St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 1 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: 3/1/22 Commissioners of St. Mary's County part 2

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A

Please come to order where our recess is over, we're ready to start again and we're going to start with mr jeanette cudmore, our chief financial officer for our public hearing on a supplemental.

A

Appropriation ordinance, thank you, you got it jim. Thank you, commissioner. President guy, we were.

B

Here on february 8th- and we requested the public hearing, we advertised on february 11th and 18th.

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And now today is the day of the public hearing section 27-9 of the code of saint mary's county.

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Maryland authorizes and empowers the commissioners of saint mary's county upon the recommendation.

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Of the cfo to make additional supplementary or emergency appropriations from contingent funds.

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Provided that the cfo shall first certify in writing that such funds are available for such.

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Appropriation, the funding will be grant funding being allocated from the state and or federal.

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Sources in accordance with the resolution 2016-06, the public hearing is held open for seven days.

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For written comment prior to and being placed on the commissioner's agenda, the fy 22 budget.

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Included 1.5 million in an appropriation reserve to provide budget authority for additional grants.

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Or other revenue that may come forward during the fiscal year we have exhausted this reserve. There.

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Were three large awards additional revenues that came in 398 000 for the csm wellness center 625.

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000 for the aging and community services, cdbg block grant round two and most recently two.

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Hundred thousand dollars came forward for the charlotte hall veterans, home ambulance.

B

In preparation for the upcoming grant awards in fy 22 a supplemental appropriation totaling four.

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Million dollars is needed to have sufficient budget authority to move forward with the.

B

Anticipated grants should they come before june 30 2022 2 million for the erap letter of.

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Interest that was on your agenda. The application on october 19 2021 2 million for additional grant.

B

Awards revenue through june 30 2022., there was a broadband grant that was submitted. um Also, I think.

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October november- and that may also come, and that's about two million dollars may also come by june,.

B

30. the timing at this time we don't know, but we need to be prepared so that we can spend the funds.

B

So this is the public hearing. We will come back on march. um The public comment ends on march, 8th 2022.

B

And then we will come back on march 15th for your decision. Okay, very good, got it: okay! Okay! Thank you.

A

Very much miss cutting more next david weiskopf will now provide the format for the public hearing.

C

Thank you, commissioner. President, here are the guidelines for the commissioners of saint mary's.

C

County public hearing for the department of finance's request for a supplemental.

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Appropriation ordinance, if you wish to address the commissioners via teleconference, please call 301.

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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 who wish to address the commissioners in person are asked to fill in the sign up sheet.

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Located in the lobby of the chesapeake building, all speakers will be allotted three minutes to.

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Address the commissioners at the end of the three minutes, our communications director, elisa casas,.

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Will let you know your time has expired? We ask that you give we ask that you respect the.

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Three-Minute time limit in order to give all those who wish to participate an opportunity to be heard.

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This public hearing is being televised, live on st mary's county government, tv 95 and the county's.

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Youtube channel, if you should miss any part of this hearing, it will re-air on channel 95. This.

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Friday march 4th at 6 pm and will remain available for on-demand viewing on the saint mary's county.

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Government youtube channel citizens were provided an opportunity to address the commissioners via.

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Video submissions, but since we did not receive any submissions, we will now begin accepting comments.

C

For those who have signed up to speak in person sharon do we have anyone signed up to speak? No.

C

We do not. We will now begin accepting comments through our teleconferencing system. Miss casas, mr.

D

Weiskopf commissioners, it doesn't appear that we have any calls I'll check in with our call center.

D

Call center hi julie, it's elisa costas, I'm calling to see if we have any calls on our teleconference.

D

Center today for the commissioners of st mary's county public hearing for the department of.

D

Finance request. Thank you, julie, commissioners, mr weiskopf. We have no callers this morning. Thank.

C

You miss casas, so please note that the public one quick thing. The only thing I would ask is that for.

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Public hearings, we make sure we have the phone number for dial in on the screen, so.

E

People watching can see it and know where to dive, because it's kind of quick to catch it. If they're.

E

Just listening, thank you. Thank you for that. Please note that the public comment period will remain.

C

Open for seven days until close of business on march 8th should the public wish to send an email.

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To if you do, please send it to csmc at st mary's, md.com or us mail to po.

C

Box 653 leonardtown, maryland 20650. Commissioner president guy. That concludes our public hearing.

A

Thank you, mr weiskopf, at this time for the comments please either call or send.

A

In the emails he addressed it, the public hearing is closed. Thank you very much.

A

Okay, next on our agenda is the saint mary's county board of health.

A

Presented by dr brewster, our health officer, I move to adjourn as the commissioners of.

E

Saint mary's, county and reconvenes, the saint mary's county board of health.

A

Second, our first and second, all in favor aye aye, aye nays. I just have it you're, not convenienced.

A

At the same rate, county board of health- then uh dr bruce here you have it morning good morning.

F

Good morning, commissioners, um it is uh march 2022, and uh this month marks two years.

F

Since we first experienced our first covid19 cases here in saint mary's, county.

F

So, since that time, we've diagnosed over 23 000 local, coveted infections and we've seen over.

F

200 of our residents pass related to covid19. um I know all of our hearts really are there with.

F

The families who've lost loved ones. In these two years, though, we've also seen our community come.

F

Together, really in a very unique st mary's county kind of way, we've responded to the challenge of an.

F

Unknown virus in a very strong partnership. There are many partners, who've been part of this effort.

F

There have been many community members who've also been part of this tremendous response and.

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Acting to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, and on behalf of our saint mary's.

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County health department team I'd really just like to express our deepest gratitude.

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For all of our partners and community members for their efforts and sacrifice over the past.

F

Two years as we continue to deal with the unknowns of this pandemic, but we start to shift our.

F

Approach to recovery, the role of our partners and community members continues to be critical.

F

So so, fortunately, today I'm able to share some very encouraging news. I'll go through.

F

Some data metrics first and then talk about some recent changes at the cdc. If you go to the next.

F

Slide please, our local metrics show that we're recovering briskly from the recent omicron surge.

F

I expect cases to drop in the next couple weeks. If you go to the next slide, this is reflected.

F

Across all age groups, with the lowest rate of cases in that 60 plus age group next slide, please.

F

This graph here is a good indicator of weekly new cases by vaccination status. The we changed.

F

The language at the bottom a little bit just to be more clear. The primary series complete.

F

Means someone has had at least one dose of johnson and johnson vaccine, or at least two doses of the.

F

Mrna vaccine next time, you add that this time we haven't seen, we just changed it, because there was.

F

Getting we're going to be adding another category soon to separate out people who've actually been.

F

Boosted so we've set it up so that they have primary series complete. I don't understand why.

F

It's what we had before was fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated yeah. So we've changed the.

F

Language of using fully vaccinated to up-to-date language, and so here we're using primary series.

F

Complete because we don't have the data yet to be able to distinguish them, does that mean.

A

Completely vaccinated, usually a primary series. I'm sorry when you say primary series complete.

A

That's fully vaccinated fully vaccinated was old language, yes, but primary series complete.

F

Means that they've had two doses of their mrna vaccine. That's their primary series.

F

But they might not have had their booster dose even if they're recommended, for it.

G

I think it's odd that, after this might this this long we're having new definitions, put.

G

Out it's um it's another. We did change our language a couple months ago to say up to.

F

Date as more and more people became eligible for booster doses, if you remember, we started.

F

Making booster dose eligibility happen in the fall is when, when that started happening, so as.

F

More and more people become eligible for booster doses. It's important to distinguish between those.

F

Who've done their original series, but haven't done the booster dose versus people who've done their.

F

Original series and have had their booster dose, which is what we call up-to-date okay.

F

Go to the next slide, the as we've seen for most of the pandemic, the higher rates of.

F

Infection are associated with those who have not completed their primary series of vaccine.

F

This includes individuals who haven't yet gotten any doses of vaccine and the next slide about 64.

F

Of our population has now completed their primary series and about half of them have also obtained.

F

That additional dose or maybe would be considered up to date in their vaccinations. So, commissioner,.

F

Morgan back to your question: that's partly why we changed the language again, so we can show.

F

The the rates and the distinctions between people who've completed their original series and then.

F

People who've done that plus also gotten a booster dose. Okay, can you explain on this chart um we've.

G

Had this big push now cdc, etc and set to get all these younger kids vaccinated, I mean that's been.

G

A big read, the newspaper, you know, listen to the news, etc. Yet it doesn't seem like they're.

G

Listening very well so in our county, uh as you can see, if you look at the top chart in the corner.

F

There that's their completed final vaccination for the 5 to 11 age group. It's about 23 percent.

F

And for that 12 to 17 age group, it's about 54 who've completed that original series. A lot of.

F

Them may not be eligible yet for a booster dose and that's why the booster dose percentages in.

F

The bottom chart there are so much lower in those age groups, but we have made progress. I mean if you.

F

Think about it from a few months ago, one we didn't have five to 11 year olds eligible until just a.

F

Few months ago, and then the 12 to 17 year olds, that percentage has increased significantly over.

F

The past handful of months as well, do you see more of that age group trying to get shots, or is it.

G

Stagnant, so we're we're not seeing as many people coming in for their their original primary series.

F

Now most of the people coming in are getting their booster doses. uh We are seeing uh some increase in.

F

That five and on all age groups, but especially in that five to 18 or five to 17 age group and that's.

F

Just with time as parents become comfortable with that decision, or as they make that decision.

F

They they move forward with with getting vaccine. So, yes, we are seeing some people get vaccinated in.

F

That age group, it's not a lot of people every day, type of thing I mean it's, it's a slow, slow pace. Do.

G

You think people are just getting tired. That might be it there's a lot of reasons I mean there's.

F

There are individuals who haven't chosen to got their to get their kids vaccinated as of to yet.

F

As of yet, uh and um they may be waiting uh for more information, they may be waiting to see how.

F

Things roll out, they may be wanting to see how the covet pandemic rolls out. You know what kind of.

F

Situation is going on with the pandemic before they make that decision.

F

Go to the next slide, please you look at this chart. This breaks it down a little bit more by age group.

F

By decade of age and the lighter column are individuals who've gotten the additional dose.

F

Compared to the darker column, are individuals who've completed their primary dose series.

F

The next slide are coveted related fatalities and, as I mentioned, uh you know, we've had over 200. It's.

F

Actually 205, as of yesterday, saint mary's county residents, who've had a covid related fatality, so.

G

If I look at this, under 50 have less than 10 deaths. Is that correct? Yes, if you look at that.

F

Less than 50 it's about 11, I think, is a number and those are saint mary's county residents. Those are.

F

All saint mary's county residents- that's correct, predominant number of deaths seems to be occurring.

G

In the 60s older elderly people absolutely yeah, they were following the instructions of getting.

G

Their shots and still succumbed, it seems uh not necessarily and I'll go through. Actually, the next.

F

Chart goes through covides by vaccination status. The majority of covid deaths have been occurring.

F

In individuals who have not been vaccinated or have not completed their vaccine series, if you go.

F

To the next slide, please, but you're correct. Most of the fatalities have been happening in that 60.

F

Plus age group that's been something we've talked about since the beginning of the pandemic as well.

F

But it is mostly happening and those uh that are not vaccinated, you're. Looking.

A

At the chart it looks like there's only about what 21 or 22 that are less than 60 that died.

A

If you haven't, do you have a number I'm just looking at the chart? It looks like it's only about.

A

Yeah there's about 20 or so uh individuals, so all of them between.

A

60 and 90 or older, the ones that have really passed away on this yeah.

F

That's correct, interesting: those are st mary's county residents.

F

Pico and so the majority of uh you know, we definitely saw a significant impact from omicron.

F

On uh deaths in january, the last column we'll be updating the column soon, for the month of february,.

F

Once we get our records from february finalized next chart, please all right! So thank you. This.

F

Past friday, the cdc transitioned from relying upon a standard that they had developed in the fall of.

F

2020 before vaccines rolled out to a new standard, the new standard is in the current pandemic times.

F

Post omicron may better predict higher death rates and load on a community's health care system.

F

So when the original community transmission standard was developed, the goal was to limit.

F

Community transmission, in order to prevent strain on the health care system and severe.

F

Illness, including that which leads to fatalities at that time, we didn't have widespread vaccine.

F

Or protection from natural immunity as well, and we also didn't- have multiple treatments, so the rates.

F

Of new infection and positivity were actually pretty well associated uh with or relevant to the.

F

Strain on local healthcare systems and fatalities. So since then, and more specifically, since omicron.

F

We've had a different situation. Vaccines are widely available.

F

To everyone, age, five and older, and even the most recently eligible age group of 5 to 11, have now.

F

Had at least a few months to get vaccine on board, we also during omicron especially develop some.

F

Level of natural immunity or more natural immunity from all the infections over the past few months,.

F

Covid vaccines, in particular the mrna vaccines, have been very effective at preventing severe.

F

Covid19, illness and death, as they were intended to do their ability to prevent any infection.

F

Including mild infection has varied based on the dominant covet strain, for example, they really.

F

Didn't do so great at preventing infection during omicron, and we saw that including the 5 to 11 age.

F

Group as well, but they've, consistently done well at preventing severe infection and death.

F

And the larger population levels we know that the protective effect, though, doesn't seem to last.

F

Forever during omicron, we learned that the protective effect of the vaccine for the variant.

F

Relied upon people getting boosted or staying up to date, that new language that I mentioned before.

F

Given the many months that had passed since they had their original covid vaccine series,.

F

Or their primary series, but the vaccines still remain the best tool we have in preventing severe.

F

Covet infection and load on our health care system, so, while community transmission, that old standard.

F

Still helps individuals assess their personal risk of getting any infection, so that includes.

F

Mild or even asymptomatic infection, the community level, the new standard.

F

Helps whole communities assess their risk of strain on their health care system, as well as.

F

Future fatalities related to coven, because typically fatalities lag a few weeks behind the.

F

Load on our healthcare system and the numbers of cases, so local communities really should then take.

F

These national standards and consider them within the context of their local resources and local.

F

Additional data that may be available to them, and that includes wastewater surveillance, data.

F

And emergency department utilization data again those data are not available to all communities.

F

Across the country, which is why one of the primary reasons they were not considered when the cdc was.

F

Looking at what kind of national standards to develop, they needed to include metrics that were.

F

Available all over the country, dr brewster, yes, sir, this is- I just saw this this morning when I got a.

H

Copy when it came in and what's been, my concern is, I use the term changing moving the goal post, okay,.

H

Now this high risk red we've been under that for a long time, yep since the fall of 2020, and when I.

H

Saw that 300 standards 400 cases- I was thinking man- that red makes sense, but we're down now to.

H

Oh 10 of that and the other thing is a little over 100 cases a week. Okay, well.

H

I apologize, maybe I'm not. I thought I saw something like 43 or something but enough. My point.

H

Is this what metric can we look to? Can we grasp it is going to say you're at a high transmission.

H

You're now down to substantial or moderate, because what confuses me is we see the cdc.

H

States, new york, california, getting rid of the mask.

H

The board of education for the state of maryland removing the mass requirement. When are we going to.

H

Get out of the red yeah and that's what that's um actually what I'm talking about here, which is the.

F

Community transmission, as you said, is an old standard. It's something we developed in the fall.

F

Of 2020 and we've gone through different colors over the over since that time and more recently,.

F

Especially during delta, and so since then have been in that high transition. My point is: are we in.

H

The green and we're in the red so we're, according to community transmission, our that old standard we.

F

Would be in the red, according to this new standard, that I was just introducing the community level, we.

F

Would be in the green so from now on, we should see community level versus that so right and as.

F

I'll talk about in a moment, it's important for us, I think, as a community, to look at community level.

F

Because this new standard is a better reflection of the strain on our health care system and the.

F

You know better way to predict the fatalities that we may have in our community in a few weeks, and so.

F

As a community, it's more important, I think, to look at the community level. It's still good to keep an.

F

Eye on community transmission, when people want to assess what their personal risk is of getting.

F

Infected not necessarily severely infected but just infected. Well, I guess my my thought process.

H

Is this for years and years and years we've had flu and cold season and it's been when it's cold.

H

And then, when it warms up, flu and cold season goes away, that's all gone now. It's now. It's.

H

About community transmission- or you know, there's high infection rate- it's just this isn't specific.

F

For flu or cold, this is more specific for covid, uh but I I see your point that you're making is that.

F

You know it's not just a season we're not in a place where covet is seasonal, like flu.

F

uh Or or some cold viruses are so when we get to that point, it'd be great if we can even just walk.

F

Away from these things, but we're not at that point yet so good point the interesting thing it sounds.

E

Like with this community level metric is that it's going to be different for every community and how.

E

It's measured based on that community's resources and ability. So we have the wastewater metric that.

E

We can use, whereas other communities might not. It's am. I understanding that no actually and so.

F

Let me clarify the community level uh is dependent upon the three indicators that I've listed here.

F

Okay right, the seven day new case rate, the seven day, new covet hospitalization rate and the seven.

F

Day average percent of inpatient beds occupied by covered patients, those metrics and data, tend to be.

F

Available from all communities across the country, that's why they rose to the top as to why the cdc.

F

Would use them to develop this new standard, what the cdc and what public health is recommending.

F

Is that because this national standard is there that's a great initial thing for a community a.

F

Local community to look at, but the local community should then consider what other things that they.

F

Have that are relevant to their local situation, their local context and that's when locally, as.

F

A health department we'll also look at other data that we may have available to us that maybe other.

F

Communities in the country do not um and we'll also look at things like what kind of resources.

F

We have uh in our community healthcare access here in st mary's availability of testing and all those.

F

Types of things before we come out uh locally and and making recommendations to our to our residents.

F

Is that better? Yes, yes, thank you well, what would have been easier in this? This chart.

A

These to this simple mine here is that you have something at each one of these blocks saying.

A

All right, low transmission rate, if it's five percent of a hundred.

A

That's a low transmission. Well, the next one may be seven percent next, one ten percent, that's when.

A

Twenty percent, we have a high transmission rate, there's just nothing here to regulate.

A

Yes, how much of a percentage of those that are testing positive? You know what is that that would.

A

Be a transmission demand sure, and I can share that with you- there's actually three metrics so.

F

Not just one metric, so the three metrics that I've listed here under community level all get.

F

Considered when determining which you know color box, you end up, we have a high transmission, but.

A

Yet your charts that you showed the last four, the first four, whatever we've got a low number, but yet.

A

This high transmission, so the high transmission again, the community transmission, is a standard.

F

That was developed in the fall of 2020 right. I'm putting it up here to illustrate how we've changed.

F

From focusing just on community transmission, we've stated high transmission all along that level.

A

Not necessarily there have been times where we've been in the moderate or substantial.

F

um In terms of community transmission metrics, I don't remember I've ever seen. Pre-Delta.

F

But it seems like there's a chart that chart looks bad to me. I mean we're looking at the level the.

E

Community level is low and that's a good thing. Yes, we should be celebrating that yes, correct.

F

And I'm suggesting that as a community, we should be focusing more on this community level standard.

F

That cdc has put out. I agree because it's a better reflection of load on our healthcare system.

F

And the fatalities we might see a few weeks that lag behind cases right, so I think, as a baseline.

F

It's a good, it's a good place to start community level. If you go to the next slide, though,.

F

I, when residents are making their individual decisions about protective actions.

F

They may also want to consider some of these other factors which I'll go into in a moment, so.

F

Ultimately, what does this all mean for individuals in terms of individual risk.

F

And protective actions like masking because post omicron, we have a much different picture.

F

Of the pandemic than we had even just a few months ago, I think it's important again for people to pay.

F

Attention to this new standard, the community level standard, which would be low now for saint mary's,.

F

County when they're making decisions for their families, their workplaces and their communities.

F

And when making these decisions, though, they may also want to consider what I've listed here under.

F

Additional considerations and that's where that community transmission standard comes in.

F

Right because again, that's more an indication of just the spread of infection, not necessarily the.

F

Potential for severe infection impacting community health care systems and again local context.

F

Is really important? That's why our saint mary's county health department makes our recommendations.

F

For local protective actions based on this new national community level, but also as we understand.

F

That local context, that those local data pieces and and understanding of local resources so.

F

Overall, at this time of low community level, st mary's county health department is recommending.

F

That masking be a personal or workplace decision based on a personal risk assessment or an impact.

F

On workplace assessment, if an employer is making that decision, so workplaces may have their own.

F

Policies because they best understand their workforce needs and the impact of even one person.

F

In their workforce, getting sick and being out of commission for a while, so we provide.

F

Our recommendation with a few caveats um because again we're paying close attention.

F

To some of these additional considerations that impact our local situation, so, as I mentioned.

F

The local data shows our county to still be in that old standard of high community transmission.

F

Which means the personal risk is higher of getting even mildly infected and maybe passing.

F

The infection on to others even before people have symptoms, and so that's why partly that's.

F

Partly why I, as a health care provider and a parent- and I choose to wear my mask today, indoors.

F

I personally would like to see our new case rates decline a bit more before I take my mask off and.

F

Indoor public spaces and I'm hopeful I'll, be ready to do that in another week or two based.

F

On the trends that we're seeing that's, why we're maintaining six feet from you? I think all the time.

F

Other considerations people may want to consider when making their personal or workplace decision.

F

Is their personal home life or their work settings their immunity either from vaccine.

F

Or infection and the emergence of other variants and I'll talk about all of that in a moment.

F

So our health department recommends that when people and workplaces make their decisions, they.

F

Consider also the availability of treatments locally and the ongoing concern of long coved.

F

Which I've talked about in prior board of health meetings so since january? Actually.

F

Since december, but mostly since january, we've had new fda authorized treatments for covid.

F

Including oral options are medications that people take by mouth and those options are are new and.

F

They're great that they're now available and we did not have those options. Just a handful of.

F

Months ago months ago, but they are still pretty limited in their access right I mean to some.

F

There's still pretty limited uh access to these treatments, especially those oral ones. I think.

F

This access will continue to improve, though, as manufacturers get a chance to produce more.

F

And as the demand for those medications lessens as we come out of the surge so again over time,.

F

That situation with related to oral treatments and readily accessible oral treatments like antiviral.

F

Medications should should improve and help us transition from this pentagon. I'm going to go back.

G

I'm getting confused. Okay, we keep staying in the high.

G

Transmission, we have the red lights, danger, danger, etc. What is that relative to uh if you.

F

If you scooch back sorry to that original side with the two okay, so this was an old standard.

F

From fall of 2020, that is based on the two metrics that I've said here the seven day new case rate.

F

And the percent positivity those parameters again were developed at a time when we didn't have.

F

Widely available vaccine, which promoted protection from severe illness- and we didn't have all these.

F

Treatments that we now have, and so that there's the reason for those that standard.

F

Was more to protect our health care system and to prevent severe illness leading to fatality.

F

After omicron, or as we're coming out of omicron situations have evolved quite a bit in the past.

F

Several months we have many more new treatments available, although there's still limited access.

F

We have a lot more people who are vaccinated, including those 5 to 11 year olds, and we have.

F

We we have natural immunity, that's built up from all the people that got infected during.

F

The past handful of months so that changes the picture. So that means that just looking at your.

F

New case rates doesn't necessarily tell you what the strain on your health care system is going to.

F

Be or how many deaths you're going to have in a few weeks right, what's more, what's more reliable.

F

As an indicator of strain on a community and their healthcare resources, is this new community level.

F

And so that's what we're transitioning to we're: stepping away from community transmission that.

F

Old metric and we're starting to focus more on community level, uh which is where we would.

F

Be low and can your next meeting eliminate the community transmission chart uh sure I'm showing.

F

This because this happened friday afternoon and I'm trying to show how we're transitioning but.

A

If it's confusing, I apologize, it almost seems like we're, not you, but the cdc. I mean the cdc says, drop.

G

The schools are saying: drop everybody's, getting tired, blah blah, so we're going to create now a new.

G

Modicum a new new way to grade the system, so community transmission we've been hiding in the.

G

Red and everybody's listening and we've heard it for two years, but okay now people are, as I.

G

Used to work for people are tired of listening to community transfer. They're, tired of hearing red.

G

So now we're gonna help on the new denominator and now woo all of a sudden we're agreeing now.

G

Everything's out the window and now we're gonna place us community and and to be honest, I had the.

F

Same concerns, when I heard about this developing at the cdc- and I I was I was concerned that are.

F

We departing from science and we're focusing on fatigue right. We need to. We need to stay true.

F

To the science throughout all of this, but as I've learned more and I've been part of presentations.

F

That the cdc has given to public health professionals and healthcare providers and I've.

F

Read about their scientific strategy that they use to come to this community level.

F

um I've definitely uh you know my my appreciation, for this has has uh has changed.

F

uh And, and I really think that this community level standard is a better way to reflect what.

F

We're concerned about at the community level, which is the story which, what we've been talking about.

F

This time overwhelming our health care system, the fatalities and the people getting severely ill.

F

That is what we are most concerned about and we have been concerned about since the.

F

Beginning of the pandemic, but in the beginning of the pandemic we didn't have all the tools.

F

That we have now to help protect individual people, and so again I I think this transition.

F

From community transmission to community level is better for whole communities. As we look at.

F

Making recommendations to our population people may still want to know how many new cases are.

F

Happening every day, which you know, speaks more to community transmission, because they're trying.

F

To assess their individual personal risk of getting infected, not necessarily severe infection.

F

Especially if they're up to date on their vaccine but their risk of getting infected, you know if.

F

Somebody's immune compromise and isn't responding well to vaccine or they are not getting vaccinated.

F

They still may want to know what their risk for is for getting infection, because that for them, that's.

F

An indicator of their risk for severe illness right, um so I think it's still important for.

F

People to have that data, but as a whole community. I think it's important for us to focus in on that.

F

Community level, based on what I see I just it just as I said it, when you see a truck that develops a.

G

Whole level of skepticism as to that point, is it's getting a little bit better and then you.

G

Know, depending upon how the politics of the game works and the science flows and weather changes.

G

Etc, we'll have a new something in three months again: yeah, yeah and- and you know honestly, this.

F

This is a pandemic. Things are constantly changing and we've seen that for two years um how we.

F

Have had to adapt, we've had to deal with new situations, emerging treatments, emerging vaccine.

F

There's things have been constantly changing. This is a very, um very dynamic virus, including.

F

With new strains all the time- and it has been an exceptionally dynamic pandemic and as we're.

F

Learning and going through this and as new things become available to us, new tools become available.

F

To us and the situation changes we also need to respond by by changing our. uh You know what we.

F

What we rely upon as uh as a way to predict uh how how severe the situation is right? We need to.

F

Be responsive to the times and that's what this is: it's allowing us to be more responsive to the.

F

Current times of the pandemic, good good, okay, if we go, I think we need to use the community level.

A

From now on, that is the certain that is the case now and again things I, I can't predict that I mean.

F

Especially with this virus, I've kind of stepped back on my predictions uh just because things have.

F

Been evolving and changing so much, um and you know this may continue to refine itself as we.

F

Learn more and as treatments become available and as less burden is there. I don't. You know, there's.

F

A variety of things that can impact uh what what comes uh comes to bear, but I think this transition.

F

At least from what I've been reading- and you know, participating in to learn about.

F

This transition that the cdc has put out, I feel like this was a solid move on their part.

F

And they had pretty strong methodology at arriving at uh the specific indicators that they use to.

F

um To establish this new standard and we as a community need to do a solid.

A

Move towards normalcy. We have to do that. Yes, we have to get there absolutely much of an impact.

A

Two years now later and we're still, uh we we have to get there, but we also need to protect our our.

F

Hospital system- and we don't want more residents to die from those who do not get fast. They.

A

Understand they gotta wear a mask, they take a risk, and things like I understand all that we need to.

A

Make sure it's been two years now so one question, dr brewster, not about community transmission.

E

um Long covet, I know some people who are extremely concerned about it, but I hear it spoken about less.

E

And less I haven't seen anything I'm going to speak about it. Okay, if you, uh if you are okay,.

F

Moving down to slide 12, thank you for that uh transition. That's that's very, uh very helpful.

F

um So what I want to talk here is about um one of the additional considerations. People may.

F

Want to consider as they're making their personal decision about masking. As I.

F

Gave an example of myself and why I'm wearing a mask today, and why? I might not be wearing a.

F

Mask in front of you next time at the next board of health meeting, that would be great.

F

But when making these personal decisions, we recommend individuals consider personal and work.

F

Factors as well, including their own vaccination history or their own history, of having recent.

F

Infection being up to date with vaccine again that up-to-date language to to really account.

F

For the changing time now, in this pandemic, which includes boosters, if they're eligible for boosters.

F

Makes it significantly less likely that someone if they're infected, will be hospitalized or die.

F

Related to covet 19., so having had recent covent infections such as in the past couple months,.

F

Might afford someone some period of natural immunity or protection.

F

Though, of course, as I've talked about before, this may vary person to person, so given the.

F

Higher community transmission we have here in st mary's county and also our wastewater surveillance.

F

Findings again, this is data that's available to us locally, and we publish this on our website.

F

Which the wastewater data shows declining levels, but they still show higher levels of viral load.

F

In our wastewater, compared to many other communities who are also in the green, like.

F

Us across the country, in addition to you, know these other factors that I've already discussed.

F

The health department is recommending continued use of masking in healthcare facilities.

F

Or during healthcare services, and when people are making their own personal decision about masking.

F

We are recommending they consider masking in crowded indoor spaces.

F

Public spaces for those who have limited vaccine or natural immunity, meaning they are not up to.

F

Date with their vaccination or they haven't been recently infected that you know they may be the.

F

Ones, who would we would recommend, consider masking and crowded indoor public spaces or if they have.

F

A higher risk of severe disease such as, if they're, if they have a moderate or severe immunocompromise.

F

So those are, I think, that's again really important for people to consider. If you go to the.

F

I think it was a actually if you bounce back to the prior slide. Sorry, I got a little distracted.

F

From the first one, but let me just go back and address commissioner coleman's questions about.

F

Long covid I'll talk about the emerging variant situation. In a moment I mentioned treatments.

F

And how we're hoping that, in the next several weeks, we'll have a better and better availability.

F

Of those oral antiviral medications, I do want to address commissioner colvin your question about.

F

Long covid, I think that's a really important piece and that I feel is the larger question mark in all.

F

Of this and you're right, there hasn't been as much media discussion of lancovid. There's been a lot.

F

More development around findings about long covid in the scientific literature, but that's probably.

F

More, what you know- public health professionals and healthcare providers will pay attention to.

F

Than national media, for example, but what I do want to say is that another important burden.

F

Of coven infections is not just the severe illness that lands you in the hospital or leads.

F

To a fatality, it is this prospect of what we're describing as post coveted conditions or what we.

F

Were previously talking about or calling long covet all right, so these post coveted conditions.

F

This includes complications. People can have several weeks, maybe even starting several weeks.

F

After they've had a covet infection or continuing symptoms of their covet infection that they may.

F

Have persisting for months, even so, we still don't know enough about the burden of these.

F

Postcovid conditions, but more and more we're learning that the number of people affected.

F

Could be pretty significant and a variety of studies that have come out more recently.

F

Suggest that even upwards of 10 of people infected even with mild infection, can.

F

Experience these postcovid conditions again we're still learning quite a bit about this and there's.

F

Some work uh we'll be doing here locally on this topic as well. uh That will announce.

F

In the upcoming week, is there any age breakdown with that? Are we seeing that in yes, elderly or.

E

Where um so, it does tend to be more in individuals, who've had severe illness. So if they've been.

F

Hospitalized and we know that hospitalizations and severe illness tend to slant towards older.

F

Populations, so that might be influencing that as well. They have looked at it and have found that.

F

The one that people are really concerned about in children, for example, must see, for example, that.

F

Multisystem inflammatory conditions in children that seems to be much occurring much less in.

F

Vaccinated children so those 12 to 17 year olds, as is the population that was especially looked at.

F

Because there's been enough time uh is uh that their their occurrence of that postcoded condition.

F

uh Appear appears to be a lot less if they're vaccinated, so that is. That is something that.

F

Really has come out is that the vaccine and being vaccinated and up to date on vaccines.

F

Seems to have a lower likelihood of having these post-covered conditions and that.

F

Even if people have a postcoded condition, there's a couple studies that also suggest that getting.

F

Vaccinated might help them accelerate in their recovery. So overall um again we're recommending.

F

Masking, if you go to the next slide again we're recommending masking be a personal or workplace.

F

Decision, but that when people are making these personal uh or workplace decisions uh that they.

F

Consider all those all these extra factors- I've talked about that we have here locally.

F

We're also recommending masking in healthcare facilities and during healthcare services.

F

And masking in indoor crowded public spaces for those who are don't have the strong immunity.

F

Maybe they are not up to date or they haven't been recently infected or if they have a higher risk of.

F

Severe disease like immune compromise, all right, if you go to the next slide, I wanted to mention.

F

That we are monitoring this new ba2 sub variant of the omicron virus. uh It is uh in in this kind of.

F

Pinkish light purple lilac, whatever that is color at the bottom of some of these ladder.

F

Columns here you can start to see it growing at the bottom. This is the hhs region 3, which.

F

Is kind of like our mid-atlantic region, really, we are starting to see omicron show up in our region.

F

We it's still in the works, but it's important to monitor, because we we don't want it to take hold.

F

In our population, as a new emerging strain uh like it, has in some other uh some other countries.

G

What is it? What is since this is a new one, so what is ba ii, so there's omercon. So if you look at this.

F

Table over here to the uh and all of a sudden, we've now developed a new variant of concern.

F

A new variant of concern: it is a sub-variant of omicron, so it's related to what we've been.

F

Dealing with the past couple months, and we think that people who have been infected.

F

For example, in the past couple months may have some protection against ba2. If it comes around.

F

Right now it's it's! uh According to all the genomic surveillance, that's going on.

F

It's at a very, very low percent about four percent in our region, but again it's it's also.

F

Early signs seem to indicate that it's even much more contagious than what we dealt with.

F

Over the past couple months, the strain we were dealing with the past couple months and so that.

F

Is something we're monitoring to see? Is this going to emerge as a new strain and potentially.

F

As a new risk of infection to to individuals, and possibly even those who've been infected already.

F

Well, it seems like each do variant becomes more contagious and less deadly. We don't have an.

F

Answer to the question about the less deadly part, I think we saw with omicron that we it was. It was.

F

Less virulent or causing less severe disease, but because so many more people were getting infected.

F

That's why we were seeing such a heavy impact on our health care resources, and why, especially in.

F

January, we saw so many fatalities related to to the omicron surge. So even if a variant is less.

F

Severe which we haven't shown yet with ba2, but even if a variant is less severe. If it's.

F

So very contagious, and this one does seem to be more contagious than the omicron one that we've.

F

Been dealing with, then, we expect that the numbers of people who are at risk for severe illness.

F

And potentially, death are will be higher. However, again, this is where this.

F

It's so important for us to encourage individuals to get up to date on their vaccine and then also.

F

To support the availability of treatments that may also help prevent hospitalizations and fatalities.

F

So so- and I don't know if this ba2 will actually take hold because they're we're still still so.

F

Recent to the past couple months and all that natural immunity that's built up as well as the.

F

Everybody who's recently, gotten booster doses, go to the next slide piece right. So if a person does.

F

Make the personal decision to mask or if a workplace decides to to request it for.

F

Their employees or visitors, we do continue to recommend more effective well-fitted masks.

F

Such as the kn95s and n95s, you do not need to be fit tested for an n95 to work.

F

Well, fit testing does improve how an n95 will work, but it's not it's not mandatory. For somebody to be.

F

Fit tested in order to get that strong effect from an n95. It's a point of reference. I failed my fit.

E

Test for my n95, because I have a b is it the beard? Yeah yeah, however, the material of the n95 itself.

F

Right, the material and the the other fit of the n95 itself uh is is very, uh is great, filtration.

F

It just may not be that you know awesome filtration, that you'd get if it was.

F

The right one fit tested for your face right, so kn95s are still readily available through multiple.

F

Mechanisms in our community and again thank you to our saint mary's county libraries for partnering.

F

With our health department and making these masks available they're still there, we have them at our.

F

Testing sites as well, so please, uh if you need that supply or interested in that particular. If.

F

You're deciding to wear masks, please go ahead and get that also again, you know we don't quite know.

F

What's in the future, so this might be a good time to go ahead and get some of that supply. So if you.

F

Get to a point in the future, where we are recommending masking more widespread, you have.

F

Those mass the better mess readily available to you go to the next slide. Please just some updates.

F

Also, just to wrap up some updates on testing regular pcr testing typically has a one to two.

F

Day turnaround for us, we shift as we as we shift some of our focus to recovery. We will be having.

F

Some changes in the sites and hours for testing in the weeks ahead that we'll keep that we'll.

F

Announce and keep updated on our web page and by calling our covid call center. But individuals can.

F

Still use these sites and appointments are recommended, it definitely makes it faster.

F

But not required for the hollywood lexington park, we'll register people on site as well, if necessary,.

F

To go to the next slide, please I'd encourage our residents to keep some take-home tests available.

F

To themselves in their homes, in preparation for you know when they need it, but then also in.

F

Preparation for future surges that we may have uh they can set up. uh You know and get an appointment.

F

For collecting these tests at our st mary's county health department sites, uh we're also starting to.

F

Go door to door in higher risk. Zip codes and residents can also request a federal supply of.

F

Test kits through the link that we have posted on our local health department testing web page.

F

Go to the next slide, please another kind of hot off the presses type of update uh that.

F

uh The interval between the first and second dose of the mrna for people who are.

F

Getting their original primary series of vaccine and if they fall in this kind of category here.

F

They don't have immune compromise and they're between the ages of 12 and 64..

F

And we're especially interested in making this recommendation for males between the ages of 12.

F

And 39. we they may want to consider and we would recommend they consider extending that interval of.

F

Time between their first and second dose to eight weeks. So if you remember with pfizer series, it's.

F

Three weeks you typically, and so we would extend that to eight weeks with moderna. It's typically.

F

Four weeks we would extend that to eight weeks as well, and then this doesn't affect johnson.

F

And johnson recipients right last slide all right. Thank you. So much and again.

F

Commissioners appreciate all your questions and leadership, uh and uh certainly uh I appreciate.

F

All the discussion that we've had today, I think it's very beneficial for everybody. Listening.

F

Got a question: yes, sir, uh for those of us who got the visor early uh-huh. uh When do we have.

A

To start getting like our, do we have a yearly? Is there a program for yearly, so that hasn't been.

A

Established hasn't been recommended just yet at this point in time, the only recommendation would.

F

Be you know, so you have their primary series, which for people who don't have immune compromise, that.

F

Primary series is two doses for people who have um you know moderate or severe immune compromise such.

F

As individuals who are on certain medications that suppress their immune system, the recommendation.

F

Is actually for three doses of that pfizer moderna right, so they would get the first two.

F

And then they get the third one about a month later, that's a booster shot.

A

Actually, that's that's considered part of their primary series because they have immune compromise.

F

They need an extra dose to kind of get to the uh the same level that everybody who doesn't have.

F

Immune compromise might be at with two doses: the booster doesn't second in booster. We need to wait.

A

To see what y'all come up with, so the booster dose recommendation is for five months or more after.

F

Your uh final primary dose, so if, uh if somebody's uh doesn't have immune compromise and they've had.

F

Two doses bless you of their original primary series. Then, five months later at least they.

F

Could get their booster dose right if somebody is immune compromised and they had three doses.

F

Because of that immune compromise, they did three doses as part of their original primary series.

F

Then five months later they can go, get their fourth dose or booster dose right for.

F

At that point, the fourth dose is considered the booster dose for them.

F

That is, as far as we have right now in terms of recommendations for boostering it. It doesn't.

I

There's this doesn't mean that there's going to be a booster dose every five months right.

F

The immune system doesn't work that way. The immune system needs kind of that repeat trigger, sometimes.

F

To build immunity, but sometimes you don't need more than that. I mean, if you think, of childhood,.

F

Vaccines right you go back for multiple doses, you might get a boost booster, five years. You might get.

F

A boost or ten years um or you might stop getting boosters, I mean some of that has to do with your.

F

Exposure to the uh the illness of concern, uh but some of that just has to do with how your.

F

Immune system, you know, functions so right now, there's no science, like we get flu shot yearly.

A

So there's no science, yet that's proven. It says I have both pfizer one and two and booster right.

A

The science past that hasn't come out correct that should take correct and part of it is.

A

We're still in a pandemic, this isn't, you know, I mean commissioner hewitt brought up a great.

F

Point earlier about cold flu season, we're not at a point where we're dealing with a seasonal virus.

F

Like the flu right, okay, um we're dealing with something where we're seeing surges at different.

F

Times of the year, depending on new variants that keep coming out and part of the reason why these.

F

New variants keep coming out is worldwide, we don't have a high levels of immunity. We are starting to.

F

Get to higher levels of immunity here in this country, especially after omicron, when.

F

You throw in some of that natural immunity, but um worldwide we don't have that and so that's.

F

Why we see all these new variants emerging uh as is, and we're still dealing with that.

F

And we're still dealing with surges but over time that hopefully, that situation should improve and.

F

While we may have new variants, come out, we'll be better equipped, including from a treatment.

F

Perspective to handle some of that, okay, okay, good! Thank you any other questions. Commissioners,.

A

No thank you very much for your time doctor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

E

I moved to adjourn as the saint mary's county board of health and reconvenes the commissioners.

E

Of saint mary's county, second, our first and second, all in favor aye any opposed eyes, have.

A

It back to commissioners, okay. Mr president, one request on the board of health meetings. I do.

J

Believe at this point that um we should consider spacing the meetings out a little bit further.

J

Unless there's some sort of emergent cause that is going to take require action right now, we're.

A

At two weeks we go to monthly yeah, I mean I I I mean I'm not opposed to monthly. I think we could.

J

Probably go further than that and refer people to the health department for any other information.

J

Unless there's going to be action, that's needed by the border health or there's some emergent.

J

Portion, um I think, any more suggestions on that monthly or less every month. Four to six weeks.

J

Yeah, I I yeah you want to do it. Let's go every other month, every one month, yeah, okay, it used to.

H

Be by yearly that so by monthly, I think it's fine, okay, I think I'll buy monthly right now.

A

Well, we'll just take another decision about four or five months of producing more.

A

Okay, okay, now we're going! Thank you, mr president, sounds good. We'll have our.

A

County administrator pass that on to the certainly good enough. Thank you. Okay. Next, we go right into.

A

Our main agenda here now as department of land use and growth management uh decision.

A

Amend the comprehensive zoning ordinance for new use, solar, major and solar minor.

A

Mr bill hunt, the director of land use growth management, will give a presentation.

K

Thank you, mr president, good morning, commissioners morning.

K

Next slide a little bit of review and then I'll get into some new stuff.

K

The csmc formed the solar task force. I'm sorry, mister just a moment. Please.

D

Thank you. My apologies.

D

You're good just tell me when it's time to advance, I apologize we're having some technical issues.

D

But it is, it is on okay, okay, excuse me amy uh I apologize. Can you see this view in the production.

D

Studio there we go. Thank you, okay, I don't have it in front of me so I'll be looking down more than.

K

Usual, I'm not too good to teleprompter anyway. So csmc formed the solar task force in january 2020.

K

The solar task force made its report to the commissioners in august 2021.

K

As part of the work of the solar task force, the chesapeake conservancy provided an analysis of.

K

Optimal solar sites in saint mary's county next, as you've already heard the proposed ordinance as.

K

Adds two new uses to the comprehensive zoning ordinance, solar, major and solar minor next.

K

For solar major, the sites to avoid that were identified are ecologically sensitive areas.

K

Such as wetlands, prime agricultural lands and forests and properties not compatible.

K

With the navy mission next, the preferred locations, on the other hand, are degraded.

K

In contaminated sites, landfills, county owned properties, parking lots rooftops.

K

At the at the public hearing.

K

There were comments orally and also letters were received from agricultural interest groups. The.

K

Solar task force and these agricultural interest groups both support solar energy within saint.

K

Mary's county by the agricultural interest groups that that came forward at that time, they are.

K

The agricultural seafood and forestry board the department of economic development, the farm bureau.

K

Texan tidewater land trust, resource conservation and development. As I said, they all support solar.

K

Within the county, where they differ, is that the solar task force recognizes optimal, preferred.

K

And then other sites and does not want to exclude any properties from consideration.

K

The agricultural interest groups would like major solar to not be allowed in prime agricultural.

K

Soils, the groups that make that recommendation are the farm bureau, economic development detection.

K

Tidewater land trust and resource conservation and development, they also recommend, but we repeat.

K

That what you said, please, starting groups that do not want solar in ag areas, include.

K

uh The groups or the the types of areas, the groups that are opposed to having sower in the ag section.

K

The ones that do not want major solar on prime agricultural soils are the farm bureau.

K

Economic development, the texan, tidewater, land, trust and resource conservation and development.

K

Another recommendation is to not have major solar on farmland of statewide importance.

K

That comes from economic development and then also they would not like them in rural legacy areas.

K

That recommendation comes from economic development, tidewater land trust and resource.

K

Conservation and development at the end of my brief presentation today, ms costas will show.

K

Where the prime farmland and the farmland of statewide importance have been mapped just.

K

To give you an overview of what that looks like on the county's gis system,.

K

Is that a actual designation farmland of statewide importance? Yes, sir interesting.

K

So at the public hearing, as I just said, the.

K

The recommendations were do not allow solar major on the soils that I mentioned.

K

So I won't need to repeat that now the farm bureau recommended allowing solar major in rural legacy.

K

Areas with the conditional use from the board of appeals- and I just want to mention now in.

K

General because there were some others, there were some other comments about conditional use.

K

My feeling is that one public hearing for major solar uses with the planning commission.

K

Is sufficient that the ordinance will have protections for buffering for, for instance,.

K

Provisions it gives the neighbors a chance to come out and discuss things at the public hearing.

K

The way saint mary's county works its conditional use process. If you have to have a conditional use.

K

It goes to the board of appeals for public hearing and then the same information goes to the planning.

K

Commission for a second public hearing, so your recommendation to make it a permitted use. Yes, sir.

K

If thank you, I would not have a conditional use in there. I just don't see, I don't see the need for it.

K

Next slide, let me see what number are you on, sir? I'm on eight all right. Thank you, sir.

K

Correct okay: I wanted to point out that there are no uses in the zoning ordinance.

K

That are prohibited on prime agricultural soils and that farmland of statewide importance is not.

K

A term in the zoning ordinance next rural legacy area is mentioned in the zoning.

K

Ordinance but there are no regulations. The rural legacy area program is run through the.

K

Department of economic development, primarily and not through land use and growth management.

K

Solar major facilities are prohibited by rural legacy, easements, but neighboring rla properties.

K

Not under easement could have a solar major development, which is why patuxent tidewater and.

K

Rs and d were against it, along with ded the solar site. Next slide. Sorry, the solar siding report.

K

Analysis finds that st mary's county can meet its state required goal for solar energy generation.

K

Without including the prime agricultural soils, productive farmland and rural legacy lands.

K

The county will meet its goal using eight percent of identified, optimal and preferred sites.

K

The draft ordinance that you have in front of you, I included the recommended prohibitions because.

K

At the decision time it's easier to say you don't want them in than to have them added so.

K

If it's clear enough for today, you could just omit those that you don't like if.

K

There are any otherwise are included in the draft ordinance. So mr hunt, in that regard,.

G

The statement you just made is that we will be able to attain our goal.

G

Based upon what we have today, and then this commissioner guy and I are just we sit through.

G

Make it when the green initiatives we know or it feels as though this is the starting point.

G

And the goal to get to you know a carbon-free footprint using solar and wind.

G

Are the only two alternatives that they put out there for us now or to buy renewable energy from.

G

Out of state, which would be because everyone's so happy with their smuggle bill right now,.

G

And added cost so there's been no discussion towards using nuclear there's, been no discovery.

G

The discussion to get rid of fossil fuels evidence, so my concern is that by pushing this forward.

G

As we sit here today and knowing the mood of annapolis is to push harder and knowing.

G

That wind is not a viable option for saint mary's county. Would we have enough land to say, hit a 50.

G

Goal instead, I think it's 7 percent now 13 percent. Now I mean they quadrupled down this.

G

Last time to 13 or 15, I can see it going higher looking at those renewables, so I don't know if.

G

And I understand that not wanting to use ag land, obviously because you have to eat and uh if you.

G

Don't have food, I mean if you don't have food. The electricity is not going to do much. So my concern.

G

Becomes that in the future would we have and this it's rhetorical, because I don't think there's an.

G

Answer to this at this point in time to get to where we got to get to and how do we structure.

G

Knowing that we have to get that we, I would think that the board wants to get the soreness put in.

G

Place so we can at least proceed with meeting the state goals somewhere along the way. Yes, sir of.

K

Course everything that you said is exactly right when the sole when the solar sighting report was.

K

Presented the goal for the county based on what the statewide goals were were calculated for the.

K

County based on the size of the county relative to the state size, which was the most conservative way.

K

They felt of determining how large the county's input would be, and even when they did that a.

K

Very small percentage of the of the optimal and preferred sites that they found in the county.

K

Would be needed to meet the county's goal so based on that qualitative assessment without getting.

K

Into the quantitative actual calculations of how many acres are in prime agricultural and farmland.

K

Estate interest, which, if alyssa could miss cosmos, could pull that one up. You can get a visual of it.

K

Clearly, the largest areas in the county that would be impacted are the the darker color here.

K

This is just a random shot within the gis layer, but the darker colors are the farmland of state.

K

Statewide importance, which are based on the soil types which were included in the ordinance.

K

And then the lighter ones are the prime farmland which we're more familiar with here, because it's.

K

A discussion that comes up more regularly than this farmland of statewide importance.

J

uh Pardon me if I don't see the irony when you use the word conservative with anything that.

J

Comes out of annapolis, um you know it's it's. I just see the humor in it, but the uh one of the.

J

Other concerns I have with this ordinance is, of course, the law of unattended consequences.

J

Right now dealing with some farmers that are involved in agrotourism and arbitrarily they're.

J

Being assessed as commercial by a certain acreage, whether they're only using the property for.

J

You know 20 events or five events, um of course, bringing their assessments from you know: 50 000, to.

J

864 000 in some instances, of course, that's based on our local office and the assessments that they.

J

Do there and go to the state with that being said, looking at this, I do believe we're we're going to.

J

Have to look at the provisions of this to ensure that any agricultural property that may be used.

J

For solar to meet the state requirement is not going to be assessed at a commercial level, thereby.

J

You know raising those assessments on whatever farmer may have that there yeah. I think that we.

J

Need to focus on that now because we're going to have to be doing some cleanup on the assessments.

J

That are already involved with the agrotourism, where they're getting classified as commercial.

J

So what I want to see happen is a farmer that doesn't qualify on any of this wants to use three.

J

Acres of non-viable land, whatever they're going to do now, all of a sudden they're going to pay a.

J

Commercial tax on that, when it's a requirement by the state and they're just trying to help.

J

Facilitate that I think the state nullified that well, I want to make sure that's you know. I want.

J

To make sure that they're not going to get looped into a commercial on on agriculturally zoned land.

J

Right but something I haven't considered also right and I just want to get ahead of it. I mean.

J

Obviously, who knows where this is going to go, but why address a problem later on when.

J

We can get ahead of it now, so thank you. So, mr han, the task force was formed in january 2020.

E

There was discussions well in advance of that, so this is a process. That's been going on for.

E

Much more than two years good work, it's had a lot of community involvement, a lot of diverse groups.

E

Involved and I like what you've come up with here, I like the ordinance I'm good with it. Thank you.

H

Mr hunt, I feel the same way, but I will say this: what I do worry about is people who are left out.

H

When we talk about this rural legacy thing, I've seen my share of it and it seems like.

H

Some areas are areas that we would be mad at huntersville, where we try to encourage legacy.

H

There and those people get to take advantage of those, um whether they're conservation, easements or.

H

Whatever kind of easements the state puts on those and there's other places that don't so, I, like your.

H

Statement about we can meet the goals of renewable energy without involving.

H

Good agricultural land- that's a good point. I wish I hope we do not exclude somebody who does.

H

Not found has found farming not to be uh something that they can support or support their families or.

H

Have their children supported or something like that that they get left out and.

H

Farming is no longer viable, but, lastly, I like the idea that we're looking at areas that have had.

H

Issues with their their properties, whether it be the third call property up here,.

H

I remember my days back on the board of appeals back in early 2000's with the munitions plant.

H

And then the hollywood wood treatment plant and these different pieces of land that are actually.

H

Unusable and would be prime candidates for this, so I'm fine with this too and.

H

We'll go from there, but I moved to approve the ordinance amending the con percent.

J

Comprehensive zoning ordinance to add the new uses of solar, major and solar minor to the new.

J

Amended definitions and the part parking standards and loading space changes for.

J

The two new uses and authorized commission president sign any related documents. Second,.

A

I got a first and second all in favor aye any opposed.

A

Eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you.

A

Okay, next, we go right into uh county administrator time. Mr weiskoff thank.

C

You, commissioner, president, guy first up is the draft agendas for march 8.

C

And march 15th, on tuesday march, 8th, we'll start at the regular time and the invocation and pledge.

C

Will be by commissioner president guy and then approval of consent agenda and then.

C

There'll be a proclamation for national athletic training month, as well as women's history day.

C

I think that's month, women's history month, isn't it but anyway, at 9, 15 we'll have a request for a.

C

Public hearing to amend the comprehensive planned land use from rural preservation to rural commerce.

C

And zoning map from rural preservation district to rural commercial, on property located at 41170.

C

Oakville road, mechanicsville and then county administrator time, followed by office of the.

C

County attorney legislative updates, commissioner time memorial ceremony for mr leroy williams,.

C

Closed session for personnel adjourn and then reconvene at 1 30 for budget work session.

C

And then adjourn tuesday march 15th.

C

Start at the regular time and the invocation and pledge will be by commissioner colvin approval.

C

Of the consent agenda and then a proclamation for social work month and also equal pay day.

C

And then department of finance decision for the supplemental appropriation ordinance.

C

Followed by the office of the county attorney decision for the police, accountability board.

C

And then county administrator time office of the county attorney legislative updates.

C

Commissioner time adjourn and then a 130 budget work session.

C

Next is the from the office of the county administrator, the ymca brief, and I note that.

C

We have mr robbie gill and bill rigby, brian, I'm sorry right, close close brian rigby here.

C

If they both want to come up and discuss what what we've done, if I could give you a little.

C

Bit of the history please come up. As you know, we had the exploratory committee back in 2020.

C

And 21 we had fees of campaign feasibility study findings presented in 21. We also had.

C

A memorandum of understanding with the ymca to create the task force.

C

We did that november 16th we had of 2021. We had a meeting where we presented uh findings.

C

um Of you know where the ymca should be located and the concept design plan and then february 15th.

C

Of this year, commissioner, john o'connor made a motion to approve the ymca at the great mill.

C

Site as presented from the ymca at the previous meeting and all five commissioners were president.

C

And voted yay on the motion, and so here we are today well, thank you for having us that's.

L

Exciting I appreciate you sharing that so, um since the last time we were here in november.

L

The directive was given to go back, work on costs and schematics for a building as designed.

L

With the pool and then a cost structure with a building that didn't have the pool and so brian.

L

And his team have been working on that and we've been able to pull a variety of.

L

Cost estimates and data not only through the whys that we've recently built, but also a y.

L

uh Out in urbana as well, and so we're very comfortable with.

L

Kind of where our numbers sit, and so I think what we'll do if it's okay with you is we'll brian.

L

Will kind of lead us through the presentation, then we'll answer any questions you guys may have. Okay.

L

Great excellent next slide, please um and one more please so, uh thank you all for having us.

M

As robbie shared uh really delighted to be back in front of you guys uh today, we'll chat a little.

M

Bit about the plan, we'll look at the floor plans a little bit and then one more we'll kind of talk.

M

Next steps, so, as robbie mentioned, we went back after the last meeting. We put some detail into the.

M

Plans we we brought them into a schematic level. We got that uh those plans priced by a company out of.

M

Chestertown krm construction, who we felt was the best candidate to price that, given that they.

M

Had just built the kent county ymca, we looked at those numbers with a fine-tooth comb and made any.

M

Slight adjustments that we thought that would be applicable to the saint mary's county site.

M

And benchmarked that against uh national-wise around the country that we'd been seeing recently.

M

So we do feel very comfortable with the numbers we'll share that uh today. So um just as a reminder.

M

We're looking at the great mills site uh final placement of this building subject to site civil.

M

Engineering, you know certainly taking into account utility placement grading et cetera, but location.

M

Preference for the ymca is really pretty close to the existing great mills pool to be able to share.

M

Parking share some infrastructure and share programming between those sites. Next, we.

M

Took the detail in these floor plans, we detail these out. This is the snapshot of.

M

That there was about 25 pages that went into this schematic design set that was supplemented with a.

M

Design criteria of about 350 pages that went room by room of what we were looking for. You know.

M

What's the grade of flooring in the gym, what's the the pool, surface, etc, to get to these numbers.

M

um Next slide um so you're, seeing the first and second floor in here um and then the next one was.

M

We removed the pool and what that was showing was you know, we're not really.

M

Changing the scheme, because we know that if even if we don't include the pool on day, one.

M

We may want to in the future, and the flow for these buildings is meant to expand over time.

M

So the next slide, please just looking at what that saves from the the cost of construction. It's about.

M

7 500 square feet for the pool tank as well as the mechanical systems, and you can see a little.

M

Bit in a studio b, that would be impacted if we were to remove uh some of that space next slide.

M

And then the renderings that we were looking at. Of course, all of this is subject to planning and.

M

Zoning review architectural review boards, but we like to cast the vision of a highly.

M

uh Visible contemporary ymca that takes advantage of the landscape context and the views.

M

As well as visibility, both in the building and outwards towards the building, excellent.

M

Focused on social gathering uh in a safe environment, inclusive for all.

M

Ensuring that we have a variety of offerings that fills in the gap from six weeks old to 106.

M

And that the y can mean something different for everybody, but it is a place for all uh to be in.

M

There to fill in the gaps and then just and as you guys saw when you, when you went through the.

M

Kent county ymca a lot of similarities, so I think when you look at those facilities.

M

You know we have to be good stewards of the community's dollars and so what we look for.

M

In impact is a really efficient, layout, good use of materials, but nothing in there is, you know.

M

Going to be uh mistaken for being at you know the uh you know, a high-end hotel or something they're.

M

Very common materials that are just arranged in a way that is impactful and engaging for folks. So.

M

As price, we were at about 51 504 square feet that includes a full-size gymnasium with the.

M

Walking jogging track, three group exercise studios about 7 500 square feet of fitness area as well as.

M

All the youth and community areas, including community kitchen,.

M

Teen intergenerational center and our child watch kind of youth development zones within there.

M

Next slide, so when we got into the cost we took krm's numbers, uh we broke them down on a square.

M

Footage basis, that's essentially how we, how we benchmark these, because we know that the costs in.

M

You know lexington park are going to be different in you know, wichita kansas are going to be.

M

Different than san francisco, california, but on a percentage basis, we tend to spend the same amount.

M

On things like steel and concrete and finishes across the country, you know whether that cost.

M

Per square foot is 500 or 200 right. So when we looked at that, we were shaking out to.

M

About 265 dollars a square foot, that's right on par with the national average right now of.

M

What we've seen, unfortunately, with over the last two years, with escalation, inflation and.

M

Supply chain issues, but we feel really comfortable with that number. So when you look at just the.

M

Building itself, without the pool it's about 15 million dollars, which includes contractor.

M

Markups, you know, insurances, contingencies, etc. The site work number is assuming that we can tie into.

M

Existing uh utilities, um you know within the great mills pool region that might vary one.

M

Way or another, if you have to do a new tap into the sewer line and things like that.

M

But that seems relatively reasonable for what we were looking at and then adding the pool is about.

M

3.4 million dollars, which is essentially the cost of the enclosure of the pool, as well as the pool.

M

Tank and mechanicals, and that's pretty in line with the national average, for what we're what's.

M

Essentially, an eight lane wide pool so about 60 feet by 75 feet. Subdivided in could be six lanes.

M

Could be five or four lanes with you know splash, pads and alcoves um within there soft costs add.

M

Another two and a half million; that's architecture; fees, uh ff e, which is furniture, fixtures, equipment.

M

Branding computers, things like that, so grand total without the pool is about 17.6 million.

M

And with the pools just under 21., now I always say in this stage of the game: there's things.

M

Like design and estimating contingencies in there um there's construction contingencies that are.

M

You know probably totaling about 12 percent, we're also carrying one year of escalation of about five.

M

Percent in those numbers, so ideally could it be. You know five percent less sure it could be five.

M

Percent more depending on the market, we don't know. What we do know is just over the course of.

M

What we've seen in the construction market over the last several years.

M

These costs are escalating at about five to seven percent per year, so you know pushing this another.

M

Year or two years I just have an inflation cost, roughly a million bucks. So if we were.

M

To break ground four years from now, three years from now, there is a cost factor that that comes.

M

From that now that doesn't also take into account some restabilization of the construction market.

M

That could say maybe we'll get lucky, but I'm not going to gamble on that right now. So um that's.

M

Essentially, where we landed with that, we feel good with the numbers. We feel pretty confident with.

M

With with where that lands, we benchmarked against. Obviously uh the kent county ymca, which was a gmp.

M

Guaranteed maximum price about 18 months ago, that's been escalated about 20 25, a square foot.

M

uh Since then, and then the new y in urbana, maryland and iamsville actually.

M

Escalated out that was a gmp in early 2020 opened in april, escalate that out. That was about.

M

270 a square foot when we came into it so happy to take any questions on the budget.

A

Questions: anyone no okay, great continue so in terms of um next steps. Really at this point in.

M

The game we put our pencils down and really allow the funding blend to catch up right, which means.

M

We don't want to hire an architect to go out and start drawing a 21 million.

M

Project, if we think we're going to have 19 or 20, you know 0.1, because we're wasting.

M

Money right because then we have to pay them to draw it again when we need to bring it in.

M

To budget, so the first thing we do is obviously a go. No go is this something we want to pursue.

M

We let the funding plan, the capital stack catch up uh where the dollars are coming from.

M

Within there, at which point we really look at capital uh project team formation.

M

Which is hiring a local architecture team and when I say local, it could be somewhere in the state. I.

M

Don't think you want to go outside of pennsylvania west virginia. We have a lot of great talented.

M

Architects in the state of maryland in here hiring the the construction manager or general contractor.

M

Formerly, I prefer those folks at the table at the same time, doing a construction manager at.

M

Risk but you know, obviously the county has certain guidelines in terms of rfps and things like that.

M

Of which you can you know, there's many different ways to slice it, but forming the local team that.

M

Will take the documents from the current state and basically put them into a permitting format.

M

You know construction documents that can be bid locally.

M

At which point you're, looking at construction, you know somewhere, you know nine to 12 months from now,.

M

um If you go to the next slide, we'll share that um the timeline so we're pretty much finished up.

M

With the boxes that are in uh magenta, the yellow is kind of in that you know in between funding.

M

Phase and then from there what we'll do is we'll have that repriced by the selected.

M

Party refine the schematics ever so slightly and then get into the design documentation.

M

Construction documents, parting and approvals bidding and finally, construction, which we.

M

Think will take about 14 to 15 months, so long story short starting tomorrow.

M

You're, looking at about you know two years to be open with the center, so.

H

Let me just interject something real fast, uh this 12 months before starting constructions. I think.

H

Is very important because we've talked about if we can qualify for earmarks or qualify for.

H

Some kind of state money, some kind of grants to help they talk about shovel, ready and that's been.

H

Talked to be 12 to 14 months, so I'm glad to hear 12 months now you indicated back in november that.

H

A lot of times your schematics can almost be qualified as shovel ready. What's been, your.

H

Experience with that yeah I mean definitely we've for a lot of new market tax credits.

M

um You know federal earmarks. um You just have to show us a certain level of completion.

M

Because, most of the time, these entities want to know that the project is.

M

Is real and so the upfront commitment that shows that the planning that goes into it.

M

The sources and uses is usually enough to to start that conversation now. Sometimes, when you.

M

Get the architect on board, you might have them go through design development, which is essentially.

M

Taking our plans putting some engineering to them, but even then it's no more than really.

M

A month or two of work to be able to get to that point, but we've had problems. We've had very good.

M

To success to qualify our shovel ready a couple weeks ago, commissioner, president guy.

H

And I went to the chestertown and very impressive facility, thank you and that's kind of what you.

H

See happening here right, yes, so I guess my thought process is you're, not reintroducing something new.

H

You've already got a proven model. I've been involved with a company called sheets and.

H

Autozone, what they do they poured out of a can when they come in to do something they know.

H

Everything they need so with that said, uh you know, space space allocations are different. You.

L

Know this y is going to serve twice as many people as the y in chester town, and so when you look at.

L

There's there's another group exercise: room, bigger spaces, larger wellness areas, so the reallocation.

L

Of space is really tied directly to the market study. That's where I was going. I saw this thing.

H

About 14 000 square feet versus 7 200 square feet right so you're recommending the 14 000 for us or.

H

The 72. well right now under the current schematic, the the large double gem isn't in the design.

L

So we we reallocated space to make sure that um multiple purpose spaces for programs and the.

L

Wellness area was large enough to accommodate. You know eight to ten thousand people. Okay, so.

H

We're not giving anything up if we don't go with the 14 000. correct. It's just a little smaller.

L

Gym right, yeah, okay, now my next thing is and I'll ask you to expound on this. We of course have our.

H

Own procurement, department and I'll use the term it can be cumbersome sometime. We have rules, we.

H

But we've done things out of the box per se when we got a grant a few years back and we gave it to.

H

The navy alliance to let them do the actual construction, because they were a little bit.

H

More nimble and they were a little quicker now. Do you have that same capacity with.

H

You know your experts, your people, you've used. I think it's better to use people who have already.

H

Been doing it versus bringing in people who have to learn it yeah we're not tied to the.

L

Same procurement, processes that you are, and so when we look at building an architectural team and.

L

Connecting our general contractor to where they're all at the table at the same time to brian's point.

L

We've had tremendous success at that because if you're gonna find ways to for like a better.

L

Word value engineer and make that facility as efficient as possible. You want to get those teams.

L

Together as quickly as you can and so yeah, you know to date, every y that we're in we've built.

L

um Even why, like the y in queen ends, county that will have a queen ends county senior center in it.

L

The ymca and st michaels that has a talmud county senior center in it, the y.

L

Led that process um for numerous reasons, but mainly in that we were able to.

L

Navigate that process with maybe a little less red tape. Okay, lead to my last question at this time.

H

If we were to turn this over to you guys to build, obviously we have the accountability.

H

To taxpayer that we can build it for whatever we think we can build it. I heard your points about.

H

Escalating and this, and that and last thing anybody wants to talk about- is cost overruns.

H

So are there any safeguards built in that? If we get involved in this kind of relationship.

H

That we don't have to have cost overruns that we didn't see coming well. I think I think, if.

L

The county builds it and it's a county-owning facility and the y is raising money as a part.

L

Of supporting that project and paying for it if there's overruns, it's on the county's dime, because.

L

It's your building, suppose you build it. So if we build it, I think what we would need to do is come.

L

To an agreement around uh to brian's point what the funding model is, if there's cost overruns past.

L

That that isn't entailed with you saying I want to change your 10 000 square foot, bigger building the.

L

Why would the y would be on the hook to make that happen? We would keep you in the loop. Obviously it.

L

Also, a lot of that boils down to timing right so for four years down the road we're going to have.

L

To go back in price and see what that looks like yeah the process that we found that works the most.

M

Effectively is that that construction manager at risk with the guaranteed maximum price, because.

M

From the y standpoint, there's no going back to the well to get more funds. We have 15 million dollars.

M

And that's it and it doesn't help us if we save half a million, you know and it, but it hurts us.

M

If we, if we spend over half a million, because if we saved half a million by going out to a design.

M

Bid build, we would have spent it anyway. So when we look to select the cm pay for precon services,.

M

Which is them sitting at the table? Pricing this with us along the way as we're designing it.

M

Their job is to keep that in track and at the end of the design process, they the the the contract, is.

M

A guaranteed maximum price, if it's a dollar over, that's on them right and there's contingencies,.

M

Built in there for escalation and some things like that, but by the time you get to that point.

M

The contracts are locked in the materials purchased and you're good to go.

M

Within there that does traditionally fall in line with county requirements that everything's bid so.

M

What you would do is bid the construction manager first put five to seven firms against each other.

M

You're going to judge them based on overhead and profit as a percentage of the cost of construction.

M

Pre-Construction fees and general conditions- you know the cost per month to build the building.

M

Judge all that hire that person do the same thing with the architect.

M

They design and work together on the building. You know if it's 20 million, we got 20 million.

M

That's the goal, we're all making decisions all in the same room, open book and by the time we get to.

M

The bidding process you're not necessarily bidding one party, that's bringing all the subs in.

M

That one party- that's you- know, contracted for five percent of the cost of the project or whatever.

M

Is bidding out to the 30 trades and it's their job to pick you know, hvac contractor a because.

M

Their numbers a little bit better, hkc, contra or you know, plumbing contractor b. That's got.

M

A little bit in line to deliver that project in there, so it's been very efficient um for us.

M

It's it's. We do it on 98.5 of the y's that we build across the country and and to your point.

M

Earlier about procurement networks and things like that, we we lump all y's under one bot. You.

M

Know pot, that's not to say that all wise are the same because they are vastly different and they.

M

Reflect the communities that we build in, but the gymnasium you know the game lines of basketball.

M

Don't change whether you're in maryland or indiana or california they're all the same right.

M

The flooring, you know might come from one manufacturer or another.

M

But we want to treat wise when we, when we build these, that you're getting the benefit that you do.

M

Have for our sheets that are building a hundred buildings because we build about 50 a year.

M

So we're buying sherwin-williams paint at 45 or 45 less we're buying tile at 30 less because.

M

We're looking at bulk contracts within there, and that only is when it makes sense. You know to to.

M

Bring the cost down, we can get local sources that are just as good and better quality or or.

M

The less cost than by all means we're gonna, do it. So it's it's been a it's been a good system.

M

We open a new y about every three weeks and we're constantly trying to drive down the cost, because.

M

These buildings are very impactful and if we can design a building the right way um as.

M

Robbie mentioned the last time. The goal is really that nobody's turned away from a y based on their.

M

Ability to pay- and it comes from you know the upfront cost. What you spend to operate it and and.

M

uh How you, how efficient your your business plan is.

A

Anything else, commissioners, no, no sounds good.

H

What do you need from us yeah? So I think I think, to brian's point.

L

The next real step would be: are we a go or a no-go and if we're a go, which you guys voted.

L

To say we were ago and that's super exciting. The next step is, is us working together to.

L

Develop our what our funding plan looks like and then from there. I think, there's probably.

L

Some other questions to answer around who's, going to build it who's going to own it. What's.

L

The relationship, some small, you know some more in the weeds questions around. What's the relationship.

L

With the the current facility, uh that's there with the new ymca just some stuff like that, so.

L

Probably another meeting, maybe in closed session, to just hammer out some logistics but.

L

Outside of that, that's really the next step is go or no go, and it sounds like we're there on.

L

That so now, it's really working together to figure out what the funding model looks like.

H

One last thing this thing gets built and for some reason- or we don't know who you guys are.

H

Running it and it gets tore up demolished, it gets run down. What's your contingencies, to avoid that.

L

Yeah I mean you saw the wine chestertown, we're not.

L

We're in it to win it, we've hired uh tony sigmund who's there wave 30., so tony's our vice president.

L

Of financial development uh long time uh why colleague, of mine 34 years of experience on the y.

L

He's helping us with fundraising in queen anne's county right now, we've seen some escalation in.

L

That project that project went from 16 million to 20 million and so we're trying to button that up.

L

If and when we're in a position to move forward here, tony would relocate to saint mary's county.

L

And would be our lead staff here, working to with local volunteers, not only to raise the.

L

Funds necessary, but then operate and lead the way tony's been a ceo of the ymca for 20 plus years. So.

L

The most important piece of it is that you've got the right staff in the right place to make sure.

L

The y is successful and then you build a strong volunteer base around it being a part of the.

L

Ymca, the chesapeake working organization, as I've said before, that has been in existence in 1857.

L

So we're not going anywhere we're blessed to have a an endowment that provides uh it's.

L

About a 12 million endowment that provides some resources annually to ensure that the.

L

Ymca is not only financially sound but able to provide financial assistance, so, as you saw in.

L

Chestertown, that y in 45 days has 3 700 members, there's only 5 000 people that live in chestertown.

L

And 20 in the whole county, and if you go there, you see everyone there. One of our volunteers said.

L

It was like our town was asleep and then the y opened and everyone woke up and decided to.

L

Hang out together for the first time ever and so that's possible, because when you walk in.

L

There, regardless of your financial capacity, you're able to participate as a member, just like someone.

L

Who could pay in full, and so our our model is, is designed in a way that it's it's the front.

L

Porch of the community, and we were designed in a way to make sure that we can sustain that work.

L

For the next hundred years, we're very fiscally sound and that we put money away for maintenance.

L

Reserves every year to make sure we can take care of facilities. We've got a board of volunteers, just.

L

Like yourself, that will be here long past my time as a leader, the staff leader of this group,.

L

That are brilliant individuals, just like yourself that make sure that they are the.

L

The wise always positioned and prepared to meet any particular community needs so.

L

That's not an issue we've ever run into, nor will we based upon the leadership that we.

L

Have at the volunteer and staff level again what we've uh voted a couple weeks ago was.

H

Financial, detailed impact was 16.9 million. Remember that's our number, so you need to help.

L

Yeah, I'm confident you know that we can raise the two and a half million or a little more probably.

L

In the community phase and then we've had success at the state level, the governor is attending the.

L

Ribbon cutting on friday march, the 4th and he's been a big advocate in support of the y.

L

And I think he would articulate you know he just put this 50 million dollars for economic.

L

Development in rural counties are you the chair of that tri-county council? I am there, you go so.

L

Logistically, when you think about job skills, creation and community development, ymcas can.

L

Be transformational in rural communities that particular pot of money in these five.

L

Areas would be an area that we should look at we're talking about it in queen ends, county.

L

And dorchester county because when you think about the we've hired 60 people in.

L

In chestertown, uh in the last 60 days, this wild employee well over a hundred, uh it's.

L

A great can't pick a better place and better place to work, whether you're it's your first.

L

Job or a retirement job or just a supplemental income, it's a way to give back to your community.

L

And then the collective work that wide will do and the value of the. Why being here, which is.

L

Something we've heard a long time around. How do we hold on to the folks that are here on a on.

L

A time sensitive uh work schedule in relation to the base in this, or that the y is going to create.

L

An anchor point or commu a community anchor point that will hold people in this county long term.

L

So when you think about economic development, the y will be a benefit in that regard as well.

J

So I I appreciate it, I think, we're past the sales pitch at this point. We've uh we've voted.

J

You know um so there's there's that now the from the risk management point of view.

J

Sitting on the legit board, local government, insurance, trust and believe it or not, the.

J

County administrator out there- and kent is one of my colleagues on that board. Shelly keller, so.

J

I don't see why the county would want to own that building the the risk side for the the pool would.

J

Be through the roof not only that, but the building maintenance and everything else that would go with.

J

The utilities, those are something that long term it wouldn't make sense if we're looking at it from.

J

A public-private partnership- that's that's where it would go. Commissioner hughes made at least in.

J

My opinion from the risk management side- I don't understand why we would get involved in in that at.

J

All plus it I just think it becomes cumbersome and burdensome in the future who's going to fix what.

J

How is it going to get fixed and it just doesn't make sense? I agree completely, sir, um so the.

J

From that point, commissioner, cuba made the point: there's uh there's a capital improvement project.

J

Sheet, you know, and I think that our finance department is able to get with you, provide that.

J

Show you where the budget's laid out and go from there, so what I, what I want to avoid is the hiccup.

J

That it's back on the commissioners to yet make another decision. I think we've made a decision.

J

As a board, I think the funding is there and I I just want to hear what the next step from the. Why.

J

Is to make it happen, I know there's some finer details that have to be discussed but sure yeah.

L

So I looked at the cip budget that was in there from your meeting in february early february.

L

So you've got you've got plenty of money. That's allocated for.

L

Architectural fees and engineering fees that will handle it it's a little over a million dollars.

L

Last I saw that was maybe 10.3 in the cip 16.9. I think as commissioner who just said so if that.

L

Number is there, then we're we're all good to go. Okay, yeah. Our finance department can provide that.

J

That's what I, what I would suggest, commissioners with your approval, is that my office.

C

uh Get involved with uh department of public works and transportation in a procurement.

C

And finance office and possibly have like a teams meeting or something in the next week or two with.

C

Brian and robbie- and we start going through some of these details and.

E

That sounds good, yes, good yeah. If that's in place and we're good to go, then we would we would go.

L

Ahead and work from a y staffing standpoint on our board, approving this being a wipe part of the.

L

Ymca the chesapeake and then our staffing strategy, working on, as brian said, with the chart securing.

L

Bidding out securing architectural firm as well as construction, firm and begin working on the process.

L

Well, after all this work, I really hope your board goes for it too yeah. They no, no doubt and um some.

L

Of those folks have gotten a chance to meet you guys over the years, and um you know they're.

L

They're very they know the impact the. Why can have in the community and they're supportive for sure.

L

One of the things I want you to keep in mind on the board of volunteers that you mentioned is.

J

uh Since this is going to have an impact throughout the county on the community.

J

um Obviously, a pool being there there's going to be school activities that are going to be involved.

J

And the parks and rec department for saint mary's county, while you have board membership, I'd like to.

J

See that there's two allocated seats on that board as we navigate this for the board of.

J

Education, a board of education, member and a parks and rec member to be on that board to collaborate.

J

Whether it's ex officio or they're a voting member, however, it is, but I think it's going to.

J

Be important to ingrain them into the community effort. That's a part of the entire county. Okay,.

A

And we're hoping your finance person here can generate more funds, privately he's a superstar.

A

He convinced me last time we've met with him. He is so. We hope he'll come here and increase.

A

The private sector and help us out on this, I think, you'll, find the excitement of you y'all support at.

L

This level will absolutely help that process. Great yeah, I'm hoping people out the community will step.

A

Up and work with this, I have no doubt you got a lot of dedicated people in this community. That's.

J

Great, my goal is obviously there's money allocated in the budget right now. That is, it's barely.

J

Tax based uh throughout the county, if we can allocate those grants, get that internet funding.

J

Lower the the amount that's being allocated out of the capital improvement budget and still meet the.

J

Goals and then we can reallocate that money in our budget to other projects that are necessary in the.

J

County it'd be much appreciated and you know just think you need to get going where you're going.

J

No, absolutely absolutely, I totally agree very good, very good. You have a question commissioners.

A

No, we thank you for coming today. Yeah. This is great our information and uh I think.

A

We're ready to move forward with this. We do it appreciate you excited. I'm excited to see this.

L

Is going to be a great thing for take you off the eastern shore for a while.

L

You'll have a wonderful afternoon. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, and next on the agenda is from the.

C

Department of finance board of education, request, approval of fiscal year 2022 budget amendment and.

C

Ms cudmore and I see miss uh karen, miss mccourt is here as well. The court yes, okay,.

B

Good morning, commissioners welcome, ladies good morning, we are here with the board of.

B

Education on a budget amendment to increase their food service fund by 1.5 million.

B

And I have here with me tammy mccourt and megan doran, who will go over the details. Thank you. Good.

N

Morning, thank you for your time this morning, um just to provide you a little background next slide.

N

Please, free meals became available to all students at the beginning, the pandemic on march 17th 2020.

N

The usda reimbursement is being provided on a per meal basis, whereas prior to the pandemic,.

N

Starting it was provided based on our farms, counts, our free and reduced meals, eligibility.

N

Usda has increased the reimbursement rate effective the beginning of january 2022.

N

Recognizing the increased food and operational costs that we've been seeing locally.

N

Per the usda, this is a 22 percent increase as compared to the pre-pandemic reimbursements.

N

We are providing daily breakfast lunch, snack and take-home meals.

N

To all the students next slide, please, mr rand, so going into this school year, we weren't sure what.

O

To expect, with all students being back in the classroom and meals being free to all students.

O

So, as you can see, our breakfast participation has remained pretty level this year next slide. Please.

O

However, our lunch participation has increased significantly. If you go to the next slide. Please.

O

We also provide daily snack and take-home meals through the waivers through the usda.

O

Previous years, we have not been able to do. This, they've only been at risk schools, so it was area.

O

Eligible schools, so this year we have increased, as you can see um very very significantly at the.

O

Beginning of the pandemic, we weren't sure you know what the participation was going.

O

To be we're very excited to see so many kids participating right now we are averaging around.

O

Nine um 9 000 students participating in lunch daily, which is a significant increase from.

O

Previous years, which was around 7 500, so we have really seen great participation and are.

O

Able to feed a lot of students, the take-home meals have been really beneficial for a lot of.

O

Students where, in the past, like I said they were only provided to students that stayed.

O

After school for at-risk programs, so we are able to provide those meals for the individual.

O

Students to have the availability, how does that work? First in the schools, do the students have.

E

To register in advance, or is it just every day, whoever gets in line to get a lunch gets a lunch.

O

So a lot of schools do it differently. uh You know our elementary schools. They do have like a.

O

Lunch count so the kids come in in the morning the teachers say: are you eating lunch today.

O

They give the counts to our cafeteria managers: high school middle school. It's um different. They.

O

Just they go in and and get their lunch, it makes it very nice to be able to have.

O

Them free meals, available for everyone, for if this, for the students that forget their lunch, um you.

O

Know that in the past that has uh been difficult for kids that didn't have money on their lunch.

O

Accounts if they were a paid student now they can come through and and get lunch free free of.

O

Charge so it does help a lot with those, so every student gets a free launch, regardless of their.

A

Income level or anything there's no take advantage of it. Apparently everybody every.

O

Student is eligible yes and that's for all meal periods. That's breakfast lunch and then also the.

O

Take-Home meals, wow well I mean it's funded by usda. Right, that's correct! Oh I mean why not yeah.

A

Right, that's not true. I moved to approve the board of educators requests of an fy22 budget amendment.

J

For the food service fund and the amount of 1.5 million dollars for funding from the usda second.

E

Discussion, just the only concern is what happens when the funds dry up once students start to rely.

E

On this even more well, at this point, the usda is providing this for the remainder of this school.

N

Year and so there's no concern with regard to this school year, we haven't received formal any formal.

N

Communication with regard to next school year: well, you do get pharma reduced, prem, reduced meals for.

H

That's a program that goes on nearly exactly I mean it's been going on.

H

I know when I was in there back in the happening: school was 25 cents, yeah, probably yeah, no bottom.

H

Line that's been going on forever for lunch. Thank god we got it so worst case. Would we be reverting.

N

Back to what we had in place before, okay do we have a first and second on this all in favor, hi.

A

Hi any opposed nice. Thank you all very much. Thank you, commissioners. Thank you. Next, commissioners is.

C

Item d from the department of finance, which is the award recommendation for asphalt overlay for.

C

uh Current year, 2022 with uh brandon hayden from procurement good morning good morning, we're here.

P

Seeking concurrence to award calendar year, 2022 asphalt overlay projects which represents the.

P

Second, half of fy22 and the first half of fy23 projects. This process allows for our contractor to.

P

Continue working on paving projects during prime summer months, the asphalt overlay solicitation.

P

Was posted to the emerald marketplace advantage on december 22nd, where 310 potential bidders.

P

Were notified of the solicitation additional bidders were notified by county website.

P

No pre-bid meeting was held. One amendment was posted to answer questions and respond to requests.

P

For additional information, five bids were received before the bid opening date of january 26th.

P

We're here seeking award concurrence to aggregate industries in an amount estimated at 2 598.

P

725 for asphalt overlay projects to be completed in calendar year, 2022.

P

Subject to receipt and acceptance of contract related documents, as well as sufficient.

P

Appropriations for fy23 projects, which will be encumbered to a purchase order after july 1.

H

I see a lot of these projects on here and I'm supporting this so, but I do wonder about.

H

How they get selected, is it based upon the amount of traffic counts, or is it based.

H

On because I know we have a lot of roads in saint mary's county that people live on and.

H

There's no sidewalks there's only one lane and then that road gets ignored or those roads gets.

H

Ignored for a long long time in other roads that have sidewalks and have these, they get paved.

H

It just doesn't make any sense to me yeah, I, my understanding, that's handled at public works, but.

P

I believe they rate the asphalt surfaces and repave based on the need and the wear of the.

P

Particular roads and surfaces I've requested a meeting with the new public works director.

H

As soon as he's available to discuss these types of things, so I see the five companies that.

E

Bid and looks like the last one was non-responsive, but they would have actually been the lowest cost.

E

One had they been responsive, that's correct and that's that's what I was.

P

Trying to do so, they failed to submit proper bid paperwork. All right. I was trying to want.

J

I'm looking in board docks. Is it in a separate document, because I I don't see the companies.

J

That bid it was a confidential document. Yeah there's a confidential one. It's probably not.

A

Even board docs, that's on the vid tally. Okay, all right uh aggregate: where are they based out of.

J

Greenbelt all right, but their overarching company is um they're a worldwide company.

P

Right have asphalt plant in waldorf right. Do we have any local companies? Thank you. Thank you.

P

They're also last year, service provider right.

J

Yeah, this doesn't have the list on it.

H

Pork come on any more questions you can get. Mr, I move to authorize the.

H

Procurement officer to award the asphalt overlay services contract for calendar year, 2022.

H

To aggregate industries in the amount estimated to exceed 1 million dollars, subject to receipt.

H

And acceptance of contract related documents second have a first and second, all in favor, aye.

A

Any opposed no eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, commissioners, and the.

C

Last item on county administrator time is from the department of recreation and parks for legislative.

C

Bond grant agreement sports complex, complex, rp 1904, mr art shepherd preside, presenting presiding.

Q

Whoa all right, let me give you a brief timeline for this uh legend legislative.

Q

Bond grant agreement uh so remember in 2019, we've been over this before, where we had the.

Q

The economic and market analysis for uh sports complex that proved out to be a viable thing.

Q

Then november 24th of 2020, you commissioners sent a letter um of support to this 150 000.

Q

For a grant, then, just this past december 7th, you approve the grant application. So here's the.

Q

Next step is: there's a bond grant agreement and you have that in your packet. That's what.

Q

I'm asking to authorize this morning: they were in touch with us again yesterday wanting to.

Q

Know about the receipt of this you're signing that authorizing that 150 000 it's two years to.

Q

Have to decide if we're going to match the grant in seven years to spend it and all.

Q

Matters related to a potential sports complex, so I'm asking for your authorization of the agreement.

J

I moved to approve the and authorized commissioner president assigned the legislative bond grant.

J

Agreement from the state of maryland in the amount of 150 000 awarded to the concept design of the st.

J

Mary's county sports, complex second discussion, so we're not committed to putting money towards this.

H

Grant, if we take this 150, do we I'm looking at this 202.? Do we have to spend additional monies.

Q

Well, if you look on, if you look at on page one number, three.

Q

It says grantee for fail if they're taken back, provide evidence of the required matching fund.

Q

Which is none at this time or no part of the project is under contract.

Q

By six one, two thousand twenty eight, but as we know, it's not used for study. But a hundred and.

Q

Fifty thousand, if there is an additional funds, aren't going to get us, but so far.

Q

Right so I look at this sport complex the same as I look at the ymca now so parks and rec and.

J

Facilities for people to play so one happens. The other happens now. Hopefully, it'll move forward.

P

Any more discussion.

A

We have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye, aye,.

A

Any disapprovals hijab. Thank you much appreciate it. Thank you, mr shepherd. Next.

C

Up is from the office of the county attorney legislative updates, mr john hauser, presenting.

A

Very big package housing- I got a big packet here what's going on so I'm conscious of time- and I.

R

Know I've said this before, but I will do my best to get through today with as much dispatch and.

R

More dispatch than usual, but uh we'll do our best here there was an old cw5 in the army that I used.

J

To fly with and every time you go out and do pre-flight, he'd say brevity, gentlemen, brevity.

R

That in mind, I won't feel guilty. If I just say bills.

R

Starting off the three main categories of bills, we usually talk about on these um tracking the.

R

Status, the saint mary's county commissioner bills that the delegation moved forward a prize in the.

R

County commissioners of all requests for support or opposition of specific legislation, we've.

R

Received either from within county government or from citizens or other outside groups, and then the.

R

Third and usually largest category, just general legislation of interest, a very first one, is.

R

The saint mary's county commissioner bills: no updates no movement on any of those five. We do.

R

Have hearings scheduled for this afternoon on the update to the human relations commission, language.

R

Hb 516, as well as changing the definition of a newspaper in general circulation for.

R

H.P 523, taking out the requirement that a newspaper needs to be distributed by.

R

Sale for it to be a paper record in st mary's county have a prize delegate morgan's office at.

R

The talking points on both he doesn't um has not requested anything more I'll, be offering.

R

Testimony on both as well just offer that and but we will see where those go and move forward. The.

R

I don't think we're expecting any difficulty with the human relations language moving forward.

R

We have heard that there are questions that have been raised by staff attorneys up the road on hb.

R

523 that there's going to be some resistance to that bill. Based on the belief that if we.

R

Take out the requirement that it be distributed by sale, that's going to open up legal notices.

R

Being legally permissible in uh very specific general interest publications, the example given.

R

Was the real estate magazines that show up in every supermarket as an example, I looked at.

R

The language I don't see it- I haven't seen the analysis from the staff attorneys on that one.

R

Just that is what we've heard through the grapevine on that one, though check expectations.

R

Now, moving on for requests for letters of support, slash opposition, the first one to talk about on.

R

Memo one is the package of cyber security bills that we've been talking about for some time now,.

R

A director kelly from it raised the um some flags on this one pretty much from the beginning of this.

R

Session that there's a number of legislative pieces making its way through that take.

R

Local control on cyber security issues and centralize them in the maryland cyber security.

R

Coordinating council and start implementing statewide standards, mako has been working with.

R

Senator hester and the other bill's various sponsors on this one. The position we're at right.

R

Now is that mako's universal stance on almost all these bills that they support with amendments.

R

They have not offered those text amendments yet, but I reached out with mom dominic butchko is.

R

The mako analyst assigned to almost all of these, if not all of them. He assured us last week that.

R

Bill sponsors have been receptive and they continue to anticipate major changes coming.

R

On this legislation, so the recommendation right now would be to continue our wait and see approach.

R

Taken make those representations in word that these promise changes will in fact be coming.

R

Good next one is a request to support on sb 830, slash, hb 1228, natural resources, oysters.

R

Spat shells and substrate: this is a request we received from brian height of via donna sasser.

R

The agricultural commission, long and short of this bill is that it would repeal a tax credit.

R

Program, that's been in place for some years now for oyster shell recycling and replace it with a.

R

Series of grants and other state funding towards oyster shell recycling efforts, substrate research.

R

There's a sir um sub-aquatic survey of subsurface oyster shells: that's provided in there the uptake.

R

Of it is that brian height personally supports it. Adona sasser believes that the watermen as a whole.

R

Support it, though, I have not received any communication from the local.

R

Watermen's association per se on that just representation of mr height and statement that.

R

uh He believes these are the sentiments of the local watermen. I will note also that, on this bill,.

R

Senator bailey is a co-sponsor of it in the senate, as are delegates clark and crosby in the house.

A

Okay, we need a motion to support hb, 1217, natural resources, oyster inspection, severance.

G

Taxes and approve increase and to approve and authorize the commission of presidents.

G

To sign letters of support to house and submit senate committees for hearings on these bills,.

G

If I may we're not saying or is that the next one, that's the next one we're.

R

Commissioner, morgan sb, eight thirty and eight thirty, uh twelve twenty eight well back.

J

I was gonna say I'll second, it because I think, there's support for it anyway. So I'll start, let.

G

Me, okay, let me do the first one. Let me get take care of mr heights bill. I moved to support sba.

G

During hp, 1220 natural resources, oysters spat shells and substrate and approved the.

G

Unauthorized, commissioner president sign letters, support to the house and senate committees.

G

Second, have a first, second, all in favor aye, any opposed guys have it next all right. Next one is hb.

R

1217 also dealing with um um oyster harvest. This request was also received from brian height that.

R

Again, the information and communications indicates suggests that local watermen are in favor of this.

R

One, but don't have anything more than something from mr height and a personal respect on that. One.

R

This one takes the export tax that is levied on oysters shipped in the shell to any place outside.

R

The state from 30 cents to one dollar it increases the severance tax on oysters caught within.

R

Natural oyster bars in the state of maryland, from one dollars to two dollars per bushel.

R

And then requires that a certain portion of the increased tax revenue generated under these tax.

R

Increases be allocated to each state that has uh commercial oyster harvesting operations.

E

I don't quite understand this one. Well, I I just don't understand it candidly. I.

R

There's no fiscal and policy note on this one either and requests for more information or on.

R

A clarification from the watermen on this one I have not been answered. I do have from donna.

R

Missasser that they do quote unquote, support this and consider it a tax on themselves. But it's.

R

Actual dollars for dollars fiscal impact on the county and how much money, saint mary's county in.

R

Particular would stand to receive under this. I do not have those figures handy or accessible to me.

G

I don't understand completely. I do know that there is a major impetus for the lack of shell.

G

And there has to be a way to get it. Manico, there's a manic coke, something up in the northern.

G

Baltimore county area that probably has more shell than you could ever imagine to replenish.

G

Our beds, baltimore county, refuses to let them take the oyster shell out to replenish oyster shell in.

G

The bay to promote the growth of natural oysters, which is just a that's, a problem up the road.

G

And I can tell the delmarva fisheries and everyone are livid, with the fact that they.

G

Can't get enough straight or substrate to put down to get the spat, and it's all sitting there.

G

And baltimore kaya doesn't want to go to go so um brian I've known for a number of years.

G

He's one of the local watermelons down your way uh on in your district, I'll put it on 235, and I.

G

Think he's doing everything he can with the local watermen to support natural oysters right water.

A

And this is trying to prohibit oyster shells from going outside the state somewhere else.

A

Because I put a higher tax on it, trying to keep the shelves locally and distributed locally.

J

I moved to support hp, 1217, natural resources, oyster inspection, severance taxes, increase and.

J

To approve and authorize commission president's sign letter to support the house and senate.

J

Committees for hearings on this bill. Second, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye,.

A

Any opposed nice next next request is a request to support hp, 1019 sb 838. This would be a straight.

R

Line budget increase in the amount that the maryland state department of transportation.

R

Increases for funding for elderly and handicapped transportation services for.

R

County emergency services: this request was forwarded us by allison swint at our local.

R

Department of public works and transportation, the transportation association of maryland was.

R

Supporting the requesting the department's support and testimony on this bill.

R

We, of course, send it to you. Ms swinton did note that the money that we received from.

R

The state currently for these services is 131 052 dollars annually and that has been stagnant for.

R

Approximately the last two decades- and this will be the first enhancement of those funds received.

J

I moved to support house bill 1019 senate bill, 838 transportation, elderly and handicapped.

J

Transportation service, county funding and to approve an authorized commission.

J

President signed letter support to the house and senate committees for hearings on these bills.

P

Second, I have a first and second, all in favor, aye, aye aye, any opposed nice.

R

If she desires, I presume there would be no complaint from the commissioners ms swint desires, to testify in support of this bill. How about it? Yeah.

R

Next one hb 1187 sb 726: this is a reallocation of state highway user revenues from the gasoline.

R

And motor vehicle revenue account, this would increase the local local county's share of.

R

Highway user revenue statewide from 1.5 percent of the current revenues from that fund to 3.2 percent.

R

The request was received from mako on all points bulletin, requesting every county support and.

R

Testimony in favor of it, this is probably our best chance of getting an increase in our highway user.

A

Fund ever I moved to support hb 1187 backslash, sb, 726 transportation, highway user revenues.

H

Revenue and distribution, and to approve and authorize commissioner president, to sign letters.

H

Of support to house and senate committees for this hearings on this bill. Second, discussion with the.

H

Price of gas going up. Lord knows: we've got to be collecting more and higher use of revenues.

H

Have we have you guys that mako seen anything on this, so I'm go ahead? Please I was only going.

R

To say that, I'm not aware of the figures myself and I'm thumbing through looking for the fiscal.

R

And policy note to see it, but I my expectation would be. I doubt that we're able to estimate.

R

The action there's a number I'll be testifying on that bill at the senate.

G

Next week, I'm in commission the video on the zoom on thursday there isn't a number.

G

Because we don't we don't, as you clearly point out, the price of gas is going up astronomically now.

G

And then you also have the issue of electric vehicles and the argument that's being made now.

G

Is okay? You want more electrical vehicles on the road, they don't use gasoline, but they use.

G

The road, so what are you gonna? How do we? What are we going to do to have electric vehicles.

G

Pay their fair share for highway user revenue when they're not using gas. What's the answer.

G

What what's the well the answer? There's no answer up there, except that we want to be green and we.

G

Want to have electric vehicles, but it's also the only answer we got from there. We had a brief room.

A

From the department of defense last week and make uh mr ron forts, I mean mr reports and uh I asked.

A

Him that statement I said: what are you doing about electric vehicles? He said they have a panel. That's.

A

Looking at it and it's reviewing it and they don't know what they're going to do yet, but.

A

I know that there's companies like amazon who's ordered thousands and thousands of new electric.

A

Trucks to do delivery says too. Yes, thousands. So uh he said they have a commission looking at it.

A

That's all you said the gist of this bill. It's an election year bill and it has numerous supporters.

G

From both the republican and democrats, sides of the house, in both the house and the senate,.

G

This is, as commissioner guy said, our last chance, particularly to go. Get this highway resident.

G

Use of revenue back in being able to double what we get back from 1.5 would say. John.

G

uh Three point: 3.2 percent yeah: we double it's it's clearly in our best interest to.

G

Go and support this good and we'll get it back while there's plenty of money.

E

And they'll take it away in a couple of years when things dry up, you know you gotta, take what you can.

G

When you exactly figure it right now, take it back. Take it right now, franklin, irons, hot. Yes, all right.

A

Because the president president, actually hogan's, been trying for years to do something.

A

It just hasn't worked yeah right, so this is our best chance. We're both testifying.

A

Next week, on them, okay, I have a first and second, all in favor aye any opposed nice.

R

Next, three requests for support come to us from the st mary's county farm bureau. First, one up.

R

Is sb 497, hb 592? This would allow in my notes, I refer to this one as the deer slaying bill.

R

Under present law, st mary's county on private land, you are allowed to cull deer all season.

R

All year, long with the shotgun or breach loading center-fired rifle, this law would expand. That.

R

Permission to land that is lee state land, at least for agricultural operations, to private citizens,.

R

And would allow them to have the same discretion or lack thereof towards deer year round. The idea.

R

Being that the more deer that are targeted um or called through this bill, the less damage there.

R

Would be to agricultural, for example, newtown neck? I would think so correct. I would think so. Yeah.

J

Yeah, I'm going to support sb497 dear management. Permit hunting on state land leased by permit.

J

Holder authorized authorization and to approve and authorize authorized commission president.

J

To sign letters of support to house and senate committees for hearings on these bills. Second,.

A

I have a first second, all in favor, aye aye, any opposed eyes have a nice little tongue, twister.

J

On that one, by the way, the next two bills are very similar to each other, except for one difference.

R

They are key difference. They are sb 582 and hb 956 natural resources, recreational private land.

R

Hunting sb 582 is sponsored by senator bailey. What it does is um clarify and put in statute.

R

The existing practice and law in st mary's county, which is that, if you invite, if a private landowner.

R

Invites a hunter to come onto their land and again without charge or without deriving any.

R

Economic benefit there from keeping the legal definition of a guest, rather than just an.

R

Invitee then the property owner does not have any liability concerns from the actions of that hunter.

R

Unless again, the private property owner acts maliciously or profits from the.

R

Hunter's actions, by going on there, a senator bailey's clair codifies and sets out that.

R

Existing law, the house, equivalent of the bill that is filed by delegate clark, goes a step farther and.

R

Changes existing liability law by saying that that legal status is conferred with or without charge,.

R

So that, even if you are charging a hunter to come onto your land, if you are profiting from their.

R

Entrance upon your property, if they're satisfying the legal definition of an invitee as opposed to.

R

A guest we are still by statute, obviating the property owner from any liability in a.

R

Negligence or any type of other civil action that could be brought against the hunter by virtue of.

R

The private property owner, allowing them onto the property and carrying out their activities, then.

J

So just a quick question on this one. um Well, I think it's uh logical to say, um wouldn't that that.

J

Person then be conducting a business if they were to charge them, then would that not be applicable.

J

To a business license through st mary's county, if they are charging hunters to utilize land.

J

In game hunting correct so as I look at it legally and I'm again, looking at it from just basic.

R

Black book negligence and what are the responsibilities and duties of a property.

R

Owner towards folks, they have on their property or bring onto their property. Once you start to.

R

Derive a profit from it or derive financial gain or charge people to come on to there.

R

You take your the liability. You implicitly accept raises much more than if you're, just inviting.

R

Someone to come onto your property and use it as they would, but not deriving any direct financial.

R

Benefit from it, so this would be the equivalent of changing that liability law on businesses.

R

For this very limited circumstance of.

R

Folks, inviting hunters to come onto their property and hunt on it.

G

I don't see anything wrong with it yeah. I just worry about the mechanisms in place.

A

We're saying the farmer has no liability if this individual is correct, so we're saying that's.

R

Totally viable for his actions on that property, correct, even if he pays the farmer a fee yearly.

A

To hunt on it he's still liable for his own access right that they are presumed right right and again.

R

That is only in the house version of the bill. The senate version of the bill does not grant anything.

R

About the payment of yes correct, it keeps the status that this only applies to situations where.

R

A hunter comes onto the property without charge, so the farm county bureau has requested support on.

R

Both these bills, but they're seeking two different outcomes, but they would, if they both passed their.

G

Compromise on it somewhere, yeah yeah. I think I guess it's a separate mechanism, then at that point.

J

um Meaning the business license so the business licenses, aside from the actual liability end of.

J

Things so basically, it doesn't matter whether they have a business or not, then that business.

J

Holder right, if they're, obviously, goods for an exchange for a service or whatever I mean money,.

J

In exchange for service or goods, whatever you want to call it um now that business owner would.

J

They still have to meet all the requirements from the county for insurance. It's just saying that it.

J

Doesn't matter what this person does on their property at this point? Yes, looking through it.

R

I'm trying to think that one through looking through it.

R

I don't see where this would affect any other requirements. The county might issue upon it.

R

This is just obviating state common law, state approach to the doctrine of negligence.

R

In general and shouldn't impact and doesn't have any effect upon any county regulations.

R

Requirement for property owner carry insurance to carry on a business license before they start.

R

Profiting from that activity, okay, so there's no impact to that. I see this as only affecting how.

R

The state would treat a state courts would attract a treat. A negligence claim.

R

Okay brought against the property owner. Thank you. Okay. I moved to support senate bill 582 and house.

J

Bill 956 natural resources, recreation on private land hunting and to prove an authorized commission.

J

President signed letter support to the house and senate committees for hearings on these bills.

G

Second, first, this uh for 582 right I've written both senate bill; five, both the same in written.

A

As far as the motion um looks like yes, I'd expect. Yes, one motion all to cover both. I think okay,.

A

The motion to cover 582 and 5 and 956. our first second, all in favor hi hi any opposed nice.

R

Next, one just to keep all of the requests for support together, jumping over to memo two.

R

Hp 633 sb 933. We received this request from delegate clark's office.

R

And this would require change the membership, the accountability and implementation board for the.

R

Kerwin, commission and implementing the blue pit blueprint for maryland's future.

R

Presently there are seven, it's a seven member board on that overseeing that process over the.

R

Next few years there is no representation on that board from western maryland southern maryland or.

R

Eastern shore there's five members correct, there's seven members, four from five big.

G

Counties like two two one one or something like that. It's four for montgomery county three from.

R

Baltimore city, one each from baltimore, county and anne arundel, thank goodness the rural counties.

G

Voted very heavily against this bill for lack of representation. Correct did have a voice vote in.

G

The rural counties had mako opposed the bill and how this bill would address. That problem would.

R

Require that one member, it would up the membership of the committee from seven to 11 members.

R

And one member each would be required from western from western maryland eastern shore.

R

In southern maryland and then three as a whole can be drawn from anne arundel, county baltimore.

R

City, montgomery county, prince george's, county baltimore, county more could be drawn from those.

R

County as well, but at least three would have to come from those five largest jurisdictions.

A

Make a motion on that? I didn't like I'm trying to find where it is here.

G

It should be motion number eight, uh that's uh 640 and 1426 correct.

J

640 hb 14 26. yeah. I moved to support with mako amendments sb640, hp, 1426, primary and.

J

Secondary education, maintenance of effort requirements, alteration, I'm sorry ball. One.

A

Is this uh 160 168? Is that where we skipped one, that's why.

J

We skipped one so all right, I moved to support hb 633 senate bill, 933, education, accountability.

J

And implementation board membership and to approve and authorize commissioner president.

J

To sign letters of support to the house and senate committees for hearing on these bills,.

G

Second, thank you have a first, second, all in favor aye aye opposed. I just have.

R

All right, those are all the bills that we've received from outside the county, attorney's.

R

Office requests for supporter opposition moving on are the bills that either updates from where.

R

We were last week or previous meetings or that we have flagged as perhaps being of interest to the.

R

County commissioners, okay, the first one back to memo number one- is hb 1068 sb113 this bill.

R

As originally formulated in sb, 113 would have required maryland department of environment to.

R

Set up an online tracking system for all septic system permits, statewide.

R

Counties would have been required to report into that system and also had some language.

R

On statewide standards being implemented and applications having to be acted upon, approval or.

R

Denial within two months that received opposition from mako um there's a working group that.

R

Addressed some of those problems, the cross file, hb 1068, addresses much of those problems. There's.

R

No require to submit in this or to participate in this online application tracker anymore and takes.

R

Out most of the more onerous obligations that this law would have placed on local localities.

J

Just a quick question: there's three motions sitting on my screen.

J

And we've moved on to the informational purposes, so our I don't think I missed.

J

The behavioral health ones sb637 house bill 1243 and there's another one. The motion that.

J

I read about sb640 for the maintenance of effort requirements, so were they removed from our packet.

J

Memo number two: okay, so they're, just they're just pushed in and not separated out, no they're, not.

J

Packaged there's memo number recording memo number two yeah. I know I'm just saying the motions aren't.

J

A part of the first briefing then so they're just lumped in with everything else right and I think.

R

Maybe where some of that came is some of these? Just legislation of interest did not anticipate.

R

The commissioners would be as likely to act upon as others, so some of these legislation I.

R

Think have motions that we wrote out and prepared letters to support our opposition. Accordingly, some.

R

Are just in here for informational purposes only and don't have options or letters of.

R

Support already drawn up that might be where problem is coming from as well. Okay, all right.

R

Gotcha, so turning back then to hb 1068 and sb 113 mako opposed the legislation, as originally written.

R

On hb or an sb 113 mako now supports without amendment just flatly supports.

R

Hb 1068 and heather mortz from our county health department, indicated that.

R

If she did that her problems with sb 113 were also addressed in hb 1068.

R

We can issue letters if the county commissioner desire.

R

Or no letter, no letter which one are you on genre, 10, 68, 113.,.

G

Remember one I would oppose this, it's just it's more, even with what we heard a week ago,.

G

The amendments to try to make it more manageable, it's just another.

G

Bureaucratic grant for an add-on, no doubt.

G

You know create another database, do more tracking, uh it hurts the rural counties, particularly.

G

That we oppose this bill check this. You want to do a letter, yeah I'd like to make a letter.

G

That we oppose hb 1068, sb 113 local health departments, environmental health specialists.

G

And ongoing onsite sewage disposal, systems systems, standards, regulations, applications and funding.

A

So because mako is opposing this bill, yeah yeah, they would change all right I'll.

E

Second, that all right got a first second on a letter for this uh hb 168, 1068 and sb113.

A

Got a first second, all in favor aye any opposed how's. That.

R

All right, moving on to the next legislation from memo number one sb 448 hb 685, dealing with an.

R

Increase in the minimum library funding formula, this is a follow-up to a topic that came up.

R

During the commissioner session with mr blackwell last week that we looked into this bill, would.

R

Increase the state of the per capita allocation per student required under.

R

The state minimum library funding formula by a pretty substantial amount over the next few years.

R

This is likely to have the it will, if enacted, have a great impact on state funds that are provided.

R

Under that formula, it is not anticipated, for my calculations does not appear to have any effect.

R

On county allocations, the reason for that is that the state minimum library funding formula sets out.

R

A certain level of funding that each county library system should be guaranteed to have.

R

Set to a per capita um rate of that per capita rate, the state library, library, the state.

R

Minimum formula says the state shall vary certain percentage of it, no less than 40 percent and the.

R

County shall bear a certain percentage of it as well what the custom, or what the actual practice.

R

Is in saint mary's, county and other jurisdictions is that the state provides their minimum amount.

R

The county provides far greater than their minimum amount. So, though, we increase the.

R

Minimum that we required under the formula saint mary's county is already providing per capita.

R

More funding than the increase, then the increase to the minimum funding formula would require by.

R

I think 2030 it would increase state revenue. That is, this is a long story short and you're.

G

100 correct in your analysis is we would get a few more pennies per person based upon the formula.

G

But since we're already funding the library in the terms of millions, we want a per capita base.

G

Of st mary's county on the sheets they showed us is one of the highest funding library counties in.

G

The state, so it will have a it- will have no effect on us as long as we keep finding the library to.

G

The current use there are some rural counties who need this money because they don't have the.

G

Resources to support their library, so this is sort of like a little helping them play catch.

G

Up a little bit: well, I mean, I think it would have a dead pack, wouldn't it it would. It would give 40.

J

So 40 percent it would raise up what the state's contributing and then we would be able.

J

To pull money back into the operating, so it would actually it's it's. When you see the number on the.

G

Chart that we showed to make it it was really not very much it wasn't that much yeah yeah. It sounds.

G

Big, it came a little. The fact is: is that we're already exceeding what these are bills. So, yes,.

R

So it'll be an increase. um I think commissioner morgan is correct. I.

R

Don't think it's going to be say, doubling the library's budget or what we'd otherwise get, but.

R

It will be an increase from the state of what we already receive, and so the gist of it is. I would.

G

I would say that we write a letter of support for hb 448, hb 685 education.

G

Regional resources, library, centers, regional resource centers and libraries funding.

A

Okay, second kind of first and second letter support all right all in favor, aye aye, any opposed.

A

I was happy the next bit I put on here was just a clarification of comments. um Mr blackwell made.

R

Yesterday, that said, that state revenues were dropping, they were receiving for library, funding.

R

We're trying to figure out how that is possible if the state per capita share is increasing.

R

The answer for that is that the state's burden of that minimum library funding can.

R

Be adjusted up or down depending on the county's relative wealth compared to other counties.

R

It must be at least 40 percent. It can be more if we're dealing with particularly poor.

R

Counties in maryland's case state is picking up um 44 of the guaranteed minimum. So only four percent.

R

More than what they would be obligated to do at a minimum, that is less than our relative wealth.

R

Last year, so, even though the per capita has increased by seven by a little bit this year,.

R

On the minimum funding, the state's share of that per capita funding has lowered by seven.

R

Cents per head, which comes out to a funding difference of about six thousand dollars.

R

Which goes back to because we're funding the library so well we're not penalized for it right.

G

Just to clarification, the question, though, was I don't know if this was including.

G

The supplemental budget, the government put out the other day, there's two supplementals coming.

G

I'm not sure if this got put in- and I haven't had time to read the supplemental yet to see what all.

G

The intricacies are to be honest with you, so what I went through the and again we have not had the.

R

Chance to look into it either we didn't see it in the supplemental budget from our review now. Okay, I.

R

Will not represent that. I have done a thorough or complete read through that, but it's not in there.

G

We realize it was put out there by mr blackwell whether it was picked up by the governor's, a.

G

Different story: correct, okay, hb 1243, the rural non-emergency medical transportation program. This.

R

Would require a million dollars to be set aside for hospitals to help coordinate transportation.

R

By a non-profit to or from medical services for certain eligible individuals who may or may not.

R

Be able to who otherwise would not be able to transport themselves not only to hospitals. I.

R

Believe, but also to certain outpatient and other medical facilities, just allowing the hospital to.

R

Act as kind of administrator and central clearinghouse for that program, and I will.

G

So I asked for this bill to be tracked. It is a big bill for the rural counties, particularly as far as.

G

Medical transportation is concerned, the trike, the five tri-county councils are standing behind. It.

G

I'm not sure where medstars I called over there yesterday haven't gotten answered yet back.

G

But the request coming in from the tri-county council statewide was to support the bill. It.

G

Is sponsored by a gentleman from anne arundel county and I believe it will be co-sponsored by.

G

A delegate from charles county uh in the next day or so.

G

But the letters of support are going to be necessary um to get through the house and.

J

The million dollars is coming from the state, not the local, comes from the state correct.

J

What about the cost overruns if the program exceeds that? Are we now going to be entering this.

J

Is called wheels to wellness it's a program, I'm very familiar with it, and I've seen it terribly.

G

Implemented in being very successful in saint mary's county, well, I've seen it fail. Other places.

J

That's why I'm asking because of the cost overruns. So if st mary's medstar is a part of it and we.

J

Have a million dollars only from the state, but now that are we going to be in uh to enter into.

J

Negotiations with uh medstar because their program is running 1.5 or what what's the clarifications.

J

Of the question right and that's, the problem is: that's, that's happened this this program.

J

Has but been done throughout the united states and the local government now ends up in a relationship.

J

With the hospital funding, the uh the over costs of it versus it being clarified that the hospital.

J

Will pick up everything after that? That's why my meds hasn't call me back. I don't know yeah, that's.

G

The tri county council is asking for the three counties to support the bill. I mean I I support.

J

It I think, it's great, I think, there's going to be some logistics that need to be worked out.

G

I'll make the motion to support hb 1243 public health.

G

Rural non-emergency medical transportation program second,.

A

And first and second, all in favor, aye aye aye aye opposed nice have it. I think this is.

A

Discussion again about that, I think there's more or less for things like an elderly person.

A

You can't get to a doctor's office. Yeah! No 100 percent have some programs right now with aging.

A

Human services that have volunteers, the problem is the volunteers, been drying up had a hard time, so.

A

You know I've got a great aunt has to call me up to take her to the doctor all right now. I think.

J

It's something I think it's a great idea, but I want to make sure that other than carrying them to.

A

The emergency room, or even to the uh urgent cure it's just to carry certain people to a doctor's.

J

Appointment yeah the populace uh surround this bill is not going to be the ones that are dialing.

J

9-1-1 for bellyache, it's um it's more! So, like you said the senior population. I I just get concerned.

J

You know that, after that million dollars runs out which it could quickly who who's.

J

On the block right now, yeah who's on the hook. So that's that's what we're hoping that after.

A

This kobe thing comes down. We got more volunteers coming back, but right now you just don't have it.

G

Well, I do know many cases, the grant programs the state has are covering.

G

Wheels to wellness and saint mary's right now: yes, yes, absolutely yeah. Okay, yeah.

A

John, you got it again. Next, one on memo1 would be hb831. I would like to punt that for right.

R

Now, because on memo 2, we look at climate packages as a whole and I think it can be brought up. Then.

R

The next one after that would be sb 640, hb, 1426, maintenance of effort funding for.

R

County schools- and this is a follow-up from our meeting on the 15th in which um this cud more so.

R

Graciously, and so helpfully explained what this bill would mean long and short of it, as we may.

R

Recall is that it would be a change to the funding for the state to make for county education system.

R

In the state to make up for the anomalous decrease in enrollment, we would have from the prior year as.

R

An effect of covid mako's amendment to this bill, which came out between the 15th and now, is that.

R

They'd like to clarify that this is only going to be a one-time funding change and not allow it.

R

To be used as kind of a wedge-in to decrease exact funding yeah going forward one time.

R

Sent this over to ms cudmore to let me know what I should say about, and she said it looks good.

R

Okay said what she said: it looks good with the mako amendment.

H

I mean we've, never underfunded them anyway, so I don't know.

G

What they're concerned about is the per pupil student cost that, if we're short, 100 students and.

G

100 students come back next year and also the cost of student goes up. They're going to cost they're.

G

Going to double down on you, maintenance of effort, plus 100 students at the per people, spending ratio.

G

They've always got a trick up their sleeve when it comes to. I agree, I know. Okay, I will make the.

G

Motion to support with amendments offered by mako sp, 1640, hb 1426 primary secondary education.

G

Maintenance reference requirements alterations and to approve and authorize, commissioner president, to.

G

Sign orders of support to the house and senate committees for hearings on these bills. Second,.

A

I have a first and second, all in favor, aye aye. Any opposed always have it all right. The next one on.

R

Memo number one was just ho um governor hogan did submit his 480 million dollar supplemental budget.

R

Put some highlights in it up there, just as an fyi to the commissioners.

R

The only other update remaining from memo number one was just an update on where we stand on the.

R

Legislative redistricting, lawsuit complaints were filed, scheduling conference was set. Argument is.

R

Going to occur at the end of this month with a report by the special special magistrate, no.

R

Later than april 5th that tees us up, if the court of appeals sticks to the same schedule, it did.

R

Last time in 2012 for a ruling sometime in mid to late april and of note, it was.

R

Brought up slash threatened by the assistant attorney general um marshaling. This effort at the.

R

State level that it is possible that the primary may have to be moved back from june 28th depending.

R

On how quick an opinion comes out and how many changes it does that, um whether that's a valid.

R

Belief, whether that is one of these things that lawyers say and zealous representation of their.

R

Client to try and get the judge to go along with what they want, can't really say, but it.

R

Is out there and we bring to your attention, but for right now, june 28th remains the primary date.

R

Moving then, to memo number two: this is where sp 637 hb 935 comes up. This would change health.

R

Insurance requirements in the state to include certain behavioral mental health services that it.

R

Does not as well it would expand maryland medical aid program relief to these. It would also require.

R

Current insurance plans issued and written in the state, public and private to expand their coverage.

R

Of certain mental health services that are not covered or are not covered in full under existing.

R

Law, we thought- and this was brought to our attention by some of the commissioners and thought.

R

It may be of interest to the county commissioners, particularly in light of recent events here in.

R

Southern maryland and the interest that's been shown to this topic by the county commissioners.

J

Yeah and I believe it it implements the uh mobile crisis teams within this bill.

J

C

It's on page two, the mako testimony part yeah.

R

Okay, I see it.

J

Is there a motion? Is this for 637 935? Yes, sir? Okay, there it is. I moved to support hp.

G

637 hp, sp, 637, hb, 935 health and health insurance, behavioral health services.

G

Expansion, behavioral health system modification act and to approve and authorize commissioner.

G

President sign letters to support the house and senate committees for hearings on these bills.

J

Second, first and second, all in favor aye any opposed nice.

R

The next thing, not legislation, but an update of interest- is that maryland has agreed to receive.

R

395 million dollars in its lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors. That is again.

R

A for um county commissioner's information, 58 of maryland's 60 subdivisions who participate in this.

R

Lawsuit agreed to participate in the settlement where it will go now is plan. Maryland will set.

R

Up a planned administrator to take those funds and distribute them out to every county that.

R

Participated and other towns and municipalities that are privy to the settlement as well. Those.

R

Funds will be spread out over 18 years for the purposes of opioid crisis abatement. Summarize.

R

Some of the other conditions that the defendants will have to abide by as part of this settlement.

R

And again brought it to the commissioner's attention because we figured it may be of interest.

R

The very last thing that we put on memo number two then was: I said we would punt hb 831.

R

Climate change has been one of the central focuses of the this legislative session and there are a.

R

Lot of bills out there, some of them offering very similar provisions, some of them offering competing.

R

Provisions and thought it may be helpful to just summarize to the best of my ability.

R

The legislation I could find that we're tracking are aware of and putting it on there, the quick and.

R

Dirty way to do this is that sb 528 is the single, most largest piece of legislation coming through.

R

Here, that's a pretty much omnibus climate change bill that is making its way through the senate.

R

And testimony was heard on the 15th. The house is not pursuing to achieve this through one.

R

Piece of legislation: instead, the provisions that are in sb 528 are split up over hb 708.

R

Hp 806 hp, 831, hb94 and hb94. That's where you find the bulk of what is in sb528.

R

Mako is supporting sb528 with amendments for most of the smaller legislation. I could find no.

R

Exact precise mako position some of these things. They are taking a stand on not on this chart.

R

But discussed previously was hb 695, the better together to save our weather act, that for.

R

Example would require each locality and county to implement its own climate crisis prevention plan.

R

Mecco opposes that, for the most part, though, mako is supporting with amendment. I think.

R

Could best be summed up? Is they accept that the political climate being what it is? Some.

R

Of this is going to make its way through mako's possession is just do it with as much.

R

Cognizance and awareness that some localities and counties will struggle to meet these requirements.

G

That's a very fair statement. That's very first name. No, no doubt.

R

Perhaps just of interest to pick maybe the most looming and things that have attracted.

R

The most maybe public, comment on these, among the other things that sb 528 and its attendant.

R

House bills require are a switch from natural gas and oil, energy and heating in.

R

Public private and residential buildings, you have to begin phasing that out and start going forward.

R

You have to have full electrification of building services unless you can prove that the social cost.

R

Of natural gas and oil resources and the greenhouse commission emissions, they would.

R

Contribute to that that social cost is greater than the actual physical cost of.

R

Implementing these problems or retrofitting buildings to bring them into compliance.

R

There's a big push to move maryland's public vehicles fleet to all electrified vehicles by.

R

23, with only certain exceptions for light duty and other heavier vehicles than cars and trucks,.

R

There's also a particular emphasis on racial, economic and socioeconomic justice and.

R

Awareness- and there are some provisions calling for as we do this make sure an.

R

Eye is kept on its effect towards underdeveloped or underserved communities throughout the state.

R

And take everything with a lens towards not only looking out for the climate effect. It.

R

Would have, but also the racial equity and economic equity components of it as well.

R

Any of these ones specific- I can talk about more if there's a particular interest to the best of.

R

My ability happy to look up more as they come up as well. I think we've received a notification of.

G

A small business to oppose 831. I think that when you look at what these bills address.

G

You know it's like the pendulum keeps swinging in different directions.

G

And I'm afraid that sometime with these pendulum swings, they knock out parties that you know have.

G

Vested interests in our county, um particularly the petroleum industry, the natural gas industry.

G

um So I'm I would recommend that we oppose hb 831 in order to support our local small businesses, who.

G

Do a great job of providing you know fuel to residents in this county and have reached out and.

G

Been there for years and years and years for us yeah, this is this is the one that requires.

E

Retrofitting existing buildings exactly yeah, that's what we really opposed against when he said.

A

We got to retrofit our schools and everything else could do what would cost us. Millions and millions.

A

Unbelievable one other distinction is hb. 831 bears substantial similarities with hb.

R

806., the difference is that hb 831 applies to residential and commercial buildings.

R

Hba806 is applying restrictions to public buildings, so I don't it's not cross-filed.

J

And the hearing's already passed. So what would be the point of sending a letter.

R

um The hearings are passed on both hb 831 and hb806 will come up at one o'clock this afternoon.

R

The reason they're not cross-filed is because they are parts of these omnibus are in that.

R

Omnibus sb528 bill, so there are going to be, I think, a slew of amendments and changes in.

R

Conference committees on these bills, so there's probably still an ability to influence them.

R

um There's still much there's still much work to be done.

R

There's also a lot of opposition against the girls when we just oppose the the whole.

G

I would not suggest you do that, because that's going on a rabbit hole, we don't want there.

G

Something's going to pass in annapolis this year, because that legislature is totally focused on.

G

Climate change, that's one of their two big initiatives; three big initiatives um that you know.

G

Funding education in kerwin programs, but I think that you know 831, I think, hurts our residential.

G

Building industry so does 806. and I'm very concerned you know when we are trying to grow.

G

As we use our we're, looking at our property taxes to be a source of revenue and then taking any type.

G

Of a fossil fuel component out of it, I think, will hurt that industry tremendously locally.

J

I agree: isn't 806 the the similar 806 for public buildings right. We aren't building anything.

G

Publicly but 806 awards understanding is would require retrofitting exclusively hb. 806 would.

R

I believe require retrofit right, so you'd have to retro. Why wouldn't we oppose that? Why would.

J

We want to retrofit I'm sticking with 831, that's the residential side. I don't think that 806 has.

G

I really can't say I just don't think that I don't think at the cost in our discussions.

G

That make up for 806 to retrofit every public building, which would include schools, libraries.

G

um Jails et cetera all public buildings yeah, would there's just not enough money out there to.

G

Even do this yeah, but I do I am concerned with 831 that would hurt our home building industry.

A

So do I have a motion to uh oppose hba 31 yeah, some.

J

My soul moved and authorized the commissioner president to sign letters. Second, okay, I got a first and second to oppose hb 831. Is that correct all in favor all.

A

Right all right, then, he opposed isabel all right and that uh concludes the legislative update for.

R

This week, thank you very much. You've done a great job, consolidating and synopsizing all this energy.

G

Stuff, yes, the green stuff. You congratulations. I try yeah. I understand now why my mother growing up.

R

Quoted chief joseph, when she said, I shall fight no more forever with regularity.

J

I did ask the county attorney for a specific request: I'm not asking.

J

That to be given to all the commissioners in reference to the law enforcement bills.

J

There was a mako said there was nothing going on with it. Essentially, however,.

J

I would say that I think their opinion was off as there's well over 40 different bills relating to.

J

Law enforcement, accountability and amendments to the previous um police accountability, act of 2021.

R

Let me do if I remember the one that we've been paying particular attention to is 670 if they're.

R

Going to be clarifications or if the standards and training they're coming for right. So what.

J

They've done is they're not targeting house bill, 670, they're, actually, packaging, individual pieces.

J

Of legislation that alter house bill 670 without addressing 670., for instance, body cameras, law.

J

Enforcement officers being off duty carrying an agency firearm would be required to wear a agency.

J

Issued body camera at all times, okay, I mean it's absolutely absurd. There's a couple other things.

J

With independent investigations, but I will impact the police accountability board and will impact.

J

Local law enforcement, so I just like to see what's going on with those bills, I will do my best.

R

And what I'll do is go back do a search on just everything, the maryland general assembly codes. I.

J

Have a website for you: um it actually consolidates all of them. Okay, and uh maybe you can just give.

J

Me an opinion on, but that'd be one I'll get with you. I'd be much appreciated thanks yeah. Thank you.

A

Thank you, jeff.

A

Back to you, are you done okay, sure? Finally, okay, let's go right to uh commissioner time.

A

I'm gonna start with commissioner hewitt. Oh goodness. Thank you, commissioner. President guy.

H

Well, this afternoon, 1 30, we got a budget work session again we're getting really.

H

Into the meat and potatoes this budget we'll be talking about the board of education's request.

H

This, commissioner, will support funding the negotiated agreement. That's it.

H

I just want to make that up front. I don't want teachers to think we don't support them. We do.

H

But there's a lot of fluff in that budget that board education needs to explain.

H

Secondly, smedco got my bill too, and it was a whopper and uh I'll say this about it.

H

Is um you know when they, when we have these storms come through and have these power outages? These.

H

People are out there, you know night and day restoring that power and and honestly uh I.

H

Saw some facebook posts about you know. Maybe this greed and the wrong time of year and lord knows.

H

There's all kinds of skullduggery thoughts going on, but I would say this we're a co-op.

H

We all own smetco and I really think, they're doing a great job. uh Do I, like my almost double.

H

Bill well, look not really, but there's a lot of things going on in washington and different.

H

Places that affect what's happening- and all I can say is thank you for the good service you give us.

H

When we need service during those outages- and I really appreciate it every time- I switch the light.

H

On the lights come on, so thank you. Smackdown tonight, 6 30. We got our public hearing on the.

H

Police accountability board. Please show up it's something new, it's new to us. It's new to brought.

H