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We will bring the meeting to order.

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Alright, good evening everybody.

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Welcome to the Queen Ens County Commissioners meeting.

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This is a public meeting

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that is being aired live on our local cable television

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station, QAC TV seven.

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These media broadcasts provide county citizens an

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opportunity to watch and review

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our scheduled public meetings.

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In addition to our live audience this evening,

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we are providing remote options for citizens to watch

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and participate in county commissioner meetings.

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Citizens may watch our meeting live on our website at

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qac.org/live,

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or on our public access governmental television channels

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provided by Breeze Line Cable Services.

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Also, as part of tonight's meeting,

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citizens may email comments to public comment@qac.org.

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All comments received will be summarized

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during the present public comment period.

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On tonight's agenda. We acknowledge everyone's participation

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and by attending you acknowledge this session is

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both recorded and aired.

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Pressing. Public comment will be taken

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and is limited to three minutes per person.

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If you do care to speak, please stand at the inform.

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Please sign up at the information table out in the hallway.

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Comments longer than three minutes can be submitted in

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writing for the commissioner's review.

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We will now stand and be led in the Pledge of Allegiance

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by commission, president Jim r,

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My pledge, allegiance to be the flag

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of the United States of America

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and to the republic for which it stands,

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one nation under God and indivisible with liberty

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and justice for all

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silence.

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So Chris was gonna do it.

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Alright, commissioners.

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First up we have to approve the minutes

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and the agenda for tonight.

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So our agenda for tonight's meeting August 25th, along

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with the regular session minutes, the close session minutes,

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the sanitary commission minutes,

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and the Rhodes Board minutes from the August 11th meeting

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have all been circulated for your review.

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Do we have any additions or corrections? Yep.

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Make a motion to add two additional action

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items to tonight's agenda. Second,

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Move a motion to second.

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Any discussion? All those in favor signify the same, aye.

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Aye. Aye. Opposed? So moved.

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Motion to accept the agenda as amended

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and the comm minutes from August 11th.

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Second.

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All those in favor? Aye.

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Okay, thank you Commissioners.

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So we just held a closed session under the general

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provisions article, section 3, 3 0 5 B one for boards,

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commissions, and personnel,

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and section 3 3 0 5 B three for land acquisition.

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So I do believe we have a, an appointment to make

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I move to appoint

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or reappoint Rick Sierra

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to fill the vacancy on the housing authority.

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This is a five year term

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that will expire on June 30th, 2030. One

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Second.

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We have a motion to second Any discussion? See none.

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All those in favor signify by saying aye a. Aye. Opposed?

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So moved.

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Okay. And we had

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that Government services relations contract.

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We have a motion for that please.

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I move to execute the Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Services agreement effective October 1st, 2026 to

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September 30th, 2027.

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Second. Second. We have a motion

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and a second on this topic.

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Any other discussion? Seeing none.

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All those in favor signify saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

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So moved.

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Alright, thank you commissioners.

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That brings us to the press public comment.

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This is our general press public comment

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session. Have anybody signed?

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We have. Okay. Mr. F said,

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Mr, we appreciate all citizens for taking time

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to express views to the county commissioners.

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Comments are limited to three minutes per person

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comments longer than three

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minutes can be submitted in writing.

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This commission respects your desire

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and right to convey your message freely.

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When you come forward, please speak clearly at the state

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microphone, state your name,

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your address, topic of interest.

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And in keeping with the dignity of our office, we ask

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that all views be expressed in a

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respectful and civil manner.

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Thank you Commissioners. Jay Fag,

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queen Ads Conservation Association.

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I wanna make a comment first on Chester Haven Beach,

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and I hope I can get through the whole thing,

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but I'd also like to just kind of put a placeholder

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for the last press and public comment

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because I do have just a general sort of

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community announcement that I'd like to offer.

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And so I just want to make that known. Now, Mr.

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Chairman, if I can add that at the very end, commissioners,

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at the last commissioner meeting,

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Chester Haven Beach was on the agenda.

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You all voted to, not all of you,

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but by a three, two vote

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to extend the Public Works agreement.

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I wanna make you aware of something

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because I was shocked by this myself.

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I posted on Facebook the outcome of that vote.

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It's on there for everybody to see.

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I urge you to go and look at my page, 46,000 views on

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that one page alone.

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If you go through the comments,

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there is not one favorable comment in support

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of Chester Haven Beach, not a single one.

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All of them are negative.

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These are all your citizens that you represent.

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And so I think that there's an opportunity for you all

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to reconsider, and I'll tell you what that is.

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At the last meeting, you voted

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to extend the Public Works agreement,

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but you did so without actually having the agreement

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because tonight the agreement's on the agenda.

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So you all made a move to extend an agreement

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that you didn't have the opportunity to read

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because it's on your agenda for tonight.

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And so it seems to me that

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that gives you a little bit of breathing space.

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And I would ask you, in light

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of the overwhelming negative support towards this particular

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development, in light of the fact

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that this thing has come up over

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and over again in light of the fact

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that the Critical Area Commission says

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that the developer does not have the number of lots

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that he claims, I think this gives you

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sufficient justification

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to not extend this Public Works agreement.

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And I hope that you'll reconsider it at the last meeting.

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I wish I had the opportunity to rebut some of

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what Mr. Stevens said, but I'll try

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and take that opportunity now within just

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the last few minutes that I have.

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Last minute that I have, he said that all this will come

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before the the Planning Commission

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and you know, people will have the opportunity

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to raise concerns then he's absolutely right about that.

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But it is putting the cart before the horse

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because at the end of the day,

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the overriding authority on this is

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the critical area commission.

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And they say that the lots don't exist.

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So you'll be putting county staff through an enormous amount

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of work, going through all different kinds of things

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when the authority has already said no.

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So with that, I hope you'll reconsider it tonight.

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There's no reason for you to continue on

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with this Public Works agreement

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and on that basis alone,

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I hope you'll reconsider it and then reject it. Thank you.

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Thank you, thank you. Would anybody else like to speak?

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There's nobody else signed up. Somebody you have. Yes.

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Thank you.

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Sorry. All right, commissioners.

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We have four emails tonight.

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The first one comes from Wendy Lillian Illian.

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Dear Queens County Commissioners, I'm unable

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to attend the upcoming hearing because of the short notice

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by I want to make concerns clear

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regarding the proposed 48th month extension

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of the Public Works sewer agreement.

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How can the county approve an extension

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for a project when the courts have determined

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that the underlying growth authorization is illegal

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and void, the county

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and the developer should not be able to use the public works

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or sewer agreement to advance the subdivision when the

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underlying growth authorization was declared illegal.

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Because of approximately 81 acres

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of the property are located within the resource conservation

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area of Maryland's critical area.

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If the underlying authorization cannot legally support the

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proposed development, what purpose does the extending the

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agreement for another 48 months serve?

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The proposed extension appears to concern infrastructure

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for more than 80 homes, that based on the court's decisions

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cannot legally be built.

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I also urge the commissioners to consider the financial

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and political consequences of moving forward

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with an agreement tied

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to a development that has already been found.

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Unlawful County residents expect their elected officials

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to protect the county's resources, follow court decisions

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to make decisions that are in long-term public interest.

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I hope the commissioners will also consider the history

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of development controversies on Ken Island,

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including the serious environmental concerns, pollution,

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regulatory violations, and litigation associated

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with Hian development.

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Those experiences demonstrate how costly

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and disruptive development disputes can become

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for a community and its elected officials.

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I respectfully ask that the commissioners

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to carefully reconsider any extension to this agreement

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and to explain how it can legally

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and practically justify given the court's decisions

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regarding the underlying growth authorization.

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I cannot attend the hearing, but I want my concerns

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to be part of the public record.

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I'll be voting this year. I'll be paying close attention

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to how this matter is handled.

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Thank you for your consideration, Wendy.

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Our next email comes from Di Quinn Reno.

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I request that this statement be read aloud during press

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and public comments portion

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of the August 25th, 2026 meeting As I'm unable

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to attend in person, I'm extremely disappointed by the vote

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to extend the Public Works agreement

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for Chester Haven Beach.

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The negative consequences of this development

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for our local community environment could not be clearer

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despite significant public opposition.

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The motion was approved by with no commissioner.

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Discussion, my attention will be

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to speak at the polls in November

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and will not vote to reelect commissioners who continue

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to support this development.

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Next email comes from Heather Skipper.

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I'm writing to express my deep concern

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regarding your recent three to two vote

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to extend the Public Works agreement for Chester Haven Beach

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for an additional four years.

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It is unclear to your constituents why the county is using

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public works and sewer agreements

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to advance the subdivision whose underlying growth

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authorization was declared illegal and void by the courts.

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Circuit courts December, 2025 ruling clearly established

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that the majority of this 101 acre property,

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specifically 81 acres,

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resides within the strictly protected resource conservation

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area, the RCA of the critical area.

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This legal realty will not change.

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Providing a sewer extension for a project

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that cannot legally be built is a contradiction.

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Furthermore, this decision sets a dangerous precedent.

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It allows dormant developers

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to game our planning system using antiquated

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1950s era plats.

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Queens County has already been consumed the, I'm sorry,

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Queens County has already consumed the vast majority

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of its state allotted growth allocation.

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Extending agreements

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for the invalid projects undermines our remaining allocation

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and waste limited county resources.

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It also exposes the county to predictable, costly

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and avoidable legal challenges.

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Lastly, I urge you to remember why transplants like myself,

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chose our homes on can island.

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Nearly two decades ago, we moved here for the charm

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00:10:48,215 --> 00:10:49,575
of tidal wetlands, the forest,

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00:10:49,675 --> 00:10:51,175
the wildlife, and the open shorelines.

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00:10:51,425 --> 00:10:53,575
Today, the islands being strangled by overgrowth,

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00:10:53,575 --> 00:10:54,695
displacement of the wildlife,

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00:10:54,845 --> 00:10:57,735
devaluing our cross island trail and wiping out green space.

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00:10:57,915 --> 00:10:59,975
Please consider the long-term future of our county,

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00:11:00,035 --> 00:11:01,255
the environment and the voices

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00:11:01,275 --> 00:11:02,975
of your constituents as you move forward.

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00:11:03,565 --> 00:11:04,895
Sincerely, Heather Skipper

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00:11:05,475 --> 00:11:07,815
and our final email comes from Peggy Canfield.

279
00:11:09,075 --> 00:11:11,215
It is unbelievable that Chester Haven is being threatened

280
00:11:11,215 --> 00:11:12,495
again, given the court's ruling.

281
00:11:12,595 --> 00:11:13,655
Why would the commissioners put

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00:11:13,655 --> 00:11:14,815
this critical area in jeopardy?

283
00:11:14,905 --> 00:11:17,335
Again, the commissioners that vote voted

284
00:11:17,635 --> 00:11:19,895
for this do not care about the bay or the world.

285
00:11:20,775 --> 00:11:22,335
Unbelievable. This is this atrocity

286
00:11:22,435 --> 00:11:24,175
and this is under consideration.

287
00:11:24,175 --> 00:11:27,255
Again, Peggy Canfield, that's all the emails I have.

288
00:11:27,585 --> 00:11:29,415
Thank you. Would anybody else like

289
00:11:29,415 --> 00:11:32,735
to speak Mr. Stevens?

290
00:11:35,435 --> 00:11:37,455
In light of Joseph Stevens, as you know,

291
00:11:37,455 --> 00:11:38,935
i I represent Chester Haven Beach.

292
00:11:39,755 --> 00:11:41,535
And in light of some of the comments that were made,

293
00:11:41,535 --> 00:11:42,895
I just need to clarify a few things.

294
00:11:43,755 --> 00:11:45,375
One is, is that the public works agreement

295
00:11:45,375 --> 00:11:47,135
before you is the exact same language,

296
00:11:47,155 --> 00:11:48,255
but for the extension they

297
00:11:48,255 --> 00:11:49,255
Can't hear you.

298
00:11:49,255 --> 00:11:50,455
They can't hear you the exact same language,

299
00:11:50,475 --> 00:11:53,175
but for the extension in time that was requested.

300
00:11:54,065 --> 00:11:57,485
And two is is that the court decision involved only the

301
00:11:57,485 --> 00:12:00,565
inclusion of the property in the county growth area in order

302
00:12:00,565 --> 00:12:01,685
for it to get public water.

303
00:12:01,685 --> 00:12:03,245
It had nothing to do with the lots of record.

304
00:12:03,305 --> 00:12:04,445
And as I've said many times,

305
00:12:04,875 --> 00:12:06,445
that will eventually, and as Mr.

306
00:12:06,445 --> 00:12:09,725
Falstaff agreed, we'll eventually get decided by the courts.

307
00:12:10,305 --> 00:12:12,045
So we act, asked you to act favorably

308
00:12:12,065 --> 00:12:14,725
and continue with the vote that you took two weeks ago.

309
00:12:14,725 --> 00:12:15,725
Thank you.

310
00:12:17,745 --> 00:12:20,685
Anyone else? Seeing none,

311
00:12:20,685 --> 00:12:21,925
we'll close press on public comment.

312
00:12:22,795 --> 00:12:23,795
Okay.

313
00:12:25,425 --> 00:12:26,805
All right, commissioners, we can move into the

314
00:12:26,805 --> 00:12:28,485
presentations portion of tonight's agenda.

315
00:12:28,505 --> 00:12:31,765
So first up we have our friends from the Maryland

316
00:12:31,765 --> 00:12:33,925
Association of Counties, Mr. Michael Sanderson

317
00:12:33,925 --> 00:12:37,965
and executive director and our president of Maco Mc Keegan.

318
00:12:38,105 --> 00:12:40,805
Aso, would you come on up to the, to the table please? Yeah.

319
00:12:41,825 --> 00:12:44,645
And there is a presentation in your books tab six pages one

320
00:12:44,645 --> 00:12:46,285
through 16 and up on the screen as well.

321
00:12:48,075 --> 00:12:49,965
Welcome. Alright, welcome. Yeah.

322
00:12:54,555 --> 00:12:55,845
Okay. Do I press, do I not

323
00:12:55,845 --> 00:12:56,965
press? No, it just turns off. Okay.

324
00:12:56,965 --> 00:12:57,965
You press if you don't want

325
00:12:57,965 --> 00:12:59,165
to be heard, otherwise you're live.

326
00:12:59,435 --> 00:13:03,365
Okay. That's it. Yeah. First of all, I wanna here,

327
00:13:03,385 --> 00:13:04,885
Here's a clip for the presentation.

328
00:13:05,175 --> 00:13:06,175
Thank you.

329
00:13:06,775 --> 00:13:08,405
Thank you very much for taking time

330
00:13:08,425 --> 00:13:09,485
to hear from us this evening.

331
00:13:10,575 --> 00:13:12,565
Appreciate your time, Michael

332
00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:14,965
and I, I appreciate whatever you did on the bridge.

333
00:13:15,165 --> 00:13:16,525
'cause we came across in lickety

334
00:13:16,525 --> 00:13:17,605
sports, so thank you very much.

335
00:13:19,115 --> 00:13:22,885
Driving to my, my husband's in my place in Bethany.

336
00:13:22,885 --> 00:13:24,525
Sometimes we get tied up on that bridge.

337
00:13:24,705 --> 00:13:28,445
And I also wanna say, I like the

338
00:13:29,885 --> 00:13:32,045
whatever the county decided to do where you're,

339
00:13:32,305 --> 00:13:35,285
if you get off 50, you don't get back on.

340
00:13:36,525 --> 00:13:37,805
I know it makes some people crazy,

341
00:13:37,945 --> 00:13:40,125
but for someone who sits there

342
00:13:40,145 --> 00:13:42,165
and keeps with the screaming children in the back of the car

343
00:13:42,165 --> 00:13:45,765
and the dog threatening to, you know, do whatever, it's good

344
00:13:45,765 --> 00:13:48,205
to know that if someone gets off, there's no way for them

345
00:13:48,205 --> 00:13:49,725
to get around the traffic and get back on.

346
00:13:49,745 --> 00:13:50,885
So appreciate that.

347
00:13:51,825 --> 00:13:55,405
As you know, and I am following in big shoes

348
00:13:55,465 --> 00:13:56,965
and I'm trying very hard to fill them.

349
00:13:59,745 --> 00:14:02,205
We, Michael and the president go around the state

350
00:14:02,205 --> 00:14:04,325
and visit with all 23 counties

351
00:14:04,745 --> 00:14:07,765
and the city of Baltimore, their legislative bodies,

352
00:14:08,225 --> 00:14:12,325
and have a meeting to discuss what's going on in Annapolis,

353
00:14:12,905 --> 00:14:14,325
what's going on at the federal level.

354
00:14:14,785 --> 00:14:16,885
And the thing that I like most is

355
00:14:16,885 --> 00:14:19,085
to hear from you all, what do you hear?

356
00:14:19,755 --> 00:14:21,125
Clearly growth

357
00:14:21,145 --> 00:14:24,085
and development is an issue in Queen Anne County as well

358
00:14:24,085 --> 00:14:25,245
as it is in Frederick County.

359
00:14:26,625 --> 00:14:30,205
You don't have quite the same hot button issue that we have,

360
00:14:30,305 --> 00:14:32,805
but growth and development is a problem across, you can

361
00:14:32,805 --> 00:14:34,765
Keep the data centers I do in your neighborhood.

362
00:14:34,775 --> 00:14:36,285
We're, we're good. We're good.

363
00:14:36,595 --> 00:14:38,565
That is an issue we don't wanna bring up to tonight,

364
00:14:39,905 --> 00:14:41,765
but it is a, it is a problem.

365
00:14:41,905 --> 00:14:44,525
And, and as you know, the

366
00:14:45,165 --> 00:14:47,725
governor is pushing all the counties to do more

367
00:14:47,755 --> 00:14:51,725
with developing affordable housing to do more

368
00:14:51,725 --> 00:14:55,165
with educating our kids to do more with repairing our roads

369
00:14:55,165 --> 00:14:56,845
and making sure that all of our people

370
00:14:57,345 --> 00:15:01,165
and their services that they need to be able to live

371
00:15:01,265 --> 00:15:04,365
and thrive in Maryland are operational.

372
00:15:04,545 --> 00:15:07,885
And that comes down to us and budgets.

373
00:15:08,185 --> 00:15:11,165
And as you know, we all struggle with making sure

374
00:15:11,165 --> 00:15:13,525
that we have enough money to pay for the services

375
00:15:13,525 --> 00:15:17,605
that our residents demand and need to be able to thrive.

376
00:15:18,305 --> 00:15:20,245
But sometimes it gets a little tight.

377
00:15:20,425 --> 00:15:24,285
So we are here to hear from you to hear what we can do

378
00:15:24,885 --> 00:15:28,325
to help you in Annapolis starting next January.

379
00:15:30,365 --> 00:15:32,725
I am term limited, so I will be out in January

380
00:15:33,145 --> 00:15:36,165
and Jack will once again be serving as past president.

381
00:15:36,265 --> 00:15:38,485
So thank you Jack for stepping in for me.

382
00:15:39,465 --> 00:15:40,885
And now I will turn it over to Michael

383
00:15:40,905 --> 00:15:41,925
to go through the particulars.

384
00:15:43,275 --> 00:15:44,405
Well, good evening and,

385
00:15:44,405 --> 00:15:47,085
and thanks very much for making time on your agenda.

386
00:15:47,205 --> 00:15:49,245
I know you've got a, a busy schedule for tonight.

387
00:15:49,265 --> 00:15:51,045
I'm Michael Sanderson, the executive director

388
00:15:51,045 --> 00:15:52,445
of the Maryland Association of Counties.

389
00:15:52,895 --> 00:15:55,085
We're a nonprofit organization that serves

390
00:15:55,085 --> 00:15:57,485
and supports all the county elected officials

391
00:15:57,625 --> 00:15:59,125
and all the services you provide

392
00:15:59,225 --> 00:16:00,325
all the way across Maryland.

393
00:16:00,965 --> 00:16:02,805
We do advocacy work on behalf

394
00:16:02,805 --> 00:16:04,805
of all those local services in Annapolis.

395
00:16:04,805 --> 00:16:06,005
And that's what I'll focus on

396
00:16:06,345 --> 00:16:07,525
for the most part this evening.

397
00:16:08,105 --> 00:16:10,605
As always, I brought a big, thick presentation

398
00:16:10,665 --> 00:16:13,685
and I'm not going to click step by step by step through it,

399
00:16:13,705 --> 00:16:14,845
but some of it is just there.

400
00:16:14,855 --> 00:16:18,005
Leave behind materials to, to illustrate some

401
00:16:18,005 --> 00:16:19,085
of the issues we've been working on.

402
00:16:19,245 --> 00:16:22,645
I, I wanna be economical with your time

403
00:16:22,785 --> 00:16:25,405
and just hit a few big picture issues

404
00:16:25,465 --> 00:16:27,805
and if there's something I miss that you'd like

405
00:16:27,805 --> 00:16:29,965
to get in further drill away.

406
00:16:30,505 --> 00:16:32,285
So I'll speak to a couple of things.

407
00:16:33,355 --> 00:16:36,405
Sort of the big picture, focus on affordability,

408
00:16:37,505 --> 00:16:39,445
the state's budget situation,

409
00:16:39,585 --> 00:16:41,285
and then a couple thorny things

410
00:16:41,285 --> 00:16:43,925
that we're still in the middle of as we speak.

411
00:16:45,475 --> 00:16:49,485
Affordability has just been an increasing drumbeat

412
00:16:49,745 --> 00:16:53,925
as a Maryland public policy challenge increasing over each

413
00:16:53,925 --> 00:16:54,965
of the last several years.

414
00:16:55,905 --> 00:16:57,725
As you all have been on the campaign trail,

415
00:16:57,725 --> 00:16:58,845
you've been hearing about it.

416
00:16:59,405 --> 00:17:03,365
There are gonna be a whole wave of either reelected

417
00:17:03,365 --> 00:17:05,805
or newly elected senators and delegates

418
00:17:05,805 --> 00:17:07,645
and county commissioners and council members.

419
00:17:08,025 --> 00:17:12,325
And many of them will have heard most loudly

420
00:17:12,425 --> 00:17:14,325
and most clearly from their residents

421
00:17:14,325 --> 00:17:17,325
and their constituents about my electric bill

422
00:17:17,865 --> 00:17:21,325
or about price of housing or the price of childcare

423
00:17:21,865 --> 00:17:26,205
and affordability as a, as a beleaguering issue.

424
00:17:26,235 --> 00:17:29,765
Here in Maryland, we've got a problem on a number of fronts.

425
00:17:29,765 --> 00:17:33,325
And what's particularly challenging there is there's not,

426
00:17:33,545 --> 00:17:36,925
in all candor, there's not a ton that these senators,

427
00:17:37,365 --> 00:17:38,405
delegates, commissioners,

428
00:17:38,405 --> 00:17:42,245
and council members can really do to tackle those issues.

429
00:17:43,145 --> 00:17:44,805
It doesn't keep the general assembly from

430
00:17:44,805 --> 00:17:46,485
trying on some of these matters.

431
00:17:46,545 --> 00:17:48,885
And we're gonna, we're gonna continue to see some

432
00:17:48,885 --> 00:17:51,245
of these areas as a focus in Annapolis,

433
00:17:52,625 --> 00:17:54,405
but that's, that's peculiar

434
00:17:54,515 --> 00:17:57,565
that if the number one thing you heard from residents is go

435
00:17:57,565 --> 00:17:59,685
tackle this stuff and you find out

436
00:17:59,685 --> 00:18:01,885
that there's really nothing in the toolbox to address

437
00:18:02,845 --> 00:18:05,005
electric bills going up, that that's a supply

438
00:18:05,005 --> 00:18:07,805
and demand issue that's bigger than

439
00:18:07,835 --> 00:18:08,885
even the state of Maryland.

440
00:18:08,915 --> 00:18:10,925
It's a multi-state approval and, and so forth.

441
00:18:10,925 --> 00:18:12,365
There's, there's a lot going on there.

442
00:18:13,105 --> 00:18:15,485
We did see electric rates

443
00:18:15,665 --> 00:18:17,725
as a target Annapolis this last year.

444
00:18:17,725 --> 00:18:20,165
They sort of concatenated multiple different little bills

445
00:18:20,225 --> 00:18:21,765
and stitched 'em into one big one

446
00:18:21,785 --> 00:18:23,605
and passed it as a relief act.

447
00:18:24,405 --> 00:18:27,325
A lot of the rate payer relief will come from suspending

448
00:18:27,395 --> 00:18:28,885
some add-on programs

449
00:18:28,885 --> 00:18:31,125
that were basically paid by rate payers.

450
00:18:31,125 --> 00:18:32,965
So you can take a break on a couple of those programs

451
00:18:33,025 --> 00:18:35,285
and give folks some, some rate payer relief.

452
00:18:35,625 --> 00:18:38,925
But 12 bucks a month isn't

453
00:18:38,925 --> 00:18:40,605
what has got your residents

454
00:18:40,605 --> 00:18:42,085
concerned about their electric rates.

455
00:18:42,085 --> 00:18:44,885
If their rates are up $70 a month over the last year,

456
00:18:45,225 --> 00:18:46,805
that's the number they've got in mind.

457
00:18:47,605 --> 00:18:50,485
I don't know what the state might have in mind

458
00:18:51,065 --> 00:18:53,885
for rate payer relief on electricity.

459
00:18:53,885 --> 00:18:56,245
There's only so much that you can do on that front.

460
00:18:57,545 --> 00:19:01,965
And in the midst of spiking demand connected technology

461
00:19:02,025 --> 00:19:05,885
and data centers and so forth, that affects the whole region

462
00:19:06,955 --> 00:19:10,965
independent of whether a data center lands in Frederick

463
00:19:10,985 --> 00:19:13,845
County or in another one in Loudoun County, Virginia,

464
00:19:14,265 --> 00:19:15,845
or if it's in West Virginia

465
00:19:16,025 --> 00:19:18,245
or in across the border into Pennsylvania.

466
00:19:18,585 --> 00:19:21,365
Our region is still gonna feel the,

467
00:19:21,505 --> 00:19:23,885
the demand is high for electrons.

468
00:19:23,885 --> 00:19:25,085
It's very high for compute.

469
00:19:25,355 --> 00:19:27,045
They're big users of electricity

470
00:19:27,065 --> 00:19:29,885
that's driving the market driven side of these things.

471
00:19:29,985 --> 00:19:33,045
So expect that to continue to be hot.

472
00:19:33,745 --> 00:19:36,565
But I think once again, Annapolis will be in search

473
00:19:36,565 --> 00:19:40,565
of a solution without any particularly obvious candidates

474
00:19:41,865 --> 00:19:43,445
in somewhat similar fashion.

475
00:19:43,825 --> 00:19:45,365
The battle over housing

476
00:19:46,145 --> 00:19:49,645
and our, our statewide shortage of housing units.

477
00:19:50,915 --> 00:19:53,165
Some folks mostly focused on the affordable

478
00:19:53,165 --> 00:19:54,885
and attainable tier, but we have shortages

479
00:19:54,885 --> 00:19:55,925
that pretty much every tier

480
00:19:56,265 --> 00:19:59,565
of affordability in housing across the state, depending on

481
00:19:59,565 --> 00:20:02,685
what, what study you read, we're 80,000 units short

482
00:20:02,685 --> 00:20:05,605
or 110,000 units short of what we need today

483
00:20:05,665 --> 00:20:08,045
or what we need five years from now or, or whatever.

484
00:20:08,045 --> 00:20:09,525
But almost everybody agrees

485
00:20:09,525 --> 00:20:11,885
that we're short on housing stock

486
00:20:12,305 --> 00:20:15,885
and we're probably not building as many as we need to

487
00:20:16,345 --> 00:20:17,565
to sort of bring supply

488
00:20:17,565 --> 00:20:20,885
and demand into, into reasonable flux.

489
00:20:21,885 --> 00:20:22,885
Interest rates aren't helping us

490
00:20:22,905 --> 00:20:25,085
and there's nothing a Maryland State senator can do

491
00:20:25,085 --> 00:20:27,765
to change the interest rate environment for borrowing

492
00:20:27,765 --> 00:20:30,845
and financing projects, both on the financing the building

493
00:20:31,105 --> 00:20:33,285
and then for a buyer to, to buy a home.

494
00:20:33,885 --> 00:20:35,165
That's its own challenge. There's

495
00:20:35,165 --> 00:20:36,205
a number of other components.

496
00:20:36,755 --> 00:20:38,605
What Annapolis can do is come

497
00:20:38,605 --> 00:20:41,285
after our local permitting processes and go come

498
00:20:41,285 --> 00:20:42,765
after local zoning and so forth.

499
00:20:43,585 --> 00:20:46,565
We ended up finding middle ground on a couple different

500
00:20:46,565 --> 00:20:50,525
bills that dealt with local zoning approvals and so forth.

501
00:20:51,445 --> 00:20:52,965
I think we ended up at a reasonable place,

502
00:20:53,015 --> 00:20:55,405
reasonable place on a couple of bills that made sense.

503
00:20:55,885 --> 00:20:58,565
A whole lot of other ideas were, were effectively shelled.

504
00:20:59,925 --> 00:21:01,605
I don't think this debate is over either.

505
00:21:01,905 --> 00:21:03,605
So a couple bills passed last year.

506
00:21:04,805 --> 00:21:07,045
I don't think we'll be able to count on two hands.

507
00:21:07,265 --> 00:21:09,165
The bills introduced next year

508
00:21:09,235 --> 00:21:12,965
that will be in on housing policy and in one way

509
00:21:12,965 --> 00:21:14,645
or another affecting local governments.

510
00:21:15,955 --> 00:21:19,045
Mako, as you would imagine, we principally stand up

511
00:21:19,065 --> 00:21:22,845
for community driven decision making is the best way

512
00:21:22,845 --> 00:21:24,605
to affect smart land use.

513
00:21:25,385 --> 00:21:27,965
You just can't do the block by block work

514
00:21:28,625 --> 00:21:32,245
of effective zoning from a committee room in Annapolis

515
00:21:32,505 --> 00:21:35,445
or from the Department of Planning in a central building in

516
00:21:35,445 --> 00:21:36,605
Baltimore or in Annapolis.

517
00:21:36,605 --> 00:21:40,805
Just can't do it. So try as they might, will,

518
00:21:40,805 --> 00:21:42,205
will end up having some tension,

519
00:21:42,565 --> 00:21:44,605
I think over those issues continuing.

520
00:21:45,425 --> 00:21:47,525
And I don't know what happens on other matters with,

521
00:21:47,525 --> 00:21:48,845
with childcare and whatnot.

522
00:21:49,445 --> 00:21:53,325
Maryland. Maryland is a relatively expensive place to live,

523
00:21:53,505 --> 00:21:56,765
to build a home and and so forth for a variety of reasons.

524
00:21:57,745 --> 00:22:00,325
And that leads to affordability, problems for childcare

525
00:22:00,325 --> 00:22:03,885
and a long laundry list of other things that sort

526
00:22:03,885 --> 00:22:06,525
of eases into the next point that I want to get into.

527
00:22:06,665 --> 00:22:08,925
And that is the state's fiscal circumstance.

528
00:22:09,465 --> 00:22:10,685
The arithmetic is bad.

529
00:22:12,645 --> 00:22:15,405
I would, I would paint it this way if you like.

530
00:22:15,405 --> 00:22:20,365
How on earth did this happen? I would say that for most

531
00:22:20,365 --> 00:22:22,565
of my time, I've been a fiscal guy for a long time.

532
00:22:22,725 --> 00:22:25,605
I did, I I did makos portfolio of budget and finance things

533
00:22:25,605 --> 00:22:27,605
before I became the executive director.

534
00:22:27,605 --> 00:22:29,205
And I've been following state finances

535
00:22:29,225 --> 00:22:30,605
for, for 30 some years.

536
00:22:31,185 --> 00:22:34,565
And in an ordinary year, if if inflation is two or 3%

537
00:22:34,985 --> 00:22:36,725
and there's little population growth

538
00:22:36,785 --> 00:22:38,285
and a little productivity growth,

539
00:22:38,675 --> 00:22:41,045
that Maryland's economy would grow by something like four

540
00:22:41,045 --> 00:22:42,525
or 5% in a typical year.

541
00:22:42,705 --> 00:22:45,205
And the state revenues would track right along with that.

542
00:22:45,485 --> 00:22:47,285
'cause the state state's main revenues are

543
00:22:47,285 --> 00:22:48,565
income taxes and sales taxes.

544
00:22:48,625 --> 00:22:51,165
That's right. Now who has a job right now

545
00:22:51,305 --> 00:22:52,805
who bought a pair of shoes this week?

546
00:22:53,275 --> 00:22:54,365
It's not property taxes,

547
00:22:54,365 --> 00:22:56,525
which is a little slower on the uptake.

548
00:22:57,465 --> 00:22:58,925
So if you have four

549
00:22:58,925 --> 00:23:03,045
or 5% growth of your, of a general fund budget

550
00:23:03,115 --> 00:23:07,645
that today is about $29 billion, 10 years ago was at 10

551
00:23:07,705 --> 00:23:09,485
or 20, you know, 20 or something like that,

552
00:23:11,065 --> 00:23:13,365
you could be thinking, all right, $20 billion budget,

553
00:23:13,425 --> 00:23:16,405
we grow by four or 5 billion, four or 5% a year.

554
00:23:16,405 --> 00:23:18,325
That's like a billion new dollars a year.

555
00:23:18,905 --> 00:23:22,485
The state could say we have an ambitious education program,

556
00:23:22,625 --> 00:23:25,445
the blueprint, and it's gonna cost the state another

557
00:23:25,445 --> 00:23:27,285
$3 billion over this 10 years.

558
00:23:27,335 --> 00:23:28,405
Let's phase it in

559
00:23:28,665 --> 00:23:31,405
and just mentally we'll take the first 300 million of

560
00:23:31,405 --> 00:23:34,845
that 800, 900, a billion of new dollars a year

561
00:23:35,105 --> 00:23:36,965
and just sort of say education's first.

562
00:23:37,225 --> 00:23:38,445
That's the bird that eats first

563
00:23:38,445 --> 00:23:40,245
and then the rest of the nest can fight over the rest.

564
00:23:40,475 --> 00:23:43,125
It's not a totally irrational way to think

565
00:23:43,665 --> 00:23:45,125
of a 10 year fiscal plan,

566
00:23:46,145 --> 00:23:49,965
but what happens when your growth isn't 5%, it's 1%.

567
00:23:50,185 --> 00:23:51,605
And that's where the state is right now.

568
00:23:51,895 --> 00:23:54,645
State revenue's growing roughly 1% a year.

569
00:23:54,695 --> 00:23:56,565
Maybe it'll pick up to one and a half or two,

570
00:23:56,945 --> 00:23:58,685
but there's nobody out there forecasting

571
00:23:58,685 --> 00:23:59,805
green lights to four or five.

572
00:24:00,665 --> 00:24:02,965
And if you've made spending commitments

573
00:24:03,555 --> 00:24:05,365
that basically say we need to keep pace

574
00:24:05,365 --> 00:24:07,765
with the things we're we're providing to the same people,

575
00:24:08,655 --> 00:24:11,005
we're worried about folks who might lose benefits

576
00:24:11,035 --> 00:24:12,605
because of federal actions.

577
00:24:13,135 --> 00:24:14,645
We've lost a bunch of federal workers

578
00:24:14,745 --> 00:24:15,885
and folks who supported

579
00:24:15,885 --> 00:24:17,845
and surrounded them over the last couple of years.

580
00:24:17,845 --> 00:24:20,485
That's been a a, an impediment in the Maryland economy.

581
00:24:21,185 --> 00:24:24,325
And we've got outmigration to the south

582
00:24:24,325 --> 00:24:25,565
and to the west from here.

583
00:24:25,985 --> 00:24:27,245
You put all that stuff together

584
00:24:27,665 --> 00:24:29,805
and the math is just not math.

585
00:24:29,825 --> 00:24:33,725
And if the state is looking at growth in of the revenues

586
00:24:33,725 --> 00:24:37,245
of only $300 million, they're gonna have the,

587
00:24:37,345 --> 00:24:41,005
the cruise control budget requires another 700

588
00:24:41,065 --> 00:24:42,525
or 800 just to maintain.

589
00:24:43,035 --> 00:24:44,045
This also is the year

590
00:24:44,045 --> 00:24:47,245
that they run outta money in the piggy bank to pay for the,

591
00:24:47,245 --> 00:24:49,685
the blueprint program itself hasn't been really

592
00:24:49,685 --> 00:24:51,085
squeezed on the general fund.

593
00:24:51,085 --> 00:24:52,605
They've had an education trust fund

594
00:24:52,605 --> 00:24:54,085
with casino money and other things like that.

595
00:24:54,425 --> 00:24:55,845
It had a fund balance. It's being,

596
00:24:55,845 --> 00:24:57,045
it's been, it's been drawn down.

597
00:24:57,045 --> 00:24:58,765
It's gonna be to zero and they need general

598
00:24:58,775 --> 00:24:59,885
funds this coming year.

599
00:25:00,295 --> 00:25:01,925
Their working number is over two

600
00:25:01,925 --> 00:25:04,605
and a half billion dollars short for the budget year ahead.

601
00:25:05,865 --> 00:25:07,765
If you're a gambling man,

602
00:25:08,405 --> 00:25:10,245
I would think the number will be larger than that

603
00:25:10,305 --> 00:25:11,325
by New Year's Day.

604
00:25:12,145 --> 00:25:14,405
So the budget that needs to be presented, iss gonna have

605
00:25:14,405 --> 00:25:17,605
to resolve a problem to the two and three, three

606
00:25:17,605 --> 00:25:20,205
and a half billion dollars general fund,

607
00:25:20,205 --> 00:25:22,165
29,000,000,003, three and a half.

608
00:25:22,165 --> 00:25:23,885
You're more than 10% of the budget.

609
00:25:24,275 --> 00:25:25,645
It's just genuinely short.

610
00:25:27,165 --> 00:25:28,845
Probably ends up being a combination

611
00:25:28,845 --> 00:25:30,365
of all the usual suspects.

612
00:25:30,865 --> 00:25:32,765
Go back to the list of revenue raisers.

613
00:25:33,065 --> 00:25:35,245
You go back to funding commitments

614
00:25:35,265 --> 00:25:36,645
and promises that you've made.

615
00:25:36,985 --> 00:25:39,965
You see where can you, you know, move in all directions

616
00:25:39,965 --> 00:25:41,445
to find some middle ground.

617
00:25:41,465 --> 00:25:42,565
But those are tough times.

618
00:25:43,385 --> 00:25:44,525
The state never gets

619
00:25:44,525 --> 00:25:47,405
through a cycle this tough without bringing local

620
00:25:47,405 --> 00:25:49,245
governments to the table as a stakeholder.

621
00:25:49,555 --> 00:25:51,325
It's just, just a matter of fact,

622
00:25:51,425 --> 00:25:53,205
I'm not making an oddball prediction there.

623
00:25:53,355 --> 00:25:54,525
It's just never happens.

624
00:25:54,945 --> 00:25:58,525
So what that looks like another round of cost shifts.

625
00:25:58,525 --> 00:26:00,005
We've talked about that sort of thing before.

626
00:26:00,005 --> 00:26:01,685
That's been the flavor of the month lately

627
00:26:02,265 --> 00:26:03,925
to continue providing a service

628
00:26:04,025 --> 00:26:05,245
and then just bill the county.

629
00:26:06,085 --> 00:26:08,565
Forgive me, I didn't look up, look up the arithmetic on

630
00:26:08,565 --> 00:26:10,605
what was in your last Queen Anne County budget

631
00:26:10,605 --> 00:26:12,285
that was basically just an invoice

632
00:26:12,425 --> 00:26:14,005
for state funded services.

633
00:26:14,985 --> 00:26:17,605
But that's a meaningful number in your budget every year

634
00:26:17,795 --> 00:26:19,525
that you just have to pick up the slack.

635
00:26:19,525 --> 00:26:20,565
You don't have any other way to go.

636
00:26:21,445 --> 00:26:22,645
I don't know what that'll look like.

637
00:26:22,935 --> 00:26:24,765
It'll be difficult at every level.

638
00:26:25,625 --> 00:26:28,925
So the coming year is complicated just for the general fund.

639
00:26:29,145 --> 00:26:31,565
That's before you consider they're also

640
00:26:31,845 --> 00:26:32,885
broke on transportation.

641
00:26:32,905 --> 00:26:35,925
Transportation revenues are not keeping up with the cost

642
00:26:35,925 --> 00:26:38,685
of asphalt and the maintenance of, of subways.

643
00:26:39,025 --> 00:26:40,245
And they're not keeping up

644
00:26:40,245 --> 00:26:43,285
with their formula on highway user revenues back to the back

645
00:26:43,285 --> 00:26:45,285
to the counties and municipal governments

646
00:26:45,285 --> 00:26:46,605
who take care of most of the roads.

647
00:26:47,505 --> 00:26:48,645
All that's upside down.

648
00:26:48,645 --> 00:26:51,085
They're also not keeping up with school construction.

649
00:26:51,315 --> 00:26:54,085
They've all got some long-term liabilities lingering.

650
00:26:54,455 --> 00:26:57,325
Their, their, their budget situation is the worst I've seen.

651
00:26:57,465 --> 00:26:58,805
And I've been doing this a pretty long time.

652
00:26:59,745 --> 00:27:02,965
So that's a little gloom and doomy.

653
00:27:03,545 --> 00:27:05,405
But I mean, that's what you want to hear, right?

654
00:27:05,485 --> 00:27:07,085
I mean, you, I mean, I mean it doesn't,

655
00:27:07,185 --> 00:27:09,045
it doesn't make sense to come here any good news.

656
00:27:09,155 --> 00:27:12,085
Yeah, no, not much in all candor.

657
00:27:12,085 --> 00:27:13,525
It was a lovely evening to drive over.

658
00:27:14,495 --> 00:27:15,885
Spend some time with you. I love the library.

659
00:27:16,345 --> 00:27:17,765
The weather's great. Exactly.

660
00:27:17,825 --> 00:27:19,085
The weather's beautiful library.

661
00:27:19,185 --> 00:27:20,485
You're on the right side of Maryland.

662
00:27:21,075 --> 00:27:23,725
Tell that, let me,

663
00:27:23,785 --> 00:27:27,565
let me drop two more crumbs on issues that I heard a lot

664
00:27:27,565 --> 00:27:31,725
of conversation around during our conference a few weeks ago

665
00:27:32,525 --> 00:27:34,445
that I'll, I'll mention is ongoing issues.

666
00:27:35,305 --> 00:27:38,445
One deals with state guidance for funding

667
00:27:38,945 --> 00:27:42,885
of it's revenue from cannabis taxation that gets sent

668
00:27:42,885 --> 00:27:44,085
to each local community.

669
00:27:44,085 --> 00:27:47,365
It's the community restoration and repair fund.

670
00:27:48,785 --> 00:27:52,045
We are months late in getting the specific guidance from the

671
00:27:52,045 --> 00:27:54,365
state on exactly how the money is to be used.

672
00:27:55,285 --> 00:27:57,965
We have a deadline coming up that each county is supposed

673
00:27:57,965 --> 00:28:00,805
to match and, and have a plan together and so forth.

674
00:28:01,105 --> 00:28:02,605
We have counties all over the map.

675
00:28:02,605 --> 00:28:04,765
Some have said, well, we're just, we're just going ahead

676
00:28:05,185 --> 00:28:07,605
and trying to get the money out the door to worthy

677
00:28:07,985 --> 00:28:09,125
to worthy recipients

678
00:28:09,125 --> 00:28:10,885
and nonprofits in the community and so forth.

679
00:28:11,025 --> 00:28:13,525
We have others who are saying we don't wanna make a misstep

680
00:28:13,545 --> 00:28:14,765
and have to pull money back.

681
00:28:15,405 --> 00:28:16,845
I understand both points of view.

682
00:28:17,745 --> 00:28:20,965
We have been promised that clarity is coming soon

683
00:28:21,265 --> 00:28:23,885
and I hope that's true because we really need it.

684
00:28:24,345 --> 00:28:26,485
We really could have used it about 90 days ago

685
00:28:26,505 --> 00:28:27,645
so we could meet our deadline.

686
00:28:27,645 --> 00:28:28,765
That's coming up in a few weeks.

687
00:28:29,445 --> 00:28:30,685
But nonetheless, I'm hopeful

688
00:28:30,995 --> 00:28:33,245
that we'll get some additional flexibility

689
00:28:33,705 --> 00:28:35,605
and clarity coming soon on that front.

690
00:28:36,715 --> 00:28:40,245
Another area that's a bit confusing from the state is the,

691
00:28:40,625 --> 00:28:42,805
is the the paid family leave program,

692
00:28:43,585 --> 00:28:45,005
family and medical leave.

693
00:28:45,545 --> 00:28:47,845
The insurance program makes it F-A-M-L-I

694
00:28:49,035 --> 00:28:50,925
nominally this program is supposed

695
00:28:50,925 --> 00:28:53,085
to start offering benefits at the beginning

696
00:28:53,505 --> 00:28:57,565
of calendar year 28, meaning they need

697
00:28:57,565 --> 00:29:01,285
to start collecting payroll taxes from employers

698
00:29:01,355 --> 00:29:02,885
January of 27.

699
00:29:04,315 --> 00:29:05,645
Your county and all

700
00:29:05,645 --> 00:29:07,805
of your counterparts across the state have expressed an

701
00:29:07,925 --> 00:29:10,525
interest in being part of a cooperative to try

702
00:29:10,525 --> 00:29:13,045
and provide this service outside of the state system.

703
00:29:13,295 --> 00:29:14,885
Don't do it like unemployment insurance,

704
00:29:14,885 --> 00:29:17,205
just pay your own way, that sort of thing.

705
00:29:17,585 --> 00:29:20,405
We were never the sub the the principle motivation

706
00:29:20,405 --> 00:29:21,605
for this program anyway.

707
00:29:21,925 --> 00:29:23,325
Counties already give good benefits.

708
00:29:23,325 --> 00:29:25,285
We're not the ones leaving folks without the

709
00:29:25,285 --> 00:29:26,325
ability to take a sick day.

710
00:29:26,495 --> 00:29:28,085
We're still wrapped into the program.

711
00:29:28,965 --> 00:29:30,525
I don't know what the state's gonna do here.

712
00:29:30,585 --> 00:29:32,645
We still don't have the guidance documents on that.

713
00:29:32,905 --> 00:29:34,365
We have till November 15th

714
00:29:34,365 --> 00:29:36,445
to make a decision on whether we're in or out.

715
00:29:37,185 --> 00:29:39,525
And we are right now being weighed down

716
00:29:39,905 --> 00:29:42,085
by some bad experiences in other states.

717
00:29:43,205 --> 00:29:46,605
Minnesota State is hemorrhaging cash, Minnesota

718
00:29:46,605 --> 00:29:49,925
as a state about roughly the same population as us and, and,

719
00:29:49,945 --> 00:29:53,205
and some of the vaguely similar demographics and so forth.

720
00:29:54,125 --> 00:29:55,485
Minnesota is hemorrhaging cash.

721
00:29:55,485 --> 00:29:57,005
They're a year or two ahead of us on this.

722
00:29:57,705 --> 00:30:01,805
And some of the providers who got in bed with

723
00:30:02,385 --> 00:30:03,765
co you know, cooperatives

724
00:30:03,765 --> 00:30:06,805
and so forth in Minnesota don't want to bid in Maryland

725
00:30:07,065 --> 00:30:09,285
for fear that we'll end up going down the same path.

726
00:30:09,685 --> 00:30:10,845
I don't know what happens there.

727
00:30:11,205 --> 00:30:13,165
I don't know what can happen in time for our decision.

728
00:30:13,165 --> 00:30:16,525
By November 15th, we, along with our partners

729
00:30:16,525 --> 00:30:17,725
with the Maryland Association

730
00:30:17,725 --> 00:30:19,965
of Boards Education Municipal League,

731
00:30:20,025 --> 00:30:22,965
are all running in circles trying to get this sorted out.

732
00:30:22,965 --> 00:30:24,805
We've got an online webinar tomorrow.

733
00:30:25,175 --> 00:30:27,965
We've got somebody from each county is, is pledged to attend

734
00:30:27,965 --> 00:30:29,605
that, but I'm not,

735
00:30:29,605 --> 00:30:30,805
we're gonna have more questions than

736
00:30:30,805 --> 00:30:32,085
answers for the, for the weeks ahead.

737
00:30:32,085 --> 00:30:34,765
Nonetheless, something we're putting effort into,

738
00:30:36,865 --> 00:30:39,445
is there still an opportunity to delay or defer

739
00:30:39,465 --> 00:30:40,805
or deep six, the whole thing?

740
00:30:41,005 --> 00:30:42,485
I don't know. In all candor,

741
00:30:42,755 --> 00:30:44,565
it's been delayed a couple of times already.

742
00:30:45,325 --> 00:30:48,245
There's a lot of folks who are very enamored with the goals

743
00:30:48,245 --> 00:30:51,245
of this program, but it does cost the state tens of millions

744
00:30:51,245 --> 00:30:53,365
of dollars to, to fund for their own employees too.

745
00:30:54,925 --> 00:30:57,485
Roundabout way of saying things are challenging.

746
00:30:57,675 --> 00:30:58,805
It's a tough environment.

747
00:30:59,505 --> 00:31:01,925
The voters are having their say in a variety of ways

748
00:31:01,925 --> 00:31:03,165
that will continue to do so.

749
00:31:04,245 --> 00:31:05,645
Godspeed for the work you do

750
00:31:05,825 --> 00:31:08,485
and all the things you deliver back home will continue

751
00:31:08,485 --> 00:31:11,085
to support and represent you in Annapolis as best we can.

752
00:31:11,965 --> 00:31:13,805
But that's never an easy task.

753
00:31:14,585 --> 00:31:17,165
So glad to be here to spend time with you on

754
00:31:17,165 --> 00:31:18,445
that cheery, cheery note.

755
00:31:19,105 --> 00:31:20,365
I'm not traveling with you anymore.

756
00:31:21,335 --> 00:31:23,885
Seems right. It was better when Jack was with you.

757
00:31:24,085 --> 00:31:25,845
I think when we heard the story it was pretty

758
00:31:25,845 --> 00:31:27,045
depressing actually.

759
00:31:27,145 --> 00:31:28,485
So the numbers just keep getting bigger.

760
00:31:28,545 --> 00:31:31,485
So, so Michael, real quick, can you speak to the latest,

761
00:31:32,125 --> 00:31:35,445
I guess shoot a drop on the budget with the tech tax being

762
00:31:37,235 --> 00:31:40,085
basically negated now and what they may have to pay back

763
00:31:40,085 --> 00:31:41,045
and what they're actually gonna lose

764
00:31:41,105 --> 00:31:42,245
and projected revenue or,

765
00:31:43,415 --> 00:31:47,405
We've got, we've got two different, two different sort

766
00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,685
of novel ideas from the state

767
00:31:49,685 --> 00:31:51,725
of Maryland on how to raise revenue.

768
00:31:51,915 --> 00:31:55,125
Both of these have come in the spirit of saying

769
00:31:56,105 --> 00:31:57,165
the Maryland economy

770
00:31:57,265 --> 00:31:59,965
or just the modern economy looks different than the economy

771
00:32:00,025 --> 00:32:02,405
of 1970, but for the most part,

772
00:32:02,425 --> 00:32:06,325
our tax system is still mostly the 1970 tax system.

773
00:32:06,785 --> 00:32:11,605
You tax income, you tax property, you tax sales, we've,

774
00:32:11,605 --> 00:32:13,005
you know, we, we've had a sales tax

775
00:32:13,005 --> 00:32:15,125
that's based on buying goods and services.

776
00:32:15,225 --> 00:32:18,125
The bo you know, the shoes you buy shoes in the shoebox,

777
00:32:18,425 --> 00:32:19,725
you pay tax on that.

778
00:32:20,025 --> 00:32:22,245
But what about, you know, I just bought a video game

779
00:32:22,245 --> 00:32:24,085
and I downloaded it from a streaming service

780
00:32:24,235 --> 00:32:25,925
that has no physical presence

781
00:32:25,925 --> 00:32:27,005
in Maryland, all that kind of stuff.

782
00:32:27,275 --> 00:32:30,765
This has been an iterative process to try and be smarter

783
00:32:30,905 --> 00:32:32,365
and say if we tax a

784
00:32:32,385 --> 00:32:34,325
and this thing walks, walks like a duck,

785
00:32:34,325 --> 00:32:36,005
maybe we tax it the same way and so forth.

786
00:32:36,665 --> 00:32:38,925
Two things Maryland has done in recent years that are both,

787
00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:40,350
both in legal difficulty.

788
00:32:40,665 --> 00:32:44,805
One is an advertising tax for online advertisers

789
00:32:44,805 --> 00:32:47,245
who have a large presence in Maryland,

790
00:32:48,045 --> 00:32:49,085
companies like Facebook

791
00:32:49,105 --> 00:32:50,405
or Meta who,

792
00:32:50,545 --> 00:32:53,165
who may not have a physical building in the state

793
00:32:53,165 --> 00:32:57,325
of Maryland, but still have, you know, surely hundreds

794
00:32:57,405 --> 00:33:01,645
of thousands of users who, who access advertising

795
00:33:01,645 --> 00:33:04,285
and other things that are being delivered in the state

796
00:33:04,285 --> 00:33:07,245
of Maryland through ISPs here and so forth.

797
00:33:07,705 --> 00:33:10,005
So do they have a presence here where that

798
00:33:10,565 --> 00:33:14,165
economic activity could be subject to a state imposed tax

799
00:33:14,825 --> 00:33:17,285
that's been in the courts for several years

800
00:33:17,905 --> 00:33:21,085
and was effectively just thrown out in federal court?

801
00:33:22,235 --> 00:33:24,525
That probably is the end of the debate.

802
00:33:24,685 --> 00:33:26,485
I I, I'm not sure I would swear to that

803
00:33:26,485 --> 00:33:28,925
because these, these, there were sort of drowning,

804
00:33:28,925 --> 00:33:31,605
drowning vampires here that don't never quite end the story,

805
00:33:32,785 --> 00:33:35,125
but I I would say the state

806
00:33:35,905 --> 00:33:38,005
has been penciling in revenues,

807
00:33:38,005 --> 00:33:40,005
there has been collecting some revenues

808
00:33:40,265 --> 00:33:43,245
and has been penciling in forecasts to the tune

809
00:33:43,245 --> 00:33:44,845
of maybe a couple hundred

810
00:33:44,875 --> 00:33:47,005
million, a couple hundred million dollars.

811
00:33:47,005 --> 00:33:49,605
And almost any setting is a ton of money with the state's

812
00:33:50,125 --> 00:33:51,645
whatever, $3 billion problem.

813
00:33:52,155 --> 00:33:54,285
It's still like a meaningful chunk

814
00:33:54,305 --> 00:33:57,725
of a $3 billion problem if it, if it's 200 million worse,

815
00:33:58,225 --> 00:34:02,205
that's just one more, you know, one more shovel of dirt on,

816
00:34:02,265 --> 00:34:03,605
on, on the, on the big mess.

817
00:34:04,265 --> 00:34:07,125
So that situation maybe not completely

818
00:34:07,405 --> 00:34:08,485
resolved, but the news is bad.

819
00:34:09,065 --> 00:34:10,765
The, the second one is just a couple

820
00:34:10,765 --> 00:34:15,125
of years ago in the 2025 session, the,

821
00:34:15,145 --> 00:34:17,725
the so-called tech tax, the idea

822
00:34:17,785 --> 00:34:20,085
of a half rate sales tax on business

823
00:34:20,085 --> 00:34:23,845
to business technology services was floated and passed,

824
00:34:25,145 --> 00:34:28,885
but without a particularly well craft, in my judgment,

825
00:34:29,605 --> 00:34:31,285
a well-crafted definition of

826
00:34:31,285 --> 00:34:33,085
what was gonna be subject to the tax.

827
00:34:33,865 --> 00:34:36,925
And I I honestly remember on the floor of both the House

828
00:34:36,945 --> 00:34:40,445
and the Senate, various specific members would stand up

829
00:34:40,445 --> 00:34:43,165
and say, hold on, is this tax gonna apply to, let me,

830
00:34:43,165 --> 00:34:44,565
let me ask you about this particular

831
00:34:44,565 --> 00:34:45,685
thing or that particular thing.

832
00:34:45,945 --> 00:34:48,565
The answer to every one of those questions seemed to be, no,

833
00:34:48,565 --> 00:34:50,085
that won't be taxed here,

834
00:34:50,425 --> 00:34:53,805
but somehow the state thought they were gonna find a half a

835
00:34:53,805 --> 00:34:56,925
billion dollars of revenue in business

836
00:34:56,925 --> 00:34:59,845
to business taxes paying a 3% tax rate.

837
00:35:00,145 --> 00:35:02,045
So this was like cloud storage and,

838
00:35:02,385 --> 00:35:04,205
and you know, online cybersecurity

839
00:35:04,425 --> 00:35:06,925
and you know, software as a service agreements

840
00:35:06,925 --> 00:35:08,965
and other things along those lines.

841
00:35:09,555 --> 00:35:11,925
Some of which I'm sure you can make an analogy,

842
00:35:11,995 --> 00:35:16,285
that they are comparable to going to whatever Circuit City

843
00:35:16,305 --> 00:35:19,925
and buying software in a box on a CD and installing it.

844
00:35:21,225 --> 00:35:25,445
In any event, the revenue from that, instead of being

845
00:35:25,985 --> 00:35:29,085
to the tune of several hundred million dollars looks like

846
00:35:29,085 --> 00:35:30,765
it's coming in at like 20 or 40.

847
00:35:31,625 --> 00:35:35,885
So the definitions may have been in practice way too narrow

848
00:35:36,705 --> 00:35:40,725
or this may just be an area where the ability

849
00:35:40,905 --> 00:35:44,085
to elude like these are all transactions happening,

850
00:35:45,025 --> 00:35:47,965
you know, in cyberspace, in the cloud, in transactions

851
00:35:47,965 --> 00:35:50,805
that maybe you have this be deliverable to your

852
00:35:51,445 --> 00:35:53,765
Virginia Branch or, or to your Florida branch

853
00:35:53,765 --> 00:35:56,565
or your Tennessee branch or something along those lines.

854
00:35:56,885 --> 00:35:59,165
I I don't think we have the full story on what's happening

855
00:35:59,165 --> 00:36:00,605
there, but you put these two together

856
00:36:01,465 --> 00:36:04,125
and it's kind of like two swings

857
00:36:04,125 --> 00:36:07,605
and a miss at the idea of let's modernize the tax structure

858
00:36:08,305 --> 00:36:10,885
and, and have areas where we're growing

859
00:36:10,905 --> 00:36:12,765
and where there's a lot of activity make

860
00:36:12,765 --> 00:36:14,165
their contribution as well.

861
00:36:14,235 --> 00:36:16,565
It's harder to pin down than it's met the eye.

862
00:36:17,505 --> 00:36:20,445
So both of those are partially baked into

863
00:36:20,445 --> 00:36:21,565
the current forecasts.

864
00:36:21,945 --> 00:36:24,685
The, the, the, the new, the the latest news, just a couple

865
00:36:24,685 --> 00:36:26,805
of weeks old on the federal courts on the,

866
00:36:27,185 --> 00:36:30,525
the interstate advertising tax is another layer on top

867
00:36:30,525 --> 00:36:34,245
though, so we should know by October what the, what the,

868
00:36:34,245 --> 00:36:35,725
what the first picture looks like.

869
00:36:35,825 --> 00:36:39,085
And I suspect the details will fall together sometimes

870
00:36:39,645 --> 00:36:40,845
sometime maybe middle of November.

871
00:36:40,845 --> 00:36:42,885
Sounds about right. We'll see the details

872
00:36:42,885 --> 00:36:44,125
shortly after the election.

873
00:36:44,125 --> 00:36:48,485
Sounds right around November, November 5th. Yeah.

874
00:36:48,485 --> 00:36:51,765
Yeah, some somewhere in that, in that ballpark along with

875
00:36:51,765 --> 00:36:54,085
by the way, an analysis of how the blueprint is working

876
00:36:54,665 --> 00:36:57,045
and whether there might be areas where that needs

877
00:36:57,045 --> 00:36:59,045
to be ratcheted and clanked here or there,

878
00:37:00,395 --> 00:37:02,165
Michael, of the $3 billion

879
00:37:02,545 --> 00:37:05,965
for 2028 projected at the bottom here it says

880
00:37:06,905 --> 00:37:11,245
of the 3000000002.6 is blueprint roughly.

881
00:37:11,905 --> 00:37:15,885
So I distinctly recall the governor at MACO

882
00:37:16,945 --> 00:37:20,125
saying, we're gonna pump the brakes on blueprint

883
00:37:20,425 --> 00:37:22,165
can do we know what that means?

884
00:37:23,185 --> 00:37:27,165
So the governor tr governor,

885
00:37:28,105 --> 00:37:30,965
in my judgment, to his credit, the governor tried

886
00:37:30,965 --> 00:37:34,925
to get ahead of this and two years ago

887
00:37:34,925 --> 00:37:38,765
during the 25 session, came to the Mako conference

888
00:37:38,785 --> 00:37:42,245
and said, I support the goals of the blueprint.

889
00:37:42,425 --> 00:37:43,485
I'm sure most of you do too.

890
00:37:44,255 --> 00:37:46,085
We're running into some affordability

891
00:37:46,425 --> 00:37:48,165
and we may need to make some tweaks.

892
00:37:48,545 --> 00:37:50,125
The specific, I don't wanna get super deep,

893
00:37:50,125 --> 00:37:52,245
but the, the specific thing that he said was,

894
00:37:52,535 --> 00:37:54,405
we're having trouble filling all the teacher

895
00:37:54,405 --> 00:37:55,445
jobs we have today.

896
00:37:56,105 --> 00:37:58,845
One te of the blueprint was hire extra teachers

897
00:37:59,225 --> 00:38:01,725
so each teacher can spend more of her

898
00:38:01,725 --> 00:38:03,485
or his time out of the classroom

899
00:38:03,715 --> 00:38:05,165
with professional development

900
00:38:05,625 --> 00:38:08,005
and curriculum design, other things like that,

901
00:38:08,145 --> 00:38:10,285
and that'll make the profession more attractive.

902
00:38:10,345 --> 00:38:12,445
And that's one of the goals of the blueprint.

903
00:38:12,905 --> 00:38:15,645
He said, maybe that's a piece that we should defer

904
00:38:15,645 --> 00:38:17,685
because we can't hire the,

905
00:38:18,585 --> 00:38:20,365
at the time the number was like 15,000

906
00:38:20,365 --> 00:38:21,565
more public school teachers.

907
00:38:21,565 --> 00:38:22,725
We just can't hire 'em.

908
00:38:23,185 --> 00:38:25,925
So maybe that's a thing that rather than have

909
00:38:25,925 --> 00:38:28,925
that be a deliverable that happens in 26, 7, 8, 9,

910
00:38:28,935 --> 00:38:32,325
maybe we could have the BA 29 31 2 thing.

911
00:38:32,345 --> 00:38:33,565
We just push a couple

912
00:38:33,565 --> 00:38:34,845
of these things back a bit while

913
00:38:34,845 --> 00:38:35,965
we fill out the other pieces.

914
00:38:36,745 --> 00:38:40,285
The general assembly initially said forget it

915
00:38:40,865 --> 00:38:42,325
and then finally buckled

916
00:38:42,325 --> 00:38:44,485
and said, we'll give you like 30 cents on the dollar.

917
00:38:44,495 --> 00:38:46,645
We'll do a partial delay but only a piece

918
00:38:47,065 --> 00:38:48,045
and we'll give a little more

919
00:38:48,045 --> 00:38:49,325
flexibility to the school systems.

920
00:38:49,465 --> 00:38:51,765
But, but eventually we want to get there kind of on time.

921
00:38:55,325 --> 00:39:00,045
I think something along those lines almost has

922
00:39:00,045 --> 00:39:01,525
to be part of the solution ahead

923
00:39:01,585 --> 00:39:03,685
for this coming session in my opinion.

924
00:39:04,045 --> 00:39:05,645
I think this is the year it all comes together.

925
00:39:06,245 --> 00:39:08,565
I think they bite the bullet and actually do raise taxes

926
00:39:08,665 --> 00:39:09,685
and raise some revenues.

927
00:39:10,125 --> 00:39:11,685
I think they'll go back and say some

928
00:39:11,685 --> 00:39:13,165
of the promises we've pledged,

929
00:39:13,385 --> 00:39:15,125
we just can't sustain 'em. Price

930
00:39:15,125 --> 00:39:16,125
Taxes on what?

931
00:39:16,405 --> 00:39:18,885
I don't have any idea. Everybody thinks

932
00:39:18,885 --> 00:39:20,005
it's gonna be the sales tax.

933
00:39:20,765 --> 00:39:23,925
I mean that's, that's the, that's the easiest thing to do is

934
00:39:23,925 --> 00:39:27,165
to say we, we tax effectively 6% on that pair of shoes

935
00:39:27,345 --> 00:39:28,525
or that restaurant meal.

936
00:39:28,945 --> 00:39:32,285
You make it seven. We would not be an outlier state if we

937
00:39:32,285 --> 00:39:34,045
had a sales tax of 7%.

938
00:39:34,305 --> 00:39:37,245
The states around us are mostly in that, in that territory.

939
00:39:37,525 --> 00:39:39,445
A lot of 'em have local add-on sales taxes

940
00:39:39,515 --> 00:39:41,245
that turn it into eight and a half

941
00:39:41,265 --> 00:39:42,485
or nine or 10 or whatever.

942
00:39:43,735 --> 00:39:45,045
Sales taxes are regressive.

943
00:39:45,365 --> 00:39:47,205
There'll be a number of members of the legislature

944
00:39:47,205 --> 00:39:49,205
who don't like that as a matter of public policy,

945
00:39:49,705 --> 00:39:51,245
but a penny on the sales tax gets

946
00:39:51,245 --> 00:39:52,405
you a billion dollars cash.

947
00:39:53,145 --> 00:39:55,045
Not an elusive in the cyberspace.

948
00:39:55,045 --> 00:39:56,685
Maybe if it happens, that's a,

949
00:39:56,685 --> 00:39:58,285
that's like a billion dollars of real stuff.

950
00:39:59,505 --> 00:40:01,685
So I don't know what it will look like.

951
00:40:03,045 --> 00:40:06,125
I, I think it's, I think it's really hard to imagine this

952
00:40:06,925 --> 00:40:09,645
resolution not including some revenues

953
00:40:10,025 --> 00:40:11,325
and some spending cuts,

954
00:40:12,145 --> 00:40:15,165
But he's, he's increased the fees

955
00:40:15,225 --> 00:40:18,805
and taxes a billion dollars last year and the year before

956
00:40:19,465 --> 00:40:21,285
and now we're talking about doing it again.

957
00:40:21,825 --> 00:40:24,245
So after the election of course is over.

958
00:40:25,245 --> 00:40:29,605
I know it's not you, right? It it's just frustration, right?

959
00:40:30,965 --> 00:40:33,525
I mean it's, it's a perpetual tension

960
00:40:34,705 --> 00:40:36,045
in, in every state.

961
00:40:36,045 --> 00:40:38,165
There's, you know, there's the question about what level

962
00:40:38,185 --> 00:40:41,285
of services do you want to offer and provide and support,

963
00:40:41,625 --> 00:40:43,805
and then how do you find the means to do 'em?

964
00:40:44,025 --> 00:40:45,805
And it's a, you know, there's a,

965
00:40:45,805 --> 00:40:47,365
there's a partisan debate there,

966
00:40:47,365 --> 00:40:48,965
there's a philosophical debate there.

967
00:40:49,625 --> 00:40:51,525
It that debate is gonna get connected

968
00:40:51,525 --> 00:40:55,285
to Maryland's affordability issues and if there's three

969
00:40:55,285 --> 00:40:57,365
or $4 billion a year at stake

970
00:40:57,465 --> 00:40:59,045
and whether we're spending less

971
00:40:59,045 --> 00:41:01,125
or taxing more, some folks will say, well,

972
00:41:01,125 --> 00:41:03,965
this is our opportunity to do something about affordability

973
00:41:03,965 --> 00:41:07,485
right here, let's spend less o other folks will say,

974
00:41:07,785 --> 00:41:10,685
but you know, but this service but this family,

975
00:41:11,025 --> 00:41:14,805
but these kids I, I've seen, we, we've all seen

976
00:41:14,835 --> 00:41:17,285
that debate play out small stage, large stage,

977
00:41:17,805 --> 00:41:19,245
it's gonna be full circle.

978
00:41:19,995 --> 00:41:23,325
What I hope though is whatever the resolution is

979
00:41:23,955 --> 00:41:27,805
that we don't have 27 B yet another year of kick in the can.

980
00:41:28,525 --> 00:41:30,365
'cause they're awfully good at doing the bare minimum

981
00:41:30,425 --> 00:41:31,885
and saying, we'll come back in a couple years

982
00:41:31,905 --> 00:41:34,165
and see maybe, maybe the, you know,

983
00:41:34,385 --> 00:41:36,245
the de you sex mock now the, you know,

984
00:41:36,275 --> 00:41:37,925
hand from God and suddenly everything's fine.

985
00:41:37,925 --> 00:41:42,005
We grow our way out of it. And so I think just do the thing,

986
00:41:42,115 --> 00:41:44,605
tear off the bandaid, get it done, whatever it is,

987
00:41:45,145 --> 00:41:48,965
and if we have to eat our lumps, just do it and get on.

988
00:41:49,445 --> 00:41:51,245
I don't, don't love saying it that way, but,

989
00:41:53,345 --> 00:41:56,365
And the challenge that passing down all those unfunded

990
00:41:56,385 --> 00:41:58,405
funded mandates to the, to the counties,

991
00:41:58,995 --> 00:42:01,765
forcing the county elected officials to raise taxes,

992
00:42:02,105 --> 00:42:04,925
to cover all those expenses that the state used to cover

993
00:42:04,925 --> 00:42:06,205
that we have to now cover, right?

994
00:42:06,445 --> 00:42:07,725
IE teachers pensions, right?

995
00:42:08,645 --> 00:42:12,325
Mandated to salary increases, passing the buck

996
00:42:12,585 --> 00:42:14,325
And, and and where do you have to go?

997
00:42:15,435 --> 00:42:18,405
Like I, I, I've forgotten the exact arithmetic,

998
00:42:18,405 --> 00:42:20,405
but it's, it's like 70

999
00:42:20,545 --> 00:42:24,245
or 75% of Marylanders live in a county that is already

1000
00:42:24,785 --> 00:42:27,765
at the 3.2 income tax ceiling.

1001
00:42:27,825 --> 00:42:29,765
Now they give us a tiny little sliver on top of that,

1002
00:42:30,185 --> 00:42:33,005
but there's, you, you don't have an income tax tool

1003
00:42:33,105 --> 00:42:34,565
to really go raise revenue.

1004
00:42:35,155 --> 00:42:37,205
It's gonna be property taxes, okay?

1005
00:42:37,205 --> 00:42:38,565
You're worried about affordable housing

1006
00:42:38,985 --> 00:42:41,005
and the idea is to go send the counties back

1007
00:42:41,005 --> 00:42:42,725
to the drawing board to go raise property taxes

1008
00:42:43,265 --> 00:42:44,525
and that's regressive

1009
00:42:44,525 --> 00:42:45,805
and it lands right on renters,

1010
00:42:46,385 --> 00:42:48,245
it lands right on the middle income.

1011
00:42:48,265 --> 00:42:51,445
We don't, we don't have grad gradations in the property tax

1012
00:42:51,445 --> 00:42:52,565
the way you do with income tax

1013
00:42:52,565 --> 00:42:54,485
where everybody gets a personal deduction,

1014
00:42:54,485 --> 00:42:55,885
then you start paying taxes later.

1015
00:42:56,265 --> 00:42:58,565
You pay property tax on the first nickel of your,

1016
00:42:58,565 --> 00:42:59,645
your property value.

1017
00:43:00,435 --> 00:43:02,605
It's, I mean, it's crazy policy half

1018
00:43:02,605 --> 00:43:04,165
of the country is out there

1019
00:43:04,165 --> 00:43:06,525
with ballot issues about limiting or cutting

1020
00:43:06,865 --> 00:43:08,525
or eliminating property taxes

1021
00:43:08,525 --> 00:43:11,245
because they're so unpopular, they're so regressive

1022
00:43:11,245 --> 00:43:12,285
and they're so anti housing.

1023
00:43:12,665 --> 00:43:14,685
And Maryland in effect is saying,

1024
00:43:14,815 --> 00:43:17,245
we're gonna shift the costs down to you all, you all just,

1025
00:43:17,625 --> 00:43:21,165
you got one good tool, but adds a good one anyway.

1026
00:43:22,425 --> 00:43:25,445
Sounds so I, we don't usually have this much

1027
00:43:25,445 --> 00:43:26,485
of a crowd when you come.

1028
00:43:26,705 --> 00:43:29,165
So this is actually a great opportunity

1029
00:43:29,165 --> 00:43:31,125
because I think there are, I didn't know

1030
00:43:31,125 --> 00:43:33,845
before I select official about Mako and what Mako does.

1031
00:43:33,865 --> 00:43:36,645
So I'm glad that a lot of people could hear from you

1032
00:43:37,105 --> 00:43:39,405
and despite sort of the, other than that Mrs.

1033
00:43:39,405 --> 00:43:43,005
Lincoln speech that you gave us, I I I, I'd just like

1034
00:43:43,005 --> 00:43:45,605
to point out for the people that are here about the sort of

1035
00:43:45,605 --> 00:43:47,085
what does get accomplished with Maco, I mean,

1036
00:43:47,085 --> 00:43:50,125
there's challenges ahead, but what a great organization

1037
00:43:50,905 --> 00:43:52,605
for us to represent the issues of the county.

1038
00:43:52,705 --> 00:43:54,965
And so for anybody who is like discouraged

1039
00:43:54,965 --> 00:43:57,045
with the way the state of politics in DC

1040
00:43:57,045 --> 00:43:59,165
or even Annapolis, I wish you could watch

1041
00:43:59,265 --> 00:44:02,045
how the county representatives meet at Mako

1042
00:44:02,115 --> 00:44:05,085
because it's not politics, it's there's a problem.

1043
00:44:05,345 --> 00:44:06,845
How do we try to solve the problem?

1044
00:44:07,065 --> 00:44:10,925
And we all really work together on committee with mc

1045
00:44:10,985 --> 00:44:12,765
and Jack was President Mako,

1046
00:44:13,305 --> 00:44:15,885
and we really are able to accomplish some great things

1047
00:44:16,515 --> 00:44:18,885
from a perspective of county operations.

1048
00:44:19,425 --> 00:44:21,285
We don't always win. Sometimes we,

1049
00:44:21,625 --> 00:44:23,165
we lose some, some big ones.

1050
00:44:23,165 --> 00:44:25,765
We fight really hard. Yeah. But we fight really hard and,

1051
00:44:25,905 --> 00:44:27,965
and we're down in Annapolis and we're testifying

1052
00:44:28,465 --> 00:44:30,325
and when we're there on behalf of Mako,

1053
00:44:31,035 --> 00:44:33,765
it's a very influential voice that we have.

1054
00:44:34,725 --> 00:44:38,125
I would encourage more citizens to get down into Annapolis

1055
00:44:38,125 --> 00:44:39,965
during the 90 days and,

1056
00:44:39,965 --> 00:44:42,405
and let their voices be heard on things like,

1057
00:44:42,545 --> 00:44:43,965
are we spending too much money on things?

1058
00:44:44,025 --> 00:44:45,085
Are we overtaxing people?

1059
00:44:45,765 --> 00:44:48,805
Because there's only so much we can do at the local level.

1060
00:44:49,205 --> 00:44:50,445
I will just tell you a story.

1061
00:44:51,755 --> 00:44:55,925
Several years ago we had a representative from Frederick

1062
00:44:55,925 --> 00:44:58,765
County who's not there anymore, who said to me, oh,

1063
00:44:59,125 --> 00:45:00,845
I will never run for local office

1064
00:45:01,235 --> 00:45:03,005
because you guys, everybody knows

1065
00:45:03,005 --> 00:45:04,245
how you voted on every issue.

1066
00:45:05,005 --> 00:45:06,285
I like being in Annapolis

1067
00:45:06,285 --> 00:45:08,845
because nobody pays attention to what we're doing

1068
00:45:08,845 --> 00:45:10,365
and I can vote however I want

1069
00:45:10,745 --> 00:45:12,485
and my constituents never know.

1070
00:45:12,545 --> 00:45:15,165
And I thought, ooh, I don't think I'd say that out loud,

1071
00:45:16,905 --> 00:45:18,525
but yeah, I I I get it.

1072
00:45:18,625 --> 00:45:20,285
We, we, we fight.

1073
00:45:20,335 --> 00:45:25,085
There was a time Jack and I were in a delegate's office

1074
00:45:25,425 --> 00:45:29,565
and we were trying to discuss solar on farmland

1075
00:45:29,785 --> 00:45:32,485
and at one point I thought I was gonna have to jump

1076
00:45:32,485 --> 00:45:36,005
between the two of them because Jack was passionate

1077
00:45:36,005 --> 00:45:37,245
and this delegate was passionate.

1078
00:45:37,265 --> 00:45:39,205
And I'm thinking there's gotta be a middle ground here

1079
00:45:39,205 --> 00:45:40,805
somewhere, but we're not gonna reach it right now.

1080
00:45:41,225 --> 00:45:43,765
So yeah, we, we, we try very, very hard

1081
00:45:44,825 --> 00:45:48,765
and as you said, I am from a

1082
00:45:49,465 --> 00:45:54,325
bluish purple county and it doesn't matter whether

1083
00:45:54,505 --> 00:45:57,245
you are from a conservative county or a liberal county

1084
00:45:57,385 --> 00:45:59,805
or a moderate county, we try

1085
00:45:59,805 --> 00:46:02,125
and do what's best for the counties across the state.

1086
00:46:02,125 --> 00:46:03,125
Yeah,

1087
00:46:03,685 --> 00:46:04,685
I think so.

1088
00:46:04,825 --> 00:46:06,085
You had asked for good news.

1089
00:46:06,365 --> 00:46:08,965
I wanna spend 45 seconds giving you a tiny

1090
00:46:08,965 --> 00:46:10,245
little silver lining story.

1091
00:46:11,465 --> 00:46:12,805
We always talk about these big topics

1092
00:46:12,865 --> 00:46:15,245
and a lot of 'em are the, are the rough ones and so forth.

1093
00:46:15,925 --> 00:46:18,845
A really good win that we've earned over several years is we

1094
00:46:18,845 --> 00:46:21,805
have way too many people who are stuck in the county jail

1095
00:46:22,415 --> 00:46:24,365
where they, where the place they need

1096
00:46:24,365 --> 00:46:26,125
to be is in psychiatric care.

1097
00:46:26,665 --> 00:46:30,045
And the state has not been able to do right by, by folks

1098
00:46:30,105 --> 00:46:32,605
who ought to be in full-time psychiatric

1099
00:46:32,605 --> 00:46:35,645
care in, in a pro.

1100
00:46:35,745 --> 00:46:37,005
It is been a back and forth, you know,

1101
00:46:37,005 --> 00:46:38,125
finger pointing and so forth.

1102
00:46:38,305 --> 00:46:42,045
But the, the state courts are, have,

1103
00:46:42,045 --> 00:46:45,365
have held the Maryland Department of Health accountable

1104
00:46:45,545 --> 00:46:49,085
for not providing the beds so we can get people out

1105
00:46:49,085 --> 00:46:51,805
of local jails and into the care that they need.

1106
00:46:52,825 --> 00:46:54,965
The answer is not to force the local jail

1107
00:46:55,225 --> 00:46:56,925
to start doing psychiatric services.

1108
00:46:56,925 --> 00:46:58,205
That's not the answer at all.

1109
00:46:58,395 --> 00:47:00,405
It's for the state to prop up the beds.

1110
00:47:00,425 --> 00:47:03,325
Now cash is a problem, it's gonna be a money issue

1111
00:47:03,325 --> 00:47:05,965
and so forth, but the state is orienting in the correct

1112
00:47:06,075 --> 00:47:08,645
direction rather than pointing their finger at us.

1113
00:47:08,915 --> 00:47:09,965
It's back at themselves.

1114
00:47:10,785 --> 00:47:12,605
That's the right direction on this issue.

1115
00:47:12,625 --> 00:47:14,285
We, we have, we have too many folks

1116
00:47:14,665 --> 00:47:18,485
who have substance abuse problems and mental hygiene issues,

1117
00:47:18,785 --> 00:47:21,645
and what they really need is care rather than being stuck in

1118
00:47:21,645 --> 00:47:23,605
your jail or the Baltimore County Jail

1119
00:47:23,625 --> 00:47:24,685
or the Frederick County Jail.

1120
00:47:24,825 --> 00:47:26,285
So we're going in the right direction

1121
00:47:26,285 --> 00:47:27,325
on that with a lot of work.

1122
00:47:27,955 --> 00:47:29,205
Awesome. Awesome.

1123
00:47:29,835 --> 00:47:32,805
Well thank you very much for having us. Yes. Appreciate it.

1124
00:47:32,805 --> 00:47:34,085
Thank you. Appreciate your time. Thank you.

1125
00:47:34,085 --> 00:47:36,125
Safe travel luck. Safe travels. Thank you.

1126
00:47:36,125 --> 00:47:39,285
Thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of your agenda.

1127
00:47:39,415 --> 00:47:41,725
Thank you. Thank you. You don't have sewer

1128
00:47:41,765 --> 00:47:43,045
problems in Frederick, right?

1129
00:47:43,065 --> 00:47:43,805
Oh, sewer and water.

1130
00:47:47,945 --> 00:47:50,685
All right, commissioners. Our next presenter is Miss Laura

1131
00:47:50,925 --> 00:47:53,205
Reno, the executive director for Not My Child.

1132
00:47:53,345 --> 00:47:57,965
So Laura, come on up please. Yeah. Alright. Alright.

1133
00:47:58,195 --> 00:48:00,245
He's coming with me. Alright. Alright.

1134
00:48:00,415 --> 00:48:01,525
Thank you for your patience.

1135
00:48:01,655 --> 00:48:02,565
We've been trying to get you

1136
00:48:02,565 --> 00:48:03,685
on the agenda for quite a while.

1137
00:48:03,815 --> 00:48:05,445
Appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah,

1138
00:48:05,645 --> 00:48:06,645
I appreciate it.

1139
00:48:06,775 --> 00:48:08,125
Appreciate it. Is anybody

1140
00:48:08,125 --> 00:48:09,125
Unfamiliar with me?

1141
00:48:09,125 --> 00:48:12,805
I'm Anthony Reno. 2017, I founded Not my child,

1142
00:48:13,325 --> 00:48:15,765
I now serve on the board as the president.

1143
00:48:17,435 --> 00:48:19,845
What originally started off was educational,

1144
00:48:20,165 --> 00:48:21,605
speaking in schools, speaking in venues,

1145
00:48:22,115 --> 00:48:26,685
assisting families in need financially for cost

1146
00:48:26,685 --> 00:48:29,725
of funerals, cremations, benches, treatment.

1147
00:48:30,355 --> 00:48:33,205
It's, we've moved completely in a different direction over

1148
00:48:33,205 --> 00:48:34,885
the past several years and we're actually proud of it

1149
00:48:35,065 --> 00:48:38,565
and I wanna thank her for the how this thing's grown.

1150
00:48:39,185 --> 00:48:43,285
Our initiatives now are Choose Hope Project Restart

1151
00:48:43,625 --> 00:48:45,045
and Partners in the workforce.

1152
00:48:45,345 --> 00:48:48,245
And I'll let Laura elaborate on exactly

1153
00:48:48,245 --> 00:48:50,165
what these programs do that we implemented

1154
00:48:50,275 --> 00:48:51,485
that are helping so many people.

1155
00:48:53,445 --> 00:48:55,875
Thank you. And thank you for having us here today.

1156
00:48:57,195 --> 00:48:59,795
Project Restart was initiated in 2022

1157
00:49:00,575 --> 00:49:03,435
and it has become a major focus of our work.

1158
00:49:04,095 --> 00:49:07,315
The program helps individuals in recovery overcome barriers

1159
00:49:07,415 --> 00:49:09,915
to education, training and sustainable employment.

1160
00:49:10,775 --> 00:49:15,155
In 2026 alone, we have supported more than 50 individuals

1161
00:49:15,155 --> 00:49:16,155
through Project Restart.

1162
00:49:16,705 --> 00:49:19,395
That support looks different for every person.

1163
00:49:19,665 --> 00:49:22,955
Sometimes it's formal training or tuition assistance.

1164
00:49:22,955 --> 00:49:25,555
Sometimes it's helping someone prepare for an interview,

1165
00:49:26,025 --> 00:49:29,515
find employment, create a resume, advocate for themselves,

1166
00:49:29,995 --> 00:49:31,955
navigate resources, or simply figure out

1167
00:49:31,955 --> 00:49:33,155
what their next steps should be.

1168
00:49:34,465 --> 00:49:38,515
This year 12 individuals completed forensic peer training

1169
00:49:39,135 --> 00:49:41,355
and eight completed certified peer

1170
00:49:41,915 --> 00:49:43,035
recovery specialist training.

1171
00:49:43,535 --> 00:49:45,755
We currently have one participant enrolled in

1172
00:49:45,755 --> 00:49:47,155
community health worker training.

1173
00:49:47,855 --> 00:49:50,795
Two, preparing to begin GED programming

1174
00:49:50,815 --> 00:49:53,555
and one enrolled in the Marine Tech Technology Skilled

1175
00:49:53,555 --> 00:49:56,315
Trades Pro program at Chesapeake College.

1176
00:49:56,815 --> 00:49:58,835
And he actually called me right before I left

1177
00:49:59,015 --> 00:50:00,275
and he was very excited.

1178
00:50:00,335 --> 00:50:02,635
He just got a job in the marine tech industry,

1179
00:50:03,015 --> 00:50:04,075
so that was very exciting.

1180
00:50:04,725 --> 00:50:07,555
Those are, those are more than training numbers to us.

1181
00:50:08,205 --> 00:50:10,835
These are individuals in recovery, gaining credentials,

1182
00:50:10,905 --> 00:50:12,275
education, confidence

1183
00:50:12,275 --> 00:50:14,515
and pathways towards sustainable employment

1184
00:50:14,515 --> 00:50:15,915
and long-term stability.

1185
00:50:17,695 --> 00:50:20,115
Our next program was is Choose Hope.

1186
00:50:20,115 --> 00:50:22,995
Because substance doesn't only affect the individual,

1187
00:50:23,295 --> 00:50:24,995
it infects the entire family.

1188
00:50:25,895 --> 00:50:28,485
Our Choose Hope support groups are facilitated

1189
00:50:28,545 --> 00:50:30,885
by licensed therapists, providing families

1190
00:50:30,885 --> 00:50:33,325
and loved ones with professional support from people

1191
00:50:33,345 --> 00:50:34,925
who understand the complexities

1192
00:50:34,925 --> 00:50:36,405
of substance use and recovery.

1193
00:50:37,225 --> 00:50:38,445
We currently have two groups

1194
00:50:38,595 --> 00:50:40,925
with approximately six regular participants.

1195
00:50:41,425 --> 00:50:44,085
One is in Queen Anne County and one is in Kent County.

1196
00:50:44,555 --> 00:50:46,165
They're still in their growth stages,

1197
00:50:46,265 --> 00:50:48,645
but we're committed to building them into sustainable

1198
00:50:48,885 --> 00:50:50,645
resources for families in our community.

1199
00:50:51,305 --> 00:50:54,085
And beginning September 10th, we are expanding Choose Hope

1200
00:50:54,085 --> 00:50:55,925
through a partnership with Compass Hospice,

1201
00:50:56,835 --> 00:50:59,445
with experienced grief support professionals providing

1202
00:50:59,725 --> 00:51:02,045
workshops specifically for people grieving a

1203
00:51:02,445 --> 00:51:03,605
substance use related loss.

1204
00:51:04,665 --> 00:51:07,285
Our third program is Partners in the Workplace

1205
00:51:08,465 --> 00:51:10,645
and that focuses on employers

1206
00:51:11,645 --> 00:51:13,765
Recovery doesn't stop when someone gets a job.

1207
00:51:14,685 --> 00:51:17,445
Employers need tools to better understand substance use

1208
00:51:17,545 --> 00:51:21,125
and recovery, reduce stigma, recognize challenges,

1209
00:51:21,185 --> 00:51:24,965
and create workplaces where employees in recovery as well

1210
00:51:24,965 --> 00:51:26,005
as their family members

1211
00:51:26,025 --> 00:51:29,445
of those in recovery have an opportunity to succeed.

1212
00:51:29,925 --> 00:51:32,805
Partners in the workplace is led by a licensed therapist

1213
00:51:32,825 --> 00:51:36,045
who holds a PhD and specializes in addiction counseling,

1214
00:51:36,485 --> 00:51:38,805
bringing professional expertise into practical

1215
00:51:38,805 --> 00:51:40,485
conversations with employers.

1216
00:51:41,145 --> 00:51:43,365
We introduce this initiative through a Lunch

1217
00:51:43,365 --> 00:51:45,725
and learn that drew more than 30 attendees

1218
00:51:45,745 --> 00:51:48,245
and generated interest from several organizations.

1219
00:51:49,065 --> 00:51:53,685
We have a scheduled workshop in at the Kent County Library

1220
00:51:53,865 --> 00:51:58,645
for early 2027, and the Kent County, YMCA Compass

1221
00:51:59,145 --> 00:52:01,965
and Chesapeake College have also expressed interest.

1222
00:52:03,065 --> 00:52:04,245
We are now working to turn

1223
00:52:04,245 --> 00:52:06,765
that interest into consistent employer programming

1224
00:52:06,765 --> 00:52:07,925
through the mid shore.

1225
00:52:08,905 --> 00:52:12,405
We have also recently become a recovery friendly workplace

1226
00:52:12,405 --> 00:52:13,765
through the Maryland Department of Labor.

1227
00:52:14,065 --> 00:52:15,365
We felt that that was important.

1228
00:52:15,425 --> 00:52:17,685
If we're asking other employers to understand

1229
00:52:17,745 --> 00:52:19,605
and support recovery in the workplace,

1230
00:52:19,945 --> 00:52:22,005
we should model those practices ourselves.

1231
00:52:22,585 --> 00:52:25,005
As a lot of our volunteers are either in recovery

1232
00:52:25,345 --> 00:52:26,925
or have family that is in recovery

1233
00:52:26,945 --> 00:52:28,365
or struggling with substance use.

1234
00:52:29,265 --> 00:52:31,245
We also recently had the opportunity

1235
00:52:31,385 --> 00:52:33,445
to present our partners in the workplace program

1236
00:52:33,545 --> 00:52:36,965
to the Maryland Department of Labor for consideration to be

1237
00:52:37,095 --> 00:52:41,125
among their stigma related stigma reduction initiatives

1238
00:52:41,305 --> 00:52:43,085
and resources that they recommend

1239
00:52:43,085 --> 00:52:44,845
through their recovery friendly workplace.

1240
00:52:45,505 --> 00:52:48,285
For us, that was an important step towards potentially

1241
00:52:48,285 --> 00:52:49,725
expanding the reach of this program

1242
00:52:49,865 --> 00:52:52,525
beyond the employers we're able to connect with directly.

1243
00:52:54,365 --> 00:52:56,125
I also think it's important to share

1244
00:52:56,305 --> 00:52:58,605
how we were able to build all of this.

1245
00:52:59,195 --> 00:53:01,885
Much of what not my child has accomplished has been made

1246
00:53:02,165 --> 00:53:04,205
possible through our own fundraising events,

1247
00:53:04,595 --> 00:53:06,885
community donations, sponsorships,

1248
00:53:06,985 --> 00:53:09,205
and smaller grants that I've worked to identify

1249
00:53:09,265 --> 00:53:13,285
and secure, not my child has applied to Queen Anne's County

1250
00:53:13,305 --> 00:53:14,885
for funding on three occasions

1251
00:53:14,905 --> 00:53:17,565
and to date, we have not received direct county funding.

1252
00:53:18,315 --> 00:53:20,405
Despite that, we've continued to support

1253
00:53:20,465 --> 00:53:22,085
and partner with county initiatives

1254
00:53:22,325 --> 00:53:25,845
whenever possible, including using not my child resources

1255
00:53:25,865 --> 00:53:27,965
to help fund training opportunities

1256
00:53:28,035 --> 00:53:30,885
that benefited county employees when that training

1257
00:53:31,075 --> 00:53:32,565
otherwise was not funded.

1258
00:53:33,845 --> 00:53:35,525
I don't share that as a criticism.

1259
00:53:35,765 --> 00:53:38,765
I share it because I think it demonstrates our commitment

1260
00:53:38,785 --> 00:53:41,405
to this community and what we've been able to accomplish

1261
00:53:41,405 --> 00:53:42,805
with limited resources.

1262
00:53:43,645 --> 00:53:46,165
I would really like to see Queen Annes County become an

1263
00:53:46,485 --> 00:53:47,645
invested partner in this work.

1264
00:53:48,785 --> 00:53:51,805
We are at an at a point organization, we,

1265
00:53:52,265 --> 00:53:56,045
we are at an A point organizationally, we've reached a place

1266
00:53:56,175 --> 00:53:59,365
where our greatest barrier is making a larger impact

1267
00:53:59,665 --> 00:54:01,245
to making a larger impact.

1268
00:54:01,295 --> 00:54:05,285
Isn't the lack of need ideas or partnership, it's capacity.

1269
00:54:05,905 --> 00:54:07,965
We have individuals reaching out for help.

1270
00:54:08,225 --> 00:54:11,005
We have organizations interested in our programs.

1271
00:54:11,025 --> 00:54:12,565
We have employers and community

1272
00:54:12,565 --> 00:54:13,925
partners who wanna work with us.

1273
00:54:14,625 --> 00:54:18,085
But right now, the fundraising, the grant writing program,

1274
00:54:18,115 --> 00:54:21,805
development, administration, administration, marketing,

1275
00:54:21,805 --> 00:54:23,045
partnership development,

1276
00:54:23,045 --> 00:54:24,685
and much of the day-to-day coordination

1277
00:54:24,695 --> 00:54:25,805
still runs through me.

1278
00:54:27,295 --> 00:54:29,845
We're intentionally, we're intentionally working

1279
00:54:30,065 --> 00:54:32,765
to build not my child's infrastructure, such

1280
00:54:32,765 --> 00:54:35,765
as additional staff, stronger systems, dedicated programs,

1281
00:54:35,765 --> 00:54:37,845
space, better data and outcome tracking

1282
00:54:38,225 --> 00:54:39,525
and diversified funding.

1283
00:54:40,025 --> 00:54:42,485
So our ability to serve people isn't dependent on

1284
00:54:42,505 --> 00:54:45,605
how many hours one person can fit into a day.

1285
00:54:46,535 --> 00:54:48,405
We've proven that the programs can work.

1286
00:54:48,945 --> 00:54:51,045
Now we're trying to build the organization

1287
00:54:51,045 --> 00:54:53,085
that can sustain and expand them.

1288
00:54:54,025 --> 00:54:56,445
So tonight we're not simply asking the county

1289
00:54:56,545 --> 00:54:58,125
for general operating support.

1290
00:54:58,515 --> 00:55:01,085
We'd like to offer two very specific ways

1291
00:55:01,085 --> 00:55:03,605
that Queen Annes County could invest directly in recovery

1292
00:55:03,625 --> 00:55:05,605
and workforce development in our community.

1293
00:55:06,185 --> 00:55:08,645
Our first request is 8,500

1294
00:55:09,105 --> 00:55:10,965
to bring certified peer recovery

1295
00:55:10,965 --> 00:55:12,565
specialist training to Queen Annes County.

1296
00:55:13,115 --> 00:55:14,685
Earlier this year, Kent,

1297
00:55:14,995 --> 00:55:18,765
Kent County Opioid restitution funds allowed us to provide

1298
00:55:19,465 --> 00:55:22,845
the certified peer recovery support training in Chestertown,

1299
00:55:22,845 --> 00:55:24,965
where eight individuals completed the program.

1300
00:55:26,015 --> 00:55:27,205
We've already demonstrated

1301
00:55:27,205 --> 00:55:29,085
that we can identify the participants,

1302
00:55:29,215 --> 00:55:30,325
coordinate the training,

1303
00:55:30,585 --> 00:55:33,005
and help individuals take the next steps towards

1304
00:55:33,325 --> 00:55:35,525
certification, education, and employment.

1305
00:55:36,505 --> 00:55:38,685
We would now like to bring that same opportunity

1306
00:55:38,785 --> 00:55:39,805
to Queen Anne's County.

1307
00:55:40,065 --> 00:55:44,965
An investment of appro, approximately 85 8500 would allow us

1308
00:55:44,985 --> 00:55:46,885
to provide A-C-P-R-S training

1309
00:55:47,115 --> 00:55:48,565
opportunity here in the county.

1310
00:55:49,265 --> 00:55:51,845
Our second opportunity is partners in the workplace.

1311
00:55:52,515 --> 00:55:56,285
Kent County Opioid restitutions funds are also supporting

1312
00:55:56,345 --> 00:55:59,205
our ability to provide these professionally facilitated

1313
00:55:59,525 --> 00:56:01,845
workshops to Kent County employers at no cost.

1314
00:56:02,905 --> 00:56:05,645
We currently do not have comparable funding to offer

1315
00:56:05,645 --> 00:56:07,445
that same programming in Queen Anne County.

1316
00:56:08,315 --> 00:56:11,965
Facilitator costs are approximately $400 per workshop.

1317
00:56:12,265 --> 00:56:14,645
So an investment of 4,000 would allow us

1318
00:56:14,645 --> 00:56:17,565
to provide approximately 10 partners in the workplace

1319
00:56:18,125 --> 00:56:20,845
workshops to Queen Annes County employers at no cost

1320
00:56:20,865 --> 00:56:22,525
to the participating businesses.

1321
00:56:24,105 --> 00:56:26,285
In both cases, these are programs

1322
00:56:26,355 --> 00:56:27,885
that we're already implementing.

1323
00:56:27,885 --> 00:56:31,485
With the support from the opioid rest restitution funds in a

1324
00:56:31,645 --> 00:56:34,485
neighboring county, we would welcome the opportunity

1325
00:56:34,505 --> 00:56:35,725
to bring that same investment

1326
00:56:35,825 --> 00:56:37,885
and those same resources to Queen Annes County.

1327
00:56:38,385 --> 00:56:41,165
We would be grateful for the counties consideration

1328
00:56:41,625 --> 00:56:42,645
of either investment.

1329
00:56:43,745 --> 00:56:45,725
Before I close, I wanted

1330
00:56:45,745 --> 00:56:49,005
to appreciate the commissioner's assistance in obtaining

1331
00:56:49,005 --> 00:56:51,885
some clarity regarding the Queen Annes County opioid

1332
00:56:52,075 --> 00:56:53,325
restitution fund process.

1333
00:56:54,385 --> 00:56:57,085
Not my child's proposed work was included in the county's

1334
00:56:57,085 --> 00:56:58,765
local abatement plan last year,

1335
00:56:59,265 --> 00:57:01,525
and I've been trying since the beginning of this year

1336
00:57:01,545 --> 00:57:04,885
to understand the funding process and the next steps.

1337
00:57:05,325 --> 00:57:07,165
I was advised that I was advised

1338
00:57:07,165 --> 00:57:09,565
that my inquiry was being forwarded for follow up

1339
00:57:09,565 --> 00:57:12,325
and unfortunately I have not received further information.

1340
00:57:13,385 --> 00:57:15,965
I'm not raising, again, I'm not raising that tonight

1341
00:57:15,965 --> 00:57:18,685
to criticize the process, I simply wanna make sure

1342
00:57:18,685 --> 00:57:21,485
that I understand how to appropriately pursue these funds

1343
00:57:22,065 --> 00:57:24,885
and that so we have an opportunity to be considered

1344
00:57:24,885 --> 00:57:26,845
for funding that could directly support Queen

1345
00:57:26,965 --> 00:57:28,005
Annes County residents.

1346
00:57:28,745 --> 00:57:31,845
If someone could help me with the appropriate person

1347
00:57:31,905 --> 00:57:34,205
and clarify that process, I'd greatly appreciate it.

1348
00:57:36,145 --> 00:57:38,485
Not my child has changed tremendously,

1349
00:57:38,525 --> 00:57:41,965
tremendously since we began in 2017.

1350
00:57:42,305 --> 00:57:44,565
But our reason for this work hasn't changed.

1351
00:57:45,235 --> 00:57:48,085
Anthony Junior's story started not my child.

1352
00:57:48,465 --> 00:57:50,005
And today, every person

1353
00:57:50,005 --> 00:57:52,885
that we help write a chapter in their own story is

1354
00:57:52,885 --> 00:57:54,005
part of his legacy.

1355
00:57:55,535 --> 00:57:58,005
We've shown that not my child can accomplish.

1356
00:57:58,335 --> 00:58:00,605
We've shown what not my child can accomplish

1357
00:58:00,605 --> 00:58:04,565
with limited resources, strong partnerships in a community

1358
00:58:04,595 --> 00:58:05,845
that believes in our work.

1359
00:58:06,295 --> 00:58:07,885
We're not asking Queen Annes County

1360
00:58:08,065 --> 00:58:09,205
to build something for us.

1361
00:58:09,615 --> 00:58:12,165
We've built it. We're asking the county

1362
00:58:12,185 --> 00:58:16,125
to invest alongside us so that together we can bring more

1363
00:58:16,125 --> 00:58:18,365
of an impact home to Queen Annes County.

1364
00:58:18,735 --> 00:58:20,485
Thank you. Thank

1365
00:58:20,485 --> 00:58:21,485
You, thank you.

1366
00:58:21,485 --> 00:58:22,525
And I just wanted to add something too.

1367
00:58:22,625 --> 00:58:24,365
It, it really works because we,

1368
00:58:24,465 --> 00:58:26,765
she was talking about numbers for this year, 50 people going

1369
00:58:26,765 --> 00:58:29,405
through Project Restart, which was 50 people last year.

1370
00:58:29,405 --> 00:58:32,125
We had 24 that we worked

1371
00:58:32,125 --> 00:58:34,165
with in Talbot County, the health department.

1372
00:58:34,215 --> 00:58:37,125
Right. It works. There's a strain on employers right now

1373
00:58:37,125 --> 00:58:38,725
trying to find, trying to find employees.

1374
00:58:38,725 --> 00:58:39,645
Nobody wants to work. And

1375
00:58:40,375 --> 00:58:41,685
we're seeing that across the board.

1376
00:58:41,945 --> 00:58:42,845
You know, I have friends that have

1377
00:58:42,965 --> 00:58:44,005
restaurants, they can't find work.

1378
00:58:44,855 --> 00:58:47,485
These people that are in recovery, they wanna work,

1379
00:58:47,595 --> 00:58:48,645
they wanna change their lives

1380
00:58:48,665 --> 00:58:50,125
and instead of the, you know, vicious circle,

1381
00:58:50,145 --> 00:58:53,245
the halfway houses they go back to same people we're trying

1382
00:58:53,245 --> 00:58:56,045
to, we're we're breaking that, that that circle chain

1383
00:58:56,065 --> 00:58:57,445
and it, and it's, it's working.

1384
00:58:57,845 --> 00:58:58,845
Like we got this young man,

1385
00:58:58,905 --> 00:59:00,325
he just got a job today as a boat.

1386
00:59:00,515 --> 00:59:02,485
He's in the boat mechanic classes down at the college

1387
00:59:02,505 --> 00:59:05,565
for the Yamaha has a beautiful establishment down there.

1388
00:59:05,865 --> 00:59:07,045
And today he just got a job.

1389
00:59:08,395 --> 00:59:10,565
Last year we had a nurse graduate

1390
00:59:10,565 --> 00:59:12,205
through the nursing program at Chesapeake College.

1391
00:59:12,215 --> 00:59:14,205
She's at an operating room check, an analyst.

1392
00:59:14,405 --> 00:59:16,845
I mean it's working. So we have, there's proof, you know,

1393
00:59:16,845 --> 00:59:18,805
there's proof that the systems that we got in place

1394
00:59:19,105 --> 00:59:20,725
and there are people that really need it

1395
00:59:21,305 --> 00:59:23,765
and it's just a costly thing to help 'em.

1396
00:59:24,505 --> 00:59:25,925
So yeah.

1397
00:59:26,495 --> 00:59:28,645
Thank you so much. I do have these for you guys.

1398
00:59:28,885 --> 00:59:30,565
I you, yes, thank you. I know you have one,

1399
00:59:30,565 --> 00:59:31,685
but I added a couple things.

1400
00:59:32,325 --> 00:59:34,845
Perfect. Alright. Yeah, thank you. And you said the

1401
00:59:34,845 --> 00:59:36,965
Grant process hasn't, But I appreciate y'alls time.

1402
00:59:37,465 --> 00:59:41,845
Thanks. Yeah, no, I have you three times.

1403
00:59:46,215 --> 00:59:50,525
Y'all have any questions? Thank you. Thank you. No.

1404
00:59:50,525 --> 00:59:55,325
Alright, good. Thank you Laura. Thank you.

1405
00:59:55,415 --> 00:59:58,605
Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank y.

1406
01:00:01,665 --> 01:00:04,605
All right, commissioners, we had the action items

1407
01:00:04,605 --> 01:00:05,845
scheduled next, but we are,

1408
01:00:06,265 --> 01:00:08,605
we can move into the legislation portion of the meeting.

1409
01:00:08,605 --> 01:00:09,965
Since the hearings are scheduled,

1410
01:00:10,175 --> 01:00:11,805
we're at the appropriate time.

1411
01:00:11,805 --> 01:00:14,925
Do you wanna do the, the public hearings next? Alright.

1412
01:00:16,995 --> 01:00:19,725
Okay. So if you wanna turn to tab number seven.

1413
01:00:20,705 --> 01:00:21,885
Tab seven, item one.

1414
01:00:23,025 --> 01:00:25,845
We have public hearing for the Maryland Agricultural Land

1415
01:00:25,845 --> 01:00:28,165
Preservation Fund easements.

1416
01:00:28,225 --> 01:00:30,085
So Mr. Joe Pippen, you wanna come on up.

1417
01:00:30,725 --> 01:00:33,405
This is a public hearing to receive public comment on the

1418
01:00:33,405 --> 01:00:36,645
submission of 11 new agricultural land preservation easement

1419
01:00:36,645 --> 01:00:37,925
applications on the lands listed

1420
01:00:38,385 --> 01:00:40,165
and detailed in the book there.

1421
01:00:40,185 --> 01:00:41,925
And Joe's gonna review those.

1422
01:00:42,585 --> 01:00:44,965
All these applications have received favorable

1423
01:00:44,965 --> 01:00:48,325
recommendations from the local agricultural advisory board.

1424
01:00:48,345 --> 01:00:49,805
So Joe, take it away please.

1425
01:00:50,115 --> 01:00:52,005
Alright. My name's Joe Pipman, Quinnan

1426
01:00:52,525 --> 01:00:54,285
County Sole Conservation District.

1427
01:00:55,135 --> 01:00:58,405
We're here tonight for a public hearing for submission

1428
01:00:58,405 --> 01:01:00,485
of applications to the mouth board.

1429
01:01:01,725 --> 01:01:05,445
These are just applications, these are not offers. Okay.

1430
01:01:05,465 --> 01:01:07,805
So these are just submissions to,

1431
01:01:07,805 --> 01:01:09,125
for the farms to be appraised.

1432
01:01:09,235 --> 01:01:14,125
Okay. What I normally do is just read off of the,

1433
01:01:15,065 --> 01:01:18,885
the notice here and then we'll do public comment at that.

1434
01:01:20,435 --> 01:01:22,245
Alright. Notice of hearing pursuant

1435
01:01:22,245 --> 01:01:27,085
of agricultural article section two dash 4 0 4 CI noted code

1436
01:01:27,085 --> 01:01:28,565
of Maryland, the county commissioners

1437
01:01:28,565 --> 01:01:30,645
of Queen Annes County will hold a public hearing.

1438
01:01:30,645 --> 01:01:34,365
August 25th today, 6:30 PM Canine library,

1439
01:01:35,505 --> 01:01:39,445
200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland 2 1 6 6 6.

1440
01:01:39,545 --> 01:01:41,045
The hearing is held to receive.

1441
01:01:41,075 --> 01:01:43,965
Receive public comments on the establishment

1442
01:01:43,965 --> 01:01:46,965
of agriculture preservation easement applications on the

1443
01:01:47,095 --> 01:01:50,765
lands owned by the following, petitioners as follows,

1444
01:01:50,805 --> 01:01:52,565
Eldridge p Crenshaw Jr.

1445
01:01:52,585 --> 01:01:56,165
And Linda m Truman Crenshaw six election district

1446
01:01:56,785 --> 01:02:00,605
tax map 37 parcel nine 105.824 acres.

1447
01:02:02,055 --> 01:02:03,245
James Allen Smith Jr.

1448
01:02:03,245 --> 01:02:06,285
Third election district tax map 61 parcel

1449
01:02:06,415 --> 01:02:09,085
eight a hundred eighty seven 0.689 acres.

1450
01:02:09,735 --> 01:02:11,285
James W American

1451
01:02:11,345 --> 01:02:16,205
and Darlene E American Third election district tax map 68

1452
01:02:16,205 --> 01:02:19,310
parcel 9 57 0.04 acres.

1453
01:02:20,755 --> 01:02:23,445
John Wilson Cloud Jr. And Justin Cloud.

1454
01:02:23,445 --> 01:02:26,325
Second election district tax map 30 parcel

1455
01:02:26,945 --> 01:02:31,005
1 47, 41 0.912 acres.

1456
01:02:31,855 --> 01:02:36,685
Laker brothers LLC First election district tax map 12

1457
01:02:36,785 --> 01:02:38,645
and 18 parcel one 30

1458
01:02:38,705 --> 01:02:43,365
and 97 totaling 153.143 acres.

1459
01:02:44,555 --> 01:02:48,405
Michael A and Melinda G Ledowski First election district tax

1460
01:02:48,505 --> 01:02:53,045
map 18 parcel thirty five a hundred sixty one 0.51 acres

1461
01:02:53,675 --> 01:02:55,285
Michael r Bostic Jr.

1462
01:02:55,285 --> 01:02:58,445
Second election district tax map 30 parcel

1463
01:02:58,885 --> 01:03:02,765
19 266 0.927 acres

1464
01:03:03,605 --> 01:03:05,045
Sylvester Farms Incorporated.

1465
01:03:05,105 --> 01:03:09,965
Second election district tax map 30 parcel 19 266

1466
01:03:09,965 --> 01:03:11,605
0.9927

1467
01:03:12,025 --> 01:03:16,485
or sorry, 235.95 acres.

1468
01:03:16,945 --> 01:03:20,965
Thomas A. Jackson first election district tax map, a parcel

1469
01:03:21,505 --> 01:03:24,525
6 273 0.015 acres.

1470
01:03:25,105 --> 01:03:26,565
Thomas r Legger Senior

1471
01:03:26,625 --> 01:03:31,005
and Betsy Rhodes Legger first election district tax map 18

1472
01:03:31,005 --> 01:03:35,325
parcel 331.408 acres.

1473
01:03:35,705 --> 01:03:38,365
And lastly, Edward Crenshaw

1474
01:03:38,365 --> 01:03:40,645
and Carolyn Lee Wallace Trust

1475
01:03:41,235 --> 01:03:44,925
trustee First election district tax map 18 parcel

1476
01:03:44,945 --> 01:03:46,605
thirty two a hundred twelve acres.

1477
01:03:47,535 --> 01:03:49,085
Again, as Todd said, these has be,

1478
01:03:49,085 --> 01:03:51,525
this has been given a favorable recommendation from our

1479
01:03:52,105 --> 01:03:53,805
Ag preservation advisory board.

1480
01:03:55,225 --> 01:03:57,405
Anyone can please direct their comments to myself.

1481
01:03:58,425 --> 01:04:00,965
And all sites are accessible to individuals

1482
01:04:00,965 --> 01:04:02,685
with disability sign language interpreters

1483
01:04:02,685 --> 01:04:05,845
and assistant listening, listening systems will be available

1484
01:04:05,865 --> 01:04:08,005
for individuals with hearing impairments.

1485
01:04:08,005 --> 01:04:12,525
Please contact human services at 4 1 0 7 5 8 4 4 0 6

1486
01:04:13,025 --> 01:04:17,445
or TDD 4 1 0 7 5 8 2 1 2 6 7 days

1487
01:04:17,445 --> 01:04:20,845
before the hearing if needed. You got a

1488
01:04:20,845 --> 01:04:21,845
Motion?

1489
01:04:21,945 --> 01:04:23,885
You got some, somebody signed up for the hearing. Oh,

1490
01:04:24,155 --> 01:04:25,155
Okay.

1491
01:04:25,155 --> 01:04:26,965
I have one comment here. Jay Fsad. There

1492
01:04:26,965 --> 01:04:27,965
You go.

1493
01:04:27,965 --> 01:04:29,245
I just wanted to add my support commissioners.

1494
01:04:29,265 --> 01:04:31,605
Jay feg Queenland Conservation Association.

1495
01:04:32,715 --> 01:04:36,245
This is a tremendous list. I just quickly added it up.

1496
01:04:36,245 --> 01:04:40,765
It's 1600 acres added to our land preservation program.

1497
01:04:41,305 --> 01:04:43,205
For the benefit of the public that don't know about this,

1498
01:04:44,265 --> 01:04:46,965
the Maryland Ag Land Preservation Fund is a fund

1499
01:04:47,675 --> 01:04:50,045
that everybody pays into when they have a

1500
01:04:50,245 --> 01:04:51,765
property, property transfer.

1501
01:04:53,425 --> 01:04:55,725
It is a land preservation success story

1502
01:04:55,745 --> 01:04:58,205
of the highest order it's been recognized nationally.

1503
01:04:59,095 --> 01:05:01,885
Queen Anne's County is the beneficiary of this in a big way

1504
01:05:01,885 --> 01:05:03,885
because we're one of the leaders in the entire state.

1505
01:05:04,185 --> 01:05:07,045
And more land has been preserved in Queen Anne's County.

1506
01:05:08,285 --> 01:05:10,085
I think that any other county we're

1507
01:05:10,085 --> 01:05:11,205
either number one or number two.

1508
01:05:11,205 --> 01:05:13,765
Number one, the reason this is so important is twofold.

1509
01:05:14,825 --> 01:05:16,085
One, the county is one

1510
01:05:16,085 --> 01:05:17,805
of the largest grain produce is the largest

1511
01:05:17,805 --> 01:05:19,325
grain produced in county, in the state.

1512
01:05:19,465 --> 01:05:20,805
And so having all this land

1513
01:05:20,805 --> 01:05:24,605
and preservation allows for that segment

1514
01:05:24,665 --> 01:05:26,165
of our economy to continue.

1515
01:05:27,265 --> 01:05:29,045
And one thing that always gets overlooked,

1516
01:05:29,145 --> 01:05:31,645
but the reason that I'm a big fan of this is

1517
01:05:31,645 --> 01:05:33,365
because when you look at a lot of our farms

1518
01:05:33,365 --> 01:05:37,855
around the county, we imagine this as just farmland.

1519
01:05:38,755 --> 01:05:40,895
But what's not always looked at as part

1520
01:05:40,895 --> 01:05:43,135
of this equation is the amount of woodland

1521
01:05:43,845 --> 01:05:45,175
that is part of each farm.

1522
01:05:45,555 --> 01:05:48,175
And so I've surveyed a lot of our farmers in the county

1523
01:05:48,795 --> 01:05:51,855
and some of them have as much as 50% of their

1524
01:05:52,535 --> 01:05:54,015
property in Woodland.

1525
01:05:54,835 --> 01:05:56,615
And the reason that that's important is

1526
01:05:56,615 --> 01:06:00,775
because that woodland harbors all kinds of wildlife,

1527
01:06:01,875 --> 01:06:06,295
insect life, amphibians, the stuff that we ultimately need

1528
01:06:06,295 --> 01:06:08,735
to protect to keep our planet healthy.

1529
01:06:09,075 --> 01:06:12,735
And so this is a great program, commissioners, I urge you

1530
01:06:12,895 --> 01:06:14,935
to support it, support all these

1531
01:06:14,935 --> 01:06:16,135
landowners that have applied.

1532
01:06:16,815 --> 01:06:18,375
There's no downside in doing so.

1533
01:06:18,955 --> 01:06:23,015
And yeah, let's stay as the leader in the whole state

1534
01:06:23,115 --> 01:06:24,695
for our land preservation efforts.

1535
01:06:24,825 --> 01:06:25,825
Thank you.

1536
01:06:29,275 --> 01:06:32,125
Anybody else wanna speak in favor of land preservation?

1537
01:06:33,045 --> 01:06:36,765
'cause I know people say they care about it, but Okay,

1538
01:06:39,105 --> 01:06:40,125
How about a motion I Move

1539
01:06:40,125 --> 01:06:41,725
to approve the 11 new mouth properties

1540
01:06:41,725 --> 01:06:44,085
for easement applications to be submitted to the mouth board

1541
01:06:44,145 --> 01:06:45,805
of trustees for approval and appraisal.

1542
01:06:47,225 --> 01:06:50,285
Second, We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

1543
01:06:51,735 --> 01:06:52,725
We're very proud of this

1544
01:06:52,725 --> 01:06:54,285
program, Joe, you're doing a great job.

1545
01:06:54,375 --> 01:06:55,645
Thank you gentlemen. Appreciate

1546
01:06:55,645 --> 01:06:56,645
It.

1547
01:06:56,645 --> 01:06:57,965
All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye.

1548
01:06:57,965 --> 01:06:59,965
Opposed? So moved. Thank.

1549
01:07:00,315 --> 01:07:02,885
Well, so when would we know when these applications have

1550
01:07:02,885 --> 01:07:03,925
been approved or accepted?

1551
01:07:04,065 --> 01:07:07,125
So they'll get appraised the appraisal second part

1552
01:07:07,125 --> 01:07:08,325
of the ranking system.

1553
01:07:09,045 --> 01:07:11,565
'cause they want the best bang for their butt.

1554
01:07:13,305 --> 01:07:14,765
We have to wait for legisl

1555
01:07:15,215 --> 01:07:17,125
after the legislative session in the spring.

1556
01:07:17,505 --> 01:07:18,765
See exactly what our budget is.

1557
01:07:19,755 --> 01:07:23,725
Hopefully, you know, the budget stays the same as 25 and 26.

1558
01:07:23,945 --> 01:07:26,885
That'd be nice. So we'll see.

1559
01:07:28,065 --> 01:07:29,205
Be next spring. Yep.

1560
01:07:29,345 --> 01:07:31,125
Thanks Joe. Thank you. Thank you. Alright,

1561
01:07:31,185 --> 01:07:32,185
Thanks Joe.

1562
01:07:34,275 --> 01:07:35,325
Alright commissioners.

1563
01:07:35,325 --> 01:07:38,125
Our our second public hearing is for Providence Farm.

1564
01:07:38,275 --> 01:07:40,525
This is a public hearing for the comprehensive water

1565
01:07:40,525 --> 01:07:43,685
and sewerage plan amendment number 11 dash 28

1566
01:07:43,705 --> 01:07:45,445
for the Providence Farm application

1567
01:07:45,545 --> 01:07:46,725
in the town of Centerville.

1568
01:07:47,225 --> 01:07:49,005
So Mr. Pat Thompson can come up

1569
01:07:49,025 --> 01:07:51,565
and offic officiate the hearing.

1570
01:07:52,185 --> 01:07:54,925
Mr. Quimbee is also here if for any questions.

1571
01:07:55,265 --> 01:07:57,645
And this was the subject of our informational meeting two

1572
01:07:57,645 --> 01:08:00,725
weeks ago at the Liberty Building in Centerville.

1573
01:08:00,785 --> 01:08:02,045
So Mr. Thompson, please.

1574
01:08:03,815 --> 01:08:06,805
Thank you Todd. The, this is a public hearing being held

1575
01:08:06,805 --> 01:08:08,965
by the County Commission of Queen Anne County,

1576
01:08:09,185 --> 01:08:10,925
6:35 PM Tuesday,

1577
01:08:11,145 --> 01:08:15,165
August 25th, 2026 in the Ken Island Library,

1578
01:08:15,585 --> 01:08:18,285
200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland.

1579
01:08:18,985 --> 01:08:22,565
The purpose of the hearing is to consider an amendment

1580
01:08:22,745 --> 01:08:25,085
to the Queen S County 2011

1581
01:08:25,595 --> 01:08:27,885
comprehensive water and sewage plan.

1582
01:08:29,585 --> 01:08:30,685
In addition to this hearing

1583
01:08:30,985 --> 01:08:33,245
and informational presentation was

1584
01:08:33,245 --> 01:08:35,485
to given on 8:40 AM on Tuesday,

1585
01:08:35,585 --> 01:08:37,605
August 11th at the county comm

1586
01:08:38,235 --> 01:08:40,885
meeting room in Centerville.

1587
01:08:42,145 --> 01:08:46,005
The proposed amendment relates to the ance farm property.

1588
01:08:46,075 --> 01:08:48,965
This property was recently annexed into the town

1589
01:08:48,965 --> 01:08:53,765
of Centerville, is a predominantly agricultural land located

1590
01:08:53,765 --> 01:08:56,285
between John Andrews Boulevard

1591
01:08:56,825 --> 01:08:59,605
and Rolling Bridge Road on Roseburg Road,

1592
01:09:00,645 --> 01:09:04,245
Maryland Road 3 0 4 across from the county high school,

1593
01:09:05,705 --> 01:09:10,445
excuse me, the property shown on tax map 44 F is parcel

1594
01:09:10,735 --> 01:09:14,925
60 is approximately 279 acres and sides

1595
01:09:15,425 --> 01:09:18,205
and sides and is currently zoned agricultural

1596
01:09:19,185 --> 01:09:22,285
and would be zoned by the town

1597
01:09:22,585 --> 01:09:24,605
as traditional neighborhood development.

1598
01:09:25,185 --> 01:09:29,205
The proposal is amended property from S six W six,

1599
01:09:30,025 --> 01:09:34,925
no plan service to S3 W three future service

1600
01:09:35,105 --> 01:09:38,005
and recognition of its annexation.

1601
01:09:38,845 --> 01:09:42,285
A future amendment to S two W2 will be required,

1602
01:09:42,895 --> 01:09:44,925
which will provide ultimate development

1603
01:09:44,945 --> 01:09:46,405
and proposal particulars.

1604
01:09:46,865 --> 01:09:49,365
Copies of amendments have been available at the County

1605
01:09:49,365 --> 01:09:53,205
Commission's Office 1 0 7 North Liberty Street,

1606
01:09:53,205 --> 01:09:57,325
central Maryland, or could have been maybe obtained

1607
01:09:57,925 --> 01:10:02,845
electronically by setting the request to aqui via qac.org.

1608
01:10:03,385 --> 01:10:06,805
All hearing sites are successful individual disability sign

1609
01:10:07,075 --> 01:10:10,845
interpreted and assist system listing systems are available.

1610
01:10:12,235 --> 01:10:14,005
Persons who wish to comm

1611
01:10:14,465 --> 01:10:16,605
to comment on the proposed amendment

1612
01:10:16,785 --> 01:10:17,925
may do so at this hearing.

1613
01:10:18,725 --> 01:10:20,365
Speakers, we limited to three minutes.

1614
01:10:20,365 --> 01:10:21,765
Each written testimony

1615
01:10:21,865 --> 01:10:24,685
of any length may be submitted before the hearing.

1616
01:10:25,265 --> 01:10:28,245
The Director of Public Work Safety Drive Centerville

1617
01:10:28,865 --> 01:10:31,125
for the record of the proceeding will be a

1618
01:10:31,285 --> 01:10:32,365
certificate of publication.

1619
01:10:33,235 --> 01:10:36,365
Indicat notes was published for two successive weeks

1620
01:10:36,985 --> 01:10:38,165
in the Baytown record.

1621
01:10:38,565 --> 01:10:41,125
Observer newspapers

1622
01:10:41,125 --> 01:10:43,605
of general circulation in Queen Unions County.

1623
01:10:45,785 --> 01:10:49,725
Mr. Speakers I have signed up for first Joe Stevens.

1624
01:10:57,415 --> 01:10:59,885
Thank you commissioners. Good evening. Joe Stevens.

1625
01:10:59,925 --> 01:11:02,565
I represent Providence at Centerville, LLC, the owners

1626
01:11:02,585 --> 01:11:04,285
of the Providence property.

1627
01:11:05,065 --> 01:11:07,885
And I'd just like to take a minute to put the request

1628
01:11:07,905 --> 01:11:09,125
before you into context.

1629
01:11:09,955 --> 01:11:11,805
This is for an amendment to the master water

1630
01:11:11,805 --> 01:11:15,085
and sewer plan, which will provide

1631
01:11:15,145 --> 01:11:17,325
for an S3 W three designation.

1632
01:11:17,325 --> 01:11:19,365
That's a three to 10 year planning period.

1633
01:11:19,795 --> 01:11:22,565
This is not an amendment to provide sewer to the property.

1634
01:11:22,775 --> 01:11:24,885
We'll have to be back before you once

1635
01:11:24,915 --> 01:11:27,485
that time becomes appropriate.

1636
01:11:27,775 --> 01:11:30,405
We'll have to go through a planning process at the,

1637
01:11:30,585 --> 01:11:33,485
at the town level and provide what's known

1638
01:11:33,485 --> 01:11:35,085
as a regulating plan to the town,

1639
01:11:35,085 --> 01:11:36,925
which includes a comprehensive array

1640
01:11:36,925 --> 01:11:38,565
of information and studies.

1641
01:11:39,665 --> 01:11:40,845
And then when that's done

1642
01:11:40,945 --> 01:11:42,765
and we're prepared to come back, we would come back

1643
01:11:42,765 --> 01:11:46,205
before you and ask for an S two S3, excuse me, S two W

1644
01:11:47,225 --> 01:11:48,645
to designation.

1645
01:11:50,385 --> 01:11:52,165
And then you would have an opportunity

1646
01:11:52,165 --> 01:11:53,765
to evaluate it again at that time.

1647
01:11:55,385 --> 01:11:59,085
The important thing about that designation is, is that,

1648
01:11:59,145 --> 01:12:02,405
or the designation now is it's just really the first step in

1649
01:12:02,485 --> 01:12:05,525
a very long and complicated regulatory process.

1650
01:12:06,105 --> 01:12:10,325
The property has been in the joint town

1651
01:12:10,385 --> 01:12:13,845
and county comprehensive plans to be annexed

1652
01:12:14,185 --> 01:12:17,685
and then for plan development for over 30 years.

1653
01:12:18,865 --> 01:12:22,325
And so this is, if I look at it this way, this is,

1654
01:12:22,395 --> 01:12:25,605
this is like the latter part of the middle

1655
01:12:26,065 --> 01:12:30,405
of probably a 45 year period of time in order for this

1656
01:12:30,425 --> 01:12:34,125
to be developed, the county has adopted plan

1657
01:12:34,125 --> 01:12:37,765
after plan now over the recent years, which limits growth

1658
01:12:38,345 --> 01:12:41,125
on areas like Kent Island 'cause a sewer capacity issues

1659
01:12:41,465 --> 01:12:44,205
and indicates that it should be within the municipalities

1660
01:12:44,635 --> 01:12:46,845
that have capacity, not just from a sewer

1661
01:12:46,845 --> 01:12:49,325
and water standpoint, but are the towns.

1662
01:12:49,325 --> 01:12:50,805
That's where you want your growth to be.

1663
01:12:51,695 --> 01:12:54,205
Again, a first step in in doing all that.

1664
01:12:56,745 --> 01:12:59,525
So I would ask that you act favorably on this proposal.

1665
01:12:59,555 --> 01:13:01,805
Doesn't grant development approval, again, we'll have

1666
01:13:01,805 --> 01:13:05,605
to be back before you, but it is consistent with each

1667
01:13:05,605 --> 01:13:06,925
and every comprehensive plan

1668
01:13:06,925 --> 01:13:09,285
that you've done over the past 30 years as well as the,

1669
01:13:09,665 --> 01:13:11,285
as well as the town's comprehensive plan.

1670
01:13:11,305 --> 01:13:15,645
So thank you very much. Thank you. Next Peter

1671
01:13:15,855 --> 01:13:16,855
Flint.

1672
01:13:22,545 --> 01:13:23,545
Yes,

1673
01:13:26,245 --> 01:13:27,245
Good evening.

1674
01:13:27,245 --> 01:13:28,125
I'm Peter Flint. I'm the zoning

1675
01:13:28,125 --> 01:13:29,565
administrator for the town of Centerville.

1676
01:13:31,325 --> 01:13:33,565
I kind of just want to echo what Joe, what Mr.

1677
01:13:33,565 --> 01:13:35,605
Steven said from the town's planning perspective,

1678
01:13:35,955 --> 01:13:37,325
this amendment is consistent

1679
01:13:37,355 --> 01:13:39,205
with both the town's comprehensive plan

1680
01:13:39,265 --> 01:13:40,765
and the broader policy of direct

1681
01:13:40,765 --> 01:13:43,125
and growth into the towns where they can be served

1682
01:13:43,145 --> 01:13:44,165
by public infrastructure.

1683
01:13:44,975 --> 01:13:47,205
Again, Providence Farm has long been part

1684
01:13:47,205 --> 01:13:49,165
of Centerville's future growth framework

1685
01:13:49,745 --> 01:13:52,205
and the property is, has been annexed in the town.

1686
01:13:52,465 --> 01:13:55,165
So the request for you tonight is important plan.

1687
01:13:55,165 --> 01:13:56,285
It's an important planning step.

1688
01:13:56,285 --> 01:13:59,325
I want to, I really want to go through that.

1689
01:13:59,325 --> 01:14:01,125
That's the, this is a planning step, right?

1690
01:14:01,135 --> 01:14:03,205
We've been 30 as, as Mr.

1691
01:14:03,205 --> 01:14:05,765
Steven said, we're 30 plus years into a planning process

1692
01:14:06,115 --> 01:14:07,725
with this, with this property.

1693
01:14:07,785 --> 01:14:09,125
So again,

1694
01:14:09,145 --> 01:14:12,685
moving it moves it into the more immediate planning future.

1695
01:14:13,795 --> 01:14:16,565
There's a bunch of other things happening with Providence.

1696
01:14:16,565 --> 01:14:20,565
At the same time, this amendment is not approval

1697
01:14:20,625 --> 01:14:23,165
of development at Providence, even at a preliminary level.

1698
01:14:23,235 --> 01:14:25,925
They will still have to come before the planning commission

1699
01:14:26,025 --> 01:14:27,765
and complete again the regulating plan.

1700
01:14:27,765 --> 01:14:30,685
All the things, you know, public comment's gonna be part

1701
01:14:30,685 --> 01:14:32,285
of all of those processes in the future

1702
01:14:33,865 --> 01:14:37,125
and they'd have to come back for S two W2 when those,

1703
01:14:37,355 --> 01:14:39,325
when those development projects

1704
01:14:39,505 --> 01:14:41,125
or development plants get more defined.

1705
01:14:42,485 --> 01:14:45,245
A little bit about the town and the town sewer.

1706
01:14:45,245 --> 01:14:47,365
So the town is actively advancing our

1707
01:14:47,365 --> 01:14:48,725
wastewater treatment plant.

1708
01:14:49,465 --> 01:14:51,725
The town manager unfortunately couldn't be here tonight

1709
01:14:51,725 --> 01:14:53,725
to tell you about that, but I'll give you just a little

1710
01:14:53,725 --> 01:14:54,805
bit of what I know about it.

1711
01:14:56,305 --> 01:15:00,805
So we've reached the 60% design mark of that project.

1712
01:15:01,225 --> 01:15:05,605
We expect to get the 95% design by the end of November

1713
01:15:05,785 --> 01:15:09,445
and then that would go into the MDE review process

1714
01:15:10,385 --> 01:15:12,405
and through the MDE review review process.

1715
01:15:12,495 --> 01:15:13,645
After it comes out of that

1716
01:15:13,645 --> 01:15:15,765
however long that takes, you know, then we'd be going

1717
01:15:15,825 --> 01:15:17,965
to look to go to RFP after that process.

1718
01:15:19,385 --> 01:15:22,125
And I believe the construction, you know,

1719
01:15:22,265 --> 01:15:25,405
end date is like 2031 timeframe

1720
01:15:25,995 --> 01:15:27,565
when the end of construction.

1721
01:15:29,305 --> 01:15:32,165
So at the same time we're carefully managing the capacity

1722
01:15:32,165 --> 01:15:33,765
that remains in the existing system.

1723
01:15:34,065 --> 01:15:35,405
In 2025,

1724
01:15:36,025 --> 01:15:40,325
the town council adopted resolution 12 dash 2025 amendment

1725
01:15:40,325 --> 01:15:44,405
to the water and sewer allocation policy, which recognizes

1726
01:15:44,405 --> 01:15:46,085
that the remaining capacity is limited

1727
01:15:46,305 --> 01:15:49,525
and establishes a controlled annual allocation process.

1728
01:15:49,925 --> 01:15:52,205
This is not unusual for any town in

1729
01:15:52,245 --> 01:15:53,365
a similar situation to us.

1730
01:15:54,105 --> 01:15:56,605
The policy also reflects the town's broader planning

1731
01:15:56,605 --> 01:15:59,565
priorities by directing limited capacity towards infill

1732
01:16:00,245 --> 01:16:03,725
economic development and well-designed residential projects

1733
01:16:03,745 --> 01:16:06,565
and housing opportunities at varied price points

1734
01:16:06,565 --> 01:16:07,685
including affordable housing.

1735
01:16:07,695 --> 01:16:09,965
Again, that's part of the, you know, the limited

1736
01:16:10,485 --> 01:16:12,765
allocation policy that the town council has come up with

1737
01:16:12,985 --> 01:16:16,525
and the town council is the only group that can actually,

1738
01:16:16,985 --> 01:16:18,405
you know, approve an allocation.

1739
01:16:18,785 --> 01:16:22,125
So when people come for any providence

1740
01:16:22,145 --> 01:16:25,445
or any other infill development today, that's

1741
01:16:25,445 --> 01:16:26,525
what the town council's looking at.

1742
01:16:26,525 --> 01:16:28,965
They're looking at, oh okay.

1743
01:16:29,345 --> 01:16:34,085
So Providence gives the town an opportunity to, you know,

1744
01:16:34,085 --> 01:16:35,645
accommodate our future housing needs

1745
01:16:36,345 --> 01:16:37,965
and it's been a long planned thing.

1746
01:16:38,065 --> 01:16:40,485
So for these reasons we support the amendment

1747
01:16:40,705 --> 01:16:44,085
and look forward to the final decision.

1748
01:16:44,185 --> 01:16:45,765
Thanks. Thank you.

1749
01:16:46,705 --> 01:16:49,325
That's all signed up. Any other public comment?

1750
01:16:51,705 --> 01:16:56,245
You do have one email. Okay. Yep. Public comment. Okay.

1751
01:16:57,785 --> 01:17:00,805
Hi Sharon Van Berg. I'm the town attorney for Centerville.

1752
01:17:01,585 --> 01:17:03,765
As mentioned already, Centerville does support the

1753
01:17:03,765 --> 01:17:04,805
request that's before you.

1754
01:17:05,465 --> 01:17:08,525
I'd like to briefly address the zoning for the property

1755
01:17:08,525 --> 01:17:10,645
because that is an important consideration

1756
01:17:10,665 --> 01:17:12,685
as you consider comprehensive water

1757
01:17:12,685 --> 01:17:13,765
and sewer plan amendments.

1758
01:17:13,765 --> 01:17:16,765
And then you also have a zoning waiver before you as well.

1759
01:17:18,745 --> 01:17:21,405
The property is zoned traditional neighborhood district.

1760
01:17:21,745 --> 01:17:25,885
So the town adopted its current comprehensive plan in 2023

1761
01:17:26,785 --> 01:17:29,325
and then began the process of implementing it

1762
01:17:29,325 --> 01:17:30,565
and did a complete update

1763
01:17:30,625 --> 01:17:32,925
to its traditional neighborhood zoning district,

1764
01:17:33,095 --> 01:17:35,045
which completed in 2025.

1765
01:17:35,665 --> 01:17:38,085
And hopefully the update to that district,

1766
01:17:38,085 --> 01:17:41,125
which was substantial, ensures that there's a diversity

1767
01:17:41,185 --> 01:17:44,485
of housing and lot sizes that the road network

1768
01:17:44,945 --> 01:17:47,565
and the open space and parks and it all works together.

1769
01:17:48,425 --> 01:17:50,125
As Mr. Stevens and I believe Mr.

1770
01:17:50,175 --> 01:17:51,445
Flint mentioned,

1771
01:17:51,445 --> 01:17:54,405
there's a regulating plan which will be a detailed document

1772
01:17:54,405 --> 01:17:57,725
setting forth the density, the uses, the patterns

1773
01:17:57,725 --> 01:17:58,925
that can be on this property.

1774
01:17:59,465 --> 01:18:03,325
So this is the next step in the process is what's

1775
01:18:03,325 --> 01:18:06,165
before you, but there is a lot more process to come.

1776
01:18:06,815 --> 01:18:09,325
We've gotta go through the drafting

1777
01:18:09,325 --> 01:18:11,005
and approval of the regulating plan,

1778
01:18:11,005 --> 01:18:12,685
which will be the first time we've had one.

1779
01:18:12,785 --> 01:18:15,485
So I'm sure that's gonna take many months to accomplish.

1780
01:18:15,915 --> 01:18:17,405
Then we'll also negotiate

1781
01:18:17,405 --> 01:18:19,725
and draft A-D-R-R-A in a public works agreement.

1782
01:18:20,255 --> 01:18:23,805
There will be the subdivision review process as mentioned,

1783
01:18:23,905 --> 01:18:25,365
the master comprehensive water

1784
01:18:25,365 --> 01:18:26,765
and sewer plan will need to come back

1785
01:18:26,765 --> 01:18:28,485
before you for W2 S two.

1786
01:18:29,265 --> 01:18:31,565
So you're on the next step in the process,

1787
01:18:31,785 --> 01:18:34,565
but there's many, many months more of process.

1788
01:18:35,065 --> 01:18:38,485
So we just wanna keep this moving so that we can continue to

1789
01:18:39,485 --> 01:18:41,485
evaluate this project and start the next steps.

1790
01:18:41,625 --> 01:18:43,045
But there are a lot more steps to come.

1791
01:18:43,585 --> 01:18:46,965
So we've asked your support for this. Thank you. Thank

1792
01:18:46,965 --> 01:18:47,965
You.

1793
01:18:47,965 --> 01:18:49,605
Thanks. Four weeks. You have a public comments

1794
01:18:53,225 --> 01:18:54,225
21st.

1795
01:18:54,315 --> 01:18:55,925
Alright, we had one email come in.

1796
01:18:55,925 --> 01:18:58,725
This is from Frank de Juliano, the president of the course

1797
01:18:58,725 --> 01:19:00,005
of Good River Conservancy,

1798
01:19:00,595 --> 01:19:02,325
commissioners of proposed Providence.

1799
01:19:02,325 --> 01:19:04,645
Farm development is a very significant one for Centerville,

1800
01:19:04,665 --> 01:19:07,045
for the Corsica River watershed in which it resides

1801
01:19:07,065 --> 01:19:09,365
and for the surrounding county area as well.

1802
01:19:09,985 --> 01:19:11,045
The fact that annexation

1803
01:19:11,045 --> 01:19:13,365
and eventual development of this acreage has been in

1804
01:19:13,365 --> 01:19:15,805
comprehensive plants for some time should not detract from

1805
01:19:15,805 --> 01:19:17,485
the significance of the proposal for you

1806
01:19:17,705 --> 01:19:19,605
to now incorporate into the county water

1807
01:19:19,605 --> 01:19:20,645
and sewer master plan.

1808
01:19:21,745 --> 01:19:23,765
The projected total of 910 residences

1809
01:19:23,765 --> 01:19:26,285
of this development will be larger than any combination

1810
01:19:26,285 --> 01:19:28,405
of the two largest developments in the town's history,

1811
01:19:28,655 --> 01:19:30,285
Northbrook and Symphony Village.

1812
01:19:30,745 --> 01:19:32,765
The timing of this proposal would occur simultaneously

1813
01:19:32,795 --> 01:19:34,165
with the end of the useful life

1814
01:19:34,225 --> 01:19:38,205
of the town's current wastewater treatment plant or the WWTP

1815
01:19:38,385 --> 01:19:40,565
and the design as well as the permitting

1816
01:19:40,565 --> 01:19:43,005
and funding of a new WTP replacement.

1817
01:19:43,505 --> 01:19:44,765
So the infrastructure context

1818
01:19:44,905 --> 01:19:46,805
for incorporating this large development into the master

1819
01:19:46,915 --> 01:19:49,965
plan has more than the usual set of risks and unknowns.

1820
01:19:50,275 --> 01:19:52,005
This makes your decision all the more significant

1821
01:19:52,025 --> 01:19:53,845
and worthy of very careful forethought.

1822
01:19:54,825 --> 01:19:56,805
Our conservancy has previously commented

1823
01:19:56,805 --> 01:19:58,125
to you about our concerns

1824
01:19:58,125 --> 01:20:00,205
that constraints on development elsewhere related

1825
01:20:00,205 --> 01:20:02,765
to the recent moratorium could bring major impacts from

1826
01:20:02,765 --> 01:20:04,525
rapid development in the Centerville area.

1827
01:20:05,115 --> 01:20:06,765
This expansion could bring harmful effects

1828
01:20:06,765 --> 01:20:08,110
to the the health of the watershed.

1829
01:20:08,110 --> 01:20:10,405
They're not being adequately anticipated.

1830
01:20:10,715 --> 01:20:13,205
Development in this highly sensitive environment needs

1831
01:20:13,205 --> 01:20:15,125
to be counterbalanced by extraordinary caution

1832
01:20:15,425 --> 01:20:17,565
and measures that preserve in water quality, safety,

1833
01:20:17,785 --> 01:20:19,405
and the integrity of the watershed.

1834
01:20:20,265 --> 01:20:22,765
The plan for the course code restoration to which the town

1835
01:20:22,765 --> 01:20:25,325
and county and state were direct partners formally

1836
01:20:25,615 --> 01:20:26,925
began in 2005.

1837
01:20:27,275 --> 01:20:29,205
This date was now far removed from the major failure

1838
01:20:29,225 --> 01:20:31,325
of the town's old WTP

1839
01:20:31,515 --> 01:20:34,045
that severely pollute the Corsica River and streams.

1840
01:20:34,385 --> 01:20:37,285
Now that plant that that replaced in the failing one is at

1841
01:20:37,285 --> 01:20:38,325
the end of its useful life.

1842
01:20:38,475 --> 01:20:40,325
Despite the best efforts of the town's public work

1843
01:20:40,325 --> 01:20:41,645
staff, it's showing its age.

1844
01:20:41,935 --> 01:20:43,405
There have been an increasing number

1845
01:20:43,405 --> 01:20:44,845
of operational violations.

1846
01:20:44,955 --> 01:20:46,645
Replacement parts must be sought on.

1847
01:20:46,645 --> 01:20:48,845
The secondary market has been increasingly difficult

1848
01:20:48,845 --> 01:20:50,325
for the plant to maintain previous levels

1849
01:20:50,325 --> 01:20:51,925
of nutrient reduction efficiency.

1850
01:20:52,195 --> 01:20:54,565
Just this month there was a significant spillage due

1851
01:20:54,565 --> 01:20:56,685
to a apply a blocked pipe near the plant.

1852
01:20:57,225 --> 01:20:58,885
The Providence Farm proposal appears

1853
01:20:58,885 --> 01:21:01,525
to include a phase one within the next three years that has

1854
01:21:01,525 --> 01:21:03,845
before the new WTP comes online.

1855
01:21:04,185 --> 01:21:06,565
If so, there's an expectation would use remaining

1856
01:21:06,805 --> 01:21:07,885
capacity of this current plant.

1857
01:21:08,075 --> 01:21:09,325
Meanwhile, the town seems

1858
01:21:09,325 --> 01:21:10,725
to have carefully considered a plan

1859
01:21:10,785 --> 01:21:12,885
for conserving any remaining capacity.

1860
01:21:13,185 --> 01:21:15,165
We believe that given the increasing strengths on the

1861
01:21:15,165 --> 01:21:17,485
current plant, even more caution should be exercised

1862
01:21:17,485 --> 01:21:20,005
and making assumptions about using the remaining capacity

1863
01:21:20,105 --> 01:21:22,245
for new non infill development

1864
01:21:22,275 --> 01:21:24,445
that might exacerbate operational integrity

1865
01:21:24,545 --> 01:21:25,845
and risk of malfunction.

1866
01:21:26,655 --> 01:21:28,605
Going forward from that more imminent focus,

1867
01:21:28,625 --> 01:21:30,645
the county should carefully review the status of the project

1868
01:21:30,905 --> 01:21:32,765
to design and develop new replacement plan.

1869
01:21:32,765 --> 01:21:34,725
Before making any decision on this proposal,

1870
01:21:34,915 --> 01:21:37,165
when the town requested the plant be incorporated into the

1871
01:21:37,165 --> 01:21:38,365
water and sewer master plan,

1872
01:21:38,585 --> 01:21:40,245
the commissioners rightfully denied approval

1873
01:21:40,245 --> 01:21:42,325
of the proposed discharge into the Corsica River.

1874
01:21:42,325 --> 01:21:44,845
Pending more information about potential impact on the

1875
01:21:44,845 --> 01:21:47,325
river, that analysis and decision is yet to be made.

1876
01:21:47,515 --> 01:21:48,965
Thus, we believe it would be premature

1877
01:21:48,965 --> 01:21:51,125
to incorporate the Providence Farm development into the

1878
01:21:51,125 --> 01:21:53,485
water and sewer plan since it would depend on a new plant

1879
01:21:53,485 --> 01:21:55,405
for which full design approval, permitting

1880
01:21:55,405 --> 01:21:56,805
and funding is still far off.

1881
01:21:57,265 --> 01:22:00,165
Unlike the county, Centerville does not have adequate public

1882
01:22:00,165 --> 01:22:01,285
facilities ordinances.

1883
01:22:01,755 --> 01:22:04,365
That would help ensure that the large development like

1884
01:22:04,365 --> 01:22:06,925
Providence Farm adequately provides a stream of funding

1885
01:22:06,945 --> 01:22:08,685
to fully support the incidental

1886
01:22:08,685 --> 01:22:09,845
and ongoing infrastructure

1887
01:22:09,845 --> 01:22:11,085
costs of both the town and county.

1888
01:22:11,345 --> 01:22:13,165
Recent problems with the municipal water

1889
01:22:13,165 --> 01:22:15,205
and sewer plants in the area should be caused

1890
01:22:15,225 --> 01:22:17,525
for careful due diligence beyond those,

1891
01:22:17,745 --> 01:22:19,525
beyond these usual impact costs.

1892
01:22:19,925 --> 01:22:22,725
CRC believes that there should be an explicit identification

1893
01:22:22,945 --> 01:22:25,125
of the potential environmental impacts from the Corco

1894
01:22:25,125 --> 01:22:27,045
watershed and measures included in the

1895
01:22:27,045 --> 01:22:28,205
development to offset them.

1896
01:22:28,355 --> 01:22:29,885
This should be a concern of both the town

1897
01:22:29,885 --> 01:22:31,685
and county as well as given past commitments

1898
01:22:31,685 --> 01:22:33,525
to the restoration and continued health

1899
01:22:33,745 --> 01:22:35,005
of the Corco Watershed.

1900
01:22:35,255 --> 01:22:37,165
Thank you for this opportunity to comment.

1901
01:22:39,295 --> 01:22:42,085
Thank you. We had other two other

1902
01:22:42,285 --> 01:22:43,485
comments come in through email.

1903
01:22:43,585 --> 01:22:46,285
One from Ginger Cushing of Centerville.

1904
01:22:47,305 --> 01:22:49,085
My name is Ginger Cushing. I live in Centerville, Maryland.

1905
01:22:49,145 --> 01:22:50,405
I'm writing regarding the proposed amendment

1906
01:22:50,405 --> 01:22:52,325
to the county's comprehensive water and sewer plan.

1907
01:22:52,325 --> 01:22:55,205
On the agenda August 25th, I'm asking the commissioners

1908
01:22:55,225 --> 01:22:57,125
who not to act on this amendment yet.

1909
01:22:57,465 --> 01:22:59,485
It is premature. The county needs more time

1910
01:22:59,485 --> 01:23:00,525
to consider other options

1911
01:23:00,525 --> 01:23:02,725
before making a change of this magnitude.

1912
01:23:03,225 --> 01:23:05,485
The amendment before we would change the plan's, plan's,

1913
01:23:05,485 --> 01:23:08,045
designation, language from no service to future service

1914
01:23:08,625 --> 01:23:09,645
for the affected areas.

1915
01:23:10,155 --> 01:23:11,805
That is not a small wording change.

1916
01:23:12,245 --> 01:23:13,565
Changing that language opens the door

1917
01:23:13,565 --> 01:23:15,365
to development pressures across every parcel.

1918
01:23:15,785 --> 01:23:18,205
The designation touches not just the ones

1919
01:23:18,205 --> 01:23:20,125
where a real demonstrated need exists today.

1920
01:23:20,545 --> 01:23:22,565
As an alternative to comprehensive amendment,

1921
01:23:22,805 --> 01:23:25,285
a property owner who wants to develop a specific piece

1922
01:23:25,285 --> 01:23:27,205
of land may request service for that parcel

1923
01:23:27,755 --> 01:23:30,645
evaluated on his own facts, infrastructure capacity,

1924
01:23:30,645 --> 01:23:32,565
environmental impact, cost to extend service

1925
01:23:33,265 --> 01:23:34,925
and the in effect on the effect

1926
01:23:34,925 --> 01:23:36,085
on the surrounding community.

1927
01:23:36,215 --> 01:23:39,005
Since the individual petition process is available then I

1928
01:23:39,005 --> 01:23:41,965
don't understand the case for rewriting the plans language

1929
01:23:42,005 --> 01:23:43,085
for every property at once.

1930
01:23:43,585 --> 01:23:45,925
Why change the wording for everything when the tool

1931
01:23:45,925 --> 01:23:48,645
to address individ individual cases already exists?

1932
01:23:49,165 --> 01:23:50,405
I would respectfully ask

1933
01:23:50,405 --> 01:23:52,325
that the commissioner's table this amendment tonight

1934
01:23:52,625 --> 01:23:55,325
and take time to compare the blanket change approach against

1935
01:23:55,325 --> 01:23:57,765
keeping the existing case by case petition system

1936
01:23:57,985 --> 01:23:59,205
before any vote is taken.

1937
01:24:00,145 --> 01:24:02,165
And a thorough one, which I do not have with me,

1938
01:24:02,385 --> 01:24:04,725
is from Mr. Callahan Callahan's gas.

1939
01:24:05,265 --> 01:24:07,605
He was just stating that he was a long time resident

1940
01:24:07,605 --> 01:24:09,125
of the town, many generations

1941
01:24:09,305 --> 01:24:11,365
and he felt that the development would be good for the town.

1942
01:24:11,365 --> 01:24:12,605
So he was a supportive of it.

1943
01:24:13,885 --> 01:24:15,485
I got that e email too. I got that one as well.

1944
01:24:15,655 --> 01:24:17,205
We're keeping it open, right? Yep.

1945
01:24:17,355 --> 01:24:19,525
Yeah, we're gonna leave the record open for four weeks.

1946
01:24:19,585 --> 01:24:21,725
We won't vote on this until September 21st.

1947
01:24:25,315 --> 01:24:25,805
Alright.

1948
01:24:30,915 --> 01:24:32,085
Okay. Alright commissioners.

1949
01:24:32,185 --> 01:24:34,765
Our next public hearing is for the

1950
01:24:35,325 --> 01:24:38,005
Southern Kent Island Sanitary Project Phase three.

1951
01:24:38,715 --> 01:24:41,005
This is a public hearing for the Kent Moore and cleaning

1952
01:24:41,025 --> 01:24:43,085
and colony subdivision existing home

1953
01:24:43,085 --> 01:24:44,405
special benefit assessment.

1954
01:24:44,855 --> 01:24:46,125
Phase three of the project.

1955
01:24:46,885 --> 01:24:49,965
There is a presentation in your books tab seven,

1956
01:24:50,075 --> 01:24:51,565
page 40 through 47.

1957
01:24:51,995 --> 01:24:53,565
It's supplement screen here. So Mr.

1958
01:24:53,765 --> 01:24:56,205
Quimbee is gonna run through this presentation quickly

1959
01:24:56,585 --> 01:24:58,885
and then we'll receive any public comment from

1960
01:24:59,575 --> 01:25:02,205
folks in this particular service area of

1961
01:25:02,905 --> 01:25:04,685
our South Ken Island project.

1962
01:25:05,355 --> 01:25:08,325
Alright, This is a public hearing being

1963
01:25:08,325 --> 01:25:09,445
held by the county, Mr.

1964
01:25:09,575 --> 01:25:12,925
Queen Indians County 6:45 PM Tuesday,

1965
01:25:13,505 --> 01:25:17,685
August 25th, 2026 at the Ken Island Library,

1966
01:25:17,945 --> 01:25:20,365
200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland.

1967
01:25:20,795 --> 01:25:23,085
Purpose of the hearing is to fix the amount

1968
01:25:23,085 --> 01:25:26,325
of the sewer benefit assessment levy pursuant

1969
01:25:26,325 --> 01:25:30,925
to section 24 dash 29 of the code of public local laws

1970
01:25:30,985 --> 01:25:35,005
of Queen S County within the Southern Ken Island wastewater

1971
01:25:35,275 --> 01:25:38,565
Subdistrict, phase three queen and colony

1972
01:25:38,565 --> 01:25:39,965
and Kenmore subdivisions.

1973
01:25:40,585 --> 01:25:42,485
The proposed benefit assessments,

1974
01:25:43,135 --> 01:25:46,325
which would be effective October 1st, 2026

1975
01:25:46,465 --> 01:25:50,805
for class A property existing improved properties as

1976
01:25:50,825 --> 01:25:54,245
of May 27th, 2014.

1977
01:25:54,265 --> 01:25:56,125
Within the sewer service area,

1978
01:25:56,955 --> 01:26:01,045
it's $15,220, which consists

1979
01:26:01,045 --> 01:26:03,925
of a base cost of 2,320

1980
01:26:04,665 --> 01:26:08,925
and the septic tank affluent pump cost of 12,900.

1981
01:26:09,865 --> 01:26:11,245
The sum of the base costs

1982
01:26:11,305 --> 01:26:14,725
and step costs may be financed over a 20 year period.

1983
01:26:15,265 --> 01:26:18,005
At 1% definition of the classes

1984
01:26:18,225 --> 01:26:23,005
of properties are contained res are contained in resolution

1985
01:26:23,445 --> 01:26:25,205
1407 adopted

1986
01:26:25,305 --> 01:26:26,685
by the County Commission on

1987
01:26:26,705 --> 01:26:31,085
May 27th, 2014 as amended.

1988
01:26:31,465 --> 01:26:33,685
August 28th, 2018.

1989
01:26:34,595 --> 01:26:36,485
Prepayments on the assessment without

1990
01:26:36,485 --> 01:26:37,925
penalty will be allowed.

1991
01:26:38,435 --> 01:26:41,685
However, the assessment balance balance will not

1992
01:26:41,685 --> 01:26:42,725
be re amortized.

1993
01:26:43,315 --> 01:26:45,885
Only the term of the assessment will be reduced.

1994
01:26:46,595 --> 01:26:48,965
Information concerning the benefit assessment

1995
01:26:49,705 --> 01:26:53,245
and repayment options have been sent by certified mail

1996
01:26:53,905 --> 01:26:58,405
to all effect Class A property owners first, which to

1997
01:26:58,965 --> 01:27:03,165
comment on proposed amendment proposed rate

1998
01:27:05,195 --> 01:27:08,085
levy, they do so at the hearing speakers, we limited

1999
01:27:08,225 --> 01:27:10,885
to three minutes each written testimony

2000
01:27:10,885 --> 01:27:12,485
of any length may be submitted

2001
01:27:12,785 --> 01:27:15,405
before the hearing date to director of public works

2002
01:27:16,565 --> 01:27:19,885
testimony can also be be accomplished remotely

2003
01:27:20,225 --> 01:27:23,205
by email and audio.

2004
01:27:23,785 --> 01:27:25,725
And that information was published.

2005
01:27:26,385 --> 01:27:28,645
All hearing sites are accessible to individuals

2006
01:27:28,645 --> 01:27:31,245
with disability sign language interpreters,

2007
01:27:31,525 --> 01:27:34,965
assisted listening devices are available.

2008
01:27:36,115 --> 01:27:38,405
Part of the record proceeding will be a certificate

2009
01:27:38,405 --> 01:27:42,205
of publication indicating that the notice

2010
01:27:42,305 --> 01:27:46,325
of tonight here was published for two successive weeks prior

2011
01:27:46,325 --> 01:27:49,845
to the night in the Baytown record observer now.

2012
01:27:49,875 --> 01:27:51,325
Alright, commissioners, we'll go

2013
01:27:51,325 --> 01:27:52,325
through a brief PowerPoint.

2014
01:27:52,515 --> 01:27:53,765
Most of you have seen this before.

2015
01:27:54,065 --> 01:27:55,405
And actually this is the

2016
01:27:56,035 --> 01:27:58,805
seventh benefit assessment hearing we've held for ski.

2017
01:27:58,805 --> 01:28:00,445
Only have one more to go after tonight.

2018
01:28:00,955 --> 01:28:02,845
This is for phase three, kempt Moore Queen

2019
01:28:02,845 --> 01:28:03,845
and Colony subdivision.

2020
01:28:05,155 --> 01:28:08,685
Overall project 1,518 existing septic systems serving

2021
01:28:08,735 --> 01:28:10,245
homes, many of which have failed.

2022
01:28:11,015 --> 01:28:13,085
Again, phase three is Queen and colony

2023
01:28:13,085 --> 01:28:16,285
and Kempt Moore 340 existing but also includes two marinas

2024
01:28:16,285 --> 01:28:19,285
and two restaurants, which is fairly unique for ski.

2025
01:28:20,955 --> 01:28:22,125
This is the four phases.

2026
01:28:22,125 --> 01:28:25,365
Again, phase three you can see on the the left side.

2027
01:28:25,425 --> 01:28:26,925
We slipped a couple years on our schedule,

2028
01:28:27,065 --> 01:28:30,045
but we had some issues with COVID and other things.

2029
01:28:30,145 --> 01:28:31,205
But all in all,

2030
01:28:31,485 --> 01:28:34,765
I think we're pretty good on schedule as of tonight.

2031
01:28:34,765 --> 01:28:37,205
94% of the properties are connected as

2032
01:28:37,205 --> 01:28:38,605
of July 31st, I should say.

2033
01:28:40,065 --> 01:28:42,205
All will be connected by October 1st.

2034
01:28:44,105 --> 01:28:47,085
All properties should have received a certified letter,

2035
01:28:47,645 --> 01:28:49,845
although some did not go through as they never do.

2036
01:28:50,605 --> 01:28:52,445
Original target charge a hundred dollars per

2037
01:28:52,445 --> 01:28:53,485
month is maintained.

2038
01:28:54,915 --> 01:28:56,285
Suspended amount is two components.

2039
01:28:56,345 --> 01:28:57,685
The base fee of 2320,

2040
01:28:57,695 --> 01:28:59,605
which basically pays for the pipes in the street.

2041
01:28:59,705 --> 01:29:03,565
The septic tank pumps in the yard is 12,900 for a total

2042
01:29:03,565 --> 01:29:05,285
of $15,220.

2043
01:29:05,785 --> 01:29:08,485
The first billing will occur October 1st, 2026.

2044
01:29:09,145 --> 01:29:11,805
The assessment is transferrable at the property you're sold.

2045
01:29:11,905 --> 01:29:14,125
And I would like to say there was something on Facebook

2046
01:29:14,125 --> 01:29:15,925
about somebody who was forced to pay it all.

2047
01:29:16,505 --> 01:29:18,765
And that might have been the buyer's condition.

2048
01:29:18,765 --> 01:29:20,405
It wasn't a county issue.

2049
01:29:20,705 --> 01:29:22,325
And we talked to two tighter companies

2050
01:29:22,325 --> 01:29:23,405
and they've never seen it before.

2051
01:29:23,465 --> 01:29:26,125
So whatever happened there was had nothing to do with us.

2052
01:29:27,885 --> 01:29:30,495
Quarterly fees, a base fee of $33.

2053
01:29:30,835 --> 01:29:33,175
The step fee is $177 o

2054
01:29:33,175 --> 01:29:36,255
and m of 90 equals $300 a quarter,

2055
01:29:37,275 --> 01:29:39,735
as was agreed to 10 years ago.

2056
01:29:41,725 --> 01:29:44,295
There's a blurb from the Star Democrat

2057
01:29:44,795 --> 01:29:46,015
10 year, 12 years ago.

2058
01:29:47,115 --> 01:29:48,495
And that's the end of the presentation.

2059
01:29:48,595 --> 01:29:50,335
Two other, a couple other tidbits.

2060
01:29:51,235 --> 01:29:53,535
All the pipings completed in all of the ski area.

2061
01:29:54,665 --> 01:29:56,855
Phase four is steps are now being installed

2062
01:29:56,875 --> 01:29:58,055
as started in May.

2063
01:29:58,215 --> 01:30:00,135
I think the final tally

2064
01:30:00,135 --> 01:30:02,895
of all the vacant lots throughout ski is an even 500.

2065
01:30:04,035 --> 01:30:07,095
By the end of July, 85% of the improved properties in all

2066
01:30:07,095 --> 01:30:08,375
of ski have been connected.

2067
01:30:08,755 --> 01:30:11,215
And we anticipate all the ski project being complete

2068
01:30:11,215 --> 01:30:12,375
by the end of 2027.

2069
01:30:16,415 --> 01:30:18,615
I don't have anyone signed up with anyway.

2070
01:30:18,875 --> 01:30:22,615
Any public comments? Yes. Yes sir.

2071
01:30:23,235 --> 01:30:24,935
Do I just stand Up or no, come up here.

2072
01:30:24,935 --> 01:30:26,015
Come up to the mic. Up

2073
01:30:26,015 --> 01:30:27,015
To the mic.

2074
01:30:28,715 --> 01:30:31,295
Please state your name and your address. Yep.

2075
01:30:31,985 --> 01:30:33,135
Keith Hutchins.

2076
01:30:33,875 --> 01:30:36,695
And I am actually on behalf here for my mother,

2077
01:30:37,385 --> 01:30:39,775
which is in Queen Annes County High Road.

2078
01:30:41,345 --> 01:30:43,775
She's paying $90 a month or a quarter.

2079
01:30:45,155 --> 01:30:46,295
And from what I'm reading

2080
01:30:46,355 --> 01:30:50,335
and understanding that this is gonna be $90 plus

2081
01:30:50,555 --> 01:30:53,535
210, which is basically 300 hours a quarter.

2082
01:30:54,955 --> 01:30:57,055
And when you're set on a fixed income,

2083
01:30:58,565 --> 01:31:01,465
how do you make those type of jumps for people her age?

2084
01:31:02,965 --> 01:31:04,385
Is that what's actually happening?

2085
01:31:05,615 --> 01:31:07,905
Will she be going to 300 hours a month

2086
01:31:08,125 --> 01:31:09,305
or a quarter I should say?

2087
01:31:12,235 --> 01:31:14,325
That was the reason for me coming up here

2088
01:31:14,345 --> 01:31:17,565
to get this clarified. That's it.

2089
01:31:17,855 --> 01:31:19,445
There is financial assistance available.

2090
01:31:20,235 --> 01:31:21,605
There's the lady you need to talk to.

2091
01:31:21,905 --> 01:31:23,405
It was in the letter that your mother got.

2092
01:31:23,675 --> 01:31:26,245
Okay, so why is it jumping?

2093
01:31:26,765 --> 01:31:28,645
I mean is this was already in the,

2094
01:31:29,105 --> 01:31:31,005
The $90 simply is the o and m fee.

2095
01:31:31,005 --> 01:31:32,525
That's the utility fee. Okay.

2096
01:31:32,785 --> 01:31:34,205
The assessment renders the cost

2097
01:31:34,205 --> 01:31:36,765
of the capital improvements for the entire system.

2098
01:31:37,885 --> 01:31:40,105
So as soon as some house is connected, they start getting

2099
01:31:40,125 --> 01:31:41,585
to the $90 per quarter fee.

2100
01:31:41,775 --> 01:31:44,465
Okay. Tonight is when the extra $210 happens.

2101
01:31:45,255 --> 01:31:48,785
Okay? So that's not something that's negotiable.

2102
01:31:48,925 --> 01:31:50,425
It needs to be, it's done.

2103
01:31:52,005 --> 01:31:56,305
If the commissioners adopt the levity assessment, it'll

2104
01:31:56,305 --> 01:31:57,305
Be done.

2105
01:31:57,305 --> 01:31:59,965
I just think you're gonna hurt a lot of senior citizens

2106
01:32:00,265 --> 01:32:02,005
and that's that on fixed income. That's

2107
01:32:02,005 --> 01:32:03,565
Why there is a program to help 'em. Yeah,

2108
01:32:03,965 --> 01:32:05,805
I just So talk, talk

2109
01:32:05,805 --> 01:32:07,565
with her about the program for helping.

2110
01:32:07,825 --> 01:32:09,085
But you know how programs work,

2111
01:32:09,235 --> 01:32:12,165
even though my mother still works a full-time job at 83

2112
01:32:12,165 --> 01:32:15,485
years of age to be able to put food on her table.

2113
01:32:15,705 --> 01:32:16,885
If you're sitting at a certain

2114
01:32:17,105 --> 01:32:19,245
income, I'm sorry, we can't help you.

2115
01:32:19,705 --> 01:32:20,805
And that's what normally happens.

2116
01:32:21,125 --> 01:32:22,765
I would say talk to her first to find out Yeah.

2117
01:32:22,785 --> 01:32:25,565
If, if that's the case. Okay. Whether or not he qualifies.

2118
01:32:25,625 --> 01:32:28,285
And if it doesn't, you know, call one

2119
01:32:28,285 --> 01:32:29,685
of the commissioners, it will be happening after that.

2120
01:32:29,685 --> 01:32:31,565
But I would say your first step, talk with her. Okay.

2121
01:32:31,575 --> 01:32:34,365
Thank you. Is there any other public comment?

2122
01:32:43,035 --> 01:32:44,035
Okay,

2123
01:32:44,985 --> 01:32:45,985
One more.

2124
01:32:46,065 --> 01:32:47,245
Oh, we have one More. Oh,

2125
01:32:50,515 --> 01:32:53,485
Forgive me, but I'm Derek Williams.

2126
01:32:53,685 --> 01:32:57,525
I live in Chester. I have great sympathy for our neighbor

2127
01:32:57,945 --> 01:33:02,125
and I am worried now

2128
01:33:02,125 --> 01:33:05,165
because I heard a comment about whether

2129
01:33:05,165 --> 01:33:09,085
or not we can prove that the person qualifies.

2130
01:33:09,465 --> 01:33:13,765
And so I would like to make, I guess I have a question of

2131
01:33:15,115 --> 01:33:17,845
what was the process for determining who qualifies

2132
01:33:17,945 --> 01:33:19,085
for this this,

2133
01:33:19,465 --> 01:33:20,765
and is it something we need

2134
01:33:20,765 --> 01:33:22,365
to decide tonight Then if it's something

2135
01:33:22,365 --> 01:33:25,125
that's possibly not been properly advertised

2136
01:33:25,305 --> 01:33:26,925
to the community, who might need it most.

2137
01:33:28,035 --> 01:33:31,445
Like is, I guess the clarification is if this goes

2138
01:33:31,445 --> 01:33:33,445
through tonight and they didn't ask for help yet,

2139
01:33:34,145 --> 01:33:35,405
are they too late?

2140
01:33:37,265 --> 01:33:38,805
We don't believe so. No. Yeah,

2141
01:33:38,865 --> 01:33:39,865
No.

2142
01:33:39,865 --> 01:33:42,285
The, those who qualify for financial assistance,

2143
01:33:42,285 --> 01:33:43,645
that they're not foreclosed today.

2144
01:33:43,645 --> 01:33:45,525
That's why we have, their name is

2145
01:33:45,765 --> 01:33:46,885
provided in the letter that's provided out.

2146
01:33:46,885 --> 01:33:47,925
And so they can apply for it.

2147
01:33:48,445 --> 01:33:50,925
Somebody could move into a house down the road

2148
01:33:51,025 --> 01:33:54,085
and perhaps apply for financial systems if, if they,

2149
01:33:54,425 --> 01:33:57,045
if they meet it today is just so the project goes forward.

2150
01:33:57,145 --> 01:33:59,365
But as far as notice, like this project goes back

2151
01:34:00,545 --> 01:34:01,545
10 Years.

2152
01:34:01,545 --> 01:34:02,205
10 years more than a decade.

2153
01:34:03,505 --> 01:34:04,885
We got tens of millions

2154
01:34:04,885 --> 01:34:07,485
of dollars in grant funding from EPA in order

2155
01:34:07,485 --> 01:34:09,405
to reduce the cost further.

2156
01:34:09,665 --> 01:34:12,165
So this is sort of just a step in the process for

2157
01:34:12,395 --> 01:34:13,485
that overarching plan

2158
01:34:13,485 --> 01:34:16,685
that has been talked about exhaustively be well

2159
01:34:16,685 --> 01:34:17,725
before I was a commissioner.

2160
01:34:20,425 --> 01:34:23,405
May I have a public comment? All right,

2161
01:34:23,405 --> 01:34:24,405
we'll leave it open for two weeks.

2162
01:34:25,635 --> 01:34:26,805
Alright, thank you.

2163
01:34:31,115 --> 01:34:33,845
Alright commissioners, we have one last item for the

2164
01:34:34,395 --> 01:34:36,725
legislation tonight on the agenda Item

2165
01:34:36,725 --> 01:34:37,765
number four in your books.

2166
01:34:37,765 --> 01:34:39,405
Pages 48 through 54.

2167
01:34:39,875 --> 01:34:42,765
This is county ordinance number 26 14

2168
01:34:42,865 --> 01:34:44,725
for the cottage industry.

2169
01:34:45,545 --> 01:34:48,245
And this was an identified need within the county.

2170
01:34:48,305 --> 01:34:50,125
The commissioners identified this need to allow

2171
01:34:50,125 --> 01:34:53,285
for cottage industries in the Ag district as a means

2172
01:34:53,285 --> 01:34:55,045
to foster and provide business growth

2173
01:34:55,425 --> 01:34:57,685
and development on these ag parcels

2174
01:34:57,955 --> 01:35:01,005
with a maker minimum acreage of five acres.

2175
01:35:01,505 --> 01:35:04,405
So this is, can be introduced and set for a public hearing.

2176
01:35:04,915 --> 01:35:06,645
I'll introduce 26 14.

2177
01:35:07,355 --> 01:35:11,765
Alright, great. Okay.

2178
01:35:12,155 --> 01:35:14,085
Alright. That concludes all

2179
01:35:14,105 --> 01:35:16,285
of the legislation for this evening.

2180
01:35:17,985 --> 01:35:21,805
We can now move to the Department of Public works.

2181
01:35:21,825 --> 01:35:23,005
So that would be tab two.

2182
01:35:24,185 --> 01:35:26,805
We have two items for the sanitary commission.

2183
01:35:27,025 --> 01:35:28,765
So if you wanna convene as the sanitary commission,

2184
01:35:28,765 --> 01:35:30,605
take the motion we convene as the sanitation commission.

2185
01:35:30,625 --> 01:35:33,005
Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

2186
01:35:33,835 --> 01:35:35,565
Okay, commissioners tab two item

2187
01:35:35,665 --> 01:35:36,765
one, pages one through four.

2188
01:35:37,315 --> 01:35:39,005
This is a follow up from our last meeting.

2189
01:35:39,005 --> 01:35:41,525
This is the Chester Haven Beach subdivision Public Works

2190
01:35:41,875 --> 01:35:43,645
agreement amendment number three.

2191
01:35:44,465 --> 01:35:46,525
As we discussed last meet, last meeting,

2192
01:35:46,845 --> 01:35:48,685
they are requesting 48 additional months

2193
01:35:48,685 --> 01:35:50,125
to initiate their construction project,

2194
01:35:50,125 --> 01:35:53,525
which would delay their time to actually break ground

2195
01:35:53,525 --> 01:35:55,245
until September 10th, 2030.

2196
01:35:55,865 --> 01:35:59,205
All other provisions of the PWA and amendments, number one

2197
01:35:59,205 --> 01:36:01,125
and two remain in full force and effect.

2198
01:36:01,665 --> 01:36:04,805
So this was approved essentially last last meeting.

2199
01:36:11,205 --> 01:36:13,325
I move to execute the public works agreement amendment

2200
01:36:13,325 --> 01:36:15,485
number three with Chester Haven Beach Partnership,

2201
01:36:15,615 --> 01:36:16,925
which will grant the development

2202
01:36:16,985 --> 01:36:19,645
and additional 48 months to begin con construction.

2203
01:36:20,555 --> 01:36:23,205
I'll second that. We have a motion and a second.

2204
01:36:23,345 --> 01:36:24,765
Any other discussion? Yeah,

2205
01:36:24,905 --> 01:36:25,905
If I can.

2206
01:36:25,905 --> 01:36:27,685
Yes, please. 'cause we've gotten some people

2207
01:36:27,685 --> 01:36:31,445
who have reached out about this email to the public comment

2208
01:36:32,055 --> 01:36:34,765
about not a lot of discussion when it was up last time.

2209
01:36:34,945 --> 01:36:36,605
And I, I'll just sort of admit,

2210
01:36:37,005 --> 01:36:39,005
I didn't think it was gonna spark a lot of conversation

2211
01:36:39,645 --> 01:36:43,365
because it was very similar to a vote that was done

2212
01:36:43,905 --> 01:36:46,125
two years ago, Alan, I think when we, last time we extended,

2213
01:36:46,525 --> 01:36:47,805
I think so last time we extended it,

2214
01:36:48,185 --> 01:36:50,725
and I'll just sort of give sort of my, my rational on that.

2215
01:36:50,925 --> 01:36:53,525
I, I voted against the prior vote

2216
01:36:53,625 --> 01:36:56,045
for putting Chester Haven into the growth area.

2217
01:36:56,365 --> 01:36:57,845
I would vote against it again

2218
01:36:57,845 --> 01:36:58,965
today if there was a vote on it.

2219
01:37:00,185 --> 01:37:01,605
But I voted for the amendment

2220
01:37:01,825 --> 01:37:04,245
and this time and, and last time.

2221
01:37:04,945 --> 01:37:08,045
And the way I view that is the developer has put up a

2222
01:37:08,045 --> 01:37:09,645
non-refundable deposit on that.

2223
01:37:10,545 --> 01:37:12,725
The amendment just extends a period of time.

2224
01:37:12,945 --> 01:37:14,165
It maintains the status quo.

2225
01:37:14,185 --> 01:37:16,485
It does not give the developer any rights

2226
01:37:16,485 --> 01:37:17,965
that they didn't have the day before the vote.

2227
01:37:18,865 --> 01:37:23,245
And so the whatever regulations they still have to go

2228
01:37:23,245 --> 01:37:25,525
through in order to get approved, they still gotta do that.

2229
01:37:25,825 --> 01:37:27,165
It doesn't short circuit that.

2230
01:37:28,375 --> 01:37:29,645
There are, I think,

2231
01:37:29,825 --> 01:37:32,165
and this is one of those policy decisions that we have

2232
01:37:32,165 --> 01:37:35,525
to make where I frankly think there's valid positions,

2233
01:37:35,525 --> 01:37:36,565
whether you're for or against it.

2234
01:37:37,865 --> 01:37:41,085
But, you know, we have comments we hear like, oh,

2235
01:37:41,085 --> 01:37:42,525
well if you voted to extend it,

2236
01:37:42,525 --> 01:37:43,845
you don't care about the world.

2237
01:37:43,985 --> 01:37:46,685
That's just stupid. I mean, frankly, I mean,

2238
01:37:46,685 --> 01:37:47,845
you have the right to say whatever you want,

2239
01:37:47,945 --> 01:37:49,325
but that's just stupid.

2240
01:37:49,665 --> 01:37:51,605
It, it really is. And,

2241
01:37:51,665 --> 01:37:55,565
and we get emails from people saying things like, oh well,

2242
01:37:55,705 --> 01:37:57,485
you know, you must be lying in your pockets.

2243
01:37:57,605 --> 01:37:58,645
I mean, seriously.

2244
01:37:58,945 --> 01:38:01,365
And you say that on social media, my mom reads that,

2245
01:38:01,505 --> 01:38:02,525
my daughter reads that.

2246
01:38:02,675 --> 01:38:06,085
Like, go f yourself seriously with that kind of stuff.

2247
01:38:06,405 --> 01:38:09,645
I, I just, I have no patience for that kind of nonsense.

2248
01:38:10,185 --> 01:38:13,325
We should be able to have policy discussions and,

2249
01:38:13,545 --> 01:38:17,605
and disagree on policy discussions without it being that,

2250
01:38:17,665 --> 01:38:19,125
oh, if somebody doesn't agree

2251
01:38:19,125 --> 01:38:20,365
with me on a policy discussion,

2252
01:38:20,665 --> 01:38:23,325
the only possible way is they must be on the take.

2253
01:38:23,325 --> 01:38:25,845
They must be corrupt. How narcissistic is that?

2254
01:38:25,845 --> 01:38:28,285
Like the only way I can agree with you is if I'm not corrupt

2255
01:38:28,785 --> 01:38:33,365
and I just, we, it's all the fricking time that we deal with

2256
01:38:33,365 --> 01:38:35,605
that stuff and it's, it's immaturity.

2257
01:38:36,105 --> 01:38:40,525
And then we wonder why in our schools kids teach each other,

2258
01:38:40,535 --> 01:38:41,805
treat each other the way they do

2259
01:38:41,995 --> 01:38:44,205
because you, the adults are setting the example.

2260
01:38:44,795 --> 01:38:47,125
Like learn how to disagree and be civil about it.

2261
01:38:47,705 --> 01:38:49,565
It just that,

2262
01:38:50,385 --> 01:38:52,925
so anyway, I voted for the amendment.

2263
01:38:53,065 --> 01:38:54,085
I'm not for the development,

2264
01:38:54,185 --> 01:38:56,205
but I don't think there's anything unfair about that.

2265
01:38:56,265 --> 01:38:57,765
But the negativity about it

2266
01:38:57,765 --> 01:38:59,165
and the way people approach it just

2267
01:39:00,225 --> 01:39:01,725
really irritates me a lot.

2268
01:39:01,905 --> 01:39:03,525
So, sorry, I wanted to get that out.

2269
01:39:03,805 --> 01:39:06,045
I hear you, I hear you. A round table

2270
01:39:07,125 --> 01:39:08,125
A little bit early, sorry.

2271
01:39:08,385 --> 01:39:09,385
But

2272
01:39:10,635 --> 01:39:12,845
Well, I mean, again, you know, I I think that

2273
01:39:14,145 --> 01:39:18,805
we have an obligation where we are county and,

2274
01:39:18,865 --> 01:39:22,165
and a nation of laws and I like to see once

2275
01:39:22,165 --> 01:39:23,925
and all if these are lots of record.

2276
01:39:24,645 --> 01:39:27,285
I mean that's, that's the whole purpose of, of why I voted

2277
01:39:27,545 --> 01:39:29,325
for it is because if there are not lots

2278
01:39:29,325 --> 01:39:30,365
of record, it's over.

2279
01:39:31,385 --> 01:39:32,405
If there are lots of record,

2280
01:39:32,405 --> 01:39:34,365
there's gonna be avenues for both sides to take.

2281
01:39:34,425 --> 01:39:38,365
And so be it, you know, queen County is,

2282
01:39:39,305 --> 01:39:42,765
you know, we get sued every now and again and you know,

2283
01:39:43,025 --> 01:39:45,165
and I, I don't, it doesn't bother me.

2284
01:39:45,225 --> 01:39:47,845
It, it, it bothers me when we have to spend that money.

2285
01:39:47,905 --> 01:39:50,285
But it doesn't bother me from the standpoint of

2286
01:39:50,905 --> 01:39:52,685
let the courts decide who's right

2287
01:39:52,945 --> 01:39:56,525
and if they're, you know, if, if party a,

2288
01:39:57,745 --> 01:39:58,965
you know, the, the winner and,

2289
01:39:58,985 --> 01:40:02,925
and the courts agree with them, I have no disdain about

2290
01:40:03,465 --> 01:40:06,205
paying them or, or whatever the, the situation may be.

2291
01:40:06,305 --> 01:40:09,525
So, you know, that's, that's my reason.

2292
01:40:09,645 --> 01:40:13,565
I mean we have an individual that, you know, has been paying

2293
01:40:13,585 --> 01:40:14,885
for, I don't know, a dozen years.

2294
01:40:15,585 --> 01:40:17,365
How many years has he been paying for the sewer?

2295
01:40:18,155 --> 01:40:20,605
15. Well he is got a dwelling on the property

2296
01:40:20,605 --> 01:40:22,325
that he is had for probably 15 years

2297
01:40:22,325 --> 01:40:24,485
and they bought two allocations outright in 2010

2298
01:40:24,485 --> 01:40:27,445
that he's been paying on and then he is paid the $315,000

2299
01:40:27,445 --> 01:40:28,445
Deposit.

2300
01:40:28,445 --> 01:40:29,845
Yeah. So, you know, we,

2301
01:40:29,905 --> 01:40:33,885
and we have our own, you know, rest is soul attorney that

2302
01:40:34,435 --> 01:40:35,565
said, these are lots of record.

2303
01:40:35,825 --> 01:40:37,925
So I I I, that's what I wanna see

2304
01:40:37,925 --> 01:40:40,205
and I, you know, I'm sorry it's gotta come to that.

2305
01:40:40,225 --> 01:40:42,525
But you know, I think it's, you know, we have

2306
01:40:42,525 --> 01:40:44,925
to be impartial and you know, and I think that's being fair.

2307
01:40:46,025 --> 01:40:49,285
Let it run its course through the sit courts, just like some

2308
01:40:49,285 --> 01:40:50,325
of these other developments have.

2309
01:40:50,345 --> 01:40:54,285
And you know, the outcome will dictate where it goes.

2310
01:40:55,265 --> 01:40:56,525
May, may I ask a question?

2311
01:40:58,455 --> 01:41:00,435
No sir. Sorry. So

2312
01:41:01,015 --> 01:41:03,435
My position on it is similar to what Jim said.

2313
01:41:03,455 --> 01:41:06,595
We had our land use attorney, or I mean our planning

2314
01:41:06,595 --> 01:41:09,435
and zoning attorney and we had our county attorney both

2315
01:41:10,445 --> 01:41:13,115
share with the commissioners, the sitting commissioners

2316
01:41:13,115 --> 01:41:15,115
that these were in fact lots of record.

2317
01:41:15,935 --> 01:41:19,555
So to me legal counsel has advised us.

2318
01:41:20,015 --> 01:41:21,235
So at this point

2319
01:41:25,375 --> 01:41:28,395
at I, I'd like to see the courts decide legally

2320
01:41:29,055 --> 01:41:32,075
if they are in fact lots of record.

2321
01:41:34,045 --> 01:41:36,635
There you go. Any other discussion?

2322
01:41:37,605 --> 01:41:39,505
No, just sir, there's at the end

2323
01:41:39,505 --> 01:41:40,505
of the meeting we do have public comment.

2324
01:41:40,525 --> 01:41:41,865
You have a chance to do public comment. Yes.

2325
01:41:41,925 --> 01:41:43,345
But if you want actually wanna actually a back

2326
01:41:43,345 --> 01:41:45,505
and forth conversation, I'll stay all will stay.

2327
01:41:45,505 --> 01:41:46,865
We'll talk to you after the meeting as well. Yep.

2328
01:41:48,535 --> 01:41:51,665
Okay, well all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.

2329
01:41:51,775 --> 01:41:55,185
Opposed? Aye. Aye. Three to

2330
01:41:55,185 --> 01:41:56,185
Two.

2331
01:41:56,185 --> 01:41:58,305
Can I just say something to Commissioner's point?

2332
01:41:58,815 --> 01:42:01,465
Obviously I just voted against it. He voted for it.

2333
01:42:01,945 --> 01:42:03,905
I concur with everything he said.

2334
01:42:04,045 --> 01:42:06,665
I'm getting pissed off about the crap

2335
01:42:06,665 --> 01:42:10,585
that's going out on Facebook attacking us

2336
01:42:11,405 --> 01:42:14,025
and trying to divide us as a government

2337
01:42:14,165 --> 01:42:15,905
and it's inappropriate

2338
01:42:17,005 --> 01:42:20,265
and all the things that he just brought up is just a

2339
01:42:21,645 --> 01:42:26,055
Easy And it's inappropriate for, for these no growth.

2340
01:42:27,285 --> 01:42:30,495
Save the world people to start trashing

2341
01:42:32,315 --> 01:42:33,935
my, my counterparts.

2342
01:42:34,595 --> 01:42:37,775
So I'm asking them to stop, have a debate

2343
01:42:38,755 --> 01:42:40,335
but stop with the personal crap.

2344
01:42:43,275 --> 01:42:45,485
Alright, well moving on.

2345
01:42:45,715 --> 01:42:46,845
Alright, our second item

2346
01:42:46,865 --> 01:42:48,285
for the sanitary commission tonight

2347
01:42:48,905 --> 01:42:51,685
is the Queen Anne Colony Marina Public Works agreement.

2348
01:42:51,865 --> 01:42:54,445
And this is a public works agreement to connect the

2349
01:42:55,605 --> 01:42:57,045
existing Queen Anne Colony restaurant

2350
01:42:57,045 --> 01:42:58,285
and marina to the sewer.

2351
01:42:58,285 --> 01:43:01,245
This is also phase three of the Southern Canal

2352
01:43:01,245 --> 01:43:05,165
and sanitary project 3,653 gallons of sewer.

2353
01:43:06,565 --> 01:43:08,285
I move to execute the public works agreement

2354
01:43:08,285 --> 01:43:11,805
with Queen Ann's colony Marina LLC to allow them

2355
01:43:11,905 --> 01:43:13,525
to connect to the county sewer.

2356
01:43:14,505 --> 01:43:18,285
Second we have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

2357
01:43:19,905 --> 01:43:22,725
Seeing none. All those in favor signify as saying Aye. Aye.

2358
01:43:22,865 --> 01:43:24,645
Aye. Opposed? So moved.

2359
01:43:25,835 --> 01:43:27,205
Alright, thank you Commissioners.

2360
01:43:27,505 --> 01:43:29,565
Now we can move to the action items.

2361
01:43:29,735 --> 01:43:31,565
Thank you commissioner for this evening. Have a good one.

2362
01:43:31,565 --> 01:43:34,205
Thank you Mr. Quimbee. So now you've,

2363
01:43:34,205 --> 01:43:36,605
if you don't mind flipping to tab number three.

2364
01:43:38,045 --> 01:43:41,965
So tab three item one, pages one through three.

2365
01:43:41,995 --> 01:43:44,085
This is board of education transfers

2366
01:43:44,085 --> 01:43:45,525
between major state categories

2367
01:43:45,985 --> 01:43:47,765
and this is essentially the Board

2368
01:43:47,765 --> 01:43:51,925
of Education's budget amendment for the end of FY 26.

2369
01:43:51,925 --> 01:43:53,605
They're just moving some funds around

2370
01:43:53,605 --> 01:43:57,685
between major state categories to balance the overall budget

2371
01:43:58,195 --> 01:44:00,685
overall for the FY 26 closeout.

2372
01:44:03,005 --> 01:44:04,685
I move to approve the Queens County Board

2373
01:44:04,685 --> 01:44:07,605
of Education transfer between major state categories.

2374
01:44:08,745 --> 01:44:11,685
Second, We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

2375
01:44:13,265 --> 01:44:17,405
Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? So moved.

2376
01:44:17,895 --> 01:44:20,765
Thank you commissioners. Item two pages four through six.

2377
01:44:20,765 --> 01:44:23,205
This is the certification for cooperative local

2378
01:44:23,855 --> 01:44:26,565
state library aid for FY 27.

2379
01:44:26,905 --> 01:44:30,325
So in order to be eligible for our state share, we have

2380
01:44:30,325 --> 01:44:32,725
to match, provide an Inc income match.

2381
01:44:32,745 --> 01:44:34,205
The state contribution was

2382
01:44:34,205 --> 01:44:37,085
two hundred and twenty eight three hundred fifty nine, two hundred twenty

2383
01:44:37,085 --> 01:44:40,925
8,000 and the county contribution was 3.26 million.

2384
01:44:40,985 --> 01:44:44,765
So we've met that threshold by a long shot. Need

2385
01:44:44,765 --> 01:44:46,285
That To, I moved to approve

2386
01:44:46,285 --> 01:44:48,485
and execute the FY 2027 certification

2387
01:44:48,485 --> 01:44:50,805
for cooperative local state library aid programs

2388
01:44:50,805 --> 01:44:53,205
for Queen Annes County library. Second.

2389
01:44:53,555 --> 01:44:55,165
Have a motion to second. Any discussion?

2390
01:44:55,955 --> 01:44:58,445
I'll kick the coverage on that. Seeing none.

2391
01:44:58,445 --> 01:45:00,765
All those in favor signify with saying aye. Aye.

2392
01:45:00,765 --> 01:45:02,125
Opposed? So moved.

2393
01:45:02,665 --> 01:45:03,765
All. Thank you commissioners.

2394
01:45:04,115 --> 01:45:08,045
Item three on page seven is budget amendment number CC two

2395
01:45:08,045 --> 01:45:09,125
for the board of education

2396
01:45:09,465 --> 01:45:12,405
and this amendment increases the FY 27 budget authority

2397
01:45:12,425 --> 01:45:14,925
for the board of education teachers unfunded liability

2398
01:45:14,985 --> 01:45:17,765
by $173,425.

2399
01:45:18,345 --> 01:45:20,365
And we anticipated this as a result

2400
01:45:20,365 --> 01:45:22,365
of the state cost shifts from last year.

2401
01:45:22,865 --> 01:45:26,085
We didn't quite hit the estimate on target, so we have

2402
01:45:26,085 --> 01:45:29,885
to provide an additional 1 78 4 25 for FY 27 to meet

2403
01:45:29,885 --> 01:45:32,005
that objective,

2404
01:45:32,325 --> 01:45:35,245
I make a motion to approve budget amendment CC dash two

2405
01:45:36,585 --> 01:45:37,585
Second.

2406
01:45:38,075 --> 01:45:41,845
Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none.

2407
01:45:41,865 --> 01:45:46,045
All those in favor signify say aye. Aye. Opposed? So moved.

2408
01:45:46,615 --> 01:45:49,005
Thank you commissioners. So we have two desk items.

2409
01:45:49,955 --> 01:45:53,445
Desk item one is the emergency capital procurement

2410
01:45:53,865 --> 01:45:55,005
for the HVAC systems

2411
01:45:55,305 --> 01:45:57,565
and a letter of intent for Chesapeake College.

2412
01:45:57,945 --> 01:46:01,125
And this is for the Maryland Higher Education Commission

2413
01:46:01,125 --> 01:46:03,845
that the advising them the county intends

2414
01:46:03,845 --> 01:46:06,125
to provide our local cost share of funds to design

2415
01:46:06,185 --> 01:46:10,765
and construct the HVAC replacement project at Chesapeake

2416
01:46:10,765 --> 01:46:13,365
College in the TPAC Center.

2417
01:46:14,065 --> 01:46:15,805
So the system's 32 years old

2418
01:46:15,985 --> 01:46:17,165
and I know the,

2419
01:46:17,185 --> 01:46:19,365
the college folks are here if they have any questions

2420
01:46:19,965 --> 01:46:22,365
for them, but our share would be

2421
01:46:22,365 --> 01:46:25,885
$192,546.

2422
01:46:26,345 --> 01:46:29,445
In, in FY 28 they have applied for some grant funding.

2423
01:46:29,595 --> 01:46:31,685
Hopefully we'll get that grant funding to, to

2424
01:46:32,405 --> 01:46:33,525
supplant the project and move it forward.

2425
01:46:33,925 --> 01:46:38,245
I move to execute a letter of intent committing $192,546

2426
01:46:38,265 --> 01:46:40,645
in local funds towards the Chesapeake College Economic

2427
01:46:40,645 --> 01:46:42,925
Development Centers building HVAC system.

2428
01:46:43,105 --> 01:46:45,645
Second, we have a motion and a second.

2429
01:46:45,905 --> 01:46:47,045
Any discussion you want?

2430
01:46:47,065 --> 01:46:48,845
Say anything? I'm impressed that Cliff stood here this

2431
01:46:48,845 --> 01:46:49,845
Long.

2432
01:46:49,845 --> 01:46:51,445
Yeah, he must really want the money.

2433
01:46:52,795 --> 01:46:54,565
Well it is $192,000.

2434
01:46:54,565 --> 01:46:56,645
That's what we're thinking around for, right? That's right.

2435
01:46:57,345 --> 01:46:59,005
Can we talk about the technology building?

2436
01:47:00,115 --> 01:47:03,085
Sure, yeah. Help Yeah,

2437
01:47:03,085 --> 01:47:05,205
Sure. Keep you here.

2438
01:47:05,675 --> 01:47:06,765
Mething to do with HVAC.

2439
01:47:06,785 --> 01:47:08,045
And you know, in the other building

2440
01:47:08,245 --> 01:47:10,365
I talk about that you've both been waiting patiently.

2441
01:47:10,365 --> 01:47:12,005
You might get Yeah, might as well have an opportunity.

2442
01:47:12,255 --> 01:47:14,885
Local. Let's do his vote first before we forget. Yes.

2443
01:47:14,885 --> 01:47:15,885
Okay. Alright.

2444
01:47:16,555 --> 01:47:19,085
What are you saying? I, we motion to second.

2445
01:47:19,145 --> 01:47:22,125
Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Aye.

2446
01:47:22,185 --> 01:47:24,445
Aye. Opposed? So moved. Alright,

2447
01:47:24,445 --> 01:47:25,725
Let's do one more thing for the college

2448
01:47:25,725 --> 01:47:26,885
first, then we can, then we can.

2449
01:47:27,665 --> 01:47:30,605
So item five is their revised FY 27 budget amendment.

2450
01:47:30,665 --> 01:47:32,085
So this is desk item number two.

2451
01:47:32,725 --> 01:47:33,805
And this is a budget amendment

2452
01:47:33,805 --> 01:47:35,565
that they need all five counties to agree on.

2453
01:47:35,705 --> 01:47:37,725
No additional funding. They just move some money around

2454
01:47:37,745 --> 01:47:40,085
so they can provide an additional increase in salaries

2455
01:47:40,085 --> 01:47:41,765
for the staff and administration at the college

2456
01:47:42,245 --> 01:47:45,245
I move to approve Chesapeake College is revised Ffy 2027

2457
01:47:45,245 --> 01:47:47,165
operating budget amended amendment

2458
01:47:47,265 --> 01:47:49,205
as presented. Second. Second.

2459
01:47:49,395 --> 01:47:52,285
Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none.

2460
01:47:52,285 --> 01:47:55,125
All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?

2461
01:47:55,625 --> 01:47:57,965
So moved. Now. Fire away.

2462
01:47:59,185 --> 01:48:00,925
So what can I help you with on the tech building?

2463
01:48:01,075 --> 01:48:02,165
Tell, tell the audience.

2464
01:48:02,515 --> 01:48:03,805
Well, we're really excited. We're,

2465
01:48:04,145 --> 01:48:06,565
and of course Milton's in the middle of all of it right now

2466
01:48:07,785 --> 01:48:10,405
we have started the design process.

2467
01:48:11,005 --> 01:48:13,525
Process. We're currently developed schematics.

2468
01:48:13,625 --> 01:48:16,165
We just shared a packet with all the counties,

2469
01:48:16,165 --> 01:48:17,485
giving them an update on where we're at

2470
01:48:17,485 --> 01:48:19,485
with some really nice renderings.

2471
01:48:19,485 --> 01:48:21,645
What the building's gonna look like when it's done.

2472
01:48:22,445 --> 01:48:24,005
Design goes for another six months.

2473
01:48:24,145 --> 01:48:26,445
We help break ground early next year

2474
01:48:26,985 --> 01:48:29,285
and with completion late summer,

2475
01:48:30,645 --> 01:48:33,205
probably into early part of 2029.

2476
01:48:34,305 --> 01:48:36,325
But our construction manager tells us they might have it

2477
01:48:36,325 --> 01:48:38,405
done for fall 2028.

2478
01:48:38,495 --> 01:48:41,445
Occupation. We'll see. But under promise

2479
01:48:41,465 --> 01:48:42,465
It would deliver.

2480
01:48:42,465 --> 01:48:45,405
Yes. Yes. So we're really excited about the project.

2481
01:48:45,715 --> 01:48:48,445
It's making progress, you know, for all of us.

2482
01:48:48,585 --> 01:48:50,565
It started with this when I got here eight years ago.

2483
01:48:50,595 --> 01:48:52,685
It's a miracle and it's,

2484
01:48:52,685 --> 01:48:54,565
it's really gonna be a really nice addition to campus

2485
01:48:54,665 --> 01:48:57,725
and really it's gonna be a 30 year investment in,

2486
01:48:57,945 --> 01:49:00,205
in the eastern shore for skilled traits.

2487
01:49:00,235 --> 01:49:01,685
Awesome. You wanna add anything?

2488
01:49:03,525 --> 01:49:04,925
I like the ambitious timeline,

2489
01:49:04,925 --> 01:49:06,325
but we're gonna have to be cognizant

2490
01:49:06,325 --> 01:49:07,485
of the state funding schedule.

2491
01:49:07,585 --> 01:49:09,965
Mm. And their ability to fund the project.

2492
01:49:10,425 --> 01:49:13,325
You know, their lion share 75% of the project.

2493
01:49:13,505 --> 01:49:17,365
So depending on how quickly we can get the state money,

2494
01:49:17,785 --> 01:49:19,445
you know, certainly a major capital project.

2495
01:49:19,865 --> 01:49:23,125
The shorter the timeline typically sub, you know,

2496
01:49:23,125 --> 01:49:25,765
contractors like that, they like to, they like to,

2497
01:49:25,945 --> 01:49:27,685
to compress it as much as possible.

2498
01:49:27,745 --> 01:49:31,885
So, but I still think 16 to 18 months construction is,

2499
01:49:31,905 --> 01:49:33,365
is a legitimate timeframe.

2500
01:49:34,275 --> 01:49:36,285
Weather's gonna play a big part in it.

2501
01:49:36,345 --> 01:49:39,325
And timing of when we go out to bid, you know,

2502
01:49:39,355 --> 01:49:41,365
it's a construction management at risk project

2503
01:49:41,555 --> 01:49:43,645
with Bart Mallow as the CMR.

2504
01:49:44,505 --> 01:49:46,965
And we're optimistic, just had a meeting with their,

2505
01:49:47,755 --> 01:49:51,925
with them this today about their outreach right now.

2506
01:49:51,925 --> 01:49:54,645
And they're already outreaching to trade pack, you know,

2507
01:49:54,925 --> 01:49:55,925
contractors and,

2508
01:49:56,105 --> 01:49:58,325
and we certainly are cognizant of wanting to

2509
01:49:59,345 --> 01:50:02,405
engage contractors here on the shore to the extent possible.

2510
01:50:03,385 --> 01:50:06,525
So to the, you know, at appropriate time

2511
01:50:07,255 --> 01:50:10,685
we're certainly gonna outreach to existing contractors

2512
01:50:10,715 --> 01:50:12,565
that not only the college has dealt with,

2513
01:50:12,625 --> 01:50:16,645
but are participating school districts that have,

2514
01:50:16,795 --> 01:50:18,925
that are capable of doing state jobs.

2515
01:50:18,925 --> 01:50:22,765
State works because it is a different than hiring a local

2516
01:50:22,765 --> 01:50:24,645
contractor that's never done a state project

2517
01:50:24,645 --> 01:50:26,125
because of the paperwork

2518
01:50:26,125 --> 01:50:28,525
and the state prevailing wage rates that they have to pay.

2519
01:50:28,705 --> 01:50:29,725
And so it's,

2520
01:50:29,725 --> 01:50:32,925
and it's a much more complex project than a commer

2521
01:50:32,925 --> 01:50:34,925
otherwise commercial building, you know, outside

2522
01:50:34,925 --> 01:50:36,005
of the public sector would be.

2523
01:50:36,065 --> 01:50:37,845
But we're, we're excited about it

2524
01:50:38,545 --> 01:50:41,885
and looking forward to hopefully, you know,

2525
01:50:41,885 --> 01:50:43,725
staying on project on, on target

2526
01:50:43,865 --> 01:50:47,005
and with, I'm not quite as optimistic as him.

2527
01:50:47,005 --> 01:50:51,045
About 20, late 28, fall of 28, 28 opening.

2528
01:50:51,225 --> 01:50:53,925
I'm thinking more second semester. So,

2529
01:50:54,745 --> 01:50:56,045
So I know you've covered it before.

2530
01:50:56,065 --> 01:50:59,725
Can you share with the audience what's gonna be going in the

2531
01:50:59,725 --> 01:51:00,765
technology building?

2532
01:51:03,075 --> 01:51:07,485
Yeah, it is not all the,

2533
01:51:07,585 --> 01:51:08,885
the trades that we would like.

2534
01:51:10,105 --> 01:51:12,285
And so you have to back up, you know,

2535
01:51:12,425 --> 01:51:15,405
so many years prior when the state approved it as a project

2536
01:51:16,225 --> 01:51:19,205
and the enrollment in the, in the PA in what was there then.

2537
01:51:19,825 --> 01:51:22,285
So welding is gonna have its own space there.

2538
01:51:24,085 --> 01:51:26,805
Advanced manufacturing is gonna have the, their space there.

2539
01:51:27,205 --> 01:51:29,365
Electrical is having space there.

2540
01:51:30,595 --> 01:51:33,925
Hvac h yeah, H-H-V-A-C agriculture.

2541
01:51:35,745 --> 01:51:39,125
And we have a kind of a flex space that we can adjust

2542
01:51:39,665 --> 01:51:41,805
for things that we may be looking at down the road

2543
01:51:41,805 --> 01:51:43,085
that we don't even know about today.

2544
01:51:45,065 --> 01:51:47,085
It could be five or 10 years we're doing something we never

2545
01:51:47,085 --> 01:51:49,645
even thought about technology.

2546
01:51:49,645 --> 01:51:51,005
And it is, it is being built to,

2547
01:51:51,025 --> 01:51:52,685
to have a phase two down the road

2548
01:51:52,685 --> 01:51:54,965
because marine trades has taken off

2549
01:51:54,965 --> 01:51:56,165
significantly since then.

2550
01:51:56,425 --> 01:52:00,045
And that'll still be in the MTC building, which is

2551
01:52:01,185 --> 01:52:02,205
on campus as well.

2552
01:52:02,985 --> 01:52:04,965
But, you know, we'd love to certainly to to look

2553
01:52:04,985 --> 01:52:08,165
to move them into phase two at some point down the road.

2554
01:52:08,465 --> 01:52:11,525
So it is being designed so that the, the heart

2555
01:52:11,525 --> 01:52:13,965
of the building, the mechanical systems are central

2556
01:52:13,965 --> 01:52:17,365
to the building for along one phase, one wing

2557
01:52:17,385 --> 01:52:20,605
and then another wing could, could be added on later

2558
01:52:20,865 --> 01:52:23,525
to accommodate additional CTE programming.

2559
01:52:25,305 --> 01:52:29,645
Is the thought temporarily to keep nursing EMT in,

2560
01:52:29,745 --> 01:52:31,925
in the general area it's in now? Yeah.

2561
01:52:32,105 --> 01:52:35,725
The, the health professions are all located in the HPAC

2562
01:52:36,145 --> 01:52:38,125
and that's fairly, that's their home forever.

2563
01:52:39,025 --> 01:52:41,405
And that was the last major project at, at the college.

2564
01:52:41,585 --> 01:52:42,845
And, and that's state of the art.

2565
01:52:43,235 --> 01:52:47,005
It's, and we just, they've gotten some state grant money

2566
01:52:47,185 --> 01:52:49,565
to refresh a lot of that equipment there.

2567
01:52:49,905 --> 01:52:53,685
And actually this Thursday the board will be voting on some

2568
01:52:53,685 --> 01:52:56,805
procurement for replacing a lot of those mannequins and,

2569
01:52:57,105 --> 01:52:59,485
and the IV pumps that the students use.

2570
01:53:01,105 --> 01:53:04,365
So those are all original to the building construction

2571
01:53:04,385 --> 01:53:06,245
or end of life 10, 10 years old.

2572
01:53:06,245 --> 01:53:08,965
So they definitely need to replace the software's not

2573
01:53:09,605 --> 01:53:12,325
reprogram reprogrammable and they have head wear and tear.

2574
01:53:12,675 --> 01:53:16,205
Yeah. And that, that program is tremendous.

2575
01:53:16,325 --> 01:53:19,765
I mean for the last several years now that every graduate of

2576
01:53:19,765 --> 01:53:23,645
that nursing program has passed their NCLEX the first time

2577
01:53:23,785 --> 01:53:25,125
and a hundred percent pass rate.

2578
01:53:25,225 --> 01:53:27,125
Wow. Yeah, it's amazing.

2579
01:53:27,505 --> 01:53:28,885
Saw something the other night that said

2580
01:53:28,885 --> 01:53:31,965
that there's a shortage of 7,000 nurses in the state

2581
01:53:31,965 --> 01:53:33,365
of Maryland, in Maryland alone.

2582
01:53:33,465 --> 01:53:35,925
Wow. Yeah, in Maryland on 7,000. Wow.

2583
01:53:36,465 --> 01:53:38,285
Yep. Still dealing with the burnout from,

2584
01:53:38,835 --> 01:53:39,885
from the pandemic.

2585
01:53:40,435 --> 01:53:42,605
Yeah, well probably, absolutely. Yeah

2586
01:53:42,695 --> 01:53:43,695
Buddy.

2587
01:53:43,695 --> 01:53:44,845
I'm very pleased to report that we're seeing better

2588
01:53:45,085 --> 01:53:47,765
students, better prepared in nursing coming in

2589
01:53:47,905 --> 01:53:49,045
and also in electrical.

2590
01:53:49,225 --> 01:53:51,325
We have some of the best students we've ever seen coming in

2591
01:53:51,325 --> 01:53:53,965
the electrical program and that program is full

2592
01:53:55,015 --> 01:53:56,015
Sweet.

2593
01:53:56,015 --> 01:53:57,165
Awesome. Commissioner Wilson for you?

2594
01:54:01,275 --> 01:54:05,845
Sure. Take credit. All right. Very good. Thank you.

2595
01:54:05,845 --> 01:54:06,925
Well thank you. Thank

2596
01:54:06,925 --> 01:54:07,925
You gentlemen.

2597
01:54:07,925 --> 01:54:08,325
Thank you for your support of the college.

2598
01:54:08,385 --> 01:54:09,645
We really appreciate it. Thank you.

2599
01:54:09,755 --> 01:54:10,965
Anytime you just come back

2600
01:54:10,965 --> 01:54:13,325
with an update on the Queen Ends tech building

2601
01:54:13,465 --> 01:54:16,085
as we move along, just, you know, we'll

2602
01:54:16,085 --> 01:54:16,805
Let you know. Yeah. We'll

2603
01:54:16,805 --> 01:54:17,805
Appreciate it.

2604
01:54:17,805 --> 01:54:18,685
More than happy to come. Absolutely.

2605
01:54:18,685 --> 01:54:21,125
As long as maybe we can be earlier on the list.

2606
01:54:22,305 --> 01:54:24,445
You're getting us on the agenda tonight. You're welcome.

2607
01:54:24,445 --> 01:54:25,725
Thank you. Have a nice night. Thank

2608
01:54:25,725 --> 01:54:26,725
You.

2609
01:54:26,725 --> 01:54:27,445
Patience. Thank you.

2610
01:54:28,825 --> 01:54:30,245
And commissioners, that's all we had.

2611
01:54:30,325 --> 01:54:32,245
I had one technical request, the

2612
01:54:32,445 --> 01:54:35,125
for county ordinance 26 14 Cottage Industries.

2613
01:54:36,185 --> 01:54:38,685
We need a technical motion to convey that

2614
01:54:38,685 --> 01:54:41,725
to the planning commission in addition to public hearing.

2615
01:54:41,785 --> 01:54:43,045
So if I could get a motion,

2616
01:54:43,115 --> 01:54:44,325
I'll make a motion to convey

2617
01:54:44,325 --> 01:54:45,485
to the planning commission as well.

2618
01:54:45,625 --> 01:54:48,405
Second. Alright. All in favor? Aye. Aye.

2619
01:54:48,915 --> 01:54:51,405
Okay. Thank you very much. That's all we had.

2620
01:54:51,425 --> 01:54:53,005
So we can go to pressing public comment.

2621
01:54:53,385 --> 01:54:56,085
All righty. Part two. Good. Jack, you wanna go first?

2622
01:54:56,845 --> 01:54:58,325
I promise I'll be briefed. Oh,

2623
01:54:58,805 --> 01:55:02,685
I promise I'll be brief, but it does expand a little bit

2624
01:55:02,745 --> 01:55:04,925
on what Commissioner Corino was saying earlier.

2625
01:55:05,625 --> 01:55:09,205
And in full disclosure, I called Commissioner Corino

2626
01:55:09,265 --> 01:55:14,005
and we talked about this, the Facebook post

2627
01:55:14,005 --> 01:55:15,805
that I made on Chester Haven Beach was

2628
01:55:16,005 --> 01:55:17,045
shocking for a number of reasons.

2629
01:55:17,305 --> 01:55:19,205
One, beyond the number of people that looked at it,

2630
01:55:19,265 --> 01:55:21,205
but it also, the number of people

2631
01:55:21,205 --> 01:55:23,525
that alleged corruption on it.

2632
01:55:24,265 --> 01:55:25,365
And I've seen this

2633
01:55:25,365 --> 01:55:28,205
before where if, if somebody disagrees with you,

2634
01:55:30,545 --> 01:55:31,765
all of a sudden you're on the take

2635
01:55:32,025 --> 01:55:33,645
or you're getting money from somebody.

2636
01:55:33,865 --> 01:55:35,245
And I get these emails too.

2637
01:55:35,565 --> 01:55:39,365
I get requests all the time from residents around the county

2638
01:55:40,225 --> 01:55:43,165
to intervene on X, Y, or Z.

2639
01:55:43,185 --> 01:55:45,325
And when my response is no, oh,

2640
01:55:45,325 --> 01:55:47,965
well you must have gotten a contribution from this developer

2641
01:55:47,985 --> 01:55:49,005
or from that developer.

2642
01:55:49,145 --> 01:55:50,645
And so it's outrageous.

2643
01:55:52,185 --> 01:55:55,245
And so to the extent that this is just a comment

2644
01:55:55,305 --> 01:55:57,085
for the general public, just stop that

2645
01:55:57,115 --> 01:55:59,805
because I've gotten to know all of you guys as commissioners

2646
01:56:01,145 --> 01:56:04,165
and I've never once gotten the sense

2647
01:56:04,165 --> 01:56:06,405
that you were being paid off or anything like that.

2648
01:56:07,105 --> 01:56:08,805
And it would be foolish for anybody

2649
01:56:08,805 --> 01:56:10,165
to even think of that right now.

2650
01:56:10,265 --> 01:56:14,805
We just recently had a local commissioner who's now doing 20

2651
01:56:14,805 --> 01:56:18,165
years in the can for taking public money

2652
01:56:19,065 --> 01:56:20,485
and our state's attorney

2653
01:56:20,865 --> 01:56:24,485
and our courts take the issue very seriously if people

2654
01:56:25,035 --> 01:56:26,965
have those kinds of concerns.

2655
01:56:27,465 --> 01:56:28,805
You've got the sheriff's office,

2656
01:56:29,105 --> 01:56:30,365
you've got the state's attorney,

2657
01:56:30,425 --> 01:56:31,685
you've got the attorney general,

2658
01:56:31,745 --> 01:56:34,325
you've got an ethics commission, you've got all kinds

2659
01:56:34,325 --> 01:56:35,885
of avenues to report that stuff.

2660
01:56:36,545 --> 01:56:38,045
And so don't hide

2661
01:56:38,905 --> 01:56:41,645
in your room at home on Facebook

2662
01:56:41,705 --> 01:56:44,845
and make these crazy allegations that are totally unfounded.

2663
01:56:44,845 --> 01:56:48,085
It's ridiculous in my view.

2664
01:56:48,165 --> 01:56:50,085
I know this is gonna sound like I'm blowing sunshine,

2665
01:56:50,145 --> 01:56:55,085
but just for the benefit of the public, all

2666
01:56:55,085 --> 01:56:57,125
of these commissioners at one point

2667
01:56:57,265 --> 01:56:59,325
or another, we've had fierce disagreements.

2668
01:57:00,035 --> 01:57:02,205
I've talked with all of you on the phone at some point.

2669
01:57:02,785 --> 01:57:04,805
We have disagreements.

2670
01:57:05,655 --> 01:57:07,325
There are times where we also agree

2671
01:57:08,265 --> 01:57:12,805
and our government is based on disagreement

2672
01:57:12,825 --> 01:57:14,325
and finding compromise.

2673
01:57:14,825 --> 01:57:15,925
That's what it's about.

2674
01:57:16,955 --> 01:57:19,205
Just because you find disagreement sometimes

2675
01:57:19,745 --> 01:57:23,365
you should not lob allegations of fraud and corruption.

2676
01:57:23,365 --> 01:57:24,805
This is not Tammany Hall,

2677
01:57:25,475 --> 01:57:28,085
this is not an alderman's office in Chicago where

2678
01:57:29,025 --> 01:57:30,405
padded envelopes would come in

2679
01:57:30,405 --> 01:57:31,445
and people are getting paid off.

2680
01:57:31,445 --> 01:57:33,365
That's not what Queen Anne's County is about

2681
01:57:34,385 --> 01:57:35,805
and it's just disappointing.

2682
01:57:35,825 --> 01:57:37,165
So I share this disappointment.

2683
01:57:37,585 --> 01:57:40,605
The reason I wanted to add comment here is the public,

2684
01:57:41,365 --> 01:57:45,565
I hope, will dial down that sort of rhetoric.

2685
01:57:45,755 --> 01:57:47,685
It's not necessary. It's not helpful.

2686
01:57:48,145 --> 01:57:49,245
And in fact it's very harmful

2687
01:57:49,275 --> 01:57:51,605
because every time somebody does that,

2688
01:57:52,225 --> 01:57:55,205
you're discouraging good people from wanting to run.

2689
01:57:55,825 --> 01:57:58,845
And it's outrageous.

2690
01:57:59,015 --> 01:58:01,525
Chris, I I, I share the one concern with you.

2691
01:58:01,805 --> 01:58:04,125
I, if I can just have 30 more seconds, I promise

2692
01:58:07,235 --> 01:58:09,765
there's an issue in Sellersville number of years ago.

2693
01:58:09,765 --> 01:58:10,805
Everybody remembers it.

2694
01:58:12,965 --> 01:58:16,445
I took a position opposed to that based on on legal reasons.

2695
01:58:18,465 --> 01:58:21,885
My kids were getting comments in school due to

2696
01:58:22,685 --> 01:58:26,005
Facebook comments and they have nothing to do with it.

2697
01:58:27,475 --> 01:58:29,045
Chris's kids have nothing to do with it.

2698
01:58:29,185 --> 01:58:30,845
My kids have nothing to do with your kids

2699
01:58:30,845 --> 01:58:32,445
and grandkids have nothing to do with it.

2700
01:58:32,465 --> 01:58:35,205
We can disagree on policy all day long and we have,

2701
01:58:36,065 --> 01:58:37,205
but we also find agreement.

2702
01:58:37,315 --> 01:58:40,245
This is a community. We all care about it.

2703
01:58:40,535 --> 01:58:42,445
We're all passionate to various degrees,

2704
01:58:43,195 --> 01:58:45,325
different interests, but just

2705
01:58:45,325 --> 01:58:47,125
because we have disagreement doesn't mean

2706
01:58:47,125 --> 01:58:48,205
that somebody's taking money.

2707
01:58:48,705 --> 01:58:52,485
And I just hope we can find a way to stop that.

2708
01:58:52,915 --> 01:58:57,325
It's necessary. And I hope you guys talk about this at

2709
01:58:57,325 --> 01:58:58,845
Roundtable because it's something

2710
01:58:59,085 --> 01:59:01,165
that needs continuous reminder

2711
01:59:01,665 --> 01:59:04,925
and we're on the same page in that regard.

2712
01:59:05,105 --> 01:59:06,245
And so if this comes up

2713
01:59:06,245 --> 01:59:08,845
and if I see it on my page, I will call it out.

2714
01:59:09,025 --> 01:59:10,205
And I have called it out.

2715
01:59:11,525 --> 01:59:13,445
I think I've forwarded you some examples of things

2716
01:59:13,445 --> 01:59:16,045
where I have called it out where you know this is not

2717
01:59:16,045 --> 01:59:17,165
necessary, it's not right

2718
01:59:17,165 --> 01:59:19,405
and it's not fair to make those kinds of allegations.

2719
01:59:19,405 --> 01:59:20,725
And if you have 'em, bring 'em forward.

2720
01:59:22,505 --> 01:59:24,245
Anyway, I just wanted to close on that

2721
01:59:25,125 --> 01:59:28,085
somewhat negative note, but just say that for the benefit

2722
01:59:28,225 --> 01:59:31,005
of our collective community, which we all care about,

2723
01:59:31,555 --> 01:59:33,565
just dial down the unhelpful rhetoric.

2724
01:59:33,595 --> 01:59:37,725
It's just, it's not, just not helpful. So thank you Jim.

2725
01:59:37,725 --> 01:59:38,725
Thanks Jay. Thank you. Thanks

2726
01:59:38,725 --> 01:59:39,705
Jay.

2727
01:59:41,865 --> 01:59:43,885
Sir, would you like to, would you like to speak?

2728
01:59:47,655 --> 01:59:48,925
Thank you all for your service.

2729
01:59:49,155 --> 01:59:50,965
Mark Canfield, 2 0 3 SW code.

2730
01:59:51,755 --> 01:59:53,765
Just curious about the Chester Haven thing.

2731
01:59:53,865 --> 01:59:58,365
If the ultimate court decision goes against a

2732
01:59:58,365 --> 02:00:01,565
developer, will the county owe the developer any money?

2733
02:00:03,025 --> 02:00:04,725
The deposit is non-refundable.

2734
02:00:05,755 --> 02:00:08,645
Okay. So there's no, and he knew that entered.

2735
02:00:08,645 --> 02:00:13,005
There's no fiduciary responsibility to the, okay.

2736
02:00:14,015 --> 02:00:15,925
Great. And is any of the money

2737
02:00:16,315 --> 02:00:20,365
that the county is now spending for its legal representation

2738
02:00:21,265 --> 02:00:24,405
in any way, can you say that's in the benefit of the

2739
02:00:25,155 --> 02:00:28,315
developer or it's just due diligence by the county?

2740
02:00:28,995 --> 02:00:29,875
I don't think there's any ongoing

2741
02:00:29,875 --> 02:00:31,115
litigation at this point in time.

2742
02:00:31,735 --> 02:00:33,635
And we have a, we have an attorney on staff

2743
02:00:34,055 --> 02:00:35,275
in the county. Okay.

2744
02:00:36,125 --> 02:00:37,195
Appreciate your service.

2745
02:00:37,565 --> 02:00:40,675
Thank you. Would anybody else like to speak?

2746
02:00:42,295 --> 02:00:47,235
Go. Hello, my name is Wendy Elian.

2747
02:00:48,435 --> 02:00:49,995
I have, I've sent off an email

2748
02:00:50,255 --> 02:00:52,755
and I got a pretty aggressive response from Chris

2749
02:00:53,435 --> 02:00:55,755
accusing me of a bunch of stuff, which now I know

2750
02:00:55,785 --> 02:00:56,795
what he's talking about

2751
02:00:56,795 --> 02:00:58,755
because I wasn't aware of the Facebook posts.

2752
02:00:59,035 --> 02:01:01,715
I wasn't aware that people were saying people were corrupt.

2753
02:01:02,535 --> 02:01:06,835
My question actually has to do with the growth allocation.

2754
02:01:07,455 --> 02:01:09,235
The courts have determined the growth

2755
02:01:09,635 --> 02:01:11,155
allocation cannot happen.

2756
02:01:11,415 --> 02:01:14,435
So I understand that they can do individual wells

2757
02:01:14,435 --> 02:01:18,395
or a group Well, but what I don't understand is that

2758
02:01:18,465 --> 02:01:19,955
with the size of the development,

2759
02:01:20,235 --> 02:01:24,115
I believe an 81 housing plan was submitted last year.

2760
02:01:24,855 --> 02:01:28,715
Why have we not considered decreasing the amount

2761
02:01:28,715 --> 02:01:32,755
of sewer allocation to the property rather than continuing

2762
02:01:32,755 --> 02:01:35,835
to allocate the number we're allocating when we could have

2763
02:01:36,085 --> 02:01:37,235
beneficial services

2764
02:01:37,375 --> 02:01:38,435
and commercial services

2765
02:01:38,465 --> 02:01:40,245
that could be be added in Queen County,

2766
02:01:40,535 --> 02:01:42,205
which could use those allocations.

2767
02:01:43,225 --> 02:01:47,285
So with them knocking it down and saying you can't do this.

2768
02:01:47,545 --> 02:01:49,045
Why have we not reconsidered?

2769
02:01:49,485 --> 02:01:53,485
Rewriting the agreement to decrease it again is basically

2770
02:01:53,485 --> 02:01:55,645
because I don't understand as

2771
02:01:55,645 --> 02:01:57,725
to why we keep giving them the same amount.

2772
02:01:57,725 --> 02:01:59,805
They haven't done anything over the years.

2773
02:01:59,825 --> 02:02:01,125
And the courts keep docking it down.

2774
02:02:01,405 --> 02:02:03,285
I understand it's probably gonna go to litigation.

2775
02:02:03,515 --> 02:02:04,885
They're probably gonna keep asking,

2776
02:02:05,145 --> 02:02:07,365
but I do know they're down to 81 in their request,

2777
02:02:07,785 --> 02:02:10,245
so I don't understand why the agreement can't be rewritten.

2778
02:02:10,975 --> 02:02:11,975
Thank you.

2779
02:02:13,115 --> 02:02:17,245
That was 90. Would anybody else like to speak?

2780
02:02:20,635 --> 02:02:22,485
Alright, we'll close, we'll close press on

2781
02:02:22,485 --> 02:02:24,565
public comment round table. How about now?

2782
02:02:25,035 --> 02:02:27,125
Sure. And I mean, I guess I'll stay in the vein.

2783
02:02:27,125 --> 02:02:28,685
That's already been served up.

2784
02:02:28,705 --> 02:02:30,485
So I I, I'll make, I'm not gonna be as aggressive

2785
02:02:30,485 --> 02:02:31,605
as that side of the room there.

2786
02:02:32,435 --> 02:02:34,365
They're a little bit over top. That's why we're over here.

2787
02:02:34,485 --> 02:02:35,925
I like to make, I like to make light

2788
02:02:35,925 --> 02:02:37,645
of things in, in certain instances.

2789
02:02:37,865 --> 02:02:39,245
It does frustrate me

2790
02:02:39,245 --> 02:02:40,885
and infuriate me at some of the comments

2791
02:02:40,885 --> 02:02:41,965
that are made on Facebook

2792
02:02:41,965 --> 02:02:45,485
because to both of their points, our kids, our grandkids,

2793
02:02:45,485 --> 02:02:47,565
our wives all have to read that stuff.

2794
02:02:48,145 --> 02:02:50,005
And my making light

2795
02:02:50,005 --> 02:02:52,125
of it is my wife says I'm doing a terrible job

2796
02:02:52,145 --> 02:02:54,085
of taking money because she keeps looking at a

2797
02:02:54,085 --> 02:02:55,165
bank account and there's nothing there.

2798
02:02:55,225 --> 02:02:57,725
So Apparently I'm not very good.

2799
02:02:57,745 --> 02:02:59,885
And I will say my 12 years I'm taking,

2800
02:03:00,085 --> 02:03:01,725
I won't let somebody buy me a cup of coffee.

2801
02:03:01,945 --> 02:03:04,925
And that's just because I feel that

2802
02:03:05,345 --> 02:03:06,445
that's the way it should be.

2803
02:03:06,445 --> 02:03:07,965
Right. We're here for public service.

2804
02:03:08,465 --> 02:03:10,525
So if anything, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

2805
02:03:11,665 --> 02:03:13,925
But yeah, I I just, I'm with Chris.

2806
02:03:14,045 --> 02:03:16,685
I know it's, it's one of our biggest pet peeves is,

2807
02:03:16,745 --> 02:03:18,045
is the comments on Facebook.

2808
02:03:18,745 --> 02:03:20,405
We try to do the best job we can.

2809
02:03:20,745 --> 02:03:23,365
We give up 40 to 60 hours of our life every week

2810
02:03:23,365 --> 02:03:25,165
to do this job, 52 weeks a year

2811
02:03:25,665 --> 02:03:27,765
to represent the citizens of Queen S County.

2812
02:03:27,765 --> 02:03:29,325
And I think we do a pretty good job of it.

2813
02:03:30,835 --> 02:03:32,885
Many people don't understand what that means.

2814
02:03:32,965 --> 02:03:34,805
A time away from your family, that same family.

2815
02:03:34,815 --> 02:03:36,445
We're trying to protect from some of these comments.

2816
02:03:38,265 --> 02:03:40,085
So again, I, I agree with

2817
02:03:40,085 --> 02:03:41,565
what everything's been said so far.

2818
02:03:42,345 --> 02:03:43,405
Our kids are watching.

2819
02:03:44,065 --> 02:03:46,445
And so if, if you, if you're wondering why some

2820
02:03:46,445 --> 02:03:48,365
of this bullying, things like that, go on in school,

2821
02:03:48,475 --> 02:03:49,485
take a look in the mirror.

2822
02:03:49,965 --> 02:03:51,005
'cause you're probably part of the problem.

2823
02:03:51,185 --> 02:03:52,645
So that's all I got,

2824
02:03:52,755 --> 02:03:53,755
Patrick.

2825
02:03:55,125 --> 02:03:57,565
I would just say God gave us two ears

2826
02:03:58,345 --> 02:04:00,285
and one mouth for a reason.

2827
02:04:01,385 --> 02:04:04,525
We need to listen more and speak less.

2828
02:04:06,625 --> 02:04:09,975
The, the, the tongue can either lift up

2829
02:04:10,875 --> 02:04:14,415
or it can really do

2830
02:04:14,415 --> 02:04:15,935
damage to people.

2831
02:04:16,595 --> 02:04:18,815
And that's it.

2832
02:04:19,125 --> 02:04:20,415
Alright. You leave.

2833
02:04:22,325 --> 02:04:26,855
When I first ran for office 16 years ago, none of the

2834
02:04:28,335 --> 02:04:30,135
outgoing commissioners were seeking reelection.

2835
02:04:30,835 --> 02:04:33,695
But we did have an opportunity to sit down with one of them.

2836
02:04:33,915 --> 02:04:37,135
And the advice that he gave me resonated.

2837
02:04:37,345 --> 02:04:39,405
He said, if you could get 70% of it right,

2838
02:04:39,825 --> 02:04:41,605
you're gonna apologize for the other 30.

2839
02:04:42,225 --> 02:04:44,765
We try to take the information that we are given

2840
02:04:44,985 --> 02:04:49,765
by department heads and experts and directors and, and,

2841
02:04:49,905 --> 02:04:51,485
and digest that information

2842
02:04:51,985 --> 02:04:53,285
and determine what is best

2843
02:04:53,505 --> 02:04:55,005
for the greater good in our community.

2844
02:04:55,305 --> 02:04:58,165
And that's what drives the majority of the decisions

2845
02:04:58,165 --> 02:05:01,445
that we make, at least the decisions that I make in my mind.

2846
02:05:02,495 --> 02:05:04,965
Thank you Boss.

2847
02:05:05,885 --> 02:05:08,325
I think I said pretty much all of it.

2848
02:05:08,485 --> 02:05:10,725
I, I, I thank Jay for speaking up.

2849
02:05:10,885 --> 02:05:14,005
'cause you know, we tend to agree on a lot of issues

2850
02:05:14,025 --> 02:05:16,525
and sometimes obviously a few weeks ago you didn't agree

2851
02:05:16,525 --> 02:05:20,925
with my, my vote and we've, but we have good discussions

2852
02:05:22,025 --> 02:05:26,485
and I, I, I do that with everybody right on,

2853
02:05:26,665 --> 02:05:29,165
on all sides of an issue and give everybody an opportunity.

2854
02:05:31,185 --> 02:05:33,525
It, it just seems like we have this increasing

2855
02:05:36,055 --> 02:05:39,045
devolution in, in it's real, in civic discourse

2856
02:05:39,145 --> 02:05:40,405
and it's not getting better.

2857
02:05:40,505 --> 02:05:42,645
We had mentioned when, when Michael

2858
02:05:42,825 --> 02:05:45,485
and Mc were here earlier for Maco about how in Maco

2859
02:05:46,145 --> 02:05:48,605
you have different counties, blue, purple

2860
02:05:48,605 --> 02:05:50,725
and red, who seem to be able to get together

2861
02:05:50,725 --> 02:05:53,085
or talk about issues and find solutions to problems.

2862
02:05:53,625 --> 02:05:55,765
And there's pretty much nothing

2863
02:05:55,765 --> 02:05:57,885
but respect in those discussions that occur.

2864
02:05:57,945 --> 02:05:59,525
So it can, it can be done.

2865
02:06:00,865 --> 02:06:02,805
And if you think about it, you know these,

2866
02:06:02,805 --> 02:06:05,605
when when someone says there's someone lying in their pocket

2867
02:06:05,665 --> 02:06:07,525
or something like that happen, you're,

2868
02:06:09,265 --> 02:06:10,405
you're working against yourself.

2869
02:06:10,405 --> 02:06:12,085
You're creating a permission structure

2870
02:06:12,105 --> 02:06:13,405
for people not to participate.

2871
02:06:13,635 --> 02:06:15,925
Because if everything is bought off

2872
02:06:16,865 --> 02:06:19,525
and it doesn't matter what you say, then why participate?

2873
02:06:19,875 --> 02:06:21,965
It's, it's already done somewhere already got, you know,

2874
02:06:21,965 --> 02:06:23,245
a load of cash and,

2875
02:06:23,245 --> 02:06:25,805
and when you don't show up, you know,

2876
02:06:26,205 --> 02:06:27,485
decisions are made in your absence.

2877
02:06:27,745 --> 02:06:30,725
And Jay can tell you about times when there's been rooms

2878
02:06:30,725 --> 02:06:33,685
full of people and it has swayed a vote on an issue.

2879
02:06:34,745 --> 02:06:38,805
And so it really irritates me when we create situations

2880
02:06:38,805 --> 02:06:40,205
where people aren't participating.

2881
02:06:40,865 --> 02:06:43,125
And I think those allegations get people to not participate

2882
02:06:43,505 --> 02:06:46,285
and, and worse, I dunno if it's worse,

2883
02:06:46,365 --> 02:06:50,445
but equally as bad is where, where do we get new candidates

2884
02:06:50,545 --> 02:06:51,565
to run for office?

2885
02:06:51,755 --> 02:06:55,245
Like, I mean, we've, we're dummies that take the beating,

2886
02:06:55,665 --> 02:06:57,805
but there's a lot of other people that have common sense

2887
02:06:57,825 --> 02:07:00,605
and they're like, I, I've talked to people about running.

2888
02:07:00,725 --> 02:07:02,365
I mean, I'm, this is my last term, I'm done.

2889
02:07:02,745 --> 02:07:03,685
And talked to other people,

2890
02:07:03,825 --> 02:07:04,925
try to get some district forward.

2891
02:07:04,925 --> 02:07:06,685
Like, oh no, I couldn't do what you do.

2892
02:07:06,885 --> 02:07:08,525
I, I couldn't, I couldn't deal with that.

2893
02:07:09,185 --> 02:07:10,525
And I'm like, but here's

2894
02:07:10,525 --> 02:07:11,565
all the good things that you get to do.

2895
02:07:11,565 --> 02:07:12,805
But that's what discourages them.

2896
02:07:13,945 --> 02:07:15,485
And that's a problem because you,

2897
02:07:16,305 --> 02:07:18,725
as Michael explained when on the makeup presentation,

2898
02:07:18,905 --> 02:07:20,205
we have huge budget issues.

2899
02:07:20,205 --> 02:07:22,365
And I've been talking about this for on the campaign trip

2900
02:07:22,365 --> 02:07:26,085
the last year, big issues coming up affecting the state

2901
02:07:26,425 --> 02:07:28,805
and the downflow to the, to the counties.

2902
02:07:28,905 --> 02:07:31,165
To the counties. Yep. Having people who

2903
02:07:31,785 --> 02:07:32,845
can have common sense

2904
02:07:32,845 --> 02:07:35,485
and make good decisions is really, really important.

2905
02:07:35,765 --> 02:07:38,645
I mean, this, this is not an oyster shell road

2906
02:07:38,645 --> 02:07:39,765
county anymore, right.

2907
02:07:40,025 --> 02:07:42,845
The, the sheriff deputies don't pass off the gun at the end

2908
02:07:42,845 --> 02:07:43,885
of their shift to the other deputy.

2909
02:07:44,065 --> 02:07:45,685
That's how it used to be in Queens County.

2910
02:07:45,755 --> 02:07:47,765
It's changed and we can have discussions about

2911
02:07:48,425 --> 02:07:49,485
how the days were better then, but

2912
02:07:49,485 --> 02:07:50,805
that's just not where we are anymore.

2913
02:07:51,945 --> 02:07:55,005
And so we do need to encourage people to want

2914
02:07:55,005 --> 02:07:57,405
to be in these offices and to make good decisions

2915
02:07:57,405 --> 02:08:01,525
because there are really important things that get done so

2916
02:08:02,675 --> 02:08:03,675
Well.

2917
02:08:03,675 --> 02:08:04,525
I I, I agree with you a hundred percent.

2918
02:08:05,865 --> 02:08:07,765
You know, keep your eye on the donut, not on the whole,

2919
02:08:08,585 --> 02:08:10,245
and the state's coming after it.

2920
02:08:10,425 --> 02:08:12,485
And, and it's gonna get interesting

2921
02:08:12,545 --> 02:08:14,685
and, you know, our, our blessing is

2922
02:08:15,505 --> 02:08:16,965
we have a well run county.

2923
02:08:17,505 --> 02:08:20,365
We really do. I mean, the public doesn't see it,

2924
02:08:21,105 --> 02:08:22,805
but we're able, I mean, where we've,

2925
02:08:22,805 --> 02:08:24,125
where we were 12 years ago

2926
02:08:24,125 --> 02:08:27,365
and where we are now is just phenomenal.

2927
02:08:27,885 --> 02:08:30,245
I mean, you know, with, with our financing, with

2928
02:08:30,245 --> 02:08:31,725
what we're trying to accomplish

2929
02:08:31,835 --> 02:08:34,605
with our schools being fully funded, you know,

2930
02:08:34,605 --> 02:08:36,325
the whole nine yards when it, when it comes

2931
02:08:36,385 --> 02:08:40,245
to the negativity, you know, I, I I got thick skin,

2932
02:08:40,865 --> 02:08:42,125
but my I am, you're a marine,

2933
02:08:42,275 --> 02:08:43,275
It's easier for you.

2934
02:08:43,275 --> 02:08:45,125
But more importantly, I don't get on Facebook

2935
02:08:45,995 --> 02:08:48,245
because if I, my wife will sit next to me

2936
02:08:48,265 --> 02:08:50,245
and she'll go, what, what's this?

2937
02:08:50,585 --> 02:08:52,205
And I go, what? And she'll tell me one thing.

2938
02:08:52,365 --> 02:08:54,085
I can't get to sleep now, you know?

2939
02:08:54,105 --> 02:08:55,365
And so I tell her, you're not allowed.

2940
02:08:55,365 --> 02:08:56,405
You keep it all to yourself.

2941
02:08:56,485 --> 02:08:57,645
I don't want to, I don't care about it.

2942
02:08:58,065 --> 02:09:00,485
You know, it's Facebook. So, you know,

2943
02:09:00,905 --> 02:09:03,285
but I, I, I guess my only question I really have is,

2944
02:09:03,705 --> 02:09:06,245
you know, Todd and Chris and myself

2945
02:09:06,385 --> 02:09:08,285
and Phil got

2946
02:09:08,285 --> 02:09:11,925
to tour Hinckley's new facility at the Bay Bridge.

2947
02:09:12,665 --> 02:09:14,525
And I could have swore somebody said there was a boat

2948
02:09:14,525 --> 02:09:16,445
for me, but, you know, you get it.

2949
02:09:16,685 --> 02:09:18,445
I, I guess I better not take it now.

2950
02:09:18,445 --> 02:09:20,205
You know, it's, it's right next to Chris's helicopter. Yeah.

2951
02:09:21,345 --> 02:09:22,485
But I want to thank them.

2952
02:09:22,485 --> 02:09:24,725
They, they, that's a first class organization

2953
02:09:24,865 --> 02:09:28,245
and it's a feather in our cap for Queen Annes County due

2954
02:09:28,245 --> 02:09:30,205
to Queen Annes County that absolutely.

2955
02:09:30,425 --> 02:09:32,445
So, motion to, I'll

2956
02:09:32,445 --> 02:09:33,445
Make a motion to adjourn.

2957
02:09:33,445 --> 02:09:36,165
Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. Thank you.