of confidence behind their job. I just asked everybody, you know continue doing everything that.

O

You're doing st mary county is doing an amazing job with everything moving forward, and I do thank.

O

Everybody that is, volunteering their time, stepping up and helping the health department with every.

O

Single initiative that they have it's been truly amazing and I always say about this community that.

O

When the time comes, everybody raises their hand and they always step forward. So I appreciate that.

A

Thank you, commissioner o'connor. Commissioner. Okay happy new year, like everybody else, lord knows it's.

C

A time to be hopeful hopeful of a better year to come- and lord knows we'll forget about 2020.

C

The vaccine information, the information from the health department on the rollout and what.

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We have going on and and and dr michaels thank him very much for coming today.

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But I've heard from many people who are concerned about again the capability of.

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Our hot local hospital health care system and the capacities there so I'll continue to ask for that.

C

Transparency again I'll say I'm sorry, if sometimes I I my frustration comes out, but it just seems.

C

Like information people should know, if you hear it on the tv every night or if the newspaper is.

C

Reporting it and- and it's not accurate information, it's important that people know what is the actual.

C

Information that data is transparent again, I do not want to know personal data. I do not want.

C

Gender or any of that kind of business just know how we feel about our community health system.

C

Estat, the portion of the county that came up for uh reassessment this year was the lexington park.

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I'll call it the eighth district area down there in the middle part of the county.

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And if you're in that part of the county- and you did receive an assessment notice, pay attention.

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To it, somebody reached out to me recently and said that their assessment went up 181.

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60 a year increase over three over the next three years. Obviously they're going to appeal that.

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Their neighbor went up 1.3 now, who knows how those things go, but the point is: there's room.

C

For error there's room for mistakes. I don't think people are trying to.

C

Make it a bad job and they're doing the best they can but again, coved 119 has followed up.

C

A lot of processes excuse me processes, and it's important, though, that you protect yourself. Look.

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At your assessments understand, you probably have an idea what your property is valued at and and.

C

Make sure there's no error has been made, but those appeals need to be filed by february 12 of 2021. So.

C

You got about five six weeks to do it just keep pay attention to those assessments, because those.

C

Will impact the property taxes that you pay now tonight we have a public hearing starting at 6 p.m.

C

On the ems billing, I've been hearing from people that you know, hey, look it's going to.

C

Be the demise of the volunteer system? If we go to ems or it's going to eventually become a county.

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Employees and county run system. I don't believe that's the case.

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I really believe again. This coved has kind of made it hard for our seniors, who are involved.

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With rescue squads first responders to go on calls because, obviously they know they're at higher risk.

C

Hopefully, the vaccine, when these people get them, will make them return and do the things that they.

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Have the passion and the services they give to our county, but it's back to the tonight's public.

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Hearing on this or public forum public hearing on this proposal, it's been no secret that our public.

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Forums our public hearings have been lately attended, I'm talking late, very few and.

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To that point, it's it hasn't really been a benefit to the public granted we're checking the box.

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It's something we need to do and we are doing it and we're doing it with the protocols out there.

C

But please take the time to call in take the time to video. If you have that available to you.

C

But make sure we think it's very important to hear from you. So please, if you can get involved.

C

Thank you. Thank you, commissioner. Hewitt well happy new year to everyone. I want.

A

To thank commissioner guy for allowing me to sit in his chair today, while he's.

A

uh Calling into today's meeting, um hopefully we're looking forward to a great 2021.

A

Five minutes before our meeting today, I looked at cnn's website the biggest boldest headline on the.

A

Website was america and crisis. I flipped over to fox news, and the big bold headline says what.

A

You need to know, let me tell you what you need to know turn off the news for a little while.

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Spend time with your family, while you're home with them and just relax, everything is going to be okay.

A

And we are in a wonderful country, we're moving forward everything's going to be okay. Now I want.

A

To echo commissioner hewitt's comments, we have a public hearing tonight at 6 00 p.m. It is not.

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Open for residents to come into our meeting room because of the covid restrictions, but you can dial.

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In please call in you can watch us, live on youtube or channel 95, and it will be replayed at later.

A

Times so, thank you for everyone for participating. Thank you for today. Thank you for dr brewster, dr.

A

Michaels for coming in and at this time I will take a motion to move into closed session. I.

A

Believe it's for boards and commissions, not personnel. Is that correct uh either.

D

Way: it's personnel. Okay. I move that we move into executive session to discuss boards and personnel.

A

Do you have a second second, uh first and second, all those in favor, aye, aye, all right.

A

Very good, thank you all very much.

A