St. Mary's County, MD Commissioners of St. Mary's County, 19 Oct 2021

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From YouTube: 10/19/21 CSMC Public Forum

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A

Please come to order good evening and welcome. I am randy guide president commissioner of st mary's.

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County before I introduce the other commissioners, I ask that you've turned your cell phones off or.

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On vibrate sitting to my right represent the first commissioner district, which includes ridge, piney.

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Point sanctuaries mr eric colvin good evening, mike hewett, who represented second commissioner,.

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Ditching, which includes leonardtown in hollywood, is unable to be here tonight sitting to my left.

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Representing the third commissioner district, which includes charlotte hall, seven district golden.

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Beach mechanics mr john o'connor good evening representing the fourth commissioner district.

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

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Staying at the table to my left is dr rebecca bridget, our county administrator.

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Good afternoon elisa castis, our communications director is saying at the table to our right.

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Amy amy carter, our video media producers behind the glass broadcasting live tonight.

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I want to welcome our citizens in the audience and those joining us at home tonight.

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I understand we have members of the citizens academy and the audience tonight and I want.

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To thank you for joining us. The purpose of tonight's meeting is to provide residents.

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An opportunity to speak directly to the commissioners on topics of their choice.

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Dr bridget, we now provide the format for today's tonight's public forum. Thank you, commissioner.

B

President guy here are the guidelines for the commissioner of saint mary's county public forum.

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For those that are unable to join us in person but wish to address the commissioners, please call 301.

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475 4200 extension 1234 to provide your name and address for the record.

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

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Those wishing to speak in person should sign up on the forums located in the lobby of the chesapeake.

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Building at 41770 baldridge street in leonardtown, all speakers are allotted three minutes to.

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

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Will let you know that your time has expired? We ask that you respect the three-minute time.

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Limit in order to give all those who wish to participate an opportunity to be heard.

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The public forum is being televised, live on the saint mary's county government, tv.

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95 and the county's youtube channel. If you should miss any part of the hearing, it will re-air on.

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Channel 95 this saturday october 23rd at 8 8 pm and will remain available for on-demand viewing.

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On the st mary's county government youtube channel, citizens were provided an opportunity to address.

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The commissioners via video submissions, but because we did not receive any video submissions.

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For the public forum, we will now begin accepting comments through our teleconferencing system.

C

Go ahead, please you can finish a sentence. I was going to say, miss casas. Do we have anything.

C

My question is it's nice that people can sit there and call in, but these guys all showed up.

C

So my point of view is the people on the phone can sit and wait, but these guys.

C

Took the time the energy to be here, I'd rather hear from them before I listen to people who.

C

Didn't want to get up and come over uh no problem, miss casas. How many people do we have on the phone.

D

Thank you, dr bridget, commissioner, should I defer to my commission to see if they agree.

D

We have one caller at this moment: okay, okay, one and done.

B

So would you like to take we'll take one caller, then everybody else so the various.

C

Wants to call in secondary is that, okay with the other commissioner, that's fine.

C

With that, okay, great, thank you. Thank you, dr bridget. Thank you, commissioners.

D

Good evening and thank you for calling in to participate in the commissioners of st.

D

Mary's county public forum- please remember you- are allotted three minutes to address the.

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Commissioners and at the end of the three minutes I will let you know your time is expired. Please.

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Speak clearly into your phone state, your name and address for the record, and it is preferred.

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That you speak directly into your phone rather than using the external speaker to allow the.

D

Commissioners and the public to clearly understand you good evening. You may begin your remarks now.

E

I'm elin bryce davis, 20832 waterside drive leonardtown. I wish to thank the commissioners.

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For their progress in extending the reach of the county hotel tax, the commissioners unanimously.

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Approved a resolution requiring such business entities as airbnb and verbo to collect the five.

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Percent tax already required for hotels and motels and remitted to the county on behalf of the host.

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Property, the resolution was based on legal opinion by saint mary's county attorney, david weiskopf.

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Who said that such properties could be taxed under the law, while hosting companies inform.

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Property owners of the tax, those property owners do not always collect it. The burden is now on the.

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Hosting company to do so, the resolution also calls for hosting companies to provide a list.

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Of all rental properties offered each year to the county government, along with names.

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And addresses of the owners, it is estimated that there are 150 such short-term hosting locations.

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Scattered throughout the county, only about a dozen are currently paying this tax. The three.

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Airbnbs operating on my road are among those that do not pay the tax. Commissioner, todd morgan said.

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It's time that we even the playing field so that airbnb and verbo paid their fair share.

E

This action by the commissioners is commendable and I offer a sincere thank you and thank you.

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Commissioners for settling the burning question of whether or not airbnbs are commercial entities.

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The commissioners have acknowledged that airbnbs are indeed commercial entities by.

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Creating the resolution to tax them on the same scale as hotels and motels. This question.

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Is no longer subject to interpretation, it is a fact. Airbnbs are commercial entities.

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I suggest that the commissioners follow up their exemplary resolution by one enforcing setbacks.

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On commercial entities which have infiltrated residential neighborhoods dating to a pre-1974.

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Ordinance by requiring them to maintain a minimum distance of 150 feet from a private residence.

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And by two establishing longer terms on short-term rentals, the airbnb operating.

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15 feet from my door for the past two and a half years has an advertised minimum stay of two nights.

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A potential 180 separate turnovers per year every year. Both of these suggestions could.

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Be accomplished by the commissioners through a simple text: amendment which has been done.

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In other locations throughout the u.s, in closing I've lived in my house for 35 years. I've paid my.

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Property taxes faithfully and on time, every single year without the county ever having to chase after.

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Me to do so. Thank you, commissioners, for enacting the resolution and thank you for your time tonight.

D

Mrs bryce, thank you for your marks. Commissioners, dr bridget. Those are the only calls we have at the.

D

Moment, thank you. Miss casas, miss fears. Do we have uh folks signed up to speak.

B

Great thank you. uh First on our list is dorothy.

B

Andrews hi good evening good evening, my name is dorothy andrews and I live in callaway.

F

uh Thank you for having this open forum this evening and I hope, after listening, that you.

F

Will be inspired to open your bible, pray and research, our u.s and state constitutions.

F

We need god's wisdom in this uncertain times. The health department is wrecking sorry, wrecking havoc.

F

In our lives, two weeks before school started, the decision was made to mask students, most parents.

F

Were hoping that since students were asystematic and there were no problems during summer school.

F

Life would be settled yes, I know what you're thinking there's nothing that you can do.

F

But you are wrong, you and the sheriff are our last line of defense against this tyrannical.

F

Federal government, this mass mandate is null and void because only legislatures.

F

Three-Fifths of each house are required to make it law. This is harming my grandchildren. I don't have.

F

A they don't have a voice and I will not be kept silent. They are required to wear masks from the.

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Time they catch the bus in the morning until they arrive home for 42 students out of 18 000 of ad. As.

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Of september 29th, sorry, I'm a little nervous kathy allen said how stressed she was over the fact.

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That the public were trying to voice their concerns on masks optional. That's all we wanted.

F

Do you know what heck 293t is pfizer places it in their trial vaccine? It stands for human embryo.

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Kidney lot, 293 tissue four other employees have spoken out. You probably didn't know.

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Because congress was deflecting this truth by a whistleblower from the from facebook. The last.

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Employee who spoke up was very upset when they announced that the children were going to have.

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To start taking it, I've known this for months to someone until someone actually came to the.

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Company to expose this evil, why do you think there is so much pushback? It's unethical and.

F

Goes against the laws of nature and nature's god by accepting federal grants our lives. Our fortunes.

F

And our liberties are endangered, does the federal government really have any money they're trying.

F

To raise the debt ceiling now, as frederick bastia wrote in his book, the law federal grants are like.

F

Legal ponder taking something from someone to give to another legally, but I call it bribery.

F

It is a burden on the middle class to pay for all of this that will put our children's children.

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In debt that they can never repay, government does not have to be in every aspect of our lives.

F

As long as I am doing no harm to you, I have total sovereignty over my natural rights. In conclusion,.

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In conclusion, first, we need to have town hall meetings in every district so that, where all of.

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You can attend to hear from other constituents next return, the money to the federal and state.

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Governments strip this power that the health officer thinks that she has besides. Officers, are.

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Our brave men and women in blue stop tracking viruses. Last miss brewster needs to be held.

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Accountable. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Miss andrews next is melinda brown.

G

Hi good evening I'm melinda brown. I live at 39808 claire's drive in mechanicsville I'm here tonight.

G

To talk about community cats, two things in particular, there's the immediate issue of.

G

The lexington park cats that has been raised and we have debated on facebook, commissioner o'connor.

G

And then there is also the long-term issue about our shelter and how this impacts that so a couple.

G

Of points I'd like to make this is a county staff raised issue. These cats have lived in this park.

G

For a decade without incident, all of a sudden this park is going to open there's some there's.

G

Two things being touted one is some future risk of a child being bitten by a feral cat. If you've.

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Ever seen a feral cat, they want nothing to do with humans. They want to get away from humans.

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The risk is so negligible, they'd be more likely to get bit by a squirrel that wants to take some.

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Of their food, if they're sitting there having a picnic, the second thing was vultures. The community.

G

Caretakers there are being trained right now by national experts on how to reduce the vulture.

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Population there they're doing specific things and diane harris will talk about that in a little bit.

G

This colony is overall being managed through a program called tnr, which is trap, neuter return.

G

And again, diane will speak at that at length a little bit long later and tell you more about.

G

That but overall I'm just asking you to really rethink having these pets be targeted. I know.

G

You don't want to believe that they're going to be killed, but that is what is going to happen to them.

G

There is no option for feral cats when they go to a shelter and there's no magic farm. That they're.

G

Taken to or they're just going to be re-homed and be taken care of in the long term. So whatever.

G

You're thinking the end of the outcome for these cats will be death beyond. That is the shelter I.

G

Sit on your animal control advisory board, I'm very aware of what's going on with this shelter.

G

You as a county, we as a county, have spoken up and said we want more humane treatment of companion.

G

Animals nationally, there was a harris, interactive study that said, 80 percent of people believe it's.

G

More advantageous and more humane to leave cats outdoors than to have them caught and killed. We.

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Have spent millions of dollars and will continue to spend millions of dollars to build this shelter.

G

Here in the county and one of those things that we looked at one thing that you, commissioner, o'connor.

G

Argued for was no kill. We cannot be a no kill shelter with not having a tnr policy in the county.

G

These cats are unadoptable when they get rounded up and taken to a shelter, they will be killed.

G

That is the only outcome for them, so to think that we're going to have a shelter without having.

G

An insane problem with community cats, if our process continues, as it has for decades, which.

G

Is to go catch these cats right now it seems so convenient we take them to tri county. Oh we're, not.

G

Killing them we're delivering them to a shelter we're three days later after they're fed they get.

G

Euthanized, we can call it euthanized, we can call it put to sleep, the outcome is they die, they die.

G

Simply because someone has taken them from their home in the woods or along some community, where.

G

They have lived like I said without incident if they caused a problem, just like a fox if it bites.

G

Somebody you go, get it sure the cat bites, somebody go, get it, but if they're living their life without.

G

Incident leave them alone, stop going and spending taxpayer dollars to round up animals that aren't.

G

Causing a problem you're not going to go round up the squirrels and the fox and the raccoons.

G

Leave these animals alone as a shelter, we will never have a hope of getting any non-profit money.

G

From any organization, with the kind of kill rates we're going to see if we start rounding up, feral.

G

Cats- and this is setting a precedent, ms brown, please wrap up your remarks. Your time is expired.

D

Thank you. That's really all I have to say. If you want more, we have a local, a nationally recognized.

G

Expert coming to the animal control advisory board, meeting on 11 3 she's, a county resident.

G

And she's going to be sharing with you how these colonies can be managed and left alone thanks.

B

Thank you. Miss brown, linda thomas.

H

Good evening, commissioners, I'm linda thomas and I live in lexington park maryland.

H

I've raised my children here and there were scarce opportunities when they were growing.

H

Up- and I want to thank you for your work- to establish the ymca in our county, it would be.

H

A tremendous asset in our county for our youth families, seniors homeschooling community.

H

People living with disabilities and others.

H

Commissioners, I am hopeful that you are prepared to move this project along quickly.

H

Knowing that the sooner it is completed the sooner, we might all benefit.

H

Please make a firm commitment to funds in the capital improvement plan for a ymca.

H

I understand that there will be a capital campaign to raise private funds as well as.

H

Efforts to get state and federal grants. I look forward to your clear commitment.

H

And an agreement with the ymca of the chesapeake to provide the funds to build the y.

H

I also understand that, once you have provided funding, we as individuals.

H

Can make donations to keep things going and at our our donations will be tax deductible.

H

H

I am willing to donate to be sure that my grandson has some place to go to help him grow and develop.

H

And become a model citizen of saint mary's county and I pray that you will choose that he will.

H

Choose to live here and not leave, as so many of our african-american children and others have done.

H

Our children are growing older by the day, and our families have needs that are immediate.

H

At the same time, our local economy should begin to reap the benefit sooner rather than later,.

H

And I enthusiastically support the county in establishing a ymca and start the building process.

H

In 2022, because it would be an investment in our economy,.

H

The county's youth and our community as well.

H

Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you. Miss thomas, troy, cohen,.

I

First, let me make sure I pass my memory test tonight.

I

Dr bridget commissioner morgan commissioner o'connor commissioner guy commissioner calvin.

I

And commissioner hewitt, wherever you are.

I

I'd like to talk a little bit about basketball.

I

We like basketball right. I, like women's basketball, just watched a fantastic wnba.

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Championship series one of my favorite players: brianna stewart was not in it.

I

But uh I'd like to share something that she put in an interview, article.

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That's available on the web, but I'm going to give this to dr bridget.

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Where she's talking about her first job now, she's she's got a hard work ethic.

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She's mature, she plays the game with skill.

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And finesse, and so I like what she has to say and it's about her first job, I worked at a local ymca.

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For a while, I was in the gym, cleaning up and stuff. I think it was one of my first jobs. First.

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And only jobs before I started playing basketball seriously. I made minimum wage and my big takeaway.

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Was what it took to commit when you're young? You want a job, because you want money but like no.

I

If you want this job, you have to sacrifice and commit to it and show up and be on time.

I

What she learned from the? Why that's? What I'd like my granddaughter to learn from the y.

I

My granddaughter's eight, we don't have much time left. So thank you very much.

I

I will leave this with dr bridget.

B

Thank you very much next is joan sullivan cohen. Thank you, mr go.

J

I can stand in between the two microphones good evening. I'm joan sullivan, cowan.

J

I live at 21411 south essex in lexington park. First, I want to thank you. The county commissioners.

J

For the ymca task force, the results of their consultation will be a part of the agenda.

J

On tuesday, the 16th of november second, I want to thank you to the over 3 500, who signed and.

J

Helped with the paper and phone petitions that started asking for a community center.

J

And changed to asking for a ymca a few months later. Third, some about the paper petition drive.

J

On june of 2019, my husband and I volunteered printed out petitions.

J

And sat at a table at the mulberry festival on st mary's college campus.

J

Then, for several months we spent a lot of time asking people do you live in saint mary's, county.

J

Will you please sign our petition for our community center or a ymca.

J

Because of covet 19, the last paper petition drive was february 2020.

J

I said alone at a table at an event in the higher education center. I was still asking everyone do.

J

You live in saint mary's county. Will you please sign this petition at that point? It was a ymca.

J

One of the last people to sign the petition that day was a middle-aged gentleman in navy fatigues.

J

I have not forgotten what he said to me has he signed, and I end with his comment.

J

I have been stationed in lots of places during my career with the navy and.

J

This is the only one that does not have a ymc. Thank you thank you, and these folks were signed.

B

Up as a maybe they'd like to speak, susan morrison, no okay, uh next is carolyn grant.

B

Okay, laura diedrick or d-doc. I'm sorry, oh dyna! Sorry about that! Laura.

K

Oh good evening, my name is laura diduck. I live in dameron, I'm going to be reading to.

K

You a letter from dr autumn, terry dvm, the owner of all kinds, veterinary hospital in callaway,.

K

She says dear county commissioners, as a local veterinarian and small business owners. I feel.

K

I have a right and duty to weigh in on the removal of the feral cat colony in lexington park.

K

I and most other veterinarians are avid proponents of the trap, neuter return or tnr.

K

Not only do feral cats have a right to live, they can have a function.

K

They help they can help to keep the rodent population under control. Feral cat rescue.

K

Tiny toes kitten, rescues, saint mary's, animal welfare league and other rescues have been.

K

Instrumental at strategically controlling the amount of feral and stray cats in our community.

K

All while decreasing the number of euthanasias those cats that are young enough to convert.

K

To family pets or those cats that are strays but not feral have been re-homed accordingly.

K

Those that are truly feral go through tnr and are allowed to live in our community, preventing the.

K

Reproduct reproduction of the stray and feral cat community, many of which have been.

K

Caused by the residents of the county not being responsible enough to spay and neuter their own.

K

Pet cats through the years keeps a delicate balance between cats, wildlife and predators.

K

The cats near the lexington park post office are a controlled colony being fed in a controlled manner.

K

At a specific time, there is not a large amount of food left out nor put out at different times.

K

Of the day, so as not to draw more wildlife or encourage interactions of these cats with people.

K

Being feral, they are nocturnal untrusting of humans and prefer not to interact with us.

K

I deal with many feral cats in the hospital and they are generally not aggressive, just scared. So.

K

Consequently, we sedate them for necessary exams and testing to avoid stressing them.

K

Or, or causing an accidental injury to themselves or others or ourselves, I absolutely feel they.

K

Can happily coexist in public settings if the trapping neutering and feeding are controlled.

K

In my opinion, the colony in question is being well managed, as you may join that colony. They will in.

K

Turn be trapped and neutered vaccinated for rabies, ear-tipped and returned when healed. As you decide.

K

On the fate of this colony and others, I encourage you to remember the quote by gandhi, stating that.

K

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

K

And decide if you think st mary's county is both moral and great signed doctor autumn terry dvm, all.

K

Kinds, veterinary hospital and I have a copy for sure. That's all right sure. Thank you. Thank you.

B

And next I have jeff hall as a maybe okay. Thank you. Diane harris.

L

um Hi, how are you I'm diane harris, feral cat rescue and I'm also on the animal control.

L

Advisory board and I was on the tri-county animal control advisory board for the last two years.

L

uh I'm I'm coming here tonight and I've asked I'm sorry. Would you provide your address? Please.

D

For the public record, oh mechanicsville, thank you. uh I'm I'm here tonight because I found out about.

L

The possible extermination of the colony at the park and I'm hoping that you'll reconsider this.

L

It's only your power that can do this there. It doesn't do any good for me to to talk to animal.

L

Control or steve walker, because they cannot change the ordinance. It's up to you all and we need your.

L

Help to do that when feral cat rescue first started in 2007 up until then for decades.

L

St mary's county government has been doing trapping and euthanizing of feral cats and.

L

It clearly wasn't working because at that time, 550 cats a month were being euthanized and for the.

L

Last 15 years I have been working along with the help of many people, and I think some of you are in.

L

The audience yes, thank you. We've been trying to reduce the feral cat population and we're.

L

We're succeeding and uh last year the tri-county shelter was only euthanizing 50 cats a month. So.

L

We've gone from 550 to 50 a month, and we need your support in what we do it. It's demoralizing for us.

L

To think that a cat, a colony that we're working on that we're trying to trap and uh spay and neuter.

L

And vaccinate get back out there that you're, just gonna exterminate it based on maybe the vultures.

L

Are gonna be a problem? Maybe a child will be bitten, as has been addressed. No, uh I I doubt.

L

Very seriously, if any kids will ever be bitten by a feral cat, because they just run and hide it's.

L

Difficult enough to trap them, and we had one of the nation's experts meet with the colony feeder.

L

And he is now feeding the cats waiting for them to finish eating and then taking up the food and.

L

Leaving so there is nothing left for the vultures, I think the vultures will be leaving the area soon.

L

You also, I want to point out the the cost of all this cats. They reproduce their gestation period.

L

Is only 60 days, they have three to four litters a year. Already this year, feral cat rescue has.

L

Vetted 475 cats 251, which we took off the street into our foster program and they won't go back out.

L

But the others we did trap neuter return on, but every cat that you're taking to tri-county shelter.

L

There's the cost of the animal control officers, the the vehicles, the insurance, the people that.

L

You have to pay for three days to care for those cats cleaning out those cages, the food and then.

L

Euthanizing them right now at calvert, well, pet. It costs 42 dollars to neuter and give a rabies.

L

Vaccine to a male cat and 57 for a female, it is so much cheaper to just do. Trap neuter return.

L

Something else I want to say is that, in this, uh in our community, animal control has been told by.

L

The department of natural resources not to take away and relocate wildlife and uh with.

L

The exception of the groundhog, which they uh they shoot, miss harris. Would you please wrap.

D

Up your remarks, your time is expired. Thank you. I just the last thing I want to say is.

L

uh We're treating wildlife better than we're treating abandoned community cats, and I just.

L

Want to stop hoping that in the near future, we'll do a trap, neuter return policy in st mary's county.

L

As has been done in baltimore, county pg, county anne arundel, fairfax county many.

L

Other jurisdictions around the united states and all over the world. Thank you.

B

Thank you, miss harris, jane tucker is next in the list. Thank you. Thank you.

B

I'll certainly call on you in just a few minutes. Thank you very much hi. My name is jane tucker.

M

I'm from mechanicsville um I just want to ask you guys not to uh to put an ordinance in so we don't.

M

Kill the cats again, you know, treat them like the animals, uh the wildlife that's out there and um I.

M

Would like you to take uh to consider leaving the cats near the park? Thank you. Thank you. Miss tucker.

B

Jennifer tom lecko, I know I'm thank you, sorry about that. My name is jennifer young tomesko.

N

I am from leonardtown, so I want to add my voice to the chorus of folks tonight who have been talking.

N

About the feral cat issue in lexington park, I come at it from a colony administrator. I have.

N

Four feral cats at my house now it was it's down from six, because I have worked very closely with.

N

Diane to do trap, neuter and return on my feral cat colony, so that I can keep them under control.

N

Additionally, we have had instances where I have a mama kitty who has had kittens and diane.

N

Has helped me tremendously in getting those kittens vetted fixed and now adopted out the.

N

We can't overstate how important trap neuter in return is in the control and of the population of.

N

Feral cats, we have friends in boston and almost all of the kittens that we've had have been.

N

Adopted in boston, the reason why is because they have a great trap, neuter and return policy and.

N

In addition, they have so many fewer kittens than we do that they are expensive, so it is cheaper for.

N

Them to come down and adopt cats from us than it is for them to adopt cats in their own local area.

N

So it's important to keep in mind that we really need this trap neuter and return policy.

N

And I also wanted to thank you. Thank you for your support of the shelter st mary's county. Shelter is.

N

Going to be a tremendous asset to this community, so I really appreciate that the commissioners have.

N

Thrown their support behind that and finally, as a colony caretaker, I'm also a mom and.

N

We routinely have parties at our house, we are always having people over our neighbors are.

N

Always having people over and the cats, you would never know they're there. The reason why is because.

N

They're scared: they are terrified of humans. I've been feeding them for more than three years and.

N

They run when they see me, I'm the one that brings them their food. You would think that, after a while.

N

They would come closer and and like me, a little bit more but sadly no I don't get to pet them.

N

That's fine. I still love them anyway. I take care of them if they need vetting, I get them vetted.

N

But I just want to thank you again for the shelter I want to. Thank you again for your consideration.

N

It is important to keep the feral cat colonies under control and available in the community.

N

Because they handle the pest population, so I just want to close and thank you very much. Thank you.

B

John wallace.

O

Thank you. I was beginning to think I was in the wrong room because, finally, we got to talk.

O

About cats, that's the only thing I knew we were here for I have excuse me, I'm from brandywine.

O

I've been on the charles county, humane society, trapping team for over a year now I took over.

O

For the love of paws from tina marie, I have 15 traps. I trap every night, there's a need for it. The.

O

Community good samaritans they reach out to the rescues, I'm glad I'm able to help. I didn't realize.

O

You had such good price with the calvert well pet, clinic on neutering. That's that's very good.

O

I need to bring my cats there, but uh if you give us a chance, we can do this. We can work together.

O

We, if they're, that much of a nuisance, they need to be relocated. Something can be worked out. I'm.

O

Sure we can do that, we could. We could do whatever these experts. You know what I I got the vehicle. I.

O

Got the traps, if you find some new cats that need to be brought in, can be I'm sorry, sir.

O

I'm sorry, sir, all right. Yes, sir. Thank you.

O

There's been a problem with dumping, I don't know about everybody else here, but.

O

I've seen new cats show up in the colonies I manage. I manage eight colonies in waldorf.

O

There is a problem with dumping. I guess cove is over. People are going back to work, they're dumping.

O

Their cats there there's a need for additional trapping. Our governor put a halt to all veterinary.

O

Activity for two months during pete covid peak mating season, I like to call it now this year, all.

O

Those litters are having litters. Yes, we have our hands full, but I say to you: you give us a chance.

O

We will do this, we will work together, we will do it without euthanasia.

O

Hold off animal control, hold off your policies, hold off your orders and just give us a chance.

B

Thank you, mr wallace, and now it's time for folks that hadn't signed up get a chance. So would you.

B

Like to to go next, if you'd um sure state your name and address for the record, please.

P

Good evening my name is mark abraham, miss abraham. Could you step us here and pardon me.

D

Let me help you close to the microphone. We can't not. Everybody can hear you. Thank you.

P

Okay, my name is margaret abraham. I am a saint mary's county native who married a sailor, a long.

P

Time ago left st mary's county for 30 years, I've been back for more than 30 years, which.

P

Is a wonderful homecoming? I live down at white point beach down in medley's neck areas, white.

P

Point beach road and for the 30 years that we have been back in the county, there was a cat calendar.

P

Colony down at the end of our road, they were the feral cats, the feral cat people took care of them.

P

During that entire 30 years there was never a problem with those cats. I am probably a tenth of a.

P

Mile from the end of the road where the feral cats were kept, it used to be o'brien's. uh Restaurant.

P

Down there and then that all died out but anyway. So that's where the feral cats were.

P

These good people took care of those feral cats. We never anyone in the neighborhood never had a.

P

Problem with feral cats, I think the man that lived there died and most of the feral cats.

P

Were collected and taken someplace else, because there was no one there.

P

To feed them had I known at the time I probably would have volunteered to feed them.

P

My good husband of 60 years was on his death bed and all of that took place. While I was immersed.

P

In in breaking my heart, I would hate to see the cats any place exterminated for the sole reason.

P

That they're cats, the cats, don't hurt anybody, the cats, don't bark, we don't hear a stray cat.

P

Barking in the middle of the night, they're good little creatures, why kill them move them move.

P

Them someplace else. There are plenty of people me included in the county who will take on a feral.

P

Cat or take on a stray cat to take care of it. So those are my my what I wanted to say and basically.

P

What I'm saying is: I have lived for 30 years with a colony of stray cats. Feral cats, not stray cats.

P

Feral cats being taken care of it, never confused the community, it never imposed upon the community.

P

The cats didn't bark in the middle of the night, they were there, they served.

P

A purpose, I'm sorry that our feral cats in our neighborhood are gone, but don't don't have these.

P

Cats exterminated they didn't do anything good little creatures. They serve a purpose. They keep.

P

They keep the rats and the snakes away, and that's what I have to say so. Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am.

B

Is there anyone else present that didn't sign up that would like to speak tonight.

B

Let's give can we give someone else a chance to speak? First, we had a.

B

uh Hand raised here if you come up to the microphone.

L

I just wanted to add that um we are not advocating relocating, because so often when you relocate, they.

L

Wind up dying, they run off, we can confine them for 30 60 days and they run off anyway, and we don't.

L

Know what happens to them? Department of natural resources has told animal control the same thing.

L

About wildlife, when you relocate them, they don't know where their food and water and everything is.

L

Coming for and they die so we're not advocating that that's why we're advocating the cats be.

L

Allowed to stay in the park. Thank you. Thank you, miss harris, and did you still want to.

B

Speak, please please come up to the microphone and your name and address please for the record.

Q

Thank you. Thank you ma'am. My name is marissa morgenrath, I'm from lexington park. Well, I live.

Q

Here, I'm not from here I'm a navy veteran of over 30 years. I've been helping with feral cat rescued.

Q

Dogs, every type of wildlife, my entire navy career, my entire life- I am one of those.

Q

People that actually feeds the lexington park. Cats that the commissioners uh are trying to.

Q

I guess lack of a better word kill and I'm upset about that because doesn't the bible say.

Q

That all of god's creatures deserve a chance deserve life, well they're creatures, and we.

Q

Are too we're mammals, and I would hope that the commissioners would remember that that says it.

Q

In the bible in so many bibles, so please remember that I go out there and I feed all those animals.

Q

Every single day, all types of weather, 365 days a year, not a single one of them, have bit me they've.

Q

Been happy to see me because they're getting food because they don't know when their next.

Q

Meal is so when they see somebody bringing food they're very happy. I have never never.

Q

Never once by any feral cats or stray cats, gotten bitten. They've always been happy to see me so.

Q

And I'm always happy to see them and I have seven cats at home and I have a couple dogs too. So.

Q

They're my babies as well, even though they don't live with me, but I just have it's my duty to help.

Q

Every creature, whether it's human or it's, a feline or a dog or wildlife, to help them survive because.

Q

The reason why they're out there is because of us humans, like so many people over here, has said.

Q

They've dumped their cats because they don't want them they've dumped their dogs and that's.

Q

Not right, it's not right, and I know that animal control does the best they can but to take them to.

Q

The shelter they are going to die, so I am one of those people that is out there. Every single night.

Q

And rain shine snow storm whatever, and if somebody doesn't want to go feed them because they're not.

Q

Feeling good I step in and I go to the next colony and feed that one. So please please, please listen.

Q

To what we're saying, none of them are going to harm anybody, none of them those vultures.

Q

Well, they're, greedy! So what can I say? I'm sorry! They just want food from any place so and I've.

Q

Seen them they're kind of scary, but the cats they're they're just trying to live their lives.

Q

Just like us, so please I implore you, please, please let them live and let us continue what we're doing.

Q

Thank you so much, thank you and is there anyone else here that would like to speak? Yes, sir,.

B

If you uh head to the microphone and please state your name and address for the record.

R

Hello, my name is richard warden. I live at 47272, shelby lee court.

R

In lexington park, my wife, terry really I'm up here for her more than anything.

R

She feeds three colonies of feral cats almost daily. I go with her most of the time because.

R

I'm more worried about what else she's going to encounter there, while she's feeding the cats.

R

Rather than the cats and I'll tell you, a lot of these cats are very sweet. You can pet, some of them.

R

We trapped one who was a kitten about two three months ago, brought it home lives with us now.

R

Is integrated with our other cats and dogs? These cats are not dangerous, okay and they do.

R

Need to be fed and take taken care of, and uh I tell you taking them to tri county animal shelter.

R

Is not the right answer? It's not, and you know I wouldn't be up here if it wasn't for my wife.

R

She loves a cat, so I love her. I love the cats, so here we go. Thank you very much. Thank you, sir.

B

Is there anyone else here tonight that would like to speak.

B

Miss casas. Do we have anyone on the teleconferencing line? We do. Thank you, dr bridget.

D

Good evening, thank you for calling in to participate in the commissioners of st mary's county public forum. Please remember you are allotted three minutes to address.

D

The commissioners- and I will let you know when your time is expired. Please speak clearly into.

D

Your phone and state your name and address for the record good evening. You may begin your remarks now.

S

Thank you. My name is robert p agusta from ridge maryland. I just want to make a statement. The.

S

Only animals, I really see that are wild or deer and that's corn, so I can hunt them and eat them.

S

These cats, nobody should have to feed them if they're a wild animal, they can find their.

S

Own food, we shouldn't have to take care of them if they're causing an issue, they.

S

Need to be dealt with just like when the deer population gets up in other states,.

S

You know they send hunters out, they take them, they make them food.

S

I mean maybe it's maybe we need to make cats a delicacy in saint mary's county. We got an issue.

S

With it we got plenty of food, you know, people are starving, cats are food, they're animals, but they're.

S

Just animals, why do we have to take care of them? You know, and maybe we need to send them to chicago.

S

Chicago they're, using them to hunt brett, they have a rat problem, so they got a cat problem. Now too,.

S

We don't need to be taking care of them and, if they're, causing issues down there in the park, you.

S

Know they got to be taken care of, like I said you don't feed an animal unless you're really going.

S

To eat it I mean, or unless it's your pet, I got a couple dogs, so I'll be fair there. But if they're.

S

Your pet take care of them, keep them in the house. We don't need colony. The cats running around.

S

You know we got enough gang issues in the in lexington park. We don't need cats down.

S

There causing getting issues too and that's about all I got to say. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

D

Thank you, dr bridget. I believe. That's all the calls we have I'll check in with julie.

D

Hello forum call center julie, it's alisa costas, I'm calling to see do we have any other callers.

D

Tonight, on our teleconference line for the commissioners of saint mary's county public forum,.

I

We do not thank you, julie, commissioners, dr bridget. We have no more callers so far.

B

Thank you, miss costas and miss ferris. Do we have any other person signed up to speak.

B

Okay, commissioners, that completes your public forum for this evening. Thank you, dr bridget. I do.

A

Want to make a clear statement: the commissioners of saint mary's county are not here to kill cats.

A

So the rumors going around are absolutely false. We all love cats, I've had cats all my life. I.

A

Love my cats, but I do not uh think that we are we're looking right now. We're investigating the.

A

Policy, our staff is working on a solution and we will come with that pretty soon. So uh if it's.

A

Move the cats we will have to I'm not going to jeopardize the rest of the public if there's a.

A

Problem they'll have to be moved or somewhere else to get them off the public land. That's the.

A

Only thing I can tell you, but that's that's up to this research- that we're going through right now.

A

With our animal control, emergency services and and all of our staff are working on a solution.

A

Checking with other counties and other states even to see how it's handled.

A

But I appreciate all your time, but I can assure you we are not here to kill cats, so please be.

A

Careful about how you put this out in the public. Thank you very much, mr president, if you don't mind.

T

Sir, yes, I love your energy and you said the right thing. We as you look back at.

T

The audience as a collective, a group, not the government and you're doing an amazing job.

T

Everybody's doing an amazing job, and the one thing I wanted to address and and hit even harder is.

T

We are have not trapped any animals down in lexington park. We have not taken any two.

T

Tri-County, shelter and those stats were checked today, so they have not been brought there. Nothing.

T

None of them have been euthanized. That has not happened. There were some traps that were set up.

T

They didn't get anywhere with it. um The second thing is when commissioner jarbo was here.

T

We established that our shelter in st mary's county, if there was a tipped ear, would be.

T

Catch and release and or the local rescues would be contacted related to them being brought in.

T

And we would work with the local non-profits and everybody's sitting in this room to go.

T

Ahead and figure out how we can trap neuter spay release and then get them back out there.

T

That's our shelter, not the tri-county, and that will be a policy that.

T

Will be in place when it's there we said it with commissioner jarbo. We said it with everybody else.

T

And it's unfortunate that the message that got out was the wrong message: that that is.

T

The here- and I I hope that you do come down here and help because I really like your energy.

T

I do thank you, sir, but excuse me if you're going to address the commissioners. Could you please go.

D

To the microphone we also have an alligator on the loose. So if we do, we have an alligator.

T

On the loose, let's see the alligator, we just hope people don't feed that one okay, this area being.

O

Developed or something I mean, why is there such a a push has been developed into a public park.

A

The recreation of the people bringing in bulldozers is that what talking about here.

C

It's it's a we've brought in a lot of heavy equipment to clean put in road systems. You.

C

Know make it put into frisbee golf courses, make it a passive park for recreational use for the.

C

Residents of lexington park, which is our largest and most demographically, diverse fight area, gotcha.

A

Okay, uh commissioners, anybody or anything say anything right now: okay,.

A

Thank you again, dr bridget, for the public hearing, and we want to thank all of you.

A

Who attended in person and those who called in tonight? We appreciate your input. It is.

A

An important part of our deliberation and decision making you can be assured that each.

A

Of you, if you give us your proper address, you will be contacted by one of our staff.

A

For follow-up information, if needed and contact what we, what we're doing with your particular.

A

Concern at this time, we will now close the public forum. Thank you all for attending.

A

A