[0:11] We will bring the meeting to order.
[0:13] Alright, good evening everybody.
[0:15] Welcome to the Queen Ens County Commissioners meeting.
[0:16] This is a public meeting
[0:18] that is being aired live on our local cable television
[0:20] station, QAC TV seven.
[0:22] These media broadcasts provide county citizens an
[0:24] opportunity to watch and review
[0:26] our scheduled public meetings.
[0:27] In addition to our live audience this evening,
[0:29] we are providing remote options for citizens to watch
[0:31] and participate in county commissioner meetings.
[0:34] Citizens may watch our meeting live on our website at
[0:37] qac.org/live,
[0:39] or on our public access governmental television channels
[0:42] provided by Breeze Line Cable Services.
[0:44] Also, as part of tonight's meeting,
[0:46] citizens may email comments to public comment@qac.org.
[0:50] All comments received will be summarized
[0:51] during the present public comment period.
[0:53] On tonight's agenda. We acknowledge everyone's participation
[0:56] and by attending you acknowledge this session is
[0:58] both recorded and aired.
[1:00] Pressing. Public comment will be taken
[1:01] and is limited to three minutes per person.
[1:04] If you do care to speak, please stand at the inform.
[1:06] Please sign up at the information table out in the hallway.
[1:09] Comments longer than three minutes can be submitted in
[1:11] writing for the commissioner's review.
[1:13] We will now stand and be led in the Pledge of Allegiance
[1:15] by commission, president Jim r,
[1:19] My pledge, allegiance to be the flag
[1:21] of the United States of America
[1:23] and to the republic for which it stands,
[1:26] one nation under God and indivisible with liberty
[1:30] and justice for all
[1:37] silence.
[1:39] So Chris was gonna do it.
[1:40] Alright, commissioners.
[1:42] First up we have to approve the minutes
[1:44] and the agenda for tonight.
[1:46] So our agenda for tonight's meeting August 25th, along
[1:49] with the regular session minutes, the close session minutes,
[1:53] the sanitary commission minutes,
[1:54] and the Rhodes Board minutes from the August 11th meeting
[1:57] have all been circulated for your review.
[1:59] Do we have any additions or corrections? Yep.
[2:01] Make a motion to add two additional action
[2:03] items to tonight's agenda. Second,
[2:06] Move a motion to second.
[2:07] Any discussion? All those in favor signify the same, aye.
[2:10] Aye. Aye. Opposed? So moved.
[2:12] Motion to accept the agenda as amended
[2:16] and the comm minutes from August 11th.
[2:19] Second.
[2:21] All those in favor? Aye.
[2:25] Okay, thank you Commissioners.
[2:28] So we just held a closed session under the general
[2:31] provisions article, section 3, 3 0 5 B one for boards,
[2:34] commissions, and personnel,
[2:35] and section 3 3 0 5 B three for land acquisition.
[2:38] So I do believe we have a, an appointment to make
[2:42] I move to appoint
[2:43] or reappoint Rick Sierra
[2:44] to fill the vacancy on the housing authority.
[2:47] This is a five year term
[2:49] that will expire on June 30th, 2030. One
[2:53] Second.
[2:54] We have a motion to second Any discussion? See none.
[2:56] All those in favor signify by saying aye a. Aye. Opposed?
[3:00] So moved.
[3:02] Okay. And we had
[3:04] that Government services relations contract.
[3:07] We have a motion for that please.
[3:09] I move to execute the Cornerstone Government Affairs
[3:12] Services agreement effective October 1st, 2026 to
[3:16] September 30th, 2027.
[3:18] Second. Second. We have a motion
[3:20] and a second on this topic.
[3:21] Any other discussion? Seeing none.
[3:23] All those in favor signify saying aye. Aye. Opposed?
[3:26] So moved.
[3:27] Alright, thank you commissioners.
[3:29] That brings us to the press public comment.
[3:31] This is our general press public comment
[3:33] session. Have anybody signed?
[3:35] We have. Okay. Mr. F said,
[3:38] Mr, we appreciate all citizens for taking time
[3:40] to express views to the county commissioners.
[3:42] Comments are limited to three minutes per person
[3:44] comments longer than three
[3:45] minutes can be submitted in writing.
[3:46] This commission respects your desire
[3:48] and right to convey your message freely.
[3:49] When you come forward, please speak clearly at the state
[3:51] microphone, state your name,
[3:52] your address, topic of interest.
[3:54] And in keeping with the dignity of our office, we ask
[3:56] that all views be expressed in a
[3:58] respectful and civil manner.
[4:00] Thank you Commissioners. Jay Fag,
[4:02] queen Ads Conservation Association.
[4:05] I wanna make a comment first on Chester Haven Beach,
[4:07] and I hope I can get through the whole thing,
[4:09] but I'd also like to just kind of put a placeholder
[4:13] for the last press and public comment
[4:15] because I do have just a general sort of
[4:18] community announcement that I'd like to offer.
[4:22] And so I just want to make that known. Now, Mr.
[4:25] Chairman, if I can add that at the very end, commissioners,
[4:29] at the last commissioner meeting,
[4:31] Chester Haven Beach was on the agenda.
[4:34] You all voted to, not all of you,
[4:38] but by a three, two vote
[4:39] to extend the Public Works agreement.
[4:43] I wanna make you aware of something
[4:44] because I was shocked by this myself.
[4:46] I posted on Facebook the outcome of that vote.
[4:52] It's on there for everybody to see.
[4:53] I urge you to go and look at my page, 46,000 views on
[4:57] that one page alone.
[4:59] If you go through the comments,
[5:00] there is not one favorable comment in support
[5:04] of Chester Haven Beach, not a single one.
[5:07] All of them are negative.
[5:09] These are all your citizens that you represent.
[5:13] And so I think that there's an opportunity for you all
[5:17] to reconsider, and I'll tell you what that is.
[5:20] At the last meeting, you voted
[5:22] to extend the Public Works agreement,
[5:25] but you did so without actually having the agreement
[5:27] because tonight the agreement's on the agenda.
[5:31] So you all made a move to extend an agreement
[5:34] that you didn't have the opportunity to read
[5:36] because it's on your agenda for tonight.
[5:39] And so it seems to me that
[5:40] that gives you a little bit of breathing space.
[5:43] And I would ask you, in light
[5:46] of the overwhelming negative support towards this particular
[5:49] development, in light of the fact
[5:50] that this thing has come up over
[5:52] and over again in light of the fact
[5:54] that the Critical Area Commission says
[5:55] that the developer does not have the number of lots
[5:58] that he claims, I think this gives you
[6:02] sufficient justification
[6:04] to not extend this Public Works agreement.
[6:07] And I hope that you'll reconsider it at the last meeting.
[6:10] I wish I had the opportunity to rebut some of
[6:12] what Mr. Stevens said, but I'll try
[6:15] and take that opportunity now within just
[6:17] the last few minutes that I have.
[6:18] Last minute that I have, he said that all this will come
[6:21] before the the Planning Commission
[6:22] and you know, people will have the opportunity
[6:24] to raise concerns then he's absolutely right about that.
[6:28] But it is putting the cart before the horse
[6:31] because at the end of the day,
[6:33] the overriding authority on this is
[6:36] the critical area commission.
[6:37] And they say that the lots don't exist.
[6:39] So you'll be putting county staff through an enormous amount
[6:43] of work, going through all different kinds of things
[6:49] when the authority has already said no.
[6:51] So with that, I hope you'll reconsider it tonight.
[6:55] There's no reason for you to continue on
[6:56] with this Public Works agreement
[6:58] and on that basis alone,
[7:00] I hope you'll reconsider it and then reject it. Thank you.
[7:03] Thank you, thank you. Would anybody else like to speak?
[7:06] There's nobody else signed up. Somebody you have. Yes.
[7:09] Thank you.
[7:13] Sorry. All right, commissioners.
[7:17] We have four emails tonight.
[7:19] The first one comes from Wendy Lillian Illian.
[7:22] Dear Queens County Commissioners, I'm unable
[7:24] to attend the upcoming hearing because of the short notice
[7:26] by I want to make concerns clear
[7:27] regarding the proposed 48th month extension
[7:30] of the Public Works sewer agreement.
[7:32] How can the county approve an extension
[7:34] for a project when the courts have determined
[7:35] that the underlying growth authorization is illegal
[7:38] and void, the county
[7:39] and the developer should not be able to use the public works
[7:42] or sewer agreement to advance the subdivision when the
[7:44] underlying growth authorization was declared illegal.
[7:47] Because of approximately 81 acres
[7:49] of the property are located within the resource conservation
[7:51] area of Maryland's critical area.
[7:54] If the underlying authorization cannot legally support the
[7:56] proposed development, what purpose does the extending the
[7:58] agreement for another 48 months serve?
[8:00] The proposed extension appears to concern infrastructure
[8:03] for more than 80 homes, that based on the court's decisions
[8:06] cannot legally be built.
[8:08] I also urge the commissioners to consider the financial
[8:10] and political consequences of moving forward
[8:12] with an agreement tied
[8:13] to a development that has already been found.
[8:14] Unlawful County residents expect their elected officials
[8:18] to protect the county's resources, follow court decisions
[8:20] to make decisions that are in long-term public interest.
[8:23] I hope the commissioners will also consider the history
[8:25] of development controversies on Ken Island,
[8:27] including the serious environmental concerns, pollution,
[8:30] regulatory violations, and litigation associated
[8:33] with Hian development.
[8:35] Those experiences demonstrate how costly
[8:36] and disruptive development disputes can become
[8:38] for a community and its elected officials.
[8:41] I respectfully ask that the commissioners
[8:42] to carefully reconsider any extension to this agreement
[8:45] and to explain how it can legally
[8:47] and practically justify given the court's decisions
[8:50] regarding the underlying growth authorization.
[8:52] I cannot attend the hearing, but I want my concerns
[8:54] to be part of the public record.
[8:56] I'll be voting this year. I'll be paying close attention
[8:58] to how this matter is handled.
[8:59] Thank you for your consideration, Wendy.
[9:04] Our next email comes from Di Quinn Reno.
[9:08] I request that this statement be read aloud during press
[9:09] and public comments portion
[9:10] of the August 25th, 2026 meeting As I'm unable
[9:14] to attend in person, I'm extremely disappointed by the vote
[9:17] to extend the Public Works agreement
[9:18] for Chester Haven Beach.
[9:20] The negative consequences of this development
[9:21] for our local community environment could not be clearer
[9:24] despite significant public opposition.
[9:26] The motion was approved by with no commissioner.
[9:28] Discussion, my attention will be
[9:30] to speak at the polls in November
[9:32] and will not vote to reelect commissioners who continue
[9:34] to support this development.
[9:37] Next email comes from Heather Skipper.
[9:40] I'm writing to express my deep concern
[9:41] regarding your recent three to two vote
[9:43] to extend the Public Works agreement for Chester Haven Beach
[9:45] for an additional four years.
[9:47] It is unclear to your constituents why the county is using
[9:50] public works and sewer agreements
[9:51] to advance the subdivision whose underlying growth
[9:54] authorization was declared illegal and void by the courts.
[9:56] Circuit courts December, 2025 ruling clearly established
[10:00] that the majority of this 101 acre property,
[10:03] specifically 81 acres,
[10:04] resides within the strictly protected resource conservation
[10:07] area, the RCA of the critical area.
[10:09] This legal realty will not change.
[10:12] Providing a sewer extension for a project
[10:13] that cannot legally be built is a contradiction.
[10:16] Furthermore, this decision sets a dangerous precedent.
[10:18] It allows dormant developers
[10:20] to game our planning system using antiquated
[10:23] 1950s era plats.
[10:25] Queens County has already been consumed the, I'm sorry,
[10:28] Queens County has already consumed the vast majority
[10:30] of its state allotted growth allocation.
[10:32] Extending agreements
[10:33] for the invalid projects undermines our remaining allocation
[10:36] and waste limited county resources.
[10:37] It also exposes the county to predictable, costly
[10:40] and avoidable legal challenges.
[10:41] Lastly, I urge you to remember why transplants like myself,
[10:44] chose our homes on can island.
[10:45] Nearly two decades ago, we moved here for the charm
[10:48] of tidal wetlands, the forest,
[10:49] the wildlife, and the open shorelines.
[10:51] Today, the islands being strangled by overgrowth,
[10:53] displacement of the wildlife,
[10:54] devaluing our cross island trail and wiping out green space.
[10:57] Please consider the long-term future of our county,
[11:00] the environment and the voices
[11:01] of your constituents as you move forward.
[11:03] Sincerely, Heather Skipper
[11:05] and our final email comes from Peggy Canfield.
[11:09] It is unbelievable that Chester Haven is being threatened
[11:11] again, given the court's ruling.
[11:12] Why would the commissioners put
[11:13] this critical area in jeopardy?
[11:14] Again, the commissioners that vote voted
[11:17] for this do not care about the bay or the world.
[11:20] Unbelievable. This is this atrocity
[11:22] and this is under consideration.
[11:24] Again, Peggy Canfield, that's all the emails I have.
[11:27] Thank you. Would anybody else like
[11:29] to speak Mr. Stevens?
[11:35] In light of Joseph Stevens, as you know,
[11:37] i I represent Chester Haven Beach.
[11:39] And in light of some of the comments that were made,
[11:41] I just need to clarify a few things.
[11:43] One is, is that the public works agreement
[11:45] before you is the exact same language,
[11:47] but for the extension they
[11:48] Can't hear you.
[11:49] They can't hear you the exact same language,
[11:50] but for the extension in time that was requested.
[11:54] And two is is that the court decision involved only the
[11:57] inclusion of the property in the county growth area in order
[12:00] for it to get public water.
[12:01] It had nothing to do with the lots of record.
[12:03] And as I've said many times,
[12:04] that will eventually, and as Mr.
[12:06] Falstaff agreed, we'll eventually get decided by the courts.
[12:10] So we act, asked you to act favorably
[12:12] and continue with the vote that you took two weeks ago.
[12:14] Thank you.
[12:17] Anyone else? Seeing none,
[12:20] we'll close press on public comment.
[12:22] Okay.
[12:25] All right, commissioners, we can move into the
[12:26] presentations portion of tonight's agenda.
[12:28] So first up we have our friends from the Maryland
[12:31] Association of Counties, Mr. Michael Sanderson
[12:33] and executive director and our president of Maco Mc Keegan.
[12:38] Aso, would you come on up to the, to the table please? Yeah.
[12:41] And there is a presentation in your books tab six pages one
[12:44] through 16 and up on the screen as well.
[12:48] Welcome. Alright, welcome. Yeah.
[12:54] Okay. Do I press, do I not
[12:55] press? No, it just turns off. Okay.
[12:56] You press if you don't want
[12:57] to be heard, otherwise you're live.
[12:59] Okay. That's it. Yeah. First of all, I wanna here,
[13:03] Here's a clip for the presentation.
[13:05] Thank you.
[13:06] Thank you very much for taking time
[13:08] to hear from us this evening.
[13:10] Appreciate your time, Michael
[13:12] and I, I appreciate whatever you did on the bridge.
[13:15] 'cause we came across in lickety
[13:16] sports, so thank you very much.
[13:19] Driving to my, my husband's in my place in Bethany.
[13:22] Sometimes we get tied up on that bridge.
[13:24] And I also wanna say, I like the
[13:29] whatever the county decided to do where you're,
[13:32] if you get off 50, you don't get back on.
[13:36] I know it makes some people crazy,
[13:37] but for someone who sits there
[13:40] and keeps with the screaming children in the back of the car
[13:42] and the dog threatening to, you know, do whatever, it's good
[13:45] to know that if someone gets off, there's no way for them
[13:48] to get around the traffic and get back on.
[13:49] So appreciate that.
[13:51] As you know, and I am following in big shoes
[13:55] and I'm trying very hard to fill them.
[13:59] We, Michael and the president go around the state
[14:02] and visit with all 23 counties
[14:04] and the city of Baltimore, their legislative bodies,
[14:08] and have a meeting to discuss what's going on in Annapolis,
[14:12] what's going on at the federal level.
[14:14] And the thing that I like most is
[14:16] to hear from you all, what do you hear?
[14:19] Clearly growth
[14:21] and development is an issue in Queen Anne County as well
[14:24] as it is in Frederick County.
[14:26] You don't have quite the same hot button issue that we have,
[14:30] but growth and development is a problem across, you can
[14:32] Keep the data centers I do in your neighborhood.
[14:34] We're, we're good. We're good.
[14:36] That is an issue we don't wanna bring up to tonight,
[14:39] but it is a, it is a problem.
[14:41] And, and as you know, the
[14:45] governor is pushing all the counties to do more
[14:47] with developing affordable housing to do more
[14:51] with educating our kids to do more with repairing our roads
[14:55] and making sure that all of our people
[14:57] and their services that they need to be able to live
[15:01] and thrive in Maryland are operational.
[15:04] And that comes down to us and budgets.
[15:08] And as you know, we all struggle with making sure
[15:11] that we have enough money to pay for the services
[15:13] that our residents demand and need to be able to thrive.
[15:18] But sometimes it gets a little tight.
[15:20] So we are here to hear from you to hear what we can do
[15:24] to help you in Annapolis starting next January.
[15:30] I am term limited, so I will be out in January
[15:33] and Jack will once again be serving as past president.
[15:36] So thank you Jack for stepping in for me.
[15:39] And now I will turn it over to Michael
[15:40] to go through the particulars.
[15:43] Well, good evening and,
[15:44] and thanks very much for making time on your agenda.
[15:47] I know you've got a, a busy schedule for tonight.
[15:49] I'm Michael Sanderson, the executive director
[15:51] of the Maryland Association of Counties.
[15:52] We're a nonprofit organization that serves
[15:55] and supports all the county elected officials
[15:57] and all the services you provide
[15:59] all the way across Maryland.
[16:00] We do advocacy work on behalf
[16:02] of all those local services in Annapolis.
[16:04] And that's what I'll focus on
[16:06] for the most part this evening.
[16:08] As always, I brought a big, thick presentation
[16:10] and I'm not going to click step by step by step through it,
[16:13] but some of it is just there.
[16:14] Leave behind materials to, to illustrate some
[16:18] of the issues we've been working on.
[16:19] I, I wanna be economical with your time
[16:22] and just hit a few big picture issues
[16:25] and if there's something I miss that you'd like
[16:27] to get in further drill away.
[16:30] So I'll speak to a couple of things.
[16:33] Sort of the big picture, focus on affordability,
[16:37] the state's budget situation,
[16:39] and then a couple thorny things
[16:41] that we're still in the middle of as we speak.
[16:45] Affordability has just been an increasing drumbeat
[16:49] as a Maryland public policy challenge increasing over each
[16:53] of the last several years.
[16:55] As you all have been on the campaign trail,
[16:57] you've been hearing about it.
[16:59] There are gonna be a whole wave of either reelected
[17:03] or newly elected senators and delegates
[17:05] and county commissioners and council members.
[17:08] And many of them will have heard most loudly
[17:12] and most clearly from their residents
[17:14] and their constituents about my electric bill
[17:17] or about price of housing or the price of childcare
[17:21] and affordability as a, as a beleaguering issue.
[17:26] Here in Maryland, we've got a problem on a number of fronts.
[17:29] And what's particularly challenging there is there's not,
[17:33] in all candor, there's not a ton that these senators,
[17:37] delegates, commissioners,
[17:38] and council members can really do to tackle those issues.
[17:43] It doesn't keep the general assembly from
[17:44] trying on some of these matters.
[17:46] And we're gonna, we're gonna continue to see some
[17:48] of these areas as a focus in Annapolis,
[17:52] but that's, that's peculiar
[17:54] that if the number one thing you heard from residents is go
[17:57] tackle this stuff and you find out
[17:59] that there's really nothing in the toolbox to address
[18:02] electric bills going up, that that's a supply
[18:05] and demand issue that's bigger than
[18:07] even the state of Maryland.
[18:08] It's a multi-state approval and, and so forth.
[18:10] There's, there's a lot going on there.
[18:13] We did see electric rates
[18:15] as a target Annapolis this last year.
[18:17] They sort of concatenated multiple different little bills
[18:20] and stitched 'em into one big one
[18:21] and passed it as a relief act.
[18:24] A lot of the rate payer relief will come from suspending
[18:27] some add-on programs
[18:28] that were basically paid by rate payers.
[18:31] So you can take a break on a couple of those programs
[18:33] and give folks some, some rate payer relief.
[18:35] But 12 bucks a month isn't
[18:38] what has got your residents
[18:40] concerned about their electric rates.
[18:42] If their rates are up $70 a month over the last year,
[18:45] that's the number they've got in mind.
[18:47] I don't know what the state might have in mind
[18:51] for rate payer relief on electricity.
[18:53] There's only so much that you can do on that front.
[18:57] And in the midst of spiking demand connected technology
[19:02] and data centers and so forth, that affects the whole region
[19:06] independent of whether a data center lands in Frederick
[19:10] County or in another one in Loudoun County, Virginia,
[19:14] or if it's in West Virginia
[19:16] or in across the border into Pennsylvania.
[19:18] Our region is still gonna feel the,
[19:21] the demand is high for electrons.
[19:23] It's very high for compute.
[19:25] They're big users of electricity
[19:27] that's driving the market driven side of these things.
[19:29] So expect that to continue to be hot.
[19:33] But I think once again, Annapolis will be in search
[19:36] of a solution without any particularly obvious candidates
[19:41] in somewhat similar fashion.
[19:43] The battle over housing
[19:46] and our, our statewide shortage of housing units.
[19:50] Some folks mostly focused on the affordable
[19:53] and attainable tier, but we have shortages
[19:54] that pretty much every tier
[19:56] of affordability in housing across the state, depending on
[19:59] what, what study you read, we're 80,000 units short
[20:02] or 110,000 units short of what we need today
[20:05] or what we need five years from now or, or whatever.
[20:08] But almost everybody agrees
[20:09] that we're short on housing stock
[20:12] and we're probably not building as many as we need to
[20:16] to sort of bring supply
[20:17] and demand into, into reasonable flux.
[20:21] Interest rates aren't helping us
[20:22] and there's nothing a Maryland State senator can do
[20:25] to change the interest rate environment for borrowing
[20:27] and financing projects, both on the financing the building
[20:31] and then for a buyer to, to buy a home.
[20:33] That's its own challenge. There's
[20:35] a number of other components.
[20:36] What Annapolis can do is come
[20:38] after our local permitting processes and go come
[20:41] after local zoning and so forth.
[20:43] We ended up finding middle ground on a couple different
[20:46] bills that dealt with local zoning approvals and so forth.
[20:51] I think we ended up at a reasonable place,
[20:53] reasonable place on a couple of bills that made sense.
[20:55] A whole lot of other ideas were, were effectively shelled.
[20:59] I don't think this debate is over either.
[21:01] So a couple bills passed last year.
[21:04] I don't think we'll be able to count on two hands.
[21:07] The bills introduced next year
[21:09] that will be in on housing policy and in one way
[21:12] or another affecting local governments.
[21:15] Mako, as you would imagine, we principally stand up
[21:19] for community driven decision making is the best way
[21:22] to affect smart land use.
[21:25] You just can't do the block by block work
[21:28] of effective zoning from a committee room in Annapolis
[21:32] or from the Department of Planning in a central building in
[21:35] Baltimore or in Annapolis.
[21:36] Just can't do it. So try as they might, will,
[21:40] will end up having some tension,
[21:42] I think over those issues continuing.
[21:45] And I don't know what happens on other matters with,
[21:47] with childcare and whatnot.
[21:49] Maryland. Maryland is a relatively expensive place to live,
[21:53] to build a home and and so forth for a variety of reasons.
[21:57] And that leads to affordability, problems for childcare
[22:00] and a long laundry list of other things that sort
[22:03] of eases into the next point that I want to get into.
[22:06] And that is the state's fiscal circumstance.
[22:09] The arithmetic is bad.
[22:12] I would, I would paint it this way if you like.
[22:15] How on earth did this happen? I would say that for most
[22:20] of my time, I've been a fiscal guy for a long time.
[22:22] I did, I I did makos portfolio of budget and finance things
[22:25] before I became the executive director.
[22:27] And I've been following state finances
[22:29] for, for 30 some years.
[22:31] And in an ordinary year, if if inflation is two or 3%
[22:34] and there's little population growth
[22:36] and a little productivity growth,
[22:38] that Maryland's economy would grow by something like four
[22:41] or 5% in a typical year.
[22:42] And the state revenues would track right along with that.
[22:45] 'cause the state state's main revenues are
[22:47] income taxes and sales taxes.
[22:48] That's right. Now who has a job right now
[22:51] who bought a pair of shoes this week?
[22:53] It's not property taxes,
[22:54] which is a little slower on the uptake.
[22:57] So if you have four
[22:58] or 5% growth of your, of a general fund budget
[23:03] that today is about $29 billion, 10 years ago was at 10
[23:07] or 20, you know, 20 or something like that,
[23:11] you could be thinking, all right, $20 billion budget,
[23:13] we grow by four or 5 billion, four or 5% a year.
[23:16] That's like a billion new dollars a year.
[23:18] The state could say we have an ambitious education program,
[23:22] the blueprint, and it's gonna cost the state another
[23:25] $3 billion over this 10 years.
[23:27] Let's phase it in
[23:28] and just mentally we'll take the first 300 million of
[23:31] that 800, 900, a billion of new dollars a year
[23:35] and just sort of say education's first.
[23:37] That's the bird that eats first
[23:38] and then the rest of the nest can fight over the rest.
[23:40] It's not a totally irrational way to think
[23:43] of a 10 year fiscal plan,
[23:46] but what happens when your growth isn't 5%, it's 1%.
[23:50] And that's where the state is right now.
[23:51] State revenue's growing roughly 1% a year.
[23:54] Maybe it'll pick up to one and a half or two,
[23:56] but there's nobody out there forecasting
[23:58] green lights to four or five.
[24:00] And if you've made spending commitments
[24:03] that basically say we need to keep pace
[24:05] with the things we're we're providing to the same people,
[24:08] we're worried about folks who might lose benefits
[24:11] because of federal actions.
[24:13] We've lost a bunch of federal workers
[24:14] and folks who supported
[24:15] and surrounded them over the last couple of years.
[24:17] That's been a a, an impediment in the Maryland economy.
[24:21] And we've got outmigration to the south
[24:24] and to the west from here.
[24:25] You put all that stuff together
[24:27] and the math is just not math.
[24:29] And if the state is looking at growth in of the revenues
[24:33] of only $300 million, they're gonna have the,
[24:37] the cruise control budget requires another 700
[24:41] or 800 just to maintain.
[24:43] This also is the year
[24:44] that they run outta money in the piggy bank to pay for the,
[24:47] the blueprint program itself hasn't been really
[24:49] squeezed on the general fund.
[24:51] They've had an education trust fund
[24:52] with casino money and other things like that.
[24:54] It had a fund balance. It's being,
[24:55] it's been, it's been drawn down.
[24:57] It's gonna be to zero and they need general
[24:58] funds this coming year.
[25:00] Their working number is over two
[25:01] and a half billion dollars short for the budget year ahead.
[25:05] If you're a gambling man,
[25:08] I would think the number will be larger than that
[25:10] by New Year's Day.
[25:12] So the budget that needs to be presented, iss gonna have
[25:14] to resolve a problem to the two and three, three
[25:17] and a half billion dollars general fund,
[25:20] 29,000,000,003, three and a half.
[25:22] You're more than 10% of the budget.
[25:24] It's just genuinely short.
[25:27] Probably ends up being a combination
[25:28] of all the usual suspects.
[25:30] Go back to the list of revenue raisers.
[25:33] You go back to funding commitments
[25:35] and promises that you've made.
[25:36] You see where can you, you know, move in all directions
[25:39] to find some middle ground.
[25:41] But those are tough times.
[25:43] The state never gets
[25:44] through a cycle this tough without bringing local
[25:47] governments to the table as a stakeholder.
[25:49] It's just, just a matter of fact,
[25:51] I'm not making an oddball prediction there.
[25:53] It's just never happens.
[25:54] So what that looks like another round of cost shifts.
[25:58] We've talked about that sort of thing before.
[26:00] That's been the flavor of the month lately
[26:02] to continue providing a service
[26:04] and then just bill the county.
[26:06] Forgive me, I didn't look up, look up the arithmetic on
[26:08] what was in your last Queen Anne County budget
[26:10] that was basically just an invoice
[26:12] for state funded services.
[26:14] But that's a meaningful number in your budget every year
[26:17] that you just have to pick up the slack.
[26:19] You don't have any other way to go.
[26:21] I don't know what that'll look like.
[26:22] It'll be difficult at every level.
[26:25] So the coming year is complicated just for the general fund.
[26:29] That's before you consider they're also
[26:31] broke on transportation.
[26:32] Transportation revenues are not keeping up with the cost
[26:35] of asphalt and the maintenance of, of subways.
[26:39] And they're not keeping up
[26:40] with their formula on highway user revenues back to the back
[26:43] to the counties and municipal governments
[26:45] who take care of most of the roads.
[26:47] All that's upside down.
[26:48] They're also not keeping up with school construction.
[26:51] They've all got some long-term liabilities lingering.
[26:54] Their, their, their budget situation is the worst I've seen.
[26:57] And I've been doing this a pretty long time.
[26:59] So that's a little gloom and doomy.
[27:03] But I mean, that's what you want to hear, right?
[27:05] I mean, you, I mean, I mean it doesn't,
[27:07] it doesn't make sense to come here any good news.
[27:09] Yeah, no, not much in all candor.
[27:12] It was a lovely evening to drive over.
[27:14] Spend some time with you. I love the library.
[27:16] The weather's great. Exactly.
[27:17] The weather's beautiful library.
[27:19] You're on the right side of Maryland.
[27:21] Tell that, let me,
[27:23] let me drop two more crumbs on issues that I heard a lot
[27:27] of conversation around during our conference a few weeks ago
[27:32] that I'll, I'll mention is ongoing issues.
[27:35] One deals with state guidance for funding
[27:38] of it's revenue from cannabis taxation that gets sent
[27:42] to each local community.
[27:44] It's the community restoration and repair fund.
[27:48] We are months late in getting the specific guidance from the
[27:52] state on exactly how the money is to be used.
[27:55] We have a deadline coming up that each county is supposed
[27:57] to match and, and have a plan together and so forth.
[28:01] We have counties all over the map.
[28:02] Some have said, well, we're just, we're just going ahead
[28:05] and trying to get the money out the door to worthy
[28:07] to worthy recipients
[28:09] and nonprofits in the community and so forth.
[28:11] We have others who are saying we don't wanna make a misstep
[28:13] and have to pull money back.
[28:15] I understand both points of view.
[28:17] We have been promised that clarity is coming soon
[28:21] and I hope that's true because we really need it.
[28:24] We really could have used it about 90 days ago
[28:26] so we could meet our deadline.
[28:27] That's coming up in a few weeks.
[28:29] But nonetheless, I'm hopeful
[28:30] that we'll get some additional flexibility
[28:33] and clarity coming soon on that front.
[28:36] Another area that's a bit confusing from the state is the,
[28:40] is the the paid family leave program,
[28:43] family and medical leave.
[28:45] The insurance program makes it F-A-M-L-I
[28:49] nominally this program is supposed
[28:50] to start offering benefits at the beginning
[28:53] of calendar year 28, meaning they need
[28:57] to start collecting payroll taxes from employers
[29:01] January of 27.
[29:04] Your county and all
[29:05] of your counterparts across the state have expressed an
[29:07] interest in being part of a cooperative to try
[29:10] and provide this service outside of the state system.
[29:13] Don't do it like unemployment insurance,
[29:14] just pay your own way, that sort of thing.
[29:17] We were never the sub the the principle motivation
[29:20] for this program anyway.
[29:21] Counties already give good benefits.
[29:23] We're not the ones leaving folks without the
[29:25] ability to take a sick day.
[29:26] We're still wrapped into the program.
[29:28] I don't know what the state's gonna do here.
[29:30] We still don't have the guidance documents on that.
[29:32] We have till November 15th
[29:34] to make a decision on whether we're in or out.
[29:37] And we are right now being weighed down
[29:39] by some bad experiences in other states.
[29:43] Minnesota State is hemorrhaging cash, Minnesota
[29:46] as a state about roughly the same population as us and, and,
[29:49] and some of the vaguely similar demographics and so forth.
[29:54] Minnesota is hemorrhaging cash.
[29:55] They're a year or two ahead of us on this.
[29:57] And some of the providers who got in bed with
[30:02] co you know, cooperatives
[30:03] and so forth in Minnesota don't want to bid in Maryland
[30:07] for fear that we'll end up going down the same path.
[30:09] I don't know what happens there.
[30:11] I don't know what can happen in time for our decision.
[30:13] By November 15th, we, along with our partners
[30:16] with the Maryland Association
[30:17] of Boards Education Municipal League,
[30:20] are all running in circles trying to get this sorted out.
[30:22] We've got an online webinar tomorrow.
[30:25] We've got somebody from each county is, is pledged to attend
[30:27] that, but I'm not,
[30:29] we're gonna have more questions than
[30:30] answers for the, for the weeks ahead.
[30:32] Nonetheless, something we're putting effort into,
[30:36] is there still an opportunity to delay or defer
[30:39] or deep six, the whole thing?
[30:41] I don't know. In all candor,
[30:42] it's been delayed a couple of times already.
[30:45] There's a lot of folks who are very enamored with the goals
[30:48] of this program, but it does cost the state tens of millions
[30:51] of dollars to, to fund for their own employees too.
[30:54] Roundabout way of saying things are challenging.
[30:57] It's a tough environment.
[30:59] The voters are having their say in a variety of ways
[31:01] that will continue to do so.
[31:04] Godspeed for the work you do
[31:05] and all the things you deliver back home will continue
[31:08] to support and represent you in Annapolis as best we can.
[31:11] But that's never an easy task.
[31:14] So glad to be here to spend time with you on
[31:17] that cheery, cheery note.
[31:19] I'm not traveling with you anymore.
[31:21] Seems right. It was better when Jack was with you.
[31:24] I think when we heard the story it was pretty
[31:25] depressing actually.
[31:27] So the numbers just keep getting bigger.
[31:28] So, so Michael, real quick, can you speak to the latest,
[31:32] I guess shoot a drop on the budget with the tech tax being
[31:37] basically negated now and what they may have to pay back
[31:40] and what they're actually gonna lose
[31:41] and projected revenue or,
[31:43] We've got, we've got two different, two different sort
[31:47] of novel ideas from the state
[31:49] of Maryland on how to raise revenue.
[31:51] Both of these have come in the spirit of saying
[31:56] the Maryland economy
[31:57] or just the modern economy looks different than the economy
[32:00] of 1970, but for the most part,
[32:02] our tax system is still mostly the 1970 tax system.
[32:06] You tax income, you tax property, you tax sales, we've,
[32:11] you know, we, we've had a sales tax
[32:13] that's based on buying goods and services.
[32:15] The bo you know, the shoes you buy shoes in the shoebox,
[32:18] you pay tax on that.
[32:20] But what about, you know, I just bought a video game
[32:22] and I downloaded it from a streaming service
[32:24] that has no physical presence
[32:25] in Maryland, all that kind of stuff.
[32:27] This has been an iterative process to try and be smarter
[32:30] and say if we tax a
[32:32] and this thing walks, walks like a duck,
[32:34] maybe we tax it the same way and so forth.
[32:36] Two things Maryland has done in recent years that are both,
[32:39] both in legal difficulty.
[32:40] One is an advertising tax for online advertisers
[32:44] who have a large presence in Maryland,
[32:48] companies like Facebook
[32:49] or Meta who,
[32:50] who may not have a physical building in the state
[32:53] of Maryland, but still have, you know, surely hundreds
[32:57] of thousands of users who, who access advertising
[33:01] and other things that are being delivered in the state
[33:04] of Maryland through ISPs here and so forth.
[33:07] So do they have a presence here where that
[33:10] economic activity could be subject to a state imposed tax
[33:14] that's been in the courts for several years
[33:17] and was effectively just thrown out in federal court?
[33:22] That probably is the end of the debate.
[33:24] I I, I'm not sure I would swear to that
[33:26] because these, these, there were sort of drowning,
[33:28] drowning vampires here that don't never quite end the story,
[33:32] but I I would say the state
[33:35] has been penciling in revenues,
[33:38] there has been collecting some revenues
[33:40] and has been penciling in forecasts to the tune
[33:43] of maybe a couple hundred
[33:44] million, a couple hundred million dollars.
[33:47] And almost any setting is a ton of money with the state's
[33:50] whatever, $3 billion problem.
[33:52] It's still like a meaningful chunk
[33:54] of a $3 billion problem if it, if it's 200 million worse,
[33:58] that's just one more, you know, one more shovel of dirt on,
[34:02] on, on the, on the big mess.
[34:04] So that situation maybe not completely
[34:07] resolved, but the news is bad.
[34:09] The, the second one is just a couple
[34:10] of years ago in the 2025 session, the,
[34:15] the so-called tech tax, the idea
[34:17] of a half rate sales tax on business
[34:20] to business technology services was floated and passed,
[34:25] but without a particularly well craft, in my judgment,
[34:29] a well-crafted definition of
[34:31] what was gonna be subject to the tax.
[34:33] And I I honestly remember on the floor of both the House
[34:36] and the Senate, various specific members would stand up
[34:40] and say, hold on, is this tax gonna apply to, let me,
[34:43] let me ask you about this particular
[34:44] thing or that particular thing.
[34:45] The answer to every one of those questions seemed to be, no,
[34:48] that won't be taxed here,
[34:50] but somehow the state thought they were gonna find a half a
[34:53] billion dollars of revenue in business
[34:56] to business taxes paying a 3% tax rate.
[35:00] So this was like cloud storage and,
[35:02] and you know, online cybersecurity
[35:04] and you know, software as a service agreements
[35:06] and other things along those lines.
[35:09] Some of which I'm sure you can make an analogy,
[35:11] that they are comparable to going to whatever Circuit City
[35:16] and buying software in a box on a CD and installing it.
[35:21] In any event, the revenue from that, instead of being
[35:25] to the tune of several hundred million dollars looks like
[35:29] it's coming in at like 20 or 40.
[35:31] So the definitions may have been in practice way too narrow
[35:36] or this may just be an area where the ability
[35:40] to elude like these are all transactions happening,
[35:45] you know, in cyberspace, in the cloud, in transactions
[35:47] that maybe you have this be deliverable to your
[35:51] Virginia Branch or, or to your Florida branch
[35:53] or your Tennessee branch or something along those lines.
[35:56] I I don't think we have the full story on what's happening
[35:59] there, but you put these two together
[36:01] and it's kind of like two swings
[36:04] and a miss at the idea of let's modernize the tax structure
[36:08] and, and have areas where we're growing
[36:10] and where there's a lot of activity make
[36:12] their contribution as well.
[36:14] It's harder to pin down than it's met the eye.
[36:17] So both of those are partially baked into
[36:20] the current forecasts.
[36:21] The, the, the, the new, the the latest news, just a couple
[36:24] of weeks old on the federal courts on the,
[36:27] the interstate advertising tax is another layer on top
[36:30] though, so we should know by October what the, what the,
[36:34] what the first picture looks like.
[36:35] And I suspect the details will fall together sometimes
[36:39] sometime maybe middle of November.
[36:40] Sounds about right. We'll see the details
[36:42] shortly after the election.
[36:44] Sounds right around November, November 5th. Yeah.
[36:48] Yeah, some somewhere in that, in that ballpark along with
[36:51] by the way, an analysis of how the blueprint is working
[36:54] and whether there might be areas where that needs
[36:57] to be ratcheted and clanked here or there,
[37:00] Michael, of the $3 billion
[37:02] for 2028 projected at the bottom here it says
[37:06] of the 3000000002.6 is blueprint roughly.
[37:11] So I distinctly recall the governor at MACO
[37:16] saying, we're gonna pump the brakes on blueprint
[37:20] can do we know what that means?
[37:23] So the governor tr governor,
[37:28] in my judgment, to his credit, the governor tried
[37:30] to get ahead of this and two years ago
[37:34] during the 25 session, came to the Mako conference
[37:38] and said, I support the goals of the blueprint.
[37:42] I'm sure most of you do too.
[37:44] We're running into some affordability
[37:46] and we may need to make some tweaks.
[37:48] The specific, I don't wanna get super deep,
[37:50] but the, the specific thing that he said was,
[37:52] we're having trouble filling all the teacher
[37:54] jobs we have today.
[37:56] One te of the blueprint was hire extra teachers
[37:59] so each teacher can spend more of her
[38:01] or his time out of the classroom
[38:03] with professional development
[38:05] and curriculum design, other things like that,
[38:08] and that'll make the profession more attractive.
[38:10] And that's one of the goals of the blueprint.
[38:12] He said, maybe that's a piece that we should defer
[38:15] because we can't hire the,
[38:18] at the time the number was like 15,000
[38:20] more public school teachers.
[38:21] We just can't hire 'em.
[38:23] So maybe that's a thing that rather than have
[38:25] that be a deliverable that happens in 26, 7, 8, 9,
[38:28] maybe we could have the BA 29 31 2 thing.
[38:32] We just push a couple
[38:33] of these things back a bit while
[38:34] we fill out the other pieces.
[38:36] The general assembly initially said forget it
[38:40] and then finally buckled
[38:42] and said, we'll give you like 30 cents on the dollar.
[38:44] We'll do a partial delay but only a piece
[38:47] and we'll give a little more
[38:48] flexibility to the school systems.
[38:49] But, but eventually we want to get there kind of on time.
[38:55] I think something along those lines almost has
[39:00] to be part of the solution ahead
[39:01] for this coming session in my opinion.
[39:04] I think this is the year it all comes together.
[39:06] I think they bite the bullet and actually do raise taxes
[39:08] and raise some revenues.
[39:10] I think they'll go back and say some
[39:11] of the promises we've pledged,
[39:13] we just can't sustain 'em. Price
[39:15] Taxes on what?
[39:16] I don't have any idea. Everybody thinks
[39:18] it's gonna be the sales tax.
[39:20] I mean that's, that's the, that's the easiest thing to do is
[39:23] to say we, we tax effectively 6% on that pair of shoes
[39:27] or that restaurant meal.
[39:28] You make it seven. We would not be an outlier state if we
[39:32] had a sales tax of 7%.
[39:34] The states around us are mostly in that, in that territory.
[39:37] A lot of 'em have local add-on sales taxes
[39:39] that turn it into eight and a half
[39:41] or nine or 10 or whatever.
[39:43] Sales taxes are regressive.
[39:45] There'll be a number of members of the legislature
[39:47] who don't like that as a matter of public policy,
[39:49] but a penny on the sales tax gets
[39:51] you a billion dollars cash.
[39:53] Not an elusive in the cyberspace.
[39:55] Maybe if it happens, that's a,
[39:56] that's like a billion dollars of real stuff.
[39:59] So I don't know what it will look like.
[40:03] I, I think it's, I think it's really hard to imagine this
[40:06] resolution not including some revenues
[40:10] and some spending cuts,
[40:12] But he's, he's increased the fees
[40:15] and taxes a billion dollars last year and the year before
[40:19] and now we're talking about doing it again.
[40:21] So after the election of course is over.
[40:25] I know it's not you, right? It it's just frustration, right?
[40:30] I mean it's, it's a perpetual tension
[40:34] in, in every state.
[40:36] There's, you know, there's the question about what level
[40:38] of services do you want to offer and provide and support,
[40:41] and then how do you find the means to do 'em?
[40:44] And it's a, you know, there's a,
[40:45] there's a partisan debate there,
[40:47] there's a philosophical debate there.
[40:49] It that debate is gonna get connected
[40:51] to Maryland's affordability issues and if there's three
[40:55] or $4 billion a year at stake
[40:57] and whether we're spending less
[40:59] or taxing more, some folks will say, well,
[41:01] this is our opportunity to do something about affordability
[41:03] right here, let's spend less o other folks will say,
[41:07] but you know, but this service but this family,
[41:11] but these kids I, I've seen, we, we've all seen
[41:14] that debate play out small stage, large stage,
[41:17] it's gonna be full circle.
[41:19] What I hope though is whatever the resolution is
[41:23] that we don't have 27 B yet another year of kick in the can.
[41:28] 'cause they're awfully good at doing the bare minimum
[41:30] and saying, we'll come back in a couple years
[41:31] and see maybe, maybe the, you know,
[41:34] the de you sex mock now the, you know,
[41:36] hand from God and suddenly everything's fine.
[41:37] We grow our way out of it. And so I think just do the thing,
[41:42] tear off the bandaid, get it done, whatever it is,
[41:45] and if we have to eat our lumps, just do it and get on.
[41:49] I don't, don't love saying it that way, but,
[41:53] And the challenge that passing down all those unfunded
[41:56] funded mandates to the, to the counties,
[41:58] forcing the county elected officials to raise taxes,
[42:02] to cover all those expenses that the state used to cover
[42:04] that we have to now cover, right?
[42:06] IE teachers pensions, right?
[42:08] Mandated to salary increases, passing the buck
[42:12] And, and and where do you have to go?
[42:15] Like I, I, I've forgotten the exact arithmetic,
[42:18] but it's, it's like 70
[42:20] or 75% of Marylanders live in a county that is already
[42:24] at the 3.2 income tax ceiling.
[42:27] Now they give us a tiny little sliver on top of that,
[42:30] but there's, you, you don't have an income tax tool
[42:33] to really go raise revenue.
[42:35] It's gonna be property taxes, okay?
[42:37] You're worried about affordable housing
[42:38] and the idea is to go send the counties back
[42:41] to the drawing board to go raise property taxes
[42:43] and that's regressive
[42:44] and it lands right on renters,
[42:46] it lands right on the middle income.
[42:48] We don't, we don't have grad gradations in the property tax
[42:51] the way you do with income tax
[42:52] where everybody gets a personal deduction,
[42:54] then you start paying taxes later.
[42:56] You pay property tax on the first nickel of your,
[42:58] your property value.
[43:00] It's, I mean, it's crazy policy half
[43:02] of the country is out there
[43:04] with ballot issues about limiting or cutting
[43:06] or eliminating property taxes
[43:08] because they're so unpopular, they're so regressive
[43:11] and they're so anti housing.
[43:12] And Maryland in effect is saying,
[43:14] we're gonna shift the costs down to you all, you all just,
[43:17] you got one good tool, but adds a good one anyway.
[43:22] Sounds so I, we don't usually have this much
[43:25] of a crowd when you come.
[43:26] So this is actually a great opportunity
[43:29] because I think there are, I didn't know
[43:31] before I select official about Mako and what Mako does.
[43:33] So I'm glad that a lot of people could hear from you
[43:37] and despite sort of the, other than that Mrs.
[43:39] Lincoln speech that you gave us, I I I, I'd just like
[43:43] to point out for the people that are here about the sort of
[43:45] what does get accomplished with Maco, I mean,
[43:47] there's challenges ahead, but what a great organization
[43:50] for us to represent the issues of the county.
[43:52] And so for anybody who is like discouraged
[43:54] with the way the state of politics in DC
[43:57] or even Annapolis, I wish you could watch
[43:59] how the county representatives meet at Mako
[44:02] because it's not politics, it's there's a problem.
[44:05] How do we try to solve the problem?
[44:07] And we all really work together on committee with mc
[44:10] and Jack was President Mako,
[44:13] and we really are able to accomplish some great things
[44:16] from a perspective of county operations.
[44:19] We don't always win. Sometimes we,
[44:21] we lose some, some big ones.
[44:23] We fight really hard. Yeah. But we fight really hard and,
[44:25] and we're down in Annapolis and we're testifying
[44:28] and when we're there on behalf of Mako,
[44:31] it's a very influential voice that we have.
[44:34] I would encourage more citizens to get down into Annapolis
[44:38] during the 90 days and,
[44:39] and let their voices be heard on things like,
[44:42] are we spending too much money on things?
[44:44] Are we overtaxing people?
[44:45] Because there's only so much we can do at the local level.
[44:49] I will just tell you a story.
[44:51] Several years ago we had a representative from Frederick
[44:55] County who's not there anymore, who said to me, oh,
[44:59] I will never run for local office
[45:01] because you guys, everybody knows
[45:03] how you voted on every issue.
[45:05] I like being in Annapolis
[45:06] because nobody pays attention to what we're doing
[45:08] and I can vote however I want
[45:10] and my constituents never know.
[45:12] And I thought, ooh, I don't think I'd say that out loud,
[45:16] but yeah, I I I get it.
[45:18] We, we, we fight.
[45:20] There was a time Jack and I were in a delegate's office
[45:25] and we were trying to discuss solar on farmland
[45:29] and at one point I thought I was gonna have to jump
[45:32] between the two of them because Jack was passionate
[45:36] and this delegate was passionate.
[45:37] And I'm thinking there's gotta be a middle ground here
[45:39] somewhere, but we're not gonna reach it right now.
[45:41] So yeah, we, we, we try very, very hard
[45:44] and as you said, I am from a
[45:49] bluish purple county and it doesn't matter whether
[45:54] you are from a conservative county or a liberal county
[45:57] or a moderate county, we try
[45:59] and do what's best for the counties across the state.
[46:02] Yeah,
[46:03] I think so.
[46:04] You had asked for good news.
[46:06] I wanna spend 45 seconds giving you a tiny
[46:08] little silver lining story.
[46:11] We always talk about these big topics
[46:12] and a lot of 'em are the, are the rough ones and so forth.
[46:15] A really good win that we've earned over several years is we
[46:18] have way too many people who are stuck in the county jail
[46:22] where they, where the place they need
[46:24] to be is in psychiatric care.
[46:26] And the state has not been able to do right by, by folks
[46:30] who ought to be in full-time psychiatric
[46:32] care in, in a pro.
[46:35] It is been a back and forth, you know,
[46:37] finger pointing and so forth.
[46:38] But the, the state courts are, have,
[46:42] have held the Maryland Department of Health accountable
[46:45] for not providing the beds so we can get people out
[46:49] of local jails and into the care that they need.
[46:52] The answer is not to force the local jail
[46:55] to start doing psychiatric services.
[46:56] That's not the answer at all.
[46:58] It's for the state to prop up the beds.
[47:00] Now cash is a problem, it's gonna be a money issue
[47:03] and so forth, but the state is orienting in the correct
[47:06] direction rather than pointing their finger at us.
[47:08] It's back at themselves.
[47:10] That's the right direction on this issue.
[47:12] We, we have, we have too many folks
[47:14] who have substance abuse problems and mental hygiene issues,
[47:18] and what they really need is care rather than being stuck in
[47:21] your jail or the Baltimore County Jail
[47:23] or the Frederick County Jail.
[47:24] So we're going in the right direction
[47:26] on that with a lot of work.
[47:27] Awesome. Awesome.
[47:29] Well thank you very much for having us. Yes. Appreciate it.
[47:32] Thank you. Appreciate your time. Thank you.
[47:34] Safe travel luck. Safe travels. Thank you.
[47:36] Thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of your agenda.
[47:39] Thank you. Thank you. You don't have sewer
[47:41] problems in Frederick, right?
[47:43] Oh, sewer and water.
[47:47] All right, commissioners. Our next presenter is Miss Laura
[47:50] Reno, the executive director for Not My Child.
[47:53] So Laura, come on up please. Yeah. Alright. Alright.
[47:58] He's coming with me. Alright. Alright.
[48:00] Thank you for your patience.
[48:01] We've been trying to get you
[48:02] on the agenda for quite a while.
[48:03] Appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah,
[48:05] I appreciate it.
[48:06] Appreciate it. Is anybody
[48:08] Unfamiliar with me?
[48:09] I'm Anthony Reno. 2017, I founded Not my child,
[48:13] I now serve on the board as the president.
[48:17] What originally started off was educational,
[48:20] speaking in schools, speaking in venues,
[48:22] assisting families in need financially for cost
[48:26] of funerals, cremations, benches, treatment.
[48:30] It's, we've moved completely in a different direction over
[48:33] the past several years and we're actually proud of it
[48:35] and I wanna thank her for the how this thing's grown.
[48:39] Our initiatives now are Choose Hope Project Restart
[48:43] and Partners in the workforce.
[48:45] And I'll let Laura elaborate on exactly
[48:48] what these programs do that we implemented
[48:50] that are helping so many people.
[48:53] Thank you. And thank you for having us here today.
[48:57] Project Restart was initiated in 2022
[49:00] and it has become a major focus of our work.
[49:04] The program helps individuals in recovery overcome barriers
[49:07] to education, training and sustainable employment.
[49:10] In 2026 alone, we have supported more than 50 individuals
[49:15] through Project Restart.
[49:16] That support looks different for every person.
[49:19] Sometimes it's formal training or tuition assistance.
[49:22] Sometimes it's helping someone prepare for an interview,
[49:26] find employment, create a resume, advocate for themselves,
[49:29] navigate resources, or simply figure out
[49:31] what their next steps should be.
[49:34] This year 12 individuals completed forensic peer training
[49:39] and eight completed certified peer
[49:41] recovery specialist training.
[49:43] We currently have one participant enrolled in
[49:45] community health worker training.
[49:47] Two, preparing to begin GED programming
[49:50] and one enrolled in the Marine Tech Technology Skilled
[49:53] Trades Pro program at Chesapeake College.
[49:56] And he actually called me right before I left
[49:59] and he was very excited.
[50:00] He just got a job in the marine tech industry,
[50:03] so that was very exciting.
[50:04] Those are, those are more than training numbers to us.
[50:08] These are individuals in recovery, gaining credentials,
[50:10] education, confidence
[50:12] and pathways towards sustainable employment
[50:14] and long-term stability.
[50:17] Our next program was is Choose Hope.
[50:20] Because substance doesn't only affect the individual,
[50:23] it infects the entire family.
[50:25] Our Choose Hope support groups are facilitated
[50:28] by licensed therapists, providing families
[50:30] and loved ones with professional support from people
[50:33] who understand the complexities
[50:34] of substance use and recovery.
[50:37] We currently have two groups
[50:38] with approximately six regular participants.
[50:41] One is in Queen Anne County and one is in Kent County.
[50:44] They're still in their growth stages,
[50:46] but we're committed to building them into sustainable
[50:48] resources for families in our community.
[50:51] And beginning September 10th, we are expanding Choose Hope
[50:54] through a partnership with Compass Hospice,
[50:56] with experienced grief support professionals providing
[50:59] workshops specifically for people grieving a
[51:02] substance use related loss.
[51:04] Our third program is Partners in the Workplace
[51:08] and that focuses on employers
[51:11] Recovery doesn't stop when someone gets a job.
[51:14] Employers need tools to better understand substance use
[51:17] and recovery, reduce stigma, recognize challenges,
[51:21] and create workplaces where employees in recovery as well
[51:24] as their family members
[51:26] of those in recovery have an opportunity to succeed.
[51:29] Partners in the workplace is led by a licensed therapist
[51:32] who holds a PhD and specializes in addiction counseling,
[51:36] bringing professional expertise into practical
[51:38] conversations with employers.
[51:41] We introduce this initiative through a Lunch
[51:43] and learn that drew more than 30 attendees
[51:45] and generated interest from several organizations.
[51:49] We have a scheduled workshop in at the Kent County Library
[51:53] for early 2027, and the Kent County, YMCA Compass
[51:59] and Chesapeake College have also expressed interest.
[52:03] We are now working to turn
[52:04] that interest into consistent employer programming
[52:06] through the mid shore.
[52:08] We have also recently become a recovery friendly workplace
[52:12] through the Maryland Department of Labor.
[52:14] We felt that that was important.
[52:15] If we're asking other employers to understand
[52:17] and support recovery in the workplace,
[52:19] we should model those practices ourselves.
[52:22] As a lot of our volunteers are either in recovery
[52:25] or have family that is in recovery
[52:26] or struggling with substance use.
[52:29] We also recently had the opportunity
[52:31] to present our partners in the workplace program
[52:33] to the Maryland Department of Labor for consideration to be
[52:37] among their stigma related stigma reduction initiatives
[52:41] and resources that they recommend
[52:43] through their recovery friendly workplace.
[52:45] For us, that was an important step towards potentially
[52:48] expanding the reach of this program
[52:49] beyond the employers we're able to connect with directly.
[52:54] I also think it's important to share
[52:56] how we were able to build all of this.
[52:59] Much of what not my child has accomplished has been made
[53:02] possible through our own fundraising events,
[53:04] community donations, sponsorships,
[53:06] and smaller grants that I've worked to identify
[53:09] and secure, not my child has applied to Queen Anne's County
[53:13] for funding on three occasions
[53:14] and to date, we have not received direct county funding.
[53:18] Despite that, we've continued to support
[53:20] and partner with county initiatives
[53:22] whenever possible, including using not my child resources
[53:25] to help fund training opportunities
[53:28] that benefited county employees when that training
[53:31] otherwise was not funded.
[53:33] I don't share that as a criticism.
[53:35] I share it because I think it demonstrates our commitment
[53:38] to this community and what we've been able to accomplish
[53:41] with limited resources.
[53:43] I would really like to see Queen Annes County become an
[53:46] invested partner in this work.
[53:48] We are at an at a point organization, we,
[53:52] we are at an A point organizationally, we've reached a place
[53:56] where our greatest barrier is making a larger impact
[53:59] to making a larger impact.
[54:01] Isn't the lack of need ideas or partnership, it's capacity.
[54:05] We have individuals reaching out for help.
[54:08] We have organizations interested in our programs.
[54:11] We have employers and community
[54:12] partners who wanna work with us.
[54:14] But right now, the fundraising, the grant writing program,
[54:18] development, administration, administration, marketing,
[54:21] partnership development,
[54:23] and much of the day-to-day coordination
[54:24] still runs through me.
[54:27] We're intentionally, we're intentionally working
[54:30] to build not my child's infrastructure, such
[54:32] as additional staff, stronger systems, dedicated programs,
[54:35] space, better data and outcome tracking
[54:38] and diversified funding.
[54:40] So our ability to serve people isn't dependent on
[54:42] how many hours one person can fit into a day.
[54:46] We've proven that the programs can work.
[54:48] Now we're trying to build the organization
[54:51] that can sustain and expand them.
[54:54] So tonight we're not simply asking the county
[54:56] for general operating support.
[54:58] We'd like to offer two very specific ways
[55:01] that Queen Annes County could invest directly in recovery
[55:03] and workforce development in our community.
[55:06] Our first request is 8,500
[55:09] to bring certified peer recovery
[55:10] specialist training to Queen Annes County.
[55:13] Earlier this year, Kent,
[55:14] Kent County Opioid restitution funds allowed us to provide
[55:19] the certified peer recovery support training in Chestertown,
[55:22] where eight individuals completed the program.
[55:26] We've already demonstrated
[55:27] that we can identify the participants,
[55:29] coordinate the training,
[55:30] and help individuals take the next steps towards
[55:33] certification, education, and employment.
[55:36] We would now like to bring that same opportunity
[55:38] to Queen Anne's County.
[55:40] An investment of appro, approximately 85 8500 would allow us
[55:44] to provide A-C-P-R-S training
[55:47] opportunity here in the county.
[55:49] Our second opportunity is partners in the workplace.
[55:52] Kent County Opioid restitutions funds are also supporting
[55:56] our ability to provide these professionally facilitated
[55:59] workshops to Kent County employers at no cost.
[56:02] We currently do not have comparable funding to offer
[56:05] that same programming in Queen Anne County.
[56:08] Facilitator costs are approximately $400 per workshop.
[56:12] So an investment of 4,000 would allow us
[56:14] to provide approximately 10 partners in the workplace
[56:18] workshops to Queen Annes County employers at no cost
[56:20] to the participating businesses.
[56:24] In both cases, these are programs
[56:26] that we're already implementing.
[56:27] With the support from the opioid rest restitution funds in a
[56:31] neighboring county, we would welcome the opportunity
[56:34] to bring that same investment
[56:35] and those same resources to Queen Annes County.
[56:38] We would be grateful for the counties consideration
[56:41] of either investment.
[56:43] Before I close, I wanted
[56:45] to appreciate the commissioner's assistance in obtaining
[56:49] some clarity regarding the Queen Annes County opioid
[56:52] restitution fund process.
[56:54] Not my child's proposed work was included in the county's
[56:57] local abatement plan last year,
[56:59] and I've been trying since the beginning of this year
[57:01] to understand the funding process and the next steps.
[57:05] I was advised that I was advised
[57:07] that my inquiry was being forwarded for follow up
[57:09] and unfortunately I have not received further information.
[57:13] I'm not raising, again, I'm not raising that tonight
[57:15] to criticize the process, I simply wanna make sure
[57:18] that I understand how to appropriately pursue these funds
[57:22] and that so we have an opportunity to be considered
[57:24] for funding that could directly support Queen
[57:26] Annes County residents.
[57:28] If someone could help me with the appropriate person
[57:31] and clarify that process, I'd greatly appreciate it.
[57:36] Not my child has changed tremendously,
[57:38] tremendously since we began in 2017.
[57:42] But our reason for this work hasn't changed.
[57:45] Anthony Junior's story started not my child.
[57:48] And today, every person
[57:50] that we help write a chapter in their own story is
[57:52] part of his legacy.
[57:55] We've shown that not my child can accomplish.
[57:58] We've shown what not my child can accomplish
[58:00] with limited resources, strong partnerships in a community
[58:04] that believes in our work.
[58:06] We're not asking Queen Annes County
[58:08] to build something for us.
[58:09] We've built it. We're asking the county
[58:12] to invest alongside us so that together we can bring more
[58:16] of an impact home to Queen Annes County.
[58:18] Thank you. Thank
[58:20] You, thank you.
[58:21] And I just wanted to add something too.
[58:22] It, it really works because we,
[58:24] she was talking about numbers for this year, 50 people going
[58:26] through Project Restart, which was 50 people last year.
[58:29] We had 24 that we worked
[58:32] with in Talbot County, the health department.
[58:34] Right. It works. There's a strain on employers right now
[58:37] trying to find, trying to find employees.
[58:38] Nobody wants to work. And
[58:40] we're seeing that across the board.
[58:41] You know, I have friends that have
[58:42] restaurants, they can't find work.
[58:44] These people that are in recovery, they wanna work,
[58:47] they wanna change their lives
[58:48] and instead of the, you know, vicious circle,
[58:50] the halfway houses they go back to same people we're trying
[58:53] to, we're we're breaking that, that that circle chain
[58:56] and it, and it's, it's working.
[58:57] Like we got this young man,
[58:58] he just got a job today as a boat.
[59:00] He's in the boat mechanic classes down at the college
[59:02] for the Yamaha has a beautiful establishment down there.
[59:05] And today he just got a job.
[59:08] Last year we had a nurse graduate
[59:10] through the nursing program at Chesapeake College.
[59:12] She's at an operating room check, an analyst.
[59:14] I mean it's working. So we have, there's proof, you know,
[59:16] there's proof that the systems that we got in place
[59:19] and there are people that really need it
[59:21] and it's just a costly thing to help 'em.
[59:24] So yeah.
[59:26] Thank you so much. I do have these for you guys.
[59:28] I you, yes, thank you. I know you have one,
[59:30] but I added a couple things.
[59:32] Perfect. Alright. Yeah, thank you. And you said the
[59:34] Grant process hasn't, But I appreciate y'alls time.
[59:37] Thanks. Yeah, no, I have you three times.
[59:46] Y'all have any questions? Thank you. Thank you. No.
[59:50] Alright, good. Thank you Laura. Thank you.
[59:55] Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank y.
[1:00:01] All right, commissioners, we had the action items
[1:00:04] scheduled next, but we are,
[1:00:06] we can move into the legislation portion of the meeting.
[1:00:08] Since the hearings are scheduled,
[1:00:10] we're at the appropriate time.
[1:00:11] Do you wanna do the, the public hearings next? Alright.
[1:00:16] Okay. So if you wanna turn to tab number seven.
[1:00:20] Tab seven, item one.
[1:00:23] We have public hearing for the Maryland Agricultural Land
[1:00:25] Preservation Fund easements.
[1:00:28] So Mr. Joe Pippen, you wanna come on up.
[1:00:30] This is a public hearing to receive public comment on the
[1:00:33] submission of 11 new agricultural land preservation easement
[1:00:36] applications on the lands listed
[1:00:38] and detailed in the book there.
[1:00:40] And Joe's gonna review those.
[1:00:42] All these applications have received favorable
[1:00:44] recommendations from the local agricultural advisory board.
[1:00:48] So Joe, take it away please.
[1:00:50] Alright. My name's Joe Pipman, Quinnan
[1:00:52] County Sole Conservation District.
[1:00:55] We're here tonight for a public hearing for submission
[1:00:58] of applications to the mouth board.
[1:01:01] These are just applications, these are not offers. Okay.
[1:01:05] So these are just submissions to,
[1:01:07] for the farms to be appraised.
[1:01:09] Okay. What I normally do is just read off of the,
[1:01:15] the notice here and then we'll do public comment at that.
[1:01:20] Alright. Notice of hearing pursuant
[1:01:22] of agricultural article section two dash 4 0 4 CI noted code
[1:01:27] of Maryland, the county commissioners
[1:01:28] of Queen Annes County will hold a public hearing.
[1:01:30] August 25th today, 6:30 PM Canine library,
[1:01:35] 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland 2 1 6 6 6.
[1:01:39] The hearing is held to receive.
[1:01:41] Receive public comments on the establishment
[1:01:43] of agriculture preservation easement applications on the
[1:01:47] lands owned by the following, petitioners as follows,
[1:01:50] Eldridge p Crenshaw Jr.
[1:01:52] And Linda m Truman Crenshaw six election district
[1:01:56] tax map 37 parcel nine 105.824 acres.
[1:02:02] James Allen Smith Jr.
[1:02:03] Third election district tax map 61 parcel
[1:02:06] eight a hundred eighty seven 0.689 acres.
[1:02:09] James W American
[1:02:11] and Darlene E American Third election district tax map 68
[1:02:16] parcel 9 57 0.04 acres.
[1:02:20] John Wilson Cloud Jr. And Justin Cloud.
[1:02:23] Second election district tax map 30 parcel
[1:02:26] 1 47, 41 0.912 acres.
[1:02:31] Laker brothers LLC First election district tax map 12
[1:02:36] and 18 parcel one 30
[1:02:38] and 97 totaling 153.143 acres.
[1:02:44] Michael A and Melinda G Ledowski First election district tax
[1:02:48] map 18 parcel thirty five a hundred sixty one 0.51 acres
[1:02:53] Michael r Bostic Jr.
[1:02:55] Second election district tax map 30 parcel
[1:02:58] 19 266 0.927 acres
[1:03:03] Sylvester Farms Incorporated.
[1:03:05] Second election district tax map 30 parcel 19 266
[1:03:09] 0.9927
[1:03:12] or sorry, 235.95 acres.
[1:03:16] Thomas A. Jackson first election district tax map, a parcel
[1:03:21] 6 273 0.015 acres.
[1:03:25] Thomas r Legger Senior
[1:03:26] and Betsy Rhodes Legger first election district tax map 18
[1:03:31] parcel 331.408 acres.
[1:03:35] And lastly, Edward Crenshaw
[1:03:38] and Carolyn Lee Wallace Trust
[1:03:41] trustee First election district tax map 18 parcel
[1:03:44] thirty two a hundred twelve acres.
[1:03:47] Again, as Todd said, these has be,
[1:03:49] this has been given a favorable recommendation from our
[1:03:52] Ag preservation advisory board.
[1:03:55] Anyone can please direct their comments to myself.
[1:03:58] And all sites are accessible to individuals
[1:04:00] with disability sign language interpreters
[1:04:02] and assistant listening, listening systems will be available
[1:04:05] for individuals with hearing impairments.
[1:04:08] Please contact human services at 4 1 0 7 5 8 4 4 0 6
[1:04:13] or TDD 4 1 0 7 5 8 2 1 2 6 7 days
[1:04:17] before the hearing if needed. You got a
[1:04:20] Motion?
[1:04:21] You got some, somebody signed up for the hearing. Oh,
[1:04:24] Okay.
[1:04:25] I have one comment here. Jay Fsad. There
[1:04:26] You go.
[1:04:27] I just wanted to add my support commissioners.
[1:04:29] Jay feg Queenland Conservation Association.
[1:04:32] This is a tremendous list. I just quickly added it up.
[1:04:36] It's 1600 acres added to our land preservation program.
[1:04:41] For the benefit of the public that don't know about this,
[1:04:44] the Maryland Ag Land Preservation Fund is a fund
[1:04:47] that everybody pays into when they have a
[1:04:50] property, property transfer.
[1:04:53] It is a land preservation success story
[1:04:55] of the highest order it's been recognized nationally.
[1:04:59] Queen Anne's County is the beneficiary of this in a big way
[1:05:01] because we're one of the leaders in the entire state.
[1:05:04] And more land has been preserved in Queen Anne's County.
[1:05:08] I think that any other county we're
[1:05:10] either number one or number two.
[1:05:11] Number one, the reason this is so important is twofold.
[1:05:14] One, the county is one
[1:05:16] of the largest grain produce is the largest
[1:05:17] grain produced in county, in the state.
[1:05:19] And so having all this land
[1:05:20] and preservation allows for that segment
[1:05:24] of our economy to continue.
[1:05:27] And one thing that always gets overlooked,
[1:05:29] but the reason that I'm a big fan of this is
[1:05:31] because when you look at a lot of our farms
[1:05:33] around the county, we imagine this as just farmland.
[1:05:38] But what's not always looked at as part
[1:05:40] of this equation is the amount of woodland
[1:05:43] that is part of each farm.
[1:05:45] And so I've surveyed a lot of our farmers in the county
[1:05:48] and some of them have as much as 50% of their
[1:05:52] property in Woodland.
[1:05:54] And the reason that that's important is
[1:05:56] because that woodland harbors all kinds of wildlife,
[1:06:01] insect life, amphibians, the stuff that we ultimately need
[1:06:06] to protect to keep our planet healthy.
[1:06:09] And so this is a great program, commissioners, I urge you
[1:06:12] to support it, support all these
[1:06:14] landowners that have applied.
[1:06:16] There's no downside in doing so.
[1:06:18] And yeah, let's stay as the leader in the whole state
[1:06:23] for our land preservation efforts.
[1:06:24] Thank you.
[1:06:29] Anybody else wanna speak in favor of land preservation?
[1:06:33] 'cause I know people say they care about it, but Okay,
[1:06:39] How about a motion I Move
[1:06:40] to approve the 11 new mouth properties
[1:06:41] for easement applications to be submitted to the mouth board
[1:06:44] of trustees for approval and appraisal.
[1:06:47] Second, We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[1:06:51] We're very proud of this
[1:06:52] program, Joe, you're doing a great job.
[1:06:54] Thank you gentlemen. Appreciate
[1:06:55] It.
[1:06:56] All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye.
[1:06:57] Opposed? So moved. Thank.
[1:07:00] Well, so when would we know when these applications have
[1:07:02] been approved or accepted?
[1:07:04] So they'll get appraised the appraisal second part
[1:07:07] of the ranking system.
[1:07:09] 'cause they want the best bang for their butt.
[1:07:13] We have to wait for legisl
[1:07:15] after the legislative session in the spring.
[1:07:17] See exactly what our budget is.
[1:07:19] Hopefully, you know, the budget stays the same as 25 and 26.
[1:07:23] That'd be nice. So we'll see.
[1:07:28] Be next spring. Yep.
[1:07:29] Thanks Joe. Thank you. Thank you. Alright,
[1:07:31] Thanks Joe.
[1:07:34] Alright commissioners.
[1:07:35] Our our second public hearing is for Providence Farm.
[1:07:38] This is a public hearing for the comprehensive water
[1:07:40] and sewerage plan amendment number 11 dash 28
[1:07:43] for the Providence Farm application
[1:07:45] in the town of Centerville.
[1:07:47] So Mr. Pat Thompson can come up
[1:07:49] and offic officiate the hearing.
[1:07:52] Mr. Quimbee is also here if for any questions.
[1:07:55] And this was the subject of our informational meeting two
[1:07:57] weeks ago at the Liberty Building in Centerville.
[1:08:00] So Mr. Thompson, please.
[1:08:03] Thank you Todd. The, this is a public hearing being held
[1:08:06] by the County Commission of Queen Anne County,
[1:08:09] 6:35 PM Tuesday,
[1:08:11] August 25th, 2026 in the Ken Island Library,
[1:08:15] 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland.
[1:08:18] The purpose of the hearing is to consider an amendment
[1:08:22] to the Queen S County 2011
[1:08:25] comprehensive water and sewage plan.
[1:08:29] In addition to this hearing
[1:08:30] and informational presentation was
[1:08:33] to given on 8:40 AM on Tuesday,
[1:08:35] August 11th at the county comm
[1:08:38] meeting room in Centerville.
[1:08:42] The proposed amendment relates to the ance farm property.
[1:08:46] This property was recently annexed into the town
[1:08:48] of Centerville, is a predominantly agricultural land located
[1:08:53] between John Andrews Boulevard
[1:08:56] and Rolling Bridge Road on Roseburg Road,
[1:09:00] Maryland Road 3 0 4 across from the county high school,
[1:09:05] excuse me, the property shown on tax map 44 F is parcel
[1:09:10] 60 is approximately 279 acres and sides
[1:09:15] and sides and is currently zoned agricultural
[1:09:19] and would be zoned by the town
[1:09:22] as traditional neighborhood development.
[1:09:25] The proposal is amended property from S six W six,
[1:09:30] no plan service to S3 W three future service
[1:09:35] and recognition of its annexation.
[1:09:38] A future amendment to S two W2 will be required,
[1:09:42] which will provide ultimate development
[1:09:44] and proposal particulars.
[1:09:46] Copies of amendments have been available at the County
[1:09:49] Commission's Office 1 0 7 North Liberty Street,
[1:09:53] central Maryland, or could have been maybe obtained
[1:09:57] electronically by setting the request to aqui via qac.org.
[1:10:03] All hearing sites are successful individual disability sign
[1:10:07] interpreted and assist system listing systems are available.
[1:10:12] Persons who wish to comm
[1:10:14] to comment on the proposed amendment
[1:10:16] may do so at this hearing.
[1:10:18] Speakers, we limited to three minutes.
[1:10:20] Each written testimony
[1:10:21] of any length may be submitted before the hearing.
[1:10:25] The Director of Public Work Safety Drive Centerville
[1:10:28] for the record of the proceeding will be a
[1:10:31] certificate of publication.
[1:10:33] Indicat notes was published for two successive weeks
[1:10:36] in the Baytown record.
[1:10:38] Observer newspapers
[1:10:41] of general circulation in Queen Unions County.
[1:10:45] Mr. Speakers I have signed up for first Joe Stevens.
[1:10:57] Thank you commissioners. Good evening. Joe Stevens.
[1:10:59] I represent Providence at Centerville, LLC, the owners
[1:11:02] of the Providence property.
[1:11:05] And I'd just like to take a minute to put the request
[1:11:07] before you into context.
[1:11:09] This is for an amendment to the master water
[1:11:11] and sewer plan, which will provide
[1:11:15] for an S3 W three designation.
[1:11:17] That's a three to 10 year planning period.
[1:11:19] This is not an amendment to provide sewer to the property.
[1:11:22] We'll have to be back before you once
[1:11:24] that time becomes appropriate.
[1:11:27] We'll have to go through a planning process at the,
[1:11:30] at the town level and provide what's known
[1:11:33] as a regulating plan to the town,
[1:11:35] which includes a comprehensive array
[1:11:36] of information and studies.
[1:11:39] And then when that's done
[1:11:40] and we're prepared to come back, we would come back
[1:11:42] before you and ask for an S two S3, excuse me, S two W
[1:11:47] to designation.
[1:11:50] And then you would have an opportunity
[1:11:52] to evaluate it again at that time.
[1:11:55] The important thing about that designation is, is that,
[1:11:59] or the designation now is it's just really the first step in
[1:12:02] a very long and complicated regulatory process.
[1:12:06] The property has been in the joint town
[1:12:10] and county comprehensive plans to be annexed
[1:12:14] and then for plan development for over 30 years.
[1:12:18] And so this is, if I look at it this way, this is,
[1:12:22] this is like the latter part of the middle
[1:12:26] of probably a 45 year period of time in order for this
[1:12:30] to be developed, the county has adopted plan
[1:12:34] after plan now over the recent years, which limits growth
[1:12:38] on areas like Kent Island 'cause a sewer capacity issues
[1:12:41] and indicates that it should be within the municipalities
[1:12:44] that have capacity, not just from a sewer
[1:12:46] and water standpoint, but are the towns.
[1:12:49] That's where you want your growth to be.
[1:12:51] Again, a first step in in doing all that.
[1:12:56] So I would ask that you act favorably on this proposal.
[1:12:59] Doesn't grant development approval, again, we'll have
[1:13:01] to be back before you, but it is consistent with each
[1:13:05] and every comprehensive plan
[1:13:06] that you've done over the past 30 years as well as the,
[1:13:09] as well as the town's comprehensive plan.
[1:13:11] So thank you very much. Thank you. Next Peter
[1:13:15] Flint.
[1:13:22] Yes,
[1:13:26] Good evening.
[1:13:27] I'm Peter Flint. I'm the zoning
[1:13:28] administrator for the town of Centerville.
[1:13:31] I kind of just want to echo what Joe, what Mr.
[1:13:33] Steven said from the town's planning perspective,
[1:13:35] this amendment is consistent
[1:13:37] with both the town's comprehensive plan
[1:13:39] and the broader policy of direct
[1:13:40] and growth into the towns where they can be served
[1:13:43] by public infrastructure.
[1:13:44] Again, Providence Farm has long been part
[1:13:47] of Centerville's future growth framework
[1:13:49] and the property is, has been annexed in the town.
[1:13:52] So the request for you tonight is important plan.
[1:13:55] It's an important planning step.
[1:13:56] I want to, I really want to go through that.
[1:13:59] That's the, this is a planning step, right?
[1:14:01] We've been 30 as, as Mr.
[1:14:03] Steven said, we're 30 plus years into a planning process
[1:14:06] with this, with this property.
[1:14:07] So again,
[1:14:09] moving it moves it into the more immediate planning future.
[1:14:13] There's a bunch of other things happening with Providence.
[1:14:16] At the same time, this amendment is not approval
[1:14:20] of development at Providence, even at a preliminary level.
[1:14:23] They will still have to come before the planning commission
[1:14:26] and complete again the regulating plan.
[1:14:27] All the things, you know, public comment's gonna be part
[1:14:30] of all of those processes in the future
[1:14:33] and they'd have to come back for S two W2 when those,
[1:14:37] when those development projects
[1:14:39] or development plants get more defined.
[1:14:42] A little bit about the town and the town sewer.
[1:14:45] So the town is actively advancing our
[1:14:47] wastewater treatment plant.
[1:14:49] The town manager unfortunately couldn't be here tonight
[1:14:51] to tell you about that, but I'll give you just a little
[1:14:53] bit of what I know about it.
[1:14:56] So we've reached the 60% design mark of that project.
[1:15:01] We expect to get the 95% design by the end of November
[1:15:05] and then that would go into the MDE review process
[1:15:10] and through the MDE review review process.
[1:15:12] After it comes out of that
[1:15:13] however long that takes, you know, then we'd be going
[1:15:15] to look to go to RFP after that process.
[1:15:19] And I believe the construction, you know,
[1:15:22] end date is like 2031 timeframe
[1:15:25] when the end of construction.
[1:15:29] So at the same time we're carefully managing the capacity
[1:15:32] that remains in the existing system.
[1:15:34] In 2025,
[1:15:36] the town council adopted resolution 12 dash 2025 amendment
[1:15:40] to the water and sewer allocation policy, which recognizes
[1:15:44] that the remaining capacity is limited
[1:15:46] and establishes a controlled annual allocation process.
[1:15:49] This is not unusual for any town in
[1:15:52] a similar situation to us.
[1:15:54] The policy also reflects the town's broader planning
[1:15:56] priorities by directing limited capacity towards infill
[1:16:00] economic development and well-designed residential projects
[1:16:03] and housing opportunities at varied price points
[1:16:06] including affordable housing.
[1:16:07] Again, that's part of the, you know, the limited
[1:16:10] allocation policy that the town council has come up with
[1:16:12] and the town council is the only group that can actually,
[1:16:16] you know, approve an allocation.
[1:16:18] So when people come for any providence
[1:16:22] or any other infill development today, that's
[1:16:25] what the town council's looking at.
[1:16:26] They're looking at, oh okay.
[1:16:29] So Providence gives the town an opportunity to, you know,
[1:16:34] accommodate our future housing needs
[1:16:36] and it's been a long planned thing.
[1:16:38] So for these reasons we support the amendment
[1:16:40] and look forward to the final decision.
[1:16:44] Thanks. Thank you.
[1:16:46] That's all signed up. Any other public comment?
[1:16:51] You do have one email. Okay. Yep. Public comment. Okay.
[1:16:57] Hi Sharon Van Berg. I'm the town attorney for Centerville.
[1:17:01] As mentioned already, Centerville does support the
[1:17:03] request that's before you.
[1:17:05] I'd like to briefly address the zoning for the property
[1:17:08] because that is an important consideration
[1:17:10] as you consider comprehensive water
[1:17:12] and sewer plan amendments.
[1:17:13] And then you also have a zoning waiver before you as well.
[1:17:18] The property is zoned traditional neighborhood district.
[1:17:21] So the town adopted its current comprehensive plan in 2023
[1:17:26] and then began the process of implementing it
[1:17:29] and did a complete update
[1:17:30] to its traditional neighborhood zoning district,
[1:17:33] which completed in 2025.
[1:17:35] And hopefully the update to that district,
[1:17:38] which was substantial, ensures that there's a diversity
[1:17:41] of housing and lot sizes that the road network
[1:17:44] and the open space and parks and it all works together.
[1:17:48] As Mr. Stevens and I believe Mr.
[1:17:50] Flint mentioned,
[1:17:51] there's a regulating plan which will be a detailed document
[1:17:54] setting forth the density, the uses, the patterns
[1:17:57] that can be on this property.
[1:17:59] So this is the next step in the process is what's
[1:18:03] before you, but there is a lot more process to come.
[1:18:06] We've gotta go through the drafting
[1:18:09] and approval of the regulating plan,
[1:18:11] which will be the first time we've had one.
[1:18:12] So I'm sure that's gonna take many months to accomplish.
[1:18:15] Then we'll also negotiate
[1:18:17] and draft A-D-R-R-A in a public works agreement.
[1:18:20] There will be the subdivision review process as mentioned,
[1:18:23] the master comprehensive water
[1:18:25] and sewer plan will need to come back
[1:18:26] before you for W2 S two.
[1:18:29] So you're on the next step in the process,
[1:18:31] but there's many, many months more of process.
[1:18:35] So we just wanna keep this moving so that we can continue to
[1:18:39] evaluate this project and start the next steps.
[1:18:41] But there are a lot more steps to come.
[1:18:43] So we've asked your support for this. Thank you. Thank
[1:18:46] You.
[1:18:47] Thanks. Four weeks. You have a public comments
[1:18:53] 21st.
[1:18:54] Alright, we had one email come in.
[1:18:55] This is from Frank de Juliano, the president of the course
[1:18:58] of Good River Conservancy,
[1:19:00] commissioners of proposed Providence.
[1:19:02] Farm development is a very significant one for Centerville,
[1:19:04] for the Corsica River watershed in which it resides
[1:19:07] and for the surrounding county area as well.
[1:19:09] The fact that annexation
[1:19:11] and eventual development of this acreage has been in
[1:19:13] comprehensive plants for some time should not detract from
[1:19:15] the significance of the proposal for you
[1:19:17] to now incorporate into the county water
[1:19:19] and sewer master plan.
[1:19:21] The projected total of 910 residences
[1:19:23] of this development will be larger than any combination
[1:19:26] of the two largest developments in the town's history,
[1:19:28] Northbrook and Symphony Village.
[1:19:30] The timing of this proposal would occur simultaneously
[1:19:32] with the end of the useful life
[1:19:34] of the town's current wastewater treatment plant or the WWTP
[1:19:38] and the design as well as the permitting
[1:19:40] and funding of a new WTP replacement.
[1:19:43] So the infrastructure context
[1:19:44] for incorporating this large development into the master
[1:19:46] plan has more than the usual set of risks and unknowns.
[1:19:50] This makes your decision all the more significant
[1:19:52] and worthy of very careful forethought.
[1:19:54] Our conservancy has previously commented
[1:19:56] to you about our concerns
[1:19:58] that constraints on development elsewhere related
[1:20:00] to the recent moratorium could bring major impacts from
[1:20:02] rapid development in the Centerville area.
[1:20:05] This expansion could bring harmful effects
[1:20:06] to the the health of the watershed.
[1:20:08] They're not being adequately anticipated.
[1:20:10] Development in this highly sensitive environment needs
[1:20:13] to be counterbalanced by extraordinary caution
[1:20:15] and measures that preserve in water quality, safety,
[1:20:17] and the integrity of the watershed.
[1:20:20] The plan for the course code restoration to which the town
[1:20:22] and county and state were direct partners formally
[1:20:25] began in 2005.
[1:20:27] This date was now far removed from the major failure
[1:20:29] of the town's old WTP
[1:20:31] that severely pollute the Corsica River and streams.
[1:20:34] Now that plant that that replaced in the failing one is at
[1:20:37] the end of its useful life.
[1:20:38] Despite the best efforts of the town's public work
[1:20:40] staff, it's showing its age.
[1:20:41] There have been an increasing number
[1:20:43] of operational violations.
[1:20:44] Replacement parts must be sought on.
[1:20:46] The secondary market has been increasingly difficult
[1:20:48] for the plant to maintain previous levels
[1:20:50] of nutrient reduction efficiency.
[1:20:52] Just this month there was a significant spillage due
[1:20:54] to a apply a blocked pipe near the plant.
[1:20:57] The Providence Farm proposal appears
[1:20:58] to include a phase one within the next three years that has
[1:21:01] before the new WTP comes online.
[1:21:04] If so, there's an expectation would use remaining
[1:21:06] capacity of this current plant.
[1:21:08] Meanwhile, the town seems
[1:21:09] to have carefully considered a plan
[1:21:10] for conserving any remaining capacity.
[1:21:13] We believe that given the increasing strengths on the
[1:21:15] current plant, even more caution should be exercised
[1:21:17] and making assumptions about using the remaining capacity
[1:21:20] for new non infill development
[1:21:22] that might exacerbate operational integrity
[1:21:24] and risk of malfunction.
[1:21:26] Going forward from that more imminent focus,
[1:21:28] the county should carefully review the status of the project
[1:21:30] to design and develop new replacement plan.
[1:21:32] Before making any decision on this proposal,
[1:21:34] when the town requested the plant be incorporated into the
[1:21:37] water and sewer master plan,
[1:21:38] the commissioners rightfully denied approval
[1:21:40] of the proposed discharge into the Corsica River.
[1:21:42] Pending more information about potential impact on the
[1:21:44] river, that analysis and decision is yet to be made.
[1:21:47] Thus, we believe it would be premature
[1:21:48] to incorporate the Providence Farm development into the
[1:21:51] water and sewer plan since it would depend on a new plant
[1:21:53] for which full design approval, permitting
[1:21:55] and funding is still far off.
[1:21:57] Unlike the county, Centerville does not have adequate public
[1:22:00] facilities ordinances.
[1:22:01] That would help ensure that the large development like
[1:22:04] Providence Farm adequately provides a stream of funding
[1:22:06] to fully support the incidental
[1:22:08] and ongoing infrastructure
[1:22:09] costs of both the town and county.
[1:22:11] Recent problems with the municipal water
[1:22:13] and sewer plants in the area should be caused
[1:22:15] for careful due diligence beyond those,
[1:22:17] beyond these usual impact costs.
[1:22:19] CRC believes that there should be an explicit identification
[1:22:22] of the potential environmental impacts from the Corco
[1:22:25] watershed and measures included in the
[1:22:27] development to offset them.
[1:22:28] This should be a concern of both the town
[1:22:29] and county as well as given past commitments
[1:22:31] to the restoration and continued health
[1:22:33] of the Corco Watershed.
[1:22:35] Thank you for this opportunity to comment.
[1:22:39] Thank you. We had other two other
[1:22:42] comments come in through email.
[1:22:43] One from Ginger Cushing of Centerville.
[1:22:47] My name is Ginger Cushing. I live in Centerville, Maryland.
[1:22:49] I'm writing regarding the proposed amendment
[1:22:50] to the county's comprehensive water and sewer plan.
[1:22:52] On the agenda August 25th, I'm asking the commissioners
[1:22:55] who not to act on this amendment yet.
[1:22:57] It is premature. The county needs more time
[1:22:59] to consider other options
[1:23:00] before making a change of this magnitude.
[1:23:03] The amendment before we would change the plan's, plan's,
[1:23:05] designation, language from no service to future service
[1:23:08] for the affected areas.
[1:23:10] That is not a small wording change.
[1:23:12] Changing that language opens the door
[1:23:13] to development pressures across every parcel.
[1:23:15] The designation touches not just the ones
[1:23:18] where a real demonstrated need exists today.
[1:23:20] As an alternative to comprehensive amendment,
[1:23:22] a property owner who wants to develop a specific piece
[1:23:25] of land may request service for that parcel
[1:23:27] evaluated on his own facts, infrastructure capacity,
[1:23:30] environmental impact, cost to extend service
[1:23:33] and the in effect on the effect
[1:23:34] on the surrounding community.
[1:23:36] Since the individual petition process is available then I
[1:23:39] don't understand the case for rewriting the plans language
[1:23:42] for every property at once.
[1:23:43] Why change the wording for everything when the tool
[1:23:45] to address individ individual cases already exists?
[1:23:49] I would respectfully ask
[1:23:50] that the commissioner's table this amendment tonight
[1:23:52] and take time to compare the blanket change approach against
[1:23:55] keeping the existing case by case petition system
[1:23:57] before any vote is taken.
[1:24:00] And a thorough one, which I do not have with me,
[1:24:02] is from Mr. Callahan Callahan's gas.
[1:24:05] He was just stating that he was a long time resident
[1:24:07] of the town, many generations
[1:24:09] and he felt that the development would be good for the town.
[1:24:11] So he was a supportive of it.
[1:24:13] I got that e email too. I got that one as well.
[1:24:15] We're keeping it open, right? Yep.
[1:24:17] Yeah, we're gonna leave the record open for four weeks.
[1:24:19] We won't vote on this until September 21st.
[1:24:25] Alright.
[1:24:30] Okay. Alright commissioners.
[1:24:32] Our next public hearing is for the
[1:24:35] Southern Kent Island Sanitary Project Phase three.
[1:24:38] This is a public hearing for the Kent Moore and cleaning
[1:24:41] and colony subdivision existing home
[1:24:43] special benefit assessment.
[1:24:44] Phase three of the project.
[1:24:46] There is a presentation in your books tab seven,
[1:24:50] page 40 through 47.
[1:24:51] It's supplement screen here. So Mr.
[1:24:53] Quimbee is gonna run through this presentation quickly
[1:24:56] and then we'll receive any public comment from
[1:24:59] folks in this particular service area of
[1:25:02] our South Ken Island project.
[1:25:05] Alright, This is a public hearing being
[1:25:08] held by the county, Mr.
[1:25:09] Queen Indians County 6:45 PM Tuesday,
[1:25:13] August 25th, 2026 at the Ken Island Library,
[1:25:17] 200 Library Circle, Stevensville, Maryland.
[1:25:20] Purpose of the hearing is to fix the amount
[1:25:23] of the sewer benefit assessment levy pursuant
[1:25:26] to section 24 dash 29 of the code of public local laws
[1:25:30] of Queen S County within the Southern Ken Island wastewater
[1:25:35] Subdistrict, phase three queen and colony
[1:25:38] and Kenmore subdivisions.
[1:25:40] The proposed benefit assessments,
[1:25:43] which would be effective October 1st, 2026
[1:25:46] for class A property existing improved properties as
[1:25:50] of May 27th, 2014.
[1:25:54] Within the sewer service area,
[1:25:56] it's $15,220, which consists
[1:26:01] of a base cost of 2,320
[1:26:04] and the septic tank affluent pump cost of 12,900.
[1:26:09] The sum of the base costs
[1:26:11] and step costs may be financed over a 20 year period.
[1:26:15] At 1% definition of the classes
[1:26:18] of properties are contained res are contained in resolution
[1:26:23] 1407 adopted
[1:26:25] by the County Commission on
[1:26:26] May 27th, 2014 as amended.
[1:26:31] August 28th, 2018.
[1:26:34] Prepayments on the assessment without
[1:26:36] penalty will be allowed.
[1:26:38] However, the assessment balance balance will not
[1:26:41] be re amortized.
[1:26:43] Only the term of the assessment will be reduced.
[1:26:46] Information concerning the benefit assessment
[1:26:49] and repayment options have been sent by certified mail
[1:26:53] to all effect Class A property owners first, which to
[1:26:58] comment on proposed amendment proposed rate
[1:27:05] levy, they do so at the hearing speakers, we limited
[1:27:08] to three minutes each written testimony
[1:27:10] of any length may be submitted
[1:27:12] before the hearing date to director of public works
[1:27:16] testimony can also be be accomplished remotely
[1:27:20] by email and audio.
[1:27:23] And that information was published.
[1:27:26] All hearing sites are accessible to individuals
[1:27:28] with disability sign language interpreters,
[1:27:31] assisted listening devices are available.
[1:27:36] Part of the record proceeding will be a certificate
[1:27:38] of publication indicating that the notice
[1:27:42] of tonight here was published for two successive weeks prior
[1:27:46] to the night in the Baytown record observer now.
[1:27:49] Alright, commissioners, we'll go
[1:27:51] through a brief PowerPoint.
[1:27:52] Most of you have seen this before.
[1:27:54] And actually this is the
[1:27:56] seventh benefit assessment hearing we've held for ski.
[1:27:58] Only have one more to go after tonight.
[1:28:00] This is for phase three, kempt Moore Queen
[1:28:02] and Colony subdivision.
[1:28:05] Overall project 1,518 existing septic systems serving
[1:28:08] homes, many of which have failed.
[1:28:11] Again, phase three is Queen and colony
[1:28:13] and Kempt Moore 340 existing but also includes two marinas
[1:28:16] and two restaurants, which is fairly unique for ski.
[1:28:20] This is the four phases.
[1:28:22] Again, phase three you can see on the the left side.
[1:28:25] We slipped a couple years on our schedule,
[1:28:27] but we had some issues with COVID and other things.
[1:28:30] But all in all,
[1:28:31] I think we're pretty good on schedule as of tonight.
[1:28:34] 94% of the properties are connected as
[1:28:37] of July 31st, I should say.
[1:28:40] All will be connected by October 1st.
[1:28:44] All properties should have received a certified letter,
[1:28:47] although some did not go through as they never do.
[1:28:50] Original target charge a hundred dollars per
[1:28:52] month is maintained.
[1:28:54] Suspended amount is two components.
[1:28:56] The base fee of 2320,
[1:28:57] which basically pays for the pipes in the street.
[1:28:59] The septic tank pumps in the yard is 12,900 for a total
[1:29:03] of $15,220.
[1:29:05] The first billing will occur October 1st, 2026.
[1:29:09] The assessment is transferrable at the property you're sold.
[1:29:11] And I would like to say there was something on Facebook
[1:29:14] about somebody who was forced to pay it all.
[1:29:16] And that might have been the buyer's condition.
[1:29:18] It wasn't a county issue.
[1:29:20] And we talked to two tighter companies
[1:29:22] and they've never seen it before.
[1:29:23] So whatever happened there was had nothing to do with us.
[1:29:27] Quarterly fees, a base fee of $33.
[1:29:30] The step fee is $177 o
[1:29:33] and m of 90 equals $300 a quarter,
[1:29:37] as was agreed to 10 years ago.
[1:29:41] There's a blurb from the Star Democrat
[1:29:44] 10 year, 12 years ago.
[1:29:47] And that's the end of the presentation.
[1:29:48] Two other, a couple other tidbits.
[1:29:51] All the pipings completed in all of the ski area.
[1:29:54] Phase four is steps are now being installed
[1:29:56] as started in May.
[1:29:58] I think the final tally
[1:30:00] of all the vacant lots throughout ski is an even 500.
[1:30:04] By the end of July, 85% of the improved properties in all
[1:30:07] of ski have been connected.
[1:30:08] And we anticipate all the ski project being complete
[1:30:11] by the end of 2027.
[1:30:16] I don't have anyone signed up with anyway.
[1:30:18] Any public comments? Yes. Yes sir.
[1:30:23] Do I just stand Up or no, come up here.
[1:30:24] Come up to the mic. Up
[1:30:26] To the mic.
[1:30:28] Please state your name and your address. Yep.
[1:30:31] Keith Hutchins.
[1:30:33] And I am actually on behalf here for my mother,
[1:30:37] which is in Queen Annes County High Road.
[1:30:41] She's paying $90 a month or a quarter.
[1:30:45] And from what I'm reading
[1:30:46] and understanding that this is gonna be $90 plus
[1:30:50] 210, which is basically 300 hours a quarter.
[1:30:54] And when you're set on a fixed income,
[1:30:58] how do you make those type of jumps for people her age?
[1:31:02] Is that what's actually happening?
[1:31:05] Will she be going to 300 hours a month
[1:31:08] or a quarter I should say?
[1:31:12] That was the reason for me coming up here
[1:31:14] to get this clarified. That's it.
[1:31:17] There is financial assistance available.
[1:31:20] There's the lady you need to talk to.
[1:31:21] It was in the letter that your mother got.
[1:31:23] Okay, so why is it jumping?
[1:31:26] I mean is this was already in the,
[1:31:29] The $90 simply is the o and m fee.
[1:31:31] That's the utility fee. Okay.
[1:31:32] The assessment renders the cost
[1:31:34] of the capital improvements for the entire system.
[1:31:37] So as soon as some house is connected, they start getting
[1:31:40] to the $90 per quarter fee.
[1:31:41] Okay. Tonight is when the extra $210 happens.
[1:31:45] Okay? So that's not something that's negotiable.
[1:31:48] It needs to be, it's done.
[1:31:52] If the commissioners adopt the levity assessment, it'll
[1:31:56] Be done.
[1:31:57] I just think you're gonna hurt a lot of senior citizens
[1:32:00] and that's that on fixed income. That's
[1:32:02] Why there is a program to help 'em. Yeah,
[1:32:03] I just So talk, talk
[1:32:05] with her about the program for helping.
[1:32:07] But you know how programs work,
[1:32:09] even though my mother still works a full-time job at 83
[1:32:12] years of age to be able to put food on her table.
[1:32:15] If you're sitting at a certain
[1:32:17] income, I'm sorry, we can't help you.
[1:32:19] And that's what normally happens.
[1:32:21] I would say talk to her first to find out Yeah.
[1:32:22] If, if that's the case. Okay. Whether or not he qualifies.
[1:32:25] And if it doesn't, you know, call one
[1:32:28] of the commissioners, it will be happening after that.
[1:32:29] But I would say your first step, talk with her. Okay.
[1:32:31] Thank you. Is there any other public comment?
[1:32:43] Okay,
[1:32:44] One more.
[1:32:46] Oh, we have one More. Oh,
[1:32:50] Forgive me, but I'm Derek Williams.
[1:32:53] I live in Chester. I have great sympathy for our neighbor
[1:32:57] and I am worried now
[1:33:02] because I heard a comment about whether
[1:33:05] or not we can prove that the person qualifies.
[1:33:09] And so I would like to make, I guess I have a question of
[1:33:15] what was the process for determining who qualifies
[1:33:17] for this this,
[1:33:19] and is it something we need
[1:33:20] to decide tonight Then if it's something
[1:33:22] that's possibly not been properly advertised
[1:33:25] to the community, who might need it most.
[1:33:28] Like is, I guess the clarification is if this goes
[1:33:31] through tonight and they didn't ask for help yet,
[1:33:34] are they too late?
[1:33:37] We don't believe so. No. Yeah,
[1:33:38] No.
[1:33:39] The, those who qualify for financial assistance,
[1:33:42] that they're not foreclosed today.
[1:33:43] That's why we have, their name is
[1:33:45] provided in the letter that's provided out.
[1:33:46] And so they can apply for it.
[1:33:48] Somebody could move into a house down the road
[1:33:51] and perhaps apply for financial systems if, if they,
[1:33:54] if they meet it today is just so the project goes forward.
[1:33:57] But as far as notice, like this project goes back
[1:34:00] 10 Years.
[1:34:01] 10 years more than a decade.
[1:34:03] We got tens of millions
[1:34:04] of dollars in grant funding from EPA in order
[1:34:07] to reduce the cost further.
[1:34:09] So this is sort of just a step in the process for
[1:34:12] that overarching plan
[1:34:13] that has been talked about exhaustively be well
[1:34:16] before I was a commissioner.
[1:34:20] May I have a public comment? All right,
[1:34:23] we'll leave it open for two weeks.
[1:34:25] Alright, thank you.
[1:34:31] Alright commissioners, we have one last item for the
[1:34:34] legislation tonight on the agenda Item
[1:34:36] number four in your books.
[1:34:37] Pages 48 through 54.
[1:34:39] This is county ordinance number 26 14
[1:34:42] for the cottage industry.
[1:34:45] And this was an identified need within the county.
[1:34:48] The commissioners identified this need to allow
[1:34:50] for cottage industries in the Ag district as a means
[1:34:53] to foster and provide business growth
[1:34:55] and development on these ag parcels
[1:34:57] with a maker minimum acreage of five acres.
[1:35:01] So this is, can be introduced and set for a public hearing.
[1:35:04] I'll introduce 26 14.
[1:35:07] Alright, great. Okay.
[1:35:12] Alright. That concludes all
[1:35:14] of the legislation for this evening.
[1:35:17] We can now move to the Department of Public works.
[1:35:21] So that would be tab two.
[1:35:24] We have two items for the sanitary commission.
[1:35:27] So if you wanna convene as the sanitary commission,
[1:35:28] take the motion we convene as the sanitation commission.
[1:35:30] Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
[1:35:33] Okay, commissioners tab two item
[1:35:35] one, pages one through four.
[1:35:37] This is a follow up from our last meeting.
[1:35:39] This is the Chester Haven Beach subdivision Public Works
[1:35:41] agreement amendment number three.
[1:35:44] As we discussed last meet, last meeting,
[1:35:46] they are requesting 48 additional months
[1:35:48] to initiate their construction project,
[1:35:50] which would delay their time to actually break ground
[1:35:53] until September 10th, 2030.
[1:35:55] All other provisions of the PWA and amendments, number one
[1:35:59] and two remain in full force and effect.
[1:36:01] So this was approved essentially last last meeting.
[1:36:11] I move to execute the public works agreement amendment
[1:36:13] number three with Chester Haven Beach Partnership,
[1:36:15] which will grant the development
[1:36:16] and additional 48 months to begin con construction.
[1:36:20] I'll second that. We have a motion and a second.
[1:36:23] Any other discussion? Yeah,
[1:36:24] If I can.
[1:36:25] Yes, please. 'cause we've gotten some people
[1:36:27] who have reached out about this email to the public comment
[1:36:32] about not a lot of discussion when it was up last time.
[1:36:34] And I, I'll just sort of admit,
[1:36:37] I didn't think it was gonna spark a lot of conversation
[1:36:39] because it was very similar to a vote that was done
[1:36:43] two years ago, Alan, I think when we, last time we extended,
[1:36:46] I think so last time we extended it,
[1:36:48] and I'll just sort of give sort of my, my rational on that.
[1:36:50] I, I voted against the prior vote
[1:36:53] for putting Chester Haven into the growth area.
[1:36:56] I would vote against it again
[1:36:57] today if there was a vote on it.
[1:37:00] But I voted for the amendment
[1:37:01] and this time and, and last time.
[1:37:04] And the way I view that is the developer has put up a
[1:37:08] non-refundable deposit on that.
[1:37:10] The amendment just extends a period of time.
[1:37:12] It maintains the status quo.
[1:37:14] It does not give the developer any rights
[1:37:16] that they didn't have the day before the vote.
[1:37:18] And so the whatever regulations they still have to go
[1:37:23] through in order to get approved, they still gotta do that.
[1:37:25] It doesn't short circuit that.
[1:37:28] There are, I think,
[1:37:29] and this is one of those policy decisions that we have
[1:37:32] to make where I frankly think there's valid positions,
[1:37:35] whether you're for or against it.
[1:37:37] But, you know, we have comments we hear like, oh,
[1:37:41] well if you voted to extend it,
[1:37:42] you don't care about the world.
[1:37:43] That's just stupid. I mean, frankly, I mean,
[1:37:46] you have the right to say whatever you want,
[1:37:47] but that's just stupid.
[1:37:49] It, it really is. And,
[1:37:51] and we get emails from people saying things like, oh well,
[1:37:55] you know, you must be lying in your pockets.
[1:37:57] I mean, seriously.
[1:37:58] And you say that on social media, my mom reads that,
[1:38:01] my daughter reads that.
[1:38:02] Like, go f yourself seriously with that kind of stuff.
[1:38:06] I, I just, I have no patience for that kind of nonsense.
[1:38:10] We should be able to have policy discussions and,
[1:38:13] and disagree on policy discussions without it being that,
[1:38:17] oh, if somebody doesn't agree
[1:38:19] with me on a policy discussion,
[1:38:20] the only possible way is they must be on the take.
[1:38:23] They must be corrupt. How narcissistic is that?
[1:38:25] Like the only way I can agree with you is if I'm not corrupt
[1:38:28] and I just, we, it's all the fricking time that we deal with
[1:38:33] that stuff and it's, it's immaturity.
[1:38:36] And then we wonder why in our schools kids teach each other,
[1:38:40] treat each other the way they do
[1:38:41] because you, the adults are setting the example.
[1:38:44] Like learn how to disagree and be civil about it.
[1:38:47] It just that,
[1:38:50] so anyway, I voted for the amendment.
[1:38:53] I'm not for the development,
[1:38:54] but I don't think there's anything unfair about that.
[1:38:56] But the negativity about it
[1:38:57] and the way people approach it just
[1:39:00] really irritates me a lot.
[1:39:01] So, sorry, I wanted to get that out.
[1:39:03] I hear you, I hear you. A round table
[1:39:07] A little bit early, sorry.
[1:39:08] But
[1:39:10] Well, I mean, again, you know, I I think that
[1:39:14] we have an obligation where we are county and,
[1:39:18] and a nation of laws and I like to see once
[1:39:22] and all if these are lots of record.
[1:39:24] I mean that's, that's the whole purpose of, of why I voted
[1:39:27] for it is because if there are not lots
[1:39:29] of record, it's over.
[1:39:31] If there are lots of record,
[1:39:32] there's gonna be avenues for both sides to take.
[1:39:34] And so be it, you know, queen County is,
[1:39:39] you know, we get sued every now and again and you know,
[1:39:43] and I, I don't, it doesn't bother me.
[1:39:45] It, it, it bothers me when we have to spend that money.
[1:39:47] But it doesn't bother me from the standpoint of
[1:39:50] let the courts decide who's right
[1:39:52] and if they're, you know, if, if party a,
[1:39:57] you know, the, the winner and,
[1:39:58] and the courts agree with them, I have no disdain about
[1:40:03] paying them or, or whatever the, the situation may be.
[1:40:06] So, you know, that's, that's my reason.
[1:40:09] I mean we have an individual that, you know, has been paying
[1:40:13] for, I don't know, a dozen years.
[1:40:15] How many years has he been paying for the sewer?
[1:40:18] 15. Well he is got a dwelling on the property
[1:40:20] that he is had for probably 15 years
[1:40:22] and they bought two allocations outright in 2010
[1:40:24] that he's been paying on and then he is paid the $315,000
[1:40:27] Deposit.
[1:40:28] Yeah. So, you know, we,
[1:40:29] and we have our own, you know, rest is soul attorney that
[1:40:34] said, these are lots of record.
[1:40:35] So I I I, that's what I wanna see
[1:40:37] and I, you know, I'm sorry it's gotta come to that.
[1:40:40] But you know, I think it's, you know, we have
[1:40:42] to be impartial and you know, and I think that's being fair.
[1:40:46] Let it run its course through the sit courts, just like some
[1:40:49] of these other developments have.
[1:40:50] And you know, the outcome will dictate where it goes.
[1:40:55] May, may I ask a question?
[1:40:58] No sir. Sorry. So
[1:41:01] My position on it is similar to what Jim said.
[1:41:03] We had our land use attorney, or I mean our planning
[1:41:06] and zoning attorney and we had our county attorney both
[1:41:10] share with the commissioners, the sitting commissioners
[1:41:13] that these were in fact lots of record.
[1:41:15] So to me legal counsel has advised us.
[1:41:20] So at this point
[1:41:25] at I, I'd like to see the courts decide legally
[1:41:29] if they are in fact lots of record.
[1:41:34] There you go. Any other discussion?
[1:41:37] No, just sir, there's at the end
[1:41:39] of the meeting we do have public comment.
[1:41:40] You have a chance to do public comment. Yes.
[1:41:41] But if you want actually wanna actually a back
[1:41:43] and forth conversation, I'll stay all will stay.
[1:41:45] We'll talk to you after the meeting as well. Yep.
[1:41:48] Okay, well all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye.
[1:41:51] Opposed? Aye. Aye. Three to
[1:41:55] Two.
[1:41:56] Can I just say something to Commissioner's point?
[1:41:58] Obviously I just voted against it. He voted for it.
[1:42:01] I concur with everything he said.
[1:42:04] I'm getting pissed off about the crap
[1:42:06] that's going out on Facebook attacking us
[1:42:11] and trying to divide us as a government
[1:42:14] and it's inappropriate
[1:42:17] and all the things that he just brought up is just a
[1:42:21] Easy And it's inappropriate for, for these no growth.
[1:42:27] Save the world people to start trashing
[1:42:32] my, my counterparts.
[1:42:34] So I'm asking them to stop, have a debate
[1:42:38] but stop with the personal crap.
[1:42:43] Alright, well moving on.
[1:42:45] Alright, our second item
[1:42:46] for the sanitary commission tonight
[1:42:48] is the Queen Anne Colony Marina Public Works agreement.
[1:42:51] And this is a public works agreement to connect the
[1:42:55] existing Queen Anne Colony restaurant
[1:42:57] and marina to the sewer.
[1:42:58] This is also phase three of the Southern Canal
[1:43:01] and sanitary project 3,653 gallons of sewer.
[1:43:06] I move to execute the public works agreement
[1:43:08] with Queen Ann's colony Marina LLC to allow them
[1:43:11] to connect to the county sewer.
[1:43:14] Second we have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[1:43:19] Seeing none. All those in favor signify as saying Aye. Aye.
[1:43:22] Aye. Opposed? So moved.
[1:43:25] Alright, thank you Commissioners.
[1:43:27] Now we can move to the action items.
[1:43:29] Thank you commissioner for this evening. Have a good one.
[1:43:31] Thank you Mr. Quimbee. So now you've,
[1:43:34] if you don't mind flipping to tab number three.
[1:43:38] So tab three item one, pages one through three.
[1:43:41] This is board of education transfers
[1:43:44] between major state categories
[1:43:45] and this is essentially the Board
[1:43:47] of Education's budget amendment for the end of FY 26.
[1:43:51] They're just moving some funds around
[1:43:53] between major state categories to balance the overall budget
[1:43:58] overall for the FY 26 closeout.
[1:44:03] I move to approve the Queens County Board
[1:44:04] of Education transfer between major state categories.
[1:44:08] Second, We have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
[1:44:13] Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? So moved.
[1:44:17] Thank you commissioners. Item two pages four through six.
[1:44:20] This is the certification for cooperative local
[1:44:23] state library aid for FY 27.
[1:44:26] So in order to be eligible for our state share, we have
[1:44:30] to match, provide an Inc income match.
[1:44:32] The state contribution was
[1:44:34] two hundred and twenty eight three hundred fifty nine, two hundred twenty
[1:44:37] 8,000 and the county contribution was 3.26 million.
[1:44:40] So we've met that threshold by a long shot. Need
[1:44:44] That To, I moved to approve
[1:44:46] and execute the FY 2027 certification
[1:44:48] for cooperative local state library aid programs
[1:44:50] for Queen Annes County library. Second.
[1:44:53] Have a motion to second. Any discussion?
[1:44:55] I'll kick the coverage on that. Seeing none.
[1:44:58] All those in favor signify with saying aye. Aye.
[1:45:00] Opposed? So moved.
[1:45:02] All. Thank you commissioners.
[1:45:04] Item three on page seven is budget amendment number CC two
[1:45:08] for the board of education
[1:45:09] and this amendment increases the FY 27 budget authority
[1:45:12] for the board of education teachers unfunded liability
[1:45:14] by $173,425.
[1:45:18] And we anticipated this as a result
[1:45:20] of the state cost shifts from last year.
[1:45:22] We didn't quite hit the estimate on target, so we have
[1:45:26] to provide an additional 1 78 4 25 for FY 27 to meet
[1:45:29] that objective,
[1:45:32] I make a motion to approve budget amendment CC dash two
[1:45:36] Second.
[1:45:38] Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none.
[1:45:41] All those in favor signify say aye. Aye. Opposed? So moved.
[1:45:46] Thank you commissioners. So we have two desk items.
[1:45:49] Desk item one is the emergency capital procurement
[1:45:53] for the HVAC systems
[1:45:55] and a letter of intent for Chesapeake College.
[1:45:57] And this is for the Maryland Higher Education Commission
[1:46:01] that the advising them the county intends
[1:46:03] to provide our local cost share of funds to design
[1:46:06] and construct the HVAC replacement project at Chesapeake
[1:46:10] College in the TPAC Center.
[1:46:14] So the system's 32 years old
[1:46:15] and I know the,
[1:46:17] the college folks are here if they have any questions
[1:46:19] for them, but our share would be
[1:46:22] $192,546.
[1:46:26] In, in FY 28 they have applied for some grant funding.
[1:46:29] Hopefully we'll get that grant funding to, to
[1:46:32] supplant the project and move it forward.
[1:46:33] I move to execute a letter of intent committing $192,546
[1:46:38] in local funds towards the Chesapeake College Economic
[1:46:40] Development Centers building HVAC system.
[1:46:43] Second, we have a motion and a second.
[1:46:45] Any discussion you want?
[1:46:47] Say anything? I'm impressed that Cliff stood here this
[1:46:48] Long.
[1:46:49] Yeah, he must really want the money.
[1:46:52] Well it is $192,000.
[1:46:54] That's what we're thinking around for, right? That's right.
[1:46:57] Can we talk about the technology building?
[1:47:00] Sure, yeah. Help Yeah,
[1:47:03] Sure. Keep you here.
[1:47:05] Mething to do with HVAC.
[1:47:06] And you know, in the other building
[1:47:08] I talk about that you've both been waiting patiently.
[1:47:10] You might get Yeah, might as well have an opportunity.
[1:47:12] Local. Let's do his vote first before we forget. Yes.
[1:47:14] Okay. Alright.
[1:47:16] What are you saying? I, we motion to second.
[1:47:19] Any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor? Aye. Aye.
[1:47:22] Aye. Opposed? So moved. Alright,
[1:47:24] Let's do one more thing for the college
[1:47:25] first, then we can, then we can.
[1:47:27] So item five is their revised FY 27 budget amendment.
[1:47:30] So this is desk item number two.
[1:47:32] And this is a budget amendment
[1:47:33] that they need all five counties to agree on.
[1:47:35] No additional funding. They just move some money around
[1:47:37] so they can provide an additional increase in salaries
[1:47:40] for the staff and administration at the college
[1:47:42] I move to approve Chesapeake College is revised Ffy 2027
[1:47:45] operating budget amended amendment
[1:47:47] as presented. Second. Second.
[1:47:49] Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Seeing none.
[1:47:52] All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed?
[1:47:55] So moved. Now. Fire away.
[1:47:59] So what can I help you with on the tech building?
[1:48:01] Tell, tell the audience.
[1:48:02] Well, we're really excited. We're,
[1:48:04] and of course Milton's in the middle of all of it right now
[1:48:07] we have started the design process.
[1:48:11] Process. We're currently developed schematics.
[1:48:13] We just shared a packet with all the counties,
[1:48:16] giving them an update on where we're at
[1:48:17] with some really nice renderings.
[1:48:19] What the building's gonna look like when it's done.
[1:48:22] Design goes for another six months.
[1:48:24] We help break ground early next year
[1:48:26] and with completion late summer,
[1:48:30] probably into early part of 2029.
[1:48:34] But our construction manager tells us they might have it
[1:48:36] done for fall 2028.
[1:48:38] Occupation. We'll see. But under promise
[1:48:41] It would deliver.
[1:48:42] Yes. Yes. So we're really excited about the project.
[1:48:45] It's making progress, you know, for all of us.
[1:48:48] It started with this when I got here eight years ago.
[1:48:50] It's a miracle and it's,
[1:48:52] it's really gonna be a really nice addition to campus
[1:48:54] and really it's gonna be a 30 year investment in,
[1:48:57] in the eastern shore for skilled traits.
[1:49:00] Awesome. You wanna add anything?
[1:49:03] I like the ambitious timeline,
[1:49:04] but we're gonna have to be cognizant
[1:49:06] of the state funding schedule.
[1:49:07] Mm. And their ability to fund the project.
[1:49:10] You know, their lion share 75% of the project.
[1:49:13] So depending on how quickly we can get the state money,
[1:49:17] you know, certainly a major capital project.
[1:49:19] The shorter the timeline typically sub, you know,
[1:49:23] contractors like that, they like to, they like to,
[1:49:25] to compress it as much as possible.
[1:49:27] So, but I still think 16 to 18 months construction is,
[1:49:31] is a legitimate timeframe.
[1:49:34] Weather's gonna play a big part in it.
[1:49:36] And timing of when we go out to bid, you know,
[1:49:39] it's a construction management at risk project
[1:49:41] with Bart Mallow as the CMR.
[1:49:44] And we're optimistic, just had a meeting with their,
[1:49:47] with them this today about their outreach right now.
[1:49:51] And they're already outreaching to trade pack, you know,
[1:49:54] contractors and,
[1:49:56] and we certainly are cognizant of wanting to
[1:49:59] engage contractors here on the shore to the extent possible.
[1:50:03] So to the, you know, at appropriate time
[1:50:07] we're certainly gonna outreach to existing contractors
[1:50:10] that not only the college has dealt with,
[1:50:12] but are participating school districts that have,
[1:50:16] that are capable of doing state jobs.
[1:50:18] State works because it is a different than hiring a local
[1:50:22] contractor that's never done a state project
[1:50:24] because of the paperwork
[1:50:26] and the state prevailing wage rates that they have to pay.
[1:50:28] And so it's,
[1:50:29] and it's a much more complex project than a commer
[1:50:32] otherwise commercial building, you know, outside
[1:50:34] of the public sector would be.
[1:50:36] But we're, we're excited about it
[1:50:38] and looking forward to hopefully, you know,
[1:50:41] staying on project on, on target
[1:50:43] and with, I'm not quite as optimistic as him.
[1:50:47] About 20, late 28, fall of 28, 28 opening.
[1:50:51] I'm thinking more second semester. So,
[1:50:54] So I know you've covered it before.
[1:50:56] Can you share with the audience what's gonna be going in the
[1:50:59] technology building?
[1:51:03] Yeah, it is not all the,
[1:51:07] the trades that we would like.
[1:51:10] And so you have to back up, you know,
[1:51:12] so many years prior when the state approved it as a project
[1:51:16] and the enrollment in the, in the PA in what was there then.
[1:51:19] So welding is gonna have its own space there.
[1:51:24] Advanced manufacturing is gonna have the, their space there.
[1:51:27] Electrical is having space there.
[1:51:30] Hvac h yeah, H-H-V-A-C agriculture.
[1:51:35] And we have a kind of a flex space that we can adjust
[1:51:39] for things that we may be looking at down the road
[1:51:41] that we don't even know about today.
[1:51:45] It could be five or 10 years we're doing something we never
[1:51:47] even thought about technology.
[1:51:49] And it is, it is being built to,
[1:51:51] to have a phase two down the road
[1:51:52] because marine trades has taken off
[1:51:54] significantly since then.
[1:51:56] And that'll still be in the MTC building, which is
[1:52:01] on campus as well.
[1:52:02] But, you know, we'd love to certainly to to look
[1:52:04] to move them into phase two at some point down the road.
[1:52:08] So it is being designed so that the, the heart
[1:52:11] of the building, the mechanical systems are central
[1:52:13] to the building for along one phase, one wing
[1:52:17] and then another wing could, could be added on later
[1:52:20] to accommodate additional CTE programming.
[1:52:25] Is the thought temporarily to keep nursing EMT in,
[1:52:29] in the general area it's in now? Yeah.
[1:52:32] The, the health professions are all located in the HPAC
[1:52:36] and that's fairly, that's their home forever.
[1:52:39] And that was the last major project at, at the college.
[1:52:41] And, and that's state of the art.
[1:52:43] It's, and we just, they've gotten some state grant money
[1:52:47] to refresh a lot of that equipment there.
[1:52:49] And actually this Thursday the board will be voting on some
[1:52:53] procurement for replacing a lot of those mannequins and,
[1:52:57] and the IV pumps that the students use.
[1:53:01] So those are all original to the building construction
[1:53:04] or end of life 10, 10 years old.
[1:53:06] So they definitely need to replace the software's not
[1:53:09] reprogram reprogrammable and they have head wear and tear.
[1:53:12] Yeah. And that, that program is tremendous.
[1:53:16] I mean for the last several years now that every graduate of
[1:53:19] that nursing program has passed their NCLEX the first time
[1:53:23] and a hundred percent pass rate.
[1:53:25] Wow. Yeah, it's amazing.
[1:53:27] Saw something the other night that said
[1:53:28] that there's a shortage of 7,000 nurses in the state
[1:53:31] of Maryland, in Maryland alone.
[1:53:33] Wow. Yeah, in Maryland on 7,000. Wow.
[1:53:36] Yep. Still dealing with the burnout from,
[1:53:38] from the pandemic.
[1:53:40] Yeah, well probably, absolutely. Yeah
[1:53:42] Buddy.
[1:53:43] I'm very pleased to report that we're seeing better
[1:53:45] students, better prepared in nursing coming in
[1:53:47] and also in electrical.
[1:53:49] We have some of the best students we've ever seen coming in
[1:53:51] the electrical program and that program is full
[1:53:55] Sweet.
[1:53:56] Awesome. Commissioner Wilson for you?
[1:54:01] Sure. Take credit. All right. Very good. Thank you.
[1:54:05] Well thank you. Thank
[1:54:06] You gentlemen.
[1:54:07] Thank you for your support of the college.
[1:54:08] We really appreciate it. Thank you.
[1:54:09] Anytime you just come back
[1:54:10] with an update on the Queen Ends tech building
[1:54:13] as we move along, just, you know, we'll
[1:54:16] Let you know. Yeah. We'll
[1:54:16] Appreciate it.
[1:54:17] More than happy to come. Absolutely.
[1:54:18] As long as maybe we can be earlier on the list.
[1:54:22] You're getting us on the agenda tonight. You're welcome.
[1:54:24] Thank you. Have a nice night. Thank
[1:54:25] You.
[1:54:26] Patience. Thank you.
[1:54:28] And commissioners, that's all we had.
[1:54:30] I had one technical request, the
[1:54:32] for county ordinance 26 14 Cottage Industries.
[1:54:36] We need a technical motion to convey that
[1:54:38] to the planning commission in addition to public hearing.
[1:54:41] So if I could get a motion,
[1:54:43] I'll make a motion to convey
[1:54:44] to the planning commission as well.
[1:54:45] Second. Alright. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
[1:54:48] Okay. Thank you very much. That's all we had.
[1:54:51] So we can go to pressing public comment.
[1:54:53] All righty. Part two. Good. Jack, you wanna go first?
[1:54:56] I promise I'll be briefed. Oh,
[1:54:58] I promise I'll be brief, but it does expand a little bit
[1:55:02] on what Commissioner Corino was saying earlier.
[1:55:05] And in full disclosure, I called Commissioner Corino
[1:55:09] and we talked about this, the Facebook post
[1:55:14] that I made on Chester Haven Beach was
[1:55:16] shocking for a number of reasons.
[1:55:17] One, beyond the number of people that looked at it,
[1:55:19] but it also, the number of people
[1:55:21] that alleged corruption on it.
[1:55:24] And I've seen this
[1:55:25] before where if, if somebody disagrees with you,
[1:55:30] all of a sudden you're on the take
[1:55:32] or you're getting money from somebody.
[1:55:33] And I get these emails too.
[1:55:35] I get requests all the time from residents around the county
[1:55:40] to intervene on X, Y, or Z.
[1:55:43] And when my response is no, oh,
[1:55:45] well you must have gotten a contribution from this developer
[1:55:47] or from that developer.
[1:55:49] And so it's outrageous.
[1:55:52] And so to the extent that this is just a comment
[1:55:55] for the general public, just stop that
[1:55:57] because I've gotten to know all of you guys as commissioners
[1:56:01] and I've never once gotten the sense
[1:56:04] that you were being paid off or anything like that.
[1:56:07] And it would be foolish for anybody
[1:56:08] to even think of that right now.
[1:56:10] We just recently had a local commissioner who's now doing 20
[1:56:14] years in the can for taking public money
[1:56:19] and our state's attorney
[1:56:20] and our courts take the issue very seriously if people
[1:56:25] have those kinds of concerns.
[1:56:27] You've got the sheriff's office,
[1:56:29] you've got the state's attorney,
[1:56:30] you've got the attorney general,
[1:56:31] you've got an ethics commission, you've got all kinds
[1:56:34] of avenues to report that stuff.
[1:56:36] And so don't hide
[1:56:38] in your room at home on Facebook
[1:56:41] and make these crazy allegations that are totally unfounded.
[1:56:44] It's ridiculous in my view.
[1:56:48] I know this is gonna sound like I'm blowing sunshine,
[1:56:50] but just for the benefit of the public, all
[1:56:55] of these commissioners at one point
[1:56:57] or another, we've had fierce disagreements.
[1:57:00] I've talked with all of you on the phone at some point.
[1:57:02] We have disagreements.
[1:57:05] There are times where we also agree
[1:57:08] and our government is based on disagreement
[1:57:12] and finding compromise.
[1:57:14] That's what it's about.
[1:57:16] Just because you find disagreement sometimes
[1:57:19] you should not lob allegations of fraud and corruption.
[1:57:23] This is not Tammany Hall,
[1:57:25] this is not an alderman's office in Chicago where
[1:57:29] padded envelopes would come in
[1:57:30] and people are getting paid off.
[1:57:31] That's not what Queen Anne's County is about
[1:57:34] and it's just disappointing.
[1:57:35] So I share this disappointment.
[1:57:37] The reason I wanted to add comment here is the public,
[1:57:41] I hope, will dial down that sort of rhetoric.
[1:57:45] It's not necessary. It's not helpful.
[1:57:48] And in fact it's very harmful
[1:57:49] because every time somebody does that,
[1:57:52] you're discouraging good people from wanting to run.
[1:57:55] And it's outrageous.
[1:57:59] Chris, I I, I share the one concern with you.
[1:58:01] I, if I can just have 30 more seconds, I promise
[1:58:07] there's an issue in Sellersville number of years ago.
[1:58:09] Everybody remembers it.
[1:58:12] I took a position opposed to that based on on legal reasons.
[1:58:18] My kids were getting comments in school due to
[1:58:22] Facebook comments and they have nothing to do with it.
[1:58:27] Chris's kids have nothing to do with it.
[1:58:29] My kids have nothing to do with your kids
[1:58:30] and grandkids have nothing to do with it.
[1:58:32] We can disagree on policy all day long and we have,
[1:58:36] but we also find agreement.
[1:58:37] This is a community. We all care about it.
[1:58:40] We're all passionate to various degrees,
[1:58:43] different interests, but just
[1:58:45] because we have disagreement doesn't mean
[1:58:47] that somebody's taking money.
[1:58:48] And I just hope we can find a way to stop that.
[1:58:52] It's necessary. And I hope you guys talk about this at
[1:58:57] Roundtable because it's something
[1:58:59] that needs continuous reminder
[1:59:01] and we're on the same page in that regard.
[1:59:05] And so if this comes up
[1:59:06] and if I see it on my page, I will call it out.
[1:59:09] And I have called it out.
[1:59:11] I think I've forwarded you some examples of things
[1:59:13] where I have called it out where you know this is not
[1:59:16] necessary, it's not right
[1:59:17] and it's not fair to make those kinds of allegations.
[1:59:19] And if you have 'em, bring 'em forward.
[1:59:22] Anyway, I just wanted to close on that
[1:59:25] somewhat negative note, but just say that for the benefit
[1:59:28] of our collective community, which we all care about,
[1:59:31] just dial down the unhelpful rhetoric.
[1:59:33] It's just, it's not, just not helpful. So thank you Jim.
[1:59:37] Thanks Jay. Thank you. Thanks
[1:59:38] Jay.
[1:59:41] Sir, would you like to, would you like to speak?
[1:59:47] Thank you all for your service.
[1:59:49] Mark Canfield, 2 0 3 SW code.
[1:59:51] Just curious about the Chester Haven thing.
[1:59:53] If the ultimate court decision goes against a
[1:59:58] developer, will the county owe the developer any money?
[2:00:03] The deposit is non-refundable.
[2:00:05] Okay. So there's no, and he knew that entered.
[2:00:08] There's no fiduciary responsibility to the, okay.
[2:00:14] Great. And is any of the money
[2:00:16] that the county is now spending for its legal representation
[2:00:21] in any way, can you say that's in the benefit of the
[2:00:25] developer or it's just due diligence by the county?
[2:00:28] I don't think there's any ongoing
[2:00:29] litigation at this point in time.
[2:00:31] And we have a, we have an attorney on staff
[2:00:34] in the county. Okay.
[2:00:36] Appreciate your service.
[2:00:37] Thank you. Would anybody else like to speak?
[2:00:42] Go. Hello, my name is Wendy Elian.
[2:00:48] I have, I've sent off an email
[2:00:50] and I got a pretty aggressive response from Chris
[2:00:53] accusing me of a bunch of stuff, which now I know
[2:00:55] what he's talking about
[2:00:56] because I wasn't aware of the Facebook posts.
[2:00:59] I wasn't aware that people were saying people were corrupt.
[2:01:02] My question actually has to do with the growth allocation.
[2:01:07] The courts have determined the growth
[2:01:09] allocation cannot happen.
[2:01:11] So I understand that they can do individual wells
[2:01:14] or a group Well, but what I don't understand is that
[2:01:18] with the size of the development,
[2:01:20] I believe an 81 housing plan was submitted last year.
[2:01:24] Why have we not considered decreasing the amount
[2:01:28] of sewer allocation to the property rather than continuing
[2:01:32] to allocate the number we're allocating when we could have
[2:01:36] beneficial services
[2:01:37] and commercial services
[2:01:38] that could be be added in Queen County,
[2:01:40] which could use those allocations.
[2:01:43] So with them knocking it down and saying you can't do this.
[2:01:47] Why have we not reconsidered?
[2:01:49] Rewriting the agreement to decrease it again is basically
[2:01:53] because I don't understand as
[2:01:55] to why we keep giving them the same amount.
[2:01:57] They haven't done anything over the years.
[2:01:59] And the courts keep docking it down.
[2:02:01] I understand it's probably gonna go to litigation.
[2:02:03] They're probably gonna keep asking,
[2:02:05] but I do know they're down to 81 in their request,
[2:02:07] so I don't understand why the agreement can't be rewritten.
[2:02:10] Thank you.
[2:02:13] That was 90. Would anybody else like to speak?
[2:02:20] Alright, we'll close, we'll close press on
[2:02:22] public comment round table. How about now?
[2:02:25] Sure. And I mean, I guess I'll stay in the vein.
[2:02:27] That's already been served up.
[2:02:28] So I I, I'll make, I'm not gonna be as aggressive
[2:02:30] as that side of the room there.
[2:02:32] They're a little bit over top. That's why we're over here.
[2:02:34] I like to make, I like to make light
[2:02:35] of things in, in certain instances.
[2:02:37] It does frustrate me
[2:02:39] and infuriate me at some of the comments
[2:02:40] that are made on Facebook
[2:02:41] because to both of their points, our kids, our grandkids,
[2:02:45] our wives all have to read that stuff.
[2:02:48] And my making light
[2:02:50] of it is my wife says I'm doing a terrible job
[2:02:52] of taking money because she keeps looking at a
[2:02:54] bank account and there's nothing there.
[2:02:55] So Apparently I'm not very good.
[2:02:57] And I will say my 12 years I'm taking,
[2:03:00] I won't let somebody buy me a cup of coffee.
[2:03:01] And that's just because I feel that
[2:03:05] that's the way it should be.
[2:03:06] Right. We're here for public service.
[2:03:08] So if anything, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.
[2:03:11] But yeah, I I just, I'm with Chris.
[2:03:14] I know it's, it's one of our biggest pet peeves is,
[2:03:16] is the comments on Facebook.
[2:03:18] We try to do the best job we can.
[2:03:20] We give up 40 to 60 hours of our life every week
[2:03:23] to do this job, 52 weeks a year
[2:03:25] to represent the citizens of Queen S County.
[2:03:27] And I think we do a pretty good job of it.
[2:03:30] Many people don't understand what that means.
[2:03:32] A time away from your family, that same family.
[2:03:34] We're trying to protect from some of these comments.
[2:03:38] So again, I, I agree with
[2:03:40] what everything's been said so far.
[2:03:42] Our kids are watching.
[2:03:44] And so if, if you, if you're wondering why some
[2:03:46] of this bullying, things like that, go on in school,
[2:03:48] take a look in the mirror.
[2:03:49] 'cause you're probably part of the problem.
[2:03:51] So that's all I got,
[2:03:52] Patrick.
[2:03:55] I would just say God gave us two ears
[2:03:58] and one mouth for a reason.
[2:04:01] We need to listen more and speak less.
[2:04:06] The, the, the tongue can either lift up
[2:04:10] or it can really do
[2:04:14] damage to people.
[2:04:16] And that's it.
[2:04:19] Alright. You leave.
[2:04:22] When I first ran for office 16 years ago, none of the
[2:04:28] outgoing commissioners were seeking reelection.
[2:04:30] But we did have an opportunity to sit down with one of them.
[2:04:33] And the advice that he gave me resonated.
[2:04:37] He said, if you could get 70% of it right,
[2:04:39] you're gonna apologize for the other 30.
[2:04:42] We try to take the information that we are given
[2:04:44] by department heads and experts and directors and, and,
[2:04:49] and digest that information
[2:04:51] and determine what is best
[2:04:53] for the greater good in our community.
[2:04:55] And that's what drives the majority of the decisions
[2:04:58] that we make, at least the decisions that I make in my mind.
[2:05:02] Thank you Boss.
[2:05:05] I think I said pretty much all of it.
[2:05:08] I, I, I thank Jay for speaking up.
[2:05:10] 'cause you know, we tend to agree on a lot of issues
[2:05:14] and sometimes obviously a few weeks ago you didn't agree
[2:05:16] with my, my vote and we've, but we have good discussions
[2:05:22] and I, I, I do that with everybody right on,
[2:05:26] on all sides of an issue and give everybody an opportunity.
[2:05:31] It, it just seems like we have this increasing
[2:05:36] devolution in, in it's real, in civic discourse
[2:05:39] and it's not getting better.
[2:05:40] We had mentioned when, when Michael
[2:05:42] and Mc were here earlier for Maco about how in Maco
[2:05:46] you have different counties, blue, purple
[2:05:48] and red, who seem to be able to get together
[2:05:50] or talk about issues and find solutions to problems.
[2:05:53] And there's pretty much nothing
[2:05:55] but respect in those discussions that occur.
[2:05:57] So it can, it can be done.
[2:06:00] And if you think about it, you know these,
[2:06:02] when when someone says there's someone lying in their pocket
[2:06:05] or something like that happen, you're,
[2:06:09] you're working against yourself.
[2:06:10] You're creating a permission structure
[2:06:12] for people not to participate.
[2:06:13] Because if everything is bought off
[2:06:16] and it doesn't matter what you say, then why participate?
[2:06:19] It's, it's already done somewhere already got, you know,
[2:06:21] a load of cash and,
[2:06:23] and when you don't show up, you know,
[2:06:26] decisions are made in your absence.
[2:06:27] And Jay can tell you about times when there's been rooms
[2:06:30] full of people and it has swayed a vote on an issue.
[2:06:34] And so it really irritates me when we create situations
[2:06:38] where people aren't participating.
[2:06:40] And I think those allegations get people to not participate
[2:06:43] and, and worse, I dunno if it's worse,
[2:06:46] but equally as bad is where, where do we get new candidates
[2:06:50] to run for office?
[2:06:51] Like, I mean, we've, we're dummies that take the beating,
[2:06:55] but there's a lot of other people that have common sense
[2:06:57] and they're like, I, I've talked to people about running.
[2:07:00] I mean, I'm, this is my last term, I'm done.
[2:07:02] And talked to other people,
[2:07:03] try to get some district forward.
[2:07:04] Like, oh no, I couldn't do what you do.
[2:07:06] I, I couldn't, I couldn't deal with that.
[2:07:09] And I'm like, but here's
[2:07:10] all the good things that you get to do.
[2:07:11] But that's what discourages them.
[2:07:13] And that's a problem because you,
[2:07:16] as Michael explained when on the makeup presentation,
[2:07:18] we have huge budget issues.
[2:07:20] And I've been talking about this for on the campaign trip
[2:07:22] the last year, big issues coming up affecting the state
[2:07:26] and the downflow to the, to the counties.
[2:07:28] To the counties. Yep. Having people who
[2:07:31] can have common sense
[2:07:32] and make good decisions is really, really important.
[2:07:35] I mean, this, this is not an oyster shell road
[2:07:38] county anymore, right.
[2:07:40] The, the sheriff deputies don't pass off the gun at the end
[2:07:42] of their shift to the other deputy.
[2:07:44] That's how it used to be in Queens County.
[2:07:45] It's changed and we can have discussions about
[2:07:48] how the days were better then, but
[2:07:49] that's just not where we are anymore.
[2:07:51] And so we do need to encourage people to want
[2:07:55] to be in these offices and to make good decisions
[2:07:57] because there are really important things that get done so
[2:08:02] Well.
[2:08:03] I I, I agree with you a hundred percent.
[2:08:05] You know, keep your eye on the donut, not on the whole,
[2:08:08] and the state's coming after it.
[2:08:10] And, and it's gonna get interesting
[2:08:12] and, you know, our, our blessing is
[2:08:15] we have a well run county.
[2:08:17] We really do. I mean, the public doesn't see it,
[2:08:21] but we're able, I mean, where we've,
[2:08:22] where we were 12 years ago
[2:08:24] and where we are now is just phenomenal.
[2:08:27] I mean, you know, with, with our financing, with
[2:08:30] what we're trying to accomplish
[2:08:31] with our schools being fully funded, you know,
[2:08:34] the whole nine yards when it, when it comes
[2:08:36] to the negativity, you know, I, I I got thick skin,
[2:08:40] but my I am, you're a marine,
[2:08:42] It's easier for you.
[2:08:43] But more importantly, I don't get on Facebook
[2:08:45] because if I, my wife will sit next to me
[2:08:48] and she'll go, what, what's this?
[2:08:50] And I go, what? And she'll tell me one thing.
[2:08:52] I can't get to sleep now, you know?
[2:08:54] And so I tell her, you're not allowed.
[2:08:55] You keep it all to yourself.
[2:08:56] I don't want to, I don't care about it.
[2:08:58] You know, it's Facebook. So, you know,
[2:09:00] but I, I, I guess my only question I really have is,
[2:09:03] you know, Todd and Chris and myself
[2:09:06] and Phil got
[2:09:08] to tour Hinckley's new facility at the Bay Bridge.
[2:09:12] And I could have swore somebody said there was a boat
[2:09:14] for me, but, you know, you get it.
[2:09:16] I, I guess I better not take it now.
[2:09:18] You know, it's, it's right next to Chris's helicopter. Yeah.
[2:09:21] But I want to thank them.
[2:09:22] They, they, that's a first class organization
[2:09:24] and it's a feather in our cap for Queen Annes County due
[2:09:28] to Queen Annes County that absolutely.
[2:09:30] So, motion to, I'll
[2:09:32] Make a motion to adjourn.
[2:09:33] Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. Thank you.